USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > The Worcester book : a diary of noteworthy events in Worcester, Massachusetts, from 1657 to 1883 > Part 3
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155 1842. Sampson V. S. Wilder committed to jail for debt.
Sampson Vryling Stoddard Wilder resided in Europe for many years as a commercial agent, and accumulated a large fortune with which he
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
returned to America, and retired to a princely estate in Bolton, near his birthplace. Here he entertained LaFayette in 1824. In the finan- cial crisis of 1837 his wealth was suddenly swept away; and consequent troubles followed, which finally brought him to Worcester Jail, a pris- oner for debt. He was released by his creditor, June 14, 1842. Mr. Wilder was a man of public spirit and generous benevolence. He died at Elizabeth, N. J., in 1865, aged 85.
156 1873. Heavy Gale : staging at St. Paul's Church, brick walls, and chimneys in different parts of the city blown down.
March 17.
157
1790. "Sacred to the memory of Deacon Jacob Cham- berlain who departed this life March ye 17th 1790 in the 71 st year of his age. Who fulfilled the office of a Deacon in the Church of Christ in Worcester for about 28 years with Satis- faction to the Church and Honour to himself. He was pos- sess'd of good natural Abilities Useful in the Society of which he was a member Instructive and entertaining in conversation Compassionate to the afflicted Given to hospitality-sound in the faith And now, we trust, has entered into his Eternal Rest.
Deacon Jacob Chamberlain was born at a place called Oak Hill in Newton, Nov. 28. 1719. He married Lydia Stone of Newton in early life, when he removed to Worcester and settled on the farm now (1877) occupied by the widow of the late Marshall Flagg, where he lived during the residue of his life. By his first wife he had nine children,
. viz : John. Sarah, Thaddeus, Lydia, Jacob, Susannah, Abigail. Mary and William. By a second wife (widow of Abel Heywood. who was son of Maj. Heywood of ancient memory in this town) he had one daughter, Nancy.
Deacon Chamberlain was selectman of the town, 1761. A tory pro- tester of 1774, numbered among the internal enemies by the Com- mittee of Correspondence in 1775, and disarmed by that committee." -Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
158 1806. Worcester Turnpike Company incorporated. Air line to Boston.
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
March 18.
159 1776. "Capt. James Goodwin & Mr. Daniel Bigelow Jur. was Chosen a Committee to Inspect the behavior of such per- sons as tarry in the meeting House on Sabbath Days between meetings and if they shall discover any misbehavior that they inform lawfull authority of the same that offenders may be punnished."-Worcester Town Records.
160 1825. "In Memory of Mr. CURTIS FOWLE, who died March 18, 1825, aged 80.
"An Englishman by birth-came to this Country-joined the American army in 1775, and faithfully served during the war.
"He married Susannah Shedd, January 23. 1785.
"From the SPY, March 23, 1825. 'Died 18th inst. Mr. Curtis Fowle aged 80. He was an Englishman by birth, came to this country about the year 1766, on board a British Frigate, from which he deserted. In 1775 he joined the American Army, in which he faithfully served during the whole Revolutionary war.' "-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
March 19.
161 1845. Rev. George P. Smith installed Pastor of the Old South Church.
He died Sept. 3, 1852.
162 1857. Mechanics Hall dedicated.
The exercises began at 2 P. M. Henry S. Washburn delivered an ad- dress, followed by remarks from Lieut. Gov. Benchley. Mayor Rich- ardson, Ex-Gov. Lincoln, A. H. Bullock and others. In the evening there was a concert by Adelaide Phillips and the Boston Orchestral Union, Carl Zerrahn, leader.
In 1854 Ichabod Washburn gave $10.000 towards the purchase of land and the erection of a building, and an equal amount was sub- scribed by others. The Waldo lot was purchased for $30,000. The total cost of the building was $140, 129, 51. Elbridge Boyden was the architect.
March 20.
1786. "Voted to sell the Ministerial and School Lands
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
lying east and near Capt. Palmer Goulding's and that it be sold at Public Vendue."-Town Records.
Timothy Paine Esq., Capt. Samuel Brooks, Col. Timothy Bigelow, Jo- seph Wheeler. Esq .. and Dr. Elijah Dix were chosen a committee to sell the same, and were empowered to execute good and sufficient deed or deeds to the purchasers. "This parcel as surveyed out by Capt. John Pierce, May 5th. 1786, contained thirteen and one quarter acres and twenty-three rods; and the [Mechanic street] burial ground lot was selected near the center of the plot." The land was sold in lots as follows: "Lot No. I. containing I 3-4 acres and sum rods, sold to Daniel Goulding for the sum of 20 pounds; lot No. 2, containing 121 rods, sold to Silas Harrington for the sum of 19 pounds. 10 shillings, and by him released to Jno. Jacob Wagoner who sold ye same to Jacob Miller, ye present possessor; lot No. 3. containing 110 rods, sold to Benj. Converse for the sum of 20 pounds. 9 shillings, which his guard- ean has since sold to Ignatius Goulding; lot No. 4, containing 82 rods . sold to Nathan Patch who forfited his earnest money, and the same has since been sold to William Goulding for the sum of 15 pounds, 10 shill- ings; lot No. 5. containing 5 3-4 acres and 14 rods, sold to Jonathan Gates who forfited his earnest money, and the same has since been sold to Abel Stowell for the sum of 27 pounds, 15 shillings; lot No. 6, containing 2 acres and 58 rods, sold to Ignatius Goulding for the sum of 42 pounds, 10 shillings."-Old Burial Grounds of Worcester.
164 1855. Concert in the City Hall by Paul Julien, Adelina Patti and August Gockel.
March 21.
165
1861. Great Snowstorm : drifts 5 to 12 feet high. Two chimneys on Lincoln House blown over, breaking through the roof of a room where servant girls were sleeping.
166 1873. Joseph Jefferson as Rip Van Winkle, at the theatre.
March 22.
167
1814. "To the memory of Col. PHINEAS JONES, died March 22, 1814, Æt. 66
"Married Katharine Gates, April 21st, 1772. Was sergeant in Capt. David Chadwick's company that marched to Hadley on the alarm at Bennington, Aug. 28, 1777.
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
"Was chief marshal at the military celebration on the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in Worcester, 1789. Selectman in · 1796-7. He kept the Old Jones Tavern near New Worcester."-In- scriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
March 23.
168 1827. "In Memory of Daniel Clapp, Esq. who died March 23, 1827, aged 87.
"Was one of fifteen jurors who refused, April 19, 1774. to serve under Chief Justice Peter Oliver, because the last House of Representatives had impeached him for receiving his salary from the English Crown.
"Was Register of Deeds from 1784 to 1816.
"He lived on what is now the corner of Main and Park streets"- Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
169 1857. Frederick Douglass addressed a meeting in the City Hall, at the close of which brief remarks were made by Capt. John Brown, of Kansas notoriety.
170 1868. Charles Dickens read his Christmas Carol and the Trial from Pickwick, in Mechanics Hall.
A large audience was present. The price of tickets was $2.
March 24.
I71 1853. Death of Benjamin F. Newton.
Mr. Newton was District Attorney at the time of his death. He pos- sessed excellent abilities as a lawyer. His age was 32.
I 72 1878. Death of the Rev. Seth Sweetser, D. D.
He was born in Newburyport, March 15, 1807. He was installed pas- tor of the Central Church in 1838, and passed the remainder of his life in Worcester. Dr. Sweetser was an Overseer of Harvard College; was connected with the management of other educational institutions; and was a prominent member of the American Antiquarian Society.
March 25.
173 1833. Quinsigamond Bank incorporated.
I 74 1857. John Brown addressed a meeting in the City Hall.
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH.
A. D. 1883.
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
March 26.
I75 1851. New Unitarian Church dedicated.
The present edifice on Court Hill. It is of brick covered with mastic in squares to represent stone work, and cost about $25.000, which sum was raised by the sale of pews. Joel Wilder, mason, was the builder.
I76 1866. Matilda Heron in Camille, at the Theatre.
March 27.
177 1860. Free Public Library opened.
Accounts were opened with two hundred persons, and 36 catalogues were sold on the first day. The library, at this time, occupied the up- per story of Bank Block. Foster street.
March 28.
178 1827. Rev. Alonzo Hill ordained.
I 79 1855. P. T. Barnum lectured in the City Hall on Money Making.
180
1876. Old Men's Home established.
March 29.
18I
1728. "Voted that ye Incourigment for killing of Ratle Snakes in Sª Town Shall be three pence for every Ratle Snakes Taile or ratle So killed & brought to one or more of ye Select- men, who are directed to recive ye Same."-Early Records. 182 1861. John S. Rarey, the Horse Tamer, with his cele- brated horse Cruiser, gave an exhibition in Mechanics Hall.
March 30.
183
1876. Lynde Brook Dam carried away by a freshet.
"Dams, bridges, mills, roads and dwellings were swept away; but no lives were lost. . .. . About 5000 feet of the Boston & Albany R. R. track was taken off. and the embankment washed away. . . . At one time the water came within 50 feet of the Horse Car track at New Worcester." The aggregate damages paid by the city, including the cost of the new dam. amounted to $227,000.
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
March 31.
184 1790. Death of Col. Timothy Bigelow.
He was born in Worcester, August 12, 1739. His father, Daniel Big- elow, who married Elizabeth Whitney, came from Watertown, and settled in the south part of Worcester. now included in Auburn, where he died at the age of 92. Timothy was a blacksmith by trade. He became an ardent patriot; was chosen to command the minute men; and marched with his company to Cambridge on the alarm, April 19, 1775. He was a volunteer in the expedition against Quebec, where he was made a prisoner. He was appointed to command the 15th Mass. regiment; joined the northern army, and assisted in capturing Bur- goyne. After the war he obtained a grant of land in Vermont, and founded the town of Montpelier. He returned to Worcester in im- poverished circumstances, and died while a prisoner for debt. The entry in the Jail Book is that he was discharged "By Deth." See un- der date April 19.
185
1857. John B. Gough lectured in the New Hall for the benefit of the Mechanics Association.
The largest lecture audience that had ever assembled in Worcester. $300. was realized.
186 1871. Worcester Choral Union incorporated.
187
1882. Visit of the Zuni Indians.
They were accompanied by Mr. Frank H. Cushing of the Smithsonian Institution; and numbered six chiefs of high rank. They visited the High School, Antiquarian Hall, the Wire Works and other manufac- tories, and the Jail.
1883. Rev. George Allen died, aged 91 years, 2 months. He was born in a house that stood on the north corner of Main and School streets, February 1, 1792. His father, the Hon. Joseph Allen, was Clerk of the Courts and afterwards a Member of Congress; his paternal grandmother was a sister of Samuel Adams. George Allen graduated at Yale College in 1813; was minister at Shrewsbury from 1823 to 1840; and chaplain at the State Lunatic Hospital from 1840 to 1872. Mr. Allen took part in the anti-slavery agitation, contributing much to the press, and writing several pamphlets that attracted con- siderable attention. He was the author of the celebrated Free Soil resolution of 1848. (See under dates June 21 and Dec. 5.) He was a fine scholar, and a writer of wonderful power ..
188
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
April I.
189
1851. First Daily Morning Transcript.
This paper had no connection with the "Daily Transcript" published in 1845. Julius L. Clarke was the first editor. It was at first neutral in politics, then Whig. and finally Republican. The name was changed to "Worcester Evening Gazette." Jan. 1. 1866. The several editors of the "Transcript" after Mr. Clarke, were Charles E. Stevens, Edwin Bynner, J. B. D. Cogswell, Z. K. Pangborn, William R. Hooper and Caleb A. Wall.
190
1858. Rufus Choate lectured in Mechanics Hall on Ham- ilton and Burr.
191 1868. Henry W. Shaw, alias Josh Billings, lectured in Mechanics Hall on Milk.
192
1873. First issue of The Worcester Daily Press.
A Democratic Journal. The last number was dated April 27, 1878, when the subscription list was transferred to the Spy. This enterprize was disastrous to those concerned; and several prominent Democrats, . it is said, were "out of pocket" $75.000 in the aggregate.
193
1883. Hon. Isaac Davis died, aged 83 years, 10 months. He was born in Northborough. June 2, 1799. He graduated at Brown University in 1822; and took up his residence in Worcester the same year. He was admitted to the bar in 1825. He was Chief Engineer of the Fire Department in 1835; State Senator, 1844; and Mayor in 1856, 1858, and 1861. He was the Democratic candidate for Governor in 1846 and 1847; and Delegate to all the National Democratic Conven- tions from 1828 to 1860. He acquired large wealth, mostly by real estate transactions.
April 2.
194
1731. Worcester County incorporated. The act took effect the 10th of the following July.
April 3.
195
1865. News of the fall of Richmond received.
Bells were rung and 100 guns fired on the Common and at Quinsiga- mond; the State Guards paraded; and there was an illumination in the evening.
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
April 4.
196 1726. First Schoolmaster hired : "We ye Subscribers Doe hearby Covenant & agree with mr. Jonas Rice to be ye Schoole master for Sª Town of worcester and to teach Such Children & Youth as any of ye Inhabitents Shall Send to him : to read & to write as ye Law Directs, &c : And to keep Such Schoole untill ye fifteenth Day of December next Ensuing ye Date hearof : Sª Schoole to [be] Supported at the Towns Charge.
Nath11 Moore Daniel Heywood Selectmen
(of Worcester."
Benja Flagg James Taylor - Early Records.
197
1831. Death of Isaiah Thomas.
He was born in Boston, January 19. 1749. The Massachusetts Spy was established by him in 1771, and became the organ of the patriots. A short time before the battle of Lexington. he removed his press and types to Worcester, where. after the war, he carried on the most ex- tensive publishing business in the country. He was Postmaster from 1776 to 1801. Founder and patron of the American Antiquarian So- ciety; and author of a valuable History of Printing.
198 1879. Edouard Remenyi, the celebrated violinist, at Mechanics Hall.
199
1881. Sarah Bernhardt as Marguerite Gautier in Camille, at the Theatre.
Prices of seats, $1, $2 and $3 according to location.
April 5.
200
1860. Death of Hon. Abijah Bigelow.
He was born in Westminster, Dec. 5. 1775. Graduated at Dartmouth College, 1795. Represented this district in Congress from 1810 to 1815. Clerk of the Courts, 1817 to 1833. He lived for many years at the corner of Front and Church streets. in the house recently removed to make way for Jonas G. Clarke's block.
201 1872. Escape of Sam Perris, one of the Grafton Bank robbers, from the Worcester Jail.
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
Sam Perris. otherwise "Worcester Sam" was awaiting trial for robbing the Grafton Bank, Oct. 25. 1870, by which act he and his associates secured $180,000. Perris effected his escape from the fourth story window at the north end of the jail, forcing the bars by which it was guarded with a powerful jack screw furnished by confederates outside, and which he drew up with a rope. He then let himself down along the dead wall, a distance of 80 feet. He has never been recaptured.
April 6.
202 1777.
"Memento mori Under this covring sleeps the mouldring Bons Ah - tis the frail Remains of Capt™ William Jones On April 6th 1777 Death him Remov'd from toils of Earth to joys of Heaven. Æt 51
"Generally known as 'Tory Jones.' Kept a tavern on what is now Main street, nearly opposite Chatham street. His house was a favorite resort for the tories of Worcester in the early days of the Revolution. Capt. Jones entertained Capt. Brown and Ensign De Bernicre of his majesty's troops ordered here by Gen. Gage in the spring of 1775. [See No. 109] Gen. Gage at that time contemplated erecting a fortress on Chandler Hill. William Jones married Sarah Curtis, daughter of John Curtis." -Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
April 7.
1783. "Whereas a number of persons have manifested a disposition to Set out trees for Shades near the Meeting house & elsewhere about the Center of this Town, & the Town be- ing desirous of encouraging Such a measure which will be beneficial as well as ornamental
"Therefore Voted, that any person being an Inhabitant of this Town, who shall injure or destroy such trees so set out, shall pay a fine not exceeding twenty shillings for every of- fence, to be disposed of to the use of the poor of the Town." Worcester Town Records.
203
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
204 1865. Illumination for Union victories.
205 1874. All Saints [Episcopal] Church burned.
Pearl street, on the site now occupied by the fine stone residence built for Dr. Bull. This church was of wood, built in 1847. The new All Saints Church, at the corner of Pleasant and Irving streets, was conse- crated January 4th, 1877.
April 8.
206
1848. First City Election.
Ex-Gov. Lincoln and Rev. Rodney A. Miller, "a respected Divine, ran neck and neck" for the office of Mayor. Gov. Lincoln was elected by a close majority. Following is a list of Mayors since Lincoln : Henry Chapin, 1849-50; Peter C. Bacon, 1851-2; John S. C. Knowlton, 1853- 4; George W. Richardson, 1855 and 1857; Isaac Davis, 1856, 1858 and 1861; Alexander H. Bullock, 1859; William W. Rice in 1860; P. Emory Aldrich, 1862; D. Waldo Lincoln, 1863-4; Phineas Ball. 1865; James B. Blake, 1866-70; Edward Earle, 1871; George F. Verry, 1872; Clark Jillson. 1873, 1875-6; Edward L. Davis, 1874; Charles B. Pratt. 1877- 9; Frank H. Kelley, 1880-1; Elijah B. Stoddard, 1882; and Samuel E. Hildreth, the present [1883] incumbent.
207 1853. Rev. Henry Ward Beecher lectured before the City Anti-Slavery Society.
208 1873. Fanny Janauschek in Chesney Wold.
April 9.
209 1836. Citizens Bank incorporated.
210 1865. News of Lee's surrender.
The despatch announcing the event was received late on Sunday eve- ning, and 100 guns were immediately fired on the Common.
April 10.
211
1796. "Sacred to the memory of Major William Tread- well, who died April 10, A. D. 1796, Aet 46.
"He enter'd the army in 1775, and devoted his whole time to the service of his Country, until the Independence of America was secured, he ever courted the field of battle, & his bravery was indesputable.
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
"A member of Capt. Timothy Bigelow's company of minute men which left Worcester, April 19. 1775. He was 2d lieutenant in Col. Thomas Crafts' regiment of artillery in the same year. About 1783 the Wor- cester Artillery was formed, and he was chosen captain. He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
212 1865. Celebration of Lee's surrender.
Business was generally suspended. Salutes were fired in different parts of the city. The Fire Department and other organizations paraded. There was a general illumination in the evening.
213 1873. Anton Rubinstein, the celebrated pianist and com- poser, at Mechanics Hall.
He was born in Russia in 1829; and appeared in public when only eight years old. He became a pupil of Villoing at Moscow and Paris; and studied composition under Dehn at Berlin. He was for a time pianist to the Grand-Duchess Helena, and director of the Russian Musical Society. In concert tours through Europe and the United States, he achieved a grand success.
214 1876. Worcester Continentals organized.
They first paraded in public at the Centennial Celebration, July 4. 1876.
April II.
215 1778. "On Saturday last arrived in Town, and on Sunday proceeded on his way to Newport, where it is said, he is to be exchanged for the much abused Col. Ethan Allen, Lieut. Col. Campbell of the 7Ist regiment."-Spy, Thursday, April 16, 1778.
April 12.
216 1773. "Here lies inter'd the body of Major Daniel Hey- wood, who departed this life April 12th 1773 in ye 79th year of his age. He was an early settler in this town and one of the first Deacons of the church in this Place, in which office he continued to the day of his Death. This monument is erect- ed at the desire and Expence of his Grandson & Heir, Dan- iel Heywood.
Psalm 90: 10: His epitaph.
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
"Was son of Deacon John Heywood of Concord, and came to Wor- cester in 1718. Married for his first wife Hannah Ward, daughter of Obediah Ward. Was chosen captain of the first military company formed in the town, and town treasurer in 1722. Held the office of Selectman twenty years, between 1724 and 1753. and was Town Clerk in 1753. Was major of a company in his majesty's service that marched to the defence of the western frontier, August 8th, 1748."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
April 13.
21 7 1731. "Whearas many Small Children Cannot attend ye Schoole in ye Center of ye Town by Reason of ye remotness of their Dwellings and to ye intent that all Childrin may have ye benefite of Education, &c.
"Voted that a Suitable number of Schoole Dames, not ex- ceeding five, be provided by ye Selectmen at ye Charge of ye Town for ye teaching of Small Childrin to read, and to be placed in ye Several parts of ye Town as ye Selectmen may think most Conveinent, and Such Gentlewomen to be payd by ye pole as ye Selectmen & they may agree."-Early Rec- ords of Worcester.
218 1867. George H. Ward, Post 10, Grand Army of the Re- public chartered.
April 14.
219
1772. "Here lie buried the remains of Lieut. Luke Brown, who having taken the infection of the small pox at New York and died of the same after his return home, viz : April 14, 1772.' Aged 58. Buried here to prevent the spread of the infection.
Luke Brown came to Worcester from Sudbury sometime before 1750, and kept the public house which was burned Christmas eve, 1824, and which stood near the ancient first jail. He acquired wealth by specu- lating in public lands. It was while on a journey to New York for the purpose of purchasing the town now called Newfane, in Vermont, that he caught the small pox. His body was buried on the north side of the Jo Bill road. Report says that he had few friends, was avaricious, and procured his property not perhaps by the most honorable means.
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
"In the French war he was lieutenant of a detachment of men from Col. John Chandler's regiment under Capt. John Curtis, that marched to the relief of Fort William Henry in 1759."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
1820. Death of Hon. Levi Lincoln, senior.
220
He was born in Hingham, May 15. 1749. Came to Worcester in 1775; Clerk of the Courts in 1775; and Judge of Probate from 1777 to 1781. He became a member of both branches of the Legislature; and in 1800 was elected to Congress. He was Attorney General of the United States, 1801-5; Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, 1807-8; and became Governor in consequence of the death of Gov. Sullivan in 1809. He was the father of a distinguished family.
22I 1861. News of the fall of Fort Sumter.
The anxiously awaited tidings were received on Sunday evening, and great excitement prevailed. Spy extras were disposed of to the crowd as fast as they could be printed for several hours.
April 15.
222
1865. Death of President Lincoln.
The dispatch announcing the assassination was received about midnight, and the citizens were aroused from their beds by the tolling of bells. News of the President's death was received early in the morning. The City Council met at 7, and after consultation a public meeting was called, which gathered in Mechanics Hall at 10. Hon. A. H. Bullock presided, and the exercises were of a religious character. Stores and dwellings were draped, and manifestations of mourning were general.
223 1869. First performance in Worcester, of Theodore Thomas's Orchestra.
April 16.
224
1861. First War Meeting.
In the City Hall, presided over by the Mayor. Hon. Isaac Davis. Ad- dresses were made by distinguished citizens, and "the meeting was unanimous, hearty and enthusiastic."
225
1872. Memorial observance of the death of Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the Telegraph.
In the Council Chamber, City Hall. A sketch of Prof. Morse, written by Rev. George Allen, was read by Col. John D. Washburn.
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
April 17.
226 1828. Worcester County Institution for Savings organized.
227 1848. First City Government inaugurated.
228 1861. Departure of the Worcester Light Infantry for the seat of war.
The Light Infantry belonged to the Sixth Regiment, but were with the detachment that passed safely through Baltimore at the time of the riot, April 19th, and proceeded directly to Washington. The time of their service was mostly spent in Maryland. They arrived home on the Ist of August.
. April 18. .
229
1864. Departure of the 57th Regiment.
This regiment participated in the Battle of the Wilderness; spent the summer before Petersburg; and were engaged in numerous minor en- counters until the close of the war. It was mustered out in August, 1865.
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