History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 190

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 190

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At a meeting of the trustees held in Boston, 1711, it was, " voted, 1st, that the committee for signing leases to the tenants of the lands in Hopkinton be directed and empowered to allot and set out 12,500 acres of the best and most improvable of the land, within said township. 2d, that they are directed to lay out 100 acres of land for the ministry in such convenient place and manner as they shall find most suitable for that use ; that 100 acres of land shall be laid ont for the first minister that shall be ordained and settled in the town, to be for him and his heirs for the term of ninety-nine years from the 25th of March last past, free from paying any rent, and that 100 acres shall be laid out for the school a training-field and burying-yard by said committee, as they shall judge most accommodable, and that 200 more shall be reserved to be allotted for other public uses, as the trustees from time to time shall see meet to direct. 3d. That the residue and remainder of the lands over and above the above 12,500 acres with - in said township belonging to the trustees, either by purchase or the General Court grant, (the cedar swamp that part of the town grant by the General Court excepted), shall and remain a common to and among the tenants that shall hold these lands by lease under the said trustees for their use and benefit, each tenant to have a right and privilege to said common, according to the quantity of land contained and specified in their leases for and during their term."

" The within is a true copy of Record Book of Hopkinton Records No. 3, Page 37.

per CALER HAYDEN, Reg.

"This Indenture, made the twenty-fifth day of March in the twenty- third year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King Defender of the Faith, &c., Annoque Domini, 1750. Between His Excellancy, William Shirley. Esq., The flonorable Jonathan Belcher, William Dumer and Spencer Phips, Esq., Panl Dudley, Edward Hutchinson, Josinh Willard, Jacob Wendell, Esqs., The Rev. Dr. Joseph Sewall, The Rev. Edward Holy -

oke, President of Harvard College in Cambridge ; The Rev. Nehe- miah Walter, minister of Roxbury ; The Rev. Nathaniel Appleton, min- ister of Cambridge ; Samnel Sewall, Andrew Oliver, Thomas Hutchin - BOU, Esq., and M' Edward Brumfield, merchant, all inhabitants within

803

HOPKINTON.

his Majesty Province of the Massachusetts Bay, io New England, Trus- tees appointed by a Decree in his Majestys High Court of Chancery, Dated the nineteenth day of March, Anno. Dom. 1712, for the purchas- iag honses and lands for the perpetuating the Charity of the Honorable Edward Hopkins, Esq , and improving of the same, On the One part . and includes Joho Jones, James Work, Heary Milleu, Benjamin Wood and John Rockwood, Selectmeu of Hopkinton, in the County of Middle sex, and their successors withiu the Province aforesaid, of the other Part ; Witnesseth, that the said William Shirley, Jonathan Belcher, Wm. Dum- mer, Spencer Phips, l'aul Dudley, Edward Hutchinson, Josiah Willard, Jarob Wendall, Esq., Joseph Sewall, Edward Holyoke, Nehh Walter, Nathaniel Appleton, Samnel Sewall, Andrew Oliver, Thomas Hutchin- son and Edward Bromfield, Trustees as aforesaid, as well for end in cou- sideration of the Rente and Services herein after reserved and of the per formauce of the Covenants and Agreements herein after expressed aud mentioned to be kept, done and performed on the part and behalf of the said John Joues, James Wark, Henry Milleo & others ; as also for other good and valuable canses and considerations them here unto especially moving, Have demised, granted, and to Farm, Letten, and by these pres enta do demise, grant aud to farm-lett uuto the said Selectmed and their successors, three certain tract or parcel of land scitunte, lying aud being ia Hopkinston, within the County of Middlesex aforesaid, con taining one hundred acres, as surveyed and laid out by John Jones, Sur- veyor, being under oath, for the use and benefit of a Seoul and training field and Berying place for said Hopkinston, and is Bonaded viz : South- erly ou Wilsea and Gorden, westerly on a High way, northerly on Mr. Barrett aud ou highway, and Easterly on a highway and on Stimp- soo land, the other tract of forty-hve acres Layeth at White hall, and is bounded southerly on Common land, westerly ou Common land, aorth- erly ou John Kelly land, aad Easterly on Comoon land, as may more appear by the plans andext.

" To Have and To Hold the above-mentioned demised Premises with the apportedaaces, unto the said Selectmien, and their Successors, for the use aforesaid, for and during, and uato the full Era and Term of Nine hundred and ninety-nine years from the twenty-fifth day of March as above said, theace dext sosning and fully to be cotapleat and ended : Yielding and paying therefor vearly and every year during the said Term hereby demised unto tbe Treasurer of the said Trustees for the time being or his assigns the Yearly Rent of one pepper corn if demanded, next coming. And if it shall happen that the yearly Reat or Rents herein before Reserved, or any of them or any part thereof, shall ba bebiod or unpaid, in part or in all, by the space of Thirty days uext after any of the said days or Times on which the said ought to be paid as aforesaid, That then and from thenceforth it shall and may be lawful unto and for the Trustees or Treasurer there or his Successors and &8- sigos iato the Demised premises and every or any part thereof with the appurtenances, to enter and distraio for the same: And the Distress or Distresses there found to take, lead, drive and carry away and the same to detaia, impound and keep until the said yearly Reut and Rents in mauner and form, as aforesaid Reserved, and the arrearages thereof, if any such shall be, shall be unto the said Trustees or Treasurer, or to their or his successors and assigns fully satisfied, contented and paid: And if it shall happen, that the said yearly Rent or Rents herein before Reserved shall be behind and unpaid in part or in all, and no dia- tress made and taken as aforesaid during the thirty days above-men- tioned, by the space of thirty days next after the expiration of the thirty days on which the same ought to have been paid, or a distress might bave been made ; That then and from thenceforth, It shall and may he lawful to and for the said Trustees or Treasurer, their and his successors and assigas into and upon the said Demised I'remises and every part thereof with the appartenances wholly, to re-enter and the same to have again, retain, repossess and enjoy in their former estate and title, anything in these Presents contained to the contrary in auy wise not- withstanding. And the said Selectmen, for themselves and their suc- cessors, and every of them, doth covenant, Grant and Agree to and with the said William Shirley, Jonathan Belcher, Wm. Inuomer, Spen- cer Phips, Paul Dudley, Edward Hatchiason, Josiah Willard, Jacub Wendell, Esqr., Joseph Sewell, Edward Holyoke, Nehemiah Walter, Nathaniel Appletoo, Saamel Sewell, Andrew Oliver, Thomas Hutchin- sun and Edward Bromfield, Trustees, as aforesaid, their successors and aamigos, and every of them by these presents in manner and form fol- lowing, That is to say, That the said Selectmed, or some of them, shall yearly and every year and from Time to Time during the said Term hereby Demised well and truly content, satisfy, pay or canse to be paid noto the said Trustees or Treasurer, and their or hissuccessors or assigns the said yearly Rent or Rents hereis before Reserved, and on the several Days or Times herein before appointed for the payment thereof, and in the same manner and form as the same shall grow due and payable, ac- cording to the true Intent and meaning of these l'resents. And at the Expiration of the said Termi or other Determination thereof, shall nud will surreader and deliver up unto the said Trustees or Treasurer, their and his Successors, the same premises in like good and Tenantable Repair peaceably, quietly and willingly ; and that he and they shall from time to time and at all times during the said Term pay all Rates and Taxes to Church and Common Wealth that shall be set and imposed, according to Law, upon bim and them and the Premises. And the said Trustees, for themselves and successors, do Covenant, Promise and Agree to aad

with the said Selectmen and their successors, ia mander and form fol- lowing, That is to say, That they faithfully performing and fulfilling all and singular the Covenants, Agreements aud Payments above Ex- pressed, may and shall peaceably have, hold, possess and enjoy all the above Demised Premises, for and during the Term afuresaid, without Let, Trouble, Eviction or Disturbance from them the said Trustees or their Successors, or from any other Person or Persons, from, by or nin- der them, or by their means or Procurement. And they further Cove- nant and Promise, That the said Selectmen and their Successors, huld- ing and continuing in the Possession and Improvement of the Premises, under the faithful performance of the Covenants, Agreements and l'as - ments above expressed nuto the Compleatment and Ending of the said Term of Nine hundred and ninety-nine years, withont eviction or eject- ment for breach of covenant at the expiration of the satur may and shall, if he or they see cause, Renew their Lease for anch Term of years or for the Life or Lives as shall then be agreed upon, by and between the Lessor and Lessees that shall then he, without any alteration of the cov- enaats and Agaerments before expressed, Save only of the Rent to be then Reserved which yet the Trustees for theuiselves and Successors covepaut, Promise and Agree to and with the said Selvrtmen and their successors, That it shall not be lawful for them nor will they Demaud, Let and Reserve above Nine Pence per Acre for the said Lands atul Prem- ises, from and after the Expiration of the Term, as above said, at any time or for any Term whatsoever. And, Finally, the said Trustees, for themeelves, their Successors and Assigas, do Agree, Covenant and Prom- ise to Discharge and Save the said Selectaien and their successors from paying any Province Land Tax for Three-Quarters of the above De- mised Lands. In Witness Whereof, the aforesaid parties to these Presents have interchangeably hereunto set their Hands and Seals the day and year first above writceo.

" Signed, sealed and delivered in pres- -

enre of ns, SAMI'EL. BALLARD,

THOMAS BROMFIELD,

EDWARD HUTCHINSON. THOMAS HUTCHINSON. EnwAan BROMFIELD. " [SEAL.]

" Memoranduin-

" Whereas the within named Trustees at their Meeting November 16, 1720, have agreed and voted that the Residne and remainder of the Lands over and above Twelve Thousand five hundred Avres within the Towaship of Hopkinstou belonging to the said Trustees either by pur- chase or the General Courts Grant (the Cedar Swamps in the Part of the Township granted by the General Court excepted), shall be and remain a Commoa to and among the Tenements, &c., Each Tenement to have Right and Privilege ia the said C'onimoos according to the quantity ut Land specified in his Lease and during his term : That notwithstanding the Exception and Reservation of the Cedar Swamps as aforesaid all and singular the Tenants that shall take and sign Leases within three years, from the 25th of March laet past, &c., shall be allowed the Benefit of ent- ting both Cedar and Pine in the said Swamps for covering, Flooring and finishing the Houses and Barns which they shall erect and maintain on- the Premises ; but they are prohibited cutting and carrying off any Timber ont of the said swamps for sale and if any presume so to do, such shall be impeachable of waste, &c., asia and by the third, fourth and fifth votes past at the said meeting, atore amply and plainly may appear, reference therennto heing had : Wherefore now, pursnaat to the Direc - tiou and Power given unto us the Committee Subscribers unto this pres- ent Endorsement for ourselves and the within named Leesers and on r and their Subscribers, We do Covenant and Grant to and with the withio aamed Lessee, viz., His Executors, Administrators aad Assigns to have and to hold a right and privilege in the said Common according to the Quantity of land, specified in the within written Lease for aod dur- ing his Term. And further that the said Lessee and his Executors, Ail- ministrators and Assigns, shall, and may lawfully from time to time, have the benefit of cutting both Cedar and Pine, in the Swamps afore- said, for the covering, flooring and finishing the Houses and Barns he shall erect upon the Premises withia written. And the said Lessoe fur himself, his Ileirs, Executors, Administrators aad Assigns, doth Covenant and agree to and with the Lessers and their Successors not to cut or carry off timber of any kind out of the said Swamps for sale or nny mur thea for the Uses aforesaid on pain and penalty of being Impeached an Prosecuted for Waste.

"In Witaoss Whereof the Parties have ioterchangably set the ir hands and seals this Day of Anno Domini 17

"Signed sealed and Deliv- EDWARD IIUTCHINSON [SEAL] ered ia presence of ns THOMAS HUTCHINSON [SEAL] EDWARD BROMFIELD [SKAL]

SAMUEL BALLARD, THOMAS BROMFIELD,

" SUFFOLK, SS., Boston, Octo. 17, 1761.

" Edward Hutchinson, Thomas Hutchinson, Esqre, aud Edward Brom field acknowledgeit the above Instrument by thum executed to bo ther free act and deed.

" Before me

JOHN FAYERWEATHER, Jns. Peace."

In closing the history of Hopkinton, there is much, if space would allow, that could be added. The schools of the town are in good condition and in the

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

hands of a competent superintendent, and a commit- tee devoted to their interest. The town report for 1890 shows the followings statistics: number of schools of all grades, 23; number of pupils enrolled, 789; support of schools and incidentals, $12,693.16 ; Highways, $3000 ; street-lights, $250; support of the poor, $6000; incidentals, $1200; town officers, $1566; interest on town debt, $10,150; Memorial Day, $100.

The town has water-works which furnishes a liberal supply of good water.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

HON. LEE CLAFLIN.

Hon. Lee Claflin3, (Ebenezer2, Ebenezer1), born in Hopkinton, November 19, 1791, married Sarah Adams, daughter of Elisha and Sarah (Watkins) Adams, December 19, 1815, certificate of the Rev. Isaac Bowney. Engaged in the tanning business in Milford as early as 1813; added the boot and shoe business about 1821. Ile rose from an humble be- ginning and many judicious steps to wealth and distinction. Ile represented the town in the Legis- lature in 1834. In 1839 or '40 he returned to Hop- kinton, where he attained many honorable positions ; having been a member of the State Senate in 1859, while a resident of that town. He was very early a prominent member of the Liberty Party, and was always active in the anti-slavery cause. He was instrumental in establishing three banks, of which he was the first president, the Milford, the Hopkin- ton, and the Hide and Leather, of Boston. He was greatly interested in all educational matters, being one of the three designated founders of Boston Univer- sity. After South Carolina surrendered to the Fed- eral arms, he took an active part in the purchase of the abandoned seminary at Orangeburg, which finally became Claflin University, which was named for him.

While an apprentice to Mr. Warren in Framing- ham he joined the Methodist Church of which he was a devoted and steadfast supporter all his life. He made many donations to the churches and liter- ary institutions of that denomination, and frequent benefactions of a more general nature to the commu- nity. lle was a man of great mental vigor as well as physical strength, which lasted to the end of his life. He died from the etlects of an accident, Feb. 23, 1871.

By his first wife he had three sons, William, Charles Lee, who died in infancy, and Wilbur Fisk, who resided in Hopkinton until his death, August 31, 1885-she died April 6th, 1834. Mr. Claflin married March 8th, 1836, Polly Jones Harding, who survived him several years.

SAMUEL AND ABRAM CROOKS.

The ancestors of Samuel and Abram Crooks were Scotch Presbyterians who, as runs the record, were originally dwellers in Argyleshire, in the west of

Scotland. They went from there to Antrim and Lon- donderry, in the North of Ireland, as early as 1618. Just one hundred years later than this date, a colony of 120 families, among whom were the Crooks, emigrated to America, a portion of them landing in Portland, Maine, while the remainder came to Boston. Quite a large number of these colonists went northward and became the original settlers of Londonderry, Derry, Derryfield and other of the pioneer towns in New Hampshire, while another portion consisting of eigh- teen families journeyed westward and settled upon the high-lands of Hopkinton, in the winter of 1719. Among these sturdy settlers was Samuel Crooks, from whom, in the fifth generation, the subjects of this sketch are descended. First, Samuel ; second, John ; third, Abraham : fourth Samuel, who was the father of Samuel and Abraham, whose portraits accompany this sketch.

Their father, Samuel, was born in Hopkinton, August 22, 1792, and in March, 1818, married Eme- line, daughter of Jonathan and Hannah (Thayer, Stearns, to whom were born three sons, John, Samuel and Abram. Their father was a farmer and became one of the leading spirits in the town. For mauy years he was superintendent of the Town Farm) and was a useful and valued citizen, who died in October, 1873, universally respected. Coming now to the fifth generation, we find the eldest John born, May 29, 1819; SAMUEL, the second, who was born in Hopkinton, December 17, 1821, and ABRAM, the youngest of the family, also born iu Hopkinton, March 29, 1826. Samuel and Abram having been so intimately connected, and so closely identified with each other in all business matters, it is thought bet- ter to make the record of their lives a joint one, rather than to give them in separate sketches. The childhood days of these boys were spent on the farm, and their experiences doubtless were similar to those of the average New England farmer's boys. Their educational advantages were such as were commonly afforded by the District School, which was sitnated about a half mile from their home. Leaving school they were fully occupied with the ordinary farm duties, until at about the age of fifteen, they com- menced in what has since proved to be their life- work, and which has, from very small beginnings, so wonderfully developed, that at this writing they stand third only in the output of their manufacture of all the boot and shoe manufactories of this Commonwealth.

They began by bottoming boots and shoes at the village of Woodville, in the western part of the town of Hopkinton. Here they gradually acquired a knowledge of the full details of this business as then prosecuted, and in 1849, commenced as boot and shoe manufacturers in the building then known as the Joseph Walker shop, which they rented from a man who had befriended them in the early part of their career as manufacturers. Hon. Lee Claflin, the father of Ex-Gov .- William Claflin, of Newtonville, Mass.

Les Claflin

Hannuel Crooks

Abram Cracks

L. B. Maybuy

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HOPKINTON.

Here they remained steadily increasing their business until 1853, when they removed to Grove Street and carried on a thriving business in " the old meeting- house" which after disuse for purposes of religious worship was fitted up for a manufactory. IFere they continued until 1860, when for the purpose of secur- ing more extensive and better facilities for conduct ing their large business, they removed to the " Daven- port Block" on Main Street, in Hopkinton, where they have since remained. The premises now occupied by them cover an area of about two acres, and the main shop is an imposing building of five stories, and is supplied with the latest appliances and machinery, all of which is driven by an engine of 100 horse-power. In this shop are employed about 500 operatives, who are furnished by this firm with steady and remunerative employment, and the result of their busy and skilled handiwork is shown in the daily completion on an average of over three thousand pairs of hoots and shoes which go into nearly all parts of the world through the agency of the celebra- ted house of William Claflin, Coburn & Co., of Bos- ton, who handle all of this immense output. The style of the firm .as it has existed for nearly forty years is S. & A. Crooks & Co. Samuel Crooks has been identified with the Orthodox Church since 1842, and has taken an active part in its welfare, and contributed largely to its support. While declining to take any active part in the official line of political affairs, the Messrs. Crooks have been Republicans ever since the organization of that party. Samuel has been quite prominent in the financial affairs of the town, and for several years the vice-president and a director in the Hopkinton National Bank, and also vice-president of the Hopkinton Savings Bank, both of which are thriving institutions, and both Samuel and Abram have contributed very largely to the success and the importance of this beautiful town, and the prosperity, wealth and happiness of her citizens. November 13, 1844, Samuel Crooks married Sarah B., daughter of Ezekiel and Betsey (Johnson) Guy, and there have been born to them seven children-Emeline E., Charles H., Mary E., Alice M., Herman R., Jennie L. and George H., all of whom except Jennie L. are de- ceased. Jennie L. was married December 13, 1883, to G. A. Bridges, and resides in Hopkinton. ABRAM Crooks was married November 27, 1849, to Annie M. Guy, a sister of the wife of Samuel. From this union there have been three children-Florence I., Mary A. and Arthur R. Of these there are two living-Mary A. and Arthur R. Florence I. died May 22, 1877, aged twenty-one years. Mary A. was married in October, 1882, to Frank Thompson, and they resided in Hopkinton. Arthur R. married October, 1889, Lillian, daughter of Henry and Marietta A. (Fiske) Adams, and they reside in Hopkinton.

The mother of the Messrs. Crooks died April, 1864.

LOWELL BOWKER MAYBRY.

The unostentatious routine of private life, although in the aggregate more important to the welfare of the community, cannot from its nature figure in the pub- lic annals. But the names of men who distinguish themselves for the possession of those qualities of character which so largely contribute to the success of private life and to the public stability, of men who have been exemplary in their personal and social re- lations, thus winning the affection, respect and confi- dence of those around them, ought not to perish. Their example is more valuable to the majority of local readers than that of illustrous heroes, statesmen and writers, and all are benefited by the delineation of those traits of character, which find scope and ex- ercise in the common walks of life. Among the indi- viduals of this class few are better entitled to be held in respectful remembrance than the subject of this sketch. His ancestors were among the early settlers of Hopkinton. His father was Dexter L. Maybry and was born April 22, 1799. He carried on at dif- ferent times in his life both farming and the boot and shoe business. He married Mary Gage Bowker, who was born Nov. 30, 1801, and they had five children, -- Lowell B., Susan L., Sarah L., Samuel D., and Eliza C.

Lowell B. was born Aug. 28, 1820, in Hopkinton, which has been his permanent home since that date. His childhood and youth were as uneventful as were those of the average New England boy. As the first born there would naturally come to him a degree of responsibility for the care of a younger brother and sisters, who a little later on became the sharers in childhood sports and school-day duties. Lowell at- tended the district school in the winter months and received such education as could there be obtained. Leaving school he went into the boot shop of his Uncle Lovett H. Bowker in Ilayden Row to learn that business and there he remained for a long period. And becoming well versed in all details of this manu- facture, he in 1854 took charge of Bowker & Phipps' large boot factory in the centre of the town, also the currying business which was connected with it, where he remained eight years.

He became prominently associated with the town affairs, being elected a director of the Hopkinton Na- tional Bank in 1854, where he served continuously until 1876, when a further expression of confidence was shown by his being elected to the presidency, which position he still holds. He had but little taste for politics and declined nominations to various posi- tions of political trust. Being strongly opposed to slavery he very naturally affiliated with the Republi- cans, and has acted with them ever since their organ- ization. Mr. Maybry is a member of the Congrega- tional Church and contributes to its support. He is a lover of music and has for over fifty years occupied a place in the choir of that church. He has also had a hand in the organization of the various musical as- sociations of the town.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 190

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