History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 197

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 197

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stand upon and for a training-field, and for no other uses." This piece of land, as described in the deed was twenty rods long and eight rods wide, and- bounded easterly by the road. For many years it has not been used for either of the purposes specified. The first meeting for the choice of district officers after the Gore was annexed was held March 20, 1758. At this meeting Jonathan Tucker, Richard Dresser, Jonas Hammond, Isaiah Blood and Ebenezer McIn- tire were chosen selectmen; Richard Dresser, clerk, and Jonathan Wheelock, treasurer.

At the same meeting it was voted to build a meet- ing-house fifty feet long and forty feet wide and to cover the whole with shingles. One hundred pounds was granted toward the expense of building and Na- thaniel Blood, Isaiah Blood, Jonathan Upham, Jona- than Ballard and Ebenezer Hammond were chosen a meeting-house committee for the year and were authorized " to set a price upon materials and upon labor and to choose a master workman to set up the frame." In July, 1759, it was voted "to let out the framing of our meeting-house by the great," and for twenty-six pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence, Jonathan Upham undertook "to set up the frame and assist in raising the same." In September following the district voted " to provide victuals and drink for the raising of the meeting-house and other necessa- ries," and a committee was chosen to see that provis- ions were suitably prepared. In March preceding forty pounds had been voted toward defraying the charges of building. In 1760, upon the petition of Jonathan Tucker and other residents of the dis- trict, a tax of two pence per acre for one year on land of non-resident proprietors was grauted by the General Court "in order to enable the inhabitants to finish the meeting-house." Nearly nineteen thousand acres of land in the district was at this time owned by non-resident proprietors, as the tax authorized amounted to one hundred and fifty-three pounds, fourteen shillings and eight pence. Although not completed, the house was in a condition to be used as a place of public worship by January, 1761. A meet- ing of the inhabitants for district business was held in it January 6th. There had been expended upon it, as reported by a committee, two hundred and .eighty- two pounds, five shillings, three pence and two farth- ings. In February following twenty pounds was voted " toward finishing the meeting-house." Before the district was incorporated some of the inhabitants had attended public worship at Dudley and a part at Stur- bridge. Afterward money had been voted from time to time for the support of the Gospel and meetings had been held probably at the house of Ebenezer McIntire, where all meetings for the transaction of district business were held until the meeting-house was in a condition to be used. May 26, 1761, the dis- trict voted to concur with the church 2 in giving Rev.

I Ebenezer McIntire owned all the land ou Charlton Hill, on which the Centre Village stands, and he and bis eons and their families were the only residents wotil 1775. His house was on the west side of the road that runs on the east side of the Commuoo, aud probably a little farther south thao the house where George F. Cnmmine now lives, and stood on land that now is part of the Common.

2 The members of the church were : Richard Blood, Jonathan Up-

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Caleb Curtis a call to settle in the ministry, and voted to give him one hundred and thirty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence as settlement, and sixty pounds salary, so long as he should supply the pulpit. Mr. Curtis accepted the call and was ordained Octo- ber 15, 1761.

In 1762 the district voted to put pillars under the gallery beams and to build seats from alley to alley, and appropriations were made from time to time to pay expenses. In 1766 a petition was presented to the General Court for a tax on the land of non-resi- dent proprietors towards finishing the meeting- house, but no tax was granted.

In 1772 the district voted to give Jacob Davis £163 12s. to finish the inside of the meeting-house, " the work to be done as well and complete in all re- spects as the work was done in the meeting-house at Oxford aud to be completed in eighteen months." It appears that the work was completed according to the agreement, and in September, 1773, a committee was chosen " to Dignifie all the pews in the meeting- house." The business of this committee, judging by their report, which was accepted, was to number and appraise the pews. It was voted "that the man who paid the highest tax on real estate towards the meet- ing-house should have his first choice, paying the appraisal and so on by succession until all were dis- posed of." By this arrangement the choice fell to tax-payers in the following order: Jacob Davis, Ebenezer Hammond, Jonas Hammond, Paul Wheel- ock, Nehemiah Stone, Ebenezer Melntire, Nathaniel Blood, Jonathan Tucker, John Stevens, David Wheelock, Nathaniel Goodell, David Hammond, Daniel Weid, Ebenezer Foskett, Henry Merritt, Wil- liam Tucker, John Nichols, Jonathan Mower, John Edwards, Benjamin Marsh, Benjamin Alton, James Blanchard, John Marble, Jonathan Ballard, Edmund Bemis, Joseph Parker, Ebenezer White, Jr., John Farley. As one pew was reserved for the use of the ministry, it appears there were twenty-nine pews in the house at this time. Besides the pews there were seats in the house for the use of persons who were not pew-owners.

In 1788 it was voted to take up three of the body seats and sell at auction the room for pew ground. In 1790 Daniel Williams was granted leave to put a pew in the west end of the men's body seats. In 1793 General John Spurr paid £6 2s. for pew ground. In 1775, as has been stated, the district of Charlton, by an act of the General Court, was made a town. March 11, 1776, the church voted to dismiss Rev.

Caleb Curtis, according to his request. The town, at a meeting held March 25th, voted not to concur with the church, but in July following voted in favor of dismissal. October 29th an ecclesiastical council, after considering the reasons of Mr. Curtis for asking a dismission and finding that at his desire, the church and the town had voted to dismiss him, the council approved of what had been done and accordingly declared Mr. Curtis dismissed. Mr. Curtis, like many other clergymen of the time, owned a farm.1 After his dismissal he continued to live on his farm until his decease, in 1802, at the age of seventy-five years. He was active in public affairs and was chosen a delegate to the Provincial Congress in 1775 and a representative to the General Court in 1787.

The town continued to support ministers of the standing order until 1782. In that year the warrant contained an article, as follows: "To see if the town will vote to support for the future the public teacher, or teachers, of piety, religion and morality of said town by taxation or by free contribution." On this article the vote was, " for taxation, 55; for free con- tribution, 106." After this time no money was raised by the town for the support of preaching. A congre- gational society was incorporated in 1784. The act of incorporation was amended in 1786, and in 1798 the amended act was repealed, and an act passed, incorporating Israel Waters, Salem Town, John Spurr, Jonas Ward and others a religions society, by the name of " The Proprietors of the New Congre- gational Centre Meeting-house in Charlton." A meet- ing-house was built for the society by Deacon Jonas Ward, which was probably raised about the 1st of June, 1798, as May 24th the society chose three stew- ards, "to provide such drink as they should think necessary for raising day," and three "to deal out the drink," and voted "that the carpenters on raising- day should inform the stewards what time to refresh." The house was dedicated November 26, 1799. It was very large, having one hundred pews on the lower floor, and fifty in the gallery, and stood where the Univer- salist meeting-house now stands. The pews were divided amongst the proprietors by lot.2

After Mr. Curtis was dismissed there was no settled minister until January, 1783, when Rev. Archibald Campbell was installed, and remained until April, 1793, after which time there was no settled pastor for about four years. In 1797 Rev. Erastus Learned was ordained ; he was dismissed in 1802. In November, 1803, Rev. Edwards Whipple accepted a call from the church and society at a salary of four hundred dollars a year. Hc was ordained January 25, 1804, and remained until February 20, 1821.

The successor of Mr. Whipple was Rev. Thomas

ham, Timothy Barton, Josiah Towne, Jonathan Ballard, Jonathan Mower, Jonas Hammond, Nehemiah Stone, Ebenezer Lamh, Elisha Putney, Nathanial Blood, John Farlee, Josiah Robinson, Samuel Baker, Ebenezer Hammond, John Edwards, John Coburn, Aaron Gleason, Samuel Chamberlain, Jooathan Denuis, James Blanchard, Johanalı Blood, Ruth Blood, Lucy Chamberlain, Elizabeth Hammond, Esther Hammond, Mehitahle Dennis, Susanna Towne, Eunice Gleason, Eliza- beth Baker, Martha Upham, Deborah Coburn, Alice Ballard, Hepsibeh Barton.

1 The farm is now owned by Reuben S. Eastman.

2 The first meeting-bouse was sold, in 1803, to Levi Davis for three hundred and fifty dollars, one-half of which was paid to the pew owners, the other half to the town. The house was taken down and the mate- rials used for a barn on the farm now owned by Moses D. Woodbury.

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CHARLTON.

Rich, whose term of service ended in 1825. A major- ity of the proprietors had become dissenters from the Calvinistic Congregationalist doctrine, and, by an arrangement with the minority, became the owners of the meeting-house. In October, 1826, the minor- ity and other residents of the town organized a society and took the name of "The First Calvinistic Con -. gregational Society of Charlton." Meetings were held in the hall of William S. Weld (afterwards called " Craig's Hall") until a meeting-house was built. The house was commenced in 1826, and com- pleted in time to be dedicated June 5, 1827. The same day Rev. John Wilder, who had been invited by the church and society to become their pastor; was installed. Mr. Wilder remained until February, 1833. Since that time the pastors have been-Rev. William H. Whittemore, from June, 1833, to Septem- ber, 1835; Rev. Isaac R. Barbour, from August, 1836, to June, 1839; Rev. George W. Underwood, from June, 1840, to March, 1843 ; Rev. John Wilder, from April, 1843, till his decease, in 1844; Rev. Alanson Alvord, from February, 1845, to March, 1846; Rev. Nelson Clarke, from June, 1846, to December, 1849; Rev. Johu Haven, from April, 1850, to October, 1879; Rev. Frank Jenkins, from January, 1881, to July, 1882; Rev. Charles M. Pierce, from August, 1883, to November, 1886. Rev. William Sewall, the present pastor, was installed June 24, 1887.

In 1855 the meeting-house was remodeled and im- proved. The society has an income from a fund of about two thousand dollars, a bequest from Sally Wil- lis, who died in 1887.

As early as 1757 there were people in Charlton who held Baptist sentiments. In that year the following certificate was filed with the assessors :

LEICESTER, November 15, 1757.

This may Sertify all People to whom it may concern that Obadiah Mackintire, Sener., and Eleazer Mackintire, Sener., and Ebenezer Twiss and Solomon Harwood, all of Charlton, do Usually and frequently at- teod the aonabaptis Meeting vader the Pastoral care of Elder Thomas Green aod do Desire the Liberty the Law gives in Being Cleard from paying of Rates to those of other Way of thinking And Lickwise Elea . zer Mackintire, Junr.

Test. Wee who are Chosen by the Church to Give Setificates.

Elder THOMAS GREEN, SAMUWILL GREEN, THOMAS HOLI.MAN.

The same year Nathaniel Jones obtained a similar certificate from the Baptist Church in Sutton. In 1761 twenty-three tax-payers in Charlton had filed such certificates with the assessors and, in conse- quence, were exempted from paying taxes for the support of the standing order. In July, 1762, a Bap- tist Church was formed at what is called the North Side, composed of members from Charlton, Leicester and Spencer. There is nothing in the society or church records to show when the first meeting-house was built, but, as in all warrants for district or town- meetings prior to 1780, the inhabitants had been warued to meet at the meeting-house in said Charlton, and after that date at the Centre meeting-house, it

may reasonably be inferred that it was built in 1779. The society, for a time, increased quite rapidly in numbers, and, in 1793, a new house was built on land given for the purpose by Captain Levi Davis.

The society voted to give to Elder David Rathbun the old meeting-house for a dwelling-house, provided he should settle with them, but at a subsequent meeting this vote was reconsidered. And when the new house was ready for use the old one was sold to Moses Dodge.1

Elder Nathaniel Green, of Leicester, was the first minister. He was ordained October 12, 1763, and labored with the church and society until his decease, March 20, 1791. After the death of Elder Green the pastors were Elder David Rathbun, from 1792 to 1795 ; Elder Charles Thompson, from December, 1802, till his decease May 1, 1803; and Elder James Boomer, from 1803 to 1834, when his health failed and he was obliged to give up preaching. He died February 24, 1837. He was the last minister of the church and society. Soon after his decease letters of dismission and recommendation to other churches of the Baptist denomination were given the remain- ing members.2

Elder Boomer is remembered by the old residents of the town as an earnest, effective preacher, who la- bored faithfully for the welfare of his parishioners. He enjoyed the respect and confidence of his towns- men, and was twice elected a representative to the General Court. Several causes contributed to the decline of the society. There were many removals from town. Some were so situated that they could more conveniently attend other churches of the de- nomination, aud with a considerable number there was a change of religious sentiment.

It is said that a Methodist Church was organized in the southwest part of the town in 1792, and that circuit preachers served the society until 1810, after which the society ceased to exist. Meetings were held in the hall at Dresser Hill and in other places in the south part of the town for a considerable num- ber of years before a house of worship was built. Some of the preachers were: Hezekiah Davis, Stephen W. Hammond, Otis Perrin and Joseph S. El- lis. In 1855, when it was decided to build a church at Charlton City, a legal organization was effected, and measures taken to carry out the project. The house was completed in 1856. Since the organization of the society the pastors have been as follows : William B. Olds, 1855-56; Jarvis Wilson, part of 1857; Daniel Dorchester, 1858-59; C. H. Hanaford, 1860- 62; J. S. Thomas, 1862; John Noon, 1863; J. W. P. Jordan, 1864; A. M. Osgood, 1865; D. K. Banister, 1866-68; N. A. Soule, 1869-71; N. F. Stevens, 1872;

1 The house was taken dowo and the materials used for a dwelling- house on the farm now owned by George J. Dodge.

2 The last meeting-house after the dissolution of the society was taken down and removed to the easterly part of Leicester and set up for a factory.

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

J. J. Woodbury, 1873-75 ; S. H. Noon, 1876; F. T. George, 1877; G. W. H. Clarke, 1878 ; P. C. Sloper, 1879-80; W. A. Braman, 1881-83; G. O. Crosby, 1884-85; O. W. Adams, 1886, '87-88.

The society has an income from a liberal bequest from Sally Willis, lately deceased.

After the division of the Congregational Society in 1825, the meeting-house was purchased by the town, but was sold in 1826 to Dr. Dan Lamb, Samuel D. Spurr, John Davis and others, and passed under the control of the Unitarians. . In 1827 a society and church of that denomination was organized, of which Rev. Edward Turner became the pastor. He was in- stalled June 18, 1827, and remained until May, 1831. He was the only pastor of the society, and soon after his services ended the society ceased to exist. Many of the members joined the Universalists in organizing the First Union Society of Charlton.

A Universalist Society was formed in 1827, and held meetings at the North Side. The preachers were Rev. Massena B. Ballou, Rev. Gilman Noyes and Rev. John Boyden. In 1838 a society was organized, composed of Universalists and Unitarians, that took the name of " The First Union Society of Charlton," and voted to hold meetings at Charlton Centre. The old meeting-house was purchased of the proprietors and taken down, and a new house built on the spot where the old one stood. The basement was built by the town according to the terms of an agreement with the society, and is used as a place for bolding town- meetings and for public uses. The house was com- pleted and dedicated in December, 1839. In 1851 the society took the name of " The First Universalist Society of Charlton." Rev. Aurin Bugbee was pastor of the society from 1838 to 1851. Since that time the pastors have been Rev. M. E. Hawes, 1851-52; Rev. Lyman Maynard, 1853; Rev. J. H. Willis, 1854-55. From 1855 to 1858 there was no regular pastor ; the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Z. Baker and others. In March, 1858, Rev. Lucius Holmes became the pastor, and continued until March, 1863 ; Rev. Clarence Fowler was pastor the remainder of 1863 and 1864; Rev. Edward Smiley, 1866-74; Rev. Anson Titus, 1875-78; Rev. I. P. Quimby, 1879-83. In 1883 Rev. Lucins Holmes a second time became pas- tor and still continues in that office.

Nehemiah B. Stone, who died in 1866, left by will five thousand dollars to the society, the interest of which was to be used for the support of preaching.

In 1858 a society was formed at Lelandville of peo- ple of various religious beliefs. A meeting-house was built and religious services held regularly on the Sab- bath for several years, Rev. William B. Olds sup- plied the pulpit most of the time. From some cause interest in the meetings declined, religious services were discontinued, and the meeting-house, after re- maining unused for a considerable time, was sold and removed,

About 1865 a Second Advent Society was formed in

the southeast part of the town. A chapel was built in which meetings have since been held. There has been no permanent minister. The preaching has been by clergymen of the denomination from other towns.

The Roman Catholics held meetings at Charlton Depot for several years. In 1887 a building was pur- chased at Charlton City in which their meetings are now held. The church is under the care of Rev. Father Donahoe, of Southbridge.

At the first meeting held in the district March 12, 1755, no money was appropriated for any purpose. The second meeting was held the same month. An article in the warrant for the second meeting was "To make such grant or grants of money as the district may think necessary for the district's use as for schooling the children in the place or for other things that may be thought needful." Eight pounds, lawful money, was voted for schooling. At a meeting held in April following it was voted that the schools should be kept in two places, the one on the north side, the other on the south side of the district. At that time there were no inhabitants living farther north than the Centre Village now extends. It is probable that the school for the south part was on or near Dresser Hill, in the neighborhood of the Bloods and the Dressers. The school for the north part was without doubt farther south than what is now Charl- ton Centre. In 1756 it was voted that the schools should be kept in three places, and that no part of the money should be laid out for hiring a school-dame in summer, as petitioned for by some of the inliabi- tants who had small children. The Gore having been annexed to the district in 1757, in July of that year £13 68. 8d. was voted for schooling, and Ebenezer Wbite, Ebenezer Hammond, John Stevens, Eleazer McIntire and Nathaniel Blood were chosen School Committee. It was voted that each part should provide its own school-house and that the committee should provide schooling as each part should choose. In 1760 the selectmen were chosen School Committee, and the appropriation for schools was fifteen pounds. In 1761 a committee was chosen " to state places for school-houses in the several parts of the district." The committee reported that they had agreed on six places, three on the east side and three on the west side of the district, and that the house for the southwest part should stand where it was already built. The report was accepted.

For several years after this time the number of schools was not increased, and the sum appropriated for their support in any year did not exceed twenty pounds. In 1767 the district was divided into eight school wards, one of which was called the Middle Ward, the school-house for which was to be at the southwest corner of the burying-ground. Before this time it does not appear that there had been a school at the Centre. The district voted that each ward should build its own school-house. In May, 1773, Ebenezer Hammond, Jacob Davis and Isaiah Blood

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CHARLTON.

were chosen a committee to act in defence of the town on an indictment for not keeping a grammar school. As the population increased additional schools were provided and the appropriations for their sup- port were increased.

In 1780 there were ten school-wards in the town. In 1778 the sum voted for schools was one hundred pounds. The currency had become of so little value in 1780 that twenty-five hundred pounds was voted. In 1781 the appropriation was "60 pounds in hard money or current exchange." In 1786 a committee was chosen "to regulate the schools for each ward and to select a place for a school-house in each ward where a school-house had not been built, the places selected to be reported to the town for acceptance." The committee were authorized to expend, under the direction of the selectmen, the money that each ward was entitled to receive. In 1788 the town granted the petition of the " middle ward" for leave to build a school-house with the share of money raised for schooling belonging to said ward. The same privilege was granted the " east ward" the year following. In 1795 three additional school-wards were made and the sum of two hundred pounds was voted for provid- ing schooling. A few years later two more school- wards were made and fifteen schools were supported until 1836, when the number was reduced to thirteen by uniting two at the Centre and two in the northeast part of the town.

As for many years each ward or district provided its own school-house and the money raised for schools was divided amongst the several wards, in proportion to the amount of tax paid by the inhabitants of each, the wards or districts really provided the schooling. In 1854 a more equitable method of dividing the money was adopted, a portion of the money raised for school purposes being divided equally among the districts. In 1869 the town voted to abolish the school-district system and since that time has owned the school-houses. A sufficient number of schools to accommodate all the school-children of the town are maintained thirty weeks each year. For several years the number of schools has varied from eleven to thirteen. The annual expense for their support is about $3800.

The No. 3 School District has a fund of $1000, a bequest by Jesse Smith, who died in 1835. The inter- est of this fund is used for the benefit of the school in the district.

The No. 2 District has a fund of the same amount, the bequest of Nehemiah B. Stone, the income from which is used in like manner.

Capt. Julius E. Tucker, who died in 1873, left a legacy of $1000 to the town, the interest of which will, according to the terms of his will, be mainly used for school purposes.

In 1860 a Library Association was formed for the purpose of establishing a library. The undertaking proved quite successful and a good collection of books

was secured. In order that its use might be enjoyed by the public generally, in 1882 it was made over to the town for a Free Public Library, on condition that an annual appropriation should be made for the pur- chase of books and for necessary expenses. Since that time the town has annually appropriated $200 for its benefit. April 1, 1888, the library contained 1168 volumes for circulatiou and 365 books of refer- ence. In the future, in addition to the appropria- tions made by the town, the library will have the in- come from a fund of $500, bequeathed by Mrs. Eme- line Munroe, said income to be expended for the purchase of books.

Pauperism was rare in the early history of the town. Occasional aid was rendered persons in indi- gent circumstances. In 1766 Nathan McIntire was paid two shillings two pence " for a pare of mittens and footing ; 2 pear of stockings for James Butler." Other small amounts were paid from time to time. In 1773 Dr. William Ware was allowed twelve shil- lings three pence for doctoring the poor. Some families were warned to leave the town to prevent their acquiring a settlement. In 1766 it was voted "to allow Solomon Harwood, for warning out three families, by vertu of a warrant from the selectmen, fore shillings." Several times the town voted to build a work-house, but the votes were never carried into effect, and for a considerable time homes were found for paupers with such persons as were willing, for a stipulated price, to undertake the support of one or more of them for the year. Later they were "auc- tioned off to the lowest bidder." In 1836 a farm of two hundred acres was purchased, on which, since that time, the unfortunate poor of the town, in sick- ness and in health, have been comfortably provided for. In 1864 a new house was built on the farm, at a cost of $6125.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 197

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