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 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52
John Munroe.
S.
Micah Sherman.
Isaac Sherman.
John Howe.
Stephen Morse.
Solomon Sherman.
Lovewell Howe.
William Morse.
Moses Sherman.
William Hager.
Windsor Morse.
John Sawin.
Daniel Hall.
Manning Sawin.
Phinehas Hall.
N.
Timothy Sawin.
Francis Hudson.
Jabez Newton.
Daniel Stevens.
Nahum Hayden.
Francis Newton.
Francis Stevens.
Jesse Hayden.
Daniel Nurse.
Daniel Stevens, Jr.
Daniel Hayden.
Heman Stow.
David Hunter.
0. Joseph Oxford.
Joab Stow. Samuel Stow.
Robert Hunter.
Thomas Hapgood.
John Stow.
Joseph Hapgood. John Hapgood.
P. Nathaniel Phillips.
Abraham Stow.
John Hapgood, Jr. Aaron Hapgood.
Ephraim Potter.
Jabez Stow.
Thomas Hapgood, Jr.
Eliab Parminter.
Peter Stone.
Samuel Hunting.
Nathaniel Prentiss.
Elijah Saunders.
Jonas Smith.
John Harrington. J.
Ephraim Jewell.
Silas Jewell, Jr. Silas Jewell, 3d. Jacob Jewell. Gustavus Jewell.
Joshua Pierce. Thomas Park.
R.
Luke Robinson.
John Howe, Jr.
John Howe, 3d.
Josiah Howe.
John Lewis.
Artemas Howe. Joseph Lamb.
John Loring. William Loring.
John Perigo. Abraham Priest. Benjamin Priest. Jonathan Priest.
William Smithi. Calvin Smith.
Jeduthan Smith.
Sylvanus Howe.
Jonas Moore.
Abraham Howe.
Francis Morse.
Nathan Rice.
Phinchas Howe.
Gilbert Howe.
William Stow.
Roger Phelps.
Josiah Stow.
260
Phinehas Sawyer.
W.
Samuel Witt. Silas Witt.
T.
Thaddeus Warren.
Josiah Witt.
Jonas Temple.
George Williams.
Moses Woodward.
David Temple.
Stephen Williams.
Sampson Winch.
Isaae Temple.
David Williams.
Ephraim Walcott.
John Temple.
Moses Woods.
James Wesson.
John Temple, Jr.
Jedediah Wood.
William Wesson.
Moses Temple.
James Webber.
Stephen Wesson.
Silas Temple.
Jonathan Weeks.
Thomas Whitney.
Joseph Townsend.
John Weeks.
Jonas Wilkins.
Joseph Trowbridge.
Jonathan Weeks, Jr.
Edward Wilkins.
Joseph Taynter.
Simeon Whitcomb.
Solomon Wilkins.
John Taynter.
Silas Wheeler.
Levi Wilkins.
Jonathan Taynter.
Asa Wheeler.
David Wilkins.
It seems by this list, that there were in Marlborough, in 1800, 277 tax-payers ; and besides this number, there were 60 poll tax-payers under twenty-one years of age, and other polls not taxed. We also discover the prevalence of the three principal names in town, Howe, Brigham, and Rice, which stand as follows : Howes 31, Brighams 25, and Rices 17- making an aggregate of 73, being nearly one-third of the whole list.
From the imperfect records we have been able to obtain, the valuation of the town in the different periods will stand as follows :
Valuation of Marlborough, from 1770 to 1860, as far as can be ascertained.
Year.
Polls.
Houses.
Oxen.
Cows.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
Aggregate.
1771
323
169
394
933
1781
370
186
396
852
.
...
1790
410
213
1800
416
233
. ..
....
. .
.......
253,200
1810
419
238
. .
....
.. .. .
252,066
1820
434
254
...
....
247,042
78,246
325,288
1830
454
288
. . .
....
485,805
121,451
607,256
1840
559
325
331
1,180
623,807
155,951
779,758
1850
834
458
361
1,288
948,931
286,506
1,235,417
1860
1,591
922
257
1,113
$1,587,606
$414,130
$2,001,736
...
. ......
..
Marlborough has not been distinguished for her manufactures till quite recently. Having only an inconsiderable water-power, she has had no factories of any note. Some forty-five or fifty
Oliver Wiswall.
Caleb Winchester.
261
years ago, there was a small cotton factory at Feltonville, but it produced nothing except yarn. There was also a fulling mill, and a cloth-dressing establishment at the same place ; but its business was mostly that of customers who brought in their cloth to be dyed and dressed. There were also several tanne- ries, whose business was mainly confined to the demands of the town. They had the ordinary mechanics, such as shoe- makers, blacksmiths, and wheelwrights; yet none of them de- pended, in any great degree, upon a foreign market for their productions. Being mostly engaged in agriculture, the people sought their supply from their own town, and the mechanics aspired at little more than furnishing their neighbors and friends around them.
In 1837, a census of manufactures was taken by order of the Legislature, when the products of Marlborough stood as follows :
Shoes manufactured, 103 000 pairs; value of the same, $41,200; males employed, 75; females, 75. Tanneries, 2; hides tanned, 2,600; value of leather tanned and curried, $11,500; hands employed, 7; capital invested, $6,000.
Manufactories of chairs and cabinet ware, 2; valne of product, $1,000; hands employed, 4. Straw bonnets manufactured, 7,500; value of the same, $10,850.
Only two articles in this list deserve notice : the straw bon- nets, which speak well for female industry ; and the shoes, which at that time gave employment to one hundred and fifty persons. Some twenty-five years before, the shoe business had been introduced on a small scale, and this business, which has since done so much to build up the town, had in 1837 grown up to a product of 100,000 pairs, valued at $41,000. The boot and shoe business has rapidly increased within a few years, so as to render the town somewhat distinguished for this species of manufacture.
A census of the productions of the State, published in 1845, shows the product of Marlborough as follows :
Tanneries, 2; hides tanned, 1,560; value of leather tanned and curried, $3,950; capital invested, $5,700; hands employed, 4.
Boots manufactured, 624 pairs ; shoes, 302,725 pairs ; value of boots and shoes, $92,932 ; males employed, 158 ; females employed, 220.
Straw braid and bonnets, value, $5,168 ; females employed, 182.
Building stone quarried, value, $600; hands employed, 5.
34
262
Lumber prepared, 15,000 feet ; value, $2,040.
Firewood prepared, 948 cords ; value, $2,521.
Sheep, 147; value, $298 ; wool, 588 lbs. ; value, $176.
Horses, 281 ; value, $12,645 ; neat cattle, 1,819 ; value, $39,226.
Swine, 493 ; value, $3 697.
Indian corn, 14,376 bushels ; value, $10,782; rye, 1,966 bushels ; value, $1,484 ; barley, 1,365 bushels ; value, $683; oats, 4,254 bushels ; value, $1,594 ; potatoes, 37,005 bushels ; value, $9,251 ; other esculent vegetables, 1,255 bushels ; value, $314; hay, 4,169 tons ; value, $33,477.
Fruit raised, 12,460 bushels; value, $6,013 ; hops, 2,000 lbs .; value, $200; honey, 367 lbs. ; value, $62.
Butter, 82,905 lbs. ; value, $14,093 ; cheese, 16,251 lbs. ; value, $812. Milk sold, 60,540 gallons ; value, $5,045.
Apples for vinegar, 31,772 bushels ; value, $2,224.
Here is a grand total of $249,187 ! But it must be borne in mind that the live stock is set down at its real value, and not at its productive value. It would be fair to set down this stock at one-fourth of its real value, that being about the annual worth of all classes of animals. If we take three-fourths of the value of the live stock from the total, we shall have as the annual product of the industry of the town, the sum of $207,- 288. But as such statistics, though taken from the mouths of the producers, are generally under estimated; we may with perfect safety add six per cent to the estimate, which will in round numbers bring the industrial production of Marlborough in 1845 up to $220,000. The greatest increase is in the shoe manufacture, which in 1837 was set down at $41,200, and in 1845 at $92,900.
The Industrial Tables for 1855 show the following as the production of Marlborough :
Saddle, harness and trunk manufactory, 1; value of product, $5,000 ; capital invested, $1,500 ; hands employed, 4.
T'in ware manufactories, 2; value of product, $5,800; capital, $2,000 ; hands employed, 4.
Tanneries, 1 ; hides tanned, 2,000 ; value of leather, $3,500 ; hands, 2.
Boots of all kinds, 103,500 pairs ; shoes of all kinds, 1,971,500 pairs ; value of boots and shoes, $1,156,975 ; hands employed, 969 males and 973 females.
Whips, value, $150; hands, 1.
Lumber prepared for market, 300,000 feet ; value of same, $4,200; hands employed, 6.
Firewood prepared for market, 3,134 cords ; value, $14,003 ; hands em- ployed, 6.
263
Organ manufactory, 1; value of organs, $2,000.
Establishment for making boxes, 1; capital invested, $500; value of pro- duct, $2,000 ; hands employed, 3.
Bakeries, 1 ; capital, $2,000 ; flour consumed, 750 bbls. ; value of bread, $15,000 ; hands employed, 5.
Ilorses, 441 ; value, $36,957 ; oxen and steers, 409; value, $19,861; cows and heifers, 1,062; value, $33,568 ; swine, 211 ; value, $2,114.
Butter, 49,916 lbs .; value, $12,474; cheese, 9,180 lbs .; value, $734; milk sent to market, 49,702 gallons ; value, $6,212.
Indian corn, 633 acres @ 34} bushels per acre, 21,942 bushels ; value, $26,396; rye, 98 acres @ 11} bushels per acre, 1,127 bushels ; value, $1,714 ; barley, 43 acres @ 223 bushels per acre, 985 bushels ; value, $973; oats, 157 acres @ 27 bushels per acre : 4,339 bushels; value, $2,763.
Potatoes, 506 acres @ 60 bushels per acre, 30,360 bushels ; value, $22,- 628.
Carrots, 10 acres @ 420 bushels per acre, 4,200 bushels ; value, $1,260.
Beets and other esculent vegetables, value, $200.
Millet, 4 acres ; value, $60.
English mowing, 3,229 acres ; 4,130 tons ; value, $82,600.
Wet meadow or swale hay, 770 tons ; value, $7,700.
Apple trees cultivated for fruit, 25,003 ; value, $16,015.
Pear trees cultivated for fruit, 307 ; value, $302.
Peaches, value, $1,564 ; quinces, value, $302.
Cranberries, 50 acres ; value, 81,468.
Here we have a total of $1,484,929 for 1855, against $249,- 187 for 1845-a gain of $1,235,742 in the annual product of the town in ten years. If we were to deduct three-fourths of the value of the live stock, as in 1845, it would give us the annual product of the industry of the town in 1855, $1,415,552 -a gain of $1,208,264. On either estimate the gain shows an enormous increase in ten years. It must be confessed, how- ever, that the return in 1855 was more full and accurate than at any former period. But the principal gain is in the boot and shoe manufacture; which rose from $92,932 in 1845, to $1,156,975 in 1855, being an increase of more than $1,064,000. This species of manufacture did not reach its maximum until 1859 and '60, when the product of boots and shoes amounted to $2,000,000 a year ; giving employment to about two thousand men, and about seven hundred women. The falling off in the number of women employed, was owing to the introduction of machinery.
Marlborough owes her rapid growth within the last ten years, to the introduction of manufactures. Though there may be
264
prejudices against such branches of industry, and some have regarded manufactures as hostile to agriculture, we are per- suaded that there is no natural antagonism between them. The manufacturer and mechanic must subsist upon the pro- duets of the soil, and their presence in an agricultural district not only creates a demand for the product of the farmer, but brings the market to his own door. The Marlborough farmer, with his broad acres of grass and grain, not only finds a better market for his great staples in consequence of this increase of popula- tion, but can also dispose of his vegetables, fruits, and other smaller articles, for which there was formerly no demand.
There is one evil incident to manufactures, which generally shows itself in a greater or less degree, viz., the introduction of a foreign and floating population, which may not harmonize with the native population. But this evil is destined to cure itself. The children of foreigners, born in this country, and educated in our schools with our own children, will soon be- come Americanized, and so make us all a homogeneous people. We must remember that our ancestors, as well as theirs, were of foreign birth ; and may we not trust that time will work the same change in them, as it has in us; and eventually blend in harmony what is now somewhat discordant? This foreign population, though perhaps disorderly in some respects, is nev- ertheless loyal, and as ready to sustain our institutions, as any other portion of our citizens, as recent events have clearly shown. As the tide of emigration has already abated, and the emigrants which now come to the country are a more intelligent class, we believe that a century hence, this foreign element will become so amalgamated and blended with our native population, that the distinction which is now so apparent will in a good degree be obliterated.
The population of Marlborough did not increase with much rapidity till about 1840. From 1830 to 1840, the increase was only 18; but from 1840 to 1850, the increase was 800, being a gain of 38.24 per cent in ten years. From 1850 to 1855, as shown by the State census, the increase was 1,396, being a gain of 48.27 per cent in five years; and from 1855 to 1860, the in- crease was 1,622, being a gain of 37.82 per cent in five years.
This increase of population is to be attributed mainly to the
265
introduction of the boot and shoe manufacture. This growth has been confined almost exclusively to the east and west vil- lages, and to Feltonville. The two centre villages were formerly considered as distinct from each other, being about a mile apart. But the location of the two railroad stations in a central position between them, has contributed, among other things, to fill up the space, so as to make the two villages one. Some of the largest buildings in the place are situated upon the isthmus which formerly connected the two settlements. The old vil- lages have not only extended their borders towards each other, but have opened new streets, and multiplied their dwellings, so as to become large villages of themselves; and the union of the two, by filling up the space between them, has created a village of some five hundred dwellings, and nearly three thou- sand inhabitants.
In the west village there are two churches, and in the east, three. There are, in the central villages, some fine dwellings, handsomely situated, to say nothing of the large and command- ing farm houses which skirt the villages, and so mingle agri- cultural with mechanical pursuits. There are in each village several large shoe manufactories, in which hundreds of hands are employed. In some of them, steam power is used. The shops of Boyd and Cory, situated near the southern depot, are large and capacious blocks, and give to the place the appear- ance of a city ; and being located on grounds which a few years ago were used only for agricultural purposes, indicate the growth of the town.
But the most striking instance of growth is at Feltonville, in the north part of the town. Being situated on the Assabet, at the only place on that stream where the fall of water gives any considerable power, this site was early occupied as a mill privi- lege. Mr. Joseph Howe, son of Abraham Howe, one of the first settlers, erected a grist, and perhaps a saw mill, there, about the close of the 17th century. He died in 1700, and this prop- erty came into the hands of Jeremiah Barstow, who married Mr. Howe's eldest daughter. In 1723, Barstow sold for £600, about 350 acres of land, including the mills, to Robert Barnard, then of Andover. This tract included what now constitutes Feltonville, on both sides of the river ; extending to the Indian line on the east, and to the Bush Place, and Lancaster (now
266
Bolton) line on the north, " together with the dwelling-house, and other housings, with the fencing, orcharding, and garden belonging to said messuage, including the mill, with all the accommodations and materials."
It appears that at that time there was but one dwelling-house upon the premises ; and the fact that the tract thus deeded consisted of about a dozen different lots, which Barstow had bought of different individuals, shows that this section of the town had been used as a sort of make-weight, the land having been granted in small lots to divers individuals. It further ap- pears by the deed to Barnard, that this section of the town was mostly unsettled, as the purchase is described as bounding for the most part upon common or undivided land-the " Buslı place " being the only designation implying a settlement. In fact, the whole valley of the Assabet to the Indian line, having been included in the cow commons, it was not open for settle- ment till about 1700. This property remained in the Barnard family, till near the close of the century, when portions of it were alienated to different individuals, till it all went out of their hands.
The " Mills," as the little settlement was designated, re- mained a small village, with a few houses and shops, for a long period. In 1820, the village consisted of thirteen or four- teen dwelling-houses, and one store in Marlborough, and two dwelling-houses just over the line, within the border of Bolton. The only thing which sustained the village at that period, was its water-power, driving the mills, a cloth-dressing establish- ment, and a small cotton factory. These establishments bring- ing people to the place, two enterprising citizens, Joel Cranston and Silas Felton, Esqs., opened and maintained an English and West India goods store in the village, and otherwise contributed to the growth and business of the place.
But the introduction of the shoe manufacture has been the principal cause of its growth. In 1820, there were a black- smith and two or three other village mechanics ; now, there are in addition to the ordinary mechanics' shops, seventeen shoe shops, some of them of a large size, employing great numbers of persons. Then, there were thirteen or fourteen dwelling- houses ; now, there are on the same territory one hundred and forty; then, there was but one store; now, there are eight ;
267
then, there were two houses in the borders of Bolton, depending upon the business of the village ; now, there are twenty-five. There are in the village, at this day, a post-office and two meeting-houses, and every thing to denote thrift. In 1820, there were only about one hundred inhabitants, while in 1860, there were nearly eighteen hundred on the same territory.
The opening of the railroad to Feltonville, has undoubtedly contributed to the growth of the place ; but the principal in- crease is to be ascribed to the shoe manufacture. Of the seven- teen shoe shops, some of them are large, and turn out great products. The principal shop, of F. Brigham & Company, is eighty feet by forty, four stories high, having good water- power: the most improved machinery, and every facility for the transaction of business. In 1860, this company employed three hundred men, notwithstanding the introduction of machinery, which greatly reduced the number of employees. Forty-five females were employed, and by the aid of the improved ma- chinery, it is estimated that this number were able to do the work of from four to five hundred in the ordinary way. In 1860, this company manufactured 715,000 pairs of shoes, valued at $375,000. The sum disbursed among the hands for their labor, for a single year, amounted to $95,000.
Some of the other manufacturers have capacious shops, and do a large business. Mr. Houghton's shop is one hundred feet by sixty. He uses steam-power to propel the machinery. Another shop, (Mr. Stone's,) is eighty feet by sixty-six, in which horse-power is employed. These shops are three stories high, and being erected for the purpose, are well adapted to the shoe business. There are other shops of a smaller size, where the same business is prosecuted. The whole number of indi- viduals employed in this species of manufacture in the village, before the present depression of business, was about 975, and the annual value of the product, about $800,000.
The villages of Marlborough present quite a city-like appear- ance. 'The buildings, the business, the brisk stir, and the hum of industry, impress us with the conviction that we are in the midst of an active, thriving population. And though the vil- lages, in their present condition, are of recent growth, the insti- tutions there established prove that the people are alive to public improvements. The town has an efficient Fire Depart-
268
ment, commenced in 1849, and legally organized in 1853. The inhabitants have for some years maintained a weekly newspaper, which is well sustained by subscribers and by ad- vertising patronage.
They have recently established a Mutual Fire Insurance Company, which bids fair to become a flourishing and valuable institution. Its condition is thus stated in the return to the Legislature in 1860 :
Amount of property insured, . . $1,184,914.88
Premiums and deposits, . 139,964.10
Premiums and deposits in cash, 5,117.96
Policies terminated the past year,
155,718.50
Policies issued the past year, .
192,365.13
Insured on real estate, .
958,744 50
Insured on personal property, .
226,170.38
Losses during the past year, .
2,850.00
The following is the organization of the company :
President-Mark Fay.
Secretary-Hollis Loring.
Directors-Mark Fay, J. S. Witherbee, Hollis Loring, Charles Brigham, J. E. Curtis, Elbridge Howe, B. F. Underhill, of Marlborough ; Warren Nixon, of Framingham ; Ephraim Stone, of Sudbury ; Peter P. Howe, of Southborough ; C. S. Ilastings, of Berlin.
They have also a Savings Bank in the town, incorporated in 1860. Their first return, made a short time after their organi- zation, and before they had fairly commenced operations, shows that they had made a fair beginning.
Number of depositors, . 81
Amount of deposits, . $1,788.00
Loans on mortgages of real estate,
500.00
Loans on personal security, 800.00
Cash on hand,
488.00
The following are the officers of the institution :
President-Samuel Boyd.
Vice President-Jabez S. Witherbee.
Secretary-John M. Farwell.
Treasurer-Mark Fay.
Trustees-Thomas Corey, William Morse, 2d, S. A. Chipman, B. F. Under- hill, Levi Bigelow, F. Brigham, A. C. Felton, Hollis Loring, Asa Lewis, Wil- liam Stetson, William P. Brigham, of Marlborough ; William Maynard, of Assabet ; P. P. Howe, of Southborough ; A. W. Seaver, of Northborough ; C. S. Hastings, of Berlin ; Ephraim Stowe, of Sudbury.
269
In this connection, it seems proper to mention a benevolent bequest, which has given rise to what may be regarded as an institution of the town. In 1775, Mr. ZACHARIAH MAYNARD, actuated by a regard for the "industrious poor" of the town, made by his last will and testament the following provision for their encouragement and relief :
" It is my will that my dwelling-house, and whatever goods and chattels may be found in it, together with my barn, be sold by my Executor ; that the money they are sold for, with my other money, as also my notes and bonds, and whatever may in any wise be found due me, be committed into the hands of the Selectmen of Marlborough, and to remain under their care and direction, and their successors in said office forever, to be let out at interest ; the principal never to be diminished; the interest to be distributed annu- ally, among such industrious poor and needy families, and persons, as the Selectmen or Overseers do not consider themselves obliged by law to pro- vide for; and among such also as may be reduced to straits by extraordinary providences ; and the distribution to these respective objects be according to the discretion of the major part of the Selectmen for the time being."
This property being disposed of according to the will of the donor, created a fund of about one thousand seven hundred dol- lars, which at six per cent gives an annual income of about one hundred dollars, to be distributed for the purposes expressed in the bequest. Too much praise can hardly be given to Mr. Maynard, for his truly wise and benevolent donation. Distrib- uted as this income has been, it has proved a great blessing to many a worthy citizen of Marlborough. Though the law makes it the duty of the towns to provide for the poor-and Marlborough has not been remiss in her duty in this respect- there is in this, and every community, a class of persons who can support themselves under ordinary circumstances, but who, in times of sickness or misfortune, find themselves nearly desti- tute. Such persons are unwilling to go to the alms-house, or become a direct charge upon the town; and if they can have some trifling aid in their misfortune, they are relieved from that humiliation, which arises from being classed with paupers. This feeling, which is perfectly natural, should be fostered ; for as long as an individual maintains a regard for his own reputa- tion, and cherishes self-respect, he will endeavor so to demean himself as to merit the respect of others.
The wisest benevolence, the truest philosophy, and the
35
270
purest dictates of religion consist in teaching, and if need be, enabling every one to maintain that feeling of self-respect, which is one of the great springs of action in the human heart, prompting to generous and noble deeds. The encouragement held out by such bequests, may do much towards sustaining some unfortunate and desponding individuals, in the days of darkness and distress. The bequest of Mr. Maynard has, we have no doubt, preserved many a person from yielding to adversity, has wiped the tear from the cheek of the lone widow, and lighted up a smile upon the countenance of the helpless orphan. This " Zachary money," as it is commonly called, distributed, as it has been, without ostentation and parade, carries joy into many families, and may justly be re- garded as one of the wisest of charities. Though the sum thus bestowed upon an individual is generally small, its moral influ- ence, which is one of the distinguishing characteristics of this charity, may be great in sustaining the unfortunate.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.