History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 130

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 130

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" Groton, Nov. 22, 1763 [8].

" If any of the above mentioned Articles are offered to Sail, it is desired they may be stop'd with the Thief, and Notice given to said Cut- ler or to the Printers."

On October 21, 1773, a noted burglar was hanged in Boston for various robberies committed in different parts of the State, and covering a period of some years. The unfortunate man was present at the de- livery of a sermon by the Reverend Samuel Stillman, preached at his own request, on the Sunday before his execution ; and to many of the printed copies is appended an account of his life. In it the poor fellow states that he is only twenty-one years old, and that he was born in Groton of a respectable family. He confessed that he broke into Mr. Cutler's shop, and took away "a good piece of broad-cloth, a quan- tity of silk mitts and several pieces of silk handker-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

chiefs." He was hardly seventeen years of age at the time of this burglary. To the present generation it would seem cruel and wicked to hang a misguided youth for offences of this character.

Mr. Cutler died on December 19, 1782; and he was succeeded in business by Major Thomas Gardner, who erected the building formerly known as Gerrish's Block, which was moved away in the summer of 1885. Major Gardner lived in the house now owned by the Watters family.

Near the end of the last century a store, situated a little north of the late Benjamin Perkins Dix's house, was kept by James Brazer, which had an extensive trade for twenty miles in different directions. It was here that the late Amos Lawrence served an ap- prenticeship of seven years, which ended on April 22, 1807; and he often spoke of his success in busi- ness as due, in part, to the experience in this store. Late in life he wrote that "the knowledge of every- day affairs which I acquired in my business ap- prenticeship at Groton has been a source of pleasure and profit even in my last ten years' discipline."

The quantity of New England rum and other liquors sold at that period would astonish the tem- perance people of the present day. Social drinking was then a common practice, and each forenoon some stimulating beverage was served up to the customers in order to keep their trade. There were five clerks employed in the establishment ; and many years later Mr. Lawrence, in giving advice to a young student in college, wrote :

"In the first place, take this for your motto at the commencement of your journey, that the difference of going just right, or a little wrong, will he the difference of finding yourself in good quarters, or in a miser- ahle bog or slough, at the end of it. Of the whole number educated in the Groton stores for some years before and after myself, no one else, to my knowledge, escaped the hog or slough ; and my escape I trace to the simple fact of having put a restraint upon my appetite. We five hoys were in the habit, every forenoon, of making a drink compounded of rum, raisins, sugar, nutmeg, &c., with biscuit,-all palatable to eat and drink. After being in the store four weeks, I found myself admonished hy my appetite of the approach of the hour for indulgence. Thinking the habit might make trouble if allowed to grow stronger, without fur- ther apology to my seniors I 'declined partaking with them. My first resolution was to abstain for a week, and, when the week was out, for a month, and then for a year. Finally, I resolved to abstain for the rest of my apprenticeship, which was for five years longer. During that whole period, I never drank a spoonful though I mixed gallons daily for my old master and his customers." 1

The following advertisement is found in the Co- lumbian Centinel (Boston), June 8, 1805 :

" James Brazer,

WOULD inform the public that having dissolved the Copartnership lately subsisting between AARON BROWN, Esq. SAMUEL HALE and the Subscriher ; he has taken iuto Copartnership his son WILLIAM F. BRAZER, and the business in future will be transacted under the firm

JAMES BRAZER & SON ;

They will offer for sale, at their store in Groton, within six days a com- plete assortment of English, India, and W. India GOODS, which they will sell for ready pay, at as low a rate as any store in the Country.

"Groton, May 29, 1805."

" JAMES BRAZER.

"Squire Brazer," as he was generally called, was a man of wealth and position. Hc was one of the founders of Groton Academy, and his subscription of £15 to the building fund in the year 1792 was as large as that given by any other person. In the early part of this century he built the house now belonging to the academy and situated just south of it, where he lived until his death, which occurred on November 10, 1818. His widow, also, took a deep interest in the institution, and at lier decease, April 14, 1826, be- queathed to it nearly five thousand dollars.

After Mr. Brazer's death the store was moved across the street, where, until the summer of 1885, it re- mained, forming the wing of Gerrish's Block. The post-office was in the north end of it during Mr. Butler's term as postmaster. About this time the son, William Farwell Brazer, built a store nearly opposite to the Academy, which he kept during some years. It was made finally into a dwelling-house, and ocou- pied by the late Jeremiah Kilbourn.

The brick store opposite to the High School was built in the year 1835, by Henry Woods, for his own place of business, and afterwards kept by him and George S. Boutwell, the style of the firm being Woods & Boutwell. Mr. Woods died on January 12, 1841, and he was succeeded by his surviving partner, who carried on the store for a long time, even while hold- ing the highest executive position in the State. In the spring of 1855, when he began to practice law, Governor Boutwell sold out the business to Brigham & Parker. The post-office was in this building during the years 1839 and 1840 and until April, 1841. For the past thirty years it has. been occupied by various firms, but is now kept by John H. Sheedy & Com- pany.

During the last war with England, Eliphalet Wheeler had a store where Miss Betsey Capell and her sisters, Sarah and Catherine, in more modern times, kept a haberdasher's shop. It is situated op- posite to the Common, and is now used as a dwell- ing-house. They were daughters of John Capell, who owned the saw-mill and grist-mill, which formerly stood on the present site of the Tileston and Hollingsworth paper-mills, on the Great Road, north- west of the village. Afterward Wheeler and his brother, Abner, took Major Thomas Gardner's store, where he was followed by William F. Brazer, Park & Woods, Park & Potter, Potter & Gerrish and lastly by Charles Gerrish, who kept it for more than thirty years. It was given up as a store in July, 1884, and has since been moved away and made into a tene- ment-house.

Near the beginning of the present century there were three military companies in town : the Artillery Company, commanded at one time by Captain James Lewis; the North Company, by Captain Jonas Gil- son, and the South Company, by Captain Abel Tar- bell. Two of these officers were soon promoted in the regimental service; Captain Tarbell to a col-

Diary and Correspondence of Amos Lawrence, pages 24, 25.

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GROTON.

onelcy, and Captain Lewis to a majorate. Captain Gilson resigned and was succeeded by Captain Noah Shattuck. They had their spring and fall training- days, when they drilled as a battalion on the Com- mon,-there were no trees there then,-and marched through the village. They formed a very respectable command, and sometimes would be drawn up before Squire Brazer's store, and at other times before Major Gardner's, to be treated with toddy, which was then considered a harmless krink.

David Child had a store, about the beginning of the century, at the south corner of Main and Pleas- ant Streets, nearly opposite to the site of the Orthodox meeting-house, though Pleasant Street was not then laid out. It was subsequently occupied by Deacon Jonathan Stow Adams, then by Artemas Wood, and lastly by Milo Henry Shattuck. This was moved off nearly twenty years ago, and a spacious building put up a few rods north, on the old tavern site across the way, by Mr. Shattuck, who still carries on a large business.

Alpheus Richardson kept a book-store, about the year 1815, in his dwelling, at the south corner of Main and Elm Streets, besides having a book-bindery in the same building. Soon afterward an L was added to the house, and for a short time he carried on a country variety store in connection with his other business. The book-store and binder's shop were continued until about 1850. It is said that this house was built originally by Colonel James Prescott, for the use of his son, Abijah, as a store; but it never was so occupied by him.

Joseph and Phineas Hemenway, uncles of the late Augustus Hemenway, of Boston, built a store on the north corner of Main and Elm Streets, about the year 1815, where they carried on a trading business. They were succeeded by one Richardson, then by David Childs ; and finally by John Hamilton Spalter, who had for many years a book store and binder's shop in the building, which is now used as a dwell- ing-house. At the present time Mr. Spalter is living in Keene, New Hampshire.

About the year 1826, General Thomas Adams Staples built and kept a store on Main Street, di- rectly north of the Orthodox meeting-house. He was followed successively by Benjamin Franklin Law- rence, Henry Hill and Walter Shattuck. At one time the style of the firm was Shattuck, Brown & Company. The building was burned down very early on Tuesday morning, November 17, 1874, and its site is now occupied by Dr. David Roscoe Steere's house.

In November, 1844, a large building was moved from Hollis Street to the corner of Main and Court Streets. It was put up originally as a meeting-house for the Second Adventists or Millerites, as they were called in this neighborhood, after William Miller, one of the founders of the sect; and during the fol- lowing winter and spring it was fitted up in a com-

modious manner, with shops in the basement and a spacious hall in the second story. The building was known as Liberty Hall, and formed a conspicuous structure in the village. It was first occupied by tenants in July, 1845. The post-office was kept there while Mr. Lothrop and Mr. Andruss were the post- masters. It was used as a shoe-store, a grocery and a bakery, when, on Sunday, March 31, 1878, it was burned to the ground.

The brick store, owned by the Dix family, was built and kept by Aaron Brown, near the beginning of the century. He was followed by Moses Carleton, and after him came -- and Merriam, and then Benjamin P. Dix. It is situated at the corner of Main Street and Broad Meadow Road, and is now used as a dwelling-house. A very good engraving of this building is given in The Groton Herald, May 8, 1830, which is regarded by persons who remember it at that time as a faithful representation, though it has since undergone some changes.

Near the end of the last century Major William Swan traded in the house now occupied by Charles Woolley, Jr., north of the Common, near the old burying-ground. It was Major Swan who set out the elms in front of this house, which was the Rev. Dr. Chaplin's dwelling for many years.

At the beginning of this century two daughters of Isaac Bowers, a son of Landlord Bowers, had a dry- goods shop in the house owned and occupied by the late Samuel William Rowe, Esq. About the year 1825 Walter Shattuck opened a store in the building originally intended for the Presbyterian Church, op- posite to the present entrance of the Groton Ceme- tery. Before the Revolution there was a store kept by Jonathan Clark Lewis, near the site of Captain Asa Stillman Lawrence's house, north of the Town Hall. Mr. Lewis was an Englishman by birth, and died on April 7, 1781. See "Groton Epitaphs " for a cut of the family coat-of-arms, which appears on his grave-stone. There was a trader in town, Thomas Sackville Tufton by name, who died in the year 1778, though I do not know the site of his shop. Captain Samuel Ward, a native of Worcester, and an officer in the French and Indian War, was engaged in busi- ness at Groton some time before the Revolution. He removed to Lancaster, where at one time he was the town clerk, and died there on August 14, 1826.

The Groton Post- Office .- The Groton post-office was established at the very beginning of the present cen- tury, and before that time letters intended for this town were sent through private hands. Previous to the Revolution there were only a few post-offices in the Province, and often persons in distant parts of Massachusetts received their correspondence at Bos- ton. In The Boston Gazette, or County Journal, June 30, 1755, a letter is advertised for Samuel Bowers, of Groton, who at that time kept a tavern; and in the same newspaper of August 4, 1755, another is adver- tised for Captain Samuel Parker, and one for Dudley

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Woodbridge, who lived probably at Groton, Conncc- ticut. It is also stated that " none of the above Let- ters came by the last inails." In the supplement to The Boston Gazette, February 9, 1756, letters are advertised as remaining uncalled for, at the Boston office, addressed to William Lakin and Abigail Par- ker, both of Groton, as well as to Samuel Manning, Townsend; William Gleany, Dunstable; and Jonathan Lawrence, Littleton. Nearly five months afterward letters-and perhaps these identical ones-are adver- tised for the same persons in The Boston Weekly News- Letter, July 1, 1756, as still uncalled for. The name of David Farnum, America, appears also in this list, and it is hoped that wherever he was he received the missive. The names of Oliver Lack (intended for Lakin) and Ebenezer Parker, both of this town, are given in another list printed in the Gazette of June 28, 1762; and in the same issue one is advertised for Samuel Starling, America. In the supplement to the Gazette, October 10, 1768, Ebenezer Farnsworth, Jr., and George Pierce, of Groton, had letters advertised ; and in the Gazette October 18, 1773, the names of Amos Farnsworth, Jonas Farnsworth and William Lawrence, all of this town, appear in the list. In the Columbian Centinel (Boston), January 29, 1794, a letter is advertised for Benjamin Tarbel, of Groton.

I find no record of a post-rider passing through Groton, during the period immediately preceding the establishment of the post-office ; but there was doubt- less such a person who used to ride on horseback, equipped with saddle-bags, and delivered at regular intervals the weekly newspapers and letters along the way. In the year 1794, according to the History of New Ipswich, New Hampshire (page 129), a post- rider, by the name of Balch, rode from Boston to Keene one week and back the next. Probably he passed through this town and served the inhabitants with his favors.

Several years ago I procured, through the kindness of General Charles Devens, at that time a member of President Hayes's Cabinet, some statistics of the Gro- ton post-office, which are contained in the following letter :

" POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, APPOINTMENT OFFICE, " WASHINGTON, D. C, September 3, 1877.

"HON. CHARLES DEVENS, Attorney-General, Department of Justice.

"SIR, -I have to acknowledge the receipt of a communication from Samuel A. Green, of Boston, Massachusetts, with your indorsement thereon, requesting to be furnished with a list of postmasters at the office of Groton, in that State, from the date of its establishment to the present time.

"In reply, I have the honor to inforin you, that the fire which con- sumed the department building, on the night of the fifteenth of De- cember, 1836, destroyed three of the earliest record-books of this office ; but by the aid of the auditor's ledger-books, it is ascertained tbat the office began to render accounts on the first of January, 1801, but the exact day is not known. Samuel Dana was the first postmaster, and the following list furnishes the lustory of the office, as shown by the old records.

"Groton, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Office probably estab. lished in November, 1800. Samuel Dana began rendering accounts January 1, 1801. Wm. M. Richardson, October 1, 1804.

" From this time the exact dates are known.

" Abraham Moore, appointed postmaster January 31, 1812.

Eliphalet Wheeler, August 20, 1816.

James Lewis, September 9, 1815.

Caleb Butler, July 1, 1826.

Ilenry Woods, January 15, 1839.

George S. Bontwell, January 22, 1841.

Caleb Butler, April 15, 1841. Welcome Lothrop, December 21, 1846.

Artomas Wood, February 22, 1849.

George II. Brown, May 4, 1849.

Theodore Andruss, April 11, 1853. George W. Fiske, April 22, 1861.

Henry Woodcock, February 13, 1867.

Miss Hattie E. Farnsworth, June 11, 1869, who is the present in- cumbent.

" Each postmaster held the office up to the appointment of his succes- sor, but it is probable that Mr. Boutwell and Mr. A. Wood, although regularly appointed, did not accept, judging hy the dates of the next postmasters.

" As to the 'income' of the office, to which allusion is made, it is very difficult to obtain any of the amounts ; but the first year and the last year are herewith appended, as follows :-

(1801)

FISCAL YEAR (1876)

" First quarter, $1.91

First quarter, $314.15

Second =

2.13

Second

296.94

Third

2.93

Third " 305.71

Fourth

66 5.29

Fourth 294.28

For the year, $12.26 For the year, $1,211.08

"Trusting the foregoing, which is believed to be correct, will be ac- ceptable to you, I am, sir, respectfully,

" Your ob't serv't,

" JAMES H. MARR,

" Acting First Ass't P. M. General."

It will be seen that the net income of the office, during the first seventy-five years of its existence, in- creased one hundred-fold.

This letter of the Acting First Assistant Postmas- ter-General supplements the account in Butler's " His- tory of Groton" (pages 249-251). According to Mr. Butler's statement, the post-office was established on September 29, 1800, and the Honorable Samuel Dana was appointed the first postmaster. No mail, how- ever, was delivered at the office until the last week in November. For a while it came to Groton by the way of Leominster, certainly a very indirect route. This fact appears from a letter written to Judge Dana, by the Postmaster-General, under the date of December 18, 1800, apparently in answer to a request to have the mail brought directly from Boston. In this communication the writer says :-

" It appears to me, that the arrangement which has been made for carrying the mail to Groton is sufficient for the accommodation of the inhabitants, as it gives them the opportunity of receiving their letters regularly, and with despatch, once a week. The route from Boston by Leominster, to Groton is only twenty miles farther than by the direct route, and the delay of half a day, which is occasioned thereby, is not of much consequence to the inhabitants of Groton. If it should prove that Groton produces as much postage as Lancaster and Leominster, the new contract for carrying the mail, which is to be in operation on the first of October next, will be made by Concord and Groton to Walpole, and a branch from Concord to Marlborough.

"I am, respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, "Jos. HABERSHAM."

The amount of postage received from the office, after deducting the necessary expenses, including the postmaster's salary, was, for the first year after its es- tablishment, about twelve dollars, or three dollars for three months. In the year 1802 it was thirty-six dol- lars, or nine dollars for three months, a large propor-

549

GROTON.

tional increase. At this time the mail came' once a week only, and was brought by the stage-coach.

Samuel Dana, the first postmaster, was a prominent lawyer at the time of his appointment. He was the son of the Reverend Samuel Dana, of Groton, and born in this town June 26, 1767. He occupied a high position in the community, and exerted a wide influ- ence in the neighborhood. At a later period he was president of the Massachusetts Senate, a member of Congress, and finally chief justice of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas. He died at Charlestown, on November 20, 1835.

Judge Dana kept the post-office in his own office, which was in the same building as that of the Honor- able Timothy Bigelow, another noted lawyer. These eminent men were on opposite sides of the same en- try, and generally on opposite sides of all important cases in the northern part of Middlesex County. The building stood on the site of Governor Boutwell's house, and is still remembered as the medical office of the venerable Dr. Amos Bancroft. It was afterward moved away, and now stands near the railway-station, where it is occupied asa dwelling-house. Judge Dana held the position during four years, and he was suc- ceeded by William Merchant Richardson, Esq., after- ward the chief justice of the Superior Court of New Hampshire. Mr. Richardson was a graduate of Har- vard College in the class of 1797, and at the time of his appointment as postmaster had recently finished his professsional studies in Groton, under the guidance of Judge Dana. After his admission to the bar Mr. Richardson entered into partnership with his former instructor, succeeding him as postmaster in July, 1804; and the office was still kept in the same build- ing. During Judge Richardson's term the net reve- nue to the department rose from nine dollars to about twenty-eight dollars for three months. He held the position nearly eight years, and was followed by Ab- raham Moore, who was appointed on January 31, 1812.

Mr. Moore was a native of Bolton, Massachusetts, where he was born on January 5, 1785. He gradu- ated at Harvard College in the class of 1806, and studied law at Groton with the Honorable Timothy Bigelow, and after his admission to the bar settled here as a lawyer. His office was on the site of the north end of Gerrish's Block, and it was here that the post-office was kept. During his administration the average income from the office was about thirty-three dollars for the quarter. In the summer of 1815 Mr. Moore resigned the position and removed to Boston.

Eliphalet Wheeler, who kept the store lately occu- pied by Mr. Gerrish, was appointed in Mr. Moore's stead, and the post-office was transferred to his place of business. He, however, was not commissioned, owing, it is thought, to his political views ; and Major James Lewis, who was sound in his politics, received the appointment in his stead. Major Lewis retained Mr. Wheeler for a short time as his assistant, and

during this period the duties were performed by him in his own store. Shortly afterward Caleb Butler, Esq., was appointed the assistaut, and he continued to hold the position for eight years. During this time the business was carried on in Mr. Butler's law-office, and the revenue to the government reached the sum of fifty dollars a quarter. His office was then in a small building,-just south of Mr. Hoar's tavern,- which was moved away about theyear 1820, and taken to the lot where Colonel Needham's house now stands, at the fork of Main and Hollis Streets. It was fitted up as a dwelling, and subsequently moved away again. At this time the old store of Mr. Brazer, who had pre- viously died, was brought from over the way, and oc- cupied by Mr. Butler, on the site of his former office.

On July 1, 1826, Mr. Butler, who had been Major Lewis' assistant for many years and performed most of the duties of the office, was appointed postmaster.

Mr. Butler was a native of Pelham, New Hamp- shire, where he was born on September 13, 1776, and a graduate of Dartmouth College in the class of 1800. He had been the preceptor of Groton Academy for some years, and was widely known as a critical schol- ar. He had previously studied law with the Honorable Luther Lawrence, of Groton, though his subsequent practice was more in drawing up papers and settling estates than in attendance at courts. His name is now identified with the town as its historian. During his term of office as postmaster the revenue rose from fifty dollars to one hundred and ten dollars a quarter. He held the position nearly thirteen years, to the en- tire satisfaction of the public ; but for political her- esy he was removed on January 15, 1839, when Hen- ry Woods was appointed his successor.

Mr. Woods held the office until his death, which occurred on January 12, 1841 ; and he was followed by the Hon. George S. Boutwell, since the Governor of the Commonwealth and a member of the United States Senate. During the administration of Mr. Woods and Mr. Boutwell the office was kept in the brick store, opposite to the present High School.

Upon the change in the administration of the Na- tional Government, Mr. Butler was reinstated in office on April 15, 1841. He continued to hold the position until December 21, 1846, when he was again removed for political reasons. Mr. Butler was a most obliging man, and his removal was received by the public with general regret. During his two terms he filled the office for more than eighteen years, a longer period than has fallen to the lot of any other postmaster of the town. Near the end of his service a material change was made in the rate of postage on letters ; and in his History (page 251) he thus comments on it :

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 130

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1226

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed. cn
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1226