USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Northborough > History of Northborough, Mass., in various publications and discourses > Part 8
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#These were James Eager and his son, John Eager ; and Ebenezer Cutler, and Michael Martyn, sons in law of the late Capt. James Eager, of this town.
§ These were Jolin Taylor, and Sylvanus Billings. The former, a gen- tleman of handsome property and who had been one of the leading meu of the town ; the latter also a man of considerable estate.
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44
HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGH.
After the close of the war, the embarrassments arising from the want of a circulating medium, when almost all were deeply involv- ed in debt, caused much uneasiness, and led the people to devise measures for their removal. August 7th, 1786, Isaac Davis was chosen as a delegate to attend a County Convention, at Leicester, oh the 15th inst. to whom the following, among other instructions, were given by a committee appointed by the town. The delegate was to use his influence "that the Convention petition his Excel- lency, the Governor, and Council, to call the General Court togeth- er, in the month of October next, at fartherest ; and that the Conven- tion present a humble and decent petition to the General Court to set up and establish a mint in the Commonwealth, &c." Complaints were also made of the salaries of the civil list, being so high, and of various other grievances under which the people labored .* There was nothing, however, of the spirit of rebellion or insubordination in the resolutions that were passed at this meeting, or in the con- duct which followed ; and though it appears from the representa- tions of all, that the people generally were reduced to the greatest straits, yet only three or four individuals were found willing to join in the rebellion of that year, and to seek redress by measures of violence.t
SCHOOLS, &c .- Previous to the year 1766, I can find on record, no appropriations made for the education of youth. But I am in- formed that several instructors had, before that period, been em-
* There prevailed, at this time, very generally through the country, the most violent prejudices against the profession of the law. One of the instruc- tions given to the delegate, at this time, was, that he was to use his influence in the convention, by petitioning and remonstrating to the General Court, " that the whole order of Lawyers be annihilated ; for we conceive them not only to be building themselves upon the ruins of the distressed, but said order has increased, and is daily increasing, far beyond any other set or order of men among us, in numbers and affluence ; and we apprehend they may be- come ere long somewhat dangerous to the rights and liberties of the people."
t The following is a list of the names of those who have represented this town in the General Court, from 1775, to the present time.
Col. Levi Brigham, from 1775, to 1777 .- John Ball, 1778, 1732, and 1785 .-- Deac. Paul Newton, 1779, and 1780 .- Deac. Seth Rice, 1783 .- Deac. Isaac Davis, seven years-between 1787 and 1798 .-- Deac. Nahum Fay, 1800 aud 1801 .- James Keyes, Esq. eighteen years, from 1802, to the present time.
From the above account, it appears that this town has been represented thirty six years since the commencement of the Revolutionary war.
The following persons have been commissioned Justices of the peace. The first commission is dated July 3, 1793. Nahum Fay, Seth Grout, Isaac Davis, Stephen Williams, James Keyes, Phineas Davis, and Cyrus Gale. Of this number, three, Seth Grout, Isaac Davis and James Keyes, have since deceased.
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HISTORY OF NORTHIBOROUGH.
ployed to teach, at private houses, in different parts of the town, and who were paid by the voluntary contributions of the parents. The first school house that was erected in this town, stood on the meeting house common, whence it was afterwards removed, and now forms part of the dwelling house of Mr. Joel Bartlett .* In 1770, the district was divided into four squadrons ; but it was not till 1780, that the town passed a vote to build school houses in the several squadrons, and granted money for that purpose. The town granted £4000 for building four school houses, which, at the time it was expended, amounted to only £52 6s. 8d. to which they added £110 6s. 8d. amounting to £163 13s. 4d.
Since that period two new School districts have been formed ; so that there are now six districts in the town, in each of which, a school is kept from eight to twelve weeks, both winter and summer.
The following is an abstract of the return of the School com- mittee, made in May last, to the General Court.
Amount paid for public Instruction, $600.
Time of keeping school in the year, 6 months each district.
Males under 7 years, 47 Females under 7 years, 39
From 7 to 14, 98 From 7 to 14, 75
From 14 and upwards, 68
From 14 and upwards, 47
Males, 213
Females, 161
213
Total, 374
There are, in this town, three respectable Libraries, containing in all about 500 volumes, exclusive of the Juvenile Library, which contains nearly 150 volumes, suited to children and youth.
The Juvenile Library, commenced in 1824, is supported by an annual contribution, and, under a few simple regulations, is accessi- ble to all the children and youth, over the age of 7 years, residing in the town.
Many young men, educated in our schools, have been employed as Instructors, both here and in other towns, and have generally proved worthy of the confidence reposed in them.
Besides several professional gentlemen educated in our schools, and in the neighboring Academies, twelve young men have receiv- ed a public education, eight of whom are graduates of Harvard
* Mr. Thomas Goodenow was the first Instructor, supported at the ex- pense of the town. Mr. James Hart, a foreigner, was employed about this time, (1770) and is frequently spoken of as the father of the many excellent penmen for which this town has, in former years, been famed.
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HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGH.
University, at Cambridge, one of Brown University, and one each, of' Yale, Dartmouth, and Williams' Colleges.
Their names, professions, &c. are as follow :
1. Jonathan Livermore, son of the late Deac. Jonathan Liver- more, was graduated at Harvard University, in 1760; settled in the ministry at Wilton, N. H. in 1763; was dismissed, but remained in that place, where he died, July, 1809, in the 80th year of his age.
2. Ebenezer Rice, son of the late Simon Rice,* was graduated at Harvard University, in 1760 ; was a Physician, and a justice of the peace, in Marlborough ; afterwards removed to Barre, where he died.
3. Jacob Rice, son of the late Jacob Rice, was graduated at Harvard University, in 1765; settled in Henniker, N. HI. being the first minister in that place; was dismissed, on account of ill health ; was installed at Brownfield, Oxford County, Me. where he remain- ed till his death, which took place suddenly, Feb. 1, 1824, Lord's Day, having preached to his people in the morning.
4. Elijah Brigham, son of the late Col. Levi Brigham, was graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1778 ; commenced the study of Divinity, which he soon relinquished, and engaged in mercantile business with his brother in law, Breck Parkman, Esq. of Westbo- rough : in 1795, he was appointed one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas ; for several years was a Senator and Counsellor of this Commonwealth, a Justice through the State, and a Repre- sentative of this District in the Congress of the United States, from 1810 to the time of his death. Judge Brigham died suddenly, at Washington, Feb. 22, 1816, aged 64.
5. John Taylor, son of the late John Taylor, was graduated at Harvard University, in 1786; is now a Counsellor at Law, in North- ampton, and one of the Representatives of that town in the Gen- eral Court.
6. Peter Whitney, son of Rev. Peter Whitney, was graduated at Harvard University, in 1791; now the minister of Quincy, in this State, where he was ordained, Feb. 5, 1800.
7. Henry Gassett, son of Henry Gassett, was graduated at Har- vard University, in 1795 ; is now a merchant, in Boston.
8. Israel Munroe, son of Abraham Munroe, was graduated at Harvard University, in 1300; was for some years a Counsellor at Law, in Boston ; he now resides in the city of New York.
* Simon Rice, the father of Dr. Ebenezer Rice, was a brother of the late Deac. Matthias Rice, of this town. He lived just within the limits of North- borough, near the dwelling house of Mr. Ephraim Barnard.
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HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGHI.
9. Warren Fay, son of Nahum Fay, Esq. was graduated at Har- vard University, in 1807 ; ordained at Brimfield, Nov. 3, 1808 ; dis- missed, June 26, 1811 ; installed at Ilarvard, Jan. 26, 1814; dis- missed, at his own request, Jan. 5, 1820; installed as minister of the First Congregational Church and Society in Charlestown, Feb. 23, 1820.
10. Luther Rice, son of Capt. Amos Rice, was graduated at Williams College, in 1810; ordained at Salem, Feb. 6, 1812, as a Missionary ; sailed for Calcutta in company with Messrs. Hall & Judson, Feb. 18, 1812. Soon after his arrival he changed his views on the subject of baptism ; was baptised by immersion ; and, in the autumn of 1813, returned to this country. He now resides in Wash- ington, D. C. and is Treasurer of Columbia College.
11. John Davis, son of the late Isaac Davis, Esq. was graduated at Yale College, in 1812; is now a Counsellor at Law, in Worcester, and represents this District in the Congress of the U. S.
12. Isaac Davis, son of Phineas Davis, Esq. was graduated at Brown University, in 1822; is now an Attorney at Law, in Wor- cester.
There are, at present, two physicians in this place, Docts. Ste- phen Ball, Sen'r. and Jun'r. The only other physician who made Northborough his permanent residence, was the late Doct. Stephen Ball, father of Stephen Ball, Sen'r. There has never been a law- yer residing in the place, with the exception of John Winslow, Esq. who remained here only a few years And, it is a singular fact, that with this exception, and that of the three successive min- isters, all of whom were educated at Harvard University, none of the permanent inhabitants of the town, at this or at any former pe- riod, received a public and liberal education.
ECCLESIASTICAL, &c .- Measures were taken immediately after Northborough became a separate precinct, to support the public worship of God, by building a church, and procuring a minister.
December 31, 1744, the parish voted to build a meeting house, and to raise £50, lawful money, for that purpose. This led, as fre- quently happens, to a controversy respecting the location of the edifice, which, after several months continuance, was finally sub- mitted to the arbitration of three respectable men from the neigh- boring towns, Capt. Daniel Heywood, of Worcester, Capt. John Haynes, of Sudbury, and Capt. Thomas Ilapgood, of Shrewsbury, who fixed on the spot, near the site of the present church. The land on which the house was erected, was given to the town for
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HISTORY OF NORTHEOROUGH,
the use of its inhabitants, by Capt. James Eager, by a deed bear- ing date April 26, 1745, "so long as the said inhabitants of the north precinct shall improve said land for the standing of a meeting house for the public worship of God."
The committee reported, April 24, 1745; and, on April 30, only 6 days after, the house was raised ; a vote having previously pas- sed, that "every man should provide for the raising as he was spirited."*
New difficulties now arose respecting the settlement of a minis- ter. Several candidates had been employed ; and, as usually hap- pens in such cases, the minds of the people were divided between them. Under these circumstances, the precinct appointed a fast for the 12th Sept. 1745, and sent for five of the neighboring minis- ters " to give them their advice who they should apply to for can- didates, in order to a choice."
The following gentlemen attended on the occasion ; viz. Rev. Mr. Prentice, Rev. Mr. Parkman, Rev. Mr. Cushing, and Rev. Mr. Morse, who recommended that the parish should bear a few sab- baths each, two candidates from Cambridge, Rev. Mr. Rand, and Mr. Jedediah Adams, in order to a choice. Mr. John Martyn was one of the candidates, who had previously been employed by the parish ; and although they complied with the advice of the neigh- boring ministers, so far as to hear the other candidates two sab- baths each, yet on the 19th of December, 1745, " Mr. John Mar- tyn was chosen by a cleur vote"; and a salary was offered him of £50 in bills of the last emission, (which was at 7s. 6d. per ounce,) or £200 in bills of the old form and tenor, after the rate of silver at 30s. per ounce, or in other bills of public credit, equivalent to the said sum, and to be paid at two payments annually." Besides this, a settlement of $300, old tenor, was voted by the parish.
Mr. Martyn accepted the invitation, and was ordained, May 21, 1746, O. S. a church having been gathered on the same day, con- sisting of ten brethren, besides the pastor elect, four of whom, it is worthy of notice, were foreigners.t
* The dimensions of the first meeting house were 46 feet by 36. The whole cost of finishing the outside was £443 11s. 2d. The building commit- tee consisted of Capt. James Eager, Wm. Holloway, and Jesse Brigham. The house was framed by Daniel Hemminway. The price of labor at this time, was, in the old tenor currency, for a man per day scoring timber, 6s. for hewing, os. 6d. for carpenter's work, &s. White pine timber, 3 pence per foot ; for oak, 2} pence, running measure. "Allowed Jotham Bartlett £2 10s. for two barrels of cider at the raising of the meeting house."
t The following are the names of the persons who subscribed to the church
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HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGH.
The ordaining council consisted of the following pastors, with their delegates :
Rev. Mr. Parkman, of Westborough, who preached on the oc- casion, from Heb. xiii. 17; Rev. Mr. Prentice, of Lancaster, who gave the charge; Rev. Mr. Cushing, of Shrewsbury, who expressed the fellowship of the Churches; Rev. Mr. Loring, of Sudbury; Rev. Mr. Hall, of Sutton; Rev. Mr. Gardner, of Stow; and Rev. Mr. Bar- rett, of Hopkinton.
Although the ceremonies of the ordination took place in the meeting house, yet it appears from the town records that it was in a very unfinished state, having neither pulpit, galleries, glass win- dows, nor even permanent floors. It was not till June, in the fol- lowing year, that a vote could be obtained " to glaze the meeting house and lay the floors ;" and not till the next autumn, that the pulpit and gallery stairs were built. This was indeed the day of small things ; and when we compare the accommodations of the spacious and elegant temple since erected near the spot, with the loose floors, and rough seats, and open windows of the house in which our fathers worshipped, we shall do well to inquire wheth- er we surpass them as much in the punctuality of our attendance, and the spirituality of our worship, as in the beauty and accommo- dations of the place of our solemnities.
Northborough became an incorporated district, Jan. 24, 1766, not long after which, viz. April 30, 1767, the Rev. John Martyn, after a short illness, departed this life, in the 61st year of his age, and the 21st of his ministry. His wife died, Sept. 8, 1775, aged 70.
Mr. Martyn was a son of Capt. Edward Martyn, of Boston, where he spent his early life, under the care of an excellent moth- er, who had been left a widow in easy circumstances, some time previous to young Mr. Martyn's entering college. Mr. Martyn was graduated at Harvard University, in 1724. For several years after he left college, he devoted his attention to secular pursuits, and was for some time an inhabitant of Harvard, in this county .*
covenant at this time .- John Martyn, the pastor elect ; Ephraim Allen ; Josh- ua Dowsing, (sometimes written Townsend) from England ; John McAllester, from Ireland ; Jonathan Livermore, (afterwards Deac. Livermore ;) Gershom Fay ; Matthias Rice, (afterwards Deac. Rice ;) Samuel Allen ; Jacob Shep- herd, a foreigner ; John Carruth, also a foreigner ; and Silas Fay.
* Rev. Mr. Martyn was married to Miss Mary Marret, of Cambridge, by whom he had the following children : John, who lived in this town ; Mary, married to a Minot, of Concord ; Michael, who was married to Zilpah, daugh- ter of James Eager, and lived in this town till the commencement of the rev-
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HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGHI.
At length, at the age of 40, he directed his attention to Theo- logical pursuits, and became an able, faithful, and useful minister. Hle possessed, in a large measure, the confidence and affections of his flock, was honored in his life, and deeply lamented at his death.
Rev. Peter Whitney was the only person employed as a candi- date in this place between the death of Mr. Martyn and his own ordination.
Mr. Martyn died the last day of April ; and, after an interval of only 6 months and 4 days, that is, on the 4th of the following No- vember, his successor was inducted into the office of a christian minister .*
The services at his ordination were performed by the follow- ing persons. Rev. Mr. Morse, of the second church in Shrewsbu- ry, (now Boylston) made the Introductory Prayer; Rev. Mr. Whit- ney, of Petersham, the father of the candidate, preached from Mat- thew, xxviii. 19, 20 .; Rev. Mr. Parkman, of Westborough, made the consecrating prayer, and gave the charge ; Rev. Mr. Smith, of Marlborough, expressed the fellowship of the churches; and Rev. Mr. Bridge, of Chelmsford, made the concluding prayer. The other ministers on the ordaining council, were, Rev. Mr. Stone, of Southborough; Rev. Mr. Goss, of Bolton ; Rev. Mr. Morrell, of Wilmington ; Rev. Mr. Davis, of Holden; Rev. Mr. Woodward, of Weston ; Rev. Mr. Clark, of Lexington ; Rev. Mr. Sumner, of Shrewsbury ; and Rev. Mr. Cummings, of Billerica.
The salary of Rev. Mr. Whitney was £66 13s. 4d. with a set- tlement of £160, lawful money.
Rev. Peter Whitney was the son of Rev. Aaron Whitney, the first minister of Petersham, was born Sept. 17, 1744. He was grad- uated at Harvard University, 1762, where he pursued his Theologi- cal studies preparatory to entering on the work of the ministry.
Distinguished for the urbanity of his manners, easy and familiar in his intercourse with his people, hospitable to strangers, and al- ways ready to give a hearty welcome to his numerous friends ; punctual to his engagements, observing an exact method in the dis- tribution of his time, having a time for every thing and doing every thing in its time, without hurry or confusion ; conscientious in the
olutionary war ; Richard, who settled in Windsor, Conn. ; and Nathaniel, who removed to one of the Southern States. Widow Abigail Fay, is the daughter of John, abovenamed, and is now living in this place.
* Mr. Whitney began to preach in Northborough, June 7, 1767, and gave his auswer to settle the 12th of the following October.
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HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGHI.
discharge of his duties as a christian minister, catholic in his prin- ciples and in his conduct, always taking an interest in whatever concerned the prosperity of the town and the interests of religion, he was, for many years, the happy minister of a kind and an affec- tionate people. At length, having continued in the work of the ministry almost half a century, he suddenly departed this life, Feb- ruary 29, 1816, in the 72d year of his age, and the 49th of his use- ful ministry .*
Mr. Whitney was married to Miss Julia Lambert, of Reading, in this state, by whom he had ten children who lived to man's estate, eight of whom still survive.
Mrs. Whitney survived her husband nearly five years, and died at Quincy, while on a visit to her children, Jan. 10, 1821, aged 79 years. All who knew Madam Whitney will bear testimony to her worth ; and admit that she possessed, in no common measure, dig- nity of manners, sprightliness of mind, and goodness of heart. She was indeed a most pleasant companion and a most valuable friend.
The writer of these sketches was the only candidate employed by their society after the death of his immediate predecessor ; and after a probation of about four months, was ordained their minister, Oct. 30, 1816.1 His salary is $600 per annum.
* Rev. Mr. Martyn left none of his writings in print. His successor made himself extensively known by his History of Worcester County ; a work high- ly valuable for the facts it records, many of which would probably have been lost, had they not, with great pains and fidelity, been collected and embodied in this work. It is a work, the value of which will not be diminished by the more minute histories now publishing in the Worcester Magazine and Histori- cal Journal.
The other printed writings of Mr. Whitney, so far as they have come to my knowledge, are-Two Discourses, delivered July 4, 1774 ; a Sermon, de- livered at a Lecture, July 4, 1776, on publishing the Declaration of Indepen- dence ; a half Century Sermon, preached June 1, 1796 ; a Sermon at the or- dination of his son, Rev. Peter Whitney, of Quincy, February 5, 1800 ; a Ser- mon preached at Shrewsbury, February 16, 1810, at the funeral of Mrs. Lucy Sumner, wife of the Rev. Joseph Summer, D. D. ; and a notice of a remarka- ble apple tree, in the first volume of the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
The publication of the History of Worcester County recommended the author to the notice of the Massachusetts Ilistorical Society, who elected him a member of that association.
t The ordination services were performed by the following persons :-- Rev. Mr. Whitney, of Quincy, made the Introductory Prayer; Rev. Prof. Ware, of Harvard University, preached from Jer. xv. 19 ; Rev. Pres. Kirk- land, of H. U. made the Consecrating Prayer ; Rev. Dr. Saunders, of Med- field, gave the charge ; Rev. John E. Abbott, of Salem, gave the Right hand of Fellowship ; Rev. Dr. Puffer, of Berlin, made the Concluding Prayer. Be- sides the above, the following Ministers were on the Council : Rev. Dr. Sum- ner, of Shrewsbury ; Rev. Dr. Bancroft, of Worcester ; Rev. Dr. Thayer, of
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AHISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGH.
It appears, therefore, that from the ordination of Rev. Mr. Mar- tyn, in 1746, to the present time, a period of 80 years, this chris- tian society has been destitute of a settled minister only about 14 months ; a fact highly creditable to the members of this society, as an evidence of their regard for the institutions of religion, and of the union and harmony which have long subsisted among them. And it may justly be considered, that the town is indebted to the spirit of union which has hitherto so generally prevailed among us, for the respectable rank which it now maintains. It would be easy, however painful, to predict the consequences of the prevalence of an opposite spirit. Large and opulent societies can bear to be re- duced by division. But in societies small as this, and whose re- sources are no greater than ours, union should be the watchword of all who wish well to the cause of human improvement.
It is worthy of remark, that there has never been but one reli- gious society in this town, and that only a very few families have, at any time, withdrawn themselves from the Congregational socie- ty. Four or five families of the Baptist denomination usually at- tend public worship in the adjoining towns. The first person of this denomination in this town, was Thomas Billings, who joined the Baptist Society, in Leicester, in 1766.
The increase of wealth and population, and a regard for the in- stitutions of religion, led the inhabitants of this town, in the spring and summer of 1808, to erect a new and more spacious house for public worship.
'The new church is 56 ft. square, with a projection of 34 ft. by 15, surmounted by a tower, and cost, including the bell, $11,408 04. The cost of the bell was $510 00; its weight about 1200 lbs.
The proportions of this building are much admired by persons of good taste ; and its location is such, that it appears to great ad- vantage from the main road. May it long stand ; and be to this So- ciety a bond of union, and the place whither they shall delight to bring their stated offerings of prayer and praise .*
Lancaster ; Rev. Mr. Packard, of Marlborough ; Rev. Mr. Rockwood, of Westborough ; Rev. Mr. Cotton, of Boylston ; Rev. Mr. Frothingham, of Boston ; Rev. Mr. Ripley, of Waltham ; and Rev. Mr. Damon, of Lunenburg. Rev. J. Allen was born in Medfield, August 15, 1790, and was graduated at Harvard University, in 1811.
* The committee for building the new meeting house consisted of the fol- lowing persons ; James Keyes, Esq. Stephen Williams, Esq. Isaac Davis, Esq. Hollon Maynard, Col. William Eager, Seth Grout, Esq. Asaph Rice, and Phineas Davis, Esq. The business was committed to a sub-committee, com- posed of three ; S. Williams, Esq. Asaph Rice, and Phineas Davis, Esq. The house was built by Col. Eames, of Buckland, and Capt, Brooks, of Princeton.
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HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGHI.
In the summer of 1822, a neat and handsome Town House was built, at the cost of about $1000, which is used for town meetings, singing schools, and various other purposes.
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