Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-10-07

| ward, a new Westinghouse having been
| erected.
Thomas Stearns, from Watertown, came
to the township in 1740. He was descend
ant of Isaac Stearns, who came to America in
1880, with Edward Winthrop and Sir Richard
Saltonstal. He was deacon, and filled inn
portant offices.
In 174I was erected the first grist-mill,
which was located at the outlet of Westmin-
ster pond.
Capt. Daniel Hoar, from Concord, was the
next settler. He commenced in the southerly
part of the town. but being dissatisfied with
the location, he left that lot, and commenced
permanently in the lot near the center of the
town, where Aliens tavern lot now stands.
| The Hoar family in Massachusetts dates back
to the settlement of the colony. John Hoar,
| who resided first at Scituate and afterwards at
Concord, was the father offs numerous family,
from whom Capt Hoar descended. Jonathan,
Il brother of Capt. Daniel graduated at Har-
yard College in 1740, and was an officer in the
French and Indian wars, and after the peace
of 1903 went to England, and was appointed
| Governor of Newfoundland and the adjoining
| provinces, but died on his passage thither.
Daniel entered Harvard College in 1880, but
| did not graduate. He became prominent cit
izen in Westminster.
Deacon Joseph Miller came to the place
from Newton in l74l, and settled in the south
erly part of the town. He was chosen one of
| the deacons at the first organization of the
church in l742, and became a prominent citi-
zen, filling the office of clerk, assessor, treasu-
rer, and seectman many years. In the trying
days OF the Revolution when the people would
naturally fall back upon their most reliable
men, he was called to act all important part.
| Benjamin Garfield, from Waltham, came in
1741, and erected house in the southerly
part of the town. In January, 1913, he sold to
Richard Graves of Sudbury, who moved to
the town in the spring of that year. He rear
ed numerous family, and became promi-
nent citizen.
Eleazer Bigelow came to the place in 1912.
He was the son of Joshua BIgelow of Water
town, who was wounded in King Philips war,
and who was the only soldier who served in
that war that ever settled in the township. He
had several sons, among whom was Elisha, the
father of Hon. AbUah Bigelow, now of Wor.
| cester.
In 1741 or 1742, Samuel Whitney of Weston
moved to the place. He was a descendant of
John Whitney, who came from England in
1886 and settled in Watertown. He had a
family of thirteen children, and was honored
with the title of lieutenant, which in that day
implied more than it does at present.
In l742 the church and society made choice
| OF Rev. Elisha Marsh as their minister. He
was ordained the same year and church or
| ganlzed. Mr.. Marsh appears to have been a
man ofconsiderable talent, but of great eccen-
triclty, not COMFORTING with what was then re-
garded as ministerial dignity. Soon after his
settlement an unpleasant controversy arose be-
tween him and his people, which ended in his
dismission in 1857 During his ministry his
conduct and sayings were laid before the asso-
nd hafn lie h,nh last
dered the ties which bound him to his people.
Some of these charges were characteristic of
the times. One of them was for stamping one
OF his church members to swap powder-horn
strings with him. He was also accused of the
following heresies For saying that obedience
is the condition of salvation; for saying in the
presence of the church that he did not wor.
ship being who required more of his crea-
lures than they were able to perform, for that
being was the devil for saying that if all that
was required of a man was to believe, then the
condition of salvation was easy and pleasing
to fools. Whether they failed to prove these
serious charges, or whether the association
failed to see heresy in them, is uncertain, but
one thing is sure, they did not at that tim dis
miss him from his parish. After his usmis-
sion, MIR. Marsh remained several Years in the
place, but at length removed to Cheshire coun.
ty, New Hampshire, and became Ju dye ofthe
Court OF Common Pleas.
,..E fSoffn the first settlement of the township,
some fears were apprehended from the Indi-
ans. But it was not till 1742-3 that they gave
the settlers much uneasiness Instigated by
| the French in Canada, these children OF the
forest began to assume hostile attitude. In
l743 the General Court granted $1,000 to ena-
bic the settlers to erect such Notifications as
would secure them against the savages. Ten
/ OFt0 nulry Nov
placed around the dwellings in different parts
OF the town, so as to secure, if not every dwell
| ing, at least every neighborhood. They were
constructed of wholesome of them of square
| tlmbers lam one upon another after the IMAM
ner of log house; and Others were built with
stockades-that is, timbers placed perpendicu-
larly, one end planted in the earth. A few
soldiers were sent by the government, and
portion OF the inhabitants were put under pay
as town scouts, A sentinel was posted at each
fort in the night time, and soldiers alternately
patroicd the town by day when the enemy
were supposed to be lurking within their Dor
ders. AT night the inhabitants repaired to the
garrison for safety, leaving their own houses
to the mercy of the savage foe. By day, the
laborors repaired to their fields with their mus
kets, to guard themselves agsinst the nsidious
savage who might ambush their path. 1t is
Impossible for us at this day to enter fully into
the feelings of people thus situated. If imme-
date destruction, or what is worse, death by
torture or hopeless captivity, did not take
place, 1t was constantly haunting their imag-
nations. Painful indeed must be the situation
when the labOrer is liable to be captured in the
field, and his family massacred and scalped in
his absence; and where the hours of darkness
and repose may invite the enemy, and his
slumbers may be broken by the sound of the
war whoop, and the darkness of night be dis
PEELED by the blaze of his dwelling But al.
though the savages gave the people much anx-
lety, no one ever fell prey to the merciless
enemy, nor were any battles ever fought be-
tween them. The only well authenticated
fact that has come to my knowledge occurred
in 1748-9. Mr.. Bowman from Lexington. who
had been in the township five or six years, and
who garrisoned if not resided with Captain
Hoar, was one day moving in the field, when
he discovered some Indians in the adjoining
woods They had placed themselves in such
position as TO cut him off from his own fort,
and no doubt felt sure OF their victim Bow
man very adrotly concealed his agitation. and
as though he had made no discovery of the en-
envy, kept at work, but moving at the same
time from his fort and mis- insidious foe. until
he had gained the decliyity of hill, when he
dropped his scythe and made for Graves fort
Ill another part of the town, with such speed
as to elude the grasp of his feet-footed pursu-
ers. When he arrived at Graves fort, an
alarm was Immediately fired, which was an
swered through the settlement, and called ev-
cry man to his post. The alarm being given
messengers were dispatched, who brought
troops from Lancaster and Rutland.
The savages, finding they were discovered,
and that preparation was making to give them
warm reception, quietly and stealthily left
| cd