USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Westminster > History of Westminster, Massachusetts (first named Narragansett no. 2) from the date of the original grant of the township to the present time, 1728-1893, with a biographic-genealogical register of its principal families > Part 56
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115
"We should run over the story of the fathers in order that their fidelity to great principles and to the public welfare may stimulate us to active efforts in the same behalf and our children after us to many generations. We should linger around the cradle of our country's independence to-day, in order to catch an inspiration wherewith we may be enabled to help justify to posterity and to all mankind the deeds that they wrought, -deeds which startled the world by their novelty and daring, and which we profess to hold in grateful remembrance. Taking the heritage of the fathers, we should cherish it as a sacred trust, guarding and using it well, and, in our turn and time, pass it on to those coming after us, not simply unimpaired, but en- riched and ennobled by our own contributions of wisdom, virtue, and sacri- fice, disinterestedly given to it."
460
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
After noting somewhat at length the material resources of the country and their wonderful development during the cen- tury past and gone,- after delineating the marvelous advances that had been made during the same period in the multiform arts and appliances characteristic of a high state of civilization, to which she had so largely contributed, -after paying respectful and grateful homage to those institutions of learning which she had made so essential to her existence and perpetuity, and to the type of domestic life so vital to virtue and piety, and to the public and private well-being, illustrated in the American home, the address proceeded to sketch the history of the Republic from the beginning, with special reference to that anomoly in her experience, - that crime against God and humanity, which had vitiated her entire social and civil polity and brought her at length to the verge of dissolution, - CHATTEL SLAVERY. Tracing briefly the workings of the system of American bond- age through the swiftly passing years to its final issue and over- throw in the great Rebellion of 1861-1865, it pictured an emancipated nation and a Republic glorified by an act of justice on the part of its chief executive, upon which he invoked "the considerate judgment of mankind and the gracious favor of Almighty God." It then went on to set forth and enforce the essential conditions of prosperity and happiness under free in- stitutions, under a government "of the people, for the people, and by the people," and to point out still prevailing evils which threatened the common welfare and the national existence, and to utter earnest and solemn warnings against them. Yet were the warnings mingled with words of encouragement and hope, as a brief passage near the close of the address will show :
"But I am no prophet of despair. I believe in the Republic. I believe it has a future. I believe that the greatness and glory of it in the past are but a faint symbol of the greatness and glory of it to be revealed in some sure-coming, better hereafter. I hint at the dangers that beset the ship of state, not as a bearer of bad tidings or herald of approaching doom, but as a faithful monitor, to the end that they may be seen and averted, and that she, 'staunch and strong, a goodly vessel,' may ride triumphantly on the billows of yet untried seas to the end of time. Not by blind indifference to threatening ills, not by denying their existence or under-estimating their deleterious power, do we make the future sure to our great inheritance, but by duly recognizing and confronting them, by heroically grappling with them, overcoming them and putting them forever away. Nor is the same exalted end secured by any arts of magic or cunningly devised policies, nor by the manipulations of partisan jugglers or self-seeking demagogues, but by pure and lofty statesmanship, by steadfast devotion to just principles, by integrity and honor in private and public life, by renewed characters and exalted aims everywhere prevailing, 'by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.'"
The address was followed by a poem prepared for the occa- sion and read by Mrs. Sarah H. Whitman, and by miscellaneous speaking. Sentiments were offered and duly responded to, and music, vocal and instrumental, gave additional interest and in-
461
ANNIVERSARY OF SETTLEMENT.
spiration to an occasion characterized by a patriotic purpose and devotion to the welfare of the Republic.
The Sesqui-Centennial. At the annual March meeting in 1887, a proposition contemplating the formal observance' of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of the town was submitted for the consideration of the citizens and for such disposal as they might deem advisable. The pro- ject met with general favor and it was voted "to celebrate the event in an appropriate manner" on "the Wednesday nearest the 20th of June," which would be the 22d - the exact date of the arrival of the first comers here not being determined. A committee of arrangements, of which Artemas Merriam was Chairman, was chosen to carry into effect the action of the town.
This committee attended faithfully to the duty assigned them, their plans and labors being seconded by the cordial co- operation of the people at large. Cards of invitation were sent far and wide to sons and daughters of Westminster and to lead- ing citizens of neighboring towns, soliciting their participation in the proposed festivities. Well devised and ample prepara- tions were made for the occasion. Imposing arches of ever- green were erected over Main Street-one a few rods west of the hotel, the other a little below the Soldiers' monument - on which were words of welcome and congratulation. There was a liberal display of flags, bunting, and other emblems of a festive and patriotic character. A generous hospitality was proffered to all who might accept the invitation to be present, and everything was done that could reasonably have been ex- pected to suit the occasion to the purpose for which it was de- signed, to make it pleasant to all taking part in it, and worthy of remembrance.
The day, however, did not prove as favorable as had been hoped, the threatening aspect of the weather, with frequent dashes of rain, limiting the attendance and interfering with some of the proposed outdoor demonstrations. Nevertheless, a large audience gathered at ten o'clock in the Congregational Church, where the proposed programme of exercises was to be carried out. Artemas Merriam had been appointed president of the day and J. Hervey Miller, chief marshal, with numerous assistants. The services began and went forward in the follow- ing order, to wit :
I. Music by the Fitchburg band.
2. Prayer by the chaplain, Rev. Charles M. Palmer.
3. Address of welcome by the president of the day.
4. Song of greeting, written by Sarah B. Whitney and sung by the united choirs of the town.
5. Historical address by Rev. Wm. S. Heywood of Boston.
6. Song, "Vive l'America" by Mrs. F. P. Whitney of Bos- ton, a native of the town.
462
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
The address was of the nature indicated by its title, " Mosa- ics of Westminster History," and could not be reproduced in these pages without repeating much that has been more appro- priately presented in other connections. It opened with a fitting commendatory allusion to the founding of New England and to those participating in that notable and heroic achievement, and proceeded thence to a hasty review of the causes which led to the settlement of the town and the circumstances connected with that event, including a brief sketch of the two first comers here, Fairbanks Moor and Joseph Holden, with some notice of their families. It went on from that point to the presentation of numerous retrospective pictures or descriptive reports of in- cidents and events, somewhat desultory and unrelated, that had transpired during the period of one hundred and fifty years, avoiding so far as possible the ground so well covered by Mr. Hudson in his "Centennial Oration," and yet holding the line of thought and expression true to the spirit and purpose of the occasion. The whole concluded with some general reflections upon the character and moral quality of the inhabitants of West- minster from the beginning, upon the worthy work done at home or in other places by her sons and daughters in various fields of useful service, and upon the desirability and importance of so using the blessings received from past generations as that they should be transmitted, not simply unimpaired, but freighted with new power of good and happiness to generations yet to come.
At the close of the services in the church, a procession was formed under the direction of the chief marshal, which moved directly, without lengthening its march as had been proposed through the several parts of the village, to a spacious tent pitched on the open grounds lying west of the hotel. The order of advance was as follows: 1. Chief Marshal; 2. Fitchburg Band, with appropriate music; 3. Westminster fire company ; 4. President of the day, Orator, Chaplain, etc .; 5. Committee of arrangements and Clergy ; 6. Town officers and invited guests; 7. Representatives of the press; 8. Combined choirs ; 9. Aged persons; 10. Citizens at large, etc.
The exercises at the tent were: I. Thanks and Invocation ; 2. Dinner ; 3. Poem by Hon. John M. Moore of Gardner; 4. Sentiment-Our relations with Westminster; 5. Responses as follows : Maj. F. D. Fosdick, Fitchburg; William P. Ellis, Ashburnham; Hamilton Mayo, Esq., Leominster; W. H. Howe, Hubbardston; John D. Edgell, Esq., and Charles F. Read, Gardner; Dea. Joshua T. Everett, Princeton. These exercises were interspersed with music by the band, singing by Mrs. F. P. Whitney, reading of letters from Levi Miller of Antwerp, N. Y., George Wood of Jamestown, N. Y., and others; the whole concluding with an anniversary hymn pre- pared for the occasion by Mrs. Anna Curtis Roper, and sung by
463
THE SESQUI-CENTENNIAL -CONCLUDED.
the united assemblage to the familiar tune of "Auld Lang Syne."
The afternoon, to the delight of all concerned, proved more pleasant and agreeable than the morning promised. The sun broke through and mostly dispelled the clouds before its hours were far spent, enabling large numbers of people from the out- lying and neighboring districts, who had been deterred by the threatening aspect of the weather from putting in an earlier appearance, to come and share the pleasures and privileges of the latter part of the day. The tent and streets were now thronged, and everything betokened a gala day indeed-an occasion of unusual interest and importance in the history of the town. At five o'clock the band gave an out-door concert, filling the air with strains of delightful music and lending en- chantment to the afternoon's declining hours. The celebration closed with a highly satisfactory display of fireworks on the Common in the evening.
CHAPTER XXII.
A BUDGET OF MISCELLANIES.
ITEMS, MORE OR LESS IMPORTANT, HITHERTO UNNOTICED - TALES OF "YE OLDEN TIME."
IN order to make the survey contemplated in this volume as complete and satisfactory as possible, it is necessary to note certain items of historical significance or of general public interest, either not mentioned or but casually alluded to in the preceding pages, and to these the present chapter is particu- larly devoted. They are heterogeneous in nature and in char- acter, having, with few exceptions, little in common, and hence are incapable of classification or methodical arrangement. They are therefore offered to the reader in that desultory, promiscuous order of succession which their dissimilarity ren- ders imperative.
Vocal and Instrumental Music. There seems to have existed in the community from the beginning a very consider- able amount of native musical talent, and much attention, under both public and private auspices, has been given from time to time to its cultivation and use. The town, as the guardian of the religious interests of the people, made provision at an early date for the orderly conduct of the service of song in the established exercises of the house of worship, choosing com- petent leaders, or "moderlators of the psalm," as they were called, determining what books should be used, etc., and also, in due season, providing means and methods for instruction in this important department of a complete education.
On the 22d of October, 1789, soon after the second meeting- house was built, the citizens "voted and granted £2 Ss. for a Singing School this winter " and "chose Joseph Holden, Lieut. Hoar, and Isaac Williams a committee to agree with the mas- ter." The same sum was voted the following year and a corre- sponding committee was appointed, and this became the fixed policy of the town for about thirty years; the appropriation gradually increasing in amount, however, till it reached its maximum, $30, in 1808. The first teacher of music here, as far as known, was Abel Wood, who was employed for several years and was succeeed by Cyrus Winship, a long-time incum- bent of that position. Others serving in the same capacity under town direction were a Mr. Ichabod Johnson, Luke Bige- low, and Ezra Wood. Later workers in the same field were
MRS. FRED P. WHITNEY,
W. P. ALLEN, GARDNER, MASS.
465
MUSICAL ABILITY, CULTURE, AND ACHIEVEMENT.
Abel Wood, 2d, George F. Miller, noted as a teacher of children, Jonathan Farnsworth, Charles Upton, etc.
The " choir" connected with the town church in the early part of the century attained a wide reputation, not only for its size, numbering at times thirty or forty persons, but for the excel- lence of its performances. It had no superior, and perhaps no equal, in the north part of Worcester County, and its renderings on important public occasions were exceedingly attractive and meritorious, receiving many encomiums both from the general public and from experts in such matters. The same praise- worthy qualities have characterized to a greater or less extent its lineal successor, the choir of the First Parish, under the efficient leadership of George F. Miller, Harrison G. Whitney, and others.
The choirs of the other societies have also had a good name in the community, and at times have risen to a high standard of proficiency in the divine art of sacred song.
Subsequently to the date of the disintegration of the town church, the responsibility of maintaining musical culture among the people has devolved largely upon the several religious soci- eties resulting therefrom,- a trust which they have discharged with a commendable degree of liberality, fidelity, and efficiency. Recently, however, singing has been introduced into the public schools, where it had been incidentally practiced for many years, as a part of the regular course of study,-an innovation worthy of public approval and support, and destined, no doubt, to uni- versal adoption.
Among the families in which the musical faculty has seemed to be indigenous and easy of manifestation, rising to reputable prominence under different forms of expression, may be men- tioned those of Winship, Wood, Bigelow, Miller, Barnes, Ken- dall, Merriam, Cutting, and Minott, while many individuals of other names have evinced much more than ordinary talent of the same sort. Two women, one a native and the other an adopted daughter of the town, Mrs. Mary (Merriam) Whitney, now of Boston, and Mrs. Jennie (Twichell) Kempton of Chicago, have acquired distinction and honor by their richly endowed and highly cultivated gift of song. Of their musical character and career further notice will be taken in the genealogical de- partment of this work.
Some fifty years ago a brass band was organized by a body of musically-inclined young men, and for many years main- tained its place among the recognized institutions of the com- munity. Under the leadership of Reuben W. Twichell, an ac- complished master of his art, it rose to something of distinction for its fine appearance, its temperance principles, and the su- periority of its achievements. It was regarded with honorable pride at home, and much sought for abroad on important festive and commemorative public occasions, when it elicited universal
30
466
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
commendation and reflected honor upon itself and upon the town to which it belonged.
A second band was organized in the year 1876, chiefly through the efforts of John G. F. Urban, a German townsman of much musical ability, who became its leader. It consisted of sixteen pieces, and proved itself capable of good service, but had an ex- istence of only a few years.
An event of great interest to those immediately concerned, and many others, was the introduction of the first piano into the town, about the year 1837. Rarely has there been such curi- osity awakened among the people and such eager desire for its gratification, as the advent of this wonderful instrument occa- sioned, and great numbers came from all directions to see it and to hear the enchanting strains that, under the skilful touch of its mistress, Miss Maria Whitman, it could be made to pro- duce. It was from the manufactory of Woodward & Brown, Boston, and can still be seen at the home of Mrs Jerome Whit- man, sister-in-law of the original owner.
Long Public Service. The longest term of public ser- vice on the part of any officer of the town during its entire his- tory, was that of Edward Kendall, Esq., who was elected clerk for thirty-two consecutive years, beginning in 1814 and ending with 1845. At the annual meeting of 1846, the infirmities of age reminding him that the time had come when he should give way to a younger man, he caused the following communication to be read to his assembled fellow-citizens, to wit :
"To the voters of the town of Westminster. Gentlemen: In taking leave of the office of Town Clerk [by an election] to which you have for so many successive years honored me. I deem it my duty to lay before you a brief statement of my doings. The close of the present municipal year will number 32 years during which I have held the office. In that time I have made record of 1302 births, 484 deaths. and 408 marriages returned by the proper authorities: published the bans of marriage between 601 couples. Of this number, three cases only occurred where the proceedings were for- bidden. I have made record of 1381 pages of proceedings in town meeting and other business pertaining to the office - an average of 43 pages and a fraction per year. I have been absent five town meetings only since I held the office. four of which occurred by ill health the past fall.
" All of which is respectfully submitted,
"Westminster. Feb. 11. 1846
EDWARD KENDALL."
Death of Town Clerk. The immediate successor of the preceding in office was his son George, who was chosen to the position for ten years in regular succession, but whose semi- tragic death on the day of his last election terminated his time of service and all his earthly labors. The sad event calls for a brief notice here.
On the morning of the annual town meeting, March 5, 1855, Mr. Kendall was in his official place and attended to the duties devolving upon him, among other things taking the oath of clerk for a faithful discharge of its various trusts the coming
467
SADLY MEMORABLE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING.
year. Though apparently in his usual health, he yet did not feel quite well when the session closed, but hoped the rest of an hour would bring relief, which it failed to do. He, however, returned after dinner to his work, but finding himself growing rapidly worse, left the hall, sending word to the moderator, his brother Edward, to have a clerk pro tem chosen for the remain- der of the day. Accompanied by friends he went directly home, scarcely arriving there before breathing his last. Not more than half an hour elapsed after he was seen to go out of the meeting before word came back that he was dead, and announce- ment was made accordingly. The shock to the audience was indescribable. Every one in the hall rose to his feet in aston- ishment and grief. An adjournment was made immediately, and the concourse of citizens, after getting what facts were available in the case and exchanging expressions of regret and sorrow, departed to their respective homes weighed down with a profound sense of public and personal bereavement. For Mr. Kendall was deservedly one of the most respected and beloved, as he was one of the most honored, men in town. His funeral, occurring three days later in the church of the First Parish, was attended by a vast assemblage of people coming from near and far to testify to their regard for him, to mourn with his more immediate friends and relatives, and to have confirmed in their minds and hearts the memory of a well-balanced and a well-spent life.
Bans of Marriage. The early method of making known the intentions of parties proposing marriage was by pub- lic announcement on the part of the town clerk at the close of the regular service of worship on Sunday; the audience, in which nearly every family was represented, waiting in silent expectation and eager curiosity for the voice of that official, after the benediction was pronounced. The information thus communicated was also inscribed upon the public records. This custom continued some years into the present century, when it was superseded by that of having the clerk's certificate of the fact in each case posted in a box prepared for the purpose and affixed to the meetinghouse or otherwise conspicuously located. According to either method the time of publication must include three successive Sundays before the intended union could be legally consummated. The present more simple plan has been in vogue about half a century.
Obsolete Offices. In the earlier days of the town's exist- ence there were several posts of duty or places of trust in the public service that are entirely unknown to modern municipal life. Among these were "Sealers of leather," "Surveyors of wheat and flour." Weighers of corn," "Searchers and Packers of pork and beef"; the special duties of each of which are sufficiently indicated by the names they bear respectively. The "Deer-reeve" was charged with the responsibility of preserving
468
HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
as far as possible the few deer that were still found in these parts, and of making complaint against, and bringing to justice, persons guilty of illegally killing them. The "Hog-reeve" was chosen to look after swine that were permitted to run at large, either by vote of the town or otherwise, and restrain them when likely to do mischief, or report them to their owners.
The most important and conspicuous of these officials of a by-gone age was the "Tithingman," whose duty it was to pre- serve order in the church during the hours of worship, to make complaint of unbecoming conduct in or about the meetinghouse, and to enforce the respectful observance of the Sabbath day. With sharp and tireless eye he would watch the Sunday congre- gation, and perchance discovering some playful boy or girl indulging in mischievous pranks, or some adult, overcome by weariness or the soporific influence of the preacher's voice, lost in slumber, would glide stealthily along the aisle to the pew in which the offender sat and, by a more or less gentle rap with his long, slender staff, remind the often unsuspecting one of his misbehavior and of the conduct befitting the hour and place. The office degenerated at length into a mere form or farce, and in 1837 was brought to a perpetual end.
It is not easy to determine at this day the precise nature and extent of the duties pertaining to the office of "Warden" in the olden time. From incidental allusions to him and to his work, however, he seems to have been a sort of moral policeman, whose business it was to look after the general welfare of the commun- ity, with especial reference to the condition and care of the poor before the time when a special board of "Overseers " had their interests in charge. The last of the name was chosen in 1790.
Vaccination for Smallpox. On the 13th of Septem- ber, 1792, Dr. Daniel Bartlett, then a practicing physician in town, asked his fellow-citizens for "leave to Build a Hospital and Enoculate such persons as Shall apply to him to have the Small Pox, he indemnifying the Town for any Damage that shall be Sustained by the Spreading of the Said Small Pox." The town, doubting probably the efficacy of the proposed rem- edy for the loathsome disease, or at least the Doctor's ability to make good any damage that might ensue from his experi- mentation in that direction, voted "not to admit of an hospital for the inoculation of the small pox." Nine years later, in May, 1801, a similar request received a similar refusal.
A great change, however, soon after came over the community at large in regard to the utility of the contemplated practice, arising from extensive experience both in this country and on foreign shores, and when the matter was brought before the citi- zens again, March 5, 1810, in the following form : "To see if the Town will pass a vote obliging the inhabitants to have the kine pock innoculation," it met with general favor, a committee being chosen "to Devise the Best plan for giving the kine pox to the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.