Worcester City (part 26 of 58)

This purchase from the Indians was undoubtedly made to quiet and pacify them, the war of King Philip, and the massacre at Brookfield but a few years previously, having evidently taught the white people that measures of this kind were matters of policy. The settlers were aware that the Indians could have no legal title to the land, and so little value, otherwise than as a measure of peace and policy, was placed upon the deed at that time, that it was not recorded for more than twenty-five years subsequently, or not until April 15, 1714, and then not until application had been made to the General Court for a confirmation of the title, which act of confirmation was obtained February 23, 1713, but on condition that within seven years sixty families should be settled in the territory, a quantity of land to be set apart for the location and support of the church and schools, and that this grant should not encroach on any former grants. It will be noticed that this was not an act of incorporation, but merely one of confirmation of the title.

Now our predecessors were in full and legal possession of their purchase, subject to the prescribed mnditions; and to fulfill the requirements of the act so far as to induce the settlement of sixty families within the limits of the grant within the time specified, the purchasers formed an association, or Proprietry, as it afterwards became to be called, by joining with themselves others who were persons of energy and influence. The association was divided into thirty-three shares, each proprietor having sne, except Joseph Foster, who had two ; the names of the original proprietors in this association were Joseph Foster, Mrs. Cyprian Stevens, Marj' Willard's heirs, Joseph Rowlandson's heirs, Simeon Willard, John Willard, Benjamin Willard, Joseph Willard, Josiah Willard's heirs. Rev. Samuel Willard's heirs, Henry Willard's heirs, Daniel Willard's heirs, Jonathan Willard's heirs, Thomas Brintnall, Nathaniel Howard's heirs, Robert Blood's heirs, Joshua Edmund's heirs, William Tyler, Penn Townsend, Paul Dudley, Addington Davenport, Adam Winthrop, Thomas Hutchinson, Thomas Fitch, Thomas How, John Chandler, William Dudley, John White, John Farnsworth, Peter Buckley's heirs, Moses Parker and Jacob Stevens. In December, 1715, these proprietors voted to survey and set oflf into lots sections of six miles square, these plats to be granted to settlers, iThis deed is a document of much value and importance, showing somewhat tlie customs of the times, and also the clearness and sagacity with which the instrument is drawn ; it is too lengthy a document for insertion here ; the recorded ropy niay lie seen in the Registry of Deeds for Middlesex County, book Ifi, page .SlI, Worcester County not being incorporated until 1731.

in order to secure the performance of the conditions in the original act of the confirmation of the title; the first part set off contained what is now Rutland and a portion of Paxton, being one-fourth of the twelve miles square, and which had been surveyed the previous October by William Ward. In this portion sixty-two house lots of thirty acres each were laid out, which were offered to permanent settlers at nominal rates, and promises were given to divide the remainder of the land amongst them, provided that sixty families should settle there within the prescribed seven years, reserving, however, sufiicient lands for the use and support of the ministry and school, and one thousand acres, which had previously been granted by government to Samuel Sewall.

When the seven years had transpired the requirements had been consummated, the settlers coming from Boston, Lexington, Concord, Sudbury, Marlborough, Framingham, Lancaster, Brookfield, and from Ireland. The condition of the grant having been fulfilled, the proprietors petitioned the General Court, which commenced its session the last Wednesday of May, 1722, for an act of incorporation, and, on the 18th of the following month, a bill was passed for further establishing the town of Rutland, and empowering them to choose all proper officers, also empowering them to raise and collect money for defraying the necessary charges of the said town.

This part of the territory was afterwards called the "settled part" of Rutland, and the proprietors, fulfilling their promises to the settlers, ceased to have any authority over it; the other three-fourths of the grant was still held by them, and was under their authority and jurisdiction, and to this portion their immediate attention was now given, and efforts were made to Induce families to settle in the north and northwest sections. Some of the families had settled westerly of the first section, and were living in the " Northwest Quarter," as it began to be called, and others, from time to time, came to the same vicinity.

Tradition says that some were induced to locate here by reason of the fertile meadows, where their cattle could graze in summer and sufficient hay be cut and placed in stacks for their winter's support, and the same tradition relates that some of the Irish emigrants of Scotch descent, who had settled in and around Worcester, were of those who came into what is now Barre. It is a matter of record that James Caldwell was here June 6, 1739, representing the ownership of Great Farm No. 9, which was in the east part of the town, lying on the banks of the Cannestow and Ware Rivers. He was the eldest son of William and Sarah (Morison) Caldwell, who had emigrated from Ireland about 1719, and settled in Worcester, where they remained but a few years, for prior to 1730 they had come into this "Northwest Quarter."

Tradition saya that James came here before his father, having driven cattle hither, and remaining with them during the following winter, living alone and finding shelter under a shelving rock, which is still seen on the farm which was the last residence of the late Caleb Harwood. He soon built for himself a cabin of atone, against which, as a protection from the elements and from wild beasts, he made a kind of palisade of split logs, and later, in 1754, built the first frame house ever erected in this section ; this is a large, two-storied house and still stands, and is in a good state of preservation, being located but a short distance from the shelving rock, or from where was his cabin. The Caldwells were men of rare worth and influence in the community ; James was killed in 1763, he, with one of his slaves, having t;iken refuge under a tree during a heavy thunder-shower. The tree was struck by lightning, and falling, killed him and broke a thigh of the negro. The spot where he died is marked by a stone on which the following inscription, now nearly illegible, waa carved : " This stone is erected in memory of the time when and place where Mr. James Caldwell died, which happened by the falling of a tree, July 18, 1763, in the 52d year of his age."

As early as 1720 families, or representatives of families, had gone nearly to the western limits of this Northwest Quarter. In 1726 the first known deed of land in this section was given, it being for a strip near the present residence or farm of Mr. J. N. Patterson. A few families having settled here, their number was increasing. November 7, 1733, by virtue of a warrant issued by Joseph Wilder, justice of the peace, the proprietors met at the Royal E,xchange Tavern, in Boston, and, on the fourth article in the warrant, voted "that the north half of said township (Rutland) be divided into two equal parts by a plain line running across the breadth of the same, and that the proprietors will proceed to divide the western part of said north half into lots, and that sixty-six other lots of good land of fifty acres each, as near as may be to the spot for a meeting-house, be htid out for homesteads ; and, wherever any of said sixty-six lots fall short in quality to be made up in quantity, and said sixty-six lots to be numbered, in ord^^ to be drawn for inconvenient time; and that convenient highways be at the same time laid out, so as to accommodate the several lots ; and that a fair and regular plot of the said west part of said north half be, with the several lots and highways, delivered in as soon as may be to the proprietors at their meeting for their acceptance." At this meeting a tax of three hundred and thirty pounds was laid upon the proprietors to defray the expenses. Henry Lee, of Worcester, made application for appointment as surveyor, offering to do the work for one hundred pounds, but the work was given to Samuel Willard, a relative of some of the proprietors, who, in company with Lee, made the survey, and when completed, each signed the plans.

In addition to the sixty-six lots of fifty acres each, the lot for a meeting-house and for the school, thirtythree Great Farms of five hundred acres each were plotted out, an additional number of acres being allowed to such of those where the land was of inferior quality.

John Butolph, of Boston, was appointed collector of the tax from those of the proprietors who lived near Boston, he being authorized to collect the sum of i;248 8«. lid., and Phineas Brintnall, of Sudbury, was authorized to collect the balance, or £81 lis. Id. These Great Farms, as well as the house-lots, exceeded in acres the specified number, not only because some of the land might be of inferior quality, but also because a desire had been expressed that good measure be invariably given.

The proprietors of this Northwest Quarter now drew for their lots. Joseph Foster, holding two shares in the proprietry or association, drew Great Farm No. 9, in the east part of the town, and No. 13, which lay in the north part and included the land where now is the reservoir which supplies Prince River, and other land suflicient to make five hundred and sixty acres in each plot ; it was a part of Foster's share of No. 9 which was afterwards represented by James Caldwell.

All these Great Farms were offered for sale, and strenuous efforts were made to induce settlers to locate upon them. In 1735 a farm of two hundred and fifty acres was offered to the first orthodox minister who would settle here, provided he would continue in the ministry for seven years, or until his death, if that should sooner happen. Land was also tendered to parties provided they would build and occupy a house thereon, of certain dimensions and within a specified time, the usual dimensions being twenty feet long and eight feet studs, the houses to be made habitable by the following winter and to be occupied by the builder or his heirs for at least five years ; provision for travelers was anticipated and a tract of land was offered to any one who would build a house of entertainment thereon and keep it for that purpose for at least seven years. The terms of the proprietors were most liberal, and if the conditions on which the settlers took lands were not all fulfilled at the expiration of the times specified, the privileges were continued to such of those as had exhibited a disposition to comply with the terms imposed, but who had been prevented by some untoward event ; those who had received lands and had failed to fulfill their conditions through neglect or want of energy, were dispossessed of them and the property reverted to the proprietors. Thus plans were laid for a thrifty and energetic population ; to still further encourage immigration roads were projected and built from the settled part of Rutland to Nitchewag (now Petersham). A "great bridge" was built over the Ware River near where is now the Baptist Church ; this was destroyed by a forest fire in 1740, but was rebuilt the following year, logs being thrown across the stream, as in the case of the former bridge, and this time gravel was carted on to prevent the recurrence of such a mishap and also as a protection to guard against its being washed away by any sudden rise of the water.

With a road, rough thougli it might be, built from east to west, nearly through the centre of the Northwest Quarter, better facilities were afforded for the incoming of settlers; and they came, - energetic, rugged, honest men, who did much to aid and encourage the little band already here, and who later filled many offices of trust in the direction of affairs here. The Rices, the Holdens, the Wallaces, the Nourses, the Aliens, are some of the prominent ones who now came, all of whom left descendants who still dwell with us and fill honorable and responsible places in our midst.

For such a people the proprietors desired more and better conveniences^ and at their meeting held at the Light-House Tavern in Boston, December 5, 1748, a committee of their number was requested to petition the General Court, as soon as may be, that the Northwest Quarter of the township of Rutland may be made a town of itself, or be a separate district, with all the privileges of a town. This petition was drawn up, and is as follows :

To His Excellency, Shirley, Esq., Captain General A Governour in Cheefe in & over His Majeatya Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England & Vice Admiral of the Biime & to the Honourable His Majsty Couutil & Hcuse of Representatives in Geneiul Court assembled.

The petition of the Connnittee of the Proprietors of the Township of Rutland (the Original Settlers part excepted) in the County of Worces* terin sd Province in behalf of themselves it sd proprietors & according to their votes A direction8,.Humbly sheweth That the sd Proprietors have been for above these fifteen Years at great & Constant Pains & Expense of time and many hundred Pounds in Running the Bounds, surveying. Dividing & Laying out Lots, finding out A' clearing Roads, Building of Bridges, settling Inhabitants & paying for Preaching in the Northwestern qviarter of th<* Township of Rutland. That the sd North Westerly Quarter is about the Quantity of six miles Square more or less, according to the jdaii herew'*" exhibited, bound East North Easterly about six miles on the North Easterly Quarter of said Township, South South Easterly aboute six miles, partly on the original settlers Quarters & partly on the West wing of sd Township. West South Westerly about six miles partly on Braintree Grant & partly on Hardwick, North North Westerly on Nichaway so-called. That there are now settled in sd Quarter nearly Thirty familiys consisting of above one hundred souls who stand in need of a Settled Gospel Ministry &, Ordinances, and the Adult are Earnestly Deiwirous of them, but cannot obtain them without a proper Encouragement by your Excellency & Honours. That the sd proprieters in view of sd Quarter being erected into a Town have given Laid out & set apart a fifty acre lot of Choice Good Land & another Farm of Two Hundred Forty seven Acres for the first Orthodox Uliuiuter that shall be ordained there, and a fifty acre Lot for the use -f a School there forever. And Therefore your Petitioners Earnestly Desire That yr Excellncy and Honours would in your great wisdom set off & Erect the sd North Western Quarter with all the Inhabitants into a Town or otherwise into a separate District with all the priviledges A powers of a Town so far as to Chusn All sorts of Town Officers among themselves & make all kinds of Rules on the Inhabitants of sd District for building houses for Publick worship settling & maintaining ministers laying out & making Roads & for all other Services of a Publick Nature which any Towns inithe Province, are by Law Enabled to do, only Reserving to themselves the Liberty allowed, by Charter &t lie Laws of joining in Common with the other freeholdera of sd Township in chusing & being Chosen Representatives to servo in the gen' assembly as also desiring the Power of assessing Levelling & Raising a Tax of sixpence old Tenor upon every Standard acre in sd District for the first five Years next Ensuing annually for

& school wh. said Tax in their present Infant & feeble state of ieas than Thirty Families is of absolute necessity for them. And your petitioners might humbly offer the following among other Weighty Reasons 1 The sd Quarter is nearly a Square body of generally good Land suitable & sufficient for ^uch a Town or District. 2 The Centre of sd (Juarter is about Ten Miles distant from tlie place of Worship of the Original settlers & some parts of sd Quarter aboute fourteen miles off, a very heavy Inconvenience either to bu warned to their common Town Meetings or to attend them or to serve as Town Officers for so great an Extent & 3 The Inhabitants of the Original Settlers part are so sensible of this hardship as they liavc expressed their willingness above four years and nine months ago of the sd North Westerly (Quarter being deteeshed from them, as appears by their attested vote herewith offered. 4 .t Lastly, Upon your Excellency & Honours now granting the sd District there are so many people straitened in other places ready to move into this as afford a most rational prospect that in case of another war the sd Quarter will grow 80 full of people as instead of needing soldiers stationed among them at the Publick charge for their Defence, they will not only be sufficiently able with the Divine help to Defend themselves but also have numbers to spare for the Defence of other places above them. And your Petitionee shall ever pray as Bound &c

Twenty-eight of the inhabitants further manifested their desire by signing this petition. This was presented in April, 1749, and on the 14th of that month it was read in the House of Representatives, and ordered granted, so far as to be erected into a separate district with full power to choose town oflicers, and have all the other rights and privileges of a town, excepting that of sending representatives to the General Assembly ; but permission was granted to join with Rutland for this purpose, and an inhabitant of this quarter was eligible to the office ; the petitioners were ordered to notify the non-resident proprietors by public advertisement, by inserting in the Boston Gazette so much of said petition as related to the tax. This notice having been given and so certified, the petition came up in the Council, June 13th, and was read again, when it was ordered that the tax be "one penny half-penny of the last emition per acre annually,'* except the land for the minister andlheschool, for the term of five years.

The bill was sent to the House for concurrence, and, in Council, June 20th, it was agnin read and concurred in, and that day it received the approval of Governor Shirley.

In 1749, then, the Northwest Quarter of Rutland was created a district, and, passing out of the control of the proprietors, became subject to the authority of a local board of officers having the same rank and titles as those connected with a town.

The history of the first church is nearly coeval with the settlement of the territory, a part of which is now the town of Barre. November 7, 1733, at a meeting of the proprietors, held at the Royal Exchange Tavern, in Boston, it was voted " that some spot, as near the centre of said western part as convenience allows, be found and pitched upon for setting a meeting-house, in the middle of some considerable quantity of good land fit for settlement, and that one lot should be for the first minister ordained there ; " they ordered that the lot for the minister should consist of fifty acres conveniently near to the meetinghouse. A division of the land was made, and the place assigned for the meeting-house was near the dwelling now owned by Mr. D. B. Olin. It was the intention of the proprietors that the meeting-house should be built at as early a day as possible, and, in 1739 a plot of the Northwest Quarter was returned by Abner Lee, a surveyor, and June 6th accepted and placed on record. A meeting of the proprietors was called, to be held at the Liglit-House Tavern, in King Street, Boston, on the 9th day of June, 1742, the warrant being dated May 4th. After electing a moderator, the first matter under consideration was " to agree with some suitable person to prepare and raise the frame of a meeting-house within the Northwest Quarter, of such dimensions as the proprietors shall determine," and, secondly, "to give some encouragement for obtaining occasional preaching."

The prominent step taken towards erecting the meeting-house at this session was that Col. Samuel Willard was desired to purchase of the heirs of Robert Blood a portion of their farm on reasonable terms, in behalf of the proprietors, that they might erect a saw-mill. (This land lies on Prince River and is a part of the farm now owned by Nelson Loring.) This meeting was adjourned to August 25th, when they met and agreed with Jonas Clarice to build a sawmill on this land. At an adjourned meeting held on the first Wednesday of June, 1743, sixteen pounds, old tenor, was voted to be allowed and paid John Caldwell to defray the charge of a minister's preaching to the inhabitants of the Northwest Quarter one month the preceding winter. This is the first intimation that we have of religious services being held here; we have no record in what part they were held, but as John Caldwell lived some distance easterly from what is now the centre of the town, and a number of the other settlers were in his immediate vicinity, it is highly probable that the preaching was at his house, about two miles from what is now the centre of the town.

September 1, 1743, it was voted that, as some of the settlers had represented the great difficulty they labored under by reason of their distance from all places of public worship, and desired the assistance of the proprietors towards procuring preaching among themselves, eighty pounds, old tenor, be allowed them for obtaining preaching for one year, next coming, and this amount should be paid to such a committee as the settlers miglitchoose ; December 12, 1744, fortyeight pounds was allowed and paid to the inhabitants that they might have a minister for twelve weeks; the two subsequent years sixty pounds were appropriated each year for the same purpose; in .Tune, 1748, one hundred pounds was allowed ; June 7, 1750, it was voted that twelve pounds, old tenor, be allowed and paid to John Caldwell, one of a committee for erecting a meeting-house in the Northwesterly District of Rutland, and to be by him applied towards the charge of erecting the same. In 1744, seventy pounds, old tenor, had been appropriated, and it was voted that Samuel Willard should build a saw-mill in the Northwest Quarter, and that he keep it iu repair for fifteen years and furnish boards to build a meeting-house and house for the minister at three pounds, old tenor, per thousand feet, and that individuals should pay four pounds per thousand feet.

Here, then, were the forceful steps taken for the erection of a meeting-house, and for regular, in place of occasional, worship ; funds were provided for with which to purchase tlie boards, the labor and timber being presumed to follow as needed ; the determination of the inhabitants soon became manifest to erect the building at the earliest practicable moment.

From 1750, when the vote was passed to allow John Caldwell funds for building tlie house, we can see that due haste was made in prosecuting the work; notwithstanding all the difficulties they labored under, three years later the building was occupied for worship, and July 29, 1753, a church was organized, and the following October Rev. Thomas Frink was installed as pastor of " the Congregational Church and Society in Rutland District."

In those days the parish was bounded by the same geographical lines as was the town or district, and, while the church and society were at liberty to establish their rules and choose their officers, the district or town supported the minister and paid the necessary incidental or contingent charges that pertained to the care and repairs of the house, raising the funds therefor by a tax on the property and polls of all the people.

Although the meeting-house was used as a place of worship, it was not a completed building, merely sufficient work having been done to permit the people to assemble there for worship. It was evidently expected that the district would increase in population ; and it did increase, and as hiore seats or pews became necessary, additional pews were placed iu the gallery ; these places for pews and privileges of building them were generally sold to the highest bidder. In 17()5 several spots were sold, and it was" specified that the size of the pews to be made should be " 6 ft. wide, east and west, and 7 ft. long, north and south," and the floor of the pews should be a few inches above the floor of the gallery. The meeting-house w as used, also, for municipal purposes, all the town-meetings being held there. This house was not built on the lot originally assigned for it in the proprietor's plan, but was located nearly opposite, where our post-office now is. We find no definite reason for this change, but attribute it to the fact that here the ground was nearer a level, and that this location was more central, the larger part of the inhabitants living in the eastern and southerly por- tions of the district, where there were better roads, while in the westerly part the residents were less in numbers, and no roads had been constructed.

Mr. Frink was a native of Massachusetts and in the fiftieth year of his age; a man of vigorous intellect and strong opinions, both theological and otherwise, and, in addition to his imperious will, a man of great irritability. His annual salary was £53 8s. GcL, the pound being equivalent to three and one-third dollars of the present currency ; this salary was not always paid when due, at times the arrearages extending over a period of several years, but after 1763 and until his dismissal it was paid him regularly. His arrogance and infirmity of temper unfitted him for hi< sacred duties, being productive of dissensions of great bitterness, and these became so intense that a mutual council was called to decide where the fault lay in the unhappy controversy which bad arisen, and to advis-e as to the future course to be pursued. This council was an able one, consisting of well-known pastors and lay delegates fri.m the most important churches of the province, coming here from Springfield, Amherst, Watertown and Boston. It was in session six days, investigating the difficulties.

The task was a perplexing one ; the determined spirit of the people on the one hand and the equally strong course of the minister on the other had produced such a bitterness of feeling that only a calm and searching investigation could allay the excitement.

June 18, 1766, the council reported its findings, which were signed by all the members. It was a lengthy document and on nearly every point sustained the complaints of the people. It found that Mr. Frink had acted in a very arbitrary manner towards members of the church, commanding some to abstain from the communion for what he termed their perverseness, speaking of them, both publicly and privately, in hard, abusive and scurrilous language; that he had interfered in the private and domestic concerns of others; that he had claimed and had exercised the power to summarily adjourn a- church-meeting contrary to the wishes of those present; that he had denied the right and privilege of certain members either to speak or to vote in these meetings; that he had 'defamed many of the other regular ministers of the county ; and that his example had engendered pride and wrath. In view of these and other findings, the council recommended " that the pastoral relation between the Rev. Mr. Frink and the Church in Rutland District should be dissolved."

On the part of the people another step was necessary. A town-meeting was held July 16th to see whether the district would acquiesce with and accept the "result" of the council. The meeting was a stormy one. John Caldwell was the moderator, and at his request the meeting was adjourned for one hour, and the people were requested not to leave the house; private consultation was desired, and it was deemed the part of wisdom to devise some plan that would allay the excitement and anger everywhere visible, and endeavor to obtain a better outcome of their deliberations than now seemed possible. After again coming to order, the district finally voted to accept the findings and to comply with the advice of the council that the pastoral relation should be dissolved.

This vote was passed by a large majority ; in the district records is the following entry: "N. B. Some people said the meeting-house was so full of people that they desired the moderator would draw the people, that were voters, out of the meeting-house into a ring abroad, which was immediately done; and it was openly declared and desi/ed by the moderator that there might be two rings of the people drawn up, and if there were any in favor of Mr. Frink, that they would draw into a ring at the westerly end of the house, and all that were for voting Mr. Frink's dismission to make a ring towards the easterly end of said house." The record further states that the people went almost unanimously into the ring at the east end.

Mr. Frink was not disposed to accept this finding of the council and its endorsement by the people; there were a few who, in the main, approved of his course.

Dr. Thompson, in his semi-centennial sermon, recalls the story that the next Sabbath Mr. Frink attempted to enter the pulpit, but was prevented by John Caldwell, who took him by his coat-collar and led him to the door of the house.

Mr. Frink preached a short time to his partisans here, and afterwards was an attendant at the church in Petersham, but soon returned to Rutland, where he died in the seventy-third year of his age. He brought an action against the district which was decided against him in the Court of General Sessions in November, 1767. The following April he brought another for trespass, and again the district was triumphant, but Mr. Frink entered an appeal. The decision of the Superior Court of Judicature was adverse to him, and he now agreed that henceforth there should be a bar to all further legal proceedings.

Immediate steps were taken to secure regular preaching again. In September, 1766, eighty pounds was appropriated for defraying the charges of preaching, and a committee was chosen to supply the pulpit. A pastor was soon found in the person of Rev. Josiah Dana ; in his few sermons that he had delivered here the people recognized his worth and had become attached to him, and in April, 1767, the church gave him a call to settle over it; the district almost unanimously ratified the action of the church, and he accepted the call tlie following July. In his letter of acceptance, stating that he felt that the people would desire him to be as free from secular care as possible, he " must beg leave to desire, expect and depend upon being provided yearly with a suificient quantity of fire-wood, fit for use, at the place of my abode, if Providence should put me into a family state." The sum of £66 13«. 4rf., lawful money, was voted as his annual salary, together with a very liberal sum to defray the expenses of his settlement, but his firewood at the expense of the district was refused. He was installed the first Wednesday of the following October, his salary dating from the 9th day of July previous, that being the date of his acceptance of the call.

In the troublesome times of the Revolution Mr. Dana found his salary inadequate to his support ; he asked for an increase of compensation, and ao;ain, that his firewood might be furnished him. These requests were passed over in town-meetings on several occasions, and the feeling spread that it would be advisable to dissolve the p.astoral relation. After a time this feeling subsided, and his salary was increased and firewood furnished, and subsequently, partly on account of the depreciation in the value of the currency, and the increasing wants of his large family, his compensation was made still larger. He continued aa pastor of the church for thirty-four years, or until his death, in 1801. He is remembered by persons still living here, and they speak of him as a benevolent and kind-hearted man, dignified, yet attractive and pleasant to the young, and one who had the respect of the whole community. His remains were interred in the burial-ground near his residence. During his pastorate his dwelling-house was destroyed by fire ; it w.as soon rebuilt, partly with funds raised by subscription, and the balance by a tax laid upon the town. The town voted to have published three hundred copies of the sermon which was preached at his funeral, this being delivered by Rev. Ephraim Ward, his classmate in college. Mr. Ward says of him, " He was possessed of natural firmness of mind, of a sprightly imagination, and an easy and happy elocution ; his utterance was solemn and manly, which added dignity to his address, and his preaching was serious, instructive and practical.''

In 1783, on a petition of a number of the inhabitants a meeting was held to see if the town would enlarge the meeting-house or build a new one. A committee was appointed to investigate the question; they reported that it was advisable to build a new house, but as the news of a treaty of peace being made had spread abroad, they recommended a postponement of the subject until another meeting, as then the cessation of war would "make a very considerable alteration in the circumstances of men and things."

In April, 1785, the matter was again brought before the town, when it was voted to erect a new house ; a committee of seven men was chosen to draw a plan of the proposed building, which they did, and their report accompanying the plan was accepted. The dimensions of the house were to be sixty-eight by fifty-four feet, which size was adopted, and it was also voted to increase the size of the grounds, which were now about one and one-half acres in extent ; more land was purchased and the area was now about two and one-fourth acres. Measures were adopted towards commencing work on the new edifice. The town voted to sell the pews in the contemplated building, and if suflicient funds were not procured from their sale, a tax for the balance of the money needed for construction should be levied upon the town. Eightysix pews were sold for £1184 6s., the conditions being that each purchaser should give his note for the amount he had promised to pay for the pew, of which a third should be payable in building materials on demand, a third in cash at the time of "raising the house," and the remainder three months afterwards; and any person who should not fulfil his agreement should forfeit and pay fifteen per cent, of his bid to the town and the ownership of the pew should revert to the committee. The house was to be built in the Ionic and Doric order of architecture. The report of the committee not being satisfactory as to the price of the material, the number was increased and the estimates revised. A schedule of sizes and prices of each piece of timber and lumber, of stone and of lime was made, and this report was accepted. Some of the materials for the building bad been delivered on the ground ; but the process of construction was delayed, some of the purchasers of the pews being unable to fulfill their agreements ; in consequence there was a postponement of the work, "the great scarcity of cash, and the load of debts, both public and private," making this course indispensable.

But the people felt that a new house was a necessity and further efforts were made towards its construction. Success soon crowned their endeavors, and in October, 1790, the edifice was so far completed that the town voted to worship in the house from and after the first Sunday in November. After collecting the sums, so far as possible, for which the pews were sold and from the sale of the old house, a debt of about ten pounds stood against the committee, the cost of the house having been £1201 Is. Qd.

It was desirable that every outstanding claim should be settled before occupying the house, and strenuous efforts were made for this purpose, but it was nearly two years before they succeeded in raising the required sum.

The people had a justifiable pride in their new edifice, and, for those times, it was an imposing building ; it was located on the Common, where now is the North Park, a part of the building extending beyond the south limits ; from its height and style of architecture it attracted much attention. Whitney says of it, in 1793, in his " History of Worcester County," that it was the largest meeting-house in the county ; he gives its dimensions as fifty-six by seventy-four feet.

bering in population upwards of sixteen hundred, the minister respected and beloved, and his relations with the people harmonious. The church and town acted in unison, the town willingly supplying the pulpit during any temporary sickness of the pastor.

After the death of Mr. Dana, in 1801, the church was without a regular pastor for upwards of two years. During this time several ministers had been called to preach as candidates for the vacancy. November 28, 1803, the town voted unanimously to unite with the church and invite Rev. James Thompson to the pastoral charge, and a committee of seven members was appointed to wait upon him and inform him of the proceedings of the town and see if there was a prospect of his settling here in the ministry. December 2d this committee reported that there was a probability of Mr. Thompson settling here if agreeable offer.s should be made. The town at once voted five hundred dollars as an annual salary so long as he should continue to be their minister, and four hundred dollars for a settlement. The records state that "Mr. Thompson came into the meeting and declared his acceptance cheerfully." A committee of five was chosen to provide for his installation, and this took place January 11, 1804.

The church was pleased with its new pastor; he was young, not yet twenty-four years of age, talented, social, yet dignified, and a favorite with the young as well as with the older part of his charge. He took an active part in the various plans and schemes for improving the society of the town and for its welfare in every regard, and he not only participated in these movements, but of many of them he was the originator and leader. He was a member of the School Committee for forty years, assuming most of the burdens himself, serving most of the time without compensation, and laying down the burden only on account of the increasing cares and troubles incident to old age. As a preacher he was favorably known far beyond the limits of his own parish, and an installation of a minister in any other town for miles around was hardly thought complete without his participation. He was a man of imposing presence, yet easy of approach, a good and fluent speaker, not one who dwelt upon abstract subjects, but one whowould hold the attention of his audience and bring them into sympathy with himself; his sermons never seemed to weary his hearers, nor did they become weary of him.

Although a great reader and an original writer, it may be a question whether he was a deep thinker, but he was considered the best preacher in Worcester County. In 1813 he was afflicted with a stroke of paralysis, which, to some extent, affected his efforts of after-years, but his natural vigor and strong will-power led him on to a long and useful career. The impress of his labors in the community was great, and, to-day, although nearly forty years have elapsed since his death, he is still spoken of by the older part of our people with feelings of deep respect and love.

After preaching here for more than forty years, June 9, 1845, keenly noticing the effects of his early affliction and the encroachments of age, he desired the parish to release him from the active duties of pastor, in consideration of which he offered to relinquish his salary. The parish complied with his request, and the next January Rev. Henry F. Bond was installed as his colleague. Mr. Thompson continued as the senior pastor until his death, May 14, 1854. January 11th of that year he delivered a discourse at the end of a ministry of fifty years among our people to a house filled to overflowing, and the heartiest testimony as to his worth and influence were made manifest. Dr. Thompson was a graduate of Brown University and from his Alma Mater received the degree of Doctor of Divinity.

Early in the century the parish desired to make its meeting-house still more attractive, and in 1806 the town appropriated a sum of money to build a handsome tower and cupola, provided individuals would give sufhcient money for the purchase of a bell and clock; this money was soon raised by subscription, and, with the thousand dollars in the town treasury, the work was entered upon with much spirit and enthusiasm; this addition to the house was soon completed, but the cost was greater than had been anticipated, being more than the original edifice had cost; in September, 1807, one thousand dollars additional was appropriated to pay the expense.

From this time until 1812 the usual order of afl'airs prevailed. Under the pastorate of Dr. Thompson the church was prosperous and the number of members and attendants had increased. Nearly all the people had been united in one parish, holding to the prevailing theological (Congregational) belief of the day. In the east part of the town a few of the more prominent men had banded together to uphold and promote the Baptist scheme, and a number withdrew from the church here to unite with those of the eastern section ; in the south part, in 1820, a few had organized and formed aUniversalist society, attracting to themselves other attendants of the original church. One reason assigned by those of the Baptist persuasion for their withdrawal was the excessive taxes that were assessed for the ministerial support. As at this time the town was legally a whole and united parish, and all were liable to be assessed for the support of the one church, their method of withdrawal was somewhat unique. A committee of the church which they desired to attend certified to the town clerk this fact, the usuil form of certificate being as follows : " We certify that A. B. of the town of Barre is a member of the religious society of the town of Barre called Baptist (or Universalist, as the case might be) and doth associate with them in public worship." This, signed by the church committee and entered upon the town records, was presumed and tacitly acknowledged as a release from their obligations in aiding to support and maintain the original church.

With other forms of belief, and with a more liberal as well as with a closer construction of the doctrines set forth, bitter controversies became prevalent. The church in the centre of the town adopted the liberal scheme, but many refused to adhere to this party, and, as was to be foreseen, could not act in harmony with them. They withdrew, and Augu-it 15, 1827, were organized by an ecclesiastical council, called for that purpose, as the Evangelical Congregational Chuich in Barre. Aside from the friction of a separation, harmony between these two organizations was somewhat interrupted, but the discords were afterwards allayed and a friendly rivalry sprang up between them.

In continuing the history of the original parish, or the First Parish in Barre, as it became to be called, as early as 1818, notwithstanding the withdrawal of a number of its members at different times, and more especially those in 1827 who had formed the Evangelical Church, and of the secession of others from 1834 to 1841, the parish prospered. In 1827 a number of the inhabitants who attended its services petitioned that, as the sutferings of the people who attended public worship in the parish during the cold season of the year were very great, the parish should procure a stove, or stoves, with sufficient pipe to warm the meeting-house. This was a decided innovation, but the matter was pressed, and in November it was finally decided to raise one hundred and fifty dollars to defray the expense of stoves and pipe and ground for their location, and a committee of three was chosen to superintend the business of placing them in the house ; this was soon done, and from the year 1827 we may date the introduction of stoves into the churches of the country towns ; these may have been introduced in some other towns at an earlier date, but none of the adjoining ones preceded Barre in this respect.

In 1848-49, the meeting-house having become somewhat antiquated, and being located in a place deemed worthy of improvement, such as enlarging and beautifying the Common, a new church building was erected a short distance northerly of the old one. It is of Gothic order of architecture, neat and attractive, and with a seating capacity of about five hundred. In its tower still runs the public clock. The old church was sold to private individuals and transformed into a building for offices and shops ; from its magnitude, its pillars and general appearance it received the name of the Colonnade, it having been moved from its original site, where it continued to be an ornament to the town until its destruction by fire in 1862. A large brick structure was erected in its place, this being occupied to-day by the National and Savings Banks, store, printing-office, &c.

The various pastors of this society since its organization have been Rev. Thomas Frink, from October, 1753, to June 18, 1766 ; Kev. Josiah Dana, October 7, 1767, to October 1, 1801; Rev. James Thompson, January 11, 1804, to May 14, 1854 ; Rev. Henry F.

The membership of this church is by many considered coextensive with the members or families of the parish. It draws its worshippers from the remote parts of the town as well as from the immediate vicinity of the church edifice. The membership of its Sunday-school is about one hundred.

The Evangelical Congregational Church at the time of its organization, in 1827, consisted of thirty-two members who had withdrawn from the First Parish, then under the charge of Rev. Dr. Thompson, who had adopted the Unitarian doctrine. The Articles of Faith agreed upon were moderately Calvinistic, containing but little more than the doctrines generally assented to by the various evangelical denominations. During the sixty years of its history the church has had the following pastors : Rev. John Storrs, January 14, 1829, to April 24, 1832 ; Rev. Moses Grosvenor, November 13, 1832, to May 4, 1834 ; Rev. .Tohn F. Stone, October 26, 1834, to November 17, 1836 ; Rev. Samuel A. Fay, May 10, 1837, to July 1, 1840; Rev. Erasmus D. Moore, July 1, 1840 to October 19, 1842; Rev. Amos Bullard. October 26, 1843, until his death, August 21, 1850; Rev. C. M. Nickels, May 7, 1851, to June 17, 1856; Rev. George Denham, December 3, 1856, to May 2, 1860 ; Rev. Divid Peck, April 16, 1861, to Nov. 19, 1867; Rev. Edwin Smith, October 29, 1868, to April 24, 1879, and Rev. Joseph F. Gaylord, the present pastor, who was installed September 18, 1879.

This church has always taken a decided stand against intemperance, having, as early as 1830, declared that it would not receive to its communion any who used ardent spirits except for medicine. In 1837 it adopted a series of rules, among which is the following:

" Those who become members of this church are required not to traffic in ardent spirits, or use it as a drink, and it shall be the duty of the standing committee to inform all persons offering themselves for our communion of this rule, and to obtain from them a pledge of its observance ; and whenever any person is proposed it shall be understood that he stands thus pledged to the committee and the church."

In the conflict with slavery the church also took a strong position, declaring, in 1842, " that we cannot hereafter receive to our pulpit or communion any minister or layman who holds his fellow-men in slavery, and who encourages and upholds those who do." The church has had two church edifices, one known as the brick meeting-house, in the west part of the village, which was erected in 1828, and the other, its present place of worship, built in 1848-49, and which has a seating capacity of over five hundred. After the present church building was occupied by the society, the brick meeting-house passed into private hands and was transformed into tenements.

The church, at various periods of its history, has been favored with powerful revivals of religion, which have greatly promoted its growth, and to-day its position is .>-trong in its influence and work, and in its membership, which numbers one hundred and sixtyone, of whom twelve are non-residents of the town, the membership of its Sabbath-school being about one hundred and thirty-five.

Soon after the organization of the church the society connected with it was formed, under the name of the Evangelical Congregational Society, in the town of Barre. This society was formed November 17, 1827, and in February, 1829, was incorporated by a special act of the Legislature. The relations between the church and society have always been harmonious, the church taking the initiative in selecting a pastor, but the relation is not established without the concurrence of the society, which determines also the salary of the pastor and provides for its payment. It also has charge, under certain limitations, of the church edifice. In 1888 the society adopted a carefully-prepared set of by-laws, and in the same year rules for the concurrent action of church and society were adopted by both of these organizations, such action having previously been guided by tradition rather than by specific regulations.

The date of the introduction of the Universalist creed to this town is 1820, in which year a spot of land nearly opposite the B. & A. R' R. depot on the Plains, and now occupied by a brick dwelling-house, was purchased, and the erection of a church edifice thereon was contemplated. Ministers prominent in that denomination in other towns were obtained to preach that doctrine, and to arouse such an enthusiasm as should result in the establishment of a church and society.

Public worship was held for several years in a hall and dwelling-houses, but gradually, chiefly on account of the depression in agriculture and of the scarcity of money, the people considered it impossible to raise funds for a church building, and the project was abandoned, and soon all interest in the matter was apparently lost. In 1838, and for two or three years previously, a number of persons had become dissatisfied in the First Church, and filed certificates of withdrawal. April 9th a few of these associated themselves, and formed the First Universalist Church of Barre, and some from the south part of the town, who had been interested in the scheme of 1820, joined them. The next year they purchased a building lot at the south

This society was never a strong one, but it held together as an organization for about ten years, when their interest waned and dissensions arose among them, which soon resulted in their disintegration, and June 6, 1851, their edifice was sold to a board of trustees for the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and, after some necessary repairs and changes in construction, was dedicated the following 17th of September to worship in accordance with the usages of that faith.

Although there had been desultory Methodist services in town as early as 1823, this denomination did not obtain a foothold here until 1842, when services were held in the town-hall ; under the fostering care of various clergymen and prominent laymen of their faith their congregations increased, and in ]8j0 they took into serious consideration the matter of erecting a house for worship. A spot for a building was obtained, but when it was found that the Universalist edifice could be purchased, that was bought, and the building-lot sold to its previous owner. Since 1844, when the first pastor was assigned to this church, twenty-seven ministers have been sent by the Conference to its pulpit, but two of whom have remained for three years.

The present pastor is Rev. Charles Nicklin, who was located here in 1888. This church is in a prosperous condition, and, though not so strong as twenty years ago, is now increasing in the number of its attendants and its influence; its meriibership is about seventy-five, and of its Sabbath-school about seventy ; the building has a seating capacity of about three hundred.

The first services under the auspices of the Roman Catholic persuasion were held about 1852, private houses being first used, and afterward the townhall was occupied for this purpose. In 1856 services were held in the chu;-ch building now owned by them, located souUijOf \he~^ommon, and which was then a dwelling-hoift^,- ^l^ough it had been built for, and pre\^wusly occupied as a country store. The Catholics^aif Barre were then a component part of the Worcester Mission ; in 1860 they were constituted a parish, and connected with Templeton, and afterwards with Ware'and North Brookfield, and now with Otter River. In 1858 they purchased the brick dwelling-house, and remodeled it into a church building; about seventy-five families are connected with this parish, which is under the charge of Rev. Father Raynolds, and services are held bi-monthly. In accordance with the custom of the denomination, the church property is in the possession of Bishop O'Reilly, of Springfield, this parish being in that diocese. The house of worship is pleasantly located, and has a seating capacity of about four hundred.

In 1854 another church organization was effected under the title of the Free or Independent Church. Rev. Marshall G. Kimball was their pastor, the ser- mon at his installation being preached by Theodore Parker. This society prospered for a while, but, for want of sufficient cohesive power, gradually faded away. It was in existence about five years; its pastor was a young and popular man ; at the dissolution of the society he entered upon educational wort in the West.

Early in the century several families came to the east part of the town from Sutton ; their predilections were for the Baptist form of belief; as no denomination of that kind existed here, they attended upon that form of worship in the town of Templeton. As they increased in numbers, and the distance to Templeton was considerable, they desired to be organized into a church here. Accordingly, the officers of the Templeton Church came to the east part of the town, and August 21, 1811, a society was formed at the house of Elias Chase ; this society was considered a branch of the Templeton Church rather than as an independent organization, and services were held in dwelling-houses for a number of years. In 1813 they were much strengthened in numbers by withdrawals from the First Parish or Old Church, the ministerial tax in that parish being considered burdensome. Notwithstanding that they considered themselves members of a distinct parish, the tax for the old parish was still levied and collected from them, this being assessed in connection with the town taxes. In 1816 the church protested against this tax, served notice on the town to that effect and that they should apply for an act of incorporation. This subject was freely discussed in town-meeting, when it was at length decided to pay no attention to their protest as regarded the tax, and not to oppose their incorporation. In 1817 the matter of taxation again came up, when a committee, on the part of the town, was appointed to consider the subject. They reported that they considered it unjust for the members to aid in supporting two organizations, and recommended that the voters of the old church choose their necessary parish officers, and grant and raise money for their own ministerial support. In a few years this was done, and harmony prevailed. No pastor was installed over the Baptist Church, but preaching was pretty constant. Rev. Mr. Leonard, who afterwards became a noted clergyman, was one of their early ministers, preaching for them about 1817 ; he was followed by other earnest workers, who so built up this mission and gave it such strength that it was deemed wise to erect a church edifice. This was accomplished in 1832-33, their first house being situated nearly opposite where Mr. Samuel Adams now lives. In 1832 the church was incorporated, and became a regularly organized body.

Previous to 1836 Rev. John Walker had preached occasionally for them and was their regular pastor from 1837 to 1844. During his pastorate a feeling prevailed that it was advisable to have their edifice in the village of Coldbrook, and plans were formed to move there ; but when it was suggested that by so doing they would be in the town of Oakham, and their charter had incorporated them iis a church in Barre, they obtained land westerly of the village and within the Barre boundary. In 1842-43 their new house was erected and in the winter of 1843-44 was dedicated. Their old house was soon afterward taken down and carried to Oakham, where it was re-erected and used for a number of years by the Methodists. Since 1837 their regular ministers have been Rev. John Walker, from 1887 to 1844 ; Rev. George W. Cate, September 8, 1845, to May 13, 1849;- Rev. Lewis Holmes, June 1, 1849, to August 8, 1853; Rev. Payson Tyler, July 9, 1854, to August 17, 1856 ; Rev. L. Tandy, October, 1856, to November 28, 1858 ; Rev. D. Avery, April 1, 1859, to March 30, 1862 ; Rev. Joseph Shepardson, May 4, 1862, to January 18, 1863 ; Rev. George L. Hunt, June 3, 1863, to March 27, 1864 ; Rev. E. J. Emery, April 1, 1865, to January 28, 1866; Rev. C. D. R. Meacham, September G, 1870, to August 9, 1874; Rev. K. Holt, March, 1877, to June 4, 1882 ; Rev. Philander Perry, September 3, 1882, to May 1, 1884 ; Rev. Henry H. Mansur, July 8, 1884, to March 26, 1888, and Rev. William Read, the present pastor, who was installed June 3, 1888. The seating capacity of the building is about three hundred and its services are well attended ; the number of its church members is forty-five and of its Sabbath-school one hundred.

Leaving now this sketch of the church and returning to the period anterior to the incorporation of the town, we can form some idea of the trials of the inhabitants, struggling under many untoward circumstances to bring order out of confusion and have a well-disposed and well-regulated form of local government. The schools, crude as they were and maintained under many difficulties, were cherished as the bulwark of a future nation. Highways, too, were demanding much consideration.

FroTi a mere handful of individuals, at the time when the proprietors of this Northwest District had assigned certain localities for roads, the inhabitants had so increased in number that it became necessary that additional paths for travel should be constructed to accommodate the passing to and from the places where the meeting-house and schools had been eotablished and for transaction of business, or for social relations one with another, or to render and receive aid in case of sickness or other troubles, or to pay such slight visits of courtesy as the times demanded. Matters of state were coming to a crisis. May 20, 1772, a warrant for a town-meeting was issued to Noah Mandell, requiring him " forthwith, in His Majesty's Name," to warn all the freeholders and other inhabitants qualified to vote in town affairs to meet at the meeting-house, June 3d, there to act on certain articles. The voters assembled at the time and place, and after organizing the meeting, electing a grand juryman for the year to serve at the Court of Quarter

Sessions and choosing a committee to repair the "great bridge "over the Ware River, they voted to pa«sover three of the articles in the warrant and also voted that they be not entered upon the records. What these articles were might be a matter of greater conjecture, did not contemporaneous history reveal the existing state of affairs. The people were becoming restive under the restraints imposed upon them by foreign rulers, and the determination to have these burdens modified or to be released from such .servitude was every day becoming more apparent. February 2.3, 1773, another meeting was held " to hear and consider of a Circular Letter from the town of Boston, dated November 20, 1772, containing the States and Rights of this Province in particular, etc."

A committee of five members, with John Caldwell as their chairman, was chosen to take this letter into consideration; they soon reported "that upon a full conviction of the propriety and expediency of the measure, they recommend the inhabitants of said District to pass the following resolves: 1. That the rights of the Colonists, and of this Province in particular, as stated by their respectable brethren of the metropolis of this Province, are agreeable to the real sentiments of the inhabitants of this District, and that it is of the utmost importance that the inhabitants of this Province stand firm, as one man, to support and maintain all their just rights and privileges. 2. That the inhabitants of this and the other British Provinces have an equal right with the people of Great Britain to enjoy and dispose of their own property, and the same cannot be taken from them but by their own consent. 3. That the Parliament of Great Britain have passed several acts in the execution of which American subjects are burdened with unconstitutional taxes. 4. That to render the Governor and Judges of the Supreme Court of this Province independent of the grants of the General Assembly is an innovation and infraction on the Charter Rights, as it destroys that check which should remain in the hands of the people. 5. That the thanks of this District be given to the town of Boston for their zeal shown in the defence of their Charter Rights." This report was unanimously adopted, and a copy was sent to the Committee of Correspondence and Communication at Boston.

A movement to throw oEf some of their burdens wvs now inaugurated, and a closer union of the people and a firmer binding together of the common interests made it imperative that the district should have a more united organization. The shackles of a greater power being distasteful, it is no wonder that the lesser authority of the district should be considered as tending to divert their cares and energies, and with the people working together for the common good, an organization as a town was felt necessary.

Accordingly, at a meeting held April 5, 1773, for that purpose, it was decided to petition the General Court to be set off as a town, and John Caldwell,

Asa Hapgood and Nathan Sparhawk were chosen a committee for that purpose. This petition appears on the House Journal, June 22, 1773, and an order of notice was sent to the adjoining towns in relation to it. No further steps were taken in regard to it until the following February, when the petition was again brought to the attention of the General Court, again read and then ordered that the prayer be .so far granted that the petitioners have leave to bring in a bill. This was sent down for concurrence and on the 16th of the same month a bill for incorporating the district into a town by the name of Barre wiis pa.ssed to be engrossed, but one week from that date the bill was ordered to be laid on the table. No reason is given for recalling the bill, but it is certain that Governor Hutchinson, in power by the authority of King George the Third, was a pliantand willing tool in the hands of his royal master, and a rebuke and punishment must be administered the people, in part and as a whole, for their participation in such stirring events as the Boston Massacre in 1770, the destruction of the tea in the harbor in 1773, and their apparent restiveness under the many restraints imposed upon them. May 13, 1774, Thomas Gage succeeded Governor Hutchinson, and on the 25lh of this month the government was reorganized. In the Governor's opening address he declared his intentions, in accordance with the instruitioiis of the King, to remove the General Cuurt to Salem. This met there the 7th of June, and on the following day is recorded "a bill to incorporate Rutland District as a town." The following day the bill was read for the third time and passed to be engrossed, and on the 14th it was passed to be enacted. The records of the Commonwealth do not give the date when the bill was signed by the Governor. On the 17th of June the doors of the House were closed for a secret session, the members having assembled to consult upon the course of the Governor, his bearing towards the House and the condition of the Province ; the Governor, having been informed of these proceedings, at once sent his secretary to di.ssolve the General Court ; the House took no notice of this messenger, but proceeded with its business, which, however, did not relate so much to the affairs of the Province as to the existing general condition of matters.

On the authority of the Massachusetia Spy we have the information that the Governor then proceeded to the House and demanded admittance ; this was refused; he immediately dissolved the General Court, having previously stated what bills he had signed that morning, among which was the one incorporating this town. In place of Barre the name of Hutchinson had been inserted ; no reason is given for this change, but it is believed to have been made in the Council at the command of Gage, that thereby he might aid in perpetuating the name of his immediate predecessor. In August, 1774, a committee consisting of Asa Hapgood, Nathan Sparhawk,

Andrew Parker, John Mason and Peter Fessenden were chosen to meet committees of other towns at Worcester to take into consideration the existing condition of the Province; at an adjourned meeting held in September the committee made their report, a part of which was accepted ; it does not appear what this was ; with the spirit of freedom at work, a certain degree of secrecy was necessary.

The first warrant of the town for a town-meeting was issued December 20, 1774, notifying the inliabitants to assemble at the meeting-house the following 10th of January to choose a representative to the Provincial Congress, to be Jield at Cambridge, February Ist, and to choose a committee to give the representative instructions as to his course. John Mason was chosen representative, and at an adjourned meeting the committee's instiuctions were read and accepted by the town. They were in accord with the prevailing sentiments of the people; they desired Mason to stand for and to vindicate, in every consistent way, in a firm, steady and uniform manner, their rights; to act in accord with the Continental Congress, and to coincide with its determination in general, unless sad necessity should compel him to do otherwise. Notwithstanding his instructions, much was left to his discretion, the well-known character and ability of the man evidently convincing his fellow-townsmen that they had made choice of an honorable and able representative to an important assemblage. At the meeting of January 10th the patriotism of the town and their determination to resist the encroachments of Great Britain are still further shown when it was voted that the town would "indemnify the constables from paying any more money to Harrison Gray, the former treasurer of the Province, but that they should pay the said money to Henry Gardner, now treasurer." This vote was passed in accordance with the advice and resolve of the Provincial Congress. The times were eventful ; the resistance to oppression had increased, and the necessity of acting in unison was apparent. August 1, 1774, the district met to take action on several papers sent hither in regard to the Boston Port Bill ; after considerable deliberation they decided that their share or proportion of the money now in the district treasury should be paid towards the support of the Congress to be held at Philadelphia. Affairs were assuming conflicting aspects. Here, and now, as elsewhere, a few stanch men were vigorously endeavoring to have their more timid or cautious associates take more pronounced positions on the questions of the day. The officers of the militia had resigned their posts, '"throwing the militia of the town, as it were, into a state of nature." The Committee of Correspondence for the County of Worcester had recommended that every town in the county should meet at once and choose officers to lead them wherever they might be called, until the government should be brought under proper regulations. In cousequeuce of this, it was decided to form two companies of militia, one to be under the command of Captain Ezra Jones, the other under Captain William Buckminster. These companies were not to exceed fifty men each, including officers, and a proper allowance of money was recommended to remunerate them for each half-day that they should be required to be under arms for the purpose of drill and discipline, these half-days to be two in each month for the next eight months, unless the town should hereafter consider it unnecessary, or unless the Committee of Safety for the Provinces should, within that time, call them to march to any part of the Provinces, when their pay, so far as the town was concerned, should cease. In April, 1775, "the alarm" was sent out from Boston of the great need of militia. Twentyone men marched from this town to do battle in their country's cause; they were attached to Colonel Brewer's regiment, and, under the immediate command of their own townsman. Captain John Black, did their duty at the battle of Bunker Hill. Buckminster was appointed lieutenant-colonel of this regiment; he received a severe wound in the engagemetit and was disabled from further military duty. He returned to his farm, but did not forget the needs of his country. His patriotism and enthusiasm were of great value in aiding and filling the quotas subsequently demanded from this town. Colonel Buckminster lived to see the end of the struggle, but his wound wore upon his stalwart frame, and June 22, 1786, he passed away, not fifty years of age.

These twenty-one men did not enlist in the army, but soon returned home. Subsequent events called for more aid, and in a short time fifty-eight men, including a number of those who were at Bunker Hill, enlisted under Captain Black for a term of eight months. Samuel Lee, born here in 1767, enlisted at the age of thirteen, and was attached to the army at West Point; he served during the remainder of the war, and was in many important engagements; returning to his home, he obtained an education, and became a prominent man in the town, holding many State and town oflices. He was a man whose integrity and sound judgment were never questioned, and whose opinion was sought on many points. He died here at the age of seventy-two. An oil-painting of him adorns the walls of our Public Library.

By the demands of the country, ably seconded by a Jones, a Black, a Buckminster, a Sparhawk and others, the patriotic spirit prevailed ; the wavering gradually sinking their objections to armed resistance, realizing that the power of tyranny was endeavoring slowly to tighten the cords which were being then thrown about them. Firm and decisive measures were necessary that the people might act together and in a spirit of accord, that they should encourage the fickle, take counsel one with another, and resist all overtures from royalty to consider in convention how peace might be obtained.

For the support of the militia money was essential ; struggling with poverty, yet resolute and unwavering, the strictest economy was necessary to maintain their position. Schools and highways were now of secondary importance ; no funds could be spared for support or repair; the minister's salary went unpaid ; every effort of the people seemed given to the one cause. But this condition of affairs could not long exist; money must be obtained, and finally it was voted to sell some of the land about the meeting-house and the old proprietors' roads, and devote the proceeds to the use of the schools, as they recognized their great importance.

At this time another incident occurred, which still further illustrates the patriotism of the people. Thus far the town had been known as Hutchinson. The firm adhesion of ex-Governor Hutchinson to the authority of Great Britain, he being a strong believer in, and upholder of, royal prerogatives, had rendered the name obnoxious to the inhabitants. Smarting under the insult inflicted by the name, they resolved to apply to the General Court for an act authorizing the town to be named anew. January 17, 1776, it was voted to petition for authority to change the name from Hutchinson to that of Wilkes. John Caldwell, Nathan Sparhawk and John Mason, of the selectmen, and Andrew Parker and Asa Hapgood, of the Committee of Correspondence, were chosen to act for the town. Their petition stated that, having formerly been known by the name of Rutland District, in 1773 they applied for an act of incorporation as a town, which was granted by both Houses, but non-concurred in by Governor Hutchinson, unless he could have the privilege of naming the town ; but the Housedissented, and the matter was not completed until Gage became Governor, "who very soon after gave us a specimen of what he was, or intended to be to the colony, by filling up the blank with that obnoxious name, Hutchinson, that well-known enemy of the natural and stipulated rights of America, which gave us a very disagreeable sensation of mind, not being able to speak of the town in which we live, but our thoughts were necessarily turned upon that ignominious enemy of mankind, and, in a measure, filled with shame to tell where we lived, when requested," and the petitioners desired that the obnoxious name of Hutchinson be canceled, and that the name of Wilkes, " that evermemorable friend to the rights and liberties of America, would give conteat to the iuhabitants."

The committee who had this petition in charge was made up from the be^t minds in town, - men commanding respect for their attainments and force of character.

The Legislature at this time was not in session, it having assembled on the last Wednesday of the preceding May, but it might be convened again and on any day, as at this time it held several session* each year. John Caldwell was the representative at this time and was a member of the Provincial Congress that had sat at Watertown the previous summer ; he was prepared to present the petition at the earliest practicable moment, it having been signed February 5th. But the Legislature was not again convened, and as its term would expire on the day next preceding the last Wednesday of May, on the 20th of February a town-meeting was held, and John Mason was chosen representative for the ensuing year. Soon after the next Legislature met the petition was presented, but, on account of an adjournment and other circumstances which were daily affecting the situation of affairs, it was not reported back to the House for some time, and it was not until the 7th of next November that the bill was passed, and which reads as follows :

An .\ct for discontinuing the name of a town in the County of Worcester, lately incorporated by the name of Hutchinson, and calling the name Barre.

Whereas, the Inhabitants of the Town of Hutchinson have by their Petition Represented to this Court, that in June, 1774, when the said Town was incorporated, General Gage, the then Governor, gave it the name of Hutchinson, in honor to and to perpetuate the memory of Thomas Hutchinson, his immediate predecessor in the Chair of Government, whom they have justly styled the well-known enemy of the natural and Stipulated Rights of America, and at a Town Meeting notified for that purpose, they Voted unanimously to petition, and accordingly have petitioned the General Court, that the name of the said Town might be altered, and that it might no longer bear the Disgraceful name of Hutchinson ;

And, WHEREAS, there is a moral fitness that Traitors and Parricides, especially such as have remarkably distinguished themselves in that odious Character, and have long laliored to deprive their native Country of its most valuable rights and privileges, and to destroy every Constitutiuiuil Guard against the evils of an all-enslaving Despotism, should be held up to view in their true Character to be execrated by mankind, and there should remain no other memorial of them than such as will transmit their names with Infamy to posterity ;

And, WHEREAS, the said Thoma.s Hutchinson, contrary to every obligation Of duty and gratitude to tftis, his native Country, which raised him from private life to the highest and most hicrative Offices in the Government, has acted towards her the part of a Traitor and Parricide, as above described, which has been clearly manifested to the world by his Letters lately published, and by his having thus acted, it has become tit and just that every honorable memorial of him should be Obliterated and ceiise.

Therefore - Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the State of Massachusetts Bay, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the land lying in the County of Worcester, formerly called Rutland District, and in June, 1774, incorporated into a town by the name of Hutchinson, shall no longer bear that name, but henceforth shall be called and known by the name of Babre, the aforesaid Incorporating act notwithstanding, and all Officers in the said town shall hold and exercise their Offices respectively in the same manner as they would have done, had not the name of the said town been altered.

The name of the town had been changed to Barre instead of Wilkes, as the people had desired in their petition. Wilkes and Barre at this time were members of the same Parliament, and each was an ardent defender of what he considered the liberties and rights of the people of the Provinces. For some years preceding Wilkes liad acquired some notoriety by his writings and course of conduct, and had, at one time, been expelled from Parliament and placed under arrest, convicted and sentenced to imprisonment and heavy fine. What many of the English people considered as an act of oppression towards him had turned the current of popular opinion in his favor ; the people of America were dazzled by his public course, and their desire to honor him and his name was but natural.

By whom the name of Barre was given to the town is not known, but it is evident that, as a blank for the name was left in the act, it was inserted in the House and acceded to in the Council.

Isaac Barr(5, after whom the town was named, was at that time attracting much attention and commendation from the Americans for his efforts in their behalf in the British Parliament ; he was born in Dublin, of French parentage, in humble circumstances, in 1726 ; it was intended that he should study law, as in his career at Trinity College, which he entered at the age of fourteen, he had exhibited marked ability as a student and debater; disliking that profession, he enlisted in the British Army with the rank of ensign in 1746. He was in the service for fourteen years on the Continent fin 1 in Canada, where, under Gen. Wolfe, he rose to the rank of adjutant-general. He was severely wounded in his eyes in the same engagement where Wolfe was killed. At the surrender of Montreal in 1760, Lord Amherst sent him as bearer of despatches to the home government ; he remained in London to obtain relief from his injuries, in which he was but partially successful. The next year he was elected to a seat in Parliament, where he distinguished himself in debate and became a powerful champion of the American people, denouncing the oppression of the British government and contending for the rights of the people. His career in Parliament attracted the attention of the Americans, and they acknowledged him as a powerful friend and advocate in their behalf. The title of colonel, which was at times applied to him, is incorrect, as he arose only to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. In consequence of the wounds he received at Quebec in 1759, he became blind when about sixty years of age. He died in London, July 20, 1802. An oil painting of Barre, after one by Stuart, hangs in our Public Library.

The representative to the body sitting at Watertown, Dea. John Mason, a man specially fitted to the times, kept the people informed of the condition of affairs, and largely through his influence they were led to act in advance of some of ihe neighboring towns and to preserve and strengthen the determination against yielding to any usurpation of their rights. What wonder, then, that when they were summoned to a town-meeting to act upon a resolve emanating from the representative body of the Colony of Miissachusetts Bay, asking them to advise their representative that, if the Congress should declare them independent of Great Britain, he should pledge the inhabitants to solemnly engage with their lives and fortunes to support them in this measure, they unanimously so instructed their representative, Dea. Mason. And they went still farther: they desired every male inhabitant of the age of sixteen years and upwards to be enrolled, that each and every one might contribute his share in the struggle for liberty. They desired their representative to act his part in agreeing upon and enacting a Constitution and form of government for the State such as should conduce to the safety and happiness of its inhabitants. To a people thus pledged to independence it must have seemed a direct insult to be petitioned into a town-meeting to take into consideration a circular from the King's Commissioners, Lord Howe and his brother, Gen. Howe, proposing measures of settlement, this proposition stating that all the acts that the people complained of as grievous should be righted, that they would be repealed, and their rights and privileges established. This petition for thetiwn-meeting stated that " as all proposals must begin somewhere, we think it is time to know whether the people in this town mean to fight Great Britain only for independency, and if not, that their minds may be kn iwn thereon." The meeting was held December 30, 1776; the gilded bait of compromise was not acceptable; the meeting was of short duration ; after a spirited discu-sion they decided not to actupon the warrant and it wasdisiolved. Another result of this meeting was that much indignation was aroused against the signers of this petition, John Caldwell, Ezra Jones, JIatthew Caldwell, Noah Mandell, George Caldwell, William Caldwell and Thomas Holden, and t,heir adherent*, and so strong did this feeling become that a town-meeting was called by a warrant signed by but two of the five selectmen, and held January 20, 1777. Capt. John Black was voted " out of all office in town," and Col. Buckminster was removed from his position as town treasurer. When we consider the strength of these men in local affairs, their power in debate, their superior judgment and their valiant and valuable services on the field of battle, we can but feebly realize the force of that wrath that was visited upon them by tho.-e of their townsmen who, once having decided to contend for liberty, were unwilling to retrace a single step.

Notwithstanding this episode in their affairs, the spirit of patriotism was progressing. At succeeding town-meetings the people gladly voted to raise their quota of men for the fifteen battalions called for by the Continental Congress and appropriate a bounty of twenty pounds to each one who enlisted in the Continental Army; they also voted to consider those who acted as substitutes for such of the citizens as could not go to the war as inhabitants of Barre and placed them on the same footing, as to bounty, as were those who had previously enlisted for service at Ticonderoga or elsewhere.

Another element was now a source of discomfort; bills of credit had been issued by the State, and although its faith was pledged for their redemption, their value was constantly depreciatng. This was productive of hardship and suft'ering; these circum- Btances and the absence of many of the men had made the situation depressing; agriculture was neglected, specie had disappeared and nearly every one was unwilling to receive the currency for debts due them, and it was nearly impossible to procure with it many of the necessities of life. A meeting was held to see if the people would petition the General Court for a repeal or alteration of the act in regard to the bills of credit, and they voted against such a course, preferring hardship rather than to do aught that might weaken their hopes for independence, and preferring to co-operate with the General Court in all measures that it should consider necessary for the success of their cause. (In January, 1777, these bills of credit were about five per cent, below par, and in January, 1778, they were worth only about three and one-half per cent, of their face value.)

The people were ever in accord with the spirit of the times, town- meetings were of frequent occurrence and the condition of the colonies was demanding constant attention. At times a feeble minority would petition for an abrogation of certain measures, but the stern, unyielding sense of the majority, alter a spirited discussion, would prevail ; on some occasions, when meetings had been called on the petitions of this minority, discussion would be avoided by refusing to act on the articles, and in May, 1778, the town showed its spirit so strongly as to vote " to throw out a petition of twelve signers of the inhabitants of Barre in every part and paragraph."

This petition was for the reconsidering of a previous meeting's vote by which a bounty had been granted to those who should enlist in the Continental Army. In April of 1778 the town held a meeting to see whether it would ratify a Constitution or mode of government sent out by the General Assembly. This form was unsatisfactory, and by a strong majority they refused to ratify it as it then stood, the vote being eleven for to seventy-six against it. Realizing, however, that a stable form of government was essential, a committee was chosen to report such amendments as they thought fitting and proper, lay them before the town for its acceptance and instruct the representative iu regard to them. This Constitution was the outcome of a recommendation of the House of Representatives, September 17, 1776, that the voters of the different towns assemble and determine whether they would give their consent that the House and Council should enact such a form of government for the Slate as would seem best ; the towns generally voted unanimously to accede to this request, but when the proposed Constitution was submitted to them it was rejected.

to assemble at Cambridge to prepare another draft of a Constitution, to which Barre sent as delegates John Mason, Andrew Parker and Asa'^apgood. The work of this convention was no more favorable than before, for this draft also was rejected. When, in May of 1780, it came before the town for its consideration a committee of seven was appointed to examine and report upon this draft. Rev. Josiah Dana, the chairman, reported that it was imperfect and recommended these amendments :

1. No one, not of the Proteetaut religion, should be eligible to any ofiice from Governor to Representative ; 2. No person shall be eligible to any office in the Legislature who does not contribute to the support of the civil government iu the way of taxation, giving as a reason that he who pays a part of the charges would be more likely to spend our money frugally ; 3. That the chief officers of the State should not serve more than four years out of seven, as this might be a check on enterprising, designing men, and of consequence, a tendency to serve the liberties of the people and render the Commonwealth safe; 4. That no person should have a seat in the Congress and the State Legislature at the same time, as such a practice would give a way for some pereou to have an undue influence in government and be derogatory to the liberties of the people ; 5. That a particular day should be appointed for the choice of representatives, as it would save the trouble and expense of an annual precept; G. Each town should have the privilege of nominating one justice of the peace, it being the opinion that the towns entitled to choose a representative were under greater advantage to determine the qualifications and ability of their townsmen than the Governor of the Commonwealth could be.

The town, by a vote of one hundred yeas to four nays, accepted the draft with these amendments, and ordered their delegates to attend the convention at its adjourned meeting in June, to present them for consideration and to agree upon a time when the instrument should take effect, if accepted by a twothirds vote of the people. Nothing resulted from these proposed amendments ; but during this sitting a revised draft was brought before the convention and adopted, and, on being submitted to the inhabitants, was ratified; on the declaration of the convention that more than two-thirds of the voters of this Province had signified that they were in favor of it, the Constitution was declared accepted.

Barre was still contributing its proper portion of men and supplies for the army. Attempts were made to equalize the compensation of those who had labored for, and who were still in, the Continental army. As each member of the militia was, to a considerable extent, a judge of the value of his eflbrts, these attempts were not always productive of the best results ; local jealousies and personal piques were as prominent as before or since that time, and when endeavors were made to liave each free-holder pay a proportionate amount of the expense incurred, they would vigorously protest ; but in the end their sense of right and justice would prevail.

The depreciation of the currency was a source of much trouble in this matter. Hours were spent in discussion, votes were passed and reconsidered, and at length the matter would be left to adjust itself. One proposition made at this time was to settle with the men for their services by paying them with bills of credit at "ninety for one," that is - that ninety

In this year, 1780, the town was called upon for a supply of beef for the army, the amount required being nine thousand nine hundred and sixty pounds; the town voted to raise £20,100, with which to purchase this beef. Additional men for the army were also called for, and committees were chosen to supply these calls. For the purpose of more easily and readily obtaining the men the town was divided into classes or districts; one man was taken from each district, either by his enlisting or, in some few cases, by hiring a substitute; sometimes one would be drawn by lot, when, if he retused to serve, the district in which he lived was assessed in a sufficient sum to procure a substitute. Twenty men marched from Barre, June 5, 1780, having enlisted for a term of six months' service. More men and more beef were still called for. In 1781 seven thousand eight hundred and ninety-three pounds of beef were called for for the army ; the town voted to give John Caldwell forty-two shillings, currency, per one hundred pounds, or £165, "hard money," for the whole amount, and which he furnished.

After this time we have but little evidence that the State was still calling for aid, although in August of 1782 the town voted to use their best endeavors to collect a sum of money in compliance with a "pressing requisition " from the Geueral Court. The last requisition for men had been made in March, but this and some of the preceding calls had not been based upon population, but on property according to the valuation.