History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 172

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 172

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embarrassed and unremunerative through unwise management. Mr. Hayes became deeply interested in the colonization of Kansas with Free State men when that territory was organized and opened to set- tlement. He was an active worker in the organiza- tion known as the Emigrant Aid Society, which ac- complished much in saving that State from the con- trol of slaveholders, and consecrating it to freedom. In 1873 he was elected to the Lower House of the Leg- islature from Boston, and in the following year to the Upper House. He was instrumental in carrying through a bill for reducing the hours of labor in the factories and shops for women and children to ten hours per day, and other legislation to protect them in manu- facturing establishments from overwork and abuse. Mr. Hayes was identified with the Republican party from its organization, and received the nomination for Congress in the caucus of the party for the Fifth District in the election of 1884. He would undoubt- edly have been elected had not death snatched him away from the honors that seemed so near.

In his Lexington home Mr. Hayes took great de- light and pride. He bought originally a few acres of the old Hancock-Clarke farm and gradually added to it by additional purchases until it became a magnifi- cent estate of more than 400 acres. For twenty years he was buying piece after piece of adjoining land, laying out fields and pastures, planting gardens and orchards, and bringing together there every species of plant, shrub and tree fitted for the soil and climate. He showed fine taste, and he spared no ex- pense in adorning the grounds with whatever is rare and beautiful in nature from every part of the world. Under his care and skill the place became a paradise of gardens, lawns and groves.

For several years and up to the time of his death Mr. Hayes was president of the Massachusetts Horti- cultural Society, and at its exhibitions his roses, rhododendrons and azaleas won many prizes and much well-deserved admiration.

During the last year of his life he was engaged in erecting a noble mansion built out of the field stone on his estate for his permanent residence in Lexington. This was nearly completed at the time of his death, and is undoubtedly one of the most tasteful and sumptuous dwellings iu Massachu- setts. His death occurred after a brief illness on the 21st of September, 1884, at the age of sixty-four years. In many ways he was a great benefactor to the town, not the least of which was in opening his extensive and beautiful grounds to the people, thus providing a public park for their instruction and enjoyment.

DAVID HARRINGTON.

The ancestor of the Harrington family in this coun- try appears to have been Robert Harrington, who settled in Watertown about 1642. From his thir- teen children have descended branches that are

Francis B. Stay

LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS. RESIDENCE OF THE LATE HON. FRANCIS B. HAYES, - "OAKMOUNT."

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DAVID HARRING'I I

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STOW.

now scattered throughout New England and in- deed throughout the United States. When his grandchildren or great-grandchildren, Robert and John, came to Lexington it was impossible to de- termine; but their names are found upon the town records as early as 1713. They were cousins, and from them have descended a large number of families in this and the adjoining towns. Indeed, the name on the town and church records of Lexington is one of the most numerous of all. Nor is it a name un- known to honorable events and notable characters in the history of the town. Eleven Harringtons were on the roll of Captain Parker's company of minute- men, and two of them, Jonathan and Caleb, were killed in the memorable encounter on the Common, April 19, 1775.

David, the subject of this notice and the son of Solomon, was born in this town January 2, 1790. He married, December 10, 1810, Elizabeth Francis, by whom he had two sons, Sylvester and Charles, and one daughter, Mary, who became the wife of Charles J. Adams, for a long time keeper of the House of Cor- rection at East Cambridge.

" Uncle David," as he was familiarly called, learn- ed the business of dressing furs under the direction and in the employ of Ambrose Morrill, who had an extensive establishment at East Lexington. He be- came an expert in the preparation of furs for market, and his services were highly prized by his employer. Here about thirty years of his life were passed, and when Mr. Morrill retired from business, " Uncle Dav- id " began the manufacture of peat in the Great Meadows, near the village. In the belief that wood in New England was being rapidly exhausted, and that a substitute for it must be found, peat was re- garded as an important article for fuel. Accordingly great preparations were made for digging and prepar- ing it for market, and much swamp land was bought up for this object. Happily people's fears proved groundless, and coal ultimately took the place, to a large extent, of both peat and wood. The manufacture of peat was a losing business, and the Great Meadows at East Lexington were finally abandoned to the town of Arlington, for their water-works supply. "Uncle David " and the other proprietors were thus driven out of the old swamp, where for a long period they had been producing this kind of fuel.

David Harrington was well known in Lexington, all through his life, as a man of sterling honesty, and was much respected by his friends and fellow-towns- men. He was gathered to his fathers in a ripe old age, and is still pleasantly remembered in the places that once knew him, but will soon know him no more forever.

CHAPTER XLIX.

STOW.

BY REV. GEORGE F. CLARK.

THE town of Stow is situated in the west part of Middlesex, and adjoins Worcester County. It is about twenty-five miles a little north of west from Boston, and nearly eight south of west from Concord. It was originally noted for two quite conspicuous hills, known as Pompasittacutt and Shabbukin, which are now respectively within the bounds of Maynard and Harvard. There are, however, within its borders, at the present time, four hills from which most charm- ing views can be obtained, viz .: Spindle, Marble, Birch and Pilot Grove, all within about a mile of the centre ; and the last, formerly called "Strong Water " Hill, lies northerly, and in close proximity to the centre meeting-house, and is crowned with a cluster of beautiful pines. There is a lesser hill at the south- easterly part of the town known as " Boone's " Hill, taking its name from the first settler who located near it. The principal stream of water is the Assabet River, rising in or near Westboro' and flows through the southerly part of the town, and joins the Sudbury River at Concord. Assabet Brook, some- times on the old records called "Elzabeth," rises in the northwest part of the town, near the corners of Harvard and Boxboro', and flows southerly around the southern slope of Spindle Hill, thence northerly and easterly, and empties into the Assabet River, near the line of Maynard. Heath Hen Meadow Brook rises in the south part of Boxboro', flows southerly near to the northern slope of Pilot Grove Hill, thence northeasterly into Acton, forming a sort of ox-bow. What was formerly known as "Strong Water " Brook flowed from the northerly side of the little pond at the centre of the town towards South Acton. But many years ago Rev. Mr. Newell dug a trench on the southerly side of the pond and drained its waters into Assabet Brook. The only other nat- ural pond is Boone's, near which the first settlement was made.

There are three villages in the town, viz .: The Centre; another about a mile easterly, called the Lower Village, where the first meeting-house was built; and Rock Bottom, at the southerly part of the town, near the border of Hudson, which is the largest of the three.

By the incorporation of Concord, Sudbury, Marl- borough, Lancaster and Groton, there was left in 1660, surrounded by these towns and the Indian plantation of Nashoba, (now Littleton), quite a large tract of land called Pompasittacutt by the Indians. It extended from Sudbury on the east to what is now Lunenburg on the west, and from Groton on the north to Marl- borough on the south.

It is now bounded north by Boxboro' and Acton,

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

east by Maynard and Sudbury, south by Hudson, and west by Bolton and Harvard, Its area is 11,021 acres ; valuation in 1885, $955,721. The population in 1880 was 1045. A few years ago it was reported to be the third town in the State relative to healthiness. The Marlborough Branch of the Fitchburg, and the Central Massachusetts Railroad pass through its southern border.

The earliest known settler upon the original terri- tory was Matthew Boone, about 1660, near to Sudbury and Marlborough. He is said to have come from Charlestown. About the middle of February, 1676, he was killed by the Indiaus, as appears from an in- ventory of his property taken April 3, 1676. His wife's name was Ann. We have learned nothing more about him. About three years later John Kettell is supposed to have settled in the west part of the town, near Lancaster line, or "Nashaway," as it was origi- nally called. He is believed to have previously re- sided at Gloucester. There is, however, some doubt as to his identity. There were two men of the same name who were contemporaneous, both of whom were " coopers," and by different writers both have been declared to be the settler at Pompasittacutt. The second of the name was from Charlestown. The evidence, on the whole, seems to favor the man from Gloucester as being the settler. The traditional story of his being killed by the Indians February 10, 1676, appears to have no foundation in point of fact. His wife and two daughters were taken prisoners with Mrs. Rowlandson at that time. While they were captives an Indian sent a letter to John Kettell saying, "Your wife and all your child is all well, and all them prisoners taken at Nashaway is all well." This shows that Kettell was living some time after he is said to have been slain. Furthermore, he died at Salem October 12, 1685, and the inventory of his prop- erty was taken November 10, 1685, wherein his farm "near Nashaway of 300 acres " is mentioned. His wife was Elizabeth Allen, of Salem, who married her second husband, Samuel Corning, in 1688.

There were "layed out unto the worshipful Maj" Eleazer Lusher," in 1665, 500 acres of land at Pom- pasittacutt, west of Sudbury, aud bounded northerly by what is now Acton. The same year 500 acres more were assigned to Capt. Daniel Gookin, bounded northerly by Nashoba, and southeasterly by what is now Acton. Some three years later, 150 acres were set apart to Richard HIeldridge (Hildreth ?), bounded northerly by Gookin's land, southeasterly by Acton. Probably about the same time some 200 acres were apportioned to John Alcocke, on or near Assabet River, doubtless just above Rock Bottom, which, June 6, 1671, was confirmed by the General Court to his orphan children. It is presumed that none of these persons ever settled upon their farms. There were doubtless others who had taken up land in this un- incorporated territory previous to 1670.

INCORPORATION .- The first direct action looking

to the incorporation of Pompasittacutt as a town is embodied in the following petition to the General Court, of Johu Hayward, George Hayward, John Hayward, Sr., Richard Heldredge, Jos. Lampson, John Law and others, of Concord. They say, " hav- ing observed a certaine tract of land environed with the bounds of Concord, Sudbury, Marihury, Lancas- ter, Groaton and Nashoby, within whitch is certaine farmes . . . whitch we judge may be convenient to make a plantation, wee therefore yor petition's re- quest the favour of this honoured Court to appoint some persons to set the bounds of townes aud farmes, that thereby yo" petition"" may see what incouragemt they may have to make farther addresses unto this honoured Court for accommodations for themselves, famlyes being at the present much wanting therein." This petition had no date. But the General Court, on the 13th of October, 1669, appointed "Left. Wheeler, of Concord, Deacon John Haynes, of Sud- bury, James Parker, of Groaton, John Moore, of Lancaster, & Wm. Kerby, of Marlborou," or any three of them, to view the premises mentioned, and "make report to this Court of the qualitye and quan- ty thereof, . . . whether it be capable (if the farmes belonged to it) to make a village." On the 12th of May, 1670, George Hayward, Joseph Wheeler, Thomas Wheeler, John Hayward, William Butter- ick, Sydrack Habgood, Stephen Hall, Joseph New- ton, Edmund Wigley and Richard Heldredge, inhab- itants of Concord, Chelmsford and Sudbury, sent a petition to the General Court relative to this territory. But it is so mutilated and defaced on the record-book that its full import cannot be stated. It seems to be desired that the land may be granted to them and assistance rendered, probably for the support of a minister, "that the neglect of God's laws may be pre- vented, & the Gospel of Jesus Christ be preached and encouraged." The committee appointed by the Court reported May 31, 1670, saying they had viewed the land petitioned for, "and find it, by estimation, as followeth, viz. : ten thousand acres of country's land, whereof five hundred acres of it is meadow, the greatest parte of it is very meane land, but wee judge there will be planting land enough to accommodate twenty famelyes ; also there is about four thousand acres more of lands that is taken up in farmes whereof about five hundred acres of it is meadow. There is also the Indian plantation of Nashoby, that doeth border on one side of this tract of land, that is exceeding well meadowed, and they doe make but litle or no use of it." The Court then granted "yt tract of land unto George & John Hayward, Joseph Wheeler, Sydrack Habgood & the rest of the peti- tioners, with others that shall joyne to it wth them to make a village, provided that the place be settled wth not lesse than tenn famelyes wth in three years, & that a pious, orthodox 'and able minister be mainteyned there." Capt. Daniel Gookin, Mr. Thomas Danforth and Mr. Joseph Cooke, or any two of them, were

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appointed a committee to order and regulate the set- tling of the village, in all respects, until further or- ders. No immediate steps towards a settlement seem to have been taken; but as the Court required that ten families should be settled thereupon within three years, the committee in charge chose, December 4, 1672, another committee " to lay out in the most con- venient places Twelve Lotts, containing fifty acres of Land as neare together as may be." The petitioners and their associates were to cast lots for these home- steads, provided they should "be men of good and honest conversations and orthodox in religion .. . and Eugage according to their ability to contribute towards the maintenance of a godly minister amongst them, and alsoe doe Setle upon, Build & Improve said Lotts within two years from the beginning of May next," or their lands would be forfeited and as- signed to others. These homestead lots were proba- bly soon drawn. But some of those securing lots forfeited them by not complying with the conditions. The proprietors therefore make complaint to the committee in charge, who, April 30, 1675, order that all persons claiming any rights in the Plantation should meet at Cambridge, at the ordinary, on the 17th day of May, at eight o'clock, to make answer for their neglect ; and if they did not appear at the time and place they were to be considered as utterly re- linquishing their claims. What was done in May we do not know. But June 1, 1675, the committee issue further directions relative to the occupancy of these lots. The alarm caused by the breaking out of King Philip's War stayed further proceedings until the return of peace. How soon the inhabitants returned does not appear. We find no definite record of action until October 4, 1680, when Stephen Hall, Boaz Browne, Samuel Butterick, Ephraim Heldreth, John Butterick and Jonathan Prescott make an agree- ment with John Hayward, of Boston, who was equally interested with them in the plantation, that he should have a lot of land laid out and secured to him, where he should choose, with a full share of the first divi- sion of upland and meadow, he paying his full share of the ministerial charges, etc. From a document dated 1681 we learn that the following persons were owners of the twelve original lots drawn by the pro- prietors: No. 1 was for the minister ; 2, Boaz Browne; 3, Gershom Heale; 4, John Butterick ; 5, Ephraim Heldreth ; 6, Thomas Stevens; 7, Stephen Hall; 8, Samuel Butterick ; 9, Joseph Freeman ; 10, Joseph Dawby ; 11, Thomas Gates; 12, Sydrack Hap- good. All these except Thomas Stevens, Joseph Freeman, Thomas Gates and Sydrack Hapgood are believed to have come from Concord. Hapgood was killed by the Indiaas near Brookfield, August 2, 1675, in l'hilip's War.

These homestead lots were on the northerly and sontherly sides of the old road laid out in 1646, he- tween Lancaster and Sudbury, passing by where Francis W. Warren now lives, and over the river

beyond the almshouse. The most westerly of these farms was that of Thomas Gates, where Charles A. Whitney now resides, and two of them, belonging to Joseph Dawby and Sydrack Hapgood, were over the river near Sudbury. Besides those having the foun- dation lots, just named, the following persons had lots granted them at the dates given. Those in italics were from Concord: John Wetherby, December 18, 1779; Richard Whitney, Sr., June 3, 1680; James Wheeler, April 8, 1681; Moses Whitney, April 8, 1681; Henry Rand, January 13, 1682 ; Isaac Heald, January 13, 1682; Israel Heald, March 13, 1682; Benjamin Bosworth, August 7, 1682 ; Benjamin Crane, Decem- ber 23, 1682; Joseph Wheeler, April 19, 1683; Jabez Brown, June 15, 1683; Richard Whitney, Jr., June 15, 1683; Jabez Utter, June 15, 1683; Thomas Stev- ens, Jr., June 17, 1684; Boaz Brown, Jr., June 17, 1684; Samuel Hall, June 17, 1684; Thomas Daby, June 17, 1684; Mark Perkins, January 1, 1685; Richard Burke, Sr., March 1, 1685 ; Roger Willis, March 1, 1685; Thomas Williams, March 1, 1685; Stephen Randell, March 10, 1686.

As the plantation increased in numbers, the inhab- itants soon felt able to manage their own affairs; and the court's committee might have desired to be relieved, in some measure, from their supervisory duties, and hence, on the 11th of October, 1681, at the request of several of the proprietors and inhabitants, the com- mittee appointed Thomas Stevens, Boaz Browne, Thomas Gates and Stephen Hall as overseers of the place, with the powers of selectmen, subject, how- ever, to instructions from the court's committee. The following year the population had so increased that it was deemed advisable to have a record of the pro- ceedings kept. And on the 24th of April, 1682, the committee appointed John Hayward, of Boston, scrivener, town clerk, to record all orders of the General Court and committee referring to the plan- tation ; and all persons concerned were to bring to Mr. Hayward all orders and grants to be recorded. The committee also ordered, with the general consent of the inhabitants, that each one should contribute towards all public charges in proportion to the num- ber of acres allotted them, and that no second divi- sion of lauds should be made until forty lots had been settled upon, and no person was to have more than fifty acres of upland and fifteen of meadow. It was also ordered that as Mr. John Hayward had been at considerable expense in obtaining the grant of land, he should be abated the charges that would arise for the coming seven years, excepting those for the min- ister and the meeting-house, on condition that he keep the register of the town until further orders.

Prosperity seems to have attended the planta- tion, and the people became anxious to manage their own affairs, and take their place among the towns of the Colony, and that the clerk of the proprietors should be a resident of the plantation. Therefore they bring the matter before the court's committee,

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

who, on the 9th of April, 1683, chose Mr. Thomas Stevens clerk, and Mr. Hayward's record-book was to be delivered to him. The inhabitants were also directed to meet and choose five selectmen and a con- stahle to order and manage their town affairs for the ensuing year.

The people were ready and abundantly willing to obey the order of the committee, and on the 19th of April they met and chose Sergeant Benjamin Bos- worth, Thomas Stevens, Stephen Hall, Boaz Browne and Joseph Freeman, selectmen, and Thomas Gates, constable. As Thomas Stevens had been previously appointed town clerk, it was deemed unnecessary to choose another. Subsequently the selectmen ap- pointed John Wetherby and Gershom Heald, tithing- men. The preliminary steps towards the organiza- tion of the town having been taken, and as the Gen- eral Court was soon to assemble, it was decided to make immediate application to them, through the committee, for an act of incorporation. Early in May a consultation was held and a petition was pre- pared and forwarded to the prudential committee, and Benjamin Bosworth and Stephen Hall were em- powered to present it. The document is quite long and refers to many matters. Among other things they say, " We are sensable enough of o' want of yor wisdom to help advise us, & are sory yt aneything of or weeknesse should seem to discoridg you, and look- ing upon o"selves something to yong to be cast of wee doe in all humility returne yor Honoros all possible thankfulness wee are able for all yor care & time & paines bestowed upon us, & whereas many things lye upon ns & presseth ns hard, by sundry Knotts y remaine yett to bee nntied, & many great Disburstmts . about settling an able & pious minister & other Church work relating thereto, making bridges & other unavoidable heavye secular matters yt will sorely pinch a poore people in soe yong a plantation where they can not yet raise competent, ordenary food & Raymnt, our prayer is that wee, yor poore petitioners, might have accesse unto yon for advise in some emergencies & yt yor Honore will please still to patronize us so ffarr as to bee a mean's by ye Honred Gen" Court at their next sessions to free us from Country publick Charges & Rates a while Longer till wee becom more Tollerably able to doe of duty therein, in of measure as all other Towns in this jurisdiction are, & yt you will not please wholly to cast us of till you have alsoe procured for this plantation some suitable, comly English name."

The General Court, satisfied that the people could act for themselves, on the first day of the session, May 16, 1683, old style, or May 26th, new style, de- creed that the place should become a town, and al- lowed the choice already made of selectmen and constable, etc., and gave the name of Stow to the new town, and freed the inhabitants from the country rates for the next three years. We have no record of any public celebration of the event by the people,

though they doubtless rejoiced that they were of age to act for themselves.

INDIANS .- There is no doubt that Indians fre- quented the territory of Pompasittacntt, and that some of them laid claim to lands within its bounds. Indian arrow-heads and hatchets have been found in different localities. Soon after the incorporation of the town it was decided to extinguish, if possible, all the Indian claims to land. Hence, December 26, 1683, the town "ordered yt Stephen Hall & Boaz Brown, who have Treated with Benn Bowbugh or Piphuh, Indian, in deferance to ye purchasing of all his Rights in lands, meadowes, swomps lying within this plantation, and have agreed with him, are or- dered and Impowered by ye Town to Ishne yt matter in ye Town's behalf. The purchase and other charges to bee defrayed hy ye proprietors." It was further ordered "yt ye abovesd Stephen Hall and Boaz Brown shall Indever to find out all those In- dians yt pretend to any right of land in this plan- tation, & to treat with them " relative to the pur- chase of their rights. A rate of four pounds was made to pay Benn Bowhugh for his lands. In the following February a five-pound rate was made "to pay for ye Lands purchased of James Speene, Ben Piphue and ye rest y' clame a right to lands in Pom- pasittacutt, . .. the whole purchase heing Tenn pounds." March 6, 1703-04, a committee was ap- pointed " to Defend our land purchased of Benn Bo- how, Lying on ye sonth side of ye River . . . against any persons that may pretend to have rights in ye lands." It does not appear what was the result, nor do we know what was the fate of " James Speene and Benn Bohugh." But, February 8, 1715-16, it was voted to sell "the Indian planting land " upon the river below Zebediah Wheeler's.

During King Philip's War the hills and swamps ot Pompasittacutt were doubtless the rendezvous of his warriors when about to make a raid upon Sudbury or other neighboring places. Tradition-a very unreli- able authority-says that the Indians held a consulta- tion upon Pompasittacutt Hill, overlooking Concord and Sudbury, as to which of the towns they should attack. One of the chiefs said : " We no prosper if we go to Concord. The Great Spirit love that people. lIe tells us not to go. They have a great man there. He great pray." This was an allusion to Rev. Mr. Bulkley, the minister of the town, who seems to have been known to the Indians as a distinguished man, and they feared his influence with the " Great Spirit." Hence Concord was spared and Sudbury suffered.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 172

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034