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 JkoIFoSEiilR^S: 
 
HISTORY 
 
 TOWN OF WINCHENDON) 
 
 CWOECESTER COUNTY, MASS.,) ' 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 GRANT OF IPSWICH CANADA IN 1735, 
 
 TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 REV. A. P. MARVIN. 
 
 * Childien's children are tlie crown of old men : and the glory (tf childien are 
 their fathers." — PaoTSSBS xth : 6. 
 
 V^NCHENDON": 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 
 1868. 
 

 Entered accordiag to Act of Congress in the' year 18G3, by 
 A. P. MARVIN, 
 in the Clerk's OfSce of the District Court of the United States, for 
 the District of Massachusetts. 
 
 PBINII!!]) BY GABFIELD b STBATTON, 
 
 ITSItaiirST,, FITCBBtTBa, UAS3. 
 
 -? ^/ 3 S7/3 
 X 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 " The door swings wide ; enter the structure plain, 
 Koomy and somewhat large ; of ornament 
 Devoid, save that each hall, bracket and niche. 
 Is graced with some ancestral form and face ; 
 And aU is consecrate to God." 
 
 OEIGIN OP THE WORK. 
 
 At a town meeting held in March, 1857, it was voted " that the 
 school committee be a committee to correspond with the family of the 
 late Milton Whiton, to see upon what terms the manuscript can be pro- 
 cured, and report at some future meeting." The " manuscript" re- 
 ferred to in the vote, consisted of four Lectures on the history of Win- 
 chendon, prepared by Rev. John Milton Whiton, D. D., then of Ben- 
 nington, N. H., extending over about one hundred and fifty pages of 
 medium sized sermon paper. Being a native of Winchendon and much 
 interested in its early history, and being moreover addicted to histori- 
 cal ipquiries, he had prepared a brief history of the town from the ori^- 
 nal grant of Ipswich Canada, to the year 1820. In the year 1856, 
 he read two of these lectures in the town hall, to a respectable audience, 
 by whom he was requested to read the remainder. Much interest was 
 expressed in the work, and offers of compensation were made. The Dr. , 
 while declining to receive any pay, consented to continue the reading of 
 his manuscript, at some convenient time. His decease, in the course 
 of the coming season, prevented the fulfillment of his promise, but the 
 people were desirous of possessing his manuscript, and either printing 
 it as a History, or making it the foundation of a History of the town. 
 
 In accordance with the above vote, the committee, — Messrs. A. P. 
 Marvin, Elisha Murdock, B. F. Clarke, B. S. Merrill and Isaac M. 
 Murdock — corresponded with the family of Dr. Whiton, and purchased 
 the four lectures for iforiy dollars. They reported that " the history was 
 very valuable as far as it goes," but that being in the form of lectures, 
 
4 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOW. 
 
 it " must be re-written, in part, or else be accompanied by occasional 
 notes." The latter method was preferred by the committee. Besides 
 other suggestions, was this : " that the town as a corporation, will be 
 one hundred years old in a few years, when it is probable there will be 
 a Centennial Celebration, the account of which wiU be an interesting 
 chapter of town history." It was thought best therefore " to defer the 
 publication until after that event." It was voted by the town, that in- 
 asmuch as the work of Dr. Whiton, " though valuable, is not complete, 
 a committee be appointed to collect and compile such additional facts 
 in relation to the military, business, educational and religious history of 
 the town, as are necessary to bring the annals of the town down to the 
 present time." The committee chosen were A. P. Marvin, Elisha Mur- 
 dock, Bethuel Ellis, Stillman Hale and Isaac M. Murdock. 
 
 In March, 1860, this committee were instructed " to make a full and 
 definite Plan of the History of the town, and report the same to the 
 next town meeting." This vote was complied with, and a Plan was 
 reported, which was adopted by the town. It is substantially that on 
 which the following pages were written, and therefore need not be cop- 
 ied here. It may be said, however, that the report and plan contem- 
 plated a new work, and not merely Dr. Whiton's manuscript with notes. 
 That was found to be impracticable. The manuscript could only be 
 used as materials for history. In accordance with the recommendation 
 of the committee, it was voted that " the work be embellished with pic- 
 tures of the town hall and the old meeting-house on the hill, and also 
 with a map of the town, to be procured at the public expense, and also 
 with portraits, and.with pictures of churches, dwellings, &c., at private 
 expense." At subsequent times, the town voted to add pictures of the 
 academy and the new school-house. In 1861, the committee were 
 authorized to prepare a history on the plan proposed, and " draw on the 
 treasury for all necessary expenses." 
 
 Action was taken at different times with reference to the publication 
 of the history, as soon after the hundredth anniversary — 1664 — as con- 
 venient. But when the time came, the country was in the crisis of its 
 fate ; the centennial passed by without any municipal celebration ; and 
 it was the general opinion that the work ought not to be put to press 
 until the suppression of the rebellion, in order that the action of the 
 town in sustaining the government, might be included. For this rea. 
 
INTRODUCTION. O 
 
 son, it was voted, at the March meeting, in 1865, that the publication 
 of the work be still farther deferred. At the same time, a vote was 
 passed, requesting the writer to prepare the history of the town, and 
 draw on the town treasurer for his compensation. In the meantime, 
 Capt. Hale had been removed from the committee by death, and Mr. 
 Luke Rice had been chosen in his place. The health of Hon. Blisha 
 Murdock had failed, so that, for several years, he had been able to 
 render no assistance. From the above date, the whole responsibility 
 of preparing the work has rested upon -the author, though votes were 
 passed at different times, referring the matter of publication to the com- 
 mittee and the' selectmen. By a vote in 1866, the work was farther 
 delayed. At the March meeting in 1867, the publication of the work 
 was authorized, and in the autumn of that year, it was seriously 
 prosecuted. Collections had been made during the preceding years, 
 but it was found necessary to make a thorough search of all the town 
 records, as well as those of the churches, parishes and other associa- 
 tions. Several weeks were occupied in this work, and early in the pres- 
 ent year, the writing of the history was commenced. At the March 
 meeting, — 1868 — it was agreed that the " town would furnish the pic- 
 tures and maps voted heretofore, at the town's expense, and subscribe 
 for seventy-five copies of the History," if the author would publish the 
 work at his own expense. 
 
 SOURCES 01" THE WORK. 
 
 The " History of Winchendon" by the late venerable Mr. Ezra Hyde, 
 was a very accurate and creditable work. It was appreciated by the 
 public, and the edition was soon exhausted. But it was very .brief, 
 and merely referred to facts and events. All the records copied or 
 referred to by him, I have consulted in the originals. For the dates 
 when certain families moved into the town, and their places of residence, 
 as well as for a number of facts recorded in the chapter on" note-wor- 
 thy eventSj" his work deserves the credit. The manuscript of Dr. 
 Whiton is worthy of his re]putation as an accurate chronicler of events, 
 written in an elegant style. Everything coming from his pen, was neat 
 and correct. The paper is of superior quality, with gilt edges. The 
 handwriting is legible as print, and as beautiful as an engraving, and 
 the words and sentences take their places with almost faultless precis- 
 ion. But as the narrative was not complete, it was necessary to put 
 
6 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOIT. 
 
 it aside, and write the history of the town anew. If the whole of hia 
 manuscript were printed, it would probably cover about seventy pages 
 of this volume ; but as it contains many references to extraneous mat- 
 ters, the part that relates to Winchendon would occupy much less space. 
 The reader will be indebted to him for many anecdotes and incidents 
 illustrative of the life and character of people here in the olden time. 
 
 I have thought it right to make these references to the much respect- 
 ed gentlemen who have written on the history of the town, but the true 
 sources of the following history are to be found in original Records. I 
 have read almost every page of the several volumes of town Records, 
 including the Registers of births, marriages, and deaths. In addition, 
 the Recordiof churches, religious, societies, engine companies, literary 
 associatiogs, soldiers' aid societies, and committees, have been careful- 
 ly examitied. The work was long and dreary, but it was unavoidable 
 if the history was to be full and reliable. Besides^ I have consulted 
 ori^nal papers in the offices of the Secretary of State, and the Adju- 
 tant-General. All the names of militia officers were copied from the 
 rolls by my own hand ; ahd in making out the roll of the soldiers in the 
 late war, I searched through more than seven hundred pages of fine 
 print, in the office of the State printers, in order to secure accuracy. 
 But as the State has not yet half completed the work of printing a cor- 
 rect roll of all her soldiers, there must necessarily be omissions and er- 
 rors in the chapter on the war. 
 
 The individuals to whom the author is indebted, are numerous. 
 Bethuel Ellis, Esq., and Mr. Luke Rice of the eominHttee, have ren- 
 dered very valuable aid. The former has assisted in forming the Kvaps, 
 and in making out the list of soldiers ; and by his surveys, has enabled 
 me to give the height of the Centre above the water in the Village, and 
 to form a plan of the Common. His advice has beeu sought on many 
 occasions, and has always been esteemed. The extraordinary memo- 
 ry of Mr. Rice has been of great asastanee. His inind is a repository 
 of local and personal history, and he has been free to communicate. 
 In particular, the names of all the married couples in town in the year 
 1800, were furnished by him. His name occurs often in the following 
 pages, where proper credit is given. Many of the names on the pages 
 accompanying the maps, were also derived from his recollection. Web- 
 ster Whitney, Esq., has furnished several excerpts from the Records^ — 
 in particular, nearly all the list of town officers — ^and has given much 
 
INTRODUCTION. 7 
 
 - verbal information. He has allowed me the freest access to the origi- 
 • nal papers in his office, and the printed works which would throw light 
 on the history of the town. The Records through all the years of the 
 town's eastence, have been written in a legible hand, but some of the 
 clerks had their own peculiar modes of spelling and of forming senten- 
 ces. For the last thirty-six years, the Records are a model of neat- 
 ness a^d accuracy. 
 
 The author takes pleasure in expressing his indebtedness to the late 
 Mr, Smyrna Greaton for most of the facts in the history of the Meth- 
 /pdist church ; to the Hon. Artemas Hale, of Bridgewater ; to Mr. Al- 
 .bert Brown for the papers of his venerable grandfather, the Hon. Abel 
 Wilder ; to Messrs. Jacob and John Woodbury, and many others, for 
 information in regard to unrecorded facts. It should be added how- 
 ever, that the information of different persons often covered the same 
 ground, and that in every instance, where possible, resort has been had 
 to the Records for the sake of verification. 
 
 THE CENTENNIAL. 
 
 Reference has been made to the hundredth anniversary of the organ- 
 ization of the town, and to the fact that the centennial celebration which 
 was contemplated, never took place. In fact, the town intended to 
 have a celebration, and voted a thousand dollars to pay the expenses. 
 A large and respectable committee was appointed to make arrange- 
 ments. The Hon. William B. Washburn, our representative in Con- 
 gress, a native of the town, was invited to prepare the historical ad- 
 dress. But the pressure of business upon him made it impossible for 
 Mm to find time for that service. As the time for the anniversary, the 
 i4th day of June, 1864, drew nigh, the committee concluded to post- 
 pone, for the time, at least, the proposed celebration. The principal 
 reason given was, that the public mind was too intently and anxiously 
 fixed on the great struggle in the " wilderness," and beyond, where 
 many of our soldiers were fighting and falling, to enter into the spirit 
 of a centennial celebration. The time therefore passed by, with per- 
 haps an expectation that later in the year, a day might be found for 
 the commemorative festivity. But what is not done in its time, is gen- 
 erally never done ; and thus it proved in this case. We had no cen- 
 tennial proceedings to make a chapter of history. 
 
 However, as the season wore away, and the time of year, — Novem- 
 
8 HISTOET OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 ber, — when the first town meeting was held in the town, drew near, a 
 desire was expressed by some of the aged inhabitants, to have a histor- 
 ical discourse on the early history of the town. Accordingly it was 
 proposed to have all the congregations unite on Thanksgiving day, and 
 after suitable expressions of gratitude for the Divine favor, in the bless- 
 ings of the year, to recall the past of the town's history. On the ap- 
 pointed day, the North Congregational house of wors'hip was thronged 
 by the people from all parts of the town, who came to participate in 
 the services. The preliminary exercises had special reference to Thanks- 
 giving. The singing, the scriptures and the prayers were appropriate 
 to the day. The devotions were conducted by Eev. Messrs. Clarke, 
 Best and Litchfield. The author then gave an address which extend- 
 ed through an hour and a half, to which the audience listened with ap- 
 parent interest. The facts and anecdotes crowded into it, form a part 
 of this volume. Though a poor substitute for a centenmal celebration, 
 it served to show the interest of the citizens in the history of their ances- 
 try, and a desire to honor their memory. The following hymns, writ- 
 ten for the occasion, were sung. The first is inserted for its, merit j the; 
 last, because it had the fortune to be in good company. 
 
 OEIGINAL HYMN. 
 
 B7 MISS V. A. W. PBlESn. 
 
 5:UNE DENNY- 
 ONE HUNDKED TEARS AGO- 
 
 Once more with thankful hearts we greet 
 
 This glad returning day, 
 Once more withm these walls we meet^ 
 
 To sing, and praise and pray. 
 To offer grateful thanks to God, 
 
 With hearts that overflow, 
 And trace the paths the fathers trod, 
 
 A hundred years ago, 
 
 A wild, unbroken solitude, 
 
 By foot of man untrod, 
 The grand primeval forest stood, 
 
 And stretched green arms abroad. 
 And where our church bells call to prayer. 
 
 And feet of hundreds go. 
 The wolfs long howl disturbed the air 
 
 A hundred years ago. 
 
 Our grandsires came with aze and plough, 
 Jbey felled the forest tieo. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Where firuiitf^I fields are Bmiling now. 
 
 They broke the stubhom lea ; 
 They laid foundations firm and btoad, 
 
 They builded sure and slow ; 
 We reap rich harvests where they sowed, 
 
 A hundred years ago. 
 
 They built them homes, they tilled the soil, 
 
 Their flocks they watched and- fed. 
 With strong, brown, hands inured to toil, 
 
 They won their daily bread. 
 And when the revolution came 
 
 They left the axe and plough, 
 And battled well in freedom's name 
 
 As we are battling now. 
 
 Then honor to those men of old, 
 
 Who felled the forest trees, 
 And warr'd with hunger, want and cold. 
 
 That we might dwell at ease. 
 God give ns strength our work to do, 
 
 And grace our work to know. 
 Like those brave, simple men that lived, 
 
 A hundred years ago. 
 
 OEIGINAL HYMN. 
 
 TUNE — PABK STREET. 
 
 Our others' Qod ! to Thee we raise 
 Our hearts in songs of grateful praise. 
 For all the mercies Thou hast shown, 
 E'erwhile a hundred years have flown. 
 
 Then wild woods waved o'er all the waste, 
 The streams flowed by in useless haste ; 
 In swift pursuit the fierce wolf* ran, 
 The stealthy savaget marked his man. 
 
 Beneath Thy smile our fathers wrought, 
 
 They built, they sang, they prayed, they fought ;:( 
 
 They hid the seed within the soil. 
 
 And waving harvests blest their toll. 
 
 The forest fell before their stroke. 
 The pine, the beech, the sturdy oak ; 
 In opening glades they reared their home, 
 And soon appeared Thy hallowed dome. 
 
 The rolling- years have swiftly past, 
 But still Thy mercy standefch fast ; 
 That God who broke the Briton's sway, 
 Now guards us in this wrathful day. 
 
 Then garlands round the browg entwine 
 Of those who lived in " auld laug syne," 
 And worship Him who reigns above. 
 With prayer and songs of grateful love. 
 
 ♦Incident in the life of Dr. Whiton ; also, of Col. Woodbury. 
 t Incident in the life of John DarUng. 
 t Many were out in the Bevolution. 
 
10 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 MAPS, PICTURES, PORTRAITS. 
 
 In a work of this kind it is desirable to have illustrations enough, with- 
 out making a picture book. The maps have been prepared with great 
 care. That of the town is mainly Whitney's map on a reduced scale, 
 some of the obvious errors being corrected, as in the bend of the river 
 between the Cemetery and the Butler mill. But instead of inserting 
 the names of present residents in the map, a number has been used to 
 designate the spot where each house or old cellar may be found. The 
 numbers extend from 1 to 157 north and west of Miller's river, and 
 from 1 to 146, south of the river. To each number, printed on a sheet 
 facing the map, are annexed the name of the first owner or occupant, 
 when it cati be ascertained, the names of others who dwelt there sub- 
 sequently, and the name of the present resident. In this way, the 
 map, in itself, is a history of the town. A small o indicates an old cellar, 
 though the artist has sometimes made the letter large, and in others has 
 omitted it. In several instances the exact locahty of early settlers can- 
 not be found, and the name is inserted between those which are known, 
 and near the spot of their residence. The outline of the hills is given 
 as well as the summits. The courses of several brooks have been marked. 
 The enlargement of the Monomonauk is indicated, as well as the loca- 
 tion of smaller lakes. Discontinued roads are indicated by single or 
 double dotted lines. New roads are inserted. The map of the Village 
 is on the same plan. It is copied from Walling's survey, enlarged, 
 and shows the new streets. By reducing the size of the town map, and 
 printing the names on separate sheets, the cost has been reduced, at 
 least one half, while the maps are more manageable, and their value is 
 greatly enhanced. These, with the Plan of the original division of lots, 
 were lithographed by Charles H. Crosby, of Boston. 
 
 The Pictures are designed to give specimens of the architecture of 
 the place for the information of those who shall live here in future years. 
 At the same time they serve to embellish the work. The churches and 
 the town hall are given with neighboring buildings, simply because they 
 thus appear to better advantage; By this means, moreover, the ex- 
 pense is divided. The picture of the Village, of the South Side, of 
 '"Spring Village, of the Baptist Church, of the Church of the Unity, of 
 the Methodist Church, of the Bank and of the New School House, were 
 drawn on the block by Mr. Roswell M. Shurtleff. The rest, excepting 
 
4 < 
 
 mBM7^:w:¥mmmmM^ 
 
INTRODUCTION. 11 
 
 the First Church, sketched by Charles J. Rice, Esq., were photographed 
 by Mr. I. F. Alger. All the engravings, except that of the old Dea. 
 Day house were made by Messrs. Russell & Richardson, of Boston. 
 
 The portraits have not been inserted for the purpose of flattering in- 
 dividuals or families. The plan of having portraits has been resolved 
 on and reconsidered, several times. The fact that there are no pictures 
 of many who most deserve to be remembered, seemed to render it ad- 
 visable to have none at all. At the last moment, however, it was de- 
 termined to have eight portraits. It was found impossible to have one 
 of Hon. Abel Wilder, Capt. Phihehas Whitney, or any of the clergy- 
 men who were here previous to 1845. The portraits of Ephraim Mur- 
 dock, Esq., Isaac Morse, Esq., and Mr. Amasa Whitney, are inserted, 
 because they were, in a peculiar sense, the fathers of the Village. Mr. 
 James Murdock, Sen., lived to a great age, was a highly respected 
 citizen, and was in a certain sense among the fathers of the town. Hon. 
 Artemas Hale is an aged gentleman, whose birthplace was here, and 
 who has conferred honor on his native place. It was expected up to 
 the last moment, to have a portrait of Dr. Israel Whiton, as a compan- 
 ion to that of Dr. Alvah Godding, because, with a brief interval, they 
 illustrate the medical history of the town for about ninety years. It 
 is an occasion of sincere regret that the portrait could not be obtained. 
 Both Dr. Godduig and Mr. Hale were reluctant to appear in this prom- 
 inent manner, but kindly yielded to the request of friends. The por- 
 trait of the author has been inserted, at the request of friends whose 
 wjghes are imperative. The picture of Mrs. Wakefield,* (Miss N. A. 
 W. Priest,) has been procured by friends, without consulting her wish- 
 es, for which liberty the boon of pardon is hereby craved. It was deemed 
 essential to the completeness of the work, that the portrait of the ex- 
 quisite genius who is the author of" Over the River," and of "Heav- 
 en," should have a place. Thus it appears that Maps, Pictures and 
 Portraits are illustrative of the history of the town, and are therefore of 
 general interest. It may be added that the artists have done their 
 work in a manner worthy of their high reputation. 
 
 * Mrs. Wakefield, though born In the edge of Eoyalston, belongs to Win- 
 cliendou. Hor family have resided here, from the beginning, through five or 
 six generations. Her father moved into Royalston a little while before her 
 birth, and returned while she was quite young. 
 
12 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 It was the intention to have the work printed here, by Mr. Ward,* 
 who is unsurpassed as a workman, certainly by any outside of Boston. 
 But it was not possible for him to obtain a suitable press until too late. 
 Keluctantly therefore, and after considerable delay, the work was put 
 into the hands of Messrs. Garfield & Stratton, of Fitchburg, whose 
 workmanship will speak for itself. 
 
 It may be objected by some that the work is too large, and that too 
 much space has been given to " Roads," " School Districts," and mi- 
 nute details. But no apology will be offered, and the work must be left 
 to time for any needed justification. The utmost pains have been tak- 
 en to secure accuracy, and to treat every event and every person with 
 perfect fairness. Some may inquire why certain names are not to be 
 found in the biographic chapter. For example, one son of Rev. Mr. Mor- 
 ton is distinguished as a business man in New York ; Julius- L. Clark, 
 Esq., son of.Rev. E. L. Clark, is highly respected as the Superintend- 
 ent of State Charities ; three sons of Rev. Mr. Storrs are graduates of 
 Amherst College, and two of them were oiEcers in the late war ; and Rev. 
 Charles N. Wilder is a graduate of Burlington University. But none of 
 them are natives, and most of them received their education elsewhere. 
 Doubtless errors and mistakes will be found, but these will be pardoned 
 by those who appreciate even a hundredth part of the labor and care 
 involved in preparing a town history. 
 
 COKRECTIONS. 
 
 Some errors have crept into the following pages, which need correction. ; 
 
 Page 105, line 1, insert Moses before Smith. 
 
 Page 113, line 27, for 1744 read 1774. 
 
 Page 226, line 6, insert Miss Caroline A. Pitkin. 
 
 Page 362, line 1, insert Joel Butler, 99. 
 
 Page 398, lino 14, for raising read dedication. 
 
 Page 398, line 14, for 1792 read 1793. 
 
 Page 398, line 18, Insert David Stoddard. 
 
 Page 424, line 7, for Otis read Samuel. 
 
 Page 431, line 7, of note, for Simeon read Daniel. 
 
 Page 434, line 28, for Newton read Hopiiinton. 
 
 Page 439, line 9, for 1762 read 1752. 
 
 Page 476, add that Capt. Benjamin Wilder had 17 children. 
 
 Add to page 226, Mr. Frederick W. Eussell and Miss Mary A. Marvin; and 
 to page 380, the fact that the Alert Company, true to its antecedents, took the 
 first prize at a muster in Ktchburg, on the 6t!i day of October, 18G8. 
 
 * The first printer in Winchendon was Mr. Rollins, who had a job office, 
 and started two small papers, one called "The Mirror," and the other the 
 " Torchliglit," a campaign paper, in 1852. Mr. "Ward succeeded him, and prints, 
 either plain or in colors, with much taste and elegance. 
 
CONTENTS. 13 
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. — TOPOGRAPHIC. 
 
 Location of the Town ; Original Boundaries ; Present Boundaries and Extent ; 
 Surface, — Water, Hills, Plains and Meadows, Forests ; Flora, Fauna ; Ge- 
 ology 17 
 
 CHAPTBE 11. — EXPLORATIONS. 
 Division of Lots ; Settlement ; First Settlers ; Contrast between 1764 and 1864. 
 
 CHAPTER III.^-ORGANIZATION AND NAME. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. — CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE. 
 
 CHAPTER V. — ANNALS ; 1764 — 1800. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 Spirit of the People ; First Notes of Defiance ; Lexington and Bunker Hill ; 
 Declaration of Independence; Enlistments; Public Spirit; Depreciated 
 Currency ; The Roll of Honor 80 
 
 CHAPTER VII. — SHAYS' REBELLION. 
 Grievances ; Excited Town Meetings ; The Flight 106 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. STATE AND NATIONAL AFEAIRS. 
 
 Representation ; State Constitution ; National Constitution 117 
 
 CHAPTER IX. EDUCATION PREVIOUS TO 1800. 
 
 The First Districts ; The First School Houses ; Second Arrangement of Dis- 
 tricts ; State of Education 122 
 
 CHAPTER X. HIGHWAYS AND BY-WAYS. 
 
 The First Eoads ; Earlington ; Winchendon Lottery ; New Roads and Bridg- 
 es ; The Bridge by Dr. Hall's 131 
 
 CHAPTER XI. — THE TOWN AS A PARISH. 
 
 Preliminary; Mr. Stimpson's Ministry ; Mr. Brown's Ministry; First Meet- 
 ing House ; Second Meeting House ; Names of Pew Holders ; Location of 
 the House; Ministers' Salary ; Devotional Music ; The Town's Quarrel with 
 Mr.Browu; Proceedings of the Council; The Minister's Politics ; The Stee- 
 ple and Bell; Names of Donors ; Decease of Mr. Pillsbury ; Seeking for a 
 New Minister ; Miscellaneous 145 
 
 CHAPTER XII. CLOSE OF THE CENTURY. 
 
 Census ; Houses ; Furniture ; School Books ; Church Music ; Dress ; The 
 People industrious and happy ; Names of Married Couples in 1800 188 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. — ANNALS; 1800 — 1868, 
 
14 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. — EDUCATION SINCE THE YEAR 1800. 
 
 School Districts ; Efforts for Improvement; New Arrangement of Districts ; 
 
 New Division of School Money; High School; Winchendon Academy; 
 
 Town School System; District System Abolished; New School House; 
 
 Progress ; Names of High School Teachers ; Text Books 204 
 
 CHAPTER XV. — ROADS AND BRIDGES. 
 
 The Eoads bounded and straightened; Through Travel ; New Roads; Wor- 
 cester and Fitzwilliam Turnpike; Contest with Turnpike Companies; A 
 Sectional Struggle ; Various Improvements ; Three New Eoads ; New 
 
 Bridges •' 225 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. — WINCHENDON POLITICS SINCE 1800. 
 
 Federalism ; The Last War with England ; Hartford Convention ; Constitu- 
 tional Convention of 1820 ; Political Parties ; The Surplus Revenue ; Con- 
 stitutional Amendments; The Party of Freedom; Votes for President and 
 Governor ; Love of Freedom. 250 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. — SUPPORT OF THE POOR. 
 
 Provision for the Poor in Early Times ; Bidding off the Poor ; Town Farm and 
 Poor House; Expense of Supporting the Poor; Names of the Masters. 3GG 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. — WINCHENDON AT LAW. 
 
 Tax and Poverty Cases ; The Minister's Case ; The Slave Case ; Later Cases— 
 Lunenburg, Reed, Sanders 274 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. — TEMPERANCE AND MORALS. 
 
 Convivial Habits ; Tippling and Tavern-Haunting ; Observance of the Sab- 
 bath ; Private Efforts to promote Temperance ; Temperance Societies. 284 
 
 CHAPTER XX. THE MILITIA. 
 
 Remark of John Adams ; 1st Company ; Commissioned Officers ; Training. 292 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. — CEMETERIES. 
 
 The Central Burying Yard ; New Boston Burying Yard ; Riverside Cemetery ; 
 Consecration Services ; Catholic Cemetery 300 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. — THE CHURCHES. 
 
 First Congregational Chukoii ; Early History ; Church Covenant ; Death 
 and Character of Mr. Stimpson ; Settlement of Mr. Brown ; Members of 
 the Church in 1774, G, 7 ; The Departure of Mr. Brown ; Settlement of Mr. 
 sPillsbury; His death and Character; Rev. Elam Clark ; Rev. Eber L. Clark ; 
 Sermons by Drs. Robbins and Todd; Mr. Morton's Ministry; The Era of 
 Supplies ; Later Ministers ; Baptist Church in New Boston ; The Meth- 
 odist Church ; Parsonage ; Names of the Preachers ; The North Con- 
 GBGATioNAL Church ; Ordluatlon of First Minister ; Enlarged House and 
 Bell; The Baptist Church in the Village; The Roman Catholic 
 
CONTENTS. 15 
 
 CnuKCH; The Unitarian Society; School House Meetings; Past and 
 Present 312 
 
 CHAPTER XXin. — A BILL OF MORTALITY. 
 List of Aged People, deceased ; List of Aged People, living 359 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. — BUSINESS OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 Farming and Stock ; The First Mills ; "Wood Ware ; Cotton Mills ; Machine 
 Shops ; Stores ; Carpenters ; Blacksmiths, &c. ; Amount of Business ; Sav- 
 ings Bank ; National Bank 363 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. — FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
 Fire Wards ; The Pilot ; The Alert Company ; The Niagara Company 376 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. — LIBRARIES AND LYCEUMS. 
 
 The First Libraries ; The Town Library ; Scientific and Literary Association ; 
 Parish Library ; Sabbath School Libraries 383 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. — THE VILLAGES. 
 
 The Old Centre ; The Village, or Winchandon ; Spring Village ; Waterville. 389 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. — NOTEWORTHY EVENTS. 
 
 Frosts ; Storms ; Tempests ; Sudden Deaths by Apoplexy, Heat, &c. ; Deaths 
 by Accidental Drowning; Deaths by Falling Trees; Deaths by Horses, 
 Teams ; Deaths by Burning ; Other Fatal Casualties ; Fires ; Cases of Sui- 
 cide ; Homicides ; Superstition and Witchcraft 391 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. — LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS ; 
 
 Including Moderator, Clerk, Treasurer, Selectmen, and Assessors ; also, Eep- 
 resentatives, Senators, Delegates, Justices, &c 410 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. — BIOGRAPHICS. 
 Lawyers ; Physicians ; Graduates ; Other Prominent Men 421 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. — MISCELLANEOUS. 
 Inventions ; Lapidaries ; Antiquities ; Wild Animals ; Horses ; White Cedars 
 and White Swallows ; Old Elms ; Winchendon as a place of resort ; Secret 
 Societies ; Population and Valuation 437 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. — SENEALOGT AND PERSONAL HISTORY. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. — THE WAR OF FREEDOM. 
 
 Outbreak of the Bebelllon; Effect on the public mind; Action of the Town; 
 Sympathy with the Soldiers ; Volunteering ; Eaising Troops in 1862 ; Rec- 
 ord of 1863 ; Eecruitlng In 1864; Winchendon men who enlisted out of the 
 State ; Close of the War ; A day of rejoicing ; Cost of the War ; List of the 
 wounded, the killed, and of those who died in the service ; The new EoU 
 of Honor ; A day of mourning ; Conclusion 481 
 
 INDEX OP NAMES. 523 
 
16 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 MAPS AND PLANS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 1. Map of the Town, facing 17 
 
 2. Boundaries of the Town, 20 
 
 3. Division of Lots, facing 43 
 
 4. Plan of the Centre, " 70 
 
 5. Map of Winehendon and Waterville, " 389 
 
 PICTURES. 
 
 1. WiNCHENDON : Frontispiece. 
 
 2. House of Kichard Day, facing 45 
 
 3. Meetmg House of 1762, 151 
 
 4. Meeting House of 1793, facing 161 
 
 5. Town Hall, " 201 
 
 6. Academy, " 215 
 
 7. New School House, ^— " 223 
 
 8. Methodist Church, " 343 
 
 9. North Congregational Church, " 347 
 
 10. Baptist Church, " 353 
 
 11. Church of the Unity, " 357 
 
 12. National Bank, " 375 
 
 13. South Side View, " 391 
 
 14. Spring Village, " 393 
 
 15. Picture of Silver Medal, " 488 
 
 PORTRAITS. 
 
 1. A.P.Marvin, " 1 
 
 2. Mrs. Wakefield, " 11 
 
 3. Hon. Artemas Hale, " 177 
 
 4. Ephraim Murdock, Es(i., " 280 
 
 5. Isaac Morse, Esq., " 368 
 
 6. Alvah Godding, M. D., " 425 
 
 7. Mr. Amasa "Whitney, " 434 
 
 8. Mr. James Murdock, " 463 
 

 
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HISTOEY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 CHAPTEK I. — TOPOGRAPHIC. 
 
 SECTION 1. — LOCATION OP THE TOWN. 
 
 " Scenes must be beautiful, which daily view'd 
 Please daily, and whose novelty survives 
 Long Knowledge and the scrutiny of years : 
 Praise justly due to those that I describe." 
 
 COWPER. 
 
 Every history has its scene, or .field of action. It is a convenience 
 to the reader to have the means of fixing this field exactly in his mind. 
 It may be supposed by some, at first view, that it is quite needless to 
 describe the location, the boundaries, the surface, and the natural 
 features of so limited a portion of the State as is embraced in a town. 
 But, in the first place, it is probable that only a few of the inhabitants 
 of. any town, can accurately give the facts included in these terms. 
 Besides, it may reasonably be expected, that many descendants of 
 parents who lived and died here, but who themselves left the place in 
 childhood ; as well as remoter descendants who were bom elsewhere, 
 will have the curiosity to read the history of the " old homestead." 
 Such persons will not grudge the space occupied by the following 
 particulars. 
 
18 HISTORY Of WINCHElNpON. 
 
 Winchendon ia one of the three border towns of Worcester county 
 on the north, having Ashburnham on the east, and Royalston on th( 
 ■west. It is distant from Worcester, by direct line, thirty-one miles 
 By the carriage road through Templeton, or through East Princeton, 
 the distance is about thirty-five miles; and by railroad, via Fitchburg, 
 not far from forty-four miles. The distance to Boston direct, is sixtj 
 miles, by stage route, sixty-five miles, and by railway, sixty-eight miles, 
 The latitude of the centre of the town is 42 deg., 39 min.; and the 
 longitude of the same point is 4 deg., 4 min. east from the meridian 
 of Washington, and 72 deg., 3 min. west from the meridian oi 
 Greenwich. 
 
 The location, in respect to the level of the ocean, which must be 
 regarded in learning the temperature of any locality, is very elevated. 
 If the land of the town were on a perfect level, it is probable that the 
 surface would be at least a thousand feet above tide-water. The top 
 of the dam at G-oodspeed & Wyman's establishment, where the road 
 from the village to the. centre crosses the river, is 1060 feet above the 
 ocean. This was ascertained by Loammi Baldwin, in making the 
 survey for the proposed canal between Boston and the Hudson river ; 
 and by Engineer Chcesebrough, who surveyed a railroad route 
 through the town. More than half the surface of th§ town has a 
 higher elevation than this point. The temperature is therefore lower 
 than in other places in the same latitude, and as a result of this, frosts 
 late in the spring, and early in the fall, endanger the crops. 
 
 SECTION 2. — ORIGINAL BOUNDARIES. 
 
 The original were quite different from the present boundaries of the 
 town. The grant made by the legislature, June 10, 1735, provided 
 " that a Tract of Land of the contents of six miles square," be given 
 to Abraham TUton and others ; but the location was not specified m 
 the act, except in the following indefinite manner, viz, " be laid out in 
 
HISTORY OF wmCHENDON. 19 
 
 a suitable place in the western part of this Province." No informa- 
 tion is given in the Records to show why the grant was located here ; 
 but it is probable that this matter was arranged between the grantees 
 and the officers of the provincial government, having the public lands 
 in charge. The committee named in the act, were directed to 
 " return the Plat of the said township to the Court ;" which duty was 
 doubtless performed, but we have not the record, and therefore can- 
 not give the exact shape of the first " plat." In 1755, a committee 
 was appointed to " run the Unes and renew the bounds of Ipswich 
 Canada, (now Winchendon,) and Dorchester Canada, (now Ashbum 
 . ham,) and any of the townships that border on Ipswich Canada." The 
 committee " run the lines, and renewed the corner bounds,, by adding 
 stones and marking trees." Probably these bounds are the same as 
 those given in the Act by which the town was incorporated in the 
 year 1764. These bounds, beginning on the northeast corner of the 
 township, are as follows : " South twelve degrees west, seven miles 
 and two hundred rods on Dorchester Canada ; west eighteen degrees 
 south, two hundred and seventy rods on Westminster ; north thiriy-six 
 degrees west, four miles and two hundred and twenty rods on Temple- 
 ton line ; north seventy-eight degrees west, six hundred rods on Tem- 
 pleton line ; north twelve degrees east, four miles and two hundred 
 and sixty rods on Royalshire ; east twelve degrees south,* six miles on 
 Royalshire line." The northern boundary was Royalston, (then called 
 Royalshire.) This singular fact is accounted for in the following way. 
 After the township was located, when the luie was run between Massa- 
 chusetts and New Hampshire, it was found that a strip of land about 
 a mile in width, the whole length of the town, which was formerly 
 supposed to belong to the latter colony, was in fact, south of the line. 
 For some unknown cause, this strip was assigned to Royalston, when 
 that town was incorporated, and was called Royalston leg. By 
 degrees it was settled, and in 1780, by request of the inhabitants, it 
 
 " The original reads " south seventy-eight deg. west ;" an obvious mistake. 
 
20 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 was set off to Winchendon. It contained three thousand eight 
 dred and forty acres. The following diagram shows the original 
 the present boundaries. The dark Imes bound the town as it is i 
 the dotted lines indicate the original shape and size. 
 
 NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
 
 w 
 
 02 
 
 <! 
 >^ 
 o 
 
 P5 
 
 IPSWICH CANADA. 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 
 W 
 
 w 
 
 Wbst'k. 
 
 section 3. — present boundaries and extent. 
 
 By the addition of Royalston Leg, in 1780, six square mile 
 
 three thousand eight hundred and forty acres, were added ti 
 
 town ; and the eastern and western boundary lines were lengtl 
 
 one mile ; but in 1785, it was nearly reduced to its original dimen 
 
HISTOST OF WINCHENDON. 21 
 
 by the annexation of three thousand six hundred and eighty acres to 
 Gardner, which was incorporated in that year. Since then the south- 
 east boundary has undergone several changes, for the accommodation 
 of land-owners on the border. The present boundaries will be found 
 on the preceding page, and on the map of the town which accompa- 
 nies this work. 
 
 The northern boundary, which is the line between Massachusetts 
 and New Hampshire, is six miles in length: the eastern line, on 
 Ashburnham, is five miles, two hundred rods; the Gardner Ime is 
 three miles, and about one hundred and forty rods ;* the Templeton 
 hne is four miles and forty-eight rods ; and the T^estem line remains 
 as it was after the annexation of Koyalston leg, five miles, and two 
 hundred and sixty rods. These lengths are not mathematically exact, 
 but they approximate to correctness. The circumference of the town 
 is therefore twenty-four miles and about two hundred rods. The 
 northern, eastern and western lines are straight ; that between Win- 
 chendon and Templeton is divided into two nearly equal parts, both 
 direct. The town contains something more than twenty-six thousand 
 two hundred and ninety-five acres of surface, including land and water. 
 
 SECTION 4. — SURFACE-; WATER, PLAINS, HILLS, &C. 
 
 The map of the town exhibits the external features of the township 
 with more accuracy than could be attained by verbal description. A 
 few words however may be of use in aiding q, stranger' to understand 
 the surface, and the general appearance of the town. 
 
 "Water. — -The location and course of lakes and rivers show the 
 configuration of the land. As water always fiows down hill, it is easy, 
 by tracing brooks and rivers to their source, to form an idea of the 
 land surface of a town, county or state. It is convenient therefore, 
 in describing the surface of Winchendon, to begin by a brief reference 
 to its lakes, ponds and streams. 
 
 * That is, a direct line from the point where the towns of Ashburnham, 
 Gardner, and Winchendon unite, to a similar point between Gardner, Tem- 
 pleton and Winchendon, is three miles, and nearly one hundred and forty 
 rods. The real line, which is broken by many sharp angles, is almost twice 
 as long. 
 
22 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 The town is well watesred. The soil is adapted to retain moisture, 
 and springs abound. The elevationof the land also has some tendency 
 to induce atmospheric moisture. There is but one natural lake of 
 considerable size, wholly within the town. This is situated towards 
 the southwest, and is called Denison pond. It covers nearly one hun- 
 dred acres. It is a beautiful sheet of pure, clear water, surrounded 
 by a margin of clean sand and pebbles, and adorned near the shore 
 with water lilies. A small stream, by gentle descent, flows into it 
 from the north, and an outlet, called Cold brook, with only fall enough 
 to carry off its surplus water, opens from the south side to Miller's 
 river, about a hundred rods distant. When the water in the river is 
 lugh, it flows back into the lake, and in former times, there was a 
 passage where it flowed out again near the southwest corner. The 
 bridge over this latter passage, was formerly called the " dry bridge," 
 because it was dry except a few days in the year. For many years 
 there has been no bridge, and the road has been so high that no water 
 can pass it ; and the traveler would not suspect that water had ever 
 had an outlet in that locality. 
 
 In the large tract of woodland stretching north from the Butler 
 Mills, (now owned by Rice & Wyman,) to the Monomonauk lake, 
 are two small bodies of water, one of which is called lake Jones ; but ' 
 they are so small in surface, and so shallow, that they require no 
 farther notice. But there is one other natural pond to the southwest 
 of these, which is known io but a few of the inhabitants of the town, . 
 but which may hereafter become a place of frequent resort. It is 
 about two hundred rods south by west from the house of Mr. Stephen 
 Tolman, and nearly equidistant from the Murdock and Butler Mills; 
 A convenient way to reach it is found by following the Cheshire rail- 
 road easterly of the Cemetery to the high sand bank. The little lake, 
 enclosed by wooded hills, is just north by west of the bank. It is 
 completely secluded from observation, and never seen except by those 
 who stray from the haunts of men, when hunting, fishing, or searching. -i^ 
 for nature in her most hidden retreats. The hill, at its eastern end, 4 
 rises abruptly about eighty feet, and is densely wooded. A stream 
 comes in by several leaps, at the northeast comer. The outlet is from 
 the west. It is sometimes called "Barren Hill lake,"' and by some .-^ 
 •' Lake Martin." It is suggested that a more appropriate and beau- 
 tiful name would be " Sylvan Lake." 
 
HISTOKY OP WINCHENDON. 23 
 
 At &e northeast of the town lies Monomonauk* lake, about three 
 Hiiles in length ; but the greater part of this fine body of water is in 
 the town of Rmdge, N. H. Nearly one-third of its southern and nar- 
 rower part, lies in Winchendon. At this end a dam raises the water 
 .about eleven feet above its natural level, and so enlarges the lake 
 that it covers not far from twenty-six hundred acres. It is fed 
 by a large stream which flows in from the north by the Converse 
 Mills in Rindge, by several rivulets, and by numerous springs, which 
 combine to render it a vast reservoir of water power. 
 
 This is the source of the north branch of Miller's river, which runs 
 south by west through Spring Village, and by Murdock's mill, about 
 two miles, when it is joined by the eastern branch which comes in from 
 Ashburnham. The junction is near the middle of Baxter D. Whit- 
 ney's poiid, just northeast of Winchendon Village. Both branches 
 supply about the same amount of water annually. The eastern branch 
 is fed by the upper and lower Naumkeag lakes in Ashburnham, and 
 by several streams. Mr. Amasa Whitney, Sr., who was for many 
 years, the proprietor of the old woolen factory, used to say that the 
 eastern branch supplied the most water in a year, but that the north- 
 ern branch, coming from a large pond and reservoir, was the surest 
 reliance in the dry season of the year. The river descends rapidly, 
 and thus furnishes numerous mill-sites. There are at least a dozen 
 fine water privileges in the course of four miles. The river from its 
 Junction flows west to the railroad bridge ; thence south to the dam of 
 <joodspeed & Wyman; thence west by south to Waterville and 
 beyond ; thence in a northwesterly direction more than a mile, when 
 receiving Stuart's brook from the north, it turns suddenly and runs 
 south on nearly a dead level, about four miles. At this point it 
 receives Otter river fcom Templeton, and thus enlarged, pursues its 
 course in a southwesterly direction, leaving the boundary of the town 
 about one-third of a nule north of its southwest comer. It never 
 approaches nearer than a mile to the centre of the town, and in some 
 places, is three miles distant. This river, if we count the length of 
 both its branches, runs not far from fourteen miles within the limits of 
 
 *It is sometimes written Monomonac, or Monomonoe; but auk is au 
 Indian termination signifying place ; and we are told by respectable authority 
 that Monomonauk means the "place of islands," as the lake in its natural 
 state ha(l several islands which are now submerged,besides others now visible. 
 
i4 
 
 HISTORY OF WIBrCHENDOir. 
 
 the town, and is the occasion of much and varied industry, and the 
 source of yearly increasing wealth. 
 
 Priest's brook or river comes in on the west, from Koyalston, about 
 two and a half miles from the New Hampshire line, and flows just 
 inside the western border of the town, though inclining to the east, 
 and enters Miller's river not far from the junction of the Otter, and 
 also the affluent from Denison lake. 
 
 About two miles south of the centre of the town is Poor's pond. 
 This was, probably, in the distant past, quite a body of water, but in 
 the course of ages, it has been nearly filled by deposits made by two 
 or three streams which flow into it on the east and north. The stream 
 from the east is called " Potato brook," which name, according to 
 tradition, had the following origin. A party of men working on the 
 highway came to this brook about noon, and took their dinner con- 
 sisting mainly of potatoes, washing them down with draughts from the 
 flowing water. Half in earnest and half in sport, they christened it 
 Potato brook. By means of a dam at the southwest extrenaty of the 
 pond, a large body of water is raised in the winter ; but in the sum- 
 mer, nearly the whole bottom is covered with grass. The water flows 
 off by a small stream in a southwest course, and joins Otter river, j 
 which for a short distance, skirts the southern boundary of the town. 
 
 Not far from a mile and a half to the southeast of Poor's pond is a 
 large reservoir which lies in the extreme southern part of the town. 
 This is fed by a brook coming in from the north. About a mile east 
 is White's brook, which runs south and enters Otter river in Gardner. 
 There are numerous other brooks and rivulets, but none of sufficient 
 oiae to affect materially the configuration of the township, or to drive 
 machinery. Perhaps an exception should be made in regard to the 
 brook which comes from Rindge, and drives the Loud mill in BuUard- - 
 ville ; but this is included in Stuart's brook, of which it is a feeder. 
 The valleys through which these various streams flow, afford many 
 pleasant scenes that give a grateful variety to the landscape. Nearly 
 twenty artificial ponds add beauty to the scenery while they subserve 
 the uses of man. 
 
 Hills. — The hills which give great diversity to the surface of the 
 town, need not be described at length, since their location can be 
 easily found on the map. But it may be truly said that WinchendoD 
 
HISTOKY OF WINCHENDON. 25 
 
 belongs to the " hill country" of the State. For though it contains 
 more of sand-plain than any of the neighboring towns, yet it is chiefly 
 made up of quite elevated hills. One hill extending in every direc- 
 tion from the centre, includes nearly a fifth part of the township. It 
 extends about three miles from east to west, and averages more than 
 two miles in width froin north to south. Its- highest point, just north- 
 west of the meeting house in the centre is 348 feet above the dam of 
 Goodspeed & Wyman, and 1408 feet above the level of the sea. 
 From this elevation the prospect is quite extensive. Wachusett moun- 
 tain is visible a little east of south, about fifteen miles distant ; and 
 the grand Monadnauk rises in full view, about the same distance to 
 the north. At the west, some seventy or eighty miles, the long range 
 of the Green mountains can be seen extending from the north part of 
 Berkshire — Greylock — far up into Vermont. In the afternoon of a 
 sunny day, when the shadows fall on the eastern slope of the moun- 
 tains, the beholder, as his eye moves from point to point on this dis- 
 tant range, is reminded of a line in Macaulay's " Farewell of the 
 Huguenots to France" — 
 
 " The long waving line of the blue Pyrenees." 
 
 The north part of the town is occupied by another hill parallel to 
 that which fills the centre. It rises from Spring Village on the east, 
 and extends to Bullardville on the west, not far from three mUes. Its 
 summit, — or rather its four or five high points, — are about one mile 
 from the State line. These elevations are nearly equidistant, and the 
 valleys between them run at an angle with the general direction of the 
 hill considered as a whole. That is, it appears as if Some moving 
 body, ice or water, had struck the north side of the ancient summit, 
 had scooped out several passages, in a direction from north west to 
 southeast, and thus left these points higher than the rest, lying angle- 
 wise to the east and west direction of the hill. The hill descends 
 gently towards the Village. It is covered for the most part, with 
 excellent farms. Viewed from the south, in summer time, when the 
 grass lands and the fields of grain, and the wooded slopes, all clothed 
 with verdure, combine to make up a varied landscape, the eye roves 
 over it with great satisfaction. 
 
 A similar hill, though less in elevation and extent, sometimes called 
 Raymond's hill, lies parallel to the two already described, at the 
 
26 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 southern end of the town. This extends nearly two miles from east 
 to west, and descends gently in every direction. The south side 
 slopes into Templeton. It is almost entirely covered with good and 
 well cultivated farming land. Between this and the central hill, there 
 are two or three smooth, rounded elevations, cultivated to the top. 
 Besides these, there is a line of hills running north and south, on the 
 eastern, and also on the western border of the town, which tend 
 greatly to diversify the surface. That on the east is divided by the 
 eastern branch of Miller's river. There is al3o quite a high ridge 
 between the two southern branches or horns of Monomonauk lake, 
 called " Barren hill." The names of the various hills, as given in 
 early times, are here copied from Mr. Hyde's History of Winchen- 
 don. " Meeting House hill," just northwest from the central common; 
 " Prentiss hill," on the south side of Miller's river, and- east of Water- 
 ville, formerly occupied by Dea. Samuel Prentiss ; " Benjamin hill," 
 between the last and the centre ; " Hale hill," a mile east of the cen- 
 tre, formerly owned by Dea. Moses Hale. These four are parts of 
 the large central hill. The large hill at the north end of the town, 
 has no name, but the four elevations already described are called 
 respectively, beginning at the east, and going west, " Crosby hill," 
 " Payson hill," formerly owned by Col. John Boynton, and now in 
 possession of Capt.' B. Murdock ; " Boynton hill," owned in early 
 times by Lieut. Joseph Boynton, and " Goodridge hill," once the 
 property of Mr. David Goodridge. " Hyde hill" is north of Miller's 
 river, and northeast of Waterville. Formerly the only road from 
 Waterville to the Village was over or around this hill. " Lovejoy hill," 
 " Poland hill," and " Tallow hill," are divisions of the great elevation 
 in the northwest section of the town. The hill occupied by the Wood- 
 burys and Raymonds in the east of the town, is called " Nineteenth 
 hill." " Raymond hill" has already been noticed. " Birch hill" is 
 south of Miller's river, near the junction of the Otter. 
 
 Plains and Meadows. — There is a tract of land, in the easterly 
 part of the town, on the road to Ashburnham, which is of a light, 
 sandy make, and very level. Bullardville is on a small plain encir- 
 cled by water and woods. Between Bullardville and Waterville, by 
 either road, there is another section of the same general character, 
 but much more extensive. Below where the Kilbum mill used to 
 
HISTOSY OF WmCHBiNDOIir. 27 
 
 stand, the plain gradually widens out towards the southern end of the 
 town. This plain is between two and three miles in length, and aver- 
 ages more than half a mile in width. The aggregate of these plains 
 amounts to several hundred acres. Besides these there are many- 
 acres of meadow and intervale along the water courses, which materi- 
 ally increase the proportion of level land in the town. The soil, 
 whether hill, plain, valley or meadow, though not naturally rich, is 
 susceptible of cultivation, and yields a fair return to well-directed labor. 
 
 FonESTS. — Originally the township was a dense and almost unbro- 
 ken forest, full of game. In the northeast section, there were oak 
 and chestnut trees to some extent. Beech was found in different 
 parts. Maple and birch were more common. Graceful elms waved 
 in scattered clusters. Most of the surface however, was covered with 
 pine and other evergreen trees. In bringing the land under cultiva- 
 tion in early times, trees enough- were destroyed to make many for- 
 tunes now, if they had been preserved. And here it may be observed 
 that within a few years preceding the writing of this history, large pine 
 trees, which were thi-own down long ago, by tempests, have been dug 
 from a swamp, in the westerly part of the town, and found to be in fine 
 preservation. 
 
 Flora. — The Botany of Winchendon is similar to that of other 
 towns of the same latitude and elevation, in this section of the State. 
 It may be stated, as a matter of interest to some, that the Linncear 
 JBorealis, a very rare plant, is found in two or three localities in the 
 town. It grows in at least two places on the east side of Poor's pond, 
 near the road, and also on the land of Dea. Butler. 
 
 Fauna. — In early times, all kinds of animals common to New 
 England, roamed through the woods of Winchendon. Bears have 
 been seen here since the opening of the present century. Wolves 
 were not uncommon in the days of the early settlers. Deer were 
 quite abundant. One of the town officers for many years after the 
 organization, was a "deer reeve." The last deer seen wild in this 
 town, was in 1866. This was evidently a wandering deer, who had 
 lost his reckoning. It was seen in New Boston. The otter, the lynx, 
 and the mink are still found, though not abundant. Beavers disap- 
 peared long since. 
 
28 HISTOEY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 Among the rare birds are eagles, cranes, -wood ducks and loons. 
 One of the latter, a splendid bird, weighing sixteen pounds, -was 
 shot on Denison lake, a few years since. Its plumage was exceed- 
 ingly beautiful. 
 
 In old times the town annually chose a " fish reeve." His duty 
 was to see to the preservation of fish, and prevent their wanton destruC 
 tion. Our waters have always furnished much sport to the disciples 
 of Isaak Walton. Horn pout are abundant. Suckers find their way 
 up to the Monomonauk. Pickerel are plentiful and very fine. Trout 
 are found by those who know their lurking-places, and have the knack 
 of winning their confidence. 
 
 SECTION. 5 — OEOLOOY. 
 
 Formerly large boulders of granite were scattered over the town- 
 ship much-more numerously than at present. These have been, to a 
 great extent, split, and used for the under-pinning of buildings. The 
 ledges, wherever they crop out are found to be composed of metamor- 
 phic rock — and the larger part of the stones lying loose upon the sur- 
 face, or under the soil, are composed of the same material. The town 
 has no wealth of minerals and metals ; but quartz crystals are occa- 
 sionally found, and in some places water impregnated with iron, issues 
 from the ground. The principal spring of this kind, is at Spring 
 Village, where a steady stream supplies many families with water for 
 all household uses except washing. This spring was. known to the 
 Indians, and it has been in good repute ever since the white settlers 
 came into this region. If a good hotel were opened in the vicinity, 
 the water, in connection with conveniences for riding, hunting, boating 
 and fishing, would doubtless attract much company, in the summer 
 and autumn. 
 
 Probably a scientific observer would find indications of the ice 
 period which formerly prevailed in New England. But there is an 
 immense boulder, near the summit of the hill, in the centre of the 
 town, Avhieh must have been transported thither by floating ice, rather 
 than pushed up to that elevation by a glacier. The " lay of the land" 
 in evpry direction, seems to forbid the conclusion that this rock was 
 put in place by glacial action. There is a class of facts which point 
 
HISTOUY OF -WINCHENDOIT. 
 
 29 
 
 to a period when the surface of the earth in this region, was covered 
 with ice ; and there is another class of facts, which can be satisfacto- 
 rily accounted for only by the theory of floating ice. In those old 
 days when the land was under water, even to the highest hill-tops, 
 immense icebergs were borne by the waves over this section, and 
 huge boulders as well as smaller rocks, which adhered to the under 
 side of the ice, were deposited, sometimes in regular order, but gener- 
 ally in wild confusion. 
 
 It is probable that in the " gray eld," the water was thrown back 
 by a natural dam near Groodspeed & Wyman's works, as far as the 
 Butler mill, some two and a half miles. A similar obstruction near 
 the Kilburn Eoill flooded the meadows as far up the river as |lydeville. 
 And it is hardly possible to resist the conclusion, that the waters which 
 once covered all the plains in the southwest part of the town, and the 
 adjoining sections of Templeton and Royalston, were held in check by 
 some natural elevation at South Royalston. 
 
so HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 CHAPTER II.— EXPLORATION AND SET- 
 TLEMENT. 
 
 SECTION 1. — EXPLORATION. 
 
 " A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thicjc trees." 
 
 PSAUM 72 : 6. 
 
 In giving the annals of the early settlers, it will be necessary to go 
 into details, and recite the doings of the Proprietors and early settlers 
 at some length. And here the author would renew his acknowledg- 
 ment of indebtedness to Mr. Hyde and Dr. Whiton, for the aid they 
 have rendered in making the early history of the tcyvn accessible. 
 Nothing however, has been received on their authority. Every his- 
 torical fact has been verified from the original authorities. 
 
 It is probable that hunters from the lower towns passed through the 
 forests which then covered all our territory, in the early part of the 
 last century ; and perhaps prior to that time ; but if so, they left no 
 account of their wanderings for our information. In the time of 
 " Lovewell's war," as it was called, from 1722 to 1725, scouts of sol- 
 diers traversed this region of country, but it is not certain that they 
 crossed our boundaries. The first date which seems to connect a 
 white man with Winchendon, is 1724, when Jabez Fairbanks led a 
 scouting party from Groton, (then including Harvard,) to the Watatic 
 mountains, Monomonauk pond, and the Pack, or little Monadnauk, 
 east of Peterborough, N. H. It is not known for certamty that Fair- 
 banks and his party struck the east side of our great pond or lake, 
 below the state line ; but considering the lay of the land, and the 
 direction of his route, it is more than probable. The Indians used the 
 water of the " Yellow Spring" medicinally, and it is supposabk that 
 
HISTOEY OF WINCHBNDON. 31 
 
 they had paths or trails to the Spring, from east to west. We may 
 suppose that they moved from Groton, along southward of Watatic, in 
 a westerly course, until they reached the lower end of the lake, hy 
 which they were deflected northwards towards Peterborough, whence 
 they passed over the New Ipswich or Temple hills, and so returned to 
 their homes. 
 
 During the peace which prevailed for the most part, between 1725 
 and 1744, many settlements were made in the neighborhood, as in Fitch- 
 burg, Westminster, Athol, Swansey, Keene, Peterborough and New 
 Ipswich ; but for some years later, the territory now comprising the 
 towns of Ashburnham, Gardner, Royalston, Winchendon, FitzwiUiam, 
 Rindge and Jaffrey, remained an almost unbroken wilderness. 
 
 In 1735 this township of land was granted by the colony of Massa- 
 chusetts, to certain citizens of Ipswich, in Essex county. The proceed- 
 ings of the General Court, making the grant, are inserted here, as 
 found in the Records of the Original Proprietors of Ipswich Canada. 
 
 " At a Great and General Court, in and for His Majesty's Provinco of the 
 Massachusetts Bay in New England, begun and held in Boston, on Wed- 
 nesday, the twenty-eighth day of May, 1735, and continued by several 
 adjournments to Wednesday, the nineteenth of November following. 
 
 In the House of Kepresentatives, June 10, 1735, in answer to the peti- 
 tion of Lieut. Abraham Tilton and others. 
 
 Voted, That a Tract of Land of the contents of six miles square, be laid 
 out in a suitable place in the western part of this Province, and that the whole 
 of the Town be laid out into sixty-three shares ; one of which to be for the 
 first settled minister, one for the use of the ministry, and one for the school ; 
 and that on the other sixty shares there be sixty admitted ; and in the ad- 
 mission thereof preference to be given to the Petitioners, and such as are the 
 descendants of the officers and soldiers who served in the expedition to Can- 
 ada in the year 1690, viz: a Tract of Land for a Towmhip to the said 
 Abraham Tilton and others. And inasmuch as the officers and soldiers (who 
 served in that expedition) were very great sufferers, and underwent uncom-' 
 men hardships. 
 
 Voted, that this Province be at the whole charge of laying said Township 
 in a regular manner, and of admitting the settlers ; that the settlers or Gran- 
 tees hereby are obliged to bring forward the settlement of said Township in 
 as regular and defensible a manner as the situation and circumstances of the 
 place will admit of, and that in the following manner, viz : That they be on 
 the granted premises, and have each of them a house of eighteen feet square 
 
§2 HISTORY OF WINCHENLON. 
 
 and seven feet stud at tbe least ; That each Eight or Grant have six acres of 
 land brought to, ploughed or brought to English grass, and fitted for mow- 
 ing : that they settle in the plantation or township a learned and ortho- 
 dox Minister, and build a convenient Meeting-house for the public worship of 
 God in the township : the whole of these conditions to be duly complied with 
 within five years from the- confirmation of the Plat. A nd that Capt. John 
 Hobson and Capt. John Choate, with such as the Honorable Board shall 
 appoint, be a Committee for laying out the Township hereby granted to 
 Abraham Tilton and others, and admitting the settlers as aforesaid, who shall 
 take bond of each grantee to the value of twenty pounds to the Province 
 Treasurer for the respective grantees' fulfilment of the conditions of' their 
 grant. Each lot as aforesaid to be entitled to, and draw future divisions in 
 equal proportions in the township or plantation : and that the Committee 
 return the Plat of the said township to the Court, within twelve months for 
 confirmation, as also the list of the names of the grantees, and their place of 
 residence, into the Secretary's oflBce, that so the same may be examined and 
 regulated by a Committee that may be hereafter appointed by this Court. 
 And further, it is hereby ordered, that in case any of the grantees shall 
 neglect or delay to fulfil the terms of the grant, such person or persons shall 
 forfeit to the Province all his or their right and interest in the land hereby 
 granted. 
 
 Sent up for concurrence, 
 
 J. QUINCY, Speaker. 
 In Council, June 18th, 1735. 
 
 ■ Kead and Concurred and Ordered, that Thomas Berry, Esq., 
 be joined to the Committee for laying out the Township. 
 
 J. WILLAED, Secretary. 
 Dec. 29, Consented to, 
 
 J. BELCHEE. - 
 A true Copy, 
 
 Examined, THADS. MASON, Bept. Sec'y. 
 
 A true Copy, Attest, 
 
 THOS. NOETON, Jun., Pro. Clerk 
 
 The origin of the above-cited grant -was as follows, as may be found 
 in the old histories. Many soldiers went from this colony, on the ill- 
 fated expedition to Quebec in 1690. The surviving officers and sol- 
 diers, or their descendants, petitioned the Greneral Court for a grant 
 of land, as a partial compensation for their sufferings and losses in that 
 expedition. The petition was granted, and to those surviving men, 
 ■who lived in Ipswich, or in case of their decease, to their heirs, was 
 
I!I.3T0r.Y OF AYIXCnESDON. OO 
 
 given the territory of Wincliendon, under the title of " Ips-wicli 
 Canada." Asliburnham ^vas styled "Dorchester Canada," Rindge, 
 " Rowley Canada," and Peterborough, " Salem Canada." In this 
 measure, Lieut. Abraham Tilton, beheved to have been a surviving 
 officer in the old Canada expedition, appears to have taken the lead. 
 His name heads the list of grantees, and he is called the " father of 
 the petition." 
 
 The act making the grant, appointed Hon. Thomas Berry, Capt. 
 John Hobson, and Capt. John Choate, a committee to admit grantees, 
 and to locate the township. The next stop is indicated by the follow- 
 ing action of the General Court. 
 
 "In the House of Representatives, March 27, 1736, 
 
 Ordered, That Thomas Berry, Esq., be fully authorized and empowered 
 to assemble and convone the Proprietors and Grantees in Canada Township, 
 on the petition of Abraham Tilton and others of Ipswich, &c., in some suita- 
 ble place and conyonient time, to choose a Proprietors' Clerk, and pass such 
 ■ Votes and Orders as they may think necessary for the regular carrying on 
 the settlement of the said Township, agreeable to the conditions of their 
 grant, and to agree how mootiiigs shall be called for the future." 
 
 In April, 13th, 1736, the Committee appointed in the grant, allowed 
 the claims of sixty persons, of whom fifty-two were of Ipswich, to be 
 grantees and proprietors. The action of this committee is given in 
 the following extract from the Proprietors' Book. 
 
 "Essex, ss. At a Meeting of the Ooratnittee appointed by the General 
 Court for the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, to lay 
 out a Township of the contents of six miles square, in answer to a petition 
 of Abraham Tilton and others, officers and soldiers in the expedition to Can- 
 ada, Anno 1690, the following persons were admitted as Grantees of said 
 Township, and gave bonds to fulfil-the Court's Order thereon. 
 
 Ipswich, April 13th, 1736. 
 
 RIQHT ENTERED ON 
 
 Father, Thomas Berry, Esq., Ipswich. 
 
 Own, ---Jonathan Wade, Esq., Ipswich. 
 
 Own, John Harris, Ipswich. 
 
 Own, Thomas Hovey, Ipswich. 
 
 Own, Abraham Perkins, Ipswich. 
 
 Husband and Father, Widow Rachel Rust, Ipswich. 
 
 Own, Abraham Tilton Ipswich. 
 
■it HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 UIQHT ENTERED ON. 
 
 Own, lienjamin White, Ipswicli. 
 
 Own, Samuel Poland, Ipswich. 
 
 Brother John, Thomas Lufkin, Ipswich. 
 
 ( Thomas Lufkin is ) 
 Brother Jacob, ■< next friend to > Ipswich. 
 
 ( Mary Lufkin, ) 
 
 Uncle Bencdictus, Ebenezer Pulcepher, Gloucester. 
 
 Father Moses, Jabez Sweet, Ipswich. 
 
 Father's, Solomon Giddinge, Ipswich. 
 
 Brother William, Joseph Goodhue, Ipswich, 
 
 Father's, William Haskell, Gloucester. 
 
 Brother Thomas, John Ring, Gloucester. 
 
 Uncle Joseph, Benjamin Cbadwell, Ipswich. 
 
 Brother John, Edward Nealand, Ipswich. 
 
 TT 1 -r> T\ • (Nath. Rogers as Guar-) t • i 
 
 Uncle D. Denison j^j^^ ^^ jS^ j^^.^^^_ j- -...Ip.swich. 
 
 Wife's Father Durgee, — John Martin, Ipswich. 
 
 Father Servant, Isaac Knowlton, Ipswich. 
 
 Father's, John Thompson, Ipswich. 
 
 ( John Wood in the room ") 
 Uncle Joseph, ■< of and by the consent >• Ipswich. 
 
 ( of his father, j 
 
 Facer's j'SeS'rii^-} --Boston. 
 
 Own, Thomas Berrin, Rowley. 
 
 Own, David Low, : Ipswich. 
 
 Uncle Moses Pierce, Moses Wells, Ipswich. 
 
 Brother Thomas, George Hart, Ipswich. 
 
 Father's, William Cogswell, Ipswich. 
 
 Brother Elisha, Thomas Tredwell, Ipswich. 
 
 Brother Benjamin, Jonathan Jewett, Jun., Rowley. 
 
 Father's, Robert Cross, — 1 Ipswich. 
 
 Own, Adam Cogswell, Ipswich. 
 
 Uncle, Benjamin Ohadwell, Ipswich. 
 
 Father Whipple, The Hon. Sinionds Epes, Ipswich. 
 
 Uncle Freeman, Nathaniel Clark, Ipswich. 
 
 Brother George, Nathaniel 'Clark, Ipswich. 
 
 ( Capt. Edward Eveleth by ") 
 Dil. Caldwell, ■< and at the req[uest of [• --Ipswich. 
 
 ( Dilingham Caldwell, ) 
 
 Brother William, , — Nathaniel Caldwell, Ipswich. 
 
 Father, Henry Wise, Ipswich. 
 
 r Thomas Norton, Jun., at ) 
 JohnAyres, ■< the request of Samuel >- Ipswich. 
 
 ( Ayres, a Petitioner, ) 
 
 Own, John Ross, Ipswich. 
 
 Father's, Isaac Giddinge, Ipswich. 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 35 
 
 SlOnI ESIEKED OK. 
 
 ( Edward Eveleth at the ) 
 Thomas Metcalf, -I request of Jos. Metcalf >- Ipswieb. 
 
 ( a Petitioner, ) 
 
 Father's, Moses Davis, Ipswich. 
 
 Grandfather, Ephraim Fitts, Ipswich. 
 
 Pearce, Thomas Bnardman, Ipswich. 
 
 Edward Chapman, Ipswich. 
 
 John Goodhue, Ipswich. 
 
 Uncle Isaac, Abraham Foster, Jun., Ipswich. 
 
 Major Ward, Doct. Nicholas Noyes, Andover. 
 
 Father's, John Pindar, Ipswich. 
 
 TJncle Samuel, Nathaniel Lord, Ipswich. 
 
 Uncle Bdmond, Samuel Ingalls, Ipswich. 
 
 Brother Aaron, Moses Kimball, . Ipswich. 
 
 Uncle Cheney, John Leighton Ipswich. 
 
 Eob't Nelson, Joseph Annablo, Beverly. 
 
 Math. Hooker, Widow Mary Hooker, Ipswich. 
 
 ( Thomas Lord, Jun., at") 
 Uncle Saund, •< his Father, Jno. Lord's [■ Ipswich. 
 
 ( ■ request, ) 
 
 The above-named proprietors met on the 31st of May, and chose 
 Thomas Norton, Jr., a graduate of Harvard, and Preceptor of the 
 Grammar School in Ipswich, as their Clerk. The warrant calling the 
 meeting is given in a note at the bottom of the page.* No apology- 
 can be needed for giving the proceedings of the first Meeting of the 
 " Proprietors and Grantees," in full, in the body of this narrative. 
 The record, copied from the Proprietors' Book, is ,as follows : — 
 
 " At a legal meeting of the Proprietors and Grantees of the new Town- 
 ship lately granted to Mr. Abraham Tilton and others, oificers and soldiers 
 in the expedition to Canada Anno 1600, at tlie Town house in Ipswich on 
 Monday the 31st day of May, Anno Domini 1736. 
 
 Voted. That Col. Thomas Berry be Moderator. 
 
 Voted, That Thomas Norton, Jun., be Clerk to the Proprietors: and he 
 
 * " The Proprietors and Grantees of the new Township lately granted to 
 Mr. Abraham Tilton and others, officers and soldiers in the expedition to Can- 
 Jida Anno 1690, are hereby notified and warned to assemble and meet at the 
 Town-house in Ipswich, on Monday the thlrty-flrst day of instant May at four 
 of the cloclc afternoon, thon and there to choose a Proprietor's Clerji. and to 
 pass such votes and orders as may be thought most proper for bringing for- 
 ward the said Township agreeable to the General Court's order. And to agree 
 how to call meetings of said Proprietors for the future. 
 
 Thomas Berry, per order. 
 Dated at Ipswich, May 20th, 1736." 
 
36 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 was sworn to tbe faithful discharge of his oflSce, by Thomas Berry, Esq., 
 at the same time. 
 
 Voted, That any two of the Committee, viz : Col. Thomas Berry, Capt. 
 John Choate, and Capt. John Hobson, be empowered to employ two men to 
 burn the woods, if according to their discretion, they shall think it best. 
 
 Voted, That any five of the Proprietors or Grantees shall have power to 
 call a Meeting, and five days from the date of the notification shall be a suf- 
 ficient warning. 
 
 Voted, That this meeting be dissolved : and the Moderator declared, the 
 Meeting dissolved accordingly. 
 
 Attest: Tiios. Noktos, Jun., Pro. Cleric, 
 
 In June of this year, the " Court's Committee" consisting of Messrs. 
 Berry, Hobson, (or HopSon,) and Choate, already mentioned, " went 
 up the country," located the township, and designated its boundaries. 
 It is probable that this Committee made a report in writing, to the 
 General Court ; but there is no trace of it, except in its results, in the 
 Records of the town. 
 
 From this time, when we fix the first authentic date of the advent of 
 white men to this place, there was an interval of thirteen or fourteen 
 years before a settlement was actually made. The proprietors had 
 various meetings in Ipswich, and took measures to lot out the land, 
 but the troubled condition of the country prevented settlement. At 
 one of these meetings, held on the 28th of June, 1736, Capt. Edward 
 Eveleth, Lieut. Solomon Giddinge, Mr. Wm. Cogswell, Mr. John 
 Martin, and Mr. Isaac Giddinge, were appointed a " Committee to 
 go and view the land, and see the qualifications thereof, and report to 
 the Proprietors as soon as may be." Their'guide was Thomas Bennet, 
 probably an old hunter and trapper, familiar with the region. 
 
 At another meeting, held on the fourth day of November, following; 
 Col. Thomas Berry, Capt. Edward Eveleth, and Lieut. Abraham Til- 
 ton were chosen a Committee " to lot and lay out the first division, 
 which is not to be under fifty acres, and not to exceed a hundred." 
 Jonathan Wade, Esq., was chosen Treasurer, and an assessment of 
 three pounds, on each Proprietor, was laid, to defray charges. On 
 the sixth of May, 1737, a meeting was held, at which Col. Thomas 
 Berry, Thomas Norton, Jun., and Mr. Henry Wise, were chosen 
 Assessors, and Capt. Edward Eveleth, and Mr. William Cogswel^, 
 Collectors. 
 
niSTOKY OF WINCH^NDON. 37 
 
 This year Jeremiah Hall was employed by the people of Keene to 
 lay out a road from that place to Townsend and Lunenburg. It 
 passed through this place, and was a mere horse path, indicated by 
 marked trees. 
 
 The next meeting was held on the 27th of October, 1637, and as 
 this was a meeting of great importance, in its results ; and as it sheds 
 much light on the state of things at the time, it will be inserted in full. 
 The warrant is as follows : 
 
 "Essex, ss. To Mr. Taorti:is Norton. Jun., Clerk of the Proprietors of 
 the Township lately granted to BIr. Abraham Tilton and others, officers and 
 soldiers in the expedition to Canada, 1690. 
 
 You are hereby required to notify and warn the Grantees and Proprietors 
 of tlie Township lately granted to Mr. Abraham 'J ilton and others, officers 
 and soldiers in the expedition to Canada Ann* 1G90, that they assemble and 
 meet at the house of Mr. Nath'l Tredwell inn-holder in Ipswich, on Thursday 
 the 27th day of October current, at 4 of the clock afternoon, then and there 
 to receive the return of the Committee appointed to lay out the first division 
 of lots, and subdivide the samo or part of them, if the Proprietors shall 
 think bcit. 
 
 2. To make proper and Suitable provision for w.ays through said lots. 
 
 ?>. To agree upon some method for clearing to the centre of the first divi- 
 sion of lots, or where they shall agree upon to set the first Meeting-house. 
 
 4. To fix upon the place to erect and build a Meeting-house, and to 
 reserve a sufficient quantity of land out of some of the lots for a training field 
 and burying place. 
 
 5. To make proper allowance to the person who may draw the lot out 
 of which the aforesaid reserves may be made. 
 
 6. To give liberty to such of the Proprietors as may draw a lot not 
 aceommodab'e for settling, to make a second draft out of the supernumerary 
 lots that are laid out. 
 
 7. To make suitable provision for the erecting and building of a Saw-mili. 
 
 8. To give such encouragement to the Grantee who shall build, agreeable 
 to the General Court's order, tho first dwelling-house of 18 feet in length 
 and 7 feet stud, as shall be judged necessary and convenient. 
 
 9. For each Grantee to draw his lot in the first division now laid out; 
 and such of them as have not already paid the three pounds voted at the last 
 ^Mecting^to defray tho charge of laying out the lots, pay tho same before they 
 be allowed to draw their lots. 
 
 10. To take some proper method to obtain leave of the General Court to 
 
38 HISTOnT OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 dispose of lots tbat may be lost to any of the Grantees who shall neglect and 
 refuse to pay the charge that hath already arisen in laying out the lots and 
 otherways. 
 
 11. To settle and adjust accounts with such persons to whom the Gran- 
 tees and Proprietors are indebted. 
 
 Thomas Berkt, 
 Edward Eveletii, 
 Abraham Tiltox, 
 Hknry Wise, 
 Jonatiiah Wade. 
 Dated Ipswich, Oct. 22d, 1737." 
 
 Then follows the return of Mr. Norton, the Clerk, certifying that 
 lie had given due notice, after whicli we find the following record of 
 the proceedings of the Meeting. 
 
 " At a legal Jleetlng of the Proprietors of the Township lately granted by 
 the General Court to Mr. Abraham Tilton and others, officers and soldiers in 
 the expedition to Canada, Anno Domini, 1690, at the house of Mr. Nath'l 
 Trodwell in Ipswich on Thursday the 27th erf Oct., 1737. 
 
 Voted, That Col. Thomas Berry be Moderator. 
 
 Voted, That the return of the Committee appointed to lay out the first 
 division of lots be accepted and recorded, being a hundred acres in each lot. 
 
 Voted, That the land left for ways bo reserved for the Proprietors' use 
 and service, as thoy shall order and direct. 
 
 Voted, That 5 acres be reserved out of No. 1 in the South division, for 
 building a Meeting-house on, a burying place and training field. And that 
 an equivalent be allowed out of lot No. 30, in the South division, to the 
 Proprietor drawing lot No. ] . 
 
 Voted, That there be a road cut from Earlington, [in Northfield,] as near 
 as may be to the Meeting-house lot, at the charge of the Proprietors. 
 
 Voted, That liberty may bo given to such of the Proprietors as may draw 
 a lot not aecommodable for settling, to make a second draft out of the super- 
 numerary lots that are already laid out ; if not in thorn, then in the undi- 
 vided lands, at his own charge that desires it. 
 
 Voted, That the use of the streams running through the Township be 
 reserved to the Proprietors, and they shall have liberty to set up such mills 
 as they shall think necessary for the Proprietors for six years to come. The 
 person through whose land the stream shall pass, to erect a mill if he think 
 proper : but on his refusal, the Proprietors may and shall dispose tliereof as 
 they shall think best, without making any other allowance to the Proprietor 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 39 
 
 (Jf said lot than for sueh damages as may be done on his land, but none for 
 tlie stream. And that no milt be erected on said Township, but by the 
 allowance of the Proprietors, foi;.the aforesaid term of six years. 
 
 Voted, That the sum of twenty pounds be allowed and paid out of the 
 Proprietors' treasury to each of the three Grantees who shall first build three 
 houses in the Township, agreeable to the General Court's act, and have a 
 family settled in them ; provided the family bo settled there on or before the 
 last of October next. 
 
 Voted, That each Grantee pay the Sum of three pounds before he be 
 allowed to draw his lot. 
 
 Voted, That Mr. Abraham Tilton, the father of the Petition, be allowed 
 to choose his lot.* 
 
 Voted, That the lots No. 14 and 15 in the south division be reserved for 
 the ProprieWirs' order. 
 
 Voted, That tiio lot No. 1, in the north division be the Ministry or 
 Parsonage lot. 
 
 Voted, That the lot No. 31 in the south division be the Minister's lot. 
 
 Voted, That this Meeting be adjourned to Thursday the third of Nov. next, 
 at four of the clock afternoon, , to meet at this place." 
 
 Here follows a list of the proprietors, and of each right drawn for 
 each proprietor, according to the plan reported by the Committee 
 appointed Nov 4th, 1736. This was the first division. To accom- 
 pany this list of proprietors, a fao simile of the plan, as found in the 
 Record Book of the Proprietors, has been carefully prepared. This 
 is a most valuable addition to the History of the town, as it enables 
 the reader to see just w^here the rights of those who became proprie- 
 tors by the first and second divisions of the town were located. Only 
 a part of the town was divided into lots, on the first plot. Those 
 bounded by the black line composed the first division. In the first 
 plot, the numbering was from 1 to 36, south division, and from 1 to 35, 
 north division. When filled up, the remainder was divided into lots 
 numbering from 1 to 194. When Royalston leg was annexed, the 
 numbers of the lots were from 96 to 113. The second division will bo 
 found on a subsequent page. 
 
 *lle cUose the lot No. ?0, in the ijorth division. 
 
40 
 
 HISTORY OF WISrCHEXDOIT. 
 
 FIRST DIVISION. 
 
 Lt. AbrabamTilton,--N. D. No. 
 Thomas Lord, Jan.,--S. D. No. 
 
 Moses Davis, S. D. No. 
 
 Widow Mary Hooker,. N. D. No. 
 
 Isaac Kiiowlton, S. D. No. 
 
 Edward Eveleth N. D. No. 
 
 John Ring, N. D. No. 
 
 John Martin, N. D. No. 
 
 Rev. Natb'l Rogers, }_ ^_ j^ ^^_ ^ 
 for J . Denison, ) 
 
 George Hart N. D. No. 
 
 •John Loighton, S. D. No. 
 
 Edward Chapman, ---N. D. No. 
 
 John Pindar N. D. No. 
 
 Benj. Chadwell, N. D. No. 
 
 David Low N. D. No. 
 
 Bsnjamin Chadwell,--N. D. No. 
 
 John Ross N. D. No. 
 
 Edward Nealand S. D. No. 
 
 John Wood, S. D. No. 
 
 Moses Welles N. D.. No. 
 
 Edward Eveleth, S. D. No. 
 
 Widow Rachel Rust,- -8. D. No. 
 William Cogswell,-— S. D. No. 
 
 Samuel Ingalls N. D. No. 
 
 Hon. Simonds Epos, I g t) j;[o 
 
 Est^., ) ■ ■ 
 
 Doct. Nicholas Noyes,-S. D. No. 
 
 Thos. Norton, Jr., S. D. No. 
 
 Thomas Perrin, N. D. No. 
 
 Robert Cross, N. D. No. 
 
 Thos. Lufkin, S. D. No. 
 
 IsaacGiddinge, 
 
 Thos. Boardman,-- 
 
 Thos. Tredwell, 
 
 Nath'lTredwell,-- 
 Hon. Thomas Berry, 
 
 lisq. 
 Jonathan Jewett, Jr 
 
 Joseph Aunablc. 
 
 Henry Wise , 
 
 Joseph Goodhue, 
 
 John Goodhue, 
 
 Mosea Kimball. ----- 
 
 Adam Cogswell, 
 
 Ephraim Fitt.s, 
 
 John Downing, 
 
 Thos. Hovey; 
 
 School, 
 
 Natb'l Clark 
 
 Samuel Poland, 
 
 Abraham Perkins, 
 
 Jabej Sweet, 
 
 Benj. White, 
 
 John Thompson, 
 
 Jonathan AVade, Esq... 
 
 Thos. Lufkin, 
 
 John Harris, 
 
 Solomon Giddinge,-- 
 
 Wm. Haskell 
 
 Ebenezer Pulcepher, - 
 
 Natb'l Clark 
 
 Abraham Foster, Jr., 
 Natb'l Lord, 
 
 -N. D. 
 -N. D. 
 -S. D. 
 -N. D. 
 
 j-S. D. 
 
 ,_S. D. 
 -N. D. 
 ._N. D. 
 -S. D. 
 -N. D. 
 .-S. D. 
 -S. D. 
 __S»D. 
 -N. D. 
 ..N. D. 
 ._N. D. 
 -N. D. 
 -N. D. 
 .-N. D. 
 .-S. D. 
 _-S. D. 
 -S. D. 
 -N. D. 
 -N. D. 
 -N. D. 
 .-S. D. 
 -S. D. 
 -S. D. 
 -S. D. 
 -S. D. 
 -N. D. 
 
 No. 5 
 No. 32 
 No. 34 
 No. 31 
 
 No. 2 
 
 No. 35 
 No. '28 
 No. 19 
 No. 20 
 No. 29 
 No. 5 
 No. 18 
 No. 10 
 No. 4 
 No. 21 
 No. 10 
 No. 7 
 No. 18 
 No. 33 
 No. 13 
 No. II 
 No. 30 
 No. 4 
 No. IG 
 No. 27 
 No. 22 
 No. 29 
 No. 32 
 No. 36 
 No. 
 No. 34 
 
 The meeting at which the above allotment was made, was adjourned 
 to the 3d of November, when certain accounts were allowed, which 
 are considered of sufficient interest to be placed in a note.* 
 
 ■ The froprietors of the Township, To Thomas Bekry, 
 
 Dr. 
 
 £1, 10, 
 
 1736, March. 
 
 To a Book of Records, 
 
 To a journey to Lancaster to secure the laying out of the Tov/n 
 
 ship, oxpeuso, horse, &C:, 
 To 1 day's attendance on the Grantees and admitting, 
 To ^ day in said service, 
 
 To a copy of the i'lan K., from the Sec'ry's office. 
 To a journey and service in laying out the lots, expenses, &c., 
 Errors excepted, 
 
 Pr. Tho.aias Bekey 
 
 0, 
 
 00, 
 
 15, 
 
 0, 07, fi 
 
 0, 15, 
 
 OOj 
 
HISTORY OF WIXCIIENEON. 41 
 
 Meetings ivitli reference to erecting a meeting-house, laying out 
 ^ roads, and building mills and bridges, -wore held in 1737, 1738, and 
 1742. These matters idll be referred to in their proper plqce, more 
 at length. 
 
 An incident may be recorded here, which has no precise date, 
 but which tradition sanctions. During the years whose record has 
 
 The Proprietors, &c., To John IIobso;?, Esq., Dr. 
 
 To 1 day's attcrdancc admitting Grantees, , £0, 15, 
 
 VuteH, Tliat the acc'ts of Col. Thomas Berry, and ,Tohn Hobson, 
 Esq., above written, be allowed and paid out of the Proprietors' 
 treasury to them in full discharge thereof. 
 
 Ipst^icii CAXAD.i. G!tA>;Ti:ES, Dr. 
 
 173G. 
 
 Paid to the Depnty Sec'ry for copies, £0, 10, 
 
 To IVidays' attendance in adinittiug Grantees, 1, 02, fi 
 
 To a j.jurney up the country, hovse and expenses included, 5, GO, G 
 
 Total, £G, 13, 
 
 Errors excepted, 
 
 John Ciioate." 
 
 The above acconnt was allowed, and the sura of £61, G, was voted to 
 Thomas Berry, Eh(]., in discharge of the acccnints of Messrs. Wheeler, Par- 
 koi', Wetherbee, Kicliardson, Bellows, and the two surveyors, far laying out 
 the first division in the Township. 
 
 " Oct. 27, 1737. The Community or Ipswich Canada, Dr. 
 
 To Abraham Tilton for 17 days' work at lus pr. day, £12, 15, 0" 
 
 This account was allowed, and also 13s per day to the follov/ing persons 
 who assisted in lotting out the Township. 17 days each; viz, John Martin, 
 Isaac Martin, Thomas Brown, Francis Goodhue, and John Martin, Jr., 
 amounting to £11, 1, to each of them. 
 
 " Voted, That six pounds l)e allowed and paid out of the treasury to such 
 Proprietor as shall cut ;i horse way from Earlington road to the Meeting- 
 house lot. 
 
 Voted, That the sum of £3. 03, 2. the expenses of tlie house, be allowed 
 and paid out of the treasury to Mr. Nath'l Tredwell." 
 
 "TiiK Pr.opiJiKTOits, fie, Dr. 
 
 To the Committee that went to view the Tov.-nship, vi;;, Edv.-ard 
 Eveleth, Abraham Tilton, Solomon Giddinge, John Martin, 
 and Isaac Giddingo, Sept. 28 to Oct. 1736, 9 days each at 15s 
 pr. day, £33, 15, 
 
 To paid John Bennet the pilot, 3, 00, 
 
 Total, £36, 15, 
 
 lOrrors excepted, 
 
 Edwap.d Evulktii." 
 
 This account was allowed, and at an adjourned meeting "liberty was 
 granted to draw John Downing's lot, but not to be recorded till he shall have 
 paid his three pounds." 
 
42 
 
 HISTORY OF WIXCIIENDON. 
 
 ju3t been given, visits were made from time to time, by the grantees; 
 to their wild lands. On one of these excui-sions, a man named Denison, 
 supposed^ to ba a dasoendant of Maj. Gen. Denison, famad in the earlj 
 history of Massachusetts, " being lost in the woods," says Dr. Whiten, 
 " climbed a treo to command a wider range of prospect, and thus dis- 
 covered the gleaming waters of the boautiful lalce in the southwest 
 part of the town, which after him took thff name of Denison pond." 
 Ltt this be noted, that the common error in spelling the name may. be 
 corrected. In one map it is called Donaco, and in another, Dennis 
 pond. Mr. Hyde's history gives it correctly. Denison might well 
 have been pleased with the incident, though perplexing at the time, if 
 he could have foreseen that his name was to be forever associated with 
 this charming little lake. 
 
 In 1740, the true boundary line between New Hampshire and 
 Massachusetts was run, when it was found that a strip of land on the 
 north enl of this town, about a mile ip width, which had been inclu- 
 ded in the bounds oF N. H., really belonged to the elder colony, 
 J3ut for some unaccountable reason, this strip was given to Royalston, 
 and was known as " Royalston leg." Subsequently it was annexed 
 to Winchendon, and it includes all the northern part of the town, 
 about a mile wide. 
 
 In the year 1742, a second division of lots was voted, but it doe^, 
 not appear to have been raid 3 before 1761. Cy this division, each 
 original holder, or his succossor by inheritance or purchase, drew by 
 lottery, three lots. The arrangement was as follows : but the reader 
 must bear in mind that in the plot the sam3 number in several cases, 
 is marked on two or threo dilferent lots, and therefore when one of 
 th3se numbers is repeated below, it does not refer to a lot bearing that 
 number already appropriated. For example, No. 2, north division 
 was assigned to Edward Chapman, and No. 2, south division, to 
 Thomas Berry, at the first division of lots. It follows that the No. 2, 
 drawn by .John Goodhue in the last division of the lots, was a third 
 No. 2. The reader will notice that the first division — surrounded by 
 the heavy black line — was divided into north and south divisions. 
 This is indicated on the right or east side of the Plan by the letters 
 N. and S. 
 
A PliAlSr 
 
 of tlie ILif SJ OF lLA\ii mtlie 
 
 T OWK OF WiyCHEyPOy . 
 
 -La^iil tJ^w}^ iipe?t/ gfy Seale^ef 
 
 CH.H.CROSBI LITH. tf WAT£/> ST.BOSTOIt. 
 
HISTORY OF WIIfCHENDOIf. 
 
 43 
 
 SECOND DIVISION. 
 
 NAMES- RIGHTS. 
 
 Abraham Tilton,--- 71, 157, 15G 
 
 Thomas Lord, 176, 16,5, 42 
 
 Moses Davis, 80, 39, 179 
 
 Mary Hooker, 47, 184, 9 
 
 Edward Evelcth, .37, 162, 104 
 
 John Ring 19, 97, 76 
 
 John Martin, _-:--_]64, 22, 149 
 
 Nathaniel Rogers,.- 35, 153, 94 
 
 Isaac Knowlton, 48, 23, 136 
 
 George Hart 181, 44, 130 
 
 John Lighten 69, 40, 95 
 
 Edward Chapman,-- 15, SG, 154 
 
 John Pindar 174, 115, 132 
 
 Benjamin Chadwell, 169, 152, 133 
 
 David Low, 87, 175, 93 
 
 John Ross 38, 34, 62 
 
 Edward Nealand, 178, 160, 151 
 
 JohnWnod, 83, 139, 64 
 
 Moses VVelles 81, 150, 187 
 
 Edward Evcleth 167, 102, 148 
 
 Rachel Rust, 5i), 77, 142 
 
 William Cogswell,--] 17, 171, 166 
 
 Samuel Ingalls, 159, 119, 40 
 
 Simond Epos, 114, 17, 98 
 
 Nichols Noys 45, 88, 158 
 
 Tho. Norton, 168, 72, 1 
 
 Tho. Pei-rinn- 18, 146, 124 
 
 Robert Cross. 120, 116, 8 
 
 Tho. Lufkin 101, 78, 113 
 
 Isaac Giddings 100, 118, 90 
 
 Tho. Boardman 7, 33, 183 
 
 Tho. Trcdwell, 100, 120, 14 
 
 NAMES. RIGUTS. 
 
 Nath'l Caldwell,-— 137, 51, 5 
 
 Tho. Berry,-- 92, 135, 141 
 
 Jonathan Jewet, 43, 73, 52 
 
 Joseph Annable, 91, 75, 11 
 
 Henry Wise, 172, 82, 24 
 
 Joseph Goodhu* 123, 110, 188 
 
 John Goodhue, 2, 127. 96 
 
 Moses Kimball 180, U5, 131 
 
 Adam Cogswell, 59, 126, 145 
 
 EphraimFitts 49, 112, 163 
 
 John Downing 09, 60, 20 
 
 Tho. Hovey, 122, 79, 61 
 
 School Lots 193, 170, 70 
 
 Nathaniel Clark 27, 10, 84 
 
 Samuel Poland,- --111, 16, 89 
 
 Abram Perkens, 28, 66, 07 
 
 Jabez Sweet 68, 161', 53 
 
 Benjamin White, 121, 182, 20 
 
 John Thomson, 58, 143, 144 
 
 Jonathan Wade,---- 36, 6, 128 
 
 Tho. Lufkin, 85, 4. 56 
 
 John Ilaris, 03, 31, 13 
 
 Solomon Giddings.-- 57, 147, 125 
 
 William Haskell,- --194, 109, 105 
 
 Eben'r Pulcepher,-- 54, 186, 55 
 
 Nath'l Clark .32, 177, 41 
 
 Abram Foster, 12, 103, 29 
 
 Nath'l Lord, 107, 140, 134 
 
 Benj. Chadwell,--- 2,5, 173, 138 
 
 Minister's Lots, 74, 65, 185 
 
 Ministerial Lots, 108, 21, 3 
 
 SECTION 
 
 -SETTLEMENT. 
 
 Abovit nine years passed away. At length, in 1751, the " Old 
 French and Indian war," as it is known iu history, having been 
 brought to a close about two years previously, tho Proprietors made 
 new efforts to effect a real settlement. They sent up a committee to 
 run the lines and renew the bounds between this and the adjoining 
 townships. They were also directed " to take care of the mill irons, 
 and to seo what condition the meeting-house .and mill are in." Bridle 
 paths had been opened through the woods ; the territory had been 
 
44 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 traversed in every direction ; and the way was opened for settlers. 
 And now, on the 29th of January, 1752, the Proprietors took a deci- 
 sive step, which led to actual re-Viilts. They voted £100, " old tenor," 
 equivalent to about forty-four silver dollars, to each one of the first 
 ten men who should by the first of November next, .build a dwelling- 
 house, and settle a family in the township. The result was, ten fami- 
 lies erected log houses, and planted themselves here, this season, some 
 of whom stood their groand through the perils of the next French and 
 Indian war, which soon began to rage. The following extract from 
 the Proprietors' Book will be road with interest, as it shows who were 
 engaged in the actual settlement. 
 
 " March 10, 1762. Tliomas Brown sent his claim to bo received for one of 
 the first settlors. 1. 
 EJward Eveleth enters his claim for two of the first set- 
 tling families. 2. 
 " 16, " Eiekiel .Jewatt enters his clalra for ono of the first 
 
 settlers. 1 . 
 " 31, '■ The Hon. Thomas Berry put in his claim for two settling 
 families. 2. 
 April 4, " Thomas Brown desire.stho privilege of being admitted for 
 
 two more settling rights. 2. 
 " 18, " Col. Tho. Berry claims a privilege for one more of the 
 
 first settling familioa. 1. 
 '■23, " Edward Eveleth desires tho privilege for one more set-, 
 
 tling family." 1. 
 
 Tho next year, 1753, the settlers put up a small frame of a meet- 
 ing-house, a few rods south of the old burying ground, this spot hav- 
 ing been originally selected as the centre. That frame was never 
 occupied for public worship, nor even enclosed ; but was soon sold, on 
 conviction that the present centre common — on " the hill" — was a 
 bette* site for a meetin3;-house and training field. But let it he 
 recorded to their honor, that tho first ten families, the year after they 
 had built log cabins for themselves, undertook to erect a house of God. 
 
 The names of the first settlers will be read with increasing interest ■. 
 as the years of their pioneer labors recede into the past. The follow- 
 ing list, says Dr. Whiton, is nearly correct, and in relation to most of 
 them, certainly so. By far the most prominent man among them, was 
 tho Hon. Thomas Berry, one of the leading citizens of Ipswich, who 
 settled on the place formerly belonging to Stephen Tolman, and now 
 owned by Samuel Woodbury, resided there a portion of each of the 
 
Bay M@uis©j 1?S1. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 45 
 
 two or three subsequent years, and then returned to Ipswich, ■where 
 he died, August 12, 1756. He was thus a resident, 'though not 
 legally an inhabitant of the town. Lieut. Tilton was also here, at 
 times, and did much in efiecting the settlement. Another prominent 
 man, of considerable -wealth and influence, who though ho never became 
 a resident, was .a large landholder, was active' in promoting the settle- 
 ment, and occasionally visited his lands here, was Dr. Joseph Man- 
 ning of Ipswich. His name is introduced for the sake of an amusing 
 anecdote which occurred on one of his visits, and v/hich will be related 
 in connection with a name soon to bo mentioned. Hichard Day was 
 a permanent settler, and built the house now owned by Mr. Josiah 
 Dunn, more than a hundred and sixteen years since [1752]. He was 
 the first deacon of the church, and was killed by the fall of a tree, 
 many years afterwards. He was a liseful man, and his decease was 
 much lamented. 
 
 Thomas Wilder, supposed to have been a brother of the Hon. Abel 
 Wilder, was a respectable man, but left the place soon, probably on 
 account of the war. 
 
 r 
 
 *j Abijah Smith was a man of influence. He soon loft, but came back 
 ' after the war. 
 
 Gabriel Pushoy, or Pouchey, was a French refugee from Kova 
 Scotia or. Cape Breton, lived in a fortified house on the south side of 
 the common, and at his death, left a widow who survived to extreme 
 old age. Some of her descendants of the seventh generation, no-.v 
 reside in the tov/n. We now come to the. anecdote of Dr. Manning. 
 It' is told of the oldlady, then young however, that having received of 
 the Dr., a cake of chocolate, with the direction to prepare it for him 
 against his return to dinner, and being unwilling to acknowledge her 
 ignorance of the article, she came to the sage conclusioii .taat.it was tu 
 be boiled with pork and potatoes. Afcoi-some time, exploring the din 
 ner pot with a fork, to see if the cake was done, she was astonished at 
 its 'disappearance. 
 
 William Holt lived on or near the common, where his daughter 
 Mary was born, Nov. 15, 1763. She was the first child born in town, 
 was afterwards known as Mrs. Bosworth, lived on the hill in the east- 
 ern edge of Royalston, just beyond the Howard saw-mill, and died in 
 
46 HISTORY Off WINCIIENDON. 
 
 1847. According to tradition, there werj but six women resident in 
 the town ; of course some of the first settlers were unmarried men. 
 
 John Darling was probably another of the ten, and lived on the 
 Jason Keith farm. 
 
 William Moffat settled, it is believed, in the west part of the town. 
 
 Eight of the ten have now been named. From 1752 to 1755, Ben- 
 jamin Groodridga, Thomas Jewett, Joshua Priest, David Wilder, Ben- 
 oni Boynton, Nathaniel Burnham, John Moffat and John Brown, were 
 added to the number. Tioo of theso were among the original ten, 
 but which of them is not now known. Some of them left during the 
 war, but soon returned. 
 
 The first born male child in the place, was Nathan Pushey, who on 
 this account, received from the Proprietors, whea he arrived at the 
 age of twenty-one, the donation of a lot of land, and soon after died 
 in the revolutionary war. 
 
 In this connection, we may fix some of the first habitations of the 
 original settlers. There were, as appears from the Records, and 
 according to tradition, several block-houses or buildings made of 
 hewn logs, which were occupied as garrisons or forts. One of these 
 was on the plain near the mill in Bullai-dville. Another in which 
 Mary Holt, the eldest child of the town, w^as bom, stood near the 
 south end of the old Meeting-house Common. This was occupied, says 
 Mr. Hyde, by Dea. Moses Hale, as a dwelling for sometime before 
 removing into his own dwelling-house. There was another near the 
 east line of the farm of Mr. Jacob Hale, senior, which he occupied as 
 a dwelling-house, within the memory of persons now living, [1868.] 
 
 A fourth was some twenty rods east of Tallow Hill school-house, 
 near the house where the late venerable Mrs. Eddy lived. A fifth 
 was near the spot where Mr. Samuel Woodbury now reside^ ; and 
 still another not far from the house now occupied by Mr. William 
 Willoby. One of the best houses erected in the early times was built 
 about 1752, by Dea. Richard Day. It still stands on the high ground 
 a little west of the south end of the Common. It is a large two story 
 house, and by care, may be occupied by generations yet to come. It 
 was at one time owned by Rev. Mr. Brown, the second minister of 
 the town ; and at subsequent periods has been in the possession of 
 Rev. Messrs. Malachi Bullard, John Storrs, and B. F. Clarke ; now 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHEXDON. 47 
 
 occupied by Mr. Dunn. About the same time, a bouse was built on 
 tbe spot now covered by the residence of Charles J. Rice, Esq. This 
 was occupied as a tavern for many years, being convenient for towns- 
 men and travelers, at the southeast comer of the Common. This 
 hDuse was kept successively by Matthew Knight, Samuel Griggs, 
 Francis Bridge, Bemsley Lord, Joshua Gale, Luther Stimson, James 
 McEIwain and Phinehas Whitney. There was another house occu- 
 pied by James Mansfield, near the old burying ground. Gabriel 
 Pouchey, or Pushey, dwelt in a house near the southwest of the Com- 
 mon. Col. Thomas Berry put up a house where Dea. Desire Tolman 
 afterwards lived. 
 
 On the 24th of October, 1753, the first Proprietors' meeting was 
 held within the township, at the house of Richard Day, and adjourned 
 to the next day, when it was voted to grant the meeting-house frame 
 to Col Berry, on condition that he would furnish a room in his house 
 for religious meetings. 
 
 The war alarm induced the settlers to grant <£300 old tenor, for 
 the purpose of fortifying some of the houses ; at the same time a sum 
 of money was raised to procure some supply of preaching during the 
 ensuing winter. The proceedings of the meeting held at the house of 
 Richard Day, Oct. 31, 1754, were as follows: 
 
 " Voted, That something further shall bo done in fortifying the township. 
 
 Voted, That the sum of three hundred pounds, old tenor,* be raised in 
 order to fortify the township : fifty pounds of which is to fortify Mr. Darling's 
 housOf and fifty pounds to fortify 5Ir. Boynton's house, and one hundred 
 pounds toward defraying the acc't, of fortifying Thomas Jewett's house. 
 
 Voted, That Col. Tliomas Berry's house shall bo fortified, and that one 
 hundred pounds, old tenor, be allowed therefor, the said BeiTy to pay what 
 farther sum shall be needed to complete the garrison, which he agreed to. 
 
 Voted,, That Col. "Berry, Capt. Goodridge, add Mr. Smith be a committee 
 to see that the garrisons are completed." 
 
 " The spring of 1755, " says Dr. Whiton, " found the people in 
 their fortified houses, of which there were some half dozen, as Berry's, 
 Jewett's, Darling's, Boyntoa's, and Pushey's ; two of the number so 
 well strengthened, as to be called /orts. About planting time the set- 
 
 * £100 old tenor was equal to £13, C, 8, lawful money, and $44.45 federal 
 money. 
 
48 IIISTOKY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 tiers had certain proofs that Indians with hostile purpose were trav- 
 ersing the woods. Their perils will be best learned from their Peti-- 
 tion, dated June 7, 1755, to the government of Massachusetts for 
 protection." It is here given verbatim, a copy having been obligingly 
 furnished by Frederic Kidder, Esq. of Boston, as found in the ancient 
 records of the Common v/ealth. 
 
 "PETITION OF IPSWICH CANADA. 
 
 To his Excellency William Shirley, Esq., Captain Greneral and Govenior- 
 in-Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Iky; to 
 the [lonorablc, Iiis Majesty, s Council, and House of Representatives, in 
 General Court assembled ; the Petition of the inhabitants of the place called 
 Ipswich Canada, in the County of Worcester, hereby shewoth, that there are 
 eight families of us now living in said plantation, which is at least eighteen 
 miles from Lunenburg, the nearest place that is settled, or that can possibly 
 afford us any help in case of an attack by the Indian efiemy, which we are 
 in daily fear of; and although the Proprietors of said plantation did in Oct. 
 last, build two good and sufficient forts ; yet we being poor and but new 
 beginning in a very thiclt wooden country, and having all our provision to 
 buy and bring from Lunenbi'rg, Lancaster, or Groton, &c., Vi'horeby it 
 becomes impossible for us to maintain our families and keep the forts : unless 
 wo are protected, must of necessity leave the place and go off, which wd are 
 exceedingly unwilling to do, and give ground to the enemy, having laid out 
 all the small substanue we had here, and have no where to go for refuge— 
 if we masb leave our crops now on the ground, wo and our families will ho 
 finally undone. Wo arc sensible that Indians are .about us, for we heai- tliem 
 shoot, especially on the 28 th of May wo lioard no less than seven guns shot in 
 'the woods above u^. We scouted the next day, but made no discovery. 
 We are all noYf shut up in the forts, and know not how soon we shall bo 
 beset or destroyed. Therefore your Petitioners Innnbly pray your Excel- 
 lency and Honors would take our distressed case into your wise and com- 
 passionate consideration, and grant us relief and protection, as in your great; 
 wisdom and goodness shall sccra meet. And your Petitioners as in duty ; 
 bound shall ever pray. 
 
 (Signed,) ^ 
 
 Oabmel Pl'siihy, B.vvid Wilder, 
 
 Richard Day, .John Buown, 
 
 Tiio^iAS JiiWKTT, ; Nathaniel Blodgkt, 
 
 WiLLiAiM Holt, .Toshua PniEst, 
 
 John Moffet, William MoFifET." 
 
 I 
 
» HlfiTORT OF WiNCHENDOM. 49 
 
 III tHe words of Dr. Whiton, " this simple and artless recital sets 
 forth more impressively than any studied elegance, the fear and dis- 
 tress which existed among the little band who dwelt at the time in 
 Winehendon, a fear showed by all the neighboring settlements ; the 
 people of Athol often went armed to public worship, and their pastor, 
 Rev. Mr. Humphrey, who had been ordained in that place, 1750, 
 carried his gun in times of alarm into his pulpit, placing it where he 
 could lay his hand on it in a moment." 
 
 There is some traditionary evidence that the earnest petition of the 
 feeble company of settlers lor governmental protection, was not 
 unheeded. A very aged man who died some years ago in Stoddard, 
 B". H., used to relate, that he and a few other soldiers were for a time 
 stationed at Winehendon ; and that he once went on a scout through 
 the woods between Ashburmham and Athol, probably following pretty 
 nearly the course of Miller's river, and making the Pushey house their 
 headquarters. One of these soldiers was named Robert Bradish, \ 
 who afterwards became a settler, and the gun which he carried, is now 
 in existence, aad owned by Mr. Luke Rice. But no life was lost in 
 Winehendon, and not even a drop of blood was shed, in consequence 
 of Indian raids. 
 
 In 1758 we come to an important event, not only to the town, but 
 especially to Winehendon Village. The Proprietors offered one hun- 
 dred and twenty dollars and a lot of land, to the person or persons 
 w^o should build a grist-mill in the township, keep it in repair, and 
 grind for lawful toll for ten years. The next year, 1759, Bartholo- 
 mew Pearson built the mill in the Village, a work which the people 
 hailed with joy, and deemed a great acquisition, as it saved the hard 
 labor of conveying their grain for grinding, on roads winding among 
 roots and rocks, and over pole-bridges to other towns. 
 
 From 1755 to 1761, the following persons were added to the num- 
 ber of settlers, viz, Thomas Brown, Jaeob Gould, Charles Tuttle, , 
 Henry Hodgkins, William Hodgkins, Samuel Craig, Philip Goodridge, 
 Dayid Poor, Joseph Fuller, Samuel Reed, Samuel Darling, Silas 
 Darling and Timothy Darling. Some of these became permanent 
 residents. 
 
 From the Records, dated November 1, 1759, we learn that the 
 Proprietors voted, " That the Surveyors already chosen, John Moffat, 
 
50 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 Jacob Gould and Richard Day, are hereby ordered to build a bridge 
 in said township over Miller's River, on the county road to Royalshire, 
 now Royalston, out of the money already granted by the Proprietors, 
 according to their best sMll and judgment." This bridge was beyond 
 WaterviUe. In 1762, June 30, the Proprietors voted,' " That sixty 
 days highways' .work shall be done in building a bridge over the river, 
 by Mr. Pearson's mill place." This was about ten-rods below where^ 
 the bridge now stands, near Goodspeed & Wyman's establishment. 
 
 Before coming to the organization of the town, there is one more 
 extract to be made from the Proprietors' Book, which, on account of 
 its importance, will be transcribed at length. It is as follows : 
 
 " Sept. 22, 1761. Voted, That the Proprietors will build a meeting 
 house in the township of Ipswich Canada. 
 
 Voted, That the said meeting house shall be 35 feet wide, and 45 feet long, 
 and the length of the posts to be 22 or 23 feet. 
 
 Voted and chose Benjamin Goodridge, Abijah Smith and Philip Good- 
 ridge, a committee to let out the meeting house. 
 
 Voted, That the committee be empowered to see that the said meeting 
 house be hewed, framed and raised, the outside boarded, shingled and clap- 
 boarded, window, sashes, and glass put up, door heads and doors he made, 
 the lower floor be laid, and the frame be underpinned with convenient stones. 
 
 Voted, That the said meeting house shall be completed as aforesaid by the 
 last day of September, 1762. 
 
 V(^ed, That the meetings be held in Ipswich Canada for the future." 
 
 In pursuance of this object another meeting was .held next yeai:, as 
 
 follows : 
 
 " At a legal meeting of the Proprietors of Ipswich Canada, at the house 
 of Mr. Eichard Day, inn-holder at Ipswich Canada, June 30, 1762, 
 
 Voted, and chose Messrs. Benjamin Goodridge, Richard Day and Barthol- 
 omew Parsons, to be a committee to view and stake out a meeting house plot." . 
 
 The committee made the following report of their doings. 
 
 " Laid out five acres of land for a meeting house, training field and bury- 
 in"' yard, on the Northwest corner of the lot NO. 1, in the South division, ' 
 beginning at the Northwest comer bound, running south 48 rods, on line of 
 said lot, then easterly 16.g- rods, then, running northerly a parallel line with 
 the West line 48 rods, and then to the place where we began. 
 
 Benjamin Goodridge, 
 Bartholomew Parsons, 
 Richard Day." 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDOSr,. 51 
 
 On the reception of this Report the meeting voted, " That the Pro- 
 prietors will accept the land laid out by the committee, on lot No. 1, 
 South division, for the use of the meeting-house, training field and 
 burying yard — there being reference made on said lot for that pur- 
 pose by the Propriety at their meeting on the 27th of Oct., A. D. 
 1737 — ^notwithstanding a former vote passed by the Proprietors at 
 their meeting held Nov. 1, 1759, to accept of the report of the com- 
 mittee to set the meeting-house on lot No. 30, finding that place not 
 accommodable. And the committee chosen to build said meeting- 
 house, to raise the house on the plot where they judge most convenient." 
 
 The war being over, people began to fiock in more rapidly. The 
 Rev. Daniel Stimpson, and his brothers, Jonathan and Ephraim Stimp- 
 son, Abel Wilder, Daniel Goodridge, David Goodridge, Jeremiah 
 Stuart, and Reuben Wyman, were added in 1762. Some of these, 
 but not all of them, were from Ipswich. A meeting-house was built, 
 and Rev. Mr. Stimpson was settled. This last event was on the 15th 
 of December, 1762. The two preceding summers had been seasons 
 of excessive heat and drought, cutting short the crops. Tradition 
 says that the milk for the ordination puddings was brought in jugs 
 from Leominster, the township having but four cows,- and these at this 
 wintry time, not afibrding a supply adequate to the occasion. 
 
 Having brought the story of the early settlers down to the year 
 1763, when measures were taken to organize a town by applying to 
 the General Court for an act of incorporation, it is interesting to see 
 how the formation of this httle settlement was connected with general 
 histoty. England and France contended for the mastery of North 
 America, at intervals, for more than a century, and the history of the 
 colonies, and almost every town in the colonies, was mixed up with the 
 contentions of those transatlantic nations. The fortunes of Winchen- 
 don were involved in the wars of those times. Its origin was the expe- 
 dition of 1690. The colonies of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New 
 York combined to capture the Gibraltar of America. The Bay Col- 
 ony fitted out a fleet, under the command of Sir William Phipps, 
 while the other colonies sent an army. Their forces were to combine 
 in an attack on Quebec, by land and water. The scheme failed, but 
 not its consequences, one of which was the grant of territory compos- 
 ing this township, and its final settlement. The people of Ipswioh 
 
52 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 sent its quota of men on this expedition, and more than forty years 
 later, the survivors of these heroes, and the heirs of those who had 
 died during the long interval, petitioned the General Court for a 
 grant of land, as a partiaF compensation of their losses and sufferings. 
 The petition was granted, and in due time, the grant was settled by 
 the people of Ipswich. 
 
 But there could be no settlement for many years, on account of the 
 unsettled condition of the frontier. Queen Anne's wars, in her brief 
 reign, and Lovewell's war in 1725, retarded settlements in places 
 nearer the Atlantic towns than this wild region. An effort was made 
 to begina settlement, as already related, in 1735-42, but very little 
 progress was made, when the war of 1744-48, sometimes called " King 
 George's war," or the " old French and Indian war," put an end to 
 all attempts at settlement. There was no meeting of the Proprietors 
 from 1742 to 1751, when new measures were taken to bring in set- 
 tlers. A few began to cut an opening in the forest in 1752, in which 
 year eight or ten men gained a foothold. But the war of 1754-63, 
 commonly called the "last French and Indian war," retarded the 
 growth of the settlement. Some left the place, while others remained 
 in garrison. From 1753 to 1762, only about twenty-two or three men 
 had joined the company as owners or settlers. • Several of these never 
 gained a legal residence, and several of the remainder departed never 
 to return. 
 
 At length in 1759, Wolfe captured Quebec, and the conquest of 
 North America was secured, though peace was not declared till 1763. 
 Perhaps there were ten or twelve families here in 1761, when the 
 fighting in the northern colonies was over ; from which time, the set- 
 tlers came in more rapidly. By 1764, when the town was incorpora- 
 ted, twenty-one men, most of them probably at the head of families, 
 had joined themselves to the earlier settlers who still remained on the 
 ground. The names of all the men who had effected a settlement here ' 
 by the close of 1764 are here inserted in the order of the date of their 
 settlement. It must not be forgotten however that some of the men 
 herein named had already left the place, while others had probably 
 never become settlers in the proper sense of the word, but were pro- 
 prietors, and interested in the gathering of a township. Some were 
 here a year or two before the coming of their families. The list with 
 the dates must be taken as an approximation to the true state of 
 the facts. 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 53 
 
 tRichard Day, 
 
 *t Thomas Wilder, " 
 
 t*Abijah Smith, " 
 
 t Benjamin Goodridge. " 
 
 t William Moffat, ' " 
 
 William Holt, " 
 
 * Thomas Berry, 1754, 
 
 ♦Abraham Tilton,- " 
 
 * Thomas Manning, " 
 
 *Thomas Jewett, " 
 
 Joshua Priest, " 
 
 John Darling, " 
 
 David Wilder, " 
 
 Benoni Boynton, " 
 
 Nathaniel Blodget, " 
 
 Thomas Brown, 1755, 
 
 tJohn Moffatt, " 
 
 Jacob Gould, " 
 
 t * Nathaniel Burnam , " 
 
 * Charles Tuttle, 1756, 
 
 t Henry Hodgkins, 1757, 
 
 "Joseph Tuttle, " 
 
 Samuel Craig, " 
 
 Abiathar Houghton, " 
 
 John Brown, " 
 
 Samuel Beed, " 
 
 Gabriel Pouohey, 1758, 
 
 Nathan Pouohey, " 
 
 Barzillai Willard, " 
 
 William Hodgkins, " 
 
 John Gibson, " 
 
 First Settlers 
 -1753, 
 
 fDavid Poor, 1758, 
 
 Samuel Hunt, " 
 
 Francis Goodhue, " 
 
 Joseph Fuller, " 
 
 Daniel Goodridge, : " 
 
 David Goodridge, " 
 
 John Dunsmore, " 
 
 William Brown, 17^9, 
 
 Mr. Harvoy was here preaching, " 
 Ebenezer Sherwin, or Sherry,- " 
 
 Samuel Titus, 1761, 
 
 Timothy Darling, • " 
 
 Eev. Daniel Stimson, 1762, 
 
 Jonathan Stimson, " 
 
 Ephraim Stimson, " 
 
 Abel Wilder, " 
 
 Bartholomew Pearson, " 
 
 Jeremiah Stuart, " 
 
 Ephraim Boynton, " 
 
 Reuben Wyman, " 
 
 Thomas Sweetland, 1763, 
 
 Daniel Bixby, " 
 
 Theophilus Mansfield,—- 1764, 
 
 Seth Oaks, " 
 
 William Oaks, , " 
 
 Silas Whitney, " 
 
 Stephen Choate, " 
 
 Nathaniel Bixby, " 
 
 Amos Spring, " 
 
 Jonathan Foster, " 
 
 SECTION 3. — CONTRAST BETWEEN 1764 AND 1864. 
 
 What mighty changes have been wrought during a single century ! 
 Then the few inhabitants within the limits of this town, belonged to a 
 colony of Great Britain. All writs and warrants, ran in the king's 
 name. George III. had been on the throne less than four years. The 
 
 ♦Those marked thus were owners of land, and engaged in the settlement, 
 tiiough some of them were not actual settlers. Some of them, after remain- 
 ing for a time, left never to return. Besides there is an uncertainty about the 
 exact year of the coming of a few. Thirty or more of these men, the larger 
 part of them having families, were here at the time of the first town meeting. 
 There is considerable diversity in spelling the names. Oaks is written Oak ; 
 Craig, Crag ; Burnliam, Burnam ; Ponchey, Pushey : Stimson, Stiinpson, &c. 
 
 t These men were in the place on the 25th of October, 1757. 
 
54 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 thirteen American colonies were sparsely peopled except near the coast. 
 Behind them was the wilderness, filled with wild beasts and savage 
 men. Behind these, on the north and west, French colonies, settlements 
 and military posts stretched from the gulf of St. Lawrence, by Niag- 
 ara, and Pittsburg, to New Orleans. Indians and Spaniards bounded 
 the English settlements on the South. Our fathers were hemmed in 
 by barbarous and civilized enemies on either side except the sea, 
 across which the mother country reached her strong hand for the pur- 
 pose of repression rather than of help. The colonists were poor. 
 Their farms were mere opemngs in the forest. Their villages were 
 separated by intervening woods, over which the meeting-houses could 
 be seen, from hill-top to hill-top. Their houses were either log cabins, 
 or small, rude, unpainted specimens of rustic architecture, with here 
 and there a residence of higher pretensions. There were no manufac- 
 tures except those wrought by female fingers, on wheels and looms, by 
 the domestic fireside. The British Parhament would not permit, if 
 able to prevent, the making of even a "hob-nail" in the colonies. 
 Our fathers were in a state of dependence, and it was the intention of 
 England to keep them dependent as long as possible, and in the mean- 
 time, make them tributary to her wealth and glory. 
 
 In those days Winchendon was on the frontier. A few settlements 
 were scattered here and there in the wilderness, between this spot 
 and Canada. The greater portion of the land was in the possession of 
 the wild beasts and the Indians. At every outbreak between France 
 and England, the French and their savage allies poured down upon 
 our outlying towns, laid them waste, send carried their people captive. 
 
 Now the United States are a great and populous nation, rich with 
 the accumulations of industry, and the returns of commerce. The 
 wild beasts and the savages have fled before the advancing wave of 
 population, and the mihtary posts; of the French, which once were gir- 
 dled around us with the design of strangling, have been swept away, 
 leaving no trace. We can travel westward thousands of miles, and 
 see no territory but our own. Arts, learning, civilization, religion, all 
 have their temples in our towns, villages and ciMes. "We send great 
 armies into the field, and we have one of the most powerful navies 
 that ever floated. God has smiled on the vrildemess, and it has 
 become a garden. He has caused it to bad and blossom as the rose. 
 
 This town has witnessed and participated in the wonderful change. 
 
mstoRt oi- wmcHENDosr. 55 
 
 One huiidred years ago it was one of the remote settleiaeiits of the 
 colony of Massachusetts Bay. It was nearly all forest^ swamp and 
 rock. It was a week's distance from the cajHtal^ with which it had no 
 regular communication. . Here the ladians fished and huated. The 
 few earliest settlers were not safe, previous to 1763;, unless they slept 
 in fortified houses. But now towns and cities are located on every 
 side, and extend far to the Canada line. That colony itself is now 
 lassuming the greateess and tile JjOLcipient port of an empire. Wnt- 
 chehdon is within two and a half hours of a great, wealthy, populous 
 and highly cultivated metropolis. The forests are turned into farm- 
 lands ; the streams are vocal, not with their native music only, but 
 with the busy hum of industry. Our workshops are full of busy arti- 
 sans ; our schools are filled with happy children, and our homes are 
 the abodes of peace and comfort. If the first settiers could have had 
 a vision of the changes in the land, and in their own home, which 
 were to come, they would have been filled with wonder, and tiieir faith 
 would have staggered at the results which are now accomplished facts. 
 These remarks are not irrelevant, since there is a reason why 1764 
 and 1864 are intimately connected in general history, and in the his- 
 tory of this town. There is an historical unity between the two dates, 
 as will be seen at once, when it is stated that the conclusion of the 
 last French and Indian war, in 1763, made it possible for Winchen- 
 don to gain population enough to be organized into a town. Many 
 years had the Proprietors been laboring to bring the soil under culti- 
 vation, and to erect a township ; but successive wars between England 
 and France, in which the colonies and the I»dians were always involved, 
 rendered this place, and all the adjacent country insecure. A few per- 
 sons were here previous to the outbreak of the last French war, and 
 they remained throiigh it. Some of the early settiers were probably 
 engaged in that war of hberation, when the foundation of our indepen- 
 dence was really laid. Some followed Wolfe into Quebec, by the cap- 
 ture of which the French power was broken. The war lingered until 
 1763, when peace was declared, Canada was transferred to England, 
 and all the country between here and the Canada line, was rendered 
 safe for settlement. The people began to move westward and north- 
 ward ; there was an accession to the popiidation of this place. Appli- 
 cation was made for an act of incorporation, which was granted, and 
 in the spring of 1764, Winchendon became a towia. 
 
56 HI9TORY OF WINCHENBOW. 
 
 The following adrertisement, taken from the Massachusetts Gazette, 
 properly comes in here as an illustration of the times. 
 
 Notice is hereby given to the definqnent proprietors of Ipswich Canada (so 
 called) in the county of Worcester, who at their 1^1 meeting held on June 
 the 30th, 1762, did vote and raise 123 on each original right to pay for preach- 
 ing, and 12s for highways and other charges, and £1 for the Eev. Mr. Daniei 
 Stimpson's settlement aod £1 for his first year's salary. And at another 
 meeting of said propdetiH's held on Nov. 17, 1763, did vote £1, 6s, to ^e 
 raised on the three after divisions then dravm to pay the Committee for lay- 
 ing out the same, and on each original ri^t £i, 10^, towards finishing ^he 
 meeting-house. 
 
 THAT if said proprietors do not pay the said taxes and all arrears unto 
 Abiather Houghton, treasurer for said proprietors, that so much of their lands 
 will be exposed to sale at a pubHc Vendue to the highest bidder, at the house 
 of Capt. Joshua Hutohins inn-holder in Lunenburg, as will pay said taxes 
 and arrears and all intervening. charges,, on Wednesday, the 18th day of Jan- 
 uary next, at ten of the clock in the forenoon. And said sale to continue 
 from time to time if need be till finished. 
 
 D . . , ( Bbnj. Goodeidob, 
 ^^^"fhaoMAS Wilder, 
 Commttee, Ij,^^^^^ Hou(JHTO«. 
 
 Sept. 9, 1763'. 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDOK. 57 
 
 CHAPTER III, — ORGANIZATION 
 ANP NAME. 
 
 *' For government, though high and low and lower, 
 Put into parts, doth keep in one consent, 
 Congruing in a full and natural close. 
 Like music," Henky V. 
 
 In the year 1763, the Proprietors petitioned the Great and General 
 Court for an act of incorporationj-^ith all town privileges. The pro- 
 ceedings of the meeting which took idaeasures for an act of incorpora- 
 tion, were as follows : 
 
 "At a legal Meeting at the house of Gabriel Pouchey in the township, 
 June 22, 1763, 
 
 Voted, That the Proprietors will join with the inhabitants in a petition to 
 the General Court, that Ipswich Canada may be incorporated into a town." 
 
 "June 23, Voted, That a tax of one penny per acre be laid on all the 
 lands that are already laid out in Ipswich Cfanada, for the term of three years. 
 
 Voted, That Benjamin Goodridge, Esq., and Daniel Bixby, be a committee 
 to draft a petition in order to send to the Great and General Court, that Ips- 
 wich Canada may be incorporated into a town, and the lands taxed according 
 to the above vote." 
 
 At the same time, the inhabitants of the township sent a petition to 
 the authorities in Boston in the following terms. The document was 
 recently found among the papers of Hon. Abel Wilder, which are in 
 the possession of his grandson, Dea. Albert Brown. A portion of the 
 sheet is torn oiF, and the blank cannot be filled. What remeuns is 
 here given. 
 
 "To His Excellency, Francis Bernard, Esq., Captain General and Gov- 
 ernor in chief of His Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay : To the 
 Honorable, His Majesty's Council, and House of Kepresentatives of the said 
 Province, in General Court assembled. May, 1763. 
 
 The Petition of the Inhabitants of the Tract of land called Ipswich Can- 
 ada, with a number of non-resident proprietors — humbly sheweth : — 
 
58 HISTOKY OP v^IlfOHfi^n)os^ 
 
 That }he said inhabitants are poor, and their number is so small fey the noip 
 Settlement of many rights of land there, that they are unable to pay their vari- 
 ous taxes, particularly their quota of the salary of their settled minister ; — 
 That the inhabitants, excepting one or two, are under special obligation to 
 pVLj all the charges of the whole rights to Which the lots they inhabit respec- 
 tively belong, till the said Traet of land shall be made a town or district;— 
 That the said inhabitants have already paid of such charges more than their 
 lots are worth separate from the improvements, made thereon by their labor; 
 
 — And that the best ex humbly conceive, to 
 
 pre said ti:act of land, is-^^^ ^-^^ 
 
 actually sulyected to a -- 
 
 Whereupon your your Excellency and 
 
 — ^ i ^^ the Eftid tract of land into a toWn (By the name of 
 
 Epesberry,) and that all the lahds of sufch town may be taxed.^-i. ^=.. 
 
 for the payment of the said taxes, for the space of- .years ; or otherwise relieve 
 your petitioners as in your wisdom you shall think fit ; and your petitioners 
 shall ever pray, &c. 
 
 The petitioners, it seems, desired to have the new toWn styled Epes* 
 berry, in honor of two distinguished men of Ipswich, the Hon. Simonda 
 Epes, and the Hon. Thomas Berry. Why this part of the petition 
 was denied, we have no means of ascertaining, but every inhabitant 
 must be gratified that we are saved from the endless confiision in spel- 
 ling which would have been the result of calling the town Epesberry. 
 Besides the sound of Winchendon is far more euphonious. 
 
 And thus the annals of the township, from the first grant as " Ips> 
 wich Canada," until its incorporation as a regular town, have been 
 recited. 
 
 In compliance with the prayer of the above petition, the General 
 Court passed an act on the 14th day of Jime, A. D. 1764, incorpora- 
 ting the plantation of Ipswich Canada into a town to be called Win-' 
 chendon. The Act of incorporation is inserted here. 
 
 " An Act for erecting the Plantation called Ipswich Canada into a Town 
 by the name of Winchendon. 
 
 . Whereas the inhabitants of the Plantation called Ipswich Canada in the 
 County of Worcester, labor under many diiEculties-.and inconveniences by 
 means of their not being a Town : Therefore, 
 
 Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Heuse of EepresehtativeS) 
 That the Plantation commonly called and known by the name of Ipswich 
 Canada, in the County of Worcester, bounded as follows, viz : South twelve 
 
■HISTORT OP WINCHENDOrr. 69 
 
 . degrees West, seven miles and two hundred rods on Dorchester Canada ; 
 West eighteen degrees South, two hundred and seventy rods on Westmin- 
 ster ; North thirty-six degrees West, four miles and two hundred and twenty 
 rodson Templeton line ; North seventy-eight degrees West, six hundred rods 
 on Templeton line ; North twelve degrees East, four miles and two hundred 
 and sixty rods on Koyalshire ; South seventy-eight degrees West — [rather, 
 East twelve degrees South] — -six miles on Eoyalshire line ; be and hereby is 
 erected into a Town, by the name of Winchelidon, and that the inhabitants 
 thereof be, and hereby are invested with all the powers, privileges and immu- 
 nities, which the inhabitants of the Towns within the Province do or may 
 enjoy. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That there be laid on the lands already laid 
 out in said Town of Winchendon, a tax of one penny per acre for the term of 
 three years. 
 
 And be it further enacted, That Edward Hartwell, Esq. be and hereby is 
 empowered to issue his warrant, directed to some principal inhabitant in said 
 Town, requiring him to warn the inhabitants of the said Town, qualified to 
 vote in Town affairs, to meet at such time and place as shall be therein set 
 forth, to choose all such officers as are or shall be required by law to manage 
 the affairs of the said Town." 
 
 This Act of Incorporation -ffas signed by 
 
 J. BERNARD, Goterkor. 
 
 A few words may be appropriate in this place in regard to the ori- 
 gin of the name. It is English in its origin, and it is not known that 
 there is another place in the United States having the same name. 
 Mr. Hyde, in his History of the Town, says : " It seems that Win- 
 chendon was so called after the name either of a manor or of a small 
 town in England. An English historian states that ' In the month of 
 December, 1706, Her Majesty, Queen Anne, conferred the following 
 honors, viz, Thomas Lord Wharton was created Viscoimt Winchendon 
 and Earl of Wharton.' " In reference to this subject. Dr. Whiton 
 aays, " The name, that of a small town or, manor, in England formerly 
 and perhaps now giving title to an English nobleman, Viscount Win- 
 chendon, was probably suggested by the then Gov. Bernard, in com- 
 pliment to some friend or place to whom or which he was partial ; it 
 being quite fashionable at that day, for the royal Governors to compli- 
 ment favorite persons or places in England, by scattering their names 
 over new settled places in the colonies." 
 
60 HISTORY OF WINOHENDON. 
 
 The above suggestions may be true, but I am more inclined to the 
 opinion that the origin of the name was as follows. Ipswich was set- 
 tled by emigrants, some of whom, as I have somewhere read, were from 
 Upper WincMngdon, in Buckinghamshire ; and it is quite probable 
 that the grantees of this place suggested the name of "Winchendon for 
 the purpose of perpetuating a name familiar to their fathers. 
 
 During this and the preceding year, about ten new settlers came 
 into the town, among whom we find the names of Bixby, Mansfield, 
 Oaks, Whitney and Spring. There were now about thirty families, 
 and probably two hundred souls in the town. The leading men were 
 Richard Day and Abel Wilder. 
 
 It is a matter of interest to know whence many of the early settlers, 
 both before, and some years after the organization of the Town, came. 
 Ipswich contributed the Days, Poors, Tuttles, Darlings and Polands. 
 The Stimpsons and Whitneys came from Weston ; the Hales, Cur- 
 tises, Sherwins, Perleys and Emerys from Boxford ; the Goodridges 
 from Lunenburg ; the Wilders from Leominster ; the Paysons, and 
 (probably) the Boyntons from Rowley ; the Murdocks and Hydes 
 from Newton ; the Bemises and Balcoms from Sudbury ; the Tuckers 
 from Milton ; the Rices and Greatons from Spencer ; the Raymonds 
 from Holden ; the Browns, in part, from Lexington ; the Stoddards 
 from Cohasset ; the Bradishes and Grouts from Leicester ; the Green- 
 woods from Sherborn ; the McElwains and Bruces from Bolton ; the 
 Evanses from Readuig ; the Farrars from Sterling ; the Tolmans from 
 Dorchester ; the Buttricks and Flints from Concord ; the Bixbys from 
 , and the Waleses from Braintree. 
 
 As a matter of curious information in relation to persons, and also 
 in regard to the way of doing things, in old times, it is thought best to 
 insert, in this place, the proceedings of the two first Town Meetings, 
 in full, as they are found in the Records. The Warrant for the first 
 meeting and the proceedings of the same, have been obligmgly fur- 
 nished by Webster Whitney, Esq., Town Clerk. 
 
 " Worcester, ss. To Mr. Eichard Day of the Town of Winchendon, in the 
 County of Worcester, Yeoman, Greeting. 
 
 Whereas I am ordered and impowered by the Great and General Court, 
 to issue my Warrant, directed to some principal inhabitant of said Town, 
 requiring him to warn the inhabitants of said Town, qualified to vote in Town 
 affairs, to assemble in some suitable place in said Town, to choose all neces- 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 61 
 
 saiy officers td manage the afiairs of said Town, and also to assess, and levy 
 and collect the land tax: These are therefore, In his Majesty's Name, to 
 require you, the said Richard Day, forthwith to warn the inhabitants of said 
 Town of Winchendon, qualified as aforesaid, to assemble and meet at your 
 dwelling-house in said Town, on Monday the fifth day of , November next, at 
 one of the clock in the afternoon, then and there being assembled, to act on 
 the several articles hereafter mentioned, viz : 
 
 1st. To choose a Moderator for the government of said Meeting. 
 
 2d. To choose Selectmen, and all other Town officers for the present year, 
 as the law directs. 
 
 3d. To choose a Collector to gather the land tax. 
 
 And make due return of this Warrant and your doings thereon, ^^reof 
 fail not. Given under my hand and seal at Lunenburg, this sixteenth day 
 of October, in the fourth year of his Majesty's Eeign, A. D. 1764. 
 
 Edwakd Haktwell, 
 
 Justice of the. Peace." 
 
 " In obedience to the within written Warrant, I have warned all "the free- 
 holders and other inhabitants of the town of Winchendon, to appear at the 
 time and place within mentioned. 
 
 Winchendon, November ye fifth, 1764. 
 
 RiCHAED Day." 
 
 "At a meeting legally warned, November ye fifth, 1764, of the freehold- 
 ers and other inhabitants of Winchendon, to assemble and meet at the house 
 of Richard Day, then and there being assembled, proceeded in manner as 
 follows, viz : 
 
 Chose Richard Day, Moderator, to govern said meeting. 
 
 William Oaks, 
 Timothy Darling, 
 Amos Spring, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 
 Abel Wilder, Town Clork. 
 Theos. Mansfield, ^ 
 Bennony Boynton, >■ Selectmen. 
 Ephraim Boynton, ) 
 Richard Day, Constable. 
 Nathaniel Bixby, Town Treasury. 
 Daniel Goodridge, Collector of the 
 Land Tax. 
 
 IlubeJwS } ^^""""^ Wardens. 
 John Darling, Tythingman. 
 Daniel Bixby, Deer Reaf. 
 Aaron Hodskins, Fence Viewer. 
 
 These officers were chosen and sworn as the law directs. 
 
 Surveyors 
 
 of 
 Highways. 
 
 Jonathan Foster, Sealer of Weights 
 
 and Measures. 
 Silas Whitney, Surveyor of Boards 
 
 and Shingles. 
 Ruben Wiman, Field Driver. 
 Nathaniel Bijjiy, Sealer of Leather. 
 Stephen Choate, Stave Culler. 
 Nathaniel Burnam, Fire Ward. 
 
 A true Record, per 
 
 Abel Wilder, Town Clerk." 
 
62 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 The record of the first annual meetmg shows some changes in the 
 disposition of the various offices, and several new names appear. It 
 will be noted also that by vote of the town all freeholders were allowed 
 to vote. 
 
 " At a meeting legally warned of the freeholders and other inhabitants of 
 Winobendon, to assemble at the public meeting-house in said town on Mon- 
 day the 11th day of Marcb, 1765, Then and there being assembled, proceeded _ 
 in the following manner, viz : 
 
 1st. Chose Theos. Mansfield, Moderator for the government of said 
 meeting. 
 
 2. Voted, That all freeholders shall be allowed to vote in said meeting. 
 
 3. Proceeded to the choice of town officers and chose 
 
 Abel Wilder, Town Clerk. 
 
 Theos. Mansfield, ) 
 
 Nathaniel Bixby, |- Selectmen. 
 
 Benoni Boynton, ) 
 
 Ephraim Boynton, Constable. 
 
 Richard Day, Town Treasurer. 
 
 Jonathan Foster, 1 w ^ 
 
 Theophilus Mansfield, ) 
 
 Daniel Bixby, ) nriu- 
 
 Q in •' (- Tithmgmen. 
 
 csamuel Urage, ) ° 
 
 John Darling, 
 Samuel Titus, 
 Jonathan Stimson, 
 William Oaks, 
 
 Surveyors of 
 Highways and 
 Collectors of 
 •Highway Rates. 
 
 ; Reeves. 
 
 Reuben Wyman, U^.^ Reeves. 
 Timothy Darung, ) 
 
 AbnerHale, Uenee Viewers. 
 
 Jonathan Foster, ) 
 
 Silas Whitney, )g. 
 
 Samuel Titus, ) ° 
 
 Daniel Bixby, Sealer of Leather. 
 
 Richard Day, Sealer of Weights and 
 
 Measures. 
 Joseph Stimson, Field Driver. 
 Bartholomew Pearson, Surveyor of ' 
 
 Boards and Shingles. 
 Daniel Goodridge, Collector of the 
 
 Land Tax. 
 
 The officers for the present year were chosen and sworn as the law directs. 
 Attest, , Abel Wildek, Town Clerk." 
 
 In making these citations, the diflferent modes of spelluig the same 
 names and words, have been followed, as they are found in the Records. 
 At these first meetings of the town, no Overseers of the Poor were 
 chosen, and no provision was made for the poor. Probably there were 
 no paupers in the town to be provided for by law. It is possible, though 
 not certain, that the following proceedings of the town authorities were 
 taken for the purpose^f ridding the town of a family which might 
 become a public burden. In those early days, when new settlers were 
 eagerly welcomed, there must have been strong reasons to induce the 
 Selectmen to take such action as is indicated in the following extract 
 from the Records. 
 
BISTORT OF •WINCHBNDOJT. 6S 
 
 " Worcester, ss. 
 
 To Richard Day, Constahk in Winchendon, Ctkeeting. 
 
 You are, in his Majesty's liame, required forthwith to notify and warn 
 Joseph Kneeland and Abigail his wife, Joseph Kneeland, Jr., his son, and 
 Sarah Pierce Bigelow, and Elizabeth Bigelow, her daughter, who came last 
 from Harvard, and Hannah their daughter, who was bound at Ktchburg, all 
 to depart, and leave this town forthwith, or suffer the penaltys of the law in 
 such cases maid and provided. 
 
 Hereof fail not, but make due return of this Warrant with your doings 
 thereon, to me as soon as may be. 
 
 Given under my hand and seal, this fourth day of January, in the fifth 
 year of his Majesty's Eeign, A. D. 1765. 
 
 By order of the Selectmen, 
 
 Abel Wilder, Town Ckrk.** 
 
 " Worcester, ss. 
 
 Winchendon, January ye 7th, 1765. 
 By virtue of this Warrant within written, I have warned the within 
 named Kneeland and family forthwith to depart out of this town to the places 
 from whence t^ey last came. 
 
 EiCHABD Day, GonstaUe of Winchendon. 
 A true Becord, per Abel Wilder, Town Clerk. 
 
64 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. — CHARACTER OF 
 THE PEOPLE. 
 
 " View them near 
 At home, where all their worth and pride is placed ; 
 And there their hospitable fires burn clear, 
 
 And there the lowliest farm-house hearth is graced 
 With manly hearts, in piety sincere, 
 
 Faithful in love, in honor stern, and chaste. 
 
 In friendship warm and true, in danger brave, 
 
 Beloved in life, and saiuted in the grave." 
 
 Hallbck. 
 
 Having completed the annals of the town from the coming of the 
 first explorers to the date of its organization, it may be well to pause 
 here, in our chronology, and take a glance at the character of the in- 
 habitants, their manners, and their social life. In this sketch, the 
 author is indebted to the manuscripts of Dr. Whiton, and to tradi- 
 tionary information derived from aged people, and children of the 
 origijial settlers. 
 
 The early settlers were an enterprising, industrious, temperate, har- 
 dy and God-fearing people. Some of them were men of property, 
 like Richard Day, while others were poor.; some were men of strong 
 sense and capacity for public business, like Abel Wilder ; while others 
 were plain fanners, and some, undoubtedly, were merely workmen, or 
 " hands," in the employ of others. But as a class, they were capable 
 of subduing the wilderness, introducing the arts of pastoral life, tak- 
 ing care of their families, founding a town, and setting up a churcL 
 None but the enterprising and hardy would be disposed to find a home 
 in such a wilderness ; none but the industrious could live and thrive 
 here. That they kept the Sabbath, and worshiped the God of their 
 fathers, is fully proved by the fact that they immediately made pro- 
 vision for public worship, as if they felt it to be one of the necessities 
 of society. The state of morals was good. The church was enlarged 
 from time to time, and the ministry was held in great respect, and 
 honorably supported. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENOOHr. §5 
 
 The people, in that early day, were strangers to many of the con- 
 veniences and comforts of more recent daily life. ** Their dwellings 
 were without glass, and ill-fitted to exclude the cold. Had it not been 
 for the roaring fires, kept up in winter in huge fire-places, fed contin- 
 ually with great logs, which the owners were glad to get rid of, and 
 thought &.e;y could wot bum up fast enough, the inmates must have 
 sufiered severely. Noble pines that would now be valued at more 
 than fifty dollars, were unsparingly burnt as nuisances. Those 
 immense fire-places were large enough to allow, at one end, a path- 
 way to the oven, and also a location for a wooden bench, on which sat, 
 in cold winter evenings, a row of boys and girls eking out a perhaps 
 scanty supper of bean porridge, by parching com and roasting potatoes 
 in the embers." , 
 
 " Their farming utensils" continues Dr. Whiton, " were clumsy ; 
 indeed we should deem iJiem intolerable. Homespun and coarse, yet 
 durable was their clothing ; the men vore tow shirts, striped woolen 
 frocks and leather aprons ; the best suit of coarse woolen was reserved 
 for Sundays and special occasions, and lasted year after year, the 
 wearers giving themselves very little concern about the mutations of 
 fashion. Great coats and surtouts were rare ; boots very rare. Many 
 a man would have rejoiced in the ownership of a pair, but felt unable 
 to buy them. In winter they wore shoes, excluding the snow by 
 woolen leggins, fastened over the mouth of the shoe by leather or tow 
 strings. Neither men nor women wore shoes in summer at home ; on 
 Sundays, the women, to save the wear, sometimes carried them in 
 their hand, walking barefoot, or perhaps wearing an old pair till they 
 came near the meeting-house, when they would stop a few moments 
 and put on the meeting-shoes of thick, coarse leather." 
 
 In confirmation of this statement, the author was told, by an old 
 lady living in the south-western part of the town, whose golden wed- 
 ding he attended a few years since, that she and her companions, when 
 gu'ls, were accustomed to carry their shoes in their hands, nearly three 
 miles, and when near the meeting-house, they stopped at a certain 
 place, and put the shoes on their feet. Customs differ. The ancient 
 Hebrews were accustomed, when entering a sacred place, to put their 
 shoes from off their feet, because the place on which they stood was 
 holy ground. Our ancestors, on the contrary, were in the habit of 
 covering their feet when drawing near to the house of God. 
 
 s 
 
66 HISTOET OF WTNCHENIKWr. 
 
 " When engaged in tbeir domestic work," continues Dr, WMtoD, 
 " -which was nearly all the time on week days, they were clad in a 
 short gown and petticoat, of coarse material, with a striped apron j cal- 
 icoes being thought an article too expensive aind dressy for comamon 
 wear. Candles being scarce and oil hardly known, the women carded 
 and spun, and the men shaved shingles or read a little by the light of 
 blazing pine-knots, or pitch-pine splints. The household furraturewas 
 rude and scanty ; the cupboard exhilrited an array of wooden and pew- 
 ter plates, and pewter spoons. Stools and blocks of wood oft served 
 instead of chairs; cairpets^ sofas and pianos were unheard of; instead 
 of them were the spinning wheel, both great and small, and the loom ; 
 articles, if less ornamental, certainly more indispensable. Tea, coffee, 
 and other foreign luxuries were scarce known, or at any rate, seldom 
 used. Broths of various kinds — com, barley, and the far-famed bean 
 broth, nrilk when it could be had, brown bread, journey [or johnny] 
 cakes, hasty-pudding, boiled »nd fried pork and potatoes, baked and 
 boiled beans, were the great staples of living. 
 
 Sometimes in winter famiUes were conveyed to meeting through deep 
 snows on an ox sled ; in summer the man, if he were the owner of a 
 horse, rode to meeting with his wife seated on a pillion behind him, a 
 child on a pillow before him, and possibly a smaller child in the moth- 
 er's lap, encircled by one of her arms. 
 
 That age of homespun, of hard work and ample fare, was however 
 interspersed, on the part of the men, with trainings, musters, raisings, 
 huskings, chopping-bees, wrestling-matches, piling-bees; and in the 
 female world, with quiltings, carding-bees, and apple-parings, if apples 
 could be foimd. If the rude dwellings were not often animated with 
 the faces of viatants, they were enhvened with the buzmng of wheels 
 and the clatter of looms. It was deemed not improper, but respecta- 
 ble for females to perform, at certain seasons of the year, many kinds 
 of out-door work. They reaped, raked hay, pulled and spread flax ; 
 in the absence of their husbands, housed and foddered the cattle, milked 
 the cows, fed the swine, took care of the poultry, and when necessary, 
 even caught and saddled the horse. In most instances they carded, 
 spun, wove, colored, and made up the garments of the family. Surely 
 our great grandmothers, many of whom were women of intelligence and 
 high moral principle, we might add in relation to not a few, refine- 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 67 
 
 ment, not artificial but native, were far from eating the bread of idleness. 
 Their descendants have ample reason to rise up and call them blessed." 
 
 Education in those early days was not what it now is, in many 
 respects. The cluldren had very little instruction in school. Where 
 schools were kept, they were open but a few weeks in the year. 
 The branches of study were reading, spelling, writing and arithmetic. 
 But nearly all the inhabitants were able to read, and knew enough of 
 figures to transact business in their limited way. The children one 
 hundred years ago were ignorant of the multiplicity of branches which 
 are now cultivated in our public schools ; they had- but few books, and 
 scarcely any periodicals to read at home. A Boston Weekly brought 
 them all their printed news. But they had the Bible, which is une- 
 qualled by all other books together in its educating and elevating 
 influence. They had Pilgrim's Progress, which is worth whole libra- 
 ries of ordmary juvenile publications, and always fresh because reveal- 
 ing new thought and hidden beauties to the aJdvancing reader. They 
 had Robinson Crusoe, which has arouseS thousands of minds to activity, 
 and set millions of youth forward in paths of enterprise and achieve- 
 ment. They had other works, — i-eligious, historical, literary, biograph- 
 ical, — which trained them to think. And the events of the day in the 
 mother country, as well as in the colonies, gradually made them famil- 
 iar with the principles of government. Their own necessities were a 
 constant spur to industry and invention. In a certain sense therefore 
 the youth of this town, in its earliest years, had a good intellectual 
 training. They grew up to be capable of managing their private 
 afiairs, training their own families, and performing all municipal and 
 mihtary duties. 
 
 In regard to morals and religion, no people in the world had more 
 intelligent or sounder convictions. The morals of the people were 
 good. The rights of property were respected. Bolts, bars and locks 
 were not needed to guard articles of value. The women and children 
 slept securely at night so long as wild beasts were excluded from their 
 habitations. Female honor and purity kept the domestic hearth secure. 
 If the men used New England or West India rum, as a beverage, 
 drunkenness in those early days, was a rare vice. Though all were 
 not members of the church, yet there was general harmony of religious 
 views. Nearly aU were of the old Puritan stock, and thus formed a 
 homogeneous society. Thus the soHd foundations of the town were laid. 
 
68 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOW. 
 
 CHAPTER v. — ANNALS OF THE 
 TOWN; 1764—1800. 
 
 " The lapsing years joined those beyond the flood, 
 Each filled with loves, griefs, strifes and honest toil ; 
 And thus as shadows o'er the checker'd plain, 
 Children their fathers followed to the grave. 
 The fruitage of their lives and deeds is ours." 
 The Annalist. 
 
 Events which occurred from year to year, but which cannot be 
 grouped under specific heads, will here be given in chronological order, 
 from the time of organization to the close of the century. 
 
 1764. The first town meetmg was held, on the fifth of November, 
 at the house of Richard Day. 
 
 1765. The first annual town meeting was held at the public meet- 
 ing-house, on the eleventh of March. The line between Winchendon 
 and Templeton was perambulated from the road to Templeton, to the 
 N. E. corner of that town. At a town meeting on the fourth of Sep- 
 tember, a grant of eight dollars was made to be laid out in schooling. 
 Joseph Boynton, Joseph Stimson, Reuben Bumham and Simeon Bum- 
 ham, were added to the population. The line between Winchendon 
 and Ashbumham was perambulated. 
 
 1766. S^everal families moved in this year. James Murdock came 
 from Newton, and Abner Hale from Boxford. Levi Bixby, James 
 Mansfield, Thomas Rugg, Richard Bailey and Isaac Stimson joined the 
 settlers. The town declined to send a delegate to the General Court. 
 
 1767. Abel Wilder was chosen deacon as coadjutor of Dea. Day. 
 Seven families came in this year, viz, those of Dudley Parley, or Par- 
 ley, John Cheney, William Porter, John N. Pannenter, Richard Pear- 
 son, Thomas Gray, and Jonathan Bixby. The Rev. Mr. Stimpsonwas 
 chosen in place of Thomas Mansfield, chosen at a former meeting, to 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 69 
 
 carry a petition to the General Court in regard to taxation. The 
 motive was economy doubf^ss, as the minister, being a public servant, 
 charged his expenses and not his time. Besides, he could take the 
 occasion to visit his friends at Weston. 
 
 1768. The town's Minister, Rev. Daniel Stimpson, died of putrid 
 fever, on the 20th of July. In September the town declined to send 
 a delegate to a Provincial Convention, on the ground, as was said in 
 their vote, that they were " a small people ;" but they pledged them- 
 selves to the support of whatever measures might be agreed upon by 
 the Convention. In the words of the records, " to promote manufac- 
 turys and suppress superfluitys." The population had increased to 
 about sixty families, and three hundred souls. The following new 
 names belong to this year : Amos Merriam, Thornton Barret, Mcah 
 Bowker, Rev. Joseph Brown. The latter began to preach here near 
 the close of the year. 
 
 1769. Mr. Brown was settled as the minister of the town on the 
 24th of May. The new comers were John Boynton, Thomas Sawyer, 
 Peter Joslin, Abijah Stimson, Ebenezer Sherwin, Solomon Bigelow, 
 Eli Smith, Phinehas Wheelock, William Joiner, John Joiner, Lemuel 
 Sarjent. 
 
 1770. Travel began to pass through this town from the west and 
 northwest to Boston. Eleven new names appear among the inhabi- 
 tants : Moses Hale, Jacob Hale, Amos Hale, brothers, Israel Green, 
 Gershom Fay, Robert Bradish, John Chamberlain, John Day, Daniel 
 Gould, Moses Foster, Jesse Fox. The Hales became numerous in the 
 lapse of years, and many of their descendants sdll reside here. John 
 Day was not a new comer, but a son of Dea. Richard Day, and prob- 
 ably admitted as a freeman or voter this year- The town declined to 
 send a delegate to the General Court. 
 
 1771. We find nine new names under this date : viz, Samuel 
 Noyes, James Noyes, Jonas Bradish, Gideon Fisher, Timothy Knee- 
 land [spelled Nealand elsewhere,] Stephen Boynton, John Porter, 
 Joseph Fay, Edward Payson. 
 
 In 1764, and in 1766, the legislature authorized the town to tax the 
 lands of delinquent tax-payers in order to get their taxes. The tax 
 was one penny per acre for three years. In 1771 an act was passed 
 by the LieuL Governor, Council and House of Representatives, author- 
 izing the sale of lands to pay the tax. The first sale was on the 9th 
 
70 HISTORY OF WIKCHENDON. 
 
 of January, 1771, at the house of Silas Whitney, inn-holder. There 
 were fifteen sales. On the 30th there wlte twenty sales, or twenty 
 " pieces" struck off. The next day one sale was made. 
 On the 18th of February, eleven sales. 
 
 " 19th " twenty-two sales. 
 
 " 27th " eight sales. 
 
 In all seventy-seven sales were made. The purchasers were Silas 
 
 Whitney, William Houghton, Kichard Day, Grideon Fisher, James 
 
 ^pionds, P?iul Eager, Darnel Gould, Nathaniel Oaks, Amos Merriam, 
 
 Abel Wilder, Thomas Sawyer, Joseph Wilder, Phinehas Wheelock, 
 
 Ephraim Stimpson, John Cheney, Jeremiah Stuart, Joseph , 
 
 David Whitcomb, Abel Hunt, Levi Carter, Seth Oaks, Jonathan 
 Stimpson, John Boynton, Ely Simth ; in aH twenty-four. This sale 
 effected quite a change in the ownership of property. Several persons ' 
 had removed from town. By vote. May 3d, the town declined to send 
 a delegate to the General Court. 
 
 The subject of selling the land of delinquent tax-payers was revived 
 in town meeting on the 12th of April, it having been reported that 
 the taxes of the late Col. Berry of Ipswich, were paid before the sale. 
 " If the receipt can be produced, to see if the town will come into some 
 method to redeem the same." The proposal was negatived, and the 
 presumption is that the receipt was not produced. 
 
 1772. New immigrants continued to establish their domiciles in 
 Winchendon. Here follow the names of seven men : John Homer, 
 Matthew Knight, Zebulon Conant, Francis Bridge, Samuel Mason, 
 Ephraim Gale, Ephraim Sawyer, Antipas Dodge. liberty was ^ven 
 for any person in the town to " build horse stables" on the Common. 
 This provision was made for the comfort of the horses on the Sabbath, 
 while the ownera and their wives, and children sat shivmng in the 
 unwarmed sanctuary. 
 
 John Homer had a lease of a cpiarter of an acre on the north end of 
 the Common, west side of the road, for a house lot. On the 25th of 
 May the town voted nat to choose a representative. For seven or 
 eight years next in order, the history of the town is involved in that of 
 the country, and in tins connexi(»i may be hurriedly passed over. An 
 occaaoual incident will be noted. 
 
 1773. The first record of help to any poor person, is November 
 8th of ttas year. It is for ^hauEng sxid ebopping w<vod for Moffiit's 
 
■1 
 
 BI&ckBmilh Shop. ™. ^ „ 
 
 Tbe CoTDinon waa at first | 
 
 
 
 
 48 rods long, and 16i wide. 
 
 
 J. Homer. 7 
 B. AOums. 
 
 
 In 1772, John Homer liad a 
 lease of J acre in N. W. cor- 
 
 
 L. Raymond. 2 
 
 Ham. 
 
 ner. Later, Col. Adams via* 
 
 
 John Cutter. . 
 
 
 allowed to put a blacksmith 
 
 
 t=4 3 
 
 
 silop In the oppo^ite corner. 
 
 
 
 
 He also obtained a lease of a 
 
 
 
 
 strip 10 feet wide for his 
 house. The single black line 
 
 
 
 N * 
 
 is the boundiiry of the Com- 
 
 
 
 mon. The north dotted line 
 
 
 
 k B 
 
 shows the grant to Homer. 
 
 
 
 \ 
 
 The lease to Col. A. is be- 
 tween the dotted lines. The 
 Common is now about 43^ 
 rods long. 
 
 1. G. Pashey. 
 
 2. J. Bradstreet. 
 
 3. L. Stimson. 
 
 4. Pound. 
 
 
 C B 
 
 \ 
 
 5. Old School House. 
 
 
 \ 
 
 — , 
 
 6. Blacksmith Shop of , 
 Mr. Burr. ' 
 
 
 1 \ 
 
 6 
 
 
 lh\ \ 
 
 
 Jason Bemis. 
 
 
 \ 
 
 
 A. Godding, 
 7. D.White, 
 
 
 \ 
 
 
 John Woodbury. 
 (D. Henshaw, 
 
 
 // W \ 
 
 I 
 
 s Rev. Mr. Morton, 
 "•i 0. Walker, 
 
 
 // \\ 
 
 
 / / \ 1 
 
 
 I.R. Vose, Jr. 
 
 
 // \ 1 
 
 
 9. Rev. Mr. Stimson. 
 
 /<9 
 
 // w 
 
 
 
 S. Whitney, 
 
 / / \ I 
 
 
 
 M. Knight, 
 Landlord Griggs, 
 
 
 / / \ \ 
 
 
 
 
 / / \ 1 
 
 
 
 Jas. McElwain, 
 
 
 // 1 
 
 
 10.. 
 
 L. SttmSon, 
 Wm. Whitney, 
 L. Wilder, 
 W. B. Whitney, 
 Charles J. Rice. 
 Block House, 
 M. Hale, 
 
 ,-,: ' 
 
 // W 
 
 
 11.. 
 
 Ph. Whitney, 
 Mr. Wheeler, 
 Franklin Hayward, 
 
 
 i'.'^T i V ^ ' // " \\ 
 
 
 
 B. Wilder. 
 
 ■ft';. 
 
 
 
 Francis Bridge, ) 
 
 
 , // \\ 
 
 
 
 Joseph Sweetser, ro 
 B. Lord, ^ S 
 
 
 / / w 
 
 s 
 
 12. 
 
 
 // \\ 
 
 
 
 Holman, » 
 M. M. Reed. 
 
 
 // \\ 
 
 
 
 
 // \\ 
 
 
 13. I. Cummings. 
 
 
 // \\ 
 
 
 14. C. Raymond. 
 
 
 // \\ 
 
 
 
 f R. Day, 
 Rev. Joseph Brown, 
 
 
 // \\ 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 // \\ 
 
 
 B. Wilder, Sr., 
 
 
 // \\ 
 
 
 
 H. Q. Neweomb, 
 
 
 / \ 
 
 
 16.- 
 
 Luther Richardson, 
 Rev. M. Bullard, 
 Rev. J. Storrs, 
 Rev. B. E. Clarke, 
 Josiah Dunn. 
 'Rev. Jos. Brown, 
 
 
 // \ \ 
 
 
 18. 
 
 Rev. E. L. Clark, 
 
 75 
 
 // V 
 
 10 
 
 Albert Hale, 
 
 J4, 
 
 // A \ 
 
 A. 
 
 J. M. Stoddard. 
 
 First Mceting-House, 1762 
 
 
 y 
 
 -n a ,1 ^r .; tt 1 ( 
 
 
 
 X>> C9CCUIIU JUVCUIJg XIOUBC 
 
 1 C. Third McetingHouse. 
 
 7/^ 
 
 n J3 J[2 n 
 
 WINCHENDON CENTRE. o {^"^301! ''™''"- 
 
 Scale of 8 rods to an inch. 
 
 
HISTORY OF WIBTCHENDON. 71 
 
 •wife," six shillings ; and later, for things delivered to Mrs. Moffat, 
 amounting to over eleven shillings, iaeluding the pay for five pints of 
 rum, Is, 3d. The same year Gershom Fay was taken from the town 
 to If orthborough. The town declined to send a delegate. 
 
 A large number of settlers came in this year, viz, Levi Nichols, 
 Miles Putnam, Amos Edmands, Joseph Wilder, Thomas Beals, Dan- 
 iel Joslin, Ebenezer Smith, James McBlwain, David Brown, Nathan- 
 iel Brown, Boger Bates, Jonathan Evans, Levi Carter, Ebenezer How, 
 Samuel Steel, Josiah Baldwin. Levi Nichols was a man of enterprise 
 and energy. His tavern was a great resort of travelers. This was on 
 the spot occupied recently by Capt. Oliver Adams, and now owned by 
 Mr. Cromwell Fisher. 
 
 1774. March 7, Voted to buy " a funeral cloth," or pall. May 
 3^ Voted not to send a representative- The new settlers were as fol- 
 lows : Ezra Hyde, Sr., William Whitney, Joseph Broadstreet, Eben- 
 ezer Sherwin, David Stoddard, Daniel Balcom, Samuel Spring, 
 Nathan Green. 
 
 The names heretofore given have been taken from Mr. Hyde's His- 
 tory, and Dr. Whiton's manuscript, for the most part, but many have 
 been inserted which are not found in their lists. For the future the 
 names of settlers will not be given from year to year ; but in the next 
 chapter will be found the names of all who engaged in the public service 
 in the revolutionary war ; and in a subsequent chapter the names o£ 
 every married couple in the town in the year 1800. 
 
 1775. The dysentery prevailed in the summer of this yeai*, and 
 in a considerable number of cases terminated fatally. In this or the 
 next year, the £rst store for the sale of foreign goods was opened in the 
 town, just south of Nichols' tavern. The death of Mr. Pushey, Pou- 
 chy, or Pouehey, one of the early settlers occurred iMs year. 
 
 1776. May 27, Chose Mr. Robert Bradish repreeentative to the 
 General Court. The tradition is that he was a man of strong sense 
 and an ardent patriot, but very rough and uncouth in Ids manners and 
 appearance. Early in the session he was about to enter within the 
 bar of the House, when the oflScer stopped him. " I am a member of 
 the House," said our stalwart delegate. " Indeed, "replied the official, 
 " I be^ pardon, I thought you were a member of the bam." If the 
 tcaditipn is truthful, the officer lacked the spirit as much as Mr. Brad- 
 ish lacked jibe appearance of a, gentlemtan. 
 
72 HISTOET Of WUfGHErriWliF. 
 
 1777. Israel Whiton, M. I>,, settled m town. He came from Con- 
 necticut. He was, for a time, surgeon in the regiment of the brave 
 and competent Col. Knowlton, whom Waalungton held in high estima- 
 tion. Dr. Whiton lived here to a good old age, and bad great influ- 
 ence in the town and in the church. Robert Bradi^ was re-elected. 
 
 1778. January 23, The Articles of CanfederatiOTJi c£ Mie United 
 Colomes were read in town meeting. March 2, Voted to receive the 
 atrip of land lying between the north line of WincbendcHi and the 
 Province line, called " Royalston Legg," on to the town of Winchen- 
 don, " upcm the inhabitants of said Legg, and several principal inhab- 
 itants in the north part of Wincbendon promising never to be instru- 
 mental in niioving the meetuig-house off of the mieeting-iouse Common, 
 so called." 
 
 1779. Abel Wilder, Ifeq., was chosen delegate to the Convention 
 called to frame a Constitution for the State, He was in the public 
 councils nearly all tiie time until his decease in 1792. March 1, 
 " Voted to give thirty pounds to any inhabitant of this town who shall 
 kill a Avolf before March, 1780." May 2, Voted "not to choose a rep- 
 resentative." The winter of 1779-80 has always been known as the 
 "hard winter." The cold was so extreme that Long Mand Sound 
 was frozen over, and a man drove a horse and sleigh from Saybrook 
 to Long Island. The snow was deep and drifted, and the cold weather 
 continued for a long time. During ax weeks there was no dripping 
 from the eaves on the south ade of the bous^, 
 
 1780. The weather continued intensdy cold. In fte words of Dr. 
 Whiton : "• at the begbning of 1780, and for weeks onward, most of 
 the roads were impaseaiWe ; traveliag, except on great roads, and even 
 tiiere, accomplished with the utmost difficulty, was sa^eraded ; physi- 
 cians walked to viat their patients on rackets ; foe! waa drawn to the 
 door on hand-sleds ; many families used boiled or pounded com instead 
 
 ' of meal, the malls being either frozen up or inaccessible. The family 
 of Rev. Mr. Brown lived thus on com about three weeks, till Dr, 
 Whiton, who then boarded in the house, went to nnll on rackets, car- 
 rying on his back a peek of com, and returned with meal, affording to 
 the family the pleasure of once more eating bread. Till late in April 
 the fences were buried under the snow." 
 
 October 11, " Granted £450 to Levi Bixby aS' a bounty for three lyolves 
 Hue and Beal have killed sioee kfit Mareh." 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 73 
 
 " Voted and chose a Committee to dispose of the common and undivided 
 land belonging to the ministerial and school rights. Chose Dea. Bale, Capt. 
 John Boynton, and Lieut. Samuel Prentice." 
 
 ' " Voted, That if the Proprietors choose a Committee to dispose of their com- 
 mon and undivided lands lying in this town, that the above Committee join 
 with them and malt^ale of the common and undivided land belonging to the 
 above-mentioned rigbcs, or dispose of it otherways as the Committee see fit." 
 
 "The Committee are directed to see that the above rights draw full share 
 in all the common lands which was not drawd in second division lots." w 
 
 " That the Assessors be directed for the future to rate all the common and 
 undivided lands lying in the town." 
 
 May 18th was the memorable " dark day." The d£y;j£nes8 was so 
 dense by 11 o'clock, that fowls went to roost, and cattle came to the 
 bams as if it were night. Before noon candles were necessary. In 
 the evening the darkness was like that of Egypt. 
 
 December 27, " Landlord Griggs" is mentioned in the Records. 
 He was the second or third landlord on the Common. 
 
 1781. Abel Wilder, Esq., was the first representative under the 
 State Constitution. March 5. Chose a Committee of three to take 
 up the petition of Gideon Fisher and others, inhabitants in the south- 
 easterly part of this town, to be set off, and report to the town at the 
 annual May Meeting. The Committee were Abel Wilder, Moses 
 Hale, Israel Whiton." This led to the incorporation of Gardner. 
 [See the end of this chapter.] 
 
 March 22. " Voted that the petition be taken out of the front galery so 
 that the men may have the whole of the front galery." 
 
 April 23. " Voted, That the money due to the Widow Oaks be paid 
 ninety to one." " Voted, That the women have one-third part of the front 
 gallery in the meeting-house, and that there be a petition erected for that 
 purpose." 
 
 " Voted to see if the town is willing to have the mode of singing without 
 reading introduced on Sundays." Passed in the affirmative. 
 
 December 14. Warwick sent a letter about a new county. No 
 action taken. 
 1783. May 16. Persons who had moved into the town from other 
 
74 HISTORY OF WINCHENBON. 
 
 towns vrliere they had paid their rates for hiring three years' men, 
 asked to have their rates abated here. The town refused. 
 
 1784. March 1, The town meeting was held in the school-house. 
 Marches, Francis Bridge and Joseph Sweetzer were allowed to set up 
 a store on Meeting-house Common. April 5, Jason Bemis had liberty 
 to set a blacksmith's shop on the meeting-house Common. It was to 
 be south of Mr. Burr's shop on the east line of theTlommon. 
 
 «iMay 26, .The town voted in favor of having a new county, and 
 enjamin Brown, Dea. Moses Hale, and Capt. Wilder were chosen a 
 Committee to consult with Committees of other towns. This question 
 came up frequently in subsequent years, and never came to anything. 
 September 6, The Selectmen were directed to purchase a " funeral 
 cloth." 
 
 1785. A tract of 3680 acres was taken from the town, and joined 
 \rith territory taken from adjoining towns, to form the town of Gard- 
 der. The people of Winchendon concurred in the measure. William 
 Whitney obtained a vote to have all his farm left in Winchendon. At 
 one time he owned six 80 acre lots adjoining, besides land in other 
 parts of the town. 
 
 Voted one penny on the pound to the Constable, for collecting for 
 the year 1783, 
 
 March 7, In a freak the town chose Dr. Whiton hog-reeve, and 
 Dr. Atherton fish-reeve. It was probably done by the Shays' men, 
 who had a decided opponent in the former. 
 
 May 16, Voted to commit a certain inhabitant of the town to gaol 
 unless he paid his taxes. 
 
 1786. Abel Wilder was chosen to the Senate, and continued in 
 the same oflSce until his death. Dea. Hale succeeded him as repre- 
 sentative. There was no vote in the town against Mr. Wilder. 
 
 May 15, " Voted' to build a new pound, and to build it with stone. 
 Voted to set it on the northeast corner of the Common, twenty-five feet 
 each way within the walls, six and one-half feet high, four feet broad 
 at the bottom, and properly tapering to the top." 
 
 1787. May 14, Abel Wilder was chosen representative, but hav- 
 ing been chosen a Senator at the same time, the town chose Dea. 
 Hale representative on the 30th of July. The town changed its mind 
 about the pound, and voted to build it of wood, of white pine timberj 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDOSr. 75 
 
 eight feet high. Struck off for ten dollars to Mr. Levi Moor. The 
 town refused to give the front gallery " to convene the singers." 
 
 October 8. An article was in the warrant in relation to setti^ up 
 grave-stones in memory of Eev.. Daniel Stimpson. Negatived. 
 December 3, Dea. Moses Hale was chosen delegate to the Conven- 
 tion for ratifying the Constitution of the United StsSes. He voted in 
 the negative, with a large majority of the delegates from Worcester 
 county. 
 
 1788. May 12, Chose Samuel Crosby, Efeq., to take care of the 
 town's stock of ammunition. September 15, Voted, That two of the 
 Assessors should go round and take a new invoice of the town. This 
 " invoice" which would be a great curiosity now, was probably burned 
 with all the Assessors' books and papers a few years since. 
 
 December 18. A town meetbg was held to choose a representa- 
 tive to the first Congress under the Constitution of the United States; 
 and also to vote for presidential electors. For Congressmen the vote 
 was as follows: "Hon. Jonathan Grout, Esq., 20; Hon. Artemas 
 Ward, Esq., 16 ; Hon. Abel Wilder, Esq., 6 ; Hon. Timothy Paine, 
 Esq., 1. This was the first movement towards sending Mr. AVilder to 
 Congress. The following was the vote for electors : Hon. Amos Sin- 
 gleary, Esq., 19;'Hon. John Fessenden, Esq., 19; Hon. Samuel 
 Baker, Esq., 4; Hon. Moses Gill, Esq., 14. The meetmg then 
 adjourned from the cold meeting-house to " Mr. Stimson's east room," 
 where was a good fire, and other warming things. This " east room" 
 was in the tavern which stood for many years on the spot where the 
 house of Charles J. Rice, Esq., now stands. The business transacted 
 shows that the town was getting earnest about collecting its taxes. 
 " Voted, That the Treasurer call immediately upon the persons that 
 owe upon notes and if not paid soon, the notes to be put in suit. 2dly, 
 Voted, That the Treasurer be directed to receive lumber fOr these 
 notes in favor of the town, at cash price. 3dly, Voted, That the 
 Treasurer allow 20s. a thousand for good merchantable closing boards ; 
 6s. per bunch for good merchantable shingles, 6-8 per thousand ; eight 
 dollars a thousand for good merchantable clapboards. Voted, That 
 the lumber be delivered at the Treasurer's own dwelling-house. If 
 not sold before the next March meeting, to be set up at the vendue." 
 Dea. Hale was Treasurer, and his house was then on the southeast 
 comer of the Common. 
 
76 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 1789. May 8, The town had thrown Jonathan Stimpaon into jail 
 for his taxes. An article in the warrant for the meeting held this day, 
 was " to see what method the town will take to said Stimpson and his 
 family*." The town voted " to let out said Stimpson upon the best 
 conditions for the town they can." 
 
 1791. Septem^^r 5. The lot of school land, No. 170, was sold 
 to Dea. Levi MooiV and the money was loaned on land security. No- 
 vember 7, the town voted to petition the General Court for liberty to 
 convey by deed the ministerial and school lots belonging to the town. 
 November 12, Abel Wilder was chosen to draft a petition respecting 
 the sale of land, which draft was approved by the town. 
 
 By the census this year it was found that there were one hundred 
 and fifty houses, and nine hundred and fifty inhabitants in the town, 
 showing that the increase of population had been quite rapid. The 
 houses were scattered over the town, for as yet there were no villages 
 except at the centre. 
 
 1792. April 2d, " Voted, That the town will have their town meet- 
 ings opened and proceed to business at the hour set in the warrant. 
 
 September 5, Thaddeus Bowman and Thaddeus Bowman, Jr., left 
 in debt to the town. The town, by execution, took land in Wethers- 
 field or Cavendish, Vt., and now Mr. Amos Hey wood was chosen agent 
 to make sale of said land. 
 
 September 24, Samuel Prentice was chosen agent to prosecute those 
 who had not fulfilled their obligations in respect to building the new 
 meeting-house. The town refused to have a house occupied as a hos- 
 pital by persons " inoculated for the small pox, in some remote part 
 of the town, to be under the care of some skillful physician." In 
 consequence, the Hon. Abel Wilder went to Jaffrey for treatment, 
 where he died in the pest-house. 
 
 The town had a law-suit before the Court of Common Pleas at Wor- 
 cester, with Luther Stimson, respecting the support of Mrs. Thankful 
 Stimson. Dea. Hale was agent of the town in conducting the case. 
 He employed Esq. Paine and Esq. Strong as counsel. The decis- 
 ion was in favor of the town. 
 
 1793. Jeremiah Stuart's part of the tax for building a meeting- 
 house was abated. He claimed to be a Quaker. June 3, Dea. Sam- 
 uel Prentice was chosen Treasurer, in place of Lieut. John Burr, 
 who died in the preceding month. 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDOS. 77 
 
 1794. Here is an item which must have been the occasion of talk 
 in every house in town, at the time. A meeting was called, on the 
 6th of January, to take into serious consideration the request of Sally 
 Lord. Voted, " That Miss Lord improve the house she now lives in, 
 and also the red shop on the east side of the common, during the town's 
 pleasure, and that the Selectmen assist her in conducting the matter 
 according to their best discretion." She was the only living daughter 
 of the first minister, and had been deserted by a selfish husband. 
 
 April 7. The town refused to petition the General Court for a new 
 county. Also, " voted against setting off a part of the southwest of 
 the totra, to make a new town. Also, voted to burn a number of old 
 notes due to the town from several persons. Chose a Committee to pe- 
 tition the General Court for liberty to sell ministerial and school lots." 
 
 May 5, " Voted to petition the General Court to abate a fine im- 
 posed on the town for not sending a representative." 
 
 May 28, Voted and empowered Moses Hale to sell the land be- 
 longing to the town in the State of Vermont, and ^ve a deed for 
 the same. # 
 
 September 1. The following action was probably taken in connec- 
 tion with Washington's call for troops to suppress the " Whiskey Re- ^ 
 bellion" in Pennsylvania. That was suppressed in October. The 
 town of Winchendon voted " to make up to the soldiers who have 
 turned out as minute men in this town, forty shillings per month as 
 wages, including what they receive from Congress, from the time they 
 march, to the time they are dismissed from the camp ; and if they are 
 called out of town before they march, to muster, or any other matter 
 more than the rest of the militia, the town vote to give them three 
 shillings per day for each day." 
 
 November 3, " Voted to let out to the lowest bidder the making 
 an accurate plan of the town, agreeable to a Resolve of the General 
 Court, passed June 19 preceding." Chose a committee to let out the 
 business. Nov. 21. It was let out to Major Paul Boynton for $39.67. 
 " Voted and made choice of Moses Hale as a committee man, with 
 Major Boynton, for the above-mentioned purpose of taking a plan of 
 the town." The work was done by Dea. Hale, and the original by 
 his pen is now in the office of the Secretary of State, in the State 
 Houso at Boston. The effort to set off a portion from the southwest 
 
78 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 of the town to form a new town was still pursued, but the town re- 
 fused to take ^ any action in favor of the measure. The design was to 
 make New Boston a centre. 
 
 1795. A post route was established through this town this year. 
 A store was set up where the Village now stands. Its precise locar 
 
 tion is not known, probably where Mrs. Caswell lives. It was a small 
 affair, suitable to the times. Thojnas Wilder was the st(^re-keeper. 
 
 May 6, Voted on the question of the necessity and expediency of 
 revising the Constitution of the State. Yeas, 2 ; nays, 61. Accept- 
 ed the Plan of the town. 
 
 September 3, Voted to set up guide-posts, agreeably to an act of 
 the- General Court. 
 
 The toAvn generally set itself against all changes of town or coun- 
 ty lines. In December of this year it voted against setting off Har- 
 vard to Middlesex county. 
 
 1796. May 5, Voted against dividing the county, and also against 
 building a new Court House in Worcester. 
 
 September 5, Voted not to pay for a singing-school. 
 November * Voted to request the church to shorten the intermis- 
 sions on Sundays in the longest days, to an hour and a half, and in the 
 • shortest, to an hour. 
 
 1797. May 2, Voted to give a bounty of three shillings for every 
 old crow, and one shilling for every young crow killed in the town, by 
 the inhabitants thereof, to. continue for the time of six month's from 
 this day. A vote similar to this was passed at different times down 
 to a recent period. 
 
 1798. January 1, Chose Dea. Moses Hale, Amos Heywood and 
 Dea. Samuel Prentice a committee to remonstrate to the General 
 Court against granting any money for the building a Court House in 
 the town of Worcester." 
 
 March 5, " Voted that the three first Selectmen — there were five 
 this year — be a Committee to give a deed of the leased lands when 
 the money is paid in, and let out the same at six per cent., taking land 
 security." By degrees the town was disposing of its lands. 
 
 April 2, Voted on dividing the county ; yeas, 15 ; nays, 40. 
 
 Voted to procure a carriage and harness to be used at funerals. ' 
 
 Voted that the Seal of the town be the letters W. and N., and 
 that the Selectmen procure said Seal. 
 
HISTOKY OF WINCHENDOUr. 79 
 
 May 7. The love of office was not so strong in the last centniy as 
 it is at present, else ambitious men -would have prevented any need of 
 8uch action as is expressed by the following vote : " Voted to petition 
 the General Court to abate the fine for neglecting to send a represen- 
 tative last year." It is possible however that towns would sometimes 
 neglect or decline to send representatives in these days, because they 
 were obliged to pay the expense. • 
 
 1799. September 30. The following action proves that the Mili- 
 tia system was considered important by those who had a lively recol- 
 lection of revolutionary times. " Voted that the Selectmen equip such 
 of the trainband as they think are unable to equip themselves." 
 
 Appendix to Chapteu V. 
 
 The action of the town, embodied in the Report of its Committee, 
 in reference to parting with a large section to the proposed town of 
 Gardner, is so unselfish and honorable, that it is inserted here, as an 
 appendix to^the Annals. The Report was presented, " accepted and 
 adopted," on the 17th of May, 1781. It was as follows : 
 
 " We, the subscribers, being appointed by the town of Winchendon, as a 
 Committee to take into consideration the petition of Gideon Fisher and others, 
 inhabitants of the southeasterly part of Winchendon, requesting to have a 
 part of said town set off, and being annexed to parts of other towns, to form 
 a distinct district, have attended to that business, and report as follows. Con- 
 Bidering the situation of the petitioners, we think it reasonable a part of said 
 town should be set off when those towns concerned have determined the res- 
 pective boundaries of the district to be so formed, as that the same may be 
 properly accommodated ; and as'circumstances now appear, we think a straight 
 line beginning at the northeast corner of lot No. 15, to the southeast corner 
 of lot No. 80, would best accommodate, if the parts taken from the other 
 towns are correspondent thereto ; and in order that said boundaries may be 
 ascertained, we think it expedient that those towns concerned should meet by 
 their Committees, or otherwise, to consult on the same." 
 
80 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. — THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 "The God of battles smll'd— Justice triumph'd; 
 The Stars and Stripes, Columbia's sacred Flag, 
 Like eagles' pinions flutter'd to the breeze ; 
 And the Eed Lion, haughty Britain's emblem, 
 Discorafltted, went howling back with rage, 
 To lair amidst the white cliffs of Albion." 
 
 Watson. 
 
 SECTION 1. — SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE. 
 
 Having recited the annals of the town to the close of the century, 
 it is now necessary to return, and dwell more fully on certain impor- 
 tant events in which local and national history are blended. The first 
 of these was the Revolution, which most deeply affected every inhab- 
 itant of the town. 
 
 The first settlers were in sympathy with their countrymen in rela- 
 tion to everything which pertained to the general welfare. They were 
 full of the spirit of patrotism and of the love of independence. They 
 responded to all the movements of Boston, led by Samuel Adams, in 
 the years preceding the Declaration of Independence. The " Boston 
 Massacre" occurred, and sent a thrill of indignation through all New 
 England. 
 
 In January, 1773, a letter was received by the Selectmen from the 
 town of Boston, in reference to public affairs, and requesting the peo- 
 ple of Winchendon to take action in relation thereto, and send the 
 result to the Committee of correspondence in Boston. Abel Wilder 
 and John Boynton, two of the Selectmen, in response to a request 
 signed by ten freeholders, called a special town meeting, " to see if 
 the town will take iuto consideration the distressing circumstances of 
 the present affairs of the province : and so far as concerns particular 
 towns and individual persons, to act thereon by choosing Committees, 
 or otherwise, as they shall see fit." The meeting was held on the 
 
HISTOKY OP WINCHENDON. 81 
 
 fifteenth of Pebraary, the records of -which are here copied, as they 
 show the spirit of the people, two years before the clash of arms. 
 
 " At a legal meeting of the freeholders and other inhabitaots of Winchen- 
 don, qualified by law to vote in, town affairs, on the fifteenth day of Febru- 
 ary, 1773, chose Moses Hale, Moderator for the government of said meeting. 
 The meeting was then adjourned to 1, and again to 3 o'clock. 
 
 " Voted, to take into consideration the distressing and dangerous circum- 
 stances of our public affairs. 
 
 Voted, to choose a committee consisting of five persons to prepare a draft 
 to lay before the town, of such measures as may be thought proper for the 
 town to come into, in order to defend their rights and liberties. Chose 
 Messrs. Moses Hale, Levi Nichols, John Boynton, John Homer, and Dudley 
 Perley, Committee for the purposes aforementioned. 
 
 Voted, and consented to the proceedings of the town of Boston in their 
 stating the rights of the Colonists, as they are set forth in a pamphlet sent by 
 a Committee of Correspondence in Boston to the Selectmen of Winchendon." 
 Adjourned to the first day of March at 2 P. M., in the meeting-house. 
 
 "At a legal meeting of the freeholders and others of Winchendon, upon 
 adjournment from the fifteenth day of February last, the Committee appointed 
 the fifteenth day of February last, by the town of Winchendon, legally assem- 
 bled to consider the letter from the town of Boston, with their statement of 
 rights of the Colonies, and the infringements made upon them, which was 
 publicly read at the said meeting, beg leave to report. That from a full con- 
 viction of the propriety and expediency of the measure, they do recommend 
 to the inhabitants of this town to pass the following Besolves, namely : 
 
 1. Resolved, that having taken into serious consideration the state of the 
 rights of the Colonies, and of the Province in particular, as men, as christians, 
 and as subjects, and a list of infringements and violation of rights, as speci- 
 fied and set forth by the committee of the town of Boston, We are of opin- 
 ion that the rights of this Province are well and truly stated in said list, as 
 they are well supported and warranted by the laws of God, of nature, of the 
 realm of Great Britain and the charter of this Province ; that a list of infringe- 
 ments and violations of those rights and privileges inherent to the inhabitants 
 of this Province are well stated, vindicated and supported by a great variety 
 of uncontestable facts, whereby it appears to us as aforesaid, that the time is 
 speedily hastening when we shall be reduced to the most abject slavery. 
 
 2. Sesolved, that having consulted our charter, we find that by the afore- 
 said infringements and violations, our rights and liberties, thereby derived, 
 are sapped to the very foundation. 
 
 6 
 
82 HISTOEY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 3. Resohed,: that it is of the utmost importance the Colonies in general 
 and the inhabitants of this Province in particular, stand firm as one man to 
 support and maintain all their just rights and privileges. 
 
 4. Resolved, that this town will, at all times, heartily join with our 
 brethren of this Province, and with every true friend to liberty, in all lawful 
 measures which may be proper, salutary and effectual for the redress of our 
 grievances and the establishment of our charter rights, privileges and liberties. 
 
 5. Resolved, that this town choose a committee to correspond with the 
 Boston committee, and the committees of other towns, to receive and com- 
 municate to the town all salutary measures that shall bo proposed or offered 
 by any other towns for removing the common grievances of this Province, 
 and to communicate the sentiments of this town to the corresponSent com- 
 mittee of the other towns of this Province, 
 
 6. Resolved, that the united thanks of this town and of every true son of 
 liberty and friend to the constitution of the Province, is due to the town of 
 Boston for their early and indefatigable zeal in endeavoring to preserve the 
 constitutional rights and liberties of this Province. 
 
 7. Resolved, that the town of Boston be served with an attested copy of 
 our proceedings. 
 
 MosES Halu, 
 Levi Nichols, 
 John Boynton, 
 John Homer, 
 Dudley Peeley, 
 Winchendon, February 22, 1773. 
 
 The above Resolves being publicly read, it was put to vote. Accepted by 
 unanimous vote. 
 
 Voted, and chose Messrs. Moses Hale, Levi Nichols, John Boynton, John 
 Homer, and Dudley Perley, a Committee of Correspondence. 
 
 Voted, that the Town Clerk be directed to record the foregoing Resolves 
 in the town book of records, and to return an attested copy of the same to 
 the Committee of Correspondence above chosen. 
 
 Moses Hale, Moderator. 
 A true copy, Attest, 
 
 Adel Wilder, Town Clerk." 
 
 The intention of tte British government became plainer from year 
 to year, and the determination of the Colonists rose in opposition. 
 They would not surrender their birthright without a struggle. The 
 people of Winchendon were in full accord with their countrymen in 
 taking proper measures of resistance to tyranny. The Selectmen 
 
 Committee to consider 
 of Grievances. 
 
HISTOBY OS WraCHBKDON. ' 83 
 
 issued a warrant for a town meeting to be held on the fourth of August, 
 1774. This was the language of one of the articles. " Whereas the 
 committee of Correspondence of the town of Winchendon, have 
 received a letter from the committee of Correspondence of Worcester, 
 — requesting the town of Winchendon to appoint one or more of the 
 committee of the town of Winchendon, to meet the other committees 
 of the several towns in this county, at Worcester on the ninth of 
 August next, to consult together, and come into some regular method 
 to oppose the late Acts of Parliament ; the intent of which is to bereave 
 us of our rights and privileges ;" and the meeting was to " see if the 
 town will choose one or more of the committee for the abovesaid pur- 
 pose." The record of the meeting was as follows : 
 
 "At a meeting of the town of Winchendon, August 4, 1774, Chose Mr. 
 Eli Smith, Moderator for the government of said meeting. Chose Mr. Amos 
 Merriam to join the Committee of Correspondence in the town in the room of 
 John Homer, deceased. 
 
 •Chose Mr. Moses Hale to meet the committee that may be appointed by 
 the several towns in this county, at the widow Mary Stearns, at Worcester, 
 on the 9tk day ^f August instant, at 10 of the clock in the morning." 
 Adjourned to the 25th of August. Then met and acted as follows : 
 
 " Voted, that Dea. Moses Hale go to Worcester upon the adjournment of 
 the County Convention — That is, the adjourned meeting of the Convention. 
 
 Voted to accept of the following Kesolves, namely : 
 
 1. Sesolved, that we acknowledge ourselves true and liege subjects to 
 his Majesty, king George III., and that we will, to the utmost of our power, 
 defend his crown and dignity. 
 
 2. Sesolved, that the charter of this Province is the basis of allegiance 
 to his Majesty, the sacred obligation he is under to protect us, his American 
 subjects, and that all Acts of the British Parhament which tend to vacate 
 our charter without our consent, have a tendency to destroy our allegiance to 
 the king, and also the obligation he is under to protect us, his most loyal sub- 
 jects, which consequently reduces us to a state of nature. 
 
 3. Resolved, that those unconstitutional Acts lately passed in the British 
 Parliament, wherein they claim a right to tax the Americans without their 
 consent, and to alter our free Constitutions at then- pleasure, has a direct ten- 
 dency to break off the affections of his Majesty's true and loyal subjects in 
 America, from the king, and therefore most certainly weaken the British 
 nation, and will, if persisted in, unavoidably endanger, if not actually be a 
 means of the destruction of the king, and the whole British realm. 
 
84 HISTOKT OF WIWCHENDOIT. 
 
 4. Resolved, that we will, to the utmost of our power, oppose all sneb 
 ■unconstitutional acts, which in our opinion, are directly against the dignity 
 of the king and the constitution of this Province, and are ready to risk our 
 lives and fortunes in defence of our rightful sovereign, and to maintain our 
 free constitution, in order to save ourselves and posterity from nun and 
 slavery, which seems, like a torrent, rushing in upon us. 
 
 5. Resolved, that we will do all that lies in our power to maintain peace 
 and good order amongst us according to the laws of this Province ; and that 
 we will break off all dealings, as far as possible, with all officers who hold 
 their commissions under unconstitutional laws. 
 
 6. Resolved, that those men who are appointed Counsellors by a manda- 
 mus from England, directly contrary to the charter of this Province, and have 
 taken the oaths required to sei-ve in that office, are destitute of any regard to 
 the good of their country, and ought to be treated as open enemies to the 
 once free constitution of this Province." 
 
 SECTION 2. — ^THE PIRST NOTES OP DEFIANCE. 
 
 The above resolutions truly indicate the sentiments of the inhabit- 
 ants of this town, though they may have been drafted, possibly, in 
 Boston. It was not uncommon for the people of one ^lace to adopt 
 the resolves of another, inasmuch as the crias produced almost entire 
 unanimity among' the people. An adjourned meeting was held on the 
 15th of September, when it waa 
 
 " Voted to send a person to the Provincial Congress to meet at Concord 
 the second Tuesday of October next. 
 
 Chose Mr. Moses Hale to go to Concord. 
 
 Voted, that every person from the age of sixteen to sixty years old, appear 
 at the meeting-house in Winchendon, on Tuesday, the 20th day of this instant 
 September, at one ,of the clock in the afternoon. 
 
 Voted, . that the town wUl indemnify Mr. Jeremiah Stuart, Constable, in 
 his not returning a list of the persons qualified to serve as Jurors agreeable to 
 a late Act of Parliament ; and he is hereby directed never to make such 
 returns." 
 
 The last resolve was really a defiance to the government of the 
 mother country, and evinces the purpose of the people to maintain 
 their rights at all hazards. New events were in the same direction 
 from month to month. In September, Gen'. Gage, the royal Gov- 
 ernor, issued a proclamation convoking the General Court to meet m 
 
HISTORY OP WmCHENDOK. 85 
 
 Salem, m October. Though the Grovernor countermanded the meet- 
 ing, the representatives, nevertheless, assembled at the appointed time 
 and place, resolved themselves into a Provincial Congress, adjourned 
 to Concord, and there adopted a series of measures adapted to the 
 times. To this adjourned meefing, the town of Wiachendon sent a 
 representative in the person of Dea. Hale, as appears by the vote 
 above recited. Though the Provincial Congress was held in defiance 
 of the constituted authority, yet the sanction of tiie people gave all 
 tiieir recommendations tke force of law. 
 
 This year, 1774, is noted in American annals for the destruction of 
 tea in Boston harbor. Between three and four hundred chests of. tea 
 were thrown into the water, by a party of men disguised as Indians, 
 followed and assisted by a crowd in their usual dress. The British 
 government, in their alarm at the excitement which their measures had 
 aroused in the Colonies, and with the hope of conciliation, had repealed 
 the duties on articles imported, witli the exception of Sirce pence per 
 pound on tea, retained for the purpose of asserting their right to tax 
 the Colonies. This claim was reasted, on priacipie, and one of the 
 rough modes of resistajice was taken by the pretended Indians. A 
 venerable lady, now deceased, wJiose husband was one of iSie band, 
 used to narrate the evesat, and tell how^ frightened sTse was when her 
 door was opemed that night, by a fierce looking Indian, and how she 
 was calmed by a well-known voice, saying : " Don't be frightened, 
 Elizabeth." According to her account, the number of men in the 
 Indian costume was not largo, but every man in the crowd afterwards 
 claimed to be one of the tea-party-, aad by implication, at least, one of 
 the Indians. 
 
 It is said, thai tliough the ladies joino'fi in the league which pro- 
 scribed the use of tea, yet sometimes their love of the beverage would 
 get the upper-hand of their patriotism. Under the name of sc^e tea, or 
 mint tea^ or some other herb, the genuine article was sipped by stealtii, 
 in the ceilar or the garret. And &ere are stories that even parties 
 of ladies would eontpive, by settmga guard, to have a social tea-drink- 
 ing ; nor need there be any doubt, that under such inspiration, thdr 
 tongues ran as gliMy and patriotically on the engrossing topics of 
 the day. 
 
 The next act of the town taikcu in uoisoQ witih &e oliber towns of the 
 
86 HISTORY OF ■WIN'CHENDOIf. 
 
 Province, was another defiance of the royal govemmentv Harrison 
 Gray, Esq., was the Treasurer under the government of the crown, 
 and the taxes could not be paid lawfully except into his hands. The 
 Congress, however, recommended the several towns to pay their annual 
 taxes into the hands of Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stoir, as Treasurer 
 for the Province. In reference to this matter the town passed the fol- 
 lowing vote, at a town meeting held on the 10th of January, 1775. 
 
 " Voted, that the Province taxes granted and levied upoii the town of 
 Winchendon, for the years 1772, 1773, and 1774, committed and soon to 
 be committed to Thomas Sawyer and Jeremiah Stuart, Constables of Win- 
 chendon, be paid to Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow, as soon as conveniently 
 may be ; and the Constables are hereby ordered to pay the above-said money 
 as above voted ; and the town mil hereby indemnify the above-said Thomas . 
 Sawyer and Jeremiah Stuart in so doing, upon their producing receipts from 
 the above-mentioned Henry Gardner, Esi];. 
 
 Voted and chose Levi Nichols, Thomas Sawyer, Moses Hale, Abel Wil- 
 der, John Boynton, Eli Smith and David Poor, a committee to see that the 
 Association of the Continental Congress be put in execution. 
 
 Voted, that the town will assist the above committee in carrying the 
 above-mentioned Association into execution, provided they proceed agreeably 
 to the directions of the Provincial Congress." 
 
 Here was an actual though not formal defelariation of separation 
 from the mother country. The authoirity of the roy'a! governor was 
 set aside, and the Provincial Congress was the recognized authority. 
 The action of the Congress which the above comnaittee were chosen to 
 enforc0, proscribed the importation and use of artJdeS frofia Great 
 Britain. 
 
 SECTION 3. LEXINGTON AND BUNKElS SlLL..' 
 
 There were at this time, according to Dr. Whiton^ about ninety 
 families in the place, and near five hundred and fifty people, so that 
 they were able to muster quite a company cxf militia. And if their 
 ■ guns were old fashioned, and mayhap rusty, they were wielded by 
 strong and sturdy hands. When the news came of the battle of Lex- 
 ington, in April, the alarm was spread in Winchendon by the firirg 
 of guns and the beating of drums. The people sprang to arms, ar.d 
 xmder the: lead of Dea. Moses, Hale, without a conurus^oa, ai party of 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENBON. 87 
 
 them started for tlie scene of action. Learning, however, while on 
 their way, that there were men enough in the field, near Boston, they 
 returned home. They attended to spring work on their farms, and 
 put themselves in preparation for the contest which was now opening 
 before them. In the meantime, Capt. Abel Wilder was commissioned 
 as captain. The. time for preparation was brief, for letters dated May 
 6 and May 10, prove that Capt. Wilder was already in the camp at 
 Cambridge. Sometime — the exact date has not been discovered, — 
 prior to the battle of Bunker Hill, which was fought on the 17th of 
 June, Capt. Wilder marched to Cambridge with his company. This 
 company, says Dr. Whiton, " was composed of men from Winchen- 
 don, Royalston and Templeton." . Among the soldiers from this town 
 were Benjamin Rice, Amos Hale, David Stoddard, Samuel Bradish, 
 John Day, Nathan Day, (both sons of Dea. Richard Day,) Timothy 
 Darling, Samuel Brown, and EHsha Brown. 
 
 It is supposed that some twelve or fifteen of the company were per- 
 sonally engaged in the battle ; the remainder being on guard, or oth- 
 erwise employed. " The Winchendon men engaged in the thick of 
 the figbt, were Wilder, Bradish, Stoddard, Rice, and Hale," and per- 
 haps others. Stoddard, though he received no injury, was covered 
 with dust thrown up by a canon ball which struck the earth near his 
 feet. Bradish was severely, and for a time it was supposed, fatally 
 wounded, " by a ball accidentally discharged by a comrade, which 
 entered the back of his neck, and came out at one of his eyes. The 
 eye perished, but he himself surprisingly recovered. Apparently des- 
 perate as was the wound, he walked off from the battle-field to a place 
 of refuge. When Capt. Wilder came to him after the retreat, he 
 found the wound undressed, and demanding of the surgeon the reason 
 for the neglect, was told it was of no use, as the man must certainly 
 die ; but he insisted that the wound should be dressed, which was ac- 
 cordingly done." A letter* written by Capt. Wilder to his wife Anna, 
 the day after the battle, finds its place here. The ancient spelling 
 is retained. 
 
 " ClIAELESTON ENCAMPMENT, 
 
 June ye 18th, 1775. 
 
 } 
 
 Dear Wife : These Ljnes are to inform you that I am pretty well, though 
 I have had a poorly two or three days. Friday night I was quite poorly. 
 
 * Kindly fiirnished, with many others, "by his gi-aiid.soii, Dea. Albert Brown. 
 
&S HISTOKT OF WINCHEOTJOW. 
 
 Doctor Wait said I must have a Vomit ; but I told him as there was & battle 
 expect«d Satterday, I would not take it, lest I should be charged ef taking 
 it on purpose. But I took some tincture, which answered a good purpose. 
 And according as was expected, a very hot Battle insued Satterday after 
 noon. Our -people had built a fort on a hill in the town of Charleston, 
 and the Begulars landed upwards of two thousand men on said hill ; and our 
 K.egimertt on the hill ; aod they fired upward from four or five Ships, the 
 north battery, and two or three field pieces , but blessed be God, there wa» 
 mot many killed by them. But presently they advanced up near to us, and 
 I fi,red nineteen times, and had fair chances, and then they was too hard foy 
 us, and we retreated. The bals flew very tluck, but tteougb the Divine 
 potection, my company was all preserved but one, Pbiaehas Nevers,* who 
 is missing, and Samuel- Bradish, badly wounded. Bat men are in good 
 spirit. 
 
 I- remain your txue and loving husband, 
 
 Abel Wilder." 
 
 The ^irit of the man is revealed in every line. He relied upon 
 €rod ; he loved his wife ; he was careful of his men ; he was in the "-Ijot 
 battle," where the " bals flew very thick," and " fired nineteen times," 
 though he waS' a captain, and had " fair chances," which means prob- 
 ably that he took aim at good marks. He Kad a long, dender gun, 
 and fired it till if " was so stopped up " that he could not fire it any 
 longer. Other officers of the company were lieitt. Jonas. Allen, of 
 Royalston, and Ensign Isaac Nichols, of Royalston. Benjiaimn Rice 
 was second Sergeant in this Regiment, commanded by CoL Doolittle. 
 
 One of the company died while in camp. This was young Nathan 
 Bay, of tHs town, the son of Dea, Day^ whose untimjely fate was 
 doubtless mourned by the inhabitants generally, as one of the first 
 victims of the war, though he fell by disease rather than by the vio- 
 lence of the enemy. The following inventory of the few tbings belong- 
 ing to the young soldier, while in service, is not without interest, after 
 the lapse of almost a century. 
 
 " Camp on Wistbr Hils, Sept. ye Ist, 1775. 
 Then rec'd of Capt. Abel Wilder, the several things hereafter mentioneJ, 
 Being all the things my brother Nathan was possessed of in the army when 
 he died. 
 
 *Nevei!s was wounded, and taien pKisoner to Boaton., where lie dieaL 
 
BISTORT OF wmCHENDOIir. 89 
 
 One Great Coat, Two pair of Trowses, One Shirt, Two p'r of Stockens, 
 One Coat and One Waistcoat, One Silk Handkerchief, One Hat, One p'r 
 of Old Shoes, One Gun and Bagonet, One Cartridge Box, One Shirt. / 
 
 John Day." 
 
 The following was found among the papers of Mr. Wilder, without 
 a date, but it probably belongs to this period ; and if so, gives us the 
 names of the " Minute Men," who were ready for instant service. 
 They are all Winchendon names. 
 
 " Order for Wages due on ye Minute Roll. 
 
 Lt. John Boynton, 
 Lt. Dudley Perley, 
 Serg't. Amos Merriam, 
 John N. Parson, Jr., 
 Daniel Goodridge, 
 Corp'l Abijah Stimpson, 
 Roger Bates, 
 David Goodridge, 
 Elisha Brown, 
 Samuel Brown, 
 Saniuol Bradish, 
 Thadeus Bowman, 
 Stephen Boynton, 
 
 Zebnlon Conant, 
 
 John Day, 
 
 Nathan D^, 
 
 John Darling, 
 
 Jacob Hale, 
 
 Benj. Kimball, 
 
 John Porter, 
 
 Eben'r Sherwin, (drummer) 
 
 Eph'm Sawyer, 
 
 Eph'm Stimpson, 
 
 Bill Hancock, 
 
 Joseph Wilder." 
 
 The following extract from a letter written by Capt. Wilder soon 
 after he joined the army, gives us a vivid glimpse of the condition of 
 the people of Boston, when leaving their homes in the possession of 
 British troops. 
 
 " The people are coming out of Boston daily. I was at Charleston Ferry 
 Monday, to see a load come over. They seemed to be glad that they had 
 got out, but looked back sober to think they had left all their substance be- 
 hind them." 
 
 There is occasional mention in his letters of visits froaa Winchendon 
 friends, as " Mr. Mansfield and Sybil," and " Mr. Biglow," who 
 " lodged in the tents two nights," and became " so beat out that he 
 was obliged to go to the Hospital." Under date of October 7, he 
 writes from Camp on Winter Sill, giving the following touching inci- 
 dent. " As for going into Boston, it is but a fancy. Last week on 
 Friday, two of our floating batteries went down so nigh that they shot 
 several balls through the houses, and it is said shot a woman through, 
 with a child in her arms." 
 
90 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 The following letter is so cliaraeteristic of the -writer, and so de- 
 scriptive of the times, that its space will not be grudged by any intel- 
 ligent reader. No alterations have been made but such corrections 
 w are necessary in preparing ancient letters — ^ oven those of Wash- 
 ington — for the press. 
 
 " Prospect Hill, Chaeleston, ) 
 June 29th, 1775. | 
 
 Dear Wife ! I received a letter from you yesterday, which informed me 
 that the family was well, and you as well as you could expect, which gives 
 me satisfaction. I hope you will be patient under common infirmities, and 
 even if God is pleased to lay greater upon you than is common under your 
 present circumstances. I shall not forget you, neither at the throne of grace, 
 nor in common mediEktions, though I would not be understood that I am 
 uneasy, for since it is the will of God that I should bo here; I am entirely 
 content to serve him in this way. I had almost forgot to tell you that I am 
 Well. I am as well as usual, but Abel is not tfell ; he took physic last 
 night, and is better to-day. As to the judgments of heaven, I am glad that 
 you take a suitable notice of them, and wish every one might. But alas, 
 there are some here that appear neither to fear God nor regard man ; though 
 blessed be God, there are not many such. We have been without a chap- 
 lain ever since we came down here, until about a week, but now we have 
 one, Mr. Emory, who preached last Sabbath, and prays night and morning. 
 And Col. Doohttle, who I was afraid Was heedless, takes good care to have 
 men attend, and attends himself with constancy and steadiness, which gives 
 me pleasure. * * * * These from your true and loving husband, 
 
 Abel Wilder." 
 
 In a letter written early in November, he alluded to the fears of 
 his wife lest he should remain in the army till spring, and expresses 
 liis own fear lest for some cause, not specified, he should be dismissed 
 before his time was up. But on the 20th of the month, he writes from 
 Winter Hill that " the officers of the army have their wages raised. A 
 captain has twenty-six dollars per month, which is about enough more 
 than I have to hire a man at home, and if are a mind to have me 
 stay on these conditions, you must send me word." 
 
 This letter properly introduces the paper which follows, headed : 
 " Those names that are determined not to tarry longer than the last 
 of December, 1775." 
 
 As this list contains names not found in the roll of "minute men," 
 
HISTORY OF -VyiKCHUNBeiS-. 
 
 01 
 
 it i3 proper to insert them in this place. It is probable e^Iso that some 
 of the names in this list, and that -which follows, belonged to men from 
 Royalston and Templeton. As the paper is torn, the surnames of sev- 
 eral cannot be given. 
 
 Serg't. Seth Oaks, 
 
 " Benjamin Eice^ 
 
 " Daniel Joslin, 
 
 " William Dike, 
 *Corporal William Clements, 
 
 " Elisha Brown, 
 
 " Solomon BigloWj 
 Henry Poor, 
 *Peter Woodbury, 
 David Stoddard, 
 Michael Coffin, 
 fBezaleel Barton, 
 
 Then comes a list of " those names that are enlisted for the year 
 ensuing," being members of " Capt. Abel Wilder's Company." The 
 nanies, as well as they can be deciphered, are as follows : 
 
 *Eliphalet Kiohardson, 
 ■ •Ebenezer Goodale, 
 f Joshua Goodnow, 
 Amos Hale, 
 Moses Hale, 
 *John Norton, 
 
 Calvin Ea , 
 
 Samuel , 
 
 Ephraim , 
 
 Seth W. ;, 
 
 Joseph ■= , 
 
 Ebenezer . 
 
 Sg't Isaac Nichols, 
 tCapt. Nathan Wheeler, 
 Eobert Steef, (drummer) 
 Ahimaa Sherwin, 
 Joseph Goodale, 
 *Abijah Richardson, 
 Samuel Norton, 
 
 The paper is endorsed, " Capt.'Abel Wilder's Return." 
 
 George Moseley, 
 Benjamin Bolland, 
 Josiah Green, 
 Michael Coffin, 
 John Corneal], 
 Barnabas Garrison. 
 
 SECTION 4. — DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 
 
 In 1776 several citizens of the town engaged in the struggle. 
 The March meeting was called as usual, in the name of His Majesty. 
 The Committee of Correspondence for the year were chosen, as fol- 
 lows : Abel Wilder, Moses Hale, Miles Putnam, Thos. Kimball, Francis 
 Bridge. On the 27th of May the town voted in favor of the plan that 
 the Council and House of Representatives should form a system of laws. 
 So far, though the town had taken steps incompatible with true allegi- 
 ance to the king, yet His Majesty's authority had not been openly 
 repudiated and defied. At length the time had come to throw off all 
 
 Trom Eoyalston. 
 
 t Unknown. 
 
92 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 pretence of submission, and to assume the position of independencei 
 And what was a most happy coincidence, the town of Winchendon 
 declared for independence on the very day when the Declaration of 
 Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress. 
 
 A meeting was called by the Selectmen, " in the name of the gov- 
 ernment and people of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay," to 
 assemble on the fourth day of July, 1776, and that memorable meet- 
 ing took the following action : 
 
 " At a legal meeting of the free-holders and other inhabitants of Winchen- 
 don, qualified by law to vote in the choice of a Kepresentative, on the 4th 
 day of July, 1776, 
 
 Chose Thomas Sawyer, moderator for the government of said meeting, 
 
 ■ WKereas, this town has been called upon by the Honorable House of 
 Representatives of this Colony, to signify their minds in regard of American 
 independency ; being duly sensible of the cruel and oppressive measures 
 which are pursued by the King and Parliament of Great Britain in order to 
 enslave the Colonies, and consequently the difficulty that will attend our be- 
 ing ever again united with Great Britain, therefore. 
 
 Unanimously Resolved, That if the Honorable Continental Congress 
 should think best for the safety of these Colonies to declare them independ- 
 ent of the Kingdom of Great Britain, that we will with our lives and im- 
 tunes, support them in the measure." 
 
 This resolution was in response to the General Court, which body 
 had assured Congress of the support of the people of this Colony. 
 The question had been sent out for each town to act upon, individu- 
 ally, and the people of Winchendon were ready to peril lives and 
 ■fortunes in maintaining the cause of freedom and indepfendence. 
 
 At the regular town meeting held on the third of March, 1777, 
 the Declaration of Independence was read by order of the General 
 Court, and was put upon record in the Town's Record Book, " as a 
 perpetual memorial thereof." 
 
 At a meeting held on the 8th of the preceding January, an account 
 to the Selectmen for numbering the people was presented. 
 
 SECTION 5. — ENLISTMENTS. 
 
 On the 13th of March it was voted " to grant some money to encour- 
 age the enlisting of our quota of Continental soldiers." Then voted 
 " to give £20 by way of hire to each man of a sufficient number of 
 
HISTORT OF WINCHENDOW. 93 
 
 men to complete the quota of men levied on this town for the Conti- 
 nental armj, provided they -will not engage upon the encouragement 
 given by the Continent and State*" Then chose a " committee of 
 elevenpersons to estimate services done in the war." Robert Bradish, 
 repre^tative the preceding year, was re-elected. 
 
 The town, in accordance with a warrant addressed to all that " have 
 estate of freehold in lands in this State or Territory of forty shillings 
 per annum," or other " estate to the value of fifty pounds sterling," at 
 a meeting. held on the 22d of May, " Voted and allowed £9 credit to 
 those men who marched the last of April last, now at Rutland." The 
 names of the men are not in the Book of Records. At the same time 
 the town " Voted and granted ^3000 to pay all the service that had 
 been done in the present war by inhabitants of this town." It was 
 also " Voted to allow £18 to each man who went with Capt. Oaks." 
 The destination of Capt. Oaks is not given. With an eye to the fu- 
 ture, the town, at this meeting, " Voted to procure men to serve in 
 the war," and " Chose a committee of three men to hire men to serve 
 in the war for this town in the future." The committee were Capt. 
 John Boynton, Dea. Moses Hale, and Capt. Abel Wilder, who were 
 authorized to hire money. 
 
 After taking into consideration the Constitution, or Form of Gov- 
 ernment, (prepared by the Council and House,) and deliberating 
 thereon, it was put to see if the town would accept of the same. Yeas, 
 28 ; Nays, 6. At the same time the town declined to send a repre- 
 sentative. 
 
 On the Slat of July news came to town requiring action in " hot 
 haste." The Selectmen were prompt, and directed Joseph Wilder 
 " to warn all the freeholders and other inhabitants of Winchendon, 
 living south of the road from Ashbumham, and David Goodridge to 
 to warn all living north of said line, to meet in Town Meeting on the 
 first day of August, at 6 o'clock in the morning." These constables 
 rode, post haste, over the poor roads of that day, on horseback, to get 
 word to every man that he must be at the Common at 6 in the morn- 
 ing of the next day. One article in the warrant was in these words : 
 ".Whereas, there is one sergeant and six privates called for to march 
 to-morrow, to see if the town will direct the committee to hire them, 
 or come to some other method to procure them, and men for the 
 
. 94 HISTORY OF WINCHENBOIT. 
 
 future." The town voted, " that the committee be directed to hirg 
 the men that are now called for as heretofore ;" and also, " to hire 
 men for the future as they are called for, without calling the town 
 together." 
 
 At a meeting on the 18th of November, the town granted £ltO in 
 addition to the sum granted last spring, to pay the hire given to Con- 
 tinental soldiers. At the same timOy sums were granted to pay for 
 several things relating to the war, as fellows : 
 
 " Journey to Watertown, after powder, £2, lis. 
 
 2, 6. ' 
 Concord, after lead, 2, 17, 6. 
 
 " Worcester, to join the Committee of Safety, 2, 0, 0." 
 
 In the beginning of 1778, the town manifested an unflagging zeal 
 jn the cause of the country. In town meeting on the 23d of January, 
 the Articles of Confederation of the United States were read. The 
 same meeting " voted and granted £290 to be assessed and collected 
 ■with the town rate in order |p pay into the Provincial Treasury agree- 
 able to a late Act of Court granting liberty to any town to have any 
 part of their quota of State money put on interest." This was recon- 
 sidered. On the 2d of February a committee of three persons was 
 ehosen to " peruse the Articles of Confederation, and report at March 
 meeting. Chose Ebenezer Sherwin, Francis Bridge, and Robert 
 Bradish." Thus cautiously did the town consider any proposition to 
 bring the State into political relations with the other States as a uni- 
 ted body. 
 
 At the annual meeting, March 2, Francis Goodhue, James Cool- 
 edge, Ebenezer Sherwin, Israel Whiten and Solomon Bigelow, were 
 chosen the committee of Correspondence. A new committee was 
 also chosen, which shows the care of the town for the families of sol- 
 diers : " Dea. Moses Hale, David Brown, Ebenezer Howeand Benja-^-'^ 
 min Brown, a Committee to take care of the Continental soldiers' fam- 
 ilies agreeable to the Act of Court." 
 
 At the same meeting, 1778, a Report of the committee chosen by 
 the town to estimate the services that had been done since the war 
 began, was presented in these words : 
 
 " The following estimations were consented to by the major part of the 
 committee, viz ; 
 
OS., 
 
 Od 
 
 10, 
 
 0. 
 
 6, 
 
 8. 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 0, 
 
 0, 
 
 6, 
 
 8- 
 
 10, 
 
 0. 
 
 10, 
 
 0, 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOHr. 95 
 
 First. 8| months to Cambridge, in the year 1775, £15, 
 
 2ly. 1^ to Dorchester, in 1776,-— 2, 
 
 Sly. 2 months to Dorchester, in 1776, 3, 
 
 41y. One year in Continental servis, in 1776, 25, 
 
 51y. 5 months to York, in 1776, 16, 
 
 61y. 4 months to Tie.,* in 1776, 16, 
 
 71y. 4 months to Dorchester, in 1776, 6, 
 
 Sly. 2 months to York, in 1776, 7, 
 
 91y. 3 months to York, in 1777, -- 9, 
 
 lOlj. As to those men that paid ten pounds to hire the 
 Continental men for three years' servis, we look 
 upon it that they should be allowed equal to 
 three months' servis that was done in the last 
 
 part of the year 1777, being 14, 
 
 Illy. 2 months to Ehodeisland, 1777, 5, 
 
 121y. 1 month to Stillwater, in 1777, 6, 
 
 IBly. 1 week to Bennington alarm, in 1777, 2, 
 
 141y. 1 month to Stillwater, in 1777, 4, 
 
 151y. 6 months to Brookfield, in 1778, 6, 
 
 161y. 3 months in the Continental servis, in 1778, 15, 
 
 I71y. 3 months to Stillwater, Albany, &c., in 1777,-— 14, 
 
 As to them men that went with Lt. Parmenter and Capt. Oaks, we leave 
 it to the town to do as they think proper. 
 
 Voted, and allowed 25sh. to those men who marched on the alarm on the 
 19th of April, 1775. 
 
 Benja. Kice, 
 
 Alex'dk May, 
 
 Amos Merriam, 
 
 John Day, 
 
 Daniel Hdbbard, 
 
 Joshua Gale, 
 
 The above Report accepted at an adjournment of the annual meeting, 
 March A. D., 1778. 
 
 181y. As to Nathan Knight, that was drafted to go to Brookfield, wo 
 think that he ought to be allowed 25s. 
 
 191y. Them men that went with Lt. Parmenter, we think they ought to 
 be allowed 30s." 
 
 In May, " Voted, and granted £3 per month as credit for those men now 
 in servis at Eutland." 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 10, 
 
 0. 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 0, 
 
 0, 
 
 10, 
 
 0. 
 
 0, 
 
 0- 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 0. 
 
 0. 
 
 Committee chose 
 ly the Town. 
 
 ♦Ticonderoga? 
 
96 HISTORY OP WINCflBNDON. 
 
 SECTION 6, — PUBLIC SPIRIT. 
 
 The year 1779 witnessed the same activity in regard to the public 
 service. On the 14th of January a meeting was called for the next 
 day, the warrant being served personally on all the voters by two 
 constables. The town allowed £30 to the committee chosen to pro- 
 vide for soldiers' families, which they paid to Dr. Green in cash, be- 
 sides a note. Also, 18s, to Abel Wilder for going to Cambridge to 
 get a State note for the town. 
 
 At the annual meeting on the first of March, the town " chose Capt. 
 John Boynton, William Whitney, James McElwain, a committee to 
 hire men for the war." Then " Voted that the above committee hire 
 men for the war as they are called for, without calling the town to- 
 gether ; and when there is occasion for it that they hire money for the 
 purpose, and the town will indemnify them for so doing. Voted, to 
 allow 6s. per pair for 15 pair of shoes, which the Selectmen provided 
 for the soldiers in the year 1778, which sum they gave more than the 
 Court's Committee allowed. Voted, to allow £4, 18, 4, for one 
 month's service Edward Putnam has done in the war. Voted to 
 allow ten pound credit to those men who paid a fine of ten pound for 
 not performing the servis they were called upon to do." What the 
 ' servis' was that was not performed, is not recorded, but it is presum- 
 able that the town considered the men excusable. The town also "Vo- 
 ted and allowed £28 to Lt. Samuel Prentice for his done in the three 
 years' State servis." 
 
 May 20, " Voted £4.10 to Samuel Newton for 2 months' servis 
 he did in the Jersies in the year 1776." 
 
 At a meeting held on the 3d of August, it was voted " to comply 
 with the spirit of the Resolves passed in the Convention at Concord 
 on the 14th of July preceding." A committee was chosen, consistihg 
 hi Dr. Israel Whiton, Dea. Moses Hale and Capt. John Boynton, to 
 prepare some plan iri regard to prices, and submit it to the town. At 
 the adjoumed meeting, August 31, this vote was reconsidered, and 
 then it was voted " to comply with the spirit of the Resolves of the 
 Convention at Worcester, held on the 11th inst., respecting prices. 
 Chose a committee of nine to state the prices of those articles not 
 enumerated in the proceedings of said Convention. Chose Moses 
 Hale, Seth Oaks, Matthew Knight, John Beemis, Samuel Noyes, 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 97 
 
 Ebenezer Richardson, Francis Goodhue, Theodore May, John Darling. 
 Then chose a committee of thirteen to see that the proceedings of 
 said'.Convention are complied with, viz : Francis Bridge, Joseph Boyn- 
 ton, John Beemis, Moses Hale, Joshua Gale, Samuel Stone, Benja- 
 min.Brown, Daniel Hubbard, Matthew Knight, Seth Oats, Ebenezer 
 Shenvin, Francis Goodhue." The people were terribly in earnest. 
 Such committees could not, of course, " fix " the prices of things, but 
 they could by corregpondence arrange to have the charges nearly uni- 
 form throughout the Colony, and so prevent imposition upon the igno- 
 rant. Another meeting was held at Cambridge on the first "Wednes- 
 day in October, to which the town sent " Moses," according to the 
 Records ; probably Dea. Moses Hale. On the 19th of October, the 
 town voted' to choose- a committee of nine to set a price on the neces- 
 saries of life, labor,- &c., agreeable to the Resolves of the late Con- 
 vention at Concord, and " hkewise to see that such regulations of pri- 
 ces are complied with." Chose Samuel Stimpson, John Day, Seth 
 Oaks, Joseph Boynton, Abel Wilder, Moses Hale, Joshua Gale, Thad- 
 eus Bowman, John Boynton. The action adopting the prices agreed 
 on at Concord, was reconsidered, as we have seen, but in this last 
 vote, the town went back of the Conventions at Worcester and Cam- 
 bridge to that of Concord again, and therefore the report of the com- 
 mittee made on the 8d of August, is given in full, in these words : 
 
 " That the pries of teaming do not exceed 27s. per mile, per ton. 
 West India rum, £7, 14, per gallon. 
 New England mm, 5, 9, " 
 Molasses, 5, 5, " 
 
 Coffee, 1, 1, per lb. 
 
 Sugar from 13s. to 15s., per lb. 
 ^alt, best quality, £14, 10s., per bushel. 
 Other West India articles in the same proportion. 
 Entertainment. — Meal of Victuals, boiled, 12s. , 
 Hip and toddy, 14s. per mug or bowl. 
 
 Other articles in the same proportion. * 
 
 Farming labor, £3 per day. 
 
 Blacksmith— Shoeing a horse, steeled, £5, 10, and all other work in 
 proportion. 
 Men's best shoes £8, 10, per pair, and other work in proportion. 
 Best Wool, £1, 10 per lb.— Flax, 15s. per lb. 
 
 7 
 
98 HISTOKT OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 The committee consider the above as a sufficient enumeration by which 
 the prices of every article of consumption and commerce may be regulated in 
 the same proportion, and that none evade or infringe upon the above regula- 
 tions ; or none exceed the prices expressed or understood, without being able 
 to render a sufficient or satisfactory reason. 
 
 N. B. Those articles regulated by. the Convention not here enumerated, 
 the committee refer to the town. 
 
 Kye at £4, 10, per bushel." 
 
 The town " Voted and accepted of the above priceanns they stand." 
 
 It is probable that the committee chosen to see this plan enforced, 
 couid i}ot carry it out in all respects, but the " spirit of the Resolves" 
 was generally complied with. 
 
 On the 29th of November it was voted to allow " Messrs. Matthew 
 Knight, Daniel Goodridge, Joseph Wilder- and Ebenezer Richardson, 
 each of them, as much as those men who hired as Continental soldiers 
 for three years." 
 
 In 1780, on the 20th of March, John Beemis, Amos Merriam and 
 John Day were chosen a committee to hire men for the war. May 
 29, Chose Abel Wilder to search into the reason why the town was 
 fined ,£1200 in the last State tax, and get the same taken off if pos- 
 sible. 
 
 On the third of July, Joshua Gale, Constable, was required forth- 
 with to notify and warn all the freeholders and other inhabitants qual- 
 ified by law to act in tow/i affairs, who lived west of the road from the 
 meeting-house to Jonathan Whitcomb's, to meet the next day, July 4, 
 at 2 o'clock P.M. In, like manner, Lieut. Amo| Merriam was required 
 to warn all who lived east of the road from the meeting-house to Jon- 
 athan Whitcomb's, and north of the road to Ashburnham, excepting 
 Mr. Eemis, Buttrick and Flint. John Day carried a similar warning 
 to all living north of Royalston road, and west of the north road. 
 Ezra Hide notified i!he remaining part of the town. Onearticle in the 
 warrant lyas " to see if the town will come into some method to expe- 
 dite the raising ten men from the militia which are called for." Also, 
 " to grant some suitable sum or sums of money to pay soldiers' hire," 
 &c. They were also to warn " aJJ the male inhabitants from the age 
 of sixteen years old to sixty-five, to appear on the meeting-house Com- 
 mon at two of the clock on said day, P. M., with their arms, upon the 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 99 
 
 pajns and penalties of the law in that case made and provided." The 
 meeting was opened at 2, and Benjamin Brovm was chosen Modera- 
 tor. Adjourned to 5, when the meeting " Voted and granted £50,- 
 000 for. the pur{x)se of hiring men for the war, and to defray other 
 town charges." At the same time eighty-five dollars per day were 
 allowed as the wages of a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. 
 
 SECTION 7. — DEPRECIATED CUHEENCY. 
 
 By this time, as will be inferred from the above vote, the currency 
 was in hopeless disorder, and the governmental " promises to pay", had 
 greatly depreciated. The Continental paper was at par at the open- 
 ing of 1777 ; in a year, it took four and a half dollars of currency to 
 buy one of specie ; in another year, f 1 in specie was equal to $8.38 
 in paper ; in 1780 it took $32.50 to buy a silver dollar. In 1781, 
 the rate was " ninety for one," that is, $90 m paper for $1 in specie. 
 We need not wonder that in 1782 the town voted " that the Constable 
 and Collectors be directed to receive no more paper money for town 
 rates," 
 
 La one case, withm a day's ride from Winchendon, a clergyman paid 
 his whole salary for the yestr for a pig four weeks old. It should be 
 said, to the honor of his people, that they afterwards took measures to 
 make up the deficiency. In 1781, $412,000 were needed to defray 
 town charges. 
 
 The following citations reveal the spirit of,our forefathers, while evin- 
 cing the methods they took to support the government. " Oct. 23, 
 Voted to choose a committee to carry into execution the Resolves of 
 the Court respecting providing beef. Chose William Whitney, [the 
 best judge of cattie in the town,] Francis Bridge and Joshua Gale. 
 Toted that the above committee be directed to purchase two yoak of 
 cattle so as to dehver them at Petersham next Wednesday. Also, to 
 pay the money for the remaining part of the beef after two yoak of cat- 
 tle have been delivered, if it can be collected." " Dec. 27,.Voted that 
 the committee chose last March to hire men for the war, be directed 
 to engage this town's quota of men for three years, and report at the 
 adjournment of this meeting, hov^they can get them, and what secu- 
 rity th^ require." 
 
100 HISTORY OP WiNCHENDOlf. 
 
 1781. January 1. " Granted £10,000 to procure beef that is now 
 called for, and to help procure Continental soldiers." January 29. 
 The following vote indicates the state of the currency in the early part 
 of 1781. « Voted to pay £300 to Thadeus Bowman for £1, 14, 6, 
 due to him in March, 1778. In the March meeting, £15 periday for 
 labor on the roads was allowed. At the same meeting a committee 
 was authorized to hire men and money for the war without calling the 
 town together. • On the 25th of June a committee was chosen to pur- 
 chase the remaining part of the beef that is required of the town, as 
 may be required the ensuing year. August 6. All sums of iaoi;ey 
 granted to be considered to be in hard money. Voted £30.0 to paj 
 towards the hire of three years' men. Also voted £173, 6, 8, to 
 pay for the hire of three and five months' men, beef, and other things." 
 
 The design in making the preceding citations from the Records, 
 has been to show in their own words, the opinions and the deeds of the 
 men of the revolutionary era. Nearly everything has been copied 
 that relates in any way to the war, and it is. believed that no one really 
 interested in the part which the town took in the war, will consider the 
 narrative tedious. Incidentally, the reader will learn who were the 
 most prominent men in civil and military life in the period under review. 
 Unfortunately we have no record of the labor and sacrifices mfl,de by 
 the virtuous and patriotic women of that day, and it is too late to draw 
 anything definite from tradition. It is known, generally, that they 
 wrought with their own hands, to spin, weave and make up clothing 
 for their fathers, husbands, sons and brothers, who went to fight the bat- 
 tles of freedom. Besides, they aided the old mgn and the boys by W 
 boring on the farm in, planting, hay and harvest-time, and also in the 
 care of the cattle. They were the mates an4 mothers of heroes. 
 
 It would be impossible, at this late day, to give a perfect history of 
 what was done by Winchendon in the war of the revolution ; but much 
 may be gathered from the foregoing pages ; and the following extract 
 from the Records is of great value. On the 20th of March,"1780, 
 John Beemis, Amos Merriam and John Day, were chosen a committee 
 to hire men for the war. In April, 1782, they made a Report, which 
 of course does not go back previous to the time of their appointment, 
 covering about two years. The Report is as foUowa : § 
 
mSTORY 6i Wii^CHBNDON. 
 
 loa 
 
 *' Acobjint of money paid by the committee for hiring men. 
 
 To JTesse Ellis, 
 
 £535, 
 
 10, 
 
 0. 
 
 Samuel Stimpson, 
 
 22, 
 
 io Samuel Russell, 
 
 422, 
 
 o; 
 
 0. 
 
 Joseph Wilder, 
 
 105, 
 
 To John HeywQod, 
 
 150, 
 
 2, 
 
 0. 
 
 Isaac Stimpson, 
 
 30, 
 
 Jesse Ellis, by picking 
 
 
 
 Josiah Beeman, 
 
 19, 
 
 and sowing 4 acres 
 
 
 
 William Whitcomb, 
 
 36, 
 
 "of land, 
 
 480, 
 
 . 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 Samuel Stone, 
 
 51, 
 
 To Amos Mei;riam, 
 
 
 
 
 Abner Hale, 
 
 15, 
 
 for Daniel, 
 
 385, 
 
 10, 
 
 0. 
 
 Committee's Rec't, 
 
 216, 
 
 'To Jesse Ellis, 
 
 141, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 William Whitney, 
 
 280, 
 
 Moses Potter, 
 
 150, 
 
 2, 
 
 0. 
 
 Joseph Day, 
 
 150, 
 
 Joseph Day, 
 
 2212, 
 
 4, 
 
 0. 
 
 Jesse Ellis, 
 
 141, 
 
 Abel Brown, 
 
 245, 
 
 5, 
 
 0. 
 
 Committee's Rec't, 
 
 80, 
 
 Jonathan Smith, 
 
 821, 
 
 4, 
 
 6. 
 
 Benjamin Brown, 
 
 iB9; 
 
 David Smith, 
 
 150, 
 
 2, 
 
 0. 
 
 Corimittee's Rec't, 
 
 106, 
 
 William Poor, 
 
 454, 
 
 12, 
 
 0. 
 
 Jacob Hale, 
 
 sr, 
 
 Samuel Griggs, 
 
 igo, 
 
 2, 
 
 0. 
 
 Josej^h Day, 
 
 152, 
 
 James Stoddard, 
 
 240, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 James Noyes, 
 
 160, 
 
 In hard money, £6. 
 
 
 
 Edward Withington, 
 
 161, 
 
 Zenas Stoddard, 
 
 240. 
 
 0. 
 
 0. 
 
 Joseph Day, 
 
 90. 
 
 In hard money, £4, 10'. 
 
 
 
 Joseph Boynton, 
 
 100, 
 
 Edward Payson, 
 
 1428, 
 
 0, 
 
 b. 
 
 Hezekiah Hancock. 
 
 40, 
 
 It ii 
 
 90,' 
 
 0, 
 
 10. 
 
 Committee's Rec't, 
 
 61, 
 
 Francis Goodhue, 
 
 150, 
 
 2 
 
 0. 
 
 Abel Brown, 
 
 36, 
 
 Nathan Maynard, 
 
 890, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 Stephen Barrett, 
 
 15, 
 
 Jeremiah Lord, 
 
 352, 
 
 2, 
 
 0. 
 
 Joseph Day, 
 
 77, 
 
 Silas Bemis, 
 
 390, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 Benjamin Rice, 
 
 57, 
 
 Nathaniel Bixby, 
 
 498, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 Daniel Hubbard, 
 
 45, 
 
 Paid as mileage to the 
 
 
 
 Joseph Boynton, 
 
 135. 
 
 three months' mer 
 
 I, 480, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 Committee's Rec't, 
 
 563, 
 
 Joseph Wilder, 
 
 94, 
 
 lOi 
 
 0. 
 
 Edward Payson, 
 
 288, 
 
 John Burr, 
 
 87, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 Committee's Rec't, 
 
 30, 
 
 Hezekiah Hancock, 
 
 51, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 Levi Nichols, 
 
 600, 
 
 Bbenezer How,* 
 
 • 12, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 James Noyes, 
 
 27, 
 
 Samuel Noyes, 
 
 33, 
 
 6, 
 
 0. 
 
 Abraham Brigham, 
 
 209, 
 
 Joseph Day, 
 
 82, 
 
 17, 
 
 0. 
 
 Abel Wilder, 
 
 37, 
 
 John Boynton, 
 
 393, 
 
 15, 
 
 0. 
 
 Joseph Boyntonj 
 
 160, 
 
 Oommittee Receipt, 
 
 31, 
 
 10, 
 
 0. 
 
 Gardner Moor, 
 
 468, 
 
 Phillips Switzer, 
 
 110, 
 
 5, 
 
 0. 
 
 Amos Hale, 
 
 30, 
 
 Samuel Prenticej 
 
 .81, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 Uriah Crooks, 
 
 45. 
 
 ifhillips Switzer; 
 
 210, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 Samuel Noyesj 
 
 160, 
 
 (< (( 
 
 ^28, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 Uriah Crooks, 
 
 27, 
 
 Solombn Biglow, 
 
 160, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 James Stoddard, 
 
 30, 
 
 Thadeus Bowman, 
 
 84, 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 Money the committee 
 
 Abner Hale, 
 
 200, 
 
 2, 
 
 K 
 
 received by the way 
 
 Solomon Biglowj 
 
 10, 
 
 10, 
 
 0. 
 
 of David Smith, 
 
 112, 
 
 Johh Day, 
 
 6, 
 
 2, 
 
 0. 
 
 Committee's Rec't, 
 
 46, 
 
 Amos Halet 
 
 6* 
 
 0, 
 
 0. 
 
 '^ 
 
 
 10, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 10, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 10, 0. 
 
 8, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 .10, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 16, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 10, 0. 
 
 4, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 4, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 15. 7. 
 
 7, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 10, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 Oi 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 0, 0. 
 
 lOi 0. 
 16, 0. 
 
102 
 
 HISTOET OF WECTCHElirDOlf. 
 
 SECTION. 8. — THE EOLL OF HONOR- 
 
 The names in the preceding list are, -in several instances, repeated, 
 and some of them occur in the following roll. What were the services 
 rendered by the men whose names "have been given an the foregoing 
 page, with the exception of those which are to be foimcl in the columns 
 following, cannot now be ascertained. It is certain that some of them 
 were in service for a short time during the last two years of the war. 
 
 The following list contains the names of those men of Winchendon, 
 who are known to have borne arms in the revolutionary war. The 
 larger part of them were inhabitants of the town at the time. . A por- 
 tion of them moved hither after the war, but their names are record- 
 ed in the roll of honor, because they reveal to us the character of the 
 people who settled here in the first generation. 
 
 The following men were in the battle of Bunker HiB, viz ; 
 
 Capt. Abel Wilder, 
 Serg't. Benjamin Eiee, 
 Samuel Bradisb, 
 Elisha Brown, 
 Timothj Darling, 
 
 John Day, 
 Nathan Day, 
 Amos Hale, 
 David Stoddard. 
 
 The following were " Minute Men," ready to take the field at a mo- 
 ment's warning, all of whom served more or less during the war. 
 
 Roger Bates, 
 Thaddeus Bowman, 
 John Boynton, 
 Stephen Boynton, 
 Samuel Bradisb, 
 Elisha Brown, 
 Samuel Brown, 
 Zebidon Conant, 
 John Darling, 
 John Day, 
 Nathan Day, 
 David Goodridge, 
 Jacob Hale, 
 
 Moses Hale, 
 Bill Hancock, 
 Benjamin Kimball, 
 Amos Merriam, 
 Dudley Parley, or Perley, 
 John N. Parson ,v Jr., 
 John Porter, 
 Benjamin Eice, 
 Ephraim Sawyer, 
 Eb'r Sherwin, (drnmmet,) 
 Abijah Stimson, 
 Ephraim Stimson, 
 Joseph Wilder, 
 
 The following, though not at Bunker Hill, nor in the roll of " Min- 
 ute Men," were soldiers in active service. 
 
 Gramaliel Beaman, 
 Solomon Bigelow, 
 Joseph Boynton, 
 George Coffin, 
 
 Jewett B. Darling, 
 John Darling, 
 Daniel Day, 
 Joseph Day, 
 
HISTORY OS ■WINCHENDON. 
 
 103 
 
 Eliphalet Goodridge, 
 Jacob Hale, 
 Eden London,* 
 Theodore May, 
 James MoElwain, 
 Isaac Nichols, 
 Isaac Noyes, 
 James Noyes, 
 Seth Oaks, 
 Kichard Parsons, 
 
 David Poor, 
 
 Nathan Pushey, 
 
 David Rice, 
 
 Ahimaaz Sherwin, (drummer,) 
 
 Jonathan Smith, 
 
 Eohert Steel, 
 
 Samuel Steel, 
 
 Luther Stimpson,t 
 
 Joseph Wilder. 
 
 The following men went into the war from other towns, but soon 
 afterwards moved into Winchendon. 
 
 Capt. Samiiel Baldwin, 
 Daniel Balcom, 
 Thornton Barrett, 
 Andrew Benjamin, 
 Asa Bowker, 
 John Brooks, 
 Levi j^rooks, 
 Stephen Emery, 
 John Estey, 
 John Fessenden, 
 John Flint, 
 Thomas Flint, 
 
 John am, 
 
 Capt. Thomas Greaton, 
 Thomas Greenwood, 
 Daniel Hubbard, 
 Benjamin Hubbard, 
 Capt. Lemuel Heywood, 
 
 Eleazar Parks, 
 Ephraim Parmenter, 
 William Poland, Sr., 
 Lt. Col. Paul Raymond, 
 Lt. Paul Raymond, 
 James Raymond,! 
 Phinehas Rice, 
 David Roberts, 
 
 Sawtell, 
 
 David Smith, 
 Ebenezer Smith, 
 Seth Jucker, 
 Jedeiah Tuttle, 
 Capt. Jacob Wales, 
 Jacob Whitney, , 
 Dr. Israel Whiton, 
 Col. Jacob B. Woodbury. 
 
 A few personal anecdotes and incidents will be a fitting conclusion 
 to this chapter, 
 
 , Stephen Emery, who moved into the town after the revolution, was 
 in the war, and fought at Bunker Hill. His daughter, Mrs. Cum- 
 mings, used to relate that her fatherfs gun became so heated, by rapid 
 firing, that he was obliged to desist until it became cooled. 
 
 George CofiSn, afterwards the well known Dea. Coffin, entered the 
 service at the age of sixteen, and remained three years. He was such 
 
 *Eden London was the slave of Daniel Goodridge, and as such was not lia- 
 ble to do military dnty ; but he served in lien of his master, on condition of 
 becoming a Areeman. 
 
 tSon of the first minister. 
 
 j Went as a substitute about three weeks. 
 
104 HISTOEY , OP ■\VINCHBNDON, 
 
 a slender stripling that the recruiting officer inquired if he could shoot 
 a man. He thought he could, with a good gun. At the time of his 
 discharge, the army was in Virginia, and he came home on foot, stop- 
 ping at various places to earn enough to provide food. How different 
 from the return of our soldiers after putting down the rebelhon, by 
 rail and steamboat ! 
 
 Moses Potter was very short in stature, and in order to " pass" him, 
 he was provided with high heeled shoes, by John Day, one of the 
 town's committee for hiring men. He made a good soldier, though 
 not a gianf. 
 
 David Smith assisted in placing the hand-cuffs upon Andrd. He 
 was a blacksmith. 
 
 Seth Tucker was near West Point at the time of Arnold's treason, 
 and the capture of Andrd. He told me that the army was a '* dread- 
 ful wicked place." He was a man of warm and simple-hearted piety, 
 who was shocked by the profaneness and vice of the camp. ^ 
 
 Luther Stimpson was a mere stripling of sixteen when he entered 
 the army, but came out with credit. 
 
 John Darling and Phillip Rollins went with Arnold, through the 
 wilds of Maine, to Quebec,' and was there when the brave Montgomery 
 fell, and was borne from the thick of the fight by young Aaron Burr. 
 
 Lieut. David Poor was out several years. For awhile he was a pris^ 
 oner in New York, when he worked as a tailor, and received good pay 
 from the British officers. While in the army, a soldier made a bet that 
 heicould walk a certain number of rods with a pumpkin on his head. 
 Poor took up the wager. The other started, and was drawing near to 
 the gaol, when Poor, determined not to lose his bet, raised his gun and 
 shot the pumpkin from the soldier's head. It is related that when he 
 came home, after several years' absence, and dressed in an officer's 
 uniform, with a sword by his side', his wife did not recognize him. She 
 prepared food for him as a returning soldier, and made inquiries about 
 the war, but could not be induced to give him lodgings. At length, 
 thinking him indelicately importunate to remain, she seized the long 
 fire-shovel, and drove ham out. As he passed through the door, he 
 turned and laughingly said : " Miss Poor, I guess you don't know me." 
 She knew him at once, when her proper indignation gave way to glad- 
 ness for his return. 
 

 "'^ }% 
 
 m ^]i^is ^tor(S5E2im ^nir^ 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. IGS 
 
 Smitt, above-mentionecl, lost one of his hands, but would not aban- 
 don the service. By the use of a hook, he contrived to load and fii;e, 
 and to hit his mark. 
 
 But the stories of the soldiers, if they could be collected, -would fill 
 a volume. It is necessary to pass from the history of individuals, to 
 that of the town. It may however be proper to record in this place, 
 that Jonathan Pollard, Aaron Ellis, Thornton Barrett, and James Bra- 
 dish, Sr., were in the last French war. Barrett was shot in the body 
 at Fort Edward, and all of them saw hard service. In the same war, 
 Robert Bradish, Sr., was a scout. 
 
106 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 CHAPTER VII.— SHAYS' REBELLION. 
 
 'Ah me ! what- perils do environ 
 Tlie man that meddles with cold iron! 
 For though Dame Tortnne seems to smile, 
 And leer upon him for a while, 
 She'U after show him, in the nick 
 Of all his glories, a dog-trick." 
 
 Butler. 
 
 SECTION 1. — GRIEVANCES. 
 
 The next event in order, in connection with the history of the town, 
 which requires distinct treatment, is what is called " Shays' Rebellion." 
 The temptation to give a general account of this affair, will be avoided, 
 while attention will be confined, as far as possible, to the part which 
 Winchendon shared in it, with many other towns extending from Bris- 
 tol to Berkshire. The people of this place felt the 'deepest interest in 
 the matter, and there was a brief season when war seemed imminent 
 even here between neighbors, relatives and friends. There are prob- 
 ably aged persons who remember the old ballad about Shays that be- 
 gan in this way : — 
 
 "My name is Shays, 
 
 In former days 
 
 In Pelham I did dwell, Sir^^ 
 
 I was obliged to quit that place * : ' 
 
 Because I cfid rebel, Sir." 
 
 If not, they remeinber, without doubt, hearing of Shays and his re- 
 bellion, in their childhood. 
 
 After the revolutionary war many people were very poor, and many 
 soldiers who had fought'and suffered severely, found themselves desti- 
 tute. It was a hard time to pay debts, and even honest people felt that 
 their creditors were too pressing. Besides, loose notions were abroad, 
 and some held the idea that the true policy was to divide all property 
 
BISTORT OF WmCHBNDON. 107 
 
 equally among the people. One man being asked what should be done, 
 ■when in the course of years, some men became richer than others, ex- 
 pressed the -wish of many in his reply : " divide again." The discon- 
 tent was so great in Massachusetts, as to create alarm in the breast of 
 Washington and other patriots throughout the Union, lest aU the fruits 
 of the war of independence would be lost. Complaints began to be 
 made before the return of peace, and the acknowledgment of our nation- 
 ahty by the king of -England, but there was no actual outbreak except 
 mobs at Northampton and one or two other places, for two or three 
 years. The hardships of the people increased however, and many be- 
 came impatient. That large numbers should be in debt, after so long 
 a war, was inevitable. Moreover all the evidence of tradition and rec- 
 ords concurs in the verdict, that intemperance had greatly increased, 
 as well as vice and immorality generally. The irregular habits of camp 
 life, and the prevalence of French infidelity had done much in the way 
 of demoralizing the people. The only remedy for the unhappy state 
 of afiairs, was a reformation of morals, industry and frugaUty. But 
 this process would require the self-denial which many were not ready 
 to endure. It is doubtless true also that many persons who had mea^n ; 
 speculators who had. become wealthy during the war, and others, to«k 
 advantage of the necessities of the poor, and those in moderate circum- 
 stances, and pressed for the payment of debts when liquidation was 
 impossible without ruinous sacrifice to the debtor. 
 
 The movement finally took the shape of an attack on the Courts of 
 Justice, for the purpose of delaying judgment against debtors. The 
 State was in debt to the amount of several millions, including the State 
 debt, what was due to ofi&cers and soldiers, and its proportion of the 
 national debt. Probably the State could now carry more easily the 
 load of 1100,000,000, than our fathers could bear what weighed upon 
 them in 1786. Their situation and wants may be inferred from the 
 action of County Conventions held in 1786, at Concord, Leicester, Pax- 
 ton and Hatfield, m the month of August and later m the autumn. 
 The evils they wished to have redressed were : " Sitting of the General 
 Court in Boston ; 2, The want of a circulating system ; 3, Thp abu- 
 ses in the practice of the law, and the exorbitance of the fee table ; 4, 
 The existence of the Courts of Common Pleas in their present mode of 
 administration ; 6, The appro|)riating the revenue arising from the im- 
 
168 taSTORY OJ AtlNCHENbON-. 
 
 post and excise to the payment of the interest of the State securities | 
 6, The unreasonable and unnecessary grants made by the General 
 Court to the Attorney General and others ; 7, The Servants of the 
 government being too numerous, and haying too great salaries ; 8, The 
 existence of the Senate." The Conventions expressed devotion to the 
 government, even while favoring measures that undermined all exist- 
 ing authority. For example, the Convention at Paxton, November 3, 
 1786, declared that however they might suffer in their characters, per- 
 sons and estates, they should think themselves " happy if they could, 
 in the least degree, contribute to restore harmony to the Common- 
 wealth, and to support the weight of a tottering empire." 
 
 To carry out their design, they organized into armed bands, led gen- 
 ei'ally by officers who had fought in the Revolution. It is to be noted 
 that no officers of distinction, and none above the rank of captain-, were 
 visible in the movement ; though it has been the opinion of not a few, 
 that such a wide-spread and concerted outbreak taking a military form, 
 must have been fostered by men of capacity and wicked ambition, who 
 were directing in secret, tiU matters should come to such a head that 
 tl^ could openly assume command with the hope of success, and per- 
 haps of becoming the head of a new order of things. 
 
 These bands met in Taunton, Concord, Worcester, Springfield, 
 Northampton and Lenox, and in several cases succeeded in forcing an 
 adjournment of the Courts, and thus compelled the creditor class to 
 wait for the payment of their dues. This action of the rebels, for such 
 they finally became, made it necessary for the State to take extraordi' 
 nary measures for the maintenance of its authority. But before nar- 
 rating the closing scene, when the rebellion was suppressed, it is our 
 part to follow the proceedings of the town in its corporate capacity. 
 The votes passed will be given with sufficient fulness to exhibit the state 
 of things here at the time. It wiU be seen by the reader that there 
 was almost a dramatic interest in the proceedings of a town meeting, 
 which in ordinary times are prosaic and dull. 
 
 On the 4th of February, 1786, the town voted to instruct their rep- 
 resentative in the General Court — Abel Wilder — " to use ilis influence 
 to have an act passed making personal, and in some cases, real estate 
 a tender to satisfy debts, when the action is commenced, or to ^ve any 
 other instruetion the town shall think proper." The committee of in^ 
 
HISTORY OP WINCnENDOl^ 109 
 
 struotions were Levi Nichols, Samuel Crosby, Stephen Barrett, Ben- 
 jamin Kidder and Dea. Hale. The town voted in " fevor of the [pro-, 
 posed] tender act," an(^' against having paper money," and then " to 
 have paper money, proWded a tender act could not be obtained." 
 
 In these days if there was general discontent, it would be manifested 
 in the organization of a party to seek redress in a peaceable way, but 
 in 1786, this course was not taken. No arrangements were made to 
 change the State government, but the towns expressed the general 
 sentiment in the election of their representatives. Thus the discontent 
 ran into violence and military resistance. At the election in May, the 
 votes in this town ahow that no expectation of redress was expected 
 from the election of governor, and other State officials. 
 
 Gov. James Bowdoin had 191 votes, John Hancock, 7, Benjamin 
 Lincoln, 4, for the office of governor ; Lieut. Gov. Benjamin Lincola 
 had 7 votes, and Thomas Gushing 4 for the second office. Abel Wil- 
 der had 17 for Senator and Councillor. At the same time the latter 
 was unanimously chosen representative. 
 
 SECTION 2. — EXCITED TOWN MEETINGS. 
 
 On the 11th of August the question came up in town meeting wheth- 
 er a delegate shoujd be sent to a Convention of Worcester county, ta 
 be held by adjournment, at the house of George Bruce, "in Leicester, 
 on the 15th of the month. The motion passed in the affirmative, when 
 Mr. Samuel Litch was unanimously chosen for the above purpose. A 
 committee of five was chosen to draw up instructions to the delegate, 
 viz : Levi Nichols, Ebenezer Richardson, Matthew Knight, James Mc 
 Elwain, and James Steel. The meeting adjourned for one hour, that 
 the committee might have time to draw up the instructions. These 
 are not on the Records, The meeting then adjourned to the 21st, to 
 hear a report from Mr. Litch, when he laid the proceedings of the 
 Convention before the town. On the 6th day of Octob#, Mr. Litch 
 brought a petition of Convention — probably some later meeting of the 
 same Comvention — before the town, when the town voted " it agreea- 
 ble to their mind." Mr. Litci, was instructed to attend an adjourned 
 meeting of the Convention. Then adjourned to November 21st, at 
 which time Mr. Litch presented an address of the Convention to the 
 people, which being read, the town "voted it agreeable to their minds." 
 
110 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDOU. 
 
 Adjourned to December 18. An Act of the General Court was then 
 read. This was probably the Act relating to private debts, intended 
 to favor the debtor class. The meetmg then adjourned to January If, 
 1787. All this time the insurgents were in dmas, and the Grovernment 
 troops were moving to the scene of action. 
 
 At the adjourned meeting, on the first day of the new year, the ad- 
 dress from the General Court to the people was read, and several acts 
 and laws. These laws included a " tender act ;" an " act of indem- 
 nity ;" an " act reducing fee bills ;" an " act for the more easy pay- 
 ing of back taxes;" and an " act regulating the Courts of Common 
 Pleas and Sessions of the Peace." They were all intended to remove 
 every just cause of complaint, and thus take away all excuse for re- 
 sisting the Government. At the saine time, while showing this kindly 
 regard for the suffering classes, the Government maintained its honor 
 and authority by raising a sufficient force to quell the rebellion. 
 
 Before giving the action of this meeting, it is necessary to go back 
 a few days, and bring up a few other proceedings bearing on the sub- 
 ject before it for consideration. Here is a document which shows the 
 state of mind quite prevalent here, and gives the names of many of ' 
 the actors. 
 
 " To the Selectmen of Winckendon : < 
 
 Gentlemen : We the subscribers request that you [call] a town 
 meeting, to be held on Thursday, the 21th of this instant, at two of the clock 
 in the afternoon, to act on the following articles, viz : 
 
 First, to choose a moderator to govern said meeting. 
 
 2dly, To take into consideration a letter directed to the Town Clerk of 
 Winchendon, respecting the Regulators, (as they are called) signed by Rug- 
 les Spooner, and all letters and papers that has, or may be sent to the said 
 town of Winchendon, before the said meeting herein before requested, re- 
 specting the present mode of government within this State, and the opposition 
 made by the above-mentioned Regulators, and take the minds of the town 
 thereon, or ait on the whole as they shall think proper. 
 
 December 15th, 1786. ' 
 
 Francis Bridge, Eli Smith, Joshua Gale, Jeremiah Lord, Ahimaaz Sher- 
 win, Asa Robinson, Paul Boynton, Ebenezer Sherwin, Daniel Hubbard, Sol- 
 omon Bigelow, Bill Hancock, David Stoddard, James Steel, Levi Bixby, 
 Amos Heywood, Samuel Steel, Nathan Knight, Daniel Baloom, Samuel 
 Nbyes, Nathan Flint, John Beemis, Bartholomew Steams, Jonathan Stimp- 
 
- HISTORY OF WINCHENDOH. Ill 
 
 son, Moses Hale, Abner Hale, Abner Curtice, El^enezer Biehardson, Ado- 
 nijah Bixby, Samuel Liteh, Thos. Greaton, Isaac Proughty, Amariah Haven, 
 * Thomas Kugg, BemsIyLord, Jacob Hale, Amos Hale, Jewett Darling, 
 Jonathan Smith." 
 
 This petition was so cautiously worded that the opinions of the sign- 
 ers could not be positively inferred at this late day, but it is known 
 that their sympathies were with the Regulators. They took care, 
 however, to avoid all action in town meeting, which would involve 
 themselves in the guilt of rebellion. The meeting was held in accord- 
 ance with this petition, on the 21st of December, and Samuel Litch 
 was chosen Moderator. Upon a motion being made " to see whether 
 the town will take up the letter under consideration, the vote passed 
 in the affirmative." A motion was then made " to see if the town 
 will petition the Governor and Council to liberate Capt. Shattuck and 
 others, taken by Government, agreeable to the request in said letter." 
 Carried in the affirmative. This Capt. Shattuck was a prominent 
 leader in the ' Shays movement, in Middlesex county. His violence 
 had led justiy to his arrest and imprisonment. A motion was then 
 made " to see if the town will petition the Senate and House of Rep- 
 resentatives to suspend the Court of Common Pleas, till a hew choice 
 of the General Court." The yeas had it. Then chose the following 
 committee to draw up the petition : Dea. Moses Hale, Eli Smith, Fran- 
 cis Bridge, Matthew Knight, and Bbenezer Richardson. Then the 
 meeting adjourned to January 1, 1787. Here follows the petition. 
 
 " To his Excellency James Bowdoin, Esq. 
 
 The Petition of the town of Winchendon humbly sheweth : 
 That whereas, there is great disturbance as to the administration of gov- 
 ernment in this State, and it appears to this town that it will not do to settle 
 matters by fire and sword ; but for the parties to unite in a peaceable way 
 and manner, — this is therefore to pray your Excellency to immediately lib- 
 erate Capt. Shattuck and others taken in the county of Middlesex, and con- 
 fined in the town of Boston, in consequence of fte opposition they have made 
 to the present mode of government ; and as it is our opinion it will be the most 
 direct way to still the commotions now subsisting among the people. And 
 your petitioners, in duty bound, shall ever pray." 
 
 We now return to the meeting on the first of January, 1787, to 
 ^ which jjhe meeting of the 18th, and that of the 21st of December, 
 were adjourned. 
 
11'2 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. * 
 
 The address and acts having been read, as stated above, a marked 
 effect -was produced. The majority of the meeting were evidently con- 
 vinced that the government was right, though only ten days before, 
 the petition in favor of Capt. Shattuck had been approved. It was 
 first moved " to see if the town will continue a member at the Conven- 
 tion." Decided in the negative. Then it was moved " to see if the 
 town will dismiss their member from any further service in Cjpnven- 
 tion." The yeas had it, and the meeting adjourned. There was 
 another meeting three days later, in which the contest was renewed ; 
 but the government men were still in the ascendant. According to 
 the Records, " the draft — that is, of the Petition to the Governor — 
 came up again, when it was moved to see if the town will accept the 
 same in the present form." No, the town will not accept it. A mo- 
 tion was then made to amend the paper ; but the town would not 
 amend it. Growing bolder, the friends of government then moved 
 " to see if the town will vote to recall the Petition sent to his Excel- 
 lency the Governor, to liberate Capt. Shattuck," &c. This motion 
 passed in the affirmative. Whether this vote to recall merely means 
 to rescind, or whether the committee had sent off the Petition, and 
 this vote was to send foj; it, is uncertain ; but it is clear that this meet- 
 ing was resolved to. stand by the constituted authority. The meeting 
 then adjourned to the 15th instant. 
 
 And now the tables were turned-. The other party rallied in force, 
 and reversed the former action of the town. The first motion was to 
 dissolve the meeting ; but this was negatived. After an hour's ad- 
 journment, the meeting again assembled, when it was moved " to see 
 if the town will reconsider a vote passed at a former adjournment of 
 this meeting. Said vote is as follows, to wit : " to see if the town will 
 vote to recall a petition sent to his Excellency the Governor, to fiber- 
 ate Capt. Shattuck," &c. The vote being put, it passed in the affirm- 
 ative." That is, the town had voted a petition, then it had voted to 
 recall the petition, and now it voted to reconsider the vote of recall, and 
 the result was, that the ^petition was the final action of the town. The 
 meeting then adjourned, and the matter rested. Nothing farther was 
 done in town meeting in relation to the insurrection, or the grievances 
 that brought it on ; but at the subsequent MarcTi meeting, the Shays 
 men had the majority, and put their friends in office, making an almost 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDOir. 113 
 
 clean sweep of those "who were elected the year before, unless some of 
 them happened to be on their side. But in the following May, Abel 
 Wilder, a friend of the government, was sent again to the General 
 Court. This might have been due to his great personal popularity, 
 for the people never lost confidence in him amid all the changes of the 
 times. 
 
 Having thus given the Records of the exciting town meetings, it is 
 necessary to return and present some view of the action of individuals 
 in relation to the same subject. And here use will be made to some ex- 
 tent, of the words of Dr. Whiton. The government raised a force of 
 4,400 men to bring the rebels to submission. " When the order came 
 to draft this town's quota of the troops, one of the most exciting scenes 
 occurred ever witnessed in this place. The large militia company, the 
 only one then in the place, was assembled on the centre Common. A 
 numerous crowd of other citizens stood around, of whom a decided ma- 
 jority were Shays' men, many of them good men and honest, but goad- 
 ed on by trying times, to measures which sober second thought disap- 
 proved^ There was a considerable minority of firm and resolute men, 
 determined to support the existing government. The parties, with ex- 
 cited feelings, now stood face to face. The Shays men threatened that 
 if the government men raised the required quota of soldiers, they would 
 send on two to one to strengthen the insurgents. The government men 
 looked on with deep anxiety, fearing they should be unable to raise the 
 ■men. When the drummer began his round to beat up for volunteers, 
 it was to both sides, a moment of painful suspense ; all voices were 
 hushed ; but the resolution of one man soon changed the scene. Will- 
 iam Whitney, who came into the town in 1744, a prominent and de- 
 cided government man, father of the late well-known Capt. Phinehas 
 Whitney, addressing his son, who was one of the company, exclaimed , 
 aloud, ' Turn out, Phin.' Immediately Phin stepped from the ranks 
 and followed the drummer. It was a bold example and had an impor- 
 tant influence on the result. Successively one after another followed 
 the example, and the required number of men ■^s soon raised." Hos- 
 tile feeling ran high ; while the government men were running bullets 
 at the house of Esq. Crosby, the Shays men were employed at the same 
 hour, in the very same business, at the house of a neighbor. At this 
 time the government men wore a fillet of white paper in their hats, as 
 
114 HISTOBY OF WINCHBNDOH. 
 
 their badge of distinction, wbile the Shays men were designated by a 
 tuft of pine, or as Mr. Hyde says, " a sprig of evergreen." But the 
 evergreen speedily withered. In a few weeks the insurrection was 
 suppressed, and the wheels of government rolled on smoothly in their 
 accustomed track. 
 
 How many men from this town actually joined the insurgents, can- 
 not be stated with accuracy at this remote time, and it might not be of 
 any use to record their names, if they were known. It is probable 
 that the number was very small. The people of this place desired a 
 redress of grievances, and this the government hastened to grant. No 
 action taken by the town directly favored treason or rebellion ; and it 
 is quite certain that the opposition of individuals ended in talk. The 
 name of one man may be given with certainty, and without impropri- 
 ety, as an insurgent, since the fact was published at the time in the 
 county paper. The Worcester Magazine, printed in the second week 
 . of February, 1787, contains the following passage : " A correspondent, 
 informs us that the member of Convention from the town of Winchen- 
 don, whose name is [Samuel] Litch, went off with his arms, week be- 
 fore last, and actually joined the insurgents under Adam Wheeler." 
 The " week before last" would be toward the close of January, and thus 
 Mr. Litch had time to reach the camp before the final march and de- 
 feat. Adam Wheeler was a bold, rough revolutionary captain, living 
 in Hubbardston, who was very forward in the rebel movement. 
 
 SECTION 3. — THE FLIGHT. 
 
 The drama was hasting to its ignoble exit. After various maneu- 
 verings, the insurgents were collected, in considerable force, in Pelham, 
 about the 29th of January, and on Saturday, the 2d of February, see- 
 ing the government troops advancing, they began a retreat in the even- 
 ing. The weather was mild, and the evening light, but at length snow 
 began to faU., The insurgents could find no shelter, and so pressed 
 forward all night, un^jl the morning of the 3d, when they halted in 
 Petersham to prepare their breakfast and take some rest. This was 
 Sunday morning, the sndw flying thick and fast, and being piled in 
 drifts. The weather had become intensely cold. The Shays men sup- 
 posed that their pursuers had halted, and felt increased security fi'om 
 pursuit on account of the ragmg of the storm. But this was the cause 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 115 
 
 of their sudden surprise and total rout. As the government soldiers 
 could find no place of shelter and comfort, they kept moving all night, 
 for the sake of keepLag up a circulation of the blood. The result was 
 that they came pouring into Petersham in the morning, and captured 
 two hundred find fifty of the insurgents. According to the narrative 
 of the late Col. Benjamin Adams, and Capt. Phinehas Whitney, who 
 were in the ranks of the government troops,: — being then quite young 
 — ^they caught the Shays men cooking their breakfast ; but they took to 
 their heels, leaving the kettles on the camp fires. The troops helped 
 themselves to a warm meal, and the great mass of the rebels disap- 
 peared like a morning mist. A portion of them fied to Winchester, 
 N. H., from whence they scattered, in smaller numbers ; but a large 
 part left the camp at Petersham for their homes. They hid their guns, 
 and gave up all sign of opposition, for the declaration of a rebellion had 
 been issued, and the government was pursuing with an overwhelming 
 force. 
 
 One anecdote, related by Dr. Whiton, will here find its appropriate 
 place. " After the dispersion of the insurgents at Petersham, four or 
 five of them belonging to Middlesex county, passed through this town 
 on their way home, in ill-humor at their want of success. Calling at 
 Dr. Whiton's, where Mr. Winn has resided for many years, and find- 
 ing the Dr. a strong government man, one of them used high words, and 
 threatened to run him through with his bayonet. The Dr. raised a heavy, 
 long-handled iron shovel to defend himself; his wife, affrighted, seized 
 fi:om the cradle, her sleeping infant, for protection; but the passionate 
 man was checked by one of his more prudent associates, who told him 
 it would never do to threaten a man's life in his own house, and induced 
 his companions immediately to depart." That infant thus snatched 
 from the cradle, became the Rev. Dr. Whiton. Thus ended a wild 
 and utterly unjustifiable attempt to work a change in the laws, if not 
 in the form of government, of the State. In a few years the misguid- 
 ed insurgents and their friends were glad of their failure,*and were zeal- 
 ous supporters of the constituted authority. Party bitterness, in this 
 place, gave way to old neighborly kindness,ai}d the parties lived in peace 
 together as if they had never been at variance. 
 
 Mr. Litch, being obnoxious to the penalty of the law, left the State, 
 and never returned to reside. Others kept out of public view for a sear 
 
116 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOir. '* 
 
 son. One or more took refuge on the borders of the Monomonauk, 
 where they had a boat, and a hut. The boat itaa for ffight as -nell as 
 for fishing. Bnt the gOTermnent was lenient, and the men soon re- 
 tamed to their homes, where thej were unmolested by the officers oS 
 the law, while they were respected by their neighbors. An old ballad 
 has been quoted ah-eady ; — another will fdmisb a fitting dose to this 
 narradre. 
 
 " Says sober Will, ' well Shays has fled, 
 And peace retnms to Mess onr days.' 
 
 'Indeed!' cries Ned, 'I ahrays said. 
 He'd proye at last nfiH back Sliays;* 
 
 And those turned ov^ and undone. 
 Call him a worthless SMys to run.' "' 
 
 * The cAaise, then in use, was sometimes spelled «Aa^,like the insurgent 
 leader's name. 
 
HISTOST OP \niTCHElfDOir. 117 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. — STATE AND NA- 
 TIONAL AFFAIRS. 
 
 SECTION 1. — EEPEESENTATION. 
 
 " A firm union will be of the atmosfc moment to the peace and liberty of the 
 States as a barrier against domestic faction and insurrection." 
 
 The Fkdbiui^bt. 
 
 In this chapter the connectiou of Wincliendon witk the political ac- 
 tion of the times, will be briefly traced. In the EevolutionJ the people 
 were unanimous, so far as is now known, in supporting the Declaration 
 of Independence, and they did not falter, n^ withhold their support, 
 till peace and independence were secured. Shays' Rebellion divided 
 the town into two hostile bands, a majority of the people being on the 
 side of the insurgents, though but a very few of them engaged in any 
 hostile acts, while much of the intelligence, property and moral worth 
 of the place steadfastly adhered to the government. In regard to oth- 
 er questions there was difference of opinion, and the people ranged them- 
 selves with the great parties of the country, though without the violence 
 and rancor which characterised the tames of Shays. 
 
 Winchendon was rather backward in claiming her place in the State 
 House. For several years after the organization of the town, no del- 
 egate was sent to the House of Representatives. In May, 1770, the 
 town declined to send a representative. Similar action was taken in 
 several of the next succeeding years. Robert Bradish, a plain, rough, 
 but sensible man, was sent in 1776, and 1777, to the General Court. 
 At the meeting. May 27, for choosing their representative, the town 
 chose a Committee of seven persons to draft instructions for his guid- 
 ance. As a peculiar interest attaches to every name engaged in the. 
 heroic work of those times, they will be given in fiill. The same rule 
 will hold in the future. The committee were Ebenezer Sherwin, Thorn- 
 ton Barrett, Moses Hale, Daniel Goodridge, Richajd Pearson, Abel 
 Wilder and Benjamin Brown. The Report of the committee which was 
 approved by the t»wn, was in these words. 
 
118 HISTORY &s -wiiircHBisrDorr, » 
 
 "To Mr. Eobert Bradisb, 
 
 Sir: You being legally appointed to represent tbe town of Wm- 
 chendon in the Great and General Court the ensuing year, the town think 
 proper to give you the following instructions, viz: That you use your influence 
 to the utmost, to obtain a repeal of an Act, passed by the General Court in 
 the close of their session in tbe year 1776, entitled an Act for a more equal 
 representation. And upon the repeal of said Act, to issue writs for the choice 
 of a new House, and then dissolve. And in case' the saiid Act should not be 
 repealed, not to proceed to any business, but return home." 
 
 SECTION 2.r— STATE CONSTITUTION. 
 
 The &st vote of the town, May 22, 1778, on the subject of a State 
 Constitution, has already been mentioned. The state of the case was 
 this. The Greneral Court of 1777—8, in accordamce with a recommen- 
 dation'of the General Court of the previous year, met together as a 
 Convention, and adopted a form of Constitution " for the State of Mas- 
 sachusetts Bay," which wajS submitted to the people. This town voted 
 in its favor, 25 to 6, Imt it was rejected by the State. At this same 
 meeting the town declined to send a representative to the legislature. 
 The Greneral Court followed up the movement for a new Constitution, 
 by passing a Resolve on the 20th of February, 1779, calling upon the 
 q^ualified voters to ^ve in their votes on tbe questions — 'Whether they 
 chose to have a new Constitution or Form of Government made, and, 
 Whether they will empower their representatives to vote for calling a 
 State, Convention for that purpose. The people, by a large majority, 
 voted in favor of both these propositions,. and then the General Court, 
 on the 17th of June, 1779, passed a Resolve, calling on the people to 
 choose delegates to a Constitutional Convention, to be held in Cam- 
 bridge on the 1st of the ensuing September. The people of this town, 
 on the 20th of May, 1779, voted in favor of having a new Constitution, 
 18 to 7, and at the same tune declined to send a representative in the 
 General Court. In accordance with the above Resolve, a town meet- 
 ing Tvas held on the 8th of July, and Abel Wilder, Esq., was chosen 
 delegate to the Convention at Cambridge. It may be stated here, that 
 at a subsequent meeting, in July, 1780, the town " voted and granted 
 85 dollars per day for 34 days service at the Convention on the Con- 
 stitution, the whole, £367," or 12890. 
 
 ' The Convention met on the first of September, and was presided 
 over by Jambs Bowdoin. After organization, a committee of thirty 
 
• HISTOKT OP WINCHBNDON. 119 
 
 was chosen, to ■whom the work of drawing up a " Declaration of Rights 
 and the Form of a Constitution," was assigned. The Convention then 
 had " a general and free conversation" upon the subject of a " Decla- 
 ration and Rights," &c., in the presence of their committee, after which 
 the body adjourned to the 28th of October. The committee of thirty 
 appointed John Adams to draught a " Declaration of Rights," and a 
 sub-committee of three, viz: James Bowboin, Samuel Adams and 
 John Adams, to pifepare a " Form of Government." This committee 
 assigned this task to John Adams, who was thus the author of the 
 whole work, which was, finally, after being somewhat amended, adopt- 
 ed by the Convention. What part the delegate of this town took in 
 the proceedings, does not appear, as the debates were not published. 
 His name is not found in the Journal as a member of any committee, 
 but doubtless a man of his sense and weight of character, had, influ- 
 ence in private discussion. After several adjournments the Convention 
 completed their work, and submitted it to the scrutiny of the people. 
 
 It should be noted that the warning of the meeting to choose dele- 
 gates to the Convention, was addressed " to all the freeholders and oth- 
 er inhabitants, being free and twenty-one years of age," thus putting 
 the great work of forming a new frame of government into the hands 
 of all the people, without regard to property or rank. The same for- 
 mula was used in calling the town meeting to vote on the Constitution, 
 held on the 15th of May, 1780. It was in these words : " All male 
 persons, inhabitants of Winchendon, being free and twenty-one years 
 of age," &c., were warned to meet and " hear the Declaration of Rights 
 and Constitution or Form of Grovernment for the State of the Massa- 
 chusetts Bay." After reading the above instrument of government, 
 the meeting adjourned to the 24th of May, that the people might form 
 their deliberate conclusion. The meeting met and again adjourned to 
 the 29th, when the vote was taken, as follows : 
 
 " For the Constitution with tke Amendments, 21 yeas. 
 
 For the Frame of Gfovernmeiit as it stands, yeas, 9 ; nays, 2." 
 
 The people of the State approved of the new Constitution, and un- 
 der it the first General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
 met at the State House in Boston, on Wednesday, October 25, 1780. 
 Abel Wilder represented the town in the House, or the county in the 
 Senate, from this time to his decease in 1792. On May 20th, 1782, 
 Samuel Crosby, Esc[., Dea. Moses Hale and Mr- Alexander Brown, 
 
120 HISTORY Off WINCHENDON. 
 
 ■were chosen a committee to draw some instructions for " ye represen- 
 tative, Abel Wilder, Esq." These instructions are not on record, and 
 the design of them- is not kno^v:n. On the 5th of April, 1784, Mr. 
 Wilder received 25 votes for Senator and Counsellor. This vote brought 
 his name before a larger constituency, which a year or two later adopt- 
 ed him. 
 
 In 1786, January 6, it was voted " to take taxes in shingles," in the 
 case of several persons. In March, the town voted a hundred pounds to 
 pay the town debt, and in keeping with its honorable course towards 
 the new town of Gardner, the proportion assessed to that town was de- 
 ducted. 
 
 SECTION 3.— NATIONAL COIpTITtTTION. 
 
 In 1788, March 10, Dea. Moses Hale was chosen delegate to the 
 State Convention to consider the proposed Constitution for the United 
 States. There was a powerful opposition to the adoption of the Con- 
 stitution, which would perhaps have been defeated, in the Convention, 
 if the great patriot, Samuel Adams, and his compeer, John Hancock, 
 had not been induced to give it their suppifrt. A majority of the del- 
 egates from Worcester county, including the delegate from this town, 
 on the final vote, were found in the negative. 
 
 Those persons, as a general rule, who had favored the Shays' move- 
 ment, were opposed to the. adoption of the Constitution of the United 
 States. There was a prevalent fear that the central government would 
 become too strong ; and they could not foresee that a great, wicked, and 
 bloody rebellion would in the next century, grow in part, out of a jeal- 
 ousy for State rights. But besides these, there were others who were 
 reluctant to enter into a union with slave-holders, and become bound 
 to endure the slave trade until 1808, and take on themselves the obli- 
 ^tion to restore fugitives from servitude. Their fears have been nwre 
 than realized in our recent history. If the men of 1788 could have 
 clearly foreseen the evils that a tolerated system of oppression has 
 brought upon this generation, it is hardly conceivable that they would 
 have entered the Union except on condition of the total abolition of 
 slavery in all the States. 
 
 The first meeting to choose officers under the Constitution of the 
 United States, was held on the 18th of December,- 1788, when the 
 town cast its vote in favcfr of Washington and Adams for President 
 and Vice President. 
 
HISTOBT OP -VVINCHBNDOK. 121 
 
 Samuel Adams received every vote for Governor, on the 6tli of 
 AprU, 1795. 
 
 At the election, in 1792 and 1796, the Presidential candidates sup- 
 ported by the federal party received a large majority of the votes cast 
 by the freemen of Winchendon. 
 
 The warrant fo^ town meeting in the last year of the last century, 
 was addressed to "the freeholders and other inhabitants of the t(twn 
 qualified by law ta vote in town meetings, viz : " such as pay to our 
 single tax besides the poll or polls, a sum equal to two-thirds of a sin- 
 gle poll tax." The warrant for a meeting to choose a representative 
 was " to the male inhabitants of the town, being twenty-one years of 
 age, and resident in the town for the space of one year next preceding, 
 having a freehold estate oAhe annual income of three pounds, or any 
 estate to the value of fifty pounds." 
 
 The voters of this town gave to Washington their most cordial and 
 zealous support during both of his presidential terms. When troops 
 were called for to suppress the " Whiskey rebellion" in Pennsylvania, 
 they were ready to take the field. When he died, they sincerely 
 mourned, in common with the great mass of his countrymen. Mr. 
 Adams, though following in the footsteps of his predecessor, met with 
 a strenuous, and even fierce opposition, especially in the South ; but 
 his own State was united in his support. The people of Winchendon 
 concurred with the State in casting their votes for him, in the autumn 
 of 1796, and also in 1800, when he was defeated. Their resentment 
 against the insults .of the French government was ardent, and they 
 were ready to take up arms in defence of the honor of the nation. The 
 well-known song, " Adams and liberty," was a favorite with our pat- 
 riotic and high-spirited ancestry of that period. But Mr. Jefierson, 
 the leader of the Virginia school of pohtics, came into power. The 
 " "NJirginia and Kentucky Resolutions" superseded the principles of 
 Washington, Adams and Marshall, and the country entered on a career 
 which naturally culminated in the wicked rebellion of 1861. 
 
 In closing these notices of the political affinities of the town, it is 
 but fair to state, that though the Rev. Mr. Brown, then supported by 
 the town in its capacity as a parish, was a firm friend of the Govern- 
 ment, in the time of the Shays excitement, he was not, on that account, 
 called in question, the people, even in the time of the most violent agi- 
 tation, conceding to their minister his right to untramelled action as a 
 citizen. ' 
 
122 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 CHAPTER IX.— EDUCATION PRE 
 VIOUS TO 18 0,.^ 
 
 "Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way, 
 With blossom'd fUrze, unprofltably gay, 
 There, in his noisy mansion, skilled to rale. 
 The village master, taught his little sehool." 
 
 V Goldsmith. 
 
 In this chapter, a full, though concise history will be given of the 
 progress of education, including schools, school-houses, districts, teach- 
 ers, committees, &c., down to the opening of the preset century. 
 The first entry in the Records bearing on this subject, is dated May 
 6, 1765, when eight dollars were approprifited for schooling. This 
 was the first year after the organization of the town. The school was 
 at the Centre. The sum granted, March 3, 1766, was |20. In 1767, 
 $13. The next year, the appropriation was six pounds, or twenty dol- 
 lars ; and it was voted as follows : " the extreme parts of the town to 
 have a school by themselves, they providing a place and keeper." This 
 year one bill brought against the town was for " a horse to bring the 
 school dame up and carry her down again," five shillings. She be- 
 longed, of course, to one of the lower towns. On the 6th of March, 
 1769, forty shillings were devoted to schoohng, and the Selectmen 
 were authorised to lease eighty acres of school land, and use the pro- 
 ceeds in supporting a school. The school land was rented for school- 
 ing in 1772, and in the next year, twelve pounds, besides the rent of 
 the school land. The following bill helps to fill out the picture of those 
 primitive times. 
 
 "The town of Winchendon Dr., to me for Boarding the school Dame, 
 Mrs. Down, four weeks, at three shillings per week, £0, 12, 0, 0." 
 
 On the 7th of March, 1774, £7, 6s. was devoted to schooling, 
 "partly rents, and partly money not used last year." At the same 
 time, " voted, to choose a committee to divide the town into districts 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 123 
 
 for Schooling. Chose Daniel Goodridge, Moses Hale, William Whit- 
 ney, John Boynton and Seth Oaks." 
 
 SECTION l.-^THE FIRST DISTEICTS. 
 
 The committee made a report dated March 17, 1774, which was 
 accepted by the town. This action did not constitute legal distriq,ts, 
 in the modem acceptance of the term, but merely divided the town into 
 sections for school purposes, the town still having full care of the 
 schools. It will be interesting to know where the population was loca- 
 ted at the opening of the Revolution. The report herq, follows. 
 
 "We the subscribers, being chosen by the town of Winobendon, legally 
 assembled on the seventh day of March — 1774, — a committee to appoint 
 places for school houses to be set up in order for schools to be kept in said 
 town, have agreed upon the following places which appear to us to [be] most 
 convenient for said purposes. 
 
 For the southwest part of the town we have agreed to have a school house 
 upon the road between Potato brook and Joseph Wilder's [now Luke Wil- 
 der's] house, if the town shalFthink proper. [Never built.] 
 
 For the southeast part of the town we think proper to have a school house 
 on the new county road about half a mile south of Wm. Whitney's, as near 
 the south side of the first brook south of said Whitney's as the land will 
 allow of. [This section was afterwards sat off to Gardner.] 
 
 For the east part of the town, we think the most convenient place for a 
 school house is in the great road by Mr. Dudley Perley's. [That is, on the 
 old road from the Centre to Ashburnham.] 
 
 For the north part of the town, it appears to us that the most convenient 
 place for a school house to be set up is on the county road near where the 
 road turns out that leads by Mr. John Boynton's to Eindge. [John Boyn- 
 ton lived on the place at the north part of the town, now owned by Capt. E. 
 Murdock, Jr.] 
 
 For the west part of the town, we think best to .have the school house 
 erected on the county road that leads to Royalston, near the mouth of fly 
 road, so called. [Just beyond what has since been known as the Caswell 
 place, west of Miller's river and where the road comes in from BuUardville.] 
 
 Winchendon, March 17, 1774." 
 
 The Centre already had a school. It was several years before all 
 the sections of the town were supplied with school houses. Schools 
 were kept in private houses, cooper's shops, and wherever room could 
 
124 HISTORY OP WINCHBNDON. 
 
 be found. It will be seen that no provision was made for children in 
 the Village, Waterville or Spring Village. The simple fact was that 
 there were scarcely any inhabitants near the river, between the Mo- 
 nomonauk and New Boston ; where we now find not far from four-fifths 
 of our scholars. The next year the sum granted was the rent of the 
 school lands, besides £5 given by the county ; in 1776, £20 were de- 
 voted to schooling. A new step was taken in 1777. The appropriar 
 tion was enlarged to £30, and a committee was appointed " to see af- 
 ter schooling," viz : Dea. Moses Hale, David Goodridge, Daniel Good- 
 ridge, Peter Joslin, Ebe'r. Howe. This was the first school commit- 
 tee, as far as can be ascertained. Their duties were mainly those af- 
 terwards assigned to the prudential committees chosen by the districts. 
 The examination of teachers and schools generally was done by the 
 clergy, as officers of the town. The school committee of 1778, were 
 Ebenezer Howe, Lt. Joseph Boynton, Lt. Amos Merriam, Dea. Hale, 
 John Day, each one belonging to a separate district. This year £100 
 were voted for schooling ; of which £1, 6s were to be derived from rent 
 of land. Money had already begun to depreciate. On the 9th of 
 September, the question came up again in regard to dividing the town 
 into districts, but nothing was done. In 1779, £400 were granted 
 to be employed in schooling. This was paper money. It was voted, 
 " that the school money for this year be equally divided into six parts. 
 The following committee was chosen, viz : Capt. John Boynton, Capt. 
 Seth Oaks, Dea. Moses Hale, William Whitney, Abel Wilder and 
 James McElwain, to agree on six places to have a school kept in this 
 town where it will best accommodate the inhabitants." Then chose 
 Capt. Joseph Bacon, Dea. Moses Hale, Abel Wilder, Capt. John 
 Boynton, Phillips Sweetaer and James McElwain, " to see that the 
 school money is properly laid out." In other words, they were the 
 prudential committee of the town. This action was taken at the March 
 meeting. The committee immediately reported in relation to districts, 
 as follows, thus showing that no school houses had yet been erected. 
 
 " The committee on locating school houses reported that " it appears to us 
 that it is most convenient to have the school houses erected in the following 
 places, namely, one on the Meeting House Common ; one about 20 rods 
 south of the brook which runs across the road between Mr. Phillips Sweet- 
 zer and Mr. Jeremiah Stuart, [not far from the trotting park, now No. 10, 
 
HISTOKT OF ■WIirCHENDOK. 125 
 
 Of Tallow hill school,] one at the comer of the road between Bill Hancock's 
 and Dayid Stoddard's, [now No. 7, and part of No. 8,] one just on the 
 eausey by Jonathan Stimpon's, [now No. 5, or Estey sehool house ;] on© 
 just over the brook on the road from DaArid Groodridge to I4eut. Joseph 
 Boynton, [just northeast of the house of Mr. Jonas Nutting, towards Mr. 
 James Mordock's jj the other on the county road towards Westminster, on 
 the east district lot. No. 2." [Now in Gtardner.] 
 
 The next vote indicates the cause of still farther delay iji building 
 the houses, viz : derangement of the currency. It was in these words : 
 " Voted, that the town will not take the present currency for the rente 
 on those school and ministerial lands wherein the lease noentions law- 
 ful money of Great Briton." 
 
 At the annual meeting, March 9, 1780, it was voted " that a school- 
 master be. hired to keep school nine months in a year*" Also, that 
 " the nine monfcs' schooling be equally divided into six parts, to be 
 kept in the several places agreed upon by the town." The schools 
 were probably kept in private houses. At a meeting, October 13, the 
 largest nominal appropriatioa for schools was made that is upon record, 
 viz : ^62300, worth perhaps $100. At the March meeting in 1781, 
 the school money " was equally divided between the several schools." 
 The following provision was made : " Six months of writing school in 
 each quarter, and the remainder of the money to be laid out in a wO' 
 man's school, (if it appears to be the desire of the quarter,) in such 
 places as will best accommodate the whole of said squadron, and when 
 BO woman's school is dem-ed, the whole to be laid out in a man's 
 school." It was then voted to build school houses in " the several 
 places agreed upon by the toiro." 
 
 But voting is not building. The subjedt came up again at the acl- 
 jonmed meeting, March 22, when it was " Voted to have a school 
 house built in the centre of the town 20 feet square." The " others to 
 be 18 feet square." Then the vote to build school houses was re- 
 conadered. It was next voted to ^ve " liberty to each squadron or 
 school district, or any particular persons, to build school houses on the 
 spots agreed upon by the town, and that those persons who build said 
 houses, shall hold them as their own property until such time as the 
 town shall see fit to purchase them of the proprietors for the town's use." 
 After this comes the rather inconsistent vote "to build six school 
 
126 HISTOEY OP WINOHBNDON. 
 
 houses this present year." A committee was also appointed to s6e 
 to the building of school houses, viz : Samuel Prentice, James McEl- 
 wain, Phillips Sweetzer, Edward Withington, Francis Bridge, Joseph 
 Bacon. These men represented districts Nos. 1, 7, 10, 3, 5, as they 
 have been arranged for many years past. Bacon was in the Gardner 
 section. It was then voted " that those squadrons who get the school 
 houses done the cheapest, have so much money laid out in schooling' 
 more than their quota of school money, as to make them equal to the 
 highest priced houses." Now it would seem as if the children would 
 soon be accommodated with school houses, but " there's many a slip," 
 &c. At the meeting on the 3d of April, it wa-s " voted to postpone 
 the building of school houses until next year." The burdens of the 
 war pressed too heavily upon them to admit their doing anything which 
 was not absolutely necessary. The appropriation for schooling was£40. 
 In 1782, March 4, the town granted £36, or £6. to each squadron, 
 for schooling. The term " squadrpn," seems to have come into use 
 • in the Revolution ; that is, in its application to districts or sections 
 of the town. On the 19th of March, the old vote was renewed to 
 " build the school houses the present year," but on the following 11th 
 of April, this vote was reconsidered. On the 28th of May, it was 
 " voted that the committee chosen last March to provide schooling the 
 present year, be a committee to divide the pay of the town into six equal 
 parts, both as to polls and estates, for the purpose of buildmg school 
 houses. No action was taken the next year, and nothing in the year fol- 
 lowing which led to results. The school money was £40. In 1785, 
 March 14, the town voted to have a " Grammar school for the year en- 
 suing," and granted £50 for schoohng. The same sum was voted next 
 year, including the rent of the school land. At the same time, March 7, 
 1786, the town " chose a committee of nine to take up and consider 
 whether the town will build school houses in the several parts of the 
 town as now divided," viz : Benjamin Kidder, Ahimaaz Sherwin, Paul 
 Raymond, Samuel Crosby, Esq., Dea. Moses Hale, Samuel Prentice, 
 PhUhps Sweetzer, Daniel Hubbard and Joseph Boynton. 
 
 SECTION 2. — THE FIRST SCHOOL HOUSES. 
 
 This committee reported on the 3d of April, 1786, " that there be 
 no alteration in the school squadrons, nor in the several places hereto- 
 fore agreed upon for school houses. Also, we beg leave to report as 
 
HISTOEY OF WINCHENDON. 127 
 
 our opinion, that it ■will be best for the town to raise a sum of money 
 to be appropriated to the building school houses, in the places already 
 agreed on, or in such other place or places as the squadrons more intimate- 
 ly concerned agree upon. Also that the money granted, shall be divided 
 into five equal parts, and a committee man or men be chosen in each 
 squadron to have the oversight of the work, who shall give each one 
 as equal a chance as may be in finding materials and doing the work." 
 It was then voted " to build six school houses in the town of Winchen- 
 don," and " to set the school houses in the several places before ap- 
 pointed, except the south part." Threchundred dollars were granted 
 for the purpose, and a committee of twelve " to see to the building of 
 the school houses." These are their names : Abel Wilder, Benjamin 
 Brown, Edward Withington, Joseph Boynton, Phillips Sweetzer, Da- 
 vid Poor, Daniel Hubbard, Bill Hancock, William Whitney, Paul Ray- 
 mond, Dea. Moses Hale and Isaac Proughty. The houses were erected 
 in accordance with these votes, and were located as follows : one in 
 the Centre, near the house of John Woodbury, and was of brick ; 
 another in the eastern district, near the present site, perhaps on the 
 same spot ; another in what was known as the old sixth district, near 
 the Bigelow place ; another in the southern section, near the Poor mill, 
 just west of the stream. This was bus-ned. Then the -house was loca- 
 ted on the east side of the stream, about a rod east of the John Poor 
 house, now occupied by Mr. Carter ; another in the northwest, on the 
 road between Levi Parks' and the- Royalston road, near the trotting 
 park ; and the sixth in the northern part of the town, near Daniel Boyn- 
 ton's house, between his house and John Boynton's. 
 
 The appropriation for 1789 was about $200, or £60 ; for 1790, 
 £72. At the March meetmg, 1791, it was voted that " each district 
 shall school out their proportion of money within a year after the grant 
 is made, or forfeit it." The sum granted for schools, for several years 
 to come was $240 to $450, increasing towards the close of the cen- 
 tury. At a meeting November 7, 1791, £150 were granted for build- 
 ing and repairing school houses in the town. Chose Moses Hale, John 
 Burr and James McElwain, a committee for the purpose. At a meet- 
 ing held a fortnight later, this vote was reconsidered, and £50 grant- 
 ed. On the 1st of August, 1792, it was voted to move the school 
 house to the east line of the Common. 
 
128 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 SECTION 3. — SECOND AREANGEMENT 01" DISTEICTS. 
 
 The increase of population made it important, in a few years, to 
 increase the number of school houses. Some of the children were 
 under the necessity of going long distances to reach their school. New 
 wants must be met by new arrangements. Accordingly, at a meeting 
 held May 6, 1793, the town " chose a committee of seven persons to 
 make a new arrangement of school districts in the town. Chose one 
 in each district, and the seventh by ballot. Dea. Samuel Prentice rep- 
 resented No. 10 in recent times, that is, the northwest part of the 
 town ; Benjamin Wilder,, No'. 1 ; David Goodridge, No. 3, or the north 
 district ; Peter Robinson, No. 6 formerly, near the Bigelow place ; 
 Dea. Moses'Hale, the east district in recent times. No. 5 ; and Da- 
 vid Hubbard, No. 7. William Whitney was chosen by ballot, and acted 
 as chairman. At a meeting June 3, the following report was offered 
 and accepted : 
 
 " That there be one school house on the Boyalston road near the line be- 
 tween the Rev. Joseph Brown's land and Mr. Abner Curtice ; [never built,] 
 2, that there, be one do. on Fitzwilliam road, near the north line of Capt. Paul 
 Boynton's land, on the east side of said road, [between the Village and 
 Henry Keith's ; 3, one do. on the Eindge road near the line between Lt. 
 Joseph Boyntori and Mr. James Payson ; 4, one do. on the road leading to 
 Ashburnham, on the easterly side of the long causey near Mr. Jere'h Lord's 
 land, where it now stands;* 5, one do. on the county road leading through 
 Gardner, near where the road comes &om Mr. David Smith's into said road, 
 where the school house now stands ; 6, one do. on the Templeton road pear 
 Mr. Eliphalet Goodridge's, where the school house in No. 7, now stands ; [af- 
 terwards moved to its present location] 7, one do. near Mr. Peter Russell's, 
 where the frame now stands ; [near Miss Sylvia Howard's] 8, one do. on the 
 road leading from Mr. Jere'h Stuart's to Mr. Francis Goodhue, where the 
 school house now stands [near the trotting park.]" 
 
 After hearing the report, it was voted " to build the school houses 
 in the several districts agreed upon." A committee of eight was cho- 
 sen to draw a plan of the houses, and to propose ways and means to 
 build them : viz, Benjamin Hall, Esq., Capt. Paul Boynton, Lt. Joseph 
 Boynton, Dea. Moses Hale, David Smith, Paul Raymond, Jr., Eben- 
 ezer Sherwin and Jeremiah Stuart. 
 
 This committee reported on the third of September that " each dis- 
 trict build their own school houses. Granted j£243 including £50 
 
HISTORY OF -WINCHENDON. 129 
 
 lately granted to build and repair school houses, said sum to be divided 
 to each district, according to their pay. This looked like work, and 
 accordingly a building committee was chosen, viz : Phinehas Whitney, 
 No. 1 ; Lieut. Joseph Boynton, north district ; Ezra Hyde, the house 
 .on the Fitzwilliam road ; Jeremiah Stuart, for the northwest ; Jesse 
 EUis, for the southwest ; Daniel Hubbard, No. 7, or the south ; Peter 
 Robinson for the old 6th, near the Bigelow place ; and Moses Hale 
 for the eastern district. It was then voted that " the middle or centre 
 district have hberty to set their school house where they think best." 
 It was placed near the present house of Mr. John Woodbury. A com- 
 mittee was chosen to view the situation of the southwest district, and 
 determine upon the spot on which said house ought to stand. Thomas 
 Graton, or Grreaton, Jeremiah Stuart and Benjamin Hall were the com- 
 mittee, and they reported subsequently in favor of the old site, though 
 preferring another if the roads were convenient for it. On the 6th of 
 January, 1794, the Assessors were directed to commit the school house 
 tax to the collector ; and he was to receive school house committee or- 
 ders in discharge of said tax. The assessors and school house com- 
 mittee were directed to meet and make a division of the money grant- 
 ed to build school houses according to the school districts and their pay, 
 and the non-residents' pay to be divided by the assessors and commit- 
 tee according to their best discretion. On the 5th of May, it was vo- 
 ted " that the school houses should be finished on or before the first 
 day of January next." May 28, the north district was allowed to 
 " apply the money granted to it for schoohng last year to building 
 thek school house." The southwest district was allowed, by vote 
 passed March 7, 1797, " to place its school house where they pleaae 
 exclusive of cost to the town." It was probably placed near the south 
 side of the Denison pond, near the house of Miss Sylvia Howard. 
 
 SECTION 4. — STATE OF EDrCATION. 
 
 The history of education in the town will be arrested at this point, 
 for the purpose of bringing forward other parts of the work. This, 
 however, is the natural period for a division of the narrative, since the 
 opening of the present century was really the beginning of a new era 
 in the cause of popular education. ' Before turning to a new subject, it 
 may be well to take a passage from the manuscript of Dr. Whiton, since 
 his recollections embraced a portion of the period under review. He 
 
130 SlSTOBt 01* wmcHENDcwr. 
 
 says : " I -wisli I had been able to ascertain when the first school house 
 ■Was built ; it' was probably prior to 1770, it being, at my earliest rec- 
 ollections, a rough, ricketty affair, of diminutive size, standing a little 
 west of Dea. Cutter's present dwelling." This was the northwest cor- 
 ner of the Common. The Records give no information in regard to 
 the building of this first school-house. It was probably erected before 
 the Eevolution, though not long previous to that event. School-hous- 
 es in those days were generally " rough," and they soon became " rick- 
 etty," taking on rapidly the marks of age. They were without paint, 
 and so felt all the changes of the seasons, and yielded to the gnawings 
 of the tooth of time. Dr. W. continues : " In the earliest schools, the 
 only books to be found were the old New England Primer, small in size 
 but rich in value ; Dilworth's Spelling Book and the Psalter, including 
 Psalms and- Proverbs, or the Testament. I do not think the schools 
 in Winchendon ever exhibited the primitive simplicity of some places 
 where the scholars learned to Write on white birch bark for lack of pa- 
 per, and were taught in rotation a week each, by all the men who could 
 read ; some of whom would cut but a sorry figure as instructors. Schools 
 here were a grade above this. About 1790 a decided advancement 
 was made in school books. Perry's Spelling Book superseded Dil- 
 worth's ; Pike's Arithmetic was introduced, afterwards superseded by 
 Adams' ; Webster's Third Part came into use as a reading book, fol- 
 lowed not long after by the American Preceptor. The study of Eng- 
 lish Q-rammar began to be thought of, Alexander's Grammar finding 
 its way into the schools. Not the least attention was given to Geog- 
 raphy till 1795, when a small abridgement of Morse's Geography began 
 to be called for. Jhese books held possession of the schools for many 
 years, till better and more modern compilations expelled them. It was 
 scarce known that such sciences as Chemistry, Natural Philosophy, 
 Botany, Rhetoric, Physiology or Algebra were in existence ; of their 
 introduction into Primary schools, no one at that day dreamed. To 
 read, spell and write decently, and acquire enough of Arithmetic for 
 the transaction of ordinary business, was all the young aspired to. The 
 medical pupils of Dr. Israel Whiton, of whom there was a considerable 
 number, aided to furnish a supply of teachers of the winter schools. 
 The schools were however, as good as the means and circumstances of 
 the town, in those days, allowed ; and if they were not what could be 
 wished, still they effected a large amount of good." 
 
HISTOET OP WINCHENDOS. 131 
 
 CHAPTER X.— HiaSWATS AND 
 BY-WATS. 
 
 " Ods whips and spurs ! A road fit for a king 
 
 Winds through these woods :— that is, a Mng of knaves. 
 
 The farmer's white-oak cart jolts over rocks, 
 
 Logs, stumps; the springless wagon sinks in mud 
 
 While on the way to mill. The traveler, 
 
 Bewildered by the crooks, and thick-leaved shade, 
 
 Lists to the forest sounds, and dreads the sight 
 
 Of the fierce wild beast, or well-armed foot-pad, — 
 
 Perchance of stealthy Indian on his tramp. 
 
 It seems the very hatching place of theft 
 
 And murder. — A change comes o'er the scenery. 
 
 See the long row of horses and their freight, — 
 
 Men, mothers, chUdren, on their way to church. 
 
 The squirrel chirrups on the trees ; the tunefUI birds 
 
 FiU all the air with song; a solemn hymn 
 
 Breaks forth from human lips, and all the aisles 
 
 Are vocal with their melody." 
 
 Old Scout. 
 
 RoSds -while they mark the condition and progress of civiliaation, fur- 
 nish great facilities for general improvement. The history of a town, 
 no more than of a nation, cannot be complete, without some account of 
 its means of inter-communication. Macaulay, who more than any oth- 
 er historian, exhibits every phase of a people's life, enters into exceed- 
 ingly interesting details concerning the roads of England. We are sur- 
 prised to learn that the great lines of travel were in a wretched condi- 
 tion far along into tiie last century, while the cross roads were almost 
 impassable. In our own country good roads were very uncommon till 
 several years after the Revolution. Indeed, the art of road making 
 was not understood, among us, till very recently. At first the people 
 followed Indian trails ; then they marked bridle-paths by cutting or 
 blazing trees ; next they cut cart roads, removing the largest stones 
 and stumps, and roots, so that oxen, and perhaps steady horses, could 
 
132 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 move a load without shaking vehicle and contents to pieces. By de- 
 grees came highways on which prudent drivers could venture to travel, 
 by using proper vigilance. The next step in progress was the turn- 
 pike, buUt by a corporation, and deriving its support from travelers 
 who paid their fare at gates swung across the road at suitable intervals 
 — say, six or eight miles apart. These were a great advance, in com- 
 parison with the old roads, but in time the people became educated up 
 to the point where they were willing to tax themselves to pay for free 
 roads that should be better than the turnpikes. Such has been the 
 course of things in the eastern States. We read of western towns, 
 where one can take his start in an avenue, which soon changes into^a 
 street, that diminisjies to a road, then dwindles into a cart-path, and 
 finally vanishes in a squirrel track up a tree. With us avenues come 
 last, but well-built roads are demanded by an advancing public senti- 
 ment. A county Commissioner remarked a few years since, that a team 
 could draw twice as much from any part of the county to the Court 
 House in the same time, as the same team could have drawn twenly- 
 five years before ; so great had been the improvement in the roads. 
 
 SECTION 1. — THE FIRST EOADS. 
 
 The first Proprietors of Ipswich Canada found their way to these 
 -ffilds, by trails and bridle-paths, either through Westminster and what 
 is now Gardner, or through Dorchester Canada, now Ashbumham. 
 Lunenburg and Leominster were settled sometime before the towns at 
 the west of them, and travelers found their way hither by either route. 
 It is probable however, that the northern road was most frequented. 
 Ashbumham was settled about the time our fathers came here, and thus 
 a way was opened to our eastern border. Before this time, the towns 
 in the valley of the Connecticut had become quite populous, and it was 
 necessary to have lines of travel from the valley of the Nashua to the 
 great river. This explains the vote of the Proprietors in a meeting 
 held on the 27th of October, 1737, which was in these words : " That 
 there be a road cut from Earlington as near as may be to the Meeting- 
 House Lott, at the charge of the Proprietors." For a long time, it 
 was imposable to find the location of Earlington. Mr. Hyde, who was 
 aged enough to remember several years into the last century, says in 
 a note on the 79th page of bis History, that he " has not yet discor- 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENBON. 183 
 
 ered what place is meant by Earlington." The supposition was that 
 it was some parish or precinct in. one of the lower towns, as Lunen- 
 burg, Leominster or Lancaster, through which the travel would nat- 
 urally take its course in coming to this region. On inquiring at the 
 State House for Earlington, the antiquarians in the Secretary's ofiBlce 
 confessed themselves ignorant of that locality. However, in the Index 
 of Plans, Grants, &c., it was found that a part of Northfield had been 
 granted to Major Joseph Willard, — being a large strip on the north 
 and east sides of the town — with the name of Earlington. This dis- 
 covery made the design of the Proprietors evident. It was to bring 
 tiie travel between the settlements east and west through this place. 
 A far-sighted project, never yet fully realized. In after times a canal 
 was surveyed from the Hudson to Boston, through Winchendon Village, 
 and stiU later a railroad, but neither have been transformed from pro- 
 jects to facts. It is to be hoped that the time is not far distant when 
 one of the great lines of railway travel from the seaboard to the west- 
 ern part of the State, and so on to the Great West, will pass through 
 our principal Village. But to return from our digression : The next 
 meeting of the Proprietors was on the 3d of November, when it was 
 voted " that six pounds be paid and allowed out of the treasury to such 
 proprietor as shall cut an Horse- way from Earlington road to the Meet- 
 ing House Lett." 
 
 Such was the beginning of the road system of this town, the design 
 of which was to open ways through the place, rather than to accommo- 
 date families, since there were none on the ground. A road was the 
 necessary means of bringing them here. On the 13th of February,* 
 1737-8, it was voted " that there be a Cart Way cut from Dorchester 
 Canada Meeting House Lott — which was on the top of the old meeting- 
 house hiU, — on the nearest and most convenient way that can be found 
 from Dorchester Canada road to the centre of the Lotts as laid out in 
 the Township of the said Ipswich Canada, and make such bridges and 
 causeys as are absolutely necessary for making the way passable." 
 This road was " cut," and in the course of time became the traveled 
 way between Winchendon hill and Ashburnham hill, as it can be traced 
 on the map. It was continued from the centre of the town to Koyal- 
 aton line on its way to " Earlington." * The next year, February 8, — 
 
 * The year in old times began with the mouth of March. 
 
134 HISTOKT OF WIKCHENDOK. 
 
 as for convenience sake we shall fix the dates as if the year began in 
 January — it -was voted " that Col. Berry be empowered and directed 
 to agreie with some proper person to clear a road that shall be markt 
 out by the Proprietors of Paquaige, from the line d the Township to 
 the TowDf Road." Pac[uaige or Bayquaige was Athol, and the road 
 or path thither was probably by the lands of Enoch Wyman and John 
 Raymond, and so,on across the plain, and over the river by the Ben- 
 jamin Alger place, thence by the Baptist nseeting-house towards Athol, 
 In 1741, March 18, a committee was empowered to " clear the old way 
 into the Township of the trees that are fallen into it." The next year, 
 May 19, Col. Thomas Berry, Capt. Edward Eveletbj and Lieut. Will- 
 iam Brown were chosen a committee to lay out and clear a road from 
 the north part of the Township, by the place where the saw-mill is to 
 be erected, to the South Bound." The saw-mill was at the mouth of 
 Poor's or Carter's pond, so that the road was to extend from the north 
 part of the town, by the centre, and over Raymond hill towards Tem- 
 pleton, via Jonesville. At the same time Col. Berry was directed to 
 take some " proper method as he shall think best to oWige the Propri- 
 etors of Lunenburg and Dorchestesr Canada to make suitable and con- 
 venient ways" to this place. 
 
 Pasang an interval of ten years, we find that on the 29th of Janu- 
 ary, 1753, Thomas Brown was appointed "-to have the oversight of 
 mending the hi-way." May 6, a committee was directed " to look out 
 the most suitable place to erect a bridge over the river ;" and on the 2d 
 of September following, it was voted " that a foot or horse bridge be 
 built across the river where the couniy road runs." This bridge was 
 probably over Miller's riyer, on the road to Royalston, about a mile 
 northwest of WatervUle. On the 3d of July a committee was chosen 
 " to petition the next Sessions of the Peace in the county of Worces- 
 ter, in order to establish a hi-way from Lunenburgh through Dorchester 
 Canada and Narragansett No. 2, to Ipswich Canada, and so far as Ips- 
 wich Canada exten<fe ; and if they fail there, to apply to the General 
 Court for the end aforesaid." On the 25th of October a party " came to 
 clear the county road." A committee was appointed, March 10, 1756, 
 " to lay out a road to the saw-mill," from which it must be concluded 
 that the former order had not been carried into efifect. October 31, 
 1759, a committee was chosen to build a bridge over the road to Roy- 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 135 
 
 alshire, beyond WaterviUe. So the former vote had remained a dead 
 letter. 
 
 In 1762, Jmie 30, a road was accepted " from the northwest corner 
 of the burying yard towards the north ; probably extending to the 
 Steams place, where Capt. Levi Stearns now resides. Also^ a road 
 from John Darling's — ^now Jason Keith's — to Mr. Parson's mill, where 
 Ooodspeed & Wyman's establishment now stands. Another from Mr. 
 Boynton's — in Royalston leg — ^to the same mill ; and still another from 
 the mill to the eouijjiy road ; that is, to the Centre. This formerly ran 
 over the highest part of the hilL In 1763 a road was provided for 
 ■" from the mill road to Temple Town." This was probably a new or- 
 der in relation to an old measm-e. In 1764, a road was laid out from 
 William Moffatt's to John Darling's. This road went from Darling's, 
 now Jason Keith's, to Eoyalston line, through what is now Bullardville 
 and over Tallow hill, by the house of Moffatt. There was a road also 
 sanctioned, leading from the meeting-house to Darling's ; but this was 
 merely a union of roads already provided for, and probably built. An- 
 other road terminating at Benomi Boynton's ; another from Nathaniel 
 Burnam's by SUas Whitney's ; another from Aaron Hodgkins' to the 
 ■county road near Thomas Mansfield's, who hved near the south end of 
 the burying ground ; and another from Nathaniel Bixby's to the Meet- 
 ing-house. This was the year of the town's organization, and the read- 
 er, by tracing the above roads, can ascertain the situ ation of the dif- 
 ferent families. 
 
 In 1766, a road was accepted from WUham Moffatt'si, by David 
 Poor's to the Royalston line. If ever made, it was discontinued long 
 since, as none living remember such a road. The next year — 1767, 
 a road was laid out from the meeting house to Westminster, going east 
 to the place now occupied by Mr. Winn, and then south by east to 
 Westminster. This was the " old road" to Gardner, by William Whit- 
 ney's. Several other roads were ordered, but it is difficult to trace 
 them from the Records, and a subsequent arrangement makes the 
 knowledge of them needless. The same may be said of several roads 
 accepted in 1769, and 1770. Indeed, if all the roads which were ac- 
 cepted and then discontinued, in these early times, could be secured 
 fcy any man, he would have an ample farm, provided that all the parts 
 could be brought into one field. The method was this.: a man opened 
 
13& HISTORY OP WISrCHENDOH'. 
 
 a farm in the midst of woods, and then cut his way out to the nearest 
 neighbor. In time, another neighbor in another direction would sug- 
 gest the need of a road ; until finally a through road would accommo- 
 date several famihes, and the old by-roads would be needed no longer. 
 In 1771, a committee was chosen to rebuild tjje long bridge over the 
 river between the two Mr. Oaks', who lived on either side — a mile be- 
 yond Waterville. 
 
 There was bu^little done in the way of opening new, or repairing 
 old roads during the period of the Revolution. In 1780, a man was 
 allowed ^69 per day for labor on the road. In 178z, committees were 
 chosen to repair the road " on the north side of the town," and " to 
 build a new bridge over Miller's river by Beeman's mill, a little above 
 the old bridge." The committee to build were Abel Wilder, Benja- 
 min Brown, John Boynton, Josiah Beeman and Paul Boynton. 
 
 SECTION 2. — ^WINCHENDON LOTTERY. 
 
 At the annual meeting March 8, 1783, the following comnrittee, viz : 
 Abel Wilder, Esq., Samuel Crosby, Esq., and Levi Nichols, were ap- 
 pointed " to petition the Greneral Court for a lottery to build bridges." 
 While the committee are getting this permission to raise money* by a 
 lottery, it will be convenient to follow up, in chronological order, the 
 business of road and bridge making. On the 12th of March, eight 
 roads were accepted. These were not of general importance, with per- 
 haps one exception. Abner Curtice, whose house was not far east 
 from the residence of Enoch Wyman, succeeded in getting a road ac- 
 cepted which was to start from a point west of the Nichols tavern, 
 where Mr. Cromwell Ksher now lives, about half way to the Benjamin 
 place, and proceed thence over the hUl, to the house of Mr. Curtice ; 
 another road, in continuance of this, was granted, extending to Tyler 
 Raymond's. The design probably was to open a road from the north 
 part of the town to the south part, and on to Templeton, which should 
 avoid the high elevation in the Centre, and several lesser hills on 
 the existing road. But the influence of the Centre was too strong t* 
 allow of the success of this undertaking, and at a meeting about three 
 weeks later, it was voted " to reconsider the vote accepting the road 
 laid out from- Abner Curtice's to ths road between Goodhue and Nich- 
 ds' tavern." 
 
HISTOET OP WINCHBNDON. 137 
 
 Action was taken at the same time to secure the building of the 
 bridge, with the expectation that the lottery would provide the funds. 
 No appropriation was made, but a committee to build the bridge was 
 chosen, as follows : Dea. Hale, Samuel Prentice, David Poor, Amos 
 Merriam and David Goodridge. But the building of this bri4ge was 
 a great enterprise, and the town took uncommon measures to have it 
 well done ; therefore a committee of eleven persons was chosen " to 
 consult with the above committee as to the plan and form of building 
 the bridge, viz: Joseph Boynton, Abel Wilder, Esq., John Beemis, 
 Levi Nichols — 'who had offered to pay the extra expense if the bridge 
 could be moved a little east,* — Timothy Kneeland, Samuel Crosby, 
 Esq., Ebe'r Sherwin, Eliphalet Goodrich, Francis Goodhue, William 
 Whitney and PhiUps Sweetzer, Jr." But this did not satisfy the town, 
 and therefore they made choice of still another committee " to give 
 instructions to the first committee about laying out the money," viz : 
 Abel Wilder, Esq., Samuel Crosby, Esq., and Amos Heywood. This 
 last committee, appointed to draft instructions for the committee chosen 
 *' to build the bridge, and repair the road leading to Charleston, N. 
 H., through the town of Winchendon," reported : 
 
 " First, that the Committee be, and they are hereby empowered and di- 
 rected to proceed directly to build a bridge over Miller's river, by Capt. 
 Newton'st mills, beginning a little above a ledge of rocks on the northedy 
 side of the river, a little east of the old bridge, thence across the river directly, 
 meeting the road from Mr. Nichols', where it strikes the road from Mr. Ch. 
 Heywood's to the mills; that the buttments of said bridge be built 18 feet 
 wide with stone and earth ; there be a pillar of stones erected in the middle 
 under the bridge, leaving a water course not exceeding 25 feet wide betwixt 
 each buttment ; that the committee be empowered to make any necessary re- 
 pairs on the road aforesaid. Provided, that those persons who labor, or find 
 materials for the above work, will take tickets in the first class of the lottery 
 granted for the above purpose, or wait till the ' lottery be drawn for their 
 money." 
 
 *The original bridge over Miller's river by Parsons' mill, was several rods 
 below the dam of Goodspeed & Wyman. The first dam was at least halfway 
 from the present dam to the turn of the stream to the right. The first road 
 ran over this dam ; that is, was the top of the dam. This accounts for the 
 fact that we have no record of a bridge preceding the bridge buUt by the 
 lottery money. ^ 
 
 tin other places called Parsons', Beeman's, Hall's, and Knight's mills ; and 
 by still other owners. 
 
138 HISTORY OP WINCHBNDOSr. 
 
 Previous to 1784, there had been no uniform rule prescribing the 
 width of the roads. Some were narrow paths, and others were four 
 rods wide. By a vote, on the 15th of March of this year, it was or- 
 dered that all roads should be three rods wide. About the same time, 
 it was voted " to build a bridge over Miller's river for Mr. Crooks and 
 others." This was by the Benjamin Alger place, on the road to the 
 New Boston meeting-house. In the Records of this year, there is 
 mention of a county road from Ashburnham to Fitzwilliam, passing 
 through the site of this Village. It ran by the Hale, . Tolman and 
 Stearns farms, to the Parsons mill, and thence by the Keith place. 
 
 In 1785, January 13, it was voted " to begin the drawing the lot- 
 tery in the meeting house." Dea. Hale and Benjamin Brown were 
 chosen clerks to assist the manager in drawing. Law-makers and peo- 
 ple in those days had not learned the pernicious eifects of lottery gam- 
 bling ; therefore the General Court authorized it, and the people could 
 find no place, not even the church, and no persons, not even the dea- 
 cons, too good to be engaged in the business. Some money was raised, 
 but, as Mr. Hyde well says : " no scheme of taxation could have been 
 devised more injurious and extravagant. It was paying under a fascina- 
 ting prospect of gain, a much larger sum than the citizens would have 
 been obliged to contribute by regular rates. Nor was this all. Some 
 will now recollect — this was in 1849 — the tune consumed in drawing 
 the several classes of this lottery, the idleness and consequent dissipa- 
 tion it induced, to say nothing of its natural tendency to beget a love 
 of gaming." It must have seemed poor sport to those who had given 
 work or materials for tickets, to draw blanks. Dr. Whiton, who was 
 born a year later, and who doub bless, heard in subsequent years, the 
 comments of his seniors on this affair, says : " three classes were drawn . 
 in the lottery. Some money, though less than was hoped, was obtained, 
 and the bridge was re-built two years afterwards. On the part of our 
 Fathers, this lottery affair was a sad mistake ; true, it helped to build 
 the bridge, but at a far overbalancing cost of time and morals. It 
 attracted idlers and speculators to visit the town, introduced variouj 
 forms of dissipation, and affected injuriously the morals of the people 
 for years afterwards." 
 
 SECTION 3. — NEW ROADS AND BRIDGES. 
 
 The project of a county road from Royalston, through the south 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHEKDON. 139 
 
 part of this town to "Westminster, was started early, and followed up 
 to final success. As it would be of little use to this town, and would 
 tend to divert travel away from the Centre, efforts were made to pre- 
 vent the opening of the road. The tax-payers did not relish the idea of 
 paying for a road which would injuriously affect their interests. On 
 the 14th of March, 1785, after appropriating ^120 for highways, the 
 town chose Abel Wilder and Samuel Crosby, Bsqrs., a committee " to 
 oppose a new coimty road from Eoyalston to Westminster." In the 
 autumn, November 14, the town accepted the bridge by Newton's 
 mills, and on the 24th, voted " to lay out the money arising from the 
 third class of the lottery, at the bridge by Mr. Philips Sweetzer's." 
 The building committee were Philips Sweetzer, Abner Curtice, and 
 Jacob Hale. The bridge was to be built in the following manner : 
 
 " A pair of Imssels on each side of the main stream, then westward 20 
 feet a hutment with stones, then logs and gravel till it comes to a suitable 
 place for a water course ; then two hutments a suitable width for the same ; 
 then logs and gravel till it comes near the west side of the interval ; then 
 two other hutments with stone and a pair of trussels between the same, for 
 another water course, and suitable width for two lengths of string pieces." 
 
 This bridge was over Miller's river, near the Oaks place, a mile 
 from Waterville, on the Eoyalston road. It seems that there were 
 three water-courses, and many can now remember when the western 
 water passage was closed up with gravel. The stream usually flowed 
 in its natural channel, on the east side, but when the floods came, a 
 portion of the water ran through the west passage. At a subsequent 
 meeting, it was ordered that the " bridge should be all logs instead of 
 part stone." When the middle passage was closed, is not recorded. 
 The maris of it are still visible. 
 
 On the 7th of March, 1786, a road was accepted " from John Good- 
 hue's house by Dr. Manning's, by land of Amos Merriam and Capt. 
 Joseph Wilder, to the bridge, then across the river to 19nd of Bar- 
 tholomew Steams, then by Charles Heywood's, then between land of 
 Stearns and Heywood, to the road leading by the mill, from east to 
 west." As this description is unintelligible to persons now living, it 
 is proper to state that the road extended from some pomt in the Vil- 
 lage, by the Parsons mill, across the river, and on by the houses of Mr. 
 Sumner Wyman and Mrs. Connor. 
 
140 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 Winchendon had now, in 1786, spanned its principal river at three 
 places, viz: in the Village, thus opening travel to the north; at the 
 Oaks or Ball place, leading to Royalston ; and at the Crooks, or Alger 
 place, leading to New Boston and on to Payquaige. Two of these, if 
 not all three, were substantial works, and creditable to the enterprise 
 of the people in that day of small means, just after the Revolution. 
 The first bridges had, without doubt, been plain, rough structures ; 
 these were a great improvement, as the times demanded. Roads pen- 
 etrated to the extfemities of the town, though most of them were mere 
 bridle, or at best, cart paths. The great roads from Ashburnham to 
 Royalston, and from the north line to Templeton, as well as that from 
 Winchendon to Fitzwilliam, all radiating from the Common, were prob- 
 ably passable for carriages and teams. Not much was done for 
 several years following by way of making roads or bridges. The few 
 improvements of this naturtf- will be indicated according to the dates. 
 
 October 8, 1787, it was voted " that Asa Ellis and Thomas Wyman 
 build a bridge over Priest's brook, and be allowed to take them out 
 of their town rate." This bridge was west of the New Boston meet- 
 ing house, and near the edge of Royalston. The next year, March 10, 
 there was a vote to build a bridge over the river near Mr. Haven's. 
 In 1789, £150, or $500 was raised for highways. Considering the 
 price of labor at the time, this was a liberal appropriation. On the 
 2d of March, the town voted " to build a bridge over Miller's river on 
 the new county road from Royalston to the north part of Templeton, 
 by Mr. Thomas Wyman's." The committee to build the bridge were 
 David Hubbard, Eliphalet Goodridge, and Thornton Barrett. This 
 bridge was a little west of Denison pond, where Mr. Patch has resided 
 for many years. It appears therefore that the new road was opened 
 in spite of opposition and remonstrance. At the same time a road was 
 accepted, for Benjamin May, beginning at the State line, (Rindge,) 
 and passing ^ver the brook by said May's house, and extending south 
 to the county road to Fitzwilliam. Paul Raymond, Jr., obtained an 
 alteration of the road extending from " the top of the hill, in Jonas Hey- 
 wood's land to the road now trod at Asa Robertson's barn." 
 
 A new attempt was made on the 10th of September to get a road by 
 the house of Abner Curtice, with the probable design of making his 
 place the centre of the town. 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 141 
 
 In 1791, May 9, a road was accepted from George Coffin's to Bill 
 Hancock's ; that is, from Columbus C. Alger's by the house of Luke 
 Rice, This was never opened to travel. A few other roads were ac- 
 cepted not far from this time, but they will be included in a subsequent 
 description. 
 
 SECTION 4. — THE BRIDGE BY DK. HALL's. 
 
 On the fourth of April, 1791, a committee was chosen to repair the 
 bridge by Dr. Hall's. Another committee to build the bridge over the 
 river by Mr. Goodhue's, had been chosen in the preceding November. 
 Both votes referred to the same bridge. May 9, the project of repair- 
 ing the bridge by Dr. Ziba Hall's was given up, and a committee con- 
 sisting of Benjamin Hall, Esq., Lieut. Joseph Boynton and Mr. Thom- 
 as Graton, was chosen " to report what bridge shall be built by Dr. 
 Hall's" who reported as below. It is a f^^r inference that the bridge 
 built by the lottery-money was a miserable failure and worthy of its 
 ori^n. The Report is here given in fuU, with the letting out of the 
 works, as it maybe pleasant to carpenters, bridge builders, and others, 
 to know how things were done, and at what prices, seventy-five years 
 ago. The Report is as follows : 
 
 "KEPOKT OF THE COMMITTEE. 
 
 The committee propose to have the bridge Plan of said Bridge. 
 built after the above plan, and to be sixteen JT it 
 
 feet wide, and to have the posts so long as t" '' , ! ^IIV- 
 
 have the bridge lay straight from one hut- 
 ment to the other ; the cap pieecs and the 
 outside parts to be got sixteen inches square; 
 the inside parts to be got 12 inches square ; 
 the girts to be got 12 by 8 inches square, and to have the rails framed on to 
 the top of the cap pieces." 
 
 This Report was accepted. Then Thomas Graton, Ziba Hall and 
 John Burr were chosen a committee " to let out the bridge if they can, 
 to advantage, and report" to an adjourned meethag ; which they ac- 
 cordingly did on the 8th of September. In the meantime, £20 had 
 been granted for the purpose of building the bridge. The Report, 
 which was adopted, was as follows : 
 
142 HISTOKY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 " List of timber for compleating the bridge. 
 
 T> -J J 1, ivT f 4 cap sticks, 16 by 16, 20 feet long. 
 Provided by Mr. ] g ^^^^^ jg ^ ^g^ ^g ^^^^ j^^^g, 
 
 David Karrar. ^ ^ '' .. ^^hy 12, 18 feet long, 
 
 Mr. Joseph ( Having the bridge corapleate, 
 Heywood. ( Logs for 1000 plank dtlivered at the mill, 
 Mr. Haywood Kidder, Ten string sticks, at 3s. each, 
 
 Mr. Nath'l f 4 small posts, 12 by 12, 18 long, 
 Bixby. 1 4 girths, 12 by 12, 20 long. 
 
 James MurSk { ^^^'''^ ^°^^ ^°'" ^^^^ ^^^' °* P^^"'"' 
 James Hall, One oak log for braces, 
 Mr. Bart w j Framing, raising and covering, fit for raving, 
 
 7-v, TT 11 ( Sawing 2500 feet plank, and moving the same 
 Ziba Mall. I j.^ j.jjg bridge, and sawing the braces for do. 
 
 £i, 
 
 13s, 
 
 1, 
 
 0, 
 
 1, 
 
 4. 
 18. 
 10. 
 
 
 16. 
 
 1, 
 
 10. 
 
 
 5. 
 
 5 
 
 i, 0. 
 
 ' 2 10. 
 
 £18, 6. 
 Service of the committee in letting out the above business, and 
 
 attending on the same, 1, 10. 
 
 £19, 16." 
 
 Thus the committee came four shillings within the amount appro- 
 priated. 
 
 The next year it was voted to put extra work on the road leading 
 from Dr. HaU's, (by the mill,) to FitzwiUiam ; and a road was accept- 
 ed from Amos Edmands' to the old road leading from the Village to 
 Ezra Hyde's. In May, it was voted to alter the road from near the 
 Boynton place north to the Eindge line. This road was " just west 
 of Hananiah Whitney's [Joshua Nutting's] house." 
 
 In 1793, May 6, £30 were granted " to be laid out on the county 
 road between Mr. Kidder's and Fitzwilliam. A road for Levi Divoll, 
 leading westerly to the road extending from Israel Whitcomb's by the 
 poor farm to the meeting house, was accepted. Also, a road for Aaron 
 Massey. 
 
 In 1794, £150 was the grant for highways. On the 5th of May, 
 a road for Ezra Hyde was accepted, leading from his house down the 
 hill, across Miller's river, where the two pail shops now stand, and a 
 few rods on to the road that went from Nichols' tavern over Benjamm 
 hill, by Dea. Samuel Prentice's to Royalston. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 143 
 
 In 1795, there was considerable stir about roads, but these were 
 generallj short, and for private convenience. Samuel Brown secured 
 the change of direction of one or two roads on the east of his farm, 
 near Thomas Greenwood's ; and a road was laid out for Mr. Isaac 
 Taylor, in the southeast section of the town ; and a slight alteration 
 was made in the road at the north end. It was also voted, Septem- 
 ber 3, " to mend the rforth end of the bridge by Goodhue's mill ;" 
 and on the 24th, " to repair .the bridge over MiUer's river by Mr. 
 Crooks', to last this fall, and preparations be made for building a bridge 
 next summer." 
 
 In 1796, April 4, an important vote was passed, viz : " that the 
 town win lay out their roads for the future by a point of compass." 
 Up to this time the mode had been on this wise : " from a stake and 
 
 atones by Mr, 's bam to a pine tree with — chops, — rods ; 
 
 thence to a beech tree with — chops, — rods," and so forth. On 
 this account it has been exceedingly difficult for the author to trace 
 many of the old roads. 
 
 On the 5th of May, a committee was chosen " to oppose the new 
 county road proposed to be laid out in the westerly part." This was 
 another project to compel the town to build a road which would divert 
 travel and business away from it. A proposal for a road from James 
 Raymond's to Dudley Perley's, was negatived. This was renewed 
 from time to time, but always defeated ; the fear being probably that 
 it would gradually lead the people in the east section, to do business 
 in the Village, where were a store and mills. A half century passed 
 away, and then a road was opened from the Estey school house by the 
 houses of Mr. Raymond's children, on the way to Gardner. 
 
 In 1797, May 2, a road was accepted from Mr. Phinehas Parks' 
 to Mr. Amos Edmand's. This was " cut out" in part, but afterwards 
 the vote was reconsidered. Like the Raymond road, it was delayed 
 more than half a century, and then laid from Mr. Parks' to Hydeville. 
 It was a great point to secure the travel from Fitzwilliam ; therefore 
 £50 were granted to improve the road beyond Mr. Kidder's, and on 
 to the State line. 
 
 The county road on the westerly side was put through, notwithstand- 
 ing the opposition of the town, and then in 1799, the grand inquest of 
 the county found an indictment against the town for not making and 
 
144 ■ HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 Keeping in repair a county road, that was laid out in 1797. Dea. 
 Moses Hale was chosen as agent to appear in behalf of the town at 
 the next Court of General Sessions of the Peace, at Worcester, and 
 make answer. At the same time, chose Mr. Paul Raymond, Jr., as 
 a committee " to hire as much labor as he can for fifty dollars, to be 
 laid out to the best advantage on said county road." This was Lieut. 
 Paul Raymond, son of Lt. Col. Paul Raymond, and father of the late 
 Dea. Paul Raymond. His name appears in connection with roads 
 and bridges during the next quarter of a century. The Selectmen 
 were charged with repairing or building the bridge over Miller's river 
 near Mr. John Day's, but afterwards the matter was put into the hands 
 of Lieut. Paul Raymond, " to repair the old bridge and causey," with 
 sixty dollars to pay expenses. Later, $48 dollars were added. 
 
 The expense of opposing the new county road and of neglecting to 
 work upon it ran up to quite a sum — viz : 
 
 " Expense of opposing the road, $60. 
 The Presentment cost, 30. 
 
 Expense of the Council, 44.98. 
 
 Edward Bangs, Esq., 34." 
 
 1800, May 28. The town adopted the following mode to be ob- 
 served in future in laying out town roads and private ways, viz : " that 
 when a new way is to be laid out, the course and distance shall be as- 
 certained, unless the whole of said way is laid out on the side of a lot 
 or lots." This was at the opening of the new century, and as in the 
 course of a year or two, the town had all the old roads which were con- 
 sidered necessary, straightened, we have come to a natural point of 
 division to our subject. Our travels over the roads of Winchendon, 
 on paper, will be resumed in due time. Meanwhile other parts of the 
 history will be brought forward to this period. 
 
HISTORY OF WmCHENBON. 14& 
 
 CHAPTER XI.— THE TOWN AS A 
 PARISH. 
 
 " Hor, Is it a custom? 
 
 Bam. Ay, marry, is't; 
 But to my mind, though I am native here. 
 And to the manner born, — it is a custom 
 More honored in the breach, than the observance." 
 
 Hamlet. 
 
 PRELIMINARY. 
 
 In former times the towns of this Commomvealtli were legal parish- 
 es, and the churches were generally in connection with them. Both 
 had a distinct existence ; but in some respects acted in unison. The 
 church was a purely religious body, made up of voluntary adherents, 
 and had the whole matter of determining the principles on which it was 
 founded, its by-laws, and methods of discipline, in its own power. It 
 received, dismissed, disciplined ana excommunicated members without 
 being subject to external control. It chose its own officers^ whether Pas- 
 tors, Deacons, Clerks or Committees, and was amenable to no authori- 
 ty save that of Christ, the Head of the Church, though seeking frateiv 
 nal sympathy and advice through the agency of Ecclesiastical Councils. 
 But for the purpose of raising funds to build houses of worship, support 
 the ministry, and pay other charges, parishes were formed. As said 
 above, by the laws and usages of this State, the towns acted as parish- 
 es in connection with the Congregational churches. In accordance with 
 this fact, the town of Winchendon was a parish, and continued -to act in 
 that capacity down to about the year 1825, when the union between it 
 and the Congregational church was dissolved. Out of this relation it 
 comes that quite a poriion of the town history pertains to religious af- 
 fairs, such as church-building and sustaining the ministry. The eccle- 
 siastical history of the town will be given hereafter in the history of each 
 
 10 
 
146 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOW. 
 
 church -within its bounds ; but the history of Winchendon as a parish 
 will receive distinct treatment in this chapter. 
 
 As preliminary and strictly in otder, it will be proper to relate what- 
 ever was done by the Proprietors for the establishment of pubhc wor- 
 ship in the place. The early settlers, as well as the Proprietors, were 
 men who understood the value of religious institutions. Some of them 
 — how many is not certainly known — were members of the Church of 
 Christ. 
 
 At a Proprietors' meeting held on the 27th of October, 1737, it was 
 voted " that five acres be reserved out of the Lott No. 1, in the South 
 Division, for building a meeting-house ; also for a burying yard, and a 
 training-field." In February, 1737-8, it was voted that " four acres 
 be cleared in the meeting-house lot, in the most convenient place for 
 erecting a meeting-house, and to be sowed with herd's-grass ;" and a 
 committee of four Avas chosen to agree when to clear, in order for the 
 location of a meetmg-house." About 1752, the frame of a small meet- 
 ing-house was raised, not far from the hearse house. This was never 
 finished. On July 3d, 1753, Thomas Wilder and Abijah Smith were 
 chosen a committee to prepare stuff in order to build a meeting-house 
 next spring. This was not carried out, for on the 24th of October, " the 
 first frame erected for a meeting-house was granted to Col. Berry, to 
 enable him to build a suitable and craiveniienit room to meet in on the 
 Sabbath days for pubhc worship." On the 31st of October " one dol- 
 lar was assessed on each and every right, to pay for preaching the win- 
 ter coming." Messrs. John Brown and Thomas Jewett were desired 
 to provide a suitable person to preach for them. 
 
 In 1769 there were about thirty men in the place, some of whom had 
 families, and it is on record, that a Rev. Mr. Harvey was with them as 
 a preacher. On the 31st of October the land laid out for a meeting- 
 house lot, &c., was accepted. In 1761, September 22, it was voted 
 " to raise two dollars on each original right to pay for preaching." The 
 committee were ordered to " provide a preacher half the Sabbaths ;" 
 and it was voted " to build a meeting-house 30x45, 20 feet posts." The 
 next year the people concluded that it was best to select a new spot for 
 the meeting-house lot, and traming-field, leaving the old spot for a bury- . 
 ing ground. It was then determined to place the new meeting-house ' 
 on the present central Common. This was erected forthwith, and though 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 147 
 
 never painted or finished, was made fit to be occupied as a place of 
 worship.* 
 
 SECTION 1. — MR. STIMPSON'S MINISTRY. 
 
 It was voted to settle a minister. This implies that a Church had 
 been, or was about to be formed. Mr. Daniel Stimpson was invited to 
 settle, and was ofiered " the minister's right, and sixty pounds of money, 
 and sixty pounds salary." On the 17th of November it Was 
 
 " yoted that instead of giving ye said Daniel Stimpson sixty pounds salary 
 ^yearly so long as he shall carry on the ministry, to give him sixty pounds sal- 
 ary yearly so long as he shall continue our minister." 
 
 This was intended to secure his support in sickness and old age, even 
 if he might not be able " to carry on the ministry." 
 
 Mr. Stimpson was ordamed on the 15th of December, 1762, by a 
 Council called by the Proprietors. The Church was formed,at-the time 
 of the meeting of the Council, and probably gave Mr. Stimpson a reg- 
 ular "call." What particulars there are relating to this transactbn, vfill 
 be given in the history of the Church. The committee who acted for 
 the Proprietors were Bartholomew Parsons, Richard Day and Samuel 
 Titus.f 
 
 * It may interest some readers to see the record of the meetings of the Pro- 
 prietors in regard to this subject. Benjamin Goodridge, Abijah Smith, and 
 Philip Goodridge were chosen a committee to let out the meeting-house. 
 They were empowered to see "that the said meeting-house be hewed, framed 
 and raised, the outside boarded, shingled, and clapboarded, window sashes 
 and glass put up, door heads and doors be made, the lower floor be laid, and 
 the frame be underpinned with convenient stones." This action was taken 
 on the 22d of September, 1761. 
 
 A legal meeting of the Proprietors was held at the house of Bichard Day, 
 June 30, 1762, at which Benjamin Goodridge, Bichard Day and Bartholomew 
 Parsons, were chosen a committee to " view and stake out a meeting-house 
 plat."| This committee made the following report : " Laid out five acres of 
 land for a meeting-house, training field and burying yard, on the northwest 
 corner of the lot No. 1, in the south division, beginning at the northwest cor- 
 ner bound, running south 48 rods, on line of said lot, then easterly 16 1-2 rods, 
 then running northerly a parallel line with the west line 48 rods, and then to 
 the place where we began." The Proprietors approved the report, and voted 
 to have the house placed on lot No. 1, instead of lot No. 30, which had been 
 selected for that purpose. The committee were then directed " to build said 
 meeting-house, to raise the house on the plat where they judge most con- 
 venient." 
 
 , tThe proceedings of the Proprietors in regard to this important subject, 
 were as follows, as stated in their Book of Becords. " At a legal meeting of 
 the Proprietors of Ipswich Canada, assembled and met at the house of Mr. 
 Bichard Day, innholder at Ipswich Canada, June 30, 1762, 
 
148 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 The town was incorporated in 1764, and soon assumed tlie duties of 
 a parish, but it is recorded under date of June 24th, 1767, that the 
 Proprietors " voted to pay Rev. Mr. Daniel Stimpson the sum of thirty- 
 seven pounds, five shillings and eight pence." It was manifestly just 
 that the Proprietors, being large landholders, should unite with the town 
 in supporting the ministry. 
 
 In 1765, September 4, there was a sale of pew ground. 
 
 Mr. Stimps'on died of a violent, putrid fever, on the 20th of July, 
 1768, after a ministry of less than six years. The town met the same 
 day and voted " to bear the charges that may arise at the funeral of 
 our deceased pastor ;"' and " that the Bearers be desired to preach one 
 Sabbath day" each. The funeral of Mr. Stimpson was on the 22d, 
 the second day after his decease, and was hastened on account of the 
 intense heat, and the putrescent nature of his disea^. The town paid 
 the charges, and it may gratify a reasonable curiosity to read the bill, 
 which was as follows : 
 
 " To diners for the Bearers, 3s. ; to providing for three £0, 3, 0, 0. 
 
 Ministers two nights and one day, 9s. ; to providing food, 
 
 Three do. one night, and one day, 6s., 
 
 To diging the grave, 4s. ; to three pair of Gloves, 7s. , 2, 2, 
 
 To Brandy, 3s., 7d., Iq. ; to brown sugar, 6s. ; to Loaf 
 
 Sugar, Is., 6d., 
 To two Quarts of Kum, Is., 9, 
 
 0. 
 
 9, 
 
 0, 
 
 0, 
 
 0, 
 
 6. 
 
 0, 
 
 0, 
 
 0, 
 
 11, 
 
 2, 
 
 2, 
 
 0, 
 
 11, 
 
 1, 
 
 1. 
 
 0. 
 
 1, 
 
 9, 
 
 0, 
 
 Voted, That the Proprietors will settle a minister provided the inhabitants 
 can find a man that will settle with them. 
 
 Voted, That the Proprietors will give to Mr. Daniel Stimpson the Minis- 
 ter's Eight [of land] granted by the Court, and £60 of money as a settlemeflt, 
 provided he will settle and perform the office of a gospel minister in the town- 
 ship ; and also to give him £60 salary, so long as he shall carry on the work 
 of the ministry in said township." , 
 
 Nov. 17, " It was put to vote to see if the Proprietors would make any al- 
 teration in their former [action] respecting Mr. Daniel Stimpson's salary. 
 
 Voted, That instead of giving the said Daniel Stimpson sixty pounds salary » » 
 so long as he shall carry on the ministry — to give him sixty pounds yearly so 
 long as he shall continue our minister in said township. 
 
 Voted, That Mr. Daniel Stimpson be ordained the 15th day of December 
 next, and that the church in Weston, the church in Harvard, the church in 
 Lunenburg, and the church in Dorchester Canada, be sent to, to assist in his 
 ordination. 
 
 Voted, That Bartholomew Parsons, Richard Day and Samuel Titus, be a 
 committee to send letters missive to the above-named (Siurches to assist in 
 the ordination of Mr. Daniel Stimpson, in the name of the Proprietors. 
 
 Voted, To allow Richard Day £4 in order to enable him to entertain the 
 Council, and Mr. Stimpson's relations, at his ordination." 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 149 
 
 To several articles from Dr. Taylor's, procured by Mr. Eich- 
 
 ard Pearson, amounting to 2, 17, 11, 1. 
 
 To making a Cofin, 0, 6, 0, 0. 
 
 Total, 5, 06, 0, 0." 
 
 On the 28th of August it was voted " to hire preaching," and then 
 more definitely, " to provide preaching twelve Sabbaths with what may 
 be given to us." 
 
 SECTION 2. — MR. brown's MINISTRY. 
 
 On the 20th of the following November it was voted " to have preach- 
 ing this winter," and also to hear Mr. Joseph Brown " four Sabbaths 
 more." It is probable that he remained here through the winter, for 
 on the 2d day of January, 1769, the town " made choice of Mr. Joseph 
 Brown by a unanftnous vote to settle with us in the ministry." They 
 tten ' 
 
 Voted and granted fifty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence for an 
 encouragement for him to settle with us in the ministry, to be paid as foUow- 
 eth, viz : Sixty-six pounds, thirteen shilling and four pence to be paid at the 
 end of six months from his ordination, and the remaining part to be paid at 
 the end of twelve months from the first payment ; agreeable to tho vote of the 
 church. 
 
 Voted to concur with the vote of the Church to give Mr Joseph Brown fif- 
 ty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence, as salary annually for the space 
 of five years, and at the expiration of the abovesaid term of five years, to give 
 Mr. Joseph Brown sixty pounds annually, until the town of Winchendon in- 
 creaseth to the No. of one hundred families, and then sixty-six pound, thir- 
 teen shilling, and four pence annually so long as he shall continue to be our 
 minister." 
 
 • Besides this offer, the Proprietors had granted, after Mr. Stimpson's 
 
 death, two additional lots of land to aid in the settlement of another min- 
 
 istej. In addition, on the 6th of March, 1769, liberty was granted for 
 
 Mr. Joseph Brown " to be absent two Sabbaths in a year annually." 
 
 At the same time it was voted " to seat the Meetiag-house agreeable to 
 
 the estates both real and personal, having some reference to age." 
 
 The former of these Jast two votes proves that the custom of giving 
 
 ministers two or more Sabbaths yearly, is not of recent origin, as many 
 
 suppose; The last vote reminds us of an age that has forever passed 
 
 away. The custcfm of " seating" the meeting-house was a relio of the 
 
 times when people made much of rank and distinction. It was brought 
 
 from the old country and lingered here nearly two hundred years after 
 
150 HISTOEY OF WINCHENDOK. 
 
 the settlement of Boston. In former times the students in College were 
 not arranged alphabetically, but their names were printed according to 
 the rank in life of their fathers. In " seating" the meeting-houses in 
 towns where there were people of different classes, regard was had to 
 their relative position. Governors were in the first rank, as a matter 
 of course. Then came the Lieut. Governor, Counsellors, Senators, Rep- 
 resentatives, military officers of high rank> Clergymien, Esquires, Gen- 
 tlemen, Yeomen, &c. In a place like Winchendon, such a mode of 
 grading was scarcely possible, and therefore the people took the less in- 
 vidious plan of seating " by estates both real and personal, having some 
 reference to age." In a congregation of farmers it was known who had 
 the largest property, but it would be intolerable to have one set above 
 another on account of siq)posed superior worth. Not personal quali- 
 ities, but the acddent of property, was therefore wiSfely selected as the 
 title to a " higher seat in the synagogue." But this was not all. The 
 people of those times respected gray hairs, and therefore " some refer- 
 ence to age" was observed. 
 
 On the 20th of March, the town voted to have the ordination on the 
 24th of the ensuing May, and granted ^3, 16, to enable Mr. Silas Whit- 
 ney to entertain the Coimcil for Mr. Brown's ordination. The ordina- 
 tion took place accordingly, and the new minister was happily settled, 
 among a united people, and with a comfortable proviaon for his sup- 
 port. " Numerous, accesaons" says Dr. Whiton, " of settlers in the 
 three or four preceding years had increased the numbra* of famihes, it 
 is estimated, to nearly sixty, and the population to- about three hundred 
 and fifty, a number which, accustomed as was that generation to a con- 
 stant and universal attendance on public worship, would farnish a con- 
 gregation by no means inconsiderable. For many years Mr. Brown's 
 connection with the people was harmonious and acceptat^ to both 
 parties." 
 
 SECTION 3. — FIRST MEETING HOrSE. 
 
 In 1771 a proportion to widen the asHeysinthe meeting-house, and 
 to paint the pulpit was negatived. The Minister being now settled, and 
 the people being united in one mode of worship, thergfeiw thing left for 
 history in this line, for severaj years. A few words may be devoted to 
 the first meeting-house. As stated already, a frame was erected near 
 the bilrying-yard, but it was never enclosed and fitted for use. The 
 
HiSTOKY 01' WINCHENDON. 
 
 151 
 
 first iouse of worsl^p was put up on the present Common, near the south- 
 east comer, just north of the road that passes between the site and the 
 house of Mr. Benjamin Wilder. This house was 30 by 45 feet, and 
 the posts were twenty feet high. The house was never painted outside 
 nor inside ; not even the pulpit ; neither was it ceiled or plastered. 
 Clapboards and shingles kept out the cold in*winter to such a degree 
 that the people, with foot-stoves, could continue to Hve through the mom- 
 img service. They then adjourned to the tavern, on the southeast cor- 
 aer of the Common, across the road, or to private houses, where a good 
 fire, some hot drink, and a luncheon, fortified them for the rigors of the 
 afternoon meeting. The floor was covered with benches where the wor- 
 shippers sat as they were " seated" by a committee annually chosen for 
 that purpose. There is no picture of the Meeting-house in existence ; 
 probably never was ; but from the recollections of aged people the sketch 
 below has been made by Mr. Robert Hill, and they agree that it gives 
 
 Tjg|j|>^T*H7 - 
 
 r 
 
 a tolerably correct notion of the external appearance of the first sanctu- 
 ary ever used in Winchendon, for the worship of Almighty God. 
 
 In 1775, at the March meeting, £60 was raised for the Minister, 
 according to the agreement when he was settled. Three years later, 
 measures were taken to make up for him the depreciation of paper. 
 Thus on the 23d of January, 1T78, a committee of five, viz : Dea. 
 
152 HISTORt OP WINCHENDOir. 
 
 Moses Hale, Jacob Hale, John Boynton, Abel Wilder and James Cool-., 
 edge, — ^was cbosen " to draw subscription papers, and see what the peo-, 
 pie will give to Mr. Brown in consideration of the high prices on the 
 necessaries of life." It would seem that the subscription failed, since 
 at an adjourned meeting, when the report of the committee was made, 
 a vote was passed " to wiake some compensation to Mr. Brown by way 
 of a tax." The town granted £50. The next year the town voted 
 " to pay Mr. Brown, £5S, 6, 8, in produce of the farm, labor, &c., 
 at the prices they generally bore in the year 1774 ; Rye at 4s. per 
 bushel, and labor in hay-time at 28., 8, per day ; or so much money as 
 will purchase so much produce and labor." Tbis was going back to the 
 original salary nearly, but when we consider the " hard times," it waa 
 a liberal arrangement. 
 
 In 1783, February 10, the town took action on an -article in the war- 
 rant " to see if the town will vote to exempt those persons from paying 
 taxes to the settled minister in the town who attend Baptist or Friends' 
 meeting." The article was passed over ; but at the March meeting, 
 the question came up again, when it was voted to submit the matter to 
 the judgment of the assessors. One of these petationers was Mr. Jer-' 
 emiah Stuart. This town was always firm in its adherence to the prin-" 
 ciples of civil and reli^aus freedom. 
 
 SEcrrioN 4. — the second meeting housi:. 
 
 > 
 
 1790, March 1. Will the town build a new meeting-'bouse ? j^ay. 
 But a new house must be had, and so the town voted, on the 10th of 
 September, " to build a ne\^ meeting-house in this town." They chose 
 a committee of five " to propose ways and means for said bouse," vi2 : 
 Abel Wilder, Esq., Dea. Moses Hale, Mr. Thomas Graton, Benjamin 
 Hall, Esq., and Dea. Samuel Prentice. The committee were to report 
 to the town at an adjourned meeting. This meeting was held October 
 4, when the report was probably presented. At all events, the town 
 took definite action on the subject ; and as the enterprise was the oc- 
 casion of much feeling and excitement for several years, and further- 
 more as the enlarged church-accommodation furnished by the new house 
 was a source of vast intellectual, moral, social and religious benefit to 
 the inhabitants, the proceedings in relation to its' erection wiU be ^vea 
 
HISTOETf Oi' WINCHBNDOJT. 158 
 
 at Considerable length. At the meeting on the 4th of October, the 
 following votes were passed : 
 
 " Voted, to set the new meeting-house on the meeting-house Common. 
 
 Voted, That said house be 60 feet in length, 50 feet in width, 27 feet posts, 
 and a porch at each end of the houso 10 feet on the house, 14 feet deep. 
 
 Voted 54 pews on the lower floor, and 24 in the^lleiies, and 3 seats on 
 each side below, and 3 in the galleries. 
 
 Voted, That there bo 20 windows, 40 squares in each window, below, and 
 21, 35 squares in each, in the galleries ; the pulpit and gable end windows 
 excepted. 
 
 Voted, That the pews be sold at public vendue to the inhabitants, to pro- 
 cure materials and worlcmefl for building the house : That the purchasers of 
 pews give security for the same to the acceptance of the committee. 
 
 Voted, That the materials be divided into small lots, and let out to those 
 persons who will procure the same the cheapest. 
 
 Voted, That the frame be raised in the fore part of the season in the year 
 1792. 
 
 Voted, That the materials for building be delivered at such time and place, 
 as the committee for building the meeting-house shall direct. 
 
 Voted, To choose a committee to see to the building of said house. 
 , Voted, The committee to consist of three persons. 
 
 Voted, and chose Abel Wilder, Esq., Mr. Thomas Graton and Benjamin 
 Hall, Esq., for the above committee." 
 
 Another meeting was held, November 1, when farther action was 
 taken as given below. 
 
 " Voted To reserve one pew in Said house for a ministerial pew. 
 
 Voted, Pew west of the pulpit, next to it, for a ministerial pew. 
 
 Voted, To choose a committee of three persons to pitch upon a spot to set 
 the new meeting-house upon. 
 
 Voted and chose Mr. James Steel, Dea. Moses Hale, and Doct. Ziba Hall 
 for the above committee. 
 
 Voted, To set the south side of the new meeting-house 30 feet north of the 
 north side of the old meeting-house. 
 
 Voted) To accept of the plan of said house that the committee has drafted 
 and laid before the town. 
 
 Voted, and accepted the conditions of the sale of the pews the committee 
 has proposed." 
 
 The sale of the pews as they were arranged in the draft or plan then 
 took place, and it cannot fail to be interesting to all the children and 
 
154 
 
 aiSTOKT OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 descendants of the purchasers to read the record of the sale. It is in 
 these words : 
 
 " 1790, Nov. 1. At a vendue held for the sale of the pews in the meet- 
 ing-house voted to be built at a meeting held September 10, 1790, at the 
 meeting-house in Winchendon aforesaid, the pews were sold as follows, viz : 
 No. 
 
 1, 
 
 struck off to Capt. Daniel Hubbard, 
 
 for forty 
 
 dollars 
 
 2, 
 
 tt 
 
 Abner Curtice, 
 
 " seventy-one 
 
 (1 
 
 3, 
 
 it 
 
 Dea. Moses Hale, 
 
 " forty-one 
 
 
 4, 
 
 (1 
 
 (( (( 
 
 " thirty-nine 
 
 t< 
 
 5, 
 
 tt 
 
 Benjamin Hall, Esq., 
 
 " forty 
 
 
 6. 
 
 it 
 
 Dr. Ziba Hall, 
 
 " forty 
 
 
 7, 
 
 ti 
 
 Dea. Levi Moor. 
 
 " thirty eight 
 
 
 8, 
 
 li 
 
 Lieut. Jacob B. Woodbury. 
 
 " thirty-seven 
 
 
 9. 
 
 It 
 
 Samuel Crosby, Esq., 
 
 " forty 
 
 
 10, 
 
 it 
 
 Bemsly Lord, 
 
 " thirty-nine 
 
 
 11, 
 
 (( 
 
 David Stoddard, 
 
 " forty 
 
 
 12. 
 
 tt 
 
 Jacob Hale, 
 
 " thirty-six 
 
 
 13, 
 
 tt 
 
 Samuel Crosby, Esq., 
 
 " thirty-nine 
 
 
 14, 
 
 tt 
 
 Benjamin Brown, 
 
 " forty 
 
 
 15, 
 
 tt 
 
 Capt. Joseph Wilder 
 
 tt tt 
 
 
 16. 
 
 tt 
 
 James Hall, 
 
 << « 
 
 
 17. 
 
 ti 
 
 Samuel Brown, 
 
 *( (( 
 
 
 18. 
 
 tt 
 
 Amos Hale, 
 
 " thirty-nine 
 
 
 19. 
 
 tt 
 
 James Stoddard, 
 
 " forty • 
 
 
 20, 
 
 tt 
 
 Lieut. David Poor, 
 
 ft tt 
 
 
 21. 
 
 (( 
 
 Koger Bigelow, 
 
 " thirty-eight 
 
 
 22, 
 
 ti 
 
 Abel Jones, 
 
 " thirty-six 
 
 
 23, 
 
 tt 
 
 John Goodhue, 
 
 " thirty-seven 
 
 
 24, 
 
 tt 
 
 Jesse Ellis, 
 
 " thirty-eight 
 
 
 25, 
 
 tt 
 
 Paul Kaymond, Jr., 
 
 " forty 
 
 
 26, 
 
 tt 
 
 Eliphalet Groodridge, 
 
 " thirty-nine 
 
 
 27, 
 
 tt 
 
 David Smith and 
 
 
 
 
 
 Thomas Grreenwood, 
 
 tt It 
 
 
 28, 
 
 tt 
 
 James MoElwain, 
 
 " forty-one 
 
 
 29, 
 
 tt 
 
 Joseph Sweetzer, 
 
 tt tt 
 
 
 30, 
 
 tt 
 
 Assigned by the town for a Ministerial pew. 
 
 
 31. 
 
 Struck off to William Whitney, 
 
 for sixty-two dollars. 
 
 32, 
 
 tt 
 
 Joseph Sweetzer, 
 
 " forty-one 
 
 tt 
 
 33, 
 
 tt 
 
 Dea. Moses Hale, 
 
 " forty-seven 
 
 ^i 
 
 34. 
 
 tt 
 
 Eev. Mr. Brown, 
 
 " forty-five 
 
 f( 
 
 35. 
 
 tt 
 
 Thomas Graton, 
 
 " thirty-eight 
 
 ti 
 
 86, 
 
 t« 
 
 Francis Goodhue and 
 
 
 
 
 
 Francis Goodhue, Jr., 
 
 " thirty-seven 
 
 it 
 
 37, 
 
 tt 
 
 Ensign Adonijah Bixby, and 
 
 
 
 
 
 Amos Heywood, 
 
 " thirty-five 
 
 tt 
 
 88, 
 
 tt 
 
 James Payson, 
 
 " forty 
 
 It 
 
 39, 
 
 tt 
 
 Dea. Samuel Prentice and 
 
 
 
 
 
 Samuel Prentice, Jr., 
 
 (( *e 
 
 tt 
 
 40, 
 
 tt 
 
 Jeremiah Lord, 
 
 ** thirty-nine 
 
 it 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 155 
 
 No. 41, struck off to Lieut. John Burr, 
 
 for thirty-nine dollars. 
 
 " 42, 
 
 11 
 
 Bill Hancock, 
 
 " thirty-eight " 
 
 " 43, 
 
 It 
 
 Daniel Goodriclge, 
 
 " forty-two " 
 
 " 44, 
 
 (( 
 
 Dr. Israel Whiton, 
 
 " forty-nine " 
 
 " 45, 
 
 (( 
 
 Lieut. Joseph Boynton, 
 
 " fifty 
 
 " 46, 
 
 11 
 
 Abel Wilder, 
 
 tt tt tt 
 
 " 47, 
 
 <( 
 
 Desire Tolman, 
 
 " forty 
 
 " 48, 
 
 11 
 
 Abner Curtice, Jr.. 
 
 " thirty-six " 
 
 " 49, 
 
 (( 
 
 Benjamin Hall, Esq., 
 
 tl It tt 
 
 " 50, 
 
 it 
 
 Isaac Noyes, 
 
 " thirty-eight " 
 
 " 51, 
 
 c( 
 
 Josiah Bruce, 
 
 tt ft ft 
 
 " 52, 
 
 (( 
 
 Daniel Goodridge, 
 
 ft tt tf 
 
 " 53, 
 
 It 
 
 Capt. Paul Boynton, 
 
 ft ft ft 
 
 " 54, 
 
 (1 
 
 . Amos Merriam, 
 
 THE GALLERY PEWS. 
 
 " forty " 
 
 No. 1, 
 
 (1 
 
 Dea. Moses Hale, 
 
 " twenty-four " 
 
 " 2, 
 
 (C 
 
 Abel Wilder, Jr.. 
 
 " seventeen " 
 
 " 3, 
 
 l( 
 
 Samuel P. Goodridge, 
 
 " sixteen " 
 
 " 4, 
 
 tt 
 
 George»#ofBn, 
 Lemuel Hey wood. 
 
 " fifteen 
 
 " 5. 
 
 (t 
 
 tl It tt 
 
 " 6, 
 
 tl 
 
 Thomas Graton and 
 
 
 
 
 Francis Goodhue, Jr., 
 
 " fourteen " 
 
 " 7, 
 
 tl 
 
 Samuel Crosby, Esq., 
 
 " twelve 
 
 " 8, 
 
 tt 
 
 Dea. Moses Hale, 
 
 " twenty-two '■' 
 
 " 9, 
 
 tt 
 
 Abel Brown, 
 
 " thirteen 
 
 " 10, 
 
 It 
 
 Thomas Wyman, 
 
 " fifteen 
 
 " 11, 
 
 tt 
 
 Ziba Hall and Thomas Wilder, 
 
 " fifteen 
 
 " 12, 
 
 *l 
 
 Dea. Moses Hale, 
 
 " sixteen " 
 
 " 13, 
 
 ic 
 
 Joseph Sweetzer, 
 
 ft ti tt 
 
 " 14, . 
 
 t( 
 
 Dea. Moses Hale, 
 
 " twelve 
 
 " 15, 
 
 (( 
 
 Levi DivoU, 
 
 " fifteen 
 
 " 16, 
 
 (( 
 
 John Burr, 
 
 " fourteen " 
 
 " 17, 
 
 tt 
 
 Dea. Moses Hale, 
 
 " seventeen " 
 
 " 18. 
 
 (t 
 
 Josiah Bruce, 
 
 " thirteen " 
 
 " 19, 
 
 (( 
 
 Jedediah Tuttle, 
 
 " fourteen " 
 
 " 20, 
 
 tt 
 
 Daniel Day, 
 
 " thirteen 
 
 " 21, 
 
 tt 
 
 Joseph Sweetzer, 
 
 " fourteen " 
 
 " 22, 
 
 " 
 
 tt tt 
 
 " twenty-one " 
 
 " 23, 
 
 (1 
 
 Jeremiah Stuart, Jr., 
 
 " thirteen " 
 
 " 24. 
 
 (( 
 
 Benjamin Hall, Esq., 
 
 " nineteen " 
 
 
 
 Abel Wiidbb, ) 
 
 
 
 Thomas Graton, >- Oommiiiee. 
 
 
 
 Benjamin Hall, ) 
 
 Voted to establish and confirm the pews mentioned in the foregoing report. 
 
 to the purchasers 
 
 whose names are thereunto annexed, and to their heirs and 
 
 assigns forever." 
 
 
 
156 . HISTORY OF WINCHENBON. 
 
 The following were fixed as the " Conditions of Sale." 
 
 " Each person who hicls off a pew must give security for the sum the pew 
 sells for, with sufficient hondsmen ; two shillings and six pence on the pound 
 to be paid in cash on or before the first of November, 1791 ; the remainder 
 to be paid in materials or in pay of the workmen, provided the materials are 
 procured and delivered agreeable to the vote of the town ; the securityto be 
 given immediately upon the sale ; or fifteen shillings paid down in cash, or a 
 note on demand as earnest, and the securities to be given on a day the com- 
 mittee shall appoint for the remainder. The above conditions was accepted 
 by the town." 
 
 " Voted and accepted of the form of the note the committee laid before the 
 town — the purchasers of pews have signed — which form is as follows : 
 
 WiscHENDON, November first, 1790. 
 For value received, we, the subscribers, jointly and severally promise the 
 inhabitants of the town of Winchendon, to pay them ■ pounds in materi- 
 als for building a meeting-house, or in pay of the workmen to be on demand 
 after ten months from the date hereof. Witness our 'hands." 
 
 On the 29th of November, a meeting was held, when the town "voted 
 and accepted the conditions of sale the committee has draughted for 
 the materials." They also appointed Dea. Moses Hale for the " ven- 
 due master," and voted that the " posts of said meeting-house be 28 
 feet in length ; and that there be 40 squares of glass in each window." 
 Oa the 20th of December, it was voted "to have banisters in the pews," 
 and that " the committee shall procure the glass." 
 
 On the 9th of May, 1791, the town accepted and approved the sale 
 of the pews made in the preceding November. At a meeting, Novem- 
 ber 7, the town voted " to agree with some person or persons to make 
 provision for the raisers to raise the meeting-house," and granted £30 
 to pay the expense. Then voted "that the committee for building the 
 house let out to the lowest bidder the provision for the raising the new 
 meeting-house." 
 
 LOCATION OF THE HOUSE. 
 
 The town now encountered a difficulty which caused great division 
 and heart-burning. The question of location had been settled once, 
 but a large party were dissatisfied, and made strenuous opposition. 
 Those who lived south of the old spot were unwilling to place the new 
 house very far north of the old site, while those living north contended 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON, 157 
 
 for a spot nearer tlie northern end of the Common. The contest broke 
 out at a meeting on the 21st of November, 1791, when it was 
 
 "Voted to re-consider a vote passe|3 in a former meeting, November 1, 
 1790, which was to set the south side of the new meeting-house 30 feet north 
 of the north side of the old meeting-house. Yeas, 47 ; nays; 25. 
 
 Voted to choose a committee of seven persons to pitch upon a spot to set 
 the meeting-house upon, and report at the adjournment of this meeting. 
 
 Voted and chose Abel Wilder, Esq., Dea. Samuel Prentice, Doct. Ziba 
 Hall, Lieut. John Burr, Mr. Thomas Grraton, Mr. James Steel, and Samuel 
 Crosby, Esq., for the above committee." 
 
 Dea. Hale, indignant at this vote, resigned being moderator, and • 
 Dea. Samuel Prentice was chosen moderator in his stead. The meet- 
 ing was adjourned to Thursday, when the town then met, and " voted 
 and accepted of the report of the committee," which is as follows, viz : 
 
 " WiNCHENDON, Nov. 24, 1791. 
 The committee appointed on the 21 o&this instant, to view and report the 
 most convenient spot to build a meeting-house upon, have attended that ser- 
 vice, and a majority of that committee agree that the meeting-house be set 
 one hundred and twenty feet south of Luther Stimson's* house, and thirty- 
 one feet east of the stone wall by Mr. Brown's garden. 
 By order of the committee, 
 
 Abel Wilder, Uhairman." 
 
 On the 26th of December, the town rnet again, and voted " to choose 
 a committee of six persons to review and pitch upon a spot to set the 
 new meeting-house, and report at the adjournment of this meeting." 
 The following are the names of the committee, viz : Abel Wilder, Esq., 
 Dea. Moses Hale, Samuel Crosby, Esq., Mr. William Whitney, Ben- 
 jamin Hall, Esq., and Dea. Samuel Prentice. 
 
 After several unimportant meetings, the town met according to ad- 
 journment, on the third of May, 1792, and voted to adjourn the meet- 
 ing for half an hour for the purpose of viewing the northerly part of 
 the Common, in order to see if the town could agree, unanimously, 
 upon a spot of ground to set the new meeting-house upon. After taking 
 a view, the town met again ; and after some debate,' it was tried by a 
 vote to see if the town would re-consider the vote passed at a former 
 meeting respecting placing the meeting-housO in the northerly part of 
 
 ♦Stimson's house was at the north end. 
 
158 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 the Common. The motion failed. Then it was voted that the select- 
 men should purchase a " barrel of West India rum, and a quantity of 
 sugar sufficient to make it into toddy, and that it be expended partly 
 upon the men that assist the day preceding the day set for raising the 
 meeting-house,. in laying the timber in order for raising; and the 
 remaining part upon the people that attend as spectators at the raising, 
 and that the selectmen see that it is properly dealt out." A vote was 
 then passed to allow. Ensign David Rice a " sum of money over and 
 above what he was heretofore agreed with to provide for those persons 
 who raise the meeting-house ; the sum to be determined by the rise of 
 West India articles since said Rice agreed to make provision for the 
 raising." 
 
 It was then voted that the committee " for building said house, shall 
 not receive any stuff for said house of those persons who agreed to pro- 
 cure it, after the 20th day of May current, and that the committee 
 purchase seasoned stuff after that time in the best manner they can, if 
 any is wanted." * 
 
 At an adjourned meeting held on the 7th of May, the contest re- 
 specting the location of the house was renewed, and after some debate, 
 it was put " to see if the town would agree to set the meeting-house 
 three rods southerly from the place lately agreed upon to build said 
 house." The town voted to re-consider their vote for placing the 
 house one hundred and twenty feet from the north side of the Com- 
 mon, and then voted to set the north side of the house one hundred 
 and seventy feet from the north line of the Common ; and " that the 
 east end of said house should stand nearly on a ridge that was made 
 by .the east side of the field." The following citations give signs of 
 returning harmony. 
 
 "May 31. The town met according to adjournment, and voted to choose 
 a committee of three persons to use their endeavors to settle matters of diffi- 
 culty respecting the meeting-house. Messrs. Thomas Graton, Amos Hey- 
 wood, and James Steel were chosen for said purpose. Then thej meeting was 
 adjourned for one hour. The town met according to adjournment, and the 
 committee reported verbally that proposals were made for accommodation." 
 
 The meeting adjourned to June 15, but the house was raised before , 
 that date, as appears by the following. 
 
 June 15th. The town met according to adjournment, and after some' de- 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 159 
 
 bate, Toted that the committee for building the meeting-house jpurchase such 
 articles as are necessary to finish said house, in the best way and manner they 
 can, and go on with the work us soon as may be with convenien.ce. Then voted 
 that the time for bringing in materials for finishing said house, except clear 
 boards for inside work not seasoned, be lengthened out until the twenty-fifth 
 of June current ; boards for lathing to be received until July tenth, of those 
 persons who agreed to find materials. 
 
 The town voted that the committee have leave to alter the plan of the pul- 
 pit stairs as they shall think will be best ; and that Ensign David Kice be 
 allowed for entertaining eleven men on the day the meeting house was raised 
 over and above the 1 00 men he agreed to provide for, and that he be allowed 
 in the same proportion for the eleven men as for the one hundred ; and also 
 that he be allowed 16s, 8d, for what he found for those persons who belonged 
 out of town, and assisted the second day in raising the roof of the meeting 
 house." 
 
 The following citations show the progress of the work, and the an- 
 cient way of dong thin^. 
 
 " September 5. The town met according to adjournment, and granted the 
 sum of one hundred and fifty pounds in addition to the money raised by the 
 sale of pew ground, to defray the charge of building the meeting house in said 
 town. Adjourned to October 24th, and then to the 29th, when it was voted 
 that the £150 granted the fifth day of September last, be paid into the treas- 
 ury on or before the first day of January next. Adjourned to the first Mon- 
 day in September," when the town met and made choice of Lieut. John Burr 
 a committee-man for finishing the meeting-house in the room of the Hon. Abel 
 Wilder,* deceased." Dec. 17, "Met according to adjournment, and voted 
 that the Treasurer be directed to receive the meeting-house committee orders 
 to the amount of £150. Then voted to sell the refuse. boards, stone drags, 
 old casks &c., that belong to the town that were left at the new meeting-house 
 at public vendue. Then voted that the first day of January, 1793, be the 
 day to dedicate the new meeting-house. Then voted that the three deacons, 
 Hale, Prentice and Moor, be a committee to inform the Eev. Joseph Brown 
 [of] the proceedings of the town respecting dismissing the old meeting-house 
 and dedicating the new one. Adjourned to the last day of the year, at 12 
 o'clock, on the spot of ground where the old meeting-house stood, and ad- 
 journed the meeting into Mr. McElwain's east room, and then met there and 
 adjourned for half an hour— for the purpose of viewing the new meeting-hq^ge. 
 — Then met again and voted to accept the new meeting-house. 
 
 *His decease occurred on the first day of Novemb er. 
 
160 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 Then, at the request of various parties, certain pews were transferred. Then 
 voted that two pews in the gallery that were struck off to Dea. Moses Hale, 
 viz : No. 17 and No. 8, be transferred to Lieut. John Burr ; and that there- 
 upon all matters of difficulty heretofore subsisting between the town and said 
 Hale, and any individuals in the town concerning the now meeting-house, 
 shall subside, upon condition that the persons who have purchased pews in 
 said house, pay for the same in a reasonable time. 
 
 Then voted that the singers have the whole of the front gallery on the day 
 set for the dedication flf said house, and after that to have one-half the front 
 gallery — ^both men's and women's seats — next the alley, taking half of each 
 seat until the further order of the town." 
 
 Going back a little in date, we will finish up the business of dispos- 
 ing of the old meeting-house, and wharfing the new one. In 1792, 
 September 5, the town voted to build a wall and wharf round the new 
 meeting-house, by a tax. A grant of one hundred pounds was made 
 to defray the charge thereof, which was to be worked out at the follow- 
 ing rates, viz : " 4d. an hour for man's labor, 2 l-2d. an hour for a yoke 
 of oxen ; 1 l-2d. per hour for a cart ; 4 l-2d. an hour for a plow that 
 will hold ten oxen." It was voted at the same time, to purchase " four 
 stone drags, so called, for the use of the town." On the 24th of Sep- 
 tember, a committee was raised, and then a vote was passed, " that the 
 aforesaid committee may plow the highest part of the Common, and dig 
 stone thereon as they think proper, and that they may take away as 
 much of the underpinning of the old meeting-house as they can and not 
 injure the house ; the work to be begun on the 8th day, and finished 
 on the 27th day of October." October 29, it was voted to sell the old 
 meeting-house, at public vendue, in lots. On the 2d of November it 
 was voted " that those persons who purchase the old meeting-house, 
 may take it down as soon as the new one is fit to meet in ;" and the 
 committee were authorized to sell it for what any one would give, at 
 private sale. 
 
 At a meeting held on the 17th of December, it was voted to " ^ve 
 the Rev. Joseph Brown the pulpit, the ministerial pew, the pulpit 
 stairs, the deacons seat and the canopy." The committee for report- 
 ing the conditions of sale of the old meeting-house, — viz : Dea. Sam- 
 uel|^rentice, Mr. Thomas Graton and Lieut. Joseph Boynton, — ^were 
 empowered to sell the same ; Dea. Moses Hale to be vendue master, 
 and " the vendue to begin at one quarter of an hour past one o'clock, 
 
t.- ■■'! I 
 
 
ll^M. 
 
BISTORT OF WINCHENDON. 161 
 
 tills afternoon." After the sale, the meeting adjourned to December 
 24, when at 2 o'clock it met in Mr. McElwain's east room, and voted 
 " that the whole of the proceeds of the sale of the old meeting-house, 
 together with the refuse stuff of the new meeting-house, and all the ma- 
 terial belonging to the town that was sold at public vendue, be appro- 
 priated to the payment of the cost of building the new meeting-house." 
 It was then voted to " sell the surface of the earth under the old meet- 
 ing-house to the highest bidder, the purchaser to take away such a quan- 
 tity as he pleased at any time before the first day of May next." It 
 was sold to James McElwain " for 9 shillings," and he doubtless col- 
 lected all the saltpetre from it that his methods allowed. Adjourned 
 to the last day of 1792, when the " old meeting-house meeting" was 
 dissolved. ^ 
 
 A brief extract from the papers of Di*. Whiton, will appropriately, 
 close the account of the locating and dedicating the new meeting-house. 
 " The whole affair was an illustration of the tenacity with which men 
 will cling to a very trifling interest when their feelings become aroused. 
 On the 24th and 25th of May the frame was raised. Then, or very 
 soon after, one of the workmpn, a Mr. French of Rindge, fell from the 
 roof, broke several bones, vas dangerously injured, butfinally recovered. 
 The house, thought at the time, an elegant and tasteful edifice, with no 
 steeple, but porches at the ends, was dedicated the first day of the next 
 January, the Rev. Mr. Brown, the pastor, preaching the dedication ser- 
 mon. I well remember my boyish impressions, that the pamting and , 
 ornamental work of the pulpit, and of the old-fashioned appendage to 
 it, the canopy, over the head of the minister, could not fall much short 
 of the glory of Solomon's Temple." The author well remembers the 
 interior of that ancient house as it appeared to his half-bewildered eyes, 
 on the first Sabbath of May, 1843, when he walked up the middle aisle, 
 and cork-screwed his way up the pulpit stairs. Nothing but the solem- 
 nity of the occasion could have repressed the smile that such architec- 
 ture, painting and ornamentation was fitted to excite ! 
 
 The house was now erected and dedicated. It was a well-built house, 
 made of the best materials, and large "enough to seat about six hundred 
 people, old and young. A few items of b^iness more will complete the 
 record. They are as follows : 
 
 1793, March 6, " Voted and directed the meeting-house committee to pur- 
 
 11 
 
162 HISTOKT OF WINCHEKDOIf. 
 
 chase hooks and staples to hook down all the meeting-house windows that haw 
 weights to them. Also directed the said committee to line the inside of the ban- 
 isters [balusters] of the pulpit with boards and paint the outside green." Ad- 
 journed to the 6rst Monday in April, and then Voted ' ' that the comujittee for 
 building the meeting-house, be requested to lay before the town at the May 
 meeting, a Statement of the sums they have received by the sale of the pews j 
 also by a sum raised by the sale of the old meetiDg-house and ground under said 
 old house ; and also by the sale of all the refuse stuff which was left of the new 
 meeting-bouse : and also by way of a tax, and any other way by which they 
 have received money. And also that said eommittee be requested to lay be- 
 fore the town a statement of what has been expended in the building of said 
 house." 
 
 " After several meetings and adjburnnsents, the town met on the Gith of Jan- 
 uary, 1794, and directed<the meeting-ho«se committee to mend or make the 
 gallery doors according to their directioD." 
 
 The meeting was then adjourned to March 3 ; then to A jail 7 ; then to May 
 5 ; then to May 28, when Mr. Amos Heywood was chosen Moderator " pro- 
 temporary ;" then to September 3, when it was voted that the Selectmen give 
 the meeting-house committee orders to draw nine pounds out of the town treas- 
 ury, to enable them to make a final settlement with the town, they to be ac- 
 countable to the town for the same at their settlement. Then adjourned to No- 
 vember 3, and then to November 21, 1794, when the towa voted and dis- 
 solved the " meeting-house meeting." 
 
 At a meeting of the town on the 21st of November, 1794, " called in part, 
 for the purpose of settling with the meeting-house eommittee. Voted and ac- 
 cepted of the meeting-house committee account, which is as follows : 
 committee's account. 
 
 " Cost of the Meeting House, £889, 10s., 9d. 
 
 Committee Service, £57, 14s., 6d.— £947, 5s., Sci. 
 
 Received of pew money, £766, 4, 0. 
 
 Old Meeting House, £28, 2, 1. 
 
 Refuse Stuff, £4, 10, 7. 
 
 Tax, • £150, 0, 0.— £948. 16, 8. 
 
 The above account is the report of the committee appointed to build the 
 meeting-house. 
 
 ThoS. Gkaton, ) Committee far huild- 
 Benjamin H'all, ) ing said house." 
 Sambel Prentice, Moderator. 
 A true copy. Attest, Moses Hale, Town Ckrk." 
 
 To this account may properly be appended the following item from 
 the Records, showing as it does the idiosyncrasy of an individual, and 
 
HISTOEY OF WINCHENDON. 163 
 
 proving the general unison of religious sentiment in the town up to this 
 time. " Jeremiah Stuart's part of the tax for building a meeting-house 
 was abated." He claimed to be a Quaker. 
 
 SECTION 5. — TSB minister's SALARY. — DEVOTIONAL MUSIC. 
 
 A few incidents claim insertion here before we come to the great con- 
 test which resulted in the dismission of the minister, the Rev. Mr. Brown. 
 
 In 1794, it was voted in town meeting, " to make an addition of thir- 
 teen pounds, six shillings and eight pence to the Rev. Mr. Joseph 
 Brown's salary yearly so long as he carries on the work of the gospel 
 ministry in this church and congregation." 
 
 There was a natural desire for a new and better collection of devotion- 
 al poetry, to be used in public worship. The matter was brought up 
 in a meeting held on the 3d of September; but 'it was passed over. 
 But on the 21st of November, the subject came up again, when it was 
 " voted to desire the church to introduce Dr. Watts' version of the 
 Psalms and Hymns, to be sung in the congregation." 
 
 In 1796, May 5. " Voted to have a bass-viol used in the meeting- 
 house on Sundays, in aid to the performaribe of music in the time of 
 divine service." 
 
 These last two votes denoted a revolution in the public taste. The 
 old Hymns were forced to give way to the more elegant and poetic verse 
 of the sainted Watts, and the pitch-pipe was superseded by viols where 
 an organ could not be obtained. Each change cost a struggle, and left 
 hard feelings in the breasts of many. The violent agitation in regard 
 to the location of the new meeting-house, the excitement attendant up- 
 on the introduction of the new Psalm and Hymn Book, and the bass- 
 viol, followed by the long and bitter contention which led to the dismis- 
 sal of Mr. Brown, doubtless alienated many, some of whom thereafter 
 neglected public worship, while others were prepared to enter into new 
 religious societies which, in a few years, came into existence. 
 
 SECTION 6. — THE TOWN'S QUARREL WITH MR. BROWN. 
 
 According to Dr. Whiton', dissatisfaction with Mr. Brown began to 
 be felt and expressed in the year 1796, though nothing in relation to 
 the matter is found on the Records prior to 1798. In the words of the 
 Dr. : " prior to 1796, the connection of Mr. Brown with the people as 
 town's minister, had been attended with peace and harmony. At this 
 
164 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOK, 
 
 time some dissatisfaction arose, increased, and led to a mataal Eccle- 
 siastical Council in October, composed of the churches in Lexington, 
 Sudbury, Lunenburg, Berlin, and the first church in Worcester, before 
 which body his opponents proposed some charges against him ; not how- 
 ever with an expectation of effecting his dismission, but of obtaining some 
 concessions. Acquitting Mr. Brown of any serious delinquency, the 
 Council yet declared him open in some instances to the imputation, of 
 imprudence ; but advised the parties to conciliation ; and the result was 
 accepted by both parties." 
 
 " The calm that succeeded," says Dr. Whiton, "was- of short dura- 
 tion ; busy tongues were not easily restrained ; the parties did not cease 
 from talking over past difiSculties ; feelings became again chafed in 
 1798 ; indeed, from the beginning of 1797 to 1800', the controversy 
 between Mr. Brown and his people, formed the chief topic of conver- 
 sation in all Winchendon circles. • A majority of the town became ar- 
 rayed ^against the minister, while a small majority of the church de- 
 clared themselves in his favor." The causes of dissatisfaction are most- 
 ly obscured or lost in the lapse of time. The alleged causes were main- 
 ly such as grow out of a Hasty temper and imprudent speech. Per- 
 haps there was some feeling that the ministerVas not thoroughly sound 
 in doctrine, as it is said by aged persons that he belonged to the class 
 of Congregational ministers who were termed Arminian in those days. 
 Tradition moreover gives a more romantic version of the story. It is 
 said that a prominent actor in the scenes, had been at one time atten- 
 tive to a daughter of the minister ; but that finding one possessed of 
 greater charms, in his estimation-, in the person of a daughter of a lead- 
 ing member of the parish, he deserted the one for the other. This is 
 the egg, according to the traditional gossip of old times, which in after 
 years, was hatched, and became the source of alienation, and finally in- 
 volved the whole town in a violent quarrel. It is the old story of "spre- 
 tcR injuria formcB^^ and is so natural that it may possibly contain some 
 
 grains of fact. 
 
 But whatever was the occasion or cause of the difficulty, it went for- 
 ward to its results with unabated violence. The first entry on the Rec- 
 ords, bearing on the subject, is found under date of June 27, 1798, 
 when we find an article in the warrant, in the words following : " to 
 see if the town will grant any sum of money, to defray the cost, or any 
 part thereof, that may arise in consequence of any proper and suitable 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 165 
 
 measures that may be taken in order to bring about a settlement of the 
 unhappy difficulties which are subsisting among us." We have no record 
 of what was done by the parties during the ensuing nine months, but in 
 March, 1799, at the annual meeting on the 4th of the month, the " sense 
 of the town" was taken on the following article in the warrant : " wheth- 
 er in their opinion, the Reverend Joseph Erown's usefulness as a teach- 
 er of piety, rehgion and morality, be at an end in this place or not ?" 
 by polling the house, and sixty-four voted, that in their opinion, the 
 Rev. Joseph Brown's usefulness in this place was at an end, and forty 
 voted on the contrary side. " Then the town voted to choose a commit- 
 tee of five persons to wait on the Rev. Joseph Brown, and inform him 
 of the vote, and confer with him on the subject ; and Doctor Israel 
 Whiton, Deacon Samuel Prentice, Mr. Ezra Hyde, Capt. David Rice, 
 and Mr. John Perley, were chosen." 
 
 We have no report from this committee of their interview with Mr. 
 Brown ; but that it was not satisfactory to them or the town, may be 
 inferred from the following action relative to the subject in hand. At 
 a meeting held on the 1st of April, 1799, there was an article in the 
 warrant as follows : 
 
 " To see if the town will vote for thfi dismission of the Rev. Joseph Brown 
 from the work of the gospel ministry in this place from this time henceforth, for- 
 ever. Upon a decision, by polling, 48 voted for the dismission of the Rev. 
 Joseph Brown, and thirty-four on the contrary side. Chose a committee of the 
 town to act in concert with the churckrcspecting the dismission of Mr. Brown." 
 On the 6th of May the town voted the usual salary to the minister, and then 
 voted that they " would not hire the Rev. Joseph Brown any longer after the 
 18th day of March next as their minister." The Selectmen to furnish him 
 with a copy of the vote. "Then the mind of the town was taken upon an article 
 expressed as follows, namely, to see if the town will express their minds with 
 regajd to joining with the church in requesting a council consisting of neigh- 
 bonr churches, to bring about a dismission of the Rev.' Joseph Brown from 
 his pastoral relation to this church and people in a regular way, and to look 
 into his character agreeable to his wish, as expressed in a paper he sent to the 
 town dated March 4, 1799. Then the town instructed said committee to fur- 
 nish Mr. Brown with a copy of the vote concerning a council, wliieh vote, af- 
 ter being read passed in the affirmative." 
 
 The following action on the 29th of May evinces the regard which 
 the fathers of the town had for ecclesiasikal order. 
 
 " Whereas doubts have arisen in the minds of many persons respecting the 
 
166 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOBT. 
 
 intentions of tbe town in voting not <o hire the Kev. Joseph Brown as their 
 minister after the 18th day of March next, and that the town will concur with 
 the church in calling in an ecnlesiastical council for his dismission from the 
 church and people in this place, therefore voted that it is tbe sense of this town, 
 that an ecclesiastical council is the proper authority to order into and depose 
 a minister from his office, and that the town, by voting to concur with the church 
 in calling a council, intended a recognition of occlesiastieal order and regu- 
 larity." 
 
 The town then voted that in case a ministerial conndl could be ob- 
 tained on reasonable terms, for Mr. Brown's dismission, that the town 
 would concur with the aggrieved brethren of the church in calling a 
 council of neighboring churches for the same purpose. They then chose 
 five persons, viz: the Selectmen for the time being, a committee " to 
 transact and negotiate with the church, or the aggrieved brethren of the 
 church, as tbe case may be in all necessary matters relative to said 
 council." 
 
 At a preceding meeting, held on the 6th of May, the town took ac- 
 tion as follows, according to the Records. 
 
 "The following was voted at a legal town meeting of the inhabitants of the town 
 of Winchendon. as reasons for giving it as their opinion that the Eev. Mr. 
 Brown's usefulness is at an end in tins place, viz : Whereas the ilev. Mr. 
 Brown, in an address to the town on the fourteenth day of March, expressed 
 a desire that the town would give some reasons for their opinion that his use- 
 fulness as a preacher of tbe gpspcl was at an end in this place, they offer the 
 following, viz : 1st, That by his tmeiemplary and indiscreet behavior both in 
 his conduct and conversation, he has created distrust, aud destroyed that confi- 
 dence which is so essential for a preacher of the gospel to retain in order to give 
 efficacy to his ministerial labor, and so necessary for a people to have in one 
 whom they are to consider as their spiritual guide, a messenger of truth, and 
 a director in the important matters of religion. 2dly, His indulging himself 
 in the injurious and unchristian practice of slandering, and bis evident disre- 
 gard for the trath, tending to derogate from tlie dignity of his sacred office, and 
 consequently, to lessen that reverential respect due to religion, especially in 
 the tender minds of the rising generation. Sdly, That he does not practise 
 those things which make for peace, but on the contrary, by practising fraud 
 and deception, keeps up disturbances in the church, especially in his official 
 conduct in the late case of Samuel Crosby, Esq., all of which operate to the 
 injury and disturbance of the town, consequently are deemed sufficient rea- 
 sons to justify them in giving their opinion that his usefulness as a teacher of 
 
lE®m.MMSmmAiS JEzM^ 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 167 
 
 piety, religion and morality is at an end in this place ; and the town are ready, 
 if required, to substantiate the foregoing reasons, by adverting to particulars, 
 and making prtof thereof. Voted that the committee should furnish Mr. Brown 
 with a copy of the foregoing." 
 
 PROCBEDIXQS OP THE COUNCIL. 
 
 According to the proposals in the proceedings of the town, cited_ 
 above, a council was held ia September. No copy of the result of this 
 body is to he found in the Records, or in the papers in the custody 
 of the town clerk. If the Church Records ever contained a copy, it 
 was carried away or destroyed by Mr. Brown. The following is taken 
 word for word, from a copy of the result, in the handwriting of Dr. 
 Payson, of Rindge, N. H. It was kindly furnished by the Hon. Ar- 
 temas Hale, of Bridgewater, a native of Winchendon, and son of Dea. 
 Moses Hale. It was found among his venerable father's papers, and 
 is here given at length. As the Council was called at the instance of 
 the town, and by its concurrence with the church, it finds its appro- 
 priate jJaee ia this connection. The original has been deposited with 
 the town clerk for preservation. 
 
 " At an Eoelesiastieal Council convened at Winchendon, pursuant to hk- 
 ters missive from the Pastor and church ia said town, on Tuesday, September 
 Sd, 1 799, to judge of the expedieocj or inexpediency of the Eev. Mr. Brown's 
 dismission from the pastoral office in this place, and also to attend to certain 
 difficulties existing in the church ; were present from the churches in East 
 Sudbury, Billeriea, Eindge, Athol and Weston, the following Pastors and 
 Delegates, viz: 
 
 Reverend Messra. Delegates. 
 
 _.,„., ( Dea. Samuel Griffin, 
 
 Josiah Bridge, ^ Kobert Cutting. 
 
 Henry Cummings, Capt. John Kidder. 
 
 < Dea. Francis Powers, 
 
 Seth Payson, ^ Col. William Gardner. 
 
 5 Capt. John Oliver, 
 
 Joseph Estabrook, | jyj^ j^j^^ Fairbanks. 
 
 5 Mr. Nathan Hagar, 
 Samuel Kendail, | j^I^ Elisha Stratton. 
 
 At the desire of the parties, foriised into a Council by choosing the Rct. 
 Mr. Bridge, moderator, and Rev. Mr.JPayson, scribe. Adjourned to the meet- 
 ing-house, iind having addressed the throne of grace, at the request of the par- 
 
168 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDOK. 
 
 ties, voted unanimously that the Kev. Mr. Brown, with his adherents, ant! 
 those of the church and town in opposition, be heard by such agent or agents 
 as they shall choose to employ, they being under the direction and control of 
 the Council. After various arid unexpected objections and delays, arising 
 from an unhappy dispute between the parties, relative to the latitude in which 
 thoy had agreed to submit matters to the Council, each party consented to 
 refer the question to their judgment, who thereupon proceeded to take up their 
 grievances upon the largest scalo, apprehending that to be most consonant to 
 the spirit of the letters missive. 
 
 After repeated adjournments from day to day, until Saturday noon, the 
 Council attended to all the statements and evidences made and exMbited to 
 them by the parties, and then adjourned until Monday moniiag; then met 
 according to adjournment, and came to the following result, viz : 
 
 1st. As to the first article, we would observe with deep regret and sorrow, 
 we are constrained by a due regard to truth and justke, to say, after the full 
 exercise of Christian candor, and making all allowances for human frailty, 
 that the Rev. Mr. Brown has in several instances, diseovercd great want of 
 prudence, manifested great precipitancy, and spoken ttnadvisedly with bis lips. 
 
 2d. With respect to the second article of charge, as it included circum- 
 stances which would require a lengthy discussion, amd nrigbt create difficulties 
 in a neighboring church, the parties, by recommendation of Council, agreed 
 to pass by consideration of this article. 
 
 3d. Under the third article, it appears to tliis Council, that the Rev. Mr. 
 Brown was secretly active to bring forward a civil jwosecntion against Samuel 
 Crosby, liq., in a matter wherein we have no reastat to believe said Crosby 
 to be guilty as reports had represented^ of which eondttet we cannot but ex- 
 press our high disapprobation. With respeet to the other particular under 
 this head, it appears to this Council that they were either taken 'up in the 
 former result, or were not so clearly supported as to justify a eensure. 
 
 4iy. As to the fourth general charge, we esteem it mweb too high, and 
 freely say, that in our opinion, it is not supported. So far as the particulars 
 under it were considered and resulted upon by a former Conncif, we find no> 
 occasion t& depart from their decisMHi. As to some other particnlai-s, we find 
 it hard ta reconcile Mr. Brown's recollections one ^tb another. List do not 
 find ourselves warranted from the evidence exhibited to us, to fix ©b him a 
 eensure. We are convinced that in most, if no* all the particulars. Mr. R-own's 
 efeclarations might be reconeiled with a regard to truth, without implicating 
 any of the witnesses. 
 
 51y. In respect to the former grant of the fifth general charge relative to a 
 vote of amnesty in the Aureh, we refer to the resoilt ef the former Council. 
 
HISTOKT OF WnfCHENDOK. 169 
 
 In relation to the aceeptance of said result, it appears to this Council, that 
 Mr. Brown, at the first church meeting after the sitting of the Council, in- 
 stead of representing the result as absurd and ridiculous, as stated in the 
 charge, did manifest a readiness to accept it. Afterwards, when the aggrieved 
 hesitated, desired timo to consider, and requested Mr. Brown to discuss and 
 explain it, he appears to have expressed himself in such a manner as tended . 
 greatly to irritate the feelings, and excite the resentment of the aggrieved, 
 and accompanied those irritating expressions with a countenance and gesture 
 ■which served to embitter his enemies, and alienate some cf his friends; which, 
 though not a rejection of the result, we consider as not savoring of that pa- 
 cific and humble temper it recommends to the parties. 
 
 61y. In relation to the last general charge, we find it to be a fact, judging 
 by the vote of the town, that the majority are alienated from Mr. Brown, 
 although it does not appear to us that it is owing to the canse assigned in 
 this article of charge. 
 
 The above charges arc the general reasons alleged by the aggrieved breth- 
 ren, and that part of the town which has connected itself with them, why the 
 pastoral relation of the Rev. Joseph Brown to this people should be dissolved. 
 To these reasons; a majority of the church, who still adhere to Mr. Brown, 
 have opposed a number of weighty reasons. We have attended to them with 
 care, and a disposition to admit their proper influence in determining our 
 minds; but we think they will not justify our resulting that Mr. Brown shall 
 hold his office among this people, or any part of them, unless reconciliation 
 should be effected. 
 
 In attending to the unhappy controversy in this place, we have had painful 
 evidences of a strong bias in human nature to err en the uncharitable side, 
 and to censure failings with unchristian severity, especially when the passions 
 are irritated with real or supposed injuries. That we may not fall under the 
 imputation of such a bias, we have made all candid and charitable allowances 
 for human frailties and infirmities, in forming a result for the parties in this 
 town; and have not magnified imprudences on either side intoljgroat crimes, 
 nor made any one a great offjnder for every unadvised word which has escaped 
 him in the warmth of controversy, or under the impressiojis of designed or 
 apprehended provocations. Had such allowances been made by the contend- 
 ing parties, in this town, in the management of these disputes, we are persua- 
 ded that this controversy would never have arisen to its present height, nor 
 have plunged them into their present embarrassments. Could the parties be 
 persuaded to consent, it would afford this Council great pleasure and satis- 
 faction, if a general amnesty, founded on acts of mutual forgiveness and ob- 
 livion might tetminate their present difficulties, and restore peace among them. 
 
170 HISTORY &P WINCHENDON. 
 
 This we would earnestly recommend to the parties, as the best way to heal 
 their difficulties, and free their minds from unfriendly animosities towards 
 each other. But if an accommodation cannot take place on this ground, within 
 one month, we judge it advisable, under the existing circumstances, that Mr. 
 Brown's pastoral relation to this church and people be dissolved. And 
 whereas, we are expressly desired, in the letters missive, on the supposition, 
 in our judgment, that his dismission is expedient, to direct and assist as to 
 the mode of effecting it, our advice is, that previously to its taking place, it 
 be submitted to a reference, what compensation of a pecuniary nature he shall 
 have for relinquishing his contract, unless he and his people can c^me into 
 an agreement between themselves respectuig the matter. If either party re- 
 fuse thus to submit their pecuniary concerns, on the supposition they cannot 
 agree between themselves; or if either party neglect actually to make choice 
 of referees, and notify such choice to the other party, for more than three . 
 months, it ought, in our opinion, to be considered as a departure from the 
 spirit and design of this result. This advice to refer pecuniary considerations, 
 implies what we do not scruple to declare, that though Mr. Brown has been 
 chargeable with some imprudences and unjustifiable conduct, especially in the 
 late days of trial and temptation, yet he has not, in our opinion, forfeited his 
 ministerial character. We can, therefore, in case of his dismission from this 
 church, sincerely recommend him to any other who may wish to employ him as 
 a minister. We add that we feel disposed to embrace Mr. Brown's opponents, 
 as well as himself, in the arms of christian candor, and to put as favorable a 
 construction as possible, upon any improprieties in words or actions, which 
 may be justly imputed to them; but impressed with the idea that an accusa- 
 tion for evil report against an Elder is not to be received but at the mouth of 
 two or three witnesses, we recommend it to them seriously to consider whether 
 they have not, in some instances, suffered themselves to be too much exas- 
 perated by the report of a single witness, contrary to the express directions 
 of the Gospel. It is recommended that this result be accepted by all parties, 
 and by each considered as christian satisfaction from the other in every in- 
 stance wherein offence has been given. 
 
 In respect to the complaint of Goodrich and Smith against the church in this 
 place, that they for very insufficient reasons, dismissed a petition for inquiring 
 into the conduct of Samuel Crosby, Esq., respecting certain depositions taken 
 by said Crosby, in a case pending between Brown and Godfi-ey or Corey, it 
 is our opinion that the church in that instance, was not reprehensible, but had 
 full right, according to their discretion, to dismiss said petition in manner and 
 form as alleged. 
 
 In respect to the proceedings of the church against Abel Wilder, upon the 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 171 
 
 complaint of Samuel Crosby, Esq., it is our opinion, notwithstanding the no- 
 toriety of the fault charged against said Wilder, that the first and second steps 
 should have been taken before the complaint could have been regularly brought 
 into the church, and that the church ought not to have admitted it in opposi- 
 tion to the plea that the previous steps had not been taken. Although the 
 fault is represented as notorious, we conceive that the satisfaction might have 
 been equally notorious, if given upon private application, or in consequence 
 of either the first or second steps. These, in our opinion, ought to have been 
 taken. We therefore advise the church to rescind their vote of suspension 
 passed against said Wilder, and dismiss the complaint brought against him. 
 We also reccommend it to said Crosby and Wilder to accept this result as a 
 final result of the dispute between them. 
 
 Having thus resulted on the several general articles 'brought before us, and 
 advised the parties, we now most earnestly desire and entreat them to proceed 
 with moderation and candor in everything yet to be transacted by them, re- 
 membering that soft words turn away wrath, and that mutual condescension 
 and forbearance are necessary to the restoration of peace and harmony in this 
 place. Hoping that our patient hearing and attending to all matters of dis- 
 pute, will have a suitable influence on the temper and conduct of this people, 
 we commend all persons and parties to God, and the word of his grace, ear- 
 nestly praying that he would bless them with that peace which passeth all un- 
 derstanding, and bring tham again to know how good and pleasant it is for 
 brethren to dwell together in unity. 
 
 Voted unanimously. • 
 
 A true copy, Attest, 
 
 Setii Payson, Scribe." 
 
 Such was the Result of Council, a model for candor, impartiality and 
 precision. It reached the only possible solution of the difficulties then 
 existing, in the dismission of Mr. Brown, while it maintained his min- 
 isterial character, and his right to a pecuniary consideration in conse- 
 quence of yielding his claim on the town for salary in the future. The 
 aim was probably, to effect his dismission, and to damage his reputation 
 to such a degree, that his claim for compensation would be invalid. In 
 this last regard, the minister gained a substantial victory in the Coun- 
 cil. But the contest was not ended. The matter of compensation, ac- 
 cording to the advice of the Council, was submitted to referees ; and 
 there the point was to get clear of all damages, or reduce them to 
 a minimum. To find the sequel, we must refer again to the town Rec- 
 ords, On the 30th of September, 1799, a town meeting was held. 
 
172 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 which " heard the Result of the Ecclesiastical meeting read." This 
 meeting was adjourned to October 11, when after hearing the Result 
 again, and maturely considering the same, it was voted, " to complj 
 with the advice given in said Result, in referring pecuniary concerns 
 to referees mutually chosen between the Rev. Mr. Brown on the one 
 part, and the town, or their committee, on the other part, in case they 
 cannot agree between themselves respecting the matter." The Select- 
 men were directed " to negotiate and transact all necessary matters with 
 Mr. Brown respecting a reference, and settling pecuniary matters." 
 The committee attended to their duties without delay, and at the same 
 meeting made a renort to the town in writing as follows : 
 
 " Pursuant to our being appointed a committee to negotiate matters with 
 the Rev. Joseph Brown, we attended the service, and made an attempt to set- 
 tle pecuniary matters, but did not succeed. We then attempted to choose 
 referees, and each party nominated three persons. The committee nominated 
 Daniel liiglo [Bigelow] Esq., of Petersham, Esq. Hale, of Brookfield, and 
 Esq. Heywood, of Worcester. Then Mr. Brown nominated Major Bridge, of 
 Lexington, Col. Wright, of Westford, and Esq. Walts, of Dorchester. Mr. 
 Brown offered to let the committee choose either of them for a chairman. Then 
 the committee proposed to take the matter under consideration, and withdrew." 
 
 SaMOEL CitOSBY, 
 
 Ezra Hide, 
 Desikk Tolman, 
 Be.njamin Hubbabd. 
 
 Another meeting was held on the 29th of November, when the Se- 
 lectmen as a committee were empowered " to enter into arbitration bonds 
 in behalf of the town, and submit matters relating to Mr. Brown, to ar- 
 bitrators or referees." A committee — the Selectmen — to wait on Rev. 
 Joseph Brown, " to see if he will take a dismission in form from the 
 town as their minister." A committee was chosen to supply the pul- 
 pit after the 10th of December ; viz : Doct. Israel Whiton, Dea. Sam- 
 uel Prentice and Samuel Crosby. On the 1st of December it was vo- 
 ted that the same committee be authorized " in behalf of the town, to 
 sign a rule of submission which was drawn up by Daniel Biglow, Esq., 
 and was read in town meeting previous to the passing said vote. Also, 
 voted that said committee acknowledge said vote before a Justice of the 
 Peace, agreeable to an Act of the General Court, in which said rule is 
 prescribed ; and then the meeting was adjourned for one hour for the 
 
HISTORY OF WINCDESDON. 173 
 
 purpose of signing and acknowledging said rule, which was done ac- 
 cordingly ; and at the end of the hour, the town met again according 
 to adjournment, and after being informed that pecuniary concerns wtre 
 submitted to referees, viz : to Zaccheus Wright, of Westford, Josiah 
 Goddard, of Athol, and John Bridge, Esqrs. ; then the town passed the 
 following vote, viz : " Whereas the town have complied with the con- 
 ditions of Mr. Brown's dismission on their part, they consider his dis- 
 mission as now effected, and that they do not consider themselves as 
 holden to pay him any more salary from this time, and request him to 
 desist from preaching, for the future, in this town." 
 
 In regard to this reference, Dr. Whiton remarks : " that there was 
 a great deal of excitement. The town attempted to show that Mr. Brown 
 had had so much to do in creating the difficulty as not to be entitled to 
 pecuniary damages ; numerous witnesses were called in support of charg- 
 es against him ; crowds were collected to hear the trial in the meeting- 
 house. The town employed as their advocate, Hon. Levi Lincoln, soon 
 afterwards Attorney General of the United States ; Mr. Brown had 
 Hon. Timothy Bigeltw, of Groton ; both advocates of the first eminence. 
 The Referees — one of them however dissenting-rgave Mr. Brown al- 
 most one thousand dollars, and costs ; an award with which the town, 
 however, reluctant, was obliged to comply." 
 
 The town, as we have seen, thought its obligation to pay Mr. Brown's 
 salary ceased after the first of December. They had agreed to abide 
 by the decision of the leferees, and had given bonds to that efiect, and 
 therefore now claimed the pulpit asunder their control. It woi^d seem 
 however, that the other party had not arrived at the same conclusion. 
 A town meeting was held on the 30th of December, when it vv'as voted 
 " to shut up and fasten the meeting-house." The committee chosen to 
 do this business, were Col. Boynton, Capt. Graton, Col. Woodbury, 
 Lieut. Adams, Lieut. Raymond, Mr. Phinehas Whitney, and Mr. 
 Geo. Coffin. This committee were instructed not to admit " any other 
 person into the pulpit on the Sabbath, excepting the preacher, or 
 preachers employed by order of the town, or their committee." The 
 marks of this committee's work are stiU to be seen in the old window 
 Bashes of the meeting-house now in one of the shops of Mr. Baxter D. 
 Whitney. What was the necessity for this action, is not definitely 
 known ; but it is quite possible that Mr. Brown thought the town had 
 not complied with the conditions of the reference until he had rcQeivQd 
 
174 HISTORY OF WIKCHENDON. 
 
 his dues. However that may be, it is pretty certain that Mr. Brown 
 could not force his way to the pulpit through such a cordon of military 
 oflfteers as were set to guard the entrances to the sanctuary. A feiv 
 items more from the records, will close the nari-ative of this unhappy 
 controversy. On the 20th of January, 1800, the town voted a " sum 
 of money to pay the cost of the late reference, and allowed Havel 
 Crosby's charge for two journeys to Worcester, and, including cash 
 paid Judge Lincoln and Mr. Bangs, f260." 
 
 Take also in this connection, the following significant move. -One 
 article in the warrant for the annual meeting, March 3, 1800, was " to 
 see what instructions the town will give the assessors respecfing abating 
 the rates of those persons who are of the denomination of Baptists or 
 Methodists, respecting all charges on account of our late Minister in 
 town." This matter Avas left with the Assessors. 
 
 On the 7th of May, the town granted "the sum of eight hundred 
 eighty-six dollars and eighty-eight cents, for the purpose of discharging 
 the demand that Rev. Joseph Brown has against the the town ;" and 
 on the 28thi a vote was passed, granting " to witnesses at the referees, 
 and summoning them, $26,78." At the same meeting, the question 
 was^ raised in respect to " petitioning the General Court to grant a new 
 hearing in the action, ' Joseph Brown, clerk, against the inhabitants 
 of the town of Winchendon.' " The motion was passed over. How- 
 ever reluctant to pay, the town did not think it best to prolong the con- 
 test. Their delay however laid them open to jm action in law, which 
 led to the following vote in town meeting, November 3, 1800. "Vo- 
 ted that the money be collected immediately for the purpose of repay? 
 ing the money that was borrowed to discharge the execution, " Brown 
 against the Inhabitants of Winchendon." After all these details, it is 
 pleasant to read the following words, from one whose boyhood was fa- 
 miliar with the whole transaction. Dr. ^hiton says : " Soon afterwards 
 these agitations, which had made Winchendon hke a boiling caldron, 
 began to subside. Mr. Brown, a year or two after his dismission, re- 
 moved from town, supplied for a few years the desk at Guilford, Ver- 
 mont, and died at Windsor, at the house of a son-in-law, in 1810." 
 
 THE TOWN-PABISH SINCE 1800. 
 
 Perhaps it may be as well to finish up the history of the town as a 
 parish, before laying the subject aside. It continued to act in that 
 
EISTOKY OF WmCHENBOW. 175 
 
 capacity throughout the ministry of Mr. Pilsberry * and a few years 
 into that of his successor, Mr. Clark, when its functions in that line 
 terminated. 
 
 On the 2d of February, 1801, the town voted to " take some meas- 
 ures respecting agreeing with Mr. Levi Pillsbury as to the time of his 
 settling among us as a publick teacher of piety, morality and religion." 
 In the next place, under another article, it was voted to make choice 
 of Mr. Levi Pillsbury as their " publick teacher of piety, morality and 
 religion." They voted to offer him $400 as salary annually, and every 
 year, including rents of ministerial lands, as long as said town and said 
 Mr. Pillsbury shall agree. A committee was chosen to attend to the 
 basiness, viz : Dr. Israel Whiton, Amos Heywood, Lt. Paul Raymond, 
 Col. Jacob B. Woodbury and Col. Paul Boynton., 
 
 This committee reported on the 9th of March, and from the tenor 
 of their report it is clear that the candidate would not agree to settle 
 outhear proposal as to time — " as long as they — shall agree ;" because, 
 after hearing the report, it was voted not to accept it. Then the last 
 clause of the report was erased. After the " erasement," the report _ 
 was accepted. Probably the committee agreed with Mr, Pillsbury, in 
 inserting other words, given below, and that the town rejected them. 
 Then the committee were directed to see Mr. Pillsbury " to see if he 
 will accept the same ; that is, their terms — and if he will not, to agree 
 with him, if they can, and report to the town." By the proceedings 
 at the next meeting, March 16, it appears that the town agreed to Mr. 
 Pillsbury's terms. " Voted to give Mr. Levi Pillsbury 400 dollars for 
 his annual salary so long as he shall continue to be our public teacher 
 of piety, religion and morality, the said Mr. Pillsbury relinquishing all 
 claims to ministerial lands and rents belonging to said town." 
 
 Mr. Pillsbury was ordained on the 24th day of June, in preparation 
 for which ceremony, the town m^de arrangements by the choice of ap- 
 propriate committees. The Selectmen were to make provision for the 
 ordaining Council, and a committee of six were to " superintend the or- 
 dersofthedayof ordination." These were Messrs. Thomas Graton, Ben- 
 jamin Wilder, Benjamin Hubbard, Mason Spooncr, Ephraim Murdock 
 and Abel Jones. One hundred dollars were granted for the necessary 
 
 *Pilsberry was his way of spelling his name, but in deference to the wishes 
 of some of his descendants, it will be given hereafter as Pillsbury, according 
 to their mode. 
 
176 HISTORY OF WmCHENDON. 
 
 charges of the ordination ; and then the two committees were directed 
 "jointly to examine the meeting-house before the ordination, to see if 
 it is suflSoient for the ordination day." 
 
 1802, January 5. The town voted " to paint the meoting-house, 
 next season, a bright stone color." 
 
 1803, April 4. It was voted * to purchase a Great Bible for the 
 pulpit." Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, with Dea. Hale and Esq. Crosby were 
 the committee to purchase. 
 
 November 21. The town voted to pass over an article in the warrant 
 about a petition of " some inhabitants of the town, to the General Court, 
 for incorporation as a Baptist Society." A wise conclusion not to meddle. 
 
 1804, March 5. Nathaniel Holman, Paul Raymond and Thomas 
 Greenwood were chosen to " lay out 50 dollars" for a singing-school. 
 
 1806, November 3. Voted to "shorten the intermission on Sundays 
 to one hour thro' the year." 
 
 SECTION 7. — THE MINISTER'S POLITICS. 
 
 The town was strongly federal in its political views and party con- 
 nections, the candidate of the federal party for the office of Governor 
 sometimes receiving every vote, and always a large majority. Mr. 
 Pillsbury was a republican, which term in those days denoted a sup- 
 porter of Mr. Jefferson and his principles. This difference of opinion 
 led to some alienation between the minister and his people, and an at- 
 tempt was made in 1807, to bring about a dissolution of the pastora2 
 relation. At a meeting on the 4th of May, a committee was chosen 
 " to converse with the Rev. Levi Pillsbury, to come into some method 
 in order for an accommodation concerning difficulties that have arisen 
 between him and the inhabitants of the town." Messrs. Hananiah 
 Whitney, Paul Raymond, J. B. Woodbury, Thomas Graton and De- 
 sire Tolman, were the committee. Then the followi»g motion was put 
 and accepted, as the vote is recorded ; there being 33 yeas, and 28 
 nays. 
 
 " Lamenting the unhappy difficulties that have arisen in this town respeefr- 
 inw the utility of retaining the Key. Levi Pillsbury in this place, as a teacher 
 of piety, religion and morality, but believing that they are of such a nature 
 that it will be for the interest of each party to have a separation of the minis- 
 terial relation take place upon ecclesiastical principles, without any inquiry 
 
HIBTORT OF WINCHEKDON. 177 
 
 into ctarauter, 'tis moved and seconded that the committee chosen to talk 
 vrithhim, wait on him and see on what terms he will dissolve said ministerial 
 relation, and report his answer at the adjournment of this meeting." 
 
 At a subsequent meeting on iJie 15tli of June, Mr. Pillsbury's written 
 answer was sent.in and read in town meeting. This is not on., record. 
 There was another meeting on the 29th of June, when the question was 
 
 , " To take the sense of the inhabitants of the town, whether in their opin- 
 ion, the Kev. Levi Pillsbury's usefulness as a teacher of piety, religion and 
 morality, be at an end in this place or not, and whether they are willing to 
 gi-ant him ^ny farther support as a teacher thereof; and to see if the town 
 will choose a committee to use all legal means to bring about a separation 
 between the Rev. Levi Pillsbury and the town." 
 
 The article was divided, and the town voted that their minister's 
 usefulness was not at an end, by a vote of 51 to 44. It was then voted 
 to grant Mr. Pillsbury further support, and the proposition for a com- 
 mittee was passed over. This matter rested for several years, the ma- 
 jority not thinking it profitable to have another quarrel with their set- 
 tled minister. 
 
 In 1810, a sum of money was granted for the support of a singing 
 school, any inhabitant of the town being free to attend. In 1811, the 
 Selectmen were authoriaed to " repair the meeting-house as they think 
 best." 
 
 In 1814, March 7, at the annual town meeting, the feelings of a 
 portion of the town in regard to the politics of the minister, were again 
 manifested. For though no cause of displeasure was expressed, it is 
 well known that a difference of sentiment on public questions was at 
 the bottom of the movement. Mr. Pillsbury sustained the administra- 
 tion in declaring war against Great Britain, while a large majority of 
 the voters supported Gov. Caleb Strong in his strenuous opposition to 
 the policy of the general govemtnent. There was an article in the war- 
 rant to see " whether any alteration can be made which wiU render the 
 preaching of the Gospel in this town more useful." The action taken, 
 while it avoided a struggle with the minister, was probably considered 
 as an implied censure of his course, while it conveyed a wholesome piece 
 of advice to his opponents. It was as follows: 
 
 " Voted as the sense of this town, that the most effectual means of making 
 the preaching of the gospel useful in this place, will be for each individual to 
 
 19 
 
178 HISTOET OF WINCHENDOK. 
 
 attend more strictly to the duties it enjoins, to follow the precepts it contains, 
 and by using that Christian charity inculcated thereby, may teach its enemies 
 that however Christians may disagree in minor subjects, yet as brethren of the 
 same family, they can dwell togetnerin unity. Voted that it be recommend- 
 ed to the preacher to abstain from disseminating from the pulpit those princi- 
 ples which are not contained in the gospel." 
 
 There was no pretense that Mr. Pillsbury inculcated principles con- 
 trary to the gospel, for he was eminently sound in the Orthodox faith. 
 By " those principles which are not contained in the gospel," the town 
 probably meant the political sentiments of Messrs. Jefferson, Madison 
 and others of that school of politicians. After this the minister was not 
 molested by any movement of the same kind till his decease. The town 
 respected him, and cheerfully paid his annual salary. 
 
 May 2, " Voted and granted $15 for the purpose of purchasing sing- 
 ing books for the use of the singers." 
 
 1815, March 6. '^ Granted $40 for the use of singing, and exempt 
 the Methodists from paying their part." Probably they had a school 
 of their own in the northwest part of the town. 
 
 SECTION 7. — THE STEEPLE AND BELL. , 
 
 It was voted at a meeting held on the 11th of September, " to make 
 the ground where the body seats are on the lower fioor in the meeting- 
 house, into pews for the purpose of building a tower." By tins it will 
 be understood that a portion of the central part of the meetingrhouse 
 had never been filled with pews. 
 
 A committee was raised at this meeting, who reported on the 7th of 
 ' November as follows : 
 
 " The committee chosen by the town to take into consideration the expedi- 
 ency of selling any ground in the meeting-house, and also the expediency of 
 building a tower, cupola, or steeple, with receiving such proposals as may be 
 made for building the same, report, that having attended to an examination 
 of the meeting-house, they are of opinion that there may be six pews on the 
 lower floor, and have the front seats entire, as appears by the plan ; and are 
 of opinion that they will fetch six hundred dollars when built. They are al- 
 so of opinion that th^re may be four pews built in each side gallery, and have 
 all the seats as far north as the stairway, and the first seat north of that, as 
 appears by the plan, which will probably fetch two hundred dollars when fin- 
 ished. And they are of opinion that the expense of building the pews will 
 
HISTOKT OF WINCHENDON. 179 
 
 amount to one hundred dollars, leaving to be disposed of by the town, the sum 
 of seven hundred dollars. They farther report that they have received sun- 
 dry proposals for erecting a tower, cupola or steeple, agreeable to the annexed 
 plan. One is, that it may be built for seven hundred dollars ; and another, 
 that it may be built for the pew ground as is laid out in the annexed plans, 
 on condition that they may build the pews this fall, and complete the tower, 
 cupola or steeple the next season. They therefore report that it is expedient 
 to sell the pew ground in the annexed plans, and erect a tower and cupola, or 
 steeple, with the proceeds thereof. They are much induced to this from the 
 very liberal subscription which is made by sundry inhabitants for a bell which 
 is herewith submitted. 
 
 Ephraim Murdock, Joseph Wyman, 
 Isaac Morse, Mosbs Hale, Jr., 
 
 Bbnj. Adams, Israel Whitcomb, 
 
 Sam'l Noyes, Committee." 
 
 The above plan was adopted by the town, and carried into efifect. 
 Later in the season a committee was appointed, consisting of Lt. Paul 
 Raymond, Mr. Ephraim Murdock and Lt. Isaac Morse, to see to the 
 repairing of the meeting-house ; and on the 4th of Kovember a meet- 
 ing was held, when, under the articles to see what measures the town 
 will take respecting the acceptance of the bell and belfry, and to see if 
 the town will choose a committee to convey the pews recently built to 
 Capt. Phmehas Whitney, the following proceedings took place. 
 
 " To the inhabitants of the town of Winohendon, in town meeting assem- 
 oled : 
 
 At a meeting of the subscribers for the purchase of a church bell, designed 
 
 for the use of the Congregational Society in said Winohendon, held in Win- 
 
 chendon, in October, 1816, Voted to choose a committee to present the bell, 
 
 in behalf of the proprietors, to the town of Winohendon, on the conditions 
 
 which will appear in the representations to the town hereunder written. Chose 
 
 Horatio Gates Newcomb, Ephraim Murdock, and Isaac Morse, a committee 
 
 for the aforesaid purpose. 
 
 Horatio G. Newcomb, Glerh." 
 
 . * 
 
 The conditions are given in the following paper, with a list of the 
 
 names of subscribers. 
 
 " Certain individuals, inhabitants of the town of Winohendon, whose names 
 are hereunto annexed, beg leave respectfully to represent to the town, by their 
 committee, that having purchased a church bell by subscription, suitable for, 
 and to be used at the 'Congregational meeting-house in said town, are desirous 
 
180 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHEITBOir. 
 
 to present the same to said town, for their use and benefit, on the following 
 conditions : that the town accept the same, keep it in good and sufScient re- 
 pair, cause it to be rung and tolled at the usual and customary times, and in a 
 suitable and devout manner ; and that they will cause, by their vote, this rep- 
 resentation of the said subscribers, by their committee, together with the names 
 of the subscribers who have purchased by their liberality, the said Church bell, 
 with the sum that each individual has given therefor, to be entered and en- 
 rolled on the records of the said town, that the same may stand as a perpetu- 
 al monument and testimony of the deed, — that it may be known from view of 
 the records of the town, at whose expense, and in what manner the Church 
 bell of Winchendon was obtained. 
 
 The following are the names of the persons who by subscription, purchased 
 and hung the church bell of this town, and the sum annexed to each name is 
 the amount given by the subscriber therefor. 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 Capt. Phinehas Whitney, 
 Col. Benj. Adams, 
 Dr. Israel Whiton,- 
 Lieut. Isaac Morse, 
 Mr. Ephraim Murdock, 
 Mr. Amasa Whitney, 
 Mr. Joseph Jewett, 
 Rev. Levi Pillsbury, 
 Mr. Joseph Wyman, 
 Horatio Gr. Newcomb, Esq. , 
 Moses Hale, Jr., Esq., 
 Capt. Israel Whitcomb, 
 Dr. Wm. H. Cutter, 
 Mr. Samuel Noyes, 
 Mr. Asa Perley, 
 Col. Jacob B. Woodberry, 
 Mr. Joseph Whitney, 
 Mr. Jacob Whitney, 
 Capt. Abijab Pierce, 
 Lt. Hananiah Whitney, Jr., 
 l|r. Asa Washburn, 
 Mr. Lovell Goodridge, 
 Mr. Joshua Gill, 
 Mr. Moses M. Eeed, 
 
 " Stephen Tolman, 
 
 " Seth Tucker, 
 
 " Jonas Brooks, 
 
 " Joshua Smith, 
 Capt. Joshua Stoddard, 
 
 $5100 
 50 00 
 50 00 
 25 00 
 20 00 
 20 00 
 20 00 
 12 00 
 7 00 
 6 00 
 
 5 00 
 
 5 00 
 
 7 00 
 
 2 00 
 
 5 00 
 
 5 00 
 
 8 00 
 
 5 00 
 
 10 00 
 
 5 00 
 
 10 00 
 
 5 00 
 
 5 00 
 
 5 00 
 
 5 00 
 
 5 00 
 
 5 00 
 
 5 00 
 
 6 00 
 
 Mr. Jacob Woodberry. 2 00 
 
 " Luke Wilder, 2 00 
 
 " John Flint, 2d, 1 OO 
 
 " Jacob Wales, Jr., 3 00 
 
 " Charles Tolman, ' 2 50 
 
 " Samuel Steel, 2 75 
 
 " Stephen Beals, 100 
 
 Capt. Joseph Bobbins, 2 OO 
 
 Mr. John Brooks, 2 00 
 
 Capt. Benj. Wilder, 3 00 
 
 Mr. Jewett B. Darling, 2 33 
 
 " George Heywood, 1 GO 
 
 Ensign Simeon Stearns, 1 00 
 
 Mr. Lyman Raymond, 1 00 
 
 " James Martin, 1 00 
 
 Capt. Timothy Hancock, 3 00 
 
 Mr. Levi Woodberry, 3 00 
 
 " Richard Stuart, 3 00 
 
 " Samuel Brown, 2d, 3 00 
 
 " Phinehas Parks, 100 
 
 Capt. Abel Jones, 1 00 
 
 Mr. Eber Arnold, 5 00 
 
 " Mr. Luke Parks, 100 
 
 " Rufus Wilder, 100 
 
 Enoch Kidder, Esq., 2 00 
 
 Lt. Paul Raymond, Jr., 5 00 
 
 Mr. Asa Hale, 1 00 
 
 " Samuel Brown, Jr., 1 00 
 
 " Charles Raymond, 1 00 
 
HISTORY OF WmCHBNDON. 181 
 
 Mr. Levi Brooks, 
 
 100 
 
 " Ebenezer Kichardson, Jr., 
 
 100 
 
 Lt. John Kaymond, 
 
 1 00 
 
 Mr. David Buttrick, 
 
 1 00 
 
 " John Crosby, 
 
 1 00 
 
 " William Potter, 
 
 100 
 
 " Eeuben Vose, 
 
 1 00 
 
 " Bartholomew Stearns, 
 
 1 32 
 
 " Seth Sargeant, 
 
 50 
 
 " Joseph Ditson, 
 
 25 
 
 " Aaron Sargeant. 
 
 25 
 
 Capt David Beaman, 1 00 
 
 Mr. Thomas Greenwood, 5 00 
 
 " Atkins Norton, 7 00 
 
 " Luther Stimson, 1 50 
 
 " Israel Taylor, Jr., 1 00 
 
 " John Brook, 2d, 1 00 
 
 " Phinehas Ross, 1 00 
 
 " William Tolman, 1 50 
 
 " David Goodridge, 1 50 
 
 " Caleb Lincoln, 1 00 
 
 " Arba Brooks, 1 00 
 
 " John Estey, 1 00 
 
 H. G. Newcomb, ) 
 
 Ephraim Mtjrdock, >- Committee." 
 
 Isaac Mokse, ) 
 
 The report of tlie committee respecting the belfry was taken up in 
 town meeting, which report was " that they accept of the belfry or stee- 
 ple, on condition that the undertakers make some alterations as they 
 agreed." The report was accepted. Thenthe town " accepted of the 
 bell as offered by the proprietors' committee." After which the town 
 *' tendered their thanks to the proprietors of the bell for their great gen- 
 erosity and benevolence." Samuel Prentice was chosen as agent to 
 convey the pews recently built to Capt. Phinehas Whitney, who had 
 been foremost in the enterprise of erecting the steeple, obtaining the 
 bell, and building the new pews. 
 
 The bell was a great novelty, and the young people listened to its 
 booming sound with wonder. They rang it by the hour ; and when one 
 party was wearied, another relieved them, until not oa^y the air, but 
 the people were full of the sound. The next year, April 7, the town 
 made certain regulations about the time of ringing, which are here giv- 
 en. " Voted, that the bell is to be rung on Sundays according to usu- 
 al custom, and for all other meetings and funerals. And till the 15th 
 of May, at 9 o'clock in the evening ; and from the 15th of September, 
 at 9 o'clock in the evening for the remainder of the year; and ai 12 
 o'clock at noon during the year." 
 
 1818, May 4. The town fitose a committee of three " to see if they 
 can find a convenient place in the meeting-house to set a stove, viz : 
 Messrs. Ephtaim Murdoek, Israel Whitcomb, and Moses Hale." It 
 was more than five years after this before the town allowed a stove to 
 be pat into the house at private expense. At this meeting, 1250 were 
 
182 pSXORT OP WINCHBNDON. 
 
 granted to defray the expense of painting the meeting-house — the work 
 to be done this year or next — the body of the house to be white, the 
 roof black. Messrs. Murdock, Morse and Hale were the committee. 
 
 SECTION 8. — DEATH Or MR. PILLSBURT. 
 
 After a brief dckness, Mr. Pillsbury departed this life on the 5th of 
 April, 1819, in the maturity of his powers, and while increasing inde- 
 votedness to his work, and growing in usefulness. The next day, Tues- 
 day, April 6, " a large number of the inhabitants of the town of Win- 
 chendon," say the Records, " assembled at the meeting-house in said 
 town, occasioned by the recent death of the Rev. Levi Pillsbury, Pastor 
 of the church of Christ in Winohendon, and minister of the Congregation- 
 al Sqciety in said town, who departed this life, April 5th, 1819, in the 
 forty-eighth year of his age, and eighteenth of his ministry ; after the 
 throne of grace was addressed in prayer by the Rev. Samuel Simonds, , 
 the following votes were passed, Dea. Desire Tolman, Moderator. 
 
 " Voted, that the town pay the funeral charges of their deceased minister. 
 
 Voted, that the tdwn provide necessary articles of mourning for the family 
 of the deceased minister. 
 
 Voted, that Messrs. Horatio G. Newoomh, Isaac Morse, Ephraim Murdock, 
 Phinehas Whitney, Israel Wbitcomb, Paul Raymond, Jr., Moses Hale, Jr., 
 Jacob Woodbury, and Moses M. Reed, be a committee to provide for, make 
 arrangements, and conduct the funeral procession. 
 
 Voted, that the Rev. Samuel Simoisds he invited to attend the funeral with 
 other ministers. 
 
 Voted, that three of the principal singers be a committee to make arrange- 
 ments respecting the singing at the funeral. Messrs. Elias Sherwin, Zenas 
 Hancock and Job Hyde, were ohosea for said committee." 
 
 On the 10th of May, the town voted to allow the account presented 
 by the committee chosen to superintend the funeral of Mr. Pillsbury. 
 It is headed, " Bill of the expense of the funeral of the late Rev. Levi 
 Pillsbury, and the amount expended for mourning clothes for the fam- 
 ily." Then follow the items, including articles of food, as flour, sugar, 
 meat, as well as pay for horses, and the inevitable Equor. Besides bran- 
 dy and West India rum, there were " 16 mugs of toddy delivered the 
 Music, costing 14.00, and 11-4 mugs for the committee, at 31 cents." 
 Articles of wearing apparel were procured, amounting to aibout thirty 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHBNDON-. 183 
 
 * 
 
 dollars. The coffin cost four dollars, whicli was above the usual price 
 in those days. One item indicates the severity of the season. The fu- 
 neral was on the 7th or 8th of April, and there must have been, either 
 a great body of old snow on the ground, or a recent fall, with drifts. 
 The item is this : " rum and sugar for men shoveling road in snow, 
 $1.54 ; cigars, 13." 
 
 The close of the report of the committee, hke all the proceedings of 
 the town, shows the respect of the people for their minister, and their 
 own proper self-respect, in paying due honor to his remains. 
 
 " The foregoing schedule compriaes all the items and total amount of the 
 funeral expenses of the late Rev. Levi Pilsberry, together with a specification 
 of the articles, and amount expended in procuring for Mrs. Pilsberry and her 
 family, a decent and suitable suit of mourning clothes, in conformity with a 
 vote unanimously given by a large and respectable portion of the inhabitants 
 of the town, convened for that purpose, on Tuesday, the 6th day of April, 181 9. 
 
 The committee would here observe that they can safely assure the town , 
 that in making the necessary arrangements for the funeral, as well as in pro- 
 curing the materials therefor, and for the family suit, they avoided all unne- 
 cessary expenses, observing the best economy the nature of the case, and the' 
 circumstances would admit. All which is by your committee humbly sub- 
 mitted." 
 
 I^hus reverently did the town follow their minister to the narrow 
 house appointed for all the living. 
 
 SECTION 9. — SEEKING FOR A NEW MINISTER. 
 
 At this meetmg. May 10, a committee of five, — viz : Oeorge Coffin, 
 Isaac Morse, Samuel Prentice, Phinehas Whitney and Samuel Brown, 
 —was chosen " by written votes, to supply the town with a preacher 
 of the gospel." There is something curious about this meeting in one 
 respect ; that is, that it was continued by adjournment, for several months, 
 and never accompUshed anything farther. First, it adjourned to Au- 
 gust 2 ; then to the 23d ; then to November 1 ; then to the 22d ; then 
 to December 3d ; then to the 14th ; then to March 6, 1820. After 
 hearing the report of the committee to supply the pulpit, adjourned to 
 March 13 ; then met and voted that the committee hire a candidate as 
 soon as possible. Adjourned to April 3 ; then to May 1 ; then to Ju- 
 ly 3 ; then met and voted that the committee be mstructed to hire the 
 Bev. Eber L. Clark seven Sabbaths more if they can agree with him. 
 
184 HISTORY OF •wwcHBirooir* 
 
 Then adjourned to August 21 ; -then met and adjourued to the firsC 
 Monday in October next, at 4 o'clock P. M. Then says the town clerk, 
 ■with a touch of humor, " this meeting died a natural death." 
 
 In the meantime, other meetings had been held, for the same pur- 
 pose, but in reference to another candidate. On the 12th of October, 
 1819, it was voted " to choose a committee of three persons to wait on 
 the Rev. Seth Payson, of Eindge, N. H., and Mv. Mam Clark, to the 
 meeting-house, viz: I>ea. Desire Tolman, lieut. Isaac Morse, Capt. 
 Phinehas Whitney." After the throne of grace was addressed by Df, 
 Payson, the town proceeded to business, and voted unanimously, " to 
 join with the church, and ^ve Mr. Elam Clark a call to settle in the 
 gospel rmnistry in this town. "Voted to give Mr. Elam Clark six hun- 
 dred and fifty dollars salary annually so long as he may be a gospel min- 
 ister in this town ; and two [or ten] hundred dollars settlement." 
 
 This call was declined. Mr. Clark preached some Sabbaths subse- 
 c^uently, and on Monday, March 6, 1820, it was voted, "that the town 
 renew their call to Mr. Elam Clark, and to settle him as a gospel min- 
 ister in this town upon the same conditions in all respects, which were 
 offered him previously to his answer." In a few days Mr. Clark gave 
 bis second answer in the negative. 
 
 On the 14th of August, a committee was chosen— Messrs. Tolman, 
 Coffin and Morse — to wait on the Rev. John Sebbins, [Sabin] of Fitz- 
 wilham, and on Rev. Eber L. Clark, to the meeting-house to attend 
 prayer. After prayer by Mr. Sabin, the towia " voted unanimously to 
 join with the church and give the Rev. Eber L. Clark a call to settle 
 as a gospel minister in this town." The matter came up again on th«' 
 7th of September, at which time the terms of settlement were fixed.; 
 The town voted, with- entire unanimity, to unite with the drofch, in 
 calling Mr. Clark, upon the following conditions and terms : 
 
 "That this town will pay him six hundred dollars salary annuially, so' long 
 as he remains a gospel minister in this place ; also a settlement of four hun- 
 dred dollars ; the salary to commence on the day of his Cffdination. The town 
 also agreed to pay him. the fout hundred dollars settlement, and so much of 
 his salary as may become due on the twenty-fourth day of February next, af- 
 ter which time his salary shall become due' on the 24th day of February ann- 
 naally." 
 
histoey op wnrcHENDonr. 185 
 
 Then comes tliis singular proviso : which shows that the town still re- 
 membered what it cost to get a former minister dismissed. 
 
 " Provided however, that the Bev. Eber L. Clark, or two-thirds of the le- 
 gal voters of the church and the Congregational Society in said town, shall in 
 legal town meeting assembled for that purpose, think it expedient that the min 
 isterial connection between them shall be dissolved, shall state to each other 
 in writing, the peculiar grounds and causes of their dissatisfaction ; then in six 
 months thereafter, in case a reconciliation should not take place, both parties 
 shall consider themselves bound to join in a mutual ecclesiastical council., be- 
 fore whom the grounds of their dissatisfaction shall be stated ; and the con- 
 nection shall he by them dissolved by their giving the minister and people 
 Biich characters as they may think will be most for the honor of religion. And 
 uo money to be demanded as damage on either side." 
 
 Then a committee of five-— Messrs. Tolman, Coffin, Morse, Murdock 
 and Woodbury,— -were sent to wait upon Mr. Clark to the meeting ; 
 and after half an hour, he came in and gave his answer in the affirma- 
 tive. A committee of three,-"Dea. Hale, Dea. Coffin and E. Mur- 
 dock, Esq.,—- were chosen to confer with Mr. Clark in regard to the 
 time of the installation, who agreed upon the third Wednesday of Oc- 
 tober. The Selectmen were directed to agree with Mr. Eliel Sherwin 
 " to take the lead of singing" at the public service. A committee of 
 five to provide for the Council, was chosen, viz : E. Murdock, Lt. Paul 
 Raymond, Samuel Brown, Amasa Whitney and Thomas Greenwood. 
 All the neighboring ministers, with the Rev. John M. Whiton, of An- 
 trim, N. H., a native of this town, were to be invited to the Council. 
 On the 18th of September, twelve Marshals of the day were chosen, 
 viz : Messrs. H. G. Newcomb, Esq., E. Murdock, Esq., David Sea- 
 man, Israel Whitcomb, Lt. Paul Raymond, Capt. John Forristall, Capt. 
 Joshua Stoddard, Capt. Abijah Pierce, Capt. Hananiah Whitney, Jr., 
 Capt. John Raymond, Capt. Nathan Wood and Mr. Jacob Woodbury. 
 This committee was also to see " to the propping of the meeting-house." 
 Another committee was chosen to present the doings of the town to the 
 Council, viz : Samuel Prentice, Moses M. Reed and Capt. Phinehas 
 Whitney. And finally, a committee of three, in addition to the Select- 
 men, was chosen " to provide for singing on the day of installation, not 
 to exceed 20 dollars." The committee were Capt. Stoddard, Stephen 
 Tohnan and Samuel Brown, Jr., besides the Selectmen, who were Gid- 
 
186 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 eon Baleom, Asa Hale and William Tolman. Such was the action of 
 the town when performing the part of a parish, in settling a minister, 
 according to the old method. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 A few extracts from the Records will close the history of the town 
 as a parish. On the 21st of the following August, the town granted 
 $15, to be pdd to Mrs. Pillsbury, for the purpose of purchasing grave 
 stones for the Rev. Levi Pillsbury, deceased. Four years later, No- 
 vember 1, 1824, we find the following : " Voted that there be a grave- 
 stone procured for the Rev. Levi Pillsbury, in the room of the one that 
 was broke, to be assessed in the minister's tax next year, so that the 
 Rev. Mr. Clark's society shall be at the expense of said stone." 
 
 1825, January 3. " Granted $100 to be laid out in the instruc- 
 tion of singing in each religious society in town, in proportion to what 
 they pay, and chose a committee of nine to lay out the money for that 
 purpose to the best advantag'e of each society." The committee was 
 composed of these persons. For the Congregational Society, Mr. Job 
 Hyde, Dr. James M. Fuller, Mr. Stephen Tolman. For the Baptist 
 Society, Dea. Joshua Smith, Mr. Stephen B. Smith, Luke Rice. For 
 the Methodist Society, Capt. Joseph Robbins, Mr. Smyrna Graton, Mr. 
 Richard Stuart. Probably the Baptist Society did not spend their por- 
 tion of the appropriation for singing, as the Society was authorized by 
 the town, May 2, to draw their money for singing, and pay it to indi- 
 viduals of said Society, by Dea. Joshua Smith. 
 
 At length the town became willing to have the meeting-house warmed, 
 provided stoves could be procured at private expense, as will be seen 
 by the following action. December 26, 1825. " Voted that the town 
 accept of a stove or stoves and suitable funnels, and cause that they 
 • shall be erected, and taken proper care of, and provide wood for the 
 same, and that a fire shall be made in said stoves at all proper times, 
 provided there should be one or two purchased by subscription." Chose 
 a committee, Israel Whitcomb, Amasa Whitney and Phinehas Whit- 
 ney, " to superintend the erecting said stove or stoves." Then voted 
 to purchase a cord of " good hard wood, seasoned and cut, birch, beech 
 or maple ;" the above committee " to superintend the building the fire 
 in the stoves." By one move farther the town fixed this matter satis- 
 factorily to itself. On the 12th of January, 1826, the above vote was 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 187 
 
 reconsidered, and then it was voted, " that the town give liberty that 
 the stoves which are purchased by subscription, be erected in the Con- 
 gregational meeting-house, and be supported by the Congregational So- 
 ciety." Probably the members of the Congregational Society, having 
 learned that they could not have a stove in the place where they were 
 accustomed to worship, without the consent of the town, were prepared 
 to see that an entire separation from the town would be beneficial to the 
 Congregational church and society. At all events, a vote was passed, 
 at this meeting, by which the town ceased to act as a parish, and sev- 
 ered its connection with the Congregational church. It was in these 
 words : " Voted that the town will cause all business relating to either 
 society in town to be transacted in futer by the members of said society." 
 The time had fully come for the connection between the town and the 
 parish iftbe terminated. It was formed when nearly all the inhabit- 
 ants were of one mind in matters of religion, and when the fairest and- 
 readiest method of sustaining public worship, was through the action of 
 the town. But a' great change had taken place in the lapse of years. 
 New families had moved in who were connected with other denomina- 
 tions of Christians. The unhappy troubles in the parish, and in the 
 church, which had arisen from time to time, had alienated many from 
 the " standing order." A Baptist and a Methodist church had been 
 organized, and there was a number of persons who were neither Bap- 
 tist, Methodist or Orthodox. It was obviously unjust to tax all these 
 dissenting classes for the support of Orthodox preaching ; and there was 
 an inconvenience in abating their taxes every year. The best course 
 to be taken for all parties, was for the town to cease to be a parish, and 
 thus leave all denominations on the same basis, in regard to their con- 
 nection with the town. This was done, and the town left the meetin'g- 
 house in the possession of the Congregational Society for all pui-poses 
 of worship, while it continued to hold town meetings within its walls 
 until the new Town Hall in the Village was built. Since then the town, 
 in its corporate capacity, has been happily free from all differences in 
 regard to the maintenance of public worship, and the various religious 
 societies have proved amply qualified to perform all the duties, in this 
 line, which formerly were attended to by the municipal officers. 
 
188 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON, 
 
 CHAPTER XII. — THE CLOSE OP THE 
 LAST CENTURY. 
 
 " While systems change, and suns retire, and worlds slumber and wake- 
 Time's ceaseless march proceeds." H. Wake. 
 
 The main portion of our history has been brought down to the 
 year 1800. What remains pertaining to the mihtia, to business, and 
 other matters, will be given in subsequent chapters. But before pro- 
 ceeding farther, it will be well to pause here, and look at the state of 
 society, the condition of the people, and their mode of living, as well 
 as their numbers, at the close of the eighteenth century. *"" 
 
 The population, as found at the taking of the first census by the gen- 
 eral government, in 1790, was nine hundred and forty-six. In the year 
 1800, the people had increased to the number of one thousand and 
 ninety-two. This was a gain of one hundred and forty-six in ten years. 
 There was a corresponding increase in business and value of property. 
 Land was cleared by degrees, and some of the timber was worked into 
 lumber, such as boards, shingles, and planks ; but the great business 
 of the town in after years, that is, the manufacture of wooden ware, 
 had not yet been undertaken. " At the beginning of the present cen- 
 tury," says Dr. Whiton, " Winchendon, though it had made consider- 
 able progress in its material interests, yet exhibited a strong contrast 
 to its present appearance. The very last log house had disappeared ; 
 but most of the dwellings were of one story, nearly all unpainted, and 
 very many un-clapboarded, the abundance and excellence of the pine 
 timber notwithstanding. The door-yards were covered with logs and 
 litter, and it was no strange thing for the pig-sty to hold a position in 
 part of the house. Of the comparatively few two-story buildings, most 
 of those that had been painted at all, were red or yellow. Not more 
 than one or two white houses were to be seen, white then being thought, 
 too expensive and pretentious, subjecting the owner of the house to 
 some unpleasant criticism as trying to out-shine his neighbors. Scarce 
 a house could boast of an ornamental fence, or any ornamental append- 
 age whatever ; not one of Venetian blinds ; it had been thought extrav- 
 
HISTOEYOI' WmCHENDON. 189 
 
 agance. Not more than two or three papered rooms could be found in 
 the town, and hardly such a thing as a carpet. Sofas, ottomans, pianos, 
 were unheard of. Tea had become a common beverage, but coffee did 
 not make its way into common use till some time after. The great lux- 
 uries of that day were rum, and tea in female society, among whom 
 was found, here and there, a tobacco-smoker. The roads were imper- 
 fectly wrought, and rocky, and there were not more than two or three 
 pleasure carriages in the place." This, however, was a sign of great 
 advancement, since the tradition is, that the wife of the first minister, 
 Mrs. Stimpson, was drawn into town, by the Templeton road, on a hand 
 sled ; that Mrs. Brown, the second minister's wife, rode into town in 
 an ox-cart ; and that Mrs. Pillsbury came in a chaise. This last event 
 was in 1801. At this time, " many of the fields were deformed with 
 rocks, stumps, decaying logs, and log-fences. Men had formerly in 
 winter dug their wood from under the snow, but now began to think 
 of wood-houses, and to feel able to build them. 
 
 In addition to what is said above, in regard to dwellings in the year 
 1800, the, author has learned from ancient people, that about twenty 
 houses were two stories in height. Some of them remain, while others 
 have yielded to decay, or have been re-placed by smaller buildings. 
 The Abel Wilder house, where Mr. Dexter Bruce now resides, was of 
 two stories. The John Boynton house, where Mr. Cain lives at pres- 
 ent, was of similar form. The Nichols tavern, half way up the hill, 
 was a very large house for the country. 
 
 There had been no very marked improvement in the schools, up to 
 this time, though unquestionably some advancement had been made 
 in the means of education. Some of the school-books were better than 
 those used by the early settlers. Teachers were better qualified for 
 their ofiSce than those who taught in the preceding generation. Yet 
 the only advantage of much value which the children of 1800 had over 
 those of 1764, was in the increased length of the schools. Larger appro- 
 priations of money from time to time, gave the scholars greater oppor- 
 tunities for mental improvement. Reading, spelling, writing and arith- 
 metic, constituted, however, nearly the whole curriculum of the pu- 
 pils down to the close of the period now under review. 
 
 A great change had taken place in the style of church music, and in 
 the use of instruments in pubhc worship. The citations already made 
 from the Records, show that the town had favored a change from the 
 
190 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 ancient hymns, and the old version of the psalms, to those of Watts. 
 By a vote of the town, the church had been desired to introduce a bass 
 viol into the choir. New singing books came into vogue, and the town 
 sometimes paid the expense of supporting singing-schools. These chan- 
 ges were not made without a struggle. Old usages were not lightly 
 abandoned for new-fangled notions. In many places, scenes similar to 
 that which occurred in Peterborough, N. H. , were enacted. Though no 
 such disturbance took place here, the anecdote may be given as illus- 
 trative of the times towards the close of the last century. On one occa- 
 sion, when Dr. Payson, of Rindge, was preaching at Peterborough, the 
 chorister, John Smith, brother of Gov. Smith, gave the key-note on the 
 pitch-pipe ; the choir began to sing, but soon became confused, and stop- 
 ped; when one of the Scotch-Irish settlers, who called the bass-viol dagon, 
 and the pitch-pipe the whistle, sitting in the ancient body seats near 
 the desk, slowly turned his head toward the choir, and excldmed aloud 
 in the church, in his broad Scotch accent, " Mr. Johnny Smith, ye must 
 hlaw your whastle again." 
 
 The first meeting-house was abandoned in the beginning»of 1793, 
 In the latter part of its occupancy, says Dr. Whiton, " the choristers 
 were Ebcnezer Sherwin and Daniel Farrar, the tunes most in vogue, 
 were the old fugues of Billings and other American composers, which 
 had almost driven out of use the more ancient and simple melodies sung 
 by our Pilgrim Fathers. These fugues were sung here with not a su- 
 perabundance of taste ; he that could make the most noise, and get 
 along the fastest, bearing off the palm as the best performer. The key- 
 note was sounded by a pitch-pipe which in boyhood I used to behold 
 vdth a sort of awe as a very mysterious contrivance." But in time the 
 musical instruments made their way into the sanctuary, and before the 
 century came in, they were considered almost indispensable in choirs 
 which made any pretensions to taste and correctness in rendering the 
 musical productions of that day. 
 
 Fashions changed in old times, though not so rapidly as now. About 
 the last of the century came in vogue the Quaker bonnet, with its im- 
 mense projection over the face, the very antipode of the bonnet now 
 fashionable. Indeed, a bonnet is now among the antiquities ; hats and 
 other head-gear having displaced bonnets almost universally. Could 
 the ladies of the present day, says our author, " look in on a congrega- 
 
HISTORY OF WINOHENDON. 191 
 
 tion interspersed ■with Quaker bonnets, the whole scene would strike 
 them as grotesque. Two or three antique wigs continued to make their 
 appearance here on Sunday. How great the changes which the inter- 
 vening years have ushered in ! But if some tfeings relative to our 
 predecessors provoke a smile, we are not to forget that if the circum- 
 stances surrounding them were less favorable to the developement of 
 taste, they were perhaps vioj'e favorable to the developement of moral 
 worth. At the beginniiig of the century, Winchendon contained a large 
 number of men and women of warm hearts, intelligent heads and kindly 
 dispositions ; who, if their external appearance put forth less of preten- 
 sion, were exemplars of good sense, industry, frugality, and fidehty to 
 moral and religious obligations." 
 
 Habits and customs had not become changed so much as to indicate 
 a marked advance between the time of the incorporation of the town 
 and the close of the century. " Homespun" was still the outward garb, 
 and manners were but a shade less rustic than in the first generation. 
 The amusements of the people, old and young, were the same as in the 
 time of their fathers and mothers. " Bees," of all kinds were yet in 
 vogue, and " trainings " were great days both for boys and " children 
 of a larger growth." And here it may not be out of place to obseiTC 
 that there is no point in our history about which' there is more gross 
 misapprehension than this. It is difficult for many to believe that our 
 predecessors of two generations back, and farther into the past, knew 
 anything of the enjoyments of life. Young persons, taking their impres- 
 sion from novelists and poets, suppose the people in old times were 
 grave, sour-visaged and morose, and that they made it their business 
 to repress every expression of youthful delight. So far has this unfilial 
 misrepresentation been carried, that patient endurance of it has ceased 
 to be a virtue. One cannot resist the conclusiifc that some of our most 
 admired writers, either have no knowledge of Puritan character, or that 
 a bigoted prejudice renders them unfit to describe the noblest and 
 most happy race of people who ever lived on earth. There is a posi- 
 tive pleasure in turning from their untruthful pages to the noble " His- 
 tory of NewJ3ngland," by Dr. Palfrey, who has evidently made the 
 character of our ancestors a pleasant study to himself, as well as a de- 
 lightful object of contemplation to us their descendants. The people 
 m " old times" were a happy people. If they were not, in the language 
 of Mrs. Brown, " as poor as poverty," at the close of the century, as 
 
192 
 
 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 they were on her arrival in 1769, yet they were " as merry as griggs." 
 In other words, they lived an industrious, upright and joyous life. 
 
 The following list of names finds its appropriate place here between 
 the two centuries. It will enable persons bom since that time, to trace 
 their genealogy as far back as to their father, grandfather, and it may 
 be, their great-grandfather. The table may be taken as a point of de- 
 parture in family history, by those whose family records do not reach 
 far back into the past. It will be a great convenience to increasing 
 numbers, in coming generations, who will be grateful to Mr. Luke Rice, 
 from whose tenacious memory it is derived. 
 
 The following persons were living together in Winchendon as man 
 a,nd wife in the year 1800. For convenience the names are arranged 
 alphabetically. 
 
 Name op Husband. 
 
 Col. Benjamin Adams, 
 Lt. Abiel Alger, Sen., 
 David Alger, 
 Eber Arnold, Sen., 
 Daniel Balcom, 
 Gideon Balcom, 
 Benjamin Barry, 
 Noah Battles, Sen., 
 *Samuel Beal, 
 Storr Beal, 
 Capt. David Beaman, 
 John Bemis, 
 Andrew Benjamin, 
 Thomas Bennet, Sen., 
 Ebenezer Bigelow^ 
 Roger Bigelow, 
 Levi Bixby, 
 
 Walsingham Bosworth, ^ 
 Asa Bowker, Sen., 
 Daniel Boynton, 
 Lt. .Joseph Boynton, 
 Ool. Paul Boynton, 
 Eobert Bradish, Jr., 
 James Bradish, Sen., 
 John Brooks. 
 Levi Brooks, 
 Amasa Brown, 
 Benjamin Brown, Jr., 
 
 Maiden Name of Wife. 
 
 Zeruiah Boynton, 
 Bhoda Drake, 
 Sally Lathrop, 
 Lucy Green, 
 Mercy Maynard, 
 Anna Hale, 
 Jane Poor, 
 Lucinda Hallowell, 
 Eunice Boynton, 
 Mary Leavitt, 
 Polly Carter, 
 Susan Saunders, 
 Polly Pierce, 
 Mary Pratt, 
 Sally Wales, 
 
 Widow Boynton, 
 Mary Piper, 
 Hannah Harwood, 
 Dolly Boynton, 
 Zeruiah Wilder, 
 Sally Sweetzer, 
 Lucy Jackson, 
 Polly Moore, 
 Lois Barr, ^^j, 
 
 Betsey Flint, ^ 
 
 Sybil Stoddard, 
 Susanna Fletcher, 
 
 *Perhaps not married quite so early as this date. 
 
HISTORY OF ■^rINCHE^'DO]Sr. 
 
 193 
 
 Name of Husband. 
 
 Cyrus Brown, 
 Hezekiah Brown, Son., 
 Rev. Joseph Brown, 
 Levi Brown, 
 Samuel Brown, Sen., 
 Jonas Bruce, 
 Oliver Buckley, 
 Abiel Buttriok, Sen., 
 Daniel Buttrick, 
 Capt. Charles Chase, Sen., 
 George CoiEn, Sen., 
 Henry Crooks, Sen., 
 Flavel Crosby, 
 John Crosby, 
 Samuel Crosby, Esq., 
 Abner Curtis, Sen., 
 Abner Curtis, Jr., 
 Moses Curtis, 
 Jewett B. Darling, 
 Daniel Day, 
 John Day, Sen., 
 Joseph Day, 
 Levi Divoll, Sen., 
 Alexander Dunham, 
 Artemas Edmands, 
 Francis Emery, 
 Stephen Emery, Sen., 
 Jonathan Evans, Sen., 
 Eliphalet Fairbank, 
 Daniel Farrar, Sen., 
 .lohn Fessenden, Sen., 
 Simeon Fisk, 
 .John Flagg, Sen., 
 Nathan Flint, Sen., 
 Thotoas Flint, Sen., 
 Joseph Freeman, 
 Job Fry, Sen., 
 John Gill, 
 Calvin Goss, 
 Amos Goodhue, 
 John -Goodhue, 
 Daniel Goodridge, Sen., 
 Eliphalet Goodridge, 
 Samuel P. Goodridge, 
 David Goodridge, Sen., 
 Capt. Thomas Graton, 
 Thomas Greenwood, Sen., 
 
 Maiden Name of Wife. 
 
 Harmah Cook, 
 Priseilla Marcy, 
 Sarah Smith, 
 Rebecca Phillips, 
 Lavina Bruce, 
 Lucy Taylor, 
 
 Eunice Heywood, 
 
 Fairbanks, 
 
 Hannah Stewart, 
 Abigail Raymond, 
 Betsey Barrett, 
 Lucy Howe, 
 Mehitable Locke, 
 Azubah Howe, . 
 Ruth Hale, 
 Betsey Pike, 
 Betsey Benjamin, 
 Deborah Mualook, 
 Ambrey Bruce, 
 Betsey Joselyn, 
 Lucy Sherwin, 
 Grace Wilder, 
 Mary Hale, 
 Esther Hyde, 
 Eunice Philbrick, 
 Lydia Kimball, 
 Mehitable Sherwin, 
 
 Ednah Boynton, 
 Howard, 
 
 Betsey Blanchard, 
 Abigail Brown, 
 Mehitajile Brown, 
 Hannah Howard, 
 Parney Drake, 
 
 Lincoln, 
 
 Betsey Russell, 
 Sally Pay son, 
 Mary McFarland, 
 Hannah Low, 
 Rebecca Snow, 
 Joanna Stoddard, 
 Silena Joselyn, 
 Rebecca Chaplin, 
 Deborah Barber, 
 
 18 
 
194 
 
 HISTOKT OF WISCBVSllXM. 
 
 Name op Husband, 
 
 • Isaac Grout, Sen,, 
 Amos Hale, Sen., 
 Asa Hale, 
 Benjamin Hale, 
 Jacob Hale, Sen., 
 Jacob Hale, Jr., 
 Dea. Moses Hale, Sen., 
 Capt. Timothy Hancoet, 
 Samuel Hartwell, Sen., 
 -Eobert Houghton, 
 Dea. Amos Heywood, 
 Daniel Heywood, Sen., 
 Capt. Lemuel Heywood, 
 *Lieut. Levi Heywood, 
 Lieut. Benjamin Hubbard, , 
 Ezra Hyde, Sen., 
 Job Hyde, Sen., 
 Samuel Johnson, 
 Capt. Abel Jone\ Sen., 
 *Apollos Keith, 
 Benjamin Kidd^, 
 Howard Kidder, 
 Matthew Kmght, 
 Nathan Knight, 
 Thomas Litcb, 
 Aaron Marcy, 
 Paul Matthews, 
 Nathan Maynavd, 
 Daniel May, Sen., 
 James Miles, 
 Dea. Levi Moor, Sen., 
 Ephraim Murdock, Sen., 
 James Murdock, Sen., 
 James Murdock, Jr., 
 James McElwain, 
 Dea. Asa Nourse, Sen,, 
 Lieut. Isaac Noyes, Sen., 
 James Noyes, Sen., 
 Samuel Noyes, Sen., 
 Benjamin Nutting, 
 Ephraim Parmenter, 
 Eleazar Parks, 
 Jacob Parks, 
 Phinehas Parks, 
 Oliver Parsons, 
 Jairus Partridge, 
 Eliot Payson, 
 
 * Died the year before. 
 
 Maiben Name of Wife. 
 
 Sally Stearns, 
 Sally Day, 
 Sally Hancock, 
 Sally Brown, 
 Euth Towne, 
 Betsey Brown, 
 Ruth Foster, 
 Lucy Stoddard, 
 Lois Hartwell, 
 Sarah Joues, , 
 
 Widow Parsons, 
 
 Hannah Fairbanks, 
 Abigail Parsons, 
 Beulah Buttrick, 
 Rebecca Paine, 
 Elizabeth Whitney, 
 Elizabeth Ward, 
 Susan Sanderson, 
 Lucinda Heywood, 
 Mary Drake, 
 Ruth Howard, 
 Zilpah Phelps, 
 
 Susan Putnam, 
 Jane Kennedy, 
 Huldah Stoddard, 
 Ellen Gilbert, 
 Lydia Butlei, 
 Betsey Willard, < 
 
 Parna Howe, 
 Zeruiah Bixby, 
 Deborah Williams, 
 Polly Chaplin, 
 Rebecca Whitcomb, 
 Olive Fosgate, 
 Sally Haven, 
 Hannah Russell, 
 Hannah Faulkner, 
 Silence Goodridge, 
 Unity Darling, 
 Elizabeth Whitney, 
 Hannah Chaplin, 
 Betsey Stewart, 
 Lois Priest, 
 Betsey Goodale, 
 Ruth Hale, 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 195 
 
 Name of Husband. 
 
 James Payson, 
 
 Asa Perley, 
 
 Lieut. Dudley Perley, 
 
 John Perley, 
 
 William Poland, Sen., 
 
 Daniel Poor, 
 
 Lieut. David Poor, Sen., 
 
 Luke Prentice, 
 
 Dea. Samuel Prentice, Sen., 
 
 Dea. Samuel Prentice, Jr., Esq., 
 
 Seth Prouty, 
 
 James Eaymond, 
 
 Jesse Eaymond, 
 
 Col. Paul Kaymond, Sen., 
 
 Lieut. Paul Raymond, Jr., 
 
 Amos Rice, 
 
 Lieut. Benjamin Rice, 
 
 Capt. David Rice, Sen., 
 
 Ebenezer Richardson, Sen., 
 
 William Robbins, Sen., 
 
 William Robbins, Jr., 
 
 David Roberts, 
 
 Peter Russell, 
 
 Samuel Sargent, Sen., 
 
 Ebenezer Sherwin, Sen., 
 
 *Francis Sherwin, Sen., 
 
 David Smith, 
 
 Isaac Smith, 
 
 Bartholomew Stearns, Sen., 
 
 Aiflos Stevens, 
 
 Paul Stewart, 
 
 Isaac Stirapson, 
 
 Luther Stimpson, Sen., 
 
 Abel Stockwell, 
 
 David Stoddard, Sen., 
 
 David Stoddard, Jr., 
 
 James Stoddard, 
 
 Capt Joshua Stoddard, ■ 
 
 Leavitt Stoddard, 
 
 Major Nathaniel Sylvester, 
 
 Isaac Taylor, Sen., 
 
 Dea. Desire Tolman, 
 
 Elisha Tucker, 
 
 Seth Tucker, Sen., 
 
 Jedediah Tuttle, Sen., 
 
 Simon Tuttle, Sen., 
 
 * Perhaps left town before 1800. 
 
 Maiden Name of Wife. 
 
 Widow • 
 
 ■ Robbins, 
 
 Polly Hunt, 
 Hale, 
 
 Mary Spalding, 
 Betsey Brown, 
 Polly Martin, 
 Jane Martin, 
 Susanna Wilder, 
 Beulah Sawyer, 
 Rebecca McElwain, 
 Eunice Stearns, 
 Widow Molly G-ale, 
 Mary Miller, 
 Abigail Jones, 
 Sarah Gale, 
 Martha Brown, 
 Ruth Budge, 
 Eunice Hosmer, 
 Sarah Richardson, 
 Nancy Leland, 
 Eunice Ware, 
 Elizabeth Woodbury, 
 Sally Noyes, 
 Mary Darling, 
 Lucy Curtis, 
 Rachel Knight, 
 Lydia Dodge, 
 Betsey Curtis, 
 Molly Raymond, 
 Susan Noyes, 
 Hannah Robbing, 
 
 Sally McElwain, 
 
 Betsey , 
 
 Sybil Leavitt, 
 Lydia Brown, 
 Susan Humphrey, 
 Lois Balcom, 
 Ruth Hale, 
 Lucy Clapp, 
 Elizabeth Whitney, 
 Elizabeth Howe, 
 Sally Preston Howe, 
 Jane Payson, 
 Lucy Smith, 
 Lucy Witheredge, 
 
196 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 Name op Husband. 
 
 Capt. Jacob Wales, Sen., 
 Samuel Walker, Sen., 
 Dea. Stephen Weston, Sen., 
 Israel Whitcomb, Sen., 
 Jacob Whitney, 
 Hananiah Whitney, Sen., 
 Joseph Whitney, 
 Capt. Phinehas Whitney, 
 William Whitney, 
 Dr. Israel Whiton, Esq., 
 Abel Wilder, Jr., 
 Capt. Benjamin Wilder, 
 Gardiner Wilder, 
 Capt. Joseph Wilder, Sen., 
 Thomas Wilder, 
 Isaac Willard, 
 Nathaniel Wilson, Sen., 
 Col. Jacob B. Woodbury, 
 Thomas Wyman, Sen., 
 Thomas Wyman, Jr. 
 
 Maiden Name op Wife. 
 
 Phebe Howard, 
 Betsey Wyman, 
 Susan Whitney, 
 Eunice Wilson, 
 Mary Patch, 
 
 Keyes, 
 
 Hannah Perley, 
 Bethiah Barrett, 
 Mary Mansfield, 
 Dolly Crosby, 
 Eunice Hale, 
 Lydia Lane, 
 Lueinda Bixby, 
 Anna Barrett, 
 Lucy Crosby, 
 Sally Goodrich, 
 Mary Atwell, 
 Hannah Eoberts, 
 Betsey Bead, 
 Sylvia Bowker. 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 197 
 
 CHAPTER XIII.— ANNALS; 1800^1868. 
 
 " One generation passeth avray, and another generation cometh : but the 
 earth abideth forever." Ecclesiastes. 
 
 In this chapter the Annals of the town will be brought down to the 
 close of one hundred years from the date of organization. Various items 
 of a miscellaneous character will be inserted under this head, which do 
 not belong to continuous history, but which will either throw light on 
 the condition of the town, or will be interesting to individuals because 
 of the connection of ancestral names with them. What may seem triv- 
 ial to some persons, will be read with deep interest by others. 
 
 1800, September lO. Granted Benjamin Adams leave to set up a 
 blacksmith's shop on the meeting-house Common, west of the new pound, 
 and adjoining the north line of the Common. 
 
 November 3, Voted to raise the canopy three feet higher than it now 
 is. Chose Dea. Moses Hale an agent to meet in convention to forma 
 Hew county. 
 
 December 1, Dea. Hale reported the doings of the convention, and 
 then the town voted to dismiss the article. 
 
 1802, March 1. Voted to build a powder-house of brick. 
 
 1803, April 4. Chose the Selectmen a committee " to procure a 
 carriage to convey corpse on to the burying-yard." 
 
 1804, March 5. Voted to build a house " to keep the carriage in 
 that the town has bought to carry corpse on." 
 
 November 5, Left with the Selectmen, if they see proper, to make 
 a place in the hearse house, for the town's stock of military stores. 
 
 1806, November 3. 'Voted that the Selectmen build a place in the 
 hearse house to secure the town's stock of ammunition. 
 
 1807, March. Voted that the Selectmen provide a place for the 
 laaps of the State. 
 
 August 31, An article to see if the town will make the soldiers that 
 are detached in this town, any compensation, provided they are called 
 rate actual service. Voted " to make up" ten dollars per montk 
 
198 HISTORY OP WINCHENBON. 
 
 1808, March 7. Voted and chose Capt. Abel Jones, Capt. David 
 Beaman, and Col. Benj. Adams, a committee to provide a sufficient 
 quantity of cartridges for the soldiers, to be kept by the Selectmen for 
 review at the annual training. [These were to be used in shamrfights, 
 and in other ways incident to military trainings.^ 
 
 1810, May 7. The town approved the doings of the Selectmen in 
 getting brandy and opium for the use of the sick. Voted to sell the 
 brandy and opium to the best advantage. Passed over the article to 
 see what farther method the town will take to defray any expense that 
 may arise in case the spotted fever should break out in the limits of the 
 town. 
 
 1812, August 10. Voted that the town will make up the detached 
 soldiers ten dollars per month, in case the General Court doth not make 
 them up $10 per man. 
 
 1813, May 1. Voted that the town clerk procure a case to keep 
 his books in, and estabhsh his office where he thinks proper. 
 
 1814, November 7. Voted to makeup to the detached soldiers from 
 this town, including what the Greneral Government gives them, $13.33 
 per month. 
 
 1815, September 11. Voted that the Selectmen "dispose of the prop-^ 
 erty left by Rebecca Goodridge, to the best advantage of the town, all 
 except the gold nubs which is to be given to the widow Goodridge, moth- 
 er of the deceased." 
 
 1815, November 7. Col. Benjamin Adams was allowed to move 
 some of the horse sheds that stood in the way of his building a house. 
 He was to move them as far south of his bam as the town pound, on 
 condition that he should do it at his own co&t, and erect a convenient 
 stone horse-blockj and ^ve the town two dollars annually, and remove 
 them back when the town should think proper. 
 
 1817, March 3. An article to see if the town will grant any assist- 
 ance to the town of Fitzwilliam towards building a meeting-house. 
 Passed over. 
 
 Voted that the Assessors, the present year, take a valuation in the 
 town of Winchendon, of the real and personal estate, hj going to each 
 taxable person in said town ; to begin the first day of May. The As- 
 sessors were Isaac Morse, Jacob Woodbury and Moses Hale, Esq. 
 
 May 26, A committee was appointed to see about the boundaries of 
 
HISTORY Ot WmCHENDON. 199 
 
 tJie Common, with the idea that certain persons were encroaching on it 
 at the southeast part. The following is their report. 
 
 " They find by the Proprietors' Book, that in the year 1762, the Proprie- 
 tors voted a lot of five acres from the northwest corner of lot No. 1, in the 
 south dii^on, for a Meeting House, Training Field and Burying Ground, be- 
 ginning at the northwest corner of said lot, thence southerly with the lino of 
 said lot, 48 rods ; thence easterly, W^ rods ; thence northerly on a parallel 
 line with the west line, 48 rods; thence westerly to the place of beginning. " 
 
 The supposed encroachments were found to be noxt to nothing. The 
 stone post for a leading corner was erected in the northwest corner. 
 The report was not accepted, for some reason, but the boundaries are 
 correct. 
 
 1818, November 2. Voted that the town cause a book-case or drawers 
 to be procured, to keep the town books and records of said town. Also 
 two books to record the valuation and standards of taxes. 
 
 1819, May 10. Voted to give a bounty of one dollar for each wild- 
 cat that may be killed within the limits of the town of Winchendon, and 
 brought whole to the Treasurer of said town. 
 
 1823, April 7. Reconsidered the vote passed March 2, 1772, re- 
 specting building horse sheds on the meeting-house Common. 
 
 1825, March 7. Voted to request the Court of Sessions, to cause 
 a survey of the county to be made giving the county and turnpike 
 roads, &c. 
 
 April 21, Voted that the Selectmen be a committee to procure a new 
 hearse and harness. 
 
 1826, March 6. For the first time since the organization of the town, 
 no appropriation was made at the annual meeting, for the support of the 
 gospel. The first Congregational church was now connected with an 
 independent parish, which assumed the duty of maintaining public wor- 
 ship in the meeting-house on the Common. 
 
 1827, April 2. Voted that the AssesSors take a new valuation the 
 present year. 
 
 This and other valuations were destroyed when the Assessors' books 
 were burned. 
 
 .j^ 1828, April 7. On the question of dividing the county, the votes 
 were, yeas, 32 ; nays, 84. 
 
 1830, May 3. Voted that the Selectmen carry out the Resolve of 
 the Legislature requiring towns to make survey of their territory. 
 
200 HISTOKY OF WlNCHENDOJf. 
 
 They appointed Elias Whitney, Surveyor, by whom the y(ork Tl'as 
 done. His map is considered tolerably correct as to distances and loca- 
 tions, but is full of errors in respect to names of persons and places. 
 
 November^l6, Voted toinstructour Representative, [William Brown] 
 to vote not to appropriate any of our public money for the completion of 
 the Bunker Hill Monument. 
 
 1831, April 4. Voted to pay all the soldiers their poll tax, that are 
 entitled to it by law. 
 
 1831, November 14. Voted that the toivn Treasurer be author^ 
 iaed to pay three dollars a head for every wild-cat that is killed in the 
 town of Winchendon. 
 
 1833, March 7. Voted that the Selectmen procure a hearse. 
 
 1837, May 1. Voted that individuals may build horse sheds on the 
 Common in any place that the Selectmen shall direct. 
 
 1838, June 18. Chose a committee with reference to building a 
 tomb for a depository of the dead in winter. 
 
 August 20, Authorized the Selectmen to biiild a tomb, provided they 
 can get one built for what they consider a reasonable sum. 
 
 1839, April 1. Voted that the town pay the sexton's bills for bury- 
 ing all the dead in the public burying grounds in the town. 
 
 1840, March 2. Voted to allow the account for the expense of the 
 small pox, '$109.19. Allowed the account of Dr. A. Godding for vac- 
 cinating inliabitants, §98. 37. 
 
 March 2, Voted to repair the bell-deck and belfry. 
 
 1844, March 3. Voted to repair the bell. Expense of repairing, 
 ^120.93. Voted that the Assessors put the inhabitants upon their oaths, 
 as to the truth of their statements in giviiig their valuation. 
 
 1847, November 29. Chose a committee to see about building; a 
 new Town House, or fitting up the lower part of the first Congrega-' 
 tioual Meeting-house. 
 
 1848, March 6. Voted not to build a TownHall, yeas, 78 ; Jiays, 145. 
 November 28, Voted to relinquish all right and title the town may 
 
 have, (if any,} to the first Congregational MeetingAouse, to the first 
 Congregational Society. 
 
 1849, January 19. Certain rules were made respecting rabid dog^ 
 They were to be restrained three months^ Those running, at large, were 
 liable to be killed. Any person for killing a rabid dog was' to have a;, 
 bounty of a dollar. 
 

 
History of winchenSon. 201 
 
 March 20, Voted to have the hells on ,the First and the North Con- 
 gregational churches rung at noon and in the evening. 
 
 1850, April 15. Took action respecting guide-boards. Chose a 
 committee with reference to new Town Hall. 
 
 April 15, Voted to build a Town House to transact our town busi- 
 ness in. Chose a committee of nine to purchase land, and contract for 
 building Town House, subject to the approval of the town ; viz : Ej 
 Murdock, Jr., Joseph White, Levi Raymond, Ezra Porter, Seth Tucker, 
 Jr., Levi Barks, C. C. Alger, Levi Greenvrood^ 0. R. Whitman. 
 
 May 13, The town meeting was held in Mrs. Lucy Rice's barn. At 
 this time, the old meeting-house was being taken dovra, that the mate- 
 rials might be used in building a new one. 
 
 May^l, The town meeting was held in the basement of the North 
 Congregational Church. The committee on Town Hall reported, and 
 by; vote, were discharged after getting deeds and lease executed and 
 recorded. Cho33 three for a building committee ; viz : Elisha Mur-* 
 dock, David Caswell and Sidney Fairbanks. 
 
 May 27, Met in the basement o|" the North Congregational Society's 
 house. Voted that the committee chosen on the 21st inst., called the 
 , building committee, be and are hereby instructed to fulfil the contract 
 made by the town With Harrison Harwood,,by finishing and completing 
 theibuilding contemplated in that contract according to the plan pre- 
 sented by the committee on location and place of Town Hall. 
 
 November 11, Metin basement, and adjourned to the newTown Hall. 
 
 1851, March 18. The question of dividing the county came up again i 
 For it, 35 ; against it, 46. 
 
 1852, January 31. Voted to purchase a Safe for the Books and 
 Papers of the town. 
 
 May 4. The Selectmen to lot the Town Hall only to such exhibit 
 tlons as thoy may think advantageous to the town. 
 
 1854, March .6. Chose B. Mardook, Jr., agent to oppose the di- 
 vision of Worcester county. 
 
 1855, March 25. Laid two dollars tax on dogs for license, annu- 
 ally ; and voted to enforce the law in relation to dogs. 
 
 1856, March 3. Again, the question in regard to dividing Wor- 
 cester county came up, and received an emphatic answer. For a di- 
 vision, 50 ; against, 190. 
 
202 HISTOKT OP WmCHENDON. 
 
 1860, March 5. Committee on tombstones for Mrs. Tolman, Mrs. 
 Rice, and first minister, reported. Report laid on the table. 
 
 March 10, The Selectmen were instructed to put up guide-boards 
 where needed. 
 
 June 4, A committee of twenty-five was chosen — one or more in each 
 district — to see that the laws restraining; cattle from running at large, 
 are carried out to their fullest extent. The following rules were adopt- 
 ed, and put in force, as the people were much alarmed by the Cattle 
 Disease, or Pleuro-pneumonia. 
 
 " No cattle to be in highway, unless at work, or being driven from place 
 to place. Not to be suffered to stop in highway to feed, or for any other purpose. 
 
 To use all legal measures to prevent cattle from being driven into or out of 
 town. When cattle are driven, owners on the road to be notified. * 
 
 No cattle on the line of the road to be allowed to come near them. 
 
 The citizens agree to co-operate, and give notice of any violations of law. 
 
 Voted that it is desirable that the L3gislature now in session, take such ac- 
 tion in reference to the cattle disease, called Pleuro-pneumonia, as to give cities 
 and towns power to forbid neat cattle from entering, leaving, or passing through 
 their bounds. That Selectmen may have power to isolate, kill, or apply rem- 
 edies, (as they may think proper,) to any cattle within their limits, which may 
 be suspected, or known to have been exposed to said disease." 
 
 June 18, The Selectmen issued a notice, in accordance with a spe- 
 cial act of the Legislature, forbidding all neat cattle, coming into or go- 
 ing from the town. 
 
 All neat cattle turned into the highway, except to work, to be driv- 
 en from place to place, without stopping for any purpose. Appointed 
 twenty-six men to assist in carrying out the law. 
 
 Some may think these details have been copied at too great length ; 
 but those who remember the panic caused by the cattle disease, at this 
 tjme, would not sanction the omission of a full report of the action of 
 the town on the subject. It was, for weeks, the subject of general anx- 
 iety. The alarm was universal. In addition to other precautions, in 
 some cases, the fields were fenced several rods from the highway. That 
 is, an inner fence was put up, to keep the cattle from getting near the 
 road. But the alarm soon subsided. 
 
 1862, March meeting. Voted to request the Selectmen to draw an 
 order upon the town Treasurer in favor of Hon. Giles H. Whitney, and 
 present the same to ^m for his gentlemanly and faithful performance of 
 
HISTORY or WINCHENDON. 203 
 
 the duties of Moderator at the annual March meeting. The order was 
 for $10. 
 
 1863, April 27. The following was moved by E. Murdock, Jr. : 
 
 " Inasmuch as Esq. Whitney said to us at the commencement of this meet- 
 ing, that it was probably the last March meeting that he should be with us, 
 he would accept the office of Moderator, and has most faithfully filled that of- 
 fice, I now offer the following resolution : Resolved, that we now express our 
 most sincere thanks to Esq. Whitney for the able, impartial and patient man- 
 ner in which he has presided over this meeting, as also all others when called 
 to the Chair, since lie has been with us. And that the Selectmen be request- 
 ed to pay him from the treasury of the town, the sum of twenty dollars, as a 
 small compensation for his services." 
 
 ' 1864, April 25. Chose a committee to buy a new hearse — ^not to 
 exceed $500. The committee were John H. Fairbanks, G. B. Parker 
 and Isaac M. Murdock. 
 
 1865, May 20. The Selectmen together with John H. Fairbanks, 
 were instructed to purchase a suitable Safe for the use of the Town Clerk. 
 The matter of Safes for the use of the Selectmen and Assessors, was 
 left to the same committee. 
 
204 HISSOUY Oi' WINCIIENDON. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. — EDUCATION SINCE 
 THE YEAR 1800. 
 
 " Close in the hollow of yon hill 
 
 Tlie district school^houso wins the view. 
 Where jabbering ui'ohins 'gainst their will 
 
 In swinging rows their tasks pursue. 
 And there's the turf on which they plaj' 
 
 And tan their opon-coUarod necks ; 
 And there's the brook where every day 
 
 Their paper barks make sad shipwrecks 
 Of little hopes, that now endure 
 
 The coming world in miniature." 
 
 I!ev. J-. H. Nichols. 
 
 W e resume the liistorj of edacational progress in the town since thd 
 opening of the nineteenth century. As in the former chapter on this 
 subject, notice will be talcen of the arrangement of districts, the build- 
 ii\g of school houses, the appointntient of committees, the addition of 
 new branches of learning, the increase of appropriations, and the gen- 
 eral improvement of the schools. 
 
 The appropriation for schools, for the year 1800, was £80, or $26G) 
 66. There was a gradual increase in the sum sot apart for the pur^ 
 pose of education. 
 
 Oh the 7th of March, 1801, the northwest school squadron was " al' 
 lov/ed to appropriate their part of the school money to'^^'ards building 
 n school-house, if the squadron can agree to it." 
 
 It is the testimony of tradition, supported by the written words of 
 Dr. Whiton, that the cause of education received a great impulse in 
 the beginning of t^ century, from EdtVakD PatsoNj a son of Rev. 
 t)r. Payson, of ilindge, N. H., and a student of Harvard. He taught 
 at the CentrCj and wrought with the same energy which afterwards 
 made him so successful as a teacher, and so celebrated as a divine. 
 
 SBOTION l.-^TIIS BINES 0}? THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS. 
 
 On the 6i;h of April, of this year, a committee of eight persons was 
 
HISTORY OF WINCIIENDON. 205 
 
 chosen " to draw the lines of the school districts." Dea. Moses Hale, 
 James McEhvain, Abel Jones, Ebenezer Sherwin, David Goodridgc, 
 Paul Raymond, Ezra Hyde and Jacob B. Woodbury were chosen. The 
 vote was re-considered, and then the town re-considered the re-con- 
 sideration. In other words, the committee remained. It is needless 
 to give the exact boundaries, or " hnes" of the districts, as they wero 
 sixty-four years since, but it may be interesting to some to know where 
 the old school-houses were located. The committee reported on the 
 4th of May, and their arrangement, which was as follows, substantially, 
 was accepted. 
 
 " 1. East district. The school-house was where house No. 5 now stands. 
 2. South-east district. The house stood where that numbered 6 stood until 
 the district was abolished. 3. South district. The house was near the pres- 
 ent residence of Mr. Carter, south of the pond. 4. South-west district. The 
 house was south of Denison pond, near the corner of the road by Miss Sylvia 
 Howard's. It accommodated all the children of New Boston.' 5. West dist- 
 rict. The house was north of the junction of the roads west of the bridge and 
 causeway, beyond the Caswell place ; perhaps half way up to Levi Park's. 
 6. North-west district. The bouse was on the FitzwJlliam road, some forty 
 rods north of the present No. 2 school-house. 7. North district. The house 
 was ten or a dozen rods east of Jedediah Morse's farm-house, — the old Dan- 
 iel Boynton place. 8. The middle district was the centre of the town The 
 west district included nearly all of what is now Waterville, reaching to Pren- 
 tice hill." 
 
 In 1808, the appropriation for schools was five hundred dollars. This 
 sum was continued till 1819, when five hundred and fifty dollars were 
 granted. * 
 
 Previous to the year 1809, the town ctose annually a committee 
 equal in number to the districts, whose duties were simply prudential. 
 If a teacher was to be examined, or a school to be visited, the duty de- 
 volved on the Congregational minister. He was recognized by law as 
 the proper person to perform this office, and being supported by the 
 town, he made no charge for this service. He was expected, in addi- 
 tion to inspecting the schools, to give religious instruction, catechise 
 the children in regard to the great truths of Christianity, and in gen- 
 eral, to exert the best possible influence over the young. 
 
 On the 10th of April, this year, the town chose a committee of three, 
 viz : Dr. William Parkhurst, Mr. Moses Hale, Jr., and Mr Aaron Green- 
 
206 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 ■wood, " whose duty it shall be, with the assistance of the minister, ex 
 officio, to inspect the schools at the commencement and termination." 
 In the year 1811, this subject came up again in an article to see if the 
 town " will choose a committee, whose duty it shall be, with the assist- 
 ance of the minister," to examine teachers and inspect schools. The 
 article was passed over. 
 
 On the first of April, it was voted that Robert Houghton have his 
 school-money by his " giving bonds that it shall be laid out for the ben- 
 efit of his children." He lived in the extreme north-east part of the 
 town, as yet without a passable road to the school-house. The same 
 privilege was allowed to him for several years. 
 
 This seems to be the proper place to notice one of the few natives 
 of the town who have aspired to authorship. There are those who still 
 remember Samuel Litch, as one of their school-masters. He was 
 a son of the Mr. Litch who took the lead here in the time of Shays. 
 He was quite noted in this vicinity, as a teacher, and contributed his 
 part to enlarge the circle of learning. In 1814, he published a work 
 with the following title : " An Astronomical and Geographical Cate- 
 chism, for the use of Common Schools and Private Persons ; By Sam- 
 uel Litch, Author of a Concise Treatise on Rhetoric," &c. The motto 
 on the title page was in these words : " Geography is necessary to the 
 understanding of that connection which this Globe has with the plan- 
 etary system, and with all the wonderful works of God." The book 
 was printed by Salmon Wilder, of Jafirey, N. H. It was bound in 
 board, and contained 118 pages, about two inches by four. The work 
 is v^ry comprehensive, treating of "universal, particular, natural, po- 
 litical and astronomicaljjpography." It embraces a description of the 
 " erth," and the " hevenly bodies." Winds, tides, the " atmosfere," 
 magnetism, light, elipses and electricity, are among the topics. In 
 like manner, we read of governments, religions, races, &c. The au- 
 thor defines an " iland," an " istmus," and an " oshun." He quotes 
 the opinions of " wise filosofers," and in short, crowds a vast amount of 
 interesting information into a narrow space. His " noledg" was fully up 
 to the time when he wrote, though his spelHng proved the need of Web- 
 ster. He treats of topics which our scholars now find expanded into 
 several volumes, but it is only fair to acknowledge that he deserves 
 credit for his information and his method, as well as for his enterprise 
 
HISTOKY OF WINCHENDON. 207 
 
 in attempting to enlarge the field of study. His little book* was doubt- 
 less the cause of much pleasure and improvement to the youth of Win- 
 chendon a half century ^ce. 
 
 SECTION 2. — ^AN EFFORT TOWARDS IMPROVEMENT. 
 
 In 1816, the number of inhabitants had so increased in the region 
 of Waterville, that John Kilburn and others wanted a new school dist- 
 rict. A committee reported in favor of granting their request one 
 year, " so far as receiving their school money is concerned." 
 
 A committee was appointed on the 25th of March, consisting of the 
 following persons, viz : Daniel Henshaw, Esq., Dr. William H. Cutler, 
 Jacob Woodbury, WilUam Brown and Moses Hale, Esq., to see "what 
 regulation is necessary in the schools." On the 6th of May, they of- 
 fered the following report, which was doubtless from the pen of Esq. 
 Henshaw. 
 
 " The education of the rising generation is an object of the first importance. 
 On this will principally depend the morality of the public, the stability of oar 
 republican form of government, and the welfare and prosperity of the com- 
 munity. Wherever knowledge is generally diffused, the people are free from 
 that hability to deception, imposition and error, which is sure to attend them 
 where ignorance prevails. Morality and pure religion too are often found the 
 companions of knowledge and correct education. 
 
 The advantage of schooUng in this country, and especially in this Com- 
 monwealth, and the State of Connecticut, is said to be superior to that of any 
 part of the world, and may be named among the greatest blessings of our 
 common country. But the committee, while impressed with the importance 
 of literature to personal happiness, and the welfare of the community, regret 
 to state that there appears to have been less progress made in the schools in 
 this town than is found in many other places. The causes of which appear to 
 be various. Want of money to procure sufficient instruction may be consid- 
 ered one of the leading causes. The sum of money usually granted by the 
 town, appears to be quite inadequate to the purpose. It requires some length 
 of time for scholars to learn the rules of the school, the mode of instruction, 
 and to become inured to study, before they make much improvement. Hence 
 the latter part of the school is much the most valuable. There are four or five 
 months in the cold season o'f the year, which to farmers are considered leisure 
 
 * The copy before me has been preserved by Sir. Luke Kicc more than 
 fifty years. 
 
208 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 months, ■which cannot bo spent by their children in any other way to so great 
 advantage as in schooling. Your committee would suggest the propriety of 
 raising money enough by the town for at least three months schooling in-the 
 winter or cold season of the year, and throe months in the summer season in 
 every school district. 
 
 Another important consideration is the instructor ; and this ought to be a 
 person not only of sufficient learning, but of correct morals. For in vain would 
 it be for a master to attempt to instill into the minds of his pupils good mor- 
 als, while his own life and conduct were at variance with his precepts. This 
 latter important, we might say indispensable requisition,is too little attended'to. 
 
 Setting up the master's board, to boarding him at a remote part of the dist- 
 rict, is a barbarous practice and ought to be abandoned. 
 
 The mode of providing wood is a very great defect attending our schools. 
 It is a vulgar, but very true maxim, that what is'everybody's business, is no- 
 body's, \yhere no one is compelled to do his duty, it is not always the case 
 that all do it. On the contrary it often happens that many neglect it. The 
 school suffers and sometimes stops for the want of wood. As our laws are si- 
 lent on this subject, it is difficult to point out any method of providing wood 
 by the individuals of a district. What seems the most eligible mode is to have 
 the wood provided by an individua-1, who should bid off the same at the low- 
 est price per cord, aijd have the same examined and measured by an inspec- 
 tor of wood to be chosen by the district. 
 
 To have the same kind of classical books, and one uniform mode of instruc- 
 tion in all the districts, would be a great improvement. The practice of schol- 
 ars reading the Bible at least once a day, cannot be too highly recommended. 
 A reverence for this holy volume, and a belief of the great truths it contains, 
 cannot be too early inculcated and riveted in the tender minds of children. 
 Indeed there is no book which contains such fine specimens of sublimity and 
 eloquence. 
 
 The other books usually read in our schools are all good school books, but 
 there appears to be too great a diversity. Were it necessary they frould desig- 
 nate the following as the most approved, viz : Murray's English Grammar, 
 Adams' Arithmetic, Scott's Lessons, Art of Beading, and Perry's Spelling 
 Book. 
 
 The practice of distributing presents to the most distinguished scholars, has 
 been proved to be a very powerful incentive to study ; and to have every school 
 visited regularly near the beginning aiid close, by the Selectmen, or by a com- 
 mittee chosen for the purpose, which would perhaps be preferable, would he 
 an advantage. All which is respectfully submitted." 
 
 Several of these suggestions were acted upon by the town at onc8. 
 
HISTORY OF WmCHBNDONv 209 
 
 A committee of three was chosen to inspect the schools, for one year; 
 viz : Daniel Henshaw, Esq., Dr. William H. Cutler, and Moses Hale, 
 Esq. At the same time, it was voted that two dollars of the school 
 money in each district be laid out by the committee to inspect the schools, 
 as premiums to encourage the scholars in learning. It was also voted 
 to recommend to the several school committee-men, to purchase the books 
 " recommended by the report of the committee for the regulation of schools. 
 
 The persons chosen to visit schools in 1817, were Jacob Woodbury, 
 Joseph Jewett and Lowell Goodridge. It should be borne in mind, 
 that the town also chose, annually, a prudential committee-man for each 
 district. 
 
 In 1818, at the annual meeting, March 2, a committee of five was 
 chosen " to regulate the school books, and inspect the schools, with the 
 minister, the ensuing year." The committee were Horatio G. New- 
 comb, Esq., Samuel Prentice, Moses Hale, Esq., Daniel Henshaw, Esq., 
 and Jacob Woodbury. At a meeting held on the 6th of April, the fol- 
 lowing step- was taken. 
 
 " Voted that the school committee be directed to give a certificate in wri- 
 ting to the Selectmen, how much money they have laid out for schooling in 
 each district, and how much they gave a month for their teachers, and what 
 a week for hoard; and that the Selectmen shall not give them their orders till 
 they produce said certificate. And that the Selectmen lay said certificate he- 
 foro the town at their annual March meeting, so that the town may know how 
 their school money is expended." 
 
 In 1819, the town chose a committee, — H. G. Newcomb, Daniel 
 Henshaw, Ezra Hyde, Jr., William H. Cutler, and Jacob Woodbury 
 — ^to inspect the schools ; and directed that they " attend with the min- 
 ister to examine the masters and mistresses respecting their qualifica- 
 tions, when requested by the minister, and recommend such books into 
 school as they think best." 
 
 The next year, 1820, the appropriation for schooling was cut down 
 to $500 ; the committee was partially changed, by putting Dr. Mat- 
 thias Spalding and Lieut. Luke Parks, in the place of Messrs. Cutler 
 and Hyde. Several famihes in what is now Spring Village district, 
 were set off to the north district. These were WiUiam Tolman, James 
 Martin, Seth Prouty, and Nathan Wood. As there was no road from 
 their houses to the north school-house, until several years later, the chil- 
 
 14 
 
210 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 dren must have gone " across lots." Probably there was a bridle or a 
 cart path through the woods. 
 
 In 1821, the Waterville school district was formed. The families in 
 it were those of Jacob Hale, Daniel Hale, Jonas Bradish, Jr., Nathan- 
 iel Hale, Jacob Hale, Jr., Asa Hyde, Benj. Fry, Alpheus Guy, Ste- 
 phen Emery, Richard Thomas, John Newhall, Phinehas Ball, Asa Hale, 
 Phinehas Ball, Jr., Thomas Kimball, William Bobbins, Jr., Stillman 
 Hale and Lewis Bobbins. 
 
 It will not be necessary to give the names of the school conmiittee 
 from year to year. There was constant change in the names except in 
 the case of the minister. The Rev. Eber L. Clark had now taken the 
 place of Mr. Pillsbury. The gentlemen who were on the committee, 
 from time to time, between 1820 and 1830, were, in addition to those 
 already mentioned, Messrs, James M. Fuller, Thomas Bennet, Jr., Luke 
 Heywood, George Alger, Moses M, Reed, William Brown, Reuben 
 Hyde, Reuben Harris, Richard Stuart, William Tolman, Dr. Alvah 
 Godding, Gilman Day, Jacob Wales, Foxwell N. Thomas and Elisha 
 Murdock. Some of these were on the committee but a year or two ; 
 others, many years in succession. In the year 1826, the committee con- 
 sisted of eleven ; generally, of three or five. 
 
 In 1828, for the first time, the town omitted to choose the pruden- 
 tial committee, and voted that each school district choose their school 
 agent in a district meeting appointed for that purpose. This practice 
 of allowing the districts to choose agents to spend the town's money, 
 when they were not accountable to the town, was continued for nearly 
 forty years. 
 
 In 1829, Elisha Murdock was put on the school committee. With 
 the exception of a few years when he was absent, teaching school, he 
 was a member of the committee until he resigned in the year 1863. The 
 appropriation for schooling, this year, was $600. It was continued at 
 the same figure for several years. 
 
 SECTION 3. — NEW ARRANGEMENT OF DISTRICTS. 
 
 ,The population had increased to such a degree, and become so dis- 
 tributed, that a new arrangement of districts had become necessary. 
 At an adjournment of the March meeting, April 4, 1831, it was voted 
 that the Hale school district — No. 9, Waterville — have an equal share 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 211 
 
 of the school money •with the o&er cUstriets in to\ra. TMs made nine 
 districts. How the sciool-house was biult, is not specified in the Rec- 
 ords. The author has been informed that the 'house was built by sub- 
 scription. 
 
 On the 11th of May, a committee of one man from each school dis- 
 trict was chosen, " to see if any alteraiioKS in any of the school districts 
 are necessary, and if any, what alterations, and report at the adjourn- 
 ment of this meeting." The committee were as follows, the number in- 
 dicating the district to which the member belonged. 1. Col. Benjamin 
 Adams; 7. Capt. Israel Whitcomb ; 5. Joseph Whitney; 3. Capt. 
 John Forristall ; 10. Capt. Joseph Robbins ; 2. Ephraim Murdock, 
 Esq.; 9. Richard Stuart ; 6. Jacob Woodbury ; 8. Capt. George Al- 
 ger. These numbers are given as they are known to the present gen- 
 «ration, and printed on Whitney's map. There could not have been 
 a No. 10, as there were but nine districts. This committee made a re- 
 port, which the town did not adopt ; but the matter could not rest, be- 
 cause there was need for more accommodation. 
 
 Accordingly ia 1832 it was voted " to set off the inhabitants of the 
 Spring Village, and others, into a separate school district, with the same 
 privileges as the other districts in town." This made the number of 
 districts equal to ten, and no alteration has since been made, except the 
 formation of No. 11 , and the discontinuance of No. 6. The final arrange- 
 ment will be given on a subsequent page. 
 
 In 1833, the sum devoted to schooling was raised to $700. The 
 same sum was granted the next year, when it was voted, that the school 
 committee, — Messrs. Clark, R. Harris and Elisha Murdock, " visit all 
 the schools in town, and that they be paid a reasonable price for their 
 services." This action was probably prompted by the Act of the Legis- 
 lature, requiring that schools should be visited as often as once a month, 
 and providing for their pay. From this time, school inspection became 
 more efficient. 
 
 In 1834, June 12, a committee of one in each district was chosen " to 
 examine the bounds of the several school districts, and ascertain wheth- 
 er the town is lawfully districted ;" if' it is not, to district anew. This 
 committee reported, and on the first of September, the districts were 
 numbered as they have stood ever since, with the exception that No. 
 
2l2 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOif. 
 
 8 was, in 1839, diviSed into two, one of which was No. 11, and that 
 No. 6 was discontinued.in the year 1853. More correctly, it was sus- 
 pended. 
 
 In 1837, it was voted to divide the school money, $700, equally 
 winong the several school districts. 
 
 At a meeting held April 1, 1839, the prudential committee of the 
 several school districts, were authorized to contract with teachers for 
 ■fiieir respective schools. The sum devoted to schools was $900. 
 
 The following gentlemen served on the school committee more or less, 
 from 1830 to 1840 : Rev. E. L. Clark, D. 0. Morton, Warren Coop'er, 
 and Richard Swazey, Doct. Fay, and Messrs. Wilham Brown, Elisha 
 Murdock, Reuben Harris, Levi Hancock, Warham Rand, and Luther 
 Jiichardson. 
 
 SECTION 4. — NEW DIVISION OF SCHOOL MONEY. 
 
 At the annual meeting, March 2, 1840, the town voted to divide the 
 money appropriated to schools, in the following manner: " Divide one- 
 half of the money raised for the support of schools equally among the 
 several districts in town, and the other half according to the number of 
 scholars in each district, between the age of 4 and 21 years. The next 
 year it was changed to 4 and 16 years, and the scholars were to be num- 
 bered on the first of May, by the joint action of the school and pruden- 
 tial committees. This year f 1000 were appropriated for schools. The 
 same sum was continued a few subsequent years. 
 
 In 1844, f 1100 were granted for education. At the March meeting, 
 the question of dividing the money came up again, when a committee 
 of one from each of the eleven school districts was chosen " to investl^ 
 gate the subject of the division of the school money ; said committee to 
 report at the adjournment of' this meeting. Chose the following per- 
 sons from the districts as they are numbered : 1. Benjamin Wilder ; 
 2. Elisha Murdock; 3. Seth Tucker, Jr. ; 4. Joseph Watson ; 5. Eb- 
 enezer Butler; 6. Jacob Woodbury; 7. Wilham Brown; 8. Luke 
 Rice.; 9. Moses Hancock; 10. E dward Lo ud ; ll. Joel Sibley. At 
 a meeting on the 19th of March, remarks were heard from several mem- 
 bers of the committee. The matter was adjourned to the first of April, 
 when the following Report was presented. It was mainly prepared'by 
 Messrs. Brown and Murdock, who had served on the school committee 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 213 
 
 many years. It is glvea here, although the plaji Is now superseded, 
 because it illustrates the character of the town. The design was to giye 
 each child in the town an equal chance, and it certainly was as fair an 
 arrangement as ever came under the notice of the writer. By it, the 
 districts that were favored with the greatest pecuniary ability, helped 
 the weaker districts to enjoy equal school privileges. The Report was 
 read, when the town, on the 16th of April, voted to adopt it, as follows : 
 
 " A portion of your eommitttee have attended to the duty assigned them, 
 amd agreed mpoa the following Report 
 
 That the meney raised by the town for the support of schools, be divid^ed 
 among the several districts according to the number of scholars, in the man- 
 ner following, vh : 
 
 ^hat each district numbering less than 40 scholars, be allewed to draw for 
 4o scholars. 
 
 That each school district numbering between 40 and 50 scholars, be allowed 
 to draw for 50 scholars. 
 
 That each school district numbering from 50 to 90 scholars, draw for their 
 whole number. 
 
 That each school district numbering over 90 scholars, draw for 90 scholais 
 cinly, unless their num'ber exceeds 100 scholars, -in which case they shall draw 
 for their whole number ; and that the amount received from the Massachusetts 
 School Fund, be divided equally among the several school districts as formerly." 
 
 The town then voted to divide the school money agreeable to the 
 report of the committee. This arrangement, with slight modifications, 
 remained till the districts were abolished,. 
 
 At a meeting held on the first of April, an efibrt to divide the sec- 
 ond district, and call the new one No. 12, was defeated. This propo^ 
 al was renewed on the 16th, and again defeated. The people had be- 
 gun to get an idea of graded schools. 
 
 In 1846, the town granted $1200 for schools, besides the sum re- 
 ceived from the Sfcate> In, 1848, the appropriation for schools was 
 $1500. In 1849, the sum of $15, to help district No. 4 defray their 
 expense for a school district library, was granted. 
 
 The following were on the committee between 1840 and 1850. Ref. 
 Messrs. Rice, Dunn, Pettee, Marvin, Tracy, Bullard, and Messrs. Muf- 
 •dock, Richardson, Godding, Brown, Moses Hancock, Emerson Whit- 
 ney, John C. Eddy, Abel E. Parks, and Henry Perley. Some were 
 chosen for a single year, and others continuously. 
 
214 HISTOKT OF WmCHENDOir. 
 
 The subjefct of abolishing the districts was referred to ai committee, 
 who reported to a meeting held on the 13th of March, 1852, " 1, that, 
 in their opinion, it is not expedieot to alter the limits of districts No. 
 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, and 11 ; 2, that No. 6 s&oiild be abolished, and it» 
 inhabitants should be set to 1, 5 and 7." The grant for schools was cut 
 down to $1400. 
 
 SECTION 5. — HIGH SCHOOL. 
 
 The first distinct movement for a High School was made in 1851, 
 when, on the 10th of November, on motion of Rev. A. P. Marvin, a 
 comuuttee of fifteen, one at least in each district, was raised, to take 
 the subject of a High School into consideratjoa. The committee con- 
 fflsted of the following persons. Eev. John Storrs, Rev. A. P. Marvin, 
 Messrs. Ejw p jdJ^oud, Stillman Hale, Amos Wheeler, B. O. Tyler, 
 filisha BeamaaTJ^Spb White, Ebenezer Butler, Jacob Woodbury, 
 Wilham Brown, C. C. Alger, Moses Hancock, Levi Parks and Joel 
 Sibley. The committee reported on the 31st of January, 1852. The 
 Report on the subject of a High School, prepared mainly by Rev. John 
 Storrs, was long and iotere^ting. No action was taken by the town at 
 this meeting. 
 
 It was doubted by some whether there were faiMKes enough in the 
 town to lay it under obligation, by law, to support a High School. In 
 order to settle this point, one of the committee went over the town care- 
 fully, and found that the families numbered considerably over five hun- 
 dred. This fact was brought before the town, at the proper time. 
 
 At a meeting on the 26 th of May, 1852, the Report of the High 
 School committee, and a substitute presented by Mr. Marvin, were re- 
 jected, and the matter was indefinitely postponed. But the project would 
 not stay postponed, and it came up again on this wise. Ephraim Mur- 
 dock, Esq., had erected a building called the Wincbendon Academy, 
 in the year 1843, which had been used, without charge, for academical 
 purposes, about ten years. Many of the youth belonging to the town, 
 and quite a number from other places!, had here enjoyed good advan- 
 tages for mental improvement. The first teacher, under whom the build- 
 ing began to be used as an Academy, in the autumn of 1843, was Mr. 
 John G. Giles, a graduate of Dartmouth College. He was followed, 
 in succeeding yealrs, by Mr. Levi 0. Stevens, of Burlington College, 
 Mr. Stephen F. Kellogg and Mr. Charles L. Brace, of Yale College, 
 

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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 215 
 
 and Mr. A. H. Merriam* of Dartmouth College. After him, came the 
 Rev. Mr. Willmarth, an accurate scholar, in the modern as well as an- 
 cient languages. Mr. Kellogg is a prominent lawyer and public man 
 in Connecticut. Mr. Brace has a wide reputation as an author and 
 philanthropist. All were faithful to their duties. In 1848, Mr. Hyde 
 wrote as follows of the Academy, in his History. 
 
 " The benefits of the institution are already manifest. Many hundreds, of 
 both sexes, have already derived great advantage from it ; and the desire for 
 a higher and more thorough education has been excited in many a youthful 
 breast. If it shall be sustained according to its praiseworthy design, it will be 
 the source of manifold blessings to the community." 
 
 A view of the Academy may be seen on another page. It is 30 by 
 40 feet, and two stories in height. A boarding house was also erected, 
 to be for the coijvemence of scholars from other places. The cost of 
 both bidldings was between three and four thousand dollars. 
 
 The design of Mr. Murdock was Uberal and praiseworthy. When 
 the law was passed requiring towns containing five hundred families, 
 or twenty-five hundred inhabitants, to support a High School, it was seen 
 that an Academy would not be needed ; whereupon Mr. Murdock in- 
 serted a provision in his will, by which the Academy building was left 
 to the town of Winchendon, on condition that it should be used for ed- 
 ucational purposes. 
 
 In view of this will, the testator having departed this life, a commit- 
 tee of five was appointed on the 30th of April, 1853, " to look into the 
 will of E. Murdock, Esq., respecting the Winchendon Academy." They 
 reported on the 25th of May, when it was voted " to accept and adopt 
 the proposition made by Ephraim Murdock, Esq., the testator, in his 
 will, and establish a school." It was moved to reconsider this vote ; 
 but the motion was negatived. The way was now prepared for the es- 
 tablishment of a High School, and accordingly, on the 3d of August, 
 the town, acting on an article " to see if the town will establish and main- 
 tain a High School," it was voted "that the school committee be instruct- 
 ed to procure a teacher in order to commence a term of school in the 
 spring." At the annual meeting, March 6, 1854, upon motion, it was 
 voted to appropriate $12-5, for supporting the spring term of the High 
 School, to be expended by the school committee. At this time, the first 
 term of the school was in session, and since that date, the children of 
 
216 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 the town have had the advantage of a good High School -without intei^ 
 ruption. In furtherance of this object, a vote was passed on the 3d of 
 April, as follows : 
 
 " To provide a High School for all the children of the town thirteen years 
 of age, and upwards, for a term of ten weeks, commencing in September, and 
 another term of ten weeks, commencing not far from the first of December, of 
 the present year. Provided, that if those scholars who are of the requisite age, 
 are not numerous enough to fill the school, younger children may be admitted 
 at the discretion of the committee.", 
 
 A grant of $200 was made for the support of the High School. It 
 was then voted that a committee of eleven, (one from each of the schools 
 in the town,) in addition to the school committee, be appointed to ma- 
 ture a town school system, with all necessary details. The school com- 
 mittee were Messrs. A. P. Marvin, Elisha Murdock and Henry Per- 
 ley. The members from the districts were as follows : 1. JohnStorrg; 
 2. Ephraim Murdock, Jr., and Alvah Godding ; 3. Seth Tucker, Jr., 
 4. Maynard Partridge ; 6. Ebenezer Butler ; 7. Lincoln Balcom ; 8. 
 C.C.Alger; 9. Ezra Porter; 10, Reuben Harris ; 11. Minot Patch. 
 It was also voted " That |75 be taken from No. 2, $20 from No. 3, 
 and $20 from No. 9, and appropriated for the support of the High 
 School." This was done because these three districts, being contigu- 
 ous to the High School, derived the greatest advantage from it. At the 
 same meeting. Rev. John Storrs and B. 0. Tyler, Esq., were added 
 to the school committee. 
 
 The enhghtened liberality of Esq. Murdock. deserved grateful reis^ 
 ognition from the town, whereupon, on motion of the chairman of the 
 school committee, the following preamble and resolutions were unani- 
 mously adopted. 
 
 "Whereas, the late Ephraim Murdock, Esq., in his last will and testament, 
 bequeathed to the town the building known as the " Winchendon Academy," 
 in order that it might be used for a High School for the benefit of all the 
 children of the town, of suitable age and qualifications, therefore, 
 
 Besolved, in full town meeting, that the aforesaid bequest be and is hereby, 
 received, according to the intention in which it was made, to be used in ae^ 
 cordance with the intention of the testator. 
 
 Resolved, that the late Ephraim Murdock, Esq., by his far-sighted libej'- 
 
HISTOEY OF WINCHENDON. 217 
 
 ality and generosity, as evinced in making the aforesaid bequest, merits the 
 grateful respect and remembrance of the inhabitants of this town." 
 
 SECTION 6. — TOWN SCHOOL SYSTEM. 
 
 , On the I3th of November, the committee appointed to mature a 
 town schoatfi^tem, reported the following plan, which was adopted. 
 
 "1. JJesofofrf, that henceforth the school system of this town, shall con- 
 mt of the usual district schools, and a High School. 
 
 2. That the High School shall be provided with teachers competent to give 
 instruction in the languages, as well as in the higher branches of an English 
 education. 
 
 B. That the High School, as well as the district schools, shall be for the 
 beijefit of the children and youth of the town exclusively,- excepting at such 
 times as the school committee shall think it for the interest of the sct.ool to ad- 
 mit scholars from other places. And at such times, they shall have the power 
 to do so. 
 
 4. That the interests of education require the appropriation of $1800 for 
 the support of the schools during the ensuing year. 
 
 5. That $600, more or less, ought to be appropriated for the support of 
 the High School. 
 
 6. That the remainder, with the money from the State School Fund, be 
 applied for the support of the district schools. 
 
 7. That the division of money shall be according to the existing plan, with 
 this exception, viz : that $50 be taken from district No. 2, $10 from No. 3, 
 and $20 from No. 4, and divided among the other districts equalljr." 
 
 The reason for this last provision was this, Districts 2 and 3 being 
 near the High school, their children derived the greatest benefit from 
 it ; while No. 4, or Spring Village, was enabled to keep its school in 
 session several weeks longer than the other districts, because it drew 
 monej for sixty or seventy scholars. It was only fair to deduct some- 
 thing from its share, according to the old plan. 
 
 In August, 1853, the Selectmen were directed to paint the Acade- 
 1^ my building, and put it in good repair. Also, to fe^ce in and repair 
 .around the Academy. 
 
 At the March meeting, in 1855, the town granted $1800 for edu- 
 cation, according to the above recommendation. At this meeting there 
 ■was much excitement about the school committee. Two of the com- 
 mittee, Messrs. Murdock and Marvin, -were especially obnoxious be- 
 
218 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 cause they had not fallen in ■with the measures of the " American," 
 or " Know-nothing" party, and declined to require the children of Bo- 
 man Catholic families to read the Protestant version of the Bible, or 
 be excluded from the schools. They followed a course which was af- 
 terwards substantially adopted by the Legislature, and has been in op- 
 eration ever since, with the general approbation of the pepple of. the 
 State. At the time, however, the two members of the committee above, 
 named, were subject to much unpleasant censure, and even odium. At 
 the election, the following gentlemen were chosen, viz : Rev. Silas 
 Piper, Rev. A. Baldwin, E. S. Merrill and Bethuel Ellis, Esqrs. Mr. 
 Murdock was re-elected by a small majority. He and Mr. Ellis de- 
 clined to serve. Whereupon the town, after considerable discussion in 
 open meeting and privately, re-elected Messrs. Murdock and Marvin, 
 and the excitement subsided. The affair is referred to here, because 
 it exhibits a phase of the times. 
 
 In 185y, $2000 were granted for schools ; of which |575 were for 
 the High School. It was also voted that the prudential committee ' 
 should not employ the school teachers. 
 
 In 1859, the grant for schools was raised to $2200, and the com- 
 mittee were instructed to build a wood-house and privy, for the use of 
 the High School. Messrs. A. W. Buttrick, and George B. Raymond ' 
 were added to the committee. ' 
 
 The following persons were on the committee between 1850 and 
 1860 : Rev. Messrs. John Storrs, A. Baldwin, Silas Piper, B. F. 
 Clarke, T. H. Dorr, and A. P. Marvin, and Messrs. Elisha Murdock, 
 Edwin S. Merrill, D. L. Morrill,. and Isaac M. Murdock, besides a few 
 others mentioned in preceding pages. 
 
 The grant for schools in the years 1860 and 1861, was the same as 
 in the preceding year, $2200. In 1862, the second year of the war, 
 when many were out of employment, and money was scarce, the ap- 
 propriation was reduced to^$1600, but as wages were somewhat lower 
 than usual, the schools, including the High School, were kept in session 
 nearly as long as usual. " 
 
 In the spring of 1863, Mr. Murdock, on account of illness, resigned 
 his office as a member of the school committee. No man since the in- 
 corporation of the town, unless possibly Rev. Joseph Brown, had ever 
 served so long as a member of the committee ; none had ever been more 
 faithful in the performance of duty, or felt a deeper interest in the 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHEHDOS. 219 
 
 ffelfare of the young. It was fitting, therefore, that the town should 
 depart from its usual course so far as to pass a resolution expressive of 
 its sense of Mr. Murdock's services. At a Kseeting held on the 6th of 
 April, his resignation having been reluctantly accepted, on motion of 
 one of his colleagues, it was unanimously 
 
 *' Resolved, that the thanks of the town be rendered to the Hon. EHsha 
 Murdook, for his faithful and aeceptable services as a member of the school 
 committee during the term of twenty-six years ; and that this vote be entered 
 upon the records by the town clerk." 
 
 The mover offered a few remarks, in which he said, in substance, 
 that Mr. Murdock deserved the thanks of the town for his long-contin- 
 ued and faithful service as a member of the school committee. He 
 had been associated with him about nineteen years, and in all that time 
 there had not been a word, and probably not a thought, of difference 
 between them, in relation to the schools. Mr. Murdock was a man of 
 cautious but independent mind, accustomed to think for himself, and 
 80 was a valuable associate. Though a man of large business, which 
 engrossed his time and periled his health, no occasion could be recalled 
 when he failed to meet any exigency which required his attention. Be- 
 sides visiting the schools, and examining teachers, as the law required, 
 he was ever ready to leave his business, at a moment's notice, if there 
 were trouble in any school, however remote, which demanded his pres- 
 ence. He shirked no responsibility, and never failed to sustain his as- 
 sociates when e.-qjosed to undeserved censure. He loved the children, 
 set them a good example, and without ostentation or pretence, did much 
 to promote their happiness and prosperity. Those who have served 
 with him, have learned to esteem him more and more, and feel that 
 his resignation will be a great loss to them, and to the town. 
 
 [fhe grant for schools in 1863, was raised to i^lSOO, as the people 
 be^an to learn how to bear the burdens of the war. In 1864, the sum 
 was $2200. The next year, $2500 were granted. In 1866, the grant 
 was 13000, and in 1867, it was raised to $3500, and in 1868, to $3800. 
 
 SECTION 7. — THE DISTRICT SYSTEM ABOLISHED. 
 
 The question of abolishing the districts had been occasionally re- 
 ferred to in town meetings, previous to the year 1865, but it had never 
 been pressed upon the public attention. It now came up for inquiry. 
 
229 HISTORY OF WINCHEND03T. 
 
 a^d at tks annual meeting, March 6, a committee was appointed to 
 consider and report on the subject. On the 20th of May, they report* 
 ed, when the subject was re-committed. At a meeting on the 3d of 
 June, the committee reported against the measure, and the town voted 
 not to do away with the district system. On the 5th of March, 1866, 
 tlje Selectmen were authorized " to divide the scholars in No. 8, be- 
 tween Nos. 7 and 11, as convemenee requires." 
 
 At a meeting on the 7th of May, it was voted that a committee be 
 appointed " to con^der the subject of abolishing the school districts, or 
 of re-districting the town, and report at an adjourned meeting." Many 
 were by this time convinced that not more than nine districts were need* 
 ed, and that all above that number, involved a needless waste of money. 
 It was voted that the committee consist of the school committee, viz : 
 A. P. Marvin, E. S. Merrill, and George A. Litchfield, and one from 
 each district, to be nominated by the chair. The following were cho- 
 sen : Charles J. Rice, Luke Hale, H. 0. Clark, N. D. White, Reuben 
 Bemis, Paul Raymond, Jr., C. C, Alger, William L. Woodcock, Levi 
 N. Parks and William Sibley. 
 
 This committee reported in favor of abolishing the districts, to a meet- 
 ing held on the 11th of June. The number present was not large, and 
 those who came together, were generally opposed to any change. The 
 committee recommended that the town should buy the school-houses, 
 and should divide the town, for the present, into nine sections, in which 
 schools should be maintained. The plan was advocated by Rev. A. 
 P. Marvin, and opposed by Messrs. Reuben Harris' and Grover S. 
 Whitney. The vote was nearly a unit ia the negative. But the sub- 
 ject was now fairly before the public. In the course of the ensuing 
 winter, Mr. Northrop, the agent of the Board of Edncatioui', addressed 
 the citizens on the general subject of education, on which occasion he 
 spoke of the benefits which would flow from the abandonment of the 
 districts, and from the town's resuming its ancient entire control of the 
 schools. , 
 
 At the annual meeting, March 4, 1867, the proposal was again 
 brought forward. Mr. Orlando Mason moved that " we do abolish the 
 school districts." The discussion was opened by the chairman of the 
 school cemmittee, and on the next day was continued by several speak- 
 ers ; after which the motion was carried by the following vote : yeas, 
 77 ; nays, 29. 
 
BISTORT Oy WIirCBENDOM. 221 
 
 This having been done, the school committee- was enlarged to the 
 number of twelve. Messrs. Marvin and Merrill held, over ; Mr..Litchr 
 flesld was re-elected; and the following gentlemen were. added,, viz.: 
 Messrs. Giles H. Whitney, Cliarles' J. Rice, Nelson D. White, Will- 
 iam Woodcock, Windsor N. White, George Gregory, Charles A: Loud, 
 Ira Russell, M. D., and Rev. Charles Wheeler. The committee we?e 
 then instructed, to employ three persons from out of town, to appraise 
 the property of the old school districts. They were further " to meet 
 a committee of three from each of the school districts, to see what al- 
 terations, repairs, or new houses, or changes of location, may be needed, 
 if any, and the probable cost of the same,, aad repofft to an adjourned 
 meeting." It was next voted, " that the Selectmen be requested to 
 take possession of the school-houses and other property of the school 
 districts, forthwith." The division of the school money was; left to tht- 
 school comimttee. 
 
 (The town, on the first of April, voted to accept the report of the 
 appraisers selected by the school committee to a,ppraisfr the several 
 school-iouses in the town, which was as follows : 
 
 " We the undfirsigaad. Appraisers, appointed, under the direction of the town 
 of Winchendoii, to appraise the value of the fichod-houses, land, apparatus and 
 other property owned and used for school purposes, do appraise the value of 
 the school-houses, &c., in said districts. 
 
 No. 1, $80. No. 7, S80. 
 
 " 2, 800. " 8, 175. 
 
 " 3, 4750. " 9, 300. 
 
 " 4. 000.* " 10, 475.. 
 
 " 5,- 200. " 11, 200.. 
 
 All of which is respectfully submitted. 
 
 GiLMAN Day, 
 
 Ohio Whitney, Jr., 
 
 John King. 
 
 WinchendoD. 
 
 SECTION 8. NEW SOEIOOL HOUSE. 
 
 The same meeting, March 6, 186-5, wliich raised the committee oh 
 districts, chose another committee, of five persons, to consider the pro- 
 priety of erecting a new school-house, for the use of the town, to be lo- 
 
 * The house in this district is the property of the Nelsoa Manufacturing; Co. 
 
222 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 cated in the Village. This matter was held in abeyance until the dist- 
 ricts were abolished, except so far as obtaining a lot of land was con- 
 cerned. In relation to this matter, the committee made a report on the 
 11th of June, 1866, as follows : in " regard to the expense of prepar- 
 ing the E. Murdock, Jr. lot." 
 
 " Necessary ditches, 200 rods, $500 
 
 Taking out stones and roots, ploughing, leveling, and filling ditdies, 1 100 
 Manure, 200 
 
 Big. cellar and wharfing, 500 
 
 Underpinning, 200 
 
 Making road by C. W. Newman's, 200 
 
 Total, §2700 
 
 Sbth Tucker, 
 William Bkown, 
 J. H. Fairbanks, 
 Bethuel Ellis." 
 
 At a meeting, on the 2d of July, 1866, the following gentlemen were 
 appointed a committee, viz : Bethuel Ellis, William L. Woodcock, Will- 
 iam Beaman, Orlando Mason, and George B. Raymond, to examine the 
 Academy, fence and yard, and into the conditions on which the town 
 came into possession of the same. Also, whether it is best to repair the 
 Academy, or erect a new one, or build on any other site." On the 7th 
 of July this committee made a report. In relation to the conditions of 
 the gift of the Academy, they reported as follows : 
 
 " The town came in possession of the property ia the following manner. 
 In the last will aad testament of the late Ephraim Murdock,- Esq. , is the fol- 
 lowing item : ' I hereby order that the Academy building in said Winchendon, 
 and the ground enclosed around said building, be used and occupied for a 
 school, free of rent, so long as the town, or Trustees of said Academy, shall 
 cause a good school to be kept therein, and the building, and fence around the 
 enclosure, to be kept in good repair ; and upon the failure of the town of Win- 
 chendon, or the Trustees of said Academy, to perform these conditions, then 
 said Academy building and land to revert to my heirs. This clause to be con- 
 stmed reasonably ; a continued neglect in the particulars only to work a for- 
 feiture.'" 
 
 The committee considered the house entirely inadequate for a High 
 School, but did not agree on any special recommendation. Messrs. 0. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 223 
 
 Mason, B. D. Whitney and Gr. B. Raymond were chosen a committee 
 to examine and get up a plan for a High School building. On motion 
 of Rev. George A. Litchfield, it was voted " that the town purchase three 
 and three-quarters aci;es of land recently offered by E. Murdock, Jr., 
 for f 1000, for High School purposes." The meeting was then adjourned 
 to August 4, at which time there were not persons enough present to 
 warrant the clerk in calling the meeting to order, he, in the words of 
 the Records, " considering the meeting dead for want of friends." At 
 the annual meeting, March 5, 1867, the committee chosen by the town 
 at a meeting held on the 15th day of November, 1866, to confer with 
 E. Murdock, Jr., in regard to giving a title to the property referred to 
 by the vote of the town, July 20, 1866, reported in these words : 
 
 "They have had a conference with Capt. Murdock, as contemplated by 
 vote of the town, and obtained from him the following proposition, to wit: ' that 
 the town shall have a warranty deed of the land referred to by vote of the 
 town, July 20, 1866, for school purposes, or for a- public Common, and for 
 no other, together with lOOOloadsof gravel for filling up the same, for $1000; 
 and when suitable High School buildings, or any other public school buildings 
 are erected on the land ; or failing to erect such buildiiigs, shall fit up such 
 lands as a public Common, then all restrictions as to future use of the prop- 
 erty, and all forfeiture on account of other use of the same shall be null and 
 void.'" 0. Mason, 
 
 B. Ellis, 
 S. Tucker. 
 
 Then, on jnotion of E. Butler, it was voted that the ". Selectmen be 
 authorized to take a deed of the land, and pay for the same." At an 
 adjourned meeting, April 16, it was voted to build the school-houses 
 needed in the former districts No. 1 and 9, of brick, and finally the 
 question of a new school-house in the Village was settled by authori- 
 zmg the buUding committee, viz : Nelson D. White, J. B. Sawyer, 
 Charles A. Loud, John M. Forristall and Sidney Fairbank, to erect a 
 building for school purposes, on the land purchased of E. Murdock, Jr., 
 according to the plan which was presented. The same committee was 
 authorized to erect a new school-house in Waterville, and another at 
 the Centre. 
 
 SECTION 10. — PROGRESS. 
 
 Such is a succinct account of the measures taken by the town for the 
 
224 HISTORY OF WmCHENDON. 
 
 education of the children and youth within her borders, since the be- 
 ginning of the century. It is an honorable record, shoTving that a deep 
 interest has been felt, from year to year, throughout the' whole period, 
 in regard to the most important matter which can be acted upon by a 
 town, in its municipal capacity. The advance in appropriations of money 
 has more than kept pace with the growing number of scholars, and the 
 increasing wealth of the town. The sum granted in the year 1800, 
 was 1266.66 ; in 1868, 13,800.00. 
 
 Has there been corresponding improvement in the schools ? In re- 
 gard to all the material means and apparatus of education, there has 
 been great advancement. The school-houses, poor as some of them 
 are now, are vastly superior to those where the fathers and mothers of 
 the town learned the rudiments of education. In place of the ancient 
 benches extending round the room, so high that the feet of the younger 
 scholars could not reach the floor, our children have convenient desks 
 and seats, or chairs, graduated to their siae. There has been an en- 
 tire change, and a great improvement in school-books, maps and black- 
 boards. These improvements the most unyielding sticklers for old 
 times cannot deny. 
 
 But the question returns, are the schools better than they were ? 
 Do our children receive a better education than did their predeces- 
 sors ? The answer must be in the affirmative. The children attend 
 schoQl.more weeks each year ; tTiey attend to more branches of study; 
 and they are more proficient, generally, in those to which they give 
 their attention. Sixty or seventy years ago, besides reading, spelliiag 
 and writing, arithmetic was the great study. By degrees, some few 
 took up the study of geography, with the aid of Morse. At last, some 
 more enterprising than the majority, ventured upon the intricacies of 
 English grammar, under the lead of Alexander, and afterwards of 
 Lindley Murray. But a few weeks devoted to these studies in the win- 
 ter, could not enable the scholars to make much progress. " The first 
 winter of this century," says Dr. Whiton, " that of 1800-1, an excel- 
 lent school was taught at the Centre, by a son of Rev. Dr. Payson, of 
 Rindge, Edward Payson, then a member of Cambridge College ; af- 
 terwards the distinguished Rev. Dr. Payson, of Portland, a name known 
 and honored on both sides the Atlantic. I think his school gave a new 
 impulse to educational interests, and the next twenty years were years 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 225 
 
 of advance." The next impulse was probably given in 1816, when 
 the committee whose report has been copied at length in preceding par 
 ges, entered on their labors. There was a rising interest in the im- 
 provement of our schools years before the late Hon. Horace Mann was 
 chosen Secretary of the Board of Education. Such men as the Hon. 
 John G. Carter, of Lancaster, and his compeers, did much to awaken 
 attention to the defects in our system of education, and thus the way 
 was prepared for the mighty work accomplished by Mr. Mann and his 
 successors. The schools of Winchendon participated in the general 
 advancement. 
 
 The writer can speak from personal knowledge in regard to the 
 schools in this town since the beginning of 1844. At that time the 
 schools were good. They were under the care of excellent teachers. 
 There were differences, of course ; some teachers were superior to oth- 
 ers ; but generally they were worthy of their high vocation. Many of 
 these are stiU held in grateful remembrance by their pupils, and in 
 high esteem by the committee who visited their schools. The advance- 
 ment since that time is due in part to some improvement in books and 
 apparatus, as-well as in the seats of the scholars in amajority of the school 
 houses ; but the chief advancement is due to these four causes. Tirst, the 
 Normal Schools have increased the efficiency of teachers, not only those 
 who have attended, but others ; secondly, more time is improved in 
 attending school each year ; thirdly, several of our schools are graded, 
 and thus made doubly valuable ; and lastly, the High School has been a 
 great incentive to study and good behavior. The hope of being admit- 
 ted there has been a stimulus felt in every district, and by hundreds of 
 our youth. Thus all the schools have been improved, while the High 
 School itself has been the means of givmg many an excellent education, 
 and preparing others for higher institutions of learning. The standard 
 of education is higher than ever before ; and doubtless the schools in 
 this town will partake of all improvements enjoyed by other places, in 
 the generations to come. 
 
 NAMES 01? HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS. 
 
 The names of the Principals and Assistants who have had charge of 
 the High School since its opening in the year 1853, are here given, 
 in the order of their service. 
 
 15 
 
226 
 
 HISTORY OF WINOHENDON. 
 
 1854, 
 1855, 
 1856, 
 
 1857, 
 
 PBINCIPALS. 
 
 Mr. A. E. Upton. 
 Mr. Wm. W. Godding, 
 Mr. J. J. Milson. 
 Mr. D. C. Chamberlain, 
 Miss Lucy A. Rice, 
 Mr. Win. W. Godding. 
 Mr. S. Hardy, ) 
 
 Mr. D. C. Chamberlain, j 
 
 1858-65, Mr. D. C. Chamberlain. 
 
 1865-6, 
 1866, 
 
 1867, 
 
 1867-8, 
 
 Mr. Frank Braekett. 
 Mr. A. S. Howe. 
 Mr. J. F. Pielden. 
 Rev. Milan H. Hitchcock. 
 Mr. JohuK. Browne. 
 
 1854, 
 1855, 
 
 1856, 
 
 1864, 
 
 1865, 
 
 1865-6, 
 
 1866, 
 
 1867, 
 
 1867-8, 
 
 ASSISTANTS. 
 
 Miss Ellen R. Murdock. 
 Miss Ellen E. Murdock. , 
 
 Miss Mary E. Whitney,^ " 
 Miss Ellen R. Murdock. ' i 
 
 Miss Anstriss Weston, ") 
 Miss Emily R. Pitkin. ] 
 Miss Maria D. Newton. 
 Miss Ursula E. Clark. 
 Mrs. A. S. Howe. 
 
 Miss M. D. Newton. 
 
 Miss Caroline E. Marvin. 
 
 SCHOOL BOOKS. - 
 
 It may be a matter of interest to those who come after us, to know 
 what books were used in the schools of this town, by the children pf 
 this generation. For their information, a list is here given. 
 
 English Branches. — The Bible; Webster's Dictionary ; Spelling, 
 — Sargent's Pronouncing Speller; Series of Readers, — Willson; Geog- 
 raphy, — Guyot's for the High School, and Warren's for the other 
 schools ; Arithmetic,-^-Greenleaf's Series ; Grammar, — Wells ;■ His- 
 tory, — Goodrich ; Physiology, — Cutter ; Natural Philosophy, — Loo- 
 mis' Olmstead; Mental Philosophy, — Watts and Abercrombie/; Compo- 
 sition, — Quackenboss; Physical Geography, — Fitch and Colton; Wrij>- 
 ing Books, — ^Payson and Dunton; Algebra, — Greenleaf; Geometiry, 
 — ^Davies' Legendre ; Chemistry; Surveying; Book-keeping; Drawing- 
 
 Latin. — Grammar, — ^Andrews and Stoddard; Lexicon, — ^Andrew?; 
 Lessons, — Andrews; Latm Reader, — ^Andrews; Cornelius Nepos; Vir- 
 gil; Cicero; Csesar; Sallust. 
 
 Greek. — Grammar, — Crosby; Lexicon, — ^Donnegan; Lessons,— r 
 Crosby ; Greek Reader ; Greek Testament ; Anabasis ; Iliad. 
 
 French. — Fasquelle's Course. 
 
 In conclusion, the reader who may desire a more full statement of the 
 condition and progress of our schools, during the last twelve or fifteen 
 years, can consult the printed Reports of the School Committee, depos- 
 ited in the oflBice of the town clerk, and prior to tiiis date, the Reports 
 as copied into the Records. , 
 
HISTORY OF WmCHENDON. 227 
 
 CHAPTER XV.— ROADS AND BRIDGES. 
 
 "And round and round, over valley and hill, 
 Old roads winding as old roads will. 
 Here to a ferry and there to a mill." 
 
 Whittibk. 
 
 section 1. — the roads bounded and straightened. 
 
 In continuing the history of Roads and Bridges in the toTvn, it is not 
 designed to give a minute account of every shght change and improve- 
 ment, but such a general statement of facts as will enable the reader to 
 learn the progress of the town in respect to local and through travel. 
 Roads mark the progress of a people, and contribute greatly to their 
 wealth and civilization ; and when good roads are completed, they are 
 a rich legacy to succeeding generations. 
 
 Tip to this time, the people had been opening bridle-paths and cart- 
 roads from their own homes to their neighbors, and changing the locar 
 tion of them from time to time, as convenience required. The same 
 process was pursued in the first year or two of this century. Thus a 
 road was accepted for Charles Chase, April 6, 1801, extending from 
 where Mr. Stephen Weston lives, northerly towards the State line. On 
 the 4th of May it was voted to alter Robert Bradish's road, and also 
 Lieut. Isaac Noyes' road. The time had now come for the adoption 
 of some system of roads, and accordingly a committee was appointed 
 " to ascertain the bounds of the roads in the town ; also to straighten 
 said roads." The gentlemen chosen were Dea. Moses Hale, Lieut. 
 Paul Raymond, and Capt. Thomas Graton. These men were well qual- 
 ^ified for the work. Dea. Hale was a surveyor ; Lieut. Raymond had 
 a talent for road and bridge making, and Capt. Graton had experience 
 in the same line. 
 
 On the 5th of January, 1802, the town accepted the road from Ste- 
 phen Weston's to Joseph Robbins', thus opening a means of communi- 
 cation from Robbinsville to Tallow Hill. At the same time, the town 
 heard the Report of the committee chosen to ascertain the bounds of 
 
228 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 the roads, and straighten them. Each road in the report was read ahd 
 put to vote separately, and after the reading of them, their report was 
 accepted by said town, excepting the last mentioned road, namely, the 
 road from Col. Woodbury's to the county road leading from Esq. CroSr 
 by's to Gardner. The substance of the report is given below ; partly 
 in the language of the committee. By following this report carefully, 
 the roads as they were in 1802 may be found on the map. The names 
 of present inhabitants is sometimes substituted for those mentioned by 
 the committee. * 
 
 EEPOKT. 
 
 " The committee chosen by the town of Winchendon, to straighten and re- 
 new the bounds of the roads in said town, have attended that service, and make 
 the following report, which is submitted to the town for their consideration. 
 
 Winchendon, Januaiy 2, 1802. 
 
 1. A road from Ashburnham to Eoyalston, 7 13-32 miles from the Ash- 
 burnham line near Isaac Stimson's house — by the Estey school-house, and the 
 Common, and so on to Eoyalston. 
 
 2. A road from Templeton road near Eliphalet Groodridge, to the county 
 road by Eobert Bradish, 402 rods, or 1 mile and 82 rods. 
 
 3. A road from the southwest school-house, by Mr. C. C. Alger's, Capt. 
 Alger's and M. M. Keed's to Templeton road, 960 rods, or 3 miles and 37 rods. 
 
 4. A road from a spot north of Jonathan Evans' house, by Isaac Grout's 
 to the road near Timothy Hancock's. That is, from the Tyler Eaymond place 
 south to the new county road, 1 1-2 miles and 38 rods. ' 
 
 ■ 5. A road from the last mentioned road, beginning 3 rods south of Isaac 
 Grout's, going by Lt. Benjamin Kice's, westerly to the road by C. C. Alger's, 
 2-22 rods, or 1-2 mile and 62 rods. 
 
 6. A road from the notch of the road south of the bridge on Mr. Whit- 
 ney's mill pond to the south side of the Common, 457 rods, or 1 1-4 miles 
 and 57 rods.* 
 
 * This must have been the distance by the original road from the mill to the 
 south end of the Common. By three several surveys, in more recent times, 
 the distance ftom the bridge to the meeting-house built in 1792, is just about a 
 mile. This would make the distance from the mill to the south end of the Com- 
 mon, about one mile and twenty rods. Whitney, in maldngup his map,followed 
 the old survey, and gives the distance as one mile and one hundred and thir- 
 ty-seven rods, nearly, as may be seen by applying his scale to his map, yet 
 the present road Jiad been in use at least thirty years before his map was pub- 
 lished. 
 
 How can we account for the distance as given in the old surveys ? In this 
 way. There are traces of old roads around and over the central hill, which 
 
HISTOEY OF WINCHENDON. 229 
 
 7. A road from Major Sylvester's house by Dea. Samuel Prentice's to 
 Paniel Farrar's, on the Koyalston road, 1 7-8 miles and 32 rods. 
 
 8. A road from the above road, starting at Waterville, by Mr. Page's, to 
 the bridge over Miller's liver, 16 rods, and thence by Ezra Hyde's and Mr. 
 Winch's to the Fitzwilliam road ; that is, the old road from Waterville to Win- 
 chendofl Village, 307 rods. 
 
 9. A road from Eindge line by Benjamin May's, now Daniel May's, to 
 the Fitzwilliam road, not far from where Mr. Belknap now lives, 266 rods, 
 or 6 furlongs, and 26 rods. 
 
 10. A road from the Templeton road a few rods north of Abel Wilder's 
 barn, or a little west of the poor-house, by the Tuttle and Bigelow farms, to 
 the county road from Winehendon to Gardner, 582 rods, or 1 3-4 miles and 
 22 rods, 
 
 11. A road from the before-mentioned road, going by Mr. Vose's, Nathan 
 Knight's, and Thomas Greenwood's to the comer where Capt. Levi Greenwood 
 formerly lived, 582 rodsi or 1 3-4 miles and 22 rods. 
 
 meet the case, and whicli verify the remark made by the aged Mrs. Daniel 
 Jioynton before her death, that when she came to town, she " went to meet- 
 ing over the top of the hill." About half way from the old Nichols tavern to 
 the brow of the hill, at the north-east corner of the cleared field north of the 
 summit, the author has discovered the traces of an old road. It crosses the 
 ditch on the west side of the present road. Passing from this point, across 
 the field, in a southwesterly direction, to the bars in the middle of the west- 
 ern boundary, tlie curious will find clear traces of an old traveled way, going 
 past the clump of trees, on the east side, sltirting the west side of the hill, 
 and. coming out just west of the yard of Mr. Josiah Dunn. Going back almost 
 to the clump of trees, and facing tlie south, a branch road will be found tend- 
 ing to the south-west, till it is lost In a field that is under cultivation. This 
 last was probably a private road. Going back again near the clump of trees, 
 and faint traces will be found of a road reaching up the hill-side, just east of 
 the great boulder, and so on south by east to a point about south-west from 
 the new saloon on the summit ; thence extendin;; east over the hUl to the 
 blacksmith shop of Dea. John Cutter. By this road, or by that which reaches 
 the Koyalston readjust west of Mr. Dunn's, the distance of the original sur- 
 vey would be met. Again, starting from Dea. Cutter's shop, ascending the 
 hill west a few rods, and very distinct traces of an old road will be seen run- 
 ning in a northerly direction, in a direct line, to the wall. This side of the 
 wall, repeated ploughings have obliterated the marks of the road, except pos- 
 sibly in two or three places. This road is eight or ten rods east of the saloon, 
 or observatory, and may be the one by which Mrs. Boynton went to meeting ■ 
 " over the top of the hill ;" though the summit is a few feet higher. It is said 
 that this last road was made by Col. Adams, but It is probable that for his own 
 convenience, he repaired an old road, then nearly obliterated by long disuse. 
 My conjecture is that the first road went by the clump of trees to Mr. Dunn's, 
 or the Day place, with a branch over the hill to the north end of the Common ; 
 that the second road went over the hill east of the saloon, and that the pres- 
 ent is the third road, which is about a third of a mile shorter than the first. 
 
 The road starting west of the clump of trees, and going south-west, was 
 prpbably for the convenience of Abner Curtice and others, living in that di- 
 rection, 'These old roads are shown on the map by dotted lines. 
 
230 mSTOBY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 12. A road from the east school-house to Samuel Sargent's land, [or John 
 Estey's] 799 rods, or 2 1-2 Ailes. 
 
 13. A road running from the old Ashburnham road, by John Berais', on 
 the east side of the town, running south, to Gardner, 476 rods, or 1 mile and 
 l56 rods. 
 
 14. A road from the Pitzwilliam road, a little north of the John Gill house, 
 almost due east to Asa Perley's, 81 rods. 
 
 1 5. A road for Amasa Brown and Amos Hale, beginning south of Koyal-: 
 ston road by Warner's blacksmith's shop — the road by John Raymond's, 
 224 rods, or 1-2 mile and 64 rods. i 
 
 16. A road from Templeton line, north of Jonesville — a few rods north of 
 the house of Abijah Kendall — ^by Samuel Brown's, and Paul Kaymond's, 
 to Rev. Mr. Brown's barn, near the southwest corner of the Common, 1118 
 rods, or 3 miles and 158 rods. .-i 
 
 17. A road starting about 18 rods north from where the last mentioned road 
 began, on the west side, and extending twelve rods westerly to Templetpn line. , 
 
 18. A road from Royalston road, west of Esq. Crosby's, or Jarvis Winn's,' 
 northerly, across the river, to Matthew Knight's, and so on to William Tol- 
 man's, 811 rods, or 2 1-2 miles and 31 rods. 
 
 19. A road from Joseph Adams' place, by Flavel Crosby's to 3 rods north 
 of Dea. Moor's barn, near Samuel Woodbury's, 188 rods, or 1-2 mile and 28 
 rods. 
 
 20. A road for Capt. Jacob Wales, and others, beginning at the comer 
 north of Capt. Alger's, thence west, by the house of Capt. Jacob Wales, to 
 a spot about midway of the plain, thence south, by the Bowker house, thence 
 west across the river to the county road leading from Royalston to Templeton 
 near Joseph Day's bouse, a little south of the New Boston meeting-house, 588 
 rods, or 1 3-4 miles and 28 rods. 
 
 21. Henry Crooks' road extending 52 rods north from David Alger's just 
 west of Miller's river, north of where Mrs. B. Adams now lives. 
 
 22. A road from Mr. Dudley Perley's by Moses Hale's to Mr. Benjamin 
 Kidder's, through the Village, 1397 rods, or 4 miles and 117 rods. 
 
 23. A road from the last, beginning near said Kidder's, and leading west^ 
 erly to John Brooks, through Bullardville, and by Tallow Hill school-house, 
 743 rods, or 2 miles and 103 rods. 
 
 24. A road from Royalston line, west of Paul Stuart's, or George Greg- 
 ory's, southeasterly by Albert Brown's, and the Simeon Poland place, to the 
 road from Winchendon to Royalston, east of the Barzillai Martin place, 431 
 rods, or 1 mile and 111 rods. 
 
 25. A road for Capt. Graton, be^nning at Seth Tucker's, going easterly. 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENBON. ' 231 
 
 to Cayt. Graton's, since J. Hapgodd's, now used as a barn by Whitcomb & 
 Fairbank, 92 rods. 
 
 26. A road from Asaph Brown's house near the Bindge line, where John 
 Crosby formerly lived, to Fitzwilliam road near Merriain's tavern ; that is from 
 Mr. Brown's to the Village, taking the Bindge road and coming by t}ie Pay- 
 son, or E. Murdock, Jr. , and the Boynton farms, 830 rods, or 2 1-2 miles and 
 30 rods. 
 
 27. A road from Esq. Crosby's, or Jarvis Winn's to Gardner line, south 
 of Mr William Whitney's, afterwards Joseph Whitney's, 1074 rods, or 3 mUes, 
 114 rods. 
 
 All the roads three rods wide, and the bounds at the angles are heaps of 
 stones." - 
 
 "March 1, Voted to build a powder house of brick. 
 
 May 3, Accepted a road from John Brooks', west by south, to Paul Stu- 
 art's bound. Now out of use." 
 
 From this time, changes were made in the old roads, or new roads 
 were opened, as the public convenience required ; but this action of the 
 town marks a new epoch in the means of travel. Bridle roads began 
 to be obsolete, and the families generally lived on the highways. 
 
 SECTION 2. — THROUGH TRAVEL. 
 
 An effort was made very early to bring the travel from the west through 
 this place to Boston and the eastern part of the State. We have seen 
 that the Proprietors took measures to cut a road to Earlington, or North- 
 field, and thus open a communication from the valley of the Connecti- 
 cut to thaij^of the Nashua. Not far from the same time, a road was 
 opened to Fitzwilliam and Keene, by which travel from the northwest 
 was turned hitherwards. The tavern-keepers of those days, naturally 
 felt an interest in the opening and improving of roads. An enterpris- 
 ing and energetic man by the name of Levi Nichols, came into the town, 
 probably ih the year 1772. " Encouraged by the large travel through 
 the town," says Dr. Whiton, " he erected a tavern establishment, spa- 
 cious for that day, on the spot where Mr. Cromwell Fisher's house now 
 stands." After the Revolution, travel, increased, and the tavern was 
 well patronized. " In times of fine sleighing, it was not uncommon to 
 see around Jiis house, thirty or forty two-horse sleighs, loaded with prod- 
 uce for market ; the sleigh-spires turned up, resembled a little forest ; 
 while the large bams were filled with horses, and the house was crowded 
 
232 ■ HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 with teamsters, put up for the night, from the towns westward as far 
 as the Green Mountains. Mr. Nichols became extensively known, anctf 
 his tavern was for many years the most noted locality in Winchendon." 
 He finally moved to Keene, and thence to Springfield, Vt., where he 
 died. Kichard Day's house just west of the Common, was usefl for a 
 while as a public house ; then he set up a log-house tavern in the orch*; 
 ard west of the house of Mr. Isaac Cummings, where are the marks 
 of an old cellar ; but very early in our history, a public house was put: 
 up on the southeast comer of the Common, where the house of Charles 
 J. Rice now stands. Several names of the keepers of this house have 
 already been mentioned. About the time of Mr. Nichols' r^gmoval.,; 
 James McElwain, of Scotch-Irish descent, came here, and " for many 
 years in the latter part of the last century, was the well-known keepeK 
 of the old tavern-stand at the Centre, which had been formerly kept by- 
 Matthew Knight. Mr. McElwain was a man of remarkably social dis- 
 position, and had a good share of custom. In cold weather, he had 
 always ready for the traveler a blazing fire, in which lay a red-hot iron 
 poker or flip-dog ; to be plunged into the countless mugs of flip he com- 
 pounded ; that being then the favorite beverage of his customers. Those 
 mugs of sweet-spiced flip, flavored with a cracker, crowned with froth ! 
 alas ! many a man they lured along in the path to intemperance ; but 
 no man at that day suspected that in this state of things there was anyr 
 thing wrong." 
 
 About 1790, the tavern stand of Mr. Nichols was bought by Benja-; 
 min Hall, a very respectable man from Keene. After a few years, he 
 sold out to Major Sylvester from Hanover, Mass. In time, this house: 
 was closed as a tavern, and the house of Mr. McElwain became the 
 great place of resort by the traveling public, as well as by the quidnuncs 
 of the town. There was a tavern also kept by Benjamin Kidder, for 
 many years, where Jason Keith now lives. In those times the road to 
 Tallow Hill branched off at this tavern. Two great bams furnished ac- 
 commodations for teams. A few years subsequently, Dea. Moses Hale 
 opened a public house where Seth Maynard recently lived. This was 
 the most roomy house in town, and being on the road — afterwards a 
 turnpike — agoing directly from the village to Ashbumham, recdved the' 
 travel which was diverted from the bill or Centre. 
 
 Early in 1795, a post-route was established from Boston to Charies-; 
 town, N. Hr, via Leominster, Winchendon and Keene. Jotham John- 
 
HISTORY OF WmCHKNDON. ' 233 
 
 son, of Leominster, informed the public, through the " Columbian In- 
 fbrmer," a newspaper published at Keene, dated February 4, 1795, 
 that he " transports the mail from Boston to Charlestown, conveying 
 it in winter in a covered sleigh, carrying passengers at three pence 
 per mile, with fourteen pounds baggage gratis." He carried the mail 
 several years ; in summer on horse-back. One summer he tried the 
 experiment of running a four-horse stage. This was " quite an epoch 
 in Winchendon ; the excitement was hardly less than that attendant on 
 the first running of the cars. The inmates of the houses ran to the 
 d6ors and windows, to gaze at the stage, and scan the passengers ; but 
 the proprietor foutod the roads too bad, and the patronage too small, 
 to justify the continuance of the stage." The mail passed from Bos- 
 ton to Leominster, on Wednesday ; from Leominster to Keene on Thurs- 
 day ; Friday, from Keene to Charlestown and back to Walpole ; Sat- 
 urday, from Walpole to Leominster ; and thence, Monday, to Boston. 
 " Johnson's arrival with the Boston mail, was awaited with great im- 
 patience, by the quidnuncs of the day ; they thought themselves for^ 
 tunate indeed in having a mail from Boston once every tveek; it seemed 
 to them all they could wish." 
 
 Sixty years ago it was thought " quite a feat" to come from Boston 
 to this place by stage, in a day. About that time, — 1805-6 — is the 
 date of the completion of the old turnpike road from Fitzwilliam to 
 Winchendon, and on to the East. It was deemed at the time a great 
 achievement, giving promise of a " flood of travel to pass through town." 
 For a time there was a good share of travel upon it ; but rival routes 
 were constructed, which drew away much of the patronage. After 
 some years, the Rindge route was most frequented, and that through 
 Winchendon became comparatively forsaken. ' To the proprietors it 
 proved a bad investment ; in fourteen or fifteen years, shares of one 
 hundred dollars depreciated down to fifteen or twenty, and soon after- 
 wards became worthless. That day was the age of Turnpikes; but 
 sooner qi; later, a similar fate overtook nearly, if not quite all these 
 roads." 
 
 The opening of the road by the Hale tavern diverted travel from the 
 hill, and took away custom from the tavern half way up the hill, and 
 from that at the southeast corner of the Coramon. When the travel 
 began to go through Rindge, the Hale tavern suffered. By opening 
 the new road from the Village to Ashburnham, up the valley of Mil- 
 
284 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 ler's river, travel was brought hither again, and for some years before 
 the railroad was extended through thislown, long lines of teams were 
 continually passing through the Village. A team of six, eight, and 
 even nine horses, was not an uncommon sight. At this time, the only 
 hotel much patronized, — indeed the only one in town, except the Cobb 
 tavern in New Boston, — was kept by Mr. Milton S. Morse. A daily 
 stage between Boston and Keene, passed each way. Previous to this, 
 a stage line ran from Worcester, via Templeton, through the Centre 
 of the town, to the north and west. At another period, a stage Ime 
 passed up and down, through Fitzwilham, the west part of this town, 
 and Templeton. But since 1830, a vast amount of travel, by road or 
 railway, has passed through the Village. 
 
 The Post Office was at the Centre till about 1805, or 1806, when 
 the Turnpike created a sort of necessity for it to be located in the Vil- 
 lage, where, with a brief interval, it has since remained. 
 
 SECTION 3. — NEW KOADS. 
 
 It is time to resume the chronological narrative of the progress of 
 road and bridge-making in the town. In 1802, a new line of road 
 for Charles Chase was accepted, and the old discontinued. Both were, 
 long since, abandoned. The people of Royalston wanted a good road 
 towards the east, without the necessity of going over Winchendon hill. 
 In 1802, September 6, the town chose the Selectmen. as a committee 
 to oppose a change in the road in the south part of the town, which the 
 people of Royalston were trying to secure. Samuel Crosby was chosen 
 agent to attend the Court, and use his influence, " and aU other means 
 he shall judge host," in opposition. November 1, it was voted to build 
 over the river, above the oil mill, where the bridge now stands, [near 
 the works of Goodspeed & Wyman] " and take it in shares, if they 
 will make a turnpike road through the town, so as to pass over said 
 bridge." A road was accepted for Col. Woodbury, by James Ray- 
 mond's and north by west to the county road from Esq. Cro|by's to 
 Gardner, coming into the latter a little south of where Isaac Cummings 
 formerly lived. It was a miserable road ; two houses were on it, both 
 long since fallen down ; and the road north of Mr. Raymond's has been 
 unknown to any of this generation. Before this time, Mr. Woodbury 
 reached the Common by going south and west, to the Gardner road. 
 The road was 1043 rods, or three miles and 85 rods in length. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 235 
 
 In 1803, a road 236 rods long, from Levi Brooks' north to the State 
 line, was accepted. It never came into use. At the same time, a road 
 was accepted for Isaac Taylor and others, from Gardner line north by 
 east to another " road already laid out, 104 rods." On the first of 
 November, the town voted to repair the bridge above Amasa Whitney's 
 mill. Accepted a road by the dry bridge near Samuel Hartwell's, 257 
 rods north by west. The " dry bridge" was west of the Wales or Cobb 
 tav§m. When Denison pond was very fall, a stream passed from it 
 under this bridge. 
 
 In 1804, the town strenuously opposed opening a new road from 
 Capt. Hoar's, in Gardner, to Winchendon Common. In April, it was 
 voted to oppose the road, the old road answering the needs of travel. 
 In July, Lieut. Paul Raymond was chosen agent to oppose the road — 
 before the county authorities — of course. The road was laid out, but 
 in November, the town renewed the opposition. A subscription had 
 been raised by those favoring the road, and the question came up in 
 town meeting, to see if a sum of money should be granted in addition. 
 " No," said the town. The road was made, and in after years, cost 
 the town much money. The town almost always neglected it, and was 
 compelled by the county to make repairs. It was the new county road, 
 nearly in a straight line, regardless of hills, rocks or swamps. There 
 were no houses on the road, and it was of little use to the town. Tav- 
 ern-keepers at either end received some patronage from through travel. 
 
 The year 1805 witnessed several attempts at mending or opening 
 roads. There was an alteration in the road from Robert Bradish's, by 
 the burying-yard, to where C. C. Alger lives; an alteration in William 
 Tolman's road ; a road accepted for Stephen Tolman, 119 rods, and 
 another for Peleg Battles, extending from near John Brooks' house, 
 northwest, 106 rods, to the extreme northwest part of the town. On 
 the 10th of March, $300 were voted to pay the damages incurred on 
 the new county road to Gardner. In May, $300 were voted to pay 
 for making the new county road to Gardner. On the 3d of Novem- 
 ber, the Selectmen were directed to answer by letter, a complaint from 
 the Grand Jury respecting the old county road from Gardner to Win- 
 chendon, by William Whitney's. The turnpike through the Village, 
 and the causeway over the pond, were made this year. 
 
 1807, April 6. Accepted a road for Mr. Wood, from Stephen Tol- 
 man's road to the Mineral Spring, half a mile. This road was the first 
 
236 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 openmg to the Spring by a town road. The next year, June 29, it was 
 voted " to lay out $25 on the road to the ' Virtuous Springs.' '•' This 
 was ancient usage in regard to mineral springs. 
 
 In 1808, March 7, a road from Jacob Hale's, — near the Waterville 
 school-house, — to Kilburn's mill, was accepted, for David MpElwain 
 and Daniel Farrar. May 2, it was voted to. build a bridge near Mr. 
 Ezra Hyde's, and "that the .abutments be of stone. This was the bridge 
 at Waterville. Grant for bridges, 1100. May 26, f300 were voted 
 for the new county road to Gardner ; Lieut. Raymond to see to the work. 
 
 SECTION 4. — WOECESTER AND riTZWILLIAM TURNPIKE. 
 
 Another source of annoyance and expense to the town, with very 
 little good by way of compensation, came this year, in the new turn- 
 pike, along the western border. On the 7th of November, Lt. Ray 
 mond, Dea. Halo and Capt. Nathaniel Holman, were chosen to meet 
 the committee of the above company, " to see on what conditions they 
 can agree to build the bridge over Miller's river, near Lieut. John 
 Pierce's." That is, west of Denison Pond. At an adjourned meet- 
 ing, November 21, it was voted, " that if the proprietors of the Wor- 
 cester and Fitz^villiam Turnpike will enter into bonds to the town^s 
 acceptance, to clear the town from any further expense for keeping in 
 ir'epair the county road from John R. Gelding's, that is, the Gibson or 
 Bagley corner, by John Pierce's, to Templeton line, the town will build 
 a bridge and causeway for the use of the town and said corporation." 
 Chose Lt. Raymond, Dea. Hale and Capt. Graton a committee to in- 
 form the turnpike company. As the turnpike passed oyer the county 
 road from Fitzwilliam to Templeton, this was perhaps a good arrange^ 
 ment for both parties, until finally the gate-fees became an intolerable 
 burden. The above meeting adjourned a week, and then voted " to 
 build the bridge and causeway, stone abutment on west side, logs on 
 east side, forty feet wide for .the run. Then east about eleven rods 
 and sluiceway, forty feet wide. Bridge and causeway twenty-four feet 
 wide." 
 
 Since the new turnpike was opened from the Village to Fitzwilliam, 
 the best way to Bullardyille was on this road to the comer, by the ol(J 
 May house ; accordingly, the road from the Kidder tavern to the May 
 corner, was discontinued in 1809. On the 10th of April, #300 were 
 granted for the new county road to Gardner. December 28, a road 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 237 
 
 from Stephen Weston's to Joseph Robbins' 225 rods was accepted ; by 
 Tfhich it appears that the former action had effected nothing. 
 
 In 1810 a part of the old road to Gardner was discontinued ; the part 
 extending from near the old Emery or Isaac Cummings place, to the 
 present road from the Poor-farm to the Bigelow place. 
 
 On the 9th of April, 1811, a road was accepted for James and Jesse 
 Raymond, from the new Gardner road, east by south to the said Ray- 
 mond's, 248 rods ; no damages to any one to be paid, and no extra 
 money for making. On the 11th of October, it was voted to repair the 
 bridges over Miller's river, by Abel Jones' beyond Waterville, and also 
 by David Alger's, near New Boston, and te build one over the river in 
 the Village. At a meeting, November 4, it was voted " to let the Vil- 
 lage bridge' as lotted out by the committee. Total, $100.85." 
 
 The new county road to Gardner was always like Oliver Twist, " ask- 
 ing for more." In 1812, May 2, a grant of $200 was made for re- 
 pairs. On the 6th of April, a change was made in the road from Dea. 
 Amos Heywood's to Rindge line ; a change also in the road frem Ste- 
 phen Weston's by Levi Brooks', and the Chase road was given up. On 
 the 10th of A.ugust, a bridle way was accepted from Robert Hough- 
 ton's house southerly, to the bars south of Samuel Sargent's house, 130 
 rods. 
 
 In 1814, May 2, the town accepted a road laid out for John Kilburn 
 and others, from near Daniel Stimson's — or rather, near the Kilburn 
 mill southerly, across the plain, to the road extending from the Common 
 to New Boston ; 251 rods in length. Mr. Kilburn and Mr. Reed to 
 pay land damages. 
 
 In 1815, September 11, it was voted to repair the old road leading 
 from the turnpike near Joseph Robbins, to the old county road. The 
 old road has loiig been out of use. John Flagg lived south of the junc- 
 tion of Otter and Miller's rivers, and needed a road and bridge. The 
 town therefore voted to accept a road for the said Flagg, and appoint- 
 ed a committee to confer with him about a bridge across Otter river. 
 The road begins a little south of Jonathan Wyman's house and goes 
 directly west across the river. Mr. Wyman bid off the bridge at $11. 
 
 November 4, 1816, the Selectmen were directed to build a bridge 
 near the Robbins null on the road to Weston's. 
 
 Some may be not unwilling to know where the first guide-boards were 
 set up. Here is a list as they were placed in 1817. 
 
238 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 " One board near Capt. Phinehas Whitney's, directing to Worcester, 
 Westminster and Ashbumham. 
 
 One board near Esq. Newcomb's, ditecting to Worcester and ^em- 
 pleton. 
 
 One board near James McElwain's, directing to Worcester and 
 Templeton. 
 
 One board near John Estey's, directing toWinchendon and RoyalstOn. 
 
 One board near Isaac Morse's, directing to Worcester and Eiridge. 
 
 One board near Ephraim Murdock's, directing to Royalston. 
 
 One board near Mr. Readfield's, directing to Royalston. 
 
 One board near Joshua Wyman's, directing to Royalston. 
 
 One board near Storr or Stower Reals' directing to Ashburnhain." 
 
 The annual grant for keeping the highways in repair, grew morehb- 
 eral from the beginiiing of the century. In 1808 the grant was $1000. 
 The same sum was continued for many years, even down to, and beyond 
 the period to which we have now arrived. 
 
 In May, 1820, it was voted to lay out |50 on the Isaac Taylor road. 
 
 In 1821 the bit of road from Dea. Hale's tavern, south by west, ab^^t 
 forty rods, to the road leading from the Common to Ashburnham was 
 accepted. At the same time, the road from Dea. Hale's to Joseph 
 Whitney's — the old Dudley Perley place — ^was discontinued. After- 
 wards — in 1823 — it was re-opened. There was a straight road — since 
 discontinued, from Dea. Hale's to the Estey school-house. 
 
 1822, May 6, the town accepted the road from David Seaman's to 
 widow Hey wood's — since Capt. Forristall's — 164 rods in length, on con- 
 dition that the town be indemnified from any charges for the land, or 
 ^ncing the same, and the north district make the road. 
 
 A slight alteration was made in the road from the southwest burying- 
 yard to the turnpike, in 1824. 
 
 On the 7th of March, 1825, a road for John Kilbum, was accepted, 
 from his mill, on the west side of Miller's river, north, to the Royals- 
 ton road. This road was made, in course of time, and was used till 
 the woods in the neighborhood were all cut up. The road is now grown 
 over, in spots, with young trees, and entirely out of use. It was 238 
 rods in length. In May, the Selectmen were directed without expense 
 to the town, to view the roads, see where they were too narrow, and 
 have all three rods wide. Robert Houghton's bridle-path was changed 
 into a road. Cyrus Pierce, who then lived at the Butler mill place, 
 
HISTOKY OP WINCH^NDON. 289 
 
 had a road from the mill, southerly, 215 rods, to the road leading from 
 the Estey school house to Robert Houghton's ; the point of junction 
 being just west of the bridge over Miller's river. 
 
 SECTION 6. — CONTEST WITH TURNPIKE COMPANIES. 
 
 In 1823, the North Branch Turnpike Corporation wanted to set 
 up a toll-gate near the house of Esq. Murdock, in lieu of two gates at 
 other points on the road, with the privilege of charging double toll. 
 The town remonstrated with great spirit ; sent the remonstrance to the 
 General Court, and instructed their representative, Isaac Morse, Esq., 
 to oppose the project. 
 
 Two or three years later, the town was troubled by the action of the 
 other Turnpike company, and on the 1st of May, 1826, voted unani- 
 mously to remonstrate against the Worcester and Fitzwilliam Turnpike 
 Corporation erecting a gate near the Denison pond in Winchendon. 
 A remonstrance was drawn up at considerable length, probably by Esq. 
 Henshaw, presenting the objections with great force. It seems that 
 the town, and the inhabitants living on and near the road, were at a 
 great part of the expense and trouble of making the turnpike-road, 
 (besides giving the land,) and making the bridges on the same. The 
 town built the largest bridge at great expense ; and the next largest 
 was built by private inhabitants, without any expense to the corpora- 
 tion, or any benefit to themselves, except the free use of that part of 
 the turnpike l^ng near them, and within the bounds of Massachusetts. 
 The fifth point of remonstrance is of general interest, as may be seen 
 by reading it in the words following : 
 
 " Because in this age, and in this land of liberty, turnpike gates are every- 
 where considered a nuisance, and vexatious to travelers, as well as the turn- 
 pike roads themselves, which are generally the poorest rbads over which the 
 traveler passes from one part of the country to another ; it is often the case 
 that people are obliged to travel on a turnpike , and to he obhged to travel on 
 a bad and dangerous road, and to be frequently and forcibly stopped and de- 
 tained, and have draughts made on their purses, and their patience, is con- 
 sidered an infringemont of liberty, a sort of legalized robbery, which is fast be- 
 coming intolerable. Your remonstrants would therefore humbly yet respect- 
 fully suggest the propriety of diminishing this great evil, by improving every 
 legal means to lessen the nnmber of gates, instead of increasing the evil by 
 adding to the nmnber ahready erected." 
 
240 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 This remonstrance was unanimously adopted, and sent to the Gen- 
 eral Court. 
 
 The next year, December 24, 1827, the town chose a committee of 
 three — David Henshaw, Jacob Wales and Israel Whitcomb — to remon- 
 strate against theWorcester and Fitzwilliam Turnpike Corporation mov- 
 ing their toll gate from where it now is, to near Jacob Wales'. In 1830, 
 this Corporation wished to get rid of its road from the Baptist meeting- 
 house to the FitzwilUam line. Probably there was no gate between the 
 two points. The town chose a committee to remonstrate against such 
 discontinuance. The idea was this ; that the Turnpike Co. as long as 
 it took toll, should keep its whole line of road in repair. 
 
 In 1828, October 13, there was a meeting to act on an article in the 
 warrant, " to see what course the town will pursue as respects the North 
 Branch Turnpike road being laid out as a county road." It was voted 
 to choose a committee of three to meet the county Commissioners ; viz : 
 D. Henshaw, Benjamin Adams, Sen., and Ebenezer Richardson. It 
 was voted that the inhabitants of this town are in favor of the petition 
 of Amory Holinan in behalf of the North Branch Turnpike Corpora- 
 tion, for making such turnpike a free road. Several reasons are given. 
 1. Tnat there must be a road on the route for the convenience of the 
 people. 2. There was no way to compel the Corporation to repair the 
 road. It was thought right also that the county should bear some part 
 of the expense. This was the last of the turnpike " nuisance." 
 
 Going back and collecting stray items, we find there was a vote. May 
 1, 1826, to repair the causeway between Mr. Ball's and Mi-. Caswell's, 
 when Luke Parks, John Kilburn and Oliver Lovejoy were chosen to 
 see it done. 
 
 The town was indicted for not keeping the new county road to Gard- 
 ner in repair. On the 18th of August, a grant of $300 was made, to 
 be expended on this road, and the town instructed a committee " to hire 
 the best of hands," &c. An agent was chosen to inform the Court of 
 Common Pleas of this action. The indictment was removed. The next 
 entry is suggestive. On the 11th of September the vote granting |300 
 for the county road, was reconsidered, and then f 100 was granted for 
 the county road, and the other |200 for the Houghton and the Pierce 
 or Butler roads. On the 7th of March, 1827, Capt. John Forristall 
 was chosen agent to put the new county road to Gardner, in good re- 
 pair, from John Woodbury's to the Common. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 241 
 
 1828. The town accepted a road, May 5, from the southwest corner 
 of the town, near Mr. Forbush's, leading north by east, to the turnpike 
 going from Templeton to Fitzwilliam, by the Gibson corner, 402 rods, 
 on condition that the town " be indemnified from paying any damages 
 for said road, and have four years to make it in, by paying $30 per year 
 in highway work, in addition to the highway district's proportion of high- 
 way money in which said road is situated." ' This road was built in two 
 or three years, after several delays, and by it a good route was opened 
 to South Royalston. 
 
 SECTION 6. — A SECTIONAL STRUGGLE. 
 
 About this time — 1828 — the town was agitated by a sectional strug- 
 gle, which, after several fluctuations, finally settled in favor of the Vil- 
 lage, and as a consequence, secured its lead in town affairs, and helped 
 to its rising prosperity. There was an effort to run two roads through 
 the town, neither of them to touch the Common, but north and south 
 of it. Oliver Far and others petitioned for one from S. Bowker's in Roy- 
 alston, through Winchendon Village and Ashburnham to Fitchburg. 
 The town voted against this — 12 yeas to 17 nays, — and chose D. Hen- 
 shaw, Esq., and Col. B. Adams to meet the Commissioners, and oppose 
 the project. The other road was asked for by Joseph Estabrooks and 
 ^others, to start from near Bowker's, go through the south of the town, 
 Gardner and Westminster. The town voted in favor of this route. The 
 object of the town was to prevent, so to speak, a disturbance of its equi- 
 librium. A road through the south part of the town would be of scarce 
 any benefit to the town, and of none at all to the Centre ; but a road 
 through the Village, which was now quite a nucleus of business, would 
 tend to its increase. This raised visions of the removal of the meeting- 
 house, and the place of holding town-meetings, which it was painful to 
 the people of the central and southern parts of the tolirn to contemplate. 
 
 In April, 1829, the town granted §200 to be laid out on the old turn- 
 pike, below the Village ; that is, on the way towards the Hale tavern, 
 and so to Ashburnham, by one branch, and Westminster, by another. 
 The town could vote for this, because it would thus head off a new pro- 
 ject for a road direct to Ashburnham, near the river. On the 4th of 
 May, the north rallied, and the town chose Isaac Morse an agent to wait 
 on the Commissioners and " request them to postpone laying out a road 
 through the south part of Winchendon, for the present." This was the. 
 
 16 
 
242 HISTORY OP WINCHBNDON. 
 
 most that could be secured. The town had declared in favor of the 
 southern route, but was willing to have it postponed " for the present." 
 At the same time, it was voted to lay out $150 on the old turnpike above 
 the Village, under the superintendence of Capt Forristall. 
 
 The, south road was not " postponed," and the town was called on 
 to build it. On the 7th of September, a committee of five, — Jacob Wales, 
 Col. Adams, Capt. B. Wilder, Capt. Levi Greenwood, and Jacob Wood- 
 bury — were chosen " to lot out and let out the road" through the south 
 part of the town. The road was built, and perhaps other towns have 
 derived some benefit from it, in former times. To this town it was sim- 
 ply a bill of expense. 
 
 At the same meeting it was resolved, that the town are opposed to 
 the laying out of a new road in the north part of the town. D. Hen- 
 shaw, Esq., Capt. Benj. Wilder, and Messrs. William Brown, M. M. 
 Reed, and Stephen Tolman, — all living south of the Centre or on the 
 old turnpike— were chosen a committee " to use all reasonable means 
 to oppose the laying out of said road," and to meet the Commissioners 
 for that purpose. It should be said, in this connection, that a few in 
 the north section joined the opposition. Those whose houses were on 
 the old turnpike, and whose farms would be cut in the rear by the new 
 county road, did not see any advantage to themselves in the proposed 
 measure, and voted with the south section. But in spite of this persist- 
 ent opposition, the Commissioners laid the road. In consequence, the 
 town was soon called upon to furnish the means. A meeting was held 
 on the Slst of October, at which it was voted to choose a committee of 
 five " to lot out, and let out, and superintend the making of the road." 
 Chose Isaac Morse, Israel Whitcomb, Benjamin Adams, John Forris- 
 tall and Amasa Whitney. Two of these lived in the Village, one at 
 the extreme north, one at the extreme south and one in the centre of 
 the town. 
 
 For nearly twenty years, the annual grant for highways had been 
 f 1000 ; but in 1830, May 5, there was an increase. There was the 
 usual grant of flOOO, and a part of the $1700 for expenses of the 
 town, was to be devoted to the making of the two new roads. In ad- ; 
 dition, a subscription had been made for the purpose of aiding the north ' 
 road. In 1889, $1250 were granted for highways, and $2000 for 
 neiBf roads and other necessary charges. As $1000 was about the 
 
HiSToaT ©p wisrcHBNBOir- 243 
 
 EUTB usuafly granted jearly for roads before this time, it will be seen 
 that the two new roads required quite an outlay of money. 
 
 SECTION 7. VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS. 
 
 The Gardner road, on which scarcely anybody lived, was up again 
 for repair. A complaint had been made to the grand jury. !fihe town 
 chose an agent, August 2, 1830, to repair the road under the inspection 
 of the Selectmen, and granted $100 for the purpose. Nothing was 
 done however till the next spring, when Capt. Forristall was chosen a 
 special agent to lay out the money, on the road " between the Common 
 and Gardner line." In 1830, the Selectmen were authorized to build 
 a new bridge by Poor's kjiU, if thought necessary. It was voted also, 
 to bmld a bridge of wood over the river by Amasa Whitney's mill. This 
 was delayed four or five years, as repairs at the north end, made the 
 bridge safe. 
 
 In 1832, measures were taken to repair the old turnpike from the 
 ViSage to Fitzwilliam. This was the turnpike by Robbinsville. It was, 
 by this time, given up by the Turnpike Co., and the gates were removed. 
 The causeway west of the New Boston meeting-house was repaired. On 
 the 27th of October, it was voted, almost unanimously, to oppose the 
 proposed road from Royalston Factory to the Village. 
 
 Probably this scheme, and another which came up the next year, 1833, 
 were thought to be for the benefit of Waterville rather than the Village. 
 The other proposed road was to go from Waterville, over Prentice and 
 Eenjamin hills to Capt. Adams', now Mr. Fisher's. It was, pr&bably, 
 a new and improved route, by which the Waterville people could get 
 to the Centre without going through the Village. Both attempts failed. 
 In 1833, March 7, the town voted to lay out a road ftom Levi Pren- 
 tiss', — ^near the present house of Harvey Wyman, — to the county road, 
 where William Brown 2d now resides, 22 rode ; and discontinue the old 
 road from the said Prentiss' to Luke Hey wood's. This old road went 
 by Mr. Sumner Wyman's and Mrs. Connors' to the old Brooks house. 
 On the 21st of September, the town " accepted the doings of the Seleotr 
 men in laying the road by the ledge, near Lewis Bobbins' house." The 
 ledge was near the present house of William Woodcock, and the road 
 went from B. Stuart's to Bobbins', and thence up to the hill to Levi 
 Priest's, 69 rods- 
 
244 HISTORY OF WINCHEHDON. 
 
 A road was needed from Spring Village toRindge, but the town voted, 
 in March, 1834, not to accept one. The roads in Waterville were slightly 
 altered, but the changes were not important. On the 10th of Novem- 
 ber, the town accepted a road made by Amasa Whitney, leading east 
 from S^ Tucker's to the Gibson house, 24 rods. Also a road 58 rods 
 long, fwm. Charles Tolman's — -just west of the Methodist parsonage — 
 to the cironty road ; that is, to the east comer of the Academy lot. This 
 was probably an alteration of the old road. 
 
 In 1835, March meeting, Joseph Bobbins, was forbidden to flow the 
 road, in two places, by his dams. On the 25th of September it was 
 voted to build a bridge by Amasa Whitney's mill. On the 9th of No- 
 vember, the town was called upon to build the road from Spring Vil- 
 lage, northward ; and it accordingly chose a committee to " lay out and 
 let the building of the road ordered by the County Commissioners from 
 Spring Village to Rindge line. Chose John Forristall, James McEl- 
 wain, and Henry Greenwood. 
 
 An important move was made in 1837, to bring the Village and 
 Waterville into more .easy communication. On the 1st of May, it was 
 voted to accept the river road from Waterville to the Village, 279 rods 
 and 6 links in length. Damages awarded to Job Hyde, f 30 ; to Esq. 
 Murdock, $60. November 13, an alteration was made in the road 
 leading from Baldwin's to the Estey school-house. The change was 
 from the new county road to Ashburnham, across, the river, southerly, 
 to the road from Butler's mill to the school-house. Also, an alteration 
 in the road, from the Spring crossing, north by east, towards Spring 
 Village, 57 rods, 7 links. 
 
 In 1838, the road from Waterville to No. 9 school-house was ac- 
 cepted ; 162 rods. Also, a road was accepted from Joseph Bobbins', 
 north by east, to the State line, 157 rods. March 4, 1839, a road 
 from near No. 6 schobl-house, to the new county road to Gardner, about 
 131 rods, was accepted. On the third of June, this was authorized as 
 _■& private way. There was to be a gate at each end. 
 
 The grant for highways, in 1834, was $1600 ; in 1835, $1200 ; in 
 1836, $1600 ; the same sum the next three years ; in 1839, $1800 ; 
 the same sum in 1840. 
 
 In this last year, September 14, the town directed the Selectmen to 
 meet the County Commissioners^ and oppose, if expedient, the Chesh- 
 ire Railroad Company's laying their road across town ways at grade. 
 
HISTOKY 05' WINCHBNDON. 245 
 
 In 1841, May 3, the road from Spring Village to Richard Whitney's 
 ^ — now Capt. E. Murdock's farm — 249 rods, was accepted. 
 
 In 1842, there was an alteration in the road from Edward Load's, 
 in Bullardville, westward, 89 rods. And a road was authorized from 
 the house of John Brooks, 139 rods, to Samuel Holman's. It was vo- 
 ted to put up gates at the ends of the road extending from Kilhum's 
 mill northerly to the Royalston road ; then voted to discontinue the 
 road. An effort was made to improve the road from Marvin T. Nash's 
 — then living near the No. 2 school-house — to the Kidder place ; but 
 it failed by a vote of 14 to 76. A few days later, June 6, a commit- 
 tee was chosen to meet the Commissioners, and see if there is not a 
 better route from M. T. Nash's by the J. Bradish place, to the Ktz- 
 wUliam line, and request them not to cause the town to msike a new 
 road until it is known whether a railroad is to be made to Fitchburg, 
 or not. The improvement was ordered, and on the 7th of March, 1843, 
 the town chose a committee of five, — E. Murdock, Jr., John Forristall, 
 Isaac Morse, Levi Greenwood and George Alger, — " to lot out and 
 let out, and superintend the building of the road ordered by the County 
 Commissioners." On the 1st of May, #600 were granted for building 
 the road. On the 5th of June, the Selectmen were authorized to bor- 
 row $1500 for building said road. Voted, also to accept a re-lay of 
 the road from Mr. Nash's to the old road, 129 rods. And the next 
 year a road from the new road to FitzwilUam to the Nahum Bobbins 
 road, was accepted. This new road to the FitzwilUam line was a great 
 improvement, inasmuch as it avoided two formidable hills on the old 
 turnpike road. 
 
 In 1843, March 6, the Selectmen were directed to repair the road 
 to Gardner, and the old road to Ashbumham. June 5, they were au- 
 thorized to repair the road in New Boston — the old Worcester and 
 Fitzwilliam turnpike, the company now being defunct. At the same 
 time, the street in front of the Methodist meeting-house was accepted, 
 15 rods, 12 links. Also, accepted an improvement of the road this 
 side of Mr. Ball's ; that is, up the sand hill this side of the bridge over 
 Miller's river, by Mr. Ball's. The change extended about 68 rods. 
 
 In 1845, March meeting, $150 were granted for the new road to 
 Ashbumham, and $2337.76 for the new road to Fitzwilliam. Here it 
 may be remarked, that from the time when the new road to Ashbum- 
 ham was opened, travel began again to take the route through the Vil- 
 
246 HISTOKI OF WIRCHENBOW- 
 
 lage, and GHKitimied so till the raflroadl was opened m 1847. Oa the 30th 
 of June, the road from the Houghton place, eastward 110 rods; to the 
 Ashbumham line, was accepted. No damage awarde*?. On the 10th 
 of November, thist part of Summer street east of Central street, was 
 iaccepted. Also, a road from oppoate Harvey Wyman's old black- 
 smith shop to the residence of Rev. A. P. Marvin—now Dea. Butler's, 
 —33 1-2 rods. 
 
 1846, B%cter D. Whitney was allowed, November 9, to raise the 
 road this ade of the Spring crossing, becaiuse the elevation of his dam 
 flowed the water over the road. 
 
 In 1847, November 29, a road was accepted from S. Tusker's, west, 
 16 rods ; a part of Maple street. 
 
 In 1849, November 12, » road was accepted from the Butler mills', 
 south, acrosa the railroad, to the Ashbumham road, 61 rods ; with the 
 right to carry the water across the road, and to build a railroad track 
 beside the Cheslrire railroad, but not to obstruct travel. At the same 
 meeting, the road from the Butler mills, north-east, about 180 rods to 
 liie Houghton road, was accepted. The old road from the Butler mills 
 to David Hint's was discontinued. At the same time, an effort was 
 made to shut up the old road from Waterville over the Benjamin hill. 
 The motion failed, partly because the road- was convenient for some 
 persons to resell! their lands, and partly because the road affords many 
 splendid vi'ews to those who admire the beauties of nature. Every 
 house forBSerly on this road has disappeared ; but the time w2l come 
 when a part of it ^vill be cho^n for pleasant residence^ At this meet- 
 ing, a few rods of road were discontinued just east of the No. 9 school-" 
 house. 
 
 In 1850, November 11, an alteration ia the road by Jacob Wood- 
 bury's, 85 rods, was allowed, and $90 damages were awarded to him. 
 Pleasant street, from Front, northerly 76 rods, was accepted- In 1851, 
 an alteration was authorized in the road from where Horace Whitcomb 
 then lived, south by the old burying-yard, and^O damages awarded. 
 
 SECTION S.-^THKEE NEW BOADS. 
 
 At this period there was need of at least fbtsr-— perhaps five-— new 
 loads, for the accommodation of the public. Oite of them, extending 
 from Waterville school-house, south by west, thiFOugh the Asa Hyde 
 Harm to the comer o£ the Fry road, 183 rods, and ofiering: a (Erect 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 247 
 
 route towards New Boston and South Royaiston, was accepted on con- 
 ditions. But the road has never been opened. 
 
 Another was needed, extending from Bullardville to Waterville, by 
 the Hyde mill, but it had to wait four or five years before the town took 
 favorable action. Three of the needed roads, by strenuous effort, were 
 opened. 
 
 , The first of these extends from the Raymond corner to the Estey 
 school-house. More than half a century before, Messrs. James and 
 Jesse Raymond, and Mr. Woodbury applied for a road to the Dudley 
 Perley place, whereby they could reach the Centre or the Village mill. 
 Their effort failed. Their descendants, Levi and Clark Raymond, and 
 the Woodburys, applied for a road in 1849, and on the 10th of De- 
 cember, it was accepted. This was to extend to the Estey school-house, 
 because it would be more convenient than the route proposed before, 
 and was 359 rods in length. Damages allowed, $305. On the 1st 
 of April, 1850, the former vote was reconsidered by a vote of 75 to 18. 
 In 1853, May 25, the subject came up again, and several votes were 
 taken, but finally the application for the road was rejected. At length 
 the County Commissioners approved of the route, and the road was 
 built in 1855. It is not only a great convenience to the people in the 
 east section of the town, bjit also to all travelers between the Village 
 and Gardner. 
 
 The second of the needed roads which succeeded in the struggle for 
 existence, was what is called the Alger road. The town declined to 
 build it ; an appeal was made to the County Commissioners, who ap- 
 proved it. On the 15th of April, 1850, the town chose a committee 
 to oppose the Alger road before the Commissioners. The route was 
 approved, and the road was built. It extends from the Royaiston road, 
 at a point a little east of Mr. Nathaniel Hale's house, southerly to the 
 Corner north of Capt. George Alger's, and thus opens all of the 8th 
 district to Waterville, while affording a good road between the Village 
 and Baldwinville. 
 
 The third road was called the Kilbum and Gibson road ; more prop- 
 erly, Kilburn and Sibley. On the 21st of February, 1853, the town 
 accepted this road, extending from near the Kilburn mill to the Sibley 
 mill, 332 rods, and allowed |350 for damages. On the 30th of April, 
 this action was reconsidered ; and then the last vote was reconsidered. 
 The subject came up again on the 25th of May, when the result was 
 
248 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 in favor of the road. It was built accordingly. On the 30th of August, 
 a short road from Gibson's comer to the flag station on the Vermont 
 & Massachusetts railroad, which had been resisted strongly, was ac- 
 cepted. This was reconsidered, and then again accepted. 
 
 At length, the proposed road from Bullardville to Hydeville, and so 
 on to Waterville, was, through the persevering efforts of Mr. E^ra 
 Hyde and others, accepted, in 1854 ; length, 278 rods ; damages, fSO. 
 But opposition prevented its being built until 1860, when on the 10th 
 of March, it was agreed to finally, and was to be 343 rods in length. 
 
 SECTION 9. — NEW BRIDGES. 
 
 The great flood in April, 1852, made it necessary to lay out quite a 
 sum of money, without delay, for bridges. Nearly every dam and bridge 
 on the river, from the Ashbumham line to New Boston, was swept away. 
 The waters on the northern branch were held back by the great .Mo- 
 nomonauk lake and reservoir, so that no damage was incurred. On the 
 4th of May a town meeting was held, and a committee of nine chosen 
 to examine the several bridges to be built, and make plans and estimates 
 for rebuilding the same, and report to an adjourned meeting. Also to 
 do all things which they think necessary and proper for forwarding the 
 rebuilding said bridges, before the meeting. On the 15th of May the 
 committee made a report, which was accepted. A committee of three 
 — Oliver Adams, Milton S. Morse, and Ephraim W. Lord, was chosen 
 to lot out, let out, and superintend the building of the bridges. 
 
 The appropriations for highways fluctuated from f 1000 to $1600, for 
 several years. This included bridges, except those which, on account 
 of their cost, required a special grant. In 1853, the grant for highways 
 was but $1200 ; but that for town charges was $3,500. In 1854, for 
 the same purpose, $4,000. The next two years, the grant was $5,000 
 for each year. A part of this went to pay tor the bridges ; but the 
 exact amount is not known. 
 
 In May, 1852, the road from Robbins' mill to the bridge, on the Wa- 
 terville road was accepted. At first, when this road was laid out, it 
 crossed the river by the bend between the tannery and the Robbins mill, 
 and followed the east bank of the river. The bridge having been washed 
 away, was not rebuilt, but the road was continued on the west side, some 
 rods be5t)nd the mill, where a new bridge was thrown across the stream. 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDOIf. 249 
 
 On the 2(i of November, a road from the Gardner line to the Greenwood 
 mills, about 44 rods, with $25 damages was accepted. 
 
 In 1853, several Village streets were accepted as roads ; as parts of 
 Maple, Grove and Pleasant streets. Also an alteration in the road from 
 the Thomas place to Luke Wilder's. 
 
 In 1854, the town accepted the following roads : One for William 
 Harris, in the east part of the town, 29 rods ; damages, $25.00 ; another 
 for Luke Rice to C. C. Alger's, 20 rods ; damages, $7.00. In 1855 
 allowed John Cutter to fill the hollow at the foot of Pillsbury hill, east 
 of Jarvis Winn's. In 1856, a road was accepted from John T. Wood- 
 bury's to the Gardner road, 114 rods ; damages, $185.00. Beach street 
 was accepted as a road in 1860, 61 rods ; and other streets at various 
 times. 
 
 In 1866, two rather important roads were before the town for action. 
 The first was to bring the>Algej^oad directly into Wat^rville, without 
 making the sharp angle at the s^ol-house. This was carried, and now 
 the road inosculates at the Royalston road, east of the house of the late 
 Nathaniel Hale, with the Alger road to Baldwinville. The other was 
 a direct road from Spring Village to the railroad station. After a live- 
 ly and protracted struggle, in 1867, this road was secured, though the 
 County Commissioners were summoned into the field, before the victory 
 was won. 
 
250 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON, 
 
 CHAPTER XVL— WINCHENDON POLITICS 
 SINCE 1800. 
 
 " The gi-eatest glory of a free-born people, 
 Is to trausmit that freedom to their children." 
 
 Havakd. 
 
 SECTION 1. — FEDERALISSI. 
 
 This town was firmly on the side of the party in power, both in the 
 State and Nation from the inauguration of Washington, in 1789, until 
 1800. During the term of Mr. JeEE^son, it adhered as firmly to Gov. 
 Caleb Strong. On the 2d of April, 1804, Mr. Strong had every vote 
 for (jovernor. 
 
 In 1806, after the'attack on the Chesapeake, by a British man-of- 
 war, there was a call for volunteers. This town responded, and the fol- 
 lowing men volunteered, viz : Capt. Timothy Hancock, (he was the old- 
 est captain in the regiment, and by the call, was obliged to respond) ; 
 Jacob Parks, Eliphalet Parks, John Grout, Luther Bowker. None of 
 these were obliged. to enter the service. The cavalry company cora- 
 tnanded by Capt. Phinehas Whitney were warned to be in readiness, 
 and paraded, and all volunteered to go ; but they were not called into 
 service. 
 
 In 1808, September 5, the town voted to petition the President of 
 the United States, to suspend the embargo, in whole or in part. Then 
 voted to choose a committee to draft a petition to the President, Mr. 
 Jefierson. The committee consisted of the following persons, viz : Dr. 
 Israel Whiton, Capt. Thomas Graton, Col. Jacob B. Woodbury, Capt. 
 Lemuel Heywood, and Lieut. Paul Raymond. Adjourned for half an 
 hour. Then met, and accepted the petition drafted by the committee, 
 by a nearly unanimous vote. The Selectmen, with the town Clerk, were 
 chosen to transmit a copy of the petition to President Jefferson. It was 
 then voted that the Moderator sign the petition with the Selectmen and 
 h3 Clerk. , Ta.3 Midorator waa Col. Woodbury, the Clerk, Samuel; 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDOOS. 251 
 
 Prentice, and the Selectmen, Paul Raymond, James Raymond, David 
 Beaman, Isaac Morse and Abijah Pierce. The following is the petition. 
 
 " To THE President or tub United States : 
 
 The inhabitantiS of the Town of Wincbendon, in the County of Wor- 
 cester and Commonwealth of Blaspaohusetts, in legal town meeting, met on Mon- 
 day, the fifth day of September, A. D. 1808, beg leave to represent to yonr 
 Excellency, that they feel themselves interested in whatever tends to the peace 
 and prosperity of the United States ; they also feel themselves under the great- 
 est obligation to submit to a. government of their own choice, yet we, yonr pt^ 
 titionera, now look up to the political raler of our nation, and ask the mani- 
 festation of his sineei'e regards, as there has been so great a change of affairs 
 among the European nations of late, that we expect the restraints of our trade 
 cannot have that good effect which Was expected by our constituted authority ; 
 and it appears to «s that the situation of our Eastern States so far differs from 
 that of the Southera States, that we suffer in a greater degi-ee than they. And 
 as it now appears that the present time is a more favorable one for regaining 
 our losses, and of preventing our farther sinking into ruin ; therefore we hope 
 your Excellency will have the honor and happiness of making glad the hearts 
 of themselves, by the suspension of the embargo, in whole or in part, whieh is 
 now creating evils which language cannot express. And we now expect that 
 the President is sensible that those laws capnot effect the good intention he be- 
 fore contemplated; and if your Excellency should doubt of the power vested 
 in you by the Congress of the United States, we will wait patiently for the 
 coming of Congress, to talse the subject into consideration ; and we, your pe- 
 titioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray." 
 
 The President replied to this Petition, and the answer was read in 
 town meeting on the 7th of November ; but it is not to be found on the 
 Records. 
 
 SECTION 2. — THE LAST WAE WITH ENGLAND. 
 
 Jt is a part of our national history, that the Eastern States, and es- 
 pecially Massachusetts, were opposed to the war of 1812:1.5, with Great 
 Britain ; and that, under the lead of Gov. Strong, Josiah ,Qaincy and 
 others, her people were anxious for the return of peace. They believed 
 the war was unnecessary, and that the objects, for which it was osten- 
 sibly waged, could be better secured by peaceful means. In these views 
 the inhabitants of Winchendon sympathized. A meeting was held on 
 the 10th of August, 1812, " to take the sense of the town on the alarm- 
 ing situation of public affairs, and use any constitutional method to al- 
 
252 HISTORY OF WINCHEiTDOSr. 
 
 leviate the distress we now suflfsr, and avert impending calamities, in 
 the best method they think proper." A committee of five was chosen 
 to prepare a respectful memorial to the President of the United States, 
 " expressing our opinion of the present war, and prepare some resolu- 
 tions for the acceptance or non-acceptance of the town." Israel Whiton, 
 'M. J)., Isaac Morse, Esq., Daniel Henshaw, Esq., Capt. Joshua Stod- 
 dard, and Col. Woodbury were the committee. 
 
 The Memorial and Resolves were read and accepted. Besides send- 
 ing them to President Madison, the town voted to have them printed 
 in the Worcester Spy. Two agents were then chosen to attend a coun- 
 ty Convention called to meet at Worcester, viz : Messrs. Henshaw and 
 Prentice. A committee of safety, viz : Samuel Brown, Israel Whiton, 
 Jacob B. Woodbury, Paul Raymond and James McElwain, was chosen. 
 It was voted that the Memorial and Resolves be signed by the moder- 
 ator, Isaac Morse, and the clerk, Mr. Prentice. A committee of nine 
 was also chosen to circulate the Memorial for signers. The document 
 is not to be found. What were the duties of the " Committee of Safe- 
 ty," Ave are left to conjecture. 
 
 In 1814, March 7, the question came up : Will the town petition 
 the General Court, at their next session, respecting the alarming state 
 of our national affairs ? It was referred to a committee of seven to 
 draft a petition to the General Court, and report at an adjournment of 
 this meeting. Chose Messrs. Henshaw, Morse, Whiton, Prentice, Ez- 
 ra Hyde, Jr., Woodbury and McElwain. It was about this time that 
 a portion of the town was so much exercised about the Minister's preach- 
 ing. The action of the town has been already cited. As Mr. Pillsbury 
 was a republican, or Jeffersonian, and sustained the administration, by 
 vote, and perhaps sometimes mildly in speech, he was, so far forth, ob- 
 noxious to the majority ; but the matter was not pushed, and the excite- 
 ment subsided. 
 
 The Avar, however, continued to agitate the public mind, and accord- 
 ingly, on the 30 th of January, 1815, a meeting was called " to take 
 into consideration the calamitous state of our country with regard to 
 the war, and with particular reference to public taxes ; to see if some 
 method can be devised Avhich shall render the same less burden- 
 some to this part of the country by choosmg a committee to report what 
 is most expedient to be done, by petition to the General Court or other- 
 wise to act on the same, as may be thought proper." 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDOIT. 25S 
 
 During the war, it may here be said, the town met every requiation 
 made upon it by the State, and voted extra pay to all of her soldiers who 
 in any manner rendered service at Boston, or elsewhere near the sea- 
 coast. Gov. Strong had a controversy with the General Government; 
 he maintaining that the naihtia of any State was under the orders of 
 its constituted authorities, and could not be ordered out of the country 
 by the national government. The town went with the Governoir, and 
 gave him an unwavering support, but was ready to maintain the honor 
 of the nation against its foreign foes. Several men from this town, were 
 engaged in the service of the United Stateg. Three men enlisted in 
 the United States service. One was Seth Sargeant. He was under 
 Hull, and became a prisoner at Detroit, in 1812. Another was Joel 
 Hancock, who was wounded in the service. The third was Jonas 
 Bradish, but he did not serve long. Those of the militia who volun- 
 teered when called by the requisition of the President, in 1812, were 
 the following seven of the south company, viz : Serg. Levi Raymond^ 
 Corp. Samuel Hartwell, Reuben Vose, Sr., Gideon Balcom, Leavitt 
 Stoddard, Simon Tuttle, Joseph Wyman. The following were mem- 
 bers of the north company : Samuel Sargeant, Jr., Jacob Hale, Jr. 
 These were called to go wherever the government should send them ; 
 but Gov. Strong would not consent to their being taken beyond the 
 bounds of the country. 
 
 In 1814, a draft was sent for two men from each company, and a 
 volunteer could not be found. Asaph Brown and Samuel Poland were 
 drafted. Both hired sustitutes ; Samuel Wiley and James Murdock. 
 From the south company, James McElwain and William Brown were 
 drafted. The former hired William Hancock, and the latter hired 
 Siinon Tuttle, Jr. 
 
 On the 30th day of January, the adjourned meeting was held, and 
 chose Lt. Paul Raymond, Moderator. Chose a committee as follows : 
 Dr. Israel Whiton, Mr. Daniel .Henshaw, Col. Jacob B. Woodbury, 
 Messrs. Daniel T. Bruce, Samuel BrowTi, Samuel Koyes and Jacob 
 Woodbury. The meeting adjourned for one hour, then met and voted 
 t6 hear the report of the committee. 
 
 "To THE Hon. Senate and House of Eepkesentatives of the Common- 
 wealth OP Massachusetts, in Genekal Coukt assembled : 
 The inhabitants of the town of Winehendon in legal town meeting assem- 
 bled, would briefly and respectfully represent that we are sensibly impressed 
 
254 HISTORY OP WINCHENDOST. 
 
 ■with the evils ■of the present disastrous -war ; and liaving in vaiis sougut relief 
 frotp those ■who were the authors of cur calamity, now apply to the legislaturcof 
 our own Commonwealth, •with pride and confidence in their wisdom, firmness and 
 fflhility to take such means as they may see fit to adopt. And we would aval 
 ©urselvea of this opportunity to express our hearty approbation of the proceed- 
 ings of the New England ConvBHtion at Hartford. The moderation, wisdom 
 and firmness expressed in that important State paper, are calculated to satisfy 
 tSie high expectations excited by tiie appointment of snch experienced, well- 
 tried and distinguished patriots to so important and arduous a trust. We deem 
 it unnecessary for the people to point out to their more enlightened represen- 
 tatives the various calamities»arising from this war by the enormous and uoex- 
 jBled profusion of money, the appointment of innumerable unskillful and un- 
 principled officers civil and military, which infects all parts of our country.inor 
 the imbecility and ill success in which the war is conducted, the impolicy in- 
 justice or wickedness, of our rulerE> in firit declaring it, or its baneful eflTccts 
 on the morals of the community, as all these are well known to all classes of 
 people. 
 
 But as the representatives of so large and respectable a body of people i% 
 the Commonwealth of Massachasetts, collectively, must be supposed to hav« 
 some influence with our national legislature, it is hoped some method may by 
 their wisdom be devised, which ehall in some measure relieve the people from 
 the insupportable burden of Government Taxes, much of which is borne, by 
 the poorer classes of people. And whatever measures may be adopted, consist- 
 ent with theii- duty as citizens, they pledge themselves to support." 
 
 " Voted that the report be signed by the Moderator and Clerk, and forward- 
 ed to the Legislature." 
 
 Speaking of the war, Dr. Whiton says : " A powerful Britisli armar 
 nient appeared on the coast of New England, August, 1814, and after 
 the seizure of some places in Maine, threatened- the towns on the east- 
 em coast of Massachusetts. A good deal of alarm was felt for the city 
 of Boston, and large draughts of militia were marched from the interior 
 to the vicinity of the capital, for its protection. — With various fluctua- 
 tions of disaster and success, by sea and land, the war continued from 
 1812 to the beginning of 1815. The news of peace, February, 1815, 
 threw the country into almost a delirium of joy. In cities and villages 
 men went round with glad hearts and elastic steps to congratulate their 
 neighbors. When the news arrived in the night, the firing of cannon, 
 the ringing of bells, and the loud shouts in the streets, Peace, Peace, 
 aroused the sleepers from their beds to join in the general joy ! In this 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 255 
 
 place, -where the war had been from the first, unpopular, there was a 
 hearty participation in the public exultation." 
 
 In 1820 there was an animated canvass for Representative. The 
 fijast ballot resulted in no choice. 
 
 lEph'm MurdockjEsq., had 5 votes, secoxd ballot. 
 
 Mr. Amasa Whitney, 1 " Mr. Murdock, 1 vote. 
 
 Mr. Thomas areenwood, 1-3 " Mr. Greenwood, 11 votes. 
 
 Daniel Henshaw, E§q., 63 " Mr. Henshaw, 68 " 
 
 Horatio G.Newcomb,E6,q.65 " Mr. Newcomb, 74 " 
 
 SKCTION 3. — CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION IN 1820. 
 
 At a meeting held on the 2l8t of August, of this year, the question 
 which came down from the General Court was : " Is it expedient that 
 delegates be chosen to meet in ctavention for the purpose of revising 
 or altering the Constitution of Government of this Commonwealth?" 
 The town voted with the following result : for said measure, 23 ; 
 against, 82. 
 
 A majority of the people, however, throughout the Commonwealth 
 voted in favor of holding the proposed Convention, and the election of 
 delegates took place on the 16th of October. The vote in this town 
 was as follows : 
 
 For Ephraim Murdockj Esq., - - - 1 vote. 
 '' Lieut. Isaac Morse, - - - - - 4 votes. 
 
 " Horatio G. Newcomb, Esq., - - - 21 " 
 " Samuel Prentiss, Esq., - - - 74 " 
 
 On the 29th of the following April, the vote was taken on the Amend- 
 ments approved by the Convention. This town voted in favor of all 
 but three of the four-teen submitted to the people. These three — the 
 1st, 2d and 10th, were rejected by the State, as were also the 5th and 
 9th. The articles adopted are those numbered from 1 to 9 in the 
 Amendments. 
 
 The 10th Amendment to the State Constitution was rejected on the 
 11th of May, 1831, by the following vote : yeas, 34 ; nays, 36. 
 
 In 1833, November 11, the Amendment of the third article of the 
 Bill of Rights, was voted upon by the town. It is now numbered as 
 Amendment XI, and relates to public worship. The vote was : yeas, 
 144 ; nays, 0. The people of Winchendon felt a deep interest in this 
 
256 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 subject, being firm friends of religious freedom. In 1831, they had 
 petitioned the Legislature to make this Amendment. 
 
 SECTION 4. — POLITICAL PARTIES. 
 
 The majority of the town were attached to the Federal party from 
 the inauguration of Washington to the breaking up of old parties in 
 the days of President Monroe. The vote of this town was given for 
 Washington, the elder Adams, Pinckney and Rufus King, and against 
 Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, until the second election of the latter 
 in 1820, when almost all opposition ceased. It was called the " era 
 of good feeling," a time of halcyon calm in politics. But as a very 
 fair, warm day in winter, is called a " weather-breeder," and is sure 
 to be followed by a storm, so in this time of political quiet, the elements 
 for a furious agitation which was to convulse the whole country, were 
 gathering. The first outbreak of this tempest was felt in 1824, when 
 five candidates for the presidency were before the people, viz : Adams, 
 Jackson, Crawford, Clay and Calhoun. Neither having received a ma- 
 jority of the electoral votes, the House of Representatives elected Mr- 
 Adams. Then the storm swelled into a tempest, which raged all through 
 the administration of Mr. Adams. The nature of the opposition, as well 
 as its violence, was expressed by one of the leaders of the Jackson par- 
 ty, in the well-remembered sentiment that^ the f administration of Mr. 
 Adams should be overthrown if he were as pure as the angels of God.?' 
 This town voted for Mr. Adams, in 1824, by a slight vote, there being 
 but little opposition to overcome. At the next election, in 1828, the 
 lines were drawn closer, and all the votes cast, 82, were for John Quincy 
 Adams. The vote for Governor was, for Levi Lincoln, 87, and for 
 Marcus Morton, 2. The next year Morton had 4 votes ; and in 1830 
 he had 38 to 110 for Lincoln. In 1831, the Anti-Masonic party had 
 gathered considerable strength in several of the Northern States, includ- 
 ing Massachusetts. The vote in this town for Governor, was, 
 For Samuel Lathrop, Anti-Masonic, 76. 
 
 " Levi Lincoln, Whig, 49. 
 
 " Marcus Morton, Democrat, 33. 
 
 In the Presidential election in the year 1832, the town voted as follows : 
 For Henry Clay, Whig, 85 votes. 
 
 " Martin Van Buren, Democrat, 64 ", 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 25T 
 
 Fot William Wirt, Anti-Masonic, 38 votes, 
 
 la the State election, the vote was 
 
 For Levi Lincoln, 73 " 
 
 " Marcus Morton, 43 ^ 
 
 « Samuel Lathrop, 65 « 
 
 The next year, the votes for Governor were as follows: 
 For John Davis, 52 " 
 
 " John Quincy Adams, 57 " 
 
 " Marcus Morton, 48 " 
 
 In 1836, on amending the Constitution relatimg to the General Court, 
 the Amendment known as the 12th-, was voted upon by the town as 
 follows : yeas, 150 ; nays, 3. In November, the town went with the 
 State in support of the Whig candidate for the Presidency, 
 
 It is not necessary to give minutely the political state of the town, 
 from year to year. On a subsequent page the facts relating to State 
 and National elections will be presented in tabular form. A brief space 
 will be given to the rise and progress of the Anti-Slavery party, under 
 its different names. Here it is enough to record that the vote for Mr. 
 Morton was, in 1838, 117 against 165 for Mr. Everett, and in 1839, 
 181 for Morton to 158 for Everett. This was the culmination of his 
 vote. The next year the town went for John Davis, 202 ; Marcus 
 Morton, 153. In 1843,„he had the same vote as Gov. Briggs, that 
 ' is, 160 ; when Samuel E. Sewall had 16 votes. 
 
 SECTION 5. — THE SURPLUS REVENUE. 
 
 The income of the United States Treasury, from various sources, 
 but principally from Customs, during the last term of Gen. Jackson's 
 administration, was far beyond the expenditures of the government. 
 This surplus revenue, as it was called, to the amount of about #37,000, 
 000, was distributed equally among the several States, with the proviso 
 that it should be paid back when demanded by the national government. 
 The Legislature of Massachusetts distributed the portion of this money 
 which fell to the Commonwealth, among the cities and towns, according 
 to population. The amount which came to this town was $3,729. 
 
 The question came up at a meeting held on the 1st of May, 1837, 
 as to what action the town w6uld take in relation to the matter ; where- 
 upon it was voted, 
 
 " That this town agrees to receive from the Treasurer and Receiver 
 
 17 
 
258 HrsTOEr of winchenuoit. 
 
 General of the Commonwealth, its proportion of the Surplus Eevenne 
 of the United States, in deposit, and will comply with the terms of the 
 several acts passed by the Le^slatare of the Commonwealth concern- 
 ing the deposit of the Surplus Rerenue. 
 
 " Voted, that Isaac MorsOj Esq., be the Agent of the town for the purpose 
 of receiving from the Treasurer and Eeceiver General of the Commonwealth, 
 this town's proportion of the said Treasurer's deposit. 
 
 Voted, that Isaac Morse, Esq., Agent as aforesaid, be and he hereby is 
 authorized to sign a certificate of deposit for the sums of money he may receive 
 from time to time from the said Treasurer and Receiver General of this Com- 
 monwealth, binding the town, in its corporate capacity, for the repayment to 
 said Treasurer, of the money so deposited with this town, and any and every 
 part thereof, whenever the same shall be required by said Treasurer and Re- 
 ceiver General, to be by him refunded to the Secretary of the Treasiny of the 
 United States." 
 
 Though provision was thus carefully made for the repayment of the 
 funds deposited, there was probably no expectation on the part of Con- 
 gress, in depositmg, or the States in receiving the depoHta, that the 
 money would ever be called for by the nation. Some of the States dis-. 
 tributed the money so that the people received it, and used it in pay- 
 ing their own personal expenses. Some of the towns and cities, in certain 
 States, created funds for educational or other useful purposes. _ This 
 town tpok the following action, on motion of Mr. Elisha Gregory, viz : 
 
 " Voted, that the Treasurer of said town on receipt of the town's proportion 
 of the Surplus Revenue, pay the debts now ovring by said town, and the res- 
 idue, if any, to let to individuals, in small sums, say not less than $100, nor 
 more than $500, to any one man, for one year, interest annually, and in case 
 the interest is not paid within twenty days of the time it may fall due, the 
 principal shall be called for." 
 
 In 1842 there was a close vote for Representative to the General 
 Court. Henry Greenwood had 164 votes; Levi Parks, 162; and Moses 
 Hancock, 1. 
 
 SECTION 6. CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS. 
 
 In 1840, another Amendment to the Constitution, now marked XIH, 
 came before the people for consideration.' It also related to the Gen- 
 eral Court, like the preceding one, and on the second of April, this town 
 voted in its favor, yeas, 48 ; nays, 2. ■ 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 259 
 
 In 1852, on the 7th of May, an Act was passed, calling upon the 
 people to vote upon the question of calling a Constitutional Convention. 
 A majority of the people having voted in favor of the proposed Conven- 
 tion, the election of delegates took place on the 7th of March, 1853. 
 Rev. A. P. Marvin was chosen delegate fronj this town. The action of 
 the Convention was submitted to the people for approval or rejection, on 
 the 14th of November. This town voted in favor of all the proposed eight 
 Amendments, by large majorities, but they were rejected by the State. 
 Several Amendments substantially like some of those rejected in 1853, 
 were ratified in subsequent years, but it will not be necessary to give 
 a circumstantial statement in respect to them. 
 
 It may not be improper to mention that one proposition which was 
 submitted to the Convention by the delegate from this town, and which 
 was withdrawn by the mover, to save it from anticipated defeat, was 
 brought up in the General Court in 1856 and 1857, and ratified by the 
 people May 1st, 1857. It is the Amendment numbered XX, and is 
 in these words : 
 
 " No person shall have the right to vote, or be eligible to office under the 
 Constitution of this Commonwealth, who shall not he able to read the Con- 
 stitution in the English language, and write his name : provided, however, that 
 the provisions of this Amendment shall not apply to any person prevented by 
 a physical disability from complying with its requisitions, nor to any person 
 who now has the right to vote, nor to any persons who shall he sixty years 
 of age, or upwards at the time this Amendment shall take effect." 
 
 SECTION 7. — THE PARTY OP FREEDOM. 
 
 It was stated, on a former page, that space would be reserved for a 
 brief account of the rise and progress of the party which was distinct- 
 ively known as opposed, not only to the extension, but the existence of 
 slavery. Nothing will be said in a partisan spirit, nor will it be implied 
 that there were not many in the old parties who were sincerely opposed 
 to human bondage. But the political history of the town cannot be giv- 
 en, without showing how the voters acted in reference to the question 
 of slavery. In the autumn of 1840, two votes were given in this town 
 for James G. Bimey, the candidate of the Liberty party for the ojBSce 
 of President of the United States. One of these votes was given by 
 Dr. Alvah Godding, the other, probably, by the late Mr. David Poland. 
 For other candidates, about 350 votes were cast at the same election. 
 
260 HISTORY OP WINCHBNDOK. 
 
 In 1842, Samuel E. Sewall had nine votes for the office of Gover- 
 nor. Mr. Luke Rice had by this time, if not before, joined the little 
 band. In 1844, the vote for Mr. Birney, for President, had increased 
 to 43, and for Mr. Sewall, for Governor, to 41. The author was set- 
 tled in the be^ning of this year, and records with -pleasure that he 
 belonged to this vanguard of freedom. The whole vote for President 
 was 361. In 1845, Mr. Sewall had 45 votes ; the next year, 59 ; and 
 the next, 71; while the votes of the other parties had decreased. Thus, 
 in 1847, Mr. Briggs had 122 votes ; Mr. Gushing, 98 ; and Mr. Sew- 
 aU, 71. ■ 
 
 The year 1848 witnessed a most exciting struggle. Gen. Taylor was 
 the candidate of the Whig party ; Gen. Cass, of the Democratic party, 
 and Mr. Van Buren, by a great political blunder on the part of the 
 friends of freedom, of the Free-Soil party. If the right man had been 
 set up, by the Free-Soilers, their vote in Massachusetts would have been 
 much larger than it was. There was no confidence in Mr. Van Buren 
 as an anti-slavery man. He was brought forward by those who wished 
 to defeat Gen. Cass, in revenge for his desertion of Mr. Van Buren, 
 four years previously. But as he had been discarded by his party on 
 account of his known hostility to the acquisition of Texas as a slave- 
 holding state, he was voted for by many as the least of three evils. 
 The vote in this town was as follows : Gen. Taylor had 98 votes ; 'Gen. 
 Cass, 45 ; and Mr. Van Buren, 263. Here was a complete revolution. 
 This was true of the County and the whole Congressional district. The 
 Hon. Charles Allen took the place of the Hon. Charles Hudson in Con- 
 gress. In 1852, Hon. John P. Hale received 176 votes for President ; 
 Gen. Scott, 138 ; and Mr. Pierce, 63. In 1854, the town passed a 
 strong Resolve against Senator Douglas' Kansas-Nebraska bill. 
 
 In 1856, the Republican party was formed, and absorbed, with few 
 exceptions, the members of the old Liberty and Free-Soil organizations, 
 The town went strongly for Col. Fremont. In 1860, and also in 1864, 
 the town gave a large majority for Abraham Lincoln, whose name is 
 consecrated forever in the hearts of the friends of human freedom in 
 all lands. 
 
 VOTES FOR PRESIDENT AND GOVERNOR. 
 
 The vote of Winchendon for candidates for the office of President of 
 the United States, and also for Governor of the Commonwealth, ance 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 261 
 
 the century came in, here follow. In the case of the national officers, 
 the names of the candidates rather than of the presidential electors are 
 given. 
 
 1800. President* 
 
 
 
 Christopher Gore 
 
 had 129 votes 
 
 John Adams, 
 
 
 
 John Quincy Adams 
 
 " 1 
 
 <c 
 
 Thomas Jefferson. 
 
 
 
 Thomas Knowlton 
 
 " 1 
 
 It 
 
 Governor. 
 
 
 
 1809. 
 
 
 
 Caleb Strong had 45 votes. 1 
 
 Christopher Gore 
 
 " 135 
 
 it 
 
 Elbridge Gerry 
 
 19 
 
 it 
 
 Levi Lincoln 
 
 " 55 
 
 tt 
 
 1801. 
 
 
 
 1810. 
 
 
 
 Caleb Sta-ong 
 
 54 
 
 ti 
 
 Elbridge Gerry, 
 
 " 46 
 
 ti 
 
 Elbridge Gerty 
 
 22 
 
 it 
 
 Christopher Gore 
 
 " 126 
 
 tt 
 
 Fisher Ames " 
 
 1 
 
 li 
 
 1811. 
 
 
 
 1802. 
 
 
 
 Elbridge Gerry 
 
 " 48 
 
 tt 
 
 Caleb Strong 
 
 98 
 
 It 
 
 Christopher Gore 
 
 " 108 
 
 It 
 
 Elbridge Gerry 
 
 16 
 
 tt 
 
 1812. President* 
 
 
 1803. 
 
 
 
 *James Madison, 
 
 
 
 Caleb Strong 
 
 77 
 
 tt 
 
 DeWitt Clinton. 
 
 
 
 Elbridge Gerry 
 
 10 
 
 It 
 
 Governor. 
 
 
 1804. President. 
 
 
 
 Caleb Strong 
 
 " 148 
 
 ti 
 
 C. C. Pinckney, 
 
 72 
 
 It 
 
 Elbridge Gerry 
 
 « 47 
 
 a 
 
 Thomas Jefferson " 
 
 41 
 
 (( 
 
 1813. 
 
 
 
 Governor. 
 
 
 
 Caleb Strong 
 
 " 169 
 
 <t 
 
 Caleb Strong 
 
 109 
 
 11 
 
 Joseph B. Varnum 
 
 «' 39 
 
 li 
 
 1805. 
 
 
 
 1814. 
 
 
 
 Caleb Strong " 
 
 103 
 
 tt 
 
 Caleb Strong 
 
 " 167 
 
 tt 
 
 James Sullivan " 
 
 45 
 
 tt 
 
 Samuel Dexter 
 
 " 42 
 
 it 
 
 1806. 
 
 
 
 1815. 
 
 
 
 Caleb Strong 
 
 120 
 
 ti 
 
 Caleb Strong 
 
 " 168 
 
 ti 
 
 James Sullivan " 
 
 47 
 
 a 
 
 Samuel Dexter 
 
 52 
 
 a 
 
 1807. 
 
 
 
 1816. President* 
 
 
 Caleb Strong 
 
 James Sullivan " 
 
 122 
 39 
 
 a 
 <t 
 
 James Monroe, 
 Rufus King. 
 
 
 
 Levi Lincoln " 
 
 I 
 
 (( 
 
 Governor. 
 
 
 1808. President.* 
 
 
 
 John Brooks 
 
 " 164 
 
 it 
 
 
 
 
 Samuel Dexter 
 
 " 59 
 
 it 
 
 James Madison, 
 
 
 
 1817. 
 John Brooks 
 
 
 
 Charles C. Pinckney. 
 
 
 
 " 144 
 
 it 
 
 Goverrior. 
 
 
 
 Henry Dearborn, 
 
 " 44 
 
 tC 
 
 James Sullivan " 
 
 40 " 
 Adams had 
 
 John Crosby 
 a large majority. " 
 
 " 1 
 
 Not record 
 
 ti 
 
 *Not recorded, but Mr 
 
 ed. 
 
262 
 
 HISTOBY OP whtchendon. 
 
 1818. 
 John Brooks 
 
 B. W. CrowninsWeld 
 1819. 
 
 John Brooks ' 
 
 B. W. CrowninsMeM 
 
 1820. Preddent. 
 James Monroe 
 
 Governor. 
 John Brooks ' 
 
 B. W. Crowninshield ' 
 
 1821. 
 John Brooks ' 
 
 William Eustis ' 
 
 Josiah Qtiincy ' 
 
 1822. 
 
 John Brooks " 
 
 William Eustis 
 
 1823. 
 William Eustis 
 Harrison Gray Otis " 
 
 1824. Preddent. 
 
 John Quincy Adams " 
 Andrew Jackson " 
 
 Gaeemor. 
 William Eustis. 
 
 1825. 
 Levi Lincoln " 
 
 William Sullivan 
 
 1826. 
 Levi Lincoln " 
 
 Samuel Hubhard " 
 
 James Lloyd " 
 
 1827. 
 Levi Lincoln " 
 
 James Lloyd " 
 
 1828. Preddent. 
 Andrew Jackson " 
 
 John Quincy Adams " 
 
 Governor. 
 Levi Lincoln " 
 
 Marcus Morton " 
 
 had 130 votes. 
 
 41 
 
 153 
 
 28 
 
 133 
 
 34 
 
 119 
 
 38' 
 1 
 
 116 
 
 44 
 
 64 
 140 
 
 49 
 30 
 
 77 
 
 ^^ 
 
 62 
 
 1 
 
 92 
 2 
 
 00 
 82 
 
 87 
 
 2 
 
 1829. 
 Levi Lincoln 
 Marcus Morton 
 
 1830. 
 Levi Lincoln 
 Marcus Morton 
 
 1831. 
 Levi Lincoln 
 Marcus Morton 
 Samuel Lathrop 
 
 1832. President. 
 
 Andrew Jackson 
 Henry Clay 
 William Wirt 
 
 Governor. 
 Levi Lincoln ' 
 
 Marcus Morton ' 
 
 Samuel Lathrop ' 
 
 John Davis ' 
 
 1833. 
 John Q. Adams ' 
 
 Marcus Morton ' 
 
 1834. 
 John Davis ' 
 
 Marcus Morton ' 
 
 1835. 
 Edward Everett ' 
 
 Marcus Morton " 
 
 1836. 
 Martin Van Buren 
 Daniel Webster 
 
 Edward Everett 
 Marcus Morton 
 
 1837. 
 Edward Everett 
 Marcus Morton 
 
 1838. 
 Edward Everett 
 Marcus Morton 
 
 had 
 
 Edward Everett 
 Marcus Mortoin 
 
 87 
 4 
 
 110 
 
 38 
 
 49 
 33 
 
 76 
 
 64 
 
 85 
 38 
 
 73 
 43 
 65 
 
 52 
 
 57 
 48 
 
 137 
 66 
 
 ' 69 
 
 , 77 
 ' 113 
 
 113 
 75 
 
 181 
 110 
 
 165 
 117 
 
 158 
 181 
 
 votea. 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHBNBON, 
 
 268 
 
 1840. Prmdent. 
 
 
 
 1849. 
 
 
 
 
 Wm. Hem^ Harrison had 211 votes. 
 
 George N. Briggs had 114 votes 
 
 Martin Van Buren " 
 
 125 
 
 it 
 
 Stephen C. Phillips 
 
 It 
 
 169 
 
 (( 
 
 Governor. 
 
 
 
 George S. Boutwell 
 
 tt 
 
 25 
 
 tt 
 
 Marcus Morton " 
 
 145 
 
 «l 
 
 1850. 
 
 
 
 
 John Davis " 
 
 202 
 
 (( 
 
 George N. Briggs 
 
 f. 
 
 136 
 
 " 
 
 1841. 
 
 
 
 Stephen C. Phillips 
 
 tt 
 
 169 
 
 « 
 
 John Davis " 
 
 158 
 
 « 
 
 George S. Boutwell 
 
 tt 
 
 45 
 
 (» , 
 
 Marcus Mortoa " 
 
 138 
 
 it 
 
 Francis Coggswell 
 
 tt 
 
 11 
 
 iA 
 
 1842. 
 
 
 
 1851. 
 
 
 
 
 John Davis " 
 
 163 
 
 tt 
 
 George S. Boutwell 
 
 t( 
 
 79 
 
 tt 
 
 Marcus Morton " 
 
 153 
 
 if 
 
 John G. Palfrey 
 
 tt 
 
 186 
 
 It 
 
 Samuel E. Sewall 
 
 9 
 
 tt 
 
 Kobert C. Wintbrop 
 
 tt 
 
 149 
 
 " 
 
 1843. 
 
 
 
 1852. President. 
 
 
 
 Marcus Morton " 
 
 160 
 
 H 
 
 Franklin Pierce 
 
 tt 
 
 63 
 
 ti 
 
 Geo. N. Briffgs " 
 Samuel E. Sewall 
 
 160 
 
 t( 
 
 Winfield Scott . 
 
 tt 
 
 138 
 
 ti 
 
 1.6 
 
 ti 
 
 John P. Hale 
 
 " 
 
 176 
 
 it 
 
 1844. President. 
 
 
 
 Governor 
 
 
 
 
 James K. Polk 
 Henry Clay " 
 James Gr. Birney " 
 Governor. 
 
 143 
 .175 
 
 43 
 
 a 
 ti 
 
 John H. Clifford 
 Horace Mann 
 Henry W. Bishop 
 
 tt 
 tt 
 
 155 
 
 190 
 
 80 
 
 It 
 (C 
 
 George N. Briggs " 
 
 1S3 
 
 tt 
 
 1853. 
 
 
 
 
 George Bancroft " 
 
 145 
 
 (£ 
 
 Emory Washfaum 
 
 tt 
 
 122 
 
 tt 
 
 Samuel E. Sewall 
 
 41 
 
 it 
 
 Henry Wilson 
 
 tt 
 
 176 
 
 (( 
 
 1845. 
 
 
 
 H. W. Bishop 
 
 it 
 
 60 
 
 t ( 
 
 George N. Briggs 
 
 174 
 
 tt 
 
 1854. 
 
 
 
 
 Isaac Davis " 
 
 119 
 
 it 
 
 Henry J. Gardner 
 
 £( 
 
 260 
 
 ** 
 
 Samuel E. Sewall 
 
 45 
 
 it 
 
 Henry Wilson 
 
 tt 
 
 44 
 
 iJ. 
 
 1846. 
 
 
 
 Emory Washburn 
 
 tt 
 
 52 
 
 <' 
 
 George N. Briggs 
 
 123 
 
 tt 
 
 H. W. Bishop 
 
 tt 
 
 19 
 
 A..i 
 
 Isaac Davis " 
 
 89 
 
 Ck 
 
 1855 
 
 
 
 
 Samuel E. SevjpU 
 
 59 
 
 tt 
 
 Henry J. Gardner 
 
 tt 
 
 164 
 
 " 
 
 1847. 
 
 
 
 Julius Rockwell 
 
 tt 
 
 110 
 
 IC 
 
 George N. Briggs " 
 
 122 
 
 tA 
 
 Samuel H. Walley 
 
 tt 
 
 44 
 
 *' 
 
 Caleb Cushing 
 
 98 
 
 It 
 
 Erasmus D. Beach 
 
 tt 
 
 49 
 
 (( 
 
 Samuel E. Sewall 
 
 71 
 
 u 
 
 
 
 
 
 1848. President. 
 
 
 
 1856. President 
 
 
 
 
 Zaohary Taylor " 
 Lewis Cass " 
 
 98 
 45 
 
 tt 
 ti 
 
 James Buchanan 
 John C. Fremont 
 
 tt 
 tt 
 
 77 
 400 
 
 i.i 
 
 Martin Van Buren " 
 
 263 
 
 a 
 
 John Bell 
 
 tt 
 
 20 
 
 u 
 
 Governor. 
 
 
 ' 
 
 Gcmemor. 
 
 
 
 
 George N. Briggs " 
 
 75 
 
 t( 
 
 Henry J. Gardner 
 
 tt 
 
 279 
 
 l.( 
 
 Caleb Cushing 
 
 27 
 
 a 
 
 Erasmus D. Beach 
 
 tt 
 
 79 
 
 tc 
 
 Stephen C. Phillips " 
 
 220 
 
 ti 
 
 Luther V. BeU 
 
 tl 
 
 19 
 
 i-i 
 
264 
 
 HISTORY OF wse^mUfO'S. 
 
 1857. 
 Nathaniel P. Banks 
 Henry J. Gardner 
 Erasmus D. Beach 
 
 1858. 
 Nathaniel P. Banks 
 Amos A. Lawrenee 
 B. D. Beach 
 
 1859. 
 Nathaniel P. Banks 
 Benjamin F. Butler 
 Cteorge N. Briggs 
 
 1860. President. 
 Abraham Lincoln 
 ^ephen A. Douglas 
 John Bell 
 John C. Breckenridge 
 
 Governor. 
 
 John A. Andrew 
 Erasmus B. Beach 
 Amos A. Lawrence 
 
 1861. 
 John A. Andrew 
 Isaac Davis 
 
 had 209 votes. 
 
 •' 111 
 
 (1 
 
 " 57 
 
 tt 
 
 " 206 
 
 (( 
 
 " 41, 
 
 «c 
 
 " 46 
 
 (( 
 
 " 199 
 
 it 
 
 " 76 
 
 It 
 
 " 37 
 
 C( 
 
 nt. 
 " 361 
 
 11 
 
 " 82 
 
 (( 
 
 " 45 
 
 ti 
 
 ! " .1 
 
 it 
 
 V, 
 
 " 344 
 
 u 
 
 " 89 
 
 it 
 
 « 45 
 
 u 
 
 " S12 
 
 tfl 
 
 " 101 
 
 (« 
 
 1862. 
 John A. Andrew 
 Charles Devins 
 
 Cengress. 
 Waiiam B. Washburn 
 Charles Brinblecom 
 
 1863. 
 
 Govemm: 
 John|A. Andrew 
 Henry W. Paine 
 
 1864. Preddent. 
 Abraham Lincoln 
 George' B. McClellan 
 
 Governor. 
 John A. Andrew 
 Henry W. Paine 
 
 1»65. 
 Alexander H. Balled 
 Darius N. Couch 
 
 186S. 
 Alexander H. BuUoek 
 Theodore H. Sweetzer 
 
 1867. 
 Alexander H. BuUeek 
 John Quincy Adams 
 
 had 240 votes'- 
 " 99 " 
 
 338 " 
 2 "• 
 
 216 
 60 
 
 407 
 105 
 
 402 
 107 
 
 218 
 33 
 
 275 
 35 
 
 418 
 118 
 
 It will be seen, by reviewing the above election returns, that public! 
 opialioa, in this town, has set in a steady current, almost without devi 
 ation, from the beginning. The inhabitants in the " times which tried 
 men's souls^" were strong patriots. They either entered the service, 
 in the Revolution, or if they remained at home, they contributed large- 
 ly according to their means, in sustaining the Contin^tal Congressi 
 through the mighty struggle, in the Shays troubles they felt the pres- 
 sure of the times, and symipathflzed with those who sought and obtained 
 a redress of grievances ; but th'Oy never, in their corporate capacity, 
 sahctioned any treasonable, or unlawful measures ^ and not many, if 
 indeed more than one of their number, joined the insurggmts. in acts off 
 violence. 
 
 Winchendon went with the majority of New England, in iJie support 
 of the measures of the Federal party, as long as that party maintained 
 an existence. For a single year, when matters were somewhat con- 
 fused and nuxed up throughout the State^ in. regard to the best mode 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENBON. 265 
 
 of dealing with the liquor question, the vote of the town was ^ven for 
 Gov. Morton. In 1853-6, the people here, with some exceptions, joined 
 in that singular and brief episode in our political life, the American or 
 " Know-Nothing" movement. Still later, in 1848, the town broke away 
 from the Whig party ; but in this, only.anticipated, by a few years, the 
 course of the whole State, The love of freedom has ever character- 
 ized the citizens ; but this has always been accompanied by a regard 
 for law, and a proper respect for constituted authority. It was then 
 but a natural efiFect of our whole history, when the inhabitants, with 
 remarkable unanimity, gave men and means, in large measure, to aid 
 in suppressing the wicked and infamous rebellion of the slave-holding 
 ohgarchy, in the years 1861—65. The spirit of the fathers and moth- 
 ers in the old heroic days of the republic, burned brightly in the hearts 
 of their o|ildren. The great cause for which the Pilgrims came hith- 
 er, and for which the successive generations, of their descendants con- 
 tended, was vindicated in the last great war of liberty and law ; 
 
 "For Freedom's battle oft began, 
 Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son. 
 Though bafled oft, is ever won." 
 
266 HISTORY OP •VVINCHENDON. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIL— SUPPORT OF THE POOR! 
 
 " Pity the sorrows of a poor old man 
 
 Whose trembling limbs have borne him to your door, 
 Whose days are dwindled to the shortest span; 
 
 Oh, give relief, and heaven shall bless your store." 
 
 . THE BEGGAR'S PETITION. 
 SECTION 1. — PROVISION TOB, THE POOR IN EARLY TIMES. 
 
 9 
 It is liardly supposable that there were any persons in the township 
 
 for several years after its settlement, who needed support from the com- 
 munity. Such persons have not the health, or the wit, or the enter- 
 prise, out of which new settlers are made. They would not be encour- 
 aged to come ; and in some cases, as soon as they appeared, they were 
 warned out of toivn. If the warning was not sufficient, the constable 
 was called upon to convey them to the place whence they came, or 
 wherever they had a legal settlement. 
 
 When, in the course of time, by reason of age or infirmity, adults, 
 or when by the loss of friends, children were in need of protection, the 
 kindness of neighbors was relied upon to meet their wants. Sometimes 
 poor families were aided occasionally from the cellars and wardrobes of 
 those who were more prosperous. Simple-minded and half-witted persons 
 were allowed to stroll around the country, and pick up a precarious liv- 
 ing from the kind-hearted. Not seldom they were the sport of thought- 
 less or cruel boys. Beggars were' allowed to go from house to house, 
 and being almpst always of the same nationality, and not being numer- 
 ous, they were fed, and to a certain extent, clothed. Sometimes indi- 
 viduals or families who were permanently dependent, received aid from 
 the town. But while none were permitted to suffer, the general senti- 
 ment of the public did not encourage laziness or mendicancy. Self- 
 help was one of the laws of Puritan society, while there was the utmost 
 readiness to help those who were really in need of pecuniary aid. 
 
 Some years after the incorporation of the town, the Records mention 
 
HISTORY Of WINCHBNDON- 267 
 
 the name of a woman who was supplied with some of the necessaries of 
 life, including rum. According to the ideas prevalent in those days, 
 a moderate amount of spirituous hquor was considered as a proper al- 
 lowance to the poor. Still later, the widow of an early settler, and 
 herself the mother of a large number of respectable descendants, was 
 aided by the town. It is thougjjt best not to give the names of those 
 who received support from the pubUc, as there is a proper dehcacy due 
 to those who are unfortunate. 
 
 Another matter, referred to under another head, may be noticed in 
 this connection. In 1794, January 6, a meeting was called to " take 
 into consideration the request of Sally Lord." Upon inquiry it is found 
 that. she was the only daughter of Kev. Mr. Stimpsonwho survived in- 
 fancy. One son also, Luther Stimpson, who married Sally McElwain, 
 grew up to manhood. The daughter of Mr. Stimpson became the wife 
 of Bemsley Lord, and had a dowry of about one thousand dollars. Af- 
 ter getting possession of as much of this as he could, he deserted his 
 wife, and went off to distant parts. 
 
 In consideration of her hard fortune, or for some «ther unknown rea- 
 son, the town voted that she " should improve the house" she then oc- 
 cupied ; and " also the red shop," during the town's pleasure. The 
 Selectmen were to assist her in " condtfcting the matter according to 
 their best discretion." So far as this action sprung from grateful re- 
 membrance of the first minister's services, it was honorable to the town. 
 Mrs. Lord afterwards became the wife of a Mr. Brown, a man of char- 
 acter and respectability, and had several children. 
 
 SECTION 2. — BIDDING OFF THE POOK. 
 
 The next step in the way of supporting the poor, was the singular, 
 and now almost forgotten practice of having them put up at auction, 
 and bid off to the lowest bidder. This was sometimes called " selling 
 the poor." Careless readers of the Records might hastily infer that 
 this was a relic of white slavery, when it was simply a mode of provid- 
 ing homes for the weak and indigent. Suppose a family consisting of 
 an infirm man, who yet might do some slight work ; of an old woman, 
 who could render a little aid in the household ; and a boy old enough 
 to drive the cows and drop corn. How shall they be provided for ? 
 Instead of going from house to house, to find a home for them, this 
 
268 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 course was pursued. On an appointed day, a vendue was held, and 
 men were called upon to say what they would charge for the support 
 of the family, for one year. The bidders would take into consideration 
 their own conveniences for having such a family in their houses ; what 
 ' their board and clothing would cost ; how much they could reasonably 
 expect to get in return by way of laboj ; and putting all things together, 
 they made their bids. He who would take the family for the least sum 
 of money, had them put into his charge, by the Selectmen, or the Over- 
 seers of the Poor. But they exercised their discretion. If the man 
 who made the lowest bid was not of good character ; if he were hard 
 and cruel ; if he was one who would scrimp and abuse the poor, the of- 
 ficers could decline to deliver these wards of the town to his keeping. 
 Besides, it was often stipulated that children thus " bid ofiF," should 
 have so many weeks or months of schooling, annually. In addition to 
 these safeguards, an enlightened and humane public sentiment went far 
 to guard the poor from ill-treatment. It was competent for the Select- 
 men, at any time, to take the custody of the poor into their own hands, 
 if they were subjeot to abuse or unkindness. Perhaps this was the. best 
 policy that could be pursued before the towns entered upon the more 
 modern plan of providing houses and farms for the support of the poor. 
 What were the sentiments of the inhabitants of Winchendon, in 1817, 
 in relation to this important subject, may be inferred from the follow- 
 ing action. On the first of December, a committee was chosen to con- 
 sider the measures most conducive to the interest of the town for the 
 support of the poor. Through their chairman, Lt. Paul Raymond, they 
 reported the following, probably from the pen of Esq. Henshaw. 
 
 " They are not insensible to the importance of the subject committed to 
 their consideration, nor the obligations due from society to extend the hand 
 of charity in comfortably supporting those whom adverse fortune has brought 
 to want." 
 
 After a full preamble, containing general principles, the Report rec- 
 ommends : 
 
 " 1. That the Overseers of the Poor, after posting, shall receive such seal- 
 ed proposals as may be offered, for each lot of persons described in the poster, 
 on the first of November. 
 
 2. Children shall be put out to live with some suitable person, until 14, 
 with due regard to schooling and clothing. Then bind them till the time they 
 become free by law. If boys, put thorn to some useful trade. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHBNDOir. 269 
 
 3. Persons out of town, but legally the poor thereof, to be immediately 
 brought into the town, and afforded necessary assistance. 
 
 4. Persons not applying for assistance, but not constantly and industri- 
 ously following some calling from which to gain subsistence, to be noticed and 
 brought to use necessary industry, and their children bound out to some use- 
 ful trade or employment. In this regard, the Overseers of the Poor rigidly 
 to enforce the law. 
 
 They further recommend to the inhabitants of the town to discountenance 
 as far as possible, the removal within the limits thereof, of people in indigent 
 circumstances, by which means the town is frequently put to great trouble and 
 expense." 
 
 The closing paragraph of the Report touches upon a subject which 
 perhaps would find its appropriate place in another chapter, but as it 
 refers to one of the principal causes of pauperism, it falls in naturally 
 here. It is as follows : 
 
 " To one other consideration, your committee call the attention of their fel- 
 low citizens, viz : to licensed houses and retailers. The laws regulating each, 
 are good and wholesome, but we regret to say that in our opinion, they are 
 broken with an impunity which requires redress. They therefore recommend 
 that whenever it shall come to the knowledge of the Selectmen, that any tav- 
 ern-keeper or retailer shall sell spirituous liquors to persons, having been for- 
 bidden to do the same, according to law, that they immediately cause a pros- 
 ecution to be commenced against such oiFenders, and if persisted in, withhold 
 from them their approbation for another year." 
 
 SECTION 3. — TOWN-FAEM AND POOE-HOUSE. 
 
 The time had finally come for the initiation of a new policy in regard 
 to the employment ands upport of the indigent and the helpless. In 
 1828, February 6, the town chose a committee, — Benjamin Adams, 
 Joseph Bobbins, Isaac Morse, Israel Whitcomb and Jacob Woodbury, 
 — " to see on what terms the town can purchase a farm suitable for 
 supporting the poor, and also an estimate of the probable expenses of 
 stocking the farm, and also the actual expenses of hiring a superintend- 
 ent." This committee brought in a Report, on the 18th, which con- 
 cludes in these words : " Your committee beg leave to represent, that 
 in their opinion, it is expedient for the town to appoint a committee of 
 seven to purchase or hire a farm on which to support and employ the 
 poor," etc. 
 
270 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 The following gentlemen were chosen a committee for the above- 
 mentioned purpose, viz : Isaac Morse, Benjamin Adams, Israel Whit- 
 comb, Jacob Wales, Amasa Whitney, Jacob Woodbury and Ephraim 
 Murdock. On the third of March following, the committee submitted 
 the following 
 
 REPORT. 
 
 " We, the subscribeis, a committee chosen by the town to purchase a farm, 
 or in some suitable way to provide for the maintenance of the poor, have at- 
 tended to that service, and after duly considering the subject, having econo- 
 my and philanthropy for our guide, have come to the conclusion to purchase 
 a farm. And accordingly have purchased the farm on which Mr. Lewis Wil- 
 der lately lived, for the sum of twenty-two hundred and seventy-seven dollars, 
 interest after the first April next. Also have made some arrangements for a 
 considerable part of the money that will probably be wanted this Bpring. Your 
 committee have further agreed with Mr. James Fry for one year as Superin- 
 tendent, for the sum of two hundred and ten dollars, himself, and wife, and 
 two children; said Fry to find bed only for his own family; his other furniture and 
 farming tools to be used when wanted for the benefit of the town, by the town 
 making good what may be broken. Said Fry to make proper allowance for 
 lost time, in case of sickness of himself or wife. Likewise havs contracted 
 with Mr. Fry for one yoke of oxen, two cows, about two tons of good English 
 hay, and one shote, for one hundred and thirty dollars. Also, a quantity of 
 pork and beef, grain, butter, potatoes, which will probably amount to near 
 two hundred dollars more. More stock and provisions will doubtless be 
 wanted." 
 
 The committee, in closing, take up the strain of their predecessors, 
 in 1817, and refer as follows to the great source of pauperism and crime 
 in the community. They felt the effects of license, and therefore spoke 
 in plain terms. 
 
 " In view of the alarming increase and qjipense o^paupers, your committee 
 would state for your consideration, and particularly the Selectmen, the expe- 
 diency of immediately posting those who make too free use of spirituous li- 
 quors, and committing to the work-house those who are idle and mis-spending 
 their time. Your committee further recommend that the Overseers be request- 
 ed to make out a judicious, mild, coercive code of by-laws for the due regula- 
 tion of said poor-house. 
 
 At this meeting the town directed that the poor-bouse should be a 
 work-house ; and authorized the Overseers to devise, adopt and enforce 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENBON. 271 
 
 a suitable system for the regulation thereof. The Selectmen were au- 
 thorized to borrow $1000 for the purchase of the poor-farm. 
 
 The " posting" referred to in the above extract, was an ancient cus- 
 tom by which men who were not wholly lost to shame, were sometimes 
 coerced into good behavior. If a man was idle and given to haunting 
 taverns and to drinking ; in modern phrase, if he became an intemperate 
 " loafer," after due admonition, he was " posted," and all persons were 
 forbidden to supply him with intoxicating drinks. One citizen of this 
 town, who was not conscious to what a depth of degradation he had de- 
 ^ Bcended, till rudely awakened by this process, remarked that " it was 
 worse than dying." 
 
 The recommendation of the committee that a code of by-laws should 
 be drawn up for the government of the farm and work-house, was adopt- 
 ed, and in the year 1832, the Rules and Regulations were put in force. 
 At the same time, it was voted to " build a work-house on the poor- 
 farm, the ensuing year." Esq. Murdock, Col. Adams and Israel Whit- 
 comb were chosen a committee to see the work done. 
 
 The Rules and Regulations above mentioned, were drawn up with 
 care, and seem well adapted to secure good government and proper 
 management in the care of the unfortunate. Owing to their length, 
 and their liability to alteration, from time to time, it is not deemed ne- 
 cessary to insert them here. It is sufficient to state that while they con- 
 fer all needful power on the keeper, they also place him under needful 
 restraints, so that the poor and weak shall not be abused. 
 
 At subsequent times, additions have been made to the farm, and alter- 
 ations in the builcjigs, as necessity or convenience required. In 1836, 
 it was voted to have the buildings on the poor-farm insured. In 1837, 
 it was voted to purchase a wood lot for the poor-farm, — the Grout lot, 
 35 acres, fo» $625. In April, 1839, a committee was authorized to 
 build " necessary additions to the town farm-house." 
 
 The Insane were formerly provided for at the poor-farm to a great- 
 er extent than in recent years, since better arrangements and treatment 
 have come into vogue in Hospitals and Retreats for the Insane. In ac- 
 cordance with this practice, the town voted, in 1842, March 7, that 
 E. Murdock, Jr., Webster Whitney and John Cutter, be a committee 
 " to build a house in addition for the insane." A grant of 1500 was 
 made for the purpose. 
 
272 
 
 HISTORY OF WmCHENDON. 
 
 In June, 1849, the Overseers of the poor were directed to send " Mr. 
 Cheshire to Liverpool if it can be done for reasonable expense." He 
 was an Englishman who " had seen better days," but was now in re- 
 duced circumstances. Mr. John D. Dunbar joined with the town in 
 sending him to his native land, with suitable clothing. He was sent at 
 an expense of $59.00 to the town. 
 
 SECTION 5. — EXPENSE OF SUPPORTING THE POOR. 
 
 The annual expense for sustaining the poor-house, above the income^ 
 during the last twenty years, is given below. The expenses in the col- 
 umn relating to the poor-farm, include the pay of the master, but omit 
 the interest of money paid for the farm, tools, &c. Nor is account 
 taken of improvements. 
 
 Cost ov Poor Farm. 
 
 1848, S202 71 
 
 1850, 255 12 
 
 1851, 278 30 
 
 1852, 420 65 
 
 1853, 469 61 
 
 1854, 286 84 
 
 1855, 385 34 
 
 1856, 582 73 
 
 1857, 589 82 
 
 1858, 800 33 
 
 1859, 650 12 
 
 1860, 457 22 
 
 1861, 538 85 
 
 1862, _ -.665 79 
 
 1863, 443 85 
 
 1864, 360 72 
 
 1865, 256 87 
 
 1866, 253 14 
 
 1867, 574 38 
 
 1868, 1125 30 
 
 Support Op Poor away from Farm. 
 $251 51 
 
 Not given. 
 
 -ih 
 
 443 90 
 
 431 44 
 
 576 55 
 
 234 77 
 
 259 59 
 
 72 08 
 
 125 50 
 
 326 18 
 
 254 53 
 
 197 26 
 
 273 09 
 
 336 94 
 
 . 269 87 
 
 232 73 
 
 . 340 13 
 
 . 714 01 
 
 . 681 80 
 
 . 331 62 
 
 In the above tables the year must be understood as terminating on 
 or near the first of March, and the amount set against any year refers 
 to the year preceding. For examjile, 1868 refers to the year begin- 
 ning on the first of March, 1867, and ending March 1, 1868. 
 
 In concluding this chapter, it may be truly.said, that the town has 
 been guided by " philanthropy" as well as " economy," in caring for 
 the poor and friendless. The farm is a good one ; the house is large 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 273 
 
 and convenient ; the water is pure ; the location is pleasant and health- 
 ful ; the supply of food and clothing has been sufficient ; the oversight 
 of the Overseers has been vigilant, and the Masters vrith their wives, 
 have been faithful and efficient. The following are the names of those 
 who have had the care of the poor, and the management of the farm. 
 
 Mr. James Fry, 
 
 from 1828 
 
 to 
 
 1829. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln Reed, 
 
 a 
 
 1829 
 
 
 1831. 
 
 Dea. John Cutter, 
 
 a 
 
 1831 
 
 
 1837. 
 
 Mr. Joel Brooks, 
 
 a 
 
 1837 
 
 
 1839. 
 
 Mr. Levi Hancock, 
 
 , " 
 
 1839 
 
 
 1841. 
 
 Dea. John Cutter, 
 
 (C 
 
 1841 
 
 
 1853. 
 
 Mr. Gilman Wyman, 
 
 a 
 
 1853 
 
 
 1855. 
 
 Mr. Reuben Betnis, , 
 
 a 
 
 1855 
 
 
 1856. 
 
 Capt, Joseph Whitney, 
 
 a 
 
 1856 
 
 
 1858. 
 
 Mr. Lewis, 
 
 a 
 
 1858 
 
 
 1862. 
 
 Mr. Josiah J. Dunn, 
 
 a 
 
 1862 
 
 
 1866. 
 
 Mr. John Raymond, Jr., 
 
 a 
 
 1866 
 
 
 1868. 
 
 Without any disparagement to others, it is proper to say that the town 
 is much indebted to Dea. Cutter for his management of the property, 
 and that the inmates of the poor-house have great occasion to be grate- 
 ful to him and Mrs. Cutter, for their fidelity, patience and kindness. 
 They — and the same may be said in general, of their successors — ^have 
 felt an interest in the spiritual welfare of their wards, and it has been 
 the practice to have religious meetings for the benefit of the injnates of 
 the house, whenever the ministers of the town could attend them ; and 
 also at other times ; besides the regular devotions of the family. 
 
 " Blessed is he that considereth the poor," says one who speaks in 
 the name of the great Father of all. This is a benediction which a town 
 as well as an individual may covet. And when we remember that no 
 one is exempt from the liability to find his home in the alms-house, the 
 duty to sympathize with the poor is strengthened. There have been, 
 and are still, representatives of some of the most respectable families 
 in the town, in the poor-house. Some of these are persons of great mor- 
 al worth, and they appreciate every attention and every act of consid- 
 erate kindness. " He that hath pity on the poor lendeth to the Lord." 
 
 18 
 
274 HISTORY OF WINCHESnfO]?, 
 
 CHAPTER XVm.— WINCHElfDON AT LAW. 
 
 " I oft liave heard him say how he admif'd 
 Men of youf large profession, that could speak 
 To every cduse, and things mere contraries, 
 Till tliey were hoarse again, and all be law." 
 
 Ben JohnsOS. 
 "The gloJioas encertaiuty of the law." 
 
 COKl!. 
 
 The towti has been involved, at different periods, in legal perplexi- 
 ties and expense. Sometimes, the case had reference to the support 
 of the poor. The question was, what town is under legal obligation to 
 take care of this individual or family ? At other times, legal measures 
 were taken to collect taxes and other dues. At others, the town was 
 indicted by the Grand Jury, or mulcted by the proper authority in ex- 
 pense for not keeping the public roads in good repair. Some of these 
 cases have been glanced at in connection with other topics. In this 
 place, a more particular, though brief review of the town's experience 
 in relation to " the glorious uncertainty of the law" will be taken. 
 
 SECTION 1. — TAX AND POVEKTY CASES- 
 
 In 1789j Jonathan Stimpson was thrown into jail on account of the 
 non-payment of his taxes. But instead of paying them to get out of 
 jail, he for some reason, remained there, and it became necessary for 
 the town to see to his support. The creditor was obliged to pay the 
 board of the poor debtor in jail. Besides, if the father were shut up, 
 who would support his family ? Rather a serious question for the town 
 to decide. An article in the warrant for the meeting held on the 8th 
 of May, was " to see what method the town will take to said Stimpson 
 and his family." And after consideration, the town voted " to let out 
 said Stimpson upon the best conditions for the town they can." This 
 was not so much a case in law, as an effort, by legal means, to obtain 
 what was due. Probably the cost was far greater than the taxes due. 
 
HISTOEY OF WINCHENDON. 275 
 
 It is mentioned in another place, that Thaddeus Bowman, and his 
 son by the same name, left the town while in its debt. After suitable 
 efforts to obtain its dues, the town went to law and obtained a decision 
 in its favor. The land of the Bowman^, in Weathersfield, Vt., was taken 
 by execution, and Mr. Amos Heywood, in September, 1792, was cho- 
 sen agent to make sale of the property so taken. On the 24th of Sep- 
 tember, Samuel Prentice was authorized to prosecute those who had not 
 fulfilled their obligations in respect to building the new meeting-house. 
 
 Towards the close of the same year, the town had a law-suit before 
 the Court of Common Pleas, at Worcester, with Luther Stimpson, re- 
 specting the support of Mrs. Thankful Stimpson. She was his grand- 
 mother, now aged, and as it appears, dependent. Moses Hale was agent 
 of the town, in conducting the case. He employed Esq. Paine and Esq. 
 Strong as counsel. The decision was in favor of the town. 
 
 In the year 1799, the Grand Inquest for the body of- the county, 
 found an indictment against the town, for not making, and keeping in 
 repair a new county road that was laid out in 1797, in the northerly 
 part of the town. Moses Hale was chosen the agent of the town to ap- 
 pear in its behalf at the next Court of General Sessions of the Peace, 
 to make answer, 
 
 SECTION 2. — THE MINISTER'S CASE. 
 
 The most expensive case, and the one that enlisted the most feeling, 
 in the whole history of the town, was that in reference to the damages 
 due to Rev. Mr. Brown, in consideration of his withdrawing from the 
 exercise of his ministry in this place. This was laid before Referees, 
 whose names are given in the Chapter on the Town as a Parish. An 
 account of that trial would be read with intense interest even at this 
 late day. The Referees were all laymen, chosen for their competency 
 to deal with such cases. The lawyers, one of them the elder Levi Lin- 
 coln, of Worcester, soon after made Attorney General of the United 
 States, and the other, the Hon. Mr. Bigelow, of Groton, of equal em- 
 inence at the bar, conducted the cause with consummate ability. The 
 parties were really the whole community, divided into two hostile sec- 
 tions, the majority of the church sympathizing with their minister, while 
 the majority of the town were opposed to him. These thronged the 
 church, filling the seats on the lower floor and the galleries, while peo- 
 ple from other towns came in to crowd every vacant space. The town 
 
276 HISTOEY OE •WINCHBNDON. 
 
 strove on the one hand, to reduce as muchas possible, the damages 
 claimed by their minister, even at the sacrifice of his reputation ; while 
 ■he, on the other hand, maintained his right to an unsullied name, and 
 to a fair compensation for the breaking up of his settlement. The coun- 
 sel contended as those who are stimulated by the aroused passions of 
 their clients, while the Referees deliberated as those who were conscious 
 of the feeling that it would scarcely be possibleto do right without incur- 
 ring the hatred of one or the other party in suit. The tradition is that 
 the eminent lawyers maintained their high reputation on this occasion 
 by the legal knowledge and eloquence which they displayed. The de- 
 cision was in favor of Mr. Brown, and the expense to the town, inclu- 
 ding damages, — nearly flOOO — and costs, must have been from 11200 
 to $1500." This was a large sum for that day. Besides, the loss of 
 time, if time had any value to the crowds who filled the meeting-house, 
 day after day, was still grea,ter. 
 
 SECTION 3. — THE SLAVE CASE. 
 
 It is a curious fact that the question whether chattel slavery ever ex- 
 isted in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was settled, in part, by a 
 case in which this town was involved as a party at law. The subject 
 is referred to in an article which appeared in the Historical Magazine, 
 (N. y.) in 1866, written apparently in a spirit hostile to the fair fame 
 of the State. A reply to this article appeared in the Boston Daily Ad- 
 vertiser. A concise statement of this case belongs to this period of our 
 narrative. 
 
 On the 22d of August, 1804, the town voted " that the Selectmen 
 should see and take care of the matter concerning the negro, that the 
 town of Ipswich has notified this town to take and support." No name 
 is given, but it is supposed that the same person is referred to in the fol- 
 lowing action, taken on the 4th of the next March, (1805.) " Chose 
 Thos. Graton and Thos. Greenwood, agents to look into the matter of 
 Eden London, (named in the Records of the Court, Edom,') a poor ne- 
 gro man, and find out where he ought to be supported." On the 6th 
 of May following, it was farther voted, " that the agents, with the assist- 
 ance of the Selectmen, notify the town of Weston, or the town of Hat- 
 field, or any other town, as soon as they can gain knowledge, which town 
 said London was left a citizen, according to law." Later still, on the 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 277 
 
 18th of August, 1806, the agents were directed to " carry on the suit 
 against Hatfield, concerning Eden London, according to the best coun- 
 sel they can get, to a final issue." At the same time a grant of |50 
 was made to carry on the lawsuit. 
 
 The contest was now between Hatfiejd and Winchendon. It had first 
 been brougl^t before a justice of the peace in Worcester county. It 
 » was appealed to the Court of Common Pleas, of Worcester county, where 
 the decisio^i was in favor of Hatfield, affirming the decision of the jus- 
 tice. The case was tried, at the December term, 1806. It was next 
 appealed tcji the Supreme Judicial Court, March term, 1808. The rec- 
 ord of the <t!ourt of Common Pleas, as certified by the presiding justice, 
 was as follows : 
 
 " WoKCESTER, ss. Gowt of Common Pleas, December, 1806. 
 
 The town of Winchendon, in the county of Worcester, complainants against 
 the town of Hatfield, in the county of Hampshire, before this court by appeal 
 from the adjudication of the Hon. D wight Foster, Esq., one of the justices of 
 the peace for said county, sptting forth in their complaint, that Edom London, 
 a negro man, now resident in said town of Winchendon, is poo'r and become 
 chargeable to said town, and that the said town of Hatfield is the place of his 
 laTtfal settlement, and praying that it may be so adjudged. 
 
 The facts in the case, from the evidence before the court, are, that said Edom, 
 in the year 1757, was the proper estate of one Samuel Bond, and then by him 
 sold to William Williams of Weston; that some time in the year 1760, and after 
 the decease of the said Williams, said Edom was set off as the estate of said 
 Williams to the wife of Oliver Partridge of Hatfield, who was the daughter of 
 said deceased, as part of her portion ill said deceased's estate, and then went 
 to live with said Partridge; in said town of Hatfield, and continued his servant 
 until the 2d day of October, A. D. 1767, at which tima he was sold by said 
 Partridge to John Ingersoll, Esq., of Westfield, in said county of Hampshire, 
 and coiUinued with him about three years ; was then sold by said Ingersoll to 
 John M'Cluster of Longmeadow, li\fed with him a few weeks ; was then sold 
 by said John M'Clustcr to Joshua Holcomb, of 'Simsbury in Connecti(!ut, and 
 lived with him about four years ; then was sold by said Holcomb to William 
 Bond, of Lincoln, and lived with him a short time ; was then sold by said 
 Bond to Thomas Cowdin, of Fitehburg, and lived with him three or four years ; 
 Was then sold by said Cowdin to Jonathan Stimson, of Winchendon ; and 
 the day following, he absconded and enlisted in the eight months' service in 
 Cambridge, and before the expiration of the said eight months' service, and 
 
278 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOjr. 
 
 in the year 1775, was sold by said Stimson to Thomas Sawyer of Winchendon 
 with whom he lived some time ; then he was sold by said Sawyer to Daniel 
 Goodridge, of the same Winohendon, in the month of July, 1776, with whom 
 he lived about five weeks ; then he enlisted into the three years' service, and 
 the said Goodridge received the whole of hi» bounty, and part of his wages." 
 
 Such was the case before the Court of Common Pleas, which affirmed 
 the judgment of Justice Foster, and adjudged that London's settlement 
 was not in Hatfield. It may be said here, in passing, that according 
 to tradition, Eden London had his freedom from Mr. Goodridge, on con- 
 dition that he, London, should take the place of his master, in the three 
 years' service. 
 
 The case was brought up before the Supreme Court, at Worcester, 
 in September, 1807, when Upham appeared in behalf of the plaintiffs, 
 that is, the town of Winchendon. The case was continued, and at the 
 March term, 1808, Bigelow argued the case for this town. After hear- 
 ing arguments, the Court, Chief Justice Parsons, presiding, decided as 
 follows : 
 
 " It is stated that the pauper was once the slave of Oliver Partridge, living 
 several years with him at Hatfield, where his master was settled. The pau- 
 per then acquired a derivative settlement in Hatfield. Afterwards his mas- 
 ter Partridge s'>ld him to J. Ingersoll, Esq., an inhabitant of, and settled in 
 Westfield. There be lived several years with bis new master, and then ho lost 
 bis settlement in Hatfield, by gaining a now derivative settlement in Westfield. 
 As it is not stated that the pauper, at any time afterwards, again lived in Hat- 
 field, either as a slave or freeman, it is unnecessary to pursue the case further. 
 Having lost bis settlement in Hatfield, and not having regained a new settle- 
 ment there, the defendants are not liable for his maintenance, and the judg- 
 ment must be affirmed with costs." . 
 
 This decision relieved Hatfield from the support of Eden London, and 
 threw the costs of the suit upon Winohendon ; but must Winchendon 
 continue to support him? It was claimed by the town's counsel, Mr. 
 Bigelow, among other things, that a slave could obtain a settlement by 
 length of residence, and not merely derivatively from his master. -It 
 was farther claimed, that by two decisions of the Supreme Judicial Court, 
 it had been decided that slavery could not exist in this Commonwealth. 
 In the first action referred to, involving the right of the master, which 
 came before the Supreme Judicial Court, after the establishment of the 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 279 
 
 Constitution, tlie judges declared, that, by virtue of the first article of the 
 declaration of rights, slavery in this State was no more. Afterwards in 
 an action by the inhabitants of Littleton, brought to maintain the expenses 
 of supporting a negro, tried in Middlesex, October term, 1796, the Chief 
 Justice, in directing the jury, stated as the unanimous opinion of the 
 court, that a negro born in the State before the present constitution, was 
 born free, although bom of a female slave. If this decision should stand, 
 then London was legally a free man, when he lived in Hatfield, and had 
 a settlement in his own right, which he had never forfeited, since he had 
 been removed without any regard to his own wishes. But Judge Par- 
 sons and his Associates dismissed this matter with the curt remark : 
 '' It is however ferj certain that the general practice and common usage 
 had been opposed to this opinion." The decision settled this point : that 
 *' before the Revolution the settlement of a slave always followed that 
 of his master." Eden's residence was here therefore, because his last 
 three masters lived in this town. Again the decision aiSrmed that slaves 
 when " manumitted, could acquire a settlement in their own right, and 
 if they had resided a year in the town where they were manumitted, 
 they could not then be warned out." 
 
 Whichever of these decisions of the Court was right ; the more hu- 
 mane one of the Court in 1796, or the possibly'more legal one of the 
 Court in 1808 ; the town was obliged to support Eden London in his 
 old age, and as he did service in the war of independence, it is to be 
 hoped that the maintenance was cheerfully rendered. It has come down 
 to us that he was a " pretty smart man." He was probably an old man 
 by this time, as it is fifty-one years from the time he began to. figure, 
 or rather to be figured, in these sales, to the final decision. 
 
 He was buried in the old graveyard in the Centre, in the northeast 
 corner. 
 
 SECTION 4. — LATEK, CASES. 
 
 In 1821, August 27, the town chose Ephraim Murdoct, Esq., to car- 
 ry on the lawsuit against the town of Lunenbuk©. He became con- 
 vinced that the right of the case was with Lunenburg, and therefore 
 kept the case out of Court. He settled on the best terms possible with 
 the agent of that town on condition that all the papers, in the case — 
 evidence, &c. — should be delivered to him. This was done, but not 
 
280 HISTORY OF WINCHENfiOW. 
 
 long after, as lie told the story, lie received notice from the " whelp" 
 that he had collected the evidence anew, thus securing his town's claim 
 for the future, in case the memory of men should fail. 
 
 The facts of the case, in brief, were these. A woman, who shall be 
 nameless, living when the town was organized, not far from the east 
 school-house, bore illegitimate children. Some were white, and some 
 were not so white. She removed to Lunenburg, but her legal domicile 
 was in Winchendon. Some of her white, and some of her colored chil- 
 dren, about fifty years afterwards, became chargeable to the town . The 
 authorities of Lunenburg traced them to Winchendon, since the place 
 of their birth is privileged with the support of such indigent ofispring, 
 and this town made an allowance to Lunenburg to pay the expense of 
 keeping them. 
 
 Perhapsignorance of the law in such eases made and provided, led 
 the town to contest the case. When Esq. Murdoclc found what the law 
 required, he made the best terms practicable with the rather sharp agent 
 on the other side. 
 
 For the credit of the family it should be statedj that one of the col- 
 ored grandsons of the woman aforesaid, was among the first volunteers 
 from this town, in the late war of freedom. 
 
 The Reed case was the next of sufficient importance to be noticed. 
 A teamster by the name of Henry Reed, used to drive a long team 
 of horses through the town, from Brattleborough to Boston. In 1843 
 he brought a complaint against the town for a defective bridge near the 
 Robbins mill, on the old Fitzwilliam turnpike. The matter was sub- 
 mitted to reference, and was heard in the winter of 1844, in the old 
 Ml of Mr. Milton S. Morse's tavern. Reed's counsel was Hon. Na- 
 thaniel Wood, of Fitchburg ; Hon. Emory Washburn, since judge, gov- 
 ernor and professor in the Harvard Law School, appeared for the town. 
 His argument is still remembered by the writer, as characterized by 
 candor and force, with«iut any resort to finesse and cunning. 
 
 The case was this. The bridge needed repairs, and the workmen 
 were about to> begin, when a teamster came along who desired to pass. 
 The bridge was strengthened by throwing on loose plaiiiks, when the team 
 went over in safety. Reed came from below toward night, and stopped 
 at the tavern till morning. Hearing of the bridge and wishing to avoid 
 the other road, which was then in a bad state, he applied to Mark Whit- 
 eomb, Esq. , Selectman, and requested permission, to pass over the bridge'. 
 
SIPIEISJ\.IIIE SEWISIo)C5)(SIE,Ilg(^_c 
 
HISTOEY OF WINCHBNDON. 281 
 
 In pure kindness of heart, the Esq. rode up earlj in the morning, and 
 told the workmen to let the plank remain until Reed had passed. The 
 latter came along, and in crossing the bridge, either by accident or de- 
 sign, ran his off wheels outside of the end of the top planks. The wheels 
 cut through the lower planks, and the load was turned over into the 
 stream. He claimed that the order from the Selectman made the town 
 responsible for the whole width of the bridge, and his lawyer succeeded 
 in leading the Referee to that conclusion. The whole expense was about 
 eight hundred dollars. 
 
 The Sanders case, so called, came up in 1849, and on the 12th 
 of November, Harvey Wyman was chosen agent of the town. He em- 
 ployed the Hon. Benjamin F. Thomas as counsel ; Hon. N. Wood ap- 
 peared for the plaintiff, which was the town of Fitchburg. The case 
 was singular, in some of its aspects, and will therefore be given at some 
 length, and principally in the words of Cushing's Report. Lemuel San- 
 ders and family became paupers while living in Fitchburg. The ques- 
 tion was this : Did they have a legal settlement in Winchendon ? 
 
 It was claimed by the plaintifis that the paupers had gained a resi- 
 dence in Winchendon in the twelfth mode pointed out in the Revised 
 Statutes ch. 45, § 1, by a residence of ten years, and the assessment 
 and payment of taxes five years during that period in the town of Win- 
 chendon ; and it was admitted that Sanders was assessed and paid a 
 poll tax in Winchendon, as of the 1st of May, 1832, and in each suc- 
 ceeding year until 1840. 
 
 Sanders was called as a witness by the plaintiff, to prove his ten years' 
 residence in this town. Everything turned on his intention. About 
 the Ijst of June, 1831, he came to Winchendon, and went to work for 
 John D. Dunbar. He lived here until October 26, 1842, when he re- 
 moved to Fitchburg. His family were not brought hither until the 6th 
 of November, 1832. They lived in Oakham up to that time, and he 
 occasionally visited them at his home. As there were not ten years 
 between November 6, 1832, and October 26, 1842, "feow coflld he ac- 
 quire a residence in Winchendon? By intention. He finally, after re- 
 peated questionings, ventured to testify that he had formed the inten- 
 tion, in the course of the summer, 1832, to make Winchendon his home. 
 In the words of the " Reports :" 
 
 " It was his intention — in June, 1831 — to remove to Winchendon, thoagh 
 
282 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 he did not know that anything was said to Dunbar about his removal, and 
 nothing was said about the remaining or removal of his family ; that he had 
 some conversation with Dunbar — in March or April, 1832— about removing 
 to Wiacheadon, and told him that they wanted him (the witness) back to the 
 Barrc factory; that he told Dunbar if he was going to work there (in Win- 
 ehendon) any longer, he wanted to be getting his family up ; that Dunbar 
 thought he had better stay, and that if he had a mind to stay, and would stay 
 and do as well as he had done, he should have the first chance there was for 
 a tenement, of which there were then none to be had, but they were going to 
 build some ; that he thereupon determined to stay in Winchendon, and did 
 stay ; that at the time of this conversation, he had been and was boarding and 
 continued to board at the factory boarding-house in Winchendon, where he 
 had his washing and most of his mending done, some of the bad mending be- 
 ing done at Oakham, where his family continued to reside ; that his wife and 
 children came to Winchendon to reside on the 6th of November, 1832; that 
 the reason why they did not come to Winchendon sooner was because there 
 was no tenement there ready for the witness to remove into ; that after his con- 
 versation with Dunbar, he never expected to go back and live in Oakham, but 
 that if Dunbar did not keep him, he should go somewhere else, though he had 
 no thoughts of leaving ; that he was assessed in Winchendon, and paid a tax 
 there in 1832, that during this time he did not think anything about where 
 his home was, though, in answer to any proper question, he should probably 
 have spoken of Oakham as his home ; that he was then at work in Winchen- 
 don, liable to be turned away at any time, and having no lease of a house at 
 Oakham, he was liable to be turned out by his landlord at any time ; that the 
 Assessors of Winchendon did not, to his knowledge, come to see him, except 
 once in 1840 or 1841 ; that during the whole time while he worked in Win- 
 chendon, before his family came theie, he worked by the day, and did not 
 maks or ask Dunbar to make any contract, &c." 
 
 The judge, Hopkinson, was of opinion that the evidence was not suf- 
 ficient to authorize the jury to find a verdict for the plaintiffs, a verdict 
 was therefore rendered in favor of Winchendon and the plaintiffs alleged 
 exceptions. The case came before the Supreme Court, October terra, 
 1849, when judge Fletcher gave the decision. Having stated the case, 
 the judge proceeded as follows : 
 
 " After the evidence for the plaintiffs was put in, the judge ruled that it 
 would not warrant the jury in finding a verdict for the plaintiffs. Whereupon 
 a verdict was given for the defendants. To this ruling the plaintiffs except. 
 If therefore there was evidence which would have warranted the jury in find- 
 
HISTORY or ■ffllfCHENDON'. 283 
 
 ing a verdict for the plaintiffs, tbe ruling of the court below was erroneous, and 
 a new trial must be granted. Tliero was evidence to show that Sanders was 
 at work in Winchendon, from June, 1831, to October, 1842, and that he had 
 left his former home not intending to return to it again. There was also ev- 
 idence tending to show that ho went to Winchendon, with the intention of fix- 
 ing his residence and having his settlement there, and to remove his family 
 there as soon as practicable. The intention, which formed a most essential 
 element in the case, was a matter to be inquired of and settled exclusively by 
 the jury. What was the intention of the pauper was a most material fact, and 
 not a question of law, and could only be settled by the jury, and not by the 
 court. The case, therefore, being one which was peculiarly and eminently for 
 the jury, the ruling of the judge was erroneous, and the verdict must be set 
 aside and a new trial granted." 
 
 Accordingly a new trial was had, and by that time Sanders, by some 
 means, hadi become satisfied that he could testify that he had formed 
 a definite intention, sometime in the summer or eai-ly autumn of 1832, 
 to make Winchendon his home. This settled the matter, and the jury 
 gave the verdict for the plaintiffs. It was however, and still is the opin- 
 ion of the agent of the town, that if the case had been given to the first 
 jury, the verdict would have been in favor of Winchendon. At that 
 time the pauper did not seem to know much about his intention. At 
 the latter trial, he testified to a real intention to remove hither, and that 
 testimony governed the jury. ' The expense was not far from $350.00. 
 This case certainly illustrates the truth of the motto at the head of the 
 chapter — " the glorious uncertainty of the law." 
 
284 HISTORY OF WINCHBKDON. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX.— TEMPERANCE AND 
 MORALS. 
 
 "What war so cruel, or what siege so sore, 
 
 As that which strong temptation doth apply 
 Against the fort of reason evermore. 
 To bring the soul into captivity ?" 
 
 Fairy QuEEjf. 
 
 " Nature, good cateress. 
 Means her provision only to the good. 
 That live according to her sober laws, 
 And holy dictates of pure Temperance." 
 
 CoMUS. 
 
 SECTION 1. — CONVIVIAli HABITS. 
 
 Winchendon has always enjoyed a fair reputation, in comparison with 
 other towns, in regard to Temperance and Good Morals. At times, 
 intemperance has been quite too prevalent ; and other forms of vicious 
 appetite have ruined their votaries and victims. But as a general thing, 
 the tone of moral sentiment has been high, and the people, in suc- 
 cessive generations, have been industrious, frugal, law-abiding and vir* 
 tuous. Their character, in this respect, should find a place in their 
 History. Accordingly, in this short chapter, the desigii Will be to set 
 forth what the town, in its corporate capacity, as well as what societies 
 and individuals have done to promote temperance and good morals. 
 
 Nothing of special significance bearing on this subject, is found in 
 our early annals. The fact, however, that the town Was a parish, and 
 by annual grants, sustained the preaching of th<j gospel, and public 
 worship, as well as the catechising of thg children in the great truths 
 of the Christian religion, must be taken as evidence that the people 
 were sensible of the necessity of a high state of morals. For true re- 
 ligion is the root of temperance, purity and all other virtues and graces 
 of character. The minister was almost always styled, in town-language, 
 the " teacher of piety, religion and morality ;" and his influence was 
 uniformly in favor of the highsst style of good morals. The greater 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 285 
 
 includes the less, and the preaching which inculcates supreme love to 
 God, and unselfish love to man, promotes the highest and purest virtue. 
 
 It must be admitted however, that the people, for nearly eighty years 
 after the first permanent settlement, were addicted to the free use of 
 intoxicating drinks, and that not a few of them suifered in health, prop- 
 erty and character, in consequence. The elderly people remember 
 many who were injured by their drinking habits ; and too many who 
 became such slaves to appetite as to shorten their days and tarnish their 
 memories. The Records of the Church show that some within its sacred 
 fold, from which everything unclean should be excluded, were guilty of 
 intemperance, and others of violating the seventh commandment. As 
 the standard cf character is always higher in the Church than in the pub- 
 lic generally, the state of morals may be inferred from the above fact. In 
 regard to intemperance, how could it be avoided when liquors were 
 provided for all occasions? They were drank at home, at work, while 
 hunting and fishing, at trainings, at bees, at huskings, at weddings and 
 at funerals. The glass and the pipe came in at all ministerial gather- 
 ings. A meeting-house could not be raised or dedicated ; a minister 
 could not be settled, without the inevitable rum, brandy and sugar, for 
 the Council, the Choir and the Committee, not to mention visitors from 
 abroad, and the public generally. A barrel, and sometimes more, would 
 be consumed on a single occasion of this kind. 
 
 But it must not be forgotten that cases of habitual intemperance were 
 the exceptions, in former times, in the community as a whole, while in 
 the church they were very rare. Moreover, strenuous means were used 
 to reclaim the erring ; sometimes by discipline, and sometimes by pri- 
 vate exertions. These were often, though not always successful. A 
 story is told of one of the early settlers, whose name need not be given, 
 which exhibits the good intentions of the minister, though he was foiled 
 on the occasion to which it refers. A citizen of good standing, though 
 addicted to the excessive use of spirituous liquors, was visited by the 
 mmister. Rev. Mr. Brown, at the suggestion of several neighbors, who 
 hoped that their erring neighbor might be reclaimed. The man him- 
 self, anticipating such a call, was prepared. Mr. Brown was seen near- 
 
 ing the house, one bitter cold day in winter, whereupon Mr. met 
 
 him at the door, saying : " How do you do ? walk in by the fire ; you 
 must be very cold ; you must take something warm to drink ;" and 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENBOIT. 
 
 suiting ta3 action to the word, he brought on his toddy, flip, or what- 
 ever drink he had compounded for the occasion. The minister took a 
 draught, according to the usual custom, and was about to begin upon 
 his errand. But the host took the lead in conversation, and passing from 
 ' one subject to another — health, weather, politics, domestic and relig- 
 ious matters — left no chance for the friendly warning. Mr. Brown 
 finally concluded he must go home, hoping to drop a parting word on 
 the subject which had impelled him to come out on such an inclement 
 day. But here he was foiled again, the host saying : " Really, Mr. 
 Brown, you mus'nt go out into the cold without taking something to 
 keep you warm ;" and actually induced him to take another drink on 
 retiring. When questioned by his anxious neighbors about the success 
 of his mission, he was obliged to confess that the man's politeness and 
 volubility had prevented all allusion to the subject of hard-drinking. 
 
 SECriON 2. — TIPPLING AND TAVERN-HAUNTING. 
 
 After the Revolution, and down to the close of the first quarter of this 
 century, there was a period of some fifty years, that has no parallel in 
 our history, either before or after, for intemperance. It was the saturn- 
 alia of rum. Ministers preached and moralists declaimed against the evil 
 and the sin ; friends remonstrated, while wives and children grieved ; 
 but still the tide of ruin rolled on, bearing away thousands of debased 
 but willing victims. The laws were also enforced, to a certain extent, 
 and probably some effect was produced by way of preventing the 
 iwcreaseof intemperance, though not in secui-ing its suppression. Among 
 the measures adopted in this place, we find the following in the Records, 
 under date of 1809, December 28. There was an article in the war- 
 rant calling a town meeting, " to see if the town will take some meth- 
 od to prevent a number of the inhabitants of said town, from spending 
 their time and property at public houses, by appointing guardians, or 
 some other way, as they shall think proper." After considering the 
 matter, it was voted : 
 
 " 1. That it bo recomaiendecl to the inhabitants of this town, as far as pos- 
 sible, to cllscountenance every spocies of prodigality and unnecessary expendi- 
 ture of time and money, inconsistent with the necessities or conveniences thereof. 
 
 2. That this town view with regret, the habits which many of its inhab- 
 itants have imbibed, of spending much of their time and money in frequenting 
 
HISTORY Oy WISCHESBON- 287 
 
 pttWio houses unnecessarily, wbicb tends to destroy the manners, corrupts the 
 morals, and too frequently tends to a life of dissipation, which ends in the ruin 
 of the persons concerned in such practices. 
 
 It is therefore voted, that this town pointedly disapproves of this practice 
 as destructive to. the community, and detrimental to the peace and good order 
 of society, and so contrary to the good laws of this Commonwealth. 
 
 Voted, that it be reeoinmended to the innholders and retailers of spirit- 
 uous liquors, to discountenance, as far as possible, the above practice, as it is 
 pointedly in the face of the law therein made and provided. 
 
 Voted, that the Selectmen bo and they are hereby directed to forward to 
 each tavern keeper, innbolder and retailer in this town, a copy of the above 
 resolutions, signed by them, and attested by the town Clerk. And also take 
 such other measures to prevent the continuation of said practices as are con- 
 sistent with the laws of this Commonwealth." 
 
 Nothing farther relating to this subject is found till the jear 1817, 
 when, as mentioned in the chapter on the support of the poor, a reso- 
 lution was passed by the town, in reference to the use of intoxicating 
 drinks as a principal cause of poverty and crime. That action need not 
 be quoted again, only to remind the reader that " the licensed houses 
 and retailers" were constantly violating the law, and that the town felt 
 the need of having them prosecuted by the Selectmen, and if that failed 
 to procure obedience, of withholding their license. 
 
 SECTION 3. — OBSERVANCE OF TIIE SABBATH. 
 
 About the same time,— 1814 — the town in common with the State, 
 was alarmed at the growing laxity in respect of the keeping of the Sab- 
 bath as holy unto the Lord. On the 7th of November it was 
 
 " Voted, that the town most cordially approve the law of this Commonwealth 
 enacted to enforce a due observance of the Lord's day, and also of the last re- 
 port of the legislature on the subject. 
 
 Voted, that we, the inhabitants of the town hereby pledge ourselves that 
 we will give all the aid in our power, and make every just and pioper effort 
 to secure the execution of the laws providing for the due observance of the 
 Lord's day." 
 
 At the same meeting the Tything-men were recommended to enter 
 forthwith on the peculiar duties of their office ; and approbation was ex- 
 pressed in regard to the " late proceedings at Phillipston," where a meetr 
 ing had been held in favor of the proper observance of the Sabbath.. 
 
288 HISTOKY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 The connection of this extract from the Records with the preceding, 
 is evident, inasmuch as Sabbath desecration is always attended with in- 
 temperance and vice, and the sacred keeping of that day is as uniform- 
 ly accompanied by all the virtues which adorn the home, bless the coun- 
 try, and beautify the church of God. 
 
 It is well known that great efforts have been made during the last 
 forty years, to suppress intemperance by the force of law, as well as by 
 moral influence. This town has uniformly been in favor of all judicious 
 legislation on this subject. A vote passed at the annual meeting, March 
 6, 1843, may be taken as the habitual sense of the town, in relation to 
 laws regulating the sale of spirituous liquors. 
 
 " On motion, voted,' that in our opinion, public good does not require that 
 any person or persons be licensed to sell intoxicating drinks in this town the 
 ensuing year, and that we hereby request our Selectmen to withhold their ap- 
 probation from all persons who may apply for it in order to enable them to 
 procure a license, except for mechanical and medicinal purposes." 
 
 No person has been authorized^to sell intoxicating liquors in this town, 
 for many years, except the town agent, and it has not been <ypenly sold 
 outside of his store to any great extent. Persons have supplied them- 
 selves with the article in various ways, but generally by an underhand- 
 ed process. By all which it appears that the record of the town, in re- 
 lation to temperance and good morals, is highly honorable. 
 
 SECTION 4. — PEIVATE EFFORTS TO PROMOTE TEMPERANCE. 
 
 Not far from forty years ago, some of the leading men of the town 
 were impelled by their sense of duty, to exert their influence as private 
 citizens, against the alarming evils of rum-drinking. Among others, 
 ' the late Ephraim Murdock, Esq., told his farm hands, as haying time 
 drew nigh,' that he should not furnish them with liquor during haying 
 and harvesting. He was willing to add to their wages the cost of the 
 usual allowance of liquors, but he would not furnish the liquor for them, 
 nor employ those who habitually made use of it. They demurred at 
 first, and urged that they could not endure the labor and the heat of 
 summer, without the customary stimulus. He remauied firm however,, 
 and they yielded the point. The result was that his work was done 
 better than ever before, and the men confessed that they never did their 
 ■yjork with so little fatigue and trouble. The experiment was a success. 
 
HISTORY OF WINOHBNDON. 289 
 
 Capt. Phinehas Whitney and others had a similar experience. In this 
 quiet way a temperance reform was begun which led to very happy re- 
 sults. The practice of not furnishing stimulating liquors to workmen, 
 whether on the farm or in shops and factories, becamie universal, in a 
 few years, and continues to the present time. 
 
 Effort in another method was tried at a subsequent period, which was 
 followed with good results. About twenty years ago, two or three gen- 
 tlemen who were members of the School Committee together, undertook 
 to hold a series of meetings for the benefit of the scholars. Mr. Blisha 
 Murdock and the writer visited every district in the town, and addressed 
 nearly all the children then connected with the schools. Their method 
 was, to visit a school, and after examining into its condition £tnd prog- 
 ress, to inviteall the members, with their teacher, to be present in the 
 afternoon of the next Saturday, at a specified hour. They were told 
 the object of the meeting, and that they would be asked to sign the Tem- 
 perance pledge if their parents were willing. These invitations were 
 always well responded to, and the attendance was large. After speak- 
 ing to the children upon the evils of self-iadulgence, and the importance 
 of being fixed in their childhood in favor of temperance, and after ex- 
 plaining the meaning of the pledge, they were invited to sign their names. 
 They, with few exceptions, took the pledge, and there is reason to be- 
 lieve that the enviable reputation for temperance, good morals and in- 
 dustry which this town enjoys, is due in some measure to these quiet 
 and unpretending efforts. It should be added that the Rev. Andrew 
 Dunn and Mr. Sullivan B. Ball, were present and assisted on several 
 occasions. 
 
 SECTION 5. — TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES. 
 
 The first associated action on the subject of temperance, in the tech- 
 nical sense of the word, in this section of the Commonwealthj was taken 
 in the study of Rev. Eber L. Clakk. He was then the pastor of the 
 First Congregational Church, and the subject came up before the Wor- 
 cester North Association of ministers, with which he was connected. 
 According to a pubhshed statement of the late Daniel Henshaw, Esq., 
 who resided in this town, at the time, they took ground against the use 
 of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, and agreed to exert their influ- 
 ence in inducing others to follow their example. This was before the 
 Temperance Reformation had gained pubHc recognition, and when they 
 
 19 
 
• 29<} HisfOR? 0-e vvincsendoj:. 
 
 were obliged to encounter, not only the cravings of a perverted appe- 
 ■tite, and the pecuniary interest- of dealers, but also the prestige of un- 
 broken and universal usage. The temperance movement was thus in- 
 itiated in all the towns in this vicinity ; for the pastors strengthened by 
 each other's co-operation, went home, and began to preach and lecture 
 agauist intemperance, untiL ^eir congregations were enlisted in the 
 cause. It -vyas a severe struggle, but the ministers were faithful to their 
 convictions of duty, and ihej soon found many of the best memb0rs of 
 the churches on their side. ■' Sensible men — ^farmers and others — soon 
 'joined them. The ladies^ ^ave their influence, in large measure, and 
 ' the reformation went forward; When the first Temperance Society 
 was formed her# is not definitely known, but it was certainly in the 
 e*arly"-days_of this great moral enterprise. 
 
 The first pledge, as all know who can remember those days, was to 
 abstai^frbm the use of distilled liquors, — rum, brandy, gin, whiskey, 
 etd.,— but wiiie, cider, ale and beer were not proscribed. Some good 
 resulted from- this effort, but it was soon found that men could make 
 themselves drunk on fermented drinks. Besides, some had no diffi- 
 culty in stre|lgthening the permitted beverages with liquids of more 
 stimulating, quality. And again, iLwas soon learned that the wine, ale 
 and hard-cider drinker could have ilfo influence over those addicted to 
 the use of more powerful liquors. It waS either necessary to abandon 
 the use of " all' that could intoxicate," or give up the incipient reform- 
 — vation. This was the second stage o£ihe great movement. A Society 
 was formed here on this basis, including flot only the clergymen in town, 
 but B(iany of the most influential citizens'; The physicians, among whom 
 Dr. Alvah Godding was conspicuous, lent their powerful aid. The 
 deacons of the churches, so far as now remembered, were all enhsted. 
 Respectable people still clung to their wine ; some even to their rum 
 and brandy ; but they ceased to pyovide liquors at funerals, weddings 
 and parties. The bottles were bani^ed from the side-board. The old 
 custom of asking visitors to take a drink, became obsolete. The eleven 
 o'clock dram was dispensed with, and " drinking" was confined, very 
 much to the bar-room and to festive gatherings of men, not of the stricter 
 sort, and when ladies were not present. 
 
 It is not necessary to give a history of all, or even of any of the var 
 rious temperance organizations, which from time to time have existed 
 in the town. It is enough to say that besides the society already re- 
 
HISTORY OF WDTCHENDOSr, 291 
 
 ferred to, there was a " Band of Hope," composed of the children, 
 flourishing here in 1842-4; the Washingtonian movement reached 
 here, and was the means of reclaiming quite a number ; a society oa 
 the basis of total abstinence from all that can intoxicate, except for 
 *' medicinal, mechanical and sacramental uses," was in active operation 
 from about 1-845 to 1856 ; and by all these agencies, great good was 
 effected. Besides many sermons and addresses by the clergymen of 
 the town, lectures from some of the most eminent of the leading men 
 engaged in the reform, were heard. Rev. Dr. Porter, then Presiding 
 Elder of the district, -Rev. John Pierpont, Dr. Jewett, Mr. Hawkins 
 and others, drew large audiences, and exerted a powerful influence. 
 
 During this period, a combination was formed, outside of the tem- 
 pera»ce organization, to prosecute all violators of the prohibitory law 
 within the limits of the town. It inchsded many members of the tem- 
 perance society, and quite a number of men who were not in fiiat or- 
 ganization, — all voters — who were convinced that the violation of the 
 law led to unhappy and ruinous results. The combination, united by 
 a written pledge, was so strong, that while it existed, no one had the 
 feardihood to violate the law by the open sale of intoxieatmg liquors. 
 
 Of later date was the ca-ganization of the Sons of Temperance, which, 
 thou^ it did Bot include those friends of temperance -^ho were opposed 
 to all secret societies, exerted a strong and healthful influenee*in favor 
 of the great reform. In time, this society was succeeded by the Good 
 Templars, in two branches or divisions, — ^best known to the initiated — 
 one of them made up of children, under the lead of their seniors ; and 
 the other ©f adults. They are^based on the pledge of "total abstinence,' ' 
 and the enforcement of the prohibitory law ; besides which they are in- 
 tended to exert a social and kindly influence by means of frequent meet- 
 ings, music and literary exerrases, in favor of the temperance cause. 
 
 In all these modes, and by the cir^culatioH of temperance periodicals, 
 the cause of self-denial and soand morals has been promoted among us. 
 ■The ehureh, iBcluding the ministry, is the real source and abiding cause 
 of all eflScient moral action, but these various organisations are its in- 
 struments in effecting its great obje&ts. Wherever the church is in- 
 spired by the Spirit of God, the tone of morals will be high, and its 
 power will be felt, by various agencies, through the whole community. 
 
292 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 CHAPTER XX.— THE MILITIA 
 
 When John Adams was in Paris, in the capacity of a minister at the 
 Court of Versailles, he was asked by a Frenchman to tell him what were 
 the causes that made the inhabitants of New England such a peculiar 
 people; so moral, intelHgent, religious and free. He replied that there 
 were four causes which united in producing the results which the inqui- 
 rer so much admired. 1, The Church; 2, the Town Organization with 
 its meetings for business, &c. ; 3, the Common School System ; and 
 4, the Militia. This was his reply, substantially, though not in the ex- 
 act words. These four causes have been at work in this place, and ^ 
 have concurred in making the people homogeneous with all the rest of 
 New England. The church was almost coeval with the first settlement, 
 and preceded the organization of the town ; the town was formed as soon 
 as there were people enough to render it advisable ; the school has been 
 in operation ever since there were children enough to require a teach- 
 er, and the militia, till comparatively recent times, has taught every 
 able-bodied man how to defend his country. 
 
 It is difficult to find any definite information respecting the first mil- 
 itary organization in Winchendon. Being entirely under the control 
 of the State, there is no reference to it in the Records of the Propri- 
 etors or of the town, except an occasional vote of the latter to remit the 
 poll-tax of the soldiers, buy their uniforms, supply them with cartridges, 
 or grant some similar favor, in consideration of their loss of time in the 
 annual, semi-annual, or more frequent musters. At the time of the in- 
 corporation of the town, there was not a large number of men to be form- 
 ed into a mihtary company. Probably there were not more than twen- 
 ty men in the beginning of 1764, who were liable to do military duty. 
 These however were all accustomed to the use of fire-arms, and could 
 defend themselves and their families from the incursions of wild beasts 
 and the attacks of Indians. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENBOH'. 293 
 
 During the next ten years a company was formed, probably, becaiise 
 there was a military organization here at the time of the " Lexington 
 alarm" in 1775. 'When the news first came, a few men hurried off, 
 under the lead, says tradition, of Moses Hale ; but before going far, 
 they learned the result of that movement of the British troops and re- 
 turned home. In a few days the company, composed of Winchendon, 
 Royalston and Templeton men, under the command of Capt. Abel Wil- 
 der, were on their way to Boston. This is known from letters written 
 by Capt. Wilder to his wife, before the close of May. A part of this 
 company was in the battle of Bunker Hill on the 17th of June. From 
 this time, the regular militia system was superseded by other modes 
 of raising volunteers, and procuring men for the regular army. Some 
 of the men who were officers during the war, were Messrs. Wilder, Mer- 
 riam. Oaks, Poor, Boynton, and others. 
 
 Their names, though not always their rank, appear in the chapter on 
 the Revolution. 
 
 The militia force was in an organized condition after the establishment 
 of peace, and the aeknowledgment of our independence by Great BrH>- 
 ain. This was in 1783. In 1786-7, the Governor of Massachusetts 
 sent a requisition for troops to put down the Shays' rebellion. When 
 the requisition reached here, the company was wanted, and met on the 
 dom.mon, when there was a call for volimteers. The names of the com- 
 missioned officers have not been learned by the author with certainty, 
 but as Paul Boynton, and Daniel Hubbard were commissioned captains 
 in 1788, it is probable they were either first Ueutenants or ensigns, in 
 the two or three preceding years. Starting from this point, the names 
 of the officers and their rank, with the date of their commission, will be 
 given in the following table. The Winchendon companies belonged to 
 the Fifth Regiment, Second Brigade, Seventh Division, until 1820, af- 
 ter which they belonged to the Sixth Division ; the number of the Regi- 
 Hient and Brigade remaining unchanged. 
 
 1788. Paul BoyntoiiT Captain. 
 
 1788. Daniel Hubbard, Captain. 
 
 " Jacob B. Woodbury, Lieutenant. 
 
 1789. Adonijah Bixby, Ensign. 
 1793. Paul Boynton, Major. 
 1793. David Eice, Captain, 
 
294 HISTOET OF WIlTCHEiaWK. 
 
 TEAR. KAME. KANK. 
 
 1793. Levi Moor, Captain. 
 
 " Adonijah Bixbj, Lieutenant. 
 
 1793. Isaac Noyes, Ensign. 
 
 1794. Thomas Gratori, Ensign. 
 1794. Isaac Noyes, * Lieutenant. 
 
 1794. Samuel P. Goodricb, Ensign. 
 
 1795. Levi Heywood, " 
 
 " Tkomas Graton,, Lieutenant. 
 
 1797. Benjamin Wilder, ' " 
 
 " Gyrus Btowb, Ensign. 
 
 179a Paul BoyntoBi, Lt. Colonel. 
 
 " Levi Moor, Major. 
 
 " Nathaniel Holman, Qr. Master. 
 
 " Levi Heywood, Lieutenant. 
 Benjamin Adams, ' ' 
 
 " Daniel Boynton, Ensign. 
 
 About this time some of the soldiers of Win- 
 chendon belonged to the Cavalry, First Reg- 
 iment Horse, Second Division. 
 1791. Joseph Brown, 2'd Lieutenant. 
 
 Battalion of Cavalry, in Second Brigade, 
 Seventh Division. 
 
 1790. Paul KaymoncT, Lieutenant. 
 
 1791. Joseph Brown, 2d Lieutenant. 
 1802'. Pbinehas Whitney, Lieutenant. 
 180&. " Captain. 
 
 It was at this last date that the- aSair of the 
 Chesapeake occurred, when the soldiers of the 
 country were called upon to be in readiness for 
 puWie service'. The Cavaliy Co. , made up of 
 soldiei'& from this and neighboring towns, pa- 
 raded at New Boston, and under the appeal of 
 Capt. Whitney to volunteer with him, they all 
 pledged themselves to march when summoned. 
 They were root needed, but this spirit was none 
 the less conspicuous. We return to the In- 
 fantry. 
 1800. Jacob B. Woodbury, Lt. Col. Cora'g. 
 
 1800. Abel Jones, Ensign. 
 
 1801. Benjamin Hubbard, Lieutenant. 
 " Abiel Alger, Ensign. 
 
 1802. Abel Jones, Lieutenant. 
 
 1802. Abiel Alger, Lieutenant. 
 " Lemuel Heywood, Ensign. 
 
 " Samuel Leach, " 
 
 1803. Nathaniel Holmau, Adjutant. 
 William Bickfotd;, Qr. Master. 
 
HISTORY OF ■WINCHBNDOJT. 
 
 295 
 
 TEAR. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 RANK. 
 
 Major. 
 
 Lieutenant 
 
 Ensign. 
 it 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Lieutenant 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 ■Captain. 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 Lt. Colonel. 
 
 Lt. Col. Cofla'g. 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 Unsign. 
 
 'Cafptain. 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 Unsign. 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 lEnsigtt. 
 
 Oaptain. 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 Captain. 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 lEnsign. 
 
 Adjutant. 
 
 Lieutenant 
 
 * About this date, two Companies were formed, one belonging to the south- 
 ern, and the other to the northern half of the town. They sometimes met oa 
 the Common and engaged in exciting Sham-flghts. North Company. 
 
 1804. 
 
 Benjamin Adams, 
 
 " 
 
 Lemuel Heywood, 
 
 tt 
 
 Timothy Hancock, 
 
 (< 
 
 David Beaman, 
 
 1805.* Lemuel Haywood * 
 
 T< 
 
 David Beaman, 
 
 n 
 
 Luke Prentice, 
 
 tt 
 
 Timothy Hancock.f 
 
 it 
 
 Israel Whitcomb,- 
 
 a 
 
 Joslua Stoddard, 
 
 1806. 
 
 Lemuel Heywood,* 
 
 4( 
 
 David Beaman, 
 
 (< 
 
 Luke Prentice, 
 
 1807. 
 
 tt 
 
 Benjamin Adams, 
 It 
 
 ti 
 
 David Beaman,* 
 
 it 
 
 Charles Chase, 
 
 1808. 
 
 Luke Prentice,* 
 
 tt 
 
 Charles Chase, 
 
 ti 
 
 Joseph Robbins, 
 
 1809. 
 
 Israel Whitcomb, f 
 
 <t 
 
 Joshua Stoddard, 
 
 tt 
 
 Samuel Noyes, 
 
 1810. 
 
 Joshua Stoddard,t 
 
 tt 
 
 Samuel Noyes, 
 
 (t 
 
 Alpheus Gay, 
 
 1811. 
 
 Charles Chase,* 
 
 (( 
 
 Abijah Peirce.f 
 
 4-i 
 
 Joseph Bobbins,* 
 
 tt 
 
 John Eaymond,f 
 
 *t 
 
 James Stimson,* 
 
 1812. 
 
 Elifil Sherwin.t 
 
 1813, 
 
 Joseph Bobbins,* 
 
 It 
 
 James Stimson, 
 
 tt 
 
 John Forristall, 
 
 1814. 
 
 John^orristall,* 
 Luke Heywood, 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 Hananiah Whitney, 
 
 1816, 
 
 Horatio Grates Newcomb. 
 
 ti 
 
 Hananiah Whitney, Jr., 
 
 if South Company. 
 
296 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOIT. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 BANE. 
 
 1816. 
 
 Simeon Stearns, 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 1817. 
 
 John Eaymond,t 
 
 Captain. 
 
 ii 
 
 Luke Wilder, 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 11 
 
 (C 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 (( 
 
 Mark \^hitcomfe. 
 
 (( 
 
 1817. 
 
 William H. Cutler, 
 
 Surgeon's Mate. 
 
 1818. 
 
 it 
 
 Surgeon.- 
 
 ii 
 
 Luke Wilder.t 
 
 Captain, 
 
 C( 
 
 Mark Whitcomb, 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 (C 
 
 Levi Greenwood, 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 t-t 
 
 Hananiah Whitney, Jr.,* 
 
 Captain. 
 
 (( 
 
 Simeon Stearns, 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 Ll 
 
 Luke Parks, 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 
 The Kegiment and Brigade were now put 
 
 
 into the Sixth IMvisioo. 
 
 
 1820. 
 
 Horatio Gi. Newcomb, 
 
 Major. 
 
 11 
 
 Simeon Stearns,* 
 
 Captain. 
 
 (( 
 
 Luke Parks, 
 
 Lieutenant, 
 
 tt 
 
 James Fry,* 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 << 
 
 Thomas Bennet, Jr., 
 
 (( 
 
 1821. 
 
 Luke Parks,* 
 
 Captain. 
 
 it 
 
 Thomas Bennet, 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 It 
 
 James Fry, 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 ll 
 
 Ephraim Murdock, Jr., 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 1822. 
 
 Eber L. Clark, . 
 
 Chaplain. 
 
 1822. 
 
 Mark Whiteomb.t 
 
 Captain. 
 
 " 
 
 Ephraim Murdock, Jr., 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 it 
 
 Stillman Hale, 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 tt 
 
 Levi Greenwood, t 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 ti 
 
 WlUard Clark, 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 1823. 
 
 James M. Fuller, 
 
 Surgeon's Mate. 
 
 1824. 
 
 Bphrabn Murdock, Jr.,* 
 
 Captain. 
 
 (( 
 
 Stillman Hale, 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 (.£ 
 
 John H. Wheelock, 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 it 
 
 Levi Greeriwood,"jr 
 
 Captain. 
 
 tl 
 
 Oliver Adams, 
 
 • Lieutenant. 
 
 6.1 
 
 B. H. Hancock,. 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 it 
 
 James M. Fuller, 
 
 Surgeon. 
 
 tt 
 
 Solomon Crocker, 
 
 Paymaster, 
 
 1825. 
 
 Stillman Hale, 
 
 Captain. 
 
 ti 
 
 Gilman Day, 
 
 Ensign.. 
 
 
 One Company was disbanded in 
 
 1826, af- 
 
 
 ter which time, most of the officers 
 
 seem to 
 
 
 have been located in the northera section of 
 
 
 the townu 
 
 
 ♦North. tSoutli. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 297 
 
 YEAK. 
 
 NAME. 
 
 KANK. 
 
 1826. 
 
 Stillman Hale, 
 
 Captain. 
 
 *( 
 
 Benjamin H. Hancock, 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 it 
 
 John H. Wheeljck, 
 
 i< 
 
 It 
 
 John Cutter, 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 li 
 
 William Murdock, 
 
 tt 
 
 1827. 
 
 Oliver Adams, 
 
 Captain. 
 
 1828. 
 
 William Murdock, 
 
 Lieutenant, 
 
 (( 
 
 " 
 
 Captain. 
 
 li 
 
 John Cutter, (Light Infantry) 
 
 << 
 
 it 
 
 Edward Murdock, " 
 
 IC 
 
 it 
 
 Levi Stearns, " 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 (t 
 
 Hiram Adams, " 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 it 
 
 Orvil Gilmore, " 
 
 tt 
 
 1829. 
 
 William Murdock, 
 
 Captain. 
 
 t< 
 
 Charles W. Bigelow, 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 1830. 
 
 ti 
 
 Captain. 
 
 (( 
 
 Charles Dickerson, 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 a 
 
 It 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 1830. 
 
 Harvey Wyman, 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 It 
 
 William Murdock, 
 
 Major. 
 
 1832. 
 
 (( 
 
 Colonel. 
 
 a 
 
 Levi Stearns, (Light Infantry) 
 
 Captain. 
 
 fi 
 
 William Brooks, " 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 it 
 
 H. Wyman, 
 
 tt 
 
 it 
 
 James Murdock, Jr., " 
 
 Ensign. 
 
 tt 
 
 Daniel Eolf, 3d, 
 
 " 
 
 1833. 
 
 Marvin T. Nash, 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 1884. 
 
 William Brooks, 
 
 Captain. 
 
 (( 
 
 James Murdock, " 
 
 Lieutenant. 
 
 1845. 
 
 i t 
 
 tt 
 
 1845. 
 
 it 
 
 1847. 
 1852. 
 
 At this date all signs of the Militia for about 
 ten or twelve years disappear. In 1845 a Com- 
 pany was formed, which was connected with 
 the Ninth Regiment of Light Infantry. 
 
 Oliver P. Prescott, 
 Sidney Fairbanks, 
 Samuel Page, 
 David Carter, 
 M. B. Felton, 
 Sidney Fairbanks, 
 Joseph Cobb, 
 Sidney Fairbanks, 
 
 Captain. 
 1st Lieutenant. 
 2d Lieutenant. 
 3d Lieutenant. 
 4th Lieutenant. 
 Captain. 
 Lt. Colonel. 
 Major. 
 
 In 1852 the Company was disbanded, since which there has been no 
 Company of Volunteers in the town. 
 
 * North, t South. 
 
298 HISTORY OP. WINCHE^^UN, 
 
 Our fathers through, all the period of colonial and provincial history, 
 maintained a military organization, and were fired by the military spirit. 
 None but careful students of the ante-revolutionary times of the Com- 
 monwealth, have any adequate idea of the frequency and severity of 
 the wars with the Indians and the French^ which the struggling colo- 
 nists were compelled to wage, in order to preserve their very existence. 
 Though " trusting in God," they were under the necessity of" keeping 
 their powder dry." The war of the revolution deepened their convic- 
 tion that a well-organized militia was essential to the welfare of a free 
 State. As a natural consequence, the annual trainings in the spring 
 and the autumn, were kept up with great spirit during nearly a gener- 
 ation and a half. 
 
 Training was a great event for the commissioned officers and the or- 
 derly sergeants in those old days. The captain was allowed to feel 
 rather large on those occasions. The following anecdote, though be- 
 longing to a neighboring State, is illustrative. As the captain of the 
 Governor's Foot Guards, on the morning of Election-day, was moving 
 along the street in New Haven, with great majesty, the boys were struck 
 with his appearance, and whispered to each other : " There goes the 
 Governor." On hearing the words, he turned, and with imposing sua- 
 vity, replied: "Not yet my little lads." Making suitable deductions, 
 this spirit of elation is rather becoming in a military officer. 
 
 The boys of the present day can have no idea of an old-fashioned 
 training. The uniforms notable for anything but uniformity ; the guns 
 of all sorts and sizes ; the drill ; the marches, including " whipping the 
 snake ; the sham-fight ; the firing, when no two made a noise at the 
 same time ; the " shouting of the captain," and the wheeling of the 
 " awkward squad ;" and all accompanied by the " ear-piercing fife and 
 the spirit-stirring drum," combined to make a sight worth seeing. The 
 side-shows, the hucksters with pies, hard-boiled eggs and cards of gin- 
 gerbread, and the motley crowd running before, beside or behind the 
 soldiery, added to the comic features of the scene. But though the 
 " training" had so much of the droll and the ridiculous for its accompani- 
 ments, if an enemy had made an attack on those soldiers, he would have 
 found them with courage true as steel, and with a skill in hitting the 
 mark which would prove dangerous to their foes. Then it should be 
 said that the scenes above depicted, characterized that period in our his- 
 tory when the militia had run down, and before the volunteer compa- 
 
HisKiiir or iviNCHENpoK. 299 
 
 mes had begun to awaken a true military spirit again. Forty years 
 ago one company in this town was disbanded. In eight years more, 
 the other disappeared from view. Previous to the first date, trainings 
 were conducted with great'spirit. A sham-fight was a " mimic war," 
 and the so'ldiers took a just pride in their military appearance. Then 
 came the period of indifierence and decline. When the volunteer sys- 
 tem was in vogue, a spirited company was formed in this place — 1845 
 — and made a creditable show when on parade ; but in about seven 
 years, it was found too burdensome to keep up the proper drill, as well 
 as too expensive to procure handsome equipments, and give the required 
 time to company exercises and camp-duties. The company was dis- 
 banded in 1852, since when there has been no military organization in 
 the town. Bnt when the fell and wicked rebellion broke out in the 
 spring of 1861, it was instantly evident that the stuff which soldiers are 
 made of, was here in large measure. And the success of our arms in 
 that great struggle raises the question again, whether it is better for 
 a nation to keep up a costly preparation for war, or on the other hand, 
 by economy of its means, increase its population and resources so as to 
 be more able to cope with its enemies. 
 
300 HISTOKY OF WiNCHENBoi. 
 
 CHAPTER X XI. — CEMBTEEIES. 
 
 Beneath those whispering pines, that oaJc tree's shade, 
 Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, 
 
 Each in his narrow cell forever laid. 
 The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep. 
 
 The breezy call of incense-breathing morn, 
 The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed, 
 
 The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn, 
 No more shall rouse them ftom their lowly bed. 
 
 Gray's Elegy. 
 
 In many towns there are burying-yards in every neighborhood^ be- 
 sides private burial places for families. Here, the better way of bring- 
 ing the remains of all the departed to the centre, was followed for many 
 years, though the people were scattered over the whole township. At 
 length the yard in the south-west part of the town was set apart for the 
 dead. About a hundred years after the settlement of the town, the 
 Cemetery was put in order and consecrated with appropriate services. 
 More recently the Catholic lot was laid out and fenced. These will 
 be described in their order. 
 
 1. — THE OLD CENTRAL BURYING YARD. 
 
 "The life of man 
 Is summed in birthdays and in sepulchres, 
 But the eternal God had no beginning." 
 
 The Proprietors of Ipswich Canada, on the 27th of October, 1737, 
 voted to reserve five acres out of the lot No. 1, in the south division, 
 " for building a meeting-house on, a burying-place and training-field." 
 The settlers, when they came to look over the locality, decided that a 
 more convenient and better place could be found for the meeting-house 
 and the training-field, and therefore selected the present Common in the 
 centre of the town. In this connection it may be said, that strenuous 
 exertions were made by a few of the inhabitants to have the meeting- 
 house at the centre of the line eajSt and west from Ashburnham to Roy- 
 
filSTOKT OF WlNCHENDON. 301 
 
 alston, which would be about a hundred rods west of the Common, and 
 about an equal distance east of the house of Enoch Wyman. A road 
 was petitioned for by Abner Curtice, to go from the Village by the 
 above spot, and on towards Templeton. Such a route would avoid the 
 ascent to the Common, as the hill is lower two or three furlongs west, 
 and would pass to the west of the hill north of Luke Wilder's, and the 
 other hill beyond the Bell school-house. But though the road was ac- 
 cepted, once if not twice, by the town, it was never opened. Nor can 
 we doubt the good judgment which fixed upon the old Common as the 
 centre for the meeting-house and the training-field. But in making 
 this decision, the settlers concluded to have the burying-yard at the 
 original location. 
 
 It is probable that the original design was to have the meeting-house 
 somewhere south of the old hearse-house, and the burying-yard behind 
 it, according to ancient custom. Then there would be room for the 
 training-field at the north end of the lot, where most of the graves are 
 now. The first grave was back of the supposed spot selected for the 
 meeting-house, and where the first fence was erected. Afterwards the 
 south fence of the burying-yard was run from a. point just south of the 
 hearse-house, eastward to the east line of the lot, thus leaving the first 
 grave outside of the yard. By the enlargement of the yard a few years 
 since, and the removal of the wall, at the same time, this first grave is 
 brought again into the sacred enclosure. 
 
 There is something touching associated with this first grave. It was 
 made, according to Mr. Hyde, " about 1752 ;" in the words of Dr. 
 Whiton, " about this time — 1765 — the precise year not known." Prob- 
 ably the latter date is the nearest to correctness. Here was laid the 
 body of Joshua Priest, the first adult white, and it is believed the first 
 white person, that was buried in the town. He was a blacksmith, and 
 began the Eli Smith, or Thomas farm, since known as the Scnbner 
 place, at the summit of the road north of the Luke Wilder place. He 
 was frozen to death on or near the Prentice hiU, not far from Merritt 
 Hale's, in a snow storm. The Prentice hill rises east fi:om Waterville, 
 south of the river. It is supposed that while going home, drawing a 
 hapd-sled loaded with hay, he fell into some pool or brook, and wet his 
 clothes. Says Dr. Whiton : " I have often seen his lonely grave, but 
 it was long since obliterated by the plow." 
 
 Death follows us wherever we go, and thankful should we be, that 
 
302 HISTOET OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, the " last enemy" can be 
 transformed into a friend. But notwithstanding the divine goodness ia 
 this regard, we can never cease to mourn the final departure of those 
 dear to our hearts. The spot w^here their remains find a last resting- 
 place will ever have a mournful interest. As we walk amid the mounds, 
 perhaps carelessly, we are near the dust over which bereaved parents 
 and friends have often wept, the dust of those whose death brought the 
 prematurely gray hair of their parents to the grave. There is not space, 
 nor would it be judicious, to refer to one in a hundred of those who lie 
 buried in the old grave-yard ; but a brief allusion may be made to one 
 cluster of graves where many hopes lie buried. In 1762, December 
 15, the Rev. Daniel Stimpson was ordained pastor of the Church. He 
 married his cousin Beulah. In less than six years, his wife and two 
 little children were laid in the earth ; and while his eyes were still wet 
 with tears, he was summoned to join them. " Then shall the dust re- 
 turn to the earth as it was, and the spirit to God who gave it." Their 
 bodies lie near each other, till the resurrection ; their spirits, we trust, 
 were re-united in tlie land of immortal life. Not a stone marks their 
 graves, and but a few know in what part of the yard they may be found. 
 It is to be hoped that either Mr. Stimpson's descendants, or the citi- 
 zens of the town, will place some memorial where he who was the first 
 minister of the town as well as the church, reposes till the heavens be 
 no more. He wa.s buried at the right of the grave of his son Luther. 
 
 It would seem, from the Eecords, that the yard was not enclosed for 
 many yeai-s after its first occupancy. The town voted, March 7, 1768, 
 that " the burying-yard be cleared this year." On the 2d of May, 
 1797, about forty-two years after the interment of Mr. Priest, the town 
 chose a committee — Deacons Prentice and Hale, and Desire Tolman, 
 afterwards. Deacon — " to view the burying-ground, with a view to fenc- 
 ing the same." On the 4th of the following September, a committee 
 of three was chosen to " take security of Samuel Crosby, Esq., and 
 Dr. Israel Whiton, for a . passage into the burying-yard, and of Mr. 
 Jonas Bruce, for a strip of land adjoining the east side of said yard." 
 Whether the yard was fenced in 1797, is uncertain ; but if so, the fence 
 was a frail one ; for in 1803, May 2d, it was again voted " to fence the 
 burying-ground." Still the work was delayed, as is indicated by the 
 two following votes ; one on the 21st of November, and the other on 
 the 2d of December, 1803. By'the first, the town declined to " buy 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 303 
 
 an addition of an acre on tlie west side of the burying-yard," of Dr. 
 Whiton. By the other, the town decided to " purchase an acre of land 
 westoftheburying-ground, tHIit comes to the road." A committee was 
 chosen to buy the land of Cr. Whiton, with power to fence the yard. 
 It is supposed that the yard was enlarged and fenced at this time. 
 
 Since the burial of Mr. .^timpson, many others, aged and young, had 
 been laid around their minister. Dea. Richard Day was killed by an 
 accident in 1774, and was buried, about three-quarters of the distance 
 ffom the hearse-house to the east wall. No stone marks the spot. Three 
 years before, two lads, William Oaks and Robert Moffatt, aged 17 and 
 16 years, Avere drowned. In those early days, when the people were 
 few, we may not doubt, there was a deep sense of sadness and sympa- 
 thy throughout the town. They were buried side by side near the 
 northeast corner of the yard, close by the grave of Lt. Levi Heywood. 
 
 A few graves, unmarked by stones, but identified by Mr. Luke Rice, 
 may be noted. Stephen Bixby, who was killed by Daniel Robbins, was 
 buried near Levi Bixby. The boy Moor, who hung himself, was laid 
 just back of the grave of Benjamin Hubbard. Jonas Bradish was buried 
 near the east end. 
 
 A single stone marks the grave of four children of David Stoddard. 
 They all died in 1786. Another stone commemorates three children 
 of Rev. Joseph Brown. One died in 1771, the other two in 1775. 
 
 The yard is not rich in epitaphs. The following, on the gravestone 
 of Joel Rugg, aged 23, who died, August 27, 1775, is not common. 
 
 " My youthful days cut short by thee, 
 Are lengthened to eternity ; 
 Yet all that In Jehovah die, 
 Shall live and sing eternally." 
 
 It would almost seem as if a fatality attended the Stimpsons. In 
 July, 1781, a child of Samuel Stimpson was drowned in a well nearly 
 opposite the old Nichols tavern.; and ten years later, Mr. Jonathan 
 * Stimpson was killed by a falling tree. In the half-century from 1762 
 to 1803, a generation and a half had fallen asleep, and v^ere quietly laid 
 away in what our Saxon forefathers beautifully called " God's acre." 
 All ages and classes were there : — 
 
 "The youth in life's green spring, and he who goes 
 In the full strength of years, matron and maid. 
 And the sweet babe, and the gray-headed man." 
 
304 HISTORY OF WISrCHBNDON. 
 
 Before the next attempt to improve the yard, in the year 1822, the 
 Eev. Mr. Pillsbury, the third minister, had been buried here -with rev- 
 erent hands. Col. Paul Raymond, the elder Prentice, Mr. Wilham 
 Whitney, and hundreds of others, including Browns, Boyntons, Rices, 
 McElwains, Hales, Bixbys, Tuckers, Woodburys, Greenwoods, FHnts, 
 Perleys, Crosbys, Polands, Hydes, Wilders ; in a word, representatives 
 of all me early families, were laid in the narrow house. 
 
 Nothing farther seems to have been done to the yard, except pri- 
 vately, for more than forty years. In 1847, April 5, the Report of 
 the Selectmen on the matter of a Hearse House was heard by the town, 
 when on motion of Mr. Harry Pitkin, it was voted that the Selectmen 
 be " authorized to build a Hearse House, and repair the fences ; also to 
 purchase additional lands for the burying-grounds." Two years later, 
 June 11, 1849, a committee of three — Dea. Paul Raymond, Mr. John 
 Woodbury, and Dea. John Cutter — was chosen " to lot, and stake off, 
 and number, the several lots in the centre burying-ground." From 
 this it would seem that the former vote respecting the purchase of ad- 
 ditional land, had been carried out by the Selectmen. The following 
 shows that they had done something in the way of fencing. In 1851, 
 March 3, for making " wall round burying-ground, $55.17." 
 
 Within a few years last past, this ancient yard has been much im- 
 proved. The parts most recently occupied, have been laid out with 
 regularity, handsome monuments have been set up, — in some cases, tak- 
 ing the place of more rustic specimens of the lapidary's art ; — ^iron fen- 
 ces have been erected ; the front wall has been relaid, and shade trees 
 have been planted. The children have been honoring their fathers and 
 mothers. Since the opening of the Riverside Cemetery, the remains 
 of quite a number have been transferred to it from the ancient yard. 
 
 In 1860, May 28, it was voted to " build a substantial stone wall on 
 the west line of the Cemetery, from the hearse house north." The Cem^ 
 etery Commissioners were to see the work done. This vote refers to 
 the old yard. On the 7th of March, 1864, the Commissioners were 
 instructed " to make such improvement in the Old Burying Ground on 
 the Hill as they may think proper." And here, to the lasting honor 
 of Dr. Joshua Tucker, the distinguished dentist of Boston, it should be 
 recorded, that the yard has recently been decorated with numerous 
 shade trees, at his expense. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 305 
 
 * 
 THE NEW BOSTON BURYING YARD. 
 
 " TMs sunny plain, beneath that. pine-clad slope, 
 Holds fast the dreamless sleepers. The iron-horse 
 With his unearthly shriek disturbs theni not: — 
 They wait the archangel's trump." 
 
 Anon. 
 
 The burying-yard in the southwesterly part of the town, was set apart 
 in some year, between 1770 and 1780. It was given by Capt. Thomas 
 Sawyer, and comprised, at first, but half an acre. 
 
 A little child was the first occupant of this yard. This was a child 
 of Aaron Ellis, which was scalded to death. Mr. Ellis lived near where 
 €. C. Alger's house now stands. The second person buried here was 
 the grandmother of the same Mr. Ellis. Next came the wife of Rob- ' 
 ert Bradish ; Lydia Morton,. and a pair of twins. From this time, this 
 little enclosure has been gathering its inhabitants from all the houses 
 in that section of the town, till now it probably contains more than all 
 who are living on the same territory. Nothing farther is found in the 
 Records respecting the yard before the year 1822, when on the 6th of 
 May, an article was acted upon, " about fencing the burying-yard in 
 the southwest part of the town." Lieut. Paul Raymond, Capt. Israel 
 Whitcomb and Capt. Joshu a Stoddard, were chosen a committee " to 
 inquire into the situation of the burying-ground, and see if any addition 
 of land can be purchased to enlarge the same, and also to see something 
 about fencing it, and report." The Report was made at the next annu- 
 al meeting, March 3, 1823, and the same committee was directed to 
 " superintend the building of the fence around the burying-yard." The 
 building of it was " struck oiF" to Jonathan Wyman, at $81.50. 
 
 In 1839 the Selectmen were chosen a committee " to fence the bury- 
 ing-ground near Charles Borman's." This Borman was the son of John 
 G. Martin Burneyman. By degrees the second syllable of his name 
 was dropped, the letter u in the first was changed to o, and his name 
 became Borman. He was a Hessian. 
 
 The vote in 1847, (already cited) relative to purchasing additional 
 land for the burying-grounds, applied to this yard as well as that at the 
 Centre. The next year $5.25 were laid out in repairing the fence of 
 this yard. In 1850, June 11, the following were chosen a committee, 
 — viz : George Alger, C. C. Alger, and Joel Sibley — " to lot and stake 
 off, and number the several lots in the New Boston burying-ground." 
 
 30 
 
306 HISTORY Of WIKCHENPOS- 
 
 In 1862, at the annual meeting, C. C. Alger, Luke Rice, Orrin Nor- 
 cross and Joel Sibley, were chosen a committee " to put the New Bos- 
 ton burying-yard in order." 
 
 This yard has a very pleasant location, and by the cultivation of flow- 
 ers and shrubbery, it may become a beautiful cemetery. 
 
 THE KIVEK5IDE CEMETEKT, 
 
 •' Over the river they beckon to me, 
 
 Loved ones who've crojsed to the further side, 
 The gleam of their snowy robes I see, 
 Bat their voices are lost in the dashing tide." 
 
 Miss Pbiest. 
 
 About twenty years since there began to be a want of additional ac- 
 commodation for the burial of the dead. At the same time, there was 
 a strong desire on the part of many, that a new lot should be obtained ' 
 and laid out after the manner of a modem Cemetery. This growing 
 feeling took shape, by degrees, and finally resulted in procuring and 
 putting in order one of the most beautiful rural cemeteries in the Com-' 
 monwealth. A somewhat full aceoimt of the steps taken in falfillment 
 of this sacred enterprise, deserves a place in this history. In giving ' 
 it the Records will be strictly followed. 
 
 On the 28th of November, 1848, the Selectmen — ^Messrs. Elisha 
 Beaman, Harvey Wyman and Levi Raymond — were authorized to" pur- 
 chase a piece of land for a burying-ground in such place as they may 
 think will best accommodate the inhabitants of said town." Later in 
 the day, one from each district was chosen " to purchase land for bury- 
 ing-grounds." Thus authoiized, the Selectmen, in company with sev- 
 eral gentlemen invited by them, examined various lots in the north part 
 of the town, for the purpose of finduig the one most suitable. Among 
 others, they looked at the sightly spot now occupied by Washington 
 Whitney ; the gentle slope of William Brown, southeast of the brick- 
 yard ; the beautiful hill-side extending from Henry Wyman's towards 
 the village, called the Prentiss lot ; the pleasant grounds around the res- 
 idence of James Whitman, called the Tucker lot ; and also the Whit- 
 comb lot, so called, conveniently situated at the north end of the cen- 
 tral burying-yard. They preferred above all locations, the Adams lot, 
 where the two branches of Miller's river unite and form Whitney's pond. 
 Accordingly they purchased several acres of Capt, Oliver Adams. This 
 
HISTORY 05 WrSCHENDOK. 807 
 
 is now the Catholic Cemetery. On the 2d of October, 1849, a com- 
 mittee was chosen to " lot out and fence the new Cemetery." Anoth- 
 er committee was chosen, on the 10 th of December, to " purchase an 
 addition to the lot obtained of Oliver Adams ;" they were also author- 
 ized to purchase the Parks lot. The committee on lotting and fencing 
 the Adams lot, laid out the ground in squares, with convenient paths, 
 and drove the stakes. Their bill, including their own services, " for 
 work on burying-ground," at the next March meeting, was $406.04. 
 The Parks lot was not secured. 
 
 On the 4th of May, 1850, the burying-ground committee were " in- 
 structed to examine more'Iots ;" and on|the 23d, were directed to " pur- 
 chase the Parks lot." On the 27th, a town meeting was held which 
 was adjourned to the Adams lot ; met there, and examined that and the 
 Parks lot. On the 11th of June, the vote in favor of buying the Parks 
 lot was reconsidered. March 18, 1851, the Selectmen — Moses Han- 
 cock, Nelson D. White and Oliver Adams — were directed to " make 
 a plan of the lots and number them ;" persons were to select their lots, 
 and the sexton to record them ; also, name and date of burials. A place 
 was to be set apart for strangers. In 1852, March 1, the bill for " the 
 burying-ground road and for stone posts," was 1115.08. 
 
 No progress was made during the next four or five years. At length, 
 in 1856, September 6, a committee previously appointed, of which Dea. 
 E. Butler was chairman, reported the Tucker lot as available. A vote 
 was taken to see which lot suited the largest number. The result fol- 
 lows : Parks lot, 14 ; Adams lot, 20 ; Tucker lot, 5 ; Prentiss lot, 4. 
 On the 13th of the same month, a new vote was taken, with this result : 
 Adams, 7 ; Prentiss, 2 ; Tucker, 4 ; Parks, 5 ; Whitcomb, 14. By 
 this time a number of the citizens had become settled in their minds, 
 that .the Parks lot — first suggested by Dea. Reuben Hyde — was supe- 
 rior to any other in the whole town for a Cemetery, and they were re- 
 solved to secure it by persevering effort. A new committee was cho- 
 sen with Capt. E. Murdock, Jr., as chairman, who reported to the town 
 on the 6th of October, 1857, in favor of the Parks lot ; whereupon it 
 was voted " to purchase said lot of twenty-five acres." At the same 
 time a committee was chosen — Messrs. E. Murdock, Jr., Gilman B. 
 Parker, John Cutter, Orlando Mason, John H. Fairbanks, Bethuel El- 
 lis and Maynard Partridge, to draw up a " plan for preparing the lot 
 for a Cemetery, and the manner of fencing, and estimate the expense 
 
308 HISTORY OP WINCHBNDON. 
 
 of the same, and ^jresent it to the town." The committee reported, 
 on the 3d of November, in favor of fencing and some improvements ; 
 and also, " that a portion should be put into lots and sold ; and that as 
 long as any one will pay a dollar for choice, they shall be sold for choice, 
 and all money raised shall be used in ornamenting the ground." It 
 was also voted " that a Board of Commissioners should be chosen an- 
 nually to execute and carry Out the instructions of the town given from 
 time to time." Chose Ephraim Murdock, Jr., Seth' Tucker, Gilman 
 B. Parker, Bethuel Ellis and John Henry Fairbanks, the first Board 
 of Commissioners. 
 
 The Commissioners invited the citizens to appear on the ground at 
 to appointed day, with hatchets and axes, hoes, shovels and rakes, and 
 assist in clearing the ground, and trimming the trees. Many respond- 
 ed to the call, and cheerfully engaged in the work, in the autumn of 
 this year ;. and thus the field was prepared for the scientific surveyor. 
 
 At the next annual meeting, March 1, 1858, it was reported that 
 1480.84 had been laid out for Cemetery land, and $135.32 for' expen- 
 ses incurred by the Commissioners. They were empowered to employ 
 Mr.. Amasa Ferrier, of Stoneham, a gentleman of experience and taste, 
 to mark out the avenues and paths, and lay out the lot into squares, 
 circles, elHpses or triangles, according to the nature of the ground. 
 They were also instructed to fence and prepare the Cemetery ground 
 agreeable to the recommendations of the former Board. A new Board 
 was chosen as follows : E. Murdock, Jr., G. B. Parker, N. D. White, 
 E. S. Merrill and J. H. Fairbanks. These have been annually re-elect- 
 ed until 1867, when the vacancy caused by the decease of Dea. Par- 
 ker was filled by the election of Charles J. Rice, Esq. 
 
 THE cos SECB.ATION SERVICES. 
 
 The lot was now well prepared for its destined uses. Nature had 
 graced it with varied amenity and loveliness. Mr. Ferrier, with the 
 skill of a landscape gardener, ran all his lines so as to heighten the nat- 
 ural beauty of the scene. The plain, shghtly variegated, and covered 
 with sighing pine tree's and other natives of the forest, the curving hill- 
 side sloping to the water's edge ; the river, — now babbling over the rocks, 
 and then losing itself in the pond — ^flashing in the sunshine or broken 
 into bubbles by the falling rain-drops ; the charming curve, covered 
 
HISTOKY 01? WINCHBNDON. * 309 
 
 witt tlie mayflower, — which in this town, is noted for its peculiar beauty 
 and fragrance — where the tomb is placed ; with the fine prospects in 
 different directions, all combine to render this spot one of the most de- 
 lightful to be found in a summer's travel. It seems as if the Creator 
 had made it for a sweet and quiet resting-place for the departed. 
 
 On the 14th of June, 1858, there was a meeting in the town hall to 
 make arrangements for the consecration of the Cemetery by appropri- 
 ate services. The meeting adjourned to the Cemetery lot, and chose 
 a committee whose duty it was " to .name the Cemetery and superin- 
 tend the consecration of the same."' The coinmittee were Elisha Mur- 
 , dock, George Brown, Sidney Fairbanks, William L. Woodcock, Will- 
 iam Brown, 2d, Orlando Mason, Edwin Parks, William W. Godding, Ja- 
 cob B. Harris and Charles J. Eice. The Commissioners were instruct- 
 ed to build a Receiving Tomb, to be used as a temporary place of in- 
 terment ; to draw up Begulations and submit them to the town ; to pro- 
 ceed to the sale of lots immediately after the consecration services ; and 
 to obtain seven hundred lithographic plans of the Cemetery. The com- 
 mittee reported the following as suitable names for the Cemetery : Riv- 
 erside ; Pine Grove ; Spring Grove ; and Evergreen. The first had 
 a majority of voices. 
 
 The first day of July was devoted to the consecration services by the 
 town, a large number of the people — men, women and children — being 
 present. But before the appointed time, the angel Death had antici- 
 pated the citizens, and consecrated the field by a solemn and impressive 
 event. Mrs. Jane Fifield Mason, wife of Mr. Orlando Mason, was bu- 
 ried here by spccia.1 permission, a day or two before the Cemetery was 
 formally set apart to be the habitation of the dead. With feelings chas- 
 tened by this occurrence, the town met on the first day of July, at 1 
 P. M., and after the adoption of several Rules and Regulations, ad- 
 journed the meeting until after the Ceremonies of the Consecration. 
 These having been performed, the town meeting was called to order, 
 and it was voted " that the fence be painted and sanded." 
 
 The Exercises at the Consecration were as follows, under the direc- 
 tion of Capt. Ephraim ilurdock, Jr., the Marshal of the day. 1, Sing- 
 ing ; 2, Introductory Prayer and Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. 
 Benjamin F. Clarke, Pastor of the First Congregational Church ; 3, 
 Singing ; 4, Address by Rev. Abijah P. Marvin, Pastor of the North 
 
810 HISTORY OF ■WlNOHENDOir. 
 
 Congregational Church; 5, Consecrating Prayer, by Rev. William J", 
 Hambleton; 6, Singing. The Music was furnished by a union of choirs,, 
 under the lead of Messrs. Edwin S. Merrill, and William L. Woodcock. 
 The passages of Scripture read were very appropriate. Besides oth- 
 ers, the following seemed peculiarly fitting to the occasion, indicating 
 as they do, that a rural burial-place is as old as the days of Abraham. 
 
 " And the field of Ephron, which was in Macbpelah, which was before Mam^ 
 re, the field and the «ave whicb was therein, and all the trees that were in the , 
 field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure unto Abraham 
 for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went 
 in at the gate of his city/ And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in 
 the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre." 
 
 Whatever improvements, — and they are many — ^have been made by 
 the Commissioners, or by private persons, since the time of the conse- 
 cration, may be learned from the annual Report of the Board, or by 
 visiting the Cemetery. 
 
 THE CATHO-LIC CEMETERY. 
 
 " UpoD; the ei'oss ^vere fliecl our closing eyes ; 
 
 The cross here marks our graves ; and when we rise, 
 
 Our tmst will 'be tJte Crncifled." 
 
 Sons* of Hope. 
 
 The inhabitants of Winchendon, previous to 1847, when the railroad 
 reached the place, were, with the exception of a few Canadian French, 
 native Americans. At that time emigrants from Ireland began to take 
 up their abode here. For several years however, they were accustomedl 
 to take the remains of their relatives to Fitchburg for burial. To ob- 
 viate the great expense and loss of time which this course laid upon 
 them, they took measures to obtain a suitable burial-place within the 
 limits of the town. The Adams lot, though not used by the town for 
 the purpose for which it was purchased, had not been sold. This lot 
 being very eligible, was desired by the Catholics for a Cemetery. The 
 matter came before the town on the 7th of March, 1864, when it was: 
 voted to " give the Adams lot to the Catholics for a Cemetery, provid- 
 ed that all money received for the sale of lots, shall be expended on the 
 land in fitting it up for a burial-ground." 
 
HISTOSY OF wrsrcHENDOir. 311 
 
 It was found however that the condition was unacceptable, as the 
 Bishop, who holds all grounds devoted to burial-purposes in trust, would 
 not accept the offer with restrictions in regard to the use of money de- 
 rived from the sale of lots, beyond fencing the field. Whereupon the 
 town passed the following vote : ". that the town Treasurer make a gra- 
 tuitous transfer of the land deeded to the town by Ohver Adams, to 
 T. H. Bowman, or bishop Fitzpatrick, of Boston, in trust, on condition 
 that it be used for burial purposes, and no others. The grantees to 
 make and maintain all fences." 
 
312 HISTOET OF -WlNCHENDOm 
 
 CHAPTER XXII.— THE CHURCHES. 
 
 " oil, where are kings and emiiires now 
 
 Of old that went and came ? 
 Bat,. Lord, thy church is ijraying yet, 
 
 A thousand years the same. 
 
 We mark her goodly battlements, 
 
 And her foundations strong ; 
 We hear" within the solemn voice 
 
 Of h«r unending song, 
 
 I'or not like kingdoms of the world 
 
 Thy holy church, O God ! 
 Though earthquake shocks are threatening her. 
 
 And tempests are abroad. 
 
 Unshaken as eternal hills, 
 
 Immovable she stands, 
 A mountain that shall fill the earth, 
 
 A house not made with hands." 
 
 Bp. Coxb, 
 
 the first congeegational chtjroh. 
 
 As the town was a parish for about sixty years after its incorpora- 
 tion, it was necessary to give its history in that capacity. But the his- 
 tory of the various churches and religious organizations is quite dis- 
 tinct, and demands a separate place in this volume. 
 
 As stated already on another page, the Records of the First Congre- 
 gational Church, during the first thirty-eight years of its existence, — 
 from 1762 to 1800— -are lost. When the Rev. Joseph Brown, the sec- 
 ond minister, was dismissed, in December, 1799, he retained in his own 
 possession whatever papers and records relating to the history of the 
 Church, had been accumulating from the beginning, in 1762. All ef- 
 forts to induce him to surrender these documents were unavaihng, and 
 his family, when applied to in after years, could find no trace of them. 
 Besides a few facts and dates, therefore, there are no authentic mate- 
 rials for the history of the Church previous to the beginning of this ceiv- 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENBON. 313 
 
 tury, except what are found in the town Records. As the town was 
 a parish down to the year 1825, its Records throw some light on the 
 history of the Church. But these belong to the history of the town in 
 its parochial capacity, and have, for the most part, been used in that 
 con'nection, 
 
 EARLY niSTOEY. 
 
 In the " Book of Records belonging to the Church of Christ in Win- 
 chendon, bought in February, A. D. 1802," and containing the Records 
 down to the close of the ministry of the Rev. Eber L. Clark, in the year 
 1835, there is, on the second page, in the handwriting of the Rev. Levi 
 Pillsbury, the following entry : 
 
 " TliG Church of Christ in Winehendon was first' gathered in the year of our 
 Lord 1762, on the 15th of December, at which time the Rev. Daniel Stimp- 
 Bon, the first minister, was ordained. The Eev. Mr. Stimpson was educated 
 at Harvard College. He departed this life in July, A. D. 1768. His sal- 
 ary was $60 annually, and for settlement 100 acres of land. The Rev. Jo- 
 seph Brown, the second minister, was ordained May 24th, 1769. He was 
 educated at Harvard College. After much difficulty with the Church and 
 people, he was dismissed in December, 1799." 
 
 Other items of information have been gathered from different sources, 
 which will be given in the order of time. The Proprietors' Book shows 
 that a Mr. Harvey was here as a preacher, as early as 1758, five or 
 six years after the first permanent settlement, and when there were 
 probably not more than a dozen or fifteen families on the ground. Jn 
 1761, Sept. 22, Samuel Hunt, David Goodridge and Richard Day, 
 were chosen a committee to " provide preaching in the Township of 
 Ipswich Canada ;" and at the same time it was voted to raise " two 
 dollars on each original Right, to pay for preaching;" and also, that 
 " the committee be ordered to provide a preacher half the Sabbaths." 
 
 The Council which ordained the first minister, on the fifteenth of De- 
 cember, 1762, was called by the Proprietor.?. The Churches in Wes- 
 ton, Harvardj Lunenburg and Dorchester Canada, were invited to the 
 Council. The Church itself was organized on that day. The manner 
 of proceeding is a matter of conjecture ; but it is probable that thfc first 
 business of the Council on coming together, was to assist in organizing 
 the Church. Then, we suppose, the Church extended a Call to Mr. 
 Stimpson to settle with them in-the Ministry. The way would thus be 
 
314 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 prepared for the Council to proceed to the examination of the candidate, 
 and if the examination were satisfactory, to engage in the ordination 
 eervices. 
 
 At this time the number of families was from twenty to twenty-five, 
 besides whom there were several young men without families. The 
 number of inhabitants might have been one hundred and fifty. 
 
 THE CHURCH COVENANT. 
 
 The following document, obligingly fiirnished by the Hon. Artemas 
 Hale, of Bridgewater, from the papers of his father, Dea. Moses Hale, 
 was the original Covenant of the Church. .It is here inserted, with the 
 proviso made for those who became members on the basis of the Half- 
 way Covenant. 
 - " Professing a serious and hearty belief of the Scriptures,- you do now, in 
 an everlasting covenant, give up yourselves to God in Jesus Christ, and hum- 
 bly and penitently, ask of God the pardon of all your sins through the blood 
 of Christ. And with all your hearts you desire to accept of Jesus Christ as 
 your Kedeemer and only Saviour, as he is offered to poor sinners in the Gos- 
 pel. You do also promise solemnly before God, holy angels, and this assem- 
 bly, that by the help of the Holy Spirit, denying ungodliness and all worldly 
 lusts, you will endeavor to live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present 
 world ; and that you will be working oat your salvation with fear and trem- 
 bling, that you will forsake the vanities of this evil world, and approve your- 
 selves disciples of Christ, in all good conscience and conversation, both toward 
 God and toward man. You do also submit and subject yourselves to the gov- 
 ernment of Christ in his Church, and to the rules of his kingdom, and disci- 
 pline regularly administered in this Church. And particularly you promise, 
 as long as God sball continue you among us, to walk in regular communion 
 with the Church of Christ in this place ; together with this people to attend 
 all the holy ordinanc3s and institutions of his house, and to carry it here ac- 
 cording to the rules of the Gospel ; and in all things walk agreeable to what 
 you know, or shall know, to be your duty. 
 Do you thus covenant and promise ? 
 
 I, then, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Groat Head of the Church, de- 
 clare you members in full communion with this Church of Christ, and in the 
 name of the Church, promise, that, by the help of the same Divine Spirit, we 
 will carry it towards you as members of the same body with ourselves, wateh- 
 in" over you for your good, and that in a spirit of meekness, love and tender- 
 ness, earnestly praying that God would take delight in us, dwell among us, 
 and that his kingdom may be advanced by us. Amen." 
 
HISTORY 0¥ WINCHENDON. 315 
 
 The Covenant, as thus given, was for " those who make no reserve, 
 but can come immediately to the Table of the Lord." In the case of 
 " those who make a reserve through 'doubts and fears, and are afraid 
 to come to the Table of the Lord," the arrangement was to leave out 
 all after the words — " And particularly you promise," — and use the 
 following formula : 
 
 " And that we will, by earnest prayer, seek for those further qualifications 
 which we judge necessary to a worthy approach to the Table of the Lord, so 
 that we may walk in regular communion with the Church of Christ in this 
 place ; together with this people attend all the holy ordinances and institutions 
 of his house, and to carry it here according to the rules of the Gospel, and in 
 all things walk agreeable to what we know, or shall know, to be our duty. 
 
 Do you heartily consent to this Covenant ? 
 
 As you have thus solemnly covenanted with Grbd and his Church, be care- 
 ful to fulfill your covenant obligations, and perform your vows." 
 
 There was an ancient rule of the Church, perhaps adopted in Mr. 
 Stimpson's day, " that persons stand propounded three Sabbaths as can- 
 didates for communion." 
 
 There is no list extant of the members of the Church during the set- 
 tlement of Mr. Stimpson. There is no tradition in regard to the num- 
 ber relative to the whole population. It is known that some of the prin- 
 cipal inhabitants, like Dea. Day, David Goodridge and others, were 
 members. It is supposed that some joined on the " half-way" plan, in 
 Mr. Stimpson's time. In relation to these points, the following lines 
 from Dr. Whiton, who had means of information, not found in existing 
 Records, will be of some value. In his pastorate of six years, " fifteen 
 persons had been added to the little Church, and a larger, number had 
 ' owned the Covenant,' a phrase hardly intelligible at this day, but then 
 in familiar use to signify the admission of persons to the privilege of 
 baptism for their children, without binding themselves to the observ- 
 ance of the Lord's Suppe^, till their scruples in relation to their own 
 moral fitness for this Christian ordinance should be removed." It is 
 probable that the fifteen added to the Church in Mr. Stunpson's pas- 
 torate, were in addition to the original members. Richard Day was 
 the first Deacon, and was chosen to that office on the 24th of March, 
 1763. It was voted at that meeting to have the sacrament of the Lord's 
 Supper administered on the first Sabbath of the following May. Dea. 
 
816 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 Day appears to have had no colleague till November 12, 1767, when 
 Abel Wilder was elected. 
 
 DEATH AND OnAKA'CTER OP BIR. STIMPSOI-T. 
 
 In July, 1768, Mr. Stimpson was seized with a " malignant putrid 
 fever," and died after a few days' sickness, on the 20fch day of the 
 month. He was born in Weston, in the year 1731, and was therefore 
 thirty-seven years of age. He was a graduate of Harvard, of the Class 
 of 1759, a class-mate of the second Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut, ' 
 and of Judge Wingate, of New Hampshire. " Though," says Dr. 
 Whiton, " not a man of vigorous iiftellecfc or showy talent, he was yet 
 a respectable character, and though diffident and retiring, enjoyed the 
 confidence of his people. He is said to have destroyed his manuscript 
 sermons at the commonceipent of his last sickness." The Boston Chron- 
 icle of August 27, 1768, contained the following notice of his decease : 
 " 'We hear from Winchendon, that on the 20th died, and on the 22d 
 was decently interred, the Rev. Mr. Daniel Stimpson, Pastor of the 
 Church in that place, in the 37th year of his ago." 
 
 As stated in another place, his wife and two little children died be- 
 fore him. He left two other little children, a son named Luther, and 
 a daughter, Sarah, to be reared by others. Sarah became the wife of 
 Bemsly Lord, and afterwards of a Mr. Brown. She removed from 
 town. Luther, after arriving at manhood, married a daughter of James 
 McElwain, and left children. One of his daughters was the second 
 wife of Mr. John Poor. His sons were Daniel, Luther and Levi. Two 
 of his grand-sons, great-grand-sons of the minister, are clergymen, and 
 have preached in this town. One of these is the Rev. Samuel Stimp- 
 son, Baptist,.of Terre Haute, Ind.; the other is the Rsv. Levi Stimpson, 
 Episcopal, of Wilton, Conn. 
 
 An amusing incident has boon handed dov/'n, which illustrates the 
 primitive simplicity of the times, in contrast with Mr. Stimpson's bet- 
 ter knowledge of the proprieties. One evening the sapper was pud- 
 ding and milk. While ho was partaking of his bowl, the hired girl, Avho 
 had partly eaten the contents of her basin, finding there was more than 
 she wished, without ceremony poured the residue into the minister's 
 basin, that he might eat it, and none be lost. Not exactly relishing 
 such a contribution to his allowance, Sir. Stimpson quietly withdrew 
 from the table, leaving the rest of his pudding and milk untouched. 
 
HISTORY OP -WINCHENDON. 317 
 
 Something of a man may be learned from Hs books. The inventory 
 of Mr. Stimpson's library, amounted to £12, 18, 3, or about forty dol- 
 lars. Old books are cheap. The library contained about fifty volumes, 
 besides pamphlets. These are some of the volumes : " Mr. Henry up- 
 on the Bible, in 6 vols.;" that is, Matthew Henry's incomparable Com- 
 mentary. " Dr. Tillotson's 5th vol. of Sermons, octavo ;" " Derham's 
 Demonstration of the Attributes of God ;" " Hervey's Meditations ;" 
 " Pictetus' Christian Divinity ;" and several -works of "Watts, Baxter, 
 Willard, Mather, Clark, Eogers, Williams, &c. There is a volume of 
 Winthrop on Earthquakes ; Smitl^'s Rhetoric, and Brattle's Logick. 
 He had an English Dictionary, by Bailey ; Latin Dictionary ; Virgil's 
 Works ; Tully's Orations ; Greek Lexicon ; Greek Testament ; Latin 
 Testament and Grammar ; Greek Grammar ; Hebrew Grammar ; Psal- 
 ter and Bible. The Lexicons and Grammats opened to him the Bible 
 in the original tongues, and the other books were valuable ; but more 
 were needed, especially when the minister could resort to no public li- 
 brary this side of Cambridge. 
 
 Mr. Stimpson left quite a handsome property for those times. His 
 salary was |60 yearly ; he had a settlement of f 60 ; and the Proprie- 
 tors gave him, as the first minister, one hundred acres of land. The 
 inventory of his estate furnishes some items of interest. First, the real 
 estate, as follows : 
 
 " LotNo. l,in ye South Divition, containing DO acres, £120, £120, 0, 
 " North Divition, containing 100 acres, £100, 
 
 The House at £5, the Bam at £26, 
 
 Lot No. 65, contains 80 acres, £16, 
 
 " 74, " " " 25, 
 
 The total valuation was 
 
 Among the items of porsonal estate were the following : 
 
 Ten tons of Hay in the barn, at £1, 12s. per ton, 
 
 Rye, Corn, Beans, Potatoes and Flax amounted to over 
 
 Wearing Apparel, including one Peruke, five pairs white 
 Gloves, three Neck Bands, Silver Shoe, neck and knee 
 Buckles, Watch and Pocket Compass, 23, 02, 02 
 
 Woman's Apparel, including among other things. Stone 
 Jewels, Stone Buttons, three GoldEings, Shoe Buckles, 
 and Silk Damask Gown, 8, 18, 00 
 
 Logs and Slitwork at ye Mill, 1, 02, 00 
 
 100, 
 
 0, 
 
 
 
 31, 
 
 0, 
 
 
 
 16, 
 
 0, 
 
 
 
 25, 
 
 0, 
 
 
 
 £292, 
 
 0, 
 
 
 
 £16, 00, 
 
 00 
 
 8, 00, 
 
 00 
 
818 HISTOUr OF WINCHBKDON. 
 
 In Notes, £39, 01, 08 
 
 Interest on the Notes, 6, 07, 04 
 
 On Book and accompts, 30, 18, 08 
 
 Stock, and Household Goods, more than 70, 00, 00_ 
 
 Arrearage of Salary, 41, 19, 01 
 
 Making a total of £538, 06, 09." 
 
 There were other items, including " tobacco tongs," but these com- 
 prise the bulk of the estate. Mr. Stimpson was quite a business man, 
 carrying on a farm, selling timber, and letting horse and oxen for work 
 and journeys. Moses Hale, when he first came to town, was a hired 
 man in his family. The house* of Mr. Stimpson, valued at " X5," stood 
 near where Mr. Voso now resides, and it is pleasant to add, that the 
 great elm there was planted by him. But enough of these details, which 
 have been given simply as illustrative of " ye olden time." 
 
 SETTLEMENT OF EEV. JOSEril BROWN. 
 
 The ordination of Mr. Brown took place on the 24th day of May, 
 1769. The terms of settlement belong to the account of the town as 
 a parish ; but the reply to the invitation to settle, finds its proper place 
 here. It was as follows : 
 " To the Church of Christ, and other inhoMtants in Winchendon: 
 
 Beloved : — You having sometime since given me an unanimous invitation 
 to settle with you in the Gospel Ministry ; having taken this your invitation 
 into serious consideration, and after seeking direction from Heaven, and ask- 
 ing the advice of my friends and relations, I have como to this conclusion, 
 namely, to comply with this your invitation to settle with you, and accept of 
 your offers annexed to your invitation. 
 
 Seriously entreating your fervent prayers to God for me that I may more 
 
 and more be endowed with such gifts and graces as are necessary for so great 
 
 and important a work, and that I may faithfully and successfully perform it, 
 
 I am your sincere and affectionate friend and servant, 
 
 Joseph Brown. 
 Winchendon, March 18th, 1769." 
 
 The settlement of a minister was eifected with deliberation by the 
 fathers. Mr. Brown was here in the autumn of 1768 ; he accepted , 
 the invitation to settle in the following March, and was settled in May. 
 At this time, the Rev. Mr. Rice was settled in Westminster, Mr. Spar- 
 
 * It is supposed that " Logs and Slitwork at ye mill," were intended for a 
 new house. 
 
HISTORY or WmCHENDON- 319 
 
 hawk in Templeton, and Mr. Humphrey in Athol. It is not improbable 
 that they were members of the Council ; but if so, they took no part in 
 the services. The following extract from the Boston " Post Boy," of 
 May 29, 1769, supplies the lack of Records. It was kindly sent by 
 Frederic Kidder, Esq. 
 
 " On the 24th of May, 1769, was ordained at Winchendon, the Rev.' Mr. 
 Joseph Brown. The Rev. Mr. Gardner of Leominster began the solemnity 
 with prayer ; the Rev. Mr. Clark of Lexington preached a sermon well adapt- 
 ed to the occasion, from 1 Thess. 2:4; the Rev. Mr. Lawrence of Lincoln 
 prayed and gave the charge ; the Rev, Mr. Woodward of Weston prayed af- 
 ter the charge, and the Rev. Mr. Gushing of Waltham gave the right hand of 
 fellowship. The whole was attended upon with great seriousness and decency . ' ' 
 
 AH these ministers were from towns in the neighborhood of Mr. 
 Brown's early home, which fact accounts for their presence on this oc- 
 casion. Not long after, Mr. Lee was settled in Royalston, and Mr., 
 afterwards Dr. Gushing, father of the founder of the Gushing Academy, 
 was settled in Ashburnham. And thus all the towns in the vicinity 
 were supplied with the stated means of grace. 
 
 The congregation must have comfortably filled the meeting-house at 
 the time of Mr. Brown's settlement. It is supposed there were about 
 sixty famiUes in the town, and not far from three hundred and fifty souls, 
 the larger part of whom were generally found in the house of God on 
 the Sabbath. 
 
 In due time, the minister was married — his wife, says tradition, rid- 
 ing into town on an ox-cart — and engaged in the duties of his calling. 
 Where he resided at first, is not known, but sometime after the death 
 of Dea. Day, which occurred in 1774, he came into possession of the 
 old Day house which he occupied for several years. He was the own- 
 er of the house near the meeting-house, for a time, and probably occu- 
 pied it. At that time, according to Dr. Whiten, and we can easily be- 
 lieve it, 
 
 " The day of straitened circumstances and occasional scanty fare had not 
 gone by. Mrs. Brown used to say years afterwards, that when she first came 
 to Winchendon, she found the people on and neai- the Common, "poor as 
 poverty, hut merry as grigs," so little is happiness dependent on external 
 circumstances. Many families found it difficult, at certain seasons of the year, 
 to procure meat, but subsisted On bread and milk and vegetables ; and of these 
 even the supply was often scanty. It was difficult to rear sheep on account 
 
320 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOSr. 
 
 of tlie ravages of the wolves ; and the cattle were too fev? to furnish many for 
 slaughter. One of the most respectable women of that day often remarke'd, 
 that sometimes she became (to use her own words) ' so meat hungry,' that 
 could she have procured a piece of meat to toil with her potatoes and turnips, 
 to season them with the flesh relish, she could have been pretty well satisfied, 
 even though not permitted to taste the meat itself. Few fruit trees had then 
 come into bearing condition." 
 
 CHTJaCH MEMBERSHIP IN 1774-7. 
 
 Though there is no list of the members of the Church previous to the 
 time of Mr. Pillsbury,' yet the author has fortunately found, among the 
 papers of Hon. Abel Wilder, a manuscript, which among many other 
 things of great interest, contains an " Account of money contributed at 
 the Sacrament," on several occasions, in the years 1774, 6, and 7. 
 The names foUow in the order of their dates, the felling of the man- 
 uscript being copied exactly. 
 
 1774, . 
 Thaddeus Bowman, 
 Hannah Beal, 
 David Brown, 
 John Cheney, 
 John Day, 
 Theo's Mansfield, 
 Eev. Joseph Brown, 
 Francis Bridge, 
 Eben'r Sherwin, 
 Amos Merriam, 
 Levi Nichols, 
 Ruth Day, 
 Phillips Sweetzer, 
 Prudence Wheelock, 
 Deborah Murdock, 
 Miles Putnam, 
 David Goodridge, 
 Ezra Hide. 
 
 1776. 
 Releaf Oak, 
 Oliv Bradstreet, 
 
 Euth Darling, 
 Hannah Parmenter, 
 Hannah Biglow, 
 Daniel Goodridge, 
 Mrs. David Goodridge, 
 Richard Pearson, 
 Prudence Sawyer, 
 Capt. Warner, 
 Widow Oak, 
 Widow Bates. 
 
 1777. 
 Bill Hancock, 
 Capt. Boynton, 
 Mary Warner, 
 Elizabeth Oak, 
 Mrs. Eben'r Smith, 
 David Winch, 
 Benjamin Brown, 
 Eliphalet Goodridge, 
 Capt. J. Wilder, 
 Joseph Rugg. 
 
 To these should be added, Dea. Abel Wilder, and Dea Richard Day, 
 as the latter was alive in the beginning of 1774. 
 
 There are forty-two names in the above list, besides which there are 
 various contributions under the heads " Loos money," " In the Peace 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHBNDON. 321 
 
 of an Almanac," " In a peace of a pin paper," " one shilling Bill with- 
 out a Name," &c., showing that others contributed besides those whose 
 names are recorded. In approximating the actual number of members 
 of the Church, it is necessary to remember that in many cases a male 
 member pays for wife, and daughter, and perhaps mother and sister. 
 In but a few instances in the above list, could husband and wife both 
 have paid. That is, the women who paid are not wives or daughters 
 of the men who paid. It is probable that the male members', twenty- 
 six in number, represented a female membership more numerous than 
 themselves. On that supposition, the whole number was, at least, equal 
 to seventy. Take another method of estimating. There are generally 
 in evangelical Churches, twice as many female as male members. To 
 twenty-six males, add fifty-two females, and the number will be seven- 
 ty-eight. In round numbers, there were probably eighty members of 
 the Church, in full communion, at the opening of the Revolution. To 
 these must be added those who joined on the " half-way" plan, since 
 they did not attend the Communion, and therefore did not contribute 
 on that occasion. 
 
 THE DEPARTUEE OP MR. BROWN. 
 
 From 1777, twenty-two years passed away, of which we have no trace, 
 except a few entries in the Records of the town. Then the difficulties 
 which had been rife for two or three years, terminated in the dismis- 
 sion of Mr. Brown. The recital of these troubles belongs principally 
 to town history, and all that is deemed necessary has been given in the 
 appropriate place. The town was against the minister, while a major- 
 ity of the church stood by him till after his ministerial connection with 
 them had come to an end. He was dismissed in December, 1799. All 
 that relates to him may as well be completed in this place. The Coun- 
 cil sustained his ministerial reputation, and gave him the usual com- 
 mendation to the Churches. But a difficulty sprang up after his dis- 
 mission. He retained the Records, refusing to part with them. Such 
 is the story as told by his opponents. A committee, consisting of the 
 new Pastor, and the two Deacons, Messrs. Hale and Prentice, called 
 on him for the purpose of receiving them. The interview closed un- 
 pleasantly and abruptly by Mr. Brown ordering Mr. Pillsbury to leave 
 his house, with a threat to put him out if he did not depart. What was 
 
 31 
 
322 HISTOBY OF WUfCHENDOIT. 
 
 said to provoke this language is not recorded. According to tradi- 
 tion Mr. Brown, was naturally irascible, and he might have been dis- 
 turbed by what would not have excited a more gentle spirit. The com- 
 mittee made a formal demand for the papers, when it is supposable, at 
 least, that there were no Records except such as Mr. Brown had kept 
 in his own private book. A proportion before the town, about this time, 
 to purchase a blank book for him, favors this supposition. The infer- 
 ence is, that the book was for him to use in recording loose papers, and 
 inserting items from memory. This book was not furnished ; perhaps 
 because Mr. Brown declined to use it ; perhaps, because, as he is re- 
 ported to have said, the papers had, accidentally, been burned. If the 
 Church had never chosen him as Clerk, and furnished him with a Book 
 of Records, it could not make a claim for his papers, though a regard 
 for its welfare might dictate their transfer. The fact that no legal steps 
 were taken to compel him to surrender the Records, gives support to the 
 view that there was no basis for a legal demand. In fact, the Records 
 were never recovered, and the history of the Church, from its founda- 
 tion in 1762 to 1799, is almost a blank. 
 
 Steps were immediately taken to discipline Mr. Brown as an offend- 
 ing member of the Church. He denied its jurisdiction, on the ground 
 that he had never been received into the Church except by the ordina- 
 tion service. He therefore claimed that his dismission as the pastor, 
 severed his entire connection with the Church, But unfortunately, in 
 a letter, he had claimed that he was a member, and the Church held 
 him to it, while they carried on the process of discipline. The result 
 was his excommunication. He left the town, and lived in Vermont, 
 where he seems to have been recognized as a minister of the Gospel ; 
 from which it may be inferred, that the action of the Church did not 
 have the moral force to effect his ministerial or christian character and 
 standing. 
 
 Mr. Brown was a man of full habit, good size, dark eyes and hair, 
 and dark complexion. His abilities were fair, and his learning was 
 about equal to that of his ministerial neighbors. It does not appear that 
 his preaching made any very marked impression, though he was a man 
 of sense and shrewdness. An aged man, speaking of his contest with 
 the town, said : " he was too much for the whole of them." He left 
 three sons, named Joseph, Amos and John. His three daughters were 
 respectably married. One was the wife of Thomas Richardson, M. D.; 
 
, HISTORY 0¥ WINCHENDON. 323 
 
 another ©f Benjamin Hall ; and the third of Francis Goodhue, who re- 
 moved to Brattleboro', where he became wealthy, and left a highly re- 
 spectable family. The last scene of Mr. Brown's labors was Spring- 
 field, Vt. 
 
 SETTLEMENT OF ME. PILLSBURY. 
 
 This took place on the 24th of June, 1801, after the pulpit had been 
 vacant about a year and a half. He was called after a thorough hear- 
 ing, and the union lasted tiU his death. He was a native of Tewks- 
 bury, and a graduate of Dartmouth College, Class of 1798. His an- 
 swer to the invitation to take the oversight of the Church, evinces his 
 character, and is a prophecy of his ministry. It is therefore copied 
 entire. 
 
 "'Since it has pleased the Church and people of thk town to make known 
 their desire that I should settle with them in the Gospel ministry, I have cho- 
 sen this time to give an answer. 
 
 More than six months have elapsed smee I began to preach among you, 
 during which time I have been careful to learn your minds and situation, and 
 considering your long trials and difficulties, I think as much harmony and 
 anion prevails as might he expected. And please to accept of my warmest 
 gratitude for that attention and respect you have ever manifested towaird me 
 since my first arrival here. 
 
 The important question respecting my settling in the work of the Gospel 
 ministry, and in particular, among you, has caused much study and reflection. 
 I have looked, as I trust, to heaven, for assistance and direction ; have asked 
 ad\dce of the fathers in the ministry ; and the opinion of friends, hoping for 
 such counsel as shall enable me to make a decision that may terminate for the 
 good of religion and the glory of God. 
 
 I am well sensible that such is the depravity of the human heart, such is 
 the opposition of men by nature to the pure doctrineg of the gospel, such is 
 the unstable -and fluctuating state of society, that very small b the prospect 
 of temporal ease and profit to the faithful Preacher. 
 
 Yet as the cause of the Redeemer is great and good, as the promise of Christ 
 is sure, " lo, I am with you to the end," as there is a future world of bles- 
 sedness prepared for all the righteous, and as God has determined through 
 the instrumentality of preaching to save them that believe, we may take courage. 
 
 I therefore now give my answer in the affirmative, and do freely agree to, 
 and accept of, your proposals, hoping that grace, mercy and peace may be mul- 
 tipUed to us. 
 
324 HISTORY OP WINOHENDOW. 
 
 Here let it be remembered as there are many false teachers gone out inta 
 the world, as many crept into houses who have not come into the work of the 
 ministry by the door, and wish to build on other men's foundations, it is to be 
 understood that na one belonging to this religious society, shall iuTita or em- 
 ploy any person as a preacher, without the knowledge and consent of the pastor. 
 
 You are farther to remember that I shall except [or expect] three or four 
 Sabbaths annually, as is usual, to visit friends and relations. 
 
 Perhaps there is no one thing more conducive to the well-being of religious 
 society than to be united in the truth. How happy then will it be for us if 
 we can love as brethren, strive for union, and study the things that make for 
 peace. Knowing the imperfection of human nature, we hope tobear one an- 
 other's burdens, to exerci^ a spirit of candor and forgiveness, and not hasti- 
 ly to condemn those whom we think in some things are wrong. Your preach- 
 er may sometimes be thought wrong when he is right, and sometimes thought 
 wrong when really so ; yet [it] is hoped that your candor and prudence will 
 influence you to consult him before you censure his doctrine or conduct, or 
 proclaim abroad his imperfections. Truly I can say that I feel myself, quite 
 inadequate to be employed as an Ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ, and 
 to preach the everlasting gospel. Yet trusting in Christ, the Great Head of 
 the Church, I hope I may not preach nor labor in vain ; that each one may 
 find, by happy experience, a punctual fulfillment of those duties and obliga- 
 tipns which are incumbent both on minister and people, that all may find that 
 it was good for jis to be acquainted and united in the most solemn and imporr 
 tamt things in our world, that it may promote and advance the temporal peace 
 and prosperity, and especially the spiritual interest, improvement and welfare 
 of all concerned in this agreement. And that the declarative glory of God 
 may be advanced. 
 
 Levi Pilsbekkt. 
 
 Winchendon, May 7, 1801." 
 
 " Sead May 10th, 1801, by Eev. S. Payson in publick." 
 
 The Council met 09 the 23d of June, and was composed of the fol- 
 lowing ministers and their delegates: Rev. Messrs. John Gushing, 
 Mr. Lees, Seih Payson, Mr. Aiken, Mr. Barton, John Osgood, 
 and Mr. Williams. Several of the Churches sent two delegates, the 
 last case of the kind in Councils held in this town. Mr. Sparhawk, of 
 Templeton, was invited, but was not present. Rev. John Gushing was 
 chosen Moderator, and Rev. Jonathan Osgood, Scribe. After prayer, 
 the Council adjourned to the next morning, at 6 o'clock. At the meet- 
 ing of the Council, the next day, the " candidate ejdiibited a confes- 
 sion of his faith;" andmaqy q^aestiwa were asked, to which he gave 
 
, HISTOKT OF WlifCHENDON. .825 
 
 satisfactory answers. Motioned and seconded to see if the Council were 
 ready to proceed to the ordination of Mr. Levi Pillsbury. Voted in 
 the affirmative. 
 
 " Voted that the Eev. Mr. Cashing give the Charge ; Lev. Mr. Lee, the 
 Ordaining Prayer ; the Rev. Mr. Osgood give the Right Hand of Fellowship ; 
 the Rev. Mr. Barton make the Introductory Prayer ; and the Rev. Mr. Wilt- 
 iams the Gonclttding Prayer ; and tha,t the Rev. Mr. Aiken preach the ser- 
 mon. N. B. Every part of the solemnities of the ordination, was performed 
 to the great satisfaction of the audience, and Mr. Pillsbury was ordained, June 
 ^4, 1801, according to appointment. Before the Council proceeded to ordi- 
 nation, the candidate was received into the Church, before the whole assembly, 
 by virtue of a dismission and recommendation from the Church in Rowley." 
 
 Just previous to Mr. Pillsbury's settlement, on the 13th of April, 
 1801, the Church voted " that no person shall in future be admitted by 
 the t)hurch upon the principles of what is commonly called the half- 
 way Covenant." This was in accordance with the views of the new 
 minister, and the prevailing sentiment of the time. However, these 
 quasi members were permitted, if they were so disposed, to come into fiiU 
 communion, and some availed themselves of the privilege. 
 
 The condition of the Church, in relation to spiritual things, must have 
 been trying to the heart of the young minister. Owing to the admission 
 of members on the half-way plan, or the laxness of the former minis' 
 ter's views, or neglect of discipline, or all these causes combined, the 
 Church was in a lamentable state, and years passed away before it be- 
 came united and strong. It is not needful to enter at any length, in-^ 
 to the details of difficulties and heart-burnings that have long been sleeps 
 ing in the quiet of the grave, but a glance at the situation seems to be 
 desirable. 
 
 After disposing v! the case of Mr. Brown, measures were taken to 
 bring several members who had held aloof from the Lord's Table, back 
 to hearty fellowship with the Church ; and in several cases, the result 
 was a restoration of harmony. la other instances, the Records are 
 marred with the recital of violation of covenant obligations and of the 
 Commandments of God. Different persons were dealt with, and some 
 Tvere expelled on account of intemperance, and of violations of the ser- 
 enth commandment. These measures were ptoof of vigorous spiritual 
 life, which sloughed off the dead and decaying parts of the body. By 
 taking care in admitting new members^ the Church became jfeaJly'much 
 
326 HISTOKY OF WINCHENDCrlf. 
 
 stronger, in tbe course of years, though there was a decrease in the 
 membership. 
 
 At the time of Mr. Pillsbury's settlement, there were about eleven 
 hundred people in Winchendon, and the great mass of them were in re- 
 al or nominal connection with the First Society. A Methodist and a 
 Baptist Church had already been formed, but only a part of their mem- 
 bers resided within the limits of the town. No means of ascertaining the 
 precise number of members of the First Church, in 1801, can be found. 
 On the 51st page of the Records, it is written as follows : " June 1st, 
 1810, 55 males, 75 females, total, 130." There is a full list of the 
 members of the church, extending down to 1819, on pages 50-53, and 
 48, and it is supposed that this list comprises all those in the church 
 when Mr. Pillsbury was settled, and all who were received during his 
 ministry. But this is not certain. There is no way of determining 
 when the list was made out. The list contains 159 names, as having 
 united previous to 1810 ; but at that date there were only 130 mem- 
 bers. Of these 159, 38 are marked dead, 35 removed, 3 excommu- 
 nicated, and 4 have a line drawn across their names, leaving but 79 
 names. But as there were 130 members in 1810, it is evident that 
 some of the 159 were not marked as deceased, removed, etc., until af- 
 ter 1810, so that it is impossible to learn who were members when Mr. 
 Pillsbury came. Of the 159 in the list up to 1810, 35 were received 
 by Mr. Pillsbury, leaving 124 who must have joined previous to 1801. 
 
 Another detached entry in the Record reads as follows : " In 1815, 
 May 20, 107 members belonged to this church, and 6 received within 
 a year ; 40 males and 67 females." The admisaons during his min- 
 istry are given below. 
 
 
 PROF. 
 
 tvmB. 
 
 
 
 In 1802, 
 
 12, 
 
 11. 
 
 In 1812, - - - 
 
 2. 
 
 " 1804, 
 
 3, 
 
 1. 
 
 " 1813, - . - 
 
 7. 
 
 « 1805, 
 
 2, 
 
 4. 
 
 " 1814, - - - 
 
 9. 
 
 " 1806, 
 
 4. 
 
 
 " 1815, - - - 
 
 3. 
 
 « 1807, 
 
 4. 
 
 
 " 1816, - - - 
 
 3. 
 
 " 1810*, 
 
 - 
 
 10. 
 
 " 1817, - - - 
 
 1. 
 
 " 1811, - 
 
 - - 
 
 4. 
 
 " 1819, - - - 
 
 9. 
 
 The whole number is righty-nine, about five annually. 
 
 The Church was drained by frequent removals to the Baptist and 
 
 ♦From this date no distinction is made as to tbe mode of becoming a member. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 327 
 
 Methodist Churches, which were now in active operation. In addition, 
 by removals to other Congregational Churches, and ,by deaths, the 
 number was kept from increasing. 
 
 DEATH OF Ma. PILLSBURY. 
 
 His ministry was suddenly closed by his decease, on the 5th of April, 
 1819, after five days sickness, of bilious colic. He was forty-eight 
 years of age, in full strength and activity, and increasing in influence. 
 The eflforts to coerce his political action had ceased, and entire harmo- 
 ny prevailed in the Church. " His death-bed scene was calm and se- 
 rene, and being asked what directions he wished to leave in relation 
 to his family, he replied, ' Follow the leadings of Providence.' " The 
 universal testimony of those who remember him is, that he was a faith- 
 ful Christian minister, and a plain preacher of the evangelical truths 
 of the Bible. His ministry came in time to save the Church from the 
 experience of many others in the Commonwealth, which lapsed into 
 some form of TJnitarianism. Since his time, there has been no ques- 
 tion about the adherence of the great body of the Church and congre- 
 gation to the religious views of the early settlers of the town. His 
 successors in the ministry have all been firm believers in the same sys- 
 tem, and earnest preachers of the Gospel. 
 
 It is said by aged people, that Mr. Pillsbury became increasingly 
 devoted to his work, and that his ministrations during the winter pre- 
 ceding his death, were marked by growing spirituality ; and it is the 
 general conviction of those who remember the great revival which made 
 the beginning of his successor's ministry so memorable, that the foun- 
 dation of that work of grace was then laid. He enjoyed the confi- 
 dence of the Church, and the respect of the community to the last, 
 and his memory has been revered to the present time. He was buried 
 near the centre of the old grave-yard, where aa elegant monument has 
 been recently erected by his children, in place of a plainer one that 
 was set up not long after his decease. 
 
 An incident in his life should be noted, because it evinces his inde- 
 pendence of character, while it brings into view the intermeddling spirit 
 «f " Associations" at the time. In the Records is the following, under 
 date " Dec. 19, 1804. The Westminster Association having long, and 
 contrary to my wish, meddled with our Church discipline, I requested 
 mj relation or connection with them to be removed." It seems that 
 
32B fliSiOBY of wiNchenDoit. 
 
 this body of ministers had been in the habit of CDnsidering cases of dig= 
 cipline brought before them by individuals, and of sending their advice 
 to the Churches. In the case of a member of the Winchendon Church, 
 they heard witnesses, and reviewed the conduct of Mr. KUsbury and 
 the Church. As they had no more right to do this than an association 
 of deacons or superintendents of Sabbath Schools, he very properly 
 denied their jurisdiction, and withdrew from them. On the J.4th of 
 June, 1806, " a number of ministers in the County of Worcester, met 
 at the Eev. Samuel Austin's, in the town of Worcester, for the pur^ 
 pose of forming into an Association, to be called the Worcester AssO'^ 
 elation ; and agreed to meet three times in a year." Mr. Pillsbury 
 became a member of this Association, which haa always been charac-' 
 terized by its strict adherence to early Congregatioisal usages. 
 
 It may be said, in conclusion, that Mr. Pillsbury has descendants 
 quite numerous and very respectable, in this and neighboring towns. 
 
 The formal action of the Church in relation to the decease of Mr^ 
 Pillsbury, is here inserted by w'ay of appendix to the account of his 
 ministry : 
 
 " Tuesday, April 6, 1819. At a meeting of the Church at the meetings 
 house, it was voted to choose a staiiding Moderator, to preside at meetings 
 during the vacancy occasioned by the death of our Kev. Pastor ; also, an As- 
 sistant Moderator and Clerk. Chose for these officers respectively, Rev. John 
 Sabin, of Fitzwilliam, Dea. Deare Tolman, and Daniel Henshaw, Esp(." [This 
 was the day after the Pastor's decease. The meeting adjourned to Thurs- 
 day, the 8th, at the school-house, at 10 o'clock, A. M. Then met, and] 
 " made arrangements foir proceeding at the funeral of our laite Pastor." Ori 
 the 1st of May, the Church voted to " appoiiit a Past on the third Thursday 
 in May, instant." The Church also voted " that the toWn he respectfully in- 
 vited to unite with the Church in the fast ; aad to invite the neighboring mirl- 
 isters to unite with them." 
 
 On account of Probate Court, the Fast was hdi on the first Thur9» 
 day in June. Thus respectfully and reverently did the Church and 
 the Town unite in paying funeral honoi-s to the departed, aad in seek-" 
 ing divine direction, with reference to & future minister. 
 
 EEV. ELAM CLARK. 
 
 The efforts of the towii to induce Mr. Elam Clark to becom'e their 
 tQinister, have been related in another conneetion. The fact that h(3 
 
HISTOBY of WINCHBJffiON. 329 
 
 was for A time the most popular man tliat ever lived in the place, makes 
 it proper to refer to him again. The vote in his favor was as strong 
 in the Church as in the Parish. At a meeting held on the 26 th of 
 September, it was voted " to choose a committee of five to join the 
 town's committee, to confer with Mr. Elam Clark concerning his preach* 
 ing in this town, and with reference to his settlement. Chose Bea. 
 Desire^olman, Mr. Ezra Hyde, Daniel Henshaw, Mr. Hananiah Whit^ 
 ney and Col. Jacob B. Woodbury." Next day met again, and voted 
 "by ballot, and chose unanimously, Mr. Elam Clark to be Pastor of 
 this Church." After considering, Mr. Clark declined. On the 6th 
 of March, 1820, the call was renewed, with but one dissenting vote^ 
 out of twenty-six. This call was also declined ; but the people found 
 it hard to abandon the hope of obtaining him fOr their Pastor. He 
 was a man of remarkable gifts to win popular favor and esteem. The 
 people hung upon his lips id public, and were pleasjed greatly with him 
 in private. A manuscript sermon of his fails to reveal the secret of 
 his poweri It has matter enough to keep attention awake, and not 
 enough to fatigue a common audience. The style is neat and clear, 
 without being ornate or forcible. Ornament and illustration are judis- 
 ciously employed, but the discourse does not grasp the mind and hold it 
 by the power of intense thought or passion. Much was due, doubtless, to 
 . a pleasing person, a modulated voice and fine elocution. Add to these 
 qualities, amiabihty of disposition, an interest in his hearers, and unc-* 
 tion, and we probably have the secret of his popularity. But however 
 accounted for, there is no question that he completely captivated all 
 elasses of the people, old as well as young. Says Dr. Whiton : " the 
 people were enthusiastically attached " to him. He says farther, in 
 reference to Mr. Clark's second call : " he unexpectedly add strangely 
 declined again. It was probably happy for them that he did, as he 
 was a man of an extremely nervous temperament) and was not success-' 
 ful in other places. He deceased siome years ago, about 1834." It 
 may be added that after leaving this place, he was married ; that he 
 awakened an extraordinary interest in himself wherever he preached 5 
 and that he never remained long in a place. The reason given by 
 classmates and friends was, that whenever he was Obliged to engage 
 in intellectual labor, his faculties seemed to be paralyzed. He had 
 ability, taste, judgment, a desire to do good ; and when his mirifi was 
 entirely free from constraint, he could write with ease. As soon how- 
 
330 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 ever as he was confronted with the dread fact that a discourse must 
 be ready at a certain time, he grew restive, made an effort to write, 
 became discouraged, and as a consequence, sad and mortified. It is. 
 probable that in some other calling, he would have fulfilled the high 
 hopes of partial friends. According to Mr. Hyde, he had two calls 
 at Tiverton, R. I., as in Winchendon. He was settled over a Church 
 in Providence, about a year, and was then dismissed at his own i;;pquest. 
 He kept school for a while. Afterwards he resided at Suffield, Conn., 
 with a weathy farmer, whose daughter he had married. He died of 
 cancer. 
 
 THE NEW MINISTER. 
 
 Among other candidates was a Mr. Becket of Peterborough, and Rev. 
 Caleb Burge, a man of more than average ability. The Rev. Ebbr L. 
 Clark came to Winchendon, May 27, 1820, (being then settled as a 
 minister in Granby, Conn.) and continued to supply the pulpit till in- 
 vited to settle. At a meeting of the Church, on the 31st of July, to 
 see " whether they would choose Rev. Eber L. Clark as their Pastor, 
 it was voted to take the question by yeas and nays. The vote was then 
 taken, and the whole, being twenty-seven, were in the affirmative, and 
 accordingly the Rev. Eber L. Clark was declared unanimously elected. 
 
 1820, October 13, Mr. Clark was installed by an Ecclesiastical Coui- • 
 cil, composed ministerially as follows : the names of delegates being 
 omitted. 
 
 Church in Ashburnbam, 
 
 Kev 
 
 Jobn Gushing. 
 
 " Gardner, 
 
 
 Jonathan Osgood. 
 
 " Templetbn, 
 
 
 Charles Wellington. 
 
 " Royalston, 
 
 
 Ebenezer Perkins. 
 
 " Kindge, 
 
 
 Seth Payson, D. D. 
 
 " Antrim, 
 
 
 John M. Whiton. 
 
 " Leicester, 
 
 
 John Nelson. 
 
 " Worthington, 
 
 
 Jonathan L. Pomroy 
 
 " East Windsor, 
 
 
 Thomas Robbins. 
 
 A note in the Church Records, probably by the hand of Mr. Clark, 
 may claim a place here for the sake of the information it gives. 
 
 " The Eev. Eber L. Clark was born at Mansfield, Conn, March 23, 1785 ; 
 was graduated at Williams College, Sept. 1811 ; was licensed to preach the 
 Gospel, Feb'y, 1812 ; was ordained, Sept. 24th of the same year, Pastor of the 
 First Church of Christ in Chatham, Con.; was dismissed August 13th, 1815, — 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHBND05. 331 
 
 was installed Pastor of the Church in Granby, Turkey Hills Society, Con., 
 July 3, 1816; was dismissed again, July 5th, 1820; and installed in Win- 
 chendon, October 18th of the same year. His salary, $600, and his settle- 
 ment S400. After being destitute of a minister about 18 months, and after 
 making several unsuccessful attempts to settle another. 
 
 The said Mr. Clark, was, soon after his installation, admitted a member of 
 said Church, by vote of the same, on the recommendation of the mutual 
 Ecclesiastical Council which dismissed him from his charge in Granby, Conn. 
 As he was not admitted a member of the Church in Granby otherwise than 
 being installed as Pastor over it, and as the Council which dismissed him from 
 said Church was mutual, and the general recommendation which they gave of 
 him an act in some sense of the Church herself, no other recommendation was 
 thought necessary." 
 
 Mr. Clark's settlement was the last in regard to whicli the Town as 
 a Parish took concurrent action. The Sermon was by Rev. Thomas 
 Robbins, afterwards D. D., from the text, Psalm 122, vs. 8, 4, 5. 
 The discourse grew directly out of the text, and related to the Church, 
 or Ecclesiastical Crovemment. It was arranged under three heads : 
 
 I. Its Union. 
 
 II. Its Worship. And, 
 
 III. Its Government. 
 
 The sermon evinces ability and familiar knowledge of Church history. 
 
 At the time of Mr. Clark's entrance upon his pastoral labors, the 
 congregation was large. The population of the town was 1263, a large 
 majority of whom were regular or occasional attendants on his ministry. 
 The Baptist Church was in one corner of the town, and was small. The 
 Methodist Church wSs in another corner, and far from numerous. There 
 were not twenty families in the three villages where more than two-thirds 
 of the whole population now reside. The parish extended over a large 
 territory, several families .living as far as four, and some more than five 
 miles distant from the Common. 
 
 On the 4th of January, 1822, Samuel Prentiss, Esq. was chosen Dea- 
 con in place of Amos Heywood resigned. On the 1st of March, it was 
 voted to " introduce Dr. Samuel Worcester's Selection of Hymns to be 
 sung occasionally in addition to Watts' Psalms and Hymns." On the 
 1st of November, chose Br. Paul Raymond and Br. Reuben Hyde as 
 Deacons of the Church. 
 
 When Mr. Clark began his ministry, the Church was not large in pro- 
 
§3^, fiiSTOR^ 6f ••WlNCHENSoi*^. 
 
 portion to the congregation, but there was au awakened interest iii re- 
 ligious things. The influence of Mr. Pillsbury's life and prayers, was 
 felt during the vacancy, and after the settlement of the new minister, 
 and soon began to manifest itself more plainly. Besides, the preaching 
 of Mr. Clark was fitted to produce a deep impression. He was a man 
 of decided power in the pulpit. He was tall, had a powerful voice, and 
 a positive manner. His sermons contained considerable thought, and 
 were full of weighty, evangelical truth. The effect was soon manifest ; 
 indeed the work of conversion had already begun. Some who had been 
 awakened to a sense of religious things in the latter part of Mr. Pills^ 
 bury's ministry, were now ready to unite with the Church, and six were 
 r'eceived soon after the installation of Mr. Clark. During the next year, 
 five were received by profession, and one by letter. In the meantime, 
 the religious interest had spread through the town, and become almost 
 universal. Impressions were made which h*re lasted to this time, and 
 tyill doubtless remain through all the future. 
 
 But the year 1822 was probably the most distinguished in all the 
 history of the town, for attention to the concerns of the souh At the i 
 several seasons of communion, in that year, eighty-four were received ' 
 into the Church on confession of their faith in Christ. Forty of these 
 were admitted at one time, on the 11th of September. A private let- 
 ter from one Of Mr. Clark's sons says : " Though a very small bo^ at 
 the time of their admission, I remember the scene as vividly as if it were 
 only yesterday. I remember the features of many of them, (some still 
 living-=^1867,) as they appeared standing through all the aisles of the 
 old Church." The interest was so absorbing that afternoon and evening 
 meetings were held right on through the warm' season of the year—' 
 through haying and harvesting-^and were well attended. One man of 
 large business — -Mr. Phinehas Whitney, — 'and perhaps others, had an 
 understanding with his workmen, that their wages would go on while 
 they were at meeting. 
 
 This season of special attention to religious things, was drawn out into 
 the next tv^o succeeding years. In 1823, there were twenty-one ad- 
 niissions to the Church ; and in 1824, fifteen^ besides four by letter froia 
 other Churches ; making one hundred and twenty-four in the space of 
 about three years. From that date there were admissions from time to 
 time. In 1831, thei'e were thirteen, and the next year, ten. The 
 
HISTORY OF • WINCHJINBOK, §83 
 
 TyLole number received into communion of the Church during his paa- 
 torate was as follows : 
 
 In 1820, 6. 
 
 In 1825, 3. 
 
 In 1831, 13, 
 
 1821, 6, 
 
 1826, 1. 
 
 1832, 11. 
 
 1822, 84. 
 
 1827, 5. 
 
 1833, 7. 
 
 1823, 21. 
 
 1828, 5. 
 
 1884, 2. 
 
 1824, 19. 
 
 1829, 2. 
 
 1835. 1. 
 
 Eighteen of this number were received from other Churches, leaving 
 ©ne hundred and sixty-eight who were admitted as new converts, or elev 
 en per annum, on the a,verage. Taking the whole number, the aver- 
 age was thirteen. 
 
 It would serve no useful purpose to call up from the grave, the trou- 
 bles which marred the good work of grace, or disturbed the peace of 
 the mimster . Some did not walk worthy of their profession, and in some 
 cases, the action of the Church might have been hasty. But a great 
 and good work was wrought, whose eflfects have been felt to this day. 
 In connection with what wa3 done in the Baptist and Methodist Soci- 
 eties, it may be said tha,t the town, to a large extent, experienced a mor-. 
 al and spiritual renovation. After an unoommonly successful pastorate 
 of nearly fifteen years, dating from his first sermon, be asked a dismis- 
 sion in the following note, dated 
 
 " WlNCHENDON, JANUARY 2, 1835. 
 
 I hereby request that I may be dismissed from my pastoral charge in this 
 place, believing the time has come when my dismission is expedient both for 
 me and for the people,— that another minister can be more useful here, and 
 that I can be more useful in some other part of the Gospel vineyard. 
 
 Praying that grace, mercy and peace may be multiplied to you abundantly, 
 through our Lord Jesus Christ, I subscribe myself yours in the faith and feU 
 lowship of the Gospel. Eber L. Clakk." 
 
 The same day, the Church voted to comply with his request, and a 
 committee was chosen to unite with him in calling a Council. In due. 
 time, the Council met, and he was honorably dismissed. A few addi- 
 tional facts will be interesting to some here who yet live to remember 
 him with grateful affection. According to a note from his son, Julius 
 L. Clark, Esq., Chief Clerk in the State Auditor's ofi&ce, he was bom 
 in 1786, instead of 1785, as stated on a former page. He " fitted for 
 College under the instruction of the late Rev. Dr. Jennings, of Dalton, 
 Mass., to which place he removed with his parents in early childhood." 
 
334 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 After leaving College, in 1811, he immediately commenced his " theo- 
 logical studies with Rev. Mr. Hinsdale of Hinsdale, and was licensed 
 in the followmg year by the Berkshire Association." His first settle- 
 ment was in Chatham, Conn., in that part now called Portland. In 
 about three years he was dismissed " at his own request, and for rea- 
 sons wholly his own." In Granby he " maintained a pleasant and use- 
 ful ministry of six years." Soon after his ordination, in 1812, he " mar- 
 ried Mary, daughter of Dea. Charles Starkweather, of Worthington, 
 Mass. She died in Winchendon, in 1832." His ministry of fifteen 
 years in this place, has already been described. " Then followed a 
 pastorate of three years at Berlin, Mass., terminating in accordance 
 with his own wish and request. He was immediately installed at Rich- 
 mond, Mass., where for fifteen years he continued the beloved and hon- 
 ored pastor of an affectionate congregation. In 1853, he became the 
 pastor of the Church in Washington, Mass., a relation which he sus- 
 tained for four years, or until his death ; his aggregate ministry cov- 
 ering a period of forty-six years." His second wife whom he married 
 not far from the time of his removal from Winchendon, was Sarah Law- 
 rence, of Norfolk, Conn. , who survived him. He had six children, three 
 of whom, the two oldest, and the youngest, are now — 1868 — ^living. 
 Six weeks previous to his own decease, he was called to officiate at 
 the funeral of a " dear brother in the ministry," Rev. C. H. Norton, 
 at North Becket, " little dreaming that his own lifeless form would so 
 soon rest upon the same altar, and his funeral discourse be so shortly 
 delivered from the same pulpit. The day was one of unusual inclem- 
 ency, and from the effects of his exposure, he fell into a rapid decline, 
 gently and sweetly falHng asleep in Jesus. His funeral sermon was 
 preached by the Rev. Dr. Todd, of Pittsfield, from John 3:2. At the 
 conclusion of these obsequies, his earthly remains were removed to Rich- 
 mond, for interment." 
 
 The following passages are taken from the funeral discourse by Dr. 
 Todd : 
 
 " His character was every way symmetrical, and his talents highly respect- 
 able. Indeed, though I have often heard his pubUc performances, I never 
 saw a failure, and never heard him preaoh a poor sermon. I have often heard 
 others make the same remark. He was a modest, unassuming man, but an 
 earnest and faithful preacher. I can account for his multiplied removals only 
 on the supposition that he was too meek to contend with difficulties. He was 
 
HISIWRT OF WINCHENDON. 335 
 
 diffident to a fault, wben the day demands that the miaisters of God shall not 
 be like reeds shaken by the wind. But all this modesty was based upon ' the 
 meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of the Lord, is of great price.' I 
 have seldom known a public man who seemed to me so free from envy and 
 jealousy. It never seemed to trouble him that others had higher seats in the 
 synagogue or at the feast. On the contrary, he rejoiced at every measure of 
 usefulness that others could fill. I never heard him make an envious or jeal- 
 ous or a severe remark about any one. * * * To those who have known 
 Br. Clark long as T have, I need not say that he was an affectionate husband, 
 and a most kind and considerate father. His house was such as his brethren 
 loved to visit. * * * Mr. Clark was a good man. We loved to hear 
 him pray in our associations and at our ordinations. We have every reason 
 to feel that he walked with God. * * * After having served his gener- 
 ation for forty-five years as a minister of Jesus Christ, his sun gradually went 
 down, but the sky was clear, and if there was anything in the shape of clouds, 
 they were lined with silver and coated with gold. * * * We can say of 
 him what is a great thing to say of any man, that he lived and died by the 
 grace of God, at the full age of three-score and ten, and has gone down to 
 the grave without reproach, with an unsullied reputation, and with the confi- 
 dence and respect of all who knew him." 
 
 THE MINISTRY OF REV. DANIEL O. MORTON. 
 
 After hearing various ministers daring the spring and summer, the 
 Church, on the 9th of December, 1835,' voted and " chose (unanimous- 
 ly) tlje Rev. Daniel 0. Morton as Pastor." He was then settled in 
 Springfield, Vt., where his people desired to retain him. Extra eflorts 
 were necessary to induce him to remove. On the 17th of January, 
 1836, the Church chose Rev. Lemuel P. Bates, of Templeton, to rep- 
 resent their case " before the Ecclesiastical Council to be convened at 
 Springfield, in reference to the dismission of Mr. Morton. Deacons 
 Hyde and Raymond were chosen a committee to make a statement to 
 Mr. Bates." Mr. Morton was dismissed by the Council, and accept- 
 ed the invitation to come hither. He was settled on the 2d of March. 
 The proceedings of the' Council will not be given, as the date is too re- 
 cent to have the smack of antiquity. The public services were as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 " Invocation and Reading the Scriptures, by Eev. George Goodyear, Ash- 
 burnham ; Introductory Prayer, Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Gardner ; Sermon, 
 Eev. Cyrus Mann, Westminster; Consecratiag Prayer, Eev. Ebenezer Per- 
 
?36 HISTORY OP WINCHBNEON. 
 
 kins, Royalston ; Charge to the Pastor, Eev. Amos W. Burnham, Eindge j 
 Eight Hand, Rev. Alexander Lovell, Phillipstonj Address to the People, 
 Rev. Lemuel P. Bates, Templeton ; Concluding Prayer, Rev. Giles Lyman, 
 Jaffrey." 
 
 The congregation was still quite large at the time of Mr. Morton's 
 settlement. The meeting-house was well filled, below and in the gal- 
 lery, on pleasant Sabbaths. The members of the Church numbered 
 171, which was 15 less than were added in the pastorate of his prede- 
 cessor, showing that the removals by death and otherwise, had been 
 • quite numerous. The two first years of Mr. Morton's labors here re- 
 sulted in large accessions to the Church. He was a man much above 
 mediocrity both in regard to his general abilities, and his gifts as a pub- 
 lic speaker. He held the " pen of a ready writer," and was prompt 
 in the fulfillment of every duty. He was what is sometimes styled a 
 '•' revival preacher," and delighted in scenes "of religious awakening. 
 He was active in the use of all those allowable measures which charac- 
 terized the era of " protracted meetings," when reli^ous services were 
 held four or five days in succession. He was a man of warm heart, of 
 kindly feeling toward all, and of a persuasive tongue ; and withal, felt 
 a deep intereset in the welfare, temporal and spiritual, of the people of 
 his charge. Besides preaching on the Sabbath, and in school-houses, 
 he performed much labor froia house to house. In the first year of 
 his pastorate here, forty-six were added to the Church, and in 1836, 
 sixty-one. In the next three years, five, five, and seven, respectively; 
 The" whole number in six years, was one hundred and twenty-four, or 
 about twenty per annum. The Church was larger the second year of 
 his ministry, than ever before or since, there being about two hundred 
 and seventy-five members. Though a faithful and discriminating preach- 
 er, he was perhaps too urgent in pressing persons feeling an interest 
 in religion, to unite with the Church. Probably some of the trouble 
 which he experienced here, and some of the defections among those 
 received in his time grew out of this fact. But after making due al- 
 lowance, it is most certain that his labors here were abundant, and were 
 crowned with the blessing of God. 
 
 After a settlement of rather more than five years, Mr. Morton asked 
 a dismission, which was efi"ected by a mutual Council, on the 29th of 
 June, 1841. The Council spoke of him as an " able, faithful and 
 
mSTOKY OP WINCHENDON. S37 
 
 useful servant of Christ," who had " labored with more than usual 
 success." 
 
 After leaving here, he was settled at Bristol, N. H., in 1842, where 
 he closed Ms ministry and his life, on Thursday, March 25, 1852. 
 
 He was the author of the Life of &e Rev. Levi Paesons, one of 
 the early Mis^onaiies of the American Board, and of other works, be- 
 sides single discourses, of considerable literary merit. Farther partic- 
 ulars would be given here, were it not that an extended notice of him 
 may be found in the History of Shoreham, Vt., the place of his first 
 settlement, and also in a sermon by Dr. Bouton, and an obituary adr 
 dress, by Prof. Eli B. Smith, delivered at his funeral, and both pub- 
 lished in the same pamphlet. These gentlemen, who knew him well, 
 speak of him in the most affectionate and appreciative terms, the latter 
 closing his remarks in these words : " thus died a good man, full of the 
 Holy Ghost and of feath." 
 
 THE ERA OF SUPPLIES. 
 
 There was an interval of about five years before the settlement of an- 
 other minister, but the pulpit was filled almost without interruption, by 
 stated or occasional supplies. In 1842, March 21, the Church invited 
 Rev. Edwin Leigh to become its pastor. He was in the Parish about 
 two years, thou^ he declined a settlement. Mr. Shbdd, Principal of 
 the Appleton Academy, at New Ipswich, preached on several occasions. 
 Rev. Robert W. Fuller did good service, and was highly esteemed. 
 From May till November, 1843, Mr. Abuah P. Marvik, a recent 
 graduate of Yale Theological Seminary, supplied the pulpit, while that 
 portion of the parish living in the Village and the north part of the town, 
 were building a sanctuary, and preparing to found a new Church. At 
 this time the house w^ quite well filled though not crowded. The Meth- 
 odist Church had been established in the Village ten or twelve years, 
 and the congregation was respectable in number. Many had withdrawn 
 from the congregation at the Centre, on account of the difficulties about 
 ministers, and in Church discipline, some of whom never were stated 
 attendants on public worship at any place afterwards. Perhaps two 
 hundred and fifty or three hundred, on pleasant Sabbaths, were found 
 in the old meeting-house. 
 
 Rev. Benjamin Rice was acting pastor, though not formally in. 
 stalled, from the latter part of the year 1843, till his decease in 1846. 
 
338 HISTOKT OF WINCHENDOS. 
 
 • 
 
 He was bom in Sturbridge, May 9, 1784, and was sixty-three years of 
 age at the time of his death, which occurred on the 12th of July, 1847. 
 He was a graduate of Brown University. He had been settled in Sken- 
 eateles, N. Y., South Deerfield, Mass., and New Gloucester, and Bux- 
 ton, Me. As a man of sense, piety, industry and gentle disposition, he 
 was useful in the ministry . His wife v/as Lucy, daughterof Capt. Phin- 
 ehas Whitney, who still survives ; and his children are Hon. William W. 
 Eice, of Worcester, Charles J. E.ice, Esq., of Wincbendon, and Mrs. 
 Lucy Anna, wife of Rev. Milan H. Hitchcock, formerly missionary to 
 Ceylon. During these five years, but five persons were admitted by 
 profession ; that is, three in 1842, and two in 1843. From this last 
 date, there were no admissions till 1850 ; but the losses wiere great. 
 On the 28th of November, 1843, sixty-five members were dismissed, 
 with recommendation, to form the North Congregational Church. Be- 
 sides, many on the Church roll were absent from town. After this time, 
 the congregation was much reduced, and the Church labored under 
 discouragement, as many believed that it would be difficult, if not im- 
 possible, to sustain two Churches not more than a mile apart. 
 
 LATER MINISTERS. 
 
 However, the Church made commendable exertions to sustain the 
 institutions of the Gospel. On the 19th of November, 1846, the Rev. 
 Malachi Bullard was settled by ordination services. He labored faith- 
 fully till his removal by death in the spring of 1849. During weeks 
 of decline his soul was inspired with profound peace and submission, 
 and animated with joyful hope. His will seemed lost in Christ. He 
 was esteemed by his people, and his ministerial brethren, who lament- 
 ed his early removal from this society. The sermon at his funeral was 
 preached by the writer. His remains were taken to Medway. 
 
 The Rev. John Storks was installed August 22, 1849, and continued 
 in his pastorate nearly five years, when he was suddenly cut oif at the 
 age of fifty-two. The following entry was made in the Church Rec- 
 ords, May 8, 1852. 
 
 " Rev. John Storrs, Pastor of this Church, after a short but distressing sick- 
 ness, was removed by death from an affectionate Church, in the midst of his 
 labors and usefulness, much respected and highly prized, to occupy, as we 
 confidently believe, ahigher place in the presence of his Saviour, God, aged 52." 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 339 
 
 The author's respect and affection for Mr. StoiTS, are expressed in 
 a funeral sermon, which was published at the time . It contains the main 
 facts of his useful life, and may be found by any desiring to see it, for 
 information, in the library of Brown University, of which he was a grad- 
 uate. In a word, it may be said, that he was a thoroughly sincere and 
 godly man ; devoted to his family, and his people, and his God ; of 
 tender sensibilities and literary tastes, and full of a generous public spir- 
 it. His wife has carried out his designs in the education of his children, 
 who are their crown of honor. 
 
 During the pastorate of Mr.'Storrs, the ancient Church, erected in 
 1792, was taken down, and the materials were used in building a house 
 of smaller dimensions. Not only were the timbers sound, but the clap- 
 boards, split fifty years before, were better than could be obtained new. 
 The house was placed a little west by north of the old site. 
 
 The pulpit was supplied by several ministers until the settlement of 
 Rev. Benjamin F. Clarke, on the 24th of October, 1855. After a 
 ministry of nearly ten years, useful and harmonious on the whole, though 
 under discouraging circumstances, he was honorably dismissed by a 
 mutual Council in April, 1865. The constant tendency of the popu- 
 lation to' the villages weakened the society from year to year. There 
 were no admissions from 1843 to 1849. In Mr. Storrs' time, thirteen 
 were received, besides some others, including his own children, who 
 united with Churches in other towns to which they removed. In the 
 next eight years, twelve were admitted. Several members of this Church, 
 excellent young men, fought against the rebellion, and died in the ser- 
 vice of their country. Mr. Clarke now resides at Wellesley, Mass., still 
 active aft«r a half-century of faithful service in his Master's cause. 
 
 Different ministers ofiSciated until May, 1867, when Rev. Milan H. 
 Hitchcock became acting pastor, besides taking charge of the High 
 School in the Village. By his indefatigable efforts, the congregation 
 was somewhat enlarged, and eleven were gathered into the Church, in 
 1867. Since the present year came in, five have been added, making 
 sixteen, on profession. 
 
 The Deacons of this Church have been Richard Day, Abel Wilder, 
 Moses Hale, Samuel Prentiss, Levi Moor, Amos Heywood, Israel WhL 
 ton. Desire Tolman, George Coffm, Samuel Prentiss, Jr, Reuben Hyde, 
 Paul Raymond, John Cutt«r, Levi Prentiss, and George Cuimnings. 
 
340 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 2. THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN NEW BOSTON. 
 
 Searching for the origm of a Church is sometimes like looking for the 
 source of a river in the mountain. You think it is found, when farther 
 survey reveals a little stream which comes from a spring still higher. 
 Dr. Whiton thought the Baptist Church was not organized previous to 
 the settlement of Mr. Pillsbury in 1801. At that time, he says : 
 
 " The great mass of the people were still of the Congregational denomina- 
 tion. A very few individuals were Methodists, and a very few Baptists ; hut 
 probably more than nine-tenths were Congregationalists. There had been a 
 very little occasional Baptist preaching from a date perhaps as early as 1793, 
 by Elder Moses Kinney of Boyalston. At what time a Baptist Church was 
 organized, I cannot state. It was probably subsequent to the ordination of 
 Mr. Paisbury." 
 
 Mr. Hyde, in 1848, said : " about fifty years ago." This is accor- 
 ding to the fact. The first mention of Baptists in the Town Eecords, 
 is under date of February 10, 1783, when there was an article in the 
 warrant " to see if the town will vote to exempt those persons from pay- 
 ing taxes to the settled minister in the Town, who attend Baptist or 
 Friends meetings." The article was passed over, but came up again 
 next March, when it was voted to " submit the articfe to the judgment 
 of the Assessors." They probably laid no tax on the parties concerned. 
 There was one man, Jeremiah Stuart, who sometimes claimed to be a 
 Friend or Quaker. Whether the meetings which the Baptists attend- 
 ed, were held in this town, or near the border, is not certain. If they 
 went out of town to find a place of worship, they might have thought 
 it unfair to be obliged to help support a service which they did not at- 
 tend. The point was before the town again in March, 1800, when 
 money was to be raised for paying damages to Rev. Mr. Brown. " Those 
 persons who were of the denomination of Baptists or Methodists" asked 
 for exemption from tax to pay the bill. The matter was left with the 
 Assessors, who, of course, declined the responsibility of laying the tax. 
 
 From the above citations it is a fair inference that there was Bap- 
 tist preaching in this vicinity as early as 1783. It might have been 
 sometimes in Royalston, and sometimes m Winchendon, or Templeton. 
 The Church was composed of members belonging to these towns, and 
 also Fitzwilliam. An effort was made to form a new town, by takmg por- 
 tions from three or four, as Winchendon, Royalston, Templeton, and 
 
HISTOKY OF WINCHENDON. 341 
 
 perhaps Phillipston, with New Boston as the centre, iu 1794. This waff 
 always the centre of the Baptist Society. Meetings were held at the 
 house of Mr. John Whitmore, in the edge of Royalston ; and sometimes 
 in his bam. They were held also in the house of Mr. Thomas Wyman, 
 just across the road from the late Mr. Silas "Wyman'a. The Church 
 was finally organized in the house of Mr. Whitmore, in the year 1798. 
 Among the preachers, were Messrs. Moses and Aaron Kinney, and 
 Ephraim Whitney. Among the members, besides Mr. Whitmore, and 
 . perhaps Mr. Wyman, were John Bosworth and his wife, who was the 
 first person born in this town, and Thornton Barrett. One of the ear- 
 liest deacons was Asa Nourse, who lived about half way from the meet- 
 ing-house to the Sibley mill. His house was the resort of the elders 
 and brethren whenever the meetings were held in his neighborhood. 
 In the words of his son, he had " entertained ministers and brethren 
 enough to make a man rich if he had been paid." After meeting for 
 several years, in private dwellings, they built a 'Society house' as it was 
 called, about 1811. It was located where the meeting-house now stands, 
 and was used for a school-house. The old building is now a dwelling- 
 house, painted dull yellow, a little north of the house of Mr. Daniel Day, 
 on the east of the road. 
 
 Elder Samuel Simonds was the first stated minister. He was from 
 Templeton. His ordination took place, m the society house, in the 
 fall of 1816. He was influential in securing the erection of the meet- 
 ing-house in 1820. He died in 1837, aged 66. He had six children, 
 viz : Stillman, Ephraim, Albert, Frederick, George and Mary. . His 
 wife's maiden name was Abbott. Mr. Simonds was held in respect by 
 the people of the town generally. At the time of Mr. Pillsbury's death, 
 there was a town meeting to make arrangements for the funeral, when 
 he was requested to offer prayer, and by vote he was invited to attend 
 the funeral with the Congregational clergy of the neighboring Churches. 
 Under his ministrations the Baptist Church had a healthy growth. At 
 times, there were special manifestations of the Spirit's power in the con- 
 version of souls. His name is yet mentioned gratefully by survivors 
 who were benefitted by his labors. After his decease, there was preach- 
 ing by elder Brown. Elder Jones supplied the pulpit about two years. 
 He was followed by Rev. Warren Cooper, who occupied the field two 
 or three years, in 1840-2. From that date to 1849, Rev. Andrew 
 Dunn was the Pastor. Besides attending to his pastoral duties with 
 
842 HISTORY OF WINCEENDOJf. 
 
 fidelity, he was very useful as a member of the School Committee. Af- 
 ter his removal to the Baptist Church in the Village, Mr. Cooper re- 
 turned, and remained several years. He was indefatigable and self- 
 sacrificing in procuring the remodeling of the meeting-house, in 1851, 
 by which it was greatly improved in appearance and convenience. Of 
 late years, the pulpit has been acceptably supplied by alder Fay, of 
 Athol, and elder Culvert. The following have been deacons of this 
 Church, viz : Asa Nourse, Isaac Stoekwell, Joseph Norcross, James 
 Norcross. 
 
 3. THE METHODIST CHURCH. 
 
 In preparing the following account of the Methodist Church, the au- 
 thor is indebted to the late Mr. Smyrna Greaton, for most of the facts, 
 and much of the language used. In making extracts, there is a change 
 from the first to the third person. As Mr. Greaton was a leading mem- 
 ber of the Society for many years, and held several official relations to the 
 Church, at difierent times, he was qualified to give a correct narrative. 
 He begins his manuscript with the heading : " A correct account of the 
 rise and progress of the Methodist Episcopal Society in Winchendon." 
 According to him, the " first sermon ever delivered in Winchendon, by 
 a Methodist preacher, was by Rev. Lorenzo Dow, about the 26th or 
 27th of October, 1796 ." Mr. Dow says m his Journal : " From War- 
 wick I went to Orange, and preached in the Presbyterian Meeting-iouse, 
 the clergyman having left town. Being this day nineteen years old, I 
 addressed myself to the youth." On the 23d of October he says : " I 
 preached in Warwick, thence to Petersham and Winchendon, to Fitch- 
 burg, and also to Notown ;* thence to Ashbumham," Under date of 
 Kovember 21, he says : " I preached in Rindge." Mr. Dow was born 
 October 16, 1777 ; consequently the date of his preaching hereis Oc- 
 tober, 1796. Mr. Greaton continues : 
 
 " As early as 1797, the Methodist p-eaehers.commeixjed their labors in the 
 east part of. this town, and preached occasionally at the bouse of Mr. Roger Big- 
 elow, which stood a few feet east of where Oliver Estey reeently lived ; [th«6 
 is, just east of the No. 5, Scbool^iouse.J and more recently at the house of 
 Mr. Ebenezer Richardson, t and also at Mr. Bartholomew Steams'. t Mr, 
 Bigelow and two daughters, and Mr. Richardson, made a professioB of religion. 
 
 * This was a tract at the east of Wachusett mountain, 
 t Now Henry WymaE. J^ow Capt. Levi Steai'ns» 
 
HISTOKT OF WINCHENDON. 343 
 
 mi (if 1 have been rightly informed,) united with the Society in the north- 
 westerly part of AshbTiraham. One or two others united with them in the 
 course of the next two years. There was also preaching occasionally by Meth- 
 odist ministers, at the northwest part of this town, and the southeast part of 
 j^laisfilliam, in the years 1797-8-9, and quite a number professed faith in 
 \, Christ as their present Saviour." 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Churck was organized in this town, in tie 
 , year 1800. It was composed mostly of members from Fitzwilliam and 
 the westerly part of Eindge, numbering in all, not more 'than twelve or 
 fourteen members. 
 
 ."" During this and the succeedifflg year, some fifteen persons were added to 
 the Church by profession. From 1-800 to 1807, meetings were held regu- 
 Jarly on the Sabbath, at the house of Mr. Stephen Weston. This year, 1807, 
 the Society built their first Meoting-house, on land given by Mr. Weston for 
 the purpose. The building committee and trustees were William Poland, Ste- 
 phen, Weston, Silas Warner, William Crane and Barzillai Martin. The house 
 ■was located some twenty rods northwest fi-om the house now owned and occu- 
 pied by Mr. Eleazar P. Weston, and on the road leading from Mr. Weston's to 
 Mr. Sumner Brooks'. The house was 3&by 28 feet, with 10 foot posts, with 
 :' door in front. The aisle was four feet wide ; the pulpit was in the rear, and 
 s ' elevated about three feet from the floor. The house was furnished with free 
 Boats." 
 
 NEW meeting-house; 
 
 In 1832, tMs Ikouse being too small for the accommodation of the grow 
 ing congregation, and being located at the northwest part of the town, 
 f and in a corner of the territory over which tlie congregation were scat- 
 tered, it was thought expedient to build a house in a more central place. 
 After holding several consultations on tie subject, the Society conclu- 
 ded to build a house in the Village. ^' A building committee consist- 
 ing of Edgaidjjoud, Smyrna Greaton, David Poland, Joseph Stone 
 Md^imon B. Poland, was appoiaated, who secured a spot of ground, 
 and contracted vrith Capt. Ephraim Murdock to build a house thereon, 
 66 by 41 feet, with a tower ; for which they agreed to pay the said 
 Murdock, tl900. The house was finished according to contract, and 
 was dedicated on the 11th day of October, 1833." The dedication ser- 
 mon was by Eev. prange Scott. Rev. Oliver E. Bosworth assisted in 
 the devotional services. This was a convenient house, and well pro- 
 portioned, with the exeepfion of the tower, which was according to a 
 
344 HISTORt Of WlSfCHtSffiOir. 
 
 style then prevalent. The top resesmbled a, MAe turned bottom npw'ar^j 
 ■with the four legs projecting into the air. A good bell was placed in 
 the tower in 1840 or 1841. 
 
 In 1861, the house being very much out of repair, the society pro- 
 ceeded to reconstruct and enlarge it. The audience room was re-fin- 
 ished, and a new pulpit and altar were procured. The orchestra was 
 erected in the rear of the audience room, and a vestry was fitted up in 
 the gallery. Three feet were added to the length of the house, to make 
 room for stairs and a recess. The tower was raised twelve feet, and a 
 steeple was added, extending about thirty-five feet above the tower. 
 The audience room ancE orchestra were carpeted, and the seats were 
 cushioned. The whole expense for these repairs was about f23CW). The 
 house was decEcated on the 2d day of October, 1851. The devotional 
 exercises were conducted by Rev. Philander Wallingford, the minis- 
 ter then in charge. Rev- Miner Raymond preached the sermon, and 
 Rev. A. P. Marvin, by request, delivered an address on the proper care 
 of the House of God. 
 
 There were some additions to the Church by profession, from 1801 
 to 1823, but the increase in number did not much exceed the decrease 
 by deaths and removals'. 
 
 " In the fall and winter of 1824-5, there was a good revival of religion hs 
 the Society, and some twelve or fourteen persons umted with the Chttrcli. In 
 1827 also, several joined by letter and proibssion. In 1833 a protracted meet- 
 ing was held ia connection with the de^jcatioB of the meeting-bonse, and a re- 
 ^ctable number were added by professiois of their f^tb. In the fall of 18S7 
 another protracted meeting was held, wtrieb resulted in the conversion of some 
 fifteen or twenty persons, most of whom united with the Church, In the win>- 
 ter of 1842-3, there was a powerful revival of religion in this place, and about 
 twenty persons were added to the Church. From that time to the present, 
 there have been frequent accessions, both by letter and by profession, but the 
 decrease by deaths aEid removals has sometimes neaiiy eq^ualed the increase. 
 But on the whole some progress has been made in regard to mrmbers. In 
 1833 the membership did not exceed fifty ; in 1865 there were one hundred 
 and seventy-one in fall membership, besides seventeen probationers." 
 
 Mr. Greaton continues : 
 
 ■" Our former records were very imperfect, at best, but were all lost down 
 to the year 1837. I have had access to the first and second volumes of Dr. 
 Abel Stephens' History of Methodism in New England, whwe I find 1^ names 
 
HISTOKY OF wmCHEITDON. 345 
 
 of tie preachers, and where they were stationed by the Conference, from the 
 Commencement of Methodism in New England, down to the year 1809, which 
 was three years previous to the time when I became a member. From the 
 tune of the formation of the Society to 1812, (the year that I became a mem- 
 ber,) I am indebted to Mrs. Eunice E. Poland for much valuable information. 
 She united with the Church in 1801, and is now,— 1865 — the senior member 
 of the Church, by eleven years. My name appears nest on the Becords, bear- 
 ing date March, 1812. The Kecords now show that all of the former mem- 
 bers of the Church have passed away by death or removals, (with the two ex- 
 ceptions above named,) down to 1824. In this and the succeeding year, we 
 find an addition of ten or twelve members, five of whom are still living in this 
 town, and are members of the Church. Of those who were members when 
 the present house of Worship was first occupied in 1833, only twelve raembera 
 remain, all others having been removed by death or otherwise." 
 
 THE SABBATH SCHOOL. 
 
 The first Sabbath Sctiool in connection with the Methodist Episcopal 
 Society, was organised in the summer of 1824, It consisted of about 
 twenty scholars, a superintendent and three teachers. " The first ten 
 or twelve years, our school was discontinued through the winter, and 
 for several years we were destitute of a library." A few boots were 
 occasionally purchased, which " were distributed as presents among 
 the children. Some thirty-three or four years ago, one hundred vol- 
 umes, (published expressly for Sabbath Schools,) were purchased, and 
 our library has been replenished from time to time, till now, in 1865, 
 it contains six hundred and thirty volumes." The scholars number 
 one hundred and seventy-one. 
 
 NAMES or THE PEEACHERS. 
 
 It would be impossible, says Mr. Greaton, " for me to give a correct 
 list" of all the Methodist ministers who have preached in this town. 
 In the early days of Methbdism, it was not unfrequently the case that 
 the Presiding Elder transferred preachers from one field to another, 
 after three or six months, where it was thought they^pight be more 
 useful. " As new fields were frequently opening, the ^rly preachers 
 were often transferred to those new fields of labor, and generally in a 
 few weeks, some other persons would be appointed to fill their place. 
 Consequently we can obtain from the minutes of the Conference, only 
 
346 
 
 niSTOEY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 the names of the preachers who were stationed at the meeting of the 
 Conference." Here follows the list, from 1796 to 1868, inclusive : 
 
 MINISTERS NAMES. 
 
 1796. Lorenzo Dow, P. Wager. 
 
 1797. Smyth Weeks. 
 
 1798. Elijah Bachelor. 
 
 1799. John Nichols, D. Browley. 
 
 1800. Henry Eames. 
 
 1801. Abner Wood, Martin Rutter. 
 
 1802. John G-ove, Nathan Pelch. 
 
 1803. Joshua Crowell, Phin. Cook. 
 
 1804. Thomas Ravlin. 
 
 1805. Wm. Stephens, J. Tinkham. 
 
 1806. Benjamin Hill, Bela Willis. 
 
 1807. Asa Hunt, Elisha Streeter. 
 
 1808. Benj. Hoyt, G. R. Norris. 
 
 1809. David Carr, Robert Arnold.- 
 
 1810. Ph. Munger, Step. Wingat9. 
 
 1811. Joel Steele, Lewis. 
 
 1812. Thomas W. Tueker. 
 
 1813. E. Streeter, V. R. Oshorn. 
 
 1814. A. Stebbins, B.enj. Shaw. 
 
 1815. B. Sabin, S. Winchester. 
 
 1816. Edw. Hyde, L. Bennett. 
 
 1817. L. Bennett, E. Steele. 
 
 1818. Joel McKee, Wm. Wright. 
 
 1819. A. Taylor, G. W. Fairbanks. 
 
 1820. Phinehas Orandall. 
 
 1821. E. Dunham, H. Thatcher. 
 
 1822. Barzillai Pierce. 
 
 1823. W. Barstow, Benj. Paine. 
 
 1824. Ai. Lummus, J. Harrington. 
 
 1825 
 1826 
 1827 
 1828 
 1829 
 1830 
 1831, 
 1832 
 1833 
 1884, 
 1835, 
 1836- 
 1838- 
 1840- 
 1842, 
 1843. 
 1844. 
 1845- 
 1847- 
 1849. 
 1850- 
 1852- 
 1854. 
 1855- 
 1857- 
 1859- 
 1861- 
 1863- 
 1866. 
 
 . Asahel Otis. 
 
 . J. E. Risley, Hiram Waldon. 
 
 . Wm. Nelson, R. Spaulding. 
 
 . Henry J. Wooley. 
 
 . Enoch Bradley, H. Mayo. 
 
 . William Braynard. 
 
 . P. Townsend, E. Stephens. 
 
 . P. Townsend, Obed Sperry. 
 
 , 0. E. Bosworth, D. Graves. 
 
 . H. Moulton, Philetus Green. 
 
 , Otis Wilder, Thos. Marcy. 
 
 7. Richard Livesey. 
 ■9. Stephen Gushing. 
 
 1. Nathan B. Spaulding. 
 
 George W. Bates. 
 , John T. Pettee. 
 
 Kinsman Atkins(Jn. 
 6. David K. Merrill. 
 •8. William Gordon. 
 
 Howard C. Dunham. 
 
 1. Philander Wallingford. 
 3. Damon Y. Kilgore. 
 
 A. Flagg. 
 6. Silas Piper. 
 
 8. William J. Hambleton. 
 '60. J. W. P. Jordan. 
 
 2. Thomas B. Treadwell. 
 5. Edward S. Best. 
 
 William Pentecost. 
 
 "P. S. Previous to 1836, Winchendon Society belonged to Ashburn- 
 hara circuit, which accounts for having two preachers in a year. In 1836, 
 we were made a station." 
 
 The following, found in the Town Records, follows properly as an 
 appendix to the foregoing account of the Methodist Episcopal Society. 
 It is entitled, J||| 
 
 'JjffilENEZER KICHABDSOn's LICENSE TO PREACH." 
 
 " This may certify that Ebenezer Richardson has applied to us for liberty 
 to preach in our Church, and after examination concerning his gifts, grace 
 and usefulness, we judge him a proper person to be licensed, and we accord- 
 
'$'-. 
 
 
 
M@s^tl!i €©air©f iLtl@S!al (SSnas^el^ 
 
HISTORY OE WINCHENDON, 847 
 
 ingly authorizo him to preach. Signed in behalf of the Quarterly Conference 
 held at Ashburnham. , Erastus Otis, Presiding 'Elder. 
 
 Eindge, July 18th, 1818." 
 
 "This may certify that Ebcnczer Eichardson, Jr., of Winchendon, is a 
 regular member of a religious Society in Winchendon, called Methodist, and 
 pays there. Stephen Weston, 
 
 Smyrna Gkeaton, 
 Bakzillai Maktin. 
 Winchendon, Sept. 7, 1S20." 
 
 THE PARSONAGE. 
 
 The old parsonage was not owned by the Church, but by an associ- 
 ation of the members formed for tlie specific purpose. The present par- 
 sonage stands on the old location. It was finished in June, 1864. The 
 cost was about 12500. It is a residence creditable to the Society. 
 The building committee were Messrs. William L. Woodcock, Aaron 
 Winch and William Wilder. The Rev. Mr. Best, who was in charge 
 at the time, was very efficient in his efforts to secure a good parsonage 
 for his successors. New parsonages and church edifice^ are his monu- 
 i ments in various places. 
 
 4. TUB NOHTH 0O.VGR3GATI0NAL CHURCH. 
 
 The tendency of the population towards the Village, which began 
 about 1830, created a necessity for religious privileges there. Accord- 
 ingly the Methodist Society acted vasely for themselves, and for the 
 public good, when they erected their new house of worship, in 1832-3. 
 For similar reasons, those members of the Congregational Church and 
 congregation who resided in the northern part of the town, felt impelled 
 to establish a meeting for themselves, and others who might join them, 
 in the Village, and in 1842, or the beginnmg of 1843, several per- 
 sons formed a company to build a meeting-house, which should be trans- 
 ferred to a regular Congregational Parish, in due time. The names of 
 the members of this company are copied below, to gratify the curi- 
 osity of a future generation. They are as follows : Reuben Hyde, Ez- 
 ra Hyde, Asa Hyde, Job Hyde, Artemas Edmands, Alvah Godding, 
 Elisha Hyde, John Hyde, Oliver Lovejoy, Samuel Brown, John For- 
 ristall, Isaac Goodspeed, Elisha Beaman, Ebenezer Butler, Nathan H. 
 Hand, Mark Whitcomb, Harvey Wyman, Levi N. Fairbanks, William 
 
848' HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 Tolman, Sidney Fairbanks, William Brown, Daniels Ellis, Seth Tucker^ 
 Jr., Cyrus Houghton. This company chose a building committee, con- 
 sisting of Mark Whitcomb, Esq., Dr. A. Godding, Dea, Ebenezer But- 
 ler, and perhaps others were members. 
 
 The frame was raised on a pleasant day in June, 1843. A prayer 
 was offered on the occasion by Mr. Marvin, at the time supplying the 
 pulpit on the hill. The house was about 64 by 44 feet, including the 
 portico and pillars — five feet — in front. The spire rose 110 1-2 feet 
 from the ground. There were sixty-two slips on the floor of the house, 
 besides a singers' gallery. The audience room was neatly finished, and 
 quite pleasant. The original cost was not far from #5,000. 
 
 CHURCH ORGANIZED. 
 
 The North Congregational Church in Winchendon, was consti- 
 tuted by a regular Ecclesiastical Council, on the 7th day of December, 
 1843. The Council was composed of the following members : From 
 the Church in Royalston, Rev. Ebenezer Perkins, Br. William Chase ; 
 Rindge, Rev. A. W. Burnham, Dea. L. Goddard ; Templeton, Rev. 
 Lewis Sabin, Dea. B. Hawkes ; AVinchendon, Dea. Paul Raymond. 
 Rev. Benjamin Rice acted with the Council hy request. Mr. Perkins 
 was moderator, and Mr. Sabin scribe. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Rice ; 
 Recognition and Consecrating Prayer by Mr. Perkins ; Fellowship of 
 the Churches by Mr. Burnham ; Concluding Prayer by Mr. Sabin. 
 
 The original members of the Church were sixty-seven, who were all 
 members of the First Church, with one or two exceptions. They adopt- 
 ed the following Confession of Faith, which, as it is brief, is given 
 entire. 
 
 '• We believe there is one God, self-existent, eternal, perfectly holy; the 
 Creator and rightful Disposer of all things, subsisting in a manner mysteri- 
 ous to us, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 
 
 We believe that the Bible is the revealed will of God to mankind, and was 
 given by inspiration, as the only unerring rule of faith and practice. 
 
 We believe that mankind are fallen from their original rectitude, and are, 
 while in a state of nature, wholly destitute of that holiness which is required 
 by the divine law. 
 
 We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Word, was made flesh, or in a 
 mysterious manner, became man, and by his obedience, sufierings and death, 
 made full satisfaction for the sins of the world, and opened a way by which 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHBNDON. 349 
 
 all who believe in him, with repentance for their sins, may be justified and 
 saved, without an impeachment of the divine justice and truth. 
 
 We believe that they, and they only, will be saved, in consequence of the 
 merits of Christ, who are born of the spirit, and united by a living faith to the 
 Son of God. 
 
 We believe that God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world ; 
 when there shall be a resurrection of the dead, and when all the righteous will 
 enter on eternal happiness, and all the wicked will be condemned to eternal 
 misery " 
 
 The Covenant adopted at the same time, is substantially, and almost 
 literally, like that of the First Church, as found on page 314. At this 
 meeting, the Church voted unanimously, the female members concur- 
 ring, to invite Mr. AbijakP. Marvin, a graduate of Trinity College, 
 Hartford, and of the Yale Theolo^cal Seminary, who had been approba- 
 ted to preach by the New London, Conn., Association, to settle with them 
 in the Gospel Ministry. The Parish, -which had already been legally 
 constituted, united in this invitation, vfithout a dissentmg voice. The 
 correspondence between the parties is omitted. The invitation was ac- 
 cepted, and the ordination services took place according to the follow- 
 ing record. 
 
 THE ORDINATION. 
 
 The Council met on the 9th day of January, 1844, at the house of 
 Dr. Alvah Godding, and was made up of ministers and delegates from 
 the following Churches : Rindge, Rev. Mr. Burnham, Br. J. B. Breed ; 
 South Royalston, Rev. S. H. Peckham, Br. D. W. Upham ; Temple- 
 ton, Rev. Mr. Sabin, Br. Daniel Foster ; Athol, Rev. R. M. Chipman, 
 Dea. Samuel Clapp ; Gardner, Rev. W. B. Stone, Br. R. G. Cowee ; 
 Ashburnham, Rev. E. Jennison, Br. 0. G. Caldwell ; Royalston, Dea. 
 E. Pierce ; Winchendon, Br. Henry Greenwood. Rev, B. Rice, of 
 Winchendon, and Rev. Edward R. Tyler, (editor of the New England- 
 er) of New Haven, being present, by verbal invitation of the Church 
 and pastor elect, were invited to sit with the Council. Mr. Burnham 
 was moderator, and Mr. Jennison, scribe. The examinatipn of the can- 
 didate took place in the afternoon and evening. 
 
 The next forenoon, which was a bright and pleasant winter day, the 
 new meeting-house was dedicated to the worship of the triune God. 
 The Rev. Richard M. Chipman ofiFered the Intaroductory Prater ; the 
 
350 mSTORT OF WINCHEXDON. 
 
 Sermon was by tlis pastor elect, and the Prayer of Dedication was by 
 the Rev. Samuel H. Peckham, of South Royalston. 
 
 lu the afternoon, the Ordination services took place in presence of 
 a crowded assemblage. The Rev. Benjamin Rice, then ministering 
 to the First Church, read the Scriptures, and made the Introductory 
 Prayer ; the Sermon was by Mr. Tyler, of New Haven ; the Ordain- 
 ing Prayer was offered by Mr. Jennison ; Rev. Mr. (now Dr.) Burn- 
 ham, gave the Charge to the Pastor ; the Right Hand of Fellowship 
 was by Rev. (now Dr.) Sabin ; the Address to the people was by Mr. 
 Chipman, and Mr. Stone closed the exercises with prayer. The sing- 
 ing, under the direction of Mr. Osgood Collester, was excellent, and 
 all the services were well received by the large audience.* The min- 
 ister was settled on a salary of $500 per annum, which was about the 
 average of salaries in the neighboring parishes. 
 
 Though the projectors of this new enterprise had misgivings about 
 their ability to sustain public worship, and doubts whether a congrega- 
 tion, respectable in number, could be collected ; and though they had 
 but scanty encouragement from others, yet the house was immediately 
 filled up, and from that time, there has been no lack of pecuniary means 
 necessary to pay all the expenses of the parish. The congregation be- 
 came, and remained the largest in town since the flourishing days of 
 the First Church. 
 
 The day succeeding the ordination, the pews were offered for sale, 
 and nearly money enough was raised to pay for the meeting-house. 
 
 Brothers Reuben Hyde and Ebenezer Butler, were chosen to the 
 office of Deacon. 
 
 In the year 1844, sixteen persons were received into the Church by 
 letter, making the whole number eighty-three. Seven were received 
 in 1845, four in 1846, three in 1847. In the next year, there were 
 fifteen additions, eleven or twelve of which were by profession. From 
 that date there have been admissions by profession, every year, except 
 1852. 
 
 * Xlio following is taken from the Boston Recorder, January 25; 1844 : " The 
 day was beautiful for a wintry day — the house crowded to overflowing, the 
 .services solemn and appropriate, "the music excellent, and the appearance of 
 the audience furnished ample evidence that a good impression was produced. 
 This new church, having but just been oi'ganized, with their new meeting- 
 house located in a flourishing village, and their young pastor in the freshness 
 of ministerial life, commences its career by the brightest prospects of useful- 
 ness and success." 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 351 
 
 ENLARGED HOUSE, AND BELL. 
 
 In 1855, there was a need felt for more room, and money enough 
 ■was subscribed for enlarging the house of worship. The east end of 
 the house was removed, and an addition built on large enough to ad- 
 mit twenty-four new pews. The gallery was enlarged by adding the 
 front row of seats. In this way the capacity of the house was increas- 
 ed about one half; that is, before the enlargement, the house would 
 accommodate only about two-thirds as many as afterwards. There are 
 eighty-six pews on the floor of the house, which will hold five or six 
 persons, according to their size ; and the gallery will accommodate about 
 fifty. At the same time, the eastern half of the basement, which is 
 entirely above-ground, was finished oif into a Lecture room, two Parlors, 
 a Dressing room, and large entry, for religious and social uses. The 
 whole cost of these improvements was about $2,000. The entire length 
 of the house, outside, is 84 feet. The audience room is about 70 by 
 42 feet. Dea. E. Butler, Mr. C. R. Whitman and Capt. C. W. Big- 
 clow had charge of the work. 
 
 The first bell was purchased by subscription, and was hung in the 
 year 1848. It weighed 1640 pounds, and cost nearly $600. It was 
 from the Meneely foundry, and was one of their sweetest toned bells. 
 . This was broken, and in 1804, was replaced by another, which did not 
 give satisfaction. This was returned, according to agreement, and the 
 present bell obtained, in that year, at an expense of about $300.00 in 
 addition to the old bell metal. Its weight is 1818 pounds. 
 
 There were addicions to the Church, from year to year, amounting 
 in all, during the pastorate of the first minister, to one hundred and 
 thirty-two. Of these, about ninety joined by confessing Christ, all of 
 whom were added in the eighteen last years of the period. The ut- 
 most harmony prevailed during these years of rise and progress. Only 
 a single instance of discipline — involving three persons — occurred, and 
 in that case the conclusion reached was unanimous. No member who 
 first united with this Church, by confessing Christ, has been a subject 
 of discipline. The utmost care has been taken in the examination of 
 candidates. 
 
 Mr. Marvin asked a dismission on the 2"0th of July, 1865. The 
 Church and Parish voted instead, to give him leave of absence for a year. 
 Near the close of the year, (July 22, 1866,) he renewed the request, 
 
352 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOW. 
 
 and the Church united with him in calling a Council, by whom the ddSr 
 solution of their relation as pastor and people, was effected, on the 22d 
 day of August, 1866. ■> 
 
 A Sabbath School was organized soon after the commencement of 
 public worship, in 1844, and has been in a flourishing condition to the 
 present time. The Superintendents have been Deacons Hyde and But- 
 ler, and Messrs. Maynard Partridge, Harvey Wyman, Grover S. Whit- 
 ney, and Orlando Mason ; the latter having served many years. The 
 library contains a good collection of books, numbering several hundred 
 volumes, some of them of permanent value. The Sabbath School, for 
 several years, has numbered about one hundred and eighty. 
 
 The salary of the minister was |500 for several years. For a year 
 or two it was |550 ; and then $600. In 1856 it was raised to |800, 
 and so remained till 1866, except that in 1862, Mr. Marvin gave up 
 10 per cent., or $80, on account of the " hard times." On the settle- 
 ment of Mr. Austin Dodge, who was ordained and installed on the 9th 
 of October, 1866, it was raised to $1200. He continued as pastor 
 about one year, when he was dismissed by a mutual Council. The 
 Church passed highly complimentary resolutions in his favor. The Eev. 
 Davis Foster is now supplying the pulpit on an engagement for a year, 
 with a salary of $1500. 
 
 The Church took early measures for raising money in aid of the great 
 benevolent objects of the day. Besides private benefactions to those 
 in want, without distinction of class or denomination, to aid whom the 
 members have ever been prompt, a regular collection has been taken 
 at every season of communion, for the benefit of members of the Church 
 in needy circumstances. The contributions for other benevolent objects 
 for several years, amounted to about $300 per annum ; averaging rath- 
 er more than that sum. In 1860, the sum was $467 ; in 1861, about 
 $470; in 1862, $321: in 1868, $495; in 1864, $663; in 1865, about 
 $720. The average for the two succeeding years was about the sum 
 last named. The whole amount is more than $10,000. 
 
 6. BAPTIST CHUKCH IN THE VILLAQE. 
 
 This Church was organized in the year 1848, on the 27th of April. 
 It was composed of members of the Church in New Boston, and others 
 living in and near the Village, who belonged to churches m other towns. 
 The ori^al number was thirty. The Rev. Andrew Dunn, who had 
 

 '^iiuiiiyiiiiiuiL.. 
 
 -•^H Av^ 
 
 .d^^ 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 358 
 
 ministered for several years to the church in New Boston, was the first 
 pastor. In co-operation with Mr. Seth Tucker, Jr., and others, he was 
 acfive in starting the enterprise. The fact that the Congregational 
 and Methodist Churches were well filled on the Sabbath, and that the 
 population of the Village was steadily increasing, seemed to warrant 
 the undertaking, and the success which has followed, fully vindicates the 
 wisdom of those engaged in. it. Measures were immediately taken to 
 erect a house of worship. !l!he members of the church, and their friends 
 in the congregation, subscribed liberally. Others who thought the es- 
 tablishment of anew religious society, would be conducive to the improve- 
 ment of society in the place, rendered assistance. A neat and com- 
 modious sanctuary was erected, and was dedicated to the Triune God, 
 on the 17th day of January, 1849. The Sermon on the occasion was 
 preached by the Rev. Rollin H. Neale, D. D., pastor of the First Bap- 
 tist Church in Boston. Other parts in the exercises were borne by Rev. 
 Messrs. Tracy, Bowers and Dunn. The services were deeply interest- 
 "ing to a large audience. 
 
 From this time onward the Church has received additions from year 
 to year, by a regular, steady growth. At the end of the first year, the 
 Church consisted of thirty-eight members. There had been " no special 
 revival, but some were rejoicing in hope." The first Deacons were Jo- 
 seph White and John L. Reed. Mr. 0. Collester was the first Clerk. 
 He was also the leader of the choir, and the singing was conducted with 
 great spirit. Much interest was manifested in the Sabbath School, 
 which was attended by nearly all the children of the congregation, and 
 by all the members of the Church who could be present. During the 
 Becond year, the Church is reported to have " enjoyed a precious and 
 extensive revival." . Much of the interest in this awakening was felt 
 amoilg those who resided in Spring Village. Mr. Goodale, a young 
 man who was preparing for the Missionary work, but who died in the 
 course of this year, was very active in rendering assistance to the pas- 
 tor. Twenty-seven persons were received by baptism, and seven by 
 letter, during the year ending September, 1850. Three had been dis- 
 missed, leaving the whole number sixty-nine. In the next year two 
 were added by baptism, and eleven by letter ; so that, after deducting 
 a few dismissions and exclusions, the Church contained eighty members. 
 The society was united and prosperous during the following year. 
 
 SB 
 
354 HISTOSY OF WINCnESDON. 
 
 The year closing September, 1853, seems to have been a season of 
 depression. The Church was without a pastor, the Rev. Mr. Dunn hav- 
 ing removed to another place. Preaching was sustained but part of 
 the time. Seventeen were dismissed to other Churches, and others left 
 town. In addition, the furious tornado which rushed over the Village, 
 August 27, 1853, broke off the spire, and otherwise injured the sanc- 
 tuary. The Rev. A. Baldwin became pastor in the year 1854, and 
 continued in that relation about three years. He was a faithful min- 
 ister, and the Church recovered somewhat from its depression. In 
 1.856, four " young ladies in the Sabbath School were hopefully con- 
 verted." After the departure of Mr. Baldwin, in 1857, the Church 
 was reported to the Wachusett Baptist Association, as " in a low and 
 dying condition," There were but " nineteen male members, and of 
 these nine did not live in town." 
 
 The report of the next year was more favorable. Rev. Lester Will- 
 iams though not a settled pastor, was efficient in his ministrations. There 
 were some cases of conversion, and there was an increasing interest in 
 the Sabbath School. The Church now numbered sixty-nine. Mr. Will- 
 iams was succeeded in the course of the next year, by Rev. W. W. Ash- 
 ley. In the report from the Church printed in the Minutes of the Wa- 
 chusett Association for 1860, we find the following : " Winchendon. — 
 This body report themselves a united Church, a hopeful Church, a 
 strong Church, a growing Church, and are thankful to God for his bene- 
 fits." Four were added by baptism, and the whole number was sixty- 
 nine. Mr. Ashley left in April, 1861, and the Church had preaching by 
 different ministers for several months. In the summer of this year, Mr. 
 Greorge A. Litchfield entered upon the work of the ministry here, and his 
 labors were attended with success. At the time of the annual report in 
 September, 1862, it was stated that a " deep sense of the divine pres- 
 ence pervaded the Church," and with " scarcely an exception, all seemed 
 ready to come up to the help of the Lord." Twenty-two were added 
 to the Church by baptism, and the number rose to eighty-seven. The 
 Sabbath School was flourishing. The report for the next year dated 
 September, 1863, says : " We are a united Church, united in our pas- 
 tor, free from debt, and praying for the conversion of sinners." There 
 was considerable religious interest during the winter, though no known 
 conversions. One member of the Church and Sabbath School had died 
 
HISTOfiY OP ■WINCHENBON. 355 
 
 m the service of his country. The number of members of the Church 
 reported in 1864, was one hundred and four. The house of worship 
 was usually well filled on the Sabbath, and the Sabbath School was lar- 
 ger than usual. The Church enjoyed outward and spiritual prosperity. 
 During the year 1864-5, there were indications at times that the Lord 
 was coming to bless in copious measure, and although anticipations were 
 not realized, yet some souls were " rescued from the downward road, 
 and the religious condition of the Church was permanently improved." 
 The young people's prayer meeting had its origin at this time, and since 
 then has been well sustained. Mr. Litchfield's pastoral labors termi- 
 nated in the autumn of 1865, the state of his health inducing him to 
 chaise his occupation, though he has frequently preached on the Sab- 
 bath in various places. His pastorate was filled with labor, and was at- 
 tended with success. In 1865, the Church had one hundred and eleven 
 members. 
 
 Since ihat time the Church has had no pastor or stated supply, but 
 has enjoyed the services of.a large number of ministers. In the fall of 
 1866, the Church was refreshed with a precious revival, commencing 
 with the young, and resulting in the conversion of many children, youth, 
 and persons of middle age. The work seemed to be under the imme- 
 diate direction of the Holy Spirit, and went steadily forward without 
 any regular pastoral labor- It was noticed that whoever preached — 
 and there was a new minister almost &s often as the Sabbath came — 
 the Spirit appeared to speak as if he had been specially directed what 
 message to bring to thewaiting congregation. The members of the Church 
 were generally active. The number of admissions by baptism as the fruits 
 of this work, was thirty-eight. The congregation has since been favored 
 with the services of a number of ministers, but has not succeeded in se- 
 curing one as a permanent pastor. In 1867, the house was repaired, 
 at considerable expense, internally, and the spire, blown over by the 
 gale m 1853, was rebuilt. The congregation has increased with the 
 steady growth of the Village. The following have been chosen deacons, 
 viz : Otis Chamberiain and Windsor N. Wlute- 
 
 6. SHE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 
 
 Soon after the openmg of the Cheshire Railroad, in 1848, the incom- 
 ing of families of Irish parentage, created a need for the mimstrations 
 
856 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 of the Catholic priesthood. Meetings were held occasionally, by the 
 priest from Fitchburg, or elsewhere, until the year 185-, when a build- 
 ing erected for another purpose, was fitted up for a Church, on the north 
 side of the Village, some fifty rods north of the Railroad Station, where 
 religious services have been maintained, at stated times, ever since. 
 
 7. THE UNITARIAN SOCIETY. 
 
 The town hall was occupied by those holding Unitarian sentiments, 
 in the year 1851. The " Third Congregational Society" was organ- 
 ized, January 17, 1852. Various gentlemen preached for them in suc- 
 cession, whose names cannot be recalled, with the exception of Rev. 
 Mr. Mclntire, of Ktchburg, and Rev. Mr. I. Putnam, a young man of 
 great promise, who died soon after. 
 
 On the 19th of January, 1852, Rev. T. H. Dorr was duly installed. 
 The Sermon was by Rev. Calvin Lincoln, of Fitchburg ; Installing 
 Prayer, Rev. John S. Brown, Fitzwilliam ; Right Hand, Rev. Wm. P. 
 Tilden; Address to the people. Rev. Dr. A. Hill. Other members of 
 the Council were Revs. E. Gr. Adams, H. 0. White, C. Wellington, H. 
 Stebbins, A. Young, D. D., F. D. Himtington, J. D. Bridge, Samuel. 
 Pettis, and S. F. Clark. Dr. and Mrs. Joshua Tucker presented a 
 " costly and valuable Bible." After about a year's service, the engage- 
 ment with Mr. Dorr was dissolved by mutual consent. After his depar- 
 ture, different ministers, including Rev. Mr. Hicks, supplied for two or 
 three years, when Rev. Benjamin Huntoon was invited. He was here 
 some two years, 1856-8. He was much esteemed by the public gen- 
 erally. 
 
 There was an intermission of services for several years, but in the' 
 winter of 1864r-5, a society was formed, styled the Third Congrega- 
 tional Society. The Rev. Charles H. Wheeler was engaged to preach, 
 in the month of September, 1865, and has continued to the present 
 time. A building committee was chosen, consisting of the following 
 gentlemen, viz : I. M. Murdock, B. D.. Whitney, Wm. W. Whitney, 
 Sidney Fairbanks, John Folsom and George Goodspeed, under whose 
 direction a church was erected in the years 1866-7, which was dedica- 
 ted on the 13th day of November, 1867. The Prayer of Dedication 
 was offered by Rev. Mr. Wheeler ; the Sermon by Rev. Dr. Bartol, of 
 Boston, and an address was delivered by Rev. E. E. Hale, of Boston. 
 
4- J, 
 
GliUFGbi q£ ttoe XTaitf . 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON* 357 
 
 This house, styled " Church of the Unity," is a fine specimen of archi' 
 tecture, unsurpassed in elegance by any edifice of the kind> between 
 Boston and Berkshire. It is an ornament to the place, and will remain 
 a " thing of beauty" for generations. It is built of Fitzwilliam gran- 
 ite, and is 45 by 95 feet in dimensions. The spire rises one hundred 
 and thirteen feet from the base. The whole cost, including the organ, 
 was about $44,000. Sinae the church was opened for worship, there 
 has been a good attendance, and the- Sabbath School is flourishing. 
 
 In former times, there was Universalist preaching in the town. About 
 the year 1840, Rev. Mr. Clark, then of Jaffrey, and others, held meet' 
 ings, either statedly or occasionally, in the Village school-house. Af- 
 terwards, similar meetings were held in the Waterville school-house, in 
 the afternoon or evening of the Sabbath. But no meeting of the kind 
 has been held in the town for several years ; the larger part of those 
 who used to be present at them, now attending at the Church of the 
 Unity. 
 
 Spiritualism and kindred notions never had much prevalence in the 
 town. 
 
 8. SCHOOL-nOOSB MEEtlNGS. 
 
 The ministers have been in the habit of holding meetings in the va- 
 rious sahool'-houses, from time to time, but the only stated meetings of 
 this kind have been in Spring Village and Waterville. 
 
 Mn John D. Dunbar, and the Messrs. White have always favored 
 the holding of meetings on Sabbath evenings in the school-house, which 
 belongs to the corporation. Sometimes the pastors of the Churches 
 have made it in their way to preach in the school'hoilse ; and at other 
 times, ministers have been employed for a season. Rev. Leonard Tra* 
 <cy spent several months there ministering to the people of this neigh- 
 borhood, when recruiting from the toils of a long pastorate. Rev. Mr. 
 Mitchell Was at the Springs one or two years ; young Mr. Goodale held 
 fcfieetingg for some months, and Mr. Martin, a Methodist minister, was 
 Stationed there for a year. The names of others cannot be recalled ; 
 l)ut the good efiected by these faithful men will abide forever. At 
 present, the Young Men's Christian Association are holding meetings 
 on Sabbath evenings. 
 
 About twenty years since, a company of ladies formed a plan of hav- 
 
353 HISTORY OF WIWCHEHaOir. 
 
 ing preaching in tlie Waterville school4iouse on the evening of the Sab- 
 bath. They invited the Congregaiiooal, Baptist and Methodist cler- 
 gymen to preach in rotation. The lainisters were glad of the oppor- 
 tunity, and from that time have labored in entire harmony. The re- 
 sults have been good in many ways, not only in promoting the interests 
 of religion, but in showing how brethren' can work together in unity. 
 A gradual, but very perceptible change, l^as been effected in this vil- 
 lage. Probably as large a proportion of the people attend meeting, aa 
 in any other part of the town. The same is true of the attendance of 
 the children in the various Sabbath schools. 
 
 In closing these brief notices of the Churches, the author takes occa- 
 sion to express his earnest wishes for their continued and ever-increas- 
 ing influence. And he will not be censured if a peculiar love for the 
 Church to which he formerly ministered prompts him to refer to it in 
 the language of a familiar hymn : 
 
 " If e'er my heart forgets 
 
 Her welfare or her woe, " 
 Let every joy this heart forsalse, 
 
 And every grief o'erflow." 
 
 PAST AND PRESENT. 
 
 There has never been a year since the first meeting-house was erect- 
 ed, when the population of this town were more amply provided with 
 conveniences for worship than at the present time. There are sittings 
 for at least three-quarters of the inhabitants, including the aged, the 
 sick, and those in early childhood. The great majority are fconnected 
 with some religious society, and at times are found in the place of wor- 
 ship. The average attendance is good, and though not so large as in 
 early times, yet the state of religion and morals is probably quite as 
 good. When people rarely met each other on week-days, they felt a 
 strong social impulse to gather in the meeting-house on Sunday. Tfcna 
 accounts, in part, for fee better attendance in old times. But it is the 
 firm conviction of the author, after much inquiry, that there was a 
 greater amount of disbelief in the Scriptures, a lower state of morals, 
 and a weaker sense of divine and unseen realities, among the people of 
 this town, sixty, seventy and eighty years ago, than in this year of 
 grace, eighteen hundred and sixty-ei^t. 
 
HISTOKY OP WINCHENDON. 359 
 
 CHAPTER XXIIL— A BILL OF MORTALITY. 
 
 "Leaves have their time to fall, 
 And flowers to wither at the north wind's breath, 
 
 And stars to set— bat all, 
 Thou hast all seasons for thine own, death !" 
 
 Mrs. Hemaxs. , 
 
 *' An old, old man with beard as white as snow." 
 
 Spenser. 
 
 . Winchendon is a healthy township. The air of some localities in the 
 Commonwealth may be more salubrious, and the rate of mortality less, 
 than in this town^ but the duration of life here is above the average of 
 the towns and cities throughout the State. It is believed to be quite 
 equal to that of the towns, excluding the cities. The location is high, 
 being more than a thousand feet above tide-water. The air is pure. 
 The water is generally soft and sweet. In a portion of the Village, it 
 is hard and swampy, with traces of iron, but there is an abundance of 
 fine spring water, in the near vicinity, with which a large population 
 could be sappliod, in every part of their dwellings. 
 
 In the early years of settlement, when the people were exposed to 
 great haidahips, they suffered much from colds and rheumatic complaints. 
 At times, malignant fevers have cut down their victims suddenly, though 
 there is no record or tradition of the prevalence of fatal typhus or ty- 
 phoid fevers, such aa have carried mourning into many families in some 
 country towns. 
 
 The first season of more than common mortality in this town, was in 
 the summer of 1775. Nathan Day died of dysentery, in camp at 
 Charlestown. This disease, called at the time, " fever and flux, " and 
 " camp distemper," prevailed in many places. The sickness in this 
 town was severe, and " in a considerable number of cases, terminated 
 fatally." It affected aged people, and children, especially the latter, 
 many of whom died. In 1786, during the warm season of the year. 
 
360 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON'. 
 
 the dysentery prevailed again, and twenty-eight persons died. The 
 canker rash or throat -distemper, as it was often called, carried off 
 many children in the west part of the town, in 1795. 
 
 In 1810-11, there was a fearful malady among the children. From 
 May 29, 1810, to December 30, forty-five children fell victims, nearly 
 all of whom died of the same disease. In the Church records kept 
 by Mr. Pillsbury, " Quinsy," or " Canker," is written against their 
 names. It is thought by aged persons, who remember this sickness, 
 that it was the same form as that now known by the name of "dipthe- 
 ria." Between February 17, 1811, and December 10, of the same 
 yfear, fourteen children died, mostly of the same complaint, making 
 fifty-nine deaths of children in about twenty months. Some familiea 
 lost all their children. In August, 1810, seven died ; in September, 
 twelve ; in October, fourteen. The sickness prevailed in dilferent parts 
 of the town, but raged with special virulence in the south part, extend- 
 ing from Capt. Whitcomb's, on the south-east, to Mr. Thos. Wyman's, 
 on the west, nearly four miles. The former lost two, and the latter 
 four children. Capt. Stoddard lost three ; Mr. Gideon Balcom, three ; 
 Mr. James McElwain, three. The seventh district lost more than half 
 of the children within its linats. In other districts, lieut. Isaac Morse 
 lost two; Mr. Hapgood, fc«ur; Mr. Seth Tucker, Sen., two, and Mr. 
 Jacob Hale, two. There has been no year since when so many chil- 
 dren have died, although the population has been more than doubled. 
 Kor has there been a year when so large a proportion of persons of all 
 ages have dSed ; not even during the late war. Indesed there has been 
 DO prevailing sickness since, unless perhaps in one year. In 1849 
 there were eight cases of death by scarlet fever. SoDae of the chil- 
 dren were very bright and promising. In 1863, there were thirty 
 deaths of children, making this an exceptional year ; Ixtt these deaths 
 were caused by various diseases, as " diptheria," " scarlet fever," 
 " canker rash," &c. , as they are styled in the Register. Many of these* 
 children were of foreign parentage. 
 
 It may be stated on the authority of R&r. Dr. WMton, ftatia 1810— 
 11, there were between one and two hundred cases of " spotted fever." ~ 
 There was alarm at first, but only two or three cases proved fatal. 
 
 Occasionally there has been an unusual degree of mortality among 
 aged persons. At the close of a long, cold, hard winter, it has been 
 
HISTOKt OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 361 
 
 noticed more tl^n once, that old people have suddenly drooped at the 
 coming on of warm weather, and have been gathered to their fathers. 
 In some years there has been an uncommon number of deaths by con- 
 sumption ; but in general, lung complaints have not been more numer- 
 ous here in proportion to the population, than in the healthy portions 
 of the Commonwealth. It is sometimes said that the low lands near 
 the river are liable to fevers, from fogs and other causes, but as a mat- 
 ter of fact, there has never been what might be called a " sickly time " 
 from fevers, while other towns in the vicinity have, at times, suffered 
 severely from this form of disease. 
 
 Many people have lived to a good old age. It is known that many 
 of the early settlers passed' far beyond the scriptural term of " three 
 score and ten," but the registers and records do not, in many cases, 
 give" their age at their decease. 
 
 The following is a list of those who have died since the beginning 
 of 1820, — excepting a few years — who survived to their 80th year. 
 The number between 60 and 80 would take more space than could well 
 be spared. The following names are given in the order of time, with- 
 out designating each year. 
 
 Mrs'. Beulah Prentice, 
 
 81 
 
 Ephraim Mtirdock, 
 
 81 
 
 Daniel Goodridge, 
 
 83 
 
 William Bobbins, 
 
 88 
 
 Reuben Vose, 
 
 81 
 
 Anna Parker, 
 
 88 
 
 Abigail Bemis, 
 
 88 
 
 Mrs. Eben Richardson, 
 
 84 
 
 Benjamin Kidder, 
 
 87 
 
 Dea. Amos Heywood, 
 
 84 
 
 Miss Mitchell, 
 
 89 
 
 John Bemis, 
 
 87 
 
 Edward Stone, 
 
 84 
 
 Jane Poor, 
 
 93 
 
 Jacob Hale, 
 
 87 
 
 Sally Goodridge, 
 
 81 
 
 Jonathan Pollard, 
 
 91 
 
 Tabitha Eddy, 
 
 90 
 
 Sally Stimpson, 
 
 86 
 
 Stephen Emery, 
 
 98 
 
 David Poor, 
 
 79 
 
 Abigail Wilson, 
 
 88 
 
 Widow I. Bennett, 
 
 79 
 
 Hannah Perry, 
 
 86 
 
 Lydia Darling, 
 
 80 
 
 Mary Sargent, 
 
 86 
 
 Lucy Wilson. 
 
 8<3 
 
 Isaac Taylor, 
 
 84 
 
 Asa Maynard, 
 
 81 
 
 Betsey Poland, 
 
 87 
 
 Sarah Brooks, 
 
 89 
 
 Martha Butler » 
 
 79 
 
 Jonas Bradish, 
 
 85- 
 
 John Estey, 
 
 86 
 
 Simeon Tuttle, 
 
 87 
 
 Jacob Parks, 
 
 87 
 
 Huldab Streeter, 
 
 81 
 
 Sarah Kimball, 
 
 92 
 
 Daniel Day, 
 
 88 
 
 Joanna Goodridge, 
 
 82 
 
 Elizabeth Kugg, 
 
 81 
 
 Asa Hale, 
 
 84 
 
 Jonathan Patch, 
 
 83 
 
 Elisha .Gregory, 
 
 82 
 
 Zeruiah Adams, 
 
 82 
 
 Lucy Sherwin, 
 
 91 
 
36:2 
 
 mSTORY OF WIsrCHENDOTSr. 
 
 Chloe Maynard, 84 Tisdalo Howard,,. 85 
 
 Phinelias Ball, 90 Eutli Gfodding, - ' 86 
 
 Jacob Seott, 86 Noah Holman, 82 
 
 Eunice Kobbins, 85 Abigail Edmands, 89 
 
 Seth Tucker, 98 Timothy Godding, 9S 
 
 Betsey May, 81 Sally Stimpson, 86 
 
 Mary Fletcher, 90 Huldah Brown, 83 
 
 Hannah Parks, 83 Rebecca Gratou, 91 
 
 Phinehas Parks, 88 Polly Cutter. 92 
 
 Abiel Alger, 87 James McElwak, 80 
 
 Asa Hyde, 81 William Tolman, 82 
 
 Farnel Prr, 86 Daniel Bowker, 81 
 
 Ruth Stua'rt, 80 Daniel Hale, 79 
 
 Abigail Raymond, 81 Lucy Pitkin, 79 
 
 Lucy Whitney, 82 Phinehas Boss, 79 
 
 William Brooks, 80 Rebecca Fairar, 79 
 
 Martha Bi-own, 86 Martha Battles, 86 
 
 John Weston, 86 Persis Bowkor, 85 
 
 Sukey Fah-bauk», 79 Abigail Brown, 81 
 
 Simon Fierce, 81 Sally Bowker, 8S 
 
 Sylvan Harris, 87 Rachel Steel, 79 
 
 William McGrath, &5 Richard Condon, 88 
 
 In 1849, Mr. Hyde gave the names of eighteen persons then living, 
 who were eighty and upwards. The- fbllowitig list of aged persons liv- 
 in the town in the opening of the year 1868, may properly be append- 
 ed here. The exact age of two or three cannot be given, and it is 
 possible thaLthey are not quite eighty. 
 
 Betsey Holman, 
 
 91 
 
 Daniel Day, 
 
 81 
 
 Jacob Woodbury, 
 
 85 
 
 Olive Wyman, 
 
 79 
 
 Jonathan Wyman, 
 
 85 
 
 Eunice Woodbury, 
 
 79 
 
 John Raymond, 
 
 83 
 
 Mr. Daniels, 
 
 80 
 
 John Woodbury, 
 
 83 
 
 Eunice Brown, 
 
 83 
 
 Reuben Vose, 
 
 83 
 
 Esther Kilburn, 
 
 80 
 
 Moses M. Reed, 
 
 83 
 
 Prudence Priest, 
 
 80 
 
 Margaret Hale, 
 
 82 
 
 Obadiah Walker, 
 
 79 
 
 Betsey Smith, 
 
 82 
 
 Henry Mason, 
 
 83 
 
 Katharine Day, 
 
 82 
 
 Joseph Stone, about 
 
 89 
 
HISTORY 0? wiscHEirs>oy. 8&S 
 
 CHAPTEE XXIT.— BUSINES-S OF WIN- 
 OHENDON. 
 
 " How blest the fanner's simple life ! 
 
 How ptti'e the joy it yields ! 
 Wat from the world'a tempestuous strife-, 
 
 Free, 'mid the scented fields ! 
 
 Rev. C. W. EvEunsf. 
 
 "Tbc sreitfa, a mighty man is lie." 
 
 LoxorELLQ-W. 
 
 "With a bnzz and ahum swift rolls the wheel, 
 In go wool, cotton, wood, iron and steel, 
 Out come the nice cloth, barrows, hoops and sleds, 
 Fig boxes, lemon squeezers, faucets and beds. 
 Pails, tubs, clnirna, buckets, the sewing machine, 
 And strawberry baskets fit for a queen." 
 
 MACniNiE POESIS. 
 
 The history of business in the town cannot be made complete,- he- 
 cause the information needed was lost when the Assessors' books were 
 burned. What can be gleaned from the Records, and from the mem" 
 orj "of aged persons, in relation to the last century ; and from various 
 Sources, in regard to the present century, will be arranged, so far a9 
 oonvenieat, in chronological order. 
 
 SECTION 1. l-AUMIXG AND STOCK. 
 
 The chief business of the early settlers was fanning, The best land 
 in all parts of the town was soon taken up, and put under cultivation. 
 Some had much more land than they could properly manage, but in 
 time this was divided among children, or sold to new comers, till farms 
 became more convenient in size. As long ago as 1790, about thirty- 
 si.x years after the organization of the town, there were probably as 
 many engaged in cultivating the land, and drawing their subsistence 
 from it, as there are at the present day. Two-thirds of our present 
 population live in the villages, and are employed otherwise than in 
 agriculture. 
 
 The soil in old times was said to bo good. The ordinary crops of 
 
S64 filSTOKY OP WI2fCflEStoO:f. 
 
 central 'Sew England were raised in this town. Late frosts sonletimes 
 cut down the new corn, beans and vines ; and in some seasons, early 
 frosts in autumn, injured the unripened fruits of the earth. But in 
 general the farmer was well rewarded for his labor. Pastures and grass 
 lands have always yielded well, as the soil is naturally moist except on 
 the sand plains. With good cultivation, the lands have borne well to 
 every successive generation of farmers. During the last quarter of a 
 century, there has been a decided improvement in different parts of the 
 town ; especially near the Village. The aspect of the land is more 
 pleasant, as stumps, rocks and hummocks have been removed. 
 
 In former times, cattle and horses were pastured and fed here in 
 considerable numbers. Neat stock were sent here in the spring, and 
 driven away in the fall, to market. Horses were taken up from belowj 
 as cold weather came on, and iVere fed, during the winter, on the su- 
 perabundant hay. Thus the hay was sold at a good profit, manure was 
 saved for the land, and the farmer was paid for his trouble. Some of 
 the inhabitants, as William Whitney, and Phinehas, his son, besides 
 this business, dealt largely in cattle and horses, at times, with profit. 
 Besides, thousands of cattle, sheep and swine, used to be driven through 
 the town, on the way to market, and quite a revenue was obtained from 
 feeding them while on the way. 
 
 SECTION 2.-'^TIIE FIKST MILLS. 
 
 yhe first reference to a mill in the Proprietors' Records, is under 
 date of 1738. It was voted " that twenty shillings on each original 
 right be raised for the encouragement of such persons as shall build a 
 saw-mill." Nothing was done. In 1742, March 14, the following ac- 
 tion was had. " Voted, that Col. Thomas Berry, Messrs. William 
 Brown and Samuel Dodge be a committee to build a saw-mill in the 
 most convenient place, and for the best advantage to the Proprietors, 
 taking the best advice therefor," It is said, on good authority, that 
 the mill was built where the Carter mill now stands, but it was not put 
 in operation for several years. The above committee were " direct^ 
 cd and empowered to treat and agree with Joseph Priest, or his son, 
 or some other blacksmith, to do the Proprietors' blacksmith's work in 
 the Township in the best way and manner they Can for the advan- 
 tage of the Proprietors." Priest had been induced by a grant of land 
 by government, to build a house of entertainment, on the road from 
 
HISTOEY OP WINCHENBON. 365 
 
 Keene to Lunenburg, just over the Royalston line, west from Mr. 
 George Gregory's. There is an old tradition that an attack was made 
 on this " half-way house," in 1747, by Indians. An aged woman said 
 so to somebody, but no authentic information of anything so warlike in 
 this neigborhood, can be found. 
 
 In 1756, March 10, the saw-mill was accepted. This was eighteen 
 years after the first vote in relation to a saw-mill, and fourteen years 
 after it is supposed to have been built ; but only three or four years 
 after the actual and permanent settlement of the place. Two years 
 later, November 30, 1758, we have the first notice of an efibrt to build 
 a grist, or corn-mill, in the township. The Proprietors voted that they 
 would " act on the affair to build a grist-mill." And they farther vo- 
 ted, that " for encouragement, two dollars be granted on each original 
 right, to any person or persons, that shall undertake and build a grist- 
 mill in said Township, and keep said mill in repair, and grind for the 
 inhabitants for lawful toll, for the term of ten years ; and that the money 
 shall be paid as soon as the milHs fit to grind. Also, 100 acres of land, 
 with the stream, be given by said Proprietors, for further encourage- 
 ment to the person or persons, that shall undertake and build said mill." 
 The mill was built before 1762, by Bartholomew Parsons, or Pearson, 
 because in that year we find it recorded that a bridge was built " over 
 the river by Mr. Parsons' mill-place." This mill stood near the shop 
 of Messrs. Loud. A saw-mill was added, as the wants of the neigh- 
 borhood required, and both were continued, though in successive build- 
 ings, until recently. The last building, which covered both sets of 
 machinery, is now the west end of Goodspeed & "Wyman's long shop. 
 Among the .proprietors of this mill, or more correctly, mill-site, were 
 Bartholomew and Richard Parsons, Mr Cambridge, Mr. Mason, Ben- 
 jamin Hall, Gamaliel Beaman, Miles Putnam, Amos Goodhue, Phine- 
 has Whitney, and Amasa Whitney, the Winchendon Manufacturing 
 Company and the present owners. 
 
 Many kinds of business have been pursued in connection with this 
 water power. Messrs. Phinehas & Amasa Whitney had an oil mill in 
 operation^^ several years, where the Messrs. Loud now make faucets. 
 Flaxseed Was pressed for the oil, and the residue was made into oil cake 
 and fed to cattle. This business was given up in 1828. 
 
 In 1793, there was a clothier in town, named Cambridge. His mill 
 was not far from the dam. The fulling miU was burned in 1818. Mr. 
 
366 niCTORY OF WINCHENDOX. 
 
 Silas Coffin run the mill from 1812 to 1816. It was rebuilt and spin- 
 ning macluHery was put in. The weaving was done in families. The 
 building was burned in 1825. A new factory was erected, and ma- 
 chinery for weaving was added. During these years the business was 
 carried on by Mr. Amasa Whitney. It then — about 1837 — passed 
 into the possession of the Winchendon Manufacturing Co. Mr. George 
 Coffin and Messrs. Coffin & Vose, and Mr. Denny, of Barre, and 
 again Mr. Coffin carried it on successively as a woolen factory. The 
 Seamless Garment Company rented the building in 1856 and a year or 
 two thereafter. It was burned in the year 1859. 
 
 In 1793, there were two or three Potash works in the town. One 
 was a little east of the house of Esq. Rice ; halfway down the hill-side, 
 "by the road. Another was on the Asa Perley place. 
 
 It is not certainly known what mill was set up next, in the order of 
 time ; but the Cook mill was iimong the first. This was just south-west 
 of the bridge this side of Burrageville, aiid near the present road to 
 Ashburnham. The old logs which always are to be found near old 
 dams and saw-mills, are still embedded in the sand. This mill was in 
 existence as early as the year 1793, when, according to Whitney's 
 History of the coianty, there were six saw-mills and two grist-mills in 
 this town. There was a run of stones in the Cook mill, for the conven- 
 ience of the neighborhood. The way to the mill was by a cart-path^ 
 running north -from the old Ashburnham road to the river. This path 
 or mill-road started near the house of Mr. John Cook. The mill was 
 abandoned not far from the year 1818. 
 
 Coming down the stream about one-third of a mile, we find the site 
 of the old Stimson mill, not far east from the bridge on the road that 
 leads north from the Estey, or No. 5 school-house, to the Baldwin place. 
 It belonged to Jonathan Stimson, who lived near ; afterwards it was 
 the property of Roger Bigelow, and then of Nathan Knight. It was 
 an old mill as long ago as 1800, and was given up about that time. 
 
 The Butler mill, so called, was started about 1795, by Jonas Mar- 
 shall. It was in the hands of Rufus Wilder about fourteen years, from 
 1806 to 1820, at which last date it fell again into the possession of Mr. 
 Marshall. . It was then sold to Cyrus Pierce, who put in a grist-mill. 
 In 1826, the property was bought by Messrs. Joel and Ebenezer But- 
 ler, father and son. In 1864, Messrs. Wyman, Rice & Bigelow be- 
 
HISTORY OF WINCnENBOS. 367 
 
 came the proprietors ; then Messi-s. Rice & Wyman, who sold out in 
 July of the present year to Mr. George S. Coffin. It has been much 
 improved of late. The mill-stones have been taken out, and all the space 
 is employed in working up timber for various uses. It is now to be 
 used as a woolen mill. 
 
 Going now to the north branch of the river, we find that in 1805 
 there was a small house over the spring which gives the name to Spring 
 Village, but there was no dwelling-house. Jacob Whitney, father of 
 Elias Whitney the surveyor, owned the land. He lived north-east of 
 the John Crosby place, more than half a mile from the spring. Some 
 years later, Capt. Israel Wood started a saw-mill, where the cotton fac- 
 tory now stands. In 1826, a woolen factory was set up by Silvenus 
 Holbrook, and managed by Rob't Follett. Then came Philip Ridgway. 
 William and John D. Dunbar began the cotton business in 1831 . The 
 establishment took the name of the Nelson mills in 1843, when Messrs. 
 Henry Upham and others, including Dea. Joseph and Mr. Nelson D-. 
 White, became proprietors. From that time to the present, the latter 
 gentleman has had charge of the business, of which he has been the 
 principal owner since 1845. The first factory was built of wood. This 
 was burned in May, 1854. The next year, the present building was 
 erected. It is of brick, of the modem style of architecture, with tower 
 and bell, and with neat surroundings. During thfc pi-esent year, 1868, 
 the building is receiving large additions, giving it a capacity of 7000 
 spindles. 
 
 Following down the stream, we come to the Caswell, or Bigelow mill, 
 which was run by David Caswell ; then by Capt. Charles W. Bigelow, 
 and is now the property of Murdock & Co. 
 
 Farther down stream, and about one mile and a half north-east from 
 the Village, is the Murdock mill. A dam and mill were built here in 
 1827. It Avas in the hands of Joseph Adams from 1829 to 1836. He 
 was lulled by an accident in 1836, soon after parting with the property. 
 
 Since the year 1836, it has been the property of Capt. Ephraim 
 Murdock, Jr., and Murdock & Co. Mr. Murdock became the owner 
 in that year, and Major Sidney Fairbanks was taken into partnership 
 in 1849. By removing the dam at the Caswell mill, and raising the 
 dam of the lower mill, a head of water of more than thirty feet can be 
 obtained. This would be a power probably unsurpassed in the county. 
 
 The Woodbury mill was on the new county road to Gardner. The 
 
3D0 history of WINCHEN»Oir. 
 
 stream is small, and the mill was run' only a' parti of the year. The 
 fii'st mill was built in the year. 178-, by Isaac Woodbury. The sec- 
 ond, by his brother, Col. J. B. Woodbury. Nehemiah, son of the lat- 
 ter, built it the third time. It was run by Capt. Levi Priest, a brother- 
 in-4aw of the latter, during the last years of its existence, being at the 
 time the property of Mr. John Woodbury, . 
 
 About the beginning of the century, and some years later, there was 
 a tannery behind the spot on which the Bank now stands. A Mr. Burr 
 was the proprietor'; afterwards it was owned and improved by Esq. 
 Morse. His currier's shop was where Mr. William W. Whitney now 
 lives. The frame of the shop was newly covered, and so made into the' 
 house, by additions* In 1817, Mr. Morse built a. small dam part way 
 across the river, and put up a tannery where the tan-works now stand. 
 Previously he had ground the bark in a horse mill. This establishment 
 grew by degrees, during his day. After his decease, in 1850, it was 
 purchased by Messrs. Nelson & Eice, of Shrewsbury. Mr. George- 
 Brown became a joint proprietor and resident manager at this time. 
 At his death' in 1866, Mr. Jonas A; Stone took the same position.. 
 The business is extensive. 
 
 There was formerly a blacksmith shop opposite the house of Hon. 
 Elisha Murdock, on the hill-side. It was owned by Esq. Murdock. He 
 made sleighs in a sh^ which is now the residence of Mr. A. Whitney, 
 Jr. The iron work for the sleighs was ^done in the blacksmith shop. 
 This latter shop is now the property of Daniel ' and Salmon Scott, at 
 the corner of Front and River streets. 
 
 In 1823, Esq. Murdock set up a small shop, 20 by 18 feet, close by 
 ,the Morse dam, for cutting stuff for sleighs. In due time the dam was 
 raised and extended across the river. The- power was greatly increased, 
 and in the course of years, put to more extensive use. Col. William 
 Murdock built a machine and bobbin shop in 1831. This was half way 
 from the dam to the tannery. Still later, Capt. Murdock put up a 
 building between Col. M's and the dajn. This was burned, and anoth- 
 er was built. It was occupied by Mr. William Beaman, for a time, as 
 a pail shop. Mr. M. T. Nash has manufactured various articles, by 
 the help of this water power. The most recent water power in the Vil- 
 lage is that of Mr. Baxter D. Whitney, at the railroad crossing. It 
 was begun in 1846.' 
 
 Going dowrr-stream, half way to Waterville, we find another fine mill - 
 

 ^./ 
 
 'f 1 
 
 ?^' 4» 
 
 s^^^o sE®m^ii, 
 
HISTOEY or WINCHBNDON. 369 ' 
 
 site. Here Capt. Levi Priest and Dea. Eeuben Hyde put up a dam 
 about 1825, but this was washed away. In 1850, Mr. Joseph A. Rob- 
 bins and his brother Hervey, built anew, and secured a great power. 
 A large shop was erected, in part of which is an excellent flouring-mill, 
 with two run of stone. The main part of the building is used by Mr. 
 William Beaman, in the manufacture of wooden ware. The establish- 
 ment is now owned jointly by Mr. Beaman, and by Messrs. Beals & 
 Bowker. The latter firm carry on the flour and grain business. 
 
 The first mill helow Waterville was built about eighty years since, 
 by Daniel Farrar, Sen., and a Mr. French. It was a saw and grist- 
 mill, owned by Mr. Amasa Whitney when it was burned in 1810 or 12. 
 
 The first mill in Waterville was the Aldrich mill, so called, built not 
 far from 1820. It is the lower, or third one in the centre of Water- 
 ville. It was built by William, or " uncle Bill" Bobbins. His son 
 Lewis afterwards was connected with the establishment. Then Rich- 
 ard Stuart, and still later, the Aldrich brothers, were proprietors. It 
 is now in the possession of E. Murdock & Co., or Whitney & Whit- 
 man. The upper mill was first started by Lewis Bobbins, about 1825. 
 The first attempt to make pails, tubs, &c., by machinery, was by Tuck- 
 er & Chessman, between 1820 and 1830, either at this or the lower 
 mill. The staves were not sawed, but spht with a free. They were 
 shaved by hand, with a curved shave. 
 
 • Mr. Shailer next took the business, and he was succeeded by Lewis 
 Bobbins. Elisha Murdock bought the mill and water privilege in 1834. 
 It was carried on by him successfully untill 1860, when his son-in-law, 
 William W. Whitney, entered into partnership. In 1862, a new ar- 
 rangement was made, by which Mr. Murdock retired, and James Whit- 
 man became a partner. The business is still done under the title of 
 E. Murdock & Co. 
 
 The mill privilege now belonging to Woodcock & Sawyer, was first 
 improved about the year 1835, by Capt. George Alger and Moses Han- 
 cock. . 
 
 The mill-site of Mr. 0. Mason was first occupied by Mr. Polycrates, 
 ([^commonly called Cratus) Parks. He made clothes-pins, &c. This 
 was in 1832. In 1845,. Mr. Bphraim Kendall bought the property 
 and built a saw-mill and a pail-shop. In 1853, the firm became Ken- 
 dall & Mason. In 1863, Mr. Mason became the sole proprietor. 
 
 Si 
 
370 HISTORY OF WTINCHENDON. 
 
 Some ihirty-five years since, Moses Foskett took the water from the 
 river, below the Aldrich mill, by a ditch across the fields almost to the 
 corner of the old Boyalston and the Waterville roads, near his house, 
 thence across the road northerly twenty or thirty rods, where he had 
 a saw-mill. This was given up in 1852. 
 
 In 1851, "Warren and Alfred Hyde, sons of Ezra Hyde, Jr., the his- 
 torian of the town, and grandson of the first Ezra, built the Hyde inill 
 in Hydeville. The dam was swept away in 1852 ; then re-built ; then 
 in 1853, came into possession of the present Ezra Hyde. As the Fos- 
 , kett mill took the water from the river above this mill and returned it 
 below, that was now abandoned. Various kinds of business have been 
 carried on at the Hydeville shops, such as chair making, the makmg of 
 fancy boxes, spring beds, matresses, carte, sleds, and wheelbarrows for 
 children, &c. 
 
 A mile farther down the stream was the Kilbum mill-site, now aban- 
 doned. This was used for cutting lumber. 
 
 Stuart's brook comes in from Fitzwilliam about a mile east from the 
 northwest corner of the town. A dam was built by Joseph Bobbins, 
 in Robbinsville, about the beginning of this century. This has been in 
 successive hands, and for many years past, has been a wooden ware es- 
 tablishment, as well as saw-mill. Reuben Harris came into possession 
 in 1845 ; Percival Sherwin and George B. Raymond were the next 
 owners. It is now the property of Harrison Aldrich & Co. The lo- 
 cality is sometimes called Harrisville. 
 
 Descending the stream to BullardviUe, we come to the mill and bob- 
 bin shop of the Messrs. Parks. There have been at least five different 
 sites for a dam near this place, and all below the present one. The first 
 was built probably by Jeremiah Stuart, sometime after the Revolution, 
 but the year cannot be ascertained. The dam on the spot now occupied, 
 was put up in 1827, by Levi Parks and his brother Luke. It was sub- 
 sequently owned by Charles BuUard, Calvin R. Whitman, Day & Parks, 
 Whitman" & [Edwin] Parks, and perhaps by others. Whitman, Parks, 
 Day, and others, used it in making wooden ware. Messrs. Levi N., 
 Martin H. and William Parks are now engaged in making an improved 
 bobbin, (their own invention) in great quantity. 
 
 The east branch of Stuart's brook comes in from Rindge, a little more 
 than a mile east fi-om the west branch. Benjamin May has a saw-mill 
 
• HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 371 
 
 near the State line. It was built by his father some eighty years since. 
 Just below is the mill built in 1828, by William Bobbins, called " uncle 
 Bill." It is now the property of Nahum Bobbins, his son. 
 
 Descendmg to Bullardville, we find the mill of Edward Loud, Jr. 
 This was started by the above "William Bobbins, who was also the pio- 
 neer in settling WaterviUe. He began sometime between 1805 and 
 1810. Edward Loud, Sen., owned and run it many years. His son 
 Edward has carried on the business — ^making measures, &c., — for sev- 
 eral years past. 
 
 Crossing the road south, and on the west side of the stream, a shop 
 was built about 1820, by Jacob Simonds. It was afterwards run by 
 Bill and Jake Taylor, and Levi Haskell. About forty years since, 
 it became the property of Phinehas Parks, Jr., and is still in his pos- 
 session. It has been used in cutting up timber for various purposes. 
 
 The Gibson mill, so called, near the mouth of Priest's brook, was 
 built not far from the beginning of the century. It stood near the road 
 to South Eoyalston. A flood swept it away in 1817. It was rebuilt 
 farther down stream, on the present site. 
 
 Just below is the sash and blind shop of Mr. Minot Patch. 
 
 The mill belonging to William Beaman, about half way from Car-, 
 ter's mill to the Vt. & Mass. railroad, was put up in 1843-4. 
 
 WOOD WARE. 
 
 In early times, shmgles in large quantities, were split out of the no- 
 ble pines which almost covered the land. From this circumstance, neigh- 
 boring people called the place Shingletown. There is an old joke that 
 shingles were used for currency. It is said that when a party of young 
 fellows took their girls to ride, they used to throw a bundle or two of 
 shingles into the wagon to pay their tavern bills. 
 
 In due time the abundance of pine timber was worked into other forms, 
 chiefly by hand. The first attempt at making pails, &;c., by machinery, 
 has been referred to above. The invention of the cylinder or barrel 
 saw, by Dea. Beuben Hyde, was the indispensable requisite to the rap- 
 id making of pails, tubs, chums, &c. After Elisha Murdock engaged 
 in the business, the improvement in machinery was a steady growth. 
 At first the staves were split with a free, and shaved by hand. Then 
 they were set up endwise and driven down between two shaves, one 
 
372 msTOET OF wikchendoh;. 
 
 # 
 concave and ifee other convex. The present mode was a great improve^ 
 ment. When Mr. Murdock wanted anything in the shape of machin- 
 ery, he used to g» to ihe shop of his brother William and aslc him if 
 lie coisid fix iL And so the ingenious machinery by which wood ware 
 is now tamed off bo rapidjy, took ^ape. Others, by ihdr ingenuity, 
 conbibuted to the final perfection. 
 
 At present there are eight or mne large mills for themaMngof wood 
 ware in the town. Two are car^^d on by Mnrdock & Co., two by E. 
 MBidook & Co., one by Irnag E. Weston, one by Washington Whit- 
 ney, one by William Seaman, one by Woodcock & Sawyer, one by Or- 
 lando Mason, the Sibley mill, and the Aldrich & Co. mill. 
 
 This boaness was the specialty of the town, for many years. From 
 small begiMmi^ it grew by degrees to its present importance. The in- 
 Teniiaii of the cylinder saw made it possible for the buaness to be done 
 on an exbgoave scale. The Hon. Elisha Murdock, and Capt. Ephraim 
 MmrSo^, availing themselves of this and other faculties, commenced a 
 mew era isa Sie wood ware business, which has been followed up by them- 
 edves and others to the present time. The statistics of this and oi^er 
 feaacfces of biaan^s eamiot bo gjven for want of space. It would re- 
 qpre & volome. For several years, the {^ and tab buaness was con- 
 fined to Urn town, bnt it is now carried on in many places, east and 
 Tfcst Nearly all &e machinery, however, for the i^ops far and near, 
 has betsn made in got machine shops. 
 
 COTTON BJILLS. 
 
 !Oie woden mills have sdready been referred to, so far as their ori^ 
 is omcensed ; and as none are in operation now, nothing farther need 
 be sw.d in lelalion to them. There are two cotton fectories now in suc- 
 ce^fid bosmess, — one in Spring Village, and one at B. D. Whitney's 
 dam. The on^B and Mstoiy of the first has already been ^ven. The 
 second was built in 1858-4, is 112 feet long and 45 feet wide, and is 
 two stories in heigiht, beades the attic. The Mill is rented by N. D. 
 White & Co., and is under &e superintendence of Dea. Windsor N. 
 White. It contains 2,500 spindles. 
 
 MACHIK^ SHOPS. 
 
 The first machine shop, properly so called, was started by Col. WiE- 
 imiMvxdoek, in 1839. It was thou^ quite wondecfol that he had a 
 
mSTOET OP WraCHENBOH. 373 
 
 tnadune mth whieh he could stave iron. Probably Ms shop has turned 
 out the greatest variety of work of any in town. 
 
 Baxter D. WMtney was engaged with him several years. In 1846, 
 he built the railroad dam, and set up a saw-mill and machine shop where 
 his extensive estabhshment now stands. The mill and dam were car- 
 ried away by the flood of 1852. Since them all the other buildings, in- 
 cluding foundry, wooden-ware shop, factory, carriage-makers and black- 
 smith shops, have been erected. Mr. Whitney makes machinery for 
 working in wood, and his machines are widely and favorably known. 
 The LoMon " Engineering," in 185T, in an article upon American mar 
 chineiy, says that the English workmen prefer the American machines 
 to those taade in etny other country, and that Mir. Whitney's gjre the 
 best. 
 
 In 1860, Messrs, <Joodspeed & Wyman purchased the property now 
 in their possession, and began the manufacture of machines for making 
 wooden ware. In addition they have done an extensive business in 
 sewing machines. Mr. John D. Folsom has followed the same business 
 for several years, sending out sewing machines in large number to dis- 
 tant parts of the country. Others have, at times, undertaken this busi- 
 ness, though not with equal success. 
 
 The above are the main branches of mechanical business in the town, 
 though a great variety of articles is made in smaller establishments. 
 Most of these, however have been referred to in tracing the history of 
 mill-sites. As this volume is not a directory of business, more space 
 cannot be given to a subject the full treatment of which would require 
 9, book of quite respectable size. It is enough to say that the Measures 
 of Dea. Hyde, the FAtrcsTfe of Messrs. Charles A. & Sumner Loud, the 
 Sleds and Carts of Mr. Ezra Hyde, the Boxes and Beds of the 
 Messrs. Chase, the Mops, etc., of Mr. M. T. Nash, add much to the 
 annual production of the place. 
 
 STORES'. 
 
 316 first stbre in Winchendon, as alread;^ stated, was opposite the 
 Nichols tav-em, in the corner of Mrs. Connor's lot. It was a small af- 
 fair. Stores were opened on the Common not long after. Among the 
 traders then were Bemsly Lord, Holman & Bruce, Joseph Jewett, E«ed 
 & Walker, Phinehas Whitney, Atkins Mortem and Comelius Bay- 
 
^74 HISTORY or WINCHEITDOjr. 
 
 The first store in the Village was kept by Thomas, son of Hon. Abel 
 "Wilder. This was opened about seventy years ago. After him came 
 Robert Ruggles, Stillman Flint, Mr. Greenwood, Atkins Morton, Per- 
 kins & Putnam, Charles Tohnan, Obadiah Walker, Luther Richardson, 
 Ephraim, Jr., and Elisha Murdock, C. R. Whitman, George Brown, 
 Levi Peck, Hand & Merrill, Moses Hancock, H. Harwood, J. M. Hey- 
 wood, Joseph Murdock, Watson Monroe, William and Levi Brools, 
 and William Brown, 2d, besides those now domg business here. Mr. 
 A. Whitney, Jr., began trading more than thirty years ago, and contin- 
 ues in the busbess still, with his son, George. Mr. Whitney, Messrs. 
 A. B. Smith, C. C. Parker, Silas Raymond, Wynsan & Mason, C. L. 
 Carter, and others in various branches, have been and are still doing 
 a large business. I. J. Dunn and Messrs. George and Calvin Bryant, 
 do an extensive business in the grocery line. George S. Dodge has car- 
 ried on the business of an apothecary for several years ; William Pol- 
 lard, Almon Mann, Horace WMtcomb and C. H. Tarbell, have kept 
 shoe stores. Wm. H. Wood &; Co. deal in flour, grain, ke., and Messrs. 
 Doane, Miller & Hyde keep a fine nuarket. The Jewellers have been 
 Messrs. Wm. C. Nichols, A. J. Parker, H. C. & G, H. Murdock and 
 George F. Barr ; the harness makers have been Messrs. M. B, and 
 L. S. Felton, and Wetherhead & Sinclair ; and Jonas A. Carruth deals 
 in clothing. The millinery establishments of Mrs- Ellen A. Converse, 
 and Mrs. C. P. Fairbanks, are well known in all the vicinity. 
 
 There was a store at Spring Village at different times. Mr. John 
 D. Dunbar, and Rev. Joseph Watson, in his later years, kept dry goods 
 and groceries for sale. 
 
 The traders in Watervile have been Moses Hancock, James Marsh, 
 Trask W. Ray, and W. H. Whittemore. About fifty years ago. Dr. 
 Pentland had a store near John Cook's. At present there is a large 
 trade in the Village, by which the wapits of this and neighboring towns 
 are supplied. 
 
 CAKFENTEES, BIACKSMITHS, &C. 
 
 The larger part of the houses in the Village have been built by Esq. 
 Murdock, Mark Whitcomb, Sidney and Levi N. Fairbank, E. W. Lord, 
 A. W. Buttrick, and Raymond & Forristall. 
 
 There was a blacksmith shop, long ago, owned by Jason Bemis, near 
 the top of the hill on the road from the Village to the Centre. CoL 
 Adams carried on the business on the Common. His sons BenJanuB 
 
Fi>st Hatl@ffial Baak. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 375 
 
 and Oliver, wrouglit at the same trade. Most of tHs business in the 
 Village, during the last thirty-five years, has been in the hands of Oli- 
 ver Adams, Daniel and Salmon Scott, Harvey Wyman and Luke Hale. 
 J. C. Lynch is a carriage maker, and Levi Flagg aids in promodng gen- 
 eral cleanliness by making a large quantity of soap. The workers and 
 dealers in tin, copper, stoves, &c., at different times, have been Wm. and 
 S. Knapp, E. T. Eussell, J. P. Barber and A. P. Bateman. Bricks 
 in large quantity, are made by S. Chamberlain and Wm, Brown. But 
 this catalogue must have an end. 
 
 AMOUNT OP BUSINESS. 
 
 It is not possible to ^ve the exact amount of manufacturing business 
 in the town annually. The following derived from an authentic source, 
 is ^ven as an approximation. The annual product of wood ware, and 
 things of that nature, amounts probably to the value of $400,000. The 
 cotton fabrics are not less than $300,000. Machinery of various kinds, 
 amounts to nearly $150,000. Other manufactures will swell the sum 
 total to $1,000,000. To this must be added the products of the soil, 
 the profits of trade, &c. 
 
 CORPORATIONS. 
 WINCHENDON SAVINGS BANK. 
 
 This was organized in 1854. Hon. Elisha Murdock was the first 
 President, Sullivan B. Ball, Treasurer, and Calvin R. Whitman, Clerk. 
 Quite a large amount has been deposited in the bank, from the begin- 
 ning. The present deposits are not less than $175,000. The .follow- 
 ing is the present board of officers ; E. Murdock, Jr., President ; Al- 
 vah Goddmg, Wm. Brown, 2d, J. H. Fairbank, M. T. Nash, N. D. 
 White, and W. L. Woodcock, Vice Presidents ; Silas Raymond, Ix- 
 vmg E. Weston, Seth Tucker, 0. Mason, Henry Whitcomb, B. Ellis, 
 S. Fairbank, B.D. Whitney, C. C. Alger, and I. M. Murdock, Trus- 
 tees ; (S-. H. Whitney, Auditor ; B. Ellis, Secretary, pro tern ; Charles 
 L. Beals, Treasurer. 
 
 WINCHENDON NATIONAL BANK. 
 
 This institution was started in 1864, as a National Bank, with a cap- 
 ital of $100,000. The next year it was increased to $150,000. John 
 Henry Fairbank has been President, and Charles L. Beals, Cashier, 
 from the beginning. The first Board of Directors was as follows, viz : 
 J. H. Fairbank, 0. Mason, Sidney Fairbank, George Brown, I. E. 
 Weston, J. B. Sawyer, and William Smith, of Templeton. The fol- 
 lowing changes have been made : Messrs. Charles J. Rice, and N. D. 
 White, take the places of Messrs. Brown and Weston. 
 
376 HISTORY OF WUfCHENDOI?. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXV. — PIEE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 "Then came 
 The hollow sound of rushing flame ; 
 And from each loophole flashing light, 
 A spout of fire shines ruddy bright, 
 And gathering to united glare, 
 Streams high into the midnight air." 
 Scott. 
 
 section 1. — jfire wards. 
 
 In the early history of the town, no special measures were taken by 
 the public in reference to fires. There was little danger that log cab- 
 ins would take fire, and if seasonably discovered, there was no great dif- 
 ficulty in extinguishing the flames. When a fire occurred, the family 
 exerted themselves to put it out ; and the neighbors, if any were near 
 enough to render assistance, hastened to their aid. Perhaps the first 
 step in the way of organized co-operation, was the annual choice of Pire 
 "Wards by the town, and the requirement that famihes should be sup- 
 plied with fire buckets. In many places, every house was required to 
 be furnifehed with a certain number. These were made of leather, were 
 always to be in order, and hung up in a particular place, so as to be avail- 
 able at once. In other places, ordinary pails were used. It is many 
 years since the town began the practice of choosing fire wards, who have 
 been generally selected from the most respected citizens. Their au- 
 thority is considerable, and in former times, was exercised more than 
 at present. The establishment of a weU-organized fire department has 
 naturally transferred much of the actual responsibility, in case of fire, 
 to the Foreman. The oflSce of fire ward, however, is still important, 
 as it is necessary for the town's authority to be represented on such 
 occasions. 
 
 SECTION 2. — THE PILOT. 
 
 The first fire company in this town,, was formed sometime between 
 1830 and 1836. oie meeting which stands first in the Record Book 
 
fiiSTORt OF WINCHENbON. 
 
 377 
 
 ot tiie Co., bears date, July 7th, 1835. At this meeting a committee ' 
 was chosen " to settle accounts of 1834," showing that the organization 
 was in existence as early as that year. The officers chosen at the meet- 
 ing in July, 1835, were as follows : Ephraim Murdock, Jr., Captain ; 
 Joshua Keith, 2d, Mate ; Benjamin F. Eddy, Clerk ; Mark 'Whitcomb, 
 Sumner Wyman, Calvin R. Whitman, Engine Committee. The annual 
 meeting was held on the first Tuesday in April. It was a rule that 
 " the meetings for drill shall be at the Engine House on the first Mon- 
 day of each month from May to October inclusive, and the time for roll 
 calling shall be in May, at 5 o'clock, A.M.; in June, July and August, 
 £lt 4 o'clock, A. M. ; in September, at 5 1-2 o'clock, iWM. ; in Octo-^ 
 ber, at 6 o'clock, P. M." That was taking " time by me forelock." 
 
 The burning of Col. B. Adams' blacksmith shop is said to have 
 aroused the people to the necessity of having an engine and a company 
 to work it. The money for purchasing the Pilot was raised by sub- 
 scription. The engine was used at a fire foi' the first time, as well as 
 can be ascertained at this late! day, when thei house of Asa Stearns was 
 burned in 1834, or 35. It was not a very powerful machihe, itccording 
 to the present standai'd, but with an efficient company, it did good ser- 
 vice on many occasions. 
 
 It may gratify some to read the names of the first members. The 
 following were on the roll in 1835. 
 
 Elisha Murdock, 
 Sumner Wyman, 
 Charles Smith, 
 Joshua Keith, 2d, 
 Benj. F. Eddy, 
 ' Oliver Adams, 
 Amasa Whitney, Jr.; 
 Isaac Taylor, Jr., 
 Emery Carriel, 
 Samuel Walton, 
 Charles Murdock, 
 Calvin E. Whitman,- 
 Alonzo Merriam, 
 Mark Whitcomb, 
 Isaac Pollard, 
 Joel M. Heywood, 
 Harry Pitkin, 
 Ephraim Murdock, 
 William Murdock, 
 
 John Eitts, 
 Milton S, Morse, 
 Levi Poskett, 
 Levi Woodbury, 
 Leander Sampson, 
 Stephen Burpee, 
 Hiram S. Newton, 
 D. J. Groodrich, 
 Moses H. Koss, 
 Seth Tucker, Jr., 
 Edwin Bradbury, 
 M. T. Nash, 
 Elihu li. Morse,' 
 t- Joseph Smith,' 
 A. C. Fay,. 
 George W. Morse'; 
 William Kussell, 
 William Wilder. 
 
 Total, 
 
378 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 . The following officers were chosen in 1836, viz : William Pollard, 
 Capt. ; Oliver Adams, Mate ; Calvin R. Whitman, Clerk ; William 
 Murdock, Amasa Whitney, Jr., Harry Pitkin, Engine Committee. The 
 next year, the Captain, Mate and Clerk, were Ephraim Murdock, Mil- 
 ton S. Morse and William Murdock. It is not necessary to give the 
 officers' names from year to year. The following gentlemen besides 
 those named above, acted as Captain at different periods, several of them 
 holding the office repeatedly : Milton S. Morse, Baxter D. Whitney, 
 Marvin T. Nash, Sumner Wyman, Harvey Wyman. 
 
 The Records of the Pilot Company close in 1847, but the engine has 
 been used at fixes, since that time, on various occasions. It was sold 
 in 1867, for iife. 
 
 SECTION 3.— THE ALERT COMPANY. 
 
 This Company had its ori^n in a paper dated January 27, 1851, and 
 signed by a number of citizens who felt the need of an efficient organ- 
 ization for extinguishing fires. On the 8th of February, a " meeting 
 of those interested in forming an En^ne Company to be attached to 
 Engine No. 1, of this town, was held at the Passenger house of the 
 Cheshire Railroad Co., at 7 o'clock, P. M." William Murdock was 
 chairman, and Nathaniel Gilmore, clerk. A Constitution and By-laws 
 were adopted, and the following officers were chosen : James P. T. Bur- 
 bank, Foreman; Edwin S. Merrill, First Assistant; Sidney Fairbank, 
 Second Assistant ; William Murdock, Treasurer ; M. B. Felton, Clerk. 
 
 A committee was chosen to petition the Selectmen to insert an arti- 
 cle in the " warrant for the March meeting, asking the town to appro- 
 priate a sum of money sufficient to purchase a Suction Engme." The 
 Selectmen complied with the request, and in accordance with the Stat- 
 utes, appomted certain persons as " Engine-men to be attached to En- 
 gine No. 1." 
 
 The En^e was purchased by subscription, but the town, at the 
 March meeting, in 1852, appropriated $100 for purchasing " Hose 
 for Alert Engine Co.," and $67.75 for Engine-men. ' In 1853, the ex- 
 pense of the Fire Department, including hose and couplings, repairs of 
 En^ne, and money paid to menj amounted to $395.77. The next 
 year, " En^ne Hose, $200." The expenses from year to year need 
 not be given. The citizens have ever been proud of the Alert Com- 
 pany, and by vote of the town or private subscription, have evinced 
 
HISTORT OF WINCHENDON. S79 
 
 their appreciation of its services. It has always been very serviceable 
 at fires ; promptly on the ground, and both alert and skilled to do ef- 
 fective duty. It was noticed on the first occasion, when the Co. bat- 
 tled with a considerable fire — by which Mr. N. H. Hand's store and 
 the barracks were burned, — that the noise and confusion formerly at- 
 tendant upon fires was superseded by stillness and order. The contrast 
 was striking. 
 
 This Company has competed with others, on various occasions, and 
 has always come off with honor. The first contest was at Keene, N. 
 H., on the 10th of September, 1857. The Alert Engine was manned 
 by sixty-eight men, some of them volunteers. Twelve companies en- 
 gaged in the trial, and the third prize was won by the Alert. The Del- 
 uge, of Claremont, N. H., threw to the height of 152 feet. The Frank- 
 lin, of Greenfield, 151 feet, and the Alert, 150 1-2 feet. It was a 
 close struggle. The day was windy, and the height reached was far 
 less than the Co. had achieved at home. A few days before this trial, 
 the Engme threw water five or six feet over the- Liberty Pole, which 
 was 173 feet in height. The third prize was $50. 
 
 The next trial was at Manchester, N. H., on the 15th of September, 
 1859, when fifty-three companies were on the ground, and competed 
 for the prizes. They came from many of the principal cities and towns 
 of New England, as Boston, Providence, Worcester, Portland, Lynn, 
 Portsmouth, Charlestown, Cambridge, Lowell, Chelsea, Nashua, Law- 
 rence, Roxbury, Dover, &c. The Alert Engine surpassed all other 
 companies ; the water thrown by it reaching the height of 170 feet, 
 while the next attained to 166 feet only. The highest prize was $400. 
 The following extract- from the Record book — W. C. Hunt then clerk 
 —gives Gxe jkude o£ this effort. 
 
 " Friday evening, Sept. 16th, 1859. On the Alert's arrival at Winchen- 
 don, the citizens of this place gave us a most cordial welcome. We were re- 
 ceived at the depot by the Niagara Co. No, 2, when a torchlight procession 
 Was formed, headed by the Keene Cornet Band, and as we marched through 
 the principal streets, we were greeted by the citizens, amid illuminated houses, 
 bonfires, torches and cheers. We then proceeded to the American House, 
 where a good supper awaited us, which was rounded off by a number of ad- 
 dresses and congratulatory speeches." 
 
 On the 15th of September, 1860, the water was thrown about twenty 
 feet above the top of the pole, or about 207 feet above the water in the 
 
380 fliSTOKY OP T^INCHENDOJJ. 
 
 teservoir. The Co. ■were getting ready for a contest at Templetoi. 
 This trial came off on Templeton Common, September 21, 1860, when 
 eight companies from the vicinity competed. The Alert reached the 
 height of 168 3-4 feet ; the next highest was 148 feet. The prize wa^ 
 a Banner. The playing being over, the Kecord says : 
 
 " After which the companies were ordered to form a hollow square, to hear 
 the report of the several trials, at which time the Prize Banner was presented 
 to the Alert Engine Co. No. 1, Winchendon, by Col. Henry Smith, with a 
 powerful speech, which was responded to by Mr. I. M. Murdock, in behalf 
 of the Foreman." 
 
 The company is still in a flourishing condition, under the command 
 of a favorite captain,-^Charles Forristall— ^with full ranks. The Fore^ 
 men, at different times, have Been as follows : James P. T. Burbant, Ed- 
 win S. Merrills Charles E. Forristall, John D. Howard, A. P. Bateniam 
 
 Doubtless the following extract from the Records — ^D. L. Morrill, 
 Esq., Clerk — will remind many of the earlier members of the company 
 of a pleasant day when they contributed much to the enjoyment of the 
 people, while partaking themselves in the general joy. 
 
 CELEBEATION DAY. 
 
 " The Company met at the Engine House, in full uniform. Foreman coni- 
 manding. The Company was here joined by the Waterville Brass Band, un- 
 der direction of Col. J. Merriam, Chief Marshal, by whom they were accom- 
 panied to the Academy yard, where a procession was formed of the schools in 
 town, and the citizens. The procession then moved under the escort of the 
 Company, to the island of E. Murdock, Jr., where it is estimated there was 
 an audience of more than 2000 persons. Numerous speeches were made, and 
 refreshments furnished. The exercises in the grove were closed about 4, 
 P. M.; after which the Company, with Band, paraded through the streets; 
 and worked the Engine from the reservoir in front of the Academy building, 
 greatly to the satisfaction and amusement of the assembled crowd, till 6, P. M; 
 At 7, the members of the Company, with their ladies, partook of a bountiful 
 supper, provided, by Messrs. Whitcomb, Fairbank & Mason, at their hotel. 
 Songs and sentimeiits succeeded, arid at 8 1-2, P. M., the members and ladies 
 separated; and repaired to witness the Fire Works under direction of Mr. T. 
 Saul, T^hich were very brilliant, and exceeded the expeetatioris of £tlL The 
 members of the Company then dispersed at their leisure." 
 
mSTOET OF WmCHEN^ON. 38!^ 
 
 For many years the company was accommodated -witli an Engine 
 kouse and hall by Capt. E. Murdock, Jr., for -which the town gave him 
 a vote of thanks. 
 
 Thirty-seven members entered the public service in putting down the 
 rebellion. Their names will appear in the list of those who went from 
 this tiJwn to the war. They had the hearty approbation of those who- 
 remained at home. The company was proud of their achievements, 
 and rendered honor to ,those who fell in the field, or died from wounds, 
 hardships, and exposure. They rendered needed aid to comrades who 
 Buffered for the public good. In this connection it should be added that 
 their Records contain grateful mention of a donation of $100, received 
 from Capt. E. Murdock, Jr., for the. benefit of these soldiers or their 
 surviving friends. 
 
 SECTION 3. — THE NIAGARA COMPANY. 
 
 TMs company belonged to "Watervillev It was organized in the year^ 
 1855, and after twelve years of service, was disbanded in 1867. The 
 first meeting with a view to forming a company, was held in the Water- 
 ville school-house, on the 31st of March, 1855. William L. Woodcock 
 presided, and Stillman Safiord acted as Clerk. At a meeting, April; 
 2, a committee chosen at the previous, meeting reported a Constitution, 
 which was adopted, after which the following officers were chosen : Will- 
 iam Towne, Foreman ; William L. Woodcock, First Assistant ; L. B. 
 Piper, Second Assistant ; Charles Hyde, Clerk ; Adam French, Treas- 
 urer. The stewards were L. Taylor and S. C. Aldrich. There were 
 changes in the course of the year, by which Mr.C. Hyde became Treas- 
 urer, and Mr. J. Hastings became 2d Assistant. 
 
 The Engine, named the Niagara, was purchased by subscription. In 
 1857, the town paid $112.72, for repairing the engine. In 1859, the 
 town appropriated $633.29, for Engine Hose. It is supposed that the 
 Niagara had its share of this necessary apparatus. The officers, fra- the 
 second year, were William L. Woodcock, William. H. Grant, Charles 
 J. Piper, James A. Wood, including the stewards, Levi Taylor and 
 Ozro Hancock. In the eoui-se of 1857, Mr. Stillman Safiord was cho- 
 sen Clerk, and he held that office during the entire existence of the com- 
 pany, except brief intervals, when S. C. Aldrich, D. Boyce, J. B. Burke 
 and J. Lear^ kept the Records. These Records, if not filled with de- 
 
382 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 scriptions of eventful scenes, present some very amusing specimens of 
 humor. 
 
 The successive Foremen were William L. Woodcock, Jairus Hast- 
 ings, Samuel Page, William H. Grant, Amasa Aldrich, Samuel Ken- 
 dall, Francis D. Perry. 
 
 The company was always, according to its motto, " ready for action," 
 and rendered very prompt and efficient service, in case of fire, wheth- 
 er in Waterville, or in other parts of the town. And at various trials, 
 as at Jaffrey, Keene, &c., it came off honorably, if not with the high- 
 est prizes. The spirit by which this company was sustained so long, is 
 highly creditable to the members, and the citizens of Waterville, who 
 gave their encouragement ; and it is matter of regret that an organi- 
 zation capable of such energetic service, which is at times, almost in- 
 dispensable, has disbanded. Quite a proportion of the members en- 
 tered the public service, and some fell in the sacred cause of freedom. 
 
HISTORY OF WmCHBNDON. 383 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI.— LIBRARIES AND LY- 
 CEUMS. 
 
 " Books are not absolutely dead things, but do contain a progeny of life in 
 
 them to be as active as that soul was whose progeny they are ; nay, they do 
 
 preserve, as in a vial, the purest eflScacy and extraction of that living intellect 
 
 that bred them. Unless wariness be used, as good almost kill a man as kill 
 
 a good book ; who kills a man, kills a reasonable creature, Sod's image ; but 
 
 he who destroys a good book, kills reason itself, kills the image of God, as it 
 
 were in the eye." 
 
 Melton. 
 
 " The grand debate, 
 
 The popular harangue, the tart reply, 
 The logic, and the wisdom, and the wit. 
 And the loud laugh— I long to know them all." 
 
 COWPBK. 
 SECTION 1. — THE FIRST LIBRARIES. 
 
 The first settlers of the town were not a literaiy people. Books were 
 few and periodicals almost unknown. The successive ministers had cer- 
 tain works which were necessary in studying the Bible in the original 
 tongues, besides a moderate number of theological, controversial and 
 miscellaneous books. Through their preaching, the intellectual as well 
 as moral and religious tone of the public mind was elevated. They were 
 often sfyled, in the B,ecords, " teachers of morality, piety and religion." 
 They were in the habit also of giving instruction in different branches, 
 to the youth, either singly or in classes. In Mr. Stimpson's Book of 
 Accounts, there is a charge for teaching Arithmetic "to some youth whose 
 wants the schools did not meet. In former times, the ministers fitted 
 the boys for College, though very little in that line was done in Win- 
 ohendon. ■ Perhaps the two mmisterial sons of Dr. Israel Whiton were 
 the first who began a classical education in this place. 
 
 The physicians had their collection of books which were necessary 
 in their profession. The same was true of the lawyers — ^Messrs. New- 
 comb and Henshaw — ^in later years. Doubtless there were works on 
 their shelves pertaining to history, philosophy and the belles lettres ; but 
 
§S4. HISTOE,T OF WINCHENPON. 
 
 the number was not large. In scattered farm houses there would be 
 found stray volumes of poetry — ^Young, Thomson, Cowper, &c., — but 
 there was, of course, nothing to be compared with the abundance of 
 books, magazines and papers, which are now to be seen in all our homes. 
 And it may be said farther, that there was scarcely any of the trash 
 which now enfeebles rather than invigorates the minds of the readers. 
 The first library for circulation was in the Centre. When it was be- 
 gun is not known to the present generation. It was kept for a while 
 by Dea. Joshua Smith, and afterwards by Mark Whitcomb. It was. 
 sold about forty-two years since. The next collection of books belongs 
 ing to a coQipany, was in the Village,, and was kept for many years in 
 the house of Ephraim Murdock, Esq. It is supposed by those who re- 
 member this library, that it was started about the year 1810. This 
 continued in existence until somewhere near 1825; when it was sold by 
 auction. There were from 150 tp,175 volumes in the collection. Some- 
 time between 1830 and 1835, another library was commenced, which 
 was for a long series of years, under the care of Mark Whitcomb, Esq. 
 This contained between 200 and 300 volumes, some of which were works, 
 of value. The- Family Library series well known in the last generation, 
 was in the collection. TMs. library, after a career of usefulness, fol- 
 lowed in the way of its predecessors, and was scattered by sale at auc- 
 tion, a little more than twenty years since.. 
 
 SECTION 2. — THE TOWN LIBRARY. 
 
 The- public library owes its origin to private liberality. On the even- 
 ing of December 6, 1850, the writer gave a lecture in the hall of the. 
 Academy^ on the subject of Reading, The lecture closed in the words, 
 following. 
 
 " There is theij, money enough, if it can only be got at ; and it can be had,, 
 just as soon as our young gentlemen take the same interest in reading, and in 
 a library, that they do in other things. May we not hope that such a time 
 will come ? May we not hope that the time has already arrived, when many 
 of this enterprising class are ready to commence the enterprise ? But surely 
 the burden ought not to be thrown upon them ; nor would it be. I am not 
 authorized to speak for any man, but I feel sure that there are ladies and gen- 
 tlemen in this place, who will readily co-operate in establishing among us a 
 well-selected library, and in that way open up to our youth, of either sex, a 
 fountain of improvement and of happiness ; an inexhaustible spring of the pur- 
 
HISTORY OF ■WmCHENDON. 
 
 885 
 
 est, richest nutriment for the immortal minds of the youth of this generation, 
 and of the many generations that are to come." 
 
 At the close of the address, Ira Russell, M. D., rose and proposed 
 that immediate measures be taken to establish a library. The motion 
 was passed without opposition, and a committee was chosen to raise a 
 subscription. At the same time, it was determined to form a literary 
 association for general improvement. A corporation was formed un- 
 der the General Statute, and adopted at a meeting held on the 18th 
 of February, 1851, of which meeting the following is the record. 
 
 " Academy Hall. 
 
 Meeting was called to order by D. L. Morrill, Esq., in pursuance to a war- 
 rant which was read. 
 
 On Motion, William L. Lincoln was chosen Clerk fro tern. 
 
 Heard the report of the committee appointed to present a Constitution for 
 this Association, which was read by A. P. Marvin, Chairman. 
 
 Voted that the Constitution be taken up, article by article. 
 
 After some discussion on the part of several gentlemen present, it was vo- 
 ted to adopt the following Constitution." 
 
 Then follows the Constitution, after which the names of the first of- 
 ficers are recorded. They are as follows : 
 
 "President, ElishaMurdoek; Vice President, Calvjp K. Whitman; Clerk, 
 B. S. Merrill ; Treasurer, Amasa Whitney, Jr. ; Executive Committee, Ira 
 Kussell, Orlando Mason, Wm. L. Lincoln, Henry Perley and Ebenezer But- 
 ler; Library Committee, A. P. Marvin, B. 0. Tyler, E. Murdock, Jr., D. 
 L. Morrill and Alvah Godding." 
 
 Mr. Merrill declined serving, and H. Harwood was chosen Clerk. 
 
 The following was the result of the effort to raise a subscription for 
 the purchase of books. The condition of payment was that $300 should 
 be raised. Col. William Murdock procured the subscriptions. 
 
 Elisha Murdock, 
 Milton S. Morse, 
 Wm. Murdock, 
 B. 0. Tyler, 
 Alvah Grodding, 
 
 D. L. Morrill, 
 H. Harwood, 
 Sidney Fairbanks, 
 
 E. Murdock, Jr., 
 
 $30 00 
 15 00 
 15 00 
 15 00 
 15 00 
 10 00 
 10 00 
 10 00 
 30 00 
 
 G-eo. Brown, $5 00 
 
 Joel M. Heywoofl, 5 00 
 
 Orlando Mason, 5 00 
 
 M. B. Pelton, 5 00 
 
 Wm. Knapp, 5 00 
 
 Geo. B. Eaymond,') 2 00 
 
 Wm. L. Lincoln, 6 00 
 
 Chas. E. Forristall, 2 00 
 
 A. P. Marvin, 5 00 
 
 as 
 
386 
 
 HISTOKT OP WINCHENDOIT. 
 
 Oman Hoar, 
 
 $3 00 
 
 Smyrna Greaton, 
 
 $2 00 
 
 ]6. D. Whitney, 
 
 5 00 
 
 Leander Hartwell, 
 
 100 
 
 Wm. Beaman, 
 
 3 00 
 
 Amasa Whitney, Jr., 
 
 3 00 
 
 J. M. Doane, 
 
 2 00 
 
 Calvin R. Whitman, 
 
 10 00 
 
 Keuben Hyde, 
 
 8 00 
 
 Leander Leland, 
 
 100 
 
 Joseph Merriam, 
 
 2 00 ■ 
 
 Wm. W. Whitney, 
 
 2 00 
 
 B. R. Day, 
 
 2 00 
 
 . 8. S. Cooledge, 
 
 3 00 
 
 Andrew Parker, 
 
 1 00 
 
 M. D. Raymond, 
 
 1 00 
 
 E. S Merrill, 
 
 5 00 
 
 E. W. Lord, 
 
 2 00 
 
 S. W. Fairbank, 
 
 2 00 
 
 A. W. Buttrick, 
 
 2 00 
 
 E. W. Weston, 
 
 5 00 
 
 Maynard Partridge, 
 
 2 00 
 
 Ira Russell, 
 
 10 00 
 
 Seth Brown, 
 
 1 00 
 
 C. C. Parker, 
 
 100 
 
 Theodore Reynolds, 
 
 2 00 
 
 Selah Lovejoy, 
 
 2 00 
 
 David Caswell, 
 
 2 00 
 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 
 2 00 
 
 Elisha Hyde, 
 
 100 
 
 A. S. Kimball, 
 
 2 00 
 
 Joel Hyde, 
 
 2 00 
 
 Henry Perley, 
 
 3 00 
 
 H. M. Heywood, 
 
 2 00 
 
 Elisha Beaman, 
 
 5 00 
 
 S. A. Parker, 
 
 100 
 
 Grover 8. Whitney, 
 
 2 00 
 
 Walter Conant, 
 
 1 00 
 
 Franklin Heywood, 
 
 2 00 
 
 Amos Knowlton, 
 
 2 00 
 
 John Hyde, 
 
 100 
 
 Harvey Wyman, 
 
 5 00 
 
 The design of the organization, which was styled " The Winchendon 
 Scientific and Literary Association," included more than the gathering 
 of a library. The Constitution provided for Discussions, Lectures, and 
 Evening Schools for young men. This last part of the design was nev- 
 er carried out. The discussions which took place in the town hall dur- 
 ing the winter months for several years, are still remembered with in- 
 terest by many who attended them. They were conducted with ability 
 and courtesy. Several courses of lectures were provided by the exec- 
 utive committee. The tickets sometimes more than paid the expenses, 
 though not in every instance. Besides lectures from several citizens 
 of the town, quite a number were delivered by distinguished speakers 
 from abroad. Among these may be mentioned Messrs. Beecher, Em- 
 erson, Whipple, Holmes, Bp. Clark, Alger, Starr King, Parker, Phillips, 
 Richardson of Worcester, and Dr. Jackson of Boston, who gave a 
 course on Geology. Some of the lectures were strictly scientific, as 
 on Astronomy, Geology, &c.,but the larger part were on literary or his- 
 torical subjects, or topics of the day. 
 
 The library however was what gave permanent value to the Associ- 
 ation, and great care was used in selecting the books. The following 
 General Rules in relation to the library, were adopted by the Associa- 
 tion, in accordance with the recommendation of the library committee. 
 
HISTOET OF WINCHENDON. 387 
 
 " 1st. The design is not to form # complete library in any of its depart- 
 ments immediately ; but to lay the foundations of a good one in the various 
 departments of History, Biography, Poetry, Essays, Travels, &e. The in- 
 tention of the founders must be filled out by periodical additions. 
 
 2d. It is considered important to exclude all sectarian works, and all those 
 which openly or covertly attempt to undermine the principles ofilChristian mo- 
 rality and religion. 
 
 3d. The Constitution proviHes that no book shall be purchased, or received 
 as a g^ft, for the use of the library, unless it is approved by a majority of the 
 whole committee." 
 
 The money was spent in purchasing books, and a book case, and the 
 library was opened, first in the " Barracks," and then in a room over 
 the store of Amasa Whitney, Jr. D. L. Morrill. Esq., was the first 
 librarian. He was succeeded by Mr. Whitney, and by Dr. A. B. 
 Hoyt. The books then passed into the care of Mrs. Calista P. Fair- 
 banks, who was librarian for a term of five years. The library was 
 kept in her parlor. In 1862, Mr. George S. Dodge was appointed 
 librarian, and he kept the books in a room at the rear of his apotheca- 
 ry's store in the Union block. 
 
 The library was enlarged, from time to time, by judicious selections, 
 and as means were provided by gifts, fines, assessments and fairs. In 
 the meantime an Agricultural Library had been formed by subscription. 
 This contained about one hundred and thirty volumes of standard works 
 in that department. In the year 1865, an arrangement was made by 
 which these volumes were added to the library of the Association. At 
 a meeting held on the 16tb of January, 1867, it was voted " to present 
 , the library to the town at the next March meeting, provided the town 
 will provide for its maintenance and enlargement and proper keeping 
 for the accommodation of the readers of the town." This was done ac- 
 cordingly, and the library passed into the possession of the town. And 
 as the town is authorized, by a special law, to appropriate money for 
 the purpose of founding and enlarging pubhc libraries, it is to be hoped 
 that the library established by the Association, will become more val- 
 uable and useful than it could be while in private hands. In commen- 
 cing a library, the town is authorized to appropriate one dollar for every 
 ratable poll, and in continuing it, half a dollar for every ratable poll, 
 annually. The library of the town now contains more than fifteen 
 hundred volumes, the greater number of which are works of permanent 
 value. The Trustees of the library, chosen annually by the town, are 
 
388 HISTORY OF WrNCHENDON. 
 
 in 1868, Messrs. Isaac M. Murdock, William Pentecost, Windsor N- 
 White, George S. Dodge and George A. litchfield. Mrs. Wheeler 
 Doland is the librarian. 
 
 SECTION 3. — OTHEE LIBRARIES. 
 
 The North, CoNSKBGATioNAL Parish Library waa begun in the 
 year 1847. It originated in a proposition made by the pastor to his 
 congregation on a Sabbath when preparations were making for the an- 
 nual contribution for benevolent objects. His su ggestion was, that at 
 every annual subscription for benevolent societies, in the month of May, 
 there should be a column for the Parish Library. Each one was to 
 ^ve as he might feel at the time. The library was to be in the pas- 
 tor's study, and though any member of the congregation might use the 
 books, it was expected that the parish would derive its chief advantage 
 from them through the mind and heart of the minister. The sugges- 
 tion was favorably received, and from that date, every year has added 
 a few choice volumes to the parish library. It contains the works of 
 the chief New England divines, with those of Calvin, Turretin, Robert 
 Hall, and Neander, and those of other distinguished authors in the old 
 world. Milton's prose writings, Robinson's Palestine, Story on the Con- 
 stitution, and Morell on the History of Philosophy, enrich the collection. 
 iy judicious nursing it may grow to be a very valuable library, just 
 such a one as would draw hither a man earnest to feed his people with 
 knowledge of divine things. 
 
 The Sabbath School Libraries belonging to the several churches 
 in the town, are quite large, and many of the books have more than a 
 transient value. These libraries are in a constant process of change. 
 After the volumes are read, they are generally given to Sabbath Schools 
 in other places. The number of the volumes in the various Sabbath 
 School libraries cannot be given, but probably it is not less than fifteen 
 hundred. 
 
 A Common School library was kept in Spring Village, several years, 
 but was finally scattered. 
 
 In addition it may be said, that of the buying of " many books there 
 is no end." Besides the hbraries of profesaonal men, — ^ministers, law- 
 yers and doctors — which contain the works necessary in the professions, 
 most of our houses are supplied, in difierent measure, with usefU or en- 
 tertaining works. 
 
lii^H • ^ ~''^" some cases several families have lived in the same house. Siieh families are placed in coiinection with the same figure. When a short dash — separates a name frum the preceding, it shows thftt the fearrily 
 
 li V H '■'^ ?'i, ? ^^^ ^^' ^"^^ example, under figure 1, Airios Goodhue lived hetween Mark Whitcomh's and (1. H. Whitney's or where the Church now stands. When several names are placed between two figures, as 39-46, the familwi 
 uvea in the order of the namss, and when two or more families have occupied the same house, they are joined together hy a brace. No. '22i> should be placed further east, and 22 1 neftr by it, should be erased. 
 
 STKEETS.— a Front, b Central, c Spring, d Ash. e Water, f High, h Prospect, k Beech. 1 Chestnut, m Wa»nut. n Summer, o Poplar, r Maple, s Cedar, t Grove, u Pleasant, 
 V Spruce, w River, x Chapel, y Forest, z'' School. PUBLIC BUILDINGS &c.— A North Cong'! Church. B Baptist Church. C Methodist ''hurch. D Church of the Vnity. E Catholic 
 Chui-ch. F New School House. <f Academy. H Town Hall. I Hotel, (John Burr, A. Mcrriam, Isaac Morse, E. Murdocb, Jr., Milton S. Morse, Orlando Mason, John H, Fairbanks). K Good- 
 speed & Wyman's Machine Shop. L B. I). Whitney's Machine Sho-5. M Tannery. N Wm. Murdock's Machine Shop. O Old School House. P North School House. R Steam Mill. 
 
 WINCIIENBON. 
 
 1 Mark Whitconib, 
 Charles Whitcomb, 
 
 Amos Goodhue. 
 '2 Amasa Whitney, 
 
 George S. Coffin, 
 
 Giles H. Whitney, 
 •i Barth'w Parsons, 
 
 Richard Parsons, 
 
 Miles Putnam. 
 4 Thomas Wilder, 
 
 David Caswell. 
 0- William Pollard, 
 
 A. N. Brown, 
 
 E. S. Tarbell, 
 Arthur Bouche. 
 
 6 Levi Peck, 
 Horace Whitcomli. 
 
 7 floel Hunt, 
 ^7arren Hunt. 
 
 8 William Murdock, 
 Baxter D. Whitney. 
 
 9 Webster Whitney, 
 Archus Kimball. 
 
 10 Stores of A. Whitney 
 
 11 Mrs. S. Tolman, 
 Ira Russell. 
 
 12 Engine House. 
 
 13 John 0. Cutter, 
 James O'Hara, 
 John McRae. 
 
 14 Mrs. R.Whitney, 
 Gilbert Stearns. 
 
 15 John Roddey, 
 Hiram Walker. 
 
 16 Joel Ileywood, 
 Harvey Taft, 
 Charles T. Stearns. 
 
 17 Paint Shop. 
 
 18 Oilman B. Parker. 
 
 19 D. L. Morrill, 
 
 F. W. White, 
 Wilder P. Clark. 
 
 20 E. 8. Merrill. 
 
 21 J. S. Watson. 
 
 22 Mrs. E. M. Shurtleff, 
 R. M. Forristall. 
 
 23 G. Q. A. Bryant. 
 
 24 Stores of Bryant and 
 
 Carter. 
 
 25 L. N. Fairbanks, 
 A. P. Marvin. 
 
 28 Store of J. P. Barber. 
 
 27 E. W.Lord, 
 C. L. Carter. 
 
 28 B. 0. Tyler, 
 Luke Hale. 
 
 29 Wm. Brown, 2d., 
 Henry Mason. 
 
 30 Baxter Robinson. 
 
 31 George Lewis. 
 
 32 Charles E. Forristall. 
 
 33 Mrs. R. Jones, 
 Henry Peck, 
 George H. Allyn. 
 
 34 Edward I'endergast. 
 35-8i»avid S. Roby, 
 
 C. H. Vose, \ 
 Mrs. A. Davis, > 
 
 Lewis Howe, ) 
 Farqufir McRay, 
 
 ry wnuconio, 
 larwood, 1 
 
 3b Taylor, ? 
 ediah Morse, ) 
 
 37 Amos Withlnglon. 
 
 38 James C. Lynch. 
 39-46 Sidney Fairbank, 
 
 Harry jitkin, ? 
 Martin Manzer, 5 
 Leavitt Lincoln, i 
 John Sweetzcr, ) 
 John W. Hand, 
 Henry Whitconib, 
 H. Harwood 
 Jacob 
 
 Jeded 
 
 Union Block, 
 Marble Yard, 
 Grain Store'. 
 47 Stillman Watson, 
 G. S.Whitney, 
 John Folsom. 
 
 Wm. Stanley, 
 Dennis B. Pipor. 
 
 48 Misses Ivnowlton. 
 
 49 Irving E. Weston. 
 
 50 Nathaniel Gilmore, 
 Samuel A. Parker, 
 I). H. Barnes. 
 
 r»l Horace Whitcomb, 
 Alonzo Shedd, 
 Jonas A. (Jarruth, 
 George E. Rogers. 
 
 52 Luther Si^cvens, 
 David F. Hall. 
 
 53 Silas Raymond, 
 Orlando Mason. 
 
 54 M. B. Boardman, 
 O.E. Weatherhead. 
 
 55 Webster H. Tucker, 
 Silas Raymond, 
 
 A. G. Sinclair. 
 
 56 Scth Tucker, 
 Seth Tucker, Jr., 
 Webster H. Tucker. 
 
 57 Geo. A. Litchfield, 
 T. K. Parker. 
 
 58 Wm. A. Deland. 
 
 59 Chas. W. Plumraer, 
 Mrs. Magovern. 
 
 60 Frank S. Knapp. 
 
 61 H. O. Clark. 
 
 62 L. D. Pierce, 
 L. W. l^ierce, 
 O. E. Skinner. 
 
 63 L. D. Putney, 
 L. J. Wilkinson. 
 
 64 JohnL. Reed. 
 
 65 John Lake. 
 
 66 Mrs. II. Jones. 
 
 67 Harvey Taft, 
 D. W. Harvey. 
 
 68 Charles E. Plummer, 
 Mrs. Daniel Hale. 
 
 69 Patrick Morrisey, 
 Amable Beaudry, 
 
 70 Daniel Conner. 
 '(1 John Cailahan. 
 
 72 John Fitzgerald. 
 
 73 Mrs. Hayes. 
 
 74 Timothy Lyons. 
 
 75 William Booster. 
 
 76 Andrew Dunn, 
 W.N. White. 
 
 77 Elisha Beaman, 
 A. A. Ballon. 
 
 78 George B, Raymond. 
 
 79 James ^Vhitman . 
 
 80 Thomas Greatoii, 
 Isaac (Jibson, 
 Thomas Knowltoii. 
 
 81 E. Murdock, -Ir. 
 
 82 M. T. Nash. 
 
 83-88 D. C. v^hamberlain, j 
 George Hubbard, ; 
 M.oses Manzer, J 
 
 A. B. Smith, 
 (..'harle« A. Loud, 
 AV. E. Cutting, 
 O. Mason, i 
 iJavis Foster, ) 
 George S. Loud. 
 
 89 George tJonverse. 
 
 90 Isaac J. Dunn. 
 01-93 James Woodbury, 
 
 Absalom Hastings, 
 George L. Beals. 
 94 Lyman Raymond. 
 95-6 Mary Estey, 
 .Samuel Smith, 
 
 C. T. Bryant, 
 Lorenzo Ballou. 
 
 97 (leorge 1*. Sherwin, 
 
 Bart'w Stearns. 
 
 98 G. Shedd, 
 Addison Kimball. 
 
 99 A. W. Buttrick. 
 100 S. '\ Ketcham. 
 
 David Desilets. 
 
 101-106. Joan D. Howard, 
 Oliver Puffer, 
 Austin Parks, 
 Otis Chamberlain, 
 Levi Flagg, 
 Benjamin Talbot. 
 
 107-116 Richard Smith, 
 Solon Maynard, 
 Mrs. Eagan, 
 Thomas Powers, 
 James Powers, 
 Patrick Macarty, 
 Andrew Macarty, 
 Thomas Burt, 
 Cornelius Cochran, 
 William Ready, 
 Thomas Condon. 
 
 117 Charles W. Newman. 
 
 118 Almon Mann 
 jn9 Robert Ruggles, 
 I Isaac Morse, 
 
 Benj. R. Day. 
 ,120 William Whitney. 
 !l21 Elisha Murdock. 
 jl22 Amasa Whitney, Jr. 
 
 123 Amos Spring, 
 Samuel Spring, 
 Ephraim Murdock, 
 G'iorge Brown. 
 
 124 Charles Wheeler. 
 
 125 Alvah Godding. 
 
 126 Chas. \y. Bigelow, 
 Frank W. Ward. 
 
 127 Daniel M. Scott. 
 
 128 Aaron Winch. 
 
 129 Luther Richardson, 
 Edward Murdock. 
 
 John Hand, 
 A. IL MerrJam, 
 R. W. Ocddes. 
 David S. J{oby, 
 Lincoln Balconi. 
 John Sawyer, 
 H. G. Lovcll, 
 ilharles Streeter. 
 M. T. Nash, 
 Edwin T. Warner, 
 I'onj. Kendall. 
 Amos Withington, 
 Henry Newman. 
 Elijah Smith, 
 John Dcraary. 
 Seth Brown." 
 Adams Stanley. 
 William Beaman. 
 Stephen Poland. 
 Methodist I'arsonage 
 Charles Totman, 
 Kdwin Parks, 
 Jonas A. Stone. 
 Joseph A. Robbins. 
 Job Hyde's Shop. 
 Job and Joel Hyde, 
 A. N. Brown. 
 Paul Boynton, 
 Reuben Hyde. 
 J. H. Robbins. 
 J. H. Townsend. 
 John Hyde, 
 A. F. Spauiding 
 ■161 Jas. M. Doanc, 
 WheeJer Poland, 
 Simon B. Poland, 
 Smyrna Oreatnn, 
 Wm. A. Brooks, 
 George H. Westcott. i 
 J. Wesley Poland, > 
 Leander Leiand , J 
 Hiram L. Pjland, 
 Wm. B. Brooks, i 
 D. C. Chamberlain 
 John P. Barber, 
 Salnjijn M. Scott, 
 ^^arriage Shop, 
 Blacksmith Shop. 
 -lU Store of E. 
 
 dock, Jr., 
 Post Office, 
 Mann's Shoe Store, 
 Millinery Store, 
 FurniUr-e Store, 
 A. B. Smith's Store, 
 Old Barracks formerly, 
 Winchendon Bank, 
 Mrs. Converse's Store, 
 A. B. Sherman's Store, 
 Tarbell's Shoe Store, 
 Isaac J. Dunn's Store, 
 Josiah J. Dunn's Store 
 Daniel M. Scott, i 
 Benj. Talbot, ; 
 Oilman Taggart, ) 
 Boarding House, 
 C. Whitcomb's Shop, ) 
 Printing Office. i 
 
 -178 C. R. Whitman, 
 Joel M. Heywood, / 
 M. D. Raynjond, ) 
 Eliphalet Parks, 
 Oman Hoar, 
 
 I ) 
 
 Mur- 
 
 176 Bettiuel Kills. 
 
 418 Patrick Sullivan, 
 
 177 A, P. Marvin, ") 
 Kbcnezer Butler, J- 
 N. W. Wj-man, J 
 
 M. Ribideau, 
 
 Morty Sullivan, 
 Jas. ITarriman, 
 
 178 tieorge N. Goodspeed, 
 
 John Donahey, 
 
 Hnrrison Goodspeed. 
 
 Richard Murray, 
 
 ISO Asa ■\Vasliburn, 
 
 rlamcs Connor, 
 
 Amasa Whitney, 
 
 M. and D. Dacoy . 
 
 James Wilson,- 
 
 219-221 M. Buckley, 
 
 C. C. rarker. 
 
 Dennis Shay, 
 
 181 Washington AVhitney. 
 
 M. Ready, 
 
 182 Charles Weller. 
 
 John Lappan, 
 
 183 .John G.-.y. 
 
 Ed. Brabston, 
 
 184 Comfort Searle. 
 
 Patrick Fitzg.erald. 
 
 186 Timothy E. Turner. 
 
 222 0. W. Betterly, 
 
 186 AVilliam Raymond. 
 
 Alonzo Hale, 
 
 187 Henry Partridge. 
 
 George Farrar, 
 
 188 William Parks, 
 
 Samuel Kendall, 
 
 Levi Woodbury, 
 
 H. S. Knapp, 
 
 P"ra'.ik Priest. 
 
 Ch. U. Vose, 
 
 189 Gardner Wilder, 
 
 M. Wood. 
 
 Ki'phaitt Parks, Sen.. 
 
 223 (Jeorge S. Dodge, 
 
 Levi Poskett. 
 
 ■Fohn Sawin, 
 
 190 Oliver Adams. 
 
 Th. B. Barber, 
 
 191 Levi Nichols, 
 
 H. Crocker, 
 
 Benjamin Hall, 
 
 — 
 
 Major Sylvester, 
 
 ti. S. Backus, 
 
 Oliver Adams, 
 
 1'. 8. Davis, 
 
 Cromwell Fisher. 
 
 Mrs. 8ttllman Watson. 
 
 192 .\bel .Tones, 
 
 __ 
 
 Levi Prentiss, 
 
 L. M. Sawyer, 
 
 M. Partridge, 
 
 E. W. Morse. 
 
 Harvey Wyman. 
 
 224 Abram Childs, 
 
 Horace AVvman. 
 
 James Lawrence, 
 
 193 Benjamin V. Eddy, 
 
 John O'Niel, 
 
 Mrs. L. 8. Wells, 
 
 Michael Foley aiid 
 
 James F. Phillips. 
 
 others. 
 
 1194 Wavland Howard, 
 
 225 Francis Goodhue, 
 
 M. ■W. Oh.andler. 
 
 Francis Goodhne, Jr., 
 
 195 Sumner Wyman. 
 
 Mr. Benjamin. 
 
 196 Mrs. Connor. 
 
 
 197 John I'eabody. 
 
 WA'"EBVILLE. 
 
 19« Wm. H. Vose, 
 
 
 A. Whitney, Jr., 
 
 1 John Hyde, 
 
 Austin Parks, 
 
 Archibald Chase, 
 
 ' Wm. Brown, 2d. 
 
 2 Joel Mosman, 
 
 IBS Ma-tin McCabe, 
 
 Eben'r Woodward. 
 
 
 3 Ezra Hvde, 
 
 Patrick McCabe. 
 
 O. W. Hapgood, 1 
 
 1200-204 L. Heywood, 
 
 Amasa Tennev. 
 
 Wm. Brooks, 
 
 4 Ezra Hyde, 
 
 John Dray, 
 
 .J. B. Sawyer, 
 
 M. McBrldc, 
 
 Jonathan Carter. 
 
 John Olary, 
 
 5 Denzil Boyce, 
 
 James Connor. 
 
 J. 0. Kenny. 
 
 '205 Patrick Connor. 
 
 6 Ezra Porter. 
 
 .206 Dennis Shay. 
 
 7 Adam Shaler, 
 
 .207 B. Siearns," 
 
 Charles M. Chase. 
 
 i Timothy Riley. 
 
 8 Mrs. Sawyer. 
 
 1208 Joseph Lees. 
 
 9 Charles Chase. 
 
 209 Patrick Ready. 
 
 10 Wm. L. Woodcock. 
 
 ,210 Humph i-ey Connor. 
 
 11 Misses Uamsdell, 
 
 1211 Harry Pitkin. 
 
 Andrew Fisher, 
 Samuel Pierce. 
 
 212 John Donahoe. 
 
 213 Grover S. Whitney. 
 
 12 Boarding House. 
 
 j314 Patrick Connor. 
 
 " " 
 
 1215 Timothy Coffee. 
 '216 Edward Fitzgerald, 
 
 10 Samuel Page, 
 
 C. D. Bruce, 
 
 Dennis Shay, 
 
 D. McKennon. 
 
 Timothy Sullivan. 
 
 14 James Marsh, 
 
 217 Michael Sullivan, 
 
 Traek Ray, 
 
 Michael lieardon. 
 
 W. H. Whittemore. 
 
 Daniel Connor. 
 
 15 Mrs. Carroll. 
 
 16 Amasa Aldrich. 
 
 17 J. B. Sawyer, 
 B. H. Streeter. 
 
 18 Lyman Davis. 
 
 19 Moses Hancocls, 
 Oren Powers. 
 
 20 Harrison Aldrich. 
 
 21 Gorge Fitts, 
 Levi R. Sawtell. 
 
 22 Elisha Morse. 
 
 23 Stephen Samsofi. 
 
 24 Mrs. Jacob Simoiid«, 
 Oren Hale. 
 
 25 Oscar Gerould, 
 Geo. 8. Chadwiok, 
 Charles Simonds. 
 
 26 Mrs. Syrena Sawtell. 
 
 27 John Hitchcock. 
 
 28 Mrs. M. Coburn. 
 
 29 Charles Hill. 
 
 30 Stephen Samson, 
 Solomon Stone. 
 
 31 Mason Baldwin. 
 
 32 Cyrus Alger. 
 
 33 Cheney Smith. 
 
 34 Nathan KendilU. 
 
 35 David Carter. 
 
 36 Jairus Hastings. 
 
 37 F. D. Perry. 
 
 38 Henry Haskell. 
 
 39 John Ainslcc, 
 Edward Godding. 
 
 40 S.C. Aldrich. 
 
 41 Adam Shaler. 
 
 42 Stewart's Shop. 
 
 43 Jiichard Stewart, 
 Heman Daniels. 
 
 44 Milton M. Perks. 
 
 45 Samuel Felch, 
 Friend Bail, 
 Thomas Bickford. 
 
 46 Ephraim Kendall, 
 Wm. Gray, 
 Bailey Thomas. 
 
 ■17 Jeremiah Ci!man,acd 
 several others. 
 
 48 Daniel Farrar, Sen., 
 Moses Foskett. 
 
 49 Polycrates Parks, 
 Thomas ParkR, 
 
 50 J'atrick Kiley. 
 
 John Connor. 
 
 K' bevt Rich. 
 
 51 flolin Goodhue, 
 iSathaniel Hale, 
 vStillinan Halo, 
 Solomon NorcroBi. 
 
 ^2 Jeremiah Oilman. 
 .j3 A. Mann, 
 
 I. V. M. Butler. 
 .^4 Josiah Hill. 
 
 55 Thomas Rugg. 
 
 56 Jeremiah Stewarti 
 Samuel Prentiss,. 
 Samuel Prentiss, Jr, 
 
 57 John Chamberlain. 
 
 58 William Oaks, 
 l*hinchas Ball, 
 Jonathan Wilder, 
 John Nolan. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDpN. 389 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. — THE VILLAGES. 
 
 " Sweet was the sound when oft at evening's close. 
 Up yonder hiil the village murmur rose ; 
 There, as I passed with careless steps and slow. 
 The mingling notes came softened from below." 
 
 Goldsmith. 
 
 the centre or common. 
 
 For fifty years after the incorporation of the town, there was no -vil- 
 lage within its bounds except at the Centre. The fact that it was the 
 central point in the town, and the location of the meeting-house, secured 
 a small collection of dwellings. The minister, the traders, one or more, 
 at different times, the tavern keeper, the blacksmith and the doctor, 
 with three or four farmers, made up the little settlement. There are 
 now eight or ten houses on or near the Common. Probably there has 
 not been a less number at any time during the last eighty years. In 
 the days when numerous teams wended their way over the hill, and the 
 tavern was haunted by the quidnuncs of the town, as well as by trav- 
 elers ; when two stores attracted purchasers, and all the cattle and hor- 
 ses were taken by turn to the blacksmith ; when the room of the Jus- 
 tice of the Peace was thronged by the crowd who often met at the trial 
 of some petty malefactor, and the doctor and minister, and even the 
 lawyer, were sought by those needing advice and counsel, the old Cen- 
 tre was quite a busy place. But this is all changed now, and the quiet 
 of a perpetual Sabbath reigns there. Yet it is a pleasant, healthful 
 spot, and the time may come when men doing business in the villages 
 will choose it for their home, and as a suitable place for the rearing of 
 their children. 
 
 THE VILLAGE, OR WINCHENBON. 
 
 What has in past times been known as Morse's, or Winchendon, or 
 North Village, is now styled either the Village, or "Winchendon. The 
 
^90 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDOir. 
 
 latter is the proper designation, as it contains half the population of the 
 town, has the only Post Office, all the stores and places of business but 
 one or two, and is the real centre of the town. On the map accompa- 
 nying this volume, it is styled Winchendon. 
 
 The first step in the history of this Village was the erection of a mill 
 about one hundred and eight years ago. It was voted on the 30th of 
 November, 1758, by the Proprietors, " that, for encouragement, two 
 dollars be granted on each original right, to any person or persons that 
 shall undertake to build a grisUnill in said township, for ten years, and 
 one hundred acres of land with the stream." Mr. Bartholomew Pear- 
 son or Parsons, father of Eichard Parsons, put up the mill, where now 
 stands the establishment of Groodspeed & Wyman. The dam was be- 
 low the present site, the road crossed the dam, and the mill was not 
 far from the shop of the Messrs. Loud. This was done between 1758 
 and 1762, because in June of the latter year, it was voted that " sixty 
 days highways' work shall be done in building a bridge over the river 
 by Mr. Parsons' mill-place." The work was " highway work ;" in oth- 
 er words, carting earth on to the dam till it became wide enough for a 
 road. 
 
 At the same time it was voted to build a road from Mr. Darling's 
 place, — -now Henry Keith's — and from the Boynton place, — now the 
 Jed. Morse farm — -to the mill ; and also from the mill to the county road, 
 or to the south end of the Common. Thus this mill was the nucleus of 
 the Village. A dwelling house was erected where the paint shop now 
 stands, close by the- pond, on the east side of the road and the north 
 side of the pond. From this starting point in 1760, we come down some 
 forty-five years, and find seven houses in this neighborhood. 1. Where 
 the former counting-room, now Weston's paint shop, stands ; 2. Near 
 Horace Wyman's ; 3. Where the Congregational Church now stands; 
 4. Where the " Old Barracks" stood, now covered in part by A. B. 
 Smith's store ; 5. Where Mrs. Caswell lives, corner of Central and 
 Spring streets, and two others, one of them at Dea. Hyde's. In 1831^ 
 there were sixteen houses, including that of Seth Tucker, Sen. The 
 road to Mr. Tucker's was very winding, bending half-way down tow- 
 ards B. D. Whitney's works, then curving up by Mr. Tucker's, and go- 
 ing north, it took a lurch westward as far as thirty rods into the Hon. 
 Elisha Murdock's lot ; thence making for Mr. Nutting's. The road 
 from Dea. Hyde's or Paul Boynton's, came as far as William Beaman's, 
 
;-_.;_.„„:^(;ft4!rf-i"=''"' '< 
 
Il»ii!|iiiiiiii;.[;"iir,i.;i.iii'!riiiiiii.ii' 
 
 11 ill 
 
 il iei|!l!i;| 
 
 i 
 
 Siiil 
 
 iA 
 
 I i '' i 
 
 1 
 
 ill 
 
 Mm^ 
 
 li|l||i|||l|j|!!M'l| 
 
 'fiilii 
 
mSTOKY OF WINCHENDON. 391 
 
 and then turned north into the Fitzwilliam road. The greater part of 
 the business in the Village for twenty-five years preceding the above 
 date, was done by three men, viz : Bphraim Murdock, Amasa Whit- 
 ney and Isaac Morse. The latter owned the tannery and the hotel ; 
 Mr. Whitney carried on the woolen business ; Esq. Murdock built hous- 
 es, made sleighs, &c. All of them were large landholders. Their sons 
 were now coming forward to take their places, and accelerate the growth 
 of the place. 
 
 In 1843, at which time, the author first saw the Village, there were 
 forty dwellings here, not including two or three which are now on the 
 outskirts. Thus it appears that the increase from 1807 to 1843 had 
 been about one house yearly. During the latter part of the period how- 
 ever the increase had been more rapid. Several houses had been erect- 
 ed which indicated increased attention to convenience and taste. The 
 dwellings of Capt. B. Murdock, Jr., Dr. A. Godding, Hon. Ehsha 
 Murdock, and Col. William Murdock, were recent. Mr. C. R. Whit- 
 man's house was built in that year. At that time there was one Church 
 in the Village— the Methodist — one hotel, two mill privileges, one school- 
 room, three or four stores and shops, one piano, two shade trees, — one, 
 the great elm in front of Esq. Murdock's ; the other a small maple on 
 Central street, — and the Academy, then in process of building. There 
 were no streets, properly so called, but several roads leading to neigh- 
 boring towns. There was but little shrubbery, and garden flowers were 
 scarce. The yards and windows of four or five houses on Front street, 
 with a few others, here and there, showed signs of taste and the love 
 of natural beauty. 
 
 Since then the change has been going on gradually, at the average 
 rate of increase of about eight new houses, though the increase has 
 not been uniform. In some years only a house or two has been put 
 up ; in other years, a dozen or more. There are now in the Village, 
 not far from two hundred and fifty dwelling houses, and fifteen hund- 
 red people. There are five houses of worship, one of them elegant 
 and costly ; three, neat and convenient, and the fifth about to give place 
 to a hew edifice of larger dimensions. Besides the Academy and the 
 school-house, with two apartments, of the former second district, there 
 are now the large and finely proportioned school-house in the north part 
 of the Village, with space for four rooms, and the new school-house now 
 in building, with four large school-rooms, a fine hall for examinations. 
 
392 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 a recitation and an apparatus room. There are now three mill dams 
 in place of two, with greatly increased power. There is a bank, and 
 a town hall. There are twenty or more streets besides the old roads ; 
 shade trees, shrubbery, fruit trees, and flowers abound on every side, and 
 the dwellings are becoming yearly more tasteful and elegant.* Then 
 there was a single piano; there are now not less than thirty, besides ser- 
 aphines, cabinet organs and other musical instruments. Some tweniy- 
 five stores and shops, including dry goods, groceries, millinery, boots and 
 shoes, hardware,, drugs and medicines, clothing, harness, and jewelry, 
 supply in part the wants of the Village and vicinity. Twenty-five years 
 ago, the hdll-side below Mr. Doane's slaughter-house was a dense tan- 
 gle ; now it is a continuation of one of the most beautiful crescent-shaped 
 slopes to be seen in a summer's travel. Then the whole works and pond 
 of Baxter Whitney, with the exception of the river, was covered with 
 a forest ; now there is a fine sheet of water, and numerous buildings, 
 full of busy industry. Then the houses were neat and well-painted ; 
 now there are several which are superior in architecture and finish. 
 The transformation, though gradual, seems to one who looks back, and 
 takes it in at one view, almost incredible. But there are yet greater 
 changes in the future. The opening of the Cheshire railroad in 1847, 
 gave a new impulse to business. The opening of a cross road, and the 
 ■ connection with the Vermont and Massachusetts road, in the south part 
 of the town, which are inevitable, will cause the Village to enter on a 
 new career of prosperity. And when all the water power of the town 
 shall be made available, there will be no cause but the want of enter- 
 prise on the part of the people, to prevent this place becoming one of 
 the largest, busiest, and most beautiful towns in the Commonwealth. 
 
 *In the yeair 1851, there was a meeting one eveningi in the North Congre- 
 gational Church. A lecture on "Village Improvements" was delivered, in 
 which the lecturer set forth the importance of planting shade and fruit trees 
 and shrubbery ; of beautifying the yards and gardens ; andof having a regard 
 for correct taste in architecture. A society was formed to carry out these 
 suggestions, and though the Association never took any farther action, the 
 members and other citizens, caught the spirit of improvement, and immedi- 
 ately began the work. Now the streets are lined, and the yards are filled with 
 trees, and among all our neat, convenient dwellings, there is not one which is 
 odd in shape, or which offends the eye, while several, as those of George Con- 
 verse, Washington Whitney, James Whitman, Orlando Mason and E. Mur- 
 dock, Jr., are fine specimens of village architecture. The latter especially, 
 while elegant and imposing on the exterior, seems within to combine every 
 eonveuienee with cultivated taste. 
 
Illlllllli.i.'* S.N 
 
 *-8 
 
 IF 
 
 7, i 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 iillil 
 
 i 
 
 
 ir-M'^ 
 
 " "i 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 393 
 
 SPRING VILLAGE AND WATERVILLE. 
 
 The origin of these villages has already been given. They are both 
 capable of considerable increase. There is a plan under consideration 
 for raising the dam of the Monomonauk some ten feet above its' present 
 level. This -would probably double the power in the dry season of the 
 year. Moreover, if the proposed railroad from Peterborough shall be 
 brought through Spring Village, it -will add to its prosperity. Besides 
 the increase of business, the Spring would become a place of resort, 
 since the faciUties for promoting the health and enjoyment of visitors, 
 are almost unrivalled. 
 
 Wateeville has greater capabilities, inasmuch as it receives water 
 from both branches of Miller's river, and including Hydeville, has a 
 greater fall. The river descends some sixty or seventy feet in the course 
 of half a mile, and there are good building spots the whole distance. 
 When the connection between the Village and the railroad in the south 
 part of the town is made, Waterville will take a new start, and its three 
 or four hundred souls will be multiplied. 
 
 New Boston, Btjllakdvil]!;b, and Robbins or Hareisville, con- 
 tain each from half a dozen to a dozen houses. Having only a limited 
 water power, there is no probability that either of them will ever in- 
 crease hke those situated on Miller's river. Perhaps the future will 
 see a village at the Mukdock mills, and also at the Butler place, as 
 the power is great and easily available. 
 
894 HISTOEY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 CHAPTEK XXVIII.— NOTEWORTHY 
 
 EVENTS. 
 
 " Oh night, 
 And storm, and darkness ! ye are wondrous strong." 
 
 B-TKON. 
 
 " Win all Neptune's ocean wash this blood 
 Clear from my hand? No, this my hand will rather 
 The multitudinous seas incarnadine, 
 Making this green one red." 
 
 Shakespeare. 
 
 "A horrid spectre rises to my sight. 
 Close by my side, and plain and palpable, 
 In all good seeming and cl«se circumstance, 
 As man meets man." 
 
 Joanna Baillie. 
 
 In this chapter, various events which almost defy classification, will 
 be arranged under the following titles, viz : Fkosts, Stokms and Tem- 
 pests ; Casualties ; Fibes ; Homicides ; Suicides ; Superstitions, \ 
 &c. Many of the facts are derived from Mr. Hyde ; others from Dr. 
 Whiten, and others still from various sources. Quite a number came 
 under the author's own observation. 
 
 SECTION 1. — FROSTS, STORMS, TEMPESTS. 
 
 In 1752, there was a snow-storm in which Joshua Priest was frozen 
 to death. 
 
 In 1755, the " great earthquake" shook all New England, and pro- 
 duced an extraordinary effect on the public mind. The few settlers in 
 these woods felt the shock. 
 
 In 1774, there was a hurricane, moving from west to east which 
 struck the meeting-house on Ashbumham hill so violently as to move 
 it three or four feet rom its foundations. It was furious in this town, 
 though there is no record of serious damage. 
 
 The awful cold -winter of 1780-81 has been referred to already. M 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 395 
 
 On the 17th of May, 1794, there was a severe frost. The spring 
 had been early, and vegetation was forward. Rye was headed, and 
 apples were large as bullets. Everything was killed. This is one of 
 the many facts which confirm the saying, that " all attempts at an early 
 spring here will prove a failure." 
 
 In the summer of 1795, there was a violent tempest about sun-set. 
 Dr. Whiton well remembered " the terrors of the scene." A wild com- 
 motion in the clouds, and a roar in the atmosphere, forewarned of its 
 approach ; thickening darkness came on fast ; soon the hurricane and 
 hail struck the buildings with great fury. The dwelling of Mr. Thorn- 
 ton Barrett was unroofed, and the furniture in the chamber scattered 
 over adjacent fields ; locks of wool blown from the chamber were found 
 adhering to trees miles distant. Some bams were partially unroofed, 
 sheds blown over, and a multitude of trees prostrated. This was spe- 
 cially severe on the road to Fitzwilliam, where fallen trees bore witness 
 to the fury of the storm, many years afterwards. The following even- 
 ing was of pitchy darkness, save when vivid flashes of lightning revealed 
 for an instant the distant hills and*forests. No one was killed, but many 
 were frightened ; some with fear that the day of judgment had come. 
 
 In the winter of 1798-9, the weather was extremely cold. The 
 snow was very deep. It lay on the ground from the middle of Novem- 
 ber into April ; in the woods, till the middle of May. The stage-sleigh 
 passed through this town eighteen weeks successively. 
 
 In 1801, about the 20th of June, a severe frost cut down nearly all 
 the grain, and growing crops. 
 
 There was a memorable northeasterly storm in February, 1802. It 
 was furious and driving. The snow was dense like small hail. It fell 
 to the depth of two feet. People thought that if it had been light, the 
 depth would have been as great as in the " great snow-storm" of 1717, 
 that is, six feet. 
 
 The spring of 1804 was cold and backward ; hay was scarce, and 
 thj cattle were driven to browsing. Trees were felled for that purpose. 
 They scarcely lived till grass grew. 
 
 In June, 1806, the total eclipse of the sun filled the inhabitants of 
 Winchemlon, in common with all who beheld it, with the profoundest 
 fcelic^s of admiration and awe. 
 
 In the same season, on a day when the Cavalry Company, under 
 command of Capt. Phinehas Whitney, paraded in this town, a fearful 
 
396 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 thunder-storm arose. Some of the Co., while on the way home, took 
 refuge in a tavern in Templeton. The electric fluid came down. Some 
 twelve of them were thrown into a heap in the middle of the room, and 
 two were killed. The points of their swords were melted. 
 
 In 1807, on thef 30th and 31st of March, and the 1st of April, there 
 was the heaviest fall of snow within memory. Rev. Mr. Pillsbury, and 
 Dr. Whiten, then a young man, struggled through the snow, to the 
 meeting-house, on the Sabbath, sometimes on the top of the wall. No 
 one else was there, and they returned in the same way. 
 
 On the 9th of June, 1816, there was a fall of snow. I have heard 
 the late Dea. Raymond say that apples and snow were together on the 
 trees in his father's orchard. There were frosts at unusual times. The 
 whole summer was cold. There was but little fruit, or corn, though 
 English grain was good. It was called " poverty year." 
 
 The September gale — on the 16th — of this year, blew down many 
 acres of timber in the westerly part of the town. 
 
 The next season was also cold, and but little pork was made. As 
 mackerel were uncommonly abundant, this was styled "mackerel year." 
 
 From the last of May to the first of September, 1819, there were 
 thunder-showers as often as every other day. On the afternoon of the 
 Sabbath, August 20, the commotion of the elements was terrific. Clouds 
 arose in all quarters of the heavens, and met together. All the artil- 
 lery of the skies seemed to be in full play. Many buildings were struct 
 by lightning, and consumed. In the evening, fires could be seen in 
 various directions. 
 
 In 1821, September 9, there was a fearful hurricane in Athol and 
 towns west of this. Fragments of trees and clothing were borne by 
 the tempest to Winchendon. No damage was done here. 
 
 The winter of 1842-3, was noted for snow-storms. The snow came 
 early, and did not go ofi' until the last week in April. There were drifts 
 in the woods in the middle of May. On the 12th of November, 1843, 
 people rode in sleighs to the November election. 
 
 On the 22d of April, 1852, there was a great flood in Miller's river. 
 There had been a fall of snow six or eight inches deep ; this was fol- 
 lowed by rain till the snow was almost ready to run ; then a warm sun 
 came out, and the water rushed down every hill-side into the small 
 streams, which poured their tribute into the river. It was rapidly swbl- 
 
BISTOKT OF WINCHBNDON. 397 
 
 len above its banks, and roared along its bed mth fearful violence. 
 Men watched at the dams that night, and about one o'clock in the 
 morning of the 22d, the ringing of the alarm bell roused the people. 
 Baxter Whitney's dam was beginning to give way. At two the top of 
 the old woolen factory dam went off, and the rush of waters carried off 
 the Bobbins, the Aldrich and the Hyde dams. About six P. M., Mr. 
 Whitney's dam, and saw-mUl, and the railroad bridge went down with 
 a crash, and the dAris borne by the rushing flood, swept away the cause- 
 way and bridge, on Spring street. The causeway was several feet un- 
 der water. Next the bridge and dam by the woolen mill (now Good- 
 speed & Wyman's site) were taken up as a feather, and hurled down 
 stream with frightful velocity. The accumulated waters and broken 
 timbers rushed along, making a clean sweep of all the bridges and dams 
 below. Standing on Prospect street, the writer had a clear view of 
 the memorable scene. Following the rush towards Waterville, he heard 
 the large rocks in the river dashing against each other with a loud noise, 
 as they were bowled along by the flood. At the same time, all the 
 bridges between the Village and the Ashbumham line, and the Butler 
 mill-dam, were destroyed. This was the greatest and most destructive 
 flood within the memory of the most aged inhabitants. 
 
 In 1853, on the 27th of August, there was a violent storm. At 
 tea-time a thunder-storm came up ; and there was quite a fall of rain. 
 Suddenly there was a singular and fearful rumbling, such as is rare- 
 ly heard, and which leads one instinctively to seek divine protection. 
 Looking from the front door of his residence on Prospect street, the 
 author saw that the village was shrouded in darkness, and that a fierce 
 tempest was sweeping up the valley. It soon passed over, to the great 
 relief of the shuddering people. The tornado first struck Waterville, 
 doing much damage to trees, bams and houses, and then tore along up 
 the valley of the river, as through a tunnel, and spreading out over the 
 Village. Twenty trees in Dea. Hyde's orchard, and eight belonging 
 to Joel Hyde were upturned. Many others were prostrated. Chim- 
 neys were blown down, three barns were unroofed, the horse-sheds at 
 the Methodist meeiing-house were demolished, and the spire of the Bap- 
 tist meeting-house was thrown down. 
 
 The morning of January 11, 1859, was the coldest ever known here. 
 The mercray in the thermometer fell to 38 degrees below zero. 
 
 The winter of 186&-6,was remarkable for the absence of suow- 
 
398 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. * 
 
 storms. Whenever the clouds gathered, the temperature was a few 
 degrees above the freezing point, and the moisture came down in rain. 
 There was but about a fortnight sleighing all winter, and then the 
 earth was only veneered with a thin crust. 
 
 The summer of 1868 has been as remarkable for extreme heat. 
 There were a few very hot days in June. In the early part of July, the 
 sun's rays came down with scorching heat. On the 5th, which was 
 Sunday, the thermometer indicated from 95 to 104 degrees in the 
 shade, over a large extent of country. The two next succeeding weeks, 
 with the occasional exception of a day, were similar. Hundreds were 
 cut down by sun-stroke in dififerent parts of the land. Some were pros- 
 trated with the extreme heat, in this town, though none lost their lives. 
 
 SUDDEN DEATHS BY APOPLEXY, HEAT, &C. 
 
 In the night preceding the raising of the meeting-house, in 1792, 
 Mr. Bill Hancock died in his bed. 
 
 In 1809, Bartholomew Stearns, Jr., was found dead in the road near 
 the house of Capt. John Raymond. He had been reaping, became heat- 
 ed, went to the well and drank, and died on his return. 
 
 In November 1818, Enoch Stuart retired in health, but died in the 
 night. 
 
 1819, July 1, David Goodridge, 2d, died suddenly in bed. 
 
 In 1823, Peter Parmenter was found dead in his bed. 
 
 1824, September 17, Abzina Cummings died suddenly. 
 
 On the 27th of January, 1829, Paul Stewart fell dead in or near his 
 barnyard. 
 
 1831, December 16, Capt. Samuel Baldwin was found dead in his 
 bed in the morning. 
 
 June 15, 1832, Andrew Benjamin was found dead, by his daugh- 
 ter, in the road near the house of Mr. Cromwell Fisher. 
 
 In this year, John R. Golding fell dead in his house, and an infant 
 child of Lydia Golding died suddenly. 
 
 On the 22d of November, Isaac Grout, Jr., was found dead in the 
 mowing land of Mr. Luke Rice. He had been missing through the 
 night. 
 
 In 1834, Simon Wilder was found dead in his bed, and Mary God- 
 dard died in a fit. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 399 
 
 In 1837, Mrs. Tisdale Howard died very suddenly. 
 
 On the 22d o^^October, Mrs. John Arba Brooks died in a fit. 
 
 In 1840, a girl died on the road near Spring Village. 
 
 On the 26th of July, 1841, Mrs. Phinehas Parks was found dead 
 near the door. She had stepped out to get some fuel. 
 
 In 1842, January 7, A child of Peter Thomas was found dead by 
 its mother when she awoke in the night. 
 
 On the 21st of March, Dea. Luther Richardson died instantly in 
 John Poor's mill yard. He was a very useful man in the church, in 
 the schools, and in the community. 
 
 In this year, Mrs. Samuel Bro-\vn, wife of Samuel Brown, Sen., at 
 the south end of the town, was found dead in her bed. So was Mrs. 
 Carter, mother of Mrs. David Beaman. Jewett B. Darling was found 
 dead in his bed in the day-time. 
 
 In 1843, May 14, Phinehas Elwin Parks died suddenly in bed. 
 On the same day. Col. Benjamin Adams died suddenly. On the first 
 Sabbath in May, he was at meeting to hear the writer's first sermon 
 in Winchendon. Preaching the funeral sermon was a severe trial in 
 his early ministry. 
 
 On the 19th of June, Capt. Joshua Stoddard, another of those 
 whom curiosity led to hear the new minister, died very suddenly. 
 
 On the 11th of August, 1846, Mr. Enoch Wyman's wife died sud- 
 denly while at work in the house. 
 
 In 1852, January 7, Enoch Kidder, Esq., died of apoplexy. 
 
 1853, August 3, Benjamin Adams, Jr., died in an apoplectic fit. 
 
 lo 1864, December 1, Mrs. Lucy Whitney, aged nearly 83 years, 
 died in the morning before rising. She was stepmother of Hon. Giles 
 H. Whitney, a gentlewoman with the ancient courtesy, whom every- 
 body loved. 
 
 On the morning of the Sabbath, January 21, 1866, Mr. George 
 Brown, a respected citizen, died suddenly, of apoplexy. The people 
 heard of the event while on the way to Church. It produced univer- 
 sal solemnity and sorrow. 
 
 In 1867, November 5, Mrs. Keziah Evans died instantly of apoplexy. 
 On the 18th of the same month, Mrs. Harriet W. Pierce, daughter of 
 the late Amasa Whitney, died suddenly of apoplexy. 
 
 On the 9th of May 1868, about seven in the evening, Mr. Cal- 
 
400 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 vin R. Whitman, fell and died instantly, of apoplexy, near his house. 
 He was busily at -work with a shovel. He died accordii!^ to his desire, 
 as he had often expressed the wish that he might depart in an instant. 
 He had " put his house in order," and made every preparation for such 
 an event, whenever it might come. He was a man of active temper- 
 ament, large brain — weight 64 ounces — and strong, analytic mind. 
 Nothing i)ut over-cautiousness hindered him from taking the lead in busi- 
 ness and in affairs generally. He was quick to speak, but slow and 
 discreet in action. One who knew him intimately for twenty years and 
 more, in sorrow and in joy, holds his memory in tender remembrance. 
 
 DEATHS BY ACCIDENTAL DROWNING. 
 
 In April, 1771, in the spring flood, William Oaks and Robert Mof- 
 fat were drowned. This event has been spoken of on a preceding page. 
 They were in a boat just below the bridge a mile beyond Waterville. 
 The boat was upset, the river was high and rapid. They clung to a 
 large, low stub, for a while. Mrs. Oaks saw them but could render 
 them no help. No neighbors were near. The water was cold, and they 
 became chilled till they could hold on no longer. The mother's ago- 
 ny, as she saw her boy and his companion swept away, no pen can re- 
 cord. 
 
 In July, 1781, a child of Samuel Stimson was drowned in a well, 
 nearly opposite Mr. 0. Fisher's, on the south side of the road, in the 
 lot of Mrs. Connor. 
 
 In 1786, William Brown, son of David, was found dead in a well, 
 on the place long occupied by Wilham Brown, Esq., near the Paul 
 Raymond farm. He was subject to fits, and it was supposed that he 
 went to the well for water, fell in, and was drowned. 
 
 In 1818, July, Cyrus Partridge was drowned in Ashuelot river, 'at 
 Hinsdale, N. H., and was brought the same day to the house of his fath- 
 er, in this town. 
 
 On Sunday, December 14, 1825, Henry Holden, aged 24, was re- 
 turning home from the New Boston meeting-house, and while crossing 
 the ice on Denison lake, broke through. As he went down the third 
 time, he said : " I must die ; Lord, have mercy on my soul." 
 
 In 1834, a child of Mr. Capron, was drowned at Spring 
 
 Village. 
 
 In 1837, a boy aged eleven years, was drowned at Spring Village. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON, 401 
 
 On the first of July, 1843, Henry, son of Mr, Harry and Mrs. Mi- 
 nerva Pitkin, was drowned in the tannery mill-pond, while bathing. 
 He was a bright boy. His funeral was attended in the Methodist 
 Church, on Sabbath evening, when the scene was rendered doubly sol- 
 emn by a heavy thunder-storm. 
 
 In 1846, August 2, a child of Mr. Moses Foskett was drowned. 
 
 On the 19th of November, 1849, Leander, son of Mr. Joel and Mrs. 
 Lavina Hunt, was drowned in the pond near their house. He fell from 
 the bridge. 
 
 On the 21st of August, 1851, Frederic P., a little son of Mr. Levi 
 N. and Mrs. Calista P. Fairbanks, was drowned in Athol. The pa- 
 rents belonged here, and their affliction elicited the sympathy of many 
 friends. 
 
 In 1860, February 27, Sarah Ann, a daughter of Mr. B. Talbot, 
 was drowned a few rods above the causeway bridge. 
 
 On the 22d December, 1861, a son of Thomas Hughes was drowned. 
 
 Joseph H. Crowley, a little boy was drowned on the 2d of June, 1863. 
 
 In 1866, June 24, Pliny H. Tannant was drowned near Goodspeed 
 & Wyman's dam. 
 
 On the 28th day of June, 1868, James B. Gardham, of St. John, 
 Canada, was drowned above the railroad dam. Though a comparative 
 stranger here, he was esteemed by those who knew him. 
 
 DEATHS BY FAILING TEEES, &C. . 
 
 The first case of this kind befel the most important man in town, in 
 both Church and State, at the time, Dea. Richard Day. He was instant- 
 ly killed by the falling of a tree, near the corner of the road northeast of 
 Capt. G. Alger's. This was on the third of May, 1774. 
 
 May 19, 1784, John Chamberlin was killed by a falling tree, which 
 he and his son had been cutting. 
 
 On the 10th of May, 1786, Uriah Crooks was fataUy hurt by the fall- 
 ing of a stub, at a chopping bee. This was at the northeast corner o f 
 Denison lake. He survived but a few hours. 
 
 1791, in May, Jonathan Stimson, when ploughing on the Beaman 
 farm, was struck by a tree blown down by the wind, and killed. 
 
 In 1883, January 14, Samuel Brown, Jr., was killled by the fall of 
 a tree, near the southeast part of the Brown farm, where a monument 
 
 96 
 
402 HISTORY OF wirrcHEjrDojr. 
 
 ffiarfa the spot. He was a brother of the late Wm. Brown, Esq., and 
 father of the Rev. Samuel Watsoa Brown, recently deceased. 
 
 In 1834, Mary Day, daughter of Mr. Daniel Day, Sen., was killed 
 hj a falling tree. She and a young playmate, now Mra. A. Bowker, 
 were at a safe distance, but the choppers told them to ruD, when they 
 started, the little Day ^rl fell, and was killed by a branch. This occur- 
 red just across Miller's river, and north of the Fry place. 
 
 September 2, 1836, Joseph Adams, son of Col, Adams, was kiDed 
 at the Murdock mills, which he had sold, not long before, to Capt. Mur- 
 dock. A log which he was hauling, swung round, and hitting him on 
 the head, gave a mortal blow. He hved but a few hours. He was an 
 enterprising man, pleasant in his family, and respected by his friends, 
 
 A falling tree killed Mr. Humphrey Harris, on the 13th of January, 
 1847. 
 
 DEATHS BY HOKSES, TEAMS, &C. 
 
 Capt. Israel Whitcomb is often mentioned in the Records, near the 
 close of the last century and the opening of the present. He was killed 
 by the kick of a horse, in Fitzwilliam, November, 1804. He was found 
 in the road by Esq. Murdock, 
 
 In 1811, Joseph Story of Eitchburg, was killed on the road just be' 
 yond Capt. Levi Steams', by falling out of a chaise, and being run over 
 by the wheels. 
 
 In November, 1814, Luke Knight was killed in a wagon, by the kick 
 of a horse, on the road near where Mr. William Capron lives. 
 
 On the 14th of October, 1816, Thomas Wyman, Jr., was killed, it 
 was supposed, by falling from a horse, and being dragged by the stir- 
 rup. He was found dead in the road near. 
 
 On the 6th of the" following December, Thomas Wyman, Sen., who 
 was deaf, was killed in Worcester, by a stage running over him in the 
 dark. 
 
 In 1818, June 6, Silas Brown, eleven years old, came to his death 
 by being run over by a cart loaded with gravel. 
 
 On the 30th of December, 1830, a boy named Elisha Fry, was killed 
 by the falling of a cart body upon him, at the Elias Whitney place. 
 
 In 1834, July 13, Elizabeth Goodspeed was killed, a large loaded 
 wagon passing over her head and neck. She, with others, was return- 
 
HISTORY 03? WmCHBNBON. 403 
 
 ing from meeting in a wagon. In attempting to pass the loaded wag- 
 on, their vehicle was upset towards the wagon, and she was thrown under 
 a wheel. 
 
 Joel Bobbins, of Rindge, on the 18th of September, 1835, was MUed 
 near the Woodbury saw-mill, by a wagon. 
 
 In October, 1843, a little son of Mr. Newell and Mrs. Rebecca Wy^ 
 man was killed by the kick of a horse. 
 
 Edson A. Parks, son of Mr. Austin Parks, was killed by the kick of 
 a horse, on the 8th of January, 1866. 
 
 BEATHS BY BURNING. 
 
 In 1824, the widow Elizabeth Baldwin was found burnt to death, 
 by the family, on returning from meeting on the Sabbath day. Nearly 
 all her flesh was consumed. 
 
 In 1828, a child of a Mr. Lathrop came to its death by falling into 
 a pot of hot fat. 
 
 In 1837, a child of Mr. Joel Hunt died in consequence of being 
 scalded. 
 
 On the morning of the 5th of December, 1854, Mrs. Phebe H. Wy- 
 man, wife of Mr. Harvey Wyman, was burned to death. She was en- 
 feebled by sickness, and being left a few minutes, it is supposed she ap- 
 proached the fire for some purpose, and fell in, and being unable to 
 extricate herself, perished. She was a sensible, pious woman, and was 
 greatly missed by her friends. 
 
 OTHER FATAL CASDAITIES. ^ 
 
 In 1778, a traveller, while stopping at the Nichols tavern, was chok- 
 ed to death by a piece of meat. 
 
 1786, Mrs. Jonathan Smith had a child die in her arms while riding 
 in a sleigh ; probably smothered. 
 
 In 1830, a daughter of Mr. Lewis Robbins, named Maria, feU upon 
 a revolving water-wheel, and was instantly killed. 
 
 On the 17th of October, 1833, Samuel Hartwell was found dead 
 near a bridge, in the south-west part of the town. He was out in the 
 ■dark, the evening before, and the supposition was that he fell from the 
 bridge. 
 
 In 1884, Februaiy 5, a young man, Adams by name, working in 
 
404 HISTORY OF WIIfCHENDOW. 
 
 the factory at Spring Village, had his hand caught in a running helt, 
 which injurfed him so as to cause his death. 
 "— October 15, 1840, a son of Mr. Edward Loud, named William, was 
 tilled by being caught in a belt, and thrown round a shaft. 
 
 On the 25th of March, 1846, a young man from New Salem, named 
 Weeks, was tilled by falling upon a water-wheel. 
 
 On the 2d of April, same year, a girl named Taggart, aged 16 
 years, from Sharon, N. H., was found dead, having been frozen, a lit- 
 tle distance from the road, in the woods north from the school-house. 
 She had been working in the cotton factory, but was missing in the 
 previous November. For a time it was supposed that she had return- 
 ed to her home. 
 
 In 1852, Oct. 29, Mr. Jason Goodaledied in consequence of a fall. 
 
 March 21, 1860, Elisha R., son of Mr. Newell Wyman, ten years 
 of age, while playing on a mow in the barn, slid on to an iron hay-hook, 
 which entered the lower part of his body, and penetrated sixteen inches. 
 It was impossible to extract it before the death of the lad, which oc- 
 curred in a few hours. The little fellow knew that he niust die, but 
 he manifested the sweetest trust in his Saviour. 
 
 In 1862, December 29, Mrs. Nancy Bobbins died literally of old 
 , age, bang 101 years and 5 months old. 
 
 Ob the 2d of September, 1864, Wallace R., son of Mr. H. 0. Clark, 
 came to his death by an accident on the Wilmington & Baltimore rail- 
 road. His remains were brought here for burial. The event awak- 
 ened deep sympathy for the afflicted family. 
 
 in 1865;, on the 4th of Apii!, Walter G. Bryant, son of Mr. Nathan 
 Bryant, was killed by the bursting of a gun, near the house of Capt. 
 Levi Greenwood, and a few rods from his father's door. He was an 
 only child, and was greatly beloved by his parents, teachers and com- 
 panions. He was eighteen years of age. 
 
 FIRES. 
 
 Kres were not common in the early years of the town, though there 
 are traditions of an occasional case of the kind. Kres have been con- 
 fined mainly to mills, shops and dry-houses. Three factories, two oil 
 nulls, one grist mill, a large bam and two large dry-houses, have been 
 bumed on the ate of Goodspeed & Wyman. Some of the fires will 
 be mentioned in chronological ord^-. 
 
HISTORY OF WnfCHENDON. 405 
 
 1851, April 22. The shoe shop of Wm. Pollard, the Union store, 
 the Post Office, and the stores and shops of N. H. Han'd, Knapp & 
 Beals, Joel Hunt, J. M. Claughlin and M. B. Felton, were burned to 
 the ground. 
 
 December 19. The house of Ozro Hancock, and the store of Mo- 
 ses Hancock in Water ville, were burned. 
 
 1852, June 11. The large boarding-house and two dry-houses were 
 burned at Murdock's mill. 
 
 August 20. Two barns, with considerable property belonging to 
 the tavern stand, were consumed. 
 
 October 19. The store occupied by George S. Pollard, and the Odd 
 Fellows hall, was much damaged by fire. 
 
 1853, January 23. The house of Messrs. Wheeler & Hayward, on 
 the hiU, was half consumed. 
 
 1854, August 12. The tub and pail shop of E. Murdock, Jr., oc- 
 cupied by William Beaman and Mr. Converse, was burnt. 
 
 November 17. Whitman & Parks' mill and pail shop, at Bullard- 
 ville, were burnt to the ground. 
 
 1855, The large barn of the Winchendon Manufacturing Co., with 
 hay and grain, was entirely consumed. 
 
 May 30. The large factory at Spring Village, was burned to the 
 ground. Insured for f30,000. 
 
 1856, May 27. The tannery was consumed. 
 
 November 21. E. Murdock & Co's pail shop at Waterville, was 
 burned. 
 
 1857, May. The mill and pail and tub shop of Parks & Day, at 
 Bullardville, were totally destroyed. 
 
 1858, October. The barn of Elisha Beaman, with all its contents, 
 was burned. 
 
 1859, September 27. The woolen factory met its fate the third and 
 last time. 
 
 1863, March 20. The foundry of B. D. Whitney, occupied by 
 EUsha Beaman, was consumed. 
 
 The above were the principal fires during the last twenty years. The 
 origin in most cases, was accident, or carelessness ; in others, the pub- 
 lic opinion was, that incendiaries had been at work. But no case of 
 conviction for incendiarism has occurred. 
 
406 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 CASES OF SUICIDE. 
 
 The first instance of self-destruction occurred on tlie 12th of March, 
 1797, when a boy named Jonathan Moor, hung himself on a sleigh- 
 tongue, in the bam of Lieut. Benjamin Hubbard, who then lived on 
 what was afterwards known as Elias Whitney's farm. Inquiry elicits 
 nothing to account for the act but the remark that " the boy was a 
 witch-eat." 
 
 On the 29th of June, 1862, Miss Jerusha Dunham took her own 
 life by hanging. She was naturally anaiable and attractive, but was 
 long afflicted with hereditary insanity. 
 
 In 1864, June 20, Miss Lorinda Phelps committed suicide by drown- 
 ing. 
 
 In 1864, June 20, Miss Lorinda Phelps was found in the Kendall 
 & Mason pond near Hydeville. It was supposed liiat, in a fit of de- 
 pression, she had given up hfe in this mode. 
 
 HOMICIDES. 
 
 On the 8th of September, 1800, a youth by the name of Stephen 
 Bixby, was killed and horribly mangled with an axe, by Daniel Rob- 
 bins, an insane man. This took place in or near a log house on land 
 of Capt. Joseph Bobbins. Bobbins labored under the delusion that the 
 end of the world was near, and that in order to its actual arrival, blood 
 must be shed, and that God had set him apart to do the work. He 
 chased his own brother, who was obliged to flee for his life. Men turn- 
 ed out armed with guns, pitchforks and other weapons, and captured 
 him. He was put in prison, and confined for Kfe. This was before 
 the day of hospitals for the insane. Dr. Whiton says that boys were 
 afraid to go after the cows, fearing lest Bobbins would dart out from 
 the bushes and kill them. 
 
 In 1861, on the 14th of September, Mrs. Betsey Page died from poi- 
 son. At the same time, her two daughters. Miss Miranda Page and 
 Mrs. Leander Hartwell; sufiered, the former severely, the latter inildly, 
 from the same dose. The case was this. Hartwell had married the 
 youngest daughter, and lived on the place, having the care of a moth- 
 er-in-law and a sister-in-law who were invalids. His wife was healthy. 
 He obtained arsenic of the apothecary, on the plea that he wanted to 
 kill rats. The poison was mixed in some hash prepared for breakfast. 
 
HISTOBT OF •WINCHBNDON. 407 
 
 The moflier was fatally poisoned ; Miranda just escaped death ; Mrs. 
 Hartwell paxtook of but little. It was clearly proved )that Hartweli 
 put the poison in the victuals, but he was cleared on the plea of insan- 
 ity. He was kept in the insane hospital for a while, and then releas- 
 ed. He lived with his wife till her death a year or two since. Many 
 believed that the plea of insanity had no foundation. 
 
 A dark crime occurred a few years since. A large paper box was 
 found floating on the pond in the Tillage, containing the tiny bodies 
 of two infent-s. Whether they were born dead, or were smothered, or 
 died from exposure, is not known. This was one of those cases of hid- 
 den guilt which make a judgment day a necessity. 
 
 In this connection, it is proper, if any allusion is made to the mat- 
 ter, to speak of a supposed case of homicide, or murder, which occurred 
 many years since. The author has hesitated to relate the circumstan- 
 ■ces, lest injustice might be done to an innocent man ; but as he was 
 considered guilty at the time, and is still by aged people, it will help 
 to clear his memory, to state the case. Along before and after the be- 
 ginning of the century, a man by the name of Bber Arnold, lived in 
 the old Oaks house, now occupied by Mr. Townsend, beyond the bridge a 
 mile from Waterville. He was a man of violent temper, and intem- 
 perate habits. A young man was working for him one season, with 
 whom he became very angry. They were at work one day, in the 
 meadow south of Miller's river, and when called to dinner, Arnold in- 
 sisted that the young man should carry him on his back, across the 
 stream. The youth contrived to stumble and throw the old man into 
 the water. The latter was in»a towering passion, and threatened to 
 kill the roguish fellow. As evening Came on, the young man left the 
 house, and went up the road to the house of Mr. Phinehas Parks. Soon 
 Arnold came along, but the young man left the house by the back door 
 before his pursuer entered. He disappeared in the dark towards the 
 woods southwest of the house. Arnold wore an old cloak, and had a 
 rusty old sword underneath it. He started after the young man, and 
 the story is,. the latter was never seen afterwards. In after years it 
 was observed that Arnold, in abstracted moods, talked as if conscious of 
 some dark and secret crime. It is the old story of Eugene Aram. A 
 watcher with him when sick, related how he was disturbed in his dreams 
 and his waking hours. He spoke of the hands that were not coveredf 
 
408 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 up, and of other things, as if he had had a struggle with his victim. 
 The impression made on the mind of his attendant was, that Arnold 
 was cognizant of the cause of the young man's absence. The result 
 of all the circumstances was a conviction in many minds that he was 
 guilty, either of murder, or of homicide in a fight. It is gratifying to 
 be able to state that those suspicions probably were unfounded. A cit- 
 izen of this town, while traveling a few years since in Vermont, staid 
 over night at the house of a sister of the missing man, and she said 
 that the family did not believe that her brother was killed by Arnold. 
 Whether they had heard from him, or not, is not known, but they har- 
 bored no suspicions of his murder. Thus a stain is taken from the mem- 
 ory of Arnold, and also from the fair fame of the town. 
 
 SUPERSTITION AND ■WITCHCEAPT. 
 
 The town traditions are not rich in cases of witchcraft and appari- 
 tions, though doubtless the early settlers partook of the spirit of the 
 times, when every neighborhood had its stories of ghosts. Even to this 
 day there are those who believe in the supernal or infernal knowledge 
 of witches, and there are those living who have resorted to such hags 
 to get information of lost cattie, and of the location of drowned bodies. 
 Here and there one has been weak enough to seek for similar intelli- 
 gence from spirit rappers, though the town has been remarkably free 
 from such delusions. 
 
 About 1790, according to Dr. Whiton, there was a supposed case of 
 witchcraft in this town. The members of a family living on the Bige- 
 low place in the east part of the town, were alarmed by what they 
 deemed supernatural noises, and by stones thrown against the house by 
 invisible hands. The disturbance rose to such a pitch, and the family 
 were so alarmed, that they called in the minister, Mr. Brown, to lay 
 the spirit, check-mate the witch, exorcise the foul fiend, or remove the 
 cause of disturbance, whatever it might be. Mr. Brown was never in- 
 clined to say much about the matter, but it was supposed fcat he con- 
 sidered the noises to be the work of human cunning. 
 
 In 1814, an aged inhabitant died. Some time after, his son went to 
 the old burying-yard to put up gravestones. He related that his fa- 
 ther appeared to him, and religiously believed that it was a real case of 
 ghostly apparition. It does not appear that the departed had anything 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 409 
 
 to eommunicate that would justify takiDg such a journey ; a circum- 
 stance often noticed in relation to alleged spiritualistic messages from 
 the unseen world. 
 
 It must be confessed that this section upon superstitions is very mea- 
 ger, but the author is glad that there is nothing farther of this nature 
 to relate. The more enlightened a people are in their religious convic- 
 tions, the better instructed they are in Scriptural truth, the more free 
 are they from dark and degrading superstitions. 
 
410 
 
 HISTORY ' OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. — LIST OF TOWN OF- 
 FICERS. 
 
 " Honor and shame ifi'om no condition rise ; 
 Act well your part,-*ifliiere all the honor lies.' 
 i,l Pope. 
 
 LIST or TOWN OrFICEES. 
 
 In the following list will be foun^.-the names of the principal town of- 
 ficers from the year 1766. The first column, headed " Moderators, 
 &c.," contains the names of the M'bderator, Clerk and Treasurer, for 
 each year, and always in that order of sequence. 
 
 YEAR. MODERATORS, ETC. 
 
 1766. Ephraim Boynton, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Kicbard Day. 
 
 1767. Theos. Mansfield, 
 Theos. Mansfield, 
 Eiehard Day. 
 
 1768. Theos. Mansfield, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Richard Day. 
 
 1769. Theos. Mansfield, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Richard Day. 
 
 1770. Theos. Mansfield, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Richard Day. 
 
 1771. Richard Day, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Richard Day. 
 
 1Y72. John Cheney, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Richard Day. 
 
 1773. Richard Day, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Moses Hale. 
 
 SELECTMEN. 
 
 Theos. Mansfield, 
 Richard Day, 
 Abel Wilder. 
 Theos. Mansfield, 
 Joseph Boynton, 
 Silas Whitney. 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Seth Oaks, 
 Jonathan Stimson. 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Seth Oaks; 
 Jonathan Stimson. 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Seth Oaks, 
 John Boynton. 
 Richard Day, 
 John Cheney, 
 Thomas Sawyer. 
 Abel Wilder, 
 John Boynton, 
 Dudley Perley. 
 Richard Day, 
 Amos Merriam, 
 John Homer. 
 
 ASSESSORS. 
 
 No Assessors. 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHBNDON. 
 
 411 
 
 TEAK. MODERATOKS, ETC. 
 
 1774. Seth Oaks, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Moses Hale. 
 
 1775. Moses Hale, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Moses Hale. 
 
 1776. Moses Hale, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Moses Hale. 
 
 1777. Thomas Kimball, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Amos Merriam. 
 
 n78. Moses Hale, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Abel Wilder. 
 
 1779. Benjamin Brown, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Abel Wilder. 
 
 1780. Dr. Israel Whiten, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Abel Wilder. 
 
 1781. Ebenezer Sherwin, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Benj. Brown. 
 
 1782. Sam'l Crosby, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Benj Brown. 
 
 SELECTMi N. 
 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Levi Nichols, 
 Abner Hale, 
 Wm. Whitney, . 
 Eli Smith. 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Levi Nichols, 
 John Boynton, 
 David Po ir, 
 Gideon Fdsher. 
 Abel Wilder, 
 William Whitney. 
 Joseph-'Boynton, 
 Eli Smith, 
 James Murdock. 
 Abel Wilder, 
 John .Boynton, 
 Wm. Whitney, 
 Eli Smith, 
 Amos Merriam. 
 Moses Hale, 
 Miles Putnam, 
 Daniel Goodridge, 
 Joseph Bacon, 
 Abner Curtiss. 
 Amos Merriam, 
 Ebenezer Sherwin, 
 Solomon Bigelow, 
 Seth Oaks, 
 Samuel Noyes. 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Benjamin Brown, 
 Samuel Stone, 
 Francis Bridge. 
 Amos Merriam, 
 Joshua Gale, 
 Bill Hancock, 
 Paul Boynton, 
 John Day. 
 
 Amos Merriam, 
 Sam'l Crosby, Esq., 
 Amos Hey wood, 
 Edward Withington. 
 
 ASSESSORS. 
 
 No Assessors. 
 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Moses Hale, 
 Thomas Kimball. 
 
 No Assessors. 
 
 Selectmen. 
 
 Selectn 
 
 Amos Merriam, 
 Ebenezer Sherwin, 
 Solomon Bigelow. 
 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Sam'l Prentiss, 
 Benjamin Brown. 
 
 Amos Merriam, 
 Joshua Gale, 
 BiU Hancock. 
 
 Amos Merriam, 
 Sam'l Crosby, 
 Amos Heywood. 
 
412 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 YEAR. MODBRATOKS, ETC. 
 
 1783. Moses Hale, 
 Benj. Brown, 
 Moses Hale. 
 
 1784. Moses Hale, 
 Benj. Brown, 
 Amos Merriam. 
 
 1785. Abel Wilder, 
 Benj. Brown, 
 Amos Merriam. 
 
 1786. Moses Hale, 
 Benj. Brown, 
 Amos Merriam. 
 
 1787. Sam'l Prentice, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Amos Merriam. 
 
 1788. Sam'l Crosby, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Moses Hale. 
 
 1789. Sam'l Crosby, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Moses Hale. 
 
 1790. Sam'l Crosby, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Moses Hale. 
 
 1791. Sam'l Crosby, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Moses Hale. 
 
 SELECTMEN. 
 
 Amos Merriam, 
 Sam'l Crosby, 
 Benj. Brown, 
 David Foster, 
 Daniel Hubbard. 
 Benj. Brown, 
 Samuel Prentice, 
 Samuel Litch, 
 James Steel, 
 James Cooledge. 
 Benj. Brown. 
 Sam'l Prentice, 
 Sam'l Litch, 
 James Steel, 
 James Cooledge. 
 Benj. Brown, 
 Sam'l Prentice, 
 Sam'l Crosby, Esq., 
 John Burr, 
 Levi Moor. 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Abiel Buttrick, 
 Jeremiah Stuart, 
 Daniel Heywood. 
 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Abiel Buttrick, 
 Jeremiah Stuart, 
 Daniel Hubbard, 
 Paul Boynton. 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Abiel Buttrick, 
 Jeremiah Stuart, 
 Daniel Hubbard, 
 Paul Boynton. 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Abiel Buttrick, 
 Jeremiah Stuart, 
 Paul Boynton, 
 Ebenezer Richardson, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Abiel Buttrick, 
 Jeremiah Stuart, 
 Paul Boynton, 
 Ebenezer Richardson. 
 
 ASSESSORS. 
 
 Amos Merriam, 
 Sam'l Crosby, 
 Benj. Brown. 
 
 Benj. Brown, 
 Sam'l Prentice, 
 Sam'l Litch. 
 
 Benj. Brown, 
 Sam'l Prentice, 
 Sam'l Litch. 
 
 Benj. Brown, 
 Sam'l Prentice, 
 Sam'l Crosby. 
 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Abiel Buttrick, 
 Jeremiah Stuart. 
 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Abiel Buttrick, 
 Jeremiah Stuart. 
 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Jeremiah Stuart, 
 Abiel Buttrick. 
 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Abiel Buttrick, 
 Jeremiah Stuart. 
 
 Amos Heywoo^, 
 Jeremiah Stuart, 
 Abiel Buttrick. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 413 
 
 VEAE.. MODERATOKS, ETC. 
 
 1792. Sam'l Crosby, 
 Sam'l Crosby, 
 Moses Hale. 
 
 1793. Sam'l Prentice, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 John Burr. 
 
 1794. Moses Hale, 
 Moses Hale, 
 Sam'l Prentice. 
 
 1795. Amos Heywood, 
 Moses Hale, 
 Levi Moor. 
 
 1796. Desire Tolman, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Levi Moor. 
 
 1797. Desire, Tolman, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Levi Moor. 
 
 1798. Desire Tolman, 
 Moses Hale, 
 Amos Heywood. 
 
 1799. Desire Tolman, 
 Sam'l Crosby, 
 Amos Heywood. 
 
 1800. Desire Tolman, 
 Samuel Crosby, 
 Amos Heywood. 
 
 SELECTMEN. 
 
 Samuel Crosby, 
 Abiel Buttrick, 
 Paul Boynton, 
 Ebenezer Kichardson. 
 Desire Tolman. 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Abiel Buttrick, - 
 Jeremiah Stuart, 
 Peter Kobinson, 
 Amos Hale. 
 
 Moses Hale, 
 Desire Tolman, 
 Paul Boynton, 
 Ezra Hide, 
 Benjamin Wilder. 
 Moses Hale, 
 Desire Tolman, 
 Benjamin Wilder, 
 Jacob Wales, 
 Thomas Greenwood. 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Benj. Wilder, 
 Sam'l Prentice, Jr., 
 Thomas Wilder, 
 Phinehas Whitney. 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Benj. Wilder, 
 Sam'l Prentice, Jr., 
 Phinehas Whitney, 
 Jonas Bruce. 
 Moses Hale, 
 Ezra Hide, - 
 Amasa Brown, 
 Benj. Hubbard, 
 Levi Heywood. 
 Samuel Crosby, 
 Ezra Hyde, 
 Desire Tolman, 
 Thomas Grraton, 
 , Benj. Hubbard. 
 Sam'l Crosby, 
 Thomas Graton, 
 Paul Raymond, Jr., 
 Jacob B. Woodbury, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 ASSESSORS. 
 
 Sam'l Crosby. 
 Abiel Buttrick, 
 Paul Boynton. 
 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Abiel Buttrick, 
 Jeremiah Stuart. 
 
 Moses Hale, 
 Desire Tolman, 
 Paul Boynton. 
 
 Moses Hale, 
 Desire Tolman, 
 Benj. Wilder. 
 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Benj. Wilder, 
 Sam'l Prentice, Jr. 
 
 Amos Hejrwood, 
 Benj. Wilder, 
 Sam'l Prentice, Jr. 
 
 Moses Hale, 
 Amasa Brown, 
 Ezra Hyde. 
 
 Sam'l Crosby, 
 Ezra Hyde, 
 Desire Tolman. 
 
 Sam'l Crosby, 
 Thomas Graton, 
 Paul Raymond, Jr. 
 
414 
 
 HISTORY OP WmCHENDON. 
 
 YBAK. MODERATOES, ETC. 
 
 1801. Desire Tolman, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Levi Moor. 
 
 1802. Desire Tolman, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Samuel Prentiss. 
 
 1803. Desire Tolman, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Samuel Prentiss. 
 
 1804. Desire Tolman, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Paul Raymond, Jr. 
 
 1805. Desire Tolman, - 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Paul Raymond. 
 
 1806. Desire Tolman, 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Paul Raymond. 
 
 1807. Jacob B. Woodbury, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Thomas Grraton. 
 
 1808. Desire Tolman, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Thomas Graton. 
 
 1809. Paul Raymond, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Thomas Graton. 
 
 1810. Amos Heywood, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 SELECTMEN. 
 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Paul Raymond, Jr., 
 Sam'l Prentice, Jr., 
 Eph'm Murdock, 
 Isaac Noyes. 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Paul Raymond, Jr., 
 Sam'l Prentiss, Jr., 
 Benjamin, Hubbard, 
 Abel Jones. 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Paul Raymond, Jr., 
 Thomas Greenwood, 
 Samuel Brown, 
 Hananiah Whitney. 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Thomas Greenwood, 
 Hananiah Whitney. 
 Thomas Greenwood, 
 Sam'l Brown, 
 Hananiah Whitney. 
 Thomas Greenwood, 
 Samuel Brown, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 George Coffin, 
 Timothy Hancock. 
 Paul Raymond, 
 James Raymond, 
 David Beaman, 
 Daniel Day, 
 Thomas Knowlton. 
 Paul Raymond, 
 James Raymond, 
 David Beaman, 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Abijah Pierce. 
 Paul Raymond, 
 Sam'l Prentiss, 
 Sam'l Brown, 
 Eph'm Murdock, 
 Asa Perly. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Eph'm Murdock, 
 Asa Perly. 
 
 ASSESSOKS. 
 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Paul Raymond, Jr., 
 Sam'l Prentice, Jr. 
 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Paul Raymond, Jr. 
 Sam'l Prentiss, Jr. 
 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Paul Raymond, Jr., 
 Thos. Greenwood. 
 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Thos. Greenwood, 
 Han'h Whitney. 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Sam'l Prentiss, Jr., 
 Amos Goodhue. 
 Amos Heywood, 
 Han'h Whitney, 
 Amos Goodhue. 
 
 PaulHaymond, 
 Phinehas Whitney, 
 Nathaniel Holman. 
 
 Paul Raymond, 
 James Raymond, 
 David Beaman. 
 
 Sam'l Prentiss, 
 John McElwdn, 
 Isaac Morse. 
 
 Paul Raymond, 
 Moses Hale, Jr., 
 John McBlwain-. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 415 
 
 YEAR. MODERATORS, ETC. 
 
 1811. PaulRaymond, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 1812. Eph'm Murdook, 
 Sam'l Prentiss, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 1813. Isaac Morse, 
 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 1814. Isaac Morse, 
 Sam'l Prentiss, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 1815. Isaac Morse, 
 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 1816. Isaac Morse, 
 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 1817. Horatio G.Newcomb, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 
 1818. H. G. Newoomb, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 
 1819. 
 
 Israel Whitcomb, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 
 SELECTMEN. 
 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Thos. Greenwood, 
 Sam'l Brown, 
 George Coffin, 
 Asa Hale. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Thomas Greenwood, 
 George Coffin, 
 Asa Hale, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 Thomas Greenwood, 
 Sam'l Prentiss, 
 George Coffin, 
 Asa Hale, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 Thomas Greenwood, 
 Sam'l Prentiss, 
 George Coffin, 
 Asa Hale, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 Thomas Greenwood, 
 Asa Hale, 
 Asa Perly, 
 Israel Whitcomb, 
 Sam'l Noyes. 
 Thomas Greenwood, 
 Asa Hale, 
 Israel Whitcomb, 
 Samuel Noyes, 
 David Beaman. 
 Thomas Greenwood, 
 Asa Hale, 
 Israel Whitcomb, 
 Sam'l Noyes, 
 David Beaman. 
 
 Israel Whitcomb, 
 Asa Perly, 
 Gideon Balcom, 
 Levi Brooks, 
 Moses Hale. 
 
 Israel Whitcomb, 
 Gideon Balcom, 
 Daniel Henshaw. 
 
 ASSESSORS. • 
 
 Paul Raymond, 
 Nathaniel Holman, 
 John McElwain. 
 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Paul Raymond, 
 John McElwain. 
 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Sam'l Prentiss, 
 William Tolman. 
 
 Paul Raymond, 
 Isaac Morse, 
 John McElwain. 
 
 Paul Raymond, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Isaac Morse. 
 
 Paul Raymond, 
 Sam'l Prentiss, 
 Jacob Woodbury. 
 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Jacob Woodbury, 
 Moses Hale. 
 
 Moses Hale, 
 Horatio G. Neweomb, 
 Jacob Woodbury. 
 
 Paul Raymond, 
 Sam'l Prentiss, 
 James McElwain, J r. 
 
416 
 
 HISTORY OF -VTINCHENDON. 
 
 YEAR. MODBEATOKS, ETC. 
 
 1820. 
 
 1821. 
 
 1822. 
 
 H. G-. Newcomb, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 1823. Israel Whiteomb, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 1828. Isaac Morse, 
 
 Samuel Prentiss,* 
 Amasa Whitney. 
 Jacob Wales, 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 Foxwell N. Thomas, 
 Joshua Smith, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 1824. 
 
 1825. 
 
 1826. 
 
 1827. 
 
 1829. 
 
 1830. 
 
 1831. Jacob Wales, 
 Joshua Smith, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 1832. Elisha Gregory, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 1833. Mark Whiteomb, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 SELECTMEN. 
 
 Gideon Balcom, 
 Asa Hale, 
 William Tolman. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Eph'm Murdock, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Eph'm Murdock, 
 Benj. Adams. 
 Israel Whiteomb, 
 James McElwain, 
 Paul Kaymond, Jr. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Eph'm Murdock, 
 Sijni'l Prentiss. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Eph'm Murdock, 
 Israel Whiteomb. 
 Benj. Adams, 
 William Brown, 
 
 Jacob Woodbury. 
 Benj. Adams, 
 
 Israel Whiteomb, 
 
 Jacob Woodbury. 
 
 Isaac Morse, 
 
 Israel Whiteomb, 
 
 Luke Parks. 
 
 Isaac Morse, 
 
 Israel Whiteomb, 
 
 Luke Parks. 
 
 William Brown, 
 'f-'^dward Loud, 
 
 Henry Greeiiwood, 
 
 Jacob Wales, 
 
 Reuben Harris. 
 
 William Brown, 
 
 Henry Greenwood, 
 
 Jacob Wales. 
 
 Henry Greenwood, 
 -Edward Loud, 
 Seth Tucker, Jr. 
 Benj. Adams, 
 Israel Whiteomb, 
 Henry Greenwood, 
 
 ASSESSORS. 
 
 Paul Raymond, 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 
 James McElwain, Jr. 
 
 Isaac Morse, 
 
 Eph'm Murdock, 
 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 Isaac Morse, 
 
 Eph'm Murdock, 
 
 Benj. Adams. 
 
 Isaac Morse, 
 
 Jacob Woodbury, 
 ' Sam'l Prentiss. 
 
 Isaac Morse, 
 
 Eph'm Murdock, 
 
 Sam'l Prentice. 
 
 Isaac Morse, 
 
 Jacob Wales, 
 
 Israel Whiteomb. 
 
 Benj. Adams, 
 
 William Brown, 
 
 Jacob Woodbury. 
 
 Benj. Adams, 
 Israel Whiteomb, 
 Jacob Woodbury. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Israel Whiteomb, 
 Jacob Woodbury. 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Israel Whiteomb, 
 Luke Parks. 
 Jacob Wales, 
 James McElwain, 
 William Tolman. 
 
 James McElwain, 
 Edward Loud, 
 Jacob Wales. 
 James McElwain, 
 Thomas Knowlton, 
 Mark Whiteomb, 
 James McElwain, 
 George Alger, 
 William Bro^n. 
 
 * Died October 13. Joshua Smith served the remainder of the year. 
 
HISTOET 01? WINCHENDON. 
 
 417 
 
 TEAR. MODBKATOES, ETC. 
 
 1834. Eeuben Harris, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Webster Whitney. 
 
 1835. John Cutter, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Webster Whitney. 
 
 1836. John Cutter, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Webster Whitney. 
 
 1837. Eph'mMurdock.Jr., 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Isaac Morse. ^ 
 
 1838. E. Murdoek, Jr., 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Isaac Morse. 
 
 1839. E. Murdoek, Jr., 
 Webster Whitney, 
 E. Murdoek, Jr. 
 
 1840. John Cutter, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 E. Murdoek, Jr. 
 
 1841. John Cutter, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 E. Murdoek, Jr. 
 
 1842. E. Murdoek, Jr., 
 Webster Whitney, 
 E. Murdoek, Jr., 
 
 1843. E. Murdoek, Jr., 
 Webster Whitney, 
 E. Murdoek, Jr. 
 
 1844. E. Murdoek, Jr., 
 Webster Whitney, 
 E. Murdoek, Jr. 
 
 1845. E. Murdoek, Jr., 
 Webster Whitney, 
 C. K. Whitman. 
 
 1846. Calvin K. Whitman, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 C. E. Whitman. 
 
 1847. E. Murdoek, Jr. 
 Webster Whitney. 
 C. R. Whitman. 
 
 SELECIUEN. 
 
 William Brown, 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Levi Greenwood. 
 William Brown, 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Levi Greenwood, 
 /Isaac Morse, 
 Levi Greenwood, 
 Elisha Beaman. 
 Levi Greenwood, 
 Mark Whitcomb, 
 Reuben Vose. 
 Levi Greenwood, 
 Mark Whitcomb, 
 Eeuben Vdse. 
 Mark Whitcomb, 
 Henry Greenwood, 
 John Forristall. 
 Henry Greenwood, 
 John Porristall, 
 Webster Whitney. 
 Henry Greenwood, 
 John Forristall, 
 Webster Whitney. 
 Henry Greenwood, 
 Levi Parks, 
 Webster Whitney. 
 Levi Parks, 
 Henry Greenwood, 
 Webster Whitney. 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Levi Eaymond, 
 Epb. W. Weston. 
 
 Eph. W. Weston, 
 John Gutter, 
 Moses Hancock. 
 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Henry Greenwood, 
 Epb. Murdoek, Jr. 
 
 Elisha Beaman, 
 Harvey Wyman, 
 Levi Raymond. 
 
 ASSESSORS. 
 
 Eph'mMurdock.Jr., 
 William Brown, 
 George Alger. 
 James McElwain, 
 Eph'mMurdock.Jr., 
 George Alger. 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Benj. Adams, 
 George Alger. 
 Eph'm Murdoek, Jr., 
 James McElwain, 
 Levi Parks.' 
 James McElwain, 
 Levi Parks, 
 William B. Whitney. 
 Levi Parks, 
 William B. Whitney, 
 Ezra Porter. 
 Levi Parks, 
 James McElwain, 
 Webster Whitney. 
 Levi Parks, 
 James McElwain, 
 Moses Hancock. 
 
 Levi Parks, 
 Moses Hancock, 
 Levi Greenwood. 
 Moses Hancock, 
 Eph. W. Weston, 
 Levi Greenwood. 
 Levi Greenwood, 
 Eph. W. Weston, 
 Moses Hancock. 
 
 Eph. W. Weston, 
 Joseph Porter, 
 George Brown. 
 
 Ezra Porter, 
 Jacob Woodbury, 
 Seth Tucker, Jr. 
 
 Eph'm Murdoek, Jr., 
 Moses Hancock, 
 Seth Tucker, Jr. 
 
 27 
 
418 
 
 SIS 
 
 rOKY OF -WINCHENDO^. 
 
 YEAR. 
 
 MODERATORS, ETC. 
 
 SELECTMEN. 
 
 ASSESSaKS- 
 
 1848 
 
 Milton 8. Morse, 
 Webster Wbitney, 
 C. K Wbitman. 
 
 Elisha Beaman, 
 Harvey Wyman, 
 Levi Raymond. 
 
 Milton S. Morse, 
 Eph'm W. Weston, 
 Ezra Porter. 
 
 1849 
 
 Milton S. Morse, 
 Webster Whitney. 
 E. W. Weston- 
 
 Levi Greenwood, 
 Oliver Adams, 
 Grover S. Whitney. 
 
 Ezra Porter, 
 Seth Tucker, 
 Linebln Balcom, 
 
 1850 Elisba Murdock, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 E. W. Weston. 
 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Eph'm Murdock, Jr., 
 Grover S. Whitney. 
 
 Es/a Porter, 
 Ejisba Murdocb, 
 ^ra Porter. 
 
 1851 
 
 E. Murdock, Jr., 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Benj. K. Day. 
 
 Moses Hancock, 
 Nelson D. White, 
 Oliver Adams. 
 
 p. W. Weston, 
 /Moses Hancock, 
 ; Ezra Porter. 
 
 1852 
 
 E. Murdock, Jr., 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Benj. R. Day. 
 
 Moses Hancock, 
 Nelson D. White, 
 Oliver Adams. 
 
 / Ezra Porter, 
 Seth Tucker, Jr., 
 Calvm R. Wbitman, 
 
 1853. 
 
 E. Murdock, Jr., 
 Webster Whitney, 
 B. R. Day. 
 
 Oliver Adams, 
 Seth Tucker, Jr., 
 Levi Parks. 
 
 Seth Tucker, 
 C. B. Whitman, 
 Edwin Parks. 
 
 1854 
 
 John Cutter, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 B. R. Day. , 
 
 Oliver Adams, 
 Maynard Partridge, 
 David Caswell. 
 
 Betbnel Ellis, 
 Charles W. Bigelo\f, 
 Amasa Wbitney. 
 
 1855 
 
 John Gutter, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 B. R. Day. 
 
 Maynard Partridge, 
 John Cutter, 
 Joshua B. Sawyer. 
 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 Edwin Parks, 
 Seth Tucker, Jr. 
 
 1856. 
 
 Oilman B. Parker, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 B. R. Day. 
 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Orlando Mason, 
 Seth Tucker. 
 
 Seth Tucker, 
 Calvin R. Whitman, 
 Bethuel Ellis. 
 
 1857 
 
 B. Murdock, Jr., 
 Webster Whitney, 
 B. B. Day. 
 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Orlando Mason, 
 George Brown. 
 
 Calvin R. Wbitman, 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 Wra. L. Woodcock. 
 
 1858 
 
 Giles H. Wbitney, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 B. R. Day. 
 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Orlando Mason, 
 Oliver Adams. 
 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 Elisha Beaman, 
 Seth Tucker. 
 
 1859 
 
 Giles H. Whitney, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 B. R. Day. 
 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Orlando Mason, 
 Oliver Adams. 
 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 Elisha Beaman, 
 J. H.Fairbank. 
 
 1860 
 
 Giles H. Whitney, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 B. R. Day.* 
 
 Oliver Adams, 
 J, B. Sawyer, 
 Luke Hale. 
 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 Seth Tucker, 
 Elisha Beaman. 
 
 1861. 
 
 Giles H. Whitney, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Wm. Brown, 2d. 
 
 Oliver Adams, 
 J. B. Sawyer, 
 George B. Raymond. 
 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 Seth Tucker. 
 Charles D. Brown. ; 
 
 ♦Besigned in August, when William Brown, 23, was appointed. 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHBNDON. 
 
 419 
 
 TB&B. MODERATORS, ETC. 
 
 1862. G. H. Whitney, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 John H. Fairbauk. 
 
 1863. G. H. Whitney, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 John H. Fairbank. 
 
 1864. G. H. Whitney, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 John H. Fairbank. 
 
 1865. G. H. Whitney, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 Anson B, Smith. 
 
 1866. G. H. Whitney, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 
 Anson B. Smith. 
 
 1867. G. H. Whitney, 
 Webster Whitney, 
 A. B. Smith. 
 
 1868. G. H. Whitney, 
 
 * Webster Whitney, 
 A. B. Smith. 
 
 SELECTMEN. 
 
 Oliver Adams, 
 J. B. Sawyer, 
 George B. Raymond, 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 Geo. B. Baymond, 
 William Beaman. 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 Geo. B. Baymoftd, 
 William Beaman. 
 Geo. B. Raymond, 
 John D. Howard, 
 M. B. White, 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 William Beaman, 
 Wm. L. Woodcock. 
 
 Bethuel Ellis. 
 William Beaman, 
 Wm. L. Woodcock. 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 Seth Tucker, 
 Edward Loud, Jr. 
 
 ASSESSORS. 
 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 Seth Tucker, 
 Charles D. Brown. 
 
 Selectmen. 
 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 Seth Tucker, 
 Wm. Beaman. 
 Bethuel Ellis, 
 Wm. Beaman, 
 Wm. L. Woodcock. 
 
 Selectmen. 
 
 REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 The following named gentlemen have represented the town in the 
 General Court in the years annexed to their names. In some years 
 there was no choice. In other years there were two representatives. 
 Since 1858 this town has alternated with Ashbumham in the selection 
 of a candidate. 
 
 Robert Bradish, 
 Abel Wilder, 
 Moses Hale,* 
 Samuel Prentiss, 
 William Whitney, 
 Israel Whiton, 
 Daniel Henshaw, 
 H. G. Newcomb, 
 Isaac Morse, 
 Samuel Simonds, 
 Reuben Hyde, 
 
 1776, 1777. 
 
 1780-85. 
 
 1786-1799. 
 
 1800, 1812-16. 
 
 1803, 1805-8. 
 
 1809-11. 
 
 1817. 
 
 1820. 
 
 1823, 25, 34, 38. 
 
 1824. 
 
 1827. 
 
 William Brown, 1830-32, 34, 36, 39. 
 William Dunbar, 1833. 
 
 Jacob Wales, 1835, 36. 
 
 C. B. Whitman, 1835. 
 
 Israel Whitcomb, 1837. 
 Elisha Murdock, 1838, 40, 48, 51. 
 
 Elisha Beaman, 1841. 
 
 Henry Greenwood, 1842. 
 
 Wareham Rand, 1843-45. 
 
 Moses Hancock, 1849. 
 
 Alvah Godding, 1850. 
 
 John L. Reed, 1854, 
 
 Maynard Partridge, 1855. 
 
 Jacob B. Harris, 1856, 57. 
 
 William Murdock, 1859. 
 
 Nelson D. White, 1861. 
 
 G. H. Whitney, 1863, 65. 
 
 W. N. White, 1867. 
 
 ♦Not every year. 
 
420 HISTORY OF ■WINCHBNBOK. 
 
 SENATORS. 
 
 Abel Wilder was senator from 1786 to 1792. 
 Elisha Murdook in the years 1852 and 1853. 
 Horatio Q. Newoomb was senator after leaving the town. 
 Giles H. Whitney, before becoming a resident. 
 
 DELEGATES. 
 
 Abel Wilder was delegate to the Convention of 1779-80, which formed the 
 
 Constitution of the Stato. 
 Moses Hale to the Convention which adopted the national Constitution.in 1788. 
 Samuel Prentiss, Jr., to the Convention of 1820, which revised the State 
 
 Constitution. 
 Abijah P. Marvin, to the Constitutional Convention of 1853. 
 
 OTHER OFFICERS. 
 
 The following gentlemen have held office under the state or national 
 govemmente : 
 
 Justices. Samuel Crosby, Ephraim Murdock, Isaac Morse, Mark Whit- 
 comb, A. W. Buttrick, Edwin S. Merrill, Giles H. Whitney, L. W. Pierce, 
 and Bethuel Ellis, Esqs., have served as justices of the peace. The latter has 
 been trial justice. Others have held the commission. 
 
 Sheeipp. Joseph S. Watson has been deputy sheriflF a long term of years. 
 
 Postmasters. Samuel Crosby, in 1795 ; Amos Goodhue, in 1806 ; Dan- 
 iel Henshaw, Mark Whitcomb, E. W. Weston, and E. S. Merrill. 
 
 Congbessmen. Hon. Artemas Hale, Hon. William B. Washburn, and 
 Hon. Carter Wilder, natives of the town, (except the last, who lived here in 
 childhood and youth,) have been in Congress ; the fitst from the Old Colony, 
 the second from the ninth district, and the last from Kansas. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDOir. 421 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. — BIOGRAPHIC, 
 
 " The clouds may drop down titles and estates, 
 Wealth may seek us — but wisdom must be sought." 
 
 Young." 
 
 This chapter must, of necessity, be of a miscellaneous character. Li 
 it will be included the names, 1. Of all the professional men of the 
 town ; 2. Of all College graduates ; 3. Of those who — though bom 
 here — have followed a profession elsewhere ; and 4. Of several men 
 prominent in business or in some other respect. 
 
 SECTION 1. — CLERGYMEN. 
 
 The names of these have been mentioned so often, and their charac- 
 ters presented so fully, in the preceding chapters, that it would be su- 
 perfluous to give them again in this connection. 
 
 SECTION 2. — LAWYERS. 
 
 The first resident lawyer of whom we have any knowledge, was Ben- 
 jamin Bridgb, who came hither in 1796, from Worcester. He found 
 little encouragement, and did not long remain. His health was not 
 good, and he died not long after his departure. It is said that his chi- 
 rography was very beautiful. 
 
 Samuel Thatcher succeeded him. He was a graduate, probably, 
 of Harvard. The tradition is that he was a man of highly respectable 
 talents, but that he was so discouraged here as to say that he would nev- 
 er bring up a son to College. He left in a few years and settled in 
 Maine, where he was prospered in his profession, and was sent to Con- 
 gress. It is supposed that he became convinced, by success, of the 
 value of education. A distinguished lawyer of this name, recently 
 died at an advanced age, in Maine. 
 
 Daniel Hbnshaw opened a law oflSce here as early as 1809. He 
 belonged to ike Henshaw family, of Leicester. He was a man of tal- 
 
422 HISTORY OP WINCHENDOR. 
 
 ents and education. Though not fitted to push hia way to distinction, 
 he had abilities sufficient to perfonn well the duties to which the public 
 might cali him. His influence was always in favor of education, good 
 morals and religion. He was on the school committee several years, 
 was clerk of the first Church, and represented the town in the General 
 Court in the year 1817. After a residence of fifteen or twenty years, 
 he left town and resided at various places, as Lynn, Salem and Boston. 
 For a time he was editor of a paper in Lynn, and boldly advocated the 
 cause of Temperance and of Freedom, when they were unpopular. At 
 one time he was obliged to go armed. He was one of the first in the 
 inauguration of Post Office reform. Mr. Henshaw wielded a ready, 
 vigorous and elegant pen, and wrote much for the press. At one time 
 he had thoughts of writing the History of Winchendon, but if he made 
 any collections for that purpose, it has not been the good fortune of the 
 writer to see them. In his old age, he visited Winchendon often, and 
 seemed very much to enjoy renewed intercourse with former friends. 
 
 HoBATio Gates Newcomb was in town in 1816, and perhaps ear- 
 lier. In 1820, he was representative in the le^Iatnre. He was a 
 lawyer of respectable address and attainments. But Winchendon was 
 not a congemal soil for men of the legal profesaon in those days, and 
 he removed to Greenfield. He represented Franklin County in the 
 State Senate. 
 
 The lawyers in practice here anee the removal of Mr. Newcomb, 
 have been Benjamin 0. Tyler, David L. Morrill, L. D. Pierce, La- 
 fayette W. Pierce, and Giles H. Whitney, Esqrs. These are still liv- 
 ing, except L. D. Pierce, Esq. All but the two last mentianed^ left 
 several years since. T. G. Kent, S. A. Burgess, and Jacob B. Har- 
 ris, Esqrs., studied law here, and perhaps conducted a few causes, but 
 they are settled, and prospering in the following places, viz : Milford, 
 Blackstone and Abington. 
 
 SECTION 3. — ^PHYSICIANS. 
 
 The first phyacian of whom mention is made in the Records, was Dr. 
 Taylor. The town paid a bill of his for attending Rev. Mr. Stimpson, 
 but his residence is not given. 
 
 After him, Dr. Dunsmore of Lunenburg had a run of practice in this 
 town. Although a good doctor, he was a man of violent temper. It 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 423 
 
 is related that once when he had dismounted for the purpose of gathering 
 chestnuts by the road-side, his horse refused to be caught. As the Dr. 
 drew near he would caper away. Dr. D. was in the habit of taking his 
 gun. Being exasperated, he leveled his musket and shot the horse dead. 
 
 Dr Shattuck, of Templeton, practised here as early as 1770, and 
 for years later. 
 
 . Dr Grbeh came here in 1774, and remained a year or two ; but nqt 
 finding business, he departed. 
 
 In 1777, Israel Whiton, M. D., of Ashford, Conn., settled in this 
 town, and remained till his death in 1819, about forty-two years. He 
 had been Surgeon's Mate in the celebrated Col. Knowlton's regiment 
 two or three years. He had hard times in Winchendon, for a few years, 
 but his practice grew by degrees till he had most of the business here, 
 besides riding in nearly all the towns of Worcester Ifortk, and some in 
 New HanapsMre. Many young men studied medicine with him, and 
 taught school in the winter. He was a man of seisse, ii^egrity and pru- 
 dence. He had the confidence of the commuioaty, and was a worthy 
 member of the Church. 
 
 He Tised to relate that while in New York, in the Ecvolution, he 
 bought as elegant cane of a' soldier for a shilling. Not long after he 
 met an old gentleman who desired to look at his cane. Taking it in 
 his hand, he burst into tears,, saying : " This is all that is left of my son, 
 the brave Capt. Cheeseman, who died fighting aPQuebec." . Express- 
 ing a strong desire to recover it, and offering any price that might b^ 
 demanded. Dr. Whiton felt jieasui'e in parting with it for the shilling 
 which it had cost him. 
 
 At one time he had a patient in Eoyalston, a man who was in the babb- 
 it of taking the property of other people, and neglecting to restore it. 
 Being very sick and afraid of dying, the nian confessed his sins to the 
 Dr. On his return, in answer to an inquiry in regard to the patient's* 
 health, he remarked that the man would " probably get well, for he had 
 puked up a harrow, a log chain and a pair of saddle-bags." 
 
 He was pursued by wolves on his return from the western part of 
 Rindge, towards the close of the last century. They came near, and 
 howled frightfully. He had a leg of veal on the crupper behind him, 
 and thought of throwing it to the wolves, but thinking, as he said, that 
 8ae had the best right to itj he put spurs to his horse, holding on to the 
 
424 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 veal. When he reached the opening by the old Keith tavern, the pack 
 left him and slunk off into the woods. 
 
 In 1811, he bought of the Hon. Harrison Gray Otis, two hundred 
 and forty acres of land, including the outlet of Monomonauk lake, and 
 extending almost to Spring Village. Mr. Otis was tired of paying taxes 
 on unproductive land and sold the whole for $50 ! 
 
 Otis Crosby, Esq., came to town in 1781. He had been a physi; 
 cian in Shrewsbury. It does not appear that he practised here, but he 
 kept an apothecary store fifteen to eighteen years, and supplied the doc- 
 tors in the region with drugs and medicines. He was appcMnted Post- 
 master in 1795. For many years he was a noted Justice of the Peace, 
 and his Record Book reveals a rather low state of morals in those days. 
 After a residence of about twenty-five years, in the house which he built, 
 where Mr. Jarvis Winn now lives, he removed to Vermont, and died 
 in Montpelier. 
 
 Dr. ZiBA Hali, resided here a few years beginning with 1790. He 
 came from and returned to K^ene, N. H., where he obtained notorie- 
 ty from the peculiarity of his religious views. 
 
 In 1793, Dr. Mason Spooner took up his readence here as a physi- 
 cian, by invitation of Dr. Whiton, his medical instructor. He remained 
 about nine years, and then removed to Templeton. He was a man of 
 sense, shrewdness and wit, and had a remarkable faculty for characteriz- 
 ing obnoxious individulls mth a few words which would stick to them like 
 a burr through life. Nothing but the love of strong drink prevented 
 him from rising to the front rank of the medical profession. He mar- 
 ried one of the daughters of Major Sylvester. 
 
 Dr. Jacob Holmes opened an office here, by advice of Dr. Whiton, 
 in 1804, and remained about two years ; he then removed to Westmin- 
 ster, then to Athol, and finally to Leicester. He had a high reputa- 
 tion and large practice. 
 
 In the year 1806, in compliance with the wishes of Dr. Whiton, Dr. 
 William Parkhurst began practice here, but after a few years re- 
 moved to Petersham, where he still resides. His wife was a daughter 
 of Major Sylvester. He has always maintained a good reputation as 
 a physician. 
 
 Dr. William H. Cutler came in 1816, and rode his circuit a few 
 
ation, but 
 
 s -wife be:, 
 
 ed. Mr, 
 
 '^ notatop 
 
 wait- 
 
 "-ifcx 
 
 ^uMJE^m (§®mmEM3, m:.m. 
 
m HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 425 
 
 years ; then removed to Ashbumham, where he resided till recently. 
 His home is now in Andover. 
 
 Dr. M. Spaulding succeeded him, but soon took his departure. 
 
 Subsequently Dr. Allen C. Fay resided here a brief period, but soon 
 removed to Milford, where he .'-? a large practice. 
 
 Dr. James M. Fuller y' ^ , X-^va 1821 to 1824. Another Dr. 
 
 Fuller resided here about ' _, ; 3. 
 -and Jlepri 
 In 1826, Dr. Alvah GOi- '' pil of the celebrated Dr. Twitch- 
 
 ell of Keene, settled in the ^row' '^ -^^ nearly all the preceding phy- 
 sicians had resided. AsDr.'V;^ •'■ )d in 1819, there was but a space 
 of a few years between "them, slu^-^ / together have filled out a term 
 of about eighty-five years of medi 'al practice. Whether as a citizen, 
 a physician, or a member of the C 'ch of Christ, he has always been 
 held in high estimation. like Dr , /hiton, he has represented the town 
 in the General Court. He removed to the Village in 1841. 
 
 Of the later physicians who are yet in active life and strength, it is not 
 needful to speak at length. Dr. Ira Russell, who became a partner 
 of Dr. Godding in 1844, who afterwards resided in Natick, and who 
 gained a distinguished reputation as a Surgeon in the army, during the 
 late rebellion, returned to town in 1866, and has an extensive practice. 
 
 Dr. Miller was here a few years subsequent to 1853 ; he returned 
 to Troy, N. H., whence he came. 
 
 Dr. William Lincoln came in 1852, and remained a few years. 
 He was held in high esteem. He is now practising in Wabashaw, Minn., 
 of which town he has been Mayor. 
 
 In 1860, Dr. John T. Page commenced practice in the Village. 
 His business grew by degrees, and he was esteemed a skillful physician 
 by a large circle of patients in this vicinity. He was found dead in his 
 office, early in the morning of the 27th day of December, 1866. 
 
 Dr. M. L. Brown has opened an office here the present season. 
 
 . Dr. William P. Geddes entered on his profession here as an eclec- 
 tic physician in 1854, and has had a large business in this and the neigh- 
 boring towns. 
 
 This seems the proper place to refer to a resident who, though not a 
 physician, bore the title of doctor, and kept an apothecary store, with 
 other articles of a miscellaneous sort. Dr. Pentland, bo called, lived 
 
426 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 near the house of Mr, John Cook, not far from the Ashhurnham line. 
 He was a Scotchman who came here with some money, and afterwards 
 visited Scotland, where he obtained more. But he was of unthrifty 
 habits, and soon scattered all his substance. According to Dr. Whi- 
 ten, he carried on a farm as well as a ^r&„ He was a gentleman of pol- 
 ished manners and general information, butJ, he grew intemperate and 
 dissipated, and at last, he and \a$ wife beicame literally vagabonds, ■ 
 all their means having been consuo^d. Mr .'John Woodbury recollects 
 his going to the store to buy somi potatofljs when a boy. Mrs. Pent- 
 land, dressed like a fine lady in silk, i^aited upon him and tore a wide 
 rent in her dress. What became ofi t^em is not known, as they left 
 town more than fifty years since. M. Whiton says " they might well 
 be designated the unhappy pair." ' 
 
 SECTION 4. — GRADUATES. 
 
 Otis Crosby, though not a native, belonged to this town when he 
 took his degree at Dartmouth College, in 1791. He studied for the 
 ministry, and was invited to settle in New Gloucester, Me., but died 
 of consumption prior to settlement. 
 
 Rev. John Milton Whiton, D. D., son of Dr. Israel Whiton, took 
 his degree at Yale College in 1805. He was settled for nearly half a 
 century in Antrim, N. H., when he sought a field of labor requiring 
 less exertion, in Bennington, N. H. He was a man of piety and wis- . 
 dom. His influence at home and far and wide among the Churches, 
 was that of a discreet, peace-loving and godly minister of the gospel. 
 He was superior in ability and scholarship. 
 
 Rev. Samuel H. Tolman, son of Dea. Desire Tolman, was a grad- 
 uate of Dartmouth, in 1806. He was settled in several places, one of 
 which was Atkinson, N. H., and was a useful minister; of exemplary 
 life and conversation. 
 
 Stephen Emery, Jr., graduated at Dartmouth, in 1808, and set- 
 tled as a lawyer, in Athol. 
 
 Rev. Sbwall Goodridgb, son of Payson Goodridge, received his de- 
 gree at Dartmouth in 1806. He preached in Canada. 
 
 Rev. Otis C. Whiton, graduated at Yale College. He was a son 
 of Dr. Israel Whiton. His ministerial life was passed in North Yar 
 mouth, Me., Westmoreland N. H., and other places. He was a useful 
 minister. 
 
HISTORY OF TTOTOHENDON. 427 
 
 Rev. Gamaliel C. Beaman, son of David Beaman, toolt his degree 
 at Amherst College. He has been a worthy Presbyterian minister, in 
 Iowa, for many years. 
 
 Hon. William B. Washburn, son of Asa and Phebe [Whitney] 
 Washburn, is a graduate of Yale College, — class of 1844. He has been 
 in Orange and in Greenfield, where he now resides. He is President 
 of the Greenfield Bank, and Representative of the Ninth District in 
 Congress. 
 
 Rev. Samuel Watson Brown, son of Samuel Brown, Jr., gradu- 
 ated at Yale College near 1850. After spending several years in teach- 
 ing and in business, he was ordained in Rindge, N. H., in 1863. He 
 preached in South Coventry and Groton, Conn. His death occurred 
 in the latter place in the autumn of 1866, at the age of thirty-eight 
 years. He was esteemed in every place of his residence, as a modest, 
 sensible and christian man, as well as a faithful minister. 
 
 Emerson C. Whitney took his degree at New Haven in 1851. He 
 was a man of fine promise, but deceased at the age of twenty-nine, be- 
 fore entering on his profession. Many high hopes were buried in his 
 too early grave. 
 
 Samuel Baldwin, Esq., son of Samuel Baldwin, took his degree 
 at Yale College. He is a lawyer at the west. 
 
 The more recent graduates are as follows : William W. Godding, 
 M. D., a graduate of Dartmouth College, in the year 1854, now first 
 assistant physician in the National Asylum for the Insane near Wash- 
 ington, D. C; Jacob B. Harris, Esq., a graduate of Yale in the class 
 of 1854, now a lawyer at East Abington, Mass.; John Nelson Mur- 
 dock, Esq., a graduate of Brown University in 1852, now a lawyer at 
 Wabashaw, Min.; Isaac M. Murdock, a graduate of Brown University 
 in the year 1853 ; and Charles Edward Bigelow, who took his degree 
 at Williams College in 1866. 
 
 At present, Fredrick Russell is a Senior, and Charles L. B. Whit- 
 ney a Sophomore in Harvard University ; John Hale is a Sophomore 
 in Amherst College ; and Addison B. Poland a Freshman in Wesleyan 
 University. 
 
 In this connection may be given the names of certain natives, or r'er- 
 idents of the town, who, though not graduates, have held a respectable 
 position in some profession. 
 
428 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 Artemas Brown, M. D., son of Samuel Brown, was bom In 1789. 
 He was a physician of honorable -standing in Medway, where, after a 
 long course of practise, he died within a few years. He was a mem- 
 ber of the Constitutional Convention of 1853. 
 
 Eev. David Woodbury, was son of Col. Jacob B. Woodbury. He 
 is a clergyman of good reputation in the Baptist Church, and resides 
 in Silver Creek, N. Y. 
 
 Rev. Silas Woodbury is brother of the preceding. He is a respected 
 minister in connection with the Presbyterian branch of the Church of 
 Christ. His residence is in the State of Tennessee, Shelby Co. 
 
 Rev. Andrew Pollard, D. D., a prominent clergyman in the Baptist 
 denomination, is a native of Harvard, though he was in Winchendon 
 in his early years. He has, for many years been pastor of a Church 
 in Taunton. 
 
 Dr. Abel H. Wilder was the son of Levi DIvoU. His surname was 
 changed to that of his mother. He has lived in Groton and other places, 
 and always maintained a respectable position as a physician. 
 
 ■Levi Pillsbury, M. D., is the son of the Rev. Levi Pillsbury. His 
 residence is in Fitchburg, where his practice is quite extensive. 
 
 Rev. Moses Hale Wilder, son of Abel Wilder, Jr., and grandson of 
 Hon. Abel Wilder and of Dea. Moses Hale, is a Congregationsd clergy- 
 man of highly respectable standing. He has published a work on mat- 
 ters pertaining to Church polity, with credit to his reputation. As a 
 pastor, he has been successful. His present charge is at Paris, N. Y. 
 
 The Hon. Carter Wilder, formerly member of Congress from Kan- 
 sas, though not born in this town, lived here and attended our schools 
 in his early years. He is the son of " one-eyed Abel," so callecj. The 
 residence of the family was at the Pollard place, between the Bigelow 
 farm and the old No. 6 school-house. 
 
 Hon. W. W. Rice, of Worcester, is connected with Winchendon by 
 ancestry and residence, though this is not his birth-place. A grand- 
 son of Capt. Phinehas Whitney, he has been tainiliar with the town 
 from early days, and his father, Rev. Benjamin Rice, lived here sev- 
 eral years, while he was still a member of his father's family. He is 
 a graduate of Gorham Academy, and of Bowdoin College. After hav- 
 ing charge of the Leicester Academy a few years, he settled in Wor- 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 429 
 
 cester as a lawyer, and has a large practice. He has been Mayor of 
 the city, and for a time, Judge of Probate. 
 
 Dr. Joshua Tucker, and Dr. Elisha Tucker, sons of the late vener- 
 able Seth Tucker, have long had a high reputation as dentists in Bos- 
 ton. Dr. Levi W. Foskett follows the same profession with success in 
 this vicinity. 
 
 Roswell M. Shurtleff, son of the late Dr. S., of Rindge, came, here 
 in childhood, and was trained in our schools. He is an artist of rising 
 reputation in New York. This work is adorned with several products 
 of his pencil. 
 
 OTHER PROMINENT MEN. 
 
 Hon. Thomas Berry of Ipswich, is often referred to in the first part 
 of this work. As he was prominent in settling the town, and resided 
 here occasionally, though not a permanent inhabitant, a few lines may 
 be properly ^ven to his memory. Dr. Fitts, of Ipswich, in a letter to 
 Dr. Whiton, says that Col. Berry " was a very influential man here, 
 both in Church and State. He was the most prominent member, he 
 was a wise counsellor, and manifested great interest in the prosperity 
 of rehgion and the cause of education. He was Judge of Probate of 
 Essex county from 1739 to 1756, and for most of the. time Judge of 
 the county court also." 
 
 » 
 
 Dea. Richard Day, who came hither from Ipswich, as early as 1752, 
 is believed to have been a native of Ireland. His wife, a daughter of 
 Gabriel Pushey, was of French ancestry, in Acadia. Dea. Day was a 
 large landholder, the tradition being that at one time, he owned near- 
 ly a third of the town. The first proprietors parted with their lots at 
 a very low price. It is said that some lots were sold for a mug of flip, 
 so little money-value had land, in this remote place, during the time 
 of Indian wars. Mr. Day built the best house in town, which is still 
 standing. He also built a log tavern, which was in the orchard west 
 of the house of Isaac Cummings. There Mary Holt, the first child of 
 the town, had her birth. He was the most prominent man till his death, 
 in 1774. He was the Moderator of the first town meeting, town Trear 
 surer for several years, and held other offices. H-e was the first dea- 
 
430 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 con of the Congregational Church. In addition to talents and charao, 
 ter, he is said to have been a man of great physical strength. Three 
 of his sons, John, Nathan and Daniel, -were revolutionary soldiers. Na- 
 than died of dysentery, in camp near Somerville. 
 
 Hon. Abel Wilder was born in Leominster, April 15, 1741, old style, 
 the 26th, new style. He was in Winchendon as early as 1762, and 
 from that time till his decease in 1792, was constantly in public em- 
 ployment. He was the first town Clerk, and he held, at different times, 
 every oflSce worth having. He was the first representative to the Gen- 
 eral Court, after the Constitution was adopted, and from 1779 to 1792, 
 was either in the House or the Senate, except a year or two when the 
 town sent no delegates. He represented the town in the first Consti- 
 tutional Convention. At his decease the public mind was prepared to 
 send him to Congress. He was chosen deacon of the First Church in 
 1769. Mr. Wilder was a remarkable man. He was of stout build, 
 and though not handsome, had a pleasant countenance and command- 
 ing presence. Though in constant employment in public business, not 
 only aa an officer, but as a member, and generally chairman of every 
 important committee in town, parish and church, he seems never to have 
 provoked the jealousy and envy that usually follow superior men. 
 Though a man of firm principle and unbending rectitude, and earnest 
 piety, he appears to have been one of those rare men whose " enemies 
 are at peace with him." His minister relied upon him, the public con- 
 fided in him, the church rested on him as a pillar, and his family, re- 
 garded him with love and reverence. He fills the largest place in the 
 history of the town. And as' he was so useful in his life, so there were 
 mitigating circumstances attending his lamented departure. He was 
 chairman of the building Committee, in erecting the meeting-house in 
 1792. The day he left home to go to Jaffrey, where he was inocula- 
 ted for the small pox, of which he died, he passed over the Common. 
 The men were leveling the land before the meeting-house, and when, 
 after a few pleasant words, he rode on his way, the workmen, with the 
 ancient courtesy, took off their hats and bowed to him. He returned 
 the salute, and was seen no more. When it appeared that his case was 
 to have a fatal tennination, Dr. Israel Whiton visited him, and received 
 his parting directions respecting his business and family. He was cheer- 
 ful and prepared for his departure. His grave, says a note from Mrs. 
 Albert Brown, " is with six others, who died at the time, of the same 
 
HISTORY OF WmCHEND05. 431 
 
 disease,* on the farm owned by Mr. Benjamin Pierce, one mile north- 
 east of East Jaffrey. The graves are enclosed, and there are grave- 
 stones to two of them." Many letters of Mr. Wilder are preserved, 
 and if there were room, they would be inserted here, as illustrative of 
 his noble character. Two of them may be found on pages 88 and 90. 
 
 Dea. Moses Hale, a native of Boxford, came here in 1770. He 
 lived for a time with Abel Wilder ; then became a surveyor and farmer, 
 and after living on the south-east of the Common, west of the Gardner 
 road, several years, he set up the Hale tavern. Next to Dea. Wilder, 
 he filled the largest place in public estimation ; and after the death of 
 Mr. Wilder, he was in the first rank. He filled many offices, and was, 
 several years, delegate to the General Court, besides being delegate to 
 the State Convention, for adopting the national Constitution. He was 
 deacon of the Congregational Church for a long term of years preceding 
 his decease in 1828. 
 
 Capt. Phinehas Whitney, son of William Whitney, was the most prom- 
 inent business man in the town from about 1800 to his death in 1831. 
 Besides a large farm, he kept tavern for a while, owned an oil mill and 
 woolen factory, and did a large business in raising and keeping cattle 
 anH horses. ■ Though esteeemed by his townsmen, he was rarely in of- 
 fice, because his engrossing business led him to decline public employ- 
 ment. He was the first to enlist to put down the Shays rebels, being 
 then a youth of twenty years. Afterwards he was Captain of the Cav- 
 alry Company of this and neighboring towns. He was an indefatiga- 
 ble worker, and kept all about him at work ; yet he was a good employ- 
 er, and those brought up by him, remember him with respect and grat- 
 itude. At the time of the great rehgious awakening in 1820-21, he 
 paid the wages of his workmen whenever they were inclined to attend 
 
 * The graves of three persons — two awaits and a child — may still be found, 
 on the " old Capt. John Pilce place," now owned by Capt. Oliver Adams, abont 
 sixty rods south of the place long occupied by Aaaph Brown, and thirty 
 rods west of the road going from Levi Stearns' to the old burying-yard. 
 There is a cellar and well in an old orchard. The town declined to furnish a 
 " pest-house," but these three persons died here of the small pox, and their 
 graves were forgotten till Mr. Simeon B. Stearns, of Williamsburgh, N. Y., 
 who was on a visit here, this summer, 1868, informed the author. The graves 
 —of two adults and one child — are within six feet of the north and south 
 wall, and a few rods south of the wall running east and west. They are per- 
 pendicular to the former wall. The names are not l^nown. Double red roses, 
 after -seventy or eighty years, still flourish there — or did till recently— and shed 
 beauty and fragrance over the lonely graves. 
 
432 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 the week-day meetings. From that period, through life, he was deci- 
 ded and devoted as a Christian. He was active as a pioneer in the Tem- 
 perance reform. He died at Newton, while on a journey to Boston 
 with his youngest daughter. But though summoned away while far 
 from home, he was ready, as is the good man always, to go to " be for- 
 ever with the Lord." 
 
 Lieut. Paul Raymond, son of Col. Paul Raymond, was one of the 
 foremost men in all public business, for a quarter of a century. His 
 father was Lt. Col. in the Revolution, and the tradition is, that while 
 the Colonel of the Regiment was generally sick or out of the way, in 
 times of danger, Lt. Col. Raymond was a brave and competent com- 
 mander. Lieut. Paul, was a brave revolutionary soldier, as well as 
 his father, and also his brother James. Lieut. Raymond was Moder- 
 ator, first Selectman, Assessor, Treasurer, &c., &c. ; and during along 
 period, was on committees to manage cases before the Courts, and to 
 build roads and bridges. He was the father of the late much esteemed 
 Dea. Paul Raymond. 
 
 Seth Tucker, Senior, settled early on the place now occupied by his 
 son and grandson. He was a revolutionary soldier. As a man of in- 
 dustry and integrity ; as a pioneer in the beginning of the Village, and 
 as an exemplary member of the Baptist Church, he deserves honorable 
 mention. - The author remembers him as a venerable old man, to whose 
 talks about old times, and on religious themes, he listened with interest. 
 He attained the great age of 98 years. His grave is in the old bury- 
 ing-yard. There was a remarkable spirit of fraternal confidence be- 
 tween Mr. Tucker and his brother Elisha. Their first property was a 
 hen owned in common. When they became men, and removed to Win- 
 chendon, they owned a farm together. The house was in the lot north 
 of the North school-house. Bach took what he needed from the farm, 
 but they made no division of crops. This went on until each had five 
 children when they made a division of property satisfactory to both. 
 Elisha died in the course of the year ensuing. 
 
 Lieut. David Poor has already been mentioned in several places. He 
 is referred to again because of his singular notions. One of them waa 
 that he should come back again, at some future time ; another was, that 
 stones grow. Both these notions were brought together on one occa- 
 sion. He was building a stone wall, and a neighbor remarking that it 
 
HISTORT OF WINCHENBON. 433 
 
 was too low, he replied : " "Well, it will grow, and when I come back, 
 it will be high enough." Another anecdote may be given. Having 
 a quarrel with a. neighbor named Bosworth, who threatened violence, 
 Lieut. Poor came before Esq. Crosby to " swear the peace" upon him. 
 As the Esq. read the paper to which Poor was to take oath, he listened 
 attentively till the passage was reached which stated that he was in 
 bodily fear of Bosworth, when he could hold in no longer, and burst out : 
 " No : I'm not afraid of him, and never was." " Mr. Poor," said Esq. 
 Crosby, " you had better go home and be qniet." 
 
 Col Jacob B. Woodbury is worthy of a place in this series of sketchr 
 es. He came from Ipswich, after the Revolution, in which he had been 
 a faithful soldier and good officer. The record of his military life would 
 furnish several interesting pages in a family history, but there is not 
 room for it in this condensed volume. The story of his contest with the 
 woF, however, must not be omitted. About eighty years ago, — the 
 exact year is not known by his surviving sons— word came to him that 
 a wolf had been tracked from Hubbardston into the southern border of 
 this town. The hunters were fatigued with the long chase inPthe snow, 
 and handed over the pursuit to Woodbury and his neighbors, one of 
 whom was his brother-in-law, Roberts. They got upon the track, and 
 pursued the animal to the ledge of rocks north of James Raymond's, 
 nearly half way from Raymond's to the Perley, or Joseph Whitney 
 place. While the dogs followed the wolf over the ledge, the men skirt- 
 ed its eastern base, expecting to meet the game at the northern end. 
 Their expectation was confirmed, but the leading dog and the wolf had 
 evidently had a fight, in which the dog fared hard, as he could not be 
 induced to close with the wolf again. He followed with the men, but 
 his courage was gone. The pursuit was continued into the Manning 
 swamp, southwest of the Estey, or No. 5 school-house. The men drew 
 near the animal, the Col. heading the party. He snapped his gun, but 
 it held fire, the priming being wet by the moist snow that fell from the 
 branches. Mr. Woodbury then followed the victim along the body of a 
 fallen tree, and when near enough, gave him a stuiming blow on the 
 head with the butt of his gun. This staggered the wolf, now fatigued 
 with his race and his struggle with the dog. Mr. W. now threw him- 
 self upon the body of the wolf, and pressed him into the snow. The 
 animal made desperate effort to rise, and to assail his antagonist, but 
 
 «8 
 
434 HISTOKT OF WINCHENDOW. 
 
 the Col. held on with a fatal grip. He called to Roberts for his jack- 
 knife. Reaching from a safe distance, the knife was put in his hand, 
 when he cut the wolf's throat, and the contest was over. The body 
 was swung under a staddle, and carried on the shoulders of the men, 
 to Mr. Woodbury's house as a trophy. That was the last and the most fa- 
 mous wolf fight in the annala of the town. It should be said that Col. 
 Woodbury was not only a brave soldier, but a good farmer, a respect- 
 ed citizen often in public employment, and a faithful member of the 
 First Church. An interesting sermon was delivered at his funeral, by 
 Rev. Mr. Morton. This was printed, and stray copies of it are yet 
 extant. 
 
 Ephraim Murdock, Esq., Isaac Morse, Esq., and Mr. Amasa Whit- 
 ney, are placed in this list .of worthies, because they really laid the 
 foundations of the growth and prosperity of the Village. By their in- 
 dustry, frugality, foresight and "enterprise, the business of the town was 
 largely increased. They were all in public employment somewhat, and 
 had much influence in town and parish affairs, but their mark was made 
 as men of business. They were contempoi-aries here for almost half a 
 century. They were men of good morals, of temperate habits, supportr 
 ers of religious institutions, prudent as well as enterprising, and there- 
 fore did much to give character to the place. It is owing in large meas- 
 ure, to their example and their instructions, that buaness has ever been 
 done here on a safe scale, and that there have been but few failures, 
 in hard times. It is the habit of the place to pay debts. May the in- 
 fluence of these men, as relates to integrity, good habits and upright- 
 ness in business, continue till the Village becomes a city, and through 
 all its history. 
 
 Mr. Joel Butler was born in Newton. If not, he attended school 
 there in childhood, as the following instructive anecdote will prove. He 
 used to relate that on one occasion, the old minister of Hopkinton came to 
 examine the school. Some of the children were guilty of bad behav- 
 ior. The old gentleman took no notice of this till he came to the clos- 
 ing prayer, when he gave a lesson that could not be forgotten. He 
 prayed as follows : " Lord, bless these children ; for thou knowest 
 that if they were well brought up at home, they would not act so like 
 sarpents in school." A truth as applicable now as it was ninety years .. 
 ago. Mr. Butler came into town in 1826, from Townsend, where, 
 
miRoMMA^M^ WMETmmix. 
 
HISTOfiY OF WINCHENDON. 435 
 
 aear tlie east border of Ashby, he had a mill and farm. In company 
 with his son, Ebenezer, he purchased the Butler mill place, and a large 
 tract of land around it, and there he lived to the great age of almost 
 ninety-nine years. He was an industrious, intelligent man, and his 
 faculties held out remarkably well. He was interested in all that per- 
 tained to the welfare of the Church of Christ, and was better versed 
 than most people, in the prophetic SiJfiptures, and the literature per- 
 taining to them. It was remarked at his funeral, that he had proba- 
 bly known persons who had seen some of the first settlers of Boston, 
 and perhaps, some of those who came over in the Mayflower. 
 
 The following paragraphs ought to have found a place on page 427 : 
 
 The Hon. Artemas Hale, of Bridgewater, son of Dea. Moses Hale, 
 
 Ls-^ne of those who not' only confer honor on the place of their birth, 
 
 but who hold their native town in kind remembrance. He has ex- 
 pressed to the author his deep interest in the fortunes of the town, and 
 in its forthcoming History. In early life he was engaged in survey- 
 ing, and teaching school. He settled in Bridgewater when a young 
 man, where he has acquired wealth, and at the same time, the' respect 
 and confidence of the community. He has represented his district in 
 Congress, and held other offices of honor and trust. 
 
 Rev. Eliot Payson, son of Eliot, and gr.-son of James Payson, was 
 bom in 1808. While young he removed to central New York with 
 his father's family. It is probable that he graduated at Hamilton Col- 
 lege, in Clinton, near Utica, as that was the only College in those days 
 west of Schenectady. He has been, for many years, a respected min- 
 ister of the Presbyterian Church. A sermon delivered by him, in the 
 North Congregational Church, fifteen or twenty years since, is still dis- 
 tinctly remembered. It was very impressive. 
 
 Oliver Lovejoy, M. D., son of Oliver Lovejoy, is a native of this 
 town. He received a good academical education ; obtained the disci- 
 jJine which comes from keeping school, in which calling he was veiy 
 successful ; and then studied medicine with great thoroughness. Af- 
 ter being engaged as assistant physician in Insane Hospitals at Provi- 
 dence, R. I., and Brattleboro, Vt., he took up his residence as a phy- 
 sician at Haverhill, where he enjoys a high reputation and hjis an ex- 
 tensive practice in his profession. 
 Rev. A. Hastings Ross had his birth m Winchendon. By persist- 
 
43& HISTORY OF WINCHENDOIiF. 
 
 ent effort, and constant reliance on divine aid, he worked himself into 
 and through Oberliu College. His theolo^cal education was chiefly 
 obtained in Andover Seminary. After a few years' settlement in Boyl- 
 strai, he removed, two or three years since, to the city of Springfield, 
 Ohio, where he is the eflSeient pastor of the Congregational Church. 
 
 It is quite possible that there are others who have conferred honor 
 on their Hrth-place, and who are equally deserving of honorable men- 
 tion. If so, they and their friends will understand that their names 
 have not been omitted by design. 
 
 " Think not that these alone deserve ihe praise, 
 As worthy children of their Mother-town ; 
 But all her daughters fair and sons, whose days 
 With blessed deeds have wrought her jewel'd crown : 
 These by their toil, their love, their holy vow, 
 Have bound immortelles round their Mother's brow." 
 
 Oli> Faibplay. 
 
HISTOKT OP WIKCHENBON. 437 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. — MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 "So various, that the mind 
 Of desultory man, studious of change 
 And pleas'd with novelty, might tje indulg'd." 
 
 COWPBE. 
 
 Several topics will receive attention im this chapter ; some, because 
 they defy classificatioa, and others, because they were overlooked at the 
 proper place. 
 
 SUCTION 1. — INVENTIONS. 
 
 There has been much ingenuity displayed in the workshops of Win- 
 chendon from their first establishment. Many improvements in ma- 
 chinery that do not rank with inventions, and for which no patents are 
 taken out, are familiar to mechanics. 
 
 Some of the important inventions made by residents of Winchendon, 
 are referred to below. 
 
 Richard Stuart was a contriver in mechanics, and among other things 
 cpnceived the idea of bending a saw round the edge of a cylinder, and 
 liius sawing circular stuff. 
 
 Dea. Eeuben Hyde, however, was the real inventor of the cylinder 
 or barrel saw, of which he had the patent, till it was sold for the trifling 
 sum of fifty dollars. 
 
 Jacob Simonds was the inventor of a combination of saws of differ- 
 ent sizes, for cutting out the fluting of wash-boards. 
 
 Edward Loud invented a revolving cylinder for fluting wooden wash- 
 oards. 
 
 Lewis Bobbins invented the machine for making clothes-pins with ra- 
 pidity. Formerly the process was slow ; now the pins are turned, sawed 
 and shaved as if by magic. 
 
 Polycrates Parks is an ingenious contriver of mechanical improve- 
 ments. 
 
438 HISTORY OP WINCHEND03V. 
 
 Edwin Parks is the inventar of an auger-faucet which bares into the 
 barrel-head. Of course, it just fits the hole, and there is no spirting 
 between withdrawing the auger and inserting the faucet. 
 
 Col. William Murdock invented a bobbin for the mills in Lawrence, 
 which is still in'use. His special improvement in jack-spools has been 
 adopted by others in all improved spools. A more recent bobbin of his 
 is now coming into use. 
 
 The Parks brothers make an improved jack-spool in large quantity. 
 
 Stephen Ketchum is the inventor of an improred method of screw- 
 ing the ends of pipe together, thus dispensing with soddering together, 
 and cutting apart. He has also made improvements in the sewing ma- 
 chine. His chopping-knife is manufactured by himself and Sumner 
 Loud. 
 
 Quimby S. Backus has invented a machine to print labels for spools, 
 &c. ; also a vice ', and still another for cutting slate pencils. 
 
 Lyman Jennings is the inventor of a machine for cutting or slicing 
 off, instead of sawing veneers. 
 
 John G. Folsom has made several improvements of sewing machines, 
 
 Jonathan Carter is the inventor of a neat method of painting the 
 " star pails." 
 
 Baxter D. Whitney's first patent was for a machine for stretching 
 wrinkles out of cloth while in the process of fulling. A machine of his for 
 smootlnng hard wood lumber after pasang liirough the ordinary planer, 
 is in general use; it has been patented in several European countries. 
 The same is true also of his gauge lathe, and his improvements in cyl- 
 inder planers. He is the inventor also of a machine for grinding cylin- 
 der saws. The latter has been patented iii this country. He obtained 
 a silver medal for the smoothing machine and ihe gauge lathe, at the 
 Great Exposition at Paris^ in 1867. A picture of the medal is insert- 
 ed opposite. 
 
 SECTION 2. — LAPIDARIES. 
 
 The author does not know where the people of &As town obtained 
 their monumental stone work in former times ; but of late years, they 
 have been fortunate in this respect. Mr. Tateum, who was here some 
 fifteen years ago, was an excdlent workman in marble, granite, and oth- 
 
m 
 
 IfcM 
 .1« 
 
 »=* 
 
HISTOEY OF WINCHENDON. .439 
 
 er kinds of stone ; and Mr. Greorge H. Allyn, now in the establishment 
 of Mr. Henry Peck, has made his calling a fine art. 
 
 SECTION 3. — ANTIQUITIES. 
 
 There is very little in a town so recently settled as Winchendon, that 
 has the flavor of antiquity. Some things, however, which are relative- 
 ly ancient, may be noticed. 
 
 The oldest house in the town is a few rods west of the south end of 
 the Common. It has already been stated that this house was built in 
 1762, by Dea. Richard Day. The picture of it may disappoint some 
 because the tall elms in front are not ^ven. But it was deemed best 
 to ^ve the house without accessories which must have had a place if 
 the elms were included. The roof originally was not four-sided. The 
 same house appears in connection with the old meeting-house on page 
 151. It has recently become the property of Mr. D. E. Poland, of 
 Boston, a native of the town. For convenience the picture is inserted 
 between pages 44 and 45. 
 
 The house occupied by Dexter Bruce is made of materials taken from 
 the two story house of Hon. Abel Wilder, which stood on the same spot. 
 The house of Joshua Nutting is the old two story house of Hananiah 
 Whitney, Sen. , razeed. Both these houses were built quite early. The 
 old house long occupied by Joseph Whitney, Sen., and now inhabited 
 by Mr. Page, formerly belonged to Dudley Perley. The low L part 
 of that house is much more ancient than the house itself, and was part 
 of the first house of Mr. Perley. The house of the late Esq. Murdock, 
 by the great elm, and Mr. Winn's house, built by Esq. Crosby, are 
 both ancient, for Winchendon, and are still in good repair. Fragments 
 of the old meeting-house on Tallow Hill, may still be seen at Mr. Wes- 
 ton's, near whose house it stood. The old " Society House," which 
 was the cradle of the New Boston Baptist Church is still standing, some 
 twenty rods north of Daniel Day's. James McElwain, the tavern-keep- 
 er, bought the old meeting-house in the Centre, in 1792, and probably 
 the timbers are still in use. In this connection the following extract 
 from the Records, which was not found when the chapter on the Par- 
 ish was printed, finds its place. 
 
 " A record of the pew ground sold at publie vendue, the fourth day of Sep- 
 tember, A. D. 1765, by Eicbard Day, John Darling and Theos. Mansfield, 
 Committee men, and a list of the men's names that purchased thp same. 
 
44Q 
 
 HISTORY OF WJnsrCHETfDOrr. 
 
 ^0. 16, 
 
 struck off to Silas Whitney, for 
 
 9 doflars' 
 
 
 " 1, 
 
 " Daniel Goodridge, " 
 
 10 " 
 
 
 " 10. 
 
 " Joseph Stimson, " 
 
 5 " 
 
 
 " 15, 
 
 Theos. Mansfield, " 
 
 10 " 
 
 1 qnar. 
 
 " 4, 
 
 Dea. Richard Day, " 
 
 8 " 
 
 1 quar. 
 
 " 11, 
 
 "■ Ephraim Stiinsom,' " 
 
 10 " 
 
 Ibalf. 
 
 " 9. 
 
 Dea. Richard Day, " 
 
 10 " 
 
 1 half. 
 
 " 8, 
 
 Silas Whitney 
 
 16 " 
 
 1 quarter 
 
 " 12, 
 
 " Benoni Boynton, " 
 
 11 " 
 
 
 " 13, 
 
 " John Darling; " 
 
 S "■ 
 
 I half. 
 
 " 14, 
 
 Abel Wilder, 
 
 9 " 
 
 1 half.. 
 
 " 2, 
 
 " Jonathan Poster, " 
 
 10 " 
 
 
 " 3, 
 
 Abel Wilder, 
 
 9 " 
 
 
 - 5, 
 
 " Jonathan StiiHSOii', 
 
 7 " 
 
 
 " 6, 
 
 "■ Jonathan StimsoB, 
 
 11 " 
 
 
 " 7, 
 
 " Jonathan Stimson, 
 
 15 " 
 
 I half."- 
 
 Other biriMi^ might be mentioned, as -vreH as the half buried re- 
 mains of numerous old dams, mills ancJ bridges ; but tbey are not of 
 sufficient interest to attract pilgrims to their sites. 
 
 The gun and powder-horn which are here represented, belong to Mr. 
 Luke Rice, who received tbemi from his father, Lieut. Benjamin Rice, 
 a revolutionary worthy. He bought them of Robert Bradisb, Sen., who 
 used them both, when acting as a scout, in this neighborhood, in the 
 last French and Lidian war. The gun was made in England' in 173T. 
 Both articles, therefore, besides bei»g antique, have an historical interest. 
 
 Mr. Jacob Woodbury has an old hatchet which was carried to Que- 
 bec, in Arnold's expedition through the wilds of Maine, by Jonathan 
 Pollard. In his hands it was not only a convenient tool, but a formida- 
 ble weapon,, and on more than one occasion, was the means of saving 
 his life. 
 
 In this coimection it is appropriate to refer to the old " Block Hous- 
 es" again. It was stated on a former page that there was one at Col. 
 Berry's, now Samuel Woodbury's. It was on the Berry farm, but was 
 east of the house about half way to the John and Joshua Gill place, 
 on the: north, side of the road, where the cellar may still be seen. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDGBr. 441 
 
 It was also stated that there was one east of the Tallow Hill school- 
 house. In strict truthfulness, this log house, of the Bbyntons and Ed- 
 dys, was the old block house of Bullardville, moved and built anew. 
 
 The block house on Jacob Hale's farm, was not near the Waterville 
 school-house, as previously stated, but east of Merritt Hale's, on the 
 north side of the road near the top of the hill. 
 
 If relics properly come under this head, it may be mentioned that 
 human bones were found, many years since, on the eastern shore of Den- 
 ison lake. By some they were supposed to be Indian remains. 
 
 SECTION 4. — WILD ANIMALS. 
 
 Allusions have been made to the fact that wild animals were preva- 
 lent here, and in this region, for years after the first settlement. The 
 howl of the wolf was often heard, and his prowlings in the sheep pas- 
 tures were more fatal than when chasing after Dr. Whiton's leg of veal. 
 
 Bears were also met with occasionally. Since the present century 
 came in, a she-bear and two cubs were seen not far from the Evans place, 
 by Mr. Luke Rice (then a boy,) and others. Though pursued, it made 
 its escape. 
 
 Poisonous serpents are rarely if ever met with in our borders. 
 
 SECTION 5. — HORSES. 
 
 The people of this town have long been noted for liking good horses. 
 Perhaps the fact that the Messrs. Whitney, — William and Phinehas — 
 raised, bought and kept so many horses, had some influence in creating 
 this preference for good animals. However this may be, the writer 
 found here, twenty-five years ago, a large number of excellent horses ; 
 and the number has largely increased since that time. Many farmers 
 are particular to have a good horse ; the team-horses are large and 
 strong ; and many families have spirited and elegant teams. Fast hors- 
 es are sometimes associated with " fast young men," but thus far, we 
 have been favored with the former without the drawback of the latter. 
 In addition it is pertinent to the subject to say, that the stables of Whit- 
 comb & Fairbanks, Wood & Rand, and the more recent one of J. Morse, 
 are well supplied with horses which keep up the credit of the town in 
 this regard. 
 
 SECTION 6. — WHITE CEDARS AND WHITE SWALLOWS. 
 
 It seems that-the " white cedars" of Winchendon are referred to in 
 
442 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 Wood's Botany. It would therefore be a censurable omission if the 
 author failed to say that Hon. Elisha Murdock formerly owned about 
 four acres of this species of wood, so rare in this section of country. It 
 was cut up and used in the manufacture of those elegant pails made of 
 alternate white and red cedar staves, which many families will remem- 
 ber. One in the writer's possession, a gift from Mr. Murdock, is still 
 as " good as new," and as fragrant as the " cedars of Lebanon." Not 
 less fragrant, in a moral sense, is the memory of many years service 
 with him, in the cause of education, of temperance, and of freedom. 
 
 In the years 1865, 6 and 7, one or two specimens of the white swal- 
 low, were seen in the Village, by a few persons. They were near, on 
 each occasion but one, the bridge by Groodspeed & Wyman's. Their 
 singular appearance attracted attention. 
 
 SECTION 7. — OLD ELMS. 
 
 The wide-branching elm between the houses of Reuben Vose, Jr., 
 and Charles J. Rice, on the old Common, was set out a little more than 
 a hundred years ago, by Mr. Stimson, the first minister. Long may 
 it honor his memory. The elms in front of the old Day house are an- 
 cient. It is not certainly known who planted them ; but it is probable 
 that Mr. Brown, the second minister, deserves the credit. Dea. Day 
 was killed before people generally felt like setting out shade trees. 
 The whole endeavor was to get trees out of the way. As Mr. Brown 
 lived in the house during several years, and as the trees seem too old 
 to have been planted by any one since his day, it will be safe to ascribe 
 the planting to him till the claims of some other worthy are proved. 
 It is known that he was fond of trees, and that he was engaged in set- 
 ting out. apple trees between the house and the Common on the day 
 of the battle of Bunker Hill, and the tradition is that he heard the 
 big guns. 
 
 The old elm in front of the house of Mrs. George Brown, was quite 
 a tree when the late Esq. Murdock built the house. The planter of 
 it is not known to the author. There is a double row of fine elms in 
 front of the house of Mr. Luke Rice, most of which were set out by 
 his father, Lt. Benjamin Rice. Mr. Rice has many beautiful maples 
 also. He has the only shag-bark wahiut trees in the town. Indeed, 
 there are but two or three walnut trees of any kind in any other part 
 of the town. 
 
HISTORY OE WINCHENDON. 443 
 
 SECTION 8. — WINCHENDON AS A PLACE OP EESOET. 
 
 It is a curious fact that this town had a reputation — rather limited 
 to be sure — as a place of resort, fifty years and more ago. The " vir- 
 tuous spring" at Spring Village was visited by -many who drank the 
 water for their health. Mr. Ahijah "Wood kept a public house for their 
 accommodation. If proper means were taken, the place would be 
 thronged with summer visitors. 
 
 The beautiful Denison lake, has always been a resort, in the sum- 
 mer season; by those living not very remote. A good hotel there would 
 bring its quota of patrons. 
 
 The Village is too busy to attend to company, and the hotel of Mr. 
 Fairbanks, though well kept, and free from the loaferism which makes 
 many village taverns disgusting, is generally full of boarders residing 
 here. If enlarged, or if the proprietor should open another for the 
 special accommodation of transient visitors and summer boarders, it 
 would, without doubt, be filled. 
 
 SECTION 9. — SECRET SOCIETIES. 
 
 It has been stated incidentally, on other pages, that an association 
 of Odd Fellows was in existence here about twenty years since ; and 
 that the temperance cause has been furthered by Sons of Temperance 
 and Good Templars. At present there is a Lodge of Free Masons, 
 called the Artisan Lodge. It is said to be in a flourishing condition. 
 
 SECTION 10. — POPULATION AND VAUJATION. 
 
 The population of the town, at various dates, in the last century, 
 has been given in former chapters. The following figures show the 
 gradual increase of inhabitants from decade to decade. 
 
 In 1790, 
 
 946 
 
 In 1830, 
 
 1463 
 
 " 1800, 
 
 1092 
 
 " 1840, 
 
 1754 
 
 « 1810, 
 
 1173 
 
 " 1850, 
 
 2445 
 
 « 1820, 
 
 1263 
 
 " 1860, 
 
 2624 
 
 The population is now greater than at the last census, but the exact 
 number of the inhabitants is not known. 
 
 At one time the valuation of this town was below that of all the towns 
 in the county, except two or three. In 1865, the valuation was fl, 
 160,952. In 1868, it was $1,537,126. 
 
444 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. — aBNEALOGY AND 
 PERSONAL HISTORY. 
 
 " True Is, that wliilome that good poet said, 
 That gftntle mind by gentle deed is known, 
 
 For man by nothing is so well bewray'd 
 As by his manners, in which plain is shown 
 Of what degree and what race he is grown." 
 
 Spenser. 
 
 " How poor are all hereditary honors, 
 Those poor possessions from another's deeds, 
 Unless our own just virtues form our title. 
 And give a sanction to our fond assumptions !" 
 
 Shirley. 
 
 This chapter must be brief, for two reasons, either of which is suffi- 
 cient. The first is, that though families have been desired, pubhcly; 
 and privately, to furnish their family history, but few have responded. 
 The author is however indebted to a few who have aided him in this 
 regard, to whom he hereby tenders his thanks. Mrs. Dudley Whitney, 
 Hon. Artemas Hale, Miss Orelba Hale, Mr. Nelson W. Wyman and 
 Mr. Luke Rice are entitled to special mention for the amount of infor- 
 mation furnished by them. 
 
 The other cause of brevity is the firm conviction that genealogy and 
 family history have no legitimate place in municipal history. Many fam- 
 ilies are to be found in scores of towns in New England ; some of them 
 in hundreds of towns. The time is coming when all these towns will have 
 their history. It follows that if genealogy is to have its place in them 
 all, the same matter wiU be printed hundreds of times. The true meth- 
 od is, for families to gather their own history and genealogy into sep- 
 arate volumes respectively. This will save expense and subserve the 
 convenience of all. But in accordance with the promise made in the 
 Proposals for publishing this volume, a few pages of genealogy and fami- 
 ly history will be given. The author holds himself responsible for no 
 
HISTOET OF WINCHENDON. 445 
 
 omissions. Those who have neglected to furnish facta, have no right 
 to complain if they are not published. A few families only are men- 
 tioned here except those in town previous to the year 1800. The best 
 method of arranging genealogical facts is probably that of Hon. Charles 
 Hudson in his valuable Histories of Marlboro' and Lexington ; but as 
 only two or three generations are given in this chapter, no special at- 
 tention to method is required. The residences of the families can in 
 most cases be found on the maps in this volume. 
 
 ADAUS. 
 
 Col. Benjamin Adams settled here after the Shays rebellion, and lived at 
 the north end of the Common. He married Zeruiah, daughter of Joseph Boyn- 
 ton. His children were : 
 
 1. Benjamin, b. Nov. 3, 1794, m. Susannah Alger; 2. Zeruiah, b. Sept, 
 4, 1796, m. Lyman Raymond ; 3. Eunice, b. Aug. 11, 1798, m. Arba Reed; 
 4. OHve, b. Dec. 20, 1800, m. John Longley ; 5. Oliver, b. July 24, 1804, 
 m. Chastina Stone ; 6. Joseph, b. Oct. 20, 1805, m. Hannah Whitney ; 7. 
 Albert, died young. 
 
 ALOER. 
 
 David Alger lived just west of the bridge over Miller's river, beyond the 
 Fry plaqp. He came from Bridgewater, and settled in Winohendon about 
 the year 1794. His children were : 
 
 1. Chloe, b. Jan. 7, 1793, at Bridgewater ; 2. Jonathan, b. in W., Sept. 
 20, 1795; 3. David, b. Oct. 3, 1798; 4 and 5. Joseph and Benjamin, b. 
 Jan. 13, 1804; 6. Susanna, b. Dec. 30, 1806, m. Benj. Adams, Jr. ; 7. 
 Sarah, b. Sept. 12, 1814. David Alger died Oct. 22, 1810. 
 
 Abiel Alger, came from Bridgewater, with his br. David in 1793 or 94. 
 The christian name of his wife was Rhoda. Children : 
 
 1. Olive b. Oct.9, 1789 ; 2. Vina, b. Apr. 1, 1791 ; 3. Abiel, b. Mar. 
 19, 1793; 4. Chloe, b. Nov. 11, 1794; 5. Sylvia, b. July 30, 1796, and 
 two others. 
 
 BALCOM. 
 
 Gideon Balcom, son of Daniel Balcom, m. Anna Hale. Several of their chil- 
 dren died in 1810-11, during the great mortality among children. Of those 
 who survived, were : 
 
 1. Lmcoln, m. Abigail Raymond; and 2. Sabrina, m. C. C. Alger. 
 
 BALL. 
 
 Phinehas Ball lived in the first house south of Miller's river, a mile beyond 
 WatervUle, on the road to Royalston. This was the Oaks place. He had a 
 son, Joel Ball. 
 
 BAKRETT. 
 
 Thornton Barrett and Abigail, his wife, had children : 
 
 1. Hannah, b. May 4, 1768 ; 2. John, b. Apr. 26, 1773 ; 3. Jerusha, 
 
446 HISTORY OF -WINCHENDON. 
 
 b. Mar. 20, 1775 ; 4. Thornton, b. Mar. 27, 1777 ; 5. Samuel, b. Aug. 9, 
 178*; 6. Joseph, b. July 1, 1783 j 7. Henry, b. Dec. 1, 178*; 8. Na- 
 thaniel, b. July 15, 178*. 
 
 BATTLES. 
 
 Noah Battles and Miranda his wife had children : 
 
 1. Jairus, b. Oct. 17, 1785; 2. Philander, b. Dec. 5, 1798; 3. Lucin- 
 da, b. March 5, 1791 ; 4. Noah b. March 31, 1793. The above were born 
 in Scituate. 5. Fanny, b. Oct. 3, 1795 ; 6. Susey, b. Jan. 14, 1798 ; 7. 
 Naaman, b. June 10, 1800; 8. Lewis, b. March 12, 1803; 9. Nabbe, b. 
 June 14, 1805. 
 
 BEAL3. 
 
 Stower Bcals m. Mary Leavitt. Children : 
 
 , 1. Martha, m. Cyrus Pierce ; 2. Mary, m. Hananiah Whitney, Jr. ; 8. 
 George L. m. Nancy Norcross. 
 
 Lt. Samuel Deals and Eunice his wife had children : 
 
 1. Jonathan; 2. Madison; 3. Wilder; 4. Eunice A. ; 5. Samuel; 6. 
 Mary P. ; 7. Nathaniel. 
 
 BEAMAN. 
 
 Gamaliel Beaman had a son David. 
 David m. Polly Carter, and had children : 
 
 1. Gamaliel Carter, b. March 20, 1799; 2. Elisha. b. Sept. 22f 1800; 
 
 8. Sally T., b. Sept. 29, 1802; 4. David W., b. Aug. 29, 1804; 5. 
 Melas, b. July 31, 1806, d. Oct. 13, 1808; 6. Mary Ann, b. Dec> 4, 
 1808; 7. Prudence W., b. Jan. 7, 1811 ; 8. Harriet, b. Jan. 8, 1814; 
 
 9. Eliza, b. Aug. 19, 1816; 10. William, b. Sept. 16, 1818. 
 
 BEAMIS. 
 
 Abel Bemis or Beamis, b. May 10, 1772. Susanna, his wife, b. Feb. 10, 
 1780. Children : 
 
 1. Eebecca, b. Feb. 20, 1803; 2. Loiza, b. Dec. 2, 1805 ; 3. Sarah, b. 
 Feb. 23, 1806; 4. Susan, b. May 27, 1807; 5. Dolly, b. Aug. 10, 1809; 
 6. Eoxanna.b. March 1,1811; 7. Keuben, b. Oct. 25,1813; 8. Abel, b. 
 Nov. 30, 1815 ; 9. Sylvester, b. Nov. 6, 1816, d. July 11, 1818 ; 10. Mer- 
 rie, b. March 23, 1820; 11. Lavinia H., b. Feb. 10, 1822; 12. Lucinda 
 R., b. Sept. 6, 1823. 
 
 Jason Bemis had a blacksmith shop, 60 to 70 years ago, near the top of 
 the hill from the Village to the Centre. Children : 
 
 1. Jason; 2. Amos; 3. Joel; 4. Luke; 5. James. 
 
 BENJAMIN. 
 
 Andrew Benjamin and Mary Pierce his wife had children : 
 1. Stephen, b. Feb. 13, 1778; 2. Amos, b. Jan. 6, 1780; 3. Betsey, 
 b. Aug. 13, 1781 ; 4. Francis, b. Apr. 9, 1784 ; 5. Jonathan, b. May 20, 
 
 • The figure is worn off the Records. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 447 
 
 1786; 6. Charles, b. March 7, 1789; 7. Levi, b. July 18, 1791 ; 8. Pol- 
 ly, b. May 13, 1794 ; 9. Sally, b. Oct. 26, 1796. The two eldest were bora 
 in Ashby, Betsey in Fitzwilliam, and the last six in Winchendon. 
 
 BIGELOW. 
 
 Roger Bigelow and Mary his wife had children : 
 
 ,1. Eunice, b. Apr. 24, 1783; 2. Mercy, b. July 4, 1785; 3. Samuel, 
 b. Sept. 11, 1787; 4. Alpheus, b. Aug. 4, 1789; 5, Ezra P., b. July, 
 1791. 
 
 Solomon Bigelow was the father of 
 
 1. Benjamin ; 2. Ebenezer ; 3. Sally ; 4. Patty ; 5. Asa. 
 
 Ebenezer Bigelow, m. Sally Wales. Children : 
 
 1. Grate, b. Oct. 19, 1796 ; 2. Joseph, b. May 6, 1798 ; 3. John, b. 
 Jan. 31, 1800; 4. Louis, b. May 18, 1802; 5. Sally, b. June 29, 1804. 
 
 BIXBr. 
 
 Daniel Bixby was here in 1763 ; Nathaniel in 1764. 
 
 Levi Bixby, son of Nathaniel and Jerusha [Houghton] Bixby, his wife, 
 of Lancaster, was born Aug. 7, 1743, and moved to Winchendon about the 
 time of his marriage with Ruth Darling, which occurred Oct. 2, 1766. Chil- 
 dren by first wife : 
 
 1 and 2. Lois and Eunice, twins, b. Apr. 5,1768. Lois m., Sept. 
 28, 1794, Obil Fassett, and lived in Jaffroy, where some of her descend- 
 ants now reside. Eunice m. Barnabas Miller and moved to Westboro. 3. 
 Zibiah, b. Oct. 17, 1770. and m. Ephraim Murdock ; 4. Lucinda, b. May 
 8, 1773, ni. Gardner Wilder, and had several children; 5. Levi, b. Feb. 
 
 2, 1776, m. Nancy Pierce, March 29, 1803. He moved to Boston. Mrs. 
 Bixby d. in 1778, and Mr. Bixby m., May 13, 1779, Tabitha Foster Boyn- 
 ton, widow of Stephen Boynton. Children: 6. Stephen, b. Dec. 8, 1780, 
 killed Sept. 8, 1800, by insane Daniel Bobbins; 7. Ruth, b. Dec. 21, 
 1782, m. Richard Stuart, March 29, 1803 ; 8. Tabitha, b. Sept. 26, 1784, 
 m., June 7, 1801, John Green, and moved to Paris, Oneida Co., N. Y. ; 
 9. Persis, b. Oct. 5,1786, m. Sept. 17, 1805, Andrew Fowler, and moved 
 to Rupert, Vt. 
 
 Levi Bixby died Oct. 5, 1803, and his widow married for her third hus- 
 band, Nov. 13, 1810, Benjamin Eddy, b. Oct. 20, 1739, and was gr. gr. 
 grandson of " John Eddy who came to Plymouth from Suffolk Co., England, 
 Oct. 29, 1630." He was a soldier in Col. Putnam's regiment in the Revo- 
 lution. Widow Tabitha, who seems to have provided a home for her last two 
 hu.sbands, died Feb. 10, 1845, aged 96 years, at the house of her son-in-law, 
 Richard Stuart. 
 
 Nathaniel Bixby was a brother of Levi, and m. a sister of Samuel Brown. 
 Children : 
 ] . Amos ; 2. Hannah ; 3. Lincoln ; 4. Betsey. 
 
 Keziah Bixby, sister of the above, was the wife of Richard Parsons, and of 
 Amos Heywood. 
 
448 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 Daniel and Jonathan Bixby were not brothers of Levi. The former had 
 these children : 
 
 1. Daniel, b. in 1763 ; Aaron, b. in 1765. 
 
 Adonijah Bixby and Mary his wife had children : 
 
 1. Abel; 2. Polly; 3. Lucy; 4. Dolly; 5. Adonijah; 6. Sarah, all 
 born between 1782 and 1792. 
 
 BOSWOKTH. 
 
 Walsingham Bosworth m. Mary Piper. Children : 
 
 1. Anna, b. Dec. 26, 1798; 2. Nabby, b. March 31, 1800; 3. Olive, 
 b. June 27, 1801; 4. Katharine, b. March 15, 1804; 5. JosiahP.,b. June 
 19, 1808; 6. Jonathan, b. Sept. 18, 1810. 
 
 BOWKER. 
 
 Asa Bowker, Sen. m. Hannah Harwood. Children : 
 
 William and Asa. 
 
 William and Sally Bowker had children : 
 
 1. Dexter, b. Apr. 22, 1806 ; 2. Sullivan, b. March 28, 1808 ; 3 and 4. 
 John and Aaron, b. Apr. 8, 1811. 
 
 Asa and Joanna Bowker had children : 
 
 1. Esther, b. Sept. 9, 1817; 2. Abigail, b. Jan. 16, 1819; 3. Levi, b. 
 Feb. 4, 1821 ; 5. Ephraim, b. Jan. 25, 1825 ; 6. Joanna, b. March 26, 
 1828 ; 7. AbigaU, b. July 4, 1830. The last three were children of his 
 wife Nabby. 
 
 BOYNTON. 
 
 Benoni Boynton was here in 1754. He and a brother (probably Ephraim, 
 who was a settler as early as 1762,) held a large lot extending from a point 
 near the Tallow Hill school-house, east so far as to include nearly all of Bul- 
 lardville. It reached south of Levi Parks' house. It included upland, low- 
 land and water privileges. They had a block-house in the French and Indian 
 war, in Bullardville, between the road and the river, south of the present Parks 
 pond. One day, hearing a click, and seeing over the bushes the head of an 
 Indian, they took refuge in the blockhouse. Then taking a gun, they fled 
 to the McElwain, or more probably, the Day tavern, in the Centre. The au- 
 thor knows nothing of the descendants of Benoni and Ephraim Boynton. Af- 
 ter the war the block-house was taken down, and set up as a dwelling-house, 
 by the great elm east of the school-house, where Mrs. Eddy used to reside. 
 The two Boyntons were on the first board of Selectmen in 1764. 
 
 Stephen Boynton was probably a son of one of the above-named, or a broth- 
 er of both. His name first appears in 1771. He died previous to 1779, be- 
 cause his widow, Tabitha Foster Boynton, was married to Levi Bixby on the 
 2d of May, J 779. Her third husband was Benjamin Eddy. As both Bix- 
 by and Eddy, her second and third husbands, resided on the Boynton place, . 
 by the great elm, it is probable that Mrs. Eddy held the property from her 
 first husband, Stephen Boynton, and that he was the heir of Benoni or 
 Ephraim. The children of Stephen and Tabitha, his wife : 
 
HISTORY OF WINOHBNDON. 449 
 
 1. Sally, b. June 13, 1772 ; 2. Lucy, b. Jan. 7, 1774 ; 3. Sukey, b. 
 Nov. 22, 1776. 
 
 Joseph Boynton came hither in 1765, and settled on the farm now owned 
 by Jedediah Morse. He, like the preceding, came from old Eowley, where 
 he was born, July 5, 1788. In 1766, he m. Zeruiah Wilder of Sterling, b. 
 Nov. 6, 1746. He d. in 1820 ; she in 1889. His children were : 
 
 1. Joseph, b. Jan. 18, 1767 ; 2. Daniel, bom in W. Sept, 17, 1772, m. 
 Dolly, dau. of Paul Boynton, March 1, 1795, d. June 10, 1845. Children : 
 
 Mary, b. July 23, 1796, and others. 
 
 Ephraim Boynton and Abigail his wife had children : 
 
 1. Irena, b. Dec. 9, 1765 ; 2. Jonathan, b. Aug. 1, 1766. 
 
 John Boynton came to W. in 1769, and settled on the farm now owned by 
 Capt. E. Murdock, Jr. He removed to Wethersfield, Vt., and the Payson 
 family bought the place. Children : 
 
 1. John, b. Aug. 31, 1769; 2. David, b. Deo. 20, 1771 ; 3. Elizabeth, 
 b. Feb. 21, 1778; 4. Sarah, b. Feb. 16,1776; 5. Hannah, b. July 10, 1778; 
 6. Gyrus, b. June 14, 1780 ; 7. Nancy, b. June 12, 1782. 
 
 Major Paul Boynton settled where Dea. K. Hyde now resides. He was 
 b. Oct. 21, 1751, and m. Abigail Fairbanks, b. Dec. 31, 1759. Their daugh- 
 ter Dolly m. her cousin, Daniel Boynton. She was b. Jan. 20, 1778 ; d. 
 Feb. 16, 1855. 
 
 Mrs. M. D. Poland, wife of Stephen Poland, is the daughter of Daniel and 
 Dolly Boynton, and so the granddaughter of both Joseph and Paul Boynton. 
 Paul Boynton had also : 
 
 2. Nabby; 3. Benjamin; 4. Sally; 5. Paul; 6. John. 
 Levi Boynton and Mary his wife had children : 
 
 1. ErastusD., b. Oct. 14, 1805; 2. Alfred W., b. Sept. 14, 1807; 3. 
 Harrison L., b. July 26, 1809. 
 
 BKADISH. 
 
 Kobert Bradish. 
 
 Kobert Bradish, son of Kobert, m. Lucy Jackson. 
 
 Kobert Bradish and Nabbe his wife had children : 
 
 1. Thomas; 2. Lucy; 3. Polly; 4. Lydia; all bom between 1794 and 
 1800. ' 
 
 Samuel Bradish and Hannah his wife had : 
 
 Samuel b. Oct. 2, 1783. 
 
 Jonas Bradish and Jerusha his wife had children : 
 
 1. Jerusha, b. Oct. 9, 1772 ; 2. James, b. Dec. 31, 1774 ; 3. Samuel 
 M., b. Dec. 12, 1777. 
 James Bradish, son of Jonas, m. Polly Moore. 
 
 BBIDOE. 
 
 Francis Bridge and Eunice his wife had : 
 
 1. Patty, b. Feb. 1, 1774; 2. Eunice, b. March 27, 1776; 3. Francis, 
 
 38 1-8 
 
450 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 b. July 4, 1778; 4. Euhamah, b. March 30, 1781 ; 5. Levi, b. Feb. 15, 
 1784; 6. OUver, b. July 20, 1785. 
 
 BKOOKS. 
 
 John Brooks m. Lois Barr. Children : 
 
 1. John A., b. Feb. 19, 1789; 2. Jonas, b. March 31, 1791 ; 3. daughter, 
 lived three weeks, b. Oct., 1793 ; 4. William, b. Nov. 31, 1794; 5. Hep- 
 zibah, b. Sept. 14, 1797; 6. William B.„b. Sept. 24, 1800. 
 
 Levi Brooks m. Betsey Flint. Children : 
 
 1. John, b. March 6, 1785 ; 2. Betsey, b. Apr. 17, 1788 ; 3. Peggy, 
 b. Aug. 16, 1790 ; 4. Nancy, b. June 25, 1793. 
 
 Joel Brooks and Tamesin his wife had : 
 Lydia, b. March 7, 1792. 
 
 BBOWN. 
 
 Benjamin Brown and Esther his wife had children : 
 
 1. Amasa, b. May 23, 1770; 2. Cyrus, b. May 23, 1772 ; 3. Benjamin, 
 b. Nov. 6, 1774; 4. Esther, b. Oct. 3, 1776 ; 5. Patty, b. Dec. 23, 1778 ; 
 6. Betty, b. Nov. 30, 1780 ; 7. OUve, b. Nov. 7, 1782 ; 8. Caty, b. May 
 16, 1785 ; 9. James, b. June 5, 1787 ; 10. Artemas, (a physician in Med- 
 way,) b. Apr. 3, 17,89. The four first were born in Templeton ; the rest in 
 this town. 
 
 Samuel Brown and Lavina his wife had children : 
 
 1. Asaph, b. Jan. 21, 1778, m. Martha, dau. of Hon. Abel Wilder ; 2. 
 Mercy, b. Sept. 31, 1779, m. Wm. Tolman; 3. Abigail, b. June 11, 1782, 
 m. Dea. Paul Eaymond; 4. Dolly, the mother of Hon. Wm. B. Spooner; 
 5. William; 6. John; 7. Samuel; 8. Lucy. 
 
 Amos H. Brown, b. July 16, 1785, m. Betsey Borman, b. July 11, 1786. 
 Children : 
 
 1. Hezekiah B., b. May 26,' 1810; 2. Charles M. ; 3. Amos H.; 4, 
 Elizabeth; 5. John B. ; 6. Sally M. ; 7. Charles M. ; 8. Polly. 
 
 Hezekiah and Huldah Brown had children : 
 
 1. Amos; 2. Luke; 3. Hervey; 4. Eliza; 5. James S. ; 6. Harriet N. 
 
 Kev. Joseph Brown and Sarah his wife had children : 
 
 1. Elizabeth, b. July 20, 1765 ; 2. Jane, b. Feb. 27, 1767 ; 3. Joseph, 
 b. Nov. 26. 1768 ; 4. James, b. Apr. 24, 1771 ; 5. James, b. Nov. 13, 
 1772 ; 6. Sarah, b. Jan. 6, 1775 ; 7. Mary, b. May 19, 1778 ; 8. John, 
 b. Feb. 22, 1780 ; 9. Amos, b. July 14, 1782. 
 
 Samuel Brown, 2d, m. Eunice Hagar. Children : 
 1. William; 2. Eunice; 3. Mary; 4. Charles D. 
 
 BTJRNETMAN OE BOBMAN. 
 
 Charles G. Martin Burneyman or Borman, and Chloe his wife had children : 
 1. Mary Massey, b. Feb. 27, and seven others. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 451 
 
 BUTTEICK. 
 
 Daniel Buttrick and Eunice his wife had children : 
 
 1. Daniel, b. Jan. 23, 1783 ; 2. Lucy, b. Apr. 7, 1785, died soon; 3. 
 Lucy, b. Aug. 6, 1787 ; 4. Silas, b. Feb. 8, 1790; 5. David, b. Apr. 22, 
 1792; 6. Jonathan, b. Apr. 26, 1794; 7. Jonas, b. June 22, 1796; 8. 
 Mary, b. Feb. 7, 1799. 
 
 Abiel Buttrick and Eunice Heywood his wife had children : 
 
 1. Eunice, b. July 31, 1780 ; .2. Abiel, June 23, 1782 ; 3. Amos, b. 
 Sept. 12, 1784; 4. Samuel, b. Nov. 19, 1786; 5. Betsey, b. Feb. 23, 
 1789; 6. Amos, b. Oct. 12, 1792; 7. Cyrus, b. Apr. 16, 1795. 
 
 BUER. 
 
 John Burr and Sarah his wife had children : 
 
 1. John, b. March 4, 1784 ; 2. Samuel, b. Oct. 24, 1787 ; 3. Piam, b. 
 May 14, 1792. 
 
 CARIER. 
 
 Levi and Silence Carter had : 
 
 1. James, b. Nov. 23, 1774 ; 2. Joannah, b. July 28, 1777. 
 
 CHASE. 
 
 Charles Chase m. Hannah Stewart . Children : 
 
 1. Silas, b. Nov. 27, 1794 ; 2. Lucy, b. May 12, 1798 ; 3. Hannah, b. 
 June23,1800;4. Charles, b. Jan. 11, 1806; 5. Mary, b. March 26, 1809. 
 
 CHOATB. 
 
 Stephen and Bathsheba Choate had children : 
 
 1. Eunice,.b. Apr. 13, 1765 ; 2. Lucy, b. May 15, 1766. 
 
 COEWN. 
 
 George Coffin, bom in Boston, Feb. 13, 1761, a soldier in the Eevolution, 
 and deacon of the First Ch. Winchendon, m. Abigail, daughter of Col. Paul 
 Eaymond, died in 1852, aged 91. Children : 
 
 1. Polly, b. March 12, 1790 ; 2. Silas, b. June 27, 1792 ; 3. Phebe b. 
 Apr. 14, 1795 ; 4: Eunice, b. July 1, 1797 ; 5. George, b. Oct. 1, 1797 ; 
 6. Nancy, b. May 12, 1802 ; 7. Eufus, b. June 19, 1805. 
 
 COMANT. 
 
 Zebulon Conant and Mary had : 
 
 1. Euth, b. May 2, 1772 ;' 2. Ma— y b, Feb. 13, 1774. 
 
 COOK. 
 
 John Cook and Anna his wife had children : 
 
 1. Anna, b. July 21, 1798; 2. Tryphena, b. Sept. 19, 1799; 3. Mary 
 F., b. Apr. 23, 1801 ; 4. John, b. March 20, 1803 ; 5. John, b. March 
 15, 1805; 6. Deborah, b. July 30, 1806; 7. Martin, b. March 1, 1808; 
 8. Clarissa, b .Jan. 26, 1810 ; 9. Edward, b. June 12, 1812 ; 10. Ivas, b. 
 May 21, 1814; 11. Abigail, b. May 17, 1816; 12. Eliza, b. March 26, 
 1820 ; 13. Joanna, Aug. 15, 1822. 
 
452 niSTOEY OF winchbndon. 
 
 CEAGB OK CKAIG. 
 
 Samuel and Mary Craig had : 
 
 1. Samuel, b. Feb. 7, 1758 ; 2. May, b. July 29, 1760 ; 3. Anne, b. 
 Apr. 20, 1762 ; 4. Sarah, b. May 4, 1764. 
 
 CROSBY. 
 
 Samuel Crosby, Esq., b. Feb. 13, 1732, m. Azubah Howe of Worcester, 
 b. Sept. 14, 1733. Children : 
 
 1. Sarah, b. Sept. 24, 1754; 2. Samuel, b.Sept. 12, 1756; 3. Simeon, 
 b. Sept. 13, 1758 ; 4. Dorothy, b. Aug. 26, 1760 ; 5. John, b. Oct. 18, 
 1762 ; 6. Eusebia. b. Aug. 23, 1763 ; 7. Otis, b. Jan. 15, 1766 ; 8. John, 
 b. Oct. 18, 1767 ;19. Flavel, b. Jan. 26, 1770 ; 10. Arethusia, b. March 
 22, 1773 ; 11. Sophia, b. Jan. 9, 1775. 
 
 Flavel Crosby m. Lucy Howe. Children : 
 
 1. Ephraim G., b. Jan. 1, 1794; 2. Harriet, b. Oct. 6, 1796, d. Nov. 12, 
 1800 ; 3. Samuel, b. Oct, 6, 1798, d. Nov. 20, 1800. 
 
 CUBTIOB OE CURTISS. 
 
 Abner Curtice, m. Ruth Hale. Children : 
 
 1. Abner; 2. Moses, and others, it is supposed. 
 
 Abner, Jr., m. Betsey Pike. 
 
 Moses, m. Betsey Benjamin. Children : 
 
 1. Koxana, b. July 8, 1799; 2. Humphrey; 3. Moses; 4. Evelina; 
 5. Evelina; 6. Lucy; 7. Charles B.; 8. Charles; 9. Elizabeth; 10. 
 Levi C, b. May 30, 1823. 
 
 CUTLBK. 
 
 Dr. William H. Cutler m. Abigail Lowe. Children : 
 1. William J., b. Apr. 9, 1815; 2. Abigail H., b. June 8, 1816; 3. 
 Abraham L., b. June 3, 1818. 
 
 DARLING. 
 
 John Darling was here as early as 1754. After the French and Indian 
 war, some Indians affirmed that they once watched, with intent to kill, John 
 Darling, as he was mowing grass in a natural meadow, near Fitzwilliam line. 
 Says Dr. Whiton : " he was a portly, athletic man, whose large, prominent 
 eyes I well remember ; but the whites of his eyes were so big and glaring, 
 they dared not fire at him." Indian superstition saved his life. In 1764, 
 John and Timothy Darling were among the first town officers, as tything-man, 
 surveyor of highways and deer-reeve. The Darling lot was a large one, where 
 Henry Keith now lives, with a gore extending up to the road south of the 
 Ephraim Flint place. There was a Darling house near Mr. Keith's, and al- 
 so near the road, south from Mr. Flint's. John Darling and his wife Ruth 
 had children : 
 
 1. Joseph, b. July, 26, 1762 ; 2. Priscilla and Calvin, b. June 13, 1765. 
 
 Ruth Darling m. Levi Bixby, Oct. 2., 1766. 
 
 Jewett B. Darling m., in 1790, Deborah Murdock, and had three daugh- 
 ters. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 453 
 
 Timothy Darling and his wife Joanna had children : 
 1. Daniel, b. July 9, 1761 ; 2. Oliver, b. Oct. 13, 1763 ; 3. Anna, b. 
 Sept. 19, 1765. 
 
 DAY. 
 
 Dea, Richard Day, m. Euth Pushey. Children : 
 
 1. John, b. Aug. 31, 1749; 2. Hannah, b. Aug. 31, 1752; those two 
 were b. at Groton; 3. Nathan, b. in Lunenburg, Oct. 2, 1754; the follow- 
 ing were born in Winchendon : 4.- Sarah, b. Apr. 11, 1757.; 5. Kuth, b. 
 Oct. 27, 1759 ; 6. Daniel, b. July 27, 1762; 7. Sylvia, b. Oct. 17, 1764; 
 8. Elizabeth, b. May 12, 1767 ; 9. Lydia, b. Aug. 3, 1770; 10. Susan- 
 nah, b. Sept. 9, 1773. 
 
 John Day, Sen., son of Richard, m. Betsey Joselyn. Children: 
 1. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 20, 1771 ; 2. John, b. March 14, 1773 ; 3. Jo- 
 seph, b. March 27, 1775 ; 4. Lucy, b. June 14, 1777 ; 5. Hannah, b. 
 Dec. 29, 1779; 6. Richard, b. March 6, 1782; 7. Peter, b. June 6, 
 1785 ; 8. Daniel, b. Feb. 17, 1787 ; 9. Susanna, b. June 8, 1789. 
 Daniel Day, son of Richard, m. Ambrey Bruce. Children : 
 1. Charlotte C, b. May 12, 1800; 2. Gilman L., b. Apr. 1, 1802; 
 3. LucyT.; 4. Betsey R.; 5. Ambrey B.; 6. Susan M.; 7. Sarah W., 
 8. Mary S. ; 9. Alathine H. _ 
 
 John Day, son of John, Sen., m. Elizabeth , and had Mason 
 
 S. and several daughters. 
 
 Daniel Day, son of John, Sen., m. Eunice Rioe, and had a large family. 
 
 DIVOLL. 
 
 Levi Divoll and Grace Wilder his wife had children : 
 
 1. Sally, b. Nov. 2, 1790 ; 2. Levi, b. Oct. 19, 1792 ; 3. Nancy, b. 
 Aug. 31, 1794; 4. Sophronia, b. Aug. 17, 1796; 5. Alden, b. Feb. 13, 
 1798; 6. Hervey, b. June 16, 1801 ; 7. Myrendia, b. Dec. 13, 1803; 8. 
 Caroline B.,b.MarQh 21, 1806; 9. David W., b. March 4, 1808 ; 10. Jo- 
 siah F., b. Oct. 9, 1814. 
 
 EMIANDS". 
 
 Amos Edmands and Lydia his wife had children : 
 1. Esther, b. Feb. 28, 1784 ; 2. Artemas, b. Oct. 6, 1785, m. Esther 
 Hyde. (The second wife of Amos was Abigail.) 3. Anne, b. Apr. 20, 1801. 
 
 Jesse Ellis and his wife Miriam had children : 
 
 1. Miriam, b. Apr. 7, 1780 ; 2. Zipporah, b. Nov. 29, 1782 ; 3. Jesse, 
 b. June 19, 1789. 
 
 EMOKY, 
 
 Francis Emory'and Eunice Philbrick had children : 
 
 1. Grata, b. Oct. 17, 1796 ; 2. Elizabeth, b. Aug. 23, 1798, both in Graf- 
 ton, Vt. ; 3. John, b. Nov. 20, 1799; 4. Eunice, b. Apr. 80, 1803; 5. 
 Lucretia, b. Feb. 24, 1805 ; 7. Louisa, b. Oct. 3, 1807. 
 
454 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOIir. 
 
 Stephen Emery and Lydia Kimball- his wife had children : 
 
 1. Betsey, b. at Wenham, Aug. 29, 1769 ; 2. Sally, b. at Boxford, Jan. 
 
 26, 1777 ; 3. Lydia, b. at Winchendon, March 31, 1779 ; 4. Stephen, b. 
 
 Feb. 18, 1781 ; 5. John, b. March 7, 1783; 6. Nancy, b. Apr. 4, 1785; 
 
 7. Oliver, b. March 4, 1787. Lucy and Olive were born in 1807, 1811. 
 
 EVANS. 
 
 Jonathan Evans and Mehitable Sherwin his wife had : 
 1. Mehitable, b. Jan. 17, 1775; 2. Martha, b. Apr. 7, 1776; 3. Jona- 
 than ; 4. George. 
 
 TAIEBANKS. 
 
 Ephraim Fairbanks m. Sukey Weston, Children : 
 1. Ephraim W., b. May 12, 1814; 2. Levi Nelson, b. May 12, 1816; 
 3. Elisha W., b. Aug. 31, 1818; 4. Stephen W., b. May 5, 1842. 
 
 PARKAR. 
 
 Daniel Farrar m. Ednah Boynton. Children : 
 
 1. Silas, b. Nov. 22, 1777; 2. Lucy, b. Feb. 4, 1779; 3. MoUy, b. 
 Sept. 11, 1780 ; 4. Daniel, b. Feb- 15, 1784. 
 
 Daniel, son of Daniel, m. Rebekah . Children : 
 
 1. Dennis, b. Jan. 29, 1806, d. June 29, 1807 ; 2. Sibbel, b. Sept, 
 28, 1807; 3. Salmon S., b. Aug. 17, 1809; 4. Rebekah, b. Aug. 18, 
 1813. 
 
 FESSENDEN. 
 
 John Fessenden d. Feb. 15, 1810. He was a revolutionary soldier, and 
 lived between Levi Stearns and the Joseph Adams place, on the east side. 
 
 ELAGG. 
 
 John Plagg was b. at Hinsdale, Jan. 4, 1760, m. Betsey Blanchard. Chil- 
 dren : 
 
 1. John, his son, b. Oct. 25, 1790 ; 2. Lucinda, b. Sept. 13, 1792 ; 3. 
 Alpheus, b. Apr. 11, 1796; 4. Philena, b. June 13, 1804. 
 
 ELINT. 
 
 Thomas Flint b. in Concord, March 6, 1759, son of John, and gr. gr. grand- 
 son of Thomas, who with his brother, Rev. Thomas Flint, came to Boston in • 
 1 635, from Matuck, Derbyshire, Eng. He, that is, Thomas, m. Abigail Brown, 
 Apr. 19, 1789, and some time after came to W. He d. in 1840; his wife 
 in 1815. Children: 
 
 1. John, b. Dec. 31, 1789 ; d. Oct. 10, 1847 ; 2. Hepzibah, b. Apr. 8. 
 1791, d. Aug. 1851 ; 3. Thomas, b. April 14, 1794, m. Tryphena Cook in 
 1819; 4. Eleazar, b. Feb. 29, 1796; 5. David, b. Sept. 6, 1797, m. Pru- 
 dence Whitcomb, d. Jan. 2, 1858;- 6. Dolly, b. Oct. 3, 1800, m. a Whit- 
 man of Westminster; 7. Abigail, b, Apr. 1, 1802, m. Joseph Whitney, 
 Oct 20, 1821, d. Dec. 17, 1837; 8. William, b. June 3, 1805, m.. May 7, 
 1839, Rhoda Pollard. 
 
 Nathan Flint, elder brother of Thomas, b. in 1755, in Concord, and came 
 to W. about the same time. Children : 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 455 
 
 1. Mary, b. June 24, 1782, d. May 16, 1834; 2. Abigail, b. Oct. 8, 
 1783, died young; 3. Nathan, b. Oct. 17, 1785, died young; 4. Abigail; 
 5. Nathan, b. May 11, 1788 ; 6. Bphraim, b. Nov. 10, 1789; 7. Hannah, 
 b. Nov. 9, 1791 ; 8. Martha, b. Aug. 27. 1793 ; 9. Hepzibah, b. May 12, 
 1795, m. Wm. Harris ; 10. David B., b. Sept. 28, 1797 ; 11. John, b. Nov. 
 8, 1799; 12. Charlotte, b. Jan. 5, 1802, m. Mr. Nutting, and for second 
 husband, Joseph Whitney, Jan. 3, 1842 ; 13. Almira, b. Jan, 31, 1806. 
 
 JOSTBB. 
 
 David Foster and Elizabeth his wife had children : 
 
 1. Betsey, b. March 1, 1781 ; 2. Susannah, b. Jan. 11, 1783. 
 
 FEY. 
 
 Job Fry, born in Bridgewater, m. Pernal Drake. Children : 
 
 1. James; 2. Mary, m. Hiram Lewis of Athol ; 3. Phebe ; 4. Mason; 
 
 5. Job; 6. Kichard; 7. Martin; 8. Silas; 9. Calvin; 10. Susan H., m. 
 
 Aaron Bowker. 
 
 GILL. 
 
 John Gill. 
 
 Joshua Gill, (son of John,) and Lucy his wife had children : 
 
 1. Lucv, b. May 17, 1807; 2. Hannah, b. Aug. 13, 1808; 3. Joshua, 
 b. Aug. 2"l, 1810 ; 4. Warren, b. Aug. 19, 1812 ; 5. Mary T., b. Aug. 3, 
 1814; 6. Charles, b. May 25, 1816. 
 
 GOODHtTB. 
 
 Francis Goodhue was chosen Treasurer of the Proprietors in 1751. He 
 was a descendant of Kev. Francis Goodhue, minister of Jamaica, L. I., who 
 died in 1707. John Goodhue drew lot No. 29, north division, and Joseph 
 Goodhue, No. 20, south division, in 1737. Both had a share in the next 
 drawing. Probably Francis was son to one of them, and if so, most proba- 
 bly Joseph, as he had a grandson named Joseph. 
 
 His son Francis lived west of the Nichols tavern, (where it is supposed 
 
 the first Francis resided.) He m. Polly, daughter of Rev. Joseph Brown, 
 
 in 1794. Afterwards he settled in Brattleboro, Vt., and as a trader became 
 
 rich. He had sons, Joseph and Wells- The daughter of Joseph was the 
 
 wife of Hon. Frederic Holbrook, ex-Gov. of Vermont. 
 
 Amos Goodhue, m, Sally Payson, and lived in a house where the North 
 Cong'l Ch. now stands. Children : 
 
 Hitty Payson, and David Payson. 
 
 John Goodhue, m. Mary McFarland, and lived on the Capt. Stillman Hale 
 place. 
 
 GOODRIDGE. 
 
 Daniel Goodridge, came to W. in 1762. His house was where the Poor- 
 House now stands. He m. Hannah Low of Lunenburg in 1766. He d. Apr. 
 12, 1821, aged 81 ; she d. Feb. 7, 1820, aged 75. Children : 
 
 1. Benjamin, b. Aug. 5, 1767, d. Feb. 29, 1824 ; 2. Daniel, b. Aug. 24, 
 1769,"moved to New York, and died ; 3. Elijah, b. Nov. 16, 1771 ; d. Ju- 
 
456 HISTORY OF -WINOHENDON. 
 
 ly 15, 1773 ; 4. Sarah, b. March 13. 1774, m. Isaac WiUard, Feb. 5, 1798 ; ~ 
 
 5. Polly, b. Oct. 20, 1776, d. Aug. 15, 1778; 6. Mary, b. March 20, 1779, 
 m. Amasa Whitney ; 7. Hannah, b. Apr. 17, 1781, m.. Mar. 6, 1808, James 
 McAfee; 8. Jonathan, b. March 2, 1785, moved to New York; 9. Lowell, 
 b. Feb. 2, 1790, m. Rachel Knight, and then Lydia Wilder White. 
 
 David Goodridge came in 1762, and settled where Jonas Nutting now 
 lives. Mr. Nutting's father married his daughter. He, like the preceding, 
 was a member of the First Church. They were not brothers ; their relation- 
 ship, if any, is not known. He died in 1818, aged 66. 
 
 Philip Goodridge was here as early as 1761, and Benjamin as early as 
 1762. The latter was on a committee to " stake out a meeting-house lot" 
 in 1762. 
 
 David Goodridge and Silence his wife had children : 
 1. David, b. Apr. 24, 1774 , 2. Jonas, b. Dec. 8, 1775 ; 3. Silence, b. 
 Dec. 9, 1777; 4. Betty, b. Nov. 15, 1779 ; 5. Dolly, b. Nov. 12, 1781 ; 
 
 6. Anna, b. Jan. 31, 1784; 7. David, b. Apr. 11. 1787; 8. A son; 9. 
 Calvin, b. May 18, 1782. 
 
 David Goodridge, Jr., and Susanna had children : 
 1. Maryanna; 2. Susan H. ; 3. Calvin G. ; 4. David J. ; 5. Betsey 
 Boynton. 
 
 QOULD. 
 
 Daniel Gould and Mary his wife had chidren : 
 
 1 Daniel Green, b. July 22, 1770 ; 2. Mary, b. July 8, 1772; 3. Dar 
 vid, b. June 4, 1775. 
 
 GEEATON. 
 
 Thomas Graton or Greaton was the son of an English soldier, who took 
 French leave of the British army while passing through Worcester Co. under 
 Lord Amherst, it is supposed. Graton was not his original name. Thomas 
 m. Eebeoca or Becca Chaplin, and had children : 
 
 1. Smyrna, b. June 29, 1791 ; 2. Sally P., b. March 16, 1793; 3. Mar- 
 sena, b. Jan. 19, 1795 ; 4. Tamar, b. June 20, 1798 ; 5. Leona, b. May 
 
 8, 1800 ; 6. LaFayette, b. Feb. 13, 1804 ; 7. Alvin, b. August 2, 1806, 
 died ; 8. Alvin, b. May 24, 1808. 
 
 GREENWOOD. 
 
 Thomas Greenwood and Deborah Barber his wife had children : 
 1. Henry, b. May 1, 1791 ; 2, Sophia, b. .July 16, 1793 ; 3. Levi, b. 
 July 29, 1797. 
 
 GROUT. 
 
 Isaac Grout m. Sally Stearns. Children : 
 
 1. John, b. March 31, 1786; 2. Phebe; 3. Cyrus,: 4. Lewis; 5. Isaac; 
 6. Betsey; 7. Lorey. His second wife was Eebekah . 8. Sally; 
 
 9. Eebekah; 10. Samuel B. ; 11. Hannah, b. Apr. 15, 1820. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 457 
 
 GUY. 
 
 Alpheus Guy and Betsey his wjfe had children : 
 
 1. Sarah; 2. Elizabeth B. ; 3. Hannah; 4. Elvira D. 
 
 HALE. 
 
 Moses Hale was born in Boxford, June 5, 1742, m. Kuth Poster, July 2, 
 1769; came to W. May 3, 1770. He die* May 31, 1828, aged 86; wife 
 died Jan. 11, 1837. Their children wore : 
 
 1. Eunice, m. Abel Wilder, Jr. ; 2. Ruth, m. Eliot Payson ; both removed 
 to Madison Co., N. Y. ; 3. Lucy, alive in 1866, aged 89 years; 4. Moses, 
 m. Mary Flint in 1807 ; he was a bright man ; lived in New York for a while ; 
 lost all his family but one son, in Columbus, Miss.; went to live with him, 
 and died there in 1843 ; 5. Achsa, m. Joseph Cooledge of Gardner ; 6. Ar- 
 temas, m. Deborah Lincoln, of Hingham, in 1815, and has since resided in 
 Bridgewater. 
 
 Besideshisbrothers, mentioned below, Dea. Hale had two sisters; 1. Ruth, 
 m. Abner Curtice, and 2. Judith, m. Absalom Towne. They came from 
 Boxford not far from the time of Dea. Hale's coming. About the year 1795, 
 when many left the place for the then "west," Mr. Towne settled in Madison 
 Co., N. Y. Mrs. Towne d. March 18, 1854, aged 106^ years. 
 
 Abner Hale, brother of Moses, b. July 22, 1737, came to W. in 1766. 
 He removed to Madison Co., N. Y., with Mr. Towne. 
 
 Jacob Hale, brother of Moses, b. Dec. 19, 1744, m. Ruth Tovme, b. Oct, 
 2, 1746, came to W. in 1770. Their children were : 
 
 1. Asa, b. Feb. 2, 1768 ; 2. Ruth, b. Apr. 2. 1770 ; 3. Anna, b. June 
 22, 1772 ; 4. Jacob, b. June 25, 1774 ; 5. Thomas, b. Feb. 14, 1776 ; 6. 
 Abel, b. Nov. 30, 1777 ; 7. Polly, b. Dec. 11, 1779; 8. Nathaniel, b. Feb. 
 7, 1782; 9. Daniel, b. Sept. 4, 1785 ; 10. Joseph, b. Feb. 21, 1787; 11. 
 Miriam, b. Nov. 26, 1788. 
 
 Asa Hale, son of Jacob, m. Sally Hancock ; he d. Dec. 30, 1852, aged 
 84 ; she d. Apr. 25, 1852. Their children were : 
 
 1. Stillman, b. IV^ay 1, 1797; 2. Lyman; 3. Persis; 4. Sally; 5, 
 Olive ; 6. Elmira. 
 
 Jacob Hale, son of Jacob, m. Betsey Brown, d. in 1843. They were 
 m. May 29, 1806| Children: 
 
 1. Syrena; 2jJBaily; 3. Amos, m. Mary, dau. of Jesse Raymond ; 4. 
 Betsey ; 5. Priseflla ; 6. Joseph, m. Adaline Chase ; 7. Lucy, m. Levi 
 W. Poskett ; 8.' Sally, m. Stephen Sampson ; 9. Mary, m. Daniel Chase ; 
 10. Syrena,' M^ Wm. Sawtell; 11. Elizabeth; 12. Freeman S., m. Ma- 
 ria Sibley, and Mrs. Eliza K. Hale. 
 
 Nathaniel, son of Jacob, ra. Margaret Hale, b. May 29, 1784. Children : 
 1. Nathaniel W., b. March 21, 1807, m. Sarah Guy; 2. Merritt, b. 
 Oct. 1, 1809; m. Harriet Johnson; 3. Albert, b. Oct. 11, 1811, m. 
 Harriet Brown ; 4. Julia A. b. June 17, 1813, m. Wm. Wilder; 5. Sal- 
 ly M., b. July 12, 1818, m. John Fitts; 6. Nancy, b. March 27, 1820. 
 Nathaniel d. Oct. 11, 1857, aged 85. 
 
 29 
 
458 HISTORY Of WINCHENDON. 
 
 Daniel, son of Jacob, left a daughter, now Mrs. Frank Priest. 
 
 Amos Hale, brother of Moses, b. May 25, 1752, m. Sally Day ; came to 
 W. in 1770. Children : 
 
 1. Sarah, b. Jan. 8, 1780 ; 2. Mary, b. Feb. 19, 1782 ; 3. Amos, b. 
 May 9, 1784 ; 4. Nathan, b. June 23, 1786 ; 5. Obed, b. Oct. 23, 1788; 
 6. Edward, b. Oct. 29, 1790 ; 7. Salmon, b. March 10, 1793 ; 8. Laura, 
 b. June 3, 1795 ; 9. Justus, b. Apr. 27, 1797. 
 
 HALL. 
 
 Benjamin Hall m. Sally, dau. of Rev. Joseph Brown. Children : 
 1. Henry, b. Oct. 25, 1796; 2. Betsey, b. Jan. 23, 1799. 
 
 HANCOCK. 
 
 Timothy Hancock and Lucy Stoddard his wife had children : 
 
 1. Lot, b. Feb. 12, 1792; 2. Persis, b. July 8, 1794; 3. Bill, b. Feb. 
 1, 1796; 4. Zenas, b. Jan. 20, 1798; 5. Orras, b. Apr. 19, 1800; 6. 
 Benjamin H. b. Apr. 10, 1802 ; 7. Lucy A., b. Aug. 21, 1804 ; 8. James 
 A., b. Aug. 7. 1806; 9. Cirisman, fe. July 12, 1808; 10. Lucy A., b. 
 Apr. 2, 1811. 
 
 Eufus Hancock, son of Hezekiah, of Wrentham, b. in Winchendon, Aug. 
 21, 1780, m. Sally Bacon. Children : 
 
 1. Benjamin F., b. Nov. 25, 1803 ; 2. William M., b. March 16, 1806 '. 
 
 3. Artemas H., b. Aug. 13, 1809 ; 4. Ozro, b. Jan. 10, 1812. 
 Bill Hancock, son of Samuel, of Wrentham, died suddenly in 1792. 
 
 HAPGOOD. 
 
 John and Betsey Hapgood, had children : 
 
 1. George, d. young; 2. Charles, b. Feb. 27, 1806; 3. Willard; 4. 
 Sally ; 5. Sally; 6. Dana; 7. Abigail; 8. Mary; 9. Rhoanna;10. Jane, 
 b. June 4, 1821, m. Bethuel Ellis, Esq. ; 11. Otis W. 
 
 HENSHAW. 
 
 Daniel Henshaw and Deborah B. his wife had children : 
 
 1. Frances E., b. July 25, 1824; 2. Daniel H., b. Sept. 25, 1827. 
 
 HBTWOOD. 
 
 Dea. Amos Heywood, m. the widow of Eichard Parsons, bom, Keziah Bix- 
 by, sister of Levi Bixby. Childiren : 
 
 1. Susan, b. March 27, 1786 ; m. Thomas Knowlton ; 2. Sally, b. July 
 
 4, 1789, m. Mr. Carter. 
 
 His second wife was widow Elizabeth Cogswell, mother of Mrs. Richard 
 Whitney. 
 
 Daniel Heywood, brother of Amos, m. Hannah Fairbanks. Children : 
 1. Betsey, b. Nov. 24, 1783 ; 2. Hannah, b. Apr. 24, 1785 ; 3. Bet- 
 sey, b. Aug. 17, 1787 ; 4. Daniel, b. Oct. 7, 1790 ; 5. Alpha, b. Sept. 15, 
 1792 ; 6. Miriam, b. June 2, 1794 ; 7. Alpheus, b. Apr. 11, 1797 ; 8. 
 Ira, b. Apr. 6, 1799, d. May 25, 1799 ; 9. Eliel, b. Feb. 9, 1801 ; 10. Soly- 
 man, b. Jan. 5. 1805. 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 459 
 
 Lieut. Levi Heywood, br. of Amos and Daniel, lived at the Ephraim Flint 
 place. He m. Beulah Buttrick. He d. June 21, 1799. Children : 
 
 1. Amos; 2. Levi; 3. Beulah; 4. Mary; 5. Cyrus, 
 Capt. Lemuel Heywood, cousin of the above, also lived on the B. Flint 
 place, m. Lucy Heywood, a cousin, and had children : 
 
 1. Kufus, b. Oct. 12, 1782 ; 2. Keuben, b. Dec. 27, 1783 ; 3. Luke, b. 
 Dec. 9, 1785; 4. George, b. Nov. 30, 1787; 5. Kial, b. Feb. 25, 1790; 
 6, Lucy, b. March 23, 1792, m. Simeon Stearns ; 7. Samuel, b. July 4, 
 1794; 8. HepzibahS., b. Oct. 1, 1796, m. Phinehas Parks, Jr. ; 9. .Eliza, 
 b. May 8, 1799. 
 
 His second wife was Abigail or Nabby Parsons, dau. of Richard Parsons. 
 Children : 
 
 10. Richard P., b. Dec. 1, 1801, d. Sept. 26, 1825; 11. NabbeB., b. 
 Feb. 28, 1803 ; 12. Bushrod V., b. July 29, 1804, d. Sept. 28, 1805 ; 13. 
 Sally R., b. Jan. 19, 1806 ; 14. Caroline C, b. Nov. 6, 1807, m. Levi Parks ; 
 15. Horatio N., b. Apr. 2, 1809 ; 16. Adaline B., b, May 5, 1812; 17. 
 Lemuel A., b. Apr. 3, 1814. 
 
 holmanI 
 
 Capt. Nathaniel Holman, b. at Bolton, July 5, 1767, m. Charlotte Bruce, 
 b. at Berlin, Jan. 31, 1783- Children : 
 
 1. Charlotte B., b. Apr. 22, 1806; 2. Betsey T., b. Dec. 19, 1807; 3. 
 Nathaniel, b. Sept. 10, 1809. . 
 
 HOUGHTON. 
 
 Robert Houghton and Sarah his wife had children : 
 
 1. John, b. Feb. 2, 1791; 2. Asaph, b. Oct. 8. 1792; 3. Ephraim, b. 
 Feb. 18, 1795 ; 4. Sally, b. March 22, 1797 ; 5. William, b. Oct. 26, 1798 ; 
 6. Cyrus, b. Apr. 19, 1799 ; 7. Lucy, b. March 17, 1801 ; 8. Cyrus, b. 
 March 17, 1803; 9. Abigail J., b. Dec. 12, 1805 ; 10. Susan F., b. Oct. 
 4. 1811. 
 
 HOWE. 
 
 Ebenezer Howe and Elisabeth his wife had : 
 
 1. Tamesin, b. Aug. 31, 1770 ; 2. Parley, b. Nov. 7, 1773 ; 3. Ezekiel, 
 b. March 20, 1775; 4. Sarah, b. Dec. 11, 1777. 
 
 HYDE. 
 
 Ezra Hyde, son of Job and Prudence Hyde, of Newton, b. Nov. 1749 ; 
 m.Elizabeth Whiting, Dec. 1773, moved to W, 1774 ; he d. 1837, aged 88 ; 
 she was b. iti Sherborn, in Aug., 1851, d. in 1840, aged 88. Children : 
 
 1. Ezra Jr., the historian, b. Sept. 1774, d. Oct., 1849, aged 75; 2. Asa, 
 b. 1776, d. July, 1858, aged 82 ; 3. John, b. Feb. 1779, d. March, 1826, 
 aged 47; 4. Elizabeth, b. 1781, d. 1817, aged 36; 5. Prudence, b. 1783, 
 d. 1787; 6. Sally, b. 1785, d. 1786 ; 7. Prudence, b. 1788, m. Levi Priest; 
 8. Sally, b. 1791, d. 1825, aged 34; 9. Job, b. 1794, d. 1821. 
 Ezra, Jr. m. Betsey Perley, Sept. 1806. Children : 
 
 1. Ezra, b. Aug., 1807 ; 2, daughter, b. 1811, d. soon. He married Polly, 
 
460 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 dau. of James Raymond, in June, 1813, and had children : 3. Maria H., 
 
 b. Apr., 1814, m. Howe, of Gardner, in 1854; 4. James R., b. 
 
 Feb. 1816; 5. Daniel H., b. Oct. 1818; 6, Alfred, b. Sept. 1820; 7. 
 
 Warren, b. Nov. 1822; 8. John M., b. May, 1825; 9. Susan B., b. 
 
 May, 1831. 
 Asa Hyde, son of the first Ezra, m. Betsey Hyde. Children : 
 
 1. Levi, b. Oct. 5, 1808, d. Jan. 15, 1811 ; 2. Levi, b. Jan. 15, 1811 ; 
 
 3. Phebe, b. Sept. 6, 1816; 4. Ward, b. Nov. 1, 1818. 
 
 John Hyde, son of Ezra, m. Abigail, dau. of Job and Elizabeth Hyde, 
 
 in Nov. 1803. Their children were : 
 
 1. John, b. Sept., 1804; 2. Blisha, b. Oct. 1805 ; 3. Abigail, b. 1806 
 
 d, March, 1818; 4. Nancy, b. March, 1809, m. Wetherbee, May; 
 
 1831, d. Sept, 1849; 5. Eliza, b. 1812; d. July, 1820; 6. Mary, b. 
 
 1818, d. 1825. 
 
 Job Hyde, brother of the first Ezra, and son of Job and Prudence Hyde, 
 of Newton, b. March, 1752, m. Elizabeth Ward, Dec. 1779, moved to W. in 
 1796 ; he d. in 1824, aged 72 ; she d. in 1804, aged 45. Children, born 
 in Newton : 
 
 1. Abigail, b. Nov. 1782 ; m. in 1803 ; d. May, 1859, aged 76; 2. Elifr 
 abeth, b. Sept., 1784, m. Oct. 1806; d. Jan., 1825, aged 41 ; 3. Job, b. 
 Nov., 1786 ; m. Elizabeth Tolman, Nov., 1817; 4. George W., b. July, 
 1790, d. Oct. 1810 ; 5. Reuben, b. Oct. 1793, m. Sarah Wood, Dec. 1830; 
 
 6. Lucretia, b. Feb. 1798, m. Artemas Bdmands, Dec, 1830, d. Feb. 1855 ; 
 
 7. Joel, b. March, 1800, d. Oct., 1810. 
 
 Job, son of Job and Elizabeth, had children : 
 
 1. Sarah T., b. Aug., 1818; 2. Joel, b. Oct., 1819; m. Eliza Do- 
 witt, Oct. 1849, and Katharine W. Dole, Dec, 1861, d. 1866. 
 
 JONES. 
 
 Capt. Abel Jones, Sen., m. Lucinda Hey wood. Children : 
 
 Abel Jones, ta. Hannah Knight. Children : 
 
 1. Harriet B., b. Sept. 23, 1807 ; 2. William R., both born in Fitz- 
 william ; 3. Lucinda ; 4. Elizabeth K. ; 5. Mary S. ; 6. Sarah K. ; 7. 
 Evelina. 
 
 JOSLIN OE JOSELYN. 
 
 Peter Joslin and Sally his wife had children : 
 
 1. Sally, b. Mar. 24, 1787; 2. Betsey, b. Jan. 1, 1789; 3. Peter, b. ■ 
 Nov. 24, 1790; 4. John, b. Sept. 24, 1792; 5. Polly, b. Aug. 10, 1794; 
 6. Persis, b. Sept. 23, 1798. 
 
 KEITH. 
 
 ApoUos Keith came hither from Baston in 1799. He m. Mary Drake. 
 Children: 
 
 1. Jason, b. in 1797; 2. Joshua, b in 1803. 
 
 Joshua Keith, brother of ApoUos, came about 1810. He m. Grace Un- 
 derwood. Children : 
 
 1. Josephine; 2. died young ; 3. Henry. 
 
HISTORY OF WmCIIENDON. 461 
 
 KENDALL. 
 
 Caleb Kendall and Lucy his wife had Samuel, b. Oct. 11, 1792. 
 
 KIDDEB. 
 
 John Kidder and Dorothy his wife had children : 
 1. Samuel, b. May 5, 1785; 2. Sukey, b. Jan. 17, 1788. 
 Hey wood Kidder m. Zilpah Phelps, and had children : 
 1. Levi, b. Jan. 19, 1798; 2. Almira, b. Oct. 12, 1800; 3. Elizabeth, 
 b. Feb. 2, 1803 ; 4. Mary, b. Nov. 8, 1804. 
 
 KNIGHT. 
 
 Matthew Knight lived here, but no trace of his family has been found in 
 the Eecords. 
 
 Nathan Knight and Susannah his wife had children : 
 
 1. Aaron, b. Apr. 17, 1776; 2. Nathan, b. Jan. 12, 1778; 3. Luke, 
 b. Sept. 4, 1782 ; 4. Levi, b. Apr. 24, 1786. 
 
 Aaron Knight m. Susan Putnam. 
 
 Aaron Knight m. Betsey Wilder. Children : 
 
 1. Levi, b. Sept. 16, 1808 ; 2. Philenus; 3. Luke L. ; 4. ElamC; 5 
 Eliza Ann; 6. Abel Wilder, b. Dec. 80, 1831. 
 
 Luke Knight and Kachel his wife had children : 
 
 1. Horatio L.; 2. Harriet; 3. Nathan; 4. Almira. 
 
 KNOWLTON. 
 
 Thomas Knowlton m. Susan or Sukey, dau. of Dea. Hey wood. Children : 
 
 1. Mary H., b. Aug. 31, 1807; 2. Elizabeth S., b July 8, 1809; 3. 
 
 Lucy C, b. April 20, 1811 ; 4. Thomas S., b. May 20, 1813; 5. Amos, 
 
 b. May 27, 1815 ; 6. Susannah A., b. June 22, 1821 ; 7. Charles G., b. 
 
 Dec. 20, 1824, d. 1828 ; 8. Charles Henry, b. Juno 4, 1830. 
 
 LOED. 
 
 Bemsley Lord m. Sarah Stimpson. Children : 
 
 1. Eunice, b. March 3, 1786, d. in 1868 ; 2. Sally, b. July 17, 1789 ; 
 3. Bemsley, b. July 16. 1789; 4. Luke, b. Nov. 18, 1792. 
 
 LITCH. 
 
 Thomas Litch, b. in Ireland, came to this country when four years old, m. 
 Jane Kennedy. Children : 
 
 1. Samuel; 2. Betsey; 3. Samuel. 
 
 Samuel Litch, son of Thomas, and Betsey his wife, had cluldren : 
 1. Samuel, b. in Lunenburg, July 9, 1779 ; 2. Betsey, b. in Lunen- 
 burg, March 10, 1781 ; 3. Thomas, b. July 1, 1785. The first Samuel 
 was the Shays man. 
 
 The body of Thomas, Sen., was keyt three weeks after death because the 
 depth of snow stopped all travel. This was in Feb. 1802. 
 
 LOVEJO*. 
 
 Oliver Lovejoy m. Nancy Ingalls. Children : 
 
462 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 1. Mary Ann; 2. Sarah; 3. Gratia; 4. Nancy; 5. Julia Ann; 6. Ol- 
 iver S., a physician in Haverhill. 
 
 MANSFIELD. 
 
 James Mansfield and Lois his wife had : 
 
 1. Lydia, b. June 11, 1766 ; 2. James, b. Nov. 20, 1767 ; 3. Amasa, 
 b. August, 1769 ; 4. Lois, b. July 10, 1771 ;• 5. Josiah. 
 
 MAY. 
 
 Theodore May and Elizabeth his wife had children : 
 
 1. Theodore, b. May 4, 1775 ; 2. Betsey, b. Dee. 28, 1785. 
 
 Benjamin May and Lucy his wife had children : 
 
 1. Benjamin, b. Jan. 8, 1784; 2. John, b. Aug. 30, 1785; 3. Daniel, 
 b. Nov. 12, 1787; 4. Fanny, b. Feb. 27, 1790; 5. Thomas, b. July 4, 
 1792; 6. Eichardson, b. Oct. 27, 1794; 7. Augustus, b. Oct. 4, 1798. 
 
 m'elwain. 
 James McElwain and Kebekah Whitcomb had children : 
 1. Sally, b. Apr. 28, 1770, m. Luther Stimpson ; Rebekah, b. March 19, 
 
 1772, m. Samuel Prentiss; 3. James, b. Nov. 27, 1777; 4. David, b. 
 
 Jan. 20, 1780; 5. William, b.. May 15, 1782; 6. John, b. Sept. 5. 1785. 
 Ho d. Nov. 24, 1820, an aged man. His wife d- Nov. 3, 1811, aged 67. 
 
 Mekriam. 
 Capt. Amos Merriam and Elizabeth his wife had children : 
 1. Amos, b. June 2, 1768 ; 2. Jonathan, b. Oct. 4, 1770 ; 3. Elizabeth, 
 
 b. Nov. 2, 1772; 4. Elizabeth, b. Nov. 11, 1776; 5. Luther, b. June 4, 
 
 1779. His wife Susoy had : 6. Sukey, b. Feb. 13, 1790. 
 
 MOrFAT. 
 
 William Moflfat and Mary bis wife had children : 
 
 1. William, b. Sept. 7, 1767; 2. David, b. Feb. 27, 1771 ; 3. James, 
 b. May 7, 1773; 4. Joseph, b. March 27, 1775. 
 
 MOOK. 
 
 Dea. Levi Moor and Parna his wife had children : 
 
 1. Tabitha, b. Aug. 3, 1781; 2. Levi, b July 14, 1787, died soon; 3. 
 Levi, b. Feb. 8, 1790. 
 
 MOKSB. 
 
 Isaac Morse and Miriam SpofFord had children : 
 
 1. Eliza M. b.tTan. 9, 1802; 2. Sophia A., b. Jan. 1, 1805; 3. Milton 
 S., b. Nov. 12, 1806 ; 4. Rhoanna, b. Sept. 4, 1808 ; 5 and 6. Edward and 
 Edmund, twins, b. Aug. 5, 1810; 7. Miriam C, b. Oct. 1, 1812; 8. A 
 dau. b. Sept. 14, 1814; 9. Susan L., b. Sept. 2, 1816; 10. Mary B. b. 
 Jan. 10, 1819. Mrs. M. d. Aug. 21, 1819. By his wife Frances he had : 
 11. Charles H., b. Jan. 31, 1822; 12. Frances A., b. Aug. 23, 1824; 
 13. A dau. b. Jan. 11, 1827 ; 14. Laura S., b.'Oran. 26, 1828 ; 15. Laura 
 A,, b. May 2, 1829. 
 
SEIMc^^SEHg MIWISIDOSIE 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 4G3 
 
 "mukdock. 
 Japics Murdock, grandson of Robert of Roxbury, was born in Newton, 
 Marqii 15. 1738. He m., Oct. 9, 1765, Deborah Williams, (gr. gr. grand- 
 daughter of Robert Williams of Roxbury, "the common ancestor of very many 
 distinguished men who have honored their country,") and moved to W. in 
 1766. He d. Oct. 26, 1813 ; wife d. Aug. 15, 1809. Children : 
 
 1. James, b. Aug. 24, 1766; 2. Deborah, b. Oct. 4, 1768 ; 3. Patty, 
 b. June 11, 1770; 4. Ephraim, b. Jan. 26, 1772; 5. Hannah; 6. Dor- 
 cas; 7. Abel. 
 
 James, son of James, m. Polly Chaplin, Dec. 2, 1792. Children : 
 1. Chloe Thursting, b. Sept. 7, 1793 ; m. James Wilson, Feb. 25, 
 1819; 2. Shebpinith Reed, b. June 10, 1795, d. March, 1801 ; 3. Ed- 
 ward Newton, b. Apr. 22, 1797 ; m. Philinda Walker ; 4. Tabitha Moore, 
 b. Feb., 1800, m. Aaron L. Phelps; 5. James, b. June 29, 1802; m. 
 Silence Nutting; 6. Daphne Pratt, b. March 25, 1806, m. Paul Pierce; 
 d. Sept. 22, 1852 ; 7. Mary Hovey, b. May 21, 1809, d. Aug. If, 1811 , 
 8. John Hovey, b. Dec. 16, 1811, d. March 14, 1812; 9. MaryPai-ker, 
 b. March 15, 1816, m. Asa P. Rand, Oct. 23, 1838. 
 James Murdock died Sept. 25, 1859 ; his wife, April 9, 1849. 
 Deborah, m., in 1790, Jewett Boynton Darling. Children : 
 1. Ruth, b. Apr. 2, 1791, m. James King, July 25, 1808 ; 2. Nancy, 
 b. Feb. 1, 1794; m. B. Darling, Feb. 19, 1822. 
 Patty, married a Mr. Deeth. 
 
 Epbraim, m. Zibiah Bixby, Feb. 4, 1798. He d. Feb. 21, 1853 ; first 
 wife d. July 20, 1824; second wife now lives in Wabasha, Minn. Chil- 
 dren : 
 
 1. Lucy, b. Dec. 16, 1798, m. Mark Whitoomb, March 13, 1821 ; 2. 
 Ephraim, b. Aug. 17, 1800, m. Sophia Morse, Nov. 24, 1825 ; 3. Eli- 
 sha, b. Aug. 27, 1802, m. Rhoanna Morse, Nov. 29, 1832; 4. William, 
 b. Oct. 9, 1804, m. Mary G. Whitney, July 8, 1841 ; 5. George, b. Nov. 
 2, 1806, d. Dec. 24, 1838 ; 6. Charles, b. Apr. 24, 1809, m. Fidelia 
 Prouty, May 21, 1837, moved to Baltimore, and died there, Oct. 12, 1868 ; 
 7. Mary, b. Oct. 3, 1811, m. Amasa Whitney, July 24, 1834. The above 
 are the children of the' first wife. He married widow Abigail W. Wood- 
 bury, dau. of Capt. Jacob Wales, March 30, 1826, and had children; 8. 
 Emily, b.. March 19, 1827, m. Albert 0. Tyler, Nov. 2, 1845, and resides 
 in Cincinnati ; 9. Joseph, b. Feb. 23, 1829, m. Louisa King, Nov. 15, 
 1853, and Mary Baldwin, Dec. 24, 1857, d. in 1858, July 12, much la- 
 mented; 10. Nelson, b. Sej)t. 23, 1831, m. Cynthia Baldwin, Sept. 18, 
 1855, and is a lawyer in Wabasha, Minn. 
 
 Hannah, m. Jewett Boynton Darling, Dec. 12, 1809. Children : 
 1. Sally C, m., in 1835, to Ebenezer H. Converse ; 2. Hannah, m. in 
 1833, to John D. Stearns ; 3. Mary. 
 
 NOUKSE. 
 
 Dea. Nourse, of the New Boston Baptist Church, had a family, but the rec- 
 ord has eluded search. 
 
464 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOK. 
 
 NO^ES. 
 
 Isaac Noyes and his wife Sally had these children : 
 
 1. Levi, b. Apr. 8, 1792; 2. b. Aug. 21, 1793; 3. Isaac, b. Feb 24, 
 1796 ; 4. Henry, b. Oct. 9, 1797 ; 5. Jane, b. Sept, 17, 1799. 
 
 Samuel Noyes had children : 
 
 1. Susanna, b. Feb. 27, 1771; 2. Sarah, b. Sept. 7, 1774; 3. Samuel, 
 b. June 26, 1778 ; 4. Nancy, b. Sept. 7, 1783. Elizabeth was mother of 
 the first child; Hannah, his wife, of the remainder. 
 
 James Noyes and Elizabeth his wife had children : 
 
 1. James, b. Nov. 17, 1771; 2. Ward, b. April 21, 1774. 
 
 NUTTING. 
 
 Benjamin and Silence Nutting had children : 
 
 1. Silence J., b. Sept. 29, 1797 ; 2. Lucy W. b. March 8, 1800; 3. 
 Betsey G., b, Sept. 19, 1802 ; 4. David G., b. March 29, 1805 ; 5. Jonas 
 G., b. Apr. 25, 1807; 6. AnnaH., b. Oct. 4, 1809; 7. AnnaT., b. May 
 25, 1813; 8. Susanna T., b. July 5, 1819. 
 
 OAK. 
 
 Seth Oak and Elizabeth his wife had children : 
 
 1. Salloma, b. May 25, 1764; 2. John, b. July 31, 1766; 3. Thomas, 
 b. July 6, 1768; 4. Ebenezer, b. Jan. 12, 1771. 
 
 William Oak and Eeleaf his wife had children : 
 , 1. Joel, b. Sept. 1, 1767; 2. Abraham, b. Aug. 15, 1770; 3. Ephraim, 
 b. March 9, 1773. 
 
 PARKS. 
 
 Eleazar, Samuel and WiUiam Parks were brothers. Eleazar m. Elizabeth 
 Whitney, but had no children. The tradition is that he was an excellent man. 
 Samuel moved hence, and was the father of Elisha and Luther Parks of Bos- 
 ton, and of Mrs. Whitman, the mother of the late Calvin E. Whitman and of 
 the late Mrs. Webster Whitney. 
 
 William lived on the old place near Frank Priest's. Children : 
 1. Elizabeth, b. May 8, 1758, d. Sept. 10, 1843 ; 2. Mehitable, b. Aug. 
 17, 1760, d. March 1, 1853, aged 92; 3. Jacob, b. Jan. 31,1763; d. 
 Oct. 22, 1850; 4. Lydia, b. June 11, 1765, d. Feb. 2, 1854; 5. WilUam, 
 b. Feb. 28, 1768; 6. Phinehas, b. July 28, 1770, d. Oct. 28, 1857 ; 7. 
 Elisha, b. June 6, 1773, d. Jan. 27, 1858 ; 8. Eliphalet, b. Feb. 15, 1777, 
 d. Oct. 23, 1855 ; 9. Patty, b. Nov. 11, 1780, d. May 10, 1866; 10. Pol- 
 ly, b. Nov. 11, 1780, d. April 23, 1866. The last two were twins, and died 
 within seventeen days of the same time. Not one of the ten lived less than 
 78 years. The sum of the ages of nine is 782 years, and the average age 
 about 87 years. 
 
 Jacob, m. Hannah Chaplin. Children : 
 
 1.- Polycrates, b. Jan. 10, 1796; 2. Thomas Graton, b. Jan. 6, 1798; 
 3. Sophronia, b, Sept. 5, 1799. 
 
HISTORY OF WIKCHENDON. 4G5 
 
 Phinehas, m. Betsey Stewart. Their cbildren were : 
 1. Luke, b. in 1793; 2. Phinehas, b. in 1795; 3. Elizabeth, b. in 
 1798 ; 4. Levi, b. in 1803 ; 5. Lucy, b. in 1806. 
 
 Eliphalet m. Abigail, dau. of Paul Boynton. Children : 
 Eliphalet, b. July 24, 1802, m. Kebekah Prentiss. 
 
 PAKMENTEE. 
 
 John Parmenter and Lydia his wife had : 
 
 1. Elizabeth, b. June 22, 1767; 2. Lydia, b. Sept. 21, 1769; 3. Mary, 
 b. Nov. 15, 1771. 
 
 PARSONS. 
 
 Bartholomew Parsons, or Person, or Pearson, father of Kichard, died March 
 20, 1766. 
 
 Richard Parsons m, Keziah . Children : 
 
 1. Relief, b. Apr. 6, 1769 ; 2. Nabbe, b. Apr. 22, 1771 ; 3. Oliver, 
 b. May 15, 1773 ; 4. Hitty, b: June 5, 1775 ; 5. Sarah, b. May 14, 1777. 
 Oliver Parsons m. Lois Priest. Children : 
 
 1. Louisa D., b. Apr. 7, 1802; 2. MaiyB., b. June 30, 1803; 3. 
 Oliver S., b. April 11, 1805; 4. Mary B., b. Nov. 22, 1806. 
 
 PAYSON. 
 
 James Payson m. widow Bobbins. He d. Aug. 21, 1811, aged 81. 
 
 Eliot Payson m. Ruth Hale, and had childi-en : 
 
 1. Lucy H., b. Oct. 4, 1799; 2. Mary C, b. Sept. 13, 1801 ; 3. James 
 P.,b. Sept. 7, 1802; 4. Mary C, b. Oct. 16, 1804; 5. Edward L,, b. 
 Oct. 3, 1806; 6. Eliot, b. Aug. 12, 1808; 7. Clarissa, b. Aug. 17, 1810; 
 8. Eliza Ann, b. Oct. 24, 1814; 9. Evelina L., b. Apr. 6, 1818, at Leb- 
 anon, Madison Co., N. Y., whither the family had moved. Eliot became a 
 minister in the Presbyterian Church. 
 
 PEBLEY. 
 
 Lieut. Dudley Perley, or Parley, came from Boxford. He m. Hannah 
 Hale of B., Deo. 3, 1767, He d. Dec. 16, 1810, aged 72. She d. Aug. 
 1806, aged 63. Children : 
 
 1. John, b. Oct. 2, 1768, m. Mary Spaulding : 2. Dudley, b. Aug. 26, 
 1770; 3. Asa, b.July9, 1772, m. Mary Hunt, of Westminster, Jan., 1803; 
 d. March 10, 1847 ; 4. Betsey, b. Feb. 22, 1776, m. Ezra Hyde, the his- 
 torian. She d. June 2, 1812 ; 5. Hannah, b. Dec. 8, 1777 ; 6. Mehitable, 
 b. Aug. 17. 1779, m. Jeremiah Spaulding, Aug. 1799; 7. Thomas, b. 
 June 1, 1783, d. Jan. 22, 1803 ; 8. Henry, b. July 2. 1785. 
 
 Asa, son .of Dudley, lived a few rods northeast of the Gill place. Among 
 his children was Henry, school teacher and committee man ; now a farmer 
 in Illinois, Prairie City. He m. Emeline Smith, Oct. 25, 1854. 
 
 PILLSBURY OK PILSBEERY. 
 
 Rev. Levi Pillsbury and Sarah Piekard, his wife bad cbildren : 
 
 1. Eliza, b. Sept. 25, 1802; 2. Sally D., b. May 1, 1804; 3. JohnC, 
 
 S9 1-8 
 
466 HISTORY OF WINOHBNDON. 
 
 b. Feb. 27, 1806 ; 4. Dolly W., b. Apr. 4, 1807 ; 5. Joshua P., b. July 
 12, 1809; 6. John M., b. Dec. 3, 1812; 7. Mary.b. March 13, 1815; 
 8. Levi, b. Apr. 2, 18i7; 9. Abigail, b. July 3, 1819. 
 
 POLAND. 
 
 William Poland, b. in Hamilton, Apr. 6, 1757, moved to W. in 1788, d. 
 in 1843 ; m. Betsey Brown of Ipswich, b. June 6, 1763, d. in 1849, Chil- 
 dren born in Hamilton : 
 
 1. Betsey, b. Jan. 18, 1782, d. July 16, 1803 ; 2. Wm. Jr., b. Dec, 
 12, 1784, m. Eunice Crane of Fitzwilliam, d. June 19, 1859; 3. Nancy, 
 a twin, m. Barzillai Martin, d. Sept. 12, 1859; 4. David, b. Sept. 12, 1786, 
 m. Lucy Marble of Orange, d. March 15, 1846. Those bom in Winchen- 
 don are : 5. Susan, b. Nov. 2, 1788, m. John Crane ; 6. Samuel, b. Nov. 
 29, 1790, m. Thankful Smith and widow Simonds; 7. Sally, a twin, m. 
 Smyrna Grreaton, d. 1868 ; 8. Lucy, b. Oct. 29, 1792, m. Smyrna Greaton, 
 d. 1846 ; 9. Polly, b. May 9, 1795, m. David Smith; 10. Olive, b. Feb. 
 25. 1797, m. Phinehas Ball; 11. Simeon B., b. June 1, 1802, m, Betsey 
 Wheeler. 
 
 Francis Pollard and Eleanor his wife had children : 
 1. Francis, b. July 20, 1775 ; 2. Eufiis, b. May 6, 1782. 
 Jonathan Pollard. 
 
 Levi Pollard and Rhoda his wife had eleven children : one of them is the 
 Rev. Andrew Pollard, D. D,, of Taunton. 
 
 POOR. 
 
 Lt. David Poor, Sen., m. Jane Martin, 
 
 Daniel Poor m. Polly Martin. Children : 
 
 1. Joseph, b.Dec. 15, 1799; 2, Mary, b. Feb. 1, 1801; 3. Daniel, b. 
 Nov. 13, 1803; 4. Phebe, b. Jan. 16, 1806; 5. Patience, b. Apr. 24, 1807; 
 6. Hosea, b. June 4, 1809; 7. Ira, b. Nov. 21, 1811 ; 8. Sally, b Sept. 
 10, 1815. 
 
 POKIER. 
 
 John Porter and Jane his wife had children : 
 
 1. Jane, b. July 12, 1773; 2. John, b. May 12, 1778. 
 
 PRENTISS. 
 
 Dea. Samuel Prentiss, Sen., m. Beulah Osgood. Children: 
 1. John; 2. Samuel; 3. Levi; 4. Luke; 5. Thomas; 6, Prudence, m. 
 Laban Burr. 
 
 Samuel, son of Samuel, m. Rebekah, dau. of James McElwain. He 
 was b. July 9, 1764, d. 1828; she was b. March 19, 1772, d. 1857. 
 Children : 
 
 1. Anna, b. Dec. 15, 1794, m. Jonas Brooks; 2. Samuel, b. Oct. 20, 
 1796, m. Clara Whiting; 3. John, b. Dec. 4, 1798; 4. Prudence, b. Aug. 
 21, 1800, d. 1855; 5. James, b. Feb. 28, 1803, d, 1856; 6. Levi, b. 
 
HISTORY OF WINOHENDON. 467 
 
 Feb. 11, 1805 ; 7. Kebekah, b. May 27, 1807, m. Eliphalet Parks ; 8. 
 Mary, b. Feb. 12, 1810, d. 1832 ; 9. William, b. Aug. 9, 1812, d. 1863 ; 
 
 10. Henry, b. Apr. 20, 1815, d. same year. 
 
 Luke, son of Samuel, m. Susanna Wilder. Children : 
 1. Emma, b. Aug. 12, 1797; 2. Horace, b. June 26, 1799; 3. Gil- 
 man, b. Feb. 13, 1801 ; 4. Harriet, b. Feb. 9, 1803 ; 5. Maryanna, b. 
 Feb. 1, 1807; 6. Lucy Sylvester, b. March 1, 1809. 
 
 PEIEST. 
 
 Joshua Priest, frozen to death. 
 
 Joseph Priest and Patience Wilder his wife had : 
 
 Levi, b. Oct. 16, 1785, m. Hannah Woodbury, and had several children ; 
 among them is : 
 
 Mr. Frank Priest, father of Miss N. A. W. Priest, author of " Over the 
 River." 
 
 Samuel Priest and Susanna his wife had children : 
 
 1. Henry, b. Feb. 5, 1783; 2. Samuel, b. Feb. 18, 1785. 
 
 , PKOUTY OB PEOUGHTY. 
 
 Isaac Prouty and Molly his wife had children : 
 
 1. Isaac, b. Jan. 2, 1780; 2. Molly; 3, Asenah ; 4. Hannah; 5. Sa- 
 rah; 6. Charlotte; 7. John W; the latter b. jTune 23, 1793. 
 
 PUSHEY. 
 
 Gabriel Pushey, of Acadia, had children : 
 
 1. Nathan Pushey, first male child in town ; 2. Ruth, m. Dea. Richard 
 Day. Probably others. Mr. Pushey lived near the spot where Dea. Out- 
 er's house stands. *Mrs. P. was struck by lightning, but not killed. 
 
 EAYMOND. 
 
 Paul Raymond, son of Paul and Tabitha, b. at Salem, May 12, O. S., 1732 ; 
 Moved to Holden, and thence to W. Died in 1817, aged 87. He m. Abi- 
 gail Jones, dau. of James and Abigail, b. at Westown, April 6, 0. S., 1734, 
 d. 1809, aged 75. They were married in Nov. 1755. Children : 
 
 1. Eunice, b. Jan. 12, 1757, d. Sept. 29, 1759 ; 2. Paul, b. Aug. 13, 
 1759, d. July 12, 1832, aged 72 ; 3. James, b. Dec 9, 1761 ; 4. Joel, b. 
 Dec. 9, 1764 ; 5. Abigail, b. Feb. 24, 1767, m. George Coffin ; 6. Jesse, 
 b. May 4, 1769; 7. Silas, b. Oct. 15, 1771 ; 8. Liberty, b. July 7, 1774; 
 9. Anna, b. Nov. 7, 1776. All born in Holden. 
 
 Paul, son of Paul, m. Sarah Gale, b. in Holden, July 29, 1759. She 
 
 died in W., January 1, 1822, aged 63. Children : 
 
 1. Tyler, b. in Holden, May 28, 1781 ; 2. Paul, in Winchendon, Nov 
 
 2, 1782, m. Afigail Brown. He was deacon of the first Ch. and d. in 1867 ; 
 
 3. John, b. Dec. 16, 1784 ; 4. Abigail, b. Dec. 22, 1786, d. in 1796 ; 
 
 5. Sally, b. June 28, 1789; 6. Lyman, b. March 15, 1791, m. Zeruiah 
 
 Adams; 7. Nancy, b. June 20, 1793, d. in 1801 ; 8. Asenath, b. Dee. 
 
 3, 1795; 9. Sumner, b. April 5, 1799 ; 10. George, b. June 16, 1801 ; 
 
 11. Harriet, b. Nov. 1, 1803. 
 
468 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 James, son of Col. Paul, m. widow Molly Gale, Jan. 11. 1789. She 
 d. Sept. 19, 1831, and he m. widow Dolly Haven, Dee. 27, 1832. He 
 d. Aug. 18, 1834. The children, all by first wife, were : 
 
 1. Levi, b. Aug. 17, 1789, ra. Sophia Greenwood, d. in 1868; 2. Pol- 
 ly, b. April 4, 1791, m. Ezra Hyde, d. Oct. 11, 1841 ; 3. James, b. Oct. 
 17, 1792; 4. Nathan, b. June 29, 1794 ; 5. Lueinda, b. Feb. 18, 1796 ; 
 6. Clark, b. Nov. 13, 1797 ; 7. Fidelia, b. January IS, 1800. 
 
 Jesse, son of Col, Paul, m. Polly Miller. Children : 
 
 1. Daughter, b. Oct. 24, 1792, d. same day ; 2. Amey, b. Nov. 6, 
 1794; 3. Charles, b. July 23, 1796 ; 4. Joel, b. June 3, 1798 ; 5. Lin- 
 coln, b. Feb. 17, 1800 ; 6. James, b. Sept. 24, 1801 ; 7. Lucy, b. Apr. 
 25, 1803 ; 8. b. April 16, 1805; 9. Nahum Jones, b. Aug. 11, 1808. 
 
 BEEI). / 
 
 Lincoln Eeed and Betsey his wife had children : 
 
 1. Mary Ann; 2. Nathan; 3. Betsey; 4. Harriet; 5. John; 6. Mar- 
 tha ; 7. John ; 8. Nelson ; 9. Sarah Jane. 
 
 KICE. 
 
 Capt. David Kice and Sarah his wife had the following children : 
 
 1. Nathaniel, b. Aug. 25, 1778 ; 2. Martha, b. March 30, 1780, d. Nov. 
 8, 1792 ; 3. David, b. Jan. 8, 1782 ; 4. Sarah, b. Apr. 18, 1784 ; 5. Ku- 
 fus, b. June 1, 1786 ; 6. Achsah, b. March 23, 1788- His second wife was 
 Eunice Hosmer. Their children were : 7. Persis, b. Oct. 8, 1791 ; 8. Asa, 
 b. March 31, 1793; 9. Josiah, b. Oct. 4, 1794, d. Apr. 9, 1795; 10. Jed- 
 idiah, b. June 2, 1796; 11. Tabitha, b. Apr. 8, 180O. 
 
 Lieut. Benjamin Rice came to town in 1772, and settled where his son Luke 
 now lives, the next year. His wife was Euth Budge. Children : 
 
 1. Amos, b. Feb. 12, 1778 ; 2. Betsey, b. April 1, 1783; 3. Kathar 
 rine, b. May 30, 1786 ; 4. Eunice, b. Aug. 11, 1789; 5. Luke, b. May 18, 
 1793. 
 
 RICHARDSON. 
 
 Ebenezer Richardson m: Sarah Richardson. 
 Ebenezer, Jr. 
 
 KOBBINS. 
 
 William Robbins, Sen., m. Nancy Leland. Children: 
 1. William; 2. Joseph. 
 
 William Robbins m. Eunice Ware. Children : 
 
 Nahum, David, and sisters, 
 
 Joseph Bobbins and Sarah his wife had children : 
 
 1. Alonzo W., b. Nov. 15. 1805 ; 2. Abigail E., b. Mar. 23, 1808; S, 
 Joseph A., b. Oct. 10. 1809 ; 4. Joseph, b. May 22, 1811 ; 5 and 6. Su- 
 san and Sarah, b. May 1, 1813; 7. Hervey; 8. Frances. 
 
 ROBERTS. 
 
 David Roberts- ra. a sister of Col. Woodbury. Children : 
 
HISTOKY OF WINCHBNDON. 469 
 
 1. Betsey, b. June 4, 1798; 2. David, b. Aug. 13, 1800; 3. Isaac W., 
 b. April 21, 1803. 
 
 BOSS. 
 
 Phinehas Ross and Betsey his wife had children : 
 
 1. 'Esther, b. Aug. 13, 1816; 2. Phinehas M. ; 3. Almeda; 4. Robin- 
 son; 5. Betsey; 6. William, and 7. Alexander Hastings, b, Apr. 28, 1831, 
 Cong'l minister at Springfield, Ohio. 
 
 EUSSELL. 
 
 Samuel Russell and Martha (b. at Littleton, Apr. 6, 1764,) his wife had 
 children : 
 
 1. Peter, b. at Litttleton, Aug. 7, 1786 ; 2. Stephen, b. at Littleton, Jan. 
 15, 1769; 3. Lydia, b. July 16, 1771; 4. Rebecca, b. Aug. 5, 1773; 5. 
 Betty, b. June 15, 1775 ; 6. John, b. Aug. 29, 1778. 
 
 SAKGENT. 
 
 Samuel Sargent, Sen., m. Mary Vryling. Children : 
 
 1. Mary, b. July 16, 1790; 2. Elizabeth, b. May 16, 1792; 3. Lydia, 
 b. Feb. 11, 1794; 4. Noah,b. Oct. 28, 1795; 5. Aaron, b. Oct. 24, 1797, 
 d. Oct. 24, 1797 ; 6. Aaron, b. Nov. 26, 1799. 
 
 SCOTT. 
 
 Jacob Scott m. Polly Maynard. They came from Harvard. Children : 
 1. Abigail; 2. Israel; 3. Daniel, died young ; 4. Daniel M.; 5. Elijah 
 
 S.; 6. Jacob; 7 and 8. Abram and Mary ; 9. John M.; 10. Ruth; 11. 
 
 William. 
 
 SHEKWIN. 
 
 Ebenezer Sherwin m. Lucy Curtiss. Children : 
 
 1. Ebenezer, b. Dec. 11, 1775; 2. Susanna, b. Oct. 11, 1778; 3. Eliel, 
 b. Apr. 21, 1780 ; 4. Lucy, b. Nov. 1, 1781 ; 5. Patty, b. May 5, 1783 j 
 6. Nancy, b. June 5, 1785 ; 7. Alvina, b. March 8, 1787 ; 8. Robert, b. 
 Dee. 23, 1790 ; 9. Arba, b. Nov. 7, 1791 ; 10. Ivory, b. Sept. 18, 1793 ; 
 11. Samuel, b. Apr. 26, 1796; 12. Sarah, b. Nov. 3, 1797; 13. Hiram, 
 b. July 4, 1800. 
 
 Ebenezer Sherwin, son of Ebenezer, and Sarah his wife had children : 
 1. Francis, b. July 9, 1770 ; 2. Azarias, b. May 2, 1773. 
 Eliel Sherwin, son of Ebenezer, Sen., and Dolly his wife had children : 
 1. Dolly B., b. March 12, 1804; 2. Alathine, b. Jan. 12, 1806; 3. 
 Lucy, b. May 5, 1807 ; 4. Joanna, b. June 11, 1809 ; 5. John Melanc- 
 thon Wells, b. Jan. 26, 1811 ; 6. Elvira, b. Feb. 19. 1813 ; 7. Eliel, b. 
 Nov. 3, 1814; 8. Harriet, b. Feb. 27, 1817; 9. Maria, b. March 20, 
 1819; 10. Jonas B., b. Jan. 30, 1821; 11 and 12. John Chrysostom 
 Wolfgang TheophUus, and Mozart, b. July 21, 1822 ; 13. Elvira, b. Nov. 
 20,1825; 14. Dolly, b. Feb. 18, 1828; 15. Lyman Harrington, b. Oct. 
 29, 1829. 
 Ahimaaz Sherwin and Ruth his wife had children : 
 
470 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 1. Ruth, b. July 9, 1770 : 2. Asa, b. Dec. 27, 1782 : 3. Ruth, b. Oct. 
 11, 1785. 
 
 SIMONDS. 
 
 Elder Samuel Simonds and Sally his wife had children : 
 1. James L.; 2. George W.; 3. Albert G.; 4. Lucius BoUes; 5. James 
 M. ; 6, Frederick A. 
 
 SMITH. 
 
 John Smith and Sarah his wife had children : 
 
 1. Sally, b. Sept. 7, 1782 ; 2. Esther, b. March 25, 1787. 
 
 Ebenezer and Anna Smith had children : 
 
 1. Joel; 2. Ezra; 3. Enos, all born between 1773 and 1781. 
 
 Reuben Smith and Bumam his wife, had : 
 
 Abraham.'jb. Dec. 30, 1765. 
 
 Ely Smith and Elenor his wife had children : 
 
 1. Elenor, b. Oct. 20, 1769 ; 2. Ely, b. May 15, 1771 ; 3. Ruth, b. Apr. 
 22, 1773 ; 4. Lucy, b. Nov. 27, 1774 ; 5. Jonas, b. Apr. 20, 1776 ; 6. Lyd- 
 ia, b. July, 1777 ; 7. An infant that died soon ; 8. Abijah, b. July 20, 
 1784. 
 
 Jonathan Smith and Mary his wife had children : 
 
 1. David, b. Sept. 5, 1779; 2. Jonathan, b. Aug. 23, 1781; 3. John, 
 b. Aug. 24, 1786 ; 4. Nabbe, b. July 10, 1788 ; 5. Polly, b. Apr. 9, 1790; 
 ,6. George, b. Dec. 30, 1791. 
 
 Dea. Joshua Smith and Eunice his wife had children : 
 
 1. Lucy, b. Feb. 1, 1811 ; 2. Joshua, b. Aug. 8, 1814 ; 3. Eunice, b. 
 Jan. 7, 1818; 4. Reuben T., b. July 6, 1825; 5. Melzar D., b. Oct. 27, 
 1827 ; 6. Moses (not David,) lost a hand in the battle of Princeton. He is 
 referred to on p. 105. 
 
 SIBAENS. 
 
 Bartholomew Stearns, b. Aug. 15, 1740, m. Mary Raymond, b. May 10, 
 1745, in March, 1768. . ' 
 
 His son Amos, m. Deborah Hunt, Dec. 31, 1803. Children : 
 
 1. Levi, b. Aug. 15, 1804 ; 2. Mary, b. June 14, 1806 ; 3. Dolly H., 
 b. May 2, 1808 ; 4. Bartholomew F., b. March 5. 1811 ; 5. WilUam, b. 
 June 15, 1812; 6. Amos B.,b. Jan. 15, 1814; 7. Eli, b. May 16, 1815. 
 Wife died Feb. 7, 1817. He m. widow Sarah Maynard, bom Miller, Dec. 
 25, 1817. Children : 8. Miriam E., b. Oct. 13, 1818 ; 9. Isaac M., b. 
 June 4, 1821 ; 10. Deborah H., b. June 5, 1823 ; 11, Nancy M., b. Dec. 
 5, 1825 ; 12. Harriet M., b. Nov. 2, 1829 ; 13. Lavina H., b. Nov. 14, 
 1885. 
 
 Simeon Stearns and Lydia his wife had children : 
 1. Simeon A.; 2. Daniel Bailey, b. Apr. 10, 1818; 3. Mary E., 4. 
 Lucy; 5. Benjamin F. ; 6. Lydia. 
 
HISTORY OF -WINCHENDON. 471 
 
 STBEL. 
 
 Samuel Steel and Bacbel his wife had children : 
 
 1. William, b. April 20, 1777 ; 2. James, b. May 11, 1779 ; 3. Sally, b. 
 Fb. 25, 1781 ; 4. Samuel, b. July 14, 1785 ; 5. Kachel, b. March 4, 1788 ; 
 6. Nabbe, b. Aug. 17, 1790. 
 
 James Steel and Susanna his wife had children : 
 
 1. Susanna; 2. Elizabeth, b. March 3, 1789 ; 3. Levi, b. Oct. 29, 1791 . 
 
 BTIMPSON. 
 
 Eev. Daniel Stunpson m. his cousin, Beulah Stimpson. Children : 
 1. Luther; 2. Sarah or Sally ; 3 and 4. Twin sons, b. March 22, 1763. 
 Both died within a day. His wife died in 1767, and himself in 1768. 
 Luther m. Sally McElwain. Children : 
 
 1. Daniel, b. June 9, 1789; 2. James, b. June 12, 1791; 3. Luther, 
 b. Aug. 19, 1794 ; 4.' Levi, b. July 15, 1796 ; 5. SaUy, b. Nov. 24, 
 1798. 
 Sarah m. Bemsley Lord and had four children. One was : 
 Eunice, who died the present year. 
 Jonathan Stimpson and Esther his wife had children : 
 Jonathan, b. Aug. 8, 1762; 2.- Joel, b. Nov, 16, 1763. Both bom in 
 Weston. The following in Winchendon : 3. John, b. Jan. 30, 1766 ; 4. 
 Jonathan, b. March 5, 1768 ; 5. Ephraim, b. Jan. 15, 1770 ; 6. Esther, b. 
 Sept. 9, 1771 ; 7. Daniel, b. March, 2, 1773. The Stimpsons were so nu- 
 merous that outsiders sometimes called Winchendon by the name of " Stimp- 
 son Town." 
 
 STODDARD. 
 
 David Stoddard m. Sybil Leavitt. Children : 
 
 David, b. in 1743, m. Lydia Brown ; found dead in his bed, July 18, 
 1818. 
 
 Joshua Stoddard, b. Jan. 16, 1778, m. Lois Balcom, b. June 6, 1775. 
 Children : 
 
 Seven wha died young ; four of them in the terrible sickness of 18 10. 8. 
 James M., b.iMarch 30, 1816; 9. Pamela, b. Aug. 28, 1819. 
 
 STONE. 
 
 Samuel Stone and Martha his wife had children : 
 
 1. Eunice, b. March 17, 1778 ; 2. Samuel, b. June 30, 1779 ; 3. Jo- 
 seph, b. June 8, 1781 ; 4. Josiah, b. Apr. 22, 1783. 
 
 STUAET. 
 
 Jeremiah Stuart and Hannah his wife had children : 
 1. Paul, b. June 8, 1762 ; 2. Jeremiah, b. July 6, 1767 ; 3. Elizabeth, 
 b. Aug. 22. 1769 ; 4. Hannah, b. Nov. 4, 1774 ; 5. John, b. Jan. 21, 1778 ; 
 6. Kichard, b. March 25, 1780. 
 
 Paul Stewart m. Hannah Bobbins and had children : 
 1. Enoch, b. May 17, 1791 ; 2. Keziah, b. July 2, 1794 ; 3. Joseph 
 B., b. Nov. 19, 1797. 
 
472 HISTORY OF WJNCHBNDON. 
 
 SWEETLAND. 
 
 Thomas and Abigail Sweetland had childreh : 
 
 1. Benjamin, b. July 30, 1763 ; 2. Betty, b. Nov. 7, 1766. 
 
 SWEETZEB. 
 
 Philips Sweetzer and Persia his wife had children : 
 1. Esther, b. Sept. 20, 1786. 
 
 SYLVESTER. 
 
 Nathaniel Sylvester and Lucy Clapp his wife had : 
 Lucy, b. in 1783 ; Evelina, b. March 7, 1800. 
 
 TATLOB. 
 
 Isaac Taylor, b. in Stow, Jain. 25, 1765, d. Dee. 25, 1848 ; m. Betst^ 
 Whitney of Watertown, b. March 7, 1769, d. June 18, 1844. Children: 
 
 1. Edward L., b. May 20, 1790; 2. Isaac, Jr., b. Oct. 19, 1794, d. 
 Feb. 3, 1837; B. Lois, b. Aug. 19, 1796; 4. Betsey, b. May 5, 1798; 
 6. Abel, b. Apr. 3, 1800, d. in 1820; 6. Cynthia, b. Feb. 17, 1802; 7. 
 Nancy, b, Apr. 15, 1804, d. in infancy; 8 and 9. Abraham and Jacob, b. 
 July 15, 1805; Jacob d. Jan. 11, 1864; 10. William, b. May 2, 1808; 
 11. Addison, b. July 17, 1810, d. March 4, 1887, in Columbus, Texas ; 12. 
 Nelson, b. June 16, 1813. 
 
 TITUS. 
 
 Samuel and Anna Titus had children : 
 
 1. John, b. Aug. 1, 1761 ; 2. Eleazar, b. Apr. 5, 1763; 3. Samuel, b. 
 March 2, 1765. 
 
 TOLMAN. 
 
 Dea. Desire Tolman, b. in Dorchester, m. Elizabeth Howe, resided on the 
 Col. Berry place. Children : 
 
 1. Elizabeth, b. Feb. 7, 1789 ; 2. John, b. July 12, 1791 ; 3. James, 
 b. Dee. 24, 1793 ; 4. Sally, b. Apr. 2, 1793, d. Apr. 22, 1793 ; 5. Joseph, 
 b. March 7, 1796, d. July 13, 1796 ; 6. Samuel H. ; 7. WiUiam ; 8. Ste- 
 phen; 9. Charles. 
 
 William, son of Desire, m. Mercy Brown. Children : 
 1. Eliza, b. Apr. 12, 1804; 2. WmiamM.,b. May 3, 1806; 3. Har- 
 riet, b. July 6, 1808 ; 4. Stephen, b. July 16, 1811. 
 
 TOWNE. 
 
 ' Absalom Towne m. Judith Hale. Children : 
 
 1. Judith, b. Aug. 7, 1768; 2. Phinehas,b. Sept. 11, 1770; 3. David, b. 
 Oct. 13, 1772; 4. Abel, b. May 13, 1775; 5. Amos, b. June 4, 1777 ; 6. 
 Hitty. b. Oct. 29, 1779 ; 7, Asa, b. Apr. 25, 1782 ; 8 and 9. Silas and 
 Sally, b. Jan. 21, 1786 ; 10. Betsey, b. Sept. 1, 1788 ; 11. Levina, b. 
 Sept. 9, 1792. The family moved to Central N. Y. 
 
 TUCKER. 
 
 Setb Tucker, b. Jan. 18, 1760, d. in 1865, aged 98 ; m. on the 81st of 
 Nov. 1791, to Jane Payson, b. March 11, 1761, d. 1813, aged 42. Chil- 
 dren : 
 
HISTOET OF WINOHBNDON. 473 
 
 1. Nathaniel; 2. Elliot P. ; 3. Same name; 4. Betsey P.; 5. Joshua; 
 6. Jane; 7. Seth; 8. Elisha; 9. Same name; 10. Samuel; 11. Same name; 
 12. Susanna. 
 
 Elisha Tucker, br. of Seth, m. Sarah Preston. Children : 
 
 1. Mary S., b. Oct. 17, 1793 ; 2. Sarah P., b. July 17, 1795 ; 3. EU- 
 
 sha, b. July 24, 1797 ; 4. Joanna How, b. June 24, 1799 ; 5. Abigail E., 
 
 b. Apr. 23, 1803. 
 
 TUTTLE. 
 
 Jedidiah Tuttle m. Lucy Smith. ' Children : 
 
 1. James, b. Aug. 10, 1780; 2. David, b. Dec. 3, 1782; 3. Jedidiah, 
 b, April 18, 1785 ; 4.. Frances, b, March 9, 1788 ; 6. Clarissa, b. Nov. 2, 
 1790; 6. Eleetus, b. Feb. 8, 1793 ; 7. Silas, b. Nov. 8, 1795, 8. Eli, b. 
 July 5, 1797 ; 9. Ainsworth, b. Jan. 1, 1799 ; 10. Sarah S., b. Jan. 5, 1802. 
 
 Simon Tuttle, Sen., m. Phebe . Children : 
 
 Simon, b. Jan. 15, 1791 ; Phebe; John; Lucy; John; Jewett ; Joseph j 
 Daniel; Mary; Stilhnan; Phebe; and 12. Anna, b. Nov. 12, 1811. 
 
 VOSE. 
 
 Keuben Vose, Sen., had : 
 
 Eeuben, Jr., who m. Hannah . Children : 
 
 1. Abigail, b. Apr. 24, 1807 ; 2. Charles; 8. Mary Ann; 4. Son, d. 
 early; 5. Jerusha; 6. Keuben, b. Deo. 24, 1824. 
 
 WALES. 
 
 Oapt. Jacob Wales m. Phebe Howard. Children : 
 
 1. Jacob; 2. Abigail, m. Levi Woodbury and Ephraim Murdock. 
 
 WALEEB. 
 
 Samuel Walker m. Betsey Wyman. Children : 
 
 1. Betsey, b. Aug. 22, 1796; 2. Joanna; 3. Demas; 4. Samuel; 5. 
 Patty; 6.- Sally; 7. Lovell; 8. Leonard; 9. Seth, b. June 1, 1824. 
 
 WHITCOMB. 
 
 Israel Whitoomb m. Eunice Wilson. Children : 
 
 1. Kufus, b. May 8, 1784 ; 2. Caty. b. Nov. 4, 1786, d. Sept. 19, 1789 ; 
 3. Caty, b. July 21, 1790; 4. Mark, b. Nov. 10, 1792, m. Lucy Murdock. 
 
 WHITNEY. 
 
 Silas Whitney was in W. as early as 1764. In that year he was chosen 
 church warden, and surveyor of boards and shingles. He kept the tavern at 
 the Centre for a time. 
 
 Jacob Whitney lived during several years in a house northeast of the John 
 Crosby place ; perhaps half way down towards the Monomonauk ; and three- 
 quarters of a mile north of Spring Village. He afterwards lived on the Hub- 
 bard place, where his son Elias, the surveyor, lived and died. Besides Elias, 
 he had a daughter Sarah, b. Oct. 27, 1794, d. July 26, 1797. 
 
 80 
 
474 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 WDliam Whitney, not nearly related to the William Whitney whose family 
 follows next below, kept the tavern at the Centre, and afterwards left the place. 
 
 William Whitney settled in- Winohendon, about 1774. He was the eldest 
 child of William Whitney and his wife, Hannah Harrington, and great-great- 
 grandson of John Whitney, Jr., of Watertown, who came from England " in 
 the ship Elizabeth and Ann, Roger Cooper, Master," in 1635, at the age of 
 eleven years, with his father, mother and four younger brothers. William 
 Whitney was born in Weston, April 10, 1736. He was married, June 14, 
 1762, to Mary Mansfield of Weston, by Rev. Samuel Woodward. Children : 
 
 1. William; 2. Phinehas; 3. Mary; 4. Joseph; 5. Amasa; 6. Sally; 
 7. Luke. He d. July 10, 1817; wife d. Dec. 17, 1815. 
 
 William, son of William, born in 1765, m. Ann Heywobd of Gardner,,, 
 January 13, 1791. He moved to Gardner, and died there in 1846; his 
 wife died a few days after, and both were buried at the same time. Mr. ~ 
 Washington Whitney, and Mrs. Betsey Weller of this town are his grand- ' 
 children. 
 
 Phinehas, son of William, Sen., b. April 1, 1766, m. Phebe Stearns, 
 Jan. 17, 1793, and had: 
 
 1. Phinehas, b. in 1794, d. July 12, 1804. His wife Phebe died Apr. 
 7, 1794, aged 20. He married Bethiah Barrett of Barre, Feb. 15, 1796, 
 and had children : 2. Phebe ; 3. Lucy, b. June 4, 1797, m. Rev. Ben- 
 jamin Rice of South Deerfield; 4. William Barrett, b. Jan. 14, 1801 ; 
 5. Mary, b. March 17, 1803, m. Dr. Alvah Godding; 6 and 7. Phinehas 
 and Nelson, who died young; 8. Sarah Ann, b. Jan. 30, 1809, m. Josiab ' 
 Brown and C. W. Bigelow; 9. Louisa, b. May 30, 1812, m. Rev. Giles > 
 H. Lyman. He died May 10, 1881 ; his wife d. Aug. 2, 1849. 
 
 Mary, dau. of William, Sen., b. April 10, 1773, m. in 1799, Benjamin 
 Heywood, son of Seth Heywood of Gardner, gr. of Phinehas, and great- 
 gr. of Dea. John Heywood of Concord. Children : 
 
 1. Levi ; 2. Benjamin F. ; 3. Walter ; 4. William ; 5. Seth ; 6. Charles. 
 
 Joseph, son of William, Sen., b. May 20, 1775, m., in 1799, Hannah, 
 dau. of Dudley- Perley. Children : ' ' . , 
 
 1. Joseph, b. Oct. 10, 1800, m. Abigail Flint; 2. Dudley, b. July 12, ' 
 1802, m. Mary S. Shore ; 3. Seba, b. Feb. 21, 1805, m. Geo. Cummings; 
 4. Thomas, b. March, 1807; 6. Hannah, b. Aug. 6, 1809, m. Joseph 
 Adams, and Horace Whitcomb; 6. Cynthia, b. Jan. 25, 1812; 7. Will- 
 iam, b. July 29, 1814, m. Mary Glines ; 8. Grover S., b. July 10, 1816, 
 m. Laura Robey; 9. Betsey E., b. May 21, 1825, m. Almon H. Poland. 
 
 Amasa, son of William, Sen., b. June 16, 1777 ; m., Dec, 1802, Ma- 
 ry, dau. of Daniel Goodjidge, b. March 20, 1779. He d. Feb. 2, 1852 ; 
 she d. Jan. 11, 1855. Children: 
 
 1. Webster, b. Oct 6, 1803, m., March 16, 1828, Eliza Parks Whit- 
 man, whod. March 4, 1867 ; 2. Amasa, b. Apr. 24, 1806, m., July 24, 
 1834, Mary Murdock; 3. Harriet, b. Jan. 27, 1811, m. C. C. Pierce-, 
 Nov. 13, 1833, d. Nov. 18. 1867 ; 4. Wm. Lowe, b. March 24, 1815, 
 d. July 13, 1832; 5. Baxter D., b. June 28, 1817, m. March 1, 1846, 
 
HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 475 
 
 Sarah Jane Whitney; 6. Mary Goodridge, b. Aug. 2, 1819, m. July 8, 
 1841, Wm. Murdock; 7. John MUton, b. Dec. 18, 1823, d. Sept. 20, 
 1825. 
 
 Sally, dau. of William, Sen., b. Sept. 3, 1779, m. Jan. 12, 1802, Smy> 
 na Bancroft of Gardner. Her children are : 
 
 Dea. Smyrna Bancroft, Amasa Bancroft, Preddent of Gardner Bank, 
 ^nd Mrs. Smith. 
 
 Luke, Eon of William, Sen., lived in Gardner. 
 
 Hananiah Whitney, Sen., m. Azubah . Children: 
 
 1. Moses, b. Nov. 28, 1789; 2. Hananiah, b. May 29, 1792 ; 3. Alphe- 
 ns,b. March 8, 1794; 4. Azubah, b. Aug. 25, 1796; 5..Artemas,b. Sept. 
 5, 1798 ; 6. Stacey ; 7. Barsina, b. Feb. 4, 1801 ; 8. Esther, b. Jan. 13, 
 1803; 9. Silas S., b. June 27, 1805; 10. Levi P., b. Aug. 19. 1807; 
 
 11. Samuel A., b. Nov. 10, 1809; 12. AbigaU F., b. Dec. 27, 1812. 
 
 Hananiah Whitney, Jr., m. Mary Leavitt, dau. of Stowers Beals. Chil- 
 dren : 
 
 1. George Leavitt. He then m. Sarah Beaman. 2. John M.; 3. Ma- 
 ry; 4. William; 5. Henry M.; 6. Sarah; 7. Elizabeth ; 8. Abigail ; 9. 
 Harriet; 10. Charles. 
 
 Silas Whitney, mentioned above, and his wife Jane had cluldren : 
 1. Love, b. Dec. 8, 1758 ; 2. David, b. Aug. 31, 1760 ; 3. Silas, b. June 
 
 12, 1762, (all born in Princeton) ; 4. Oliver, b. Sept. 16, 1764 ; 5. Bar- 
 tholomew, b. JttsieSO, 1766; 6. Jane.b. June 6, 1768; 7. Phebe.b.Feb. 
 1, 1770. 
 
 WHITON. 
 
 Dr. Israel Whiton b. Sept. 3, 1754, at Ashford, Conn. His fathetintend- 
 ed that he should be educated at Yale, but he was not, on account of an im- 
 pediment in his speech. He studied medicine with Dr. Huntington of West- 
 ford, Conn., in 1773. Otis m. Dorothy Crosby, dau. of Samuel Crosby, Esq. 
 Ciiildren : 
 
 1. John M., b. in Winohendon, Aug. I, 1785; 2. Dorothy, b. Apr. 6, 
 1788, d. in 1812; 3. Israel, b. May 30, 1791, d- in 1815; 4. Otis 0., b. 
 Sept. 27, 1794. He was twice married, but left no children. 
 
 John M., son of Israel Whiton, m. Abigail Morris, b. at Litchfield, 
 Conn., Aug. 3, 1783. Children: 
 
 1. JamesMorris.b.Nov. 9, 1809; 2. Elizabeth D., b. March 7, 18li; 
 3. Helen D., b. July 8, 1814; 4. AbigaO, b. May 31, 1817; 5. Mary 
 C, b. Feb. 20, 1819 ; 6. John MUton, b. March 7, 1821. James M., 
 the eldest son of Rev. Dr. Whiton, was a man of great energy of character, 
 and was a noble pioneer in Christian abolitionism. His son, Rev. James 
 M. Whiton, is pastor of the First Congregational Church in Lynn. 
 
 WILDEB. 
 
 Hon. Abel Wilder m. Anna Butler, June 27, 1764 : Children : 
 I. Eunice, b. Apr. 22, 1765, m Eli Bruce ; 2. Maryanna, b. Oct. 13, 
 1766, m. Mr. Burr ; 3. Abel, b. March 15, 1768 ; 4. Thomas, b. March 1, 
 
476 HISTOKT OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 1770 ; 5. Grace, b. Dee. 8, 1771, m. Levi Divoll ; 6. Susanna, b. Nov. 17, 
 1773, m. Luke Prentiss ; 7. David b. Oct. 10, 1775, d. May 10, 1785 ; 8. 
 Martha, b. Jan. 21, 1780, m. Asaph Brown ; 9. Betsey, b. Aug. 4, 1782, 
 m. Aaron Knights; 10. David, b. Dec. 5, 1785. 
 
 Abel, son of Abel, Sen., m. Eunice Hale. Children : 
 
 1. Abel, b. 1792, d. 1865; 2. Charles, b. in 1794, d. in 1867; 8. 
 
 Artemas, b. in 1796, d. in 1866 ; 4. Moses Hale, b. in 1798 ; 5. , 
 
 b. in 1800, d. in 1864 ; 6. Mary, b. 1805, m. Joseph Johnson, d. 1836 ; 
 
 7. David, b. 1805 ; 8. Albert, b. in 1809. All these had their birth in 
 
 W. The family removed to Paris, N. Y., where were.bOTQ : 9. Milton, 
 
 b. in 1812; 10. Lucy, b. in 1814; 11. William, b. in 1816. 
 
 David Wilder and Elizabeth his wife had : 
 
 John, b.- Jan. 16, 1784. 
 
 Elijah Wilder and Azubah his wife bad children : 
 
 1. Oshea, b. July 16, 1784. 
 
 Capt. Joseph Wilder, (br. of Hqd. Abel,) and Anna Baiyett his wife had 
 children : 
 
 1. Joseph, b. March 17, 1783; 2. Thomas 0., b. July 14, 1784; 3. 
 James, b. May 24, 1786; 4. Luke, b. Oct. 15, 1788; 5. Abel, b. March 
 19, 1798. 
 
 WITHINGTON. 
 
 Edward Withington and Emma bis wife had children : 
 1. Eunice, b. Apr. 14, 1781; 2. Betsey T., b.,May 4, 1783; 3. Al- 
 pheus M., b. Aug. 13, 1785 ; 4. Edward, b. Deo. 29, 1787. 
 
 WOODBXIKT. 
 
 Col. Jacob B. Woodbury, b. in Ipswich, m. Hannah Eoberts. He d. in 
 1839, aged 82 ; she d. in 1845, aged 85. Children : 
 . 1. Jacob, m. Eunice Rice; 2. John, m. Lucy Dutton, and Phebe [Wasb- 
 bum] Whitney ; 3. Hannah, m. Levi Priest ; 4. David, in. Esther Wales; 
 5. Levi, m. Abigail Wales ; 6. Sally, m. Henry Chreenwood ; 7. Rowe- 
 na, m. Eeuben Harris; 8. Silas, m. Mary Woodruff and Sarah King; 9. 
 Nehemiah. 
 
 WTMAN. 
 
 Thomas Wyman was the gr. gr. grandson of Eranois Wyman, who came 
 from England, though the family is said to be of German origin. Thomas 
 ■was the* son of Eleazar, who m. Martha Kicbardson, and lived in Wobuin. 
 Thomas was b. in Woburn. in 1745, m. Betsey Reed, May 25, 1773 ; moved 
 to Templeton in 1783, and to Winchendon in 1784. Lived west of the New 
 Boston Meeting House. Children : 
 
 1. Thomas, b. 1774; 2. Betsey, b. 1775; 8. Joshua, Apr. 10, 1778; 
 4. Patty or Martha, b. 1780. The above were b. in Woburn. 5. Jonathan, 
 b. in Templeton, Nov. 7, 1782. The following were b. in Winchendon-: 6. 
 Samuel, b. 1784; 7. SUas, b. 1786; 8. Sally, b. Apr. 14, 1788; 9. Pol- 
 ly, b. 1791; 10. Isaac, b. Sept. 29, 1794; 11. Levi, b. 1796. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 477 
 
 Thomas, son of Thomas, m. Lydia Bowker. Children : 
 1. Asa, b. Oct. 2, 1800, d. Nov. 12, 1811; 2. Lydia, b. Aug. 10, 
 1802, d. Sept. 10, 1820 ; 3. Olive, b. March 28, 1804, d. Nov. 10, 1811 ; 
 4. Franklin, b. June 17, 1806, d, Nov. 7, 1811 ; 5. Stilhnan, b. May 
 10, 1808, d. Nov. 15, 1811 ; 6. HaiTey, b. Oct. 5. 1810 ; 7. Newell, 
 b. Deo. 13, 1812, d. Sept. 15, 1813; 8. Newell, b. Feb. 6, 1814; 9. 
 Olive, b. March 10, 1816, d. Oct. 10, 1841. 
 
 Betsey, dau. of. Thomas, m. Samuel Walker, and Noah Holman. She 
 is now living in this town, aged 93 years. 
 
 Joshua, son of Thomas, m. Nancy Noyes. Children : 
 1. Laura, b. July 28, 1803, d. March 22, 1804 ; 2. Enoch N., b. May 
 4, 1805, m. Huldah Twitchell and Mary Loveland ; 3. Gilman, b. Feb. 
 12, 1807, m. Hannah Taft; 4. Sumner, b. Feb. 22, 1809, m. Sally Lew 
 is, and Philura Pitkin ; 5. Franklin, b. Jan. 26, 1812, d. Jan. 11, 1814; 
 6. Henry W., b. Dec. 26, 1821. 
 
 Patty, dau. of Thomas, m. a Mr. Stearns, and d. in New York. 
 Jonathan, son of Thomas, m. Olive Alger. Children : 
 1. Nelson, b. Dec. 1, 1812, d. Oct. 6, 1826 ; 2. Vesta, h. May 10, 
 1815, d. Sept. 26, 1826; 8. Ahneda, b. Jan. 10, 1818; 4. Olive, b. 
 June 24, 1820; 6. Nathan A., b. Sept. 7, 1823, d. Jan. 3, 1827 ; 6. 
 Vesta, b. Aug. 13, 1826; 7. Adah P., b. Dec. 13, 1828. They were m. 
 Apr. 18, 1812, and have lived in the same house to the present time, fifty- 
 m years. Their golden wedding was celebrated in 1862. 
 Samuel, son of Thpmas, m. Patty Wyman. Children : 
 1. Isaac; 2. Levi; 3. Lewis; 4.. Mary; 5. Mary Jane; 6. James'. 
 Silas, son of Thomas, m, a Miss Bowker, and Betsey Bingham. • • 
 Sally, dau. of Thomas, m. John Lewis, and lived in Orange. 
 Polly, dau. of Thomas, m. Joshua Clark. 
 Isaac, son of Thomas, m. Mercy Poor. Children : 
 1. Lucy; 2. Sylva, b. Nov. 2, 1816; 3. Sarepta, b, July 9, 1820, d. 
 July 28, 1831; 4. Sophronia, b. July 11, 1823, m. Luke Hale. 
 Levi, son of Thomas, m. Roxy Piper. Children : 
 1. Orsemas; 2. Adaline. 
 The preceding is a full^though not a perfect transcript of the Eecord 
 of Births. Of some families very little is to be found ; of others, more 
 might be collected by minute examination ; of others still, no notice has 
 been taken, chiefly because their names have long ceased to be familiar 
 here. But it can be said truly, that five.times as much as was intend- 
 ed, has forced itself into this chapter. When a man plunges into a gen- 
 ealogical quagmire, he finds it as difficult to emerge as a swimmer who 
 is entangled arid drawn under by sea-weed. 
 
 For the sake' of showing how the roots of ancient families are inter- 
 
478 HISTOKT OP WINCHENDOSr. 
 
 twisted, the following marriages, or intentions of marriage, of a date 
 previous to 1786, are here inserted. Some were married in the place 
 of the bride's residence ; others, here. 
 
 "January 4th, 1763. There was married Mr. Thomas Sweetland and 
 Mrs. Abigail Pushee, boath of Ipswich Canada, in the County of Worcester, 
 by the Rev. Mr. Daniel Stimson. 
 
 Married — Bartholomew Pearson and Lydia Bandal, Nov. 3, 1763; 
 
 M.* — Aaron Hodgkins and Eunice Bixby, January 24, 1764. 
 
 M. — Henry Poore, «rf Eoyalston, and Kezire [Keziah] Foster, September 
 11, 1764. 
 
 Int. — Simeon Burnant and Mary Warson, April 27, 1765. 
 
 Int. — Joseph Boynton and Zeruiah Wilder, Sept. 30, 1765. 
 
 M. — James Mansfield and Lowis Darling, March 4, 1766. 
 
 Int. — ^Isaac Stimson and Elizabeth Bixby, April 12, 1766, and married 
 on the 26th of March, 1767. 
 
 Int.— William Mofiatt and Mary Priest, June 6, 1766. 
 
 Int. — Daniel Goodridge and Hannah Lowe, July 5, 1766. 
 
 M.— Levi Bixby and Ruth DarKng, Oct. 2. 1766. 
 
 Int. — Abner Hale and Abigail Goodridge, Nov. 18, 1766. 
 
 Int.— Richard Person and Keaa Bixbe, May 30, 1767, and married Ju- 
 ly 6, 1767. 
 
 Int. — Dudley Perley and Hannah Hall, August II, 1767. 
 
 Int. — Jonathan Bixbe and Esther Gale, Nov. 1, 1767. 
 
 [The greater part of the above were married by Mr. .Stimson.] 
 
 M.— Daniel Gould and Mary Porter, Feb. 15, 1770. 
 
 M. — John Joiner, or Joyner, and Jerusha Bixby, July 10, 1770. 
 
 M.— John Day and Elizabeth Joslin, Jan'y 10, 1771. 
 
 M. — David CU)odridge and Silena Joslin, Aug. 20, 1772. ' 
 
 M. — Abijah Stimson and Lois Bixby, Sept. 28, 1772. , 
 
 M.— Ephraim Sawyer and Peggy Fisher, Dec 3, 1772. 
 
 M. — Job Boynton of Monadnock No. 4, N. H., and Mary Joslin, Mirch 
 18, 1773. 
 
 M.— Samuel Steele and Rachel Putnam, Nov. 4, 1773. 
 
 M. — Nathan Green and Lucy Gardner, March 20, 1774. 
 
 Int.— John Porter and Jane Stuart, Sept. 28, 1771. 
 
 Int. — Stephen Boynton and Tabitha Foster^ Dec. 14, 1771. 
 
 Int.— Samuel Mason and Sarah Whitney, May 26, 1772. 
 
 Int. — Solomon Biglow and Hannah Sanders, June 10, 1772. 
 
 Int. — ^Francis Bridge and Eunice Brown, Dee. 10, 1772. 
 
 Int. — ^Levi Carter and Silence Beeman, Nov. 13, 1773. 
 
 M. — Jonathan Evans andMeUtabel Sherwin, July 21, 1771. 
 
 M. — Ebenezer Sherwin; Jr. and Lucy Bradish, Dec. 14, 1774. 
 
 M. — ^Elisha Brown and Merrill Bales, Nov. 16, 1775. 
 
 M.— Jonathan Smith and Mary Barrett, May 29, 1776. 
 
 M.— Phihps Rollins and Abigail Porter, April 29, 1777. 
 
 *M. stands for married ; Int. for intentions. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. : 479 
 
 ■ M.^— Samuel Brown and Leavina Bruce, July 14, 1777. 
 
 M. — Ephraim Parmenter and Unity Darling, July 17, 1777. 
 
 M.— Daniel Joslin and Maiy Nichols, Oct. 20," 1777. 
 
 M. — John Bemis and Lucy Bates, April 28,' 1778. 
 
 M.— James Bates and Elizabeth Nichols, Oct. 12, 1778. 
 
 M.— John Marble and Sarah Curtice, Nov. 5, 1778. 
 
 M. — Amos Hale and Sarah Day, March 23, 1779. 
 
 M. — Abiel Boynton and Lois Raymond, March 30, 1779. 
 
 M.— Levi Bixby and Tabitha Boyaton, May 13, 1779. 
 
 M.— David Foster and Elizabeth Minot, May 27, 1779. 
 
 M. — Joseph Mastick and Mary Putnam, Sept. 14, 1779. 
 
 M. — Edward Putnam and Hannah Mastick, Sept. 28, 1779. 
 
 M. — ^Amos Baymond and Alice Joslin, Dec. 9, 1779. 
 
 M. — Joseph Stimson and Elizabeth Groodenough, April 27, 1780. 
 
 M,-r-David Heywood and Abigail Bixby, May 11, 1780. 
 
 M. — Zebulon Stratton and Jcrush Bradish, June 9, 1780. - 
 
 M. — Samuel Bradish and. Hannah Dunton, Nov. 29, 1780, - 
 
 M. — Ahimaaz Sherwin and Ruth Day, Dee. 1780. 
 
 M.— Edward Payson and Eunice Nichols, Sept. 2, 1771. • 
 
 M. — Antipas Dodge and Luhy Woodward, March 8, 1772. i 
 
 M.— David Wilder and Elizabeth Reed, Nov. 28, 1782. 
 
 M.— Nathaniel Bixby and Abigail Heywood, March 15, 1782. 
 
 M. — Nathan Stoddard and Lydia Dunton, July 1, 1784. 
 
 M.— Dr. Israel Whiton and Dolly Crosby, Nov. 2 1784. 
 
 M, — Phillips Sweetzer, 3d, and Persis Joslin, May 29* 1785. 
 . M.— Abel Brown and Sally Stoddard, June 23, 1785. 
 
 M. — Daniel Bradish and Phebe Jones, August 4, 1785. 
 
 M. — Capt. Allen Todd, foreigner^ and Mary Millage, Boston, August 12, 
 1785. 
 
 M. — Beamsly Lord and Sally Stimson, Oct. 5, 1785. 
 
 M. — Amos Heywood and Mrs. Kezia Person, Oct. 6, 1785. 
 
 M;-^Paul Heywood and Amity Darling, Dec. 15, 1785. 
 
 M.— Zephaniah Wood and Sarah Litch, Feb. 28, 1785. 
 
 Int. — John Kidder and Dolly Joslin, Jan'y 7, 1785. 
 
 Int. — Nathan Maynard and Lydia Butler, January, 1785. 
 
 Int. — Francis Whitcomb and Alice Houghton, October, 1785. 
 
 Int. — Jonathan Broadstreet and Elizabeth Handsome, February, 1785." 
 
 The above, with few exceptions, were married by Rev. Joseph Brown. 
 Afterwards, quite a number were joined in marriage by Abel Wilder 
 and Samuel Crosby, Esqrs. It appears that many families were numer- . 
 0U8 ; sometimes the children counted up to ten or twelve and even fif- 
 teen ; in a few cases perhaps the number was still greater. The con- 
 trast is certainly great between those times and these, when — ^in a cer- 
 tain stratum of society— it takes three families to raise two children. 
 It would seem as if female labor, in every sense of the word, was in the 
 process of transfer, here in New England, from native-born women to 
 
480 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 the daughters of Irish and German blood. If so, .then population, 
 wealth, power and honor, will be the inheritance of their children. 
 
 At this point the History of Winchendon, as originally designed, 
 should end. The year 1864 filled out one hundred years from the in- 
 corporation of the town. A few facts, however, belon^ng to the fol- 
 lowing years, have been inserted. And as the expressed wish of the ' 
 town, and the obvious propriety of the case, requires, another chapter 
 will be added, ^ving the action of the town, and of her brave soldiers, 
 in putting down the late wicked rebeUion. 
 
 Note. Under the name Greenwood, on page 456, several names were 
 omitted. The children of Thomas Greenwood were : 
 
 1. John; 2. Deborah, m. Stephen Tolman; 3. Oliver; 4. Thomas; 5. 
 Henry ; 6. Sophia, m. Levi Kaymond . 7. Levi. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 481 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. — THE WAR OF 
 FREEDOM. 
 
 " In peace, there's nothing so becomes a man, 
 
 As modest stillness and humility ; 
 
 But when the blast of war blows in our ears, 
 
 Then imitate the action of the tiger; 
 
 Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood. 
 
 Disguise fair nature with hard-favor'd rage : 
 
 Then lend the eye a terrible aspect ; — 
 
 Now Sfet the teeth, and stretch the nostril wide ; 
 
 Hold hard the breath, and bend up every spirit 
 
 To its full height." 
 
 Henky v. 
 
 section 1. — outbreak of the rebellion. 
 
 . In 'this chapter will be ^ven as much of the history of the town in 
 connection with the rebellion, as can be condensed into the space that 
 ia left. The people here had partaken of the spirit of the loyal North, 
 during all the months of winter, while the southern states were prepar- 
 ing to secede from the Union, form a southern confederacy, and set 
 the national government at defiance. When the news came, on the 
 14th of April, that the rebels had made their nefarious attack on 
 fort Sumter, and that it had been surrendered to them by Major An- 
 derson, and his few brave soldiers, the hearts of the people were ani- 
 mated by one common desire and determination to uphold the govern- 
 ment, suppress the rebellion, and at the same time, remove the cause 
 of it, by the abolition of slavery. At that time, public sentiment with 
 us was in advance of the nation generally and of the authorities at Wash- 
 mgton. With almost entire unanimity, the voice of the citizens was 
 for war, not from revenge, or from hatred of the southern rebels, but 
 because of their love of country and of freedom. 
 
 Without any formal call, the inhabitants held large meetings on Mon- 
 day and Tuesday evenings, April 15th and 16th, to give expression to 
 their feelings, and to organize for action. The meeting on Monday 
 
482 HISTORY OP WINCHBNDON. 
 
 evening was held in the town hall ; that on Tuesday evening assembled 
 in the street, between the town hall and the post office, because no hall 
 or church would accommodate the multitude. Hon. Giles H. Whitney 
 presided and addresses were made by many gentlemen, all animated 
 by a fervent love of the national flag. Some of the speakers were 
 Messrs. Whitney, Dr. Godding, Capt. E. Murdock, 0. Mason, G. S. 
 Whitney, I. M. Murdock, E. Harris, Rev. T. B. Treadwell and Rev. 
 Mr. Marvin. The two latter spoke from the top of the piazza in front 
 of Capt. Murdock's store. All the speeches were brief and to the point. 
 It was the voice of all, that Winchendon must and would do her part in 
 upholding the government of our fathers by suppressmg the wicked re- 
 bellion. 
 
 SECTION 2. — EFIECT ON THE PUBLIC MIND. 
 
 • 
 
 The effect of the surrender of fort Sumter, on the public mind, did 
 not terminate in meetings and resolutions. The sentiment of the peo- 
 ple took shape, at once, in raising money and volunteers, and by all 
 measures by which anything coul4 be done for the good of the great 
 cause. The young men, especially, were urgent to take the field. The 
 first effort was to raise a company irl the town, but as there were Im- 
 pediments to success in this attempt, some, in their ardor to be in the' 
 field, went to other places, and offered themselves as soldiers. Sever- 
 al made a provisional arrangement with a company in Ashbumham ; 
 and when that fell through, joined the second regiment of Massachu- 
 settB volunteers, under Col. Gordon. In the meantime, meetings of the 
 citizens were held for drill in the town hall, and the ladies manifested 
 the liveliest interest in the work of enlistment, and the warmest sympa^:. 
 thy with those who " girded on the armor." In public worship on the : 
 Sabbath, and in all prayer meetings, the cause of the country and the 
 welfare of the soldiers, were presented at the throne of divine grace. 
 The movement assumed the character of a sacred contest, a "war of the 
 Lord." 
 
 SECTION 3. — ACTION OP THE TOWN. 
 
 While the people were thus.pressing forward, in an informal way, the 
 town was preparing for organized action. The first town meeting was 
 held on the 27th of April. One article m the warrant was iu these 
 words : 
 
HISTOKT OF WINCHENDON. 48S 
 
 " To see what action the town will take at this alarming crisis of the coun- 
 try, in regard to the raising of a military company, to assist in the suppression 
 of Behellion, Insurrection or Invasion." 
 
 Giles H. Whitney, Esq., was chosen Moderator. A committee of 
 five was appointed by the chair, to r»ammend the appropriation of a 
 certain sum of money for the purposiisjbf sustaining a military company^ 
 to act in the present crisis, and also to recommend some measures cal- 
 culated to encourage the forming of such a company. 0. Mason, H. 
 0. Clark, Sidney Fairbank, Seth Tucker and John H. Fairbank were 
 appointed. The committee soon reported, recommending : 
 
 " That the town appropriate a sum not exceeding $5,000 for the purpose' 
 specified above. 
 
 That we guarantee to all persons volunteering to form said company, wh» 
 are able-bodied, and found to answer the requirements of the commander-in- 
 c'hief : first, a suitable uniform; second, a good revolver ; third, eight dollar^ 
 per month, in addition to the pay from government, for the time the company 
 is absent in the service of the country. 
 
 Those who enlist and are suitable for service, one dollar a day for every day 
 they are drilled, for a term of time not exceeding one month. 
 
 If a fall company cannot be raised in this town, the same guaranty be made 
 to any number of citizens not less than twenty-five, who shall join with any 
 neighboring town in makiiig up a full company. 
 
 Also, that all between eighteen and twenty-five, meet at the town hall, ev-i 
 ery Saturday afternoon at two o'clock, for the purpose of drill." 
 
 At the same time, Sidney Fairbanks, Orlando Mason and Baxter D. 
 Whitney, were chosen a committee to take in charge the raising a vol-, 
 unteer militia company in this town. This committee reported to a sub- 
 sequent meeting that a company could not be raised ; but perhaps a 
 company could be raised in Winchendon and Gardner. 
 
 SECTION 4. — SYMPATHY WITH THE SOLDIERS. 
 
 Th3 effort to form a company here failed ; and no arrangement was 
 eSTeoted with the soldiers of other towns. But the spirit of the young 
 men was up, and they sought connection with companies and regiments 
 elsewliere. Among the first to enlist were the following, viz: Theodore 
 K. Parker, Edwin A. Pollard, J. Hervey Taylor, Harrison A. Crocker, 
 George H. Boston, Henry S. Pierce, Frederick Maynard, George A. 
 
484 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 Bruce, Charles F. Pope, Isaac Hadley and Henry Partridge. Some 
 if not all of these, at first joined a company in Ashburnham ; but soon 
 left it, and became members of Co. D, Capt. Savage, in the Second Reg- 
 iment, under command of Col. Gordon. Much interest in these young 
 pioneers was felt by all — men, women and children. ThOy were re- 
 garded as the advance guardJp'the town, and the hopes and prayers, 
 as well as fears and anxieties of the people, went with them. The fol- 
 lowing letter is inserted here at length, because it expressed the gen- 
 eral thought and sympathy of the community at the time. It will al- 
 so furnish some interesting facts in regard to the action of individuals 
 and societies in behalf of the soldiers. 
 
 WiNCHENDON, May 27, 1861. 
 
 » To Messrs. Parker, Pollard, Taylor, Crocker, Boston, Pierce, Maynard-i 
 Bruce, Pope, HaSLey, and, any others, who may he members oj Col. G!o*« 
 don's regiment, from this town : * 
 
 Gentlemen and Friends: — 
 
 I have felt a very strong desire to visit you in your camp at 
 West Eoxbury, before you leave for the seat of war. But as I cannot do this, 
 I yield to the request of others, and to the impulses of my own heart, in writ- 
 ing you a letter, which I trust you will receive as coming from a friend, who 
 respects and honors you for enlisting in this necessary and sacred war, and 
 who earnestly desires your highest welfare. 
 
 While conversing with Dea. Parker, on Saturday, in regard to addressing 
 this letter to you, it seemed to me that before doing so, an effort ought to be 
 made to see if our citizens would not do something to show then interest in you,', 
 who are to be our brave representatives in the field of strife. Accordingly,- 
 notice was given in Church, yesterday, that a prayer-meeting would be held 
 in the Congregational Lecture Room, at half-past five, in behalf of our coun. 
 try, and especially of the young soldiers who belbng to this town, and it was 
 stated that measures would be proposed for raising a contribution in their be- 
 half. 
 
 At the appointed time, there was a full meeting, composed of citizens of va- 
 rious denominations, and it was a season of great interest and solemnity. Ear- 
 nest prayers were oflfered that you, our young fellow-townsmen, might be faith- 
 ful and courageous in all miUtary duties ; that God would shield you in the 
 day of battle, and that you all might be led to put your personal trust in the 
 Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 The following resolutions were then read and unanimously adopted, after 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 485 
 
 remarks by Dr. Godding, Dea. Butler, Dea. Parker, Messrs. G. S. Whitney, 
 0. Mason, H. 0. Clark, J. H. Fairbank, Harvey Wyman and myself. 
 
 "Resolved, That we honor the young,men, our fellow-townsmen, who have 
 gone forth from, among us, to engage in the war that has been forced upon us 
 iy the enemies of freedom. . . * 
 
 i ^Resolved, That as a proof of our sympathy, we will raise a subscription in 
 their behalf as a partial remuneration for the expenses they have already in- 
 curred; that they may be able, in some measure, to mitigate the rough hard- 
 Bhipsof the camp. mk 
 
 ^jResolved, That we mil remember them when we invoke the blessings of 
 Heaven on ourselves, and pray that God would ever have them in his holy 
 keeping. 
 
 Resolved, That Messrs. H. 0. Clark, Harvey Wyman, J. H. Fairbank, 
 G. B. Parker and Nelson Wyman, be a committee to collect funds, to be ap- 
 propriated as follows, viz : five dollars to be given to each of the soldiers, and 
 the remainder — ton dollars for each, more or less, — to be put into a common 
 fund and deposited with some officer of the regiment who may be designated 
 by our volunteers, and who shall disburse the same as their wants may require. 
 1 Resolved, That the volunteers be desired to make known their wants, as 
 tfley may arise hereafter, to the above committee, and that they may be assured 
 that these will be promptly attended to by their friends at home. 
 
 i jReSolved, That Dea. G. B. Parker be hereby requested to visit camp An- 
 drew, and convey to our friends, the volunteers, the money which shall be 
 raised, and whatever other articles may be sent by him, at our expense." 
 
 These ressiutions were passed with an earnestness which would have cheered 
 yon if you had been present, and I believe they express the general feeling of 
 the town. , ^Immediately after the close of the meeting, the committee entered 
 on their work, and received twenty-six dollars on the spot. They have con- 
 tipued their exertions to-day, with the following result. 
 
 .As the people were passing out, several young ladies, recently members of 
 the High School, asked me if it was too late for them to do something: I 
 told them it was not, and that if they would prepare some handkerchiefs, tow- 
 els, and articles of that sort, I presumed they would be kmdly received. * 
 Whereupon they made their plans, and this morning, they have made up the 
 package of articles which Dea. Parker will deliver to you. They would glad- 
 ly do more, but the time is short, and they do not know your wants. I need 
 not mention their names, because all the girls in the town participate in the 
 feelings which have prompted those whose busy fingers have prepared this 
 
486 HISTORY OP WINOHENDOIT. 
 
 I ought to mention that some weeks since, the ladies of the Methodist So- 
 ciety Toted to work in behalf of the soldiers, when there should be a call upon 
 them, and also that the Ladies' Benevolent Society of the Orthodox Church, at 
 their last meeting, passed a similar vote ; but as they did not know of your 
 plans tefore. your leaving home, nothing could be done. 1 may add that the 
 latter Society purchased the articles sent herewith, and that the young ladies . 
 prepared them for use. 
 
 These facts, gentlemen, are detailed at such length,, that you may be as- ' 
 sured of the deep and universal sympathy of the peopyM the town in you ^ 
 as the soldiers who have gone forth to represent ns in tHe great contest which 
 has been so wickedly brought upon our beloved country. We feel that you 
 are going to engage in a wai for government against revokUion and anarch/, i 
 ior freedom against slavery, for civilization against barbarism, and for the ;. 
 christian religion in opposition to a religion of caste. It is a holy war to which ,3 
 we are imperatively called by the providence of G-od, and we want you to en- ; 
 ter into it, not rashly, not with -the spirit of bloodshed and plunder, but as th%." 
 friends of good government, and the servants of the Most High. 
 
 Thinking you may have leisure moments for reading, we have requested 
 Dea. Parker to call at the book-store of the Tract Society in Boston, and pro- 
 cure a quantitiy of the books which have been expressly prepared for the sol- 
 diers, and which are highly approved by Pres. Lincoln, Sec'y Cameron and 
 Gen. Scott. We hope that you will read the.'ie, as well as the Holy Bible, 
 because we believe that the truth of God, if heartily received, will not only 
 render you more valiant in the field, but will make you wise unto salvation. 
 
 I know it will not pain you to hear that earnest prayers are ofiered^n your 
 behalf, in all our meetings ; that you are affeetionately remembered when fam- 
 ilies bow around the family altar, and that many men and women seek the 
 divine blessing for you when they are alone with God. 
 
 I need not say that I have had a strong interest in you all, from the begin- •.. , 
 ning of the effort made to raise a company in this town. Your disappoint- 
 ment was keenly felt by me. My heart prompts me to take the field with 
 you, if that course were for the best. But as it is not for me be to with you in 
 person, I shall follow you, step'by step, in spirit.' I shall contemplate you as 
 faithful in all the duties of the camp ; temperate in all your habits ; fittentive 
 to all the religious services of the Chaplain, and stout of heart in the field of ■ 
 bloody strife. I shall pray for you, that you may all, at once, give up your^ 
 selves to Jesus Christ, to be his servants; that you may have true repentance 
 for your sins ; that you may be ready for death at any moment, through faith 
 in him who died to save all who love him ; and that you may have the bles- . ,,. 
 sing of the Lord of Hosts in all your labors and sufferings in the defence of 
 our glorious Union. 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 487 
 
 I shall be glad to greet you when you retnm from the war, if God shall 
 grant us that happiness ; but if you never return, I assure you that your mem- 
 opes will be cherished, and your names shall be held in lasting honor." 
 
 The articles above specified, were gratefully received by the soldiers, 
 not merely on account of their value, but chiefly because they evinced 
 the esteem and approbation of the fair donors. Before the regiment 
 left for the seat of war, most of the above named soldiers came home to 
 take leave of their friends. Two of them, in behalf of the whole num- 
 ber, called on the writer of the letter, and expressed their gratitude and 
 that of their comrades, for the gifts and the words of cheer which they 
 had received. One of these was Mr. Parker, who entered the service 
 a private, and came out, after the triumphant march of Sherman, a cap- 
 tain ; the other was Mr. Maynard, who fell dead on the second day of 
 the battle at Gettysburg, in consequence of his dauntless courage, which 
 unpelled him to attack the assailants in front of the line. No braver 
 man fell on that decisive 'day. The soldiers whose names have been 
 mentioned above, with perhaps one exception, did good setvice. Far- 
 ther particulars respecting them will be given in subsequent pages. 
 
 The following entered the service in June of this year, for the term 
 of three years. William S. Hersey, John Taylor, William T. Wells, 
 joined Co. C, Sixteenth Regiment, Capt. L. G. King. 
 
 SECTION 5. — VOLUNTEERING. 
 
 On the fourth of July, 1861, a town meeting was held, Dea. John 
 Cutter being Moderator. The town voted : 
 
 "That the Selectmen be instructed to carry out the provisions of chapter 
 222 of the the Acts of 1861." 
 
 The 222d chapter relates to " aid of the families of volunteers," &c. 
 As ;it promoted volunteering, this is the proper place to cite one of its 
 Sections. It reads as follows : 
 
 " Sect. 1. Any town or city may raise money by taxation, and, if neces- 
 sary, apply the same, under the direction of their selectmen, or mayor and 
 aldermen, or city council, for the aid of the wife, and of the children under 
 sixteen years of age, of any one of their inhabitant^, who, as a metpber of the 
 volunteer militia of this State, may have been mustered into or enlisted in the 
 service of the United States, and for each parent, brother or sister or child, 
 trho, at the time of hi^ enlistment, was dependent on him for support." 
 
488 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 At a town meeting held on the 14th of September, Calvin R. Whit- 
 man being in the chair, it was voted : 
 
 "That the town authorize the Selectmen to pay out of the money raised 
 for contingent expenses, to families of volunteers, the following sums : one 
 dollar per week for the wife, and one dollar per week for each child under 
 sisteen years of age, that was dependent on said volunteer for support at the 
 time of his enlistment ; provided, that the whole sum does not exceed twelve 
 dollars per month to any such inhabitant." 
 
 At this time the list of persons liable to enrollment in the Militia of 
 Massachusetts, contained four hundred and eighty-three names. The 
 names of those who volunteered, with their Co. and Reg't, are here in- 
 serted. The first named enhsted in July, and their term expired in 
 July, 1864. In Co. B, Thirteenth Regiment, Capt. Simonds, were 
 the following, viz : 
 
 Amable Beaudry, 
 William E. Bailey, 
 Robert Bruce, 
 ]!fap. B. Bruce, 
 Edwin Chase,. 
 Andrew Fisher, 
 Seth R. Fisher," 
 E. B. HartweU, 
 Wm. W. Holman, 
 Chas. W. Kendall, 
 Edward S. Kendall, 
 Oscar A. Kendall, 
 '^^5'rahcis H. Loud, 
 , Henry C. Lowell, 
 Winthrop Maynard, 
 
 Joseph B. Matthews, 
 Charles I*i Pope, 
 Andrew Riley, 
 Abram Scott, 
 Elijah M. Scott, 
 Walter D. Scott, 
 Stillman Safford, 
 Fred. C. Stewart, 
 Charles A. Stevens, 
 William B. Taylor, 
 George S. Taylor, 
 Horace H. Wyman, 
 Enoch Whitney, 
 Benjamin Whitcomb." 
 
 In Co. A, Twenty-first Regiment, Capt. Bradford, were the follow- 
 
 mg, VIZ : 
 
 George W. Bradish, 
 Jacques Gowing, 
 Stephen Miller, 
 
 George E. Cook, 
 Augustus E. Houghton. 
 
 John Welch was a member of Co. D in the same Regiment. In Co, 
 G, same Regiment, were the followiag volunteers from Winchendon, un- 
 der command of Capt. A. A. Walker, viz : 
 
 Patrick Brabston, 
 Charles A. Crayton, 
 Andrew J. Flagg, 
 
 Patrick Finton, 
 George B. Gorman, 
 Henry Haskell, 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 489 
 
 George H. Matthews, 
 Jerome L. Stevens, 
 Robert N. Shaw, 
 James S. Stratton, 
 Josiah T. Town, 
 
 Herbert E. Weston, 
 John Wells, 
 Edwin Wells, 
 Thomas Wells, 
 Eichard M. Whitney, 
 
 In Co. F, Twenty-first Reg't, was J. Henry Lake ; in Co. I, Eight- 
 eenth Reg't, was Albert Gr. Nuttbg ; m Co. — , Ninth Regiment, was 
 Martin McCabe ; in Co. L, Seventh Cavalry, was George Thomas ; in 
 Sharpshooters, was George L. Norcross ; in Co. C, Follett's Batttery, 
 was Daniel Norcross, and in Co. C, Twentieth' Regiment, was Frank 
 Sawtell. 
 
 The following volunteered later in the year, as September, October 
 and December, viz : Charles Bates, Otis Rice, Nelson Rice and Den- 
 nis Sullivan, in the Third Vt. Regt., whose time expired in September, 
 1864 ; Bverard Alger, George Brown 2d, Charles H. Stratton, John 
 Simonds, Albert H. Whitcomb and Sidney L. Reed, in Co. F, Twen- 
 ty-fifth Regiment, whose time expired in October, 1864 ; Jason L. Cof- 
 fin, S. Jones Hale and William Welch, in Co. C, Twenty-fourth Reg- 
 iment, Capt. Stevenson, whose term expired in Decembir, 1864. This 
 list comprises all, or nearly all, who enlisted in the year 1861. The 
 number is eighty. Perhaps others entered the service during this sea- 
 son, in some Massachusetts Regiment ; it is certain that some joined 
 Regiments in other States. 
 
 The first year of the war will ever be remembered as a year of dis- 
 aster. With partial success in some localities, the Union armies gen- 
 erally met with defeat. At Bull Run, after almost wiiming the day, 
 our forces were driven from the field in a shameful rout. The unex- 
 plained attack at Ball's BlufiE was repulsed with great loss to the loyal 
 troops. Several Of our men, in the Fifteenth Regiment were in this 
 fight, and sought safety by crossing the Potomac, in whose chilling wa- 
 ters many brave men found their too early grave. Horace H. Wyman 
 crossed the river safely, by wading and swimming. He was able 
 to help Col. Ward across. Elijah M. Scott was probably either killed on 
 the shore, or was lost in the river. There was mourning in some fam- 
 iUes, and anxiety in all. Meantime, busy fingers and liberal hearts were 
 engaged in providing for the comfort of the soldiers. Supplies of all 
 kinds, by various agencies, were sent to our men ; and the communi. 
 cation by letter was frequent. Thus active sympathy was kept up be- 
 
 31 
 
490 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 tween tho3» at home and their friends in the field. The expedition of 
 Burnside to North Carolina, which met hardship at every step, but which 
 was crowned with success, had several Winchendon men, who did their 
 duty with fidelity. But it is not possible or desirable, in this brief nar- 
 rative, to give a history of the war, or even of the regiments to which 
 our men were attached. 
 
 SECTION 6. — PRAISING TEOOPS IN 1862. 
 
 In the spring of 1862 it became evident that the rebellion could not 
 be put down, unless the government should put forth its strength with 
 greater energy than had yet characterized its movements. According- 
 ly, the President issued a call for three hundred thousand men, and the 
 requisition met a hearty response. But as business had recovered from 
 the paralysis which had seized it on the breaking out of the rebellion, 
 and as wages were higher, the services of the soldiers deserved increased 
 pay. Therefore bounties were resorted to, that those who remained at 
 home, might in a measure, share the privations of those who took the 
 field. A town meeting was held on the 19th of July, 1862, when it 
 was voted: 
 
 " That under the recent call from goTernment, for three hundred thousand 
 men, this town is called ttpon to furnish a certain number, in making up the 
 quota for this state That this town will pay to such men' as will enlist within 
 twenty days, to make up the required number, one hundred dollars each, in 
 addition to the bounty offered by government, to be paid as follows : $25, as 
 soon as the recruit is sworn into service, and $75 at the expiration of the term 
 for which he enlists, with interest from the true date of his being sworn into 
 service. And if the recruit prefer, the $75 shall be paid to his family, or to 
 those dependent on him for their support, by his order, at such times, and in 
 such sums, as the Selectmen may think required. In case of death, what is 
 due shall be paid to his heirs. Provided, if any volunteer prefer to receive 
 the whole bounty of $100 at, the time he is sworn into service, he shall be 
 paid accordingly." 
 
 The Treasurer was authorized to borrow a sum not exceeding f 5,000, 
 to c^rry out the above vote. At the same time, a committee was cho- 
 sen from the different districts, to act as a rallymg committee, to assist 
 the Selectmen in obtaining recruits : One from each district, and an 
 additional one in Nos. 2, 3 and 9, as follows : 
 
HISTORY OF WmOHENDON. 491 
 
 " District No. 1, Charles J. Rice ; 2, Bethuel Ellis, Williailli Murdock ; 
 3, A. W. Buttrick, H. O.Clark; 4, Nelson D. White; 5, SethMaynard; 
 7, Paul Raymond, Jr.; 8, John B. Brown ; 9, James Marsh, Jairus Hast- 
 ings; 10, Reuben Harris ; 11, Minot Patch." 
 
 On the 2d of August,a committee consisting of Alvah God<^g, James 
 Marsh and Giles H. Whitney, was chosen to provide speakers to address 
 the citizens of the town upon the subject of the war. The Hon. A. H. 
 Bullock spoke to a large audience, with characteristic force and per- 
 suasiveness. It was reported that tins town's quota of forty-eight men 
 had been filled by volunteers. 
 
 Another meeting was held on the 16th of August — Joseph S. Wat- 
 aon in the chair — ^when, on motion of Seth Tucker, it was voted : 
 
 ^' That this town will pay to each man that will enlist, within the next fifr 
 teen days, to make up the quota of this town, of the last 300,000 men called 
 for by the government, the sum of $100, upon their being sworn into service." 
 
 From this vote it may be inferred that the report in respect to the 
 filling of the quota had been premature. However, the men were raised 
 in time, and the town kept in advance of the demands lAiade upon it 
 throughout the war. The Treasurer was authorized to borrow, under 
 the direction of the Selectmen, a sum of money not exceeding $5,000, 
 to carry into effect the above vote. About this time a call came for 
 nine months men, in consequence of which a town meeting was held on 
 the 13th of September, when it was voted : 
 
 " To pay to each volunteer — an inhabitant of this town, — to fill a company 
 of nine months men from this town, under the last call of the government for 
 300,000 men, the sum of $100, upon their being sworn into the service of the 
 United States." 
 
 During this year the amount paid to the families of volunteers, was 
 $1,095,65. 
 
 The names of the men who volimteered during the year 1862, un- 
 der the calls specified above, with the date when their term of service 
 expired, here follows : In Co. I, Twenty-sixth Regiment, whose term 
 closed in February, 1865, were the following volunteers from this town, 
 via: 
 
 Baldwin, H. H., I Beal, Madison, 
 
 Ball, Jos. J. T., 1 Brooks, Levi W., 
 
492: 
 
 HISTORY OF WIircHBNDON-. 
 
 Clough,. Lewis V., 
 Elford, William, 
 Fitzgerald, Michael,. 
 Gowaa, George,. 
 Harwood,. Joseph Hi 
 Hyde, Alfred, 
 KnoW'Iton, Georggj 
 Lawrence, HoUghtonj. 
 
 Parks, Elwin A.,. 
 Powers, Henry, 
 Powers, "Warren, 
 Prentiss, Samuel H., 
 Kich, Jerome T., 
 Skwtell, Orcasto L., 
 Taylor, Eardley K, 
 Townsend, William. 
 
 The following were in Go. D^Tlurtieth.Regi,ment, and their termiex^- 
 pired in April, 1866 : David' Caswell^ Frederick Leland, Alson Nor- 
 cross, Gharlea Samson and John. Spalding. In. C0..D, Thirty-fourthi 
 Regiment, was Paul Psiro, whose terms expiredl in. August, 1866. In 
 Co. B, Thirty-second Regiment, was Whitney. Thompson;; term expu:ed 
 August, 1865. Wesley B. Baldwin enlisted in- the- Sixth Battery. 
 
 Company D', Thirty-sixth Regiment, whose term expired, in, Augjist, 
 1865 ,, had' the ■ f(dlowing. men, fromi Winchendon, viz ~ 
 
 Alger, Cyrus, 
 Allen, Austin B.!, 
 Bosworth, Henry E;^ 
 Breen, Peter, 
 Brooks, George W'., 
 Brown, Fiederiok M2,., 
 Byam, Charles ¥,^, 
 Chamberlain^ Stillman.F.,. 
 Chase, Daniel W., 
 Chase, William !>;, 
 Coburn, Mi Van Buren;. 
 C6mb8,,John L., 
 Gutter; JohnsC, 
 Damon, Theodore P.,. 
 Demary; John-M., 
 Felch, Samuel C, 
 Fisher, C. B5, 
 Foskett, Liberty W.,.. 
 Foskett, Wellington^ 
 Freneh, AdamE., 
 Gilman, Jeremiah^ 
 Godding,, Edward,. 
 
 Hale, Livesey B., 
 Hayden, Charles W.,. 
 Holmaui Albert G;, 
 Hale, S. B., 
 Howard;. Marcus M.,, 
 Lippit, Joseph,. 
 Morrill, Oscar, 
 Parker, GbrneliusG., 
 Partridge, Greenwood,, 
 Perry, .Francis Di, 
 Plummer, George E',, 
 Pbwers, Hiram E., 
 Eich,. J. MunroB; 
 Rich^ Robert TL, 
 Sawtell,.Aldenj 
 Smithj William 23,.. 
 Tatro, Marcus, 
 Tenny, James H., 
 Warner, Edwin T.,, 
 WTiitney, Franklin L. ,. 
 Wilder, B. Oliver, 
 Williams, Alfred-H. 
 
 The following erJistedundfertfie-call dated October 7, for, three-years. 
 
 Bruce, Robert,, Chiller, Frank, 
 
 Doyle, Luke, Farnum, William S.,- 
 
 Dunn, Isaac Jl, | Snow, Henry E. 
 
 Near the close of the yeail86S, the- Fifty-third Regim^tvof nine 
 
mSTDEY OS WINCHEIfDOlSf. 
 
 493 
 
 sffioniQis men was formed, and left for the Gulf of Mfexico, and the re- 
 gion of the lower Mississippi. In Co. H of this Regiment, were the 
 following men from Winchendon, viz : 
 
 Alger, Edward, 
 Baldwin, John, 
 iBeaman, William P., 
 Bickford, Leander E., 
 iBowker, Joseph, 
 Bryant, €r. Q. A,, 
 Buttrick, H. Newell, 
 Oarriel, Almon E., 
 €obum, Charles E,, 
 Fitzgerald, Patrick, 
 Flint, Eleazar, 
 Flint, William M,, 
 Cribson, A. A., 
 Gorman, Isaac, 
 Handy, Jonathan, 
 Harding, Darius H^ 
 Hartwell, John H,, 
 Hill, Josiah, 
 Hill, Theodore J., 
 Houghton, John M ., 
 Hubbard, Timot% F,, 
 Kinney, JohnO., 
 
 Mitchell, John, 
 Moore, Deiter, 
 Mosman, Orange, 
 McLennan, ©onald, 
 Nimms, Samuel H., 
 Norcross, Alson, 
 Noreross, Salmon A., 
 Packard, Freeman A., 
 Page, George, 
 Parks, Georga H^, 
 'Piper, George H., 
 Putney Charles, 
 Baymond, James A.-. 
 Beed, Sidney L<, 
 Smith, William J., 
 Stearns, Charles T-., 
 Sweetzer, Joseph, 
 Tatro, Charles, 
 Tatro, Le*pis, 
 Warren, Charles A-.-, 
 Wyman, John M. 
 
 Of the men from this town the following died before the close of the 
 jear 1862; viz : Levi W. Brooks, Theodore F. Damon, G. C. Parker, 
 "George H. Matthews, Josiah T. Towae, James S. Stratton, Thomas 
 Wells, J. Henry Lake, Albert G. Nutting, and perhaps others. The 
 Thirty-sixth Regiment was in the battle of Antietam, and our meii 
 shared in the peril and the victory. Stratton was conspicuous in the 
 •combats near Newborn, N. C, and fought like a tme soldier at Antie- 
 tam, where he was killed. Lake was killed at Chantilly, Sept. 27, 
 ■doing his duty. Matthews, equjdly faithful, was mortally wounded at 
 Roanoke, on the 8th of February. Others received wounds in the ser- 
 vice. 
 
 The bodies of several of those who had fallen in the field, or had died 
 by lingering disease in the camp, were brought home for burial. There 
 was a peculiar interest in the funerals, which were largely attended by 
 those who sympathized with the bereaved relatives, and who respected 
 the heroic dead. Much was done also in sending out supplies to the 
 
494 HISTORY OF WINCHEN&OK. 
 
 soldiers, who were always kept in ttougbtful remembrance while absent 
 at the post of duty and exposure. 
 
 SECTION 7. — ^RECOKD OF 1863. 
 
 At the March meeting it was voted " not to enforce the collection of 
 the poll tax assessed upon volunteers in the service, and that where 
 the poll tax has been paid, it should be refunded ; " and on the 27th of 
 April, it was voted, " that the Selectmen be instructed to render aid to 
 all such families of volunteers for which, under any law, the town may 
 be reimbursed by the State." This looks, on the face of it, as if the 
 money paid to the families of soldiers, cost nothing to the town ; but it 
 will be borne in mind, that the town was taxed to enable the State to 
 grant the " aid." The action of the State only served to equalize the 
 burden throughout the Commonwealth. At this date axty-five of the 
 enrolled militia were in the service of the United States. 
 
 At another meeting held on the 3d of November, the town voted "that 
 the Selectmen be instructed to pay and adjust the towm's proportion of 
 the tax created by virtue of chap. 218 of the Acts of 1863, in accord- 
 ance with sec. 9 of said Acts." 
 
 The amount of aid furnished to families of volunteers during the year 
 ending December 31, 1863, was $6,420.68. 
 
 After the Fifty-third Regiment sailed from New York for the south- 
 west, in January, there was but little volunteering in this town, except 
 as returned soldiers re-enHstcd. Among those who entered the service 
 a second time, were Jaques Gowing, Stephen Miller, Everard Alger, 
 John Simonds, Lewis V. Clough, Jerome T. Rich, George H. Parks, 
 and it may be others. 
 
 This was a year of mourning in many households. Among those 
 killed in battle were the following : Rollins E. Hartwell, a good soldier, 
 fell at Chancellorville, in May. Frederick Maynard sprang at the foe, 
 at Gettysburg, and was killed by a ball in his forehead, on the 3d of 
 Jtily. Elwin A. Parks was killed at Lafourche, La., on the 21st of 
 June. Others were killed either in this year or the next ; as Peter 
 Breen, S. B. Hale, Alden J, Sawtell. Timothy F. Hubbard was killed 
 by the fall of a tree, on the 23d of March. He was sitting in his tent, 
 between his friends Bryant and Stearns. He had been reading in the 
 Testament, and also a letter from his wife, which was still in his hand, 
 while a smile was on his face. The wind was high, a liiab was broken 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 495 
 
 from the tree overhead, and came crashing through the tent. It struck 
 Hubbard on the head, leaving bis friends unharmed. He died in a few 
 hours. 
 
 The number -who died in the army was large, especially of those be- 
 longing to the Fifty-third Regiment. Edward Alger died on the 19th 
 of July ; H. N. Buttrick, May 18 ; John Baldwin, May 2 ; D. H. 
 Harding, August 3 ; Josiah Hill, July 19 ; Theodore J. HiU, June 25 ; 
 D. McClennan, July 2 ; Charles Putney, August 24 ; James A. Ray- 
 mond, February 19 ; William J. Smith, March 26 ; John M. Wyman, 
 May 20. Members of other Re^ments died at the following dates : 
 George E. Plummer, November 16 ; Hiram E. Powers, September 23 ; 
 George Knowlton, May ; Leander E. Bickford died at home. May 18. 
 Probably others died this year. 
 
 The liberality of the citizens in raising money and sending out sup- 
 plies to their friends in the field was praiseworthy. Besides, contribu- 
 tions were frequently made to the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, 
 in promoting the same object. The amount given in these and other 
 ways, will be summed up in another place. 
 
 Under the call for nine months men, as might have been related in 
 the record of the preceding year, a strong effort was made to form a 
 Winchendon company. As the Regiment to which it belonged did not 
 sail until the beginning of this year, it is not out of place to refer to the 
 subject in connection with this year's events. By a union with men 
 from JIubbardston and Warwick, and a few from Phillipston, a Com- 
 pany was formed which was called the Winchendon Company. Half 
 or more of the members were from this town. J. B. Sawyer was cho- 
 sen captain, and A. A. Gibson, first lieutenant. Several of the non- 
 commissioned officers belonged here, so that Co. H was mainly officered 
 by Winchendon men, and the interest and pride of the citizens were 
 enlisted in its fortunes. But it so happened that its commissioned of- 
 ficers, through aU the time of service, were all from other towns. Capt. 
 Sawyer resigned, and Lieut. Lymaa Woodward of Hubbardston, was 
 chosen in his place. Mr. Gibson was chosen first lieutenant, and then 
 resigned, when George E. Priest of Watertown, was chosen. Russell 
 Carruth of Phillipston, became second lieutenant. The first serjeant 
 was Oren Marcan of Hubbardston ,but on account of his ill health, the 
 duties were performed by Charles T. Steams, second serjeant. This 
 
496 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 result was the source of regret, but it was mitigated by the fact that 
 the officers were competent, and had the confidence of the men. The 
 company went into camp at Groton Junction, in October, 1862 ; sailed 
 for New York on the last of November, and after a tedious delay, in 
 cold and wet, in that city, embarked, early in January, 1863, on board 
 the Mississippi, for the Gulf of Mexico. There was however so much 
 sickness among the men, it was deemed prudent to put them on shore. 
 In about a fortnight, that is, on the 16th of January, the Regiment 
 shipped in the steamer Continental for New Orleans. They had a rough 
 passage, in which they suffered much from storms of wind and rain, as 
 well as from fire and sickness, in close quarters, but reached New Or- 
 leans on the last day of January. From that day, till they started for 
 home, via the Mississippi, and the northern railroads, the company was 
 in constant service, and took part in several conflicts. They had the 
 pleasure of seeing Port Hudson fall on the 8th of July. In the siege, 
 Co. H, in common with the Regiment, was exposed to imminent peril, 
 and rendered efficient service under fire ; but lost not a single man in 
 action. 
 
 The government being in need of more troops, and the volunteers 
 coming in slowly, resort was had to conscription. An Act was passed 
 by Congress for recruiting the forces of the United States, and a new 
 enrollment of men liable to do military duty, was ordered. The enroll- 
 ing officer for Winchendon was Hon. Giles H. Whitney. The enroll- 
 ment was ordered for July 1, 1863. The enrolled men were divided 
 into two classes. The first included all between twenty and thirty-five 
 years, and the unmarried men and widowers between thirty-five and for- 
 ty-five. The second class comprised the married men who were more 
 than thirty-five but under forty-five years of age. The number required 
 of Winchendon was eighty-three . f these , only one man went into the 
 service, viz : Sidney N. Smith. Twenty-four others were found, on 
 examination, to be qualified, but they paid the commutation fee of f 800, 
 and were not required to take the field. The remainder, being fifty- 
 eight, were aliens, or disabled, or had relations dependent on them, and 
 so were not liable to do military duty under the call. The following 
 are the names of those who paid the required $300. Some of them 
 found it difficult to raise the money and they deserve due credit, because 
 the fee was their direct contribution for the preservation of their country. 
 
HISTORY OP -WINCHENDON. 497 
 
 Adams, Walter R., 
 Aldrich, Marcus, 
 Baldwin, Marcus M., 
 Brown, Frederic P., 
 Childs, Andrew A., 
 Dray, Edward, 
 Dunn, Josiah J., 
 Hayward, Charles B., 
 Kemp, Horatio J., 
 Nutting, Wm. H., 
 Plummer, Charles W., 
 Parks, Wm. M., 
 
 Parker, Samuel W., 
 Rice, Charles J., 
 Robbins, Amos D., 
 Shaler, Adam M., 
 Sibley, Charles, 
 Sibley, Delano H., 
 Stevens, Charles A., 
 Streeter, A. W., 
 Sullivan, Patrick, 
 Wilson, Edward E., 
 Wilson, Milton A., 
 Woodward, Amos. 
 
 Under the call of October 17, 1863, the following men enlisted, viz : 
 Robert Bruce, Luke Doyle, Isaac J. Dunn, Frank Chiller, Wm. 0. 
 Farnum, and Henry E. Snow. Famum was not accepted, and Snow 
 ran oflf", leaving four to enter the service. 
 
 SECTION 8. — aECRUITINQ IN 1864. 
 
 At the annual town meeting, March 7, 1864, it was voted to raise 
 $2000, State aid, for the families of volunteers. 
 
 Meetings of citizens were held in April, May and June, to raise money 
 by subscription, with which to procure men, — ^residents or otherwise, — 
 to fill out the quota of the town. This statement explains the following 
 action of the town. 
 
 At a regular town meeting held on the 26th of April, it was voted 
 " to raise $4,100, to be applied, under the direction of the Selectmen, 
 in reimbursing individuals for money already contributed and paid, in 
 aid of, and for the purpose of procuring its proportion of the quota of 
 volunteers in the military service called for from this Commonwealth, 
 under the order of the President of the United States, dated October 
 17, 1863, and February 1, 1864 ; and that the money be assessed up- 
 on the polls and estates of the inhabitants and non-residents of the town, 
 and paid into the treasury as other taxes are paid." 
 
 On the 30th of July the town instructed the treasurer " to borrow a 
 sum of money not exceeding 17000, to be applied under the direction 
 of the Selectmen, to pay one hundred and twenty-five dollars for each 
 man apphed to the quota of the town since March 1, 1864." 
 
 The war expenses for the year 1864, were $9,677.62. 
 
 The greater part of the soldiers secured this year, were procured 
 through brokerSj at considerable expense. It is impossible to state ex- 
 
498 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 actly how many men were obtained, or what was paid for each, as no 
 record was kept by the town, and the papers of committees are in a 
 chaotic state. The raising of money, and the procuring of men, were 
 done by committees chosen at meetings of the citizens. The money 
 raised thus by subscription, was afterwards refunded by the town, ex- 
 cept about $5,000.00. The men were not obtained at uniform prices. 
 
 One lot of twenty cost $95.00 per man, or $1900.00 ; four others 
 cost $110.00 each, or $440.00. Some cost $125.00, and others still 
 $250.00, or more. All possible efforts to secure accuracy have been 
 made ; the results as to men and money raised to obtain them, will be 
 given on a subsequent page. 
 
 It should be stated that the meetings held in the spring and early 
 summer of 1864, were frequent, and the committees chosen were effi- 
 cient. These meetings were presided over at different times by Har- 
 vey Wyman, 0. Mason, and Giles H. Whitney. John D. Howard was 
 Secretary, and he has kindly shown me the records of the proceedings. 
 The committee men chosen at different times to carry out the designs 
 of the meetings, were Orlando Mason, Bethuel Ellis, John H. Fair- 
 banks, James Marsh, G. W. Converse, Charles A. Loud, George M. 
 Whitney, Archus S. Kimball, William H. Grant, John 0. Kinney, 
 Levi M. Parks, A. H. Britton, C. J. Bryant, and George B. Ray- 
 mond. Mr. Converse acted as treasurer for receiving subscriptions'. 
 At a citizens' meeting held about this time, — date not recorded, — the 
 following report was made by a committee. 
 
 " Your committee recommend that each enrolled man pay a sum not less 
 than fifteen dollars for the purpose of procuring forty-five men, more or less. 
 That a subscription be taken up, and a paper be presented to each enrolled 
 man, as well as all others, on or before Tuesday evening next. 
 
 They also recommend that the sum of $5,625.00 be raised by taxation, in 
 order to secure the above-mentioned forty-five men, provided the like sum be 
 raised by subscription. 
 
 Voted to accept and adopt the report." 
 
 It was deemed just to ask the enrolled men for a subscription, and 
 one larger than the average on the whole of the citizens, because they 
 would thus be released from the necessity of going into the field. 
 
 The number of men recruited, (most of them by the agency of bro- 
 kers,) during the year 1864, was not far from fi%. The names 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 499 
 
 of &ose belonging to this town, with the date of enlistment, &c., here 
 follow : George H. Parks, veteran, Dec. 22, 1863, entered Fifty-sev- 
 enth Reg't. ; Isaac J. Dunn, January 4, 1864, Thirty-sixth Reg't ; 
 Sidney L. Reed, veteran, Jan. 26, Twenty-fifth Reg't. 
 
 The names of the remainder will appear in the full roll of soldiers on 
 subsequent pages. The recruiting officer was allowed |25 for each vet- 
 eran, and f 15 for each new recruit. The sum for the whole list was 
 $710.00, for which neither the Selectmen nor the committee ever re- 
 ceived anything but their expenses. 
 
 The year 1864 was one of toil and triumph. Sherman made his way 
 to Atlanta, and on to the Atlantic coast, fighting and driving back the 
 enemy at every step. Grant led his invincible hosts through the wil- 
 derness, and put them on the defensive in Richmond and Petersburg. 
 Thomas annihilated the army of Hood at Nashville. Everywhere on 
 the sea as well as on the land, our forces were victorious. In all these 
 successes our citizens felt the deepest patriotic interest; in some of them 
 the interest was personal also, because our men were engaged in them. 
 Our neighbors and friends endured the hardships of war. Some were 
 wounded ; some died of disease, and some were killed in battle. Hub- 
 bard H. Baldwin was killed in action on the 19th of September, and 
 Adam E. French on the 19th of June. Franklin L. Whitney was killed 
 in the same month. These and others, the date of whose death is not 
 ascertained, fell in the " high places of the field." George H. Parks 
 died at Annapolis, on the 19th of September. He was a good boy, and 
 a noble young man. An only son, it was hard to give him up, but his 
 sense of duty impelled him to enlist, at first in the Fifty-third Regiment. 
 He remained with it in Louisiana till compelled to come home. He was 
 discharged in May, 1863, and when he reached home, appeared like a 
 corpse that had been a week in the tomb. But he raUied, grew strong, 
 and pure love of the cause hurried him again into the field. He joined 
 the Fifly-seventh Regiment, Co. A, and was appointed serjeant. For 
 awhile he'acted as clerk of Col. Kimball, but preferred the severer duties 
 of the soldier. He was in the Wilderness, and endured its terrible 
 straggle. The day before the explosion of the mine at Petersburg, on 
 the 80 th day of July, he wrote home that he was sick, and should go 
 into hospital the next day. Instead of that, he was in the assaulting 
 column, and owing to the absence of officers, led his company into that 
 *" hell of horrors." He was taken prisoner, and carried to Danville. 
 
500 HISTORY -Ot WINCHEfflJOJr. 
 
 In Septeiaber te was exchanged and brought to Annapolis. Word came 
 that he was doing well, but sickaess in a rebel prison had been too much 
 .for his constitution. He died in a few days, ffis remains were brought 
 Tiome, and amid universal sympathy, were laid in our beautiful ceme- 
 tery. What is thus said of Parks, applies with more or less propriety, 
 to our other young heroes. They were willing oiferings on the altar rf 
 their beloved country, " They were swifter than eagles, they were 
 stronger than lions." 
 
 SECTION 9. — WINCHENDON HEN WHO ENLISTED OUT OF THE STATE. 
 
 Before closing up the story of the war, it seems best to insert the 
 names of residents of this town who joined Regiments belonging to oth- 
 er States. 
 
 In New Hampshire Regiments were the following : In €o. C, Sec- 
 ond Reg't, C. H. Lawrence, John M. Stea^ms ; in Co. A, Second Reg't, 
 Albert R. Bowen, Frederick A. Bowen, Frank Nash, Frank Peirce ; 
 iin Co. E., Second Reg't, Luther W. Forrest ; in Co. -^, Sixth Reg't, 
 Almon Nutting ; in Co. I, Third Reg't, John H. Hitchcock ; in Co. K, 
 Fifth Reg't, Lorenzo Cobum, 6reorge Goodall, Noah Paro ; in Co. — , 
 Sixth Reg't, Ambrose Butler, Enoch Nichols ; in Co. — , Ninth Reg't, 
 Henry W. Gla,rk. 
 
 In Verrtont Regiments were the following : In First Cavalry, Jo- 
 seph Hyatt ; in Co. — , Twenty-fourth Reg't, Wm. W. Peirce ; in 
 •Co. — , Seventh Reg't, W. H. H. Putnam. 
 
 The foflowing were in Connecticut Regiments : In Co. — , First Reg't, 
 E. W. Stocking, George Taylor ; in Co. — , Fourth Reg't, Clinton D. 
 Towns. 
 
 The fdlowing men were in New York Regissaents : In the One Hun- 
 dred Seventh Reg't, L. J. Wilkinson, Walter Wilkinson ; in the Nine- 
 ty-ninth Reg't, C. F. Brown, A. E. French, Samuel J. Lowell. Be- 
 sides these, George Thomas was, for some time, in the New York Cav- 
 alry. 
 
 Thomas Mitchell was a member of Co. M, Third Reg't Rhode Island 
 Heavy Artillery. 
 
 SECTION 10.— 'CLOSE OP THE WAR . 
 
 There was a call for additional troops on the l9th of December, 1864, 
 but it was not acted on until the opening of 1865. A subscription was 
 raised to obtain recruits. This was done by assessment, and none were 
 
HISTORY OF ■WnsrCHENBOIT. 501 
 
 asted to subscribe more than six dollars, though a fe^v gare more. 
 Over two hundred names are in the subscription book, and the amount 
 raised was $1122.00 ; but about three-quarters of this was refunded by 
 the town, leaving about f 27®.00 as the real sum. obtained by subscrip- 
 tion at this tinie. 
 
 At a town meeting held on the 30th of Januairy, 1865, rb was voted 
 " that the Treasurer be instructed to borrow a sufficient sum of money, 
 to be appHed, under the direction of the Selectmen, to pay a bounty 
 not exceeeEng #125.00 ij& each voJunteer necessary to fill the quota of 
 this town imder the- call of December 19, 1864." And ob the 6th of 
 March, it was voted " to raise money and appn^riate the same for the 
 rehef of the femiUes an^ dependents; of volunteer a" This, is the last 
 vote of the town in relation to raising soldiers for the war. The work 
 of recruiting was done, and the army and navy were giviag iske finish- 
 ing stroke to- the rebdlion. Terry an«J Porter took fcrt Fi'Aer early 
 in the y^ar ; Sherman marched north through the Carolmas ; Grant 
 pounded his- way into ISchmond and Pfetersburg, and the' wicked rebell- 
 ion was subdued. Our soldiers who were yet in the field soon returned 
 home, and there was geueral rejoicing. Before closing this section,, 
 howefver, it should be said that our quota had been read^' filled at 
 every caU ; and generally the town was in advance of the demands of 
 the gpvemmeait. Every requisition, had been promptly and cheerfully 
 met ; money had been raised freely; and the town paid its- way, with- 
 out ineumng large debts. It was wisely judged that it was easier to 
 pay when gold was at 280, thau when paper should approximate to par 
 value. Itia;to the-creditof thetownthat all the hea"vy burdens of the 
 war were borne vfithoutstinting the appropriations for other objects ex- 
 cept for a year or twSi. In 1862, the appropriation, far schools was 
 diminished, but by reason of the depresaon of wages^ the schools were 
 in session nearly up to the average time. By degrees- the sums raised 
 for schools and other purposes^ were brought up to the usual standard, 
 and before the war closed, the annual sum for schools was increased 
 more- th-an twenty-five- per cent. 
 
 SECTION 11. — A DAY CF KEJOICI-NG. 
 
 News of the capture of Richm(md and Petersbuisg reached town on 
 the third of April, 1865. This was rightly considered the harbinger 
 of peace, and the pledge of the speedy collapse of the rebellion. The 
 
502 HISTORY OP WINCHENDON. 
 
 next day, the fourth of April, was given up to general rejoicmg. There 
 was a procession of great length. The bells were rung, cannon were 
 fired, and happy congratulations were exchanged whenever people met 
 in the streets. 
 
 There was a meeting in the town hall, which was attended by a large 
 crowd. John H. Fairbanks was in the chair. Brief, spirited, pointed 
 speeches were made by Hon. Giles H. Whitney, Eev. Messrs. Marvin, 
 Best and Litchfield, and Messrs. H. Wyman, 0. Mason, G. S. Whit- 
 ney and Keuben Harris. All were applauded to the echo, because 
 the speakers expressed what was in all hearts. 
 
 After the meeting was over, there was a novel exhibition in the 
 streets, which, while it provoked laughter, was suggestive of grave 
 thoughts, and indicative of a mighty revolution accomplished. An 
 elegant coiach, drawn by two spirited horses, with a white driver, passed 
 along, and inside was seen a colored gentleman, painted up for the oc- 
 casion, riding in state. Yes, the war was over ; the rebellion was ended, 
 substantially. Slavery was dead ; a n6w civilization was begun at the 
 South ; our country was becoming homogeneous, and men could ride 
 in coaches without regard to race or color. Cheers greeted this little 
 pantomime. Volumes of meaning were crowded into it, and the whole 
 revolution was seen at a glance. With a touch of burlesque it mingled 
 the gravest truth, and betokened the most marvelous progress. In the 
 evening there was a general illumination, and the Village was in a blaze 
 of light from end to end. 
 
 On the 10th of April, word came flashing over the wires, that Lee 
 had surrendered the army of Virginia, at Appomattox, on the morning 
 of the ninth. The rejoicing broke out anew. Flags were raised, sa- 
 lutes were fired, and the bells were rung right merrily. On the follow- 
 ing Sabbath, thanksgivings to the Lord of Hosts were offered up m all 
 our churches. 
 
 SECTION 12. — COST OF THE WAR. 
 
 The pecuniary cost of the war of freedom and nationality, to the peo- 
 ple of Winchendon, is to be found by adding together the appropriations 
 made by the town for war purposes, and for " aid" to the soldiers' fam- 
 ilies ; the subscriptions of individuals to pay bounties, and furnish arms 
 to the soldiers ; the gifts of societies and personal friends, to provide 
 comforts for the men ; and the contributions to the Sanitary and the . 
 
HISTORY OF WINOHENDON. 503 
 
 Christian Commissions. Exactness cannot be attained in fixing the 
 amomit, but enough can be given to confer lasting honor upon the town. 
 The war expenses of the town are recorded, from year to year, in the 
 annual reports of the Selectmen and Town Treasurer. Large bounties 
 were paid to some of the soldiers. In some cases, these were raised by 
 subscription ; but the town refunded the sums thus raised, to a great 
 extent. Several thousond dollars were given to soldiers' families, year 
 by year, called " State aid." As this was refunded by the State, some 
 may hastily infer that the State aid cost nothing to the town. But the 
 town was taxed, in common with all the towns and cities in the Com- 
 monwealth, to raise the money by which the State aid was refunded to 
 the towns. As Winchendon is about an average town, in the matter 
 of taxation, the amount paid to soldiers' families was about equivalent 
 to what was received from the State Treasury. It will be safe, there- 
 fore, to give the amount paid- out to families, by the town Treasurer, aa 
 the real expense of the town for that object. Apd in the matter of boun- 
 ties, the sums voted in advance, are not to be taken, but the sums ac- 
 tually paid, as given in the Treasurer's report. Each report was made 
 at the March meeting, and related to the year closing on the last day 
 of the preceding December. 
 
 The expense m 1861 was all for State aid, and amounted to 11,095.65. 
 The expenses of the year 1862, were as follows : Bounties to eighty- 
 nine men, at flOO each man, 18,900.00 ; State aid, 14,707.60 ; Sun- 
 dries, $184.05. Amount for the year, $13,791.65. 
 
 Expenses of the year 1863 : Bounties for volunteers, $4,615.16 ; 
 State aid, $6,341.56 ; Sundries, $88.12. Amount for the year, $11,- 
 039.84. 
 
 Expenses for the year 1864 : Bounties for volunteers, $7,250.00 ; 
 State aid, $4,315.45; reimbursement of subscriptions, $4,100.00; 
 Sundries, $860.17. Amount for 1864,. $16,025.62. 
 
 Expenses in the year 1865 : State aid, $1,489.06 ; Sundries, $7.75. 
 Besides this, there were nearly $300.00 of a subscription not refunded. 
 Amount for the year, $1,796.81. The total amount during the war, 
 was $48,749.12. To this must be added about $5,000 of another sub- 
 scription, makmg the amount $48,749.12. The commutation money 
 paid by twenty-four men, at one time, at $300, each, amounted to $7,200. 
 The amount given by individuals to furnish arms to the soldiers, and 
 as private bounties, can never be ascertained. Several of the first to 
 
604 HISTORY OF WINCHENDOlSr. 
 
 enlist, were provided witli revolvers. Individuals, at different timei 
 added to the bounties oifered by the town, state or nation. As on 
 man, — Mr. Nelson D. White — gave not far from $300 in this way, 
 will be perfectly safe to set down the amount contributed for this pui 
 pose, as not less then f 1000. The amount thus far isrery near $56 
 949.12. 
 
 All the soldiers had personal fiiends and relatives, who sent aid i 
 various forms. The aggregate was large ; but of this no record can l 
 made, since there are no means of approximating to accuracy. More 
 over, the remains of many soldiers were brought home and buried, j 
 great expense. Of this expense, no account can be rendered. 
 
 Many visited the army at various times, and never went empty-hahc 
 ed. The sums contributed in this way were large, but there is no meai 
 of ascertaining the amount. 
 
 The yoimg ladies in the North CongTegationa! Church, the ladies i 
 the Methodist Church, and the ladies in the Centre, and a Society ( 
 ladies in Waterville, of which, in successive years, Mrs. C. P. Carpei 
 ter and Mrs. Wm. L. Woodcock were Presidents, and Mrs. A. D. Has 
 ings and Mrs. George Brooks, Secretary and Treasurer, did much t 
 relieve the wants of their friends in the field. A tTnion Society of li 
 dies from different sections of the town, met often in the town hall, an 
 by their labor, and the sums collected by them, and the avails of le( 
 iures, they gathered and reimtted supplies of great value to the so 
 diers, either directly, or through the Sanitary and Christian Commii 
 sions, or the Boston Tract Society. Of this Society, Mrs. Rev. B. I 
 Clarke and Mrs. Jacob Taylor were Preadents, Mrs. Elisha Murdocl 
 Treasurer, and Mrs. WilEam Brown, Secretary. The Vice Preaden 
 were Mrs. 0. Chamberlain, C. H. Marvin, Mary W. Godding, W. 1 
 Woodcock, Jdin Cutter, E. H. Townsend, George Brown, and 0. M; 
 son. There was a numerous, list of Directresses- and Collectors. Tl 
 Society was very efficient. The meetings were always opened wil 
 prayer, either by a clergyman or by a member. The amount raisei 
 and forwarded, estimated in money, was §1,079.39. The amount sei 
 by the Waterville Society was not less than flSO.OO. From the Cei 
 tre came about f75.00. Tot^, $1,304.89. 
 
 In addition, collections were taken up in the North Congregation 
 Church, on several occasions, not included in the above recital. Pas 
 ing over contributions for Kansas sufferers, in 1861, to the amount 
 
HISTOKT OF WINCHENDON. 505 
 
 9, and aid for the freedmen, at various times, amounting to $205.- 
 25, this Church gate in 1862, f 25.00 for aid of soldiers ; in 1863, 
 145.25, through the Christian Commission, and $30.00 through the 
 Tract Society ; in 1864, $90.00 through the Sanitary Conmiission, and 
 tlirough the Christian Commission, $156.33 ; in 1865, $35.00 through 
 the Sanitary Commission, and $70.68. The amount is $352.26.' 
 
 In May, 1864, a meeting was held in the town hall, and a commit- 
 tee was chosen to " collect funds for the benefit of the soldiers from this 
 town in the field, and for the Christian Coromission." For the soldiers 
 they collected $521.00, besides stores, and for the Commission, $98.50. 
 Total. $620.00. 0. Mason, John H. Fairbank and H. E. Weston were 
 chosen a sub-committee to disburse the fund. Mr. Weston was appoint- 
 ed treasurer. Of this sum, $389.83 were given to soldiers in the field, 
 or to aid their friends at home. The balance, $230.17, is in the Savings 
 Bank, and may be used as " aid" to soldiers, or for a monument. 
 
 The amount raised by the town and by subscription, 
 as bounties, state aid, &c., for war purposes was $55,949.12 
 
 Private bounties, not less than l,000.p0 
 
 Contributions by ladies' societies, citizens, churches ,&c., 2,276.65 
 
 Total, $59,225.77. 
 
 SECTION 13. — NUMBER 01" SOLDIERS, CASUALTIES, &C. 
 
 The number of soldiers which Winchendon was required to furnish, 
 through the war, was between three hundred and seventy and three hun- 
 dred and eighty. The exact number, after inquiry in-every quarter, 
 cannot be ascertained. The number of men who went into the field, 
 from this town, in Massachusetts regiments, and in the regular army, 
 including volunteers and drafted men, was — very nearly — two hundred 
 and fifty-five. 
 
 The number who re-enlisted, and were therefore counted twice, was 
 about twenty. 
 
 The number of colored recruits, entered in the name of some citizen 
 of Winchendon, was four. 
 
 The nmnber who joined regiments of other states, some if not all of 
 whom were counted in the quota of this town, was twenty-seven. 
 
 The number obtained through the intervention of brokers was fpriy-two. 
 
 The number of Massachusetts men m the navy who were counted in 
 
506 HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. ,, ^ , 
 
 this town's quota, was about sixteen. The whole number is three hun- 
 dred and eighty-eight. 
 
 In addition it should be said that Roswell M. Shurtleff, whose home 
 was here almost up to the beginning of the war, was first heutenant and 
 adjutant in the Naval Brigade, known as the Ninety-ninth N. Y. Vols. ; 
 was wounded and captured while on scouting duty, near Bethel, Va., 
 July 9, 1861 ; was returned on parole, Feb. 22, 1862, and was on du- 
 ty at Camp Parole, Annapolis, more than a year. 
 . Corporal Henry Eddy Chase, son of Mr. Archibald Chase, was in 
 Battery G, Rhode 'Island Light Artillery. He was killed instantly, 
 October 19, 1864, at the battle of Cedar Run, when Sheridan annihi- 
 lated the forces of Early. A letter from his captain speaks of him in 
 the highest terms as one who " performed his duty faithfully, and was 
 loved by every one." 
 
 Edgar Pitkin, son of Mr. Harry Pitkin, was a native of this town, 
 and was educated in our schools. At the outbreak of the war he was 
 in a lawyer's office in Burlington, Vt., but he felt an irrepressible de- 
 sire to enter the service. He first served as private in the thre6 months 
 volunteers ; he then received the appointment of adjutant in the First 
 Regiment Vermont Cavalry, and under Gen. Banks, distiaguished him- 
 self at Orange C. H., Culpepper C. H., and at Winchester. 
 
 Being mustered out of service, he received a good clerkship in the 
 treasury office, at Washington, but his heart was in the field, and he 
 enlisted in the Fifth U. S. Cavalry, declining to receive a commission 
 through political influence, but determined to merit it. He served as 
 Serjeant during Gen. Grant's campaign in Va., where he was wounded 
 in the ankle. He then took part in the brilliant career of Sheridan, in 
 the Shenandoah Valley, where he received a severe wound in the groin. 
 As soon as possible he hastened back to engage in active service but 
 died suddenly, on the 19th of February, 1865, at Camp Remount, 
 Pleasant Valley, Md. He had been recommended for promotion, and 
 would soon have received a commission. He entered the service under 
 the impulse of a noble patriotism, which ripened into christian heroism. 
 
 The following, are the names of those who were wounded, arranged 
 alphabetically, viz : 
 
 Ball, Joseph J. G., 
 Chase, Daniel W., 
 Clough, Lewis Y., 
 Crocker, H. A., 
 
 Hyatt, Joseph, 
 Matthews, Joseph B., 
 Parker, Theo. K., 
 Eeed, Sidney L., 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 507 
 
 Stratton, Charles H., 
 Sullivan, D., 
 "Wells, Wm., T., 
 
 Whitoomb, Benjamin, 
 Wilkinson, Leon J., 
 Wyman, Horace H. 
 
 The following soldiers died of disease or the hardships of war, either 
 at home, in the hospital,- or as prisoners, viz : 
 
 Alger, Edward, 
 Baldwin, John, 
 Baldwin, Wesley B., 
 Bickford, LeanderE., 
 Brabston, Patrick,- 
 Bradish, George W. , 
 Brooks, George W., 
 Brown, George, 2d, 
 Bruce, Eobert, 
 Buttriek, H. Newell, 
 Cobum, Lorenzo, 
 Damon, Theodore F., 
 Evans, Milo 0., 
 Fenton, Patrick, 
 Fisher, C. B., 
 Flint, Wm. M., 
 Gott, Orlando, 
 Harding, Darius H., 
 Hill, Josiah, 
 
 Hill, Theodore J., 
 Knowlton, George, 
 McLennan Donald, 
 Norcross, George L., 
 Nutting, Albert G. , 
 Parker, G. Cornelius, 
 Parks, George H., 
 Powers, Hiram E., 
 Putney, Charles, 
 Baymond, James A., 
 Samson, Charles, 
 Smith, Wm. J., , 
 Sweetzer, Joseph E., 
 Taylor, Eardley N., 
 Thomas, George, 
 Town, Josiah T., 
 Wells, Thomas, 
 Wyman, John M. 
 
 Here follow the names of those who were killed or mortally wounded. 
 
 Baldwin, Hubbard H., 
 Breen, Peter, 
 French, Adams E., 
 Hale, Samuel B., 
 Hartwell, B^llin E., 
 flubbard, Timothy F., 
 Lake, J. Henry, 
 Maynard, Frederick, 
 Matthews, George H., 
 
 Norcross, Daniel, 
 Parks, Edwin A., 
 Plummer, Gefirge E., 
 Sawtell, Alden J., 
 Scott, Elijah M., 
 Stratton, James S., 
 Whitney, Franklin L., 
 Wilkinson, Walter. 
 
 SECTION 14. — THE NEW ROLL OP HONOR. 
 
 The following pages contain the names, as far as can be ascertained, 
 of all who entered the service from this town, whether in Massachusetts 
 regiments, or the regiments of other states, in the regular army or the 
 navy, including those obtained through the intervention of brokers. 
 The names of those who paid commutation, are also inserted. Those ob- 
 tained by brokers are at the end of the list. 
 
508 
 
 HISTORY OF WmCHBNDON, 
 
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HISTORY OF WmCHENDON. 
 
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HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
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 HISTOET OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
 
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HISTORY OF WINCHBNDON. 
 
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HISTORY OF ■WINCHBNDON. 519 
 
 SECTION 15. — A DAY OP MOURNING. 
 
 The war was ended, virtually, though Johnson had not yet surren- 
 dered to Sherman, and Kirby Smith still held out in sullen rebelhon 
 beyond the Mississippi. By the capitulation of Gen. Lee, on the 9th 
 of April, the war for national existence and for the freedom of all the peo. 
 pie within the national jurisdiction, was triumphantly closed. The 
 loyal part of the nation was filled with rejoicuig. Just then an event 
 occurred which caused universal horror and mourning. On the even- 
 ing of April 14, the wise and good President, Abraham Lincoln, was 
 assassinated. After lingering a few hours, in an unconscious state, he 
 expired. The sad intelligence reached here early in the morning, while 
 he was yet alive. Soon the word came over the wires that he had 
 breathed his last breath. The story was told with tremulous Hps and 
 tearful eyes. A great grief fell upon the people. As the tolling bell 
 sounded out the awful event, all nature seemed in mourning. Sadness 
 was on every countenance. 
 
 In the evening, Saturday, April 15, a great meetuig was held in the 
 town hall. It was a spontaneous gatliering of the people, who felt im- 
 pelled to sympathize with one another in the universal sorrow. Hon. 
 Giles H. Whitney presided, and in appropriate words, alluded to the 
 death of our beloved chief magistrate. Rev. A. P. Marvin read selec- 
 tions from the Bible, and offered prayer. Remarks were made by Rev. 
 Messrs. Best, Litchfield and Marvin, and by Messrs. Reuben Harris 
 and Isaac M. Murdock. Historical parallels were inferred to in the 
 deaths of the great king Henry IV, of Prance, and the good prince of 
 Orange. Solemn dirges were played by the Band. The people hung 
 upon the lips of the speakers, as if they could not hear enough about the 
 good president. There was the feeling in all hearts as if a personal 
 friend had fallen. 
 
 The next day, being the Sabbath, all the houses of worship were 
 tastefully draped in mourning, and the services, including music, pray- 
 ers and sermons, had pathetic reference to the death of Mr. Lincoln. 
 The writer, on this day, and on other occasions, was called on to speak 
 at eight different times ; others addressed the people several times, and 
 yet there was a desire to hear. 
 
 The funeral of Mr.- Lincoln took place at Washington, on tha 19th 
 of April, and by a concerted movement, funeral services were held all 
 over the land, on the same day. In thisjVillage, the churches were all 
 open at twelve o'clock, M., and were all filled. After prayer, singing 
 
520 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 and remarks, in each, the procession started from the Baptist church, 
 led by the Band and the Alert Engine Company ; arriving near the 
 Congregational Church, the large audience, preceded by the Niagara 
 Engine Company, formed in the procession, and all marched to the 
 Methodist church, where a large number fell into line, and then proceed- 
 ed to the town hall. The committee of arrangements consisted of the 
 following gentlemen, viz : Orlando Mason, Baxter D. Whitney, John 
 Folsom, L. Wilkinson and Charles Loud. Mr. Mason was chief mar- 
 shal, and Messrs. Windsor N. White, James Marsh and William L. 
 Woodcock, assistant marshals. Capt. Ephraim Murdock was president 
 of the day. 
 
 Eight hundred persons were crowded into the hall, and many stood 
 outside the building. The order of exercises was as follows : 
 
 ■Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. A. P. Marvin ; 
 
 Prayer, by Rev. B. F. Clarke ; 
 
 Dirge by the Band ; 
 
 Addresses, by Rev. Edward S. Best, Hon. GUes H. Whitney and 
 Mr. Isaac M. Murdock; ♦ 
 
 Singing by the choir ; 
 
 Addresses by Rev. George A. Litchfield and A. P. Marvin ; 
 
 Singing by the choir ; 
 
 Benediction, by Rev. Mr. Colver ; 
 
 Dirge by the Band. 
 
 Though remarks were offered by so many different speakers, they 
 did not repeat each other. The subject seemed exhaustless, and the 
 great assembly held together till a late hour, as if bound by a sacred 
 speU. The conviction seemed to be general, that while the nation had 
 suffered an irreparable loss, still, the God of our fathers, who had sus- 
 tained us through a wicked rebellion, would watch over and bless us in 
 the future. Then sadly, yet hopefully, the people went to their homes. 
 A day never to be forgotten even by the youngest child present, had reach- 
 ed its solemn close. And a great epoch in history had been consecra- 
 ted by the martyrdom of the wisest and best actor in its memorable 
 scenes. 
 
 The following Hymn, composed for the occasion^ by Miss N. A. W. 
 Priest, — ^now Mrs. Wakefield — was sung on the occasion, and finds 
 here its appropriate place. It was sung by the vast audience, and the 
 choir, led by E. S. Merrill, Esq., to the tune " America." 
 
HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 521 
 
 FUNERAL HYMN. 
 
 " Oh God forever nigh, 
 
 Who hear'st the mourner's cry, 
 
 Incline thiae ear : 
 We mourn the noble dead. 
 Our nation's honored head ; 
 Come, and thine influence shed, 
 
 Our hearts to cheer. 
 
 For four long, weary years 
 Of darkness, 'doubts and fears. 
 
 He led our way ; . 
 He taught us faith and hope, 
 He shared our bitter cup. 
 He bore our banner up 
 
 In danger's day. 
 
 Now> when the sky grows bright 
 With victory's radiant light. 
 
 The nation weeps ; 
 Ah ! dreadful was the blow, 
 That laid our leader low, . 
 But while we bend in woe. 
 
 He calmly sleeps. 
 
 Rest sweetly, sainted dust ! 
 We will fulfill the trust 
 
 Imposed by thee ; 
 The land that holds thy grave. 
 The land thou died'st to save, 
 Shall never own a slave — 
 
 All shall be free." 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 This chapter is merely an account of what the town did in suppress- 
 ing the rebellion, and not a history of the individual soldiers who bore 
 a part in that great work. There is no space left for giving such a per- 
 sonal history, even if it were desirable to do so in a history of the town. 
 But it would be well if a separate volume should be prepared, in which 
 
 33 
 
622 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 the story of every soldier who represented this town in the great war 
 of freedom, should be narrated. The battles fought and the victories 
 won by them, in common with their comrades from other States, should 
 be recorded, in their honor, and for the credit of the town which sent 
 them forth. The volume should contain extracts from letters written 
 from the camp and hospital, to friends at home. Letters from oflScers 
 announcing the death of soldiers, would also find a place. If suitable 
 encouragement is given, such a work will, without doubt, find an au- 
 thor. 
 
 In conclusion, allusion must be made to another, though a kindred 
 subject. There should be a monument, not only on paper, but in stone, 
 to commemorate the patriotic heroism and devotion of the soldiers of 
 Winchendon. In one respect, the town has not yet idone all its duty. 
 She raised her fall quota ; she paid large bounties to the soldiers ; wid- 
 ows and orphans, made such by the war, have been generously provid- 
 ed for, by public vote, and private benevolence, but the town has nev- 
 er done anything directly to honor the soldiers. They had no recep- 
 tion on their return, and by no public act has there been a suitable rec- 
 ognition of their services. 
 
 It has been suggested by some, that a monument be erected, in some 
 suitable place, to commemorate those who died in the war. Others 
 have manifested a preference for a Memorial Hall, in which the names 
 of the soldiers who fell, should be inscribed on tablets, while the build- 
 ing could be used for other purposes. Another method could be taken, 
 which would answer the design admirably, and at the same time, meet 
 a public want. It is to erect a Memorial Chapel in the Cemetery, of 
 suitable proportions, and of enduring granite, on the walls of which 
 could be placed marble tablets, containing the names of the wounded ; 
 of those who died of disease or wounds ; and of those who were killed 
 in the war. In addition, the names of all those who entered the ser- 
 vice and came out tinharmed, should be inscribed, because they were 
 impelled by as noble a spirit, and did as much, amid the hardships of 
 the march and the fire and blood of the battle-field, in behalf of the 
 country, and of impartial freedom, as they who feU in the " high places 
 of the field." 
 
INDEX OF NAMES. 
 
 523 
 
 INDEX OP NAMES. 
 
 This Index contains all the names mentioned in the volume, except those in 
 the Introduction, and on the following pages, where they are arranged in col- 
 umns. See pages 33-35, 40, 43, 53, 89, 91, 101-103, 154, 155, 180, 181, 192-196, 
 261, 264, 293-297, 320, 346, 361, 362, 374, 375, 377, 385, 386, 410-420, 440, 445- 
 479 480 and 490, and the chapter on the War of Freedom. 
 
 Boynton, Pao», 77, 110,127, 138, 
 176, 293, 390. 
 " Stephen, 69, 89, 102. 
 Brace, Charles Ii., 214, 215. 
 Braokett, Prank A., 226. 
 Bcadish, James, Sen., 105. 
 " Jonas, 69, 245, 303. 
 " Jonas, Jr., 210, 253. 
 " Robert, Sen., 49, 69, 71, 
 72, 94, 105, 117, 118, 
 440. ' ' > 
 
 " Samnel, 87, 89, 102. 
 Bridge, Benjamin, 421. 
 
 " Branois, 47, 70, 73, 91, 
 94, 97, 99, 110, Ul, 129. 
 " Key. Josiah, 167. 
 " Major John, 172, 173. 
 Briggs, Go7., 257, 260. 
 Brigham, Abraham, 101. 
 Broadstreet, Joseph, 71. 
 Brooks, Joel, 273. 
 
 " Mrs. John A., 399. 
 " John, 103, 230, 231, 236, 
 245. . ' • > 
 
 " Levi, 103, 236, 237. 
 " Sumner, 343. ^ 
 Browne, John K., 226. 
 Brown, Albert, 67 , 87, 230. 
 " Alexander, 119. 
 " Amasa, 270. 
 " Amos H. 
 " Artemss, 428. 
 " Asaph, 231, 253. 
 " Benjamin, 74, 94, 97, 99, 
 
 117, 127, 136, 138. 
 " David, 71, 94. 
 " Elisba, 87, 89, 91. 
 " George,309, 368, 399. 
 " John, 46, 48, 146. 
 " John S., 366. 
 •' Bev. Joseph, 46, 69, 72, 
 121. 149, 152, 159, 161, 
 163, 165-174, 275, 286, 
 303, 312, 313, 318, 821- 
 323, 325, 442. 
 " Nathaniel, 71. 
 " Samuel,87,89, 143, 186, 
 
 230, 252. 
 " Sam'l, Jr.,186,262,401. 
 " Samuel, 2il, 347 . 
 " Rev. Sam'l W., 402,426. 
 " Silas, 402. 
 " Thomas, 41, 44, 49, 134. 
 " William, Esq., 200, 207, 
 210,212-214, 242, 253, 
 400, 402. 
 " William, 23, 222, 243, 
 
 306, 309. 
 " William, son of Samuel, 
 
 2d, 348. 
 " William, early settler, 
 53, 134, 364. 
 
 A. 
 
 Adams, Benj., 115, 173, 197, 198, 
 399. 
 •' « Jr., 399. 
 " John, 119,121,266,293. 
 " John Q., 256, 257. 
 " Joseph. 230, 367, 401. 
 " Oliver, 71, 248, 307, 378. 
 " Samuel, 80, 119, 120 121. 
 Aldrich, Amasa, 382. 
 " Harrison, 170, 372. 
 " S. C, 881. 
 Alger, Benjamin, 134, 138. 
 « C. 0., 141, 201, 214, 306, 
 
 306. 
 " David, 230, 237. 
 " George, 210, 211, 245, 306, 
 369. 
 Allen, Charles, 260. 
 
 " Jonas, 38. 
 AUyn, Qeorge H., 439. 
 Arnold, Eber, 407. 
 Ashley, W. W., 364. 
 Atherton, Dr., 74. 
 
 Backus, Quimby S., 438. 
 Bacon, Joseph, 124, 126. 
 Bailey, Richard, 68. 
 Baker, Samuel, 76. 
 Balcom, Daniel, 71, 110. 
 " Gideon, 186, 268, 360. 
 " Lincoln, 216. 
 Baldwin, A., 218, 364. 
 >' Elizabeth, 403. 
 « Josiah, 71. 
 " Loammi, 18. 
 « Samuel, 103, 398. 
 " Samuel,,Esq., 427. 
 Ball, Fhinehas, 210, 240, 245. 
 " " Jr., 210. 
 
 " Sullivan B., 289. 
 Bangs, Edward, 144, 174. 
 Barrett, Stephen, 101, 109. 
 " Thornton, 69, 105, 117, 
 140,341,396. 
 Bartol, Dr., 356. 
 Barton, Bezaleel, 91. 
 Barton, Rev. Mr., 324, 325. 
 Eateman, A. P., 380. 
 Bates, Rev. Lemuel P., 336, 336. 
 
 " Roger, 71, 89, 102. 
 Battles, Feleg, 235. 
 Beals & Bowker, 369. 
 " Stower, 238. 
 " Thomas, 71. 
 Besman, David, 186, 198, 233. 
 " Elisha, 214, 306, 347, 
 
 405. 
 " Gamaliel, 102, 365. 
 : " Bev. Q. C, 427. 
 « Josiah, 101, 136. 
 
 Beaman, WiUiam 222, 368, 369, 
 371, 372, 390, 396. 
 Becket, Bev. Mr., 330. 
 Belcher, Gov., 32. 
 Belknap, Mrs., 220. 
 Bemis, Jason, 74. 
 " John, 96-98, 100, 110, 
 
 186, 230. 
 « Reuben, 220, 273. 
 " Silas, 101. 
 Benjamm, Andrew, 398. 
 Bennet, Thomas, Jr., 210. 
 Bernard, Gov., 57, 69. 
 Berrin, Thomas, 44. 
 Berry, Thomas, 36, 38, 40-44, 
 
 47, 364, 429. 
 Best, Rev. Edward S., 347. 
 Bigelow, Chas. E., 427. 
 
 " Chas. W.,351,366, 367. 
 " Daniel, 172; 
 " Roger, 342, 366. 
 " Solomon, 61, 94. 110. 
 " Sarah P., 63. 
 " Thnothy, 173, 276. 
 Birney, James G., 259, 260. 
 Bixby, Adonijah, 110. 
 " Daniel, 57, 61, 62. 
 " Jonathan, 68. 
 " Levi, 68, 72, 110, 303. 
 ■' Nath'l, 61, 62, 136, 142, 
 " Stephen, 303, 406. 
 Blodgett, Nathaniel, 48, 53. 
 Boardman, Thomas, 34 40, 43. 
 Bolland, Benj., 91. 
 Bond, William, 277. 
 Bosworth, Alpheus, 
 " John, 341. 
 " Mrs., 46,341. 
 " OUverE., 343. 
 
 Bouton, Rev. Dr., 337. 
 Bowdoln, Gov., 109, 111, US, 
 
 119. 
 Bowers, Rev. Mr., 363. 
 Bowker, Asa, 103. 
 " Luther, 250. 
 h" Mrs. Aaron, 402. 
 " S., 241. 
 " Micah, 69. 
 Bowman, Tbadeus, 76, 89, 97, 
 276. 
 " T. H., 311. 
 Boyce, D., 381. 
 
 Boynton, Benoni, 46, 63, 61, 62, 
 136. 
 " Daniel, 127, 205. 
 " Ephralm, 61, 62. 
 " John, 26, 69, 70, 73, 
 80-82, 86, 93, 96, 97, 
 123; 124, 136, 152. 
 " Joseph, 26, 68, 97, 124, 
 126,129,187,141,160. 
 " Mrs. Daniel, 229. 
 
524 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON, 
 
 Brown, Wm., son of David, 400. 
 
 " Kev. Mrs,, 189, 191, 819. 
 
 " Mrs. Albert, 430. 
 
 " Mrs. Samuel, 399. 
 
 " Elder, 341. 
 Brace, Daniel I., 263. 
 
 " Dexter, 189, 439. 
 
 « Jonas, 302. 
 Bryant, Nathan, 404. 
 
 " Walter &., 404. 
 Ballard, Ct)arles,370. 
 
 " Ber. Malachi, 46, 213, 
 338. 
 Burbank, J.V. T., 378, 380. 
 Barge, Bev. Caleb, 330. 
 Burgess, 8. A., 422, 
 Burke, J. B., 331. 
 Bumham, Ber. Amos, 336, 348, 
 460. 
 
 " Nathaniel, 46, 61, 135. 
 
 " Keuben, 68. 
 
 " Simeon, 68. 
 Burneyman or Bormau, John &. 
 M., 305. 
 " " Chas., 306. 
 
 Burr, Aaron, 104. 
 
 " John, 76, 141, 157, 169. 
 Butler, t>ea. E., 27, 24^, 307, 343. 
 
 " Joel, 434. 
 Buttrick, A. W., 213. 
 
 a 
 
 Gain, Mr., 189. 
 Calhoun, John C. , 25S. 
 Cambridge, Mr., 365. 
 
 ^apron, , 400. 
 
 barter, John G., 225. 
 " Jonathan, 438. 
 " Levi, 70, 71. 
 " Simeon, 127, 205. 
 !ass, Lewis, 260. 
 laswell, Dairld, 201, 240, 367. 
 " Mrs, David, 78, 390. 
 ihamberlain,' D. C, 226. 
 " John, .69, 401. 
 
 " . Oljfl,355. 
 ihapman, Edward, 42. 
 !hase, Archibald, ,17^. 
 " Charles, 2?7, 234. 
 « Loring, 373. 
 " ■William, 348. 
 Iheesebrougb, Mr, Engineer, 18. 
 Iheney, John, 08, 70. 
 Iheshire, Mr., 272. 
 Ihipman, Bev, B. M,, 349, 360, 
 ihoate, John, 32, 33, 36. 
 
 " Stephen, 61. 
 Happ, Samuel, 349. 
 ' Hark, Bev. Elam, 184, 328. 
 « Eber 1., 176, 183-186, 
 
 210, 289, 313, 333-336. 
 " Bev., of Lexington, 319. 
 « Bev., 357. 
 " JuUus L., 333. 
 " H. C, 220, 404. 
 '• WaUaco B., 404. 
 Ilarke, Bev. B. P., 46, 218; 309, 
 
 " Miss Ursula £.,226. 
 Claaghlin, J. M., 406. 
 Clay, Benry, 256. 
 Clements, Wm., 91. 
 Coffin, Geo., 141, 173, 133-186, 
 839. 
 
 " &eo. S., 366. 367. 
 Cogswell, Wm., 36, 
 
 Colleater, Osgood, 350, 353. 
 Oonant, Zebulon, 70. 
 Connor, Mrs., 139, 343, 400. 
 Converse, O. W., 392. 
 
 " Mrs. EUea A., 374. 
 Cook, John, 366. 
 Cooledge, James, 94, 162. 
 Cooper, Bev. W,, 212, 341, 342, 
 Cowdin, Thomas, 247, 
 Cowee, B. Or., 349. 
 Craig, 49, 63, 62. 
 Crane, Wm., 343. 
 Crawfbrd, Wm. H., 266. 
 Crooks, Henry, 138, 143, 230. 
 
 " IJriah, 401. 
 Crosby, Elavel, 174, 230, 
 " John, 231, 387, 
 " Otis, 426, 
 " Sam'l, 75,109,113,119, 
 126, 136, 137, 139, 157, 
 172, 302, 424. 
 Crowley, Joseph H., 401. 
 Calvert, Elder, 342. 
 Cummings, Absina, 398. 
 " George, 339. 
 
 " Mrs., 103. 
 
 " Isaac, 232, 234, 237. 
 
 « Bev. Henry, 167. 
 
 Curtice, Abner, HI, 123, 133, 
 
 139, 140, 229, 301. 
 Cashing, Caleb, 260. 
 
 " Bev. Dr., 319, 324 325, 
 
 330. 
 " Bov.Mr., of Waltham, 
 319. 
 
 Thomas, 109. 
 Cutler, Dr. Wm. H., 206, 209, 
 
 424. 
 Cutter, John, 249, 271, 273, 304, 
 
 307, 339. 
 Catting, Bobert, 167. 
 
 Darling, Jewett B., HI, 142, 399. 
 " John, 46,61, 62,89, 97, 
 
 104. 
 " Samuel, 49. 
 ti Silas 49. 
 " Tiniothy, 49, 61, 82, 87. 
 Davis, John, 257. 
 Day, B. R-, 370. 
 " Daniel, 341, 402. 
 " OUman, 210, 221. 
 " John, 69, 87,89,95,97,98, 
 
 100, 104, 124. 
 " Joseph, 230. 
 " Mary, 402. 
 " Nathan, 87. 88, 369. 
 " Bichard, 45-48, 60, 63, 60- 
 64,147,303,313,316,339, 
 401, 429, 439. 
 Denison, J., ^. 
 
 " Maj. Gen., 42. 
 Denny, Mr., 366. 
 DivoU, Levi, 142, 428. 
 Doane, J. M., 392. 
 Dodge, Bev. Austin, 352. 
 " Geo. S., 387, 388. 
 " Samoel, 364. 
 Dcolittle, Col,, 88, 90. 
 Dorr, Bev, T, H., 218, 356. 
 Douglas, Stephen A., 260. 
 Dow, Lorenzo, 342. 
 Downe, Mrs., 122. 
 Downing, John, 41. [S57, 367. 
 Dunbar, John D., 272, 281, 282, 
 
 Dunham, Miss Jerusha, 406. 
 Dunn, Bev, Andrew, 213, 289, 
 841, 362-364, 
 " Jos!ahJ,,46, 229, 273. 
 Dunsmore, Dr., 422. 
 " John, 57. 
 
 £3 
 Eager, Paa,l 70. 
 Eddy, Mrs., 46. 
 
 " John 0., 213. 
 Edmands, Amos, 71, 142, 143. 
 
 " Artemas, 347/ 
 Ellis, Aaron, 105, 306. 
 
 « Asa 140. 
 
 " Bethnel,' 218, 222, 223, 
 307, 308. 
 
 " Daniels, 348. 
 
 " Jesse, 129. 
 Emery, Stephen, 110. 
 
 " Stephen, Jr.. 42S. 
 Epes or Epps, SlmondS, 68, 
 Estabrook, Joseph, 341, 
 
 '■ Bev. Joseph, 167. 
 Estey, John, 230, 238. 
 
 '' Oliver, 342. 
 Evans, Jonathan, 71, 228. 
 
 " Mrs. Keziah, 399. 
 Eveleth, Edward, 36, 41, 44, 134. 
 Everett, Edward, 257. 
 
 F 
 Fairbanks, Jabez, 30. 
 " John, 167. 
 " John H., 203, 222, 
 
 307, 308, 443. 
 " Levi N, 347, 401. 
 " Mrs. 0. P., 374, 387. 
 " Sidney, 201,223,809, 
 348, 366, 367, 378. 
 Far, Oliver, 241. 
 Farrar, Daniel, (lOO, 229, 235, 
 369. 
 " David, 142. 
 Fay, Elder, 342. 
 " Dr. Allen C, 212, 426. 
 " Gershora, 69, 71, 
 " Joseph, 89. 
 Felton, M, B.,378, 406. 
 Ferrier, Ama«i, 308. 
 Fessenden, Joim, 7€, 
 Fielden, J. F., 226, 
 Fisher. C, 71, 136. 
 
 " Gideon, 69, 70, 73. 
 Fitts, Bev. D., 429. 
 Fitzpatrick, Bp;, 311. 
 Elaggg, John, 237; 
 Fletcher, Judge, 282. 
 Flint, David, 246. 
 
 " Nathan, 110. 
 Follet, Bobert, 367. 
 Folsom, John G., 356, 373, 433. 
 Forristall, Charles, 380. 
 
 " John, 185, 211, 23S, 
 
 240,242-246,347. 
 " John M., 223. 
 Foskett, Levi W., 429. 
 
 " Moses, 370, 401. 
 Poster, Dwight, 277, 278. 
 " Daniel, 349, 
 " Bev. Davis, 362. 
 " Jonathan, 63, 61, 62. 
 " Moaes, 69. 
 Fox, Jesse, 69. 
 Fremont, John C, 260. 
 French, Mr., 161, 369, 
 
INDEX OF NAMES. 
 
 525 
 
 French, Adun, SSI. 
 Fry, BeigamSn, 210. 
 
 " Elifiha,402. 
 
 " James, 270, 273. 
 fuller, James M., 186, 210. 
 
 " Joseph, 19. 
 
 " Key. Robert W., 337. 
 
 a- 
 
 Oage,aen.,g4. ' 
 Gale, Bphraim, 70. 
 
 " Joshwa, 47, 95, 97-99. 
 Oardham, J. B., 401. 
 Qardner, Henry, 86. 
 
 " Bev. Mr., of Leomin- 
 ster. 319. 
 " Wiinam, 167. 
 Garrison, Barnabas, SI. 
 Oeddes, Dr., 42S. 
 George HI., 83. 
 Gibson, John. 247. 
 Olddings, Isaac, 86, 41. 
 
 " Solomon, 36, 41. 
 Gill, Moses, 75. 
 " John, 230. 
 Giles, John G., 214. 
 Goddard, Joslah, 173. 
 " Mary, 398, 
 Godding, Dr. Alvah, 200, 210, 
 213,216,259,290,347- 
 349, 391, 425. 
 « I)r.Wm.W.,226,309, 
 427. 
 Golding, John B., 236, 398. 
 
 " Lydia, 898. 
 Ooodhne, Amos, 141, 143, 365. 
 " Francis. 41, 94, 97, 
 
 128,137,323. 
 " John, 42, 139. 
 Ooodnow, Joshua, 91. 
 Goodridge, Benjamin, 46, 60, 56, 
 67, 147. 
 
 Daniel, 51, 61. 62, 
 
 89,98,117,123,124. 
 
 " David, 26, 51, 89, 124, 
 
 128, 205, 313. 
 " David, 2d, 398. 
 '• EUjhalet, 128, 137, 
 
 1«).228. 
 » .w Philip, 49. 50. 147. 
 " -Eehecoa, 198.' 
 " -loweU, 209. 
 " Sewall, 426. 
 Goodspecd & Wyman, 18, 365, 
 373. 
 " Elizabeth, 856, 402. 
 " George, 
 " Isaac, 347. 
 Goodyear, Her. George, 335. 
 Gonld, Daniel, 69, 70. 
 " Jacob. 49, 50. 
 Orant^m. H., 381, 382, 
 Gray, Harrison, 86. 
 " Thomas, 68. 
 Greaton, Smyrna, 186, 342-345, 
 347. 
 " Thomas,lll,129,141, 
 162,160,176,230,260, 
 276. 
 Qreen, Dr., 96, 423. 
 " Israel, 69. 
 " Nathaniel, 71. 
 Greenwood, Aaron, 205. 
 
 " Henry, 244, 258, 
 
 349, 404. 
 " Levi, 201, 220, 242, 
 
 245, 
 
 Greenwood, Ihomas, 143, 176, 
 186, 229, 256, 276. 
 Gregory, Elislia, 258. 
 
 Geo. Wy 221, 230, 365. 
 GriSn, Samuel, 167. 
 Grout, Isaac, 228, 398. 
 " John, 250. 
 " Jonathan, 75. 
 Cruy, Alpheus, 210. 
 
 Hagar, Nathan, 167. 
 Hale, Abner, 62, 68,111. 
 " Amos, 69, 87, 91,111,230. 
 '^ Amos H. 
 
 " Artemas, 167, 314, 435,444. 
 " Asa, 186, 210. 
 " Ea(i.,172. 
 " Daniel, 210. 
 " Jacob, 46, 69, 111, 139, 
 
 152,210,360. 
 " Jacob, Jr., 210, 238,253. 
 " John, 427. 
 " John P., 260. 
 " Luke, 220, 375. 
 " Merrifct, 301. 
 " Miss Orelba, 444. 
 " Moses, 26, 46, 69, 72, 74- 
 78, 81-86, 91, 431, passim. 
 " Moses, Jr., 182. 
 " Nathaniel, 210, 247, 249. 
 " Rev. E. B., 366, 
 " Stillmte, 210, 214. 
 HaU, Benjamm, 129. 141, 152, 
 162, 323, 366. 
 " Jeremiah, 37. 
 " Ziba, 141, 142, 157, 424. 
 Hambleton, Ber. Wm. J., 310. 
 Hancock, BiU, 89, lio; 125, 127, 
 141. 
 " Joel, 253. 
 " John, 109, 120. 
 " Levi, 273 
 " Moses, 212-214, 268, 
 
 307, 369, 405. 
 " Ozro, 381, 405, 
 " Tbnothy, 228, 260. 
 " William, 253. 
 '■ Zenas, 182. 
 Hand, Nathan H., 347, 379, 405. 
 Hapgood, John, 230, 360. 
 Hardy, SUas, 226. 
 Harris, Humphrey, 402. 
 " Jacob B., 422, 427. 
 " Keuben, 210-212, 216, 
 
 220, 370. 
 " William, 249. 
 Harwood, Harrison, 201. 
 Ebrtwell, Edward, 59, 61. 
 ■■ Mrs. Leander, 406. 
 " Bam'1,236,263,403. 
 Harvey, Key. Mr., 53, 146, 313. 
 Haskell, Levi, 371. 
 Hastings, Jairus, 381, 382. 
 Hawkins, John H., 291. 
 Henthaw, Daniel, 207,209, 239- 
 242, 262, 253, 255, 
 268, 289, 328, 421. 
 Henry, Matthew, 317. 
 Heywood, Amos, 76, 78,110, 137. 
 - 168, 331, 339. 
 " Charles, 137, 139. 
 " Bag., 172. 
 " Joseph, 142. 
 " I/emuel, 260. 
 " Levi, 303. 
 " Luke, 210, 243. 
 
 Hloks, Rev. Mr., 356. 
 Hill, Alonzo, 366. 
 " Robert, 151. 
 Hinsdale,Bev. Mr., 334, 
 mtchcock, £eT. M. H., 226, 
 
 338,339. 
 Hoar, Oapt., 235. 
 HobBon, John, 32, 36, 41. 
 Hodgkins, Heniy, 49. 
 " Wm., 49. 
 Hodskins, Aaron, 61, 135. 
 Holbrook, Silvenus, 367. 
 Holcomb, Joshua, 277. 
 Holden, Henry, 400. 
 Holman, Amory, 240. 
 
 " Nathaniel, 176, 236. 
 " Samuel, 245. 
 Holmes, Dr. Jacob, 424, 
 Holt, Mary, 46, 46, 429. 
 Holt, Wm., 45, 48. 
 Homer, John, 70, 81-83. 
 Hopkinson, Judge, 282. 
 Houghton, Abiathar, 66. 
 " Cyrus, 348. 
 " Robert,206,237-239. 
 " Wm., 70. 
 How, Ebenezer, 71, 94, 124. 
 Howe, A. S., m. 
 " Mrs., 226. 
 Howard, John D., 380. 
 " Mrs. l^dale, 398. 
 " Sylvia, 128, 129, 206. 
 Hubbard, Benjamin, 172, 175, 
 303, 406. 
 " Daniel, 93, 97, 110, 
 
 126, 127, 129, 293. 
 " David, 128, 140. 
 Hudson, Hon. Charles, 446. 
 Hughes, Thomas, 401. 
 Humphrey, Rev. Mr., 49, 319. 
 Hunt, Abel, 70. 
 " Joel, 406. 
 " Leander, 401, 403. 
 '• Samuel, 313. 
 " Warren, 379." 
 Huntington, Rev. Dr., 366. 
 Huntoon, Rev. B., 366. 
 Hutcbins, Joshua, 56. 
 Hyde, Alfred, 370. 
 " Aea, 210, 246, 847. 
 " Charles, 381. 
 « Elisha, 847. 
 " Ezra, Sen., 71, 98, 129, 
 
 166,172,205,229,236. 
 " Ezra, (the historian,) 26, 
 30,42,114,216,262,394, 
 passim. 
 " Ezra, 3d, 247, 347,;370, 
 
 373. 
 " ■ Job, 374. 
 " Joel, 397. 
 " John, 347. 
 " Reuben, 210, 307, 331, 
 335,839, 347, 360,352, 
 369, 370, 373, 390, 397, 
 437. 
 " Warren, 370. 
 
 IngersoU, John, 277, 278. 
 
 Jackson, Andrew, 256. 
 Jefferson, Thos., 121, 176, 178, 
 
 250, 256. 
 Jeunings, Lyman. 438. 
 Jewett, Ezekiel, 44. 
 
526 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 Jewett, Joseph, 209, 373. 
 
 " Thomaa, 46-18, 63, 146. 
 
 " Dr., 291. 
 Johnson, Jotham, 232. 
 Joiner, or Joyner, John, 69. 
 
 " William, 69. 
 Jones, Abel, 179, 198,205, 237. 
 Joslin, Daniel, 71, 91. 
 
 " Peter, 124. 
 
 Keith, Henry, 128, 390. 
 
 " Jason, 46, 136, 232. 
 Kellogg, Stephen F., 214, 215. 
 Kendall, Abijah, 230. 
 " Ephraim, 369. 
 " Samuel, 167; 882. 
 Kendall & Maaon, 406. 
 Kent, T. G., 422. 
 Ketchum, Stephen, 438. 
 Kidder,Benj ,109,126,143,230, 
 232, 246. 
 " Enoch, 399. 
 " Srederio, 48, 319. 
 " Heywood, 142. 
 " John, 167. 
 Kilburn, John, 207. 237, 238, 
 
 240, 245, 247. 
 Kimball, Thomas, 91, 210. 
 King, KutiiB, 266. 
 " John, 221. 
 Kinney, Aaron, 341. 
 
 " Rev. Moses, 340, 341. 
 Kneeland, Joseph, 63. 
 
 '• Timothy, 69, 137. 
 Knight, Luke, 402. 
 
 " Matthew, 47, 70, 97, 
 
 109, 111, 230, 232. 
 " Nathan, 96, 110, 229, 
 366. 
 Knowlton, Col., 72, 423. 
 
 Lathrop, Samuel, 256, 257. 
 Lawrence, Rev. Mr„of Lincoln. 
 
 319 
 Leary, J., 38li 
 Lee, Rev. Mr., 319, 324, 326. 
 Lewis, Mr., 273. 
 Lincoln, Abraham, 260 
 " Benjamin, 109. 
 " Rev. Oalvin, 356. 
 " Dr. William L., 425. 
 " Levi, 173, 174, 275. 
 " Levi, Jr., 256, 2.57. 
 " Kev. Sumncr,375. 
 litch, Sam'1, 109, 111, 114, 115. 
 
 " Samuel, Jr., 206. 
 Litchfield, Rev. George A., 220, 
 221,223,354,365,368. 
 London, Eden, 276-279. 
 Lord, Bemsley, 47, 111, 267, 316, 
 373. 
 " Ephraim W., 248. 
 " Jeremiah, 110, 128. 
 " Sally, 77, 267. 
 Loud, Chas. A., 221, 223, 373. 
 " Edward, 212, 214, 245, 
 
 343, 371, 404, 437. 
 " Ed., Jr., 371. 
 •• G. Sumner, 373.- 
 LoT€30y, Oliver, 240, 847, 435. 
 
 '■ Dr. OUver, 435. 
 Lovell, Rev. A., 336. 
 Lyman, Eev. Giles, 336. 
 
 Macaulay, Lord, 25, 131. 
 Madison, James, 178, 252, 256. 
 Mann, Rev. Cyrus, 335. 
 
 " Horace. 225. 
 Manning, Joseph, 45. 
 
 " Thomas, 61, 68, 139. 
 Mansfield, James, 47, 68. 
 
 " Theo's, 62. 
 Marshall, John, 121. 
 -' Jonas, 366. 
 Martin, Barzillaj, 230, 343, 347. 
 " Isaac, 41. 
 " James, 209. 
 " John, 41. 
 " Eev. Mr., 357, 
 Marvin, Rev. A. P., 213, 214, 
 216, 362, passim. 
 Miss C, E., 226. 
 Mason, Mrs. Jane I'., 309. 
 " Mr., 366. 
 " Orlando, 220, 235. 307, 
 
 309,352,369,372,392. 
 " Samuel, 70. 
 " Thad., 32. 
 Massey, Aaron, 142. 
 Maynard, Alexander, 96. 
 
 " Benjamin, 140, 229, 
 
 370. 
 " Daniel, 229. 
 •' Theodore, 97. 
 " Seth, 232. 
 Merriam, Amos, 69, 70,83,89, 
 95, 98, 100,124,139, 
 293. 
 . " A. H., 215. 
 Merrill, E. S. , 218, 220, 221, 308, 
 
 310, 378, 380. 
 Merriam, Col. J., 380. 
 MUler, Dr., 425. 
 Milson, J.J.,226. 
 Mitchell, Rev. Mr., 357. 
 Moffat, John, 46, 48, 49. 
 " Mrs., 71. 
 " Kobert, 303, 400. 
 " Wm., 46, 48, 136. 
 Monroe, James, 256. 
 Moor, Jonathan, 303, 406. 
 
 " Lovi,75,76,159,230,339. 
 
 Morrill, D. L. , 218, 380, 387, 422. 
 
 Morse, Isaac, 179, 182-185,239, 
 
 241, 246, 251, 258, 269, 
 
 434. 
 
 " Jedidiah, 205, 390, 431. 
 
 " M.S., 234,248,280,378. 
 
 Morton, Atkins, 373. 
 
 " Rev. Dan'10.,212,335, 
 
 336, 434. 
 '< Lydia, 305. 
 " Marcus, 266, 267. 
 Mosely, Geo., 91. 
 Murdock, Elisha, 210-213, 216- 
 219, 289, 309, 371, 
 391, 432. 
 
 Eph'm,175,179,182. 
 185,211,214-216,270, 
 279, 288, 454. 
 " Eph'm,Jr., 26, 201, 
 203,216,271,307-309, 
 343, 367, 372, 381, 
 892, 405. 
 " Isaac M., 203, 218, 
 
 366,380,388,427. 
 " James, 68, 142. 
 " James, Jr., 125, 253. 
 " John N., 429. 
 
 Miss Ellen K., 226. 
 
 Murdock, WiUiam, 168, 372, 
 
 378,391,438. 
 Murray, Lindley, 224. 
 McElwain, David, 236. 
 
 " Jas., 47, 71, 96, 109, 
 124, 126, 206, 232, 
 244, 360. 
 « James, Jr., 252, 253. 
 " Sally, 267. 
 McIntyTe, Rev. Mr., 356. 
 
 Nash, Marvin T., 245, 368, 373, 
 
 378. 
 Neale, Bev. Dr. Bollin H., 353. 
 Nelson & Bice, 368. 
 
 " Rev. Dr. John, 330. 
 Newcomb, H. G., 179, 182, 185, 
 
 209,255,422. 
 Newhall, John, 210. 
 Newman, C. W., 222. 
 Newton, Miss D. M., 226. 
 
 " Samuel,96. 
 Nichols, Isaa«, 88. 
 
 " Levi, 71, 81, 88, 109, 
 136, 231, 232. 
 NorcrosB, .Tames, 342. 
 " Joseph, 343. 
 " Orrm, 306. 
 Northrop, Rev B. G., 220. 
 Norton, Kev. C. H., 834. 
 
 » Thomas, Jr., 38-88. . 
 Nourse, Asa, 341, 342. 
 Noyes, Isaac, 227. 
 " James, 69. 
 " Samuel, 69, 96, 110, 179, 
 253. 
 Nutting, Jonas, 126. 
 
 O 
 
 Oaks. Nathaniel, 70. 
 
 " Seth, 53, 70, 93, 96, 97, 
 128, 293. 
 
 " Wm., 63, 61, 62. 
 
 Wm., Jr., 303, 400. 
 OUver, John. 167. 
 Osgood, Rev.John, 324, 325, 330. 
 
 I> 
 Paine, Timothy, 75. 
 Palfrey, Dr., 191. 
 Parkhurst, Dr. Wm., 205, 424. 
 Parker, G. B., 203, 307, 308. 
 Page, Dr. John T., 425. 
 " Mrs. Betsey, 406. 
 *' Miss Miranda, 406. 
 " Samuel, 382. 
 Parks, Abel, 213. 
 " Austin, 403. 
 " Edson A., 403. 
 " Edwin, 309, 370, 438. 
 " Eleazar, 103. 
 " Eliphalet, 250. 
 « Jacob, 250. 
 " Levi, 127, 201, 205,214, 
 
 258, 370. 
 " Levi N., 220, 370,438. 
 " Luke, 209, 240, 370. 
 " Martin H., 370. 
 " Phinehas, 143,407. ' 
 " Mrs. Phinihaa, 399. 
 " Polycrates, 369, 437. 
 '■ P. Blwaln, 399. 
 " William, 370. 
 Parks & Day, 406. 
 Favmenter, Ephraim, 103. 
 John N., 68. 
 
INDEX OF NAMES. 
 
 527 
 
 Pannenter, Peter, 398. 
 Parsons, or Pearson, Bartholo- 
 mew, 49, 50, 62, 147, 
 148, 365, 393. 
 " Oliver, 272, 278. 
 " Kev. Levi, 337. 
 " Richard, 68, 135, 390, 
 
 117, 149. 
 " Thaophilus, 278, 279. 
 Parson, John IS., 89, 92. 
 Partridge, Cyms, 400. 
 
 " Maynard, 216, 307, 
 862. 
 Patch, Minot, 140, 216, 371. 
 Fajson, Edward, 204,- 224. 
 " Bov.Dr.Seth,167,171, 
 
 184,190,204,330. 
 " Kev. Eliot, 436. 
 " James, 128. 
 Peck, Henry, 439. 
 Peokham, Bey. S. H., 349, 350. 
 Pentecost, Key. Wm., 888. 
 Fentland, Dr., 426. 
 Perkins, Rev E., 330, 335, 348, 
 Perley, Asa, 230, 366. 
 
 " Dudley, 68, 81, 82,89,; 
 
 123, 143. 
 " Henry, 213, 216. 
 " John, 166. 
 Perrin, Prancis S., 382. c 
 
 Pettee, Bey. Mr., 213. 
 Pettis, Samuel, 856. 
 Phelps, Mies L., 406. 1 
 
 Phipps, Sir Wm., 51. , ' 
 
 Pierce, Abyah, 18B, 251. / 
 '• Cyrus, 238, 366. 
 " E., 349. 
 " Franklin, 260. 
 " Mrs. Harriet W., 399. 
 " John, 286. 
 " La&yetteW.,422. 
 " Lucius D., 422. 
 Pierpont, Rev. John, 291. 
 Pike, Oapt. John, 431. 
 Pillsbury, Rev. Leyi, 176-178, 
 182, 186, 262. 313, 
 
 " Levi, M. D., 428. 
 Pinckney, C. 0., 266. 
 Piper, Rev. Silas, 218. 
 
 f' J., 881. 
 Pitkin, Harry, 304, 378, 401. 
 " Miss Caroline A., 226. 
 " Miss Emily B.. 226. 
 Pollard, Andrew, D. D., 428. 
 " George S., 406. 
 " Jonathan, 106, 440. 
 " Wm., 378, 405. 
 Poland, Addison B., 427. 
 " I). B.. 439. 
 " David, 259, 343. .. 
 " Samuel, 253. 
 " Simon B., 280,343. 
 " Wm., Sen., 348. 
 Fomroy, Rev. J. L., 330. . 
 Poor, David, 49, 86, 127, 136, 
 293, 432. 
 " John, 127, 316. 
 Porter, Ezra, 201. 216. 
 " John, 69, 89. 
 " Rev. Dr., 291. 
 ■" Wm., 68. 
 Potter, Moses, 404. 
 Prentice, or Prentiss, Levi, 243. 
 Samuel, 26, 73, 76, 78, 
 96, 126,128,162,160. 
 
 165,174,181,183,185, 
 275,302,321,839. 
 Prentice, Samuel, Jr., 209, 262, 
 
 255, 331. 
 Priest, Joseph. 364. 
 
 " Joshua, 46, 48, 301, 802. 
 
 " Levi, 248, 368. 
 
 " Lemuel, Jr., 262, 255, 
 
 331, 339. 
 " Joseph, 364. 
 Prouty or Proughty, Isaac, 111, 
 127. 
 " Seth, 209. 
 Pushey, Gabriel, 45, 47, 48, 71. 
 
 " Nathan, 46. 
 Putnam, Edward, 96. 
 " Miles, 71, 91, 365. 
 " Putnam. Rev. I, 356. 
 
 Quincy, Josiah, 32, 251. 
 
 y '_-, IR 
 
 ' Rand, Warham, 212 
 Raymond, Clark, 247. 
 " Cornelius, 873. 
 " Col. Paul, 144, 304. 
 Dea. Paul, 144, 304, 
 331, 335, 339, 348, 
 395. 
 " Geo. B., 218,222,228, 
 
 370. 
 " James, 143, 284, 287, 
 
 241, 261. 
 " Jesse, 237, 247. 
 " John, 134, 186, 230, 
 
 398. / 
 
 " John, Jr., 273. 
 " Levi, 201, 247,253, 
 
 306. 
 " Lieut. Paul, 126-128, 
 140,144,173,176,182, 
 186,206,227,230,285, 
 236,250-252,263,805, 
 432. 
 " Paul, Jr., 220. 
 " saas, 874. 
 " Tyler, 136, 223. 
 " Minor, D. D., 344. 
 
 Eeadfleld, Mr., 238. 
 Eeed, Henry, 280. 
 " John L., 308. 
 " Lincoln, 273. 
 " Moses M., 182, 185, 210, 
 
 228, 395. 
 " Samuel, 49. 
 Reed & Walker, 378. 
 Bice, Benjamin, 87, 83, 95, 223, 
 442. 
 " C. J., 47, 75, 220, 308, 809, 
 
 366. 
 " David, 158, 159, 165. 
 " Hon. W. W., 338, 428. 
 " Luke, 49, 141, 186, 190,207, 
 212, 249, 260, 808, 306, 398, 
 
 " Mrs., 202. 
 " Miss Lucy Ann, 226. 
 " Rev. B., 213. 337, 348-320. 
 " Rev. Mr., of Westminster, 
 318. 
 Bice & Wyman, 22. 
 Richardson, Ebentzer, 97, 98, 
 109, 111, 240, 342, 
 347. 
 <> Luth., 212,218,399. 
 " Thos.,M.D.,322. 
 
 Ridgway, Philip, 367. 
 Robertson, Asa, 140. 
 Bobinson, Asa, 110. 
 
 " Peter, 128, 129. 
 Bobbins, Daniel, 303, 406. 
 " Hervey, 369. 
 " Joseph, 186, 211, 227, 
 287,144,269,870,406. 
 " Joseph A., 369. 
 " Lewis, 210, 243,869, 
 
 4.37. 
 " Maria, 403. 
 " Mrs. Nancy, 404. 
 " Nahum, 245, 371. 
 " Bev. Dr. ThoB., 330, 
 
 331. 
 " Wm., 369, 371. 
 " Wm.,Jr.,210. 
 Bollins, PhiUp, 104. 
 Ross, Rev. A. H., 435. 
 Bugg, Joel, 303. 
 
 '• Thomas, 68, 111. 
 Eussell, Frederic, 427. 
 
 " Ira, M. D., 221, 885, 
 
 426. 
 " Peter, 128. 
 
 Sabin, Lewis, D. D., 248-350. 
 
 " Rev. John, 189, 328. 
 Safford, S., 381. 
 Sargent, Lemuel, 69. 
 " Samuel, 230, 237. 
 " Seth, 258. 
 Saul, Thomas, 380. 
 Saunders, Lemuel, 281, 283. 
 Sawyer, Ephraim, 70. 
 " J. B.,228. 
 " Thog., 69, 70, 86, 278, 
 305. 
 Scott, Daniel, 368. 
 
 " Salmon, 368. 
 Sewall, S.IE.,267,260. 
 Shattuok, Capt., HI, 112. 
 
 " Dr.. 423. 
 Sherwin, Ahimaaz, 111, 126. 
 " Ebenezer, 69, 71, 94, 
 97, 110, 117, 128, 129, 
 190, 205. 
 " Eliaa, 182. 
 " Elicl, 186. 
 " George, Percival, 870. 
 Shurtleff, B. M.,429. 
 Shirley, Wm., 48. 
 Sibley, Joel, 212, 214. 247, 305, 
 806. 
 " Wm., 220. 
 Simonds, Jacob, 371, 437. 
 '* James, 70. 
 " Sev. Ssm'l, 182, 841. 
 Singletaiy, Amos, 76. 
 Smith, Abijah, 45, 60. 146, 147. 
 " David, 104, 128. 
 " Eli, 69, 70, 83, 86, 110, 
 
 lU. 301. 
 « Gov., 190. 
 " Henry, 380. 
 " Johnny, 190. 
 (c Jonathan. 111. 
 ■' Joshua, 186, 384. 
 ( < Mrs. Jonathan , 403. 
 " Prof. EU B., 837. 
 " Stephen B., 186. 
 Spalding, Dr. M.. 209, 425. 
 Sparhawk, Kev. Mr., 318, 324. 
 Spooner, Mason, 175, 424. 
 " Ruggles, 110. 
 
528 
 
 HISTORY OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 Spring, Am09, Ql. 
 
 " Samuel, 71. 
 Steams, B., 110, 139. 112, 312, 
 398 • 
 " Daniel B., 131. 
 " leTi, 135. 
 " Mary, 83. 
 Stebbins, H., 356. 
 Steel, James. 109, 110, 158. 
 " Samuel, 71. HO, 157. 
 Stephens, Abel, 341. 
 Stevens, Levi 0., 211. 
 Stimson, or Stimpson, Abijah, 
 69, 89. 
 •' Daniel, 237. 
 '■ Sev. Daniel, 51, 56, 
 68,69,75,117-119,267, 
 313-318,122,112. 
 •' Bphraim, 51, 70. 
 " Isaac, 68, 228. 
 " Jonathan, 61, 62, 70, 
 76, 110,125,271,277, 
 302,303,366,401. 
 '• Joseph, 62, 68. 
 " Rev. lieTi, 316. 
 
 Luther, 47, 76, 104, 
 157,267,276. 
 " Mrs. Thankful, 76, 
 
 275. 
 " Mrs., 189. 
 " Kev. Samuel, 316. 
 " Samuel, 97, 400. 
 Stockwell, Isaac, 312. 
 Stoddard, David, 71, 87,110,125. 
 " Joshua, 186, 252, 806, 
 
 360, 393. 
 " Leavitt, 268. 
 Stone, Jonas A., 368. 
 " Joseph, 343. 
 " R^v. W. B., 349. 
 " Samuel, 97. 
 Storrs, Kev. John, 46, 214, 216, 
 
 218, 338, 339. 
 Story, Joseph, 402. 
 Stratton, Elisha, 1«7. 
 Strong, Caleb, 177, 260, 251,253. 
 Stuart, Enoch, S98. 
 
 " Jeremiah, 61, 67.70,76,84, 
 
 86, 124, 1^: 163, 840, 870, 
 " Paul, 330, 281, 898. 
 '! Kichard, 186, 210, 211, 248, 
 869. 
 Swapey, Bichard, 212. 
 Sweetzer, Phillips, 124-127, 134. 
 Sylvester, Major, 229,282. 
 
 Tannant, Pliny H,, 401. 
 Talbot, B.H., 401. 
 Tateum,Mi.,438. 
 Taylor, Bill, 371. 
 " Dr., 149, 422. 
 " Isaac, 143, 235,238. 
 " Jake, 371, 
 " I/., 881. 
 " Zachary, 260. 
 Thomas, B. I'.. 281. - 
 
 ' F.N.,210. 
 Tilden,Kev.Wm.P.,S58. 
 Tilton, Ab., 21, 32, 36-88, 41, 46. 
 Titus, Samuel, 62, 147, 148. 
 Todd, Kev.Dr. John, 834, 
 Tolmnn, Charles, 244^ 
 
 " Desire, 47, ]73, 176, 182, 
 184, 185, 802, 328, 329, 339. 
 " Mrs., 202. 
 " Rev. S. H., 426. 
 " Stephen, 22, 44.185,186, 
 
 286,242. 
 " Wm., 185, 209, 310, 230, I 
 236,848. 
 
 Towne. Wm., 381. 
 
 TrBCy, Bev. Leonard, 218, 863,367. 
 
 Treadwell, Nathaniel,38, 41. 
 
 Trumbull, Gov., 316. 
 
 Tucker, Elisha, Sen,, 432. 
 
 " Elisha, 429. 
 
 " Joshua, 304,356, 429. 
 
 " Seth, Sen., 104, 230, 360, 
 890,432. 
 
 " Seth, Jr., 201, 212, 216,222- 
 224, 246, 308, 348, 362, 363. 
 Tattle, Charles, 49, 
 
 " SimoD, 253. 
 
 " Simon, Jr., 263, 
 Tyler, B.O., 214, 216. 
 
 '■ Bev. E.E.,849,S60. 
 
 XJ 
 
 Upham. Heniy, 367. 
 Upton, A. £., 226. 
 
 Van Bnren. Martin, 266, 200. 
 Vose, Benbeu, 229, 263. 
 
 " Beubea,Jr.;818. 
 
 ■' Wm., 366. 
 
 Wade, Jonathan, 86, 38. 
 Wales, Escj., 172. 
 
 " Jacob, 210, 230, 240, 242, 270. 
 Wallingford, Rev.P.,344, 
 Word, Artemas, 75. 
 Warner, Silos, 348. 
 Washburn jEmoiy , 280. 
 " Wra.B.,427. 
 Washington, Oeu.jl20, 121, 256. 
 Watson, Bev. Joseph, 212. 
 Walls, Kev. Dr., 163. 
 Wellington, Bev. C, 330, 366. 
 Weston, Miss Anstrisg, 226, 
 " EleazarP,,343. 
 " I.E., 372, 
 
 " Stephen, 227,237,843,347. 
 Wharton, Lord Thomas, 59. 
 Wheeler, Adam, 114. 
 " AmoB, 214. 
 " Kev. Charles, 221, 356. 
 Wheeler a Hay ward, 406. 
 Wheelock, Fhbiehas, 69, 70. 
 Whitcomb, David, 70. 
 " Horace, 46. 
 ■' Israel,179,181,186,lS6, 
 211, 240, 242, 268-271, 
 305. 402. 
 " Jonathan, 98. 
 " Mark, 280,347,348,384. 
 Whitcomb & Fairbanks, 231, 431. 
 White, Joseph. 201, 363, 367. 
 
 " N. Dj 220, 221, 308, 367, 372. 
 " W.N., 221, 356, 372, 388. 
 Whitman, C. B., 201, 351, 370, 378, 
 391,399. 
 " James, 306,392. 
 
 Whitman & Parks, 405. 
 Whitmore, John,'341. 
 Whitney, Amasa, Sen.,23, 185,186, 
 242,270,365,366,369,391, 
 435. 
 " Amasa, Jr., 368, 387. 
 " Baiter D., 23, 173, 223, 
 246, 366,3^,372; 373, 397, 
 405,438. • 
 
 " Chas.L,B.,437. 
 " EBas, 200, 367, 402, 406. 
 " Emerson C, 213, 427. 
 " Ephraim, 341. 
 " Giles H., 202, 203,221-3 
 
 422, 399. 422. 
 •' GroverS.,220, 362. 
 
 Hananiah, 142, 175,185, 
 329. 
 " Jacob, 167. 
 " Joseph, 2U, 238, 273. 
 *' Joseph, Jr., 
 " Joseph, 3d, 231. 
 " Mrs. Dudley, 444. 
 
 Whitney, Mrs. Iiucy, 399. 
 " Miss MaiyS., 220. 
 " Ohio, Jr., 221. 
 " Phiuchas, 47, 113, U6, 
 173, 179-186, 238, 250, 289, 
 332,395,431.441. 
 " Bichard, 246. 
 << Silas, 63, 61, 62, 70, 135, 
 
 150. 
 " Washington, 306, 392. 
 <• Webster, 60, 271, 
 " William, 71, 79, 96, 99, 
 113,123,127,128,136,157, 
 231,235,304,364,441. 
 " Wm. W., 366, 368. 
 Whitney & Whitman, 369. 
 Whilon, Dr. Israel, 72-74, 94, 06, 
 130, 165, 172, 176, 260. 262, 
 302,339.423,425. 
 " Bev. John M., 30, 42, 44, 
 47, 49, 87, 116, 188, 301, 
 426 ; passim, 
 " Rev, Otis C, 426. 
 Wilder, Abel, 46, 61,53,60.64,72- 
 76,80,86-98, 113,117-121), 
 430 ; passim. 
 " Abel, Jr., 170. 171. i 
 
 " Benjamin, 161, 212, 242! 
 " Carter, 428. 
 " David, 46. 48, 
 « Joseph, 70, 71. 93, 98, 123, 
 
 134. 
 " Lewis, 270. 
 " Luke, 123, 249, 301. 
 •* Bev. Moses H., 428. 
 " Bufus,366. 
 ■■ Salmon, 206. 
 " Simon, 298. 
 « Thomas, 45, 56, 78, 146. 
 '• William, 347. 
 Wiley, Samuel, 253. 
 Willard, Seo'y, 32. 
 Williams, Kev. L., 354. 
 " Rev. Mr., 324. 
 
 " Wm., 277. 
 
 Willoby, Wm., 46. 
 Willmarth,Kev. Mr., 213. 
 Winch, Aaron, 229, 347. 
 W ingate. Judge, 316. 
 Winn, Jarvis, 115, 230, 249 
 Wirt, Wm„ 257, 
 Wise, Henry, 38. 
 Withington, Edward, 126. 
 Wood,Ahijah,443. 
 •' Israel, 367. 
 " James A., 3S1. 
 ." Mr., 236. 
 " Nathan, 185, 209. 
 " Nathaniel, 280, 281. 
 Wood & Rand, 431. 
 Woodcock, Wm. h., 220-222, 
 243, 309, 310, 347, . 
 381. 
 Woodcock & SSwyer, 369. 
 Woodbury, Isaac, 368. 
 
 " Jacob B„ 103, 173, 
 176, 228, 253, 329, 
 363, 433. 
 " Jacob,182, 198,207- 
 214, 242, 247, 253, 
 269,270. 
 " John, 127, 240, 247. 
 
 304, 363. 
 " John T., 249. 
 " Nehemiah, 368. 
 v-i " Bev. David, 428. 
 '.," " Bev. Silas, 128. 
 " Samuel, 14,46,230. 
 Worcester. Rev. Dr., 331. 
 Wright, Col. Z.,172, 17S. 
 Wyman, Elisha, 405. 
 " Oilman. 273. 
 Wyman, Haryey, 243, 24S, 281, 
 306, 347, 352, 378, 407. 
 « Nelson W., 444. 
 " Sumner, 139,242,366. 
 
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