History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 12

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 12

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).

George A. Bartlett, nine months .5Ist Regiment, Co. E

George A. Bartlett, one year Heavy Artillery

Edward Bonner, three years.

.Ilenvy Artillery

B. F. Barney (drafted), three years

. Ist Provost Guard

Joshua Brewer, three years. lleavy Artillery, Co. A

Thomas H. Brewer, three years lleavy Artillery, Co. A

Marcos M. Bryan, three years .58th Regiment, Co. F

Herbert Bond, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. D

Wm. Blodgett, three years .15th Regiment

H. C. Brown, three years 15th Regiment

Marcus M. Bruce, one year Ist Heavy Artillery

John Brophy, one year Ist Heavy Artillery

Job D. Ballou, one year. Ist Heavy Artillery

Alansoo E. Burns, oge year Heavy Artillery

Marcus D. Balcom, one year. lleavy Artillery

Ambrose Boynton, one year Heavy Artillery

Alden M. Bigelow, one yenr .Ileavy Artillery

John Chappel, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Charles Claflin, three years.

.15th Regiment, Co. G

Charles Claflin, three years, 4th Cav., Co. G

Win. Collins, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. G

Charles L. Caswell, three years 16th Regiment, Co. G

Willard G. Claflin, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Curtis Cady, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. G

Andrew J. Copp, three years .Ist Bat., M. V. M.

Ilarrison J. Clisbee, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. G

Julius A. Clisbee, three years.

.15th Regiment, Co. G

Preston A. Champney, three years

25th Regiment, Co. D

Samuel G. Champney, three years. .25th Regiment, Co. D

Leroy S. Currier, three years. .25th Regiment, Co. K

Leroy S. Currier, three years. .25th Regimeut, Co. K

Lorin S. Clark, three years.

34th Regiment, Co. A

Willard Clapp, three years ...

34th Regiment, Co. A

Donald A. Campbell, three years .15th Regiment

Franklin T. Coburn, three years .15th Regiment

A. M. Cole, three years .39th Regiment

Edward F. Chamberlin, nine months. ... 51st Regiment, Co. E

Edward F. Chamberlin, one year. .. Heavy Artillery

Moses Caswell, nine months

51st Regiment, Co. E

Win. A. Copp, nine months

.5Ist Regiment, Co. E

Henry K. Cady, three years

4th Cavalry

Wm. A. Clapp, three years. .2d Cav., bugler

Joel F. Cobb, three years .. Band

Andrew S Cobb, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. D

S. L. Cummings, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. 1)

George G. Childs, three years .15th Regiment, Co. I

J. W. Cryan, three years. Signal Corps

Jonas 1I. Chickering, one year .Heavy Artillery

Barney Cain, three years.

Daniel Callahan, three years 17th Regiment, Co. A

John W. Davis, three years. .15th Regiment, Co. G

James T. Dennis, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Wm. B. Dean, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. G

Horace Day, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

John C. Desmond, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Augustus E. Davis, three years .. 25th Regiment, Co. K

Augustus E. Davis, three years .25th Regiment, Co. K

Orin L. Davis, three years .... ,15th Regiment, Co. G

Marcus M. Daniels, nine months

,51st Regiment, Co. E

James Davis, nine months. 51st Regiment, Co. E

John H. Drury, nine months. 51st Regiment, Co. E

John Il. Drury, one year Heavy Artillery

Mariner O. Davis, three years.

lleavy Artillery

George Davis, three years Heavy Artillery

Everett Davis, three years Ist Cav.

James Daniels, three years .loth Regiment, Co. D

Marcus M. Daniels, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Watts E. Davis, three years

26th Regiment, Co. D

John Doran, three years .. Ist U. S. A., Co. HI

Renben A. Ellis. three years. 15th Regiment, Co. G

George F. Estabook, one year. lleavy Artillery

W. Forehard (capt.), three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Levi J. Ford, three years ... 15th Regiment, Co. G Walter J. Flagg, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Alton W. Fairbanks, three years 15tlı Regiment, Co. G

Francis P. Fairbanks, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. G

Henry A. Frissell, three years. .15th Regiment, Co. G George H. French, nine months. .. 51st Regiment, Co. E

George H. Freoch, one year Ileavy Artillery

Charles N. French, nine months 51st Regiment, Co, E

51st Regiment, Co. E

Wm. C. Fletcher, nine months.

Wm. C. Fletcher, one year.

George W. Ferris, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Edward E. Bigelow, three years. 4th C'av. George W. Ferris, I year . Heavy Artillery Wm. H. Fisher, nine months. .51st Regiment, Co. E

Wm. S. Fullerton, three years. .. 4th Cav.

Patrick Furfey, three years .. 11th Regiment, Co. A

Joha Fasell, three years.

20tlı Regiment

George E. Fressell, one year

lleavy Artillery

931

GRAFTON.

George A. Farren.

Henry H. Gilson, three years. 25th Regiment, Co. B

Joseph Grimm, three years

25th Regiment, Co. K

Joseph H. Grant, three years

.34th Regiment, Co. A

James S. Gee, three years

2Ist Regiment, Co. F

Welcome F. Gifford, nine months ..

51st Regiment, Co. E

James Gleason, nine months

.51st Regiment, Co. E

James Gleason, one year ..

. Ileavy Artillery

Perley Goddard, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

Ora S. Gibbs, three years.

4tl Cav.

Alex. Grovling, three years

I5th Regiment, Co. G

L. F. C. Garvin, nine months,

.5Ist Regiment, Co. E

Wm. H. Gilson, three years. .26th Regiment

Jolin H. Goddard, one year Heavy Artillery

Charles Gay, three years.

Newell K. Holden, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Francis E. IFuchens, three years

15th Regiment, Co. G

James Howarth, three years .15th Regiment, Co. K.

James Howarth, three years.

57th Regiment, Co A

John Holland, three years.

[5th Regiment, Co. G

Cromwell L. Ilill, three years,

15tlı Regiment, Co. G

Elwin W. Hammond, three years

15th Regiment, Co. G

John Howitt, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. G

James Hughes, three years

15th Regiment, Co. G

Alfred A. Howe, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. G

Edward A. llowe, three years

21st Regiment, Co. D

Dexter B. Hathaway, three years

.21st Regiment, band

Dexter B. Hathaway, three years .. Corps D'Afrique George W. Ilustings, three years .25th Regiment, Co. D

Theodore E. Holt, three years .15tlı Regiment Adolphus Howe, three years 15th Regiment, Co. K.

Wm. H. Hammond, nine months.

51st Regiment, Co. E

W'm. H. Ilammond, one year ..

.Heavy Artillery

Charles J. Holden, nine months,

51st Regiment, Co. E

Edwin A. Howe, three years.

Heavy Artillery

Martin T. Hildreth, three years .4tlı Cav.

Archibald B. HIndson, three years

15th Regiment, Co. E

Michael Hennessey, three years.

Heavy Artillery

Charles E. Howe, three years 4th Cav.

C. M. Hanson, three years. Signal Corps

Samnel D. Hall, one year ..

Heavy Artillery

Daniel Harris, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. G Charles A. Johnson, three years .. .15thı Regiment, Co. G Charles A. Johnson, three years.

Richard Johnson, three years. .15th Regiment, Co. G

Richard Johnson, three years.

Edward S. Johnson, three years

15th Regiment, Co. G

Hugh Jamison, three years, 25tlı Regiment, Co. E

Hugh Jamison, three years .. 25th Regiment

George F. Jourdan, nide monthis. 51st Regiment, Co. E

Asa H. Jourdan, nine months.

51st Regiment, Co. E

Jerome Johnson, three years

25tlı Regiment, Co. K

John H. Kimhall, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. G

James C. Kelly, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. G

James C. Kelly, three years Invalid Corps

James L. Keating, three year's 15th Regiment, Co. G

John Keyes, three years.

36th Regiment, Co. E

Patrick Kelley, three years.

34th Regiment, Co. A

James S. Kirkup, three years

15th Regiment, Co. G

Russell Kempton, nine monthe

51st Regiment, Co. E

Benjamin W. Knight, three years

.. 34th Regiment, Co. A

Charles E. Kimball, three years Signal Corps Simon M. Plaisted, one year Heavy Artillery

Darwin N. Kelsea, one year Heavy Artillery John E. Prentice, one year. Hleavy Artillery E. Walter Keith, one year. Heavy Artillery Royal A. Leland, three years 25th Regunent, Co. D Simon T. Pierce, one year. Heavy Artillery Royal A. Leland, three years 25th Regiment, Co. D W'm. H. Putnam (2d), one year. Heavy Artillery Cheney Lathe, Jr., nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E Frederick B. Robinson, three years .15th Regiment, Co. G Cheney Lathe, Jr., three years .. Signal Corps James E. Richards, three years .. .15th Regiment, Co. G Abner II. Rice, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

Thomas O. Lucas, three years. Corps D'Afrique, band Stephen N. Lougee, Jr., three years .Corps D'Afrique, band Augustus J. Leland, three years 25th Regiment Isaac Ladnke, three years.

John Lagassey, three years .. 15th Regiment, Co. G

John Ladnke, three years. .58th Regiment, Co. F

Mack Lynch, three years. 58th Regiment, Co. F

Smith J. Lee, three years .57th Regiment

Samuel E. Leland, one year. Ileavy Artillery

Wn. Mathews, three years. .15th Regiment, Co. G

Frank H. Marble, three years

15th Regiment, Co. G

George A. Macken, three years

.15th Regiment, Go. G

Frederick C. Margerum, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. G

Willie E. Moore, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. G

John Martin, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. G

John Martin, three years.

1 Georgo A. Monroe, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G

George A. Monroe, three years

57th Regiment

Joseph Myott, three years,

15th Regiment

Charles L. Mitchell, three years,

15th Regiment

John Mckenzie, three years

Tóth Regiment, Co. G

James E. Mcclellan, nine months,

5Ist Regiment, Co. E

Charles E. Monroe, nine months

51st Regiment, Co. E

Dwight L. Moore, nine months

51st Regiment, Co. E

James W. Mckenzie, nine months

.51st Regiment, Co. E

John C. McCallan, nine months

.2d Cav.

Joho MeLaughlin, nine months.

Heavy Artillery

James McHenry, nine months.

Heavy Artillery

James Mennihan, three years

Heavy Artillery

A. J. Miller, three years

22d Regiment, Co. D

John F. Mitchell, three years .. 57th Regiment

Charles W. Meluey, three years,

Heavy Artillery

James W. Magrath, one year.

Heavy Artillery

Henry Mann, one year

Heavy Artillery

James Mellor, one year.

Heavy Artillery

John E. McClellao, one year.

Heavy Artillery

Bernard Melone, three years

3d U. S. Artillery

Charles Myott, three years 20th Regiment

James Moore three years.

Wm. Morton, three years.

Patrick Mulguerry.

Elmer M. Newton, three years. .15th Regiment, Co. G

Leroy A. Nelson, three years.

19th Regiment, Co. A

George M. Newton, one year

Heavy Artillery

Jonathan E. Nichols, ono year.

Heavy Artillery

Albert S. Newton, three years

Heavy Artillery

Charles II. Oaks, three years

15th Regiment, Co. G

Sylvester Oaks, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. G

Francis A. Plympton, three years

15th Regiment, Co. G

Henry Prentice, three years.

21st Regiment, Co. D

Henry W. Pratt, three years

.42d Regiment

Wm. II. Putnam, three years

25th Regiment, Co. A

Wm. H. Putnam, three years

25th Regiment, Co. A

Joshua R. Parmenter, three years

.25th Regiment, Co. K

Austen Putnam, three years ..

.. 34th Regiment, Co. A

Richard K. Pratt, three years

34th Regiment, Co. A

Otis B. Pratt, nine months

5Ist Regiment, Co. E

George B. Pratt, nine months.

51st Regiment, Co. E

George B. Pratt, one year

Heavy Artillery

Sammel H. Pratt, nine months

51st Regiment, Co. E

John Pogue (2d), nine months

51st Regiment, Co. E

M. V. Powers (drafted) three years

Ist Provost Guard

Charles Putnam (drafted), three years. Ist Provost Guard Henry A. Peekham, three years. .4th Cav.

Edward W. Pratt, three years.

.4th Cav.

.Ilenry H. Pratt, three years 25tlı Regiment Henry H. Pratt, three years 25th Regiment Webster D. Plympton, three years. .15th Regiment, Co. G Robert Preston, three years .. 10th Regiment

Luke G. Pratt, one year ..

Heavy Artillery

Marvin A. Roods, three years

15th Regiment, Co. G

Rufus A. Roods, three years .15th Reginient, Co. K

John Ryan, three years. 33d Regiment Wm. E. Robbins, three years 15th Regiment, Co. G Alpheus Remick, three years 15th Regiment, Co. I

Moses Rivod. three years.

.57th Regiment

John Roberson, Jr., three years

58th Regiment

Stephen Roberson, three years

.58th Regiment

John J. Leland, nine months. .51st Regiment, Co. E

932

HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Augustus Remick, three years .. 58th Regiment

Ira J. Riggs, one year Heavy Artillery Nathaniel P. Remick, one year llenvy Artillery

Henry F. Robinson, one year Heavy Artillery

Jonathan P. Stowe, three years

15th Regiment Co. G

Albert A. Smith, three years.

15th Regiment Co. G

John D. Sherman, three years. 15th Regiment Co. G

Charles Snow, three years.

15th Regiment Co. G

Alfred Snow, three years.

15th Regiment Co. G

Peter Shurburt, three years

15th Regiment, Co. G

Charles F. Spring, three years

.34th Regiment, Co. A

John Savage, three years.

.34th Regiment, Co. A

Win. Sherry, three years. .34th Regiment, Co. A

Orin T. Stacy, three years.

.34th Regiment, Co. A

Timothy Sullivan, three years.

34th Regiment, Co. A

John M. Sargent, three year's. .15th Regiment, Co. G

Silas W. Smith, three years.

36th Regiment

lobn R. Smith, three years

.15th Regiment

Mathew Smith, three years

9th Regiment, Co. B

Lucius M. Sargent, three years ..

15th Regiment, Co. G

J. Frank Sweeney, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. G

J. Frank Searle, nine months.

.51st Regiment, Co. E

J. Frank Searle, one year

Heavy Artillery

Charles Snow (2d) (drafted), three years

1st Provost Guard

Edward R. Smith, three years

4th Cav.

Augustus Sibly, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. D

Wm. Sibley, three years ..

15th Regiment Co. G

Edward Shambo. three years,

.57th Regiment, Co. H

Charles Skinner, three years

Ileavy Artillery

George K. Stratton, one year. Heavy Artillery

James B. Stratton, one year. Heavy Artillery

Ithamer F. Stow, one year Heavy Artillery Levi Simson, one year.

Henry Stampley, one year.

John Shaw, ove year. 55th Regiment, Co. K

John G. Thornton, one year 15th Regiment, Co. K

George E. Tiffany, one year 15th Regiment, Co. G

Teter Tuhey, one year ..

21st Regiment, Co. E

Emory A. Taft, nine months. 51st Regiment, Co. A

Edward Terrell, three years, 57th Regiment

Richard Truax, one year ....

Heavy Artillery

- Vail.

Abram Vancuren, three years 51st Regiment, Co. E

James D. Whitney, three years, 21st Regiment, Co. I

James D. Whitney, three years 21st Regiment, Co. D

George N. Wheelock, three years. 15th Regiment, Co. G

Albert Wait, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. (

Luther W. Whitney, three years.

22d Regiment, Co. D)

James White, three years.

220 Regiment, Co. D

Calvin A. Wesson, three years. 25th Regiment, Co. A Hale Wesson, three years. 25th Regiment, Co. A

James Wesson, three years.

25th Regiment, Co. A

Frederick Whitney, three years.

15th Regiment, Co. O

Caleb W. Wheeler, three years

.34th Regiment, Co. A

Franklin Whitny, three years, 34th Regiment, Co. A

Frederick Whitney (2d), three years .15th Regiment, Co. G W. F. Wheeler (capt.), nine months. 51st Regiment, Co. E John Wheeler, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E Henry A. Wesson, nine months 51st Regiment, Co. E

George C. N. Webster, nine months. 51st Regiment, Co. E

George C. N. Webster, one year.

Heavy Artillery

James S. Walker, nine months ... 51st Regiment, Co. E

Lyman A. Walcott, nine months. .51st Regiment, Co. E

George W. Walcott, three years 4th Cuv.

Joseph C. Webb, three years.

.57th Regiment, Co. II

Wm. R. Walker, three years. ... .57th Regiment, Co. A Sidney HI. Whitney, three years .. 4tb Cav.

Joseph Wilson, three years. .58th Regiment, Co. F

Albert White, three years 57th Regiment, Co. G Azor B. Wood, one year Heavy Artillery

Fred. F. Walcott, one year Heavy Artillery Charles A. White, one year Heavy Artillery Wmn. S. Wood, one year. Heavy Artillery George T. Whitney, three years. 22d Regiment Harry Wigfall, three years.

Jobn Wilson, three years.

George M. Newton, three years

.. Navy

Edward Jennings, three years.

. Navy

Sanmel H. Wood, three years ... .Navy

Arba T. Turner three years. .Navy

The following soldiers were killed or died in the service :

Albert D. Amsden. died at New Orleans May 13, 1862

Henry S. Ball,

dird December G, 1862

Adelbert L. Brown. died June 19, 1862, of wounds

A. T. Bryant

killed at Antietam September 17. 1862

Joseph Beuner

died May 13, 1864, of wounds

Gilbert E. Balcom

died December 12, 1862

Lucine E. Boyden .died August 26, 1862

Joseph Bardsley

killed at Gettysburg in July, 1863

George E. Burns.

died November 6, 1862, of wounde

Peter Barrie

died December 19, 1862, at New Orleans

Charles L. Caswell. .dlied December 15, 1862, of wonnds

Curtis Cady.

killed June 4, 1864, at Cold Harbor

Harrison J. Clisbee ...

.killed September 17, 1862, at Antietam

Preston A. Champney

died in Andersonville Prison

Samuel G. Champney .killed July 10, 1864

Donald A. Campbell

died in prison February 16, 1865

Horace Day

.. killed at Ball's Bluff

killed at Antietanı September 17, 1862

George Davis died in 1864

Reuben A. Ellis died in 1862

Francis P. Fairbanks

died December 15, 1862

Henry A. Fressell

died March 7, 1863, in prison

Charles N. French .died February 28, 1863

John Howith

.died May 7, 1864, of wounds

James Hughes.

.died September 27, 1862, of wounds

Alfred A. Howe

died December 23, 1864, in prison

Martin T. Hildreth

killed October 28, 1864

Edward S. Johnson. killed

Jerome Johnson.

.died February 23, 1865, in prison

John II. Kimball

died in prison May 8, 1864

Royal A. Leland

died in October, 1864, at Newbern

Augustus J. Leland

killed June 3, 1864

Wm. Mathews

..... killed December 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg

Frank I Marble .died November 26, 1862

George A. Mackin

.. died in prison June 22, 1×64

Willie E. Morse ...

died December 30, 1862, of wounds

Charles L. Mitchell

thed October 19, 1862, of wounde

James E. Mcclellan .drowned July 8, 1863

Charles E. Monroe .died January 28, 1×63

Charles Myott. .died May 20, 1864, of wounds Elmer M. Newton killed at Ball's Bluff August 21, 1861 Leroy A. Nelson ..... killed December 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg Sylvester Oaks ....... killed December 13, 1862, at Fredericksburg Samvel H. Pratt. died February 2, 1863

Frederick B. Robinson ...... killed at Ball's Bluff, August 21, 18til Abner H. Rice. .killed in the Wilderness

Alpheus Remick

.. died February 27, 1864

Jonathan P. Stowe.

.died October 1, 1862, of wounds

John D. Sherman ..

.killed at Ball's Bluff August 21, 186]

Alfred Snow

died October 18, 1862, of wounds

Peter Shurbart

.. killed et Ball's Bluff August 21, 1861

John M. Sargent

killed at Antietam

Mathew Smith

killed June 27, 1862, nt Gaines' Mills

William Sibley

.died in 1865

Edward Torrell.

died in prison

George N. Wheelock

killed at Gettysburg July 1, 1863

Lyman A. Walcott

.died June 17, 1863

Joseph C. Webb ..

.died July 30, 1864

It has been stated in the early part of this narrative that the original Indian reservation of Hassanamisco was fonr miles square. This territory of four miles square was what was purchased of the Indians by the Hassanamisco proprietors, and the town of Grafton when incorporated was limited to the same. At some time after the incorporation of the town, and before 1793, a strip of land a half-mile in width was set off from Shrewsbury on the north and the same

.died October 10, 1864

Leroy S. Currier.

Orin L. Davis,

933

GRAFTON.

amount of land set off from Sutton on the south and both were annexed to Grafton, making that town five miles long instead of four, as it originally was. The dates of these annexations the writer has not been able to learn and he only knows that they were before 1793, because they are mentioned in the "History of Worcester County," written by Peter Whitney, and published in that year. The original boundaries of the town have experienced three other changes besides those referred to. By an act of the General Court passed June 14, 1823, it was provided-

That Abel Willard and John Willard, with the following described gore of land, be annexed to the town of Grafton, to wit: beginning at the northwest corner of the town of Graftoo on Millbury line; thence on said Millbury line to the northeast corner of said town; thence on the same course north two degrees west to Flint's pond (so called); thence bounding down said pond to the outlet thereof; thence down the thread of said outlet until it meets little Blackstone river; thence dowa the centre of said river until it intersects the line of said Grafton; thence on said Grafton line to the first bounds; and that in future the said Abel and John shall be entitled to all the privileges and subject to all the duties incident to the inhabitants of said town of Grafton.

By an act passed March 3, 1826, it was provided :

That Tarrant Merriam and his family, together with a certain tract of land situated in the town of Shrewsbury, containing about one bun- dred and eighty-six acres more or less, chiefly owned by said Merriam, and bounded as follows, to wit : On three sides by the town of Grafton, and on the fourth side by a line beginning at a point on the boundary line of said Grafton, where the corners of one Jasper Rand's land and of the said Merriam's land meet, and on the east side of one Elijah Brooks' land, and thence running east ten degrees south thirty-seven rods to the road leading from said Gratton to said Shrewsbury, thence easterly on said road until it comes to said Merriam's land on the north side, thence east twenty-seven degrees north one hundred and twenty- five rods, thence east eight degrees north to a corner of the north boundary line of said Grafton, be and the same are hereby set off from said Shrewsbury and annexed to said Grafton, and they shall forever hereafter be subject to all the duties and entitled to all the privileges of inhabitants of said Grafton ; provided, however, that said Merriam and the other owners of said tract of land shall be holden to pay all taxes that have been lawfully assessed upon them by said Shrewsbury previous to the passing of this act.

By still another act, passed March 3, 1842, it was provided that :

So much of Sutton as lies northerly and easterly of the following boundary lines, to wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of North- bridge, thence south eighty-two degrees west two hundred and twelve and one-half rods to the northeast corner of the school-house number ten io Sutton, thence north four degrees and nine minutes west to Graf- ton line, two hundred and eighty-seven and one-half rods to Grafton line, is hereby annexed to Grafton ; provided, however, that all persons so annexed shall be holden to pay all taxes now due in the same manner as if this act had not passed.

It has been stated that four acres of land were set apart in 1828 for a meeting-house, a school-house and a training-field. A school-house was built in 1731 on what is now the Common, and there remained until 1832, when it was removed. It was twenty-one feet long and sixteen feet wide. Up to 1737 it con- tinued the only school in the town, but in a very few years after that date the school became, as it was called, a "moving school," and was taught in five different districts in different parts of the year. It is not necessary, however, to follow the development of the school system along its devious way to its present useful condition. A high school was established in the town by means of the incorporation of a High

School Association in 1850, by whom a building was erected and leased to the town under an arrangement which continued until 1867, when the town bought the building for three thousand five hundred dollars and the association was dissolved. In 1869 the old school district system was abolished, and under a central management the schools have become more vigorous and useful. According to the report of the School Committee for the year ending January 31, 1888, there were at that time in the town a high school and twenty-one schools of higher grades. Of the twenty-one schools, five were located at the central village, four at North Grafton, two at Saun- dersville, four at Farnumsville and Fisherville, and the remaining six were the Waterville, Brigham Hill, Farms Precinct, George Hill, Keith Hill and Mer- riam Precinct. The High School enrollment nuni- bered 69, and that of the common schools 994. The school appropriations for the year covered by the report were : For the High School, $1600; common schools, $7000; fuel and janitors. $1350; books and stationery, $800; School Committee, $1350; and re- pairs and fixtures, $300-making a total of $12,400. The other appropriations, which it may be well to mention here, were : For town debt, $6600; Fire De- partment, $850; highways, $3000 ; support of poor, $5000; Town-House Sinking Fund, $1360; Memorial Day, $100; Common, $50; library at the Centre, in addition to the dog fund, $250; library at North Grafton, $50; library at Farnumsville, $25; library at Saundersville, $25; water works, $2500; street lights, $300; town officers, $1740; town-house ex- penses, $750 ; State aid, $150; miscellaneous, $450 ; road damages, $100; and liquor cases, $300-making a total, including school appropriations, of $36,000.

The Free Library mentioned in the above list was established in 1866, when Joseph Lelaud, a native and citizen of the town, gave the sum of one thou- sand dollars for the purpose, on the condition that the town would appropriate an equal amount. The gift was accepted with its condition and the library is kept in the town-house and receives the benefit of the Dog Fund and an annual appropriation of money. At the date of the last report of the trustees the li- brary contained five thousand seven hundred and fifty-three volumes, of which two hundred and sixty- seven, including nineteen bound magazines, had been added during the previous year.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 12

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