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 15
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Opposite this house once stood " The West Sutton Lite- rary Institute," established by the effort of that popular teacher, Rev. Geo. A. Willard, under whose management it was well patronized, but whose successors failed to keep up the prestige it had possessed. Consequently, for lack of patronage the school was discontinued, and the building sold and converted into a dwelling house by P. H. Putnam, as mentioned in District No. 2. Mr. Willard went from here to Southbridge, and established the Southbridge High School.
The builder of the house now owned and occupied by Samuel Newton, cannot be ascertained. It is a very ancient house, among the oldest in the place. Paul Sibley kept tavern there many years ago. Gideon Sibley once lived there. Gen. Davis owned the farm; Charles Putnam hired it of him and lived there ten years ; four of his children were born there. Prescott was born there in 1804. After Putnam left, Amasa Roberts, Esq., lived there, next Sumner Bastow, Esq. Gen. Davis gave the farm to his son Sumner Barton, when he was twenty-one years of age. He shot himself on the place, in one of the fields south of the house, July 13, 1821, aged twenty-two. It was next owned by Samuel and Elijah Rich. Paris Tourtellott bought Elijah's part. Sumner Kenney bought Samuel out, as far as the farm was concerned.
Liberty Bigelow bought the house for his father, Amos Bigelow, who lived here many years. Bowers Davis bought it and sold to present owner.
The next house was built by Edward Putnam in 1832. Sold to Reuben Davis in 1835. He sold to Sumner Kenney
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in 1838, who has built a large barn, bought on land, and now owns a large farm. Sumner Kenney is son of Jesse Kenney, whose wife was daughter of Abel Sibley.
The next house was built soon after by Emory Putnam, son of Rufus, son of David, son of Fuller, son of Jepthah. It was next owned by Jason Bigelow, now by John Gibson, who married Bigelow's daughter.
Daniel C. Tourtellott had a wheelwright-shop a little north of the tavern, operated by water-power; it has been down several years. It did quite an extensive business at one time.
The house where Charles Johnson now lives was built by Amos R. Holman, about 1845, and sold to Mr. Soule, and by him to the Baptist society. It was occupied by Rev. Mr. Lovell, one of the most brilliant preachers that ever preached in this town. Mr. Lovell was for a time deranged and sent to the lunatic asylum, where he remained some time ; afterward went west, recovered, and is himself again.
The society sold to Thomas Tucker, he to Mrs. Marey, widow of Larned Marcy and mother of Mrs. Johnson.
The new house beyond was built in 1876, by Henry M. Brigham, born in Westborough, October 29, 1833, married Hannah Jane Sherman, Nov. 28, 1855, born May 19, 1839. They have one daughter, Ella, born in Sutton, June 16, 1859. She has just graduated from the Sutton high school. This is one of the best houses in town, large, commodious and well finished.
The next house, also owned by Mr. Brigham, was built by Timothy Davis. The farm originally belonged to Deacon Tarrant Putnam. Davis sold to Benjamin Wallis, who sold to Smith Taft, who built the baru. He lived there a few years, then traded farms with Hon. John Spurr of Charlton, and went to Charlton to live. Mr. Wallis also moved to Charlton. Mr. Spurr let the farm to several different ones, Jonathan Dudley, jr., Larned Marcy and others. Marcy died there. After the death of Mr. Spurr it was sold to Mrs. Adams Carpenter. After Adams died it was sold to present owner. It is a large farm.
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The house on the town farm was built about seventy-five years ago by Deacon Daniel Harwood, sold by him to Elkanah Spring, by him to Captain Rufus Knapp. Brigham, his son, was born there. He sold to Captain Daniel Tourtellott. Mrs. Putnam thinks he was there in 1806. Daniel Tourtel- lott sold to the town of Sutton, March 15, 1837.
Captain Tourtellott was a very prominent man in town, was deputy sheriff several years, was also a justice of the peace. He was born in Mendon, Massachusetts, and died at the tavern in West Sutton, August 17, 1844, aged seventy-two years, eight months. He married Freelove Angell, born in Smithfield, Rhode Island, February 28, 1779, and died at Millbury, Massa- chusetts, November 16, 1869. They had eight children, six sons and two daughters. Paris, George A., Daniel C., Samuel, Charles A., Stephen C., Maria and Ruth - all dead but Daniel C. and Mrs. Maria, widow of John Gleason. They both live in Worcester.
This farm has been the home of the poor since the town bought it. The wardens have been as follows: Nathan Keith, 1838, three years; Simon Tainter, 1843-4; Alfred Morse, 1845; S. D. King, 1846-7; Joseph Wilcox, 1847 to 1854 ; T. D. Gould, 1857 ; A. H. Blake, '58 and '59; S. Farnum, 1860, four years ; Joseph Wilcox, 1864-5 ; H. M. Brigham, '66 and '67 and '70 to '75; Samuel Fairbanks, 1869; C. S. Wheeler, 1876.
There once stood a house beyond this one, owned and occupied by Ebenezer Rich. His sons were Ebenezer, Jacob, Elisha and John. Elisha kept school at the Street ; was collector of the town.
Samuel Rich, one of the first settlers, who owned a very large tract of land, embracing several farms in the vicinity, built the house where Chandler Stockwell now lives. His son Amos was born there and succeeded his father as owner. Amos married Patty Pratt, enlarged and improved the house, and kept tavern there several years. All of his children were born there. After his death, his son, Amos, jr., kept the house, and after he died his brother-in-law, Colonel George C. Earle, kept it. It was sold to Captain Chandler Stock- well in 1835. He has occupied it ever since. He is son of Eli Stockwell already mentioned. This house is located on what was known as the Douglas turnpike ; it being the main road to Providence was formerly much travelled, affording
This "Tomb Built by Ebenezer Waters Sep. 18 th 1 773
RICHARD Waters Dred
{May 7 th [787 Try 87" year of his Age
Mary ye Wife of Eben' Anna lateWife of Ridd Waters Died Nov27") Waters Died febry 20" 177 / 10 ye2 3 yeal'her age 1788 In ye 73 yearof her
Maria wife of Artemas Bollard died June 6.//98/E\ 29)
Mary Waters Died Jan/ 2/ /762 in ye 2 9" Year of her Ape June 5Th 794 AL 19
Prodence daugl' of Saml Walers died
Ebenezer Waters Es q'r
Died Feb. 2 1808 At 68 1 years., Mary wife of Eben'r Waters Esq died Oct. 31. 1833 /t 86/4 years MARIA, daughter of Rev Joseph Goffe died Feb. 13 1837 aded 35 years Elizabeth, wife of Rev Joseph Goffe of Millbury died Jan. 26 1839 Aged 68 years, Rev. Joseph Golle of Millbury died April 24" 1846 Aged 70 years 8% mos.' Joseph Goffe Jr in Montoomery ALa, died Avo. 13 1847 Aged 42 years rozmos Mrs. Hannah P. F. Wife of EbenrW.Goffe died Dec. 13 1847 aged 46 years g mos, Mrs. Philena G. wife of Silas Goddard and daughter of Rev J. Goffe died May 24 1848 aged 38 years/} mo Miss Eliza daughter of the late Rev. Joseph Goffe died Jan. I. 1859 aged 50 years 10 mos. & 10 dys. Ebenezer Water's Goffe Born Apr. 23 1799. Dieb Jan. 27 1872.
TOMB AT WEST SUTTON.
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
fair patronage to this, then popular tavern. Geo. R. Earle, the popular proprietor of the Mansion House, Providence, Rhode Island, is his son.
Samuel Rich, jr., built the next house in 1791. His father owned the Elijah Rich place, the Kenney place, and the Blandon place in Oxford, as well as the Eli Stockwell place in Douglas. Samuel, jr., was succeeded by his son John, who enlarged and repaired the house, built a large barn, etc. His sons were John, jr., and George, who suc- ceeded his father on the place and died here. One of his daughters married Warren Humes, Esq., of Douglas. She has been dead several years. Esq. Humes died a few weeks since. He was once considered one of the most capable men in the south part of Worcester county. He was a sur- veyor, and did much probate business. His son, John R. Humes, is now one of our assessors.
Another of John Rich's daughters married Stephen Marsh, one of our most wealthy citizens.
Samuel, John and George's children were all born on this place. George Rich married a daughter of Chandler Stock- well, and had two sons and two daughters. The Stockwells, Henry and James, bought this place after the death of George. They sold to Erastus W. Whiting, he to Aaron H. Read, the present owner.
Ebenezer Waters built a house between the Amos Rich house and his own for his sister Hannah, who married a Marsh. It was afterward occupied as a tenement-house by many different families. It has been down several years.
Richard Waters, one of the original settlers, lived at the Bullard place. He was admitted to the first Congregational church in Sutton, by letter from church in Salem, between 1724 and 1728. Mrs. M. DeW. Freeland has sent me one little incident, which is as follows :
The time and manner of traveling and sending communications from Boston to Sutton in 1746, as contrasted with the same in 1876 .- From Records of Sigourney Family.
Anthony Sigourney of Boston, was married to Mary Waters of Salem, 11 April, 1740. Mrs. Sigourney was an invalid from consumption, her physician named change of place, hoping for her recovery. Mrs. Sigourney left Boston for Sutton, where then resided her brother, Richard Waters. She soon
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became too ill to venture a return to Boston. She survived until winter, 1746; previously to her decease a message was despatched to Boston to acquaint Mr. Sigourney with the circumstances. No answer was received. The roads were impassable from the deep, heavy snows. The funeral services were postponed for some two weeks or more, until it was decided there could be no longer any delay from the absence of Mr. Sigourney; during the services Mr. Sigourney arrived. Having been unable to proceed from saddle- horses furnished him, he had walked most of the distance from Boston to Sutton, by the aid of snow-shoes or rackets. Mrs. Sigourney was buried in the burying grounds belonging to the Waters, Goffe and Putnam families in Sutton. No head-stones -only stone marks.
Richard Waters settled the Bullard place on his son Ebenezer, who built the present house in 1767. " Miss Ruth Waters married Thomas Kendall, a preacher ; he had a pair of twins, and made a cradle with the rockers length- wise ; so, placing their heads toward the ends of the cradle, the babies would kick and rock each other." His son, Thomas, jr., was a very ingenious man. He had five fingers on each hand, and used to make thermometers, surveyors' instruments, etc.
Ebenezer Waters was a surveyor, civil engineer, conveyancer, etc. He was very particular and scrupulously nice in all his acts. It was said that expect- ing a visit from his minister he had a back-log hewed and scribed into his fireplace, that his fireside might be worthy of his guest. He sold this place to a Mr. Hunt and went to Boston, where he died Feb. 2d, 1808. One of his daughters married Dr. Bullard and one married Rev. Joseph Goff. He and his wives and daughters now sleep in a tomb which he built Sept. 18. 1773, in the old burying-place on the west side of the road leading from West Sutton to the town farm.
Dr. Bullard bought the place of Hunt about 1805. He had a large family ; was a physician and surgeon. He used to tell how he amputated a sore finger for a young man. He put a block on the top of a bed-post, ground a chisel very sharp, laid the boy's hand on the block, and with one stroke of the mallet the operation was performed.
Nearly in front of this house stands a large elm tree which Mr. Joseph Bullard, the next owner, said the Rev. H. W. Beecher had in his mind when he described the big tree in " Norwood." The place now belongs to Mr. Henry B. Bul- lard, and lovers of beautiful scenery would do well to visit him in summer, and rusticate under the great romantic tree of " Norwood " notoriety. Rev. H. W. Beecher was married in this house, and several went from here to college ..
26
THE DR. ARTEMAS BULLARD PLACE.
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
A part of the Richard Waters' estate he settled upon his son Stephen, who built the house where Nathan now lives, about 1757. He lived there seventy years. His son John was born there in 1766, and died there 1847. He was succeeded by his sons, Nathan and Richard. The farm was divided.
The house now owned by Peter Wake was built by John Waters for his son Richard in 1839. He died there in 1876, aged 74. He was away from the farm but six weeks during his life.
His father was not away as much as his son. All of John's children were born here. He and his three wives all died here. Nathan's children were all born in the house where he lives. This was a very large farm, extending to the shore' of Manchaug Pond, near which he had a saw mill, now stand- ing, but not in operation at present. Near this mill Joseph Severy with his children, Benjamin, Lydia and Libra, lived in a shanty several years.
Mr. Stephen Waters gave much of his attention to raising fruit ; he had the largest apple orchard in the region, and the best fruit of his time. His successors have continued to cultivate and improve the orchards. John Waters enlarged and repaired the house ; it is large and commodious, and was painted red. It remains the same color. Nathan's farm contains about 200 acres. He has been a Justice of the Peace, settled many estates, and done much for the support of the gospel; is a member of the First Baptist church.
Peter Wake now owns the farm vacated by the death of Richard Waters. It contains 112 acres, and has on it one thousand apple trees. Richard's children were all born there.
Who first built the mill where Aldrich grinds cannot be ascertained. Robert Smith lived there in the days of the revolution. Benajah Putnam, the father of Abijah, lived there and run the saw and grist-mills several years. He left and went to Montpelier, Vt., in 1805. John Putnam owned and occupied them soon after ; he also owned quite a farm, and had a brick yard, and made brick up a little west of the mills. He lived in an old house that stood near where the barn now stands. He sold to James Sibley, who built the
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present house. John Putnam had the place back and sold to Rufus Putnam; he tended the mills several years, and John bought them again for John, jr. Rufus went to the house where Fairbanks now lives. He was a consumptive and came back here to die with his cousin, John, jr. He and his wife both died here; but a short time intervening between the events.
John Putnam, jr., sold the place to John Waters, who took pains to stock the pond with fish and then forbid fishing there. One David Lilley thought he had a right to fish where he pleased, and continued to angle there. Mr. Waters to test his right prosecuted him and gained his cause. Stephen Waters, son of John, had the place from his father, and lived here until his death. All of his children were born here. Among them Jason Waters, who has been a popular singing master, an efficient member of the Massachusetts legislature, an editor of a public journal, a traveling agent for several different firms, an inventor, and has secured several patents, a public lecturer and is one of our most fluent speakers.
The mills were burnt in 1841, and rebuilt by John Waters. After the death of Stephen Waters the place was sold to F. F. Sibley, and by him to Charles Whiting. Nathan Waters bought of Whiting for his daughter, Mrs. Aldrich. She is the renowned " Carrie Carlton " of Boston Cultivator noto- riety. Her productions have been read and admired by thousands.
There used to be a house down by the bridge beyond the mills, but who built it cannot be ascertained. Benj. Carlton once lived there ; he was the father of Silas Carlton, father of Silas G. Carlton, the father of Mrs. Charles Barton. One of Benjamin's sisters married Capt. Moody Morse. Phehe married B. Barton, and was grandmother to Ann H. Judson. foreign missionary and wife of Dr. Adoniram Judson. Unre- quited love for her is said to have been the cause of the derangement of John White, who used to wander about singing verses, " All for the sake of sweet Phebe, my dear." The place was afterwards owned by Peter H. Putnam.
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
The house where George Fairbanks now lives was built by Edward Putnam and Daniel Hathaway. Edward was son of Bartholomew, son of Cornelius. Daniel married Edward's .sister, and Edward and his sister both died here of con- sumption.
Daniel Hathaway married for second wife a Harwood, sister to Mrs. David Putnam. He afterward moved to Charlton. His son, Joseph Hall Hathaway, now a promi- nent man in Charlton, was born in the house with his uncle, David Putnam, where Peter H. Putnam now lives. Rufus Putnam owned it and John built the barn for him. Rufus Fuller owned it several years, and had a comb shop there. Aaron Darling once lived here. Simeon Larned once owned it and lived here ; then Tyler Sibley ; now his son Palmer Sibley owns it. He married Fairbanks' daughter.
There used to be a house down by Sand Beach, owned by Solomon and Peter Stockwell, who let it to many families. William Metcalf lived there several years, and some of his children were born there. Jasper Eager, Mr. Bolster and several others lived there.
The first house this side of the mill, now owned by Daniel Dorr, was originally built twelve feet square, by Almon Sibley, who lived there several years ; he was a saddler by trade, and used to work for Deacon Marble. He went to the State of New York to live, lost most of his property, came back and built this house, and some of his children were born here. He sold this place to James Phelps, and bought a larger place near Ramshorn Pond. From there he moved just over the line into Douglas, where his widow now lives. Mrs. Keziah Holbrook has since owned it. One of its inmates was drowned in Aldrich's pond. It was next conveyed to its present owner. A very valuable spring of water near the house was Mr. Sibley's principal inducement to build here.
Asa Thayer built the next house in 1866. He married a daughter of Bethuel Leonard, and died here of cancer. The house now belongs to his heirs.
There used to be a house up in the lot, southeast from this house, owned and occupied by Widow Wakefield and
1
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HOMES OF THE
her son Joseph; her maiden name was Harwood; she was noted for her eccentricities.
She kept many cats, and to feed them caught fish. While angling one day she drew a large pickerel out of the water, when by a sudden flop it broke from the hook and left, when she exclaimed: "O the laws ! how desputly it makes a body feel to lose what they never had!" She wore a large pocket and would fill it with fish, then come home and feed her score of cats, calling each by name and giving it a fish as it came forth. One young man killed seventeen of her cats one night, laying them all in a row on a large stone. The old lady finding them there the next morning called on God to curse the killer. So he having bad luck in after life laid it to the widow's curse. Some one stole some of Joe's chickens, so he took the rest in to roost on the head-board of his bed, instructing them to sit with their beaks toward him. He once went out in a boat on Manchaug Pond, and caught a pickerel that weighed five and a half pounds; it so surprised him that his shouts were heard on Putnam Hill and at the Water's place; the people, thinking him in the pond, ran to his assistance, when he said: "O the goddies! who can beat that?" The site where the house stood now belongs to Calvin Eager.
There was once a house on the other side of the road, where a Dr. Burnet lived. Nothing farther can be learned of the place or the doctor.
The next, owned and occupied by Bethuel Leonard, was owned by John Putnam and settled by him upon his wife Ann, known in this neighborhood for several years as " Widow Ann." It was sold by her heirs to present owner. The farm contains about twenty acres. There is a private burying-place on it containing five graves.
Darius Leonard built his house in 1854 ; his five children were born in it, and his wife died there.
Jacob Eager's house was bought from the Gideon Sibley place, in Oxford, 1845. Four of his children were born there.
George Gibson built the next house about 1855. Sold to Hollis Sherman in 1867.
There once stood a house directly opposite, owned and occupied by Samuel Putnam.
It is said he was one of the five who drank a barrel of cider in one night, and some locate the feat in this house. Deacon Putnam offered to give him apples, the use of his horse and cider-mill if he would make his own cider. He thanked him and said he could get it cheaper.
Between Sherman's and the new road to Manchaug stood an old gambrel-roofed house, owned and occupied by John Carriel.
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
He was a very eccentric man, who used to go to Boston with his team. It sometimes consisted of a steer and a cow yoked together. He became quite lame, and used to ride on the neap of his wagon. On his way home one night he lost off one of the hind wheels and the end of the axle-tree dragged on the ground the rest of the way. He became so lame that he had to do most of his work sitting. He would hoe in the fields, and thresh in the barn, sitting in a chair. He went from here to Putnam Hill, as noticed in district number two.
He was succeeded by Levins Sibley, who built a good barn and new house on the place. He had two children, - twins, Levins and Eliza. Levins married Captain Hume's daughter and died in Douglas. Eliza married Olney Bolster. The house that Mr. Sibley built was bought by S. J. Wood- bury, and moved to Sutton Centre, where it is known as the " Ocean House." The barn was also moved, and now belongs to Rev. H. A. Tracy.
Opposite stood two small, curb-roofed houses, once owned by Joseph Sibley, who was succeeded by his sons Abel and Hezekiah. Abel had two sons and a daughter; Levins, and Isaac, who moved to Millbury, and was the father of Boyden Sibley, once cashier of Millbury bank. The daughter mar- ried Jesse Kenney, father of Sumner. Hezekiah never married, but was bed-ridden in one of these houses sixteen years ; he lay in the upper part of the house, and his poor mother attended his wants by climbing a ladder to his perch all these years. He did not see the sun for fourteen years ; at last the roof got leaky, so that the water would run on his bed ; then his friends thought it necessary to shingle the house. So, to make him more comfortable they commenced the job. The noise annoyed him very much, so he exclaimed : "O dear ! stop that noise ; it will kill me ; I am dying now ! If I live a half an hour, I shall live as long as God lives." But they kept driving the nails, and " Kiah" became so mad that he got up and went down the ladder, and soon com- menced strolling about the neighborhood. The spell was broken, and so was "Kiah." He was good for nothing but to sling invectives. He could not govern his temper, and when excited was gifted in abuse. He once got provoked at Elder Waters, on whom he discharged his battery ; when he had fired the last shot in his locker, and the bow of his
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excited brain was strained on the last arrow in the quiver of his futile and exasperated imagination, he fell upon his knees and prayed God to give him utterance, saying "I have the root of the matter in me, but lack the power of utterance to express my feelings."
He lived a miserable life, and died at last at the house of Malachi Marble, where he was boarding at the expense of the town. "Kiery" became the local for sick, discouraged, fearful, mad, lazy and nearly all ills and short-comings in the neighborhood. After the Sibleys left the place it was owned by Peter Putnam, then by Charles Putnamn, was sold to John Rich, then John Rich, jr. Paris Tourtellott owned it and took down the house. The site is now owned by Parley Waters.
Just below this place stood a trip-hammer shop, owned and operated by Esq. Nathan Putnam. It has been down more than forty years.
The house now owned and occupied by Calvin Eager was built by his brother Stephen in 1845, and occupied by him one year, then bought and since owned and occupied by the present owner. Calvin Eager married Dorothy Titus.
Fisher D. Thayer built the next and last house to notice in this district, in 1844. It now belongs to William Clark or William Abbott.
PUTNAM HILL, DISTRICT NO. 2.
At the place where J. W. Paine now lives there once stood two small houses owned by Elijah Sibley ; one occupied by himself, the other by his son Daniel. Who built these houses cannot be ascertained with certainty. It is presumed, however, that one was built by his father, William, and the other by himself. Elijah Sibley was a man very much respected. He had two sons and several daughters ; one of his daughters married a Wheelock, father of Reuben, one a Coes of Worcester, one Timothy Leland, one married Daniel Batcheller. The sons names were Daniel and Elijah. Daniel married a Prince. Her father became insane working in the silver mine at Eight-Lots. She was insane for many years, and was a great trial to her family.
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