History of Spencer from its earliest settlement to the year 1841, including a brief sketch of Leicester to the year 1753

Front matter

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Preface

It cannot be expected, in the History of a town situated in the interior, like Spencer, that many facts or incidents would have happened, connected with its earliest settlement, and but few events in the succeeding stages of its existence, which would excite much interest in the general reader, and much less could this be expected of any thing relative to the present state of the town, or its inhabitants. It may, however, lay some claims to antiquity, by being once, a component part of the town of Leicester, but the annals of its earliest period can exhibit no details of bloody conflicts with the Indian, nor can it boast of having produced any great and illustrious characters, either in peace or war. No exciting or interesting details of this kind, will form any part of this history.

These pages are the humble effort of a native citizen of Spencer, and have been especially prepared for the benefit and gratification of his fellow citizens. The compiler makes no pretension to the character of an accomplished writer, and indeed the execution of such a work does not require much talent, or literary acquirements. All that is necessary, and all that may be expected, is a faithful de-

Vi"

!▼ PREFACE.

tail of names, dates, facts, incidents and events, such as have occurred with little variation, in most of the towns in New England. The brief sketches, and genealogies of families, will undoubtedly be dull and even tedious to many, while others, and perhaps most of the native inhabitants, will esteem this the most valuable part of the work. However satisfactory, or acceptable this may prove, or however it may be esteemed, it has cost a great deal of time and labor, indeed so much, that had it been known and realized at the commencement, it would have been abandoned before it was undertaken. The writer has aimed at the truth, and every statement and fact of any importance, may be strictly relied upon. For materials, access has been had to the county records of Suffolk, Middlesex and Worcester ; to the Council and Legislative records of the state ; to histories of other towns ; to the town, church and proprietors' records of Leciester and Spencer ; to Magazines, old files of Newspapers, and occasional sermons ; to ancient manuscripts, deeds, and other authentic documents ; to the memories of aged people ; and even the tombstones have furnished sources of information, from which something has been gleaned. In the hope that it may be of some benefit, and be acceptable to the parents and children of his native town, the author cheerfully submits it to their candor and intelligence.

CORRECTIONS.

Page 95, line 7 from top, for come read ensuei 100, 17 from top, for Tanner read Tansur. 119, II from top, for Eliza read Elizabeth. 136, 3 from top, for to read from.

Index

Accidents by fire, page 62, 63.

Act to prevent monopoly, 39.

Adams, David, 114.

Allen, Daniel, 14.

David, 114.

Baldwin, Asa, 36, 131.

David, 131.

Ball, Eleazer, Dea., 137.

Baptists, 103.

Barnes, David, 142.

Barton, Joshua, 116.

Bemis, family of, 105.

Bemis, Samuel, 82, 106,

Samuel, Jun., 106.

Edmund, 107.

William, 108.

Joshua, 109.

Nathaniel, 108.

Jonas, 109.

Dexter, 146.

A.

Allen, Israel, 143.

Aged persons, 150.

Andrews, William S. 157.

Aspomsok, Asnebumskit, 10.

Assessors, 152.

B.

Bigelow, Joseph, 136.

Boundaries of Spencer, 9, 19.

Boundaries of Leicester and Spencer, 18.

Bounty of rattlesnakes, &c. 60, 61.

Brad hurst, Ralf, 13, 14.

Bridge, Thomas, 125.

Bridges, David, 131.

Bright, Henry, 145.

Bunker Hill, battle of, 37.

Burden, Asa, 143.

Burgoyne, General, 40.

Business, 73.

Burial place, 104.

Capen, family of, 117.

Samuel, 117,

Timothy, 118.

James, 118.

Census, 32.

Chandler, John, 14, 15, 18.

Church established, 85.

Civil History of Leicester, 19.

Civil History of Spencer, 33, Clark, John, 14,

Mathias, 125.

Convention at Leicester, 50.

Concord, skirmish at, 37.

Confederation, 41.

Courts oppressive, 50, 51, Constitution of Massachusetts, 44,

62.

Crage, Nathan, 38, Cranson, Elisha, 130.

Crosby Stephen, 92.

VI

INDEX.

Committee of correspondence, 14G.

Converse, Luke, 139.

Congress at Salem, 35.

At Cambridge. 35.

At Watertown, 35.

Convention at Worcester, 35, 43, 49.

At Concord, 43.

Cunningham, Nathaniel, 24, S3,

113.

Cunningham, family of, 112.

Robert, 112.

John, 112.

Curtis, Jonathan, 13, 14.

John, 113.

Davenport, Addington, 14.

Davis John, 157.

Denney, Thomas, 34, 3.5.

Depreciation of the currency, 43.

Description of Spencer in 1788, 53.

Draper, family of, 123.

Richard, 13, 14.

Thomas, 123.

James, 4th, 124.

Joshua, 124.

Earthquakes in New England, GO,

Joshua, Jun. 146.

John Elliot, 145

Flagg, .Tohn, 130.

Samuel, 140.

Gale, Henry, 53.

Garni in, Benjamin, 13, 14.

Gardner, Thomas, 13, 14.

Henrv, 36.

Garfield, Samuel, 128.

Gates, Oldham, 126.

Gleazen, Benjamin, 142.

Goodenow, Cornelius, 130.

Goddard, David, 82.

Graham, John, 127.

Hall, Willis, 49.

Hathaway, James, 53.

Henshavv, Joseph, 35.

Hills, 69.

Indian deed of Leicester

Spencer, 9.

Indians, 21.

D.

Draper, David, 146.

Double dating, 12.

Drury, William, 130.

Benjamin, 144.

Dudley, Joseph, 10.

Thomas, 10.

Paul, 14.

William, 15.

Dummer, Jeremiah, 13, 14.

William, 22.

E.

Ecclesiastical, 74.

Elliot, John, 138.

John, Jun., 146.

Elliot, Richard Roswell, 146.

F.

First settlement of Spencer, 105.

Frink, William, 144.

G.

and

Greaton, John, 109.

Grant, original of Leicester and

Spencer, 9.

Gray, Harrison, 30.

Green, Benjamin, 137.

Griffin, David, &c., 132.

Grosvenor, Daniel, 90.

Guilford, Jonas, 144.

Jonas, Jun. 145.

Nathan, 146.

H.

Hobbs, Warren, 146.

Howe, Thomas, 14, 15.

Hutchinson, Thomas, 14.

William, 14, 15.