USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > History of Worcester, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to September, 1836 : with various notices relating to the history of Worcester County > Part 39
USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > History of Worcester, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to September, 1836 : with various notices relating to the history of Worcester County > Part 39
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
1778, Feb. 21. A fire broke out in the house of Francis Cut- ting, but being timely discovered, was extinguished.
1782, Nov. 2. The Blacksmith's shop of Ebenezer Chapin, was burnt.
1784, July 10. The house of Bezaleel Stearns, in the Gore, was entirely destroyed. The owner was at work in the fields at a distance; his wife, having put fire in the oven, went out on a visit to a neighbor. On her return, dwelling, furniture, clothing, and every article of property had disappeared, and nothing but ashes remained.
1786, Jm 26. The house of Capt. Samuel Flagg, on the site of that owned, Sept. 1836, by Hon. Charles Allen, was burnt to the ground in the night : the furniture was saved, but many articles of wearing apparel consumed. At this time there was no fire engine in town.
1791, July 4. The Pearlash works of Messrs. Chandlers, on the farm, in 1836, of Abiel Jacques, Esq. took fire by reason of the excessive heat in the furnace the day preceding, but the progress of the flames was arrested without great injury.
1793, Jan. 4. The weaver's shop of Cornelius and Peter Stow- ell, with more than 2000 yards of cloth, and the stock for 700 yards more, were consumed. 'The loss was estimated at &300.
1793, March 19. The Hatter's shop of Jacob Harrington was discovered to be on fire. A brand had been left standing; being separated by burning, it fell on the floor, and communicated flames to the roof, which were subdued by great exertions.
1799, June 26. During a severe tempest, resembling in violence the hurricanes of the West Indies, the lightning struck a building directly back of the Court House, then occupied by Isaiah Thomas, in which were stored the types for the 12mo. edition of the Bible. The electric fluid, in fonr distinct veins, pervaded the whole struc- ture, splintering spar and stud, scattering bricks and mortar, and bursting away boards, laths, and plastering.1
1801, May 22. In the immediate vicinity of the former injury, the lightning struck a large elm tree, close by the residence of Judge Edward Bangs, on Main street, owned in 1836, by Isaac Da- vis and William Pratt. One stream, descending from the tree, en- tered the house, broke two looking glasses, and the furniture, and passed through an apartment in which were seven persons, without doing them hurt. Another branch went to the adjoining house, and
I A detailed account of the effects of this accident will be found in the Mass. Spy, July 3 and July 10, 1799.
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a female was rendered apparently lifeless for some time by its effects. The third vein went down the trunk of the tree and expended its force in the earth.
1805, Aug. 11. The Court House, of loftier elevation than eith- er of the buildings in the near neighborhood which had been struck, at length experienced a visitation of the same calamity. The light- ning touched the front pediment, threw off the shingles, shivered the diamond glass of the large eastern window, shattered the vene- tian blind, and splintered the style of the great door.
1805, Nov. 6. The hatter's shop of Nathaniel Mower, on the site occupied in 1836, by the block of stores of Hon. Daniel Waldo, was destroyed by fire.
1811, May 20. A dwelling house of Silas Bigelow was burnt.
1815, Jan. 12. The loss occasioned by the burning of the car- ding factory of Earle and Williams, on the site of the Court Mills, - was estimated at $4000.
1815, Feb. 18. The most destructive conflagration experienced in this town, broke out on the west side of Main street, amid the violence of a severe storm, when the depth of snow, strength of wind, and intensity of cold, cooperated to render the efforts to arrest its progress unavailing. The house, store, and merchandize of Sain- nel Brazer, and the dwelling house, bake house, and out buildings of Enoch and Elisha Flagg, were consumed. The aggregate loss exceeded $10000. The inhabitants subscribed $2700, and $1800 were contributed in other places for the relief of the principal suf- ferers.
1816, Feb. 15. A house, wheelwright's shop and barn of Na- thaniel Flagg, 2d, and the store of Jonathan Knight, at Adams square, were burnt. Loss, $2000.
1821, May 2. The house of Daniel Chadwick, about three quar- ters of a mile north from the court house, was struck by lightning. The fluid descending by the chimney, killed a dog on the hearth, but the inmates of the dwelling escaped uninjured.
1824, Dec. 24. The old Brown & Butman tavern house, north of Lincoln square, which had been unoccupied for three or four years, and then belonging to Stephen Salisbury, Esq. was set on fire by an incendiary, in the night, and destroyed.
1825, May 7. A large blacksmith's shop of Levi Howe, was burnt, and a loss of $800 occasioned.
1825, July 4. The new two story dwelling house of Moses Whip- ple on Grafton street was struck by lightning and consumed, with
46
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part of the furniture and the joiner's tools of its owner. An appren- tice who was working in a room occupied as a carpenter's shop, was stunned by the shock, and on recovering, found the apartment en- veloped in flames. Loss & 1500.
1827, Feb. 28. The lower paper mill of Elijah Burbank, about 50 feet in length, was set on fire by the spontaneous combustion of cotton waste, and the upper story, with a large quantity of stock des- troyed. Loss $ 500.
1827, April 11. The joiner's shop of Zenas Studley on Prospect street, was burnt on Sunday afternoon. A barn adjoining was des- troyed, and the dwelling house of Mr. Stowell, near by, injured. Loss § 1500.
1829, July 30. A barn of John and Abel Flagg, in District No. 6, was set on fire by lightning, and consumed, with the whole crop of hay and a valuable horse.
1830, Feb. 6. On Saturday evening, the dwelling house and store of Oliver Harrington in New Worcester were burned.
1830, Sept. 5. On Sunday morning, about 3 o'clock, a fire broke out in the store in Goddard's block, occupied by George M. Rice & Co. The interior, and the goods, insured for $6000, were burned. The damage to the building was about & 600.
1831, Jan. 7. The hatter's shop of J. P. Kettell & Co. was set on fire : loss $ 200.
1831, Ang. 19. The two story house and barn of William Stowell in New Worcester were burned.
1832, March 11. A dwelling house on Mechanic street, owned by Luther Burnett, was set on fire, and destroyed. Loss $700.
1834, Jan. 27. The dry house of the woolen factory of W. B. Fox & Co. took fire, but was extinguished. Loss about $500.
1834, Sept. 11. The house, bake house, and barn, of Andrew March, at the corner of Main and School streets, took fire about midnight, and were destroyed. Loss $ 3500.
1835, Feb. 5. A small Factory in the southwest part of the town, belonging to Ira Byrant, was burnt. Loss & 1500.
1836, May 21. About 1 o'clock of the morning, flames broke out in the Baptist Meetinghouse, and spread so rapidly, that in lit- tle more than half an hour not a stick of timber of the church was left standing. The origin was attributed to an incendiary.
Other inconsiderable fires, and accidents by lightning, have oc- curred : but the principal are enumerated.
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[See page 2.] 1. PETITION FOR A PLANTATION AT QUINSIGAMOND. OCTOBER 8, 1665.
"To the right worshipfull Governor, the deputy Governor, together with he worshipfull Magistrates, and the Deputies, assembled in General Court tt Boston, 11th Oct. 1665. The petition of Thomas Noyse, John Haynes, Josiah Haynes, of Sudbury, and Nathaniel Treadaway, of Watertown, Humbly Sheweth, That your Petitioners, having purchased several par- els of land without the limits of any Plantation, in the Wilderness, lying o the Westward of the Plantation called Maurlborrow, and the sayd lands being to the quantity of about five Thousand acres, by reason of distance rom any plantation, is not so profitable to your petitioners as it might bee, ind whereas, the sayd lands do ly in a very convenient place for a planta- ion, and other lands lying adjoining thereto, sufficient to make a planta- ion, which will be very beneficiall to the countrey, lying in the new and most direct way to Connectequot, neare unto Quansigamug Pond, and will be a meanes to advance the worth and benefitt of your Petitioner's lands, and make them more usefull to themselves, and more beneficiall to their posterity, which are many, the lands being very good, were they in a way of improvement, and divers friendes and neighbors being very desirous to enter upon the same, to whom it will probably be very beneficiall :
Your Petitioners, from these and equivalent consideracons, are ani- mated and incouraged to petition this honored Court, seriously to weigl the premises, and doe humbly intreat and desire, if in your wisdomes you shall see meet, a grant of a plantation, there to be sett up, and for that end, to appoint a committee to view the same, and lay out the bounds thereof, and for the settlement of it, which wee hope will bee both accept- able and beneficiall to the whole ; and your Petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c. Thomas Noyse. Josiah Haynes. Nathaniel Treadaway. John Haynes.
[See page 2.] II. ORDER OF THE GREAT AND GENERAL COURT. OCTOBER 11, 1665.
This Court, understanding by the Petition of Thomas Noyes, John Haynes, Josiah Haynes of Sudbury, and Nathaniel Treadaway, of Water- town, hereunto affixed, that there is a meete place for a Plantation, about ten miles from Marlborow, westward, at or neer Quansetamug Pond, which, that it may be improved for that end, and not spoiled by grantinge
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of farms, in answer to the forsaid petition, This Court doth order, that there should be a quantitie of eight miles square layd out and reserved thereabout, in the Court's dispose, for a plantation, for the encouragement of such persons as shall appear, any time within three years from the date hereof, beeing men approved of by this Court; and that Capt. Edward Johnson. Lieutenant Joshua ffisher, and Lieut. Thomas Noyes, shall, and hereby are appointed and empowered to lay out the same, and to be payd by such persons as shall appear within the terme above expressed. The Deputies have past this with refference to the consent of our honored Magistrates hereto. William Torrey, Clerk.
11. 8. 1665.
The Magistrates consent to a survey of the place petitioned for, and that Captaine Gookin doe joine with those mentioned of our brethren the deputies, and make return of their survey to the next General Court of Elections, who may take order therein as they shall see meete, their bre- thren the deputys hereto consenting. Edw'd Rawson, Sect'y.
Consented to by the deputies.
William Torrey, Cleric.
[See page 2.] III. ORDER OF THE GREAT AND GENERAL COURT. MAY 15, 1667.
Whereas, this Court, upon the petition of Ensigne Thomas Noyes and others, did nominate and appoint Capt. Gookin and some other Gentlemen, to view a place about tenn miles westward from Marlborough, at or about a place called Quansigamon Ponds, and to make report to this Court whether the place was capable of making a plantation, (as it is informed to be), which work hitherto hath been neglected, through the death of Thomas Noyes and other impediments : It is therefore ordered by this Court, that Capt. Daniel Gookin, Capt. Edward Johnson, Mr. Samuel Andrew, Mr. Andrew Belchar, senr. or any three of them, be desired and impowered as a committee, to take an exact view of the said place, as soone as conveniently they cann, and to make a true report to this Court, whether it be capable to make a village, and what number of familyes (they conceive) may be there accommodated. And if they finde it fitt for a plantation, then to offer unto this Court some meete expedient how the same may be settled and improved for the public good; and this Court doth prohibit the laying out of any grants in the sayd place until the Comittee have made returne, which the Court would have donne by ye next session of this Court if it may be.
[See page 10.] IV. FIRST INDIAN DEED. JULY 13, 1674.
Bee it known to all men by this present writing, that Wee, John, alias Horrawannonit, or Quiquonassett, Sagamore of Pakachoge, and Solomon, alias Woonaskochu, Sagamore of Tataessit, together with the consent of our kindred and people, and for and in consideration of twelve pounds of lawful money of New England, or the full value thereof, in other specie, to our content, within three mouths after the date hereof, well and truely to
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be paid, and satisfied, and pt. whereof, viz. two coats and four yards of trading cloth, valewed at twenty six shill. wee do acknowledge to have received in hand, as earnest, of Daniel Gookin senr. of Cambr. Esqr. and of Daniel Hinchman, of Boston, Brewer, in behalf of themselves and Capt. Thomas Prentice, and Lt. Richard Beers, and the rest of the Genll. Court's Comittee, appointed for the management of a new plantation granted by the said Court, conteyning eight miles square, or the contents thereof, being to the westward of Marlborough, near Quansiquamond Ponds, and on each side of the Roadway leading towards Connecticott ; Now know yee, yt wee, ye sd. Jno. and Solomon, Sagamores aforesaid, and upon the terms aforesaid, have bargained, sold, aliened, enfccoffed, and confirmed, unto the ye sd Daniel Gookin, Thomas Prentice, Daniel Hinch- man, Richard Beers, and ye rest of the people admitted, or to be admitted, by ye sd comittee to be inhabitants of yt new plantation, and to their heirs, executors, admrs, and assigns for ever, in fee simple. all and every pt of our civill or naturall right, in all and singular the broken up land and woodlands, woods, trees, rivers, brooks ponds, swamps, meadows, miner- alls, or any other thing, or things whatsoever, lying and being within that tract of land, conteyning eight miles square or the contents thereof, to be layd out by ye sd persons or their order in time convenient. To have and to hold the premises, and every pt thereof, unto them the sd Daniel Gookin, Thomas Prentice, Daniel Hinchman, and Richard Beers, and all ye rest of ye sd Inhabitants admitted or to be admitted planters there, and unto ym and yr heirs forever, freely and absolutely, without any lett, molestation, or disturbance, of us, or any of our kindred or people, or any claiming by, from, or under us, for evermore, as our heyrs or assigns ; and wee do promise, upon the finishing ye payment to make full and ample deeds and writings for the same, according to law. In witness of the truth hereof, wee ye sd John and Solomon, alias Ilorrowanonitt and Wo- oannaskochu, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this thirteenth day of July 1674.
Signed, Sealed and Solomon, alias Woonnasakochu, seal and mark. John, alias IIoorrawanwit, mark and seal.
delivered in the presence of us,
Onnamog, his mark, Sagamore of Occonomesett.
Namphow, his mark, sagamore of Wamesett.
Joseph Thatcher, of Chabanakonchoie, his mark.
Nosannowitt, his mark. Noah Wiswall, present.
Full payment rec'd August 20, 1676. D. Gookin.
This Deed acknowledged by the Sagamores, before Daniel Gookin, Sen. Assist. July 13.
Entered, 9. 2. 83 by Thomas Danforth, R.
[See page 19.] V. ORDER OF COUNCIL TO CAPT. EDWARD HUTCHINSON. JULY 27, 1675.
The Council, beeing informed that the Narraganset Indians are come down with about 100 armed men into the Nipmuck Country, Do order you, Capt. Edward Hutchinson, to take with you Capt. Thomas Wheeler, and his party of horse, with Ephraim Curtis for a guide, and a sufficient inter- preter, and forthwith to repaire into those parts, and there labour to get a right understanding of the motions of the Narraganset Indians and of the Indians of Nipmuck, and for that end to demand of the leaders of the
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APPENDIX.
Narraganset Indians an account of the grounds of their marching in that country, and require to understand the orders of their Sachems: And al- so, to demand an account of the Nipmuck Indians, why they have not sent down their Sagamore, according to their promise unto our Messenger, Ephraim Curtis. And further, let them know that we are informed, that there are some among them, that have actually joyned with our enemies in the murder and spoile made upon the English by Philip. And that Ma- toonus and his complices, who have robbed and murdered our people about Mendon are now among them, And that we require them to deliver up to you, or forthwith bring into us, those our enemies, otherwise we must look at them to bee no friends to us, but ayders and abbetors ; and unto all these things you shall require their expresse answer ; and as soon as you have dispatched this affayre, you are to return home and give us an account. So desiring the Lord's presence with you, and in the prosecution of this affair, if you should meet with any Indians, that stande in opposition to you, or declare themselves to be your enemy, then you are ordered to in- gage with them, if you see reason for it, and endeavour to reduce them by force of arıns.
[See page 19.] VI. ORDER OF COUNCIL. SEPT. 15, 1675.
At a meeting of the Council, Sept. the 15, 1675, It is ordered by the Council, that Ephraim Curtis, bath hereby liberty, together with such other English men as he shall procure, provided they be not less in num- ber than thirty men well armed, the said Curtis with his company aforesaid, are allowed to gather and improve for their own nse all the Indian Corn of the Indian Plantations of Pakchooge, Maanexit, Senexit, Noobsquesit, Quanaticke, and Quatoositt, belonging to our enemies the Indians that are fled, provided allwais, they do not disturbe the praying Indians of Has- sanamesit, Chabannokonkon, Manchage, Quantisit, and Magunkoog, that now are at Naticke, to gather and improve the Indian Corne growing upon those places, or any other Indian Plantations belonging to our Enemies, that are not above mentioned, alotted, and appointed for the sd. Curtis and the English with him to improve, which the Council granted to the sd. In- dians by a former order.
By the Council,
Edw. Rawson, Sect'y.
[See page 21.] VII. ORDERS AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR CAPT. JOSEPH SILL. NOVEMBER 2, 1675.
1. You are to take charge of the Souldiers raised from Charlestown, Wa- tertown, and Cambridge, which are about sixty men, and being fitted and furnished with Armes, Amunition, and Provision for a week, you are to march away forthwith to Naticke, and there take such trusty Indians guides, with you, as Corporal Whatson hath prepared for that purpose, and then march away, with all convenient speed, to Hassanamesit, an Indian Plantation, near Nipmuck river, from whence you are to send intelligence unto Capt. Daniel Henchman, who with his Company is to march to Men- don, informing him that you are ordered to join with him to pursue the
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Enemy, whom we hear is come down to a place called Pakachooge, about 7 miles from Hassanamesit Northwest, and hath killed and sur- prised some of our neighboring Indians that were gathering Corn there, and as we have ground to fear hath lately attacked Marlborow.
2. Being joined with Captain Henchman, you are to be under his order, and jointly to seek out for the Enemy at the said place, or any other place where you can understand he is ; and if you meet the Enemy you are to use your best skill and force to supprise, seize, kill, and destroy the Ene- my, and to rescue and relieve any of our friends, either English or Indians, that are taken or injured by him.
3. You are to be very carefull to send forth Scouts before you, to discover the Enemy's quarters, and if it may be, to come upon him in the Night. 4. You are carefully so to march the men in the woods, that if it be pos- sible to avoid, or shun, or search well before you go too near, all such places as Swamps or Thickets, where the Enemy use, with subtilety to lurk in Ambushment.
5. You are in all your attempts and enterprise, to have your eyes and hearts lifted up to God in Christ Jesus, who is the Lord of Hosts and God of Armies, that he will give his presence with you, and assistance unto you, and your Company, in all your undertakings: not trusting or relying upon the arm of flesh, but upon the living Lord alone, from whose gra- cious blessings and presence all good comes.
6. And you are carefully so to demean yourself, in your consultation, that you may give your Souldiers a good example in piety and virtue, and so govern the Souldiers under your command, that your Camp may be holi- ness to the Lord : and to this end, you have the Military laws printed and published, which are for your rule and direction in that matter.
7. If you find a considerable quantity of Corn at Pakachooge, if you can save it, we give it you and your Souldiers, together with Capt. Hench- man and his Souldiers, for Plunder : so desireing the ever living Lord God to accompany you and your Company, with his gracious conduct and pre- sence, And that He will, for Christ's sake, appear in all the mounts of difficulty, and cover all your heads in the day of Battle, and deliver the blood thirsty and cruel Enemy of God and his People into your hands, and make you executioner of his just indignation upon them, and return you victorious unto us who commit you and your Company unto God, and re- main.
These orders and instructions by the Council.
E. R. [Edward Rawson.] November the 2d-1675.
[See page 28.] VIII. SECOND INDIAN DEED. FEBRUARY 12, 1677.
Bee it known to all men by these presents, yt we, Anthony, alias Wun- aweshawakum, and Abagail his wife, only Daughter and Heyr of Pannasu- net, late of Quansicamund, deceased; also Nannuswane, widdow and relict of the said Pannasuned ; also Sasomett, and Quassawake his wife, sister to the said Pannasunitt, for and in consideration of full satisfaction in trueking cloth and corn, paid to and received by us, from Daniel Gookin, Esq. Capt. Thos. Prentice of Cambr, and Capt. Daniel Henchman of Bos- ton, pd unto us and each of us, have bargained and sold, aliened, enfe- offed, and confirmed, and by these presents do bargaine, sell, alien, enfe- offe, and confirm, unto the said Daniel Gookin, Thomas Prentice, Daniel
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Henchman, for ye use of themselves, and all other their partners and as- sociates yt are and shall be admitted Inhabitants and planters, upon a township granted unto ye sd Daniel Gookin, Tho. Prentice, Daniel Hinch- man, by a General Court of Massachusetts, at a place between Marlborough and Brookfield, called by the Indian Name Quansicamond Ponds, contein- ing ye contents of eight miles square, with all the lands, woods, meadows, watercourses, mineralls, or any other matter or thing, within the said tract which in naturall right belonged to us, or any of us, and posses'd of, by the said Pannasunet, Sagamore, or his heirs or kindred wtsoever: To Have and To Hold all the lands, both woodland and brokenup lands, and all ye ap- purtenances, as aforesaid, to ym the said Daniel Gookin, Thomas Pren- tice, Daniel Henchman their heirs and associates, yt shall and may duely and legally possess and sett down upon their lands and plantation, and to their heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, for evermore, and the said Anthony, alias Wannoshanuhannitt, and Abagail his wife, daughter and only heir to Panasunet, and her mother Nannaswane, and Sasuet and his wife, Sister of Panasunet, being all Indians, and Natives, and Inhabitants, they and their ancestors, of that place and tract of land at Quansicamond Ponds, have good and just naturall right and interest in the said land, and do freely and absolutely sell and alien all the premises aforesaid, unto the said persons and their heirs forever, warranting ye lawful sale herein made, for us our heirs, executors and administrators, or from or by any per- son wtsoever. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals, this sixth day of the 12th Mo. 1677.
Signed, Sealed and /
delivered in presence of us,
John Elliott.
Nathaniel Gookin.
Waban, his mark. James Speen.
Simon Betoghom.
Anthony, Signed and Sealed. Abagail, Signed and Sealed. Nanswan, Signed and Sealed. Sasomet, Signed and Sealed. Quasonoit,Signed and Sealed.
This deed acknowledged by all ye subscribers, and sealed this 6. of Febr. 1677, before me, Daniel Gookin, Senr. Assist.
Entered, 9. 2. 83. by Tho. Danforth R.
[See page 29.] 1X. ORDER OF THE GREAT AND GENERAL COL 1679.
For the greater comfort and safety of all people who are intending to resettle the villages deserted in the late war, or the planting any new plantation within this jurisdiction, It is ordered by this Court and the authority thereof, that no deserted town or new plantation shall be inhabi- ted, till the people first make application unto the Governor and Council, or to the County Courts within whose jurisdiction such plantation is, and the Council or County Court are hereby ordered and empowered, to ap- point an able and discreet committee, at the charge of the people intending to plant, which Com. are ordered and empowered to view and consider the place or places to be settled, and give directions and orders in writing, under their hands in what form, way, and manner, such town shall be set- tled and erected; wherein they are required to have a principal respect to nearness and conveniency of habitation for security against enemies, and more comfort for christian communion and enjoyment of God's worship,
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