USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Proceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, for the year 1881-1882 > Part 33
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In the spring of the year 1877 it became my good fortune to meet Mr. Bigelow in the way of correspondence, as he was at that time engaged in preparing a "Genealogy of one Branch of the Bigelow Family." He desired me to consult the Town Rec- ords of Worcester for facts bearing upon the matter. The cor- respondence thus begun led me, in the summer of that year, to forward him a copy of our first Society publication, soon after which I received an acknowledgment in which he said "I can- not state the interest I feel in these matters relating to our
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ancestors and their deeds. I shall want to keep track of the doings of your Society of Antiquity, and the best way to do that would be to accept your kind invitation to join the said Society. Should it elect me a member, I should try and do for it what its interests demand of me."
On the ninth of Nov., 1877, he was admitted to membership, and in his correspondence with us he ever manifested a deep interest in the welfare of the Society, and always sent words of encouragement in relation to the work in which it was engaged. Modest and unassuming, he ever preferred that his life should make answer for itself, and in sending the foregoing biography under date of June 16, 1879, he writes, "I have just received a reminder from the Committee on Biography, and will say that I am willing to comply with their request, although my life seems too empty to receive so worthy a place in the records of the Society." One who knew Mr. Bigelow well, and who en- joyed an intimacy with him that made his loss a personal be- reavement, has kindly favored me with the impressions that a constant intercourse had left upon him regarding the leading traits of his character.
He was a man of warm affections leading him to form strong attachments to persons and places. Ilis attachment to the home of his later years was remarkable considering the short time he had made it his residence. and how comparatively little there was to engage one of his active and enterprising tempera- ment, and how large were the opportunities he possessed to seek interests elsewhere. Ile exhibited a tenderness and rever- ence for the aged which revealed a loving and reverent heart. Those of his own town were frequently in his thoughts, and the year before his death he charged his friend to inform him when any were removed by death, that if absent he might return to pay his tribute of respect to their memory. In the same man- ner, though naturally in a less degree. he kept a warm place in his memory for the Academy where he taught in his earlier years, and the acquaintances he formed there, though his stay among them was for only a few brief months. On one occasion. not many months before his death, being detained for some hours at a station near by. he invited his friend to drive over with him
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and visit the place he had not seen for nearly thirty years. The whole scene of his early years seemed to come up vividly before him, and he recalled with special interest incidents which took place during those winter months. To this trait of warm attachment to persons and places may he owing to the special interest he took in tracing ont his family relationships, feeling as he did a personal attachment to those he had met but rarely or had never seen at all. and by this trait was he undoubtedly led to connect himself with our Society.
As a friend he was loyal. steadfast and self-sacrificing to a remarkable degree. He possessed that somewhat rare qual- ity in a friend. of a willingness to disclose unwelcome truths. Those who knew him best could discuss bottom facts with him in perfect confidence. He kept nothing back, and he made no disclosures save from the kindest and purest of motives. Nat- urally a trait of character like this would put some ofhis friend- ly relationships to a severe trial, and yet no one who knew him well ever failed to discover the thouroughly unselfish spirit which pervaded all his intercourse. His friendly offices and his best judgment were ever at the command of those in need. and con- fidence reposed in him was always safe.
In public affairs and in business he was enterprising, ener- getic and ambitious. struggling for the largest measure of suc- cess. There may have been times when his friends have feared that this idea of success entered too largely into his estimate of men and things. But a thorough knowledge of the man reveal- ed the fact that he had the breadth of thought and the wisdom to give the term its truest and best meaning, Success with him did not mean with confining limitations, but included all the larger interests, spiritual as well as temporal. He felt it was a duty each man owed to his God and to his fellow man to make the most of himself, his talents and his opportunities. Hence there arose in him a feeling of impatience, leading to expres- sions of reproach and chiding when he saw in others what he thought a lack of Godly ambition. Desiring always to witness a success he liked best of all to see his friends as they were qualified achieving success.
As a Christian he was characterized by a spirit of loyalty,
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quickened and warmed by a personal affection for a personal Redeemer. He thought and spoke of Christ as the embodiment of all that is good and noble and inspiring for humanity.
Having well and faithfully served his day and generation, he is gathered to his fathers, and we are profited in contemplating his moral, social, and intellectual worth.
At the October meeting, on the 3d inst. 13 mem- bers were present. Rev. A. H. Coolidge and Charles A. Denny Esq., of Leicester, Ledyard Bill of Paxton, and Everett C. Stone of Worcester, were elected to active membership. Mr. Alfred S. Roe gave an in- formal sketch of a recent visit to the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, in which he described the routes of approach to the cave, the characteristics and habits of the people in its vicinity, the hotels and facilities for transportation, and the cave itself, with much of detail and interest. His sketch also included allu- sions to other similar natural curiosities in the same section of country, and was full of historical, bio- graphical, geological and social interest.
The November meeting was held by adjournment on the 14th inst. ; twenty-six members and visitors were present. Dr. Albert Wood of Worcester was elected to active membership.
Wm. B. Harding Esq., read the following paper :
ORIGIN OF THE NAMES OF THE TOWNS
IN
WORCESTER COUNTY.
BY WILLIAM B. HARDING, EsQ.
Proper names are mere labels or badges, given to distinguish between persons or places, without any more significance or meaning than a policeman's badge, a soldier' uniform, or a na- tion's flag. We name a person Charles or Mary and a town Worcester or Boston from pure sentimentality, without thought or idea as to the derivation and significance of the name. But all proper names originally had a significance and import, and there was once just as good reason for calling a person Charles or Mary, and a town Worcester or Boston, as we to-day have for designating certain places as Cocs' Pond, Jamesville and Barber's Crossing.
The antiquarian by research, and the philologist by study of the history of languages, is at the present time enabled to tell us with a reasonable degree of certainty, the derivation and meaning of the greater portion of our proper names, but the manner, time and occasion of their origin is involved to a great extent in the oblivion of the past. As an illustration, we know that the first Mason, Carpenter, Taylor, Smith and Fuller, de- rived his name from his trade or occupation ; but the reason why he was so named and the manner and occasion of his christening, are pure matters of theory and speculation. In our own age new proper names are being created, expressive of some character or idea at first, and finally by use becoming to
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be a part of our nomenclature. Who knows but what the anti- quarian of the future will puzzle his brains over the meaning of the word "greenbacker," and wonder if he had a green back ; a"stalwart," and wonder if he was a strong man : a"half-breed," and wonder if he was the result of a cross of Indian and white blood.
To render the following pages not entirely void of new thought or idea, I have attempted to go a little beyond the local his- torians of our towns, and not only find the origin of the names of the towns, but also the source and signification of the names themselves. In this I have been partially successful, but this subject like every other we attempt to investigate, broadens and deepens as we proceed, and I find that each name in itself fur- nishes ample scope for a dissertation by an abler pen than mine.
The early settlers of Massachusetts brought with them the associations and memories of the old country, and in selecting names for their new towns, it was natural for them to select names of English towns and villages dear to their recollection by former associations ; hence we find that from the first land- ing, up to 1724, it was the general custom to name towns after places in the old country. In 1724, a custom arose of compli- menting distinguished Englishmen who were friendly to the colo- nies, or particular friends of the Provincial Governors ; this cus- tom was continned up to the Revolution, when an entire change took place, and American names were used. From the earliest days of the Colony up to 1732, it was the custom for the incorpo- rators to select the names ; but after that date nearly all the acts of incorporation passed both houses of the legislature in blank, and the name which the town was to bear, was inserted by the Governor, or by his direction, when he approved the act.
The acts of incorporation approved by Governors Bernard and Belcher show the names of the towns written in their own handwriting. Probably the inhabitants at times followed their petitions for incorporation to the State House, and suggested the name they wanted, which perhaps was sometimes granted and sometimes not. This custom accounts for so many towns being named in honor of titled Englishmen ; the Provincial Gov- ernors, some of them Englishmen by birth and Education, and
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all of them Englishmen in political and social interests, sought this method of complimenting their friends in the mother coun- try, upou whom they were dependent for the continuance of their political power.
We will now consider the origin of the names of the towns in Worcester Conunty in alphabetical order.
ASIBURNHAM :- This place was originally called "Dorchester Canada" because the land was granted to Thomas Tileston and other soldiers in Dorchester for services in the expedition to Canada in 1690. It was incorporated in 1765 and named by Governor Bernard in honor of John Ashburnham, second Earl of Ashburnham. This theory is supported by the fact of the custom then prevailing of naming towns in honor of distinguish- ed Englishmen rather than from towns in the old country. The noble earls of this surname and title claim to have possessed Ashburnham, county of Sussex, from before the Norman con- quest. In ancient times, "a burner of ore and wood ashes," from which potash or some similar article was made was, called an " Ashburner :" ham is the Saxon for our word home or hamlet. So we see the potash maker's home finally grew into a settlement and acquired the name of Ashburnham, from the occupation of its primitive inhabitant or inhabitants.
ATHOL :- The Indian name of this place was Paqquage or Po- quaig. It was incorporated in 1762, and named Athol by Gov. Bernard. It is supposed the Governor named it in honor of James Murray, the second Duke of Athol, Lord Privy Seal of Scotland. There is an Athol in Scotland known as the Prov- ince of Athol, from which the Duke derived his title. I am unable to determine how the name originated.
AUBURN :- Auburn was incorporated in 1778, and named Ward in honor of Gen. Artemas Ward. Upon petition of the inhabitants in 1837, the name was changed to Auburn. The similarity of the word Ward to Ware, giving rise to postal mistakes, was the reason assigned for the change.
We have in the United States thirty-seven towns and villages bearing the name of Auburn. Ont of a half dozen different Gazetteers I can find only one that makes any mention of an
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Auburn in England. Worcester's Universal Gazette mentions a small place in England by that name ; so if there is an Auburn in England it is an obscure town. What is the origin of the name and the reason it has become so common in this country ? I am inclined to believe that Goldsmith's poem, "The Deserted Village," furnishes the answer.
Sweet Auburn ! loveliest village of the plain.
Goldsmith was very popular in this country, an early edition of his works was published here, and here he found his warmest admirers. The place Goldsmith is supposed to have had in mind in picturing the deserted village was a little village in Ire- land named Lissoy, and ever since the publication of the poem the little Irish hamlet has borne the name of Auburn. It is also more than probable that the village called Auburn in England derived its name from the same source, for no such name existed there previous to the publication of the poem. It is therefore quite certain that the name, Auburn, was a pure creation in Gold- smith's mind, rather than a reality. The beauty and sweetness of the word itself, and the beauty of the simple poem furnishes sufficient reason for its frequent use in this country. Colonels Cary and Drury, prominent citizens of Auburn at that time. were instrumental in obtaining the change, and state in their petition that "the name it a pleasant one and agreeable to the inhabi- tants of Ward." Auburn in New York, or Auburn in Maine. probably furnished the suggestion of the name to their minds. The primitive meaning of the word denotes the color made by scorching-reddish brown.
BARRE :- This town was incorporated as "Rutland District," in 1753, but had no representation in the General Court. The people asked for an incorporation as a town under the name of Barre in 1773. The act finally passed in Inne. 1774. During the interval between the introduction and passage of the act. Gage had succeeded Hutchinson in office, and at its passage procured the insertion of the name of Hutchinson in place of Barre in honor of his predecessor. The name of Hutchinson was odious in the colonies at this time. and the people naturally desired a change, so in 1776 the town petitioned for a change
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of name, and suggested the name of Wilkes, but through the influence of some one, now unknown, the original name sug- gested. Barre, was inserted, and in that form the act passed.
Colonel Isaac Barre, in whose honor the town was named, was a son of a French refugee, and was born in Dublin. He entered the English army, rose to the rank of Colonel, was present at the seige of Quebec, witnessed the death of Wolfe. himself being wounded, and his portrait occupies a prominent place in Benja- min West's great painting of the death of Wolfe. In 1761 he was elected to Parliament, and when Grenville introduced the Stamp Act, Barre opposed it in a forcible and eloquent speech, and throughout the long contest of the colonies for indepen- dence. he was their friend and advocate. Barre was considered by some to be the author of the "Junius" Letters.
The name being of French origin, its meaning is "bar," "ob- struction." This meaning, happily, is in unison with the charac- ter of the man who dared oppose the ministry and King in their oppressive measures towards the colonies.
BERLIN :- This town was taken from Bolton and incorporated as the "District of Bolton" in 1784, and as a town in 1812. I have been unable to discover any reason why the incorporators of this District should ask for the name of Berlin. It seems singular that a District set off from Bolton (which originally was a part of Lancaster) just at the close of the revolutionary war, at a time when there was a profusion of patriotic and historical American names, should be named after a Prussian city. I can think of no other town in all New England bearing a Prussian or German name .* It is true that Frederic The Great, then King of Prussia, was somewhat friendly to America, and had years before denounced the employment of Hessians by the English ; and a year later, 1785, presented Washington a sword, but there seems to be no connection between this and the nam- ing of the town. Inquiry of the oldest inhabitants and of the local historian fails to elicit any satisfactory answer to the question.
* It is stated by Mr. Lovell that there is a Steuben in Maine.
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BLACKSTONE :- William Blackstone, an Episcopal minister. was the first white settler in Boston, where he built a cabin in 1625-6, and where he was found by Gov. Winthrop in 1630. Blackstone afterwards moved to Rhode Island and settled on the bank of the river a few miles above Providence, at what is now called Cumberland. The river soon acquired the name of the Blackstone river. The town of Blackstone was taken from Mendon and incorporated in 1845. For some time previous to its incorporation the settlement was called Blackstone, this name being naturally suggested by the location of the village on the river of that name. The name itself naturally suggests its meaning, but how it originated is a matter of pure speculation.
BOLTON :- Bolton was incorporated in 1738, and its name was given by Gov. Belcher in honor of Charles Powlet, 3d Duke of Bolton. Bolton, the place where the Duke and his ancestors originated, is a town situated in Lancashire, England. Bolton was originally a part of Lancaster and this relation of Bolton to Lancashire in England possibly had something to do with the selection of the names in this county.
The origin of the name is somewhat obscure. It is probable that the natural features of the place. abrupt, steep, bold. gave rise to the name of Bold-tun. Tun is the Saxon for our word village, and town, and in time this ending came to be spelled tou.
BOYLSTON :- This town was incorporated in 1786. and was named in honor of the Boylston family in Boston. The par- ticular Boylston its incorporators had in mind was probably Nicholas Boylston, a wealthy merchant of Boston. who founded the Boylston Professorship at Harvard University, by a bequest of £1500. He gave the town a bell and Bible, which is suffici- ent reason for the belief that the town intended to compliment him in the selection of the name. In all probability the name was once Boyle's-town. We find in the history of names re- peated instances of a town taking the name of a man with the addition of the suffix tun or ton, and afterwards a man or family taking the name of the town.
BROOKFIELD :- The Indian name of this town was Quaboag. and it was so called by the whites until its incorporation.
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There is no doubt that its name was suggested by its natural features. The fields and meadows lying along the Quaboag suggests the fields by the brook. Probably the Quaboag means in the Indian tongue nearly the same thing. There is a striking similarity between the word Quaboag and our English words quag and bog, but this is no argument that they mean the same, for the English language and Indian dialects have not a com- mon origin.
CHARLTON :- This town was probably named from Sir Francis Charlton, Bart., a gentleman of the Privy Chamber in 1755. In view of the date of its incorporation, 1764, and the fact that Gov. Bernard wrote the name in the act of incorporation, it is probable he gave the name in honor of his countryman, Sir Francis. Charleston, Charlestown, Charlton and Charlesworth have the same origin, Charl, Saxon, ceor/, the primary signifi- cation of which is "male," is the word from which we derive Charles. A signification of harsh, rude, rustic, ill-bred was finally developed in the use of the word. Whether the name was Charles-ton originally, signifying the dwelling place of churlish people, or whether it was Charleston, a place settled by Charles, is a matter of doubt. Probably the word had de- veloped into the name of Charles before the naming of any town.
CLINTON :- This town was incorporated in 1850, and was named in honor of De Witt Clinton. The original meaning of the word is "little," or "small town," which seems quite appro- priate considering the geographical size of the town.
DANA :- Dana was incorporated in 1801, and was named in honor of the distinguished Dana family of Massachusetts, but which Dana is not absolutely certain. In view of the fact that Francis Dana, the jurist and patriot, who died in 1811, and who was the most distingished Dana in America at that time, took some interest in the incorporation of the town, it is more than probable that the name was given in his honor. The origin and meaning of the name cannot now be told.
DOUGLAS :- The original settlers of this place came almost entirely from the town of Sherburne. It was called the "New Sherburne Grant" up to 1746, when it was incorporated as a Dis-
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trict. In 1786 it was incorporated as a town, and named Doug- las in honor of Dr. William Douglas, a Scotchman by birth, a physician in Boston, and author of several historical and medi- cal works. He was an extensive land proprietor in the state, and in consideration of the privilege of naming the town, gave the inhabitants thereof the sum of $500 as a fund for the estab- lishment and maintenance of free schools, together with a tract of 30 acres of land with a dwelling house and barn thereon. It is said that something more than $900 still remain of the fund in the keeping of the town. The meaning of the name Douglas, is Black water.
DUDLEY :- Dudley was incorporated in 1731, and it is said was named from Paul and William Dudley, who were early pro- prietors. The Indian name was Chargoggagoggmanchaugga- goggagungamaugg.
FITCHBURG :- The whole tract of land embraced in what is now Lunenburg and Fitchburg was called"Turkey Hill"previous to the incorporation of Lunenburg, on account of the large num- ber of wild turkeys found on its hills. After the incorporation of Lunenburg, 1728, that part of the town now Fitchburg re- tained to some extent the local name of "Turkey Ilill." In 1764 Fitchburg was set off from Lunenburg and incorporated as a town. John Fitch was chosen by the people to procure its in- corporation, and his influence at home and with the Governor enabled him to procure the name of Fitchburg. It may be here said that burg or borough originally meant a place with a rep- resentative in the government, but in later times it has come to mean simply a town or place, burg, borough and bury meaning the same thing. The naming of Fitchburg seems to form an exception to the general rule and custom pursued by Governor Bernard of naming towns in honor of some distinguished Eng- lishman. No doubt considerable wire-pulling and political in- fluence was brought to bear to accomplish it. The word "Fitch" is a Norman-French prefix, signifying son. It is probably a corruption of the Latin filius. Fitz is also another corruption. So Fitzpatrick was a son of Patrick.
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GARDNER :- Gardner was incorporated in 1785, and perpetu- ates the name of Col. Thomas Gardner who fell at the battle of Bunker Hill. The name originally signified one who grafted young trees. The primary sense of the word is an enclosed place, and this explains the origin of our word "garden."
GRAFTON :- The territory embraced in what is now Grafton and Sutton was called by the Indians Hassanamisco, which signifies "a place of small stones." Grafton was set off from Sutton in 1735, and named by Gov. Belcher, in honor of Charles FitzRoy, Duke of Grafton, a grandson of Charles II. The Duke when informed by the King that a numerous body of Ger- man troops was to join the British forces for the subjugation of America, replied : "Your majesty will find too late that twice the number will only increase the disgrace, and never effect the purpose." The Duke of Grafton takes his title from Grafton Regis, which originally signified the grafts or trees of the King.
HARDWICK :- The Indian name of this place was Wombem- esisecook. In 1686 John Lamb and others purchased the land of the Indians, and the place was called Lambstown. In 1737 it was incorporated and named by Gov Belcher, Hardwick.
The name probably was given in honor of Phillip York, Lord Hardwick, Chief Justice of the King's Bench. The Latin name is Hardovicum, vicum meaning village. What the signification of hardo is and how it came to be the name of a village I am unable to determine.
HARVARD ;- Harvard was incorporated in 1732, and named Harvard in honor of Rev. John Harvard, founder of Harvard University. The names Harvard, Howard, and Heruvard were, once the same name.
HOLDEN :- Holden originally was called "Worcester North Half," or North Worcester. It was incorporated in 1740, and named by Gov. Belcher in honor, it is supposed, of Hon. Sam- uel Holden, a Director in the Bank of England. The name originally was probably Holderness, and shortened for conven- ience. Holderness is an English town, and its signification is "a wooded promontory."
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