Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1855-10-09
"Reminiscences OF woree.ter-No. 3.


In 1900 we found two brick structures, as stated
in the Spy of Sept. 49, In 1901 was commenced
the erection of the brick courthouse which was
completed and ready for occupancy in 1903. The
old house was sold to Mr.. Joseph Trumbull, who
moved It TO its present location, on Park street,
and lifted it up for spacious dwelling house.
For forty years it has been the refined abode of
our Mr.. Geo. A Trumbull This building was
moved from Court Hill, up Main and down Park
streets, by empower Two long lines of oxen were
attached to timbeTs, under each side of the build
ing, with rollers placed on the ground, six eight
feet apart. for the runners to pass over. After
moving few rods, with shouting and screaming
from an hundred mouths, all would come to a
halt, and the boys bring forward the rollers for
another pull. This made fine sport for the boys
1t happened at the same time that Nathan Patch
had occasion TO move building, and both ''bees"
coming together, put in requisition all the spare
teams in town.
Connected with the old Court House, are two
historical incidents, of exciting interest at the
times of their occurrence, interesting now chiefly
as indicating the tone OF public feeling i'll past
periods. The first in April, IVA, Just one
year previous to the sanguinary collision at Con-
cord and Lexington, at the session of the Supreme
Cont held in Worcester at that time, when if
teen citizens Of the County, returned as jurors,
took the responsibility and hazard of refusing to
take the jurors oath provided Peter Oliver,
ESQ.,, sits as Chief Justice of this Court" any
Judge is on the bench, ''who shall accept sup
port from the Crown" This bold stand of the
jurors, in refusing TO be impaneled and the Spir-
tied protest, up to the sitting Judges against
the ''presence of said Peter Oliver, ESQ.," pro-
duced lively sensation in the community, at the
time, and retains marked feature in local histO-
ry.
The second incident, was, the painful, though
0loodlcSS encounter between Il band OF armed
men, in the famous "Shays instruction" and
the judges of the Court of Common Pleas, Hon.
Artemas Ward, Chief Justice, in September, 1856.
The circumstances connected with this affair,
are for the most part, detailed in several histo-
ries, and will try only to ill up gap in the
cord with unwritten episode, as handed down
by tradition. 1t should be remembered that Gen.
Ward, then Judge Ward, was in the military line
for long period before the revolution, and filled
every grade of office, from captain to maor-gen-
eral. His frequent presence on parade ground,
and at military reviews, made him extensively
known to the training population, with whom he
was very popular While stationed at Cambridge,
in l775, commander in-ehief of the colonial
troops, his head quarters open to ALL officers
and privates, who had belonged TO his old militia
~ division in Worcester County. They regarded
him their special friend and protector. He
was their idol; his order, their law. Eleven
years afterwards, some of these men met their
fayorite chief ON Court Hill, under different cir
Gums tanees he as conservator of the peace, they
as lawless volators of it. As often as he attempt.
ed to address words of reason and remonstrance
to the men, their leaders, Capts. Wheeler and
Smith, would interrupt him ; and finally ordered
the men to charge. With dozen bayonets press
ing against his breast, Judge Ward calmly and
severely scanned the countenances of the armed
men before him, when his penetrating eye met
the troubled gances Of several veteran minute
men of his old down camp friends Now, the
thought Of changing tactics first crossed his mind
Quick as thought, he
"Doded the Judge, and put the Captain on"
and addressing those whose bayonets were rend-
ing his vest and coat Sleeves in a clear voice. or
dered "Recover Arms" Every musket few up
IN moment, and he thus released from his
embarrassing position, without the modification
of conceding to their demands, or receding from
their assaults Adjusting himself, in military at
titude, and wavingh his hand flor want of a sword)
the new commandant continued, ''Fsllow SOL
diers, attention, the whole" "Present arms"
shoulder arms 'Forn in line-Dress.' "Order
arms" These orders were promptly obeyed and
the men, standing now in an easy position and
with temper subdued, listened with close atten-
ton, for more than hour, to an earnest address
from Judge Ward When finished, he gave the
leaders word Of caution, the men kind adieu,
and the court and officers retired to their quarters,
at the hotel. The official business before the
court was soon disposed of, for the day and all
sat in sadness and silence in view of the dark
state of public affairs, until silence was broken
by Sheriff Greenleaf, who, in hesitating man
ner, as if doubling whether to speak not, said.
"Judge Ward, your Honor's limbs were impaled
this morning, and you recovered the use of your
arms, by ordering your assailants to recover
theirs
The fourth brick building in Worcester, was
erected by the Worcester Bank Corporation, in
1913, for banking purposes, and dwelling for
their first President, Daniel Waldo, Senior. The
Central Exchange now stands upon the spot.
The fifth was built by Elnathan Pratt, in 1894,
occupied by himself as house and store. 1t is
now called the Quinsgamond House, and occu.
pied hotel. In one or two years AFTER Mr..
Daniel Cook built dwellng.house in Tatnuck,
in Worcester for long season. HERMIT.