History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 20

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 20

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CHAPTER CXXVII.

SUTTON-(Continued.)

EDUCATIONAL.

THE first settlers of this State were the founders of the free-school system. They had received some in- spiration from the schools of learning in Europe, established for the favored classes, and more from revelation. They did not believe that knowledge, power and wealth were intended for the few, but that the avennes to their attainment should be open to all.

It was because they saw no hope of securing to themselves and their posterity their God-given rights, that they crossed a stormy ocean, seeking a home as remote as possible from opposing influences made strong by long-continued growth and prejudice ; and here in this western wilderness, amid the toils, anxie- ties and perils attending a new settlement so remote from sources whence supply of almost every want, aside from food, must come, they inaugurated a sys- tem of educatiou for the masses, which, improved from time to time, gradually extended through the New England States and over a large portion of the country.

In 1642 a law was passed requiring that those chosen to manage " the prudentials of every town in the several precincts and quarters where they dwelt, shall have a vigilant eye over their neighbors, to see, first that none of them shall suffer so much barbarism in any of their families as not to endeavor to teach by themselves or others, their children and apprentices so much learning as may enable them to read per- fectly the English. tongue, and a knowledge of the capital laws, upon penalty of twenty shillings for each neglect therein."

It was not, however, until 1647 that a law was enacted ordering the establishment in every town of fitty householders of a public school, in which the children should be taught to read and write, and, when the families shall have increased to an hundred, of a grammar school in which the young men might be fitted for the nniversity.

In this town there is no mention of a school until 1725, and then only in connection with a proposed sale of the school land-two hundred acres-which had been given by the proprietors in accordance with the conditions of the grant of the General Court con- firming the purchase of the township from the Indians.

The children may have had instruction in private schools, but no action seems to have been taken by the town in the matter of the establishment of a pub- lic school previously to 1730, when it was voted that a school should be kept for four months in four places, at the discretion of the selectmen, one month in a place.

In 1731 it was voted that there should be school- dames.

No record can be found of an appropriation for the support of a school until 1732. The name of John Smith appears upon the treasnrer's book as the schoolmaster for this year. The school was kept at the house of Mr. John Gibbs, who was paid fifteen shillings for its nse.

From this time onward the records of the town show that schools were provided and enlarged as the needs of the town demanded. In these schools only the rudiments were taught.

Each district employed its own teacher, and had the general supervision of its schools. The only official visits made the schools at this time were those of the minister of the parish for the purpose of catechising the children.

Persons might have been, and probably were, dele- gated to give instruction to any who might wish to pursue the studies which were then considered as be- longing to a grammar-school. There were very few of this class of pupils before the time above mentioned. Joseph Hall, son of Rev. Dr. David, is the first and only one who seems to have been appointed grammar schoolmaster, and authorized to present his bills as such. His first bill was in 1794, for teaching grammar-school in 1793, £4 88. 2d., and as his bill varied from year to year, it is evident that his salary depended upon the number of his scholars. About this time summer schools, for terms of four or six weeks, were established in most of the districts. The winter schools were kept from eight to ten weeks, and taught exclusively by male teachers.

A desire for advantages, the common schools and the grammar-schools, as taught by Mr. Hall, did not furnish, began to find expression in the establishment of private schools. Among the first of these were those taught in 1806 by Miss Mary T. Morse in the

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

South Parish, and Miss Caroline M. Warren in the North Parish.

Miss Morse's school was for young ladies only, in which instruction was given in "Reading, writing, orthography and English grammar; also plain sew- ing, marking, working muslin and embroidery; also drawing and painting in water-colors and filigree work." Miss Warren's school was open to youth of both sexes, and "instruction was given in reading, writing, orthography and English grammar, rhetoric, logic, and English composition ; also arithmetic, geometry, geography, astronomy and the Latin lan- guage." Young ladies were likewise instructed in the ornamental branches.

It is quite impossible to give a history of the many private schools that were established in town after 1811, as no records were kept, and the " oldest inhabitants " can impart little information.

A few of these schools, however, are remembered, and worthy of particular mention. One of them, called "Sutton High School," was established by Rev. George A. Willard, in 1835, in the hall of the brick mansion built by Mr. James Freeland; the school was afterward removed to West Sutton and continued several years. Mr. Willard was a superior teacher, as several of his former pupils now resident in town can testify.

Looking at our schools from the standpoint of the present, we believe they are improving in the stand- ard of attainments, while, except in the villages, they are sadly decreasing in numbers to such an ex- tent that emulation to excel is not duly excited.

As it regards the improvements, we would mention the tasteful and commodious school-houses which have taken the place of the rude structures of olden time-the attractive furnishing of most of these houses, the introduction of maps, blackboards and apparatus affording facilities for the illustration of the various branches of study, text-books adapted to the wants of scholars of every grade, singing and drawing, the encouragement of a taste for the useful and beautiful, less severity in punishment, more governing by love, and an appeal to the reason of a child rather than his sense of physical pain.

The character and attainments of the teachers, pre- pared most of them in the normal schools, is a pres- ent study to the child, and an incentive to correct deportinent, while calisthenics and physical training are taught, that the child may be sound in body as well as strong in mind.

HIGH SCHOOL .- In this brief historical sketch of the efforts of the friends of a more liberal education, and the action of the town which culminated in the establishment of our present popular high school, we shall confine these notes to such facts as have refer- ence to the high school recognized by legislative acts, and maintained by the town in its municipal capacity. We regret the necessity for this omission, for these subscription schools, by introducing some

of the higher branches, induced a more correct appre- ciation of such branches, and created a demand for the high school.

The historians of our common-school system begin by referring to the legislative acts of the Massa- chusetts colonists in 1647, as the inception and foun- dation of that system. By this carly legislation the support of schools was made compulsory, and the means of education became common and free. The same legislation laid the foundation for the high school, for it included an enactment requiring every town of one hundred families or householdlers to set up and maintain a "Grammar school," under a master competent to instruct youth in such branches as were required to fit them for the university.

Because the wish is often parent to the thought, the thought to action, and the action to beneficial results, we are pleased to find in the report of the School Committee for 1859, Foster Freeland, chair- man, a strongly expressed wish that Sutton might have the advantage of grammar school instruction ; and a recommendation that the excess of school money raised by the town, above a specified amount, then deemed sufficient for the common district schools, should be appropriated to the establishment and maintenance of two "grammar schools ; " and this followed by a suggestion that the school acts should be so amended as to give the income of the State school fund to the several towns of the Commonwealth to aid in the maintenance of such schools.

In the warrant of the selectmen, Horace Leland, chairman, for the annual meeting of 1860, we find :

Art. 13. To see if the town will establish a High School or act or do any thing relative to the same.

This action was negatived by the town for the rea- sons set forth in the School Committee's report of the same year, as follows :

" Your committee concur in the opinion that whatever is appropriated for this noble canse " (a higher education) " considering the territorial structure of our town and the sparsely located proper recipients of Iligh School privileges, the greatest good to all the inhabitants of the town will be attained by the division of the fund in the districts."

However, something had been gained, in that the attention of the town had been called to its necessity, to the violation of the State law, and to the strength of its friends.

In 1866 the following articles were inserted in the warrant for the annual meeting :

Ist. To see if the town will maintain a high school, or act or do any- thing relative thereto.

2d. To see if the town will raise and appropriate five hundred dollars, to aid the pupils in Sutton in prosecuting their studies in the higher branches in some of the high schools and academies of the neighboring towns, or act or do anything relating thereto.

These articles were passed over "without note or comment" by an indefinite postponement, and thus ended the second direct attempt to establish this school.

The action of Massachusetts Board of Education in procuring the passage of the law "That no distribu-

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tion or apportionment of the annual income of the State school fund should he made to towns not com- plying with certain requisitions of chapter 38, sec- tions 1 and 2, general statute, including the mainten- ance of a high school," strengthened the friends of a higher education, and in March, 1883, the following articles were inserted in the warrant for the approach- ing annual meeting :

Article 14. To see if the town will maintain a high school according to the requirements of statute law, or act to do anything in relation to the same.

Article 15. To see if the town will raise money for the maintenance of a high school,

After a dispassionate discussion and a more detailed statement of the case than is found in the foregoing extract, the affirmative of both articles was sustained by an almost unanimous vote of the persons present and voting.

Under Article 14-" Voted that the town will main- tain a high school to hold one term of three months at Wilkinsonville, one term of three months at Sutton Centre, one term of three months at West Sutton, and one term of three months at Manchaug Village."

Under Article 15-" Voted to raise and appropriate five hundred dollars for the maintenance of the high school."

The success of the measure was principally due to a higher standard of public opinion, and an appreciation of a higher culture and a demand therefor. Many good citizens had tabored to bring about this improve- ment in public opinion, prominent among whom were Rev. H. A. Tracy and James W. Stockwell, Esq., and last for the first I. B. Hartwell, Esq., of whom it is a pleasure to say that no one in town has labored more earnestly, both in a private and public capacity, to improve our common schools, to foster the desire for a more generous course of study than they afford, and to furnish facilities for the gratification of such desire. He was chairman of the School Committee during several years preceding the establishment of the bigh school, at the time when the agitation attending the discussion of the matter was the great- est, and brought all the influence which his position commanded, to bear in support of the measure. His faith in the good sense of the people, and in their ultimately favorable action, never faltered.

From that day the school has been successful, the town has fostered it liberally and its results have been beneficent.

The first teacher of the high school, Walter A. Wheeler, gave permanency and character to it. He was a Christian gentleman, earnest and enthusiastic in his work, combining the rare faculty of imparting knowledge and the love of it to all under his care.

THE FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY .- December 2, 1874, J. W. Stockwell, Esq., proposed for discussion before the Farmers' Club in Sutton Centre the following question : "Social Life and Culture, How Best Pro- moted in this Town?" The record of the meeting

reads as follows : " After the discussion of the subject showing the need of books for intellectual growth, J. W. Stockwell proposed to form a club, if twenty per- sons could be found willing to contribute one dollar each to a fund for the purchase of books for this win- ter's reiding. He was followed by other speakers favoring such a proposal, and so well was the idea of the nucleus of a Free Library received that at this meeting a 'committee of five' was chosen to solicit for a library and purchase books. J. W. Stockwell, Rev. H. A. Tracy, W. A. Wheeler, Misses Ellen C. Woodbury and Sarah M. Mills were selected as such Committee."

The above extract indicates the inception and be- ginning of the Sutton Free Library, which now num- bers three thousand two hundred and fifty volumes.

Dr. J. H. Armsby early wrote for information in regard to its plan and purpose, and finding its pro- moters held large hopes for its tuture success, at once took an active interest in its prosperity and enlarge- ment, and his contributions to aid in establishing "The Free Public Library " were frequent, large and valuable. A suggestion from a member of the com- mittee to those who had left their native town for wider fields of usefulness brought liberal returns and many were the donors, while from those within the town were earnest workers and liberal donors. A val- nable selected library was given by Hon. John D. McCrate, and other large contributions were received from Rev. H. A. Tracy, George P. Stockwell, Hervey F. Lombard, Rev. George Lyman, J. S. C. Armsby, E. J. Mills, J. W. Stockwell, D. T. Thurston, Mrs. H. W. Beecher, Professor Homer B. Sprague, Rev. Frederick N. Knapp, H. C. Batchellor, Mrs. J. W. Clark, Dr. A. L. Stickney, and many others.

Thus far the library was the property of the origi- nal proprietors, but the time was at hand for trans- ferring it by deed to the town, and this was proposed on the single consideration that it should ever be maintained as a free public library in the centre of the town or revert to the grantors. At the annual meeting of the town, March 20, 1876, the town voted to accept the library on the terms proposed, and it was transferred by deed, dated March 21, 1876, and thus was established "The Sutton Free Library."

The friends of the library did not abate, in the least, their interest in its prosperity, and donations of books increased rather than diminished, and this enterprise is largely the work of its founders and friends, and less the gift of the town.

The question of dividing the now large library of about two thousand five hundred volumes and placing a part in the other villages of the town was agitated at the annual meeting, but the deed to the town pre- vented such dismemberment of it, and at the next annual meeting it was voted, on motion of Jason Waters, Esq., to establish branch libraries in each of the villages; these, far from taking from the enthu- siasm for the Free Public Library (which now con-

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

tained so many donations that were memorials of paper, glass, buttons, salt, combs, cards and the estab- friendship and love from deceased friends of the i lishment of all such arts and manufactures as might town that its care had become a duty), only demon- be useful to the people. strated to the entire people more fully than ever be- fore the inestimable value of books. From the annual reports of the librarian, April 1, 1885, we in- sert the following extract :

The dawn of '85, its tenth birthday, sees the Library established in a pleasant, commodious room, its friends and patrons rejoicing in its re- moval to a suitable place, in the new Town Ilall, adapted to its require- ments.

Looking back from this standpoint in the history of the Library, the projector and founder of the plan "to secure good reading," with the little band of supporters, may feel repaid for all efforts and sacrifices made in the interest of true progress, and may be pardoned if there is pleasure and pride in recalling its steady growth, and seeing its estab- lisbment in a new and permanent home. That another decade may still find it an honor to the town, a source of education and advance- ment with refining influence, it is essential that no citizen should be Indifferent to its advantages, or neglect to avail himself of its privileges.

At the annual town-meeting, April 6, 1887, a Board of Trustees for these libraries was elected,-Rev. John Greyson, Miss Sarah M. Mills, Jason Waters, George H. Clark and George W. Albee. In 1888 the town appropriated five hundred dollars for books and care (the largest grant ever made by the town), to be divided between the several libraries according to weekly circulation from each. D. T. Thurston was the first librarian and gave a room in his house for its use. At his death J. W. Stockwell assumed the care and held the position till April 1, 1883, when Miss Sarah M. Mills became librarian, and holds the position at the present time.

The library and branch libraries now number vol- umes as follows :

Volumes.

Sutton Free Library.

3250

Manchang Branch Library

721

West Sutton Branch Library 360

Wilkinsonville Branch Library 300

South Sutton Branch Library 367

Total

4998

CHAPTER CXXVIII.

SUTTON-(Continued.)

MANUFACTURES.

IT is a well-known fact that England for a long period discouraged manufacturing in her colonies. She thought by so doing to increase the demand for her own products, and make her dependencies more dependent.

The first Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, which met at Salem October 5, 1774, took the matter in hand, and, appealing to the patriotism of the people, strongly recommended the production of wool, the raising of flax and hemp, the making of nails, steel, tin-plate, fire-arms, saltpetre, gunpowder,

As early as 1768 the people of this town, in hearty sympathy with every movement designed to relieve the colonies from dependence upon England for nec- essary articles of wear and use, passed a resolution encouraging manufactures.

Most earnestly did the people set themselves at work to provide for their necessities. Every house was a manufactory of cloth, every farmer a producer of wool and flax. As the carding was all done by hand, it was natural that the first manufacturing of the town should be the production of those articles most needed in making woolen aud linen cloth. So we find hand-cards among the first, if not the first articles manufactured in Sutton. These were made by Jonathan Hale, who came from Newbury not far from 1747, his name appearing upon both the church and town records that year.

Mr. Hale removed to Coos, N. H., in 1771, and the business of card-making was carried on in town for two or three years by Joseph Rockwell, born in Mid- dletown, Conn., who learned his trade of Mr. Hale.

Rockwell went from Sutton to Philadelphia, where he continued his trade. He was succeeded in the card-making business by -- Sibley, who made a great improvement in the machine for cutting and bending the teeth. Mr. Sibley continued the busi- ness until about 1795, from which time nothing far- ther was done in that line in town.

Comb-making was introduced in town about 1780 by Simeon Carpenter, who came from Attleboro', and continued by him until 1815. Levi and Jonathan Fuller, who came from Attleboro' about the same time with Mr. Carpenter, were also comb-makers by trade, and carried on the business for many years. These combs were made from horn, bone, ivory, tin and lead. Combs were also manufactured by one of the Chases, on the place now occupied by Andrew Boyce, in the Slocomb District.

Scythe, hoe and axe-making were also carried on at an early date-scythe-making in particular. All these were at first beaten out by hand, afterward by the trip-hammers, operated in some cases by water-power and in some by horse-power.

There are several places in town which lay claim to the introduction of the first trip-hammer.

Mr. Oliver Hall says the first was put into opera- tion by horse-power by Mr. Nathan Putnam, who had a seythe shop near the house in which Mr. Hall now lives.

Mr. Putnam afterward erected a building (the foundations of which may still be seen) on a stream emptying into Manchaug Pond, just below the village of West Sutton, a little west of the road to Manchaug, in which he had a trip-hammer operated by water- power. He forged his scythes in this building and finished them in the shop near his house. Scythes,

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SUTTON.

hoes and axes were made at West Sutton-hoes and axes were made by Elder Samuel Waters and his son- in-law, Amos Waters, and axes by Cornelius Putnam.

Scythes and hoes were also made by Abel Chase and Nathaniel Whitmore & Sons, on the place now owned by Lewis Griggs, called the Deacon Hall place. Scythes were likewise made near the place where Estes Putnam now has a shingle-mill; at Marbleville by some of the members of the Marble family ; at Manchaug by Joseph and Cornelius Put- nam and Colonel Reuben Waters; in the Union District by Joel Lackey; at South Sutton, and in what is now Millbury, on the stream running from Crooked Pond, which will have more particular men- tion in connection with what will be said upon the early manufacturing along this stream.

The fine water-privileges along the outlet of Crooked Pond (now Singletary Lake) were at an early date utilized for manufacturing purposes. The first privi- lege was occupied by the grist-mill built by John Singletary, who bought the "mill-lot" of Ebenezer Dagget, to whom it was given upon condition that he should " keep a grist-mill for the use of the town." The exact date of the building of this mill cannot be ascertained. Mr. John Singletary came to town about the year 1720, and undoubtedly bought the right of Mr. Dagget, and built the mill soon after. On the next privilege it is said there was a blacksmith shop, with a trip-hammer, in which scythes were made on a small scale, and perhaps other articles used on a farm. The next privilege, where the mill of M. A. Lapham now is, was occupied by the paper-mill of Abijah Burbank. This was the first paper-mill built in the county, and the fourth or fifth in Massachu- setts. 1ts erection appears to have been suggested by a resolution passed in a convention of the Com- mittees of Correspondence and delegates from the several towns of the county of Worcester.

This mill was, during most of the Revolutionary War, the main dependence, and at times the sole de- pendence, for paper, of the printing-office of Isaiah Thomas in Worcester.

Its capacity, according to Deacon Leland, was thirty reams per week, during eight months of the year.

Mr. Caleb Burbank, son of Abijah, was associated with his father, and succeeded him in the business of paper-making, increasing somewhat the production, and greatly improving the quality.

Just below the paper-mill was an oil-mill, jointly owned by Jonathan Holman, Abijah Burbank, Jona- than Waters and Andrew Elliot. The building of this mill was begun in 1769, as appears by a charge in the memorandum book of Colonel Holman, in which he makes note of money due him for getting timber for the oil-mill.

The same book contains several entries giving the number of gallons of oil sold to various persons, by which it is seen that quite an extensive business was done.

Just below this was a carding and fulling-mill ; still farther down the stream a powder-mill, which seems to have been run but a few of the first years of the Revolutionary War.

Next to the powder-mill was a gun manufactory ; changed afterward into a manufactory of scythes, axes, saws, mill-iron, steel-plates, etc., in which an exten- sive business for that day was done.

Tanning and currying was also carried on by John Morse, Captain Joseph Griggs and possibly others whose names have not been brought to our notice.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 20

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