History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 66

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 66

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Mr. Goss was dismissed in 1771. After the dismis- sion, Mr. Longley, the constable, was instructed to prohibit him from going into the meeting-house; and "on the succeeding Lord's day, by violence, did prevent him from entering the desk." This done, Mr. Goss then said that "he should continue his labors in the gospel as usual, that those of his friends who wished to hear him might proceed to his house ; that he should keep on preaching as heretofore." After the dismissal, and being foroidden the use of the desk at the meeting-house, he held forth, Sunday after Sunday, in his own honse; a considerable mi- nority following him thither, while the major part of the old congregation occupied the meeting-house, and listened to the ministrations of the Rev. Mr. Walley.

" Bolton Church was the first to withstand the power supposed to be vested in the clergy ; thus did triumph the true principles of liberty in ecclesiastical affairs."

The movement was altogether in advance of the times, and was too audacious and high-handed a measure to be passed over lightly and without signal marks of reprobation. Accordingly, the neighboring ministers, sympathizing with Mr. Goss, refused Bol- ton Church members permission to come to the com- munion table in their churches ; and in every way, so far as their power extended, and it was not very limited in those days, sought to excommunicate them. The controversy, for its day, was a noted one, and several pamphlets, advocating the views of one side or the other, were published.

The lawsnits for the recovery of Mr. Goss' salary, protracted year after year, lasted, carried on by his executors and heirs, till some time after his death.

The following is the inscription on Mr. Goss' tombstone :

Sacred to the memory of Rev. Thomas Goss, A.M., pastor of the church among the Boltonians, who, for upwards of thirty-nine years, having exercised the sacred office, departed this life January 17, 1780, in the sixty-third year of his age. A man adorned with piety, hospitality, friendliness and other virtues, both public and private ; somewhat broken in body, but endowed with wonderful fortitude ; he was the first among the clergy in these unhappy times to he gr evously persecuted for boldly opposing those who were striving to overturn the prosperity of the churches, and for heroically struggling to maintain the ecclesiastical polity which was handed down by our ancestors. Friends erected this monument.

The pastors of the church since Rev. John Walley, who was settled here from 1773 to 1783, are as follows: '

1 llistorical address delivered at Bulton, July 4, 1876.

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BOLTON.

Rev. Phineas Wright, Isaac Allen (who left the whole of his property, amounting to about $20,000, except- ing one or two small gifts, to the parish "of which he had so long been a minister"), Richard S. Edes, Thomas T. Stone, Nathaniel O. Chaffee, Edwin C. L. Brown, Ezekiel Fitzgerald, Nicholas P. Gilman, Cyrus A. Roys and Isaac F. Porter.

The Baptist Church was organized in 1832, and has had the following pastors : Elder Goddard, Levi M. Powers, Isaac C. Carpenter, John Walker, P. S. Whitman, Asaph Meriam, W. K. Davey, B. U .; J. H. Giles, from England ; J. H. Learned, Kilburn Holt, Colby University ; Joseph Barber, Benj. A. Edwards, George B. Fitz and Andrew Read.

The Hillside Church was organized in April, 1830, with thirty-six members. It was organized under the special auspices of S. V. S. Wilder, an influential and wealthy citizen. exercising a princely hospital- ity, and who entertained at his elegant abode the be- loved Lafayette when on his visit, about that time, to the United States. Mainly by the instrumentality of our fellow-citizen just referred to, a spacious and handsome church was built on the hillside within his estate, near the Lancaster line, a congregation of goodly size from this and neighboring towns gath- ered, and a succession of pastors settled. After a few years, during which the following officiated as pastors,-J. W. Chickering, D.D., Mr. Peabody, Mr. Davenport and Henry Adams, it was abandoned.

A Methodist Society was formed here in about 1860 or '61, with Rev. W. C. Brown pastor. It soon dis- banded.

The Quakers also have a society and church here.

The Bolton society was organized, having a meet- ing-house and school-house near it, was erected into a "Monthly Meeting" in April, 1799. Their first · acknowledged ministers were Thomas Holder, Sarah Holder, Thomas Watson and Abel Houghton; their elders, John Frye, Lydia Gates.

THE HOUGHTON SCHOOL was established through the liberality of Joseph Houghton, who died Novem- ber 7, 1847, having bequeathed to the town of Bolton twelve thousand dollars to establish a school "to be kept near the centre of said Bolton, in which such academical instruction shall be given as said town shall decide to be most useful," and also " eighty rods of land" (described) on which to build a school-house ; and the town having accepted the legacy, and built the school-house as required to do, a school of the character above indicated, and named after its founder Houghton School, went into operation in October, 1849, first in the town hall, and soon after in the school-house itself.

THE REVOLUTION .- The first reference in the town records to the War of the Revolution appears under date of May 21, 1770, as follows: "The freeholders and other inhabitants of the town of Bolton are required, in his Majesty's name, to meet at the meet- ing-house on Monday, 21st of May, 1770," to see

(among other questions, one of which relates to the Goss difficulties) whether they will "abstain from tea and other British goods imported contrary to the agreement of the merchants of the town of Boston ; and to pass such vote or votes rel. thereto as the town shall think proper."

Accordingly, when at the date mentioned a town- meeting was held, John Whitcomb, Esq., moderator, and on the second article the vote was put, " would they abstain from tea and other British goods?" it passed in the affirmative very unanimously ; and Mr. Caleb Richardson, Col. John Whitcomb and Capt. Samuel Nourse were chosen a committee to prepare a written vote to that effect-doubtless to be trans- mitted to Boston.

Among those who went into the army from Bolton are the following : Lieut. Oliver Barrett, Benjamin Bailey, William Bigelow, Benjamin Hastings, Abra- ham Houghton, Jonas Houghton, Jonathan Hough- ton, Joseph Houghton, Carter Knight, Nathaniel Longley (captain), Dr. Abraham Moore (surgeon), Sewell Moore, Haven Newton, David Nourse (cap- tain), Benjamin Sawyer, William Sawyer, Jonas Welsh, John Whitcomb (colonel), Israel Wood- bury.

" The Men that I was called to pay money to in May, 1777 (not signed or dated, but in Capt. Nourse's handwriting): Amos Meriam, Abijah Pratt, Joshua Johnson, David Rice, Samuel Rice, Nathan Jones, Isaiah Cooladge, Isaiah Bruce, Elijah Foster, Amme- ziah Knight, John Nurse, Jonathan Nurse, John Powers, Silas Howe, Silas Houghton, Barnabus Bayley, Samuel Stanhope, Jonathan Moore, Thomas Pollard, Thadeus Russell, Eleazer Johnson, Timothy Bailey, Hezekiah Gibbs, Jr., Jabez Fair- bank, Nathan Johnson, Benjamin Bruce, Joshua Heminway, Samuel Jones, Jr., James Townsend, Jonathan Meriam, David Rice, Fortunatus Barnes, James Fife, Jr."

"Jos. How and Eliakim Atherton received £30, lawful money, for negro servant named York, enlisted and passed before James Barrot, of Concord, for three years in Capt. Ashley's company in Col. Bade- son's regiment, Continental army-said York to do a turn for Bolton in Continental army. Waltham, May 2d, 1777."

THE WAR OF 1812 was unpopular in all this region. Few were willing to volunteer. There was, however, a draft made; and the result was that Mr. Elbridge Sawyer and Asa Houghton were drafted, and afterwards served several months as soldiers in one of the forts of Boston harhor.

WAR OF THE REBELLION .- Bolton responded promptly to the call for troops during the War of the Rebellion.

The following is a list of soldiers. Those marked with a star (*) lost their lives :

Thirteenth Regiment, in which were those who first went out .- Eze- kiel W. Choate, Ledra A. Cooledge," Silas A. Cooledge, Samuel M.

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Ilaynes,1 Edward A. Honghton, Francis M. Kimmens, Charles McQuil- lan, Enoch C. Pierce, sergeant ; William A. Newhall, Nolla Nicholas,* Heory Whitcomb, captain ; John Thos. Whittier, orderly sergeant.

Second Regiment .- Henry Learned.

Fifteenth Regiment .- John Fahee, Thomas Ilastings," Nelson Pratt, Thos. Sherwin, Jr. (captain of a company, but company disbanded ; ho went into Twenty-second as adjutant ; teacher of Houghton School ou breaking out of war), John S. Williams, afterwards in Fourth Cavalry ; John Wood.

Sixteenth Regiment .- George A. Barnes, Albert C. Houghton, * Oliver L. Nourse, sergeant.

Nineteenth Regiment .- William Stone, major.

Twentieth Regiment .- Thomas Whitman .*

Twenty-first Regiment .- Willard A. Bowers, George E. Burgess, Charles R. Haven, James Kennedy, Luke Ollis * (claimed and held by Lancaster, his mmme on Lancaster tablet).

Twenty-second Regiment .- George B. Cook, Charles A. Fry,* Joseph S. llildreth, Rufus 11. Williams * (claimed and held by Berlin, Dame on Berlin tablets).

Twenty-third Regiment .- Amos B. Jarvis.

Thirty-second Regiment .- Windsor II. Bigelow, assistant surgeon.

Thirty-third Regiment .- Edward L. Edes .*

Thirty-sixth Regiment .- Henry II. Bartlett, Theodore II. Bartlett, Ed- win Barnes, Hiram P. Beane, Renben Clapp, Ezra Crocker,* Franklin Farnsworth,* Andrew J. Houghton, Josiah Houghton,# Walter Kenne- dy, John Lake, George II. Patrick, George F. Sawyer, Joseph II. Sawyer," orderly sergeant ; George II. Thomas, Asahel C. Wetherbee, Henry M. Wetherbee, Reuben L. Wetherbee, George S. Willis, Elijab H. Wood- bury .*

Thirty-eighth Regiment .- George H. Stone .*

Forty seventh Regiment .- Burgess Taylor.

Fifty-seventh Regiment .- James J. McVey, George Willis.

Fifth Regiment, Company I (Nine Months' Meu) .- Edmund B. Bab- cock,3 F. R. Bennet, George A. Corser .* 4 James F. Despeau, Lynman Gibbs, Wn. Gibbs, Amory S. Haynes, 6 James D. Ilurlbut, James Jill- 800), William H. Larabee, Charles B. Newton, captain ; Francis M. New- top, 3 Andrew L. Nourse, William D. Pierce, Andrew A. Powers, 6 lien" tenant ; . John II. Sawyer.6 sergeant ; Isaac C. Stratton, Augustus II' Trowbridge, Charles H. White. Henry Wood, Henry A. Woodbury.

Fifth Regiment, Company I (hundred days' men) .- Additional names' Joseph A. Bryant, Lyman B. Gates, Christopher C. M. Newton, Amos P. Powers, Stephen F. Smith.

Nin's Battery. - Francis Murphy.

First Heavy Artillery .- Edwin J. Brown, Charles F. Getchell, Edwin Kilburn Holt,* Baldwin Houghton, Warren Houghton, Stephen H. Hunting, * Charles W. Nourse, George W. Pratt, Eugene Smith, Francis H. Whitcomb, William W. Wheeler.

Second Heary Artillery .- Abel James Collins,* Edward E. Houghton, Charles B. Newton, George E. Sargent, Charles G. Wheeler.

Third Cavalry, McGee's .- Francis E. Howard.

Fourth Cavalry .- Besides names already mentioned, Waldo E. Kim- mens, Joseph L. Marston, Abner M. Nutting, William L. Osgood. Fifth Cavaby .- Thornton Hayden,* colored.

Fifth Cavalry, Regular United States Army .- John B. Stanley.

Signal Service .- George Edwin Woodbury, previously in First Cavalry, for Leominster.

Provisional Guards,-Ira A. Dutton.

Thomas Grassie, chaplain, with One Hundred and Eighth New York Volunteers; Reuben M. Whitcomb and Charles A. Wbeelock, settlers, with the Thirty-sixth ; Hall Davis, surgeon, Thirty-eighth United States Colored Troops, Ambrose Eames, Fifty-first Regiment, both physicians in Boltou after the war ; Mary Eliz. Haynes, nurse in hospitals.

Regular United States Navy .- Robert T. Edes, assistant surgeon in Farragut's fleet at New Orleans, in the flag.ship " Black Hawk," Com. Porter, on tho Mississippi, and passed assistant surgeon on the "Col- orado ; " John Henry Hapgood, seaman, in the " North Carolina, " the " Potomac " and the gunboat " Union."

Volunteer Nury .- HIenry Rockwood, assistant surgeon with Farragnt's fleet at Mobile, in the "Itasca," the "Monongahela " and the " Poca- hontas." After the war physician in Bolton.

1 Subsequently soldier from Berlin.

2 Died a year or two after the war ended.

3 Re-enlisted ia Fourth Cavalry, sergeant.

+ Re-enlisted in Second Heavy Artillery.

6 Re-enlisted in hundred days' men.

John C. Haynes," Thirty-sixth ; Luke Ollis,* Twenty-first ; claimed by Lancaster, and their names on Lancaster tablet. Charles Wood, Jr., claimed by Harvard.

The memorial tablets erected in the town hall to the memory of deceased soldiers were dedicated on the evening of December 20, 1866, with appropriate observances. Solomon H. Howe, Esq., was president of the evening. Prayer was offered by Thomas T. Stone, D.D. Biographical notices read by R. S. Edes. An oration delivered by Dr. Geo. B. Loring. A poem, written by Amos W. Collins, was read by Addison G. Smith, teacher of the Houghton School.

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY was organized in 1856.

Bolton celebrated the centennial anniversary of American Independence July 4, 1876. The pro- ceedings were also in observance of the one hundred and thirty-eighth anniversary of the incorporation of the town. The address was delivered by Rev. Richard S. Edes. The services were held in the First Congre- gational Church.

The following is the financial statement of the town March 1, 1888 :

State aid due town from Jan. 1, 1887, to Jan. 1, 1888 ... $288.00 = " Jan. 1, 1888, to Mar. I, 1888 ... 54.00

Military aid due town from Jan. I, 1887, to JaD. 1. '88. 48.00

= " " Jan. 1, 1888, to Mar. 1, '88. 16.00

Amount due from Houghton School Fund .. 2,108.43

in collector's hands for 1885 77.97

= " 1887 256.46

of H. H. school money in treasury 250.00

Cash in treasury .. 1,100.73

$4,259.59

Amount of 14 mortgage notes secured by real estate,

Houghton Fund. $11,750.00

Amount of Barry Fund. 200.00

Interest dne ou Houghton School Fund 44 08

Interest accrued 179.86

We are indebted to Roswell Barrett, Esq., for in- formation.

CHAPTER CXLVII.

PHILLIPSTON.

THE town of Phillipston is located in the north- western part of the county and is bounded as follows: On the north by Royalston ; east by Templeton ; south by Petersham, and west by Petersham and Athol.

The precinct was incorporated February 15, 1774, and March 22d of the same year the first meeting was held, and the following officers elected :

Precinct Committee, Charles Baker, Ephraim Stock- well, Joseph White, Henry Sawtell and Samuel Tay- lor; Clerk, Charles Baker ; Assessors, Charles Baker, John Wheeler and Simon Goddard ; Treasurer, Jona- than Jones.

The little municipality remained a precinct until October 20, 1786, when it was incorporated as a town, receiving the name of "Gerry," in honor of Hon.

1169

PHILLIPSTON.

Elbridge Gerry, a member of Congress from Massa- chusetts.

The first town-meeting was held January 16, 1787, and the following officers were chosen : Town Clerk, Charles Baker ; Selectmen, Charles Baker, Joel Grout, Simon Goddard; Wardens, John Wheeler and Joseph White; Tithing-men, Jotham Bigelow and Ezra Hudson.

The town was formed from portions of Athol and Templeton. It retained the name of Gerry until 1814, when it was changed to Phillipston, in honor of Lieutenant-Governor William Phillips. This town was strong in its opposition to the War of 1812, and the Hon. Elbridge Gerry having incurred the ill will of the people in Gerry in consequence of his political action, a town-meeting was held January 18, 1814, and a petition sent to the General Court, asking that the name of the town might be changed. In this pe- tition the policy of the government was called a "mad policy," and Mr. Gerry came in for a full share of de- nunciation. He was styled as one " who is reputedly hostile to the ministers and ordinances of religion." Furthermore, " they were never admirers of the moral or political character of the Gentleman whose name they bear;" " they were under no obligation to that Gentleman for any favor," and they asked that they might " be exonerated from the name." Ignatius Goulding was moderator of this town-meeting and Nahum Ward clerk.

The War of the Revolution found the precinct small in population, but generous in its support of the colonial cause. The following were in the ser- vice from this town :

Thomas Johnson, Jos. Fairbank, Jonathan Willing - ton, Isaac Ball, Samuel Lamb, John Brigham, John Wheeler, Berzeliel Maynard, Enoch Sawtell, Moses Gray, Simon Goddard, Jotham Bigelow, Sam. Miner, Jno. Train, Reuben Cummings, Johu Shat - tuck, Benj. Jones, Ezra Hudson, Jos. Cummings, Joshua Whitcomb, Jonas Baker, Gardner Maynard, Noah Bates, Richard Sawtell, James Wheeler, Jos. White, Abel Grout, Thos. Drury, Jno. Bowker, Jno. Gates, Maltiah Eaton, Abner Sawyer, Thos. White, Stephen Smith, Asa Bowker, Chas. Baker, Jr., Silas Baker, Samuel Gray, Jno. Jones, Jonas Gibbs, Jos. Mixer, Moses Taylor, Henry Sawtell, Jos. Newton, Daniel Knight, Ithamer Bowker, Ephraim Shat- tuck, John Shattuck, Levi Baker, David Train, Samuel Taylor, Jr., Chas. Whitney, Ebenezer Dun- ton, Samuel Phillips, Jos. Cummings, Jr., Thaddeus Brown, Capt. Stockwell, John Colman, Silas Conant, Jos. Newton, Jr., Joshua Lamb, Abner Ward, Daniel Shattuck, Paul Church, Benj. White, Jr., Joel Grout, Benj. Jones, Moses Miner, David Holman, Jesse Stockwell, Gardner Maynard and others.

The Jones family was prominently identified with the early history of the town, James Jones being one of the original proprietors. Jonathan Jones, father of Nahum, settled here in 1770, and was a leading

man in the town. He died in 1803. Nahum Jones was also a leading citizen. He died in 1807.

Ithamar Ward was also a prominent and highly respected citizen. He was a son of Gen. Artemas Ward, of the Revolution. He came to the town in 1778, and remained here until his death, in 1828.

The town early manifested an interest in religious matters, and at a meeting held March 11, 1777, it was voted to raise ten pounds to be laid out in preaching, and also voted that preaching should be half at Capt. Baker's and half at Mr. Berzeliel Maynard's. May 27, 1778, a committee was chosen "to look out a convenient spot for to set a meeting-house on."

Enoch Sawtell gave the ground for the first meet- ing-house, and at a meeting held January 18, 1779, it was voted to build a meeting-house fifty feet long and forty feet wide, and six hundred dollars was voted for the purpose. March 8th of the same year it was voted to raise one hundred pounds for preaching, and in the following June two hundred pounds more were voted for the same purpose, but it was not until November 16, 1785, that a church was formed. This was the Congregational Church, and the first pastor was Rev. Ebenezer Tucker, ordained November 5, 1788. The meeting-honse was remodeled in 1838.

The Methodists commenced holding meetings in this town in about 1830. A church was subse- quently organized, and a building erected in 1849. The first minister was Rev. G. Brown.

In about 1833 the Independent Religious Univer- salist Society was organized, and preaching was con- tinued for several years.

As early as 1790 the town took action in regard to schools, and in that year it was voted to build three school-houses and to raise £40 for school purposes.

Among the college graduates from Phillipston are mentioned, - John M. Cheney, Oliver P. Powers, Jeremiah L. Newton, Edward P. Baker, Frederick Sanderson, Julius Sanderson, W. H. Bowker and Artemas Z. Brown.

The Phillips Public Library was founded in 1860 through the liberality of Jonathan Phillips, of Bos- ton, who bequeathed five thousand dollars. For this purpose Silas Starr also left a legacy to the town, consisting of twenty shares in the Elliot Bank of Boston and twenty shares in the Rollstone Bank of Fitchburg.

Upon the breaking out of the War of the Rebel- lion. Phillipston responded promptly to the call for troops, and during the war furnished sixty-eight men. Of this number, nine lost their lives in the service, and a monument has been erected to their memory bearing the following names: V. Piper, Twenty-first Massachusetts Regiment, Company A ; Thomas H. Carruth, Fourteenth New Hampshire Regiment, Company A; J. H. Lamb, Fifty-third Massachusetts Regiment, Company H; C. M. Bux- ton, Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Regiment, Company H; J. M. Newton, Thirtieth Massachusetts Regi-

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ment, Company E; J. Rich, Thirty-sixth Massachu- setts Regiment, Company H; G. A. Martin, Twenty- seventh Massachusetts Regiment, Company B; D. Hare, Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Regiment, Com- pany D; A. P. Searles, Thirtieth Massachusetts Regiment, Company D.

The first action of the town relative to the war was under date of May 2, 1861, when it was,-" Re- solved, I. That although our town is small in terri- tory and population, ... yet we will make every effort to raise volunteers, and will furnish to each volunteer being a citizen of Phillipston a suitable uniform, uot exceeding in cost $25."

It was also voted to pay each volunteer enongh in addition to amount paid by the government to make the sum of one dollar per day, and also to pay each volunteer fifty cents for every half day that they may drill under the authorities legally constituted for that purpose, etc. Two thousand dollars was voted for this purpose.

Other votes of the town for furnishing men and money show that the patriotic people of Phillipston were in the front rank among her sister towns in their efforts to crush out rebellion. Her record is an honorable one.

Among the men who have been prominently iden- tified with the town in the present century may be mentioned Hon. Jason Goulding, son of Cofonel Ignatius Goulding, Edward Powers, Courtland San- derson and others. Jason Goulding was Senator in 1846 and 1847, and member of the Constitutional Convention in I853.

Colonel Ignatius Goulding, mentioned above, was a prominent citizen and a manufacturer. In com- pany with Samuel Damon, of Holden, he carried on the mannfacture of cotton and woolen goods in the eastern part of the town.

Harris Lodge, F. & A. M., was removed from Athol to this town in 1811, and for several years meetings of the lodge were hield here.

CHAPTER CXLVIII.

HUBBARDSTON.

Settlement-The Pioneers-" Old Eph Grimes"-Families in 1800.1

THIS town was originally a part of Lancaster, and was first settled in 1737. The pioneer was Eleazer Brown, who came from Rutland with his family in 1737, and for nine years following was the only settler in the town. Sixty acres of land were given him on condition "that he or his heirs dwell and keep

a house thereon for the entertainment of travelers, for the space of seven years." In the proprie- tors' records, June, 1743, appears the following : " Whereas Eleazer Brown, for securing travellers from being lost in storms, was settled in the N. E. Quarter of Rutland, and has dwelt there for six years past, and has undergone considerable difficulty in so doing, therefore, voted, that for the encouragement of said Brown, Mr. John Caldwell be desired to pur- chase a good milch-cow for the use of said Brown, and notify said Brown thereof, and that he shall be paid therefor out of the proprietors' stock." In September of the same year, the record adds : " Mr. Caldwell informs that he is ready to deliver Mrs. Brown either of his own cows which she may choose, for sixteen pounds (old tenor), pursuant to the vote passed at our last meeting." This shows human nature to have been the same among the early settlers as in some of their descendants. Mr. Cald- well improved the opportunity to make a good sale of one of his own cows, and Mrs. Brown appears as chief manager of the firm of Brown & Co., innholders.

From all we can gather, we judge that Mrs. Brown was well fitted for her pioneer life-hardy, resolnte and masculine in character. Mr. Read, in his "History of Rutland," says: "Mrs. Brown had the resolution and fortitude to remain in the settlement for several years after her husband's death, before there was any other inhabitant, and for a number of years it was called 'Widow Brown's Farm.' Mr. Brown used to take cattle from the lower towns in the summer season, let them run in the woods, yard and salt them. After his death Mrs. Brown would take her gun, mount her horse, and ride along the cattle-paths, if necessary pass over Ware River to Rutland, and, hy the sound of a conch-bell, call the cattle together." We have no account of there being children or any other person in her family, and infer that for several years she was sole inhabitant of the town. How she displayed herself as polite landlady will be best told in the substance of a story which comes to us by tradition. She sometimes had distin- guished guests from Boston, and on one occasion, when several such gentlemen came to dine with her, she prepared the best dinner in her power. She was hoth cook and table waiter. They ate pudding first -which was the fashion till within sixty years-and one of them, more fastidious than the rest, wanted a clean plate for his meat. As she could not furnish another, she quickly took his aside, washed it, and returned it dripping to its place. Observing that he was not quite suited, she reached over his shoulder, took it again, wiped it with the bottom of her short gown and returned it once more. Not having seen this operation, her guest now relished his dinner, and those on the other side of the table who did see it did not describe the dish towel till dinner was over. If we are shocked by such rudeness, we must not forget that she was the smartest, the handsomest and the

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 66

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