USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 143
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£ a. d.
£ a. d.
Azariah Rice 1 4 6
Cyprian Rice.
Stephen Jennings . 1 5 7
John James.
Samnel King
0 9 5
Benjamin Knowlton. 1
5
0
Joseph Rice.
Samuel Kent.
John Killum
Edward Kellogg
Joseph Kellogg ..
Johu Lawrence
Joseph Marks, Sr
1
6 7
Joseph Marks, Jr.
1
4 6
John Morse. 0
9 5
Thomas Millett
Joseph Marber.
Joseph Mason
Daniel McIntosh
Tilly Merrick
Nicholas Nichols
James Negro.
Wm. Old. 1
4
6
Jahez Olmstead. 1
6 4 Isaac Tomblin.
4
6
Benjamin Thomas.
Samuel Owen, Jr. 1
9
4 Henry Taylor.
Arthur Tucker.
John Wait. 0 15
8
6 9 Jerre Wait. 0 15 8
Samnel Partridge (Col.) ... 0 15 8 Jolın Wait 0 15
8 Goldsbery Partridge (Col.) 0 12 6 Joseph Wait. 0 15 8
John Perry 0 14 2
Joseph Perry 1
3 10
Henry Peters. 0
Ebenezer Pomroy (capt.) 0 12 6 Samnel Porter (esq.) .. 0 18
Daniel Price .. 20 2
John Pynchon (col.).
John Pynchon (capt.) ... 0 12 6 Samuel Wheeler. 1
Wm. Prichard.
Thomas Parsons
Samuel Prichet.
John Petter
James Petter
George Phillips
Ebenezer Prescott.
Thomas Wilson.
John Woolcott, (Jr.).
Thomas Rich
1
4 6 Joseph Woolcott
Thomas Rich, (Sr. heirs) 0 13 2
Nathaniel Wood
Amos Rice.
1
4
6 John Younglove.
John Gilbert. 1
4
6
Joseph Banister. 2 11 f
Noah Barns. 0 12 6
Samuel Gilbert 1
4
6
Samnel Barns 1 16
0
Thomas Gilbert (Ens.) ...... 2 3 11
Thomas Gilbert 0 12 6
Joshua Barns. 0 18
3
Philip Goss
John Green
Wm. Grovesnor.
John Hamilton, Sr. 3 17 8
John Hamilton, Jr. 0 12 6
Joseph Hawley (Evs.) 0 12 6
0
Wm. Biggerton. 0 12 6
Joseph Babrook 1 17 0 Enoch Hinds. 0 12
6 Wm. Barns.
6 John Hinds
1
0
Samuel Brown.
John Beamin
Richard Coy 0 9 5
John Chadwick
Richard Coy, Jr.
James Hovey
Thomas Hovey
John Hayward, Jr ..
George Hayward.
Daniel How
Benjamin Davis. 0 12 6
Samuel Davis, Sr. 2 16 0 Elisha How
Samuel Davis, Jr. 0 12 6
Hezekiah Dickinson
Edward Ayres 0 12 6
John Ayres, ST. 1 4 11
Robert Emmons. 1 90
Joseph Ayres. 0 12 6
Mark Ayres. 0 12
6
Gershom Ferry 0 9
James Ford.
Thomas Gibbs. 1
4 6
Samuel Ayres.
John Ayres, Jr.
Captain Thomas Baker .. 3 1 0
Abijah Bartlet (heirs) 0 13 0
Benjamin Bartlet. 1 3
6
Thomas Bartlet. 1
4
6
Josialı Besmin ... 2 8 11
Simon Beamin, Jr. 0 12
6
Thomas Bettys (heirs). 0 12 6
Ephraim Hayward 0 12 Ebenezer Hayward (heirs) 0 12 6
Samuel Bush 1 6 2 Hopestill Hinds .. 1
4
John Hitchcock (Ens.). 1 11 3 Luke Hitchcock (Capt.) .. 0 12 6 Jeremiah How 1 5 9 Daniel Hovey.
John Clements.
John Clary.
Thomas Cheney.
Benj. Jennings (heirs) ... 0 12 6
Lient. Henry Dwight 0 18 9 Jonathan Jennings. 1 14 1
Elisha Rice. 1 16 0 Pelatial Rice 1 4 6
Obadiah Rice
Peter Rice
Joho Shepherd 1 4 B John Stoddard (maj.) 0 15
Samuel Smith (m.)
Preserved Smith
Ichabod Smith.
Ebenezer Smith.
Peter Shanaoway
Samuel Swazey
Samnel Swazey (mı.).
Isaac Shattuck
Henry Taylor, (heirs). 04 2
James Travis
Jndah Trumble ..
Matthew Tomblin
John Belding.
0 15
8
Joseph Smith 0 15
6 3
Benjamin Walker.
0 12
6
Edward Walker, (Sr.). 2 15
8
9 Edward Walker, (Jr.) .. 1
6 4 Joseph Walker, 0 12 6
5 5 0 David Wedge. 0 18
3
9
4
Johu White, (heirs) 1
6 0 Samuel Williams, (lient.) 0 17 5 John Woolcott, (Sr.) 2 10 9
John Warner.
Nathaniel Warner,
Samuel Warner
Nathaniel Ayres 0 12 6
Thomas Ayres. 0 12 6
£ s. d.
£ a. d.
Benjamin Ayres ... 1 4 6
Jonathan Davis
Daniel Elwin
Ebenezer Gilbert.
1
4
6
Henry Gilbert 3 13 9
Nathaniel Gilbert 0 12 6
Thomas Barns 4 0 8
CHAPTER LXXIX.
BROOKFIELD .--- (Continued.)
UP to the year 1718 the town of Brookfield through all the vicissitudes of its life can hardly be said to have enjoyed full municipal privileges. To a certain extent it had been under the guardianship of the committee appointed first by the Massachusetts Col- ony Court and after the charter of the Province of Massachusetts Bay in 1692 by the government of that province. This committee had always been composed of trustworthy men, and there seems to be no record of any serious dissatisfaction on the part of the people with their administration. In the above year the committee then in commission asked to be discharged from the further performance of their duties in the following petition :
Samuel Owen, Sr. 1
Robert Old.
John Parsons 1 18 3
Thomas Parsons .. 1
Joseph Jennings 3 4 11
2
John Rich.
0 12 16
519
BROOKFIELD.
To His Excellency, Samuel Shute. Esq., and the Honbl. Council and House of Representatives, convened in General Court the 28th of May, 1718.
We undersigned, the Committee for Brookfield, after many Disappoint . ments hy warr and otherwise, which for a long time the people have laboured under, by the good providence of God are now so increased that they are now near fifty families on the place have near finished a very convenient meeting-house, have settled a church and ordained an ortho- dox and learned Minister. We bumbly propose that they he mede a Township according to the directions of the Law hy themselves & said Committee released-which we submit to the Courts' determination. And for your Excellency and Honor's shall ever pray.
SAMUEL PARTRIDGE, } Committee SAMUEL PORTER,
LUKE HITCHCOCK,
for Brookfield.
This petition was granted and the following order was passed by the House of Representatives, Novem- ber 12, 1718, and after concurrence by the Council, was consented to by Governor Shute :
Ordered that the prayer's of this petition be granted, and that the In- habitants of the Town of Brookfield be invested with all the powers, privileges and authorities to direct, order and manage all the affairs of esid Towaship that otber towns are or ought to be invested with. And that the Committee be dismist frou the care of them with the thanks of this Court for their good and faithful service. The said Town to lye to the County uf Hampshire.
The first town meeting was held on the 15th of December, 1718, at which Philip Goss acted as moderator and Thomas Gilbert was chosen treasurer and clerk. At an adjourned meeting at which Thomas Baker acted as moderator, Thomas Barns, Philip Goss, Elisha Rice, Samuel Barns and Thomas Gilbert were chosen assessors; Tilly Merrick, Joseph Brabrook and Thomas Parsons a committee to examine town debts; Joseph Jennings and Joseph Banister meas- urers, and Elisha Rice, Thomas Gibbs and Jonathan Jennings a committee "to see that the grants made by the former committee do pay equal proportion to the rate. committed to Constable Walker to collect for the meeting-house." At this meeting it was voted that Tilly Merrick, Henry Gilbert, Edward Walker and Joseph Jennings be a committee to see that the town is supplied by the grist-mill with meal accord- ing to an arrangement which had been made with John Hayward. The grist-mill here referred to was built on land granted to Mr. Hayward about the year 1706. The grant included " forty acres of upland in the west part of the town, and fifteen acres of meadows ; also seventy acres joining the first lot and twenty-four acres of meadows for his encouragement to build a grist-mill in Brookfield, and on condition that he maintain the same in such repair as the town may be supplied at all times with grinding from said mill for the term of twenty-five years." The mill was built on the New Mill Brook, and according to Mr. Temple, the remains of its dami may be seen near the home of Mr. Sexton Douglass.
The first year after what might be called the second birth of the town, was characterized by a movement to establish public schools. On the 5th of January, 1719-20, the town grauted forty acres of land for a school, and it is probable that a school was opened near that time. On the 23d of January, 1728, it was voted that a school be built in four several places in
town, the town to be divided into four parts by a committee, consisting of Wm. Old, Ephraim Hay- ward, Wm. Ayres, Samuel Barns and John Hinds, and twenty pounds were appropriated for the salary of a school-master. On the 15th of May, 1732, it was voted to direct the selectmen to hire four women to keep school, and the sum of fifty pounds was appro- priated. On the 23d of November, 1739, it was voted to have two school-masters, and the sum of one hun- dred pounds was appropriated. In 1746 the town granted one hundred and fifty pounds, old tenor, for the support of a grammar school, and in 1749, three hundred pounds, of the same tenor. But it is not necessary to follow the evolution of the school system of the town, and state the various steps by which its present condition has been reached. It was voted by the town after the three precincts were formed, that each precinct should have the care of its schools, and from that time each precinct raised its own school money, selected teachers, and had the general man- agement of education within its borders. There are at present in the town fifteen schools, including the high school. These are the high school, a grammar, first intermediate, second intermediate, first primary and second primary, in the centre village, a grammar, intermediate, first primary and second primary, in the east village, the Potopoag, Rice Corner, Upper Podunk, Lower Podunk and the school over the river, with enrollments numbering six hundred and thirty-eight and average membership of five hundred and thirteen.
Little of interest occurred in the life of the town until 1744. There had been occasional alarms on account of Indian raids, and at various times compa- nies of men had been raised to serve as scouts, and proper safeguards had been adopted. Brookfield was now scarcely enumerated among the border towns, and its people lived to a certain extent behind the shield and shelter which newer towns farther to the west and north had raised to protect them. Sheffield had been incorporated in 1733, Stockbridge, in 1739, Deerfield in 1682, Northfield in 1713, Saunderland in 1714, Brimfield in 1731, Westfield in 1669, Hatfield in 1670 and Sturbridge in 1738. But, nevertheless, occa- sional Indian attacks served to keep them on the watch, and to more or less obstruct and delay that develop- ment of business and trade which the older and better guarded settlements on the seaboard enjoyed.
With the settlement of new towns a new adjustment of counties became necessary. Middlesex and Suffolk counties, incorporated in 1643, had become with the incorporation of new towns disproportionately large, and an exigency seemed to exist for the formation of a new county. In the adjustment which ensued the town of Brookfield was involved. On the 2d of April, 1731, an Act was framed incorporating Worcester County, which included Worcester, Lancaster, West- borough, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Leicester, Rut- land and Lunenburgh, which had previously been
520
HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
included in Middlesex county, Mendon, Woodstock, Oxford, Sutton and Uxbridge, which had before been included in Suffolk county, and Brookfield, which as has already been stated, had previously been included in Hampshire county.
In March, 1744, war was declared between England and France, and what has always been known in our history as the old French and Indian War, followed until the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in October, 1748. In this war several Brookfield men took a prominent part. Joseph Dwight commanded a regiment in the expedition against Louisburg; Jabez Olmstead com- manded a company in the same expedition, and the following soldiers entered into the service of the province :
Jonathan Clary, drummer,
Benj. Ruggles, sergeant,
Benjamin Gilbert, ensign,
Ephraim Hayward, sergeant, Gershom Makepeace, clerk,
Eleszer Haywood,
Edward Smith,
Edward Walker, corporal,
Thomas Buckminster, captain,
Simeon Dwight,
Joseph Allen, lieutenant,
John Wait,
Noah Ashley, ensign,
Sentinels.
James Converse,
Nehemiah Hinds,
Andrew Cowee,
Jacob Hiuds,
Obadiah Cooley,
Samuel Galloon,
John Bell,
Dudley Jordan,
Joseph Banister,
Solomou Keyes, Jr.,
Uriab Bush,
Richard Marks,
John Blair,
Silas Newton,
John Rice,
Thomas Cook,
Thomas Banister,
Phinehas Powers,
Daniel Walker,
Joseph Stone, lieutenant,
Samuel Bascom,
Thomas Rich,
Benj. Gott, surgeon's mate,
Daniel Matthews, corporal,
Peter Blackmer,
Solomon Rich,
Comfort Brabrook,
Nath1. Paige, corporal,
Elijah Bartlett,
Nathan Smith,
Jude Converse,
William Shepherd,
Samuel Barns,
Jahez Ayres,
Uriah Gilbert,
Joseph Bauister,
Joseph Walker,
Matthew Bartlett,
Thomas Biggs,
Obadiah Deland,
Breed Batcheller,
Josiah Dodge,
Jedediah Deland,
Samuel Gould,
John Hamilton,
Isaac White,
Moses Hascall,
Joseph Warner,
Hopestill Hands,
James Patterson.
In the second French and Indian War, extending from 1754 to 1763, Brookfield also performed her full share in furnishing men. Her soldiers in this war, without specifying the commands to which they were attached or the special service in which they were engaged, were :
Martin How,
Joseph Rutland,
Arthur Tucker,
Daniel Walker,
John Tute,
Benjamin Wood,
William Hair,
Corlis Hinds,
Wm. Brabrook,
Jedediah How,
Caleb Dodge, Ephraim Hayward,
Levi Walker,
Levi Hamilton, Seth Hamilton,
Joseph Witt, Josiah Wood,
Thomas Waite,
Jonathan Gilbert, sergeant,
Abraham How, lieutenant.
Jeremiah Gould.
Benjamin Adams, ensign. Nathau Gould.
Thomas Taylor, ensign. Aaron Bartlett, corporal.
John Hair.
Wm. Watson, corporal.
Timotby Hall.
Wm. Ayers, corporal.
Joseph Hatfield, Jr.
Comfort Barna,
Thomas Barns, corporal, Joseph Gilbert, John Green, Thomas Stevens,
David Gilbert, Ebenezer Hayward,
Eleazer Warner,
Caleb How,
Joseph Hamilton, sergeant,
Joseph Hatfield,
Abraham Adams,
Philip Reed,
Nathan Hamilton,
Heury White,
Jobn McClure,
John Williams,
Phinehas Slayton,
Ezekiel Woodbury, Samuel Church, Philip Gilbert,
Solomon Rood, Jacob Wood,
Peter Harwood, ensign,
Obadiah Cooley, captain,
Wm. Blackmer,
Moses Barns, clerk,
Daniel Ainsworth,
Cornelius White, sergeant,
Joseph Barr,
Moses Jennings, corporal,
Adoniram Bartlett,
Asa Bacon,
Daniel Beman,
Christopher Banister,
Samuel Bliss,
Moses Bragg,
Thomas Cheney,
Jabez Crosby,
Henry Chadwick,
John Goss,
James Clark,
Joseph Gilbert, '
Robert Clark,
Peter Hill,
Josiah Cutler,
Robert Cutler,
Samuel Dorothy,
Adoniram Walker,
Josiah Farrell,
Joseph Walker,
Ebenezer Foster, Jr.,
Jeremiah Woodbury,
Wm. Gallaway,
John Walker,
David Mitchell,
John Gibson,
Nathan Gould,
Wm. Virgin,
Jason Hinds,
David Palmer,
Abraham How, Jr.,
David Gilbert, Jr.,
Amos Marsh,
Jedediah Gilbert,
Joshua Morris,
Obadiah Wright,
Joseph Old,
Daniel Gilbert,
W'm. Ranger,
Philip Goss, Robert Claflin, Jr.,
Philip Deland, drummer,
Gideon Cooley,
Johu Steward,
Thomas Gilbert,
Simeon Dwight,
William Dady,
Phinehas Warner,
Samuel Hinckley,
Heury White,
Jonathan Dodge,
John Ranger, John Rich,
Jolin Goldsbury,
Thomas Slayton,
Abraham Hair, Wm. Ranger,
Elijah Temple,
John Woolcott,
Reuben Walker,
Gideon Abbott,
Wm. Wright, Peter Harwood,
Wm. Ayres, Jr.,
Joseph Perry, Amos Tate,
Edward Ayres,
Elipbalet Hamilton,
Asa Lameon,
John Adams,
Joseph Barns,
Ebenezer Davis,
Solomon Gilbert,
Solomon Flagg,
Eliakim Spooner,
Abner Old,
James Thompson.
Besides the above, the following muster-rolls are on record of men enlisting in 1757 for various terms of service, many of whom had before enlisted : Captain Nathaniel Woolcott's Cmpany :
Nathaniel Woolcott, corporal,
Oliver Woolcott, corporal, Silas Walker, corporal,
Jonathan Waite,
Joel Abbott,
Onesiphorus Ayres,
Jeduthun Baldwin captain, Wm, Dorothy,
Stephen Blackmer, Simeon Brooks, Jobn Davis, Oliver Evans,
Daniel Gilbert, corporal. Moses Ayres.
Corlis Hinds.
Caleb How.
Ephraim How.
Abram How.
Onesiph Ayres. Wm. Ayres (3d). ' John Baker.
Samuel Gould, Jr.
David Hinckley,
Sylvanus Walker,
Joseph Waite,
Simeon Walker,
Walter Dorothy,
Nathan Smith,
Thomas Weeks,
Isaac Rice,
Nathan Thompson,
Caleb How, Ebenezer Killen,
Oliver Hayward.
521
BROOKFIELD.
Jacob Ball. Thomas Ball. Aaron Barus.
Jedediah How, Jr.
Breed Batcheller, drummer.
Wm. Henderson,
Gideon Abbott.
Elisha How.
Jacob Aiosworth.
Asa Lamsoo.
Adoniram Bartlett.
Asa Lamsoo.
Ara Bacon.
Thomas Mcclure.
Zacarısh Brown.
John Lamsoo.
Nathan Raros.
Aboer Old.
Daniel Mathews.
Wm. Batcheller.
David Patrick.
Daniel Patten.
Zeph Batcheller.
Thomas Ranger.
Joseph Stooe.
Thomas Browo.
Asahel Rogers.
Arthur Tucker.
Samuel Chapman.
Roger Stevens.
Benjamio Cooley.
Daniel Witt.
Robert Chaplio, Jr.
Wm. Tuffs.
Nahum Eager.
John Woolcott.
Jedediah Delaod.
Isaac Walker.
Solomoo Flagg. Joba Goodale. Joseph Gilbert.
Oliver Woolcott.
Daniel Deland.
Jacob Walker,
Wm. Wright.
Jooathao Dodge.
Samuel White.
Captain Jabez Upham's Company :
Obadiah Cooley, lieutenant. Joho White, Jieutenaot.
Wm. Henshaw.
Daniel Walker, eos. Moses Rich,
Thomas Riggs, sergt.
Daniel Rolfe,
Benj. Walker, eosigo.
Samuel Hinckley.
Ebenezer Jeaniogs, sergeant.
John Jennings.
Nathao Hamiltoo, sergeant.
Moses Jennings.
Benj. Jeouings.
David McClure.
James Brigham, corporal. Josiah Hobbs, corporal.
Comfort Old.
Ezekiel Old, corporal.
Reuben Old.
Asa Partridge.
Asahel Peters.
Abraham Adams,
Daniel Rolf.
Abraham Adams, Jr.
John Ranger.
Ephraim Rice.
Jonas Rice.
Jonathan Dodge, sergt.
Aboer Old,
Ebenezer Heyward, corp.
Samuel Robinson,
Charles Dorothy,
Daniel Rolfe,
Moses Bragg.
Sumnel Rogers.
Abraham Gilbert,
Jonathan Streeter,
David Bridge.
Phinebas Slaytoo.
Nathao Hamiltoo,
Samuel Streeter,
Uriah Bush.
Thomas Slaytoo.
Coroelius Hinds,
Josiah White,
Jamies Converse.
Josiab Stephens.
Stepheo Jenoiogs,
Jacob Wood.
Jabez Crosby.
Roger Stepheos.
In Capt. Wm. Paige's Hardwick Company, 1760.
Ebenezer Davis.
Joho Waite, Jr,
Daniel Walker, lieut. Caleb Greeo,
Daniel Deland.
Abraham Walker.
Zeph Batcheller, sergt. Elijah How,
Obadiah Wright, sergt. Juha McFarland,
Ebenezer Davis, sergt. Asa Partridge,
Joho Green.
Edward Walker.
Nathan Abbott, Asahel Rogers,
Jonathan Baros,
Ezra Rood,
Amos Hamiltoo, Jr.
Pbinebas Walker. Reuben Walker. Daniel Walker.
Nathao Baros,
Gad Smith,
W'nı. Batcheller,
Aaron Tute,
Eliphalet Hamiltoo.
John Woolcott.
Comfort Gilbert,
Nathao Tyler,
Joba Hamiltoo.
Ithamnar Wright.
Ezra Hamiltoo.
Obadiah Wright.
Thomas Hamiltoo.
Richard Vorci.
In Captain Jacob Abbott's Company :
Thomas Gilbert, lieutenant.
Joseph Loring.
Abner Browo, eosigo. Jonathan Abbott, clerk.
Abraham Martin.
Stepheo Martin.
Joseph Wood, sergeant. Bobert Claffio. Uriah Abbott.
John Phipps.
Caleb Dodge.
Wm. Raoger. Moses Bich.
Walter Dorothy.
Philip Rich.
Abner Gilbert.
Thomaa Rich.
Joho Gilbert.
James Rooff.
Othniel Gilbert.
Charles Rice.
Philip Gilbert,
Wm. Tuffs.
Seth Gilbert.
Joho Watt.
Joho Goss.
Sammel White.
Peter Hill.
Jeremiah Woodbury.
In Captain William Paige's Hardwick Company : Silas Walker, sergeant. Josiah Dodge. Gideon Walker, sergeant. Charles Dorothy.
Caleb Dodge, sergeant. Joel Abbott, corporal.
Josiah Gibbs,
Thomas Gilbert (3d).
Wm. Ranger, corporal.
Amos Hamiltoo.
Rufus Putoam, corporal.
Nathan Hamilton.
Nathan Goodale,
Henry Wisdom),
Erastus Hamilton,
Isaac Wood.
Joh Lane.
In Capt. David McFarland's Worcester Company, 1758.
David Aiken. Joseph Banister.
Seth Banister.
Oliver Rice.
John Belenger.
Solomon Rice.
Obed Abbott, corp.
Reuben Stevens,
David Gilbert, corp.
Arthur Tucker,
James McClure, corp. Benj. Walker, Jr.
Ebenezer Davis,
Oliver Walker,
Aboer Gilbert,
Zebulon Walker,
Philip Deland, corporal. Gideon Abbott.
John McClure.
Reuben Old, sergt.
David Slayton,
Christ : Banister, sergt.
Gad Soith,
Wm. Old, sergeaut. Beuj. Rice, sergesot.
In Capt. Sylvanus Walker's Company, 1758
Eliphalet Hamilton, lieut. Cyrus Rich,
There were others enlisting in various companies in 1758 aud afterwards, many of whose names are in- cluded in the above lists, in connection with an earlier service. These were Rev. Eli Forbes, chaplain in the Crown Point expedition, Francis Stone, David Get- chell, Stephen Ayres, Ephraim Ayres, Solomon Cum- mings, Daniel Dodge, Chas. Dorothy, Jacob Getchell, Henry Gilbert, Jesse Gilbert, Moses Gilbert, Jonas Hayward, William Mace, Samuel Palmer, Daniel Rolfe, Caleb Thayer, Nathaniel Wait, Richard Wait, Solomon Walker, Zebulon Walker, Samuel Whiston, Samuel White, John Fletcher, Beamsley Pottle, David Pratt, Job Smith, Lemuel Smith, Jesse Vose, John Whetstone, Asa Humphrey-, James Wesson.
But we must return to the narration of some events which occurred just before and during these wars. The growth of the town up to the year 1741 may be estimated to have been considerable, from the fact
Jobo Woolcott.
Solomon Goodale,
Zebuloo Walker,
Ezekiel Gilbert,
Joho Goodale,
Thomas Weeks,
Nathao Goodale,
David Palmer.
John Peso.
Josiah Dodge.
Adouiram Waiker.
Obadiah Delaod. Thomiaa Dodge.
Joseph Walker.
Stephen Green.
Josiah Hamiltoo.
Ebeo Hayward, Jr.
Joseph Bartlett. Matthew Bartlett. Nathaniel Bartlett. Samnel Chapman.
Silas How.
Nathl. Jones.
522
HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
that in that year sundry inhabitants in the southwest part of the town joined with inhabitants in parts of Brimfield and of a district then called Kingsfield, but afterwards, in 1752, incorporated as the town of Palmer, and petitioned the General Court to be set off and incorporated as the town of Western, now Warren. The act of incorporation obtained by them, passed January 16, 1741, provided that the new town should consist of lands bounded as follows :
Beginning at Brookfield, southwest corner, then running half a mile north on said Brookfield line ; theo west thirty-four degrees, north three miles and eighty rods to the river aod bounded with a small wal- aut staddle standing in the split of a rock ; thence ruoning up the river to an elm tree marked ; theoce crossing the river and ruoning north forty-four degrees east about three miles and an half to Brook- field west line to a heap of stones dear a chestout tree marked ; and ruaniag east eleven degrees and thirty minutes ; south one mile aod an hundred and fifty rods, to a heap of stones ou a rock at the end of a meadow on mill pond, then bounded oo Cornelius White's laod, till it comes to Mill Brook, so called ; thea houaded with the Mill Brook to the river, as the brook runs ; then crossing the river and extending southeasterly to a white oak tree, koowo by the name of the northeast corner of the mile square ; theoce extending southeasterly to Brook- field south lige, intersecting that lige two miles and three-quarters from said first mentioned southwest corner bounds.
On the 11th of December, 1747, Rev. Thomas Cheney, the first settled pastor of the church, died. Mr. Cheney was born in Roxbury, January 29, 1688- 89, and was the son of William and Rebecca (Newell) Cheney. He graduated at Harvard College in 1711, and married two wives,-the first Dorothy, daughter of Joseph Hawley, of Northampton ; and second, Mary, great-granddaughter of Rev. John Cotton, of Boston. The death of Mr. Cheney and the loss of a portion of the sonthwestern section of the town, changing its geographical centre, stimulated a move- ment for the formation of a second precinct in the northerly part of the township.
Ebenezer Witt and others petitioned the town in that year to build a new meeting-house as near the new centre as possible, or set them off as a distinct precinct. At the annual meeting in March the town refused to grant the petition, aud voted down both propositions, concerning the meeting-house and the precinct.
In the mean time, Rev. Elisha Harding, a graduate of Harvard in 1745, was invited to settle, and on the 28th of November, 1748, the town concnrred with the church in the invitation, and at an adjourned meeting, on the 22d of December, voted, after considerable debate, as the record states, one thousand pounds, old tenor currency, " for his enconragement to settle in the Gospel ministry," and for his annual salary the sum of five hundred pounds, old tenor, "accounting it as though it be in Indian corn, at twenty shillings a bushel ; Rye, thirty shillings ; Wheat, forty shillings -and so the five hundred pounds to be increased or diminished yearly, as the prices of the grain varied." He was also to have free liberty to cut wood for fuel on the common land of the town, known by the name of the Rocks.
In estimating these amounts, it must be remembered
that what was called old tenor currency was in value only one-tenth of sterling-that is, that one thousand pounds of old tenor was really only one hundred pounds in sterling.
Mr. Harding was ordained September 13, 1749, on which occasion Rev. Nathan Buckman preached the sermon. After the settlement of Mr. Harding, the dissatisfaction of the people in the north part of the town continued, and on the 29th of March, 1750, the second or north precinct was incorporated. Previous to that date, the town having signified that the form- ation of the precinct would be assented to in case fifty or more persons signed a request therefor, in less than ten days after such a condition was agreed upon more than the requisite number of signatures had been obtained, and thus, with the assurauce that no further objection would be raised, a meeting-house was begun in April, 1749.
On the 16th of the following October a covenant was signed by forty-two of the inhabitants, and some dissatisfaction having manifested itself with the loca- tion of the meeting-house, then still unfinished, it was agreed to submit the location to the arbitration of disinterested men. The location, as originally selected, was approved and the building by slow de- grees went on to its completion.
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