Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-23


Having occasion to consult some local histo-
rles and family records, passed day or two
not long since for that purpose, with an old ac
quaIntance in Leicester, whose ancestors were
among the original proprietors and early in
haoltants of that town. In prosecuting my
researches, found various documents, jour
mails letters and other historical papers relat-
ing to the Revolutionary war, and the time
Immediately preceding; and also several rel
les Of antiquity, carefully preserved as memen-
tos of former generation. Some of these
spers and articles with the traditions con.
Al Aeted with them, thought it might be inter
estlng to others as they have been to me and,
with the consent Of my friend, under certain
restrictions L have taken copies and descrip-
tions for such of your antiquarian readers as
choose to read them.
They are preserved in the family of my
FRIEND as memorials Of the late Colonel William
Henshaw, who died in 1920, aged So 1t was
his grandfather, Joshua HenShaw, who was
an original proprietor, but not an inhabitant of
Leicester, he died in Boston, leaving a son and
grandson bearing his name and several other
sons among whom were John and Daniel. John
built house on his fathers tract in 1885
and tried the experiment of a forest life, but
his house accidentally took fire, and was con.
sumed ; and though the inhabitants, by vote
i'll town meeting offered to remunerate him for
the loss, he chose to return to his native town.
and give up his improvement" In the year
1898, Daniel HensIaw, having obtained valid
title to his fathers lands in Leicester moved
there with his large family and made it his
permanent home. William was then l3 years
old, in 1859 he received LieutenantS COM
mission in the continental army, in a new
company OF siXtytwo, rank and file, with
Captain Jeduthan Baldwin commander, in
Brigadier General Timothy Ruggles' Regi.
ment. These troops started from Worcester
in carriages and on horses on the morning of
Thursday, May TO- 1859, and arrived at
springfield Village" on Saturday evening,
Lieut. Henshaw "lOdged at Mr.. Bliss's spent
the Sabbath with Mr.. Hitchcock, went to
meeting and heard Mr. Merrick* preach
From Springfield they threaded their way
through an almost unbroken wilderness, then
the territory in dispute between the Dutch
Colony on the Hudson, and the Massachusetts
Bay Company, and arrived at Kinderhook,
May I'D, and lodged by the meeting house"
Proceeding thence, and stopping few days at
Albany, TO repair damages, they encountered
divers delays and disasters at Half Moon Still
Water and Fort Miller reaching Fort Edward
pagns, at Tlconderoga and Crown Point, UNI
der Gen Amherst, and returned home i'll De
cember. From this time until the commence.
ment OF hoStllItles with the mother country
he seems to have been largely occupied in ill.,
tusng order and efficiency into the military
service, as well as sustaining extensive CORES
pondpnce with committees and individuals in
relation to the Critical state OF public affairs"
In IVA several companies OF volunteer
min
in Worcester county, constituting Il respectable
regiment OF light infantry, ready to march at
moments warning" OF which Lieut.. Hen
shaw chosen Colonel. When the start.
ling intelligence came from Lexington on the
18th Of April that blood has been shed in that
town, he dispatched messages to the Field and
Staff officers, and each Captain, to meet, with
their respective companies, or as many as
would be collected, at Worcester, at 10 o'clock
the same evening, with army ammunition and
one weeks provision" AT the hour appointed
all the commissioned officers, and many more
men than could have been expected at 50 short
notice, were on handT or had passed ON, some
with more, some with less ammunition. After
equalizing the cartridges, and making hasty
arrangements, they galloped off at Il O'Clock,
and arrived at Cambridge IN the morning OF
the 10Th.
The one weeks provision of these sol
service to perform at this early period, tn, Sc
who wished to return home were discharged ;
others, who chose to remain, were absorbed in
other companies, as they arrived at camp.
Thus officers were left without command and
many OF them discharged. Colonel Henshaw
applied to Gen. ARENAS Ward tor a discharge,
but was requested to Withdraw his application
and share with others the task and responsible
ity OF organizing the provincial army. He ac-
cordingy remained at headq quarters, earnestly
and anXiously comforting with Gen Ward,
Colonies John Thomas, Timothy Danielsom,
William Prescott, William Heath, with Majors
Timothy Bigelow and John Brooks, and 9TH
ers, i'll arranging the details Of service devils
ing ways and means of defence against incur
sions OF the enemy, and providing tor the sus-
tenance of the troops. He was appointed and
commissioned by the Provincial Congress adj.
jutant general Of the army and though SUI
perceded by Gen. Gates on the arrival Of the
continental forces under Gen. Washington
continued to perform the duties of adjutant
general at Gen. Gates request, until the evac
uation OF Boston by the British. Col Hen.
shaw's official duties brought him daily to the
headquarters OF the commander-in-chief, while
at Cambridge, and warm and mutual attach
ment was here formed between these Christian
heroes, the sincerity of which was afterwards
manifested by kindly attentions and acts OF
friendship.
THE Washington Gum"
Among the many valuable heir.looms pre-.
, served in the family of my Leicester friend is
an antique gun, OF curious and ingenious work.
mauship, made expressly for Col. H., in 1774
by his neighEor and friend, Thomas Earle, a
skiltul artisan and enthusiastic artist. 1t was
kept at Cambridge while the army remained
there; was often examined and admired by
General Washington. A tradition formerly
prevailed in the community, and has been
handed down to the present generation, that
this gun was made for Gen. Washington, but
being too short Tor him was sold to Col Hen
shaw Hence the name it is called by, the
Washington gum The tradition is Incorrect
Washington ordered a gun of Mr.. Earle, to be
from the same pattern, except that the bore be
three inches and breech two inches longer, ttc
suit the generals longer arms). Mr.. Earle
was long time executing the order. Every
part must be made by his own hands-barel
stock, lock, and every screw must be done by
himself After long delay, however, the nea
work was completed, and the handsome mus
ket all finished and polished. To prevent ac
cldent or delay in the delivery, Mr.. Earle care
1uily encased his gun, shonldered arms, anC
actually walked on foot to New York, where
Tile army was then stationed. Arrived a
last, he obtained, with some difficulty, an intro
uuctloh !" the general, who received it, ant
PAID the price without ceremony or remark.
MI; Earle returned disappointed and mortifieC
at his apparently cold reception Consciou
tllat tDis hrelock was unsurpassed by anything
OF the kind made in the old country or new. /,
design or finish, for the qualification of roya
pride, or the taste of republican utility to re
celVe approval and commentator from in
specuhg O1ncers On tented fields, or admiration
anu applause OF connoisseurs in the cabne th