History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 11

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 11

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It has been stated that Rev. Solomon Prentice was invited by the proprietors of Hassanamisco to settle as the pastor of the plantation, and was ordained on the 29th of December, 1731. At the ordination the sermon was preached by Rev. Nathaniel Appleton, of Cambridge, and the church was organized the day preceding. The first members of the church were: Rev. Solomon Prentice, Samuel Cooper, Benjamin Goddard, Benjamin Willard, James Whipple, James Whipple, Jr., Thomas Pratt, Thomas Drury, James Leland, Joseph Willard, Simeon Willard, Nehemiah Howe, John Collar, Jonathan Hall, Jasou Whitney, Abner Stow, Ephraim Brigham, James Cutler, Elea- zer Flagg and Samuel Warren. The ministry of Mr. Prentice was disturbed by a controversy, having its rise in the excitement attending the preaching of Whitefield, and he was dismissed July 10, 1747. Mr. Prentice was born in Cambridge May 11, 1705, and graduated at Harvard in 1727. After his dismissal he was settled in Easton, but finally returned to Grafton, where he died May 22, 1773.

The second pastor of the church was Rev. Aaron Hutchinson, a native of Hebron, Conn., and a gradu- ate of Yale, in the class of 1747. At his ordination, which occurred June 6, 1750, Rev. Mr. Pomroy, of Hebron, preached the sermon. His ministry con- tinued until November 18, 1772, after which he re- tired to a farm in Pomfret, Vt., where he lived until his death in September, 1800.

After an interval of four years, Rev. Daniel Gros- venor was ordained October 19, 1774, and the Rev. Ebenezer Gro venor, of Scituate, preached the ser-

mon. Mr. Grosvenor continued in the ministry until 1787, when he was dismissed. He died at Shrews- bnry March 20, 1849. Mr. Grosvenor was followed by Rev. John Miles, a native of Westminster, and a graduate of Brown University in the class of 1794. He was ordained October 12, 1796, and continued in the pastorate until October 12, 1825. He was born in Westminster November 3, 1765, and studied for the ministry with Rev. Dr. Sanger, of Bridgewater. He died in Shrewsbury March 20, 1849. His ordina- tion sermon was preached by Rev. Asaph Rice, of Westminster.

Rev. Mr. Searle succeeded Mr. Miles, and was dis- missed December 3, 1831. At his ordination Rev. Samuel Green, of Boston, preached the sermon. In consequence of the dismissal of Mr. Searle, the church in a body, with a large minority of the parish, " with- drew and made provision for the preaching of the gospel in its purity, finding that there was no proba- bility of their continuing to enjoy the labors of an Evangelical pastor while connected with the parish." The church having withdrawn from the parish, the latter having adopted the Unitarian creed, a new church was formed out of the parish August 5, 1832, aud a meeting was held April 2, 1832, at which Pardon Aldrich was chosen moderator ; Harry Wood was chosen clerk; Isaac Wood, Charles M. Pratt and Charles Brigham, Jr., were chosen assessors; and Henry Wood, Joseph Bruce, Royal Keith, Charles Brigham, Henry Parker, Samuel Wood and Leonard Wheelock were chosen a committee to report what disposition should be made of the old meeting-house. At a subsequent meeting the committee on the meet- ing-house reported that, "it is expedient to dispose of the old meeting-house, and canse the same to be removed from off the Common, and for the purpose to choose a committee to cause the pews in the old meeting-house to be appraised by three disinterested and discreet men and freeholders within the county of Worcester, afterwards to sell the same at public auction, giving suitable notice of the intended sale, to the highest bidder, on condition that the purchaser cause the said old meeting-house to be removed from the Common within such reasonable time as said committee shall direct, and to apportion the proceeds of the sale among the owners of the pews in said house according to the appraisement."

A new meeting-house was built, and a new church, now the Unitarian, called the First Congregational, was formed. The old meeting-house was sold and re- moved to the westerly side of the street, on the west side of the Common, where, in a remodeled state, it still stands, one of the oldest relics of religious edi- fices to be found in the State, and the present Uni- tarian meeting-house was built. The new church, organized in the Unitarian Society, consisted of Joseph C. Luther, Isaac W. Wood, Joseph Bruce, Harriet Bruce, Charles Brigham, Jr., Hannah P. Batcheller, Charles L. Heywood, Asahel Fairbanks

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GRAFTON.

Susannah Wood, Azabah S. Heywood, Annah E. Brigham, Leonard Wheelock, Persis Wheelock, Cath- erine L. Heywood, Betsey Jackson, Rufus P. Chase, Deborah Keith, Tabatha Prentice, Sarah Lesure, Martha G. Holbrook, James Shepard, Elizabeth Shepard, Elizabeth Adams, Polly Knowlton, Au- gustus S. Heywood and Hepsebah Clisbee.

This church and society were formed under the care and direction of Rev. Edward Brooks Hall, who after a few months received a call from the First Con- gregational Society of Providence, and was there in- stalled November 14, 1832. Mr. Hall was born in Medford, on the 2d of September, 1800, and graduated at Harvard in 1820. In 1826 he was settled in North- hampton and afterward in Cincinnati. Mr. Hall was the father of Rev. Edward H. Hall, now settled over the Unitarian Society in Old Cambridge.

Rev. Rufns A. Johnson followed Mr. Hall, and was installed October 16, 1833. His pastorate continued until March 12, 1838, and he died in Upton in 1860. Rev. Cazneau Palfrey succeeded Mr. Johnson, and was installed April 25, 1838. His pastorate continued until April 25, 1843. Mr. Palfrey was born in Boston August 11, 1805, and graduated at Harvard in 1826. Previous to his ministry at Grafton he was settled over the Unitarian Society in Washington, where he remained six years.

Rev. Edward B. Willson followed Mr. Palfrey, and was ordained January 3, 1844. His pastorate con- tinued until July 1, 1852, when, at his own request, he was dismissed. Mr. Willson was a native of Petersham, and born August 15, 1820. During his pastorate the question was raised, and probably not for the first time, as to who were the rightful owners of the records of the First Church. As has been already stated, in 1832, at the time of the settlement of Mr. Hall, the parish became Unitarian, and the church seceded in a body, carrying the records with them. The seceding church, being unanimous in its action, claimed still to be the First Church, while the old parish claimed that the church emanating from and attached to the First Parish was the First Church, and owned the records. Soon after the secession of the church au application for the records was made by the Unitarian Society, but refused. Now a new application was made in the form of a compromise, which was granted in the same friendly and Christian spirit in which it was made. The con- troversy was settled by the loan of the first two volumes of the records for the purpose of having copies made by the Unitarian Parish, and by the gift of a copy of that part of the third volume which contained the records of the old church previous to the secession. In the present resting-place of the controversy, the seceding church holds the original records and the First Parish holds the copies. It is of little consequence which is called the First Church and which the Second, provided each adheres to the spirit in which the old church was founded, and per-

forms faithfully the Christian work for which it was originally established.

After the resignation of Mr. Willson the church was without a pastor until 1858, and during a large part of the interval its pulpit was supplied by Rev. Farrington MeIntire, a native of Fitchburg, and a graduate of Harvard in 1843. In 1858 Rev. William G. Scandlin, a native of Portsmouth, England, and a graduate of the Meadville School in 1854, was called. He was installed June 23, 1858, and his pastorate continued until his death, March 17, 1871. In the early days of the War of the Rebellion, in response to his offer of service, he was appointed chaplain of the Fifteenth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, and received a leave of absence from his people. During a subsequent service as a member of the Sanitary Commission he was taken prisoner and con- fined for a time in Libby prison. His services, both as chaplain and dispenser of the bounties of the Com- mission, were widely known and gratefully acknow]- edged. During his pastorate his meeting-house was bnrned, in 1862, and immediately rebuilt. His death was universally lamented both by his own society and his fellow-citizens of all denominations, and the day of his funeral was observed in Grafton as a day of mourning.

Rev. Charles H. Tindall, a native of New Bruns- wick, N. J., where he was born October 17, 1841, suc- ceeded Mr. Scandlin. At first a Methodist, he finally entered the Harvard Divinity School, from which institution he graduated in 1872. He was ordained at Grafton on the 5th of the following September, on which occasion the sermon was preached by Rev. Charles Carroll Everett, of Cambridge. After three years of service Mr. Tindall resigned, and in August, 1875, was settled over the Unitarian Society in Fall River.

Rev. William Smith Burton, a native of Norwich, Vt., succeeded Mr. Tindall. He was born Septem- ber 29, 1832, and graduated at the Norwich Univer- sity. He had seen service in the war as a cavalry major, had engaged in the business of farming, and had been settled over the Unitarian Societies of Athol and Clinton. He was installed at Grafton in January, 1876. The present pastor of the society, settled in 1887, is Rev. Edmund Quincy Sewall Os- good, a native of Cohasset and a graduate of Har- vard, who had previously been settled for several years over the old First Parish in Plymouth.

After the dismissal of Rev. Mr. Searle in 1831, to which reference has already been made, the seceding church and some of the members of the Old Parish formed a new parish, and built the meeting-house now standing on the west side of the Common. The first pastor of this society was Rev. John Wilde, a native of Dorchester and a graduate of Middlebury College in 1827. He was installed over "The Evan- gelical Congregational Society," as the new society is called, June 20, 1832. His pastorate continued until

928

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

1839, after which time he resided in Conway, N. HI., West Falmouth and Topsham, Me., Stamford, Conn., and Alexandria, Va., in which latter place he died, February 10, 1868.

Mr. Wilde was followed by Rev. Thomas Curtis Biscoe, born in Cambridge, July, 1810, and a gradu- ate of Amherst in 1831. He was ordained July 18, 1838, and dismissed July 26, 1868. Rev. John H. Windsor >neceeded Mr. Biscoe, and was installed September 29, 1868. The present pastor of the so- ciety, whose pastorate has now been extended four years, is the Rev. B. A. Robie, and under his as well as preceding pastorates the condition of the society is one of union and prosperity.

The next religious society to be mentioned in the order of its birth, assuming that the Unitarian So- ciety and the Evangelical Congregational have a common date of origin, is the First Baptist Society, which, with the two societies already mentioned, is planted at the central village. It was formed in 1767, and in 1773 had for the first time a minister of its own. From that year until 1775 Rev. Mr. Win- chester served, and in 1779 Rev. Mr. Eustick began a three years' ministry. In 1784 Rev. Mr. Ingalls became connected with the society ; hut at the end of three years his ministry terminated, and the so- eiety gradually faded away. After the dissolution of the society, those holding to the Baptist faith held meetings at private houses until the year 1800, when, on the 20th of June, the present church was organ- ized with the names of sixty persons signed to the Articles of Faith and Covenant. Early in the next year a meeting-house was built which gave place in 1880 to the edifice now used by the society. After various temporary supplies, Rev. Thomas Barrett was ordained June 12, 1816, and remained until 1821, and, after an interval of two years, Rev. Otis Converse was ordained June 25, 1823, and resigned March 31, 1836.

Rev. Johu Jennings was installed August 10, 1836, and resigned in 1842 to take charge of a church in Worcester. In the year of the resignation of Mr. Jennings, Rev. Calvin Newton assumed the pastor- ate, and in the next year he also resigned. Mr. Newton was followed by Rev. Benjamin A. Edwards, who was ordained March 19, 1845. After a pastorate of four years, he was succeeded by Rev. Mr. McGear, who remained only a short time, and was followed by Rev. Joseph Smith in May, 1851. In 1857 the pastorate of Mr. Smith terminated, and in the same year Rev. J. M. Chick began a three years' ministry. In 1861 Rev. Gilbert Robbins hecame pastor, and remained until 1868. In the following year Rev. De Forest Safford was installed, but remained only a few months. In August, 1872, Rev. A. C. Huzzey was ordained, and was followed by Rev. Frank J. Bart- lett, the present pastor.

The Second Baptist Church, located at North Grafton, was formed in 1836, by members from the

churches of the central village and of Shrewsbury and Boylston. In 1838 Rev. Minor G. Clarke was settled over the church, and in the next year a meeting-house was built. Mr. Clarke was followed by Rev. William C. Richards iu 1841, Rev. Alfred Pinney in 1844, Rev. William C. Richards in 1846, Rev. William Leverett in 1849, and at later dates by Rev. Joseph M. Rockwood, Rev. J. D. E. Jones and Rev. L. M. Sargent.

The Free-Will Baptist Church, in that part of Grafton called Farnumsville, began to hold meet- ings in Sanndersville in 1838. In 1839 the church was organized with thirteen members, and in 1840 Rev. Benjamin D. Peck was installed as pastor. He was dismissed in 1846, and followed by Rev. George T. Day, who was installed in December, 1846. Rev. Joseph Whittemore was installed April 1, 1851, and dismissed April 5, 1852. During his pastorate the church changed its location to Farnumsville, where it now holds its services. Rev. Joseph Thayer was installed in 1852, and, after a season of languishment, followed by a reorganization, the society settled Rev. B. F. Pritchard in 1862, who remained until 1864. Rev. M. W. Burlingame was installed March 21, 1865, and dismissed the next year. Rev. G. W. Wallace followed in 1867, Rev. Daniel C. Wheeler in 1870, Rev. A. M. Freeman in 1871, Rev. Francis Read in 1876, and Rev. Andrew J. Eastman in 1878. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Sherwood, who succeeded Rev. W. H. Ward.

St. Philip's Church was established in 1848, in which year a small chapel was built in the central village. Until 1858 it was a mission church, and attended hy Father Sheridan and other pastors from Blackstone. In 1858 it was annexed to St. Ann's Church of Worcester, and attended by Father Powers of that church until 1869. In July, 1869, it was joined with the Millbury Mission, and made a parish, under the pastorate of Rev. M. J. Doherty. In October, 1869, the Grafton Mission was made a parish, to which that of Upton was joined. Rev. A. M. Barrett was appointed, in 1869, resident pastor, and was suc- ceeded by the present pastor, Rev. James Boyle. There are also Catholic societies, more recently formed, at North Grafton and Fishersville.

The Saundersville Congregational Church was formed in 1860, with sixteen members. Its first pastor was Rev. William Miller, who continued his service from that year until April 6, 1862. He was succeeded by Rev. Simeon Waters in 1863, who remained about three years. Rev. James E. Hall followed in 1867, and remained one year. His suc- cessor was Rev. Alvan J. Bates, who was installed June 22, 1869, and who was followed by Rev. Harvey M. Stone, whose installation took place December 18, 1878. The present pastor is Rev. B. F. Perkins.

A Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at North Grafton in 1842 and reorganized in 1866. Its present pastor is Rev. E. H. Tunnicliff.

929

GRAFTON.

The town of Grafton was not destined to a career of peace when its act of incorporation was secured. After a few years the French and Indian War broke out, and in Grafton and vicinity a company was formed to aid in the relief of Fort William Henry. Of this company thirty-six belonged to Grafton, and the commander of the company was Captain James Whipple, and its march began August 16, 1757. In 1758 twenty-three more enlisted for the service, and in 1759 nineteen additional. A list of the soldiers engaged in this war belonging to Grafton may be found in " Pierce's History," already referred to.

In the War of the Revolution Grafton was not behind her sister towns in patriotic efforts to establish the American Union. At a town-meeting held February 1, 1773, in answer to a letter from the Committee of Correspondence in Boston, the town voted, "that they would defend their rights at all hazards ; that they would not suffer their property to be taken from them in an unconstitutional manner, and that they were ready to co-operate with their brethren in Boston and other places in any measures to obtain a redress of grievances." With regard to the importation of tea, the town resolved, "as the people of this town, that any one individual, or any body of men, that shall encourage, aid or assist in importing or receiving any such tea, or any other article, while subject to a duty, the sole purpose whereof is to raise money to appro- priate to any sordid measure, or any use whatever, contrary to our just rights of distributing our own property, wherewith God and nature hath made us free, can but be viewed as criminal to our country, as well as to the mother-State, and must be so viewed by us." On the occurrence of the battle of Lexington, on the 19th of April, 1775, messengers were sent throughout the State of Massachusetts, and on the same day two companies marched for Boston. These companies were followed by continued enlistments during the war, and the names of those engaged in the war may be found in the history of Mr. Pierce, who has made an exhanstive search of the archives at the State-House, in order to make the lists com- plete. It is not necessary to repeat these lists in this narrative. It is sufficient to say that Grafton bore her full share of the burdens of the war, and furnished her full quota of the soldiers necessary to bring it to a favorable conclusion.

Neither the French War with England at the close of the last century, in which the maritime towns severely suffered, nor the War of 1812, materially affected the interests and welfare of Grafton. Her interests were at that time chiefly agricultural, and the annoyances of war failed to reach her borders. Her people were at that time also initiating manufac- turing enterprises, and the home market they sought was the more thoroughly secured by the distracting influences of the war on foreign trade. It is by no means certain that the foreign complications, which began with the French Revolution and closed with .

the peace of 1815, did not serve to establish on a firmer foundation the manufacturing enterprises of our country, than could have been secured with the channels of trade clear and unobstructed.

Between the War of 1812 and the War of the Rebellion little occurred to demand the services of the pen of the historian. The town enjoyed a peaceful country life, gradually enlarging its population, stead- ily increasing and perfecting the means of educating its people, constantly extending its manufactures, and the better sustaining its people by honest labor in their search for a more thorough enjoyment of life, by the cultivation of their social and intellectual powers. While in a condition of prosperity never before experienced, the War of 1861 came on. Though the premonitions had been unfavorable, yet on the whole the war was a surprise, and consequently the news of the attack on Massachusetts troops in Balti- more on the 19th of April, 1861, took the people by surprise. On the 20th of April, the day of the reception of the news, the selectmen called an informal meeting of the town to be held on the afternoon of that day. The selectmen at that time were, Jonathan D. Wheeler, H. S. Warren, George W. Estabrook and John McClellan. Charles Brigham was chosen moder- ator, and James W. White, secretary. Prayer was offered by Rev. Wm. G. Scandlin, and a committee, consisting of Esek Saunders, Win. F. Slocum, W. D. Wheeler, J. S. Nelson and Thomas C. Briscoe, was chosen to prepare business for the meeting. Benjamin Smith, an old Revolutionary soldier, ninety-eight years of age, was seated on the platform. At this meeting it was resolved that "we, citizens of the United States residing in Grafton, do pledge to our country in this hour of trial and need, our property, our lives and our unconditional support, and that we will do all in our power to defend our country against the dangers which threaten its existence." It was also resolved that " we will encourage the organization of a company of volunteer militia in the town of Grafton, to be equipped, drilled and ready for service at their country's call, and that it is incumbent on us to see that the families of those who may be called into service are supplied during their absence." It was further resolved that " we recommend the holding of a legal town-meeting as soon as may be, and that it is the sense of this meeting that the town should appropriate the sum of four thousand dollars, or so much as may be needed to defray the expenses of organizing such company of volunteer militia, and to render such aid to the families of those who enlist as may be needed." A committee of seven was appointed, consisting of Rufus E. Warren, Esek Saunders, Alfred Morse, C. M. Pratt, W. D. Wheeler, L. M. Sargent and Wm. F. Slocum, to procure the enlistment and charter of a volunteer company. At the close of the meeting the selectmen at once issued their warrant for a town-meeting to be held on the 29th of April, and on that occasion S. D. Hall was chosen moderator.

930

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Rev. J. M. Rockwood offered a prayer, and a com- mittee of fourteen was chosen to have a general over- sight of military affairs. The committee consisted of A. M. Bigelow, Winthrop Faulkner, Rufus E. Warren, Chandler M. Pratt, Jasper S. Nelson, Alfred Morse, Levi Rawson, Esek Saunders, S. P. Champney, J. B. Adams, Charles Brigham, Lawson Munyan, S. J. Axtell and A. M. Bigelow. At this meeting it was voted to appropriate four thousand dollars for the purpose of organizing a company, and to pay one dollar per day to each volunteer who engaged in drilling. It is not necessary, however, to repeat here the different votes of the town passed at various times. The town furnished three hundred and ninety-three men for the war, ten of whom were commissioned officers. The whole amount of money expended during the war was $68,001.09, of which the sum of $28,650.86, expended in State aid, was repaid by the Commonwealth.

The following list of persons who enlisted or were drafted into the service during the war is taken from the " Report of the Selectmen of Grafton" for the year ending March 5, 1866 :

Thomas D. Allen, three years. .15th Regiment, band

Thomas D. Allen, three years. 20th Regiment, band

Benjamin F. Allen, three years. .. 36th Regiment

Bradford E. Aldrich, three years. .15th Regiment, Co. G

Albert D. Amsden, three years. .. Cavalry, Capt. Reed's Co.

Joseplı K. Axtell, nine montlis. .5Ist Regiment, Co. E

Seth J. Axtell, Jr., nine months .51st Regiment, Co. E

Ira C. Aldrich, aine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Heavy Artillery Cyrns B. Axtell, one year.

Charles Apel, three years.

Charles M. Batchelder, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. G

llenry S. Ball, three years.

.15th Regiment, Co. G

Adelbert L. Brown, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. G

A. T. Bryant, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. G

Joseph Bonner, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Charles W. Berry, three yeals. 15th Regiment, Co. G

Thomas M. Bigelow, three years, 15th Regiment, Co. G

George M. Bigelow, three years 34th Regiment, Co. A

Harvey Bassett, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. G

Gilbert E. Balcom, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Lucius Boyden, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. (+

George R. Brown, three years 25th Regiment, Co. A

John S. Burns, three years ... 34th Regiment, Co. A

Joseph Bardsley, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. G

Thomas ". Bryant, three years. 34th Regiment, Co. A

George E. Burns, three years. .15th Regiment, Co. G

Abel 11. Balcom, three years 36th Regiment

Peter Barras, three years.

. Butler's Brigade

Joseph Buxton, three years

36th Regiment, Co. C

John W. Bigelow, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Arthur G. Biscoe, nine months.

.51st Regiment, Co. E

Willard Balcom, nine months.

.. 51st Regiment, Co. E

Daniel C. Brown, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 11

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1464

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1464