USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > The Worcester book : a diary of noteworthy events in Worcester, Massachusetts, from 1657 to 1883 > Part 4
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April 19.
230
1774. The Grand Jury refused to serve under Chief Jus- tice Peter Oliver, who was charged with high crimes and mis- demeanors by the House of Representatives.
The Grand Jury presented a remonstrance to the Court; but upon be- ing assured that the Chief Justice would not attend, were sworn and performed their duty.
231 1775. IIO men marched from Worcester on the alarm at Lexington.
"Before noon, on the 19th of April, an express came to the town, shouting, as he passed through the street at full speed, 'to arms! to arms! war is begun !' His white horse, bloody with spurring, and dripping with sweat, fell exhausted near the church. Another was in- stantly procured, and the tidings went on. The bell rang out the alarm, cannon were fired, and messengers sent to every part of the town to collect the soldiery. In a short time the minute men were paraded on the green, under Capt. Timothy Bigelow; after fervent prayer by the Rev. Mr. Maccarty, they took up the line of march. They were soon followed by as many of the train bands as could be gath- ered, under Capt. Benjamin Flagg."-Lincoln's History.
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
232 1833. Death of Dr. William Paine.
a
He was the eldest son of Hon. Timothy Paine, born in Worcester, June 5, 1750. Was educated in England; a loyalist in the Revolution; and was appointed Apothecary to the forces in America. After the war he resided in the British Provinces, and on the death of his father, returned to Worcester. "He possessed extensive professional learning and refined literary taste, and was equally respected as a physician and a citizen."
233
1854. Death of Hon. John Davis.
Was born in Northborough, Jan. 13, 1787. Graduated at Yale College in 1812; admitted to the bar in 1815. A Member of Congress from 1825 to 1833; Governor, 1833-5 and 1841-3; and United States Senator, 1835-41, and 1845-53. He was popularly known as "Honest John Davis."
234 1861. Dedication of the monument to Col. Timothy Big- elow, on the Common.
The monument was erected by Timothy Bigelow Lawrence of Boston, a great-grandson of the revolutionary hero. A military and civic pro- cession paraded the streets; a salute was fired; and at the monument addresses were made by T. B. Lawrence, Esq., Mayor Davis, Ex-Gov. Lincoln, Rev. Andrew Bigelow, D. D. and Hon. John P. Bigelow of Boston, (grandsons of Col. Bigelow,) Hon. B. F. Thomas; and the venerable Tyler Bigelow of Watertown, a nephew of Col. Bigelow.
April 20.
235 1859. Hon. Carl Schurz lectured in the City Hall.
236
1861. Departure of the Third Battalion of Rifles.
Made up of the Worcester City Guards, the Emmet Guards, and the Holden Rifles; the battalion commanded by Major Charles Devens. They were on duty about Baltimore most of their time of service, and arrived home on the 2d of August.
April 21.
237
1830. $2,500 voted by the Town to purchase land for the State Lunatic Hospital.
238 1848. Mechanics Bank incorporated.
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
April 23.
239 1865. Memorial Discourse on Abraham Lincoln by Rev. Seth Sweetser, D. D.
This Discourse was printed.
April 24.
240 1775. John Hancock and Samuel Adams, delegates to the Continental Congress, arrived in Worcester.
They remained two days waiting for a suitable escort to Philadelphia. A letter written by Hancock at this time, is printed in the "Hundred Boston Orators," page 92.
April 25.
241 1871. Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church dedicated.
April 26.
242
1845. Worcester Aqueduct Company organized.
This Company was incorporated Feb. 28, 1845, for the purpose of con- structing and maintaining an aqueduct, to conduct water from Bladder Pond for the use of the town. Stephen Salisbury, Isaac Davis, William A. Wheeler, Henry W. Miller and Samuel Davis were the Committee of Managers. The right and property of this company were purchased by the city, June 8, 1848.
243 1852. Visit of Louis Kossuth.
He arrived at 4.30 P. M. from Springfield, and was received with ring- ing of bells and firing of cannon; flags and decorations were displayed. Kossuth rode in procession to the Common, where he was introduced to the people by Mayor Bacon at the speakers' stand, and made a very eloquent address. He also addressed a meeting at the City Hall in the evening.
April 27.
244
1861. An effigy of Jeff. Davis was discovered hanging at the corner of Main & Elm streets.
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
April 28.
245 1789. "On Tuesday last, the first piece of Corduroy made at the manufactory in this town [on School street] was taken from the loom."-Spy, Thursday, April 30, 1789.
246 1846. Church of the Unity dedicated.
247 1873. Gipsies warned to depart the town.
In the ancient times in New England it was the custom upon the ap- pearance of strangers within the town, for the constable to order them to depart forthwith. This salutary method was revived by Mayor Jill- son, who proclaimed that "Whereas, it has been customary in years past for large numbers of wandering vagrants, known as 'Gipsies,' to camp in the suburbs of the city, without any visible purpose except 'plunder'; therefore in view of this great annoyance, and the liability that diseases dangerous to public health may break out in some of these camps, they are ordered to forthwith leave the city." This action was criticized as being high-handed and unconstitutional; but the Mayor took the responsibllity, and the Gipsies went.
April 29.
248 1790. "Last Thursday in the afternoon, the Hon. Fohn Fay, Esq., Chief Justice of the United States, arrived in this Town, and the next morning sat out for Boston."-Spy, Thurs- day, May 6, 1790.
249 1846. Rev. Edward Everett Hale ordained Pastor of the Church of the Unity,
He was dismissed July 27, 1856.
250 1861. $3000 voted by the City Council to aid enlistments. To be expended in uniforms and equipments.
April.30.
251 1814. Rev. Samuel Austin, D. D. brought suit to recover Ministerial Land sold by the Town.
Judgment was rendered for the demandant, but was released by the Parish.
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
May I.
252
1837. The Town voted to receive its portion of the sur- plus revenue of the United States.
The first instalment amounted to over $6,000. Of the whole amount, $7,000 was paid towards the debt of the town, and Main street was paved with part of the remainder.
253 1840. " HARRISONISM IN WORCESTER.
"Harrisonism exhibited itself in this Town on Friday of last week, in a manner that has inflicted a lasting disgrace upon the party. It was expected that a large number of delegates to the Whig Convention at Baltimore would pass through town that afternoon ; and accordingly certain prominent men of the Harrison party made preparation to give them a welcome, af- ter the established form in which Harrisonism now exhibits its hospitality. They took a barrel of hard cider, highly charged, it is said, with brandy, and mounted it conspicuously in the Depot building of the Boston & Worcester Railroad. A pole was stuck into the bunghole, across the top of which was a signboard bearing the conspicuous inscription - 'HARD CIDER ; Help Yourselves.' And underneath was hung a miserable mockery of our national flag-a Harrison pocket handker- chief. Hard crackers and cheese flanked the sides of the barrel, and a noisy dandy negro officiated as master of cere- monies. The cars having been delayed on the road two hours beyond their time, and the cider having circulated freely in the meantime, among the devotees, old and young, of the 'hard cider candidate,' the 'Harrison enthusiasm' had got to so high a pitch when the cars came in that it burst forth as though Pandemonium had let loose its masses. Prominent Whigs were screaming 'hard cider' at the top of their voices ; pails of it were thrust into the cars, along with broken cheese and baskets of crackers, where it was caught up by Whig dan- dies in kid gloves, with as much apparent delight as the caged beasts in a menagerie seize their daily allowance of refuse meat."-Worcester Palladium, Wednesday, May 6, 1840.
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
254 1844. Quinsigamond Lodge, No. 43, Independent Order of Odd Fellows instituted.
The first Lodge chartered in Worcester. Other Lodges are Worcester, No. 56; Central, No. 168, formed Sept. 17, 1874; and Ridgely, No. 112.
255 1861. Home Guards organized.
Consisting of the honorary and past members, and the friends of the Worcester Light Infantry. The officers were : Captain, D. Waldo Lin- coln; First Lieut., Henry W. Conklin; Second Lieut., W. A. Williams; Third Lieut., Putnam W. Taft; Fourth Lieut., Ivers Phillips; Clerk, R. M. Gould. This company was composed mostly of elderly men, and performed escort duty, attended soldiers' funerals, etc., until replaced by the State Guards in 1863.
May 2. 1818. Death of William Charles White.
256
Actor, dramatist, and lawyer, born in Boston in 1777. He appeared at the Federal Street Theatre, Boston, in 1796, as Norval. He wrote "Orlando," a tragedy, some minor poems and plays, and two or three novels. In 1801, he left the stage, and turned his attention to the law. Removed to Worcester where he edited the National Ægis for a time; and in 1811, was appointed County Attorney. He published a Com- pendium of the Laws of Massachusetts in 3 vols., and two orations.
257
1825. Town Hall dedicated.
An address was delivered by Hon. John Davis. The cost of the build- ing was about $10,000. It has been enlarged and several times re- modeled.
May 3.
258
1850. Explosion in the Mayor's office.
An attempt was made about midnight to blow up the building on Main street, near Sudbury, in which was the office of Mayor Chapin, by means of a 6 inch hand grenade. The concussion was very severe; the door of the office was broken to fragments, and a piece of the shell went through the brick wall in the rear, while the building was considerably shattered. This outrage was one result of the temperance agitation, in which Mayor Chapin had taken a prominent part; and the principal in the affair was Jubal Harrington, quondam Postmaster, and editor of the Republican, who had promised to give the Free Soilers and Temperance
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
Agitators "hell and scissors." Harrington forfeited his bonds and fled to California, where he became a judge and a man of consequence.
259
1775. First issue of The Massachusetts Spy in Worcester. The Spy was issued from the press in Worcester after a suspension of three weeks, during which time Mr. Thomas, with the aid of General Joseph Warren and Colonel Timothy Bigelow, effected the removal of his establishment from Boston. This number contains an account of the Battle of Lexington, in which the publisher took part. The first impression is in possession of the American Antiquarian Society, and bears Mr. Thomas's certificate that it was the first thing ever printed in Worcester.
260
18II. "On Friday last, Caleb Fephterson was exposed in this town in the Pillory, for one hour and an half, pursuant to his sentence, upon three several convictions, for the odious and detestable crime of Blasphemy."-Spy, Wednesday, May 8, 18II.
May 4.
261
1750. [From the Warrant for a Town Meeting, May 4th, 1750 : "For ye Town to Come into Some method that People may Sit in ye Seats [in the meeting house] assigned to pre- vent Disorders & that they dont put themselves too forward."] "Voted that ye late Seators give Tickitts to Such People who have not taken their Seats properly according to ye Last Seat- ing directing them to Sit whear they ought to prevent Disor- der and fill up properly any Pews latley built according to ye Design of ye Town in making the Grants." -. Early Records.
May 5.
262
1779. Lemuel Burnham and Joshua Mossman were pub- licly whipped forty stripes each, for passing counterfeit money.
May 6.
263 1657. The first grant of land in the vicinity of Worcester was made by the General Court of Massachusetts to Increase Nowell of Charlestown, and comprised 3,200 acres.
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
264 1844. Convention of those opposed to the annexation of Texas.
At the Town Hall. Hon. Solomon Strong of Leominster was presi- dent. Resolutions condemnatory of the course of the administration were adopted. Hon. Charles Allen made an address; and additional resolutions were offered by Rev. George Allen.
May 7.
265
1872. Rum Sellers celebrate their victory by a street pa- rade.
On the question "Shall any person be allowed to manufacture, sell, or keep for sale, ale, porter, strong beer, or lager beer in this city," the vote stood, yes, 2143; no, 2115. In the evening, all the liquor shops closed doors at an early hour. A band of music in a wagon followed by a large and noisy crowd, went through some of the principal streets. Bonfires were kindled in different parts of the city, and some riotous conduct was manifested.
May 9.
266
1775. "May 10 .- The commanding officer at Cambridge has given leave to the regulars who were taken prisoners, either to go to Boston and join their respective regiments, or have liberty to work in the country for those who will employ them. In consequence of which, those who were confined in Worcester, Massachusetts, fifteen in number, heartily request- ed to be employed by the people, not choosing to return to their regiments to fight against their American brethren, though some of them expressed their willingness to spill their blood in defence of their King in a righteous cause. They all set out yesterday for different towns."-Pennsylvania Fournal, May 24, 1775.
267 1862. Anna E. Dickinson lectured in Washburn Hall. Her first appearance in Worcester.
268 1873. H
Home for Aged Females dedicated.
.
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
May 10.
269 1828. The Town voted to purchase the Pine Meadow Burial Ground.
This lot comprising eight acres was bought of Samuel Hathaway for $100 per acre. No interments were made here of late years; and since 1870, all the bodies have been removed to other places.
May II.
2 70 1801. Oliver Ellsworth passed through Worcester on his return from France.
Ellsworth was prominent in the revolutionary councils of Connecticut, and a member of the Convention for framing the Constitution of the United States. He served as Senator from 1789 to 1795, when he was appointed Chief Justice by President Washington. In 1799, he was associated with William R. Davie and William Vans Murray, to adjust the differences with France. He was born in 1745, and died in 1807.
27I 1829. Death of Stephen Salisbury, senior.
He came to Worcester from Boston before the Revolution, and opened a store just north of Lincoln square, in the ownership of which his brother Samuel, who carried on the business in Boston, was concerned. The Salisbury mansion, at the head of Main street, was erected by them.
May 12.
272 1842. Car manufactory of Bradley and Rice burned. At Washington square. Loss, $20,000.
273 1860. Reception to Hon. Isaac Davis, on his return from the Charleston Convention.
Col. Davis was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention at Charleston, South Carolina; and was firm in his allegiance to Stephen . A. Douglas. On his arrival home he was received at Washington sqr. by the Worcester Light Infantry and National Band, with a large body of citizens, and escorted to his residence, where he was addressed by George W. Bentley and made an appropriate reply.
May 13.
2 74 1726. "Voted that Thanks be returned to ye Honrbl Adam winthrop, Esqr. for his bounty in bestowing a Cushing on ye
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
Town as furniture for ye pulpit. and that ye Town Clerk pre- sent his Honr. a Coppy of Sª vote."-Early Records.
2 75 1856. Edward Everett delivered his Oration on Washing- ton, in the City Hall.
"After the sectional warfare of opinion and feeling reached a dangerous height, anxious if possible to bring a counteractive and conciliating in- fluence into play, . . . . . I devoted the greater part of my time for three years to the attempt to give new strength in the hearts of my countrymen to the last patriotic feeling in which they seemed to beat in entire unison,-veneration and love for the name of Washington, and reverence for the place of his rest. With this object in view, I' travelled thousands of miles, by night and by day, in midwinter and midsummer, speaking three, four, and five times a week, in feeble health, and under a heavy burden of domestic care and sorrow, and inculcating the priceless value of the Union in precisely the same terms from Maine to Georgia and from New York to St. Louis."-Public Speech of Mr. Everett.
The Mount Vernon Fund, collected through the efforts of Mr. Everett and which was applied to the purchase of Washington's home estate, amounted to nearly $100,000.
276 277
1864. People's Savings Bank incorporated.
1879. August Wilhelmj, the renowned violinist, at Me- chanics Hall.
May 14.
278
1872. Deacon Benjamin Butman died, aged 85.
He was a native of Worcester, and began mercantile life in 1808 as a clerk in the drug store of George Brinley, in Boston. He commenced business in Worcester in 1816 or 17 as a dealer in West India goods. He retired in 1836; built Butman, Brinley and Warren blocks; and became a heavy real estate owner. President of the Central Bank, 1829-36; also president of the Citizens' Bank. About 1812, he pur- chased 45 acres of land bounded by Main, Pleasant, Newbury and Chandler streets, for which he paid $7,000.
May 15.
279
1667. Capt. Daniel Gookin, Capt. Edward Johnson, Sam- uel Andrew and Andrew Belcher, were ordered by the Gen-
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
eral Court to take an exact view of "a place about 10 miles westward of Marlborrow called Quandsicamond ponds," and to make report "whether it be capable to make a village," etc. In their report the committee stated : "Wee conceue therre may bee enough medow forr a small plantation orr towne of about thirrty fam- ilies," and if certain former grants were annexed, "it, may supply about sixty families."
280
1851. Mechanics Savings Bank incorporated.
28I 1851. Ralph Waldo Emerson lectured on the Fugitive Slave Law.
282 1861. Charlotte Cushman as Meg Merrilies, at the theatre. Miss Cushman died Feb. 18, 1876, in her 60th year.
May 16.
283 1791. Two shocks of an earthquake in this and neigh- boring towns.
284 1832. In the SPY of this date the selectmen are criticized for licensing "a company of strolling actors calling themselves Circus Riders, to exhibit their fooleries here" ; and it further says : "Who does not know that no one gets any good by at- tending such exhibitions ?- That by going there he encour- ages idleness, cruelty and vice ? It is hoped that this is the last time we shall be troubled with such unwelcome visitors."
285
1874. Col. James Estabrook died, aged 77.
He was born in Holden, and came to Worcester in 1829, when he en- gaged in the grocery business with Gen. Nathan Heard at the old "Green Store," on Main street, nearly opposite the Court House. Sub- sequently he was in business in Boston. He was an Alderman of Wor- cester in 1848-9; and Sheriff of the County, 1851-2. He possessed large wealth, the result of careful investments in real estate.
May 17.
286
1806. "ERECTED in memory of MR. LEMUEL RICE Æt. 66. and MR. LUKE RICE Æt. 62. who died within 15 minutes of each other on May 17, 1806. Brothers which were united in life and not divided in death.
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
"Lemuel Rice was private in Capt. David Chadwick's company that marched to Hadley, Aug. 28, 1777. Jailor from 1788 to 98. His daughter married Benjamin Russell, editor of the Boston Columbian Centinel."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
May 18.
287
1767. Instructions to Joshua Bigelow, senior, Represent- ative to the General Court : "That you use your Influence to obtain a law to put an End to that unchristian and Impol- itick Practice of making Slaves of the Humane Speices in this Province and that you give your vote for none to serve in his Majestys Council who you may have Reason to think will use their Influence against such a Law or that Sustain any office Incompatible with such Trust and in such Choice Prefer such Gentleman only who have Distinguished themselves in the Defence of our Liberty."- Worcester Town Records.
288
1773. Declaration of Rights approved.
This Declaration is printed in the Collections of The Worcester Society of Antiquity, Vol. IV., page 203.
289
1854. J. S. Orr, alias "Angel Gabriel," with his brazen trumpet, collected a crowd, and began the delivery of a "No Popery" harangue, when he was arrested by the police for disturbing the peace, and locked up. A large and excited crowd gathered about the Common, where Dexter F. Parker made a speech "full of sound and fury," as the Spy has it ; followed by others. The assemblage soon became violent : stones were thrown, one hitting Sheriff George W. Richard- son on the head ; and a rescue of the prisoner was threat- ened. Finally, the City Guards were ordered out, and the rioters dispersed.
"Gabriel" was a Scotchman, Sandy McSwish by name, although he called himself Orr or Horr. His father was of the Clan Gordon. Sandy was born on the Isle of Skye, Sept. 3, 1809. He was bound apprentice to a weaver. His father having died, his mother married a Baptist minister named Orr. Sandy joined a company of strolling players; afterwards was a Methodist preacher; and then came to America and joined the Mormons. After following various avocations, he finally
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THE WORCESTER BOOK.
began preaching in public places against popish authority and foreign influence. He had a horn or trumpet which he blew to attract an audience, hence the name "Gabriel." He acted as an adjunct to the Native American or "Know Nothing" party, which performed a praise- worthy service in annihilating the old Whig party.
May 19.
290 1783. Protest against the return of the absentees or tories. Printed in the Collections of The Worcester Society of Antiquity, Vol. IV., pp. 440-444.
29I
1877. Hon. Edward Earle died, aged 67.
He was born in Leicester; came to Worcester in 1832, and opened a store for the sale of flour, on Central street. Afterwards was in the iron trade with Joseph Pratt, from which he retired in 1848, when he sold his interest to F. H. Inman. He then engaged in the card cloth- ing business with his half-brother, Timothy K. Earle, from which he withdrew a few years before his death. Mr. Earle was chosen Select- man, Representative and Alderman; and in 1871, was elected Mayor to serve the unexpired term of James G. Blake. He was a prominent member of the Society of Friends.
292 1878. [Sunday] D. L. Moody, the celebrated Evangelist, preached afternoon and evening in Mechanics Hall.
May 20.
293
1724. First allotment of pews in the meeting house. See Early Records of Worcester, Book I., pp. 24-26.
294
1852. Worcester Musical Association formed.
This organization had no connection with the present Worcester County Musical Association. It existed about three years.
295 1861. Dispatches in the Telegraph Office seized by gov- ernment officials.
Simultaneous action took place throughout the northern states, and considerable treason was brought to light.
296 1873. A house on Millstone hill was taken by the sheriff, by virtue of a warrant from two justices of the peace, to be used as a hospital for small pox patients.
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NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
Considerable opposition to this action was manifested in the Board of Aldermen, some claiming that Mayor Jillson had overstepped his au- thority in seizing private property; but on the testimony of prominent physicians that the exigencies of the case necessitated prompt measures, he was sustained. At this time there were 75 cases of small pox in the city, knowledge of which was kept from the public. Happily, the mal- ady quickly subsided, and the building was not used.
May 21.
297
1777. "Here lyes interr'd the remains of Capt. Daniel Ward, who departed this life May 21st 1777, in the 77th year of his age."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
. Was son of Obediah Ward, an original settler of Worcester. Daniel built a house opposite the Common, which he sold in 1750 to Sheriff Gardner Chandler, who erected on the spot the fine mansion, occupied later by Judge Barton, and which was removed to make way for Tay- lor's Building.
298 1836. First Baptist Church burned.
On the site of the present edifice, east of the Common. This church was erected in 1813. The fire was the act of an incendiary.
299
1874. Death of John P. Kettell.
He was born in Boston in 1797; came to Worcester in 1818, and opened a shop in Lincoln square for the manufacture and sale of hats, caps, furs, etc., in which business he continued until his death, He occupied successively stores in Goddard's Row, Butman Block, and
Universalist Church building, corner of Main and Foster streets. He was one of the founders of the Mechanics Association, Selectnian, and Deacon of the First Unitarian Church.
300
1878. First National Dog Show, in Mechanics Hall.
May 22.
1 30I
1801. Lightning struck the house of Judge Edward Bangs, on the east side of Main street, opposite the Court House, doing considerable damage to the wood work, and breaking two large looking glasses.
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