USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sutton > History of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1704 to 1876, including Grafton until 1735, Millbury until 1813 and parts of Northbridge, Upton and Auburn > Part 13
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* See Gen. Schouler's History of the War.
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1866.
Jan. 6th. The town again vote to refund the money which has been paid by individuals for furnishing men for the war; and to the same effect, substantially, at a special meeting held January 20th ; only at the latter date the sum specified is five thousand three hundred and seventeen dol- lars, sixty-nine cents ($5,317.69).
To the above action of the town several entered their protest, on the ground of illegality.
March 19th. The Methodist church is offered to the town for a town-house. The town take no action upon the matter.
1868.
March 16. E. J. Mills, James Taylor, Solomon Severy, I. A. Dodge, and M. M. Hovey were appointed a commit- tee to report at the next meeting upon the advisability of purchasing, for the use of the town, the Methodist Episcopal church.
1869.
April 9. A committee of thirteen was appointed to appraise the school-houses, land and apparatus belonging to the several school districts in town, as preliminary to the taking possession of the property in accordance with an act of the legislature passed at the last session.
April 20th. The school property was appraised by the above committee as worth seven thousand nine hundred fifty-eight (7,958.33) dollars thirty-three cents.
Sept. 4. The town refused to take any action with refer- ence to building or repairing school-houses.
1870.
Jan. 15th. William R. Hill, Putnam King, A. W. Put- nam, L. H. Cunliff, and Gardner Gibson were appointed a committee "to examine into the location of the several school-houses in town with the view to ascertain whether any reduction can be made in the number, and if so to decide upon their location ; also to make estimates of the cost of repairing such houses as need, and are worth repairing, and
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the cost of building new ones where it is found necessary to build and report the result of their investigation at the next. annual Town meeting."
March 21. The above committee report the estimated cost of repairing the school-houses and building two new ones to be $5,900.00.
The town vote to raise three thousand dollars for repairs.
Aug. 6. The town vote, by ballot, upon the re-establish- ment of the district system. The vote is five to one in favor of such re-establishment.
Dec. 21. The town again voted upon the matter of re- establishing the school district system, with district limits as fixed in 1850 and 1851. The measure did not have a two- thirds vote and was declared not carried.
1871.
March 20. Yet again the town voted upon the re-estab- lishment of the school districts in accordance with the survey of 1850 and 1851, and failed of a two-thirds vote. It was also "voted that the treasurer be authorized to convey to the several school districts upon the payment of the appraised value and insurance any rights that the town now have in said school-houses."
The school-houses had all been paid for by the town at the appraised value as made by the committee in their report of April 20, 1869. "Voted to rescind the vote of March 2d, 1870, appropriating $3,000.00 for the repair of school houses."
All the districts paid back to the town the appraised value of their school property, and returned to their old way of employing teachers through their prudential committees.
May 2d. The town " voted that no person shall be allowed to sell ale, porter, strong beer or lager beer in said town for the year ensuing."
1873.
March 17th. "The town voted to maintain a high school."
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ANNALS OF SUTTON.
1874.
March 16. "Voted to maintain a high school and the same be held during the year at Sutton Centre." *
1876.
March 20. The town made an appropriation for a cen- tennial celebration.
There was, upon July 4th, a large and enthusiastic gath- ering of the citizens of the town in the grove a little east of the house of Mr. F. H. Marble.
A procession of Sunday-school children and citizens was formed at the Congregational church, under the direction of Messrs. Edmund J. Mills, Amos Batcheller, H. S. Stock- well and Charles H. Chase, marshals ; and, escorted by the Oxford brass band, marched to the grove, where appropriate services were held under the direction of E. J. Mills, presi- dent of the day. Prayer was offered by Rev. W. A. Bene- dict, the Declaration of Independence read by Miss Hattie A. Holbrook, and patriotic speeches were made by Rev. H. A. Tracy, Messrs. I. B. Hartwell, Reuben R. Dodge, J. W. Stockwell and Rev. W. A. Benedict.
Old time and modern songs were sung, and stirring music was given by the band. As the day wore on to its close, the crowd slowly and reluctantly dispersed, some, at least, praying that they who shall upon the same ground celebrate the nation's bi-centennial, may look upon our flag studded with many new stars, still proudly waving over an undivided people, who have maintained their civil and religious institu- tions in their integrity, strengthened their government by the promotion of virtue and intelligence, and made as rapid progress in the second as in the first century of the nation's life, in all that constitutes true national greatness.
* See History of High School, Part III.
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HISTORY OF SUTTON.
Part II.
THE HOMES OF SUTTON.
We now, gentle reader, introduce you to the homes of Sutton. A history of these is really the history of the town ; for in these homes the influences, both secret and silent, direct and open, conscious and unconscious, have been in operation, that have molded the characters of the men and women of the day, and established them in those principles which they have exemplified in every line of action.
Of these homes, we can, in the space allotted, give you but a passing glance, sometimes making only mention of those who have passed in and out, and sometimes pausing a little to afford you opportunity to become somewhat acquainted with such as have acted a more prominent part in public affairs.
Among the early occupants of these homes, there was no aristocracy of blood or of wealth. Of those boasting hon- ored titles there were none; of those impoverished, who came fortune-hunting, there were none.
All seem to have been from what is termed the middle class-men of moderate means, well to do, who would have obtained a good living in any place where there was work for hands inured to toil. They were men who knew what it was to go out into the wilderness and fell the trees, build
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houses, subdue the soil, found churches and schools, estab- lish civil government and put in operation the various forces by which social order is maintained and social progress made.
And they were equal to the work. They were not what may be called educated men, and yet they were not ignorant. They had good common sense, sound judgment and strong purpose. They knew what the rights of men are, and possessed the independence to assert and the will to maintain them.
In their records, they made mistakes in spelling and in grammar, as our " Annals " show, but in action they evinced wisdom certainly as far-seeing as their more boastful descend- ants.
The houses which they at first built were for the most part small and rude - in many instances log cabins - but they were the abode of contentment and happiness as great as is enjoyed in the more luxurious homes of the present day.
A few years sufficed for the clearing away of large portions of forest, and the fencing in of fields for cultivation. Orchards were planted, and soon nearly every thing was produced at home that was needed for convenience and comfort. Grist-mills were erected as soon as there was grain to be ground, saw-mills for producing lumber, and carding and fulling mills for making rolls and fulling cloth, and, in a few of the mills, conveniences for dyeing and machinery for finishing woolen cloth were added.
And now, after fifteen or twenty years from the first settle- ment have passed away, look in upon these homes.
It is in summer time. The fathers and sons go out to their labor in the fields and woods - the mothers and daughters are busily employed in domestic labor within. Not a small part of the house industry of these days was the spinning of the wool, which had been carded. into rolls- at first by hand and afterward by the carding-machines, when such machines had been introduced -and its manufacture into cloth for family use.
The girl who could spin her run or run and a half a day, right through the season, was considered quite an accom- plished lass.
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And the weaving was all done at home on a hand loom. On the beam of this loom the warp was wound, and run through the harnesses and reed, and properly attached so as to be drawn over the cylinder around which the cloth was to be wound as woven. The quill-wheel, by which the shuttle- spools were wound with filling, stood conveniently near. The weaver, seated for her work, springs the warp by foot- treadles, to which the harnesses are attached, then with one hand throws the shuttle through the warp, catching it with the other and holding it, while with the hand at liberty she brings the reed forcibly against the thread, thus pressing it closely up against the cloth, which each additional thread slowly increases. From three to five yards were all that could be woven in a day. Every farmer kept a few sheep for the wool, and also raised flax to make cloth for summer wear. Few were the homes in which, in the winter or early spring, a piece of linen and a piece of tow-cloth were not also manufactured. Of linen cloth, both the warp and filling were spun upon the small wheel. Of the tow-cloth, only the warp was thus spun ; the filling was of tow, carded by hand and spun upon the large wheel. The tow was the coarser part of the flax, which was separated from it by the hatchel.
It was also quite common to manufacture a piece of linsey- woolsey, which was cloth made of linen and wool. Portions of the woolen yarn were also colored, and striped and plaid cloths were made for the wear of the female members of the family.
These homes all had huge fire-places, in which, during the long winter evenings, there was kept up a blazing fire that threw a ruddy glow over the healthful countenances of the happy group seated around. There were fire-sides then, and influences going out from them which are lost since the gloomy stove has taken their place.
There may be centers of attraction in our homes now, but there are none equal to the "fire upon the hearth." "The fire upon the hearth is the centre and symbol of the family life. When the fire in a house goes out, it is because the life has gone out. Somewhere in every house it burns, and
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burns in constant service ; and every chimney that sends its incense heavenward speaks of an altar inscribed to Love and Home." * The social gatherings during the winter evenings in these homes, in which the young men and maidens, clad in their home-spun attire, engaged in their innocent sports, were seasons of enjoyment and mutual interest in each other, not less true and pure than like gatherings now, in which there is more display, more tyranny of fashion, and, perhaps, more artificial refinement.
Many of these homes were christian homes, and all that were not professedly so were occupied by those who sincerely respected religion, and contributed, by a cheerful payment of the "ministry tax," to the support of the institutions of the gospel. All had seats in the house of God, and few were the families that did not make their arrangements to be represented there upon the Sabbath.
Look upon the inmates of these homes as they wend their way to the sanctuary, many on foot, some on horse-back, riding singly, double, quadruple even, for it was not rare at this time to see the father on the saddle, carrying before him a child too young to walk, and the mother seated on a pillion behind, carrying a little one in her arms. Some in rude conveyances on two or four wheels, and some in carts drawn by oxen. In the winter, jumpers and sleds, extemporized for the occasion, took the place of conveyances on wheels. As we have intimated, nearly everything used was manu- factured at home, and would now undoubtedly be called very rough. But it answered the necessities of the day, and there was little of false pride in exercise on the part of those who felt themselves peers among peers. We would not be understood to convey the impression that our ancestors, one hundred and twenty-five years ago, were entirely free from the dictates of fashion. Some customs prevailed that we, who are the slaves of fashion, would consider as ridiculous as they who conformed to them would certain ones of the present day.
* Holland, in " Arthur Bonnicastle."
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
For instance - according to Dea. Leland - all men as old as twenty-five or thirty-five years had two wigs; one for week-days and one for Sunday. The Sunday wig was very showy and expensive. The hair was shaved closely, that the wig might set well. All old people who wore wigs usually took them off in the meeting-house and put upon the head a knit cap, made of linen or cotton yarn for summer use, and of woolen for winter. There was a small knot or tassel on the top of this cap. The practice of wearing wigs began to be unfashionable as early as 1780 or 1785. All old people wore them until 1800. Dr. Hall wore his wig and cocked hat to the last. The last wig worn in town was that of Col. Tim. Sibley.
Simplicity in dress, manners and equipage, continued to be a characteristic of these homes until quite a number of years after the Revolutionary war. As wealth increased, broad-cloth and silk began to take the place of home-spun, and the rude vehicles to which reference has been made were displaced by carriages. "The first family to ride in a chaise was that of Perez Rice, the second that of Dr. David Hall, and the third that of Dea. Tarrant Putnam." *
We give the history of the homes by districts, commencing with
WEST SUTTON, DISTRICT NO. 1.
The house where widow Persia Putnam now lives was probably built by Dea. Cornelius Putnam, and all of his children were born there. A part of the house was moved from a site in what is known as the Dresser pasture, just north of the Capt. Hall site, farm now owned by Peter H. Putnam. Cornelius Putnam joined the First Congregational Church in 1729, as did Sarah, his wife. He was succeeded by his son Nathaniel. It was next owned by Dea. Moses Putnam, who, after his father's death, sold a part of the farm to Peter Putnam, who traded it to John Putnam for the place where Asa Dodge now lives. John came in pos- session about 1817, and soon after built a large barn, a part
* Leland Papers.
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of which is now standing, and is owned by John Perry Put- nam. John Putnam prided himself on his fine stock of neat cattle, which were noted far and near, stock raisers coming long distances to secure the John Putnam breed of cattle. They were raised by most of his neighbors. He also had a fine flock of sheep. He was succeeded by his son Silvanus Putnam, who also kept the farm under high cultivation, and well stocked with cattle, sheep and swine. " And now," says Mr. G. Hall, " as sheep are becoming nearly extinct, and bid fair to be sought after by the future Barnums as curiosities, let me tell you a little sheep story of my own."
In the spring of 1827 we turned our sheep into a pasture adjoining this farm, known as the woods pasture. We soon after missed one of the lambs, and came to the conclusion that it had been killed by the dogs or foxes. Its dam was constantly moaning her loss, and like Rachel would not be comforted ; she would come to the bars and call for help, as well as. a poor old sheep could call, but no one could under- stand her language until my little dog, Tray, no sheep- killer, went to her assistance and returned to me for aid. He actually took hold of my clothes and led me to the pas- ture. I knew by his actions that he meant business, so I followed him to the lost lamb, still alive, but nearly dead ; cast in the fissure of a rock, and so imbedded there I had to get my grandfather to help me before I could extricate her. Poor thing ! she could not stand nor hold her head up. We carried her home and faithfully nursed her, the faithful dog meanwhile watching over her and licking her sores until they were healed. It was several days before she could stand. As soon as she could walk I used to take a handful of oats in my hand and let her eat them therefrom. So if I said "oats," she would come for them; and, in fine, that became her name. From sympathy she became the pet of the household, and was allowed to run in the house-lot until fall, when the oats and the choice feed had made her so fat that my grandfather, thinking her better for mutton than for wool, proposed to kill her; he even got his knife for the slaughter, when the confiding creature came and licked his hand. I asked him how he could take her life, when we had
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VIEW OF WEST SUTTON.
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taken so much pains to save it. I said, see how she loves you ! I would as soon eat one of my own brothers ! Just then " Uncle Salva," as we all called him, came up, and I asked him to buy the lamb to keep. He said he would give . two dollars for her, and so she was sold to him, for the knife had already fallen from the Captain's hand, and the tears were dropping from his hooked nose. Ten years after, while engaged in the store, I rode up to the old Baptist church place, and walked across to my father's. On my way I started up a small flock of sheep; they seemed scared at first, ran a little way, then stopped and looked at me. I thought one of them looked like "Oats," so I held out my hand and said "Oats," when she came forward and licked my hand as if in gratitude for her life. A little further on I found " Uncle Salva," and asked him if Oats was alive. He said yes, and she and her descendants formed his entire flock. She had been the most profitable sheep he had ever owned. This farm had much fruit on it, and a cider-mill. It was, and is, a very desirable place. It is and always has been the home of real worth. One old lady, once a devoted christian -Eunice, the widow of Fuller Putnam-became demented, and while so was profane and at times abusive, even to her twin sister, Lydia Howard, who came to care for and pity her.
Mrs. David Putnam, maiden name Elizabeth Woodbury, said to have been one of the best of christian women, died here December 27, 1831, aged eighty-seven. John Putnam died here February 24, 1827, aged sixty-seven. He had fourteen children, seven by first wife, five by second and two by third. One daughter married Rufus Sibley, who was master of inspection at the armory in Millbury for several years. One married Charles Rich and went to the State of New York, where they raised a family.
Mrs. Persia Putnam, widow of Silvanus, and Mrs. Joseph Putnam live in this house; also John W. Putnam, son of John P., son of John, jr., son of John, son of Fuller, son of Jepthah.
In a house on the site where John Perry Putnam now lives, once lived Deacon Moses Putnam; he owned a large
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farm and was a rope-maker by trade. The rope-walk stood near the house ; the wheels were turned by hand. The last boy that turned the crank for him, I think, was Nathan Hewett. I used to see the old man, fat and fair, walk backward with flax or hemp in his arms, spinning his cords, crying ho, or go, as he desired the wheels to stop or move. His cords were considered the best in the market. He was a large, fleshy man, was troubled with a bad cough, and died here of apoplexy, April 3d, 1826, aged sixty-eight. He was acting deacon of the first Baptist church for thirty- eight years. He married Mary Allen, who had a sort of shaking palsy, brought on, some thought, by drinking strong tea. She died December 20, 1846, aged ninety-one.
John Perry Putnam, who built the new house in 1862, has a farm of about forty-seven acres, and is a first-rate farmer. His daughter, Emma Jane, is a school-teacher and a graduate of Worcester academy.
The house now owned and occupied by Prescott Putnam was built by Deacon Stephen Putnam, son of Deacon Moses, in 1818 ; he too was a rope-maker, and had a walk just west of the house ; he lived here until his death, Nov. 28, 1836. His wife died Dec. 25, 1857, aged seventy-five years and two months. He married Mrs. Betsey Goddard, widow of John Goddard, and mother of Tamar and Almira Goddard. Almira married Samuel Newton. Stephen and Betsey Put- nam had six children - all dead. Mrs. Putnam was noted for her kindness to the sick and devotion to the church.
Prescott Putnam bought the place in 1842. He, the son of Charles, son of Colonel John, son of Edward, was born April 13, 1804. He married Mary Eliza Marble, daughter of Ezra, son of Malachi, son of Freegrace, son of Samuel. She was born April 7, 1810. His farm belonged to the Nathaniel Putnam place.
On the site where Lawson Putnam now lives, there once stood a house in which Mr. Eli Stockwell, father of Captain Chandler, was born. He said that many years ago there was a great drought, so that they had to drive their cattle to Manchaug Pond for water, and that the well at this place was the only one near that was not dry.
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The present house was built by Joseph Putnam, son of David, son of Cornelius, in 1840. He died here, and was one of the very best of men. His family are all very respect- able. Alex. and Charles are merchants in Worcester. George lives in Anoka, Minn., where he has held many offices of honor. Lawson, the present owner, bought the place in 1865 ; his farm contains about forty acres, and was a part of the farm of his great-grandfather, Dea. Cornelius.
Simon Putnam, son of Joseph, was a Methodist minister ; died, I think, in Minnesota.
The house where Mrs. Quinn now lives was first owned by Dea. Tarrant Putnam. Abraham Brown, who married his daughter, lived there many years. Alanson Titus, brother of Hon. Jonah Titus, who was for some years of the Provi- dence bar, lived on this place many years, and several of his children were born here.
Nathaniel Putnam, son of Dea. Moses, lived here several years and finally bought the place. He married for his first wife Charlotte Morse, and for his second the widow of John Putnam. After his death the place was sold to Mr. Quinn, and is now owned by the town. Many other families have lived in this house ; among the more prominent were Major Rufus Bacon and Capt. Warren. Members of each of these families became quite distinguished.
The house now owned and occupied by Mrs. Rachel Rich, widow of John Rich, jr., was built by Dea. Tarrant Putnam ; some of his children were born here. He was admitted to membership in the first Congregational church in Sutton by letter from church in Danvers, in 1847, at the age of thirty- two. He owned a large tract, embracing this place, the poor farm and the farm now owned by Henry Brigham, etc. In the days of the revolution the renowned Gen. Israel Putnam, on his way to Bunker Hill, halted at this house and dined with him. When he left, he mounted his horse from the flag at the end of the bank-wall near the south-east corner of the house, where the loving friends and cousins embraced each other and wept. His son Tarrant died Dec. 17, 1770.
One of his sons, Elijah, went from here to Brown Univer- sity, where he graduated. Dea. Tarrant Putnam died here
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August 27, 1794, aged seventy-nine. His widow died March 16, 1812, aged eighty-nine.
His son, Capt. Israel Putnam, was born here and was the next owner. He kept store here for several years ; sold dry goods, groceries and all kinds of liquors. Mrs. Putnam frequently tended the store, and the greatest decorum always prevailed on the premises. After Capt. Putnam moved into town the store was moved whole, by a team of Sutton cattle, to Millbury, where it was occupied by his son-in-law, Jabez Hull; it is now kept by Mr. Sweetzer.
The Captain was proud of his cattle and sheep. He had the largest sheep and the fattest oxen. He would feed his large oxen two years to make them superior to any in the market. He used to drive a great many cattle to market, riding a gray horse that he kept twenty years or more; he was a fine horseman. He built the large barn on the place, which he used to fill with hay, besides having several stacks outside.
Capt. Putnam married Hannah LeBaron, and had a large and very respectable family. His daughter Hannah married Jabez Hull, and had one daughter, who died single. Widow Hull died some two years ago, leaving a handsome estate.
Le Baron was a merchant and manufacturer; he once owned Queechy Village in Vermont. He manufactured carpets at Holden, several years. He married Ann Braman, daughter of Dr. Amasa Braman, an estimable lady, by whom he had three or four sons; one, Frank, a wealthy merchant, now lives in New York. Tarrant was a merchant in New York, where he died almost a millionaire. Israel graduated at Brown University, and was an eminent physician at Bath, Maine. He was at one time mayor of the city. He left a very intelligent family. One of his sons has been mayor of Portland, and is an eminent lawyer.
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