USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > History of the town of Lancaster, Massachusetts : from the first settlement to the present time, 1643-1879 > Part 2
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CHAPTER XI. - THE CHURCH DURING THE MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN PRENTICE. - Respect for the ministry ; Rev. John Prentice; Increase of population; Tax list of 1751; Owning the covenant; Dismissing members to form new churches; Laxity of morals; Discipline ; White- field; Admission to the church and baptisms ; Names of deacons ; Death and character of Mr. Prentice. 232-249
CHAPTER XII. - THE LAST FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. - French and In- dian hostility ; Four expeditions in 1755; French neutrals ; Soldiers at Crown Point ; Battles at Lake George; Fort Dummer; Panic in New England ; Small-pox in camp and at home; Energy of Pitt; Conquest of Quebec; Soldiers in the war; Rejoicing; Sermon of Rev. John Mellen. 250-263
CHAPTER XIII. - ANNALS, FROM 1743 TO 1776. - Schools; Roads and bridges; The river straightened; Plan of general union; Scliool dis- tricts ; Shrewsburg Leg; Grammar school; Neck bridge; Names of town officers ; Population; State of morals; Education; Religious so- ciety of young men ; Golden age of the town. 266-283
CHAPTER XIV. - LANCASTER IN THE REVOLUTION. - Prelude to the drama ; Grievances ; Resolutions ; Aid for the poor of Boston; Arming; The rush to Concord and Lexington; Lancaster men at Bunker Hill; Con- tinentals ; Capt. Haskell; Col. Whitcomb; The Willards ; Committees of correspondence and of inspection; Anecdote of Mr. Harrington ; Declaration of Independence ; Paper money ; Fixing the market ; Great drain on the town for men and supplies ; List of soldiers. . 284-316
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XV. - POLITICS FROM 1776 TO 1800. - The Confederation ac- cepted ; The State Constitution ; State elections ; Shay's rebellion ; The Constitution of the United States ; The military spirit under Mr. Adams ; Death of Washington and honors to his memory ; Town officers. 317-331
CHAPTER XVI. - SET-OFF TO SHREWSBURY ; PARISH AND TOWN AFFAIRS ; POPULATION AND WEALTH. - South end of the town joined to Shrews- bury ; Sterling incorporated in 1781; Fourth meeting-house enlarged ; Salary of the minister; Candidates ; Call of Rev. Nathaniel Thayer ; Dogs at meeting ; The poor ; Warning out of town ; Schools and squad- rons ; Latin and Greek; School committee; Roads and bridges; Lot- tery ; The pock-house ; Map of 1795; New families ; Shakers. 332-375
CHAPTER XVII. - THE MINISTRY OF REV. TIMOTHY HARRINGTON. - His testimonials ; Installation ; Legacy to the church; Election of deacons ; Case of Moses Osgood; Ann Lee's influence on some members of the church; Unconscious change of opinions; The Bolton case and the pastor's veto ; Family of Mr. Harrington ; His character and influence ; Low state of morals after the Revolution. 376-393
CHAPTER XVIII. - GENERAL HISTORY OF THE TOWN FROM 1801 TO 1843. - Great improvement in dwellings and fields; Reminiscences of Mr. Fletcher ; Schools ; Bridges ; List of voters ; Annals ; Small-pox ; Op- position to the war with England; Clintonville; The artillery go to Boston; Fifth meeting-house dedication; The poor; New religious societies ; Liberty party ; List of town officers ; Education; Names of the school committees ; Roads and bridges ; Stone abutments ; Arched and iron bridges. 394-455
CHAPTER XIX. - THE PASTORATE OF DR. THAYER. - Long pastorates ; Ordination of Mr. Thayer; His ancestry and education; Blessing of father Harrington ; Change in doctrinal views ; New method of receiv- ing members ; Dea. Whiting; Silver cups ; Members dismissed to other churches ; Deacons ; Lafayette's reception ; General influence of Dr. Thayer; Last journey and death ; His views of Christ. 456-477
CHAPTER XX. - TOWN AFFAIRS DURING THE LAST THIRTY-FIVE YEARS. - New departure in politics and religion ; Copying the Records ; New town hall; Clinton; Charitable fund; Bi-centennial celebration; New almshouse; Fish culture ; Charles Sumner; Centennial; Roads and bridges ; Town officers; Public schools; School committees; Text books and course of study. 478-520
CHAPTER XXI. - THE ACADEMY AND OTHER PRIVATE SCHOOLS. - The Latin grammar school; Lancaster academy; Teachers; Miss E. P. Peabody ; Shareholders ; School of Hon. James G. Carter; Normal school of Prof. Russell. 521-537
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXII. - PRIVATE AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES. - The ministers' li- braries; The Lancaster Library and its proprietors; Sehool distriet libraries ; Sunday sehool libraries ; The agricultural library ; Library Club ; The town library ; Donations by Mr. Thayer; Memorial hall ; Gifts by Col. F. B. Fay and George A. Parker; The library committee ; The Bancroft Library Fund in honor of Capt. Samuel Ward. 538-564 CHAPTER XXIII. - BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES. - The First Con- gregational or Unitarian church ; The Universalist society ; The Evan- gelical Congregational church; The New Jerusalem church; The Seventh Day Adventist church; The Catholic church. 565-600 CHAPTER XXIV. BUSINESS ; ASSOCIATIONS ; POPULATION; AUTHORS AND BOOKS .- Various kinds of business; Store corners; Mills and fae- tories ; Printing and engraving; Banks and railroads; Associations ; State Industrial School for Girls; Population; Aged people ; Physi- cians ; Lawyers ; College graduates ; Authors and books. . 601-632 CHAPTER XXV. - CEMETERIES. - The Old Burying Ground ; Map of the yard; The inseriptions ; The Old Common Burying Yard; The North Lancaster Burying Yard; The Middle Cemetery ; The North Village Cemetery ; Eastwood Cemetery. 633-682
CHAPTER XXVI. - LANCASTER IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. - Patri otic exeitement ; Public meetings ; Volunteers ; Influenee of the pulpit and the platform ; Soldiers in the field ; Names of the soldiers ; Ladies' Soldiers' Relief Association; Freedmen's Aid Society; The roll of honor; The names of the dead in Memorial Hall ; The eost of the war ; The death of President Lineoln. 683-719
CHAPTER XXVII. - WALKS ABOUT TOWN. - Distribution of families ; Citi- zens of foreign birth ; South Lancaster ; The Old Common; The Cen- ter; The North Village; Fromn Deer's Horns to Ponakin hill. 720-786 ERRATA AND INDEX. . 787
ILLUSTRATIONS.
1. Illustrative Buildings, ·
. FRONTISPIECE.
2. The Great Elm in Lovers' Lane, 36
3. Indian Camp Pasture, site of the first Trueking House, . 38
4. Seetional Map showing the location of the first settlers,
70
5. Site of the Rowlandson garrison, £ 104
6. Town Map of 1795, 366
7. Picture of the First Parish Church, 418
8. General Map of the Town, 428
9. Map showing changes in the channel of the river, . 442
10. Picture of Memorial Hall, 557
11. Pieture of tlie Evangelieal Congregational Church, 584
12. Plan of the Old Burying Ground, . . 635
13. Map of the Villages, 724
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
CHAPTER I.
BOUNDARIES AT DIFFERENT DATES. DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENERY.
THE boundaries of Lancaster have been often and greatly altered since the original purchase and grant. About 1643 Mr. Thomas King, of Watertown, in company with several others, purchased of Sholan, the Indian chief or sagamore, whose home was between East and West Washacum lakes, a tract of land ten miles in length, from north to south, and eight miles in width, in the valley of the Nashua. This pur- chase was sanctioned by the general court.
For some reason, unknown at the present day, the boun- daries of the town were not surveyed and marked previous to the year 1659, though a committee had been chosen, some years before, to perform the work. In that year Thomas Noyes was sent up by the general court, and the selectmen voted that when " Ensign Noyes comes to lay out the bounds, goodman Prescott go with him to mark the bounds, and Job Whitcomb and young Jacob Farrar to carry the chain, and such others as Ensign Noyes shall desire, if need be." With proper caution it was voted, "that a bargain be made first between him and the selectmen, in behalf of the town, for his art and pains." This was on the seventh of March. The work was speedily done, for on the seventh of April, Noyes made his return as follows. "Beginning at the wading
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2
18
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
place B of Nashaway river, [near the bridge at Carter's Mills, so called, in South Lancaster,] thence running a line three miles in length, N. W. one degree west, [to a point marked A on the outline map, ] and from that point drawing a per- pendicular line five miles, N. N. east, one degree north, and another S. S. west, one degree south." At the north end of the ten miles, a line was run eight miles in the direction E. S. east one degree east ; and from the south end of the ten mile line, a line was run parallel to the north line, six and a half miles. The extremities of these two parallel lines were then connected by a line which formed the east- ern boundary. Why the survey was not made eight miles wide on the south, according to the terms of the purchase and grant, we have no means of determining. The planta- tion, instead of being a square, was a trapezoid. The origi- nal survey gave the town seventy-two and one-half square miles. The general court accepted the return of Ensign Noyes, with the proviso that a "farm of six hundred and forty acres be laid out within the bounds, for the country's use, in some place not already appropriated." This tract was laid out towards the south part of the township, and tradition says that the land was very poor.
In the beginning of the last century a large addition of territory was made on the west side. This was about four miles wide, and ten miles long. This tract was purchased of George Tahanto, an Indian sagamore, and nephew of Sho- lan, in the year 1701. The next year, the town petitioned the general court for leave to make the purchase; or in other words, to confirm the transaction. The committee to whom the matter was referred, did not make their return till 1711. Two years later, in 1713, the petition was grant- ed, and the forty additional square miles became a part of Lancaster. The town was now ten miles north and south ; the north line was twelve miles long, and the south line ten and a half miles. The territory contained not less than one hundred and twelve square miles.
-
19
LOSS OF TERRITORY.
Harvard was incorporated in 1732, and Bolton, including part of Berlin, in 1738. By these two partitions not far from a third part of the territory of Lancaster was cut off from the east side. Leominster was made a town in 1740, by which measure the old town lost a tract nearly four miles square.
On the other hand, Lancaster received an addition in 1768, by the annexation of Shrewsbury Leg, so called. This was quite a tract, though thinly inhabited, lying between Lancaster and Holden. It was the last territorial acquisi- . tion of the town unless perhaps some small parcels obtained by running town lines around farms situated on the Sterling border.
Soon after the process of disintegration was renewed. In 1781 Woonsechauxit, Chocksett, or Sterling, which was made a precinct forty years before, became a town. By this operation all the addition on the west, made in 1713, was severed. Nor was this the whole of the loss, because the east line of Sterling did not follow the original western line of Lancaster. Starting from the southeast corner of Leo- minster, the north line of Sterling was run half a mile east into Lancaster. Thence by an irregular line, according to the boundaries of farms, the line was run southerly to a point one mile east of the old western line of Lancaster. This tract, half a mile broad at the top, and a mile broad at the bottom, and not far from six miles long, was called "the Mile" in the old Records. Thus not less than twenty square miles were taken from the town, and became part of Sterling. Lancaster now contained about thirty-six square miles, or twenty-three thousand and ninety acres.
When Boylston was incorporated in 1786, it took a large strip from the south part of Lancaster, including the part called Shrewsbury Leg. This strip, more than a mile in width, now constitutes the north end of the towns of Boyl- ston and West Boylston.
The dimensions of Lancaster remained unchanged over
The surface of the town is much diversified. A range of hills rises near the northwest corner, and extends along
Nashua
HARVARD 1732.
LEOMINSTER .. 1740.
th
LANCASTER.
1643.
River
A
Brunch.
BOLTON. 1738.
B
STERLING. 1781.
CLINTON 1850.
BERLIN. 1784.
WEST BOYLSTON.
BOYLSTON. 1786.
were formed.
sixty years, until 1850, when the south end was ampu- tated, and the village of Clintonville became the town of Clinton. By this last act of political surgery, about eight square miles were cut off, leaving to the ancient town not far from twenty-four square miles ; still an ample domain and a goodly heritage. The outline map gives the bounda- ries of the town in different periods of its history, and shows its gains and losses. The continuous line marks the origi- nal boundary. The broken lines include the addition on the west in 1713. The dotted lines show the portions cut off to form new towns. The dates tell when the new towns
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
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21
TOPOGRAPHY.
near the western border, about six miles. It is divided by the north branch of the Nashua, which flows in from Leo- minster, and makes a considerable valley between the north- ern and southern sections of the main hill. It then rises gradually to a considerable height, taking the name of Ballard hill where the great road crosses, from the fact that several families of the name of Ballard formerly lived there. . From this point the range extends some three miles, and ends in the bold, round-top eminence which is specifically George hill, though the name, in common usage, is applied to the whole except the Ballard locality. George hill sinks by a gentle declivity into the Deers Horns plateau, with its plains and ponds ; and this into the South Meadows, as they are styled in old records, but now covered by the waters of Mossy pond. The western part of the town is divided from the central section by the north branch of the Nashua and its northern affluents, and slopes gradually towards the south, as far as the junction of the north and south branches, about sixty rods southeast of the railroad station, where the main stream is formed, and flows northerly, giving to the east side of the town a gentle decline towards the north. The main river was called the Penacook by the natives, and also by the early settlers. The easterly section of Lancaster is therefore a long intervale, extending from near Carter's Mills to the northern boundary of the town, a distance not far from six miles.
The north part of the town, with the exception of the nar- row intervale on the east, is an elevated plateau. This com- prises a large tract of nearly level surface, but varied by high land on the west, and also on the north. These more elevated portions gather moisture from the clouds, and by subaqueous springs, supply the cluster of lakes which beau- tify the region with pure and delicious water. This plateau, more than two miles wide from north to south, suddenly drops to a lower level, by an irregular line, whose general direction is east and west.
22
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
The level to which we have now descended, extends from Canoe brook easterly to Ponakin hill, and southerly, through Greenbush to the North Village. Much of it is even, with a light, sandy soil, but easily cultivated, and the products of the soil compare favorably with those raised in other parts of the town.
On the north of this central section; rises Babel hill, which is cut off from the northern plateau by a deep valley and swamp. This hill commands a pleasant prospect. Tra- dition says that in old times there was an observatory or place of outlook on the summit, from which signals could be given, in case of danger from hostile natives ; and that another station was on Ponakin hill. The land on both hills was then owned by members of the Phelps family.
Ponakin-sometimes called Whittemore-hill, lies on the east of the level above described, and extends a mile or more from south to the northeast, where it descends into the sandy plain west of Still river bridge. The view from the southern summit of Ponakin hill is extensive in every direc- tion. On the north are the mountains of New Hampshire. On the east lies the valley of the Nashua, visible far to the north and south. Beyond are the hills of Harvard and Bolton. Four or five pleasant villages, including Clinton, bestud the southern landscape, backed by the highlands in the center of the county. On the west and beyond the verdant hills of Sterling, rises the lofty dome of the Wachusett; while far to the northwest, beyond Leominster and Fitchburg; beyond the Little and the Great Watatic, towers the lion-like brow of the Grand Monadnock.
From the southern base of Ponakin hill the land descends by slight gradations to the "meeting of the waters," the point where the north and south branches join and form the main stream of the Nashua. The distance is about two miles, and the whole tract has been called "The Neck " from the days of the first settlers. On the Neck is the pleasant Center of "beautiful Lancaster," where are collected the
23
PINE HILL. - INTERVALES.
various churches, the town hall, the high school, the hotel, and the memorial hall with its extensive and well-selected library .
Pine hill is a formation by itself. It stands on the east border of the town, and extends about two miles along the river, with a breadth of a half mile or more, on the average. It is oval in form, and in reality an island. The Nashua washes its eastern base, while a swamp on its western side sends a brook north and another south ; both of which empty into the main river. The hill rises perhaps seventy feet from the river, and is an immense accumulation of sand, gravel and clay in regular strata. The surface, as a general thing, is as level as water-laid deposits can be arranged. Appearances indicate that the island-hill was formed when the water ran to the south, or directly opposite to the course of the river.
The Intervales are a prominent feature in the landscape of Lancaster. The first is on the north branch of the river soon after it enters the town. The second is the broad and fertile valley of Ponakin. The third extends from the bridge in the North Village to the meeting of the rivers, nearly two miles; and the fourth reaches from just below Carter's Mills to the northern boundary of the town. This is a magnificent valley, over which the eye roves with delight. The valley of the Nashua is the valley of the Connecticut in miniature, and like it is dotted with trees of various kinds, and in summer time, covered with all the products of the farmer in rich abundance.
In former times the whole surface was covered by the annual freshets of the spring, and often by those in the fall of the year. By degrees the intervale lands have been raised by the yearly deposits, and there are parts which are submerged only in exceptional years. The map which goes with Whitney's History of Worcester County, gives a large body of water, reaching from Still river almost up to the Old Common. Most of this was in Bolton and Harvard, or on
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
the east side of the intervale, but it covered some land in Lancaster. It was called the "long lake," or the "long pond," the upper or southern end of which was styled in ancient Records, the "Swans' Swamp." In early times the road to Bolton and Concord crossed this swamp on a cause- way which has sunk out of sight. This road is indicated on the "Sectional Map." By frequent inundations the land has been raised so that it is now cultivated through the whole extent of the "Swans' Swamp," and the "Long Lake."
The whole intervale is the work of the river, in the ages past, and the process is still seen, every year, as the banks of the river are torn away on one side, and built up on the other by the rushing stream. It is a common saying of old men, who are familiar with the intervales, that the river has been all over them, and has run, in different periods, everywhere, front side to side.
The changes can be seen by comparing the old map of 1795 with the map of 1830, with its recent corrections. Many of the great bends are now " dead rivers," while the river has taken a more direct course. In several cases the hand of man has opened a shorter passage for the water, as above the Sprague bridge ; between Atherton and Center bridges ; and below the "Great Scar," on Pine hill. The interest and the effort of landholders is to confine the river to its bed, except in freshet time, and thus preserve their land, which else might take-not wings-but water passage, and thus pass away. The floods enrich the intervales with all kinds of plant food, and help to clothe them with fertility and beauty. The fields are covered over with corn; the cattle revel in rich pastures.
Lancaster is well watered by springs, lakes, brooks and rivers. The springs well up from the side of George hill, from end to end. The water is conducted by pipes to South Lancaster, and supplies many families. There is enough to supply the Center if means for distributing it were provided. Ponakin hill is another reservoir which
25
BROOKS AND PONDS.
would yield an abundance for all the families on both sides of the Neck. The water is pure, soft and sweet.
Springs impregnated with iron are found in several places. One is on the road to Pine hill, on the border of the brook. Formerly iron water was bottled at a spring on the steep bank south and west of Ponakin bridge, and sent to distant parts. The "Red spring" figures in the old "Book of Lands."
The brooks which are numerous are partly indicated on the map. Some have been traced farther up into the hills than on any former map. In some cases corrections have been made. For example, one or more maps have a brook called Cumbery, which is right, but they represent it as flowing from Cumbery pond, which has no outlet. The brook probably takes its name from Cumbery hill at the southwest of the pond. One branch of it flows from a large swamp lying west of the Shaker settlement. The real name of the trout brook that flows from Spectacle pond to the Nashua, is Canoe brook, and it is so styled in ancient pa- pers. Formerly there were two or three mill-sites upon it. One was the "old Sam Rugg mill," so called, not far from the Samuel Rugg place, now owned by Mr. Colburn, of Gardner. Another was between the road and the river, where was a fulling mill. This is a never-failing brook of pure water. Wikapekit brook comes into the town from Sterling, and seems to be fed by unfailing springs. The other brooks are numerous, but need not be specified. They serve for use and beauty, and add new charms to scenery otherwise charming.
Lancaster was originally rich in ponds and lakes. On the east were Barehill, Gates and other ponds in what is now Harvard, Bolton and Berlin. At the south were Clamshell, Sandy and Mossy ponds. The East and West Washacum, or Weshacombe lakes in the south of Sterling are unsurpassed in the combination of lovely features.
26
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
But after losing all these fair mirrors of the sky, the old town still surpasses all her daughters in her wealth of ponds, with their pebbly margins and sandy bottoms, and transpar- ent depths, and shores lined with trees. There are seven of these little lakes in the northern section of the town. Turn- er's pond is on the upper border, and extends into Shirley. White's pond is towards the northwest, with some eighty acres in this town, and a few beyond the Leominster line. Cumbery pond which is said to cover thirteen acres, lies at the eastern base of the plateau, and with no visible inlet or outlet, maintains its depth with scarcely a change from win- ter to summer, and from year to year. Strange notions are abroad in regard to this pond, as the love of the marvelous leads people to magnify every unusual appearance. It has been said and believed that the pond is deeper in summer than in the wet seasons of the year; that it rises "two feet just before a storm;" and that great rains have no effect upon its rise and fall. The fact is that the pond is but slightly affected by ordinary storms, or by the change of the seasons. But it is stated by Mr. Levi Burbank, a close observer, and a man of scientific tastes and knowledge, that the pond does undergo considerable change in a series of years. For example, some years since, the surface began to settle and the margin to widen until the distance between the water and high water-mark was several feet. This space was soon covered with bushes, which continued to grow, from year to year. When several feet in height, the water began to rise, and so continued, till the shrubbery was killed, and the dead stalks stood in the water. It is his suggestion that the rise and fall of the water marks a succession of comparatively dry and rainy periods reaching over several years. If so, the pond is a sort of rain gauge. However we may account for it, the phenomenon is singular. The water is deep, pure and sweet, with no affluent, and no visible outlet, though some believe that a distant spring is fed from this fountain.
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