Auburn Town

Auburn Town

ToPOORAPHirAi,. - Auburn lies on the map an irregular pentagon in form, its eastern boundary and base line touching Millbury, with Worcester on the north, Leicester on the west and Oxford on the south. Its area covers about 10,000 acres, with a diameter of five miles in its extreme length. The centre, or the Congregational Church, lies five miles distant south by west from Worcester City Hall. The Norwich and Worcester Railroad threads the eastern side of the town, with depots at Auburn and Stone's Crossing ; the Boston and Albany Railroad runs through the western part. It has no station, but Jamesville and Rochdale depots are respectively within a half-mile and a mile of the town line. In 1885 the Webster Branch was opened, whose junction with the Albany road is in Auburn. This branch has a station at West Auburn. Thus railroad facilities are good.

The surface is hilly, though without very high summits. The water-courses, trending northerly and easterly, join their channels to make the southern branch of the Blackstone River. These brooks and ponds are frequented by anglers, and three water privileges serve manufacturing uses and have for nearly a century. Pakachoag Hill extends two miles in the easterly part of Auburn, passing into Worcester, where it is crowned by the College of the Holy

Auburn

Cross. From its broad plateau one gets a fine view of Stoneville, Leicester steeples on the western horizon, Millbury, Grafton and Shrewsbury, Mt. Asnebumskitand blue Wachusett. Grassy Hill bordersou West Millbury, Prospect Hill stretches from West Auburn across the Oxford line. Growl and Beer's Hills rise in the northwest corner. We find our Auburn not the "loveliest village of the plain." The population is fairly distributed, the factory precinct of Stoneville being the more thickly built up. Pondville lies east of the centre. The inhabitants generally are farmers whose great barns show the tons of hay produced and the quantity of stock raised. Towns adjacent have a larger territory and population, and, with the exception of Millbury, a more ancient record. Our history narrates the origin, the doings and the present condition of an average New England rural community.

Civil History

In Council, June 10, 1773, ordered that Gerehom Rice, Israel Stevens, David Bancroft, .Tunatlian Stone, Daniel Boyden, Jacob Stevens, Tliomas Drury, Thos. Driiry, Jr., Henry Gale, Wm Bancroft, Jas. Nichols, Darius Boyden, Jas. Hart, Thos. Baird, Jas. Hart, Jr., Thos. Baird, Jr., Oliver Curtis, Comfort Rice, Elizabetli Boyden, Phebe Bancroft, Jno. Boyden, Daniel Bancroft, Chas. Hart, Jas. Nichols, Peter Boyden, of Worcester - Benjamin Carter, Chas. Richardson, Timothy Carter, Pbiueas Rice, Ben jamin Carter, Jr., Rachel Buck, Daniel Roper, Gershom Bigelow, Gerfihom Bigelow, Jr., Peter Hardy, Daniel Cummiiigs, Charles Richardson, Jr., of Sutton ; Samuel Eddy, Levi Eddy, Peter Jenison, Kuth Stone, Jesse Stone, Isaac Pratt, Abraham Fitts, Alexander Nichols, David Gleason, of Oxford ; John Orowl, Jr., .\iidrew Growl, Jonathan Phillips' John Hart, Thomas Scott, William Yong, Jonathan Stone, of Leicester ; be and hereby are, with their Families and Estates, erected into a Precinct, and shall' enjoy all the powers and privileges which other Precincts in this province by Law etyoy ; and it is further ordered that all other persons (with their Families and Estates) living in the towns of Worcester, Leicester and Oxford, not further than three miles (as the roads are now trod) from the Place hereinafter fixed for building the meeting-house upon, together with all such others in Sutton that live not further than one mile and a half from said place, who shall signify their desire to belong to said Precinct by lodging their names in the Secretary's office within nine months from this date, be and hereby are Incorporated and made a part of the Precinct aforesaid - ordered that the spot for erecting the meeting-house upon be at the following place (viz)., at an Oak stump with stones upon it, Standing on the Westerly side of the County road leading from Worcester to Oxford, near the centre of two acres of Land which Thomas Drury conveyed to Jonathan Stone, Daniel Boyden and David Bancroft ; the said two acres of land lieth on the gore of land that was annexed to the town of Worcester.

These persons expressed their wish to join the new precinct, and did accordingly: Samuel Holman, Gershom Eice, Jr., Israel Stone, Wm. Parker, Joseph Phillips, .Samuel Learnard, Israel Phillips, Jacob Work, Jonathan Cutler, David Stone, John Harwood, Thomas Gleason, William Phips, Isaac Putnam, Joseph Gleason, Jonas Bancroft, Elisha Liverraore, Gardner Chandler (for my land within the limits), Nathaniel Scot, David Bates, Nathan Patch, David Richards.

July 27, 1773, the precinct was organized and chose its officers ; among others, Jacob Stevens, clerk, and Jonathan Stone, treasurer. The freeholders met at the tavern of Thomas Drury, Jr., inn-holder. The principal doings of the South Parish of Worcester, as it was called, will come in review under matters ecclesiastical, which mainly occupied attention during the five years of precinct municipality. One fact, however, deserves notice. On the proprietors' book stands, in the clear hand-writing of William Phips, the Declaration of Independence, with the subjoined order from the Council of Massachusetts:

That the Declaration be printed and a copy sent to the ministers of each parish of every denomination within this State, and that they severally be required to read the same to their respective congregations, aff soon as Divine Service is ended in the afternoon, on the first Lord's Day, after they shall have received it, and the town or district clerks are then required to record the same in their books, to remain as a perpetual memorial thereof.

April 10, 1778, the precinctbecame an incorporated town, named Ward, in compliment to Major-General Ward, the commander of the colonial forces, at Cambridge, till Washington arrived. Heath, Gardner and Warren similarly commemorate other Revolutionary ofiicers. Road-making, parish affairs, with the patriotic furnishing soldiers and supplies for the army, occupied our townsmen. In 1780 a committee reported on the adoption of the proposed State Constitution, favorably on the whole, yet suggesting their decided preference for legislative representation as towns, rather than based on the number of polls, and emphatically disapproving the proviso that the Constitution should not be amended for fifteen years. In 1795 the town voted thirteen to seven in favor of a revision of that instrument. September, 178G, " Voted not to take any notice of the petition or address of the town of Boston ;" but what the metropolis desired of the country cousins, to be treated so curtly, is not apparent.

Ward, like other towns, was considerably implicated in the uprising of Shays' Rebellion. Taxation was oppressive; Middle and Western Massachusetts was in a ferment. A company of armed men from Ward, under Captain Goulding, joined other insurgents, gathered at Worcester to prevent the sitting of the court. Some days later, after a chilling snowstorm, the insurrectionary soldiers indulged quite freely in stimulants from merchant Waldo's stock of liquors, but detected a queer taste that suggested to some the thought of poison. Fortunately, Dr. Green, of Ward, being at hand, relieved their fears and imaginary pains in the discovery that the favorite fluid had been plentifully seasoned with snufl'.

The town addressed several petitions to the General Court, Governor and Council, and Major-General Lincoln, in behalf of their misguided brethren, who became amenable to justice, particularly craving pardon for Henry Gale, under sentence of death as a rebel. He finally obtained life and liberty through the pardon granted by the executive to the condemned insurgents. The town expressly aftirmed "that the hostile measures adopted and pursued by sundry persons to oppose known laws were unjustifiable in their nature and tendency." These

Captain Samuel Pxldy was chosen representative to the General Court in 1787, and in a long document received the explicit instructions of his con stituents. I quote some of them : "The setting of the General Court, in the town of Boston, is a matter which the citizens of this Commonwealth are not generally satisfied with, as in transacting the business of an Infant Nation, irabarassed with debts, it h highly incumbent to study economy and dispatch, for which great purposes the town of Boston is by no means adapted." The next section demanded the abolition of the Court of Common Pleas ; they also asked for a convention to revise the Constitution, and that inn-holders and retailers be licensed by the selectmen of their respective towns. Article thirteen complains " of the pernicious practice of the Law, as tending to the imbarassment, perplexity and expense of the people. If the general prosperity and happiness of the people can be effected by proper checks and restraints on the practitioners of the law, we do not insist upon the total annihilation of the order, but if upon investigation it should appear conducive to the happiness of the people, that the order be annihilated, you will act conformably, for it is better that a few sutler than a People to sink beneath oppression."

Sometimes the town voted not to send a Representative to the Legislature. Two of its ablest men, at the same town-meeting elected representatives, each in turn refused the honor. In 1794 Joseph Stone, surveyor, was empowered to take a map or plan of the town, agreeable to a resolve of the Legislature. Next year the town agreed to help Joseph Stone against a loyalist's claim to certain property. In May, 179(3, "Voted unanimously that, alarmed by the reports current, that ye Treaty lately concluded between the United States of America and the Government of Great Britain, and duly ratified by the Constituted Authorities, meets with impediments and delays in carrying into effect, on the part of these State.s by the Majority of the Hon. House of Representatives of the Federal Congress; it is the wish and desire of this town, that the said Treaty be fully carried into effect without further delay." This vote was sent to the Hon. Dvvight Foster, Representative in Congre.ss.

During Jefferson's administration Ward by vote sustained the government in ordering the embargo, so unpopular in New England. John Clark, Esq., was the delegate to the convention for the revision of the State Constitution in 1820. Fifteen years later manufacturing was starting on a larger scale than the smithies, saw and grist-mills, home-looms and spinning-wheels of earlier times. That fact, with the construction of the two railroads, brought in a foreign element of population which is now mainly Canadian French. Church records chronicle with refreshing simplicity sixty years ago the death of an Irishman, a black woman, a foreigner from Sweden, the merely

The name of our town. Ward, because of confusion with Ware, was changed in 1837 to Auburn, proposed, we think, by Joseph Stone, Esq., who served as town clerk twenty-four years. Indeed, the recording the town's doings fitly belongs to the clan of Stones, the most frequent family name from the first; the present capable town clerk, Emory Stone, having filled that office thirty-two years. In 1850 the Legislature annexed to Auburn certain estates, which, by their owners' choice, in virtue of the act of incorporation of Ward, had paid taxes and exercised suffrage in the towns adjoining. Our growth has been slow but sure, without the rush, inffation, depression and crash that have scathed some communities. Probably more building went on from 1865 to 1875 than in any other decade. The population was in 1790, 473; 1810, 540; 1830, 090; 1850, 879; 1880, 1317. State census of 1885, 1208; the number of polls, 310; and the valuation, $487,421.

grims ; and somewhat later began his life-work, at Bangor Theological Seminary, where he died, full of years, service and honor, in 1881. This church greatly flourished during his ministry, more than doubling its membership in two extensive revivals. He published sermons, reviews, lectures, beside preparing young men for college. Anecdotes are told by those who remember him showing his pleasant and, at times, jocose disposition and ready wit. His dwelling looks to-day very much as when he abode there, and the long school-room and study, now two chambers, is our veneration, as is Luther's home and study to the residents of Wittenberg.

Rev. Miner G. Pratt preached twenty years. He married Caroline, daughter of M.oj. Thos. Drury, afterward resided at Andover, and died at Rochester) N. Y., 1884, aged eighty-four years. He organized a parish library, and was also postmaster. In 1887 the church building was moved back fifty feet, and the belfry and spire added.

Several clergymen came with shorter terms of stay, among whom was Rev. L. IvesHoadley, a relative by marriage of Dr. Pond. Rev. EInathan Davis, from Fitchburg, a graduate of Williams College in 18.34, began labor in November, 1869. He did noble work as a citizen as well as preacher. The church was raised up, galleries removed and the interior quite remodeled. The church's centenui.al was joyfullj' celebrated in J.anuary, 1876 ; but the only printed record is the newspaper column. Mr. Davis' ministry of ten years greatly strengthened the church. Sincere was the sorrow at his funeral, April, 1881. Rev. N. A. Prince pre.ached two years; and the present incumbent. Rev. S. D. Hosmer, of Harvard, 1850, began his labors January 1, 1883. The chapel near to the church has served at times as a schoolroom. In it hang three portraits of former pastors - Rev. Dr. Pond, Rev. Charles Kendall and Rev. EInathan Davis.

On the town records we catch glimpses of persons not in accord with the standing order ecclesiastically. In 1779 provision was made to supply the deficiency caused by "taxes sunk by being laid on several of the Baptist persuasion in a late Ministerial R.ate." Ten years after the selectmen were empowered " to abate Minister's taxes set to those who bring Certificates of their Congregating otherwheres besides in tliis town, as they may think proper." Liberty was given Elder Rathborn (at the desire of Jas. Hart) " to preach in the meeting-house at any time when they may not have occasion to make use of it themselves." March, 1812, the town "allowed the Dissenters from the Congregational Society the Privilege of occupying the Meeting-House on Week Days for Lectures; when the aforesaid Congregationals do not want to occupy the said house themselves."

A churcli was erected through the efforts of Colonel Goulding and Samuel Warren in West Auburn, next the burial-ground, in 1814. This was the Baptist house of worship. When that society migrated to North Oxford, this building, bought by the Warren Brothers, and moved to the site of their tannery, was used for business purposes till it was burned, about 1863.

The Baptist Church in Sutton called a council of elders and delegates, who met April 9, 1815, and constituted the First Baptist Church of Ward, with eleven male and seventeen female members. Elder Pearson Crosby, of Thompson, Conn., preached the sermon text (Matt. 16: 18), and Elder Thomas L. Leonard, of Sturbridge, gave the right hand of fellowship to the new church. Deacon Jonah Goulding, Samuel Warren, David Hosmer and several persons of the Jennison and Gleason families were original members. Elder Dwinel seems to have been the first pastor, afterward Elias McGregory, and Rev. John Paine was the preacher from 1830 till 1837, when the larger part of the church, which counted near one hundred members, were transferred to become the Baptist Church in North Oxford. Also in 1837 Rev. Jonah G. Warren was chosen to prepare the history of this church. The Oxford Church and congregation to-day are largely composed of Auburn families.

The Roman Catholic Church at Stoneville began as a mission in 1870. It is now under the pastoral supervision of Father Boylen, who lives in Oxford. They have a neat sanctuary on the hill, with a fine view of the Holy Cross College in Worcester, distant less than two miles.

Educational. - In 1779 two hundred pounds were given for schooling, and the town divided into five squadrons or districts, "Each squadron to diaw their money, and it to be a free school for the Town." The first committee chosen in 1780 were Jonathan Stone, Darius Boyden, Jesse Stone, ,Tohn Prentice and Andrew Crowl. In November three thousand pounds were added to the sum granted last year for schooling. It must have been the depreciated currency of the day, for soon after thirty pounds became the annual appropriation. Who were the school-dames or masters then, we know not. Joseph Stone may have been one. In 1784 Ward refused to allot any part of the school-money "to be held in the Center for the sole purpose of teaching Large Scholars." Two years later the committee were seven in number, viz., James Hart, Jr., Joseph Dorr, Esq., Lieutenant Thomas Drury, Jonah Goulding, Levi Eddy, Deacon Ezra Cary and Abel Holman. The apportionment of the school-tax on the lands of nonresidents in 1789 names the Sutton Squadron, Leicester Squadron, North and South Squadrons on Prospect Hill, Bogachoge and Deacon Stone's Squadron. November, 1790, Lieutenant Thomas Drury was annexed to the southeast squadron, provided said squadron shall erect their school-house on the height of land south of Messrs. Cary & Green's

Potash ; and a new squadron was formed ; the families of Abel Holman, Richard Bartlett, Eliphalet Holman and Paul Thurston set oft' from the southeast district. In June of the next year the three western districts were consolidated, and preparations made to build a school-house. A little later forty pounds was the usual annual appropriation. Like other towns fifty years since, a prudential committee looked after the school finances and a visiting cooamittee attended to the literary attainments of teachers and pupils. The pastors have generally served with others on the School Committee, and the town has a few times recognized their merit by placing ladies on the educational board. A report of the School Committee was accepted at town-meeting in 1843 ; but the earliest printed school report I have seen came out in 1851.

A school of a higher grade was held in the fall of 1875, whose pupils enjoyed the thorough instruction in High School studies of a Yale graduate, resident still in town. We have two hundred and forty children between five and fifteeu years old, six schooldistricts, with seven schools ; the Stoneville building, erected in 1872, housing two schools, with an annual appropriation of $1,300, added to which is the State school fund and the dog- tax.

Rev. Mr. Pond taught a private school some seven years in his own house. He fitted many young men for college, took rusticated collegians into his family, and, with wonderful diligence and versatility, heard lessons, directed his scholars, wrote sermons and articles for the press at the same time. He prepared a new arrangement of Murray's English Grammar. At times there were thirty or forty pupils. Hon. Albert G. Wakefield, of Bangor, Maine ; Rev. Artemas Ballard, D.D., of St. Louis; Virgil Gardiner, from the South ; Mr. Burrill, of Providence, R. I. ; and Rev. Gideon Dana were of those who studied here. Since Mr. Pond's departure selecl schools have at diflferent times been kept in the chapel.

Some of the elders here in their youth attended Leicester Academy, whose centennial was kept in 188-4. At present our youug people take advantage of the nearness and excellence of Worcester's varied institutions of learning.

A paper-covered little book is still preserved with Jonathan Stone's autograph as owner in 1760. His son, Joseph Stone, Esq., who died in 1835, had a good library for the time. Among his varied capabilities he exercised the craft of a bookbinder. Traces exist of a social library about 1880 ; Joseph Stone, Abijah Craig, Oliver Baker and others being share-holders. There was, too, a parish library in Rev. Mr. Pratt's day, of which he was custodian. Mr. William Craig willed to the town one thousand dollars, provided the town added another thousand to establish and maintain a free public library, only the interest to be expended. He was a man eccentric in dress.

econornical in his habits, of bright faculties, quick at repartee, an active Whig. He died in 1871. The library was opened in October, 1872, with two hundred volumes, and was for several years in charge of Miss Hannah Green, at her residence ; thence moved to an ante-room of the town hall. It has outgrown its present quarters. A portion of the library, mostly theological works, of the style read by our devout grandfathers, once belonged to Joseph Stone. The residue (fifteen hundred volumes) are a well-selected collection, diligently conned by the young people of Auburn. Miss Lucy P. Merriam is the trusty librarian. A catalogue was printed in 1885. We need for our library a copy of every book and pamphlet written in or about this town or its vicinity ; and then a commodious hall for their use, preservation and increase. The town also owns a large case, filled with law works and the public documents of the State.

Ground near the Senter of the parish, the most Salable place on the Rode from the meeting-house to oxford, on the Southerly Corner of Mr. Thomas Drury's Cleared Land," eleven rods each way, containing three-quarters of an acre. This old burying-ground joins the Commou and is thickly planted with the memorial stones of our predecessors. The oldest bears the date April 13, 1777 - the stone of Mrs. Deborah Thurston, aged nineteen years. The epiUiphs chronicle the family genealogies of the town to a large extent, as for forty years here was the only burial spot, and till 1846 the principal one. Our forefathers' tomb-stone poetry was usually alarming in its address to the living; but these lines on the stone of a fouryears-old child answer darkly the mooted question. Is life worth living?

An ancient graveyard beside the thronged city's street seems terribly out of place, only interesting to some Old Mortality of an antiquarian ; but in the country the open fields around, singing birds loving its tree-tops, wild flowers and creeping vines bordering its stone walls, the sunset glow of a summer evening lighting up its glades, give a tranquil beauty and serenity better felt than told. The poet's matchless elegy could have been written only of a country church-yard.

For seventy years the graveyard near School -House Number Four has been the burial-place for the west part of Auburn. The first interment was that of Mr. Gleason in 1S14. Colonel Goulding's tomb is here. A small enclosure on Prospect Hill near the Oxford line has one monument and several graves. It belonged to the Cudworth fomily. The Burnap field, on land of Thomas S. Eaton, is where that family buried their dead, but the stones have been all removed.

The new cemetery, laid out in 1846, occupies about six acres midway from the church to the depot. A simple plinth and marble shaft, resting on a granite base, the soldiers' monument, crowns the crest of the slope opposite the gateway. For forty years this garden of the dead received the faithful care of, and nearly every grave was dug by, the sexton, John G. Stone, from whose broad acres this land was purchased. Our town name recalls the designation of that first extensive garden-cemetery, Mount Auburn near Boston. As our necropolis has never been named, from its fair prospect over the near water to the distant hills, let us designate this beautiful spot our Mt. Pisgah.

The Old Tavern. - The residence of Otis Pond, at the Common, is perhaps as old and as little changed as to the interior, as any house in town. This was the tavern, with swinging sign-board between the two supporting timbers, suggesting accommodation for man and beast. It was kept by mine hosts Drury, Hturtevant, Cary and Wiser, and not on a temperance platform, as stories of the older inhabitants assure us. Here reined up the stages from Worcester to Norwich, which, in 1831, left Worcester every Wednesday and Saturday at 3 a.m., the passengers reaching Norwich the same afternoon, and, by the steam packet "Fanny," New York the next morning. The summer arrangements for 1838 read ; Monday, Wednesday and Friday the stage leaves for the Norwich boat at 6. .30 a.m., but on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday on the arrival of the first train from Boston. The Southbridge stage also passed through this town. A town-meeting, awaiting a committee's report, would take a recess at the inn so accessible. The first parish-meeting convened there, and its best room, I fancy, witnessed Sabbath worship, till the church was ready for use. Dr. Pond speaks of a memorable ball at the tavern, which was the precursor of a great revival. The post-oflSce and store were at the Common, but years since left the geographical centre of the town for its travel centre - the depot. But the sign " Groceries " remains, - an epitaph on business departed, perhaps capital buried beyond resurrection. Like an old palimpsest, too, it carries an older inscription of the store-keeper's name, easily decipherable beneath the last-painted word.

Personai, Sketches. - We glance at a brief outline of some whose lives have shaped our local history. All that occurred before 1773 belongs to Worcester's chronicles or the other mother towns. Yet a word of some then active where now lie our farms may not prove amiss.

September 17, 1674, Rev. John Eliot and his coadjutor, Major Daniel Gookin, visited Pakachoag (Lincoln's " History of Worcester" gives thirteen ways of spelling that name), preached and appointed civil officers among the Indians. John Speen, a Natick convert, had already preached and taught here two years. Gookin locates this Indian village seven miles from Ha.ssanamesit, - i. e., Grafton, - and three miles from the Connecticut Path, which led westward. That way ran just north of Lincoln Square, in Worcester. Wattasacompanum, as ruler among the Nipmucks, aided Eliot and Gookin. But next year the wily Philip seduced the natives from their loyalty to the English, when they burned deserted Quinsigamond, and were present at the Brookfield disaster. Wattasacomj)anum, or Captain Tom, as he is called, paid the penalty of his weakness at his execution on Boston Common. Matoonas, who had been chosen constable at Packachoag, met a similar fate.

Col. Timothy Bigelow, who served in the French and Indian War;- and led Worcester's company of minute-men on the Lexington alarm, was born in what was Worcester, but soon became included in Ward. His beautiful memorial column on Worcester Common records his soldierly service.

ary, east of Prospect Hill. Born at Sherborn and a graduate of Harvard College in 1746, he preached at Douglas till dismissed in 1765. We find no trace of him as a minister here, but he was active in church, precinct and tovifn matters, a capable man and a firm patriot. His daughter Sukey married Wm. Craig and was the mother of Abijah and William Craig and their as peculiar sister. Miss Patty. Mr. Phips died in reduced circumstanciis at Oxford in 1798.

A resolution passed at town-meeting in 1787 rings out its sweeping " Woe unto you lawyers !" Nevertheless, even in those troublous days, one of the most useful and honored citizens was the Hon. Joseph Dorr, born in Mendon, graduated at Harvard, 1752. Leicester and Brookfield also claim him as a resident. His services are conspicuous on our annals from 1786 to 1795. Having assisted in framing the State Constitution and filled already the position of State Senator, he was exceedingly valuable here in drafting petitions for clemency to those engaged in Shays' Insurrection, and was sent as the town's intercessor to lay their appeal before the Governor and Council. His youngest son, Edward, born in Ward, was a large land-owner in Louisiana and died there. Two older sons became eminent in mercantile and financial circles in Boston. Joseph Dorr held the office of justice of the Court of Common Pleas twenty-five years and was judge of Probate for Worcester County eighteen years. He died at Brookfield in 1808.

Deacon Jonathan Stone, of the third generation from Deacon Simon Stone, of Watertown, the immigrant ancestor and the third successively named Jonathan, came from Watertown about 1753, and settled on lands then in Leicester. In 1757 he and others asked to be joined to Worcester, which took place next year. Still later his acres fell into the new parish, soon becoming the township of Ward. His descendant, Emory Stone, Esq., owns the ancestral possessions, the venerable homestead standing till within forty years. Jonathan Stone's name occurs as owner of pew No. 47 in the Old South Church, Worcester, in 17()o. He marched with Captain Bigelow to Cambridge, April, 1775, his sou. Lieutenant Jonathan, going with Captain Flagg. Most of the family name here now are descended from Deacon Jonathan. He was active in the organization of the church and served as its first deacon. As appears in the original plan of the edifice, he bought pew No. 15, on the right of the pulpit, and paid the best price (sixty pounds) of any proprietor. The school District where he lived is named as Deacon Stone's District. After his day that section wa.s known atone time as New Boston. Old family Bibles record his three marriages and the goodly array of his nine sons and daughters. He lived to be over eighty years and his stone stands near the cemetery wall close by the chapel.

spoken of. As teacher, surveyor, bookbinder, and even occasional printer, he was variously and largely useful. Fond of reading and study, he gathered quite a library, and the annotations in his pamphlets and almanacs aftbrd many a desired fact to the antiquary. Specimens of hymns and tunes he composed are preserved. In 1793, with Abraham Wood, he published a singingbook, which circulated widely. The town records, in his clear chirography are a feast to the eye and a delight to the investigator. Some of our elders remember the cloaked figure of this aged worshipper at church. He had been often chosen to public office, and faithluUy discharged every trust. He outlived his wife sixteen years, and died childless, at the age of seventy-nine, February 22, 1835. He gave some of his property to Bangor Seminary, and a memoir of him was written by Dr. Enoch Pond.

Jonah Goulding settled in the west part of the town, coming thither from Grafton. He became noted as the captain of the Ward company, that joined Shays' forces. One Boyden was the lieutenant. After the rebellion collapsed he was arrested at his home and confined forty days in Boston Jail. His business was that of a tanner, and he built the mansion occupied by his grandsons, the Messrs. Elbridge and John Warren. He filled the place of school committeeman and selectman. Naturally firm in purpose, keen in judgment and outspoken in speech, he acted with emphatic earnestness. He was the principal mover in the formation of the Baptist Church, and its lifelong strong pillar. He died in 1826.

Rev. J. G. Warren, D.D., his grandson, and son of Samuel and Sally Goulding Warren, born September 11, 1812, fitted for college at Leicester Academy and graduated at Brown University, 1835, Newton Theological Institute, 1838. He was ordained at North Oxford, September, 1838, and had pastorates at Chicopee and North Troy, N. Y. ; but his chief service was done as a secretary of the American Baptist Missionary Union from 1855 to 1872. At a critical period he filled this position with marked capacity and success. He retired in enfeebled health, and died in Newton, February 27, 1884. He was a trustee of Brown University and Newton Theological Institute.

For seventy years and four generations the Drury family were important persons ; but none of the name are now resident. They owned a large estate, at one time two hundred and fifty acres, reaching from the church site well up on Pakachoag. Thomas Drury, the elder, probably came from Framingham. His name appears, in 1772, on the Worcester records among those eligible for jury duty. His grave-stone dates his death November 3, 1778, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. His son, Lieut. Thomas, had gone forth with Captain Bigelow's minute-men on the Lexington alarm. He deeded to the town, in 1781, the land around the church, two and one-half acres ; improved the water-power, long known asDrury's Mills, and died, aged ninety-one, in 1836. His daughter.