USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Warwick > History of the town of Warwick, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1854 > Part 11
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In the history of the West-Royalston church, writ- ten in 1854, we find the following : "In May, 1798, twenty-two members of this church signified their intention to form themselves into a church in War- wick ; and they were dismissed agreeably to their request. At their first church-meeting, Elder Levi Hodge was chosen moderator."
As this church had come into being as the result of a difficulty, Elder Hodge acted the part of a peace maker : so much so, that, in 1801, the church in Roy-
166
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
alston requested him to become their pastor ; and Elder Hodge accepted of their invitation. In 1803 the two churches were united ; and Mr. Hodge con- tinued as its faithful pastor until the time of his death, in 1819, he all the time residing in Warwick. Elder J. M. Graves was the successor of Elder Hodge. In 1817, Elder John Shepardson purchased a farm in the south part of this town, and settled upon it. Here he lived until the day of his death, some time in 1833, and preached in the schoolhouse in the south part of Warwick, and in South Orange, and Erving's Grant, nearly every sabbath, working faithfully in the service of his Master to a good old age, when he was called to a better world on high, there to receive his reward.
On the 20th of January, 1843, fourteen persons, members of the Baptist church of Royalston and Warwick, petitioned to be set off as a branch of that church to meet in Warwick Centre. On the 14th of February following, the church voted to grant their request. The branch church chose Asa H. Conant clerk, and adjourned until April I. At the ad- journed meeting, Rev. E. M. Burnham was chosen pas- tor, and nine persons were added by letter from the South-Orange church, all of them inhabitants of Warwick.
An ecclesiastical council was convened Aug. 20, and organized by the choice of Rev. Asaph Meriam moderator, and Rev. Erastus Andrews clerk. The council voted to recognize them as an independent church. Mr. Burnham continued to labor as their pastor until Nov. 2, 1844, when he asked and ob-
1 y d
ta p f
I67
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
tained his dismission. Rev. L. Fay was then chosen pastor, and continued about two years. For the two following years, Rev. S. S. Kingsley was pastor. In 1849, Elder Fay again supplied the desk for about one year. Rev. Caleb Sawyer and others supplied the desk for nearly three years.
In 1854, Rev. E. M. Burnham labored with them for one-half of the time. The desk was supplied for the most part of 1856-1857 by Rev. Jonas G. Ben- nett. The report to the Association for 1858 was, "On the Ist of December last we parted with our late pastor, Rev. J. G. Bennett. The spring follow- ing (March), Rev. E. J. Emory came and filled the desk until April, 1861, when he received a call, and left for another part of his Master's vineyard."
In May, 1861, Rev. G. B. Bills became the pastor and remained for a little over a year. After he left, the church was without a pastor until autumn, when the Rev. Lyman Culver assumed the charge, and preached until the winter of 1863-64, when the desk was again supplied by the Rev. Erastus Andrews. From 1864 to 1868 the Rev. L. F. Shepardson was the pastor of this church. The Rev. L. Fay and others supplied the desk until June, 1869, after which the Rev. E. D. Daniels became pastor for one year ; then the Rev. H. H. Woodbury supplied until the spring of 1871, when the Rev. C. Farrar became pas- tor, and continues to the present time. This church has received a donation of a thousand dollars the pres- ent year, from their deceased brother, Daniel Pierce, who gave to his brethren in trust for the furtherance of the gospel of Christ.
I68
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
The following Baptist ministers originated from Warwick : Rev. Ebenezer Barber, Rev. Henry Hol- man, Rev. Jona. Blake.
UNIVERSALISTS.
The Universalist society in Warwick was incorpo- rated Feb. 25, 1814, and has been supplied by Rev. Robert Bartlett, John Brooks, Stillman Clark, T. Bar- row, E. Davis, and John H. Willis in 1851 and 1852, since which time they have had no regular preaching. They have no meeting-house.
The following Universalist ministers originated from Warwick: Rev. Caleb Rich, Robert Bartlett, Eben- ezer Williams, and John Williams.
EPISCOPALIANS.
The Rev. Levi .B. Stimson, an Episcopalian minis- ter, originated from Warwick.
Summary of preachers who originated from War- wick : Orthodox Congregationalists, 9; Unitarians, 6 ; Universalists, 4 ; Baptists, 3 ; Episcopalian, I, -mak- ing 23 different preachers as natives of this town.
SPIRITUALISM.
During the winter of 1850-51 quite a sensation was raised among the usually quiet people of our town by the announcement in the secular papers, that, in several places in this vicinity, what were at that time called the "Rochester knockings" were heard. But very little was known of the matter by the people
169
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
of our town until March 5, 1851, when Mr. F. Che- ney and wife of Athol came by invitation, and gave a public manifestation of the rappings, she being a medium for that phase of the phenomena. Quite a company having assembled, and being somewhat startled by what was heard, and the intelligence accompanying the sounds purporting to be communi- · cations from our departed friends that had left the mortal for the immortal shores, some of those present were favorably impressed on the subject, and re- turned home with a determination of giving the mat- ter a further investigation. But little more was done until September following, when the tippings were to be seen at a number of places in this town, also exhibiting like intelligence. Early in October these manifestations became quite common at the house of Dea. Hervey Barber ; and many were the visits that he and his family received from his townsmen, and from the people of the adjoining ones, who came to investigate these, at that time, new and almost miraculous movements. Soon after took place the phases of writing names and messages, and of seeing the forms of persons gone to the land of souls, who influenced one member of the family to speak and give information from the spirit world, and lec- tures on the reforms of the day, above the capacity of the individual that was used as the agent for the con- trolling power. These manifestations continued, and others were added to the list. One member of the family became clairvoyant, and another clairaudient ; and nearly all the phases of mediumship now extant were there witnessed by large numbers : but they
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170
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
varied in their opinions as to the cause of the power that gave the intelligence they received. After con- siderable investigation, this family and several others became convinced that these demonstrations were what they claimed to be, - the testimony of our friends supposed to be dead ; that they still live, or, in other words, give a practical elucidation of the New-Testa- ment doctrine of immortality. But as soon as it became known that it was claimed that these, or the like manifestations, were seen and heard at the time that Jesus and his apostles were upon the earth, and could be proved from the sacred Record, its be- lievers, like those of old, "were everywhere spoken against ;" and as the manifestations have continued with this family and several others, and as time has in- creased the number of the believers, and added strength to their faith in its divine origin and mission, and as the writer of this article is the only person in this town that has felt it to be his duty to preach this new gos- pel both at home and abroad, he and his associates desire that the above account of these things should be transmitted to posterity in this work, for their decision as to the utility and wisdom of their course.
THE GREAT HAIL-STORM.
On the 25th of July, 1866, a destructive storm of hail passed from north-west to south-east through the town, and extended into Orange.
After a very hot and sultry morning, some clouds were to be seen (not far from two o'clock, P.M.) near the
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
western horizon : soon an unusual commotion was ob- served, both to the south-west and north-west, in the clouds, indicating severe storms of wind, rain, or hail. Both of these showers were attracted to a point near the western boundary of the town, called Notch Moun- tain. These storm-clouds met near the south side of said mountain ; and near its southern base hail descended in large quantities, and the earth was cov- ered to the depth of eight inches in this region. The hailstones were as large as walnuts, on an average : some of them were of the size of butternuts ; and devastation and a general destruction of all vegetable matter was the consequence of the powers of the united storms. Not only were the crops of grain and fruit literally destroyed, but, for some distance each way on the south side of this mountain, the trees of the forest were so badly cut to pieces that nearly all of them died. Said storm passed from this place to the east, over the farms of Ezekiel Ellis ; then to the south-east over those of Hervey Barber, C. W. Eddy, Henry M. Harvey, Albert Witherell, William H. Gale, and Ethan Cushing. These farms are located near the centre of its course : but the damage to the crops extended for more than a mile in width on each side ; and all the crops, except grass, were entirely ruined. Many fowls were killed, and the roofs of many build- ings so badly damaged as to oblige the owners to cover them anew, - the glass on one side, and some of them on two sides, was broken to fragments ; and its path could be traced easily for several years after- wards.
It will be understood, that, on each side of the cen-
I72
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
tre of the shower, the damage to the crops decreased as the distance increased ; and, from its place of be- ginning to its end, the hailstones were continually becoming smaller, its fury abating, and the damage to crops less severe.
The citizens of Warwick that resided beneath its length and breadth were damaged to the amount of five thousand dollars, - perhaps more, as no true appraisal can be made ; and no one storm of any kind, since the great tornado of 1821, has been the cause of the destruc- tion of so large an amount of property. But our usually calm atmosphere and quiet earth were not left many days in peace ; for, on the Saturday following, one of the heaviest showers of rain that was ever known fell on and about Mount Grace. For the space of over a mile, the rain actually poured down for over an hour ; and the mountain-rills became roaring torrents, the small brooks foaming rivers. Many farms were injured to a large amount ; and the highways that lead from the village towards Northfield and Winchester were in several places apparently ruined : so that the town was injured to a large amount in roads and bridges. Oct. 4, 1869, there was a general rain-storm in this vicinity. The rain fell for over six hours in torrents ; and the destruction of property was greater than in 1866, as the storm extended over the whole town. The roads were damaged to a large amount. Many bridges were swept away: so that the public loss was considerable, but the private loss still great- er. Among the sufferers were Martin Harris, David Shepardson, and James S. Wheeler, whose losses
173
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
were great, and many others considerable. A few days after, there was quite a heavy shower in the north part of the town; and, as the ponds were already full, it broke A. I. Kidder's reservoir-dam, swept away his stave-mill, took down his saw-mill and dam, and left not a vestige of either to be seen upon the spot where they stood. It also broke several other dams, washing away bridges that came in the way ; causing damage to over four thousand dollars within a very small distance.
April 25, 1872. - It being the ninety-fifth anniver- sary of the birth of Mr. Phinehas- Child, his friends, to the number of thirty-six, assembled at the resi- dence of his children, on Flower Hill in Warwick, and enjoyed a social season in a quiet way, by grasp- ing the friendly hand, and conversing freely on the general subjects of the day, in which he still takes a lively interest, and calmly gives his opinion as in days gone by ; for he retains his faculties, both men- tal and physical, in a remarkable degree for a man so far advanced in years. After partaking of a bountiful repast, furnished by the visitors, and listen- ing to an explanation of an ornamental cake pre- sented by the wife of the Rev. Charles Farrar, and an historic original poem written for the occasion, as a greeting of welcome for him to his friends, and ex- pressing his thanks for their friendly call, the visitors departed to their homes, feeling that another milestone had been placed in their earthly path as well as in his, as a memento of love, respect, and kind regards to
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
him for his long, useful, and honest life, and to themselves for their appreciation of virtue and moral worth in the character of one who has with several of them been a resident of our town for nearly sixty years.
INTRODUCTION TO THE APPENDIX
TO THE
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
We have thought it advisable, before giving the perusal of the Appendix to the History of Warwick, to present to our readers a brief genealogy of our deceased friend and fellow-citizen, the Hon. Jonathan Blake, and of his ances- tors from the earliest settlement of New England, together with an account of his labors, and the responsible offices that he held, with specimens of his poems; believing it due to his descendants for what he did for our town dur- ing his long and useful life. H. B.
[BY HIS BROTHER, SAMUEL BLAKE.]
Hon. Jonathan Blake was a descendant in the seventh generation from William and Agnes Blake of Dorchester, through Elder James, Dea. James, James " the annalist," Samuel, Jonathan. His ancestry is traced back four genera- tions in England, prior to his emigrant ancestor, William, who was born in 1594.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
Hon. Jonathan Blake, " the Historian of Warwick," was born in Dorchester, Mass., May 29, 1780.
He was son of Jonathan and Sarah (Pierce) Blake .*
His father moved to Warwick in 1781, and died there Oct. 8, 1836, in the eighty-eighth year of his age. His mother died Aug. 15, 1831.
Jonathan Blake married Patty Conant of Warwick, Jan. 18, 1803. They had six children.
She died in Warwick, Oct. 21, 1819.
He married, for his second wife, Mrs. Betsey (Howland) Ballard of Gill, Aug. 1, 1821.
He died April 13, 1864, at Brattleboro', Vt., aged eighty- four years.
He wrote the History of Warwick from its first settle- ment to the year 1854. He was a natural poet. He wrote a great amount of poetry on various subjects and on all occa- sions. He kept a voluminous diary for nearly sixty years.
He was in public business the most of his mature life. He was a distinguished surveyor of land, the practice of which profession has been peculiar to the Blake family from the first settlement of Massachusetts Bay. He was a friend to all public improvements, and an ardent advocate of rail- roads in their early days.
He resided in Warwick seventy-three (73) years.
Was town clerk of Warwick fifteen (15) years ; served as selectman, overseer of the poor, and assessor nine (9) years ; was acting justice of the peace forty-two (42) years ; representative to the General Court two (2) years ; senator of Massachusetts two (2) years ; county commissioner in Franklin County nine (9) years, and chairman of the board three (3) years ; a member of the Unitarian Church in Warwick over fifty years ; superintendent of the sab- bath school about twenty years. His influence was always
See " Blake Family," page 56.
S
hu m
for
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APPENDIX.
for good. He was a dutiful son, a beloved brother, a kind husband, a tender father, and has left posterity a rich patri- mony in an example of an industrious, useful, and Christian life.
SPECIMENS OF THE POETRY OF HON. JONA. BLAKE.
WARWICK.
FROM Warwick's lofty mountains And everlasting hills Flow many sparkling fountains, And precious, cooling rills.
How free from all diseases That mind and health impair !
How pure her summer breezes ! How soft her balmy air !
Now, where in all creation Can such a place be found
For mental elevation To flourish and abound ?
Proud Science here can flourish, And ever will prevail To stimulate and nourish The mind that's sound and hale.
The votary of Pleasure Would here be sure to find
A more enduring treasure Than California's mine.
And Music's silvery tongues, In harmony divine, Shall sing her glorious songs, Enchantingly sublime.
178
HISTORY OF WARWICK.
And Wisdom's choicest treasures Shall raise her sons to fame, And bless their grand endeavors With an everlasting name.
BRATTLEBORO', Jan. 4, 1860.
J. BLAKE.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL CELEBRATION. IN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
Ques. O KIND teachers ! can you tell us Where the path to glory goes ? Can you warn us of our dangers ? Can you save us from our foes ?
Ans. Yes, dear children, we can tell you Of the road that leads to bliss : We can warn you of its dangers Through a world of sin like this.
Ques. O kind teachers ! tell the story : How our bosoms pant to know What will make us good and happy While we live on earth below !
Ans. Yes, dear children : 'tis the Bible, - Blessed book ! - that tells the story, -
How the young may love their Maker, How the saints prepare for glory.
Ques. O kind teachers ! let us read it, Let us treasure up its meaning : All the good and great will love us ; . For 'twill make us leave off sinning.
Ans. Blessed children, how we love you ! We can never cease to praise Him who gave us all his bounty, - Life and health, and peace and grace.
J. BLAKE.
WARWICK, Oct. 2, 1841.
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APPENDIX.
DEDICATION HYMN
FOR THE NEW UNITARIAN CHURCH IN WARWICK.
OMNIPOTENT and omniscient God, Accept of this earthly abode Our hands have upreared to thy name : Let thy presence, like heavenly light, Seraphic, diffusive, and bright, Here come, and forever remain.
Let thy Spirit of peace, love, and joy, Without any earthly alloy, Descend like the dew that distils. Harmonious and heavenly Guest, Fill every worshipper's breast, And soften our obdurate wills.
Inscribed on thy pages, O God ! Are words that thy goodness bestowed To make us both happy and wise. We hallow this temple to thee, - The altar to which we would flee To offer our best sacrifice.
We have built this house for thy praise : Oh ! make it a portal of grace To usher us onward to heaven : Like doves to their windows we'll come, Or prodigals hastening home To join in an endless thanksgiving.
J. BLAKE.
WARWICK, Oct. 4, 1836.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
DEDICATION HYMN.
READ AT THE RE-DEDICATION OF THE UNITARIAN CHURCH, AFTER ITS REPAIRS.
To thee, our Maker and our God, We dedicate this house of prayer : Here may we listen to thy word, And here thy benediction share ! Here may thy word like dew distil Its fragrance in this holy place, And hearts submissive to thy will Its holy precepts to embrace !
Here may the strains from mortal tongues Begin the everlasting song, - That endless, that eternal one, That, rapt in glory, saints prolong ! Here may the Spirit guide in prayer That erst descended from above, And all our supplications share The blessing of redeeming love !
Here may our aged fathers come When on the tottering brink of time, In earnest of that heavenly home, That better, holier, happier clime ! And here may all prepare to meet Their summons at our Saviour's call, And, welcomed at his mercy-seat, The great I Am ! the All in All !
J. BLAKE.
BRATTLEOBRO', July 3, 1859.
181
APPENDIX.
LINES TO BE SUNG AT A DONATION-PARTY IN WARWICK, MASS.
To Him that formed the starry skies Let all the praise be given, - The Great, the Good, the Only Wise, Who sent his Son from heaven.
He came, a messenger of peace, Glad tidings to proclaim, Of endless joys and happiness, - All in his Father's name.
He told us where our duty lies ; How love to God is shown - Better than formal sacrifice - By love to every one.
Our harps upon the willows hung, Like captive Jews of old ; God's house shut up, his praise unsung, No one to pen the fold.
In kindness and in love appears A friend in time of need, Whose generous heart dispels our fears, And sows the precious seed.
We meet this day to consecrate, Each one, their little mite To him whose labors here of late Proclaim what's good and right.
God grant him peace and happiness, And we'll reward his care ; And may his work of righteousness Each one for heaven prepare !
BRATTLEBORO', Nov. 12, 1858.
J. BLAKE.
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
LINES OF CONDOLENCE
ADDRESSED TO MR. AND MRS. - , ON THE DEATH OF THEIR DAUGHTER.
PARENTAL love may strive to save A blooming infant from the grave, - The object of their love ; But purer love and higher claims The God who made it still maintains, And summoned it above.
Sweet little child, it dies, it dies ! Its breath departs, its spirit flies, And leaves its clog of dust ; While shining seraphs guide it home, Up to its heavenly Father's throne, To dwell among the just.
In faith convey its body on, Commit its keeping to the tomb : It cannot there remain. (A grain of wheat must die to grow In richest soil where waters flow) · Your child shall live again.
Though sown a mortal, sure she'll rise Immortal heir of paradise, Of purity and bliss ; And, clothed in garments white and clean, Forever praise thee, One supreme, In endless happiness.
J. BLAKE.
DORCHESTER, Oct. 25, 1851.
APPENDIX
TO THE HISTORY OF WARWICK.
WE now come to the second part of our work, which we entitle an Appendix to the History of Warwick, wherein we record some incidents not mentioned in Mr. Blake's manuscript ; and, not wishing to interfere with his arrange- ments, we place them in this part, so that they may be kept for the benefit of future generations. With some of those that he has recorded, we have added such further expla- nations as we thought needful to make them well understood, and others not so much of direct history as those in the first part of our volume ; but we think they will be of interest to some families, as their ancestors were the principal actors in the events here recorded.
We will here insert the names of the owners of the fifty- acre or home lots, when surveyed in 1737 ; also, who owned the same lots when the first plan of the township of Gard- ner's Canada (now Warwick) was made ; who owned, or were settled on said lots in 1761, when all the settlers' names were taken at the new meeting-house in said town, by order of the proprietors ; and also who reside on or own these lots at the present time, 1872, as near as we can
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HISTORY OF WARWICK.
determine by the proprietors' plan, containing a survey of the said lots, and the one hundred acre-lots surveyed in 1738 :-
Owners in 1737.
A few years after.
1761
1872.
No. I
Samuel Stevens Benj. Smith
2
Gresham Davis
3
4 Wm. Dudley
Jos. Weld
Jos. Weld
Moses Evans
6 Jos. Gardner -
Jos. Heath
not settled
7
Eleazor Ham-
E. Hammond
not settled
mond .
.8
Josiah Cheney
J. Cheney
not settled
[. Whittimore's lieirs Whitmore and
9
Peter Aspinwall
P. Aspinwall
Sam'l Pratt
IO
John Wilson
Benj. Wilson
not settled Sam'l Ball
12 Ebnr. Smith
Elias Smith
Mosely Alvard not settled
others
14
Ebnr. Case
Amariah Roberts not settled
15
Edward White
1.7
Sam'l Fisher
18
Ebnr. Crafts Sam'l Peacock
Stephen Wall Ira Welch
not settled 66 66
I9
John Parker
20
21 Joseph Heath
22 23
Sam'l Wight Joseph Weld
24 25
Samuel Davis
26 Samuel Clark
John Morse
27 28
John Shepard
Joseph Shepard
not settled
A. Albee's, Cook place
29 30 31
John Gay Minister lot
Ebnr. Davis not settled
32
Ministry lot
33
Edward Morris
34
Ebnr. Mande
E. Maurice
J. Frizzell Jos Heath
37 38 39
Thomas Mayo
John Seaver
40 Israel Hearsay
Samuel Stevens Benj. Smith G. Davis Win. Dudley
not settled Geo .. Robbins not settled John Goodale
B. Davis's place A. Blake, mills E. Collar's place
Morris Coughlin, pasture Coughlin and J. Blake
Coughlin & others (in part) J. Shepardson (in part)
II
WVm. Sharp
Wm. Sharp
13
Sam'l Griffin
Sam'l Griffin
Elias Clark James Ball E. White Sam'l Tucker
John Brandon Tim. Nurse
R. Knight, farm Bird's pasture, &c. W. Burnett, farm W. B. farm, and Coughlin, north part
John Foster Joseph Waite Sam'l Wight Joseph Weld
Isaiah Allen
Sam'l Davis Sam'l Clark
E. Hammond
E. Hammond
E. Barber, pas- ture
Thos. Hartshorn
Thos. Hartshorn
66
John Seaver Minister lot Ministry lot Edward Morris Ebenr. Cragin
Israel Olmstead Simeon Olmstead
Ebnr. Crafts
35 36
James Frizzell Joseph Heath
Thomas Mayo John Seaver Sam'l Morse
Sam'l Scott Sam'l Spaulding Amzi Doolittle Jos. Mayo A. Doolittle,jun. Sam'l Scott, jun. Sam'l Bennett
Fisk Cemetery, &c., Fisk place Barnard Fisher H. M Harvey Wid. Holbrook C. W. Hastings S. Reed, Smith place Sam'l Reed James Goldsbury J. Goldsbury and others Elisha Brown E. Brown & others W. E. Russell's pasture
Green and Moore Kimball & others Kimball & others Patridge & others N. Jones & others D. N. Shepardson Houghton place H. Williams
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