History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 150

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 150

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THE WORCESTER SOCIETY OF MUTUAL AID IN DETECTING THIEVES was instituted in November, 1795, and keeps up its organization, although the ob- jects for which it was formed are now much more effectually provided for by the city and State authori- ties, The first meeting was held at the tavern of Cap- tain Daniel Heywood, November 2, 1795, Benjamin Heywood being moderator, also chairman of a com- mittee to draw up rules and regulations. These were adopted at a meeting held November 16th, with a preamble setting forth the general objects of the so- ciety, which was as follows :

WHEREAS, the practice of stealing has become so prevalent of late that it has become necessary for the well-disposed to nnite in the most effectnal measures for protecting their property against those hostile in- vasions : We, the subscribers, do therefore associate together for the purpose of more effectually recovering any property that may at any time be stolen from any member of this society, and of mutually aiding each other in bringing offenders to condign punishment, hereby engag. ing to comply with the following rules and regulations.

From the records it would appear that no other meeting was held till January, 1801, and that at a meeting in February of that year the name of the so- ciety was fixed upon as "The Society of Mutual Aid against Thieves," 1 and the admission fee fixed at six shillings. At the meeting of January 10, 1803, an assessment of "one shilling was made on each mem- ber to keep his dollar good," the sum of nineteen dol- lars and forty-seven cents having been expended in pursuing the thief who had stolen Captain John Pierce's horse, etc. At this meeting the first pursu- ing committee was chosen, who were "to hold them- selves in readiness, at the shortest notice, to pursue any thief or thieves who may have stolen any prop- erty from a member of this society." The present treasurer and clerk is George M. Woodward ; there is also a board of twelve directors and a pursuing com- mittee of the same number. Although the organiza- tion is still preserved, the meetings are not held with any regularity, and it seems to be of but little in- terest to the members, save for its antiquity.

THE AMERICAN ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, although not local in its membership, has its buildings and col- lections at Worcester, where it was founded in 1812. The first steps for its formation were taken at a meeting held at Sykes' tavern, in Worcester, by Isaiah Thomas, Nathaniel Paine, William Paine, Levi Lincoln, Aaron Bancroft and Edward D. Bangs. These gentlemen petitioned the State Legislature for an act of incor- poration under the name of the American Antiqua- rian Society, with "such privileges and immunities as are usually granted by acts of incorporation to other public societies established under the laws of the Commonwealth.

As one of the inducements to the granting of these privileges, "they beg leave to state that. one of their number? is in possession of a valuable collection of books, obtained with great labor and expense, the value of which may be fairly estimated at about five thousand dollars, some of them more ancient than are to be found in any other part of our country, and all of which he intends to transfer to the proposed so- ciety, should their project receive the sanction and encouragement of the Legislature." The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and the act of incorpora- tion was approved by Governor Caleb Strong, October 24, 1812. The preamble to the act of incorporation was as follows :

WHEREAS, The collection and preservation of the antiquities of our country, and of curions and valuable productions in Art and Nature, have a tendency to enlarge the sphere of human knowledge, aid the progress of science, to perpetuate the history of moral and political events and to improve and interest posterity : Therefore be it enacted, etc.

The persons named in the act were gentlemen emi- nent for their learning and ability, who stood high in the confidence of the public ; there were, besides, the petitioners already mentioned, Levi Lincoln, Jr., Samuel M. Burnside, Francis Blake, Isaiah Thomas, Jr., of Worcester, and Harrison G. Otis, Timothy Bigelow, John T. Kirkland, Josiah Quincy, Thaddeus MI. Harris and others of Boston and vicinity.

The first meeting of the corporators, called by an advertisement in the Massachusetts Spy, addressed to the " American Society of Antiquaries," was held at. the Exchange Coffee-house, in Boston, November 19, 1812, ten gentlemen being present. At this meeting an organization was made by the choice of Isaiah Thomas as president ; William D. Peck, vice-presi- dent ; Thaddeus M. Harris and William Jenks, cor- responding secretaries ; and Samuel M. Burnside, re- cording secretary. Another meeting was held iu February, 1813, at which by-laws were adopted, and Dr. William Paine was chosen second vice-president ; Levi Lincoln, Jr., treasurer ; and Timothy Bigelow of Medford, Aaron Baucroft and Edward Bangs of Worcester, George Gibbs of Boston, William Bent- ley of Salem, Redford Webster and Benjamin Rus- sell of Boston, councilors. At this meeting the president, in accordance with a previous intimation,

1 Since modified to the present name.

2 Isaac Thomas.

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

presented to the society his collection of books, " esti- mated at four thousand dollars, after making the usual deduction of twenty per cent. from the ap- praised value."

The first anniversary of the founding of the society, being also the anniversary of the discovery of America by Columbus, took place at the Exchange Coffee- house in Boston, October 23, 1813. On this occasion an oration was delivered at the "Stone Chapel " hy Rev. Professor William Jenks, of Bath, Maine.1

In 1817 active measures were taken to procure funds to defray the expense of erecting a building for the library and cabinet by appointing committees to solicit subscriptions. Some difficulty was experi- enced in the attempt to raise the necessary money to carry out the plans for building and it was not till early in 1819 that the society were relieved from their anxiety in the matter. At that time Mr. Thomas,

ally at the Exchange Coffee-house, but occasionally at the Marlboro' Hotel, Tremont House and Concert Hall. At one of the early meetings it was voted " that as the capital of the commonwealth generally offers the best means of ascertaining the real charac- ter and standing of such persons as may be proposed for membership in this society, and as the society are desirous that the utmost circumspection should be used in the admission of members," etc .. . "that action on the nomination for membership should only take place at a meeting in the town of Boston." This vote was soon after repealed, and thereafter nomina- tions were made through the Council and acted upon at any regular meeting.

In February, 1819, a committee, appointed to pre- pare an address to the members, setting forth the society's objects aud conditions, declared the institu- tion to be, in all its concerns, national, although it

.FFI

PRENTISS,

OLD ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY HALL,

the founder and president of the society, offered to ! derived its charter and its national appellation from build at his own expense a suitable edifice for the reception of its valuable collections. This offer was gratefully accepted and in August of that year a committee was appointed at the request of Mr. Thomas to superintend its erection. The building was erected on Summer Street, in Worcester, was of brick, thoroughly built, and at the time, was con- sidered well adapted to the purposes for which it was intended. An address at the dedication was made by Isaac Goodwin, August 24, 1820, in the Second Parish Church (Rev. Dr. Bancroft's). Till 1832 the annual meetings were held in Boston, usu-

1 At the fiftieth anniversary observed at Worcester in October, 1863, Dr. Jenks, then of Boston, delivered an address on the "Duties of the American Antiquary," at which time only four of the original members of the society were living.

the Legislature of Massachusetts. They say "This local authority was resorted to from doubts having been expressed whether Congress had the power to grant a charter without the District of Columbia. Its members are selected from all parts of the Union. Its respectability is inferred from its numbers and from its comprising men of the first standing and intelli- gence in the nation, and some of the first distinction in other countries. The objects of this institution are commensurate with the lapse of time, and its benefits will be more and more accumulating in the progres- sion of ages .. . . The chief objects of the inquiries and researches of this society, which cannot too soon arrest its attention, will be American Antiquities-na- tural, artificial and literary."

The building on Summer Street having been found

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WORCESTER.

to be too small and too damp for the proper preserva- tion of the rapidly accumulating collections, the present hall on Main Street was built in 1853. It is favorably situated in a locality free from dampness and is believed to be substantially safe from fire, besides being much better adapted than the first to the purposes of the society, Owing, however, to the rapid increase of the library-particularly of the department de- voted to newspapers-it was found insufficient in size, and more space was soon required. The Hon. Stephen Salisbury, then the president, had anticipated this need, and presented a lot of land on Highland Street, in the rear of the building, and also provided funds for the erection of the addition, which was completed in January, 1878.

affairs of the society (and which also usually treat upon some special topic of antiquarian study and re- search), papers from other members and discussions of subjects of interest are always in order.

The library of the society, which now numbers over eighty thousand volumes, representing most depart- ments of literature, being especially rich in early American publications, is fully noticed in the chapter on libraries. The collection of manuscripts is large and of great value and interest, including some of a very early date. They are conveniently arranged for reference and partially catalogned so that they can now be consulted with comparatively little trouble. It is not practicable, in the brief limits of this notice, to describe with particularity any special department.

NEW ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY HALL.

Dr. Thomas, while president, had defrayed a large | Suffice it to say the society have reason to regard the portion of the society's expenditures and begun the manuscripts in their possession as not by any means the least valuable of their collections. There is a cabinet of Indian and archaeological specimens of great interest to the antiquary, especially those from Yucatan and Central America. foundation of a permanent fund for its future support. At his death, in 1831, he bequeathed to the society the rest of his books, engravings, coins, etc., as well as money to constitute the Librarian's and the Collec- tion and Research Funds. These funds have gradu- ally increased and others have been founded for the support of various departments of the society's work. There are now twelve different funds, amounting in the aggregate to over one hundred thousand dollars, of which twenty thousand dollars was a bequest from Hon. Stephen Salisbury.

Regular meetings of the society are held twice a year, the annual meeting for the choice of officers being held in October, in their hall, at Worcester, and the semi-annual meeting at Boston, in April, at the rooms of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. At these 'meetings, besides the regular re- ports of the council and librarian, upon the general

The collection of engraved portraits, political broad- sides and caricatures is of interest and valne, as is the cabinet of coins and medals. The walls of the society's halls are adorned with portraits of former officers and eminent men of the past. The society have published six volumes of transactions under the name of " Ar- chæologia Americana," which are devoted to archæo- logical and historical subjects-volumes five and six being a reprint of Thomas' "History of Printing in America," from the edition of 1810, also containing a list of books printed in what is now the United States previous to 1776. Since 1849 the proceedings of the society at its annual and semi-annual meetings have been regularly printed, and include, besides the ordi-

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

nary reports of the officers, valuable antiquarian and historical papers. The president. of the society elected in October, 1888, is Stephen Salisbury, (Jr.); Vice-Presidents, George Bancroft, LL.D., George F. Hoar, LL.D .; Secretary of Foreign Correspondence, 1. Hammond Trumbull, LL.D .; Secretary of Domes- tic Correspondence, Charles Deane, LL.D .; Record- ing Secretary, John D. Washburn; Treasurer, Na- thaniel Paine; Librarian, Edmund M. Barton. By the provisions of the by-laws adopted in October, 1831, the number of American members of the society can at no time exceed one hundred and forty, but there is no limit to the number of foreign members.

THE WASHINGTON BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF THE COUNTY OF WORCESTER .- One of the earliest tem- perance organizations in the county was instituted in Worcester, March 18, 1812, William Stedman being president, and Daniel Waldo, secretary. The cer- tificate of membership, signed by the president and secretary was inserted in a small 12mo volume entitled, "Washington's Farewell Address to the People of the United States. Published for the Worcester Washington Benevolent Society. Boston. Printed by Jos. T. Buckingham, Winter Street, 1812." The volume was embellished with a portrait of Wash- ington. This society, while of a charitable nature, was more especially interested in the cause of tem- perance, and in December, 1813, issued a circular signed by Nathaniel P. Denny, Joseph Goffe, Daniel Waldo, Isaac Goodwin and Bezaleel Taft. The ob- ject of the circular was to set forth the evils arising from the distillation of grain in the State, and to sug- gest the propriety of petitioning Congress "to levy a tax on domestic spirits, so heavy as to afford a rational prospect of diminishing the consumption."

The annual meeting of the society was held on the anniversary of the first inauguration of Washington as President of the United States, at which time au oration was delivered. Among the members who delivered orations were S. M. Burnside and John Davis. The organization was kept up till August, 1836, when it was dissolved, and a committee recom- mended that the funds be transferred to the " Wor- cester Agricultural Society ; " the record of its trans- actious was also presented to the same society.

THE WORCESTER AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY was in- corporated in February, 1818, and organized at a meeting held March 11th, by the choice of Levi Lincoln, Sr., president; Daniel Waldo and Thomas W. Ward, vice-presidents ; Theophilus Wheeler, treasurer ; Levi Lincoln, Jr., corresponding secre- tary, and Abraham Lincoln, recording secretary.

. The first Cattle Show and exhibition of manufac- turers was held October 7, 1819, which appears from the records of the society to have been very success- ful; the secretary's estimate, however, that "about two thousand attended the services in the meeting- house," must be taken with some grains of allowance. The pens for cattle, sheep and swine to number of

sixty or more were erected on the northerly side of the Common, and the " household and the domestic manufactures were exhibited in a building kindly granted by Hon. Nathaniel Paine, and the specimens were numerous and excellent." The address (which is one of the features of the Cattle Show, retained to the present day) was delivered at the Old Sonth Church by Levi Lincoln, Jr., who for so many years after was identified with the society. After the exercises in the church the society marched to Eager's Hotel, where a dinner was served to the members and invited guests. Another feature, which was inaugurated soon after, and which was in vogue for many years, was a grand ball in some public hall. In closing the records of the proceedings of their first exhibition, Edward D. Bangs, the secretary, says, " Thus passed a proud day for the County of Worcester. May many more such days be continued by the present and future generations." In 1852 the society purchased the land now occupied by them opposite Elm Park, and in September, 1853, held the first exibition there, when, for the first time in the history of the society, an admission fee was charged for non-members. The present building was erected and first occupied by the society for exhibi- tions in September, 1854. Of late years the annual fair or Cattle Shows have been often held at the society's grounds in connection with that of the New England Agricultural Society. The officers of the society for 1888 were: J. L. Ellsworth, president; Calvin L. Hartshorn and Ledyard Bill, vice-presidents ; and L. F. Herrick, secretary and treasurer.

THE FRATERNITY OF ODD-FELLOWS, a literary, not a secret society, was organized about the year 1820, as appears from a record of their proceedings at a meeting held in October, 1824, "it then being the fourth year of their oddity." At this meeting rules and regulations were adopted, which would seem to apply only to the use of a library. Among the members who were the most active and influen- tial men of the town may be mentioned the names of Emory Washburn, John Davis, Thomas Kinni- cutt, Isaac Davis, Isaac Goodwin, Stephen Salisbury, C. C. Baldwin, Henry and Gardiner Paine, James Green and William Lincoln. The fifth anniversary of the formation of the society was celebrated De- cember 8, 1824, at which time an oration and poem were delivered by members of the fraternity. In 1827 the society celebrated the 4th of July with an oration by Thomas Kinnicutt and a poem by Richard H. Vose.1 The society ceased to exist many years ago; but there is no record of the date.

THE WORCESTER LYCEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. -From the manuscript records of this society, now in the possession of the Worcester Natural History Society, it appears that the first session was held January 1, 1825. William Lincoln, the early histo-

1 In the chapter on "Libraries" will be found a more extended notice of this society.

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WORCESTER.

rian of Worcester, and Christopher C. Baldwin, libra- rian of the American Antiquarian Society, presented a form of constitution for consideration, which was adopted. The following paragraph from the pream- ble sets forth the objects of the society : "That scien- tific knowledge and human happiness are closely and intimately connected is a principle established by all experience. For the continued improvements in the arts we are indebted to the constant advances in sciences, medicine, manufactures, and the numerous processes of industry have derived their present per- fection from the investigations of the laws of nature. Botany and mineralogy have furnished to the physi- cian his most efficient arms and his most powerful antidotes to resist the attacks of disease; they have given to the agriculturist and the artist the means of conducting their operations with success," etc.

After a page or two more of the preamble, follows the constitution itself, consisting of twelve sections and twenty-two articles. The first officers were Dr. John Green, president; Dr. B. F. Heywood, vice- president ; Frederick William Paine, treasurer; Wil- liam Lincoln, recording secretary; C. C. Baldwin, corresponding secretary, and Charles Wheeler, libra- rian and cabinet-keeper. Among the members elected at the first meeting were John M. Earle, Clarendon Harris, George Allen and Samuel Jennison, the first named being soon after appointed cnrator of botany. The society appears to have held meetings from time to time till November 28, 1829, at which time the record stops. As no mention is made of this society in the "History of Worcester" by its accomplished secretary, we are led to suppose that the organization was not long kept up.

THE WORCESTER LYCEUM .- In 1827 Mr. Josiah Holbrook (to whom the Massachusetts Spy gave the credit of establishing lyceums in this conntry ) issued a seven-page pamphlet, entitled, " American Lyceum of Science and the Arts, composed of Associations for Mutual Instruction, and Designed for the General Diffusion of Useful and Practical Knowledge." It was printed in Worcester by Samuel H. Colton & Co., and contained articles for the government of societies or lycenms, to be formed in different towns as branches of an American Lyceum. These lycenms were designed to diffuse knowledge in all departments of science, to " procure books, apparatus for illus- trating the sciences, and collections of minerals or other articles of natural or artificial production." There were also " considerations " advanced to slow the usefulness and advantages of such associations. It was probably at about this time that the Worcester County Lyceum was established, although the exact date cannot be ascertained. In October of 1829, how- ever, a meeting of this society was convened at Wor- cester to hear an address from Emory Washburn upon educational matters. At this meeting, presided over by John Davis, with Ira M. Barton as secretary, discussion was had upon onr common-school system,

also' in relation to making maps and plans of the towns in Worcester Connty. Mr. Holbrook was present and exhibited several maps, and stated his intention to present one to each Lyceum in the county. This meeting was attended by prominent citizens from various towns in the county, who dis- cussed, besides the matters above referred to, the ex- pediency of adopting measures to establish a public library for the county, and a committee was appointed to devise a plan for such a library. This committee reported at an adjourned meeting, held at Thomas' Coffee-Honse, December 10, 1829, but it does not ap- pear that any decided action was taken. This may have been for the reason that in November of the same year the Worcester Lyceum was duly organized, on which occasion an introductory address was de- livered by Hon. John Davis, and some forty or fifty persons signed the constitution. It seems likely that the new society was made up very largely from the Worcester members of the Worcester County Branch of the American Lyceum, and it was represented in the meetings of the last named by delegates. Of the forty or fifty gentlemen who constituted the Worces- ter Lyceum in 1829-30, bnt six are now (1888) known to be living, viz., William S. Lincoln, Henry H. Chamberlin, George M. Rice, Henry W. Miller and Joseph Pratt, of Worcester, and Dr. John S. Butler, of Hartford. The first officers of the Lyceum were Rev. Jonathan Going, president; Anthony Chase, secretary, and an executive committee, consisting of Frederick W. Paine, Moses L. Morse, William Lin- coln, Ichabod Washburn and Thomas Chamberlin.

The principal object of the Lyceum was to provide a course of lectures each year ; a circulating library for the use of purchasers of season tickets to the lec- tures was also established. During the earlier years of the Lyceum from eighteen to twenty lectures were given in each conrse, which extended from October to April; later, six or eight only. The original price of tickets for the conrse was one dollar for persons over twenty-one years of age, seventy-five cents for those between eighteen and twenty-one years, and fifty cents for those between the ages of twelve and eighteen. In the course for 1839-40 there were twenty-two lectures given, of which fourteen were by citizens of Worcester, it being understood that the latter gentlemen were to receive no compensation for their services. A debating society was also formed, classes organized for study in various branches, and chemical apparatus purchased. In 1855 the Lyceum transferred their library to the Young Men's Library Association, but still continued its course of lectures till, by an act of the Legislature, approved March 15, 1856, it was fully merged into that association.

WORCESTER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY .- This society was incorporated February 19, 1831, John Davis, Samuel Jennison, Isaac Goodwin, William Lincoln and Joseph Allen being the persons named in the act. In a circular issued by the society, the

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

purpose of its formation was stated to be "collecting and preserving materials for a complete and minute history of the County of Worcester, . .. to ascertain those facts that will tend to develop the origin, ad- vancement and present state of our public institu- tions and social relations, the geographical limits and appearance of our territory," etc.

This circular was sent to residents in the county, and called for such facts as might be in their posses- sion relative to the subjects of inquiry. John Davis was the first president and held the office for many years. In October, 1831, the centennial anniversary of the establishment of Worcester County was cele- brated by the Historical Society, an address being de- livered by John Davis. The society ceased to exist many years ago, but the exact date of its dissolution cannot now be ascertained.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 150

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