History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 170

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 170

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Jums b. Southwick

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died August 7, 1860 ; Wilder D., born April 19, 1866. The latter having completed a course of study in the American Veterinary College, at New York, re- ceived his degree in 1887, and is now practicing as a veterinarian in Woonsocket, R. I.

CHAPTER LXXXV.

SPENCER.

BY J. W. TEMPLE.

HISTORY WHEN A PART OF LEICESTER. - AS Spencer was originally a part of the town of Lei- cester, its early history would be incomplete withont speaking briefly of the mother township, from its purchase until the separation between it and Lei- cester took place. In the latter part of the seven- teenth century certain gentlemen, known as "pro- prietors," purchased large tracts of land within what is now Worcester County, to settle "plantations " thereon, and it is reasonable to suppose, as a specula- tive venture also. These purchases were made upon conditions that a "certain number of families, within a certain number of years, shall there be located, and a sufficient quantity of land thereof shall be reserved for the Gospel ministry and a school." In this man- ner, and upon like conditions, was purchased a "tract of land, eight miles square, lying near the new town of the English, called Worcester, to he called Leicester and to belong to the County of Mid- dlesex." The deed of this tract was from the heirs of Oraskaso, "sachem of a place called Tontaid," and was dated the twenty-sixth day of January, Anno Domini one thousand six hundred and eighty- six.

This, then, was the first step taken towards settling this wilderness, and the history of Spencer must necessarily date from this purchase, although it was fifty years or more before the division was had which made it a separate and distinct town.

For more than a quarter of a century there was nothing to encourage the "proprietors" to go for- ward, settle and develop the tract, as the depreda- tions by the Indians in the surrounding towns were of such serious nature that a postponement of the project seemed the only alternative. A few years previous to this purchase, King Philip and his war- riors were raiding the territory in this immediate vicinity, murdering the inhabitants, laying waste the towns or causing them to be abandoned, through great fear; and since these incursions were more or less frequent until 1713, it remained a wilderness up to this date, without a " single white inhabitant."

At the conclusion of peace, in 1713, another and successful attempt was made to put the original plans into execution. Inasmuch as the "proprietors " had

not been able to fulfil their part of the contract, viz., to settle the number of families in the time required according to conditions imposed by the General Court, their right to proceed further without per- mission from the said General Conrt had lapsed. Accordingly, as early as possible after this period, application was made to this body for carrying into effect the spirit and letter of the first-named agree- ment, and consent obtained. This they did by a petition, praying a "confirmation of the said tract to them and their associates," and their prayer was granted upon conditions similar to those made in the previous contract.

An early meeting of these gentlemen was called to enter into and consummate arrangements for settling a part of this grant, and it was decided that the East half should be used for this purpose, while the West half should be retained by the " proprietors." Thus, early in the history of the town, the two sections came to be known as the East, or settlers' half, which is now Leicester, aud the West, or proprietors' half, now Spencer.

A survey was made of the East half, house-lots were laid out and inducements to settlers were offered similar to those in other localities, viz .: that one shilling an acre, a nominal price, should be charged, "provided the purchaser shonld agree to settle a family thereon within three years from the date of purchase." As a further inducement, every house- lot should be supplemented with an additional one hundred acres in some other part of the town, for every ten acres of house-lot. Thus, by paying forty shillings, the purchaser became possessor of fonr hundred and forty acres of land. These lots were made accessible by public highways, running north and south, east and west, abutting upon each. Lots were also set apart for the Gospel ministry and school purposes agreeable to the original contract. With fair prospects now of a more lasting peace between settlers and Indians, the proprietors again indulged the hope of locating a settlement here that might yet rival, in population and business enterprise, many of the older towns in the county.

Yet, a decade passed before the number of families necessary to the carrying out of the original conditions were located, but within twenty-five years from the planting of the first habitation "the town had in- creased rapidly in population and wealth." The entire interest of the proprietors now being trans- ferred to the West half, early preparations were made by them for further development of these lands and favorable indncements offered to settlers for this purpose. They caused a survey to be made of the tract, dividing it into eighty lots of two hun- dred and fifty acres each, and two of these lots were set apart for ministerial and school purposes. They also entered into an agreement with the purchasers, that "as soon as twenty-five families were settled within the limits of the said eighty lots, the proprie-

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

tors, as an encouragement to the settlement of relig- ion among them, will advance and give the sum of forty pounds towards building a meeting- house."

FIRST SETTLERS .- Later these original lots were sub-divided, and the first one of them sold was in 1717, to Nathaniel Wood, containing one hundred acres, and was situated near the Brookfield line, on the old County Road. Up to 1725 but two other lots had been sold to families who had located thereon, viz., to Samuel Bemis aod John Graton. The land of the former adjoined that of Nathaniel Wood, while that of the latter was situated in the southeast part of the plat or near the "Styles reservoir," now so called.

The process of settling this half was a slow one, and as late as 1740 it contained probably not more than one hundred and fifty inhabitants. For more than twenty years these sturdy pioneers struggled manfully against poverty and want without complaint in regard to their condition, but there was a growing feeling that they had been neglected, on the part of the town au- thorities in repeatedly refusing to grant them "roads for their better accommodation." Both church and school were located in the east half, and although they contributed by tax towards their support, yet, practi- cally, they were deprived the benefit of them. The re- cords show that when they asked that "roads might be laid out, at the just expense of both parts of the town, so that the inhabitants might get to meeting," the request was not only refused, but was "regarded as an injustice." The need of roads appeared to be a constant source of grievance to these people, and up to 1736 little or nothing had been done in this direc- tion to relieve their pressing wants. Under these circumstances the minister and highway tax had be- come burdensome to them, and it is not surprising, perhaps, that they should early seek some measure, or measures, that would, sooner or later, relieve them from such an embarrassing position. At this time the town was about to settle a minister and provide for his support; therefore a tax of one penny per acre was laid upon all the lands of the proprietors and indi- vidual settlers. This act was so unsatisfactory to the people of the west half that they forwarded a petition to the General Court, asking that they might be ex- empt from paying this tax " unless their proportion might be applied towards the support of preaching among themselves." The House of Representatives was inclined to grant the request, but the Council op- posed the petition, alleging an " error in directing the petition, &c.," which was in all probability a pretext only, as upon this and other subsequent occasions they too plainly indicated that they had little or no sympathy in common with the people. The peti- tioners had entertained stroog hopes that this request would be favorably considered by the proper author- ities, and that, ere long, the difficulties in regard to both meeting and minister would be obviated. In this they were disappointed. But the dawn of a brighter day awaited them, for closely following this

event the proprietors came to their assistance with pecuniary aid and a Mr. Cunningham donated them land for a meeting-house and other purposes, which in time was erected, and by these gifts they early came into possession of a place of worship and minister.

Now that this institution had become a fixed fact for this part of the town, and consequently a centre around which a settlement might sooner or later de- velop, it was not a surprise to the people of the "set- tlers' part" that a division of the town should be seri- ously agitated. Whatever might have been said by the people of the west half about distance from the church or school or bad or no roads, their objective point was undoubtedly that they be "set off" into a new town. The first move in this direction was in 1741, when a petition was presented to the town, in town-meeting, asking that they be made a separate and distinct town, and there seemed to be no objec- tion to granting this request. Stimulated by this success, a petition was now prepared and forwarded to the General Court, asking that a legal division might be had, and a bill favorable to the petitioners passed both Houses, but when it came to the Governor -Shirley-for his signature he refused it. This action was disappointing to both sections, as each had now come to feel that the interests of the whole would be best subserved by a separation. With this feeling now dominant, it is singular that so important a matter should be allowed to rest, but for nearly three years following there is no record showing to the contrary, and the supposition is that no further action was taken during this period. But early in 1743 the subject was again agitated with renewed enthusiasm. It was then decided that a committee of both proprietors and settlers request of Gov- ernor Shirley a personal interview "that they might lay their case before him in a more friendly way," and induce him, if possible, " to reconsider his recent decision." But their efforts were fruitless, and His Excellency could not be induced to change his for- mer opinion, much less consent to any measure or bill to form a new and distinct town. At this junct- ure, in his judgment, it was not politic to do so. This action of the Governor's towards these people was a very unpopular one for him, and did much to strengthen the feeling of dislike that was taking root in their hearts for royalty, whether in Governor or subordinates.

It was thought that further effort looking towards separation must be abandoned for a time until a new expedient presented itself, which, if successful, might be made an entering wedge in the near future for more satisfactory results. It was that application le made to the General Court to be created into a pre- cinct, as this would give them an ecclesiastical gov- ernment at least, independent of the east half. Ac- cordingly, on the 31st day of May, 1744, Mr. James Ormes was chosen to present a petition to this body, representing " that the difficulties which moved him

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o apply, that they should be a distinct township, do till snbsist, and may in a great measure be removed y their being made a precinct." In this they were necessful, and an act of incorporation, as such, was ranted the 18th of June following.

PRECINCT .- In compliance a warrant was issued, alling a meeting of the " Freeholders and other In- abitants of the Precinct, or Parish, Qualified by Law o vote in Town affairs, which as yet has never been ad," and on the 10th of September, 1744, the follow- ng precinct officers were chosen, viz .: Jonathan amb, moderator ; John Stebbings, clerk; Samuel Bemis, John Newhall and James Willson, assessors; David Adams, collector ; David Allen, treasurer ; Samuel Bemis, John Cunningham, Jonathan Lamb, ohn Stebbings and James Willson, committee for alling precinct meetings. From this date and until April 12, 1753, all calls for parish meetings were dated Leicester West Parish," etc.

The advantage derived by this new order was to ive them the liberty of action in parish matters, as hey could now choose officers to regnlate their church ffairs, but in all things else they were subject to the own, as heretofore.

The perplexing question of better roads was yet a natter of serions consideration, and five years after he above proceedings an earnest appeal was made o the selectmen "to lay out suitahle roads for their ccommodation," and while this request was not now onsidered unreasonable, inasmuch as the town had expended considerable money for the same purpose in he East half, yet they were not disposed to grant the eqnest. Further appeals to the town authorities were regarded useless, but still believing their claims o these improvements to be valid, they resolved to ake their case before the Court of Sessions for adju- ication. They, therefore, petitioned this body, ask- ng " that they cause certain roads to be laid out." The selectmen were cited to appear and "show cause why this request should not be granted," and the own chose a committee of citizens to appear with he selectmen in support of their position. The case, However, did not reach the court, as before the day ppointed for a hearing a compromise had been arranged between the parties, the result of which was hat before the close of the year eleven of the much- needed roads were laid out and constructed. This was ery satisfactory, as the roads contributed largely to he comfort and convenience of the West Parish, ut the feeling still existed that the differences be- ween the two sections were again liable to arise inder the same régime, and that the proper remedy, inder the circumstances, would be found in a division f the town. This view of the matter was now entertained by the East Parish, and they not only ave their consent to a dissolution, but expressed a lesire to unite with the West Parish and work har- noniously together to accomplish that purpose. Ac- ordingly, on the 22d of November, 1749, the follow-

ing petition was presented to Acting Governor Phipps, viz. :

Petition to the Honorable Spencer Phipps, Lieut. Governor, by the subscribers, a committee of the town of Leicester, stating that the in- habitants of the westerly part of said town have built a meeting-house, and settled a minister, and stating further, that ahont Eight years ago, moved to the town of Leicester to he set off and made a distinct town, which was readily granted, whereupon application waa made to the court, about three years afterwards, for the same, but instead of being made a town, was made a Precinct only, which was very griev- ons to both, nor had the town any opportunity given then to offer any reasons to the Honorable Conrt to the contrary, although they have many to give, and one was that the west part called upon the select- men of Leicester to lay out roads for theio, upon the joint expense of hoth parts of the town, so that the inhabitants of the west part might get to meeting, &c. They further state that when the lands of the easterly part were laid out, sufficient land was appropriated for roads, but when the west part was divided, it was laid out into lots, and no land left for roads, and now the east part was called upon to be at their proportion of the expense, which they considered unjnst. That the inhabitants of the west part preferred a complaint to the court of sessions, for a committee to lay out roads for their accom- modation. They therefore pray the Court to erect the west part of Leicester into a distinct and separate town, &c.

DANIEL DENNY, STEWARD SOUTHOATE, JOHN BROWN.

The matter was now pressed npon the General Court hy the people of both sections, and as a result, this body, as it had done on two former occasions, passed a bill in compliance with the request as set forth in the petition, but again His Excellency vetoed it, giving as his reasons for doing so, that he would not consent to this or any other bill " unless provision be made that the number of representatives be not thereby increased, or a clause suspending the execn- tion of the act until His Majesties pleasure shall he known thereon, be inserted in the said act." This shallow message exasperated the House, as the only conclusion to be reached by them was, that their combined judgment in this matter was entitled to lit- tle or no weight by him, or that he had not manliness enough to assert the authority vested in him until he should first learn "His Majesties pleasure" there- upon.

This position of the Governor did not, however, change the sentiment of the House in relation to the equity of the prayer of the petitioners, and they at once addressed a communication to him setting forth their views in regard to the relations of His Majesty to his subjects, also stating that "the number of Representatives the town of Leicester, by charter and laws of the Province, are entitled to is not enlarged by this bill," and in closing, they " flatter themselves that your Honor will give his consent." But His Excellency was immovable, and this appeal had no effect. This, and the previous experience of the people in this direction, taught them that the House of Representatives was the only branch of the govern- ment that had a common feeling with them, and this was accounted for because it was made up of the people, and for the people, and they could better appreciate their condition and necessities. Notwith- standing this last attempt resulted in failure, they

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were not discouraged, as the cause for which they were laboring was as vital to them now as ever, and there was no good reason why they should, at this time, retreat from the position taken. They did, however, allow it to rest for three years, at the end of which time it was renewed with their old-time energy. A parish meeting was called March 6, 1753, and a committee, consisting of Benjamin Johnson, Lieu- tenant John White and Deacon John Worster, was chosen to again petition the General Court to be in- corporated as a separate town. The action of the House of Representatives, on this occasion, was en- dorsed by the Conncil, but again the result was a failure for want of His Excellency's signature. although an act was finally passed, which received his consent, erecting the precinct into a separate and distinct district, to be known as Spencer, "with all the powers, privileges and immunities that towns in the Province may enjoy, that of sending a Represen- tative to the General Assembly only excepted," but giving the said district " full liberty and right to join with the town of Leicester in choosing a representa- tive," they paying their proportional part of the ex- pense of the same. This, then, was another step secured towards the one great object and aim of these people, yet it did not, by this act, dissolve entirely the relations existing between Leicester and Spencer. There were other districts in the province, similarly situated, subject to the same restraints, etc., which re- mained in force until 1775, at which time they were removed. In 1780 the "right" of representation was guaranteed under the Constitution.

TOWN ORIGIN .- The birth of the town then, really, dates from this act,-although by it, it did not attain the full dignity of a township, owing to the terms im- posed. By this act one Thomas Steel, Esq., was " em- powered to issue his warrant, directed to some princi- pal of said district, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants of said district to meet at such time and place as shall be therein set forth, to choose all such officers as shall be necessary to manage the affairs of said district." In accordance with this authority, in him vested, he issued his warrant to Captain Benjamin Johnson, and a meeting for the above purpose was called, at which the following officers were elected, as directed by the law, viz. : Captain Benjamin John- son, moderator; Captain Benjamin Johnson, town clerk; Deacon John Worster, John Cunningham, John Muzzy, Deacon James Willson and Captain Benjamin Johnson, selectmen ; Captain Benjamin Johnson, treasurer ; Samuel Bemis and James Ormes, constables ; the selectmen were voted assessors ; En- sign Jolin Stebbings, Samuel Garfield, John Prouty, Caleb Bridges and Robert Griffin, highway surveyors on the north side of the county road; Jacob Stod- dard, Jonathan Lamb and David Adams, highway surveyors on the south side of the county road; James Richardson, highway surveyor on the county road; Joshua Draper and Benjamin Woodard, hog-

reeves ; Deacon John Worster and Thomas Bridges, fence-viewers; Israel Holton, sealer of leather ; Lieu- tenant John White, sealer of weights and measures ; John Draper and Jacob Stoddard, tythingmen. One of the first acts passed by the district was to "allow Lieut. John White the sum of £2 138. 4d. for his ser- vices in going to the Grate and General Corte in order to git us to be a District."

The town was never made such by any special act of incorporation, but it became one, virtually, by an act of August 23, 1775, which made all places, incor- porated originally by the name of districts, "towns, to every intent and purpose whatsoever." Agricul- ture was the only occupation known to these people, at this early period, and the cutting away of the for- ests, sowing and gathering the fruits of the ground, were the only sources of revenue with which to meet the wants of the family and various taxes. The plow, hoe and other like implements assisted largely in supplying the scanty food, while the spinning- wheel and loom, with industrious hands to guide them, furnished the family clothing " fit for mill or meeting." The district at this date, 1753, numbered about five hundred inhabitants.

LOCATION .- The town lies south of the centre of the county, and about midway between the eastern and western boundaries. On the north are the towns of Oakham and Paxton, on the east Paxton and Lei- cester, on the south Charlton, and on the west Brook- field and North Brookfield. It is quite regular in shape, forming nearly a parallelogram, being about eight miles long by about four miles wide, and con- taining thirty-two square miles, more or less, or ris- ing twenty thousand acres.

SITUATION .- It is pleasantly situated upon the "Great Post Road," running from Worcester to Springfield, twelve miles from the former and thirty- six miles from the latter. Its villages, aside from the main or central one, are Hillsville, northwest ; Upper and Lower Wire Villages, northeast; and South Spencer, southwest.

PONDS, RESERVOIRS AND STREAMS .-- It is fairly well watered by ponds, reservoirs and small streams. Among the latter, the principal one, known as Seven Mile River, enters the town at its north bound- ary, and, emerging from the Browning Pond, takes a southwesterly course through the town. It is swollen to a river of moderate dimensions before reaching Podunk Pond, in the town of Brookfield, and thence its waters pass into Long Island Sound, by way of the Connecticut River. In addition to the water it re- ceives from its main supply, it is fed by numerous small brooks, and a principal tributary called Turkey Hill Brook.

This stream enters the town at its northeast corner, its source being Turkey Hill Pond, lying in Paxton and Rutland. It runs in a southwesterly course, and makes a junction with the Seven Mile River near the old " Daniel Whittemore " place, so-

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called. A small stream which takes its rise in Shaw Pond, Leicester, connects with the Turkey Hill Brook near the main mill of the Spencer Wire Com- pany, upon which stream the extensive works of this company are situated, the same being about two and a quarter miles northeast from the post-office.

Another small stream passes through the centre of the village, and connects with the Seven Mile River at the "Great Meadows," its source being Whitte- more, or Moose Pond. A tributary from the south is Cranberry Meadow Brook, which rises in Cranberry Meadow, and flows north, through "Howes Pond," connecting with it a quarter of a mile uorth of the South Spencer Station, on the Boston and Albany Railroad. The streams, or brooks, in the southeast part of the town flow in this direction, and event- ually reach the Blackstone River, which runs to Nar- ragansett Bay. Although most of these streams are unimportant, yet in " ye olden tyme " they furnished the power for various small mills and factories lo- cated upon them, for grinding grains, manufacturing powder, wire, hocs, scythes, etc.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 170

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1576

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576