USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Spencer > History of Spencer, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to the year 1860: including a brief sketch of Leicester, to the year 1753 > Part 6
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" This gentleman, after his return to France, suffered death by the guillo- tine under the reign of terror.
" The journey from Boston to New York, is now easily performed by steam in twelve hours.
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the eternal torments in France; add to this the fear of being robbed, the precautions necessary to be taken every night to prevent it, while in the United States you travel without fear and without arms, and you sleep quietly among the woods, in an open chamber of a house whose doors shut without locks, and now judge which country merits the name of civilized, and which bears the aspect of the greatest general happiness.
" We left Spencer at four o'clock in the morning. New carriage, new proprietor. It was a carriage without springs, a kind of wagon. A Frenchman who was with me, began at the first jolt to curse the carriage, the driver, and the country. Let us wait, said I, a little, before we form a judg- ment ; every custom has its cause, there is doubtless some reason why this kind of carriage is preferred to one hung on springs. In fact, by the time we had run thirty miles among the rocks, we were convinced that a carriage with springs would very soon have been overset and broken.
" The traveler is well recompensed for the fatigue of this route, by the variety of romantic situations, by the beauty of the prospects which it offers at every step, by the perpetual contrast of nature, and the efforts of art. Those vast ponds of water, which lose themselves in the woods ; those rivulets that wash the meadow, newly snatched from uncultivated nature ; those neat houses scattered among the forests and containing swarms of children, joyous and healthy, and well clad. Those fields covered with trunks of trees, whose destruction is committed to the hand of time, and which are covered under the leaves of Indian corn ; those oaks which preserve still the image of their ancient vigor, but which, girdled at the bottom, raise no longer to heaven but dry and naked branches, which the first stroke of wind must bring to the earth ; all these objects, so new to an Eu- ropean, arrest him, absorb him, and plunge him into an agreeable reverie. The depths of the forests, the prodigious
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height and size of the trees, call to mind the time when the savages were the only inhabitants of this country. This ancient tree has beheld them ; they filled these forests ; they have now given place to another generation. The cul- tivator fears no more their vengeance ; his musket, formerly his necessary companion at the plow, now rests suspended in his house. Alone, with his wife and children, in the midst of the forests, he sleeps quietly, he labors in peace, and he is happy. Such were the ideas that occupied me the greater part of my journey ; they sometimes gave place to others, arising from the view of the country houses, which are seen at small distances through all the forests of Massachusetts. Neatness embellishes them all. They have frequently but one story and a garret ; their walls are papered ; tea and coffee appear on their tables ; their daughters, clothed in cal- icoes, display traits of civility, frankness and decency ; vir- tues which always follow contentment and ease. Almost all these houses are inhabited by men who are both cultivators and artizans ; one is a tanner, another is a shoemaker, another sells goods ; but all are farmers. The country stores are well assorted; you find in the same shop, hats, nails, liquors. This order of things is necessary in a new settlement; it is to be hoped it will continue, for this gen- eral retail occupies less hands, and detaches fewer from the great object of agriculture. It is not supposed that one third of the land of Massachusetts is under cultivation, and it is difficult to say when it will be so, considering the invi- tations of the Western country and the province of Maine. But the uncleared lands are all located, and the proprietors have enclosed them with fences of different sorts. These several kinds of fences are composed of different materials, which announce the different degrees of culture in the coun- try. Some are composed of the light branches of trees ; others of the trunks of trees laid one upon the other ; a third sort is made of long pieces of wood, supporting each
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other by making angles at the end; a fourth kind is made of long pieces of hewn timber, supported at the ends by passing into holes made in an upright post ; a fifth is like the garden fences in England; the last kind is stones thrown together to the height of three feet. This last kind is most durable, and is common in Massachusetts.
" From Spencer to Brookfield the road is good, as far as the last town. The situation of Brookfield is picturesque. While breakfast was preparing, I read the Gazettes and Journals, which are distributed through all the country. Our breakfast consisted of coffee, tea, boiled and roasted meat ; the whole for ten pence, New England currency, for each traveller. From this place to Wilbraham, the road is covered with rocks, and bordered with woods."
This tavern house in Spencer, " half built," situated in a " new village in the midst of the woods," was none other than the Jenks tavern, which was at that time being repair- ed, and an addition being erected on the west side, and not completed.
This description of this part of Massachusetts seventy- two years ago, is generally correct, and such as it would ap- pear in passing through it; but I doubt whether the houses were, many of them, painted without or papered within ; or whether the farmers' daughters were dressed in calicoes.
Previous to the present century, there were, in what now constitutes the central village, including the whole of Main street, from Leicester to Brookfield, twenty-five buildings only (barns not included). The houses of Rev. Joseph Pope, Capt. Ebenezer Mason, Isaac Jenks, James Livermore, Josi- ah Cary, or rather Elisha Harrington, have been mentioned. The others were, Deacon Reuben Underwood, now owned by John Stone; Thomas Sumner, on the site of Joshua Prou- ty's ; John Sumner, on the site of his son, Cheney Sumner ; William Knight, on the site of Francis Adams and Mrs. 7*
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Saddler ; Zebina Abbot, on the site of Mrs. Wm. Sumner, and his clothier's shop ; Elijah Howe, jun., near the house of Charles Fay ; Amasa Bemis, now Mr. Robinson; Stephen Jenks, near that of Abner Howland; Capt. Simeon Draper, now owned by Mrs. Mary Livermore ; the tavern of Jeremi- ah Whittemore, owned by George Bemis, 2d, and lately burn- ed, and a new house lately built ; Deacón John Muzzy, or Samuel Ryan, on the site of Aaron Watson ; Reuben Whit- temore, now owned by Edward Proctor ; Nathaniel T. Lor- ing, near that of Lewis Bergeron ; and Deacon Oliver Wat- son, now owned by Ebenezer Howard; the Congregational church, the store of John Clark, an ordinary-looking school house ; all these on the main street. On what is now Ash street, the house of John White, now owned by Thomas B. Clark, and the house of Capt. Samuel Lamb, now occupied by Charles Grout.
There are now, within the limits above described, 164 dwelling houses, 94 of which are on Main street, and 70 on the intermediate streets ; 3 churches, 1 vestry, 3 school houses, 1 town house, 7 large buildings for the manufacture of boots, some of them elegant, and 22 other buildings, in- cluding factories, mechanics' shops, &c. (not including barns), making in the whole 201 buildings, most of them respectable.
SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.
Except a few mechanics, the people were all farmers. There were no butchers, or pedlers, to bring fresh meats, fish, fruits and other desirable things to their doors. The farmer, from his own resources, by the use of the spade and hoe without, and the wheel and loom within doors, nearly supplied all his wants for food and clothing. The fam- ily breakfast was generally bread and milk, taken early in the morning, before going out to his labors. About nine o'clock, a luncheon, called a " baiting," was brought out to
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the field, and with a bottle of cider, with cordial zest was taken under a cooling shade. At twelve o'clock, the horn was sounded for dinner, and the good man, with his sturdy sons, leaving their labor, came in from the field, dripping with perspiration, to partake of the wholesome repast, con- sisting of boiled salted pork and beef, with vegetables, pre- pared by the good wife and her buxom daughters. Often, for a change, baked pork and beans was the order for din- ner, with an Indian pudding for dessert. After half an hour for " nooning," again to the field, with renewed vigor, to toil until about four o'clock, then another luncheon. At night a similar preparation as in the morning, for the children and the feminine part of the household for supper, and bread, butter, cheese, and a remnant of " cold victuals," for the sterner sex.
" Let not ambition mock their useful toil," for they were our fathers and mothers. Yes, the fathers and mothers of all, whether in a lofty or more humble sphere of life ; and we will surely forever hold them in grateful remem- brance. For us they toiled and subdued the stubborn soil ; for us they suffered great deprivations, for which we have received the rich legacy of peace, plenty and indepen- dence.
The last Wednesday in May, election day, was the special holiday. All labor was then suspended, and the entire day devoted to amusements. Hunting, fishing, bathing, and all athletic recreations, were the order of the day, and the old, as well as the young, had their sports and pastimes. But Thanksgiving was then, as now, the great feast day. Then the spit and the oven were in special requisition. Roast meat, pies and sweet cakes abounded with profusion, and the maxim of Solomon was fully realized, that there was " Noth- ing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy the good of his labor." In the eve- ning, the young people of both sexes, jubilant with the oc-
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casion, assembled, the fiddle being in attendance, and after the floor was well sanded, the dance commenced. The "reel," " old father John," " hunt the squirrel," &c., being satisfac- torily performed, not forgetting the "jig."
" The dancing pair that simply sought renown, By holding out to tire each other down."
MORALS.
This is a delicate subject to review, whether for the past or the present, but there is no doubt, that at the close of the revolutionary war, the morals of the people were rather of a low order. The camp is a prolific school for the vices. There, idleness, intemperance, profaneness and profligacy of almost all kinds, abound, thrive and are nourished. And when the soldiers returned home, they were accompanied, more or less, with some of those vices, and mingling and as- sociating with the people, the old proverb was soon verified, that " evil communications corrupt good manners." Tav- ern-haunting, drinking, gambling, fighting, and all the con- comitants of idleness, were rife in the community ; and though there is still much room for improvement, yet, ex- cept among the very dregs of the people, there is not a tithe of those debasing vices abounding among us. Probably, we may have discarded some of the virtues of our puritanic grandfathers, yet, on the whole, there is a decided improve- ment in society.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL HOUSES.
The first notice of a school on record, in the town of Lei- cester, is 1731, when the town voted " to provide a school master to read and write, to be kept three months in three . parts of the town." The next year there was no school, and the town was presented at the quarter sessions for the neg-
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lect. The first school house was built in 1736, but probably there was no school kept in it, for the next year the town was again presented for want of a school. This school house was 20 feet long and 16 feet wide, and 6 1-2 feet between the floors, and was set near the present meeting house. In 1738 they probably avoided an indictment, as the records say " Joshua Nichols was allowed £2 11s. 8d. for keeping school ten days and for answering for school master last summer." In 1740, the town was again indicted for the same neglect, and paid £4. 12s. as costs of court.
The population of the westerly part of the town (Spencer) then probably contained between 200 and 300 persons, and although they were taxed and paid their proportion of all town charges, yet no provision had been made for a school there." The reason probably was, that the population was so sparse, that a school would be of very little benefit. In 1741, the inhabitants of the westerly part petitioned to be exempted from paying taxes for schools and the minister, but their petition was denied. This state of things contin- ued until 1748, when the town "voted to have 10 weeks schooling in the West Precinct." For three years there was no further provision made by the town for schools there, when in 1751, three schools were established in that part of the town, " to be kept six weeks, and to be removed twice." Thus far Leicester and Spencer were one town, acting to- gether.
In 1753, when Spencer was incorporated as a town, and could act independently, no provision was made for schools for two years. 1755, sixteen pounds, and 1756, twenty pounds, was raised for schools, which appear to be mere pit-
The taxes derived from this part of the town were considerable, as all the lands (20,000 acres), whether belonging to the original proprietors or others, together with the polls and personal property of the settlers, were assessed, and the taxes received therefrom paid into the general town trea- sury.
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tances, but perhaps was as much as the town was able to raise at that time. This year, an article in the warrant at the annual town meeting was, to see if the town would build one or more school houses, but the vote was in the negative." 1757, a school was kept nine months. 1761, a school was kept ten months, by three school masters. 1766, the town was divided into six districts, and the next year a school was kept in each district, in private houses. 1768, it was voted to build a school house in each district, but this vote was complied with only in part, as the districts were found to be inconveniently large for the accommodation of the scholars, and a new division of the town was made, consti- tuting ten districts. 1786, a school house in each district was ordered to be built, but this last order was not fully complied with for some years, as the town had but just come out of the revolution, and was too poor to furnish comfortable dwellings for their own families, schools in the meantime being kept in private families in some of the districts, until about 1790. For several years previous to 1805, the sum of 500 dollars annually was raised and appropriated for the support of schools. Since that period, not less than 600 dollars, often 700 or 800 dollars, has been annually raised for the same object, and in 1837, 38 and 39, one thousand dollars, next 1200 dollars, and for several years past 1500 dollars has been raised for common schools, and 600 dollars for the high school. 1860, the sum of 1800 dollars for district schools and 600 dollars for high school was raised ; add to this the town's proportion of the State school fund and their interest money amounting to about 200 dollars.
In 1857, the town caused to be built a large and commo- dious building for the accommodation of the high school. The building is two stories in height, elegantly finished, with cupola and bell, the lower story fitted for the use of the
* At the same meeting, " voted to provide stocks, as the law directs."
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school, and the upper for a hall, called " Denny Hall," in honor of Mr. Charles E. Denny, who generously be- queathed the sum of two thousand dollars, to be appropri- ated towards that object.
1849, another school district was established, being taken mostly from district No. 9, the remainder from district No. 10, being No. 11, and all their limits were defined by geo- graphical lines, and stone monuments erected at their sev- eral angles.
ECCLESIASTICAL.
Before giving the ecclesiastical history of Spencer, it will be proper to commence with that of the town of Leicester, and give a sketch of the same until the westerly part became a separate precinct.
October 11, 1716, the proprietors of the town voted, " that as soon as twenty five families are settled within the township of Leicester, the proprietors, as an encouragement to the settlement of religion among them, will advance and give the sum of forty pound money for and towards the building a meeting house." 1719, the house was partly built, and the next year, July 21, William Dudley, Esq., in behalf of the settlers, presented a petition to the Legislature, praying that a vote of the town, raising money for finishing the meeting house, might be ratified. This house was small, and never completely finished, but was the only house of worship for the congregational society until 1784, when the present house was built. The old church stood on the com- mon, a little south of the present house.
The first minister was the Rev. David Parsons. He had been settled in Malden, and had been lately dismissed, and several of his people had removed to Leicester. These being
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leading men of the town, it was probably by their influence that application was made to Mr. Parsons to become their minister. He was installed September 15, 1721. The con- nexion proved to be an unhappy one, both for minister and people. Although the settlement and dismission of Mr. Parsons took place so many years since, that it may be thought to have lost all interest with the present genera- tion, yet like many other matters of history, long since past away, many of the circumstances being of such an ex- traordinary and unusual character, it may justify a more particular detail than would otherwise have been given.
It is not known when the congregational church was formed, as the ancient church records are lost ; but Governor Washburn, in his History of Leicester, supposes it must have been as early as the first organization of the town, and it must have been prior to the settlement of a minister.
The following letters from the people of Leicester to Mr. Parsons are inserted, not because they are absolutely neces- sary in giving a history of the case, but as a curiosity, show- ing the style, the cant and abject servility that, in those days, were felt and used towards a minister. Such language in these republican times, would not be tolerated, but scout- ed and frowned into oblivion. The first is probably what in ecclesiastical matters would be termed the " call."
" Rev'd Sir,
" After our humble duty to you, These we write in behalf of the town of Leicester, are to give you a true and exact account of our proceedings in our last town meeting with re- spect to yourself. Sir, we are not a little sensible of the Blessing, which we may receive from God, by your Labors amongst us in the work of the ministry, if God in his provi- dence should remove you from your uneasiness and difficulty, when you are to settle among us ; we hope God will stir up the hearts of his people here, to be studying and endeavor-
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ing your comfort and happiness, so as we may be a Blessing to you, and you a Blessing to us, which we heartily wish and pray for. Rev'd Sir, we with one heart and Consent Do call and Invite you to be our Minister, in the Work of the Gospel amongst us, if you see Cause to accept and see your way clear to remove ; but alas if we reflect back upon ourselves, we cant but see we are utterly unworthy of so great a Bless- ing, but if you have such a Blessing to bestow on us, as we hope you will be, We desire forever to praise his name for his Goodness to us ward. And sir, we heartily wish that we were in a better Capacity than at present we are, to allow a Minister a better salary, than at present we can; but this we hope we can say, so far as we are able, we shall be hearty in, and more especially to such a one as yourself. And so we pray God to direct you for the best, after begging a share in your prayers for us. We subscribe your humble servants to command.
Leicester, November 30th, 1720.
Thomas Newhall, Ralf Earle,
William Brown, Daniel Denny,
James Southgate, Nath'l Richardson.
Reverend Sir. This is the substance of what was acted at our meeting, and with the greatest love and least opposition as could be imagined. The town act is as followeth.
" Nov. 28th, at a Town Meeting legally warned, Mr. Na- thaniel Richardson Moderator, Voted, that Mr. David Par- sons be our Gospel Minister. Voted, that Mr. Parsons have the forty acre lot next the Meetinghouse, and the rights in quantity and quality, as other forty acre lots drawn in after division. Voted, Mr. Parsons have sixty pounds settlement. Voted, that Mr. Parsons have sixty pounds a year salary."
Mr. Parsons, after receiving this call, hesitated or declined giving a decisive answer, when the following letter was ad- dressed to him.
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" Rev'd Sir. After humble duty to you, These are to in- form you that we have received a Letter from yourself which gives us great encouragement, that we may obtain you to settle among us, in order to preach the Gospel among us, which gives us great encouragement to raise to larger offers as follows. We the subscribers have thought fit to raise our former offers as you have had an account of by us : We do oblige ourselves to make your settlement one hundred pounds, and to add to your salary fifteen pounds, which makes seventy-five pounds. We do humbly beg a brief and speedy relief under the difficulties, which we have labored under a long time. Your humble servants.
Leicester, January the 13th, 1720-21.
Samuel Green,
Thomas Richardson,
Richard Southgate,
Joshua Nichols,
Samuel Stebbings,
John Peters,
John Smith,
William Green,
William Brown,
John Smith,
Nath'l Richardson,
John Burton,
Hezekiah Rus,
Peter Carlisle,
John Lynde,
Daniel Denny,
James Southgate,
John Smith, Jun.,
William Keen,
Thomas Smith,
Bartholomew Curtis,
James Smith,
James Wilson,
Aaron Bell,
Thomas Wascoot,
Adam Taler,
Samuel Thomas,
Joseph Stebbings, Oliver Watson,
Joshua Barton."
Mr. Parsons was personally known to some of the signers of the last letter ; they had a very high opinion of his char- acter and qualifications for the ministerial office, and were very desirous to obtain him. He had declined the offer of the town, which was 60 pounds settlement and 60 pounds salary. Thirty individuals, then voluntarily agreed to make the settlement 100 pounds and the salary 75 pounds. This
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was accepted, and he was removed to Leicester at the ex- pense of the town, and installed, as before stated, Septem- ber 15, 1721, the town having finally acted on the matter, March 30, 1721.
For a time, peace and harmony appear to have prevailed between minister and people, but difficulties soon arose. The people neglected, or what is more probable, were unable, to pay his salary punctually, and then instead of the " blessing" which they so " heartily wished and prayed for," they found they had caught a tartar.
How long this mutual satisfaction between minister and people remained, is not now known, but in 1728, Mr. Par- sons commenced a suit at the civil law for the arrears of his salary, and not satisfied with that, he actually procured an indictment at the quarter sessions at Cambridge, for this neg- lect. This hasty movement produced great irritation with his people. After considerable altercation, a town meeting was called January 2, 1728-29, " to see if the town would raise Mr. Parsons' salary, or otherwise, to see if they were willing he should leave the town." " Voted, that we are willing he should leave the town, but shall not raise his salary.'' Mr. Parsons again applied to the law for redress, and for the arrears of his salary which the town voted not to raise. The town contested his claim, but the court not only sus- tained his demand, but amerced the town in a fine for their neglect, and ordered executions to be issued.
Having failed at the Judicial Courts, the town next ap- plied to the General Court, in a petition, presented Februa- ry 26, 1731, " complaining of great irregularities and ill conduct in their minister, Mr. David Parsons, for which the town have voted to dismiss him ; notwithstanding which the petitioners have been fined for not assessing his salary ; praying for relief." The court ordered the petitioners to notify Mr. Parsons to appear at the session in May, to at- tend to the petition, " and that execution be stayed in the
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mean time." At the session in May, the parties met, and after hearing the answer of Mr. Parsons, the petition was dismissed. A large majority of the congregation and church moved together in all these proceedings ; they had voted his dismission, and chose a committee to supply the pulpit, and being thus foiled in all their attempts to depose their minister, and avoid the payment of his salary, they not only had two or three years salary to pay on execution, but a fine and a heavy bill of cost. This was a sad disappoint- ment. Although foiled, they were not discouraged, but de- termined to persevere until they attained their object, and at the same session of the General Court, they presented another petition for relief. June 23, 1731, the General Court say, " Whereas, the differences that have arisen be- tween the Rev. Mr. Parsons, Pastor of the Church at Leices- ter, and a great number (if not a majority) of the brethren of said church and inhabitants of said town have been of long continuance, and proceeded to such a degree as greatly to prejudice the interests and destroy the ends of the Gospel Ministry, the breach between them appearing to be incura- ble, and so as to leave no hope that Mr. Parsons' Ministry may be serviceable, at least to a great part of the people, and whereas, application is made in the name of said town and church of Leicester, to the General Court, for relief in the premises ; Resolved and ordered, that all such of the inhabi- tants of the said town of Leicester, who conscienciously dis- sent from Mr. Parsons' Ministry, respecting points either of doctrine or discipline, alleging scruples of conscience as the grounds of their refusal to attend thereon, and do in the space of six months next ensuing, signify the same in writing, under their hands, to Joseph Wilder, Esq., (who is appointed by this court to take a subscription of their hands accordingly,) as also, that they are willing and desirous to uphold and maintain the public worship of God and Gospel order, that then and from thenceforth, all such persons so
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