History of Worcester, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to September, 1836. With various notices relating to the history of Worcester County

Front matter

HISTORY OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO SEPTEMBER, 1836: WITH VARIOUS NOTICES RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY. BY WILLIAM LINCOLN. ' These local annals are full of little things; names, dates, and facts : and rumors of every sort, which seem, at first sight, almost too trifling to be noticed : and yet, not only is it true, that the general historian must essentially depend on the local, to a very con siderable extent, for the mass of loose seeds from which the spirit of his narrative should be laboriously distilled: but it is also true, that there is almost always a good deal of that spirit already made in such materials at his hand. Many ofthese little things which we speak of, are little only in size and name. They are full of rich meaning. They are graphic and characteristic in a high degree.

They suggest far more than they say. They illustrate classes of men, and ages of lime. They are small but brilliant lights on the walls of the past, pouring floods of splendor from their little niches on the vast abysses around them.' American Quarterly Review, June, 1836. WORCESTER: MOSES D. PHILLIPS AND COMPANY. 1837. Entered according to the act os Congress, in the year 1836, • by William Lincoln, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. PRINTED BY HENRY J. HOWLAND, WORCESTER. TO THE REV. AARON BANCROFT, D. D. Except for your warm encouragement of the general design of this history, without knowledge of the manner of its execution, it would have perished. If there is any merit in the preservation of the facts it contains, it is yours: the errors and mistakes are those of the compiler.

On the completion of the work, his highest gratification i3 derived, from the op portunity of expressing veneration for the character of the beloved pastor, and gratitude for the communications, which, rightly used, would have given value to the volume now respectfully dedicated to you, who have contributed more than all others to perpetuate the memory of the events and men of Worcester in past times.

Preface

There are few employments of industry more humble than in the com pilation of local annals. It should be permitted to him who has finished his task, to explain why it was undertaken, and how it has been accom plished. In 1792, a memoir of four pages, by Timothy Paine, William Young, Edward Bangs, and Samuel Steams, relating to Worcester, was commu nicated to the Massachusetts Historical Society, and published in the volume of their collections for that year. The materials furnished by these gentlemen, were transferred by the Rev. Peter Whitney to his History of the County. The sermons of the Rev. Dr. Bancroft in 1811, 1825, and 1 83G, and the Address of Hon. John Davis, May 2, 1 825, with their append ed notes and documents, contain many facts illustrative of civil and eccle siastical condition.

These weie the only printed narratives of the settle ment and progress of Worcester. It seemed desirable, while it was yet possible, to gather the fast fading traditions and scattered records of the past, and preserve more full view of our local history, than was permitted by the limits of religious discourse and festival address, or accorded with the plan of former writers. To accomplish this object, the files and records of the colonial and pro vincial governments ; of the original proprietors ; of the town, and its par ishes, churches, and societies ; of the county courts and registries ; and the series of newspapers from their commencement, have been examined : private journals and papers, the recollections of the aged inhabitants, the treasures ofthe garrets, and the knowledge ofthe race in active life, have been collected, with some labor.

In the execution of the work the result of these examinations, there has been no effort for literary excellence, and none can be expected. The primary purpose has been accuracy. In the multitude of facts and dates there will doubtless be found many and great errors : it will be consolation when they are discovered, that they have not resulted from want of disposition or exertion to be correct Reliance has seldom been placed on tradition, when it was not confirmed by better evidence, or corroborated by the concurrent testimony of records. Wher ever it has been practicable, reference has been made to the authority for statements, that their truth might be tested.

PREFACE.

. VI The work has been extended diffusely, and probably tediously and unprofitably. The events of the history of the town were*closely inter woven with those of the county, and seemed to demand detailed notice from this connection: and at every step, matters of curious interest, which it seemed impossible to reject, arose to seduce from the direct path of narrative : until the annals of the village have become as voluminous as the records of an empire. The language of original papers has been constantly preferred, wherever it could be used, to the words of the compiler ; lest by changing forms of expression, something of the fidelity of delineation and vividness of de scription ofthe actors in the scenes ofthe past, should be lost. The modes of spelling, which were erroneous in the days when they were used, have not been retained : but the ancient documents transcribed, except those copied in the appendix, have been made to conform to modern orthography.

Names of persons and places have been printed as they were found writ ten in the manuscripts consulted, or books quoted : although by following this rule, the same word has been made to assume various and sometimes strange forms, on different pages. The general plan of arrangement, affording convenience in tracing the course and connection of events, and facility of reference, has been imi tated from Mr. Shattuck's History of Concord. It would have been greatly desirable that the excellence of this model could have been more fully copied. The comparative length of the biographical memoirs will be found some times to have been determined more by the means of information than the merits of the subjects of the sketches. In relation to livingjpersons, the dates of birth have, with few exceptions, been intentionally omitted.

The pleasant duty of acknowledgment for kindness remains. Some, to whom heavy debt of gratitude was due for aid, have gone down to the grave while these sheets have been in preparation, with the rich mines of their recollections unexhausted. There is scarcely an individual named in the succeeding pages, who has not contributed good wishes or useful information. The compiler has been under great obligations to Rev. Dr. Bancroft, Mr. Thomas Rice, Ed ward D. Bangs, Esq. Hon. Nathaniel Paine, Samuel Jennison, Esq. Dr. John Green, Isaac Davis, Esq.; to the clerks of the town and parishes ; and to Joseph Willard, Esq. Mr. Samuel G. Drake, and Rev. Joseph B. Felt of Boston, for many courtesies, communications, and valuable papers. A notice of the errors of the pen and press which have escaped correction will be found at the end of the book.

Some, which will be readily detected by the reader, not affecting the meaning of the text, have been omitted in the list CONTENTS GENERAL HISTORY. Page. Chapter I. First Period, from 1664 to 1675 : first settlement. Grants to Increase Nowell and Thomas Noyes. Report of exploring Committee, 1668. Petition of Committee of settlement, 1669. Project for settlement. Difficulties with Ephraim Curtis, 1674. Indian deed. Grants of lands to settlers, 1675. View of the plantation, in 1675. Hostilities with the Indians. Settlement abandoned. 1 Chapter II, King Philip's war, 1675, 1676. The Nipmuck country. Indian Settlements. Visit of Gookin and Elliot. Attack on Quaboag. Ephraim Curtis. Phinehas Upham. Henchman's expedition. Quinsigamond burnt. Henchman's second expedition. Sagamore John surrenders.

Matoonus shot. Executions in Boston. Destruction of the Indians. 16 Chapter III. 1677 to 1713. Second settlement. Indian deed, 1677. Meeting of Planters, 1678. Henchman's agreement, 1684. Citadel. Survey. Mills built. Name of Worcester. Lots laid out. New Committees. Capt. Fitch's letter. Queen Anne's war. Town abandoned. Digory Serjent killed, Elisha Ward. Indian Hostilities. Petition for resettlement refused, 1709. 28 Chapter IV. 1713 to 1722. Third settlement to incorporation. Petition, 1713. New Committee. Report, 1714. First Settlers. Jonas Rice. Gershom Rice. Nathaniel Moore. Garrisons. Mills. Roads. View of the town, 1718. Grants to proprietors. Scotch and Irish emigrants. Town incorporated, 1722. 40 Chapter V. 1722 to 1765. LovelPs war and French wars. Selectmen's petition, 1724. Gershom Rice's letter, 1724.

Uriah Ward. Col. Chandler's orders. Selectmen's petition, 1725. Capt. Wright's letters, 1725. Benjamin Flagg's letter, 1725. County established, 1731. Gov. Belcher's visit, 1735. Soldiers. Excise, 1754. French neutrals, 1755. Military exertions, 1756. Col. Chandler's report, 1757. Men in service during French wars. Division of the County and removal of the courts opposed. 50 Chapter VI. 1765 to 1775- American Revolution. Instructions, 1766, 1767. Resolutions, 1768. Covenant, 1768. Tea. Votes, 1773. Committee of Correspondence, 1773. Political Society. Peter Oliver. Address of Grand Jury, 1774. Report on grievances, 1774. Instructions. Protest of royalists. Town Meeting. Record expunged. Non-consumption covenant and oath. Mandamus counsellors. Assembly of the people. Alarm. Minute men. Courts stopped.

County Convention. Sheriff Chandler. William Campbell. Instructions. Blacksmith's Convention. Depot of military stores. 67 Chapter VII. 1775 to 1783. American Revolution. Preparations for war. Instructions, 1775. Survey of British officers. Commencement of hostilities. Alarm of April 19. March of minute men. Tories disarmed. Memorial of officers. Royalist confessions. Clark Chandler. British prisoners. Poor of Boston. Military requisitions. Fourth of July, 1776. Regulation of prices. Detail of levies of troops, contributions, exertions, and proceedings, during the war. County conventions. Constitution. Excise. Peace restored. Proceedings as lo refugees. 104 Chapter VIII. 1782 to 1787. Insurrection. Distresses of the people. County Conventions, 1782, 1784, 1786. Court stopped, Sept. 1786. Spirited conduct of Judge Ward.

Proceedings of the insurgents. Convention, Sept. 1786. Town meeting, Oct. 1786. Court of Sessions interrupted. Sheriff Greenleaf. In- CONTENTS. VIII 130 161 163 194 205 224 264 296 310 323 336 356 363 surgents occupy the town, Dec. 1786. Militia of Worcester appear in arms for the government. Capt. Howe. Consultations of ihe insurgents. Distresses of their retreat. Gen. Lincoln's army. Affair at New Braintree. Dispersion of the insurgents. Chapter IX. Reception of Washington, 1789. Memorial on the treaty with England, 1797. Volunteers, 1798. Funeral honors to Washington, 1800. Militia voluuteer, 1807. Boston memorial, 1803. War of 1812. British prisoners. Troops called into service, 1814. Visit of Lafayette, 1324. Amendments of the Constitution. Benefactions of Isaiah Thomas. Incorporation of Holden and Ward.

Proposed division of the county. ecclesiastical history. Chapter X. First Parish. First meeting houses. Rev. Andrew Gardner. Difficulties on his dismission. Mr. Bourne. Rev. Isaac Burr. Visit of Whitefield. Church Covenant, 1746. Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty. Controversy about church music. Seating the meeting house. Difficulties ending in the separation of the Second Parish. Mr. Story. Rev. Samuel Austin. Church Covenant. Rev. Charles A. Goodrich. Rev. Aretius B. Hull. Rev. Rodney A. Miller. Presbyterian Church, 1719. Rev. Edward Fitzgerald. Rev. William Johnston. Chapter XI. Second Congregational Society. Separation from the first Parish. Difficulties. Church formed. Covenant. Rev. Aaron Bancroft ordained, 1786. Society incorporated. 1787. Rev. Alonzo Hill ordained, 1827. Votes of Parish and Church.

Memoir of Rev. Dr. Bancroft. Chapter XII. First Baptist Society. Formation, 1812. Rev. William Bentley. Articles of Faith. Rev. Jonathan Going. Rev. Frederic A. Willard. Rev. Jonathan Aldrich. Elm Slreel Society, 1836. Calvinist Society. Separation from first church, 1820. Formation of Society, 1822. Rev. Loammi I. Hoadley. House and Fund bestowed by Hon. Daniel Waldo. Rev. John S. C. Abbott. Rev. David Peabody. Catholic Society, 1834. Rev. James Fitton. Methodist Episcopal Society, 1834. Protestant Episcopal Society, 1S35. Rev. Thomas H. Vail. Union Society, 1836. biographical notices. Chapter XIII. Professional Men. Biographical notices of the Practitioners, Counsellors and Attorneys at Law, and Physicians, before and since the Revolution. Chapter XIV. Graduates of Colleges, and natives of Ihe town who have received liberal education.

Distinguished citizens. John Chandler. Capt. Jonas Hubbard. Col. Timothy Bigelow. Col. Ephraim Doolittle. David Thomas. Benjamin Heywood. Joseph Allen. Isaiah Thomas. statistics and history. Chapter XV. Education. Common Schools. Centre District Schools. Private Instruction. Manual Labor High School. Mount St. James Seminary. Chapter XV. Population. Emigration. Mortality. Valuation. Taxation. Support of the Poor. Communication. Stages. Manufactures. Trade. Chapter XVI. Societies and Institutions. Medical District Society. Antiquarian Society. Agricultural Society. Historical Society. Atheneum. Banks. Insurance Companies. Savings Institution. Various Associations. Military Companies. Newspapers and Periodicals. TOPOGRAPHY and history. Chapter XVII. Situation. Boundaries. Extent. Divisions. Streets and Roads.

Turnpikes. Blackstone Canal. Rail Roads. Public Buildings. Public Lands. Burial Places. Face of the Town. Ponds. Streams. Hills. Mines and Minerals. miscellaneous. Chapter XVIII. Municipal Officers. Selectmen. Clerks. Treasurers. Representatives. Fire Department. Fires and accidents by lightning. Appendix, i. Petition for a Plantation, Oct. 8,1665. n. Order of the General Court, Oct. 11, 1665. in. Order of the General Court, May, 15, 1667. iv. First Indian Deed, July 13, 1674. v. Order of Council to Capt. Edward Hutchinson, July 27, 1675. vi. Order of Council, Sept. 15,1675. vn. Instructions for Capt. Joseph Sill, Nov. 2, 1675. vm. Second Indian Deed, Feb. 12, 1677. ix Order of the General Court, 1679. x. Votes for Governor since 1780. xi. Notice of Daniel Shays. XII, Statements in relation lo trade, manufactures, and business, xiii. Executions, xiv. Festivals. Fourth of July. HISTORY OF WORCESTER. GENERAL HISTORY.

Chapter I

First Period, from 1664 to 1675 : first settlement. Grants to Increase Nowell and Thomas Noyes. Report of exploring Committee, 1668. Petition of Committee of settlement, 1669. Project for settlement. Difficulties with Ephraim Curtis, 1674. Indian deed. Grants of lands to settlers, 1675. View of the plantation, in 1675. Hostilities with the Indians. Settlement abandoned. Few years elapsed aster the first settlement of Massachusetts be fore the outposts of cultivation were advanced far and fast into the wilderness. The stream of emigration soon began to flow westward from its fountain. Eight years after the landing of the Pilgrims, in 1628, Salem was planted. The next year, Lynn was inhabited. In 1630, Boston was founded, and Cambridge and Wa tertown occupied. Concord was purchased ofthe natives and com menced in 1635.

Sudbury, begun in 1638, sent out colonies to Marlborough, incorporated in 1660. The swelling population push ed farther onward the frontier of improvement. The fertile region around Worcester early attracted attention. When the title of the vast region, acquired from the defeated savage, vested, by undis puted right, in the whole people, the wise policy of government encouraged settlement, while it rewarded patriotic exertions in the public service, and aided objects and institutions of general utility, by gratuities of portions of the forest. In 1657, May 6, a grant of 3200 acres of land was made to Mr. Increase Nowell, of Charlestown.1 May 6, 1662,9 1000 acres were bestowed on the church in Maiden, to be forever appropriated to the use of its minis- ' Colony Records, iv. 240. » ib. iv. 397. [1G64. 2 GRANTS.

COMMITTEE. try : Oct. 19, 1664, 250 acres were given to Ensign Thomas Noyes, of Sudbury, who had served under Capt. Hugh Mason.1 These were all, subsequently, located in the vicinity of Quinsigamond.3 The favorable impression from the surveys, excited enterprize to un dertake that plantation, which long retained the original name, borrowed from the beautiful sheet of water spreading in the neighbor hood of the settlement. John Haynes and Josiah Haynes, of Sudbury, and Nathaniel Treadaway, of Watertown, with Thomas Noyes, purchased the right of Increase Nowell, of his Executors, and, on the 18th of May, 1664, having procured the acceptance of a return, became proprietors of a wide tract, extending along the east side of Quinsigamond, including two of its southern islands, near ' the going out of Nipnapp River.'3 They petitioned the Great and General Court for the appointment of a Committee, to view the country.

In compliance with their request, Capt. Daniel Gookin, Capt. Edward Johnson, Lt. Joshua Fisher and Lt. Thomas Noyes, were commissioned, Oct. 11, 1665, 4 to make survey, to determine if there be a ' meet place for a plantation, that it may be improved for that end, and not spoiled by granting of farms,' and directed to report the results of their examination to the next Court of Elections. The death of Thomas Noyes, which occurred soon after, and the difficulties arising from the disturbed state of the country, having prevented the execution of this order, the attention ofthe colo nial legislature was again directed to the contemplated settlement, in 1G67. On the 15th of May5 of that year, Capt. Daniel Gookin, Capt. Edward Johnson, Mr. Samuel Andrew, and Andrew Belchar senior, were empowered, as a Committee,0 ' to take an exact view, as soon as conveniently they can, to make true report whether the place be capable to make a village, and what number of families, they conceive, may be there accommodated.

And if they find it fit for a plantation, then to offer some meet expedient how the same may be settled and improved for the public good.' 1 Colony Records, iv. 4CI. 2 The orthography of Indian names is quite uncertain. The same word is not only written in different manner by contemporary authors, but assumes various shapes in the same instrument. The ancient name of Worcester appears in these, among other forms: Quansiggemuck, Quinsigamug, Quansicamoag, Quansitamud, Quonsiquomon, Quan sigamon, Quansiquomog, Quanciggugug, Quonsogogoag. Quinsigamond, has been es tablished by most general use, and is therefore adopted. The true reading was proba bly Quonsigamoag. 3 Nipmuck, now Blackstone's River. •" Colony Ree. iv. 562. » ib. iv. 587. 6 Notices ofthe committees of settlement, and of some of the early planters, will be found in the succeeding pages. 1668.] 3 COMMITTEES REPORT.

Gookin, Johnson, and Belchar, discharged the duty assigned them, in the autumn of the following year, and presented a report on the 20th Oct. 1668, 1 which exhibits an interesting outline of the views entertained in former times, and of the general principles adopted in the formation of towns. ' The Committee's return about a new plantation near Quandsig amond Ponds. Boston, 20 Oct. 1668. We have, according to the Court's order, bearing date 15th May, 1667,2 viewed the place therein mentioned, and find it to be about twelve miles westward from Marlborough, near the road to Spring field, and that it contains a tract of very good chesnut tree land ; a large quantity : but the meadow we find not so much ; because a very considerable quantity of meadow and upland, about, five thou sand acres, is laid out unto particular persons, and confirmed by this Court, as we are informed, which falls within this tract of land ; viz ; to Ensign Noyes deceased and his brethren, three thousand two hundred acres : unto the church of Maiden, one thousand acres : unto others, five hundred acres, bought of Ensign Noyes ; but, all this notwithstanding, we conceive, there may be enough meadow for a small plantation, or town, of about thirty families : and if those farms be annexed to it, it may supply about sixty families.

Therefore, we conceive it expedient, that the honored Court will be pleased to reserve it for a town, being conveniently situated, and well watered with ponds and brooks, and lying near midway between Bos ton and Springfield, about one day's journey from either : and, for the settling thereof we do offer unto the Court that which follows : viz : That there be a meet proportion of land granted and laid out for a town, in the best form the place will bear, about the contents of eight miles square : That a prudent and able committee be appointed and empowered to lay it out : to admit inhabitants, and order the affairs ofthe place, in forming the town, granting lots, and directing and ordering all matters of a prudential nature, until the place be settled with a sufficient number of inhabitants and persons of discretion, able to or der the affairs thereof, in the judgment of the Court : That due care be taken by the said Committee, that a good Min ister of God's word be placed there, as soon as may be : that such people as may be there planted may not live like lambs in a large place : That there be two or three hundred acres of land, with a proportion of meadow, in some convenient place, at the discretion of the > Col. Ree. iv. 624. - Col. Ree. iv. 587. [1669. 4 CLAIM OF CURTIS.

Committee, reserved, and laid out for the Commonwealth ; and the Committee to have power and liberty to settle inhabitants thereupon, for lives or times, upon a small rent, to be paid aster the first seven years.' Daniel Gookin. Edward Johnson. Andrew Belchar. This report was approved and accepted, its recommendations con firmed, and Capt. Daniel Gookin, Capt. Thomas Prentice, Mr. Dan iel Henchman, and Lt. Richard Beers, appointed a Committee to carry them into execution. At the distance of more than a century and a half, when we see the hills and vallies of the ' very good chesnut tree land ' explored by the committee, thickly dotted with the homes of the husband man and the villages of the manufacturer, traversed by canal and railway, and supporting a dense population, their estimate ofthe ca pacity of the tract, eight miles square, to maintain thirty or sixty families, furnishes strong contrast between their humble anticipa tions and our overflowing prosperity.

At the period when the examination took place, meadow lands were esteemed of high value, and were, indeed, essential for the support of the new settlements. The low grounds, cleared of woods by the industry ofthe beaver, erecting dams to flood their surfaces ; by the waste of fires kindled by the hunter ; or the action of streams ; afforded the only pasturage that could be obtained, until the forest had been hewn away, and the herbage rose upon the cultivated fields. Notwithstanding, the Great and General Court, by their order, May 15, 1667, had prohibited the laying out of lands within the new plantation, a location had been subsequently made, in right of Ensign Noyes. His heirs had sold to Ephraim Curtis, of Sudbury, after ward distinguished for his gallantry and good conduct in the war with the Indians.

The Committee, embarrassed by the selections made by the claimants under the old grants, on the 27th of May, 1669, l presented the following petition for relief from the difficulties which had arisen, to retard the progress of settlement. ' We, the Committee of the General Court, whose names are sub scribed, being appointed and empowered to lay out, settle and man age a plantation, at or about Quansigamond Pond, twelve miles be yond Marlborough, in the road way to Springfield and Hadley, which place is very commodious for the situation of a town, the better to I Col. Ree. iv. 426. COMMITTEE'S PETITION. unite and strengthen the inland plantations, and, in all probability, will be advantageous for travellers, it falling near midway between Boston and Springfield, and about a day's journey from either; we, having lately been upon the place, to make an exact discovery and survey thereof, accompanied with sundry honest and able persons that are willing forthwith to settle themselves there : but finding some obstructions in the work, which, unless this Court please to remove, and, we conceive, they may justly do it, the proceeding will be utterly hindered ; and, therefore, we shall humbly offer them un to the honored Court, desiring help therein : 1.

We find, that, though the place contains a tract of good land, yet, it is much straitened for meadow. We cannot find above three hundred acres of meadow belonging to it, within several miles : but, there are swamps and other moist lands, that, in time, with labor and industry, may make meadow. 2. We find, that there is a grant of one thousand acres to the ministry of Maiden, May the 7th, 1662, which grant is laid out in this place. This farm contains a choice tract of land, and swallows up about one hundred acres of the aforesaid meadow ; but the con dition of the grant, as the record will declare, is, that it be improv ed, within three years after the grant, for the ends wherefore it was granted ; but that being not done ; for it is now above six years since, and no improvement made ; we apprehend, the grant is void : but yet, if the Court please to renew it, in any other place, we speak not to oppose it : but, if it be continued and confirmed in this place, it will utterly hinder the settling of a plantation here. 3.

There is another grant of land, unto Ensign Noyes, deceas ed, laid out in this place, containing two hundred fifty acres of choice land, with a considerable quantity of meadow, lying in the heart of this place ; and by him was sold to one Ephraim Curtis, a young man living in Sudbury. We desire that the Court will please to make void this grant ; being not laid out regularly for quantity or quality, as we conceive, and it will very much prejudice this town. The person concerned may have his land in another place, bordering upon this town, where there is sufficient to accommo date it, and also may have a lot in this town, if he desire it. 4. Whereas, the Court, in their grant of this town, hath reserv ed two or three hundred acres of land, with a proportion of meadow, to be laid out for the Commonwealth ; if it please the Court, because of the straitness for meadow, to abate that reservation, so far as concerns meadow, it will greatly encourage the work.

If the honored Court please to remove these obstructions, we PLAN OF SETTLEMENT [1669. hope it will not be long before this place be settled in a good way, for the honor of God and the public good. The Committee, in their journey, having discovered two other pla ces beyond this to the westward, that will make two or three towns, the one place called Pamaquesset, lying upon the head of Chequa bee River, the other place called Swquakeag,1 upon Connecticut River nearer to Boston than Hadley, we desire the Court will please to order that these places be reserved to make towns, the better to strengthen those inland parts, and the laying out of particular grants prohibited in the said places.' Daniel Henchman, Daniel Gookin, Richard Beers, Thomas Prentice. The reservation to the public in the meadow was released, but the petition, in relation to the private grants, was refused.

The progress of the Committee of settlement in the discharge of their duties was, necessarily, slow, and, for a long time, their efforts were defeated by calamitous circumstances. Their first meeting was held in Cambridge, July 6th, 1669, when a plan was formed for the projected plantation. The foundation principles and rules they matured are entered on their original book of records, in the hand writing of the venerable Gookin, and indicate the wisdom and fore cast of their authors. It was proposed, that the territory, including the whole of Worcester and Holden, and a large part of Ward, should first be divided into ninety twenty five acre house lots, and, in the apportionment of these to the settlers, ' respect should be had to the quality, estate, usefulness, and other considerations of the per son and family to whom they were granted :' that the most conve nient place, nearest the middle of the town, should be set apart and improved for placing the meeting house, for the worship of God : a convenient lot of fifty acres for the first minister, should be laid out as near to it as might be : another lot, in the next convenient place, not far from thence, for the ministry that should succeed in all future times : that twenty acres should be reserved, near the centre, for a training field, and to build a school house upon : that a lot, of twenty five acres, should be appropriated for the maintenance of a school and school master, to remain for that use forever : and that two hundred and fifty acres, should be for the use of the country.

Provision was made for the equal apportionment of common charges upon the proprietors of lots, for erecting mills, opening and repair ing ways, and for the equitable division of the remaining lands.2 I Northfield. J Proprietors' Records. 3. 1674.] 7 PETITION OF PLANTERS. Subsequent events prevented the practical effects of these regula tions from being felt in the affairs of the inhabitants, except in the example and aid they might have afforded to those who directed their prudential concerns in more prosperous days. The exertions of the Committee to procure settlement, seem, for a long period, to have been unavailing. At length, brighter pros pects opened before them. In the year 1673, a company of thirty persons were engaged to commence the plantation, and, in the following spring, thirty house lots were laid out, and they began to build and cultivate.

Ephraim Curtis of Sudbury had, probably, previous to this time, taken possession of the rich tract of land near the centre of the present town of Worcester, and had erected a house on the ' Connecticut road ' west of the head of Quinsiga mond. So great was the obstruction encountered from his claims, that the Committee were compelled, again, to ask the aid of the legislature, in removing the vexatious incumbrance arising from his rights and pretensions. The following petition, subscribed by those who proposed to become inhabitants, was presented by them, on the 27th of May, 1674.1 ' To the Hon'ble the Governor, Deputy Governor, Assistants and Deputies, assembled in the General Court of the Massachusetts Col ony in New England, this 27th of May, 1674.