USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > History of the town of Lancaster, Massachusetts : from the first settlement to the present time, 1643-1879 > Part 53
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[On the plinth are these words : ]
Love stronger than death.
CHARLES HUMPHREY, Died April 25, 1860, Aged 52. 43
He walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.
CLARA HUMPHREY BUTLER, Born to Earth, Sept. 24, 1846, Born to Heaven, Sept. 23, 1872.
A dear wife, and a true Disci- ple of the Lord Jesus Christ.
" Beyond the touch of time or ill."
[The figure of a lamb at the top of the stone. ]
" I am the good Shepherd."
MARCUS JUDSON AMES, Son of REV. MARCUS AND JANE A. AMES,
674
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Drowned at Andover, May 27, 1874, Aged 16 years, 16 days.
- Christ Jesus is my only trust, With Him I leave my worthless dust; My soul He'll take to realms above, To dwell with Him in joy and love.
THE NORTH LANCASTER BURYING YARD.
The next ground for burial purposes in the order of use, was in the north part of the town, though it does not appear in the Records so early as the Middle Cemetery by two years. At a meeting held April 7, 1800, Benjamin W. Willard, Col. Jonas Lane and Capt. Benjamin Wyman were chosen a com- mittee to consider the expediency of appropriating a certain piece of land at the north part of the town, where a number of persons are buried, for the purpose of a burying field. From this time the " piece of land " where a " number of per- sons are buried," became one of the public burial places, and has been fenced by the town. The date of the first burials cannot be fixed, but it is believed by aged people that mem- bers of the Shaker family or settlement were among the first. If so, there may have been interments here as early as the year 1790. In the year 1804 the town bought a "burying cloth," or pall for this yard, and built a new fence which cost $28.
The notion which has been prevalent that the yard was opened for the burial of inmates of the almshouse, is un- founded, because there was no poor farm at the time. The fact seems to be that the respectable families, of which there were many, in that section, eighty years ago, wanted the yard as a general convenience, and the inscriptions contain the names of persons belonging to those families. At first, few stones were erected, though it is supposed that quite a num- ber of interments were made. Then came the period of slate monuments of which there are several, made from the quarry in that section of the town. Recently modest but handsome marble monuments have been introduced.
675
MIDDLE CEMETERY.
Great improvement was made in the yard in the year 1877. The ground had become covered with small brush, and large trees. It was forest-like. There was a double or triple row of pines on the road side. The Cemetery Committee, in compliance with the feelings of families residing in the neigh- borhood, had the trees thinned out, and the yard thoroughly mowed. They also entirely removed the hedge of trees on the front, and built a wall, well laid, with a gateway guarded on each side by granite posts. The planting of small trees or shrubs, or both, at the back of the wall, will complete the improvements for the present, and make this a pleasant and fitting sleeping place for the departed.
THE MIDDLE CEMETERY.
The opening of a lot for the burial of the dead in the north part of the town only supplied a local want. There was need of another near the center of population. Both the Old and the Old Common yards were nearly filled, though the latter has been used for new interments, in limited num- ber, to the present year. But both were small, and entirely inadequate. Therefore in the year 1798, the town took measures to meet the never ceasing demands of death. At a meeting in May, the town chose a committee of three, who purchased of Rev. Mr. Thayer, and Judge John Sprague, one acre and thirty-four rods of land, midway between the Center and South Lancaster, or New Boston, as it was then styled. The lot was a parallelogram, and was laid out in sections eight by sixteen feet. Among the bills paid in 1800 was one of $56 for the "new burying field."
In August, 1803, leave was given to individual inhabitants of the town to build tombs in the burying places, under re- strictions. Under this vote tombs were built in the Old Common and the Middle yards at different dates. It is many years since the last was made, and it is hoped that many centuries will elapse before another is added to them.
676
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
At a town meeting, November 15, 1842, a committee of five was chosen to confer with Mr. Thayer, (son of the Dr.,) relative to the purchase of a piece of land for an addition to the burying ground. John M. Washburn, Henry Lin- coln, John G. Thurston, Ezra Sawyer and Anthony Lane were the committee. They bought a parcel of land on the northwest side, and by moving the road some feet westward, the cemetery was enlarged. The new lots were fixed at ten feet by twenty, and the price for each was two dollars.
This cemetery, by constant use, has become crowded in the course of eighty years. It is rich in garnered dust. Stones of different material, form and size, mark nearly every avail- able spot. The names of a large number of the families liv- ing in the town, from the first settlement, are found on these monuments. They are too numerous to mention, and selec- tion might seem invidious. It would be well if some one could be found who would prepare and publish a correct plan of the lots and a full collection of epitaphs in this and all the other cemeteries of the town. Only a single specimen will be given here.
WILLIAM RUSSELL, Born in Glasgow, Scotland April 28, 1798, Died in Lancaster, Mass. August 16, 1873. A graduate of the University of Glasgow, An Eminent Educator, the Editor of the first Journal of Education, and author Of several works on Elocution He established the first Normal School . in New Hampshire, and was Founder of the N. E. Normal Institute in this place. A man universally beloved and respected for his many virtues, Christian graces and scholarly attainments.
" The memory of the just is blessed."
677
FIFTH BURIAL PLACE.
THE NORTH VILLAGE CEMETERY.
The Middle Cemetery seems to have been almost exclu- sively used from the time of its opening, and not being ex- tensive, it soon began to fill up; and in a little more than a generation, as we have seen, it was enlarged. . But more room was needed, though the lots were close together, and in 1850 there was a movement made to open two new burial places, one of which was to accommodate the growing village of Clintonville. But the project of forming a new town postponed the other question a few years. The immediate necessity was provided for by directing the selectmen to lay out vacant land in the cemetery, except in front of Dr. Thayer's tomb.
At length, in 1854, at the March meeting, the question came before the town in relation to buying new land for a burying ground. The subject was under consideration till the next year, when, at the November meeting, an appro- priation was made to buy nearly four acres of land, and " put it in a condition for burial purposes." One hundred lots were marked, averaging nearly 24 by 15 feet ; the lots were to be sold for two dollars each, except No. 61, which was four dollars. In 1858 the selectmen were directed to fence the new burying ground, and lay out the remaining portion of the land into lots. This was done with some exceptions on the border, and in the beautiful valley that crosses the yard.
This was the first cemetery in the town in which suitable regard was had to space. The lots were laid out nearly twice as large as in the addition to the Middle Cemetery, and more than double the size of those in the original divi- sion. Ample avenues and paths permit free passage, by teams or pedestrians, through the Cemetery and between the family lots. An iron gateway supported by massive granite posts, opens to the main entrance. The situation is one of the finest in the town; a high plain, of light soil, with a
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
charming valley north of the center, with a prospect, from the northerly summit, of the Ponakin intervale, and the hills and woods beyond. The only thing to be desired is that the space was much more ample, since most of the available room is already taken.
This cemetery is not old enough to give historical interest to the monuments, but there is one stone which marks the graves of two young men who bravely did their part in mak- ing history.
The monument is of granite, and is adorned with military emblems. It is crowned with an arch, under which is the motto :
PRO PATRIA
Beneath the motto are two marble panels, side by side, on which are the following inscriptions.
FRANCIS WASHBURN BREVET BRIGADIER GENERAL COLONEL 4TH REGT. MASS. CAV. DIED 22D APRIL 1865 OF WOUNDS RECEIVED AT HIGH BRIDGE VA. 6TH APRIL 1865 AGED 26 YEARS
EDWARD RICHMOND WASHBURN
CAPTAIN 53D REGT. MASS. INF. DIED 5TH SEPT. 1864
OF WOUNDS RECEIVED BEFORE PORT HUDSON LA.
14TH JUNE 1863 AGED 28 YEARS
EASTWOOD CEMETERY.
This burial place, the sixth in order of time, is situated east of the Old Common, and extends into Bolton. The land rises from the plain on which the "State Industrial School for Girls " is located, towards the east, and overlooks the beautiful intervale of the Nashua for miles, while the Center, South Lancaster, George hill, and the northern for- ests fill the near prospect. Beyond are the noble domes of Wachusett on the west, and Watatic on the northwestern horizon. . The towering head of the Grand Monadnock is also visible from several outlooks. The surface is variega- ted by swells of land, valleys and dells, and is mostly covered
679
NEW BURYING YARD.
with a natural growth of forest trees. The whole is well suited for a cemetery, a " sleeping place " for those who have laid down the cares of life, and is capable of fine effects in landscape gardening.
The origin of this cemetery is given in the paper read by Dr. J. L. S. Thompson, at its dedication, in 1876, as follows. " This ground," - the North Village cemetery -" was sup- posed to contain sufficient space to meet all the wants of the town for the next fifty years. On the reception of the gener- ous donation of three thousand dollars by Nathaniel Thayer, Esq., to the town, in 1866, for the care and improvement of the several cemeteries, in compliance with the provisions of the deed of gift, the town voted that the interest arising from this sum should be expended under the direction and super- vision of the Library Committee. When this committee en- tered upon its duties, and proceeded to make an examination of the different cemeteries, almost the first consideration forced upon their attention was the near necessity of addi- tional ground for burial purposes. In the [North] Village Cemetery - the only one available for new lots - most of the desirable lots were already taken, and the limited space left was being rapidly appropriated."
The committee, without delay, began to make inquiries, and examine different locations, in order to find the best available ground. After various disappointments, the com- mittee learned that perhaps the best situation in all the re- gion was in the market. Two of their number, [Messrs. Bar- tol and Thompson, ] took the responsibility of purchasing the lot of forty-six acres, " under the impression that with the near necessity of more ground, the town, when made acquainted with all the facts, would gladly take the land at cost." This the voters were not ready to do, and not till three years had passed, was the purchase made by the town, when it was to pay the original cost with interest added. The sum of $1,000 was raised at the April meeting. The committee were now free to proceed with suitable plans for putting the ground in
680
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
order. In 1872 they made a contract with Mr. H. W. S. Cleveland, of Chicago, native of the town, a landscape gar- dener of high reputation, for a plan of the cemetery. The plan drawn by him, and approved by the committee, was adopted by the town, April 3, 1873, and the committee were authorized to carry on the work in Eastwood in accordance with it. The sum of $500 was raised for the purpose of making the proposed improvements. "This money was ex- pended under the direction of Mr. Henry Wilder, whose warm interest in the enterprise led him to give to it both time and labor, and the town is indebted to him for much of the grace and beauty now to be seen here."
The health of Mr. Wilder failed in 1875, and the care laid down by him, was by vote of the committee, devolved upon Dr. Thompson, who had been clerk and treasurer from the be- ginning. It should be stated that every member of the com- mittee, but especially the chairman, felt a deep interest in the enterprise, and readily co-operated in all measures for improving the ground ; but the chief supervision of the work in the field fell to the clerk. Speaking of the two years ending with February, 1877, the paper of Dr. Thompson says : " Within the past two years great changes have been effected. Much ground has been cleared from underbrush, and opened to view. Avenues have been completed, and . new ones made. The main growth of woods has been thin- ned out ; the entrance to the grounds leveled and graded, and partially supplied with flowering shrubs ; while the ap- pearance of that part devoted to lots has been greatly im- proved."
The lots in this cemetery are 16 by 24 feet, and the paths around them are four feet wide. Each lot is bounded by a brick post at the four corners, with the number of the lot plainly marked.
At the April meeting in 1874, the town accepted "East- wood as a Cemetery," and adopted the following Rules for its preservation and improvement, as recommended by the cemetery committee.
681
REGULATIONS.
SALE OF LOTS. - "The original conveyance of lots from the town to individuals, shall be evidenced by a certificate signed by the secretary of the Cemetery Committee, specify- ing that such a person is the owner of such a lot; and such certificate shall vest in the owner, his heirs and assigns, for the sole purpose of interment under the regulations adopted by the town. But no original certificate shall be granted to any person who does not produce proof from the town treasurer that he has paid for his lot in full ; nor shall any person be the owner of more than two lots at the same time, unless by the unanimous consent of the committee ; nor shall any transfer of a lot or part of a lot from an owner to a pur- chaser be valid until recorded in the secretary's books. The price of the lots is fixed for the present at $5.00 each."
" All lots shall be held subject to the provisions following :
"I. No lot shall be used for any other purpose than as a burial place for the dead.
"II. The natural surface of the ground shall be preserved as far as possible ; and no terracing, or walling, is to be done, except under the direction of the town by its committee. No curbing of stone shall stand above the surface of the ground. No enclosures or fences of any kind shall be al- lowed. Head-stones fronting the avenues shall be set back . at least one foot and one half from the line.
"III. The proprietor of each lot shall have the right to erect any proper stones or monuments thereon; and to cul- tivate trees, shrubs and plants in the same ; but no construc- tion of any vault or catacomb other than a general receiving tomb shall be permitted.
"IV. If any monument, effigy, or any structure whatever, or any inscription be placed in or upon any lot, determined by the committee to be offensive, improper, or injurious to surrounding lots, or not in harmony with the character of the cemetery, it shall be the right and duty of the town to remove the same.
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
"V. All earth or rubbish accumulated by the owners of lots or their workmen, must be carefully removed as soon as possible, and be deposited in the place appointed for such material by the committee or their agents. Neither litter nor trash shall be left on the lots, or thrown on the avenues."
The cemetery was dedicated on the afternoon of the twelfth day of October, 1876, according to the following order of services.
Introductory remarks, by the Chairman of the Committee, Rev. George M. Bartol.
Hymn by a select Choir : "How oft beneath this sacred shade."
Scripture Selection, by Rev. Alfred Emerson.
Prayer, by Rev. Benjamin Whittemore, D. D.
Historical Sketch, by J. L. S. Thompson, M. D.
Hymn : "See the leaves around us falling."
Address, by Rev. Mr. Bartol.
Hymn : "Shall I fear, O Earth ! thy bosom ?"
Benediction, by Rev. Abijah P. Marvin.
The services were held in a pine grove, about fifty rods from the main entrance, on a hill-side sloping towards the Bolton road. The sun of the late afternoon shone pleasantly upon the scene ; the many-colored leafage was beginning to fall, suggestive of a beautiful old age and a gracious depart- ure ; the faint hum from the villages in sight, told whence would come the future tenants of these quiet sleeping places ; and the words of Scripture taught us to make life cheerful by the hope of a glorious resurrection through faith in Jesus Christ, who rose from the dead, and " ascended up on high, and led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."
CHAPTER XXVI.
LANCASTER IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
THE voters of Lancaster were conservative in politics till the conservation of the republic imperatively demanded a change of measures and of men. It was found that slavery must be abolished, or the nation must perish. But this con- viction was not willingly admitted by the majority of our citizens until it was forced upon them, and they were im- pelled by love of country to sever their ancient bonds of party, and enter into new combinations. In the fall of 1853, the town gave a large majority of votes for Hon. Emery Washburn, the whig candidate for governor. The vote stood : Washburn, 154; Bishop, democrat, 45 ; Wilson, free soil, 43. But this was the last of whig ascendency, as the " know- nothing" wave swept over the town in 1854, removing all the old and new party landmarks. Henry J. Gardner received one hundred and twenty-eight votes out of two hundred and twenty-one. Another revolution came in 1856 when the re- publican party carried New England, and a majority of the free states. The presidential vote in this town was as fol- lows : For John C. Fremont, 232 ; John Bell, (Union, ) 10; S. A. Douglas, (democrat, ) 35. From that time forward the town was firmly bound to republican and anti-slavery prin- ciples and methods.
The consequence was that when the rebellion broke out in the spring of 1861, the people of Lancaster were ready for the crisis, and at once rallied to the defence of the country. Fort Sumter was attacked by the rebels, under Gen. Beau- regard, on the twelfth of April. It was surrendered by
683
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER
Major Anderson on the morning of the fourteenth. The news came north with lightning speed, and awakened a tempest of patriotic wrath. The national flag had been insulted. A national fortress had been compelled to strike its colors by traitors. The unity and life of the nation had been smitten. The uprising was swift and terrible. Public meetings were held in town as well as city, all over the north. The pulpit summoned all, in the name of God, to defend the Union, and make it free. The press called upon all able-bodied men to rally round the flag, and fill the ranks of the army of free- dom.
In the midst of this excitement the sixth regiment was hur- ried off for Washington. Its bloody passage through Balti- more, on the nineteenth of April, intensified the public feel- ing to the highest pitch. The bonds of party were burned like tow in the flames, and the people were united as one man. A public meeting was held on the evening of Monday, April 22, to devise means to aid the government. J. L. S. Thomp- son, M. D., was called to the chair, and Henry C. Kimball was chosen secretary. The " meeting was largely attended by all classes," says a manuscript of Dr. Thompson, "many ladies being present, proffering their aid and influence for the public welfare." An account of the meeting published in the Clinton Courant, states that the assembly was addressed by Col. Francis B. Fay, who after a few earnest and emphatic words proposed in a series of resolutions, that, " the citizens of Lancaster, old and young, rich and poor, abandon for the present all side issues, know no party but the Union, and recognize no guiding star but liberty and the constitution." The resolutions were " unanimously adopted, with tumultu- ous applause, every man rising to his feet."
Eloquent and patriotic speeches were made by many of the most influential citizens, after which thirty men were enroll- ed to form a volunteer company, with the prospect of rais- ing twice the number. It was also voted to form a " home guard " to look after the families of such as might be called
685
RAISING VOLUNTEERS.
into the service of the country. A vote was passed in favor of calling a " legal town meeting at the earliest possible mo- ment," and Jacob Fisher and Charles L. Wilder were chosen a committee to prepare and present business for the action of the town. A committee to raise volunteers was appointed, viz., Woodbury Whittemore and C. A. Pollard.
The town meeting was held, April 29, and Solon Whiting, Esq., was chosen moderator. The meeting was large and spirited. The object of the meeting was to see if the town would raise money to defray the expenses of an outfit of the Lancaster volunteer company, and also grant aid to the fami- lies of said volunteers in their absence. The committee chosen by the citizens' meeting, in reference to raising a com- pany of soldiers, reported in the words following: "The committee would recommend that a committee of seven be chosen by the town to take charge of such funds as may be voted by the town, and that said committee have full power to expend any portion, or all of such appropriation for the above purpose, as they may deem expedient. That the town pay each volunteer, from the time called for until discharged, thirteen dollars per month, and one dollar per day for each day devoted to drill -not exceeding thirty days - and not less than six hours to be considered a day. That the town treasurer is. hereby authorized to borrow, on behalf of the town, any sum that may be needed for the above purpose, not exceeding five thousand dollars, subject to the order of the above com- mittee." They also nominated for the general committee, the following. George W. Howe, George Dodge, John M. Wash- burn, John Bennett, Anthony Lane, J. L. S. Thompson, J. M. Damon. The town unanimously adopted the report, and added to the committee the names of Jacob Fisher and Charles L. Wilder.
The committee on outfit for volunteers reported an outfit, in part, for forty men, as follows :
Forty men, 2 shirts apiece, = 80 shirts at $1.50 =
" 2 flannel waistcoats, = 80 waistcoats at $1.00 = 80.00
$120.00
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HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Forty woolen blankets lined with brown drill, $4.00 =
160.00
India-rubber blankets, $1.50 = 60.00
Eighty pair socks, .50 =
40.00
Forty light-colored soft felt hats, $2.00 =
80.00
Total, .
$540.00
The committee had canvassed the town, and about forty names of steady and able-bodied young men had been en- rolled to serve in the volunteer militia, with the understand- ing that they were liable, at any moment, to be called into active service. It was hoped that enough men would join from Sterling to form a company. One hundred and seventy ladies had pledged themselves to prepare clothing and other necessary articles when needed. There " was a noble will- ingness to meet all demands and make all sacrifices."
Another meeting was held by adjournment, on the eighth of June, when the proposition that the town should raise and equip one-half of the company, and arm it free of expense to the state, was, "after full and free discussion," left to the discretion of the general committee.
After about twenty days spent in drill the men went into camp in Worcester, proposing to join the fifteenth regiment, Col. Devens. The commissioned officers were Capt. Thomas Sherwin, Lieuts. Woodbury Whittemore, William L. Cobb, Levi E. Brigham and Calvin W. Burbank. The company consisted of seventy-nine men, including officers. For some unknown reason the governor did not commission Capt. Sher- win, and the company being highly dissatisfied with having a stranger from Salem put over them, disbanded. In this action they had the sympathy of the whole regiment. Most . of these volunteers joined other regiments, and did good service. Their names will appear in their proper connec- tion.
The next public meeting of which any notice can be found, was on a special Fast day, September 26, in the Orthodox church, when the Rev. E. A. Lawrence preached an " exceed-
687
VOICE OF THE CLERGY.
ingly interesting and appropriate discourse " to a large con- gregation, from Judges 6 : 13. " And Gideon said unto him, O my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this be- fallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." Mr. Lawrence referred 'to the fact of the rebellion as a great calamity ; and also to the reverses which had befallen the northern armies, as at Bull Run, and other places. These things showed that God had a controversy with us. Thence he inferred that our calami- ties were caused by our sins. These were many ; but sla- very, in which the north was implicated, was the "sum of villanies." Still he maintained that God was on the side of our government, though rebuking us. To the question, when will the war end? he replied, when slavery is ended. God will bring the administration to abolish slavery ; then our armies will triumph. How completely this prediction was verified by the proclamation of Emancipation in 1862, and our subsequent victories, is matter of history.
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