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 6
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December 26, 1778 .- There were several persons froze to death, especially one man with his horse. Fourteen persons were froze on Boston Neck.
May 7, 1780 .- There was snow on Mr. Joseph Batch- elor's ground four foot deep, and the eighth day of May there was a good deal of snow to be seen on the said ground, and did not go off for some days after. I believe that the oldest person in New England never saw so much snow on the ground at once in New England, as there has been this winter, for many places lay covered with snow above five months, and many foot deep a great part of the time. A very severe winter indeed. Oh that we may -.
73
DEATH RECORD.
July 27, 1780 .- There was such darkness that the men could not see to work without a candle during the day. The hens went to roost. The darkness was such as made our hearts to tremble. It was on Friday. This ought to be remembered. And the night was as dark likewise. The following day was a very uncommon light; as uncommou as was the dark.
July 12, 1791 .- Then there was a dreadful thunder storm, and Mr. Benjamin May had his barn burnt by lightning.
March 16, 1796 .- In a very tedious storm we hear that there was a man froze to death near Mendon, and as people say that he was standing right upon his feet when he was dead.
COPY OF A RECORD OF DEATHS NOW IN POSSESSION OF HON. JONATHAN D. WHEELER.
Grafton, October ye 16, 1753, then Jonathan.
December ye 16, 1753, then the widow Deborah.
Angust ye 9, 1754, then Mr. Semson died.
September ye 7, 1754, then Tabathy Warrin died.
September ye 30, 1754, then the widow Stephen.
Jannary ye 2, 1755, Charles Brigham, Jr., died.
July, in the year 1754, then Annas, Negro babe, died. Jannary, in the year 1755, then Annas, negro woman, died. May ye 20, 1755, then Joseph Anthony died ; a negro man. April, in the year 1755, then Peter Larrons died; an Indian. September ye 9, 1755, then the widow Simsson died.
8, 1755, then John Warrin was killed in the morning. Died in the war.
December ye 2, 1755, then the child of William Holbrook died.
In the year 1755, Joseph Pick was killed at Cappertnne. Joseph Dreen died at Swaggo, the same year. Both died in the war. Samuel Adams died at Swaggo, the same year.
Moses Whitmore died there also.
Solomon Grover died at Lake Gorg [George], the same year. March ye 2, 1756, Mrs. Childs died.
May ye 6, 1756, then John Holbrook died.
" 27, 1756, then Marsy Printer died ; an Indian garl. Angust ye 6, 1756, then the child of Thomas Axtill died.
10
74
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
September ye 3, 1756, then the child of Moses Ager died.
5, 1756, then another of his children died.
19, 1756, then the wife of Moses Ager died. October ye 15, 1756, then Peter Larrons died ; an Indian man.
" 26, 1756, then the son of Joseph Whipple died. November ye 11, 1756, then the child of David Hearinton died. 29, 1756, then old Mr. Allen died.
October, in the year 1756, the child of John Sharmon died. January ye 9, 1757, then Mrs. Wesson's child died. 11, 1757, then Mr. Wesson's wife died in child-bed. April ye 26, 1757, then the child of Paul Hezelton died.
August ye 30, 1757, then Joshua Whenchester died. September ye 7, 1757, then the child of Mr. Furbush died. 1757, then the child of Jacob Whipple died.
5, 1757, then the child of Benjamin Wood died. then Charles Bruse died at the Camps, or
horsptell.
September ye 20, 1758, another of Benjamin Wood's children died. 1758, then Moses Perry died, in the serves of war.
October, 1758, the child of Aaron Kimball died.
November ye 3, 1758, then Cesor Ward died ; a negro man. 14, 1758, then Mrs. Fletcher died.
About this time Aseph Lathe died, a coming home from the army. November ye 27, 1758, then the child of Deacon Joseph Merriam died.
February ye 8, 1759, then James Whipple died.
About the 12th and 13th of March, 1759, I understand there died three children, but I do not know who they ware.
March ye 16, 1759, then Nathaniel Steedman died.
25, 1759, then Deborah Mischo died; an Indian.
66 31, 1759, then Johu Phini died at Mr. Printase's.
April ye 22, 1759, then Anna Batchelor died.
1759, then the child of Aaron Brigham died.
24, 1759, then Susannah Batchelor died.
May ye 1, 1759, then Jeremiah Batchelor died.
July ye 2, 1759, then the child of Peter Fisk died.
3, 1759, then the child of Ephraim Sharnon died. 1759, then Mr. Brooks' child died.
August, 1759, then Mary Waight died.
October ye 22, 1759, then Susannah Pratt died; wife of Phinehas.
November ye 22, 1759, then the widow Whipple died.
December ye 9, 1759, then old Mr. Goddard died.
October ye 24, 1759, then Ebenezer Wheeler, Jr., was left to die on a mountain, large and high, not far from the upper country.
May ye 3, 1760, then Daniel Rice died.
EMERSON- SI
C.A.HALE
------
U
75
ACT TO PREVENT MONOPOLY AND OPPRESSION.
The following gives the number of deaths each year, from 1753 to 1779 :-
1753 2
1767
11
1754
1768
11
1755
12
1769 13
1756 13 1770 .
4
1757
8
1771
8
1758
7
1772 9
1759
19
1773 17
1760
7
1774 .
11
1761
6
1775 35
1762
6
1776
54
1763
5
1777 28
1764
8
1778 20
1765
13
1766
5
Total
336
" Old Mr. G. Perry was ye 375th parson that had died in Grafton, and of Grafton people, since ye year 1753. These have died and been killed in war; all Grafton people."-From Hon. Jona. D. Wheeler's Record.
In 1777, agreeable to act of Court, entitled "An act to prevent monopoly and oppression," the selectmen and com- mittee of the town of Grafton, have met, and affixt, and settled the price of articles hereafter mentioned, viz :-
s. d.
Wheat, Good and merchantable at 6/8 per bushel. 6 8
Rye Good and merchantable rye 4/4 4 4
Indian Corn and merchantable at 3/2. 3 Wool Good and merchantable at 2/ per lb. 2 - at 4ª per pound 4
2 Pork Fresh pork well fatted and of good quality
Pork Salt good midlings at 8ª; 2d quality in pro- portion 8
Beef Good well fatted grass fed at 2ª 3qua per pound 28
2d quality in equal proportion.
4
76
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
Beef Stallfed well fatted 3ª 34" per pound ..... 38
Hides Raw at /3 per pound and Raw Calf at /6ª per pound. 3
Cheese good of the first quality at /5ª 2qua 53
Butter
at /9 pr single pound,-by the firkin /8 pr
pound
/8
Pees good at 7/ pr bushel 7/
Beans good at 5/ per bushel 5/
Potatoes good in the fall at 1/ per bus., in spring 1/4ª 1/ 1
Stockings best yarn at 6/ pr pair. 6/
Shoes men's made of neats leather at 7/6 7/ 6
Barley good at 3/8ª 3/ 8
Oats good at 1/9 per bushel 1/ 9
Innholders for a meal of victuals of their best kind not to exceed 1/ 6
And of common kind 8d /8
Phlip made of the best New England rum at /8ª pr mug /8
And made from West India rum not to ex- ceed /10ª /10
Half a gill of W. India at /2d } a gill of New 1ª 2qr
For keeping a horse 24 hours 1/3d 1/ 3
oxen 24 hours 1/6. 1/ 6
For lodging a single person over night /34
Mutton stall-fed at 3d 2qr
Veal good from Dec. 1st to May 1st at /3 pr lb. /3
Lamb good at /3ª per pound /3
Milk new by grass at /1ª 3ar by hay at /2ª per quart /18
English Hay best kind 2/6 per hundred 2/ 6
Barrels good heart barrels at 3/4 3/ 4
Cider by the barrel 3/ cash at the press 3/
Spring and Summer 6/ 6/
Shoes for making men's and women's shoes at 2/6 2/ 6
For shoeing a horse plain 4/4ª
4/ 4
77
REBELLION.
For ploughshares, chain, crowbars and hoes, cythes,
and all other Smith's work according to the former custom, making proper allow- ance for the extraordinary price of Iron and Steel.
Charcoal delivered /3d per bushel /3 Ox labour 1/6 pr day, horse 2ª per mile.
Men's Labour from June to 15th of Aug. 3/ per day, from Aug. to the last of Sept. 2/ per day, and Mar., Ap. and Nov. 1/8, Jan. Feb. 1/3 per day.
Onions at 3/ per bushel.
Carpenters labour from 1st of April to Oct. 1st at 3/3d per day, be found as usual, and so in usual proportion at other seasons of the year."
1777.
" Masons and Masonlabour the same as Carpenters at all seasons of the year.
Tanning .- For tanning hides not to exceed 1/2 per pound and skins in proportion.
Cloth .- Yard wide tow cloth at 3/2 pr yard.
Maids' wages at 2/10ª pr week.
Mentailors work 2/2ª per day, and women's work at tayloring 10ª."
We should have supposed that the settlement of the civil government, and the restoration of peace, together with the blessings of independence, would have secured to the people prosperity and happiness. But this was not the case. The country has hardly witnessed a darker period than in the latter days of the old Confederation. It was loaded with debt, and its energies were completely exhausted. For a time, it seemed as though independence would prove a curse rather than a blessing. The currency depreciated, industry was paralyzed, and property sacrificed. The Confederation became powerless, and the confidence of the people in the integrity of their rulers, began to be impaired. So strong
78
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
had the spirit of discontent become in the County of Wor- cester, that in 1786 it collected and arrayed its forces in opposition to the government, and for a time threatened to impede its operations. As to the expediency or propriety of " Shays' Rebellion," the people of this town were divided ; though a majority of them favored his eause, and some took up arms for his support. The instructions given to Col. Luke Drury, who represented the town in the Gen- eral Court, in the following year, probably express the views of the " Shays men," and the grievances which they then felt. He was directed to use his utmost exertions to " obtain a general pardon for all that aided, or assisted, or have taken up arms in what the Governor and General Court styled rebellion, and that all disqualifications, on that account, be removed, and that all damages for unjust imprisonment and warrants, be made good-that the government troops be dis- banded, and that the utmost severity of the law be executed on any who shall commit murder, or harm or destroy any property,-that the General Court be removed out of Bos- ton, to some convenient place in the country,-that all licenses be granted by the selectmen of the several towns ; that authority should be given them to settle the estates of deceased persons,-that all deeds should be recorded in the town where the land lay,-that the Court of Common Pleas, and the General Sessions of the Peace, be abolished, -that manufactures in this country be encouraged,-and that the act, suspending the writ of habeas corpus, be im- mediately repealed."
The trustees for the Indians, known as Hassanamisco In- dians, in 1788, were, Stephen Maynard, of Westborough, Edward Rawson, Esq., of Leicester, and Willis Hall, of Sutton. The General Court, from the beginning, appointed a committee of three, called the trustees of the Indians' in- terest ; their business was to take care of their property, both real and personal, and dispose of the same to the best advantage, for the support and maintenance of the Indians.
79
INDIAN TRUSTEES.
This committee, at present,* have little to do in the execution of their trust, as the lands have, by length of time and various concurring circumstances, chiefly passed into the hands of the white people. There are, indeed, several farms in the possession of the heirs of the Indians, married to negroes ; but it is said there is not one male in the town at this day, who is all of Indian extract or blood. The In- dians very soon decreased in this place, and the whites be- came possessors and occupiers of the soil; and so early as the 28th of December, 1731, a Christian Congregational Church was established here.
In reviewing the past, nothing strikes us so forcibly as the change which has taken place since this town was first known to the English. We have seen that Eliot, nearly two hundred years ago, came here, and first preached the gospel to the Indians. That race, then free and conscious of their rightful possession of the soil, had no.suspicion that the day of their extinction was so near at hand ;- that their council fires would so soon cease to burn ;- that the forests through which they roamed would disappear, and that their hunting and fishing places would be occupied by the habitations and improvements of the white man. The land of their fathers they fondly hoped to leave an inheritance to their children. The groves that had sheltered them from the burning sun and the driving storm, they thought would remain forever. The birds, that made every tree vocal with their harmony, they believed would never cease their song. But in these anticipations they were mistaken. Two centuries have passed-and they have vanished.
The first settlers of this country had but a faint concep- tion of its future greatness; and bnt few, probably, ever entertained the idea that it would so soon, if ever, be sepa- rated from the mother state. They made no calculations for a growth so rapid, nor for changes so unprecedented. The
* Whitney's History of Worcester County, 1793.
80
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
great improvements in the sciences and arts formed no items in their estimate. They expected that settlements would be extended, and that population would increase, yet they never dreamed that within two centuries thirteen millions of people would be scattered over this extensive country, and all live too, under one government. They knew comparatively nothing of the resources of the country-its fertile soil, its invaluable mines, and its mighty rivers. They had other objects in view of infinitely greater importance. They did not come here dazzled with the prospect of a boundless country, or with the hope of being the founders of a mighty empire. Their highest ambition and fondest hopes were in the establishment of a free government, and in securing to themselves and their children the full enjoyment of their religion. It was with this design that they left their homes and sought an inhospitable wilderness. It was this holy purpose that enabled them to triumph over persecution, to endure the inclement skies, to meet the raging elements and the savage foe, and finally to establish, sustain and transmit the institutions we now enjoy.
" Ay, call it holy ground, The soil where first they trod ! They have left unstained what there they found- Freedom to worship God."
An incorrect estimate of the future growth of the coun- try is apparent in every period of our history; and it is doubtful now whether any of us can form just conceptions of its destined greatness. When the County of Worcester was incorporated, in 1731, doubts were expressed whether it could ever support a sufficient population to authorize the establishment of a County Court. No one then imagined that it would ever contain one-seventh part of the whole population of the State, or that beautiful villages, distin- guished for manufacturing and mechanic enterprise, would grow up on every portion of its extensive territory. The
81
FUTURE GROWTH.
first English proprietors of this town, in their petition to the General Court for leave to purchase, represent it as " a place capable, in process of time, of becoming a small town." Had they been told that a hundred years would hardly have elapsed before it would contain a population of three thou- sand-that convenient dwellings and busy workshops would cover its hills and fill its valleys-that the hum of machin- ery would mingle with the roar of every waterfall-that upon the borders of that common which they set apart for "a meeting-house, training-field and burying-place," three spacious and beautiful churches, with towering spires, would be erected-that the waters of the Blackstone would be made navigable by a canal, through which boats laden with merchandize would come from tide waters even to its sonree -and that across the northern seetion of the town iron rails would be laid, over which would pass, with the rapidity of the wind, a wonderful machine, belching forth fire and smoke, and moving by an internal power, dragging in its train ear after car, and load after load, and never tiring,- they would have regarded it as an idle tale-a dream of the visionary, and belonging rather to the regions of enchant- ment than of reality.
But reality is more than all this ; and were they to awaken from their repose into life again, how few of the scenes of a century ago would they witness ! The same beautiful hills and deep valleys remain ; the same springs gush from the earth ; the same rocks rest on their eternal foundations ; the same sun sheds light and heat ; the same stars twinkle in the firmament; the same clouds flit along the sky ; the saine streams unite their waters and roll on to the ocean ; but all else is changed ! The work of revolution is apparent, not only in government, but in manners, fashions and employ- ments ; in the comforts and conveniences of life, and in the opinions and character of the people.
The character of the history of the past century cannot fail to excite a deep interest in every reflecting mind. Never
11
82
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
was there a period so distinguished for events, that have pro- duced such permanent effects on the character and condition of mankind. Previous to its commencement, but little pro- gress had been made in political and religions liberty. The whole power and influence of Europe were on the side of legitimacy. A large proportion of those, who advocated the broad principles of human rights, had been compelled to remain in silence at home, or had been driven from their country. It was only on this side of the Atlantic, that these principles were fully sustained and their influence felt. Yet the colonies were then feeble, their population was scattered, and their influence hardly extended beyond their own bor- ders. They were not then, as now, united under one com- mon government, and could not speak the sentiments of a great and growing nation. But they did not remain in silence. The voice of the advocates of freedom was heard in all the colonial assemblies. The first principles of gov- ernment were there discussed, and the rights of all main- tained. It was in schools like these, that were educated those distinguished men, who were ever ready to resist tyranny in every. form and under every guise, whether it came from a Charles, a James, or a George; it was here that the people learned the first principles of free govern- ment, and were encouraged and strengthened in their sup- port.
The history of our country is full of instruction ; and the young man, who would make himself useful to his genera- tion, would do well to learn its lessons. He will there per- ceive that the great canse of liberty has been more than once sustained by an early and manly resistance to invasion ; that the glorious inheritance we now enjoy was not acquired by supineness and neglect, and that it can be preserved only by constant care and arduous labor. He will there find more than Spartan valor and Roman virtue. Every page is adorned with some bright name, and every line bears marks of patriotic devotion. Whether he read of the sufferings of
-
83
FUTURE GROWTH.
the Pilgrims-of the struggles of the early settlers in main- taining an existence-their trials in the Indian wars-the hostile aggressions of the French, and the unexampled eourage of the colonists in repelling them-or of the pat- riotie spirit of the Revolution-he will find all full of evi- dence of an entire devotion to the cause of country.
It is peculiarly important at the present time, that our history be read and studied. The season of danger is not yet over. We should learn from the past the true sources of our prosperity, and endeavor to preserve them. The tide of innovation is rolling onward with a fearful rapidity, and there is great danger that we shall lose sight of the beacon lights that our past history presents. The most striking characteristic of the present age is its revolutionary spirit ; -a spirit that is not satisfied with overturning governments, crumbling thrones to the dust, and destroying institutions venerable with the age of centuries-but seeks for change in everything-and in its work of dissolution, gathering strength and acquiring a rabidness, would even subvert the physical laws of the universe, and make them subservient to its eternal fluctuations. This spirit cannot be repressed ; and it ought not to be: for when properly directed, it is to society what a propitious breeze is to a well managed vessel on the bosom of the ocean, giving it an onward progress ; but when misdirected, our institutions can no more with- stand it than can the trees of the mountains the blasts of the tornado. Instruction from the past will afford us our surest protection. The fathers of American liberty knew well the means by which it could be preserved ; they laid broad its foundations, and watched with the most scrupulous eare, and resisted every violation of their chartered rights. They knew the force of precedent, and would not tolerate a violation of their constitution of government, even if it pro- dueed no immediate injury. "They judged of an evil in government," as Burke said, "not by the pressure of the grievance, but by the badness of the principle. They
84
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
augured mis-government at a distance, and snuffed the ap- proach of tyranny in every tainted breeze." They appeared to be sensible that to a certain extent they were forming society anew, and that what they did would affect the re- motest generations. No one can read of the great sacrifices that have been made, and the sufferings which have been endured, to establish and protect our institutions, and not feel a stronger love for them, and a determination to make renewed efforts in their support. Let the young men learn the origin of this republic ;- let them perceive the toils and troubles endured by its founders-their ardent patriotism- their love of learning-their reverence for religion-their fortitude in trial-their unbending integrity and indomitable courage,-and they cannot but feel their obligation to pre- serve the inheritance transmitted to them. Their free and generous hearts will be warmed with grateful and patriotic emotions ; a love of liberty will be cherished-an attach- ment to our institutions strengthened-and the republic will be preserved. The institutions we now enjoy, we hold not as our own, but in trust for others. We have a right to use, but not to destroy them. We are bound to transmit them not only nnimpaired, but improved. Our faith is pledged, and it must not be violated. We will never be so dishon- ored, so unworthy of our trust, so ungrateful to our bene- factors. The pledge, which our fathers gave us, was sealed with their blood. The sacrifices which they made, were not for themselves, but for us and those who shall come after us. They fought the battles of freedom, and we must pre- serve the fruits of their victories. It was their fortune to acquire laurels in war; let it be ours to deserve them in peace. They established schools, " to the end," as they said, " that learning may not be buried in the graves of their fathers." Let us cherish and improve the same system, to the end, that liberty may not be buried in the graves of our fathers. Ours is a no less ardnous task. A struggle is con- tinually going on ; and if we would be successful, our exer-
85
FUTURE GROWTH.
tions must never be relaxed. If we are true to ourselves and to our country, the beautiful prospect before us will continue to present still brighter and brighter visions.
What will be the character and condition of those who shall stand here and fill our places one hundred years hence, we would not attempt to predict. The changes and events of the last century have baffled all expectation ; and can we hope that they will be less important in the century to come ? The signs of the times indicate an onward progress ; the population of the country is increasing beyond all former precedent ; the mechanical arts are becoming more extended ; the means of diffusing knowledge are continually enlarging ; science is advancing ; and may we not hope that the moral and intellectual character of the people is improving ? An experiment is now in operation, on the result of which de- pends the dearest hopes of mankind. The time is not far distant when our country will contain a population of one hundred millions, who will speak one language, read the same books, and, we trust, live under the same and a free government. The names of the patriots and philanthropists of former days-the founders of the republic-will then be held in grateful remembrance. Memorials of their worth will appear in the whole social system; and though dead, yet will they live in the improved character and condition of society, possessing a power on carth that will be as lasting as the earth itself. He who shall then stand here, will speak of a prosperous country and equal laws. He will review its rapid increase in population, in arts, and in publie improve- ments ; and when he perceives its immense extent, its inex- hanstible resources, its flourishing institutions, and its happy government, he will acknowledge the debt due to former generations, and will feel still stronger obligations to make every exertion to transmit these blessings to others. But if these beautiful prospects are darkened-if these hopes are blasted-if our government is overthrown, and our country rent among hostile factions,-let it be through the fault of
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