USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Grafton > History of Grafton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its early settlement by the Indians in 1647 to the present time, 1879. Including the genealogies of seventy-nine of the older families > Part 11
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Thinking of the courage swelling In his eye and in his heart; Though a manly tear was welling When he kissed her to depart. Thinking of his precious letters Written by the camp-fire's glow. Rich in love of home and country, And of ber who bade him go.
Counting now the lagging moments For the knocking at the door, For the shuffling and the tramping Feet of strangers on the floor; Bringing in their precious burden- Leaving her to grief and tears, To the sorrowing and the mourning- Darkening all the coming years.
Stay the wailing and the sighing, Who in bitterness complain. Said'st thou our sons were dying, Pouring ont their blood in vain ? God forbid ! He slays the first-born That the people may be free ! Not a drop of blood is wasted; "Tis the price of liberty !
152
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
LINES ON THE DEATH OF JAMES E. MCCLELLAN.
Oh! dark was the day when we heard the sad tidings That our brother beloved had fallen in death ;
That beneath the still stream near Potomac's swift glidings He struggled a moment, then yielded his breath.
And dark is his home, with its charming surroundings, Which the light of his presence no longer shall see ; And sad are fond hearts, 'mid all their aboundings, O'er one so endeared to his friends as was he.
* * *
* *
His life he has yielded, his sacrifice offered, And nobler or dearer have seldom been given; The gift which, in love to his Saviour, he proffered, God accepted, and gave him a mansion in Heaven.
Then let us be still, and learn in our sadness That He who has taken will surely restore- Will turn our dark night to the sunlight of gladness, And the briglit day of glory on Heaven's blest shore."
This town furnished 393 men for the war, which was a surplus of forty-seven over and above all demands. Ten were commissioned officers. The whole amount raised and expended by the town for war purposes, exclusive of State aid, was $39,350.23. The amount of money expended by the town, during the war, for State aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the Commonwealth, was as follows : In 1861, $1,642.50 ; 1862, $6,112.29 ; 1863, $6,976.04 ; 1864, $8,300 ; 1865, $5,500; total amount, $28,530.86.
. The Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society of the town raised $1,025, which was expended in the purchase of undercloth- ing, and for other comforts for the soldiers at the front ; in addition to which, between two and three hundred pairs of woolen socks were knit by the ladies, and sent to the sol- diers. Many other contributions were made by citizens for the same purpose.
According to the returns made by the selectmen of the towns, and the mayor of Worcester, in 1866, the whole
SKETCHES OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH MILITIA. 153
number of men which Worcester County furnished for the war was 16,631, which is very near the exact number. Every city and town in the county furnished its contingent upon every call made by the President, and each had a sur- plus over and above all demands, which in the aggregate amounted to 1,397. The total amount of expenses incurred by all the municipalities in the county, on account of the war, exclusive of State aid to the families of enlisted men, was $1,322,693.45. The amount paid for State aid during the war, and which was reimbursed by the Commonwealth, was $1,008,056.81. To this should be added $165,750.41, raised by voluntary subscription for war purposes. These make an aggregate of $2,496,500.67.
Grafton in Massachusetts Militia.
As will be seen by the following, which have been copied from rolls in possession of persons residing in the town, and from the records at the Adjutant General's office, State House, Boston, Grafton has furnished a large number of her citizens to form the militia companies of Massachusetts, which have always ranked among the first in the country. The townspeople have always been patriotic, from the time of the French and Indian war to the war of the late Rebel- lion. At one time, 1830, in this town there were the Graf- ton Grenadiers, Grafton Light Infantry, and the North and South companies, which for their drill and efficiency in the manual of arms were well known throughout the State.
The two companies, known in their day as the North and the South companies, were the oldest companies in the Mas- sachusetts militia from this town. Of the Sonth company, Simon Brnce was the first captain. He was succeeded by David Wadsworth, Samuel Warren, Nahum Andrews, Ephraim Harrington, Joseph Merriam, Benjamin Leland, Amazialı Howard, Joshna W. Leland, Timothy Wheelock, Cyrus Leland, Moses Roberts. When Howard was elected
20
154
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
captain considerable feeling was created among the mem- bers of the company, and he was finally court-martialed for "conduct unbecoming a soldier." Cyrus and Joshua W. Leland, and Timothy Wheelock, were afterwards colonels of the regiment, the second in the second brigade and seventh division. Joseph Merriam was afterwards drum major. The following is a copy of the roster of the company, October 5, 1804, when Joseph Merriam was captain. This company was in the Second Regiment, Second Brigade, and Seventh Division, and a foot company, or what is known now as a company of infantry :-
Roster of Capt. Joseph Merriam, Jr.'s company of foot, Second Regl- ment, Second Brigade and Seventh Division, October 5, 1804 :-
Joseph Merriam, Jr., Captain.
Benj. Leland, Jr., Lieutenant.
Charles Leland, Ensign.
Abraham Howard.
66 Peter Holbrook.
Ebenezer Leland, Jr., 2ud Serg't.
Nathan Jackson.
Ebenezer Philips, Jr., 3rd
Nathan Johnson.
Timothy Merriam, Jr., 4th
Edward Lasure.
Joshua W. Leland, Ist Corp.
Benj. Lathe, Jr.
Oliver Ward, 2nd
Zeppariah Lathe, Jr.
John Batchellor, 3rd
66
Asa Learnard.
Gillead Rider, 4th
Cyrus Leland.
Daniel Prentice, Drummer.
66 Zadock Leland.
Clark Brown, Fifer.
John L. Leland.
John Scudder,
66
Levi Leland.
Nathaniel Davis, “
Tarrant Merriam.
Amasa Nelson.
Ezra Philips.
Thomas M. Baker.
John Bennett.
Jonathan Brown.
Joseph Prentice.
Eli Brigham.
Moses Rockwood.
Moses Roberts.
William Croxford.
David Sherman, Jr.
Jonathan H. Drake.
Samuel Stowe.
Cyrus French.
66 Ithamer Stowe, baggage.
66 Samuel Fay.
Jonathan Stowe.
Silas Forbush, baggage.
Silas Stowe.
Levi Wrist,
Private, Daniel Adams.
Abijah Pierce. Jacob Pierce.
Bradford Chase.
Private, Mathew Gray.
William Hall.
Wm. E. Green, Ist Serg't and clerk.
155
SKETCHES OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH MILITIA.
Private, Benja. H. Sherman.
Private, James Wheeler, Jr.
Anstin Sherman.
Thaddeus Whipple.
66 Aaron Taft.
Nath'l Whipple.
Daniel Thurston.
Nathan White.
John Taylor.
Pharnum White.
Samuel Wadsworth.
Chollister Wood.
Jonathan Wadsworth.
Benja. White.
Asahel Warren.
Benja. Young.
John Warren.
Silas Wetherbee.
Benj. Howard. (58 present.)
The following is a copy of the muster-roll of Capt. Joseph Merriam's company of foot, May 7, 1805 :-
Officers. Joseph Merriam. Benjamin Leland. Charles Leland.
Rank and File.
Cyrus French.
Joseph Flagg.
Silas Forbush.
Darius Graves.
Sergeants and Musicians.
Abraham Haywood.
Clark Brown.
Benja. Haywood.
Levi Wrist.
Nathan Jackson.
Levi Thayer.
Nathan Johnson.
Eli Servey.
Marcus J. Johnson.
Ebenezer Leland, Jr.
Edward Leshnre.
Ebenezer Philips, Jr. Timothy Merriam, Jr.
Rank and File.
Joshua W. Leland. Oliver Ward. John Batchelor. Geliad Rider.
Daniel Adams. John Bennett,
Thomas Brigham.
Thomas M. Baker.
Perley Batchelor, Jr.
Peter Barns. Wm. Croxford. Bradford Chase. Jonathan H. Drake. Nathan Darling. John Darling. Otis Daniels.
Levi Leland. Cyrus Leland. Zadock Leland. John L. Leland. Joseph Leland. Benja. Lathe, Jr. Joshua Lathe. Asa Larnard.
Fuller Murdock.
Moses March. Tarrant Merriam. Amasa Nelson. Joseph Prentice. Russel Prentice. Abijah Pierce. Moses Rockwood. Samuel Robertson. Moses Roberts. Amasa Read. Jona. Stow.
1
156
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
Rank and File.
Rank and File.
Samuel Stone.
Benja. White.
Ithamer Stow. Lovel Stow.
Jona. Wadsworth.
Austin Sherman.
Samuel Wadsworth.
Benja. H. Sherman.
Silas White. Cholister Wood.
David Sherman, Jr.
Daniel Thurston.
Benja. Young.
James Wheeler, Jr.
Asahel Warren.
Thaddeus Whipple. Nathan White.
Benjamin Bowen.
Of the North company, Ephraim Goulding was the first captain. Subsequently the company was commanded by Jonathan Wheeler, Charles Brigham, Joshna Harrington, Moses Harrington, Levi Goddard, Oliver Kimball, Charles Brigham, Jr., and Francis Harrington.
When the Grafton Light Infantry and Grenadier com- panies were formed, the North and South companies were greatly reduced, and known as the " Rag, Tag and Bob Tails."
The following is a complete list of the men in the North company, under command of Capt. Charles Brigham, May 1st, 1804 :-
Captain Brigham's company of foot, May Ist, 1804 :-
Charles Brigham, Captain. George W. Putnam, Private.
Joshua Harrington, Ist Lieutenant.
Lewis Putnam,
Levi Goddard, Ensign.
Luke Baker, ..
Albert Stone, Sergeant.
Leonard Wheelock,
Jasper Adams, 66
Timothy Johnson,
William Wesson,
Perley Whipple,
John Wadsworth, "
Daniel Hathaway,
Reuphas Newton, Musician.
Joel Knowlton,
Isaac W. Wood,
John Knowlton, George Walker, 66
Samuel Prentice, 66
Asa Mixer,
Nathaniel Adams, Jr., Corporal. Calvin Pierce,
Josephus Willard, Asa Scott, 66
Oliver Hayden,
Cyrus Wadsworth, 66
John Putnam, Private. Luther Pierce,
Thomas Axtell, Jr.,
William Withington, 66
Josiah Phillips,
Asa Turner, 66
Jacob Elliot, ..
Nathaniel Whipple.
157
SKETCHES OF THE NORTH AND SOUTH MILITIA.
Joseph Dispeau, Private.
Perley Goddard, Private.
Turner Rawson,
Samuel Rawson,
John Wheeler,
Elijah Case,
Gabriel F. Wheeler,
Silas Guild,
Josiah H. Stone,
Truman Clark, ..
Tarteus Prentice,
Samuel Wesson, 66
Ruben Wheelock,
Perley Batchellor, Jr., “
Solomon Brigham,
Joseph Davis,
Oliver Kimball,
Joseph Whitney,
Aaron Pierce,
Nathan Darling, 66
John Wesson, 66
John Darling,
Thomas D. Wesson,
Silas Stow,
66
Renphas Wesson, 66
The following composed the company when John Wadsworth was captain :-
John Wadsworth, Captain.
Nath'l Adams, Jr., Ist Lieutenant.
Charles Richardson, Private. Seth Robbins, Asa Scott,
John Wesson, Ensign.
Isaac W. Wood, Fifer.
Eli Servy,
Nathan Clark, Sergeant.
David Sibly,
Daniel Prentice,
Samuel Slater,
Samuel l'rentice,
Josiah H. Stone,
Christopher Nason, "
Cyrus Wadsworth, 66
Joseph Adams, John Barns,
Private.
David Wait,
.
Livy Barton, 66
Silas Wesson, Thomas D. Wesson, Rufus Wesson,
Lyman Bullard,
Sewel Wesson,
Truman Clark, Joseph J. Davis, 66 Rubin Eaton, 66
Jesse Wesson, John Wheeler, Leonard Wheelock,
Nathan Elleek, =
Gardner Wheelock, -
John Firvers,
Perley Whipple,
Welcomb Eagar,
James Young, Alpheus Newel,
Perley Goddard,
Gideon Burt, Abial Farrington,
Moses Hayden, Jr.,
Barnebus Rice,
Nathan Johnson,
Artemus Rand,
Lewis Moredock,
David Miller, Andrew Smith,
Joel Prentice,
..
Israel Talt,
George W. Putnam,
Benja. Taft, 66
Turner Rawson,
Joel Knowlton,
..
Joel Flagg,
Oliver Hayden,
Abner Miller, ~
- John Warren,
John Bennett, 66
Israel Brown,
158
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
THE GRENADIER COMPANY.
This company was organized in this town, and was in the Second Regiment, Second Brigade, and Sixth Division of the Massachusetts militia. The company was organized in 1827, and, by order of the Governor, was disbanded June 30, 1834. At the time of its disbandment, Benjamin Aldrich was captain. He was appointed May 7th, 1833. The company had been previously commanded by Lyinan L. Mason, Benjamin Kingsbury, Charles Brigham, Jr., Charles Aldrich, and Henry P. Warren, who was the first com- mander. Charles Brigham was afterwards chosen colonel. He was succeeded by Franklin Harrington of this town. Willard S. Wood was adjutant in Colonel Brigham's regi- ment.
The following is a correct list of the men in the company, May 6th, 1833, a short time before its disbandment :-
Benjamin Aldrich, Captain.
Jeremiah B. Masou, Private.
Robert Legate, Lieutenant.
John Marble, Jr.,
Charles Merriam, Ensign.
Putnam H. Haywood,
Sumner Dunsmore, Clerk. Alvah S. Davis,
Solomon Brigham, Sergeant.
John Kimball, 66
Origen Shephard,
Martin Jacobs,
Willard G. Emerson,
James B. Bancroft, =
Joseph Shephard, Corporal.
Calvin S. Thurston,
Calvin Prentice,
William H. Thurston,
John Legate,
Joel H. Wheelock,
Russel Hathaway,
Russel Wheelock,
George G. Rice, Musician.
George H. Smith,
Lawson Munyan,
James S. Lathe, 66
Levi N. Leland,
Samuel -
Hollis Chamberlin, Private.
Holland Greenwood,
66
Francis L. Eddy, ",
Dexter S. Bragg,
Bradford Chase,
Hosea Barrus,
Leonard Allen,
Elphonia Barrus,
Otis Frissel,
Willard Gibson,
Russel H. Berry,
Joseph H. Whitney,
=
Thomas R. Axtell,
Isaac Mason,
Elijah Kimball,
Lincoln Wood,
Samuel C. Bennett,
Lovel Stow, Jr.,
Benjamin Goddard,
Abial Copland,
William Gibson,
159
GRENADIER COMPANY.
The following letter will show the cause of the disband- ment of the Grafton Grenadiers :-
" GEN. AARON S. GIBBS :
Sir :- The undersigned, the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates composing the company of Grenadiers in the town of Grafton, and County of Worcester, respectfully represent that said company has become so reduced in number that it now contains only sixteen effective privates, including non-commissioned officers and excluding conditional exempts. That said company is not sufficiently large to appear respect- able on parade, or to excite and keep up that spirit of ardour, and for military display so indispensably necessary in corps of this description, and that there does not seem to be any probability or hope of increas- ing its numbers by new enlistments. Wherefore your petitioners pray that said company may be disbanded, if in the opinion of the Com- mander-in-chief and the Hon. Council such a course shall be deemed proper.
The undersigned wish you would write back to us whether you will assist ns about this petition, as soon as convenient. Yours respectfully,
BENJAMIN ALDRICH. ROBERT LEGATE. Officers." CHARLES MERRIAM.
The following correspondence explains itself :-
"COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, SECOND BRIGADE, SIXTH DIVISION.
Brigade Orders :
HEADQUARTERS, WEST BOYLSTON, Sept. 4th, 1834.
CAPT. BENJA. ALDRICH :
Sir :- You are hereby ordered to return all the non-commissioned officers and soldiers belonging to the company of Grenadiers under your command, to the standing company in the town in which they respect- ively belong, and the officers of said standing company, or regiment, to enroll said soldiers in their company, as the Grenadiers have been dis- banded and the officers discharged.
A. S. GIBBS, Brig. General, 2nd Brigade, 6th Division."
160
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
GRAFTON LIGHT INFANTRY.
This company was also formed in this town. At its formation Charles Leland was elected captain. The com- pany was afterwards commanded by Liberty Wood, Jona- than Warren, Lewis Mills, Henry W. Harrington, Franklin Harrington, Rufus E. Warren, Timothy H. Merriam.
SLOCOMB GUARDS.
This company was formed here shortly after the late war, and named in honor of George F. Slocomb, Esq. J. Frank Searle was the first captain. The subsequent commanders were Henry Mann and Arthur Batchelder, the present com- mander. On account of the small number who were in the company from this town, the headquarters were transferred to Millbury a few years ago, where it was known for a time as the Slocomb Guards, and at the present time as the Millbury Light Infantry. Captain Searle was at one time elected lieutenant-colonel of his, the Tenth Regiment. This company was known as Company G. By the resignation of the first lieutenant, C. A. White, George H. Chaffin was promoted to the vacancy, which position he now holds.
The following is a true copy of the members in the company, from the rolls in the Adjutant-General's office, in 1875 :-
Arthur H. Batchelor, Captain.
Charles A. White, 1st Lientenant.
George H. Chaffin, 2nd
Burns, Alanson E., Ist Sergeant.
Degroot, Richard, Private.
Brooks, George B., Sergeant.
Benchley, Julian G., Q. M. Sergeant.
Burnett, George W., Private.
Bush, John, Belvelle, Noah,
Baker, Benj. T., Bullard, Moses P., 66
Champney, Eben F., Musician.
Cunningham, Olney E., Private. Coffin, John A.,
Coffee, Daniel D.,
Callahan, James W., Private.
Clark, William H.,
Day, Warren W., Corporal.
Fay, Edward B.,
Garfield, Edwin J., Sergeant.
Gerry, Albert S., Private.
Geer, Charles A., “ Green, Orton G., Corporal. Hakes, Hudson W., Private. Humes, W. Alfred, Howe, George W., Private. Ives, John,
Joslin, Sumner R., Sergeant. Johnston, Daniel, Private.
161
GRENADIER COMPANY.
Letart, Joseph, Private.
Lovell, Russell B., Corporal. Lake, Edward R., Private. Mann, David H., 16
Stockwell, Lewis,
Miles, Henry, McCarthy, Jeremiah, Merriam, Henry T., Nehall, Charles F.,
Smith, Charles H., Corporal. Simmons, Charles H., Private. Tidd, Lewis T., Sergeant. Truax, Albert M., Private. Thompson, Wm. L., " Wood, Charles W., "
Noyce, William H.,
White, Resdan,
Robinson, Alonzo W., “ Rivers, Nelson,
Sharron, Frank, Private.
Stacy, Edward E.,
Waterman, Geo. A., «
21
· C
CLERGYMEN PAST AND PRESENT.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER FIFTH.
CONTENTS :
The proprietors' meeting .- The location selected for the first church near Assawossachasuck .- General Court report .- The first pastor, the Rev. Solomon Prentice-His biography .- The original mem- bers .- The meeting-house .- The covenant .- The council .- Mr. Prentice's dismissal .- Sketches of Revs. Aaron Hutchinson, Daniel Grosvenor, John Miles .- The church secede with the pastor and form a new society, the Evangelical Congregational-The various causes assigned for this action .- Their covenant-Their church .- Sketches of Revs. John Wilde, Thomas C. Biscoe, John H. Wind- sor .- Deacons of First Congregational and Evangelical churches.
First and Evangelical Congregational Churches.
T THE General Court of Massachusetts, in granting the r forty proprietors leave to effect the purchase of the Indians, made it a condition that within three years they should build a meeting-house and school-house, and settle " a learned Orthodox minister "; and that they " should con- stantly maintain, and duly support, a minister and school- master among them " ;- all this to be done without charge to the Indians, though the benefits of the school and min- istry were to be shared by them equally with the whites.
At a meeting of the proprietors, held April 9, 1728, it was voted that " the meeting-house should be placed and set up at or upon the centre of the said Plantation, in case the land at the centre be accommodable ; otherwise at the near- est accommodable place to the centre." The second meet- ing was held here at the house of Nehemiah How, on the 19th of April. When the meeting had been duly organized,
164
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
it was voted to adjourn to the centre of the land to fix upon a spot for the erection of the meeting-house. Upon viewing the place said to be the centre, it was not found suitable for the purpose. This was a spot lying a little to the south, and about twenty-five or thirty rods easterly from where the Town Hall now stands, and where the land probably was thought to be too low and moist. A spot of ground was then viewed " westerly therefrom, upon the northerly end of a hill ealled by the Indians Assawossachasuck." That could not have been far from the place occupied by the Unitarian Church-a little to the west and sonth. Still another place was afterward viewed, and finally fixed upon, a little way sonthward of this last. That was the site from which the old meeting house was removed a few years since .* Thus we see these grave pioneers, cherishing the same reli- gions zeal which characterized the primitive colonists of New England, making it their first care to provide for the worship of God. Their first vote at their first meeting relates to the selection of a proper situation for the house of prayer. Their second mecting was here in the very wilderness itself, as it then was, whither they had come to consummate this vote. We seem to see them now, a little company of less than half a hundred, passing about among the tall forest trees, which stood all over these places that are now covered with human habitations. They are asking where shall be laid the foundations of a Christian temple, before yet the worshippers are come, whose prayers and solemn praise are to consecrate it. Their own dwellings are not yet to be seen. The stakes are not set to mark the places where they are soon to rise. These things are to come after. Their Sabbath home first-their week-day tents
* Proprietors' Records. This meeting-house, built by the Proprietors, still stands on the western line of the Common. It was removed from the centre of the Common when it ceased to be used as a house of worship, and has been known of late by the name of "The Old Arcade."
165
PROPRIETORS' MEETING, FIRST CHURCH.
in good time. To-day the wants of the soul-to-morrow the needs of the body. Just one month from the day on which the "Plantation " was bought of the Indians, the place for the meeting-house was decided upon. It was voted, on the next July, to have a meeting-house built and finished at or before November 1, 1730, thus allowing nearly two years and a half for the work .* Its dimensions were, length 50 feet, width 40 feet, height 22 feet "between joynts."
> At a meeting of the Proprietors held March 31, 1730, it was voted, "to continue the preaching of the gospel at Hassanamisco "; from which it appears that they had begun to have preaching before that time. Afterward they were probably supplied constantly till June 23, 1731; when a Fast was appointed for the first Thursday of the following September, preparatory to calling and settling a minister among them. The Fast was duly kept with the assistance of "some reverend elders," in the vicinity. On the day following, Mr. Solomon Prentice, of Cambridge, was called to be their minister.t It was at first voted to give Mr. Prentice, for his support, " ninety pounds of passable money, or bills of public credit as money now passes from man to man, or as the valuation of money shall be from time to time, or as said money rises and falls." At a subse-
* Meeting-house lot. April 23, 1728, laid out ye lot to set ye meeting- house upon, 4 acres in Hassanamisco, and lieth near thirty rod west- ward from ye center stated, and it includes the place pitched upon by ye society when upon ye spot, and begins at a small oak which is ye northeast angle, and runs south thirty-two (33) rod; then runs west twenty (198) rod; then runs north thirty-two (33) rod ; then east twenty (20) rod, to ye oak first mentioned. Ye three corners from ye oak are stones.
Surveyed pr. JAMES KEYES. Recorded Jan. 6, 1729 .- Proprietors' Records.
t Mr. Prentice, it thus appears, was elected and invited by the Pro- prietors alone. No church had yet been formed. We see therefore that it was not deemed essential, in settling a minister, that he should be called by a church separately from the town or parish.
166
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
qnent meeting it was voted to add ten pounds to the ninety. Mr. Prentice accepted the call, and the 29tli day of Decem- ber, 1731, was appointed for his ordination. On the day preceding, December 28th, the church was formed.
The following are the names of the persons then gathered into a church, with the places from which they came, and in which most of them had been previously connected with churches : Three, Rev. Solomon Prentice, Samuel Cooper and Benjamin Goddard, were from Cambridge ; one, Capt. Benjamin Willard, from Framingham ; two, James Whipple, Sen. and Jr., from Ipswich Hamlet ; two, Thomas Pratt and Thomas Drury, from Shrewsbury ; three, James Leland, Joseph and Simeon Willard, from Sutton ; one, Nehemiah Howe, from Sudbury ; three, John Collar, Jonathan Hall and Jason Whitney, from Stow; two, Abner Stow and Ephraim Brigham, from Marlborough ; one, James Cutler, from Westborough ; one, Eleazer Flegg (Flagg), from Con- cord; and one, Samuel Warren, from Weston; in all, twenty. These names stand subscribed to the original cov- enant. We recognize no great names here; at least none which the world has agreed to call great. But let not " grandeur hear with a disdainful smile." There are good names here, names, which, though not to be found upon the Scroll of Fame, are written upon a brighter page in the Book of Life; names they are of no mean account in that kingdom, whose least citizen is greater than earth's most illustrious potentate.
The meeting-house had porches one story and a half high on three sides, and in the porches were stairways by which to pass to the galleries on each side of the house. Two of these porches are ingeniously put together so as to form a dwelling-house, which stands at the foot of Millbury street, the last house on the north side. The great feature of this house, especially in the eyes of children, was the huge sounding-board above the pulpit. * One who has often
* Capt. Benjamin Kingsbury.
167
PROPRIETORS' MEETING, FIRST CHURCH.
wondered at it, while his elders were absorbed in the elo- quence of the preacher, or soundly sleeping, says, "to a boy it looked like an island suspended in air. To him it was an object of wonder and admiration, and in spite of the wise lessons from the pulpit, that sounding-board, with its paintings, its panelling, its gorgeous trimmings, the brilliant tassels hanging down from it, was the great and central power of attraction. And during service he busied himself by contemplating, in imagination, the ruin which would ensue if it should break from its moorings and come down with a crash upon the head of the preacher !" And if he chanced to take a nap, it would have been easy for him to have dreamed that this had really taken place, wlien, at the close of the prayer, the seats in the pews, which were hung with hinges and turned up during the prayer, were let down with a crash, which it is said could be heard a half-mile away when the windows were open.
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