History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 117

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 117

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Franklin E. Gregory, the subject of this sketch, was born in Royalston May 7, 1822. At the age of six- teen, after an education acquired in the public schools of his native town, he took the first step in what has proved a busy life as a boy in the dry-goods store of Mr. Austin, of Royalston. After a few months he went to Keene, New Hampshire, and entered the dry-goods store of Wales Kimball. In 1840 he went to Cambridgeport and became clerk in the dry-goods store of Edward Hydes. Three years afterwards, in 1843, he became a salesman in the well-established house of Dutton, Richardson & Co., in Boston. At that time the store of that firm was at No. 53 Water Street, and it there remained until about 1845, when the firm removed to the store next north of the Fed-

1380

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

eral Street Theatre, on Federal Street, which, during their occupancy, fell to the ground. In 1847 Mr. Gregory became a partner in the house, which con- tinued to be known as Dutton, Richardson & Co. until 1855, when Mr. Richardson left to join James M. Beebe in business, and the old firm became Greg- ory, Tilton & Co.

In 1861 Mr. Gregory retired from the dry-goods business, and soon after became a partner in the firm of Spear, Burke & Gregory, on Central Wharf, whose business was chiefly confined to dealings in oils and starch. Three years after he abandoned this new line of business and, with Mr. Richardson, his old partner, formed the well-known, eminent house of George C. Richardson & Co. He retained his con- nection with Mr. Richardson until 1880-a connection which, with few interruptions, had extended through a period of thirty-seven years. Since 1880 his time has been chiefly occupied in the management of trusts and trust estates, and in the performance of duties resting upon him as director or manager of financial and other enterprises. He has been thirteen years a director in the Revere National Bank of Boston, is vice-president of the Framingham Savings Bank and Framingham National Bank, and trustee of the Washington and Potomac Railroad. He made Cam- bridge his place of residence from 1840, when he first removed there, unti! 1883, when he removed to Fram- ingham, his present home.

On the 26th of May, 1847, Mr. Gregory married Sarah F., daughter of William Bird, of Boston, and has had the following children: William F., who was brought up in the house of Wm. Claflin & Co., in the shoe trade, and is now a partner in that prosper- ous firm, and who married Martha J. Bent, of Cam- bridge; Anna Edwards, unmarried; and Charles F., who lives at home with his parents.

The mere statement of the career of Mr. Gregory is perhaps a sufficient eulogy. No man could have advanced with the sure and steady step which marked his progress, from boyhood in a retail store to a manhood bearing a full share of the burdens and responsibilities of a leading commission house in Boston, without the possession of a sound judgment, a comprehensive intelligence, a wise foresight and a keen sense of honor, all of which are essential to the life and prosperity of business enterprise. It is unfortunately too common for such men, while loving business methods themselves, to condemn the care- less and unthrifty ; and conscious of their own moral strength to be harsh in their judgments of others. But no man can say that Mr. Gregory's heart has been hardened by the competitions and conflicts of trade, or that his charity has ever failed where a helping hand could relieve distress, or the display of a kind, forgiving spirit could guide anew a fallen brother-man in the walks of an honorable and useful life.

JOSEPH RAYMOND.

Joseph Raymond, son of Stephen and Rhoda Esta- brook Raymond, was born in Royalston June 3, 1801. He spent his youth in his native town, enjoying the advantages of our common schools, which are the pride of Massachusetts, and at seventeen years of age entered the store of Gen. Franklin Gregory, and re- mained with him to the close of 1823, acquitting him- self with such credit that within a few months he was offered a partnership by Col. Artemas Lee in his busi- ness at Baldwinville, a village in Templeton. The offer was accepted, and the firm of Lee & Raymond carried on a very large and lucrative business from April 1, 1824, to April 1, 1838-a period of fourteen years. Upon the dissolution of the firm at the latter date Mr. Raymond returned to Royalston and formed a copartnership with Joseph Estabrook, which con- tinned till the spring or summer of 1844, when Mr. Raymond retired from active business life with a gen- erous competency. He continued prominent, how- ever, in town affairs, and was regarded as a faithful and sagacious leader in all matters affecting the inter- ests of the community in which he lived. He filled for many years the various offices of trust in town government, as chairman of the Boards of Selectmen, Assessors, Overseers of the Poor, etc., and brought to the discharge of his duties faithful service, sound judgment and wise foresight,-shunning no labor, shrinking from no responsibility and exercising the same care and diligence that he did in his own busi- ness,-and won and retained the full confidence of his townsmen.

In 1851 he represented Royalston in the Legisla- ture, and in the protracted and spirited contest that session for United States Senator he was a consistent and earnest supporter of Charles Sumner, whose dawning greatness even then gave promise of large fulfillment, so fully realized in after-years.

Upon the establishment of Miller's River Bank, in Athol, in 1854, Mr. Raymond was chosen one of its first directors, and gave his valuable experience to the management of that exceptionally successful institu- tion. Of late years, however, he has given little at- tention to any business outside of his private affairs, and in his modest and beautiful home in the heart of the historic town of his birth he is passing the golden decline of life in the calm and bright serenity befit- ting an active, useful and honorable career.

Mr. Raymond married, November 21, 1830, Eliza- beth Kendall, daughter of Samuel Kendall, who was born in Enfield in 1801,-a woman of rare gifts, a very mother in Israel, respected and loved by all who knew her. It was a happy marriage in the truest sense, made happier by the birth of four children, three of whom are still living,-a daughter, Mrs. I. L. Choate, and two sons, J. E. and H. D. Raymond. After a married life of over fifty-six years Mrs. Ray- mond died in 1887, mourned by all, and especially in the family home, brightened by her presence, and

Joseph Raymond

下

1381

HOLDEN.

around which still linger so many tender associations connected with her name and memory.

Mr. Raymond contributed the first money to found a public library in his native town, which bears the name of the " Raymond Public Library of Royalston," in honor of the donor, who has shown by his living example, more eloquent than words, the rich fruits of good citizenship, the value of character, based upon intelligence, integrity and love of justice, in the building up of manhood and communities, of which New England is the type and expression.

In this brief and imperfect sketch it is only neces- sary to add that Mr. Raymond is a man of marked in- dividuality, which he carries with him into all the relations of life; careful in forming an opinion, firm in his convictions, patient in investigation, seeking always the truth-and it is seldom that he is mistaken in his judgments. In these qualities, largely, lies the secret of his success; to these he owes the honors that have crowned his life.

CHAPTER CLXX.

HOLDEN.

Location-Original Grant-Indian Deed-Division of Lots-Settlement-The " Lime Lot"-First Survey-Incorporation-Petition-Act of Incor- poration-Names.

HOLDEN is located near the centre of the county, and is bounded as follows : North by Princeton ; east by Sterling, West Boylston and Worcester ; south by Worcester and Paxton, and west by Paxton, Rutland and Princeton.

This town originally formed a portion of Worcester and was known as the North Half. It was granted by the General Court in 1668 to Daniel Gookin, Edward Johnson and others, who received a deed from the Indians of this tract under date of July 13, 1674. The following is the deed :

INDIAN DEED.

Bse it koown to all men by this present writing, that Wee, John alias Horrawannonit, or Quiquonassett, Sagamore of Pakachoge, and Solomoo, slias Woonaskochu, Sagamore of Tataessit, together with the consent of our kindred and people, and for and in consideration of twelve pounds of lawful money of New England, or the full value thereof, in other specie, to our content, within three months after the date hereof, well and truly to be paid, and satisfied, and pt. whereof, viz. two coats and four yards of trading cloth, valewed at twenty-six shill. wee do acknowledge to have received io hand, as earoest, of Dao- iel Gookin senr. of Cambr. Esqr. and of Daniel Hinchman, of Boston, Brewer, io behalf of themselves sod Capt. Thomas Prentice, and Lt. Richard Beers, and the rest of the Genll. Court's Comittee, appointed for the management of & new plantation granted by the said Court, conteyning eight miles square, or the contents thereof, being to the westward of Marlborough, near Quansiquamond Ponds, and on each side of the Roadway leading towards Condecticott ; Now know yee, yt wee, ye sd. Jno. and Solomon, Sagamores aforesaid, and upon the terms aforesaid, have bargained, sold, aliened, enfeeoffed, and confirmed, unto ye ød Daniel Gookin, Thomas Prentice, Daniel Hinchman, Richard Beers, and ye rest of the people admitted, or to bo admitted, by ye xd

comittee to be inhabitants of yt new plantation, and to their heirs, ex ecutors, admirs, and assigns for ever, in fee simple, all and every pt of our civill or naturall right, in all and singular the broken up land and woodlands, woods, trees, rivers, brooks, ponds, swamps, meadows, min- eralls, or any other thing, or things whatsoever, lying and being with in that tract of laod, conteyning eight miles square or the contents thereof, to be layd out by ye sd persons or their order in time conven ient. To have and to hold the premises, and every pt thereof, nnto them the sd Daniel Gookin, Thomas Prentice, Daniel Ilinchman, and Richard Beers, and all ye rest of ye sd Inhabitants admitted or to be ad- mitted planters there, and unto ym and yr heirs forever, freely and ab- solutely, withiont any left, molestation, or disturbioce, of us, or any of our kindred or people, or any claiming by, from, or under us, for ever- more, as our heyrs or assigns ; and wee do promise, upon the finishing ye payment to make full and ample deeds and writings for the same, ac- cording to law. In witness of the truth hereof, wee ye sd John and Solomon, alias Horrowanonitt and Wooannaskochu, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this thirteenth day of July, 1674.

Solomon, alias Woonnasakochu,

seal and mark.

Signed, Sealed, and delivered in the

John, alias Hoorrawanwit,

presence of us, mark and sesl

Onnamnog, his mark, Sagamore of Occonomesett.

Namphow, his mark, sagamore of Wamesett.

Joseph Thatcher, of Chabanakonchoie, his mark.

Nosannowitt, bis mark. Noah Wiswall, present.

Full payment rec'd August 20, 1676.

D. Gookin.

This deed acknowledged by the Sagamores, before Daniel Gookin, Sen Assist. July 13.

Entered, 9. 2. 83 by Thomas Danforth, R.

This deed embraced the present towns of Holden, Worcester and portions of Auburn, Paxton and West Boylston. A second Indian deed was granted to Daniel Gookin and others February 12, 1677.

DIVISION OF LOTS .- At a proprietors' meeting, held April 24, 1682, it was voted to divide the whole township into lots, and the following is an account of them :

Lotts Drawn for pitches in the North half part of Worcester, as they were taken out the Hatt by the Moderator according to vote as aforesd to each proprietor is as follows-viz :-

Collel Adam Wiothrop. 1

Will Hutchinson

upon Ward

Gates, upon Miller. 65

Rice, Jun.

Newton & Britton 30

up Jons. Moore

Ephraim Rice

Josiah Rice

Daniel Haywood

Jo. Hubbard upon Stark 35

Jna. Waldo upon Crosby. 66

John Gray

Jn. Hinchman & Co 11

Coll. Smith.

Butler's Right. 67

Thos. Bynny 53

John Gownding & Co. 21

Benja. Flagg.

Gershom Rice,

Benja. Flagg, Jun

Joshua Rice 73

John Waldo

upon Mr. Allen

The heirs of Thos. Goulding ..... 3

Aha. Harding

upon Danson

Jonatho. Bigelo

upon Danson

Col. Fitch

upon Danson

Jn. Dowell 42

upon Danson

Capt. Ilaynes

James Taylor

Thomas Rice

Jonas Rice

Aaron Adams

James Hohnes. 27

Danll Bigelo 43

Joshua Rice

Capt. Prentice

Thomas Leonard. 16

Jonathn. Marble. 8

Wm. Hutchinson

upon Jonas Rice

Jn. Haggit

Elisha Rice

Hapgood upon Miller,

John Smith

Deacon Rice

upon Gershom Rice

The heirs of Danll Cbilds } .....

upon Jas. Rice

Isaac Wl.celer

1382

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Henry Lee 1

Moses Leonard 22

James Caldwell Samuel Haywood

James Gray

To his Excellency Jonathan Belcher Esqr. Captain General & Gov- ernor in chief in and over His Majesties Province uf the Massachusetts Bay in New England. To the Ilonourable Ilis Majesty's Council & the Honourable House of Representatives, Novr. 21, 1740. The memorial of John Bigelo & Cyprian Stevens for themselves and in behalf of the uther inhabitants of the North half of the Town of Worcester humbly sbeweth. That the Town of Worcester at their meeting in March last having by a vote then passed, signified their free consent, to dismiss the Inhabitants of the North part of sd Town in order to their being erected into a Dis- tinct Township if this Honourable Court should think fit, and your memorialists made application accordingly at the Sessions jo May last, and their Petition was not at that time Grauted by the whole Court, but only by a part. Our Circumstances as we humbly apprehend being not fully known. We therefore beg leave to Inform this IFonourable Court, That since that time, Several persons have been added to our Number & divers others would have purchased laind & settled with us, in case our petition had been then granted. Now in as much as our increase & flourishing have been much retarded for want thereof, and would be much promoted by our being made a Town, and the settlement of a Minister with us, in the meeting-house which we have erected, much facilitated, and for want whereof we undergo great difficultys, We hum- bly entreat your Excellency and Honours will now take our Necessitous case into your wise consideration & be pleased to erect ns into a distinct Township; and your bumble metnorialists as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c.

JOHN BIGIO.

CYPAIAN STEVENS.

Anno Regni Regis Georgii Secnodi decimo quarto.

An Act for erecting the Northerly part of the town of Worcester, in the county of Worcester, into a distinct and separate Township by the name of Holden.

Whereas the inhabitants of the Northerly part of the town of Wor- cester, commonly called North Worcester, by reason of the great diffi- culties they labour under, have addressed this Conrt to be set off a sepa- rate and distinct Township, whereby the inhabitants of said Town have manifested their consent.

Be it enacted by his Excellency the Governor, Council and Represent- atives io General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same- That the Northerly part of the Town of Worcester, withio the follow- ing bounds, viz. :- bounding South-easterly on the lines dividing the North and South Proprieties of said Town, and is known as the divid- ing line ; westerly partly on the Towo of Leicester, and partly on the Town of Rutland; and easterly on the Towo of Shrewsbury, be and hereby is set off, from the Town of Worcester, and erected into a sepa- rate and distinct Township by the name of Holden, and that the inhnb- itants thereof be and hereby are vested with all the Powers, Privileges and Immunities which the inhabitants of other Towns within this Province do and by right ought to enjoy.

Provided nevertheless that the said new Town shall pay their propor- tionable part of all such Province and County taxes as are already as- sessed upon the Town of Worcester, io like manger as tho' this act had never been made.

January 2, 1740. This bill having been read three several times io the House of Representatives, Passed to be enacted.

J. QUINCY, Sp.

January 2, 1740. This bill having been read three several times in the House of Representatives, Passed to be eoacted.

J. WILLARD, Sec'ry.

January 9, 1740. By his Excellency the Governor, I conscot to the enacting of this bill.

J. BELCHER.

In the House of Rep'ives, March 26, 1741.

Ordered that Mr. John Bigelow, a Principal Inhabitant of a New Town lately erected out of the Northerly part of the Town of Worces. ter, in the County of Worcester, be and hereby is authorised and Ini- powred to assemble the Freeholders and other Qualifyed Voters there on the first Monday of May next in some convenient publick place in said Town, in order to their chusing a Town Clerk and other Town officers for the Year next Ensning.

Sent up for concurrence.

J. QUINCY, Sp'kr.

Thomas Broad Thomas Mukemullan.

Samuel Hubbard

Joho McConkey Cyprian Steveos

Sammell Clark

William Clark Joseph Woolley

Timothy Brown Abraham Walton

Jothanı Biglo

John Child

Samuel Davis

William Caudon

James Cowdin

David Cowdin

Jonathan Lovel

benjamin biglo

In Council, March 27, 1741, Read & Coucur'd. J. WILLAan, Sec'y. Consent'd to.

J. BELCHER.

Hen. Lee upon Hubbard. 52

Thos. Palmer, Esq.

Ministeriul.

Cornelius Waldo

School

Dickney Sergeant's

lleirs

Ward

4€ 24

Coll latch upon Lee. 69

GEASHIOM RICE, Moderator.

SETTLEMENT .- The first settlement in Holden was made in 1723, in the easterly part of the town, on what is now known as the Ballard farm, and in the early records as the "Lime lot," this lot having re- ceived its name from a discovery of limestone therein in the spring of 1723, by James Rice, of Worcester, This discovery was of such importance to the new settlement that at a meeting of the proprietors, in March, 1723, a vote was passed, granting " encourage- ment to the first finder of limestones and untertaker of the burning lime for the supplying the town." A committee was appointed to agree with Mr. Rice to burn lime npon the following conditions, viz. :

1. The undertaker, Mr. Rice, to have a patent for 50 acres of land to be allotted hin, for seven years; and that he have liberty to cut wood on any common land of the proprietors, and that everybody else be forbid digging limestones, or cutting wood, until the end of said term.

2. That the town be allowed 2d. per bushel for all merchantable lime.

3. That all the inhabitants, that may have occasion, for their own use in building to be used in town, shall give 12d. per bushel for it, and oo more.

* *

6. That the undertaker be obliged to go upon the business with all speed, and also to supply the inhabitants with lime for their own use when they want it, as soon as may be with any conveniency and that they be preferred before any other persons belonging to other towns.

The tract was first surveyed in 1723, and again in 1724, and later four thousand acres were transferred to private individuals, and the settlement of the town was begun.

INCORPORATION .- The petition for the incorpora- tion of the town was signed by twenty-five persons, and was as follows :

WOACESTEA, May ye 13th A. D. 1740.

These may sarty, to yr Honurable General Court that we ye subscrib- ers hereof, Inhabitants of ye North part of Worcester have met togather choosen and appointed Mr. John Beglo for us and in our behalf to caray a Petition to ye Honurable Grate and General Court at their Ses- sions in May Instant praying that we may be set off a distinct and sepa- rate Township according to ye vote which we have already obtained in ye Town of Worcester.

Simon Davis James Smith

James Holding.

upon James Rice J

Capt. Jones

Rev. Ja. Gardner

Jahn Outon and

66 54

Jn. William Paine. 48

David Brown Joseph Hubbard

1383

HOLDEN.

The town was named in honor of Samuel Holden, a merchant of London.

CHAPTER CLXXI. HOLDEN-(Continued.)

MILITARY HISTORY.

French and Indian War -The Revolution-Shays' Rebellion-The Civil War.

HOLDEN furnished a number of soldiers for the French and Indian War, among whom were William Fisher, Richard Flagg, Samuel Boyd and Peter Nut- ten, who enlisted into the company of Captain Benj. Flagg, of Worcester, to strengthen the forces stationed at Lake George. Henry Rice, Job Harris, Samuel Estabrook, John Murphey, Jedediah Estabrook, Sam- uel Hubbard, Jr., Samuel Bigelow, John Woodward, Samuel Thompson and Ebenezer Fletcher enlisted into the company of Captain John Chandler, for the invasion of Canada. In an expedition to Crown Point the following persons served under Captain Fletcher, of Rutland, viz., Ebenezer Fletcher (Ist lieut.), Ebenezer Fletcher, Jr. (2d lieut.), Samnel Estabrook and son, Job Harris, Samuel Hubbard and John Murphey, privates.

THE REVOLUTION .- The first reference on the town records to the War of the Revolution appears in 1772, when the town sent the following reply in response to the circular from Boston :

1. Resolved, That Liberty, both Religious and civil, is a most precious and inestimable gift of the great and glorious Creator of all things, granted to all rational creatures; neither can any person or persons innocently give or sell it away from himself any more than he can take it from another.

2. If any have been so nahappy as to surrender their Liberty, such act of theirs cannot induce any moral obligation of servitude on them personally ; especially if they were enslaved by irresistible power ; surely then it cannot reasonably bind their successors in every future generation.

3. That it is to us equally manifest that no one nation, State or po- litical society has any right to rule or command suother, especially with- out the consent of the latter.

4. The people of New England have never given the people of Britain any right of jurisdiction over us, consequently we deem it to be the most unwarrantable usurpation, and view it as an insufferable insult in the British Parliament, that they assume a LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY over the American colonies.

5. We cheerfully profess the most perfect LOYALTY to the King, 88 having an essential voice in our charter government.

6. We are assured that no political community on earth can truly en- joy Liberty without civil government ; Therefore, civil government is an invaluable divine blessing; and Anarchy is the greatest of public evils-one only excepted, that is a state of complete and confirmed Ty- radny.

7. And such Tyranny is evidently the object of some very recent measures of the British administration and government ; particularly those mentioned to us io a letter from our worthy friends, the citizens of Boston ; and the project of despotism and arbitrary government appears to be nearly accomplisbed and settled, so that nothing but the vigilance and combined efforts of this people, under the auspicious Providence of Heaven, can save us, from abject Slavery and Total Ruin.

8. Therefore, we are compelled to speak and divulge onr sober and

very grievous apprehensions, and are willing all mankind should know that we are far from acqniesciog in the many gross violations of onr just rights, too conspicuous and palpable now to require a particular enumeration, and truly we should be chargeable with very criminal si- lence, if we did not remonstrate against every glaring attempt of any persons, of what Rank or Denomination so ever, to bereave us of our Liberty.

9. Resolved, That the light of Kings (whether it be a Unman or di- vine right) is founded on the same principles of public Liberty, which we assert ; and the right of our present Sovereign, George III., to the British throne was explicitly by compact derived from the same princi- ple.

10. And therefore we must behold them as guilty of treason against his sacred Majesty and his illustrious House, who are making attempts to subvert the liberties of his faitbful subjects, as notbing can be more repuguant to the Constitution of England and of this province, than that George should be King of slaves ; so if the antiquated doctrine of passive obedience and non-resistance should now revive and move abroad, and half the nation were so blind and iufatuate as to embrace such a deformed Monster, the throne must shake and tremble to ite base ! The Lord Almighty avert the horrid catastropby ; to prevent it our prayers and endeavors shall not be wanting !

11. In publishing our sentiments and resolutions we are moved by natural and Christian benevoleoce to the good people of Britain, whose prosperity is dear to us as our own. It is therefore our hearty prayer that God would preserve them from the depth of political lethargy and mercifully defend theni from the iron FANG of tyranny, as slavery has ever been abborrant to the Genius of Britain ; it must be peculiarly shameful and painfnl to Englishmen, till we shall have lost the spirit of our truly worthy ancestors, and forfeited the English name. As we are far from suspecting the people of Britain (our old Ally) of being euimical to us, our ardent brotherly love to them is an additional incite- ment to assert our own freedom; it being very certain that if liberty expires here, it will not long survive there ; we are therefore ambitions of transmitting our names to all posterity, as favored instruments in the hands of God, of having preserved Britain from destruction, there- fore, we supplicate the Throne of Mercy, that God would excite his neo- ple in Britain and America to a reformation of morals, because, as sin is the reproach and ruin of any people, so righteousness exalteth a na- tion to the summit of happiness and glory.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 117

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