USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1657 to 1861; with a brief sketch of the town of Northborough, a genealogy of the families in Marlborough to 1800 > Part 21
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Marlborough now sustains a high and honorable position in reference to the great and important subject of free school education ; and we doubt not she will continue her noble efforts, so that her sons and her daughters may be well fitted for every useful avocation, and thus enabled to reflect honor upon their
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native town. The history of every community shows that the seeds of knowledge, liberally sown, are sure to spring up in their midst, or in some distant soil, and the happy fruits will be enjoyed by thousands who will have great reason to bless the sower of the seed.
The school-houses throughout the town have, within a few years, been greatly improved ; and in 1860, there was erected on the Old Common, at a cost of eight thousand six hundred dollars, a large and commodious building, for the accommoda- tion of the High School. This edifice (an engraving of which may be seen on the opposite page) is attractive by its location and architectural proportions, and reflects great credit upon the taste of the building committee, and the liberality of the town.
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CHAPTER XI.
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
Situation and Extent - Topography - Soil and Productions - Orchards - Streams and Water Power - Mills - Health and Longevity - Name of the Town - Public Travel, Railroads - Cemeteries -Town Mark - Free- men, their Oath-Tythingmen and Stocks - Constables - Penal Code of our Fathers - Simplicity in Dress.
MARLBOROUGH is a town in the westerly part of Middlesex County, bordering on the County of Worcester, and is situated between 42°, 18', 45" and 42°, 24', 30" north latitude, and be- tween 71º, 28', 35" and 71º, 37', 50" west longitude. It is bounded northerly by Stow, and a part of Bolton and Berlin ; sontherly by Southborough, and a portion of Northborough ; westerly by Northborough and Berlin ; and easterly by Sud- bury, and a portion of Framingham. It is about 28 miles wes- terly from Boston, 24 south-westerly from Lowell, 13 south- westerly from Concord, and 16 miles easterly from Worcester. It is about 5.92 miles in length from east to west, and 4.61 miles in breadth from north to south, making an area of about 19,485 acres. The town has about 450 acres occupied by highways, and 460 covered by water. The total length of roads is nearly one hundred miles.
Marlborough is an elevated township-the Old Common being about 450 feet above tide water ; and some of the swells of land, in the central part of the town, rising 150 or 200 feet above the Common, attain the elevation of about 650 feet above tide water. The rising ground northerly of Williams's Pond, the summit of which is known by the name of " Mount Slygo," is probably the highest land in the County, unless it be some of the hills in Hopkinton.
Being situated between the extensive valley of the Sudbury river on the one side, and that of the Assabet on the other, the central portion of the town is so elevated that the hills com-
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mand a prospect of great extent and rare beauty. There are no ragged rocks or barren cliffs ; no stagnant pools or rude water- falls, denoting a broken, sterile surface, and presenting waste places ; but large, regular swells of land, extending from half a mile to a mile, crowned with fresh verdure to their summits, with their slopes waving with forests of fruit trees ; fertile, cul- tivated valleys spreading between the hills, adorned with grass and grain of every kind, and flowers of every hue; and gentle rills, winding through the meadows, and marking their courses by a fresher green, and a belt of more luxuriant growth ;- these, blending in perfect harmony, present a prospect fraught with all that is rich in agriculture, and pleasing in rural scenery. And while this charming landscape is spread out before you, the presence of hundreds of handsome dwellings, embowered in groves of fruit and ornamental trees, and five village spires pointing to the heavens, all visible from the same point of view, unite to increase its beauty. But while the immediate view is thus attractive to the eye and grateful to the sense, the distant prospect adds a grandeur to the scene. Passing over the glit- tering spires in several of the neighboring towns, and the eleva- tions within their borders, the eye rests upon the Blue Hills in Milton, on the south-east, while the lofty Wachusett, in its sol- itary grandeur, the towering Monadnock, with its cloud-capped summit, and the various peaks of the mountain ranges in New Hampshire, rising majestically in the distance, bound and com- plete the view on the north-west and north. Taken together, the prospect from the Marlborough hills is one of richness and beauty rarely surpassed.
Among the principal hills is Slygo, which is the highest point in town, and commands a prospect of the whole of the West, and a portion of the East village, and of that beautiful sheet of water, Williams's Pond, to say nothing of the distant view.
Ockoocangansett Hill, which rises immediately north of the Old Common, and is rendered memorable by being, in days gone by, the " Indian Planting Field," is a large swell of some two hundred acres, from which most of the buildings, in both villages, may be seen. On the northerly slope of this hill there was formerly an Indian burial-place.
In the southerly part of the town, there are Indian Head Hill, on the "Farm ;"' Shoe String Hill; Jericho, near Southborough
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line; Crane Hill, and Stirrip Hill. Prospect Hill, in the north- ern part of the town, near Mr. Stephen Rice's, is a considerable elevation, covered with a fine growth of wood, and having this distinctive characteristic ;- while the northern acclivity rises gently, with an unbroken soil, like most of the hills in the town, the southern declivity is abrupt and precipitous, presenting a ragged, rocky front.
Bear Hill, in the northerly part of the town, near Mr. Eber Howe's, is a naked mass of rocks, thrown somewhat promiscul- ously together ; and nearly the same may be said of the ragged bluff's known as Robin Hill, near the school-house which bears that name.
Addition Hill is a considerable elevation, overlooking the valley, or Fort Meadow Brook ; and West Hill, with its crest of open wood, is an object of attraction. These are situated nearly a mile northerly of the west meeting-house.
Assabet Hill, near Feltonville, is a beautiful elevation of some hundred acres, rising in a gradual ascent, on the southerly side of the river, to the height of eighty or ninety feet, and capable of cultivation to the summit. It affords a fine prospect, and to use a military phrase, completely "commands " the whole village, and a large range of the adjacent country.
There are other elevations within the township, having local names; but they are not of sufficient importance to be mentioned here.
Marlborough, considering its geographical position, is well wooded. Until within thirty years, there was a large quantity of wood in the town, especially in the north-westerly part ; and as late as 1840, the assessors returned 2,373 acres of woodland. The growth is generally oak, though chestnut, pine, maple, and walnut, are found in considerable quantities in some parts of the township. Formerly, some portions of the place were distinguished by large pasture oaks and chestnuts. Standing in open ground, they took deep root and grew to a vast size. They have now generally disappeared. The oaks being mostly white oak, many of them have been cut for ship timber ; and the chestnuts, being old, have been converted into plank or fencing-stuff. Thus the pride of many a pasture has been destroyed, and its beanty departed. Though hardly coming within the designation of wood, it may not be amiss to mention
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a bush, or shrub, which formerly abounded here, to the no small annoyance of many of the farmers. We allude to the barberry. Some years ago, many of the pastures were actually overrun by this shrub ; and though its fruit was esteemed by many as a condiment for the table, its obtrusive character in the field has led to its partial extermination.
The presence of this pest could not escape the notice of that indefatigable tourist, President Dwight, who, under the head of Marlborough, when speaking of this bush in his 'Travels, says : " In some fields they occupy one-sixth, one-fifth, and even one- fourth of the surface. Neat farmers exterminate them, except by the side of their stone inclosures. Here it is impossible to eradicate them, unless by removing the walls; for the roots pass under the walls and spring up so numerously, as to make a regular and well-compacted hedge. This bush in New Eng- land is generally believed to blast both wheat and ryc. Its blossoms, which are numerous, and continue for a considerable time, emit very copiously a pungent effluvium, believed to be so acrimonious as to injure, essentially, both these kinds of grain."
The surface of Marlborough is generally uneven ; though rising in gradual swells, the soil is not in many cases broken, the hills being capable of cultivation to the summits. The soil is generally a deep loam, somewhat rocky, but capable of great productiveness. Being moist and well-watered, it is ad- mirably adapted to the growth of grass of every variety. Few towns can compare with Marlborough in the production of this great staple of agriculture. Consequently, the place has always been distinguished for its neat stock and dairies.
But in nothing has the town been more remarkable than in its orchards. The apple-tree seems to be indigenous to her soil ; and in many places the pastures have heretofore greatly suffered by the encroaching propensities of this species of tree ; so that the farmers were obliged to cut them down, or to root them up.
Though it has been said that the apple is a native of Asia, it was cultivated by the Indians in Marlborough, before the town was settled by the English. In laying out a farm for President Chauncy, of Harvard College, in 1656, in that sec- tion of the town which took the name of Chauncy, now con-
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stitnting Westborough, the committee describe the tract as bounded on one side by a line passing near an Indian wig- wam, where there was an orchard. Gookin, in describing the " Indian Planting Field," within the present township, says that the Indians had an apple-orchard there before the settle- ment of the Massachusetts Colony. In every period of her history, the fruits of her orchards have been conspicnous. As early as 1676, when the Indians attacked Marlborough, among other wanton mischief, they cut down, or otherwise injured, their apple-trees, then in bearing. And in 1752, Henry Barnes, Esq., set up a distillery in the central part of the town, for the manufacture of cider-brandy, which he exported in considerable quantities ; which shows that the quantity of cider at that day must have been great. In 1771, the assessors returned to the General Court, for the purpose of taxation, 3,297 barrels of cider, as the product of their orchards. Marlborough cider was long known as a staple article in Boston market. Forty years ago, every considerable farmer had a cider-mill on his premises, and made his own cider. In fact, such a mill was regarded as one of the necessary buildings upon the farm ; and most of the farmers would commence teaming cider to Boston the latter part of September, sending their teams from two to four times a week, till the last of November, according to the quantity they had to dispose of. This custom continued till the Tem- perance Reform threw this beverage into the shade, when many of the orchards were, by engrafting, converted into win- ter fruit. By the returns of 1855, it appears that there were over 25,000 apple-trees cultivated for fruit, producing a crop valued at $16,000 per year.
During the war of 1812, when distilled spirits commanded a high price, there were two large distilleries in the town, and another on its immediate border, drawing its principal supply from Marlborough ; and such was the quantity of cider, that in addition to what was carried to other markets, during the whole cider-making season, hundreds of barrels accumu- lated in the yards of these distilleries, besides all that was received within their capacious cisterns, or consumed by their stills, which were kept running, day and night. Some idea of the quantity of cider made, may be formed from the fact that
30
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the distillers obtained this vast amount at a price less than two cents per gallon, and paid for it out of their stores.
Though Marlborough is well watered, being an elevated township, the streams are generally small. The Assabet is the only one which can be dignified with the name of a river. This stream rises in Westborough, and runs about half a mile east of the centre of Northborough ; and after receiving a con- siderable tributary, which has its source in Boylston, passes into Marlborough, and thence into Berlin, where it receives another tributary, when it passes again into Marlborough, and running near the western and northern boundary of the town, flows into Stow, about a mile and a half easterly of Feltonville. The only water-power which this stream furnishes in Marlborough, is at Feltonville, where a mill has been maintained more than a century and a half. The Assabet, after leaving Marlborough, continues a north-easterly course, and unites with the Sudbury river, near the centre of Concord, and finally finds its way to the ocean through the Merrimack. Its principal tributary, which rises in Marlborough, is Fort Meadow Brook, on which has been constructed, by the city of Boston, a capacious reser- voir to compensate the owners of water-power on the Concord river, for the water diverted from Cochituate Lake to supply the city.
There are other small streams in town, which find their way into the Assabet and Sudbury rivers ; furnishing several small mill privileges within the town. The only considerable ponds in town, are Williams's or Gates's Pond, in the west parish, and White Pond, which lies partly in Marlborough and partly in Stow-the line between the towns passing nearly through its centre. Gates's Pond contains about one hundred and sixty acres, and is generally admired for its beauty. It is surrounded by high, fertile land, sloping and cultivated to the water's edge. It has the great, or old post road, passing near its northern shore, along its whole length. It has nothing which deserves the name of a stream flowing into it, but is fed by springs from the circumjacent hills, which ooze into it from its shores, or rise within the pond itself. It has a small outlet, which flows west- erly and empties into the Assabet, furnishing one small mill site in its course. White Pond is a fine sheet of water, situated in
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a level, sandy section of the town, and takes its name from the white, sandy bottom, which gives its hue to the water.
Marlborough, as we have already seen, has but little water- power ; its streams being generally small. It is difficult to say when or where the first mill was erected. It is proba- ble, however, that the first was a saw-mill, and was erected in that part of the town now included in Northborough, by John Brigham. It was near the centre of the present town of Northborough, on a stream which constitutes one of the principal tributaries of the Assabet. This mill was erected before Philip's war. Peter Bent erected one on Stony Brook, in that part which is now included in Southborough. This must have been soon after the return of the inhabitants in 1677. Joseph Howe erected a grist, and perhaps a saw-mill, on the Assabet, about 1700, on the site of the present mills in Feltonville. This is the most important water-power in the town. Other and smaller mills have been erected, in different parts of the town, at some distance from the centre ; but being on small streams, cannot do much business, except in the wet season of the year.
Marlborough, till within a few years, has been noted for its agriculture, rather than for its manufactures. It is one of the best agricultural towns in the County, producing more neat stock than any other town. Under a high state of cultivation, few townships in the Commonwealth would be more pro- duetive. The farms are generally large, and being fenced with substantial stone walls, present a good specimen of rural independence and agricultural thrift.
The altitude and topography of Marlborough would naturally indicate a healthy town ; and the facts contained in the official tables, fully confirm this impression. The registration of bills of mortality, for the four years, from 1856 to 1859, inclusive, shows the average per centage of deaths on the population ammally, to be as follows :
In the State, 1.73; in the County, 1.57; in Marlborough, 1.18 ;- showing the health of Marlborough, during that period, to be .39 per cent greater than that of the County, and .55 greater than that of the State.
We have no means of knowing officially, the exact number of
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deaths in Marlborough at the different periods of her history, as the town records are very incomplete. From several private sources, we gather the following particulars. By a valuable record kept by Mrs. Grace Stow, wife of Mr. John Stow, ex- tending from 1760 to 1794, inclusive, it appears that the deaths and births were as follows:
Year.
Deatlıs.
Births.
Year. 1772
Deaths.
Births.
Year. 1784
29
49
1761
12
36
1773
25
50
178
26
58
1762
10
43
1774
11
5.4
1786
15
57
1763
17
38
1775
78
50
1787
16
59
176
15
47
1776
44
41
1788
21
55
176
12
46
1777
31
46
1789
18
56
1766
18
56
1778
21
45
1790
24
43
1767
13
43
1779
8
49
1791
19
59
1768
13
41
1780
18
45
1792
10
43
1769
15
37
1781
26
42
1793
12
45
1770
16
46
1782
17
39
1794
20
49
1771
45
41
1783
21
58
The record kept by Mrs. Stow was continued by her daughter Mary, afterwards wife and now widow of Mr. Daniel Williams.
Year.
Deaths.
Births.
Year.
Deaths.
Births.
Year.
Deaths.
Births.
1795
49
55
1806
29
37
1816
24
25
1796
20
55
1807
24
47
1817
31
43
1797
20
51
1808
14
36
1818
24
26
1798
17
53
1809
15
38
1819
27
31
1799
13
41
1810
24
37
1820
37
34
1800
22
48
1811
17
40
1821
24
21
1801
24
44
1812
25
30
1822
26
23
1802
19
45
1813
26
27
1823
29
33
1803
26
43
1814
18
34
1824
20
30
1804
22
41
1815
27
34
1825
. 39
28
1805
33
47
Deatlıs.
Births.
1760
24
52
8
59
As these records are of a private character, and the keeper of them had no other means of obtaining the facts than the reports gathered from individuals, it is manifest that some errors must have occurred. The increase of population and the division of the town into two parishes, would naturally increase the diffi- culty of obtaining a knowledge of all the deaths and births, and especially the latter. This will be obvious by an inspection of the above table, where it will be seen that the number of births has fallen off, while the number of deaths has remained about
233
the same. The great excess of births over the deaths in both the preceding tables, is explained by the fact that there has been some increase of population, and by the further fact, that there has been a constant emigration from the town.
Mr. Stephen Rice commenced a private record of the deaths in Marlborough in 1820, and continued it to 1850. Considering the means of information they possessed, there is a remarkable coincidence between the records kept by him and by Mrs. Wil- liams, showing the accuracy of both. The discrepancy in sev- eral cases is accounted for by the fact, that in some instances persons were brought into town for interment, who died out of town; and such cases are noted by one, and not by the other. We will give both records.
Year.
Mrs. W.
Mr. R.
Year.
Mrs. W.
Mr. R.
Mrs. W.
Mr. R.
1820
37
35
1830
32
32
Year. 1840
25
1821
24
24
1831
24
19
1841
24
21
1822
26
27
1832
33
30
1842
31
26
1823
29
29
1833
46
50
1843
39
39
182 £
20
21
1834
26
25
1844
26
26
1825
39
40
1835
38
38
1845
26
3.4
1826
35
32
1836
4.5
37
1846
26
28
1827
29
28
1837
37
37
1847
30
27
1828
26
28
1838
42
.12
1818
32
36
1829
39
40
1839
20
26
1849
35
41
These views of the mortality of Marlborough for ninety years, speak well for the health of the place. Few towns of the same population can produce a larger munber of old people than Marl- borough. Though many of the obituary records neglect to state the age, yet, imperfect as they are in this respect, they present immerous cases of remarkable longevity. Mary Rice died 1804, aged 99; Widow Abigail Robinson, aged 97; Widow Elizabeth Cole, 1813, aged 101; Keziah Smith, 1823, aged 103 ; Widow Silence Parmenter, 1829, aged 94; Widow Prudence Howe, 1831, aged 97; Phinchas IIowe, 1832, aged 94; Widow Susanna Bruce, 1832, aged 99; Mrs. Bathsheba Ames, 1836, aged 95 ; Phinehas Moore, 1838, aged 98; Widow Anne Waters, 1838, aged 94; Widow Bartlett, 1845, aged 95; Mrs. John Howe, 1845, aged 95 : Thomas Barnes, 1847, aged 98.
From 1821 to 1849 inclusive, there were sixty-three persons who died in Marlborough, aged 85 years and upwards ; viz., six aged 85; ten aged 86; fourteen aged 87; two, 88; four, 89 ;
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ten, 90; two, 91; two, 92 ; two, 93; three, 94; three, 95 ; one, 97; two, 98; one, 99; and one 103. Many single years present striking specimens of longevity. In 1813, there were among the deaths, one of 70; one of 77; one of 80; one of 87 ; one of 89 ; and one of 101. In 1832 there were thirty deaths. Of these there were, one aged 70 ; one, 76; one, 78; one, 94; and one, 99. In 1847 there were twenty-seven deaths-one of a person aged 79; one, 85 ; one, 87; one, 89; and one, 98. Such specimens could be multiplied, even from the imperfect records.
There are also many remarkable cases, where husbands and wives have both lived to an advanced age, and in some cases died at nearly the same period.
Edward Rice died 1712, aged 93 ; Agnes, his widow, died 1713, aged 83. Jacob Rice died 1746, aged 86 ; Mary, his widow, died 1752, aged 80. Peter Rice died 1753, aged 95 ; Rebecca, his wife, died 1749, aged 81. Joshua Rice died 1734, aged 73 ; Mary, his widow, died 1766, aged 95. Gershom Rice died 1790, aged 81 ; Lydia, his widow, died 1799, aged 87. Thomas Rice died 1840, aged 93 ; Abigail, his wife, died 1828, aged 73. Gershom Rice died 1837, aged 82 ; Susannah, his wife, died 1837, aged 79. William Gates died 1848, aged 86 ; Elizabeth, his wife, died 1842, aged 78. John Gleason died 1816, aged 91 ; Persis, his widow, died 1820, aged 92. Moses Woods died 1821, aged 81 ; Lydia, his widow, died 1826, aged 86. Samuel Stow died 1813, aged 90 ; Rebecca, his widow, died 1818, aged 91. John Stow died 1828, aged 88 ; Grace, his wife, died 1824, aged 78. John Hapgood died 1835, aged 82 ; Lucy, his widow, died 1838, aged 81. Jonathan Hapgood died 1849, aged 90; Jerusha, his wife, died 1842, aged 80. Thaddeus Warren died 1821, aged 75; Luey, his widow, died next day, aged 74. Peter Howe died 1778, aged 84 ; Grace, his wife, died -, aged 75. Josiah Howe died 1827, aged 78 ; Molly, his widow, died 1845, aged 93. Samuel Howe died 1820, aged 71 ; Hannah, his widow, died 1835, aged 92. Joseph Howe died 1775, aged 78 ; Ruth, his widow, died 1781, aged 87. Joseph Howe died 1800, aged 72 ; Grace, his widow, died 1816, aged 87. Phinehas Howe died 1832, aged 93 ; Lydia, his widow, died 1837, aged 84. Gershom Bigelow died 1812, aged 97; Mary, his wife, died 1802, aged 84. William Boyd died 1817, aged 82 : Lydia, his wife, died 1817, aged 72. Samuel Witt died 1847, aged 84 ; Lucy, his wife, died 1847, aged 88.
This list could easily be doubled, but enough has been given to show the longevity of many of the inhabitants. Several examples might be given of those now living as husband and wife, who have attained a great age ; but delicacy to the living forbids the mention of their names. Enough have been cited to show that Marlborough may be classed among the most healthy of our towns. The censuses show that in 1830, there were living in Marlborough fifteen persons between the ages of 80
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and 90, and seven between the ages of 90 and 100; in 1840 there were twenty-one between the ages of 80 and 90, and two between 90 and 100; in 1855, there were twenty-two between the ages of 80 and 90, and three between 90 and 100; and in 1860, there were twenty-three persons living, between the ages of 80 and 90.
Marlborough was incorporated, May 31, 1660, old style, not by any elaborate charter, setting forth its boundaries, duties and liabilities ; but by the laconic order, " That the name of the said plantation ( Whipsufferage) shall be called Marlborow." It took its name, probably, from Marlborough in England, a town in Wilts County, seventy-five miles from London. The name was formerly written Marlberg, or Marlbridge, and was derived from the marl or chalk hills by which it was surrounded. It was formerly a town of considerable notoriety. King John, for a time, held his court there, and in the civil wars during that period, the place was alternately held by the King and the Barons. The Assizes were held there from the time of Henry III. to that of Charles I .; and in the fifty-second year of Henry III., Parliament assembled there. The town was chartered by Elizabeth. It is delightfully situated on the banks of the Kennett, on the northern verge of the forest of Lavenake.
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