The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-06-18

years of the century absent for long
periods, retained his interests in the
town. His daughter Mary became the
wife OF Thaddeus Mason Harris,
clergyman and writer of note, and their
son, Clarendon Harris was a respected
citizen Of Worcester for more than 60
years, dying in 1884.
The Rev. Joseph Wheeler, who came
from Harvard to Worcester in 1881, had
an important part in revolutionary af-
fairs, as a member of the first and
third provincial congresses. There is
tradition that he served as chaplain
to Washington at Cambridge, and he
passed much time at headquarters. 1t
IS said that his house in Harvard was
taken apart and set up again in Wor-
cestv.. nc was register of probate
from 1775 to 1898, the year of his death.
He built next to the house he first oc-
cupied, the one known as the Wheeler
mansion, and his son, who succeeded
him as register lived here to the end of
his life The property remained in the
family a full century
OF the IL children of Rev. Joseph
Wheeler, Abigail was the wife of Rev.
Leonard Woods of Andover, and the
mother of the distinguished president
of Bowdoin college, Leonard Woods,
Jr. Mary another daughter, was mar
ried to Ezra Waldo Weld, a printer and
newspaper editor, who learned his trade
with Isaiah Thomas. She met sad
fate. Some years after their marriage,
Weld, on account of failing health, went
to the island of Jamaica, established a
newspaper and sentf for his family Mrs.
Weld sailed from Boston in 1899, in the
ship Orient with her two children, John
and Caroline. The ship was captured
by French pirates, and the life of the
captain was saved by Mrs. Yields in
tercession. Soon after, the crew and
passengers were released by an Eng
fish vessel, and landed in Jamaica at
some distance from the place where
Mr.. Weld was to meet them. Here Mrs.
Weld and the boy died of yellow fever
before the arrival of the husband and
father, who found only his daughter to
receive him.
Edward Bangs, Theophilus Wheeler
and Elijah Dix married sisters of the
Lynde family, and Joseph Lynde, a
brother-in-1aw, owned an estate adj
joining those of Bangs and Wheeler,
opposite the court house. The three
lots extended back from Main street,
beyond the stream, and their owners
took great pride and pleasure in their
possession and adornment The fol-
lowing description of these grounds
-
rary:
In the rear of these mansions were
extensive gardens; across the lower
part flowed a purling stream, and rare
fruits and choice flowers, fountains and
the more common embellishments were
results of the industry, taste and skill
of the younger branches of the families.
Near the center of each garden was an
arbor covered with vines and furnished
with seats and also a closet a deposit
for such books and Injuries as might
by chance find their way there. Twi-
light and moonlight often drew together
in these pleasant retreats the parents
and children Of the families, and in the
enjoyment of music and sociability the
summer evenings sped away"
Into this inner circle of a rural COM
munity of a hundred years ago, many
welcome and congenial visitors found
their way from time to time. The bust
ness of the courts brought noted judges
and laWyers-Francis Dana, the chief
Justice, and his more famous successor,
Theophilus Parsons; and such eminent
members of the bar as Christopher
Gore Samuel Dexter, Trstram Bur
ges, Fisher Ames, James Sullivan,
Theodore Sedgwick and many others,
some of whom achieved great fame in
politics as we'll as law. Here came also
Caleb Alexander, the classical scholar;
Zephaniah Swift Moore, successfully
president of Williams and Amherst col
leges Isaac Story and Joseph Dennie,
the first a fine poet and cousin of JOS
eph Story, who paid beautiful tribute
to his memory on his early death; the
second a journalist Of great reputation
in his day; and a myriad of lesser lights
worthy companions, but whose names
are unknown TO fame. Delightful mem
cries of these meetings of kindred souls
were treasured many years in the
minds of those who survived, but these
alas, are now dissipated and forever
lost.