USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Hardwick > History of Hardwick, Massachusetts, with a genealogical register > Part 27
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The Society was duly organized at a meeting held in the " Centre School-house," December 13, 1802, when officers were elected, to wit: Thomas Holt, Moderator ; Elisha P. Cutler, Clerk ; Timothy Paige, Job Dexter, and Samuel Hinkley, Pro- prietors' Committee ; Elisha P. Cutler, Librarian and Treasurer ; Cyrus Washburn, Collector ; and " It was voted to accept the rules and regulations drawn up by a committee appointed for that purpose, as the Constitution and Laws of the Library Pro- prietary. . . . It was voted that the subscription paper for said Library should be recorded in the Book containing the Laws and Constitution."
The subscription paper was recorded as directed; but the names of the subscribers are omitted. There is on record, how- ever, " a list of the names of the Proprietors of the First Social Library in Hardwick, November the 12th, 1805, with the number
253
LITERARY HISTORY.
of their shares," which probably corresponds very nearly with the list of subscribers : -
1. John Hastings, Esq.,
2. Timothy Paige, Esq.,
3. Col. Stephen Rice,
17. Josiah Newton,
18. Elliott Beckwith,
5. David Richards,
6. Samuel Hinkley,
7. Thomas Egery,
21. Lemuel Ruggles,
22. Prince Nye,
9. Seth Peirce,
23. Silas Newton,
10. Job Dexter,
24. John Jenney,
25. Thomas Wheeler,
26. Elijah B. Harmon,
27. Josiah C. Chandler,
14. Ashbel Rice,
15. Timothy Fay,
16. Elijah Carpenter,
4. Seth Hinkley,
19. James Perkins,
20. John Gorham,
8. Livy Lawton,
11. Israel Trow,
12. Nathaniel Paige,
13. Daniel Warner,
28. Jeduthun Spooner.
To these should be added the names of six original subscribers, whose shares had been assumed or purchased by the society before the date of this list, viz. : Samuel Beals, December 13, 1802; Cyrus Washburn, Ebenezer Ayer, and James Lawton, November 14, 1803 ; Elisha P. Cutler, August 1, 1805; and Thomas Holt, November 11, 1805.
At the meeting for organization, December 13, 1802, "it was voted, to receive certain Books formerly belonging to the old Library, to constitute a part of the new." 1
Elisha P. Cutler remained in office as librarian until August 1, 1805, when being about to remove to Maine, he resigned, and Jeduthun Spooner succeeded him for the remainder of the year. At the annual meeting, in November, 1805, Elijah B. Harmon was elected librarian, and held the office for eight years. Sam- uel Eastman was elected in 1813, Timothy Fay in 1815, William B. Wesson in 1816, and Samuel Hinkley in 1817, who was re- elected from year to year until November 12, 1827, at which date the record abruptly ends. In the Book of Records a loose sheet is preserved, containing a memorandum of another annual meeting, without date, at which Joseph Stone was elected libra- rian ; and it was " voted that the Librarian have permission to
1 I have found no other trace whatever of this " old Library ; " but of "the new " I made abundant use in my young days, and the general appearance of the books, as well as the fascinating character of
their contents, remains vividly imprinted on my memory in my old age. Their pe- rusal stimulated a taste for historical and biographical studies which has not yet entirely deserted me.
254
HISTORY OF HARDWICK.
agree with Messrs. Hammond & Mixter to keep the Library at their Store." A "Catalogue of Books belonging to the Social Li- brary Proprietary in Hardwick, and in possession of the Libra- rian, May 31st, 1831," was made, and Hammond & Mixter gave to the librarian a receipt for the same, which remains on file. An inspection of the Catalogue will afford proof that the books, though few in number, were of the most instructive and useful character ; and it may surprise the readers of this generation, that among the whole number there was only one work of pure fiction, viz., the " Vicar of Wakefield."
CATALOGUE, ETC.
Vols.
Belknap's History of New Hampshire
3
Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts
2
Biography of Naval Heroes
1
American Biography
2
Robertson's Charles V.
3
Buffon's Natural History
2
Ramsay's American Revolution
2
Hume's History of England
8
Park's Travels .
1
History of Vermont
1
Apostolical Fathers
1
Spanish America
1
Life of Josiah Quincy, Jr. . .
1
Ramsay's United States
3
Adams' Defence of American Constitutions 3
Hubbard's History of New England
1
Millot's Elements of History
5
Historical Transactions .
1
Marshall's Life of Washington
5
Flavius Josephus.
3
Smellie's Philosophy
1
Robertson's Scotland
1
Minot's Continuation
1
Life of Charles XII.
1
Smith's Lectures
1
History of Greece .
1
Bruce's Travels
1
Life of General Putnam
1
Hall's Journal
2
Life of Franklin
1
Jackson's Morocco
1
Clark's Travels
1
255
LITERARY HISTORY.
Vols:
Discourse on Meekness
1
Plutarch's Lives
8
Rambler
4
Dodd on Death
1
Junius' Letters
1
Beauties of Spectators, etc.
2
Rollin's Ancient History
8
Forsyth's Italy
1
Life of Souvaroff
1
Watson's Apology
1
Vicar of Wakefield
.
1
Dodd's Thoughts in Prison
1
Paley's Evidences
1
Doddridge's Sermons
1
British Spy
1
Letter on the Genius, etc. of French Government
Mr. Webster's Plymouth Discourse
pamphlet. pamphlet.
Unfortunately these books were scattered or lost, and the so- ciety ceased to exist. A new and much more extensive library has recently been established, under the patronage of the ladies. May the enterprise be crowned with abundant success and pros- perity.
MOUNT ZION LODGE. The other association for intellectual and moral improvement, organized at the commencement of this century, was a society of Freemasons, bearing the name of Mount Zion Lodge. Its charter from the Grand Lodge bears date March 11, 1800, and its original members were Calvin Eaton, William Stone, James Lawton, John Shaw, 2d, Abijah Powers, Clark Powers, Asaph Newcomb, Rufus King, Roger West, Bradford Newcomb, James Stone, Thomas Powers, Jr., Seth Hinkley, Daniel Ruggles, Daniel Billings, Jr., Luke Brown, Nathan Free- man, Edward Ruggles, Peter Blackmer, Jr., Sylvanus Thompson, Samuel Beals, Daniel Thomas, 2d, Samuel French, Thomas Wheeler, Jr., and Elias Hall. About one half of these persons resided in Hardwick, and nearly all the others in Greenwich, in- cluding what is now Enfield. For the first quarter of the cen- tury the Lodge prospered, and embraced among its members many of the most eminent citizens of the before-named towns, and also of Brookfield (especially that portion which is now West Brookfield), New Braintree, Barre, and Dana. Its first place of meeting was in a spacious hall in the Willis Tavern, on
256
HISTORY OF HARDWICK.
the turnpike, marked "Dr. Wardwell," on the R. Map. In 1809, Daniel Ruggles erected a new tavern in the centre of the town, in which he fitted a hall for masonic purposes, and the Lodge was removed thither on the 18th day of October in that year. A procession was formed at the old hall at ten o'clock A. M., and proceeded to the meeting-house, where a discourse was delivered by Rev. James Thompson, of Barre, and the officers of the Lodge were publicly installed. The procession was then again formed and proceeded to the new hall, which was duly dedicated, and was thenceforth the masonic home of the Lodge, until, by per- mission of the Grand Lodge, it was removed to Barre, March 14, 1855.
In 1826, an anti-masonic tornado originated in Western New York, and rapidly gathering strength, swept furiously over the Northern States, carrying devastation and ruin in its path. Not only Masonic Lodges were destroyed, but the Churches of Christ were rent asunder, and many of them utterly ruined. Mount Zion Lodge was not seriously affected by this tempest until about 1832. It was not then absolutely destroyed, but for the next ten years was in a disorganized condition, and had scarcely more than a name to live. After its revival in 1842, its return to prosperity was very slow. Many of its former most active members had either deceased or had become disheartened, and retired from participation in its labors ; and of those who had become of lawful age during the period of furious excitement, many had imbibed prejudices against the institution, which it was very difficult to overcome; and hence the accession of new mem- bers was hindered. Gradually, however, and notably since its removal to Barre, it has renewed its activity, and its prospect of permanent prosperity is highly encouraging.
I append a list of the successive Masters of the Lodge, with their respective residences, so far as ascertained.
1800-1802,1
Calvin Eaton,
Greenwich.
1803,
James Lawton,2
Hardwick.
1804 (Feb.),
Samuel Beals,
Hardwick.
1804,
Asaph Newcomb,
Greenwich.
1805, Calvin Eaton,
Greenwich.
1806, Asa Walker, Barre.
1807-1809,
Argalus Thomas,
Brookfield.
1 The annual meeting was in June Major Beals was elected for the unexpired until 1807 ; afterwards, in September. term.
2 James Lawton died in office, and
LITERARY HISTORY.
257
Joseph W. Hamilton,
Brookfield.
Joseph W. Jenkins,
Barre.
Benjamin Jenkins,
Hardwick.
Argalus Thomas,1
Brookfield.
Prescott.
1817, 1818,
Luther Spalding,
Greenwich.
1819, 1820,
Apollos Johnson,
Dana.
1821, 1822,
John Warner,
Greenwich.
1823, 1824,
Gardner Ruggles,
Barre.
1825,
Samuel Lee,
Barre.
1826,
Lucius R. Paige,
Hardwick.
1827,
Gardner Ruggles,
Barre.
1828,
James Thompson,
Barre.
1829,
Gardner Ruggles,
Barre.
1830, 1831,
Denison A. Robinson,
Barre.
1832-1841,
Few meetings held, and apparently no election of officers.
1842, 1843,
Gardner Ruggles,2
Hardwick.
1844,
Denison A. Robinson,
Barre.
1845,
Gardner Ruggles,
Hardwick.
1846, 1847,
George Washburn.
1848, 1849,
Gardner Ruggles,
Hardwick.
1850,
Joshua Flagg,
Dana.
1851-1853,
No record found.
1854,
John Winslow,
Barre.
1855,
William A Fuller,
Barre.
1856-1858,
George J. Sanger,
Hardwick.
1859-1862,
James Holland,
Barre.
1863,
Chauncy C. Hemenway,
Barre.
1864,
James Holland,
Barre.
1865,
George M. Buttrick,
Barre.
1866-1868,
Joseph F. Snow,
Barre.
1869,
John W. Rice,
Barre.
1 Captain Thomas afterwards removed him a " special agent " to conserve the to Worcester, and kept a popular hotel on Main Street, opposite to the Court House. In 1821, his name was changed to Samuel B. Thomas, by Act of the General Court.
2 It was chiefly through the exertions of Major Ruggles (who had returned from Barre to Hardwick) that any vi- tality in the Lodge was preserved. For many years the Grand Lodge constituted
interests of Freemasonry in Worcester County and all that part of the State lying west of it. On the first day of January, 1842, he reorganized Mount Zion Lodge, and, as its Master, nursed it judiciously for the next three years. This was the first-fruits of renewed ma- sonic prosperity in Western Massachu- setts.
17
1810, 1811, 1812, 1813, 1814, 1815, 1816,
Peleg Aldrich, Samuel Mixter,
New Braintree.
Warren P. Wing,
Greenwich.
258
HISTORY OF HARDWICK.
1870,
Joseph F. Snow,
Barre.
1871, 1872,
Sewell Underwood,
Barre.
1873,
Charles E. Newton,
Barre.
1874,
John W. Rice,
Barre.
1875,
George L. Brown,
Barre.
1876
Henry W. Hubbard,
Barre.
1877,
Joseph D. Wadsworth,
Barre.
1878, 1879,
Willie H. Osgood,
Barre.
1880, 1881,
William W. Stacey,
Barre.
1882,
I. T. Hinkley,
Barre.
POST-OFFICES, MAIL-CARRIERS, AND POST-RIDERS. At the commencement of the present century there was no post-office in Hardwick, nor indeed in this part of the county of Worcester. Letters addressed to our inhabitants were left at the post-office in Worcester, advertised occasionally, and at length obtained per- sonally or by private conveyance. Some were probably conveyed by the post-riders, who distributed newspapers weekly through the county. The Worcester postmaster advertised letters remain- ing in his office, December 26, 1801, for persons residing in Gard- ner, Hardwick, Hubbardston, Oxford, Sutton, and Westbor- ough ; and the same towns are mentioned in an advertisement dated April 5, 1802, with the addition of New Salem and South Brimfield.
About the year 1805, a post-office was established here, and Dr. William Cutler was appointed postmaster, who was succeeded by his son, Samuel Fiske Cutler ; together they held the office about thirty years, until 1836, when Frederick W. Delano was appointed, and the office was removed from its former location (where William Paige now resides) to the " Mixter Store." In 1850, Albert E. Knight was appointed, and is still in office after the lapse of more than thirty years. At a comparatively recent period, two more post-offices have been established here, one at Gilbertville, April 1, 1863, Lewis N. Gilbert, postmaster (Charles F. Hitchcock, assistant) ; and the other at the Furnace, April 1, 1875, Benjamin F. Paige, postmaster. The long-con- tinued service of these several officers indicates faithfulness on their part and the approbation of their fellow-citizens.
For several years before the establishment of the post-office, newspapers, and very probably letters occasionally, had been brought into the town by post-riders, who resided here, and trav- elled, on horseback, once a week, to Worcester and back, and also to Northampton and back again, - each trip occupying two
259
LITERARY HISTORY.
days. The earliest of these, whose name I have ascertained, was Eleazar Barrows, whose family resided in New Salem, though he died here, April 15, 1803, aged 58.1 He announced his retire- ment from business, April 24, 1799, in the " Massachusetts Spy ": " Eleazar Barrows informs his friends and customers that he has disposed of his route to Abraham White of Hardwick, who he is confident will be punctual in his business, and that the terms will be as usual. Said Barrows, sensible of the liberal support he has had from many of his customers, returns them his warmest thanks. And those who have been in arrears and still remain so, he flatters himself that this warning (being the last that will lay in his power to give them) will rouse them to a sense of their duty : for why will ye be sued ? O, ye delinquent ones." I find no further trace of "Abraham White of Hardwick." But in January, 1803, George W. Webb, also of Hardwick, commenced his service in the same capacity, and six months later addressed to his customers a moving exhortation : "George W. Webb, news-carrier from Worcester to Northampton, informs his cus- tomers, that it is now six months since he began to supply them with news. He hopes he has given satisfaction to all, in the line of his business. He wishes those who are indebted to him to make an immediate settlement ; they must remember that with- out the refreshing showers from heaven, the corn must wither on the stalk." 2
Soon after this date the post-office was established ; but whether Mr. Webb became the first mail-carrier, I know not. I do remember, however, that for several years the mail was car- ried by the post-rider, and that the service was performed on horseback. Afterwards, until 1818, a wagon, drawn by one horse, was used, affording opportunity to accommodate a single passenger. One of the latest professional post-riders was Nathan Reed, Jr., who left the service under a cloud, and who was the only one suspected of dishonesty, so far as my knowledge ex- tends. He advertised, June 16, 1816, that he " will have rode six months as Post on the 26th instant, up to which time he re- quests payment." 3
In 1818, Cyrus Stockwell made a vast improvement in the mail service. He had advertised, February 25, 1818,4 that six months' service as post-rider would expire on the 11th of March ;
1 " Died at Hardwick, Eleazar Bar- rows, formerly Post-rider from this office." Mass. Spy, April 27, 1803.
2 Mass. Spy, June 29, 1803.
8 Ibid., June 26, 1816.
4 Mass. Spy.
260
HISTORY OF HARDWICK.
and on the 26th of May he gave notice 1 that he would immedi- ately commence running a MAIL STAGE from Worcester, through Hardwick, to Northampton, once a week ; to leave Worcester every Wednesday, at 9 o'clock A. M., and arrive at Hardwick the same day and at Northampton every Thursday afternoon ; to leave Northampton every Friday at 8 A. M., and arrive at Hard- wick on the same day ; and to leave Hardwick every Tuesday at 8 A. M., and arrive at Worcester on the same day. In other words, the mail stage was to run from Hardwick to Worcester every Tuesday, and return on Wednesday, and to Northampton every Thursday, and return on Friday.
The next material improvement was made after the present Boston and Albany Railroad was opened as far as West Brook- field. The mail was then carried for several years from West Brookfield to Hardwick by Mr. William C. Wesson, who ran a two-horse mail-coach between the two towns, daily, from July 1, 1845, to April 12, 1858. He was succeeded by others, until the cars commenced running on the Ware River Railroad, from Palmer to Gilbertville, in 1870. Since that time the mails have been brought into Hardwick by steam power, and each of the three post-offices receives at least a daily mail.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. At a town meeting, April 2, 1838, it was " Voted to celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of the incorporation of the town ; Voted, that the selectmen be a Board of Managers to conduct and manage said celebration ; Voted, that the selectmen be requested to fix on a day for said celebration as near the date of said anniversary as can con- veniently be done." The Board of Managers selected November 15, 1838, as the appropriate day for the celebration; but for what reason I know not. The anniversary of the incorporation did not occur until January 10 (or, allowing eleven days for change of style, January 21), 1839. Perhaps it was anticipated that the weather would be more propitious in November than in January ; but the event proved otherwise. On the day of the celebration I think more rain fell than on any other day during that year. Despite this inclemency, however, a goodly number assembled, and, omitting the intended preliminary ceremonies, made their way, as best they could, to the old meeting-house, where for the next four hours they exhibited the most praise- worthy patience and forbearance. An account of the celebra-
1 Mass. Spy.
-
261
LITERARY HISTORY.
tion, written by Dr. Joseph Stone, was published in the " Barre Gazette," November 23, 1838. A commendable local pride and a generous friendship to the orator of the day may have imparted a somewhat roseate tint to the picture ; but I venture to insert it, as the only contemporaneous description of the Centennial Cele- bration which is known to exist : -
"CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AT HARDWICK.
" The day assigned for this celebration, Thursday, the 15th instant, was peculiarly unfavorable. With the exception of a short period, from ten to eleven o'clock A. M., the rain fell copi- ously through the day. In consequence of this, many were pre- vented from attending, and many of the previous arrangements could not be carried into effect.
"A procession of citizens only was formed at the Brick Church, and, attended by a fine band of music, the members of which were mostly from Barre, proceeded to the old meeting- house, where the following exercises were attended to : -
" 1st. Music ; the 100th of Watts' Psalms. Tune, Denmark.
" 2ยช. Introductory Prayer, and reading selections from the Scriptures, by Rev. John Goldsbury.
"3d. Music ; the 408th Hymn of Greenwood's collection. Tune, St. Martin's. Read in beautiful style, line by line, by Deacon Josiah C. Chandler, and sung in that manner by the choir.
" 4th. Prayer, by Rev. Mr. Goldsbury.
" 5th. Music ; Hymn by Flint, the 555th of Greenwood's collec- tion.
" 6th. Address, by Rev. Lucius R. Paige.
" 7th. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Nelson B. Jones, of the Baptist Church in Hardwick.
" 8th. Music ; Anthem, ' O, come, let us sing unto the Lord.'. " 9th. Benediction.
"Notwithstanding the unpleasant state of the weather, the large meeting-house was well filled by an attentive and gratified auditory.
" After the services about one hundred citizens and ladies sat down to an excellent repast furnished by Mr. S. A. Smith. A gentleman from Hampden County, who was probably unused to the style in which such things are done in this vicinity, assured the writer of this article that he considered the entertainment superior to any he had ever before witnessed.
262
HISTORY OF HARDWICK.
"The people of Hardwick are much indebted to the ef- forts of Mr. Moses Mandell, a native of that town, but now a resident in Barre, for the excellence of the musical performances by the choir.
" The devotional exercises, and especially the introductory prayer, were peculiarly appropriate and impressive.
" In delivering his address, Mr. Paige occupied two hours and fifty minutes. Perhaps higher praise cannot be given it than by saying that a large and promiscuous audience, going without their dinners to a late hour in the afternoon, and with a prospect, which was fully realized, of a dark and stormy night to travel home in, were nevertheless so highly entertained as to show no marks of impatience, but continued in rapt and undivided atten- tion to the close. He described the purchase of the township from the Indians, and disclosed all that could now be known of the early history of the town, from the time when its northern- most inhabitant had no white settler between him and Canada to the time of the incorporation of the town, and gave a hasty sketch of the most prominent particulars in its history from that . period to the present ; and closed with an eloquent appeal to the inhabitants in behalf of their shorn and neglected centre burying ground. Arrangements have been made for printing the address ; and its appearance from the press will be anxiously looked for by many, both of those who heard, as well as those who did not hear it.
" It is believed that the people separated with the conviction impressed on their minds, that the contemplation of the hard- ships and the sufferings, of the piety and the patriotism, of their excellent forefathers, was a much purer and nobler employment, and left much more pleasing emotion on the mind, than could result from either successful or unsuccessful electioneering efforts. "S."
At the request of the hearers, the Address was published with an appendix, in a pamphlet of 76 pages, octavo. It was prepared under serious disadvantages, - a principal one of which was a lack of time to verify certain traditions received from the " oldest inhabitants," and to examine the original authorities for currently reported facts. For this and other reasons, several errors occurred in the printed copy, the more important of which are corrected in this volume.
CHAPTER XIV.
MILITARY HISTORY.
French War. - Brigadier Ruggles. - Muster Rolls. - Revolutionary War. - Minute-Men. - General Warner. - Lieutenant-Colonels Rice and Sears. - Muster Rolls. - Descriptive Rolls. -- Petition of Shearjashub Goodspeed. - War of 1812. - Abortive Attempt to enlist Volunteers. - Political Celebra- tion of Independence. - Oration. - Toasts. - War of the Rebellion. -- Hardwick Soldiers. - Officers of Militia.
THE political action of the town in seasons of warfare has been described heretofore. It remains that the personal service of in- dividuals should be mentioned. Except the sanguinary struggle at Winnimisset, in 1675, and the hand-to-hand conflict near the same spot, about half a century later, briefly related in Chapter I., the inhabitants of this territory were not engaged in actual hostilities until what is sometimes denominated the " old French War," commenced in 1744.1 In this war, Hardwick contributed one victim, Samuel Abbott, who was killed at Fort Massachu- setts, August 2, 1748. He was a member of Captain Ephraim Williams' company.
In the " French War" which followed, commencing in 1753, though not formally declared until 1756, Hardwick furnished its full quota of officers and privates. The most conspicuous officer hailing from this town was Timothy Ruggles,2 who having al- ready been commissioned colonel of the regiment of militia which embraced this town within its limits, entered the army as a colonel in 1755, was promoted to the office of brigadier-general,
1 A military force, however, had been Warner. Moreover, the commander of constantly employed, since " Queen Anne's War," to protect the frontiers against the incursions of the Indians, in- stigated and encouraged by the French.
2 It is worthy of remark, that in the French War, the Revolutionary War, and the Shays Rebellion, the military com- mander, highest in rank in this county, resided in Hardwick, namely, Brigadier- Gen ral Ruggles and Major - General
the regiment to which Hardwick be- longed resided here : Brigadier Ruggles, as the custom then was, retained the com- mand of his regiment; Lieutenant-Colo- nel Stephen Rice, who was elected April 10, 1776, was the commander, after the resignation of Colonel Converse in 1778, until 1781, when Colonel Timothy Paige was elected, who remained in office dur- ing the Shays Insurrection.
264
HISTORY OF HARDWICK.
and served faithfully until the close of the war.1 Among his staff officers, inhabitants of Hardwick, were Samuel Robinson, Jr., adjutant, 1757 ; Challis Safford, surgeon, 1757; and Challis Safford and Joel Carpenter, surgeons' mates, 1759.
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