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 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
20
THE HOMESTEAD OF STEPHEN PHELPS, WEST MAIN STREET.
Here lived the one who was looked upon for quarter of a century as the father of the society in which he worshipped and a benefici- ary of Marlborough. When the Rifle Company of Marlborough was organized, Deacon Phelps was its first captain, and as a military man he had no superior. The Unitarian Society was largely indebted to him, and his second wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Phelps, for unbounded generosity. In the sixty-two years of membership the Deacon had doubtless paid more money comparatively than any one man in the town ever paid to a parish treasurer. For many years he paid the largest town tax. He married for his first wife Martha Brigham of Southborough ; for his second wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Gates, widow of Abraham Gates, and for his third wife, Mrs. Harriet Witherbee, widow of Jabez Wither- bee. Silas Gates, who kept the old Williams Tavern many years, and his son Abraham, had each made a bequest of $1,000, a considerable sum in early days, to an academy in Marlborough in honor of whom, when it was erected, it was named Gates Academy. When under popular sentiment the free High school took its place, Deacon' and Mrs. Phelps, with united consent, liberally transferred to the Town the bequest with which the academy had been endowed, interest of which was appropriated to Marlborough's High school. Mr. Phelps' house was erected after the Packard house was built, and it is an interesting fact that the four men who occupied these neighboring mansions, that is, Samuel
2 I
Gibbon, William Arnold, Stephen R. Phelps and Dennis Witherbee each were married three times, so that these four neighbors had twelve wives, a coincident which cannot be matched in history of any four neighbors in Marlborough.
CK
11
THE ARNOLD HOMESTEAD, WEST MAIN STREET.
On " the great road " at that time next house to the Gibbon house was the William Arnold homestead. William was the old-time, well respected blacksmith, and his shop stood near by where Winthrop street, named for his son Winthrop who carried on the old homestead and trade, has since been opened. There were in those days but three blacksmiths in the town-Mr. Peters at the east part near the now City Farm, and his brother who had a shop at Feltonville, close by the grist mill. In early days the blacksmith had to manufacture all of his horse and ox shoes, bolts, nuts, etc. From the 20th of September to the 20th of March, the smith as well as his journeymen and apprentices were expected to work evenings, and from daylight to nine o'clock in the evening made a long day. The rest of the year they worked from sunrise until dark. Mr. Arnold was a hard working man who became "well off." The Arnold blacksmith shop was always very attractive with its bright fires,
22
the sparks flying from the chimney and the sounds of busy life within. In the winter season when there were many oxen to be shod, every farmer was obliged to wait his turn and make appointment for days in advance. Mr. Arnold belonged to the West Church where he and his family were constant attendants. One day while listening to a sermon he was stricken with apoplexy from which he never recovered. William Arnold married in 1790 Polly Rice. At her death he married Relief Rice and at her death married Susanna Gates. His children were Wil- lard, Stephen, Polly, Caroline, Winthrop. The latter married first Sophia Barnes and second, Evalina Howe, daughter of Moses Howe, among whose children we find : Lucy, [m. Edmund S. Hallett of Sus- sex, N. B. ; ch., Annie L. m. Charles Ladd; S. Gertrude m. Fred A. Este ]. Eva, [m. the late Edward Carl Nelson of Karlsrona, Sweden ; ch., Ethel m. Howard Brigham, son of Eugene and Annie Cotting Brig- ham]. Jackson, [m. Lucy Barnes ; ch., William, Arnold, Fannie and Loren]. Loren Arnold, before coming to Marlborough lived with his guardian, Peter Fay, of Southborough. Loren married Morgiana Saw- yer. Their children were Cora, [m. Charles W. Curtis, son of Deacon John E. Curtis ; ch., Roger A., Arnold S., John A., Charles W., Jr.] India, [m. Louis Howe, son of S. Herbert and Harriet Brigham Howe]. At death of his first wife, Loren married Clara Hastings.
Members of the Christian Science Society lately purchased this fine site for their church which it is hoped will be erected in the near future. This Society was organized September 15, 1895, meeting first in the parlors of Mrs. P. R. Clough. Later, the G. A. R. Hall was obtained where they still meet for services Sunday and Wednesday evenings. The church was organized April 8th, 1898, and the above place purchased August 23, 1899.
23
Hr. S.t.
CHAPTER II.
REV. AARON SMITH OR GIBBON HOMESTEAD, WEST MAIN STREET.
This old landmark of Marlborough, it is believed, was erected by the town for Rev. Aaron Smith on his settlement here in 1740. For many years he resided here an honored and respected citizen. It was in his time in 1749 that a severe drought caused great distress in Marl- borough, and a day of fasting and prayer, June 15, when Mr. Smith preached two sermons, copies of which are preserved. It was voted to pay him a salary of eighty pounds. At time of the Revolution he was suspected of Tory sentiments and one night two loaded guns were fired into his window after he had retired to rest. Not done, probably with intent to kill, but as a threat or warning by desperate individuals, who, actuated by the spirit of the times, gave vent to their detestation of any one who could possibly make harder the struggle of a feeble province almost without arms and ammunition of war against the then most pow- erful nation of the earth. The bullets fired lodged in a beam and were extracted and preserved by Mr. Samuel Gibbon. Mr. Smith finally becoming less popular as a preacher, and on account of ill health and
24
impaired voice, resigned the ministry here and in 1778 removed to Way- land where he died three years later and was buried in the old Wayland cemetery. Before he was dismissed, he sold for sixty pounds his negro slave, Dill Oxford, who remained in the family of Joseph Howe until her death.
In 1784, Mr. Samuel Gibbon came with his wife from Dedham and bought this old house, improving it in many ways. He was a trader, a prominent citizen and many years a Justice of the Peace. He also represented the Town in the Legislature. Samuel Gibbon had married for a second wife Elizabeth Perkins and at her death he married Abbie Cogswell. Seth Alden, Stephen Phelps and Lambert Bigelow were witnesses to his will, and among articles of interest to the antiquarian in the inventory of his estate were : a pew in the Second Parish Meeting House, $80.00; two pair brass candlesticks, $1.75; snuffers and tray, 50 cents ; gun, knapsack, etc., $1.50; spinning wheel, 60 cents ; warm- ing pan, 20 cents : pair wrought andirons $1.50 ; one lot of books, $3.00.
Samuel Gibbon willed the old homestead to his son who cared for his father to his death. The property eventually passed into the hands of William Gibbon's daughter, Mary, who married Frank Howe, son of Abraham, and in 1903, the place was purchased by Dr. Ralph E. Stevens who with his family resides in this, one of Marlborough's historical old homesteads. Dr. Ralph E. Stevens is son of Charles E. (whose father was Isaac E., ) and Albertina Honey Stevens. The doctor married Blanche B. Millard of North Adams. Their children are Ralph, Charles and Henry.
Samuel Gibbon was a popular man in town, and his white head, bowed in later years from the effects of palsy, was well remembered by the old people who attended the West Church. Mr. Gibbon's pew there was about the centre in the broad aisle. Captain William Gates was the leader of the choir, and his piteh-pipe preparations for singing were interesting to hear. The three deacons-Moses Ames, Benjamin Rice and William Barnes-occupied prominent places in the church. They were all old men then. Caleb Brigham, grandfather of Rev. Levi Brigham, who wore knee buckles of Revolutionary date, always came to church on horseback. Abraham and Warren Brigham also came to church mounted in the same way. John Gott Brigham, who lived on the later Jabez Huntington place, always carried at " shoulder arms" a long whip, marching in with military bearing, whip erect as a soldier carrying his gun, the whole length of the church to the farthest pew in the gallery where he would deposit with great deliberation whip and hat, leaving the church at end of sermon with the same soldierly bearing.
25
Mr. Gibbon liked to tell a story, particularly that of being beaten by sharp old Sock Moores who one day entered Mr. Gibbon's little store which he "set up " near his house after moving here from Dedham, and handing over one of those large bottles having the bottom driven up through the center, called for a quart of rum. " Why, Sock, this bottle won't hold a quart, " cried Mr. Gibbon. " Well, now Sam, 'twill. If it won't, I'll pay for it. If it will you shall make no charge. " Agreed. The bottle was filled, and a gill or more was left in the measure. Sock took the bottle, drove the cork in, turned the bottle over and ordered the balance to be poured into the bottom. "Do you know, " cried Gibbon. "there was room enough and to spare for every bit left, and I sent Sock home happy, " and tilting back his chair, Mr. Gibbon would laugh and laugh.
OLD WILLIAMS TAVERN.
The site upon which this old Tavern stands has been covered by a public house for nearly 250 years, and most of the time has been owned in the Williams family. The old house above played a prominent part years ago in the history of the Town. Lieutenant Abraham Williams was admitted freeman in Marlborough 1652. Ten years later, putting u p a building on the site above, he announced his intention to feed man
26
and beast. As a travellers' retreat, it was well patronized until 1676 when the memorable Indian raid was made, resulting in the killing of men and women, the capture of children and general burning of the buildings, this primitive house included. With undaunted spunk Lieut. Williams, the very next year built a more pretentious structure, placing upon it this sign : "Williams Tavern" which swung out for 150 years. The successive proprietors of the Tavern were Colonel Abraham Wil- liams and his son, Captain George Williams, the latter occupying the premises up to 1813 when he died. In 1711 Marlborough's territory included Northborough, Southborough, Westborough and Hudson. This Tavern was situated on the " Post Road" from Boston to Worcester and was one of the three places on the trip where horses were changed.
It was 1772 when the stage coach commenced passing through this Town from Boston, Worcester, Springfield to New York and was a fortnight on the road between Boston and New York. This was before the Revolution. It was the second stage line established in this county, and was kept open with exception of a portion of the time during the Revolutionary War, up to the establishment of a line of railroad between this place and Boston, and the road was known as the King's Highway, a name not very long retained. They tell us the old stage drivers were a kind-hearted, honest lot of men. When they passed valuable packages from one to another they would never think of asking for or taking a receipt. At times they would have in their care many thousand dollars in cash with other valuables besides the United States mails, and the passengers would trust them implicitly. It was not all fine weather and they had to face many a northeaster, starting out some mornings with the mercury down to 20 and 30 degrees below zero and drive their twelve miles before breakfast. Sometimes the four horses would become stalled in a snowdrift with the wind blowing and snow driving into one's face. Then would the patient driver get down to shovel away the snow, driving often into the very fields to escape the drifts while the passengers within the coach shivered with cold.
Williams Tavern was the scene of countless interesting incidents. In early days the big front room served as a court room, and many a case has the old circuit court tried in that low studded, square room which has served for a great variety of purposes.
Duke de la Rochefoucauld stopped here, and the following is a tribute to Capt. Williams family when he wrote : "Although excessively ill, I was sensible of my dreadful situation, being laid there on a bed of sickness, among people who had never seen me before,
27
and this idea threw me into great agitation of mind which bordered on despair. But, fortunately, the family at whose house I had stopped were the best people in the world. Both men and women took as much care of me as if I had been their own child. I must repeat it once more, that I cannot bestow too much praise on the kindness of this excellent people. Being a stranger, utterly unacquainted with them, sick, and appearing in the garb of mediocrity, bordering on indigence, I possessed not the least claim on the hospitality of this respectable family, but such as their own kindness and humanity could suggest. And yet during the five days I continued in their house, they neglected their own business to nurse me with the tenderest care and with unwearied solici- tude. They heightened still more the generosity of their conduct by making up their account in a manner so extremely reasonable that three times the amount would not have been too much for the trouble I had caused them. "
DUKE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD,
28
One of the most notable days in the history of the house was October 23, 1789, when President George Washington while on his way to Boston tarried here for several hours and took dinner with some of the local functionaries. The President was escorted by Capt. Rice's company of horse, well mounted and in complete uniform, who awaited him on Sandy Hill, just after crossing Stirrup Brook, near the William Bartlett house. They took him to Capt. Williams' Tavern where he was met by two of Governor Hancock's aides who came from Boston to assist in escort duty. Wall writes that he was met by the United States Marshal of Massachu- setts District, Jonathan Jackson, with whom he dined. In every place through which Washington passed in his tour through New England after his first inauguration as President of the United States, the inhabi- tants of all ranks, ages and conditions, who delighted to honor their revered Chief Magistrate, testified their joy at the opportunity to behold the political savior of their country, and Marlborough at this time was full of enthusiasm. The writer of these sketches is now the possessor of the old parlor table from Williams Tavern from which at that time "The Father of Our Country " dined." Also the Masonic bowl, pitcher and mug used at this noted old Tavern in ye olden times.
TABLE AT WHICHI WASHINGTON DINED.
One of the customs of that day was for the stage driver to give a
29
shrill warning of approach when he reached Felton Hill on the opposite side of the pond. By understood signals, the tooting of the old horn told the tavern keeper how many passengers there were aboard to whom meals must be served.
After the death of Captain George Williams, who succeeded his father, Colonel Abraham Williams, as proprietor, the Tavern was managed by Silas Gates, son-in-law of Captain George Williams, who remained here until 1823. The house was then called the "Gates House. "
The old Tavern reached its highest prosperity under the manage- ment of Silas Gates. He owned many acres of land in this and other towns and cut enormous quantities of meadow hay with which to feed the hundreds of cattle that were often put up for the night from great dis- tances from the west. No townsman could get a glass of liquor there on the Lord's day. His help went regularly with the family to the West church. He was a set man in his religious views and took active part in parish matters, opposing, they tell us, admitting any Universalist as member of the church. Both he and his son Abraham left generous donations to their church and to the academy.
Colonel Abraham Williams died in this Tavern at 90 years of age. His grandfather of the same name died in same place aged 84. His great grandson, Captain George Williams, died in same place aged 76. Silas Gates died in 1828. They tell us the latter had a daughter Catherine who married Captain Thomas Dunton, one of the handsomest military officers seen at that time. The Captain lived for many years near the Rice school house. This was a real love match and was opposed by the parents until Catherine came near dying when the old folks gave their consent to the marriage. Colonel Abraham Gates was different from his father in this respect. He bought and gave to his sister the Samuel Brown place. He carried on the hotel for only a few years after his father's death when he also died.
Harriet Brigham, a sister of Colonel Abraham Gates' wife (Elizabeth Brigham) married Jabez Witherbee who took the Tavern and lived here for many years. At his death she married Deacon Stephen R. Phelps of whom it was a singular fact that he married for his second and third wives the two sisters who had presided as landladies at this hotel ; for Silas Gates' son, Abraham, married Elizabeth Brigham, daughter of Captain Daniel, and she at Abraham's death had married Stephen Phelps. Jabez Witherbee was the father of Charles Witherbee who married Adelaide Bigelow, daughter of Lambert, and at the age of 43 died from
30
the effects of a fall while heroically engaged as first assistant engineer of Marlborough Fire Department. A man generally beloved and sincerely mourned. His wife and daughter Ella, who married Arthur Furlong, and daughter Adelaide reside in Somerville. Their former house at corner of Broad and Main was in earlier days that of Rev. Horatio Alger, installed as Unitarian minister in 1845, and who was a public spirited citizen, interested and identified in all educational and social matters, a man of historical research, "a man among men." He was the father of Horatio Alger, Jr., the author of juvenile literature, and of Mrs. Olive Cheney whose intellectual gifts and versatile pen may be truly well inherited.
THE CAPTAIN EPHRAIM BRIGHAM, OR LATER, JOEL GLEASON HOMESTEAD, CLOVER HILL.
When Mrs. Mercy Brigham of Cambridge, widow of Thomas 1st, married Edmund Rice, they came to Marlboro and settled, we believe, on or near this old farm. Thomas Brigham, the oldest son, lived here with his mother, brothers and sisters, until he bought of his step-father what was called the Warren Brigham farm. Nathan Brigham, or "Capt." Nathan Brigham, settled on a part of the home- stead. IIe married Elizabeth Howe, who was one day found dead in her home kneeling beside her chair. He then married Mehitabel Parker
and by his will his son Ephraim, had the homestead and was to sup- port his mother and pay her funeral expenses. Ephraim married Hannah Willard of Grafton. They had two children, who died young. His title of captain implied that he was one of the substantial men of the town. He was a benevolent and prominent citizen, serving the town seven years as treasurer, assessor, selectman, etc. At the time of his death he had thirty-two heirs, none of whom were his descend- ants. In 1771, he bequeathed to Marlboro 133 pounds to be under the care of the selectmen and minister for the time being. The proceeds to the sum of 22 pounds were to be paid to the minister for preach- ing, in person or by proxy, an annual sermon to promote the present and future reformation and happiness of the young, and the income of the remainder was to be expended in the support of a school in the middle of the town distinct from the district schools, and for general benefit. From this bequest arose what was familiarly known as the "Brigham Lecture" and the "Brigham School." Captain William Brigham was the nephew of Ephraim and son of Lt. Nathan, and was a tything man in 1762, warden 1773, field driver and selectman. He married Rebecca Ball and lived here; at her death married Lydia
Chamberlain. He and Lydia, both died of the small pox; she in February, 1793, and he in April, 1793. They were the first two buried in Brigham cemetery, on the southwest side of Mt. Pleasant. The house descended to Joel Gleason and then to his son Sidney, whose widow, a dear, pleasant old lady, until recently resided in this pic- turesque and ancient homestead. The latter's children are Fred, who married Kate Townsend,-one child Leslie T.,-and Emma, who married John Connor, and have one child, John L.
Richard Barnes came from England in the ship, "Jonathan," with his mother and his grandmother, Agnes Bent, in the year 1639. He was a little more than ten years of age when he began living with John Bent at Sudbury, with whom he came to Marlborough in 1657. Marrying Deborah Dix in 1668, he built south of Williams Pond, the above house which has remained the homestead of the family nearly 250 years. Richard shared in the first division of the lands in Marl- borough in 1660, and was one who contracted to build the minister's house the following year. They tell us :
"On the rising ground about midway between the Gates House and Mr. S. B. Gleason's stood the house of Richard Barnes, Jr., where he lived from about 1700 to 1750. He was the eldest son of Richard
32
Barnes, Sen, a proprietor of the town in 1660, whose allotment was south of John Bent's (his uncle), southwest of the pond, and probably this residence of Richard Jr., was a portion (it may be the original 16 acres) allotted to his father some forty years previous. Richard Jr., had six children. The eldest, Richard, removed to Westboro, where he had a large family whose descendants spread into Northboro, Boylston, etc. Jonathan, Mary and John, born in 1718, 1720, 1722, as bachelors and maid, occupied the old place till near the end of the century. They were simple minded, unsophisticated people, but of the steady, sturdy, solid ways and habits of the olden time, whom nothing could turn from the even tenor of their way. When their near neighbors, Captain William Brigham and wife (who lived where now is Mr. S. B. Gleason's), were sick of malignant small pox in 1793, and of which they died, and which alarmed and kept all others at a distance, these old people were not a whit moved from their pro- priety. The straying of their cattle and offers of aid often brought them close to the place of infection. Their dress, their places at table, at the broad fireside (Jonathan on the right, John on the left and Mary in front with her little work stand), their articles of food. their manner and places of cultivating the soil, were essentially the same for more than half a century.
THE OLD BARNES HOMESTEAD.
33
"The geniuses of the present age may fancy they have struck out a new idea in introducing to us the modern shirt with whole front and open back; but Jonathan and John were practically acquainted with this thing a hundred years ago; for their doublets or jackets were so constructed that in summer they buttoned in front, but in winter, this buttoning was shifted to the back ground. No need and no acquaintance had they with the modern flannels. Though the hearts of the brothers were as one, yet they were never seen side by side. Invariably, in proceeding to their work in the fields, in ascend- ing Jericho hill, a part of which they owned, the one was a rod or two ahead of the other.
The young folks often visited them. Hollis Brigham, son of Captain William Brigham, was a great wag, unless some of his old friends greatly belie him. He with some of his female acquaint- ances would call upon the old people and kindly relate to them the news, which in those non-newspaper days must have been to them rare and scanty indeed-'of the harrycanes that had lately visited some of the neighboring towns; of the immense tides that had come into Boston, etc.,' his descriptions now and then interrupted by short, quick exclamations of John, 'well said, Mr. Brigham, well said !' and the more deliberate remarks of Jonathan, 'so I was thinkin, Mr. Brigham, but didn't know sartin till you spoke,' exclamations which leave us room to doubt a little whether the fun was altogether on one side, or the simplicity either. Then appeared upon the hearth the bright pewter dish filled with apples and walnuts by the hands of Aunt Mary, a finality to their visit, which the young people had con- templated before they came."
Richard Sr.'s son, Edward, lies buried in the old Common Bury- ing Ground. He was assigned No. 17 of the 26 Garrisons, that being Lieut. William Garrison near the old tavern. He married widow Grace Rice of Westboro, daughter of John Newton. (She married for her third husband Daniel Ward). Their son, Col. Edward Barnes, who married Submit Forbush, took an active part in the Revolu- tionary war, and was a leading man in Marlborough in all respects. He died 1803, and also lies buried in the old Common Burying Ground. Their son Edward married Lucy Brigham both of whom lie in the old Common Burying Place. Eight children were born to Edward and Lucy, among whom was Doctor Edward F. Barnes, born 1809, who was married in 1846 by Rev. Horatio Alger to Maria Elizabeth Brigham, daughter of Ashbel Brigham. Edward F.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.