Douglas Town (part 1 of 2)

Douglas Town

Theron E. Hall, and engaged in the manufacture of wooleu goods in the village of Jeff'er=onville, where he has since resided. This partnership continued two years, when Mr. M. V. B. Jefferson purchased the interest of Major Hall, and the business was continued under the tirm-name of Howe & Jefferson for twenty-six years. The skill and success of this firm in the manufacture of woolen goods is suflieieutly shown by the facts that when they commenced manufacturing they ran one set of woolen machinery, and that when the partnership was dissolved they were running twelve sets, with a corresponding growth of the village of Jeflersonville, which has come to be one of the most attractive and flourishing manufacturing villages in Central Massachusetts.

Mr. Howe married, in December, 1839, Mary Ann, daughter of Mr. John Jefferson. Mrs. Howe died June 10, 1880. His family consists of three daughters : Augusta F., wife of JI. V. B. Jefferson, of Worcester; Anna M., who married Addison N.Putnam (now deceased) ; and Dora L., wife of Henry W. Warren, of Holden.

Mr. Howe has been repeatedly chosen by his fellow-citizens to responsible positions in town affairs. He has been eleven times a member of the Board of Selectmen for the town of HoldeUj holding the office, when first chosen, for six years in succession. He was also chosen to represent his district in the Legislature of 1887, serving upon the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures.

Mr. Howe was converted at the age of fifteen years - was baptized in December, 1830, and has maintained an active and honored connection with the Baptist Church for more than fifty-eight years. In 1873 he was chosen deacon of the church, the duties of which office he -still efficiently discharges. His parents were constituent members of the Holden Baptist Church, and not less than thirty members of their family, near and remote, have been connected with it during its history, covering now fourscore years.

Mr. Howe's many excellencies - his good judgment of men, his wisdom and tact, his gentle firmness and unwearied i)atience, and his spotless honor - have endeared him to all who may claim his friendship, as well as to his family, and have made him highly respected and esteemed in still wider circles, as well as in church and town, where best known.

By A. F. Brown

describe, without prevarication or subterfuge ; and the value of a history is enhanced in proportion as the writer adheres strictly to this rule. Very little has been known or correctly written in regard to the early history of the town of Douglas. Prior to the year 1708 the territory now embraced within the limits of the town of Douglas was an unbroken forest inhabited by a few Indian stragglers from the Narragansett or Nipmuck tribes. One small band occupied the extreme easterly part of the town, another the southern part and still another band were located northerly of the centre. In all these localities Indian implements and tools are frequently found, showing that they inhabited and cultivated in their rude way land in these several sections.

There was also living within this territory at that time two, and perhaps three, white families, whose farms were reserved and confirmed to them when the several grants and purchases were made from the General Court. One, a Mr. Simon Chamberlin, owned and lived on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres located southwesterlj' of what is known as the Ministerial or Minister's Lot, and nearly in the centre of what is now known as the " Douglas Woods," and south of the Thompson Road. The location is well known from the fact that it embraced within its limits what is now known as " Chamberlin Pond." In the three thousand seven hundred acre grant was the Aldrich farm of two hundred acres. This farm was located in the extreme south part of the town, and is now owned by Retus Walling and Jesse Chase ; is westerly of the " Providence Turnpike Road," and southerly from the Mowry K. Thayer place, and was owned by a Mr. Edwin Aldrich, who was the lather of Jacob Aldrich, who was the father of Amariali Aldrich, who was born here. The place is now covered with a heavy growth of wood and timber. Many of the present residents of Douglas well remember Amariah Aldrich, some of whose descendants are still with us. The"Streeter Farm," situated on the Webster Road, is another farm occupied liy the father of Asa Streeter when the first grant was made of four thousand acres.

The town of Sherborn, in Middlesex County, was incorporated in 1674, a small agricultural town with few inhabitants, who lived chiefly within their own resources. In 1700 the Legislature incorporated the town of Framingluim, taking from the town of Sherborn seventy-seven families with their estates to make up a portion of Framingham. This so exasperated the remaining inhabitants of Sherborn that they besought the General Court for redress. Finally, after several years' petitioning and importuning, the General Court granted to the inhabitants of Sherborn four thousand acres of land "Lying westwardly of Mendon " (now Oxbridge). This was called Sherborn Grant. Before this tract of land was located and divided, another grant of land of three thousand acres was obtained b}' the people of Sherborn, and the next year, 1815, thirty-seven hundred acres of land were obtained by the people of Sherborn by purchase; these were called Sherborn New Grant, and very soon after these three tracts of land, with other adjoining tracts, were called New Sherborn. These several grants were finally located and divided by a rule adopted by tbe inhabitants of the town of Sherborn, so as to give each family or householder one or more lots. These tracts were divided by what they termed range-lines, running east and west, and said to be two hundred rods apart, and were designated first, second, third and fourth range-lines. Surveyors, now living, have been able to locate and follow these lines in many places in town. Every person's right extended from one range line to another, or, in other words, were two hundred rods in length from north to south ; and the size of the lots depended much upon the standing and condition of the parties, and allotted according to the rule adopted in the division of the four thousand acre grant.

These several grants were located as follows : The 4000 acre grant embraced within its limits Douglas Centre and what is called the west part of the town. The southwest corner of this tract is at what is known as " Bear Corner," a large heap of stones, about sixty rods south of the Cold Spring on the Thompson Road. This Bear Corner is one of the oldest landmarks in town. It marks the southwest corner of the 4000 acre grant, the southeast corner of the lot of the twenty proprietors of Douglas, the southeast corner of the minister's lot, which was included in the twenty proprietors, the northeast corner of the " Boston Men's Farms " and the northwest corner of a part of the 3000 acre grant. From this point the line runs northwest 800 rods, passing a little west of Badluck Cedar Swamp to a point near the old Bailey place ; thence easterly to a point in Sutton south line on the north line of land formerly of Micah Hill ; thence southerly to a point in the south line of land formerly of Dr. Wm. Douglas; thence westerly to first bound. The 3700 acre purchase grant was located in the southeast part of the territory granted (now the southeast part of the town), bounded south on the province line and east on Mendon line (now Uxbridge), and contained 3G03 acres besides the 200 acre Aldrich farm.

The 3000 acre grant was located in two tracts - one of 1101 acres was located on the north side of the 8700 acre tract, and between that and the 1000 acre tract bought by Dr. William Douglas and others, described further on ; and 1900 acres, the remainder of the 3000 acre grant, was located west of the 3700 acre grant, was bounded on the province line, and included the north end of Wallum Pond within its limits and extended north to Bear Corner.

Gov. Simon Bradstreet, who was Governor of the Province of Massachusetts before 1700, left by will to his grandchildren - John, Annie and Simon - children of his son. Doctor Samuel Bradstreet, among

Annie married a Mr. Nathaniel Williams, of Boston, a schoolmaster. The other two heirs having died, Mr. Williams and his wife petitioned the General Court, in 1702, to have the claim adjusted and settled. In 1714 there was granted to them on their petition 1000 acres of " Province land, provided it could be located by a competent surveyor without infringing on any other grant."

In 1715 it was surveyed and platted by Mr. Thomas White, surveyor, and located in the northeast corner of New Sherborn, and on June 7, 1715, it was ordered by the General Court "That the land so platted be confirmed to the said Annie Williams, the other children having died."

Nathaniel Brewer soon after sold his interest in the tract to Capt. Benjamin Murdock. In 172S Draper and Murdock divided their land. Diaper taking the north and Murdock the south part; and on their [letition, about this time, they, with iheir estates, were set to the town of Uxbridge.

Nathan Brewer also bought of the General Court, about 1716, eight hundred acres lying west of the Bradstreet grant This tract was known for many years as the " Brewer farm."

In 1721 Dr. William Douglas, Habijah Savage, John Bining, William Tyler, Andrew Tyler and Benjamin Brousden bought of the General Court one thousand acres south of the Brewer farm and the Murdock farm. This was called the Dr. Douglas grant, and in 1727 wiis divided between the owners - the Tylers settling on their rights.

About 1740 there was granted to what was called the twenty proprietors of New Sherborn, afterwards Douglas, 4524 acres in the westerly and northwesterly part of Douglas; a portion of this tract, however, a few hundred acres, was west of the Douglas town line, and in what was then Oxford South Gore. Included within the grant was the Simon Chamberlin farm of 150 and 400 acres, granted to the ministers, and the ministerial lot of the parish. This tract, with two or three additional grants, one of 1245 acres, one of 360 acres and one of 162 acres, extended the entire length of the west part of Douglas, from Nipmuck corner on Oxford line to Rhode Island corner. From Connecticut northeast corner to Rhode Island corner, which is just one mile, their land was only about two hundred and ten rods wide. At the extreme northwest corner of this tract, at Nipmuck corner, was located the Douglas School farm, so called, of 200 acres, which was sold many years ago for the benefit of schooling.

About this time, 1730, there was granted to Boston parties, a tract of land called the "Boston Men's J^arm," bounded north and west by laud of the twenty proprietors, east by the three thousand acre grant aud Wallum Pond and south by theprovincc line, comprising about eighteen hundred acres. This tract was immediately settled by a few thrifty and intelligent families, who cultivated some very good farms on the hill west of Wallum Pond. The old town road leading from the north end of Wallum Pond to the Coffee house passed through this tract and for many years was a principal thoroughfare. This, with about six hundred acres in the northeast corner of the town (about three hundred acres of which came from the Bradstreet grant) and about three hundred acres back of the four thousand acres called "fragmentary lots," comprises the now entire territory of Douglas, making, with the overplus, about twenty-one thousand acres.

Douglas is bounded on the north by O.xford, Sutton and Uxbridge, on the east by Uxbridge, (formerly Mendon), on the south by Rhode Island, on the west by Connecticut and Webster (formerly Oxford South Gore). There are four large ponds of water, mostly within the limits of the town - Wallum Pond, in the southwest part of the town and partly in Burrillville, R. I., covers one hundred and forty acres in Douglas. Badluck Pound, a little west of the centre, covers one hundred and ten acres - these are both natural ponds. Reservoir Pond is an artificial pond of four hundred acres on the stream leading out of Badluck Pond. Manchaug Pond, in the north part of the town, and partly in Sutton, covers nine'y-three acres in Douglas. This was originally a natural pond, but has been enlarged and deepened by the erection of a substantial dam at its outlet.

Mumford River has its rise iu Badluck Pond, runs in a northeast direction until its unites with the Wallis Brook, forming the waters of Reservoir Pond, thence continuinir in a northeasterly course about one mile, where it was diverted from its natural bed, and carried by an artificial channel in a northerly direction into the town of Sutton, where, uniting with the Manchaug River, it forms the upper pond at Manchaug Village. After doing effectual service for the wonderfully progressive and thriving village of Manchaug it re-enters again the town of Douglas, and, passing through the east village, enters the town of Uxbridge by such a circuitous route that one peculiar bend in the river so nearly resembled an old instrument our fathers used in making sausage that it was called the Fillbow, from which came the name, with a little variation of the high hills in the vicinity of " Gilboa."

The face of the country is uneven, beautifully diversified by hills and valleys, and contains some of the most lovely scenery in the county. None of the hills can hardly aspire to the name of mountain. Ball Hill is 711 feet high ; Wallum Pond Hill is 778 feet ; Mount Daniel, about 750 feet, and Bald Hill, about 700 feet.

of the town from north to south, is rocky and very uneven, covered with a growth of wood and timber, over its whole extent, with now but three families living therein. The buildings are in a dilapidated condition, surrounded with only a very few acres of arable land, and this under poor cultivation. The remainder of the town is dotted over with farms of about one hundred acres or less, some of which are under a high state of cultivation ; many of them are held in the name or by the descendants of the original settlers. Fruit is raised in great abundance and of excellent quality. Vegetables, corn and other grain are now raised in paying quantities, and quite an amount thereof is annually carried to adjoining towns to market.

The geological formation is chiefly granite, large quantities of which are used for building purposes not only in this town, but for shipment to other parts of the country. Gold, silver and lead are said to be found in some parts of the town, but not in paying quantities. Boulders are found in all parts of the town, some of large size, and so numerous as to be a great detriment and inconvenience for the use of machinery in farming. Yet many of the farmers, by the free use of powder and dynamite, have so far cleared many of their lots as to successfully use machinery in the cultivation of their land and in harvesting their crops.

White oak, chestnut and white pine have been the predominating kinds of lumber grown, especially in the easterly part of the town ; hemlock, black and red oak in the west, with small groves of hickory.

Many farms in different sections of the town that were once under a fair state of cultivation, where large stocks of cattle were kept, and barns well filled with hay, have been entirely abandoned for farming purposes, - -the buildings torn down or gone to decay, and the best farming-lots covered, some of them, with heavy growths of wood and timber. More than forty such farms can be counted by persons now living, that within their remembrance were occupied by successful and intelligent farmers, many of whom reared large families of children.

From 1720 people began to settle on the new territory sparsely to begin with, for a few years, but in 1740 the inhabitants had become quite numerous, so much so that they began to agitate the question of separate town government. Up to this time, and until 1746, when the town assumed an independent town government by act of the General Court under the name of Douglas, all the municipal aflfairs were managed by the town of Sherborn.

In 1721 the town of Sherborn, in town-meeting, voted to give Mr. Ephraim Hill twenty acres of land in the fourth range of the four thousand acre grant in consideration of his being the first white man to settle in the new territory. This tract was at or near what was, for many years, known as the old Tiffany place, now owned by Chandler Titus.

In 1725 and 172(3 the town ot'Sberboru voted to make an allotment of the last two grants of three thousand seven hundred acres and three thousand acres, according to the same rule by which the four thousand acres were divided.

In the division and allotment of these several tracts of land quite a good number of the people of Sherborn, to whom this land came by lot and assignment, settled on their several rights, but more of the settlers acquired their land by purchase, many of them from Holliston, Natick,Framingham and other surrounding towns.

The grant to the twenty proprietors of New Sherborn, afterward Douglas, was by deed, from a committee of the General Court of which Samuel Watts, Esq., was chairman, and was dated 1742, and recorded in the Registry of Deeds three years later.

The first meeting of the proprietors was held at the house of Ensign Joseph Marsh, April, 1744, at which a committee was chosen to survey their land and divide it among the proprietors. The first meeting was called by John Harwood, Esq., a justice of the peace, and David White was chosen moderator, and Jeremiah Whiting, clerk, who was duly sworn, and their proceedings were conducted with all the formality of a regular town-meeting. These meetings of the proprietors were kept up with a good deal of regularity until 1767, when the record of their meetings ceases. Captain Benjamin Taft, of Uxbridge, who was the ancestor of the fifth generation of Doctor Bridgam A. Taft, through whose generr .sity the ancient plan and book of records came into my possession, although not one of the original twenty proprietors, yet by purchase soon became the largest owner of the purchases, and until the close of the record maintained a controlling interest in its affairs.

The meetings of the proprietors were not always harmonious; many times ill-feeling and jealousy, crimination and recrimination were indulged in to such an extent that, while they did not come to blows, yet their meetings were frequently dissolved without accomplishing anything.

Quite a number of men and families, besides those already mentioned, have been more or less prominent in the settlement of the town and in town affairs that might be worthy of mention, but those already named make the list sufiiciently extended to give a fair knowledge of the early settlers of the town.

Chapter Clxxvii Eari,Y Settlements

the hardships of pioneer lile, and to brave the rigor and privations of a New England winter. Located as they were in the wilderness, with a hard and sterile soil, without roads, and at no inconsiderable distances apart, a long way from their base of supplies, it is no wonder that they became self-reliant and jealous of their individual rights, and looked well to the character of all new-comers. Any person attempting to settle among them whose character was not above reproach, was immediately warned out of the district, and was obliged to leave forthwith.

Without going into a genealogical history of the early settlers of the town, a brief mention of some of them and their descendants, where they lived, and other incidents connected with their lives, will here follow. We will begin with the road in the northe.Tst part of the town, leading from South Sutton to East Douglas, now known as North Street. As a fair sample of accuracy and distinctive points adopted by the early settlers in laying out roads in town, I here give the laying out of this road. The report of the selectmen is dated February 19, 1765, and is found in the Town Records, Book 1, page 64^ :

Then laid out a road as follows : Beginuing at Sutton line, at two white oak trees, with two chops on the south side, then running southwardly 40 rods on land of Isaac Martin toa white oak tree marked, then turning a little more to the west on land of Mathew Martin ahout 40 rods to said Martin's house, to trees standing on (ha east side of the road, then running ahout south on said Martin's land about :iO rods to y« laud of widow Sarali Brown, then on land of widow Sarah Brown to her dwelling-house standing on the west side of the road, thence from widow Brown's house southwardly by points 42 rods to a stake and heap of stones, then turning more to the east and bounding east on land of Edniond Rawson about 40 rods on said Widow Brown's land by trees marked with two chops on the south side, thence on land of Isaac Murtin, Jr., 12 rods to his house, thence from his house a southwardly course to the river by points, and across the river on laud of Jonathan Foster a westerly course by said river about 50 rods, tlien turning southwardly by points, and running on land of Samuel Foster to his barn on the east Bide of the road, thence from said barn southwardly to the county road.

The first house on this road south of Sutton line was built by Isaac Martin from 1730 to 1746. In 1770 it was owned by his son, Jacob Martin ; by him sold to William Batchellor, to Warren Batchellor, to Henry Howell, to Charles Fairfield and to E. Smith Jolinson.

The house known as the Orison Hewett house was built for a wheelwright shop by Ellis Burt, about 1845. The house owned by Timothy Hewett was built by Ellis Burt in 1825, on land bought of Captain John Brown ; sold by him to Joseph Swasey, and by him to its present owner.

The Archelaus Stone place on the hill in 1745 was owned by Malhew j\lartiu, who built and lived in a small one-story house between the present house and the road. It was afterwards owned by Abel Morse, and by him sold to Archelaus Stone for two thousand dollars. Mr. Stone was a skilled mechanic, and built the present house. He was master mechanic ibr the Congdon Company when the first factory at Man- chaug villiige was built. He was afterwards lor many years master mechanic for P. Whitin & Sons. After his death his hirge farm was divided among liis large family of children, and within a few years passed entirely out of the family name. The house and part of the farm is now owned by Kobert Brown.

The house now owned by the Draper sisters was owned and occupied in 1760 by John Thayer; whether it was built by him or not 1 am unable to say. It was afterwards owned and occupied for many years by Elisha Thayer, his son, whose second wife was Molly Keith.

Elisha Thayer was a noted shoemaker and nailmaker, which business he followed until by age and infirmity he was unable to labor. He was also a famous skunk hunter, the oil of which was the only means of supply for his evening lamp. This shop was a place of general resort for boys and young men of the neighborhood, to be entertained by Uncle " Lisha's " stories. The next two houses in the street are both comparatively new houses, built about 18(50, one by Mr. Alvin Hall and the other by Mr. Asel Fitts, both built on a part of the old Brown farm.

The ne.xt place is the Brown farm, originally containing about four hundred and fifty acres. A part of it came to the wife of John Brown, Sr., and a part purchased of the twenty proprietors, being sotoe of their " fragmentary lands," and a part purchased of John Harwood, Esq., and being north of the Brewer farm and west of the Draper farm. John Brown, the first who settled on this farm, came from Leicester between 1730 and 1740, lived a few years in North Uxbridge, and came to this place in 1740 or a year or two earlier.

He married Sarah Freeman in 1742. She was a daughter of Edmond Freeman, Esq., of Boston ; her mother was Eunice Williams, a daughter of Nathaniel Williams, a schoolmaster of Boston, and his wife, Annie, who was a daughter of Doctor Samuel Bradstreet, of the island of Jamaica, who was the oldest son of Governor Simon Bradstreet, Governor of the Province of Massachusetts. A part of this land was given by will of Governor Bradstreet to his granddaughter, Annie Williams.

John Brown, Sr., died in 1764, leaving a widow, Sarah, and seven children, - Mary, born in 1744; John, born in 1747 ; Oliver, born in 1752 ; Samuel, born in 175.3 ; Robert, born in 1754; Thankful, born in 1755; and Elihu, born in 1757. In 1766 his large farm was divided between his widow and seven children. The oldest son, John, by inheritance and acquisilion, soon came into possession of the larger part of the original farm. He, the second John Brown, died in 181.3, leaving a widow, Abigail (Reed), formerly of Rehoboth, and six children, - John, Hannah, Abigail, Eunice, Freeman and Eleanor. John Brown (3J), by inheritance and purchase, soon came into possession of most of his father's home farm. He died in 1855, leaving a widow, Rebecca (Draper), and four children, - Eunice F., Emily F., Adolphus F. and Harriet N. The son now owns "a good share of the old homestead.

In the first division of the Brown farm the widow's right was set on the west side of the road, with the buildings - the right to John Brown on the east side of the road, extending from the Thayer place, on the north, to the present road, opposite the house of Erwin F. Brown - the right to Mary south of the widow's thirds, now known as the Hale place - the right to Hannah, who married David Draper, was north of John's right - the right to Robert Brown was east of the north end of John's right - the right to Samuel was east of the south end of John's right, and was afterwards known as the Drake place - the right to Elihu was south of John's right; and the right to Oliver eai-t of Robert and Samuer.s rights ; each right contained about sixty acres.

The farm known as the Hall farm, a part of which is now owned by Hammond Metcalf, was a part of the original Brown farm, being the right set to Samuel Brown. His daughter, Abagail, married Stephen Drake, who built the first house and settled on this place. Two of his sons, William and Albee, built the house now owned by Henry Gould. It was originally two stories high, with a flat roof, and was built and u-ed for a paint-shop. From its peculiar shape it was called the "Salt Box," by which name it has always been designated. William and Albee Drake were among the most skilled and artistic painters of their time. Among other specimens of their work, the older peoi)le will well remember the inside decorations of the old Baptist Church in South Sutton.

The old Hale house, as it is called, now standing on land of Levi Darling, was built by Robert Hale, who married Mary Brown, and was built on land set to her out of her father's estate. His son, Robert, built the house now owned by Hugh Johnson. The houses of Levi Darling, John Collar, Mary B. Williams and Alvin II. Brown are all standing on the old Hale farm, and only date back a few years.'

The children of Robert Hale and Mary, his wife, were Sarah, who married Charles Rawson, of Uxbridge; Mary, who married Amos Morse, of Douglas; Robert, who died in the Hugh Johnson house, leaving a widow and two children. Philander and Hannah (his widow married Benjamin Wilson, who lived for some time at the Hugh Johnson hou.se) ; Elisha Hale, who died in Sutton a f^w years ago; and Mason and Alpheus, who were both drowned when young men.

The Knap place, as it is called, was owned in 1765 by Isaac Martin, Jr., who lived in a small house on the west side of the road, which is now standing, but very much gone to decay. The farm was origiu.ally a part of the Brewer farm, and bought by Isaac Martin, Jr., who built the house and lived there until about 1775, when the place was sold to Captain Job

Captain Job Knap married Ruth Wilson, who lived many years after his death. Their children were, - Job, Jr., Benjamin, Silly, Moses and Nancy. Benjamin died young, Sally was never married, Nancy married Ellis Burt, Job and Moses both married Ralcomes.

Captain Knap built the house now standing about 1790 to 1800. Moses inherited the home-place, and married 011a Balcome, who is still living. His children were, - William, Fanny (who married David Stern), Benjamin, Mary Ann (who married A. J. Thayer), Elmira (who married Kendall Whittemore, M.D.), Edward B., Moses M. and Henry.

Job, Jr., the oldest son of Captain Job Knap, married Sarah Balcome, and left three daughters, - Betsy, Laura and Sarah Ann. He lived on the farm now owned by Mowrey Prentice, who married Laura Knap. The house was occupied for several years by his father. Captain Job Knap. The hou.se was built by Ebenezer Claflin about 1770, on land bought of Edmund Rawson, which was a part of the original Brewer farm. This place was occupied by him and his son Oliver, who lived here until the place was sold to Captain Job Knap. Oliver Claflin married, for his first wife, Rebecca Reed, of Taunton, sister of Abigail, wife of Captain John Brown. His children were, - Comfort, Harry, Lyman and Content. His second wife was Lydia Reed, half-sister of his first wife. The land across the river from the Knap farm was owned in 1740 by John Foster, and was reached by a ford a little below the present road.

In 1765 the land where the Lower Village now stands was owned by Jonathan Foster, and where the woolen-mill of W. B. Haywood & Co. now stands, and the Frank Taft house, now owned by Mrs. Isaac King, was owned by Samuel Foster.

About the year 1800 Jonathan and Samuel Foster sold their property to a company composed of Ezekiel Preston, Welcome Whipple, Richard Olney, Benjamin Wallis and others, afterwards known as the Douglas Company and the Douglas Manufacturing Company, They first built the dam across the river, afterwards built the Old Green factory, the four tenement houses, the Old Green store, the machineshop, and afterwards the boarding-house, all of which were completed in 1808 or 1810. The wheel in the Old Green mill or factory was built by a Mr. Reed, of Northbridge. Building water-wheels is said to be very nice work, and it is proverbial of millwrights " that they make haste slowly." The work on this wheel dragged along at such a dilatory pace that Colonel Preston, the agent of the company, who was a very energetic man, and wanted to see business move at a rapid pace, became so disgusted with the delay that one morning there was found the following lines posted on the bridge, said to be in the familiar handwriting of Colonel Preston :

Col. Preston withdrew from the company in 1812, the company retaining the factory, privilege and tenements and about ten acres of land, and Col. Preston taking the rest of the real estate for his share in the company's property. He, with his wife's brother, Mr. Adolphus Taft, soon after built the grist and saw-mill, that was for many years known as the Preston Mill, afterwards known as the Taft and Eagle Mill. It was afterwards sold by Willard Taft to Deacon Warren Wait, and afterwards destroyed by fire. The privilege and property are now owned by W. E. Haywood & Co.

Adolphus Taft built the small house owned by W. E. Haywood & Co., now occupied by W. Schuster, and lived there until he died. Col. Preston built the large house on the opposite side of the road, now used for a tenement house, where he lived until he went West and died. He left his property to his three nephews, the sons of Adolphus Taft, - Dorris, Willard and Frank, in the proportion of five, three and two.

This tract of land of the Factory Company and Col. Preston, bought of the Fosters, was a part of a tract of one thousand acres sold by the General Court, in 1721, to William Douglas and others, being south of the Brewer farm. This one thousand acre tract was divided by William Douglas and his associates in 1727, and this tract, being a triangular piece of one hundred and fifty-two acres, was set to John Binning for his share. It was bounded easterly by the Brewer and Brown farm. Starting from a point on the road to Killingly, between the towns of Uxbridge and Douglas, thence north twenty -nine degrees west three hundred and sixty rods to a heap of stones on the four thousand acre grant, thence bounded west by the four thousand acre grant, south six degrees east three hundred and five rods to the Killingly road, thence bounded south by the Killingly or county road one hundred and sixty-six rods to the place of beginning. The old Forge School-house, now the Long School-house, stood on the southwest corner of this tract, and the old Noah Tatt place, now owned by Mrs. Fanny Thayer, stands near the southeast corner of this tract. The old house that many years ago stood where the Frank Taft house stands, was built and occupied by Mr. Samuel Foster - was built as early as 1740. It was a large house, two stories in front and one back, and is remembered by many people now living as the old Preston house.

A house that stood near where the brick house now owned by Mr. Collins Keith stands, was built and occupied by John Harwood, Esq., who was a very prominent man in the early history of the town. The place was afterwards owned by the Spragues, and

Douglas

Parley Brown, Noah Taft and the present owner. John Harwood's widow lived there many years after his death. The house owned by Charles A. Whipple was built by his father, Justin B. Whipple.

The Whipple family was a very remarkable family, and prominent in the early history of the town. For inventive genius, the Whipple family, sons of Welcome Whipple, Esq., who was agent of and clerk for the Douglas Manufacturing Company for many years, were very remarkable. Milton D., Virgil, Cullen, Justin B. and Homer B. were all possessed of remarkable mechanical genius. Some of the most important inventions of the last fifty years were the product of their inventive brain.

John Whipple, son of John and brother of Welcome, was born 1783 and was the father of Amanda, Rachel, Dexter and McDonough. The Noah Taft place now owned by Mrs. Thayer, being at the foot of the hill, and on the north side of the road to Killingly, as it was called, and the northeast corner of this Binning tract, was one of the first settled places in town. A partition of the one thousand acre grant, called the Doctor William Douglas grant, was made in 1727. This tract falling to John Binning, a merchant of Boston, he soon after built the house burned a few years ago on the Whipple place. He sold to the Spragues, who built a blacksmith shop near the brook. The place was afterwards sold to Mr. Paul White, Sr., father of Paul, Silas and Chloe. Paul White, Sr., died in 1794 or '9.5, leaving a widow whose name was Chloe, who was his second wife, and a daughter and son of the last wife. The widow lived many years after the death of her husband, and dying, left the old homestead to her daughter Chloe, who married Joseph Whipple and lived there until her death, a few years ago. The west part of the Paul White farm was sold by his administrator at auction after his death to Benjamin Cragin, Esq.. and was by him sold to Mr. Sprague and by him to Noah Taft.

That part of the Doctor William Douglas grant which is on the south side of the road from the Binning farm was set to William Tyler, Andrew Tyler and Doctor William Douglas. The Tylers both settled on their rights ; William on the old place now occupied by Mr. Wellington Young, and must have built the old house that stood there a few years ago. Joseph and Jeremiah Batcheller lived there for many years before Mr. Young bought it.

Andrew Tyler's farm was west of William's, and extended as far west as the land of the old Methodist Church. The Mannahan house, as it is called, stands on the Andrew Tyler farm. The original Andrew Tyler house stood near the brook south of the S. S. Davis place. It was afterwards owned by Micah Stearns and by his son, Nathan Stearns; afterwards by Job

Bartlet, whose wife was a Stearns, and by Amos C. Gould ("Old Knot-head," as he called himself). In 1770 Aaron Hill, who married a Tyler, lived in the Mannahan house, and lived there for many years after. He or his heirs afterwards sold the place to Theodore Stone, he to Leaver, Leaver to Jasper Rawson, and Rawson to Mannahan.

The Dr. William Douglas farm was west of Andrew Tyler's, and extended from the east side of the old Methodist meeting-house lot to the east side of the four thousand acre grant, which was a little west of the Heath store. It was bounded west on the four thousand acre grant, and extended south from the road three hundred rods to the three thousand acre grant, and was bounded south on the three thousand acre grant, and contained one hundred and fifty acres. Dr. Douglas sold this farm in about 1770. It was afterwards sold to the Sprague family, and by them sold to Mr. Samuel Legg, father of Nahum Legg and grandfather of Mr. E. H. Leaver.

Two houses that stood just back of the Axe Company's office, one of which was demolished and the other removed a few years ago, known as the Gale and Farwell houses, were standing there a hundred years ago, and belonged to the old Forge Company.

The brick house belonging to the estates of Joseph and Jeremiah Batcheller is one of the old land-marks in the village. The original house was owned by Mr. Jesse Balcom and sold by him to the Batchellers.

The brick house owned now by Minor Chase was built about 1S2S or 18.30 by Cullen Whipple. It was afterwards owned by Dr. Pierce, Lovel Southwick, Luke S. Keith, Mrs. Kendall, N. S. Caswell and the present owner.

The brick house opposite the common of the Congregational Church was built by Mr. Joseph Lee about seventy years ago. It has always been kept in the Lee family until within a few years.

The Deacon Warren Hunt estate is one of the older estates in the village. This was originally the Sprague place, and owned by Samuel Legg. The present house was built by Deacon Warren Hunt about 1825.

The genealogy of the Hill family dates back to 1632, to John Hill, who was a resident of Plymouth Colony, and afterwards of the town of Dorchester. Ephraim Hill, who was a descendant in the fourth generation (great-grandson) of John Hill, was born in 1688, and was reputed to be the first settler in Douglas. He built and lived in a small house a little north of the present residence of Caleb Hill. He had three children - Caleb, Elizabeth and Hannah. Caleb built the house, the present residence of Caleb of the eighth generation. He was a very prominent man in town affairs, kept a hotel-tavern, as it was then called, until the time of his death, was deacon of the Congre-

Caleb Hill left eiorht children, one of whom was Moses, born in 1757, who inherited the homestead of his father and kept it as a hotel until his death. He early entered public business - was very efficient and popular - was lieutenant of the military company, was a soldier in the Continental Army and held most of the offices of trust and honor in town. He died in 1800, aged forty-three years, mourned and respected by all. His children were : Azubah, who married Benj. Cragin ; Caleb, who married Lydia Marsh ; Lucinda, who married Silas Cummings ; Micah, who married Sally Mar,-h ; Submit, who married John Dudley ; James, who married Sally Burdon ; Benjamin, who married Doratha Dudley ; and Paris, who married Sarah Chapin.

Caleb Hill, who was born in 1783 and married Lydia Marsh, succeeded to the inheritance of his father, and lived and died on the old homestead. He was captain of the military company, and succeeded in accumulating considerable property, which he left to his children, who were ; Azubah, who married Colonel Emerson ; Charlotte, married Fenner Batcheller ; Mary, married Jeremiah Batcheller ; Submit, who married Thos. Warren; and Caleb, who succeeded to the old homestead, thus keeping it in the Hill name for nearly two hundred years.

xMicah Hill, brother of Caleb and son of Moses, built the house now owned and occupied by N. S. Caswell, and lived there until his death. He was a very exemplary man, deacon of the Congregational Church for many years and died in 1836. He bought bis farm of Mr. .John Brown, familiarly called "yellow-headed John Brown." His house and buildings were on the north side of his farm. After the death of Micah his large farm was divided among his sis sous, - Moses, Aaron M., William R., Paris H., Luther and Calvin B. Hill - which all in a few years passed into other hands.

Benjamin Cragin, who married Azubah Hill, built the house near the old Hill place, now known as the Southwick place, where he lived for many years. The place was formerly owned by a Mr. Holbrook. Cragin was a prominent man in town affairs - was town clerk for many years - kept a store in the old store building, near the road, when it was a onestory building - was concerned in the manufacture of woolen goods, and assisted in the settlement of estates of deceased persons, and was justice of the peace and had jurisdiction in the trial of civil and criminal causes.

The house now occupied by Caleb Cummings was built for Silas Cummings, who married Lucinda Hill. The house was owned for many years by Mr. Benjamin Wilson, who was a tailor by trade, and carried on the business in a small shop near his house. The house owned by the Catholic priest was built by Dr. Ezekiel Wood about 1830, and the church was originally designed for a barn and built by Deacon Warren Hunt. The house now owned by Jesse B. Sweet, formerly owned by Charles Fairfield, Artemas' Knowlton and Amory Thayer, is one of the oldest houses in this part of the town and was built by a Mr. David White, who for many years took an active and prominent in part town affairs. The house was called the "White House" for many years after his death. The house now owned by Charles W. Potter was owned for many years by Ellis and Sumner Balcome. This is one of the oldest estates in town ; the original house was built in about 1750 by Mr. Jeremiah Whitney.

The place now known as the Obadiah Morse place formerly belonged to Fuller Marsh. Fuller Marsh was father of Deacon Judson Marsh. Fuller Marsh's mother was a Fuller, and she inherited the estate from her father, Thomas Fuller, who built the house, and was a man of considerable means and influence. The Nelson Potter place was owned for many years by Mr. Jesse Williams. He sold the place ii; 1838 or '40 to Nelson Potter, and bought a farm in Belchertown. He was a son of Samuel Williams and one of a large family of influential men in their time. They were Wheeler, Jesse, Willard, Samuel, Thadeus and Alpheus. Samuel built the old house on the Seth Howland place, moved away by him and sold to Jeremiah Luther. The Nelson Potter place was the original Marsh farm. Joseph Marsh, who came from Sturbridge about 1730 or '40, bought the place and built the original house. John Balcome once lived there. The first meeting of the twenty proprietors of Douglas was held at the house of Joseph Marsh. He was a very prominent man in his day, and his son after him, Aaron Marsh, Esq., had as much to do with town and public affairs as any man of his time. In the controversies in town affairs I notice that he was usually successful. He represented the town in the General Court several times. A large brick-yard on his farm was successfully operated for many years. The place now owned by Judson Marsh, west of the school-house, was the old Obadiah Morse place, built by Obediah Morse, Sr. The first house was built by John Morse, on the right set to him in the first tier of lots in the four thousand acre grant- It was at or near where now stands the house owned by Judson Marsh. The Baxter Morse place was first owned by a Mr. Chase, who sold it to Obadiah Morse, Sr., and went to New Hampshire. The first house south of the school-house now owned by Reuben Place, was built by Luther Morse, and is on the old Richmond White place. Richmond was a son of David, a prominent man in early town affairs, and a brother of Alvah and Martin White.

The house now owned by Thomas Kelley was built by Mr. David Bdlcome, and owned for many years by Timothy Wallis, who married a daughter of David Balcome. The house owned by Joel Taft is the old Fairbank place, owned for many years by

Amos Fairbaiik, Jr., who was a son of Amos, who was a very prominent and influential citizen, and in the coiitrovorsiea that arose in town-meetings he usually carried his point. Aaron Marsh's family were Aaron Fuller ; Lydia, who married Caleb Hill ;

The place now owned by Joseph Howland is the old Selh Howland place; the house was built by him. The place was formerly owned by Samuel Williams. The house west of the school-house, now owned by Judson Marsh, is the old Obadiah Morse place. Obadiali Morse, Sr., the grandfather of Augustus, lived here, and his father, John Morse, was the original settler here ; this was on a lot of thirty acres in the first range of luts in the four thousand acre grant.

The first house south of the school-house in District No. 7, now owned by Reuben Place, was built by Luther Morse, who sold soon after building and removed to the West. It was known as the Richmond White place. The old house that stood there when Luiher Morse bought the place was built by Richmond White's father, - David White.

The house now owned by Joel Taft is the old Fairbank place, owned for many years by Amos Fairbaiik, Jr., who inherited it from his father, Amos, brother of the elder Joshua and son of Jonathan Fairbank, Jr., who was a son of Dr. Jonathan Fairbank, both of whom had land assigned to them out of the four thousand acre grant. This farm was given to Joel Taft and his wife, who was a daughter of Joshua Fairbank, for taking care of Amos Fairbank and wife, who were aged and infirm and who had no children of their own.

The Rufus Johnson place, standing on the end of the road north of the Joel Taft farm, was the old George Benson farm, which he inherited from his father. He sold hi.s farm to Amos Morse, Jr., when he moved to the West.

At the Morse place the brick house now owned by John McGrath was built by Amos Morse. Amos married Mary Hale, daughter of Robert Hale and granddaughter of John Brown. His children were : Ado'phus, Amos, Luther, Elisha H., Andrew J., Ophelia (who married Seth Howland) and Henrietta (wh) married Lawton Johnson). Amos Morse had the reputation of catching more woodchucks and making more whip-lashes out of their skins than any other man who ever lived in Douglas.

Ezra Morse, who built and lived in the next house west of the Amos Morse place, was a brother of Amos, and they were sons of Jacob Morse, who built and lived in the old house that formerly stood about eighteen or twenty rods north of the Amos Morse place. Jacob Morse owned a large farm, under a fair

Ezra Morse's family were John, Brigham, Ezra, Samuel and Henry, Sally (who married E. B. Tuttle), Hannah and Submit (who married Nelson Potter). Ezra Morse's wife was Zilpha Wallis, the oldest daughter of Samuel Wallis and one of twelve children. Jacob Morse was brother of Simeon Morse, who lived in Sutton, and Levi Morse, a resident of Douglas, and was son of Lieut. Jonathan Morse, who drew lot No. 20 in the first range of lots of the four thousand acre grant.

West of the Ezra Morse place, at the foot of the hill east of the Reservoir Pond, forty years ago stood an old dilapidated house, long since gone to decay. This was right 23 of the four thousand acre grant, of thirty acres, set out to Ebenezer Hill. Ebenezer Hill had a son (Job), who lived at this place for many years, and dying left a daughter (Ann), who was deranged, and left his place to the town to take care of his daughter. The town employed Mr. Jonathan Jenney, who lived there many years and had the use of the place for taking care of the daughter. After her death, which occurred at Abel Parker's, the town sold the place at auction to Ezra Morse. Many people now living, remember Crazy Ann Hill, as she was called.

Near the outlet of the Reservoir Pond stood, many years ago, a two-story wood-colored house, and about twenty rods east of the house, on the north side of the river, stood a grist-mill, two stories high, the upper story used for a wool-carding mill, and on the opposite side of the river was a saw-mill. This property, for many years, belonged to Mr. David Walker, who ran it for the accommodation of the community; but it was generally remarked that the miller always had fat hogs. The place was built by his father, Mr. Benjamin Walker, who was one of the first settlers of Douglas. David Walker, who lived to be an old man, was a remarkable and peculiar man in many respects. Independent and liberal in his religious belief, temperate in all his habits and upright in all his dealings, eccentric in his practices, with very strong likes and dislikes, which he sometimes carried to excess. He had unbounded confidence in Brandreth's pills, and frequently would say, " If a person would take enough of Braiidreth's pills, he would live forever."

South of the Walker place, on the other side of the river, is the Humes place. The ancestors of the Humes family were among the early settlers of Douglas, and originally settled in the south part of the town.

Josiah Humes, who appears to be the first of the Humes family who lived in Douglas, married Lydia Wallis, the oldest daughter of Capt. Benjamin Wallis. She was born in 1748, and they settled at the old Humes place, now owned by Frank Kenyon. He was the father of Robert Humes, who was the father of

Amos and David Humes. James Wallis, who was son of Capt. Benjamin and brother of Lydia (who married Josiah Humes), married Chloe Humes, who was sister of Josiah Humes. He built the house where Amos Humes lived. Amos bought the place of him. Capt. Amos Humes was one of the leading men in town affairs - a man of excellent judgment, whose opinions were sought on all important question.s in dispute between his neighbors. He was a man of temperate habits, honest and upright in all his dealings, very decided in his convictions of right and wrong, and never could be induced to swerve a particle from what he believed to be right. He served the town as Representative to the General Court, and in many other offices of trust and responsibility.

Warren Humes, son of Amos, was born 1802, married Phebe Rich and built the square-roof house on the east side of the road from his father's house. His early educational advantages were limited to the district schools of his native town, and consisted of the simplest rudiments of the English language.

He was an expert in mathematics, and acquired a decided taste for geometry and surveying. His natural love for figures made him an expert in his chosen occupation, that of land surveyor. His reputation for accuracy as a surveyor soon gained for him a reputation that made his services in great demand in most of the towns in Southern Worcester County.

He was a very great reader, especially of history and international law and court decisions, and his memory was so good that he could, at any time, refer to any decisions he had read with great accuracy. His business of conveyancing, in connection with surveying, was very accurate and extensive. His opinions were frequently sought in regard to the validity of legal documents, and his knowledge of law was such that his opinions were almost invariably sustained.

He wrote a great many wills, and did a large amount of probate business, with accuracy and fidelity. He was a Jeffersonian Democrat in politics, and had a controlling interest in town affairs for many years. He represented the town in the General Court, served as moderator, chairman of the Board of Assessors and Selectmen for many years. His children were John R., Amos A., George, Milton, Maria L. (who married Brigham Morse) and Juliette (who married Lewis Taft, of Uxbridge).

The Wallis family was one of the first families who settled in Douglas, and at one time, with their connections, were the most numerous family who ever lived in Douglas, and they owned almost the entire northwest part of the town, what is now known as Old School District No. 2, and was first known as Squadron No. 3. Captain Benjamin Wallis, who was the first of the name who lived in Douglas, was born in 1723 in Sutton, and married ].,ydia Dudley, daughter of Samuel Dudley, of Sutton, about 1746, which was about the time the town of Douglas was incorporated. The branch of the Dudley family who lived in the westerly part of Dougla.s, and frequently intermarried with the Wallis family, came from Sutton. Captain Benjamin Wallis owned a very large tract of land, which was divided among his children, giving them each a large farm. He lived in an old house that stood near where now stands the Aaron A. Wallis house, now owned by Elbridge G. Wallace. His children were : Lydia, born 1748 ; married Josiah Humes, who settled in the south part of the town, on the farm now owned by Frank Kenyon, at what is now called the Old Humes place. Benjamin, Jr., burn 1751 ; married Sarah Thayer ; he built the house and settled near the school-house in District No. 2 ; was a man of large wealth and great influence in the church and in town affairs; was one of the original ownersof the cotton-factory built in East Douglas in 1808; was justice of the peace, and represented his town in the General Court. His children were: Lydia, who married Mackintire, Peter, who settled in Charlton; Benjamin, who settled in AVebster; Sarah, who married Samuel Dudley; Joseph, who married Prudence Wallis, a daughter of Aaron Wallis (he was father of Joseph T., Ira and Andrew J., and several other children) ; Moses, who willed a part of his property to the town, called the Wallis Devise, was never married; and Rufus, who married Molly Paine. His children were Stephen P., Benjamin G., Elmira and Mary A. Rufus Wallis was chairman of the Board of Overseers of .the Poor for many years, and was a man well-fitted for that position.

David Wallis, second son of Captain Benjamin, born 1753, who married Bial Albee, built the house and barn that fifty years ago was known as the Jonathan Wallis place, which was a part of the Captain Benjamin Wallis farm. His children were: David, who married Sybil Balcome; Olive, married Ebenezer Cragin; Jonathan, who married Polly Balcome; Willard, who married Joanna Wallis; and Prudence, who married David Balcome, (her children were: Fanny J., Prudence, Willard W. and Wellington).

Samuel Wallis, third son of Captain Benjamin, born 1758, married Hannah Dudley, and built the house and settled at the place recently known as the Salem Wallis place, now owned by William L. Church, whose wife is granddaughter of Samuel, and daughter of Salem. Samuel Wallis, who lived to be ninety years old, was an honest and upright man, of a strong physical frame, a strong mind, and of temperate habits ; by industry and frugality he had acquired, at the time of his death, a large farm which was divided among his children. His children were: William, the father of Frederick and Lydia (who married William J. Wellman) ; Zylpha, who married Ezra Morse; Samuel, who never married ; Timothy, who married

Charlotte Balcome; Hanuah, who married Fuller Marsh, father of Judson and Thomas Marsh ; Nancy, who married Alvah White ; Polly, who never married ; John, who married Mary A. Logee (whose children are Laura, George M. and Henry D.) ; Dudley, who married Mary A. Wallia (left no children) ; Salem, who married Cynthia A. Hazleton aud Maria L. Flagg (he had one daughter by his last wife) ; Cynthia, who married William L. Church. Two other children of Samuel - Lnriuda and Julia - were never married.

James Wallis, fourth son of Capt. Benjamin and Lydia, born 1761, married Chloe Humes, and settled on the farm recently owned by Capt. Amos Humes. He afterwards sold the farm to Capt. Humes, and moved to Webster, where he owned a mill. He afterwards moved to Southbridge, and subsequently to West Brookfield, where he died in 1840. None of his children ever lived in Douglas.

Aaron, the sixth son, born 1768, married Prudence Aldrich, a daughter of Aaron Aldrich, settled on the homestead of his father, and was a prominent man in town affairs for many years. He held the offices of selectman and assessor for nearly twenty years in succession. His children were Prudence, who married Joseph Wallis ; Joanna, who married Willard Wallis ; Aaron A., who married Submit Humes, daughter of Capt. Amos Humes. Aaron A. Wallis inherited to a great degree the mind and characteristics of his father. He seemed to step into his lather's shoes in the management of town affairs, and for many years, with his brother-in-law, Warren Humes, was looked up to as one of the "fathers of the town." Of his children, one, Marcus M., lives in Iowa, and two daughters in Webster.

Mercy Wallis, daughter of Capt. Benjamin, born 1756, married Capt. Benjamin Dudley, aud settled at the place now owned by Nelson G. Dudley. She was mother of Samuel Dudley and Benjamin Dudley, who settled on the Capt. Benj. Dudley farm.

From 1780 to 1830 the Wallis family and their connections by marriage occupied almost the entire territory of old School District No. 2. Now, 1889, there is scarcely one of the name of Wallis or their connections that live on the farms originally owned by the Wallis family. Five or six of the grandchildren of Samuel Wallis and one of the grandchildren of Samuel Dudley are still living on the territory. I know of no other.

The farm now owned by Elijah Biglow, in the Wallis neighborhood, was never owned by the Wallis family. It was settled by Elijah's great-grandfather, Jedediah Biglow, who built and lived in the old house that formerly stood a little north of where Elijah now lives. His son was Thomas ; Thomas' sous were Jedediah (whose son was Freeman) and Elijah (whose children were Julia, who married a Perry; Sarah, who married Stephen A. Paine; and Elijah, who lives on the old homestead). A little way north of the house of N. G. Dudley, between his house and Manchaug Pond, off from the road, once stood a house and barn, and quite a farm was connected with it, where lived Mr. Pelatiah Parker, the father of Sumner, John, George, Pelatiah and Lucinda, who married C. W. Potter. j The buildings have long since been demolished and the farm grown up to wood and timber. Pelatiah was a son of Isaac Parker, who settled on the Sally Tuttle farm, as now called. Benjamin Gould owned a farm and building that was on the east side of the road that leads to what is called Coopertown. The buildings were long since taken down or gone to decay, and the farm mostly covered with water, when the Reservoir Pond was filled. He was the father of Aaron, who married a daughter of Peter Thompson, and Jedson, who never married. The house now owned by Perry Briant was owned by Deacon Bailey ; it stands near the old Gould place. About one and a half miles up the Coopertown road there was once a good farm and buildings, and a saw-mill, where a large amount of business was done; it was owned by Peter Cooper. The saw-mill and buildings have long since gone to decay and the entire farm, with the exception of an acre or two, is grown up to wood.

On the Oxford road, through the woods, near the Sutton line, is the old Marvel Morse place. Marvel Morse's father was a brother of Jacob Morse, and Marvel married Betsey Morse, sister of Amos and Ezra Morse. His children were Jacob, Marvel, Rebecca, who married Nahum Legg ; Betsey, who married a Gleason ; and Maria, who married a Southwick. The family are all gone and the farm is now owned by the Sheldon brothers. The house on the other side of the road was built and owned by Chandler Stockwell, Jr.

Fifty years ago there was a farm and old buildings about half a mile from the road east of the Marvel Morse farm, that was then owned by Briant Curtis. His father was one of the first settlers of Douglas. The buildings have long since gone to decay and the farm grown to wood and timber.

East of the house of William J. Wellman, that was formerly the William Wallis place, and near the corner of the road that used to be called the Oxford road, that ran across the meadow now the Reservoir Pond, was a small wood-colored house, that was built and occupied for many years by Jonah Titus, who was father of Preston and Russel Titus. The house was occupied for many years by Bradford Arnold, who was a famous stonecutter.

The next house on the road to the centre of the town, now owned by Wellington Balcome, was built by Minor Morse, and was afterwards occupied by Martin Van Buren Barnabas Davis, who married a Morse. The next house east of this, now owned by Thomas Manning, was built by Chester Morse, who was a

The buildings at the outlet of Badluck Pond, recently owned by John Wallis, were bought by him of Silas Brigs, Sr., who was one of the first settlers. The mill and the old house that stood where George M. Wallis' house now stands were owned by Philo and Aaron Fisher for many years, who bought of the Uxbridge Woolen Company, which, at one time, owned a large tract of land in Douglas Woods. It was used at one time for the manufacture of yarn ; originally built for a saw and shingle-mill, and, being near the Badluck Cedar Swamp, where large quantities of cedar were cut, and pine and oak timber were abundant, the business of manufacturing lumber and shingles was very profitable, although for many years after the first settlements the process of manufacturing shingles was by hand ; the Badluck shaved shingles were considered the best in the market.

On the road leading south from the Wallis Mill, about one-half mile from the Webster road, stands the old house and other buildings which for many years was the homestead of William Dudley, called by everybody " Daddy Bill," to distinguish him from the William Dudley who was a son of Mr. Paul Dudley. He was a brother of Reuben Dudley and son of Lemuel Dudley, who was a son of the elder Paul. The other house on this road was formerly and for many years the home of George Starr. His wife was

About one mile west of the Wallis Mill on the Webster Road, is the old Streeter Place (so called). This farm, of about two hundred acres, is within the grant of four thousand five hundred and forty-two acres originally granted to the twenty proprietors of Douglas. The farm was first settled before the grant to the twenty proprietors by Mr. Asa Streeter, who lived here many years, and left the farm to his children, who afterwards sold most of it to the Uxbridge Woolen Co. The buildings have long since gone to decay and the cultivated lots are covered with wood and timber.

John S. Chapin came from Uxbridge, and was extensively engaged in the wood and lumber business in this part of the town. He only cultivated a small tract of land near his buildings. The house was moved to East Douglas many years ago by Mr. W. D. Jones and was afterwards sold to Lucius Simpson, and now stands at what is known as " Bull Kun." Another farm was situated within the limits of the grant to the twenty proprietors, called the " Cliamberlin Farm," of one handred and sixty acres; it was southwesterly of and adjoining the ministerial lot. The location of this farm is well known, but

In this immediate vicinity, and within the limits of the twenty proprietors' grant is the ministerial lot, so called, originally consistingoffourhundred acres, - two hundred acres granted to the First Congregational : Society and two hundred acres to the first settled minister. These lots were designated for many years as the ^ "ministry"andthe" minister's lot." The minister's lot was early sold to Colonel George Sanger, and was known for more than sixty years as the Colonel Sanger lot. I It is now owned by William Knowlton & Sons, of Upton, Mass, The lot called the ministry lot - afterwards called the ministerial lot - was owned by the society for many years, but about the year 1830 was : sold at auction. Benjamin Buffum bought forty acres j on the west end of the lot, built him a log house and barn, and lived there many years, working at the wood and lumber business. The lot has ever since been known as the Bufl'um shanty lot. The next one hundred acres east of Buffum was bought by Deacon Hunt and owned by him at the time of his death. It is now owned by the heirs of J. M. Aldrich. The next lot east of this, of eighteen acres, was owned by Nahum Legg, afterwards by Gardner Cbase, and is now owned by Ellas T. Balcome, of Worcester. The remainder of the ministerial lot is owned by the heirs ofDr. DavidP. White.

Captain Benjamin Taft, who was early one of the principal owners among the twenty proprietors, owning at one time more than one thousand acres of their grant, had four hundred acres of his right set out at the extreme southwest part of their grant. It extended from the Connecticut corner to the Rhode Island line, and was two hundred and forty rods wide. About three hundred acres of this tract was sold by his son. Sweeting Taft, to Mr. John Tilley, of Boston. A road leading from Oxford Gore, as it was then called, passing by the house of Elder Harvey Wakefield, and crossing the county-road about one-half mile east of Connecticut east line, passed on south through this tract. About one-half mile south of the county-road this roadbecametwo roads - one, running in a southeasterly direction, led to the north end of Wallum Pond ; the other, running in a southwesterly direction, terminated in Buck Hill woods. On the last road, near the corner of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, there was once an old house that was built by the father of Gideon Isaiah Wyman Thayer, and Gideon also lived there. East of this place is the Starr place, built and owned by Ebenezer Starr. Another house, and the only one now standing on this road, is the Buxton place. The house, from its appearance, is one of the first built in the town. Still farther north, on this road, is the Mason place, owned by Richard and Abraham Mason - once a large farm with good buildings. It is now a wilderness.

John Tilley, who came from Boston, bought of Sweeting Taft, who was a son of Captain Benjamin Taft, three hundred acres of the Benjamin Taft land. He sold two hundred acres to the Masons, and on the one hundred acres that he kept he built quite a respectable house and barn, a little south of the countyroad, and for many years kept a hotel under the name of "coffee-house." This road has since that time always been known as the coffee-house road, - the whole of this tract of four hundred acres belonging to the Taft estate. Some of it, once under a good state of cultivation, is now entirely grown to wood, with the exception of two or ihree acres.

Near the easterly edge of Douglas Woods, on the county road, there is a famous and never-failing spring called the " Cold Spring," which has been so designated and known for more than one hundred years. Long before this, and before the first settlers located in Douglas, travellers, wilh their teams, used to stop at this ))lace when passing through the country, pitch their tents near the spring, and take their midday meal or pass the night there ; it was for very many years known as the White Oak tavern, although no buildings were ever erected there.

The fiirm at the south end of Badluck Pond, known as the Chase Place, recently owned by Silas and David Cbase, was owned by their father, Asa Chase, who lived in a small house on the south side of the road from the Silas Chase house. Asa Chase bought the place from a Mr. Cooms or Cozzens, who was the first settler there.

The next house east of the Chase farm, now owned by C. W. Brown, was owned for many years by his father, Enoch Brown. Enoch was a prominent man in town affairs, very accurate and precise in all his ways and expressions, extremely sensitive to criticism, and an honest and honorable man. He served for many years on the Board of School Committee ; was selectman and assessor many times, and in his younger days was a successful school-teacher. Enoch Browu bought the place of Henry Howell, who bought of his father, Philip Howell, who, in turn bought of Mr. Oliver Emerson. They lived in an old house standing a little north of the present house, and successfully operated for many years a hatter's shop, that stood on the south side of the road, east of the barn.

The next house on this road, recently owned by Joseph Morse, was owned by his father, Paris Morse, and was built by his grandfather, Levi Morse, and has always been kept in the Morse family.

The next house east, now owned by Joseph Briggs, was built by Levi Morse for his son, Minor. The house was unoccupied for many years under the superstitious prejudice that it was haunted; but for many years it has secured occupants without much trouble.

On the road leading Irom the county road, south, over Wallum Pond Hill, there was once a house, quite a little way west of the present road, known as the old Watkins house, built and owned by the father of George Watkins. The hill on which it stood is now known as the Watkins Hill. The house was afterwards owned by John Alger, and a little west of this house was the Billings place. Both houses were long ago abandoned, and the farms are entirely covered with wood and timber. The house near the railroad near the Summit, known as the Flynn house, was owned for many years by Mr. Levi Brown. Levi was brother of Enoch and Simeon, who were sous of Jonah Brown, who lived at the south part of the town. The next house on this road, now owned by Peter Jarvis, was owned by Orrin Chase, some twenty years, and was formerly owned by Mr. John M. Whiting.

The old Asahel Aldrich place, now owned by Alfred Reynold.-;, is one of the early settled places in the town, and was owned by the father of Asahel Aldrich. Asahel Aldrich owned a large tract of wood and timber land west of his house, built a saw-mill and a shingle-mill and manufactured large quantities of lumber and shiugles for market. The New York and New England Railroad went directly through his mill-ponds and demolished his dams, and he, about this time, sold out his farm and property and moved to the State of Illinois.

At the old cellar, where Daniel S. Buxton'.s house stood, was the old place of Timothy Aldrich. Lovell Parker's old place and Olney Angel's, the last house in Douglas, were on this road. On the road running east, past the school-house, the first is the Joseph Bowdish place, which was owned by his father, Nathiel Bowdish. The buildings are rapidly going to decay. On the road running south from this road, between the Bowdish and Oluey Arnold places, there was, one hundred years ago, three or four good farms. The Simon Fairfield place, the David Harrington place and the Jonah Brown were all on this road and were well-cultivated farms. Now not an acre of the land is under cultivation.

The Olney Arnold form, now rapidly running down, was once a good farm and under a good state of cultivation. The Zara Parker farm is one of the early settled farms in town, and was owned for many years by Zara's father, Mr. Prince Parker. The house of Harley Brown was owned by Mrs. Mary Fairfield, Abel Parker and a Mr. Prince.

North of this house, on the south side of Frog Pond, fifty years ago, stood the last log house in Douglas. It was owned and occupied by Mr. Jonathan Marsey or Massey. His daughter Ruth married Emer Esten, and recently died at the old Esten place.

An old cellar on the road between Potter M. Bates and Retus Walling shows where once stood the house of Joseph Emerson. The buildings have all been down many years. Joseph Emerson was the father of Caleb and Darling Emerson, and his father's name was Joseph. He built the house and was the first settler here.

Retus Walling, now living, bought his farm of John M. Whitney and built the house where he now lives. The place was formerly owned for many years by Elder Pliny Britt. Elder Britt organized the Reformed Methodist Church of South Douglas about 1806, assisted in building the meeting-house and preached there for several years. Elder Amos Yates was his successor, who preached there until by the infirmities of age he was unable to preach longer. There have been no meetings there for many years.

The William Jefierson place, next east of Retus Walliug's, now owned by Mr. Walling, is one of the earliest settled farms in town, originally including nearly all of what is now known as "Tassletop." William Jefierson was brother of Aaron, and their father, Aaron, lives in an old house near the church. He had a brother Seth, who was father of Waterman Jefferson, who lived in an old house near the Caswell place. The farm now owned by Lovel Parker is the old Caswell farm, owned originally by Mr. Nathan Caswell, who left it to his son Nathan, who left it to his children, some of whom live in the West. N. S., David, and Mary (who married John Fairfield) are still living in Douglas.

Jared Benson once owned what is now the Town Farm. He sold to David Richardson and he to the town of Douglas. The house now occupied by Darius Heath was the homestead of Captain Moses Balcome, who was brother of Amos Balcome, who owned the farm at the end of the road west of the Captain Moses Balcome farm. Amos and Moses Balcome were sons of Bezaleel Balcome.

Aaron Balcome was one of the early settlers of Douglas. He was the progenitor of the Balcome family that at one time was a numerous and influential family in town. He was the father of John Balcome, who had eighteen children. His sons were: Ells, Samuel, John, Jesse, David, Warren, Aaron, with several daughters. Aaron and John Balcome owned the farm now owned by Dennis Quinn. Aaron, brother of Ellis, at one time owned and lived at what was many years ago known as the Ridell place.

John Balcome settled on the old homestead. Samuel married the daughter of Priest Stone, the second settled minister of Douglas, and settled on the farm belonging to his wife's father, in the centre of the town. Ellis married Eunice Hunt and settled on the farm now occupied by C. W. Potter. Jesse at one time owned the brick house now belonging to the heirs of Joseph and Jeremiah Batcheller. David owned the place now owned by Thomas Kelley, and Warren built a small house now standing unoccupied at Centerville.

The farm recently owned by John Robins is one of the first settled farms in town ; it was first settled by Dr. William JennLson, afterwards owned by his son, Samuel Jennison, Esq., and by Dr. Taylor, who lived there many years. The farm afterwards passed through the hands of Paul Dudley and William Dudley (who built the large house east of the church), Paris Hill and Caleb Hill (by whom it was sold to John Robins. The Holman house was built by Rev.

of J. H. Dudley was built by his grandfather, Paul Dudley. It has always been occupied as a hotel. The house of A. J. Dudley and A. M. Hill was built by John Dudley. The house now owned by Joseph A. Richardson, and occupied by himself and his father, David Richardson, was built by Doctor Aaron Batcheller, and occupied by him until his death. Dr. Batcheller was one of the most skillful physicians who ever lived in the south part of Worcester County. His practice was extensive in all the adjoining towns.

The following stanza, composed by him, to be inscribed on his tombstone, shows that he not only entered heartily into his work, but that he also thought of the future :

The house now owned by Chandler Titus, known as the old Jo Albee place, was the homestead of the elder Lemuel TiUauy, and was the place of twenty acres originally granted to Ephraim Hill for being the first settler after the grant of four thousand acres. This was in the fourth range of lots. The old Whiting farm, at the Benjamin Whiting place, is one of the oldest settled farms in town. Benjamin Whiting was son of Abner Whiting, who built the present Whiting liouse. Abner was brother of David Whiting ; they were sons of Caleb Whiting, who lived at the Dennis Quin jjlace, where David lived after the death of his father. Abner and Fred Whiting were sons of David. Cypron and Benjamin were sons of the elder Abner. The farm owned by Jesse B. Sherman is the old Daniel Aldrich farm, by whom it was first settled ; it was afterwards sold to Fred. Whiting and to the present owner. The Jesse Chase form, known as the Daniel Logee farm, was originally owned by Sylvanus Holbrook.

The William Chase farm is one of the early settled farms in town. It was owned by his father, whose name was William, who lived in a house near the present one. William Chase, Sr., was brother of

On the old Providence turnpike, near the south part of the town, fifty years ago stood a large twostory house and a large ham, known as the Thad. Thayer place. Thaddeus Thayer was the fifth son of Joseph Thayer, who was son of Isaac Thayer. Thaddeus was one of a family of twelve children, horn about 1758, kept a hotel and owned a large farm, and was a distant relative of the Thayers now living in Douglas. West of the Thaddeus Thayer place sixty years ago, on a small road that ran by the two hundred acre farm reserved out of the three thousand seven hundred acre grant to the Aldrich family, and south of the Aldrich farm, there was a good-sized farm with fair buildings, owned by Israel Thayer. Israel Thayer had borrowed some money of a peddler, and one night, about sixty-five years ago, the peddler went to the house either to collect his pay or the interest on his money, and he accepted an invitation to stay all night. During the evening Israel's three sons - Nelson, Israel and Isaac - conceived the idea of putting the peddler out of the w.ay, and thus settle his claim against their father, thinking, no doubt, that, as they had been killing hogs that day, it would be a favorable excuse to account for any blood they might shed in killing the peddler. They therefore loaded their father's gun and went out into the yard and shot the peddler through the window. Not killing him by the shot, they took an axe and beat his brains out. They were subsequently arrested and tried for the crime, were convicted and executed in Buffalo, in the State of New York. This farm and the Aldrich farm are now grown to wood and timber.

The Aldrich family probably all sprung from this Aldrich - Edwin, who was the first settler. His son was Jacob Aldrich, and his sons Aaron, Jacob and Amariah. Seth Aldrich, Sr., once lived at the Joshua Fairbank place. Aaron Aldrich settled on a large tract of land at or near the Simon Rawson place. His sons were Aaron, Ezra, John, Joseph and Seth. Their descendants still living in town are quite numerous.

The Southwick farm, in the neighborhood of the Aaron Aldrich farm, is also one of the early settled fartns in town. This was originally the Lovell Pulsifer farm. He was a blacksmith and wore a leather apron wherever he went, was elected Representative to the General Court, and wore his apron and homespun clothes. Some of the Representatives undertook to tease him in regard to his appearance by asking him if there were no smarter and better men in Douglas to represent the town. His reply was, " Yes, 1 suppose there are some smarter men in Douglas, but they haven't got any clothes.'' Moses Southwick married the daughter of Lovell Pulsifer and succeeded to the farm. Moses was the father of Lovell, Moses, Luke and seven daughters, of which Chandler Walker married one. Moses' father's name was Joseph, who lived in Smithfield, R. I. The numerous Thayer family that have lived in Douglas and Uxbridge for the last one hundred and fifty years all sprung from a Mr. Thom.is Thayer, who came from England. Captain Marvel Thayer and his brother John, formerly living in the south part of the town, were sons of John Thayer, who was brother of Thaddeus and Joseph Thayer, Esq., formerly of Uxbridge ; these three were sons of Joseph and grandsons of Isaac Thayer, who was the son of Ferdinand Thayer.

Mr. Asa Thayer, who is now living, was born in 1799 ; was one of twelve children - seven sons and five daughters - children of Mr. Asa Thayer, who lived in Uxbridge, and married Mary Murdock, daughter of Captain Benjamin Murdock, who bought Nathaniel Brewer's right in the one thousand acre grant, called the Draper and Brewer grant. Captain Murdock lived in the small house on the opposite side of the road from the house of Jacob Williams. A.sa Thayer, Sr., built the house and barn now owned by Jerre Dunlavy and kept a hotel there for many years, and after his death the present Asa Thayer kept it for a hotel for many years. This is on a part of the Murdock farm - the original Brewer farm. Two of Asa Thayer's brothers - Emory and Turner - and two of hia sisters - Olive, who married Ezekiel Taft, and Nancy, who married Arnold Taft - lived in Douglas.

Asa Thayer, Sr., was son of Samuel Thayer and grandson of Captain Thomas Thayer, who was a son of Ferdinand Thayer, one of the early settlers in the State.

The road leading from the village of East Douglas South, has for many years been called " the Martin road." About one mile south of the village and a little east of the four corners is the old Martin farm, which has been kept in the Martin family since the town was first settled. Harrison, who is still living, Aaron and Eliza Martin were children of Major Comfort Martin. Eliza married Robert Hannant, and her children still own the farm.

Comfort Martin was a large, portly man, who stood more than six feet in his stockings and was son of Comfort Martin, who raised a large family, mostly daughters; was one of the early settlers of Douglas.

The Gould family was one of the early families of Douglas. Mr. Ebenezer Gould settled on the place recently owned by Parley Gould. His sons were Benjamin, Daniel and Jason. Benjamin's sons were Aaron and Judson ; Daniel's sons were George, Otis and Elie/.er, and Jason's sons were Sylvester and Parley. The farm now owned by Hartford Thompson was the old Cummings farm, owned for many years by Ithael Cummings, and was also owned by his father.

nent man in his day ; he raised a large family of children, among whom were Joseph and Josiah. He once kept a store in the old house that stood near the present house.'

Chapter Clxxviii

First Ckiitgregalional Church - Second Congreyaiionai Church - liefttnned Methodist - Methodist Ejiiscopal - Catholic - Maniifacttires - Educational - The Willis Fund - Masonic - G. A. R. - Thc Press - The Eeralution - The Rebellion.

The First Congregational Church was organized November 11, 1747, with twenty-three member;*. The first pastor was Rev. William Phipps, ordained De .ember 16, 1747, and remained until July 10, 1765. He was succeeded by Rev. Isaac Stone, who was ordained October 30, 1771, and served this church thirty-four years. His successors have been as follows: Revs. David Holman, for thirty-Jive years; John W. Salter, Gilbert D. Richardson, John D. Smith, Francis Dyer, Amos Holbrook, J. W. C. Pike, W. W. Dow and James Wells, the present pastor. The first house of worship was dedicated in 1748, and the present house in 1834.

The Second Congregational Church was orgiuized June 12, 1834, with twenty-nine members. The first pastor was Rev. John Boardman, installed February 25, 1835, and remained until his death, November 8, 1841. His successors in the pastorate have been as follows : Revs. Chauncy D. Rice, Joshua L. Maynard, S. M. Plympton, William T. Briggs and Rev. Stephen Smith, the present stated supply. The first church edifice was erected in 1834, and remodeled in 1872.

Reformed Methodist Church, South Douglas, was formed in 1808, and its first pastor was Pliny Brett. No meetings have been held here for about twenty years and the house is going to decay.

The Methodist Episcopal Church in East Douglas was organized November 5, 1866, with Rev. W. Wilkie as pastor. The present house of worship was erected in 1872. The pastors since Mr. Wilkie have been as follows: Revs. William P. Blackmer, William Silverthorn, Daniel P. Atkins, William M. Hubbard, William D. Bridge, J. J. Woodbury, W. H. Cook, I. C. Smith. Jo;iathan Neal and John Capen, present pastor.

Roman Catholic. - Catholic services were held in this town prior to 1850 by Father Sheridan. A church was formed in 1865. Among those who have served as spiritual guides to the Catholics of Douglas may be mentioned : Fathers Sheridan, O'Keefe, Moran, Gegnier, Coullard, Delphos the present pastor.

* A more extended history of Douglas is now in course of preparation by Mr. A. F, Brown, and will be issued in due time. Mr. Brown ia well qualified for the woik, and the history will be a valuable addition to the historic literature of New England. - [Editor.]

house of worship was erected the following year. Solomon P. Snow was first pastor. No services have been held here for about ten years, and only three members of this church are now living.

Manufactures. - The manufacture of axes in Douglas dates back to about the year 1790, when Joseph and Oliver Hunt began making them in a small w.ay at East Douglas. A shop was subsequently started at the Centre. After a number of years, of varying success, the business came into the hands of Oliver Hunt, who, with his sons Warren and Otis, succeeded in bringing the business to a prosperous condition. Benjamin Cragin was a prominent factor at this time, he acting as selling agent. Warren Huntsubsequentlytook chargeof the bu'finessand had associated with him for three or four years AlexanderSciidder. The Douglas Axe Manufacturing Company was organized in 1835, with William T. Eustis as president, and the corporation has continued to the present time, and the Douglas axe has a worldwide reputation. Various prize medals have been awarded this axe, among them those from the Massachusetts Mechanics' Association, Philadelphia Centennial, Paris Exposition, London World's Fair, the Vienna Exposition, etc. The works are now in successful operation.

The woolen-mill now run by W. E. Hayward & Co. was built by Warren Hunt, in 1863, for a cottonmill. It has subsequently been in the possession of Nelson Williams, C. P. Whitin, Moses Taft and Lee & Murdock. Among other manufactories may be mentioned Thayer's grist and saw-mill, Logee's carriage manufactory, Wellman's grist-mill and Eagle Grist-Mill. Manufactories of a former period were the Cragin satinet-mill, Wallis's planing-mill, Samuel Legg's fulling-mill, Adams' cassimere factory, Burt plow factory, Preston cotton factory, the Lovett mill, Soiithworth's grist-mill and Carpenter's tannery and shoe factory.

Educational. - The first reference to schools, found on the town records is under date of 1748, when it was " voted that a schoole be kept three months in ye summer seasons." The early records show that the town manifested a lively interest in schools, and in 1757 it was voted that "schools be set up in five parts of the town." The cost of schools from 1747 to 1770 ranged from £2 to £20 annually, and occasionally a year passed with no appropriation. The schools of the town at present are in a fairly prosperous condition.

The present members of the School Committee are Levi White, M.D., E. C. Esten, Stillman Russell, Rev. James Wells, James Wixted, Francisco Bowen, C. S. Caswell, E. B. Knapp and W. W. Brown.

The fund known as the " Wallis Devise" was originated by the will of Moses Wallis, wherein he bequeathed a certain sum of money to be kept on interest until November 16, 1901, when both principal and interest should forma new principal to be " forever thereafter kept on interest, the annual interest " of this new principal, when it reaches twelve thousand dollars, to be applied to the building of a Town Hall, &c. The present agent of the fund is C. W. Potter.

Samuel Sibley Post, Grand Army RepxMic, No. 137, was organized about eight years ago, with George H. Walker, Commander, who was succeeded by Henry Hutchins, and he by J. Q. Bigelow, the present Commander. The members of the post are harmonious and united, and have done and are now doing a noble work in the distribution of charities and looking after the wants of the needy and destitute. The town has given them from one hundred to two hundred dollars annually, which they have judiciously expended.

The Press. - The Douglas Herald was established March 7, 1868, by G. B. Quinby and George W. Spencer. Soon after Mr. Quinby retired and for a short time Mr. Henry F. Dudley was associated with Mr. Spencer. In 1872 Charles A. W. Spencer, a brother of George W., became interested in the paper, and it was published by George W. Spencer & Co.

January 25, 1873, the Douglas Herald and Whitinsville Compendium were consolidated under the name of the Worcester South Compendium, and was published here until October 4, 1873, when it was removed to Uxbridge.

Other sheets have been as follows: The Advertiser, by C. J. Batcheller ; Our Home Journal, by W. D. Bridge & Co. ; The Engraver' > Proof Sheet, hj William A. Emerson; and Practical Instructions in the Art of Wood Engraving, by William A^jtnemn^