USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Warwick > Warwick, Massachusetts; biography of a town, 1763-1963 > Part 11
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He made frequent trips to Boston to purchase merchandise for his store. In those days this was a two day journey each way, usually stopping over for the night in Lancaster.
In 1808 a divisional muster of all the militia regiments in the western part of the state was held in Hadley. The town voted that each officer and man from Warwick who participated should be paid one dollar. Cobb attended and wrote a long and graphic account of the occasion which consisted of a review and a sham battle. Two brigades, each composed of five regiments of foot, one regiment of artillery and one of cavalry, participated. The affair went off in a "most beautiful and warlike manner."
Only the records of the South Militia Company from 1808 to 1831 have been preserved and they give just a glimpse of militia life of the period. Apparently each company consisted of from 50 to 60 men who assembled from two to three times a year for drill and inspection. In the fall of each year a regimental review would be held in some town. The knapsacks would receive a fresh coat of paint, the uniforms be overhauled and the muskets cleaned and polished. Each company would strive to make the best impression on the public who would set out early in the morning for the muster field. After the review was over an ample supply of "firewater" was available and the day would usually close with an athletic contest to see who could outrun, outjump and outwrestle his opponents.
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Rivalry was keen between the north and south companies, and Cobb often describes the annual squirrel hunt between teams picked from the two companies. Twelve men from each would spend the day hunting squirrels. At the end of the day the game killed would be exhibited and the winner would be declared. Apparently strict adherence to the rules was not always observed because Cobb, on September 27, 1826, tells that much dissatis- faction was expressed because there was reason to believe that Joel Jennings and John Watts did not kill all the game they exhibited. Fortunately war was not declared between the north and south companies and the killing was confined to the squirrels.
Doubtless these militia activities were stimulated by the war then in progress between England and France. Both nations were attempting to prevent trade between the United States and their enemy. Each was guilty of interfering with American ship- ping but public sympathy was in favor of France, and her actions were belittled while those of England were exaggerated. In December, 1807, President Jefferson proclaimed an embargo for- bidding all foreign trade in the belief that this would cause the belligerents to cease their interference.
This action raised a storm of protest among the New England states because it was ruinous to their commercial enterprises. Warwick joined with Boston in voting to send a resolution to President Jefferson asking for the repeal of the embargo. Caleb Mayo, Josiah Pomeroy, Josiah Proctor, Justus Russell and Jona- than Blake, Jr., presented the resolution which was adopted unanimously, and the selectmen were instructed to sign it and send it to the President.
No further reference to national affairs appears in the town records until the War of 1812. Cobb's diaries, too, are missing for the years 1809, 1810 and 1811. But from January, 1812, he continually describes events as they came to his ears and records his and the town's reactions.
Histories tell us, and Cobb confirms it, that the war with Eng- land was unpopular with the majority of the people in New England. On Jan. 27, 1812, he writes: "A majority of the mem- bers of Congress favor War with Great Britain. They consider
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that Great Britain has and still continues to trample on our rights as a Neutral Nation which ought to be resisted without deliberation or calculation of expense. The minority think War a hasty step and that all its attendant evils ought to be contem- plated."
April 3, 1812, Cobb writes: "The Washington Benevolent Society held a meeting in Warwick and received twenty-five new members. Societies under this institution are rapidly forming in New Hampshire and Vermont. They are strenuously opposed by the leading Republicans as a political measure." The societies were principally made up of the Federalists and without question opposed the war and harassed the federal government with peti- tions complaining against this, to them, unnecessary step and the hardships suffered by the people of Massachusetts.
Governor Strong refused to order the state militia to join with the federal troops in the invasion of Canada, and as a result all federal soldiers were withdrawn from seaport garrisons. The militia was only used to protect the state. (Barry, History of Mass., Vol III)
On June 18 the news that war had been declared reached Warwick. A town meeting was called for on June 30 to "take into consideration the alarming condition of our Country in con- sequence of the Declaration of War." It was voted to send Caleb Mayo, Esq., to a convention at Northampton July 14 "to deliberate on the perilous condition of our country and to further act as the crisis may demand." (Barry, History of Mass. Vol. II, p. 175) A report of the convention was made at the following town meeting but no further action was taken by the town. Nevertheless after the declaration of war, seven men were detached from each of the north and south militia companies to stand ready to march at a moment's notice.
In the national election of 1812 Warwick cast 111 votes for DeWitt Clinton, the Federalist candidate for president, and 49 for Madison. Vermont was the only New England state to vote for Madison and the Republican party.
A constant concern over the defenceless position of the ports along the New England coast disturbed the people throughout
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the war. Militia detachments were called for to be stationed in these ports to repel any invasion from English warships. When, in September, 1814, a British fleet of 30 ships appeared at Cas- tine, Maine and attacked the town, Governor Strong called for militia for the defense of Boston. Each of the two Warwick com- panies were called upon to detach 14 men to assemble in New Salem on September 12. The records of the south company com- manded by Captain William Burnet list the following as detached: Ebenezer Stearns (ensign), Ebenezer Barber (sarg.), Ephraim Tuel, Manning Wheelock, Jonas Leonard, Willard Packard, Dexter Fisk, David Gale, Jr., Stephen Ball, William Boule, Abijah Eddy, Jonas Conant, Samuel Abbot, Peter War- wick, Daniel Smith and Artemas Baker (privates). The records of the north company are not available but Blake's history men- tions Abner Goodale (ensign), Nathan Atwood, Stephen Wil- liams, Joseph Williams, Joseph Williams, Jr., James Ball, Jr., Samuel Ball 2nd, Ezra Ripley, Eli Stockwell and - Maxwell, Stephen Gale, Benoni Ballou, George Joseph, Joseph Joseph and James Fuller. These men served about two months.
A number of men enlisted in the army among whom were John Ager, George Stockwell, Henry Whipple, - Parmenter (privates) ; Benjamin Eddy (drum major) and Obadiah Bass (musician). These men marched to Niagara Falls July 14, 1814 and took part in the Battle of Lundy's Lane July 25. (Dr. Gard- ner Hill, Address)
On February 14, 1815, Cobb relates that news of peace with Great Britain arrived in Warwick and "caused great joy."
On July 1, 1812, the Rev. Samuel Reed died after a ministry of 33 years that had been marked by faithful and devoted service to his parish. As a mark of final respect the town arranged an impressive funeral. Sixteen ministers from surrounding towns participated and Cobb tells us 430 persons formed the funeral procession. Later the town voted $200 to defray the funeral expenses and provide pulpit supplies for the remainder of the year. Reverend Reed owned the home built by his predecessor, Lemuel Hedge, and the house continued in the possession of his descendants until 1925.
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In June, 1814 the town voted to extend a call to the Reverend Preserved Smith and granted him a salary of $500. He was ordained as pastor of the First Congregational Church and Society on October 12. Thus began a long pastorate that was to last for 30 years. Reverend Smith took a prominent part in school affairs, serving on the superintendent or visiting school committee, and also took a leading role in several social organiza- tions. After the death of his wife he married Tryphena Golds- bury in 1823; she died twelve years later.
His home was first located on the old Fifth Massachusetts Turnpike Road on the section that lay between Gale Road and the south end of the town common. When this road was aban- doned in 1827 he had his house moved to its present location on the Athol road. In 1934 it was converted into the Metcalf Me- morial Chapel by the Trinitarian Congregational Society.
Shortly after he was installed as pastor he turned toward the Unitarian doctrine then rapidly spreading throughout New Eng- land. He was successful in converting the majority of his congregation, but the minority withdrew and organized the Trinitarian Congregational Church in 1829.
In the northern end of the oldest section of Warwick cemetery there stands a stone that not only marks a grave but is also a monument to an industry that began with the wildest of hopes and died with the deepest despair. One reads the inscription and learns that here lies "Abel Minard (glass blower) who died Oct. 31, 1814, age 31 years. Erected by his brother workmen." The monument is one of the few remaining mementos of the Franklin Glass Company described by Jonathan Blake in his history as "that presumptuous adventure." Its failure was to be ruinous to many worthy citizens.
The story begins with the coming to Warwick of Doctor Ebene- zer Hall in 1805. His early history is unknown but he must have had some medical training because the title of doctor was attach- ed to him from the start. Warwick was already served by three doctors, Benjamin Hazeltine. and Doctors Metcalf and Prentice, and perhaps this competition caused Hall to accept the position as teacher of the winter term of school on Flower Hill. William
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(top) Howard house, Bootshop and Inn about 1885 (bottom) Town Hall and Warwick Inn, from the same spot in 1962
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(top) Fay's Tavern (the "Beehive") in 1890 (bottom) A view in the Center, about 1920
Cobb speaks of his excellent ability as a teacher. March 10, 1806, we find in the diary, "Doctor Hall came to my house wishing to be boarded with the intention to tarry and practice physick."
It is apparent that he was a personable young man with a superior education and the ability to impress the townspeople favorably. He won the hand of the daughter of Jacob Rich, a prominent citizen and considered the most affluent. Hall was elected to the office of town clerk from 1808 to 1811.
About 1810 Hall, who had some knowledge of the manufac- ture of glass, conceived the idea that Warwick would be an ideal place for such an enterprise. Window glass was still an expensive item and with no nearby competition a ready market was at hand. So with a persuasive tongue he influenced many of the town's most prosperous men to organize the Franklin Glass Com- pany in 1812.
An enterprise of this magnitude required the construction of several buildings. Land on both sides of the Orange road at the foot of Cemetery Hill was bought. The building housing the melting furnaces was built on the east side of the road, where the Dresser residence now stands and on the former site of the Trinitarian Congregational Church. The property extended north and included the residence of Joseph Stevens, which was built to house a sales and stockroom. On the west side of the road the home of Miss Katherine Bass was built for James Symes, the first superintendent or foreman in charge of the actual manu- facture. South of this house a long building containing three tenements was erected to accommodate the experienced workmen necessary for the project. Only one third of this building now stands, the present residence of Ralph Matthews.
Among the incorporators were Ebenezer Hall, who was elected general superintendent, William Cobb, president, Jacob Rich, Benjamin Tuel, Ebenezer Williams and Samuel Fay. Fay was to serve as agent for the company and Richard Wastcoat was the first treasurer.
In the spring of 1813 five glass blowers were induced to come from Rensselaer, New York, on the payment of a bonus of $100 and the promise of a high scale of wages. It was now found that
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local clay was not adapted to the manufacture of glass, and Hall left for Philadelphia to buy clay to be transported at great ex- pense to Warwick. By summer the first loading of the furnace was begun only to have it give way, and the entire batch was lost. A second attempt was successful and on Sunday, September 5, the first blowing took place.
Advertisements were placed in the Greenfield papers offering window glass of all sizes for sale. Now Hall, who had sold out his medical practice to Doctor Joel Burnett, left for Woodstock, New York, where he paid $500 for a formula and instructions for another type of glass. Symes now left Warwick, and Abel Minard succeeded him as foreman of the company. However one mishap after another occurred and the production and sale of glass failed to meet the operating expenses. Minard's death in October added to the difficulties. Creditors began pressing for payment, and on January 31, 1815 Cobb, whose health was being affected, resigned as president, director and treasurer. Apparently he reconsidered or found it was not easy to step out from under the responsibility, for he continued.
Samuel Fay, one of the investors, was now deeply in debt and he attached the land owned by the company. Other creditors immediately followed suit and all the property was attached.
The company was now reorganized, new stockholders having been found to buy shares. Ebenezer Hall was chosen as clerk, Jonathan Blake, Esq., was elected president and first director, Richard Wastcoat, Ebenezer Williams, Esq., E. Nickerson and Abner Goodell were directors. Jonathan Blake, Esq., replaced Cobb as treasurer. But the change brought no improvement and in May an assessment of $125 a share was laid on the stock- holders, many of whom tried to dispose of their stock fearing their private property would be attached.
In October the property of the company was again attached, and on November 18 the last furnace of melted glass failed and the sorry affair was ended. The following spring the property was sold at public auction to Captain Mark Moore. Moore at once sold one-third of the property to Nickerson, one-eighth to Richard Wastcoat, one-eighth to Jonathan Blake, one-eighth to
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Moses Daniel and one-sixth to William Cobb, Ball and Hastings being partners with Cobb in the purchase.
With these men a new company was formed under the name of Nickerson, Cobb & Company for the purpose "to run the furnace while it lasted" and thus salvage as much as possible. But two months later the cap of the furnace "failed" and the business stopped.
Ebenezer Hall now accepted the position of superintendent of a glass company in Keene, New Hampshire. A few months later he took a similar office in Woodstock, New York, where it is said he was successful through the experience he acquired at the expense of the people of Warwick. The town never recovered from the disaster. From this point its decline began.
The year 1821 was to remain long in the memory of the in- habitants of Warwick and the events of Sunday September 9, a story to be told often to succeeding generations. Never before or since has the town experienced a tornado nor does it wish to. Cobb describes it in his diary :
Experienced a desolating Tornado which commenced in the highlands east of the Connecticut River and ended at Tully Mountain in Orange, passing about a mile south of the center of the town. About 6 P.M. a small black cloud was discovered in the west in great commotion. From this cloud a very dense vapor extended to the earth in a cylindrical form which took a whirling motion attended with a powerful suction that raised everything from the ground with a noise like distant thunder shaking the earth to a distance of two or three miles. Its march was grand and awe full sweeping in its course, which was from twenty to one hundred and twenty rod wide, every- thing came in its way. Trees, buildings, fences and stonewalls were indiscriminately twisted like feathers in the air. Stones of many hundred weight were moved from their beds and the earth torn up as with plow shares. Five Dwelling houses, thir- teen barns were destroyed or unroofed. The houses of Mr. Gar- land and Chapin Holden in Northfield, the house of Mr. Wilson and Mr. Brown in Warwick and the house of Capt. Moses Smith in Orange were destroyed. The persons who were in the houses had no time to meditate on means of safety and
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many were involved in the ruins much bruised and wounded. A daughter of Mr. Brown, age thirteen, and a young woman in the home of Capt. Smith, age twenty, were taken up lifeless from under the rubbish. Great quantities of wood and timber were destroyed. Fragments of buildings, clothing, sheaves of grain, etc., were found twenty miles from this place.
Nature and time long ago removed all traces of the event and today the only memento that remains stands over the grave of little Rebecca Brown. We read the epitaph:
Look blooming youth and make a pause And ponder well your road; From youth by whirlwind Called I was To stand before my God.
And as we stand here and look around us we can read many a story in these old epitaphs that tell so much of the way of life and the character of these early pioneers who settled here in the wilderness and struggled to build a home for themselves and their descendants. Surely they deserve the right to leave us their words of advice and warning. But one Anna Barnes who died in 1818, age 55, expresses no doubt the last thought of many at the end of the rough road:
Low in the ground my bed is made; Here in the dust alone I'm laid. Depart, my friend, and let me rest. I'm tired of this wilderness.
Industrial Development Prior to 1825
Very little information about the early industries of Warwick has been recorded. Assessors' records begin in 1802, but no des- cription of real or personal estate was recorded until 1825. Only casual mention of these industries can be found in the minutes of town meetings or elsewhere and only the descriptions of road layouts occasionally mention their location. The one exception consists of two papers showing real and personal appraisals in the year 1778, and these list industries under the general classifica- tion "Mills of all sorts." From these papers and various other clues we can say that of the 11 mills mentioned at that time three were doubtless grist mills and the remainder sawmills.
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It is believed that the first grist and sawmill erected by the Proprietors and operated by David Ayres at the pond on the Rum Brook road came into possession of Captain John Goldsbury and his son, Colonel James, shortly after they settled here about 1770. They owned it in 1778 and it was probably operated by them until the death of the father in 1802.
Locke's saw mill south of Moores Pond was acquired by Jedu- than Morse and on his death in 1776 his widow, the sister of Francis Leonard, sold it to her brother. It was totally destroyed by fire in 1802. Leonard rebuilt and the mill was taken over by his son-in-law, George W. Moore about 1840 and continued until 1885.
A second grist mill was built as early as 1768 by the first David Gale on the brook that bears his name.
Benjamin Tuel arrived in Warwick as early as 1771 and set- tled near the foot of Barber Hill in the southern part of the town. Here he erected a sawmill and had a thriving business until about 1810, besides being active in several other enterprises.
In 1778 Ebenezer Foskett had acquired possession of the saw- mill in what was soon to be part of Orange. This mill was built by Jonathan Woodward about 1770 and it continued to operate to some extent until it burned in 1924.
Samuel, Daniel and Abner Shearman had a sawmill and prob- ably a grist mill on what is now Kidder Brook where it crosses the old Winchester road. Asa Conant bought the sawmill and Jonas Conant had a grist mill here in 1800 and as late as 1824.
The Rich brothers, Nathaniel, Thomas and Jacob, each had a sawmill. Nathaniel's mill was probably located on the east end of Stevens Pond, and it was here that his nephew Charles operated a mill until about 1820. The record of a town road laid out in 1770 from Gale's mill northeast to the mill of Thomas Rich would indicate that Thomas erected the first mill near or at the location of Josiah Conant's mill known to exist on the south- eastern end of Gale's Pond. Rich left town in 1787, and Conant was a resident as early as 1789. Jacob built his sawmill in the north end of the town on Mirey Brook opposite his home. The ruins of the old dam washed away in the flood of 1869 can still be seen.
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All of these mills required the building of dams to provide a constant flow of water, and many of these mills ended their exist- ence when severe rains produced flood conditions that washed away the dams. Today the broken dams and stone foundations can still testify to the existence of these early industries.
Several references are found to show that bricks were made at two places from about 1790 to 1825. One was the brick yard and kiln belonging to Ebenezer Bancroft, who lived on the old Winchester road just north of Kidder brook. It is mentioned in the old District 8 school records as lying north of the old brick schoolhouse. Josiah Proctor, son of old Captain Peter, also had a brick yard a few rods west of where Chase Road meets the Athol road. The Athol road was laid out in 1827 from Mayo's Corners to pass the brick yard and then to follow the brook down the hill, passing Sheomet Pond and continuing on to Athol. Doubtless these brickyards supplied most of the bricks used in Warwick houses, and when the demand diminished they ceased to be profitable and were abandoned.
Justus Russell, taking advantage of the abundant supply of hides from domestic animals, built a tannery about 1800 on the Winchester turnpike, now Route 78. The tannery was just south of the residence of A. J. Morris, which house was built by Rus- sell. The business was continued by his son Edward until about 1855.
A second tannery was located on Grace Brook at the foot of what is still known as Tannery Hill. It is believed to have been built prior to 1830 by Nathan C. Moore.
John Moore also is mentioned as the owner of a grist mill on the Northfield Brook in 1799. He lost his house and mill by fire in 1808 in the night, his family barely escaping with their lives.
At the turn of the century other sawmills are mentioned as operated by Peter Proctor, Isaac Robbins, Absolom and James Ball, and Abijah Eddy.
In common with all rural communities of the period which were forced to provide most of the necessities of life by their own efforts, the weaving of homespun yarn into cloth to be made into
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garments was a prime concern. The raising of flax and the card- ing of wool from sheep required looms to weave the thread into cloth. While most of the farmers had spinning wheels to keep the wives and young girls from enjoying any idle moments, and many had small hand-operated looms in the homes, there was a demand for the manufacture of cloth on a larger scale. To fill this need Jacob Rich erected a shop for this purpose on the east side of the Winchester road opposite the Russell tannery.
William Cobb, of course, was involved in partnership with Jacob for a few years. Evidently at one period the shop special- ized in the manufacture of black satin or "negro cloth" for we find it mentioned as the satinet shop.
Cobb decided that there was a demand for the maunfacture of cards, a hand tool for combing, opening and breaking wool or flax to prepare it for spinning. As a result he erected a card factory in 1812 for this purpose on the Northfield turnpike hill a few rods south of Fay's tavern. It does not appear to have been profitable and Cobb, deeply involved in the glass company, soon gave up the card business. George Mason took over the building and attempted to make shoes, but he went into bankruptcy in 1824.
A second clothing shop was opened by Melzar Williams on a branch of Grace Brook, about 20 rods south of his home at the junction of the Wendell and Northfield roads. The account books kept by Melzar, now in the possession of Fred Lincoln, show he did an extensive business manufacturing cloth and dye- ing it in the desired color for many of the people in Warwick and the surrounding towns from 1830 to 1845.
Early blacksmith services were supplied by John Leonard and Josiah Pomeroy prior to 1800. After that date we find the names of Levi Stimpson, Thomas Mallard, Silas Mosman, Charles Haynes and several transients who worked in the shops owned by Samuel Fay and Lemuel Wheelock.
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