USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Holden > The history of Holden, Massachusetts. 1684-1894 > Part 4
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"To take in & spin Fillen @ /2 p skein for spinning 14 knots of Warp @ /4 for weaving Tow cloth yd wide @ /34 pr yd all · other widths & qualities in the same Proportion for Boarding Com- mon Men @ 4/8 pr week for Boarding common Weoman @ 2/ pr week
"Best white Pine Merchantable Boards at the Mill Inch thick @ 48/ pr M Good Merchantable White Pine Barn Board @ 24/ pr M Yellow Pine Merchantable floor Board @ 30/ pr M Common closing Board at 21/4 pr M Merchantable Shingle @ 12/ pr M Merchantable Clapbords @ 66/8 pr M Sawed Do @ 40/ pr M clean Flax seed @ 6/ pr B new Milk @ /2 pr quart Cyder @ the Mill @@4/ pr B other seasons of the year in the same Proportion Clover Seed @ /10 pr Lb Foxtail @ /8 pr quart white Clover @ 1/ pr Lb Hogs Fat @ /6 pr Lb Hops @ /8 pr Lb Carpenters Labour from the first of May to
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THE DAMON HISTORY.
the Last of Sepr @@ 3/4 pr Day the rest of the year in ye same Pro- portion Good Cyder Barrells with flat Hoops @ 3/4 pr Piece with round Hoops @ 3/ And all the rest of Coopers work in the same proportion Good white Oak staves @ 21/4 pr M-Sawing @ 10/ pr M other sawing in the same proportion-for Oxen in the best Feed through the Summer @ 2/4 pr week a Cow @ /9 1/2 pr week a sadle Horse @ 2/ other Horses in the same proportion pr week Sheep and Lambs @ /2.pr week for Parstun Brick @ 15/ pr M Tobacco @ /7 pr Lb Apples @ /8 pr B Glass of N. E. rum @ 2 Coppers p" Glass W India @@/2 per Glass Turnips @@ /8 pr B. Doctors Travel @ /6 pr Mile out Shop Joiner to have 3/ pr piece Common Coloured Chairs with Bottom the rest of their work in the same proportion Peas @@ 6/ pr B. Beans @ 6/ pr B
JOHN CHILD
JONA RICE
Selectmen
PAUL RAYMOND
MOSES SMITH
of Holden
JAMES DAVIS
DAVID FISK
NATHAN HARRINGTON
Committee
JOHN CHILD jr
JOHN ABBOTT
SAMEL HUBBARD
SAMEL THOMPSON
of
Holden
" Among papers belonging to the Rev. Mr. Avery, I have found a small memorandum book, which contains some entries of peculiar interest. The book bears date 1782. That was a period of great distress among the people. The war had been long. Money was scarce, and it was with some difficulty that Mr. Avery received his annual salary. His parishioners, how- ever, were disposed to share with their pastor the good things of life. 'Memorandum of gifts received.' ' Of Dea. Hubbard, a piece of beef ; a pail of soap ; a loaf of bread ; a few can- dles ; 2 quarts of milk ; a cheese and 4 lbs. of butter.' 'Of Mr. Abbott, a piece of beef and of pork; also a spare-rib ; 3 candles ; some malt and a piece of bread, also two wash tubs and 30 nails, and a few hops.' 'Of Lieut. Hubbard, a piece of beef, a cheese and some malt.' ' Of Mr. Eben' Estabrook, a leg of pork.' 'Of Dea. Fiske, a piece of beef, Jan'y 5th.' 'Of Capt. Samuel Hubbard, a leg of pork and a spare-rib, Jan'y
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
6th.' 'Of Mr. Howe, a piece of pork, Jan'y 6th.' ' Of Mr. Cheney, a cheese and some sausages.' ' Of Mr. Josiah Cheney, Jr., some beans.' ' Of Mr. Jona. Rice, a leg of pork.' ' Of Mr. Winch, a piece of fresh meat-lamb.' ' Of Capt. Davis, a cheese and some sauce.' 'Of Aaron Wheeler, a broom, soon after I came to my house.' ' Of Moses Smith, 2 doz. candles, some butter.' ' Of Mr. Dryden, 12 doz. pigeons.'
"The ladies of that day were equally thoughtful in regard to the wants of the Parish Priest. 'Of Mrs. Benj. Flagg, a cheese.' 'Of Mrs. Fisk, a lb. of. combed flax.' 'Of Mrs. Elisha Hubbard, some flax.' 'Of Mrs. Potter, some butter and a broom.' ' Of Mrs. Newton, a piece of veal and a calf's head.' 'Of Mrs. Holt, some cloth for a shirt.' ' Of Mrs. Mead, some butter, apples, potatoes.' ' Of Mrs. Heard, a loin of veal.'
"The most abundant evidence might be adduced, to show, that the people of Holden unitedly, cordially and manfully en- gaged with their fellow countrymen in the war of the revolu- tion. The trials, hardships, and dangers of eight summer and eight winter campaigns had not quenched the ardent love of liberty in the bosoms of colonists, who could say, ' We are two millions, one fifth fighting men. We are bold and vigorous, and we call no man master." It is not a point of uncertain conjecture, but of sober history that the principles of liberty set forth in the Declaration of Independence had previously been a subject of discussion in almost every village throughout the thirteen colonies. A rough block of granite may be squared and polished, but that block was granite before the stone hewer's tool and the burnisher's instrument prepared its surface. The fourteen resolutions passed by the citizens of Holden, and similar passed by other towns, contained the elements afterwards combined in that memorable document of State, in which the people of this land declared themselve-Independent, Free and Equal. Taking the proceedings and resolves of the inhabitants of this town as evidence of the actual state of
1 James, Otis.
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THE DAMON HISTORY ..
things among the colonists, no candid man can rise from their persual, without the impression upon his mind that each village must have had its Jefferson, Adams, Sherman, Franklin and Henry:
" The immediate and lasting effects of the revolutionary war upon the interests of this town, deserve a few passing remarks. The unwise policy of England was first felt along our sea-coast. (1.) Numerous families hitherto obtaining their livelihood from the seas, were driven to other pursuits. For this cause, not less than ten families removed from Harwich and vicinity (upon the Cape) to Holden. Such were the Rogers, settling two miles south. (2.) All lands belonging to persons support- ing the cause of the mother country, were confiscated. Many hundreds of acres within this township, were thus trans- ferred to the State. The history of one tract, containing about six hundred acres, deserves notice. This tract of wood- land belonged to William Brattle, Esq., of Cambridge. Under an Act of the Legislature, passed 1781, it was sold to pay State debts. Monsieur Pierre Matthieu Andre, captain of the ship Jonathan, belonging to Jean Francis Billou of Marseilles, in the south of France, purchased this tract of land, for £1,124, or about $6 per acre. The ship Jonathan having been condemned, as unseaworthy, was sold and a part of the avails was invested in the purchase of this land. For many years, it was under the care of Ebenezer Estabrook, senior, and subsequently under the care of his son. Sufficient wood was, from time to time, cut off to pay the taxes. After much negotiation, it was sold in the year 1826, for about $II per acre. The proceeds were transmitted to the heirs of the original owner in France; a sufficient amount having been deducted to defray expenses attending the sale. The origin of the name French land, will have been apparent.
" (3.) The war of the revolution had scarcely been brought to a happy termination, before internal disorders threatened the overthrow of the general government. The insurrection, known in history as the Shays' Rebellion, stands prominent upon the annals of our country. The spirit of disaffection
1151721
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
very sensibly disturbed the order and decorum, which almost uniformly has characterized our town. I would now refrain from an allusion to this subject, if our town records, and the voice of tradition were silent. Historical truth, however, often duly checks and properly tempers the glow of admiration which we sometimes feel when contemplating the patriotic exer- tions of our fathers. The financial interests of our country were most deplorable, immediately subsequent to the war. Money was scarce. The currency was in disorder. Public and private debts were great, and in some parts of the country the load was well nigh insupportable.1 To remedy a state of things so undesirable, some of our citizens resorted to the most unjustifiable measures. Their wrath broke forth upon the Courts of Justice. Capt. Wheeler of Hubbardston, the first week of September, 1786, heading a band of armed men, took possession of the Court House in Worcester. The standard of revolt being raised, drew some of our townsmen from the duties of quiet and peaceable citizens. The court adjourned until December following. The insurgents flushed with their partial success, returned home, to foment greater commotions. Other portions of the State caught the spirit of · discontent. As the time approached for session of the Court of Common Pleas in December the insurgents (or Regulators as they styled themselves) headed by Daniel Shays,? were gather- ing their forces in the vicinity of Worcester. The Court,, in the mean time, opened at the Sun Tavern, (United States Hotel) and adjourned until January 23d, without transacting farther business. December 6th, Shays entered Worcester mounted upon a white horse. About eight hundred troops formed his army. To compose this force numerous soldiers went from Holden. These incidents took place on Thursday. The next day was spent in consultation. A terrible storm of snow occured Saturday. Gloom and despondency pervaded the bosoms of Shays' soldiers. Such as went from Holden,
1 See Lincoln's History of Worcester, p. 115.
[2 For an account of Shays, see Lincoln's History of Worcester, pp. 369- 371.]
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THE DAMON HISTORY.
returned through the drifting snow to spend the Sabbath with their families. Shays conducted the remnant of his forces to Springfield, to interrupt the Court of Common Pleas, about to commence its session at that place.
" The Governor of Massachusetts called upon the militia of Boston and vicinity, to march under the command of Gen. Lincoln, and to force the insurgents to surrender. Success crowned the efforts of the constituted authorities. Peace was again restored to the country. I have freely spoken of the part taken by some of the citizens of Holden, because I became acquainted with many of the particulars from the lips of a Regulator. In perfect good humor, he gave me a list of such Regulators as went from Holden, not forgetting to enroll himself.
" Resolutions, disapproving the measures deemed justifiable by some of the inhabitants of Holden, were passed by a highly respectable body of men in town. Their names I feel myself honored to read.1 The document to which they were appended, is supposed to have been drafted by the Rev. Mr. Avery. These gentlemen caused their protest, with some accompany- ing documents to be published in the Worcester Magazine, for the third week of January, 1787.2
"If this were a proper occasion, many palliating considera- tions might be suggested, which would go far to remove the charge of treason from persons attempting, by military force to arrest the legal Court sessions at Worcester and other places.
"The first meeting-house exhibiting signs of decay, the question was discussed in Town Meeting, December 10th, 1787, 'Shall the old meeting-house be repaired, or a new
[] John Child, Richard Flagg, Samuel Heywood, Amos Heywood, Reuben Paddock, James Davis, Isaiah Brown, Thomas Knowles, John Abbott, Paul Goodale, Samuel Chickering, John Dods, GeorgeWebb, Jonas Hubbard, John Holden, Israel Davis, Jr., Edmund Hall, Asa Greenwood, James Dods, Joseph Hubbard, Joseph Hubbard, Jr., Tilly Hubbard, Samuel Hubbard, Elnathan Davis, Sam. Heywood, Jr., Samuel Damon, Benjamin Flagg, Lemuel Abbott, Aaron Newell, Abel Howe. ] They were read at the time.
[2 Damon History, pp. 81-91.]
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house built ?1 It was the opinion of the town to build a new house. A committee was appointed to draft a plan, and esti- mate the probable cost. The house was erected during the year 1789.2 Many of this audience remember to have wor- shipped in that house, which was re-built during the years 1827-8. An acre of land, in nearly the center of which this house stands, was given to the town of Holden for a public common, and for the accomodation of a public meeting-house, 1789, by Hon. John Hancock.3
" No sooner were the citizens of Holden permitted to worship in their new house, than a vigorous effort was made to erect good and convenient school houses in different parts of the town. In the year 1793, the sum of £400 was raised for this purpose.4 It is most interesting to trace in the history of Holden, or any other community, the progress of the gospel and the public instruction of the young. When one is neg-
1 Town Records, vol. 2.
2 May 10, 1790, the Town " Voted that the Committee Chosen to Provide Rum & sugar to Treat Spectators at the Raising of the Meeting house be appointed to settle with Capt Davis for the money he Laid out for sd Rum & sugar, and to take part of the above said fourteen pounds of Fine-money to settle it with."
After the house was completed, and the people had become located in their respective pews, it was provided that "the wives sit in the seats opposite to, and equal in rank with, their husbands." Also that the audience should not leave their seats, until the Pastor and Deacons had passed out.
3 .4 . For and [in] consideration of the sum of five shillings and of the love, good will & affection which I have and do bear to the Town of Holden in the County of Worcester, and from a respect to the publick wor- ship of God, do hereby give, grant and convey to the said Town of Holden one Acre of land in the centree of said Town of Holden for the Accommoda- tion of a publick Meeting House bounded as follows beginning at a heap of stones near the Spot appropriated for the foundation of the Meetinghouse thence running North-east twenty rods on land of the Revd Joseph Davis to a heap of stones thence turning at right angles and running North-west eight rods to a heap of stones & thence South-west twenty rods to a heap of stones on the publick Road & thence eight rods on said Road to the first mentioned bounds the aforesaid land to lay a Common forever." The Deed of Hon. John Hancock to the inhabitants of Holden. County Records.
4 Town Records, vol. 2.
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lected the other languishes. They appear mutually to affect each other.
" An unpleasant controversy relating to church music, dis- turbed the peace of the society in town, near the close of the eighteenth century. Some of the regular attendants upon public worship refused to occupy their seats in the meeting- house unless the psalms and hymns could be sung without the aid of the unconsecrated viol and the unhallowed pitch-pipe. The venerable pastor exerted most strenuously his peace-mak- ing talents. An uncommon share he was acknowledged to possess. A reconciliation between the parties was effected by the council and advice of so wise a mediator. After a few weeks· had elapsed, it was discovered to be more than a poetical truth, that
'Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast '.
" We are approaching the limit, where I proposed to close a connected narrative of the history of Holden. The, last event in the eighteenth century deserving of notice on the present occasion, is the just tribute of respect paid throughout the country to the lamented Washington. He died at Mount Vernon, December 14th, 1799. Congress recommended and set apart February 22d, 1800, as the day when the nation unitedly might render becoming public testimonials of their sorrow and grief for the illustrious DEAD.
"The citizens of Holden observed the day by engaging in appropriate exercises. The military parade was conducted by Capt. George Webb. A long procession passed between files of soldiers, whose inclining heads rested upon their 'arms reversed '. An eulogy was pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Avery. The singing is reported to have been excellent, and was conducted by Mr. Joseph Estabrook. The following lines, set to appropriate music, were sung :
" ' From Vernon's Mount, behold the Hero rise, Resplendent forms attend him through the skies ; The shades of War-worn Vet'rans round him throng, And lead enrapt their honored Chief along.
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A laurel wreath th' immortal Warren bears ; An arch triumphal Mercer's hand prepares ; Young Lawrence, erst avenging bolt of war, With port majestic guides the glittering car ; Montgomery's Godlike form directs the way, And Greene unfolds the gates of endless day, While angels, trumpet tongu'd, proclaim through air, Due honors for the first of men prepare.'
" If time could be spared in consistency with the other exercises of this anniversary, I would proceed to narrate his- torical events which have occurred during the past forty years. A history of the Baptist Church ; a continuation of the history of the Congregational Church ; an account of our public and private schools ; a history of voluntary and benevolent societies ; municipal affairs ; military movements ; masonry ; history of the post office department ; justices of the peace ; physicians ; college graduates ; missionaries ; and numerous other topics would demand our attention.1
" Some have died among this people, whose memories deserve a grateful recollection. I must ask of this audience the indulgence of a few moments while I speak of the Rev. Joseph Avery .? A century has passed since this town was organized, and during one-half this period this reverend gentleman sustained the office of Pastor to this people.
"The honored and beloved consort of the venerable parson still lives, being now in the eighty-seventh year of her age.3
" Having spoken thus of a man, who lived and labored so long and faithfully as a spiritual guide. I will make a few remarks upon the life and character of another individual 4
[] Many of these topics were treated in the Appendix to the History, when published. ]
[2 The sketch of Mr. Avery will be found among the Personal Notices, ]
[" Mrs. Avery died April, 1842.]
[4 The sketch of Dr. Isaac Chenery will be found among the Personal Notices. ]
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whose labors as a physician were uncommonly useful to the people of this and the neighboring towns, throughout a period of more than half a century.
" The length of time spent in presenting such facts as I have been able to gather, relating to the history of Holden, will prevent me from indulging in remarks naturally suggested by the exercises of this day.
" The citizens of Holden have received abundant blessings, which impressively call upon them on this occasion to be devoutly thankful to God. Honest, intelligent, industrious and religious ancestors are among the richest of Heaven's blessings to any people. Citizens of Holden : God has bestowed upon you that inestimable blessing. The wise man has well observed, 'The glory of children are their Fathers'. I have found to be beautifully expressed by another,1 my concluding remarks,
"""' Look not mournfully into the Past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the Present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy Future without fear, and with a manly heart'."
1 Professor Longfellow's Hyperion.
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CHAPTER III.
LATER HISTORY, 1800 TO 1841.
CHANGES IN TERRITORY. - TOWN HOUSE. - CARE OF POOR. - TOWN FUNDS. - MEETING - HOUSE. - REV. JOSEPH AVERY. - REV. HORATIO BARDWELL. - TOWN AND CHURCH. - MANUFACTURES. - FOURTH OF JULY, 1806. - POLITICS. - TEMPERANCE. - A MURDER. - A SLAVE GIRL.
RESUMABLY on account of the very freshness and familiarity of later events, Dr. Damon, it is to be regretted, closed his history with the eighteenth century. It is consequently unavoidable that much of what happened in this town early in this century, though doubtless worthy of remembrance, should now be permanently lost to record.
In the first half of this century, the Legislature several times set off small portions of the territory of Holden to neighboring towns. Thus a long strip on the east was bestowed on West Boylston. In 1796, the inhabitants of what is now West Boylston, unable to get incorporated as a town, became, for the sake of convenience of worship, the Second Precinct of Boylston, Shrewsbury and Holden. Janu- ary 30th, 1808, this division became permanent by the incor- poration of the town. To the dowry of her new neighbor Holden contributed a strip of land about five miles long, one hundred rods wide at the northern end and three hundred rods wide at the southern end. February 13th, 1804, six men1
1 John Davis, Ebenezer Boynton, Nathan Harrington, Samuel Harrington, Micah Harrington and Ephraim Harrington.
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LATER HISTORY.
with their polls and estates were set off to Paxton, and April 9th, 1838, part of the farm of Samuel D. Harrington, contain- ing about ten acres, was also set off to Paxton. On the other hand, March 19th, 1831, a tract of land belonging to Hezekiah Bent, amounting to one hundred and thirty-five rods, was set from Paxton to Holden. These changes from one town to an- other account for the present irregularity of the boundary, which was originally straight.
Not till 1836, well toward the close of its first century of corporate existence, did Holden have a Town House. Up to that time, town meetings were regularly held in the meeting- house of the Congregational Church, which was first built and later repaired at public expense, and consequently up to the separation of Church and State was properly controlled and used by the town. The first town meeting was called in the new Hall, November 14th, 1836, but the report of the Building Committee1 was not rendered till a year later. According to their report, the building was " built in a permanent & work- manlike manner on a strong substantial foundation and most of the [work ] and materials have been much to their satisfaction, is sixty feet long including the piaza and thirty eight feet wide". The building was erected under contract by Martin Harrington, and cost $3,869.58.
The care of paupers was long a problem. In 1794, it had been voted that the Selectmen provide a house for the town's poor, but at the same meeting it was afterward voted that the Selectmen should use their discretion in the matter, and no house seems to have been procured. In 1797, we find it voted " to Dispose of the towns poor to the lowest bidder voted also that the Selectmen appoint a time and put up an advertisement for a Vendue for that purpose". This method of arranging for their care, however repellent to the sentiment of to-day, was common at that time, and we may fairly presume that it con- tinued until the establishment of a town Poor Farm. After
1 The "Committee for Building Town House" were Samuel Damon, Daniel Knowlton, William Metcalf, George Flag and Charles Chaffin.
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repeated discussions, in 1830, the " James Davis " place was bought, and a house was soon after fitted up for the reception of the paupers, of whom, in 1837, there were no less than twenty. The cost of their support, as reported to the March meeting, 1838, was $557.39.
A blank space on a page of the third volume of town records bears the following entry, "On the first Day of January 1807 The Town of Holden Had on Interest $4115.95 Cents". As in 1809 the interest on the School funds alone was $246.95, it would seem that the above mentioned sum arose from the sale of the lands appropriated to school purposes, and that the town also held in trust and had on interest, arising from the sale of the Ministerial lands, a sum yielding the yearly interest of $94.72. March 4th, 1815, the record reads, "The Town has on Interest $4692:98. Ministeral money on Interest $1578:70 cts." In 1837 it was " Voted to authorize the Town Treasurer to receive this Towns proportion of the Surplus Revenue " and "that the same go to pay the Debts of the Town". From later reports it appears that $3,644.20 was thus received and used. Committees had more than once been appointed to in- vestigate the sources from which the funds of the town had been derived, and to ascertain what part of them might be ap- plied to the current expenses of the town, and, although no record of their findings appears, it is plain that some portion of the funds had been applied to the payment of current ex- penses or of debts, as in 1841 only the sum of $202 is entered as interest on town fund. Although the town has now no lon- ger the fund at interest, but has used up the principal, yet this same sum of $202 is still every year scrupulously appropriated for school purposes, in accordance with the intent for which the lands were originally set apart by the proprietors. In the same year (1841) an unconditional bequest of $300 was received by the town from the estate of Ethan Davis.
It still belonged to the town to repair their meeting-house, but so wisely was the matter managed that the funds of the town were not thereby seriously impaired. In 1820 "The Town Voted $100 to purchase two Stoves and Funnels to be
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LATER HISTORY.
placed in the meeting House. Voted that the Selectmen be a Committee to purchase the Stoves and Funnels and place the same where they think proper on the Towns property by the first of November next." That this was done is shown by the entry in the report of the Treasurer, presented March 5th, 1821, " Expense of Stoves and Funnels and puting up, $ 125.50". September 3d, 1827, it was "Voted that the town take Five Hundred and ninety Dollars that the six Front pew grounds sold for and appropriate the same to help pay the expense of the new alteration " and "to raise the sum of Five Hundred Dollars to defray the expenses of the addition and alteration of the Meetinghouse". In the following year (1828) the house was removed to the site which it now occupies, enlarged and remodeled. "It originally stood about midway from its present site to the highway in front. It was moved back, the roof turned a quarter round, a vestibule and dome added, and the inside made entirely new, to correspond with the prevailing mode of construction at that day."' The work of rebuilding was done under contract by Col. Daniel Harrington. At a cost of $550 (estimated) the bell was purchased, and for many years was rung at twelve o'clock, noon, and at nine in the eve- ning. All the pews were appraised, purchased, put into a common stock, and sold again at auction. From the final re- port of the Building Committee,2 April 27th, 1829, it appeared that the old pews were bought in for $3,749 and that $5,274. 30 had been spent in repairs and improvements, that the pews had been resold for $9,792, and that the net result was that (with eight pews still unsold) the sum of $691.18 remained to be dis- posed of by the Society for their use.
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