History of the town of Winchendon : from the grant of the township by the legislature of Massachusetts in 1735, to the present time

Front matter

Glass

Book_jA/j_iJll

HISTORY

Preface

The writer has been induced to undertake the present work by the solicitation of many of his friends, and by a desire to save from oblivion, to which they were hastening, some of the events connected with the history of this town. After collecting materials to a considerable extent, he felt ready to abandon the project, wishing that it might be prosecuted by some abler hand. But he has at length come to the decision to prepare the work for the press without further delay. The knowledge of some events treasured up in the memories of a few aged people, must, in the course of nature, soon be inevitably lost, if not preserved in a connected and tangible form. Though the number of these relics of other days is now small, much information has been derived from them ; and much more might have been obtained, had the enquiries commenced a few years earlier.

The difficulty of preparing a work of this nature, can only be conceived of by one who has attempted it. The mere collectmg of the scattered materials is some labor. It is a greater toil to arrange them in proper order when once they are collected. The settling of doubtful and contradictory statements is sometimes a perplexing business. And then comes the writing, which the author must accomplish as he can.

The writer has had free access to the Records of the Proprietors of Ipswich Canada, and to the Town Records of Winchendon. Oral and written information has been furnished with the utmost cheerfulness, by all those possessed of facts worthy of note.

It has not been thought necessary to descend into the particulars of the unhappy difficulties, which this town has experienced in its ecclesiastical affairs. The recital of

VI PREFACE.

them at the present time, would prove to be rather painful than interesting, and perhaps an impartial account would give satisfaction to neither party. When it is recollected that these divisions commenced about the year 1798, during the ministry of Rev. Mr. Brown, and continued, with more or less excitement, though with some intervals, till the ordinations of Rev. Messrs. Marvin and Bullard, during which period difficulty after difficulty arose, and council after council was called, it will be seen that a strictly impartial account of them would be a task of no small difficulty, and would extend the limits of this work much too far. It will be enough to state, generally, that angry feelings were sometimes indulged to an inexcusable extent. If this excited state of feeling has now passed away, the writer would not incur the hazard of disturbing the calm by galling a tender wound.

To Mr. Webster Whitney, the Town Clerk of Winchendon, Windsor N. White, Esq., Mr. Ezra Porter, Mr. M. S. Morse, Chairman of the Assessors the present year, Mr. Elisha Murdock, Rev. A. P. Marvin, Rev. Malachi Bullard, and Rev. J. M. Whiton, D. D., of Antrim, N. H. (who is a native of this town — the son of the late lamented Israel Whiton, Esq. — who was our physician, beloved and highly respected for his piety, talents, and usefulness,) this public expression of the thanks of the writer is due for the readiness with which they have afforded him every facility in their power, in the compilation of this work. To other persons, to whom he is more or less indebted for information, he tenders his grateful acknowledgements.

If the following pages afford satisfaction to the inhabitants of the place, and furnish the writers of general history with any facts before unknown, the writer is rewarded for his labor.

E. II.

WiNCHENDON, Sept. 28, 1848.