History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 40

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 40

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The cast-iron main is sixteen inches in diameter, and about five and three-fourths miles in length. The water is of unsurpassed purity, abundant for all prob- able needs, and reaches the hydrants in High Street with a pressure of about eighty pounds to the square inch, having a head of over one hundred feet. At the mills the hydrant pressure is one hundred and ten pounds. During 1883 Lynde Brook and Pond were taken into the reservoir >ystem. The first basin had a capacity of three million gallons; Lynde reser- voir has a capacity of ten million gallons. An act, approved March 27, 1884, and accepted by a town vote, permits the additional sum of fifty thousand dollars in water bonds to be issued, and anthorizes the sell- ing of water to the inhabitants of Lancaster along its main line, and to the Lancaster Water Company.

CLINTON.

provided the needs of the inhabitants of Clinton are first supplied. The water bonds authorized have not all been issued. They yield four per cent. interest, pay- able April and October 1st, and run for twenty years. Work has recently begun upon an additional reser- voir of thirty million gallons capacity.

In connection with the subject of water supply, that of public sewage was given to the consideration of the committee of 1875, and a report was made to the town March 5, 1877, advising that no action be taken at that time looking to any plan for a general system of drainage. The little reservoir of the Clin- ton Yarn Company, known as Counterpane Pond, had already become seriously polluted by the foul matter constantly poured into it from the carpet-mills and various other sources, and, being in the heart of the town, was a fruitful cause of complaint, especially from those dwelling in its immediate vicinity. A plan for a system of sewers was obtained from the noted engineer, Phineas Ball, in 1883, and a petition for authority to construct a sewerage system was pre- sented to the Legislature of 1886. The petitioners, however, preferred to be given leave to withdraw rather than accept any bill prohibiting the discharge of unfiltered sewage into the Nashua River, a restric- tion which was demanded by the inhabitants of towns upou that stream below Clinton. The subject continues to be persistently debated, but the multi- plicity and importance of the interests involved, and the cost of an efficient and comprehensive system, have, thus far, prevented the adoption of any but a make-shift policy. Pipes for house drainage are now being laid through the main streets.

The period of the town's life, thirty-eight years, has been one of almost uninterrupted prosperity, exempt from those episodes of great depression and financial disaster which frequently visit similar manufacturing towns. This is, doubtless, in part due to the high grade and great variety of the products of its mills and work- shops, but greatly also to the friendly relations which have been sustained between labor and capital. It speaks much for the intelligence of its working citi- zens as well as for the liberal spirit of those who have managed the capital here invested, that the harmony which should exist between the employer and the employed has never been very seriously nor generally disturbed.

In the hard times of 1857 the larger manufactories, for several weeks, were run on half-time or less, and, but for the sympathy of the managers with the workers, would have been closed. The tact, energy and unsel- fishness of Franklin Forbes were brought promi- nently into view during the trials of this critical period. The shares of the older companies gradually fell in the stock market to half their par value. The stock then, as now, was largely in the ownership of non-residents, a fact preventing any strong personal bond of sympathy between the wage-payer and the wage-earner. But the managers, though firm in the

control of their great trusts, were tender of heart and heedful of the needs of the toilers for daily bread. The commercial stress, though long continued, there- fore created little bitter antagonism. New inventions, and improvements of the old, were brought forward by E. B. Bigelow, cheapening manufacture, and when the clouds of civil war began to lift, a new era of prosperity dawned, surpassing that of earlier days.

In 1879 a reduction of wages was found necessary at the Lancaster Mills to compensate for a great de- preciation in the market for ginghams, and was accepted without unusual demonstrations of dissatis- faction. In March, 1880, the old rates were volun- tarily restored, when the manager was met by a demand from some of the weavers for an additional and large increase. This was firmly refused, as the petitioners were already receiving larger daily wages than given at other mills in New England for the same or similar labor. A portion of the weavers struck work, and for several days the community was excited by fears of trouble and loss. The cause of the disaffected, how- ever, signally failed to win public sympathy, and, after about a month of idleness, the deserted looms were all manned again.

A similar difficulty arose in April, 1886, at the carpet-mills, when seventy-seven dyers, being re- fused demands deemed unreasonable, resolved to leave their work. Upon the attempt to fill the places vacated with workmen procured elsewhere, threats and abuse were used to intimidate the new- comers, and riotous demonstrations were made in the vicinity of the mills by certain sympathizers with the strikers. The manager at once closed the works, announcing that they would remain closed until the company's property and employés were safe from mob violence and insult. A strong special police force was organized, a few arrests were made, order was at once restored and in a few days the machinery was again set in motion.

These two short-lived disturbances, participated in by comparatively few, and those for the most part the least responsible, are all that blot the industrial annals of the town.

Associations for benevolent, charitable and social purposes, as well as mutual benefit societies, are exceedingly numerous in Clinton. Besides many more or less closely connected with the several churches, the following distinct organizations exist :

MASONS-occupying Masonic Hall, in National Bank Block: Trinity Lodge, organized 1859, and Clinton Royal Arch Chapter, organized 1869.

ODD-FELLOWS-having a hall in Greeley's Block : Lancaster Lodge, No. 89, organized 1846; Clinton Encampment, No. 29, organized 1883; Germania Lodge, No. 42, Daughters of Rebecca, instituted October 31, 1884.

GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC-occupying G. A. R. hall in National Bank Block: E. D. Baker Post, No. 64, organized August 17, 1868;

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Ladies' G. A. R. Relief Society, organized 1883 ; Camp A. L. Fuller, Sons of Veterans, mustered in November 7, 1887.

TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES .- Good Templars-Ever- ett Lodge, No. 31, and Good Samaritan Lodge, No. 81; Clinton Temperance Associates ; Women's Chris- tian Temperance Union ; Young Women's Christian Temperance Union ; St. John's Total Abstinence and Mutual Aid Society.

IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN .- Wattoquottoc Tribe, No. 33; Juanita Council, No. 7, Daughters of Pocaliontas.

UNITED ORDER OF THE GOLDEN CROSS .- Wachu- sett Commandery, No. 56.

KNIGHTS OF HONOR .- Clinton Lodge, No. 193.

ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN .- Clin- ton Lodge, No. 29.

ROYAL ARCANUM .- Wekepeke Council, No. 742.

UNITED ORDER OF THE PILGRIM FATHERS .- Nashawog Colony, No. 75.

ROYAL SOCIETY OF GOOD-FELLOWS .- Sholan Assembly, No. 166.

GERMAN ORDER OF HARUGARI .- Lichtenstein Lodge, No. 129.

TURNVEREIN SOCIETY, organized 1867.

SCHILLER VEREIN, organized 1868.

SONS OF St. GEORGE .- Rose Lodge, No. 40.

ST. ANDREW'S SOCIETY, organized 1879.

ANCIENT ORDER OF IIIBERNIANS .- Division No. 8, organized 1872.

VERMONT ASSOCIATION,

MASSACHUSETTS CATHOLIC ORDER OF FORES- TERS .- Clinton Court, No. 56.

FIREMAN'S RELIEF ASSOCIATION, incorporated 1875.

TWENTY ASSOCIATES.

TWENTY-FIVE ASSOCIATES.

FULL SCORE ASSOCIATION.

CLINTON SPORTSMEN'S CLUB.

PRESCOTT CLUB, incorpated April 20, 1886.

CLINTON BOARD OF TRADE, organized February 15, 1884.

CLINTON RIFLES, Company K. Sixth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.

CLINTON BICYCLE CLUB.

The growth of Clinton has been very uniform. Its population, by the official enumerations, has been as follows : 1850, 3113; 1855, 3636; 1860, 3859; 1865, 4021; 1870, 5429; 1875, 6781; 1880, 8029; 1885, 8945 ; 1888, 10,037.

Numerous nationalities are here represented. The Germans have a neat village by themselves, known as Germantown, with a house of worship and a capa- cious Turnverein Hall. The Irish are in the majority in three or four localities-notably the "Acre," " Duck Harbor" and "California." By the last census, the native-born numbered 5547, and the foreign-born, 3398, although three-fourths of the population are registered as of foreign parentage.

Of those born aliens, 2097 came from Ireland; 465 from Germany ; 295 from Scotland; 257 from Eng- land ; 248 from various British provinces in America ; 9 from France; S from Austria; 4 from Italy, and 1 from China.

The valuation of the town has increased at more rapid rate than the population : 1850, $1,262,813 ; 1855, $1,607,991; 1860, $1,690,692; 1865, $1,860,763; 1870, $2,952,568; 1875, $4,340,919; 1880, 84,444,937 ; 1885, $5,143,726 ; 1888, 85,531,811.

The total indebtedness of the town in the same years was: 1850, 813,600; 1855, $14,500; 1860, $14,500; 1865, $34,190; 1870, $40,262; 1875, $132,- 000; 1880, $99,500; 1885, $337,000; 1888, $342,500.

Of the one hundred and twenty-five thousand dol- lars in six per cent. bonds issued at the building of the town hall in 1872, twenty-seven thousand five hundred dollars remain unpaid, six thousand five hundred dollars of the amount having been annually called in. The school-house four per cent. loan, which was fifty-four thousand dollars in 1886, has been decreased six thousand dollars annually. Of the four per cent. water bonds, two hundred and fifty-three thousand dollars are outstanding, and nine thousand dollars in amount have been bought for the sinking fund. Most of the principal is due in 1901 and 1906.

The amount annually raised by taxation has grown from 89059 in 1850, when the tax rate was seven dollars to the thousand, to $104,598 in 1888, the rate being eighteen in a thousand.

The votes of the town for Presidential candidates have been :

1852. Winfield Scott, 200. Franklin Pierce, 100. Julın P. Hale, 82. 1876. Rutherford B. Hayes, 576. Samuel J. Tilden, 482.

1856. John C. Fremont, 353. James Buchanan, 54. Millard Fillmore, 3.

1860. Abraham Lincoln, 346. Stephen A. Douglas, 71. Jobu Bell, 11. John C. Breckenridge, 7.

1864. Abrabam Lincoln, 334. George B. Mcclellan, 84.

1868. Ulysses S. Grant, 413. Horatio Seymour, 107.

1872. Ulysses S. Grant, 524. Horace Greeley, 298.

1880. James A. Garfield, 682. Winfield Scott Hancock,513. James B. Weaver, 1. Neal Dow, 7.

1884. Grover Cleveland, 683. James G. Blaine, 630. Benjamin Butler, 42. John P. St. John, 16.

The following citizens have served the town as Rep- resentatives in the Legislature: Horatio Nelson Bigelow,. 1851-52; Andrew Lowell Fuller, 1854; James Ingalls, 1855; Horace Faulkner, 1856-58; Jonas Elijah Howe, 1860, 1870, 1872, 1887 ; Rev. Jared Mann Heard, 1862; Franklin Forbes, 1864; Rev. Charles Manning Bowers, 1865-66; Charles Whiting Worcester, 1868; Elisha Brimhall, 1871 ; Lucius Field, 1878, 1882; Daniel Bowman Ingalls, 1880; Edward Godfrey Stevens, 1881; Alfred Augus- tine Burditt, 1884; Jonathan Smith, 1886; Frank Edward Holm in, 1888-89. Charles Godfrey Stevens, Esq., was delegate in the State Convention of 1853.

The following have served as State Senators : Charles Godfrey Stevens, 1862; Henry Clay Greeley,

CLINTON.

1870 and '71 ; Elisha Brimhall, 1876 and '77; Daniel Bowman Ingalls, 1881 and '82.

Henry Clay Greeley was a member of the Execu- tive Council in 1885 and '86.

The clerks of the town have been : Albert S. d'arkton, 1850-52; C. S. Patten, 1853 ; Artemas E. Bigelow, 1854-59; 1Henry C. Greeley, 1860-69; Wel- lington E. Parkhurst, 1870-72; Lucius Field, 1873- 77; Wellington E. Parkhurst, 1878-80; Martin J. Costello, 1881-84; John F. Philbin, 1885 -.

Treasurers in order of service : Sidney Harris, one year; Alfred Knight, four years ; Sidney Harris, one year; Alfred Knight, ten years; Elisha Brimhall, five years ; Edwin N. Rice, four years; Wellington E. Parkhurst, one year ; Alfred A. Burditt, one year; Henry O. Sawyer, one year; G. Walton Goss, ten years.

The following have served as selectmen : Ezra Sawyer, Samuel Belyea, Edmund Harris, Gilman M. Palmer, Calvin Stanley, Nelson Whitcomb, Alanson Chace, Jonas E. llowe, Abel Rice, J. Alexander, Horace Faulkner, David Wallace, Joshua Thissell, B. R. Smith, James F. Maynard, Gilbert Greene, Charles W. Worcester. P. L. Morgan, Elisha Brim- hall, Alfred A. Burditt, George S. Harris, Charles Bowman, Otis B. Bates, Charles L. Swan, Dr. George W. Symonds, Charles H. Chace, Henry C. Greeley, Albert H. Smith, T. A. McQuaid, William Haskell, A. C. Dakin, George F. Howard, Christopher C. Stone, Eben S. Fuller, C. C. Murdoch, Samuel W. Tyler, Alexander Johnston, John Sheehan, Eli Forbes, Sidney T. Howard, J. C. Parsons, C. C. Cook, George W. Morse, Anton Wiesman, Henry N. Otter- son, P. J. Quinn, Herman Dietzman, Charles A. Vickery, William H. Nugent.

The following served upon the School Committee : Rev. William H. Corning, Rev. Charles M. Bowers, Dr. George M. Morse, Dr. George W. Burdett, C. W. Blanchard, Charles L. Swan, W. W. Parker, Augustus J. Sawyer, Franklin Forbes, for thirteen years ; John T. Dame, Esq., for sixteen years ; Horatio N. Bigelow, Albert S. Carleton, Rev. William D. Hitchcock, Rev. George Bowler, James Ingalls, Dr. Preston Cham- herlain, Rev. Leonard J. Livermore, Rev. T. Willard Lewis, Artemas E. Bigelow, Charles G. Stevens, Esq., Josiah H. Vose, Henry C. Greeley, Daniel W. Kil- burn, Eneas Morgan, Dr. George W. Symonds, Joshua Thissell, Charles F. W. Parkhurst, William Cushing, Rev. James Salloway, George W. Weeks, Alfred A. Burditt, Wellington E. Parkhurst, for twelve years; M. H. Williams, Daniel H. Bemis, Harrison Leland, Henry N. Bigelow, Daniel B. In- galls, Edward G. Stevens, Samuel McQuaid, John W. Corcoran, Esq., Rev. Charles Noyes, Dr. Philip T. O'Brien, Frank E. Holman.

The following have been practicing physicians in Clinton : George W. Symonds, M.D., 1841, Dart- mouth, M.M.S.S., died 1873; George W. Burdett, M.D., 1846, Harvard, M.M.S.S .; George M. Morse, 6

M.D., 1843, Harvard, M.M.S.S .; Charles D. Dowse, -; A. W. Dillingham, -; Pierson T. Kendall, M.D., 1816, Harvard, M.M.S.S., died 1865; Adoni- ram J. Greeley, M.D., 1845, 1harvard; Charles A. Brooks, M.D., 1859, Homoeopathic Medical College, Philadelphia ; Oscar T. Woolhizer, -; George A. Jordan, M.D., 1872, Harvard, M.M.S.S .; L. W. Taft, -; Philip T. O'Brien, M.D., 1872, Albany; l'erley P. Comey M.D., 1878, Harvard, M.M.S.S .; Walter P. Bowers, M.D., 1879, Harvard, M.M.S.S. ; Charles L. French, M.D., 1869, New York, College of l'hysi- cians and Surgeons, M.M.S.S .; C. R. Bradford, -; Thomas F. Roche, M.D., 1882, Bellevue, M.M.S.S .; Thomas H. O'Connor, M.D., 1883, Bellevue ; O. A. Everett, -; Edward S. Everett, - ; George C. Ward, M.D., 1882, Hahnemann College, Chicago ; Albert C. Reed, M.D., 1887, Boston University.

The following attorneys have had offices in Clin- ton : Charles G. Stevens, A.B., Dartmouth, 1840 ; John T. Dame, A.B., Dartmouth, 1840 ; Isaae Bald- win ; Daniel H. Bemis ; William B. Orcutt ; John W. Corcoran, LL.B., Boston University, 1875; Jona- than Smith, A.B., Dartmouth, 1871 ; John F. Brown ; Charles G. Delano; Herbert Parker; Walter R. Dame, A.B., Harvard, 1883; John G. Crawford ; Thomas F. Larkin.

The following, born upon Clinton soil or residents of the town when graduated, have received degrees at collegiate institutions :

George Ide Chace, born in Lancaster, February 19, 1808, son of Charles and Ruth Chace; graduate at Brown University, 1830; tutor of mathematics, 1831 ; professor of chemistry, 1834; of physiology, geol- ogy, etc., 1836; LL.D., 1853; president ad interim, 1867; professor of moral philosophy, 1868; died at Providence, R. I., April 29, 1885.

George Harris, A.B., 1837, Brown ; a son of Emory ; died 1838, aged twenty-three years.

Frederic Warren Harris, A.B., 1845, Harvard; a brother of the preceding ; died 1863.

George W. Burdett, M.D., 1846, Harvard, M.M.S.S. Alfred Plant, A.B., 1847, Yale ; a son of Samuel ; now a wealthy merchant of St. Louis, Mo.

Charles A. Bowers, A.B., 1864, Harvard; died 1865.

Charles H. Parkhurst, A.B., 1866, Amherst ; D.D., 1880 ; pastor of Madison Square Presbyterian Church, New York City.

Eli Forbes, S.B., 1868, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Charles S. Gowen, S.B., 1869, Massachusetts Insti- tute of Technology.

Edward G. Stevens, 1870, West Point Military Academy.

Arthur F. Bowers, A.B., 1871, Brown University. Howard E. Parkhurst, A.B., 1873, Amherst.

Charles L. Swan, Jr., A.B., 1874, Yale.

John W. Corcoran, LL.B., 1875, Boston University. Michael Kittridge, A.B., 1875, Holy Cross, Worces- ter, clergyman.

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Peter T. Moran, A.B., 1877, Holy Cross; M.D., 1883, Bellevue.

Clarence H. Bowers, D.D.S., 1878, Boston Dental College.

Walter P. Bowers, M.D., 1879, Harvard, M.M.S.S.

Thomas J. Kelly, A.B., 1880, Holy Cross, Worces- ter.

James F. Maher, A.B., 1880, Holy Cross, Worces- ter, clergyman.

Elmer S. Hosmer, A.B., 1882, Brown University.

Thomas F. Roche, M.D., 1882, Bellevue, M.M.S.S. Thomas H. O'Connor, M.D., 1883, Bellevue.

Walter R. Dame, A.B., 1883, Harvard ; LL.B., 1886, Boston University.

James H. Grant, M.D., 1883, Bellevue.

John M. Kenney, A.B., 1884, Holy Cross, Worces- ter, clergyman.

Michael J. Coyne, A.B., 1884, Ottowa, clergyman.

John H. Finnerty, M.D., 1884, Bellevue.

John J. Leonard, A.B., 1884, St. Michael's, To- ronto, clergyman.

Thomas H. MacLaughlin, A.B., 1884, Boston Col- lege.

Henry K. Swinscoe, A.B., 1885, Harvard.

Henry A. McGown, A.B., 1886, Amherst.

Charles L. Stevens, A.B., 1886, Amherst.

Martin Moran, M.D., 1887, Bellevue.

J. Frederic McNabb, S.B., 1887, Worcester Insti- tute of Technology.

Patrick J. O'Malley, A.B., 1888, Ottawa.

Henry Forbes Bigelow, S.B., 1888, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

CHAPTER XIII.

CLINTON-(Continued.)

MASONIC HISTORY.1

TRINITY LODGE .- The charter of Trinity Lodge was dated January 30, 1778. It was issued by the Massachusetts Grand Lodge, of which Joseph Warren was appointed the first Grand Master. Trinity Lodge's charter was signed by Joseph Webb, Grand Master; Moses Deshon, Deputy Grand Master; Sam- uel Barrett, Senior Grand Warden; Paul Revere, Junior Grand Warden. It was addressed to Michael Newhall, Edmund Heard, James Wilder, Jonas Pres- cott and Richard P. Bridge. No previous dispensa- tion had been granted these Masons to erect a lodge and initiate candidates ; but, as was often the case at that period, the charter was issued, in the first in- stance, upon application of the brethren. All the charter members were residents of within what are now the limits of Lancaster, except James Wilder,

whose home was in the Squareshire District in Ster- ling. Newhall came from Bolton, and Heard from Worcester; but neither had lived in Lancaster very long, nor did either of them die there. Newhall went to Leominster some time after 1800, and Heard re- moved to Lower Canada about 1793. Their places of death are unknown. Jonas Prescott was a descendant of John Prescott, one of the first settlers of the town. He always lived in Lancaster and died there. Of Richard P. Bridge very little is known. If a resident of Lancaster at all, he lived there but a short time, and his name does not appear in the records after December, 1783. It is not known where any of the charter members received their Masonic degrees, though it was most probably in Boston, as at that time (1778) there was no lodge existing nearer than Boston and Newburyport.

Trinity Lodge was numbered six, but was the fifth in order chartered by the Massachusetts Grand Lodge. The Lodge of St. Andrew, of Boston, was number one, and was chartered November 30, 1756, though it had done some Masonic work for two years or more, receiving its charter from Sholto Charles Douglass, Lord Arbedour, Grand Master of Masons in Scotland. By the concerted action of St. Andrew's and three traveling lodges, which were holden in the British army, then stationed in Boston, a commission was obtained from George, Earl of Dalhouse, Grand Master of Masons in Scotland, appointing Joseph Warren Grand Master of Masons in Boston and within one hundred miles of the same, upon the receipt of which the brethren of the above-named lodges proceeded to organize the Massachusetts Grand Lodge. The first charter issued by this Grand body was to Tyrian Lodge, of Gloucester, March 2, 1770. Then followed Massachusetts Lodge, of Bos- ton, May 13, 1770; St. Peter's Lodge, Newburyport, March 6, 1777; Berkshire Lodge, Stockbridge, March 8, 1777; and Trinity Lodge, January 30, 1778. There were other Masonic Lodges in the State, at the time Trinity was organized, which received their charters from the St. John's Grand Lodge of Boston, a body chartered by Anthony, Lord Viscount Montague, Grand Master of Masons in England, in 1733. St. John's Grand Lodge issued charters for lodges in Bos- ton, Nova Scotia, Philadelphia, Rhode Island and other States, and claimed jurisdiction over all the Masons in America, while the Massachusetts Grand Lodge had jurisdiction of Masons in Boston and within a hundred miles thereof only. The agitation which grew out of the existence of these rival bodies found its way into Trinity Lodge.

While the two grand bodies did not unite until 1792, yet as early as April, 1786, it was voted in Trinity Lodge, "to chuse a Comity of three to Consider of our Situation as a Lodge and Connection there is be- tween us and the Massachusetts Grand Lodge or any other order of Antient Masons with their opinions of the proceedings necessary for us to take to render our

1 By Jonathan Smith.

CLINTON.

Situation More Eligable." And in the following June it was "voted to Acknowledge the Supremecy of the present Grand Lodge of Massachusetts on Con- dition our Quarterage take place from the present Date." There is no further allusion to the subject on the records of the lodge, and the union of the two grand bodies six years later created no disturbance in its relations to the Supreme Masonic authority of the State.

In its first years Trinity Lodge exercised jurisdic- tion over a wide territory. Applications were received and acted upon from Merrimack, Medford, Barre, Worcester, Oxford, Brookfield, Amherst, N. H., and even from Lower Canada. But the founding of new lodges, which proceeded rapidly after the close of the Revolutionary War, and notably the organization of Morning Star Lodge in Worcester, in 1792, narrowed its jurisdiction, and during its last years in Lancaster it covered a territory no larger than that now embraced in the territory of the present Trinity Lodge of Clin- ton.

Its records up to 1783 and subsequent to 1800 are missing, and but little of its history, except between those dates, is known. Michael Newhall was the first Master, and he was succeeded by Timothy Whiting, Jr., and probably by Isaiah Thomas, of Worcester, though this is not certain. Thomas was a member up to about 1792, and among the very earliest of the existing records is described as a Past Master. In 1783 the list of officers was as follows : Edmund Heard, Master; James Wilder, Senior Warden; Ephraim Carter, Junior Warden; Joseph Carter, Treasurer; Moses Smith, Secretary; James Wyman, Senior Dea- con; Samuel Adams, Junior Deacon; Jonas Fair- bank, Senior Steward ; John Prescott, Junior Steward.

There was evidently considerable interest in the order prior to 1800, notwithstanding the hard times following the Revolution. The records show a good attendance at the meetings, and that on every meet- ing night, from 1783 to 1801, through summer and winter, the lodge was regularly opened with a full set of officers and a liberal representation of the brethren. The number present varied from twelve to fifty at each communication, and in the eighteen year> following 1783 one hundred and forty candidates re- ceived their degrees.

The first hall occupied by the lodge in 1778 was in a building once star.ding on the site of the house now owned by Daniel Howard, in South Lancaster.

In 1778 Edmund Heard purchased this property of Dr. Israel Atherton. The house has since been known as the Ballard House. When it was torn down, many years ago, there could still be seen at one end of the north front chamber the platform and other indica- tions of the lodge's tenancy. Some trouble after- wards grew up between the lodge and Edmund Heard over the lodge's occupation. When Heard purchased the property he borrowed of the lodge £224 48. 6d. (£35 78. 2d., reduced scale) with which

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 40

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