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 7
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Sometimes in winter families were conveyed to meeting through deep snows on an ox sled ; in summer the man, if he were the owner of a horse, rode to meeting with his wife seated on a pillion behind him, a child on a pillow before him, and possibly a smaller child in the moth- er's lap, encircled by one of her arms.
That age of homespun, of hard work and simple fare, was however interspersed, on the part of the men, with trainings, musters, raisings, huskings, chopping-bees, wrestling-matches, piling-bees; and in the female world, with quiltings, carding-bees, and apple-parings, if apples could be found. If the rude dwellings were not often animated with the faces of visitants, they were enlivened with the buzzing of wheels and the clatter of looms. It was deemed not improper, but respecta- ble for females to perform, at certain seasons of the year, many kinds of out-door work. They reaped, raked hay, pulled and spread flax ; in the absence of their husbands, housed and foddered the cattle, milked the cows, fed the swine, took care of the poultry, and when necessary, even caught and saddled the horse. In most instances they carded, spun, wove, colored, and made up the garments of the family. Surely our great grandmothers, many of whom were women of intelligence and high moral principle, we might add in relation to not a few, refine-
67
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
ment, not artificial but native, were far from eating the bread of idleness. Their descendants have ample reason to rise up and call them blessed."
Education in those early days was not what it now is, in many respects. The children had very little instruction in school. Where schools were kept, they were open but a few weeks in the year. The branches of study were reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic. But nearly all the inhabitants were able to read, and knew enough of figures to transact business in their limited way. The children one hundred years ago were ignorant of the multiplicity of branches which are now cultivated in our public schools ; they had but few books, and scarcely any periodicals to read at home. A Boston Weekly brought them all their printed news. But they had the Bible, which is une- qualled by all other books together in its educating and elevating influence. They had Pilgrim's Progress, which is worth whole libra- ries of ordinary juvenile publications, and always fresh because reveal- ing new thought and hidden beauties to the advancing reader. They had Robinson Crusoe, which has aroused thousands of minds to activity, and set millions of youth forward in paths of enterprise and achieve- ment. They had other works,-religious, historical, literary, biograph- ical,-which trained them to think. And the events of the day in the mother country, as well as in the colonies, gradually made them famil- iar with the principles of government. Their own necessities were a constant spur to industry and invention. In a certain sense therefore the youth of this town, in its earliest years, had a good intellectual training. They grew up to be capable of managing their private affairs, training their own families, and performing all municipal and military duties.
In regard to morals and religion, no people in the world had more intelligent or sounder convictions. The morals of the people were good. The rights of property were respected. Bolts, bars and locks were not needed to guard articles of value. The women and children slept securely at night so long as wild beasts were excluded from their habitations. Female honor and purity kept the domestic hearth secure. If the men used New England or West India rum, as a beverage, drunkenness in those early days, was a rare vice. Though all were not members of the church, yet there was general harmony of religious views. Nearly all were of the old Puritan stock, and thus formed a homogeneous society. Thus the solid foundations of the town were laid.
68
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
CHAPTER V. - ANNALS OF THE TOWN; 1764-1800.
"The lapsing years joined those beyond the flood, Each filled with loves, griefs, strifes and honest toil; And thus as shadows o'er the checker'd plain, Children their fathers followed to the grave. The fruitage of their lives and deeds is ours." THE ANNALIST.
Events which occurred from year to year, but which cannot be grouped under specific heads, will here be given in chronological order, from the time of organization to the close of the century.
1764. The first town meeting was held, on the fifth of November, at the house of Richard Day.
1765. The first annual town meeting was held at the public meet- ing-house, on the eleventh of March. The line between Winchendon and Templeton was perambulated from the road to Templeton, to the N. E. corner of that town. At a town meeting on the fourth of Sep- tember, a grant of eight dollars was made to be laid out in schooling. Joseph Boynton, Joseph Stimson, Reuben Burnham and Simeon Burn- ham, were added to the population. The line between Winchendon and Ashburnham was perambulated.
1766. Several families moved in this year. James Murdock came from Newton, and Abner Hale from Boxford. Levi Bixby, James Mansfield, Thomas Rugg, Richard Bailey and Isaac Stimson joined the settlers. The town declined to send a delegate to the General Court.
1767. Abel Wilder was chosen deacon as coadjutor of Dea. Day. Seven families came in this year, viz, those of Dudley Perley, or Par- ley, John Cheney, William Porter, John N. Parmenter, Richard Pear- son, Thomas Gray, and Jonathan Bixby. The Rev. Mr. Stimpson was chosen in place of Thomas Mansfield, chosen at a former meeting, to
69
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
carry a petition to the General Court in regard to taxation. The motive was economy doubtless, as the minister, being a public servant, charged his expenses and not his time. Besides, he could take the occasion to visit his friends at Weston.
1768. The town's Minister, Rev. Daniel Stimpson, died of putrid fever, on the 20th of July. In September the town declined to send a delegate to a Provincial Convention, on the ground, as was said in their vote, that they were " a small people ;" but they pledged them- selves to the support of whatever measures might be agreed upon by the Convention. In the words of the records, " to promote manufac- turys and suppress superfluitys." The population had increased to about sixty families, and three hundred souls. The following new names belong to this year : Amos Merriam, Thornton Barret, Micah Bowker, Rev. Joseph Brown. The latter began to preach here near the close of the year.
1769. Mr. Brown was settled as the minister of the town on the 24th of May. The new comers were John Boynton, Thomas Sawyer, Peter Joslin, Abijah Stimson, Ebenezer Sherwin, Solomon Bigelow, Eli Smith, Phinehas Wheelock, William Joiner, John Joiner, Lemuel Sarjent.
1770. Travel began to pass through this town from the west and northwest to Boston. Eleven new names appear among the inhabi- tants : Moses Hale, Jacob Hale, Amos Hale, brothers, Israel Green, Gershom Fay, Robert Bradish, John Chamberlain, John Day, Daniel Gould, Moses Foster, Jesse Fox. The Hales became numerous in the lapse of years, and many of their descendants still reside here. John Day was not a new comer, but a son of Dea. Richard Day, and prob- ably admitted as a freeman or voter this year. The town declined to send a delegate to the General Court.
1771. We find nine new names under this date: viz, Samuel Noyes, James Noyes, Jonas Bradish, Gideon Fisher, Timothy Knee- land [spelled Nealand elsewhere,] Stephen Boynton, John Porter, Joseph Fay, Edward Payson.
In 1764, and in 1766, the legislature authorized the town to tax the lands of delinquent tax-payers in order to get their taxes. The tax was one penny per acre for three years. In 1771 an act was passed by the Lieut. Governor, Council and House of Representatives, author- izing the sale of lands to pay the tax. The first sale was on the 9th
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
of January, 1771, at the house of Silas Whitney, inn-holder. There were fifteen sales. On the 30th there were twenty sales, or twenty " pieces" struck off. The next day one sale was made.
On the 18th of February, eleven sales.
19th
27th 66 twenty-two sales. eight sales.
In all seventy-seven sales were made. The purchasers were Silas Whitney, William Houghton, Richard Day, Gideon Fisher, James Simonds, Paul Eager, Daniel Gould, Nathaniel Oaks, Amos Merriam, Abel Wilder, Thomas Sawyer, Joseph Wilder, Phinehas Wheelock, Ephraim Stimpson, John Chency, Jeremiah Stuart, Joseph -, David Whitcomb, Abel Hunt, Levi Carter, Seth Oaks, Jonathan Stimpson, John Boynton, Ely Smith ; in all twenty-four. This sale effected quite a change in the ownership of property. Several persons had removed from town. By vote, May 3d, the town declined to send a delegate to the General Court.
The subject of selling the land of delinquent tax-payers was revived in town meeting on the 12th of April, it having been reported that the taxes of the late Col. Berry of Ipswich, were paid before the sale. " If the receipt can be produced, to see if the town will come into some method to redeem the same." The proposal was negatived, and the presumption is that the receipt was not produced. A
.
1772. New immigrants continued to establish their domiciles in Winchendon. Here follow the names of seven men: John Homer, Matthew Knight, Zebulon Conant, Francis Bridge, Samuel Mason, Ephraim Gale, Ephraim Sawyer, Antipas Dodge. Liberty was given for any person in the town to " build horse stables" on the Common. This provision was made for the comfort of the horses on the Sabbath, while the owners and their wives and children sat shivering in the unwarmed sanctuary.
John Homer had a lease of a quarter of an acre on the north end of the Common, west side of the road, for a house lot. On the 25th of May the town voted not to choose a representative. For seven or eight years next in order, the history of the town is involved in that of the country, and in this connexion may be hurriedly passed over. An occasional incident will be noted.
1773. The first record of help to any poor person, is November 8th of this year. It is for " hauling and chopping wood for Moffat's
Blacksmith Shop.
The Common was at Aret
48 roda long, and 16] wide. In 1772, John Homer had a lease of į acre in N. W. cor- ner. Later, Col. . \darna was allowed to put a blacksmith shop in the opporite corner. He also obtained a lease of a strip 10 feet wide for his house. The single black line is the boundary of the Com- mon. The north dotted line shows the grant to Homer. The lease to Col. A. is be- tween the dotted lines. The Common is now about 434 rods long.
1. G. Pushey.
2. J. Bradstreet.
3. L. Stimson.
1. Pound.
5. Old School House.
6. Blacksmith Shop of Mr. Burr. Jason Bemis.
( A. Godding,
7.
D. White,
John Woodbury.
D. Henshaw,
Rev. Mr. Morton,
2
O. Walker,
R. Vose, Jr.
Rev. Mr. Stimson.
8. Whitney,
M. Knight, Landlord Griggs,
Jas. McElwain,
10. { L. Stimson,
Wm. Whitney,
L. Wilder,
| W. B. Whitney,
[ Charles J. Rice.
( Block House,
| M. Hale,
Ph. Whitney,
11.
Mr. Wheeler, Franklin Hayward,
B. Wilder.
( Francis Bridge,
| Joseph Sweetser,
8
12. < B. Lord,
| Holman, ( M. M. Reed.
13. I. Cummings.
14. C. Raymond.
(R. Day,
9
Rev. Joseph Brown, B. Wilder, Br., H. G. Newcomb,
15 .< Luther Richardson,
Rev. M. Bullard, Rev. J. Storra, Rev. B. E. Clarke, Josiah Dunn.
16.
15
10
A
A.
First Meeting-House, 1762
B. Second Meeting House.
O
13
72
C. Third Meeting House.
WINCHENDON CENTRE. 0
[ Day's I og Tavern. 1 Wm. Holt.
Scale of 8 rods to an inch.
18
J. Homer.
1
B. Adams.
L. Ilaymond.
2
Har.
Jobo Cuiter.
1
3
N
4
5
C B
6
14
Rev. Jos. Brown, Rev. E. L. Clark, Albert Hale, J. M. Stoddard.
Store.
71
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
wife," six shillings ; and later, for things delivered to Mrs. Moffat, amounting to over eleven shillings, including the pay for five pints of rum, 1s, 3d. The same year Gershom Fay was taken from the town to Northborough. The town declined to send a delegate.
A large number of settlers came in this year, viz, Levi Nichols, Miles Putnam, Amos Edmands, Joseph Wilder, Thomas Beals, Dan- iel Joslin, Ebenezer Smith, James McElwain, David Brown, Nathan- iel Brown, Roger Bates, Jonathan Evans, Levi Carter, Ebenezer How, Samuel Steel, Josiah Baldwin. Levi Nichols was a man of enterprise and energy. His tavern was a great resort of travelers. This was on the spot occupied recently by Capt. Oliver Adams, and now owned by Mr. Cromwell Fisher.
1774. March 7, Voted to buy " a funeral cloth," or pall. May 3, Voted not to send a representative. The new settlers were as fol- lows : Ezra Hyde, Sr., William Whitney, Joseph Broadstreet, Eben- ezer Sherwin, David Stoddard, Daniel Balcom, Samuel Spring, Nathan Green.
The names heretofore given have been taken from Mr. Hyde's His- tory, and Dr. Whiton's manuscript, for the most part, but many have been inserted which are not found in their lists. For the future the names of settlers will not be given from year to year ; but in the next chapter will be found the names of all who engaged in the public service in the revolutionary war ; and in a subsequent chapter the names of every married couple in the town in the year 1800.
1775. The dysentery prevailed in the summer of this year, and in a considerable number of cases terminated fatally. In this or the next year, the first store for the sale of foreign goods was opened in the town, just south of Nichols' tavern. The death of Mr. Pushey, Pou- chy, or Pouchey, one of the early settlers occurred this year.
1776. May 27, Chose Mr. Robert Bradish representative to the General Court. The tradition is that he was a man of strong sense and an ardent patriot, but very rough and uncouth in his manners and appearance. Early in the session he was about to enter within the bar of the House, when the officer stopped him. " I am a member of the House," said our stalwart delegate. "Indeed, "replied the official, " I beg pardon, I thought you were a member of the barn." If the tradition is truthful, the officer lacked the spirit as much as Mr. Brad- ish lacked the appearance of a gentleman.
72
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
1777. Israel Whiton, M. D., settled in town. He came from Con- necticut. He was, for a time, surgeon in the regiment of the brave and competent Col. Knowlton, whom Washington held in high estima- tion. Dr. Whiton lived here to a good old age, and had great influ- ence in the town and in the church. Robert Bradish was re-elected.
1778. January 23. The Articles of Confederation of the United Colonies were read in town meeting. March 2, Voted to receive the strip of land lying between the north line of Winchendon and the Province line, called " Royalston Legg," on to the town of Winchen- don, " upon the inhabitants of said Legg, and several principal inhab- itants in the north part of Winchendon promising never to be instru- mental in moving the meeting-house off of the meeting-house Common, so called."
1779. Abel Wilder, Esq., was chosen delegate to the Convention called to frame a Constitution for the State. He was in the public councils nearly all the time until his decease in 1792. March 1, " Voted to give thirty pounds to any inhabitant of this town who shall kill a wolf before March, 1780." May 2, Voted " not to choose a rep- resentative." The winter of 1779-80 has always been known as the " hard winter." The cold was so extreme that Long Island Sound was frozen over, and a man drove a horse and sleigh from Saybrook to Long Island. The snow was deep and drifted, and the cold weather continued for a long time. During six weeks there was no dripping. from the eaves on the south side of the houses.
1780. The weather continued intensely cold. In the words of Dr. Whiton : " at the beginning of 1780, and for weeks onward, most of" the roads were impassable ; traveling, except on great roads, and even there, accomplished with the utmost difficulty, was suspended ; physi- cians walked to visit their patients on rackets ; fuel was drawn to the door on hand-sleds ; many families used boiled or pounded corn instead® of meal, the mills being either frozen up or inaccessible. The family of Rev. Mr. Brown lived thus on corn about three weeks, till Dr. Whiton, who then boarded in the house, went to mill on rackets, car- rying on his back a peck of corn, and returned with meal, affording to the family the pleasure of once more eating bread. Till late in April the fences were buried under the snow."
October 11, " Granted £450 to Levi Bixby as a bounty for three wolves he and Beal have killed since last March."
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
" Voted and chose a Committee to dispose of the common and undivided Jand belonging to the ministerial and school rights. Chose Dea. Hale, Capt. John Boynton, and Lieut. Samuel Prentice."
" Voted, That if the Proprietors choose a Committee to dispose of their com- mon and undivided lands lying in this town, that the above Committee join with them and make sale of the common and undivided land belonging to the above-mentioned rights, or dispose of it otherways as the Committee see fit."
" The Committee are directed to see that the above rights draw full share in all the common lands wlrich was not drawd in second division lots."
" That the Assessors be directed for the future to rate all the common and undivided lands lying in the town."
May 18th was the memorable "dark day." The darkness was so- dense by 11 o'clock, that fowls went to roost, and cattle came to the barns as if it were night. Before noon candles were necessary. In the evening the darkness was like that of Egypt.
December 27, " Landlord Griggs" is mentioned in the Records. He was the second or third landlord on the Common.
1781. Abel Wilder, Esq., was the first representative under the State Constitution. March 5. Chose a Committee of three to take up the petition of Gideon Fisher and others, inhabitants in the south- easterly part of this town, to be set off, and report to the town at the annual May Meeting. The Committee were Abel Wilder, Moses Hale, Israel Whiton." This led to the incorporation of Gardner. [See the end of this chapter.]
March 22. " Voted that the petition be taken out of the front galery so that the men may have the whole of the front galery."
April 23. " Voted, That the money due to the widow Oaks be paid ninety to one." "Voted, That the women have one-third part of the front gallery in the meeting-house, and that there be a petition erected for that purpose."
" Voted to see if the town is willing to have the mode of singing without reading introduced on Sundays." Passed in the affirmative.
December 14. Warwick sent a letter about a new county. No action taken.
1783. May 16. Persons who had moved into the town from other
74
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
towns where they had paid their rates for hiring three years' men, asked to have their rates abated here. The town refused.
1784. March 1, The town meeting was held in the school-house. March 8, Francis Bridge and Joseph Sweetzer were allowed to set up a store on Meeting-house Common. April 5, Jason Bemis had liberty to set a blacksmith's shop on the meeting-house Common. It was to be south of Mr. Burr's shop on the east line of the Common.
May 26, The town voted in favor of having a new county, and Benjamin Brown, Dea. Moses Hale, and Capt. Wilder were chosen a Committee to consult with Committees of other towns. This question came up frequently in subsequent years, and never came to anything. September 6, The Selectmen were directed to purchase a " funcral cloth."
1785. A tract of 3680 acres was taken from the town, and joined with territory taken from adjoining towns, to form the town of Gard- der. The people of Winchendon concurred in the measure. William Whitney obtained a vote to have all his farm left in Winchendon. At one time he owned six 80 acre lots adjoining, besides land in other parts of the town.
Voted one penny on the pound to the Constable, for collecting for the year 1783.
March 7, In a freak the town chose Dr. Whiton hog-reeve, and Dr. Atherton fish-reeve. It was probably done by the Shays' men, who had a decided opponent in the former.
May 16, Voted to commit a certain inhabitant of the town to gaol unless he paid his taxes.
1786. Abel Wilder was chosen to the Senate, and continued in the same office until his death. Dea. Hale succeeded him as repre- sentative. There was no vote in the town against Mr. Wilder.
May 15, " Voted to build a new pound, and to build it with stone. Voted to set it on the northeast corner of the Common, twenty-five feet each way within the walls, six and one-half feet high, four feet broad at the bottom, and properly tapering to the top."
1787. May 14, Abel Wilder was chosen representative, but hav- ing been chosen a Senator at the same time, the town chose Dea. Hale representative on the 30th of July. The town changed its mind about the pound, and voted to build it of wood, of white pine timber,
75
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
eight feet high. Struck off for ten dollars to Mr. Levi Moor. The town refused to give the front gallery " to convene the singers."
October 8. An article was in the warrant in relation to setting up grave-stones in memory of Rev. Daniel Stimpson. Negatived. December 3, Dea. Moses Hale was chosen delegate to the Conven- tion for ratifying the Constitution of the United States. He voted in the negative, with a large majority of the delegates from Worcester county.
1788. May 12, Chose Samuel Crosby, Esq., to take care of the town's stock of ammunition. September 15, Voted, That two of the Assessors should go round and take a new invoice of the town. This "invoice" which would be a great curiosity now, was probably burned with all the Assessors' books and papers a few years since.
December 18. A town meeting was held to choose a representa- tive to the first Congress under the Constitution of the United States; and also to vote for presidential electors. For Congressmen the vote was as follows: "Hon. Jonathan Grout, Esq., 20; Hon. Artemas Ward, Esq., 16 ; Hon. Abel Wilder, Esq., 6; Hon. Timothy Paine, Esq., 1. This was the first movement towards sending Mr. Wilder to Congress. The following was the vote for clectors : Hon. Amos Sin- gleary, Esq., 19; Hon. John Fessenden, Esq., 19; Hon. Samuel Baker, Esq., 4; Hon. Moses Gill, Esq., 14. The meeting then adjourned from the cold meeting-house to " Mr. Stimson's east room," where was a good fire, and other warming things. This " east room" was in the tavern which stood for many years on the spot where the house of Charles J. Rice, Esq., now stands. The business transacted shows that the town was getting carnest about collecting its taxes. " Voted, That the Treasurer call immediately upon the persons that owe upon notes and if not paid soon, the notes to be put in suit. 2dly, Voted, That the Treasurer be directed to receive lumber for these notes in favor of the town, at cash price. 3dly, Voted, That the Treasurer allow 20s. a thousand for good merchantable closing boards ; 6s. per bunch for good merchantable shingles, 6-8 per thousand ; eight dollars a thousand for good merchantable clapboards. Voted, That the lumber be delivered at the Treasurer's own dwelling-house. If not sold before the next March meeting, to be set up at the vendue." Dea. Hale was Treasurer, and his house was then on the southeast corner of the Common.
76
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON.
1789. May 8, The town had thrown Jonathan Stimpson into jail for his taxes. An article in the warrant for the meeting held this day, was " to see what method the town will take to said Stimpson and his family." The town voted "to let out said Stimpson upon the best conditions for the town they can."
1791. September 5. The lot of school land, No. 170, was sold to Dea. Levi Moor, and the money was loaned on land security. No- vember 7, the town voted to petition the General Court for liberty to convey by deed the ministerial and school lots belonging to the town. November 12, Abel Wilder was chosen to draft a petition respecting the sale of land, which draft was approved by the town.
By the census this year it was found that there were one hundred and fifty houses, and nine hundred and fifty inhabitants in the town, showing that the increase of population had been quite rapid. The houses were scattered over the town, for as yet there were no villages except at the centre.
1792. April 2d, " Voted, That the town will have their town meet- ings opened and proceed to business at the hour set in the warrant.
September 5, Thaddeus Bowman and Thaddeus Bowman, Jr., left in debt to the town. The town, by execution, took land in Wethers- field or Cavendish, Vt., and now Mr. Amos Heywood was chosen agent to make sale of said land.
September 24, Samuel Prentice was chosen agent to prosecute those who had not fulfilled their obligations in respect to building the new meeting-house. The town refused to have a house occupied as a hos- pital by persons "inoculated for the small pox, in some remote part of the town, to be under the care of some skillful physician." In consequence, the Hon. Abel Wilder went to Jaffrey for treatment, where he died in the pest-house.
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