USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > History of the town of Lancaster, Massachusetts : from the first settlement to the present time, 1643-1879 > Part 32
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Sawyer, Moses, Smith, Moses, Smith, Moses, jr., Stearns, Daniel, Stearns, Eli, Stedman, William, Stevenson, Martin, Stowe, Jacob, Studley, C., Sweetser, Jacob, Thomas, Joshua, Thurston, Gates, Thurston, John,
Thurston, Peter,
Thurston, Peter, jr.,
Thurston, Silas,
Torrey, Ebenezer, Tower, Asahel,
Townshend, John,
White, Abijah,
Whiting, Jolin, Whiting, Paul,
Whitney, Ephraim,
Whitney, Jonas,
Low, Jabez B., Low, John,
Saunderson, Elisha, Savary, John,
Sawyer, Amos, Sawyer, John,
Wilder, Samuel, 2d,
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Wilder, Stephen, Wilder, Titus,
Wilder, Titus, jr., Wilder, William,
Willard, Abel,
Willard, Amasa,
Willard, Benjamin,
Willard, Benjamin W.,
Willard, Paul,
Willard, Salmon,
Willard, Simon, Willard, William,
Worcester, Samuel, Wyman, Benjamin,
Zweir, Jacob, jr.
ANNALS CONTINUED.
In 1802 Gov. Strong received more than two-thirds of the votes for governor. Gen. Whiting received more votes for senator than Mr. Gerry for governor. The general seems to have been personally popular, and to have received more than his party support, but being a Jeffersonian, was never elected to congress.
William Stedman now occupied a prominent position in the town. In May he was chosen to the legislature, and in No- vember he was sent to congress, in which body he continued, by successive elections, till 1810.
The meeting-house needed repairing in 1803, and John Pren- tiss, Jacob Fisher and Merrick Rice were chosen a committee to attend to the business. In November, Dea. Joseph Wales had leave to set a store on town land near the Latin grammar school-house, a fact interesting as showing that there was a common at the north of the railroad station. At the same time the town chose Samuel Ward, Timothy Whiting and Merrick Rice a committee to apply to the general court for authority to hold a lottery. But on reflection, this action was wisely reconsidered.
At the presidential election, November 5, 1804, the repub- lican or Jefferson party showed a large relative gain, the vote having been for federal electors, 96 ; for republican, 87. For congress, William Stedman, 76; John Whiting, 84. Sted- man had a majority in the district, but Whiting was the favo- rite of the town.
It was a favorite plan of some, during many years to unite several towns in establishing a union workhouse, and a com- mittee of five was appointed in March, 1805, to confer with
407
LAW SUITS. - WAR WITH ENGLAND.
the towns of Sterling, Bolton, and other towns in the vicini- ty in regard to erecting a suitable building for the purpose. The project was never carried into effect.
In April the selectmen were directed to build a hearse house and magazine. The town supplied the military with ammunition in those days. The next year the sum of $22 .-. 67 was voted to " provide powder for the militia." The bass viol came in for repairs every year, and the town voted a dol- lar or two to keep it in working order.
At the congressional election in November, 1806, Mr. Sted- man received ninety-four votes, and Gen. Whiting sixty-four. The Records contain several references to law suits in suc- cessive years. In 1807 Merrick Rice, Esq., was appointed to defend the town in a suit brought by Sterling. The cases were not of historical interest, with possibly one or two exceptions. Some illustrate the state of morals, but the scandal of the past may sleep in the records of the courts. In general the town had costs to pay without the satisfaction of gaining its case.
The plan of having the selectmen nominate all officers to be chosen at the annual meeting except those elected by bal- lot, was brought before the town in May, 1808, and at other times ; but the article was always passed over. It does not appear that the town ever gave any time to the consideration of the subject, feeling doubtless fully competent to select its own officers.
From the year 1808 to the close of the last war with Eng- land in 1815, the people of Massachusetts felt a deep inter- est in the foreign policy of the national government. The commercial pursuits of the people in seaboard towns were thought to be unfavorably affected by the embargo laws, and other measures of the administration. The war was very un- popular in this state, though the prowess of the army and na- vy was recognized with patriotic pride. The first reference to this phase of national politics to be found in the town Rec- ords, is under date of September 15, when the town voted to present a petition to the president of the United States urg-
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
ing him to suspend the embargo laws. Major Hiller, Will- iam Stedman and Samuel Ward were the committee to draft the petition. Their report was adopted, and by vote, the doc- ument was signed by the selectmen, attested by the clerk, and sent to president Jefferson.
A special meeting was called, John Maynard in the chair, February 1, 1809, "to take into consideration the alarming state of our public affairs, and to petition or address the legis- lature of this state on the subject of our grievances." The subject was referred to a committee of five, -Joseph Hiller, Moses Smith, Jonathan Wilder, Samuel Ward and John Thurston. The meeting adjourned to three o'clock, P. M., when the committee reported. Their report was adopted by the town, signed by the selectmen, and sent to the general court. This was an effort to reach the general government through the state legislature. The town was strong in sup- port of the federal party, as was evinced by the state election in May, when the vote was for Gov. Gore, 198; Levi Lin- coln, 97. This was the elder Levi Lincoln, who was attorney- general of the United States under Mr. Jefferson.
The next year, 1810, Gov. Gore received nearly three- fourths of the votes for governor, against Elbridge Gerry. However the latter was chosen, and was re-elected the next year, when Caleb Strong was brought forward again, and was elected.
The militia companies and town stock of ammunition cost $70.95.
The ravages of the small-pox received the attention of the legislature, and a law was passed giving the towns increased power to deal with the evil. Therefore the town held a meeting, May 7, in compliance with the law, and chose a committee of five,-Eli Stearns, Moses Emerson, Merrick Rice, John May- nard, John Thurston - to " superintend the inoculation of the cow-pox." The inhabitants were required to assemble in the several school-houses at specified times, for the purpose of being inoculated.
409
EPIDEMIC FEVER. - ANTI-WAR.
Three days later a special meeting was called by " person- al notice," that is by leaving a notification of the meeting at each voter's residence twenty-four hours before the time of meeting. The town was alarmed by an epidemic fever which prevailed at the time. It appears that the selectmen had called in physicians from other towns, in addition to those residing here, and the town voted to authorize the fathers of the town to "pay those physicians whom they have employed from other towns the charges they have against persons unable to pay such charges, and afford further supplies to such as are sick and in distress."
At the fall election Mr. Stedman declined to be a candi- date for congress, and the vote of this town was as follows : Abijah Bigelow, of Leominster, 130; Timothy Whiting, of Lancaster, 23; Moses White, 8; Ephraim Emerson, 1.
At the annual meeting, March 2, 1812, the late law regu- lating the choice of town officers, and town meetings was read. In the Records of different years, it is noted that this law, or the law concerning riots, or the law against profane cursing and swearing, was read in open town meeting. The clerk also always recorded that prayer was offered at the open- ing of the annual meeting, by Rev. Nathaniel Thayer. Some- times he noted that the prayer was " appropriate ; " then, that Mr. Thayer prayed to the "Governor of the Universe ; " and again to the " Great Author of all existences."
As the war was about to be waged, the federal or anti-ad- ministration sentiment became more pronounced. Gov. Strong, the head of the peace party, received votes as follows, 217, while for Gov. Gerry only 74 were cast. But the town was ready to support the governor in repelling the invaders of the state, and provided knapsacks for the militia.
In June a petition to president Madison was voted by the town, calling on him to " avert the calamities of war if it can be done consistent with the honor and dignity of the nation." Orto " memorialize congress on the subject of the war." Pass- ed by a vote of 115 to 15. In August, John Maynard, Jona-
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
than Wilder and William Cleveland were sent to a county convention, and Joseph Hiller, Jacob Fisher, Eli Stearns, Benjamin Wyman, John Thurston were chosen a " committee of correspondence and public safety." This measure had a smack of the old revolutionary spirit. At the November elec- tion, when presidential electors were chosen, this town gave but twenty-two votes in favor of Mr. Madison, to one hundred and eighty-six for the opposition candidate.
The question came up, whether the town would employ the celebrated Dr. Nathan Smith, of Hanover, N. H., to operate upon the eyes of Archibald McIntosh ; and the question was referred to Drs. James Carter, Samuel Manning and William Smith.
This year marks the extension of business in the south part of the town, now Clinton, when it was voted to exempt Messrs. Poignand and Plant from taxation. They started a factory on the site of the old Prescott mill, and another where the yarn factory of the carpet mill now stands, and being men of enterprise, did a large business for those days. Mr. Poignand was a native of the Isle of Jersey, one of the islands in the British channel, near the coast of France. The people are French, but subjects of the sovereign of England.
At the election in April, the vote was for governor, Caleb Strong, 226; Joseph Varnum, 62. For first representative, Jacob Fisher, 155, and four scattering ; second representative, William Cleveland, 95, with 79 for others.
In 1814, February 21, a special meeting was called to " con- sider the propriety of petitioning the legislature of this com- monwealth to adopt such constitutional measures as to them shall seem necessary relative to the oppressive operation of the late embargo laws of the United States, as well as to in- sure to the people of this commonwealth their rights as citizens and as a state." The matter was referred to Eli Stearns, Moses Smith, Jonathan Wilder, Jonas Lane and Samuel Man- ning, who made the sensible report that " considering the pres- ent session of the general court is near closing, and also the
411
THE ARTILLERY MARCH TO BOSTON.
small glimmering prospect that a peace may take place, and the oppressive restrictions on commerce be removed," there- fore the subject should be referred to the May meeting.
The militia expenses in 1813-14 for powder and other ar- ticles were nearly $200.
It is known that several men belonging to the town were in the military service during the war with Great Britain, in the years 1812-15, but the number cannot be given. The rolls containing the names of the soldiers in the national army are not in the state Archives. Perhaps the record office in Washington contains the needed information, but it could not be conveniently examined.
In the autumn of 1814, the company of artillery belong- ing to this town was summoned, in haste, to Boston. This was a volunteer or independent company, containing fifty or sixty members. Capt. John Lyon led the company when they marched away on a Sunday, and continued in service about two weeks. Then Capt. Lewis Parker, of Sterling, for some reason, took the command. Perhaps a fourth of the com- pany was made up of Sterling men. A few from other towns were in the company. John Taylor was second lieutenant, and Abraham Mallard was ensign. The company was in ser- vice thirty days. Capt. Carter Fisher, a venerable citizen still living, went as a substitute, being too young to be a member of the company. He remembers the return, when the soldiers marched through the Center to the gun-house in North Vil- lage, where they were dismissed. The company was in no action, and the alarm having subsided, it was sent home.
There were two infantry companies at that time ; one in the north and the other in the south part of the town. The latter marched, having been called out on the supposition that it was a volunteer company. When the mistake was discover- ed, the company was dismissed. The cannon of the artillery company belonged to the state, and with the tumbrils and other property were kept in the gun-house, which stood near- ly opposite the house of Henry Jewell.
412
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
In the latter part of this year, an effort was made to secure a better observance of the Sabbath. The files of the " Mas- sachusetts Spy" about the close of the war, show that conven- tions of ministers and laymen were held in different places, for the purpose of checking the alarming increase of Sabbath desecration, growing out of the war. Dr. Thayer and other gentlemen of Lancaster, were prominent in this movement. Probably the action of the town in November was in the same direction. The question was, shall there be an addition to the number of tything-men? The town voted in the negative, but chose the following committee to aid them in carrying out the laws relating to the due observance of the Sabbath : viz., Jonathan Buttrick, Joseph Leach, Moses Emerson, John Goss, Abner Pollard, Calvin Wilder, Jacob Fisher, Caleb Lincoln, Jonas Lane, Pliny Newhall, Jeremiah Dyer, Benjamin Willard, Elisha Sanderson, Charles E. Knight, Moses Jones, Daniel Wilder and Solomon Carter. These men were in different sections of the town, and occupied " strate- gic points," where they could notice all travelers, or strollers, and ascertain if such persons were abroad on errands of "ne- cessity or mercy."
FIFTH MEETING-HOUSE.
The time had come for better accommodations on the Sab- bath. The old meeting-house, - the fourth since the settle- ment of the town,-was built in 1743, and was unsuitable in style and dimensions, for the altered circumstances of the peo- ple. The town was still united in one parish, though there were individuals besides the Shaker's who did not attend the ministry of Mr. Thayer. There were a few Baptists, Swe- denborgians and Quakers; and some were connected with no religious society, though but few families entirely neglect- ed public worship. The town regarded Mr. Thayer as their minister, and there was an uncommon degree of harmony in church and society.
413
FIFTH MEETING-HOUSE.
At a town meeting, May 1, 1815, a committee - Messrs. Jonathan Wilder, John Thurston and Jonas Lane - was cho- sen to confer with Capt. Benjamin Lee "respecting the pur- chase of his farm, or such part of it as the committee may deem desirable for the purpose, suitable to build a meeting- house thereon." The subject came before the town, October 23, upon two articles in the warrant, when on motion of Moses Smith, Esq., it was voted "that a committee of one from each school district be appointed to view and consider what spot would be most eligible to erect a meeting-house upon, and how much land would be necessary. If a spot on Capt. Lee's. place should be considered preferable, whether the town can afford to give the price he asks ; and how the residue, after selecting the spot, can be disposed of. Also to make some estimate of the probable expense of building a meeting-house with brick as well as with wood. Also to consider the pro- priety of compensating the pewholders, and otherwise dispose of the old meeting-house." The committee represented every section of the town. No. 1, Elisha Sanderson, near the Shir- ley line ; 2, John Robbins ; 3, William Gould; 4, Thomas Ballard ; 5, Jacob Fisher ; 6, Eli Stearns ; 7, Samuel Ward, 8, William Cleveland ; 9, John Thurston; 10, Daniel Har- ris, now in Clinton ; 11, Titus Wilder, near Clam Shell pond ; 12, Josiah Bridge, west Neck road, or Main street in the Center.
On the fourth of December the committee reported that Capt. Lee's place was desirable, and that two acres were need- ed. They further estimated that a building seventy-one feet square inside, if made of wood, with porch, tower and cupola, would cost $12,000. A brick building of the same dimen- sions would cost $14,000. If a portico were added, the ex- pense would be increased.
At another meeting held the same day, it was voted to build a new meeting-house, seventy-one feet square in the interior. It was decided to use brick, and have a cupola. Major Fisher agreed to buy the whole farm of Capt. Lee, and sell two acres
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
to the town at a price " fixed by three judicious, disinterested men." The building committee were chosen, viz., Eli Stearns, Jacob Fisher, William Cleveland. The town voted to borrow money to defray current expenses in building.
A meeting was held, January 3, 1816, to fix upon the size of the house. The subject was referred to a committee who were to report in half an hour. Their report was indefinite, though within certain bounds. "Reported to build so as not to contain more than 4,400 nor less than 4,200 square feet. It was also agreed to build both a porch and portico."
The committee chosen to appraise the two acres of Capt. Lee's land, which had been selected for the site of the meet- ing-house, were James Wilder, Moses Thomas and Thomas H. Blood, all of Sterling, who decided that the " land was worth $633.33, and no more." The land was conveyed directly to the inhabitants of the town of Lancaster, and the selectmen were authorized, March 4, to receive the deed. It was voted to have a clock dial, and a committee was raised to prepare sheds to cover lime, and for the shelter of the workmen. The house was to face the south, with the door on the south front.
This arrangement did not meet with general concurrence, and another meeting was called on the twenty-first of March, when the vote in favor of facing west was ninety-nine to fifty-seven in favor of fronting south. The kind of wood for the pulpit was left to the judgment of the architect, Mr. Her- sey. Tradition sends down to us an amusing incident, which probably occurred at this time. It is said that Capt. Cleveland, then living on the Old Common, was the only man in town who kept a coach. He came to meeting in what seemed quite an imposing style. A Mr. Rugg made this an argument in fa- vor of placing the front of the house towards the south, for, said he, "Mr. Cleveland comes up the road from the south, and thus will directly approach the door." An eccentric man, named John Willard, and nicknamed " old beeswax," of whom many anecdotes used to be told, immediately rose, and replied that the reason just given reminded him of an invention of
415
LOCATING THE HOUSE.
his which would remove all difficulty, and meet the minds of every person in town, no matter from what point of the com- pass he might come. His machine, he continued, was an im- proved bed wrench, and by placing that under the meeting- house, each man, as he came up, could take hold of the handle and bring the house round towards himself. There was a shout of laughter, and the meeting adjourned.
But the matter was not settled, and another meeting was held on the eighth of April, when the former vote was re- considered, and Hon. Moses Smith submitted a motion to " settle this question in a manner which shall be fair, and satis- factory to all the inhabitants, and prevent the ill consequences which always flow from disputes and quarrels in towns, and to promote that peace and harmony for which this town has ever justly been distinguished and celebrated." Heproposed a plan for selecting a fair committee, which being amended on motion of Dea. Lane was adopted as follows, in substance. A committee of twelve, half of them in favor of the south en- trance, and half of them in favor of the west, should be cho- sen, who should choose a committee of six. These six were to select a locating committee. The committee of twelve were " nominated, voted for and chosen" as follows. For the south entrance, Samuel Ward, Benjamin Wyman, Jonas Lane, Jonathan Locke, Jonathan Wilder, John Thurston. It may seem strange that Messrs. Lane, Wyman and Locke should represent the south end, seeing they all lived on the Neck, and north of the location ; but at that time there was no cross road to the Center, and they came to meeting by the present resi- dences of Charles L. Wilder, and Dr. Thompson. The west- siders were Thomas Ballard, Levi Lewis, Edward Goodwin, James Carter, Isaac Child, Thomas Howe. The meeting was then adjourned "twenty minutes to give time for said com- mittee to retire and select from the inhabitants, the two com- mittees of three each to choose the locating committee." The committee soon reported the following list, viz., Samuel Ward, Jonas Lane, John Thurston, (south ; ) Thomas Ballard,
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Isaac Childs, Edward Goodwin, (north). Ballard lived on Ballard hill, Childs near the North Village, and Goodwin on the Lunenburg road. The town accepted the list. The names of the locating committee are not recorded. The matter of clock dials was left to the building committee.
There was another meeting, June 3, when the locating com- mittee who were probably gentlemen not belonging to the town, reported in favor of fronting the meeting-house towards the south, as it now stands. The west-siders were not satisfied, and asked to have an entrance on the west, with a suitable porch in addition to that on the south. The old house had doors on three sides, so that the proposition did not seem so absurd as it would at the present day. After much question- ing and answering and debate, it was voted that the locating committee, and the committee who selected them, had acted " with fairness and candor," and " that no undue influence was had on the occasion of locating the meeting-house." The vote was unanimous. The decision of the committee was accept- ed according to previous agreement. It was then voted, that the " gentlemen of the locating committee, being at this meet- ing, all present by particular invitation, are entitled to the thanks of this town, for their polite attention in attending this meeting, and that they be invited to retire to Mr. Rand's tav- ern, where refreshment is provided for them by the selectmen."
The question was then put, whether there should be an ad- ditional entrance and portico, that is, one on the west end, and the vote was decisive. In favor, twenty ; against, seventy- five.
The location being finally settled, the corner stone was laid with appropriate services on the ninth of July. Beneath the stone a silver plate was deposited with these words inscrib- ed : "Fourth house built in Lancaster for the worship of God. Corner stone laid July 9, 1816. May God make our ways. prosperous, and give us good success. Rev. Nathaniel Thay- er, pastor of our church." The pastor made an address be- fore the laying of the stone. The 87th Psalm in Belknap's
417
DESCRIPTION OF THE MEETING-HOUSE.
Collection was sung by a full choir of singers led by Mr. James Newhall, and at the close, Mr. Thayer offered prayer. This was in fact the fifth house of worship.
The town, August 20, voted to have a bell, and that the weight of the bell should be left to the building committee. November 4, it was voted that the shed ground should be " sold to the highest bidders, and that sheds should be built on a uniform plan."
On the sixteenth of December a committee consisting of the building committee, and one from each district, with Capt. Hersey, was authorized to " assess the whole expense of build- ing the meeting-house upon all the pews according to their relative value." The building committee were directed to sell to the highest bidder all the pews not reserved by the town, and the town treasurer was authorized to make and execute good and sufficient deeds. The dedication was fixed for Jan- uary 1, 1817, and Davis Whitman, Moses Emerson and Jonas Lane were chosen a committee of arrangements.
The following description of the meeting-house, published at the time, should be read before coming to the exercises at the time of dedication. The extract is found in the History of Lancaster by Mr. Willard, and perhaps was from his pen. " The design of the edifice was by Charles Bulfinch, Esq., of Boston, (afterwards national architect at Washington). The body of the building is 74 by 66 feet, with a porch, portico, tower and cupola. The portico is 48 by 17 feet, of square, brick columns, arched with pilasters, entablature and pedi- ments of the Doric order ; the vestibule or porch is 48 by 19 feet, and contains the gallery stairs ; the tower is 21 feet square ; the cupola is circular, and of singular beauty ;- it is surrounded with a colonnade of 12 fluted pillars, with entab- lature and cornice, of the Ionic order ; above which is an Attic encircled with a festoon drapery, the whole surmount- ed by a dome, balls and vane. The height from the ground is about 120 feet. Inside, the front of the gallery is of bal- ustrade work, and is supported by ten fluted pillars of the
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