JUNIVERSITY <* CALIFORNIA LOS OF THE COUNTY O F OR P F ^ T F 1R JlV V> JLj O A ^* JLVj IN THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS: WITH A Particular Account of every Town from its firft Settlement to the prefent Time ; Including its ECCLESIASTICAL STATE, TOGETHER WITH A GEOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SAME. To which is prefixed, A MAP OF THE COUNTY, AT LARGE," FROM ACTUAL SURVEY. . BY P E T E R W H I T N E Y, A. M. Minifter of the Gofpel in Northborougk, in faid County, * 3 gH^^HD 6 CO - ^ PRINTED AT WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, 214 >\ BY ISAIAH THOMAS, Sold by him in WORCESTER, by faid THOMAS- and ANDREWS, in BOSTON, and by faid THOMAS and CARLISLE, in WALPOLB, Newhampfture, MDCCXCIII. ; H T Y SI O T 8 I H Y T Tl U O 3 # ^ T 1 W ^f-^- V...A . T . TO f L.L.D: (Biceprefinent OF THE amtteu States* AN D OF THE American 3caUemp 01 AND g>cience &c. &c. THIS HISTORY, INTENDED TO PROMOTE THE KNOWL EDGE OF A PART OF HIS NATIVE COM MONWEALTH, IS INSCRIBED, WITH ALL RESPECT, BY HIS MOST OBEDIENT, AND HUMBLE SERVANT, PETER WHITNEY. Northborough) July, 1793. OT . REFACE. Author of the following Hiftory would moji willingly have been excufedfrom thefervice, had any other perfon appeared to have undertaken it. A work of this kind was wanted : The author, however unequal Lo the tajk, had advantages herefor above feme others, being born in the wejlern part, and having the bounds of his habitation jixed in the eajiern part, of the county. Had the writer of thefejheets known before he legan, what a labour it would have been, he would not have attempted it, but having begun, he was unwilling to defift, and has been urged on by the partiality of his friends. However difficult the collection of materials has been, yet he has derived a fatisfattion by no means fmall, in ranfacking records, fearching into tht antiqui ties of this part of the country, and in endeavouring to gratify his readers with a hijlory thereof. The locality of the work may be thought, by feme, an objection to it. But to have compleated a hijlory of the Commonwealth, upon this plan, would be a labour too great, and too lengthy for any one, unlefs he was a perfon of fortune, andfhould devote a long life wholly thereunto. If various gentlemen, in different parts of the State, would undertake to write a hiftory of their particular counties or dijlritts, upon this, or a better plan, we might then hope to fee a complete hijlory of Mafachufetts collected, which would be not merely entertaining, but profitable and injtruttive from age to age ; care being taken to makefuch alterations in, and additions to the work, as time vi PREFACE. time would occafion : Thefe would refpeft tht civil and ccclcfiajlical Jlate of the counties, their population, and their improvements in arts and manufactures. The greatejl care and pains have been taken to af- ctr tain exaft dates, where it was pojjible. Hence towns and churches may know their refpettive ages, if at any time their records Jhould be unhappily dcjlroyed. The dates, however, are all infertcd according to the origin als ; and, therefore, the reader, in order to know when a century or more has dapfed from the date of any event recorded in this h Jlory, will always remember to add elevtn days thereto, until he comes down to the zd of September 1752, when New Style, fo called, took, place* For injlance, if a town was incorporated Augujl i, 1728, it mil not have completed a full century until Augujl 12, 1828. The author of this work has endeavoured to be im partial, and to do jujlice to every town in its defer iption and hiftory, and if he has failed hereof, it mujl be im puted to other caufcs than any particular local preju dices. He has not omitted any thing worth preserving, which has come to his knowledge. Many and too great defects will, moji likely, be found by difcerning readers of this hi/lory ; but none, how ever, butfuch as their candor and ingenuity will readily excufe in this firjl attempt of the kind ; and none but what may be remedied in time, if ever a future edition Jhould be called for. And pcrfons, who fold defcfts or mi/lakes, or fee the ncccffity of additions or alterations. are reyucjtfd candidly. to point them out to The AUTHOR. ORNTA 240 172 291 12O INDEX TO THE TOWNS, &c. TOWNS. Spencer, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sutton, Templeton, Upton, Uxbridge, Ward, Weftborough, Weftern, Weftminfter, Winchendon, Worcefter, Woodftock, The County, Courts of Common Pleas, 14 Juftices of, ibid. Clerks of, 4 6 Sheriffs of the County, 17 Judges of Probate, ibid. Regifters of Probate, 18 Regifters of Deeds, ibid. General defcription of the County, 2O Reprefentatives to Congrefs, Senators, Rivers, Minifters Settled and Removed, 32 g Dates of Incorpora tion of Towns, ibid. Number of Inhab itants, ibid. Valuation Lifts, 336 The TOWNS. ASHBURNHAM, Pages. 264 Athol, 24Q Barre, 287 Berlin, / Bolton, 177 Brookfield, / / 62 Boylfton, 308 Charlton, 221 Douglafs, 203 Dudley, 151 Fitchburg, 252 Gardner, 306 Gerry, 3*5 Grafton, 166 Hardwick, 174 Harvard, *54 Holden, 188 Hubbardfton, 281 Lancafter, 36 Leicefter, 99 Leominfter, 102 Lunenburg, +s 143 Mendon, 54 Milford, v * Q O Q Newbraintree, 207 Northborough, / 272 Northbridge, 285 Oakliam, 248 Oxford, 82 axtbn, 268 Peterfham, 215 Princeton, \j 232 Royalfton, * o 26l Rutland, 1OQ Shrewfbury, Southboiough, j.wy 134 130 21 22 The following bang omitted in its proptr place at the end of the book, is here infcrtcd. THE proportion of Tax, which this County bears to the whole State, will appear by fubjoining the fol lowing account of what each county pays on the thoufand, with its number of polls, agreeably to the laft valuation. Counties. Polls. On the thouf. *- d.q. Suffolk, 9884 l62 12 O 1 Effex, 12376 133 19 7 2 Middlefex, 10109 104 13 4 2 Hampfhire, *39 12 111 18 o 3 Worcefter, 13762 127 15 O 2 Barnftable, 3759 20 15 11 3 Plymouth, 691 2 59 9 9 3 Dukes County, 7 6 3 5982 Nantucket, 1121 ^ 13 3 * Briftol, 6547 53 19 63 Berkfhire, 6265 5 2 3 3 3 York, 6484 50 i 9 o Cumberland, 57 2 3 43 6 5 2 Lincoln, 6349 50 13 10 i Hancock, 1967 13 7 * o Washington, 493 3110 1000 o o o THE THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF WORCESTER. THB COUNTY, N giving a hiflory of this county, it is fitting to begin with a recital of the Aft of the General Court for forming the fame, which is as fol lows : " An aft for erefting, granting, and making a county in the inland parts of this province, to be called The County of Worcefter, and for eftablifh- jng Courts of Juftice within the fame, B "Be io THE C O U N T Y. " Be it enatled by his Excellency the Gover nor, Council, and Reprefentatives, in General Court affembled, and by the authority of the fame, That the towns and places hereafter named and expreffed, that is to fay, Worcefter, Lancafter, Weftborough, Shrewfbury, Southborough, Leicef- ter, Rutland, and Lunenburgh, all in the county of Middlefex * Mendon, Woodftock, Oxford, Sutton, including Haflfanamifco, Uxbridge, and the land lately granted to feveral petitioners of Medfield, all in the county of Suffolk ; Brookfield in the county of Hampfhire, and the fouth town laid out to the Narraganfet foldiers ; and all other lands lying within the faid townfhips, with the inhabit ants thereon, (hall, from and after the tenth day of July, which will be in the year of our Lord one tboufand feven hundred and thirty one, be and remain one entire and diftincl: county, by the name of Worcefter, of which Worcefter to be the county, or mire town : And the faid county to have, ufe and enjoy, all fuch powers, privileges, and immunilies, as by law other counties within this province, have and do enjoy. " And be it enac"led by the authority aforefaid, that there mail be held and kept within the faid county of Worcefter yearly, and in every year, at the times and place in this A61 hereafter expreffed, a Court of General Seflions of the Peace, and an Inferior Court of Common Pleas, to fit at Wor cefter, on the i ccond Tuefdays of May and Auguft, and the firft Tuefdays of November and February, yearly and in every year, until this Court fhall ? other-wife E COUNT Y. it otherwife order : Alfo, that there {hall be held and kept at Worcefter, within the faid county of Worcefler, yearly and in every year, until this Court fhall otherwife order, a Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Aflize and General Goal De livery, to fit on the Wednefday immediately pre ceding the time by law appointed for the holding the faid Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Aflize and General Goal Delivery, at Springfield, within and for the county of Hampfhire : And the Juftices of the faid Court of General Seffions- of the Peace, Inferior Court of Common Pleas, and Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Af- fize and General Goal Delivery refpe&ively, who are, or fhall be, thereunto lawfully commiffioned and appointed, fhall have, hold, ufe, exercife and enjoy all and fingular the powers which are by law given and granted unto them, within any other counties of the province, where a Court of Gener al Seffions of the Peace, Inferior Court of Com mon Pleas, and Superior Court of Judicature, Court of Affize and General Goal Delivery, are al ready eflablifhed. " Provided, That all writs, fuits, plaints, proc- elfes, appeals, reviews, recognizances, or any other matters or things which now are or any time be fore the faid tenth day of July, fhall be depending in the law within any part of the faid county of Worceiler : And alfo, all matters and things which now are, or at any time before the faid tenth of July, fhall be depending before the Judges of Probate within part of the faid county, of Worcef- B 2 ter, 12 THE C O U N T Y. ter, fhall be heard, tried, proceeded upon and de termined in the counties of Suffolk, Middlefex, and Hampfhire refpeftively, where the fame are or fhall be returnable or depending, and have, or ihall have day, or days. " Provided alfo, That nothing in this aft con tained, fhall be conftrued to difannul, defeat, or make void any deeds or conveyances of lands, ly ing in the faid county of Worcefter, where the fame are. or fhall be, before the faid tenth of July, recorded in the Regifter s office of the refpeclive counties where fuch lands do now lie ; but that all fuch deeds or conveyances fo recorded fhall be held good and valid as they would have been had aot this acl; been made. " And be it further enafted by the Authority aforefaid, That the Juftices of the Court of Gener al Seflions of the Peace, at their firft meeting in the faid county of Worcefter, fhall have full pow er and authority to appoint fome meet perfon, within the faid county of Worcefter, to be Regif- ter of deeds and conveyances within the fame, who fhall be fworn to the faithful difcharge of his truft in the faid office, and fhall continue to hold and exercif e the fame according to the directions of the law, until fome perfon be elc6led by the freehold ers of the faid county of Worcefter, who are hereby empowered to choofe fuch perfon, on the firft Thurfday of September next enfuing, by the methods in the law already prefcribed, to take up on him that truft. And until fuch Regifter fhall we fo appointed, by the faid juftices. and fworn,, all THE C O U N T Y. 13 all deeds and conveyances of lands lying within any part of the county of Worcefter, which fhall be recorded in the Regifter s office of the refpe&ive counties where fuch lands do now* lie, lhall be held and deemed good and valid to all intents and purpofes as to the recording thereof. " And be it further enafted by the Authority aforefaid, That the methods, directions and pro ceedings by law provided, as well for the electing and choofing a Regifler of deeds and conveyances,, as a county Treafurer, which officers mall be ap pointed in the fame manner as is by law already provided, on the firft Thurfday of September next, and alfo for the bringing forward and trying any actions, caufes, pleas or fuits, both civil and crim inal in the feveral counties of this province and Coui"ts of Judicature within the fame, and choofing of Jurors to ferve at the Courts of Juftice, fhall ex tend, and be attended, obferved and put in practice within the faid county of Worcefter, and by the Courts of Juftice within the fame : Any law, ufage or cuftom to the contrary notwithftanding. " Provided always, That the inhabitants of the feveral towns and places herein before enumerated and fet off a diftinl county, (hall pay their pro portion to any county rates or taxes already made and granted, in the fame manner as they would have done, had not this a6l been made." This aft paired April 2, 1731. When the county was thus creeled, the follow ing perfons were commiflioned officers of the Court af Common Pleas, and for the county, viz. B 3 Hon. J4 THE COUNTY. COURTS of COMMON PLEAS. JUSTICES. Hon. John Chandler, of Woodftock, Jofeph Wilder, of Lancafter, William Ward, of Southborough, William Jennifon, of Worcefter, Efquires, Judges. John Chandler, jun. of Worcefter, Clerk, Daniel Gookin. of Worcefter, Sheriff. And the firft Court of General Se.flions of the Peace, and Inferior Court of Common Pleas, for the county, was held at Worcefter, Auguft loth, 1731, when the Rev. John Prentice, of Lancafter, preached a fermon before them, which was printed, from 2 Chronicles, Chap. xix. 6th, and 7th verfes; And faid to the Judges, Take heed what yc do : For ye judge not for man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment. Wherefore now, let the fear of the Lord be upon you, take heed and do it : For there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor refpect of pcrfons, nor taking of gifts." This was king Jehoftiaphat s charge to the judges of Judah, The Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, af ter the firft appointment, as there have been vacan cies by death, refignation, &c. have been as follow. When the Hon. John Chandler, of Woodftock, died, Jofeph Dwight, Efq; was appointed, and the Hon. Jofeph Wilder, of Lancafter, was firft. Upon the death of Judge Jennifon, Samuei Willard, Efq; of Lancafter, was appointed a Judge in 1743. In *HE COUNTY. 15 In 1745, Nahum Ward, Efq; of Shrewfbuiy, was commiffioned Judge, vice William Ward, Efq. In 1750, Edward Hartwell, Efq; of Lunenburg, was appointed Judge, in the room of Jofeph Dwight, Efq. In 1753, Jonas Rice, Efq; of Worcefter, was conflituted Judge, vice Samuel Willard, Efq. In May, 1754, John Chandler, Efq; of Worcef- ter, who had, from the beginning, been Clerk of the Court, was appointed a Judge of faid Court. In the year 1756, Thomas Steel, Efq; of Liecef- ter, was commiffioned Judge of the Court, vice Jo nas Rice, Efq; deceafed. In May, 1757, upon the death of Judge Wilder, a new arrangement tookplace, in the following order: Hon. John Chandler, Edward Hartwell, Thomas Steel, Timothy Ruggles, Efquires, were commif- fioned Judges. Upon the refignation of Judge Chandler, in Feb ruary, 1762, a commiffion iifued from the Governor and Council, appointing Hon. Timothy Ruggles, of Hardwick, firft Judge, Thomas Steel, of Liecefter, Jofeph Wilder, of Lancafter, and Artemas Ward, of Shrewfbuiy, Efquires, Judges. Thefe gentlemen all continued in that office, until the year 1774, when the people, in confe- quence of the controverfy with Greatbritain, put a flop to the exercife of all judicial powers, B 4 .held 16 THE COUNTY. held under the King of England, or the Governor of the province, his reprefentative. In this fitua- tion the whole then province remained, until Oc tober 17th, 1775, when a commiflion ifTued, from the powers which then were, conflituting and appointing the Hon. Artemas Ward, of Shrewsbury ; Jedidiah Fofter, of Brookfield ; Mofes Gill, of Princetown ; rmd Samuel Baker, of Berlin, Efquires, Jufti- ces of the Court of Common Pleas. In purfuance of which a Court was holden De cember 5, 1775. On September ipth, 1776, the Hon. Jofeph Dorr, Efq; of Ward, was appointed a Juftice of this Court, vice the Hon. Jedidiah Fofter, Efq; who was advanced to be one of the Judges of the Supreme Judicial Court of this Commonwealth. Since the appointment of the Hon. Mr. Dorr, there has been no change or alteration in the Judicia ry department ; that is, for more than lixteen years. CLERKS. The Clerks of the Court of General Seflions of the Peace, and the Court of Common Pleas, from the beginning, have been as follow : Hon. John Chandler, jun. of Worcefter, Jirjl Clerk. In November, 1751, the Hon. Timothy Paine, Efq; was appointed joint Clerk with Mr. Chandler ; and after Mr. Chandler s advance ment to the bench, in 1754, Mr. Paine continued fole Clerk of faid Courts, to the year 1774. In December, 1775, the Hon, JLevi Lincoln, Efq; was appointed THE COUNTY. 17 appointed Clerk, who continued in the office but a year, and refigned, when Jofeph Allen, Efq; of Worcefler, was appointed, and ftill continues Clerk. SHERIFFS of the COUNTY to this time. In 1743, Benjamin Flagg, Efq; of Worcefler, was appointed Sheriff, vice Daniel Gookin, Efq; de~ ceafed. Auguft, 1751, John Chandler, jun. Efq; of Worcefler, fucceeded Benjamin Flagg, deceafed. In 1762, Gardner Chandler, Efq; of Worcefter, was conftituted Sheriff, vice, Hon. John Chandler, promoted. Mr. Gardner Chandler continued in the office until the year 1775, when Simeon O wight, Efq; of Weflern, was commiffioned Sheriff, and continued until his death in 1778, when William Greenleaf, of Lancafter, was appointed, who con tinued ten years, and was fucceeded by the Hon. John Sprague, Efq; of Lancailer, who refigned the office in 1792, when D wight Fofler, Efq; of Brookfield, was appointed. Mr. Fofter being chof- en a Reprefentative for this diftril, refigned the office of Sheriff ; whereupon William Caldwell, Efq; of Rutland, was appointed in his place, July 9 1 793- JUDGES of PROBATE from the beginning. Hon. John Chandler, of Woodftock ; who was fucceeded by Jofeph Wilder, Efq; of Lancafler ; fucceed ed by John Chandler, Efq; of Worcefler; fucceeded by his fon, Hon. if THE COUNTY- Hon. John Chandler, Efq; of Worcefter, in 1762, who continued in office until the Revolu tion. After that period, Jedidiah Fofter, Efq; of Brookfield, was ap pointed and continued until his advance ment. He was fucceedcd by Artemas Ward, Efq; of Shrewlbury ; fuc- ceeded by Levi Lincoln, Efq;ofWorcefler; fucceededby Jofeph Dorr, Efq; of Ward, the prefent Judge. REGISTERS of PROBATE. Hon. John Chandler, jun. Efq; of Worcefter, firft Regifter ; he was fucceededin the office by Timothy Paine, Efq; of Worcefler. A few years before the Revolution, Mr. Clarke Chandler, of Worcefler, was appointed joint Regifter with the Hon. Mr. Paine. In 1 776, Jofeph Wheeler, Efq; of Worcefler, was appointed Regifter, and continued to his death, Feb. 10, 1793. Upon his deceafe, Mr. Theophilus Wheeler was appointed Regifter, Probate Courts are held at the Probate Office in Worcefter, on the firft Tuefday of every month ; and, for the accommodation of the inhabitants, on certain other days, in different parts of the county. REGISTERS of DEEDS. Hon. John Chandler, Efq; of Worcefter, the firft, and fucceedcd by Timothy Paine, Efq; of Worcefter, who con tinued in the office until the Revolution when Mr. THE COUNTY. 19 Mr. Nathan Baldwin, of Worcefter, was chofen ; > after his death, Daniel Clap, Efq; of Worcefter, was elefted, who now fills that ftation. The office for the regiftry is kept at Worcefter. The public buildings of the county are good and convenient. The Court Houfe is well fituat- ed ; is a handfome building, but wants to be enlarg ed, and in all probability fpeedily will be. The Jail is a large, commodious houfe, lately ere&ed at the expenfe of the county : it is built with good ftones, of a greyifh colour, from Mill- Hone Hill, fo called, in Worcefter, the inhabitants whereof, freely gave the ftone for this purpofe. It is 64 feet in length, and 32 in breadth, and three ftories high. The lower ftory is divided into four arches croffwife, forming four rooms for the fafe cuf- tody of perfons convicled of, or committed for grofs crimes. The feoond is divided, in the fame man ner, into four rooms, but pot arched with ftone. Thefe are for the keeping of debtors, who have not the liberty of the yard ; and for perfons com mitted for fmall offences. The upper ftory has an entry or walk from end to end, and is divided into eight convenient rooms for the ufe of prifon- ers for debt who have the liberty of the jail yard. This yard extends fo as to include the jailor s houfe, and the meetinghoufe of the fecond parifh. The houfe built for the keeper of the jail is the proper ty of the county ; It is a handfome, well finifhed Building. The to THE C O U N T Y. The Court of Common Pleas, and of the Gene ral Seflions of the Peace, have four terms in a year, appointed by Aft of the Legiflature, for fit ting and tranfafting bufmcfs viz. on the fourth Tuefday in March, the fecond Tuefday in June, the laft Tuefday in Auguft, and the fiift Tuef day in December. The Supreme Judicial Court of this Common wealth holds two feffions in this county annually : The times herefor, by law, at prefcnt eflablifhcd, are the Tuefday preceding the lafl Tuefday of A- pril, and the third Tuefday of September. Since the eftablifhment of this county, fixty two years ago, twelve perfons have been tried and exe cuted for the following crimes : For Murders, 5 For Burglaries, 5 For Rapes, 2 A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTY. THE County of Worccftcr, however fmall in its beginning,* confiding of but fifteen or fixteen towns, the greater part of which were in fant plantations, with but few inhabitants, has flourifhcd * The late Governor Hutchinfcm, who was then * member of the Gener,- 1 Court, flrrnuoufty oppofed, as it is faid, its being creftcd into a county ; urging the utter improbability of its ever making any figure. He lived to fee that he was greatly miftaken in his conje&ures. This is an inftance which may fhow us we have no certain rules to proceed upon in calculating the growth and population of new fettlements ; they, generally, exceed the rnoft railed expectations of people, and, often, all rational probability. THE C O U N T Y. st fiourifhed and increafed in the moft rapid and fur- prifing manner. It has rifen to eminence and dif- tin&ion among the counties of the Common wealth ; for while it is but the tenth in age, it is the third in wealth, paying a larger proportion of a ftate tax, than any of the other counties, except Suffolk and Effex, and falling but a little fhort of thefe two. It is large in extent ; being bounded on the fouth, almoft equally, by the States of Connecti cut and Rhodeifland ; and on the north by the ftate of Newhampfhire. On the eaft it is bounded, mainly, by the county of Middlefex, juft touch ing at its fouth eaft angle upon the county of Suffolk ; and on the weft by the county of Hamp- fhire. It is about 48 miles in length from north to fouth, and about 35 miles in width from eaft to weft. It contains forty nine towns, the moft of which are large in extent of lands, and number of inhabitants. According to a late cenfus, taken by an a& of Congrefs, in order to a juft apportionment of the number of Reprefentatives among the feveral States, it contains 56807 fouls. REPRESENTATIVES to CONGRESS. IN the firft and fecond Congrefs, under the prefent Conftitution, this county was entitled to an eighth part in the reprefentation of this Com monwealth. The Hon. Jonathan Grout, Efq; of Peterfham, was ele&ed Reprefentative for this coun ty in the firft Congrefs. The Hon, Artemas Ward, fcJsr THE COUNTY. Efq; of Shrcwfbury, was chofen to reprefent this county in the fecond Congrefs, whofe term ex pired o,n the fourth of March, 1793. And where as by an enumeration of all the inhabitants of the United States lately made, the number of Repre- fcntatives for this Commonwealth, according to Conflitution, is increafed to fourteen ; fo the Le- giflature by a late Aft, joined the counties of \Vorcefter, Hampfhire and Berkfhire, in one dif- trift, for the choice of four Reprefentatives for the third Congrefs ; one of whom was to be chofen in each county, and the fourth in either of the three. At the late election, in this diftrift, the Hon. Ar- temas Ward, Efq; was chofen Reprefcntative for this county, by a large majority of the votes of the three counties. The Reprefentative chofen for the diftricT:, in whofe eleftion this county gives its voice, is the Hon. Dwight Fofter, Efq; of Brookfield, the late Sheriff of the county of Wor- cefler. Befides that this county may have its full mare of representation in Congrefs, it gives in its fuf- frages, with a number of other counties, for one Reprefentative for the State at large, who is chofen, viz. the Hon. David Cobb, Efq; of Taunton, in the county of Briftol. The county of Worcefler, alfo, choofes annu ally, an eighth part, five, jof the Senators in the Legiflature of the Commonwealth. SENATORS. THE following is a lift of the gentlemen who have been chofen Senators for this county, from the THE COUNTY. a$ the commencement of our new conftitution, on the 25th of October, 1780, to theprefent time. 1780, Hon. Mofes Gill, of Princeton; Samuel Baker, of Berlin ; Jofeph Dorr, of Ward, Ifrael Nichols, of Leominfter ; and Seth Wafhburn, of Leicefler, Efqrs. 1781, Hon. Mofes Gill, Samuel Baker, Jofeph Dorr, Ifrael Nichols, Jonathan Warner, of Hard- wick, Efqrs. 1782, Hon. Mofes Gill, Samuel Baker, Jofeph Dorr, Ifrael Nichols, Jonathan Warner, Efqrs. 1783, Hon. Mofes Gill, Samuel Baker, Ifrael Nichols, Seth Wafhbarn, Jonathan Warner, Efqrs. 1784, Hon. Mofes Gill, Samuel Baker, Ifrael Nichols, Seth Waftiburn, Jonathan Warner, Efqrs. 1785, Hon. Mofes Gill, Samuel Baker, Ifrael Nichols, Seth Wafhburn, John Sprague, Efqrs. 1786, Hon. Mofes Gill, Samuel Baker, Seth Waftiburn, Abel Wilder, of Winchendon ; Ifrael Nichols, Efqrs. 1787, Hon. Seth Wafhburn, Abel Wilder, Amos Singletary, of Sutton ; John Feffenden, of Rutland ; Jofeph Stone, of Harvard* Efqrs. This year, 1787, Hon. Peter Penniman, Efq; of Mendon, was chofen Counsellor. 1788, Hon. Samuel Baker, Abel Wilder, Amos Singletary, John Feffenden, Jonathan Grout, of Peterfham, Efqrs. This year the Hon. Artemas Ward, Efq; was chofen Counfellor. 1789, 34 THE C O U N T Y. 1789, Hon. Mofes Gill, Abel Wilder, Amos Singletary, John Feflenden, and Peter Penniman, of Mendon, Efqrs. 1790, Hon. Mofes Gill, Samuel Baker, Abel Wilder,, Amos Singletary, John Fefleriden, Efqrs. 1791, Hon. Mofes Gill, Samuel Baker, Jonathan Warner, Abel Wilder, Timothy Newell, Efqrs. 1792, Hon. Mofes Gill, Samuel Baker, Abel Wilder, Jonathan Warner, Timothy Newell, Efqrs. In the fall of 1792, the Legiflature, according to Conftitution, chofe the Hon. Jofiah Stearns, Efq; of Lunenburg, to fill the vacancy occafioned by the death of the Hon. Mr. Wilder. 1793, Hon. Mofes Gill, Samuel Baker, Jonathan Warner, Timothy Newell, Jofiah Stearns, Efqrs. The Hon. Mofes Gill, Efq; has uniformly been ele&ed a Counfellor for this county, from the commencement of the Conftitution, in 1780, to this time, 1793, except only in the years 1787 and 1788. As by the Conftitution of the Commonwealth, eve ry town in the ftate, having 150 rateable polls, may fend one Reprefentative to the State Legiflature : And every town, having 375, may fend two, and fo on in the fame ratio ; fo every town in the county can fend one, except Gardner : Divers of them are entitled to two, and fome of them to three. WORCESTER. this is the ftiire town of the county of Worcefter, we.will firft give an account and defcrip- tion of this place, and then proceed to the other towns in the county according to their refpeftive ages, reckoning from the dates of the ads of incor poration. Worcefter is part of a feracl; of land called by the aboriginals, Quinfigamond ; which territory was by them efteemed to bound eafterly, partly on Quinfigamond pond, and partly on Haffanamifco, now Grafton ; Southerly, on the Nipnet, or Nip- mug country, where Oxford and fome adjacent towns now are; wefterly, on Quaboag, now Brook- field, and lands in that vicinity ; and northerly, on Nafhawogg, now Lancafter, Sterling, &c.. &c On October 24th, 1668, a townfhip of land of rather more than eight mjles fquare, to be bound ed, eafterly on Quinfigamond pond, was granted by the General Court, to Daniel Gookin, Dajiiel Henchman, Thomas Prentice, and their aflbciates. But war, at that time, and for feveral fucceeding years, prevailing with the Indians^ the fettlement of the place was prevented until *the year 1685: At which time, the natives appearing peaceably difpofed, and behaving in a friendly manner to the Engliffi, the above named perfons, together with John Wing, George Danfon, Peter Goulding-, Dickery Sargeant, Ifaac Bull and Jacob Leonard, ventured to begin the plantation, C The &6 WORCESTER. The town was incorporated the preceding year O&ober 15, 1684, and the name of Worcefter given to it. But the firft town meeting ever held in the place, was on the laft Wednefday of September, 1722. A fpecial order of the General Court paffed directing Judge Fulham of Wefton, to call faid meeting. * In the year following feveral other men, with their families, moved into the place. And the fettlement thereof went on profperoufly until the year 1701, when the Indians began again to attack the frontier towns in Maffachufetts. In the year 1702, the In dians killed the wife of Dickery Sargeant, and two of his children, and carried three of his children into captivity.t In this town alfo, Mr. Elima Ward was fuppofed to be killed, for he was known to be mot at, and. never after feen, or heard of. The war raged with fucbi fury at this time, that Worcef ter was entirely depopulated. But peace being concluded with the Indians, in the beginning of the year 1713. Some of the proprietors of the townfhip applied to the General Court for encour agement and direction towards its refettlement. In * Here we muft obfcrve, by the way, .that the method of the Government was very different in former times, from what it has been fince. In thofc earlier days-, plantations were named, and faid to be incorporated, when there were few, or no inhabitants in them ; and when a fuffkicnt number of people had killed in them, a fpecial refolve of Court paflcd to empower them too meet, and choofe their town Officers : But for 60 years paft.they Jiave been incorporated) named, and empowered to hold town meetings^ by the fame aft. f Thefe children, two fons and a daughter, chofc to dwell among the In- clians. However, in 1726, they accompanied Mifs Williams, taken from on a vifit to they- friends in Ncwengland, WORCESTER, 27 In confequence of this application the Court ap pointed a committee to afcertain the claims of the grantees ; and conduct the resettlement of the place. On the 21 ft of October, 1713, Jonas Rice, with his family, moved into the place and remain ed there, without any other inhabitants, until the fpring of the Year 1715, when a confiderable num ber of perfons joined him. The number of fet- tlers was augmented by Emigrants from Ireland in 1718: Since which time it has flourilhed and in- creafed exceedingly, and become large, populous and wealthy. In the year 1740, Holden was fetoff from Worcefler, and became a diftincl town ; and in 1778, 2 200 acres, with the inhabitants thereon, were taken from this town to aid in forming the town of Ward ; Yet ftill Worcefter is large in its dimenfions, being about fix miles fquare : And bounded, northerly, on Holden ; eafterly on Shrewsbury, Boylfton and Long Pond ; foutherly, on Ward and Sutton, and wefterly, on Leicefter, and Holden. It is become very populous, con taining two thoufand one hundred inhabitants, according to the cenfus taken in the year 1791 : And it will no doubt, ftill greatly increafe for many years. It is alfo wealthy and opulent, being the third town in the county, in the proportion which it pays in a ftate tax ; and would be the firft, mod certainly, in the lift, did not the other two, Brook- field, and Sutton, greatly exceed it in extent and dimenfions; and alfo in the number of fouls. The inhabitants, in the outer parts of this town, fubfift by husbandry. But in the centre, in the C compafs a& WORCESTER. compafs of one mile, and moftly on one flreet, are collected the county officers, a number of merch ants and mop keepers, profeflional men, and me- chanicks of various forts. A very great trade is here carried on, in European and Wellindia goods; and the adjacent country is fupplied from this town : Here are large apothecary ftores, and (lores of all kinds of hardware. A printing prefs was here fet up in 1775, by Mr. Ifaiah Thomas, who is thought to do far more bufmefs than any other in the ftate, or in the Unit ed States of America.* The houfes in the ftreet, are very compact, many of them large and elegant, as alfo the ftores and mops. And here they have a number of large inns, not only for the accommo dation of the people of the county, at the times for * In the time of the political controverfy between Great Britain, and lliefc States, previous to the war, near the clofe of the year 1774, feveral gentlemen applied in Eoiton, to Ifaiah Thomas, printer of the Maffachu- fetts Spy, (i Newfpaper tamed for its oppofijion to the Britifh govern- jnent, and which was no frriall (poke in the wheel ot" the American Revo lution) to fet up a printing prefs in. Worccfter : He confented, aad iffued propofals for that purpofe and for printing a ncwfpaper weekly, in the town of Worcefter : But, foon after, the politicks of that time wearing a Wore ferious afpet>, and Mr. Thomas being one of a lift of perfons, who, it \yai thought, would firft feel the weight of Bruifh vengence, fecretly with- <licw hi mfelf, and his printing materials, from Bofton. His printing Ap paratus he fcnt off for Worcefter, about three days before the battle of Lex ington, and he himfelf followed the day after that battle. On the 3d oi M*} * > 775, he, at Worcefter, recommenced thepublication of the Maflachufetts Spy, which was the firft printing performed in the county. Thii ncwfpaper is fljll printed at Worcefter, aad is the oldcft in the State, the Bofton Gazctt; exccpted. When the war ccafed, Mr. Thomas extended his bufmefs, and in the year 1788, reefbblifhcd a printing omcc in Bofton, he himfelf rcfiding ia Worcefter, where he ftiJl carries on the printing bufmefs on a very larger fwlc 7 a be docs >lfo ia Bofton, Among other large works which have WORCESTER. 29 for holding the courts, but for travellers, and it is a place of great refort. On the flreet has lately been erected a large and handfome fchoolhoufe, of about 60, by 30 feet, and two flories high. On the lower floor are two apartments, one deligned for a grammar fchool, and the other for a writing fchool. In the upper ftory there is one large a- partment, with a fire place at each end : This is ufed by the fcholars on their exhibition days. On the top there is a cupola with a bell. The flreet is wide, ftraight, and very pleafant, and adorned on either fide with trees. And upon the whole, this town is one of the moft populous, lively, flourim- Jng, agreeable inland places in the ftate. There are two congregational religious focieties in this town, called the firft and fecond pariihes. Thefe have no parochial boundaries, but are called poll parifhes ; each inhabitant having a right by law, to pay and to conneft himfelf to which parifli he pleafes, only fignifying his choice, by leaving his name have ifTued from his preffes in Worcefter, arc three editions of the Bible, viz. a large Folio, with 50 copper plates ; a large Royal Quarto, with Con-, cordance, &c. and one in Cftavo 4 they arc all the firft of the kind ever printed in America : And, upon examination, his editions are found the molt corrcft of any HOW extant. He is now preparing to print two other editions of the Bible ; vir.. a fmall Quarto ; and one in Duodecimo, or the common fchool Bible - For this laft, all the types will be kept {landing fo- the -whole work, as is the method in the King s printing houfes in England and Scotland, Mr/ ST^iomas has alfo carried on the Bookbinding buiinels very extenfivtly ; and is now engaged in building, in Worceflcr, as large a Paper Mill as is in this flW. His Bookftorein \Vorcefter is keptv.-ell filled with a large affortmcnt of Books in all branches of Literature, which is a great accommodation to p irtAafers, in the town and county. His manu factures employ and fupport\< large number of people ; and it may juftly -be faid, that the bufinefs of no cne perfon, has added more to the confe- auence and advantage of the town and county of Worcpftor. than his c s 30 WORCESTER. name at any time for that purpofe, with the town, clerk. They have accordingly two large and ele gant meetinghoufes, about three quarters of a mile apart ; one ftanding near the fouth end. and the other the north end of the ftreet, by which the in habitants are happily accommodated. In the year 1719, the firft meetinghoufe was e- re&ed, and here a church was gathered, and the Rev. Andrew Gardner, the firft minifter was or dained in the autumn of that fame year 1719, but the month and day cannot be afcertained. He was difmifled from Worcefter on the laft Wednefday of October 1722, and was afterwards fettled at Lunenburgh. Mr. Gardner was fucceeded in the facred office by the Rev. Ifaac Burr, who was or dained their fecond paftor, on the 25th of Octo ber 1725. He, likewife, after a few years, was difmifled from his work, viz. on November, 1744. After his removal the Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty, for a fhort fpace Minifter of Kingfton, in the coun ty of Plymouth, where he was ordained November 3d, 1742, was inftalled paftor, the third in fuccef- fion, of the church and people of Worcefter, on the loth of June 1747. He continued in office until his death, which was on July 20, 1784. After the Rev. Mr. Maccarty s death, a fecond church was formed here on December ift, 1785, and the Rev. Aaron Bancroft was ordained to the paftoral care thereof, February i, 1786. This fecond religious fociety was incorporated, as a dif* tinft Parifti November 13, 1787, To WORCESTER. 31 To the Rev. Mr. Maccarty fucceeded, as paftor of the firft church and fociety in Worcefter, the Rev. Samuel Auftin, who was inftalled here on the agth of September, 1790. This gentleman had been for a fhort fpace, minifter of the fourth con gregational fociety in Newhaven, in Connecticut. In Worcefter, a Social Library company has late ly been eftablifhed ; their flock already amounts to <)ol. and as theinftitution is founded on a large and liberal plan, it will doubtlefs be greatly increafed. In this town, a number of gentlemen, requefting the fame, received a charter in April, 1793, from the Maffachufetts Grand Lodge for holding a LODGE of FREE MASONS, by the name of the MORNING STAR LODGE, and Ifaiah Thomas, was unanimoufly elected Mafter. And on the nth of June, the Grand Lodge, of Maffachufetts, meet ing at Worcefter for the purpofe, he was inftalled by the moft worfhipful Grand Mafter, John Cut ler, and the Lodge confecrated. ^ The Mated meet ings of the Morning Star Lodge are on the third Tuefday of every month. We (hall now prefent our readers with a geo graphical defcription of the town of Worcefter. The town is full of round gradual rifing hills, and of dales : There are few craggy precipices, and few extenfive plains. The middle, or moft thick fettled part, is in a valley, furrounded by pleafant hills, and from the hill as we enter the town from the eaft, it makes an agreeable appearance. Tat- nuck and Boggachoag hills are remarkable for hav ing formerly had Indian towns on them. They C 4 arc 3 2 WORCESTER. are neither of them very high. Millftone hill, a- bout a mile from the courthoufe, to the eaft, is the common property of the inhabitants, who procure from thence flones, Tome of which they fplit out, and hew for underpinning to their houfes, for door flones and fteps. The flones are hard grained, and peculiarly fit for Millftones. It mufl be a fingu- lar advantage to fuch a town as Worcefter, to have fuch an inexhauftible quarry of building flone, which can be worked into any fhape, where there are, and will be fo many gentlemen who wifh to build with elegance, as well as for convenience. The natural growth of wood is oak, walnut and chefnut, on the higher lands, fome pine on the fmall plains and valleys, and in the fwamps and low lands, am, birch and maple. The town is well fupplied with wood. And as every farmer has his own plat of woodland upon his homeftead, fo the face of the town appears more woody from the hills, than it is in faft. The intcrfpcrfion of hills and dales, fields and woods, affords an agreea ble and variegated profpeft, extending about fix or feven miles from the obferver s eye. And a more enlarged view is not to be had from the great- ft eminence in the -town. The foil is pretty good, warm, more inclined to fand than clay, however it cannot be called fady ; is is friendly to the growth of Indian corn. Some of the farmers have lately turned their attention to railing wheat and flax, and with confiderable fuccefs. Rye is raifed here in great quantities. The rifing grounds are very good for paftures an4 orchards ; and the lower not indif ferent WORCESTER. 33 ferent fpr hay. Indeed, there is foil of almoft eve ry kind in ^ Worcefter, and almoft on every farm. It is not eafy to defcribe its general properties; for it is productive, in a degree, of almoft all kinds of country produce, and not noticeable for any par ticular one. How far this town affords mines and minerals, has never yet been fully afcertained. About the year 1754, a broad flat vein, about a foot thick, of lead and filver ore, in the proportion of 2^ penny weights of filver to one pound of lead, was difcov- ered, running flauntwife down into a rock. Some perfons purchafed it, and procured a miner, who followed it a little way into a rock, on a hill ; and then advifed to meet it by digging away before it. In this undertaking confiderable money was ex pended, but they never met the vein. After a while, they left off difcouraged. However, in digging to meet this vein, they found feveral pieces of ore, a- bout the lize of a peck, or half bufhel. Worcefter has really but one pond within its limits, this is called North Pond, and is of an oval form ; covering about 30 acres of ground, and is furrounded partly by woods and partly by a fwamp and meadow. Though not an agreeable pond, yet it is well iupplied with the ufual forts of common pond fifh, as pickerel, perch, miners, breams, eels, and pouts. Thefe fifh, however, are not of the beft quality, as the water is rather ftagnant, and the bottom muddy. As to Quinfigamond, or Long Pond, or what is fometimes called Worcefter Pond, the fads are thefc, that all the water of that pond which 34 WORCESTER. which lies within the line of the town of Worcefler, does not cover more than one acre of land, being two or three fmall coves : The reft of the pond lies within the bounds of Skrewfbury, and will be particular ly defcribed when we come to fpeak of that town. Worcefter is very well watered by rivers, brooks and rivulets. Bimilick, or Mill brook has its fource in North Pond ; and running foutherly, it crofles the great road a little north of the Courthoufe, and empties into Blackftone river. It is not more than ten feet wide and one foot deep ; but a fine flream. Turkeybrook, which is about the fame fize, origin ates in Holden. Tatnuck, or Halfway River, in the fouthwefterly part of the town, runs alfo from Holden, empties perhaps ten times as much wa ter, and is about two rods wide. This pafles on through Sutton, to the fouthward. Boggachoag river, which runs northwardly, through a corner of Ward, is nearly as large as Halfway River. Thefe three ftreams unite in French River, fo called. Upon thefe ftreams there are, within the town of Worcefter, a very large paper mill, four grift mills, four faw mills, two fulling mills, and two trip hammers. The fulling mills are the property of Meffrs. Stowell, father and fons. by whom the clothier s bufmefs, in all its branches, is carried on to as great perfection as any where in the ftate. They dye fine fcarlet, and deep blue colours, in the belt manner. Befidcs the above mentioned there are two or three works for the making of Potafh, in which Pearlafh is alfo made: Alfo a diftillery for gin. There WORCESTER. 3$ There is a Poft office in this town j the Poftmaf- ter is Ifaiah Thomas. The great poft road, from Bofton to Springfield is very good in that part of it which goes through Worcefter. As this is the {hire town, roads from all parts of the county, and in every direction, cen tre here. There is now a Poft road eftablifhed, from Worcefter to Providence, which paffes through Mendon. Worcefter is fituated 47 miles from Bofton, a little to the fouth of weft. Having faid what may be thought fufficient, in defcribing the town of Worcefter, we cannot take our leave of it, without mentioning with refpecl:, the name of Chandler. The town of Worcefter, in particular, and the county of Worcefter at large, were originally greatly indebted to the Hon. John Chandler, Efq; of Woodftock, the firft Judge in the county, andhisfon, the firft Col. John Chand ler of Worcefter, who, in procefs of time fucceed- ed his father in all his offices, titles and honours, for their addrefs, activity and enterprife. And their names ought to be held in grateful remembrance. LANCASTER, LANCASTER. 1 HIS is, by feveral years, the eldeft town in the county of Worcefler, and, originally, one of the largeft, as will appear in the fequel of this hiftory, when we come to mention the feveral large towns which have been fet off from it. So early as in the year 1645, Sholan. alias Shaumauw, proprietor of Najhawogg, and Sachem of the Najha- *ways, who lived at Waufhacum, (which is in Ster ling) informed Mr. Thomas King of Watertown, with whom he traded, and for whom he had a re- fpeft, of this tracl: of land as well accommodated for a plantation, defiring the Englifh would come and fet down by him. Accordingly, Mr. King, Mr. John Prefcot, Harmon Garret, Thomas Skid- more, Mr. Day, Mr. Symonds, with others, pro cured of faid Sholan, a deed of Nafhawogg, ten miles in lengh, and eight in breadth, under thefe reftriftions, that the Englim mould not mole ft the Indians in their hunting, fiming, orufual planting places. And the General Court confirmed the deed. And here we ought to obferve, the fidelity of Slwlan who conveyed this tracl: of land to the Englim, that he always behaved in a peaceable, friendly manner towards them. As did alfo Mat thew, his nephew, and fucceffor as Sachem ; but Sag amore. Sam, nephew to Matthew, and fucceeded him, was of a different temper and character; and, join ing with Philip in his rebellion, was taken by the Englifti, and executed as a rebel. They of the tribe tribe who furvived this war of Philip s divided ; one part moving to Albany, and the other to Pen- nicook, with which tribe they incorporated. Let us return from this digreflion. Mr. King fold all his intereft in this grant to his affociates, who having given lots of land to Richard Linton, Lawrence Waters, and John Ball, fent them up to perform divers things at the common expenfe of the proprietors : And thefe were the firft inhabi tants. For the fpace of feven years little was done to forward the fettlement of the plantation ; nev- erthelefs, there being nine families in the place, they petitioned the General Court tp be incorpora ted as a town, which was granted on the i8th of May, 1653, and the name of Lancafter was given tp it. The town was in peace and profperity for the fpace of twenty two years, from its incorporation and the Indians were very ferviceable to the inhab itants, by fupplying them, on reafonable terms, with fuch corn and wild meat as they needed. But on the 24th of June, 1675, Philip, Sackem of Pbcanoket, commonly called King Philip, re belled againft the Englifh, and commenced a moft bloody and deftru&ive war. And on the 22d of Auguft following, eight perfons, viz. George Ben- net, William Fagg, Jacob Farrar, Jofeph Wheeler, Mordecai MacLoad, with his wife and two of their children, were killed in different parts of the town. The N-arraganfet Indians, joining Philip in his rebellion, marched into the country, and perfuad- ed the Nipnets and Nafhaways to feake up arms al to againft the Englifh, Philip 38 LA N C A S T E R. Philip at the head of about 1500 Indians, marched for I.ancafter, in which there were then above fifty families. And on the the toth of Feb- % ruary, 1676, very early in the morning, affaulted the town in five diftinft bodies and places, burn ing moft of the unfortified houfes, and killing fev- eral perfons, viz. Jonas Fairbank, Jofhua Fairbank, Richard Wheeler, Ephraim Sawyer, Henry Farrar, and Mr. Ball and wife. However, they deftroyed no garrifon, but that round the Rev. Mr. Rowland- Ton s houfe ; in which there were foldiers and in habitants to the amount of forty two. The enemy foon fet fire to the houfe, which re duced the Englifh to the fad neceffity of furrender- ing to the Indians, rather than to perifh by the flames. The men, except Ephraim Roper, who made his efcape, were immediately flain, orreferv- ed for torture : Their names were, Mr. Divol, A- braham Joflin, Daniel Gains. Thomas Rowlandfon, William and Jofiah Kerley. John MacLoad, John Kettle and his two fons, Jofiah Divol, &c. &c. Two of the women, one the wife of Capt. Ker ley, the other the wife of Ephraim Roper, were killed in attempting to efcape ; the other women, with the children, about twenty in number, were- carried into captivity ; among whom was the con- fort of the Rev. Mr. Rowlandfon. with three chil dren, the youngeft of which died on the i8th of the fame month of its wounds in the wildernefs, at an Indian place called Wenimeflet, or Memi- nimeffet, north of Quaboag, aged about fix years and a half. This place, was included in the orig inal grant of Lambftown, or Hardwick, but is now within LANCASTER. 39 within the limits of Newbraintree. In the fame place alfo, the wife of Abraham Joflin, being una ble to travel by reafon of her pregnancy, the In dians firft knocked her in the head, with her child about two years old, made a large fire, ftripped them naked, and then threw them both thereinto. The other women and children, or the moft of them, foon after returned. Mrs. Rowlandfon, with her t\vo furviving children, returned in about three months. We muft in this place, obferve the rea fon of Mr. Rowlandfon s not falling into the hands of the enemy with the garrifon, was, that he was then at Bofton, foliciting the Governour and Council for more foldiers for the protection of the town ; and mef the heavy tidings, before related, on his return. Capt. Wadfworth, then at Marlbor- ough, hearing of the affault of Lancafter, with for ty brave men, marched immediately for its relief, and, entering the town undifcovered, forced the enemy, at that time, to quit it. He quartered his men in various parts of the town, and tarried fev- eral days, but before his departure, had one of his men, George Harrington, killed by the Indians. This is that famous Capt. Wadfworth, who af terwards with Capt. Brocklebank, and the much greater part of their men, glorioufly fell, in the caufe of their country, in a fight with the enemy at Sudbury. About fix weeks after the above affault of the town, it being judged untenable under the then prefent circumftances both of that and the coun try, the remainder of the inhabitants, except John Roper, who was killed by the enemy that fame day 40 LANCASTER. day, drew off under a guard of horfe and foot. And immediately on this defertion of the place, all the buildings, fave two, were reduced to aflies. In this Rate of defolation, the town continued about four years ; during which time the Rev. Mr. Rowlandfon preached at Wethersficld in Connecti cut, and there he died, before the refettlement of the town. From 1680 to the year 1692, they were not molefted in the refettlement of the town. But the French king efpoufing tbe caufe of James the fecond in 1688, who had abdicated the Britifh throne, involved the nation in a war with France, and Newengland in a war with the Canadians, both French and Indians : In the calamities of which this town had a large fhare. For, on the i8th of July 1692, the Indiansaifaulted the houfeof Peter Joflin, who was at his labour in the field ; and knew nothing thereof, until, entering the houfe, he found his wife and three children, with a widow Whitcomb, who lived in his family, barbaroufly butchered with their hatchets, and weltering in their blood. His wife s filter, with another of his children, were carried into captivity me returned ; but that child was murdered in the wildernefs. In 1695, on a Lord s day morning, Mr. Abraham Wheeler, was mortally wounded. On the nth of September, 1697, when the inhabitants, not fufpi- cious of any enemy, were gone out to their labour, the Indians came, in feveral companies, into the town, and were near furprifing Thomas Sawyer s garrifon, both the gates bei-ng left open ; but Jabez Fairbank, who was at his own houfe half a mile s LANCASTER. 41 mile s diftance, and, defigning to bring his little fon from faid garrifon, mounted his horfe, (which came running to him in a fright) and rode, full fpeed, into the gate, but yet nothing fufpicious of an enemy : However, this was a mean of favrhg the garrifon ; for the enemy, who were juft ready to rufh into it, fuppofing they were difcovered, gave over that delign, and fired at fuch as were iri the fields. At this t;me. the Rev. John Whiting being, on fome occalion, at a diftance from his garrifon, they furprifed and killed him they, in deed, offered him quarter ; but he chofe rather to fight to the laft, than refign himfelf to them whofe tender mercies are cruelty. At the fame time they killed twenty others, viz. Daniel Hudfon and his wife and two of their daughters, Ephraim Roper t and wife and daughter, John Skait and wife, Jofeph Rugg and wife and three children, widow Ruggj Jonathan Fairbank, and two of bis chil dren, and two of the children of Nathaniel Hud fon : They wounded two, but not mortally ; and captivated Jonathan Fairbank s wife, widow- Wheeler, Ephraim Roper s fon, John Skait s fon, Jofeph Rugg s fon, and Mary Glafier : Five of thefe returned. In 1704, a large army of French and Indians came^from Canada, with a defign to deftroy North ampton, but, finding they were prepared to receiv^ them, they turned their courfe towards Lancafter ; and on the 3ift of July, early in the morning, they fell furioufly upon the town ; and in their firfl onfet killed Lieut. Nathaniel Wilder, near the D gate 4 2 LANCASTER, gate of his own garrifon ; and on the Came day three others, viz. Abraham How, John Spaulding, and Benjamin Hutchins, near the lame garrifon. The enemy were uncommonly brave, and there fore, though Capt. Tyng, who commanded the fpldiers. of the garrifon, and Capt. How, with a company from Marlborough, who marched imme diately to their afliftance,, together with the in habitants of the town, maintained a warm conflict with them, for fome time, yet being much inferior in number were obliged to retreat into the garri fon. Upon this the enemy burned the meeting- houfe, and fix other buildings, and deftroyed much of the live {lock of the town. Before night there came fuch numbers to the relief of the town, that the enemy retreated ; and though purfued, were not overtaken. What number of the enemy were killed at the above time is uncertain ; but it was fuppofed to-be confiderable : A French officer, of fome diftinc- tion, was mortally wounded, which greatly exaf- perated them. On the 26th of Oftober, the fame year, 1704, a party of the enemy having been dif covered at Still River, the foldiers and inhabitants belonging to Mr. Gardiner s garrifon, with divers others, went in queft of them, and returned in the evening much fatigued with the fervice of the day Mr. Gardner, (who had been preaching feveral years with the people of Lancafter, and was now their Paftor ele6l) in compaflion to the foldiery, took the watch that night upon himfclf ; and coming out LANCASTER. 43 out of the box, late in the night upon fome occa- lion, was heard by one Samuel Prefcott in the houfe, between fleeping and waking, wfco, fuppof- ing him an enemy, feized the firft gun which came ; to hand, and mot him through the body in the parade. But the fatal miftake immediately ap peared ; and he, being carried into the houfe, for gave the perfon who mot him, and in an hour or two expired, to the great grief, not only of his confort, but of his people, who had afi high efteem of him. On the i5th of October, 1705, Mr. Thomas Sawyer, with his fon, Elias Sawyer, and John Big- low, were captivated at his garrifoned houle, about the dawn of day. Mr. Sawyer s youngefl fon, about fourteen years of age, efcaped through a back window of the houfe. The Indians treated Mr. Sawyer with much cruelty, but at length they arrived at Montreal. There Mr. Sawyer obferved to the French Gov ernor, that on the River Chamblee there was a fine feat for mills; and that he would build a faw- mill for him, provided he would procure a ranfom for himfelf, his fon, and Biglow. The Governor readily clofed with the propofal, as, at that time, there was no fawmill in all Canada, nor artificer capable of building one. He accordingly applied to the Indians, and obtained the ranfom of youug Sawyer and Biglow, without the leail difficulty ; but no fum would purchafe Mr. Sawyer s redemp tion : Him, (being diftinguifhed for his bravery, whfch had proved fatal to a number of their brefh- ]>? 2 ren) 44 LANCASTER. ren) they were determined to immolate. The vi&im was accordingly led forth and actually fattened to the ftake, environed with materials, fo difpoled as to effec~l a lingering death. The favages, fur- rounding the unfortunate prifoner, began fo antic ipate the horrid pleafure of beholding their cap tive writhing in tortures amidft the rifmg flames, and of rending the air with their difmal yells. On a fudden a Friar appeared, and, with great folemni- ty, held forth what he declared to be the key to the gates of Purgatoiy ; and told them unlefs they im mediately releafed their prifoner, he would inflantly unlock thofe gates, and fend them headlong therein to. Superftition prevailed, and wrought the deliver ance of Mr. Sawyer : For they, at once, unbound him, and gave him up to the Governor. In one year he compleated a mill, when he and Biglow were discharged. They detained his fon Elias one year longer, to inftruct them in the art of fawing and keeping the mill in order ; when he was amply re- warded, and fent home to his friends ; where his fa ther and he both lived to a good old age, and were gathered to their graves in peace. On the i6th of July, 1707, Mr. Jonathan White was killed by the Indians. And on the 1 8th of Auguft in this fame year, 1707, twenty four flout Indians, who, according to their own account, had all been captains, came to Marlborough, and. be- fides other mifchief they did there,* captivated Mr. Jonathan Wilder, a native of Lancafter: The next day, they were purfued by about thirty people from Marlborougfc * See mention of this fame company, in the account of Northborough, LANCASTER. 45 Maiiborough and La nca-fler, and overtaken in what is now Sterling . The front of our men came upon them before they had the lead apprehenfion of a pur- fuit.- Their packs were all flung, and, it being a mi fly day, their cafes were on their guns : And, therefore, had our men all run down upon them, they might probably have deftroyed, or taken them all, and faved the life of the captive. The enemy, at the firft appearance of our men, had de termined to refign themfelves to their mercy But obferving only ten of the thirty, to come towards them, they took courage, unflung their packs, and fought like men, having firft difpatched their cap tive Mr. Wilder. In this aftion the enemy loft nine of their number, and all their packs : And on our part two men, Mr. John Farrar arid Mr. Richard Singletary, were killed, and two, Mr. Ephraim Wilder and Mr. Samuel Stevens, were wounded, but not mortally. On Auguft 5th, 1710, a party of the enemy coming by advantage of the bufhes very near to Mr. Nathaniel and Mr. Oliver Wilder, and an Indian fervant at their labour in the field, the fervant was killed, but the men efcaped to the gar- rifon. And this tvas the lajl mifchief done by the enemy, in Lancafter. After that period they were a peaceable, profperous, happy people ; they grew and flourifhed, multiplied and increafed, they fpread and extended their branches far and wide : So that, with the greateft propriety, the people of this place may adopt the words of the pfalmift, in reference to Ifrael, and fay, ." Many a time have D 3 they 4 6 LANCASTER* they affii&ed me from my youth many a time have they afflifted me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed again ft me." 1 would here obferve, the account given above of the defolations, and ca lamities which befel the town of Lancafter, is, chiefly in the words of the Rev. Mr. Harrington, in a century fermon he preached there on the 28th .of May, 1753. J will now proceed to give fome particular ac count of the Ecclefiaflical ftate of this town, from its beginning. It was incorporated, as we have laid, in 1653. The following year, Mr. Jofeph Rowlandfon preached among the people, and con tinued fo doing, until April 14th, 1658, when they invited him to fettle with them in the work of the miniftry ; their invitation he accepted, and proba bly w.as ordained tho* fame year, at which time, 110 doubt the Church of Chrifl was gathered here : Al though of thefe things we cannot fpeak with cer tainty, fmco the records of the Church, in Mr. Rowlandfon s time, were, in all probability, con- fumed in his garrifon. As the town was wholly broken up and deftroyed, as above related, in 1676, fo the Rev. Mr. Rowlandfon continued with the people from the firfl but about 22 years, and died before th;i refcttlemcnt of the town. The place lay in ruins about four years. In 1680, they began to refettlc : And divers gentlemen preached with them. In February, 1688, Mr. John Whit ing was invited to preach with them on probation ; ,and continued preaching until November, 1690, when he was invited to take the overfight of them in 1 A N C A S T E R. 47 hi the Lord ; and he, accepting their invitation was, probably, faon after ordained. But we cannot be certain of the precife day, as no records of the time of his miniftry have ever been found. He continued but a mort fpace, in the facred office, fceing cut off, by the enemy, as before mentioned, on the nth o.f September, 1697. In May, 1701, Mr. Andrew Gardner, began to preach at Lancafter, and in September following the people gave him a call to fettle with them in the work of the gofpel miniftry. This invitation he accepted, and his ordination was appointed j but before the day carne a fudden and furprifing death arrefted him : Being unfortunately, but mor tally wounded in the houfe of his friends, in his own garrifon, in the night following the 26th of October, 1704 ; the particulars of which have been related above. In May, 1705, Mr. John Prentice came to preach among this people, and fupplied the defk until February, 1707, when he received an invitation to fettle among them, which he accepted ; and he was accordingly, folemnly feparated unto this fa cred employment onthe.2gth of March, 1708. In his day there was peace, and the town grew and flourimed exceedingly : For during his miniftry, from his diocefe were formed the towns of Harv ard, Bolton, Leominfter, and the fecond precmflt, which is now called Sterling. He was a good and faithful fervant of Jefus Chrift, continuing in his office almoft forty years, living much beloved ; and died greatly lamented, on the 6th of January, 1748. D 4 The 48 LANCASTER. The breach made upon the Church and town was happily repaired the enfuing fall, in the inftallment of the Rev. Timothy Harrington, to the paftoral of fice among them, November i6ih, 1748; who ftill continues in an advanced age. The Rer. Mr. Harrington, through age and bod ily infirmities, being taken off from his publick la bours, the people of Lancafter have invited Mr. Nathaniel Thayer, to fettle with them in the work of the gofpel miniflry, as colleague with the vener able Mr. Harrington, who, having accepted their invitation, is, by the leave of Providence, to be fol- emnly feparated unto the fame October gth, 1793. We muft here obferve, that although this place was greatly frowned upon, in their early days, in the fhort lives, and premature deaths of their firft minifters, yet fmce that time, the people have been as fignally fmiled upon, and bleffed in the long and ufeful lives of two eminent minifters in fucceflion, whofe courfes together make up the long fpace of 84 years. The Rev. Mr. Harrington, was firft fettled in the miniftry at a place then called, Lower AJhue.{ot> now Swanzey, in the ftate of Newhampfhire : Here he was ordained November i6th, 1741. This place was totally dcftroyed by the Indians on the 2d of April, 1747, from whence he was driven with his family and flock. The people of Lancaf ter having invited Mr. Harrington to fettle with them, and there being no profpeft of the return of his former Church and flock to Afhuelot, he firft obtained a regular difmiffion from them, and there upon L A N;C ASTER. 49 upon generoufly refigned to them his whole inter- eft there, and all arrearages due to him, and accept ed the invitation to take the overfight of the Church and flock of God in Lancafler. Let us return ; the town of Lancaster has all the appearances of age. A number of gentleman have built very elegant feats here : Ai>d there are a coniiderable number of (lores and mops in the town : And as there are large roads, and much travel through the place, of courfe much btifinefs is done here in the way of trade. The pleafant- nefs of the place has invited many perfons of edu cation and fortune hither. And here they have a large focial library, under good regulations and con- lifting of a fine colle&ion of good and Tifeful books. In this town there is eftabJiflied a Lodge of Free Mafons, the hiftory whereof is as follows. Upon the petition of a number of gentlemen to the ancient Grand Lodge of free and accepted Ma fons, a charter was granted January 31, 1778, to the petitioners, and their fucceffors, for holding a Lodge in Lancafter, by the name of Trinity Lodge. This is held on the firft Tuefday evenings in each month. From the date of the charter to this time, there have been initiated 166 perfons, from this and other towns in the vicinity : Of thefc 135 have received the degree of Fellow Crafts; and 125 have been raifed to Mafter Mafons. From its commencement the Lodge has been governed by the following matters, viz. In the year 1778, Michael Newhall was elected Mafter, 1779? Edmund Heard, do. 1780, 50 LANCASTER. 1780, do. do. 1781, do. do. . 1782, do. do. 1783, Ifaiah Thomas, do. 1784, Timothy Whit ing, jun. do. 1785, do. do. 1786, Ephraim Carter, do. 1787, Timothy Whiting, jun. do. 1788, Abijah Wyman, do. 1789, Edmund Heard, do. 1790, do. do. 1791. do. do. 1792, do. do. 1793, do. was again chofen matter, but foon after leaving the government was fucceeded by Timothy Whiting, jun. We proceed to a Geographical, and Topo graphical defcription of Lancailer. It is about nine miles in length from north to fouth, and four in width from eaft to weft : Bounded by Lunenburgh and Leominfter on the north and north weft ; by Shirley in the county of Middlefex, on the north- caft ; by Harvard, Bolton and Berlin, on the eaft; by Boylfton on the fouth, and by Sterling on the weft. The body of the town is fituated on low and level lands near the intervals ; and fo as to afford an agreeable profpeft of a confiderable part of it. There are two main branches of the Rivej Nafhaway. The north branch originates from a Pond in Weftminfter, and, running through Fitch- burghand Lcorninfter, enters Lancafter in the North weft part of the town ; and purfues a foutheall courfe into the middle of it, within a few rods of the meetinghoufe. The foujh branch fprings up from the foot of Watchufett. in Princeton, and running through Sterling and Boylfton, enters at the fouth- weft angle of the town ; then running northeafter- ly, meets the north branch about half a mile, below the meetinghoufe ; and thn, kee_ping a northeaJT- tern courfe, enters Shirley. On both branches and within LANCASTER. 51 the town of Lancafler they have corn and faw mills. There are nine large bridges within the town : Two on the north branch, three on the fouth, and four after their junction. None are lefs than five rods in length ; and the firft af- ter the confluence of thefe waters is planked ten rods. On the two branches, and after they unite, there is a vaft body of exceeding rich interval land, of a great depth of foil, and which is moft excel lent for grafs, and produces in abundance the befl of hay. This interval is alfo good for railing flax and hemp : It is alfo good for Indian corn ; and a fteam of fog from the waters preferves the corn in the intervals, when at the diftance of ten or fifteen rods, the corn will be deftroyed by frofts. The river Nafhaway overflows the whole interval, of nearly 3000 acres, twice in a year, in the fpring, and in autumn, and in fome places two miles in width. Sometimes it has overflowed the interval lands in furnmer ; and then it has generally done vaft damage, by carrying off fences, great quanti ties of hay and flax, &c. and deftroyed large fields of Indian corn. In 1787, byafrefhet, a faw mill, on the north branch, about two miles from the meetinghoufe, was fwept off, and about three acres of good rich interval land wafhed away to the depth of 12 feet, leaving only a bed of cobble ftones, en tirely ufelefs. The lands rifing from the interval are, moftly, plain and level, on which the build ings, in the middle of the town, ftand ; and rfiefe lands are good for all kinds of grain : Wheat and hemp are raifed upon them in great plenty. The higher lands are good for wood and pafturage. George 5* LANCASTER. George hill, fo called, lays all along on the wefteriy fide of the town, on which there afe a number of very excellent farfris ; it rifes, gradually, high, but is not too rocky : It is a moifl foil, abounding with fprings, and clay : And in this totvn are an nually made many hundreds of thoufands of brick. There is a great plenty and rich variety of fruits on the high hilly lands, weft of the town ; large and good orchards : But there are very few apple trees in the middle of the town. The growth of wood, on the higher lauds is oak of the various forts, chefnut and walnut. The intervals abound with elm, buttonwood, but- fnnut, and ftiagbark. In the north and fouth and eaft parts of the town there are extenfive plains covered with pitch pine. Here are works for making pearl and pot afh. And the late Col. Caleb Wilder, was the perfon who firft difcovered the method of making potafli in kettles. In the northeafterly part of Lancafter is the fine ?md valuable, and, perhaps, inexhauftible, flate pit, furni thing fiales and tile for the roofs of houfes ; and moft excellent ftones, for tombs and graves.* Lancafler has a number of ponds within its limits. Cumbcrry Pond lies in the north part of the town, towards Lunenburgh, not far from the ilate pit. It is not large ; but what is very notice able is, the water in this pond is obferved to rife as much as two feet juft before a dorm. Not far from * This wa* firft difcovmd by a Mr. Flagg. The Hate* have been in ufe shout 40 years. The quarry is now owned by Mr. Jofcph Wales. No Jlates equal to thefe have yet been difcovered on the Continent. Great ntrtnbcrs arc ttfcd in fcofton, every feafon. They are alfo exported to Vir |inia t toNrwyork, to Hartford in Connecticut, &c. &c. &c. LANCASTER. 53 from this, and about five miles from the meeting- hquje, is fituated Turner Pond ; there is a fmall outlet from hence to Spe&aele Pond, in form of a bow, whence they take the name, Speftacle Pond. Near thefe is another, called Fort Pond, whence if- fues a ftream on which there are mills in Shirley. From Spectacle Pond a ftream runs fufficient to cany a faw mill, and a fulling mill, aud then falls into the north branch of Nafhaway River. In the fouthwefi part of the town there is a fmall pond, called Sandy Pond, from the border of which between high and low water mark*, they gather a fine white fand. At the foutheaft angle of the town lays . Clam/hell Pond, near to Berlin, from whence iffues Nnrthbrook, as mentioned in the de- fcription of Berlin. On the weft of the ftream which carries Prefcott s mills, which runs from Little Pond in Sterling, is fituated MofTy Pond, oppofite to, and about the fize of Sandy Pond. This laft mentioned pond al ways rifes in a dry time. We have now to obferve, that the town of Lan- cafter is at great expenfe in building and repairing bridges and caufeways : And the General Court, in confideration hereof, granted a Lottery, a few years paft, whereby they might raife a certain fum of money for thefe purpofes. Nevrthelefs, al though their rivers occafion the people much coft, and fometimes great lofs and damage by the. frefhets, yet the bounteous Author of Nature, ieemed to confider thefe things, and made them great, if not full compenfaUon, by fome fingular natural advantages in the town ; and in particu lar, 54 M E N D O N. lar, by the richnefs and fertility of their large in tervals ; and the eafe with which their lands are cultivated, and made productive. And upon the whole, notwithflanding it has been curtailed on every fide, this is Mill a very large and wealthy town ; peaceable and happy ; profperous and flouriihing ; and the people are induftrious and good. In this town when the general cenfus was taken, in the year 1791, there were 214 houfes, and 1460 inhabitants. The town is juft about 40 miles from Bofton, very little to the north of weft, and 14 miles from the Courthoufe in Worcefter a lit tle to the northeaft. M E N D O N. 1 HIS is a very ancient town indeed, the fecond in age in the county. It was an orig inal grant to certain perfons. of eight miles fquare, made by the General Court, at an early period, we cannot fay exactly when ; it was called Quanfhi- pauge by the natives. It was incorporated by an Aft of the Legiflature, on the 151?! of May, 1667, and the name of Mendon given to it. It was lo cated, a plan drawn, and return made to the General Court, by a Mr. Jofliua Fifher. After the Province line was fettled, it was again fur- veyed, and a plan of it drawn by a Mr. William Rider, M E N D O N. 5tf. Rider, in the year 1725 ; according to which plan its boundaries and extent were as follow, begin ning at fouthweft corner it ran eaft feven and an half miles on the line between Mafl achufetts and Rhodeifland ; then north four miles and 40 rods j then eaft, one mile by a river ;. then north again, three miles and 280 rods ; then weft, eight and an half miles ; then fouth eight miles, to te firft bounds. But this meafuremuft be very large, fmce all Uxbridge, almoft the whole of North- bridge, and a large part of Upton were taken from Mendon, together with Milford ; and ftill there re main two parifhes in the town. Its prefent bounda ries by atual furvey, are fouth, by Rhodeifland State, fix miles and a quarter ; on the weft, by Uxbridge and Northbridge, feven miles and 140 rods to Up ton line ; north weft, by Upton, two miles; northeaft, by Milford, four miles and a quarter ; eaft, by Bel- lingham in the county of Suffolk, four miles and three quarters. When they held their firft town meeting, or firft adted as a corporate body, does not appear, nor when the Church was gathered and the firft minifter was fettled. Here, as in fome other inftances we may meet with, we have to lament the entire want of ancient records. If ever any records were kept in thofe early days, of thefe matters, they were loft when the town was broken up] in the time of the Indian wars, or in fome other way. We have alfo to - regret the ob- fcurity and defects attending fuch records as are to be lound. In little more than eight years from the incor poration of Mendon, commenced the Narraganfet, or $ M E N D O .V. or King Philip s war. And all that I can find in " Hubbard s hiftoiy of the Indian wars," or in " Governor Hutchinfon s hiftory f Maflachufetts," or by any other way, is this, viz. " On the 14th of July, 1675, the Nipnet or Nipmuck Indians, killed four or five people at Mcndon." And this was the firfl mifchief ever done by the Indians with in the ancient limits of the MafFachufetts. For it muft h ;-; remembered, that the colony of Plymouth was not annexed to Maffachufetls until the charter from vv ilham and Mary in 1691. I cannot find that cvejr any other mifchief was done by the In dians in Mendon, except the abovcmentioned. However the people then here were in fuch fear and danger, as that the town was entirely broken up for fome time, and moft or all of them moved off. K How long the place remained defolate, we are un- abie to fay with certainly. It could not be long, as will appear by the following account of the ec- clefiaflical ftate of Mendon. All we can find on record is fimply this "The Rev. Jofeph Emerfon was the firfl Paftor of the Church in Mendon. He lived here before the war, known by the ftile of King Philip s Indian war." I add, in this war the town and church were broken up, and Mr. Emerfon never returned to officiate with them in the pa ft oral office. Tra dition fays, he was minifter here about eight years, this will carry back the date of his ordination, and the gathering of the Church, to the year 1667, that is, to about the time when the town was incorporat ed. The records go on to fay L The M E N P O N. 57 " The Rev. Grindall Rawfon was the fecond Paftor of the Church in this town. He was or dained in the 2Oth year of his age. He died Feb ruary the 6th, 1715, in the 57th year of his age, and 37th of his miniftry." But here we muft ob- ferve, his tombftone fays, " he died in the 35th year of his miniftry :" And this is the more proba ble for feveral reafons. According to the town record, he muft have been fettled in the year 1678, which is carrying it back too near the time when the town was broken up : And confidering the then ftate of the country, in conftant fear, and great danger from the Indians, it is not at all likely they mould refettle fo foon ; but in the year 1680 they probably might. The records further fay, " The Rev. Jofeph Dorr was the third Paftor of this Church. He died March gth, 1768, in the jgth year of his age, and the 52d year of his miniftry." This will carry back the time of the Rev. Mr. Dorr s ordination to the year, 1716. The Rev. Jofeph Willard fucceeded Mr. Dorr in the work of the gofpel miniftry in Mendon, whereunto he was folemnly confecrated on the igth of April, 1769. He was difmifled from his pa floral relation to this Church and people, on the 4th of December, 1782, in the 13th year of his miniftry. This difmiflion of Mr. Willard was occafioned by the coldnefs and inattention of the people. The Rev. Mr. Willard was inftalled Paftor of the Church and flock of God in Boxborough, in the county of Middlefex, on the ad of November, 1785, where he lives in E peace 6 8 MENDON. peace and harmony with his people. The Rev. Caleb Alexander fucceeded Mr. Willard as Paftor of the firft Church and congregation in Mendon, (the fifth in fucceflion) where he was inftalled the 12th of April, 1786, in the 31(1 year of his age, and where he continues in his facred employment. This gentleman had been previoufly fettled at New- marlborough in the county of Berkfhire for a fhort fpace. There is a fecond parifh in this town, which was incorporated as a diftinft precincl; for minifterial purpofes, by the appellation of " The fouth parifh in Mendon," in the year 1766. In this fame year the congregational inhabitants of this parifh began to build them a meetinghoufe for the publick worfhip of God, and accomplifhed the work in a fhort time. And in the year 1768, the Church of Chrifl, in this fouth parifti was imbodi- ed, and the Rev. Benjamin Balch was ordained their Paftor. And on Saturday morning March 2jth, 1772, before daylight, Mr. Balch left the parifh, without knowledge or confent of the people of his charge. Mr. Balch was, a few years fince, inftalled at Barrington in Newhampfhire. About one half of the people of this fouth parifh have been Anabaptifts and Quakers, ever fince that part of the town was firft fettled, which was about 90 years ago. And from the time when Mr. Balch left this parifh, the congregational intereft therein has been in a declining ft ate. They feldom have any preaching j nor is there any prefent profped of their M E N D O N. $$ their ever having another minifter fettled among them. As to the religious (late of both parifhes in Men- don, let it fuffice to fay, there are, in general, three denominations, Congregationalifts, Anabaptifts, and Friends. There is another clafs without a name. A fmall fociety of Friends are very punc tual in attending their form of worfhip ; and they have a very decent meetinghoufe for the purpofe. Some who are, politically, Friends, do not intereft themfelves much in any form. There is not in the town any incorporated fociety of Anabaptifts. They who are of this perfuafion, go fometimes on the fabbath to other towns, to attend publick wor- (hip, in their way. Having faid what will be thought fufficient, re- fpe&ing the religious ftate and ecclefiaftical polity of Mendon, fome Geographical Defcription of the town mail now be prefented to the reader. The land, in general, is good, though there is fome which is rough and hard : The foil is rich and very productive. It is moftly high, hilly land, yet not very uneven : And there is a fufficiency of ftones to fence their farms. The old parifh abounds principally in mowing and pafture land. The fouth parifh is better adapted to grain. The town is excellent for orcharding, and all kinds of fruit trees. There are three high hills in this place, from either of which the four Newenglanct States, may be feen, in a fair day. They are known by the following names, Caleb s Hill, this is near the centre of the town ; Wigwam Hill, is fituated a lit- % 2 tie 60 M E N D O N. tie to the fouth weft, from Caleb s Hill ; and Mif- kte or Mifqueo Hill, this lies in the northweft corner of the town, and part of it falls within the limits of Upton. The groves of wood here are, in general, very thrifty and tall, confifting for the moil part of walnut and oak. There are fine forefts of moft excellent chefnut, fuitable for buildings Of for fences. The town of Mendon, like almoft all other high, hilly, rocky places, is moift, rich, flrong land, well watered with numerous fprings and rivulets : But there are no dreams of note, except two : The firft is Charles River, which touches on the eadern part of this town. This River takes its rife from a marfhy place in the fouthweft part of Hopkin- ton, in the county of Middlefex, and runs fouth, through Milford in this county, and the eafterly part of Mendon, and then paffes on to Belling- ham, in the county of Suffolk. The fecond is Mill River, which alfo originates in the fouthweft- ern part of Hopkinton, and, running through the weftern part of Milford, paffes through the eafter- ly fide of Mendon, and eroding the road to Provi dence, joins Blackdone River, near Winfooket Falls, in the town of Cumberland, in the State of Rhodeidand. There is but one Pond in this town, lituated in the weftera part of it, and called Taft s JPond ; it is large, and affords great plenty of the lifual forts of Hook fifti. There is no vifible flream which runs into this pond ; but a dream iffues from it fufficient to carry a grift mill. On thefe M E N D O N. 6l thefe rivers and ftreams, within the town, there ar$ five grift mills, two faw mills, two clothiers works, and one forge. There is ibme good inter val lands upon thefe ftreams, and fome bodies of excellent meadows, and induftry might make more. The people fubfift chiefly by farming ; they have indeed the common mechanicks, and one or two dealers in European, Eaft and Weftindia goods : And here they have both pot and pearl am works. The place derives great benefit from the pub- lick roads which pafs through it in various direc tions. The road from the northerly part of Con necticut, paffes through Mendon to Bollon. The poft road from Worcefter to Providence alfo goes through this town ; as alfo a road, of much travel, from Vermont and Newhampfhire, and the north part of the county of Worcefter into the State of Rhodeifland. Mendon is fituated quite at the foutheaft angle of the county ; and is 37 miles from Bofton, to the fouthweft, and 18 miles from, the Courthoufe in Worcefter. When the late enu meration was made there were 22 2 dwelling houfes, and 1555 inhabitants, in the place. It has flood as the twelfth among the towns, in the proportion it pays to a ftatc tax. 3 BROOKF1ELD. BROOKFIELD. 1 HIS is the third town in age, and the firfl as to its wealth and number, in the coun ty, containing, when the cenfus was taken, 438 dwelling houfes, and 3100 inhabitants. A num ber of inhabitants of Ipfwich, in the county of Ef- fex, petitioned the General Court for a tract of land, and obtained their requeft, in the words following, " At a great and general Court of election held at Boflon the 2Oth of May, 1660. In anfwer to a petition of feveral inhabitants of Ipfwich, this court judgeth it meet to grant the petitioners fix miles fquare, or fo much land as fhall be contained in fuch a compafs, in a place near Quaboag pond." The grantees, that they might have a juft and equitable, as well as a legal, right to the land, pur- chafed it of the natives, who claimed and poffeffed it, and it was conveyed to them by deed. Not- withflanding the great difadvantages under which they then laboured, in the infancy of our country, in the midft of the Indian enemy, and no Englifh fettlements nearer than Marlborough on the eaft, and Springfield on the weft, the inhabitants fo in- creafed and flourifhed, as that upon application to the General Court, they were incorporated into a townlhip, by the name of Brookfield, by an act which bears date, October 15th, 1673. But the court appointed and continued a committee of three gentlemen, belonging to other places, to di rect, BROOKFIELD, 63 reft, regulate and ratify all affairs relative to fettling and building up the town. A committee, appoint ed as aforefaid, petitioned the General Court to be releafed from fuch fervices, and prayed that the in habitants might be left to conduct and manage their own affairs, which was granted November 12th, 1718. The inhabitants, not fatisfied with their firft grant, petitioned the Court for more land, when an aft paffed December 3, 1719, making the town eight miles fquare. In the year 1675, not two years after its incor poration, Brookfield was utterly deftroyed by the Indians, when the inhabitants confided of about twenty families ; they had then a houfe for pub- lick worfhip, and preaching, but no fettled minif- ter. The circumflances of its defolation are of im portance to be tranfmitted to poflerity, and I mail relate them, as I have collected and laid them to gether from the late Governor Hutchinfon s hiftory of Maflachufetts, the Rev. Mr. Hubbard s hiftory of the Indian war, and Capt. Thomas Wheeler s narrative thereof. "The Nipnet orNipmuck* Indians, having on the i4th of July, 1675, killed four or five people at Mendon, the governor and council, in hopes of reclaiming them, fent Capt. Edward Hutchinfon, of Bofton, to Quaboag, Brookfield, near which place there was to be a great rendezvous of thofe Indians, to treat with feveral Sachems, in order to the publick peace: and ordered Capt. Thomas Wheeler, of Concord, with a part of his troop, about 20 men, to accom- E 4 pany * " Thefe were feated upon lefs rivers and lakes, or large ponds, where now ;;, and towns near it." Hutchinfon s hiflory. 64 BROOKFIELD. pany him for fecurity and afliftance. They ar rived on the Lord s day, Auguft the ift, and fenta jneffage to the Indians, defining to treat with them. Three of the chief Sachems promifed to meet them next morning about eight o clock, Augufl gd, upon a plain at the head of Wickaboug Pond, two or three miles weft of the meetinghoufe. Captains Hutch- infon and Wheeler, with their company, and three of the principal inhabitants of Brookfield, Capt. John Ayres, John Coye, and Jofeph Pritchard, re- forted thither at the appointed time, but found not the Indians there. They then rode forward about four or five miles towards the Nipnet s chief town. When they came to a place called Mominimiflet, a narrow paflage, between a fteep hill and a thick fwamp, they were ambuflied by two or three hundred Indians, who mot down eight of the company, viz. Zechariah Phillips of Bofton, Timothy Farley of Billerica, Edward Colburn of Chelmsford, Samuel Smedley of Concord, Syd- rach Hapgood of Sudbury, and Capt. Ayres, John Coye and Jofeph Pritchard of Brookfield, named above, and mortally wounded Capt. Hutchinfon. The reft efcaped, through a bye path, to Brook- field. The Indians flocked into the town ; but the inhabitants, being alarmed, had all got together in the principal houfe, on an eminence, a little to the foutheaft of where the weft parifli meetinghoufe now ftands. They had the mortification to fee all their dwelling houfes, about 20, with all their barns and outhoufes burnt. The houfe where they had aflfcmbled, was then furrounded, and a variety of attempts BROOKFIELD. 65 attempts were made for two days and nights to fet fire to it, but did not fucceed. At length, Au- guft 4th, at evening, the Indians filled a cart with hemp, and other combuftible matter, which they Icindled, and endeavoured to thruft to the houfe in order to fire it ; but this attempt was defeated, partly by a mower of rain which fell and wet the materials, as Capt. Wheeler fays in his narrative, who was on the fpot, and partly by aid arriving : For Major Willard, who had been fent after fome other Indians weftward of Lancafter and Groton, hearing of the diftrefs of Brookfield, when he was about four or five miles from Lancafter, altered his courfe, and the fame night reached Brookfield, with Capt. Parker, and 46 men about an hour after it was dark, after a tedious march of 30 miles. And though the Indian fcouts difcov- ered him and fired their alarm guns, yet the main body, from their high joy, always accompanied with a horrid noife, heard them not. Willard joined the befieged, and the Indians immediately poured in all the mot they could, but without ex ecution, and then burning all the buildings, ex cept this garrifon, and deftroying all the horfes and cattle they could find, withdrew to their dens. They were not purfued being much fuperiour in number. It is fitting to add to the above, the very partic ular account, which the Rev. Dr. Fifike of Brook- field, has given in a marginal note, annexed to an hiftorical difcourfe concerning the fettlement of this town, and its diflreffes during the Indian wars, preached 66 BROOKFIELD, preached December 31 ft, 1775, and immediately published. The account is as follows, viz. "That three of the men killed in the ambufhrnent, belong ed to Brookfield, as above named : That when the Indians purfued the party into the town, they fet fire to all the buildings except a few in the neigh bourhood of the houfe in which the inhabitants had taken fhelter : That they endeavoured to inter cept five or fix men who had gone to a neighbour ing houfe to fecure fome things there : But they all got fafe to the place of refuge, except a young man, Samuel Pritchard, who was flopped fhort by a fatal bullet : That the houfe in which they were befieged was unfortified, except by a few logs hafti- ly tumbled up on the outfide, after the alarm, and by a few feather beds hung upon the in fide. And though the fiege continued from A4onday in the afternoon, until early on Thurfday morning, Au- gufl 5th, in which time innumerable balls entered the houfe, only one man, Henry Young, who was in the chamber, was killed. The Indians {hot ma ny fire arrows to burn the houfe, but without ef fect. When the troop which relieved Brookfield, got into the town, which was late at night, they were joined by great numbers of cattle, which had collected together in their fright at the conflagra tion of the buildings, and the firing and war whoops of the Indians ; and for protection thefe poor ani mals followed the troop till they arrived at the be fieged houfe. The Indians deceived hereby, and thinking there was a much larger number of horfe- men than there really was, immediately fet fire to the BROOKFIELD. 6jr the barn belonging to the befieged houfe, and to Jofeph Pritchard s houfe and barn, and the meet- inghoufe, which were the only buildings left un- burnt, and went off. A garrifon was maintained at this houfe till winter, when the court ordered the people away, foon after which the Indians came and burnt this houfe alfo." Having mentioned Major Willard, Capt. Hutch- infon and Capt. Wheeler, it will be proper to fay fomething further refpefting each of them. Cap tains Hutchinfon and Wheeler, tarried at Brook- field until Auguft 13th, and then, with moft of their men, fet off for their homes ; they arrived at Marlborough the next day, where Capt. Hutch infon, fatigued with his journey and his wound growing worfe, died Auguft 19th, and was there buried the next day, Auguft 2Oth, 1675. Captain Wheeler, who accompanied Capt. Hutchinfon, and faw him buried, the next day, Auguft 2ift, arrived fafe at Concord, where he and they who returned with him, kept Oftober 21 ft, 1.675, as a day of praife and thankfgiving to God for their remarkable deliverance and fafe return, when the Rev, Mr. Bulkley of Concord preached a fermon to them from thofe words in Pfalm cxvi. 12, ^ " What mail I render unto the Lord for all his benefits towards me ?" which was printed. Major Willard tarried at Brookfield, and at Hadley and the adjacent rxnvns, for feveral weeks, and then returned to Groton, where the fafety of that and fome neighbouring towns required his prefence. He was foon after difplaced for going to 68 SROOKFIELD. to Brookfield without orders, or while under orders to march another way. The Rev. Dr. Fifke s ob- fervations hereupon in a note, are well worthy in- fertion in this place. " Major Willard s conduct in altering his courfe and coming to the relief of Brookfield, being dictated by humanity and exe cuted with bravery and fuccefs, has gained him the applaufe of people in general. But as it was befide his orders, he was cenfured by the court and cafhier- ed, which difgufted his friends, and broke his heart. And though the punifhment may feem too rigor ous, yet it is to be remembered, that if commanders of parties, fent upon particular expeditions, may take liberty to vary from their exprefs orders, nothing ef- fe&ual could be accompliftied, and only confufion, difappointtnent, lofs, and in many cafes ruin, would be likely to enfue." To return to Brookfield. The town, totally de- ftroyed by the Indians in Auguft 1675, lay in ru ins feveral years, and the inhabitants were difperf- ed. " But, fays the Rev. Dr. Fifke, in the fermon above referred to, peace being fettled with the Indians, fome of the difperfed, after a while, re turned to the place of their former habitation, and in conjunction with others, gradually re- fettled the town, fo that in the year 1692, they had a committee appointed by the court, as formerly, to direft and regulate the fettlement of faid plantation and the affairs thereof. But it be ing Mill in the midfl; of a wildernefs, and always expofed to the blood thirfty favages, whenever they fhould BROOKFIELD. 69 fhould take it into their heads to moleft the En- glifh. its increafe and improvements were flow." In the war which is commonly denominated Queen Anne s war, which broke out not long after the refettlement of the town, and continued feveral years, Brookfield, as well as many other towns, was greatly haraffed and annoyed ; the Indians frequently making fudden inroads, killing and fcalping, or captivating one and another of the in habitants. During this war, a number of men, women and children were killed, feveral taken prifoners, and fome were wounded. The particu lars are as follow, as related by the Rev. Dr. Fifke, in the fermon above referred to. " The firft mif- chief was in the latter end of July or beginning of Auguft 1692. A party of Indians came into the town and broke up two or three families. Jofeph Woolcot being at work at a little diftance from his houfe, his wife, being fearful, took her children and went out to him. When they returned to the houfe at noon, they found the Indians had been there, for his gun and feveral other things were miffing. And looking out at a window he faw an Indian, at fome diftance, coming towards the houfe. He immediately fent out his wife and his two little daughters to hide themfelves in the bufh- es ; and he taking his little fon under his arm and his broad ax in his hand, went out with his dog in fight of the Indian. The dog being large and fierce, attacked the Indian fo furioufly, that he was obliged to difcharge his gun at the dog to rid him- felf of him ; immediately upon which Woolcot fat 7 o BROOKFIELD. fat down the child and purfued the Indian till he heard the bullet roll down his gun, the Indian, charging as he ran ; he then turned back, fnatched up his child and made his efcape, through the fwamps, to a fort. His wife being greatly terrified, difcovered by her ihrieks where (he was ; and the Indian foon found and difpatched both her and her children. Others of the party about the fame time, came into the houfe of one Mafon while the family were at dinner. They killed Mafon and one or two children, and took his wife and an infant which they had wounded, and carried them off. They alfo took two brothers, Thomas and Daniel Law rence ; they foon difpatched Thomas, pretending he had mifmformed them about the number of men which were in the town. John Lawrence, their brother, rode with all hafte to Springfield for affift- ance. A company, under Capt. Colton, came witli the greateil fpeed and purfued the Indians. They found Mrs. Mafon s child, which the favages had knocked on the head and thrown away in the bumes ; and continuing their purfuit, they came upon the Indians encampment, which was a fort of brufh hedge, which they deridingly called " En- glifhmen s fort." The party waited till break of day, and then came fo near as to put their guns through this brufh and fire upon the Indians, four teen or fifteen of whom were killed, the reft fled with fuch precipitation as to leave feveral of their arms, blankets, powderhorns, &c. and their prifon- ers, Daniel Lawrence and Mrs. Mafon, whom our men conduded back. This fame John Lawrence, who BROOKFIELD. 71 who rode exprefs and procured the company which refcued the abovementioned prifoners, was after wards going in company with one Samuel Owen, in fearch of a man who was miffing ; the Indians came upon them, killed Lawrence, but Owen ef- caped. Mary Maclntofh was fired upon and kill ed as me was milking her cows. Robert Grain ger and John Clary were pafling along the road, on a certain day, and being fired upon by the fav- ages, Grainger was killed on the fpot ; Clary at tempted to efcape, but had not fled far before he alfo was mot down. At another time, Thomas Battis of Brookfield, riding exprefs to Hadley, was killed in the wildernefs, in a place now called Belchertown. Early one morning John Woolcot, a lad about twelve or fourteen years old, was rid ing in fearch of the cows, when the Indians fired at him, killed his horfe from under him and took him prifoner. The people at Jennings s garrifon hearing the firing, and concluding the people at another garrifon were befet, fix men fet out for their afliftance, but were waylayed by the Indians. The Englim faw not their danger, till they faw there was no efcaping it. And therefore, knowing that an Indian could not look an Englifhman in the face, and take a right aim, they flood their ground, prefenting their pieces wherever they faw an Indian, without difcharging them, excepting Abijah Bartlet, who turned to flee and was mot dead. The Indians kept firing at the reft and wounded three of them, Jofeph Jennings in two places ; one ball grazed the top of his head, by which 7 2 BROOKFIELD. which he was ftruck blind for a moment; another ball paffed through his moulder, wounding his collar bone ; yet by neither did he fall, nor was be mortally wounded. Benjamin Jennings was wounded in the leg, and John Green in the wrift. They were preferred at laft by the following ftrat- agem. A large dog, hearing the firing, came to our men ; one of whom, to encourage his breth ren and intimidate the Indians, called out, " Capt. Williams is come to our affiftance, for here is h\s dog." The Indians, feeing the dog, and knowing Williams to be a famous warrior, immediately fled, and our men efcaped. John Woolcot the lad a- bovementioned, was carried to Canada, where he remained fix or feven years, during which time, by converfing wholly with Indians, he not only loft his native language, but became fo naturalized to the favages, as to be unwilling, for a while, to re turn to his native country. Some years afterwards, viz. in March, 1728, in a time of peace, he and an- other man having been hunting, and coming down Connecticut River with a freight of Ikins and fur, they were hailed by fome Indians ; but not being willing to go to them, they fleered for another fhore. The Indians landed at a little diftance from them ; feveral fliots were exchanged, at length Woolcot was killed. The laft mifchicf which was done by the favages, in Brookfield, was about the aoth of July, 1710. Six men, viz. Ebenezer Hayward, John White, Stephen and Benjamin Jennings, John Grofvenor Jofepfa Kellog, were making hay in the mea dows, BROOKFIELD. 73 dows, when the Indians, who had been watching an opportunity to furprife them, fprung fuddenly upon them, difpatched five of them, and took the other, John White, prifoner. White fpying a fmall company of our people at fome diftance, jumped from the Indian who held him, and ran to join his friends ; but the Indian fired after him, and wounded him in the thigh, by which he fell ; but foon recovering and running again, he was a- gain fired at and received his death wound." Great indeed were the difficulties, difcourage- ments and hardfhips, under which this then infant plantation laboured, fo that it was more than forty years from the breaking up of the town, and burn ing the firft meetinghoufe, before they creeled an other. A church was gathered, and the Rev. Thomas Cheney was ordained their firft Paftor, the third Wednefday of October, 1717. He con tinued their minifter a little more than 30 years, as he died December nth, 1747, aged 57 years, To him fucceeded, in the work of the miniftry, the Rev. Elifha Harding, who was folemnly fepa-. rated hereunto September 13th, 1749. So rapidly did the town increafe and flourish, after the fettle- ment of their firft minifter, that on March spth, 1750, a fecond parifli was incorporated in the northerly part of the town. Here a church was gathered May 28th, 1752, and the Rev. Eli Forbes was ordained their firft minifter on the third of June the fame year. Mr. Harding continued the minifter of the firft precinct until the people fell into a moft unhappy contrgverfy about erecting a F 74 BROOKFIELD. new meetinghoufe. The contention was fo {harp, and the oppofite parties fo uncomplying that they parted, and formed two di ftinct religious focieties. The act for dividing the firft parifh, and incorporat ing the third precinct paffed November 8th, 1754- In confequcnce hereof, Mr. Harding requefted a dif- iniffion, which was granted by the church and con firmed by a mutual ecclefiaftical council, May 8th, 1755. After his difmiflion the Rev. Jofcph Parfons was ordained Paftor of the firfl church and pre cinct, on the 23d of November, 1757. A church was gathered in the third parifh, or eaft precinct, April 15th, 1756, and on the 24th of May, 1758, the Rev. Nathan Fifke, D. D. was ordained their fpiritual overfeer, and flill continues. Mr. Parfons continued Paflor of the firfl: church upwards of thirteen years, being releafed from the ficknefs and pains of this mortal flate January 1710, 1771, in the fourteenth year of his miniftry, and $8th of his age. In about nine months after his decsafe, viz. on October 23d, 1771, the Rev. Ephraim. Ward was feparated to the pafloral office, the fourth in fucceflion in the firft church and precinct. The Rev. Mr. Forbes continued in the faithful difcharge of the minifterial work among the peo ple of the fecond precinct almoft 23 years ; and on the i ft of March, 1775, the paftoral relation was diffolved by mutual content, under the conduct of an ecclefiaflical council, each party in charity with, and heartily recommending the other. To him fuccccded, as fecond Paftor of the fecond precinft, the Rev. Jofeph Appleton, who was fol- emnly BROOKFIELD. 75 emnly feparated to the work of the gofpel miniftry, Oftober 3Oth, 1776. The Rev. Mr. Forbes was, June 5th, 1776, inftall- ed Paftor of the firft church in Gloucefter, Cape Anne, where he continues, faithfully ferving God in the gofpel of his Son. It is fitting farther to obferve, that Mr. Forbes, while minifter in Brook- field, went repeatedly Chaplain to provincial regi ments, in the laft French war, to the weftward, which qualified him the better to endure the hard- fhips and fatigues of a rru ffion to the weftern tribes of Indians, which he was requefted by the board of Commiilioners at Boflon to undertake. His people were at firft averfe to his going ; but were at length prevailed upon by a committee of that board to confent, May 3Oth, 1762, that he might go for a few months. He accordingly fet out the firft of June, with Mr. Rice, now minifter of Weftminfter and Mr. Elifha Gunn of Montague, for an interpreter : They followed Mohawk River about 70 miles, then turned fouthward to lake Ofti- ego near Cherry Valley, (this lake makes the head of one of the main branches of Sufquehannah Riv er) crofled the lake, went down that river 120 miles to a town called Onoquagie, pleafantly fituat- ed on the eaftern bank of the Sufquehannah, then, containing 30 houfes, 40 families, and 300 in habitants, befides upwards of 20 warriors. Here they arrived June 21 ft, 1762. Near this place were two fmall towns of Tufcaroras. Here he preached ; opened two fchools, one for adults, and another for children ; gathered a church ; ad- F 2 miniftered 76 BROOKFIELD. miniftered fpecial ordinances to them ; and lefc them September ift, 1762, under the care of Mr. Rice. During his flay there, he baptized great numbers ; fome brought their children 60 and 70 miles to receive Chriflian baprifm : They were xnoftly infants, whofe parents had been baptized by former miffionaries, or in the Dutch or Englifh churches in the vicinity of Albany. Having gone through with the ecclefiaftical hif- tory of Brookfield, a Geographical Defcription thereof (hall now be prefcnted. Brookfield is diftant from the Statehoufe in Bof- ton between fixty and feventy miles. The great poft road from Boflon to Newyork, runs through it ; and the fixty one mile ftone Hands near the eaftern boundary, and the feventy mileftone near the weftern line. This town is bounded on the cad by Spencer ; on the fouth by Sturbridge and Weftern ; on the weft, by Weftern and Ware ; and on the north, by Newbraintree and Oakham. It is a townftiip of moft excellent land in general. The face of the town is pretty uneven and ftony, though there are three or four plains of confidera- ble extent within it, one efpecially in the firft par- Hh, extenfive, excellent for raifmg grain, and beau tiful for building fpots, and large trafts of mead ow and interval upon Quaboag River, which runs in a wefterly direction through the town. The main branch of this river comes from Rut land, another branch i flues from North Pond, fo called, in Leicefter, and, running through Spencer, falls into Quaboag River in the eafterly part of Brookfield, The BROOKFIELD. 77 The land is generally fertile, and richly repays the cultivator for his labour and pains ; and there is fuch a variety of foils, as to be fuited to tillage, grazing, mowing and fruit. All kinds of grain are raifed here to advantage ; and farmers here, as well as elfewhere are making great improvements in hufbandry. There is fo little defcent in Quaboag river for five miles, that the current is very fluggifh, the waters almoft ftagnant, and the extenfive meadows on each fide are of fmall value in their prefent ftate, being fo liable to be overflowed. This evil has been growing for many years, through increaf- ing 0bftru6tions in fo torpid a ftream j fo that the grafs, from being large and of good quality, is now fo poor, and the making it into hay fo uncertain, as to be very generally rejected. By much labour and eKpenfe in clearing the channel of obftru&ions, this evil may be cured. A trial was made laft year by the proprietors of the meadows, whereof they reaped, fenfibly, good effefits ; and hence are encouraged to a determined perfeverance. Befides this flat meadow, there are large tra&s of fwaley or fwampy land, which yield confiderable quantities of fpwlmeadow and other valuable grafles, to the amount of two tons on an acre when made into hay. There is one large pond in the fouth precinct of the extent of a mile fquare, called by the In dians Quaboag Pond ; but now more generally denominated Podunk Pond, from a traft of mead ow adjoining, which the Indians called Podunk. F 3 Quaboag 78 BROOKFIELD, Quaboag river advances directly to the very bank of this pond ; then turns, almoft at right angles, and runs parallel with the edge about twenty rods, leaving a narrow beach or ridge ; then diverges fo as to form a fmall ifland, upon which {limbs, alders and bufhes are growing ; then bends its courfe and opens a channel into the pond, at the northeaft, running nearly through the middle of it, and pafles off in an outlet atf the wefterly edge. Clofe to the fide of the pond where the river en ters, is a large bridge, there being a county road along the beach of this pond, for more than half a mile ; and travellers pafs about twenty rods on a narrow ridge, between the river and pond, which, though very moderately Hoping on the fide next the pond, is perpendicular on the fide of the river, and is generally overflowed in the fpring and fall, to the hazard and fometimes fufpenfion of travel ling. This beach had formerly a row of large pines and fwamp white oaks growing upon it. But the floods, agitated by the winds, have fo wafhed away the foil, that the moft of them are dead and blown down, and the beach is gradually wearing away. On the fouth of this pond, and about a quarter of a mile diftant, is another pond, of not more than half the amplitude of the former, known by the name of the South Pond. This communi cates with, and empties its redundant waters into the larger pond, by a creek or brook, except in the time of a frefliet, when the waters flow fo much fafter B R O O K F 1 E L D, 79 fefter into the great pond as to reverfe the current of the brook, and replenifh the leffer. There is another confiderable pond in the weft precincl, called Wickoboag Pond, from whence quantities of iron ore are annually collected. This pond is fupplied by feveral rivulets, and has one large outlet into the river, about twenty or thirty rods in length, called Lafhaway. Thefe ponds and rivers, and the other f mailer ftreams, by which the land is interfe&ecl, are plentifully furnifhed with pickerel, perch, and divers other kinds of fifh. On the rivers and ftreams in the town, there are feven grift mills, fix faw mills, and three fulling mills. Mr. Jenks, befides his mills, profecutes the blackfmiths bufinefs largely, and has two trip ham mers, and a grindftone carried by water. One of the clothiers works above referred to, is in the firft parifti ; a very convenient fituation indeed for carrying on the clothiers bufinefs in all its branches. Ellis and company are the pro prietors hereof. About 5000 yards of cloth are annually dreffed at thefe works. Thefe men have obtained the art of coloring fcarlet, which com petent judges pronounce equal to any which is imported ; an art which few in this Commonwealth have attained unto. In a confiderable part of the low lands, the clay lies near the furface. There is much clay adjoin ing the fouth pond, and clay forms the bed of the river. No mines have, as yet, been discovered, although fearch therefor has been made at no F 4 fmali So FROOKFIELD. ftnall expenfe. There is fome iron ore, a bed of yellow ocre nearly exhaufted, and large quantities, both of mud and flone, which yield copperas, and contain a ftrong vitriolic quality. Many of the wells, both on high and low grounds, have what is called hard water. There are alfo ftones which contain fulphur ; but how to extract it has not yet been discovered. There are two large hills, principally in the firft parifh. One is called Coye s Hill, and fuppofed to take its name from one Coye, a proprietor of, and an early inhabitant in Brookfield. This hill extends into Weftern. The other is called Ragged Hill, probably from its extreme rough and rocky appearance. Both thefe hills are excellent for mowing, for pafturing, and for orcharding ; and there are feveral very good farms upon them. Partly between thefe two hills there is a large ledge of rocks, which in all probability was rent afunder ages ago, by an earthquake : The rock on one fide is. (helving over, and the opening made is fufficient to contain an hundred men ; and the appearance indicates that it was formerly a place of rendez vous for Indians. This place is called by the peo ple of Brookfield, The Stone Houfe. The rivers, ponds and meadows, in this town, occafion heavy fogs, which, in fome feafons, have produced putrid fevers, &c. But obfervation clearly teaches that the inhabitants here are as healthy as in other places ; and they who live in the low lands, as they who live on the high. This place has been famed for the longevity, and fruitfulnefs B R O O K F I E L D. 81 fruitfulnefs of fome of its inhabitants. In 1782, a Mr. Green, then above ninety; followed his fifth child, a woman in her fixty fecond year, to the grave, above four miles, riding ereft and fleady, on a lively horfe. He died not long fmce, in the vicinity of Hanover in Newhampfhire, aged up wards of an 100 years. Alfo in 1782. died the widow Elizabeth Olds in her 92$. year. Herpof- terity were as follow ; ten children, feventy three grand children, two hundred and one great grand children, and two of the fifth generation ; two of her granddaughters being grandmothers. Total, two hundred and eighty fix. Of thefe, two hundred and thirty two were living at her deceafe. In 1788, died Mr. Cyprian Rice, in the ninety eighth year of his age ; and in a few months after died Mr. Elifha Rice, his brother, in the ninety ninth year of his age. They were born at Marlborough. They left not a numerous iflfue. There is now living in Brookfield a Mr. Thomas Ainfworth, who fuppofes he is the laft furviving foldier who was in the famous Lov ell s fight. It is fo long fmce the aboriginals quitted thefe grounds, that their monuments are almoft effaced. Once in a while a point of an arrow, or fome ftone is found which bears the mark of Indian labour and dexterity. And there is ftill to be diftinguim- ed the fpot on which they had a fort, and a cem etery where they buried their dead. The growth of wood is principally chefnut, White oak, red oak, and fome walnut. The fwamps 82 OXFORD. fwamps and fwales yield maple, black birch, aih, and fame hemlock. The inhabitants of Brookfield are chiefly farmers, though there is a proportion of mechanics, traders, and profeffional gentlemen. And the general ap pearance of the farms, buildings, roads, and man ners of the people, makes a favourable impreflion, and denotes a good degree of cultivation, tafte and improvement. Brookfield is diflant from the Courthoufe in Worcefter, about twenty miles to the fouthweft. OXFORD. TlilS was a grant made by the gov ernment in the year 1682, to Jofeph Dudley, Efq; Governor, to William Stoughton, Efq; Lieutenant- governor of Maflachufetts, to Major Robert Thomp- fon, Meflrs. Cox and Blackwell, and their aflbci- ates. It .was ftiled, A tracl; of land lying in the Nipnet or Nipmug country. The grant exprefled eight miles fquare ; but as furveyed and located, it muft be near twelve miles in length from eaft to weft, and about nine in width, from north to fouth, comprehending all Charlton, a part of Dudley, and a part of Ward. It was originally bounded weft, on Newmedfield, (now Sturbridge) north, on a tra& of land called the Country Gore, and OXFORD. 83 and Leicefter ; eafl, on Sutton ; and Couth, by a gore of land and Dudley. It was furveyed by Mr. Gore of Roxbury. and a return thereof be ing made to the court, they accepted the fame, and on the i6th of May, 1683, they granted the plantation, and gave it the name of Oxford. The original proprietors of Oxford, in the year 1686, let on about thirty families of French prot- eftants, who were driven out of France, in confe- quence of the repeal of the edicl; of Nantz, by Lew is XIV, in the year 1684. Thefe unhappy French people, being feated at the eaflerly part, or end of Oxford^ were grievoufly annoyed and diftreffed by the Indians, and were foon deftroyed, or driven away and difperfed by them. Tradition fays, one Johnfon (whether a Frenchman or Englifhman is uncertain) was here killed, and one or two of his children, while his wife efcaped unperceived out of the houfe, at evening, with a child in her arms, and walked to Woodftock, about fifteen miles, that night, to a garrifon there. At what time this was we cannot precifely fay. But in the year 1693, a particular ac~fc paffed, empowering Oxford to fend a reprefentative to the General Court ; as ap pears by the records in the Secretary s office of this Commonwealth. As Oxford was then in the county of Suffolk, its firft and earlier records were kept in Boflon, and are faid to have been burnt in the Statehoufe there. A deed was given by the original proprietors, or their heirs and executors, to fuch as were there, or others, $4 OXFORD, others, of a part of the original grant, dated ]ui/ 8th, 1713, that they might fettle and build up the town. The firft town meeting held in Oxford for the choice of town officers was on the 22d of July, 1713. The people inhabiting this territory were in continual fears from the natives ; in conic- quence of which, the fettlement of the town went on but flowly for many years. Except what has been related above, I cannot find that any perfons were killed by the Indians in Oxford. But Gov ernor Hutchinfon gives a piece of hiftory, which muft not be omitted in this work. It is in thefe words. " On the fixth of Auguft, 1724, four In dians came upon a fmall houfe in Oxford, which was built under a hill. They made a breach in the roof, and as one of them was attempting to en ter, he received a mot in his belly from a coura geous woman, the only perfon in the houle, who had two mufkets and t wo pi ftols charged, and was prepared for all four, but they thought fit to retreat, carrying off the dead, or wounded man." It is pity the name of this heroine has not been preferved, that it might be handed down to lateft pofterity. The firfl fettlers in Oxford, considering the then ftate of the country, took early care for the enjoy ment and fupport of a preached gofpel, and the in- ftitutions of Chriftianity among them : According ly the firft church of Chrift in this place was gath ered January i8th, 1721, and the Rev. John Campbell was ordained the firfl minifter, that fame year, viz, March nth, 1721, This gentle man OXFORD. 85 man "came from the north of Scotland ; was edu cated at Edinburgh, and received the honours of that Univerfity. He came into America in the year 1717. He continued the worthy and faithful paftor of the church and flock here, until May 25th, 1761, when he died in the 71 ft year of his age, and in the 42d of his minifhry. The Rev. Mr. Campbell was fucceeded in the facred office by the Rev. Jofeph Bowman, who was inftalied here November 14th, 1764. (This Mr. Bowman was firft ordained at Bofton, Augufl 31 ft, 1762, to the work of the gofpel miniftry, more ef- pecially, among the Mohawk Indians on the weft- ern borders of Newengland. He went to Onoho- quague, an Indian town on the Sufquehannah, in October following. He returned the laft of May, 1763 ; but hoftilities commencing between the Indians tribes in June, he did not go back to them ; and the war continuing, he was, by the board of commiffioners, difmifled from his miflion in June, 1 764.) Mr. Bowman lived in great harmony with the people of Oxford until 1775, when the then ftate of the country, as to the controverfy and war with Greatbritain, occafioned differences among the people ; thefe led a number to profefs themfelve$ Quakers, and then they declared themfelves to be of the feel, called Univerfalifts, which finally ended in Mr. Bowman s difmiflion, at his defire, with advice of council, Auguft sSth, 1782. After his removal from Oxford, the Rev. Mr. Bowman was inftalied at Bernard, in the State of Vermont, September 22, 1784, where he ftill continues, en joying 86 OXFORD. joying the affeftion of the people, in a growing, fiourifliing town, and bleffed with peace and prof- peri ty in his latter days. The Rev. Elias Dudley was ordained fucceflbr to Mr. Bowman at Oxford, April 13th, 1791. In the town of Oxford there is a fociety of them who are denominated Univerfalifts, (about a fifth of the inhabitants :) Thefe, with fome families from feveral neighbouring towns, make a refpe&a- ble fociety : And they have erefted a large elegant meetinghoufe, towards the fouth end of Oxford plain, where the road from Connecticut interfeb the road from Worcefter to Dudley. This houfe is conftrucied upon the mod modern plan, with a tower and bell. This fociety have not, as yet, any fettled minifler. There is alfo a number in Oxford of the Anabaptift perfuafion ; they are deftitute of any ftated teacher. We will now give fome Geographical Defcrip- tion of this town. Oxford, though very extenfive at firft, has been much curtailed, neverthelefs, it is dill a large and refpe&able town, being about feven miles in length from north to fouth, and about five miles in width from eaft to weft. The prefent boundaries of Oxford are as follow ; north, it is bounded on Leicefter, Ward, and a country gore of land : Eaft, by Sutton ; fouth, by a gore of land, and Dudley ; and weft, by Charlton. When the late cenfus was taken there were 150 houfes, and 1000 inhabitants in the town. The town of Oxford is not very hilly and uneven : In the centre thereof there is a large and fine plain of OXFORD. 87 a mile and a half in length, and about a mile in width : This plain is almoft wholly under culti vation, and is pretty level. On this plain, the road from Worcefter to the eafterly part of Connecticut, and to Rhodeifland, runs from the north to the f outh : Near the north end of it flands the congregational meetinghoufe ; and about a mile fouth of this is the meetinghoufe of the fociety of Univerfalifls : Thefe houfes are both large and elegant : On ei ther fide of the ftreet there are many good build ings ; and almoft the whole plain is under the eye of the traveller at once. From the plain the lands rife on all fides, efpecially on the eaft and on the weft ; but not very high. The foil on the plain is good for grain of all kinds ; but not fo for paftur- age or mowing. But the higher lands are very good for mowing, pafturing and orcharding, the foil is ftrong and fertile. Dudley hills, fo called, on the fouth, which are pretty high, fall partly with in the limits of Oxford. About three quarters of a mile weft of the great road on the plain, runs French River from the north to the fouth, which falls into the river Quinebaug in the town of Thompfon in the State of Conne&icut. This river derived its name from the French proteftants who firft fettled in Oxford. On this river are fome very good meadows of feveral hundreds of acres. On the eaft fide of the plain there is a fine ftream, which heads in Great Meadow, fo called, in the norther ly part of the town, containing 100 acres, or more. By the fides of this ftream there are fome pretty good meadows. This brook empties into French River, 88 River. Potafh Brook, fo called, which is never dry, is a fine rivulet, and falls into the above mention ed brook. Upon the river, and on thefe ftreftms, there are within Oxford limits, three grift mills ; fix faw mills ; and two clothiers works. There are alfo, in the town, potafh works. There are two very pretty ponds in the town : One in the wefter- ly part, called Augootfback : The other a little north of the firll meetinghoufe on the Worcefter road, known by the name of Oxford Pond. There are fome fmall cedar fwamps, in this town, which yield cedar for mingles, and other valuable ufes. The town is in general well wooded : On the higher lands are oaks of all kinds, walnut and chef- nut : On the lower, grow afti, birch, maple, &c. There is fome pitch pine in the town : But not much white pine, at this day, that being chiefly taken off. On the plain, there are two or three f lores of European and India goods : And in the town there are all the common artificers, tradef- men and mechanics ; but the body of the people are farmers. The roads of travel through Ox ford are an advantage to the town the la/geft road is that which comes from Coiine&icut through Charlton, Oxford, to Sutton, and fo on to Bofton, falling into the pod road in Wefton : The next, is the road from Worcefter, through Oxford, to Dudley, &c. &c. Oxford is fituated to the fouth- weftfrom Bofton, at the diftance of 54 miles ; and from Worcefter courthoufe it is 10 miles, nearly fouth. SUTTON, 8 9 S U T T O N. 1 HIS tra& of land was originally purchafed by a number of gentlemen, of Sacherri John Wampus, and his company, Indians who claimed it. Wampus firil referred four miles fquare, for his countrymen the Indians, which they called HaJJanamifco ; this is now Grafton. It was to begin at a certain bound, which he fixed upon ; and then the purchafers above referred to, were to have as much land, as eight miles fquare would amount to, fituated in the Nipmug country, be tween the towns of Mendon, Maryborough, Wor- cefter, Oxford, and New Sherburne (now Doug- lafs) and this was confirmed to the purchafers, May 15th, 1704, and formed into a townfliip and called Sutton, by an aft of the General Court, dat ed June 21 ft, 1715. That part of the original purchafe, which fell to the eaftward of Haflana- mifco, or Grafton, was, part of it, many years ago annexed to the town of Weftborough, and the other part, with fome from Mendon and Hopkinton, taken to form the town of Upton. So that what now is properly Sutton does not lie in a bad fornu A few families were annexed to Northbridge, fome years ago : And a few alfo, at the northweft angle of the town, were annexed to Ward. The genera.1 boundaries of Sutton, are at prefent, as follow* : North, by Worcefter ; eaft and north, by Grafton ; G eaft, go S U T T O N. eaft, by Northbridge and Uxbridge ; Couth, fcy Douglafs ; wft, by Oxford ; and northweft, by Ward. Oxford line is S. 1 W. Douglafs, E. 60 N. Mendon, N. 8 E. Worceaer, W. 22 S. The fettling and peopling of the town was retard ed for fome time, by reafon of wars with the In dians. However, in the year 1716, three families had got feated in the place, and wintered there in the winter of 1716 and 1717, when the great fnow fell, as our fathers have told us. This fnow fell on fome of the laft days of February, old ftile, and came fo deep, that it wholly covered over the hut in which one of the families lived. The man being from home, the family might have perifhed had not an Indian, who knew the circum- ftanccs. come to thir relief. He found the hut only by the hole which the fmoke from the fire place h.id made through the fnow. In September 1717, the fall after the great fnow, the firtl child was born in the town, named Abigail Marfh, daughter of Mr. Benjamin Marfh, who was afterwards an anabaptifl elder in the town. This woman is now living, lias had four hulbands, and ii, at this time, a widow ; her name is Chafe. The inhabitants of Sutton fir ft afted as a body corporate, or held their firft town meeting on the 3d day of December, 1718, at the dwelling houfe oi Mr. John Stockwcll. Their bufincfs was to or ganize themfclves, and to clioofe a committee to join the proprietors committee in order to procure preaching. Confequently they muft have been in corporated a little before by, an aft of the Legifla- ture S U T T O N. 91 ture, and vefted with full town powers and privi leges : And this was previous to the incorporation of Leicefter or Rutland. The exact day when the firft congregational church in Sutton was imbodied cannot be afcer- tained. The record fays, " In the fall of the year 1720." The firft minifter, the Rev. John MacKinf- try, was ordained November 9th, 1720. He was a gentleman of good abilities and had his education in Scotland. Obferve, by the way, the early care and pains this people took to have the gofpel preached, and a minifter fettled among them. In about four years from their beginning the fettle- ment of the place, they had a minifter ordained. Mr. MacKinftry differed fo much from the peo ple in his notions of church government, that they parted : And he was difmiffed from his pafto- ral relation to them, September 2d, 1728. This gentleman was afterwards refettledin Connecticut. The fecond minifter of the town, the Rev. David Hall, was ordained October 15th, 1729. He re ceived the honourary degree of Doctor of Divinity, at Dartmouth college, in the year 1777. After a life of piety and ufefulnefs, he died May 8th, 1789, in the 85th year of his age, and the 6oth year of his miniftry. Dr. Hall was fucceeded in the facred office by the Rev. Edmund Mills, who was feparated there unto June 23d, 1790. The people of the firft con gregational church and fociety have lately repair ed their meetinghoufe, and built a tower to it : And Mr, Ebenezer Warters, a man of large prop- C z erty 92 SUTTON. erty in the town, has given them a bell weighing about 750 ft), and which coft upwards of 8o/. And Mr. Gardner Warters, deceafed, gave 30^. towards a clock for the meetinghoufe. The fecond parifh in Sutton was incorporated by an act of Court, October 28th, 1743. This is about three miles wide, and fix and one half miles in length ; fo that the old parifh is much larger. The firft meeting of the fecond parifli was held December 26th, 1743. The fecond congregation al church in the town, was formed by a covenant, dated September iQth, 1747. The Rev. James Welman was confecrated Pallor of the fecond church October 7th, 1747, and was difmiffed from office July 22d, 1760. The Rev. Mr. Welman was, in 1768, refettled atCornim, in the county of Chtfhire, in the State of Newhampfhire. Mr. Welman was fucceeded in the paftoral office, in the fecond church in Sutton, by the Rev. Eben- ezer Chaplain, who was ordained November 14th, 1764. There is no record to be found when the firft Anabaptift fociety was collected in Sutton, nor when Mr. Benjamin Marfh, their firft elder, was ordained. Tradition fays, it was about the year 1735. They built a fmall meetinghoufe about a mile wefterly from the firft parifh meetinghoufe. After fome years part of Elder Marfh s congrega tion left him, and joining with new ones, in the year 1767 introduced Mr. Jeremiah Barftow, as their Elder, and built another Anabaptift meet inghoufe about a mile further wefterly, on the road towards S U T T O N. 9 8 towards Oxford. In 1772, the major part of Elder Barftow s fociety became diflatisfied with him ; he then, with his adherents, afked a difmiflion from, the reft, and adjoined to Elder Marfh and the re mainder of his fociety. In January 1775, Elder Madh died in the Sgth year of his age. Mr. Barftow kept up a fociety in town, until 1782, when he moved away. In 1783, they introduced Mr. Ebenezer Lamfon as their teacher, and who, continuing with them until the firfl of April, 1788, was then ordained their elder. In the foutheaft part of the town the people have for feveral years heard one Mr. William fiatcheldor, who lived among them, and in O6lober, 1792, he was ordain ed their elder. About ten years paft, the Shakers made confider- able appearance in the fecond parifh, in this town, but have forne time fince, wholly fubfided. There have alfo, for ten or twelve years paft, been a number of the feft called Univerfalifts, in Sutton ; the moft of them congregate at Oxford ; a few at Graf ton. There is one family in town, who profefs to be Quakers. The number of thefe feveral denominations cannot be afcertained, as many of them are unftable. We will now prefent our readers with fome To pographical Defcription of the town of Sutton. The general face of it is hilly land, of a deep loam, pretty rocky, good for orcharding, and for Indian corn an^ grafs ; but indifferent for all other forts of grain, and for flax. There are feveral mead ows and fwamps, but none very extenfive, or any G 3 way 94 SUTTON. way remarkable. There is a confiderablc* body of poor land in the fouth part of the town ; and thete is a fmall quantity of poor, broken land in the northeaft corner of the fecond parifh. There is fome good, both high and low interval land, on Blackftone River, fo called. As this river has its fource in Sutton, and is (ingular in its formation and courfe, we fhall attempt a particular defcrip- tion of it. The reputed head of this river is a pond of about 70 acres, called Rarnfhorn Pond, becaufe of the crookednefs of the flream which iffucs from it. The pond is fituated about two miles fouth- tveft from the fecond parifh meetinghoufe. It has a fmall inlet at the fouthwefl part ; the outlet is at the northeaft ; and the ftream runs northeaft until it comes within about half a mile weft of faid meet- ifighoufe ; then bears away northweft, and runs through Ward, within about half a mile of Ward fnectirighoufe ; takes in feveral ftreams in that town, which have mills on them, particularly one Coming from Leicefter, called Kettle Brook ; paflfes on to Worcefter ; and about a mile foutherly from the fouth meetinghoufe, receives Bimilick or Mill Brook, which comes from the North Pond in Wor cefter, then turns back, running foutheafterly, and comes within half a mile eaft of Sutton fecond par ifh meetingHoufe ; paffes on and takes in the Mill Brook, fo called, the outlet of a large pond, called Crooked Pond, lying a little weft of the line be tween the two meetinghoufes in Sutton ; and which is about a mile eafl of the little or Rarnfhorn Pond ftrft mentioned, The inlet of this pond is on the fouthweft, SUTTON; 5 fouthweft, the outlet is northeaft, has a grift mill (in the north parifh near the pond) wii.h two run ners, which, according to the original grant, has the fole command of the water. This pond is fuppofed to be fed chiefly by iprings, and is little affected by droughts : Many people from the neighbouring towns bring their grain to this mill, in dry feafons. On this fame brook, about half a mile below, is MefTrs. Burbanks paper mill. A few rods below, is an oil mill. A few rods below the oil mill, is a fulling mill. A few rods below the fulling mill, in the late war, powder mills were ere&ed, but are fince difcontinued. A little furth er down, in the year 1776, a gun manufactory was erected, but is fince converted into a man ufactory for fcythes, axes and mill irons ; and here they have trip hammers, bellows, and grinditones, carried by water. Having defcribed this brook, iffuing from the pond, and the water works upon, it, we return to the river. The river, after it has received this brook, bears away, and runs northeaft, and eaft ; and takes in a brook from a pond in the northeaft part of the fecond pariih in Sutton, call ed Dorrett s Pond ; having an inlet on the north - weft ; the outlet is at the foutheaft. Said river then runs eafterly into Grafton. and there receives the ftream which ifiues from Quinfigamond, or Shrewsbury Long Pond. The river then bears away, and runs foutherly through Northbridge and Uxbridge ; and, about a mile foutheaft from Uxbridge meetinghoufe ? takes in a ftream which iffues from a pond chiefly in Sutton, near the G 4 fouthweft fouthweft corner of the town, called Manchaug Pond. This pond has an inlet on the northweft ; the outlet is to the foutheaft, and both in Sutton. This outlet runs along near the fouth line of Sut ton, until it comes to Uxbridge. Having mentioned the river, and the ftreams, we would juft obferve, this town is famed for its manufactures, its mills, and water works. Here are, one paper mill, one oil mill, ten grift mills, fix faw mills, three fulling mills, feven trip ham mers, five fcythe and ax makers, one hoe maker ; feveral who work at nail making ; and fix works for making of potafti. But here are no mines, no forge, furnace, pearlfliery, nor fifh of any confe- quence. There are two or three natural curiofities worthy f particular notice. As firft, In the weft part of Sutton, within fixty rods of the rife of the inlet of Ramfhorn Pond, which is the head of Blackftone River running to Providence and falling into the fea at JSriftol, is a rook fo large as to carry a faw mill in Sutton, then bears away into Oxford, joins French River, which unites with the river Quinebaug, and enters the fea at Newlondon. Secondly, A few rods weft of the fecond parifti meetinghoufe, there is a fwamp, having two out lets ; one at the fouthweft ; the other at the north- eaft : Both thefe outlets enter Blackftone River, above defcribed, at about one mile s di fiance from each other : But the river is eftimated to run ten or twelve miles, after the entrance of that on the wefterly S U T T O N. 97 tvefterly fide, before it returns and takes in that on the eaft. Thirdly, In the foutheafterly part of the town is a cavern in the earth or rocks, commonly called Purgatory. The rocks on each fide of the chafm evidently appear to have been rent afunder. People may enter fome rods under the ground or rocks, and there are cracks down which they drop pebbles, and after thefe ftrike the fides alternately feveral times, they are heard to fall into the water ; and a brook iflues out at the bottom of the hill. It may be acceptable to give a more particular defcription of this place, called Purgatory. It is the fide of a hill, which confifts of vail ledg es of rocks : Where the natural defcent begins, a chafm has been formed of perhaps thirty, and in fome places, forfey feet in width, in thefe ledges, by fome violent concuflion, which left this body of ftones of all ftiapes and fizes, to fall in : A- bove, it is all open to the heavens ; and the ledg es, on either fide, are from five to ten, and fo on to twenty, and even forty feet in height. This chafm is, perhaps, near eighty rods in length ; and the defcent is gradual, and not very diffi cult. Where the greateft depth is, water iffues from crevices in the rocks, and hangs in icicles, and even in folid bodies of ice, not only in May, as I have feen, but in June, although the defcent is to the fouth. Some fmall caverns were formed by the falling of thefe rocks, through which perfons have defcendpd, and come out feve ral rods below, This is a moft flupendous place, and 98 S U T T O tf. and fills the mind of the beholder with moft exalt ed ideas of the infinite power of the great Creator of ill things, " who removeth the mountains, and they know not ; who fhaketh the earth out of its place, and the pillars thereof tremble." After all, no defcription given of this place, by another, will en able perfons to form juft and adequate conceptions of it. The growth of wood in Sutton, is oak of all forts, and what they call the oak chefnut, the bark whereof is like the common gray oak, but the leaves refemble, almoft exactly, thole of the chefnut tree ; walnut of all kinds ; great plenty of chefnut ; con- fiderable of butternut ; but little of buttonwood. in the low lands the wood is am, beech, birch, elm of all forts, maple, white and pitch pine. They have alfo faflafras, farfaparilla, and alders. Here are to be found ginfeng, and the cohufh root, of fpecial medicinal qualities. There is much travelling through this town. The principal roads are one coming from Connecticut, through Oxford, and patting from weft to eaft, through the town. About three miles weft of the o firft parifh meetinghoufe this road parts ; the left hand road pafles by the meetinghoufe, and fo on through Grafton, Weftborough, and Southbor- ough, and leads to Bofton, falling into the poft *oad in Wefton. The right hand road, at faid parting, paffes on about two miles fouth of faid meetinghoufe, and enters what is called the middle road in Uxbridge, and fo goes on, through Men- dou, to Bofton. Another principal road, is a coun ty LEICESTER. 99 ty road from Worcefter, paffing from north to fouth through the town, by borh meetinghoufes : At the fouth meetinghoufe it parts, and, by various part ings, leads to Douglafs and the weft part of Ux- bridge. There is another county road, which leads from Uxbridge to Worcefter, through the eaft part of Sutton. This was lately in contemplation to be made the poft road from Worcefter to Providence. The town of Sutton is diftant from the State- houfe in Bofton 46 miles to the fouthweft. And from Worcefter courthoufe, it is fix miles to the north parifh meetinghoufe ; and to the fouth parifh meetinghoufe, to the fouth nine miles. This is a large and flourifhing town, the fecond in wealth in the county ; and when the cenfus was taken in 1791, there were 2642 inhabitants there in. LEICESTER. 1 HE townfhip of Leicefter was grant ed by the General Court, on the tenth of Februa ry, 1713, to Col. Jofhua Lamb, of Roxbury, and others, his affociates ; and on the fifteenth day of the fame month and year, the Court, by a particu lar refolve or aft, gave this tra& of land the name of Leicefter. The natives called the place Towtaid; and i loo L E"I C E S T E R: and by the Englifh it was ufually called Strawber ry Hill. The place was not incorporated, and vefled with town powers and privileges, until the clofe of the year 1720, or the beginning of the year 1721 : For the firfl town meeting held in Leicefler was on the fixth of March, 1721. A fur- vey of this grant being ordered, and a return there of made, the General Court cflablifhed the lines and boundaries of it by a fpecial aft, on the ipth of January, 1714. The traft was to be eight miles fquare ; and was granted on thefe conditions, that the proprietors mould referve a fufficient quantity of land for the ufe of the mini dry and fchools, and fee that fifty families were fettled thereon in feven years. The proprietors accordingly, at a meeting in Boflon, on the 2gd of February, 1713, voted to give one half of the townfhip to fifty families who fhould fettle thereon, in that fpace of time. That number of families hav ing removed to, and fettled at Leicefler, the propri etors, at a meeting held at Boflon, on the 23d of July, 1722, chofe a committee, confiflingof Wil liam Dudley and Jofhua Lamb, Efqrs; Mr. Nathan iel Kenny, Mr. Samuel Tyler, and Mr. Samuel Green, to make and execute a deed of the eafterly half of Leicefler, lying weft of and adjoining to Worcefler ; eaft of Brookfield, fouth of Rutland, and north of a gore of land lying between Oxford and Leicefter, to Mr. John Stebbins, and others ; which deed bears date January 8th, 1724 ; and tvas recorded November 26th, 1729, Libro 29th, page 329 of the records of the county of Middle-* (ex. LEICESTER. iot fex*. This grant was intended to be eight miles fquare : But the meafure was large, and included the whole of what is now Spencer : And at the north end, two miles in width and four in length were taken off to help form the town of Paxton, in 1765 : And at the foutheaft part of the town, about 2500 acres were taken off to aid in making up the town of Ward, in 1778. Leicefter is flill a very considerable town, and contained when the enume ration was made, nearly 1100 inhabitants. It is bounded on the north by Paxton ; on the eaft by Worcefler and Ward ; on the fouth by Oxford ; and on the weft by Spencer. The firjl fettlers of Leicefter, like the people in general, of that day, paid early attention to relig ion, to the fupport of the gofpel, and the inftitu- tions of Chrift among them. When the congre gational church in this place was gathered, cannot now be exaftly afcertained, as there were no church records kept CVT preferved, till within about 40 years. But the probability is this, that the church was formed at the time of the firft minifter s being fettled with them, who was the Rev. David Par- fons. This Mr. Parfons was ordained at Maiden, near Bofton, but foon removed with a considerable part of his people, to Leicefter, where he was in- ftalled, by the beft account to be now had, Septem ber 15th, 1721. He did not continue long in the miniftry at Leicefter, but was drfmiifed from his paftoral relation to that flock, and died in about two years after. He was fucceeded in the facred ofjice, at Leicefter, by the Rev, David Goddard, who 102 LEICESTER. who was folemnly confecratcd thereto June 3Oth, 1736. He was not fuffcred to continue long with this people, by reafon of death ; for being on a journey, at Framingham, he was there feized with a fever which put a period to his days January ipth, 1754, in the 48th year of his age, and the 1 3th of his miniftry. The Rev. Jofeph Roberts fuccceded Mr. God- dardin the miniftry at Leicefter, whereunto he was ordained Oftober 23d, 1754, and he was difmiffed therefrom December 15th, 1762. To him fuc- ceeded in the work of the gofpel miniftry, the Rev. Benjamin Conklin, who was feparated thereunto on the 23d of November, 1763, and ftill continues in office. There is a confiderable fociety of Anabaptifts in Leicefter, and which has been of long {landing. Their firft teacher was Mr. Thomas Green, a phy- fician. After his death, the Rev. Benjamin Fofter, A. M. was ordained among them ; but for want of fupport he removed, and has been refettled in the city of Newyork ; where he is a worthy minif- ter, and has lately received the degree of Doftor of Divinity. The Anabaptift fociety in Leicefter, have for their prefent teacher Mr. Nathan Dana. Their houfe of worfhip is in the fouth part of the town. Alfo, there is in Leicefter, a number of the peo ple called Friends, or Quakers, who have a very good houfe for their way of worfhip, ere&ed in the north part of the town in the year 1791- Notwithftanding LEICESTER. 103 Notwithftanding the difference of feruiment, in religious matters, between the various denomina tions of the people of Leicefter, the greateft liberal ity and cordiality prevail, both in their town meet ings, and family connexions and intercourfe. JThere is an Academy eftabliihed in this town, and called Leice/ler Academy, for the purpofes of promoting true piety and virtue, and for the edu cation of youth in the Englifh, Latin, Greek, and French languages ; together with writing, arith- metick, and the art of fpeaking ; alfo practical ge ometry, logick, philofophy, and fuch other of the liberal arts and fciences or languages, as opportu nity may hereafter permit. Ebenezer Crafts, Efq; of Sturbridge, and Jacob Davis, Efq; of Charlton, in the county of Worcefter, generoufly gave a large and commodious manfion houfe, lands and ap purtenances, in Leicefter, for an Academy. This Academy was incorporated by an acl; of the Legif- lature, March 23d, 1784, and truftees were ap pointed ; their number is never to be more than fifteen, nor lefs than eight] The principal inflruclor, ex officio, is always to be one. The firft truftees, appointed by the Court, were, Ebenezer Crafts, Efq; of Sturbridge ; Jacob Davis, Efq; of Charlton ; Hon. Mofes Gill, Efq; of Prince ton ; Hon. Samuel Baker, Efq; of Berlin ; Hon. Le- vi Lincoln and Jofeph Allen, Efqrs. of Worcefter; Hon. Seth Wafhburn, Efq; and Rev. Benjamin Conklin, of Leiceftej-"; Rufus Putman, Efq; of Rut land; Rev. Jofhua Paine, of Sturbridge ; Rev. Jo- feph 104 LEICESTER. feph Sumner, of Shrewfbury ; Rev. Archibald Campbell, of Charlton ; Rev. Jofeph Pope, of Spencer; Hon. Timothy Danielfon, Efq; of Brim- field. Whenever any vacancy happens in the board of truflees, the remainder are to ele6l fome perfon to fill the place. The Hon. Mofes Gill, Efq; was ekaed Prefi- dent, the Rev. Benjamin Conklin, Viceprcfident ; the Rev. Jofeph Pope, Secretary ; Jofeph Allen, Efq; Treafurer. PRECEPTORS. Benjamin Stone, A. M. was the firfl Preceptor, Thomas Payfon, A. B. afliftant Preceptor ; Amos Crofby, A. M. Samuel Sum ner, A. M. David Smith, A. B. Ebenezcr Adams, A. B. the prefent Preceptor ; John Pierce, pref- ent afliftant Preceptor. Tlje prefent Truftees of Leicefter Academy, are, The Hon. Mofes Gill, Efq; Prefident; Hon. Sam- uel Baker, Efq; Hon. Seth Wafhburn, Efq; Hon. Levi Lincoln, Efq; Jofeph Allen, Efq; Treafurer ; Rev. Benjamin Conklin, Viceprefident ; Rev. Jofti- ua Paine * Rev. Jofeph Sumner ; Rev. Jofeph Pope, Secretary ; Rev. Archibald Campbell; Rev. Daniel Grofvenor; Capt. Thomas Newell, Leicefter; Dea con Jonas Howe, Rutland ; Hon. Dwight Foiler, Efq; and the Hon. Timothy Newell, Efq. Befides the buildings and lands given by Eben- ezer Crafts and Jacob Davis, Efqrs; the town of Leicefter gave, 500 Hon. Mofes Gill, Efq; 150 Rufus Putnam ? Efq; 100 Capt. LEICESTER. Capt. Thomas Newhall, . 100 Col. Thomas Denny, ~ - 100 Jeduthun Baldwin, Efq; - 100 Mr. Reuben Swan, 50 Mr. John Southgate, - 30 Col. Samuel Denny, . go Jofeph Allen. Efq; 30 Ifaiah Thomas, Efq; - - 20 Caleb Ammidown, Efq; 18 Hon. Timothy Paine, Efq; 15 Capt. Samuel Green, - 15 Capt. William Watfon, 12 Mr. Samuel Green, jun. . - 10 Mr. Samuel Watfon, - 10 Mr. Peter Taft, - 10 Mr. Phinehas Jones, 10 Mr. John Peirce, - - 10 Befides the above funds for the fupport of In- ftru&ors for this academy, the General Court grant ed in 1792, a townfhip of land, in the diflricl: of of Maine, of fix miles fquare to the ufe of this academy. Alfo the Hon. Judge Gill has given a number of well chofen books, which coft 30!. fterling in England, to the academy, for the ufe of the inftruclors, andalfo for the ufe of the ftudents, under certain regulations. Some Topographical Defcription of this tow* mail now be attempted. Leicefler is fituated upon the height of laud between the Atlantick Ocean, eaft and fouth, and Connecticut River on the weft. The town is very hilly and uneven \ it is indeed famed for its H hills, io6 LEICESTER. hills, but thefe are moift, fpringy and rocky yet not exceedingly fo. The foil is pretty good, deep and ftrong, but rather cold clayey and wet, not fo well adapted to grain as to grafs and paftur- age : It is pretty good for orcharding and fruit trees of all kinds. There are divers hills of note and fame in the town ; the firft we (hall mention, and the mofl confiderable, is Strawberry Hill, fo called by the Englifti when they firft came there, in confequence of the exuberant growth of thofe berries. On this hill ftands their elegant new meetinghoufe, on the northweft fide of the common which is level, fac ing to the foutheaft, erefted in 1784. At the northeaft angle of the fquare ftands the academy buildings; the other fides of the fquare are lined with large handfome dwelling houfcs. This hill is high and rather fteep, but not large and exten- five. A fecond hill is called Indian Hill, or Bald Hill, on account of its being cleared and planted with corn by the Indians, a long time before the white people went up fo far to live. A third is called Moofe Hill, becaufe of the great number of thofe quadrupeds which were wont to harbour there. Another is called Gary s Hill, from one of that name who went thither and digged a cave in the fide of this hill, and lived there as an hermit many years, while that part of the country was in its wildernefs ftate. A fifth is known by the ftame of Grafs Hill. Although there is no river running through the town, yet it is well watered by fprings and rivulets, and LEICESTER. io? and by feveral large brooks upon which there are three corn and five faw mills ; here alfo are clothiers works, where that bufinefs is carried on in all its branches. Two of the brooks above re ferred to, run from north to fouth, and are empti ed, one into Providence river, the other into the Sound or fea, at Newlondon, in Connecticut. The firft of thefe is called Kettle Brook, and has its fource in that part of Paxton which was former ly Leicefter ; is a very confiderable ftream, and running through the eafterly part of the town, pafTes into Ward, and there falls into Blackftone River. The other rifes from a large meadow iri the wefterly part of the town, of upwards of an hundred acres, part of which is in Spencer ; this ftream connects itfelf with the outlet of a pond which is fituated a little eafterly of the centre of the town of about forty or fifty acres : Thefe two are the fources of French River, which runs through Oxford, and falls into the fea at Newlondon. There is another pond in the northwefterly part of the town, containing about one hundred acres, whence iffues a ftream which runs wefterly, and forms a branch of the River Chicabee, and falls into Connecticut River at Springfield. On this ftream or outlet from the pond there is a grift mill, and by a drain and dam the pond may be mi fed or lowered ten feet, which 1 is of lingular advantage to the inhabitants of the vicinity, on account of grinding in the fummer feafon. In the eafterly part of the town there is a place where the water, running from, the northerly fide H 2 of io8 LEICESTER. of the poft road, goes to Providence, while that on the fouth fide goes to Newlondon, In the wefter- ly part of the town there is alto a place where the >vrater, from the north fide of the road, runs to Connecticut River ; and that on the fouth fide goeS to Newlondou. There is in this town a great variety of timber and wood, being a good proportion of almoft eve ry kind which is known to grow in this part of the country, except pitch and yellow pine. The principal roads of travel, are, firft. the poft road from Boflon to Springfield, through the mid dle of the town : Secondly, about one hundred rods weft from the meetinghoufe is the county road to Sturbridge, which turns to the left hand : Thirdly, through the north part of the town is a county road from Worcefter to Newbsaintree and Hardwick : Fourthly, from Rutland, and the northern part of the county, there is a large road through the town, leading through Charlton, Dud ley, Pomfret, c. to Norwich. The inhabitants of Leicefter moftly live by the cultivation of the foil ; and here are many very fine farms, and the building* are in general good,- and indicate a very confiderable degree of wealth. There are feveral perfons here who deal in foreign and doraeflick articles of trade ; and they have befides the ufual mechnnkks and tradefmen, a fa mous gunfmith, Mr. Thomas Karlc. who is fuppol- cd to equal any workman in the United State*, in that branch of bufinefs. Here RUTLAND. 109 Here alfo there are eftablifhed manufactories of cotton and wool cards, and the work is carried on in all its branches to the greateft perfe&ion. In this bufinefs are conftantly employed fifteen or twenty men, exclufive of a great number of women and children : And they vend, annually, from twelve to fifteen thoufand pair. Leicefter is a growing flourifhing town ; and is fituated upon the poll road from Bofton to Hart ford, Newyork and Philadelphia : It is fix miles from the courthoufe in Worcefter, a little to the fouthweft ; and from Bofton, it is fifty three miles, feveral degrees to the fouth of weft. RUTLAND. W E are happy in being able to fay, that the records refpefting Rutland, have been kept very correct and perfect, and in fine order from the firft. From them we find, that on the 2 ad of D(cem- foej i6&6, Jofeph Trailc, alias Puagaftion, of Pennicook; Job, alias Pornpamarnay, of Natick; Si- monPiticom, alias Wananapan, of Wamafiick; Saffa- wannow, of Natick, and James Wifer, alias Qual- ipunit, of Natick, (Indians who claimed to be lords of the foil) gave and executed a deed to Henry Willard, fofeph Rowlandfon, Jofeph Fof- ter, Benjamin Willard, and Cyprian Stevens, for 33!. of the then currency, of a certain tract H 3 of lio RUTLAND. of land containing twelve miles fquare, according to the buts and bounds following, viz. " The name in general being Naquag, the fouth corner butting upon Mufcopauge Pond, and running north to Quanitick and to Wanchatopick, and fo running upon great Watchufett, which is the north corner ; fo running northwefl to Wallamanumpfcooke, and fo to Quaquanimawick, a little pond, and fo to Afnaconcomick Pond which is the northwefl corner; and fo running fouth andfo to Musfhauge a great fwamp, and fo to Saflakataflick, which is the fouth corner ; and fo running eaft to Pafcatick- quage, and fo to Ahumpatunfhauge, a little pond, and fo to Sumpauge Pond, and fo to Mufcopauge, which is the eaft corner." This Indian deed, fign- ed and acknowledged by the above named Indians, was received April 14th, 1714, and entered with the records of deeds, for the county of Middlefex, Jibro 16, page 511, by Samuel Ph ips, regifter. Of this tracl; of land thus purchafed of the Indians we hear nothing for upwards of 26 years. But upon the petition of the fons and grandfons of Major Simon Willard,* of Lancafter, deceafed, and others, for approbation and confirmation of their title to the above tracl: of land, the Gene ral Court, on the 23d of February, 1713, pafled this order, " That the lands in the Indian deed, and according to their buts and bounds, be con firmed to the children of the faid Simon Willard, deceafed, or to their legal reprefentatives, and to the other petitioners, or their legal reprefentatives, and * This was the famons Major Willard who went to relieve vben bcfct by the Indians, R U T L A N D. in affociates, provided that within feven years time there be 6b families fettled thereon and fuffi- cient lands referved for the ufe of a gofpel minif- try and fchools, except what part thereof the Hon. Samuel Sewall, Efq; hath already purchafed, and that this grant ftiall not encroach upon any for mer grant or grants, nor exceed the quantity of twelve miles fquare. The town to be called Rut land, and to lye to the county of Middlefex." But this order, refolve or aft of court was not confidered as an aft of incorporation, as will pref- ently appear. This traft of land contained 93160 acres including 1000 acres for the Hon. Mr. Sew- all ; and was furveyed by William Ward, in Oc tober 1715. The names of the original proprie tors of Rutland as named in the affociate deed, and their mares, are Jofeph Fofter had two mares, the reft had one mare each. Cyprian Stevens s wife, Mary Willard s heirs, Jofeph Rowlandfon s heirs, Simon Willard, John Willard, Benjamin. Willard, Jofeph Willard, Jofiah Willard s heirs, Rev. Samuel Willard s heirs, Henry Willard s heirs, Daniel Willard s heirs, Jonathan Willard s heirs, Thomas Brintnal, Nathaniel Howard s heirs, Robert Blood s heirs, Jofhua Edmund s heirs; and Col. William Taylor, Penn Townfend, Paul Dud ley, Adington Davenport, Col. Adam Winthrop, Capt. Thomas Hutchinfon, Major Thomas Fitch, Thomas How, John Chandler, Col. William Dud ley, Efqrs. Mr. John White, John Farnfworth, Col. Buckley s heirs, Mofes Pajrker, and Jacob Ste vens. In all 33 mares. H 4 The R U T L A N >. The proprietors, at a meeting at Bofton, Decem ber 14th, 1715, voted that the contents of fix miles fquare be furveyed, and fet off for the fettle- meHt of 62 families in order to the performance of the condition of the granU The fix miles fquare, granted to men who would go on and fettle, was that part which is now called Rutland. The fet- tlers on the nth of Auguft 1720, entered into a written agreement with the proprietors, and bound themfelves by certain articles, figned and witneff- ed. And on the 26th of June 1721, this fix miles fquare was confirmed to the fettlers by the propri etors, as a fure eftatc of inheritance to them, their heirs and afligns forever, and recorded. On the i2th of July 1721, the inhabitants of Rutland were affernbled, by order of the committee of the proprietors, to choofe a minifler, when the Rev. Jo- feph Willard was chofen, by a great majority of the voters. At a meeting of the freeholders and inhabi tants of this fix miles fquare, or Rutland, October gth, 1 7 2 1 , Samuel Wright moderator, Voted, that the town will prefer a petition to the General Court, to give their fandlion, and eftablifti them as a town, to have and enjoy all the privileges other towns enjoy," A petition was accordingly prefejited to the General Court, and they fometime in their feflion, which was begun at Bofton upon Wednefday the 3Oth of May 1722, paffed an aft of incorporation, entitled, " An aft for further eftabliQiing the town of Rutland; and empowering them to choofe all prop. er RUTLAND. 113 er officers, and for the empowering them tp raife and collecl; money for the defraying of the neceflTary charges of the fa id town. Forafmuch as it appears that the proprietors of the townfhip of Rutland, have performed the conditions of the grant made thereof by the Great and General Affembly of this Province in 1713, Be it enafted by his Ex cellency the Governor, the Council, and Houfe of Reprefentatives in General Court alfembled, and by the authority of the fame, That the inhabitants and freeholders of the faid town of Rutland be in- vefted with, and forever hereafter enjoy all the powers, privileges and immunities, which other towns within this Province, by law, have and ufu- ally enjoy ; and that they be, and hereby are ena bled, to levy, affefs and collecl; three pence pel- acre, per annum, for the fpace of two years and a half from the firfl day of July laft paft (the time that the minifter began to officiate as a minifter there) on all the lands both improved and unim proved, whether divided or undivided, contained within the lines of the contents of fix miles fquare, as is already laid out, and within which the pref- ent inhabitants fettled ; and that the faid land be fubje&ed and made liable to the payment of the fame, to defray the charge of building the meeting- houfe, and paying the minifter s fettlement and falary, excepting only the prefent minifter s lot, and miniftry lot, with their divifions, alfo the fchoo! lot ; and alfo one thoufand acres of land appertain^ ing to Samuel Sewall, Efq; (the committee of Rut land having agreed, for certain confiderations with the 114 RUTLAND. the faid Samuel Sevvall, Efq;) and five hundred acres of land appertaining to the Artillery Company o/ this Province, and eighty acres of land on and near Buck Brook, and one hundred and forty a- cres of land about Mill Brook (being part of Ben jamin Willard s nine hundred acres laid out there to promote a mill) which faid lands fhallbe free from faid tax or aflfefTment, any law, ufage or cuftom to the contrary notwithstanding. " Palled in the houfe of reprefentatives, and in council, and confented to by the Governor. <c A true copy examined, per Jofiah Willard, Secretary." From the foregoing ftatement, it appears that the whole grant of 12 miles fquare was named Rut land, in 1713 ; but that only the fix miles fquare granted by the proprietors to the fcttlers, was call ed Rutland, and incorporated as a town ; and that this was not done until the feffion of the General Court which was begun May 30, 1722. And in confequence of the above recited aft, an order of the General Court palled July 6th, 1722, author izing and empowering Capt. Samuel Wright to call a meeting of the freeholders and other inhabi tants of the town of Rutland, on the lafl Monday of July current, then to choofe town officers to Icrve until the general meeting in March next. The town was notified and met accordingly ; and this was the firft legal town meeting ever held in Rutland. After the fettlers had performed their conditions, and the fix miles fquare was incorporated, we find the proprietors of the townfhip of Rutland, in all future RUTLAND. 115 Future meetings, had nothing to do with faid fix miles fquare, which is now the town of Rutland ; but concerned themfelves only with the other parts of their original grant, we {hall therefore leave them, and confine ourfelves to the account of Rut land. We have faid, the fettlers of the fix miles fquare, on the i2th of July 1721, invited the Rev. Jofeph Willard to fettle with them in the work of the min- iftry, which invitation he accepted. This Mr. Willard had been ordained a minifter of Sund-.r- land in the county of Hampfhire, but continued a very little time with them before he was difmiffed. After he had accepted the invitation to fettle with the people of Rutland, he met with many and great difcouragements, and particularly by reafon of the fears and dangers arifing from the Indians ; fo that an appointment of his inftallation was deferred. However, at length a day was fixed upon for his folemn feparation to the work of the miniftry in that place, in the fall of the year 1723 ; but he lived not to fee the day, being cut off by the ene my, as mall be now related. As Deacon Jofeph Stevens and four of his fons were making hay in a meadow, at Rutland, a little north of the place where the meetinghoufc now Hands, Auguft 14th, 1723, they were furprifed by five Indians. The father efcaped in the buihes ; two of his fons were then and there flain ; the other two, (Phinehas the eldeft, and Ifaac the youngeft) were made prifon- ers. Two of the five Indians waylaid a Mr. Davis ?md fon, who that afternoon were making hay in ft U t L A M D. a meadow not far off, but weary of waiting they were returning to the others, and met Mr. Willard in their way, who was armed : One of the Indians* guns miffed fire, the others did no execution. Mr. Willard returned the fire, and wounded one of them, it is faid mortally, the other clofed in with Mr. Willard ; but he would have been more than a match for him, had not the other three come to his affiflance : And it was fome confiderable time before they killed Mr. Willard. This account Phinehas Stevens gave upon his return from cap tivity, who was a fpe&ator of fome part of the tragedy. The Indians having killed and fcalped Mr. Willard, and taken fome of his clothes, went off to Canada with the two captives above named. They were redeemed in about a year. Phinehas Stevens was a famous warrior, a captain, and a principal man in building up and defending the then young, plantation No. 4, now Charleflown, in Newhampfhirc flate. Ifaac Stevens lived at Rutland. They have both been dead many years. On the 3d of Augufl 1724, the Indians came again upon Rutland, killed three perfons, wound ed one, and made another prifoncr. This is as I find it related in Governor Hutchinfon s hiftory. Others fpeak of but two killed : But the names of the killed, wounded, or prifoner, cannot now be afcertained. This was the laft mifchief done at Rutland by the Indians, fo far as we can learn. The Ecclefiaftical Hiftory of Rutland is brief and as here follows. The church of Chrift in the ;: was gathered November ift, 1727, and on the RUTLAND. 117 tbe fame day the Rev. Thomas Frink was ordain ed their firft Paftor. Mr. Frink continued but a little time as their minifter, being difmiffed from his office September 8th, 1740. (Mr. Frink was inftalled Paftor of the third church in Plymouth, November yth, 1743, where he continued minifter but a fhort fpace ; being difmiffed from thence, he was inftalled at Barre on the lalt Wednefday in October 1753 ; from whence alfohewas dilmiifed July 17th, 1766.) Tbe Rev. Jofeph Buckminfter fucceeded Mr. P>ink, as a minifter of the gofpel of Chrift, at Rutland, whereunto he was ordained September 15th, 1742. Mr. Buckminfter^continu- ed the able faithful and worthy minifter of Rut land until November gd, 1792, when he died ia the 73d year of his age, and the 516; of his minif- try. He was fucceeded in about eight months, by the Rev. Hezekiah Goodrich, who was feparated to the pa floral office in Rutland, on the ipth of June 1793. In this town upwards of forty perfons have late ly united, and eftablifhed a focjal Library, of the value of nearly $oL and containing about 70 vol umes at prefent. Some Geographical Defcription of Rutland fhall noxv be attempted. The town is iituated on the height of land be. twecn the fea and Connecticut River : It is hilly and very uneven : The hill on which the meeting- houfe ftands is high : And the meetinghoufe may be feen in many of the adjacent towns, and even at a great di fiance to the weft and noijhweft ; but as n8 RUTLAND. as the town abounds with hills it affords no extcn- five and commanding profpeft of itfelf. Eaft of the meelinghoufe is a hill called Mufchapauge hill or Rice s hill, containing two or three hundred acres, this is very good land, and has fome fine farms upon it. Part of Turkey Hill, fo called, on the fouth falls within Rutland, the reft is in Paxton. This is high, but moft excellent land. Other hills there are many, but none particular ly noticeable. The land in general is very good, and the foil is rich and flrong : It is not extraordi nary for raifing of grain, though a fufficiency is produced for the inhabitants ; it is very well adapted to grafs and grazing, and moft excellent for orcharding : Here are large and fine orchards, and much cyder is made in the town. Rutland, being the height of land, has no large rivers running through it. Pifs River, fo called, which originates on the weft fide of Watchufett Hill, runs through Hubbardfton, and paifes acrofs the northweft angle of this town, and fo falls into Ware river. On this river are one corn mill, two f?w mills, one fulling mill, and one trip hammer, within the limits of Rutland ; and the meadows on this river are confiderable. There is a large ftream, called Long Meadow Brook, running through the town, in the wefterly part thereof, on which are large meadows, and two corn mills and two faw mills within the bounds of this town. About half a mile call of the mccimghoufe is a famous fpring, the waters whereof foon divide ; part runs tg Meiitnack, and part to Connecticut River ; RUTLAND. 119 River : And it is to be obferved that all the waters of Rufland run to thefe two great rivers. There are divers ponds in the town ; Mufcopauge Pond, mentioned in the Indian deed ; this is large, cover ing about 100 acres. In this pond two perfons have been drowned. Evans s Pond, fo called, of about 60 or 70 acres, in the fouthwefterly part of the town. Alfo, Gregory s or Long Pond, which is long and narrow, in the fouthwefterly quarter. Thefe are all well ftored with filh. Browning s Pond is large, this is fituated in the foutherly part, and is partly in Rutland, partly in Spencer ; but the largefl part is in Oakham. The growth of wood in Rutland is, oak of all forts, chefnut, wal nut, pine of all forts, afh, maple, birch, beach, poplar, elm, faffafras, hemlock, hackmatack, &c. &c. In the wefterly and northwefteriy part of the town is an extenfive plain, a great part of which is flill covered with pitch pine. This is rather light land. The people of Rutland are principally , farmers, except a few traders in European, Eafl and Weftindia goods, the ufual rriechanicks, and thofe employed in the card making bufinefs, which is newly fet up here : And they are a peaceable, happy, flourifhing people. In this town, pot and pearl afh making is carried on very largely. When the cenfus was taken about two years ago there were 1072 fouls in the town. Rutland is bounded, on the north by Hubbardf- ton ; on the northeaft, by Princeton ; on the eaft, by Holden ; on the fouth, by Paxton ; on the weft, by Oakham ; and on the northweft, by Bar- re, 120 WES-TBOR OUGH. re. This town is (ituated about weft from Bofton, at the diftance of 56 miles ; and from the court- houfe in Worccfter, it is noithweft, at the diftancc of fourteen miles. WEST BOROUGH. HIS town was taken from Marl- borough, and lying the whole length of that town on the weft fide, thence was called Weftborough when incorporated by a 61 of the General Court on the i8th of November 1717. This before ufed to be called Chauncey Village at the weft end of Marlborough. Here a Church was gathered on the 28th of October 1724, and on the fame day the Rev. Ebenezer Parkman, their firft Paftor, was ordained. Having obtained help of God, he con tinued to minifter to the people in holy things un til within about fix weeks of his death, which was on the ^th of December 1782. in the 8oth year of his age, and 59th of his miniftry. The town re mained deftitute of a fettled minifler until Janua ry 14th, 1789, when the Rev. John Robinfon was confecrated their fccond paftorT! This town in- creafed fo fafl that on Oftobcr 20th, 1744, the north part was made a fepatfate parifh ; the par ticulars whereof will be related when we come lo give an account of the town of Nonhborough. This wellerly part of Marlborough, being theij a frontier, having no town betweefh it and Brook- field, XVEStBOROUGH. 121 field on the weft, about 40 miles diftant, did not fettle fo faft : Nevertheless, towards the elofe of the feventeenth century feveral families had here feated themf elves ; and among others, Meffrs, Thomas and Edmund Rice had families, and were fixed down but a little weft of where the prefent meetinghoufe in Weftborough ftands. On Auguft 8th, 1704, as feveral perfons were bufy in fpread- ing flax, on a plain about eighty rods from the houfe of Mr. Thomas Rice (the firft fettler in Weftbor- oagh, and feveral years reprefentative of the towri of Marlborough, in the General Court) and a num ber of boys with them, feven, fome fay ten, Indians fuddenly rufhed down a woody hill near by, and, knocking the leaft of the boys on the head (Nahor, about five years old, fon of Mr. Edmuud Rice, and the firft Englifh perfon ever buried in Weft- borough) they feized two, Afher and Adonij ah, fons of Mr. Thomas Rice, the oldeft about ten, and the other about eight years of age, and two others, Silas and Timothy, fons of Mr. Edmund Rice abovenamed, of about nine and feven years of age, and carried them away to Canada. The perfons who were fpreading flax, efcaped fafely to the houfe. Afher, in about four years, returned, being redeemed by his father. This was effected by the kind mediation of the Rev. Mr. Lydius, then minifter of Albany. And here, by the way, it fhould be noted, that when the old Indian Sa chem Ountaflbgo, the chief of the Cagnawagas, at the conference with Governor Belcher at Deerfield, made a vifit to Bofton, he flopped awhile in Weft- I bQrough j t22 W E S T B O R O U G H. borough.; the beforementioned Afher Rice and knew him to be one of the Indians who mfhed down the hill, as above related, when he was taken by them. This Mr. Afher Rice married, had a family, and was living but a few years pad in Spencer. His brother Adqnijah, grew up in Canada, and married there, firll a French, after wards a Dutch woman, and followed the bufinefs of hufbandry on fome land a little way off from Montreal, on the north fide of the great river St. Lawrence, and had a good farm there, as we have been certified. The Indian name whereby he was called x was AJJaunaugooLon. As to the other two, .Silas and Timothy, they mixed -with the Indians ; loft their mother tongue, had Indian wives, and children by ihem ; and liv ed at Cqgnawaga. The name by which Silas was diflinguimed among the Indians was Tookanowras. Timothy, the youngeft, however, was much the moll noticeable perfon. The accounts received from thence, have uniformly represented him as the third of ihc fix chiefs of the Cagrwwagas. This advancement was in confequencc of the death of his fofter father, or mafter, who had adopted him for a fon, inftead of a fon which he, the former chief, had loft. <! However,) faid the Rev. Mr. Parkman, who had the beft means of information) Timothy had much recommended himfelf to ^.he Indians, by his own fupcrior talents, his penetra tion, courage, flrength, and warlike fpirit, .for which he was much celebrated, as was evident to me from convcrfation with the late Sachem Hen- drick, W E S T B O R O.U G H. 123 drick, and Mr. Kellogg, when they were in the MafTachufetts ; and his name ., among them the fame as we had ever heard, viz. Oughtforongoughton." The venerable Mr. Parkman, in a manufcript account of thefe perfons found among his papers fince his death, adds, with refpecl: to this Timothy, in thefe words : " He himfelf, in procefs of time, came to -fee us. By the interpofition of Col. Lyd- ius, and the captive Tarbell, who was carried a- way from Groton, a ; letter was fent me, bearing date July 23d, 1740, certifying that if one of their brethren here would go up to Albany, and be there at a time fpecified, they would meet him there ; and that one of them, at leaft, would come hither to vifit their friends in Newengland. This propofal was readily complied with, and it fuc- ceeded. The chief abovefaid came, and the fa id Mr. Tarbell with him as interpreter and companion. They arrived here September 15th. They viewed the houfe where Mr. Rice dwelt, and the place from whence the children were, captivated ; of both which he retained a clear remembrance ; as he did likewife of feveral elderly perfons who were then living ; though he had forgot our language. His Excellency Governor Belcher fent for them, who, accordingly, waited on him at Boilon. They alfo viuted Tarbell s relations at Groton ; then returned to us in their way back to Albany and Canada. Col. Lydius, when at Bofton, not long fince, * faid this Rice was the Chief who made the fpeech * This account was written in 1769, la 124 WESTBOROUCH. fpeech to General Gage, which we had in ctar public prints, in behalf of the Cagnawagas, foon after the reduction of Montreal," Thus far the Rev. Mr. Parkrhan. To the above account I would add, there are at this prefcnt time, 1793, a brother and fitter of the abovenamed Silas and Timothy, living in North- borough, in a very advanced age, though not born when their brethren were captivated, who have heard that thefe men were living in Canada, in the fummer of 1790. ^et us proceed to fome Geographical Defcrip- tion of Wcftborough. The town is pretty large, and very generally fettled, containing, when the cenfus was taken in 1791, houfes 118, and inhab itants 934^1 It is about 34 miles from Bofton, a little to the fouth of weft, and 13 miles eaft from Worcefter. The middle of the town is level, but the lands rife, at about a mile s diftance frorn the meetinghoufe into higher, efpecially to the eafl, fouth and weft. The foil is in general good, the farms are large, and the inhabitants induftrious and wealthy, as any one muft naturally fuppofe from the appearance of their places and buildings. The growth of wood here is fimilar to that in the neighbouring towns : The higher lands bear plen ty of oak and chefnut, fome walnut ; in the fwamps andlow lands grow afh, birch and maple : Hercalfo they have large and excellent cedar fwamps, which afford the people much cedar for mingles and oth er important and ncceffary ufes : There is, at this , but little white pine, but confidcrable pitch pine. WESTBOROUGH. 125 pine. JThere is very little broken poor land in the town ; neither is it very rocky ; but bears all kinds of grain in plenty j it is good for orchard ing, grafs and pafturing : It is very well watered by fmall ftreams and rivulets, on which they have mills ; and on thefe they have confiderable bodies of good meadow land. The river Affabet, run ning through the northweil angle of the town, has upon its banks a very large body of very excellent meadow or interva^ Ponds there are feveral in the town, as Greafc Chauncy in the northeafterly part, into which a rivulet enters at the fouth end from fwamps and low lands ; this is a fine pond, and here is a plen ty of fifh. A fmall ftream iffues from the north end of this pond and empties into Little Chauncy, which is in Northborough. About a mile fouth of Great Chauncy, there is a fmall pond, near the road from Weftborough to Bofton, whence iffues a fmall dream to the fouth, entering a large cedar fwamp, and running through that, empties into a large pond called Cedar Swamp Pond, which is environed on the eaft, north and weft, with faid fwamp ; from this pond, on the fouth, there is an outlet which runs into Hopkin- ton, and aids in forming Sudbury, or Concord South River. It is worthy of notice, that the wa ters in this town, though they take different routs, finally unite in Concord, by the confluence of the north and fouth river in that town. In the north- wefterly part of Weftborough is fituated Hobomo- cho Pond, not large, encircled with a meadow 3 I 3 bearing 126 U X B R I D G E.; bearing the fame name, and from this there is an outlet into the River Affabet, abovementioned. Weftborough is bounded on the eafl, by South- borough and Hopkinton ; on the fouth, by Upton ; on the weft, by Grafton and Shrewfbury ; and oa the north, by Northborotigh. U X B R I D G E. 1 H E town of Uxbridge was taken from the ancient town of Mendon, and was incor porated by an aft of the Legiflatute, on the syth of June 1727, and then received its prefent name. It was the wefterly part of that town. It was large at firft. extending ten or twelve miles from north to fouth ; but has fmce been curtailed, having the north part fet off in 1772, and made a diftincl; town, by the name of Northbridge. Uxbridge flill remains a very confidcrable town in extent, and for the number of its inhabitants. When the cenfus was taken in 1791, there were 180 dwelling houfes, and 1310 inhabitants in the place. The people took early care for the fupport of the gofpel, and the iriftitutions of Chriftianity a- mong them ; accordingly, foon after the incorpo ration of the town, viz. on the fixth of January , a church of Chrift was here gathered under the U X B R I D G E. 127 the dire&ion of the Rev. Jofeph Dorr of Mendon ; and on February third, 1731, the Rev. Nathan Webb, was invefled with the paftoral office in the place. Mr. Webb continued the faithful minifter of the town upwards of 41 years ; being removed by death on the 14th of March 1772. The Rev. Hezekiah Chapman fucceeded Mr. Webb in the work of the miniftry in Uxbridge ; whereunto he was folemnly feparated January 27th, 1774 ; and from which he was difmifled April 5th, 1781. The Rev. Jofiah Spalding, fucceeded Mr. Chap man as minifter of Uxbridge, being ordained on the iith of September 1783 : He continued with this people but about four years, being difmifled from his paftoral relation to them, Olober 2$d, 1787. Thefe two gentlemen were difmiffed more on account of the peculiarity of their religious feriti- ments, than any thing befide. Mr. Spalding has fince been inftalled at Worthington in the county of Hampfhire. On the 1 7th of October 1792, the Rev. Samuel Judfon was ordained Paftor, the fourth in fucceffion, of the congregational fociety in Uxbridge. In the town of Uxbridge there are a few fam ilies of the Anabaptift perfuafion. And here alfo is a very confiderable fociety, nearly one quarter of the inhabitants of : the town, of the fe6l called Friends, who have a meetinghoufe for the worfhip of God in their way, built with brick. We will noxv give fome Geographical Defcrip- tion of the town of Uxbridge, I 4 This 128 This town is fituated at the fouthern extremity of the county, and is bounded on the Couth, by the line between this Commonwealth, and the ftate of Rhodeifland ; on the weft, by Douglafs ; on the north, by Northbridge ; and on the caft, by Men- don. Uxbridge is 42 miles from Bofton, fomewhat to the fouthweft, and is 18 miles from the courthoufe in Worcefter, to the foutheaft. The land in the town is pretty level, for the fpace of about one mile round the meetinghoufc, being a plain, and rather fandy and light ; how ever, good for railing of grain of all forts ; then it rifes to hills on all fides, but not very high, nor very rocky ; thefe are moifl and good for orchard ing, and for grazing, and for Englifh grafs : There is a good proportion of interval and meadow lands upon the rivers, which are in general very good. There are three rivers in this town, all of them unite in the fouth part ; Blackftone, Mumford, and Weft River. Blackftone River has its fource in Sutton ; and was particularly dcfcribed in the ac count of that town. This river comes from Suttoii through Gfcifton and Northbridge, and enters Ux bridge at the north end of the town, and running through the town, near the middle, pafles into Rhodeifland State : This is a large and fine river. Mumford River has its rife in Rocky Woods, fo called, in Douglafs, being increafed by dreams from Badluck Pond, and from Manchaug Pond, in Douglafs, and by fprings and rivulets, and runs an eafterly courfe into Uxbridge, then turns and runs U X B R I D G E. 129 runs foutheafterly within a few rods of Uxbridge meetinghoufe, where there are feverai forts of mills arid water works, in excellent order, and where much bufmefs is well performed. This river con tinues its courfe, and joins Blackftone River about f one mile foutheaft of the meetinghoufe. Weft River is not large, its main fource is a pond in the northerly part of Upton, and running through a part of Northbridge, it paffes through the eafterly fide of Uxbridge, and falls into Black ftone River about two miles foutheaft from the meetinghoufe. Befides thefe rivers, there are divers brooks and rivulets, by which this town is finely watered. There are alfo three fmall ponds in the town, covering ten or twelve acres of land each, and are called^ Pout Pond, Mud Pond, and Shoelog Pond. Pout Pond is in the eaft part of the town, about one mile from the meetinghoufe. Mud Pond is fituated in the foutheaft part of the town, not far from Blackftone River, with which it holds a com munication when the water is high. Shoelog Pond is fituated in the fouthweft part of the town, from whence iffues a fmall ftream, which runs into Gloucefter, in the State of Rhodeifland. Not far from this pond an iron mine has been difcovered, and wherein perfons have wrought to very confid- erable advantage. Upon the farm of Dr. Samuel Willard, in Uxbridge, there is a fine quarry of ftone, of a greyilh colour, eafily fplit, and wrought into any fliape for underpinning, door ftoncs, &c, &c. The 130 S O U T H B O R O U G H. The growth of wood and timber in this town is pretty much like that of other towns in general : Oak of various forts, fome chefnut, walnut, poplar and pine. The people of Uxbridge fubfift chiefly by the cultivation of the foil : They have, however, all the common forts of mechanicks, and a few dealers in European, Eaft and Weft India goods. There is one road of confiderable travel, from Connecticut, direftly through this town to Men- don, and fo on to Bofton. This may be confidered as a large, wealthy, flourifhing place, and (lands forward in the lift of towns, according to the proportion which it pays to a State tax. SOUTHBOROUGH. 1 H E town of Southborough, was taken from the ancient town of Marlborough. and derived its name from (he circumftancc of its lying about fouth from that town. It was incorporated, by aft of Court, July 6th, 1727. A few years paft, a ftrip of land, belonging to Framingham, of about three hundred acres, and running up between Southborough and Hopkinton, was annexed to Southborough. The S O U T H B O R O U G H. The church of Chrifl in this town, was embodied on the 24th N of October 1730, and on the fame day the Rev. Nathan Stone was ordained their firft Pallor: He was a judicious, prudent, and faithful minifler of Chrift, and was continued ferving God in the gofpel of his Son, to the great fatisfa6tion of his people, until May 31 ft, 1781, when he depart ed this life, in the 74th year of his age and 51 ft of his miniftry. The people were deftitute of a fettled minifter for the long fpace of ten years, even until June ift, 1791, when the Rev. Samuel Sumner was lolemnly feparated unto the paftoral office over the church and flock of God in Southborough. We fhall proceed to give fome Geographical Defcription of this town. It is fituated on the eaft fide of the county, and is bounded by Marl- borough on the north, Framingham on the eaft, Hopkinton on the fouth, and Weftborough and Northborough on the weft : It is 29 miles from jBofton, a little to the fouth of weft ; and 17 miles from Worcefter courthoufe, about eaft. It is not large in extent, but pretty well filled with people, who are generally good and wealthy farmers. They have about 120 dwelling houfes, 150 families, and 840 inhabitants. The town is not level, nor yet very uneven ; there are no extenfive plains, and no very high hills ; the foil is ftrong, good and rich, and productive, amply repaying for its cultivation. It is not very rocky, however, there is a fufficiency of ftone, perhaps on every farm, whereby it is, or may be walled in. In- the South part of the town there is a hill, which, from the fteepnefs of its af- cent, *3* SOUTHBOROUGH. cent, is called Breakneck Hill, over the fteepeft part runs a town road ; it is rocky and rough, but cov ered with a large growth of young wood, and de- fcends to the north. In the northeafl part is fitu- ated what is called Pine Hill, which was covered with pines and timber until the year 1787, when, by a hurricane, the wood was chiefly deftroyed. On the weft fide of the town there is a fteep hill over which the county road lies, but not diftin- guifhed by any particular name. The town is well watered by ftrcams and rivu lets. Stony Brook rifes in the eafterly part of Weftborough, runs through Southborough in a courfe which in general is eafterly ; but not with out leveral great angles ; for what is worthy of re mark, the road through the town to Bofton croffes this ftream three times within the fpace of four miles. This ftrcam enters Framingham and there falls into Sudbury River. On this ftream are two faw mills, in fine order, of profit to their owners, and benefit to the town. Upon the fame brook are four corn mills. One in the wefterly part of the town, neareft its fource, and on the great road, can grind but about half the year, as railing a pond in the fummer feafon would damage a large body of meadow land. But below this, at the^ diftance of two or three miles, as the ftream runs, ftands another mill in good repair, and where much bufi- nefs is done, not only for the benefit of this, but the neighbouring towns. About two miles further down this ftream, are two well conftru&cd corn mills, the property of Col, Thomas Nixon, which grind SOUTHBOROUGH. 133 grind all the year, except in a very dry feafon, as the waters of Angle Brook, and Broad Meadow- Brook fall into this flream above thefe mills. On this Stony Brook, clothiers works have lately been erected in the eaflerly part of the town where much bufinefs is well performed. A fecond flream is calkd Angle Brook, from its winding courfe. One branch of this ftream rifes near the meelinghoufe in Maiiborough, and anoth er branch a little further fouth, and foon uniting enters Southborough. and there joining with Broad Meadow Brook, in about the diftance of a mile, falls into Stony Brook, as abovementioned. There are many other flreams lefs noticeable. But we mufl obferve what is called Sudbury River, iffues from Cedar Swamp Pond, in the foutheafterly part of Weflborough, and when it leaves that town, is the boundary between Southborough and Hopkin- ton, on the fouth. The meadows on this river, in Southborough, are narrow, but produce large quan tities of good flock hay, being a mixture of meadow, and Englifli grafs. Thole upon Stony and An gle Brooks are good, and yield mofl excellent bank hay. There is but one pond in this town, in dte weflern part, fmall, covering perhaps fix acres 6f ground. To this there is a fmall inlet, and an otit- let to the fouth ; and all the waters in this ttfwn run foutherly and eaflerly, and empty into Sucflbu- ry, or Concord River. Here are no pot or pearl- afh works. The growth of wood is fufficient for the towrt, if prudently ufed, and confifls of white, red and black 1 3 4 S PI R E W S B U R Y. black oak, feme walnut, and more chefnut : Tlie low lands are all under cultivation. Upon the whole, this, though not large, its contents being but about 8350 acres, is a good town ; and the people are induflrious and wealthy, in general ; and hofpitable and peaceable. SHREWSBURY. I N T the year 1717, November 2d, a grant was made to certain perfons, chiefly of Marlborough, who petitioned therefor, of all the lands lying between the original grant of Lancaf- ter on the north ; Marlborough, on the eaft; Sut- ton on the fouth ; and Worcefter on the weft. Moft of the fi rfl fettlers were from Marlborough. The traft of land was very long (about fifteen miles north and fouth) but not very wide (from three and an half to four and five miles.) The whole was called, by the proprietors, Shrewfbury from the beginning. In about ten years from the date of the grant, it was fo (locked with inhabitants, as that the Gene ral Court incorporated it as a town, by an aft which bears date December ipth, 1727, and gave it the name whereby it had ail along been diftin- guifhed. The SHREWSBURY. 135 The townfo flouriflied and increased, as that in a little more than twenty years a fecond parifh, in. the northerly part, was formed, viz. on the i7th December 1742, which has fince been made a dif- tin6l town. The fouth part of this original grant wliich is now Shrewfbury, is about feven miles in length from north to fouth, and about, three and an half or four miles in width ; and it is bounded by Worcefter on the weft ; by Boy 1ft on on the north ; by Weflborough and Northborougn on the eaft ; and by Grafton on the fouth. It is fit- uated about fix miles from Worcefter courthoufe, a little to the northeaft, and from Bofton 41 miles a little to the fouth weft. The poft road from Bofton to W T orcefter, and fo 011 to Newyork, &c. palfes direclly through the town ; and the great road from Vermont, and from the upper part of Newhampfhire, and northweftern part of the coun ty, unites with the poft road about a mile and art half weft of the meetinghoufe. Befides which there is a road of con fi deyrable travel from, the northward, directly through Shrewfbury, to Provi dence. The ecclefiaftical hiftory of this place is but brief, and is as here follows : On the fourth day of December 1723, the church of our Lord Jefus Chrift was gathered here, and on the fame day the Rev. Job Cufhing was ordained their firft Paftor. He continued in peace and love with his people, and faithfully ferving the Lord in the work of the miniftry almoft 37 years ; and was 136 SHREWSBURY. was fuddenly cut off, by a fit of the apoplexy, Auguft 6th, 1760, in the 6jth year of his age. And on the 25th of June 1762, the Rev. Jofeph Sumner was folemnly inverted with the paftoral office in this place ; and who flill continues to minifler to them in holy things. There are a few Baptifts in the fouth part of the town, but no church of that denomination. Before we proceed to a Geographical Defcrip- tion of this town, I have thought that fo remarka ble and forrowful an occurrence as took place in Shrewfbury, in its infancy, ought to be recorded in this hiftory. I fhall give it in the words of the account publifhed in the only Newfpaper (I have been told) then printed in Newengland, if not on this fide Philadelphia. It was a fmall half meet printed by B. Green. " Bo/Ion, Augujl i5th, 1723. " An exaft account of the awful burning of Capt. John Keyes s houfe, with five perfons in it, at Shrewfbury, in the night between the 7th and 8th of thisinft. taken from a letter of the Rev. Mr. Breck of Maryborough, and from the mouth of Mr. Ebenezer Bragg of the fame, formerly of Ipf- wich, the only perfon of thofe who lodged in the houfe, who, by a diflinguifhing providence, efcap- ed the flames. " Capt. Keyes was building an houfe about nine or ten feet off his old one. It was almofl finifiied. And Mr. Bragg aforefaid, the carpenter, with his brother Abiel, of 17 years of age, and William Oaks of 1 8. his apprentices, were work ing SHREWSBURY. 137 ing about it. Capt. Keyes, with his wife and four daughters, lodged in the old one ; and the three carpenters, with three fons of the Captain s, viz. Solomon of twenty, John of thirteen, and Steven of fix years of age, lay in the new. On the Wednefday night, going to bed, they took a more than ordina ry care of the fire, being excited thereto by the faying of one, He would not have the houfe burnt for an hundred pounds ; and the reply of another, He would not for two hundred. Upon which, they care fully raked away the chips lying near it, and flayed till the reft were almoft burnt out ; and then they went all fix together into three beds in one of the chambers ; and were very cheerly and merry at their going to bed, which was about ten of the clock. " But about midnight Mr. Bragg was awaked with a notion of the houfe being on fire, and a multitude calling to quench it ; with which he got up, faw nothing, heard no voice, but could hardly fetch any breath, through the ftifling fmoke ; concluded the houfe was on fire, perceiv ed fome body ftirring, againft whom he hit two or three times m the dark : And not being able to fpeak, or to breathe any longer, and ftriking his forehead againft the chimney, he thought of the window and happily found it ; When he gained it, he tarried a minute, holding it fail with one hand, and reaching out the other, in hopes of meet ing with fome or other to fave them, till the fmoke and fire came fo thick and fcorching upon him, he could endure no longer ; and hearing no noife in. the chamber, only, as he thought, a faint groan or K two, 138 SHREWSBURY. two, lie was forced to jump out, and, the windour being fmall, head foremoft ; though he fuppofes, by God s good providence, he turned before he came to the ground. As Mr. Bragg was juft got up again, Capt. Keyes being awaked in the old houfe, was coming to this fide of the new, and met him. But the flame immediately burft out of the windows, and the houfe was quickly all on a light fire. No noife was heard of the other five who perifhed ; and it is very queflionable, whether more than one of them moved out of their beds. The old houfe was alfo burnt, and almoft every thing in it : But the people were faved, through the great goodhefs of God. But a moil dreadful fight it was in the morning, to fee the five bodies frying in the fire, among the timbers fallen down in the cellar, till towards the evening, when the few almoft confumed fragments, without heads or limbs, were gathered, put into one coffin, and bu ried. Pfalm Ixvi, 3, Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works ! James iv, 1510, Ye know not lohat Jhall be on the morrow. Luke xii, 4Oth, Be ye therefore ready." Thus far the newfpaper. The Capt. Keyes abovenamed, was afterwards the well known and much cfteemed Major John Keyes, who died in Shrewsbury, not many years fince, in a very advanced age. The new houfe which was burnt, flood on the great road about three quarters of a mile eaftward from the prefent meetinghoufe. And upon the fame fpot a large dwelling houfe now Hands. Let SHREWSBURY. 139 Let us now proceed to defcribe the town of Shrewfbury. Much the greater part of this town is upon quite high land. Indeed it is one large and extenfive hill, and the meetinghoufe ftands nearly upon the higheft part of it : The land falls but very little to the north : To the fouth, the de- fcent is long, but gradual : To the eaft, as the great road runs, there is a defcent towards North- borough, for the fpace of two miles or more, nay, even fome way into Northborough : To the weft, there is half a mile of rocky plain, and then a pretty fteep defcent to a fmall plain, before you come to the head of Long Pond, and beyond that the land rifes immediately, and there is quite a fleep hill before you leave Shrewfbury, on the way to Worcefter. The town is not very uneven confidered altogether, but is pretty rocky. There is a very large and extenfive profpecl: from the middle of the town, and all round the meeting houfe, eaft and weft, north and fouth, and from fome parts of the town feven meetinghoufes can be dif- cerned. The land, in general, is rather rough and hard, but the foil is ftrong, rich, and very produc tive when fubdued. The higher lands are very- good for orcharding, and fruit trees of all kinds, and for pafturage, and even for mowing ; for the land is not dry, and it bears a dry feafon exceed ing well. It is not fo well proportioned with til lage land ; however, what they till is very produc tive, and richly repays the labour beftowed upon it. There is very little poor broken, wafte land in the town, And it is richly ftored with a fine K 2 young I 4 o SHREWSBURY. young thrifty growth of the beft of wood for fuel, fuch as oak of all kinds, walnut and chcfnut, and the lower lands bear afh, birch, maple, &c. &c. The town is pretty well fupplied with waters, by various fp rings and rivulets, although there is not one large ftream which runs through the town. The largeft ftream in the town is that which iflues from Sewall s Pond, which is within the limits of Boylflon, and running foutherly a mile and a quarter, falls into Long Pond, on the road to Worcefter, over which is the bridge at the head of faid pond. This pond, called by the natives, Quinfigamond, but commonly Long Pond, is a beautiful piece of water, in the form of a crefcent, nearly four miles in length, as it runs (though on a ft rarght line but three miles and twenty four rods) and it is from 100 rods to nearly a mile in width, although in one place, it be not more than forty rods. This pond lies almoft wholly within the bounds of Shrewfburj-, not more than one acre falling within the limits of Worcefter. It is, per haps, the largeft and fineft pond in the county. Indeed, it may very fitly be denominated a lake. Upon the top of the hill, on the weft fide of Shrewf- bury, it appears to travellers as a large river, or- "namented with woods on each fide. It affords great plenty of fiih, as pickerel, large perch, eels, miners, breams, Sec. and the brooks which run into it, contain fome trout. The water of this pond is in general deep ; in fome places it has been found ninety fix feet deep. In this pond there are a number of Iflands of various fizes. The SHREWSBURY. 141 The firft, or uppermoft, at the north end, is call ed Little Pine Ifland, has upon it a thicket of vines, and contains about a quarter of an acre. The fecond is Grafs Ifland, covered with grafs and willows, and which has been mowed in a dry fea- fon. The third is called Sherman s Ifland, and contains about one acre and an half, and has a growth of fmall timber and wood upon it, of dif ferent kinds. The fourth is called Bowman s Ifl and, of about three acres, and is clothed with pine and other timber. The fifth is denominated Bar berry Ifland, from the confiderable quantity of thofe berries which grow thereon ; this contains about three acres. The fixth is another Grafs Ifland, having upon it willows and waterbufhes. The feventh is known by the name of Grape Ifland, of about the fourth of an acre, bears large quan tities of grapes. The eighth, commonly call ed Sharp Pine Ifland, of three quarters of an acre, is covered with divers forts of wood. The ninth is known by the name of Ram Ifland, of two acres, covered with oak and chefnut. The tenth and lafl is a very large ifland, and generally called Strat- ten s Ifland ; this contains about 150 acres ; a confiderable part of which is under cultivation ; and there are three families living thereon, having good farms : Thefe are inhabitants of Shrewsbury. This ifland has oak, chefnut, walnut, and fome pine thereon. There are two or three other places in the pond where land appears in a dry feafon, but at other times are covered with water. This is bounded north and weft, by the Long or Great K 3 Pond j, 142 SHREWSBURY. Pond ; foutheaft, by what is called Half Moon Pond ; fouth, by Flint s Pond ; eaft, by Round Pond, all which communicate with each other. From them runs a river, at the foutheaft, which paffes into Grafton, whereon are a number of mills, and other water works. There is a fmall outlet from Long Pond, foutherly, into Flint s Pond ; and from Flint s Pond eaftwardly, there is an out let into the river juft mentioned. And what is truly noticeable is this, while the water, more gen erally, runs out of Long Pond into Flint s Pond, yet in the drier feafons of the year, the water runs out of Flint s Pond into Long Pond ; for Flint s Pond is fed by fprings and rivulets, which keep it always full. There is a pond called Jordan Pond, lying about half a mile eaftward of the great or Long Pond, and about midway of the length of it, and from this there is an outlet, by which wa ters fome parts of the year empty into Long Pond. On the flream which runs from Sewall s Pond in to Quinfigamond or Long Pond, there is a grift mill. Befides this, there is a ftream which rifes in the northweft part of the town, on which there are two faw mills : This runs foutherly, and empties into Long Pond on the eaftern fide. There is alfo another ftream, which rifes from fprings a little fouth of the meetinghoufe, on which are mills, and running northeafterly, comes to the fide of the great road, affording a fine wa tering place to travellers and teamfters, and there it is joined by two other rivulets, and taking a foutheaft L U N E N B U R G. 143 ffoutheaft direction, and running through the fouth- weft angle of Northborough, there empties into the River Aflabet. In this town there are l>oth Pot and Pearl Afh works, and where large quantities are made in a year. The people in Shrew {bury are generally farm ers, though they have a due proportion of traders in European and Weftindia goods, and mechan- icks of various forts. On the great road the build ings are large and handfome ; and the town makes a pretty appearance ; and the number of inhabit- ,ants, when the cenfus was taken, was 963. LUNENBURG. the 4th of November, 1719, the General Court, at the requefl of a number of gen tlemen, made a grant to them of this territory for a valuable confideration, referring, however, col lege, fchool, and minifterial rights of land; as alfo a right to the firfl ordained minifter. There is a hill, in the middle of the town, call ed Turkey Hill, on account of the great number of wild Turkies which frequented the place in that day. It ftill retains the name ; and gave denom ination to the whole trad, previous to its incor poration ; which took place on Auguft ift, 1728, when the name of Lwenburg was given to it, in K 4 compliment 144 LUNENBURG; compliment to George II, who, the preceding year, came to the Britifh throne ; and was ftyled Duke of Lunenburg, as having in his German, do minions a town of that name. The firfl fettler in this place, was a tylr. Samuel Page, who was dubbed governor Page, and is mentioned by that title to this day : He lived to a great age, and died in September, 1747. Many of the firfl fettlers were emigrants from Ireland and Scotland ; whofe defcendants, by intermarriages, are now blended and incorporated with the other inhabitants. The Ecclefiaftical Hiftory of die place is as fol lows. Like people in general, at that day, who came to America for the fake of enjoying the fac- red rights of confcience, they were fond of fup- porting the publick inftitutions of religion, and took early care to fettle a minifter : Accordingly, here a church was gathered, and the Rev. Andrew Gardner, (who had been the firft minifter at Wor- cefterj was inflalled their firft minifter on the 15th of May, 1728, a little before the incorporation of the town. Mr. Gardner continued not four years in the miniftry here ; being difmifled the 22d of February, 1732. After his difmiflion, he moved up nigh to Conneclicut River, in Newhampfhire State, where he died, but a few years fince, in a very advanced age. The fecond minifter of Lunenburg, was the Rev. David Steams, who was ordained April i8th, 1733 ; and died of a peripneumony, March gth, 1761, in the 5 ad year of his age, and 28th of his miniftry. LUNENBURG. 145 nuniftry. As he lived greatbf beloved, he died no lefs. lamented. He was fucceeded, for a few days, by the Rev. Samuel Payfon, who was. Separated unto the facred work of the gofpel miniftry September 8th, 1762 j and died February i^th, 1763, of an atrophy. He was fucceeded by the Rev. Zabdiel Adams, who was folemnly confecnited unto the fervice of God, in the gofpel of his Son, on the 5th of Sep tember, 1764, and who is {till living , During the adminiflration of thefe minifters there have been baptized, of infants and adults, down to the prefent time, no iefs than 2400 per- fons : And the church here is comparatively large, containing very little fhort of two hundred communicants. The growth and increafe of Lunenburg was rapid and great ; for in the year 1764, the whole town of Fitchburg was taken from it. It is now- bounded by Townfend, in the county of Middle- fex, on the north ; by Shirley, in the fame county, on, the eajl ; by Leorninfter, on the fouth ; and by Fitchburg, on the weft. It is about 44 miles dif- tant from Boflon, over Charles River bridge, to the norchweft ; and 25 miles north by ealt, from the courthoufe in Wo.cefler. The foil of this town is fweet, and as productive as is ufualiy found in fo northern a lituation. For though tne land be in general high, yet by reafon of its cohciive texture, and having a clayey flratum. within a few feet of its furface, it retains moifture fufficient for vegetation through the whole fummer, L U N E N B U R G. dimmer, unlefs in feafons of feverc drought. The foil is friendly to the growing of wheat, rye, In dian corn, oats, &c. The wheat raifed on the hills is of the firft quality. Many parts of it bear hemp and flax luxuriantly. The mowing and pafture lands are equal to what are generally found in the county. It is a place famed for cyder ; as their high lands are excellent for orcharding : But the canker worms beginning to infefl the trees, threat en them with a fcarcity of this kind of fruit. The natural growth of wood and timber in the town is oak, white, red, black and gray. Of wal nut there is confiderable plenty ; and of chefnut a large proportion. In the low lands there is afh, alfo rock and white maple, black, white and yel low birch, fome beach and other hard wood. Neverthelefs, as there is very little wafte land, and the people .are numerous, fuel will in a few years be fcarce and dear. White and yellow pines were plenty in the infancy of the plantation ; but from the great and long confumption of both, a fcarcity is fenfibly felt. Although the furface of the town is uneven, and may be denominated hilly ; yet it is not rocky ; there being, take the town in gener al, not more than ftones fufficient to wall in the feveral inclofures. From the elevated fituation of the land, and its proximity to thofe lofty mountains, the Grand Monadinock in Newhampfhire, and the Watchu- fett in this county, being about twelve miles from the latter, and twenty five from the former, the air is keen and piercing in winter, pkafantin fummer, and L U N E N B U R G. 147 and through the whole year very falubrious. Here are little or no ftagnant waters ; but few meadows ; and but few brooks and ftreams. In confequence of which they are in a great degree exempted" from fogs, from deleterious vapours and exhala tions ; and having the air ventilated by high winds, the inhabitants are remarkably healthy, and free from thofe diforders of the putrefcent kind which fweep off many in other places ; and they double their numbers in lefs than 25 years. This occa- fions large emigrations, and as the farms are fmall in general, being on an average not more than 75 or 80 acres ; this, together with the fecundity of the people, produces a large number of pau pers, with which the town is burdened more fo, per haps, than any other town in the county ; creating an expenfe beyond that of fupporting the gofpel. However, the greater part of the people live com fortably, and a few may be faid to be opulent. The people are induftrious and economical, gen erous, hofpitable to ftrangers, and much given to convivial entertainments. The town labours under other difadvantages be- fides thofe already mentioned. For though the dire&eft route from the northerly part of Connecti cut River, and from the State of Vermont, to Bof- ton, be through Lunenburg, yet from difficulty in the road for a ftiort fpace of way, and the influ ence of certain men, the travel paffes to the north or fouth of it ; whereby the people are left defti- tute of all the benefit arifing from travellers de- pofiting their money among them, Befides LUNENBURG. Befides this, they labour under the want of fuf- ficient water to cany their corn and faw mills. Though there are feveral fmall ftreams on which there are mills, yet they are generally inoperative a confiderable part of the year. Mulpus, fo call ed, is but a irnall brook, which, originating in the weft part of the to\vn, runs eaft about twelve miles, and then empties itfelf into the River Nafhaway, in the north part of Shirley. This deficiency of water obliges fome of the inhabitants to carry their grain to other towns to be ground, a certain part of the year. But while we fpeak of this Angular deficiency of water, we are conftrained to mention a Mr. Wctherbce, who, haying built both corn and faw mills, in the fouthweft part of the town, on what is called part of the north branch of Naflia- way River, and finding, by feveral years experi ence, that the water was not fufficicnt to carry his mills, except in the fpring of the year, or in rainy feafons, was at great expenfe to dig a canal, in length about a mile, to convey water from a larger branch of the fame river, (which comes from Weftminfter) into his mill pond ; which enables him in a wet feafon, to grind for all ; and, in a dry one, for moft of his numerous cuftomers. An inftance of fo fpirited and laudable enterprizc is worthy to be tranfmitted to pofterity. This man, it is thought, makes the beft wheat flour within thecompafs of Newengland ; and has grain brought to his mill from remote places. In the fouthweft, ibuth, and foutheaft parts of the town, are three ponds, which, retaining their Indian L U N E N B U R G. 149 Indian names, are called Onkefhewalom, Maffa- pog, and Catatoonamug ; The firfl of which is nearly two miles and an half ; the fecond, two miles, and the laft not more than one mile in cir cumference. From thefe ponds, the neighbouring anglers draw from time to time, pickerel, perch, roach, bream, and other frefh water fifh, not only fo as to give themfelves a delicious repaft, but fometimes a quantity to fell to their townfmen. Mines, minerals or foflils, there are none in the town ; nor furnaces, or forges. The blackfmiihs bring their iron from a diflance. The nailing bufi- nefs has been carried on here to advantage. In giving an account of Lunenburg, we ought not to omit the mention of Edward Hartwell, Efq; who early came into the place, and poffefling ad vantages above people in general, was promoted in the town and county ; he was a deacon of the church ; and, patting different grades of office, was Major of a regiment of militia ; a juftice of the peace ; a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas ; and a representative of the town, with few interruptions, for a great number of years ; in which ftation he continued until a very advanced period of his life ; and, finally, he died in the 97 th year of his age, as full of piety as of days. This gentleman was much engaged in the Indian wars, and was very helpful to the neighbouring towns in, fcouring the woods, and driving off the favages. In Lunenburg, indeed, he had little work of this kind to perform. For, though the Indians afore time inhabited this territory; as is evident by vef- tiges 150 L U N E N B U R G. tiges thereof remaining to this day, yet they never much annoyed the Englifh ; they did, indeed, fo put them in fear, that between the years 1740 and 1750, the inhabitants frequently went armed to the houfe of God on the fabbath. There were alfo a few troops ftationed in this town at garrifoned houfes, to which the people retired at night for fafety. In the fummer of the year 1749, the In dians came into the northweft limits of the town, and killed two foldiers, Jennings and Blodget, ivho were ftationed there, and carried Mr. John Fitch and his family into captivity, who all re turned in fafety, after enduring incredible hard- fhips and fatigues, except Mrs. Fitch who ficken- ed and died in Canada. Lunenburg is almoft wholly fettled : The town contains but 14000 acres of land ; and on this fpace, when the late cenfus was taken, there were 192 houfes, and nearly 1300 fouls. I mail clofe the account of Lunenburg in the words of the Rev. Mr. Adams, in a letter to the author. " The town is much more remarka ble for the health than the wealth of its inhabitants. Almoft delHtute of travel through it, the people live an independent, but folitary life. In their ec- cicfiaftical affairs they have been remarkably peace able. They difmiffed Mr. Gardner ; but becaufe he was unworthy. Two of their minifters died in rapid fucceffion. None of them were fo long in the miniftry. nor fo old, as myfelf. Almoft thirty years have I lived among them in profound peace." DUDLEY. -I HE grant of this townfhip was orig inally made to the Hon. Meffrs. Paul and Wil liam Dudley, of Roxbury, while yet in the pofleC- lion of the aborigines, the tribe known at this day, by the name of the Pegan Tribe. It was to com- prife all the lands between Woodftock, or the col ony line, fouth ; Oxford, north ; the grant to Medfield, now Sturbridge, weft ; and Newfher- burne, now Douglafs, eaft. This traft of land was incorporated by a 61; of the Legiflature, on the 2d of February, 1731, and the name of Dudley was given to it, as a token of refpeft to that family, who were principal proprietors of the foil, and great benefa&ors to the firft fettlers in their in fancy. Since the incorporation of Dudley, an ad dition was made to it by a ftrip of land taken from. Oxford, and annexed thereto. The prefent extent of this town is nearly eaft and weft about nine miles ; north and fouth about four miles. It is now bounded, north, by Oxford, and Charlton ; eaft, by Douglafs ; fouth, by the ftate line, or Woodftock ; and weft, by Sturbridge. Dudley has but one religious fociety, viz. con gregational, although there may be about thirty families of various other perfuafions, in the place. The church of Chrift here was founded in the year 1732, and the Rev, Perley Howe was folemnly in- vefted 152 DUDLEY. vefted with the facerdotal office in the year 1735. He was difmiffed from his particular relation to the church and flock of God in Dudley in 743. The Rev. Mr. Howe was afterwards in- flailed at Killingfley in Connecticut. He was fuccecded in the paftoral office at Dudley by the Rev. Charles Glcafon, who was ordained October 31 ft, 1744. He con tinned the worthy, faithful and beloved minister of the town until his death, which took place May yth, 1790. The Rev. Jofhua Johnfon, who had been for a (hort time minifter of the north parifh in Woodftock, was inftalled Pallor of the church and congregation in Dudley, as fucceflbr to Mr. Glcafon, December ift, 1790. The congregational meetinghoufe, which is the only one in this town, was erefted in the year 1734. It (lands on an hill, which commands a fouth profpeft of extenfive farms even to the dif- tance of twelve miles. Four acres of land on the fummit of this hill were given to the town for pub- lick ufes, by the Pegan tribe of Indians, on condi tion that ail of their tribe, who Ihould ever inhabit the town, mould have the right to convenient feats in the meetinghoufe on days of public worfhip. This tiibe ftili exifls, to the number of ten or twelve, and hold about 200 acres of excellent land near the middle of the town ; but their whole interefl is conflanily taken care of by a com mittee of the General Court. The general face of this town is hilly, but not mountainous. It is richly and beautifully inter- fperfed with hills, valleys, and firearm of water. The DUDLEY. 153 The hills are of eafy afcent, paflable with teams, and moft of them fuitable and good for cultiva tion. The foil in general is good and fertile, pro ducing all forts of grain and fruit, and grafs in plen ty ; and the land affords a fufficiency of ftones for fencing in the farms. There is one hill in the town, not very high, famous for yielding great quantities of moft beautiful building Hones. They are taken out in fquare edged flabs, of any man ageable length or width, with one natural face, fmoother than can be wrought ; they are capable of being fplit, cut, or hammered into any fhape or thicknefs. The colour of thefe ftones is a very fine light gray ; and they are much ufed for jambs, hearths, mantle pieces, under pinnings, for fteps and door ftones, and cellar walls. The forefts, are principally of oak, chefnut, and walnut, yellow pine, and fome white pine. This town abounds with ponds, ftreams, rivers and fprings. There are four large ponds, well flared with all the ufual forts of fifh : But there is one efpecially in the eaft part of the town, called by the Indians Chaubunagungamaug : This is five miles in length, and one in breadth. Through the weft part of the town, from northweft to the fouth- eaft, runs the rapid river Quinebaug, of about twen ty yards in width, coming from Sturbridge, and paffing down on the eaft of Woodftock, Pomfret, &c. to Norwich. Through the eaft part of the town, from north to fouth, runs French or Stony- River. This is about fifteen yards in width. On this are fine interval and meadow lands, which be- L ing 1 5 4 HARVARD. ing in fpring and autumn overflowed, become very excellent mowing and arable ground. This river comes from Oxford, and falls into Quinebaug ten miles below this town. This is a large and flourifhing town, the people fubfift chiefly by farming, except the ufual me- chanicks, and a few traders ; and when the enumer ation of the Commonwealth was made, there were 160 houfes and 1114 inhabitants in the place. Dudley is fituated upon the State line, fixty miles from Boflon, lying about fouthweft, and from Worceflerit is eighteen miles, nearly fouth. 1 HE town of Harvard is fituated on the eaftern fide of the county, thirty five miles from Boflon, a little to the north of weft, and is twenty three miles from the courthoufe in Wor- cefter, to the northeaft. It is bounded by Groton on the north ; by Lyttleton on the northeaft ; by Boxborough on the eaft ; by Stow on the fouth- cafl ; by Bolton on the fouth ; and on the weft by the river Nafhaway, which feparates it from Lan- cafter, and Shirley. Harvard was not an original grant, but taken from Lancafter, Stow and Groton, principally from the two former. From the cir- cumftance HARVARD. 155 cumftance of its being made up of the corners of other towns, it was rather irregular in its fhape ; but before the incorporation of Boxborough, which took off the eafterly angle of this town, it was nearly equal to feven miles fquare : It is now more than fix. The bill for the incorporation of this tracl: of land paffed the Legiflature, June 29th, 1732, when it was called Harvard, to bear up the name of that excellent and worthy minifter of Charleftown the Rev. John Harvard, who died in 1638, who laid the foundation of Harvard Univer- lity in Cambridge, bequeathing thereto 779^. 17*. zd. when by a fpecial order of court, it took the name of Harvard College. At the time of the in corporation of the town of Harvard, it confifted of about 50 families. The town of Harvard is very hilly and uneven ; the land is rough and hard to fubdue, but the foil is warm and flrong, rich and fertile. It produces good crops of grain of all kinds. Such broken land, however, is better adapted to the raifing of wheat and rye, than Indian corn. As the town- ftiip is rocky, the farmers are induced to appropri ate a large proportion of their land to grafs and pafturage. The principal articles carried hence to market, are beef, pork, butter, and cheefe. The high lands are particularly fertile in chefnut trees, whofe fruit yields the owners no inconfiderable profit. And as the lands are excellent for orch arding, many farmers pay particular attention to raifing all kinds of fruit, which they have in plen ty, and of the beft quality. L a There 1 5 6 HARVARD. There are about 1000 acres of what is called interval land in this town ; though perhaps half of it may more properly be ftyled meadow. Although there are feveral hills in this place, yet there are but three which have names, or mer it particular notice. The firft we fhall mention is called Pin Hill, from its remarkable form which is pyramidical. The perpendicular height of this hill, from the brook which runs at the foot of it, is judged to be two hundred feet. In the bowels of this hill are contained vaft quantities of blue or flate ftone. It Jeafes to the ftone cutters in this and a neighbouring town for 61. lOs. per annum. The flones taken hence, are not fo eafily wrought, as fome of a fimilar kind : But on this account, however, they are more valuable for jambs and hearths, as they in the fame proportion, do the more refill the heat of fire. Thefe ftones arc chiefly ufed, for grave and tomb (lones ; and are carried to a great diflance. Thofe called Bear Hill, and Oak Hill, are not, flric~lly fpeaking, diftincl: hills, but links only in a chain of hills, which begins in the weft part of Lyttleton, and extends fouthwefterly through Harvard, as far as the centre of Bolton. Oak Hill, however, which rifes in the eaflerly part of the town, is the fummit of this range, and affords a profpeft fingularly divcrfified and extenfive. The land upon thefe hills is moflly exceeding good. The general growth of wood in Harvard, is the fame as in other towns of fimilar foils. Chefnut, oak of ail kinds, and walnut, conftitute the princi pal HARVARD. 157 pal part on the high lands. They have fome white pine, and in the northerly part, confiderable pitch pine. In the low lands they have much elm, fome butternut and button wood, birch, am, &c. Harvard is like other hilly, rocky places, not dry, but moid land, and well watered indeed by numerous fp rings and rivulets, running about a- mong the hills, and which caufe them to rejoice on every fide. Nafhaway, or Lancafter River, flows along the confines of Harvard upwards of fix miles. The depth of the water, when the bed of the river is full, is about twelve feet ; and about fix feet at low- water. This river, an humble imitator of the Nile, overflows its banks at certain feafons, and greatly fertilizes the bordering lands. Still River originates in fome marfhes and quag mires in the wefterly part of Bolton, and is joined by a brook running from the interval lands in Lancafter, near the river. Thefe two ftreams unite in Harvard, and compofe what is called Still River, or long pond, or lake, which paffes in a filent and almoft imperceptible manner, for three miles, (one mile or more of which is in Harvard,) and then by a fmall outlet, empties itfelf into the river Nafhaway. There are two or three ponds of fome notoriety in this town. The largeft of thefe begins but a little fouthwefterly of the meetinghoufe, and very nigh the feat of Col. Bromfield, and extends away foutherly. It is called Bear Hill Pond, as it lies upon the wefterly fide of that hill. Its figure is L 3 oblong : 158 HARVARD: oblong : Its circumference more than three miles. In this pond are two (mail iflands of about three acres each. The greateft depth of this pond is not more than twenty feet. At the north weft angle of the town, is fituated what is commonly called Hell Pond, from its amazing depth, being ninety five feet in one place, by meafure ; and between eighty and ninety feet in general, all over the pond, and immediately as you launch from more. This pond is nearly cir cular. Its diameter is about three hundred yards. Fifh were never caught here until within a few years, when pike and perch were put therein, which have fince multiplied exceedingly. Near this is a fmall pond, with which the former is fuppofed to maintain a fubterraneous communication. There is alfo another, in the north part of the town, call ed Robbins s Pond ; but this is not remarkable for fize or depth. About an hundred rods from Hell Pond, is a fpring, known by the name of Cold Spring. The waters hereof are always pure and cold, and never freeze. The head of this fpring is two or three yards broad. Bear Hill Pond emits a ftream from its north fide, which almoft winds around Pin Hill ; and which, within the limits of Harvard, fupplies with water, four grift mills, one f;uv mill, one clothiers works, one forge, and one trip hammer. Thefe are all in the north part of the town. In the fouth part, there are two grift mills, and one faw mill, furnifhed with water from two ftreams which iffue from the eaft fide of the chain of hills aboye defcribed. It HARVARD. 159 It is worthy of particular mention, that the aftern fide of the above hills is uniformly fteep, while the oppolite fide has a gentle and gradual declivity. At the foot of Oak Hill, on the eaftern fide, there is a mine which may be juftly deemed a cu- riofity. Early in the year 1783, when a rage for the treafures, thought to be hid in the bowels of the earth, was prevalent in the country, it was thought by fome perfons, from the colour of the earth in this place, and from the working of the mineral rods, that filver ore might be obtained not far beneath the furfcice of the ground. According ly fome gentlemen in*his town and its vicinity, (twenty five in number) formed themfelves into a mine company for the purpofe of defcrying thofe hidden treafures, and enriching themfelves there with. Under the conduct of certain men, Meffrs. Ives and Peck, they began their operations in July following. Thefe were continued, though with frequent interruptions, until fometime in the year, 1789. During this time, they had, with fome dif ficulty, digged through a confiderable quantity of condenfed gravel, until they came to a folid rock : Into this they penetrated more than forty feet. But, either from the unlkilfulnefs of the mineral- ifts, or for want of perfeverance in their employ ers, the mining ore has not yet been difcovered. The company, after expending one thoufand one hundred dollars in the procefs, is amically diffolved. The fides of this cavity are almoft rectilinear. It is about fix feet high, and half as wide. The ex- L 4 cavation 160 HARVARD. cavation was made, partly by heating the rock to a great degree, and then cooling it fuddenly with water ; but the greater portion of it was effected with powder. Pieces of the earth, which they dug before they entered the rock, had the appearance of yellow lead, and were confiderably fulphure- ous. This cavern now refts a deferted monument of fuccefslefs toils. Its mouth opens to the eaft ; and the rifing fun, to a perfon in the other ex tremity, renders the profpeft highly delightful. The town of Harvard is large and numerous, here are 200 dwelling houfes, which, like thofe of moft country towns in this State, are fcattered over the place without much or^er ; andconfiftof fome good and more ordinary buildings. The inhabit ants are 1400 ; thefe are chiefly farmers, who are frugal and induftrious, and fome are become wealthy. They have two or three traders in foreign goods, and all the ufual forts of mechanicks. This town difcovers great folicitude for the good education of its children. The inhabitants divide themfelves into eight diftri&s : In each there is a neat and commodious fchoolhoufe ; and fix of them, in the winter feafon, are furnimed with latin grammar inflru&ors ; the other two with Englifh grammar matters. In the fummer, the very young children are taught by approved females ; while they who are more advanced, arc handling the plough and the diftaff. Here a library company has lately been formed. They have at prefent, a- bout one hundred volumes in their library. No doubt it will foon ]bc considerably augmented. There HARVARD. 161 There is alfo here a focial club eftabliflied, con- lifting of twelve of the principal inhabitants, who have monthly meetings. In them they endeavour to acquire information on the common, as well as on the moft important affairs agitated in the world. The principles and modes of religion in Har vard, are uncommonly numerous. Within the limits of the town dwell congregationalifts, ana- baptifts, prefbyterians, epifcopalians, univerfal- ifts and makers. Until after the commencement of the late war, they were all of the denomination firft- mentioned ; and this flill comprifes five fevenths of the fouls in the town. The congregational church in Harvard was im- bodied by an ecclefiaftical council, October loth, 1733, and the Rev. John Seccombe was, the fame day, ordained their firfl Paftor. He continued un til September yth, 1757 (almoft twenty four years in the facred office here) when he was difmiffed from his paftoral relation to this people. Mr. Seccombe was afterwards employed many years in the work of the miniftry in the province of Nova- fcotia, where he died in 1792, aged eighty four years. Mr. Seccombe was fucceeded in the work of the miniftry at Harvard, by the Rev. Jofeph Wheeler, who was confecrated thereunto Decem ber 12th, 1759. In a few years Mr. Wheeler was afflicted with bodily infirmities, which peculiarly affeded his voice, in confequence whereof he fo- licited a difmiffion from that facred employment, which accordingly took place by advice and un der the direftion of a mutual council, July 28th, 1768. HARVARD. 1768. Mr. Wheeler was foon after, and fc* feveral years employed by the town as their rep- refentative in the General Court. He was al- ib a worthy Magiftrate, and Regifter of Probate in the county of Worcefter, from 1776, until Februa ry loth, 1793, when he died in the fifty eighth year of his age. On November ift, 1769, the Rev. Daniel Johnfon was ordained to the paftoral office in Harvard. He was fuffered to continue but a little time, being removed by death on the 23d of September 1777. After Mr. Johnfon s deceafe, the Rev. Ebenezer Grofvenor was inftalled their Paftor on the igth of June 1782. He had been before Paflor of the firft church in Scituate almofl feventeen years. Mr. Grofvenor was not fuflFered to continue long at Harvard, being tranflated by death to a better world May 28th, 1788, in the forty ninth year of his age. The town was deflitute of a fettled minifter near four years, when the Rev. William Emerfon was feparated unto that facred office, May 23d, 1792, the fifth Paflor in fucceflion. In this church of Harvard 1 805 perfons have been bap tized, and 540 have been admitted to church com munion. In the year 1776 an anabaptift fociety began to collecl: in Harvard. It was eftablifhed in 1778, when Mr. Ifaiah Parker, who is alfo a phyfician, was ordained their teacher, and flill continues. The number of this fociety has fince been fome- what incrcafed by perfons from the fkirts of the adjacent towns. This fociety have a pretty meet- inghoufe HARVARD. 163 inghoufe in the fouthweft part of the town, near to Still River, in a pleafant confpicuous place. The epifcopalians, prefbyterians, and univerfalifts are but few, and have no diftinft and feparate fo- cieties. Sometime in the year 1780, the leaders of that feel; of religionifts, called makers, came into this town ; and as there are few of them indeed in any other part of the county, it is highly fitting and proper to give a full account of them in this place. They fixed themfelves down in a corner of Har vard, where fuperflition and enthufiafm had con- fiderably flourifhed under the aufpices of one Mr. Ireland. A part of this man s followers kindled at this new torch of fanaticifm, while the majority of thefe old fafhioned enthufiafts at the fight of the makers diftraftion became more rational and fo- ber. Since their beginning in Harvard, they have been continually making reforms in their fenti- ments, modes of worfhip and manners. In a re ligious and political view they have greatly me liorated. From grofs indecencies in their rites and behaviour, they are become moderate and civil. Formerly they were indolent and trouble- fome in fociety ; now they are the moft induftri- ous and peaceful members of the community. The number of ftiakers in Harvard is about one hundred and fifty. Thefe are divided into three orders ; or as they call them, gifts. The firft of thefe orders confifts principally of the youngeft and faireft of them who are gathered. Thefe are under the moft rigid rules poffible. They are never 164 HARVARD. never to fee any of the world s people, nor cqn- verfe with them of the lower orders. All their ac tions, words and fteps, are narrowly infpe&ed by their fpiritual teacher, who almoft perfuades them to believe that he is converfant with their thoughts. They of the firft order are privileged with his o- ral addreffes ; to the others he ufually communi cates his monitions by a meifenger. The fecond order is compofed of them who are gathered, but who are more advanced in years, and otherwife lefs vigorous and alert in labour and in devotion. The lowcft order arc they who live about in, families. Extreme fimplicity in drefs and manners charac terizes this fingular religious feel:. They are neat in their apparel and furniture. The houfes which they have erected in this town, are large and com modious, and approach to fomething like elegance. Their floors and flairs are all covered to prevent making a noifc. They imitate the Moravians apparently more than any other denomination ; particularly in their modes of government and fub- ordination. They affecl: to be wholly under the dominion of the Spirit ; and to crucify even the innocent defires of the flefti, infomuch that they neither many nor are given in marriage. So drift are they in their laws of abftinence from women, that the two fexes are not permitted to live in the fame houfe, nor even to enter the fame door. Inftances of inchaftity, efpecially among hi 1 governed, feldom or ever occur. The orders are HARVARD. 165 are under the moft complete fubje&ion to their leaders. The utmoft precifion and regularity are obferved in their eating, fleeping and working. Hence they are making quite rapid proficiency in the lower kinds of the mechanick arts ; and fuch is their agricultural fkill and perfeverance, that they have reduced the moft rugged and indoma- ble part of Harvard to a ftate refembling that of a garden. We conclude this account with only remarking, that it is not a little ftrange, that the leaders of this deluded feft, who certainly can claim no pre eminence above ordinary men in point of capacity and improvement, (hould thus keep bound in fer- vitude fo great a number of their brethren in the very heart of Newengland. But it will be ftrang- er dill, if in fuch an era as this, the majority of the makers, who now pant for liberty, mould long continue in fhackles of bondage to their el ders. Having faid what may be thought quite fuffi- cient upon the ecclefiaftical and religious ftate of Harvard, we mail clofe our account of this place, with faying it is a large, profperous and wealthy town ; and notwithftanding the diverfity of feels, the people are peaceable and happy. GRAFTON, i66 1 HIS is that traft of land of four miles fquare, which was referved for the Indians when the town of Sutton was granted to the Eng- lifh. It was called by the Indians Haflanamifco, and known by that name only until April i8th, 1735, when it was incorporated by an aft of the Legiflature, and called Grafton. Since its in- corporation one half a mile of land was taken from Shrewfbury and added to Grafton, on the north, and about half a mile of Sutton, on the fouth, was annexed to it ; fo that Grafton is now five miles in length, from north to fouth, and four in width from eaft to weft. This town is bound ed, on the north, by Shrewfbury ; on the eaft, by Weftborough and Upton ; on the fouth, by Upton and Sutton ; and on the weft, by Sutton. At firft there were divers Indian families here : As they diminifhed, the white people became proprietors of the foil, by purchafe ; and a grant from the General Court, upon thefe conditions, however, that they fhould always provide preach ing and fchooling, and feats in the meetinghoufe, for the remaining Indians. And as the people hold the lands of the original four miles fquare, on fuch conditions, they muft all of whatever per- fuafion, be equally bound to contribute to thefup- port of a gofpel minifter in the place. The Gene ral GRAFTON. 167 yal Court has from the beginning, appointed a committee of three, called the truftees of the In dians intereft ; their bufinefs is to take care of their property, both real and perfonal, and difpofe of the fame to the beft advantage, for the fupport and maintenance of the Indians. This committee, at prefent, have little to do in the execution of their truft, as the lands have by length of time, and various concurring circumflances, chiefly paff- ed into the hands of the white people. There are indeed feveral farms in the poffeflion of the heirs of the Indians, married to negroes ; but it is faid there is not one male in the town at this day, who is all of Indian extract or blood. The Indians very foon decreafed in this place, and the whites became poffeflbrs and occupiers of the foil ; and fo early as the 2 8th of December 1731, a Chriftian congregational church was im- bodied here, and on the next day, the Rev. Solo mon Prentice was ordained their firft Paftor. He became what was called in that day, a zealous newlight, or more properly, a raving enthufiaft. He was difmifled from his paftoral relation to Grafton, July 8th, 1747, and became an itinerant preacher. He was fucceeded in the work of the gofpel miniftry at Grafton by the Rev. Aaron Hutchinfon, who was folemnly confecrated here unto on the 6th of June 1750. Mr. Hutchinfon continued upwards of twenty two years as Paftor of Grafton, and was difmiffed from his relation to that church and people, November i8th, 1772. He has fmce generally been employed in preach ing v.l . 168 GRAFTON. ing the gofpel, and is ftill living. The Rev. Dan- iel Grofvenor fucceeded Mr. Hutchinfon as Paflor oOt the church and flock of God in Grafton, to which office he was feparated by the laying on of the hands of the prefbytery, on the igth of Octo ber 1774. By reafon of great bodily infirmities of long continuance, he requefted a difmiffion, from his particular relation to the church and people of Grafton. to which they acceded with great reluftance, and which took place January ift, 1788. No minifter is fince fettled in the place. Mr. Grofvenor s health, being in a good meafure reflored, he is mofl conftantly employed in preaching in neighbouring vacant parifhes. Some years ago there was an anabaptift focie- ty and church eftablifhed in Grafton, and they had a regular minifter of publick education fettled with them*; but now there is neither minifter nor church of that denomination in the town, and very few anabaptift families. Let us now proceed to fome Geographical De- fcription of Grafton. It is a moft excellent town- fliip of land. The face of the town is hilly and uneven, and in general rocky ; but the foil is moift and ftrong, rich and very productive : It is good for Indian corn, wheat, rye, oats, barley, and flax : The lands are naturally warm and not fub- jecl to frofts ; and as they arc high and rocky, they are well adapted to orcharding and all kinds of fruit trees. There are three noticeable hills in the town. The firft to be mentioned, is called Chefnut Hill, as abounding in that fort of wood. This i G R A F T O N. 169 This is fituated but a little eaft of the meeting- houfe, and is the higheft land in the town, hiding Grafton from Weftborough : This is not large ; the land is moift and good. On the eafteiiy fide of the town lies George Hill, two miles and an half in length. It took its name from one George Mifco, an Indian who dwelt upon it. This is a hill of moft excellent land ; and there are a num ber of very fine farms upon it. A third is de nominated Brigham Hill, from a number of that name who have lived upon it : This lies in the wefterly part of the town, is high, about two miles in length ; has upon it feveral excellent and large farms, though fome parts of it are rough, broken lands. The general growth of wood is walnut, oak of all kinds, chefnut, forne pitch pine, butternut, but ton wood, black and white am, and birch. There is fome pine plain land in the town near the rivers, Blackftone River, from the north pariih in Sut- ton, enters Grafton in the fouthwefterly part of the town ; this is then become a large and beauti ful river, and runs about three miles in the fouth- erly part of Grafton, and then pafles into Upton. Little River, or more properly Quinfigamond, be ing the outlet from the pond of that name, runs along on the weft fide of the town, within about half a mile of the meetinghoufe, and between that and Brigham Hill ; and about one mile and an half fouth from the meetinghoufe joins Blackftone Riv er. On thefe rivers, before and after the junction, there are confiderable bodies of good meadow, M and 170 G R A F T O NV and rich interval lands. The River AfTabef, which runs northeaft, and empties into Merrimack r has its fourcein Grafton, about one mile and an- half northeaft from the meetingl oufe : This paffes- through the north weft angle of \V^ ft borough, into Northborough, &c. Befides thefe, on the weft fide of George Hill, runs George Brook, which nfes in the northerly part of Grafton ; this pafies to the fouth. On this ft ream there are large and good meadows. There is no pond in the town. Upon the feveral rivers and dreams abovementioned, there are four grift mills, feveral law mills, three trip hammers, and one fulling mill. The town abounds with rivulets and fprings of water. The people fubfift mainly by the cultivation of the foil, and they are amply recompenfed for all their labour. They have one or two traders in foreign goods, and the ufual tradefmcn and me- chanicks ; and here pot afh making is carried on. Grafton, though not a large traft of land, yet be ing a rich and good foil, is pretty well filled with people, and they are become wealthy. There were nearly goo inhabitants when the cenfus was taken about two years ago. This town reaps con- fiderabie advantage from the travel through it. A road much ufed, leading from Connecticut to Bof- ton, paffes through this town ; as alfo the poft road from Worcefter to Providence. Grafton is forty miles from Bofton, to the fouthweft : It is thirty four miles from Providence, to the northweft, and eight from the courthoufe in Worcefter, a little to the fouth of eaft. V P T O N. UPTON. 1 HIS town was not an original grant, but taken from feveral other towns, part from Mendon on the fouth, part from Sutton on the weft, and part from Hopkinton on the eaft. It is bounded by Weftborough on the north. The poft road from Worcefler to Providence paries through this place, about a mile fouthweft of the meetinghoufe. It was incorporated by an a 61 of the Legiflature on the 14th of June, 1735, and con tains upwards of 13000 acres of land ; and when the cenfus was taken there were 126 dwelling houfes, about 1 50 families, and about 900 inhab itants in the place. As no church records are to be found of what took place in the earlier days of this town, fo the precife time when the congregational church was formed here cannot be afcertained ; but it was foon after the incorporation of the town, when the Rev. Thomas Weld was ordained their firft paf- tor. This gentleman continued in the miniftry among this people but a few years, being difmiffed from his pafloral relation to them ; and was af terwards inflalled at a parifh in Middleborough, in the county of Plymouth. From hence alfo he was removed, and foon after entered the army, in the laft French war, in the capacity of chaplain, where he died, He was fucceeded at Upton, in, M 2 the 17* UPTON. the work of the gofpel miniftry, by the Rev. Eli- fha Fifh, who was folemnly feparated unto this facred employment on the 5th of June, 1751, and who, having obtained help of God, ftill continues, faithfully ferving the Lord in the gofpel of his Son. There is a confiderable fociety of anabaptifts in this town, and has been for many years. For early in the year 1751 they ordained one Mr. Abraham Blofs for their teaching elder, who continued there but a few years before he left them ; after which the fociety and church diflblved. However, a few in dividuals remained, who called themfelves ana baptifts, who rarely had any meetings for religious worlhip among themfelves for feveral years, but occafionally attended upon teachers of that de nomination in other towns. But early in the year 1787 there arofe a considerable number, very fuddenly, who called themfelves anabaptifts, and ftill remain as a diftinft fociety, to whom one el der Ingalls fiill miniftered ; and fince they have the occafronal inftruction of Mr. Simeon Snow who has been ordained at large. However, there h not, fo far as I can learn, any church fo gather ed among them as to celebrate the Lord s fupper by them {elves. In the town of Upton there are alfo a number of the people called friends or quakers, but no dif- tinft fociety of that denomination is formed there. We fhall proceed to fome Topographical De- fcription of Upton. Some parts of the town are very rough and uneven, others more level. The foil is generally ftrong, rich and good : favourable for U P T O N. 173 for orcharding, and fruit of moft kinds, and for paf- turage and grafs ; and there are a number of rivu lets pafling about in the valleys, between the hills, whereby it is pretty well furnifhed with water. There is one river, which has its fource in Graf- ton, and paffing through the weft part of Upton, in a foutherly courfe, known by the name of Weft River : This is emptied into Blackftone Riv er in the lower part of Uxbiidge. On this river there are fome good meadows ; allo mills. A little north of the meetinghoufe, there is a fmall pond fed by rivulets and fprings, from the fouth end of which there iffues a fine flream, on which there is a corn mill within a few rods of the meet inghoufe, whereby the inhabitants are greatly ac commodated and benefited ; this falls into Weft River. The growth of wood is fimilar to that of other towns of like kinds of foil. The high lands have plenty of oak of the feveral forts ; confidera- ble quantity of walnut ; fome chefnut : The low lands have birch, maple, elm, alder, &c. There is much pitch pine in the place, and aifo confider- able white pine remaining even at this day. This town is fituatcd about thirty eight miles from Bof- ton, to the fouthweft ; and fifteen miles from Worcefter courthoufe, about foutheaft ; and is bounded on the north by Weft borough ; on the eaft, by Hopkinton and Milford on the fouth, by Mendon ; and on the weft, by Northbridge and Graf ton. HARD WICK. HARDWICK. r OR the fum of 2O/. Newengland cur rency, John Magus and Lawrence Naffbwanno, two noted Indians, fo early as in the year 1686, De cember 2 /th, gave and figned a deed of a large tracl: of land to Meffrs. Jofhua Lamb, Nathaniel Page, Andrew Gardner, Benjamin Gamblin, Ben jamin Tucker, John Curtifs, Richard Draper, and Samuel Ruggles, of Roxbury. This tract of land included what is now Hardwick. In confequence of the abovementioned deed, the heirs of thofe gentlemen petitioned the General Court, and ob tained a grant of this townfhip on the i jth of June, 1732. It was called Lambftown, from the firft named proprietor, until it was incorporated and made a town by an aft of the Legiflature, which bears date January loth, 1738, when the name of Hardwick was given to it. This town contains, according to its original grant, about fix miles fquare, notwithftanding a part on the eafterly fide of the place was fet off more than forty years ago, to help in making up the town of Newbraintree. Hardwick is now bounded on the north, by Peterfham and Barre ; on the eaft, by Barre, Newbraintree and Ware Riv er ; onnhe fouth, by Ware River, and the town of Ware, in the county of Hampfhire ; and on the weft, by Greenwich in that county. After H A R D W I C K. 175 After the location of this grant a number of fet- tlers immediately entered upon the lands, and oth ers followed fo rapidly, as that they foon had the gof- pel preached among them, and as early as November 17th, 1736, a little more than four years from the date of the grant, the church of Chrift was gather ed, and the fame day the Rev. David White was ordained their firft Paftor. He died January 6th, 1784, in the 74th year of his age, and the 48th of his miniflry. He was fucceeded in the facred of fice by the Rev. Thomas Holt, who was feparated unto that high and holy calling on the 25th of June, 1789, after a vacancy of five years and al- inoft fix months. The people of Hardwick, confidering their num ber, are remarkably united in their fentiments re- fpe&ing religion. There are a few antipedobap- tifts in the place ; as alfo a few profeffed univer- falifls. We proceed to fome Topographical Defcription of Hardwick. The town is of a good form and ftiape, being nearly fquare. The face of the town is rather rough, hilly and uneven : Although there are no very great and remarkable hills. The foil is, in general, deep, loamy, and very fertile. The lands produce all kinds of grain in fufficient plenty for the inhabitants ; but they are bed adap ted to grafs and pafturage : Here vaft quantities of butter and cheefe are made, and moft excellent beef fatted for the market. All kinds of fruit -trees flourifli here. M 4 The H A R D W I C K. The principal growth pf wood is oak of all forts, chefnut and walnut ; but in the north weft- crn part of the town, there is fome white and pitch pine. The land is generally rocky and moift ; and it is finely watered in- every part by fprings, fireams and rivulets, which run about in the val leys among the hills ; but there are no ftreams of note or diftin&ion in the town, although they fur- nifh water for all forts of water works ; and there are within the town, five corn mills, four faw mills, and two clothiers works, where much bufmefs is performed to the great advantage of the people. Ware River, which is large, runs on the eaft and fouth of the town, and is the boundary between this town and Newbraintree, and alfo between H.jrdwick and the town of Ware. The inter val on this river, in the eaftern part of the town, anay contain perhaps as much as two hundred a- cres of very excellent mowing land. On this riv er a furnace was erected feveral years ago, and where much hard ware has been manufactured ; but at prefent there is no bufinefs done thereat. There are two confiderable ponds in the town ; one called Poltapoug y in the northerly part, is about tivo miles in length, and nearly one third of a mile in breadth ; this is ftored with fih. It has an in- lt which comes from Peterfham ; its outlet paffes through the northweftern part of Hardwick, and falls into Chicabee River. The other, called Muddy Pond, is about one mile in length, and a- fcout half a mile in width in the foutherly part. It B O L T O N. 177 It has plenty of good fifli, It has a fmall inlet ; its outlet is into Ware River. The roads of travel are from Boflon, either through Worcefter or Rutland, to Hardwick, and fo on to Northampton. Another road from the fouthweft, with one from the foutheaft, form a junction near the centre of the town, and then paffing northward, through Peterfham into the States of Newhampfhire and Vermont. Hardwick is fituated a little ibuthwefb from Bofton, diftant from the State houfe feventy two miles, and from the courthoufe in Worcefter twenty five miles, a little to the northweft. It is a very large, flourifh- ing, wealthy town, and contained, when the cenfus was taken, 245 houfcs and 1725 inhabitants ; and was the fifth town in the county in the proportion it paid to a State tax in 1790. tow O N 1 HIS town was taken from the an cient town of Lancafter ; and was incorporated on the 24th of June, 1738, by aft of the Legislature, when it received its prefent name. The traQ: of land was large at firft : In the year 1784, the dif- triclt of Berlin, to the fouth, was fet off from it : Still it is large enough to make a very refpe&able figure among the towns in the county. It contain ed, 178 B O L T O N. ed, when the continental cenfus was taken, 125 houfes, and 861 inhabitants. It is bounded by Lancafter on the weft ; by Harvard, on the north ; by Stow, in the county of Middlefex, on the eaft ; by Marlborough on the foutheaft ; and by Berlin, on the fouth. It is diftant from Bofton about thirty four miles, nearly weft ; and from thecourt- houfe in Worcefter, it is about eighteen miles, ly ing to the northeaft. The Ecclefiaftical Hiftory of Bolton is as fol lows. : The church of Chrift here was gathered on the 4th of November, 1741 ; on which day the Rev. Thomas Gofs was ordained their firft paftor, who continued until January iyth, 1780, when he died in the fixty third year of his age, and thirty ninth of his miniftry. He was fucceeded, a fhort fpace of time, by the Rev. John Walley, who had been before for feveral years mini ft er of a parifti in Ipfwioh. Mr. Walley was difmifled from Bol ton, not long before his death. He was fucceeded in the work of the gofpel miniftry in this place, by the Rev. Phineas Wright, who was folemnly fepa- ratcd hereunto October 26th, 1785, and who ftill lives. The people are peaceable and happy, prof- perous and flourifhing. In Bolton, and the diftrift of Berlin, there is a fociety of friends, or quakers, confiding of a large number of raoftly wealthy families ; their houfc of worfhip ftands within the limits of Bolton, neai to Berlin line. We {hall proceed to give fome Geographical Defcription of Bolton. The town in general is good B O L T O N. 179 good land, not level, nor yet has it any very high hills. The higheft lands in the town are rich and moift ; excellent for orcharding and paflure land. It is not very rocky, however, there are flones fuf- ficient to wall in all their farms. The people raife rye, wheat, Indian corn, barley, oats, flax, &c. &c. upon their lands, in fuch plenty as richly to repay their labour in the cultivation thereof. A- bout half a mile from the centre of the town, to the weft, begins the great hill, known by the name of Wattoquottock Hill, which extends fouthwefterly into Berlin. This long, large hill, is not very high; it is in general very good land, and there are div ers fine farms upon it. The great road from Lancafter to Bofton paries over the north end of this hill, upon its declivity, where it is very moift, conlifting of clay and loam, fenfibly felt by trav ellers in the wet feafons of the year. On the wef- terly fide of this hill, about halfway from its foot to the fummit, is a cavity opening to the fouth- weft, parallel with the main courfe of the hill, near the upper end of which is a pool, or fmall pond of water, known by the name of Welch Pond. This pond is of a circular form about twenty feet in depth, and occupies the fpace of a- bout one acre on its furface. It is fuppofed to have diminifhed about one half, both in depth and cir cumference within forty years paft. People now mow considerable grafs, where they went with boats and canoes half a century ago. On the foutheafterly fide of this hill, and nearly oppofite^ to Welch Pond, ilfuc a number of rivulets, which foon i8o B O L T O N. foon unite in the low lands, and form a confidera- ble brook, taking a foutheafterly courfe, till it falls into Aflabet River, in the northerly part of Marlborough. This brook has water fufficient to carry two mills, in the wet feafons of the year, at the diftance of lefs than one mile from the hill. There is a glade of moft excellent meadow on each fide of this dream, its whole length, with but few fmall interruptions, by hard land. The higher parts of thefe meadows, next the hill, are known by the name of Wattoquottock Meadows. At a fmall diftance from the nor thca fieri y foo t of Wattoquottock, begins another large hill, with a gradual afcent, which extends northeafterly through Harvard into the boundaries of Lyttleton, in the county of Middlefex. By fome, this is call ed Bear Hill, by others Oak Hill. This hill has been thought to contain mines and minerals, and has, confequcntly, for a number of years engaged the attention of a refpe&able fociety of minefeek- crs ; but their expectations have far exceeded their gains : For though its bowels have been explored with much painful labour, and fanguine hope, yet the mountain has not even to this day brought forth a moufe. At the interfeclion, between this laft mentioned hill and Wattoquottock, is a nar row bar of hard land, about 6fteen rods in width ; and on each fide of this bar, is a fmall piece of low, funken, boggy ground, in which arifc fcveral fprings, foon forming a rivulet each way. That on the northweftly fide, runs a northerly courfe, a- bout a mile and an half, with a continual incrcafe of waters, B O L T O N. waters, and empties into Still River, fo called, within the boundaries of Lancafter. The rivulet on the foutheafterly fide runs an eafterly courfe ; the waters of which being augmented by fmall ad ditions, become fufficient to carry mills, where much bufmefs is done, at the diftance of two miles from their fource, except in the fummer months, and they are emptied into the river Aifabet, about two miles foutheafl from Stow meetingheufe ; previous to which, however, the road to Bofton, cro fifes this ftream three times. On this brook are feveral bodies of meadow, but not equal in good- nefs to thofe beforementioned. In the northeafter- ly part of Bolton, about two miles and an half from the centre of the town, is fituated the large and ex- tenfive hill, called Rattle Snake Hill, belonging to the heirs of the late Gen. John Whetcomb. In the fouth fide of this hill is a body of limeftone ; and here are annually made about one hundred and fifty hogftieads of the very beft of lime. In the eafterly part of the town is a large hill, known by the name of Long Hill. It lies clofe on the fouth fide of, and runs parallel with the great road, about one mile and an half, to Stow line, with a gradual afcent to the fouth of about half a mile to its fummit. There are two fmall ponds, of a circular form, at the diftance of about eighty rods from each other, in the eafterly part of the town, fuppofed to cover, one about forty, and the other about thirty acres of ground. The largeft of thefe lies near the welt end of Long Hill, in fight of the great road, and known by the name of Weft s i8a B O L T O N, Weft s Pond, from a perfon of that name formerly living on its more. In the northweft angle of Bol- ton, mainly, is fituated a large body of almoft ftag- nant water, and therefore called Still River, but might be more properly denominated a lake, or very long pond. It is various in its width and depth. It begins within the boundaries of Lan- cafter, in the great intervals (about twenty rods eaft of the. great bridge over the Namaway. after the jun&ion of its two branches) and proceeds in a circular courfe, upwards of three miles, acrofs the northweft corner of Bolton, into Harvard, from the Horth end of which there is a very fmall outlet in to the river Namaway. On the fouth fide of this lake, and between this and the river NaQiaway, is a very large body of moft excellent interval land, part of which is within the limits of Bolton, ufed for tillage, mowing and pafturing : And which is often laid feveral feet under water by fpring and fall floods, prefenting the appearance of a fmall fea. Various are the conjectures of people refpefting Still River, Lake, or Long Pond, above mentioned. Some fuppofe the bed of the fouth branch of Nafh- away once was here, and that by fome great fremet it was cut off above, formed a new channel, and joined the north branch the fooner, where the junction now is. Be this as it may, it is certain thefe branches have fhifted their beds, in various places, and of confiderable lengths, in the revolu tion of ages. There are feveral rivulets fall into this lake on its eafterly fide ; but there is no in let at its upper end, except what appears to rife direftly B O L T O N. 183 dire&ly out of the ground ; and the great proba bility is, that a flream, which begins in Bolton, feeds this Lake by a fubterraneous paflTage ; for while this ftream is conftant, brifk and lively, for half a mile, coming to a fpot of pine, fandy knd, it difappears, and no water is difcernible for near two miles. There is a fmall inlet into this lake on the eaftern part of Lancafter intervals, in wet fea- fpns, but in the fummer no water runs in this, and yet the lake appears no way to be affected thereby. Let us leave this lake, and finim our Defcrip- tion of Bolton. There are two pot am works in this place, and one of pearl am. Here are two famous brickyards where above two hundred thoufands of bricks are annual ly made. The town is very well wooded. On, the high lands there is plenty of walnut, chefnut, and oak of all forts : And here vaft numbers of barrels and hogfheads are manufactured yearly ; and great quantities of hoops are carried to market. In the low lands there is much maple, but little aih, fome birch. There are fome plains covered with pitch pine, very little white pine. Upon the whole, this is a town of rich, ftrong and good land, and the people are increafmg in number wealth and reputation. They are now building a large elegant meetinghoufe, upon the modern conftru&ion, with a fteeple to it, to which Mefl rs. Jofiiua and James Richardfon, formerly of Bofton, have generoufly contributed ioo/. and bought their pews, as others, at vendue, but upon this 184 S T U R B R I D G E. this condition, that they fhould not be taxed to the building faid houfe. The pews will pay for the houfc. The underpinning of this meeting- houfe is very beautiful, and equal to any in the county, if not in the whole State. It is a white and free (lone, eafily fplit into any fize, and was difcovered juil when wanted. STURBRIDGE. I HIS is ftyled in the aft for creeling the county of Worcefter, " The land lately grant ed to feveral petitioners of Medfield," and many of the firft fettlers here were from the town of Med field, and hence the place was called Newmedfield, until its incorporation, which was, by an aft of Court, on the 24th of June, 1738, when it received the name Sturbridge. This town is large in its dimenfions, containing by actual furvey, about 28929 acres. It is fituat- ed in the fouthwefl corner of the county, and is divided from Woodftock and Union, on the fouth, in the ftate of Connecticut, by the ftate line ; and bounded weft, on Holland and Brimfield, in the county of Hampshire ; on the north, by Brook- field ; and on the eafl, by Charlton and Dudley. The gratit of this tracl; was made in the year 1729, in the month of Augiift. but it was thought fcarce- STURBR1BGE. 185 Jy habitable by reafon of its broken rough ftate ; and the foil, for the mofl part, requiring hard ancj. great labour to render it produ&ive ; but the firft fettlers being a robuft, refolute, fober and induf- trjous fet of men, were determined to get an hon- eft living, by " the fweat of their faces," and, through the bleffing of God, they foon converted this wildernefs into a fruitful field. The original proprietors built a houfe for the worfhip of God, which was raifed on the 2Oth and 21 ft days of June, 1733, and on the 3d of September following it was confecrated by the Rev. Jofeph Baxter of Medfield, who preached fromlfaiahlxiii, and 5th. From that time the place increafed fail in the number of goad and induftrious people, who very quickly obtained to live comfortably ; and like others of that age, early fought for a teacher of piety and morality. On the agth of September, 1736, the Rev. Caleb Rice was ordained to the paftoral office over the church and flock of God in the place. He was a paftor after God s heart ; found in faith ; a good preacher, endued with ex cellent minifterial gifts, and very exemplary in life, as well as focial and benevolent in his deport ment. He lived in great harmony with his peo ple, in the fore part of his miniftry : But about the year 1747, a number of the brethren and in habitants, conceiving they had received new light, different from what was common among their neighbours, feparated from him, which rendered his work more arduous, and his life uncomforta ble. ; From feparatifts they became anabaptifts : N But i86 $ T U R B R I D G E. But it pleafed the Great Head of the church to re move Mr. Rice from his labours, by death, on the fecond of September, 1 759, whofe praife was then through all the churches, and his memory is ftill dear to many. He was fucceeded in the work of the gofpel miniftry, in the congregational church and fociety in Sturbridge, by the Rev. Jofhua Paine, who was feparated hereunto on the lythof June, 1761, and ftill continues the faithful and beloved paftor thereof. The people here have furprifmgly flourifhed and increafed ; for there are now about 1800 fouls in the place. The con gregational church is large, confifting of about 150 members of both fexes. On the zgth and 3Oth days of June, 1785, they raifed a large new meetinghoufe, which is elegant and well finifhed ; in which the firft fermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Paine on January 7th, 1786, from firft of Kings, viii. 27. There is in the town a very refpeftable fociety of anabaptifts, comprifing about one fifth part of the inhabitants. Thefe alfo have built them late ly a handfome meetinghoufe. As great peace and harmony fubfift between the two focieties, as can well be expefted under fuch circumftances : Differ ence of fentiments, as to modes and rites of religion, fcarcely injures good neighbourhood ; nor does it prevent their mixing in families, or friendly focial circles. The inhabitants at prefent are induftrious and frugal, charitable, and given to hofpitality. The great precepts of the Chriftian religion, moral vir tue, $ T U R B R I D G E. 187 tue, and the inftru&ion of their youth, they make their fludy and care. They live in peace and love. However hilly, rough and uneven the town was at firft, yet, by induftry and frugality, the people are become wealthy, fubfifting chiefly by the cul tivation of the earth. By hard labour the foil is become fruitful. It is good for orcharding and grazing. Much butter and cheefe are made here, efpecially the former, which has obtained high credit in the markets. The land is pretty good for grain. The growth of wood is fimilar to that of the towns in the vicinity, oak of all forts, walnut, chefnut, pine in confiderable plenty, efpecially in its earlier days ; am, beech, birch, maple, elm, &c. The town is in general well watered by fprings, brooks, rivers and ponds. The River Quinebaug, which has its fource in Brimfield, runs through this town near the centre, from weft to eaft. On this there are large bodies of good interval, and valuable meadow lands. There are valuable ponds in the town, well ftored with the ufual forts of frefh water fifh. Near one of thefe ponds, called Lead Mine Pond, a number of adventurers from Europe, fome years paft, dug deep for ore. A confiderable quantity of which they carried with them to Eng land ; but they have never returned to their purfuit. Sturbridge is fitua^ed at the fouthweft angle of the county, on the ftate line, about twenty miles from the courthoufe in Worcefter ; and it is fixty five miles from Bofton, and confiderably to the fouth of weft, N a HOLPEN* HOLDER rtAl A HE town of Holden was taken whol- fyfrom the town of Worcefter, being included in, their original grants ; and was the norlhwefterly part thereof. It was incorporated on the pth of January, 1740, when the name of Holden was given to it to perpet uate the name and deeds of the Hon. Samuel Hol den, Efq; one of the dire&ors of the Bank of Eng land ; and of his lady and their amiable daugh ters, who had been great and generous benefac tors to the literary and religious interefts of this country. This worthy, benevolent man, tranfmitted to Newengland for charitable purpofes, in books and bills o f exchange, to the amount of 4847^ Neweng land currency. After his deceafe, Mrs. Holden and daughters fent over in value, 5585/. for the fame noble and pious ufes. With part of this latter fum H^-den C/nzpd, in the Univeruty of Cam bridge, in Mailachufetts, was creeled in the year 1745. There ! a re nineteen volumes, chiefly ofta- vos, in the hands of the Rev. Mr. Avery, given by Mrs. Kolden and her daughters, to the minif- ter of Holden, and his fucceffors. This town was laid to be laid out fix miles fqaare, but it confider- ably exceeds that : From eaft to weft it is about fcven miles acrofs : From the fouth point at Lei cefter D it is ten miles. It is bounded northerly, on Princeton and Sterling ; eafterly, on Worcef- ter and Boylfton ; foutherly, on Worcefter, Lei- cefter and Paxton, and wefterly on Rutland and Paxton. We fhall next prefent the reader with the Eccleliaftical Hiftory of Holden. The church of Chrift in this place was formed on the 22d of December, 1742, and on the fame day the Rev. Jofeph Davis was ordained their firft paftor. He was difmiffed from his paftoral rela tion to that people October i8th, 1772. Since that time he has been employed in preaching the gofpel in various places ; and on Wednefday the 2d day of January, 1793, he preached a fpecial lecture to the people of Holden, as .on that day half a century, from the imbodying the church and his ordination, expired.* Mr. Davis was fucceed- d in the facred office at Holden, by the Rev. Jo feph Avery, who was publickly feparated thereun to December 21 ft, 1774, and fl.il! continues in the miniftry there. We go on to a Geographical Defcription of the town of Holden. The foil of this town is fome- what various, yet in general of a loamy kind : The land in the outflcirts of the town is the moft fpringy and natural to grafs. The general pro duce is rye, Indian corn, fprin-g wheat and oats. Some farms produce good barley. Flax is raifed with various fuccefs ; when there is a failure of a crop, it is generally owing to other caufes than the nature of the foil. Though the town is rather hilly and uneven, yet not very much fo. Such N 3 land * The difcourfe was printed, 190 H O L D E N. land is generally good for fruit ; and, according ly, here are very large and valuable orchards in deed, but they are chiefly at a confiderable dif tance from the centre of the town ; the middle not being fo fruitful, and more expofed to deftru&ive frofts. There is a brickyard two miles and an half northeaft of the meetinghoufe, where are made annually about fixty thoufands of bricks. The elay is very ftrong and good. There are two pot- afli works about three miles eaft of the meetinghoufe, one of them lately erefted. The growth of wood in Holden is mainly chefnut and oak of all kinds. In former years there was a great quantity of ex cellent white pine timber, but the moft of it has been cut off. There ftill remains, chiefly in the northerly part of the town, confiderable yellow pine. There are other kinds of wood in various parts of the town. Some walnut, hemlock, horn beam, white maple, am, and fome valuable rock- maple. At the northweft part of the town there is a Pond called Quinepoxet, the greater part of which is in Princeton : A narrow fordable ftrait of wa ter i flues from this into a lefler pond, perhaps fif ty rods in length ; from this there is an outlet in to a fecond pond ; from this fecond an outlet into a third ; and from the third, into a fourth pond. Thefe lefler ponds are in Holden ; and from them proceeds a river called Quinepoxet, which holds an eafterly courfe, and pafles out of Holden into Boylfton, where, quite on the weft fide of that town, it joins Still River which comes from the foot of HOLDEN. 191 of Watchufett Hill, and from thence takes the name of the fouth branch of the River Naftiaway. Juft below the abovementioned ponds in Holden, and on this River Quinepoxet, ftands a fine faw mill. There is another pond about two miles and three quarters northeaft of the centre of the town, called Lily Pond, which has neither inlet nor out let. There is a fine ftream coming from the weft and fouth weft parts of the town, part of which is derived from Afnebumfkit Pond in Paxton, and eroding the main road leading to Rutland, one mile and an half weft of the meetinghoufe, joins Quinepoxet River about that diftance north of it. On this ftream are three faw mills and two grift mills. Another ftream, which has its rife mainly, a mile and upwards fouth of the centre of the town, takes a circuitous courfe, croffes the great road about two, miles eaft of the meetinghoufe, and falls into Quinepoxet about two miles northeaft of faid houfe. It was formerly called Cedar Brook. On this are two faw, and two grift mills. On a branch which enters it, and about two miles fouth- eaft of the middle of the town, ftands another faw mill. In the fouth part of the town rifes a ftream which holds a foutheafterly courfe, and pafies into Worcefter, called Turkey Brook. On this there is a faw mill, and alfo a grift mill. There are no extenfive intervals in Holden ; but yet, in feveral parts of the town, there are farms whofe value is much enhanced by the meadows and pieces of interval which lie on the river and ftitarns mentioned above. N 4 About About three miles northeaft from the centre of the town is fituated Maiden Hill, where there is a large quarry of mod excellent ftone for under pinning, &c. and which may be wrought into any form, although they do not hew very eafy. In the weft part of the town is a hill called Pine Hill. In the fouthweft part of the town the foot of the fa mous Afnebwnjkit Hill, which is moftly in Paxton, falls within Holden limits ; and eaft of this, and flretching foutheaft and north weft, lies Stone Houft Hill, fo called, whofe fides in fome places are ve ry fteep, and exhibit horrid cliffs of rocks, no ticeable for affording dens for rattlefnakes ; they are however, moftly deftroyed, and rarely feen at this day. Winter hill lies in the foutheaft part of the town, and is partly in Worcefter. This town is large, increafing in number and wealth, and when the cenfus was taken contained 1080 fouls. It is fifty one miles from Bofton, nearly weft, and feven miles from Worcefter courthoufe, to the northweft . It has one large road running through it, from Bofton to Connecticut river, Vermont, &c. LEOMINSTER. 1 HIS town was taken from Lancafter, and was part of what was called Lancafter new grant. It was incorporated On the g$d of June, L E O M I N S T E R, 195 The Ecclefiaftical Hiftory of Leominfter is as follows. The church here was imbodied on the 14th of September, 1743 : And on the fame day the Rev. John Rogers was ordained their paftor. He was a fenfible, worthy man, and ufed his nat ural right to examine, think and believe, for him- felf. And what he thought to be the truth as it is in Jefus, that he preached to his people ; always appearing to a 61 uprightly and confcientioufly* However, a number of the church and people, ap^ prehending Mr. Rogers delivered doctrines con trary to the gofpel, called in a large council for advice in July 1757, confiding of fifteen churches. The council judged the brethren had reafons for diffatisfa&ion, but advifed them to attend on Mr. Rogers s miniftry for three months, and if he did not retract his errors, as they called them, in that time, then they advifed the church to difmifs him ; which they accordingly did, and ftiut him out of the meetinghoufe. Upon this Mr. Rogers preach ed to fuch as were difpofed to attend on his minif try, in his own houfe. At length Mr. Rogers fued the town for his falary : And after a long conteft in the law, the difpute was compromifed in this manner, viz. Mr. Rogers relinquifhed all claims upon the town as their minifter ; the town to pay- to Mr. Rogers whatever fums of money his adher ents had been obliged to pay towards fupplying the pulpit after he had been fhut out of it ; and, finally, that all who wiihed to have Mr. Rogers for their minifler, mould be made a poll parifh ; about a fifth part of the town were accordingly made L E O M I N S T E R. made a diflinft, but poll parifli, by an aft of the Legislature ; after this fettlement of their unhappy controverfy, the church and town proceeded to the choice of a minifter. and on the 22d of December, 1762, the Rev. Francis Gardner was ordained their fecond paftor ; in whofe minifterial labours the people have been very happy for more than thirty years already ; and during this period they have been peaceable and profperous. And when the town, a few years fince, erected a large and elegant new meetinghoufe, Mr. Rogers s adherents con tributed their full proportion to the building of it. The Rev. Mr. Rogers, having obtained help of God, continued to preach and adminifter fpccial ordinances to the people of his parifli until the year 1788, when, finding his age and bodily in firmities fo great, he wilhed to be excufed from the facred labours, to which his people confented, and generoufly paid him three years {alary in advance : Whereupon, by an a& of the Legiflature, this poll parifh was diffolved, and the whole town now form but one church and congregation under the miniftry of the Rev. Mr. Gardner. The Rev. Mr. Rogers lived but a little while after he ceafed from his publick labours. He de parted this life October, 1789, in the 47th year of his miniftry. . Let it now be obferved, there was no way to avoid giving this particular detail, and yet mention the two religious focietics which for a time fubfifted in Leominfler. Our plan, truth, and impartial juftice, required the mention of them. And nothing L E O M I N S T E R. 195 nothing derogatory of any one has beenfaid. Nay, the defign has been to pay tribute due to worthy characters, to Mr. Rogers and Mr. Gardner, and to the people, who once were two parties and fo- cieties. The majority of the church and town dif- niiffed Mr. Rogers, that the truth and purity of the gofpel, as they thought, might continue with them. The friends of Mr. Rogers fuppofed him to be a good and faithful minifter of Jefus Chrift ; and therefore adhered to him to the laft ; and treated him with all poffible refpeft, kindnefs and generofity, until the Great Head of the church was pleafed to remove him from this world. And now he is gone to be here no more, we find the two Societies cordially receiving and embracing each other, and cheerfully attending upon and fup- porting one and the fame minifter, the Rev. Mr. Gardner. The moral character of Mr. Rogers was never impeached. Had he lived in the prefent day, perhaps fuch a controverfy would never have been heard of. We have feen in Mr. Rogers a uniform character, and an honeft upright man, whofe integrity, and firm attachment to what he thought were important truths, were fuperior to the trials he met with, and by which perfons of more eafy virtue might have been overcome. Some Geographical Defcription of the town of Leominfter (hall here be prefented to the reader. Leominiler contains about as much as five miles fquare, and is fituated in the northeaftly quarter of the county, and is diftant about nineteen miles from the courthoufe in Worcefter ; and from Bof- ton, 19 6 L E O M I N S T E R, ton, it is a little to the northweft, at the diftanceof fifty miles. It is bounded on the north and north- eaft, by Fitchburg and Lunenburg ; on the eaft, foutheaft and fouth, by Lancafter ; and on the fouthweft and weft, by Sterling, and a gore of land. This town is pretty plain and level in the middle of it, and for a mile and a half or two miles round the meetinghoufe, and indeed all tha way fouth of the meetinghoufe towards Lancafter ; to the north, towards Fitchburg, it is not quite fo level ; yet the land is pretty good, and the foil is clayey : Upon the eaft, and efpecially on the weft, the land becomes hilly and more uneven, and the land is proportionably better. The farms in th<t middle of the town, are by no means poor ; but thofeinthe fkirts of the town are very excellent in deed ; and the land is equal to that in any town. The land is well adapted to all kinds of grain, and the hilly parts to grafs and pafturage ; and the town abounds with famous orchards, and all kinds of fruit, and much cyder is made in the place. The land is not very ftony and rocky in general, ex cept it be fome particular part of fome of the hills. Of thefe none are famous or worthy of particular notice, except one in the wcfterly part of the town, called Wauhnoofnook Hill ; this is about two ioiles in length, and a mile or more from the orjeetinghoufe in the ncareft place : It is pretty high and fteep : And although there is fome brok en and unimproveable land upon it, yet there axe many very fine farms thereon. This hill is famous for affording vaft quantities of mod excellent ftone, JL E O M I N S T E R ftone, of a grayifh colour, pretty free, and eafily fplit and wrought, and fome have natural faces, fixteen, eighteen and twenty feet in length. This flore is perhaps inexhauftible. In the fouth part of the town there is a very large body of plain land covered with pitch pine ; and there is con- fiderable white pine within the town : But the main growth of wood confifts of oak of all kinds, chefnut in plenty, much walnut, elrn, butternut, lhagbark, &c. &c. The town is very well watered in every part, by numerous fprings and rivulets. There are two ftreams which claim a particular mention : One is Wauhnoofnook Brook, fo called from the hill of that name, as it originates at the foot of this hill, at the north end, and runs all along on the eaft fide of the hill, and on the weflerly fide of the town, and finally falls into the river Namaway. The other is the north branch of the river Nafha way, which coming in from Fitchburg, at the northwefl angle of the town, runs about a mile eaft of the meetinghoufe, and at the foutheafl angle of this town pafles into Lancafter. There is fome good interval land on this river, but in many places the banks of it are high and very fteep. There is but very little meadow land in the town. On this liver and the ftreams there are two grift mills, five faw mills, one oil mill, and clothiers works very excellent, There are only a part of two ponds fall within the limits of this town, and thefe were mentioned in giving an account of Lunenburg. It ig8 It has been mentioned before that the foil of this town is clayey. There are indeed vaft bodies of the beft of clay in the town : And upwards of two hundred thoufands of bricks are made here in a year. Thefe bricks are faid to endure the fire longer than any made in the county. The people of Leominfler live moftly by the cultivation of the earth ; and their farms and buildings proclaim their induftry, and indicate a good degree of wealth. They have all the mechanicks and traded men in common with other places. And befides, the manufacturing of combs is here eftablifhed, in two or three places, and the work is carried on to great perfection and profit. About twenty per- fons work, more or lefs at this trade ; about ten are conftantly employed therein, and they manu facture about fix thoufand dozen in a year. Mr. Jotham Johnfon, a trader here, employs five men in this work, who make twenty five hundred doz en p^r annum. Among thefe, is one who makes ivory combs, equally good perhaps, as any im ported from any country. Here are feveral ftores and fhops filled with European, Eaft, and Weft- india goods. There is much travel through this town, from the north part of the county of Hamp- fhireand of Worcefter, by the way of Weftminfter, and from Vermont State, and the weftern part of Newhampfhire, by the way of Fitchburg ; thefe roads unite in the northwefterly part of Leomin- fter, and come to the meetinghoufe, where they part again ; one turns nearly eaft, leading on through Harvard to Boflon ; the other runs fouth, bearing WESTERN. tgg bearing a little to the eaft into Lancafter, and fo on to Bofton. The county road from Leominfter to Worcefter runs fouthwefterly through Sterling. Leominfter is a growing, flourifliing town ; it ftands about the middle of the towns of the coun ty in the proportion it pays to a ftate tax ; and when the late cenfus was taken there were 166 dwelling houfes, and 1 190 inhabitants in the place. WESTERN. JL H I S town was taken from Brook- field, Brimfield and Palmer, and was incorporated on the 1 6th of January, 1741. In this place a congregational church was formed in the year 1743, and on the laft of January, 1744, the Rev. Ifaac Jones was ordained their firft paftor. He died July, 1784, in the 67th year of his age, and 41 ft of his miniftry. Mr. Jones was fucceeded in the facred office by the Rev. Stephen Baxter, who was feparated hereunto March gth, 1791. Weftern is fituated at the fouthweft angle of the county, and is bounded on the north and eaft by Brookfield, on the fouth by Brimfield, and on the weft by Palmer : It is about feventy three miles from the ftatehoufe in Bofton to the fouthweft, and from the courthoufe in Worcefter it is about twen ty WESTERN, ty eight miles, and on the pod road from to Springfield, although this road does not pafs through the centre of the town, or by the meeting* houfe. From Brookfield this road enters Weftern on the northeaft, about one hundred and twenty rods from the River Quabpag on the fouth fide thereof, and runs nearly parallel therewith for a- bout the fpace of two miles ; then the road to Northampton parts from this, taking a northweft- erly direction acrofs the abovenamed river. The left hand, orpoil road, bears a fouthweftern courfe to Springfield. The town does not lie in a fquare and regular form. The lands in general, are very uneven : There are fome fmall meadows on the feveral brooks, and fome good interval lands on Quaboag River which runs through the town ; alfo fame fmall fwamps and rnoraffes, but the prin cipal part of Weftem is high land. The middle of the town is broken and rough. A hill, by the name of Ma?-& s Mountain, of about two miles in circumference, on ifs bafe, and terminating une qually -in ragged cliffs, greatly injures the prof- pe& of the nriddle of the town. A body of land in the northwefl nngle of the town, known by the name of Coy s Hill, is mod excellent for grazing. Part of this hill falls within the limits of Brook- field, and over this hiH paffes the road to North ampton. On the weft and fouthweft, this town is fcparated from the towns of Ware and Palmer, by a chain of rocky hills and mountains. The in habitants in general, are farmers; and the lands, though rather rough, produce large crops -df In dian WESTERN. 2 Qi dian corn, rye, and oats ; and fome confiderable wheat is raifed in the town : But much the great er part of the land is beft adapted to Englifti grafs and pafturage. The foil is propitious to the cul tivation of fruit trees of all kinds ; and the height and uneven furface of the lands, are a great fecu- rity to the grain and fruit from frofts. Weftern has its proportion of unimproveable lands ; fome of which are dry and rocky ; fome almoft en tirely inacceflible, by reafon of vaft ledges of rocks ; yet almolt all the unimproved and unim proveable lands are covered with wood and timber. On the high lands grow chefnut, oak and walnut ; and in the lower lands grow am, birch, maple, elm, pine, hemlock, &c. &c. Weftern is fufficiently watered by fprings, brooks and rivulets, which run about in the valleys among the hills. The river Quaboag, from Brookfield, enters this town on the northeaft, and pairing through it about a mile weft of the centre, goes out at the fouthweft angle, and falls into Chicabee. A great number of brooks and rivulets are emptied into Quaboag River in its courfe through Weftern. Salmon were formerly taken from this river within the town ; but now their courfe is obftru&ed by fever- al dams which extend acrofs it, for the accommo dation of mills and other water works : However, the river and other ftreams afford all the various kinds of filh which are common to frefh water. About a mile from the centre of the town, are fix ed on this river, two grift mills, one faw mill, one fcythe mill, one fulling mill, and one forge ; and O the acT2 W E S T E R 1ST. the town affords fome ore for the fupply of the forge. Befides the manufactory of iron, there is no other which claims a particular mention, ex cept it be that of nlk. Several gentlemen are turn- ing their attention to the cultivation of mulberry trees. Col. Jofeph Jones, from about thirty trees, has for three feafons paft, fed upon an average a- bout 30,000 worms ; their produce has been be tween three and four pounds of raw filk annually. And when manufactured, after making all deduc tions for labour and trouble, has yielded a clear profit yearly, of fixty dollars, which is an annuity of two dollars per tree. A fample of the fewing filk, manufactured by Col. Jones, and prefented to the writer, is equal to any imported. There have been fome veRiges of the aboriginals difcovered on an extenfive hill in the eafterly part of this town, which was taken from Brookfield. On ploughing the ground a few years fmce, largo beds of clamlhells were difcovered under the foil, which appeared to be placed at equal diflances from each other; thefe, together with Indian uten- fils found there, prove this was a place of their re- fort and dwelling. This town is very flourifhing, and is growing in number, and increafing in wealth. When the cen- fus was taken two years ago, there were 124 dwell ing houfes, and 900 inhabitants in the place. DOUGLASS DOUGLASS. 1 HIS was an original grant, and was prior to that of Sutton. It is about feventy years fmce fome families fettled in the place. The firft fettlers came from Sherburne, in the county of Middlefex, whence it was called New/herburne, Un til its incorporation, which was in the year 1746, when it received the name of Douglafs to perpetuate the name and deeds of William Douglafs, M. D. of Boflon, originally from Scotland, educated there, a famous phyfician in his day, and who alfo wrote a Hiftory of Newengland in two vol. 8vo. a proprietor, and confiderable benefactor. The firft perfon born here is yet living, almoft feventy years old. The lands in this place were not fo pleafing and inviting as fome others, and were therefore but flowly fettled. The lands were burnt over yearly in the fpring, for the purpofe of turning cattle from the neighbouring towns, to feed there on. Hereby the growth of timber was greatly in jured, and the land became hard to fubdue. Plur- tleberry and whitebufh fprung up, together with laurel, fweetfern and checkerberry, which noth ing but the plough will deftroy. For thirty five years paft the inhabitants have greatly increafed, have prevented the fires running, have cultivated the lands, erected decent buildings ; and are in- O 2 duftrious *04 DOUGLAS duflrious and profperous. When the general enu meration of the Commonwealth was made in the year 1791, there were in the town 16*5 dwelling houfes, and 1080 inhabitants. This town is bound ed on the north, one mile by Oxford, and five miles by Sutton ; on the eaft, by Uxbridge, fix miles ; on the fouth, by Gloucefter, in the State of Rhodeifland, feven miles ; on the weft, two miles, by Thompfon. in the State of Conne&icut ; two rr/iks by a gore of land, and two miles and an half by Oxford. It lies 47 miles from Bofton, about fouthwcft ; and about fixteen miles from the court- houfe in Worcefter, nearly fouth. The lands of Douglafs, in general, are better for the growing of Indian corn, rye, oats and flax, than natural to grafs. They are exceedingly adapted to the growth of apple tree?, and all the other kinds of fruit trees common in this part of the country. The natural growth of wood in the town is, in the fwamps and low lands, cedar, fpruce, Scc. in fome ; in others, hemlock, white pine, am, birch, beech, hornbeam, and maple : On the uplands, walnut, gray, white and yellow oak, chefnut, and chefnut oak, (its leaves like the chefnut, and bark like the oak) ma ple, pine, elm, locufts, balm of Gilead, fo called, &c. Sec. and almoft every kind of tree, fhrub, and bum, which is to be found in any of thefe northern States. The town has greatly abounded with good timber, and in the weft part thereof there are almoft four thoufand acres of roeky woods ; and in the place, potafh, hoops and bar rels are made in pltnfy ; fome Ihingles are manu factured DOUGLASS. 205 fa&ured here, and pine boards {awed. The general face of the town is uneven ; hills and vales interfperfed ; there are many fteep, pine, fandy hills ; good building fpots abound ; and firiall hills defcending every way ; dry cellars, and yet on fuch fpots, eighteen feet is deep enough to find Conftant water for wells, and that within two rods of the top of the higher lands. The town is ex ceedingly well Watered : Rivulets and fprings every where abound ; and the people reap great advantages indeed, by turning and fpreading the water over their lands at their pleafure. The brooks and ftrearns run eafterly, until they fall in to rivers which go to the fouth. In the fouthweft part of the town is Wallump ond, fo called ; it has a fmall inlet at the north end, and an outlet at the fouth end, in the State of Rhodeifland. This pond lies two miles in Douglafs, and one mile in Gloucefter, and is about three quarters of a mile in width. Badluck Pond, fo called, in the border of rocky woods, in the wef- terly part of the lown, covers about one hundred and fifty acres of ground. In this pond great rocks appear above the water, even in the midft of it. This is fuppofed to contain much ore, and may be eafily drained. It has an inlet at the fouth, and an outlet on the north, which pafles into Mumford River. Manchaug Pond, in the north- wefterly part of the town, is about one mile long, and one quarter of a mile wide in Douglafs, the remainder of it lies in Sutton. This has feveral inlets on the weft and north ; the outlet is on the O 3 eaft, sto6 DOUGLASS. eaft, runs in Sutton, becomes a river, turns fouth and comes into Douglafs, and finally unites with Mumford River. Mumford River rifes in rocky woods, increafmg by ftreams from the ponds and from fprings, and runs eaft into Uxbridge. There is a fpring in rocky woods, a little fouthweft from Badluck Pond, which iffues out of an apparently dry hill, and forms a ftream, which runs foutheaft, never dry, and never known to freeze. This paffes one rod and an half fouth of the great road, and is greatly admired for its pleafantnefs and refrefh- ing nature. The foldiers in the late war, called it the White Oak Tavern. There is confiderable in terval land on Mumford River ; there are four hundred acres in one body, near the head of it ; further down there are divers other pieces, fome of them large : Alfo, on this fame river, there are works for making refined iron, near to Uxbridge line, and a corn and faw mill, very profitable. There are four hills in the town, large and no ticeable. The firfl we (hall mention is a little north of the meetinghoufe, large and confiderable ; originally well clothed with timber, but now af fords good tillage, mowing, and pafture land. On the weft fide of this hill, at the bottom near a fwamp, the Indians, in old time, had their Wig wams and a fort, the remains of which are yet v-ifible, and their tools are ftill found in the fields. About forty rods north of this hill, lies another hill, larger, but not cleared. Wallump Pond hill, near the pond of that name, in the fouthweft part of the town, is large but not very NEWBRAINTREE. 207 high ; this the people are beginning to fettle and improve. In the foutheaft part of the town is fit- uated Bald Hill, taking its name from the barren- nefs of its fummit. This hill is now become fruitful in corn, rye, &c. We mail now give fome account of the Ecclefi- aftical ft ate of Douglafs. The congregational church here was gathered November nth, 1747, and on the i6th of December, the fame year, the Rev. William Phipps was ordained their firft paftor. On the loth of July, 1765, he was dif- miffed ; he was fucceeded in the gofpel mini ft ry by the Rev. Ifaac Stone, who was feparated here unto O&ober goth, 1771, and ftill continues with them in peace and harmony. Here are a number of families of the anabaptift perfuafion. NEWBRAINTREE. THE General Court of Maflachufetts having granted fix thoufand acres of land to cer tain perfons of the ancient town of Braintree, in the county of Suffolk, for fervices by them done to the publick, it was called and known by the ftyle of Braintree Farms. This tracl: of land, together with a part of Brookfield, and a part of Hardwick, was incorporated January 31 ft, 1751, and the name O 4 Newbrainttee 308 N W B R A I N t R E . Newbraifttfee was given to it. The people who firft fettled this territory took early care for the fup- port of the gofpel, and the enjoyment of all the inftituted means of religion ; they accordingly erected a houfe for the publick worfhip of God, and on the i8th of April, 17^4, the church of Chrift in this place was imbodied, and the Rev. Benjamin Ruggles, their 6rft minifter, was inftall- ed the fame day. Mr. Ruggles had been, for a number of years before, minifter of the fecond parifli in the town of Middleborough, in the county of Ply mouth. The Rev. Daniel Fofter, the prefent paftor of the church and congregation in New- braintree, was ordained a colleague with Mr. Rug gles, on the 29th of October, 1778. The Rev. Mr. Ruggles died fuddenly, of an epilepfy, or apoplexy, Lord s day morning, May i2th, 1782, in the 82d year of his age, and the 62d of his pub- lick miniftry. There is but one religious fociety in the town, nor any fectaries excepting only two families of anabaptifts. The firft meetinghoufe ever built here is now {landing, and on a beauti ful eminence in the centre of the town, from whence there is a very extenfive profpect. This houfe was a few years fmce repaired, and is now very decent and commodious. The people in this place are particularly attentive to the education of their children and youth : They have eight repu table fchool houfes and in the winter feafon, as many inftru&ors ; two Latin grammar matters ; an.d in the fummer, they have generally two or three mattery and as u&ny nuftrefe : And they expend NEWBRAINTREE. 209 expend more annually in fupporting fchools, than in fupporting their publick teacher of piety, relig ion and morality, though he is honourably main tained* We mall now prefent a Geographical Defcrip* tion of Newbraintree. This town contains about 13000 acres of land, and is bounded fouth, on Brookfield ; weft, by Ware River, which feparates it from Hardwick ; north, on the town of Barre ; and eafl, on the towns of Oakham and Spencer : It lays much in a triangular form. The town is neither remarkably hilly nor level ; but agreeably interfperfed with moderate hills and valleys. There are two hills of name arid note ; one on the wefterly fide of the town, and is deep, with large ledges of rocks on the eaft fide of it, Called Rattle Snakes Rocks, from the great number of thofe venomous ferpents, which, in the infancy of the town, inhabited them ; but their race is now almofl extinflt. The other is fituated in the foutheafterly part of the town, and is called Mo hawk Hill. On the wefterly fide of the town, is what is commonly called a plain, though not very level; its natural grow th of wood is pitch pine ; and it is excellent for grain, and good roads. The foil of the town is in general rocky, moift, loamy and warm, and genial to wheat, rye, barley, oats, Indian corn, peas, flax, hemp, &c. &c. It is moft excellent for orcharding ; and, for its bignefj, rather exceeds, perhaps, any other town in the county in fine grazing lands, as is evinced by the annual 310 NEWBRAINTREE. annual produce of the dairy and of beef. Before the fettlement of this place, the fires made in the woods, had deftroyed almoft the whole growth of timber ; and it was feared there would be a fcarcity ; but by the care and prudence of the inhabitants there have, within a few years, fprung up fine groves of wood, and now there is a plen ty. The common timber upon the upland, or hilly parts, is oak, walnut and chefnut ; in the low lands, fwamps and marfhes, there is maple, afli, birch, hornbeam and fome fpruce and hac- raatack. Newbraintree is very finely watered by rivers, brooks, rivulets and fprings. Ware River runs along on the weft fide of the town, and is the boundary between Hardwick and this place. On the wefterly fide of the town there is alfo a large brook, called Meminimiflet Brook, which is form ed entirely by fprings from the adjacent hills, and running north empties itfelf into Ware Riv er. On this brook there is an extenfive and lux uriant meadow of fevcral hundreds of acres, call ed Meminimiflet, the name given to it by the In dians when a hideous fwamp : This was the head quarters, and the chief place of rendezvous of the favages, at the time when Brookfield was de ftroyed ; and near which place eight brave men were killed, and three mortally wounded by the Indians, Auguft 2d, 1675, as has been more par ticularly related in the account of Brookfield : And hither Mrs. Rowlandfon was carried captive, who was taken by the enemy at Lancafter, Febru ary N E W B R A I N T R E E. 211 ary loth, 1676, and here me buried her wounded child, on the i8th of that month.* This meadow beforementioned produces exceed ing great crops of mofl excellent hay. At the eaft- erly part of the town lie two very considerable tracts of meadovv land, through which run two brooks which arife from fprings ; thefe brooks, one of which carries a corn mill, after paffing faid meadows, and running near the fouth line of the town, unite, and then carry a faw mill : This ftream then runs into the north part of Brookfield, and after feveral windings and meanderings, and carrying two more mills, it again vifits the fouth part of this town, and runs through another large tract of excellent meadow, called Ditch Meadow, and carrying another corn mill in Newbraintree, it leaves the town, and falls into a large pond in the weft parifh in Brookfield, called Wickoboaug Pond. The air of this town is accounted good and falubrious, and the people profper, flourifh and increafe. Excepting a few of the ufual me- chanicks, and one or two traders in foreign goods, the people are farmers, and have the reputation of being good hufbandmen, frugal and induflrious, and they live much independent. According to the late enumeration the number of ibuls amount ed to 940 ; and their houfes are in general neat and commodious. This town is fixty fix miles from Bofton, a little to the fouth of weft ; and it is nineteen miles from the courthoufein Worcefter, a very little to the north of weft. There is confider- able * See this account as related under the head of Lancafter. *ia S P E N C E R. able travel through the place. A road from Con necticut river, through Hard wick, pafles through Newbraintree and on to Rutland, and fo on to Bofton. A road alfo from the northward leads through this town to Brookfield, and fo on to the fouthward. SPENCER. I H whole of this town was included in the original. gr?nt of Leicefter. It was made at parifh or precinct early in the year 1744, and was called the wefterly parifh of Leicefter, until its in corporation on the 3d of April, 1753, when the name of Spencer was given to it. In this place a church was gathered May 17th, 1744 ; and over the flock of God in this place the Rev. Jofhua Ea ton was ordained November 7th, 1744, who con tinued in the work of the gofpel miniftry until April 2d, 1772, when he died in the 28th year of his paftorate. Mr. Eaton firft turned his atten tion to the law, and was, for feveral years, an able and fkilful attorney in the county of Worcefter, but chofe at length to forfake that gainful em ployment, for the more high and honourable one of ferving God in the gofpel of his Son. He made a confpicuous figure in the facred office. The Rev. SPENCER. Rev. Jofeph Pope fucceeded Mr. Eaton, as an am- baffador of Jefus Chrifl, being confecrated unto this holy calling O&ober 2Oth, 1773, and ftill con tinues therein. Spencer is faid to be eight miles in length, and four miles in breadth, on a ftraight line. The town is confiderably uneven, abounding in hills and val leys, although there are no hills very high or large, or called by any particular names. It is an exceeding fertile townfhip, and the inhabitants are induftrious, profperous and wealthy. It is be come more numerous and opulent than the town from whence it was taken, as it is larger in lands, becaufe feveral years after the incorporation of Spencer, the northwefterly part of Leicefter was with the foutherly part of Rutland, fet off to form the town of Paxton. This town is watered by many excellent peren nial ftreams which run through the feveral parts of it, fome of which are fufficient to carry mills, but none of them are large. There are three in the north erly part ; one proceeds from a large and fine pond, which lays partly in Spencer and partly in Rut land, called Browning s Pond : Its courfe, for fever al miles, is foutherly. Another to the eaflward of it, has its fource in Rutland, and runs for fome miles in the fame direction with the former. A third if- fues from a pond in the north part of Leicefter; and running a wefterly courfe for a conliderable fpace, then unites with the fecond ; after this junciion, turning fouthweft, they fall in with the firft men tioned ftream. The general .courfe of thefe wa ters 8i 4 S P E N C E R. ters flill being fouthwefterly, they are emptied into Podunk Pond, fo called, inBrookfield ; whence if- fues a river which runs into Chicabee River, which falls into Connecticut river, in the north part of Springfield. There are alfo in the fouth part of this town, two ftreams, one of which uniting with the ftreams mentioned above, falls into Connecti cut river ; the other running foutherly, falls in with French River, which is emptied into the fea at Newlondon, in the foutheaft angle of the State of Connecticut. All thefe ftreams have one or more mills (landing on them. There are likewife in Spencer, two clothiers works, where much bufi- riefs is performed to great publick advantage ; al fo, there are two potalh and pearlafh works. The growth of wood in the town is of the ufual various forts. On the high lands, oak, walnut and chefnut are the chief. The fwamps are cov ered generally with maple, birch and elm. In the infancy of the town, there was a large quantity of excellent pine timber, but this is mainly worked up. The number of the people in Spencer, accord ing to the late cenfus, was computed at 1322, and the number of houfes was 192. Spencer lies about eleven miles fouthwefterly from Worcefter, on the poft road to Springfield, and fifty eight miles from Bofton to the fouthweft. Spencer is bounded on the north, by Paxton ; on the eaft, by Leicefter ; on the fouth, by Charl- ton ; and on the weft, by Brookfield. PETERSHAM. 21, PETERSHAM. 1 HIS was an original grant made by the General Court, in the clofe of the year 1732, or beginning of 1733, to John Bennett, Jeremiah Perley, and others, as a compenfation for fervices performed by them in the Indian wars, under a Capt. John White of Lancafter. The firft meet ing of the grantees was held on the loth of May, 1733. Some time after the grant was made, to quiet the Indians who claimed the foil, the pro prietors made them a fatisfa&ory confideration therefor. It is rather more than fix miles fquare. It had been a feat for Indians, and was called ma ny years by its Indian name, which was Nichewaug ; and in the fouth part of the town lies NicJiewaug Hill., fo called by the natives, whereon, as in fome other parts of the town, they had formerly plant ed fields of Indian corn, of which there remained evident traces when the firft Englifli fettlers began there. The original proprietors being fome of them wealthy and enterprizing, they encouraged and drove on the fettlement of this then infant planta tion, although there were no fettled towns nearer than Lancafter on the eaft, and Rutland to the foutheaft, and Brookfield to the fouth. except a few- new fettlers in Lambftown, now Hardwick. But the land being excellent, divers perfons foon be gan to work upon lots ; the proprietors built a meetinghoufe, si PETERSHAM. meetinghoufe, and fo early as the year 1738, they contra6led with and fettled a mini Her for the in habitants, and who was fupported by them until its incorporation. Although the profpe&s from the lull were very promifing, and fettlers moved in faft, yet they laboured under many and exceeding great diludvantages, being then fo remote from any white people, from whom they could procure the necelfaries of life, or derive any aid and fup- port. While in its infancy, and flruggling for life, fo early as 1744, a French war broke out, and the Indians, being always in the intereft of the French, they became hoftiie, and began to commit depredations in various parts of the land, which occafioned the few inhabitants great fear, terror and danger, obliging them to build forts in different parts of the town, round certain houfcs, into each of which a number of families moved for fafety and defence, and foldiers were flationed there as a guard to the inhabitants, and to recon noitre the country. The people ufed to labour on their lands, in fmali parties, changing works with one another, having their guns by them, and thcfe alfo they were, for a long time, obliged to carry with them whenever they went to the houte of God for religious woifhip, and alfo to place centinels at the doors. But although they were often alarmed, yet no white perfon was ever known to le killed in the place. When peace was fettled between England and France, and dan ger and fear from the Indians ceafed, the fettlement of the plantation went on very rapidly, and the peo ple P T E R S H A M. 217 pie were become fo numerous and able, as that the place was incorporated with all town privileges April 2Oth, 1754, and received the name of Pe- terfham. The church of Chrift in this place was gathered, and their firft minifter, the Rev. Aaron Whitney, was ordained December, 1738, who con tinued until September 8th, 1779, when he died in the 66th year of his age, and the 41 ft of his miniftry. The year following, October 25th, 1780, the Rev. Solomon Reed was folemnly fep- arated unto that office and work, and who ftill continues therein. Here alfo is a fociety of bap- tifts, who have for their teacher Air. John Sellen. The town of Peterfham has been one of themoft profperous and flourifhing in the county, if not in the Commonwealth. Although the grant of the townmip was fubfequent to the formation of the county, yet it has fo flourifhed and increafed that it is become one of the foremoft towns in the coun ty for wealth and number. There are but feven towns who pay more to a State tax ; it contains about 1520 fouls, according to the late cenfus. The natural fituation of the town is exceedingly beautiful ; it is very high, but not hilly and une ven : The body of the town lies upon the higheft land in it, which is a large long flat hill, upon the higheft part of which the great road runs from the fouth to the north, eight rods wide, and fet with trees on both fides, and for three or four miles in length affords a moft commanding profpecT;, not only of the whole town, but of all the adja cent towns ; the houfes are large and well finifti- P cd 2 i8 PETERSHAM, ed, {landing on either fide of the ftreel, from whence the land falls each way eafl and weft, a- bout a mile and an half to a ftream, and then riles again, cfpecially to the eaft, where it is fully fet tled ; is in clear view on the main flrcet, and appears like another town. Here they have lately erefted a large and elegant meetinghoufe, {landing on a tnoft confpicuous fituation, fo as to be feen from divers of the contiguous towns; foon afterit was built, Mj\^Ele^zajBradfhciw_, now of Brook- field, made them a prcfent of a large bell, the weight whereof is 91 3ft), and the coft thereof was 96/. 65. 8d. So noble and publick fpirited a deed, ought to be perpetuated for the honour. of the do nor, and to flimulatc others to like generous als. Tliis town is thought by fome to be the pleaf- nnteft, for an inland town, of any in the State, af fording to the eye, a general, ex tenfive, and agree ably variegated profpeft. The land in this place is exceedingly favourable to the growth of all kinds of fruit trees, being high and warm ; and here are large and excellent or chards, and much cyder is made here, beyond v hat the inhabitants conlume ; but they find a ready market for the furplus in the newer fcttle- inenLs. Having mentioned their fine orchards, I \\-ould duly notice one very remarkable natural curlojity relative to this fubjecl:. There is now growing in an orchard, lately belonging to my honoured father, the Rev. Aaron Whitney, dcceaf- ed, an appletree, very fmgular with refpecl; to its fruit. The apples are fair, and when fully ripe :. PETERSHAM. 219 of a yellow colour, but evidently of different taftes ^ four and fweet. The part which is four is not very tart, nor the other very fweet. Two apples, grow ing fide by fide, on the fame limb, will be of thefe different taftes, the one all four, and the other all fweet : And which is more remarkable, the fame apple will be four on one fide, end, or part, and the other fweet ; and that not in any order or uni formity ; nor is there any difference in the ap pearance of the one part from the other. And as to the quantity, fome have more of the acid, and lefs of the fweet, and fo vice verfa. Neither are the apples fo different in their taftes, peculiar to any particular branches, but are found promifcu- oufly on any and every branch of the tree. The tree ftands almoft in the midft of a large orchard in a rich and ftrong foil, and was tranfplanted there about fifty years ago. There is no appear ance of the trunk, or any of the branches having been ingrafted or inoculated. It was a number of years after it had borne fruit, before thefe different taftes were noticed ; but fince they were firft difcovered, which is upwards of thirty years, there has been conftantly the fame variety obferved in the tafte of the fruit of this tree. For the truth of the above account, an appeal may be made to many perfons of diftinftion, and of nice taftes, who have trav elled a great diftance to view the tree and tafte the fruit ; but to inveftigate the caufe of an effect fo much out of the common courfe of nature, muft, I think, be attended with difficulty. Theonly fo- lution I can conceive is, that the corcula, or hearts P 2 of 5220 PETERSHAM, of tu-o feeds, the one from a four, and the other from a fvveet apple, might fo incorporate in the ground, as to prod uoe but one plant, or that farina from blofifoms of thofe oppofite qualities, might pafs into, and impregnate the fame feed. But leaving this to the di feu (lion of naturaliUs, I pro ceed with our description of Peterfham. The foil is rich and fertile, and the lands bear all kin is ol grain, but moil natural to grafs and pa flu rage, and from the appearance and face of the town, we muft judge the inhabitants to be in- duftrious and wealthy, who fubfift mainly by the cultivation of the earth. Though the town lies very high, yet the land is not dry, but ftony and moift, abounding with fprings and brooks of wa ter ; there are, however, but two noticeable ilrjams : Swift River, which rifes from fprings in Gerry, runs to the foulhweft, through the caft- erly and foutherly part of Peterfham, into the northweft part of Hardwick. Weft Brook, a confiderable ftream, rifes in the northwcflerly part of the town, and runs through all the weft fide of it, and then enters Greenwich, in the county of Hampfhire. On each of thefe there are both corn and faw mills, and clothiers works ; and by th? fides of both there are confid- erable bodies of good meadow land. Here are works for making pot and pearl am, where much bufmeis is profitably carried on, and many perfons employed. On the high lands the growth of wood is oakj rr. .1, and a great deal of walnut of later yc.irs. In the fwamps aad low lands, C H A R L T O N, 221 lands, there is birch, beech, maple, afh, elm, and hemlock. This town is fituated fixty fix miles from Bof- ton, nearly weft, and about twenty eight miles from the courthoufe in Worcester to the northweft, and is bounded on the north, by Athol ; on the eaft, by Gerry and Barre ; on the fbuth, by Barre and Hardwick ; and on the weft, by Greenwich and Newfalem, in the county of Hampfliire. C H A R L T O N. 1 H I S town was taken wholly from Oxford, and was thewefterly part thereof: It was incorporated November 2d, 1754, and then receiv ed its prefent name. As much of the land in Charlton lies in the hands of the original proprietors, its fettlement was greatly retarded for many years. However, in. April, 1761, the congregational church here was imbodied, and the Rev. Caleb Curtis was folemn- ly ordained to the work of the gofpel miniftry in this place, on the 15th of October, 1761. He con tinued their paftor fifteen years, and was difmiffed from his office by a mutual council, October 29th, 1776. The people remained deftitute of a fettled minifter upwards of fix years, until January 8th r 1783, when the Rev. Archibald Campbell was P 3 inftalled 228 C H A R L T O N. inftalled their pallor. This Mr. Campbell was ordained paftor of the church and congregation in Eafton, in the county of Briftol, on the ijth of Augufl, 1763, where he continued nineteen years, being difmifled from his paftoral relation to that people, Augufl nth, 1782. Mr. Campbell con tinued in the paftoral office in Charlton, until A- pril gth, 1793, when he was difmifled by council, at his fpecial requcft. There is a large anabaptifl church and fociety in this town, but at prefent they are deftitute of a fettled minifter, as well as the congregational church and fociety. We proceed to a Topographical Defcription of Charlton. This town was not in high repute at firft, and was thought by fome to be hardly worth fettling upon : As it was very rough in its natural flate, and hard to fubdue. But fuch land is almoft al- iv ays found to be flrong and to wear well. This being the cafe with Charlton, from fmall begin nings and an inconfiderable figure, it has rifen up, in the fpace of thirty or forty years, to renown a- mong the towns of the county. It is computed to be nearly fevcn miles fquare, being much larger in extent than Oxford from whence it was taken, and in general a better traft of land. The peo ple are become very numerous, there being 1965 fouls in the place when the ccnfus was taken in the year 1791, which is more by fcvcral hundreds than any town in the county, except Brookfield, vSulton and Worcefter, and it is become exceedingly wealthy, C H A R L T O N. 223 wealthy, as in the laft State tax there were but fix towns which paid more. There are 300 dwelling houfes in the town. The people fubfift chiefly by the cultivation of the earth ; and they have great encouragement to labour, for the foil is flrong and rich, and the lands are fertile and very productive : Here they raife grain of all kinds in plenty ; beef and pork are fatted ; butter and cheefe are made in quantities equal to, if not furpaffing any other town in the county. The lands are well and nat urally adapted to orcharding and fruit of all kinds. The hills are moift and fpringy ; the hills and val leys are well proportioned and agreeably inter- fperfed. The town is well watered by fprings, brooks and rivulets, none of which claim particu lar mention : But there is one large river in the weftern part of the town, near to Sturbridge, which runs from the north to the fouth, and is called Quinebaug. This river is almoft an inconceivable advantage, not to Charlton only, but to many ad jacent towns, by fupplying great plenty of water for all the mills and water works in the drieft fea- fons. On this river, within the limits of Charlton, there are fome rich interval, and good meadow lands. There are feveral hills in this town worthy of particular mention ; one by the name of Ponnakin. Another called Majhymuggeit ; this is high, for on its fummit buildings in about twelve adjacent towns may be difcerned. This hill is fituated a- "bout three quarters of a mile from the congrega tional meetinghoufe. There is a third, known by ? the 224 CHARLTON. the name of Blood s Hill. The fourth and laft we fhall mention, is called Craige s Hill. There are no ponds in the town, worthy of no tice, nor mines or minerals as yet discovered. The wood and timber which grow in Charfcon is white, black, and red oak, and walnut and chef- nut in great plenty ; fome white pine, and fomc pitch pine : In the low lands there is am, birch, maple, &c. &c. In Charlton there arc a few dealers in Europe an and India goods, as is ufual in country towns ; and they have alfo all the common tradefmen and mechanicks. But there are two tanners in the town to be noticed, who carry on their bufinefs to a very con fiderable degree, and in the mofl advan tageous manner, viz. Capt. Ifrael Waters, and Mr. Afa Corben ; and efpecially the former, in the northerly part, who carries on his work to great perfection. He has an excellent bark mill, car ried by water, and upon a new conftruclion, whereby he grinds all his bark. On the fame flream, a little below, there is a gin ftill, a brew ery, mak houfe and corn mill, under the fame roof, the property of Mr. Eli Wheelock, who erected faid works in Uie year 1792, and where he carries on each branch of bufinefs very largely to his own and the publick intereft. On the fame flream there are feveral grift and faw mills, and other wafer works, and moll of the mechanicks live in, this north part of the town. There are alfo a number of pot and pearl am works in different parts of the town, where large quantities of pot and pearl WESTMINSTER. pearl afh is annually made and exported. Charlton is in many refpeds, one of the foremoll towns in the county. It is fituated fouthweft from Bofton at the diflance of fixty miles ; and from Wor.cefter courthoufe it is fifteen miles, a little to the fouthweil. It is bounded north, by Spencer ; eaft, by Oxford ; fouth, by Dudley ; and weft, by Sturbridge. WEST M I N S T E R. 1 HIS muft be " the fouth town laid out to the Narraganfet foldiers,"* as exprefled in the aft for erefting the county of Worcefter. It was granted in the year 1728, as a reward to a number of people who did fervice in what was called the Narraganfet, or King Philip s war, or to their heirs, and was fly led Narraganfet, No. 2, until its incorporation, which was on the 2Oth of Oftober, 1759, when the name of Weftminfter was given to it. The * Having mentioned this grant, it is fitting to give a hiftory of the whole matter in brief. In the year 1728, application was made to the General Court for a reward for fervices done in the Narraganfet war, and the Court immediately granted two townfhips of fix miles fquare. But notice was given to all who did fervice in faid war, or the legal heirs of fuch as were de- ceafed, to bring in a lift of their names at the next feffions of the Court ; when eight hundred and forty appeared, and were approved as legal claim ants, Being Co numerous, two townfhips woe judged inadequate ; and upon further ^6 WESTMINSTER. The firft meeting of the proprietors of this grant (who confifted chiefly of the inhabitants of Cambridge, Charleftown, Watertown, Wefton, Sud- bury, Newton, Medford, Maiden and Reading) was held December 3d, 1733, when all officers were chofen neceflary to manage the affairs of theproprietors. The firfl committee of the proprie tors of Narraganfct No. 2, were John Cutting, James Lowden, and Jofeph Bowman. From this time, to the year 1737, little was done to forward the fettlemcnt of the place. In March this year, Capt. Fairbanks Moor moved his family into it. He was the firft planter. In June, Deacon Jofeph Holden moved his family into the place. Thefe two families contained fifteen fouls. It being an expofed plantation, fettlers moved in but flowly. In the year 1739, the proprietors erected a decent mectinghoufe, which was dedicated at a proprie tors meeting, June 6, 1739. The few fettlers were defirous of, and forward for fettling a min- ifter ; accordingly, on the 4th of Auguft, 1742, they made choice of Mr. Elifha Marfh, in which the further application, the Court granted five townfhips more in i732,afl r ining one hundred and twenty proprietors to each, on condition, that fixty families be fettled in each place, with a mintftcr, in the fpace of feven years from the date of the grant, referving in each, one ri;;ht for the firft. minifter, one for the miniflry, and one for the fdiool ; the government to be at the expenfc of laying out the townfhip*. The -A-lmle fociety of petitioners, or claimants, nr-t at Boflon on the coin- rr.on. June. 1732, and, dividing tliemfelvcs into fevcn claffes, agreed to dia\v 1 irs for the to^-n!hips. A committee of the General Court laid out the townfhips, and numbered them. No. i. was located back of Snco and Scarborough. No. 2, north of Watchufelt hi!l. No. 3, at Sonnet-in, weft ; No. j, at Armrifcogan. No. 5, at Souhegan, eaft. No. 6, -.vilt of No. 2 t and Xo, 7, was not then located. WESTMINSTER. 227 the proprietors concurred. The church of Chrifl in this place was formed, and the Rev. Elifha Marfh was ordained their firft minifter October 2Oth, 1742. Mr. Marfh continued with them but a few years. An unhappy controverfy an ling be tween him and the people, he was difmiffed from his paftoral office, 1757. Mr. Marfh was afterwards Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, in the coun ty of Chefhire, in the State of Newhamplhire ; and died but a few years fince, at Lancafter, being on a journey. The town remained in a broken ftate until Oc tober i6th, 1765, when the Rev. Afaph Rice was confecrated paftor, the fccond in fucceffion, of the church and congregation here, and ftill continues in that office ; and in peace and love with his people. Previoufly to his fettlement in Weflminfler, Mr. Rice had been a miflionary among the Indians. At the time of Mr. Marfh s ordination, the place was in its infancy, few in number, flruggling for life, and expofed to Indian depredations, and its population went on flowly. About the year 1743, the General Court granted 4OO/. to fortify the place, with which ten forts were erected, and foldiers ftationed there for the defence of the inhab itants. In 1746, feme of the people of the place were put under pay, as a town fcout. From 1744, to the clofe of the year 1748, the fettlers met with great chfcouragements, and endured fevere trials, although no perfon in the place was ever cut off by the enemy. After 228 WESTMINSTER. After that period, the people increafed, and the place flouriQied exceedingly, f o that in the fpace of half a century, notwithftanding their dangers, diftrefles and difficulties, and the fmallnefs of their firft number, only fifteeen fouls, they have fpread and extended their branches, and covered the town, and are become a great people, as at this day ; having, when the cenfus was taken in 1791, 177 dwelling houfes, and 1176 inhabitants. The original grant was fix miles i qua re ; however, the meafure was rather large, for by actual furvey, in cluding ponds, rivers, &c. it contained 27000 acres ; but of late, 7000 acres of land, with the inhabitants thereof, were fet off to aid in forming the town of Gardaer, to the northweft. This town is (Hll large, and is bounded on the weft and the north weft by Gardner, on the north by Afliburnham ; on the northeaft by Fitchburg ; on the eaft, by fomc farms not belonging to any town; on the fouth by Princeton ; and on the fouthwefl, by Hubbardflon. Wefhninfler is fituated on the height of land be tween the rivers Merrimack and Connecticut, having flrcams arifmg in the town, and running into both. The town is intciTperfed with hills r.no valleys; and with fprings, brooks and rivu let. ;, very convenient for watering the land, and for carrying of mills. The north.weft.erly part of Watchufett hill falls within the limits of this. town. I what is called the middle of the place, or centre of the town, is a large and high hill, the top of which is ncavJv level ; this is a fcjuarc of fix WESTMINSTER. 229 irx acres, left by the proprietors, as a convenient place for a training field, and for the meeting- houfe. A little north of the centre of this fquare Hands their new, large and elegant meetinghoufe, direclly in front of which pafles the great road from Connecticut River to Bofton. At the fouth- eaft angle of this fquare ftands an elegant houfe belonging to the Hon. Judge Gill ; on the wefter- ly fide of the fquare ftands the minifter s houfe. On the fides of this fquare are (hops well ftored with Englifh and Weftindia goods. In the town they have all the ufual tradefmen and rne- chanicks. Here alfo are three grift mills, three faw mills, one oil mill, one fulling mill, one clothiers works, and one trip hammer ; alfo works for cutting nails, and works for the manufacture of iron are now creeling. The foil of this town is ftrong, rich and fertile ; the high lands are well ftored wiih ftones, fuitable and fufHcient for wall ing in the farms, and are good for orcharding, a^id almoft all kinds of fruit. Here are lands for the various purpofes of mowing, ploughing and paftur- ing. And the town has been, and ftill is well fur- nimccl with wood. The high lands have all forts of oak, fome chefnut, fome walnut, which is in- creafing ; they have had great plenty of white pine, which is chiefly cut off ; fome yellow and pitch pine : The low lands are ftored with afh, beech, birch, maple, and hemlock. There are four ponds within the town, one called Watdiufett Pond, lies at the foot of that hill, on the northerly fide. The line of the town croffes this WESTMINSTER. this pond, leaving part thereof in Princeton ; thi is of confiderable bignefs, and well replenished with frefh water fifh. A ft ream i flues from the northwefterly end of this pond, and runs norther ly through the eaftcrly part of Weftminfler, re ceiving feveral ftreams in its courfe ; and leaving the town it runs in a northeafterly dire&ion into Fitchburgh. forming a confiderable branch of the Nafhaway, or Lancafler River. Another very fmall ft ream runs at the northeaft corner of the pond, and running foutheafterly falls intoaftrcam, rifing out of a large body of meadow, and con tinuing its courfe, empties into Stillwater Rivci in Sterling. There is a ftream arifmg in another body of meadow land, which falls into this pond, on its fouthwefterly fide. This pond is fed and fupplied chiefly, perhaps wholly, by fprings and rivulets ifluing from the great hill Watchufett. There is another large pond, near the centre of the town, in front of the hill, on which the meeting- houfe (lands ; this is called Long Pond, being one mile and twelve rods in length, and about half as much in width. This being a very rocky pond, is not well furnifhcd with fifh. No conftant ftream empties into this pond: A fmall ftream iflues from the foutheafterly corner of it, and run ning eaftedy, unites with the ftream which runs out of Watchufett Pond. There is a fmall pond, in the cafterly part of the town, called GrafTy Pond, into which there is no vifible inlet : There is a fmall outlet, which, running foutherly, falls alfo into that which comes from Watchufett Pond, WESTMINSTER. Pond. The fourth pond is in the northern border of the town : No ftream of any confequence runs into it ; a fmall one iffues from it, and running fouth, falls into a large ftream, which rifes in Weftminfter, and running eafterly, is known by the name of North River ; and continuing an eaft- ern direction, unites with the ftream which comes from Watchufett Pond. There is another ftream, called the Moft Northerly River, which rifes in Afhburnham, and running through the northerly part of Weftminfter, receives various brooks and rivulets in Weftminfter, and helps to form the northerly branch of the river Nalhaway. The laft ftream which deferves our notice, is called Otter River, which ifluing from a fwamp or low land in Hubbardfton, runs northerly, through the wefter- ly part of Weftminfter, into Gardner, receiving feveral ftreams in its way, then turning, runs weft- erly through the north part of Templeton, Athol, Warwick, and ihe foutherly part of Northfield, and falls into Connecticut River. This ftream unites with Miller s River in Winchendon, as may be feen more particularly in the defcription of Templeton. Weftminfter is large, and become populous, and is continually increafing in number and wealth. It is fituated about fifty five miles from Bofton, a little to the north of weft, and about twenty two miles from the courthoufe in Worcef- ter, nearly north, PRINCETON, 23* PRINCETON. ON the 20lh of October, 1759, the General Court of Maffachufetts pafled an ad for incorporating the eaft wing, fo called, of Rutland, together with fundry farms, and fome publick lands, contiguous thereto ; and gave the place the name of Princeton, to perpetuate the riame and memory of the late Rev. Thomas Prince, colleague paftor of the old fouth church in Bofton, and a large proprietor of this traclof land, whofe daugh ter and only furviving child the Hon. Judge Gill married for his firft wife. The town contained about 19000 acres : And at the time of its incorporation there were about twenty families in the place. It was in the month of May, in the year 1751, ivhen Mr. Robert Keyes, now living, removed with his family from Shrew fbury, and fixed down near the foot of Wat- chufett hill, on the eaft fide, being the fourth fami ly which fettled in the place. Upon the i4th of April, 1755. a child of his, named Lucy, aged four years and eight, months, attempting, as was fuppofcd, to follow her fillers, who had gone to chufett Pond, about a mile diftant, and having nothing but marked trees to guide her, wandered out of her way in the woods, and was never heard of afterwards. The people for nearly thirty miles round collected immediately, and in companies traverf- ed PRINCETON. 233 ed the woods, day after day and week after week, fearching for her, but never made the leaft difcov- ery. Many journeys were taken by the father, in confequence of reports, but all in vain. Various were, and have been the conjectures of people re- fpe6ting the fate of this child. Divers concurring circumftances render the following moft probable, that {he was taken by the Indians, and carried into their country, and foon forgat her relations, loft her native language, and became as one of the aborigines. Let us return to Princeton. The people who had fettled in this town laboured at firft under very great difficulties, by reafon of the mountain ous, rocky, and naturally moift ftate of their lands, from want of paffable roads, and by reafon of the prodigious quantities of heavy timber with which the ground was covered, (fure indications of a rich and fertile foil,) however, they attended to their roads, and increafed in number, and on the 3Oth of June, 1762, raifed the frame of their prefent meeting- houfe, hired preaching, and were attentive to their religious interefts. On the i2th of Auguft, 1764, the church of Chrift was imbodied in this town, and after vari ous fruitlefs attempts to fettle a minifter, the Rev. Timothy Fuller was ordained their firft paftor on the gth of September, 1767. In about eight years a general difaffe&ion to Mr. Fuller took place, which ended in a dilfolution of the paftoral rela tion between him and the people of Princeton on. the igth of April, 1776. Various attempts for a refettlement of the gofpel miniftry were unfucceff- ful. PRINCEfdN. ful, until the 28th of June, 1786, when the Thomas Crafts vas ordained paftor of the church and flock of God in this place. In the fpace of a- bout three years, Mr. Crafts s health failed, and for nearly two years he was unable to preach, when all hope of his being recovered, fo as to carry on the work of the facred miniftry being cut off, the paf- toral relation between him and his people was am icably diflfolved at his fpecial requeft, on the 1410 of March, 1791. The people remain without a fettled minifter. In Princeton they have a very handfome focial library eftabliflied, of the valu of upwards of jot. ten pounds whereof were given by the Hon. Judge Gill. In a little more than thirty years from its incor poration, Princeton is become very confiderable among the towns of the county. It has furprif- ingly increafed in number and wealth. When the cenfus was taken vi 179!; there were 144 dwelling houses, and 1016 inhabitants in the place. The foil being excellent, people had ev ery encouragement from that oonfideration, to fet tle and cultivate the lands; and their farms aremoft- ly large and good. The land is naturally moifl and fpringy, hilly and rocky, exceedingly well adapted to paRurage, and the growth of Englifh grafs : Hence the Sneft <# beef is fatted here, and vaft quantities of butter and cheefe are produced in the town : Some parts of the place afford grain in plenty ; and from the appearance of their build ings and farms, we mull judge the people are very induftrious. PRINCETON. 235 induftrious. Many of their houfes are large and elegant. This leads to a particular mention, that in this town is the country feat of the Hon. Mofes Gill* Efq; who has been from the year 1775 one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of "VVorcefter, and for fevefral years a Coun- fellor of this Commonwealth. His noble and ele gant feat is about one mile and a quarter from tJie meetinghoufe, to the fouth. The farm contains upwards of 3000 acres. The county road from Princeton to Worcefler paiTes through it, in front of the houfe, whiclj faces to the weft. The build ings ftand upon the higheft land of the whole farm ; but it is level round about them for m-any rods, and then there is a very gradual de- fcent. The lands on which thefe buildings ftand, are elevated between 1200 and 1300 feet above the level of the fea, as the Hon. James Winthrop, Efq; informs me. The manfion houfe is large, being fifty by fifty feet, with four flacks of chim- nies : The farm houfe is forty feet by thirty fix : In a line with this ftand the coach and chaife houfe, fifty feet by thirty fix : This is joined to the barn by a fhed feventy feet in length the barn is two hundred feet by thirty two. Very elegant fences are erected around the manfion, houfe, the outhoufes, and the garden. The profpecl: from this feat is extenfive and grand, taking in an horizon to the eaft, of feventy miles at leaft. The blue hills in Milton, are dif- cernable with the naked eye, from the windows of Q % this 236 PRINCETON. this fuperb edifice, diftant not lefs than fixty mi^s j as alfo the waters in the harbour of Bof- ton, at certain feafons of the year. When we view this feat, thefe buildings, and this farm of fo many hundred acres, now under a high degree of profitable cultivation, and are told that in the year 1766 it was a perfeft wildernefs, we arc ftruck with wonder, admiration and aftoniihment. The honourable proprietor hereof muft have great fa isfaHon in contemplating tbefe improvements, fo extcnfive, made under his direction, and I may add, by his own active induftry. Judge Gill is a gentleman of fingular vivacity and activity, and indefatigable in his endeavours to bring forward the cultivation of his lands ; of great and effential fervice, by his example, in the employment he finds for fo many perfons, and in all his attempts to feive the interefb of the place where he dwells, and in his ads of private munificence, and pub- lick generofity, and deferves great refpecl: and ef- teem, not only from individuals, but from the town and country he has fo greatly benefited, and ef- pecially by the ways in which he makes ule of that vaft cHate wherewith a kind Providence has bleifed him. Upon the whole, this feat of Judge Gill, all the agreeable circumfV nces refpe&ing it being attentively conndered, is not paralleled by any in the Ncvcngland States ; perhaps not by any on this fide the Delaware. Return we to our more general description of Princeton. Having (aid the foil is rich, ftrong, and very prcdu&ivc ; it is to be added, the growth PRINCETON. 237 growth of wood is oak of the various kinds, chefnut, white afh, beech, black birch, and maple ; and near the Watchufett hills, fome butternut is to be feen, as alfo fome walnut, which will undoubtedly increafe and fpread. The hills of Princeton merit a particular de- fcription ; they are three. Firft, Pine Hill, litu- ated about two miles from the centre of the towrt, contains perhaps about thirty acres, and is moft- ly unimproveable ; but its bowels afford a very great quantity of moft excellent ftones for build ings, &c. Thefecond, is Little Watchufett Hill, this is fit- uated near the centre of the town, perhaps half a mile diftant, to the northward. This contains 237 acres, chiefly pafturing ; though fome parts of it, being ledgy and mountainous, are unim proveable. The third, is the Great Watchufett Hill, or Mountain. This is fituated about two miles from Princeton meetinghoufe, to the north ; the north- weflerly part hereof falls within the limits of Weftminfter. This is an exceedingly high moun tain, and is fome of the firft land difcovered by people on board veflels at fea, when making for any of the fea ports in Maffachufetts ; and it is to be feen from the higher lands, in a greater part of the towns in the Commonwealth, efpecially in thofe between the fea and Connecticut river. It contains feven or eight hundred acres ;. about four hundred acres of whioh beitig the fummit, and be ing province land, were given to the Rev. Mr. Q 3 Fuller, 3 8 PRINCETON. Fuller, by the General Court, in confideration that he was the firft minifter, and fettled upon a fmall falary, in the infancy of the town. This was no trifling gift ; for although one hundred acres of it be worth little or nothing, yet mod of the remaining three hundred acres will make con- fiderable pafture land, and fome parts very good. The highefl part of the mountain is a flat rock, or a ledge of rocks, for fome rods round, and there is a fmall pond of water generally upon the top of it, of two or three rods fquare ; and where there is any earth, it is covered with blueberry bufhes for acres round ; and as you defcend the hill, there are very low and fmall trees, with flat tops, like thofe on the fea more, occafioned no doubt, in part, by the ftate of the air ; for it is feveral degrees colder, at any time, on the top than at the bottom of the mountain ; the further you defcend, the taller are the trees, until they become of the common fize. Upon the foutherly fide of this lirll it may be afcended to the very top with hor- fes, but upon the eaft, north and northweft, it is very fteep, broken and ledgy ; and many acres ut terly unimpraveable any way at prefent. Perhaps its bowels may contain very valuable hid treafure, which in fome future period may be defcried. There are very confiderable improvements upon fome fides of this hill near the bottom of it, and fome very valuable lands yet uncultivated. The circumference of this monflrous mafs is about three miles, and its height is 3012 feet above the level of the fea ; as was found by the Hon. John Winthrop, PRINCETON. 239 Winthrop, Efq; L. L. D. in the year 1777 : And this muft be 1800 or 1900 feet above the level of the adjacent country. This town is exceedingly well watered by fprings and rivulets, as is generally the cafe with hilly, rocky land ; but there are no ftreams of any great bignefs, although feveral large and fine rivers have their fources here. One branch of the Naftiavay begins at the foot of Watchufett Hill, and runs through Sterling and Boylfton to Lan- cafter. Pifs River, fo called, fprings up at the foot of this mountain, on the wefterly fide, and runs through Hubbardfton, and joins Ware River. There are feveral places in the town where fprings iffue and the waters divide, running fomeinto Mer- rimack, fonte into Connecticut river. There is but little meadow land in Princeton, when com pared with towns in general, but there are confid- erable traces of interval which affbrd good hay ; however, the greatefl part of their hay is produced from upland mowing. There are two ponds on ly in this town, or rather a part of two : Watchu fett Pond, about three miles north from the meet- inghoufe, at the north end of that mountain ; it covers about one hundred acres, only about twen ty of which are in Princeton, the greater part in Weftminfter. It is fed by fprings from the hill ; its outlet is in Weftminfter. Quinepoxet Pond is fituated in the fouthweft part of the town, fome of which falls within the limits of Holden. It contains perhaps feventy or eighty acres. Its in lets are feveral fmall ftreams ; its outlet is the Q 4 River $40 T E M P L E T O N. River Ouinepoxet, as defcribed in the account of Holden. In Princeton there are four grift mills, five faw mills, and one fulling mill, and clothiers" works. This town is fituated fifty two miles from Bofton, about due weft ; and fifteen miles from the courthoufe in Worcefter, nearly north, and bounded on the north, by Weftminfter ; on the eaft, by Sterling ; on the fouth, by Holden ; on the fouthweft, by Rutland ; and on the weft, by Hubbardfton. TEMP L- ETON. 1 HIS was an original grant to cer tain perfons who did fervice in what was called the Narraganfet, or King Philip s war, or to their heirs, and was accordingly known by the name of Narraganfet No. 6, until its incorporation, March 6th, 1762, when the name Templeton was given to it. The firft meeting of the proprietors of this traft of land was held at Concord O&ober 29th, 1733. The grant was defigned to include as much as fix miles fquare, but the meafure was made rather large. Its fettlement was greatly retarded through danger from the Indians, in that then in fant ftate of this part of the country ; and efpec- ially in the French war, in the years from 1740, to 1746. After that period inhabitants came in very T E M P L E T O N. very faft, Co that a church of our Lord Jefus Chrift was gathered here December loth, 1755, anjl the fame day the Rev. Daniel Pond was or dained to the work of the gofpel miniftry in this place : He continued in the facred office not four years, being difmififed by advice of an ecclefiafti- cal council, Auguft 2d, 1759. He was fucceed- ed by the Rev. Ebenezer Sparhawk, who was fep- arated unto that high and holy calling on the i8th of November, 1761, who flill continues faithfully ferving God in the gofpel of his Son. This town flourifhed and increafed fo faft, and not lying in the beft fhape to coatinue one relig ious fociety, it was divided into two pariflies, Feb ruary i6th, 1774. The new or fecond parifh lay on the weft fide, and being foon after made a dif- tincT: town, we mall leave it for the prefent, and proceed in our defcription of Templeton. Al though this town is not a level, champaign tract of land, yet it is not fo uneven as many ; it has no remarkable hills or eminences diftinguifhed by particular names, except one on the fouth fide towards Hubbardfton, called Mine Hill, from its abounding in good iron ore ; and fuppofed alfo to be rich in other more valuable mines and min erals ; this was granted to a Capt. Andrew Robin- fon, of Gloucefter, fome time before the original grant of the townfhip ; it was foon fold, and now a great number of perfons have a right therein : it is a long, rocky hill, and very fteep on one fide. There is but one pond in the town, and that is fmall, in the fouth part, from whence there is an outlet, 84 2 TEMPLETON. outlet, on which are mills, this forms what is call- ed Otter River, on which are clothiers works, and where thebufinefs is well and profitably carried on. This river runs foutherly into a corner of Hub- bardfton, then turning northeaft, runs back into Templeton again, and through an angle of Gard ner, where feveral ftreams join it. It is fome way a boundary between Gardner and Templeton ; then it takes a northwefterly courfe in Templeton, and is joined by Trout Brook ; and from thence running through an angle of Winchendon, there falls into Miller s River. The main branch of the river Burnfliirt, fo called, rifes from a pond on the cafterly fide of Gerry, at its northeaft end, and runs through meadows to the foutheaft, where there are good mills, and within the bounds of Templeton, joins the eafterly branch of Burnfliirt, and foon after becomes a boundary between Tem pleton and Gerry, for almoft two miles ; and then runs through a corner of Hubbardflon into Barre, where it unites with Ware River. Conneyftow, another ftream, riling from fprings in the fouth part of this town, runs foutherly into Hubbard- fton, where are mills, and then falls into Burnfliirt. On thefe ftreams and rivers there are excellent meadow and interval lands. The general growth of wood in the town is of the following kinds, oak, chefnut, white and pitch pine, afh, beech and birch ; walnut, within a few years, has fprung up, and is fpreading. The lands are rich and good in general, producing all forts of grain, and yield pafturage and grafs in great plenty. A T H O Lv 243 plenty. In this town the bufinefs of making pot- afh is carried on. Here are the ufual neceffary tradefmen ; but the inhabitants chiefly fubfift by the cultivation of their lands, and area profperous and flouriming people. This town is fituated about fixty miles from Bofton, a little to the north of weft ; and is twenty eight miles from the court- houfe in Worcefter, a little to the weft of north. The number of its inhabitants was 950, when the general cenfus was taken in 1791. Templeton is bounded on the weft, by Gerry ; on the north, by Winchendon ; on the eaft, by Gardner ; and on the fouth, by Hubbardfton ; and contains ftill about 17000 acres of land, not- withftanding the greater part of Gerry, and a part of Gardner was taken from it. A T H O L. Vv HEN the grant of this townfhip was made by the General Court, cannot now be afcertained, as the firft proprietors book was fome years ago loft. The prefent book has recorded that the original proprietors, being fixty in num ber, met at Concord June 26, 1734, and, in the prefence of a committee of the General Court, whereof the Hon. William Dudley was chairman, drew A T H O L. drew their houfe lots in the townfhip of Pequiog,- or Payquage, as the natives called the place at that time ; and by this appellation it was known in all publick a&s and records until its incorpora tion by an aft of the Legislature, on the 6th of March, 1762, when it received the name of Athol. This traft was a feat for the Indians, and at the time of its being granted, was a frontier townfhip, and greatly expofed ; and the fettlement of the place was obftru6led by the French and Indian war, which commenced in 1744, and continued feveral years. Previously to the breaking out of that war, feveral families had feated themfelves here, but they were greatly diftrefled with fear, by rea- fon of the Indians ; they were obliged, as other in fant plantations, to live in garrifons for feveral years, and to labour at their various occup ations with their military armour by them. Although this place was thus expofed, yet I cannot find that any perfons were killed here, except a Mr. Ezekiel Wallingford, who being on fome occafion at a diftance from his garrifon, was difcovered by the enemy ; and feeing them, he turned to run to the fort, but was flopped fhortby a fatal ball, Auguft, 1746. In the month of April, the year following, a Mr. Jafon Badcock was taken captive by the In dians, and carried to Canada : From whence he returned in a few months. The church of Chrift in Athql was imbodied le prefence, and under the countenance of three neighbouring paftors and churches, Auguft 29th, 1750 ; and the Rev. James Humphrey was confecrated A T H O L. 245 confecrated their firft paftor on the jih of No vember following. The Rev. Mr. Humphrey, af ter ferving the church and people of this place faithfully upwards of thirty one years, was, at his requeft, difmified from his paftoral relation to them on the igth of February, 1782, on thefe con ditions, viz. The inhabitants voted to free his per- fon and eilate from all kinds of taxes during his natural life ; and gave to him and his heirs a good pew in the prefent rneetinghoufe, fo long as it Ihould ftand. The town remained deftitute of a fettled paftor until November 2ift, 1787, when the Rev. Jofeph Eftabrook, was folemnly feparatcd unto the work of the gofpel miniftry, as fucceflbr to the Rev. Mr. Humphrey. There are about ten families of ahabaptifts in this town, but there is no church, nor any ftated teacher of this denomination in the place : There are alfo three families of univerfalifts, and one of epifcopalians here. We mall now go on to fome Geographical De- fcription of Athpl. This townfhip was originally granted to fixty proprietors, with a referve of a right of land for the firft fettled minifter, a right for the ufe of the miniftry, and one for a fchool : It was to contain as much as fix miles fquare. A part of the town was fet off, at the foutheaft angle, to aid in forming the town of Gerry, and a part at the northweft corner, to help form the diftricl: of Orange ; but ftill the town of Athol is more than five miles fquare, and contains 1 6000 acres of land. It A T H O L. It is very uneven, rocky, and hilly, though there are no famous or remarkable hills in the place ; nor any with names, except one in the eafl part of the town, called Walnut Hill, from the confiderable quantity of walnut wood and timber growing thereon. The foil of this town is not fo good as fome : It is rather cold, confequently not extraor dinary for grain of any kind, for orcharding, or for mowing : It is faid to be very good for grazing ; and much beef is annually fatted in the place. There is fome pitch pine plain in the north part of the town ; there is alfo confiderable white pine remaining in the wefterly part of the place ; but oak, chefnut, am, beech, birch, hemlock, and ma ple, conflitute the principal growth of wood. The town has its full mare of water. Miller s River, fo called by the Englifh, in confequence of a man by the name of Miller, who was drowned herein, well towards a hundred years ago, in attempting to pafs this river in his way to Northfield : But the natives called it Payquage or Bayquage this river is large, and its current in many places rap id ; it comes into Athol in the northeafterly quarter of the town, and pafllng within half a mile of the meetinghoufe, it runs wefterly in to Connecticut River ; in the fouthweflerly part of Athol, there is fome good meadow on this river. The next flream for bignefs is Tully Brook ; (or rather River if its appellation had not been eftab- liflied) this has its origin in Fitzwilliam in the State of Newhampfhire, comes through Royalfton into the northerly part of Athol, and joins Miller s River A T H O L. 247 River about one mile northweft from the meeting- houfe. On this ftream, and after the junction, there are fome very good meadows. Mill Brook, fo call ed from its having upon it many convenient feats for mills, rifes from various fprings in the fouth- eafterly part of the town, and runs northwefterly, and falls into Miller s River in the weft part of Athol . Jn the foutheafterly part of the town rifes a brook fufficient to carry mills, which runs to a pond of thirty acres or more, which the line be tween Newfalem and Athol croffes in the fouth- weft part, and from this pond there is an outlet which runs north, and empties into Miller s River. There is alfo another pond in the north part of the town, from whence there is an outlet into Tully Brook : This is fmall, covering perhaps twenty or thirty acres. Upon the rivers and flreams abovementioned, there are in the town, four grift mills, fix faw mills, one fulling mill, and one trip hammer. We muft not omit to mention, there is a very fine fpring in this town, which iffues out of a high bank upon the fide of Miller s River, (perhaps twenty feet above the furface of the river) the wa ter whereof is medicinal. Many perfons who have drank freely thereof, have found it operate as a gentle cathartick ; and fome who have been poifon- ed, have been fpeedily cured by wafhing the parts affected therewith. Several who have been afflict ed with rheumatick complaints, bathed in the wa ters of this fpring, in a ciftern, fome few years ago provided to receive them, and found g*eat relief. And 4 8 O A K H A M. And what is worthy of notice is this, thefe waters have the fame efficacy and virtue without foap, in wafliing of perfons, which other waters have with. We clofc the account of Athol with faying, it is ikuatcd in the northweftern extremity of the coun ty, about thirty five miles from the courthoufc in Worcefter, to the northweft, and from Boflon it is feventy two miles, a little to the north of weft. It is bounded on the north, by Royalfton ; on the raft, by Gerry ; on the fouth, by Peter fham ; on the fouthweit, by Newfalem ; and on the north- weft, by Orange. The number of inhabitants in this town, when the cenfus was taken, was 850. O A K H A M. 1 HE whole of this town was includ ed in that traft of land of twelve miles fquare, which was purchafed of the Indians, confirmed to the petitioners, and called Rutland, in the year 1713. After the town of Rutland was incorporat ed, this part was called Rutland Weft Wing, until the year 1759, when the inhabitants had certain privileges granted them, and thr place was called the Prccintt of Rutland Weft Wing, until its in corporation by an a 61 of the Legislature, June yth, 1762, when the name of Oafcham was given to it. The O A K H A M. 249 The church of Chrifl in this place was imbodi- ed, in prefbyterian form, Auguft 28th, 1767, and the Rev. John Strickland was ordained their paf- tor, April ift, 1768. He was difmiffed by the prefbytery, and a vote of the town, June 2d, 1773. After Mr. Strickland s removal, the prefbyterian church was diffolved, and a church on the congre gational plan was imbodied, June 23$, 1773, and the Rev. Daniel Tomlinfon was feparated to the work of the gofpel miniftry among them, June 22d, 1786. Mr. Strickland removed from Oakham to Nottinghajnwefl, in the State of Newhampmire, where he was inflalled, and continued a number of years ; from thence he was difmiffed, and remov ed to Turner, in the county of Cumberland, and the diftricl; of Maine, where he is again fettled in the prefbyterian mode. In Oakham they have a focial library eftablifhed, containing towards fixty volumes. The reader fhall now be prefented with fome Geographical Defcription of Oakham. Although the fljape of the town is not an exa6fc fquare, yet it contains about four miles and an. half fquare ; and it is bounded by Rutland, on the eaft ; by Barre, on the north and northweft ; by Newbraintree, on the weft and fouthweft ; and by- Spencer, on the fouth and foutheaft. The gener al face of the town is hilly and flony. The nat ural foil is not inferior perhaps to that of the neighbouring towns in general ; but not being fettled fo early as Rutland, it was greatly injured fcy fires. The firft fettlcrs of Rutland ufed to fet ,R fires 2 5 o O A K H A M. fires in Oakham annually, or frequently, and then turn their cattle thither to feed through the fum- mer feafon. There are no remarkable hills, nor any extenfive plains in the town. The produce is, Indian corn, wheat, rye, flax, &c. &c. and whatever is common to this country. The kind is w^ll adapted to orcharding, and all kinds of fruit trees ; for it is high, fweet, and in general not ex- pofed to frofts. The growth of wood and timber is oak of all forts, abounding efpecially in white oak, walnut, chefnut, and whatever is common to the high and low lands in other towns. Some parts of the town are high and rather dry ; nevertheless, the lands bear a drought well ; and in general there are fufficient fprings, rivulets, and flreams of water. There is one river which has its fource in theeafterly part of the town, call ed Five Mile River ; it runs from the north to the fouth ; it is not large, yet there is one com, and one faw mill (landing thereon in the foutherly part of the town ; and on this ftream there is fome meadow land. The northerly part of Oakham borders on and near a river, which is large, called Ware River ; oji this there is fome little in terval and meadow land. There is but one other meadow in the town of any confiderable bfgnefs ; this is fituated about a mile foutheaft from the meetinghoufe, and is known by the name of Clammour Meadow. In the northeafterly part of this town, near to Rutland, is fituated Muddy Pond, fo called, not large ; from this pond i flues a (Iream, which running from the foutheaft to the northweft, O A K H A M. 251 TLorthweft, falls into Ware River ; on this ftream there are two faw mills. There is a large pond, called Browning s Pond, fituated in the foutheafterly quarter of this town, and lies, partly in Rutland and partly in Spencer, but the greater part in Oakham. To this there is an inlet, and at the fouth end an outlet which runs into Spencer, and fo to Quaboag River. Thefe ponds and ftreams are well ftored with fim. There are feveral roads through different parts of the town ; one through the north angle of the town, leading from Peterfham to Rutland and Worcefter ; another about a mile north of the meetinghoufe, leading from Rutland to Hardwick; another which leads from Rutland to Brookfield, pafling about half a mile eaft of the meetinghoufe ; another leading from Newbraintree to Worcefter, called the New County Road ; this runs near the fouth fide of the town. This town is fituated fifteen miles from Wor cefter courthoufe, a little to the northweft ; and from Bofton it is diftant fixty two miles, nearly weft. When the cenfus was taken there were 772 inhabitants in the town. FITCHBURG, FITCHBURG. 1 HIS plac* was originally a part of the town of Lunenburg, and wholly included in the grant made to the proprietors of Turkey Hill. It was made a diftinft and feparate town on the 3d of February, 1764. A part of Fitchburg, to the north, was fet off in the year 1767, to aid in forming the town of Afhby, in the county of Mid- dlefex. It is now bounded by Afhburnham and Afhby, on the north and northweft ; by Lunenburg, on the eaft ; by Leominfler, on the fouth and foutheafl ; and by Weflminfter, on the weft and fouthweft. This is a very hilly and uneven, but fertile town. On the eaftern part it is not fo very une ven, refembling Lunenburg, from whence it was taken ; but in the other parts of the town, the hills are large, high, and deep ; however, on them there is not much broken, poor and wafte land. In general the foil is excellent ; and the town in many refpe&s is fuperior to Lunenburg. By the late cenfus the dwelling houfes were found to be 166, and the inhabitants 1151, fpread over a territory not much exceeding 1 3000 acres. Mofl of the people live in comfortable and eafy circum- flances, poficfling all the necelfaries, and many of the conveniences of life. They are induftrious, and having a good foil to labour upon, live inde pendent, and, for an inland town, feveral families among F I T C H B U R G. 253 among them may juftly be deemed rich. The people near the meetinghoufe are fettled pretty thick, and there much bufinefs of various kinds is performed: For here runs, a few rods fouth of the meetinghoufe, the north branch of Nafliaway River. One part of this river comes from Afh- burnham, the other part from Watchufett Pond ; thefe unite a little weft of Fitchburg meetinghoufe. After this junftion, and juft below the meet inghoufe, there is one corn mill, one faw mill, one fulling mill, one clothier s works, one trip ham mer, and works for grinding fcythes : Thefe occa- fion a great refort of people there to tranfaft their various concerns. A little fouthweft from the meetinghoufe, is a high, rocky hill, covered prin cipally with pine, called Rollftone Hill. Here alfo is a hill, ufually denominated Pearl Hill, and is compofed of a rock of a peculiar quality, not common in this part of the country. It produces ifmglafs, or talc, in great plenty. The appear ance encourages a hope that there are valuable mines, either of gold or filver, or both, imbofom- ed there. Attempts have heretofore been made to explore and pofiefs them ; but for want of wealth or perfeverance in the undertakers, they have nofe obtained the defiderata. Alt valuable mines in this part of the world, as in moft other parts, lie deep in the bowels of the earth, and much labour is neceffary to reach them. In the prefent ftate of our population, riches, in thefe northern parts, are with much greater facility procured from the fur- face of the earth, by the various inftruments of R 3 cultivation, 254 FITCHBUR G. cultivation, than from deep and latent mines of the richeft ore. When the country becomes overilocked with inhabitants, and fupport from the foil (hall not be fo eafily obtained, it is not im probable that from this mountain will be dug large quantities of thofe mining metals, as every thing, at prcfent, favours the conjecture. Befides the river abovementioned, which runs from the uorthu-eft to the foutheaft, through the town, there are feveral other ft reams which pafs through it, which occafion the inhabitants great expenfe in building and repairing bridges. From the north- weft part of Connecticut river the people travel much through this place, in their way to Bofton ; and at prefent they have a ftage which runs be tween them and Bofton, and goes and comes twice in the week. The church of Chrift in this town was imbodi- ed, and their firft and only, and prefent minifter, the Rev. John Payfon, was ordained January 27th, 1768. This is a growing, flourifhing place, and the people have hitherto been peaceable and happy ; they are indeed very much fo ; and if they con- ftnue in peace and unity, they will ftill greatly increafe in number and wealth. They fubfift chief ly by hufbandry ; there are, however, the ufual me- chanicks, and a few dealers in European, Eaft and Weft India goods. The growth of wood in this town is very excel lent : Oak, walnut and chefnut, conftitute the principal W I N C H E N D O N. 255 principal part thereof, although there is fome white and yellow pine. Fitchburg is fituated northweft from Bofton, at the diftance of fifty miles over Charles s River bridge ; and it is almoft north from the courthoufe in Worcefter, diftant about twenty three miles. WINCHENDON. V-/N the loth of June, 17-85, a grant of land, to be equal to fix miles fquare, was made by the Legiflature of Maflachufetts, to Lieut. Abra ham Tilton, and others : Preference, however, was to be given to the defoendants of the officers and foldiers who ferved in the expedition to Canada, in the year 1690. This tracl; was to be laid out into fixty three equal mares ; one for the irft minifter, one for the ufe of the miniflry, and one for the ufe of a fchool ; the others, for (ixty proprietors, As thefe all, excepting eight, belonged to Ipjwick, in the county of Eflex, in Maffachufetts, it was called Ipfwich Canada, until its incorporation by an al of the General Court, which pafled June 14th, 1764, when it was made a town, and called Winchendon. The proprietors received this grant on, conditions of creeling fixty fmall houfes, to- R 4 gether 5 6 W I N C H E N D O N. gether with a fuitable, convenient meetinghoufe, and fettling a learned and orthodox minifter in five years from the laying out of the townfhip. Thefe conditions were not punctually fulfilled ; however, in the year 1752, ten families had fixed down here. But the fettlement of the place was immediately retarded by what is commonly called the laft French war. Mod of the fettlers left the place ; they who remained were obliged to keep in garrifons. The proprietors fet up the firfl meet inghoufe, thirty five by forty five feet, in the fpring of the year 1762. The church of Chrift in this place was imbodied, and the Rer. Daniel Stimp- fon was ordained their firfl paflor, on December 15th, 1762. Mr. Stimpfon continued not fix years in the miniflry ; the Great Head of the church law fit to remove him hence by death, July 2Oth, 1768. He was fucceeded in the paftoral office by the Rev. Jofeph Brown, who was feparated here unto May 24th, 1769. Mr. Brown continues in his work, and enjoys the affection and efteem of his people. The firft houfe for publick worfhip being too frnali for t]ie inhabitants, they on the 24th and 25th of May, 1792, creeled a large new one, fifty by fixty fret, and having completed it, met in it for the firft time January ift, 1793, when it was folemnly dedicated to the fervice of God. In this town a foundation is already laid for a focial library, which bids fair to be large and very confiderable in time. When. W I N C H E N D O N. 357 When this townfhip was fir ft located it was fuppofed to extend northerly to Newhampfhire, but upon running the line afterwards between the two States, it was found there was a mile in width for the whole length of this town left to- Maffachu- fetts. Upon the granting of Royalfton, fome years after, this ftrip of land was annexed to that town, and called Royalflon Leg. When a number of families had got feated thereon, at their requeft, it was in 1780 fet to Winchendon. It contained 3840 acres. In June, 1785, a piece of land of 3680 acres, was taken from the foutheafterly part of this town, to help form the town of Gardner ; Winchendon, however, ftill remains more than fix miles fquare. The prefent extent and boundaries of Winchen don are as follow. Beginning at the northeaft angle of the town, on the State line, thence fouth twelve degrees weft, five miles and an half on Afh- burnham line, to the noftheaft corner of Gard ner : Thence weft twenty eight degrees fouth, three miles and eighty five rods on Gardner line, to a corner in Templeton line : Thence north thirty fix degrees weft, two miles one hundred and forty four rods on Templeton line, to a corner : Thence north feventy eight degrees weft, fix hundred rods on faid Templeton line, to a corner in Royalfton line : Thence north twelve degrees eaft, on Roy alfton line, five miles two hundred and fixty rods, to the northeaft corner of faid Royalfton, on the State line, or the line between Winchendon and Rindge : Thence eaft twelve degrees fouth, fix miles on the State Ijne, to the fijr ft mentioned bound, The 258 W I N C H E N D O N. The foil of Winchendon is deep and good, and produces rye, barley, oats, flax, and all kinds of vegetables : Wheat is not raifed here in fo great plenty as in fome other towns ; yet more at prefent than formerly. Indian corn is not fo eafily raifed, as the land is rocky, and fome of the extreme parts of the town are much fubjeft to frofls. The town is not very uneven, and there are no remarkable hills in the place. The general growth of wood on the high lands, is red oak, beech, rock maple, and black birch, in- terfperfed with white pine and hemlock. On the low lands, white pine, hemlock, hacmatack, afli of all kinds, and yellow birch, interfperfed with red oak and beech. On fome of the loweft lands, there is little or nothing but pine, hemlock, and hacmatack. In fome parts of the town there is chefnut, and in other parts pitch pine, but nei ther of them in plenty. Mines or minerals, none as yet have been dif- covered in the town : There are two or three fprings, however, of the mineral kind ; one efpec- ially in the northerly part of the town, which is thought by phyficians and others acquainted with fuch things, to be equal to many in great repute for their healing virtue. It is certainly of the me dicinal kind, and rather fecms of a chalybeate quality. There is but one pond which is wholly within the limits of this town, called Demfon s Pond, it covers perhaps as much as one hundred and fifty acres. It has an inJct from the north, and an outdet towards the fouth into a river which runs within W I N C H E N D O -Mr 859 within an hundred rods of faid pond. It abounds in fifti of various kinds. There is one river, known by the name of Miller s River, the princi pal fource whereof is a large pond, lying chiefly in the northeafterly part of Rindge, a fmall part only falling within the bounds of Winchendon, where the outlet is. This pond is known by the name of Monomenock Pond. The outlet from this pond, together with fome fmall ftreams from ponds in the northwefterly part, of Amburnham, uniting in the northeafterly part of Winchendon, form Miller s River^ which runs wefterly, fouth- wefterly and foutherly, half round the town ; in no place nearer than one mile of the meeting- houie, and in fome places three miles and more from it. It leaves this town in the fouthwefterly part thereof, not far from the pond above defcrib- ed, the outlet of which, as we have faid, falls into this river. Otter River, fo called, which runs through the northerly part of Templeton, juft touches on Winchendon, in the fouthwefterly part thereof, and runs nigh the bounds of the town about a mile and a half, and unites with Miller s River, but juft before it leaves Winchen don. There are two large ftreams in the wefterly part of this town, taking their rife in Fitzwilliam. One of them joins Miller s River in Winchendon, near to Royalfton : This is not diftinguiftied by. any particular name. The other, ft ill larger, runs into Royalfton, and fome confiderable way in the eafterly part thereof ; then turns ajid enters Win chendon, and after running feveral miles, joins Miller s WINCHENDO N. Miller s River juft above Denifon s Pond. This flream might have been denominated a river from its largenefs, had it not early received the appel lation of Prieft s Brook. This name was given to it from the circumftance of its running through a tra& of land, now lying in Royalfton, formerly granted by the General Court of Maflarhufetts to a Jofeph Prieft, to induce him to fet up an houfe of entertainment for the benefit of travellers from this date to the Aftmelots (Keene and Swanfey) and to No. 4 (Charleftown) in the ftate of New- hampfhire. The houfe of this Prieft, was called The Half Way Hmtfc. Thefe two ftreams, efpecially the latter, abound with falmon trouts. This fort of fifh is alfo found in many parts of Miller s River, as alfo pickerel and perch. Befides the abovementioned, there are many other ftreams and rivulets running in every part of this town, whereby it is exceedingly well watered. There is but little meadow land, perhaps not more than one hundred and fifty acres in the town of Winchendon. Interval land on Miller s River there is confid- erable, and what is improved is of a very good quality. But of this there is not fo much as might have been expefted ; for the high lands in moft places (hut down quite clofe upon the riv er. Upon the rivers and ftreams in the town there are two grift mills, fix faw mills, and one clothier s works. There are alfo in the town, two potafli works. Roads R O Y A L S T O N. 26* Roads in variotis dire&ions centre at, or near the meetinghoufe. The greateft road is from Bofton, through Winchendon, and fo on through Fitzwilliam to Charleftown ; this road a ftage paffes weekly through the fumrner feafon. A- nother road leads from Winchendon, through Gardner, Weftminfter, and fo on to Worcefter. Another runs fouth through Templeton ; another wefterly through Royal ft on, and another norther ly through Rindge. Winchendon is fituated a- Ibout fixty two miles from Bofton, by the neareft route, to the northweft : And from Worcefter courthoufe it is thirty five miles, a little to the weft of north. When the cenfus was taken, there were in the place 150 houfes, and 950 inhabit ants, and it will no doubt ftill greatly increafe and multiply. ROY ALSTON. 1 HIS is, as to the original grant and fettlement, doubtlefs by many years, the young- eft town in the county. It was in the year 1752, or very foon after, granted to the Hon. Meffrs. Hubbard, Erving, Royal, Otis, and others, and was to include all the unappropriated lands be tween Newhampftiire line, on the north ; Warwick, on 262 ROY ALSTON. on the weft ; Athol and Templeton, on the foutl Winchendon, on the eaft and fouth ; and Afhbura- ham, on the eaft. This grant was known by the name of Royalfhire, until its incorporation, which was on February i6th, 1765, when it was called Royal/Ion, in compliment to the late Col. Ifaac Roy al, one of the original proprietors. Before the laft French war, fome who intended to fettle here, began to work upon their lands, but the breaking out of that war put an entire flop there to. Towards the clofe of that war fome people began to work here again ; and in the year 1762 Several families moved into the place ; the firft of which came in, in the month of June. Its in- crlafe was truly furprifing, for in lefs than three years, it was incorporated with diftincl: town priv ileges ; and in the clofe of the year 1767, there were about forty families in the town. The number of families at this time is 195, and the number of fouls about 1130 ; befides that, there were a number of families with their eftates fet off to aid in forming the diftricl: of Orange, in the county of Hampfhire. As early as the year 1766, on the i3th day of October, a congregational church was imbodied here, under the counte nance, and in the prefence of the churches in the vicinity ; and on the igth of October, 1768, the firft and prefent paftor, the Rev. Jofeph Lee, was ordained to the work of the gofpel miniflry among them. There were nine or ten families of the baptift denomination among the firft fettlers. At what time ROYALSTON. 263 time they imbodied into a church {late is not known to us. A Mr. Elifha Rich was their teach er, but he was never ordained among them. He was fucceeded by Mr. Whitman Jacobs, who was inftaUed December 13th, 1770. He lived in A- thol, to which town part of his fociety belonged, and there he now refides: Mr. Mofes Kinney is now the ordained teacher of the baptifts in Roy- alfton. The lands in this town confift generally of hills and valleys ; and the foil is very excellent, being fuitable for tillage, pafturage, mowing and orchard ing. The natural growth of wood is of various kinds, as oak, chefnut, beech, afh, white, black and yellow birch, maple, or fugar tree, bafs, alder, and the ever greens, as pine, hemlock, hacmatack and fpruce, &c. This town is exceedingly well watered by riv ers, rivulets and fprings. Miller s River runs through this town from the eaft. And there are a number of confiderable brooks or flreams, which uniting, form what is called Tully River in Athol. In the foutherly part of the town one of the flreams which helps to form Tully River, has very obfervable falls. In the courfe of forty or fifty rods, the whole fall of water is more than a hundred feet. In one place it is twenty feet, or more. On thefe feveral ftreams before mention ed are large quantities of rich interval, or excel lent meadow lands. There are two ponds in the town ; one fmall, a liftle weft of the meetinghoufe ; the other about a A S H B U R N H A M. a mile further weftward, called Long Pond. A fmall ftream runs out of the leffer into the greater. Although the di fiance between thefe ponds i* but little more than haif a mile in a dire& line, yet the little pond is at leaft an hundted and fifty feet higher than the other. There are in both ponds, various forts of fifh, and in great plenty ; thofe in the larger are moft excellent. The dif- tance of this town from Bofton is, by the neareft. route, about feventy miks, to the northweft - and from the courthoufe in Worcefter it is forty miles, and is bounded on the north, by the State line ; on the eaft, by Wmchendon ; on the fouth, by Gerry and Athol ; and on the weft, by Athol and Warwick. ASHBURNHAM. ON the loth of June, 1735, a grant was made by the General Court, to Thomas Tile- ilone and others, for and in confideration of fer- vices done by officers and foldiers of the ancient town of Dorchefter, in the expedition to Canada in 1690, under Capt. John Withrington, This grant was to be equal to fix miles fquare, and went by the name of Dorchefter Canada, until its incorporation, A S H B U R N H A M. 265 incorporation, which was on the 22d of February, 1765, when it received its prefent name. To the original grant were afterwards added Lexington farm of a thoufand acres, Cambridge farm of a thoufand more, Rolfe s farm of fix hundred, and another of about a thoufand acres. The church of Chrift in Afhburnham was gath ered April 2 gd, 1760, and the fame day the Rev. Jonathan Winchefter was ordained their firft paf- tor. This gentleman was fomewhat advanced in life when he was fettled in the work of the minif- try ; and he continued but a fhort fpace therein, leaving the world November 27th, 1767. To him fucceeded in the facred office and work, the Rev. John Cuftiing, who was folemnly confecrat- ed hereunto November 2d, 1768. In the town there are about twenty families of baptifts, who manifeft far greater catholicifm than formerly. The whole number of families is about 150, anc^ of inhabitants about 970, befides a number who were fet off to Afhby, in the county of Middlefex, with about 3000 acres of land, and a number to the town of Gardner, with about 2000 acres more. In this town are fituated two large hills, or mountains, Great and Little Wetatick. Great Wet- atick lies in the northeaft part of the town, and Little Wetatick to the fouthweft from it. There are feven ponds within the limits of Afh- burnham, which divide it nearly into two equal parts, north and fouth. Two of them are large, viz. Great and Little Naukheag. The others are not diftinguithed by any particular names. Here S are AS HBURNHAM. are no rivers ; but thefe ponds are fources of fev- eral ftreams, which take different routes, and con tribute to the formation of feveral large rivers. From Little Nalikheag, which is near the centre of the town, a rivulet empties into Great Naukheag, whence a ftream iffues to the weft, which makes part of Miller s River. About three quarters of a mile eaft of Little Naukheag begins another ftream, which runs foutheaft, and joining in Fitchburg with another ftream from Weftminfter, and other fmall ftreams. helps to form the north branch of Nafhaway River. Northeaft from this laft men tioned ftream, arife two more, which, joining loon, run through Aftiby into Newipfwich, in the State of Newhampmire, and become a large branch of Souheagan River, which empties into the great river Merrimack. Hence it appears that this town is upon the height of land between Connecticut river on the weft, and Merrimack on the eaft. And what is worthy of particular notice is this, that fcarce any water runs into this town : It be ing conjectured that all which comes in, from all quarters, would pafs through a man s boot. On ftreams illuing from three of the ponds in Aflh- burnham, there are mills, and a fine feat for more on the ftream which runs out of Great Naukheag, not yet improved. On the banks of Little Nauk heag is a white fand, equal in finenefs and whitc- nefs to that on the banks of Capeannc, and which it is judged would make glafs. There is much broken land in this town. Some parts abound in hemlock, fpruce, white ancl pitch pine; A S H B U R N H A M. 267 pine ; this is the cafe more efpecially in the wef- tern part ; however, there is much good land for grafs. Where the growth of wood is oak, hard and foft maple, beach, birch and chefnut, the land is moift and good for grazing. It has been a not ed place for lumber : The belt pine timber is moft- ly worked up : There yet remain great quantities of white and pitch pine, fuitable for boards. There are five faw mills, and four corn mills in the town. Here are potafti works, and have been from its infancy ; and the firft complete ton of this article carried into market was from Amburnham. Here are no remarkable fprings, or other natural curiofi- ties. They have an elegant new meetinghoufe. The former houfe of publick worfhip was, about twenty years ago, wrecked by an hurricane, and moved three or four feet to the north and eaft ; a barn, about fixtv rods to the fouth, was torn down. * * while the owner within it efcaped unhurt. This hurricane paffed from the weft to the eaft, extend ing about half a mile in width, and upon the hills fwept all before it. The town enjoys a fine air, and is remarkably healthy. Its diftance from Worcefter, is thirty miles to the north ; and from Bofton, by the neareft route, is fifty five miles, but through Lancafter and Stow, it is fixty miles, and lies to the northweft. Amburnham is bounded on the north, by the State line ; on the northeaft, by Afliby ; on the earl, by Fitchburg ; on the fouth, by Weftminfter and Gardner ; and on the weft, by Winchendon. S 2 PAXTON. i63 P A X T O N. 1 HIS was taken from the towns of Leicefter and Rutland, in nearly equal parts ; and was incorporated on the i2th of February, 1765, when it received its name. The eccleliaftical ftate of this town has been fomewhat fingular, from the gathering of the church of Chrift in the place, to the prefent time, as will appear by the following account. The church in Paxton. was imbodied September 3d, 1767. The Rev. Silas Biglow was ordained their firft minifter the fame year, viz. October 21 ft, 1767. He was much beloved and refpefted by the people of his charge, but the Great Head of the church fuffercd him to continue but a little more than two years in office, being removed by death, November i6th, 1769. He was fucceeded in the work of the gofpel min- iftry by the Rev. Alexander Thayer, who was folemnly feparated hereunto on the 28th of No vember, 1770. Mr. Thayer continued not quite twelve years with the people, being difmilfed from office Augull i4th, 1782. They were deftitute, after this, of a fettled min ifter for more than three years, until September 8th, 1785, when the Rev. John Fofter was ordain ed their third paftor ; at which time the town was in a moil unhappy divided ftate, there being but a bare majority for Mr. Fofter ; the other party diflenting, p A X T O N. 269 diffenting, and protefting, utterly refufed ,to hear him, and were by law exempted from contributing to his fupport. In this fituation the people re mained for three years and a half, until April, 1789, when Mr. Fofter was difmiffed from his pafloral relation to the people. Mr. Fofter. was, in about three years after, in- Hailed at Taunton, in the county of Briflol. After Mr. Fofter s removal from Paxton the parties amicably reunited, and are in a way for the happy refettlement of the gofpel miniftry among them. If the people do but continue united, they arc able to fupport the gofpel in a very honourable, generous manner : For the town, though not large, is well fettled, being an excellent tracl; of land, and the inhabitants in general are induftrious, good, and wealthy farmers. It is pleafant, although uneven, having many hills and valleys ; but the foil is rich and productive : It is good for all kinds of grain, and well repays the labour bellowed upon it : It is peculiarly good for grafs and pafturing, and like- wife for orcharding. The high lands are moift and fpringy, not too rocky ; and the lower lands are fwamps or meadows, but ealily drained. The Tvood which grows on the higher lands, is oak, much walnut, fome chefnut ; and in the lower lands, are found birch, beech, maple and afh. It is truly noticeable that the wood in this town, when cut down, never fprouts again, in confe- quence of which they are threatened with a fear- city of fuel. S 3 Thi 2 ;o P A X T O N. The town is exceedingly well watered by fprings from the hills ; and by fmall ftreams, on which they have both corn and faw mills. From the fame fpring, about half a mile north of the meet- inghoufe, waters iffue, which foon divide and take quite different and contrary directions ; part runs northeafterly into the river Nafhaway ; part runs fouthwefterly into Connecticut river. There are two hills in the town of great height, and worthy of particular mention : One is called Turkey Hill, near Rutland line, this is large, and affords good farms ; and efpecially fine pafture land : At the foot of this hill, on the weft fide, lies Turkey Hill Pond, large, and well flored with fifh ; and from this pond runs a ftream which empties into Chica- bee River, and from thence into Connecticut river. On the eafl fide of the town, and in that part which was formerly Leicefter, is fituated what is called Afnebumfkit Hill, the foot of which, on the eaft fide, falls within the bounds of Holden. This is a large and high hill, containing feveral hundred acres, the land is rich and good ; efpecially adapt ed forpaflurage. It lies about twelve miles fouth of Watchufett great hill, and except that, overtops all other hills within forty or fifty miles of it. Around this hill the vapours gather fo plentifully, or become fo denfe the evening preceding a rain, that it appears at a diftance as if it rained upon its fummit. To this hill many of the farmers, in the vicinity, look at evening, or a little before the ietting of the fun, in the time of making hay, that they may be able to determine with a good degree of P A X T O N. 271 of certainty, what the weather will be the next day. Near the foot of this hill, is fituated Afnebumflut Pond ; which is a fine large pond, and well fuppli- ed with fifh : From this pond there iffues aftream, which runs to the northeaft through Holden, and joining the ftream from the foot of Watchufett Hill, helps to form the fouth branch of Nafhaway River. From fprings, on the northwefterly part of Afnebumfidt Hill, a ftream is formed, which run ning foutherly, paffes through Leicefter, and fo to French River. The above obfervations mew us that Paxton is fituated on the height of the lands between the fea, on the eaft and fouth, and Con necticut river on the weft. In Paxton, works for making potafh have lately been fet up : And here a fmall number of cotton and wool cards are annually made. The number of inhabitants in this town was found in 1791, to be 558. Paxton is fituated eight miles weft from Wor- cefter, and about fifty five from Bofton, a little to the fouth of weft. It is bounded on the north, by Rutland ; on the eaft, by Holden ; on the fouth, by Leicefter and Spencer ; and on the weft, by and Rutland, S 4 NORTHBOROUGH. NORTHBOROUGH. 1 HIS was the north part of the town of Weftborough, the main part whereof was fet off from Marlborough in the year 1717. It was made the fecond precincl or parifh of Weftborough by an a& of Court, on the 2Oth of Oclober, 1744. The church of Chrift was gathered in this place May 2ift, 1746, and on the fame day the Rev. John Martin was ordained their firft pallor, who continued to minifler unto them in holy things until April 3Oth, 1767, when after a fhort ficknefs he died in the 61 ft year of his age, and the 21 ft of his miniftry. In fix months and four days from his death, viz. on the 4th of November, 1767, the Rev. Peter Whitney was confecrated their fecond pa ft or. Here, about thirty gentlemen have united, and eftablifhed a focial library, containing one hundred volumes at prefent ; and fuch are its regulations as that it will annually increafe. A narrative of an Hebrew inftruftor at Harvard College, who died at Northborough, and his Epi taph, are thought worth preferving. Mr. Monis, as I fuppofe, the firft Hebrew In- flruftor in our Univerfity at Cambridge, was born in Italy. When he came into America I am not able to fay. He married a Mifs Marrett, of Cam bridge, who died in the year 1761 ; whereupon he refigned N O R T H B O R O U G H. 273 refigned his office, and retired to Northborough, and fpent the refidue of his days in the family of the late Rev. John Martyn. Mrs. Monis and Mrs. Martyn were lifters. He left fomething very hon ourable and generous to the church in Northbor ough. He bequeathed forty fix pounds thirteen fhillings and four pence, to be equally divided a- mong feven of the mini fters then living in the vicin ity : Alfo, he left about an hundred and twenty fix pounds as a fund, the intereft whereof was to be dif- tributed among widows of minifters who were in indigent circumftanccs ; and the remainder of his eftate, which was considerable, he gave to the Mar tyn family. The following is the infcription on his grave ilone. " Here lie buried the remains of Rabbi Judah Monis, M. A. Late Hebrew Inftru&or At Harvard College in Cambridge ; In which office he continued 40 years. He was, by birth and religion, a Jew, But embraced the Chriftian faith, And was publickly baptized At Cambridge, A. D. 1722, And departed this life April 25th, 1764, Aged eighty one years, two months and twenty one days. A native branch of Jacob fee, Which once from off its olive broke ; Regrafted from the living tree, Rom. 1 1 . 17, 24. Of the reviving fap partook. From NORTHBOROUGH. From teeming Zion s fertile womb, Ifai. 66. 8. As dewy drops in early morn, Pfalm. no. 3. Or rifing bodies from the tomb, John, 5. 28, 29. At once be Ifrael s nation born. Ifai. 66. 8." This fecond precinct in Weftborough was in corporated February 24th, 1766, and from its local fituation and bearing, was called Northbor- ough. There were fettlers in this part of Marlborough before there were any in what is now Weftbor ough. As early as 1 700, or rather before, a few families had fixed down here. And there was a garrifon kept at a houfe on the lower fide of the town towards Marlborough, near the brook where Meffrs. Bartlets now live. On Auguft i8th, 1707, as two women belonging to the garrifon were out a little way from the fort, gathering herbs, the In dians difcovered and purfued them. One Mrs. Mary Fay, got fafe into the fort ; the other, Mary Goodenow, a young and unmarried woman, was taken and carried over the brook into the edge of ,Marlborough, and there, a little fouth of the great road, and nigh to Sandy Hill, fo called, me was killed and fcalped. The enemy were purfued by fome foldiers and people of Marlborough, and were overtaken the next day, in that part of Lan- cafler, now called Sterling,* when a mod bloody battle was fought, in which two of our people, John Farrar and Richard Singletary, were killed. The Indians at length fled with great precipita tion, i . * Sec a more particular account of thu battle in the hiftory of Lancafter ar.d Sterling. NORTHBOROUGH. 275 tion, carrying off their killed and wounded, ex cept one, whofe bones were afterwards difcovered ; but they left behind fome of their plunder, and fome of their packs ; in one of which our people found the fcalp of the above named Mary Goode- now ; and hereupon concluding Ihe muft be kill ed, on their return they fearched for, and found her body, and there buried it ; and her grave is vifi- ble to this day. The town of Northborough lies in a kind of valley between the high lands of Marlborough on the eaft, and thofe of Shrewlbury and Boylfton on the weft. On its eafterly fide it is about four miles long, and on its weflerly about five : It is on an average about three miles and an half wide from eaft to weft, containing about 90 dwelling houfes, upwards of an 100 families, and accord ing to the late cenfus 620 inhabitants. It would doubtlefs admit of 150 or more families, were the large farms (tome of which contain four hundred or five hundred acres) properly divided. This is beginning to take place, and in a few years proba bly will be accomplished. The inhabitants are chiefly farmers, and wealthy : They have alfo traders in European and Weftindia goods ; and various tradefmen and mechanicks, efpecially an excellent maker of edge tools of various kinds ; and confidering its dimenfions and number, it is doubtlefs one of the ableft parifhes in the county. The pooreft land in general appears as we travel the great road. The farms which lie off are good, and much of the land very fertile. The weiierly fide of * 7 6 NORTHBOROU O. of the town rifes into high land, and the north- weft angle is very high ; but the land is not rocky, and the farms are excellent, and from thence the profpeft is extenfive. There is one beautiful hill, called Liguor Hill t containing towards an hundred acres of land, very good, oppofite the meeting- houfe, and not more than fixty or eighty rods from it, on the fouth fide of the poft road. This is high, and feen from all the neighbouring towns ; but it is not inacceflible even to teams. Its fum- jnit is covered with a fine growth of good wood at prefent. About one mile northeaft from the meet- inghoufe is another hill, very fimilar, called Ed mund Hill. Upon fhe river Afiabet, which runs through the eafterly part of the town, are vaft bodies of rich interval and good meadow lands. And upon the other flrcams and rivulets there arc large and good meadows, efpecially on that called Cold Harbour, which rifes in the north part of Shrewfbury, and eroding the foutheaft angle of Boylfton, turns and runs foutherly, then turns and runs eafterly, and palling between the poft road and meetinghoufe, foon empties itfelf into the riv er Aflabet. On the above named fheam, in the wefterly part of the (own, are a corn and faw mill, one a few rods below the other, and as there is a fmall outlet from Reeky Pond, in the eafterly part of Boylfton, which empties into this Cold Harbour ft ream, fo the owner of thofe mills, by means of a frnall dam at the lower end of faid pond, furniflies them with a rich fupply of water, although diftant a mile or more. In the north , part NORTHBOROUGH, 277 part of the town are a corn and faw mill together, on North Brook, which coming from a pond in Lancafter, and running through Berlin and the northeaft angle of Northborough, falls into the river Affabet. A little north of the meetinghoufe runs a fmall but lafting ftream from the hills in the wefterly part of the town, on whiCn is a faw mill which performs confiderable work in the fpring and autumn. In the town there are two ponds ; one called Solomons Pond, from the cir- cumftance of an Indian of that name being drown ed therein, by falling through a raft on which he was fifhing. This is in the northeafterly part of the town. It is not large ; about ninety rods long, and feventy five rods wide ; has plenty of fifh : To this pond there is no vifible inlet nor outlet. The other is in the foutheaflerly part of the town, called Little Chauncy ; this alfo is well fur- nimed with fifh. From Great Chauncy Pond, in the northeafterly part of Weftborough, there is a fmall outlet which runs into Little Chauncy ; and from Ltitle Chauncy a brook runs northerly, and croffing the poft road on the line between Marl- borough and Northborough, and the boundary be tween the two counties of Middlefex and Worcef- ter, empties its waters into Affabet River. On this ftream are a corn and a faw mill together ; and although it be fmall, yet by clearing it of obftruc- tions, and a little digging in a few places, they are fupplied with a large quantity of water from both the 278 N O R T H B O R O.U G H. the ponds above named. About half a mile from the meetinghoufe, on the poll road, and on the river Affabet there is a mill for the fulling of cloth ; and works for carrying on the clothiers bufmefs in all its branches, where about 7000 yards of cloth are annually drefled, and the work is mod acceptably performed to the honour and advantage of the town, and the intereft of the com munity. Thefe works are the property of two brothers, Captains Samuel and Abraham Wood ; but the bufmefs is performed at prefent by the latter only. On the oppofite fide of the. road and river are works for the manufacture of iron, and where many tons have been made. There is in the vicinity a great plenty of ore, efpecially of the bog kind. Near the forge are works for the making of potafh, where large quantities are man ufactured yearly. About a mile below, on this fame river, is a grift mill which fails not to grind through the year. Thus there are four corn, and four faw mills within the town. There are, in this town, curious works for the conveyance of water to a great diftance, the prop erty, contrivance, and execution of Major Hollo- way Taylor. I know not that there are any fimi- lar works in the county, and would therefore de- fcribe them. From fp rings iffuing out of ledges of rocks on rifing lands, this gentleman has raifed a fmall pond, and from thence brings fine water (about feventy rods, through bored logs, under ground, not only in low lands, but in fome places higher lands, NORTHBOROUGH. 279 lands, where the water repeatedly afcends and de- fcends) into the back part of his houfe, into a large vat, near three feet in height, by a tube, from the laft log, entering the bottom of the vat, which is, or may be kept conftantly full, and run ning over ; and the fuperfluous water is conveyed from the vat, by another tube, out on to the grafs land. As the water paffes under ground nigh the barn yard by a tube from a log, entering the bot tom of a large trough, he has a rich fupply of wa ter for a great flock of cattle ; and fuch is the qual ity of the water that it has feldom ever been known to freeze in trough or vat.* The general growth of wood in the town is chefnut, walnut, the feveral forts of oak, fome white pine, and large quantities of pitch pine, which of late years, is in great demand, as an ex cellent wood for fuel. Northborough lies about thirty fix miles from the Statehoufe in Boflon, and is eight or nine degrees to the fouth of weft ; and is ten miles from the courthoufe in Worcefter, a few degrees to the north of eaft. This town is greatly benefited by the * As this account may be read by fame not much acquainted with natu~ ral philofophy, and who therefore may think it incredible that water can be made to pafs over rifmg grounds, and through low lands, alternately, as in this cafe, and then rife to fuch a height in the houfe ; (for thefe logs are carried along under ploughed fields and mowing lands ;) foj the fake of fuch it ought to be obferved, that water may be conveyed any wher^ to rife exaftly to the height of the fountain or pond from whence it proceeds ; al though it cannot be carried to a greater height in its way to the place in tended. Should any perfons wifh to convey water in this manner, they may be in formed, that yellow or pitch pine logs are much bed for the purpofe ; they are harder and more durable ; thofe of chefuut are too fpungy and porou,-. 8o NORTHBOROUGH. the publick roads, which in different dire&ions pals through it. Belides the pofl road from Bof- ton to \Vorcefter, (and fo to the feat of govern ment.) which runs through it but a few rods fouth of the meetinghoufe ; there is another from Ncw- hampfhire State, and the northern part of the county of Worcefter, and coming through Lan- cafter or Harvard, and Bolton and Berlin, pafles dire&ly through this town, juft by the meeting houfe, and eroding the pod road, leads on to Mendon and Providence. The road alfo from Worcefter and Shrewfbury, through Framingham to Bofton, paffes through the fouth part of the town into Weftborough. There is alfo a road of much travel from Hubbardfton, Princeton, Hoi- den, Sterling, and efpecially Boylfion, which coming in upon the northwefterly part of the town, paffes direftly in front of the meetinghoufe, and then in the fpace of about fifty rods, falls in to the pofl road. Another great benefit the town reaps, is from the great refort of people from all the neighbouring towns to the corn and faw mills, to the fulling mill and forge, and to the blackfmiths , for their works of various kinds, as well as to the fhops and Mores. Northborough is bounded on the north, by Ber lin ; on the eafl, by Marlborough and Southbor- ough ; on the fouth, by Weftborough ; and on the weft, by Shrewfbury and Boylfton. HUBBARDSTON. 28 1 . HUBBARDSTON. 1 H I S was called " the northeaft quarter of Rutland," being wholly included in the original grant of that town, and was incorpo rated on the 13th day of June, 1767, and called Hubbardfton, to perpetuate the name and memo ry of the late Hon. Thomas Hubbard, Efq; of Bofton, who had been fometime fpeaker of the houfe of Representatives ; after that, feveral years a counfellor of the then province, and for many years treafurer, and of courfe a member, of the cor poration of Harvard Univerfity in Cambridge. He was a large proprietor of lands in this place. The congregational church in Hubbardfton was imbodied on the igth of June, 1770, and on the fame day the Rev. Nehemiah Parker was ordain ed to the work of the gofpel miniftry in the place, and who flill continues in peace and love with the people, and miniftering to them in holy things. We proceed to a defcription of this place. It is about fix miles fquare ; and is bounded weft> by Barre ; fouth, by Rutland ; eaft, by Princeton ; northeaft, by Weftminfter ; and north, by Gard ner, Templeton and Gerry. The town is agreea bly interfperfed with hills and valleys. Perhaps about a twelfth part of it is meadow and interval. The uplands are generally, excellent for grazing and fome confiderable part very good for th T growth HUBBARDSTON. growth of EngliQi grafs. The land in general, is not the befl for grain ; though in common years a filfficiericy is raifed for the inhabitants. It is rather too cold for orcharding, although there are * number of flourifliing orchards in the town, and fome years a confiderable quantity of cider is made. Hills there are feveral in the town, how- erer, but two which we mail notice : The largeft, in the northwefterly part of the town, extends quite through it, from Templeton to Barre ; this is call ed Burnfhirt Hill, and is moft excellent land. The other is called Read s Hill, fituated about one mile and an half eaft from the centre of the town ; this is alfo very good land. It is fuppofed this town is rich in iron ore, at leafl ; there is a hill in the north part of it, extend ing into Templeton,* where a number of gentle men from Boflon and other places, wrought near fifty years ago. They dug feveral rods into the hill, in queft of a filver mine ; but whether it an- fwered their expectations or not, was not divulged. A war commencing put a flop to their purfuit, and it has never lince been realfumed. The town is finely watered by fprings, ftreams and rivers ; There are five rivers and ftreams no ticeable, which pafs through the town from north to fouth. The moft eafterly of thefe is called Pifs River, part whereof comes from Weftminfter, and part from the weft fide of Watchufett Hill in Princeton. The next is called Ware River, which heads in Hubbardfton. The next is a fmallcr ftream, called Meadow Brook, which takes its rife in * Sec thit alfo noticed in the account of Tcmplcte*. HUBBARDSTON. 283 in the north part of the town. Further weft is an other ftream called Conneyftow Brook, which has its fource in Templeton. The moft wefterly ftream is known by the name of Eurnjhirt River, the principal branch of which comes from Gerry. All thefe ftreams running a foutherly dire6tion, unite in the eaft part of Barre, where their names, as well as waters, are fwallowed up in Ware Riv er. Otter River, fo called, which rifes in Temple- ton, runs in the north part of this town, and then turning, falls back into Templeton, and at length, unites with Miller s River.* On thefe rivers and ftreams, within the town of Hubbardfton, there are eleven faw mills, five grift mills, and one clothiers works. There are alfo works for making potafh in the town. There are three ponds in Hubbardfton. The largeft of thefe, known by the name of the Great Afnaconcomick Pond, is about two miles from the centre of the town, to the eaft : It is a mile and a half in length, from north to fouth ; the breadth is various, from half a mile to five rods, fuppofed to cover about three hundred acres. About half a mile further to the northeaft, is fituated Little Afnaconcomick Pond, of a circular form ; and what merits particular notice is this, that for a confiderable part of the way round this pond, there is every appearance that once a ftone wall was built, or building. In fome places it is two feet and an half in height, as if laid up by the hands of men ; and where there is not one T 2 ftone * Sef this more particularly icfcribed m the account of Tctnpletoa. 284 HUBBARDSTON. ftone upon another, the appearance is as of a large ftone wall thrown down. If this was the work of art, when and by whom it was performed, or wherefore, perhaps can never be afcertained. Both the Ponds before defcribed are fed by fmali fprings. There is a fmall outlet from each. An other fmall pond is fituated about a mile north- weft from ths centre of the town ; it is called Natty Pond, which has both an inlet and an outlet. The growth of wood in this place is chiefly white pine and pitch pine in great plenty, hemlock, beech, maple and oak ; there is but little of any other fort. The town is fettled in general, with induflrious farmers ; and they are become numerous, and are increafmg in wealth. There are about 150 fami lies, and near 1000 fouls in the place. Hubbardflon is fituated (ixty miles, nearly weft, from Bofton ; and twenty from the courthoufe in Worcefter, to the northweit. A road much ufed, leads through the town from the fouth to the north, in which people pafs from Rhodeifland, &c. &c. to the wcftern part of Newhampfhire, and to the State of Vermont. It is alfo in contemplation to open a road from the towns on Connecticut river, in the county of Hampfhirc, through Peterftiam, to Hubbardfton, and fo on through Princeton and Lancafter, to Bofton. This undoubtedly, would be the neareft route, from Hadley and towns adja cent, to the metropolis of the Commonwealth. NORTHBRIDGE, NORTHBRIDGE. 1 HE town of Northbridge takes its name from its fituation and bearing with refpe& to Uxbridge, from which it was chiefly taken ; five or fix families only being fet off to it from Sutton fouth or firft parifh. It is about five miles in length, and about four in width ; and is bounded, by Uxbridge, on the fouth ; by Sutton, on the weft ; by Grafton, on the north ; and by Mendon and Upton, on the eaft and northeaft. It was in corporated on the i4th of July, 1778. It is not large, having, at the time of the late enumeration 83 houfes, and 570 inhabitants. The congrega tional church here was imbodied, June the 6th, 1782, and on the 25th of June, 1783, the Rev. John Crane was ordained their paftor. Here alfo there is a fociety of Baptifts of about ten families ; at prefent deflitute of any fettled teacher. There are alfo within the town twelve families of Quak ers, and two or three of the Univerfalifts. We mail proceed to fome Topographical De- fcription of this place. It is uneven and fomewhat rocky and rough ; but the land and foil, in general, rich, ftrong and good. As it has alternately, high and low lands, it is well calculated for orcharding, for pafture and grafs land, and bears rye, Indian corn, oats, flax, &c. Hills there are none high, or, on any account remarkable. The meetinghoufe indeed, T 3 ftands 2 86 N O R T H B R I D G E. (lands on an eminence, and commands a good profpeft for four or five miles round. As the lands in general are high, the air is falubrious, and the inhabitants have been blefled with great health from the firft fettlement of the place. There are no ftagnant waters or ponds in the town : But it is finely watered by fprings, ftrcams and rivets. Two of thefe are noticeable : Black- ftone River, which originates in Sutton, and paff- ing through the wefterly part of Grafton, enters this town, and runs from north to fouth the whole length of the town, on the wefterly fide thereof. This is a large and fine river ; and upon this there are great bodies of very excellent interval lands : Some of thefe are high, and bear corn and flax ; the lower are good for grafs. There is another river, not fo large, which en ters this town in the fouthweft part from Douglafs, and joins Blackftone River. On this river there is a quantity of valuable meadow : But the land ad joining the meadow is not the mod fertile. There are within the town, two corn mills, one faw mill, and one forge, where much work is per formed- The growth of wood, on the high lands is very valuable, confiding of walnut, oak and chefnut ; that on the low lands is lefs valuable, but like that of other towns in general ; the quantity of pine timber is fmall. The people here fubfift, chiefly t>y farming ; they have the character of an induftri- pus and flourifhjng people ; and it is faid there is hardly. B A R R E. hardly an idle perfon, or a tavern haunter in the place. Northbridge is fituated forty three miles from Bofton, nearly fouthweft ; and from the courthoufe- in Worcefter, it is twelve miles, lying about fouth- eaft. The road from Bofton, through Mendon and Oxford, to Connecticut, pafles through this town : And the neareft and moft direft road to Providence, from Worcefter, would pafs about half a mile weft of Northbridge meetinghoufe. B A R R E. 1 HIS was the northweft part of Rut land Original Grant ; it was made a diftricl; by aft of the Legiflature in the year 1749, and called Rutland Diftricl:, until June 14th, 1774, when it was made a town, and the name of Barrt was given to it, as a token of refpect to a great and worthy friend of America, at that time a member of the Britifti Houfe of Commons. Barre is bound ed on the north, by Peterfham ; on the eaft, by Hubbardfton ; on the foutheaft, by Rutland ; on the fouth, by Oakham ; on the fouthweft, by Neivbraintree ; and on the weft, by Hardwick. The church of Chrift in this place, was gathered July 3Oth, 1753, and the Rev. Thomas Frink was T 4 inftalled B A R R . inftalled their paflor, on the laft Wednefday in O&ober following. Mr. Frink was the firft minif- tfer of Rutland, and being difmiffed from thence, he was inflalled a paflor of the third church in Ply mouth, November yth, 1743, where he continued but a little time before his removal. He continu ed in the miniftry at Barre, but about thirteen years, being difmiiTed from his facred office, by advice of an ecclefiaftical council July lyth, 1766. He was fucceeded in the paftoral office at Barre, by the Rev. Jonah Dana, who was confecrated hereunto Oftober 7th, 1767. Mr. Dana con tinues in the work of the gofpel miniftry in this place, and in peace and efteem with the people of his charge. The following forrowful occurrence took place in this town. In March, 1780, the houfe of Mr. Peter Bent was confumed by fire in the night, with almofl every thing contained therein, and two of his children, a fon and .daughter, of adult age, peiifhed in the flames. The town of Barre is large in extent, being rather more than fix miles fquare : And it is one of the beft townmips of land in the county ; the foil is exceedingly rich and flrong. The land in general, is very hilly and uneven. The hills, in deed, are not fo very high, but fome are fteep, and being fomewhat rocky, the roads are not fo good : But this is commonly the cafe in moft towns where the foil is excellent, and moift : The town is well watered by numerous fprings and rivulets, and the people enjoy great advantages for turning and B A R R E, and conveying the water over their grafs land. The foil is peculiarly adapted to mowing and pafturage ; and here they fat great multitudes of cattle, and make the beft of beef. Here alfo they have many and large dairies ; and it is fuppofed that more butter and cheefe is carried from hence into the market, annually, than from any other town of the fame extent. The foil bears Indian corn well ; but it is not fo well adapted to Englifh grain as fome other places. However, they raife a fufficiency of all kinds for themfelves, and con- fiderable for exportation. As the town is uneven and hilly, it affords no large and commanding view of itfelf, but from the hills there is an extenfive profpecl; into other towns. The pleafantnefs of Barre confifts in the richnefs and fertility of the land, and the large, handfome, well finifhed build ings of all kinds ; but from no one place can many of them be feen at once. The farms are large, and very productive : The people are induf- trious, and they have great encouragement to la bour : Their modes of hufbandry are good, and there are fure indications of wealth and opulence all over the town. And indeed it is one of the fore- mofl towns in the county, there being but three which pay more to a State tax. It is become nu merous, having, when the late cenfus was taken, upwards of 1600 inhabitants, although but one re ligious fociety ; and they have the largeft meeting- houfe in the county, fifty fix by feventy four feet. The general growth of wood in the town, is large and plenty, confifting of oak of all kinds, efpecial- igo B A R R E. ly an unufual proportion of white oak ; confidcr- able chefnut, fome walnut ; birch, beech, afli, white pine, pitch pine, fome hemlock, &c. There is one large river, called Ware River, which com ing from Templeton, through the wefterly part of Hubbardfton, pafTes through the eafterly and foutherly parts of Barre, and then runs into Hard- wick. There is alfo a ftream originating in Gerry which runs through the town on the eafterly fide, within a mile of the meetinghoufe, called Pleafant Branch : This falls into Ware River, in the fouth part of the town. In the north part of the town, on the wefterly fide, rifes another ftream from fprings, which is called Moofe Brook, which runs into Hardwick, and there empties itfelf into Ware- River. On thefe ftreams there are fome meadows, and very good interval lands on Ware River in the foutherly part of the town. On this river, and on thefe ftreams there are four grift mills, fev- eral faw mills, and clothiers works. The people in Barre fubfift, mainly, by farm ing ; here are, however, all the ufual tradefmen and mechanicks, and two or three dealers in Eu ropean, Eaft and Weft India goods ; here alfo the pot and pearl afh works are carried on. Barre is fituated fixty fix miles from Bofton about weft ; and it is about twenty four miles from the courthoufe in Worcefter, about northweft. WARD, 291 WARD. 1 HIS place was not an original grant, but was taken from feveral other towns, as Wor cefter, Oxford, Sutton and Leicefter, together with a gore of land lying between Oxford and Leicef ter, not previoufly belonging to any town. On the 23d of June, 1773, this place was erected into a poll parifhj and commonly called the fouth parifh of Worcefter. The parifh was limit ed and bounded in the following manner : It was to extend three miles into Worcefter, a the roads were then trod ; three into Oxford, and three in* to Leicefter by their roads, and one mile and an half into Sutton, from the meetinghoufe place. This place as above defcribed, was incorporated and made a diftincl: town, and vefted with all the privileges which other towns enjoy, by an al of the Legiflature, April loth, 1778, when it received the name of Ward, as a compliment to the Hon. Major General Artemas Ward, Efq; of Shrewfbury, and now Representative of this county in the Con- grefs of the United States of America. The town is bounded northerly on Worcefter ; eafterly, by Grafton ; foutheaft, by Sutton ; fouth, by Ox ford ; and wefterly, by Leicefter. The church of Chrift in Ward was imbodied on the 25th of January, 1776 ; and on the 3d of No vember, WARD. vember, 1784, the Rev. Ifaac Bailey was ordained to the paftoral care thereof, and flill continues in the facred office. We lhall now prefent the reader with a Geo graphical Defcription of the town of Ward. It is confidered, by good judges, as a moft excel lent trafl: of land : The foil in general is fertile, rich and ftrong, fuilable for orcharding and all kinds of fruit ; well adapted to pafturage and mowing, and produces large crops of rye, oats, wheat, barley, Indian corn, and flax. It is not very rocky ; but affords flone fuflicient for fenc ing in the farms : It is not level, but rather une ven, abounding in hills and valleys.. The hills, however are not high ; but the lands on them are good. Part of the hill, called Profpeft Hill, to the fouth, lies within this town ; alfo part of the hill, called Boggachoag, to the north ; and part of the hill, called Grajfy Hill, to the foutheaft of the meetinghoufe. On and near thefe hills, there are very fine farms. The general growth of wood is oak of the various forts, chefnut, walnut, on the high lands ; and in the lower lands, pine, maple, cedar, &c. &c. The town is as well watered, by fprings and pe rennial rivulets, as perhaps any other town in the county. The courfe of the dreams is circuitous, and fo meandering as greatly to benefit the town. The principal dream is that which is called French River. There is another, called Kettle Brook, which paffes through the town. On thefe ftreams there are four faw mills and two grift mills, within the M I L F O . R. D. 293 the town, alfo one clothiers works ; be fides which there is a wind mill ere&ed on Profpeft Hill, which does confiderable work. There are three or four fmall ponds in the town, the largeft of which covers perhaps, about thirty acres, fituated about a mile fouth of the meetinghoufe. There is an outlet from this pond, to the north, ufually called Dark Brook ; and there is an inlet from the fouth, while the pond is in its natural ftate, but by an artificial raifing of this pond about four feet, the current in the inlet is reverfed, and the difcharge of water is to the fouth. The town is not large, but it is wealthy ; there are about 80 houfes ; about 90 families, and when they were numbered there were 473 fouls : It is fituated fifty five miles from Bofton, a little tp the fouthweft j and five miles from the courthowfe in Worcefter, almoft fouth. M I L F O R D. 1 HIS place was the northeafterly part of the ancient town of Mendon : It was fet off from Mendon as a precin6l, or parifh, in the year 1741, and was commonly known by the appella tion of Mill River. It was incorporated and in- vefted with all diftincl; town privileges, on the elev enth M 1 L F O R D. enth of April, 1780. Soon after it was made % parifh, a congregational church was here gathered, viz. on the i5th of April, 1741, confiding of twenty fix male members ; and on the 2 ift of De cember, 1743, the Rev. Amariah Frofl, was fol- emnly invefled with the paftoral office in the place. Some time after the fettlement of Mr. Frofl. a feparation took place here ; a Mr. Hovey preached to the difaffefted, and was ordained a- mong them. He tarried but a few years ; fince his time preaching by itinerants and lay men, and meetings held occafionally on the fabbath, have been continued among them. A number, not large, believing in the falvation of all men, have kept up publick meetings, and fome- times had preaching. There are a few anabaptifls in this place, and but one family of friends or quakers. The Rev. Mr. Frofl continued the wor thy and faithful paftor of the congregational church in Milford, until March 14th, 1792, when he died in the feventy fecond year of his age, and the forty ninth of his miniflry. An addition to, and a general repair of their meetinghoufe was made in 179?, and it is now a very decent and convenient building. There has been greater candour and moderation of late between thofe of different fentiments in this town, than formerly was difcovered ; and it is hoped greater unanimity will take place in the rc- fettlement of the gospel miniflry among them. We proceed to a Geographical Defcription of the town of Milford. Milford M I L F O R D. 295 Milford is fituated on the eafterly fide of the county ; and is bounded on the north, by Hop- kinton ; on the eaft, by Hollifton, in the county of Middlefex ; on the foutheaft, by Bellingham in the county of Suffolk ; on the weft, and fouthweft, by Mendon ; and on the northweft, by Upton. It is fituated fouthweft from Bofton, at the diftance of thirty four miles ; and from Worcefter courthoufe, it is foutheaft, diftant twenty miles ; and it is twenty five miles from Providence. The town of Milford is not a level, champaign traft of land, neither yet is it very hilly and uneven ; there is indeed, one large hill, a little from the centre of the town, to the foutheaft, called Bear Hill. This is moftly very good land. The whole of the north part of the town is high and good land j it rifes by a gradual afcent ; and from the higheft places there is a large and varie gated profpecl ; from thefe heights may be feen the Watchufetts and Monadnock mountains, as al- fo the hills fouth of Bofton. This northern part was a purchafe from the Indians, by the proprietors of the ancient townfhip of Mendon ; and was com monly called the North Purchafe. This part is the moft diftant from themeetinghoufe in Milford ; and in this quarter, the fe&ariesin the town have ufually held their religious meetings. The northern and weftern parts of the town, efpecially, are rough and rocky ; but the foil is generally ftrong and good ; and well adapted to orcharding, grafs and paftur- age, and fuffers but little by a dry feafon. They raife grain here of all kinds in fufficient quantities moft 296 M I L F O R D. mod commonly for themfelves ; but their articles of produce for market, arc chiefly butter, cheefc, pork, beef, &c. perhaps equal in quality to any in the county. There are but few mechanicks in the place, and feldom more than two traders in Eu ropean and India goods. The people fubfift main ly by the bufmefs of hufbandry, and are induftri- ous and good livers. The town is fuppofed to contain about as much as five miles fquare. There are 135 dwelling houfes, and 840 inhabitants in the town, according to the late cenfus. There are two rivers running through this town, from north to fouth, nearly parallel with each other, about one mile and an half diftant, in fonie places not fo much ; one on the weft, the other on the call fide of the town : Thefe have their fources in the high lands beforementioned, in the borders of Hopkinton. That on the weft is called Mill River, the name by which this place was de- lignated until its incorporation, this is large, run ning through the eafterly part of Mendon, it paffes to Providence. That on the eaft is a principal bianch of Charles s River, which foon turns and runs eafterly, and falls into the fea in Bofton har bour. Mill River is the outlet of a large pond, faid to be a mile in length, partly in Milford, but principally in Hopkinton and Upton, called North Pond. There is another pond, a little more than a mile from the centre of the town, called Cedar Swamp Pond ; this is fmall, though there be plenty of fifh therein, as in the other; the branch of Charles s River fpoken of above, runs directly through this M I L F O R D. 297 this pond. There are very good meadows, and in terval lands upon the borders of both the rivers defcribed before, as well as fmall pieces in other parts of the town, which are a fmgular advantage to the farmers. The town abounds in fp rings, rivulets and brooks in all parts : And on the riv ers and ftreams they have four grift mills, three faw mills, one clothiers" works, and one trip hammer within the limits of Milford. The growth of wood in this town is oak of all forts, chefnut, walnut, &c. there is very little pine or cedar at this day. The roads in this town are not good, efpecially for carriages ; but they may be made in time, much better than at prefent. We mail clofe our account of Milford, with mentioning, that in this place was born Alexander Scammell, Efq; who graduated at Harvard Univer- fity, A. D. 1769 ; who was appointed a furvey- or of mail timber, &c. in Maflachufetts, and province of Maine, under the Britifh government ; was Brigade Major in the American army, in 1775 j a Colonel in the year 1777, at the taking of Gen. Burgoyne, and Adjutant General of the army at Yorktown, where he was unfortunately wounded in reconnoitering, September 30, i78i,juft before the furrender of Lord Cornwallis, of which wound he foon after died. U STERLING. 298 STERLING. 1 HIS was for many years, the fecond parifh in Lancafler, and was commonly called Chockfet. It was made a feparate parifh in the year 1743, and remained united with Lancafler until April 25th, 1781, when it was incorporated by aft of the Legiflature, and received its prefent name, in compliment to Lord Sterling, of Newjerfey, who ferved as a General in the American army, in the late war between Greatbritain and thefe United States. This is a large, populous, and wealthy town ; is about feven miles in length, from north to fouth, and fix in width from eaft to weft. It is fituated about five miles from Lancafter, a little to the fouth of weft, on the road to Princeton. It is bounded by Holden and Princeton on the weft ; eight miles from Holden, and feveri from Prince ton, fix miles from Boylfton, which lies to the fouth of it ; and from Leominfter, on the north, it is feven miles. This town is rather hilly and uneven, though there is very little broken, or wafte land in it. It is not very rocky, but a moft excellent, fertile foil, producing in rich abundance, to repay the huf- bandman for its cultivation. The high lands are excellent for all kinds of fruits, efpecially apples ; and here are large orchards ; alfo, for grafs and grazing ; STERLING. grazing ; for the land is naturally moift, and by the help of the rivulets, the water may be turn ed over the fides of moil of the hills. As the town is very uneven, there is no extended profpeft. Neverthelefs, the fertility of the foil, the hi#h de gree of cultivation, and the interfperfion of hills and valleys, afford peculiar gratification to the eyes of obferving travellers. The meetinghoufe is in, a valley ; and on the road, in this valley, there is a large colle&ion of tradefmen and mechanicks and they are lively, aftive and induftrious. But the bulk of the people are large farmers, and, as the bounteous Author of Nature has blefTed them. with a fruitful foil, they have great encouragement to labour. Though the town be hilly, as above obferved, yet there are but two worthy of particu lar notice. The firftis Red/lone Hill, fo called from the colour of the ftones which are upon it. This lies about a mile from the meetinghoufe, on the road leading from Sterling to Lancafler. The fecond is called Jufiice s Hill, which is fit- uated about four miles northweft from the meet inghoufe, on the road leading to Weftminfter. There is but one river in the town, called Still River, from the flow motion of its waters ; for after it enters this town, it runs in a vale for feveral miles, with but a fmall defcent. The waters which form this river, are furnimed from three diflincl; fources. The weftern branch iffues from the foot of Mount Watchufett, in Princeton, and after various meanders, and receiving acceflions by fev eral rivulets, which originate in the eaflern fide of U 2 Princeton 3<x> STERLING. Princeton hills, joins the others a little north of the road leading from Sterling to Princeton. This branch bears the name of Hartzvell s River, upon frhich are feveral valuable mills. The middle branch originates in Gardner s Meadows, which are in the northcaftern part of Princeton ; This is the largefl of the three branches ; and carries feveral mills. The eaftern branch which is called Jujlice* River, has its fource in the fouthwefterly part of Leorninfter ; and taking its courfe, through Juftice s Meadows, which lie on the weft fide of Juftice s Hill, and receiving feveral brooks, emp ties itfelf into the main ft ream, or Still River. Af ter the confluence of thefe branches the river takes a fouthern direclion along the weftern fide of Ster ling, for feveral miles, until it enters Boylfton, thence taking a circuitous route through the wefter- ly and northerly parts of Boylfton, lofes its name in Namaway, or Lancafter River. On the banks of this river in Sterling there is fome pitch pine plain, fome meadow and interval land. There is one confiderable ftreamin the northerly part of the town, which running an eaflerly courfe, empties itfelf into the; north branch of Namaway. .There are two confiderable ponds in Sterling ; one liss by the coumy road to Worcefter ; the other, a little to the foutheaft of this : Thefe are divided by a neck of land of about forty rods, in width, at the narrowefl place ; through this neck a fmall ftream runs, affording a paffage for the fim from one pond to the other. From the weftern pond iflues a confiderable ftrcam, fuflicient to car ry STERLING. 301 ry a mill, which goes from November to May, but no longer, as the mill pond ivould flow a large body of meadow. Thefe are called Waujhacum Ponds : They are very deep in fome places. Each pond, upon the moft exacl: computation, is about one mile, and a quarter in diameter. The eaftern is the largeft ; but the weftern the ioft pleafant, on feveral accounts ; as it is not furrounded with hills like the eaftern ; and as it has in it an ifland, containing about half an acre of land, where fi{h- ing parties often repair to regale themfelves with fifh, which thefe ponds afford in plenty. There are two or three things^ not to be forgot ten in giving the hiflory of Sterling : One is, that near the neck of land which divides Waumacum Ponds, on the fouth fide, was formerly an Indian fort ; and near this, there was a place where they buried their dead. The ruins of the fort, and the graves were very difcernible, until within a few years paft, when by ploughing the ground thofe veftiges of antiquity and barbarifm have difappear- ed. On this very fpot was the palace, and Royal feat of Sholan, Sachem of the Nafhaways, and proprietor of Nafhawogg. Another thing to be mentioned is this ; that about three miles northweft from the meetinghoufe, on the road leading to Weftminfter, is a place called The Indian Fight, in confequence of a moft bloody battle fought there between the Englifh and Indians, on Auguft igth, 1707 ; the particulars of which we gave in the account of Laticafter, to which the reader is referred. ^ A 3 02 STERLING. A third thing not to be omitted, and a moft for- rowful Providence indeed, is the burning of the houfe of Mr. Jonah Wilder of this town in Janu ary 1740; in which conflagration his wife, (preg nant, and near the time for her delivery) with four fmall children befides, perifhed ; another child, a fon, the father plucked as a brand out of the burn ing, by cutting a hole through the fide of the houfe, near where the bed was, in which this child lay, and pulled him out thereat, while the room was full of fire and fmoke. This child was almoft fuffocated ; but was foon recovered and lived many years. The growth of wood in Sterling is mofl excel lent, and of the following forts, oak of the feveral kinds, walnut, chefnut, on the high lands ; and the ufual forts in the low lands and fwamps, as birch, maple, am, &c. The white pine timber is chiefly cut off, and there is not much pitch pine remaining, and at this day, but little of the yellow pine. We proceed to give fome account of the eccleCU aflical ftate of this town. The church of Chrift here, was imbodied on December igth, 1744, and on the fame day their firft minifler, the Rev. John Mellen, was ordained, who continued with them until December 14th, 1778, when his paftoral relation to them, was dif- folved, by mutual agreement. Soon after, the Rev. Mr. Mellen was inftalled paftor of the church and people at Hanover, in the county of Plymouth, where he continues to great acceptance. To Mr. Mellen, BERLIN. 303 Mellen, fucceeded in the facred work of the min- iftry, the Rev. Reuben Holcomb, whereunto he was folemnly feparated on the 2d of June, 1779, and who Hill continues their paftor. In Sterling died Mr. Sebaftian Smith, a native of old Spain, on the 24th of March, 1765, in an advanced age. He came young into this country and living a fingle life, he devoted his confidera- ble eftate to pious and charitable ufes. Several years before his death he gave to the fociety, a fo lio Bible, that a portion of the holy fcriptures might be read, on Lord s days, to the congregation. He gave much to the poor in his life time ; and by will alfo : And likewife furnifhed the com munion table, with two filver tankards ; and gave one hundred pounds fterling as a fund for fchool- ing the more indigent children and youth. As fuch deeds come up as a memorial before God, fo they ought to be kept in remembrance among men. Sterling is diftant from Bofton, about forty fix miles, nearly weft ; and from the courthoufe in Worceller, it is twelve miles a little to the north- eaft. At the time of taking the cenfus in 1791, there were in the town 209 dwelling houfes, and 1428 inhabitants. BERLIN. ON the igth of April, 1778, an aft paffed the General Court, incorporating a fecond parifli in the fouth part of Bolton. And on the U 4 i6tfa 304 BERLIN. i6th of March, 1784, this precinct was creeled in to a diftricl by the name of Berlin, at which time feveral families, with about five hundred acres of land, were added, from the northweft corner of Marlborough, and annexed to the county of Wor- cefter. Since that time, a few families have been added to this diftricl from the foutheaft part of Lancafter. This diftricl is inverted with all the immunities and privileges of a town, excepting on ly that of fending a reprefentative to the General Court ; but it has the liberty of joining with Bol- ton in the annual choice of reprefentatives. Here a church was imbodied, under the direclion of an ccclefiaftical council, by a covenant bearing date April 7th, 1779 ; and on September 26th, 1781, the Rev. Reuben Puffer was ordained to the paf- toral care thereof. There is one pond in the eaft part of the diftricl, called Gates s Pond, nearly a mile in length, and from a quarter to half of a mile in width ; it abounds in the ufual pond fifh ; and a good fand is taken up near its mores : No brook empties into it, but at the fouth end there is a fmall outlet, which falls into the river Ajffabet. There is alfo a large fwamp, containing many hundred acres, ly ing moftly within this diftricl : It is a low, funken tracl of land, but bears, however, fpruce of a great height, and in fome parts of it, white pine timber. The moft valuable uplands are feated on feveral hills, which afford excellent pafturage and orch arding. Wheat has been raifed on fome of them LO great advantage. One lies near the above narned BERLIN. 305 named pond, and contains a number of very fine farms. The others are a broken range of hills, which, beginning about a mile fouth of the meet- inghoufe, run wefterly until they meet with North- borough hills, then ftretching in a northern direc tion, cover, with a few interfeclions, all the weft and north parts of the diftricl:, and thus they con tinue through Bolton and Harvard, to Littleton in the county of Middlefex. A few of the bluff points of thefe high lands have been diuinguifhed with arbitrary names, but no name applies to the whole range. The culture of hops has lately been introduced here, and by the experiments already made, bids fair to prove a profitable branch of hufbandry. On the farm of the Hon. Samuel Baker, Efq; in the northerly part of the diftricl:, is found a quarry of mofl valuable ftone, of a light gray colour, out of which that gentleman has built a handfome, large manfion houfe. Thefe flones are remarkable for an excellent quality which re- fifteth the effects of fire. The principal ft ream, and the only one worthy of particular mention, is called Norihbrook ; it is formed of two fmall ftreams, from the fouthweft, and nor thw eft which uniting about a mile and an half weft of the meetinghoufe, afford a convenient feat for faw and grift mills, where confiderable buunefsis performed. Taking thence a foutheafterly direction, it runs upwards of two miles, through a large and rich interval, and after pafling through the norlh- caft corner of Northborough, where there arc alfo mills, it foon falls into the river Alfabet at the foutheaft 306 GARDNER. foutheaft angle of the diftrift. Northbrook is from two to three rods in width, and of confidera- ble depth ; and formerly it yielded great quantities of the various forts of frefh water fifh, but they are of late exceedingly diminifhed. The diftrift confifts of ninety two families, of which fourteen are of the fe& called quakers. The latter are moftly induflrious, and fome of them wealthy farmers. The number of its inhabi tants, by the late cenfus, was 512. It lies thirty four miles from Bofton, nearly weft, and fifteen miles from the courthoufe in Worcefler, to the northeaft. Berlin is bounded on the north, by Bolton ; on the eaft, by Marlborough ; on the fouth, by Northborough ; and on the weft, by Boylfton and Lancafter. G A R D N E R. CrARDNER is a town which was taken from the towns of Weftminfter, Templeton, Winchendon and Amburnham, and is accordingly bounded by them, in the following manner ; by Weftminfter, on the fouth and foutheaft ; by Tem pleton, on the fouthweft and weft ; by Winchen don, on the north and northweft ; and by Afhburn- ham on the northeaft. It was incorporated, and made a diftinft town on the 2/th of June, 1785. It is not large in ex tent, GARDNER. 307 tent, its contents being about 14000 acres, but yet capable of making a good and wealthy town ; hav-. ing already 85 dwelling houfes, and 530 inhabi tants, according to the late cenfus. The church in Gardner was gathered on the ift of February, 1786, and the Rev. Jonathan Ofgood was ordained as paftor thereof, O&ober igth, 1791. This town was called Gardner to perpetuate the name and memory of the late famous Col. Thom as Gardner of Cambridge, near Bofton, who was killed in the memorable battle upon Bunker s Hill, in Charleflown, on the i7thof June 1775, gallantly fighting in defence of the liberty and rights of his country. The general face of this town is uneven, abound ing in fmall hills and valleys ; and though the land be fomewhat rocky, yet not in general, too much fo ; the foil is good, rich, ftrong and fertile. It produces wheat, rye, Indian corn, barley, oats, flax, &c. &c. It is peculiarly adapted to grafs and pafturage, being naturally moifl and abound ing in fprings, rivulets, ftreams, brooks and rivers, whereby they can water the lands at pleafure. There is one river, called Otter River,* running from the fouth to the north ; coming from Hub- bardfton, through a part of Templeton to Gardner, it is fome way a boundary between Gardner and Templeton, and, in Winchendon, falls into Miller s River. There are feveral brooks and ftreams, with out names, except two; thefe are called Pen Brook, and Spectacle Brook ; all the waters run north- erly * See this riyer morr particularly defcribed in the account of Templeton, 3 o8 BOYLSTON. erly and northwefterly, and are finally emptied in to Conne&icut river. Upon thefe feveral dreams, and the river beforenamed, there are confiderable bodies of good meadow land ; and a number of faw and grift mills ; but no other water works at prefent. There are two large and fine ponds in the town, but without names ; thefe have, each of them, fmall ftreams running from them. They have here the ufual artificers and traders ; and here alfo are potafh works. The general growth of wood in this place, is fimilar to that of other new places of like kinds of lands, both high and low, as oak of feveral forts, birch, rock maple, white and red am, hemlock, white pine, and hacma- tack. There are two county roads leading through the town ; the principal one, is that which leads from Connecticut river, through Peterfham, Ger ry and Templeton, on to Bofton. This sown lies fixty miles from Bofton, northwefterly ; and twen ty fix miles from Worcefter courthoufe, to the north. BOYLSTON. 1HIS was included in the original grant of the townfhip of Shrewibury : It was made a parifh, by aft of the Legislature, December iyth, 1742, and was thenceforward called the fecond precinft, B O Y L S T O N. 309 precinct, or north parifh in Shrewfbury, until March i ft, 1786, when it was incorporated and made a diftincl: town, and had the name of Boylf- ton given to it, in honour of the rich and generous family of Boylfton, two of whom in fucceffion, were great and eminent Phyficians ; another not long fince, founded a profefiformip of rhetorick and oratory in Harvard Univerfity. This town is not a very large tracl: of land ; and it does not lie in the moft regular form ; it contains 14396 acres by furvey, not being five miles fquare. It is bounded by Shrewfbury on the fouth ; by Worcefter, on the fouthweft ; by Holden and Sterling, on the weft and northweft ; by Lancafter on the north ; and by Berlin and Northborough, on the eaft. It is fituated almoft weft from Bof- ton, at the diftanceof forty three miles ; and from the courthoufe in Worcefter it is eight miles. The church of Chrift in this place was imbodied on the 6th day of October, 1743, and the Rev. Ebenezer Morfe was invefted with the paftoral of* fice therein, on the 26th of the fame month and year. He continued until the loth of November, 1775, when he was difrniffed, more efpecially on account of his political fentiments refpe6ling the controverfy between Greatbritain and America. The Rev. Mr. Morfe, was from the firft, a (kilful and eminent phyfician, and is ftill employed in that bufinefs. Mr. Morfe was fucceeded, as paf- tor of the church and congregation in Boylfton, by the Rev. Eleazer Fairbank, who was ordained on the 2jth of March, 1777; and continued their paftor 3 io B O Y L S T O N. paftor until April 23d, 1793, when at his eameft defire and requeft, the church and congregation confented to his difmiffion, in the prefence, and under the direction of a mutual council. Mr. Fairbank was inftalled paftor of the church and congregation of Wilmington in the State of Ver mont, September nth, 1793. We (hall now attempt fome description of the town of Boy HI on. It lies in general, high, defcending to the north, and northeaft ; but the land is not fo high in the middle, and round about the meetinghoufe, as it is on the eafl, fouth and weft. It is rather hilly, rough and uneven; although there are fome con- fiderable plains, covered with pitch pine. The hills on the eaft fide, adjoining to Northborough, are large and high, and pretty fteep where the road palfes ; and although there is confiderable broken land in the town, yet none but what is good for, and well covered with wood, of which there is a plenty. The wood which grows on the high and hard land, is of all the forts of oak, fome walnut, plenty of chefnut, fome faflafras ; in the fwamps and fwales, grow fome afh, birch, maple, fpruce, juniper, fome white pine and fome hemlock. The prickly afh alfo, is a native of this place ; it is a bufti or fhrub, feldom growing more than fix or feven feet in height ; though it grows in moifi, yet not in cold land ; it poflefles fome fingular qual ities and virtues, and its bark and feeds are highly elkemed, and much ufed, by Phyficians. The B O Y L S T O N. 3 it The foil in this town is generally good, rich and fertile. There are good arable lands ; but it is very excellent for orcharding, for pafturage and grafs ; and here are fome of as large and good farmers, as perhaps any where in the county, who keep great flocks of cattle. The people raife all kinds of country produce, efpecially beef, pork, grain, butter and cheefe, vaftly more than they confume, and carry more into the market, than perhaps, *any other town of its bignefs and number. The town enjoys a fine healthy air, and the place has been famed for the longevity of its inhabitants. There are really no ftagnant waters. There are two ponds, but the waters are kept in motion by a current, in confequence of inlets and outlets. Rocky Pond, fo denominated from its general ftony bottom, and more flony more, is iituated in the eafterly part of the town from whence there is an outlet at the fouth end, into Cold Harbour Brook, and fo into the river Affabet, in Northbor- ough. This is. a fine pond for all kinds of fmall fifti, efpecially pickerel. It covers about thirty fix acres of ground as appears from a&ual furvey ; and by the dam at the fouth end, the pond is raif- ed fo as to cover thirty acres of meadow. Sewall s Pond, fo denominated from a family of that name, who owned the lands round it, lies in the fouth- weft part of Boylfton, towards Worcefler. This is large, covering a hundred acres of land perhaps, or more. It is well fupplied with all kinds of pond fifli ; there are two rivulets, from fprings which run into it, from the north and northeaft ; and 3 i2 B O Y L S T O N. rmd at the fouth is the large outlet, which crofting the roads to Rutland and Worcefter, in Shrewfbu- ry, falls into Ouinfigamond, or Long Pond. There are three fmall brooks in the town, which originat ing from fprings in Boylfton, run northerly into the fouth branch of the river Nafhaway. Gates s Brook empties into the river in the weft part of the town, nearto Major Bcaman s. MuddyBrook empties in about a mile weft of the meetinghoufe. On this brook there is a law mill, and a body of meadow. Mill Brook, on which there is alfo a fa w mill . riles and falls into the river in the eafterly part. The great fouth branch of the river Namaway runs through Boylfton from the norihwcft, and palling foutheaft- erly, till it comes within about a mile of the meet inghoufe, then turns and runs northeafterly. into Lancafter. This river is formed by the junction of two large dreams or rivers. One comes from the eaft fide of Watchufett mountain, and pafling through the foutherly part of Sterling, and called Still Water River, is, on the road at the bridge, the boundary between Sterling and Boylfton, and run ning fouthra fieri y about a mile in Boylfton, is joined by Ouinepoxet Stream, fo called : Thii runs from a pond, called Quinepoxet on the fouth fide of Princeton, partly in Holden, and running fourhcaft in Holden about two miles, turns and runs northeaft, until it joins Still Water, on the weft fide of Boylfton. After the confluence of thefe ftreams, there are four large bridges, on the river within Boylfton ; two of them are good, handfcme, ftroug and well conftrucled. On the weft MINISTERS, &c, 329 i co ^t^ o t^ eo t-- eo co * O O 6 S c e c r" s* 1*8 2 U Pi O 00 O O - CO cS S o p U PT-T~O tj T3 O 3 u JJ -g JJ ^^ ^oij<-5*ju* j N C/3 M V " U - U -e 3 , -0 73 S " S S -.w r <U C: T3 fct! bfl C K T3 * }5J S C IM V "-Tr 1 *^ " ." rl " ^hs CL, ^H C ^j * <f|. ,>r "3 <a reCAJ Q -S S _c o "5 X -2 _ w <u XI ns O W W r 52 tJ U 2 ^ ^ IS p- Pi " ** A PH ^ " V $ c o 2M CO ^ ^ ^^OH - J5 < ^ fcftj O X o _2 c w c a-c c > o "5 Ch IO OO OO oo" U o u re I s . 2 2 C w ^H U U . ("S *~^.i4J o > > CO fe fe O 330 MINISTER S, Sec. ^ vr O oo *o o e O OO O o <*D p * r^ o w *T*DO sO "^ c^ co t~^ c^.oo c^ r^- ^ oo co * >o t~~ r~oo coco oo co LO icio ^o r-^oo oo i * r^ r^* c** r** t^** r^ i ^ < & ^ O 00 ^O ^ r*^ r^ t^ c^ O t- ^ o^ <?> 00 *" ^) OO be a, u CO ^"T? C * 3 l .* g 51 1=2 1 u 2 E > tO c -1 fi = o OH U - .2 oo co i eooo w X C f 35 MINISTERS, &c 33* OO OO 30 CO . 8- O O~> CO CO Tfi Co T3 ^ f Q i -a -os srs HI H!z;Q -g. . s" IS os- If ll I | < Si a < -- 0* VO J3 < 3 fc.O g cS III S O /-I 8 s 332 MINISTERS, &c. O ^, 00 TJ c o C/3 w -rt Sst bC ra 3 2:0 X O MINISTERS, &c. 333 O eo o Tt 00 "*FQQ i- oo 10 o~i o^ "" <u - -o JH O V ti O O -Q-Q U 43 C - s E-S a s nfS u u o oo CQ ^ l"iQw -*- 1 * < s^ t** ~- S 3 *> c u -^ < hi ""^3 6 u cy JZ D T) ^^ p+j ^ c^ ^ S 73 ^ C J4 .^J J <U _r U rr T3 *i-0* ^ r =r -3 . ii u T tl Ml . H U M cs g O X H 3 CQ o. AH -. c II a S 3 O) E. Februar) ^ ^jQ Cu O H S ,0 C! U 3 PtH >"^ Decembe 3 If 334 MINISTERS, &c. A -s . I tT e i Q U rs Q J) "H- g 2 ^ 3 u H 5- D MINISTERS, &c. 335 si II CO Tf t~~ oo o 5 CTi - co r-~ CCQO til >dj S "- 1 >-, O O s c wts w "3 JJT3 cj *- .3 PI - \ i-^ e r, Se Di ed, iffed, y, Settl Died, !" en y gl y ^ X U P-I >" vS H A< Set Di aac Burr, Thaddeu ~-o -C u -r} 3i <u w> c/3 S~o c5 S s <j rt 2 "i <u a 3 O I a c^< c S^g N J I JS ^ o ^ P rs < g 3 o >: - S g 8 > c O o n G "^ ^ cf re < \ a, u 1 r/} to u c 3 ^ *^o 2 a a i .3 e 3 <u 3 C! 5 3 ^Jj s -i <d u ^ u - u u .i 31 g : o VALUATION LISTS. THE hiftory of the County fhall be clofed with preferring the five laft Valuations, whereby the reader may behold each town in a comparative view. The towns are arranged accord ing to the proportion they paid to a tax of a thou- fand pounds upon the whole State. VALUATION for 1772. Towns. On the thouf. Townt. On the thouf. . s. d.q. . s. d. q. Lancaster, 7 19 21 Weftern, 2 13 83 Brookfield, 7 3 * 3 Newbraintree, 2 10 9 i Sutton, 7 12 i 3 Dudley, 2983 Worcefter, 6783 Weftminfter, 2910 Mendon, 5 8 i 3 Spencer, 2 8 10 i Shrewfbury, 5 7 10 i Holden, 2070 Hardwick, 45ii Northborough, 19 30 Lunenburg, 3 l8 9 3 Templeton, 18 90 Harvard, 3 7 4 Princeton, 16 4 O Uxbridge, 3 16 6 3 Douglafs, 13 53 Bolton, 3 14 2 o Paxton, 12 23 Rutland, 3 3 7 3 Athol, ii 8 i Sturbridge, 3943 Upton, iO 5 Barre, 3473 Fitchburg, 6 i 3 Leominfter, 2 18 30 Oakham, 230 Weftborough, 2 l8 I I Afhburnham, O 17 51 Pcterfham, 2 17 9 i Winchendon, O 14 4 i Grafton, 2 17 3 o Hubbardfton, O 12 93 Southborough, 2 l6 11 O Royalfton, O 12 43 Leicefter, 2 ID 21 Charlton, 2 15 6 3 41 Towns. ] -* z 5 14 2 * Oxford, 2 15 2 1 VALUATION VALUATION LISTS 337 V ALUATION/cr 1778. Towns. On the thouf. Towns* On the thouf. . s. d. . s. d. Brookfield, 7 5 Templeton, 2 13 6 Lancafter, 784 Weftern, 2 It O Worcefter, 77 Oxford, 280 Sutton, 760 Dudley, 280 Mendon, 5 17 o Athol, 230 Shrewfbury, 550 Princeton, 2 I O Barre, 430 Holden, 2 O O Hardwick, 400 Fitchburg, 200 Harvard, 3 14 6 Paxton, 2 O O Charlton, 3 13 6 Leicefter, I l8 Bolton, 3 10 6 Northborough, 1 17 O Lunenburg, 3 10 Royalfton, 16 i Rutland, 39 Upton, II Sturbridge, 390 Douglafs, 10 6 Uxbridge, - 3 6 6 Winchendon, 9 Peterfham, 320 Oak ham, 8 6 Leominfter, 300 Hubbardfton, 8 6 Spencer, 3 o o Afhburnham, 6 o Weftborough, 2 16 7 Ward, 3 5 Grafton, 2 5 3 Northbridge, O Newbraintree, 2 15 Southborough, 2 14 O 43 Towns. * 133 J 3 2 Weftminfter, 2 13 6 V ALUATION for 1782. Towns. On the thouf. Towns. On the thouf. . s. d. . s. d. Brookfield, 850 Weftminfter, 346 Sutton, 7 19 o Templeton, 300 Shrewfbury, 656 Weftborough, 2 19 9 Worcefter, 5 13 10 Leicefter, 2 17 O Hardwick, 4 19 o Leominfter, 2 17 O Barre, 4 18 i Weftern, 2 15 Peterfham, 4 i 10 Princeton, 2 15 Sturbridge, 400 Southborough, 2 14 O Lancafter, 3 17 ii Athol, 2 I 3 4 Sterling, 3 7 9 Dudley, 2 13 Charlton, 3 16 4 Milford, 2 13 Harvard, 3 5 * Holden, 2 12 4 Rutland, 3 14 6 Oxford, 2 12 3 Bolton, 3 14 2 Grafton 2 10 5 Spencer, 3 3 I0 Fitchburg, 2 7 5 Mendon, 3 12 6 Newbraintree, 265 Uxbridge, 375 Upton, 260 Lunenburg, 360 Douglafs, 2 I O t Northborough, VALUATION LISTS, Towns. On the thouf. Towns. On the thouf. . s. d. . . d. Northborough, zoo Afhburnham, I IO O Paxton, 18 7 Oakham, i 8 o Hubbardfton, 16 o Northbridge, i 8 o Ward, 16 o Royal fton, Winchendon, J 5 5 12 6 45 Towns. XSJ 146 4 9 V A L U A T I O N for 1786. Towns. On the thouf. Towns. On the thouf. . s. d.q. . s. d.q. Brookfield, 7 7 5 * Weftern, 2920 Sutton, 7290 Bolton, 2853 Worcefter, 5 *5 60 Milford, 2850 Shrewfbury, 5 14 9 Holden, 2800 Barre, 4 13 8 3 Dudley, 2 7 lO O Hardwick, 4770 Southborough, 2520 Sterling, 3 16 8 3 Oxford, 2 4IIO Charlton, 3 J5 5 Newbraintree, 247 Peterfham, 3 M 3 o Fitchburg, 2451 Lancafter, 3 3 3 Athol, 2280 Sturbridge, 3 12 II O Winchendon, 2 I O O Rutland, 3 n 9 o Upton, 2O6l Mendon, 3 ii 80 Douglafs, 19 o o Spencer, 3820 Northborough, 15 9 Lunenburg, 3 6 4 * Royal fton, I 5 Harvard, 3 6 * 3 Paxton, 14 II O Uxbridge, 3 5 6 Hubbardfton, 4 3 i Weftminfter, 3400 Afhburnham, 13 i o Leicefter, 2 19 IO O Oakham, 13 o o Templeton, 2 18 30 Ward, 8 i o We (thorough, 2 13 n i Berlin, 523 Leominfter, 2 12 92 Northbridge, 200 C"vT~;i ftnn 212 O O *** 1 i lv/11, Princeton, 2 II 6O 46 Towns. 1 ?m!^!3 8 2 V A L U A T 1 N for 1793. Towns. On the tho. Towns. On the tho. Polls. .s. d. q . Polls. . s. d. q. Brookfield, 675 6 3 4 3 I.ancailer, 35 6 335 Worcefter, 54 6832 Rutland, 298 3 2 3 * Sutton, 660 5 18 6 3 Mendon, 3*8 323 Barre, 466 Harvard, 359 Peterfham, 39 3 16 oo Spencer, 349 3171 Sturbridge, 454 3 15 10 2 Uxbridge, 306 3020 Charlton, 385 3 3 4 3 Weitminfter, 3-8 2 14 8l Hardwicli, 399 3933 Leicefter, 262 a n 1 1 i Steiling, 364 3661 Shrewfbury, 2 5 2 211 10 3 frinccton, 245 3 4 3 Lunenburg, 273 2 IO IO O Lcominfter, VALUATION LISTS. 339 Towns, Onthetho. Towns, Onthetho. Potts. . s. d.q. Polls. .S. d.q. Leominfter, 313 2 1O 10 I Southborough, 184 1 16 70 Weftborough, 225 2920 Douglafs, 248 1 J 5 9 Grafton, 237 2833 Athol, 206 14 7 o Holden, 2 54 2782 Upton, 211 13 9 2 Boylfton, 219 2453 Northborough, 1 5 6 12 6 2 Weftern, 229 2423 Gerry, J 77 12 5 3 Newbraintree, szg 2402 Paxton, 133 922 Templeton, 241 2 3 5 2 Afhburnham, 226 900 Bolton, 220 2141 1 Oakham, 204 853 Dudley, 2 4 8 2*50 j Ward, "9 680 Fitchburg, 268 2 o a i Gardner, 135 280 Wirchendon, 234 i 19 11 2 Berlin, 127 263 Oxford, Milford 265 l8d i 19 11 i 111 T T T Northbridge, "3 o 18 50 Hubbardfton, 219 *. f 1 J 1 i 17 4 o 49 Towns. 13762 127502 Jioyalfton, 263 i 16 9 o ;! University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed. IL AM 7 UMJ ED Form li-v uum-u, i