History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 42

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 42

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Resolved, that haviog consulted our charter, we find that by the afore- said infringementsand violations, our rights and liberties thereby derived are sapped to the very fondation.

Resolved, that it is of the utmost importance the Colonies in general and the inhabitants of this Province in particular, stand firm as one man to support and maintain all their just rights and privileges.

Resolved, that this town will at all times heartily join with our breth- ren of this Province and with every true friend to liberty, in all lawful measures which may be proper, salutary and effectnal for the redress of our grievances and the establishment of our charter rights, privileges and liberties.

Resolved, that this town choose a Committee to correspond with the Boston Committee and the Committees of other towns to receive and communicate to the town all salntary measures that shall be proposed or offered by any other towns for removing the common grievances of this Province and to communicate the sentiments of this town to the correspondont committee of the other towns of this Province.

Resolved, that the united thanks of this town and of every true son of liberty and friend to the Constitution of the Province is due to the town of Boston for their early and iodefatigable zeal in ondenvoring to preserve the Constitutional rights and liberties of this Province.

The comntittee reporting the resolutions were at the same meeting chosen a Committee of Correspond- ence.

At a meeting of the town held August 4, 1774, Moses Hale was chosen a delegate to a county con- vention to consider the hest method of resisting the acts of Parliament. At a meeting held on the 25th of August the following resolves were passed :

Resolved, that we acknowledge ourselves true and liege subjects to his majesty King George III., and that we will, to the utmost of our power, defend his crown and dignity.

Resolved, that the charter of this Province is the basis of allegiance to his Majesty, the sacred obligation he is under to protect us, his Amer- ican subjects, and that all Acts of the British Parliament which tend to vacate our charter, without our consent, have a tendency to destroy onr allegiance to the King, and also the obligation he is under to protect ns, his most loyal subjects, which consequently reduces ns to a state of nature.

Resolved, that the unconstitutional acts, lately passed in the British Parliament, wherein they claim a right to tax the Americans without their consent, aod to alter our free Constitutions at their pleasure, has a direct tendency to break off the affections of his Majesty's true and leyal subjects in America from the King, and therefore most certainly

weaken the British nation, and will, if persisted in, unavoidably endan- ger, if not actually be a means of the destruction of, tho King and the whole British realm.

Resolved, that we will, to the utmost of our power, oppose all such unconstitutional acts which, in our opinion, are directly against the dignity of the King and the Constitution of this Province, and are ready to risk onr lives and fortunes in defense of our rightful sovereign. and to maintain our free Constitution in order to save ourselves and posterity from ruin and slavery, which seems like a torrent rushing in upon us.

lesolred, that we will do all that les in our power to maintain peace and good order amongst us according to the laws of this Province, and that we will break off all dealings, as far as possible, with all officers who hold their commissions under unconstitutional laws.

Resolved, that those men who are appointed Counsellors by manda- mus from England, directly contrary to the charter of this Proviore, and have taken the oaths required to serve in that office, are destitute of any regard to the good of their country, and ought to be treated as open enemies to the ouce free Constitution of this l'rovince.

The patriotic and determined tone and spirit of these resolutions was not excelled by those of any other town in the Province. They were evidently drawn by men of intelligence and courage, who knew that the united voice of the community for which they spoke would enthusiastically sustain them. In- deed, so far as is known to the writer, no open sup- porter and defender of the crown marred the unanim- ity which marked the action of the town at this ex- citing period.

On the 15th of September, 1774, Moses Hale was chosen a delegate to the Provincial Congress to be held in Concord on the second Tuesday in October. But it is unnecessary to describe in detail the action taken at various times by the town, by which, in suc- cessive steps, in common with other towns in the Province, the feeling of the people was raised to the point of open resistance to the crown.

On the reception of the news of the battle of Lex- ington two companies marched from Winchendon, one under the command of Captain Abel Wilder, and attached to the regiment of Colonel Ephraim Doolittle, and the other under the command of Cap- tain Moses Hale, and attached to the regiment of Colonel Nathan Sparhawk. The Winchendon men in Captain Wilder's company were as follows :

Abel Wilder, capt.

John Darling.

John Boynton, lieut.

Zebulon Green.

Dudley Perley, lient,

Jacob Hale.

Amos Hale.

Benjamin Bene, sergt.

Bill Hancock.

Amos Merriam, sergt.

Daniel Joslin.

lohn Newton l'armenter, sergt.

lolin Carter.

Daniel Goodridge, sergt.

Ephraim l'armenter.

Philip Rollins.

David Goodridge, corp.

Roger Bates, corp.

Joseph Stimpson. Aaron Putoam. Ephraim Stimpson,

Thornton Barrett, corp.

Abijah Stimpson, corp. Thadens Bowman. Francis Bridge. Elisha Brown.

Samuel Brown.

Samuel Brodis !:. Stephen Boynton.

Zebulon Cooant.

Joseplı Clark. John Day. Nathan Day.

David Stoddard. Ephraim Sawyer. Jonathan Smith. Joseph Wilder. Jonathan Whitcomb. Ebenezer Sherwin. Ahsimias Sherwin. Benjamin Kimball. Sammel Newton. Ephraim Parmenter.

Thomas Sawyer, sergt.

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WINCHENDON.

The following Winchendon men were in the com- pany of Captain Moses Hale :

Moses Hale, capt. Adonijah Bixby, drum.

Seth Oaks, sergt.

Thomas Beal.

Levi Bixby, sergt.

Sanınel Steel.

Nathan Knight, corp.

Solomon Bigelow.

Wm, Whitney.

Wm. Moffat.

Ebenezer How. Benjamin Chamberlain.

Isaac Stimpson.

Calvin Oaks.

David Poor, lieut.

Lucas Green. Ephraim Sawyer.

The following enlisted in November, 1776, in the regiment of Colonel J. Whitney :

William Warner, capt. William Warner, Jr.

The following enlisted January 1, 1778, for one year, in the company commanded by Captain Benja- min Edgell, attached to the regiment of Colonel John Jacobs :

Benjamin Chamberlain. Peter Joslin.

Jeremiah Lord.

Nathaniel Oaks

Philip Sweetzer.

The following were drafted in 1778 for nine months' service and attached to the company of Cap- tain Bowington in Colonel Sparhawk's regiment :

John Bemis. Josiah Baldwin.

Wm. Mastick.

The following enlisted in the Continental Army in 1778:

Matthew Knight (for the war). Ezra Temple (2 years).

Ebenezer Richardson (2 years).

Edon London (2 years).

Adonijah Bixby (2 years). Ahsimias Sherwin (2 years).

Francis Pollard (2 years).

Richard Person (2 years).

Wm. Parker (2 years).

Nathan Green (2 years).

Thomas Rugg (2 years).

Jonas Betis (2 years).

Levi Carter (2 years).

John Prentice (2 years).

Ephraim Temple (2 years).

The following served in Rhode Island in 1779 in the company of Captain Thomas Fish attached to the regiment of Colonel Nathan Tyler :

Silas Bemis.

Samuel Russell.

In the same year Abel Brown, Daniel Day and Daniel Mixter served on Castle Island and Gover- nor's Island in the company of Captain William Henry, and Ephraim Parmenter enlisted for nine months.

In 1780 the following enlisted for six months in the Continental Army :

Joseph Day. James Stoddard.

Daniel Day.

David Payson.

Samuel Russell.

Nathaniel Bixby.

Jesse Ellis.

Nathaniel Mayuard.

Amos Bemis.

Zenas Stoddard.

In the same year the following enlisted for three months' service:

Jeremiah Lord.

Jonathan Smith.

Wm. Poor.

David Smith.

Aaron Potter.

John Heywood.

Beainsley Lord.

Samuel Bridge.

Azariah Cook. Abel Brown.

In 1781 the following enlisted in the Continental Army for three years :

Samuel Russell, Jr. Jotham Holt.

David Dunton.

Joseph Day.

Lutber Stimpson.

Moses Patton.

In the same year the following enlisted for six months in Captain Jonathan Sibley's company, at- tached to the regiment of Colonel Luke Drury :

Panl Stuart. David Flint.

Ephraim Boynton. Isaac Noyes.

Joseph Darling.

Otis Crosby.

Miscellaneous enlistments were those of

Joseph Boynton.

Nathan Pushey.

Stephen Belknap.

Timothy Darling.

Josialı Baldwin.

Gamaliel Beamer.

Jonathan Bates.

Theodore May.

Eliphalet Goodridge.

James Mc Elwain.

Jacob IIale.

James Noyes.

The amount of money expended by the town during the Revolution it is difficult to state with precision. In March, 1777, it was voted to pay a bounty of twenty pounds to soldiers enlisting in the Continental Army, and in November of that year the bounty was raised to one hundred and forty pounds. In 1781 ten thou- sand pounds were granted to procure beef for the army, and in that year $412,000 were needed to defray the expenses of the town. It must be remembered, how- ever, that at that time the currency was largely depre- ciated, and that large sums represented small values. Of course the town of Winchendon came out of the struggle with the purpose for which its people fought accomplished, but largely in debt, and with means so crippled that financial recuperation seemed almost impossible. So extreme was the destitution and so harassed were many of its inhabitants with debts pressing on them for settlement, that much sympathy was found to exist in Winchendon with those who in- stigated and promoted the Shays' Rebellion in 1786. Notwithstanding that rebellion was suppressed, the purposes for which it was excited were to a limited extent accomplished, by the enactment of relieving laws, and after its suppression the people, as best they could, struggled to revive their fallen fortunes, and place themselves once more on the road to prosperity and content.

The history of the First Church, which was dropped in this narrative at the point of its formation on the 15th of December, 1762, and the ordination of Rev. Daniel Stimpson on that day, may now be properly resumed. After the incorporation of the town the proprietors kept up their organization, and aided the town in their support of a minister. Mr. Stimpson died on the 20th of July, 1768. He was born in Wes- ton, in 1731, and graduated at Harvard in 1759, in the class with Jonathan Trumbull (Governor of Con- necticut), Samuel Allyne Otis, Abiel Leonard, John Pickering, Lemuel Hedge and Zabdiel Adams. He left two children,-Luther who was a soldier in the Revolution, and Sarah, who married Beamsley Lord, who was also a soldier in the Revolution.

Rev. Joseph Brown was ordained May 24, 1769. At the ordination Rev. Francis Gardner, of Leominster, . made a prayer; Rev. Mr. Clark, of Lexington, preached the sermon ; Rev. Mr. Lawrence, of Lincoln, gave the charge; Rev. Mr. Cushing, of Waltham, gave

Beamsley Lord.

Benjamin Rice, sergt.

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the right hand of fellowship, and Rev. Mr. Woodward, of' Weston, made the concluding prayer. Owing to difficulties which it is not worth the while to include in this narrative, Mr. Brown was dismissed by the decision of an ecclesiastical council held September 3, 1799. Mr. Brown was a graduate of Harvard in 1763, in the class with Josiah Quincy, John Jeffries, Joshua Upham, Samson Salter Blowers, Timothy Pickering and Caleb Gannett, and died in 1810. During the pastorate of Mr. Brown a new meeting- house was built. On the Ist of March, 1790, the town voted to build a house, and chose a committee of five, consisting of Abel Wilder, Esq., Deacon Moses Hale, Mr. Thomas Graton, Benjamin Hall, Esq., and Deacon Samnel Prentice, to devise ways and means and report at an adjourned meeting. On the 4th of October it was voted to set the new house on the meeting-house common, and to build it sixty feet long, fifty feet wide, with posts twenty-seven feet long, and a porch at each end ten feet on the house and fourteen feet deep. It was also voted to have fifty-four pews on the floor, twenty-four in the galleries, and three seats on each side below and three in the galleries. There were to be twenty windows (forty squares in each window) below, and twenty-one windows (thirty-five squares in each) in the galleries, and the frame was to be raised in the early part of the year 1792. A com- mittee, consisting of Abel Wilder, Thomas Graton and Benjamin Hall, was chosen to make the necessary arrangements and superintend the building of the house. On the Ist of November, 1790, before the house was built, the pews were sold by auction, and the pews on the floor, after the assignment of one to the minister, brought the sum of two thousand one hundred and eighty-three dollars. Those in the galleries brought three hundred and sixty-six dollars.

On the 21st of November, 1791, it was voted to re- consider the vote fixing the location of the meeting- house, and a committee consisting, of Abel Wilder, Esq., Deacon Samuel Prentice, Doctor Ziba Hall, Lieut. John Burr, Mr. Thomas Graton, Mr. James Steel and Samuel Crosby, E-q., was chosen to select a location and report at an adjourned meeting. On the 24th of November the town accepted the report of the committee, selecting a lot "one hundred and twenty feet south of Luther Stimpson's house, and thirty-one feet east of the stone wall by Mr. Brown's garden." But the town did not rest satisfied. On the 20th of December another committee, consisting of Abel Wilder, Moses Hale, Samuel Crosby, Wm. Whit- ney, Benjamin Hall and Samuel Prentice, was ap- pointed to make another selection of a location, and report to the town. After one or more meetings it was definitely voted on the 7th of May to place the north side of the house one hundred and seventy feet from . the north line of the Common. At a previous meet- ing it had been voted that the selectmen should buy " a barrel of West India rum and a quantity of sugar sufficient to make it into toddy, and that it be ex-

pended partly upon the men that assist the day pre- ceding the day set for raising the meeting-house in laying the timber in order for raising; and the remaining part upon the people that attend as spec- tators at the raising, and that the selectmen see that it is properly dealt out." The house was raised on the 24th of May, 1792, and dedicated January 1, 1793, and the old meeting-house was sold.

On the 16th of March, 1801, the town voted "to give Mr. Levi Pillsbury $400 for his annual salary so long as he shall continue to be our public teacher of piety, religion and morality ; the said Pillsbury relin- quishing all claims to ministerial lands and rents be- longing to said town." Mr. Pillsbury was ordained June 24, 1801, and served until his death, which oc- curred April 5, 1819. There had been estrangements during his pastorate owing to political differences be- tween pastor and parish, but these had been partially. if not wholly, reconciled before his death. In 1815, during the pastorate of Mr. Pillsbury, a tower was added to the meeting-house and a bell hung, which was bought by funds raised by subscription, but not before 1823 was a stove used to heat the house.

On the 10th of May, 1819, a committee of five, con- sisting of George Coffin, Isaac Morse, Samuel Prentice, Phinehas Whitney and Samuel Moore Brown, was chosen to select a new minister as the successor of Mr. Pillsbury, but it was not until the 12th of October that a decision was reached, when it was voted to ask Rev. Elam Clark to settle as pastor. The invitation was declined and Rev. Eber L. Clark was then invited and accepted. He was ordained on the 13th of Octo- ber, 1820, on which occasion Rev. Thomas Robbins, D.D., preached the sermon. His ministry continued until his resignation, January 2, 1835. Mr. Clark was born in Mansfield, Conn., March 23, 1786, and gradu- ated at Williams College in 1811. He was licensed to preach in February, 1812, and ordained, September 24th in the same year, pastor of the First Church in Chatham, Connecticut. He was dismissed from that church August 13, 1815, and installed pastor of the church in Granby, Conn., July 3, 1816, from which he was dismissed July 5, 1820. After his resignation as pastor of the Winchendon Church, he served a pas- torate of three years in Berlin, Mass., and afterwards a pastorate of fifteen years in Richmond, Mass. In 1853 he was installed in Washington, Mass., and died in that town in 1857. Julins L. Clark, formerly the efficient chief clerk in the State Auditor's office in Boston, and at a later day the much-respected insur- ance commissioner of Massachusetts, was his son.

The successor of Mr. Clark was Rev. Daniel O. Morton, then settled in Springfield, Vermont, who was installed March 2, 1836. At his installation Rev. George Goodyear, of Ashburnham ; Rev. Sumner Lin- coln, of Gardner; Rev. Cyrus Mann, of Westminster; Rev. Ebenezer Perkins, of Royalston; Rev. Amos W. Burnham, of Rindge; Rev. Alexander Lovell, of Phillipston; Rev. Lemuel 1'. Bates, of Templeton, and

1063

WINCHENDON.

Rev. Giles Lyman, of Jaffrey, officiated. Mr. Morton was dismissed June 29, 1841, and was afterwards set- tled in Bristol, N. H., where he died, March 25, 1852.

During the next five years the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Edwin Leigh two years, Rev. Robert W. Fuller, Rev. Abijah P. Marvin six months, and Rev. Benjamin Rice from 1843 until his death. Mr. Rice was born in Sturbridge May 9, 1784, and died July 12, 1847. He was a graduate of Brown University, and had before going to Winchendon been settled in Skaneateles, N. Y .; South Deerfield, Mass., and New Gloucester, and Buxton, Maine. On the 19th of No- vember, 1846, Rev. Malachi Bullard was ordained and served until his death, in 1849. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Storrs, who was installed August 22, 1849, and died in his pastorate in 1854. During the pastorate of Mr. Storrs the old meeting-house, which was found too large after the organization of a new society in the north part of the town, which will be hereafter referred to, was taken down and a smaller one built, largely from the old materials, a little north- westerly of the old location.

Rev. Benjamin F. Clark was settled October 25, 1855, and was dismissed in April, 1865. Since that time the pulpit has been occupied by Rev. Milan H. Hitchcock, Rev. David Brigham, Rev. Levi Brigham, and the present pastor, Rev. Abijah Stowell, who has served three or four years.

The Baptists in Winchendon held religious services as early as 1783, but not until 1798 was a church organized, in the southwest part of the town, called New Boston. In 1811 a society house was built, and the first settled minister was Elder Samnel Simonds, who was ordained in 1816. In 1820 a meeting-house was built. In 1837 Mr. Simonds died, and was suc- ceeded by various occupants of the pulpit, among whom were Elder Brown, Elder Jones, and in 1840 by Rev. Warren Cooper. In 1842 Rev. Andrew Dunn became the pastor, and was followed by Elder Fay and Elder Culvert and others.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in the year 1800. Until 1807 meetings were held in a private house, but in that year a meeting-house was built on land given by Stephen Weston. In 1833 a new meeting-house was erected, and dedicated Octo- ber 11th in that year. In 1851 the house was remod- eled and rededicated on the 2d of October. In 1875 a third house was built and is now occupied by the society, under the pastorate of Rev. Wm. F. Lawford.

The North Congregational Church was organized December 7, 1843, a meeting-house having been built earlier in that year. There were sixty-seven original members, nearly all of whom had heen members of the First Church. Rev. Abijah P. Marvin was invited to settle, and was ordained January 10, 1844, on which day also the meeting-house was dedicated. At the dedication, which took place in the forenoon, Rev. Richard M. Chipman made the introductory prayer, Rev. Mr. Marvin preached the sermon and Rev. Sam

uel H. Peckham made the dedicatory prayer. At the ordination, in the afternoon, Rev. Benjamin Rice, of the First Church, read the Scriptures and made the introductory prayer ; Rev. Mr. Tyler, of New Haven, preached the sermon ; Rev. Mr. Jennison made the ordaining prayer ; Rev. Mr. Burnham gave the charge; Rev. Mr. Sabin the right hand of fellowship ; Rev. Mr. Chipman the address to the people; and Rev. Mr. Stone made the concluding prayer. In 1848 a bell was hung in the meeting-house, and in 1855 the house was enlarged and rearranged, at a cost of $2000. Mr. Marvin was dismissed August 22, 1866, in response to a request made by him for the second time. During the pastorate of Mr. Marvin he made himself not only a devoted and beloved leader of his flock, but a useful and respected citizen of the town. Whatever tended to promote the welfare and elevate the culture and morals of the community received his earnest support. He has permanently identified himself with the town, and enlarged the debt of gratitude due to him by its people by the well-conceived and ably-exe- cuted " History of Winchendon," which he published in 1868; and, at this point in the narrative, the writer desires to acknowledge the assistance afforded to him by that work in the preparation of this sketch.

Rev. Austin Dodge was ordained October 9, 1866, and remained about a year. He was followed by Rev. Davis Foster in 1869, who still officiates as pas- tor of the society.

The Baptist Church in the northerly part of the town, which is now really Winchendon, was organ- ized April 27, 1848. Their meeting-house was dedi- cated January 17, 1849, and Rev. Andrew Dunn was settled. Mr. Dunn resigned in 1853, and Rev. Abra- ham Baldwin was settled in 1854. Rev. Lester Wil- liams followed, and was succeeded by Rev. W. W. Ashley. Mr. Ashley left in 1861, and was followed in the same year by Rev. George A. Litchfield, who remained until 1865. After the departure of Mr. Litchfield, Rev. Leonard Tracy supplied the pulpit for a time, and Rev. J. S. Hamblin was settled in 1872. The present pastor is Rev. Windsor H. Wy- man. In 1867 the meeting-house was repaired and somewhat remodeled, and the society is enjoying a season of prosperity satisfactory and creditable to its members.

The increasing number of Catholics in the town rendered, many years since, the organization of a church necessary. A meeting-house was built, and for many years Father Moran was the officiating clergyman. The church is called "The Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary," and is now presided over by Father John Conway.

The Unitarians began to hold services in the town hall in 1851, and were organized as the Third Congregational Society, January 17, 1852. Rev. Theodore Haskell Dorr, a graduate of Harvard in the class of 1835, was installed January 19, 1852, and remained about a year. He was succeeded by Rev.

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Benjamin Huntoon in 1856, who left in 1858. Rev. Charles H. Wheeler followed September 1, 1865, and remained in the pastorate until his death, in 1888. The present pastor is Rev. A. J. Culp. In 1866-67 their elegant and commodious granite church, called the Church of the Unity, was built, and dedicated November 13, 1867. The building com- mittee consisted of I. M. Murdock, B. D. Whitney, William W. Whitney, Sidney Fairbanks, John Folsom and George Goodspeed, and the result of their work reflects infinite credit on their judg- ment and taste. At the dedication the dedica- tory prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Wheeler; Rev. Dr. Charles Bartol, of Boston, preached the sermon, and Dr. Edward Everett Hale, of Boston, delivered an address. The house is built of Fitzwilliam gran- ite, and is ninety-five feet long by forty-five feet wide. The spire rises one hundred and thirteen feet, and the cost of the structure, including an organ, was $44,000.

Returning now to the earlier days of the town, reference should be made to two changes which were made in its boundary lines. When the town was incorporated, in 1764, it was supposed that it wa- bounded on the north by the New Hampshire line. When, however, the line came to be run between the two Provinces, it was found to be one mile farther north than it was supposed, and consequently, a strip of territory a mile wide along the whole northern border of Winchendon, six miles long, remained unap- propriated. After Royalston was incorporated, Feb- ruary 17, 1765, this strip was annexed to that town, and was called Royalston Leg. When the strip be- came settled its inhabitants petitioned to be set off to Winchendon, and on the 17th of June, 1780, an act was passed, granting the petition, and thus six square miles, or about 3840 acres, were annexed to Winchen- don. When Gardner was incorporated, on the 27th of June, 1785, the act provided that the southeasterly part of Winchendon, the westerly part of Westmin- ster, the southwesterly part of Ashburnham, and the easterly part of Templeton should constitute the new town. The part taken from Winchendon included 3680 acres, so that after these two changes had been made the town of Winchendon included 160 acres more than it did when incorporated.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 42

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