Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-06-01
Gov. wa.hburn,s History of Leicester.

To the general reader, much of this vol.
ume will have an interest, while it is,
strictly, as its title suggests, a local history.
In the authentic record of the privations of
the early settlers, their sacrifices during the
Indian, French and revolutionary wars in
the clear perception and emphatic statement
of the natural rights of men; how they srug-
gled through the ordeals of debt and a depre-
ciated currency and how, finally, peace and
freedom crowned their fidelity in all these
the town is the state and the nation in minia-
ture. And he, we will add, best knows the
national history who is most thoroughly con.
versant with that of its towns. 1t is from
such annals as this that our future Niebuhrs
and Grotes will draw their mate rails.
This volume deserves hearty welcome,
also, for the home affections it maDifests and
will help to cherish. In every locality there
have been and are men and women whose char
acters were and are their richest treasures,
and who, for the sake Of these localities, de-
serve more enduring and reliable memorials
than marble or tradition. They are the glory
of our childhoods home, and because of them,
the universal heart never forgets and never re-
members unmoved, the scenes with which
they are forever associated. But forgotten
they are and will be, after the first or second
generation, unless some reverent and compe-
tent annalist rescues them before it is too late
In this respect Leicester may well be con-
graduated. Her historian is the most eminent
living son of the town; descendant of one of
her "village Hampdens )" of indefatigabIe in.
dustry, and honorably eminent for strong 10.
cal attachments. He not only was entitled to
speak, but, like an apostle, we hope, he felt
woe resting upon him if he spoke not that
which he knew, or failed to testify to that
which he had heard These 467 pages have
identified his name indssoluby with his SUBJ
ject, and are a labor of love, monument of
his patience and ability. AS an evidence of
his long attention to this subject, we mention,
that we have before us a history of Leicester,
12S pages of which he wrote for the Worces-
ter Magazine and Historical Journal for June,
1926. Besides which he has also written a
history of Leicester Academy, of over $50
pages.
He has had, let us say in passing, most
valuable co.laborer in Jos. A. Denny, Esq, a
gentleman fond of antiquarian lore, whose
heart has been in this work, and one whose
family tree took root in the soil of Leicester
before the town had legal existence A few
facts, selected almost at random, will indicate
some OF the topics and the tone of the book.
And hrst, of the DEED from the Indians. 1t
was dated 1856; covered miles square, con-
siueraton' 4l5 Oraskaso, sachem of Taw.
taio' was dead. This unusually communi.
cative deed tells us that his heirs "being two
women, with their husbands. NEWLY MAN.
RIED, are the owners. The name of ore i
Waiiody.nom, name as musical as Iol,,,
Wamscom, her husband, could desire. Ono
Of the sgners added to his name, "tbe Dr..
CON, showing that he had the good sense 10
consider the man of more account than tl,e
office, and so put that down last.
In 1867 there was not CARRIAGE in tn,
town. The first buggy wagon ever seen ther,
was in 1910. In 1861 DR.. Lawton died TIL
inventory Of his estate in the Probate Cour
amounted to e3l7, in which is found one hou
glass one pilon, aud two looking glasses, bu
no uatch, ctock, or carpet Dr. Larned died il