USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Princeton > History of the town of Princeton in the county of Worcester and commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1759-1915, Volume I > Part 6
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Mr. Willard's change of purpose and willingness to remain in the town, cost him his life, for on the 14th of August, 1723, he was attacked and killed by the Indians. His proposal ten months before " speedily to Remove " from the town must have seemed to his neighbors as almost prophetic.
Concerning this sad ending of his life, it is related that while away from his house on a hunting excursion, he was suddenly attacked by two Indians who fired upon him. He returned the fire, wounding one of them, upon which the second closed in with him, and with the assistance of three others who had appeared on the scene killed him. Removing his scalp and taking some of his clothing they escaped. In a letter from Lieutenant Governor Dummer to Monsieur Vandreuil, Governor of Canada, January 19, 1724, in Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 50, page 106 (re- ferring to the alleged murder of Father Ralle, a Jesuit teacher) he says: " And I think I have much greater cause to complain that Mr. Willard the Minister of Rutland (who never had been guilty of the Facts chargeable upon Mr. Ralle) was by the Indians you sent to attack that Town, assaulted, Slain & Scalped & his Scalp carried in triumph to Quebec."
Some time after Mr. Willard's death, his widow married Rev. Andrew Gardner into whose family her two children William and Joseph were received. Mr. Gardner was set- tled at Lunenburg, but subsequently removed to Charles- town, N. H. Further reference to him will be found under the article on " Gardner's Farms."
It is interesting to note that one of Mrs. Willard's sons, Joseph, was in 1760 with his wife and five children taken captive by the Indians. The youngest child was killed and the rest of the family carried to Canada where they remained until the surrender of Montreal, when they were released.
In 1729 Mr. Gardner in behalf of the children of Rev. Joseph Willard petitioned the General Court for a grant of Province land, stating that Mr. Willard was killed by the Indians in the late war and in defending his own
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life " did in all probability kill one or more of said Indians."
The Court made a grant of 300 acres of unappropriated land in answer to this petition and a survey of a lot " West from Lancaster Additional grant & East from Wachusett," bounded " all about by common land " was confirmed Dec. 19, 1730. (Mass. Archives, Vol. 14, page 348.)
Only a portion of this grant was included within the original limits of Princeton, the northerly portion belong- ing to that tract being known for many years as part of " No-Town."
It retained the name of " Willard's farm " for years, but in some instances was called " Gardner's farm," to which reference is made hereafter.
In 1751 Daniel Drury of Shrewsbury and Benjamin Willard of " Potash " for £300. Lawful money conveyed this tract with an adjoining lot of 76 acres to Benjamin Wilson, who soon sold a part of it to Daniel Garfield, Jr., and somewhere within this territory a saw mill was erected, being the first one in that neighborhood of which we have any record.
The history of the occupancy of these lands is so inter- woven with other adjoining tracts, that all are included in the article on Gardner's farm.
Kneeland's Farm. This farm, occasionally referred to as " Nolands " was situated in what is now the northerly part of the town, adjoining Westminster including within its bounds a portion of Wachusett pond. It is difficult to determine the exact location, but its northerly corner was about fifty rods north of the pond on Westminster line, very near the old corner bound of the town before " No town " was annexed.
Samuel Kneeland was a resident of Boston, for many years was printer for the General Court, and was also interested in the publication of many books and of one or more newspapers of his day. This " ancient and respect- able printer " bore an excellent reputation and was a useful citizen, " sustaining to the end the character of an upright
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man & good Christian." His death occurred, Dec. 14, 1769, at the age of 73.
His partner, Bartholamew Green was the recipient of lands from the Government, and in 1734 Mr. Kneeland petitioned the General Court in his own behalf, praying for a grant of Province lands for the reasons set forth, - that he has officiated as Clerk of the Narragansett Com- pany and has spent much time & labour in that Service, whereby he has not only served the Said Company, but eased the Committees of the General Court of a great deal of trouble in finding out mistakes in the Lists & rectifying them: for which he has not received any satis- faction."
The House of Representatives favored the petition but the Council refused its sanction: though a few months later, April 16, 1735, a grant of 250 acres was made, and upon presentation of a plan the lot as described above was confirmed on the 20th of December, 1735. (C. R., Vol. 20, pages 115, 238 - Plans Vol.
In 1737 Mr. Kneeland mortgaged the farm and in 1740 sold it to Samuel Hewes of Boston for £200. In 1759, at which time there were buildings upon the lot, Mr. Hewes conveyed it to Edward Wilson (to whose possessions reference is elsewhere made) who in turn conveyed to Benj. Houghton 45 acres, David Osgood, Jr., 102 acres, and John Frost 107 acres.
Subsequently a large portion of the farm came into possession of the Everett family.
Stevens' Farm. The facts connected with the history of this farm are full of interest.
Capt. Joseph Stevens removed from Sudbury about the year 1720 to Rutland, where he became prominent in town affairs, was deacon of the church, ensign and captain in the militia, and innholder, and in every way was accounted a worthy man.
The severe losses he sustained in his family by reason of the Indian invasion have been related in several publica- tions, but we are indebted to the historian of Charlestown,
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N. H., where one of Mr. Stevens' sons subsequently settled, for the most satisfactory account.
On the 14th of August, 1723 (the same day in which Rev. Mr. Willard was killed, as elsewhere related), Capt. Stevens was making hay in the " meeting house meadow," and as his four sons were going to join him, they were surrounded by five Indians, who immediately slew two of them, and took Phineas, the eldest, and Isaac the youngest, prisoners. The father saw the transaction, but knowing that he was powerless to resist made his escape into neighboring bushes.
Isaac was only about four years old, and the savages soon manifested their intention of killing him, but Phineas, then some seventeen years of age, quickly apprehending their design, succeeded in making them understand that if they would spare the child he would relieve them of all trouble in relation to him by carrying him on his back. The boy was spared and the brother fulfilled his agreement and carried him through the whole journey to Canada.
The children were held in captivity for over a year, and were released only after persistent efforts of the father and at great expense.
Two journeys to Canada were made by him and that was no easy task in those days. Upon the first visit he succeeded in securing one of the boys, but the other he was obliged to leave in captivity a while longer. We may be assured that he spared no pains to accomplish the desired object and enlisted in his behalf the services of all who could in any manner render assistance. In the Archives of the State (Vol. 51, page 399) is a letter of Lt. Gov. Dummer to the Intendant General of Canada, dated April 15, 1724, in which he says " Theun happy Man MT Stevens had two of his Children murder'd by the Salvages & two more carried into Captivity by them. I know I need not say anything to a Gent of y Rank & Goodness to move you to a generous Compassion for the distress'd." What effect this letter had does not appear, but Mr. Stevens succeeded that year in getting one of his sons released.
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Since this was written I have found a letter from Mr. Brintnall, an officer in command at Rutland, dated Aug. 19th, 1724, in which he says "Ensign Stevens is arrived with his son from Canada, he intends to be att Boston with your Honor on Monday next." This shows that the son returned in just about a year from the date of his capture, while the other had not been released the following Novem- ber.
Soon after his return to Rutland, he addressed a letter to Governor Dummer and to the General Court which is of sufficient interest to copy entire.1
This letter not only shows Mr. Stevens' strong desire for the liberation of his own son but evinces sincere sym- pathy for all others in captivity.
The expenses of Capt. Stevens in his attempts to regain his children, bore heavily upon him and almost impoverished him. In this unhappy condition he followed the example of many others and petitioned the General Court in 1732 for a grant of land " to settle his sons on " stating (in the words of the records, Vol. 15, page 325) that " his great losses and sufferings occasioned by the late Indian War more especially his great Charge in two Journeys to Canada, which he took to get his two Sons released out of Captivity which has obliged him to sell the greatest part of his land."
In compliance with this request the Court granted, Nov. 29, 1732, 200 acres of land which were subsequently surveyed and laid out north of Watertown farm and south- easterly from Wachusett Hill. A plan of the lots is in Vol. 2 of Ancient Plans in Mass. Archives.
The father, however, did not " settle his sons " on this farm but seven months after it was confirmed to him, sold it to Benj. Houghton for £100. current money. (Wor. Deeds, Vol. 8, page 267.)
Of the two sons released from captivity it is stated that the youngest, Isaac, while with the Indians acquired many of their habits and became attached to his " squaw mother,"
1 Mass. Archives, Vol. II, page 407.
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so that he would willingly have remained with her. He was married in Rutland where he resided many years.
The eldest son, Phineas, remained in Rutland until about the year 1745, when he moved to Charlestown, N. H. In the latter town he became one of the most trustworthy of its citizens, and as a military man achieved a high reputation. His observation of " Indian habits and character and of their peculiar mode of strategy and warfare " during his captivity specially fitted him for the public duties he was called to perform. In 1749 he was commissioned by the Governor of Massachusetts to go to Canada and negotiate for the redemption of captives held by the Indians, and subsequently made several journeys for the same purpose. (See Mass. Archives, Vol. 73, page 690). In one visit he succeeded in redeeming John Stark (afterward the General of Revolutionary fame.)
Capt. Stevens, the father, in his later years was in straitened circumstances, so much so that he was assisted by friends.1
Johnson's or Hartwell's Farm. Capt. Edward Johnson of Woburn, the early New England historian, had several grants of land from the Colony, on account of his public services, which were as varied as they were valuable.
He is best known as the author of " Wonder Working Providence of Sion's Saviour," a work of much historical value notwithstanding its peculiarities.
Capt. Johnson's eccentricity is shown very forcibly in one petition to the Court which appears among the State files. It is in the Captain's own writing and such an unusual document that we print it in full, although it has no special reference to the town of Princeton.
" To the Supreame & high Hounoured power of this desspicable Desart Stated in the Hands of Magistrates & Deputyes Assembled in Generall Court Hounoured.
Submitting to yor noe lesse pious then prudent Judg- ments.
1 See History of Framingham for note about payment of money to Dea. Stevens.
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The Request of him, who would Bee: not onely yor Humble Searvant but alsoe possessor of som small track of land to the quantity of 500! Acres (where the Lord whos is the Earth & the fullness theirof) hath layd it as yet vnpossessed by any Towns or person.
Motives of Justice & Compassion, touched will soone take if your hounoured Could but see any in Him who has waited one this Hounoured assembly for, 15, years of his few evell dages & is Reddy (through high conceitednes of him selfe) to touch vppon the first Embrce of or Lawes & curbing the Enemies of this well ordered government yet the plumes of Such light fethers, may soone Be pressed downe By the gravetie of this Honoured Court in him who is bound in Conscience to Bee (what ever yo' Answer shall Be).
Your Hounoured to Serve, Edward Johnsen.
In answer to this petition the deputies think meete to graunt the pet" three hundred Acres of land where he can find it according to law with reference to the consent of of hond magties.
8 (4) 1658.
William Torrey.
Consented to by the Magists Edward Rawson, Secret'.
(Mass. Archives, Vol. XLV, page 65.)
This grant was taken up on the "Westerne wide of Merremacke River."
In May, 1662, another grant of 200 acres was made Capt. Johnson, but as it was " never recorded " a con- firmation was made Oct. 20, 1663, the Court giving him " liberty to take it in any free place wth in this jurisdiction according to lawe."
Capt. Johnson died in 1672, without having located the last named grant, and no mention of it is found until 1718
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when Edward Johnson a grandson of the Captain peti- tioned for a confirmation and survey. This request was granted by the Court Nov. 1I, 1718 and a survey made, but as the tract laid out encroached upon other grants, another survey was ordered in 1720.
It was then described as " on a branch of Nashua River near Rutland East line 120 rods from Shrewsbury north bounds, 15 rods south from said Branch," running north 16° west 216 rods, west 12° south 143 rods south 12º east 215 rods and thence to the first point.
This was situated in the southeasterly part of Princeton, as indicated on the plan, and is the lot subsequently known as the " Hartwell farm " and undoubtedly identical with " Hartwell's meadows."
It remained in the Johnson family until 1755 when Joseph and William Johnson and Elisha Sawyer sold it to Zachariah Harvey of Shrewsbury for £226.14.
This date may determine the time of Dr. Harvey's settlement in Princeton; it was certainly between 1755 and 1758. (See Blagrove's Farm.) He purchased, a few years later, a large portion of the Blagrove's Farm adjoin- ing and surrounding the Johnson or Hartwell farm, making his possessions in that region some 1000 acres.
It does not appear how this tract acquired the name of " Hartwell's Farm " or " Meadows," although it is signi- ficant that in laying it out Edward Hartwell as " Chain- man " assisted Jonas Houghton the surveyor.
Mr. Hartwell was one of the influential men of Lancaster and Turkey Hills (Lunenburg) to which latter place he removed in August, 1725. He was called to fill important positions in both towns, and his connection with the mili- tary service of the Government, especially during the Indian troubles, brought him into prominence. In the State Archives there are many interesting letters of his and references to his services, showing him ever ready to serve his " King and Country."
He died at the age of 97 "as full of piety as of days."
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Lancaster, August ye 23, 1725.
May it plese your Honer: your Hon' Having Given me the Subscriber the Inspection of the Soldiers at sd Lan- caster under the Command of Capt. Josiah Willard and I haveing bult at Turkey Hils and my Enterest lying there, I am desined to Remove theither y nex weak if I may but obtain your Hon' Leave there for hopeing that I shall there be in as Good a Capasety to Serve both my King and Contery. I Humbly Request your Hon' would signify your pleasuer herein by ye barer: your Honers most Humble Servent.
Edward Hartwell.
by y hand of Ensign Oliver Wilder.
Joshua Wilder's Farm. Joshua Wilder, a son of Nath- aniel and Demaris Wilder of Lancaster, was born Sept. 20, 1712.
The father moved from Lancaster to Petersham in 1743, the same year in which it is supposed the son built a house and settled with his family within the bounds of Princeton. There appears to be little doubt that, as has many times been asserted, he was the first settler in the town, and careful search among the public records has not revealed anything to the contrary, but rather confirmed the tradi- tion.
The year previous to his father's removal to Petersham, Mr. Wilder petitioned the General Court for some land belonging to the Province. As the original petition has been preserved, and relates to the first dwelling and first public house in the town it is well to give a copy in full, -
"Province of the Mass-) To his Excellency William Shirley, achusetts Bay Esq'., The Honbl Councill and Govenour House of Deputies
In Generall Court assembled at Boston, May, 1742.
The Petition of Joshua Wilder most humbly shows That the Distance between Lancaster and a new Town called Nichewaug is about 25 miles.
That about Ten miles west of Lancaster meeting House There is a Tract of Province Land which contains about one hunderd and Twenty acres Lying between Lands formerly Granted to Mr. Plaisted, & Mr. Allen and a farm called Blagroves farm which Lyes out of the bound of any Town.
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That your Petitioner Tho a Poor man yet he humbly apprehends he has the Character of an Honest & Laboureous man and is minded to settle himself & family thereon.
That therefore he is desirous of obtaining a Grant of said land on such condition as may be consistent with your Excellency & Honrs Wisdom & on as Easy terms as may be, and should he obtain it he apprehends it would be of great service to People Travelling from Lancaster to the new towns now Settleing westward to have a house to resort to in their Travaling.
Your Petitioner therefore humbly prays your Excellency and Honrs to take ye premises into your wise consideration and act thereon as may be consistent with your known Goodness & your petitioner shall as in duty bound ever pray etc.
Joshua Wilder."
The following endorsement appears on the petition, -
" In the House of Reptives April 7th 1743.
Read and ordered that the prayer of the within Petition be Granted and that the Lands within mentioned contain- ing about one hundred and twenty acres be and is hereby given and Granted the Petitioner his heirs and assigns forever, provided that he does within one year have a good and convenient house built there for ye Reception of Travellers and have Ten Acres thereof Cleared and brought to English Grass or plowing within four years and that he Dwell Thereon with his family or have some other good family Dwell thereon.
Sent up for Concurrence, T. Cushing Spk"."
The Council concurred making the amendment "four years from this day." 1
It will be noticed that this land was about midway between Lancaster, his old home, and Nichewaug or Petersham to which place his father was removed.
Mr. Wilder built his house as agreed and remained there until about 1755 when with his large family he removed to the neighborhood of Ware, where he died about the year 1762.
This date of his removal is several years earlier than that named by Mr. Russell for it appears that by deed dated March 28, 1755 he " living on a farm between Lancaster 1 Mass. Archives, Vol. XLVI, page 136.
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& Petersham in ye County of Worcester " conveyed for £176. to Benjamin Houghton the 120 acres granted to him by the Court, described as the " farm I now live on & all ye Buildings thereon with ye Improvements on said Farm."
Mr. Houghton already owned the " Allen " farm of 169 acres adjoining on the Southwesterly side.
The estate passed into the hands of Peabody Houghton, and a portion of it at least has been held in the family ever since.
CHAPTER IV EARLY INHABITANTS
The Early Settlers of Princeton possessed the char- acteristics of the inhabitants of the average New England town. Many of them, perhaps the majority, were sturdy, progressive men, exemplary in conduct, of fair intelligence and ready to grapple with the stern realities of a life in these rude lands of Worcester County.
They came prepared to stay, and a majority of them carried out their purpose. But with these or following them, there came also (as was the case with every new settlement), those who were often changing their abode, peripatetic, unstable, resting, as it were, for the night and off by the dawn. And with them all, there were a few, evidently, whose presence was not particularly gratifying or acceptable to any community.
It would be interesting, could we know the reasons influencing these families in their choice of locality for a home. Some of the inducements and attractions, beyond the ordinary desire to commence anew, in an untried and unbroken country, can be readily seen. The most desirable lands in Rutland had doubtless been appropriated, and naturally some of its people passed over into the adjoining easterly wing. The sale of the tract known - or described as Watertown farms led many of Watertown, Waltham, Weston and Cambridge to invest in land, and also to the subsequent occupancy by themselves or their friends.
Sudbury too, with its thriving settlement, sent out some of its young men seeking suitable locations for establish- ment of homes, and they were welcomed in the town.
The early Proprietors residing in Boston and elsewhere disposed of their rights to those willing to try the experi- ment in the wilderness or made a free gift to friends or relatives.
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Early Inhabitants
One family drew another, as in the case of the Miricks, Woolsons, Harringtons, Hobbs and Jones, closely allied by marriage and kinship. Sons, receiving from their fathers, gifts of land, as the Masons, Norcrosses and others, married and settled down here.
Young men venturing into the new settlement in search of employment, found not only that but, perhaps, also wives, which event quickly settled the question of remaining.
Identity. But while the reasons governing the many may appear, yet in a majority of cases they are not ap- parent. Careful investigation fails to record the former residence of some of those more or less prominent in the district. A few appear to have dropped down from some- where and as suddenly to have dropped out, leaving nothing to show whence they came or whither they went, and while it is not surprising that we are unable to trace the smaller families, yet it seems strange that we lose trace of families containing six or eight grown-up children and never hear from them again. Of some we should know nothing, but for a simple record of marriage and the birth or death of children.
The early records of the families furnish glimpses of toil, of hardship, of poverty, sickness and death, with the intimation, too, of brighter spots which are always to be found along the journey of life.
Dates of Occupation. In attempting to determine the year in which the first inhabitants settled here, serious obstacles are encountered and an immense amount of labor has been expended with very unsatisfactory results.
It is a fact that many owned their lots for years before settling upon them, while it is also true that others were on the ground long before they purchased. While the dates of the first recorded deed of land may, in many cases, approximately determine the day of settlement, in an equal number perhaps this conclusion would be at variance with well-established data.
It is a perplexing feature of the town records, that they contain the entries of births as occurring in this town when
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in fact they took place in other localities. And it is impossible to give a complete list of first settlers, owing to the loss of the earliest tax lists, and even with the later lists before us, it is not always possible to distinguish between proprietors only and residents. In the following lists the names of some single men which appear but once upon the records are omitted, and also those who are supposed to have been proprietors only. It is quite probable that other names should be added, but the list is as complete as we can make it.
First Settlers. There is but little if any doubt that Mr. Joshua Wilder was the first permanent settler within the territory, establishing his house in 1742 on the " Houghton Road," where he entertained man and beast. It is a matter of record that there were in 1754 two houses on Potash farm but whether they were within the bounds of Princeton or over the line, in what is now Leominster, it is impossible to say.
To whom should be assigned the second place in the list of incomers, it is difficult if not impossible to determine.
The following list gives the names of the first inhabitants of the District, -
Settlers before 1761 Lots
Ephraim Allen 1755 Westboro' L
John Bartlett.
1759.
15
Stephen Brigham. 1759 Westboro' 14
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