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 57
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SANITARY PROPOSITIONS - PROTECTION TO FARMERS.
inhabitants," etc. The committee in due time made a satis- factory report, pursuant to which another committee, consisting of Timothy Heywood, Jonas Whitney, Esq., and Ezra Holden, was chosen to superintend the matter of vaccination, whereby it was honored with the sanction of popular approbation. This action led to the voluntary adoption of the practice by the greater part of the population many years before it was made compulsory by the statutes of the Commonwealth.
Bathing Troughs. A curious specimen of attempted legislation on the part of the town in the interest of the public health appeared in the year 1818, as shown by an article in the warrant calling a legal meeting on the 2d of November. It was in the form of a proposition "To see if the town will pro- cure eight bathing troughs suitable for warm bathing in case of sickness to be located one in each school district." The town, not convinced of the utility or wisdom of the innovation, "voted and dismised the article." To whom the public was indebted for this endeavor to enlarge and improve the prevail- ing practice of the medical profession and introduce new methods into the popular treatment of disease does not appear. Whoever he may have been, he was but the forerunner of a somewhat notable school of therapeutics of a later day, or the suggester of a mode of treatment which has since done much to modify and humanize the healing art in all quarters of the globe.
Bounty on Crows. The crow (corvus Americanus ) has been regarded by the New England farmer from time imme- morial a pernicious bird, worthy only of extermination. His music is in no sense " a concord of sweet sounds," and his dep- redations in the springtime are many and unpardonable. Hence every sportsman has deemed him lawful prey, and every tiller of the soil counted the killing of one a gain to his craft and a blessing to the community. So our fathers felt, and, un- der the influence of that feeling, offered bounties for his de- struction. In 1790 one of two pence was voted in town meet- ing "to any persons who shall kill crows within the limits of this town in the months of April and May." At a later date the sum was increased to one shilling, and finally to twenty cents per head. Under this stimulus considerable numbers of them were annually destroyed, and certain persons acquired quite a reputation for skill in this field of public service. Ben- jamin Howard was paid at one time "for killing eleven crows $2.20," and William Sawin "sixteen crows, $3.20." Neverthe- less, it is to be questioned whether, after all, this hostility to the crow is well founded; whether he is not more the friend than the enemy of the agriculturist; whether his services, in de- vouring noxious insects, grubs, and worms ; in destroying mice, moles, lizards, and other pests of the field, do not far over- balance his mischiefs and depredations. So ornithologists and optimists at the present day are inclined to believe.
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
Slavery. There were at least eight persons in town during the early period of its history, who, under the laws of the Prov- ince, claimed to have property in their fellow human beings. These were Justinian Holden, Michael Brigden, Reuben Miles, James Cohee, Daniel Hoar, Thomas Brigden, and Sarah Blanchard, who had one slave each ; also John Headley who had two, and who at his death manumitted them by will as provided in the following extract from that document, to wit : "Imprimis, It is my will and pleasure that my negro servants, namely, Prince and Rose his wife at my Decease shall have their Free- dom and not be slaves to any man & shall have of my provision a suitable quantity for their support until ye season come that they can raise provisions for themselves and to have ye bed that they commonly lye upon & suitable covering for ye same. And in case of Sickness or Infirmity, that my Exr shall make proper provision for them." What became of the others has not been ascertained. It appears, however, from the Massachu- setts archives, that five Negroes were in the army from West- minster in 1776, but they may not all have been slaves. If any still remained in bondage in 1780, they were emancipated by virtue of a clause in the Bill of Rights prefixed to the State Constitution.
Great Mortality. In the year 1756 a fearful epidemic, the nature of which is unknown, prevailed to an alarming ex- tent, proving fatal in a large number of cases, especially among children ; whole families of them, in some instances, being cut down in a brief period of time. A similar visitation afflicted the place eight years afterward, with similar disastrous conse- quences. The disease in this case is understood to have been scarlatina or canker-rash. Nathan Whitney, who lost three children, all he had, in the first-named year, was equally bereft by the death of four in 1764.
A scarcely less fatal scourge swept over the town in the year 1800, when, according to carefully kept private records to which the writer has had access, forty of the forty-eight deaths in town were of children of a very tender age. The average annual mortality about that date was only some twenty or twenty-five persons. In the year 1849 fifty-six persons are recorded as having passed away, twice the usual number, more than forty per cent. of whom were but a few years old.
Floods. The town has suffered at different dates by an overflow of water in the springtime of the year, whereby much damage was done to roads and bridges and much injury or de- struction to other property, both public and private. In the early season of 1801 a disaster of this sort occurred, in conse- quence of which a special appropriation of money was asked of the town to meet the exigency and relieve the sufferers. The circumstances attending this case are not known. In May, 1850, the giving way of a dam in Ashburnham, by reason of an
471
CHANGES IN OWNERSHIP OF LANDS.
unusual fall of rain, caused an unprecedented rise of the waters of Phillips Brook in the north part of the town, which resulted in the demolition of Allen B. Wood's saw- and gristmill, and the washing out in many places of the road running alongside the stream in that neighborhood. In view of this fact a special town meeting was held, at which it was voted "to authorize the Treasurer to borrow what money may be necessary to repair the road."
Permanent Estates. Only a very small number of home- steads remain in possession of the families of those first settling upon them. More than ninety per cent. of them have changed owners, and the majority of these several times. It is believed that the only ones to which the same name is attached as at the beginning, are those now occupied, wholly or in part, by Calvin Whitney, Oliver M. Merriam, John F. Sawin, Susan Derby, Charles F. Knower, Widow Joel Newton, John Minott, Thomas Damon, Widow Alexander Bigelow, Edward C. Esta- brook, Charles H. Dupee, Anson and Hiram Ray, and James H. Laws. A few other places are in the hands of descendants of the first occupants of them, though by marriage the name differs from the original one. Such is the case with the Win- ship farm on Prospect Hill, now in possession of Mrs. Maria (Winship) Comee of Boston; the Seaver farm in the south part of the town, first located upon by Daniel Walker, the great- great-grandfather of the recent occupant; and possibly others, not known to the writer.
The Governor's Farm. It may interest those who call to mind the fact that, at the first division of the lands of the township, a tract of 500 acres, spoken of on page 56, and de- scribed on page 61, was set apart and assigned to Jonathan Belcher, then Governor of the Province, to know what use it was put to by His Excellency, and how it passed from his pos- session to that of the subsequent settlers upon it. It has been supposed and publicly stated that "the Governor built a man- sion on the lot and spent a part of his time there." There is no historical evidence that such was the case. The property seems to have passed by gift or otherwise from the possession of the first owner to that of his son, Andrew Belcher, who, in March, 1750, sold the entire territory, unimproved and unoccu- pied, to Benjamin Houghton of Lancaster. The latter, in turn, conveyed it to his son Ezra, by whom it was divided into lots, and disposed of to Nathaniel Houghton, Lemuel Houghton, Jonathan Sawin, Andrew Derby, Jr., and Reuben Miles, the latter purchasing 340 acres of it. From these parties it passed to the subsequent proprietors, Daniel Adams, Abram Sampson, Asaph Rice, Elias Holden, Thomas Knower, Jonas and George Miles, etc.
Mineral Spring. Few residents of Westminster at the present day are aware that there formerly existed within the
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
borders of the town, a spring which was assumed to yield waters having valuable medicinal qualities, and which, at one time, had something of a reputation in the neighborhood as a fountain of healing for certain maladies to which mortal flesh is heir. Yet such was the case, and it seems to have been supposed by certain parties that on account of it the place might some day become a resort for diseased and feeble folk from a wide reach of country round about. It was sold in 1808, with a small lot of land around it, by Abner Holden to Ebenezer Sawin, the purchaser probably hoping to realize something of importance and value from it in the manner indicated. But all such antici- pations were vain, for the spring long since lost its reputation as a remedial agency, and has passed out of the sight as it has almost out of the memory of men. It was located a short distance south of the present residence of Charles A. Estabrook, near what was Grassy Pond. For some years it has been en- tirely submerged by the waters of the Wachusettville Reservoir.
Double Bowlder. On the northerly slope of Wachusett Mountain, in a pasture formerly owned by Dea. J. T. Everett. is a natural curiosity of considerable interest and importance, both on its own account and by reason of the geological inquir- ies and speculations to which it gives rise. It consists of two immense bowlders lying one upon the other, as shown in the ac- companying illustration, the upper one being so placed as to seem capable almost of being tilted to and fro by human power, making it a veritable rocking stone. It is too heavy and too firmly fixed in its position, however, for that. Each of these huge blocks of rock measures about six feet on a side, contain- ing therefore some two hundred cubic feet and weighing per- haps fifteen tons. The two, related as they are, constitute an object of curiosity to the common visitor as well as to the sci- entist, who sees in them tokens of those mighty agencies in nature by which, untold ages ago, they were brought from their native bed in the far away north and placed in their unique position high up on the mountain side, awakening the interest and wonder of many passing generations.
Alum Rock. Such is the name given to an abrupt ledge protruding from the earth to the height of eight or ten feet, in an open field near what is called Knower's Corner, in the south- erly part of the town. The moisture oozing slowly from its pores and fissures, or derived from the surrounding atmosphere, is strongly impregnated with the chemical salt indicated by its title. The rock is undoubtedly a form of argillaceous slate which is readily decomposed, and which gives to whatever it is brought in contact with, the sweet astringent taste always characteriz- ing the alum of commerce.
Personal Names. The history of Westminster illustrates the well known fact that the use of double names, as they are termed, is an invention or custom of very recent date. Up
W. P. ALLEN, GARDNER, MASS.
DOUBLE BOWLDER,
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ELECTRICAL SERVICE-PUBLIC PARK.
to the year 1800 but one person had settled in town who had more than one Christian name, and that was Jonathan Warren Smith. And in a tax list of two hundred and seventy persons, only two, Edward J. Locke and George W. Whitcomb, were distinguished by a middle name. Soon after that date the in- novation became a growing custom, increasing with the advance of time, until, at present, there are but few residents here, as is the case elsewhere, with a single Christian name.
Telegraph and Telephone. Telegraphic communica- tion with the outside world was secured many years ago through the instrumentality of the railroad corporation, an office access- ible to the public having been established at the station. More recently, through the agency of private parties, similar privi- leges are enjoyed by telephone, a transmitter having been put into the store of George W. Bruce at the Center, and also at the house of Mrs. Sarah P. Brown, Wachusett Lake.
Wachusett Park. In or about the year 1873 Simeon L. Bolton, who resided on the original Barnard place at the foot of Wachusett Mountain, conceived the idea of opening to the general public, for various purposes of a social and festive char- acter, during the warmer portion of the year, a section of the wooded territory skirting the western borders of the neighbor- ing pond. That conception ripened into a definite project which resulted in the early purchase of the land in view, and the proper clearing of it and fitting it up with conveniences and appliances suited to the end proposed. A hotel and open hall or pavilion were erected, with accompanying stables and out- buildings, and the locality soon gained a reputation for itself in all the region round about, as an attractive and desirable place of summer resort. Improvements have been made, new fea- tures of interest have been added, and new accommodations provided with the passing years, so that its use in its proper season is called into frequent requisition for pleasure parties, social reunions, and gatherings of various sort, including the "Old Folks' Picnic,"-the enjoyment and the benefit of which are greatly enhanced by the beauty of the situation and the glory of the surrounding world. Considerate attention and a large measure of liberty are accorded to visitors, and many are the days of the summer time made vocal and joyous with the converse, laughter, song, and speech of those who frequent this increasingly popular place of resort and recreation.
Anecdotes. A few stories of the olden time, in addition to those woven into the body of this work, have an interest, personal or otherwise, which makes them seem worthy of pres- ervation. Several of them pertain to experiences of one sort or another with wild beasts- wolves or bears-with which the inhabitants were more or less troubled for many years after the settlement took place. They are given under appropriate titles.
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
THE DISCONCERTED BEAR .- On a certain year the gar- den and barn yard of Josiah Wheeler, who lived on Bean Por- ridge Hill, were subject to occasional visits from a mischief- making bear -a denizen of the neighboring woods - who by his agility or cunning managed for some time to elude the search of the hunter bent on killing him. His approaches and depre- dations were usually in the night, when he could not be seen and followed to his hiding place, or shot. But at length, be- coming emboldened by hunger or immunity from attack, he essayed a marauding expedition in the open day. An unusual commotion among the chickens called Mrs. Wheeler to the door to see what was going on, when she discovered the ugly beast slowly approaching. She was alone in the house, and the men of the family were at work too far away for her to call them. Hardly pausing to think what she should do, she rushed out towards the bear with terrific screams and defiant gestures, flirting violently an immense apron, which she chanced to have on, almost in the face of the unwelcome visitor. Unused to such a salute and such a weapon of warfare, the unwelcome visitor, after a moment's pause as if in meditation, turned upon his heels and made for the woods as fast as his clumsy legs could carry him. The men returning in due time and learning what had occurred, set a trap for his bearship and ere long he was caught and killed.
2. THE NARROW ESCAPE .- Two daughters of Mr. Josiah Puffer, who lived on the place in the south part of the town lately owned and occupied by Cephas Bush, returning one evening from a neighbor's, were chased by two wolves which, getting upon their track some distance away, caught up with them almost as they were entering their father's dwelling house, but not in time to do them harm. Mr. Puffer at once seized his gun, rushed out and shot one of the intruders in his own dooryard. The girls were Thankful, who married William Edgell, and Lucena, afterwards Mrs. Asa Merriam. Though not hurt, they were terribly frightened, and took good care to avoid all similar experiences afterward.
3. THE LYING WOLF. - It is said that there is " honor among thieves" and there seems to be truthfulness among wolves, judging from the following story which claims to be well authenticated. Similar tales have been told before.
The Mr. Puffer just spoken of owned a 4th Div. lot in the southwest part of the town, some hundred rods or more south of where W. E. Chambers now resides. (See A. H. No. 77.) It was so far from his home that, when clearing a portion of it up for a future farmstead, he would sometimes spend several days there at a time, taking provisions enough to serve his need and finding shelter at night in a rude hut or shanty which he had
475
EXPERIENCES WITH WOLVES.
built for the purpose. At a certain time he had with him for a companion and helper, his neighbor, Hananiah Rand, who lived half a mile west of him on the other side of Graves' Hill. After they had finished work one day and disposed of themselves for the night, they heard a tramping outside, as of a wild beast that seemed to make the circuit of the place of shelter and then retire. Whereupon, having duly considered what that circum- stance foretold, they concluded that it was wise for them to leave where they were and seek sleeping accommodations in the barn of Thomas Knower, a mile away, and this they accord- ingly did.
Not long after the change was made, they heard a most terrific howling in the direction whence they came, which continued for a long time, when all was still again. On returning in the morning to their place of labor they found the shanty leveled to the ground, its various parts, with what it contained, scat- tered all about, and not far away, a dead wolf much mangled and covered with gore.
The interpretation given to the matter was that the tramping first heard was that of a single wolf sent out by a hungry pack to look up something to eat; that he reported a successful search to his comrades, who, on coming to the place at which they were assured they should have their hunger satisfied and finding nothing there, very naturally concluded that they had been unpardonably deceived. Whereupon. in their disappoint- ment and rage, they turned upon the supposed malefactor and administered to him justly deserved punishment to the full extent of the law. A suggestive lesson to all offenders of a similar sort.
4. THE LAST WOLF. - Some years after it was supposed that
the lupine race had forever disappeared from this entire region of country, a lone straggler from some unknown locality found his way into town and betook himself to the trackless recesses of Cedar Swamp. Thence he would issue forth by night and work mischief in the cornfields, gardens, poultry yards, and sheepfolds of the residents of the neighborhood. Sundry attempts on the part of individuals to hunt him down proved abortive and vain. At length he became so much a nuisance and a terror that the whole community was roused against him, and a popular movement was started to put an end to his depre- dations by discovering and killing him. A given day was ap- pointed for an expedition against his wolfship, and every one who could carry a gun or wield a weapon of any sort was in- vited to join it. Cedar Swamp was surrounded by a determined populace, who, at a specified moment began their march towards a common center, drawing nearer and nearer to each other as they advanced and scanning with eager, careful eye every clump of bushes or bed of brake or other hiding place, so that
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HISTORY OF WESTMINSTER, MASS.
there should be no possibility of his offending majesty's escape. The hunt continued most of the day. At length, late in the afternoon, he was discovered by Capt. Samuel Sawin, who quickly leveled his musket upon him and fired, bringing him prostrate to the earth, where, riddled with other shots, he soon expired. There was great rejoicing over the success of the undertaking, and goodly numbers repaired to the tavern to cele- brate the event, the bounty-money received by the victor being freely contributed to make the occasion worthy the achieve- ment that had been so signally won.
5. A GOVERNOR'S WIFE .- In the latter part of the last century Benjamin Barnard, the first settler on the farm in the Minott neighborhood where John Scott now resides, removed hence to Peru, Vt. The journey was made in the simple fash- ion of the times, a large wagon carrying the entire family, con- sisting of the parents and six children, with provisions, extra clothing, etc., to serve them on the way. Much of the dis- tance the father and older children trudged along by the wagon side as a relief from so long riding and to lessen the load of the overburdened team. Nearing the end of the route, a young gen- tleman, finely clad and mounted on a spirited steed, overtook the rustic train, and catching up little Lucy, some ten years old, from the dusty road, carried her a long distance in his arms. Much pleased with the child, he took her name and that of the family, their place of destination, and other particulars of inter- est to him, and departed. A few years later he visited Peru and renewed the acquaintance, which resulted in due time in Lucy Barnard becoming the wife of Gen. Peter Dudley, subse- quently Governor of Vermont.
6. WONDERFUL MEMORY. - Dea. Moses Thurston is said to have had one of the most retentive memories of which mention is made in human annals. In confirmation of this an instance is given in the "History of the Thurston Family." When a young man, he boarded in a household where the minister of the place was also temporarily residing. One Sunday morning he chanced to find the sermon prepared for the day lying upon the table of a room through which he was passing. He picked it up and hastily read it from beginning to end. While seated at the breakfast table, he casually remarked that he thought he would not attend church that morning as he should hear nothing new. The minister replied, "Oh, yes, you will, for I have just written a sermon especially for the occasion." Young Thurston insisted that there was nothing in it which he did not already know, and, to prove that he was right, began with the text and repeated the discourse entirely, almost word for word, much to the astonishment of the clergyman and of all who heard him.
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ANECDOTES CONCERNING THE CLERGY.
7. CASTING OUT DEVILS .- A minister of a neighboring town, in the early days of Westminster, had by his heretical opinions or otherwise rendered himself obnoxious to many of the people of the place. As a consequence, when he appeared in the pulpit one Sunday morning on exchange with Rev. Mr. Rice, Abner Holden, Esq., and Nicholas Dike, Esq., leading citizens, in order to show their dislike of the man and their un- willingness to hear him preach, picked up their hats and left the house. The next day the people, who had come together in public town meeting, made the matter and its attending cir- cumstances a leading topic of conversation, the officiating cler- gyman coming in for a large amount of censure and condemna- tion. Capt. William Edgell, the elder, overhearing a group of men venting freely their animosity and indignation against the clerical offender, arrested the current of vituperation by sud- denly exclaiming, "Pretty good Minister, very good Minister, - he cast out two devils to begin with, before he said a word."
8. MORE SOUND THAN SUBSTANCE .- The son of one of the substantial farmers of the town, who was imbued with a religious spirit and inclined to literary pursuits, studied for the Christian ministry. After being licensed to preach, he one day occupied the pulpit in his native place, when a large congrega- tion turned out to hear him. His father, proud of the young man, upon coming out of church fished for a compliment for him from his neighbor, Thomas Johnston, a quaint Scotchman and much of a wag withal, by himself commending the full, strong, clear tones of the son's voice .- "Yes, yes," said Mr. Johnston with a characteristically quick reply, "a fine voice, a great voice,- an empty barrel always makes a big sound." There was really more wit than wisdom in this assertion, for the young man be- came in after years one of the most useful, consecrated, and respected clergymen of Worcester County.
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