USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Historical sketch of Groton, Massachusetts. 1655-1890 > Part 11
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William Banks, a negro or mulatto, was married at
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Groton on December 21, 1719, by Francis Fullam, a justice of peace, to Hannah Wansamug. William appears to have been a slave belonging to Eleazer Robbins, of Groton, and Hannah was an Indian, who is called in the records "late of Lancaster; " but un- fortunately the marriage was not a happy one. With all confidence in her husband, the wife bought his freedom, when he proved false to his plight and prom- ise, and deserted her. The story, told in her own words, is found in the Journal of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, June 13, 1724 (page 39):
" A Petition of Hannah Banks Indian, shewing that she bought of Eleazer Robbins of Groton his Servant Man's Time, and gave a Bond of l. 15 for Payment of the same, that afterwards she married the said Servant Man, who is since absconded, and the said Robbins hath put the said Bond in Suit, and cast the Petitioner into Prison in Boston, that the Principal Debt with the Charges hath arisen to l. 25 which Mr. Edward Ruggles of Roxbury hath paid for her, praying this Court would please to enable the said Edward Ruggles to Sell such a part of her Land in Natick, as will satisfy him for his advance of said Twenty-Five Pounds. " Read and committed to the Committee for Petitions."
The following advertisement, not an unusual one for that period, appears in The Boston Evening- Post, July 30, 1739 :
R AN away from his Master, Mr. John Woods of Groton, on Thursday the 12th of this Instant July, a Negro Man Servant named Caesar, about 22 Years of Age, a pretty short well sett Fellow. He carried with him a Blue Coat and Jacket, a pair of Tow Breeches, a Castor Hat, Stockings and Shoes of his own, und a Blue Cloth Coat with flower'd Metal Buttons, a white flower'd Jacket, a good Bever Hat, a Gray Wigg, and a pair of new Shoes of his Master's, with some other things. It is suspected there is some white Person that may be with him, or design to make Use of his Master's Apparel above described.
Whoever shall take up the said Serrant, and bring him to his above-said Master in Groton, or be a Means of convicting any person or Confederate with said Servant as above suspected, shall have Five Pounds Reward for each of them, and all necessary Charges paid.
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Another advertisement appears in The Boston Gazette and Country Journal, June 13, 1774, as follows :
Ten Dollars Reward.
R AN AWAY from the Subscriber, Joseph Moors, of Groton, in the County of Middlesex, and Province of Massachusetts-Bay, a Molatto Man Servant, named TITUS, about 20 Years of Age, of a mid- ling Stature, wears short curl'd Hair, has one of his Fore-Teeth broke out, took with him a blue Surdan, a Snuff-coloured Coat, and a Pair of white wash'd Leather Breeches, a Pair of new Cow-Hide Pumps and a Furr'd Hat with large Brims, and sundry other Articles of Wearing Apparel .-- Whoever will take up said Servant and confine him in any of his Majesty's Goals, so that the Owner may have him again, shall have TEN DOLLARS Reward and all necessary Charges paid, by
JOSEPH MOORS.
All Masters of Vessels and others, are hereby Caution'd against Harbouring, Concealing, or carrying off said Servant, as they would thereby avoid the Penalty of the Law.
The following marriage is entered in the church rec- ords under the date December 28, 1742: "Priamus (Capt Boydens Negro man servant [)] to Margrt. Mo- latto formerly servant to S. S. both of Groton." Itis also recorded that Margaret, the servant of Samuel Scripture, Jr., was baptized on January 30, 1733-34, and that she owned the church covenant at the same time. The initials "S. S." stand for Samuel Scrip- ture. This negro couple was afterward blessed with a family of children, and they lived on the west side of the Nashua River, a short distance north of the county road to Townsend. His surname was Lew or Lue, and his given name became contracted into Pri- mus ; and to this day the rise of ground, near the place where the Pepperell road leaves the main road, is known as Primus Hill, so called after him. Mr. Butler thinks that perhaps Margaret's name was
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Lew. See his History (page 454). Their oldest child, -Zelah, a corruption of Barzillai,-born at Groton on November 5, 1743, was a famous musician, who lived at Dracut and the father of numerous children who were also musicians. He was a fifer in Captain John Ford's company of the twenty-seventh Massa- chusetts Regiment, in service at the siege of Boston, and was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
About the year 1740 there was a negro slave in Gro- ton by the name of Boad, who used to look after the cattle sent up to Groton Gore in the spring to be pas- tured during the summer. See "The Boundary Lines of Old Groton " (page 37). The church records con- tains the entry of the baptism of Hagar, a servant of William Green, on August 1, 1765.
Akin to the subject of slavery in Groton is this item, from The Groton Landmark, November 14, 1885 :-
"Gov. Boutwell has in an old scrap-book the following interesting Memorandum :
"August, 1856.
"Noah Shattuck, esq., informs me that there were eleven slaves in Groton when slavery was abolished, and he mentioned the following names : Chloe Williams, Phillis Cutler, Phillis Sartell, Ichabod Davis, Fanny Borden and William Case. Phineas Wait also owned one slave."
Noah Shattuck, a son of Job and Sarah (Hartwell) Shattuck, was born on August 30, 1772, and died on September 28, 1858.
The following entry is found in the town records, and refers to the last survivor of negro slavery within the limits of the town. The institution was abolished by the adoption of the State Constitution in the year
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1780, the courts holding that the Bill of Rights swept away the remnants of involuntary servitude:
" Phillis Walby, servant to Josiah Sawtell, Jun., deceased, died at Groton, aged 79, February -, 1821."
The following extract from the town records refers to Titus, who is advertised as a runaway in The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal, June 13, 1774, as mentioned above. The advertiser was a son of Abraham Moors, the owner of Zebina, the slave- mother :
· " Titus, a molato boy born of Zebinah, a negro slave to Mr. Abraham Moors, March -, 1751."
A LIST OF THE TOWN CLERKS (from the year 1662 to the present time, with the dates of their election and terms of service. In this list the years are given according to the new style of reckoning, and in spe- cifying dates, small fractions of years are overlooked. The town was attacked by the Indians in the spring of 1676, and abandoned by the inhabitants until March, 1678.
The earliest records of the town were written by Richard Sawtell, and begin on June 23, 1662, though his election as town clerk was not recorded until De- cember 24, 1662. During the period since that date there have been thirty-four town clerks, of whom five, namely, Jonathan Morse, William Longley, Jr., James Blanchard, Jonathan Sheple and Samuel Rockwood, died while in office-Longley being killed by the Indians on July 27, 1694. During the early part of 1682 Captain James Parker, Richard Blood and Jonas Prescott made entries in the records, though no one of them appears to have been at the time town clerk. Jon-
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athan Morse was the first who signed the records with his name, though the practice with him was not con- stant. William Longley, William Longley, Jr., and John Longley were representatives of three successive generations in the same family, being father, son and grandson. On December 9, 1687, William Longley, Jr., was chosen clerk, but he acted as such during only a part of the next town meeting on May 21, 1688, when he was followed by Josiah Parker, who made the entry for so much of that meeting as oc- curred after his election. Mr. Bingham, the present occupant, has filled the position for more than thirty- five years continuously-by far the longest term of service of any town clerk. Joseph Lakin, with a rec- ord of seventeen years, comes next to him in length of time. Of all the persons mentioned in the list, only the last three are now living, namely, Mr. Boutwell, Mr. Parker and Mr. Brigham ; and their combined term of service covers just forty-four years. Since the death of Mr. Park, which took place on September 23, 1875, these three have been the only survivors. Mr. Butler died on October 7, 1854, and Mr. Boyn- ton on November 30, 1854-less than eight weeks apart.
Date of Election.
December 24, 1652, Richard Sawtell, 1662-1664.
January 27, 1665, James Fisk, 1665.
December 2, 1665, William Longley, 1666, 1667.
December 11, 1667, John Page, 1668.
November 11, 1668, Richard Blood, 1669.
November 10, 1669, John Morse, 1670-1676.
(Town abandoned during two years.)
1678, James Parker, 1678, 1679.
December 23, 1679, John Morse, 1680, 1681.
1682, Jonathan Morse (died July 31, 1686), 1682-1686.
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December 10, 1686, Josiah Parker, 1686, 1687.
December 9, 1687, William Longley, Jr., 1688 (a short time only).
May 21, 1688, Josiah Parker, 1688-1691.
December 10, 1691, Jonas Prescott, 1692.
December 12, 1692, William Longley, Jr. (killed July 27, 1694), 1693- 1694.
March 4, 1695, James Blanchard, 1695.
March 3, 1696, Jonas Prescott, 1696.
December 10, 1696, James Blanchard (died Feb., 1704), 1697-1704.
March 8, 1704, Thomas Tarbell, 1704, 1705.
March 5, 1706, Joseph Lakin, 1706-1722.
March 5, 1723, John Longley, 1723-1726.
March 7, 1727, Joseph Lakin, 1727.
March 5, 1728, John Longley, 1728, 1729.
March 3, 1730, Jonathan Sheple, 1730.
March 2, 1731, Thomas Tarbell, Jr., 1731-1733.
March 5, 1734, Jonathan Sheple, 1734-1744.
March 5, 1745, Thomas Tarbell, Jr., 1745-1756.
March 1, 1757, Abel Lawrence, 1757-1764.
March 5, 1765, Oliver Prescott, 1765-1777.
March 3, 1778, Isaac Farnsworth, 1778-1781.
March 5, 1782, Abel Bancroft, 1782, 1783.
March 2, 1784, Jonathan Keep, 1784.
March 1, 1785, Abel Bancroft was chosen, but declined.
March 1, 1785, Isaac Farnsworth, 1785-1787.
March 4, 1788, Nathaniel Sartel was chosen, but declined.
March 10, 1788, Joseph Shed, 1788-1794.
March 3, 1795, Samuel Lawrence, 1795-1798.
March 5, 1799, Samuel Rockwood (died May 29, 1804), 1799-1804.
June 18, 1804, Oliver Prescott, Jr., 1804-1810.
March 5, 1811, Joseph Mansfield, 1811-1814.
March 7, 1815, Caleb Butler, 1815-1817.
March 3, 1818, Joseph Mansfield, 1818.
March 2, 1819, Noah Shattuck, 1819-1822.
March 3, 1823, Caleb Butler, 1823-1831.
March 6, 1832, John Boynton, 1832, 1833.
March 4, 1834, John Gray Park, 1834-1836.
March 6, 1837, John Boynton, 1837-1845.
March 3, 1846, George Sewall Boutwell, 1846-1850.
March 4, 1851, John Warren Parker, 1851-1854.
March 5, 1855, George Dexter Brigham, 1855-
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A LIST OF THE TREASURERS (so far as they are found in the town records, with the dates of their election and terms of service) .- Alden Warren served during twenty-four years, which is the longest term of any treasurer ; and next to him, in length of service, was Benjamin Bancroft, who filled the office for seventeen years. After him came Cal- vin Boynton, who served during sixteen years, and then Capt. Ephraim Sawtell, with a term of fifteen years. William Livermore, who was treasurer in 1845, is the senior survivor ; and, with the exception of the brothers George and Walter Shattuck, all his successors are still alive.
Date of Election.
[March ?], 1697, Capt. Jas. Parker. March 1, 1709, " Samuill Woods trasewer"
March 7, 1710, Samuel Woods. March 6, 1711, Samuel Woods. March 4, 1712, Jonathan Boiden. March 3, 1713, Jonathan Boiden. March 2, 1714, " Shebuall hobart " March 1, 1715, Shebuel Hobart. March 6, 1716, Jonathan Boiden. March 5, 1717, Jonathan Boiden. March 4, 1718, John Longley. March 3, 1719, John Longley. March 1, 1720, John Longley. March 7, 1721, John Longley. March 6, 1722, John Longley. March 5, 1723, Thomas Lawrence. March 3, 1724, Thomas Lawrence. March 2, 1725, Thomas Lawrence. March 1, 1726, Thos. Lawrence, Sr March 7, 1727, Thomas Lawrence. March 5, 1728, Thomas Lawrence. March 4, 1729, Samuel Tarbell.
Date of Election.
March 3, 1730, Samuel Tarbell. March 2, 1731, Samuel Tarbell. March 7, 1732, "Justis Prescott." March 6, 1733, Benj. Prescott, Esq. March 5, 1734 (In the list of town officers chosen on this day the treasurer's name is omitted probably through an oversight but without doubt it was Ben- jamin Prescott).
March 4, 1735, Benj. Prescott, Esq. March 2, 1736, Benj. Prescott, Esq. March 7, 1737, Benj. Prescott, Esq. March 6,- 1738, "Justice Sawtell." March 4, 1739, Nath. Sawtell, Esq. 1740 (no record is found). March 3, 1741, Nath. Sawtell, Esq. 1742 (no record is found). March 1, 1743, " Deacon Longley." March 6, 1744, Dea. John Longley March 5, 1745, Dea. John Longley March 3, 1746, Dea. John Longley March 3, 1747, Dea. John Longley
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March 1, 1748, Dea. John Longley March 6, 1749, Dea. John Longley March 5, 1750, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 5, 1751, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 3, 1752, Capt. Eph. Siwtell March 6, 1753, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 5, 1754, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 4, 1755, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 2, 1756, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 1, 1757, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 7, 1758, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 6, 1759, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 4, 1760, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 3, 1761, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 2, 1762, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 1, 1763, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 6, 1764, Capt. Eph. Sawtell March 5, 1765, Benjamin Bancroft March 4, 1766, Benjamin Bancroft March 3, 1767, Benjamin Bancroft March 1, 1768, Benjamin Bancroft March 7, 1769, Benjamin Bancroft March 6, 1770, Benjamin Bancroft March 5, 1771, Benjamin Bancroft March 3, 1772, Benjamin Bancroft March 2, 1773, Benjamin Bancroft March 1, 1774, Dea. Benj. Bancroft March 7, 1775, Dea. Benj. Bancroft March 5, 1776, Dea. Benj. Bancroft March 4, 1777, Dea. Benj. Bancroft March 3, 1778, Dea. Benj. Bancroft March 2, 1779, Dea. Benj. Bancroft March 7, 1780, Dea. Benj. Bancroft March 6, 1781, Dea. Benj. Bancroft March 5, 1782, Lieut. Jona. Keep. March 4, 1783, Lieut, Jona. Keep. March 2, 1784, Israel Hobart, Esq. March 1, 1785, Israel Hobart, Esq. March 7, 1786, Isaiah Edes.
March 6, 1787, Isaiah Edes.
March 4, 1788, Isaiah Edes.
March 3, 1789, Isaiah Edes. March 2, 1790, Isaiah Edes. March 1, 1791, Isaiah Edes. March 6, 1792, Isaiah Edes. March 5, 1793, Isaiah Edes. March 4, 1794, Isaiah Edes. March 3, 1795, Isaiah Edes.
March 1, 1796, Joseph Shed. March 7, 1797, Joseph Shed. March 6, 1798, Joseph Shed. March 5, 1799, Joseph Shed. March 4, 1800, Joseph Shed. March 3, 1801, Joseph Shed. March 2, 1802, Joseph Shed. March 1, 1803, Joseph Shed. March 6, 1804, Solomon Tarbell. March 5, 1805, Solomon Tarbell. March 4, 1806, Lieut. Sol. Tarbell. March, 3, 1807, Lieut. Sol. Tarbell. March 1, 1808, Lieut. Sol. Tarbell. March 7, 1809, Lieut. Sol. Tarbell. March 6, 1810, Lieut. Sol. Tarbell. March 5, 1811, Lieut. Sol. Tarbell. March 3, 1812, Lieut. Sol. Tarbell. March 2, 1813, Lieut. Sol. Tarbell. April 4, 1814, Alpheus Richardson. March 7, 1815, Alpheus Richardson March 5, 1816, Calvin Boynton. March 4, 1817, Calvin Boynton. March 3, 1818, Calvin Boynton. March 2, 1819, Calvin Boynton. March 7, 1820, Calvin Boynton. March 6, 1821, Calvin Boynton. March 5, 1822, Calvin Boyuton. March 3, 1823, Calvin Boynton. March 2, 1824, Calvin Boynton. March 1, 1825, Calvin Boynton. March 7, 1826, Calvin Boynton. March 6, 1827, Calvin Boynton. March 4, 1828, Calvin Boynton. March 3, 1829, Calviu Boynton.
11
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Date of Election.
March 2, 1830, Calvin Boynton. March 1, 1831, Calvin Boynton. March 6, 1832, John Peabody. March 5, 1833, John Peabody. March 4, 1834, John Peabody. March 3, 1835, John Peabody. March 1, 1836, John Peabody. March 6, 1837, John Peabody. March 6, 1838, John Peabody. March 5, 1839, John Peabody. March 3, 1840, John Peabody. March 2, 1841, John Peabody. March 1, 1842, John Peabody. March 7, 1843, John Peabody. March 5, 1844, Daniel Shattuck. March 4, 1845, Wm. Livermore, Jr March 3, 1846, George Shattuck. March 2, 1847, George Shattuck. March 6, 1848, George Shattuck. March 6, 1849, Walter Shattuck. March 5, 1850, Walter Shattuck. March 4, 1851, Walter Shattuck.
March 2, 1852, Walter Shattuck. March 1, 1853, Daniel Needham. March 6, 1854, Daniel Needham. March 5, 1855, Alden Warren. March 3, 1856, Alden Warren. March 2, 1857, Alden Warren. March 1, 1858, Alden Warren. March 7, 1859, Alden Warren. March 5, 1860, Alden Warren.
Date of Election.
March 4, 1861, Alden Warren. March 3, 1862, Alden Warren. March 2, 1863, Alden Warren. March 7, 1864, Alden Warren. March 6, 1865, Alden Warren. March 5, 1866, Alden Warren. March 4, 1867, Alden Warren. March 2, 1868, Alden Warren. March 1, 1869, Alden Warren. March 7, 1870, Alden Warren. March 6, 1871, Alden Warren. March 4, 1872, Alden Warren. March 3, 1873, Alden Warren. March 2, 1874, Alden Warren. March 1, 1875, Alden Warren. March 6, 1876, Alden Warren. March 5, 1877, Alden Warren. March 4, 1878, Alden Warren. March 3, 1879, George S. Gates. March 1, 1880, George S. Gates. March 7, 1881, George S. Gates. April 3, 1882, George S. Gates. April 2, 1883, George S. Gates. April 7, 1884, George S. Gates. April 6, 1885, George S. Gates. April 5, 1886, George S. Gates. April 4, 1887, George S. Gates. April 2, 1888, George S. Gates. April 1, 1889, George S. Gates. April 7, 1890, George S. Gates.
THE OLD STORES AND THE POST-OFFICE OF GRO- TON .- Tradition has preserved little or nothing in re- gard to the earliest trading-stores of Groton. It is probable, however, that they were kept in dwell- ing-houses by the occupants, who sold articles in common use for the convenience of the neighbor- hood, and at the same time pursued their regular vocations.
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GROTON.
Jonas Cutler was keeping a shop on the site of Mr. Gerrish's store before the Revolution, and the follow- ing notice, signed by him, appears in The Massachu- setts Gazette (Boston), November 28, 1768 :
"A THEFT.
" Whereas on the 19th or 20th Night of November Instant the Shop of the Subscriber was broke open in Groton, and from thence was stollen a large Sum of Cash, viz., four Half Johannes, two Guineas, two Half Ditto, One Pistole mill'd, nine Crowns, a Considerable Number of Dol- lars, with a considerable Quantity of small Silver & Copper, together with one Bever Hat, about fifteen Yards of Holland, eleven Bandannas, blue Ground with white, twelve red ditto with white, Part of a Piece of Silk Romails, 1 Pair black Worsted Hose, 1 strip'd Cap, 8 or 10 black barcelona Handkerchiefs, Part of a Piece of red silver'd Ribband, blue & white do, Part of three Pieces of black Sattin Ribband, part of three pieces of black Tafferty ditto, two bundles of Razors, Part of 2 Dozen Penknives, Part of 2 Dozen ditto with Seals, Part of 1 Dozen Snuff Boxes, Part of 3 Dozen Shoe Buckels, Part of several Groce of Buttons, one Piece of gellow [yellow ?] Ribband, with sundry Articles not yet known of- Whoever will apprehend the said Thief or Thieves, so that he or they may be brought to Justice, shall receive TEN DOL- LARS Reward and all necessary Charges paid. JONAS CUTLER. " Groton, Nov. 22, 1763 [8].
" If any of the above mentioned Articles are offered to Sail, it is desired they may be stop'd with the Thief, and Notice given to said Cut- ler or to the Printers."
On October 21, 1773, a noted burglar was hanged in Boston for various robberies committed in different parts of the State, and covering a period of some years. The unfortunate man was present at the de- livery of a sermon by the Reverend Samuel Stillman, preached at his own request, on the Sunday before his execution ; and to many of the printed copies is appended an account of his life. In it the poor fellow states that he is only twenty-one years old, and that he was born in Groton of a respectable family.
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He confessed that he broke into Mr. Cutler's shop, and took away " a good piece of broad-cloth, a quan- tity of silk mitts and several pieces of silk handker- chiefs." He was hardly seventeen years of age at the time of this burglary. To the present generation it would seem cruel and wicked to hang a misguided youth for offences of this character.
Mr. Cutler died on December 19, 1782; and he was succeeded in business by Major Thomas Gardner, who erected the building formerly known as Gerrish's Block, which was moved away in the summer of 1885. Major Gardner lived in the house now owned by the Watters family.
Near the end of the last century a store, situated a little north of the late Benjamin Perkins Dix's house, was kept by James Brazer, which had an extensive trade for twenty miles in different directions. It was here that the late Amos Lawrence served an ap- prenticeship of seven years, which ended on April 22, 1807 ; and he often spoke of his success in busi- ness as due, in part, to the experience in this store. Late in life he wrote that "the knowledge of every- day affairs which I acquired in my business ap- prenticeship at Groton has been a source of pleasure and profit even in my last ten years' discipline."
The quantity of New England rum and other liquors sold at that period would astonish the tem- perance people of the present day. Social drinking was then a common practice, and each forenoon some stimulating beverage was served up to the customers in order to keep their trade. There were five clerks employed in the establishment; and many years later
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GROTON.
Mr. Lawrence, in giving advice to a young student in college, wrote :
"In the first place, take this for your motto at the commencement of your journey, that the difference of going just right, or a little wrong, will be the difference of finding yourself in good quarters, or in a miser- able bog or slough, at the end of it. Of the whole number educated in the Groton stores for some years before and after myself, no one else, to my knowledge escaped the bog or slough ; and my escape I trace to the simple fact of having put a restraint upon my appetite. We five boys were in the habit, every forenoon, of making a drink compounded of rum, raisins, sugar, nutmeg, &c., with biscuit, -all palatable to eat and drink. After being in the store four weeks, I found myself admonished by my appetite of the approach of the hour for indulgence. Thinking the habit might make trouble if allowed to grow stronger, without fur- ther apology to my seniors I declined partaking with them. My first resolution was to abstain for a week, and, when the week was out, for a month, and then for a year. Finally, I resolved to abstain for the rest of my apprenticeship, which was for five years longer. During that whole period, I never drank a spoonful though I mixed gallons daily for my old master and his customers." 1
The following advertisement is found in the Co- lumbian Centinel (Boston), June 8, 1805 :
" James Brazer,
WOULD inform the public that having dissolved the Copartnership lately subsisting between AARON BROWN, Esq. SAMUEL HALE and the Subscriber ; he has taken into Copartnership his son WILLIAM F. BRAZER, and the business in future will be transacted under the firm
JAMES BRAZER & SON ;
They will offer for sale, at their store in Groton, within six days a com- plete assortment of English, India, and W. India GOODS, which they will sell for ready pay, at as low a rate as any store in the Country.
" JAMES BRAZER. " Groton, May 29, 1805."
"Squire Brazer," as he was generally called, was a man of wealth and position. He was one of the
1 Diary and Correspondence of Amos Lawrence, pages 24, 25.
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founders of Groton Academy, and his subscription of £15 to the building fund in the year 1792 was as large as that given by any other person. In the early part of this century he built the house now belonging to the academy and situated just south of it, where he lived until his death, which occurred on November 10, 1818. His widow, also, took a deep interest in the institution, and at her decease, April 14, 1826, be- queathed to it nearly five thousand dollars.
After Mr. Brazer's death the store was moved across the street, where, until the summer of 1885, it re- mained, forming the wing of Gerrish's Block. The post-office was in the north end of it during Mr. Butler's term as postmaster. About this time the son, William Farwell Brazer, built a store nearly opposite to the Academy, which he kept during some years. It was made finally into a dwelling-house, and ocou- pied by the late Jeremiah Kilbourn.
The brick store opposite to the High School was built in the year 1835, by Henry Woods, for his own place of business, and afterwards kept by him and George S. Boutwell, the style of the firm being Woods & Boutwell. Mr. Woods died on January 12, 1841, and he was succeeded by his surviving partner, who carried on the store for a long time, even while hold- ing the highest executive position in the State. In the spring of 1855, when he began to practice law, Governor Boutwell sold out the business to Brigham & Parker. The post-office was in this building during the years 1839 and 1840 and until April, 1841. For the past thirty years it has been occupied by various firms, but is now kept by John H. Sheedy & Com- pany.
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