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 30
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Moses . Leland, father of Solomon, built the old house that stood on the site now owned by Mr. Pope. It was next owned by Timothy Leland, then by his son David ; after whose death the old house was taken down by his heirs and a new one built in 1843. It was next owned by Joseph Daniels, then by Henry Brigham, then by Esek Saunders, then by W. B. Holton, then by F. Ballou, now by J. Pope.
David Leland was a man of much public spirit, and gave for a public burying-ground the lot now known as the Leland cemetery, in which his remains were buried. But, strange to say, no monument marks his grave. He left a handsome property, and we understand that the heirs, some of them at least, contributed liberally for a monument; but through the neglect of the executor of the will it was never erected. And that unmarked grave remains, an illustration of the frequent forgetfulness of obligation on the part of those who owe the most to the dead. It will undoubtedly so remain, unless they who through his generosity are furnished with a burial-place free of cost to themselves shall show their appreciation of his gift by honoring his grave.
The house now owned by Robert McFarland and occupied by Mr. Kennedy, was built by Ebenezer Fletcher; next owned by John Goodale, next by Emerson Hall, then by Noah White, next by Capt. Samuel Bigelow ; then owned and occupied several years by Dan Richardson, then back to Bigelow, then to Fosdick, then to present owner.
Emerson Hall, son of Stephen, son of Percival, married Tabitha Fletcher and had Tabitha and Lydia (twins), then Eleazer, Ebenezer and Lucy. He went to Boscawen, N. H. Simeon Hathaway lived in this house when the chimney and roof were blown off by the great September gale.
There once existed in this vicinity a sect known as the "Live for Evers." They were peculiar in their views, believing that, like Adam, every man had a wife made from one of his own ribs, and that there was danger of trouble if he did not get the right rib. Some of the women belonging to this order thought they were misplaced. Mrs. Fletcher was one of them, and also her sister, who married a Miner. The latter, it is said, left her husband, who went after her and had hard work to get her back. They carried the idea of being misplaced so far as to misplace themselves in their own beds, putting the pillow for the man at one end of the bed, and that for the woman at the other. Like some of the Spiritualists of the present day, they were dissatis- fied with their companions and sought for their affinities. It seems they held
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evening meetings to discuss and adjust their difficulties. Mr. Fletcher came home one rainy night and found them holding a meeting at his house; and, not being in favor of their views, ordered them out, but on account of the rain they refused to go. So being enraged, he said : "If you fear rain more than fire you can stay," at the same time seizing the peel, he drove it into the fire and began scattering hot embers and fire coals around the room and among the crowd until they dispersed, then he put out the fire and went to bed. A few days after he went to Grafton with his steers and tip-cart, but never returned, as he was found dead in the road, and it was supposed that he was murdered by the " Live for Evers." They thought if one seemed to be dead, faith accompa- nied by certain manipulations by the faithful would restore him to life. That part of their faith gave them their name. No record is found of the death of Fletcher. The only proximate date is the marriage of his widow, Mrs. Lucy Fletcher, with John Goodale, Dec. 12, 1781.
The house now owned by Joel Knapp, Esq., was built by Jacob Dodge about the year 1806 ; then owned by Timothy Johnson, blacksmith, then by John Goodale, who sold it to present owner in 1829. Mr. Knapp has enlarged and improved the house and land ; he has also built two tenement houses near by, which he now owns. One was built in 1843, the other in 1871. He used to carry on the shoe business here, etc. He has also a large real estate interest in Worcester.
The house now occupied by James Thurber was built by William Slocomb, jr., next owned by his brother Pliny ; then sold by his heirs to Dr. Copp, and by him to the present owner.
Mr. William Slocomb went from here to Marictta, Ohio, where he accumulated a large property, and was a leading man in that city.
Pliny Slocomb was one of the assessors in this town. He was a Freemason, belonged to the Sutton Lyceum and was skillful in debate. He was an artist, an ornamental painter, and one of the fastest workmen to be found. His sleighs, chairs, cradles, settees, etc., were much sought after for their fanciful ornamentation. One of his sons too was an artist, and painted a panorama, with which he traveled. Mr. Slocomb gave some attention to fruit growing, and made choice wines, on which he realized handsome profits. His second wife survives him. Her mother, Mrs. Corson, is also living, and the oldest person in town, being nearly ninety-five, and quite active and intelligent.
The house now owned and occupied by Charles H. Searles was built by William Slocomb, jr., for Noah White, and next owned by George Searles, who sold to Jesse Jackson in 1830; now owned by Searles, who married his daughter.
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Mr. Searles has been a teacher, and also on the school com- mittee. He has been one of the assessors, and likewise a deacon of the Congregational church in Saundersville.
The place now owned and occupied by Augustus Adams was first settled by Samuel Miner, next owned by Abner Batcheller, next by Joseph Dudley, next by Allen Cum- mings, next by Joshua Slocomb, next by Welcome Adams, now by his son. Welcome Adams married Sally Dudley, daughter of Capt John.
Mr. William Slocomb came from Franklin about 1778, and bought the place where Erastus Slocomb now lives of Thomas Leland. All Mr. Slocomb's children were born here ; he was succeeded by his son Horatio, who had a large family, all born here. William Slocomb, jr., went to Marietta, Ohio ; he was for several years a teacher, and compiled and published an arithmetic. He was a man of property and distinction in Ohio. Capt. John W. Slocomb was one of the most successful business men in Worcester county. He manufactured boots of such a quality that they would sell, where known, even in hard times. No sham was allowed in his shop. He was much esteemed by all who knew him.
One of Horatio's sons, Albert, entered college at Marietta. and graduated at Amherst; after which he spent two years in Germany in travel and study. He was a paymaster for a year or so at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, where he afterward established himself as a broker, buying government claims, and accumulating quite a fortune. After the war he went south, where he married and now resides.
One of the daughters married Dr. William Terry, and now lives in Ansonia, Conn. ; they have a large family. Another daughter married Rev. Mr. Frisby ; one married Sylvester Morse and had several children; she died in Minnesota. Mr. Horatio Slocomb was a painter, and gave much attention to fruit and flowers.
The house now owned and occupied by Eli Sprague was built by Jacob Dodge for Benjamin White, in 1795. Mr. White was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Dodge sold to present owner in 1840. Mr. Sprague is a relative of Gen. Sprague and of Homer B. Sprague.
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The house now owned and occupied by H. Linton was built by James Foster, next owned by James Carlton. Everybody knew " Jimmy." He was at times quite a wit. It was next owned by Gardner H. Dodge, then by N. Remick, who sold to present owner.
The next house was built by Josiah Dodge, in 1796. All his children were born here. He was succeeded by his son John, and all his children were born here. The place is now owned by Edwin, son of John Dodge, and occupied by his sister, Miss Abbie Dodge. John Dodge's wife was an Elliot, daughter of Aaron Elliot, jr.
Dudley Chase built the house now owned and occupied by Gardner H. Dodge. It was next owned by Richard Hubbard Dodge, then by his son, Jacob Dodge, whose large and respectable family were all born here. Dudley Chase lived on this place ten years previously to 1755. He was the ances- tor of Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, bishop of Ohio and Illinois ; also of Hon. S. P. Chase of Ohio, too well known to need further mention here. Dudley Chase afterward went to Cornish, New Hampshire. Jacob Dodge, who was an enter- prising man, built several houses and was a large landholder. Gardner has much improved the place, built the large barn, etc. He makes carriages and threshing machines. When threshing machines were first introduced here, Mr. Dodge himself run one, assisted by an industrious and intelligent boy, now Judge Calvin E. Pratt of New York.
The house now owned and occupied by W. W. Phillips, was built by Moses Leland about 1780; next owned by Abner Batcheller. Capt. John Marble bought it and sold to Moses Batcheller, father of Mrs. Phillips, wife of the present owner. Mr. Moses Batcheller was known as one of the best temperers of steel in this region. He tempered scythes for a large firm in Rhode Island for several years, and their scythes were sought after far and near for their excellent cutting qualities. Mr. Phillips has been quite a traveler, and lived several years in South America.
The place now occupied by Mrs. Miranda Peirce, Mr. Jonathan Peirce bought of a Mr. Leland ; it was next owned by his son Amos, then by his son, Lewis Peirce, now by his
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heirs. Mr. Ezekiel Peirce, who taught school in this district and elsewhere, was born here; he finally settled in West Boylston, where he had one of the best farms in that town. He had some of the choicest fruit in the county. His daughter married Dr. Merrifield, now living in that town.
Mr. John G. Law sends from Brooklyn, New York, the following facts concerning Judge Pratt :
Calvin E. Pratt was born in Princeton, Worcester county, January 23, 1828. His father's name was Edward Pratt, son of Joseph Pratt of Shrewsbury; his mother's name was Mariana Stratton, daughter of Deacon Samuel Stratton of Princeton. His father moved from Shrewsbury in 1836 to the easterly part of Sutton, where he continued to reside until about 1851, when he removed to Princeton.
Calvin attended school in what was known as the Slocomb district until he was fifteen years of age, when he was sent to Wilbraham academy, and after- wards to the Baptist high school at-Worcester, where he fitted for college.
In the spring of 1849 he commenced the study of law with Judge Henry Chapin of Worcester, with whom he remained until his admission to the bar in 1852. At the establishment of the police court at Worcester, he was appointed clerk, which office he held for about one year. During the time from his admission to the bar until May 1859, he was engaged in a large law practice in Worcester, and took an active part in politics and military matters. He was a member of the Democratic state central committee for some years, and served actively upon the various local committees, and upon the stump during all the political campaigns.
He enlisted in the Worcester Light Infantry as a private, and was appointed orderly sergeant and second lieutenant. He afterwards was elected major of the tenth regiment Massachusetts militia, in which capacity he served for several years. In May 1859 he removed to New York and formed a co-partner- ship with Levi A. Fuller for the practice of law. In April 1861 he commenced to organize a regiment for the war, which was afterwards numbered thirty-first New York volunteers, and of which he was made colonel. With this regiment he went to Washington in June 1861, and was assigned to duty at once in the army commanded by Gen. McDowell, and took part in the first battle of Bull Run.
Afterwards he was assigned to duty in the army of the Potomac, and took an active part in the Peninsular campaign until the 27th of June 1862, when he was severely wounded in the battle of Gaines' Mills.
. Having partially recovered from the wound, he returned in season to take part in the Maryland campaign, which ended with the battle of Antietam on the 18th day of September 1862.
On the tenth of September of that same year he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General for "Meritorious service in the field," and assigned to succeed General Hancock in command of a brigade in the second division of the sixth army corps.
He remained in command of this brigade and took part in the operations of that corps until after the battle of Fredericksburg. During the winter of 1863 he was assigned to command the light infantry of the sixth corps, and there continued until the battle of Chancellorsville, when he resigned and
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was honorably discharged. Immediately upon returning to New York he commenced the practice of law in copartnership with the late Grenville T. Jenks; afterwards was in partnership with Judge Emmot and J. M. Van Cott, and again with General P. S. Crooke and John H. Bergen, Esq. In the fall of 1869 he was nominated by both political parties as a candidate for judge of the supreme court, and was elected and took his seat on the first of January 1870, which position he still holds. In addition to the offices before stated, Judge Pratt was appointed collector of internal revenue in the fall of 1866, by President Johnson, which office he held until March of the follow- ing year.
Although Judge Pratt was not born in Sutton, and the house where his father lived fifteen years has since been set off to Northbridge, some of his old schoolmates desire to have the above inserted in the Sutton history, to remind them of the happy days of " Auld Lang Syne."
HARBACK DISTRICT, No. 11.
The Burnap farm is situated on the road from Braman- ville, Millbury, to the school-house in district number eleven. It is the most northern farm upon said road, and a small part of it lies on the Millbury line.
It was first settled by Ebenezer Burnap about 1770. Mr. Burnap first located on Burnap Hill (now called Bolton Hill) about 1750, where he lived twenty years upon land that was first occupied by the Indians for growing Indian corn ; then removed to what is now known as the old Burnap place, which is about one hundred fifty rods north-east from where the first house stood; on which place he spent the remnant of his days.
He purchased the old farm in small parcels, and at sundry times, just as he had means. He had a family of eleven children. The old house that he built in 1770 stood in what is now the garden. It was about equidistant from the present house and the old barn ; and was accidentally burned about 1833. The old barn, which was a small one of thirty by forty feet, has received an addition of twenty-two by thirty feet, and is still standing ; the only relic of olden time now upon the farm.
After the death of Mr. Burnap and his wife the farm came into the possession of his son Timothy, who occupied it for some time. He and his son Timothy built the present
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house in the year 1815, and it was occupied by them until the death of Timothy in 1828. Timothy, jr., then took the farm in his charge, and in 1830 his brother Elijah bought an interest, and they occupied it jointly until the death of Timothy in 1858, after which Elijah became the sole owner. He sold to Andrew B. Garfield, and by him it was sold to Miss Mary E. Henry, who now occupies it with C. C. Hall, who married a great-grand-daughter of Timothy Burnap, sen. The old farm now contains but fifty-two acres of land.
Timothy Burnap, jr., served the town as representative in the legislature one year.
The Thomas B. Woodbury farm is situated south of the Burnap farm. It was originally owned by Dr. Elias Hayden, who came to Sutton from Hopkinton. He had two sons and two daughters. Both sons were in the war of the revolu- tion. His son Joel served during the whole war or nearly the whole, and was in many important battles in that part of the army under the immediate command of General Washington.
Doctor Hayden occupied the farm until his death, when it came into the possession of his son Asa, who owned it until his death, when it was divided, and his widow received two- thirds, which part was known as the Joel Hayden farm. This Joel was the son of Asa and Anna Hayden; the farm came into the possession of Joel through his mother's right of dower. He occupied it until his death. After the death of Asa Hayden two-thirds of the original farm was pur- chased by Mr. John Woodbury (father of Thomas B. Wood- bury) who for many years carried on the wheelwright busi- ness. Previously to his death he settled up his affairs and arranged with his son, T. B. Woodbury, to assist him through life.
A few years after the death of Joel his widow sold her place to Thomas B. Woodbury, who now owns the whole estate of Elias Hayden. Mr. Woodbury occupies the whole house upon the original site where Dr. Hayden first built his house ; that house was burned by Dr. Hayden's wife, she being insane at the time. The present house was built by charitable contributions and the assistance of neighbors
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and townsmen. That part of the estate known as the Joel Hayden farm is now occupied by J. Francis Woodbury, son of T. B. Woodbury.
The place occupied by James W. Barnes is next the T. B. Woodbury place, and was originally a part of the Freegrace Marble farm, and was occupied by Andrew Marble. The old house was the one built by Ebenezer Burnap upon Burnap Hill and moved upon the site of the present house.
It was for a long time owned and occupied by Mr. Marble, passing from him into the hands of Ezra Marble, who sold to Mr. John Hall, at whose death it became the property of Mr. Barnes. A part of the old Burnap house is still stand- ing and used as an ell to the house. The old house was built about the year 1750, and is the oldest building in this part of the town. There used to be many years ago an old wigwam just west of this farm, where the Indians lived for many generations, cultivated the fields and chased the deer until the last one passed away to the happy hunting-grounds of the Great Spirit.
Austin Leland, son of Oliver and Silence Leland, owns and occupies a portion of the farm, which was divided between his two sons, Malachi and Enoch, Malachi keeping that part upon which his father had lived and died.
He occupied it until his death, after which it came into the possession of his heirs and was divided among his chil- dren ; this part became the property of his son Ezra, who sold it to his brother, Simeon Marble, Ezra being the administrator of his father's estate.
Simeon Marble sold the property to Oliver Leland, who occupied it for many years, and then sold it to his son Reuben, who occupied it for a time, and then sold it to his brother Austin, who now occupies it.
The present house was built by Malachi Marble about ninety years ago. The house in which Freegrace Marble lived and died was situated on the opposite side of the road, west of the house as it now stands.
Freegrace Marble purchased of the town at auction the old building that was, in the early settlement of the town, situated between the house occupied by H. D. Bond and the
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Congregational church, and was built as a defense against the Indians. This building was moved to a spot about forty or fifty feet south-west from the house now owned by Austin Leland, where it was used for religious meetings and other public purposes. It was taken down a few years since by Mr. Leland. Mr. Joseph Hathaway used it for a time as a machine shop, driving the machinery by horse power, using the old-fashioned tread-wheel. Here Mr. Hathaway made shuttles in the beginning of his business, for which in after years he was so justly famous. He removed from here to Millbury, where he invented a machine for the manufacture of wooden screws, which worked so successfully that it would finish sixty per minute. He again moved and located upon the site now occupied by Ezra Marble in the manufac- ture of shuttles. (See manufacturing.)
There was also a distillery situated upon the above farm, on the brook that passes from the Sibley reservoir to Marble's pond, about thirty rods below the road. It was used only one year, for the manufacture of cider brandy.
There is a private cemetery on this farm, upon the hill north of the house. It was located by the original proprietor, Freegrace Marble. He and several of his descendants were buried here.
The Ezra Marble place is a portion of the Freegrace Marble estate, and also of Malachi Marble, who owned and occupied it until his death, when the farm was divided and the children received their portion in land. This part came into the possession of Ezra, and after many years the chil- dren built the present cottage for their father and mother, in the year 1855 or 1856, where both have since died. Mr. Ezra P. Marble now resides upon the place. He is about seventy years of age. Mr. Marble is great-grandson of Freegrace.
The Simeon T. Stockwell place was first settled by Capt. Reuben Sibley, but it is not now known when he first located upon the farm. He lived and died here, and was succeeded by his son, Capt. Nathaniel Sibley, who also lived and died here, and was succeeded by his son Reuben, who occupied it until his death, which was caused by being thrown from
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his sleigh in a collision with the cars at the station in Oxford, during a blinding snowstorm. After his death it came into possession of his brother, Sylvester Sibley, who occupied it until his death, when it was sold to Mr. Simeon T. Stockwell, the present owner and occupant. It was here that Capt. Caleb Sibley was born and lived until he entered the military academy at West Point, where he graduated and immediately joined the United States army and continued in the service until his death.
HON. SOLOMON SIBLEY.
Solomon Sibley was born in the town of Sutton, in the house where Simeon T. Stockwell lives, in 1769, and died in Detroit, Michigan, April 4, 1846. One of his brothers, Nathaniel, lived to a somewhat advanced age on the old home- stead in Sutton, leaving several sons and one daughter at his death. One of his sons, Caleb Sibley, entered the army from West Point in 1828, and remained in the service until he departed this life in Chicago, Illinois, some years since. He won a high reputation as a high-toned. conscientious and able officer, and rose by promotion to the rank of brevet brigadier general. His widow and a number of sons and daughters survive him.
Solomon Sibley studied law under William Hastings, a distinguished member of the legal profession in Boston, and after the completion of his education, he emigrated in or about the year 1795, to Marietta, Ohio, but subsequently went to Cincinnati, where he formed a law-partnership with his intimate friend, Judge Burnet. Thence he removed to Detroit, and in 1798-9 he was elected and served as a member of the first legislative assembly of the north-west territory, which met at Chillicothe, Ohio. Judge Burnet was one of his fellow members, and he says of Mr. Sibley in the records of the historical society of Ohio, that "he was one of the most talented men in the House. He possessed a sound mind, improved by a liberal education, and a stability and firmness of character which commanded general respect, and seemed to have the confi- dence and esteem of his fellow members." The history of Michigan shows that for more than fifty years Judge Sibley was one of the most public-spirited, prominent and able of the citizens of that commonwealth. He occupied many positions of trust and high responsibility, having been delegate to Congress, United States attorney, and for many years judge of the supreme court of the territory, in all of which positions he commanded universal confidence and respect.
Hon. George C. Bates, in one of his newspaper articles on the "Bye-Gones of Detroit," thus speaks of Mr. Sibley as he appeared upon the bench of the supreme court, its chief justice :
"Judge Sibley was quite short, very stout, very deaf, a most venerable, plodding, slow and careful judge, listening very patiently, studying very care- fully, and deciding after the most mature deliberation. His long, gray hair, large, projecting eyebrows, and heavy set jaws, gave him very much the air of Chief Justice Shaw of Massachusetts, whom Choate compared to the native's view of their Indian God: 'He feels that he is ugly, but he knows that he is great,' while in his manner, gait, dress and address, there was a quiet dignity,
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a calm, deliberate action, which bespoke the judge always and everywhere. No man would have slapped him on the shoulder any more than he would Washington, and while he was not exacting or arbitrary, any lawyer who had to address him would involuntarily take hls feet from the table, his hand from his pocket, eject his quid of tobacco, and address him as 'Your Honor.' "
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