USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Marlborough > Historical reminiscences of the early times in Marlborough, Massachusetts : and prominent events from 1860 to 1910, including brief allusions to many individuals and an account of the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town > Part 18
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Mr. Bingham still remained solitary and unmated. But going to Connecticut to be ordained and there to sail, he met a young lady inquir- ing the way to her place of destination that she might attend the ordina- tion. Mr. Bingham kindly offered to show her the way, and before a week had passed she had become Mrs. Bingham. Such were the roman- tic marriages of two missionaries a century ago.
In early times the dead were carried to the place of burial by the hands of friends. No hearse was used until about 1800. In process of time a bier was used and as late as the beginning of the 19th century the body was carried on the shoulders of the bearers. They tell us Nathan Goodale, who married Persis Whitney, dying in what has been recorded as " the hard winter of 1780," when such was the depth of snow, that his remains were drawn to the grave yard on a hand sled by men on rackets, although the yard was several miles distant from his residence.
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A little incident connected with the burial of Deacon David's wife : After waiting until past the hour (through a misunderstanding the pastor was prevented from being at the funeral services at the house although present at the church) and no clergyman appearing, this man whose dearest earthly treasure was lying cold in the casket, whose heart was heavy with sorrow that men know when life's dearest companion is gone forever, stood there among his friends and neighbors and in a simple trusting way read from the old Book and in tender tones offered a word of prayer.
When Deacon David B. Goodale's brother Warren, [who married Ellen R. Whitmore, ] also died with his wife in Honolulu, David brought up his five children among whom was Warren's son David who married Carrie Cox and with their children Frances and Esther remain on the Deacon Goodale farm, the last of this well known and highly respected family.
HOMESTEAD OF SUPPLY WEEKS.
" What will the country do if supplies do not arrive?" "Let us have faith and pray God for the required aid," was the reply. Shortly after the news of the arrival of the desired arms and ammunition came, and as was the custom in the above time of the Revolution, to prove patri- otic enthusiasm, the little new-born son was named "Supply " to com- memorate the day of the country's rejoicing in 1671. Supply Weeks was
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the first of the name in Marlborough and was the son of Amiel and Abigail Trescott Weeks of Dorchester. Supply married Susanna Barnes, an adopted daughter of Deacon John Barnes, and a daughter of Thomas Barnes of Marlborough. Supply built this old Homestead where he lived with his son, John Weeks, who married Dinah Keys, daughter of Deacon Thomas and Elizabeth Howe Keyes. It was after the latter's capture by the Indians that Elizabeth Howe married Thomas Keyes and the two families, Supply Weeks and Thomas Keyes, lived here for a while. Solo- mon Weeks was the great grandson of Supply and married in 1809, Sally Warren. The latter was the daughter of Thaddeus Warren who married Lucy Stevens. They died one day apart and were buried in the same grave. As years went on Deacon William Weeks, his nephew, came into possession of this fine old homestead which in 1805 he left to Henry Weeks (the grandson of Solomon) who was an enthusiastic Metho- dist, and, they tell us, contributed most generously toward the erection of the " Old Brick Church " on " Gospel Hill " in Hudson. The original camp meetings were held on this farm or " Weeks Homestead," upon which he owned a fine grove. It was the home of all the itinerant Metho- dists. Among the prominent members of the Methodist church, Uncle and Aunt Weeks are remembered as shining lights. They were not blessed with children of their own, but their house was always full of them, and no better father and mother to them ever lived than were Uncle Solo- mon and Aunt Sally. The former was a tall, venerable looking man, not handsome but so strikingly dignified that those who came in contact with him were happily influenced. Aunt Sally was a lady of modest mien, slight of stature, and one to whom the boys and girls clung as to a great friend. She seemed, and indeed was a walking benediction. Bless- ing everybody with whom she came in contact. The farm was a good one. The rich land had yielded bountifully to sustain the former genera- tions of the Weeks family. On this place forty years ago was a large herd of cattle, horses as good as farmers then thought of ever raising; a large flock of sheep ; a dwelling house of suitable dimensions for so large a family ; barns and outbuildings in abundance, and all of them well finished and furnished. Uncle and Aunt Weeks were what was considered in ye olden times, wealthy people, and to the poor of the Methodist church they were bountiful benefactors. It will be interesting to many to state here that Ephraim Fairbanks, a stout, robust young man from the state of Maine was the foreman on the farm. He had charge of the little army of hired men and boys on the place and must have been popular and efficient, as he married one of their foster daughters, Miss Hunt, who
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was one of a large number of brothers and sisters of one family that this benevolent couple adopted and brought up. Mary Elizabeth (Howe) Keyes was born in the east part of Marlborough on the Boston road near where formerly stood the Howe-Sawin-Monroe-Wilson Tavern. Near that location stood the John Howe garrison of 1711, and not on the Con- cord road as stated in the History of Marlborough. This John Howe of the above named garrison was a brother to Elizabeth Howe. He died 1754 aged 82 years. Deacon Thomas Keyes and wife attended church ten or more years ago in the third meeting house, high school common ,
and 30 years in the fourth meeting house, same place. We find the head stones of Deacon Keyes and his consort Elizabeth Howe Keyes in the old Spring Hill cemetery.
ELIZABETH HOWE, TAKEN CAPTIVE BY THE INDIANS.
The story of Elizabeth Howe was, that at seventeen years of age she
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was taken captive. Her father, John Howe, Jr., who married Elizabeth Ward, was killed by the Indians before his daughter was ten months of age. Her mother, Elizabeth Howe, married the next year 1676, Captain Henry Kerley and settled near the center of Marlborough. (Cyrus Felton the antiquarian authority, believed that Kerley and Carley were two dis- tinct names. ) It was a bright summer day when Elizabeth Howe who was soon to be the happy bride of Thomas Keyes, went up from Marlborough to Lancaster to visit her sister who had married Peter Joslin and was the mother of his four little children. Early the next morning Peter went to his labor in the fields and the family were in pleasant conversation over Elizabeth's wedding so soon to take place. Mrs. Joslin was shovelling the bread into the big oven, widow Whitcomb had started the spinning wheel and Elizabeth had taken one of the children up in her arms and was singing one of the sweet old time songs when suddenly a painted face appeared from behind the thicket, then another and another. Stealthily creeping up to the door they rushed in, and before an alarm could be given, all were butchered or borne into captivity. History tells us that upon poor Mrs. Joslin the savages later indulged their cruelty in the most atro- cious manner. She had with her a child of two years old and was soon to give birth to another. In her anxiety and distress she begged the Indians to let her go home, though she was so many weary miles from the nearest settlement. Tired of her importunities they gathered a large com- pany, and pushing her unclothed into their midst they danced about her " in their hellish manner " for a long time and then knocked her and the child in her arms on the head. They then made a fire and put both vic- tims in it, threatening the other children and captives who with trembling, witnessed the terrible scene, to serve them in like manner if they attempted to go home. When the house was attacked Elizabeth had been borne away together with her sister's child which she was carrying. Soon the little one proved a burden and was put to death, and Elizabeth, half fainting, was snatched up by an Indian chief; for her voice possessed a charm for her captors which had worked on their superstitious natures, which probably saved her life. Later on she was compelled frequently to " give sweet sound." The shock of the horrors of that time was never outlived, and though within four years she was ransomed by the government, and returned to her home in Marlborough where she married her long wait- ing lover, and lived to a good old age, she never quite overcame the shaking and trembling which the fright brought upon her. Poor Peter Joslin returning home from his labor found his dear ones mangled or missing and almost died of grief, although he lived to make many a red-
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face go down into the dust before he himself joined them. Among Eliza- beth Howe Keyes' descendants were the Deacon Benjamin Rice of this town and Deacon Stephen R. Phelps ; the Rev. William Goodell, D. D., a missionary to Constantinople; the first wife of schoolmaster Herman Seaver, Esq., of Marlborough ; the wife of Daniel Pickney Parker who was a prominent merchant in Boston and who fitted out nearly forty sail- ing vessels ; the wife of Dr. Ebenezer Ames of Wayland; the wife of Stephen Howe who was the son of Artemus Howe of Marlborough ; and the wife of John Boyd, Sr., of Marlborough. Both Thomas Keyes and Elizabeth Howe Keyes lived and died in Marlborough. Their five children are recorded upon the Marlborough town records. Deacon Keyes died in town, in 1742, aged 68 years. His widow, Elizabeth (Howe) Keyes died August, 1764, 89 years of age. It is said that this venerable lady ever after her return from cap- tivity always looked around the doorway, whenever she went to close the outside door of her house, as if to see if the enemy were near. Two of Deacon Thomas' and Elizabeth Keyes' sons moved to Shrewsbury, that now forms the town of Boylston, and each held the office of Deacon. One lived 76 years, the other 95, and both left descendants. Deacon Thomas and Elizabeth Keyes' daughter, Dinah!Keyes, married John Weeks who was a prominent man, a colonel and justice of the peace in Marlborough. Colonel Week's son, Jonathan Weeks, was a representative from this place three years, and two of his sons, John Weeks and Solomon Weeks, Esq., had been selectmen of the town. Another son, Captain Jonathan Weeks Jr., lived in Waltham and his son Captain William Weeks lost his arm by an accident in the raising of the Marlborough Academy in September, 1827.
Phineas Sawyer was the first Methodist who came into the town of Marlborough, and was the only man here who was not taxed to support Congregationalism. Being a Methodist he was exempt. He was the father of Methodism in Marlborough. About 1798 he purchased a water privilege together with a water mill and a grist mill at Feltonville and erected the second cotton factory in Massachusetts. He opened his house at Feltonville and invited Methodist preachers to hold services. It became a home for all Methodists. January, 1820, he was killed in his mill, and he and his wife are both buried in Central cemetery in Marl- borough. The first Methodist class in this vicinity was formed in 1808 in Mr. Sawyer's house in Feltonville. The Marlborough charge was
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METHODIST CHURCH, CHURCH STREET.
included in the old Needham circuit until 1832. In 1828 the old Brick Meeting House was built (near Rockbottom) and in 1832 Marlborough became a station. The late John Chipman wrote : " I recall vividly to my mind the appearance of that rudely finished and awkwardly constructed church. The high built, box-like pews with narrow hard seats and straight backs, coming up to an ordinary sized man's ears. The choir of musical voices, seated just back of the pulpit, sang with the spirit and with the understanding also. Lucas Parmenter was there with his bass viol. F. D. and Cyrus Brigham struck up on their violins, while the tall form of their leader, Uncle Solomon Weeks, standing erect and beat- ing time with his long attenuated fingers, was a picture never to be forgotten. ' Ah,' he exclaimed, 'the Methodists of this town those
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early years were earnest men and women. They made great sacrifices to sustain themselves and keep peace with the other religious societies. They hailed the Sabbath with delight. They were poor in this world's goods, but rich in the faith of a happy and glorious immortality. " In 1852 the old Brick church was destroyed by fire and the meetings held in a hall in Rockbottom (now Gleasondale). In February, 1853, the church was divided, one part remaining in Rockbottom and another erecting a house of worship in Marlborough which was dedicated October 1853. Pastors to the present date :
Rev. N. B. Fisk Rev. N. H. Martin Rev. A. M. Osgood
Rev. L. P. Frost Rev. W. W. Colburn Rev. S. Sweetser
Rev. T. W. Lewis Rev. Mr. Abbott Rev. A. P. Sharpe
Rev. B. J. Johnson
Rev. B. Judd Rev. F. T. Pomeroy
Rev. Mr. Dwight
Rev. G. H. Cheney
Rev. W. L. Adams
Rev. Mr. Day
Rev. A. Gould Rev. N. T. Whittaker
Rev. D. K. Bannister
Rev. A. F. Herrick
Rev. T. J. Judge
Rev. Mr. Bailey
Rev. P. Sloper
Rev. J. W. Fulton
Rev. E. P. Herrick
THE JABEZ STOWE OR WELCH HOMESTEAD.
On the above farm, situated on the right leading to the Rufus Stowe place, and whose buildings are hardly visible from any road, situated as
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it is among trees, ledges and boulders, lived Jabez Stowe and wife. Their daughter Patty had married Phineas Welch (a descendant of Paul Welch who settled in Bolton in 1740) and they took the farm and remained here at the Homestead, tenderly caring for the aged parents. The farm was then not one of the most fertile, but Phineas Welch was a hard-working man and soon he accumulated property and lived comfortably, bringing up a family of children who were always proud of their father. Among their seven children was Josiah Stowe Welch, born 1825, who married in 1848, Lydia, the daughter of Aaron and Diana (Howe) Stowe. He had early learned the trade of cutter and soon had the distinction of using the first sole and upper leather ever cut in Marlborough. After his marriage he removed to the farm of his wife's mother, and in 1849, in company with his brother-in-law the late Edmund M. Stowe, he began making shoes. Soon'he was in business for himself and became quite a prominent citizen, being one of the Incorporators of the Hudson National Bank, Trustee of Hudson Savings Bank, Town Treasurer, and has served the town in numerous offices. He died in Hudson, October 1, 1909, aged 84 years. His brother, Charles Welch, carried on the old Phineas Welch farm until recent date.
Charles Welch and sister Emily (she m. John C.) make the sixth and last generation who have lived on the Stowe Welch farm.
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HOMESTEAD OF ABRAHAM AND RUFUS STOWE.
Over the fields on the Spoon Hill road we find the old mansion of
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Abraham Stowe and Elizabeth, daughter of Ebenezer and Abigail Hager, (at her death Abraham married widow Lydia Maynard). His son Rufus, who married Thankful Brigham, daughter of Captain Daniel, also lived here with their ten children, whose names were Betsy (who married Dennis Witherbee, ) Louise ( who married Francis Stowe, ) Catherine (who married J. H. Maynard, ) Phoebe Ann (who married William Eager,) Abigail (who married Dennis Witherbee, ) Thankful (who mar- ried H. W. Fay, of Newton street, ) Mary (who married Lewis Felton and lived near Middlesex Square, ) Harriet (who married C. G. Whitney and also lived near the Square, ) William Bradford, and Almira (who married Deacon Levi W. Baker, on Front street).
Their ancestor, Samuel Stow, was in Marlborough before 1684, at which time he bought of Waban and James Atchnit, two Indians of Natick, for six pounds, three in money and three in corn, twenty acres of land in Marlborough. He was one of the proprietors of Ockoocangansett plantation, purchased of the Indians, and became a prominent man in the proprietry and in the town. He served in Phillip's war and probably came to town soon after the peace, as his name appears on a petition for the plantation in 1677. He married Elizabeth, and died in 1721. They were the ancestors of most of the Stowes in Marlborough.
Here we may speak of a veteran of Post 43, G. A. R. Charles H. Albee, patriotic instructor at Marlborough's Memorial Day, giving the record of how many battles and how many of the members of this post were wounded, when he came to the name of Levi W. Baker, said: "At the battle of Fort Moultrie, a sergeant took the colors and said : 'Don't let us fight without a flag, boys,' mounted the rampart and died there. The Charlestown Guards erected a monument to the dead hero's memory, and it bears this inscription : 'No braver man ever lived, no man could do more.' But we in Marlborough have a sergeant who did as much at Gettysburg." At the time of dedicating three monuments erected to mark the different positions where the Ninth Mass. Battery did heavy fighting and rendered efficient service on the historic field of Gettysburg, Major Bigelow reviewed the history of the three hour's encounter, when over three tons of shot and shell, including ninety-two rounds of canister was expended, 80 of 88 horses taken into action killed and disabled, out of four commissioned officers three were lost, Erickson and Whitaker being killed. Six of the seven sergeants were lost on the field, privates killed and wounded and taken prisoners. When with the single exception of a battery which was captured by a sudden charge at the battle of Inka, the Ninth Mass. Battery sustained heavier losses in this engagement than any
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other light battery suffered, in a single engagement during the whole war. General Hunt, chief of Artillery of the Army of the Potomac, in a letter to Captain Milton, wrote: "Amongst the organizations serving under me, the Ninth Massachusetts will be associated in my mind with some of the hardest service of the army. Upon first joining under Captain Bige- low, it went immediately into battle at Gettysburg, and bore a distin- guished part, as the reports, and its list of killed and wounded, headed by the gallant Erickson, will prove. Its subsequent history is not less glori- ous, and the history of the campaigns and the battles of the Army of the Potomac will be incomplete which does not mention with honor, amongst other batteries which rendered distinguished services, the Ninth Massa- chusetts Independent. The record of its battles is made, and not less honorable is its reputation for discipline, instruction, good conduct and the deportment of its men and officers, under both Bigelow and yourself."
Levi W. Baker, in his " History of the Ninth Massachusetts Bat- tery," glides modestly over his own heavy experience which is well known of this soldier who " acted well his part. There all the honor lies."
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EAGER HOMESTEAD, EAGER COURT.
Turning to the left from Hosmer street we come to the above house. William Eager, coming from Malden [where he had married Ruth Hill and at her death, Lydia Cole, and for his third wife, Lydia Barrett, hav- ing fourteen children by all] settled in Marlborough in 1682 and became
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one of the early proprietors. From William, Zachariah, Aaron, Bailey, we find in the fifth generation, Stephen who married in 1790, Elizabeth Gates. Stephen was drowned in Boons Pond in 1820. His widow was on the list of pew holders of Springhill church in 1835. On a lane from the Stow road now called Eager court lived Hollis Eager, son of Stephen and Elizabeth. He was a farmer cultivating a few acres of excellent land obtaining crops which together with his labor in the tan-yard of Captain Daniel Brigham, gave him and his family a bountiful support. His boys, Emerson, William and Stephen all loved music and were the first to inaugurate a brass band in the town of Marlborough. William retained the homestead of his father. Both of his brothers died in early manhood, each leaving a widow who had been but a short time a bride. Hollis Eager and wife were frugal, social and respected citizens, enjoying life in a sensible way and esteeming it a great pleasure to be able to smooth the passage of his aged mother down the stream of time and to be for her drooping age a sure support. His son William married Phoebe Stowe of Berlin, and their son Frank, who married Mary Carpenter, was the father of our genial and highly respected citizen, Charles B. Eager (superintendent of Rice & Hutchins' manufactury), who in 1895 married Edith M. Page, daughter of Ambrose and Emma (Drury) Page. Charles and Edith have one son, Gordon Page Eager.
THE EPHRAIM MAYNARD HOMESTEAD.
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The Maynards were among the first settlers of Marlborough. John Maynard was one of the petitioners for the grant of Marlborogh, in Sud- bury in 1638, and was one of the forty seven who shared in the division of the Sudbury meadows in 1639. The house preceding was built near Fort Meadow by Ephraim Maynard who married in 1773, Eunice Jewell. Their son Ephraim who married Mary Stowe, Eliza Smith and Sarah Mills, had by his three wives, fifteen children in all ( he was the grandfather of Amory Maynard, the father of the town of Maynard, who married Mary Priest and in honor of whom the town was named. ) Eph- raim Jr. inherited this homestead, now the summer home of Mr. Charles W. Curtis, son of the late Deacon Curtis and general manager of the mammoth Rice & Hutchins shoe factory. Charles W. Curtis is one of our most influential citizens, and in the political life of Marlborough is recog- nized as a prime factor. He married Cora Arnold, daughter of Loren Arnold. They have four children John Arnold, Arnold Sawyer, Roger Arnold, Charles W. Jr.
If Marlborough had any special block house or fort, it probably was at " Fort Meadow," from which the place took its name ; but all speci- fied places assigned to various families for resort in time of danger during the exposed condition of this frontier place, were called forts or garrisons. The following list of garrisons tells us, in a measure, how they were dis- tributed :
No. 1, Captain Howe's garrison (at the old Frank Howe place) in- cluded the families of Samuel Stevens, James Howe, Jonathan Howe, Samuel Stowe and Jonathan Morse.
No. 2, Mr. Breck's garrison, (near the now Public Library. )
No. 3, Captain Kerly's garrison, (on the road to Southborough.) Nathaniel Joslin, Joseph Maynard, Deacon Woods, Nathaniel Johnson, Thomas Amsden, Simon Gates, Joseph Johnson.
No. 4, Captain Brigham's garrison, (on the road to Southborough. ) Peter Plimpton and Benjamin Mixer.
No. 5, Isaac Amsden's garrison, (on the road to Southborough. ) Thomas Newton, Sergeant Maynard, James Woods, Adam Martin, Isaac Temple, Deacon Newton, John Amsden.
No. 6, Isaac Howe's garrison, (on the Southborough road near Fay- ville station. ) Moses Newton, David Fay, John Newton, widow John- son, Moses Newton, Jr., and James Cady.
No. 7, Lieutenant William's garrison, (near old William's Tavern.) Thomas Beaman, Peter Bent, Richard Barnes and Edward Barnes.
No. 8, Ensign Howe's garrison, (near Tileston Brigham's house.)
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Ensign Bowker, Joseph Waite, David Church, Benjamin Rice, Peter Rice and Joseph Rice.
No. 9, Samuel Morrill's garrison, ( near Fort Meadow.) Sergeant Barrett, John Barnes, Benjamin Bagley, Joseph Ward, Joshua Rice, Thomas Martin and Samuel Bush.
No. 10, Thomas Brigham's garrison, ( near the Warren Brigham place.) Jonathan Brigham, Oliver Ward, Increase Ward.
No. 11, John Howe's garrison, (below Warren school house.) Zach- ariah Eager, Abraham Eager, Daniel Johnson, Samuel Wheelock, Obadiah Ward and Thomas Axtell.
No. 12, Samuel Goodnow's garrison, ( near Stirrup brook.) Nath- aniel Oakes, Jonathan Forbush and Gershom Fay.
No. 13, Lieutenant Howe's garrison, (north of Pond. ) Thomas Ward and Edward Rice.
No. 14, Nathan Brigham's garrison, (near Joel Gleason's home.) Joseph Stratton, Henry Bartlett and Alexander Stewart.
No. 15, Samuel Ward Sr's., garrison, ( Ward's or Hayden house.) William Ward, widow Hannah Ward, Jonathan Johnson Sr., and Caleb Rice.
No. 16, John Matthew's garrison, ( in what is now Southborough.) William Johnson and Samuel Ward.
No. 17, Daniel Rice's garrison, (two miles east of the meeting house. ) Widow Sarah Taylor, Supply Weeks and Eleazer Taylor.
No. 18, Samuel Forbush's garrison, (a mile north of old common.) James Bradish, Thomas Forbush and James Gleason.
No. 19, Edmund Rice's garrison, ( in Chauncy, now Westborough.) David Brigham, Isaac Tomblin and David Maynard.
No. 20, Thomas Rice's garrison, ( in Chauncy or Westborough.) John Pratt and Charles Rice.
No. 21, Thomas Hapgood's garrison, (this was in the Indian planta- tion in the northeasterly part of the town near the Wesson place. ) John Forbush, John Wheeler, Josiah Howe, B. Carley Sr., and James Carley.
No. 22, Mill garrison, (near Feltonville or Hudson. ) Thomas Bar- rett and John Banister.
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