USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > The Worcester book : a diary of noteworthy events in Worcester, Massachusetts, from 1657 to 1883 > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
1835. Assault on the Rev. Orange Scott.
555
Mr. Scott was delivering an anti-slavery lecture in the Town Hall, when Levi Lincoln, jr., and Patrick Doyle entered and walked directly to the desk. The former seized the lecturer's notes and deliberately tore them in pieces, while Doyle, who was a stout Irishman, laid hold of the lecturer with the intention of dragging him out; several persons inter- fered and he desisted. The meeting at once dispersed.
August II.
556 1805. [Sunday] Court House struck by lightning. "The lightning touched the front pediment, threw off the shingles, shivered the diamond glass of the large eastern window, shattered the venetian blind, and splintered the style of the door."
August 12.
557 1812. Convention of delegates from 41 towns met at Worcester, for the purpose of expressing disapprobation of the war with Great Britain.
August 13.
558
1846. Funeral of Bishop Fenwick.
He died in Boston the Ioth, and was buried with imposing ceremonies at the College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, on the 13th.
Benedict J. Fenwick was born in Maryland in 1782. Joining the. Jesuits, he became President of Georgetown College, and in 1825 was consecrated Roman Catholic Bishop of Boston. He increased the num- ber of churches in his diocese from two to fifty.
August 15.
559
1862. Departure of the Thirty-fourth Regiment.
This Regiment was in the battles of New Market, Cedar Creek, Pied- mont, Lynchburg, Winchester and others. It was mustered out July 6, I865.
560 1875. [Sunday] Union Railroad Station first occupied.
IOI
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
August 16.
561 1845. Park Street Methodist Church dedicated.
August 17.
562 1786. Johnson Green executed for burglary.
563 1820. Central Church organized.
564 1861. John G. Whittier visited Worcester.
565
1882. Death of Judge Hartley Williams.
4
He was born at Mercer, Me., and came to Worcester in 1843. He studied law with Hon. F. H. Dewey, and afterwards was his partner for 13 years; was Alderman in 1854; Senator, 1862-3; member of Gov- ernor's Council, 1864-5; District Attorney, 1866-8; and Judge of the Municipal and Central District Courts at Worcester from 1868 until his death. He was the first President of the Natives of Maine, and was struck with paralysis while presiding at one of their meetings, March 30, preceding his decease.
August 19.
566
1839. Death of Rev. Aaron Bancroft, D. D.
He was born at Reading, Mass., Nov. 10, 1755; graduated at Harvard College in 1778; and was ordained Pastor of the Second Church in Worcester, Feb. I, 1786. He married Lucretia, daughter of Hon. John Chandler, the refugee, Oct. 21, 1786. Dr. Bancroft was a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; and was prominently connected with other educational, literary and religious institutions.
567
1868. The Chinese Embassy arrived in Worcester.
Hon. Anson Burlingame, Ambassador; and Chih ta-jen and Sun ta-jen, Associate Ambassadors, and suite, reached here in the afternoon, and remained at the Bay State House over night.
August 20.
568
1829. New Brick Meeting House of the Unitarian Society dedicated.
. This building occupied the site of the present edifice on Court Hill. It was destroyed by fire, Aug. 24, 1849.
N
IO2
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
August 21.
569 1735. Gov. Belcher, accompanied by his Council, passed through Worcester on his way to Albany to hold a conference with the Six Nations.
He was waited on in Worcester by the Justices of the Court of General Sessions, and an address was read by the Hon. John Chandler, to which the Governor replied in a gracious manner.
5 70 1788. First issue of the American Herald and Worcester Recorder.
The Herald had been published in Boston the seven years preceding, and was continued in Worcester two years and two months. Edward Eveleth Powers, bookseller and printer, was the publisher.
August 22.
571 1774. Hon. Timothy Paine was forced to resign his office of Mandamus Councilor by a mob of fifteen hundred persons. He was required to write his resignation, and was then obliged to read it to the people "with his hat off"; after which the crowd withdrew to pay a visit to the Hon. John Murray of Rutland, another Councilor. An interesting account of this affair is printed in Lovell's Worcester in the War of the Revolution.
572 1838. The large Machine Shop of Henry Goulding & Co. on School street, was destroyed by fire.
573 1861. Ex-President Franklin Pierce in Worcester.
August 23.
575 574 1824. Burials on the Common prohibited.
1861. Departure of the Twenty-first Regiment.
This Regiment embarked for North Carolina on the Burnside expedi- tion, and took part in the battles of Roanoke and Newbern. The next spring it was sent to Virginia, and was in the battles of second Bull Run, Chantilly, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, the Wilderness and others. It was mustered out Aug. 30, 1864.
5 76 1877. Visit of President Hayes.
He was on his return to Washington from the Bennington Centennial, and was accompanied by Mrs. Hayes, Secretary Evarts, Postmaster General Key and Attorney General Devens. The party arrived at 6.50
PRENTISS.
THE OLD ANTIQUARIAN HALL,
Summer Street.
.
IO3
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
P. M., and was escorted in procession to the Bay State House. A sa- lute was fired. A reception was held at Senator Hoar's residence and the visitors left the city at IO P. M.
August 24.
577 1774. £ Clark Chandler was forced to obliterate the Tory Protest recorded in the town book.
This protest had been rejected by the Patriots in town meeting, June 20, 1774. (See ante, No. 364.) When the fact that it had been en- tered upon the records came to light, a storm of indignation was excited, and the town clerk was obliged in open meeting to obliterate the entry with a pen, and was also required to dip his fingers in ink and rub them over the page.
578
1820. Dedication of Antiquarian Hall, Summer street.
An oration was given by Isaac Goodwin. This building was erected by Isaiah Thomas and presented to the society. The main building was 46 feet long and 36 feet wide, with a cupola. Wings were added in 1832, each 28 by 21 feet. This building was, on account of damp- ness and other considerations, abandoned in 1853, and the collections removed to the new hall on Court Hill.
579
1849. Unitarian Meeting House burned.
It was erected in 1829 at an expense of $17,000. See ante, No. 568.
580
1872. Death of George Jaques.
He was born in Brooklyn, Conn., Feb. 18, 1816. After attending Lei- cester Academy, he entered Brown University and graduated in 1836. For several years he devoted himself to teaching school in Virginia and Massachusetts; later he was engaged in horticultural pursuits and in the care of his estate. He was one of the founders and a prominent member of the Horticultural Society, and compiled the first volume of its transactions. He visited Europe in 1856. In 1871 he presented a lot of about four acres of land to the city as a site for a public hospital; and by his will bequeathed the bulk of his property for the support of that institution. The wishes of the testator were carried out only after much delay and with manifest reluctance by those having the matter in charge.
Many of Mr. Jaques's household effects and family heirlooms were hustled to the auction room and disposed of to a crowd of the curious and vulgar, while his private papers were scattered broadcast. From materials rescued from junk dealers and book-sharks, Mr. Albert A. Lovell compiled and published a memorial volume comprising a sketch of his life and selections from his journals.
104
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
August 27.
58I 1733. Millstone Hill granted to the town forever. · See Records of the Proprietors.
582 1781. "Monday last the Hon John Sullivan Esq., Mem- ber of Congress from the State of New-Hampshire passed through this town from Philadelphia. The celebrated Chev- alier John Paul Jones, Capt. in the American Navy, was in company with Gen. Sullivan ; he was also from Philadelphia, bound to the eastward."-Spy, Aug. 30.
August 28.
583 1861. Hon. Joseph Holt, the loyal Kentuckian, passed through Worcester.
August 29.
584 1856. Lucretia Mott addressed a meeting in. Horticultural Hall.
585 1860. Republican Convention : John A. Andrew first nominated for governor.
586 1868. Free Public Market opened. . Front street, north side of City Hall. It was discontinued after a year or two.
August 30.
587
1814. "Horrible depravity! When the news of the cap- ture of Washington reached this town, some of the leading federalists openly expressed their gratification, mingled with a regret that the President was not involved in the destruction of the Capital !"-National Agis, Aug. 31.
588
.1854. First issue of the Worcester Evening Journal. The Rev. David Higgins was editor until Jan. 1, 1855, when Dexter F. Parker assumed the management of the paper and conducted it in the interest of the "Know Nothing" party. The last number was dated May 26, 1855.
.
IO5
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
589 1862. Visit of Gen. Corcoran.
He was given a public reception on the Common at 8 A. M .; a salute was fired and bells were rung. He made a speech to the large crowd assembled, and left for Springfield at 10. "At the depot a large num- ber of ladies availed themselves of the privilege accorded to them by kissing their hero."-Spy.
Michael Corcoran was born in Ireland, Sept. 21, 1827, and came to America in 1849. As Colonel of the 69th N. Y. he responded to the call for troops; was taken prisoner at Bull Run, and suffered in rebel prisons for more than a year. After his exchange he returned to duty, and died near Fairfax C. H., Va., Dec. 22, 1863.
August 31.
590
1863. Celebration at the opening of the Horse Railroad. A salute was fired at New Worcester; addresses were made in Coes's grove by James B. Blake. president of the road; Mayor D. W. Lincoln and others; and an original poem was read by Judge Chapin.
September I.
1847. First issue of the Worcester Daily Journal.
591
The second number appeared Sept. 15; after that date it was issued daily. It was discontinued in Oct., 1849.
592 1847. Henri Herz, composer and first pianist to the King of the French ; and Camillo Sivori, the only pupil of the great Paganini, at Brinley Hall.
593 1858. Illumination and military parade for the success of the Atlantic Cable.
September 2.
594
1777. "On Tuesday arrived here from the northward be- tween four and five hundred prisoners, and yesterday they sat out for Boston, under a strong guard commanded by Lieuten- ant Colonel Paul Revere."-Spy, Thursday, Sept. 4, 1777.
· 595 1851. Powers's "Greek Slave" on exhibition at Flagg Hall.
596 1862. Departure of the Thirty-sixth Regiment.
This Regiment was in the battles of Fredericksburg, the Wilderness,
IO6
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
Spottsylvania C. H. and others, and performed much hard service and many long marches. It was mustered out June 21, 1865.
September 3.
597
1823. First issue of the Massachusetts Yeoman.
This paper was founded by Austin Denny, and was conducted in the interest of the Anti-Masonic party. It was consolidated with the Ægis in 1833.
598
1824. Lafayette in Worcester.
He arrived at 10 A. M. with a large military escort, and was received by Hon. Levi Lincoln, at his mansion, with an address of welcome, to which he responded. The streets were handsomely decorated with flags and mottoes. After partaking of breakfast and reviewing the troops, Lafayette proceeded on his way at 2 P. M.
599
1855. Corner stone of Mechanics Hall laid.
A procession of military and other bodies paraded; Henry S. Wash- burn delivered an address; and a dinner was served in Agricultural Hall.
600 1878. First New England Fair in Worcester.
The Fair was held here annually from 1878 to 1882.
September 4.
601
1788. Stone Jail completed.
At what is now Lincoln square. It was judged at the time of its erec- tion to have been "the second stone building of consequence in the Commonwealth; none being thought superior except the Stone Chapel in Boston." It was asserted that it would not need any repairs, except- ing the roof, for two or three centuries! It was taken down in 1835.
602
1850. Mozart Society formed.
United with the Beethoven Society in Nov. 1866, to form the Worces- ter Mozart and Beethoven Choral Union, which became, in 1871, the Worcester Choral Union.
603 1861. Opening of the Free Public Library Building, Elm street.
604 1871. First Passenger Train, Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad.
IO7
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
September 5.
605 1786. Courts prevented from sitting by Shays's insurgents.
606 1861. Gen. B. F. Butler spoke on the Common.
He was on his way to Lowell from the seat of war, on a ten days' fur- lough.
607
1881. Death of Samuel F. Haven, LL. D.
He was born in Dedham, Mass., May 28, 1806. Entered Harvard Col- lege and completed his course at Amherst. In 1837, he became Li- brarian to the American Antiquarian Society. He was the author of Historical Address at Dedham, 1836; Archaeology of the United States, 1855, published by the Smithsonian Institution; and other works.
September 6.
608 1774. The Courts were adjourned by a mob of 6000 men. They did not resume their functions until after their re-organization in 1776.
609
1
1779. "Monday last the Chevalier de la Luzerne, Minis- ter Plenipotentiary from the Court of France to these States, with his Secretary, attendants, &c., escorted by a party of light dragoons, passed through this town from Boston, on their way to Philadelphia."-Spy, Thursday, Sept. 9, 1779.
Anne Cæsar de la Luzerne was born at Paris in 1741. He served in the Seven-Years' War; afterwards was Minister to Bavaria; to the United States from 1779 to 1783; and to London, where he died Sept. 14, 1791. While in this country he conducted himself in a manner that won the affection and esteem of all.
610 1783. First issue of the Massachusetts Herald or Wor- cester Journal.
This was intended as an abridgement of the Spy, to be published in quarto form every Saturday. Only four numbers were issued.
6II 1788. Last Proprietors' Meeting.
612 1856. Reception to Hon. Nathaniel P. Banks, Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives, at the Lincoln House.
613 1861. Hon. Horace Maynard, of Tennessee, spoke in the City Hall.
108
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
614 1881. Yellow Day.
This may be ranked with the celebrated dark day in New England a century before. Lights were kept burning in the stores, and at times it was hardly possible to read in the open air. The writer enjoyed the novelty of eating dinner by lamp-light before an open window at noon- time. The next day it was found that all the sun flowers had sickened and died.
September 7.
615 1864. Gen. Burnside was serenaded at the Bay State House, and made a short speech.
616 1881. Death of Stephen S. Foster.
Stephen Symonds Foster was born at Canterbury, N. H., Nov. 17, 1809. Graduated at Dartmouth College in 1838. He became one of the fore- most anti-slavery agitators of the Garrisonian stripe, and by his methods brought upon himself much personal abuse and ill treatment. He married Abby Kelly in 1845. Author of "The Brotherhood of Thieves, · a true picture of the American Clergy."
617 1881. Visit of Gen. Sherman.
He arrived at 10 A. M., and was escorted to the N. E. Fair grounds by military bodies. In the afternoon he visited Grand Army Post 10, and other institutions. On the morning of the 8th, he visited Shrewsbury and the tomb of Gen. Artemas Ward.
September 8.
618
1774. Convention of Blacksmiths of Worcester County. Ross Wyman of Shrewsbury was chairman. "They resolved that they would not, nor either of them, do any work for the tories, nor for any one in their employ, nor for any one who had not signed the non-con- sumption agreement agreed upon and signed by the Congress at Phil- adelphia; and requested all denominations of artificers to call meetings of their craft and adopt like measures,"
619
1838. The Rural Cemetery consecrated.
The land was given by Hon. Daniel Waldo. At the consecration, an address was delivered by Hon. Levi Lincoln, which was printed.
620 1858. Great Firemen's Muster.
The Muster lasted three days; 53 companies from other places attended.
109
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
September 9.
621 1878. Death of Gen. Nathan Heard.
He was born in Worcester, March 25, 1790. He succeeded his father as keeper of the Stone Jail at Lincoln square from 1812 to 1822; was afterwards in business with Col. James Estabrook, and with his brother- in-law Geo. M. Rice; also employed at the Custom House in Boston. Representative, 1837-9; Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, 1837- 40. He attained the rank of Brigadier-General in the Militia.
September 11.
622
1814. Worcester Light Infantry and Worcester Artillery marched to Boston to repel British invasion.
They remained in camp at South Boston until Oct. 31, when they re- turned to Worcester.
623 1874. State Normal School dedicated.
Addresses were made by Hon. Henry Chapin, Hon. Emory Washburn, Rev. Dr. Miner, Prof. Russell and others.
September 12.
624
1839. A Negro Boy kidnapped.
Two men named Shearer and Dickinson kidnapped a boy 8 years old, the son of a colored man named John F. Francis. They took the child to Virginia and attempted to sell him, but were arrested and returned to Worcester, tried and sentenced to imprisonment. See ante, No. 45.
625 1843. Gen. Tom Thumb's first exhibition in Worcester. He died in 1883.
626 1848. Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, addressed a Whig meeting in the City Hall.
September 14.
627
1849. Young Men's Rhetorical Society organized.
The Society was formed in an upper room of Waldo Block, and was incorporated in 1853.
September 15.
628 1684. The name Worcester was given to the plantation near Quinsigamond Pond.
O
IIO
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
629 1859. Benjamin F. Butler nominated for Governor by the Democratic Convention.
September 17.
630 1674. John Eliot and Daniel Gookin visited the Indians at Pakachoag.
631 1757. Gen. Amherst and his army passed through Wor- cester.
He was on his way to the westward with an army of 4,500, and was joined at Worcester by a company under Capt. Samuel Clark Paine.
Jeffrey Amherst was born at Kent, England, Jan. 29, 1717, and died Aug. 3, 1797. He was appointed to command the forces in America, and conducted the movements which led to the surrender of all the French possessions in the north. He received many honors, was made a . Baron, and became Field-Marshal.
632
1878. Mechanics Hall forcibly entered by Butler dele- gates to the Democratic Convention.
The Democratic State Central Committee having manifested the inten- tion of excluding from the Convention all in favor of the nomination of Gen. Butler, who comprised nine-tenths of the delegates, the Butler men took forcible possession of the hall about 3 A. M., by breaking the lock of a door. The "Silver-Tops" adjourned to Faneuil Hall.
633 1878. Dennis Kearney, of California, addressed a crowd at Salem square.
He visited Worcester again, Nov. 4.
September 18.
634
1857. Visit and parade of the Woonsocket Guards, and Mechanics Riflemen of Providence.
They were accompanied by Adjutant-General Samuel Cooper of the U. S. army. Gen. Cooper was born in New York in 1796; graduated at West Point; served in Florida and Mexican wars; and was appointed Adj .- Gen. in 1852. He resigned in 1861, and became Adj .- Gen. of the rebel army. He died Dec. 1876.
635 1872. Piedmont Church formed. .
J
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
III .
September 19.
636
1741. "Here lies Buried ye Body of William Jenison Esq". He was born at Watertown April ye 1 7th 1676, who decd Sepim ye 19th 1741, in ye 66th year of his age.
"He was one of ye Judges for ye Inferiour Court for ye County of Worcester.
"Was Selectman ten years between 1727 and 1741. Representative to the General Court, 1731-2. He gave the land upon which the first Court House was ordered to be built in 1732."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
637
1817. Long Pond Bridge sunk.
It suddenly gave way and disappeared, leaving but a few shapeless tim- bers. The bridge was constructed somewhat upon the principle of a wharf, and was intended to form a solid road. It was so far completed that carriages and wagons loaded had passed over it for several days. The disaster was caused by loading it with stones and gravel. Loss, $10,000. The water at this point is 65 feet deep.
638
1825. "In memory of JOHN W. HUBBARD, EsQ. Attorney at Law, who died Sept. 19, 1825, aged 32 years.
"John W. Hubbard was an adopted son of Rev. Dr. Samuel Austin, . . and nephew of Mrs. Austin. . . He was born at Brookfield, Vt .; graduated at Dartmouth College, 1814; and studied law with Gov. Van Ness of Burlington, Vt., and with S. M. Burnside, Esq. of Worcester. He delivered the 4th of July oration at Worcester in 1811. . . One of the founders of the Central Church. . . . He owned an estate on Main street, comprising several acres on each side of what is now Austin street."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
639
1838. Rev. Elam Smalley installed Pastor of the Union Church.
Before his settlement here, Mr. Smalley was nine years associate pas- tor with Rev. Dr. Emmons at Franklin. Dr. Smalley resigned his charge in Worcester in 1854, and was installed over a church at Troy, N. Y., where he died July 30, 1858. He was author of The Worcester Pulpit.
640 1840. Worcester County Horticultural Society formed.
5
I12
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
September 20.
641 1753. "In memory of Jonas Rice Esq, who died Sept" 20th 1753, in the 81st year of his age.
"He was the first settler in Worcester, & one of the Judges of the Inferior Court for Worcester."-Inscriptions from the Old Burial Grounds.
Jonas Rice came to Worcester from Marlborough in 1713, and for about a year was the only resident of the town. He was the first Schoolmaster (see ante, No. 196.); Selectman and Town Clerk for many years; Judge of the Inferior Court; and Deacon of the Church, 1748 to 1753.
642 1867. Death of Calvin Willard, aged 82.
Mr. Willard was Sheriff of the County from 1824 to 1844. He was a native of Harvard.
September 21.
643 1774. Convention of Committees of Correspondence of the County.
September 22.
644 1731. First Superior Court.
645 1863. Celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the erection of the Old South Meeting House.
An introductory address was made by Hon. Ira M. Barton; an histori- cal discourse was delivered by Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D .; and other interesting exercises followed.
September 23.
646 1746. "at a meeting of ye Qualified voters Regulerly as- sembled on Tuesday Sep' 23 : 1746. .
"This meeting by means of ye Govrners Sending for a Large number of men to oppose ye Suposed french Invasion was Brooke up."-Early Records.
647 1815. The Great Gale prevailed throughout New England.
II3
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS.
648 1881. Stephen S. Foster Memorial Meeting.
In Horticultural Hall. Rev. Samuel May presided, and addresses were made by Parker Pillsbury, Lucy Stone, Rev. H. T. Cheever and Wen- dell Phillips.
September 24.
649 1745. "voted that whoever Shall for the future during ye Space of three years . . . . in ye tims of ye . . Court . . in this Town presume to Run Races on horse back or pace their horses for Tryall in ye Country Road from ye house of mr. Joshua Eaton to ye house whear Richard wheelor Lives [the present Main street] Shall forfitt the Sum of Twenty Shillings Lawfull money to ye use of ye poare of this Town."-Early Records.
650
1851. Mademoiselle Teresa Parodi at Brinley Hall. Tickets $1. She gave another concert in the same hall the 9th of Oct. following; she also appeared in Worcester, Oct. 15, 1856.
September 25.
651 1727. "Voted that the Inhabitants of worcester Contribut once a month on ye Lords Day after Divine Service for the Suport of ye minister in Sd Town untill a Rate can properly be made according to Contract : Each parson to papre up his money & Subscrib his name on ye papre that So accompt may be taken of Each Parsons money and to be Elowed on his Rate when made."-Early Records.
652 1822. Oratorio by the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston.
In the Old South Church, on the evening of the Cattle Show, and in connection with it.
653 1868. Silas and Charles T. James executed for murder. See ante, No 117.
September 26.
654 1804. Worcester District Medical Society organized. This succeeded the Worcester Co. Society formed in 1794.
I14
THE WORCESTER BOOK.
655
1855. Baby Show at Flagg Hall.
It continued four days. Prizes to the amount of $400 were offered, but the managers absconded leaving these and numerous bills unpaid.
656 1881. Funeral Honors to President Garfield.
A meeting was held in Mechanics Hall at noon, and addresses were made by Senator Hoar, ex-Gov. Bullock, Hon. W. W. Rice and others.
September 27.
657 1803. New Court House opened.
658 1837. Gerritt Smith and the Grimke sisters addressed an anti-slavery meeting.
659
1848. First Mechanics' Fair.
In Nashua Hall, present location of the Dean building. This Fair closed October 3d. Others were held in 1849, 1851, 1857 and 1866.
660 1862. George Francis Train lectured in Mechanics Hall.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.