USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881 > Part 24
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187
WAR RECORD.
WIGGIN, JACOB E. : b. Franklin, Mass., Jan. 23, 1847; s. Stephen W. and Joanna; laborer; en. Nov. 19, '64, and m. 25; 1 y. Co. 19, unattached, pri .; dis. June 27, '65, Boston Harbor, close of war.
WILBUR, MILLEN TAFT: b. Providence, R. I., Jan. 25, 1835; s. Sayles and Ruth; machinist; en. Aug. 24, '64, and m. 29; 1 y. R. 2, Co. G, H. Artil., pri .; dis. June 26, '65, exp. ser.
WILKINSON, LEONIDAS J .: b. Mendon, Mass., Jan. 28, 1838; s. Alexander T. and Maria; machinist; en. and m. June 21, '61; 3 y. R. 40, N. Y., Co. G, corpl .; prom. sergt. Nov. 23, '62; present siege Yorktown; ft. Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Robinson's Field, Glendale, Malvern Hill, 2d Bull Run, Chantilly, and Fred'sburg Dec. 13, '62; wd. at Fred'sburg; dis. at Boston, 'Mass., Feb. 24, '63, on acct. wds.
WILKINSON, EDWIN: b. Mendon, Mass., Feb. 19, 1836; s. Alexander T. and Maria; blacksmith; en. and m. June 21, '61; 3 y. R. 40, N. Y., Co. G, pri. ; ft. siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Robinson's Field, Glendale, Mal- vern Hill, 2d Bull Run, and Chantilly ; dis. Boston, Mass., Dec. 1, '62, on acct. wds. recd. battle Chantilly.
WILKINSON, WALTER: b. Mendon, Mass., Nov. 5, 1842; s. Alexander T. and Maria; bookkeeper; en. and m. June 21, '61; 3 y. R. 40, N. Y., Co. G, pri. ; pres- ent siege Yorktown; k. battle Williamsburg, Va., May 5, '62, being the first sol- dier from Milford that was killed in battle.
WILLEY, BENJAMIN F. : b. Conway, N. H., July 25, 1844; s. Stephen and Hannab; bootmaker; en. Nov. 19, '64, and m. 25; 1 y. Co. 19, unattached, pri. ; dis. Boston Harbor, June 27, '65, close of war.
WILLIAMS, DANIEL: b. Marlboro', Mass., 1817; s. Joseph and Mary; var- nisher; en. Oct. 19, '61, and m. 30; 3 y. R. 25, Co. G, pri .; d. May 10, '62, in Milford, from wds. recd. in battle Roanoke Island, N. C.
WILLIAMS, WILLIAM: b. Mil., Mass., July 31, 1831; s. Harlow and Sarah; bootmaker; en. July 3, '61, and m. Nov. 14; 3 y. R. 29, Co. B, pri .; ft. Fair Oaks, 7 ds. fight, siege Vicksburg, Miss., and Jackson, Miss. ; dis. July 4, '64, exp. ser.
WILLIAMS, FREDERICK G. : b. Mil., Mass., about 1844; s. Charles and Rox- ana; bootmaker; en. and m. July 27, '64; 100 ds. R. 5, Co. G, pri. ; dis. Nov. 16, '64, exp. ser. En. and m. again Dec. 31, '64; 3 y. R. 3, Co. L, Cavalry, pri. ; dis. Sept. 28, '65, close of war.
WILLIAMS, GEORGE F .: b. 1836; place not given ; s. George W .; bookbinder; en. and m. July 27, '64; 100 ds. R. 5, Co. G, pri .; dis. Nov. 16, '64, exp. ser.
WILLIS, CHARLES: b. Ird., 1839; ptge. not given; bootmaker; eu. and m. June 11, '61; 3 y. R. 9, Co. H, pri .; trans. to Vet. Res. Corps Dec. 29, '63.
WILLIS, REUBEN : b. Belchertown, Mass., 1842; s. Jacob and Siley ; student; en. Sept. 16, '61, and m. Oct. 7; 3 y. R. 25, Co. B, pri. ; present with his Co. Roanoke Island and Newbern, N.C .; dis. Nov. 21, '63, disability.
WILSON, SAMUEL: b. Mendon, Mass., June 21, 1834; s. Samuel and Celia Ann; bootmaker; en. July 24, '62, and m. Aug. 27; 3 y. R. 36, Co. F, pri. ; dis. Boston, Mass., Mar. 14, '63, disability.
WOGD, PELEG E. : b. Gloucester, R. I., Dec. 21, 1838; s. Luther and Emily; bootmaker; en. June 9, '61, and m. 21; 3 y. R. 40, N. Y., Co. G, pri .; ft. Wil- liamsburg and Fair Oaks; dis. camp near Fred'sburg, Va., Dec. 9, '62, on acct. of wd. by accidental discharge of a musket.
WOODS, CHARLES E. : b. Barre, Mass., 1835; s. Edward and Caroline; wheel- wright; en. and m. July 27, '64; 100 ds. R. 5, Co. G, corpl. ; dis. Nov. 16, '64, exp. ser.
188
HISTORY OF MILFORD.
WOOD, FRANK L. : b. New Bedford, Mass., Aug. 8, 1844; s. James and Mary; mechanic; en. Nov. 19, '64, and m. 25; 1 y. Co. 19, unattached, pri .; dis. Bos- ton Harbor, June 27, '65, close of war. He had previously en. for New Bedford. WOODS, FREDERICK H. : b. Mil., Mass., 1843; s. Edward and Caroline; en. and m. July 27, '64; 100 ds. R. 5, Co. G, pri. ; dis. Nov. 16, '64, exp. ser.
WRIGHT, ALEXANDER S. : b. New Bedford, Mass., Nov. 13, 1846; s. Ebenezer S. and Lydia; mechanic; en. Nov. 19, '64, and m. 25; 1 y. Co. 19, unattached, pri .; dis. Boston Harbor, June 27, '65, close of war. He had previously en. for New Bedford.
WYNN, DANIEL: b. Co. Sligo, Ird., 1838; ptge. not given; bootmaker; en. and m. May 25, '61; 3 y. R. 2, Co. E, pri. ; k. in battle at Antietam, Sept. 17, '62.
Thus ends the long story and record of Milford's martial patriot- ism. If her sacrifices and fruitages of warlike devotion are not glorious enough to satisfy the pride of her citizens, perhaps coming generations will make up the deficit. But their historian must be permitted to pray that the future may afford fewer opportunities for such expenditures of human life, blood, and treasure.
189
ORIGINAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
CHAPTER IX.
RELATING TO EDUCATION AND KINDRED MATTERS.
School Districts and their Changes. - Originally Four. - In 1784 divided into Eight, and hounded. - Altered in 1799. - In 1802 arranged into Six. - A Partial Revis- ion in 1824. - The First District divided in 1829, and a Seventh created. - New Boundaries without Gores. - An Eighth District set off in 1836, called "Deer Brook."- In 1841 a New Division into Eleven Districts. - The Twelfth set off in 1847. - In 1851 the Twelve re-arranged iuto Eight, etc. - All abolished in 1854.
Schoolhouses and Expenditures. - No Schoolhouses in Town at Incorporation. - Schools kept in Private Houses. - Schoolhouses first mentioned in our Records 1791 .- A Few Poor Things at that Date. - One built Earliest in the Centre District. - The Second Generation of Houses in Several Districts. - Notices of all the subsequently built Schoolhouses in the Town.
School Moneys and Management. - Moneys variously raised, derived, and distrib- uted. - Amount and Details. - School-Committee Members since the Town was incorporated. - Progressive Improvements in Educational Management, etc. Miscellanies of an Educational Nature. - Select Seminaries and other Private Schools. - Graduates from Colleges. - The Town Library, etc.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THEIR CHANGES. SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
TN 1780, just previous to the incorporation of Milford, the parent town had eleven school districts. Of these the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth were within our territory, and were identical with high- way districts. No change was immediately made in these four origi- nal districts. But in 1784 a committee, specially appointed by the Town, divided them into eight, as follows : -
" First District. Beginning at landlord Robinson's [who then kept the public house afterwards known as the Col. Godfrey tavern stand], including him; from thence to Mr. Frost's, including him; from thence to Elijah Thayer's, including him; from thence to Caleb Cheney's, including him; from thence to Nehemiah Beal's, including him; from thence to Caleb Boyn- ton's, including him; from thence to Jacob Hayward's, including him; from thence to the first Bounds.
" Second Dist. Beginning at landlord Robinson's, excluding him; from thence to Saml. Albee's, including him; from thence to Daniel Hayward's, including him; from thence to Dea. John Chapin's, including him; from thence up to the Eight Rod Road; from thence to Moses Ramsdell's [now an old cellar-hole on John Mann's place], including him; from thence to Joseph
-
190
HISTORY OF MILFORD.
Jones's [Hopedale], excluding him; from thence to Aaron Merrifield's, in- cluding him; from thence to the first Bounds.
" Third Dist. Beginning at Daniel Hayward's, excluding him; then bounding on the Sec. Dist. to Mendon line; thence on Mendon line to Bel- lingham line; from thence to Josiah Wheelock's, including him; from thence to the first Bounds.
" Fourth Dist. Beginning at landlord Robinson's; from thence bounding Southerly on the Sec. Dist. to Mendon line; from thence to Upton line to Fisk's mills; from thence to Joseph Lesure's, including him; fromt hence to Moses Gage's, including him; from thence to Elijah Thayer's, excluding him; thence on the First District to the first Bounds.
" Fifth Dist. Beginning at Jacob Hayward's, including him; thence to Lieut. Seth Thayer's, including him; thenceto Boyce Kimball's, thence to Holliston line; thence to Bellingham line to Josiah Wheelock's, exclud- ing him; thence to Warfield Hayward's, including him; thence to the first mentioned Bounds.
" Sixth Dist. Beginning at Jacob Hayward's; thence on the Fifth Dist. to Holliston line; thence on said Holliston line to Jesse Whitney's, excluding him; thence to Caleb Boynton's, excluding him; thence to the first Bounds.
" Seventh Dist. Beginning at Nehemiah Beal's, excluding him; thence to Mordecai Day's, including him; thence to Lieut. Jesse Whitney's, including him; thence to Holliston line; thence to Wales Cheney's, including him; thence to David Stearns's [later Ebenr. Sumner's], including him; thence to Azariah Newton's, including him; thence to Isaac Sheffield's, excluding him; thence on the Fourth Dist. to Moses Gage's, excluding him; thence to Caleb Cheney's, excluding him; thence to the first Bound.
" Eighth Dist. Beginning at Isaac Sheffield's; thence to Upton line; thence to Hopkinton line; thence to Wales Cheney's, excluding him; thence to Azariah Newton's, excluding him; thence to the first Bound.
" GERSHOM NELSON, JOSEPH CODY,
JOSEPH GIBBS, ELIJAH THAYER,
JOSIAH WHEELOCK, EBENR. SUMNER,
EBENR. READ. DAVID STEARNS,
Committee for Dividing the Town into Districts.
" MILFORD, November ye 1st, 1784.
"N.B. This is wholly for Schooling; nothing for highway work." (Town Records, vol. i., pp. 56-58.)
I have copied this report in full, not only for its intrinsic value, as showing how the town was districted for schooling soon after its in- corporation ; but as a study for such antiquarian readers as may be curious enough to exercise their ingenuity in ascertaining the sitna- tion and areas of the districts when first defined by the town, and also the dwelling-places of those citizens who are recorded as on the frontier lines. Thus it may be learned who have been their local suc-
191
REVISION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
cessors down to the present time, and some curious questions settled. For similar reasons, subsequent arrangements will be fully presented.
There have always been people here, as elsewhere, desirous of better public accommodations, who therefore petitioned for improve- ments. In response to such, the Town appointed a committee to revise the school-district lines. This committee reported, April 8, 1799, the following alterations ; viz., " That the Seventh District extend as far south on the road that leads from Milford to Hopkinton, as the road that leads to Boston. That the First District extend as far eastwardly on the Boston road as where Lt. Whitney's road comes into Boston road, and as far westwardly as from Elijah Thayer's to the first stone bridge from Esq. Frost's to Alexander Scammell's ; thence to Elihu Perry's, excluding him : thence as usual. That the Second District extend eastwardly to within 13} rods of the bridge over Charles River, near Warfield Hayward's. That the Third Dis- trict remain as it now is, except the above alteration. That the Eighth District extend as far south as the north-easterly corner of Samuel Jones, Esq's., homestead land; and that there be another District in said Town for highway work." [Specification omitted.] . .
. " That David Jones be set from the Fourth to the Second District ; [and] that Daniel Carter be set from the Seventh to the Eighth Dis- trict." Report accepted, May 2, 1799. (Records, vol. ii., p. 29.)
Still, many inhabitants were dissatisfied, and made such complaints, that, three years later, a new arrangement was made, whereby the eight districts were resolved into six. This necessitated the removal of several schoolhouses to more convenient localities, which required the town to remunerate the districts for the cost of such removal. The committee on this subject had considerable difficulty about details in satisfying the town, but at length made a report which was accept- ed, April 5, 1802 ; viz., -
" That the Town be divided into Six Districts. That the North District be bounded as follows: beginning at Ebenezer Wood's, excluding him; thence to Col. Ichabod Thayer's, including him ; thence to Ithiel Parkhurst's, excluding him; thence to Wales Cheney's, including him; thence to Hopkin- ton line to Upton line; thence on Upton line to the road leading from Ebenezer Wood's to Upton; thence on said road to the first mentioned bounds. West District: beginning at David Jones', excluding him; thence to Alexander Scammell's, excluding him; thence to Richard Colburn's, in- cluding him; thence to Col. Ichabod Thayer's, excluding him; then bound- ing ou the North District to Upton line, and on Upton line to the road lead- ing from David Jones' to Mendon; then to the first mentioned bounds. South-west District: beginning at Dr. Isaac Brigham's, including him; then to Stephen Kilburn's, including him; thence to Obadiah Wood's, including
192
HISTORY OF MILFORD.
him; thence to Jonathan Hayward's, excluding him; thence to Cornell's & Aldrich's, excluding them; thence on line due west to Mendon line, and on Mendon line to the road leading from Jones' to Mendon; thence to David Jones' and widow Ruth Jones', including them; thence to Alexander Scam- mell's, including him; thence to the first mentioned bounds. South Dis- trict: beginning at Jonathan Hayward's, including him; thence to Joel Hayward's, including him; thence running east till it strikes the west line of the East District, and on said East District to Bellingham line, and on Bellingham line to Mendon, and on Mendon line to the boundary of the South-west District; thence to Cornell's & Aldrich's, including them; thence on the South-west District to the first mentioned bounds. East District: beginning at the north-westerly boundary of Bellingham; thence to Noah Wiswall's, including him; thence to Spruce Swamp; thence to Holliston line, and on Holliston line to Bellingham line, and on Bellingham line to the first mentioned bounds. Center District: beginning at Dr. Isaac Brigham's, excluding him; thence to Elijah Thayer's, including him; thence to Caleb Cheney's, including him; thence to Ithiel Parkhurst's, including him, thence to Wales Cheney's, excluding him; thence to Spruce Swamp near Holliston line; thence to Noah Wiswall's, excluding him; thence to David Stearns', including him; thence to Stephen Kilburn's, excluding him; then to the first mentioned bounds. It is recommended by the Committee, that the District which stands highest in the Valuation be the First District. Also that the Town appoint a Committee to settle matters between Districts in respect to the cost of moving schoolhouses, and that where any school- house must be moved the Town pay the cost." The following vote, passed March 6, 1804, defines the situation and number of the six districts: " Voted to accept the Number of the Districts as follows: -
Center District, or Middle of the Town First. ยท
North Purchase (so called) .
Second.
South Center, or South-west District
Third.
East District, or Bear Hill (so called)
Fourth.
West District
. Fifth.
South District
Sixth."
(Records, vol. ii., p. 119, also p. 122.)
Scarcely any changes in the lines of the above-described districts were made during the ensuing twenty years. Then a project was started to get up a peculiar composite district in the neighborhood of " Wild Cat," so called. It was proposed that Milford, Holliston, and Hopkinton, each of whom had families in that neighborhood ill accom- modated, should concur ; but this was found impracticable, and the movement abandoned till several years later, when the boundaries of the three towns in that quarter had been re-adjusted by act of the Legislature. In 1824 a committee was appointed to revise school- district lines. That committee reported a few important changes, as follows : -
193
REVISION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
" First district: beginning at Dr. Isaac Brigham's, excluding him; thence to John Claflin's tavern honse [the place formerly Stephen Kilburn's], ex- cluding that; then to the old cellar-hole near the Cobb orchard; then to the old cellar-hole near the road on Bear Hill; then to the house formerly owned by Noah Wiswall, excluding that; then to Spruce Swamp on Hollis- ton line; then to Jesse Whitney's, including him; then to Ithiel Parkhurst's, including him; then to Caleb Cheney's, including him; then to Elijah Thayer's, including him; then to the first mentioned bound: the other School Districts bounding on the above mentioned line of the First, or Cen- ter District." Accepted Nov. 1, 1824. (Records, vol. ii., p. 416.)
Jan. 5, 1829, the Town voted to divide the first district, and con- stitute the westerly section the seventh. This division, and the fact that the former boundaries left out certain gores of territory, induced the appointment of a committee, one from each of the now seven districts, to define anew the lines. That committee reported as fol- lows : -
"That the limits and boundaries of the several School Districts into which the Town is at present divided be established as follows: viz., The First or Center District, bounded by a line beginning at the north dwelling-house of Mr. Alexander Cheney, including the same; thence running due east to the line which bounds the Town; thence southerly on the Town line to a point near Spruce Swamp (so called) in Rocky Woods; thence to the dwell- ing-honse of Mr. Charles Ballou, excluding the same; thence to the old cellar-hole on Bear Hill; thence to the old cellar-hole near Cobb orchard (so called); thence westerly to a point due east of the north end of the build- ings app endedto the hotel of John Claflin, Esq., and due sonth from the extreme south-west corner of the Heater Piece (so called); thence due north to the said corner of the Heater Piece; thence northerly on the road to the corner of the roads just northerly of the Hearse Honse to the dwelling- honse of Miss Dilla Twitchell, excluding the same; and thence north-easterly to the first mentioned boundary point. The Second, or Purchase District, bounded east, north, and west by the boundary-line of the Town, and sonth by a line beginning at the point on Upton line where the same is intersected by a road which passes ont of Milford by Mr. Ebenr. Wood's dwelling-house; from said point proceeding to the said Wood's house, excluding the same; thence easterly to the dwelling-house of Capt. Rufns Thayer, excluding the same; thence to the Col. Thayer dwelling-house, including the same; thence sontherly to the dwelling-house of Mr. Caleb Cheney, excluding the same; thence north-easterly to the dwelling-house of Mr. Henry Ball, excluding the same; thence due east until it intersects the line of the First District; and thence following said line to its most north-easterly point on the Town line. The Third, or South-west District, bounded by a line beginning at the old cel- lar-hole near Cobb orchard (so called); thence running south-westerly to the dwelling-house of Mr. Ezekiel White, including the same, and thence due west to the Town line; thence following the said Town line northerly till it
194
HISTORY OF MILFORD.
reaches the road which passes by the Jones place out of Milford into Mendon: thence to the Davenport house, excluding the same; thence easterly to the dwelling-house of Daniel Scammell, including the same; thence to the Brig- ham house, including the same; thence to the north side of the buildings appended to the hotel of John Claflin, Esq .; thence due east to the line of the First District; and thence following said line to the first mentioned point near the Cobb orchard. The Fourth, or West District, bounded north by the Second, or Purchase District, east by a line beginning at the dwelling-house of Mr. Caleb Cheney, excluding the same; thence running southerly to Mr. Artemas Thayer's dwelling-house, excluding the same; thence due south to the north line of the Third, or South-west District; on the south bounded by said Third District, and on the west by the Town line. The Fifth, or East District, bounded on the east and south by the Town line, from a point begin- ning north near the Spruce Swamp in Rocky Woods, and ending south-west at a point made by the most north-westerly corner of the Town of Belling- ham; bounded on the west by a line proceeding northerly from the said north-west corner of Bellingham to the old cellar-hole near Cobb orchard; and thence following the easterly boundary-line of the First District to the first-mentioned point near Spruce Swamp. The Sixth, or South District, bounded on the east by the Fifth District and the Town line, north-west and north by the Third District. The Seventh District, bounded on the north by the Second, or Purchase District, east by the First or Center District, south by the Third or South-west District, and west by the Fourth or West District.
" By the foregoing it will be seen that the new limits of the several School Districts are so adjusted as to leave no gores of land, as was before the case. It will also be seen that the following dwelling-houses have been placed within the limits of other Districts: viz., Mr. Alexander Cheney's two houses have been taken from the Second or Purchase District, and brought within the limits of the First District. The dwelling-houses of Lee Claflin, Henry Ball, and Henry Allen have also been taken off from the Second, or Purchase District, and brought within the limits of the Seventh District. Capt. Rufus Thayer has also been taken off from the Purchase District, and brought within the limits of the Fourth or West District. The Wiswall dwelling-house, formerly belonging to the East District, has been brought within the limits of the First District. The dwelling-house of Lient. Isaac Davenport, formerly. belonging to the South-west District, has been brought within the limits of the South District. And the Davenport dwelling-house, heretofore belonging to the Third District, has been brought within the limits of the Fourth, or West District. All which the Committee respect- fully submit." Accepted Jan. 19, 1829. (Records, vol. iii., pp. 48-50.)
The next alteration worthy of mention was the creation of a new district in the north-east corner of the town, hereinbefore spoken of as the " Wild Cat " neighborhood. The lines of Holliston, Hopkin- ton, and Milford in that neighborhood had been rectified by the Gen.
195
THE WILD CAT NEW DISTRICT, ETC.
Court ; and our town gained a few families. All the families in that neighborhood were inconveniently distant from schoolhouses. It was very desirable for them to be made a separate district, and to have a schoolhouse. The only objection was, that they were too few to have a school of sufficient length, without drawing an overshare of school- money. However, in response to a petition of Alexander Cheney and others, the Town appointed a committee to consider the matter. That committee reported as follows : -
" That a School District be set off in the north-easterly part of said Town, to be called the Eighth School District, and hounded by the following lines: to wit, southerly on a line running east and west across the First District, from the line of the Fifth District to the line of the Seventh District, to strike the northernmost part of the barn lately owned by Stephen Sweet; thence on the line of the Seventh District to the house of Abel Clark, exclud- ing said house; thence to Hopkinton line where the new line between Hop- kinton and Milford crosses the old line; thence on Hopkinton line, Holliston line, and the line of the Fifth District, to the east end of the first-mentioned boundary line." Accepted, on condition that the new District would receive their proportion of school money, as had just then been arranged, May 9, 1836. According to the petition for this new district, it consisted of only eleven families when set off; whose paternal heads were Samuel Day, Rufus Claflin, Stephen Brown, Rufus Claflin, jun., Moses Adams, Henry Pearce, Aaron Hero, John Hero, Alexander Cheney, Jesse Whitney, and Hachaliah Whitney." (Records, vol. iii., pp. 182 and thereabouts. )
Fresh agitations soon after arose, and better accommodations for school privileges were importuned for. Some demanded to be set over to other districts, and many more to multiply the districts. This latter demand was at length conceded. One large committee reported a plan of division which did not quite satisfy the citizens. They therefore referred the subject to another large committee, who, with a few modifications, recommended the plan of their predecessors. Their report was accepted in 1841. It divided the town into eleven districts, as follows : -
" District No. 1. To commence at Cobb orchard (so called); thence to the old cellar on Bear Hill; thence to the old post-road east of the house occupied by Luther Holbrook; thence to the house of Zebadiah Flagg, including all the buildings belonging to him and D. S. Flagg within the limits herein described; thence to the junction of the old Cedar Swamp Pond with Charles River; thence southerly by said river to a point west of said Cobb orchard; thence east to the place of beginning.
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