History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881, Part 44

Author: Ballou, Adin, 1803-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Boston : Rand, Avery, & co.
Number of Pages: 1328

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881 > Part 44

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CRIMINAL RECORD OF MILFORD FOR THE PAST YEAR (1879).

" The annual returns of the Third District Court of Southern Worcester, just made out, show in some respects a highly gratifying state of affairs, and that the criminal population is not increasing. The district includes Milford, Mendon, and Upton.

"The number of complaints made for assault has been only thirty, - considerably less than for any other one year during the last twenty, forty- one being the lowest in any previous year. During ten years of that time, the average number of cases of assault has been over ninety, - that is, over three times the number of the past year.

" The number of cases of drunkenness has been steadily diminishing, the last three years. The number the present year is three hundred and four, while it was four hundred and twenty-eight three years ago.

"The number of cases of larceny is nineteen, -certainly not a large number, though it has only been exceeded five times during the last twenty years.

" The criminal business of the court generally has been smaller than any previous year since 1867.

" This record of crime for a score of years is worthy of notice, and affords matter for reflection and satisfaction in a peace-loving community.

" During the ten years when the largest number of assaults occurred, the average cases of drunkenness were one hundred and forty-four per year; and the other ten years when assault cases were infrequent, the number of intoxicated persons averaged two hundred and eighty per year. The last seven years the assault cases have been few, and the cases of drunkenness

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CONCLUSION OF CRIMINAL STATUS.

more, the assaults averaging forty-eight, and the cases of intoxication three hundred and thirty-four. This would apparently indicate that it is not unwise to arrest a person when intoxicated, and if this is done there is less liability of his committing an assault.

"The general record is even better than it appears; as the district was only formed five years ago, and since then Upton has been included, and a small portion of business has come from that town."

If the causes of intemperance in the use of intoxicating liquors could by any means be overcome and done away, a very large pro- portion of the criminality confessed in the foregoing report would no longer oblige us to blush with shame even for petty offences.

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HISTORY OF MILFORD.

CHAPTER XV.

MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS AND PARTICULARS.

Our Voluntary Associations, organized for Various Purposes. - 1. The Merely Secu- lar ; " Horse-thief Detecting ;" the "Agricultural ;" the " Medical ;" the Pecuniary, Industrial, and Literary .- 2. The Fraternal ; the Masonic ; Odd- Fellowship, etc. - 3. The Reformatory; Temperance Societies, etc. - 4. Mutual Benefit Societies. - 5. The Religious and Semi-religious Organizations ; Social and Amusemental Characteristics.

Abandoned Home-Sites, Descent of Farm-Lands, Local Changes, etc. - Descriptions and Historical Particulars of Thirty-seven Abandoned Home-Sites in Different Parts of the Town. - The Numerous Changes in Ownership of Real Estate. - The Few Persons who now inherit Real Estate in the Fourth Generation, etc. - Four Specimens of Numerous Changes in the Ownership of Homesteads. - Original Land-owners of Milford Centre.

Real Estate ever owned by the Town, and Interesting Chronicles. - Table I., showing all the Parcels conveyed to the Town. - Table II., all the Parcels conveyed from the Town. - Divers Interesting Chronicles. - Innholders, and Retailers of Spirituous Liquors.

OUR VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS, ORGANIZED FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES.

ANKING, railroad, fire-insurance, and other monetary corpo- rations have been noticed elsewhere, excepting the Gaslight Co. and a few other business organizations. The Gaslight Co. was incorporated in 1854. It is managed by a president, directors, treas- urer, and superintendent ; has a capital of $80,000 or more ; and has several miles of pipe, extending even to the upper machine-shop at Hopedale. Since the above was written, the Milford Water Co. has been organized under a special act of General Court. This Water Co. originated in a Reservoir Co., formed in June, 1880, for the benefit of Charles river mill-owners, and to protect Milford against loss by fire. Subsequent changes developed it into its present importance. It has a chartered right to issue capital stock to the amount of $100,000, and to bond the works to the amount of the actual cash paid in. Moses Joy, jun., has contracted to build and complete the works on or before July 1, 1882. The enterprise is in rapid process of execution, and is one of great promise.

It was organized in March, 1881, with Moses Joy, jun., C. W. Shippee, John P. Daniels, E. L. Wires, and Charles F. Claflin, as directors ; Moses Joy, jun., as president ; J. P. Daniels, treasurer ; and Charles W. Shippee, secretary.

385

VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS.

I pass over a few minor corporations, and come to those institu- tions which I have denominated voluntary associations. These are quite various in their character and objects, ranging from merely secular to religious, through the scale of philanthropic, fraternal, and morally reformatory.

Of the merely secular we have the following : "The Horse-thief Detecting Society," organized Dec. 21, 1795, including in its scope several neighboring towns. It has three hundred members in Milford, Mendon, and Bellingham, is officered by a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, and has a pursuing committee of five in each of the three towns. Its funds had accumulated to the amount of over four thousand dollars, until recently, when the bulk of it was divided among the members. "The Worcester South-east Agricultural Soci- ety " was incorporated in 1860. Its area of membership includes also several neighboring towns. It has seven hundred members, officered by a president, numerous vice-presidents, a secretary, and treasurer. Annual meeting first Thursday in Dec. It owns (or did until re- cently) a capacious hall and riding-park, and holds its annual fair on the last Tuesday and Wednesday of September. "Milford Farm- ers' Club " was organized 1859, and incorporated 1870. Its general object is indicated by its title. Its annual meeting for the election of president, secretary, and treasurer is held on the first Monday in January. Fair held first and third Saturdays of every month, at Farmers' Exchange, on the Town Park. "Thurber Medical Asso- ciation," organized June 9, 1853. Its membership extends over the adjacent towns, and consists of physicians belonging to the Massa- chusetts Medical Society. Object, professional improvement and social intercourse. Rooms, 107 Main St. Meetings once a month, Thursday on or before full moon. Officers elected annually in Octo- ber ; viz., a president, secretary, and treasurer. Fund, $600, the income devoted to purchase of books. Library, two hundred vol- umes. A number of other secular associations have arisen from time to time, and after a while been dissolved, -some mainly pecuniary, and others literary, such as " Mill River Loan Fund Association," incorporated 1854 ; " Landholders' Protective Association," organ- ized 1855 ; " Young Men's Lyceum and Debating Club," organized 1853 ; "People's Lyceum," organized 1850; " Knights of St. Cris- pin, Lodge No. 5," organized Sept., 1867; " Milford Dramatic Union," organized Nov., 1873. Most of these and several kindred organizations of minor importance are now defunct.

Of fraternal, philanthropic, and charitable associations we have the following : -

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HISTORY OF MILFORD.

The Masonic. - " Montgomery Lodge of F. & A. M.," chartered 1797, formerly located in Medway ; regular meetings, Thursdays on or before full moon. "Mount Lebanon Royal Arch Chapter," char- tered 1824, also formerly located in Medway; regular meetings, Thursdays after full moon. "Milford Commandery of Knights Tem- plar, chartered 1859 ; regular assemblies, the fourth Monday in each month. There is also a " Masonic Mutual Relief Society " of more recent date, whose object is indicated by its title. "Charity Lodge " was the first Masonic body in town. It was chartered in Mendon, June 13, 1803, and installed there soon afterwards. It was removed to Milford, 1815, and continued in operation till somewhere not far from 1830, at the culmination of the great Anti-Masonic excitement in this State, when its charter was surrendered to the Grand Lodge. Its records and jewels perished in the conflagration which afterwards destroyed the Masonic Temple on Tremont St., Boston.

The Odd-Fellows. - " Tisqwantum Lodge, No. 46, I. O. of O. F.," chartered 1844 ; charter renewed 1871 ; meetings every Monday even- ing at 8 o'clock, in Odd-Fellows' Hall ; number of members, one hun- dred and forty. "Quinshepang Encampment, No. 20," chartered 1867 ; renewed 1871 ; number of members, seventy-five ; meetings, first and third Thursdays in each month. These associations guarantee important benefits to their members in case of sickness or death. There is also a stronger County Association.

Other Mutual Benefit Societies. - Knights of Pythias, " Bay State Lodge, No. 51," organized April 14, 1870 ; regular meetings, every Tuesday evening, in Pythian Hall. "Division No. 7, Ancient Order of Hibernians." Object and character of the institution : "The members of this order declare that the intent and purpose of the order is to promote friendship, unity, and true Christian charity among its members, by raising or supporting a stock of money for maintaining the aged, sick, blind, and infirm members, for legiti- mate expenses of the order, and for no other purpose whatsoever." Membership confined wholly to Roman Catholics. Formerly it was restricted to Irish and those of Irish descent. Recently this restric- tion has been taken off. Number of members, eighty-five. Officers, a president, vice-president, treasurer, recording secretary, financial do. and assistant do. It was organized March 23, 1873, with but seventeen members. It pays to its members while sick $5 per week and doctor's bills, $50 at death to the widow or nearest relative, to defray funeral expenses, and from a death-fund $2 per member in aid of the bereaved family. Its funds at interest and other property in : hand amount to $4,454.

387

VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATIONS.

" Mutual Relief Association," instituted Nov. 15, 1870. Object and character, "to secure such relief and present support to the widow or heirs of each and every deceased member, by the faithful payment to said heirs or assigns of such sums of money as shall be derived by the payment of one dollar ($1) by each surviving member ; and we, the undersigned, hereby pledge our sacred honor, that we will not wilfully do any thing that shall tend to defeat the above object." Number of members, three hundred and thirty-five ; officered by a president, two vice-presidents, secretary and treasurer (both in one), and an executive committee of nine, including the president and vice-presidents.

" Milford Lodge, Knights of Honor, No. 692," organized July 18, 1877 ; present membership, forty ; meets first and third Wednesdays in each month, at Pythian Hall, Bank building. Officers, a dictator, vice do., reporter, financial do., treasurer, chaplain, guide, guardian, sentinel, medical examiner, etc., all chosen and installed once in six months. Object, "purely that of insurance, or a means of furnish- ing a person's family with the means of subsistence after the death of its head." Any person of good moral character, twenty-one years of age, after passing a satisfactory medical examination, may become a member. Initiation fee, $1, paid into the widows' and orphans' fund. Insurance guaranteed by the whole order, seventy-five thou- sand in number, by process of assessment on the entire membership ; securing $2,000 to the widow or orphans of every deceased member within thirty days after death.

Temperance Societies. - Of these there have been many in town since the rise of the Temperance reform, bearing different titles. Most of them ceased, one after another, to maintain an active organ- ization. Just how many now exist of the old type, I am not informed. Of the modern type we had instituted Aug. 6, 1868, " Division No. 51, Sons of Temperance," perhaps now defunct ; "Fidelity Lodge, No. 21, Independent Order of Good Templars," instituted Sept. 14, 1863, still vigorous ; " Hopedale Lodge, No. 237," same order, insti- tuted Feb. 1, 1867, recently dissolved ; "Claflin Lodge, No. 259," same order, instituted July 11, 1867, now defunct ; " Elmwood Lodge, No. 129," same order, instituted at So. Milford, 1872, still active ; " Catholic Temperance Association," organized 1859, still in pros- perous activity. More recently, one or two "Temperance Clubs " have been organized, with a numerous membership; but I am not in possession of the necessary data to describe them properly. All, or nearly all, of these new-type organizations were instituted with mutnal- benefit provisions. Milford has a strong minority of citizens pro-

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HISTORY OF MILFORD.

fessedly devoted to the Temperance cause, but the majority seems to uphold the licensed sale of intoxicating liquors with a decisive prefer- ence.

Religious or Semi-religious Associations. - " Milford Bible Soci- ety," organized Oct., 1857, as a branch of the New York Bible Society, with " the same object; viz., to place the Bible within the reach of all." It is in prosperous and successful operation. "Young Men's Christian Association," organized Nov., 1867; object, " the mental, moral, and spiritual improvement of its members." It holds regular meetings every month, has a respectable constituency, is well officered, and is prosperous. The several religious societies, as elsewhere stated, have their subservient social organizations for various purposes, which I need not here specify by name and object.

SOCIAL AND AMUSEMENTAL CHARACTERISTICS.

Although the distinctions of race, rank, and class exist among us, and perhaps with increasing definiteness, yet there is a predominant sociality and fraternity of feeling throughout the town. The popula- tion has, for the most part, always inclined to common humanity, equality, sympathy, and friendly social intercourse. There has ever been a general fondness for congenial, convivial, and amusemental gatherings. A "good time " never came amiss, and its repetition was never long delayed. In the olden days they had their huskings, quiltings, rural dances, play-parties, and jovial sports. Next came the travelling jugglers, sleight-of-hand performers, caravans, and other showmen. Dramatic exhibitions and theatrical plays, by home troupes, commenced as early as 1825 in the brick meeting-house. Balls of more fashionable style and importance came into vogue, and came to stay. And now scarcely a week passes without more or less of social entertainment in the forms of theatrical performance, musi- cal concert, excursion, fair, levee, club-feast, base-ball, or some one of the thousand modern amusements. Even the churches, as well as moral reform societies, have gone into the practice of getting up various sorts of "good times," to raise funds, please their Sunday schools, and increase their congregations. Whereunto this will grow remains to be scen. There has recently been completed a spacious and elegant music-hall, erected expressly for theatrical and other amusemental purposes. Heretofore the Town-Hall, Washing- ton Hall, Lyceum Hall, Irving Hall, and others of less note have afforded the only accommodations of this nature. We have some staid, plain-living people, who think they can manage to enjoy mortal exist- ence with a somewhat smaller spice of artificial amusement, and who

FRED. SWASKY, Architect.

MUSIC HALL BLOCK.

389

ABANDONED HOME-SITES.

are disposed to mind their own business in a more quiet way ; but they are not exactly in fashion. Although there are some vicious amuse- ments, and doubtless many abuses of innocent ones in town, which ought to be abated, its civil morality will average fairly with that of most other communities, even of some who claim to be much more Puritanical. It has no excess of the dangerously criminal classes, albeit we are not exempt from misdemeanor; and there is room for great improvements a long way this side of the millennium.

ABANDONED HOME-SITES, DESCENT OF FARM-LANDS, LOCAL CHANGES, ETC.

Principal among abandoned home-sites, known to me, are the following described : ---

No. 1. - On E. Main St., coming from Holliston, on Appleton Bragg's farm, a dozen rods or more east of the St., are the cellar remains of the old Kilburn home, once inhabited by the first Josiah Kilburn, and perhaps by his father John, the ancestor of all our Kilburns. This home dates back to 1725 or thereabouts, and then controlled a large farm, extending southerly along the highway into the hollow at the foot of the hill, this side of the Nathan Keith place, in our day so called. It continued to be inhabited by a daughter of Josiah Kilburn, sen., till 1831, when Col. Arial Bragg bought it, with its remaining one acre, of Deborah Kilburn.

No. 2. - On the west side of the same St., a little above the Nathan Keith place, is the Eldad Atwood cellar-hole and well, plainly preserved. I think I have been told that Eldad's father dwelt there before him, but am not certain. If so, the home dates back anterior to 1750. Eldad himself mortgaged his place to the town in 1811, being in needy circumstances. He died in 1814. Just when his habitation was demolished, I have not been told.

No. 3. - The Wiswall place, on the same St., north side, half a mile fartber towards the Centre, is well known to our older people. It was inhabited first by Thomas Wiswall, as long ago, probably, as 1725 ; next by his son Timothy and wife, who were an aged couple living there in 1824, when I first came into town. He d. there in 1830, and a few years later the house was demolished. Its remains are quite noticeable and distinct.

No. 4. - On the same St. and side of it, coming towards town, nearly opposite the lane that leads by Mrs. L. B. Felton's to Medway St., at the foot of the hill, are the cellar-holes of Lt. Joseph Gibbs's home. These remains are so obscure that they cannot be recognized without some search. They were formerly noticeable on account of

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HISTORY OF MILFORD.

numerous Balm of Gilead trees near them. The straightening of the road in 1803, or thereabouts, left the site a little back in the southern skirts of Rocky Woods. In 1769 Dr. Wm. Jennison sold this place to Lt. Joseph Gibbs with some seventy acres of land. Of whom Jennison had it, or who dwelt there aforetime, if anybody, I have not informed myself. But the dwelling-house and its appendages were of respectable rank, and continued to be inhabited, with fair surroundings, down to 1813, perhaps a little later. Gibbs d. in 1805, and Stephen Kilburn dwelt there in 1813. Date of demolition not ascertained.

No. 5. - On the Daniell place, now owned by L. B. Felton's heirs, we find a cellar-hole and remains of chimney. The old house was occupied by Oliver Daniell and wife, aged people at my coming into town. It was probably built by Josiah Partridge as early as 1725, · who sold it, with large accompaniments of land, to Jasper Daniell, father of Oliver, in 1737. Date of demolition must be subsequent to 1831, in which year Oliver and wife both died.

No. 6. - Near the junction of Mt. Pleasant and Central Sts., a little way towards Beaver St., there are conspicuous foundation remains of a once considerable mausion. In 1742, when the select- men of Mendon laid out what is now Mt. Pleasant St., Ephraim Daniels dwelt there. But who preceded or succeeded him, or when the place was abandoned, I am as yet uninformed. Ephraim Daniels d. at sea in 1747. It must have been inhabited until several years later.

No. 7. - The Cobb-orchard cellar-hole, famous as a school-district bound, is situated in an obscure spot, once accessible by a bridle-path from Howardtown, formerly so called, out to Sherborn road. It is an ancient home-site, said to have been once inhabited by a family named Lewis, and afterwards by Capt. Samuel Cobb, the father of Col. Ethan Cobb. From Capt. Samuel it took its name, and probably his family last dwelt there ; though of this I am not certain. It was shown me some months since by Mr. Jno. P. Daniels. I judge it to lie about one-third of a mile south by west from the Chessman man- sion on Bear Hill.

No. 8 is on Cedar St. towards Hopkinton, on the estate now owned by John Hicks, and formerly by Moses Adams. There are the remains of a once large and substantially-built house, long inhabited, and I presume erected by Samuel Bowker. In his days the locality was in Hopkinton ; but it was brought within our limits by re-adjust- ment of town-lines in 1835.

No. 9, on Deer St., west of the Wild-cat Mill-pond, long stood the

391

ABANDONED HOME-SITES.

ancient domicile of Wales Cheney. There I ministered at his funeral in 1825. He d. aged ninety two. His son Alexander, after building him a new dwelling-house, must, I think, have demolished the pater- nal home many years ago. What remains to indicate the site, I have not been to see.

No. 10 is on Cedar St., easterly of Pine-grove Cemetery, near where Superintendent Miller's hot-house stands, - an old cellar-hole. As nearly as I can learn, Jonathan Whitney dwelt there on his first coming into our territory. He m. a dr. of Elder John Jones, in 1727, and probably took up his abode on this spot about that time. Of this, however, I am not quite certain ; but if he did not build the house on this site, I have found no hint who his predecessor was. The dwelling was afterwards tenanted many years by Edward Des- per, latterly spelled Despeaux, the father of Jason, Jesse, etc., well known to our elderly people. It was demolished over half a century ago, for I saw nothing of it when I first came into town.

No. 11 is a cellar-hole one-fourth of a mile or more towards the Centre, on the west side of the same street, northerly from the Cath- olic cemetery, on a bend of the old road adjacent to Cedar Swamp. This bend was left several rods northerly by the present street as straightened a few years since. I have tried in vain to ascertain the original owner of this home and its successive occupants. It may have belonged to the estate of Thomas Gage, or to that of Thomas Tenney. I must leave the matter in obscurity.

No. 12 is on the north side of the old turnpike, opposite the Bick- nell Cemetery, formerly called the Dr. Thurber Burying-ground, close to our southern line. There we find the cellar and chimney rubbish. There is some reason to believe that this site was first inhabited by John Albee and his wife Deborah (Thayer), before 1710; but this is not certain, - only probable. Joseph Corbett, youngest son of the first Dr. John Corbett, who married John Albee's dr. Deborah, is known to have dwelt there many years. They probably inherited the place from her father. They were the grandparents of Ichabod Cor- bett, well known to our townsfolk over fifty years old. His grand- parents brought him up, and perhaps gave him the homestead. Any- how, he owned and dwelt in it a long time. The ancient domicile was standing in 1824, for I attended the funeral of a child there during that year. It was then in a dilapidated state, and must have been taken down not long after.

No. 13 designates two cellar-holes on Plain St., opposite the Gas- kill Race-course that existed several years ago. Its poplar-tree or two and lilac shrubbery have long rendered it noticeable. The build-

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HISTORY OF MILFORD.

ings must have been gone, I think, nearly half a century ; as I do not recollect seeing any dwellings there during the last forty years. I have not yet mastered the history of this home-site to my satisfac- tion. It has been called the Stoddard place, one or two generations of that name having been many years dwellers there. I am told that they were preceded by one of the Rockwood families, and that they had some successors. Jeremiah Stoddard, sen. and jun., came from Hingham to this town, in 1782, and both dwelt on these premises with their respective families ; but who built the houses, I know not.

No. 14 is on Warfield St., plainly observable to attentive passers, on the south-westerly side of the way. It is called the Abijah War- field place. He was the father of Obadiah, Elijah, and Ebenezer, and grandfather to James M., William, David, etc. I have under- stood the place was originally owned by one of the Wheelocks, the father of Mrs. Abijah Warfield. If so, the house was probably built by him. It was a very substantial fabric, and was demolished but a few years ago.

No. 15 is on the Lowell Fales place, near the junction of Mellen and Plain Sts., on the northerly side towards the Fales residence. Long ago the road now called Plain St. is said to have run just west of this site, nearly in range with the Fales barn, and so northerly on the edge of the sandy ridge, nearly out to the junction of Plain and Mill Sts. This site is hardly perceptible, but of undoubted exist- ence. It is a very ancient one, but I have been unable to master its history. It may have been the home of the first Obadiah Wheelock, who, I believe, once owned the adjacent lands. Let some antiquary study the case.

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History of the town of Milford, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1881, Part 44

Author: Ballou, Adin, 1803-1890 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Boston : Rand, Avery, & co. Number of Pages: 1328

Author: Ballou, Adin, 1803-1890
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Boston : Rand, Avery, & co.
Number of Pages: 1328