USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Winchendon > History of the town of Winchendon (Worcester County, Mass.) from the grant of Ipswich Canada, in 1735, to the present time > Part 2
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CHAPTER IV .- CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE. CHAPTER V .- ANNALS ; 1764-1800. CHAPTER VI .- THE REVOLUTION.
Spirit of the People; First Notes of Defiance; Lexington and Bunker Hill ; Declaration of Independence; Enlistments; Public Spirit; Depreciated Currency ; The Roll of Honor. 80
CHAPTER VII .- SHAYS' REBELLION.
Grievances ; Excited Town Meetings; The Flight. 106
CHAPTER VIII .- STATE AND NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
Representation ; State Constitution; National Constitution. . .. 117
CHAPTER IX .- EDUCATION PREVIOUS TO 1800.
The First Districts ; The First School Houses; Second Arrangement of Dis- tricts ; State of Education. 122
CHAPTER X .- HIGHWAYS AND BY-WAYS.
The First Roads ; Earlington; Winchendon Lottery; New Roads and Bridg- es ; The Bridge by Dr. Hall's. 131
CHAPTER XI .- THE TOWN AS A PARISH.
Preliminary ; Mr. Stimpson's Ministry ; Mr. Brown's Ministry ; First Meet- ing House ; Second Meeting House; Names of Pew Holders; Location of the House ; Ministers' Salary ; Devotional Music ; The Town's Quarrel with Mr. Brown ; Proceedings of the Council ; The Minister's Politics ; The Stee- ple and Bell; Names of. Donors ; Decease of Mr. Pillsbury ; Seeking for a New Minister; Miscellaneous. 145
CHAPTER XII .- CLOSE OF THE CENTURY.
Census ; Houses ; Furniture; School Books; Church Music; Dress; The People industrious and happy ; Names of Married Couples in 1800. .... 188
CHAPTER XIII .- ANNALS ; 1800-1868.
14
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
CHAPTER XIV .- EDUCATION SINCE THE YEAR 1800.
School Districts ; Efforts for Improvement; New Arrangement of Districts ; New Division of School Money; High School; Winchendon Academy ; Town School System; District System Abolished; New School House; Progress ; Names of High School Teachers ; Text Books. 204
CHAPTER XV .- ROADS AND BRIDGES.
The Roads bounded and straightened ; Through Travel; New Roads; Wor- cester and Fitzwilliam Turnpike; Contest with Turnpike Companies; A Sectional Struggle; Various Improvements; Three New Roads; New Bridges. 225
CHAPTER XVI .- WINCHENDON POLITICS SINCE 1800.
Federalism; The Last War with England; Hartford Convention; Constitu- tional Convention of 1820; Political Parties; The Surplus Revenue ; Con- stitutional Amendments; The Party of Freedom; Votes for President and Governor; Love of Freedom. 250
CHAPTER XVII .- SUPPORT OF THE POOR.
Provision for the Poor in Early Times ; Bidding off the Poor; Town Farm and Poor House; Expense of Supporting the Poor; Names of the Masters. 266
CHAPTER XVIII .- WINCHENDON AT LAW.
Tax and Poverty Cases ; The Minister's Case ; The Slave Case ; Later Cases- Lunenburg, Reed, Sanders. 274
CHAPTER XIX .- TEMPERANCE AND MORALS.
Convivial Habits ; Tippling and Tavern-Haunting; Observance of the Sab- bath ; Private Efforts to promote Temperance ; Temperance Societies. 284
CHAPTER XX .- THE MILITIA.
Remark of John Adams ; Ist Company; Commissioned Officers ; Training. 292
CHAPTER XXI .- CEMETERIES.
The Central Burying Yard; New Boston Burying Yard ; Riverside Cemetery ; Consecration Services ; Catholic Cemetery. 300
CHAPTER XXII .- THE CHURCHES.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH; Early History ; Church Covenant; Death and Character of Mr. Stimpson; Settlement of Mr. Brown; Members of the Church in 1774, 6, 7; The Departure of Mr. Brown; Settlement of Mr. Pillsbury ; His death and Character; Rev. Elam Clark ; Rev. Eber L. Clark ; Sermons by Drs. Robbins and Todd; Mr. Morton's Ministry ; The Era of Supplies ; Later Ministers ; BAPTIST CHURCH IN NEW BOSTON; THE METII- ODIST CHURCH; Parsonage; Names of the Preachers; THE NORTH CON- GEGATIONAL CHURCH; Ordination of First Minister; Enlarged House and Bell; THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE VILLAGE; THE ROMAN CATHOLIC
15
CONTENTS.
CHURCH; THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY; School House Meetings; Past and Present. 312
CHAPTER XXIII .- A BILL OF MORTALITY.
List of Aged People, deceased ; List of Aged People, living. . 359
CHAPTER XXIV .- BUSINESS OF WINCHENDON.
Farming and Stock; The First Mills; Wood Ware; Cotton Mills ; Machine Shops; Stores ; Carpenters; Blacksmiths, &c .; Amount of Business; Sav- ings Bank; National Bank. 363 .
CHAPTER XXV .- FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Fire Wards; The Pilot; The Alert Company ; The Niagara Company .... 376
CHAPTER XXVI .- LIBRARIES AND LYCEUMS.
The First Libraries ; The Town Library ; Scientific and Literary Association ; Parish Library; Sabbath School Libraries. .. 383
CHAPTER XXVII .- THE VILLAGES.
The Old Centre ; The Village, or Winchendon ; Spring Village ; Waterville. 380 CHAPTER XXVIII .- NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
Frosts; Storms; Tempests; Sudden Deaths by Apoplexy, Heat, &c .; Deaths by Accidental Drowning; Deaths by Falling Trees; Deaths by Horses, Teams ; Deaths by Burning ; Other Fatal Casualties ; Fires ; Cases of Sui- cide ; Homicides; Superstition and Witchcraft. . 394
CHAPTER XXIX .- LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS ;
Including Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, Selectmen, and Assessors ; also, Rep- resentatives, Senators, Delegates, Justices, &c .. . 410
CHAPTER XXX .- BIOGRAPHICS.
Lawyers; Physicians ; Graduates ; Other Prominent Men . 421
CHAPTER XXXI .- MISCELLANEOUS.
Inventions ; Lapidaries ; Antiquities ; Wild Animals ; Horses ; White Cedars and White Swallows ; Old Eims; Winchendon as a place of resort; Secret Societies ; Population and Valuation. 437
CHAPTER XXXII .- GENEALOGY AND PERSONAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER XXXIII .- THE WAR OF FREEDOM.
()utbreak of the Rebellion; Effect on the public mind; Action of the Town ; Sympathy with the Soldiers ; Volunteering ; Raising Troops in 1862 ; Rec- ord of 1863 ; Recruiting in 1864; Winchendon men who enlisted out of the State ; Close of the War ; A day of rejoicing ; Cost of the War ; List of the wounded, the killed, and of those who died in the service; The new Roll of Honor; A day of mourning; Conclusion 481
INDEX OF NAMES. 523
16
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
MAPS AND PLANS.
Page
1. Map of the Town, facing
17
2. Boundaries of the Town, 20
3. Division of Lots, facing
43
4. Plan of the Centre,- 70
5. Map of Winchendon and Waterville, 389
PICTURES.
1. WINCHENDON : Frontispiece.
2. House of Richard Day, facing 45
3. Meeting House of 1762, 151
4. Meeting House of 1793, facing 161
5. Town Hall, 201
6. Academy, 215
7. New School House, 223
8. Methodist Church, 343
9. North Congregational Church, 347
10. Baptist Church, 353
11. Church of the Unity, $6
357
12. National Bank, 375 66
13. South Side View, 391
14. Spring Village,- 393
15. Picture of Silver Medal, 438
PORTRAITS.
1. A. P. Marvin, 1
2. Mrs. Wakefield, 11
3. Hon. Artemas Hale, 177
4. Ephraim Murdock, Esq., 280
5. Isaac Morse, Esq., 368
6. Alvah Godding, M. D., .€ 425
7. Mr. Amasa Whitney, 434
8. Mr. James Murdock, 463
HOUSES FORTH THE RIVER*
1 Jason Goodalc, Asa Raymond. Joseph Whitney Jr., 2 Joseph Whitney Jr. $ Jason Goodalc. 4 Samuel Ballwin, W'm. Baldwin. & Oliver l'arsons, William Baldwin.
€ Roger Bigelow. John Estey. & Samuel Sargent ? y Robert Houghton, John Farrar. 10 Humphrey Harris, Reuben Iintrik. 150 Joci & E. Untier, Ilice & . Wyman, George Collin.
151 William Holden.
11 George W. Cheney, George H. Piper. 12 George O. Whitney. 13 John II. Hartwell. 14 Maynard Partridge, Henry M. Heywood. 15 Michael Dugan. 16 Luther Stevens, Mill Boarding House. If Patrick Ilarriman. 18 Nathan Maynard, Seth L'routy. 20 James Martin. 21 William Tolman, Stephea Toiman. 22 Abel Joner, Jr., Luke S. Jingg. John B. Packard. 23 Stephen Tolman. David Caswell. Gilloon & Hunt. 24 Warham Wertun. 15 Simcon Stearns, Luke &. Rugy. 20 Seth Prouty. 27 John D. Packard. 23 C. W. Bigelow, Mary Ann Caswell. 29 Watson Monroe. Charles O. Hicks. 30 David K. Wallace, Seth B. Spaulding. 31 James Mitche !!. 32 Silas S. Norcross, James Newton. 33 John Whiteonl. 34 Emery E. Carriel. Augustus Houghton. 35 Seth B. Spaulding. ac George Pensier. Mrs. John Pillsbury. 37 Charles Baldwin, Calvin Wheeler, Jolin I .. MeColler. 38 Geo. T. J. Bettericy. 99 Jira. Percival linrtirts, C. D. Capron. George Whitcomb, Michael Waish. Ura. David Flint, Lewis Leclare. 4 Jacob Whitney. 45 John Crosby. John Farmer. Samuel Johnson. Levi Page. George liurasve !!.
47 Tiananinh Whitney, Joshua Nutting. 45 Daniel Heywood.
48 John Forristall,
S. Ephr'n Fairbanks. 98 Jmes Murdock. 99 Elisha Gregory,
Geo. IT. Gregory. 100 Jonas Brooks. 1101 Edward Murdock. pos Daniel Joslin, Eicazer P'arks. 003 William Mottat. 1304 l'eter Joslin, Samuel Brown, William Brown.
1138 Abram Bowker.
1139 Thomas Wyman, Sen. 1140 Filas Wyman, Daniel R. Day. 14] John Day, Jobn Gibson, N. G. Bagley.
142 John R. Golding, Silas Fay, Daniel Day.
1143 Daniel Rolfe, Stillman Smith, Mrs. Betesy Smith.
28
29 Daniel Bughrue. 30 Michael Sullivan. 31 Jason Bemis.
61 JOE. Priest, Ell Smith, Benj. Hall. Forwell Thomas.
--- Scribner.
91 MORCE CurtiRE. 92 John Porter, Abner Curtis.
Amas Stevens.
125 Eben'r Sherwin, Jr., Calvin Bradish.
1120 Asa Ellis.
12; Aaron Ellis.
35 Samuel Pope.
64 Samuel l'. Goodridge, David Sholes. Franklin Osburn.
G5 Jobn P'oor, Simon Carter.
95 Daniel Farrar. Jr .. Major Kimball.
1130 Robert Bradish. Jr.
113 Richard Stewart, Edward Lond, Edward Loud, Jr. 1114 Edward Loud, 1 Jeracl F. Alger.
1113 William Taylor. l'hinchas Parks, Jr.
1156 B. Adams, Jr., David Alger, Benjamin Alger, Hainard Lathrop.
40 Simon Tuttle, Jr.
69 David Brown, Samuel Brown, Wm. Brown.
001 Timothy E. Turner.
102 Asa Ulvde,
Inn Robert Bradish, Jr., John C. M. Durnyman Charles Bonnan. Russell Gates, Oren Norcross.
Gi Jason Keith, Henry Keith.
6S Apollos Keith, Peter Thomas.
59 Benj. Kidder. Enoch Kidder, .Jason Keith.
71 Thomas Kidder. Wm. Willohy. 72 .James Deamond. 75 Stephen Belknap. #4 Frank Emery. 5 William Robbing, Nahum Robbins. 76 Daniel Nay.
---
"7 David Robbins. 76 Abraham Pierer, isane Townsend. in Daniel lay, Jr. 80 Paul Stewart.
61 Abraham Pierec. 8: Howard Sawin, Itcuben Harris, A. J.Streeter. $3 Joseph Robbins, Jacob Tavior, George Il. 'arks. 84 Joseph Robbins, A. G. Hoiman. 85 J. M. Doane. St James Tavior. Reuben Harris. 67' Simcon Pierce, Danid Mathewson. 89 Elcezdr l' W'estou. 90 Charles Chase.
1
32S Joseph Walker, Samuel Walker. Mrs. Betsey Holman, Reth R. Walker.
n2 Daniel Day, 2d. 030 Nath'l Wilson.
1131 Samuel Fimonds, 1 Arnch Alger.
[155 Samuel Simonus, Andrew Dunn. Daniel Day. 2d.
034 Asnch .liger. Oren Norcross.
15 Fiavel Crosby, James Noves.
16 Joseph Adams. Horace Whitcomb, David F. Hall.
57 MOSCE M. Reed. JRanc Cummings.
55 Mr. Holbrook, Joshun Smith.
19 Amos Ficarns,
19 Levi Stearns.
20 Bartholomew Stearns. 21 Asa Sicarns. 21 Asaph Brown. 22 Simeon Stearns. E. Richardson, Jr., Henry Wyman.
5S Tranc Lufkin, Henry Hastings, W'm. D. Caprou. 59 Amos Merriam, Mr. Buckley, David MeElwain, Daniel Henshaw, Newell Wyman.
SG T.cWie Gron !.
87 Michael Bowker, Ebenezer Smith, 87 David Rice, Isaac Gront. 88 George W. Evans, Walter Merriam, Albert Smith.
120 George Aiger. 1121 Josiah Bruce, Isaac Smith, Samuel Noves, Jr., Salmon Norcross, John Hill.
120 Abner Curtise. Nathan Alue :. 123 Beniamin Rice, Luke Rice, 1124 Jsanc Noves, Daniel Day. Aaron Knight, George Coffin, C. C. Alger, Joseph Day, Jesse Ellis,
305 Stephen Boynton, Levi Bixby, Benj. Eddy. 300 Jeremiah Stewart, Phinehas Parks, Levi Park6.
1107 N. J. Raymond. 1105 Benoni Boynton. 1109 John M. Dav. 1130 Wellington Foskett.
!]]] Warham Hand, C. IL. Whitinau, J. J. G Ball.
1149 Apollos Iloward. 1752 - Oaks.
|153 B. Martin,
David Carter, Samuel Page. 154 David Poor,
37 Th. Mansfield, Crosby & Whiton, Aaron Knight.
GT James VeEiwain. James McElwain, .Ir.
181 Robert Bradish. Sen .. Thomas Sawyer.
Oliver Lovejoy, Albert Mann.
1155 Urinh Crooks.
35 Stephen Emory, Isaac Cummings. 34 Ara Robinson, Jos. Whitney.
GS Col. P. Raymond, Lieut P'. Raymond. Den. Y'anl Haymond, Paul Raymond.
96 Jacob Hale, Nath'l Hale, Merritt Iale. A, Luke Dovle. HS Wm. Wilder. 99 Stephen Coburn .. 300 Nat'l M. Hale.
132 Ilezckinh Brown. Seu. Amos JL. Brown, .John B. Brown. Martin V. Burgess.
116 .John Hapgood. Benjamin Joslin. I1; Win. Cravion, William Poland, Jr. 118 Joseph llale, Albert Browu.
119 William Poland. Simon 33. Poland, Jonas E. Lawrence. h120 Abel Jones, Sen.
[12] William Dosworth. Elijah llardy',
122 Daniel Bowker. Ethan Bowker. 95 Sullivan Bowker.
3 John & Abel Bemls, .John Cook, Jr., Iteuben Bemis.
40 .Jacob B. Woodbury, John T. Woodbury.
47 William Whitney, Joseph Whitney.
14 Thomas Litch, Levi Divoll. Jr., Patrick Welsh. 75 Levi Divoll, Harvey Divoll.
70 Thomas Bennet, T7 T. Nichols,
L. B. Lockwood, 78 Kčenben Vorc.
79 Nathan Knight, Joseph Porter.
Amasa irown. Thos. & John Flint. David Poland. Mrs. George II. Smith.
114 Amos Haic, Sen., James NoFes, Silas Brown, John Raymond.
his Jacob Wales. Sen .. Samuel Noyer.
0159 Abijah Chubb. Lemmel Herwood. Jr .. 140 Asa Bowker, .Amarinh Hayden. 141 Jonas Bradinh, Sen. ne Job Fry,
ING Asa Norcross, Kcn., Calvin Goss. Jonas Bradish, Jr . Daniel Day, 201 .. Mr. Frr.
1117 John Kilburn, Charles Raymond. ITS Jonas Bradish. r.
!119 Amanel Noyes, Jesse Ellis. David Bice.
85 Gidcon Balcom, Lyman Raymond, Lincoln Baicom, M. L. Whitc.
120 .James Noyes, 1220 Moses Wiley,
1 :146 -Oaks.
When several names are connected with the same number, it is to be understood that the persons named lived in the
*Occasionally the numbers are misplaced, ne 150, 15l, between 10 and 11, and some others. same house or in the neighborhood.
OF 45 John N. Forristall. - 41 Beniamin May, Benjamin May, Jr. 50 David Buttrick,
John Nolan. 61 Amor licywood, Thomas Knowlion, Jesse B. Watson.
52 .John Boymon, James l'avson. Richard Whitney, Michael Cain. 53 Denwie Gilloon. 54 Joseph Boynton, Daniel Boynton. 55 Daniel Boynton, .Jacob Scott, Jas. Nurdock. . Jr. 56 Benjamin Nutting, Calvin Goodridge. 57 Jonas Nutting. David Goodridge, Calvin Goodridge. 38 ]mane Goodspeed. 59 Inther Darling. GO Tient. Beals. 01 Lemuel Heywood, Levi Heywood, Ephraim Flint. 62 Joseph Stone.
63 Onmaliel Beaman, David Benman, Elisha Beaman. 64 Jewett B. Darling, Ezekiel Jinmsdell. GS Seth Tucker, Elisha Tucker. OG John Darling. James Murdock.
112 Charies Bullard, Edwin P'arke, Alpheus C. White.
36 Samuel Crosby, Israel Whiton, Theodore & Jarvis Winn.
63 Gershom Fay. Elipbnict Goodridge.
93 Moses Curtis, .Tocl Davis, Euoch Wyman.
h12 .James Stoddard. Joshua Stoddard. 1
94 Heni. Brown, David Goodridge, Jr., 1129 Daniel Ihubbard, Edwin Rice, Austin Hale.
Benj. Hubbard, Jacob Whitney, Eline Whitney.
1154 Benj. Bridge, David Stoddard, Jr., Jonathan Wyman.
43 James Raymond, Clark Ilaymond.
"1 Levi Greenwood, Rer. Mr. Dewhurst.
in4 Jotham Stoddard, Marvin L. Goddard.
1105 Daniel Stimson, David Meliwain.
boc .John Kilburn, Gro. Partridge.
1196 Samuel itussell, Peter Itussell. -Søn Halc, Abiel Alter, Tisdale Howard, . Kelvin Doward.
& John Enty.
48 Janac Taylor, Joseph Shaw.
G David Flint.
7 Nathan Flint, David B. Flint.
49 Eben'r Sherwin. Sen., Ahimanz Sherwin, Jairus Patridge, Chas. W. Bigclow, . David Smith.
Jonathan Pollard.
9 Moses HAIC, Seth Mavnard, Richard Litchfield.
10 John Gill, David Maynard,
11 Francis Bridge, Asn Perley.
12 Leri Moor, .John Hapgood, Mrs. Abijal Pierce.
55 Richard Day, Joseph Brown, Nath' Holman, H. G. Newcomb,
82 Leavitt Stoddard, Levi Stoddard.
83 Abel Brown, Aaron Massey. Hezekiah Brown, Luke Brown, Elbridge Brown.
Aaron Bowker.
91 W'm. B. Brooks. Edwin Deswick.
92 George Kinney. Samuel Holman. $13 John Broube, John _1. Brooks.
1 94 Alphens Bosworth. i se John Brooks, 1 Sumner Brooks.
SS Levi W. May. Joseph W. Alger. Axa Bowker, Sen. ne Win. Bowker, John Bowker, Nelson Rice, Norris C. Sionc, Alfred TI. Williams. 124 George Sibler. .125 Jocl Sibley.
& Dudier Perler. Joseph Whitney, George Page.
50 Eph'm Parmenter. 51 Jedediah Tuttic. 52 Levi & Alvin Stoddard. 53 Simon Tuttic. Jr.
80 George Coffin, Abiel Alger, Job Fry, Denj. King.
112 Daniel Day, Roswell Warner, Levi Touman, Cyrus Brown, Wim. Whitney. 113 .John Dar.
hor Eliel Sherwin, Aaron Sargent. Stillman Smith, Geo. M. Kempion.
35 Thornton Barrett, David Ricc, Samuel Hartwell, Amasa Brown, Jonas Bruce. .John Pierce, Sani'l Noyes, Jr., Jacob Wnies, Jr .. S. S .J. Cobb, Apollos Howard.
54 Daniel Goodridge, Benj. & L. Goodridge, Town Farm.
SI Thornton Barrett, Bill Hancock, Timothy Hancock, Ezra l'onter, Thomas Beals.
13 Thomas Berry Desire Tolman, Samuel D). Woodbury. Denj. Wilder, Sen., Malachi Bullard, John Storrs, Benj. F. Clark, 14 Eben'r Richardson. Levi Prentiss, Nrs. L. A. Poiand. Joxinh J. Dnnn, - Charles H. Winn. - 50 Cornelins Ilaymond.
155 Ama Bowker, Jr., Joshua Wyman.
056 Sylvia Alger. ps. Mra. Ezekiel Day. D35 Joseph Dar. 2d .. Stephen J. Smith. i
I: John Fessenden. 18 John Pike.
OF
1 Isane Stimson, Joshua Gil1. Stowrera Beals. Geo. I .. Reals.
44 Paul Raymond, Jr., .Jesse linymond, Levi Raymond.
72 Israel Barrett. Thomas Greenwood, Henry Greenwood, Nathan Bryant.
1155 Kamnel Simonds, Asach Alger. Apollos Howard, Mr. Magrin.
2 Dr. l'eutland, John Cook.
43 David Roberts, William Parker, Jacob Woodbury.
70 Israel Whitcomb, Jørnel Whitcomb. Jr. Thomas Hughes.
hos JJohn Kilburn, Jr. 009 Lincoln Raymond. 1110 Charles Raymond. illl Amos Halc. Mason Baldwin, James K. Norcross.
Ward Hyde.
103 Daniel lak,
James A. Raymond, Mrs. Fidelia Perry.
:0 Lowell WFood, Sam'l Brown, Jr., John Greenwood.
Newell X. Alger, Newton )'. Dall.
41 John Woodbury, Leri Priest.
157 David Alger, B. Adams. Jr.
42 Jesse linymond,
HOUSES SOUTH THE RIVER.
146 Stephen White, William Norcross. 147 Widow Ann Pierce. 148 Hazael Wiley, Isaac Lufkin. Wilham Goodnow.
33 Israel Whiton, Abijah Pierce, Thomas Teel. 34 Abner Ilale, Levi Pillsbury.
02 Joseph Wilder, Luke Wilder, Lnke Wilder, Jr.
89 B'w. Bigelow, Jonathan Evans, Tvier Raymond, Abram Tarlor. 90 Jonathan Evans, Joel Hayden, B. Wilder, Mrs. 'Thomas Graton, M. M. Reed.
GO Abel Wilder, Abel Wilder, Jr., Josiah Brown, Gilman Wyman, Dexter Bruce.
144 Daniel Rolfe, Frank: Brown, Minot Patch.
145 Mrs. Orvis Fieber, John Hill.
32 Thomas Flint, William Flint.
23 George Coffin. 24 Cornelius O'Connell. 25 Jeremiah Sullivan. 26 Mary Riley. Dennis Sullivan.
58 Isaac Smith,
84 David Rioddard, Daniel Balcom.
345 -Joseph Day, 2d., 1 Joseph Alger. 044 .\hiel Alger. 145 John Finge. Alphons Fingy. Solomon Tenny, .I:MINOF MOTSE, Charles Burgess.
1 William Sibley. 120 Wm. Sibicy, 2d., Thomas Wrman, Jr. 127 David Sibley, Borace Sibley.
4 John Flint.
66 Mirs. I .. Stimson.
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
CHAPTER I .- TOPOGRAPHIC.
SECTION 1 .- LOCATION OF THE TOWN.
" Scenes must be.beautiful, which daily view'd Please daily, and whose novelty survives Long knowledge and the scrutiny of years : Praise justly due to those that I describe." COWPER.
Every history has its scene, or field of action. It is a convenience to the reader to have the means of fixing this field exactly in his mind. It may be supposed by some, at first view, that it is quite needless to describe the location, the boundaries, the surface, and the natural features of so limited a portion of the State as is embraced in a town. But, in the first place, it is probable that only a few of the inhabitants of any town, can accurately give the facts included in these terms. Besides, it may reasonably be expected, that many descendants of parents who lived and died here, but who themselves left the place in childhood ; as well as remoter descendants who were born elsewhere, will have the curiosity to read the history of the " old homestead." Such persons will not grudge the space occupied by the following particulars.
18
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
Winchendon is one of the three border towns of Worcester county, on the north, having Ashburnham on the east, and Royalston on the west. It is distant from Worcester, by direct line, thirty-one miles. By the carriage road through Templeton, or through East Princeton, the distance is about thirty-five miles; and by railroad, via Fitchburg, not far from forty-four miles. The distance to Boston direct, is sixty miles, by stage route, sixty-five miles, and by railway, sixty-eight miles. The latitude of the centre of the town is 42 deg., 39 min .; and the longitude of the same point is 4 deg., 4 min. east from the meridian of Washington, and 72 deg., 3 min. west from the meridian of Greenwich.
The location, in respect to the level of the ocean, which must be regarded in learning the temperature of any locality, is very elevated. If the land of the town were on a perfect level, it is probable that the surface would be at least a thousand feet above tide-water. The top of the dam at Goodspeed & Wyman's establishment, where the road from the village to the centre crosses the river, is 1060 feet above the ocean. This was ascertained by Loammi Baldwin, in making the survey for the proposed canal between Boston and the Hudson river ; and by Engineer Cheesebrough, who surveyed a railroad route through the town. More than half the surface of the town has a higher elevation than this point. The temperature is therefore lower than in other places in the same latitude, and as a result of this, frosts late in the spring, and early in the fall, endanger the crops.
SECTION 2 .- ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES.
The original were quite different from the present boundaries of the town. The grant made by the legislature, June 10, 1735, provided " that a Tract of Land of the contents of six miles square," be given to Abraham Tilton and others ; but the location was not specified in the act, except in the following indefinite manner, viz, " be laid out in
19
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
a suitable place in the western part of this Province." No informa- tion is given in the Records to show why the grant was located here ; but it is probable that this matter was arranged between the grantees and the officers of the provincial government, having the public lands in charge. The committee named in the act, were directed to " return the Plat of the said township to the Court ;" which duty was doubtless performed, but we have not the record, and therefore can- not give the exact shape of the first " plat." In 1755, a committee was appointed to "run the lines and renew the bounds of Ipswich Canada, (now Winchendon,) and Dorchester Canada, (now Ashburn ham,) and any of the townships that border on Ipswich Canada." The committee " run the lines, and renewed the corner bounds, by adding stones and marking trees." Probably these bounds are the same as those given in the Act by which the town was incorporated in the year 1764. These bounds, beginning on the northeast corner of the township, are as follows: "South twelve degrees west, seven miles and two hundred rods on Dorchester Canada ; west eighteen degrees south, two hundred and seventy rods on Westminster ; north thirty-six degrees west, four miles and two hundred and twenty rods on Temple- ton line ; north seventy-eight degrees west, six hundred rods on Tem- pleton line ; north twelve degrees east, four miles and two hundred and sixty rods on Royalshire ; east twelve degrees south,* six miles on Royalshire line." The northern boundary was Royalston, (then called Royalshire.) This singular fact is accounted for in the following way. After the township was located, when the line was run between Massa- chusetts and New Hampshire, it was found that a strip of land about a mile in width, the whole length of the town, which was formerly supposed to belong to the latter colony, was in fact, south of the line. For some unknown cause, this strip was assigned to Royalston, when that town was incorporated, and was called Royalston leg. By degrees it was settled, and in 1780, by request of the inhabitants, it
* The original reads " south seventy-eight deg. west;" an obvious mistake.
20
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
was set off to Winchendon. It contained three thousand eight hun. dred and forty acres. The following diagram shows the original and the present boundaries. The dark lines bound the town as it is now ; the dotted lines indicate the original shape and size.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
ROYALSTON LEG.
ROYALSHIRE.
IPSWICH CANADA.
DORCHESTER CANADA.
NARRAGANSETT No.6
NOW IN GARDNER.
WEST'R.
SECTION 3 .- PRESENT BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT.
By the addition of Royalston Leg, in 1780, six square miles, or three thousand eight hundred and forty acres, were added to the town ; and the eastern and western boundary lines were lengthened one mile ; but in 1785, it was nearly reduced to its original dimensions,
21
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
by the annexation of three thousand six hundred and eighty acres to Gardner, which was incorporated in that year. Since then the south- east boundary has undergone several changes, for the accommodation of land-owners on the border. The present boundaries will be found on the preceding page, and on the map of the town which accompa- nies this work.
The northern boundary, which is the line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, is six miles in length : the eastern line, on Ashburnham, is five miles, two hundred rods; the Gardner line is three miles, and about one hundred and forty rods ;* the Templeton line is four miles and forty-eight rods ; and the western line remains as it was after the annexation of Royalston leg, five miles, and two hundred and sixty rods. These lengths are not mathematically exact, but they approximate to correctness. The circumference of the town is therefore twenty-four miles and about two hundred rods. The northern, eastern and western lines are straight; that between Win- chendon and Templeton is divided into two nearly equal parts, both direct. The town contains something more than twenty-six thousand two hundred and ninety-five acres of surface, including land and water.
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