USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 20
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Arthur A. Putman, born in Danvers, 1832; admit- ted 1875; practised in Danvers, Blackstone and Ux- bridge.
George E. Putman, born in Fitchburg, 1853; grad- uated at M. U., 1875; admitted 1875; practised in Fitchburg.
James Putman,1 born in Salem, 1725; graduated at H. C., 1746 ; admitted 1748; practised in Wor- cester.
Rufus Putnam,1 born in Warren, 1783; graduated at W. C., 1804; practised in Rutland.
Abraham G. Randall,1 born in Manchester, 1804; graduated at H. C., 1826; admitted 1831; practised in Millbury and Worcester.
Richard K. Randolph, Jr., admitted 1879.
John B. Ratigan, born in Worcester, 1859 ; gradu- ated at H. Cr., 1879; admitted 1883; practised in Worcester.
Warren Rawson,1 born in Mendon, 1777; gradu- ated at B. U., 1802; practised in Mendon.
Louis W. Raymenton, r., born in Chester, Vt., 1853; admitted 1879; practised in Minneapolis and Worcester.
Edward T. Raymond, born in Worcester, 1844; admitted 1880; practised in Worcester.
Charles M. Rice, born in Worcester, 1860; gradu- ated at H. C., 1882; admitted 1886; practised in Worcester.
Henry C. Rice, born in Millbury, 1827; graduated at B. U., 1850; admitted 1852; practised in Wor- cester.
Merrick Rice,1 graduated at H. C., 1785; practised in Harvard and Lancaster.
William W. Rice, born in Deerfield, 1826; gradu- ated at B. C., 1846; admitted 1854; practised in Wor- cester.
Jairus Rich,1 practised in Charlton.
George W. Richardson,1 born in Boston, 1808; grad- nated at H. C., 1829; admitted 1834; practised in Worcester.
Artemas Rogers, r., practised in Fitchburg.
Edward Rogers, r., practised in Webster and Chi- cago, Ill.
Henry M. Rogers, born in Ware, 1837; attended A. C .; admitted 1883 ; practised in Worcester.
Clarence B. Roote, born in Francestown, N. H., 1853; graduated at W. C., 1876; admitted 1884; practised in Barre and Ware.
Arthur P. Rugg, born in Sterling, 1862; graduated
at A. C., 1883 ; admitted 1886; practised in Worces- ter.
Charles M. Ruggles, born in Providence, R.I., 1836; admitted 1860 ; practised in Worcester.
Timothy Ruggles,1 born in Rochester, 1711 ; gradu- ated at H. C., 1782; admitted 1735; practised in Rochester, Sandwich and Hardwick.
Stephen Salisbury,1 born in Worcester, 1798 ; grad- nated at H. C., 1817; practised in Worcester.
Stephen Salisbury, Jr., born in Worcester, 1835; graduated at H. C., 1856; admitted 1863 ; practised in Worcester.
Simeon Sannderson,1 admitted 1820; practised in Westminster and Athol.
Edward B. Sawtell, born in Fitchburg, 1840 ; grad- nated at H. C., 1862; admitted 1871; practised in Fitchburg.
Emory C. Sawyer, admitted 1875; practised in Warren.
John S. Scammell, born in Bellingham, 1816 ; grad- uated at B. U. ; admitted 1840 ; practised in Milford. Livingstou Scott, admitted 1886.
William Sever,1 graduated at H. C., 1778 ; practised in Rutland.
John W. Sheehan, born in Millbury, 1866 ; attend- ed H. Cr .; admitted 1888 ; practised in Worcester. John Shepley,1 practised in Worcester.
Jonas L. Sibley,1 born in Sutton, 1791; graduated at B. U., 1813 ; practised in Sutton.
Willis E. Sibley,1 born in New Salem, 1857 ; admit- ted 1888 ; practised in Worcester.
William F. Slocum, r., born in Tolland, 1822; ad- mitted 1846 ; practised in Grafton and Boston.
Henry O. Smith, born in Leicester, 1839 ; gradu- ated at A. C., 1863; admitted 1866; practised in Worcester.
Jonathan Smith,1 born in Peterboro', N. H., 1842 ; graduated at D. C., 1871; admitted 1875; practised in Clinton.
Jonathan Smith, born in Peterboro', N. H., 1842; graduated at D. C., 1871; admitted 1875; practised in Manchester, N. H., and Clinton.
Moses Smith,1 born in Rutland, 1777; admitted 1802; practised in Lancaster.
N. J. Smith, r., practised in Blackstone, Spencer and Aurora, Ill.
Sidney P. Smith, born in Princeton, Ill., 1850 ; graduated at A. C., 1874; admitted 1883; practised in Chicago and Athol.
William A. Smith, born in Leicester, 1824; gradu- ated at H. C., 1843 ; admitted 1846 ; practised in Wor- cester.
Charles H. B. Snow,1 born in Fitchburg, 1822; graduated at H. C., 1844; admitted 1847; practised in Fitchburg.
Frederick W. Southwick, born in Blackstone, 1843; admitted 1868 ; practised in Worcester.
William L. Southwick,1 born in Mendon, 1827; ad- mitted 1849 ; practised in Hopkinton and Blackstone.
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THE BENCH AND BAR.
Frank B. Spalter, born in Groton, 1845; admitted 1871 ; practised in Wichendon.
Clarence Spooner, r., admitted 1883.
Edmund B. Sprague, r., attended H. C. ; admitted 1880 ; practised in Worcester and Denver, Col.
Franklin M. Sprague, r., born in East Douglas, 1841 ; admitted 1870 ; practised in Worcester.
John Sprague,1 born in Rochester, 1740; graduated at II. C., 1765 ; admitted 1768 ; practised in Newport, R. I., Keene, N. H., and Lancaster.
Samuel .J. Sprague,1 graduated at H. C., 1799; prac- tised in Lancaster.
Peleg Sprague,1 born in Rochester ; graduated at D. C., 1783 ; admitted 1784; practised in Lancaster, Winchendon, Fitchburg, and Keene, N. H.
Homer B. Sprague, r., born in Sutton, 1829; grad- uated at Y. C., 1852; admitted 1854; practised in Worcester and New Haven.
William B. Sprout, born in Enfield, 1859; gradu- ated at A. C., 1883; admitted 1885; practised in Worcester.
Hamilton B. Staples, born in Mendon, 1829; grad- uated at B. U., 1851; admitted 1854; practised in Milford and Worcester.
William Stearns,1 born in Lunenburg ; graduated at H. C., 1770; admitted 1776; practised in Wor- cester.
Daniel Stearns,1 born in Fitchburg, 1831 ; gradu- ated at D. C., 1855; admitted 1859; practised in Fitchburg.
Heman Stebbins,1 born in W. Springfield ; gradu- ated at Y. C., 1814; practised in Brookfield.
William Stedman,1 born in Cambridge, 1765 ; grad- uated at H. C., 1784; admitted 1787; practised in Lancaster, Charlton and Newburyport.
Charles F. Stevens, born in Worcester, 1855; grad- uated at H. C., 1876; admitted 1878; practised in Worcester.
Charles G. Stevens, born in Claremont, N. H., 1821 ; graduated at D. C., 1840; admitted 1845; practised in Clinton.
Isaac Stevens,1 born in Wareham, 1792; admitted 1821 ; practised in Middleboro' and Athol.
James A. Stiles, born in Fitchburg, 1855; gradu- ated at H. C., 1877; admitted 1880; practised in Fitchburg and Gardner.
Amos W. Stockwell,1 r., born in Sutton; graduated at A. C., 1833; admitted 1837 ; practised in Worcester and Chicopee.
John H. Stockwell,1 born in Webster, 1838; admit- ted 1859; practised in Webster.
Elijah B. Stoddard, born in Upton, 1826; gradu- ated at B. U., 1847; admitted 1849; practised in Worcester.
Henry D. Stone,1 born in Southbridge, 1820; grad- uated at A. C., 1844; admitted 1847 ; practised in Worcester and New Orleans.
Isaac Story,1 graduated at H. C., 1793 ; practised in Rutland and Sterling.
Martin L. Stowe,1 practised in Southboro' and Northboro'.
Asa E. Stratton, born in Grafton, 1853; graduated at B. U., 1873; admitted 1875; practised in Fitch- burg.
Ashbel Strong,1 practised in Fitchburg.
Simeon Strong,1 graduated at Y. C., 1786 ; practised in Barre.
Solomon Strong,1 born in Amherst, 1780; gradu- ated at W. C., 1798; practised in Athol, Lancaster and Westminster.
John Stuart.1
John E. Sullivan, born in Worcester, 1857; gradu- ated at H. Cr., 1877; admitted 1879; practised in Worcester.
Bradford Sumner,1 graduated at B. U., 1808; prac- tised in Brookfield, Leicester and Spencer.
George Swan, born in Hubbardston, 1826; ad- mitted 1848; practised in Hubbardston and Wor- cester.
Samuel Swan,1 born in Leicester, 1778; graduated at H. C., 1799; practised in Hubbardston and Oak- ham.
Arthur M. Taft, born in Uxbridge, 1856 ; admitted 1882; practised in Worcester.
Bezaleel Taft, Jr.,1 born in Uxbridge, 1780 ; gradu- ated at H. C., 1804 ; practised at Uxbridge.
George S. Taft,1 born in Uxbridge, 1826; gradu- ated at B. U., 1848; admitted 1851 ; practised in Ux- bridge.
George S. Taft, born in Uxbridge, 1859; graduated at B. U., 1882; admitted 1887; practised in Wor- cester.
Jesse A. Taft, born in Mendon, 1857; admitted 1883; practised in Milford.
William E. Tatum, admitted 1887.
Ezra Taylor,1 born in Southborough ; practised in Southborough.
Marvin M. Taylor, born in Jefferson, N. Y., 1860; admitted 1885 ; practised in Worcester.
Adin Thayer,1 born in Blackstone, 1828; admitted 1854 ; practised in Worcester.
Amasa Thayer,1 graduated at H. C., 1810; prac- tised in Brookfield.
Francis N. Thayer, born in Blackstone ; admitted 1876 ; practised in Blackstone.
John R. Thayer, born in Douglas, 1845; graduated at Y. C., 1869; admitted 1871 ; practised in Worces- ter.
Joseph Thayer,1 born in Douglas, 1792; graduated at B. U., 1815; admitted 1818; practised in Ux- bridge.
Webster Thayer, born in Blackstone, 1857 ; gradu- ated at D. C., 1880; admitted 1882; practised in Worcester.
Levi Thaxter, practised in Worcester.
Benjamin F. Thomas,1 born in Boston, 1813; grad- uated at B. U., 1830; admitted 1833; practised in Worcester and Boston.
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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
E. Francis Thompson, born in Worcester, 1859; admitted 1884; practised in Worcester.
Ilenry F. Thompson, born in Webster, 1859; at- tended W. C .; admitted 1887 ; practised in Webster.
Oliver H. Tillotson,1 born in Orford, N. H .; ad- mitted 1855 ; practised in Worcester.
Seymour A. Tingier,1 born in Tolland ; graduated at W. C., 1855; admitted 1857; practised in Webster.
Joseph A. Titus, born in Leicester, 1842; gradu- ated at A. C., 1863; admitted 1868; practised in Worcester.
Paul P. Todd, r., born in Atkinson, N. H., 1819; graduated at D. C., 1842; admitted 1847 ; practised in Blackstone, Boston, St. Lonis and New York.
John Todd, r., practised in Westminster and Fitch- burg.
Ebenezer Torrey,1 born in Franklin, 1801 ; gradu- ated at H. C., 1822; admitted 1825; practised in Fitchburg.
George A. Torrey, r., born in Fitchburg, 1838; graduated at H. C., 1859; admitted 1861 ; practised in Fitchburg and Boston.
Newton Tourtelot, r., admitted 1853; practised in Webster.
William M. Towne,1 r., born in Charlton ; gradu- ated at A. C., 1825; admitted 1828; practised in Wor- cester.
Louis K. Travis, r., born in Holliston, 1852; ad- mitted 1875; practised in Westborough.
Joseph Trumbull, r., born in Worcester, 1828; ad- mitted 1849; practised in Worcester.
George A. Tufts,1 born in Dudley, 1797; graduated at H. C., 1818; admitted 1821 ; practised in Dudley. Stephen P. Twiss, r., born in Charlton, 1830; ad- mitted 1853; practised in Worcester and Kansas City. Benjamin O. Tyler, r., practised in Winchendon.
Nathan Tyler,1 graduated at H. C., 1779; practised in Uxbridge.
Nathan Tyler, Sr.,1 practised in Uxbridge.
Adin B. Underwood,1 born in Milford, 1828; grad- ated at B. U., 1849 ; admitted 1853 ; practised in Mil- ford and Boston.
F. H. Underwood, r., practised in Webster.
Jabez Upham,1 born in Brookfield ; graduated at H. C., 1785; admitted 1788 ; practised in Sturbridge, Claremont, N. 11., and Brookfield.
Joshna Upham,1 born in Brookfield, 1741; gradu- ated at H. C., 1763; admitted 1765; practised in Brookfield, Boston and New York.
John L. Utley, r., born in Brimfield, 1837; ad- mitted 1874; practised in Blackstone and Worcester. Samuel Utley, born in Chesterfield, 1843; admitted 1867 ; practised in Worcester.
Ernest H. Vaughn, born in Greenwich, 1858; ad- mitted 1884; practised in Worcester.
George F. Verry,1 born in Mendon, 1826; admitted 1851; practised in Worcester.
Horace B. Verry, born in Saco, Me., 1843; admitted 1864; practised in Worcester.
Edward J. Vose,1 born in Augusta, Me., 1806 ; grad- uated at B. C., 1825; admitted 1828; practised in Worcester.
Richard H. Vose,' graduated at B. C., 1822; prac- tised in Worcester.
Charles Wadsworth, r., practised in Barre and Wor- cester.
Lovell Walker,1 born in Brookfield, 1768; gradu- ated at D. C., 1794; admitted 1801; practised in Tem- pleton and Leominster.
Andrew H. Ward,1 graduated at H. C., 1808; prac- tised in Shrewsbury.
Nahum Ward, born in Shrewsbury ; admitted 1731; practised in Shrewsbury.
J. C. B. Ward, r., practised in Athol.
Charles E. Ware, born in Fitchburg, 1853 ; gradu- ated at H. C., 1876; admitted 1879; practised in Fitchburg.
Thornton K. Ware, born in Cambridge, 1823; grad- uated at H. C., 1842; admitted 1846; practised in Fitchburg.
Emory Washburn,1 born in Leicester, 1800; gradu- ated at W. C., 1817; admitted 1821; practised in Charlemont, Leicester, Worcester and Cambridge.
John D. Washburn, born in Boston, 1833 ; gradu- ated at H. C., 1853; admitted 1856; practised in Worcester.
Asa H. Waters,1 born in Millbury, 1808; practised in Millbury. '
Paul B. Watson, r., born in Morristown, N. J., 1861; graduated at H. C., 1881; admitted 1885 ; practised in Boston.
Francis Wayland, Jr., r., born in Providence, R. I., graduated at B. U., 1846; practised in Worcester and New Haven, Conn.
Jared Weed,1 born in New York, 1783; graduated at II. C., 1807 ; admitted 1810; practised in Peters- ham.
Charles K. Wetherell,1 born in Petersham, 1822; admitted 1844; practised in Petersham, Barre and Worcester.
George A. Wetherell,1 born in Oxford, 1825 ; grad- nated at Y. C., 1848; admitted 1851; practised in Worcester.
John W. Wetherell, born in Oxford, 1820; gradu- ated at Y. C., 1844; admitted 1846; practised in Worcester.
J. Allyn Weston, 1 r., born in Duxbury ; graduated at H. C., 1846 ; admitted 1849 ; practised in Worcester and Milford.
Charles Wheaton,1 r, born in Rhode Island, 1828; admitted 1851 ; practised in Worcester.
George Wheaton,1 graduated at H. C., 1814; prac- tised in Uxbridge.
Henry S. Wheaton,1 r., graduated at B. U., 1841 ; admitted 1844; practised in Dudley.
Otis C. Wheeler,1 born in Worcester, 1808 ; admitted 1830 ; practised in Worcester.
J. C. Fremont Wheelock, born in Mendon, 1856;
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THE BENCH AND BAR.
attended Y. C. ; admitted 1883; practised in South- bridge.
Peter Wheclock,1 graduated at B. IT., 1811; prac- tised in Mendon.
William J. Whipple,1 graduated at H. C., 1805; practised in Dudley.
William C. White,' practised in Grafton, Rutland, Sutton and Worcester.
William E. White, bora in Worcester, 1863; ad- mitted 1887 ; practised in Worcester and Leominster. Solon Whiting, practised in Lancaster.
Abel Whitney,' graduated at W. C., 1810; practised in Harvard.
Giles H. Whitney,' born in Boston, 1818; graduated at H. C., 1837; admitted 1842; practised in West- minster, Templeton and Winchendon.
Milton Whitney,1 r., born in Ashburnham, 1823; admitted 1846; practised in Fitchburg and Balti- more, Md.
Abel Willard,1 born in Lancaster, 1732; graduated at H. C., 1752; practised in Lancaster.
Calvin Willard,1 born in Harvard, 1784 ; graduated at H. C .; admitted 1809 ; practised in Barnstable, Pe- tersham and Fitchburg.
Jacob Willard,1 graduated at B. U., 1805 ; practised in Fitchburg.
Joseph Willard,1 r., born in Cambridge, 1798; graduated at II. C., 1816; admitted 1819; practised in Waltham and Lancaster.
Levi Willard,1 graduated at H. C., 1775 ; practised in Lancaster.
Elijah Williams,1 graduated at H. C., 1764; prac- tised in Deerfield and Mendon.
Hartley Williams,' born in Somerset, Me., 1820 ; admitted 1850 ; practised in Worcester.
James O. Williams,' born in New Bedford, 1827; graduated at H. C., 1849; admitted 1853; practised in Worcester and St. Louis, Mo.
Lemuel Williams,1 born in Dartmouth, 1782; grad- uated at B. U., 1804; admitted 1808; practised in New Bedford and Worcester.
Lemuel S. Williams,' born in New Bedford, 1812; graduated at H. C., 1836 ; practised in Dedham and Westborough.
William A. Williams, born in Hubbardston, 1820; admitted 1848; practised in Worcester.
John Winslow,' graduated at B. U., 1795 ; practised in Northborough.
G. R. M. Withington, born in Boston ; graduated at U. V., 1825; admitted 1829; practised in Boston and Lancaster.
Charles W. Wood, born in Worcester, 1844; admitted 1883 ; practised in Worcester.
Harry Wood,1 born in Grafton, 1838; practised in Grafton.
Cortland Wood, r., born in Plainfield, Ct., 1850; graduated at Y. C., 1871; admitted 1873; practised in Oxford.
Joseph H. Wood, born in Mendon, 1853; admitted 1877 ; practised in Milford.
Nathaniel Wood,1 born in Holden, 1797 ; graduated at H. C., 1821 ; practised in Fitchburg.
Samuel F. Woods,1 born in Barre, 1837; graduated at Y. C., 1856 ; admitted 1858 ; practised in Barre.
George M. Woodward, born in Worcester, 1838; admitted 1860; practised in Worcester.
James M. Woodbury, born in Templeton, 1819; admitted 1862; practised in Fitchburg.
HISTORY
OF
WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
TOWN HISTORIES.
CHAPTER I.
LANCASTER.
BY HON. HENRY S. NOURSE.
The Nashaways and their Home-King's Purchase-The Nushaway Planters -The Town Grant-The Covenant-Land Allotments-Death of Showa- non.
AT the time the Massachusetts Company were lay- ing the foundations of their settlements on the river Charles, there dwelt in the northeastern part of what is now Worcester County a small tribe of red meu, generally known as the Nashaways. They were an independent clan, though evidently of the same origin and speaking the same tongue with the natives of the coast, and the Nipmucks, Quabaugs and River In- dians south and west of them. A close defensive al- liance bound together these Massachusetts tribes, and this boud was their only safeguard against the mur- derous incursions of the Mohegans and Mohawks, their traditional foes.
Of the Nashaways there were three groups or vil- lages,-one at the eastern base of Mt. Wachusett, another at the Washacum ponds, and a third about the meeting of the two branches of the river which the pioneers called "Penecook," but which is now known as the Nashua. By the custom of the period the location of a native village or planting-field gave name to those there resident, and we find these Indians called indiscriminately, by the English, Washacums and Wachusetts, as well as Nashaways. They proudly cherished traditions of great former prowess and pros-
perity, but war and pestilence had greatly reduced their numbers before the coming of the white man, and in 1633 the small-pox swept away hundreds more, leaving hut a comparatively enfeebled remnant be- hind; although they were even yet numerous enough to be styled "a great people" by Daniel Gookin.
The sachem holding mild sway over the Nashaways was Showanon or Nashowanon, also called Sholan, Shaumauw, Shoniow and Nashacowam-for an Indian chief of repute always had sundry aliases, each, per- haps, indicative of some specially memorable deed or personal experience. His home was upon a plateau between the little lakes of Washacum, about which were clustered the wigwams of his central and largest village. He appears not infrequently in early colonial history and always greeting the white man with wel- coming words and generous hospitality. Finally the saintly Eliot joyfully proclaims that his personal min- istrations have won Sholan and many of his followers to the Christian fold. Before this the chieftain had made many English acquaintances in his visits to the Bay, and among them Thomas King, of Watertown, gained his special favor. He persuaded King to visit his domain, and made him generous offers of a land grant, desiring him to establish a trucking-house, where his people could exchange their peltry for much-coveted iron weapons, kettles, cloths, and the various novelties brought by the strangers from over the seas.
The country of the Nashaways lay among lofty, smoothly-rounded hills, sloping gently down to broad meadows, through which coursed rivulets of pure, cool
1
1
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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
water; while numerous little lakes slept in conceal- ment of the forest. It was a famous hunting-ground, prolific of deer, beaver, wild turkeys and small game. Occasionally the swan wandered hither from the Mer- rimack, and moose, elk, bears, wolves and wild-cats were sometimes met with. Samuel Maverick tells us also that the waters were noted for excellent salmon and trout. For the capture of the migratory shad and salmon on their return towards the ocean, the Iudians had built a weir at the shallows in the main river, while the frequent falls and rapids in the branches afforded convenient spots for the successful plying of spear and net, when the fish were ascending in spawn- ing time.
The hunters or traders of Concord and Sudbury, adventurous enough to push fifteen miles westward into the wilderness, found a feeble band of the Natick Indians living at Okommakameset (now Marlborough) and a little beyond could look over the summit of the lofty Wataquadock hills into the paradise of the Nashaways. The widely-extended view with its deli- cate hues varying with sun and season, which there met their gaze, is the same that attracts so many ad- mirers to-day ; for even two hundred and fifty years of civilization cannot avail to mar, or add to, the grand features of xo broad and varied a landscape. To the north the horizon is bounded by the picturesque mountain peaks of New Hampshire, blue or violet with distance. The shapely dome of Wachusett at the west dominates the scene, and, near at hand, little valleys creeping out from the shadows of the George and Wataquadock ranges of hills, join to form the broad, fertile intervales, dotted with hickory, syca- more and stately elms, which sweep northward, bear- ing the rivers towards the sea. All is gentle undula- tion, charming, restful-nothing awe-inspiring or grand, perhaps, certainly nothing precipitous or even abrupt-nothing suggestive of the ferocities of nature, save the sharp cone of Monadnock, dimly to be seen in the middle distance.
Nor was the landscape then a "howling wilderness," gloomy with primeval forest and impassable coppice, as so generally it has been depicted in story; for in the vicinity of the Indian plantations, twice in the year the woods were purposely fired to free them of the brushwood that could hide a stealthy foe, or ob- struct pursuit of game. Therefore, in time, extensive areas came to wear a park-like appearance, resembling the similarly formed "oak-openings" of the West, everywhere passable, even for horsemen. The more fertile meadows, where not too wet, were swept bare of tree and underwood and clad in summer with a rank growth of coarse grasses, "some as high as the should- ers, so that a good mower may cut three loads in a day," as William Wood testified in 1634.
At how early a date the pioneer pale-face first looked down from its southern barrier of hills upon Sholan's beautiful domain is not known. John Win- throp relates that the Watertown people began a set-
tlement at Nashaway in 1643. Before that Thomas King had accepted the invitation of the sachem, and selected a location for a trading post on the sunny slope of George Hill, near the parting of two trails which led from the "wading-place" of Nashaway, westward to Wachusett, and southwesterly by Washa- cum to the land of the Quabangs. King was a young man of limited means, and had formed a partnership with Henry Symonds, a freeman, a capitalist, and an enterprising contractor, living near the head of what is now North Street, in Boston. By a little brook that came brawling down the divide over which the west- ern trail ran, the trucking-house was built, probably in 1642, certainly before the summer of 1643. Sy- monds, the moneyed partner, died in September of 1643, and King survived him little more than a year. In the inventory of King's property there is no hint of any estate at Lancaster. This is confirmation of the statement made by Rev. Timothy Harrington in 1753-doubtless recording a tradition-that a company bought such proprietary rights at Nashaway as King had obtained by his bargain with Sholan. No deed of a sale is found, but the price of the grant, as agreed upon with the Indians, was twelve pounds. The ter- ritory acquired was nominally ten miles long from south to north, by eight miles wide. It included a few families of Indians, dwelling about the rivers and ponds, though these, perhaps, joined the Washacum village, when, in 1663 and 1669, the warriors of the tribe were decimated in contest with the bloodthirsty Mohawks. A provision in Sholan's deed, however, restricted the purchasers and their successors from "molesting the Indians in their hunting, fishing, or usual planting places." Joint occupancy was the evi- dent intent of the conveyance.
The Nashaway Company, having signed a compact, at once began the assignment of home lots among themselves, and sought from the authorities legal sanction of their enterprise. Favorable response was made to their petition, May 29, 1644, and the names of the foremost undertakers thereafter appear from time to time in various records. They were chiefly from Boston and Watertown. At the head of the first list of the proposed planters found, stand the names of two graduates of Cambridge University, England- Nathaniel Norcross and Robert Childe. The former had been promised adequate settlement as pastor of the plantation, but growing impatient of delays in the gathering of his parish he soon departed for England, bearing the manuscript of the broken contract with him. Robert Childe was a scholar of varied learning. He had traveled in many lands, was a close observer, pretended to considerable knowledge of chemistry and metallurgy, was ambitious and restlessly euergetic. He gave books to the infant college of Harvard, in- vested largely in the iron works at Lynn and Brain- tree, shipped from England vines, grafts of plums, and various seeds and plants to his intimate friend John Winthrop, Jr., and to all appearances wholly merited
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