History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 52

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 52

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

THE CURRENCY .- There were great difficulties with the currency during the Revolutionary War. The paper-money had been made a legal tender. It had depreciated to an exceeding degree. As a matter of course, the prices of labor and merchandise were ex- ceedingly high and unstable. Great confusion arose in business affairs. With the hope of affording reliet from the extreme difficulties of the situation, the towns adopted the method of "stating prices"-that is, of determining at what prices articles should be bought and sold, hoping the people would see fit to conform to those prices. Sometimes a convention would be held to determine the prices for a whole county, or even for the State. Such a convention was held at Concord in October, 1779, and Thomas White was the delegate from this town. This convention voted to leave it optional with the towns to "state the

131

TEMPLETON.

prices " for themselves. This town chose a committee of seven men to state the prices of such articles as they may think necessary and make report to the town. The committee performed the work assigned them and made their report to the town. It was adopted November 5, 1779, and is still plainly seen on the records. Doubtless the town came as near per- forming the impossible as is usual when such a feat is attempted. In spite of committee, town or convention, the paper-money would still go on depreciating and the prices would increase; and in 1780 it is said that the town paid six hundred pounds in Continental bills for twenty Spanish milled-dollars. This would be in the ratio of one hundred dollars for one. In the fol- lowing year the town appropriated, expressed in terms of that depreciated currency, twelve thousand pounds for schools, and ten thousand five hundred pounds for repairs of the highways.

SECOND WAR WITH ENGLAND .- The second war with England did not meet with favor from the people of New England, and this town shared fully in the general feeling of opposition to it. In 1808 the town voted to petition the President of the United States to suspend the embargo, in whole or in part. In the next year they petitioned the Legislature to urge upon Congress the repeal of the Embargo Law. When war was actually declared, in 1812, the town chose a com- mittee of seven persons,-Rev. Elisha Andrews, Rev. Charles Wellington, Lovell Walker, Esq., Samuel Cutting, Esq., John W. Stiles, Leonard Stone and Deacon Paul Kendall,-who prepared a memorial to the President of the United States in opposition to the war, which was adopted by a vote of eighty-six to twenty-two. The memorial treats of the blockade, the Orders in Council, the impressment of American seamen and the alliance with France. It fills twelve pages of the town records, and is expressed in vigor- ous language. It is said to have been composed by John W. Stiles, then a merchant of this town.

Several persons from this town were in the army for a shorter or a longer period during this war. The town also voted "to provide, and keep constantly under the control of the selectmen, powder, balls and flints for the use and benefit of the soldiers in this town."

A MILITIA MUSTER .- A muster of the militia in former times must have been a very interesting affair, attractive both to boys and men. It must have been more than the equal of the modern cattle show and fair. There is something in military evolutions and display that appeals strongly to human feelings. Templeton abounded in these military gatherings. It was the central town in the group of six, from which was gleaned the material for one regiment of militia ; it was well supplied with hotels; and especially was it desirable on account of the excellent parade-ground which its " Common " afforded. Gardner, Winchen- don, Royalston, Athol and Phillipston were the towns united with Templeton from which to gather the

regiment. Some towns furnished two companies. A day in later September or early October was selected for the regimental muster. On the previous day, perhaps, some officers would mark along the east side of the Common a line on which the soldiers were to arrange themselves. Early on the morning of the day appointed the companies from the other towns would approach the village and leave their horses and vehicles at some farm-house. They would then form into a column and march to the Common. In the forenoon there would be an inspection by officers appointed for that purpose ; the soldiers being ranged in a straight line which frequently would reach as far as from the site of the hotel to the Library building. The privates were dressed in citizen's clothes ; the officers had uniforms and a sword, usually. After the inspection would come a review which would end the forenoon's duties. In the after- noon came the time for a sham fight. Sometimes a fort would be constructed and a part of the troops assigned to its defence and another part to make the attack, simulating real warfare. Then the declining sun would find the soldiers wending their way to their homes. In these times the law of the State required that all male citizens between eighteen and forty-five years of age should perform some military duty. Hence the somewhat frequent "training" days for the companies and the annual muster of the regiments. And hence the reason why we find so many persons of the last generation bearing military titles. Quite a large number of persons bore the title of colonel from their service in the State militia in command of a regiment.

Previous to 1852 several military organizations had existed in this town. There was in the earlier part of the century a cavalry company, composed of about seventy-five men from Templeton and four neighbor- ing towns. A rifle company existed from 1814 to about 1838. A volunteer company, called the Cadets, was formed in 1844, and existed for several years. But at the time just previous to the Civil War there was no military organization in the town.

THE CIVIL WAR .- Massachusetts has ever occupied a foremost position in the chief military contests in which the nation has been engaged. She furnished much more than her proportionate share of troops in the War of the Revolution. She was more than ready to do her share of service in the War of the Rebellion. Her Governor Andrew was a tower of strength for the State and nation during the long years of that severe contest. Worcester County was not behind other parts of the State either in promptness or efficiency. Her towns that had kept up regular military organizations were among the first to offer their services to the government in the spring of the year 1861. The town of Templeton was ready and eager to do her part. She showed herself worthy of a place in the State and county to which she belonged. Party disputes and divisions were for a time laid

132

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

aside. All belonged to the patriotic party. The national flag was invested with a much greater depth of meaning. Its simple stars and stripes were looked at with a greatly increased regard and affection. It was freely displayed on private dwellings and in pub- lie places. It was common to have it represented even on one corner of the common letter envelopes. Pub- lic meetings were held and patriotic addresses were delivered in the town hall, which was filled to over- flowing with eager and enthusiastic audiences. The pulpits glowed with patriotic sermons; the ministers were not lukewarm in this time of popular uprising. There were very few in the community who did not partake of the patriotic fervor. Those who feared lest the spirit of patriotism had died out were quickly assured of its continued existence.

Although this town in the later years had not kept up a military organization, there was not wanting a good degree of the military spirit. Templeton Com- mon had been the field for the annual muster of the regiment. The sons of those who took an active part in those military displays had reached mature years. There existed an abundance of sparks of the military spirit which the daily tidings from the South fanned into a glowing flame. In the spring of 1861 a mili- tary company was formed which enlisted for five years in the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, subject to the call of the government should their services be needed. Of this company, George P. Hawkes was chosen captain, and Charles W. Davis and John Brooks were chosen lieutenants. This was after- wards reorganized according to the rules of the United States service, and became Company A of the Twenty- first Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers.

At a town-meeting held April 30, 1861, the town voted to pay each soldier for the time spent in mili- tary drill; to make an addition to the wages which the government allowed to soldiers; also to furnish each man a uniform and a "Colt's " or some other revolver. The uniforms were quickly made and furnished to the men. On further thought, it was not deemed best to supply the revolvers. This company left Templeton for the camp at Worcester July 19, 1861. The day of their departure was a great day in Templeton. In the morning the com- pany assembled, and were drawn up in front of the hotel. The relatives of the soldiers and the citizens generally assembled in large numbers. Addresses were made to the men from the balcony of the hotel by several persons. Rev. Edwin G. Adams pre- sented to each soldier a pocket Testament. The exercises were very interesting, but of necessity deeply tinged with sadness. The company marched to the railroad station, near Otter River Village. An exceedingly long train of carriages followed, bearing the friends of the departing soldiers. A collation was served at the station, and the men departed.

The Twenty-first Regiment of Massachusetts Vol-

unteers was recruited mostly from towns in Worces- ter County, Company A being mostly from Temple- ton. It left the camp at Worcester August 23, 1861, and was first stationed at Annapolis, Md. It formed a part of the Burnside expedition ; participated in the battles of Roanoke Island, Newberne and Cam- den; bore its full share of the disasters of Pope's campaign in Virginia, meeting with severe losses at Manassas and Chantilly. It bore an active part at South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg. Then away to Tennessee and the siege of Knoxville, with several battles fought near by. The spring of 1864 brought the Ninth Army Corps, of which the Twenty-first Regiment formed a part, back to Vir- ginia, and the names, The Wilderness, Spottsylva- nia, Cold Harbor and Petersburg suggest the reasons why the Twenty-first Regiment was so depleted in numbers as to be consolidated with the remnant of the Thirty-sixth. Fifty-six men from Templeton were connected with the Twenty-first Regiment dur- ing some portion of its career. Their names fol- low :

George P. Hawkes, lieutenant-colonel and brevet brigadier-general; Charles W. Davis, captain and brevet-colonel ; Levi N. Smith, captain ; Daniel D. Wiley, brevet brigadier-general, both in Commissary Department ; John Brooks, Benjamin F. Fuller, Henry S. Hitchcock, Jonas R. Davis and John F. Lewis, lieutenants; J. Prescott Cutting and John W. Wallace, first sergeants; John F. Green, Levi Morse, J. Albert Osgood and Augustus Upton, ser- geants; Moses A. Chamberlain, Ambrose P. Chase, Henry K. Marshall, William H. Mellen, John A. Merritt, James A. Miller, Otis P. Moore, Sereno Sawyer and E. Wyman Stone, corporals; Herbert Leland, musician ; Mandell Bryant, wagoner ; Sam- nel B. Adams, Henry N. Allen, Charles A. Black- mer, William A. Blackmer, George W. Bradish, Collins W. Chittenden, Charles W. Cobleigh, Charles H. Cummings, Charles H. Cutting, August Dabers, Charles J. Dunn, William Flint, George W. Jennison, George H. Lamson, Reuben Mann, William Marrar, Uriah Merritt, Harrison S. Pierce, Asa F. V. B. Pi- per, Wilbur A. Potter, George H. Sawtell, David H. Spear, Otis L. Sweet, George L. Thayer, Jolın Thi- beault and Eleazer S. Whitney, of Company A; James F. Delehanty, of Company D; Franklin Ad- ams, Company E; James Lewis, Company F; and George D. Whitcomb, of Company D, privates.

The patriotic feeling of the town was not ex- hausted by the enlistment and departure of the before-named company.

The Twenty-fifth Regiment was recruited mainly from towns in Worcester County, and Templeton furnished thirty-four men, most of whom were in Company I, which was commanded by Capt. V. P. Parkhurst, of this town. The regiment left its camp at Worcester October 31, 1861, proceeded to Annap- olis, joined the Burnside expedition and served in

133

TEMPLETON.

North Carolina until October, 1863. It lost more than two hundred men at Cold Harbor. It took part in the siege of Petersburg. Many of its men had re-enlisted, and continued in the service until the end of the war. Dr. Joseph C. Batchelder, of this town was, for a time, assistant surgeon of this regiment. Following are the names of men from this town :

Varanus P. Parkhurst, captain ; Amos Buffum, Thomas Sanl, lieutenants; Joseph S. Moulton, Dwight M. Martin, George Trask, Lyman S. Wheel- er, sergeants ; George A. Jackson, Walter Lamb and Francis L. Moore, of Company I, with Gustave Kluge and Hermann Spindler, of Company G. cor- porals; George E. Potter, musician; George Baker, George D. Browning, Albert M. Cobleigh, Patrick Coffey, James H. Crocker, David B. Day, Theodore J. Dyer, George E. Evans, John Goodale, George F. Greenwood, Clarence W. Jennison, Artemas Jones, Ransom P. Kimberly, Benjamin R. Manning, Marcus S. Moulton, Leander N. Norcross, William Norcross, Charles W. Weller, Joel Whitney, Jr., and Chris- topher Myers, of Company C, privates.

The Thirty-sixth Regiment entered the service in the autumn of 1862. Its first engagement was at Fredericksburg. It was at the siege of Vicksburg. It took active part in the Virginia campaign of 1864 from the Wilderness to the siege of Petersburg. Templeton furnished thirty-one men for this regi- ment, mostly in Company D, which was under com- mand of Capt. Amos Buffum. He had been active in the formation of the company. Christopher Saw- yer enlisted in Company D, but was afterwards Cap- tain of Company H. John A. Stearns was first lientenant in Company D. Stephen F. Brooks, Charles B. Fisher, Levi H. Higley, Charles Under- wood, Courtland A. Allen, Cyrus G. Buffum and James L. Brigham were corporals ; Benjamin F. Brooks and Henry M. Cobleigh, musicians; George A. Brooks, Charles A. Cummings, James H. Day, Frank M. Fenno, Augustus A. Goddard, Chauncy N. Johnson, Edwin W. Lund, James A. Martindale, Irving L. Merritt, Martin Maynard, Stephen H. Pat- terson, William H. Perry and Charles M. Perry, of Company H; C. C. B. Sawyer, Ephraim Turner, Julius G. Upton, Charles Wheeler, Ezra L. Wheeler, Augustus S. Whitney and George S. Wright were privates.

The Fifty-third Regiment enlisted for nine months, but their period of service extended from October 17, 1862, to September 2, 1863. Their field of service was mainly in Louisiana, at Baton Rouge, on the Red River expedition, at Fort Bisland and the siege of Port Hudson. This regiment encountered hard ser- vice in a climate very unfavorable to health. Teur- pleton furnished forty-three men for this service. Charles W. Upham was first lieutenant of Company G, and was much of the time in command of the company. D. Porter Stockwell, William L. Lamb

and Rufus Stickney were sergeants; Marshall C. Mower, Castelly O. Norcross, Albert W. Kendall and Charles W. Trask were corporals of Company G; Thomas L. Addison, Benjamin F. Armitage, Leonard M. Baker, Danforth N. Baker, Lewis R. Briggs, Albert G. Bushnell, William T. Bronsdon, Dixie J. Crosby, Joseph B. Cummings, Ezekiel F. Divoll, Clark A. Earle, Emmons Fales, Charles B. Garfield, Edwin W. Greenwood, John W. Guile, S. B. Hildreth, W. P. Hunt, Franklin Jackson, Horace E. Jennison, Samuel W. Jennison, William G. Kilner, J. W. Leland, William L. Leland, Willard B. May- nard, C. C. Merritt, Howard L. Manning, Henry M. Mirick, George W. Newton, Russell D. Newton, C. J. Nourse, Emory Olney, Joel Richardson, J. H. Saul, Charles H. Searle and Edwin W. Wright were pri- vates.

The soldiers from this town were mostly in the four regiments previously named; but a few were in other organizations. In the Second Regiment were Eugene C. Bushnell, musician and lieutenant ; Alvin W. Day, corporal in Company F, and Cyrus C. Bryant. Elmer Parker was in Company D of the Thirteenth Regiment. Charles F. Lee was a lieu- tenant in the Eighteenth and afterwards a first lieutenant in the Fifty-fifth Regiment. Edward D. Lee was first lieutenant and adjutant in the Twen- ty-seventh. Amos W. Gray was a private in the Twenty-seventh. George H. Dudley was sergeant, and Wendall Eaton, James M. Lufkin, John Preston and Benjamin E. Thayer were privates in the Thirty- second Regimeut. Charles Lynde served in the First Regiment of Cavalry, and P. D. Stratton and Rollin C. Williams in the Heavy Artillery. Edward L. Jones was a captain in the Forty-fourth Regiment of Infantry.

There were a few soldiers credited to the quota of the town in the last year of the war who are not in- cluded in the preceding lists. Most of these rendered little or no service. But, without counting these, Templeton furnished no less than two hundred men for the service in the great Civil War. Someserved for a comparatively short period owing to wounds or other causes of disability. About one-fifteenth part of the men who entered the service were killed or mortally wounded in battle ; more than twice as many died of disease or of ill treatment in Southern prisons. There were not less than thirty out of the two hun- dred who served either three or four full years with- out any serious wound or illness. Some few there were, even, who served during the whole war, taking part in every skirmish or battle in which their regi- ment was engaged, without receiving the slightest wound or encountering any sickness. Some, on the other hand, immediately fell a prey to fatal disease, or were slain in the first battle. Several lost their lives in consequence of insufficient food and ill treatment in Southern prisons ; others survived with health per- manently impaired. Nearly all the men entered the

134

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

service as privates ; but, in addition to numerous sub- ordinate officers, not less than six reached the rank of captain, and two left the service with the rank of bre- vet brigadier-general. The volunteers from Temple- ton were generally men of mature age, who were interested in the public welfare and were fully aware of the public need and danger. They entered the service of their country with a conscientious regard for duty. Without such men the Rebellion never would have been suppressed.

THE SANITARY COMMISSION .- The United States Sanitary Commission rendered a service of the very highest importance during the war. It expended more than twenty-five millions of dollars for the care and comfort of the soldiers in addition to what the government was able to do. An average of two thou- sand sick and wounded soldiers were each night sup- plied with shelter by its efforts, who otherwise would have been shelterless. The inhabitants of Templeton were interested in these efforts, and contributed freely to the Sanitary Commission, or sent articles directly to the soldiers in whom they had a personal interest. Large boxes containing clothing, towels, lint, band- ages and articles useful in the hospitals were filled by the people in the different villages and sent to the Commission. Jellies, syrups, pickles, and articles for convalescent soldiers were also sent. Thoughtful minds and willing hands eagerly sought for means to alleviate the hardships and pains of the soldier.

CHAPTER XX.

TEMPLETON-(Continued.)

BUSINESS AFFAIRS.

Manufactures-Early Mills-At Baldwinville-On Trout Brook-At Par- tridgeville and East Templeton-At Outer River-Hotels-Stores-Sar- ings Bank-Roads-Railroads.

BY a vote of the proprietors at a meeting held in Concord, Mass., January 24, 1735, a committee was chosen and authorized "to agree with any person or persons that will erect a mill or mills in said town- ship." Mr. Samuel Sheldon, of Billerica, soon after made a contract with this committee to build a saw- mill and a grist-mill, and he gave bonds to erect the mills. He was to be the owner of the mills and was to have a grant of land for establishing them. The proprietors, at a meeting held in Concord, November 1, 1737, confirmed the contract, and "voted and granted to said Sheldon, his heirs and assigns, for- ever, eighty acres of land, to be by him laid out in one or two places, in a regular form, in any of the common land of the township, excepting the land reserved on account of the mine; the land drowned by his mill-dam to be accounted a part of the eighty acres ; provided, that there be not more than twenty acres of meadow included in said pond and eighty

acres of land ; provided, also, he keep up a saw-mill and grist-mill in said township, according to his ob- ligation and agreement made with him." Still, not- withstanding the contract and provisional grant of lands, Mr. Sheldon never built the mills.

Another meeting of the proprietors was held at Concord, September 6, 1739, when it was " voted that the Committee chosen to agree about mills in said township be directed, as soon as may be, to procure some suitable person or persons to build a good saw- mill and corn-mill in said township, and to give them such encouragement in any of the common lands or streams within said township as they can or may agree for ; and to enter into obligation for the same in the name of the proprietors. Also voted that the Committee chosen to let ont the mills in said town- ship be fully empowered to put Mr. Samuel Sheldon's bond in prosecution as soon as may be; or the Com- mittee may have a liberty to agree with Mr. Sheldon as they may see fit."

Another proprietors' meeting assembled at Concord, September 16, 1742, and under the article in the war- rant, " to inquire whether there is a saw-mill erected in said township, or like to be; " it is recorded, "In- quired and there is no mill erected." At an ad- journed meeting a little after this the committee were instructed to put Mr. Sheldon's bond in suit, but it seems never to have been done.

At a proprietors' meeting in 1743 they purchased Mr. Thomas Hobbs' right in the township, to secure the forty-acre lot, No. 91, already assigned to him, in order that they might use it for a mill privilege. This water privilege is said to have been the one recently occupied by Mr. A. S. Hodge. The price allowed to Mr. Hobbs for this lot and one share in all the then undivided lands was £26 10s., to be paid in twelve months, without interest.

It seems that a bargain was made with Lieutenant James Simonds, Reuben Richardson and Oliver Richardson who were to receive the land in con- sideration of building the mill, which was probably erected in 1743, In November, 1743, a committee was chosen " to clear the road from the meeting-house place to the saw-mill in said township, and also to lonk out and mark a road from said mill across Otter River, into Narragansett No. 2," or Westminster. There were no permanent habitations here at this time, nor until a period of seven years later. Indian hostilities were prevalent, and probably the saw-mill was neglected ; for we find that in 1749 the clerk was directed to notify Lieutenant Simonds and his part- ners "to rectify the mill, so that it may be in order for sawing, and for the benefit of the township; so that they may fulfil their contract." A committee was chosen, in 1755, by the proprietors "to take care of the saw-mill, and see that the owners perform according to contract."

In May, 1753, the proprietors voted "to build a corn-mill," and a tax of six shillings on each right

135

TEMPLETON.

was laid to defray the cost of the mill. Mr. Thomas Sawyer, of Bolton, seems to have built the mill, and to have received, in 1755, in payment, therefor, the sum of £24 133. 6d., or about one hundred and twenty dollars. This sum seems to have been paid him in consideration of his building the mill and under- taking to do the grinding, he owning the mill all the time. It had been believed that this mill was erected at Baldwinville, on Otter River; but Captain Park- hurst, who has recently written a history of the town, thinks the evidence points to its having been located at "Goulding village," in Phillipston, near Phillips- ton Pond.

However this may be, it seems to be settled that at about this same date of 1754 a saw-mill and grist- mill was erected by this same Thomas Sawyer, of Bolton, in what is now the village of Baldwinville, on the site of the shop now occupied by the Waite Chair Company.

In 1763 the proprietors had an article in a warrant for a meeting, "to see if the proprietors will prosecute in law the bond against Thomas Sawyer, for his not grinding according to contract for the inhabitants of said town," and a committee was chosen to see that he fulfilled his contract.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 52

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