USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Holden > The history of Holden, Massachusetts. 1684-1894 > Part 5
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The official relations of the pastors of the Congregational Church were matters of town business until the coming of Dr. Paine in 1833. From December 21st, 1774, till the first Sun-
1 A Sermon, preached to the Congregational Church and Society in Holden, October 25th, 1863; the Sunday following the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Settlement of their Pastor, Rev. Wm. P. Paine, D.D., p. 12.
2 The Committee were Samuel Damon, Ethan Davis, David Davis, and Silas Flagg.
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day in May, 1822, Rev. Joseph Avery was pastor of the town. November 12th, 1821, it was " Voted to choose a Committee to converse with the Rev. Joseph Avery relative to his being Dismist from his Ministeral services and the Selectmen and Assessors were chosen for that purpose." It is plain that the suggestion did not meet with his favor, for after repeated ad- journments the meeting was obliged to dissolve without action. The matter once broached, it was not, however, to be allowed to rest. A special town meeting was at once called on this busi- ness alone. Another committee was chosen "for the purpose of conversing with the Rev. Joseph Avery Relative to the terms on which he will Relinquish his Ministerial Office or the Superintendency of the Church in the Town and he remain their old Pastor only or agree with him upon a sum by the year or a sum to settle with him in full or any thing or things Rela- tive to his connection with the Town." Agreement, however, was impossible. The town voted " to settle a Colleague with the Rev. Joseph Avery on any conditions," and finally after repeated adjournments, the meeting dissolved. The matter was at last referred to a mutual Council, which convened March 27th, 1822, and decided that it was expedient, "the Rev. Joseph Avery should relinquish all the official services of the Ministry in this Town, but that he should retain his Pastoral and ministerial office, during his natural life," and further that it was "just and equitable, that the Congregational Society of Holden should annually pay Rev. Mr Avery during his natural life, one Hundred and forty-five Dollars," in lieu of the three hundred dollars (latterly three hundred and fifty dollars) which he had been receiving. This decision was acceded to by both parties.
Invitations to settlement here were then vainly extended to several ministers, a Colleague Pastor not being found for nearly eighteen months. September 29th, 1823, the town united with the Church in a successful call to the Rev. Horatio Bardwell, who was installed October 23d, 1823. He remained here nearly eight years. February 20th, 1832, the civil contract existing between him and the Society was dissolved at
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his own request, although it was left for the Council which installed Dr. Paine, his successor, nearly two years later, to loose the ecclesiastical tie.
At about the time of Mr. Bardwell's coming, the financial affairs of the Congregational Church ceased to be managed by the town as a whole. The warning of the town meeting of November 12th, 1821, which first raised the question of the dismission of Mr. Avery, ran in the ordinary form to "all the Inhabitants in Holden Qualified to vote in Town affairs." The cost of supplying the pulpit from May, 1822, to October, 1823, was defrayed from the town treasury, as were even the expenses of entertaining the Council. It was also long customary to vote an annual appropriation for a singing school to be under the care of the Congregational Church, as also, in 1816, the sum of twenty-five dollars was voted " to Purchase an Instrument or Instruments to assist the Vocal musick in this Town." After 1822, however, business relating to the church was transacted only at special meetings, to which were sum- moned "all the Inhabitants in said Town qualified to act on the following articles." The records of these meetings were, however, entered on the town books, as part of the records of the town, the town clerk being thereby clerk of the Society, and the town treasurer, ex officio, Society treasurer. This arrangement lasted till after Mr. Bardwell left. A committee was then chosen " to secure some person as Preacher," and with the record of this action the participation of the town in matters ecclesiastical forever ceased.
Manufacturing seems to have begun in this town in 1809, when Messrs. Eleazar Rider and Sons began spinning yarn at Unionville. Weaving by power loom was begun by Mr. John Lees in the same factory in 1822. Manufacturing rapidly increased so that in 1831 there were in Holden five cotton mills, two woolen mills, two tanneries, ten saw-mills and three grist-mills. The woolen mills had in 1837 an output of ninety- two thousand yards, and four of the cotton mills, in 1840, of one million, fifty thousand yards. The fifth cotton mill employed eleven hands in the manufacture of cotton batting
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and wicking. In 1837, boots and shoes were manufactured to the value of $20,500.
Among other interesting and valuable documents preserved by Dr. Damon is " An Oration, delivered at Holden, July 4th, 1806, By Joseph Avery". This is at once the only printed production of this venerated pastor and the only record of such early celebrations of Independence Day in this town. The customary toasts, eighteen in number, were subjoined " by desire." Some of them interestingly illustrate the sentiment of the times, as for example, "The United States .- May their union be complete ; and may they never want wise and good men to guide their public affairs". " The American Navy .- May its flag become respected by all nations," and the one volunteer toast, "The Fair Sex .- May they ever meet with that attention, friendship and fidelity, to which their eminent rank, and high importance in life so justly entitle them".
Politically, Holden was strongly Federalist. In 1803 one hundred and thirty-one votes were cast for Strong to one for Gerry. Like their neighbors, the citizens of this town were strenuously opposed to the Embargo. August 22d, 1808, the Rev. Joseph Avery, William Drury, Esq. and Lemuel Davis, Esq. were chosen a committee "to Draught a Petition to the President of the United States for a Suspension of the Embargo in whole or in part," and " the Town voted to accept of the Draught the Committee had made with only one Disenting Vote". (It is a pity that tradition has not preserved the name of this man with a mind of his own against all his townsmen.) "The Town then Voted that the Selectmen of the Town of Holden Forward sd Petition to the President of the United States of America." The next year a similar petition was sent to the Legislature.
Later the burning questions were rather social, though not without political relations and consequences. About the year 1830, the matter of temperance began to excite great interest. The constitution of the first Temperance Society formed in this town, was adopted September 15th, 1829. This pledged
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only to abstinence from the use of distilled spirits. In 1841 a " Washington Total Abstinence Society" was formed. The records of the churches at that time contain frequent referen- ces to attempts to restrain or reclaim drunkards. In 1835 the town voted (one hundred and fifteen to forty-five) that the Selectmen be instructed to withhold their approbation from any person as an innholder to sell ardent spirits. In every way, during the decade from 1830 to 1840, temperance was an exciting and divisive topic.
Public opinion in this town was doubtless greatly affected by the murder of Philip Edwards by John L. Davis, August 15th, 1838, perpetrated while the latter was under the influence of alcoholic insanity. Davis, a man who was in the habit of using liquor to such an extent that he had previously shown symptoms of similar derangement, had within the week before the tragedy drunk about two gallons of rum. Utterly frenzied, he spent the night of the 14th of August wandering about his house and yard, shrieking "Murder !" and whetting a knife and axe. In the early morning, seeing Edwards, a neighbor, a poor man, but industrious, worthy and respected, passing to his work, he rushed out, and in spite of his pitiful entreaties, felled him to the ground with repeated blows, so fracturing the skull that he died almost immediately. Davis was at once arrested. The Grand Jury, however, failed to find an indict- ment against him on account of his evident irresponsibility. The Court then committed him to an Insane Asylum, where he remained until the physicians pronounced him cured.
With the evil of slavery, Holden had a less tragic connection. In the spring of 1838, Mrs. Olivia Eames, returning from New Orleans, brought with her as nurse to her children a young black girl, Anne. After a time she began negotiations with reference to selling her into slavery again. This becoming known, a writ of personal replevin was issued, the girl was removed from the custody of her mistress after long and violent resistance to the process of law on the part of the latter, and bonds were given by friends for the appearance of the girl in court at the trial of the case. At the December
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term of court, 1838, judgment was, by agreement, taken against the defendant, Mrs. Eames, in the sum of one dollar and costs, and thus the freedom of the girl was judicially and finally established. Meantime four citizens of Holden, Samuel Strat- ton, Samuel Foster, Farnum White, Jr. and James Cheney were indicted for conspiracy to remove Anne from the volun- tary service of Mrs. Eames, and for the accomplishment of that purpose making use of the process of law commonly called writ of personal replevin. Learning the fact of their indict- ment, they voluntarily gave themselves up. Their trial was held January 29th and 30th, 1839. It was clearly shown that the girl was under such constraint that she dared not make her fears and wishes known publicly, but that she had privately communicated to those in whom she had confidence her desire to become free. In view of this testimony the prosecuting attorney declared that the defendants were entitled to a ver- dict in their favor, which the jury promptly rendered.
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CHAPTER IV.
THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
THE DAY. - PRELIMINARY ARRANGEMENTS. - INVITATION. - THE PROGRAM. - THE TOASTS. - ADDRESSES BY MESSRS. HAVEN AND DAVIS. - PUBLICATION OF THE HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
HE Centennial Anniversary of the municipal organi- zation of the Town of Holden was celebrated May 4th, 1841. According to old records and diaries, May, 1741, " was like a summer month," and "on the day of the old style then, which corresponded with the fourth of May now, trees were budding, flowers were spring- ing, and windows were thrown open to admit the warm
sun ".1 But no such delightful warmth and verdure glad- dened the Centennial of Holden. The fourth day of May, 184I, was remarkable, even in the climate of New England, for its chilliness. The snow, which had fallen to an unusual depth the preceding week, still lay upon the ground. At sunrise, in Worcester, the thermometer marked 33°, and all day long, though the sun shone out clear and bright, the north- west wind was chilled with the breath of winter.
The celebration was under the direction of the follow- ing committee, which was chosen at a meeting of citizens held at the Town Hall on the evening of November 30th, 1840, viz. : Samuel Damon, Charles Chaffin, Paul Davis,
1 William Lincoln, Esq., in National ÆEgis, Worcester, May 19, 1841 ; reprinted in the Damon History, p. 5.
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William Metcalf, Jonathan Rice, Silas M. Hubbard, Lemuel Fiske, Silas Flagg, Jason Mann, Samuel Foster, John Davis, James Winch and Judah Wright. Rev. William P. Paine was first invited to deliver the address on the occasion, but he having declined on account of his arduous duties as a pastor, Mr. Samuel C. Damon, at that time a student in the Andover Theological Seminary, received and accepted the invitation of the committee to give the address.
The following invitation was issued April 28th, 1841 :
"CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
" THE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY of the municipal organiza- tion of Holden, will be celebrated by the citizens of said town, on Tuesday, the fourth day of May next.
An Address will be delivered at II o'clock, A. M., by Mr. S. C. Damon.
Citizens of other towns, and especially such as have formerly been inhabitants of Holden, are invited to be present, and par- ticipate in the exercises of the occasion.
A Dinner will be provided at the Town Hall, by S. Davis.
BY ORDER OF THE COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS."
At eleven o'clock in the forenoon, a procession was formed at the house of Col. Samuel Damon, under the direction of the following Marshals : Chenery Abbott, Le Baron Putnam, Joab S. Holt, Charles L. Knowlton, Ethan Davis, Nathan Howe, William Howe, Sparrow Crosby and James S. Moore. Led by the Paxton Band, the procession moved to the meet- ing-house, which was crowded on the occasion.
After music by the band, the following hymn was sung, composed by Mr. Judah Wright, a citizen of Holden, nearly seventy years of age, and blind from his infancy.
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" Let us our grateful voices raise, To celebrate Jehovah's praise,- Our fathers trusted in his care, And we his richest blessings share.
When we a hundred years review, We see the efforts of a few Increasing, till a rising Town Does their judicious labors crown.
Dark forests from the view recede, And herds and flocks in safety feed,
And plenty crowns a cheerful home, Where prowling wolves were wont to roam.
The active, hardy, wise and brave Have reached their common home - the grave ;
And beauty, once the source of pride,
Has long since mouldered by their side.
The ravages which time hath made, Teach us that all on earth must fade ;
Then let our best affections rise To solid joys beyond the skies.
Though nothing here can long endure, The throne Eternal stands secure, And there we may repose our trust, Nor dread the summons, 'dust to dust'."
Prayer was then offered by Rev. Horatio Bardwell, a former pastor in Holden, and at that time pastor at Oxford. An anthem, "Oh ! Praise ye the Lord," by Haydn, was then sung by the choir. The Address by Mr. Damon has already been reprinted in this history. After the Address the following hymn, prepared for the occasion by J. H. Bancroft,1 was sung.
1 Jacob Henry Bancroft was the son of Jacob Bancroft, Esq., of Boston. He was graduated from Amherst College in 1839, being a classmate of R. S. Storrs, D. D., of Brooklyn, and of W. D. Huntington, Bishop of the Protes- tant Episcopal Diocese of Central New York, who paid to him a very tender tribute in Dr. Sprague's "Annals of the American Pulpit," vol. 2, p. 760. He was a fellow student of Dr. Damon at the Andover Theological Seminary,
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" One hundred years have rolled away, Unrealized, unseen, unfelt, Since first before thine altars here, O God ! our holy fathers knelt.
They lie beneath those swelling mounds, Those ancient graves that once were green ; No granite block, no marble pile Above their resting-place is seen.
Yet here they live,-the thoughts of God That in their children's bosoms thrill, Each holy prayer, each stirring hope, -- All these are their memorials still.
First in their noble thoughts and plans, The love and worship, Lord, of Thee ; Then, the strong training of their youth, The love of Man and Liberty.
And when, above our old grey hills, They heard the battle thunders roll, They looked on those brave men who died, With a stern sympathy of soul.
And here we meet - remembering those Who laid these first foundations well, That, o'er their honored dust, one strain Of triumph and of love may swell.
And we, like them, shall pass away, Our thoughts and wishes, hopes and fears, Lie buried in our scattered graves, Within another hundred years."
And now we bend before Thee here, Stand on the ground our fathers trod ; Be Thou our strength, our life, our light, Our own, as once our fathers' God."
at whose request he wrote this hymn, accompanying it with the express in- junction that his name should not be made known, to which Mr. Damon con- formed till 1875, when the story of the hymn was written. Mr. Bancroft died in 1844.
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"This hymn was read and sung after the ancient fashion, which was called 'deaconing.' The venerable Deacon Rice, having consented to take part in the services of the church, standing in his place at the communion table, read, line by line .. The scene when the whole of that vast con- gregation rose and joined with the choir in solemn melody after the manner of 'they of a hundred years ago', was deeply impressive." 1
Prayer was offered by Rev. John Keep 2 of Pelham, N. H .; the anthem, "Thy Love will build up Zion," was rendered, and the exercises at the church closed with the benediction, pronounced by Rev. William P. Paine.
The procession then reformed, and about one hundred and eighty gentlemen and one hundred and forty ladies were con- ducted by the same marshals to the Town Hall, where dinner was served. The blessing was asked at the table by Rev. Mr. Bardwell, and thanks were later returned by Rev. Andrew Pollard.
Col. Samuel Damon presided at the tables, and announced the following toasts :
I. " The Day we Celebrate,- Abounding in interesting asso- ciations and hallowed reflections, and sacred to the memory of those who acted here an hundred years ago."
2. " The flourishing Town of which this was originally a part .- She did not cast us off, nor did we rebel-but ' the Heart of the Commonwealth ' was too large for the body."
William Lincoln, Esq., of Worcester, responded, and at the close of his remarks gave the following :
" Holden and Worcester .- United in past time within the same territorial boundaries, may they hereafter be more closely connected by the ties of friendship."
3. " Hon. Samuel Holden and Gov. Hancock, Benefactors of the Town .- To the munificence of the one we are in-
1 Mr. Lincoln's Report. The Damon History, p. 9.
2 Mr. Keep married Relief, daughter of Ethan Davis.
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debted for a valuable Library, and to the other for our beautiful Common."
Samuel F. Haven, Esq,, Librarian of the American Anti- quarian Society, said in response, among other things :
"The present occasion is not one of merely local interest. The reminiscences of events that happened in this neighborhood, anec- dotes of men who have lived here, the record of manners and habits, all constitute a tributary stream to the general current of our coun- try's history. All history should be, and American history in par- ticular must be, the history of the people, -not an account of the proceedings of a court, or the operations of any govern- ment only, but of what the people have been doing in villages and communities and families. These things lie at the foundation of national character and sentiment, and consequently of national events. How would it be possible, for instance, for us to under- stand the philosophy of our Revolution, and appreciate the spirit that originated and sustained it, without going into the villages and upon the farms and into the dwellings, by the aid of local traditions and histories, and seeing what manner of men were there-how they- lived, and what they felt, and thought, and did? We are carried by this means behind the scenes, or rather into the scenes, of private history, and shown what are really the secret springs of public history. Those matters which possess a natural interest to a particular neighborhood from association with familiar names and places, should be of interest to every one, who seeks, in the experience of the past, for that wisdom which may be derived from a knowledge of what those who lived before us have done or suffered - wherein they have erred and in what respects they have judged rightly."
4. "The Governor of the Commonwealth,-A worthy and honored descendant of the moderator of our first town meeting, which we are celebrating." 1
5. " The Patriotic and Pious Resolutions of our Fore- fathers, - Whose first vote after their municipal organization, was ' to have the gospel preached', and the next 'to have a reading and writing school kept '."
1 See Genealogical Table of the Davis Family; p. 60.
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This sentiment was appropriately answered by Rev. Mr. Paine, but a record of his remarks has not been preserved.
6. " Honor to the Memory of our Mothers, who Presided over the Distaff and the Loom .- May their refined and beau- tiful daughters be as much distinguished for their industry, energy and virtue."
In acknowledgment of this sentiment, the ladies sent to the chair the following :
" The Gallant Sons of our Venerable Fathers .- The Daugh- ters still acknowledge their authority and respect their dignity, while they continue to protect and honor them."
7. "The Distinguished Historian of Worcester,-By whose assiduous labors among musty rolls, the early annals of our town have been put in an enduring form."
This sentiment evoked a very happy response from Mr. Lincoln.
The President then offered as the last regular Toast :
8. " The Patriots of the Revolution, of whom this Town furnished its full quota .- Let the memory of the departed be cherished, and the living be crowned with honor."
Isaac Davis, Esq., of Worcester, was called upon to reply, and spoke nearly as follows :
" Mr. President : One hundred and twenty years ago there was seen a man, with a plough on his shoulder, passing very near the spot where we are now assembled. This individual pursued his course a few miles west of us, where he thrust the plough into the virgin soil, cast in the seed and reaped the fruit of his labors. That man was the father of the first minister of Holden, and filled various offices of trust in the first municipal elections. I refer to Lieut. Simon Davis, whose remains are entombed in yonder church-yard. He was my great-great grandfather.1 About 12 years ago on a 'raw and gusty day' in the month of March, there was seen a young man resembling myself, riding with a young lady whom he had taken
1 See Genealogical Table of the Davis Family, p. 60.
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HISTORY OF HOLDEN.
'for better and for worse,' over nearly the same ground that the sturdy pioneer of the forest passed. Her ancestors lay in yonder graveyard. These, Mr. President, are some of the relations I bear to those who have lived in the first century of Holden. With these connections I do not feel that I am 'an alien and a stranger' here. Never-no, never have I looked on a New England audience with more intense interest than on the present occasion. A few days since I was traveling in Old England-looking at her soil, her cli- mate, her institutions, and the state and condition of her people, and be assured, Sir, I came home with renewed love for our own happy homes, our own glorious institutions. We do not know, nor can we we know, how much the masses there suffer, unless we personally witness their degradation. What we call poverty is there considered a comfortable condition. To see the citizens of one of the thrice happy towns of New England assembled for the purpose of celebra- ting an anniversary like the present, is, to my mind, a noble specta- cle. It leads me to the contemplation of the social, civil and religious privileges we are now enjoying. Never have I so fully realized the inestimable value of these privileges. Never shall I again wonder and be surprised that our fathers left their native land, crossed the broad Atlantic at an inclement season of the year, and breasted the dangers incident to this western wilderness. They came to establish the institutions which we are now enjoying. Without troubling you with further remarks, Mr. President, allow me to offer a sentiment ;
Our Social, Civil and Religious Institutions .- They cost great toil-great suffering-much treasure-much blood : but not half as much as they are worth."
A soldier of the Revolution who was present, Mr. William Drury, replied to this sentiment with some appropriate remarks.
Col. James Estabrook, of Worcester, a native of Holden, also offered the following :
"The Early Settlers of Holden .- Distinguished for their love of order, peace and sobriety-piously devoted to the cause of civil and religious liberty. May we, their descendants, cherish their virtues, and not prove recreant sons by neglecting to do all in our
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power to transmit them unimpaired to those who shall come after us."
The following note was the same day addressed to the orator of the day, Mr. Samuel C. Damon :
"Dear Sir : The subscribers, Committee of Arrangements, were appointed, before the Anniversary Exercises closed, to return the thanks of the audience to you, for your able address, and request a copy for the press."
In accordance with this request, Mr. Damon published the address, together with notes and supplementary matter, extend- ing it to a volume of one hundred and fifty-five pages, with the title, "THE HISTORY OF HOLDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, 1667- 1841."
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