History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 115

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 115

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And he it further enacted-

Sect. 2. That Joshna Willard, Esq., be, and hereby is, empowered to issue his warrant to some principal inhabitant of said town of Royal- ston, requiring him, in his majesty's name, to,warn and notify the said inhabitants qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet together at such time and place in said town as shall be appointed in said warrant to choose such officers as the law directs, and may be necessary to manage the affairs of said town; and the inhabitants so met shall be, and are hereby, empowered to choose officers accordingly.

And he it further enacted-

Sect. 3. That all those persons that have already agreed for to settle in said township, and have given bonds to perform the same, shall be accounted as part and parcel of said inhabitants, and be allowed to vote in their town-meetings in all town affaire, as fully as those who actually live upon their settlements in said town, and ehall be accordingly taxed for the purposes aforesaid.

The first change in the boundary lines of Royal- ston occurred in 1780. At the time of the incorpora- tion of the town of Winchendon, in 1764, the north-

ern boundary of that town was fixed at the province line; but it was subsequently discovered that the province line was one mile farther north than was supposed. A readjustment of the line consequently left a strip of territory one mile wide, extending along the whole length of the Winchendon line, un- incorporated. The act incorporating the town of Royalston gave this territory to that town, and it received the name of the Royalston Leg. The in- habitants of this territory were not long satisfied with their allotment in the town of Royalston, and petitioned the General Court to be annexed to Winchendou. In compliance with their petition the following act was passed, June 17, 1780 :

Whereas it appears that the inhabitante living in a strip of land Le- longing to Royalston in the county of Worcester, called Royalston Leg, about one mile wide, lying the whole length of the town of Winchen- don, would be much accommodated by being set off from Royalston and annexed to the town of Winchendon,-

Be it therefore enacted by the Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled and by the authority of the same ;-

SECT. I. That all that part of Royalston called Royalston Leg, con- taining by estimation about two thousand acres, beginning at the north- west corner of Winchendon, then ruaning northwardly a parallel line with Winchendon west line about one mile to the province line eo called ; then eastwardly by the province line the length of the town of Winchendon, be and hereby is set off from Royalston and annexed to Winchendon ; and the town of Wincheudon is hereby extended so far northi as the State line of New Hampshire and said land with the inhah- itants living therein shall forever hereafter be considered as belonging to the town of Winchendon.

Provided nevertheless,-

SECT. 2. That the said inhabitants and non-residents shall pay all taxes which are already assessed and levied on the town of Royalston, any- thing in this act to the contrary notwithstanding.

Provided also, --

And be it further enacted hy the authority aforesaid,

SECT. 3. That the amount of the estates contained on and in said tract of land and the polls thereon returned by the assessors of the town of Royalston in the valuation last taken as belonging to Royalston be de- ducted from the return of said assessors and added to the return made by the assessors of the town of Winchendon.

This act reduced the territory of Royalston about two thousand acres. Several thousand acres more were taken by the incorporation of the town of Orange, in 1783. Small additions were made in 1799, 1803 and 1837, so that, at the present time, the territory of Royalston contains about twenty-six thousand eight hundred and eighty-two acres.

The first meeting of the town was held May 7, 1765, at which John Fry was chosen clerk, Peter Woodbury, treasurer, and Jolin Fry, Timothy Rich- ardson and Benjamin Woodbury were chosen select- men. ' Though a meeting-house had been built in 1764, the year before the incorporation of the town, no formal church had been organized and no minister had been settled. On the 13th of October, 1766, a church was gathered consisting of sixteen persons, and the pulpit continued to be supplied by occa- sional preachers, until October 19, 1768, when Rev. Joseph Lee was ordained. He was to receive, in addition to three hundred and thirty-one acres of land granted by the proprietors, four hundred pounds, old tenor, for a settlement, and forty-six pounds, thir-

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

teen shillings and four pence of lawful money per annum for three years, fifty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence for the next three years, and sixty pounds annually afterwards. He was also to have thirty cords of wood drawn annually from his own land, without charge. Mr. Lee was born in Concord, May 12, 1752, and graduated at Harvard in 1765. His pas- torate continued until his death, February 16, 1819. During his pastorate, in 1797, a new meeting-house was built to meet the increasing demands of the society.

On the day after the death of Mr. Lee, and while his remains lay waiting their burial, Rev. Ebenezer Perkins was ordained as his successor. Mr. Perkins was born in Topsfield, Essex County, July 4, 1794, and graduated at Dartmouth College. His pastorale terminated in 1847, but he continued a resident in Royalston until his death, which occurred November 28, 1861. Rev. Norman Hazen succeeded Mr. Perkins and was settled in June, 1847. In feeble health when settled, Mr. Hazen struggled against the inroads of disease in vain and died, after a five years' pastorate, in 1852. In 1851, during Mr. Hazen's pastorate, the meeting-house, erected in 1797, was burned, and was replaced by the present one. Rev. Ebenezer Bullard was installed September 2, 1852, and dis- missed November 9, 1868. Rev. John P. Cushman followed November 30, 1870, and Rev. Wilbur Johnson May 16, 1874. The present pastor, Rev. Judson W. Shaw, was ordained June 1, 1887. His predecessor was Rev. Milton G. Pond.

When Rev. Mr. Lee was settled, in 1768, ten of the forty-two families in the town were Baptists, and or- ganized a church in the year of his settlement. On or before 1770 it is presumed that they had built a house of worship, for in that year they settled their first pastor, Rev. Whitman Jacobs. His ministry continued until about the year 1788, and soon after- wards a new meeting-house was erected near the Warwick line. In 1847 the new building was removed about a mile to the eastward.

A second Congregational Church was organized in South Royalston, February 22, 1837, and in the same year a house of worship was erected. The first pastor of this church, Rev. Samuel H. Peckham, was installed December 13, 1838. The present pastor is Rev. E. J. Beach. A Methodist Society was also organized at South Royalston in 1842, and Rev. Pliny Wood was the first preacher. In 1847 a house of worship was built, and the society has enjoyed a career of satisfae- tory prosperity. At present the church-has no settled pastor.

As in other New England towns, the establishment of educational privileges stood in Royalston next in order to those of a religious character. Though Mass- achusetts was a Province loyal to British rule, the seeds of popular education had been planted and were far advanced in growth, while in the mother country they had not yet found. their way beneath the soil.

The growth of popular education, which in the early days of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies had become the object of their people's most assidu- ous care, illustrates the fact that no particular era in American history, not even the days of the Revolu- tion, can be fixed as the period of American Inde- pendence. From the original settlement of New England a new individuality existed on this side of the ocean, as distinct in habits of thought, in methods of living and in ideas of government, from the com- munities of the Old World, as the son is distinct from the father, and only needs to become of age to assert his freedom.

In the sale by the General Court of Royalston lands one-sixty-third part of the purchased territory was reserved for public schools. In addition to 420 acres of land thus reserved, Isaac Royal gave to the town 200 acres for school purposes. These lands have been sold from time to time, and the proceeds of sales have formed what is called the "Old School Fund," the income of which is annually credited to the School Department. Another school fund, called the " Bul- lock Fund," will be referred to hereafter in some statements concerning Hon. Rufus Bullock, its founder.

The first action on the part of the town concerning schools was taken in 1767, when it was voted to lease out the school land. In 1769 it was voted " to sell the school land for as much as it will sell for ; the principal to be a fund for schools and the interest to be applied yearly to pay for schooling." In the same year the sum of three pounds in addition to the interest of the fund was raised " to hire schooling the present year." In 1769 Simeon Chamberlain was employed as teacher at nine shillings a week, and iu 1770 Capt. John Fry taught five weeks for ten shillings a week. John Crawford, Hannah Richardson and Dr. Stephen Bacheller followed, and all before 1777. In those early days of the town the schools were kept in dwelling- houses and sometimes in barns, but in 1777 the town, while declining to build a school-house, gave liberty to a number of the inhabitants to build one near the meeting-house on land presumably belonging to the towu. The first three teachers in this house were a Mr. Wood and Ammi Falkner and Ebenezer Pierce. In 1781 the town was divided into six school districts, which number, after the incorporation of the town of Orange, was reduced to five. In 1795 nine districts were formed, which, with slight variations, continued until 1820. In 1797 it was voted " to build school- houses in the several school districts; and, that equal justice may be rendered to individuals as near as pos- sible, that the school-houses shall be built as near the centre of the districts as the situation of the inhabit- ants and the roads will admit, and that each district may agree on the spot." A committee was appointed to report the expense of building these houses, and to ascertain whether there were not buildings already erected in any of the districts which could be hired

1373

ROYALSTON.

for school uses. The committee, consisting of Jona- than Sibley, Benjamin Hutchinson and Peter Wood- bury, reported February 2, 1797, recommending the erection of houses in the various districts at an esti- mated cost of two thousand and eighteen dollars. Most of these houses were to be "twenty-four feet by twenty and nine and a half feet stud, with square roof, six windows each, with fifteen seven by nine glass, the inside wall ceiled; overhead crowning and plas- tered, the seats round the walls on three sides and raised eight inches, and eighteen inches from the walls, with a good writing-table before them and a shelf for books beneath; seats before the tables ; an entrance way at one end of the house six feet wide; two doors to enter the room, and the whole to be finished up in workman-like manner and the outside painted." On the 7th of May, 1798, the report was accepted and the sum of fifteen hundred dollars was appropriated for the work. This amount was found afterwards to be insufficient and a further sum of four hundred and fifty dollars was raised to meet the deficiency. At a later day three new districts were added, making twelve in all, and at that number they continued until the district system was abolished by law. There is no high school in the town, but the grammar and other schools are well supported and well managed.

Of these there are ten for the support of which, in the year ending February 24, 1888, the sum of $2,409.54 was expended. In addition to this the sum of $200 was expended for books and supplies. The income of the two School Funds amounted in the same year to $432.70, all of which was applied to the support of schools. The old Fund, derived from the sales of land, amounts to $1500, from which the income was $90, and the Bullock Fund to $5000, from which the income was $342.70.

According to the report of the trustees of the Pub- lic Library, the number of volumes in February, 1888, was 1138. An annual appropriation is made by the town for its support.

In the War of the Revolution, which followed closely upon the incorporation of the town, the same patriotic spirit prevailed in Royalston which charac- terized the great majority of towns in the Province. In 1773 the people of the town were in communica- tion with the people of Boston, and rendered them at least moral aid in their attitude of resistance to the aggressions of the Crown. When, in 1774, the General Court met in Salem, in violation of the orders of General Gage, and resolved itself into a Provincial Congress, Henry Bond was a member of that Congress from Royalston. When the Second Congress met at Cambridge and adjourned to Concord, Nahum Green represented the town in that memora- ble assembly. In 1776 a step was taken in Massa- chusetts towards the formation of a State Constitution. The people of Royalston voted in favor of making it one of the duties of the General Court of 1776 to frame such a Constitution. When the Constitution

as framed was submitted to the town in April, 1778, it was voted not to approve it. The Constitution as presented was then submitted to a committee for altera- tion and amendment, and, as reported back by the com- mittee, was unanimously approved. The Constitution having failed, the people of Royalston, on the new question, whether a convention should be called for the purpose of framing one, voted in the affirmative, and Sylvanus Hemenway was chosen delegate, with John Fry as his substitute. The Constitution finally proposed by the convention was laid before the town May 25, 1780, but what action was taken the town records do not state. Iu 1779 a town-meeting was held " to hear the proceedings of the convention at Concord on account of settling prices of commod- ities bought and sold (within the State), and act on said affair as the town may think proper." At this meeting, held on the 16th of August, Henry Bond was chosen to attend the next session of the conven- tion at Concord, and when the result of its delibera- tions was promulgated, John Fry, William Town, Lieutenant Chase, Henry Bond, Nathan Wheeler, Deacon Woodbury and Peletiah Metcalf were chosen a committee " to set prices on the sundry commodi- ties bought and sold in town, agreeable to the instruc- tions of the Convention."

Among the citizens of Royalston who rendered military service during the war, the following may be mentioned :

Nahum Green.

David Cook.

Col. Ebenezer Newel.

William Clement.

Major John Norton. John Davis, Jr.

Capt. Jonathan Sibley.

Squier Davis.

Capt. Euoch Whitmore.

Sylvester Davis.

Lient. Edward Holman,

John Ellis.

Lieut. Natban Wheeler.

Joseplı Emerson.

Lieut. Jonas Allen.

Ammi Falkoer.

Lieut. James Work.

Jonathan Gale.

Lieut. Micah Freach.

Nathaniel Jacobs.

Timothy Armstrong.

Samuel Lewis.

Bezaleel Barton.

Benjamin Leathe.

Samuel Barton.

Isaac Nichols.

David Bullock.

Nathan B. Newton.

Nathan Bliss.

- Perham.

Ebenezer Burbank.

Eliphalet Richardsoo.

Samuel W. Bowker.

Abijah Richardsoo.

David Copeland.

Joel Stockwell.

Silas Cutting.

Benajah Woodbury.

Benjamin Clark.

Jonathan Wellington.

Rogers Chase.

Josialı Waite.

William Clement (2d).

Moses Walker.

Though the population of the town at the time of the war was only about seven hundred and fifty, it is known that many others were engaged in the service whose names would doubtless be found in the muster and pay-rolls in the archives of the State.

In Shays' Rebellion, which followed closely after the termination of the war, the sympathies of the people of Royalston were enlisted on the side of the insurgents, though they had too much respect for law and good order to afford them substantial aid in their efforts. The acts of violence and disorder which characterized the movement were soon condoned,

1374

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

and in the distribution of political honors, after its suppression, even its most active supporters were not overlooked.

In the war with Great Britain, in 1812, no special interest was felt, and no patriotic enthusiasm excited. Its preliminary step-the embargo-was condemned by the people, and a committee, consisting of Joseph Esterbrook, Stephen Bacheller, Jr., John Norton, Isaac Metcalf and Rufus Bullock, were chosen to draft a petition to the General Court to take measures to redress the grievances arising from the policy of the National Government. The report of the com- mittee, which was adopted by the town, declared that "the inhabitants of the Town of Royalston legally as- sembled in Town-meeting for the purpose of taking into consideration the present unprecedented and very alarming situation of our public affairs, hereby repre- sent that when there is a dereliction from the first principles ; when there is a practical departure from what is warranted by the constitution in those that lead in government, then there is a call to vigilance and exertion to prevent the progress of the evil. Notwithstanding it has been intimated from high au- thority that the people in town-meeting, etc., are not. capable of judging of the propriety or impropriety of the measures of government, and that there are stages when an end must be put to debate, yet so long as we consider our National and State Constitution the supreme law of our land, we shall, agreeably to the rights thereiu secured to us (which rights we are de- termined never to relinquish), take the liberty on all important and portentous (issues), particularly when those rights are invaded and trampled upon, to assem- ble iu an orderly and peaceable manner to make our grievances known, and to use all proper and constitu- tional means to have them redressed.

" We have seen with anxiety a system of measures pursued which has paralyzed industry and enterprise, discouraged our farmers and embarrassed our mer- chants, brought distress upon all classes of our citi- zens, and produced the greatest temptation for an illicit trade perhaps ever known. We are firmly attached to our National and State Constitutions, and cheerfully pledge our lives and everything we hold dear to support them. We are also firmly at- tached to a Union of the States, and should view with horror and detestation any attempts to sever them or to discountenance that friendship and har- mony that ought to subsist between them."

This bold language illustrates the character of the protests made everywhere in Massachusetts against a policy which, with the embargo as one of its meas- ures, spread havoc among the ship-owners on the sea-board and excited universal sympathy among those who were connected with them either by social or business ties. As the war approached, a town- meeting was held "to see what measures to adopt relative to the distressing situation of our country, and act in concert with millions of American citi-

zens to take all peaceable and constitutional means, if possible, to avert the horrors of war."

But when war was actually declared, the time for discussion and criticism ceased, and patriotism alone, with the duties it inculcated, filled the minds of the community. For the most part, the town saw little of the usual accompaniments of hostile strife. The war was a naval war; but occasionally the threat- ened attacks of the enemy on the weak points of the coast created alarms which reached the interior towns. On one of these occasions the Grenadiers, a military company of Royalston, was summoned to Boston, and continued thirty-four days in the ser- vice. The roll of this company was as follows :

Benjamin Brown, capt.

Elias Emerson.

Benoni Peck, lieut.

John Eaton.

W. Newton, ens.

Chauocy Forbush.

Isaac Gale, sergt.

Moses Garfield.

Elmer Newton, sergt.

John Hill.

Alanson White, Bergt.

Hiram Lewis.

Jonah Walker, sergt.

Benjaorio Leathe, Jr.

Thomas Norton, corp.

Russell Morse.

Josiah Wheeler, corp.

Chauncy Peck.

Moses Tyler, corp.

Joho Prescott.

David Thurstoo, corp.

Chandler Peabody.

Joseph Peirce, mus.

Thomas Rogers.

Silas Peirce, mus.

Stephen Richardson.

Silas Metcalf, mus.

Isaac Stockwell.

Simeon Stockwell.

Luke Bemis.

Joseph Stockwell.

Nathan Bemis.

Jonathan Stockwell.

Jonas Bremen, Jr.

Tarrant Stockwell.

Wm. Chase, Jr.

Joho B. Walker.

Jobn Chamberlain, Jr.

Asa Walker.

John Dexter.

Nathaniel Wilsoo, Jr.

In the War of the Rebellion Royalston performed a creditable part. At its commencement the popula- tion of the town was one thousand four hundred and eighty-six, aud its valuation $823,257. The Board of Selectmen during the first two years of the war con- sisted of William W. Clement, Richard Baker and Cyrus B. Reed, and during its remaining years, of William W. Clement, Jeremiah A. Rich and Hiram Harrington. At a town-meeting held on the 30th of April, 1861, it was voted to raise fifteen hundred dol- lars to fit out volunteers and to pay them ten dollars a month above the pay of the Government. A com- mittee of three was also raised to procure recruits. On the 14th of October it was voted to raise a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars for soldiers' fami- lies. On the 7th of April, 1862, it was voted to bor- row one thousand dollars for aid to families of volun- teers, and on the 24th of July to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to volunteers for three years' ser- vice.

On the 25th of August it was voted to pay the same bounty to volunteers for nine months' service. On the 20th of April, 1864, it was voted to raise fifteen hundred dollars for bounties, and on the 14th of June to raise enough money to pay each volunteer one hundred and twenty-five dollars. In 1865 it was voted to raise four thousand nine hundred and sixty-

Edsoo Clark, mus.

Reuben Stockwell.

James Peirce, mus.

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ROYALSTON.

five dollars to refund those who had subscribed money for the purpose of filling the various quotas of the town. The whole amount expended by the town for war purposes was $25,268.91, of which the sum of $9,268.91, expended for State aid, was refunded by the State.

The following list includes those who enlisted in various regiments for various terms of service :

Fifteenth Regiment of Infantry.

Harrison C. Blake.

George W. Bowkers.

Wm. Walsh.

George L. Chase.

Twenty-first Regiment of Infantry.

Wm. C. Doane.

John Barrus.

Benjamin A. Fry.

Marshall Barrus.

Lucius F. French.

Addison S. Bradish.

Sandford Giles.

C. A. Clark.

Wm. H. Howard.

Nathan S. Day.

Salem T. Hill.

Charles S. Knight.

Frank A. Oshorn.

Hosea A. Bosworth .. died of wounds July 10, 1864

Clarence E. King.

John S. Chase. .died at Andersonville

Jonas Greeley.

Henry Russell.

Stephen W. Martin died at Newbero May 16, 1862

Henry H. Higgins.

George W. Raymond.

Sidney S. Heywood.

John Shepardson.

Henry E. Knight.

Nathan S. Tardy.

Sanford Giles.

died of wounds May 12, 1864

Patrick Manning.

Otis K. Upham.

Clarence E. King. .. died at Nicholasville, Ky., Ang. 23, 1863 Henry Russell died of wounds Aug. 10, 1864

Chauncy Norcross.

Arthur Peirce.

Charles Pope.

Benjamin Pattoo.

George W. Raymond died of wounds Jan. 4, 1864

John Shepardson killed June 17, 1864

Edwin Vose.

Rollin N. White.

Stephen P. White.

Twenty-fifth Regiment of Infantry.

George W. Barrett.

Eugene C. King.

Samnel B. Hall.

George L. Hancock „died at Carrolton, La., March 8, 1863

George W. Knight.

died at New Orleans April 10, 1863

Martin Burgess.

Henry C. Moore. died at New Orleans April 29, 1863

Hosea A. Bosworth.

Emerson E. Bissell.

Wm. H. Chase.

Willis II. Barton.

John S. Chase.

Amos B. Bosworth.

Arthur E. Clement.

Joseph W. Bosworth.

Jay Davis.

Edward W. Cross.

Eugene C. King.

died in Kentucky Ang. 23, 1863

David W. Day.

Bernard Doane.

Aaron A. Grant.

Marcin Fallon.

Wm. H. Howard.

George E. Fry.

Stephen W. Martin.

Alonzo French.

Wesley D. Goddard. J. B. Mellen.

W. D. Goddard.

Jefferson Richardson

died Jan. 24, 1863

Haslan P. Metcalf.

James N. Hunt.

Stephen W. Martin.

George L. Hancock.

Joseph T. Nichols. Nelson F. Peck.

George W. Knight.

H. K. Sampson.

Henry C. Moore.

Alexander Stewart.

Andrew J. Norcross.

James B. Smith. Henry S. Wood.

Herman N. Partridge.

Asa L. Palmer.

Lyman Wheeler.

George W. Russell.

George N. Wheeler.

Warren L. Wheeler.

George O. Richardson. Jefferson Richardson.

Marcus Walker.

W. H. Sprague.

Quincy A. Shepardson. W. W. Sherwin.

George A. Flagg.

Warren Thatcher.

Charles E. Tenney.

Edwin O. Vose.

John M. Wood.

1779. None.

1796.

None.

Ambrose Clark.

Allen F. Fish.

Sixth Buttery.

Henry L. Bennett.

Second New Hampshire Regiment.

John Nash.

1787. John Fry.

1802.

None.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 115

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