USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > History of the town of Westford, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, 1659-1883 > Part 19
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Nearly all fabrics for garments were spun and woven at home on the hand-loom. The early deeds show that men were often weavers by trade. The cloth, after it was taken from the loom, must be dressed by the clothier. The first fulling-mill, as has been stated (p. 12) was at Brookside. The first tannery was built on the east side of the town by Zaccheus Wright. Col. Wright, having no children, gave up his property and business by sale or will to Benjamin Osgood, who carried it on at the same place for many years.
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242
HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
Another tannery was situated near the centre of the town, on Heywood Street. The first proprietor was Col. Abel Boyn- ton. After him was John Osgood, then Ira G. Richardson. It is now many years since both of these were abandoned.
Brick-making. This was early begun in the south part. The clay-hills on the farms of George H. Elliott and John Wilson furnished the materials for the purpose. The busi- ness was carried on by Aaron Parker and his successors, and by Capt. Jonathan Minot and his sons. The last men who were concerned in it were Addison Parker and David Whit- ney. The old house, torn down not long since by George Hutchins, and the house now occupied by Wayland F. Balch, were built of brick burned near by. The last kiln was burned by Samuel Wiley.
Coopering. This has been done here, but never on a large scale. The town annually goes through the form of choosing a " culler of hoops and staves."
Pottery. There was once a yard for this in the rear of the residences of Nathan S. Hamblin and John W. Abbot. The clay was dug for a while on the north side of Prospect Hill, where the pit is still to be seen. As this did not prove to be of good quality, clay was afterward brought from another source. Mr. James Burns was the first and perhaps the only proprietor. He lived, it is said, on the farm lately owned by Samuel N. Burbeck, and died at a very advanced age. Fragments of pottery have been found on the site of the old yard.
Lime-burning. This has been practised on a very lim- ited scale. Limestone is found in Chelmsford and Carlisle, and perhaps occasionally crops out in the south part of this town. The ruins of a lime-kiln are to be seen near the so- called Carter place.
Carpet-weaving. The house at Westford Corner, lately occupied by Frederic Parker, was once used for this purpose.
Abbot & Co.'s Worsted Mill, Forge Village.
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INDUSTRIES AND MANUFACTURES.
This was before the invention of power-looms, when all weav- ing was done by hand.
Potash. A building with its necessary appendages for the manufacture of potash stood on the old road from Asaph B. Cutter's to George Yapp's house, which was once a tav- ern-stand, at the junction of the two roads.
By referring to page 12, the reader will find the date of the first occupation of the water-power at Forge Village, namely, 1680. Hon. Caleb Butler, in his history of Groton, says : " After King Philip's war and the resettlement of the town, Jonas Prescott built a mill at Stony Brook, near its issue from Forge Pond, now in Westford. Previous to the erection of Prescott's mill, an Indian by the name of Andrew sold his weir at Stony Brook, as appears by the following record : ' The twenty shillings due to Andrew, the Indian, from the town for his warre at Stony Brook, assigned by said Indian to Richard Blood, the said Richard Blood as- signs it over to James Parker.'" Prior to 1730, Jonas Pres- cott had " greatly enlarged and improved the works on Stony Brook by erecting forges for manufacturing iron from the ore as well as other purposes."
It is difficult to fix the precise date of the building of the forges, but it was perhaps as early as 1710. This enterprise of working iron was the fourth or fifth of the kind in New England .. The ore used was the variety known as bog-iron, and was procured in Groton. The "Groton iron," produced at the forge, was not of very good quality, being brittle, and it was not extensively used. The business was carried on until the year 1865, when the Forge Company ceased to exist. It was not exclusively the process of smelting, but of manufacturing forks and other implements. During this long period of one hundred and fifty or sixty years the Prescotts, descendants of Jonas of Groton, held a controlling interest in the company and managed its affairs, except during the last few years of its existence. Jonas, who died in 1870, five years after the forging ceased, was the owner of forty shares in 1863, and was the last who worked at the business.
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. HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
The Forge Village Horse Nail Company was formed January 5, 1865. It succeeded to the franchise of the Forge Company, used the water-power and buildings of that com- pany, and put in machinery for making nails. The capital stock was $30,000, with the right to increase it to $100,000. The officers were John T. Daly, president ; John F. Haskins, secretary, and Alexander H. Caryl, treasurer. The capital was increased to $100,000 in 1868. The business was pros- perous and remunerative for some time, but it gradually declined until 1877, when it came to an end.
In 1854 Charles G. Sargent came from Lowell to Gran- iteville and entered into partnership with Francis A. Calvert, under the firm-name of Calvert & Sargent. This was six years after the railroad had been constructed through that village, which then contained only three or four houses. They bought the farm and the saw and grist-mill of Thomas Richardson, and the buildings were converted into shops for the manufacture of woollen machinery. These were burned in December, 1855 ; and soon after mill number one was erected -a two-story building 185 x 52 feet, with a connect- ing L 40 X 32 feet. Two years later they built mill number two of the same dimensions. A partnership was formed in 1857 by the firm with John W. P. Abbot, for the manufacture of worsted yarns ; but being unable to attend to this depart- ment of business, Mr. Sargent sold his interest to Allan Cam- eron in 1857. In 1862 Mr. Sargent bought his partner's interest in the machine-shop, and continued the business in his own name. He invented a number of important machines pertaining to his branch of manufacture. Among them were a wool-washing machine, a burr-picker, a wool-drying ma- chine, a patent atomizer for oiling wool and a metallic waste- card for reducing yarn, thread-waste and soft flannels to wool. In 1877, he built a new mill on the opposite side of the stream. This was finished and the machinery moved into it in January, 1878.
In the State census for 1875, Sargent's mill is said to have one establishment for the manufacture of woollen
. HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
"The Forge Village Bor Nail Company was formed January 5. 865. It succeeded to the from I've of The Forge Company, used the water-power and building of that com- Tology and put in monchimoy for making mouth, The capital sun - sens $20, 000, with the right to increase if to $100. 000. The officers were John T. Daly, pre denii Taluy F. Hostiny, Mobily and Alexander FR. Cuyk, If uss. The capital Was Increased to broo,que in (888. Tis Koviness was pros- perond ant rentrerative for some lott it gradually Declined until rely, when it Came |. ..
4
In 1854 Charles &. Sorgeni seine . Lowell lo Gran- iteville and entered into partnership : ace A. Calvert, under the firm-name of Udyert & Sia Thù was six years after the railroad bad Teen oper and through that village, which they eenlost my uma Thur houres. "They bought the farm and the saw and maisel af Thomas Richardson, and the buildings were courwijed into shops for the manufacture of woollen machiner. Th, were burned in December 1855; and spon after mill nuother one was erected on two-story building 85 x 5. teen, with a connect- ing L 40 > J2 feet Two years Later they body miß number 1.10 Di the same dimenporch A porn was formed in 18 In the firm with Toho W. V W). the manufacture Nto this depart
1 to Allan Com- ern io 1657. In 1802 Mr Sup gle By partner's interest of the machine-shops kot d the Thainess in his own name. Ile invented xo Am portain machine; pertaining to his brauch of mamy Among Them were a wool-washing machine, A bodor- 4 wool-drying mot-
chine, a patent aromiar foc ofing da meodlic wane- card for reducing yizo. Bird- and mf flannels to wool. In 1877. he buch n nee Uhr wyposite side of
the showum. This was figiviobi Le machinery moved into @ in January. 7878
In the State cena for a sargent's mill is said to have mie est blishment for the adfacture of woollen
Abbot & Co.'s Worsted Mill, Graniteville.
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INDUSTRIES AND MANUFACTURES.
machinery, with a capital of $37,522. The value of goods manufactured in that year was $46,011.
By the death of Mr. Sargent in July, 1878, the business passed into the hands of his two sons, under the firm-name of Charles G. Sargent's Sons. Since they have controlled it, it has materially increased from year to year, until their facilities in the new building are not adequate to their needs. They employ, on the average, seventy machinists, and the business is now three times as large as in 1875.
The Abbot Worsted Mills began business in 1855, with John W. Abbot as managing partner, and John W. P. Abbot and Charles G. Sargent as special partners. At first they manufactured fine worsted yarns for the making of braids and upholstery goods, employing about twenty hands. In 1857 Mr. Sargent retired from the firm, and Mr. Allan Cameron became an active partner. In January, 1858, their works, as well as those of Mr. Sargent, were entirely destroyed by fire ; but in January, 1859, they again began business in one half of a large stone mill, built by Mr. Sar- gent, about one-eighth of a mile below the former site. These premises they have continued to occupy to the present time, with frequent additions to give increased facilities for produc-
tion. When they started anew they began the manufacture of carded yarns, used in making carpets. In 1878, Abbot & Company leased the part of the mill formerly occupied by Sargent & Sons, and also built a stone addition to the mill occupied by themselves, sixty feet long and two stories high, and proceeded to fill it with machinery. Finding this still insufficient to meet the growing wants of their customers, they purchased, in October, 1879, the buildings and water- power at Forge Village formerly occupied by the Forge Village Horse Nail Company, and filled the buildings with improved machinery. Abbot & Company employ 200 hands. The wages paid annually amount to $60,000. The average sales per month are $50,000. The daily consumption of wool (uncleansed) is 8,000 pounds ; the yearly consumption is 2,225,000 pounds. These aggregates include all their mills.
246
HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
The Chauncy Mills were established in Graniteville in August, 1874, Miner H. A. Evans, proprietor. There is one set of machinery for making Shaker socks. One hun- dred pounds of wool are used, and fifty or sixty dozen pairs of socks are made each day. Thirty persons are employed in the mill, and work is given to many more out of it.
Stone Quarrying. This, as a distinct business, came into existence more than half a century ago. At first ledges were not worked, but the large isolated rocks found in great numbers in the north part of the town. The granite pillars of the Market House in Boston were hewn of huge bowlders left ages ago on a lot of land lying northwest of the old school-house in district number seven, on the old stage road from North Chelmsford to Groton, and were hauled through the centre of the town by twenty yoke of oxen. They were obtained by Charles Hollis.
Isaac Carkin was the first man to open the ledgeon Oak Hill. The quarrying began there fifty-five or fifty-six years ago, that is, in 1826 or '27. After Mr. Carkin, Major Jesse Colburn carried on the business for many years, and more recently George W. Merrill. Much of the stone from this. source is drawn to the stone-yard at North Chelmsford, but some is hauled into Lowell.
The first quarrying from the ledges on Snake-Meadow Hill was done by Benjamin Palmer, a native of Camden, Maine. He came to this town in March, 1847. At first he worked on bowlders or cobbles, as the quarrymen call them, and his stone was drawn by teams into Lowell. He soon began to work on the ledges, and has continued the business to the present time. He employs twenty-one men, besides four others who get out paving stones exclusively. Also, three horses and one yoke of oxen.
In the summer of 1847 the railroad bridge across the brook was begun, and there was a demand for split stone on the spot. The contract for building the bridge was taken by George Wright and David P. Lawrence; but they
·
Residence of Mrs. Charles G. Sargent.
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INDUSTRIES AND MANUFACTURES.
relinquished in December, and the bridge was finished by Henry Woods, of Groton.
In 1848 Samuel Fletcher, a native of Groton, engaged in the business, and hired a ledge on the hill. During the summer of that year he drew a large quantity of stone to the landing near the railroad, and had it all ready for transporta- tion when the railroad was opened. It was carried to Law- rence and used in the construction of the dam across the Merrimack River at that place. Mr. Fletcher now owns a quarry on the hill, and two quarries elsewhere. He employs fifteen or twenty men, and the amount of his annual sales is $10,000.
March 1, 1853, William Reed, Ist, a native of Acton, bought of Thomas Hutchins sixty-one acres of land on Snake-Meadow Hill, and in connection with his brother, David Reed, began the business of quarrying. The lot lies on the crest of the hill and is long and narrow. In a year or two the lot was divided between the brothers, William taking the portion on the top of the hill and David the western part, toward and including some part of Cowdry Hill. They still continue the business. William Reed employs about twenty men for eight or nine months in the year. Also six horses and one yoke of oxen. His annual sales run from $8,000 to $12,000.
The ministry lot of twenty acres on Snake-Meadow Hill lies between the lots of William Reed and Benjamin Palmer. It was given to the First Parish by Jonas Prescott, Esq., the father of Dea. John Prescott, who once owned the saw-mill at Graniteville. In 1853, Ephraim Abbot and John W. P. Abbot were authorized to procure a survey of it, and the latter gentleman was given " full power to sell stone from the church lot for the benefit of the church." The quarry on it has been worked by Benjamin Palmer and Samuel Fletcher.
Asa Bond opened a quarry on Cowdry Hill and was afterward associated with his brother Almon Bond. They carried on the business for a year only, for Almon died,
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HISTORY OF WESTFORD,
December 10, 1860, and Asa soon after removed to Concord, N. H.
Reed, Palmer and Fletcher supplied a large quantity of stone to George Runels; contractor, to be used in building he State Prison at Concord. It was sent on the Nashua and Acton Railroad.
Noah Prescott has a stone-yard at Brookside and one at Westford station, but his chief business is done at Brookside. His quarries are in the north part, near Flushing Pond. He employs twelve or fourteen men and four horses. Annual sales, $7,000.
The granite dealers send the stone to numerous cities and towns of this Commonwealth, which make the chief demand for it; but it is sometimes sent to New York, New Orleans and Chicago. It is used for paving, for engine-beds, foundations for buildings, street curbing, flagging for city sidewalks, window and door-caps, door-sills and caps, bridge- building and various other purposes. Being free from mineral substances, it holds its color for a long time, and seldom shows any rust or stain ; but being hard to bring to an edge, it is not much used for monuments, although it is often prepared for edge-stones around lots in cemeteries. The traffic is an important source of income to the town.
Stores and Store-keepers. The country store is a necessity, albeit the time was when the chief trade was in rum, codfish and molasses. Store-keeping, or shop-keep- ing, as it was styled, had its favorite haunts to which it clung with much tenacity. The following facts, communi- cated by Mr. Edward Symmes, relate to one spot on which the business was pursued for a long time :
" Owners of the Cameron place for the last one hun- dred and twenty years. May 5, 1762, Timothy Fletcher sold to Asahel Wyman two acres of land near the meeting- house for £60.
" July 8, 1774, Asahel Wyman, blacksmith, sold to Eliza- beth Symmes, shop-keeper, the land and buildings. . Her
Granite Quarry of William Reed.
a
t
d, of
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INDUSTRIES AND MANUFACTURES.
shop was in the north part. The house was evidently built at two different times. The front or east part was originally built for a Sunday noon-house. The addition made on the west side was for a kitchen, and her shop, with a glass door, was next to the street. She was then the widow of Captain Caleb Symmes. She was married by her father, Rev. Wil- lard Hall, to Captain Benjamin Fletcher, February 9, 1779- the last marriage recorded by Mr. Hall. The price she paid Wyman for the two acres of land and buildings was £106- 13-4. At the time she bought, Capt. James Pollard owned the Sherman D. Fletcher place, and Samuel Gardner the John W. Abbot place. Her conveyance of the place I have not found, but by dates I have, it must have been in the spring of 1793-to Abel Boynton. Boynton, at that time, owned the John W. Abbot place. May 13, 1793, Abel Boynton sold to Samuel Wood for £180. Wood built a store and divided the land, the dividing line running over the centre of the well. October 5, 1799, he sold the western half with the buildings to Isaiah Leighton for $800. I think Samuel Wood was a baker, as well as a trader. February 26, 1806, Isaiah Leighton to Jonas Blodgett for $800. Feb- ruary 1, 1810, Jonas Blodgett to Benjamin Kneeland for $800. August 8, 1811, Benjamin Kneeland to James P. Patten for $1,045.93. January 15, 1825, James P. Patten to Amos Adams for $1,000. October 24, 1828, Amos Adams to Ebenezer Tidd for $1,000. March 31, 1832, Ebenezer Tidd to Edward Symmes for $700. Edward Symmes sold to John W. P. Abbot, and Abbot sold to Allan Cameron." In addition to these - - Proctor and also Jacob A. Wright kept store there under the lease of the building.
On the opposite side of the street from the site above mentioned, stood the "old red store," which was successively occupied by Benjamin Kneeland, Captain Thomas Read, Samuel M. Newhall, Joseph Keyes, Trueworthy Keyes and Samuel Fletcher. A new store was built on the same site and occupied by Samuel and Sherman D. Fletcher from 1839 to 1860 ; by Sherman D. Fletcher from 1860 to 1873, and by Wright & Fletcher from 1873 to the present time.
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250
HISTORY OF WESTFORD.
A store once stood on Main Street, near the present residence of Mrs. J. W. P. Abbot, and was occupied by Calvin Fletcher, Willard Reed and William Ditson. A new store took its place and was occupied by Samuel Wright, Isaiah Leighton & Son (George), Peter H. Willard, Fletcher & Tidd, Samuel Fletcher, Trueworthy Keyes & Benjamin F. Keyes, Keyes & Brown (George), Keyes & Parker (Jacob Osgood), Henry Griffin, Butter- field & Hildreth, Alonzo W. Hildreth, David C. Butterfield, Protective Union Company, Cummings & Kimball and Hil- dreth & Fletcher. The same store was moved to a site near Samuel Wiley's house, and occupied by Fletcher Peckens, Peter Swallow, S. A. Bull, Sidney Parker, Edwin Carter, Samuel Wiley, and Cumings Brothers.
A store in the yard of Mrs. George Prescott was occu- pied by Benjamin Kneeland, then moved to the site of Mrs. Groce's house and occupied by Joseph Keyes.
Willard Reed had a store in the wing of Ephraim A. Stevens' house, and John Hinckley had one in a part of Mrs. Betsey Day's house.
Albert Leighton built a store in the space near Charles H. Fletcher's house, and occupied it. The building was afterward removed and became a part of John B. Fletcher's house. Mr. Leighton previously occupied a part of the Bancroft house, about 1843.
Caleb M. Blake once had a store in a part of the old Byam house.
Miss Lydia Keyes had a store near the spot on which Greenleaf Drew's house now stands, and this was afterward occupied by Josiah Fairbanks who came from Shrewsbury.
A Mr. Russell came from Boston and occupied a part of Mrs. Abijah Fletcher's house.
Jacob A. Wright began to do business in the " old red store," then moved to the one opposite owned by Edward Symmes, afterward occupied the store in Mrs. Abijah Fletcher's house, and from that he went to the Bancroft house near the First Parish Church.
1
Tice Lowell
Residence of Allan Cameron.
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INDUSTRIES AND MANUFACTURES.
In a store east of the common, John B. Fletcher, and after him John M. Fletcher.
In Graniteville, Wright & Co. (N. H. and Arthur Wright), Arthur Wright, Wright & Woods, and Wright & Bemis.
At Cowdry's Corner, in the vicinity of Heart Pond, Nathaniel Sweetser, about 1819-'20.
Luther Reed, in the house now occupied by George Hutchinson.
In the house in the southwest part, sometimes called the Hartwell tavern-stand, Willard Reed, Seth Reed, Jonas Blodgett and Simeon Stevens.
At Chamberlin's Corner, Jacob Osgood, Henry Griffin, - Woods, John E. Stevens.
Samuel Adams is early mentioned as a trader. He was concerned in buying and selling land in Cavendish, Vt., to which place he removed and where he lived for a while. His store was probably near the Chelmsford line, hard by Isaac Adams', but he seems also to have been at the Centre.
In Forge Village the merchants have been Jonathan Prescott, Luther Prescott, David P. Lawrence, - -- But- terfield, Gilson, - Blodgett & Reiter, Albert King.
CHAPTER X.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
THE inhabitants of the west precinct early took measures to secure the settlement of a minister. The following is the earliest hint which the records give of their efforts in this direction : " Chelmsford, December the 15th 1726. At a meeting of the Comtee of the West Precinct of sd Town, it was ordered that Ebenezer Wright, Treasurer of sd Precinct, pay to Joshua Fletcher for money expended about and agoing for ministers the sum of 15s. Pay to Ens. Joseph Keyes, for money expended agoing for Mr. Hall the sum of 8s." Under the same date the treasurer was ordered to " pay to Mr. Willard Hall for Preaching the Gospel amongst us 15teen Sabaths and the thanksgiven the sum of 25£ 05s." Also, " pay to the Reverend Willard Hall for preaching five Sabaths the sum of 7& Ios." Here are bills for two periods of service, apparently, making £30 15s. for twenty Sabbaths' preaching. It seems probable, therefore, that he came here in July or August, 1726.
The Invitation to Mr. Hall. "Chelmsford, May the 2nd, 1727. At a meeting of the inhabitants of the westerly Precinct in Chelmsford Regularly Assembled to make choice of a minister to settle with them.
Ily. Chose Dea. John Comings moderator for the work of the day.
2ly. The Reverend Mr. Willard Hall chose for a minis- ter to settle with us.
3ly. Voted to give a hundred pounds money or Bills of Credit to the Reverend Willard Hall, if he seeth cause to take up with us to be our minister, for his settlement, to be
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ECCLESIASTICAL.
paid within six months after he takes up with us to be our minister. Voted to give to the Reverend Willard Hall eighty pounds money or Bills of Credit of this Province for his Sallary." "May 24, 1727. Voted that the Reverend Willard Hall shall have for his Sallary eighty pounds for the first year and then to rise forty shillings per year till it comes to an hundred pounds per year. Voted that he shall have fifty pounds aded to the hundred pounds before granted towards his settelment, which shall be in labour or specie. Voted that Dea. John Comings, William Fletcher and Joshua Fletcher shall be a Comtee to carry the votes to the Reverend Willard Hall and to treat with him about settlement with us. Voted that they shall agree with him that his Sallary shall rise and fall according to the vallue of money." *
The Answer to the Call. " Chelmsford Precinct, August 26th, 1727.
TO THE COMTEE TO BE COMMUNICATED :
So certain it is that all ye affairs of the world & of every particular Person and even the most minute circum- stances of our lives, are governed by the Providence of him whose Kingdom Ruleth over all, that every wise and every christian man more especially will endeavor in his Designs and Actions to do the Will of God by following the Rule of Scripture wch will certainly entitle him to the favour of God and to the blessing of his providence and will give him Satis- faction and Comfort in the condition which he shall thus put himself into : and thus I have endeavoured to regulate myself in the important affair of settling in the ministry here. I have no farther sought my own Private Interest than the law of nature obliged me to, that I might Secure a tolerably com- fortable subsistence which I cannot any longer doubt of since I have so much assurance of the continuance of your good
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