History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 188

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 188

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Woolson, Lem. C., mus. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yrs., 14th Reg., Co. F ; re8. Hopkinton ; died of wounds at City Point, June 26, 1864.

Wheeler, Albert B., mus. iu Ang. 7, 1862, 3 yrs., 14th Reg., Co. F ; res Hopkinton ; dis. July 8, 1864.

Wheeler, Cephas E., mus. in Ang. 7, 1862, 3 yrs., 14th Rag., Co. F ; res. Hopkinton ; dis, July 8, 1864.

Wheeler, Jarvis B., mus. in Aug. 7, 1862, 3 yra., 14th Reg., Co. F ; res. Hopkinton ; dis. July 8, 186-4.

Wise, Harry F., mus. in Ang. 7, 1862, 3 yrs., 14th Reg., Co. F ; res. llopkinton ; wounded June 22, 1864 ; supposed to be dead.

Wheeler, Willard, mus. in July 17, 1861, 3 yrs., 13th Reg., Cn. K ; res. Hopkinton ; killed at the battle of Gettysburg, July 1, 1863.

Wright, Wm. B., must. In Aug. 27, 1861, 3 yrs., 19th Reg., Co. K ; res. Hopkinton ; killed at the battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.

Wright, Chas. 11., must. in Aug. 28, 1861, 3 yrs., 19th Reg., Co. D; res. Hopkinton ; dis. Feb., 1863, for disability.

Waters, John, must. In Aug., 27, 1961, 3 yrs., 9th Reg., Co. C; res Hopkinton ; died of wounds, Nov. 5, 1862.

Ward, Edward, must. In Sept. 17, 1861, 3 yrs., 4th Reg., Co. F, R. I. Vol .; res. Hopkinton ; dis. Dec. 29, 1862, disability.

Ward, Willard L., must. in Sept. 21, 1861, 3 yrs., 4th Reg., Co. F, R. I. Vol .; res. Hopkinton ; dis. Nov. 28, 1862, disability.

Ward, Michael, 3 yrs , 40th N. Y. Vol .; res. Hopkintou.

Ward, James, 3 yra, 28th Reg .; res. Hopkinton.

Whipple, Willis, must. in Oct. 7, 1861, 4 yrs., 25th Reg., Co. B; res. Hopkiotoa ; missing at the battle of Cold Harbor, Jums 3, 1864, sup- posed to have been killed.

Watkins, H. A., must. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. H; res. Hopkinton; die. Ang. 20, 1863.

Woods, Calvin W., must. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. Il ; res. Hopkinton.

Ward, Abner, Sept. 24, 1862, 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. C ; res. Hopkinton ; dis. Mar. 12, 1863.

Wayne, Silas, must. in Sept. 24, 1862, 9 mios., 42d Reg., Co. H ; res. Hopkinteu.

Ward, John W., must. in July 13, 1862, 3 yrs., 34th Reg., Ce. C ; res. Hopkinton ; died in hospital, Jan I, 1865, at Annapolis, Md.

Wheeler, Wm. H., mnst. In Oct. 13, 1862, 3 yra., 2d Reg. Cavalry ; res. Hopkinton.

Williams, Thomas, must. in Ang. 12, 1864, 1 year, Ist Reg., Co. E ; res. Hopkinton ; discharged.

Wallace, James, must. in Aug. 15, 1864, 1 yr., 22d Co., U. H. A .; res. Hopkinton.

Woods, Willard L., must. in Aug. 15, 1862, 1 yr., 22d Co. U. H. A .; res. Hopkinton ; dis. May 2, 1865.

Whittemore, Curtis H., must. in Sept. 12, 1862, 9 mos., 44th Reg., Co. C ; res. Hopkinton ; dis. June 18, 1863.

Woods, Chas. A., must. in Jan. 18, 1864, 26th Reg .; res. Hopkinton.

Webster, Jolin C. Jr., May 16, 1864, Co. E, Ist Batt., H. A. ; res. Hop- kinton.

Wheeler, Hiram E., must. iu Aug. 15, 1864, 1 yr., 22d Co. U. B. A .; res. Hopkinton ; dis. June 7, 1865.

Wood, Marcus M., Jan. 4, 1864, 3 yrs., 26th Reg., Co. D ; res. Hopkin- ton ; dis. Muy 13, 1865.

Ward, George, must. in Oct. 11, 1862, 9 mos., 42d Reg., Co. C; res. Hopkinton ; dis. Ang. 20, 1863.

Ward, Simeon, must, in. Jan. 4, 1864, 3 yrs., 26th Reg., Co. F; res. Hopkinton ; dird Jan., 1865, in rebel prison.

(I find that by the record that the 14th Regiment is used instead of the Ist Regiment ef H. A., which is incorrect as there was uo 14th Reg- ment in the same from Mass.)

MEETING-HOUSE .- A town-meeting to see about building a meeting-house was held Jannary 5, 1724-25, within one year after the organization of the town. It was " voted to build a house forty-eight feet long, thirty-eight feet wide and twenty feet between joyuts and that the house be stooded : that John Bowker, Samuel Comins, Samuel Watkin, be a Comety to provide the timber and frame it. Improving the peo- ple of the town to worke out their rates, that the comety have 48. a day til March, and after that 48. 6d. a day they finding themselves vital and drink; that the meeting-house be raised by ye 2d of May.

Some difference of opinion arose as to the proper location of the meeting-house, three places being se- lected : first, at a lopt chestnut-tree, second, where the timber lieth, third, at a place south of burying-place marked by a walnut-tree. As a compromise, all parties agreed to leave it to be decided by the lot ; the lot was cast and it fell upon the spot south of the burying- place in what is the highway.

The raising of the meeting-house was a great affair as appears by the record. At a meeting held November 29, 1725, it was "voted that the town appropriate ten pounds for the purpose ; that the meeting-house be raised with spike poles, that it be left with the select-

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men to appoint the time when to raise the meeting- house, that Sart. Samuel Watkins, Sart. John Man- ning and Thomas Walker, be a Comitee to take care and provide for raising ye publick meeting-house ; that all those that entertain those men with a supper the evening after the raising of our publick meeting- house that have been to said raising shall have one shilling 3 pence per head for each man allowed them by the town of Hopkinston, they giving theire names of each man to the town."

The house was raised in December, 1725, and was so far completed that the town held its first meeting in it June 26, 1726. The trustees contributed £100 towards the meeting-house. The house stood on the spot where its was built until 1829, when it was moved and used as a barn by Col. Joseph Valentine, afterwards by ex-Gov. Claflin & Co., as a boot fac- tory.

Pew-ground was granted to the leading families who were placed around next the walls; the size of the pews was fixed by a vote of the town and varied from six feet to seven feet long, and from five feet to seven wide, according to the size of the family. Where a pew came against a window the owner was required to keep the glass in repair-an obligation the owners appear to neglect, as the town at one of its meetings chose a committee to board up the windows.

The meeting-house was a plain structure without a cupola or steeple, and was painted outside in 1773 for the first time.

A number of the original members of the church were Scotch Presbyterians. April 9, 1731, the church voted to comply with the Cambridge platform adopted at Cambridge, 1649, as the rule of their discipline. This action of the church gave great offence to the Presbyterians who, in 1734 organized a Presbyterian Church and built a small meeting-house on what is now called High Street, near the Ellery corner, but they eventually removed to New Glasgow, now Blan- ford, west of the Connecticut river. Robert McCook, one of the number, said that he desired no letter of dismission, but thought that the church should ask a dismission from himself.

The pastor, Rev. Samuel Barrett, Jr., was born at Boston 1700, graduated at Harvard 1721. It appears that he came from Medway here, as the town at a meeting July 24, 1725, allowed John How five shil- lings for going to Midway to treat with Mr. Barrett. In a notice published at the time of his death it is said "He was a pious good Christian ; a man of great candor and good nature." He died December 11, 1772.

The trustees gave one hundred acres of land to the first minister that should be ordained and settled in the town, to be for him and his heirs for the term of ninety-nine years, free from paying any rent, and thirty ponnds toward building his house upon his own land.

The town voted him £100 "in day labor, oxens worke, boards, shingle, clapboards, slet-worke or other materials needful for the building an house for him, and to pay it by the 1st of October next." The house was built, in 1725, on the present site of the town hall, where it remained until 1830, when it was taken down by Col. Joseph Valentine.

Rev. Elijah Fitch was the second pastor ; he died December 16, 1788. It is said of him that he was an eloquent preacher, a fine scholar and poet. He wrote and published a poem of several cantos, entitled " The Beauties of Religion," also a poem called "The Choir," in which he described his manner of life in Hopkinton.

The following is an extract from a Century Sermon preached in 1815 by the Rev. Nathaniel Howe. It shows the nature of some of the controversies which take place between a pastor and his people :

" When the publice tuok sides upon politics your minister was a federalist, though he was sensible, a very great majority of the town were of different sentiment. lle believed then as he does now that he ought to have more regard for hie county than to aoy particular part of it. And when he has occasionally preached political sermone they have repeatedly occasioned uncomfortable feelinga.

" Another difficulty your Minster has had to encounter was the want of support. A vast change has taken place in the expense of dressing and living since my ordination, and yet no addition has been made to my salary.

" When a candidate I determined I would never settle till I saw & reasonable prospect of a comfortable support, and when settled i would never complain of my salary. I remained of this mind till I had been your minister for fifteen years.

" Borde down with the fatigues of manual labor, pressed into the wooda in the winter, to the plough in the spring, into the meadows in the summer, to support my family comfortable and fulfill my promises, I felt the business of the ministry was greatly neglected; that it was imposable for me to do what ought to be done in my profession unless the people did more toward my support.

" I Committed my thoughts to paper then committed them to four brethren of the church, then to the church as a body and afterward to the town."

At a meeting of the town held December 15, 1806, I find the following record : Mr. Howe was called upon to read to the town the communication he had made to the church, upon which the vote to "see if the town will (on account of the depreciation of money) add $116.67, to the yearly salary of the Rev. Nathaniel How till such times as labor and provisions fall in their price as low as when he was ordained." This passed in the negative by a large majority."

"Then Mr. How proposed to see if the town would add $116.67 till such times as the members of our General Court receive lesa than twu dollara per day for their services. Thia was negatived by a large ma- jority.

" Then Mr. How proposed to see if the town will add $116.67 for seven years from the first day of Janbury next. This passed in the negative by a large majority.

" Then Mr. How proposed to see if the town will make up one-half the depreciation on bia salary from this time while he continuea their minister. This passed in the negative by a large majority.

"Then Mr. How proposed to see if the town will, in the future, pay two hundred dollars for his annual salary and average in on lubor, corn, rye, cider, butter and cheese, beef, porke, at the prices they bore on the day of his ordination. Thia passed in the negative by a large majority.

" Then Mr. Ilow proposed to see if the town will purchase bis house and Innd and keep it for the next minister. Thie passed in the negative by a large majority.

796

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

"Then Mr. How proposed to see if the town will request the church, by a vote, to grant him a dismission. Thie passed in the negative by a large majority.

" Then Mr. How said he had but one proposition to make, which wae to see if the town were willing he should publish the communication he bad made to the church and read to the town and all the doings of the town therein. And this also passed in the negativo by a large ma jority."

Near the conclusion of the sermon Mr. How says :

"My brethren, may I ask a question, a plain, simple question ? How shall I ohtain your consent ? Shall I take silence for consent? Your countenancee discover a willingness? The question is this, Do you know by what means I liave hecome so rich as to have a great house finished and furnished ? A farm, a herd of cattle, a flock of sheep, horses and money at interest ? I say nothing of my debts to-day. Shall I answer the question ? The principal reason is this, hecause I have been doing your business and neglecting my own. What is your business? Your business is to support your minister, and that what I have been doing for more than twenty years, and what is my business ? My business is to study and preach ; and in this have never ahounded. It is I have been absent from public worship not more than four or five Sab- bathe for twenty-five yeare ; but I have frequently been present and at- tempt to preach when it has been mortifying to me and could not be edifying to you. I have sometimes admonished reproof both to the church and society in a manner that has been thought to discover some degree of severity, but iu these cases you have always had the good sense enough to know you richly deserved it."

Ministers Phelps and Hall served as colleague pas- tors with Mr. Howe.

Mr. Howe had one of the longest and most success- ful pastorates. He succeded in doing much good for the church in many ways, and his death, in 1837, was an event which caused much sorrow. He was a man who, strong in his own convictions, had no fear in announcing them from his pulpit.

The first meeting-house was commenced in 1725, and the first meeting held therein was on June 26, 1726. But the building, which was not finished for many years, was removed in 1829, and another was built, which was burned in the destructive fire in April, 1882.

May 21, 1723, a bigger part of ye inhabitants of the town met, and " the following business was done :"

"Voted, The endeavoring for a minister to preach with us constantly on Sabbath days.

2. "Voted, To levy a tax of an half-penny upon the acre upon all the lots that are either taken up or picked upon by gentlemen that they will take them for the support of a minister.

3. "Voted, That they will every man bring in his proportion to said tax to John How by the last day of June next ensuing.

4. "Voted, To have a contribution every Sabbath, and that every man paper his money and write his name upon the paper, and set the sum that he puts in.

5. "Voted, That Mr. Hustone and Mr. Wood shall receive said contribution, and take an account what it is, and deliver it to the aforesaid John How, and take care of none of said papers that none of them be lost.

6, "Voted, That Mr. John Wood and John How take care that we are constantly provided with a min- ister to preach with us on Sabbath days.

7. " Voted, To meetat John How's house on Sabbath days at present."

This was the beginning of the movement which established the church.

The pastors which have been in charge of the parish are as follows :

Rev. Samuel Barrett .1724-1772.

Rev. Elijah Fitch . . 1772-1788.

Rev. Nathaniel Howe 1791-1837.

Rev. Amos A. Phelpe . 1830-1832.

Rev. Jeffries Hall . I833-1838.

Rev. Johu C. Webeter 1838-1864.

Rev. Joseph Boardman 1865-1868.

Rev. George H. Ide 1869-1876.

Rev. Horatio O. Ladd

. 1877-1880.

Rev. Mr. Fullerton officiated until Rev. B. Story wee installed In 1867.

ENGLISH CHURCH .- The Rev. Roger Price, rector of Kings Chapel of Boston, came to Hopkinton in or about 1745, and took up a tract of land containing seven hundred and nine acres and one hundred and forty-two acres of common land.

He built a small church edifice and endowed it with a glebe of one hundred and eighty acres, the deed being dated July 9, 1748. After officiating here for three or four years, he returned to England and was succeeded by Rev. John Troutbeck, who was ap- pointed chaplain of " frigate " Rose in 1769. The fol- lowing appear to be members of the church in 1752, Sir Charles Henry Frankland, Thomas, Higgins, Julius Chase, William Wesson, Capt. David Ellis, James Devine, Thomas Valentine, Patrick White, John Mastick, Robert Barrett, James Fannys, Thomas Chadock, William Brown, Patrick Shays (father of the rebel Daniel Shays), Hugh Dempsey, Richard Kelly, Rebecca Wilson, Peter Vialas, John Kelly and Mrs. Dench.

The present members are James F. Braithwaite, clerk ; James Frith Braithwaite, Robert H. Braith- waite, William Kennedy, Samnel A. Kennedy, Robert H. Kennedy, James W. Kennedy, Dr. Walter A. Phipps, George Davis, Harry Hemenway, David H. Fisher.

The first building remained where it was built until 1818, when a committee made the following report to the Board of Managers: "That having viewed and examined the church in Hopkinton, and they were decidedly of the opinion that the same was so far decayed that any expenses bestowed on repairing it would be lost, and that they had made a contract with Samuel Valentine to build a new church, which was doue at a cost of three thousand sixty-one dol- lars and twenty-four cents; the church was conse- crated October 7, 1818, and destroyed by fire, July 18, 1865."

The first Methodist Church was built on Hayden Row Street abont eighty years ago, and had for its pastor Elder Bonney.

The church building on Church Street was built in 1865, by Deacon Lee Claflin.

797

HOPKINTON.

CATHOLICITY IN HOPKINTON.1-Time rolls his restless course ; the changing years flit on, and, one by one, unbidden to-morrows burst forth to-days only to lose themselves again in the yesterdays of the som- bre, silent past. Life is one continual change, and to none can this be more evident than to him who will carefully pause and reflect on the wonderful transformations that have been effected during the past forty years, since the inauguration of the Parish of Hopkinton. Who, in those early days would have presumed to predict so glorious a future for this little hamlet ? Who then dared hope that the day would ever come when the Catholics of Hopkinton could claim the proud distinction of having erected to the honor and glory of God the grandest edifice within the confines of New England. Truly it seems the finger of God had pointed out the way for His devoted children, and strengthened their hearts in the hour of darkness against the attacks of a bigoted and unrelenting world. But few of the early settlers survive to tell the story of the sufferings and privations undergone in the cause of Christ when the faithful were forced to travel many weary miles over alınost impassable roads to receive the consolations of our holy religion. As early as 1846 the Parish of Mil- ford was formed, which included the present parishes of Hopkinton, Medway, Holliston, Ashland, Upton, Marlboro', Maynard, Rock Bottom, Westboro', Corda- ville and Saxonville. Rev. Father Boyce of Worces- ter was appointed first pastor, assisted by Rev. Father Gibson, by whom regular monthly services were in- stituted in the surrounding towns ; the priest being obliged to travel from place to place, oftentimes ex- posed to the inclemency of the weather, to care for the wants of his devoted flock. Previous to this time the Catholics of Hopkinton attended Mass at the homes of Dominic McDevitt and Edward Mc- Govern, both of Milford; but upon the arrival of Father Boyce as pastor of Milford, services were held at the residence of John McDonough, who sympathized with and materially aided these early pioneers in their unswerving fidelity to their holy cause. Still they remained unsatisfied and longed for a church wherein they might worship God according to the dictates of conscience. The faith of Saints Patrick and Columba glowed in their hearts ; nor could they rest until they had a place wherein a priest might dwell and preach the word of God. With this object in view, a meeting was called in November, 1849, by John Wilson, a Protestant, at his home on Mt. Auburn Street, where were assem- bled all the Catholic men, twenty-two in number, from the outlying districts-very few then resided in the town proper. What transpired at that meeting is best told in the words of Michael Raferty, an eye- witness, and the oldest Catholic resident living : "I have attended many meetings, both political and re-

ligious, but never have I witnessed such enthusiasm displayed as at that first meeting of the Catholics of Hopkinton, and to John Wilson must be given the honor of being the first to propose the establishment of a Catholic Church in our town. His actions on that occasion were something not soon to be forgotten, and his generosity is worthy of record. Seven hun- dred dollars were subscribed in a few moments, and we voted to build a House of Prayer."

The following day Dr. Pratt offered an acre of land (now a portion of the Catholic Cemetery) as a site for the proposed church. Michael Raferty was ap- pointed to confer with Father Boyce, who in the meanwhile had received an offer from another source. This was from E. A. Bates, Esq., a citizen who owned considerable property on what is now known as Cedar Street, and, wishing to enhance the value of the same, offered Father Boyce an acre of land and $200, provided the building was erected within a cer- tain time. The offer was accepted, Father Boyce paying $100; but the building was not begun before 1851.

Toward the close of the year 1849, Father Boyce was succeeded by Rev. Father Hamilton, assisted by Father McGrath, who immediately undertook the arduous work of erecting a church on the site pre- viously selected. The following year Father Far- rilly, of Saxonville, succeeded Father Hamilton, coming here as often as necessity required, and holding services at the home of Mr. John McDon- ough, and laterin the old Town Hall.

The labors and the sacrifices of the pioneer mis- sionaries of the East form the most important part of our Catholic history. They are chronicled in the traditions of the faithful, and need not be recited here.

Despite his manifold duties and the countless sac- rifices incident to so great an undertaking, Father Farrilly determined to build a Church, and early in 1851 the contract was awarded to Artemus Johnson, of Holliston, for the erection of a wooden church, sixty by forty feet, known as St. Malachi's. Two years later an addition was made, and here the Catholics of Hopkinton knelt 'neath the shadowing protection of the cross of Christ and heard the Word of God.

It was in the spring of 1854 that Father Farrilly was transferred from Saxonville to Milford, where he was stationed as resident pastor, with charge of the original parish heretofore mentioned, assisted by Father O'Beirne and Father Welch, of Natick, lately de- ceased. Three weary years he labored assiduously for the welfare of his people, when at length his rugged frame, weakened, no doubt, by years of un- ceasing toil, fell a prey to a disease which resulted in his death in August, 1857. His remains were interred in the church-yard, where they reposed until August 15, 1883, at which time they were transferred to the Catholic cemetery, where a monu-

By Thos. H. Lenihan.

798

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ment had been erected in his honor by his old Hopkinton parishioners. September 15, 1857, Rev. P. Cuddihy, present rector of St. Mary's Parish at Milford, was appointed his successor, who divided the old parish with Father Welch, who had pre- viously acted as curate to Father Farrilly, receiving for himself the present towus of Milford, Hopkinton, Medway, Holliston, Ashland, Marlboro' and Upton. This system continued as late as 1866, at which time Father Cuddihy gave up Hopkinton, Ashland, Marl- boro', and commenced the building of a new church in Milford. The history of Father Cuddihy's pastor- ate during the nine years he remained with us, is but the repetition of what every priest has been obliged to undergo, whose mission was to sow the seed of wisdom in a sparsely-settled locality. Yet Father Cuddihy merits more than a passing notice for his indefatigable exertions, and the respect and esteem in which he is held to day by his people is the best criterion by which to judge of his ability as a man and his zealous devotion as a priest in his sacred pro- fession. Upon the retirement of Father Cuddihy, July, 1866, his curate, Father Barry, was appointed first resident Catholic pastor of Hopkinton, with charge of Westboro', Ashland and Cordaville. This was the real beginning of the Hopkinton Parish, and during its brief existence of twenty-four years what has it not accomplished ?

The work done in the short time which has inter- vened since the institution of this parish shows more plainly than any words of mine the noble generosity which has ever been characteristic of this people, and the self-sacrificing, zealous spirit of the pastors, who, from time to time, had charge of this devoted flock. Father Barry diligently followed in the footsteps of his predecessors, and what he accomplished during his mission of four short years here will not soon be forgotten. April 1, 1870, he was transferred to Rock- port, where he remained until his death, which oc- curred Jan. 7, 1883. His remains lie at rest in our own cemetery, as it had always been his desire to return to his former parishioners. A few months ago the St. John's C. T. and L. Society erected in his honor a massive and costly monument as a memorial to one whose services were as lasting as they were exceptional.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 188

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278