Charlton Town

Charlton Town

David McFarland, late of Worcester, and Eliza, residing with her brother, Rev. Daniel P., in Melrose ; 9. Rebecca, born November 13, 1778, married Lebbeua Turner, from Bennington, Vt., and had in Leicester, Stillman, now deceased, Jerusha, now iu Spencertown, N. Y., Caroline, wife of Dexter Converse, and Roxana, wife of Thomas Wall, all now deceased.

1. Mary, born August 25, 1795; died September 6, 1841 ; married Jonathan Warren, and had, in Leicester, Jonas L. Warren, formerly railroad station agent at Rochdale ; now in Shirley.

2. Sarah, born August 31, 1797 ; died May 1, 1827 ; married, August 10, 1823, Samuel Bottomly (his first wife), and had a daughter, Sarah, who married a Schofiekl.

3. Nancy, born October 13, 1800 ; died December 27, 1875; married, first, Moses Rockwood, of Grafton, and had John, Angeline and David Rockwood; married, second, February, 1837, Stephen Adams, and had in Paxton, Maria, June and Aaron Adams.

4. Hannah, born May 21, lb04; died July 29, 1836 ; married, January 9, 1828, Samuel Bottomly, and had, in Cherry Valley, Cornelia, Sarah, Levinah and Nancy Bottomly.

6. Salem, Jr., born April 23, 1809; died in Rochdale Village March 4, 1865 ; married, November 26, 1833, Roxa Darling, their only child being their son, Thomas Salem Livermore, born July 22, 1836 ; married, September 26, 1871, Mary Symons, daughter of John H. and Sarah (Crossley) Symons, of Rochdale, and owns and occupies the homestead erected by his father in Rochdale Village, nearly opposite the railroad depot.

Rev. Daniel P. Livermore, son of DanieP and Betsy (Packer) Livermore, of Leicester, is a Universalist clergyman in Melrose, ordained in 1841. He married. May 6, 1845, Mary, daughter of Timothy and Zebiah Vose (Ashton) Rice, of Boston ; since that time distinguished as an eloquent lecturer and speaker on temperance, women's rights and other reforms. Their iwo surviving children are: Mary Elizabeth and Henrietta W., the latter wife of John Oscar Norris, master of East Boston High School.

Dexter and Caroline (Livermore) Converse resided in Leicester, near Charlton, where they had a family of twelve children, among their sons being Edmund, Harrison and Lebbeus T. Converse, of Worcester.

father before him, was a carpenter, as well as a thrifty and industrious farmer and operator in real estate, in which kinds of business Salem, Jr., is well represented by his son, Thomas S. Livermore, who succeeded to and improves upon the five hundred acres of land in Leicester, Oxford and Auburn, including the homestead at Rochdale Village, on which he resides with his mother. Jonas ^ Livermore, Jr., was originally a Baptist, one of the pillars of the old Greenville Church; his son, Salem, Sr., was a Universalist, as well as the latter's brother Daniel, and Salem, Jr., was a member of the Episcopal Church at Rochdale.

Thomas S. Livermore has a specialty in the musical line, having officiated in a choir since he was fourteen years of age, and for the past few years he has been chorister and organist of the Unitarian Church at Leicester.

Chapter Xcv By Hon. Rufus B. Dodge

The town of Charlton is situated in the southwesterly part of the county, about thirteen miles from Worcester, and may with good reason be called one of the " hill towns." The surface is very uneven, and it has within its litnita the highest land in the south part of the county. The Boston and Albany Railroad runs through the north part of the town, and the highest point on that road is a short distance east of Ch.arlton Depot. The highest land in the town is the summit of the hill called Little Mugget, a short distance southeast of the depot. The large hill east of Charlton Centre, known as Mugget, and formerly called Mashey Mugget, affords a better view of the surrounding country, and has for that reason, perhaps, been considered by many higher land. There are several other hills in the town nearly as high as the ones mentioned, and a number of broad, deep valleys. About three-fourths of the present territory of the town was formerly a part of Oxford, and was set off from that town in 1755. The remainder was a part of a tract of land adjoining the town of Oxford on the north, said to contain ten thousand acres, of which no persons had obtained a grant, and that had not been included in any of the adjoining towns when incorporated and called the "Country Gore." About seven thousand acres of this tract was annexed to Charlton in 1757. The part taken from Oxford contained about twenty-three thousand five hundred acres. In 1788 ab ut three hundred acres, and in 1807 about forty acres were taken from the southeast corner of the town and set to Oxford. In 1792 a small tract of land was taken from the southwest corner of the town and set to Sturbridge; and in 1816 about three thousand acres were taken from the same part of the town to form a part of the town of Southbridge. On this latter tract was valuable water-power afforded by the Quinebaug Eiver. No alterations have since been made in the to^vn lines, although in 1831 an attempt was made to have a larg6 tract from the east part set to Oxford. The project met with strong opposition from a large majority of the inhabitants of the town and was defeated. According to a survey made since the last tract was set off the town now contains a little over twenty-seven thousand acres, and is exceeded by few, if any, of the towns of the county in area of territory.

It has been said that the soil of the part taken from Oxford was considered as inferior in quality, and for that reason did not attract settlers, but the manner in which the land was held accounts sufficiently for its tardy settlement.

All the land formerly belonging to Oxford had been granted in 1683 to Daniel Cox and others. About twelve thousand acres on the east part of the grant was allotted to settlers and called the village; the remainder was reserved by the proprietors. In 1788 Daniel Cox and Robert Thompson, of London, Joseph Dudley, of Roxbury, William Stoughton, of Dorchester, John Blackwell, of Boston, and Thomas Freake, of Hanningtou, England, were the owners of all the grant lying west of what was called ihe village line. In that year a survey and division of the land was made. According to this survey, the tract contained thirty thousand acres. By the terms of the deed of partition, Joseph Dudley took six thousand acres on the south side of tract, extending from the village line on the east to Sturbridge on the west. John Blackwell took an equal quantity of land north of and adjoining Dudley's lot. William Stoughton took a like quantity of land north of Blackwell's. North of Stoughton's land Blackwell took a second lot of about seventeen hundred acres. North of Blackwell's second lot Daniel Cox took about twenty-six hundred acres. North of the lot taken by Cox, Thomas Freake took about seventeen hundred acres. Robert Thompson had the remaining lot, which contained six thousand acres, and lay between Freake's lot and the " Country Gore." When Dudley was incorporated, in 1731, the six thousand acre tract of Joseph Dudley was included in that town. All the other tracts, with the exception of a strip of each, one mile wide, bordering on the village line, were taken from Oxford to form the district of Charlton. Mary Wolcott, of Salem, became the owner of the Freake land, and in 1730 sold it to Edward Kitchen, of the same place, who caused the land to be divided into one hundred acre lots, and soon commenced disposing of his land to settlers. In October, 1733, Ebenezer Mclntire, of Lynn, and Obadiah Mclntire, of Salem, each purchased one of these lots, and they were probably the first settlers of the town. Daniel Mclntire and Eleazer Mclntire both purchased land of Kitchen soon afterwards. The two tracts of land that Blackwell had by the division were sold by his heirs, in 1720, to Captain Peter Papillion, of Boston. In 1727 they were divided into lots of suitable size to sell to settlers, and in 1738 were divided, by commissioners appointed for the purpose, among the heirs of Papillion. In 1735 Richard Dresser, of Thompson, bought one of the lots, and was probably the first person to settle in the south part of the town. The land purchased by Richard Dresser was part of the well-known Dresser Hill farm. His brother, John Dresser, soon afterward bought land lying west of Richard's. Isaiah Blood, Richard Blood and Nathaniel Blood, from Bellingham, at about the same time purchased land, on which they settled, lying south of Dresser Hill.

In 1750 probably thirty families were in the westerly part of Oxford, and two-thirds of that number had settled in the Gore. In that year a petition was presented to the General Court, signed by seventeen of the inhabitants of the westerly part of Oxford and by nine of the inhabitants of the Gore, requesting "to be erected into a separate township." The petitioners met with opposition and were defeated. The inhabitants of the easterly part of Oxford, as appears by a vote passed in town-meeting, were willing the westerly part should be set off by a line one mile farther west than the line insisted upon by the petitioners.

In 1754, William Alton and thirty-six other inhabitants of the west part of Oxford presented a petition to the Governor, Council and House of Representatives setting forth the difficulties under which they labored on account of the distance they lived from a place of public worship and by reason of being taxed for schools from which they received but little benefit, and from other causes stated in the petition. "They therefore prayed that his Excellency and the Honorable Court would be pleased to take their distressed circumstances under their wise consideration and erect them into a town or district, or otherwise relieve them as in their wisdom they should think best." A committee reported in favor of the petitioners and an act for making a district of that part of Oxford lying west of a line running parallel to and one mile west of the village line, and that part of the Gore lying north of the part of Oxford to be set off; but the act as finally passed included no part of the Gore in the district. The act passed January 10, 1755, and was as follows :

" Be it enacted by the Governor and Council and House of Representatives that the inhabitants with their lands on the westerly part of Oxfurd, beginning on the south side of Oxford, one mile west of the village line, so-called, thence running north parallel with said village line to Oxford north line, be and hereby is set off and erected into a separate district by the name of Charlton, and that said district be invested with all the privileges, poweis and immuni- tie3 that towns in this province do or may enjoy, that of sending a representative to the General Assembly only excepted, and that the inhabitants of said district shall have full power and right from time to time to join with said town of Oxford in the choice of a representative or representatives, who may be chosen either in the town or district in which choice they shall enjoy all the privileges which by law they would have been entitled to if this act had not been made."

By virtue of a warrant from Moses Marcy, of Sturbridge, issued by order of the General Court to John Dresser, a principal inhabitant of the district, " the freeholders and other inhabitants " were warned to meet at the house of Ebenezer Mclntire on the 12tli day of March, 1755, to choose such town officers as the law required, and to see if the district would let swine run at large. At this meeting Richard Dresser was chosen clerk ; William Alton, treasurer ; Richard Dresser, Lieutenant Obadiah Mclntire, Jonathan Ballard, John Dresser and Ebenezer Mclntire, selectmen ; Samuel Streeter, tything-man ; Isaiah Blood, constable; Ebenezer Mclntire, clerk of the market; Ebenezer Lamb and Edward Chamberlain, fenceviewers; Nathaniel Blood, Nathaniel French and Nathaniel Mclntire, surveyors of highways. Hogreeves, deer-reeves and a brander of horses were also chosen, but no assessors. The name of the moderator wai not recorded. On the 24th of May, as recorded, the selectmen of the town of Oxford and the selectmen of Charlton, with William Young, surveyor, and Captain Elisha Moore and John Nichols, chainmen, mutually agreed upon and sworn, run the dividing line between .said Oxford and Charlton. On the 27tli day of March of the same year, the second districtmeeting was held, at which eight pounds, lawful money, was voted for schooling, and six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence for necessary charges. In April following it was voted " that the centre of the district should be the place to build a meetinghouse upon, if a convenient place, and if not, the nearest convenient place to the centre should be the place to build upon." At the same meeting it was voted that the schools should be kept in two places - one on the north side, the other on the south side of the district. At this time there were no inhabitants of the district living farther north than the north line of the Kitchen land, which ran just north of the house now owned by Wm. S. Wakefield, at Charlton Centre- Between the Kitchen land and the Gore lay the Thompson land, on which there were no inhabitants. This land had been divided in 1749 amongst the devisees of Joseph Thompson, but at the time the district of Charlton was established none of the land had been purchased by settlers, and, in 1760, when a tax of two-pence per acre was granted by the General Court on the lands of the non-resident proprietors toward paying for building the meeting-house, sixty acres of the land were sold to pay the tax on three

The Stoughton land, in 1718, was purchased by Samuel Brown, of Salem, and was afterwards owned by his son, William Brown. Elizabeth Danforth, Samuel Danforth, Elijah Dunbar and others became part owners, but no division was made nor any part of the land disposed of to settlers until after the right and interest of William Brown had been confiscated by the General Court in 1782. An agent was appointed to ascertain the right and interest of said Brown and to make and execute division deeds, so that the Commonwealth as well as the other proprietors might hold their several rights in severalty. A division of the laud was made and the part taken by the Commonwealth was sold at auction in 1785 by a committee chosen by the General Court, Caleb Aramidown, of Charlton, being one of the committee. Ebenezer Davis bought eight hundred acres of the confiscated land, Jacob Davis three hundred acres, Ebenezer Crafts three hundred acres; James Wolcott, Erasmus Babbitt and others were also purchasers. After this time the lauds of the Danforths, Dunbar and others were gradually disposed of.

The land of Daniel Cox descended to his heirs, and was surveyed and divided into lots in 1751. Before this time some of the land had been sold for taxes, but no sales appear to have been made by the heirs for many years afterward. Most of the land was taken pos-session of and improved, and finally the occupants claimed ownership and refused to give up the lands. A suit-at-law, lasting several years, finally settled the matter in favor of the heirs, and the lands were sold by an agent or attorney.

In December, 1755, Edward Chamberlain and Nathaniel French were chosen a committee to provide preaching, and in January, 1756, a grant of seven pounds for the support of the Gospel was made. In June ^following the district voted seven pounds to provide a stock of powder, bullets and flints, and also voted that the schools should be kept in three places, but refused to allow any part of the money granted for schools to be laid out for hiring a school-dame in summer, as petitioned for by some of the inhabitants. March 14, 1757, it was voted that the district's stock of ammunition should be kept at Richard Dresser's, and, from a list reported by the selectmen, selected the names of such as they judged most suitable to serve as jurors. The persons selected were Obadiah Mclntire, Nathaniel Blood, John Dresser, Eleazer Mclntire, Samuel Streeter, Ebenezer Twiss, Isaiah Blood, John Stevens, Ebenezer Foskett, Joseph Twiss and Ebenezer Chamberlain. As soon as the district was organized the work of building a place of public worship and of providing schools was undertaken, but beyond deciding that the centre of the district should be the place to build a meeting-house upon and making slight provisions for schools nothing was accomplished. Timber for a meeting-house had been pre- pared before the separation from Oxford. The warrant for a meeting to be held December 8, 1755, contained an article as follows: "To see if the district will agree to build a meeting-house, and if so, to agree upon ihe bigness to build the same;" and also the following: " To see if the district will choose a committee to take care of the timber that was hewed some time ago for a meeting-house, as also to provide materials for the same as may be thought most convenient if the district agree to build a meeting-house." At the meeting held under this warrant it was voted to take no action on the*e articles ; and at a nieeting held February 7, 1757, it was voted to raise no money either for schools or for the support of the Gospel, for the reason probably that it was expected that the petition that had been presented to the General Court for the annexation of the Gore would be granted. The inhabitants of the district had become satisfied that they were not in a condition to carry on the afl'airsof a town or district, and, judging from the tenor of their petitition, did not consider their situation had been improved by their separation from the town of Oxford. The district had voted, January 1, 1756, not to accept the, Gore or join in a petition that it might be added to the district. A different spirit soon prevailed.

TtiB petition of tlie snljscribers inliabitantB of Charlton and a place called the Gore Humbly shows, That the inhabitants of Charlton are now very sensible that it is wholly impracticable if not impossible for them to carry on the affairs of a district or in any measure support the charge necessarily arising fron' setting the Gospel amongst them. That the inliabitauts of the Gore are so situated that they can't be laid to any town with the least advantage and are so small as not to be tit for a district by themselves, but if they were added to Charlton they would make a good town or district and be able to support public charges. And as they lie very bandy to be laid to Charlton, they humbly pray that the land called the Gore with the inhabitants thereof lying westward of a line extending from the northeast corner of Charlton, northerly the same course as the east line of Charlton till it meets the south bounds of old Leicester, be added to tfio district of Charlton, there to do duty and enjoy privileges as other inhabitants of said district do enjoy. And as in duty bound will ever pray, etc.

The petition was signed by Solomon Harwood and thirty-three others of the district of Charlton and by Jonathan Wheelock and twelve others of the Gore. John Chandler and twelve other non-resident owners of real estate joined in a request that the petition might be granted. June 8, 1756, the answer of Jonathan Tucker, Nathaniel Jones and others was read with the petition, and the matter referred to the next fall session and further notices ordered. June 3, 1757, a committee having considered the matter, reported that the petition ought to be granted. "The report was read and accepted, and ordered that the inhabitants of the said Gore and the land within the bounds petitioned for, be, and hereby are, annexed to the district of Charlton and made part thereof, to do duty and enjoy privileges as the other inhabitants of said district do or by law ought to enjoy." The territory added to the district was about six miles in length and one mile in width on the east line and nearly three miles in width on the west line. All the " North Side " village, except the few houses on the road to Charlton Centre .south of the school-house, is on the Gore territory. The number of persons taxed in the district of Charlton in 1756, as shown by the tax-list for that year, was fifty three, and they were : William Alton, Richard Blood, Isaiah Blood, Nathaniel Blood, Jonathan Ballard, John Ballard, Edward Chamberlain, Joseph Clemence, Jonathan Clemence, Philip Clemence, Philip Clemence, Jr., Richard Dresser, John Dresser, John Davidson, William Coburn, Lemuel Edwards, Ebenezer Foskett, Nathaniel French, Benjamin Hobbs, Solomon Harwood, Adam Johnson, Ebenezer Lamb, James Lamb, Ob.idiah Mclntire, Ebenezer Mclntire, Eleazer Mclntire, Eleazer Mclntire, Jr., Daniel Mclntire, Thomas Mclntire, Thomas Mclniire, Jr., Nathan Mclntire, Joseph Mclntire, Philip Mclntire, Ezra Mclntire, Noah Mclntire, d Zebulon Mclntire, Robert Mclntire, Nathan Moore, ' John Oaks, Jacob Parker, Elisha Putney, George Pike, Paul Rich, Samuel Rogers, Obadiah Sabin, Samuel Streeter, Samuel Streeter, Jr., Samuel Scott, John Stevens, Ebenezer Twiss, Josei)h Twiss, Joseph Twiss, Jr., John Warfield.

The number of persons' living on the Gore land that were assessed a tax the spring afttr it was set to Charlton was thirty-nine. They were: Joseph Baldwin, James Blanchard, David Brown, William Cummins, John Convers, Nathaniel Dewey, Nathan Dennis, Samuel Eustis, Nathaniel Eustis, Philip Gage, Aaron Gleason, Ebenezer Hammond, Jonas Hammond, David Hammond, Nathaniel Jones, Henry Merritt, Ephraim Morey, Joseph Parker, Thomas Parker, Thomas Parker, Jr., Malachi Partridge, William Parker, Nehemiah Stone, Jonathan Tucker, William Tucker, John Thompson, Ebenezer White, Josiah White, Daniel Weld, Job Weld, Noah Weld, Daniel Williams, Benjamin Ward, Uriah Ward, Jonathan Wheelock, Paul Wheelock, David Wheelock, Peter Sleeman and Jonathan Upham. Of the persons above named who were prominent in public affairs, and whose names appear frequently on the records, Jonathan Tucker, Daniel Williams and the Welds were from Roxbury, Nehemiah Stone and the Hammonds from Newlon, the Wheelocks from Mendon, and the Wards from Roxbury.

A committee was chosen by the General Court in 1719 to sell the Gore land, and it was divided into lots of three hundred acres, but, so far as the records show, no person living on the land at the time it was annexed to Charlton became an owner prior to 1735. In that year Jonathan Tucker, of Roxbury, deeded to his son Jonathan one-half of three hundred acres in the Gore, and the same year Jonathan Wheelock bought one hundred and fifty acres, and they were probably the first settlers in the north part of the town. The Hammonds bought land adjoining Tucker's on the west in 1739, and Nehemiah Stone became the owner of land in 1746 that was afterwards owned by his son Nchemiali, and by his grandson, Nehemiah B. Stone. Although Charlton, after the Gore was added, contained a larger population than many of the towns in the State, it remained a district, without the right of sending a Representative to the General Court, until a law v/as enacted in 1775, making all districts in the Coniniunwealth towns.

With the addition of population and resources secured by the addition of territory, the inhabitants considered themselves in a condition to carry on successfully public affairs. Accordingly, July 28, 1757, a meeting was held, and the district voted ten pounds, lawful money, for the support of the Gospel, and thirteen pounds six shillings and eight f^nce for the support of schools. Ebenezer Mclntire, Jonas Hammond and Isaiah Blood were chosen a committee to provide preaching, and Ebenezer White, Ebenezer Hammond, John Stevens, Eleazer Mclntire and Nathaniel Blood, School Committee. The district also voted " to build a meeting-house at the centre of the district, if a convenient place; if not, at the nearest convenient place .thereto." The district before the Gore was annexed had passed a similar vote, but the large addition of territory made it necessary to select a new location, but failing to agree as to where the centre of the district was or the nearest convenient place thereto, at a meeting held November 22, 1707, a committee was chosen, consisting of Dea. Thomas Wheeler, of Worcester, Samuel Chandler, Esq., of Woodstock, and Col. Hezekiah Sabin, of Thompson, "to state a place for a meeting-house." The di^-trict voted to pay Richard Dresser six shillings eight pence for entertaining the committee, but refused to accept the " place stated." An article in the warrant for a meeting held January 16, 1758, was as follows: "To see it the inhabitants of the district will vote that the meeting-house shall stand at a stake that is set up north of Ehenezer Mclutire's house, and if not, to see if the inhabitants of the district will agree in sending to the General Court for a committee to find the centre of the district, and to state the place for the meeting-house." At this meeting it was voted "to build the meeting-house at the stake a little north of Ebenezer Mclntire's house." ' It has been stated that a committee from the General Court staked out a place for the meeting-hOuse ; but if the district records are to be depended on, the statement is incorrect. As recorded, the vote for accepting the place was sixteen to nine. Ebenezer Mclntire gave the district an acre of land, but it was stated in the deed that it was for the use of said district " for the meeting-house to

' Ebenezer Mclntire owned all the land on Charlton Hill, on which the Centre Village stands, and he and his sons and their families were the only residents until 1775. His house was on the west side of the road that runs on the east side of the Common, and probabl.v a little farther south thun the house where George F. Cnmmins now lives, and stood on land that now is part of the Common.

stand upon and for a training-field, and for no other uses." This piece of land, as described in the deed was twenty rods long and eight rods wide, and bounded easterly by the road. For many years it has not been used for either of the purposes specified. The first meeting for the choice of district officers after the Gore was annexed was held March 20, 1758. At this meeting Jonathan Tucker, Richard Dresser, Jonas Hammond, Isaiah Blood and Ebenezer Mclntire were chosen selectmen ; Richard Dresser, clerk, and Jonathan Wheelock, treasurer.

At the same meeting it was voted to build a meeting-house fifty feet long and forty feet wide and to cover the whole with shingles. One hundred pounds was granted toward the expense of building and Nathaniel Blood, Isaiah Blood, Jonathan Upham, Jonathan Ballard and Ebenezer Hammond were chosen a. meeting-house committee for the year and were authorized " to set a price upon materials and upon labor and to choose a master workman to set up the frame." In July, 1759, it was voted " to let out the framing of our meeting-house by the great," and for twenty-six pounds, thirteen shillings and four pence, Jonathan Upham undertook "to set up the frame and assist in raising the same." In September following the district voted "to provide victuals and drink for the raising of the meeting-house and other necessa- ^ries," and a committee was chosen to see that provisions were suitably prepared. In March preceding forty pounds had been voted toward defraying the charges of building. In 1760, upon the petition of Jonathan Tucker and other residents of the district, a tax of two pence per acre for one year on land of non-resident proprietors was granted by the General Court " in order lo enable the inhabitants to finish the meeting-house." Nearly nineteen thousand acres of land in the district was at this time owned by non-resident proprietors, as the tax authorized amounted to one hundred and fifty-three pounds, fourteen shillings and eight pence. Although not completed, the house was in a condition to be used as a place of public worship by January, 1761. A meeting of the inhabitants for district business was held in it January 6th. There had been expended upon it, as reported by a committee, two hundred and eightytwo pounds, five shillings, three pence and two fai things. In February following twenty pounds was voted "toward finishing the meeting-house." Before the district was incorporated some of the inhabitants had attended public worship at Dudley and a part at Sturbridge. Afterward money had been voted from time to time for the support of the Gospel and meetings had been held probably at the house of Ebenezer Mclntire, where all meetings for the transaction of district business were held until the meeting-house was in a condition to be used. May 26, 1761, the district voted to concur with the church - in giving Rev.

Caleb Curtis a call to settle in the ministry, and voted to give him one hundred and thirty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence as settlement, and sixty pounds salary, i-o long as he should supply the pulpit. Mr. Curtis accepted the call and was ordained October 15, 1761.

In 1762 the district voted to put pillars under the gallery beams and to build seats from alley to alley, and appropriations were made from time to time to pay expenses. In 1766 a petition was presented to the General Court for a tax on the land of non-resident proprietors towards finishing the meetinghouse, but no tax was granted.

In 1772 the district voted to give Jacob Davis £163 12s. to finish the inside of the meeting-house, "the work to be done as well and complete in all respects as the work was done in the meeting-house at Oxford and to be completed in eighteen months." It appears that the work was compleied according to the agreement, and in September, 1773, a committee was chosen " to Dignifie all the pews in the meetinghouse." The business of this committee, judging by their report, which was accepted, was to number and appraise the pews. It was voted "that the man who paid the highest tax on real estate towards the meeting-house should have his first choice, paying the appraisal and so on by succession until all were disposed of." By this arrangement the choice fell to tax-payers in the following order: Jacob Davis, Ebenezer Hammond, Jonas Hammond, Paul Wheelock, Nehemiah Stone, Ebenezer Mclntire, Nathaniel Blood, Jonathan Tucker, John Stevens, David Wheelock, Nathaniel Goodell, David Hammond, Daniel Weld, Ebenezer Foskett, Henry Merritt, William Tucker, John Nichols, Jonathan Mower, John Edwards, Benjamin Marsh, Benjamin Alton, James Blanchard, John Marble, Jona'han Ballard, Edmund Bemis, Joseph Parker, Ebenezer White, Jr., John Farley. As one pew was reserved for the use of the ministry, it appears there were twenty-nine pews in the house at this time. Besides the pews there were seats in the house for the use of persons who were not pew-owners.

In 1788 it was voted to take up three of the body seats and sell at auction the room for pew ground. In 1790 Daniel Williams was granted leave to put a pew in the west end of the men's body seats. In 1793 General John Spurr paid £6 2s. for pew ground. In 1775, as has been stated, the district of Charlton, by an act of the General Court, was made a town. March 11, 1776, the church voted to dismiss Rev.

Caleb Curtis, according to his request. The town, at a meeting held March 25th, voted not to concur with the church, but in July following voted in favor of dismissal. October 29th an ecclesiastical council, after considering the reasons of Mr. Curtis for asking a dismission and finding that at his desire, the church and the town had voted to dismiss him, the council approved of what had been done and accordingly declared Mr. Curtis dismissed. Mr. Curtis, like many other clergymen of the time, owned a farm.' After his dismissal he continued to live on his farm until his decease, in 1802, at the age of seventy-five years. He was active in public aflairs and was chosen a delegate to the Provincial Congress in 1775 and a representative to the General Court in 1787.

The tgwa continued to support ministers of the standing order until 1782. In that year the warrant contained an article, as follows: "To see if the town will vote to support for the future the public teacher, or teachers, of piety, religion and morality of said town by taxation or by free contribution." On this article the vote was, " for taxation, 55 ; for free contribution, 106." After this time no money was raised by the town for the support of preaching. A congregational society was incorporated in 1784. The act of incorporation was amended in 1786, and in 1798 the amended act was repealed, and an act passed, incorporating Israel Waters, Salem Town, John Spurr, Jonas Ward and others a religious society, by the name of " The Proprietors of the New Congregational Centre Meeting-house in Charlton." A meeting-house was built for the society by Deacon Jonas Ward, which was probably raised about the 1st of June, 1798, as May 24th the society chose three stewards, " to provide such drink as they should think necessary for raising day," and three " to deal out the drink," and voted " that the carpenters on raisingday should inform the stewards what time to refresh." The house was dedicated November 26, 1799. It was very large, having one hundred pews on the lower floori and fifty in the gallery, and stood where the Universalist meeting-house now stands. The pews were divided amongst the proprietors by lot.'

After Mr. Curtis was dismissed there was no settled minister until January, 1783, when Rev. Archibald Campbell was installed, and remained until April, 1793, after which time there was n6 settled pastor for about four years. In 1797 Rev. Erastus Learned was ordained ; he was dismissed in 1802. In November, 1803, Rev. Edwards Whipple accepted a call from the church and society at a salary of four hundred dollars a year. He was ordained January 25, 1804, and remained until February 20, 1821.

- The tirst meeting-house was sold, in 18o:i, to Levi Davis for three hundred and fifty dollars, one-half of which was paid to the pew ownersi the other half to the town. The house was taken down and the mate rials used for a barn on the farm now owned by Moses D. Woodbury.

Kioh, whose term of service ended in 1825. A majority of the proprietors had become dissenters from the Calviiiistic Congregationalist doctrine, and, by an arrangement with the minority, became the owners of tlie meeting-house. In October, 1820, the minority and other residents of the town organized a society and took the name of " The First Calvinistic Congregational Society of Charlton." Meetings were held in the hall of William S. Weld (afterwards called " Craig's Hall ") until a meeting-house was built. The house was commenced in 1826, and completed in time to be dedicated June 5, 1827. The same day Rev. John Wilder, who had been invited by the church and society to become their pastor, was installed. Mr. Wilder remained until February, 1833. Since that time the pastors have been - Eev. William H. Whittemore, from June, 1833, to September, 1836 ; Rev. Isaac R. Barbour, Irom August, 1836, to June, 1839; Rev. George W. Underwood, from June, 1840, to March, 1843 ; Rev. John Wilder, from April, 1843, till his decease, in 1844; Rev. Alansou Alvord, from February, 1845, to March, 1846; Rev. Nelson Clarke, from June, 1846, to December, 1849; Eev. John Haven, from April, 1850, to October, 1879; Eev. Frank Jenkins, from .January, 1881, to July, 1882 ; Rev. Charles M. Pierce, from August, 1883, to November, 1886. Rev. William Sewall, the present pastor, was installed June 24, 1887.

In 1855 the meeting-house was remodeled and improved. The society has an income from a fund of about two thousand dollars, a bequest from Sally Willis, who died in 1887.

As early as 1757 there were people in Charlton who held Baptist sentiments. In that year the following certificate was tiled with the assessors :

Leicester, November 15, 1757. This may Sertify all People to whom it may coDcern that Obadiah ]>Iiickiutire, Seller., and Eleazer 3Iackintire, Sener., aud Ebenezer Twisa and Solomon Ilarwood, all of Charlton, do Usnally and frequently attend the annabaptis Meeting under the Pastoral care of Elder Thomas Green and do Desire the Liberty the Law gives in Being Clear<i from paying of Kates to those of other Way of thinking And Lickwise Eleazer Miickintire, .Tunr.

The same year Nathaniel Jones obtained a similar certificate from the Baptist Church in Sutton. In 1761 twenty-three tax-payers in Charlton had filed such certificates with the assessors and, in consequence, were exempted from paying taxes for the supp(nt of the standing order. In July, 1762, a Baptist Church was formed at what is called the North Side, composed of members from Charlton, Leicester and Spencer. There is nothing in the society or church records to show when the first meeting-house was built, but, as in all warrants for district or townmeetings prior to 1780, the inhabitants had been warned to meet at the meeting-house in said Charlton, and after that date at the Centre meeting-house, it may reasonably be inferred that it was built in 1779. The society, for a time, increased quite rapidly in numbers, and, in 1793, a new house was built on land given for the purpose by Captain Levi Davis.

The society voted to give to Elder David Rathbun the old meeting-house for a dwelling-house, provided he should settle with them, but at a subsequent meeting this vote was reconsidered. And when the new house was ready for use the old one was sold to Moses Dodge.'

Elder Nathaniel Green, of Leicester, was the first minister. He was ordained October 12, 1763, and labored with the church aud society until his decease, March 20, 1791. After the death of Elder Green the pastors were Elder David Rathbun, from 1792 to 1795 ; Elder Charles Thompson, from December, 1802, till his decease May 1, 1803 ; and Elder James Boomer, from 1803 to 1834, when his health failed and he was obliged to give up preaching. He died February 24, 1837. He was the last minister of the church and society. Soon after his decease letters of dismission and recommendation to other churches of the Baptist denomination were given the remaining members.^

Elder Boomer is remembered by the old residents of the town as an earnest, efiective preacher, who labored faithfully for the welfare of his parishioners. He enjoyed the respect and confidence of his townsmen, and was twice elected a representative to the General Court. Several causes contributed to the decline of the society. There were many removals from town. Some were so situated that they could more conveniently attend other churches of the denomination, and with a considerable number there was a change of religious sentiment.

It is said that a Methodist Church was organized in the southwest part of the town in 1792, and that circuit preachers served the society until 1810, after which the society ceased to exist. Meetings were held in the hall at Dresser Hill and in other places in the south part of the town for a considerable number of years before a house of worship was built. Some of the preachers were : Hezekiah Davis, Stephen W. Hammond, Otis Perrin and Joseph S. Ellis. In 1855, when it was decided to build a church at Charlton City, a legal organization was eflTected, and measures taken to carry out the project. The house was completed in 1856. Since the organization of the society the pastors have been as follows : William B. Olds, 1855-56; Jarvis Wilson, part of 18-57; Daniel Dorchester, 1858-59 ; C. H. Hanaford, 1860- 62; J. S. Thomas, 1862; John Noon, 1803; J. W. P. Jordan, 1864; A. M. Osgood, 1865 ; D. K. Banister, 1866-68 ; N. A. Soule, 1869-71 ; N. F. Stevens, 1872 ;

'- The last meeting-house after the dissolution of the society was taken down aud removed to the easterly part of Leicester aud set up for a factory.

After the division of the Congregational Society in 1825, the meeting-house was purchased by the town, but was sold in 1826 to Dr. Dan Lamb, Samuel D. Spurr, John Davis and others, and passed under the control of the Unitarians. In 1827 a society and church of that denomination was organized, of which Rev. Edward Turner became the pastor. He was installed June 18, 1827, and remained until May, 1831. He was the only pastor of the society, and soon after his services ended the society ceased to exist. Many of the members joined the Universalirtsin organizing the First Union Society of Charlton.

A Universalist Society was formed in 1827, and held meetings at the North Side. The preachers were Rev. Massena B. Ballou, Rev. Gilman Noyes and Rev. John Boyden. In 1838 a society was organized, composed of Universalists and Unitarians, that took the name of " The First Union Society of Charlton," and voted to hold meetings at Charlton Centre. The old meeting-house was purchased of the proprietors and taken down, and a new house built on the spot where the old one stood. The basement was built by the town according to the terms of an agreement with the society, and is used as a place for holding townmeetings and for public uses. The house was completed and dedicated in December, 1839. lu 1851 the society took the name of " The First Universalist Society of Charlton." Rev. Aurin Bugbee was pastor of the society from 1838 to 1851. Since that time the pastors have been Rev. M. E. Hawea, 1851-52 ; Rev. Lyman Maynard, 1853; Rev. J. H. Willis, 1854-55. From 1855 to 1858 there was no regular pastor ; the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Z. Baker and others. In March, 1858, Rev. Lucius Holmes became the pastor, and continued until March, 1863 ; Rev. Clarence Fowler was pastor the remainder of 1863 and 1864; Rev. Edward Smiley, 1866-74; Rev. Anson Titus, 1875-78; Rev. I. P. Quimby, 1879-83. In 1883 Rev, Lucius Holmes a second time became pastor and still continues in that office.

Nehemiah B. Stone, who died in 1866, left by will five thousand dollars to the society, the interest of which was to be used for the support of preaching.

In 1858 a society was formed at Lelandville of people of various religious beliefs. A meeting-house was built and religious services held regularly on the Sabbath for several years. Rev. William B. Olds supplied the pulpit most of the time. From some cause interest in the meetings declined, religious services were discontinued, and the meeting-house, after remaining unused for a considerable time, was sold and removed, the southeast p.irt of the town. A chapel was built in which meetings have since been held. There has been no permanent minister. The preaching has been by clergymen of the denomination from other towns.

The Roman Catholics held meetings at Charlton Depot for several years. In 1887 a building was purchased at Charlton City in which their meetings are now held. The church is under the care of Rev. Father Donahoe, of Southbridge.

At the first meeting held in the district March 12, 1755, no money was appropriated for any purpose. The second meeting was held the same month. An article in the warrant for the second meeting was " To make such grant or grants of money as the district may think necessary for the district's use as for schooling the children in the place or for other things that may be thought needful." Eight pounds, lawful money, was voted for schooling. At a meeting held in April following it was voted that the schools should be kept in two places, the one on the north side, the other on the south side of the district. At that time there were no inhabitants living farther north than the Centre Village now extends. It is probable that the school for the south part was on or near Dresser Hill, in the neighborhood of the Bloods and the Dressers. The school for the north part was without doubt farther south than what is now Charlton Centre. In 1756 it was voted that the schools should be kept in three places, and that no part of the money should be laid out for hiring a school-dame in summer, as petitioned for by some of the inhabitants who had small children. The Gore having been annexed to the district in 1757, in July of that year £13 6s. 8rf. was voted for schooling, and Ebenezer White, Ebenezer Hammond, John Stevens, Eleazer Mclntire and Nathaniel Blood were chosen School Committee. It was voted that each part should provide its own school-house and that the committee should provide sch(ioling as each part should choose. In 1760 the selectmen were chosen School Committee, and the appropriation for schools was fifteen pounds. In 1761 a committee was chosen " to state places for school-houses in the several parts of the district." The committee reported that they had agreed on six places, three on the east side and three on the west side of the district, and that the house for the soulhwe.st part should stand where it was already built. Tbe report was accepted.

For several years after this time the number of schools was not increased, and the sum appropriated for their support in any year did not exceed twenty pounds. In 1767 the district was divided into eight school wards, one of which was called the Middle Ward, the school-house for which was to be at the southwest corner of the burying-ground. Before this time it does not appear that there had been a school at the Centre. The district voted that each ward should build its own school-house. In May, 1773, Ebenezer Hammond, Jacob Davis and Isaiah Blood were chosen a committee to act in defence of the town on an indictment for not keeping a grammar school. As the population increased additional schools were provided and the appropriations for their support were increased.

In 1780 there were ten school-wards in the town. In 177S the sum voted for schools was one hundred pounds. The currency had become of so little value in 1780 that twenty-five hundred pounds wiis voted. In 1781 the appropriation wa.s " 60 pounds in hard money or current exchange." In 1786 a committee was chosen " to regulate the schools for each ward and to select a place for a school-house in each ward where a school-house had not been built, the places selected to be reported to the town for acceptance." The committee were authorized to expend, under the direction of the selectmen, the money that each ward was entitled to receive. In 1788 the town granted the petition of the " middle ward'' for leave to build a school-house with the share of money raised for schooling belonging to said ward. The same privilege was granted the " east ward" the year following. In 1795 three additional school-wards were made and the sum of two hundred pounds was voted for providing schooling. A few years later two more schoolwards were made and fifteen schools were supported until 1836, when the number was reduced to thirteen by uniting two at the Centre and two in the northeast part of the town.

As for many years each ward or district provided its own school-house and the money raised for schools was divided amongst the several wards, in proportion to the amount of tax paid by the inhabitants of each, the wards or districts really provided the schooling. In 1854 a more equitable method of dividing the money was adopted, a portion of the money raised for school purposes being divided equally among the districts. In 1869 the town voted to abolish the school-district system and since that time has owned the school-hou.ses. A sufficient number of schools to accommodate all the school-children of the town are maintained thirty weeks each year. For several years the number of schools has varied from eleven to thirteen. The annual expense for their support is about .$3800.

The No. 3 School District h.as a fund of $1000, a bequest by Jesse Smith, who died in 1835. The interest of this fund is used for the benefit of the school in the district.

Capt. Julius E. Tucker, who died in 1873, left a legacy of $1000 to the town, the interest of which will, according to the terms of his will, be mainly used for school purposes.

In 1860 a Library Association was formed for the purpose of establishing a library. The undertaking proved quite successful and a good collection of books was secured. In order that its use might be enjoyed by the public generally, in 1882 it was made over to the town for a Free Public Library, on condition that an annual appropriation should be made for the purchase of books and for necessary expenses. Since that time the town has annually appropriated $200 for its benefit. April 1, 1888, the library contained 1168 volumes for circulation and 365 books of reference. In the future, in addition to the appropriations made by the toyrn, the library will have the income from a fund of .$500, bequeathed by Mrs. Emeline Munroe, said income to be expended for the purchase of books.

Pauperism was rare in the early history of the town. Occasional aid was rendered persons in indigent circumstances. In 1766 Nathan Mclntire was paid two shillings two pence '' for a pare of mittens and footing; 2 pear of stockings for James Butler." Other small amounts were paid from time to time. In 1773 Dr. William Ware was allowed twelve shillings three pence for doctoring the poor. Some families were warned to leave the town to prevent their acquiring a settlement. In 1766 it was voted "to allow Solomon Harwood, for warning out three families, by vertu of a warrant from the selectmen, fore shillings." Several times the town voted to build a work-house, but the votes were never carried into effect, and for a considerable time homes were found for paupers with such persons as were willing, for a stipulated price, to undertake the support of one or more of them for the year. Later they were " auctioned off to the lowest bidder." In 1836 a farm of two hundred acres was purchased, on which, since that time, the unfortunate poor of the town, in sickness and in health, have been comfortably provided for. In 1864 a new house was built on the farm, at a cost of $6125.

According to tradition, the first place of burial was on the southwest corner of the farm of Obadiah Mclntire, which is now owned by David 0. Horn. The land is now covered by a growth of wood of considerable size, but the rough, unlettered stones, set to mark the graves, can readily be found. In 1762 it was voted " to lay out a burying-ground as near our meeting-house as the land will admit of, if the land maybe had." In 17G3 it was voted "to accept an acre of land, a little south of Ebenezer Mclntire's barn, for a burying-ground for y° district to bury theijr dead."

A little later a burial-place was provided at the north part of the town, called the North Side Burying-ground, and another in the south part, called the Dresser Hill Burying-ground. All these lots have been enlarged, and are still used as burial-places. Any family or person in town has had the privilege of selecting any unappropriated lot when needed, but no person has been allowed to select a lot until wanted. The town has an income from a legacy of five hundred dollars from Thomas J. Spurr, and also from a legacy of two hundred dollars from Mrs. Ruth Twiss, which, according to the terms of the bequests, are used mainly for the improvement of the Centre Buryiug-grouud.

In the war of the Revolution Charlton bore its share of burdens resolutely. There was no failure in furnishing the quotas of men required. Liberal bounties were paid the soldiers who served in the army, and they were, as far as possible, supplied by the town with clothing and blankets, and their families were provided for during their absence. A meeting was held August 19, 1773, to take into consideration a letter from the Committee of Correspondence of Boston. A committee was chosen, consisting of Deacon Jonas Hammond, Captain Richard Dresser and Captain Nathaniel Blood, " to draw up resolves relating to the unconstitutional burdens laid on the province." The report of the committee was as follows :

Geiillemen, - We Lave taken into Beriou6 consideration the pamphlet Bent us from Boston, wlierein the rights and privileges of this province are clearly stated, and the iut'ringonients made thereon justly pointed out. "We return uur sincere thanks to the town of Boston for the vigilance and 'firmness in support of the country, which has heen very conspicuous in that metropolis, and will heartily join in all such meaaures as may appear moat conducive to the restoration of our invaluable privileges from the hand of oppression.

The report of the committee was approved, and Jonas Hammond, Richard Dresser, Nathaniel Blood, Ebenezer Hammond, Stephen Fay, John Dresser and Ebenezer Foskett were chosen a Committee of Correspondence.

September 12, 1774, it was voted to provide one hundred and fifty pounds of powder, three hundred pounds of lead and fifty dozen flints, and eighteen pounds, lawful money, was voted to pay for the same. Ezra Mclntire, constable, was instructed to make no return of jurors, according to the late order. October 16, 1774, Captain Jonathan Tucker was chosen delegate to attend the Provincial Congress to be held at Concord the second Tuesday of the month. At the same meeting it was voted to furnish the regular troops with no implements, labor, etc. December 22d the constables were directed to pay what province money they had collected, or might collect, to Henry Gardner, of Stow, for the use of the province, agreeable to the advice of the Provincial Congress. January 9, 1775, Captain Jonathan Tucker was chosen delegate to attend the Provincial Congress to be held at Cambridge the 1st day of P'ebruary following. And at the same meeting Captain Samuel Curtis, Captain Richard Dresser, Lieutenant William Tucker, Ezra Mclntire and Ebenezer Foskett were chosen a committee to see that the directions of the Continental and Provincial Congresses were strictly adhered to. It was also voted to aid and assist and protect the constables in collecting the province tax. March 6th it was voted " to make the men in the district some allowance for disciplining themselves." May 22, 1776, Rev. Caleb Curtis was chosen a delegate to attend the Provincial Congress to be held at Watertown. March 4, 1776, Nathaniel Jones, Ebenezer Foskett and Thomas Parker were chosen a Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety, and in June following Ezra Mclntire and Caleb Ammidown were added to the committee. At the meeting in March Daniel Streeter was allowed one pound and eight shillings for carrying blankets to the army. June 17, 1776, the town voted to support the Continental Congress in declaring independence of Great Britain.

March 18, 1777, the town voted to give their men who should enlist into the Continental service for the term of three years, or during the war, the sum of twenty pounds each, in addition to the bounty given by the Continental Congress and the State, and that the money for the purpose should be raised by a general assessment, in order that all the inhabitants and estates should pay an equal proportion in defending civil and religious privileges. This vote was passed in accordance with the recommendation of a committee chosen to devise means to raise the quota of men required of the town as speedily as possible.

June 9, 1777, Lieutenant John Edwards was chosen " to procure and lay before the court the evidence that might be had of the inimical disposition of any inhabitant of the town towards this or any of the United States who might be charged by the freeholders, or other inhabitants, with being a person whose residence in the State was dangerous to the public peace and safety."

By a vote of the town, the names of Obadiah Mclntire, Eleazer Mclntire, Eleazer Mclntire, Jr., and Jesse Mclntire were placed on the list of suspected persons. It is not known that any evidence was ever procured and laid before the court tending to prove that the residence of either in the State was danger- _ ous to the public peace and safety.

January 20, 1778, it was voted to raise by tax the sum of eight hundred and eighty-nine pounds seven shillings and six pence, and to pay said sum into the treasury of the State by the 1st day of the next April, agreeable to an act of the General Court.

February 2, 1778, Captain Richard Dresser, Lieutenant Ebenezer Hammond and Daniel Williams were chosen a committe to receive subscriptions for the Continental soldiers enlisted for the town, and to convey to them, as soon as possible, such things as should be subscribed.

March 2, 1778, Nathaniel Jones, Ebenezer Foskett, Caleb Ammidown, Ezra Mclntire and John Dresser were chosen a Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety, and Ebenezer Hammond, Nathaniel Blood and Nathaniel Goodell were chosen to provide for the families of the men from the town enlisted into the Continental army for three years, or during the war. April 2, 1778, Peter Sleeman, Reuben Davis and Benjamin Alton were chosen a committee to provide shirts, stockings and shoes for the town's quota of men in the array, and to appraise said articles according to their quality. The committee valued the articles collected by them at one hundred and ninetysix pounds six shillings, and the town voted two hundred ])0unds to pay for the same.

March 1, 1779, John Dresser, John Edwards and Caleb Ammidown were chosen a Committee of Correspondence, etc., and Isaiah Blood, David Wheelock and Stephen Fay a committee to provide for the families of soldiers. In September following the town voted to raise nine hundred pounds to enable the committee to provide for said families.

June 29th, the same year, the town voted six hundred and fifty pounds, old lawful money, to pay their soldiers for six months' service, and July 4th voted to pay such men as should enlist for three months forty shillings per month each, " to be paid in capital, articles of produce, or money equivalent thereto."

October 9, 1780, the town voted to raise three hundred and fifty pounds of the new or late emission, or other money equivalent thereto, to procure the town's proportion of beef, and Salem Town and David Rich were chosen to procure said beef, and in December following seven hundred pounds were voted for a like purpose, and a committee chosen to procure the beef. June 3, 1781, it was voted to furnish each soldier that should enlist from the town for three years, or during the war, with forty hard dollars, or other money equivalent thereto.

July Kith, voted to give the men raised to go to Rliode Island forty shillings per month, and the men raised to go to headquarters for three mouths fifty shillings per month, and it was voted to raise three hundred and thirty pounds in silver and gold to provide the town's quota of beef, and Salem Town was chosen to purchase the beef. The pay-rolls, descriptive lists and other papers in the oflice of the Secretary of State, at Boston, contain the names of two hundred and fifty different soldiers from Charlton who were in service in the army. Of this number forty-one were in Colonel Larned's regiment at Roxbury from April, 1775, till December 26th following, and twenty-eight were in Colonel William Campbell's regiment for a shorter period. In December, 1775, thirty men were raised to reinforce the army. In 1776 forty men enlisted for one year. In March, 1777, forty-eight men were raised to complete the quota of the town. In August of the same year one-fourth of the militia (thirty-six men) were marched to Rhode Island under command of Captain Abijah Lamb.

There were enlistments of men for three years, or during the war, in 1780, and twenty-four men were drafted. Other drafts from the militia were made of men for short terms of service.

Jacob Davis, Reuben Davis, John Nichols, Samuel Curtis, and Abijah Lamb each held a captain's commission in the service, and Jonathan Tucker, William Tucker, David Rich and Robert Kelley were lieutenants.

According to a return made by the selectmen in 1788, in compliance with a resolve of the General Court, the town paid in bounties to soldiers who served in the war a sum equal to seven thousand nine hundred and twelve pounds silver money.

In May, 1782, the town voted to instruct their representative " to adhere strictly to the whole of the resolves and recommendations of the late county convention, held at Worcester, for the removal of divers grievances, which the good people of the commonwealth labored under, and to take prudential care relative to the impost act, so-called, and also to use his best endeavor that there might be a more equal mode of taxation come into in the commonwealth, so that the laborer might not bear more than his just proportion of taxes." In 1783, and again in 178-t, the representative was given similar instructions. A town-meeting was held August 10, 1786j to take into consideration a letter from the committee of the convention held at Leicester June 26th.. Caleb Curtis and Caleb Ammidown were chosen delegates to attend a convention to be held at Sutton, August 15th. The people of the town were earnest in their efforts to secure a removal of the grievances complained of, and there is no doubt that the men who organized the "Shays' Rebellion" had the sympathy of many of the prominent men of the town. Rev. Caleb Curtis, who had been a delegate to the conventions held, and who was arrested and held in custody for a short time for alleged encouragement of armed resistance of the State government, was elected a representative to the General Court in 1787.

In July, 1787, the town voted that " the selectmen, in the name and behalf of the town, should petition the Governor and Council to grant a full and free pardon to Capt. Henry Gale, of Princeton, who had been convicted of treason for his participation in the Rebellion, if it could be done consistent with the honor and dignity of the Government."

At a town-meeting held September 14, 1812, the following article was acted on ; " To see what sum of money the town will raise to pay each non-commissioned ofticer and private soldier per month who has been, or may be, drafted or detached from the militia of the commonwealth, who is a resident of Charlton while the present war with Great Britain continues, provided they perform the duties of the field."

It was voted " to allow seven dollars per month in addition toVhe common pay to the militia that have been draftee or that may be drafted in future to serve in the present war with Great Britain and her dependencies."

Dr. Ebenezer Borden, Dr. Dan Lamb, John Brown and John Spurr, Jr., were chosen a committee to take into consideration the measures of government. A Committee of Safety was also chosen.

At a town-meeting held May 9, 1861, the sum of ten thousand dollars was appropriated for raising a military company and for aid to the families of those who entered the service. Volunteers were to be paid one dollar per day for time spent in preparatory drill and ten dollai's per month in addition to government pay while in service, to commence when they left town. And one dollar and fifty cents per week was to be paid to the wife of any volunteer or to his family, and fifty cents per week to each child under twelve years of age. If any volunteer was killed, his pay was to be continued during the time his company was in the service. If the town failed to raise a company, volunteers might join other companies on the same conditions, and any resident of the town who had joined a company of any other town and did not receive pay from said town was to be paid the same as persons joining a company of the town. R. B. Dodge, Erastus Winslow, Dexter Blood and Judson Mclntire were chosen a committee to take charge of the funds and to make payments. It was also voted to furnish such uniforms, equipments, etc., as the State did not provide.

July 28, 1862, the town voted to pay each volunteer one hundred and ten dollars when mustered into the United States service. R. B. Dodge, Levi Hammond and Jonas Bemis were chosen a committee to aid the selectmen in obtaining recruits. August 2d, voted to pay one hundred and fifty dollars to volunteers and forty dollars to all who had previously enlisted, in addition to what they had previously been paid.

At a meeting held August 20, 1862, "to see what action the town would take relative to the call of the President for 300,000 additional volunteers for nine months," it was voted to pay each volunteer one hundred dollars when mustered into service, and that the first five to enlist should be a committee to assist the selectmen in procuring enlistments. In accordance with this vote, Rufus N. Mofiit, Henry G. Lamb, Salem A. Spurr, Daniel S. Robbing and John A. Ward became the committee. The sum of four thousand dollars was appropriated to pay the bounties.

August 29th it was voted that the town clerk should make a record of all the soldiers that had enlisted or should enlist from the town, with the company and regiment of each, the time when mustered into service and term of enlistment.

September 24th, voted to pay the bounty to the wife or family of any volunteer who should go inio camp and die before being mustered into service.

measures the town would take relative to furnishing their quota of men," it was voted to pay two hundred and fifty dollars to volunteers who should enlist for three years, and four thousand dollars was appropriated to meet such payments.

January 15, 1864, the town voted to pay one hundred and fifty dollars for each volunteer to fill its quota under any call issued prior to March, 1865.

The following is from "A History of Massachusetts in the Civil War," by William Schouler: " Charlton furnished two hundred and thirteen men for the war, which was a surplus of eighteen over and above all demands. One was a commissioned officer. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of the State aid, was twenty -two thousand dollars. The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the war for State aid to soldiers' families and repaid by the Commonwealth was as follows: In 1861, $221.94; in 1862, $2455.99 ; in 1863, $4115.53; in 1864, $3153.22; in 1865, $1800. Total amount, $11,746.68. Population in 1860, 2047; in 1865, 1925. Valuation in 1860, $872,454 ; in 1865, $909,729. The selectmen in 1861 were R. B. Dodge, Almon Sampson, Hiram Willis; in 1862, J. H. Hathaway, Erastus Winslow, Alfred E. Fiske; in 1863, J. H. Hathaway, R. B. Dodge, Gilbert Rich ; in 1864, J. H. Hathaway, A. H. Marble, Andrus March; in 1865, J. H. Hathaway, Alfred E. Fiske, Reuben Rich. The town clerk and town treasurer, during all the years of the war, was Alfred E. Fi^ke.

William H. King, who enlisted as a private soldier at the commencement of the war and continued in service until its close, was commissioned captain before his services ended.

Mills for grinding grain and for sawing lumber were built at an early date. Before 1759 there was a mill owned by Jonathan Ballard on the place afterward owned by Captain David Rich, and later by his son, John H. Rich. Other mills were in use soon after this time, and at a date not much later there were several places where potash was made.

In 1790 Thaddeus Marble and Aaron Marble commenced the manufacture of scythes at the place now called Millward. In 180i Aaron sold his interest to Thaddeus, who continued the business alone. Aaron afterwards with a son engaged in the same business at the North Side.

At about the s.ame time William Smith had a shop and manufactured scythes on the stream below what is now called Lelandville, in the southeast part of the town. The shop was afterward run by Joab Maynard and perhaps others.

A tannery had been established at the North Side before 1770 by Jonathan Wheelock. In that year Wheelock sold to Ebenezer Davis. It was afterwards owned by Israel Waters, who carried on the business of tanning and currying to a considerable extent for several years. It was afterwards owned and run by Colonel Asa Bacon and by his sons, Berthier Bacon, Alvin Bacon, and Fiske Bacon.

The business of distilling gin was quite extensively carried on at the North Side for a considerable time. Isaiah Rider and William P. Rider owned and run the first distillery there. Aaron Marble and Charles Marble commenced the business a little later, and Abner Wheelock was the last in the business at the place.

In 1828 Charles Preston and Stephen Bartlett bought land and water-power in the southeast part of the town and built a stone mill for the manufacture of cotton thread. Before the mill was put in operation Preston became the sole owner, and for a time carried on the business alone. Afcerward Asa Baldwin and James Boutwell were associated with him in business, which was continued until the decease of Preston, in 1839. After the death of Preston the property was purchased by Philip Potter, who continued the manufacture of thread until the mill was destroyed by fire in 1849. It was never rebuilt.

For many years there was in the easterly part of the town a mill where " home-made cloth," such as used to be made in almost every house, was dressed or finished. The last person who owned and run the mill was Amos Williams. There was a mill at Charlton City used for the same purpose owned by Henry Puffer. The properly was at a later date purchased by Caleb Torry, who built a mill for the manufacture of woolen goods. In 1848 Michael Coogan bought the mill and run it until 1856, when Andrus March purchased the property and leased it to Baker & Bottomly, who run the mill about three years, making a cheap grade of satinets. In 18G0 Baker and March entered into partnership and run the mill about six years, when Baker withdrew from the firm. March continued the business alone until 1875, and then rented the mill to Edward Akers and Nathan Norris, who manufactured a grade of goods that could be sold at a low price and afford the manufacturers a profit. In 1878 Mr. Akers withdrew from the firm. Mr. Norris purchased the mill and continued the business alone until the mill was burned in 1885. He rebuilt the mill and commenced manufacturing again, but continued in the business but a short time.

In 1877 Mr Akers purchased the Thayer privilege on the stream above the March Mill and built a factory with a capacity for two sets of machinery, and when the firm of Akers & Norris was dissolved, in 1878, he commenced business alone. In 1882 Fred. S. Taylor was taken as a partner in the business. The firm commenced making a better grade of goods, the buildings were enlarged and the machinery increased. Substantial picker and store-houses have been erected on the Berry privilege below. Eighty hands are employed. The monthly pay-roll is two thousand dollars, and forty thousand yards of satinet are manufactured monthly.

In the spring of 1888 Akers & Taylor and William B. Carpenter purchased the Norris Mill and commenced business under the firm-name of the Cady Brook Manufacturing Company, making the same kind of goods that are made by Akers & Taylor. Thirty-five hands are employed, and thirty thousand yards of cloth made monthly. In 1880 M. D. Aldrich fitted up a mill for the manufacture of satinets a short distance west of the city. In 1882 the mill was leased to Nathaniel Taft and J. O. Copp. In 1880 Taft withdrew from the firm, since wliich time Copp has continued the business alone. His business aftbrds employment to forty hands, and twenty-eight thousand yards of satinets are made monthly.

George Pike commenced the manufacture of satinet at Millward in 1887. He runs one set of machinery and makes about twelve thousand yards of cloth monthly, employing twelve hands.

About 1815 Harvey Dresser, a young man of great enterprise and capacity for business, engaged extensively in the manufacture of furniture, carriages, harnesses and farming implements on Dresser Hill. He continued the business until his death in 1835.

In 1843, John P. & Samuel J. Leland commenced the manufacture of augers and bits in the southeast part of the town, at the place since called Lelandville. They continued in this business until 1861, when they engaged in making ramrods for the government. This government contract lasted about three years, in which time they manufactured three hundred thousand ramrods. While the Lelands were in business, quite a village was built up. In 1865 they sold their shops and buildings to Henry H. Stevens, at that time the owner of the Dudley Linen Works. For several years some part of the work connected with his business was done in the shops, but of late no use has been made of them.

Granite of good quality for working is abundant on "Rockey Hill," in the southeast part of the town. Before 1800, Rufus Wakefield and Sylvanus Wakefield com menced working the quarries. Since that time the business has been continued and has been carried on by Gibbs Dodge, Joseph Woodbury, Horace Lamson and others. At the present time, W. Y. Woodbury, J. L. Woodbury and Horace L. Lamson, who carry on business under the firm-name of W^oodbury Bros. & Co., are the only persons working the quarries. Their business affords employment to about twenty men.

George Marsh engaged in the manufacture of carriages at Charlton City, about 1831. At a later date, Horace P. Hicks carried on the same business there.

The sash and blind business has been carried on to a considerable extent, first by Harvey Forbush in the west part of the town, later by Charles Taft at Charlton City, and still later by Knight & Rich at the same place.

Charles E. Morse commenced the manufacture of boots and shoes at the place that has since been called Morseville about 1850. He built large shops for his business, and dwelling-houses for the use of the help employed. The business was carried on quite extensively until the shops were destroyed by fire in 1884. For several years Rufus Dodge was associated in business with Mr. Morse. At a later date Andrew Partridge was a partner in the business. After he retired, C. E. Morse, Jr., and William C. Haven were members of the firm of C. E. Morse & Co.

In 1853 a company was formed at the North Side for the manufacture of boots and shoes, called the Charlton Boot and Shoe Company, of which Berthier Bacon was agent. The business was continued until 1855, when the company was dissolved.

The manufacture of boxes for boots, shoes, cloth and other merchandise has been an important business for a number of years, affording employment to a considerable number of men and a market for a large amount of lumber. Zina Grover, Henry C. Putniim, George Pike and William H. Young have been engaged in the business. Henry C. Putnam commenced in 1863, and is the only person in town now doing any considerable amount of business. He employs about twenty-five men and uses two million feet of lumber yearly.

In 1867 Emory S. Southwick built a large shop at Charlton Depot, in which he manufactured boots and shoes for several years, doing quite an extensive business. In 1871 the shop was destroyed by fire and was never rebuilt.

In 1875 H. G. Lamb and A. N. Lamb commenced the manufacture of shoes at Charlton Depot. In 1880 A. N. Lamb retired and Charles Damon became a partner in the business, and remained until 1884, when he retired. In 1885 A. N. Lamb and William H. Lamb were admitted as partners in the business, which is still continued. The business affords employment to about thirty hands and about two hundred pairs of shoes of fine quality are made daily.

In 1865 the manufacture of wire was commenced by Ira Berry on Cady Brook, below Charlton City. In 1868 George C. Prouty entered into partnership with Berry and continued with him until 1871, when the partnership was terminated. Berry continued the business but a short time after the withdrawal of Prouty. In 1871 Prouty built the wire-mill at Charlton City, and commenced business alone. He has built neat, substantial dwellings for the use of help employed. About one hundred and sixty tons of fine card-wire is made yearly.

Although several men of enterprise and capacity for managing business successfully have engaged in manufacturing enterprises within the last few years, and have contributed essentially to the prosperity of the town, agriculture is the principal business of the inhabitants. The soil is of average fertility and there are some excellent farms owned and cultivated by enterprising, progressive farmers, who contribute largely to the annual exhibitions of the agricultural societies held at Worcester, Sturbridge, Oxford, Spencer and other places more remote. The town has been noted for its fine cattle, especially for its large, welltrained oxen, and although horses have, to a considerable extent, taken the place of oxen for farm-work, there are still some farmers that rpar and train oxen that compete successfully with any found at fairs.

According to the statistical tables of agricultural products and property, prepared by Carroll D. Wrighti Charlton ranks fourth among the towns of Worcester County in the value of agricultural products.

Daniel H. Tucker is the owner of the three hundred acres of land which was owned by his great-grandfather, Jonathan Tucker. The one hundred and fifty acres of land which was the farm of Ebenezer Hammond is now owned by his great-grandson, Henry Hammond. Edward D. Blood is the owner of the farm on which his ancestor, Richard Blood, settled. The land bought by Ebenezer Foskett in 1739, and on which he lived, is now the property of his greatgrandson, Dan Foskett, and Edwin Phillips owns the farm on which his great-grandfather, Jonathan Dennis, settled. No other farm in the town is now owned by a descendant of the first occupant.

Representatives to the General Court have been as follows: Isaiah Blood, 1775; Jacob Davis, 1776; Jacob Davis, Caleb Ammidown, Isaiah Blood, 1777; Caleb Ammidown, 1778-79 ; Jacob Davis, 1780 ; Ebenezer Davis, 1782 ; Caleb Ammidown, 1783 ; Ebenezer Davis, 1784; Caleb Ammidown, 1786 ; Samuel Robinson, Caleb Curtis, 1787 ; Samuel Robinson, 1788 ; Ebeezer Davis, 1789 ; Salem Town, 1790-91-92-93 ; Caleb Ammidown, 1794; Salem Town, 1795; Ebenezer Da-

In 1857 Charlton wasjoined with Sturbridge to make a representative district. In 1866 the towns of Auburn, Charlton, Leicester, Spencer and Southbridge were formed into a representative district. In 1876 Oxford, Southbridge, Charlton and Spencer were made a district. In 1886 Charlton, Dudley and Southbridge were united, the three towns being entitled to but one representative.

The men prominent in public affairs until the close of the Revolution have been mentioned. They were mainly men who were among the first settlers. Quite a number who became large land-owners acquired considerable wealth. Ebenezer Davis, a man of sound judgment, prudent and exact in all his business operations, a large dealer in real estate and other property, left at his decease a larger estate than was ever acquired by any other man in the town. The late Hon. Emory Washburn, who was for several years Governor of the State, was his grandson, as was also the late Ebenezer D. Ammidown, of Southbridge. Jacob Davis, a brother of Ebenezer, was a man of remarkable enterprise, who dealt largely in real estate. He was one of the founders of Leicester Academy, and aided liberally in its establishment. Gen. Salem Town, Sr., was long in the public service. He was a representative to the General Court eleven years, several