Royalston Town

Royalston Town

promised the gift for a meeting-house, to which reference has been made. At this meeting the land was laid out into sixty lots for settlers, and three others for the minister, for the support of public worship and for the support of a school. In 1765, however, three hundred and thirty-one acres were set apart for the first minister, four hundred and twenty-four acres for the ministry, and four hundred and twenty acres for the school. The proprietors' meetings were held until 1787, at which date it is presumed that the lands had all been disposed of and become the property of individual holders. The sixty settlers each received from the proprietors the free gift of one hundred acres, with the condition that a clergyman should be settled, six acres of ground be cleared and a house built. In 1764 a meeting-house was built, and in 1765 such conditions existed as rendered the formation of a town desirable. In response to a petition presented to the General Court the following act of incorporation was passed February 19, 1765 :

Whereas, the proprietors of the land lying north of Athol, within the county of Worcester, known by the name of Royalnhire, have petitioned this Court that, for the reasons mentioned, said hind may be incorporated into a town and vested with the powers and authority belonging to other towns, for the encouragement of said settlement.

Sect. 1. That said tract of land bounded and described as follows, viz., beginning at a pillar of stones on the province line, the northwest corner, and from thence running south by the east line of Warwick live miles and two hundred and ninety three rods to a pillar of stones the southwest corner ; and from thence running east with thy north line o? Athol five miles and two hundred and sixty -five rods to a red oak and Leap of stones, the northeast corner of Athol; and from thence south by the east line of Athol one mile and one hundred and ninety rods to a stake and stones, a corner of Templeton : and from thence east three degrees south one mile and eighty-six rods by said Tetupleton to the southwest corner ; and from thence north twelve degrees east five miles and eighty rods on the west line of Winchendon to a heap of stones, the northwest corner of said Wiuchendnn ; and thence east twelve degrees south six miles and sixty rods by the north line of said Winchendon to the northeast corner thereof; and from thence north twelve degrees east by the west line of Dorchester Canada two hundree and ninety-five rods to the province north bounds; and from thence by the province line fourteen miles and two hundred and eightyfive rods to the corner first-mentioned, be and hereby is erected into a town by the name of Boyalstou ; and the inhabitants thereof shall have and enjoy all such immunities and privileges as other towns in this province have and do by law enjoy.

Sect. 2. That Joshua Willard, Ksq., be, and hereby is, empowered to Issue his warrant to some principal inhabitant of said town of Roy at - ston, requiring him, in his majesty's name, to warn and notify the said inhaljitants qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet together at such time and place in said town as shall be appointed in said warrant to choose such officei-s ixs the law directs, and may be necessary to manage the affairs of said town ; and the inhabitants so met shall be, and are hereby, empowered to choose otticers accordingly.

Sect. 3. That all those persons that have already agreed for to settle in said townsliip, and have given bonds to perform the same, shall be accounted as part and parcel of said inhabitants, and be allowed to vote in their town-meetings in all town affairs, as fully as those who actually live upon their settlements in said town, and shall be accordingly taxed for the purposes aforesaid.

The first change in the boundary Hues of Royalston occurred in 1780. At the time of the incorporation of the town of Winchendon, in 1764, the n<)rthern boundary of that town was fixed at the province line ; but it was subsequently discovered that the province line was one mile farther north thau was supposed. A readjustment of the line consequently left a strip of territory one mile wide, extending along the whole length of the Winchendon line, unincorporated. The uct incorporating the town of Royalston gave this territory to that town, and it received the name of the Royalston Leg. The inhabitants of this territory were not long satisfied with their allotment in the town of Royalston, and petitioned the General Court to be annexed to Winchendon. In compliance with their petition the following act was passed, June 17, 1780 :

Whereas it appears that the inhabitaiits living in a strip of land belonging to Royalston in the county of Worcester, called Royalston Leg, about one mile wide, lying the whole length of the town of Winchendon, would be much accommodated by being set off from Royalston and annexed to the town of Winchendon, -

Sect. 1. That all that part of Royalston called Royalston Leg, containing by estimation about two thousand acres, beginning at the|noithwest corner of Winchendon, then running northwardly a parallel line with Winchendon west line about ime mile to the province line su called; then eastward ly by the province line the length of the town of Winchendon, be and hereby is set off from Royalston and annexed to Winchendon ; and the town of Winchendon is hereby extended so far north as the State line of New Hampshire and said land with the inhabitants living therein shall forever hereafter be considered as belonging to the town of Winchendon.

Sect. 2. That the said inhabitants and non-residents shall pay all tHxes which are already aissessed and levied on the town of Royalston, anything in this act to the contrary notwithstanding.

Sect. 3. That the amount of the estates contained on and in said tract of land and the polls thereon returned by the assessors of the town of Royalston in the valuation last taken as belonging to Royalston be deducted from the return of said assessors and added to the return made by the iissessors of the town of Winchendon.

This act reduced the territory of Royalston about two thousand acres. Several thousand acres more were taken by the incorporation of the town of Orange, in 1783. Small additions were made in 1799, 1803 and 1837, so that, at the present time, the territory of Royalston contains about twenty-six thousand eight hundred and eighty-two acres.

The first meeting of the town was held May 7, 1765, at which John Fry was chosen clerk, Peter Woodbury, treasurer, and John Fry, Timothy Richardson and Benjamin Woodbury were chosen selectmen. Thouf^h a meeting-house had been built in 1764, the year before the incorporation of the town, no formal church had been organized and no minister had been settled. On the 13th of October, 1766, a church was gathered consisting of sixteen persons, and the pulpit continued to be supplied by occasional preachers, until October 19, 1768, when Rev. Joseph Lee was ordained. He was to receive, in addition to three hundred and thirty-one acres of land granted by the proprietors, four hundred pounds, old tenor, for a settlement, and forty-six pounds, thir- teen sliilliiigs and four jience of lawful money per annum for three yej.is, fifty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence for the next three years, and sixty pounds annually afterwards. He was also to have thirty cords of wood drawn annnally from his own land, without charge. Mr. Lee was born in Concord, May 12, 1752, and graduated at Harvard in 1765. His pastorate continued until his death, February 16, 1819. During his pastorate, in 1797, a new meeting-house was built to meet the increasing demands of the society.

On the day after the death of Mr. Lee, and while his remains lay waiting their burial. Rev. Ebenezer Perkins was ordained as his successor. Mr. Perkins was born in Topsfield, Essex County, July 4, 1794, and graduated at Dartmouth College. His pastorale terminated in 1847, but he continued a resident in Royalston until his death, which occurred November 28, 1861. Rev. Norman Hazen succeeded Mr. Perkins and was settled in June, 1847. In feeble health when settled, Mr. Hazen struggled against the inroads of disease in vain and died, after a five years' pastorate, in 1852. In 1861, during Mr. Hazen's pastorate, the meeting-house, erected in 1797, was burned, and was replaced by the present one. Rev. Ebenezer Bullard was installed September 2, 1852, and dismissed November 9, 1868. Rev. John P. Cushman followed November 30, 1870, and Rev. Wilbur Johnson May 16, 1874. The present pastor, Rev. Judson W. Shaw, was ordained ,Iune 1, 1887. His predecessor was Rev. Milton G. Pond.

When Rev. Mr. Lee was settled, in 1768, ten of the forty-two families in the town were Baptists, and organized a church in the year of his settlement. On or before 1770 it is presumed that they had built a house of worship, for in that year they settled their first pastor, Rev. Whitman Jacobs. His ministry continued until about the year 1788, and soon afterwards a new meeting-house was erected near the Warwick line. In 1847 the new building was removed about a mile to the eastward.

A second Congregational Church was organized in South Royalston, February 22, 18.37, and in the same year a house of worship was erected. The first pastor of this church. Rev. Samuel H. Peckham, was installed December 13, 1838. The present pastor is Rev. E. J. Beach. A Methodist Society was also organized at South Royalston in 1842, and Rev. Pliny Wood was the first preacher. In 1847 a house of worship was built, and the society has enjoyed a career of satisfactory prosperity. At present the church has no settled pastor.

As in other New England towns, the establishment of educational privileges stood in Royalston next in order to those of a religious character. Though Massachusetts was a Province loyal to British rule, the seeds of popular education bad been planted and were far advanced in growth, while in the mother country they had not yet [found their way beneath the soil.

The growth of popular education, which in the early days of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies had become the object of their people's most assiduous care, illustrates the fact that no particular era in American history, not even the days of the Revolution, can be fixed as the period of American Independence. From the original settlement of New England a new individuality existed on this side of the ocean, as distinct in habits of thought, in methods of living and in ideas of government, from the communities of the Old World, as the son is distinct from the father, and only needs to become of age to assert his freedom.

In the sale by the General Court of Royalston lands one-sixty-third part of the purchased territory was reserved for public schools. In addition to 420 acres of land thus reserved, Isaac Royal gave to the town 200 acres for school purposes. These lands have been sold from time to time, and the proceeds of sales have formed what is called the " Old School Fund," the income of which is annually credited to the School Department. Another school fund, called the " Bullock Fund," will be referred to hereafter in some statements concerning Hon. Rufus Bullock, its founder.

The first action on the part of the town concerning schools was taken in 1767, when it was voted to lease out the school land. In 1769 it was voted " to sell the school land for as much as it will sell for ; the principal to be a fund fur schools and the interest to be applied yearly to pay for schooling." In the same year the sura of three pounds in addition to the interest of the fund was raised "to hire schooling the present year." In 1769 Simeon Chamberlain was employed as teacher at nine shillings a week, and in 1770 Capt. John Fry taught five weeks for ten shillings a week. Jwhu Crawford, Hannah Richardson and Dr. Stephen Bacheller followed, and all before 1777. In those early days of the town the schools were kept in dwellinghouses and sometimes in barns, but in 1777 the town, while declining to build a school-hou.se, gave liberty to a number of the inhabitants to build one near the meeting-house on land presumably belonging to the town. The first three teachers in this house were a Mr. Wood and Ammi Falkner and Ebenezer Pierce. In 1781 the town was divided into six school districts, which number, after the incorporation of the town of Orange, was reduced to five. In 1795 nine districts were formed, which, with slight variations, continued until 1820. In 1797 it was voted " to build schoolhouses in the several school districts; and, that equal justice may be rendered to individuals as near as possible, that the school-houses shall be built as near the centre of the districts as the situation of the inhabitants and the roads will admit, and that each district may agree on the spot." A committee was appointed to report the expense of building these houses, and to ascertain whether there were not buildings already erected in any of the districts which could be hired for school uses. The committee, consisting of Jonathan Sibley, Benjamin Hutchinson and Peter Woodbury, reported February 2, 1797, recommending the erection of houses in the various districts at an estimated cost of two thousand and eighteen dollars. Most of these houses were to be " twenty-four feet by twenty and nine and a half feet stud, with square roof, six windows each, with fifteen seven by nine glass, the inside wall ceiled ; overhead crowning and plastered, the seats round the walls on three sides and raised eight inches, and eighteen inches from the walls, with a good writing-table before them and a shelf for books beneath; seats before the tables; an entrance way at one end of the house six feet wide; two doors to enter the room, and the whole to be finished up in workman-like manner and the outside painted." On the 7th of May, 1798, the report was accepted and the sum of fifteen hundred dollars was appropriated for the work. This amount was found afterwards to be insufficient and a further sum of four hundred and fifty dollars was raised to meet the deficiency. At a later day three new districts were added, making twelve in all, and at that number they continued until the district system was abolished by law. There is no high school in the town, but the grammar and other schools are well supported and well managed.

Of these there are ten for the support of which, in the year ending February 24, 1888, the sum of .$2,409.54 was expended. In addition to this the sum of $200 was expended for books and supplies. The income of the two School Funds amounted in the same year to .$432.70, all of which was applied to the support of schools. The old Fund, derived from the sales of land, amounts to $1500, from which the income was $90, and the Bullock Fund to $5000, from which the income was $342.70.

According to the report of the trustees of the Public Library, the number of volumes in February, 1888, was 1138. An annual appropriation is made by the town for its support.

In the War of the Revolution, which followed closely upon the incorporation of the town, the same patriotic spirit prevailed in Royalston which characterized the great majority of towns in the Province. In 1773 the people of the town were in communication with the people of Boston, and rendered them at least moral aid in their attitude of resistance to the aggressions of the Crown. When, in 1774, the General Court met in Salem, in violation of the orders of General Gage, and resolved itself into a Provincial Congress, Henry Bond was a member of that Congress from Royalston. When the Second Congress met at Cambridge and adjourned to Concord, Nahum Green represented the town in that memorable assembly. In 1776 a step was taken in Massachusetts towards the formation of a State Constitution. The people of Royalston voted in favor of making it one of the duties of the General Court of 1776 to frame such a Constitution. When the Constitution as framed was submitted to the town in April, 1778, it was voted not to approve ic. The Constitution as presented was then submitted to a committee for alteration and amendment, and, as reported back by the committee, was unanimously approved. The Constitution having failed, the people of Royalston, on the new question, whether a convention should be called for the purpose of framing one, voted in the affirmative, and Sylvanus Hemenway was chosen delegate, with John Fry as his substitute. The Constitution finally proposed by the convention was laid before the town May 25, 1780, but what action was taken the town records do not state. In 1779 a .town-meeting was held " to hear the proceedings of the convention at Concord on account of settling prices of commodities bought and sold (within the State), and act on said affair as the town may think proper." At this meeting, held on the 16th of August, Henry Bond was chosen to attend the next session of the convention at Concord, and when the result of its deliberations was promulgated, John Fry, William Town, Lieutenant Chase, Henry Bond, Nathan Wheeler, Deacon Woodbury and Peletiah Metcalf were chosen a committee " to set prices on the sundry commodities bought and sold in town, agreeable to the instructions of the Convention."

Though the population of the town at the time of the war was only about seven hundred and fifty, it is known that many others were engaged in the service whose names would doubtless be found in the muster and pay-rolls in the archives of the State.

In Shays' Rebellion, which followed closely after the termination of the war, the sympathies of the people of Royalston were enlisted on the side of the insurgents, though they had too much respect for law and good order to afford them substantial aid in their efforts. The acts of violence and disorder which characterized the movement were soon condoned,

In the war with Great Britain, in 1812, no special interest was felt, and no patriotic enthusiasm excited. Its preliminary step - the embargo - was condemned by the people, and a committee, consisting of Joseph Esterbrook, Stephen Bacheller, Jr., John Norton, Isaac Metcalf and Rulus Bullock, were chosen to draft a petition to the General Court to take measures to redress the grievances arising from the policy of the National Government. The report of the committee, which was adopted by the town, declared that "the inhabitants of the Town of Royalston legally assembled in Town-meeting for the purpose of taking into consideration the present unprecedented and very alarming situation of our public affairs, hereby represent that when there is a dereliction from the first principles ; when there is a practical departure from what is warranted by the constitution in those that lead in government, then there is a call to vigilance and exertion to prevent the progress of the evil. Notwithstanding it has been intimated from high authority that the people in town-meeting, etc., are not capable of judging of the propriety or impropriety of the measures of government, and that there are stages when an end must be put to debate, yet so long as we consider our National and State Constitution the supreme law of our land, wo shall, agreeably to the rights therein secured to us (which rights we are determined never to relinquish), take the liberty on all important and portentous (issues), particularly when those rights are invaded and trampled upon, to assemble in an orderly and peaceable manner to make our grievances known, and to use all proper and constitutional means to have them redressed.

" We have seen with anxiety a system of measures pursued which has paralyzed industry and enterprise, discouraged our farmers and embarrassed our merchants, brought distress upon all classes of our citizens, and produced the greatest temptation for an illicit trade perhaps ever known. We are firmly attached to our National and State Constitutions, and cheerfully pledge our lives and everything we hold dear to support them. We are also firmly attached .to a Union of the States, and should view with horror and detestation any attempts to sever them or to discountenance that friendship and harmony that ought to subsist between them."

This bold language illustrates the character of the protests made everywhere in Massachusetts against a policy which, with the embargo as one of its measures, spread havoc among the ship-owners on the sea-board and excited universal sympathy among those who were connected with them either by social or busineiss ties. As the war approached, a townmeeting was held " to see what measures to adopt relative to the distressing situation of our country, and act in concert with millions of American citizens to take all peaceable and constitutional means, if possible, to avert the horrors of war."

But when war was actually declared, the time for discussion and criticism ceased, and patriotism alone, with the duties it inculcated, filled the minds of the community. For the most part, the town saw little of the usual accompaniments of hostile strife. The war was a naval war; but occasionally the threatened attacks of the enemy on the weak points of the coast created alarms which reached the interior towns. On one of these occasions the Grenadiers, a military company of Royalston, was summoned to Boston, and continued thirty-four days in the service. The roll of this company was as follows :

In the War of the Rebellion Royalston performed a creditable part. At its commencement the population of the town was one thousand four hundred and eighty-six, and its valuation .$823,257. The Board of Selectmen during the first two years of the war consisted of William W. Clement, Richard Baker and Cyrus B. Reed, and during its remaining years, of William W. Clement, Jeremiah A. Rich and Hiram Harrington. A.t a town-meeting held on the 30th of April, 1861, it was voted to raise fifteen hundred dollars to fit out volunteers and to pay them ten dollars a month above the pay of the Government. A committee of three was also raised to procure recruits. On the 14th of October it was voted to raise a sum not exceeding one thousand dollars for soldiers' families. On the 7th of April, 1862, it was voted to borrow one thousand dollars for aid to families of volunteers, and on the 24th of July to pay a bounty of one hundred dollars to volunteers for three years' service.

On the 25th of August it was voted to pay the same bounty to volunteers for nine months' service. On the 20th of April, 1864, it was voted to raise fifteen hundred dollars for bounties, and on the 14th of June to raise enough money to pay each volunteer one hundred and twenty-five dollars. In 1865 it was voted to raise four thousand nine hundred and sixty- for the purpose of filling the various quotas of the town. The whole amount expended by the town for war purposes was $2o, 268.91, of which the sum of $9,268.91, expended for State aid, was refunded by the State.

In order that some idea of the prominent men in Royalston may be obtained, the following list is here inserted of those who represented the town in the General Court. The first representative was chosen May '27, 1766, and at the last town-meeting warned in the name of His Majesty. The next meeting was called " in the name of the government and people of the State of Massachusetts Bay in New England." After 1776 no representative was chosen until 1780.

The twenty-first article of the amendments to the Cunstitution was adopted by the Legislatures of 1856 and '57, and ratified by the people in 1857. Under the provisions of the amendment the towns of Royalston and Athftl constituted the Second Representative District of Worcester County, and were represented until the next apportionment as follows :

Under the apportionment of 1866, based on the census of 1865, the same towns constituted the same district, and were represented until the next apportionment as follows :

Under the apportionment of 1876, based on the census of 1875, the same towns constituted the Eighth Worcester District, and were represented until the next apportionment as follows : census of 1885, the towns of Athol, Royalston and Phillipston constituted the First Representative District of Worcester, and have been represented as follows :

Among those, however, who have been representative men in the town, there are those who deserve more than a passing notice. Dr. Stephen Bacheller, was a native of the town, and the son of Dr. Stephen Bacheller, who was born in Grafton, and through a long life practiced his profession in Royalston. The younger Stephen was educated at the Academies of Chesterfield, New Hampshire, and New Salem, and studied medicine with his father and Dr. Henry Wells, of Montague. He began practice in the town of Truro, on Cape Cod, but in 1808, at the age of twenty-five, returned to his native town, where he a-sumed the busine.ss of his father, and jointly with him finally completed a career of eighty years in the medical practice. He was highly esteemed both in his profession and out out of it. He was for many years one of the counselors of the Massachusetts Medical Society, two years its vice-president and was also one of the founders of the Worcester County Medical Association, of which he was for some years its president. In 1826 and 1830 he represented Royalston in the Legislature, and in many other ways was the recipient of the confidence of the community in which he lived. His death, which was sudden and unexpected, occurred on election day in November, 1848.

Rufus Bullock, son of Hugh and Rebecca Bullock, was born in Royalston, September 23, 1779. After leaving school he was employed for several years as a teacher, and among the places in which he was engaged in this employment was Truro, where he must have been during the residence there of his fellow-townsman. Dr. Bacheller. On the 4th of May, 1808, he married Sarah Davis, of Rindge, New Hampshire, and from school -teaching turned his attention to trade. First as a clerk, he soon began business on his own account, gradually extending it as opportunities developed and his means increased. In 1825 he became a manufacturer, and with unremitting industry and restraining prudence he went on from year to year increasing his store. In 1820, '21, '27, '28 and '29 he represented Royalston in the Legislature, and in 1831 and "32 occupied a seat in the State Senate. In 1820 and '53 he was a delegate to the State Constitutional Conventions, and was once a Presidential elector. He was town clerk in 1812 and '13, town treasurer from 1825 to '37 inclusive, and assessor six years between 1807 and '26. He died in Royalston, January 10, 1858, leaving, as a memorial of his affection for his native town, bequests described in the following clauses of his will : in the centra of the town of Eoyalston, being the same with which I now worship, the sum of five tliousand dollara, to be held and apijlied as follows: the interest of said five thousand dollars shall bo forever paid and applied annually or semi-annually for the support of preaching in said society ; and it is my will that a committee chosen by said society for said purpose shall act in concurrence with my executors iu investing said sum, provided tliat whenever, if ever, said society shall fail to support the preaching of the gospel and a regularly settled minister of the Congregational denomination for any unreasonable length of time and provide annually by tax or in some other way a sum not less than five hundred dollars for the support of preaching and the olher necessary expenses of public worebip in said society, then the sum of five thousand dollars shall revert to and be paid over to my children or to their heirs by right of representation.

Fourteenth. I give and bequeath to the Baptist Religious Society in the west part of the town of Royalston the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, to be kept and applied as a fund the income of which shall be appropriated annually or seniiannuary to the support of gospel preaching and public »yorship in said Society, and it is my will that aUomniittee to be chosen by said Society for such purpose shall act in concurrence with my executors iu investing said sum, provided that wheuever said Society shall neglect to raise by subscription or otherwise a sum not less than one hundred and fifty dollars per annum for the suppoi t of preaching and public worship, the said sum of twenty-flve hundred dollars shall revert to and be paid over to my children or to their heirs by right of representation.

Fifteenth. I give and bequeath to the Second Congregational Society of Eoyalston at South Koyalston, so called, the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, to be held as a fund, the income of which shall be appropriated annually or semi-annually to the support of Gospel preaching in said Society ; and it is my will that a Committee to be chosen by said Society for such purpose shall act in concurrence with my executors in the investing of said sum, provided that whenever, if ever, said Society shall fail to support preaching or to maintain a regularly organized Society at South Royalston or whenevei-, if ever, that part of Royalston now known as South Royalston shall be set off from said town of Ri.yalston, then this sura of twenty-five hundred dollars shall revert to and be paid over to my children or their heirs by right of representation.

Sixteenth. I give and bequeath to the town of Royalston the sum of five thousand dollars, to be held and applied as a fund, the income of which shall be appropriated and paid over for the benefit and use of Common Schools in said town, the said income to he divided among the several school districts in like manner as the school money raised by the town shall be divided ; and it is my will that a committee to be chosen by the town for such purpose shall act in concurrence with my executors in investing said sum, and that every year a committee shall be chosen by the town at a legally called town-meeting who shall have the charge and oversight of such investment and shall report annually to the town the condition and income of the same, provided, however, that whenever the said town of Royalston shall neglect to keep or cause to be kept in a good state of repair the new Cemetery now being established on the ground recently purchased of C. H. Maxham, that is to say shall neglect to maintain in good order and condition the said ground, fence, gate and necessary tomb therein, then this sum of five thousand dollars shall revert to and be paid over to my children and their heirs by right of representation.

Nor must Joseph Estabrook, in 1828 a Senator, be omitted : nor Franklin Gregory, Representative two years, town clerk fourteen years, and major-general in the militia; nor Isaac Gregory, Representative seven years, town clerk five years, and selectman eight vears ; nor Peter Woodbury, Representative two years, town clerk ten years, and selectman sixteen years; nor Benjamin Woodbury, nor John Fry and Timothy Richardson andSyl vanus Hemenway, nor Geo. C. Richardson, the eminent Boston merchant, and the writer will be pardoned for speaking with marked respect of another with whom he was personally acquainted and to whose memory he wishes to pay an affectionate tribute. Samuel Barrett was born in Royalston, August 16, 1795, and graduated at Harvard in the class of 1818. He was the son o'f Benjamin and Betsey (Gerrish) Barrett, and through his long and faithful ministerial labors reflected honor on his native town. He was settled many years as pastor of the Twelfth Congregational Unitarian Society of Boston, and received, in 1847, the degree of Doctor of Divinity from his alma mater. He married, September 11, 1832, Mary Susan, daughter of the eminent Dr. Greenwood, of Boston, and died in Roxbury, June 24, 1866.

The career of the most distinguished son of Royalston will be found portrayed in the chapter in these volumes on the bench and bar, but the writer cannot permit this sketch to pass from his hands without a tribute to the memory of one whom he honored and loved. Alexander Hamilton Bullock, son of Rufus and Sarah (Davis) Bullock, was born in Royalston, March 2, 1816. He graduated at Amherst College in 1836, and for three years taught school in PrincetoD, New Jersey. After studying law with Emory Washham and at the Dane Law School at Cambridge, he was admitted to the bar in 1841. He began the practice of law in Worcester, and ever after resided in that town. The popular traits of his character, as well as his natural proclivities, led him into political life and drew him, step by step, to the acquisition of the highest honors of the State. In 1845, 1847 and 1848 he represented Worcester in the General Court ; in 1849 had a seat in the Senate, from 1853 to 1856 was commissioner of insolvency, from 1856 to 1858 was judge of insolvency and iu 1859 was mayor of his adopted city. From 1848 to 1850 he was the editor of the Worcester Jigls, and in 1852 was made a trustee of Amherst College. From 1861 to 1865, inclusive, he was again a member of the House of Representatives and its Speaker during the last four years, and from 1866 to 1868, inclusive, was Governor of the Commonwealth. In 1866 he received the degree of LL.D. from Harvard, and was for many years a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society. He died in Worcester January 17, 1883, and at the next meeting of the Historical Society Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, its president, in announcing his death, used the. following language: "A graduate of Amherst College, and afterwards of our Harvard Law School, with large natural gifts, and with not a little various acquirement, he entered early on a career of usefulness and distinction. As mayor of the city in which he resided, as a member successively of both branches of our State Legislature, and Speaker of one of them, and finally as Governor of Massachusetts for three years after the retirement of Governor Andrew, he rendered copious and valuable service to his native Commonwealth.

"Of iLte years his taste for public employment seemed to have been satiated. It may be that some forebodings of the shock which has now suddenly prostrated him had warned him of the danger of encountering longer the responsibilities and excitements of political life. At all events he avoided them, declining all candidacies, and even refusing, as is well known, the highest diplomatic appointment abroad.

" Such a withdrawal by a man of public spirit, of independent circumstances and of eminently patriotic impulses, as he certainly was, could plainly have resulted from no caprice, fastidiousness or apathy, but must have been dictated by considerations of which he alone was conscious, and of which he was the only rightful judge. Meanwhile he traveled extensively in foreign lands. He delivered occasional addresses at the call of his alma mater and of others, and he was always recognized as one of our most accomplished and impressive orators. His address before the Massachusetts Mechanics' Association, and his eulogy of President Lincoln at Worcester, in 18<j5, were especially notable. His more recent effort at New York, at the unveiling of the statue of the great statesman whose name he was proud to bear, was forcible and brilliant. And the paper which he prepared and read before the American Antiquarian Society last year on the centennial anniversary of the Constitution of Massachusetts was exhaustive and admirable."

Mr. Winthrop might have added that which is more pertinent to this narrative, - that he delivered in Eoyalston, on the 22d of August, 18(i5, an eloquent historical address commemorative of the hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of that town.

The anniversary celebration was conducted under the management of a committee of fifteen, chosen by the town, consisting of Rev. E. W. Bullard, Joseph Raymond, Benjamin H. Brown, Jarvis Davis, John N. Bartlett, Russell Morse, Jr., Cyrus B. Reed, Wellington White, Cyrus Davis, Arba Sherwin, John M. Upham, Edward Stockwell, Timothy Clark, Joseph L. Perkins and Maynard Partridge. A historical committee was also chosen, consisting of Barnett Bullock, Daniel Davis, John N. Bartlett, Joseph R. Eaton, Charles H. Newton, Luther Harrington and Horace Pierce to make researches in reference to the history of the town, with a view to their preservation and possible publication. The sum of fifteen hundred dollars was appropriated to defray the expenses of the occasion. Rev. E. W. Bullard was chosen president of the day ; Rev. A. E. P. Perkins, of Ware, chaplain ; George Whitney, of Royalston, chief marshal ; and Benjamin E. Perkins, of South Danvers, toastmahter. The exercises were held in a large tent, and the following gentlemen were announced by the president as vice-presidents : Samuel Lee, of Templeton ; Rev. Ammi Nichols, of Braintree, N. H.; Hon. George C. Richardson, of Cambridge ; Benoni Peck, of Fitzwilliam, N. H. ; Harrison Bliss, of Worcester ; Chauncy Peck, of Boston ; Rev. Henry Cummings, of Newport, N. H. ; Rev. Sidney Holman, of Goshen ; Rev. Daniel Shepardson, of Cincinnati ; Rev. Ebenezer Cutler, of Worcester ; Thomas Norton, of Portland ; James Raymond, of Brooklyn ; and Hon.

After a reading of Scriptures and a prayer by the chaplain the president delivered an introductory address, which was follosved by the singing of a hymn, written for the occasion by Mrs. George Woodbury, of Royalston. After the delivery of Mr. Bullock's commemorative address a poem was read by Albert Bryant, and the exercises of the day closed in another tent, in which about eight hundred persons were seated at dinner. The speakers at the dinner were Edwin Pierce, of New York ; George C. Richardson, of Cambridge ; Artemas Lee, of Templeton ; Rev. Mr. Marvin, of Winchendon ; Mr. Gregory, of Chicago ; Rev. Mr. Perkins, of Ware ; Rev. Sidney Holman, and Rev. Mr. Woodworth.

In the early years of the town the people depended almost exclusively on farming for support. Gristmills and saw-mills and fulling-mills were located here and there, but these were rather incidental to the general occupation of the people, and were intended chiefly to furnish local supplies. Many of these saw-mills are still in active operation. In later years manufacturing has been introduced, and at South Royalston Colonel George Whitney is extensively engaged.

\ Col. Whitney is the son of Amos Whitney and wsn born in Royalston. He is emphatically a self-made man. At the time of the death of Hon. Rufus Bullock he was the station agent at Royalston and also engaged in some operations with lumber. Mr. Bullock, at the time of his death, owned and operated the woolen-mill at South Royalston. The property connected with this mill originally belonged to the " Royalston Cotton and Wool Manufacturing Company," which was incorporated in 1813. This property came into the hands of Silas Coffin and Rufus Bullock, whose mill was burned in 1833. At that time Mr. Bullock became the sole proprietor, and in 1834 built the stone mill now standing. At the death of Mr. Bullock, George Whitney, with Daniel Day, of Royalston, bought the mill, and for a few years Mr. Whitney and Mr. Day carried on the manufacture of cassimeres. After Mr. Day went out of the business Rufus S. Frost, of Boston, was associated with Mr. Whitney for a time, and after him, James Phillips, Jr., of Fitchburg. For the last three years Mr. Whitney has been alone, and with his son, George E. Whitney, has the sole ownership and management of the establishment. Contiguous to the mill was a chair factory, owned and operated by Whittemore & Bruce, and next above was a brush wood factory, owned at various times by Vose & Bartlett, Stockwell & Piper, Jonas Turner and R. Saflbrd. These two factories are now the property of Col. Whitney, the former being still employed in the manufacture of chairs and the latter in spinning for the cassimere mill. Col. Whitney employs in the three mills about one hunlS-^Sz-^^;^:^^ -^ dred and seventy-five hands. He is well known, not only as au enterprising manufacturer, but as a public man. He was a member of the House of Representatives in 1859, and of the Senate in 1803 and '64. He was also a member of the Executive Council from 1873 to 1877 inclusive, and at his last election received the unusual honor of a unanimous vole. Until four years ago Caleb W. Day was employed at South Royalston in the manufacture of brush woods, - that is to say, handles aud backs and other wooden material used in the manufacture of brushes. In 1884 Mr. Day's mill was burned, and though still a resident of South Royalston, he carries on the same business on a more extensive scale in a mil! hired by him in Winchendon, near the New Hampshire line. Mr. Day is not a native of Royalston. He was born in Richmond, New Hampshire, and about the year 1843 came to Royalston and entered Mr. Bullock's mill. He afterwards was employed for a time in Winchester, New Hampshire and Northiield, Massachuseits, but finally returned to Royalston. Bemis & Jones, who had been carrying on the manufacture of shoe-pegs, dissolved partnership, and Mr. Day joined Mr. Jones in the business. He afterwards bought out Mr. Jones and began the manufacture of brush woods, which he continued until he was burned out, about four years ago.

The only other manufacturing establishment at South Royalston is that of Nelson S. Farrar, who is engaged in the manufacture of barrel covers, wooden measures and other kindred articles.

Aside from the saw-mills the establishment of Herman M. Partridge at the central village, engaged in the manufacture of crutches and kindergarten materials, completes the list of industries in the town.

South Royalston is quite an active village, lying on Miller's River, and with the establishment of Colonel Whitney and others furnishes a large share of the employment enjoyed by the people of the town.

Royalston contains a Town Hall, built in 1867, in which is located the public library, and in which also are a large hall and commodious rooms for town officers. The town is admirably situated, surrounded with inspiring scenery, and attractive not only to its returning sons, but also to the stranger entering within its borders. In the language of Governor Bullock, "it is symmetrical and compact, large enough and small enough, and bears a just proportion to the prescriptive idea of a Massachusetts township of six miles square. I would not diminish it nor enlarge it. Let other municipalities nibble around your borders, but let them nibble in vain, and you will hold fast to that which is good aud which is none too much."

Fraxklin E. Gregory

The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Isaac Gregory, who lived in Royalston. His children were Jonathan, Isaac, Tilly and Franklin. The lastnamed child, Franklin, was born in Royalston and there educated. He went at an early age into a store in Boston, and having there laid the foundation for a business life, returned to Royalston and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was a man whose honorable career won for him the love and esteem of his fellowcitizens, and whose unblemished reputation was a rich legacy to his children. He was for many years connected with the State military service, holding the rank of general, and the regiment under his command, was selected to escort General Lafayette from Worcester to Royalston. He married Martha Porter Edwards, and their children were Martha P., who died young; Sarah, who married O. W. Watress, a partner of the late Thomas Douse, of Cambridgeport ; Franklin Edwards, Martha (died in infancy), John P., Isaac H., Martha Ann, wife of W. H. Ladd, now principal of the Chauncy Hall High School, of Boston ; George H., Charles A. and Frederick W. The memory of Mrs. Watress is cherished with affection, not limited to her immediate family, but shared by a large circle of neighbors aud friends in Cambridge, who felt the influence of her noble character, and learned from her lessons of self-sacrifice, of Christian charity and the most thorough fidelity in the performanceof every duty. To the Unitarian Society, of which Rev. Dr. George W. Briggs is the pastor, her death inflicted an almost irreparable loss, and no one knew better and more deeply appreciated and more generously acknowledged her influence and power than the pastor himself, with whom, hand in hand, she had devotedly worked. Her untimely death prevented the consummation of a cherished plan, which was gradually maturing in her mind, to establish in Cambridge an old ladies' home. She was the first president of the associated charities, and an active member of it until her death.

Franklin E. Gregory, the subject of this sketchy was born in Royalston May 7, 1822. At the age of sixteen, after an education acquired in the public schools of his native town, he took the first step in what has proved a busy life as a boy in the dry-goods store of Mr. Austin, of Royalston. After a few months he went to Keene, New Hampshire, and entered the dry-goods store of Wales Kimball. In 1840 he went to Cambridgeport and became clerk in the dry-goods store of Edward Hydes. Three years afterwards, in 1843, he became a salesman in the well-established house of Dutton, Richardson & Co., in Boston. At that time the store of that firm was at No. 03 Water Street, and it there remained until about 1845, when the firm removed to the store next north of the Fed- eral Street Theatre, on Federal Street, which, during their occupancy, fell to the ground. In 1847 Mr- Gregory became a partner in the house, which continued to be known as Dutton, Richardson & Co. until 1855, when Mr. Richardson left to join James M. Beebe in business, and the old firm became Gregory, Tilton & Co.

In 1861 Mr. Gregory retired from the dry-goods business, and soon after became a partner in the firm of Spear, Burke & Gregory, on Central Wharf, whose business was chiefly confined to dealings in oils and starch. Three years after he abandoned this new line of business and, with Mr. Richardson, his old partner, formed the well-known, eminent house of George C. Richardson & Co. He retained his connection with Mr. Richardson until 1880 - a connection which, with few interruptions, had extended through a period of thirty-seven years. Since 1880 his time has been chiefly occupied in the management of trusts and trust estates, and in the performance of duties resting upon him as director or manager of financial and other enterprises. He has been thirteen years a director in the Revere National Bank of Boston, is vice-president of the Framingham Savings Bank and Framinghani National Bank, and trustee of the Washington and Potomac Railroad. He made Cambridge his place of residence from 1840, when he first removed there, until 1883, when he removed to Framingham, his present home.

On the 26th of May, 1847, Mr. Gregory married Sarah F., daughter of William Bird, of Boston, and has had the following children : William F., who was brought up in the house of Wm. Claflin & Co., in the shoe trade, and is now a partner in that prosperous firm, and who married Martha J. Bent, of Cambridge; Anna Edwards, unmarried; and Charles F., who lives at home with his parents.

The mere statement of the career of Mr. Gregory is perhaps a sufficient eulogy. No man could have advanced with the sure and steady step which marked his progress, from boyhood in a retail store to a manhood bearing a full share of the burdens and responsibilities of a leading commission house in Boston, without the possession of a sound judgment, a comprehensive inielligence, a wise foresight and a keen sense of honor, all of which are essential to the life and prosperity of business enterprise. It is unfortunately too common for such men, while loving business methods themselves, to condemn the careless and unthrifty ; and conscious of their own moral strength to be harsh in their judgments of others. But no man can say that Mr. Gregory's heart has been hardened by the competitions and conflicts of trade, or that his charity has ever failed where a helping hand could relieve distress, or the display of a kind, forgiving spirit could guide anew a fallen brother-man in the walks of an honorable and useful life.

Joseph Raymond, son of Stephen and Rhoda Estabrook Raymond, was born in Royalston June 3, 1801. He spent his youth in his native town, enjoying the advantages of our common schools, which are the pride of Massachusetts, and at seventeen years of age entered the store of Gen. Franklin Gregory, and remained with him to the close of 1823, acquitting himself with such credit that within a few months he was offered a partnership by Col. Artemas Lee in his business at Baldwinville, a village in Templeton. The offer was accepted, and the firm of Lee & Raymond carried on a very large and lucrative business from April 1, 1824, to April 1, 1838 - a period of fourteen years. Upon the dissolution of the firm at the latter date Mr. Raymond returned to Royalston and formed a copartnership with Joseph Estabrook, which continued till the spring or summer of 1844, when Mr. Raymond retired from active business life wiih a generous competency. He continued prominent, however, in town afli'airs, and was regarded as a faithful and sagacious leader in all matters affecting the interests of the community in which he lived. He filled for many years the various offices of trust in town government, as chairman of the Boards of Selectmen, Assessors, Overseers of the Poor, etc., and brought to the discharge of his duties faithful service, sound judgment and wise foresight, - shunning no labor, shrinking from no responsibility and exercising the same care and diligence that he did in his own business, - and won and retained the full confidence of his townsmen.

In 1851 he represented Royalston in the Legislature, and in the protracted and spirited contest that session for United States Senator he was a consistent and earnest supporter of Charles Sumner, whose dawning greatness even then gave promise of large fulfillment, so fully realized in after-years.

Upon the establishment of Miller's River Bank, in Athol, in 1854, Mr. Raymond was chosen one of its first directors, and gave his valuable experience to the management of that exceptionally successful institution. Of late years, however, he has given little attention to any business outside of his private affairs, and in his modest and beautiful home in the heart of the historic town of his birth he is passing the golden decline of life in the calm and bright serenity befitting an active, useful and honorable career.

Mr. Raymond married, November 21, 1830, Elizabeth Kendall, daughter of Samuel Kendall, who was born in Enfield in 1801, - a woman of rare gifts, a very mother in Israel, respected and loved by all who knew her. It was a happy marri.age in the truest sense, made happier by the birth of four children, three of whom are still living, - a daughter, Mrs. I. L. Choate, and two sons, J. E. and H. D. Raymond. After a married life of over fifty-six years Mrs. Raymond died in 1887, mourned by all, and especially in the family home, brightened by her presence, and