Sutton Town

Sutton Town

October 13, 1834, he married for his second wife, Caroline A. Norcross, of Boston, daughter of Otis Norcross, Esq., and sister of Hon. Otis Norcross, ex-mayor of Boston. In 1837 he formed a co-partnership with Benj. Poor and conducted an extensive commission business for nearly two years. In 1839, with Peter Farnum, he purchased of the Wadsworth Manufacturing Co. at Danville (Barre), Mass., the large woolen-mills, and for a short time conducted an esteubive manufacturing business.

He subsequently sold out to his partner and returned to Boston. Moving again to Grafton in 1843, he entered into business with Samuel Harrington (firm-name Harrington & Wheeler), and after a short time purchased what is now known as the Wheeler Cotton-Mills, West Millbury,

In 1863-64 he was a member of Gov. Andrew's Council from the Sixth Councilor District. In 1868 he represented the Second Worcester Senatorial District and was chairman of the committee on the Troy and Greenfield Railroad ; he declined a re-election. Since the organization of the Grafton National Bank he has been a director, and was president from 1864 to 1882.

Chapter Cxxv

The township of Sutton was purchased by certain persons residing in Boston, of John Wampus and others. Nipmug Indians, and is described as a tract of waste land eight miles square, lying between the towns of Mendon, Worcester, New (Jxford, Sherburne and Marlborough, embracing within its limits an Indian reservation four miles square, called " Hassanimisco."

The origin of the name is unknown. Deacon Leland gives an old tradition, which he regards wellestablished; It is this John Wampus visited England ; while on his return voyage to New England he received medical aid and other kindnesses from a fellow-passenger, Dr. Sutton, and from gratitude to him for his kindness, suggested his name for the town-

1 In preparing this History of Sutton, the writer has selected largely trom the " History of Sutton" printed for the town in 1878, edited by Rev. W. A. Benedict and others, instead of culhng over again the original material from which that work was compiled, as collected and preserred by Deacon .Jonathan Lehiud and Christopher C. Baldwin. Therefore, while I have not followed the form or arrangement of the book, I have tiiken from that history any material facts and used tliem without other acknowU'iIgment of anthotship. - J. W. S.

The original deed from John Wampus & Co. seems to have been lost, from the fact that the " Proprietors of Sutton," at a meeting held February 22, 1731-32, ordered "Tliat the Clerk shall provide a new book and transfer this regularly, and that on the first pages of it, the original deed of John Wampus, alias White, together with the Grant of the General Court, be first placed " - and though a new book was procured and the transfer made, no deed appears. The grant referred to was recorded on the first pages, and is as follows :

Joseph Dudley, Esqr., Captain General and Oovernor In Chief In and over her JIajesties Province of tlie Massachusetts Bay in Xew England in America - To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting.

Whereas John Conner, Pewterer, James Smith, Shop-keeper, Willijim >Iumford, Stone cutter, and Joshua Hewes, Innkeeper, all of Boston In the County of Suffolk, within the Province aforesaid by their petition presented to the said Joseph Dudley, Esqi'., Govenor, and the Genera! Assembly of the aforesaid Province, at their last Session begun the Eighth day of March last passt before the sale hereof. Have humbly prayed iu behalf of themselves and company, a confirmatiuu by a grant of this L'ourt of their right and title to a certain tract of land purchased of John Wampus, alias White, and (.'onipany, Indians situate in the Nipfnug Country between the towns of Mendon, Worcester, New Oxford, Sherburne and Slarlborougli, of eight miles square, iu which is included a tract of land four miles square called Hassananiisco, and possessed by the Indians. And Wherejis the said Govenor and General As^mbly liave ordered that the prayer of said petition be granted, saving the lands purchased by the Haynes's, and reserving the Indian property of Hassananiisco - Provided also that they intrench upon no former grant of the General Court, and they be obliged to settle a town of thirty families, and a minister upon said lands, within seven yeares after the end of the present war with the Indians. And that they reserve three hundred acres of the said lands for the firot settled minister, four hundred acres for the ministry, and two hundred acres for the use of a school, all to be laid out conveniently. The said tract to begin upon the line of Marlborough next Hassananiisco, a platt thereof to be returned and approved by tliis Court, as in and by the record of said General Aesembly, relation being thereunto liad, doth and may appear.

Know ye therefore that I, the said Joseph Dudley, Esqr., Governor, agreeable to the above recieved order passed by the Council and Assein - bly respectively, and pursuant to the power and authority contained and granted in and by her Majesties Royal Charter the Governor and General Assembly of the aforesaid Province of Slassachusetts Bay, have granted, ratified and confirmed and by these presents do freely, fully und absolutely grant, ratify and confirm unto the above named John '""onner, James Smith, William Mnmford, Joshua Hewes, and others, iheir Partners, viz.: Paul Dudley of Boston aforesaid Esqr., John Jackson of said Boston, honsewright, Mary Conner and Elizabeth Pittoni, daughters and co-heirs of John Pittom Plunimer, deceased, Edward Pratt of Newtown within the County of Middlesex, Physician, and Elizabeth Wilson of Hartford in the Covinty of Connecticut, Widows, their heires and assignes forever, all the aforesaid certain tract of waste land purchased of the Indians, Native Proprietoi-s, as above mentioned, scituate and described as aforesaid, and to be surveyed, platted and approved as above directed, with and under the severall savings, reservations. Provisos and conditions above expn-ssed, and all the estate, right, 'I'itle, Inheritance, use, property, and Interest of the said several peij^ons therein and thereto - Together with all ar-d singular the fields, feeding, herbage, pastures, soils, swamps. Meadows, Rivers, Rivulets, Ponds, Pools, Woods, underwoods, trees, timber, stones, fishing, fowling and linnting Rights, Members, Heraiiitanients, Einolunients, Profits, Privileges and Appurtenances thereto belonging or in any way appertaining. The said tract of land being hereby granted fur a township, the same to be called Sutton. And to have, use, exercise, ami enjoy the same powers, immunities, and privileges by Law granted to towns. To have and to hold all the said tract of land by the name of the town of Sutton, with all the aforesaid premises. Emoluments, Profits, Privileges and appurtenances therefu belonging, with and under the sevenill savings, reservations, Provisos and conditions hei-ein before expressed. .And lube surveyed, plotted, returneil and uppruv^d us ubuvu tfaid unto the said John Conner, James Smith, William MumforJ, Joshua Hewes, Paul Dudley, John Jackson, Mary Conner, Elizabeth Pittoni, Edward Pratt, and Elizahetli Wilson, their lieirtfs and aspignes to their proper use and behoofe forever. Yielding, Rendering and Paying therefore unto our Sovereign Lady Queen Anne her kings and Successors one fifth part of all the Gold and Silver Oar and Precious stones, which from time to time and at all times forever hereafter shall happen to be found, gotten bad or obtained in any of the said lands and Premises, or within any part or parcel thereof - In lieu and stead of all Rents, Services, Dues, Dutys, and liemaiids whatsoever from the said lands and premises, and for every part and parcel thereof. In Testimony Whereof I the said Joseph Dudley, Esqr., Governor have signed these presents and caused the Publick seal of the Province of Massachusetts Bay aforesaid to be hereunto affixed.

The tract of land included in the above grant was, with the exception of here and there a cleared space, on which the Indians raised their corn, and a few marshes, called meadows, an unbroken forest, heavily wooded with pine, oak, hickory, chestnut, birch and maple. In its physical aspect it presented many attractive features, and was a favorite resort of its native owners, who reserved a home within its limits. Its surface is uneven and hilly, and, though none of its hills rise to a great height, yet many of tliem are of sufficient elevation to reveal from their summits scenes of quiet beauty unsurpassed in any other portion of New England.

The soil is varied, in the southern and eastern part being of a samly and gravelly nature, while in the northern and western parts much of it is a clayey loam. In the main it is well adapted to agriculture, though some portions, particularly in tlie southern part, are too rocky to be brought under cultivation, and none of it was subdued and made productive without much p.atient toil.

The fine farms of to-day, which embellish hill-side,, hill-top and valley, are the result of the muscle and money the several generations that have occupied them have contributed. This township furnishes great facilities for manufacturing purposes, as well as for agriculture. There are within its limits several natural ponds, fed largely by hidden springs, who.se outlets afford fine water privileges. The principal of these are Dorothy Pond in the north part of the town,' Ramshorn in the northwest. Crooked Pond (Singletary Lake) near the centre and Manchaug Pond in the southwest. Blackstone River - called by the Indians Kittatuck - has its rise in Ramshorn Pond, and passes through the town from northwest to southeast. This river furnishes valuable waterpower. So also does Mumford River, the outlet of Manchaug Pond. Mill Brook, the outlet of Crooked Pond (Singletary Lake), has in the distance of a mile a fall of one hundred and seventy- five feet, and afibrds seven water privileges. There are several other streams in town which the early settlers utilized by the erection of saw-mills, grist-mills and fullingmills, and which in later da3's have been employed in manufacturing of various kinds.

In its geological features the town presents nothing of a peculiar nature. Like many other towns in Eastern Massacliusetts, the rocky formation is chiefly granite, quartz rock and gneiss. Gneiss predominates, and the quarries which have been opened furnish most excellent stone for building purposes. This rock often contains iron pyrites, mica, lead, tin and some other mineral substances in small quantities. The glitter of the little, particles has led to the belief that gold and silver might be found in this town, and, in common with many others in the State, it has had its excitements over wild and fruitless searches for the precious metals.

There are natural curiosities in the town, some of which are thus referred to in Whitney's " History of Worcester County :" As first. In the west part of Sutton, within sixty rods of the rise of the inlet of Ramshorn Pond, which is the head of Blackstone River running to Providence and falling into the sea at Bristol, is a brook sufficiently large to carry a saw-mill in Sutton, then bears away into Oxford, joins French River, which unites witli the river Quinebaug, and enters the sea at New London.

Secondly. A few rods west of the Second Parish Meeting-house there is a swamp having tvro outlets, one at the southwest, the other at the southeast. Both these outlets enter Blackstone River above described, at about one mile's distance from each other. But the river is estimated to run ten or twelve miles after the entrance of that one on the westerly side before it returns and takes in that on the east.

Thirdly. In the southeastern part of the town is a cavern in the earth or rocks, commonly called Purgatory. The rocks on each side of the chasm evidently appear to have been rent asunder. People may enter some rods under tlie ground or rocks, and there are cracks down which the)' drop pebbles, and after these strike the sides alternately several times they are heard to fall into the water; and a brook issues out at tlie bottom of the hill.

It is the side of a hill which consi-sts of vast ledges of rocks. Where the natural descent begins, a chasm has been formed of perhaps thirty, and in some places forty feet in width, in these ledges by some violent concussion which left this body of stones of all shapes and sizes to fall in. Above, it is open to the heavens, and the ledges, on either side, are from five to ten and so on to twenty and even forty feet in height. This chasm is, perhaps, near eighty rods in length, and the descent is gradual and not very difficult. Where the greatest depth is, water issues from crevices in the rocks and liangs in icicles and even in solid bodies of ice, not only in May, as I have seen,

In December, 1870, Mr. Fellows resigned, and closed his labors as pastor of the church on the second iSabbath of January, 1871. The following Sabbath the ' l)ulpit was supplied by Rev. Mr. Tracy, who had returned from Ohio on account of the health of his family.

( )n Monday, at the annual meeting of the society, he was invited to be the acting pastor tor one year, which invitation he accepted, thus renewing his labors in the field of his tirst settlement, after a lapse of twenty years. From this time on, during a period of four years and nine months, the church, under the labors of Mr. Tracy, performed for the greater part of the time through severe infirmities, enjoyed an uiuisual degree of prosperity.

Pearly in September, 1875, Jlr. Tracy gave notice that he must close his labors after the second Sabbath in October. In the mean time, upon his recommendation, Rev. William A. Benedict, of Plainfield, Conn., was engaged to supply the pulpit for six months, and commenced his labors on Sabbath, October 16th, following Mr. Tracy's retirement. There was almost immediately a revived state of religious feeling, and during the winter many souls were converted. In January Mr. Benedict received an invitation from the church and society to become their pastor, which invitation he accepted, and was installed by council February 1(3, 1876.

Rev. Mr. Benedict closed his pastorate, and Rev. Philander Thurston was invited to supply as pastor and teacher, and is at the present time acceptably laboring in this ancient church, whose history we have followed from the date of the earliest settlement of the town of Sutton.

First Baptist Church (West Sutton). - The first Baptist Church in this town was organized September 16, 1735. It was the fourth oldest church of the denomination in Massachusetts. Backus, the Baptist historian, says, in regard to the founding of this first Baptist Church at Sutton, that a Mr. James Bound, a sensible Baptist, who had immigrated from I'jiigland and located in Salem Village, and had, with others become imbued with Baptist principles, removed and began a Baptist Society in Sutton.

In 1737 Benjamin Marsh and Thomas Green were ordained its joint pastors the same year. Thomas Green became pastor of a Baptist Cluirch in Leicester. Eider Marsh was the jjastor till his death. He died in 1775, and the church was disbanded l)eeause "rent with dissensions." In 1785 another church was organized, which continues its existence to the present day.

The several pastors have been: Ebenezer Samson, 1788-94; William Batcheller, 171)4-99; Samuel Waters, 1799-1825. Next Rev. Moses Harrington, three years ; Rev. John Walker, six years; Rev.

Charles H. Peabody, three years ; Rev. Otis Converse, two years ; Rev. Samuel Richards, one year ; Rev. George Deland, three years ; Rev. Job Boomer, three years ; Rev. G. W. Benton, one year ; Rev. J. Thayer, two years; Rev. S. O. Lovell, four years. From 1856 to 1863 the church was, for most of the time, without a pastor. 1863, Rev. C. S. Baker, one year ; 1864, Rev. J. Barber, one year ; 1865, Rev. G. Stone, one year; 1869, Rev. A. E. Batelle, one year; 1870-71, church supplied, two years; 1873, Rev. C. F. Myers, three years; 1876, Rev. E. J. Stevens, one and one-half years ; 1877, Rev. Joel P. Chapin, three years; 1880, Rev. Charles Xewhall, four years; 1885, Rev. Albert Green, three years. Rev. Benj. Tuck, the present pastor, began his labors Sept. 2, 1888.

It is satisfactory to know that since 1735 the town of Sutton has had a Baptist Church, the oldest and for two years the only one in all this part of the State, and that its days are yet full of life, and vigor, and good works.

Second Baptist Church (South Sutton). - The Second Baptist Church was organized Oct. 9, 1792. In 1804 the society began the building of a meetinghouse, which was tinished and dedicated July 2, 1805. In 1809 Rev. Nathan Leonard became pastor for one year. From that time Elder Wm. Batcheller was its pastor until Nov., 1816. Following was the ministry of Rev. Job C. Boomer, from 1819 to 1841. The church was repaired and rededicated Oct. 9, 1845. The pastors of the church have been as follows: Elder William Batcheller, 1792 ; Brother Nathan Leonard, 18(t9, ordained; Elder William Batcheller, 1810; Brother Job B. Boomer, 1819, ordained ; Brother Austin Bobbins, 1841; Elder U. Underwood, 1842; Elder Nelson B. Jones, 1845 ; Brother Joseph Thayer, Oct., 1847, ordained; Brother J. B. Boomer, 1849; Brother R. G. Lamb, 1852; Brother Charles A. Snow, 1853 ; Rev. Abial Fisher, D.D., 1855 ; Brother Justus Aldrich, 1858; Rev. J. B. Boomer, 1859 ; Rev. Joseph P. Burbank, 1862 ; Rev. N. J. Pinkham, 1869 ; Rev. J. P. Burbank, 1870 ; Rev. Philip Berry, 1873 ; Rev. J. P. Burbank, 1875, to the present time.

The Free- Will Baptist Church. - This church was organized November 1, 1834, under the labors of Rev. Willard Fuller, with a membership of eleven - five brethren and six sisters.

The church had but one minister, Rev. Mr. Fuller. It was his request that after his death the meetinghouse should be sold, and the proceeds given to the Free- Will Baptist Home Missionary Society, which was done. He died December 8, 1875.

It is fitting in this connection to say of him, that in the public and private relations of life, he eminently illustrated the graces of the Christian.

Univeesalist Society. - This society was formed during the summer of 1840. In March, 1841, Rev. Alvin Abbott was engaged to preach one-half the time and the meetings were held in the hall at West Sutton. Mr. Abbott continued to preach for two years. After he left the society weakened and the last meeting of which there is any record is April 5, 1847.

Baptist Church in Manchaug. - This church was organized May 18, 1842, with thirty members, and was named "The Manchaug Baptist Church." A few of the original members still survive and bear an honorable record.

Its house of worship is situated in the manufacturing village of the same name, and as most of its resident membership and of the congregation are employes and operatives in the mills, the Manchaug company have ever borne a noble and principal part in supporting the pastors. The following is a list of pastors, with their terms of service, as nearly as can be readily attained by the records: Rev. W. H. Dalrymple, one year and two months; Rev. N. B. Jones, one year and four months; Rev. George Daland, one year and six months; Rev. Abial Fisher, four years; Rev. N. Chapman, two years; Rev. J. S. Harradon, six years and nine months; Rev. N. J. Piukham, one year and seven months; Rev. Addison Browne, seven months; Rev. D. A. Dearborn, four years; Rev. C. L. Thompson, four years and five months.

Rev. J. C. Boomer is the present incumbent, a worthy man and a good pastor; holding the love and respect of the church, the parish and the community.

The Third Baptist Church. - This church seeoas to have had its origin in an association of a few persons who had been connected with the Baptist Church in Thompson, Connecticut. Difficulties arose in this church, which led, in 1797, to a separation, the one part adhering to the elder John Martin, and the other to Deacon Parsons Crosby, who was ordained their elder.

This church seems not to have entirely separated from dilBcuIties, and, after a troublous life, the records are lost, and it is supposed that at about this time it ceased to exist.

St. John's Church (Wilkinsonville). - This society was incorporated March 10, 1827, under the name and title of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church. The present house was built in the year 1828. The cornerstone was laid June 24, 1828.

The first rector was the Rev. Daniel Le Baron Goodwin, who commenced his services July 17, 1825, and closed in April, 1854 ; length of service, nearly twenty-nine years.

His successor was Rev. Benjamin H. Chase, whose service commenced in April, 1854, and closed in April, 1858. He was succeeded by the Rev. A. Decatur Spalter, whose term of service commenced in June, 1858, and closed in December, 1859. He was succeeded by the Rev. William George Hawkins, who commenced his services in April, 1860, and closed in

April, 1862. He was succeeded by Rev. George Sturges Paine, whose term of service commenced in September, 1862, and closed in September, 1863; who was succeeded by the Rev. Samuel S. Spear, whose term of service commenced in January, 1864, and closed in January, 1867 ; who was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas L. Randolph, whose term of service commenced in January, 1867, and closed in December, 1870. He was succeeded by the Rev. Henry A. Metcalf, who commenced his services in June, 1871, and closed in June, 1874. He was succeeded by the Rev. James S. Ellis, who commenced his services July 5, 1874, and remained in charge until 1882, when he resigned, and the Rev. John Gregson became his successor, and is the present rector. Mr. Gregson adds to his energy and zeal in church work an active interest in the advancement of every educational and moral interest, and his true, earnest work as chairman of the School Board is appreciated by all his townsmen.

United Presbyterian Church (Wilkinsonville). - The Associate Church, to which the Sutton United Presbyterian congregation first belonged, was originally a secesfion from the church or kirk of Scotland in the year 1733, ancl was known as the Seceders' Church. The original founders of the Sutton United Presbyterian congregation were families from the province of Ulster, Londonderry County, Ireland ; and were from their earliest associations trained up in the Pre.sbyterian faith, and when here, longed for the church of their choice, in which their children could be taught the Shorter Catechism, and otherwise instructed in the distinctive principles of that faith which they had carried with them from their homeland beyond the seas.

The first settled minister was the Rev. James Williamson, who was installed February, 1856, and continued in his pastorate nearly eight years. Mr. William.son was a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, and was educated in the Glasgow College, and also studied theology under the celebrated Doctors McCrie and Paxton, of Edinburgh, in connection with the original Seceder Church.

The second pastor, the Rev. P. Y. Smith, was ordained and installed February 28, 1866. Mr. Smith was educated in the University of Glasgow, Scotland, and studied Hebrew and theology in the city of New York, and was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Second Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church, New York City, September 15, 1863. He died July 21, 1885. Mr. Smith was a man of large views, a constant student and deeply interested in education.

Methohlst Epi.scopal Church. - During the autumn and winterof 1852, Rev. Mr. Jones, of East Douglas, was invited by some resident members of Methodist churches residing in the centre of the town to hold occasional meetings in Washington Hall, and the next spring they felt justified in petitioning the New England Conference, at its annual meeting in April, 1853, to send them a preacher. The petition was favorably entertained, and the Rev. John W. Lee stationed here. Washington Hall was procured, and he entered at once upon his labors, with a congregation not large, but constantly increasing.

In 1854 Mr. Lee was returned to this charge ; the church prospered. A house was built, the cornerstone laid July 4, 1854, completed March, 1855, dedicated 2'2d day of same month. Mr. Lee's labors closed April 8th. He was followed by Rev. J. H. Taylor, for one year. In 1856 Rev. Rodney Gage was stationed for two years; 1858, by Rev. N. S. Spaulding; 1859, Rev. William A. Clapp; 1860, Rev. J. J. Woodbury; 1861, Rev. C. W. Mackreading, Jr. ; 1862-63, by Rev. S. O. Brown, and in 1864 the church property was given into the hands of its creditors, and the church became extinct.

Chapter Cxxvii

The first settlers of this State were the founders of the free-school system. They had received some inspiration from the schools of learning in Europe, established for the favored classes, and more from revelation. They did not believe that knowledge, power and wealth were intended for the few, but that the avenues to their attainment should be open to all.

It was because they saw no hope of securing to themselves and their posterity their God-given rights, that they crossed a stormy ocean, seeking a home as remote as possible from opposing influences made strong by long-conlinued growth and prejudice ; and here in this western wilderness, amid the toils, anxieties and perils attending a new settlement so remote from sources whence supply of almost every want, aside from food, must come, they inaugurated a system of education for the masses, which, improved from time to time, gradually extended through the New England States and over a large portion of the country.

In 1642 a law was passed requiring that those chosen to manage " the prudentials of every town in the several precincts and quarters where they dwelt, shall have a vigilant eye over their neighbors, to see, first that none of them shall suff'er so much barbarism in any of their families as not to endeavor to teach by themselves or others, their children and apprentices so much learning as may enable them to read perfectly the English tongue, and a knowledge of the capital laws, upon penalty of twenty shillings for each neglect therein."

It was not, however, until 1647 that a law was enacted ordering the establishment in every town of fifty householders of a public school, in which the children should be taught to read and write, and, when the families shall have increased to an hundred, of a grammar school in which the young men might be fitted for the university.

In this town there is no mention of a school until 1725, and then only in connection with a proposed sale of the school land - two hundred acres - which had been given by the proprietors in accordance with the conditions of the grant of the General Court confirming the purchase of the township from the Indians.

The children may have had instruction in private schools, but no action seems to have been taken by the town in the matter of the establishment of a public school previously to 1730, when it was voted that a school should be kept for four months in four places, at the discretion of the selectmen, one month in a place.

No record can be found of an appropriation for the support of a school until 1732. The name ot John Smith appears upon the treasurer's book as the schoolmaster for this year. The school was kept at the house of Mr. John Gibbs, who was paid fifteen shillings for its use.

From this time onward the records of the town show that schools were provided and enlarged as the needs of the town demanded. In these schools only the rudiments were taught.

Each district employed its own teacher, and had the general supervision of its schools. The only official visits made the schools at this time were those of the minister of the parish for the purpose of catechising the children.

Persons might have been, and probably were, delegated to give instruction to any who might wish to pursue the studies which were then considered as belonging to a grammar-school. There were very few of this class of pupils before the time above mentioned. Joseph Hall, son of Rev. Dr. David, is the first and only one who seems to have been appointed grammar schoolma.ster, and authorized to present his bills as such. His first bill was in 1794, for teaching grammar-school in 1793, £4 8s. 'Id., and as his bill varied from year to year, it is evident that his salary depended upon the number of his scholars. About this time summer schools, for terms of four or six weeks, were established in most of the districts. The winter schools were kept from eight to ten weeks, and taught exclusively by male teachers.

A desire for advantages, the common schools and the grammar-schools, as taught by Mr. Hall, did not furnish, began to find expression in the establishment of private schools. Among the first of these were those taught in 1806 by Miss Mary T. Morse in the

Miss Morse's school was for young ladies only, in which instruction was given in "Reading, writing, orthography and English grammar; also plain sewing, marking, working muslin and embroidery; also drawing and painting in water-colors and filigree work." Miss Warren's school was open to youth of both sexes, and " instruction was given in reading, writing, orthography and English grammar, rhetoric, logic, and English composition ; also arithmetic, geometry, geography, astronomy and the Latin language." Young ladies were likewise instructed in the ornamental branches.

It is quite impossible to give a history of the many private schools that were established in town after 1811, as no records were kept, and the '' oldest inhabitants '' can impart little information.

A few of these schools, however, are remembered, and worthy of particular mention. One of them, called "Sutton High School," was established by Kev. George A. Willard, in 1835, in the hall of the brick mansion built l)y Mr. .James Freeland ; the school was afterward removed to West Sutton and continued several years. Mr. Willard was a superior teacher, as several of his former pupils now resident in town can testify.

Looking at our schools from the standpoint of the present, we believe they are improving in the standard of attainments, while, except in the villages, they are sadly decreasing in numbers to such an extent that emulation to excel is not duly excited.

As it regards the improvements, we would mention the tasteful and commodious school-houses which have taken the place of the rude structures of olden time - the attractive furnishing of most o( these houses, the introduction of maps, blackboards and apparatus affording facilities for the illustration of the various l)ranches of study, text-books adapted to the wants of scholars of every grade, singing and drawing, the encouragement of a taste for the useful and beautiful, less severity in punishment, more governing by love, and an appeal to the reason of a child rather than his sense of physical pain.

The character and attainments of the teachers, prepared most of them in the normal schools, is a present study to the child, and an incentive to correct deportment, while calisthenics and physical training are taught, that the child may be sound in body as well as strong in mind.

High School. - In this brief historical sketch of the efforts of the friends of a more liberal education, and the action of the town which culminated in the establishment of our present jiopular high school, we shall confine these notes to such facts as have reference to the high school recognized by legislative acts, and maintained by the town in its municipal capacity. We regret the necessity for this omission, for these subscription schools, by. introducing some

The historians of our common-school system begin by referring to the legislative acts of the Massachusetts colonists in 1647, as the inception and foundation of that system. By this early legislation the support of schools was made compulsory, and the means of education became common and free. The same legislation laid the foundation for the high school, for it included an enactment requiring every town of one hundred families or householders to set up and maintain a "Grammar school," under a master competent to instruct youth in such branches as were required to fit them for the university.

Because the wish is often parent to the thought, the thought to action, and tiie action to beneficial results, we are pleased to find in the report of the School Committee for 1859, Foster Freeland, chairman, a strongly expressed wish that Sutton might have the advantage of grammar school instruction ; and a recommendation that the excess of school money raised by the town, above a specified amount, then deemed sufficient for the common district schools, should be appropriated to the establishment and maintenance of two " grammar schools ; " and this followed by a suggestion that the school acts should be so amended as to give the income of the State school fund to the several towns of the Commonwealth to aid in the maintenance of such schools.

" Your committee conciir in the opinion that whatever ig appropriated for this noble cause" (a liifiher education) "considering the territorial structure of our town and the sparsely located proper recipients of High School privileges, the greatest good to oil lite iulmhitottts of tht town will be attained hy the division of the fiuiil in the di^tricti."

However, something had been gained, in that the attention of the town had been called to its necessity, to the violation of the State law, and to the strength of its friends.

2d. To see if the town will raise and appropriate live bundled dollal-s, to aid the pupils in Sutton in prosecuting their studies in the higher branches in some of the high schools and academies of the neighboring towns, or act or do anything relating thereto.

These articles were passed over " without note or comment " by an indefinite postponement, and thus ended the second direct attempt to establish this school.

tion or apportionment of the annual income of the State school fund should be made to towns not (complying wiih certain requisitions of chapter 38, sections 1 and 2, general statute, including the maintenance of a high school," strengthened the friends of a higher education, and in March, 1883, the following articles were inserted in the warrant for the approaching annual meeting:

Article 14. To see if the town will miiinl«iii ii liigh r^iliuul uccoriling to the requirements of statute law, or act to do an,vtliing in relation to the same.

After a dispassionate discussion and a more detailed statement of the case than is found in the foregoing extract, the affirmative of both articles was sustained by an almost unanimous vote of the persons jiresent and voting.

Under Article 14 - " Voted that the town will maintain a high school to hold one term of three months at Wilkinsonville, one term of three months at Sutton Centre, one term of three months at West .Sutton, and one term of three months at Manchaug Village."

The success of the measure was principally due to a higher standard of public opinion, und an appreciation of a higher culture and a demand therefor. Many good citizens had labored to bring about this improvement in public opinion, prominent among whom wert Rev. H. A. Tracy and James W. Stockwell, Ei^q., and last for the first I. B. Hartwell, Esq., of whom it is a pleasure to say that no one in town has labored more earnestly, both in a private and public capacity, to improve onr common schools, to foster the desire for a more generous course of study than they atlbrd, and to furnish facilities for the gratification of such desire. He was chairman of the School Committee during several years preceding the establishment ol the high school, at the time when the agitation attending the discussion of the matter was the greatest, and brmight all the influence which his position commanded, to bear in support of the measure. His faith in the good sense of the people, and in their ultimately favorable action, never faltered.

The first teacher of the high school, Walter A. Wheeler, gave permanency and character to it. He was a Christian gentleman, earnest and enthusiastic in his work, combining the rare faculty of imparting knowledge and the love of it to all under his care.

The Free Public Library. - December 2, 1874, J. W. Stockwell, Es(i., proposed for discussion before the Farmers' Club in Sutton Centre the following question: " Social I>ifc and Culture, How Best Promoted in this Town?" The record of the meeting reads as follows : " After the discussion of the subject showing the need of books for intellectual growth, J. W. Stockwell proposed to form a club, if twenty persons could be found willing to contribute one dollar each to a fund for the purchase of books for this winter's reiding. He was followed by other speakers favoring such a proposal, and so well was the idea of the nucleus of a Free Library received that at this meeting a ' committee of five ' was chosen to solicit for a library and purchase books. .T. W. Stockwell, Rev. H. A. Tracy, W. A. Wheeler, Misses Ellen C. Woodbury and Sarah M. Mills were selected as such Committee."

The above extract indicates the inception and beginning of the Sutton Free Library, which now numbers three thousand two hundred and fifty volumes.

Dr. J. H. Armsby early wrote for information in regard to its plan and purpose, and finding its promoters held large hopes for its future success, at once took an active interest in its prosperity and enlargement, and his contributions to aid in establishing "The Free Public Library" were frequent, large and valuable. A suggestion from a member of the committee to those who had left their native town for wider fields of usefulness brought liberal returns and many were the donors, while from those within the town were earnest workers and liberal donors. A valuable selected library was given by Hon. John D. .\IcCrate, and other large contributions were received from Rev. H. A. Tracy, George P. Stockwell, Hervey F. Lombard, Rev. George Lyman, J. S. C. Armsby, E. J. Mills, J. W. Stockwell, D. T. Thurston, Mrs. H. W. Beecher, Professor Homer B. Sprague, Rev. Frederick N. Knapp, H. C. Batchellor, Mrs. J. W. Clark, Dr. A. L. Stickney, and many others.

Thus far the library was the property of tlie original pnjprietors, but the time was at hand for transferring it by deed to the town, and this was proposed on the single consideration that it should ever be maintained as a free public library in the centre of the town or revert to the grantors. At the annual meeting of the town, March 20, 1876, the town voted to accept the library on the terms proposed, and it was transferred by deed, dated March 21, 1870, and thus was established "The Sutton Free Library."

The friends of the library did not abate, in the least, their interest in its prosperity, and donations of books increased rather than diminished, and this enterprise is largely the work of its founders and friends, and less the gift of the town.

The question of dividing the now large library of about two thousand five hundred volumes and placing a part in the other villages of the town was agitated at the annual meeting, but the deed to the town prevented such dismemberment of it, and at the next annual meeting it was voted, on motion of Jason Waters, Esq., to establish branch libraries in each of the villages; these, far from taking from the enthusiasm for the Free Public Library (which now con- tained so many donations that were memorials of friendship and love from deceased friends] of the town that its care had become a duty), only demonstrated to the entire people more fully thao ever before the inestimable value of books. From the annual reports of the librarian, April 1, 1885, we insert the following extract:

The dawu of '85, its tenth birthday, sees the Library established in a pleasant, commodious room, its friends and patrons rejoicing in its removal to a suitable place, in the new Town Hall, adapted to its requirements.

Looking back from this standpoint in the history of the Library, the projector and founder of the plan "to secure good reading," with the little band of sujiporters, may feel repaid for all efforts and sacrifices made in the interest of true progress, and may be pardoned if there is pleasure and pride in recalling its steady growth, and seeing its establishment in a new and permanent home. That another decade may still find it an honor to the town, a source of education and advancement with refining influence, it is essential that no citizen should be indifterent to its advantages, or neglect to avail himself of its privileges.

At the annual town-meeting, April G, 1887, a Board of Trustees for these libraries was elected, - Rev. John Greyson, Miss Sarah M. Mills, Jason Waters, (/ieorge H. Clark and George W. Albee. In 1888 the town approjiriated five hundred dollars for books and care (the largest grant ever made by the town), to be divided between the several libraries according to weekly circulation from each. D. T. Thurston was the first librarian and gave a room in his house for its use. At his death J. W. Stockwell assumed the care and held the position till April 1, 1883, when Miss Sarah M. Mills became librarian, and holds the position at the present time.

It is a well-known fact that England for a long period discouraged manufacturing in her colonies. She thought by so doing to increase the demand for her own products, tmd make her dependencies more dependent.

The first Provincial Congress of Massachusetts, which met at Salem October 5, 1774, took the matter in hand, and, ajipealing to the patriotism of the people, strongly recommended the proiluction of wool, the raising of flax and hemp, the making of nails, steel, tin-plate, fire-arms, saltpetre, gunpowder,

As early as 17(58 the people of this town, in hearty sympathy with every movement designed to relieve the colonies from dependence upon England for necessary articles of wear and use, passed a resolution encouraging manufactures.

Mo.st earnestly did the people set themselves at work to provide for their necessities. Every house was a manufactory of cloth, every farmer a producer of wool and flax. As the carding was all done by hand, it was natural that the first manufacturing of the town should be the production of those articles most needed in making woolen and linen cloth. So we find hand-cards among the first, if not the first articles manufactured in Sutton. These were made by Jonathan Hale, who came from Newbury not far from 1747, his name appearing upon both the chnrch and town records that year.

Mr. Hale removed to Coos, N. H., in 1771, and the business of card-making was carried on in town for two or three years by Joseph Rockwell, born in Middletown, Conn., who learned his trade of Sir. Hale.

great improvement in the machine for cutting and bending the teeth. Mr. Sibley cmitiuued the business until about 1795, from which lime nothing farther was done in that line in town.

Comb-making was introduced in town about 1780 by Simeon Carpenter, who came from Attleboro', and continued by him until 1815. Levi and .Jonathan Fuller, who came from Attleboro' about the same time with Mr. Carpenter, were also comb-makers by trade, and carried on the business for many years. These combs were made from horn, bone, ivory, tin and lead. Comlis were also manufactured by one of the Chases, on the place now occupied by Andrew Boyce, in the Slocomb District.

Scythe, hoe and axe-making were also carried nn at an early date - scythe-making in particular. All these were at first beaten out by hand, afterward by the trip-hammers, operated in .some cases by water-power and in some by horse-power.

Mr. Oliver Hall says the first was put into operation by horse-power by Mr. Nathan Putnam, who had a scythe shop near the house in which Mr. Hall now lives.

Mr. Putnam afterward erected a building (the foundations of which may still be seen) on a stream emptying into Manchaug Pond, just below the village of West Sutton, a little west of the road to Manchaug, in which he had a trip-hammer operated by waterpower. He forged his scythes in this building and finished them in the shop near his house. Scythes, hoes and axes were made at West Sutton - hoes and axes were made by Elder Samuel Waters and his sonin-law, Amos Waters, and axes by Cornelius Putnam.

Scythes and hoes were also made by Abel Chase and Nathaniel Whitiuore & Sons, on the place now owned by Lewis Uriggs, called the Deacon Hall place. Scythes were likewise made near the place where Estes Putnam now has a shingle-mill ; at Marbleville by some of the members of the Marble family; at Manchaug by Joseph and Cornelius Putnam and Colonel Reuben Waters ; in the Union District by Joel Lackey; at South Sutton, and in what is now Millbnry, on the stream running from Crooked Pond, which will have more particular mention in connection with what will be said upon the early manufacturing along this stream.

The fine water-privileges along the outlet of Crooked Pond (now Singletary Lake) were at an early date utilized for nuuuifacturing purposes. The first ])rivilege was occupied by the grist-mill built by John Singletary, who bought the "mill-lot'' of Ebenezer Dagget, to whom it was given upon condition that he should " keep a grist-mill for the use of the town.'' The exact date of the building of this mill cannot be ascertained. Mr. John Singletary came to town about the year 17'20, and undoubtedly bought the right of Mr. Dagget, and built the mill soon after. On the next privilege it is said there was a blacksmith shop, with a trip-hammer, in which scythes were made on a small scale, and perhaps other articles used on a farm. The next privilege, where the mill of M. A. Lapham now is, was occupied by the paper-mill of Abijab Burbank. This was the first paper-mill built in the county, and the fourth or fifth in Massachusetts. Its erection appears to have been suggested by a resolution passed in a convention of the Committees of Correspondence and delegates from the several towns of the county of Worcester.

This mill was, during most of the Revolutionary War, the main dependence, and at times the sole dependence, for paper, of the printing-office of Isaiah Thomas in Worcester.

Mr. C'aleb Burbank, son of Abijab, was ussuciated with his father, and succeeded him in the business of paper-making, increasing somewhat the production, and greatly improving the quality.

Just below the paper-mill was an oil-mill, jointly owned by JonatliMu Holman, Abijah Burbank, .Jonathan Waters and Andrew Klliot. The building of this mill was begun in 17H9, as appears by a charge in the memorandum book of Colonel Holman, in which be makes note of money due him for getting timber for the oil-mill.

The same book contains several entries giving the number of gallons of oil sold to various persons, by which it is seen that quite an extensive business was done.

Just below this was a carding and fulling-mill ; still farther down the stream a powder-mill, which seems to have been run but a few of the first years of the Revolutionary War.

Next to the powder-mill was a gun manufactory; changed afterward into a manufactory of scythes, axes, saws, mill-iron, steel-plates, etc., in which an extensive business for that day was done.

Tanning and currying was also carried on by John Morse, Captain Joseph Griggs and possibly others whose names have not been brought to our notice.

Printing was done previously to 1813, by Sewall Goodrich, in a building which stood near the residence of Mr. Tyler Waters, in the part of the town which became Millbnry the above date.

The boot and shoe business was also quite e.xtensively carried on at the centre of the town, and something in the same line was done in several other places.

As early as 1837, according to statistics furnished for Barker's "Historical Collections," there were made 9314 pairs of boots and 51,968 pairs of shoes, of the value of $o.5,fj.')(>.

The business was started not tar from 183."), and carried on by various parties, the principal of whom were Simon J. Woodbury, N. G. King, W. C. Chase : & F. F. Sibley, B. L. & Henry C. Batcheller, B. F. & D. A. Tenney, Loren C. Howard & E. A. Dudley, afterward L. C. Howard alone.

Marbleville. - Jose]di Hathaway began the manufacture of shuttles at this place. He sold to .Mr. Ezra S. Marble, who carried on the same business until his death, making from five thousand to seven thousand dollars' worth of shuttles per year. Since his death the business has been continued by his son, Ezra W. Marble, who sufTered a heavy loss by the burning of the shop in 1874. He rebuilt in 1875, and resumed business in the spring of I87t). He has invented and patented an ingenious contrivance for holding the bobbin, which is attached to the spindle, making his shuttle one of the best, if not the best, now in use.

Woodbury VrLLAGic. - Where the Woodbury factory now stands, there was, in the early settlement of the town a saw-mill, built and owned by Deacon Percival Hall, then owned by his son, Willis. Captain Josiah Hall built a new .saw and grist-mill there i in 1797. The mill-work was done by Captain Fran- I cis Putnam. Captain Hall sold to Captain I)avid Dudley in 1813. Captain Dudley, Charles Hale, Luther Woodbury and Leonard Woodbury commenced manufacturing scythes there the same year, continuing the business two or three years, when they sold to Captain Asa Woodbury, who continue<l the same business a few years.

The old building was repaired, enlarged ami changed into a woolen-mill or factory; burnt in 1835, rebuilt soon after, and operated by Captain Asa Woodbury and Henry Boyden, under the name and firm

It was burnt in 1855 and rebuilt in 1856. The new mill was first operated by Woodbury, Brown & Cooper, owned by Woodbury, and afterwards run by him alone. Stockwell & Prescott run the mill for him awhile. Hall & Pre.scott hired the mill and run it for a year or so, making very nice jeans. After the death of Captain Woodbury it was sold at auction to Crawford & Fisher, and run from 1866 to 1871 by Crawford, and since that time rented to different parties, and at the present time doing a flourishing business under the management of Geo. A. Bigelow, of Worcester.

Pleasant Valley. - A card aud fulling-mill was built at this place by Thomas Harback about 1776. His son, Thomas, Jr., built in 1822, near the site of the old fulling-mill, a factory for the manufacture of broadcloth, and here, first in town, was cloth woven by power-looms.

The factory was next owned by Mallalieu, Roberts & Graham, then by the Goodale Manufacturing Company. They sold in 1836 to Freeman & Sibley. In 1837 the company was incorporated as the Sut ton Woolen-Mills Company, and the (iroperty was mortaged to Francis Sibley. In 1841 the factory was burned, and Sibley took possession on his mortgage soon after. He sold to Stephen B. Holbrook and Sumner F. Sutton in August, 1845, who built, in 1846, the main building of the present factory.

H. H. Chamberlain engaged in wool-cleansing and the manufacture of woolen warps and cotton yarn. Holbrook sold to James C. Southwick, and he to George C. Ripley, of New York ; he to E. B. Stoddard, of Worcester, Stoddard to Holbrook and he to F. B. Smith, September, 1870.

Mr. Smith made many improvements in the mill ; built a picker-room of brick, fire-proof, forty feet by thirty feet; an engine-house, forty feet by fifteen feet, and put in a fine engine of thirty horse power.

He died - and the mill has since been run by his son, F. S. Smith, agent Fred. B. Smith estate. It was burned 1885, and at once rebuilt, enlarged and improved, and is now doing a large and increasing business.

WiLKiNSONViLLE. - Asa Waters, of Millbury, purchased of Jeremiah Stone in 1815 what was known as the Dudley farm, including water-power, etc. Said Waters deeded the premises to David Wilkinson, of North Providence, R. I., by deed bearing date of

April, 1823. Mr. Wilkinson built the east part of the stone factory the same year, and in 1828 added the west end, and in 1832 the brick wing, twenty-four by twenty-five feet.

During Mr. Wilkinson's administration the place was very much improved in the erection of the hotel buildings, the Episcopal Church and several dwellinghou.ses. In the year 1829, when the manufacturing interests throughout New England were in a depressed condition, the financial aftairs of the proprietor of the village were such that the property passed into the hands of Samuel Slater & Sons. In 1832 an act of incorporation was obtained, under the name of Sutton Manufacturing Company. The capacity for manufacturing purposes has increased from time to time, and is now ten thousand spindles and two hundred and forty-one looms.

The annual production is two million yards sixtyfour square printing-cloths, which are sold at different printing establishments in New England, New York and Philadelphia.

Shuftle Works nf D. T. Dudley & 6'ore. - These works are situated in Wilkinsonville, on the road from the village to Millbury. They were built in the tall of 1866 by Warren Wilder.

January 1, 1867, D. T. & H. T. Dudley purchased a two-thirds interest in the business, and carried it on with Mr. Wilder until the fall of 1867, when the partnership was dissolved, the Dudleys purchasing the wdiole property and carrying on the business under the name of D. T. Dudley & Son.

At first they manufactured shuttles only, employing six or seven hands. But the busine.ss was soon enlarged. Machinery was introduced for making shuttle-irons, and the business increased to such an extent that seventeen hands were employed.

The machinery is operated most of the year by water-power, furnished by streams from what are known as the Sutton and the Sibley reservoirs, uniting at Woodburyville. A steam-engine has been provided for running the machinery when water fails.

The buildings are wooden structures. In the main one, which is two and a half stories high, shuttles are made; in the low building adjoining this, the shuttleiroDS are forged. About one hundred feet southeast of this is another building, two and one-half stories high, used for storage and drying purposes. The beautiful dwelling which stands upon the elevation easterly of the mill is occupied by the junior partner.

upon the north branch ofMumford River, a tributary of the Blackstone. Its hydraulic power is derived from this stream, which is, in reality, the outflow of a chain of ponds lying within a radius of four or five miles, and covering an area of one thousand acres, nearly. The e.xtent of country drained is estimated at eleven thousand five hundred acres.

The quantity of power derived is attributed to the springs found in the surrounding country, and the great and rapid fall of the river, which in less than one-fourth of a mile is eighty-three feet. The remarkable advantages of this stream as a motive-powerhavc been increased by building a dam at the outlet of each of these ponds or reservoirs, which give the water an additional fall of several feet.

It was about the beginning of the year 1820 that a number of gentlemen from Providence, R. I., on their way to Worcester and Boston, conceived the idea of utilizing this stream for the purpose of manufacturing.

After many interviews with Mr. Elliot a sale was eft'ected, and in January, 1826, the deed conveying forty-eight and one-half acres was passed from Aaron Elliot and his wife, Susan Elliot, to Jonathan Congdon, Randall H. Green and Samuel Congdon (merchants), all of the city of Providence.

February 12, 1827, Welcome and Samuel Congdon becoming members of the firm, the standing was as follows: Jonathan Congdon, one-fourth ; Randall H.Green, three-eighths; Arnold Congdon, one-eighth ; AVelcnme Congdon, one-eighth ; Samuel Congdon, one-eighth.

May 17, 1828, Baxter Morse sold to the Manchaug Company, as constituted above, twenty-eight acres of land. This completed the purchase of real estate, as far as known, by the originators of this company. A successful business is supposed to have been done by the gentlemen composing the company until July 29, 1829, when they sold out all their interest to Peter Pratt and William R. Staples, they in turn transferring it, May 1, 1830, to Samuel Shore, previous purchases and improvements having augmented this estate to nearly two hundred acres improved and wood land, three cotton-mills, eleven dwellinghouses, etc. I'nfortunately, February 1, 1834, afier a somewhat checkered experience, Samuel Shore transferred all the above property by deed of assignment to John Whipple and Dexter Thurber for the benefit of his creditors. The assignees above named, on the 2Sth of May, 1835, sold to OIney Whipple, of North Providence, all the above |)roperty, anil August 21st of the same year, Benoni Cook, Isaac Brown and Dexter Thurber (manufacturers). Earl Douglass Pierce (gentleman) and Lewis Baxter (yeoman), all of Providence, with the exception of Lewis Dexter, who was a resident of Smithfield, R. I., purchased the entire property, and Charles Thnrlier was appointed resident manager. Under his and quite successful until September 13, 1839, when he died, Mr. Dexter Thurber assuming the management, and continuing in that capacity until October 1, 1841, when Messrs. Asahel Wall & Co., together with Stephen Randall as resident manager, leased the mills, agreeing to furnish eighty-seven and a half pounds of print cloth for every one hundred pounds of cotton and to receive two and three-fourths cents per yard for manufacturing the same; the owners keeping in repair all dams, flumes, permanent shafting, wheels, etc, and furnishing all necessary supplies for the maintenance of the same. This they continued to do until Ai)ril 1, 1843, when the contract was annulled and the business was again conducted under the management of the old company, Mr. Randall continuing in the capacity as manager until 1846. Messrs. Thomas & Colt leased the mills for the manufacture of print cloths and continued from July 21, 1846, until JIarch 29, 1847, when Mr. Colt took the lease and continued until i\Iay 8th to manufacture by the yard on the same terms as A. Wall & Co. (two and three-fourth cents per yard) ; they, as in the case of Wall & Co., having the waste. Thread was manufactured at No. 2 Mill and woven into print cloths at the other mills.

September 1, 1853, James M. Cunlitf, of Providence, was admitted as a partner, having been in 1848 appointed resident manager, which position he held until April 1, 1870.

It was during the administration of Air. Cunlilf that several valuable improvements were made in connection with this property. An addition was made to the lower or No. 1 Mill in 1852, of granite, two stories high, of the style called "Rough Ashlar," fifty feet by one hundred and eighteen feet. It was built by Lafayette Reynolds, of Pascoag, Rhode Island.

The dimensions of this mill are as follows: three hundred and ten feet long, lilty-two wide, four stories high, with two towers to connect the several stories, twenty feet square. A picker-house eighty-four feet long by forty feet wide, three stories high ; one boilerhouse forty-eight feet long by thirty-six feet wide, one story high.

Mr. James M. Cunliff, after a successful management of twenty-two years, retired, leaving it in the hands of his son, Lemuel H. Cunliff, under whose superintendence the interests of the company became somewhat clouded.

At this period Messrs. B. B. and R. Knight, of Providence, Rhode Island, purchased an interest, and the other parties retired, with the exception of Mr. De.xter, the firm then standing, as at the present time, "Lewis De.xter, B. B. & R. Knight."

With the increase of wealth and skill in manufacture, it was evident that none but a man of ability and strict business integrity could assume the respousibility of tlie large property and make it a successful and profitable business. Hence the owners were anxious to secure the services of a man who could meet the requirements of the time and place. After several interviews with different parties, Robert McArthur, at the time located at Millville, N. J., .was induced to accept the management. Mr. McArthur assumed the entire control as resident manager and agent in the fall of 1873, and continued as such. It is but justice to Mr. McArthur to say that, through his untiring energy and careful discrimination, the business has been made successful. Constant improvement marks the growth of this village, and within the last three years, under the efficient management of the present superintendent, (ieorge H. Clark, Esq., three of the mills have been enlarged, new tenement houses have been erected and neatness and order are everywhere apparent.

Chapter Cxxix

The Revolution. - On the breaking out of the Revolutionary War few towns in the Commonwealth rallied to the cause with such spirit and unanimity as the town of Sutton. The first gleaming ray from the torch of liberty kindled to a flame the whole surrounding region, and volunteers flocked to its standard in great numbers. Long before the battle of Lexington they had formed a band of ''minute-men," well mounted and armed, and under the command of Colonel Jonathan Holman, who had been a veteran in the British service in Canada during the old Frencli War.

As soon as the news of that fight reached them they sprang to tlieir saddles, and, riding with all speed through the whole night, reached Concord just as the enemy were retreating to Boston.

It was not thirty days after that fight before Sutton and the neighboring towns had raised a full regiment of ten companies, all volunteers, and they were on the march to the field of action.

They were organized under the command of Colonel Ebenezer Larned, of Oxford ; marched to Roxbury, where they arrived more than two months before Washington came to take command of the army.

Another regiment was immediately formed of men coming from "Sutton, Oxford, Sturbridge, Charlton and Dudley, including adjacent lands," and placed under the command of Colonel Jonathan Holman, of North Sutton.

lu tile Houee of Representatives : The House made clioice by ballot of the foHowing gentlemen for Field Officers of the Fifth Regiment of Militia in the County of Worcester, viz. : Jonatbiin Holman of Suttou, Colonel ; Daniel Plympton, Lieut. Colonel ; William Larned, First Major ; Jacob Davis, 2d Major.

This regiment, being composed largely of men from Sutton, and under the command of a Sutton officer, was usually known and styled as "The Sutton Regiment." It was destined to a very severe and longcontinued service of nearly two years, during which it was engaged in many battles with the enemy, and finally, if we accept the evidence of a high British authority, in the great decisive battle of the war, the battle of Saratoga.

In the battle that ensued Colonel Holman's regiment was actively engaged, and that they acquitted themselves bravely may be justly inferred from the fact that after the battle this regiment was designated " to take possession of Fort Edward, and to hold it, until the dispersion of Burgoyne's army," which they did.

This battle, followed by the surrender of Burgoyne and his whole army, virtually ended the war in New England. The British, after fighting the obstinate Yankees for two years and a half, became discouraged and moved the theatre of war down South.

January 19, 1770, there was a call for more men, and a levy was made upon all the towns in the Stale, ihe number to be raised being apportioned according to the size and strength of the towns.

two ; Hardwick, twenty-nine ; Shrewsbury, twentyfive; Bolton, twenty-three; Lunenburg, twenty; Sturbridge, seventeen ; Westboro', seventeen ; Charlton, sixteen ; Douglas, fifteen ; Grafton, fifteen ; Dudley, twelve ; Leicester, thirteen ; Uxbridge, thirteen ; Oxford, eleven ; Northbridge, six ; and so on.

In a levy made upon the towns for blankets, they were apportioned as follows: Lancaster, tliirty-three ; Sutton, thirty ; Brookfield, thirty ; Worcester, twentyseven ; and so on in lesser numbers.

In the Provincial Congress held at Watertown, May 1, 1775, provision was made for the support of the people who had been driven from their homes in Boston by the entrance of the British army.

The evidence, therefore, appears to be conclusive, that in the great and arduous struggle to gain our independence, Sutton ranked among the forty-three towns in Worcester County as the third, Brookfield and Lancaster alone having a better record, they being larger towns.

Sutton may well be proud of her contribution to the grand result; and, in common with all the towns of the Commonwealth, her glory is still more enhanced by the fact brought out by Charles Sumner, in his celebrated debate with Senator Butler, of South Carolina, in which he provd bi/ docamentnry evidence from the War and Treasuri/ Departments, that, in the Revolutionary War, Massachusetts alone furnished more men, and more money, than all the Southern States combined.

April 1.5th. The President issues his proclamation calling for seventy-five thou.sand of the militia of the several States to " re-possess the forts, places and property " which had been seized, " to maintain the perpetuity of popular government, and to redress wrongs loug enough endured."

April 29th. An impromptu meeting of citizens of the town was held for the purpose of discu.ssing the situation, and a committee appointed to draft a series of resolutions for the action of a meeting of the town called for the day following.

April .30th. At the meeting of this date the feeling of indignation at the atrocity of the act of firing on the national Hag, of patriotic devotion, and of determined purpose to crush rebellion, w;us in full harmony with that which prevailed throughout all the loyal States. In view of the peril of the hour, and the necessity of wise action, it was proposed that the proceedings be opened with prayer ; and it is recorded that the Rev. Mr. Hawkins, being called upon " to address the

Biographical Thomas Blanchaed

Thomas Blanchard, the inventor, was born in Sutton June 24, 1788. His fether, Samuel, was a farmer, and lived on a poor remote strip of land, where there was absolutely nothing to suggest a mechanical motion. He was of French origin, his name being derived from the French word Blanchir (to whiten), and many distinguished men ap|)ear in the annals of France bearing that name.

Six claimants for the honor of Blanchard's inventions have already appeared, viz. : Sutton, Millbury, Oxford, Springfield, Boston, and lastly, France. That he was born on a strip of land lying between Sutton township and Oxford proper, called "Oxford Gore," all agree. The very house is still pointed out.

Sutton bases her claim upon the following facts ; That said strip projects or gores into, in a zigzag course, her territory as defined on ancient maps by straight lines ; that her records show that Samuel Blanchard paid his taxes to Sutton, and must have voted there if anywhere ; that the births of most of his children are recorded there, all which would seem to establish the citizenship of the father in Sutton, and that would of course carry the birth-place of the children. Besides, it is well known that Thomas, who ought to know, always told his Ijiographers that he was born in Sutton, and they have so recorded it.

While on the farm, Thomas gave little if any promise of the latent powers within him. There was nothing in his surroundings to excite them. He was misplaced; schools were remote, and he seldom attended, for he was atHicted with a perverse impediment of speech, so that the boys called him " stammering Tom." His prospects were anything but promising. At length, when he had arrived at the age of eighteen years, his eldest brother, Stephen, started in West Millbury a tack factory, with horsepower, and he promoted his unfortunate brother to the position of heading them in a vise, with a hand-hammer, one by one. Once in a mechanic shop his dormant genius began to wake up.

Ere that youth had spent many months heading tacks, one by one, he had designed, constructed and put in operation a machine which would cut and head them at one motion twice as fast as the ticking of a watch, and better finished than those made by hand. So perfect was it in design and construction, it was continued in use more than twenty years. It is said to be still in existence, and experts who have seen it, say no essential improvement has ever been made upon it.

Colonel Asa Waters, at the armory, had succeeded in turning gun-barrels so far as they were round, but to turn the irregular shape of the butt baffled his efforts. At length, having heard of a young man living in West Millbury, as having developed some inventive talent, he sent for him to come to his armory. When he came he seemed an utter stranger to all present, uncouth, diffident, had a stammering tongue, and little was expected of him.

Glancing his eye over the machine, he very soon suggested an additional, very simple, but wholly original, cam motion, which, upon being applied, was found to relieve the difficulty, and proved a perfect success. Mr. Waters was delighted. Turning to Thomas, he said, " Well, Thomas, I don't know what you won't do next. I should not be surprised if you turned a gun-stock ! " naming that as the most impossible thing in mechanics he could think of. Thomas hesitated a moment, then stammered out, "We-we-well, M'll try that."

As soon as he had completed his cam motion at Millbury, he was called to Springfield to adjust similar motions in the United States armory there. On a return journey, when passing through Brimfield, solitary and alone in his carriage, in deep meditation, he was heard to exclaim with great glee, like Archimedes of old, '- I've got it ! I've got it ! I've got it ! " Two men who were by the wayside overheard him, and one says to the other, " I guess Hint man is crazy."

It was really the discovery of a new principle in mechanics whereby the machine is made the obedient, faithful servant of man to work out his designs after any given model, be it round or square, crooked or straight, however irregular, and m.ade to reproduce the original shape exactly, every time.

For this great invention, whose worth to this country and Europe can only he computed in millions Blanchard himself received hut a meagre compensation. For the first two terms of his patent he was continually harassed by infringements and lawsuits, and even in the few years while he was busy at the armory, more than fifty violators had pirated his in vention and started up works in various parts oi' the country for making lasts, spokes, etc.

When the second term of his patent had nearly expired, he said he had expended a Imnffred ihousaml dollars in defending his right, and had realized to himself little more than "his board and clothes;" that is to say, a fair living.

Moses L. Morse, who lived on this place, was a great inventor. He invented the first pin-making machine ever made in this country. The pins made had solid heads, and the principle involved in their manufacture was the same as that introduced in the best machines now in use, which make two barrels a day. Some one who has written on the subject gives a Mr. Wright credit for inventing the first machine for making pins with solid heads in 183.3, but it is a mistake. Solidhead pins were made by Morse's machine during the war of 1812. He also invented and had patented scales for weighing coins and other substances hydrostatieally. He says a gentleman came into the shop one day, and having his attention called to the new scales, took out a new Spanish dollar and asked Mr. Morse to test his scales on that dollar ; so he weighed it and pronounced it a rank counterfeit. The man was provoked at the idea, for it was a very perfect coin. So Mr. Morse gave him another dollar that he might test the one in dispute ; then he took his drill and bow and began to tap the dollar, which proved to be made of copper, slightly plated with silver. Then the man declared the scales the greatest invention of the age, and ordered one immediately for his own use. The scales had a graduated face not unlike a clockface, with hands to point out the result.

Mr. Morse afterward established a cutlery manufactory in Worcester, at what was known as the red mills. He had two children, tlharles Willard (a very noted and effective preacher), and Kuth Sibley, who married Rev. Charles F. Allen, D.D., a celebrated preacher and educator, the first president of the Maine Agricultural College, Orono.

Hox. Jonas Sibley.'

Hon. Jonas Sibley, the subject of this sketch, was a native of the town of Sutton and always a resident within its limits. He was largely self-educated, the .schools of this town being his only aids. A man of broad views, strong intellect, self-reliant, and thoroughly conscientious. He was a farmer, faithful to its interests and prominent in all agricultural iinprovements.

At the present day it is not easy to understand the influence of such a sturdy, honest character on the yeomanry of the town. It then represented what to-day the press does in its influence on the political, moral and philanthropic acts of a community ; it moulds the character and controls the policy of the people. Such prominence and influence belonged to Jonas Sibley in the town of Sutton, and in the southern part of Worcester County, and on many important elections he led the voters from his own door to the polls and under his guidance were deposited the ballots that determined the policy ol'the town, or the influence of its action on the state and nation. He represented this town in the State Legislature, was also in the Mass. Senate ; and for one term, 1822 and 1823, eighteenth session, he was Representative for the County of Worcester in the Congress of the United States (the only term when represented by a Democrat until the election of Hon. John E. Russell in 1886, fiftieth session). Beside these positions he was constantly in public service lor the town as Moderator, Assessor, Selectman, and School Committee.

The following description of him is from the "History of Sutton": - "He was a man of gentlemanly deportment, candid, una,ssuming, and faithful to every trust.''

His thorough honesty of |nirpose and independence of party dictation on that national stumbling-block - the Tariff' - lost him a re-election, as his action on some points could not satisfy the diversified interests of his constituents. A great truth was covered in the words of General Hancock, wheu he said the tariff" was a "local issue" so strongly do local interests influence the action of the voter, and bias the judgment of the statesman. Thus we find Jonas Sibley opposed to higher duties and voting against the bill, but on all amendments to the bill voting in the interest of his section and his calling. Therefore on woolen and cotton goods to reduce the tariff; on wool, sugar, molasses, to hold the duty, and on salt to free it from duty. It is interesting to note that generally his vote was in accord with that of Daniel Webster, even to the final vtite " shall the bill pass? " both voting in the negative.

Jonas Sibley, son of Capt. Nathaniel Sibley, married Lydia Rice, daughter of Asahel Rice, August 18, 178.5. Children : - first, Susanna, born June 27, 1786, married Daniel Hovey, died August 11, 1811 ; second, Jonas Leonard, born .lanuary 8, 1791, married Margaret M. Monroe, died February 1, 18;'i2 ; third, John Jay, born November 12, 1792, died March 10, 1815.

John Jay graduated in advanced classes at Brown University, 1814, as valedictorian of his cliiss, but close application to study had undermined his health, and while delivering the address he was attacked

Jonas Sibley died February 5, 1834, aged seventytwo years, and his wife died December 27, 1837, aged seventy-six, on the homestead in Sutton, which has remained in possession of the family to the present time.

The first Sibleys came from England in the Fleet in 1G20 - only nine years after the settlement of Plymouth - and settled in the town of Salem. They were supposed to be brothers (.lohn and Richard), and both married. They united with the church in Charlestown, December 21, lG3-t, and .Tnhn Sibley took the freeman's oath. May 6, 1635. He was a selectman of the town of Salem and a member of the General Court from that town. Joseph Sibley, son of John, was the father of this bianch of the Sutton Sibleys ; three of his sons, Joseph, John and Jonathan, were among the thirty families who were entered as settlers in 1717, in the four thcmsand acres that was given them upon condition that they vvoiild go and settle there first, and the thirty persons thus going style themselves " Proprietors of the four thousand acres."

In the line of Joseph, son of Joseph, is found Jane Walter, daughter of Gibbs Sibtey. She married Sir Curtis Miranda Sampson, of New Haven, Vermont. They were married in New York, 1827. When the Atlantic Cable was finished he accepted a baronetcy tendered him as an acknowledgment of his services in pushing that enterprise to completion. Theyliave two sons and two daughters ; one of the daughters, a lady of marked ability and culture, is married to Mr. Frederick Lockyer, a well-known man of letters and of society, whose " Vers de Societe " have been republished in this country. Sir Curtis and Lady Sampson had a seat at Rawfant, in Sussex, England.

Also Hon. Solomon Sibley, who studied law with William Hastings, Esq., of Boston, and removed to Detroit, Mich. He was delegate to Congress ; United States Attorney ; and for many years judge of the Supreme Court of the territory. His son, Henry H., was elected member of Congress from the territory of Wisconsin, and was commissioned Brigadier-General for gallant and meritorious service in 1865.

Caleb, son of Nathaniel Sibley, graduated at West Point in 1828, and remained in the service till his death. He won a high reputation as a gentlemanly, conscientious and able officer, and rose by promotion to the rank of brigadier-general.

The famous "Sibley Tent" is the invention of General H. A. Sibley, descendant of John, who emigrated to Louisiana and settled there. His claims for use of this invention, which was of such valuable service to the government during the late Civil War, are now before Congress for recognition.

family represented in the colonial service as follows : Capt. John Sibley ; Ensign Jonathan Sibley ; Sergeant Samuel Sibley; Privates, Elijah; David; Elisha; John, Jr.; Jonathan, .Jr.; Joseph; Joseph, Jr.; Stei)hen ; William and William, Jr. In the Revolutionary War: David, Daniel, Richard, Stephen, and William Sibley, Ijeside the Minute Men from Sutton who marched to Concord, April 19, 1775 : Joseph, Daniel, Elia.s, Gideon, Peter, Samuel, Jr., Tarrent and

In the control of town affairs; in its political history; and in church matters is equally seen the influence this family has exerted on the character and historv of this town.

Jonas Leonard Sibley, son of Hon. Jonas Sibley, was born in Sutton, January 8, 1791. He was educated in the schools of the town and prepared for college under the instruction of " Master Hall," and graduated at Brown University in the class of 1814. He studied law with Hon. Levi Lincoln, and was admitted to the bar and began practice before the courts in 1817.

Susan Maria, the eldest, married Hon. John D. McCrate. He was a graduate of Bowdoin College ; studied law with Judge Bailey, of Wiscasset, Maine, J. E. Smith, Esq., of Boston and Hon. Peleg Sprague, of Hallowell, Maine. He represented the town of Wiscasset for five successive years in the State Legislature; he was appointed commissioner of insolvency for the State in 1829 and 1830 ; collector of the district of Wiscasset in 1836 by President Jackson ; and elected to Congress from the Oxford and Lincoln District 1844. He was a man of rare strength of mind and memory. He died September 11, 1879, in Sutton, on the old homestead where his widow now resides.

The second daughter Joanna Le Baron, married Rev. John Pierpont, Jr., son of John Pierpont, preacher, poet and philanthropist. She died in Medford, March 30, 1852.

John Monroe, the eldest son, was born Ju'y 7, 1822. He. graduated at Yale College, and was for many years superintendent of schools for the State of California and a prominent educator on the Pacific slope. He has now retired from active work.

Frances Mary married Hon. James W. Stockwell, son of Simeon Stockwell, of this town. He has held the offices of selectman, school-committee and treas-

1 The portrait which accompanies this sketch is taken from one painted by Henry W'illard, of Boston, a native of Grafton, AVorcester Co., Mass.

urer and collector. He represented the Third Worcester Senatorial Di.strict in the Senate of Massachusetts for the sessions of 1879-80 ; was api)ointed (1887) on the Massachusetts State Board of Agriculture by Governor Ames to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Hon. Marshall P. Wilder and re-appointed in 1889 his own successor.

Jonas L. Sibley represented his native town for several years in the State Legislature. He was a sincere friend and strongsupporterof President Jackson, and was by him appointed Marshal of the United States Di.strict Court of Massachusetts, at Boston, which office he held for a period of eight years. In this position he performed valuable service in reorganizing and systematiziilg the departments of this Court - a service duly appreciated by his superior. He was presented by him with his portrait, life size, one of the finest portraits in citizen's dress ever painted of General Jackson.

In his profession be held to a large degree the confidence of the community, and his practice was that of the true lawyer - the settlement of differences between the two parties instead of carrying them before the courts ; yet his practice was extensive, having for a single term of court eighty cases on the docket.

Mr. Sibley was a man of fine presence and preeminently public-spirited, and every enterprise having for its object the welfare of the people, or the improvement of the town, received ready support and active co-operation. He was attable, courteous and kind, and his memory is held in loving remembrance by the wide circle of his friends. He was especially interested in agriculture. He owned one of the finest farms in town, located a short distance west of the centre of the town, and extending, northerly in an oblong square to Singletary Lake and including one of its most beautiful shores, and southerly in a smaller square of similar form. Here his leisure time was employed in planning improvements and carrying forward the work. His orchards were the finest, his crops the largest, his stock the most choice, and his fields the most perfectly tilled. As most of them were within the view from the house, every improvement was a pleasure to him and his interest in farming and in his farm never abated, even during his long and painful sickness. It was a constant source of [deasure to him - possibly not of profit.

At the burning of the Congregational Church, November 3, 1829, be, in endeavoring to save valuable papers from the flames, was struck on the back by a falling timber. The injury was at the time supposed to be slight, but its serious nature was soon apparent, and, notwithstanding the ertbrts of the best medical skill, it could not be stayed, but resulted in paralysis of the right arm and later of the lower limbs. This episode represents years of pain and sufl'ering, borne heroically and patiently. As the right hand became useless and refused to obey the dictates of the will, he learned to use the left with greater facility, and his penmanship, written with the left hand, is a model of neatness. He abated in no particular or degree his interest in the welfare of the town, or for years in the practice of his profession. In the rebuilding of the church be was an active member of the building committee and prompt in meeting its responsibilities. To his artistic eye the town is indebted for the (at that time) rare architectural beauty of this church, which is a model in its harmonious proportions and perfect acoustics.

In his oiBce Christopher C. Baldwin collected, placed in order, and preserved the old records and data of the town that have been of incalculable value to the later historians. Hon. Isaac Davis, Christopher C. Baldwin, Esq., Edward Clark, Esq., and others studied law under his teaching and in this office. He was one of the founders of the Worcester Agricultural Society, in 1819, and one of its officers later. He was a prominent and active Mason ; a member of Olive Branch Lodge, which was chartered in 1797, and its W. M. from 1821 to 1825, inclusive. Though not able to attend its meetings in his later years, yet his interest in Masonry remained unabated, and at his death he was buried with Masonic honors - many prominent Masons from other lodges being present to honor his memory.

Though his religious views were more broad, and nearer in accord with the Unitarian faith, be was an active member and liberal supporter of the orthodox Congregational Society located in the centre of the town. Naturally sympathetic, he cultivated the kindly virtues, and his life was full of kind deeds. None came to him for sympathy, for counsel, or for help and turned away unassisted - their need was his excuse for giving them his best service. Yet, his tenderness was ever in abeyance to his moral courage, which never flinched from duty, and whether in shielding the defenceless little African boy, who, noting sympathy in his face, ran to him for protection and would not be taken away, or in the hanging of the pirates, Marshal Sibley was the same, - tender yet true, - in enforcing the law, or in i)rotecting the defenceless. Such was his life, broad and beneficent, and his death calmly awaited as a happy release from physical suffering such as falls to the lot of but few. He died February 1, 1852.