USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Framingham > History of Framingham, Massachusetts, including the Plantation, from 1640 to the present time, with an appendix, containing a notice of Sudbury and its first proprietors > Part 8
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1766. About this time, the house of Deac. Daniel Stone was destroyed by fire.
1769. A school house was consumed by fire, in the N. part of the town.
tioned the Court to grant him indem- nity for the loss of several bills (Old Tenor), burnt by the destruction of his house while he and his wife were absent, which " consumed all the little substance he had in this world " He added that he and two sons were at the taking of Louisburg, "and one of them is there still." The Court ordered him to be paid £3.15. State Files.
* The mortality was greatest in Holliston, where 53 deaths occurred - according to a petition in the State Files, " one eighth part of the entire population, some families having been quite broken up." The number of deaths in Sherburne was between 20 and 30. Of the precise number of deaths in this town, we have no authentic return; not more than seven being recorded on the town books. The Goddard family appear to have been the chief sufferers. The Rev. David Goddard, (minister of Leicester), deceased here Jan. 19th ; his mother, Feb. 4; and his father, the Hon. Edward Goddard, Feb. 9th. Others of the family were sick, but recovered. Mr. Joshua Hemenway was also a victim to the malady. The reader will find a particular ac-
count of the symptoms, &c. of this distemper, in the Rev. Mr. Fitch's Century Sermon, delivered at Hollis- ton Dec. 4, 1826, and printed.
t Holmes' Annals.
# Vide the Rev. John Mellen's ser- mon describing its effects at Stirling.
§ " Dec. 17, 1756, snow 15 inches deep.
"Snow 20th day, 15 inches more.
" Snow 23d day, 7 or 8 inches more.
" Cold rain 26th day ; 27th, warm three days, then some rain.
"Jan. 3, 1757, cold N.W. snow, about two or three inches.
"Jan. 9, about noon very hot fog, then rain.
" 17th, very cold N.W. wind.
" 22d, rain and thaw very fast.
" 24th and 25th, snow to the value of 10 inches ; the night after, eight inches more.
"30th and 31st, thawed away the most of the snow that came last ; the whole depth above 4 ft and 4 inches.
" Feb. 2, snow and hail seven in- ches deep.
"5th, snow 7 inches deep more.
"6th, rain most of the day.
"7th, snow three inches deep.
" 10th, S. wind and rain, till the snow wasted the most of it."
67
REMARKABLE EVENTS.
1777, June 3. Mr. Abraham Rice and Mr. John Clayes, were killed by lightning, during a very short thunder squall .*
1785, April 12. The Hon. Josiah Stone, aged 60 years, was suddenly killed by falling from the carriage of his mill. He had been long held in honorable esteem by his townsmen, and had filled many offices in the civil and military service of the Com- monwealth.
1786, Nov. 5. Jesse Eaton died suddenly in the meeting house, while in the act of singing.
1787, Aug. 15. About 3 o'clock, P. M., a hurricane passed through the N. part of the town, doing considerable damage .;
* The following particulars were taken by the author from Mr. Josiah Clayes, now living, who was son of one of the victims, and a spectator of the scene. Mr. Laban Wheaton was at the time preaching in the first Par- ish, and had employed Mr. John Clayes, (who lived in a house a few rods E. of the one now occupied by his son Josiah), to try a horse he had proposed to buy. On the day above mentioned, a little after noon, the neighbors assembled at Mr. Clayes' house to see the animal, viz. Peter Parker, Abraham Rice, Simon Pratt and his son Ephraim. Old Mr. Par- ker had rode away upon the horse at some distance, when a cloud began to rise in the N.W. On Mr. Parker's return, the company, who during his absence had retired to the house, went out to see him ride, at which time a few drops of rain were falling. As Mr. Parker rode up, Mr. John Clayes stepped out of the gate, leav- ing the others leaning against the fence within; and as he took the horse by the reins, the lightning struck every individual of the company to the ground. Mr. Rice and Mr. Clayes, with the horse, were instantly killed. Mr. Parker lay as if dead, but gradu- ally recovered his consciousness, though a long time elapsed before he was fully restored to his usual health. The boy recovered quickly. Mr. Pratt suffered much, and for a long time after the event. Josiah Clayes, then a boy, went for Dr. Stone, who was absent at Natick ; but before his return, Mr. Fiske, a neighbor, had procured Dr. Hemenway, who gave
what relief he could to the sufferers. The horse was struck in the head, and the lightning descended each side of the neck and both fore legs to the shoes, singeing the hair in its course. Mr. Clayes was struck in the head, and the fluid passed along the neck - leaving a blister in the breast - down both legs, which showed traces of its course, but left his shoes unin- jured Having hold of the horse's bridle, the animal fell upon him. All were singed in body and dress, hav- ing on, at the time, woollen clothes. The boy was a little distant from the company. The shower was very brief, and Mr. Clayes thinks there was but a single clap of thunder. This event excited great interest at the time, and a long elegy was writ- ten by Miss Lydia Learned, (who to the gift of teaching added a devotion to the poetic Muse), and was after- wards printed. The reader will prob- ably be satisfied with the following stanzas, which were inscribed upon the grave-stone of the victims of the disaster.
" My trembling heart with grief o'erflows, While I record the death of those Who died by Thunder sent from Heaven, In 17 hundred seventy seven.
Let's all prepare for Judgment Day, As we may be called out of Time, And in a sudden, awful way,
Whilst in our youth and in our primne."
t It came, as nearly as we can learn, from the direction of Marlbo- rough. It demolished the barn and ten feet of the house of the late Mr. Phinehas Gibbs ; overturned a dwel- ling house occupied by a Shattuck
68
CIVIL HISTORY.
The same year a school house was destroyed by fire, in the E. part of the town.
1793. The small pox made its appearance in the town .*
1797. The house of Mr. William Ballard, at the S.W. part of the town, was destroyed by fire.
1800. We give below a schedule of the disasters by fire in Framingham, as far as known to the author, since the commence- ment of the present century.t
family, leaving the lower floor; two children, lying upon a bed asleep, were found uninjured. A Mrs. Saun- ders, living with the Shattucks, was carried by the violence of the wind to a considerable distance, and was seriously injured. Mrs. Shattuck was blown about ten rods. A feather bed was found three miles distant from the house, and in it were recov- ered thirty dollars in specie, which had previously been placed there for safe-keeping. The hurricane made an even path, several rods in width, through the woods-passed in the direction of the Nixons and Ed- munds to the Frost house, where it seemed to ascend into the atmos- phere, and soon afterwards re-appear- ed at Weston, where further damage was experienced.
* A few years earlier the disease probably existed here; as in February, 1777, a proposition was made to build a small pox hospital, but was nega- tived by the town; and instances of death from the disease occurred at a period still prior. In September, 1792, according to the Records, “it having been proposed by the phy- sicians of the town, to receive per- mission to inoculate with the small pox," the town voted " not to have the small pox in town, by inoculation, nor any other way, if it can be pre- vented." May, 1793: "voted, that the Selectmen be a committee to prosecute any person that shall spread the small pox, by inoculation, or any other way." At the same time, the town granted £30 to assist the sick, and appointed a committee of distri- bution. A hospital was provided at the house of Mr. George Pratt. The disease was introduced into the town by one David Butler, who came to Framingham from Peterboro', and
falling sick with the disease, his nurses, to the number of seventeen, took the infection, and five persons besides Butler, died. Aug. 12, 1793, Peter Clayes was paid by the town for supplies furnished to the hospital. In 1810, the town chose Dr. J. B. Kittredge, Dr. Timo. Merriam, and Maj. Benjamin Wheeler, a committee to devise a system for inoculating with the kine pock.
+ 1822, Nov. 24. Capt. Higgins' house ; same year, Mr. Gilman's house.
1826, April. The barn of Mr. Levi Eaton.
1828, Dec. The woollen factory at Saxonville.
1831. In the Spring, the shop of Mr. Dexter Hemenway.
1834. In the Summer, the cotton factory at the E. part of the town.
1835-6. In the Winter, the house of Mr. Edward How, a mile& E. from the village.
1837. The bake-house of Mr. Child, near S. house, No. 8.
1839. Mr. Edmund Capen's barn ; supposed to have been an incendiary act.
1841, Oct. The poor house was destroyed, one of the inmates having clandestinely placed a lighted lamp in a closet, from which the house took fire.
1842, March. The paper mill of Calvin Shepard, Jr. Esq.
1843. In the autumn, the saw-mill belonging to William Buckminster, Esq .; also, Mr. Gill's house, in the S. district, No. 8.
1844-Summer. The barn of Maj. Benj. Wheeler; the same year, a shingle-mill, belonging to Win. Buck- minster, Esq.
1846, March. A shop belonging to Col. Timothy Eames.
69
PROVISION FOR THE POOR.
PROVISION FOR THE POOR.
For many years after the incorporation of the town, no stated provision for the poor was required, individual instances of suffer- ing being met as the exigency arose. The first certain instance of public relief, occurs upon the Record Feb. 1, 1736, when " an order was directed to Mr. Micah Stone by the Selectmen, desir- ing him to pay into the hands of Mr. Ralph Hemenway, the sum of £5, (out of the money paid by fines of persons chosen to serve as Constables in March last), to be improved and bestowed by said Hemenway, at his best discretion, for the relief of Stephen Streater's family ; and one other order to said Mr. Stone, to pay out of the same fines, 18s. to Edward Goddard, for three pair of Indentures, for binding out three poor children."
May 21, 1739. " Granted to John Nurse, the sum of £4, for boarding John Provender."
Nov. 26, 1739. An article was, for the first time, placed in the town warrant, " to see if the town will grant a suitable sum for the support of the poor." The article was debated and not voted upon, when the meeting was dissolved.
1741. The town first chose overseers of the poor. The per- sons elected were Amos Gates, John Bent and William Ballard.
May 16, 1743. . " Voted, that at every Publick Thanksgiving, and also every publick fast, there be a contribution for the sup- port of the poor in said town."
About the year 1747, one or two individuals only received pub- lic support, who were boarded in various places.
Aug. 29, 1754. Upon an article in the warrant, " to see what method the town will take relating to Moquet, who is now at the Rev. Mr. Gardner's of Stow, and claims the assistance of the town : Voted, that the overseers be directed for the future to make provision for him in a decent manner."
Feb. 14, 1757. It having been proposed to make provision for a French family, then in town, and also to provide a work house,
In 1816, an unsuccessful move- inent was made in town meeting to obtain a fire engine. In 1818, indi- viduals having offered to purchase one for the use of the town, seventy
dollars were granted by the latter for an engine house. In 1847, the Legis- lature passed an act establishing a Fire Department in this town. There are now three engines.
70
CIVIL HISTORY.
the town voted the 7th of March, prox., " that the overseers of the poor, shall (if they can) provide a house and land, by hiring the same for the French family, in said town, for the year ensuing. that they may provide subsistence for themselves. Voted, that Mr. William Brown take care of the poor in said town that shall be put into the work house, that they may be kept at work, and subsisted with such things as are necessary and convenient for their support."*
May 21, 1764. Voted, that Mr. Ralph Hemenway, Capt. Jo- siah Stone, and Mr. John Haven, be a committee to provide the town with a work house, and take care of the poor, and commit them to said house, &c.
Sept. 1, 1766. Voted to build a work house, 32 feet long and 16 feet wide, and seven and a half feet stud between joints. Voted, that there shall be a cellar under one of the rooms as big as said room, the walls of said house to be enclosed with white pine boards, and sealed with the like boards : also voted that said work house be built on said town's land, called the meeting house land, in the most convenient place, as the committee shall think proper.
Voted, that Lt. Sam. Gleason, Capt. Jona. Brewer and Capt. Josiah Stone, be a committee to build the work house, and that £50 be granted for this object.
1767. The town of Reading recovered £60 of Framingham, for the support of paupers.
1768. Chose nine overseers.t
1771. Joseph Buckminster, Esq., gave a deed of gift of a half acre of land, adjoining to the meeting house lot, to accommo- date the work house and school house ; for which the town unani- mously voted him their thanks.
* Tradition informs us that the house once occupied by Mr. Swift, was obtained in conformity with the above vote. An aged lady, who has lately entered upon her 97th year, remembers distinctly the French family referred to, with their wooden shoes and striped silk cloaks !
+ June 4, of this year, the Overseers made a Report, which was accepted by the town, embodying their regula- tions, specifying the hours of labor, the employment of the paupers,
(chiefly the picking of oakum), the misdemeanors which were to be made punishable " by stripes on the naked back not exceeding ten stripes, by setting on the stocks or otherwise," at the discretion of the Overseers. Begging from house to house was forbidden under like penalties; and half of the proceeds of each pauper's labor was to be disposed of, at the discretion of the Overseers, for their greater advantage.
71
PROVISION FOR THE POOR.
1774. A motion being made " to discontinue the annual contri- butions for the poor, since they are so very little of late," the same was negatived.
1800, April. The town voted to sell the work house to the highest bidder.
Oct. 13, 1813. Col. Micah Stone, by his will, made the town residuary legatee of his estate, providing that " the annual inter- est be applied (under the directions of the selectmen for the time being), for the support of his children, grand children, and great grand children, (if any of them should stand in need of support); otherwise, it may be applied to the support of the poor of said town ; but no part of the Principal is ever to be expended." The amount accruing from this legacy was about $10,000.
In 1827, the town appointed a committee to purchase a Poor farm. In 1832, a new committee was chosen for the same object, the expense of the farm to be paid out of the Stone fund. The farm of Mrs. Solomon Fay was accordingly purchased, at a cost of $3,500. Additional charges were incurred - for enlarging and repairing the house, &c., $711.51 -live stock, $355- farming tools, $206.22 - household furniture, $191.44. Total, $4,964.17 .*
The number of persons supported by this town, varies with dif- ferent years, but has rarely exceeded 16, composed chiefly of the aged, infirm, or idiotic. Considering that the population of the town now exceeds 4000, this fact presents in a favorable view the general thrift and prosperity of the community. The appropria- tions for the support of the poor, at different periods, are, viz : -
1755. -
£20
1810. -
-$1100
1764.
50
1812.
800
1789. -
150
1816. -
-
1000
1797.
$304
1823.
600
1800. -
500
1827. -
400
1802.
600
1828.
300
1805. -
500
1830. -
100
1806.
700
The average annual appropriation, from 1800 to 1834, was near $633.
This house was consumed by fire Oct. 1841, and a much larger and more commodious one occupies its place. It is the practice of the town
to hire a family to take charge of the farm and poor house, with its in- mates.
72
CIVIL HISTORY.
EMIGRATIONS.
The spirit of change and adventure, so characteristic of New England, has left marked traces in the history of Framingham ; which, from an early period, has sent forth numerous colonies, to people the wild lands of this and other States.
The first emigration of note from this town occurred about the year 1713, when a considerable number of families became gran- tees of the town of Oxford, and were prominent in the establish- ment of that flourishing town .*
At the incorporation of Hopkinton, (Dec. 13, 1717), and of Holliston, (1724), many families removed into those places. In the former town the Mellens and Havens were conspicuous.
At, or soon after, the incorporation of Rutland, (1722), seve- ral of the inhabitants of Framingham are found to have resided there, and the names of some are conspicuous in the early records of the town .; Shrewsbury (incorporated 1727) received from
The township of Oxford, (whose Indian name was Manchage), with an area of eight miles square, " in the Nipmug country," was originally granted, in 1692, to Joseph Dudley, William Stoughton, and others. They soon after brought over thirty families of French Protestants, and set apart 12,000 acres in that place, for their use. The French settlers built for their protection, on a hill south- east of the present village of Oxford, a fort, whose ruins, with the vines planted by these fugitives from per- secution, yet remain, interesting me- morials of their short sojourn in the place. The massacre of one of their families by the Indians, and the hard- ships and perils of that wild region, induced them soon to forsake their lands; and the entire township, (with a single reservation to Gabriel Ber- non), was conveyed, in 1713, to thir. ty-eight individuals, among whom, eleven at least were inhabitants of Framingham, viz : John, Ephraim, and Israel Town ; Daniel Eliott, and his sons, Daniel and Ebenezer ; Isaac and Ebenezer Larned ; Thomas Lea- son, (Gleason), Benj. Nealand, and Abial Lamb. In addition to these,
we find the names of Samuel Barton, Hezekiah Stone, and probably others, who then, or soon after, became in- habitants of the place. At the first meeting for the formation of the church, three of the four persons present, viz : Lt. John Town, Abial Lamb and Saml. Barton, were from Framingham; the first-named was chosen Deacon. The covenant of the church was adopted from that of the first church in this town, and at the ordination of their first minister, Mr. John Campbell, March 1, 1720-1, Dea. Haven and Ens. Benj. Bridges appeared as delegates from Framing- ham, and Mr. Swift gave the fellow- ship of the churches. Mr. Swift ap- pears, from his journal, to have preached at Oxford, May 10, 1719; on which occasion he baptized eight persons, viz : Elijah and Francis Town, Abigail Learned, Mercy Glea- son, Prudence and Lidia Eliot, Hephzibah Shumway, and Sarah Hunkins.
t Rutland was granted, twelve miles square, and the Indian Deed, chiefly to the heirs of Maj. Simon Willard, is dated 1686. The names of William Brintnal, David Bent and
73
EMIGRATIONS.
the Goddards, Drurys, and other families, contributions to its set- tlement. The records of Templeton, in 1735, present among the first proprietors of the township, the names of John and Henry Eames, John Provender and Isaac Learned; and others soon fol- lowed from the families of Lamb, Shattuck, &c. Nichewaug, (now Petersham), contained, in 1750, a number of settlers from Framingham, as did, a little later, Poquaig, (Athol), in which last place the Havens, Goddards and Drurys were represented by men of influence and respectability. At a later period, the towns of Westmoreland, Marlborough, and Fitzwilliam, in New Hampshire, received (particularly the last named town) a con- siderable number of families from this place ; and soon after the close of the war of the Revolution, several removed to Whites- town,* in the vicinity of Utica, New York.
We have referred to a few only of the places, more or less dis- tant, in which this town may lay claim to its dispersed sons and daughters. The passion for emigrating to the far West has never prevailed here to any extent. With the towns contiguous to this, there has been a continual interchange of families. The unceas- ing tide of emigration has borne away, in many cases, entire families, whose names, once numerous and respected, have now become extinct. Of the 59 different family names found here in 1710, but 22 are known to be represented, by lineal descendants of the same name, at this time.t
Joseph Stevens, several of the Stones, and others, were among the early set- tlers of the place from this town. Wm. Brintnal preached there as a candidate. Joseph Stevens became a deacon of the church, and held many civil offices. His family suf- fered severely in the Indian wars. John Stone, Esq. died in that place Oct. 11, 1776, æ. 73. The Rev. Jos. Buckminster, a native of Framing- ham, was settled over the church of that place, Sept. 15, 1742, where he continued " an able, faithful and wor- thy minister," until Nov. 3, 1792, when he deceased. The Rev. Joseph Willard, (before of Sunderland), the first minister, was killed before his ordination, by the Indians, after a resolute defence, in which, like the Rev. John Whiting, slain at Lancas- ter in 1697, he bore not the sword in
vain, having killed one and wounded another. See an account of the mas- sacre at Rutland, Boston Gazette, Aug. 19, 1723.
* We recall as many as eight indi- viduals, viz : Robert Eames, Nathan- jel Hemenway, Joseph and Uriah Jennings, Luther Clayes, Richard Sanger, Joseph and Needhanı May- nard, who emigrated to that place. The Hon. Needham Maynard became distinguished, and held a seat upon the Judicial Bench. He died at the advanced age of eighty-nine, a few years since.
t The reader who may desire ad- ditional information respecting the emigrations from this town, may ob- tain some materials in the Genea- logical Register, at the close of the volume.
7
74
CIVIL HISTORY.
EDUCATION.
SCHOOLS. - Some delay appears to have been experienced in the establishment of schools after the town's incorporation, (prob- ably arising in part from the scattered state of the inhabitants), which rendered the town liable to the penalty imposed by law for such neglect .*
1704-5, March 5. Voted, that Lt. Jos. Buckminster should have 5s. for going down to answer the town's presentment.
1706, Sept. 3. Voted, that Dea. Josh. Hemenway be our schoolmaster for the year ensuing; and that Benj. Bridges and Peter Cloyse, Jun. should agree with him, what he shall have for his pains.
1708, April 5. Voted, that Jona. Rice shall have 6s. for an- swering the town's presentment.
1710, April 3. Voted, that Dea. Josh. Hemenway shall be schoolmaster, &c. henceforward; and when he has a mind to lay it down, he will give the town timely notice to provide another.
1712-3, March 2. Lt. Tho. Drury and Ebenezer Harring- ton were chosen schoolmasters, to instruct the youth of Framing- ham in writing ; and the selectmen are appointed to settle school- dames in each quarter of said town.
1713, Oct. 7. £ 10 were granted to Dea. J. Hemenway as schoolmaster for four months, beginning Nov. 13.
1714, Dec. 8. Voted, that the school be kept the present win- ter season in five places, viz. one mo. at the house of John Glea- son ; one mo. at the house of Tho. Pratt ; one mo. at the house of Sam. Winch ; one mo. at the house of Cornet Sam. How; and one mo. at the house of Benj. Bridges .;
1716, March 5. Voted, to build a school house 20 or 30 poll from the W. end of the meeting house, where the land may be convenient.
* In 1701, the penalty upon towns for neglecting to provide grammar schools, was £20. It was required that the school-master should be ap- proved by the ministers of the town, and the ministers of the two next ad- jacent towns, or any two of them, by certificates under their hands.
t The following year, the places selected were " Benj. Bridges, Joseph Haven's, Thos. Drury, Saml. Winch, and Isaac Heath's, three weeks at each place ; nine weeks south side of the river, and eight weeks on the north side."
75
EDUCATION.
1716, Aug. 10. Voted, to build a school house, 22 feet long, 16 broad, and six feet between the joints. Voted, to raise £ 16 for this object. £ 1.10 was afterwards added.
1716, Dec. 17. Voted to have a moving school in the four quarters of the town. Mr. Goddard consented to teach four weeks in each place, for £ 15; and all taught at his house to pay 6d. per head, per week .*
1717-8, Feb. 10. A committee having reported their inability, after " the utmost diligence," to obtain a schoolmaster, and the town having been again presented, another committee was appointed, 5 Aug. to obtain one, " and that forthwith ; " also voted, that the gentlemen of the committee first go to Capt. Edward Goddard and see upon what terms he will serve the town; and if he will serve the town as cheap, or something cheaper, than another, then the committee are to make a full bargain with him for a year.
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