msTOK.'Z" 
 
 Towr\ of Gfafdtiei' 
 
 WORCESTER COUNTY, MASS. 
 
 FROM THE INCOliPORATION, JUNE 27, 1785, 
 TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 By Rev. Wm. D. Herrick. 
 
 "That the generations to come might know them, even the children which 
 should be born, who should arise and declare them to their children." 
 
 — Psalm Ixxviii : 6. 
 
 J^o.JMlf 
 
 A^ 
 
 GARDNER, MASS. : 
 , Published by the Committee. 
 
 1878. 
 
F74- 
 
 Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1878, by 
 
 WM. D. HERRICK, 
 in the office of the Librarian of Congress at "Washington. 
 
 GARDNER, MASS.: 
 
 PRINTED BY A. G. BUSHNELL &. COMPANY, AT THE ^FICE OP 
 
 THE GARDNER NEWS. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 In introducing this work, to the public, some explanation, 
 regarding its origin and authorship, is required. It Avill be re- 
 membered that, early in the year 1876, Congress recommended 
 to all the towns, in the Union the celebration of the hundredth 
 auniversar}' of our nation's independence, by appropriate public 
 exercises, among which should be an historical address, a copy 
 of Avhich, should be deposited, in the nation's archives, at 
 Washington. 
 
 Stirred by the spirit of '76, so greatly revived, at that time, 
 all over our land, the people of Gardner assembled in the 
 Town Hall, on the evening of June 12th, to consider measures 
 for carrying into effect this recommendation of Congress. A 
 general committee of arrangements was chosen, who furnished 
 an appropriate order of exercises for the day, which consisted, 
 in firing a hundred guns, at sunrise, on Bickford Hill, also a pro- 
 cession, which was formed, at South Gardner, and marching 
 through the principal streets, terminated at Crystal Lake Grove, 
 where an historical address was delivered, by the author of this 
 work. This arrangement was successfully carried out, the day 
 being fine, the procession large, and the closing scenes of 
 fireworks, on Bickford Hill, brilliant and beautiful. For this 
 celebration the town appropriated five hundred dollars. 
 
 In preparing the historical address, which was not wholly 
 delivered on that occasion, for want of time, the author became 
 greatly interested in the records of this town, which, in his 
 judgment, ought to be published, in the form of a town histor3\ 
 Acting under this conviction, he caused an article to be inserted 
 
iv INTR OD UOTION. 
 
 in the town warrant, for the following March meeting: "To 
 see if the town will take any measures, in relation to publish- 
 ing a histor}'' of the town of Gardner, act or transact anything 
 relating thereto." Acting under this article, the town chose a 
 committee of five, consisting of Messrs. Thos. E. Glazier, W. 
 D. Herrick, Francis Richardson, Asaph Wood and John M. 
 Moore, who should report at the AjDril meeting. This committee 
 made the following report, which the town voted to accept and 
 adopt : — 
 
 Fellow Citizens: Your committee, to whom was assigned 
 the duty of considering and recommending some plan upon 
 which the history of this town shall be written, ask permission 
 to present the following, as their report : — 
 
 Having consulted those who have had experience, in writing 
 the history of towns and cities, and acting upon the wisdom 
 gained from them, your committee recommend, that the town 
 employ a competent person to write the history of Gard- 
 ner, as soon as practicable ; that this person publish an edition 
 of eight hundred copies, octavo, which can be done at a probable 
 cost of three dollars per volume ; that the town, at its own 
 expense, furnish the author of its history, a map of the town 
 and pictures of such public buildings and objects of general 
 interest, as a committee chosen to superintend the publication 
 of such a history, may think proper to insert. And that the 
 town subscribe for two hundred copies of said history, at a sum 
 not exceeding three dollars per volume, to be kept on sale by 
 the town clerk, for the benefit of the town's treasury ; no copy 
 of said history to be sold, by the clerk, to any citizen of Gard- 
 ner, until the author has made a thorough canvass of the town, 
 in his own behalf. That individuals and societies furnish, at 
 their own expense, such pictures of houses, shops, churches, 
 etc., as they may desire to see in such a work, the admission of 
 which, to be at the discretion of the committee of publication. 
 
 The town then " Voted, To choose a committee of three, 
 who shall have the charge of procuring a history of Gardner, 
 
INTRODUCTION. v 
 
 by a competent author, and that the town become a subscriber 
 for two hundred copies of said history, at a sum not exceeding 
 three dollars per volume, and that said committee shall be 
 authorized to incur such additional expense, as a map of the 
 town and the pictures of such public buildings and places as they 
 think advisable to insert, may require. Chose Thomas E. Gla- 
 zier, Rev. W. D. Herrick, John M. Moore." 
 
 This committee began immediately to attend to the duties 
 assigned them by the town. Correspondence was held, with 
 some who had had large experience, in writing town histories, 
 but no definite arrangements were entered into, with any one, 
 till last October, when the author, who had Ijeen laid aside, 
 from his pastoral duties, by sickness, for three months previous 
 to September, 1877, was strongly urged, by some of his friends, 
 to undertake the work. Ill health and distrust of his ability, 
 made him reluctant to assume so great a task, in addition to 
 his regular pastoral labors. 
 
 At length, " by fair persuasion, mixed with sugared words," 
 he consented, on certain conditions, to yield his own judgment 
 to the wishes of others. Had he thought such an event as the 
 writing of the town's history by him, possible, not unmindful 
 of the experience of Haman, he would most certainly not have 
 been as active as he was, in inducing the town to have its history 
 written. 
 
 The conditions, above alluded to, were these : That Mr. T. 
 E. Glazier, who was greatly interested in the matter, should aid 
 the author, in procuring necessary statistics and facts, and 
 should be responsible for the entire preparation of the chap- 
 ters entitled, " Memorable Events," " Genealogy of the Early 
 Families of Gardner," and the chapter on " Military Affairs." 
 
 To this gentleman, always, from early years, greatly inter- 
 ested in the welfare of his native town, and who about twenty 
 years since, aided his venerable father, in preparing a small 
 history of Gardner, we cheerfully and cordially accord the 
 credit and responsibility, attending the authorship of the three 
 chapters, in this work, above named. 
 
vi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Muthor is also most happy to accord to his wife — a help- 
 meet indeed — the credit of invaluable assistance, in the prep- 
 aration of this work. To her belongs the credit of writing the 
 subdivision of Chapter II., entitled " Scenic Attractions," as 
 well as that part in Chapter X., entitled " The Murphy Move- 
 ment." 
 
 The author also takes pleasure in acknowledging the valuable 
 assistance rendered him, in copying and proof reading, by Mr. 
 George F. Peabody, 2d, a young gentleman of this town, who 
 has, for the last three years, been engaged in the study of law, 
 and is about to be admitted to the bar. 
 
 To all these friends and to all others, to whom the author is 
 indebted for aid in this work, most cordial thanks are publicly 
 extended. 
 
 When it is remembered, that this work was begun, about the 
 middle of November last, and has been carried forward, by the 
 author, without any remission of his pulpit, or pastoral duties, 
 till its completion, at the present date — less than eight months — 
 an apology for imperfection and marks of haste, will not be re- 
 garded as out of place. In this regard, the advice of Horace 
 to authors, to keep their writings nine years, before publishing 
 them, is most recklessly disregarded. 
 
 It should be stated, that the committee, early inserted in the 
 Gardner News, an invitation, to all individuals and religious 
 societies, to present such pictures as they might wish to accom- 
 pany this work. Several responded, who are here represented 
 by heliotypes, executed by the Heliotype Printing Company of 
 Boston. It is due to the author to state, that his portrait is in- 
 serted, in this work through the desire and at the expense of his 
 friends, to whom for their other acts of kindness, he cherishes 
 sentiments of genuine gratitude. 
 
 The maps, accompanying this work, were prepared by Mr. 
 Charles J. Day, of this town, and are models of excellence, in 
 his art. 
 
 The negatives, for the heliotypes, are by Mr. William A. 
 Cowee, of Gardner; the printing is by A. G. Bushnell & Co., 
 of the Gardner News. 
 
INTRODUCTION'. vii 
 
 In the production of this work, the author has spared uo 
 pains to possess the facts, regarding which, he has written, 
 while at the same time, he has sought to make the work some- 
 thing more than a barren, dry restatement of town records, by 
 connecting with these, events of general history, calculated to 
 throw light upon more recent facts, coming under his notice. 
 His object has been to make this, a book of interest, to the 
 reader, by directing his mind, to events of history not only 
 contemporaneous, with those connected with this town, but 
 antecedent to its existence. 
 
 The author is aware that there are several mistakes in this 
 work, which he has no intention of pointing out, since the 
 reader will do that without his assistance. 
 
 If any are represented, in this history as dead, who " still 
 live," we only have to say, that, the announcement need 
 have no eifect, in hastening an event, which is sure to come as 
 soon as they will be ready for it ; if any are said, in this work 
 to be still alive who are dead, we have no fear that the state- 
 ment will have the least impression upon them ; if any are 
 recorded as married, who never have been, we hope that noth- 
 ing here said will prevent them from verifying the record, 
 we have made of them : if any are regarded as having too much, 
 or too little prominence in this work, we have only to say, that 
 it has been our aim to make the facts of history speak for them- 
 selves, whatever their effect upon individuals. Further than 
 this, we have no feeling of personal responsibility. If any have 
 been omitted who should be mentioned we are sorry, for our 
 neglect is wholly undesigned. 
 
 We began this work, with no adequate idea of the im- 
 mense amount of labor involved in completing it. We come 
 to the end of our editorial work, with a higher appreciation of 
 the fortitude and faithfulness of the founders of this town, and 
 of those who have succeeded them in promoting its growth, in 
 all good directions. 
 
 We are aware that a complete index, to a work, like this, is 
 a good thing, while one incomplete is only a vexation. Not 
 
viii IjSfTE OD UCTION. 
 
 caring to make a full index, we have thought best to substitute 
 a full table of contents instead, having carefully arranged the 
 work in topical chapters. 
 
 In conclusion, we are able, with great candor to state, that 
 our ambition, for this kind of authorship, is entirely satisfied. 
 We lay down our pen, upon this, our nation's natal day, with 
 the most intelligent and unalterable conviction, that nothing 
 but grim necessity, can ever again induce us to resume it, for 
 the purpose of writing a town history. 
 
 We would say, however, to all clergymen, who are laid aside 
 from pastoral labor, through " nervous prostration" that our 
 experience has taught us, that the speediest and surest way to 
 regain health and forget troubles, is to engage in a work like 
 this, preaching at the same time twice, on the Sabbath. They 
 will find its effects more letheau than a draft of Lethe itself, and 
 the greatest of all " nerve tonics," at their command. Debili- 
 tated brethren, by all means, write a town history. We have 
 only to say with Byron, 
 
 "VV^hat is writ is writ, 
 "Would it were worthier." 
 
 Wm. D. Herrick. 
 
 Congregational Parsonage, July 4th, 1878. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE TOWN CONSIDEKED AS AN INTEGRANT PART OF THE UNITED 
 
 STATES. 
 
 PAGK. 
 
 Derivafion of the word Town — Remark of De Tocqiieville Concern- 
 ing Political Sovereignty — Of Aristotle — Of Blackstone — De- 
 Tocqueville Concerning Town Meetings — The Otficers of the 
 Town — Selectmen, Their Duties and Powers — Town Clerk, 
 Duties Of — Assessors, Their Duties — Town Treasurer — High- 
 way Surveyors — Constables — Field Drivers — Fence Viewers — 
 School Committee, Their Powers and Duties — First Town 
 Meeting, in Plymouth Colony — Remark of Alexander Ham- 
 ilton 1 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 INCORPORATION AND TOPOGRAPHY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 The Petition for Incorporation, by Whom and When Presented — 
 Formed from the Four Adjacent Towns — The Name, Whence 
 Derived — Act of Incorporation, When Granted — The First 
 Warrant, to Whom Issued — First Town Meeting, When and 
 Where Held — Topography — Latitude and Longitude of the 
 Town — Causes of Its Irregular Outline — Remonstrance against 
 the Petition of William Whitney and Others — Scenic Attrac- 
 tions — Soil, Climate — Hills, Elevations, Forests, Flora, Fauna, 
 Lakes, Streams — Original Poem 26 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 CHARACTER OF THE INHABITANTS. 
 
 Number of Original Inhabitants — Their Scattered Condition — Hard- 
 ships and Privations — The Domestic Spinning Wheel and 
 Loom — Itinerant Shoemaker — Ancient Fireplace and Oven — 
 West India Goods, How Received — Going to Church — Sources 
 of Information — Scenes at Tavern — Social Habits^Raisings — 
 May Trainings and Musters — Times of General Excitement — 
 Habits of Industry — Spirit ot Independence — Growth of Pop- 
 
56 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 Illation, in Decades — English Descent — Irish and French — 
 Elegant Residences — Neat Irish Homes — Town Hall — Pecu- 
 niary Reverses — Self Developed Wealth — Valuation in 1877. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE TOWN AS CONNECTED WITH NATIONAL AND STATE AFFAIRS 
 shays' REBELLION. 
 
 Baneful Effects of the Revolutionary War — Depreciated Currency 
 — Letter of John Adams, Concerning Prices Current — Wag- 
 gish Advertisement — Numerous Suits at Law — Numerous Pe- 
 titions for Abatement of Taxes — Popular Estimation of Gov- 
 ernment Responsibility — Spirit of Discontent Everywhere Rife 
 — County Conventions to Consider Grievances — Spirit of Man- 
 hood — Regulators — Captain Shattuck — Convention at Paxton 
 — Instructions to Capt. Samuel Kelton — Petition to Governor 
 Bowdoiu — Shays' Rebellion — History of the Insurrection in 
 Massachusetts, by William L. Smith, P^sq. — Embargo of 1807, 
 Causes Of — Inconvenience to the People of Gardner — Petition 
 to the President of the United States, in Consequence of the 
 Embargo 72 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 roads. 
 Early Mode of Travel — Gibbons' Account of Roman Roads — Ma- 
 caulay's Account of Roads in England, in the 17th Century-^ — 
 Roads in the Early Colonies^ in 1634 and Following — Early 
 Roads of this Town — Petition to lay County Road Through 
 the Centre of the Town — Roads Laid Out in 1786 — Petition of 
 Seth Heywood — Petition of the Town Concerning Road over 
 Kendall Hill — Opening of Different Roads and Streets — Nam- 
 ing of Different Roads and Streets — Turnpike — Condition of 
 Roads in Switzerland 108 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 railroads. 
 Inconvenience of Travel, at the Beginning of the Present Century, 
 and for Many Years Subsequent — Journey of Elkanah Watson 
 in 1777 — P^zra Lunt's Advertisement — Semi-Weekly Stage be- 
 tween Boston and New York — Imperfect Condition of the 
 Postal System — Letters to the Army, 1778 — Gradual Disap- 
 pearance of Postal Inconveniences — First Railroad in the United 
 States — Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, When Incor- 
 porated — Hon. Alvah Crocker, His Attempts to Prevent this 
 Road's Running through Gardner — How Thwarted — Repeated 
 Legislation — Final Location — Boston, Barre and Gardner Rail- 
 
CONTENTS. xi 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 road — Original Charter, When Granted — Repeatedly Located 
 — When Built to Gardner — Opposition to its Extension to Win- 
 chendon — Excited Town Meetings — Final Triumph in the Leo-- 
 islature — When Completed to Winchendon — Running of the 
 First Train to Winchendon 135 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 INDUSTRIES. 
 
 Remarks Concerning the Importance of Steady Toil — Proverbs Con- 
 cerning Labor — Remark of Sidney Smith — Agriculture — Prod- 
 ucts Of, in Gardner — Cooperage — Chair Manufacturing — An- 
 cient Furniture among the Egyptians, Assyrians, Greeks and 
 Romans — Furniture used by the Colonists, Imported — Enor- 
 mous Manufacture of Cane Seated Chairs — Commencement of 
 Chair Making in Gardner — Simplicity of Machinery nsed at 
 First — Origin of the Different Chair Firms — Names of Present 
 Chair Firms — Annual Amount of Business, etc. — Mode of 
 Manufacturing Chairs — Different Machines Used — Automatic 
 Channeling Machine Described — Crimping Press — Spline and 
 Embossing Press — Mode of Inserting the Woven Seat — Cane 
 Department of Heywood Bros. & Co. — Cane, How Prepared 
 — Rattan Chairs — Foundry, Where Located — Amount of Busi- 
 ness Done — Tubs and Pails — Manufacture of Lumber — Doll 
 Toy Carriages, Chamber Sets, etc. — Eave Troughs — Furni- 
 ture Dealers — Spring Beds — Tin Ware — Hardware — Brick — 
 Grist Mill — Marblp Works — Wheelwrights — Blacksmiths — 
 Painters — Harness Makers — Carpenters — Masons — Jewellers 
 — Civil Engineers — Surveyors of Land— Photographers — En- 
 gravers of Wood and Metals — Floriculture — Dealers in Coal 
 and Lumber — Dry Goods and Groceries — Meat Markets — 
 Dry Goods — Millinery — Fancy Goods — Clothing Stores — Mer- 
 chant Tailors — Dealers in Boots and Shoes— Drugs and Medi- 
 cines — First National Bank — Savings Bank — Post Offices — 
 Printing — The Gardner News 151) 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Governors — Representatives — Town Officers — Justices of the Peace 
 
 etc 200 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 CARE OF THE POOR. 
 
 A Dictate of Humanity — Instances from the Bible — Mendicants 
 Divided into Two Classes, the Settled Poor and the Vagrants 
 — How Treated in the Reign of Henry VIII. and Previously — 
 Act for the Suppression of Vagrancy in 1531 — Severe Punish- 
 ment of "Sturdy Mendicants" — Treatment of the Poor in the 
 
xii CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Early Colonies — Legislation of Plymouth and Massachusetts 
 Colonies, Concerning Vagrancy — Instance of Warning Recent 
 Settlers out of Towd, by the Selectmen of Gardner — Improved 
 Condition of Workingmen in England — Instances of their Mode 
 of Living — Vagrancy Fostered by Indiscriminate Almsgiving — 
 Remarks of Mr. Lambert, Poor Law Inspector, in England — 
 Early Method of Caring for the Poor, in this Town — Vendu- 
 ing Them to the Lowest Bidder, at the Annual Town Meeting 
 — Purchase of AVork House, in 1S49 — Rules and Regulations 
 for the Government of the Work Mouse — Size of the Town 
 Farm — Cost of Supporting the Poor, Aunually, Since 1860 — 
 Names of Masters of the Work House 218 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 VARIOUS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. 
 
 Military — Gardner Light Infantry — Gardner Grays — G. D. Far- 
 ragut Post No. 116, G. A. R.— Hope Lodge — Odd Fellows — 
 Hibernians — Fire Department — -Cataract No. 1 — Constitution 
 and By-Laws — Prizes — Torrent No. 2 — Constitution and By- 
 Laws — Prizes — Special Rules and Regulations of the Fire De- 
 partment — Rules for Fire Alarms — Firemen's Muster, in Gard- 
 ner, September .5th, 1877 — Driving Park — Rifle Club — Steam- 
 boat Company — Sovereigns of Industry — Musical Associations 
 — Bands — Worcester North Musical Association — Constitution 
 — Young Men's Christian Association — Temperance Organiza- 
 tions — Temperance Legislation in the Plymouth and Massachu- 
 setts Colonies — Formation of the First Temperance Organiza- 
 tion, in 1808 — Gardner Temperance Society, When F'ormed, 
 Constitution — Washington Total Abstinence Society, Constitu- 
 tion, By-Laws — Gardner Temperance Society, When Reformed 
 — Seizure of Liquors, Account of, in Boston Times — Sons of 
 Temperance — Philokalia Lodge — Reform Club — Women's 
 Christian Temperance Unions — Temperance League — The 
 Murphy Movement — Repeated Efforts to Expel the Liquor 
 Traffic — Present Licehses 244 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 CEMETERIES. 
 
 Derivation of the Word Cemetery — Custom of Burying the Dead 
 Among Ancients — Town Burying Yard — Vote to Purchase 
 Land of Seth Hey wood in 1785 — Additional Purchase in 1806 
 — Deed for the Same — Hearses — South Gardner Green Bow- 
 er Cemetery — By-Laws — Crystal Lake Cemetery — Rules and 
 Regulations 288 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS. 
 
 Pearson Cowee — Levi Hey wood — ^Gardner A. Watkius — Description 
 
C0NTENT8. xiii 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 of the Splicing Machine — Power Loom, for Weaving Chair 
 Seats, etc. — Samuel L. Fitts — Frank F. Parker — George W. 
 Parker — Quotation from Lord Bacon, Concerning Inventions 
 and Inventors. . . . • 299 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRARIES. 
 
 Quotation from Prof. Read of Philadelphia — Once a Small Public 
 Library at the Centre — The Absence of a Public Library a 
 Serious Defect — South Gardner Social Library Association — 
 Legacy of Abijah M. Severy — The Severy Will — Contents of 
 this Library — Number of Shares 315 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 MEMORABLE EVENTS. 
 
 Fires and Injuries by Lightning, etc. — Casualties — Small Pox — 
 Suicide — Murders — List of Persons who have Died in this 
 Town Over Eighty Years of Age 320 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 GENEALOGY OF THE EARLY FAMILIES OF GARDNER. 
 
 The names of the families, in this chapter, are arranged alphabeti- 
 cally, for the convenience of the reader, so that they need not 
 be repeated, under this heading. 329 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 BIOGRAPHIC. 
 
 Resident Physicians — Physicians Formerly Resident Here — Den- 
 tists- -Attorneys and Counsellors at Law — Graduates — Men of 
 Note — Names of Young Men now Pursuing a Course of Ed- 
 ucation, in Different Colleges and Schools 394 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 MILITARY AFFAIRS. 
 
 Names of Revolutionary Soldiers — Gardner in the War for the 
 Union — Causes of Our Civil War — General Excitement in 
 Gardner, on Receiving news irom Fort Sumpter — Seventy-five 
 Thousand Volunteers Called For — Gardner's First Town Meet- 
 ing, to Provide Volunteers — Subsequent Votes — Number of 
 Enlistments — ^Tables Showing the Name, Age at the Time of 
 Enlistment, etc., of Every Man who Entered the Service — 
 Cost of the War, to the Town in Money — Names of those 
 who were Killed or Died in the Service 416 
 
 CHAPTER XVIIL 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 Origin of the Common School System — Public Schools in the 
 
xiv CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Plymouth and Massachusetts Colonies — Schools the Outgrowth 
 of the College — Remaik of Pres. J. H. Seelye of Amherst 
 College — First Division of the Town into Districts — Vote to 
 Squadron out the Town — When School Houses were First 
 Built in Town- — How they were Located — Brief Terms of 
 Schooling — Small Pay of School Teachers — Choosing a Com- 
 mittee of Four to Inspect Schools, at the Opening and Close of 
 Each Term, in J807 — Second Districting of the Town, in 1818 
 — First Money Received from the State, for the Benefit of 
 Schools, in 1808 — Abolislimcnt of the District System and In- 
 auguration of Graded Schools, in 1869 — Appraisal of School 
 Property — High School — P'ailure to Establish One, in 1856 
 but Established in 1866--Where Located---Voted to Build a 
 New High School House, in 1872 — Report of the Committee 
 Chosen to Procure a Site and to Estimate the Cost — Architect 
 — When the High School Building was Completed — When 
 First Occupied — Description of the Building and Groimds — 
 Names of Teachers — Course of Study — Ts ames of School Com- 
 mittee, and Annual Appropriation, from the Incorporation of 
 the Town, to the Present Date 440 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 CHURCHES AND THEIR PASTORS. 
 
 Events Preceding Flstablisliment of Church and Ministry of this 
 Town — Remarks of D'Aubigne Concerning the Study of Great 
 Things in Small— His Remarks Concerning Calvin as the 
 Father of Ameiican Liberty, Civil and Religious — Martyrs of 
 the Sixteenth Century — Formation of a Church of Separatists 
 at Scrooby — Sailing of the Mayflower from South Hampton — 
 Plantation Religious — Worldly Gain not the End of the Peo- 
 ple of New England, but Religion — Language of Increase 
 Mather Concerning the Pilgrims — Of Hubbard — Judgment of 
 Bancroft — Humanity's Rights Recovered in the Cabin of the 
 Mayflower — Reasons for Union of Church and State in the 
 Colonies — Strong Colonial Government Necessary— The Con- 
 gregational tlie Established Church — Every Man Obliged to 
 • Contribute to Its Support — Subsequently Modified — Voluntary 
 System Adopted in 1833 — Gospel Preaching Required by Law 
 — Character of New England Ministry — Rev. Jonathan May- 
 hew, Author of '• Committee of Correspondence" — First Parish 
 and Church Till 1867 — Early Action of the Town in Building 
 Their First Meeting-house — Voted to Build — Condition of Sale 
 of Timber and Stuff" — Schedule — Digging the Trench and Pro- 
 viding Underpinning — Nails Bought with Butter — The Raising 
 —-The Sale of Pews — Finishing the Inside of the Meeting- 
 house — Color of the Meeting-house — Repairs of the Meeting- 
 
CONTENTS. XV 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 house in 1845 — Conditions of Repair-— Occupied till May 1st, 
 1867 — Vote Concerning the Bass Viol in the Old Church — 
 First Congregational Church When Formed — Covenant— Hir- 
 ing of Preaching in 1785 — Call of a Pastor — Proposed Salary 
 — Call to Jonathan Osgood, July 21st, 1781 — Conditions of 
 Settlement and Salary — Installation — Character of Mr. Os- 
 good — Call to Mr. Lincoln — Sketch of Mr. Lincoln — His Dis- 
 mission from the First Cliurch — Mr. Farr — Mr. Cutler — At- 
 tempt at Union in 1846 — Mr. Fish — Mr. Bannister — Call Ex- 
 tended to Mr. Paine in 1817 — When Dismissed — Call to Mr. 
 Herrick — When Dismissed — Evangelical Congregational So- 
 ciety and Church — From 1830 to 1867 — Constitution of the 
 Society — Building of the New Church — Abandonment of the 
 Old Church, and Occupation of the New One Erected in 1856 
 — Movement for Uniting the Two Societies in 1867 — Terms of 
 Union — United April 18th, 1867 — Evangelical Congregational 
 Church Formed in 1830 — Its Pastors — Votes of the Church Re- 
 garding Slavery — First Congregational Church and Society 
 Since 1867 — Conditions Upon Which the Two Churches Unit- 
 ed — Pastors of the United Church — Erection of a Parsonage 
 — Vote to Build a New Church — Description of the New 
 Church — The Baptist Society and Church — Formation of the 
 Society in 1828 — Building of the Church in 1833 — Repaired 
 in 1872 — Funds of the Society — Baptist Church When Formed 
 --Names of Pastors and Terms of Service — Catholic Church 
 — When Organized — Extent of the Parish — Building of the 
 New Church — Names of the Pastors — Universalist Church — • 
 When Founded — Preamble — Church Organization — Covenant 
 — Building of the New Church — When Dedicated — Sketch of 
 Pastors — Methodist Episcopal Church — Outcome From First 
 Congregational Church — Letter of Mr. Osgood to Mr. Stone 
 — Lorenzo Dow — Society Existed in 1800 — Revival in 1827 — 
 Society Formed in 1869 — Chapel Built on West Street — New 
 Edifice Dedicated August, 1877 — Its Cost, Its Dimensions — 
 Sketch of Its Pasters — Final Remarks 466 
 
ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 W, D. Herrick Frontispiece. 
 
 MAPS. 
 
 Map of the Town Following Introductiou. 
 
 Map of the Villages End of the Work. 
 
 VIE]YS OF THE VILLAGES. 
 
 FACING P^GES 
 
 Gardner Centre and West Village (From Glazier Hill) . . 32 
 
 South Gardner Village (From Kendall Hill) 48 
 
 VIEWS OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS, ETC. 
 
 Town Hall 64 
 
 Gardner Work House 240 
 
 High School House 456 
 
 First Congregational Church 504 
 
 First National Bank 192 
 
 VIEWS OF CIIAIB F AC TOBIES. 
 
 Chair Factory of Philander Derby 128 
 
 Chair Factory of Hey wood Brothers & Co 176 
 
 Paint Shop of Heywood Brothers & Co 184 
 
 PBIVA TE BESIDENCES. 
 
 Residence of Levi Heywood 144 
 
 Residence of S. K. Pierce 168 
 
 Residence of Philander Derby 280 
 
 Residence of Seth Heywood 328 
 
 FOB TB AITS. 
 
 Philander Derby 160 
 
 Levi Heywood 304 
 
 David Parker, M. D 400 
 
 Thomas P^. Glazier 416 
 
 John M. Moore 440 
 
 Sylvester K. Pierce 45(5 
 
History of Gardner. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE TOWN CONSIDERED AS AN INTEGRANT PART OF THE 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 "God made the coiuitiy and man made the town."' — Cowper's Task. 
 
 /TV HERE is much wisdom embodied in the saying of Avis- 
 JL totle, "that tlie nature of everytliing is best seen in its 
 smallest portions." This wisdom is applicable to all who are 
 seeking for ti correct understanding of the principles upon 
 which the government of these United States, and the execution 
 of its laws, is based. It is natural for us to inquire into the 
 causes of things, to seek for the source and hidden depths out 
 of which spring those events, which arrest attention and deter- 
 mine the condition of society for succeeding ages. Kane, en- 
 during the rigors of an Arctic winter, in search of an open 
 Polar Sea, Livingston and Stanley, hunting, amid the dangers 
 of African exploration, for the sources of the Nile, are fit illus- 
 trations of a desire in man to make himself familiar with the 
 orioin of thinos. Hence it is, that the student of our United 
 States government, must not content himself in merely viewing 
 it as a central organization, whose power, through its Chief 
 Executive, is felt to the remotest parts of the nation ; he must 
 continue his investigations till he has asce.rtained "the fons et 
 origo from which this power is derived. In so dding he will be 
 ^led directly to the source of all power in the nation, as imma- 
 
2 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 iient in the sovereign people. This investigation ^vill ultimately 
 lead him to a consideration of the town as an integrant portion 
 of the nation. 
 
 In his " History of New England," Mr. Palfrey remai-ks 
 that " Avith something of the same propriety, with which the 
 nation may be said to be a confederacy of republics, called states, 
 each New England state may be described as a confederacy of 
 minor republics, called towns." Tracing our nation to its ele- 
 mentary sources, we reach the town,Avhose origin and functions 
 are thought to be worthy of some special notice in a work like 
 this. 
 
 The word town is derived from the old English word tun, 
 and this from tynan, meaning to enclose. In early times, in 
 Great Britain, the word was used to denote an assemblage 
 of houses having a market and surrounded by a wall. Some- 
 times it denoted an enclosure, containing the homestead or 
 dwelling of the lord of the manor. According to Blackstone 
 the idea of the town is Saxon in its origin, and is allied to the 
 Saxon word tithing, meaning, in ancient law, " a number or 
 company of ten house-holders, who, dwelling near each other, 
 were sureties or free pledges to the king, for the good behavior 
 of each other." Whatever may have been the origin of the 
 term, we find that in New England, from its first settlement, 
 the town was the primary organization. Its existence, though 
 somewhat peculiar to the New England States, seems to have 
 been a necessity to the colonists, in order that they might more 
 conveniently and securely reach the ends for which they sought 
 a settlement upon these shores. No sooner had they made 
 their selections of land, formed their little settlements and 
 builded their rude dwellings, in convenient proximity to each 
 other, than they organized themselves into an independent mu- 
 nicipality, in which every citizen exercised the sovereign right 
 of suifrage. 
 
 It is worthy of remark here, that the town as an integral 
 portion of the state and the republic, is an institution in great 
 degree, peculiar to New England. Here the towns existed 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 3 
 
 previous to the counties and the state. Sul^sequently the towns 
 were formed into counties. But in the southern portion of the 
 country there are parishes instead of towns. The town is an 
 independent municipality, and is a direct result of the principle 
 of pojDular sovereignty. "The doctrine of the sovereignty of 
 the people," says De Tocqueville, " came out of the townships, 
 and took possession of the states. Political life (in New Eng- 
 land) had its origin in the townships ; and it may almost be 
 said, that each of them formed an independent nation. When 
 the kings of England afterwards asserted their supremacy, they 
 were content to assume the central power of the state. They 
 left the townships where they were before ; and although they 
 are now subject to the state, they were not at first, or were 
 hardly so. They did not receive their power from the central 
 authority ; but on the contrary, they gave up a portion of their 
 independence to the state. The townships are subordinate to 
 the state, only in those interests which I shall term social, as 
 they are common to all others. They are independent in all 
 that concerns themselves alone ; and amongst the inhabitants of 
 New England, I believe, that not a man is to be found who 
 would acknowledge that the state has any right to interfere in 
 their town affairs. The people reign in the American political 
 world, as the Deity does in the universe. They are the cause 
 and the aim of all things ; everything comes from them and 
 everything is absorbed in them. 
 
 " In America the principle of the sovereignty of the people 
 is neither barren nor concealed, as it is with some other nations. 
 It is recognized by the customs and proclaimed by the laws ; it 
 spreads freely and arrives without impediment at its most re- 
 mote consequences. If there be a country in the world where 
 the doctrine of the sovereignty of the people can be fairly ap- 
 preciated, where it can be studied in its application to the 
 affairs of society, and where its dangers and its advantages may 
 be judged, that country is America." 
 
 From the foundation of the colonies, the social condition of the 
 American people has ever been increasingly democratic. From 
 
4 HISTORY OF GAIW^^E1L 
 
 the beginning, there has ever been a jealousy of superiority and 
 a steadfast aiming at equality in all political rights. In New 
 England, the germs of aristocracy were never planted. Farther 
 south they obtained ground in the earliest history of the nation. 
 It was this hatred of arrogancy of power, in New England, that 
 made our fathers intolerant of all priestly domination and urged 
 them to expel from their midst the representatives of the estab- 
 lished church of England. In the words of Eev. John Wise 
 of Ipswich, " Democracy is Christ's government in church and 
 in state. The pew and the pulpit had l)een educated to self- 
 government." Said Lord Chatham, in his celebrated letter to 
 the king, "They left their native land in search of freedom, and 
 found it in a desei't. Divided as the}' are into a thousand forms 
 of policy and religion, there is one point in which they all agree; 
 they equally detest the pageantr}' of a king and the supercilious 
 hypocrisy of a bishop." 
 
 Some idea of this independence of early American democracy 
 may be seen in a print executed in those times, entitled " An 
 attempt to land a bishop in America." The scene is at a wharf, 
 at which is lyino' a vessel into whose rioo:ino; is climbino a 
 bishop, clothed in his vestments, out of whose mouth are pro- 
 ceeding the words, of good old Simeon, " Lord now lettest thou 
 thy servant depart in peace." The colonists are represented as 
 pelting him Avith works entitled, " Locke," "Sydney on Gov- 
 ernment," "Calvin's Works," "Barclay's Apology," Avhile above 
 their heads are floating banners surmounted by the cap of liberty 
 and bearing the exclamations, " Liberty and freedom," " No 
 lords spiritual or temporal in New England," " Shall they be 
 obliged to maintain bishops, who cannot maintain themselves I" 
 Thus with the resolute exertions of the colonists aided by pikes, 
 the vessel is pushed from the wharf, on whose deck is seen the 
 bishop's carriage with the wheels off: the crosier and mitre 
 hanging in the rigging, while " the saint in lawn" seems quite 
 glad to be put on his voyage to a land whose soil and climate are 
 more congenial to the growth of bishops, than that whose 
 shores he leaves behind. The motto of the colonists was, "A 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 5 
 
 church without a bishop and a state without a king." This 
 scene is introduced here to show the spirit of independence in 
 which American democracy had its birth and early nurture. It 
 was this love of sovereignty, this spirit of independence, and self- 
 government that early manifested itself in the townships of 
 New England, which began their existence as early as 1650. 
 From this time forward, our fathers began most clearly to verify 
 the saying of Aristotle that, "Man is by natui-e a political 
 being." They possessed an independence in some degree, 
 " scornful of experience and jealous of all authority." They 
 began, in their New England towns, to show to the world that, 
 " a democracy more perfect than antiquity had dared to dream 
 of, started in full size and panoply from the midst of an ancient 
 feudal society." 
 
 It being the fact then, that American democracy had its birth 
 and early development in our New England townships, it will 
 be a matter of interest, to consider the town, in its corporate 
 capacity, as a miniature of this great republic. In doing this, 
 we shall l^ecome better acquainted with the important position 
 which these little municipalities hold, and the mighty influence 
 they exert in controlling the destinies of the nation, "whose 
 government is of the people, by the people and /or the people." 
 If then society governs " itself for itself," centering all power 
 in its own bosom, there must be some well established method 
 by which the sovereign will of the people shall find fitting ex- 
 pression. And, since the freeman's ballot is the most approved 
 method of expressing his Mill, politically, he must have some 
 convenient method by Avhich to do this. He cannot visit, as 
 often as his vote is sought, the capitol of the nation, or the 
 state. This necessity he avoids through the provision he has 
 made, for his convenience, in the laws which he has enacted for 
 the government of the town. It is here, at home, and among 
 his neighbors, that as often as he may be required, he exercises 
 the right of suf}ra2:e. Here it is that he declares who shall fill 
 the chair of the Chief Executive of the nation, for the com'ing 
 four years. Here, also, he determines who shall serve him in 
 
6 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 the nation's house of representatives, and inclirectly through his 
 representative in the state legislature, who shall occupy the 
 high and responsible position of United States senator. Here, 
 also, he chooses the governor of the commonwealth and all 
 those officers whose election to positions of " honor and trust" 
 is secured by the votes of the people. Here, also, he chooses 
 the officers of the county in wdiicli his town is located. 
 
 Tiius, within the limits of his own township, the American 
 citizen wields the sovereign power by which he controls the 
 destinies of the nation and the state, of which he proudly re- 
 gards himself as a constituent portion. But while the Ameri- 
 can citizen thus remotely and indirectly shapes the character of 
 the state and national governments and their administrations, 
 yet, nowhere does he exercise his power so immediately as in 
 the choice he makes of town officers. In matters of state and 
 national concern, he acts through those whom he chooses to 
 represent him, while in the selection of town officers, the exer- 
 cise of his sovereign right, as a freeman, has its immediate 
 effect. 
 
 As an individual meml)er of that great organic whole, called 
 the nation, " every man," as Blackstone says, " when he enters 
 into society, gives up a part of his natural liberty as the price 
 of so valuable a purchase." This "giving up a part of his 
 natural liberty," the American citizen cheerfully does, that he 
 may aid in constituting a government which shall not only con- 
 trol himself, but guarantee to him the protection of life, liberty 
 and property, which find their security only in a wise and be- 
 nevolent general government. " The end of the state," says 
 Aristotle, " is not merely to live, but to live nobly." "The 
 state," says Hegel, " is the realization of freedom and it is the 
 absolute end of reason that freedom be real." The American 
 citizen understands the value of free republican government, in 
 which is realized the axiom, omnea Jioynines, matura oequales sunt, 
 all men are by nature equal. He willingly subjects himself to 
 the abridgment of his own liberty, that he may enjoy the high- 
 est liberty, which is liberty under law. He believes with Mil- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 7 
 
 ton that, " a nation onght to be as but one huge christian person- 
 age, one mighty growth or stature of an honest man, as big and 
 compact in virtue as in body, for look, what the ground and 
 causes are of single happiness to one man, the same ye shall 
 find them to a w4iole state ;" or as Burke says, " The state 
 ought not to be considered as a partnership agreement to be 
 taken up for a little temporary interest and dissolved at the 
 fancy of the parties. It is to be looked on with reverence, be- 
 cause it is not a partnership in things subservient to the gross 
 animal existence of a temporary and perishable nature. It is 
 a partnership in all science ; a partnership in all art ; a partner- 
 ship in every virtue and in all perfection." 
 
 This wisdom of these sages, the sovereign people of our re- 
 public cheerfully subscribe to, while at the same time, they do 
 not ignore their peculiar rights as citizens of their respective 
 townships. Within these limits they allow no state interference 
 beyond the bounds which they have fixed through their repre- 
 sentative in the state legislature. It is here, within the town- 
 ship that the student of American democracy, must begin his 
 studies of American institutions. It is here, in the American 
 town meeting that he will find democracy not only in its germ, 
 but as having what Lord Bacon calls, "sprinjring and germinant 
 accomplishment" in the Avider ranges of state and national af- 
 fairs. Here every man, the rich and the poor, the native born, 
 and he who is born in other lands, having become naturalized, 
 deposits his ballot without fear of challenge or intimidation, and 
 one man's ballot is as valuable as that of another. To the dem- 
 ocratic citizen of our New England township, the town meeting 
 is an institution of incalculable importance. Here more than 
 any where else he feels the bracing atmosphere of lilierty and 
 equality before the law. Here he discusses and determines 
 great state and national issues, and with fervid and voluminous 
 argumentation, and the practice of those mysterious arts, in 
 wdiich he is so well trained, he wins his political victories or 
 suffers his political defeats. Here he chooses from his fellow 
 citizens, those otficers of the town, in all their gradations, "who 
 
8 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 shall act as the agents through Avhoiii the popular Avill shall find 
 expression. Thus the town meeting becomes an educator of 
 American youth and the promoter of American democracy. 
 " Town meetings," says De Tocqueville, " are to liberty, what 
 primary schools are to science ; they bring it within the people's 
 reach, they teach men how to use and how to enjoy it." At the 
 ballot box, all men, with few exceptions and restrictions, patent 
 to all, are placed upon an equality. This privilege educates 
 men in the value of human freedom, so long withheld from 
 the masses under oligarchal, monarchical and feudal forms of 
 government. Along with the ballot, dropped from the free- 
 man's hand, comes to him a higher sense of manhood and per- 
 sonal worth. It is here that the young man takes his first les- 
 son in the dignity of political sovereignty. 
 
 The privilege of voting in town meeting, has a direct ten- 
 dency to produce in men a deeper interest in all that relates to 
 the welfare of the community, the state and the nation. He 
 feels that upon him, as a voter, rests in some sense the weal or 
 woe of the social fid^ric of which he is part. Says De Tocque- 
 ville again, 'Tn the American townships, power has been dis- 
 seminated with admirable skill, for the purpose of interesting 
 the greatest possii)le number of persons in the common weal. 
 Independently of the voters, who are from time to time called 
 into action, the power is divided among innumerable function- 
 aries and officers, who all in their several spheres, represent the 
 powerful community in whose name they act. The local ad- 
 ministration thus aflbrds an unfailing source of profit and in- 
 terest to a vast number of individuals. In this manner the ac- 
 tivity of the township is continually perceptible ; it is daily 
 manifested in the fulfillment of a duty or the exercise of a right, 
 and a constant though gentle motion is kept up in society, which 
 animates, without disturbing it. The American attaches him- 
 self to his little community for the same reason that the moun- 
 taineer clings to his hills, because the characteristic features of 
 his country are there more distinctly marked ; it has a more 
 striking physiognomy. The native of New England is attached 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 9 
 
 to his township, because it is independent and free ; his co- 
 operation in its affairs insures his attachment to its interests ; 
 the well-being it affords him, secures his affection ; and its wel- 
 fare is the aim of his ambition, and of his future exertions. He 
 takes a part in every occurrence in the place ; he practices the 
 art of government in the small sphere within his reach ; he ac- 
 customs himself to those forms without which liberty can only 
 advance by revolutions ; he imbibes their spirit ; he acquires a 
 taste for order ; comprehends the balance of power and col- 
 lects clear practical notions on the nature of his duties and the 
 extent of his rights." 
 
 There is nothing connected with the working of our muni- 
 cipal and state governments, which strikes the foreigner with 
 more surprise and interest, than the absence of all sJioiv of ad- 
 ministrative authority. Pie enters one of our towns and, perhaps 
 lives in it, for many days or months, but fails to discover the 
 source from which proceeds the direction and control of its pub- 
 lic affairs. He sees no pompous or fussy official, clothed in the 
 insignia of his office, and swelling with a consciousness of his 
 brief authority ; no gens d\irmes nor mounted policeman, busy 
 in keeping the peace and executing the laws. He would pos- 
 sibly be at considerable inconvenience, to find the source of au- 
 thority, in town matters, should he so desire. And yet, authority 
 is not wanting. If the municipal machinery moves thus quietly, 
 there is a power that moves it. This moving poAver will be 
 found to reside in a class of men, elected at " the annual town 
 meeting " called town officers, whose duties are clearly defined 
 by state enactment. These officers, in whom resides the ad- 
 ministration of town affairs, deserve mention in the present 
 chapter, and since the selectmen, more than any other town 
 officers, embody and express the popular will, special attention 
 will be paid to their duties and powers, while other town 
 offiicers will have only a brief mention. 
 
 Selectmen. — Every town at its annual town meeting shall 
 choose from the inhabitants thereof, a board of officers, called 
 selectmen. This board shall consist of three, five, seven or 
 2 
 
10 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 nine men, chosen by ballot. According to Massachusetts Gen- 
 eral Statutes "every person elected selectman, who enters upon 
 the performance of his duties, before taking the oath of office, 
 shall forfeit for such offence, a sum not exceeding one hundred 
 dollars. The selectmen shall be assessors of taxes and over- 
 seers of the poor, in towns where other persons are not spec- 
 ially chosen to those oiEces, and when acting as assessors, they 
 shall take the oath required of assessors." 
 
 " The powers and duties of selectmen are not fully defined by 
 statute. Many of the acts usually performed by them, in be- 
 half of towns and which are recognized as within their appro- 
 priate sphere, have their origin and foundation in long continued 
 usage. The management of the prudential affairs of towns, 
 necessarily requires the exercise of a large discretion, and it 
 would be quite 'impossible, by positive enactment, to place defi- 
 nite limits to the powers and duties of selectmen, to whom the 
 direction and control of such affairs are intrusted. Speaking 
 generally, it may be said, that they are agents to take the gen- 
 eral superintendence of the business of a town ; to supervise the 
 doings of subordinate agents and the disbursement of moneys, 
 appropriated by vote of the town, to take care of its property, 
 and perform other similar duties. But they are not general 
 agents. They are not clothed with the general power of the 
 corporate body, for which they act. They can only exercise 
 such powers and perform such duties as are necessarily and 
 properly incident to the special and limited authority conferred 
 on them by their office. They are special agents, empowered 
 to do only such acts as are required to meet the exigencies of 
 ordinary town business. They are not authorized to institute 
 or defend suits, where the town is a party, without special 
 power given them by the town."* There are, however, certain 
 duties made imperative by statute upon selectmen. The Gen- 
 eral Statute declares that the annual meeting of each town shall 
 be held in February, March or April ; and other meetings at 
 
 * Herrick's Town Officer, p. 63. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 11 
 
 such times as the selectmen may order. According to state au- 
 thority, every town meeting shall be held in pursuance of a 
 warrant, under the hands of the selectmen, directed to the con- 
 stables, or some other persons, appointed by the selectmen for 
 that purpose, who shall forthwith notify such meeting in the 
 manner prescribed by the by-laws, or a vote of the town. The 
 selectmen may, by the same Avarrant, call two or more distinct 
 town meetings, for distinct purposes. 
 
 The w^arrant shall express the time and place of the meetino- 
 and the subjects to be there acted npon : the selectmen shall in- 
 sert therein, all subjects which may, in Avriting, be requested of 
 them, by any ten or more voters of tiie town, and nothinff 
 acted upon shall have a legal operation, unless the subject 
 matter thereof, is contained in the warrant. They shall, at 
 least ten days before the annual toAvn election and at least ten 
 days before the Tuesday next after the first Monday in Novem- 
 ber, annually, make correct alphabetical lists, of all the persons 
 qualified to vote for the several officers to be elected at those 
 periods ; and shall at least ten days before said election, cause 
 such a list to be posted up in two or more public places in their 
 respective towns. According to an act of the legislature of 
 1877, the selectmen of each town, shall make and keep a record of 
 all persons entitled to vote therein, at any election for town, coun- 
 ty, state or national officers, which shall be known as a Register 
 of Voters. Said register shall contain the names of such voters, 
 written in full, the street or place in town where each resides at 
 the time of registration, each voters occupation, and such other 
 specifications as ma}' be necessary to fully identify the persons 
 named, and the date of registration. No name shall be added 
 to a voting list in any town, until it has been recorded in said 
 register, and none shall be added to a list of voters in use at 
 any election, after the opening of the polls, except to correct a 
 clerical error or omission, and all names on voting lists shall be 
 written or printed in full. The selectmen shall be in session at 
 some convenient place, for a reasonable time, within forty-eight 
 hours next preceding all meetings for the election of the officers 
 
12 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 aforesaid, for the purpose of receiving evidence of the qualifi- 
 cation of persons, claiming a right to vote,*in such elections, 
 and correcting the list of voters. 
 
 They shall hold this meeting for one hour, at least, before 
 the opening of the meeting, on the day of the election. Notice 
 of time and place of holding the sessions, shall be given on the 
 posted list. The selectmen shall enter on such list, the name 
 of any person known to them to-be qualified to vote, and shall 
 erase therefrom the name of any person known to them not to 
 be qualified ; they shall, before entering upon the lists the name 
 of a naturalized citizen, require him to produce for their in- 
 spection, his papers of naturalization, and be satisfied that he 
 has been legally naturalized ; they shall decide whether national, 
 state, district and county officers shall be voted for on one bal- 
 lot, or at the same time on separate ballots, and shall give 
 notice thereof in the Avarrant calling the meeting. They shall 
 preside at town meetings for the election of national, state, dis- 
 trict and county officers, and shall have all the powers which 
 are vested in moderators ; they shall procure of the secretary 
 of the commonwealth a sufficient number of self-sealin<J: enve- 
 lopes to supply each voter, in the town, bearing the arms of the 
 state, and shall allow no other to be used at the polls ; they 
 shall receive, sort and count all votes cast for national, state, 
 county and district officers, and make public declaration thereof 
 in open town meeting ; when a vacancy occurs, in a represen- 
 tative district, upon notification of the same from the speaker 
 of the house of representatives, fixing a time to fill such va- 
 cancy, the selectmen shall issue their warrant to fill such va- 
 cancy ; they shall give a certificate of election to a person voted 
 for as representative to the general court, in accordance with 
 the declaration of the vote, in open town meeting, or forfeit 
 three hundred dollars for their oflfence ; at everj^ election in 
 towns, for officers other than town officers, the selectmen shall 
 cause the voting on check lists and all ballots given in, after 
 having been counted, declared and recorded, to be secured in an 
 envelope and sealed, and they shall endorse on such envelope, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 13 
 
 for what officers the enchased ballots were cast, and at Avhat 
 election, and the same shall be sealed, endorsed and delivered 
 to the town clerk before the adjonrnment of the meeting at 
 which the ballots were cast ; Avhen the right of persons offering 
 a ballot, at any snch election is challenged, for any cause rec- 
 ognized by law, the selecttoen, if they receive the same, shall 
 require the voter to write his name and residence thereon, and 
 they shall add thereto the name of the challenger and the cause 
 assigned for challenijing. 
 
 And if such ballot shall be offered sealed, the writing as 
 aforesaid may be upon the envelope covering the same, and the 
 selectmen shall mark and designate such ballot by writing 
 thereon the name of the person by whom it is counted, and 
 at the close of the election, the same shall be returned to the 
 envelope in which it is deposited. If the town clerk is absent 
 the selectmen shall preside ; if there is a vacancy in the office 
 of town clerk, or he is not present, the selectmen shall call 
 upon the qualified voters present to elect a clerk pro tempore in 
 like manner as town clerks are chosen, and shall sort and count 
 the votes and declare the election of such clerk ; if by reason 
 of death or removal or other cause, a town clerk cannot per- 
 form the duties of his office, the selectmen may in writing, 
 under their hands appoint a clerk for the performance of such 
 duties; they shall annually in March or April, appoint certain 
 town officers, should the inhabitants of the town neglect to 
 choose them ; for instance, one sealer of weights and measures, 
 and as many more as the inhabitants at their annual meeting 
 determine, and a gauger of liquid measures; and they may at 
 any time remove the same and appoint others in their places ; 
 one measurer of wood and bark, and as many more as the in- 
 habitants at their annual meeting may determine. In case any 
 person elected as school committee, after being duly notified, 
 refuses or neglects to accept said office, or if any member of 
 the board declines further service, or from change of residence 
 or otherwise, becomes unable to attend to the duties of the 
 board, the remaining members shall, in writing, give notice of 
 
14 HISTORY OF GAlWNEll. 
 
 the fact to the selectmen of the town, and the two boards, after 
 a week's public notice, shall proceed to fill the vacancy by a 
 majority vote of the joint boards. 
 
 The selectmen may appoint one or more persons to superin- 
 tend scales for the weighing of hay ; they may appoint police 
 ofiicers, with all or any of the powers of constables, except the 
 power of serving and executing civil process, who shall hold 
 their office during the pleasure of the selectmen, by whom they 
 are appointed ; they may upon petition of any railroad corpora- 
 tion having a passenger station within the limits of such town, 
 appoint as many as they may deem proper of the persons in 
 the employ of said corporation, police officers, to act as railroad 
 police, to preserve order within and upon the premises and 
 upon the cars of the corporation upon wliose petition they are 
 appointed. They shall appoint a suitable person to be officer 
 of the watch established by the town, and direct the manner 
 in which watchmen shall be equipped. 
 
 In case of fire, where no fire-wards are appointed, the select- 
 men may direct any house or building to be pulled down or de- 
 molished, when they judge the same to be necessary to prevent 
 the spreading of the fire. When the selectmen of any town 
 consider it necessary for the protection of persons and property 
 in such town, against fire, to take water from any or all pipes 
 or conductors of any aqueduct company running through such 
 town, said selectmen may order the engineers of the fire de- 
 partment in said town to request such aqueduct company to put 
 conductors into such pipes or conductors of said company for 
 the purpose of attaching hydrants or conducting water into res- 
 ervoirs and in such places as engineers shall think necessary to 
 secure the safety of such persons and property against fire. 
 The selectmen shall, upon application of seven freeholders, in- 
 habitants of a proposed fire district, requiring them to notify a 
 meeting of the inhaljitants thereof, duly qualified to vote in 
 town affairs, forthwith give notice to such inhabitants in the 
 manner of notifying town meetings, to assemble at some suit- 
 able place within the district, for said purpose, the substance 
 of which shall be expressed in the notification. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 15 
 
 In case no board of health is chosen l^y the town, the select- 
 men shall constitute that board. They may appoint a physi- 
 cian, who shall hold his office during their pleasure. They 
 shall establish the salary or other compensation of such physi- 
 cian. The selectmen shall require and enforce the vaccination 
 of all the inhabitants, and whenever, in their opinion, the pub- 
 lic health requires it, the revaccination of all the inhabitants 
 who do not prove to their satisfaction that they have been suc- 
 cessfully vaccinated or rcvaccinated within five years. They 
 shall provide a hospital, not within a hundred rods of any 
 dwelling, for the reception of those having small-pox or any 
 other infectious or contagious disease, and make all such regula- 
 tions as they deem necessary for the removal of nuisances and 
 the preservation of the public health, and to give public notice 
 when dangerous diseases exist in the town. The selectmen 
 may determine a suitable place for the erection of a school- 
 house and necessary buildings and proceed to select the same 
 at their discretion, and to lay out a lot or enlargement thereof 
 and to appraise the damages thereof to the owner of such land, 
 in the mannei- provided for laying out town ways and apprais- 
 ing damages sustained thereby. 
 
 The selectmen may lay out or alter town ways for the use of 
 their respective towns, and provide ways for the use of one or 
 more of the inhabitants thereof; or may order specific repairs 
 to be made upon such ways, and shall cause suitable bounds to 
 be erected at the termini and angles of all roads laid out by 
 them. They are to assign limits to surveyors of highways, in 
 writing, before the first of May, to regulate water-courses in 
 the roads ; to determine compensation for damjiges occasioned 
 by repairs in highways ; to report at town meeting where guide- 
 posts are erected and are needed ; they are to determine, in 
 writing, Avhere the posts of a telegraph company shall be 
 placed, the height at which, and the places where the wires may 
 run. They may establish such pu])lic drinking troughs, Avells 
 and fountains, within the public highways, squares and com- 
 mons of their respective towns, as in their judgment the public 
 necessity and convenience may require. 
 
16 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 The selectmen of any town may make such rules and regula- 
 tions in relation to the passage of carriages, wagons, carts, 
 trucks, sleds, sleighs or other vehicles, through the streets or 
 public ways, as they shall deem necessary for the safety or con- 
 venience of those who travel on said streets or W'ays, on foot 
 or in vehicles, with penalties for violations thereof, not exceed- 
 ing twenty dollars for one oifense. Once in every five years 
 two or more of the selectmen of each town shall perambulate 
 the town, run the lines and renew the murks. Previously to a 
 perambulation, the selectmen of the most ancient of the con- 
 tiguous towns, shall give ten days' notice, in writing, to the 
 selectmen of the adjoining town, of the time and place of 
 meeting for such perambulation. The selectmen of the con- 
 tiguous towns shall erect, at the joint and equal expense of such 
 towns, permanent monuments to designate their respective 
 boundary lines, at ever}' angle thereof, except where such lines 
 are bounded by the ocean or some permanent stream of water. 
 The monuments shall be of stone, well set in, and at least four 
 feet high from the surface of the ground ; and the initial letter 
 of the respective name of each contiguous town, shall be plainly 
 and legibly cut thereon. 
 
 The selectmen of towns bordering on another state, where 
 the lines between the states are settled and established, shall, 
 once in every five years, give notice to the selectmen or other 
 proper municipal officers of such towns in the other state, as 
 adjoin their town, of their intention to perambulate the lines 
 between their adjoining towns. Where such lines are in dis- 
 pute, the perambulations shall be made once in every tive years 
 after the lines are settled and established. 
 
 The selectmen of any town, when in their opinion the public 
 good requires it, may ofier a suitable reward, to be paid by the 
 town, not exceeding five hundred dollars, in one case, to any 
 person who in consequence of such oft'er, secures any person 
 charged with a capital crime or other high crime or misdemeanor, 
 committed in such place, and such reward shall be paid b}' the 
 treasurer upon warrant of the selectmen. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 17 
 
 The selectmen, upon the order of the commander-in-chief, 
 shall appoint a time and place of parade for the militia in their 
 town, and order them to appear at the time and place, either 
 by leaving a written notice or orally, and then and there pro- 
 ceed to draft as many thereof, or accept as many volunteers, as 
 are required, by the commander-in-chief, and shall forthwith 
 notify the commander-in-chief that they have performed such 
 duty. The selectmen of towns may aimually appoint one or 
 more persons to be inspectors of provisions and animals in- 
 tended for slaughter, who shall receive such compensation as 
 the selectmen may determine. They may annually appoint one 
 or more persons to be inspectors of milk, who shall be sworn. 
 
 The selectmen may grant licenses, annually, to persons, whom 
 they deem fit, for the sale of intoxicating liquors, to inn-holders 
 and common victualers. They may grant licenses for billiard 
 tables or bowling alleys, for hire, gain or reward, upon such 
 terms and conditions, as they deem proper, to be used for 
 amusement merely; l)ut not for purposes of gaming for money 
 or other property. They may license theatrical exhibitions, 
 public shows, public amusements and exhibitions of every de- 
 scription, to which admission is obtained upon payment of 
 money, upon such terms as they may deem reasonable. 
 
 Such are some, but not all of the powers, duties and respon- 
 sibilities devolved upon the selectmen of the towns as executors 
 of the Avill of the sovereign people, whose duties are defined 
 by tlie general statutes of the state. They are the embodi- 
 ment of municipal power, in the exercise of which, the town is 
 governed and its interests secured. 
 
 It is worthy of notice, how the public official acts of the 
 selectmen of a town, like the many tributaries of a great river, 
 flow into the broader and deeper channels of state and national 
 influence and power. It is through their action, that the will 
 of the township combines with, and expresses the will of the 
 whole nation. There is in this system of popular government 
 by townships, a careful avoidance of centralization of power, 
 in the state or the national administration. The people deter- 
 3 
 
18 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 mine for themselves, who shall be their servants in carrying out 
 their will, in town, state and nation. If they are not satisfied 
 with their selectmen or representatives in the state or national 
 legislature, they quietly express their disfavor at the ballot box. 
 The ballot is, to them, a noiseless, yet all-powerful means of 
 expressing their political opinions and reaching their political 
 aims. 
 
 Town Glerh. — Every town has its town clerk, w^hose duties 
 are various and well defined. He shall record all votes passed 
 at the meetino- at which he was elected, and at all other meet- 
 ino's held during: his continuance in ofiice. He is to record all 
 reports of conuuittees ; to make a record of his own election 
 and qualification. He shall administer the oath of office to all 
 town officers, who appear before him for that purpose, and shall 
 make a record thereof, and of oaths of office taken before jus- 
 tices of the peace, of which certificates are filed. The names 
 of persons voted for, the number of votes received for each 
 person and the title of the office for which he is proposed, shall 
 be entered in words at length, by the town clerks, in their 
 records. Within ten days after an election for governor, lieu- 
 tenant-governor, councilors, senators, secretary, treasurer and 
 receiver-general, auditor, attorney -general, representative in 
 congress, commissioner of insolvency, sherifis, registers of pro- 
 bate and insolvency, district-attorneys, or clerks of the courts, 
 town clerks shall transmit copies of the records of the votes, 
 attested by them, certified by the selectmen and sealed up, to 
 the secretary of the commonwealth ; they shall in like manner, 
 within ten days after an election for county treasurer or register 
 of deeds, transmit such copies of the records of the voters, to 
 the county commissioners of their several counties ; and within 
 seven days after an election for county commissioner, transmit 
 such copies of the records of the votes to the clerk of the 
 courts of their several counties. 
 
 Town clerks upon payment of their fees, shall record all 
 mortgages of personal property, delivered to them, in books 
 kept for the purpose, noting therein, and on each mortgage. 
 
HISTOBY OF GARDNER. 19 
 
 the time it is received. They shall also record notice to fore- 
 close, with affidavits of service and notices to pledgers of 
 property, of intention to foreclose, with affidavits of service, 
 and notice of liens on ships. The town clerk shall issue certi- 
 ficates of marriage, upon sufficient evidence that the parties 
 applying for the same are legally entitled to receive them. If 
 he issues a certificate of marriage to a man under the age of 
 twenty-one years, or female under the age of eighteen, having 
 reasonable cause to supjiose the person to be under such age, 
 except upon the api)lication or consent, in writing, of the parent, 
 master or guardian of such person, he shall forfeit a sum not 
 exceeding one hundred dollars ; but if there is no parent, 
 master or guardian in the state, competent to act, a certificate 
 may be issued, without such application or consent. For this 
 service, his fee shall be fifly cents, paid by the parties receiving 
 the certificate. He shall also record all births and deaths within 
 the town. He shall make an entry, in a liook kept for that 
 purpose, of all money or property, found by any one, to the 
 amount of three dollars or more value, and of all stray beasts, 
 with a description of the color and natural and artificial marks 
 of the beast, for which the finder shall pay him the sum of 
 twenty-five cents. 
 
 It shall be the duty of the town clerk of any town, which is 
 authorized to sul)scribe for any stock of any railroad company, 
 or to loan its credit, or to grant aid to the same, to transmit to 
 the secretary of the commonwealth and to the board of rail- 
 road commissioners, a certified copy of any vote of such town, 
 under such authority, within thirty days, from the day on which 
 said vote shall be taken. Considering these and other duties 
 not here named, l)elonging to the town clerk, it will be readily 
 seen that the office is no sinecure. 
 
 Assessors. — The assessors of a town constitute a board of 
 three or more competent citizens, chosen in annual toAvn meet- 
 ing, who shall take the oath of office, in substance as follows : — 
 
 "'You being chosen assessors, (or an assessor) for the town of , 
 
 for the year ensuing, do sAvear that you will impartially, according to 
 
20 HISTORY OF GAllDNEll. 
 
 your best skill and judgment, assess and apportion all such taxes as you 
 are, during that time, directed to assess, and that you will faithfully dis- 
 charge all other duties of said office." 
 
 If any person chosen assessor, having notice of his election, 
 neglect to take the oath of office, he shall forfeit a snm not ex- 
 ceeding fifty dollars. The dnties of assessors are quite im- 
 portant and well defined by general statute. 
 
 Town Treasurer. — The town treasurer shall be chosen by 
 ballot, at the annual town meeting and shall take the oath of 
 office. In addition to this, he shall give bonds, in such sum as 
 the selectmen may require, with sureties, to their satisfaction, 
 for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office ; shall re- 
 ceive and take charge of all sums of money belonging to his 
 town, and pay over the same according to the order of such 
 town or the officers thereof, duly authorized in that behalf. 
 The bond thus required should be given to the town, and not 
 to the selectmen. The town treasurer is not excused from pay- 
 ing over money collected by him, because it has been stolen 
 from him without his fault. His sureties are still liable for his 
 failure to pay, on that account. He may in his own name and 
 official capacity, prosecute suits upon bonds, notes or other 
 securities, given to him or his predecessors in office, and when 
 no other provision is specially made, shall prosecute for all 
 fines and forfeitures which enure to his town or the poor 
 thereof. 
 
 He shall prosecute for any trespasses committed on any 
 building or enclosure belonging to his town. If appointed col- 
 lector of taxes, he may appoint deputies, who shall give bonds 
 for the faithful discharge of their duty, as the selectmen may 
 think proper. A treasurer so appointed collector, may issue 
 his warrant to the sherifl:' of the county or his deputy or to any 
 constable of the town, directing them to distrain the property 
 or take the body of any person who is delinquent in the pay- 
 ment of taxes, and to proceed in like manner as collectors are 
 required to do in like cases. The treasurer shall annually 
 render a true account of all his receipts and payments, and 
 
HLSTOBY OF GARDNER. 21 
 
 other official doings, to the town, and shall receive such com- 
 pensation for his services as the town may determine. 
 
 Higliivay Surveyors. — There shall be in each town, one or 
 more highway surveyors, who, Avhen chosen, cannot refuse to 
 serve, under penalty of ten dollars ; but he shall not be obliged 
 to serve oftener than once in three years. If he neglects the 
 duties of his office, he shall forfeit ten dollars for each of- 
 fense ; and he may be prosecuted by indictment for any deti- 
 ciency in the highways, within his limits, occasioned by his 
 fault or neglect. The powers and responsibilities of this class 
 of town officers, are almost unlimited, so far as they relate to 
 the highwaj-s and all that pertain to their management, of 
 Avhich, we cannot occupy space here to speak. 
 
 There are also constables, appointed to keep the peace and 
 execute the laws ; field drivers, whose duty it is to take up, at 
 any time, swine, sheep, horses, asses, mules, goats or neat 
 cattle, going at large in public highways, or town ways, or on 
 common and unimproved lands, and not under the care of a 
 keeper ; fence viewers, who have power to determine the legality 
 of fences, between owners of lands adjacent ; and may, when 
 a fence line is in dispute, or unknown, designate a line on 
 which a fence shall be built, and may employ a surve3'or there- 
 for if necessary ; surveyors of lumber, measurers of wood and 
 harh, and overseers of the i^oor. 
 
 An important agency in every town, in carrying out the 
 wishes of the people, regarding public education, is the school 
 committee, who are chosen at the annual town meeting, by 
 ballot, whose duty it is to have the charge and general superin- 
 tendence of all the public schools in the town. They shall 
 consist of any number divisible by three, one-third to be elected 
 annually, and to serve three years, unless the town otherwise 
 determines, at its annual meeting; the school committee shall 
 select and contract with the teachers of the public schools, and 
 shall require full and satisfactory evidence of the good moral 
 character of all instructors, wdio may be employed, and shall 
 ascertain, by personal examination, their qualifications for teach- 
 
22 HI8T0BY OF GAIiDNEB. 
 
 ing, and capacity for government of schools. They shall re- 
 quire the daily reading in schools, of some portion of the Bible, 
 without written note or oral comment ; but, they shall require 
 no schohir, to read from any particular version, whose parent 
 or guardian shall declare that he has conscientious scruples 
 against allowing him to read therefrom, nor shall they even 
 direct any school books, calculated to favor the tenets of any 
 particular sect of christians, to be purchased or used in any 
 public school. 
 
 They shall direct what text books shall be used in the public 
 schools, and shall prescribe, as far as practicable, a course of 
 studies and exercises to ))e pursued in said schools. If any 
 change is made in text books, each pupil then belonging to the 
 public schools and requiring the substituted book, shall be 
 furnished with the same, by the school committee, at the ex- 
 pense of the town. They shall give notice in Avriting, to the 
 assessors of the toAvn, of the names of the pupils, thus supplied, 
 of the books so furnished, the prices thereof, and the names of 
 the parents, masters or guardians, who ought to have supplied 
 the same, that the assessors may add the price of the books to 
 the next annual tax of such parents, masters or guardians, that 
 the amount may i)e paid into the town treasury, in the same 
 manner as town taxes. 
 
 Thus all pai-ents, masters and guardians are compelled to 
 furnish children under their charge, with the means of procur- 
 ing a common school education. The school committee may 
 also appoint, if the town so vote, a superintendent of public 
 schools, and tix his salary. If a superintendent is appointed 
 by them, they shall not be entitled to a compensation for their 
 services. They shall make an annual report to the town and 
 to the secretary of the board of education, of the common- 
 wealth, and perform all other duties specified by law. 
 
 From this survey of the town, in its self-governing capacity 
 as a constituent element of the state, and through the state, of 
 the nation, we may obtain some higher appreciation of its im- 
 portance. We find it to be a little municipality, existing under 
 
HISTORY OF GAEBJYUB. 23 
 
 well defined laws, admirably adapted, through the agency of 
 town officials, to secure its highest ends. There is in it, no 
 permanent superiority of one individual over another, for which, 
 the Pilgrim Fathers had no love, but an intense hate. The 
 original settlers were men who regarded themselves as stand- 
 ing upon perfect equality. They were men of poverty, "and 
 there are," says De Tocqueville, in speaking of these men," no 
 surer guarantees of equal it}', among men, than poverty and 
 misfortune. Born in a country which had been agitated, for 
 centuries, by the struggles of factions, and in which all parties 
 had been obliged, in their turn, to place themselves under the 
 protection of the laws, their political education had been per- 
 fected in this rude school, and they were more conversant with 
 the notions of right, and the principles of true freedom, than 
 the greater part of their European contemporaries. 
 
 "At the period of the first emigrations, the township system, 
 that fruitful germ of free institutions, was deeply rooted in the 
 hal)its of the English, and with it, the doctriue of the sover- 
 eignty of the people, had l)een introduced into the bosom of the 
 monarchy of the house of Tudor." We find that the township, 
 "that fruitful germ of free institutions," has had a wonderful 
 development in the progress of years. We see the germ of it, 
 clearly manifestiug itself in the Pl^anouth Colony, as early as 
 1621, when, as the historian tells us, in speaking of the Pilgrim 
 Fathers, "after they had prpvided a place for their goods, or 
 common store and begun some small cottages for their habita- 
 tion, as time would admit, fhei/ met and consulted of Imvs and 
 orders, both for their civil and military government, as the 
 necessity of their coudition did require." Here first " the sim- 
 ple democracy, the earliest instance of New England town 
 meeting government, proved it'^elf equal to the need of the 
 little republic." Here these sturdy men, in their little town 
 meeting, deliberated on the means of defending themselves 
 against the attacks of the aboriginal savage, who hung with 
 hostile intent upon the borders of their little settlement. Here 
 it was, that upon " a very fair and warm day," April 1st, 1621, 
 
24 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 " while they were deliberating on pnblic affairs, in town meeting, 
 Sanioset came, the third time and four others with him, to visit 
 the pilgrims." It was here, on the second day of April, 1621, 
 that they completed their " military orders '' and made those 
 laws which seemed necessary in their ' ' present estate and con- 
 dition." Here they re-elected Carver as governor of the colony, 
 with indefinite powers, but always responsible to "the whole 
 company." Here in this early stage of their colonial existence, 
 they had occasion to test the powers of their new government, 
 when John Billington, who had been " shuiHed into their com- 
 pany," showed his dislike of Captain Miles Standish, Avhen in 
 " opprobrious speeches," he manifested his " contempt of the 
 captain's lawful commands." This " profane and w(nthless fel- 
 low," was " convcnted before the whole company," and for his 
 offense, was sentenced "to have his neck and heels tied to- 
 gether." This unfortunate member, however, under " military 
 orders," " humbled himself and craved pardon," in view of 
 which, his penalty was remitted. 
 
 Thus, even in the very infancy of this half depopulated 
 colony, was the public authority upheld by the action of "the 
 whole body," in their first town meetings. The township and 
 the town meeting were brought, in their seed form, across the 
 ocean, in the hold of the Mayflower. They were planted in the 
 soil of Plymouth, from which they have developed into a mighty 
 republic, whose borders are washed by the great oceans. We 
 see then how the idea of the township, with its organic life, as 
 an independent municipality, beginning in Massachusetts Bay, 
 has gradually extended itself over all the nation — a miniature 
 democracy — and yet so interwoven in its politial action, with 
 the whole state and the whole nation, as to be a vital part of a 
 stupendous whole, one body politic, in which, if " one member 
 suflfer, all the members suffer with it, or one member be hon- 
 ored, all the members rejoice with it." Distinct and inde- 
 pendent as the town certainly is, those, who have had a part in 
 shaping its municipal organism, have had the wisdom to dis- 
 cover, that, unus Jiomo, nuUus homo — man alone, is not a man, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 25 
 
 — but that the highest political condition is reached only, when 
 man acts, not within the confined limits of his own town or 
 state, but, in the wider range of the nation's life, whose great 
 heart is as the heart of one man, sending its life-giving cur- 
 rents out through all the arteries and veins of the body politic. 
 In conduct of such for reaching significance on the part of our 
 fothers, is confirmed the wisdom of Alexander Hamilton, who 
 in the Federalist says, " as all external provisions are found to 
 be inadequate, the defect must be supplied, by so contriving 
 the interior structure of the government, as that its several con- 
 stituent parts, may, by their mutual relations, be the means of 
 keeping each other in their places." 
 4 
 
26 HISTORY OF GARDJSTEB. 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 INCORPORATION AND TOPOGRAPHY OF THE TOWN. 
 
 " The wise and active couquer difficulties 
 By daring to attempt them ; sloth and folly 
 Shiver and shrink at sight of toil and hazard, 
 And make the impossibility they fear." — Bowe. 
 
 C A J CCQRDING to the most accurate information, which we 
 jL\- are able to obtain, regarding the initiatory steps, taken 
 for the incorporation of this town, Mr. John Glazier, then a 
 citizen of Westminster, in May, 1785, presented a petition, to 
 the Massachusetts legislature, bearing about thirty signatures, 
 praying that body to erect certain portions of Winchendon, 
 Ashburnham, Westminster and Templeton, into a township, 
 called Gardner. Although careful search has been made in the 
 journal of the house of representatives, for the year 1785, we 
 have not been able to ascertain who these petitioners were, no 
 names accompanying the petition, having been preserved. 
 However, among these petitioners, stands the name of Mr. John 
 Glazier, as some of his descendants, still living in town, can 
 testify. Accompanying this petition, was an outline map, still 
 on file, at the state house, giving a view of this and the adjoin- 
 ins: towns, when Gardner should be set off from them. The 
 town received the name of Gardner, in honor of Colonel Thomas 
 Gardner, who fell in defence of his country's liberties. 
 
 The following is the Act of Incorporation, with the date of 
 its passage, by the General Court, which it is thought best to 
 embody entire in this chapter. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 27 
 
 ACT OF INCORPORATION. 
 
 Au act for erecting the westerly part of Westminster, the 
 southwesterly part of Ashburnham, the southeasterly part of 
 Wincheudon and the easterly part of Templeton, in the county 
 of Worcester, into a town by the name of Gardner : — 
 
 WJierean^ The inhabitants of the westerly part of the town 
 of Westminster, the southwesterly part of the town of Ash- 
 burnham, the southeasterly part of the town of Wincheudon 
 and the easterly part of the town of Templeton, in the county 
 of Worcester, have represented to this court, the difficulties 
 they labor under in their present situation, and request that 
 they maybe incorporated into a separate town, and it appearing 
 to this court, proper to comply with their request : 
 
 Be it enacted, by the Senate and House of Representatives in 
 General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same: 
 That the westerly part of the town of Westminster, southwest- 
 erly part of the town of Ashburnham, southeasterly part of the 
 town of Wincheudon and easterly part of the town of Temple- 
 ton, in the county of Worcester, bounded as follows, viz : Be- 
 ginning at the west corner of the town of Westminster, running 
 southeasterly on the town line on Templeton and Hubbardston, 
 to the southeasterly corner of lot number thirty-two, third divi- 
 sion ; thence running northeasterly, straight to the southeasterly 
 corner of lot number ninety-one, second division ; from thence, 
 upon the line between lots number ninety-one and ninety-two, 
 to Ashburnham town line ; thence, running southwesterly on 
 Ashburnham line, to the northeast corner of lot number fifty-five, 
 second division, in Ashburnham; thence, by the northeasterly 
 line of said lot, to the north corner of the same ; from thence, 
 straight to the northeast corner of lot number forty-five, second 
 division; from thence, on the north line of the same, to the 
 northwest corner on Winchendon line ; from thence, northeast- 
 erly on said line, to the northeasterly corner of lot number 
 fifteen, second division of Ashburnham line ; from thence, south- 
 
28 HISTORY OF GABDNEll. 
 
 westerly pii a straight line, to the northwesterly corner of lot 
 number one hundred and sixty, on Templeton line ; from thence, 
 southeasterly on said line, to the southeast corner of lot number 
 eighty-four, second division ; from thence, on the southeasterly 
 line of said lot, to Otter River, so called ; from thence, up said 
 river to Westminster town line ; from thence, on said line to the 
 first mentioned corner, be and they hereby are erected into a 
 town by the name of Gardner, and the inhabitants thereof, 
 hereby are invested with all the powers, privileges and immuni- 
 ties which the inhabitants of other tow'us Avithin this common- 
 wealth do or may enjoy. 
 
 And he it further enacted : That where the lots that are now 
 settled, are cut by the above lines, every owner of such lot, 
 shall be holclen to pay taxes for the whole of such lot to that 
 toAvn in which his house now stands. Provided, nevertheless: 
 If any owner of such lot, shall return a certificate into the sec- 
 retary's ofiice, within six months after the passing of this act, 
 expressing his desire to belong, with his said lot, to the other 
 town, such lot and the owner thereof, shall forever afterwards 
 be holden to pay taxes to the other town accordingly. 
 
 And he it far titer enacted, hy the authority aforesaid: That 
 the inhabitants of the said town, shall pay their proportion of 
 all taxes already granted to be raised in the several towns from 
 which they were respectively taken. 
 
 And be it further enacted: That Nicholas Dyke, Esq., be 
 and hereby is empowered to issue his warrant directed to some 
 principal inhabitant, requiring him to w^arn and give notice, to 
 the inhabitants of the said town, to assemble and meet at some 
 suitable time and place, in said town, to choose all such officers 
 as towns, by law are required to choose, at their annual town 
 meeting in the month of March. 
 
 Samuel Phillips, Junior, President of the Senate. 
 Nathaniel Gorham, Speaker of the House. 
 June 27th, 1785. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 29 
 
 That the reader may see, with what cordiality and unanimity, 
 the adjoining towns, surrendered a portion of their territory, 
 for the formation of a new township, the following votes of 
 these towns, as taken from original files, will here be inserted. 
 
 VOTE OF WINCHENDON. 
 
 At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Winchendon, 
 by adjournment, on the 16th day of May, A. D., 1785, voted. 
 That if the petitioners, in the southeast part of said town, pay 
 their equal portion of what the town shall owe, when they are 
 established by the General Court, into a town or district, that all 
 the land lying southeasterly of the following bounds, viz : Be- 
 o-innino; at the northeast corner of lot number fifteen, in the 
 second division in Ashburnham line ; thence southwesterly, on 
 a straight line to the northwesterly corner of lot number one 
 hundred and sixty, in Templeton line, be set off, in order for 
 forming a town or district, with others in the neighboring towns. 
 
 Moses Hale, Moderator. 
 
 VOTE OF ASHBURNHAM. 
 
 At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of said town, voted. 
 That the southwest corner of this town, be set ofi^", to join with 
 a part of Westminster and Winchendon, into a separate towui, 
 as far as the following lots, viz : Beginning at the northwest 
 corner of lot number forty-five, second division ; from thence, by 
 the north line, to the northeast corner of said lot ; from thence, 
 straight to the northeast corner of lot number fifty-five, second 
 division, and by the east line of said lot, to Westminster town 
 line, including two thousand, three hundred and forty-eight acres. 
 A true copy, attest, 
 
 Samuel Wilder, Jr., Toivn Clerk. 
 
 Ashburnham, Sept. 3d, 1784. 
 
 vote of WESTMINSTER. 
 
 Voted, To set off the westerly part of the town, beginning 
 at the southeasterly corner of lot number thirty-two, third di- 
 
30 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 vision, on Hubbardston line; thence running northeasterly, to 
 the southwesterly corner of lot number ninety-one, second 
 division ; from thence on the line between lots number ninety- 
 one and ninety-two, to the town line. At a legal meeting of 
 the town of Westminster on the 17th day of May, 1785, the 
 above vote was passed. 
 
 Attest, Joseph Holden, Town Clerk. 
 
 VOTE OF TEMPLETON. 
 
 At a meeting of the inhabitants of Templeton, legally con- 
 vened, the town voted to accept the report of the committee, 
 which is as follows, viz : The committee chosen to consider 
 the petition of sundry persons, praying for a piece of land ofl' 
 of this town, to adjoin with a part of 'several other towns, to 
 make a town or district, report as follows, viz : That it is the 
 opinion of the committee, that all the land that lies on the east 
 side of Otter River, from Westminster line, south part, down 
 the river, till it comes to the southerly side of third division, lot 
 nnmber eighty-four, be set oft' for that purpose. Which is 
 humbly submitted. 
 
 Samuel Cook, Jr., Moderator. 
 A true copy, attest, 
 
 Ebenezer Wright, Town Clerk. 
 
 Templeton, Api'il 6, 1785. 
 
 The following is the report of a committee of Winchendon, 
 which was " accepted and adopted," on the 17th of May, 1781, 
 relating to parting with a large section of its township, to aid 
 in forming the new town, which Mr. Marvin, from whose his- 
 tory of Winchendon, it is copied, characterizes as " unselfish 
 and honorable" : — 
 
 " We, the subscribers, being appointed by the town of Win- 
 chendon, as a committee to take into consideration the petition 
 of Gideon Fisher and others, inhabitants of the southeasterly 
 part of Winchendon, requesting to have a part of said town set 
 off, and being annexed to parts of other towns, to form a dis- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 31 
 
 tinct district, have attended to that business, and report as 
 follows : Considering the situation of the petitioners, we think 
 it reasonable a part of said town should be set off when those 
 towns concerned have determined the respective boundaries of 
 the district to be so formed, as that the same may be properly 
 accommodated ; and as circumstances now appear, we think a 
 straight line beg-innino; at the northeast corner of lot number 
 fifteen, to the southeast corner of lot number eighty, would 
 best accommodate, if the parts taken from the other towns are 
 correspondent thereto ; and in order that said boundaries may 
 be ascertained, we think it expedient that those towns con- 
 cerned should meet by their committees, or otherwise, to con- 
 sult on the same." 
 
 It will be seen from the dates of these votes, that the forma- 
 tion of this town, was a matter contemplated for a number of 
 years, but for some reason, not perfected till June, 1785. In 
 accordance with the injunction of the General Court, contained 
 in the Act of Incorporation, and addressed to Nicholas Dyke, 
 Esq., of Westminster, that gentleman, as justice of the peace, 
 issued his warrant for callino; the first town meeting, direct- 
 ed to Peter Goodale, as "principal inhabitant" of the town 
 of Gardner. Undoubtedly, Mr. Goodale was duly sensible and 
 fully appreciative of the distinguished consideration, thus paid 
 him, by a servant of the Great and General Court of Massa- 
 chusetts. The warrant, is as follows, which it is thought ad- 
 visable, together w^ith the doino;s of the town, at its first meet- 
 ing, to insert here, that the reader may see how the fathers 
 managed their public affairs, in the commencement of the town's 
 history. 
 
32 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 [seal.] 
 
 FIRST TOWN WAERANT. 
 CommonwealtJi of Massachusetts. 
 
 Worcester, ss. 
 
 To Peter Goodale, one of the inhabitants of the town of 
 Gardner : Greeting. 
 
 Whereas, The Honorable General Court Assembly and House 
 of Representatives, at their last session, at the request of said 
 inhabitants, have erected the Avestwardly part of the town of 
 Westminster, the southwestwardly part of the town of Ash- 
 burnham, southwardly part of the town of Winchendon, and 
 the eastwardly part of the town of Templeton, in the county of 
 Worcester, into a town by the name of Gardner ; and I am also 
 directed by the said court to issue my warrant, to some prin- 
 cipal inhabitant of said town, to assemble and meet at some 
 suitable place, as shall be appointed, and you are hereby, in the 
 name of authority aforesaid, forthwith, required to warn all the 
 inhabitants of said town, to meet at the house of Mr. John 
 Glazier, in said town, on Monday, the fifteenth day of August 
 present, at nine o'clock, forenoon, to act on the following arti- 
 cles, viz : 
 
 1st. To choose a moderator to govern said meeting. 
 
 2d. To choose all town officers, as the law directs, at annual 
 March meetings. 
 
 3d. To know the mind of the town, Avhether they will grant 
 money to defray town charges. 
 
 4th. To see what method the town will come into, to collect 
 taxes, or to transact any matters or business as they think nec- 
 essary. 
 
 And you are hereby required to make due return of this 
 warrant and your doings thereon, unto myself, on said day, at 
 said place of meeting, where I shall attend. 
 
 Given under my hand and seal this third day of August, 
 A. D. 1785. 
 
 Nicholas Dykk, Justice of the Peace. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER, 33 
 
 Warrant. — To Peter Goodale. 
 
 Ill obedience to this Avarrant I liave notified and warned all 
 
 the inhabitants of this town, to meet at time and place within 
 
 mentioned. 
 
 Peter Goodale. 
 
 Gardner, August ye loth, 1785. 
 
 A true record of the warrant, 
 
 Seth Hey wood, Toimi Clerk. 
 
 FIRST TOWN MEETING. 
 
 At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Gardner, for 
 the first time, on the 15th day of August, 1785, at the house of 
 John Glazier, agreeable to warrant : — 
 
 1st. Said meeting being opened b}^ Nicholas Dyke, Esq., 
 Capt. Elisha Jackson was chosen moderator, for the govern- 
 ment of said meeting. 
 
 2d. Chose Seth Heywood, clerk; Elisha Jackson, Samuel 
 Stone, John White, Simon Gates, John Glazier, selectmen. 
 
 Voted, That the selectmen be the assessors ; then adjourned 
 for one hour. 
 
 Met agreeable to adjournment, and chose Seth Heywood, 
 treasurer; Elijah Wilder, collector, and agreed with him, to 
 collect the taxes, for four pence on the pound, he procuring 
 bondsmen, to the acceptance of the town. 
 
 Then chose Elijah Wilder, constable ; William Bickford, tith- 
 ingman ; Simon Gates, Josiah Wilder, Seth He3Wood, Ebene- 
 zer Howe, Ebenezer Bolton, highway surveyors ; Bezaleel Hill, 
 Ezra Moore, hog reeves ; Jonathan Bancroft, field driver; Jo- 
 seph Pay son, sealer of leather ; Joseph Bacon, surveyor of 
 boards and shingles ; Andrew Beard, deer reeve; David Nich- 
 ols, warden; John Glazier, sexton. The several officers were 
 sworn by Justice Dyke. The third and fourth articles were 
 dismissed. 
 
 A true record, 
 
 Seth Heywood, Clerk. 
 
34 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 It is obvious, to one reflecting upon the events of this par- 
 ticular period, in the history of the town, that the first town 
 meeting, was to its founders, a matter of no small moment. 
 To them it was an event that had been long anticipated and 
 much discussed. Those most prominently interested, in the 
 formation of the township, had spared no pains and inconven- 
 ience to awaken an interest, in their long cherished project. 
 The many visits they made, from house to house, the many 
 arguments they had, in favor of a new township, with those re- 
 luctant to come into the proposed arrangement, the many talks, 
 among neighbors by the way, and in the huml)le dwellings of 
 these early settlers, are more matters of conjecture, than of 
 histoTy. And when at last, the Great and General Court, had 
 heard their prayer, and the edict had been sent forth, for the 
 incorporation of the town, and the day, upon which they were 
 to hold their first town meeting, had come, we can easily imag- 
 ine with what elasticity of spirit, they assembled at the time 
 and place appointed, which place was the house of Mr. John 
 Glazier, — now owned and occupied by Mr. William Austin — 
 for the transaction of all business, needful to set in legal opera- 
 tion, the machinery of their ncAvly made town. It is not diffi- 
 cult to put ourselves back into their condition and listen to the 
 conjectures, which were made as to Avho should be moderator 
 of the meeting, who the clerk, who the selectmen and the other 
 officers of less importance, in the management of town affairs. 
 We see them, upon the morning of the fifteenth day of Au- 
 gust, 1785, converging from all parts of their sparsely peopled 
 township, with a certain air and port of freedom about them, 
 which none but real freemen can understand or appreciate. 
 With mutual congratulations and hearty good cheer, they en- 
 couraged one another, in the discharge of their new, yet self- 
 sought responsibilities. In the following pages of this history, 
 will be seen how faithfully and intelligently the}^ fulfilled their 
 trust. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJS^ER. 35 
 
 TOPOGRAPHY. 
 
 " Scenes must be beautiful which daily view'cl 
 Please daily, and whose novelty survives 
 Long knowledge and the scrutiny of years." 
 
 The town of Gtirdner is somewhat unique in its situation, 
 being upon the height of land, between the Merrimack and the 
 Connecticut rivers, thus forming a water-shed, from which flow 
 the waters of the town, into the above mentioned rivers. It is 
 k)cated in the north part of Worcester County, and bounded on 
 the north, l)y Wineliendon and Ashburnham, on the' east, hy 
 Ashburnham and Westminster, on the south, by Westminster 
 and Hubbardston and on the west, by Templeton and Winchen- 
 don. It has a surface of about fourteen thousand acres, or 
 twenty-one and seven-eighths square miles. Its distance wester- 
 ly from Boston, is about fifty-eight miles, and from Worcester, 
 in a northwest direction, about twenty-five miles. Its average 
 altitude is eleven hundred feet above the level of the sea. Its 
 highest point, — Glazier hill, near the centre of the town — is 
 twelve hundred and ninety-four feet above sea level, while its 
 lowest point — where the Otter Kiver ceases to be the town line, 
 between Gardner and Templeton — is eight hundred and ninety- 
 feet above sea level. The latitude of Gardner, at the centre of 
 the town, is forty-two and one-half degrees north. Its longi- 
 tude seventy-two degrees west. 
 
 By consulting the map accompanying this work, it will be 
 seen, that the outline of Gardner, is very irregular. This no- 
 ticeable irregularity, is explained by the fact, that in organizing 
 the town, as will be seen by reference to the Act of Incorpora- 
 tion, the General Court granted liberty, to those whose farms 
 were cut by the town lines, to choose the town they preferred 
 to belong to, that they might thus avoid paying taxes in both 
 towns. Those desiring to take advantage of this provision, 
 were required to return a certificate into the secretary's oflice, 
 within six months from the passage of the Act of Incorporation, 
 expressing their desire to belong to the adjoining town. Some, 
 
36 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 after the territory originally comprising the town was surveyed, 
 took advantage of the privilege accorded them, and went npon 
 the other side of the line. 
 
 This, together with some natural boundaries, is sufficient, to 
 explain in part, the irregular appearance of the town's boun- 
 dary lines, above alluded to. But these are not the only rea- 
 sons for this irregularity. After the town had been in existence 
 a few years, there were those upon its borders, who, for rea- 
 sons which they presented and which were lustily contested by 
 the inhabitants of Gardner, desired to be returned to their old 
 township. Among those petitioning to be set back to Win- 
 chendon, for instance, was William Whitney, whose petition 
 was granted by the General Court, March 2d, 1787. Others 
 in the same neighborhood, also petitioned for like privileges, 
 but a remonstrance, full of weighty reasons, was presented to 
 the General Court b}^ the inhabitants of Gardner, praying that 
 the prayer of these petitioners be not granted. 
 
 For the purpose of showing the sturdy persistency, with 
 which the fathers contended for the original integrity of the 
 town, the sly hiuts they gave, as to the reasons why these peti- 
 tioners wished to leave them, as also showing further reasons 
 for the irregularity of l)oundaries, the following remonstrance is 
 here introduced and allowed to speak for itself: — 
 
 Commonicealth of Massachusetts. 
 
 To the Honorable Senate and House of Kepresentatives in 
 General Court assembled, at Boston, February, 1786 : 
 
 The remonstrance and petition of the town of Gardner, 
 humbly showeth, that whereas, the town of Gardner, has lately 
 received an order from the General Court, passed by them last 
 session, to show cause, if any they have, on the second Wednes- 
 day of their next session, why the prayers of the petition of 
 James Coolidge, the petition of Joseph Priest and Samuel Priest 
 and the petition of Abel Wilder, should not be granted. And 
 first, in answer to James Coolidge, who sets forth in his peti- 
 tion his desire to belong to the town of Winchendon ; again. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 37 
 
 he sets forth, how disagreeable it is to him, to leave his original 
 town and a good minister, &c., and that he wonkl have objected 
 asfainst beinir set off, in the time of it, had he known when the 
 committee were going down to get set off; and certifies, that 
 he inquired of one of the committee, when they were going 
 down for that purpose, which the said committee-man denies, 
 that he inquired of him, about it. However strange it is, that 
 he did not know last spring, that he was going to leave his 
 original town, and a good minister, &c., when he petitioned, 
 with a number of others, to the town of Winchenclon, that he 
 might be set off in the incorporation, and he saw the petition, 
 that was sent to the General Court, in their JNIay session, l)efore 
 it was sent down. Therefoi'e, the town of Gardner thinks it 
 would be very hard, on their part, for the said Coolidge, to be 
 set back to the town of Winchendon again. 
 
 Secondly, in answer to Joseph and Samuel Priest, who set 
 forth in their petition, that it is very contrary to their interest 
 and inclination, to be in the town of Gardner, as their lands 
 lay within about forty rods of the dividing line, and they view 
 it a great hardship, in this land of liberty, to be forced from 
 their original town, where there is a meeting-house and an 
 agreeable minister, to a town where there is neither ; but, we 
 think, they are not forced away, in such a manner as they set 
 forth, for they both petitioned to the town of Winchendon, last 
 spring, that they might be set off, and be incorporated with us, 
 and also signed an instrument, last spring, before we petitioned 
 to the General Court, of their Avillingness for the meeting-house 
 to stand upon the spot, that we have since purchased, for that 
 purpose, and their willingness to help build the same. We 
 therefore hope, that the said Joseph and the said Samuel, will 
 not have liberty to return to the town of Winchendon asfain. 
 
 In answer to Abel Wilder's request, in behalf of the town of 
 Winchendon, praying that those persons who have their f\irms 
 cut, by the dividing line, between the towns of Winchendon 
 and Gardner, may have liberty to return their names, with 
 whole farms or lots, to belons; to the town of Winchendon, or 
 
38 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 to the town of Gardner, as they shall choose, we hope this 
 liberty for returning names, for whole farms or lots, will not be 
 granted ; for the selectmen of Winchendon, have informed us, 
 since we received the citation, that neither the town of Win- 
 chendon, nor the selectmen, have directed the said Wilder, to 
 request the same. And the town of Winchendon, was not wil- 
 ling last spring, to divide by lots. Therefore, we hope there 
 will be no alteration, in the lines at present. For we look upon 
 it, as not an equal chance, as we have no meeting-house, nor a 
 minister settled. Those persons having their wild lots cut, 
 would be more inclined to take their lands to Winchendon, 
 than to Gardner, for fear of a little cost. And if the said 
 Wilder, said Priests, and said Coolidge should have their re- 
 quests granted, it would take aljout a thousand acres of land 
 from the little town of Gardner, all near together, upon one 
 side of the town, and comes within about a mile and a quarter 
 from where we have purchased a piece of land, for a meeting- 
 house, common, and burying-yard, and laid out the biggest part 
 of our roads, to convene that spot, and the town have agreed, 
 with a number of persons, for timber, boards and shingles, &c., 
 to be delivered at that spot, in order to build a meeting-house. 
 And it would be a means, we fear, of putting the town to great 
 cost and difficulty, if not ruin them, to find another spot, to set 
 a meeting-house upon, as we are well agreed in the spot that 
 we have now purchased for that purpose. AVe therefore pray 
 your honors, to take our case into your wise consideration, and 
 secure to us our peace, which will be our happiness, b}' dis- 
 missing the petitions of the said Wilder, Priests and Coolidge, 
 as your petitioners in duty bound, shall ever pray. The com- 
 mittee appointed to make answer to the several petitions, beg 
 leave to report, that the above, be presented to the General 
 Court by their agent. 
 
 Samup:l Kelton, Chairman. 
 
 Voted, That the above be presented to the General Court by 
 Capt. Elisha Jackson, who was chosen for that purpose. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 39 
 
 It should be remarked here, however, thut this urgent re- 
 monstrance had its desired effect upon the minds of the Gen- 
 eral Court, who decreed that these petitioners should remain in 
 Gardner. Others, once belonging to Ashburnham, were, after 
 a few years residence in Gardner, set back to Ashburnham, at 
 their own request. 
 
 Scenic Attractions. — Gardner may be regarded as peculiarly 
 fortunate, in the variety and picturesqueness of its scenery. 
 Mountains and hills are God's architectural monuments to His 
 artistic skill and wonderful power. They stand forth against 
 the horizon, like sculptured l)usts of grim old giants, or lofty 
 cenotaphs, or strange, rare pictures set in frames, bathed in liq- 
 uid blue or o-ilded Avith o-okl which far outshines " the wealth 
 of Ormus and of Ind." It has truly been said that 
 
 " Nature never did betray 
 The heart that loved her." 
 
 Sometimes gentle, oft capricious and even stern, she is always 
 
 kind. 
 
 Coming to the scenic attractions of Garclner, and giving our- 
 selves to their consideration, we feel that it is a theme, upon 
 which, all who know them best, will delight to linger. With a 
 landscape varied and rich beyond that of most New England 
 towns, upon the highest range between Monaclnock and Wa- 
 chusett, turn whichever way you will, upon these neighboring 
 hills, new beauties unfold to your enraptured view. 
 
 From the summit of Glazier hill you see, twenty miles away 
 in the northern background, three thousand one hundred and 
 eighty feet in height, Monadnock, leaning his blue and treeless 
 form hard against the sky, from whose top, may be seen, the 
 granite shaft of Bunker Hill in the far east, the White moun- 
 tains as they grow whiter and smaller, until they lose them- 
 selves in a thin white line in the northern sky, while the Green 
 mountains on the west, fresh and vernal, reach far down to 
 the south and unite with the Housatonic range in Massachu- 
 setts. 
 
40 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Turning the glass slowly from Monudnock, you see the hills 
 of Troy and Fitzwilliani with the village of Jafirey on its east- 
 ern slope, warm and cosy, sheltered by this strong bulwark of 
 ledge and mountain. Watatic range continues this hilly con- 
 figuration, Avith here and there a natural indentation. The 
 Chesliire Eailroad winds its narrow bed this side those hills, 
 while its smoke floats lazily back, as the engine passes behind 
 the rugged ledges of the Granite state. 
 
 In the nearer perspective, in the Watatic range, you see 
 Meetin":-House Hill in Ashburnham, toward which some of our 
 earlier townsmen used to turn their willing feet for Sabbath 
 worship. Sliarp and sword-like, the spire of Cushing Academy 
 rises up from among the green woods and brown pastures, a 
 noble monument to one of the loyal sons of Ashburnham's 
 earl}^ ministers, who dying, bequeathed a sum sufficient to erect 
 this most costly edifice, unrivaled for its architectural beauty, 
 in all this region, for the education of the youth of this vicinity. 
 
 Fitchburg, with headlands and sharp promontories, fills up 
 the distant gap in the east, and joins the landscape on the south- 
 east to its grand old watch-tower, VVachusett. 
 
 This mountain, rising somewhat abruptly on the east, begirt 
 with pines and many deciduous trees, is two thousand and six- 
 teen feet high, and is crowned with a rustic observatory, from 
 which you can see the shipping in Boston navy yard, with many 
 intervening towns and cities in the east, the spires and smoke 
 of the city of Worcester, at the south, splendid farms and thrifty 
 villages in Worcester County, and the long comet tails of the 
 numerous trains as they run, on the many railroads, from east 
 to west, through our ancient commonwealth. 
 
 This mountain gradually recedes in graceful wavy lines into 
 Princeton village, whose picturesqueness and beauty have been 
 described by Helen Hunt, under the quaint name of " Hide 
 and Seek Town." 
 
 Nearer, HuI)bardston, "graceful with hills, and dales, and 
 leafy wood," with lakes and ponds reflecting like a mirror, u[) 
 whose woody slopes the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 41 
 
 slowly toils, with its puffing engine, whose glowing head-light, 
 
 returning at night, breaking forth abruptly, from the darkness, 
 
 like 
 
 " A stai" when only one 
 Is shining in the sky," 
 
 leaves upon the mind of every enraptured, observing boy, a 
 memory as wild and weird, as the phantasm of a delirious dream. 
 
 Still turning to the far southwest, a spur shoots up beyond 
 the nearer outline, as blue and graceful as an harebell, unlike 
 the rest, yet not disdaining to lend its charms to grace a scene 
 so beautiful. 
 
 Templeton, a nearer and more accessible neighbor, supported 
 on the west by rising hills, spreads out in terraced beauty, wi(h 
 lakes and ponds, whose waters, descending toward Otter River, 
 are fretted and worried with the laboring wheel, as it turns the 
 machinery of busy industry, with its villages and glittering 
 spires, the pride of New England, the birthplace of Goodale, 
 an early and honored missionary to Turkey, who, courted and 
 consulted by earthly kings and potentates, ever kept clear and 
 bright, in the eye of faith, the pearly gates and golden walls of 
 the New Jerusalem, coming home at last to find an honored 
 grave, in the land he so much loved. 
 
 Phillipston contributes her easterly hills to continue this 
 charming landscape, erecting her church and rearing the spire, 
 that her younger sister might be cheered by her example, with 
 white farm-houses and well (ailtured farms, and stone walls, 
 marking the bounds the fathers set. 
 
 The sharp and projecting form of Tully, in North Orange, so 
 famous for its contest with the " great tornado," which swept 
 through those western towns, in the early part of this century,- 
 stands forth in the distant outline. 
 
 Beyond, to the northwest, are the hills of Royalston, and 
 Richmond in southern New Hampshire, reaching up to North 
 Winchendon, which seems to rest back upon that mountain spur 
 just west of Mouadnock. 
 6 
 
42 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 With a hasty swing of the ghiss, we have taken the distant 
 objects and enumerated them, as they have passed before our 
 eye. For beauty of mingled strength and delicacy, this scene is 
 seldom equalled ; varied with lines, sometimes bold and strik- 
 ing, sometimes calm and restful, you will find nature here re- 
 sponding to all the [esthetic demands of your soul. These 
 mountains and hills seem to be the favorite battle field for many 
 an hostile array of wind and cloud and storm. Oft-times these 
 scenic lines of beauty seem caught up and reformed among 
 the clouds, while peaks and precipices and " wavy lines of far 
 receding hills," begirt the distant sky. 
 
 The early mists, as they lie off, quiet and white, in the gra}' 
 dawn of the morning, seem like the canvas of a becalmed ship, 
 waiting to be filled and borne aloft, by some favoring breeze, 
 then to rise up and scatter, as the rosy light comes on, and be- 
 come 
 
 " White, fleecy clouds 
 W;indering in thick flocks along the mountains 
 Shepherded by the slow, imwilliug wind." 
 
 The sunset, from this eminence, is worth your trouble to wit- 
 ness ; such beauty, the masters have dreamed of, and sometimes 
 caught, and transferring it to canvas, have made their names 
 immortal. 
 
 The lengthening shadows come on apace within the valleys, 
 the setting sun " firing the tops of those mountain pines," with- 
 draws from the forests, till they cast their grim shadows on all 
 the landscape near, now gilds the window of some distant 
 fiirm-house, until it sparkles in its reflected light, like a rich 
 diamond, then transforms those far off peaks into glittering 
 toAvers and minarets, till these last seem to us fit symbols of the 
 glory of the Celestial city. 
 
 Turn now to Peabody Hill, less sightly in the distant prospect, 
 sitting like a queen enthroned, in her central position, graceful 
 in contour, whose feet are encircled by the three villages of 
 the town, as if in reverent homage to her beauty. Here Crys- 
 tal Lake, at the north, with an evergreen girdle, reflects upon 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 43 
 
 her smooth surface, hills and trees, and the quiet gravestones 
 of the dead, in strange contrast to the long chimneys of the 
 busy shops, as well as the cars as they pass over her feet;' 
 the little steamer, puffing and whistling, as she buzzes up and 
 down her waters, the sail boat and row boat and the birch 
 canoe, bringing the past and present in strange conjunction, the 
 living and the dead, in strange comparison. 
 
 From this point, we see the cemetery, close by the lake, the 
 home of the dead, whose monuments look out, from their ever- 
 green bower, calm and still. Toward the west, two miles away, 
 the white cross, rising from a field this side the pines, tells us 
 of many, who coming from the Green Isle of the sea and mak- 
 ing a home among us, weary with the toils of life, have been 
 laid away, in their last resting place. 
 
 Beyond the church, upon the hill, concealed from view, shel- 
 tered by a pleasant grove, lie the earlier dead of our town. 
 The old cemetery I What memories cluster around that spot ! 
 With little expense and less ceremony, those early settlers, 
 brought one after another of their friends, from their scattered 
 homes, and reverently laid them away to rest. How lonely 
 the homes and how few the sources of companionship and 
 society in those days, and how doubh^ keen must have been the 
 solitude they felt ! 
 
 The pleasant homes, as they rise up before you, speak of 
 thrift and comfort and prosperity, beyond the common lot of 
 New England villages. Residences of taste, and homes of cul- 
 ture, you see upon every side, shade trees pleasantly covering 
 cottages, or adorning houses of greater proportions, churches, 
 assuring you, that the sons are following hard after their fathers, 
 in their determination to provide for the religious culture of our 
 citizens, school houses, solidly intrenched in the hearts and 
 soil of Gardner, that our children may be fitted to fill the 
 places their fathers vacate, stores and markets, with neat and 
 attractive surroundings, to supply the demands of the wardrobe 
 and the larder, a bank set snugly in against Glazier Hill, secure 
 in size and manao-eraent. 
 
44 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 From this hill, West Village spreads out, a pleasant sight, 
 the busy shops alive with the hum of industry, the heavy teams, 
 the cottage homes, " the castle of the working man," all these 
 show that there has not been lacking enterprise and capital and 
 strong integrity, which wisely employed, have from a small be- 
 ginning, developed an industry which in its length and breadth, 
 has not only included, but seated the world ! 
 
 Turning to the south, your eye and ear are caught at once, 
 by the long, heavy trains of the Fitchburg liaih'oad, as they 
 wind about your feet. From whence come these numerous cars 
 and laboring locomotives? This road, bidding defiance to 
 mountain and rock and deep ravine, goes west, and plunging 
 into the bowels of the earth, thus shortening the distance, 
 comes quickly into the Empire state, and thence on, to return 
 bearing, as the reward of enterprise, the cereals of our abund- 
 ant western fields, to be shipped to the teeming millions of 
 Europe. 
 
 And so, where once the lazy smoke, of some camp-fire, curled 
 up among those woods and hills, to show where the Indian was 
 roasting his venison or broiling his fish, you see the long, low- 
 lying trail of the locomotive, quivering with life, as it comes 
 from the smoke-stack, but slowly rising and passing into thin 
 air. 
 
 From Wright's Hill, the highest land in South Gardner, there 
 seems to be the accumulated beauties to be seen from the other 
 hills, with the additional attraction of distance. Here you see 
 children playing around you, snug homes of comfort, sur- 
 rounded by fruit and flowers, a village, coming up to your very 
 feet with a lively, social air, in all its ways, with a church, 
 stores and market and hives of industry, elegant residences and 
 cottages, in one pleasant group, meadows and browui pastures, 
 with the cattle reposing in the shade, forming a mosaic, rich 
 and fair, for nature is a finished workman. You see here dense 
 forests, brooks, overhung with thickets, disappearing beneath 
 banks of moss, white houses standing beyond pines, which look 
 like fixed shadows, making everything seem brighter by their 
 
HISTORY OF GABDJSrUB. 45 
 
 contrasting presence, dells, lined with ferns, moss painted rocks, 
 roads, bordered thickly with thistle, goldenrod, and the blue- 
 eyed aster, stone walls, which grow so smooth, as they recede, 
 that they seem, like one dark thread of yarn, whose end, some 
 ancient spinster must have caught upon a scraggy bush, as she 
 hurried, in " ye olden time,'' from house to house, in search of 
 some bit of news. 
 
 Hillsides, now bright with sunshine, mountains, nearer or 
 more remote, with form and drapery reflected in the water at 
 their feet, a score or two of workshops, with their long chim- 
 neys. Green Bower Cemetery, where rest the departed dead, all 
 these, and how many more, come thronging on our vision, 
 " rocks and hills and towers and wandering streams," "illumed 
 with fluid gold," or somber with passing cloud, fill out a pic- 
 ture, worthy the pen of Ruskin, or the pencil of our honored 
 townsman, Thomas Hill, whose name has become an household 
 word in homes of culture and art, as the painter of the " Great 
 Yosemite." Such are some of the scenic attractions of Gardner. 
 
 fSoil. — Compared with the rich meadow lands of the Connec- 
 ticut valley, or with many other towns, in our own common- 
 wealth, Gardner cannot be regarded as especially adapted to the 
 purposes of agriculture. Much of its surface is unusually 
 rocky and better adapted to grazing, than to the cultivation of 
 crops. Scattered over the town, are numerous cold, marshy, 
 swamp lands, saturated with sour waters and producing a sort 
 of wiry, unpalatable grass, which no self-respecting quadruped 
 cares to make a part of the "body corporate." There are, 
 however, here and there, dotting the entire surface, lumierous 
 mound-like elevations, of varied exposures, whose soil is deep 
 and strong and capable, under the cultivation it receives, of 
 producing generous crops of all kinds of cereals, raised in our 
 New England states. These hills are susceptible of cultivation 
 to their very summits, and are, to a considerable extent, free 
 from small stones, while, however, an occasional bowlder claims 
 his right of maintaining his position upon their sides. Much 
 of the land is naturally, cold, rocky and unfit for cultivation ; 
 
46 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 in addition to this, its elevation, situated as it is, upon the crest 
 of land between Wachusett and Monadnock, thus exposing it 
 to cold bleak winds, renders it still more unfit for the uses of 
 the husbandman. 
 
 While, in some other portions of the state, people are mak- 
 ing their gardens and planting their fields, here, the farmer is 
 obliged to wait, at least, a fortnight longer, till as Thompson, 
 with some variation, says, 
 
 " Thi-ough the lucid chambers of the south 
 
 Looks out the joyous Spring, looks out and smiles." 
 
 It is also true, that much earlier, than in many other places, not 
 far remote from Gardnei-, with " congenial horrors," 
 
 " Winter comes to rule the varied year 
 Sullen and sad, with all his rising train — 
 Vapors, and Clouds, and Storms." 
 
 Let it not be supposed, however, that Gardner is so Alpine 
 in its situation, as to make it altogether hazardous, for those 
 loving to cultivate the soil, to attempt to draw forth, from its 
 bosom, those products which it is able to yield. Though the 
 season is somewhat more brief here, than in towns of less ele- 
 vation, it is yet true that, from the middle of June to the mid- 
 dle of September, there is a rapid development of the fruits 
 of gardens, fields and orchards, which mature, in their season, 
 into an ample i-eward to those who engage in their culture. It 
 is no uncommon thing to see garden plots yielding all kinds of 
 vegetables, which, for variety, size and richness, are not sur- 
 passed by any raised in the state. Upon the southern exposure 
 of these mound-like elevations, are matured large crops of In- 
 dian corn, oats, rye and barley. Casting the seeds of such 
 cereals, into the soil of these slopes, the farmer may ofier the 
 prayer of the poet, with confident expectation of being heard 
 
 and answered. 
 
 " Be gracious Heaven ! for now laborious man 
 Has done his part. Ye fostering breezes blow ; 
 Ye softening dews, ye tender showers descend, 
 And temper all, thou world reviving sun — 
 Into a perfect year." 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 47 
 
 However, since Gardner does not boast of its agricultural 
 advantages, should we know of a young man, desiring to be- 
 come a farmer, at all inclined to purchase land, for agricultural 
 purposes, in this town, we should regard it as our bounden 
 duty, to make all reasonable endeavor to dissuade him from 
 carrying his desire into eifect, and with the distinguished Plor- 
 ace Greeley, who possessed the eminent ability to tell what he 
 knew about flirming, say to him, as a friend, " Go West young 
 man." 
 
 Climate. — The climate of Gardner, as has already been in- 
 timated, is subject to great variations. The town is so situated, 
 that, in the summer months, it enjoj's, almost constantly, the 
 fresh cooling breezes that visit it from all quarters, while in the 
 winter, the fierce winds, driving snow storms and severe cold, 
 render the town, by no means attractive, to those accustomed to 
 warmer latitudes. Occasionally, a spire is blown from a church, 
 or portions of roofs are removed from the houses, by stormy 
 winds, still, the inhabitants, somewhat accustomed to these 
 frolics, are not themselves carried away, nor greatly alarmed. 
 Indeed it has, for some years past, been the custom, in this 
 town, to build most of the houses in winter, rather than in 
 summer. For the most part, the inhabitants enjoy vigorous 
 health and few die of pulmonary diseases. Such is the climate, 
 here, in summer, that those who are suffering from the dust 
 and heat and blistering walls of our great cities, could not find, 
 in any of our country towns, a more delightful place than this, 
 in which, to restore their wasted energies, and replenish them- 
 selves with renewed life and increased vigor. We commend 
 the town as an attractive sunnner resort. 
 
 Hills. — The hills of Gardner, with their varied locations and 
 altitudes, deserve special mention in this chapter. The au- 
 thor is indebted to Mr. Aaron Greenwood, for many years, a 
 successful surveyor of lands, in this, his native town, for the 
 accuracy with which, he is enabled to present the elevations of 
 these hills, above the railroad track, at the depot. Otter River 
 and the Atlantic Ocean. The figures here ffiven, are from actual 
 
48 
 
 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 surveys by Mr. Greenwood. It will be seen, that there is quite 
 an ascent to be made by the cars, in reaching Gardner, from 
 Boston Bay. The highest point of land, over which the Hoosac 
 Tunnel line passes, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Con- 
 necticut River, is in the eastern part of this town, where it 
 reaches an elevation of eleven hundred and six feet, above the 
 ocean, running on a level, one mile, one hundred and twenty- 
 six feet. 
 
 HILLS AND ELEVATIONS. 
 
 
 « SO 
 
 Otter Eiver, where the Fitchburg Kailroad crosses it, in 
 west part of Gardner, 
 
 Fitchburg Kailroad track, 80 feet west of railroad bridge, 
 near depots, 
 
 B. F. Kendall Hill, 
 
 Jackson Hill, l tt , , it- i n ^ West summit, 
 
 !■ 1 TT-11 r Hubbard Kendall, < -n, ^ ™ -.- 
 Jackson Hill, j ' ^ East summit, 
 
 Wright Hill, (Prospect Hill,) in South Gardner, 
 
 Greenwood Hill, 
 
 Lynde Hill, originally called Pork Hill, now Peabody, . . 
 
 Gates Hill, in East Gardner, 
 
 Asa Ray Hill, in East Gardner, 
 
 Temple Hill, 
 
 Barber Hill, in South Gardner, 
 
 Sills of Joel Matthews' house, 
 
 Howe Hill, south of David Kelton's 
 
 Bickford Hill, (Dr. Parker's,) 
 
 Glazier Hill, highest land in Gardner, 
 
 80 
 
 82 
 
 92 
 
 91 
 
 132 
 
 138 
 
 177 
 
 179 
 
 186 
 
 201 
 
 214 
 
 218 
 
 239 
 
 256 
 
 126 
 206 
 208 
 218 
 217 
 258 
 264 
 303 
 305 
 312 
 327 
 340 
 344 
 365 
 382 
 
 912 
 
 1038 
 1118 
 1120 
 1130 
 1129 
 1170 
 1176 
 1215 
 1217 
 1224 
 1239 
 1252 
 1256 
 1277 
 1294 
 
 Besides these hills, there are others, whose altitudes are not 
 given. They are Martin and Brooks' hills in the west part of 
 the town, Coolidge and Beaman's hills, near Crystal Lake, and 
 Bancroft's Hill on the west of the lake. 
 
 Forests. — Originally this town was covered with a dense 
 growth of timber, of great variety, consisting of rock and white 
 maple, white and red ash, beech, birch, spruce and hemlock. 
 In the west and southwest portions of the town, there were 
 large, white pines, some of the trunks of which, have been seen 
 by some of the present inhabitants of the town, in their pros- 
 trate condition, giving evidence of the action of the beaver, 
 
HISTORY OF GABDNER, 49 
 
 which here constructed his clam. At the present time, however, 
 under the strokes of the greedy axe of the chair and pail 
 maker, our ancient forests have all disappeared. There is how- 
 ever, considerable growth of timber, of various kinds, upon 
 our hillsides and low lands. 
 
 Flora. — There is a great variety of wild flowers to be found, 
 in our fields and forests and by the roadside. Berries, black, 
 rasp and huckle, are abundant. The laurel, with its waxy leaf 
 and flower, the elderberry, with its creamy petal and purple 
 fruit, the sumach, with its flaming pompon, the goldenrod, the 
 forerunner of autumn, the aster and the l)lue-fringed gentian, 
 the red lily and purple orchis, spireas and thistles and ox-eyed 
 daisies, too common and too selfish, with woodbine and clematis 
 and wild grape, Avreathing stone Avails and entwining them- 
 selves about old, ungainly apple trees, some father planted by 
 the roadside, making it lovely and fragrant with their spicy fes- 
 toons, embrace, in part, the flora of this town, while the trail- 
 ing arbutus is welcomed as the early harbinger ot spring. 
 Added to these wild wood flowers, we have garden plots sur- 
 rounding many homes, bright Avith gay floAvers, and some suc- 
 cessful horticulturists, Avho cultivate rarer exotic plants in con- 
 servatories. 
 
 Fauna. — Gardner, in its earlier days, Avas the abode of sev- 
 eral Avild animals AAdiich have long since disappeared Avith the 
 exception of an occasional fox. Tradition informs us that, 
 upon the northern side of Crystal Lake, one Wilder, a mighty 
 hunter, entrapped a bear that had for sometime y mused himself 
 and appeased his hunger by devastating cornfields. His cap- 
 ture Avas regarded, as a great event, in those days. Deer Avere 
 also seen here, in considerable numbers, occasioning the ap- 
 pointment of deer reeves. Considerable attention has been 
 paid, AA'ithin the last fcAv years, to the culture of fish. In ac- 
 cordance Avith a provision of the general statutes, the town 
 authorized Mr. Levi Heywood, in 1874, to stock Crystal Lake 
 with fish. He introduced betvA'een four and five hundred black 
 bass and lake trout. Trout, pickerel, suckers and hornpout are 
 7 
 
50 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 found, though not in great abundance, in some of our streams. 
 Lakes. — Gardner has several artificial lakes or ponds, but 
 few natural ones. Among the latter, is Crystal Lake, a name 
 given it by vote of the town. This is a sheet of water, near 
 the centre of the town, about one mile in length and one-half 
 mile in Avidth. It covers one hundred and fifty-one acres of 
 land and was originally called Wells Pond. It is beautifully 
 bordered, in many places, with sturdy oaks and evergreens 
 coming quite down to the surface. It is chiefly fed by springs, 
 from the surrounding hills. Its waters, as its name indicates, 
 are generally clear as crystal. It is unrivaled for beauty, in 
 all the surrounding country. When, as Wordsworth sings in 
 his " Evening Walk," 
 
 " The whole wide lake in deep repose 
 Is hushed and like a burnished mirror glows," 
 or when, 
 
 " 'Cross the calm lake's blue shade the cliiis aspire 
 With towers and woods, a prospect all on fire," 
 
 Crystal Lake sits and sparkles, upon the bosom of Gardner, 
 like a precious gem, upon the breast of a princess. Upon its 
 western border, is located Crystal Lake Cemetery. Farther 
 towards the north, upon the same border, is Crystal Lake 
 Grove, beautiful for situation, in a growth of pines, free from 
 all underbrush, and admirably adapted, furnished as it is, with 
 a pavilion, numerous swings, seats, tables, cooking and ice 
 houses and many boats, to gratify the wants of the most fastid- 
 ious pleasure seeker. This grove is under the control of the 
 Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad corporation, who have 
 spared no pains, in furnishing a special railroad track, leading 
 directly into the grove, to make it easily accessible to visitors. 
 For the last few years, this grove has been a favorite resort for 
 Sabbath school picnic parties and others, from numerous towns 
 and cities, both in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and is 
 fully deserving all the patronage it has received, or is likely to 
 receive in the future. This lake is also a much frequented re- 
 sort for the lovers of aquatic sports, among our own citizens. 
 Upon its clear, placid waters, may be seen, in the summer after- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 51 
 
 noons and evenings, many row boats, shooting in all directions, 
 while here and there, a small white sail appears,. wafting on- 
 ward the listless sailors, while, 
 
 " Soft bosoms breathe around contagious sighs 
 And amorous music on the water dies." 
 In winter, when, 
 
 " The cherished fields 
 Put on their winter robe of purest white," 
 
 the lake is vocal, with the laughter and frolic of our youth of 
 both sexes, as they " sweep on sounding skates, a thousand 
 different ways, in circling poise," upon "a crystal pavement, 
 by the breath of heaven cemented firm." In summer and win- 
 ter, Crystal Lake, the pride of Gardner, is a thing of beauty, a 
 joy forever. We are always, while viewing this lake, ready to 
 say, with Mrs. E. Oakes Smith, 
 
 " How beautiful the water is ! 
 
 To me 'tis wondrous fair — 
 No spot can ever lonely be 
 
 If water sparkle there ; 
 It hath a thousand tongues of mirth, 
 
 Of grandeur, or delight. 
 And every heart is gladder made 
 
 When water gi'eets the sight." 
 
 In the southwesterly part of Gardner, is Kendall Pond, while 
 near it is a smaller one lying partly in Templeton. Also in the 
 south part of the town, is the reservoir of Marcus Wright, 
 forming, to one standing on Prospect Hill, skirted as it is, with 
 trees, a beautiful foreground to Wachusett, at whose feet it 
 sparkles, and upon whose surface, there are seen gliding, the 
 boats of the pleasure seekers, from the pleasant grove upon its 
 northern border. There is also, in the northeast part of the 
 town, the Nashua reservoir, whose dam is in Ashburnham. 
 
 Streams. — Forming a portion of the western boundary, be- 
 tween Gardner and Templeton, is Otter River. This is the onl}^ 
 stream, in Gardner, worthy of being called a river. It runs 
 through the southwest portion of the town and having a general 
 direction towards the north, it empties itself into Miller's River, 
 beyond the limits of the town. We will now proceed to men- 
 
52 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 tion the several brooks, which winding sluggishh' through the 
 town, empty themselves into this river. 
 
 Bailey Brook. — This stream takes its rise on Raymond Hill 
 in Winchendon, and running through the westerly part of Gard- 
 ner, unites with Otter River, near what is now known as the 
 shoddy mill. 
 
 Kneeland Brook. — This brook having its rise on the same 
 range of highlands and nearly parallel to Bailey Brook, empties 
 itself into Otter River just below the saw-mill now owned by 
 Dr. David Parker. 
 
 Wilder Brook. — This brook rises between the two already 
 mentioned, and after running in a southerly direction, unites 
 with the Kneeland Brook, at the upper end of Dr. Parker's mill- 
 pond. 
 
 Foster Brook. — One branch of this brook takes its rise in the 
 swamp near the house of Joel Matthews, and the other branch 
 on or near the farm of Andrew J. Willis, and running in a 
 southerly direction, enters Gardner Brook just above the mill 
 of Horace F. Parker in South Gardner. 
 
 There is another brook, which has its rise, on the height of 
 land, near the house of Seth H. Temple. It runs in a north- 
 easterly direction, into the reservoir of the Nashua Reservoir 
 Company, near the house of Ebenezer Ballon, and forms a part 
 of the head waters of the Nashua River. 
 
 Pond Brook. — The outlet of Crystal Lake forms this small 
 stream, which, proceeding in a southerly direction, empties into 
 Otter River. 
 
 Pew Brook. — This brook takes its rise some two miles to the 
 northeast of Gates Swamp, in the southeast part of the town, 
 and runs in a southwesterly direction, crossing East Street, and 
 through a long strip of meadow, passing by the chair fac- 
 tory of Thomas Greenwood, and crossing Partridge Street, to 
 its junction with the main stream, in Spectacle Meadow. Pew 
 Brook has several branches, one of which takes its rise in 
 Westminster and enters this brook some rods below East Street ; 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNEB. 53 
 
 a second branch, coming from Quag Pond, enters it just above 
 Temple Street ; Pierce Brook rises about half a mile away, 
 in a small swamp on the east side of Livermore Hill in West- 
 minster, and runs westerly, and enters Pew Brook about one- 
 eighth of a mile below Temple Street. 
 
 Gardner Brook. — This brook rises in Westminster and runs 
 in a northwesterly direction, supplying the reservoir of Marcus 
 Wright, from whence, proceeding in a northerly direction, it 
 receives the waters of Pew Brook, in Spectacle Meadow, thence 
 running northerly, till it comes to the Boston, Bari'c and Gard- 
 ner Railroad at South Main Street, where it receives the waters 
 of Foster Brook, whence, curving to the south, it flows in a 
 southwesterly direction, till it empties itself into Otter River, 
 a short distance, from the pail factory of A. Bancroft & Co. 
 These are all the streams, in town, worthy of mention. 
 
 The following poem, by Mr. John C. Bryant of this town, 
 was written some years since. It was originally recited in Phi- 
 lokalia, a lodge of Good Templars. Sensible of some imper- 
 fections in it, Mr. Bryant, at the request of the author, reluc- 
 tantly yields it for publication, in this particular portion of 
 this work : — 
 
 TWILIGHT MUSINGS. 
 
 Day was reclining in the lap of night, 
 
 Clad in her robes of dim twilight. 
 
 When I wandered to the crest of yonder hill, 
 
 Which o'erlooks our village, there, when all was still, 
 
 To feast on nature's works, before me spread, 
 
 The land of the living, the home of the dead. 
 
 Below me was the din and the strife, 
 
 The care, the turmoil, of busy life. 
 
 While to my ears, on passing breezes borne, 
 
 Came the sound of laughter, the burst of song, 
 
 Beside me, the robin poured his lay, 
 
 Singing requiems to departing day. 
 
 Before me, in the distant west, 
 
 The golden sun, just gone to rest, 
 
 Was sending back his latest ray. 
 
54 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Tinging hilltop and vale, with beauty's play. 
 
 Crimsoning the whole, with gloiy yet untold, 
 
 Gilding yonder church spire, with its touch of gold, 
 
 While the fleecy clouds, skirting the western sky. 
 
 Were clothed in a resplendent canopy. 
 
 Half pai'ted, by wilder breezes driven, 
 
 Unveiled to me, the golden gateway to heaven. 
 
 Just over there, all quiet and still, 
 
 Rocked to sleep in the cradle of the hill. 
 
 Was the Lake, whose sparkling, pearly wave 
 
 Plashes on the beach, beside the quiet grave. 
 
 Where the eglantine and ivy twine. 
 
 The votive offering, at Frieudsliip's shrine. 
 
 The blush roses bloom and the forget-me-not — 
 
 Memory's gifts — adorn the cherished spot 
 
 Where you and I, sometimes go to weep 
 
 O'er the graves of loved ones, now asleep. 
 
 Then my ravished sight, wandering o'er the scene. 
 
 Was fixed, where, meandering, in paths of living green, 
 
 The brook, with its silvery thread, ran splashing along, 
 
 Singing in the solitude, old nature's cheery song. 
 
 And then, from beauty's bower, peeping, blushingly forth. 
 
 Half hid in sylvan shade, to veil its modest worth. 
 
 The violet looked out ; beside it, the daisy with its petals white, 
 
 With buttercups and pansies, reflecting the golden light. 
 
 The bursting bud and blossom, in their fullest bloom. 
 
 Harbingers of the harvest yet to come, 
 
 All sparkling, with heavenly dewdrops wet, 
 
 Decked earth, with gems fit for a coronet. 
 
 In the north, old Monaduock rears his head on high, 
 
 As if to scan the secrets of the upper sky. 
 
 Then sunny Wachusett, our southern pride. 
 
 With waving forests dotting its either side. 
 
 Its uplifted peak, where tempests oft have frowned. 
 
 Seems, just now, with golden glory crowned. 
 
 Nestling at its foot, and half Avay up its side. 
 
 Embowered in sylvan shades, by natnre beautified, 
 
 The cottage stands, while here and there between. 
 
 Like mirrors, set, all placid and serene, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDINER. 55 
 
 Resting on earth's bosom, like fairest gems 
 
 That deck beauty's form or monarch's diadems, 
 
 Are lakes, to enhance the enchanting scene, 
 
 Like pictures in a frame of living green. 
 
 Beautiful ! beautiful ! I said, and a newer light 
 
 Came into my soul, while far into the night 
 
 I sat me there, on the verdant sod, 
 
 In holy communion with nature's God. 
 
 Tell me not, in your classic rhyme, 
 
 Of Etrurian glades, or fair Italia's clime, 
 
 Where no dark cloud ere dimmed the azure blue, 
 
 And richest fruits, in profuse luxuriance grow. 
 
 Or Switzerland's grandeur, or Alpine showers. 
 
 Or sparkling fountain in old Alhambra's bowers. 
 
 No ! no ! not these, my heart with purest pleasure thrills. 
 
 But what I find on old New England's hills. 
 
56 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 CHARACTER OF THE INHABITANTS. 
 
 " 111 fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, 
 
 When wealth accumulates and men decay. 
 
 Princes and lords may flourish, or miiy fade, 
 
 A breath can make them as a breath has made ; 
 
 But a bold peasauti-y their country's pride, 
 
 When once destroyed can never be supplied." — Goldsmith. 
 
 (^ \ jCCORDING to the information which we are able to glean, 
 JSx. from such sources as are accessible, Gardner had, at its 
 incorporation, a population of only about three hundred and 
 seventy-five, embraced in about sixty families. At the present 
 time, the inhabitants number about four thousand, among whom 
 are many Irish and French, who are a very industrious and 
 frugal people. These ancient families, Avere not clustered then, 
 as most of our families are at the present time, in villages, but 
 scattered far and wide over the entire surface of the town and 
 accessible by rough and inconvenient roads. The geographical 
 centre of the town, then, as now, was where stands the First 
 Cong^regational Church. 
 
 In speaking of the first settlers of this town, Ave are aware 
 that there is some clanger of indulging in an undue and fulsome 
 veneration of those who have preceded us. Still we do not 
 think that we, of the present day, are justly chargeable with this 
 infirmity, regarding our fathers. It is not possible, for any 
 candid mind, to trace the deeds of these men, as they stand, 
 recorded upon the yellow and dingy pages of our town records, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 57 
 
 written, often in almost illegible chirography, and by no means 
 fanltless orthography, and not feel like thanking God, from the 
 depths of a heart overflowing with gratitude, that such men 
 preceded us in laying the foundations of these institutions, 
 whose benefits we to-day enjoy. The}'^ were no strangers to a 
 variety of hardships and privations. They Avooed and wedded 
 their wives and reared their children, amid the environments of 
 poverty. In reflecting upon their toils and hardships, their 
 wants and privations, their industry and frugality, the words of 
 Gray, come forcibly to our minds, as admirably descriptive of 
 their condition. 
 
 " Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield 
 Their farrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke ; 
 
 How jocund did they drive their teams afield, 
 
 How bowed the woods beueath their sturdy stroke. 
 
 " Let not -ambition mock their useful toil, 
 
 Their homely joj's and destinj'^ obscure ; 
 Nor grandeur hear, with a disdainful smile. 
 
 The short and simple annals of the poor. 
 
 " Far from the madding crowd's ignoble strife. 
 
 Their sober wishes never learned to stray ; 
 Along the cool sequestered vale of life. 
 
 They kept the noiseless tenor of their way." 
 
 It is true that, compared with the demands of the imperious 
 goddess. Fashion, at whose shrine, we all so devoutly worship, 
 the wants of our fathers and mothers were few and simple. 
 From the soil, we tread to-day, they wrung with unremitting 
 labor, the products upon which themselves and their children 
 subsisted. Then in almost all the dwellings of this town, 
 might have been heard the whir of the old spinning wheel, 
 which, under the skillful hand of the matron and her daughters, 
 spun the warp and woof which afterwards, the swiftly flying 
 shuttle, in the same dexterous hands, amid the rattle and thuds 
 of the domestic loom, standing in the chamber above, con- 
 structed into long webs of thick woolen cloth, in which, dressed 
 at the neighboring mill and manufactured into suitable gar- 
 ments, by the newsy, itinerant tailoress, the members of the 
 household, defied the winter's cold. 
 
58 HISTORY OF GABDNER. 
 
 In those days, our fotliers raised and thrashed, retted and 
 broke, swinged and hatcheled, their own flax, which our moth- 
 ers, with the distaff and spindle, of the busy foot-wheel, drew 
 out into that fine linen thread which, combining with woolen 
 yarn, they wrought into that once famous fabric, known as 
 Imsey-woolsey, in Avhich they and their children clothed them- 
 selves, as their every-day attire. With what an air of pomp 
 and fresh importance, did the boys and girls of those days, carry 
 themselves in their newly made garments. 
 
 Those were days devoid of sham. The modern king, shoddy, 
 had not then l)egun to display his art of making things not 
 what they seem, days, when as Solomon says of the " virtuous 
 woman," the housewife "did her husl)and good and not evil, 
 all the days of her life, when she sought wool and flax and 
 worked willingly with her hands, when she rose while it was 
 yet night and gave meat to her household and a portion to her 
 maidens, when she laid her hands to the spindle and her hands 
 held the distaff, when she was not afraid of the snow for her 
 household, for all her household were clothed with double gar- 
 ments, when she made herself coverlets, and fine linen and sold 
 it, and looked well to the ways of her own household and ate 
 not the bread of idleness, when her children rose up and called 
 her blessed, her husband also, and he praised her." 
 
 Then it was, that instead of ready-made boots and shoes, 
 now so abundantly supplied by our wholesale and retail stores, 
 made to fit any and all feet, sewed with cable wire, or pegged 
 by a machine, our fathers, taking the hide from their own fatted 
 oxen, or calves, whose juicy meat they consumed in part, im- 
 mediately, or stored in barrels for future use, carried it to the 
 tanner and the leather dresser, and after it had been, for a long 
 time, subjected to the process of tanning and dressing, brought 
 home, and then summoning to the ancient kitchen, the shoe- 
 maker, whose coming had long been anticipated, and whose 
 bench and lap stone, clamps and "waxed ends" had come to 
 be familiar objects in the farmer's dwelling, they bid him pro- 
 ceed to the manufacture of the yearly supply of shoes, for the 
 various members of the household. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 59 
 
 What a scene of joy was that in these country homes. How 
 gladly did Ebenezcr, Theophilus and David, Elizabeth, Rebecca 
 and Rhoda, these last more modestlj^ step forward, at the in- 
 vitation of this wonderful conjurer of leather, to be measured 
 for their next pair of new shoes. Standing firmly against the 
 side of the house, how heavily they pressed their feet, upon the 
 measure of this domestic artist, that they might be sure of 
 having their shoes of ample length and breadth. How eagerly 
 they watched his motions from day to day, till ont of a chaos 
 of leather, sole and upper, he formed, the long wished for 
 articles, for the protection of their feet. 
 
 In these early homes, instead of the modern furnace, range 
 and stove, plumbed for a convenient supply of hot water, in all 
 the rooms of the house, with sink and pump, making house- 
 work so convenient, was seen only the old open fireplace, on 
 
 whose side, 
 
 " The crane and pendent trammels showed," 
 
 where Avas piled the 
 
 "Nightly stack 
 Of wood against the chimney-back, — 
 The oaken log, green, huge and thick, 
 And on its top, the stout back-stick," 
 
 sending out its light and heat, cheerily over the room, 
 
 "On whitewashed wall and sagging beam, 
 Until the old, rude-furnished room 
 Burst, ilower-like, into rosy bloom." 
 
 Before this great consumer of fuel, where roared the winter's 
 blast, the busy housewife placed her covered tin baker, or 
 erected her pewter or wooden plate, supported by brick or 
 flat-iron, in which she cooked the yellow johnny-cake, or where, 
 suspended by a line from the overhanging hook, vibrated and 
 revolved the sparerib, or when grander occasions demanded, 
 the Thanksgiving turkey, which coming well cooked, brown 
 and smoking upon the clothless table, was food fit for the 
 Olympian gods. Then too, there was the good old brick oven, 
 now obsolete, in modern houses, standing grim and firm, upon 
 the side of the fireplace, with its big mouth and capacious in- 
 terior, from which, having been well heated and carefully 
 
60 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 cleared with the lono-, iron haudled shovel, the good woman, 
 every Sabbath morning, drew forth her brown bread, not then 
 called " Boston brown bread," Indian pudding, tremulous like a 
 mass of jelly, with its OAvn golden richness, and baked beans, 
 which, having stood all night, imprisoned within these brick 
 walls, came out properly cooked, and fragrant Avith the im- 
 parted juice of well f;ittened pork, culinary products, surpassing 
 the power of more recent arrangements to produce, fitted in all 
 respects, to satiate the appetite, which their sight and perfume 
 awakened. 
 
 In striking contrast, with the luxurious appliances of our 
 modern homes, with their richly carpeted floors, their costly, 
 upholstered chairs, their velvety lounges and sofas, their many 
 conveniences of closets and pantries, their bay windows and 
 conservatories, where all winter long, bloom flowers of rare 
 beauty and fragrance, all Avarm and comfortable, from cellar to 
 attic, by the agency of the ever busy furnace, oi* steam boiler, 
 or coal stove, stood the old farm house, with its ample kitchen, 
 by whose fireside, stood the old settle, with its high back, while, 
 in some angle of the room, was seen the dresser, with its nu- 
 merous shelves, burdened with dishes and cooking utensils, 
 where, as Longfellow says, 
 
 "The pewter plates ou the dresser, 
 Caught and reflected the flame, as the shields of armies, the sunshiue." 
 
 Instead of the modern lucifer-match which, like some men, 
 is always ready to blaze with the slightest friction, they had 
 only the old tinder-box, with its flint, which, as Brutus says, 
 
 " Much enforced, shows a hasty spark 
 And straight is cold again." 
 
 Or sometimes failing in this, they were compelled to resort to 
 the neighbors, with the " slice," to borrow fire, ere they could 
 cook their morning meal. Instead of the beautiful gas jet, or 
 the brilliant kerosene lamp, they were obliged to grope their 
 way through the darkness, with the dimly burning lamp, odor- 
 ous with the oil of the whale, or the tallow candle, set in tin 
 candlesticks or blocks of wood, which the patient housewife 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 61 
 
 had " dipped" or run in moulds, or sometimes with the blazing 
 pine knot. Instead of the copper pump, with its poisonous lead 
 pipe, standing so conveniently by the sink, within the house, 
 our fathers were satisfied to draw water with the well-sweep, to 
 whose pole was attached 
 
 " The iron bound bucket, the moss covered bucket, which hung in tlie well." 
 They had not then learned the refined art of introducing into 
 their bodies, the slow poisons, of our modern conveniences, by 
 which, through impure air and water, the health, vigor and life 
 of our citizens, are secretly stolen away. When they drank 
 water, they took it directly, cool and sparkling, from the deep 
 well; when the}' drank cider, or New England rum, as indeed 
 they often did, these liquors were free from all adulterations so 
 familiar to those, now indulging in such death dealing bever- 
 ages. In this respect, they were more fortunate than those 
 who have followed them. 'Then instead of havins; the advan- 
 tage of railroads, bringing their ponderous trains of merchan- 
 dise to the town, in less than a day, from the sea board, the 
 men of those times, were compelled to "ship" their goods 
 upon the backs of horses, or, in later times, upon large teams 
 which, Avith their four or six horses, or an equal number of 
 oxen, made their long, laborious journey's, from country to city 
 and from city to country again, carrying their agricultural 
 products to Boston and returning with " West India Goods." 
 
 How tardily, in those days, did the news creep up over these 
 hills. No daily pajjer found its way, as with us, to the hand of 
 the fathers. They were not pestered with yesterday's doings, 
 in Washington, California, Europe or India. Yet, were they 
 not long ignorant of important events, at home and abroad. 
 
 " The flying rumors gather'd as they roll'd. 
 Scarce any tale was sooner heard than told ; 
 And all who told it added something new. 
 And all who heard it made enlargement too, 
 In every ear it spread, on every tongue it grew." 
 
 Not favored, like thqir descendants, with advantaires for irdn- 
 
 eral education and mental culture, they were accustomed to 
 
 look to the parish minister for needed information. Hence, 
 
62 ' HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 they were anxious to attend church, on the Sabbath, that they 
 might keep themselves informed, upon subjects of interest to 
 them, as well as to hear the truth, given them from the word 
 of God. And when in the sanctuary, on the Sabbath, they in- 
 dulged in none of those enervating practices so common to 
 worshippers of the present time. They sat on no cushioned 
 seats, in a church whose atmosphere was warmed by stoves or 
 furnaces. The foot stove only, within whose perforated walls, 
 they placed the dish of glowing coals, supplied the women 
 with warmth for their feet. In winter they found their way to 
 church, often on ox sleds, through deep snows. In other sea- 
 sons of the year, they rode to church, on horseback, the father 
 upon the saddle, in front of whom, sometimes, rode one of the 
 children, while upon the pillion behind him, sat the wife, with 
 another and younger child in her lap, around whom she held 
 one arm, while with the other, she steadied herself in her ex- 
 alted position. 
 
 In those days, the now almost forgotten "horse-block," was 
 an essential part of church furnishing, upon which the people 
 dismounted and mounted their steeds, as they came and went 
 on the Sabbath. In this mode of conveyance, in which they 
 had before their eyes, no fear of a Bergh nor any of the agents 
 of the " Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals," they 
 were entirely unlike their children, who, if they attend church 
 at all, are rolled thither in elegant carriages or walk along well 
 graded streets or upon sidewalks, that are yet to be greatly ex- 
 tended and improved. But, while the circumstances of our 
 fathers, obliged them to practice the now almost forgotten arts 
 of prudence and economy, they yet were not open to the 
 charge of niggardliness and pai'simoniousness. They had little 
 ready money and this not easily obtained. They felt keenly 
 the effects of a greatly depreciated currency. Their taxes were 
 necessarily burdensome and the means, with which, to pay them 
 were small. Yet they did not fail honorably to meet the de- 
 mands, which public worship, public education and municipal 
 authority made upon them, as will be seen farther on. Al- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJS^ER. 63 
 
 though they were destitute of public libraries, they were not 
 unacquainted with many religious, literary, historical and bio- 
 graphical works. They were familiar with the Bil)le, the great 
 educator, Pilgrims' Progress and many of the standard English 
 poets. They read the sermons of the eminent pastors, of some 
 of our early New England pulpits, from whom, they derived 
 the inspiration of a more exalted patriotism. Furnished thus, 
 they were not wanting in the possession of general intelligence. 
 We are not to think of them, surrounded as they were, by 
 privations, as altogether devoid of the sources of domestic and 
 social enjoyments. They had their seasons of festivity and 
 hilarity. If they toiled hard, in the open field, in the season of 
 seed time and harvest, they yet found time, in winter, for those 
 social gatherings, either in their own homes, or at the village 
 tavern, 
 
 " Where gray-beard mirth and smiling toil retir'd 
 Where village statesmen talk'd with looks profound, 
 And news much older than their ale went round." 
 
 In their social assemblies, from house to house, in the au- 
 tumn and winter months, the young men and maidens solaced 
 themselves in the dance, not in the objectionable modes of 
 more recent times, but in the use of those well approved " fig- 
 ures," with the dancing of which, the most orthodox dame 
 could find no cause for censure. Those were days of husking 
 bees, when all the neighborhood, both men and women, came 
 together for a jovial time, when, having finished the corn heap, 
 they repaired to the house, where, upon long rows of tables, 
 busy hands had placed an abundance of pumpkin pies, and 
 other viands, equally inviting to the hilarious assembly. Among 
 the women, there were nimierous carding, quilting and paring 
 bees, where many hands made quick work ; while among the 
 men, there were not wanting, occasions of local excitement, 
 such as chopping bees, wrestling matches, raisings. May train- 
 ings and annual musters. 
 
 Those were times, the like of which, we shall never see 
 again. Then, a raising, was a public event, fitted to interest 
 
04 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 everybody, even those in adjoining towns, because there was 
 something to be raised. Then, such was the abundance of 
 timber, there was gathered upon the spot, where the building 
 was to be erected, no undistinguishable, chaotic mass of kimber, 
 of despicable dimensions, such as one sees now-a-days, and 
 which the carpenter, single-handed, proceeds, with nails and 
 hammer, to set up, as the " frame'' of a house, but the strong 
 oaken timber was there, well hewed, jointed, and seasoned, 
 ready, like the different pi^rts of Solomon's Temple, to be set, 
 each piece, in its proper place, by the exertions of strong, brave 
 men. That was a scene of unusual interest and excitement. 
 From all [)arts, men assembled, with the I'esolution of triumph 
 in their mien, with iron bars, mallets and hammers. They lifted 
 and tugged, in unity of action, until the raising had been 
 effected. Nor were they, in all this, unmindful of the better 
 things yet to be revealed, when their task had been accom- 
 plished. They knew that custom demanded of him, who had 
 invited them to assist him, a bountiful supply of good rum, 
 with plenty of sugar to make it palatable, and a generous 
 offering of food. They knew also, that there were to be trials 
 of muscular skill and strength, in the wrestling of strong men, 
 for the championship of the town, or vicinage. 
 
 Then, too, Ave should not forget the good old days of our 
 fathers, when every able bodied man, from eighteen to forty- 
 five, was a soldier, su1)ject to military duty, Avhen the spirit of 
 '76 still fired the hearts of the people, when every town had its 
 May training, its quota of old, flint-lock muskets, powder house 
 and other military furnishings, required by the state ; Avhen 
 regimental musters, in the Autumn, were grand occasions, to 
 all the vicinity, when, as John Milton says, there were, "our 
 trained bands, which are the trustiest and most proper strength 
 of a free nation ;" when the boys, too young to train, Avent to 
 the " battle field," not like David, to carry cheeses and parched 
 corn, to their brethren, but to eat baker's gingerbread and 
 candy, and to stare, Avith open mouths, at voluble hucksters, 
 us they haAvked their Avares ; or to look, Avith wondering eyes. 
 
HI8T0BY OF GARDNER. 65 
 
 like Pickwick, upon the rhythmical movements of the battalions, 
 
 as, with musket, knapsack, powder horn and canteen, they 
 
 marched and countermarched, and performed their mysterious 
 
 evolutions, upon the field where 
 
 " From the glittering staff unfurled 
 The imperial ensign, which, full high advanced, 
 Shone like a meteor, streaming to the wind, 
 With gems and golden lustre emblazed." 
 
 How marvellously did the officers appear, as they marched at 
 the head of their companies, or flitted across the campus on 
 mettled steeds, with distended nostrils and foaming mouths, or 
 prancing in side-long motions, excited by the music of 
 
 '• Sonorous metal, blowing martial sounds," 
 from all the assembled and tumultuous regimental bands. How 
 these wondering boys watched the motions of " the general 
 commanding," or other superior officer, wdio, with all "the 
 pomp and circumstance of glorious war," galloped down upon 
 some careless or straggling company, to utter, in guttural 
 tones, the command, that brought them into military line ao-ain. 
 How they gazed upon the cavalry, as they advanced, " on 
 sounding hoofs," splendid in their burnished accoutrements 
 fitted to " witch the world with noble horsemanship," and 
 finally, how their nerves thrilled, with excitement, as they 
 witnessed the " sham fight," between companies, selected for 
 the high endeavor, of firing blank cartridges at each other, in 
 imitation of battles more serious. 
 
 We may talk humorously of these days of May trainings, 
 and annual musters, but let us not forget their wonderfully 
 beneficial effect in keeping aglow, in the minds of our country- 
 men, the military spirit, out of which, sprung the achievements 
 connected with our national independence. With 
 
 " The drum 
 And the vile squeaking of the wry-neck'd fife," 
 
 our fathers kept alive, in themselves and their children, the 
 determination to maintain their country's rights, in the face of 
 all opposition, at home and abroad, and we honor them for so 
 doing, for, 
 
 9 
 
6e HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 ' ' War is honorable 
 In those who do their native rights maintain ; 
 In tlaose whose swords an iron barrier are 
 Between the lawless spoiler and the weak." 
 
 They were living in times of great and general excitement 
 throughout the whole nation, when, on all these hillsides and 
 up and down these valleys, questions of state and nation were 
 lai'gely and intelligently discussed. Their town meetings were 
 no tame affairs. The citizens had before them, for settlement, 
 matters of vital concern to them, and grandly and heroically did 
 the}'' meet them. Hence, considering the times in which they 
 lived, and the topics which they had to discuss and settle, in 
 their town meetings, the exertions they were compelled to 
 make for a livelihood, and for independent existence, as a town- 
 ship, we may conclude that, in the veins of our fathers, there 
 was no stagnant blood. We may say of our ancestors, consid- 
 ering their necessities, that they were men and women of pro- 
 digious industry, who ate not the bread of idleness. In heat 
 and cold, seed time and harvest, they were busy and frugal, 
 seeking, by all honest endeavors, to wrench, from a hard, 
 unkindly soil, an honorable livelihood. Their children were 
 taught how to work, within doors and without. They tolerated 
 no idle drones. 
 
 Their sons were brought up in habits of industry and economy, 
 and early made to feel the necessity of bearing some part in 
 their own maintenance. They either worked on the fiii'm, or 
 were indentured, as apprentices, to some one, who should give 
 them a good trade and, at their majority, a suit of clothes and 
 whatever else might be specified in the indenture. Their daugh- 
 ters were taught to spin and weave, and do all kinds of domes- 
 tic work, and sometimes to help in the fields, in planting and 
 harvesting. They were taught the rudiments of common learn- 
 ing. They could read, write and spell, in a fashion, not excelled, 
 nor even equaled, by their successors. They were not wanting, 
 in a good knowledge of arithmetic, as far as the " Rule of 
 Three." Thus furnislied, these sons and daughters went forth, 
 into the work of life, not to feed on already accumulated patri- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 67 
 
 monies, but to make their omii way in the world, by the sweat 
 of their own faces. If they were deprived of many things, 
 now enjoj^ed by their children, they yet might say, with Gold- 
 smith, that, 
 
 " Their best companions were iunocence and health, 
 And their best riches ignorance of wealtli." 
 
 Our fathers were men who feared God and honored their rulers, 
 over whom they dared to exercise a Avatchful care, and to whom, 
 they sometimes hesitated not, to administer sound advice. They 
 were accustomed " to look quite through the deeds of men," to 
 know their civil and religious rights, and were determined to 
 secure and maintain them, in a sj^irit of independence, scornful 
 of all undue interference ; 
 
 " Contentment shares their desolate domain, 
 With Independence, child of high disdain." 
 
 It is no matter ot surprise then, that, endowed as the early in- 
 habitants of this town were, with independence, fortitude, 
 industry, frugality and a high sense of honor, in the discharge 
 of their obligations to God and man, they should have achieved 
 the end they had in view, in establishing this town and making 
 it an honored constituent of the state and nation. In their 
 praiseworthy conduct, they have left, a heritage of blessing, to 
 their children and have taught them a lesson of self-reliance, 
 which they are not in immediate danger of forgetting ; while, 
 they reverently cherish their memories, as worthy to be en- 
 shrined in their own. 
 
 Ever since its incorporation, Gardner has been constantly 
 increasing, in growth of population and in all the elements of 
 municipal prosperity. As has been said, in the beginning of 
 this chapter, the population, at the time of incorporation, was 
 about three hundred and seventy-five ; in seventeen hundred and 
 ninety, when the tirst United States census of the town was 
 taken, there were five hundred and thirty-one ; in eighteen 
 hundred, there were six hundred and sixty-seven ; in eighteen 
 hundred and ten, there were eight hundred and fifteen ; in 
 eighteen hundred and twenty, there were nine hundred and 
 
68 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 eleven ; iu eighteen hundred and thirty, there were ten hundred 
 and twenty-three ; in eighteen hundred and forty, there w^ere 
 twelve hundred and sixty ; in eighteen hundred and fifty, there 
 were fifteen hundred and thirty-three ; in eighteen hundred and 
 sixty, there were two thousand, six hundred and forty ; in 
 eighteen hundred and seventy, there were three thousand, three 
 huudred and thirty-three ; in eighteen hundred aud seventy- 
 five, there were three thousand, seven hundred and thirty-four. 
 At the present time, this number is, probably, increased to about 
 four thousand. Thus it will be seen, that Gardner has been 
 constantly on the increase, in the number of its inhabitants, 
 from the conmiencement of its history. 
 
 The early settlers were mostly English in descent, but within 
 the past thirty years, there has been a gradual increase of Irish 
 and French, till now the foreign born population and their 
 descendants, constitute quite a per cent, of the whole number 
 of inhabitants. Within the last twenty years the town has 
 taken a fresh start, in its growth, having nearly doubled the 
 number of its inhabitants. This increase has created a neces- 
 sity for more houses and stores, as Avell as for new streets. 
 
 Going back fifty years, we should find only a few houses stand- 
 ing upon the ground now occupied by the three villages 
 of Gardner. Beginning at Gardner Centre, we should find, 
 east of the common, the house of Mr. Francis Richardson; 
 where now stands the Town Hall, stood the house of Mr. Ben- 
 jamin Hey wood, since moved to a site south of the hall. Pur- 
 suing our way westward, we should come to the house of Mr. 
 William S. Lynde, on Lynde Street. Still advancing west, we 
 should come upon the small, brown house, located just west of 
 the Chapel, recently vacated by the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
 Upon the side hill, west of Crystal Lake, we should find the 
 house of Dea. Smyrna W. Bancroft. 
 
 Going south, on Pleasant Street, we should find the little, 
 old, unpainted house, ni)on the hill, near the residence of Mrs. 
 Eliza Wright. Upon the side of the Fitchbm-g Railroad, the 
 house of Mr. Edward Greenwood. Coming back to the Centre, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 69 
 
 and oroiiiir down Elm Street, we should find the house now 
 owned by Francis P. Learned ; still farther south, that now 
 owned by Dea. Henry Lawrence, erected by Rev. Mr. Osgood, 
 the first pastor, for his own residence ; while on the left of Elm 
 Street, south of the house of Simeon HoAve, we should find 
 the small, brown house uear the railroad bridge ; crossing the 
 railroad bridge, we should find, upon the east side of Kendall 
 Hill, the house, which still retains its position, upon that slope. 
 Going east from the Town Hall, we should find the house now 
 owned by Mr. John Allen, and that of Mr. Webster Gates, in 
 which the first chair was made, in this town. On Cherry Street, 
 we should find the house now owned by Mr. William Austin. 
 Most of these houses are in good repair and still occupied. 
 
 Comparing the town, then, with its present condition, we 
 shall see a vivid and striking contrast. Where there were only 
 a few, scattered houses, we have the three villages, into which, 
 most of our population is crowded, whose locations seem to 
 have been determined by the direction of the streams, upon 
 which they are placed. At the conmieucement of the town's 
 history, there were probably not far from sixty houses in town, 
 most of which could not have been, in any modern sense, very 
 elegant. At the present time, the number of residences, in 
 Gardner, is seven hundred, thirteen and one-half, the other 
 half of one of the houses being in Westminster. Several resi- 
 dences, in the town, at the present time, are both elegant and 
 costly, having all modern appliances of hot and cold water, 
 with all their rooms arranged, for lighting by gas. Among 
 those deserving of special mention, in this class, are the houses 
 of Messrs. Levi HeyAvood, Seth Hey wood, Henry Hey wood 
 and Philander Derby at the Centre, while the beautiful and 
 costly house of S. K. Pierce adorns the South Village. Some 
 of the residences are beautiful for situation, as those of C. W. 
 Conant and Jonathan L. Alger at the Centre and that of Milton 
 M. Favor, upon the summit of Peabody Hill, while the dwellers 
 upon Wright's Hill, in South Gardner, are no less fortunate in 
 their location. 
 
70 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Most of the neatly painted and blinded homes, now adorning 
 our three villages, have been erected or purchased by their 
 present occupants, whose industry and economy have enabled 
 them to possess them. This is especiall}- true of the Irish 
 portion of our population, who, as a ride through the parts of 
 the town occupied by them, will show, have not only builded 
 themselves neat little cottages, but have subdued and made 
 fertile the many tracts of land upon which their houses stand, 
 whose beauty and verdure, remind one of the Green Isle, from 
 whence they came. Aside from residences of comfort and 
 beauty, the town boasts of a Town Hall at the Centre, erected 
 in 18(50, with an audience room capable of seating about 
 nine hundred, beneath which, are several stores, and the 
 Post Office. In all parts of the town, churches, of modern 
 construction, school houses, well adapted to their uses, stores 
 of all sorts and markets well supplied, together with many 
 chair, pail, cane, toy and tin shops and photographic galleries, 
 besides a foundry, machine shops and printing office, all in their 
 varied ways, bear witness to the spirit of enterprise and thrift, 
 which are characteristics of the sons, as they were of the fathers. 
 The people of this town are, and ever have been, remarkable 
 for their industry. Consequently there is but little idleness or 
 loafing. The men, who are not enira«ed in farminsf, work in 
 our many shops, while many of the women are employed in 
 seating, or weaving cane into webs, with which chairs are seated. 
 Wisdom, enterprise and skill are every where manifest, in all 
 ihe business men of the place. Prudent and cautious, they 
 have generally been able to bear themselves safely through all 
 financial exigencies. There have of course been pecuniary 
 reverses among the business portions of our population, in 
 past times, as there have been in all communities, but resiliency 
 of spirit, real pluck, and a determination not to be long baffled, 
 in their plans for future success and final triumph, have gener- 
 ally carried our citizens through all their troubles and failures, 
 and brought them safely to a secure financial footing. 
 
HI8T0RY OF GARDJSTER. 71 
 
 The town is remarkable for the fact, that all its wealth has 
 been developed out of its own brain and brawn. The wealthy 
 men of Gardner to-day, have not become so by inheritance. 
 They have, by hard labor, good management and careful hus- 
 bandry of their resources, risen from almost absolute penury, 
 to their present position of pecuniary strength. It is not easy 
 to ascertain the amount of the valuation of the town, at its in- 
 corporation, no record being accessible to the writer, but it 
 must have been small. Upon the first day of May, 1877, the 
 total valuation of the town was two millions, sixty-six thousand, 
 five hundred and thirty-three dollars. This shows that our 
 citizens have neither been idle nor prodigal. But while all the 
 wealth of the town has been developed within its own borders, 
 none having been brought from other towns or cities, it is also 
 true, that much of the money made here, in former times, has 
 been taken away to enrich other places, as, for instance, our 
 neighboring city Fitchburg. It may, without boasting, be 
 truthfully said, that the citizens of Gardner are an intelligent, 
 contented, hardworking, undemonstrative and hospitable people. 
 While they quietly rejoice in all signs of gradual, yet perma- 
 nent growth, in all the elements of municipal strength, they 
 are not given to sounding their own greatness, in the public 
 ear. They are, nevertheless, willing to have all visitors, like 
 Antipholus, " view the manners of the town, peruse the traders, 
 gaze upon the buildings," and render their verdict concerning it. 
 
72 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 CHAPTER ly. 
 
 THE TOWN AS CONNECTED WITH STATE AND NATIONAL AF- 
 FAIRS— SHAYS' REBELLION. 
 
 " Pride in their port, defiance in their eye, 
 
 I see the lords of liunian liind pass by ; 
 
 Intent on high designs, a tlioughtful band, 
 
 By forms unfashiou'd, fresh from nature's hand, 
 
 Fierce in their native hardiness of soul. 
 
 True to imagin'd right, above control ; 
 
 While e'en the peasant boasts these rights to scan. 
 
 And learns to venerate himself as man." 
 
 — Goldsmith's Traveller. 
 
 "And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and 
 every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he 
 became a captain over them." — 1 Samuel 22 :2. 
 
 NO sooner hud the town been established, than it began to 
 be disturbed by those commotions, which grew out of 
 state and national affairs. The Revolutionary war had but 
 recently closed, leaving many of those baneful effects, which 
 are the inevitable results of war. Among these results, was a 
 depreciated, and constantly depreciating currency. 
 
 "Upon July 22d, 1775, the Continental Congress ordered 
 two millions of dollars to be issued, on bills of credit, for carry- 
 ing on the war, for the defence of the country. The same 
 expedient was resorted to, by many of the particular states, so 
 that the country was immediately flooded, with paper bills of 
 every denomination, and specie was banished from circulation. 
 The sudden issue of large sums and the financial distress of 
 
HISTOBY OF GABDNER. 73 
 
 the government of the confederation, as well as the several 
 state governments, soon destroyed the credit of the bills, so 
 that they gradnally ceased to circnlate, after the 21st of August, 
 1781. This currency continued to be used until its bulk, for 
 the common purposes of trade, became cumbersome to the 
 person. A year before it ceased circulating, it required sixty 
 dollars to purchase a bushel of corn and fifteen dollars to pur- 
 chase a pound of butter, and much larger sums were afterwards 
 necessary, to procure the same articles."* 
 
 These were times, in which, as Dr. Witherspoon once said, 
 " debtors were pursuing their creditors," with their abundance 
 of paper money, anxious to obtain their discharge before the 
 value, of what was called money, should become less, or entirely 
 worthless. 
 
 A little earlier than the times, of which we write, prices were 
 thus reported, by John Adams, in one of his letters to his wife, 
 in the following words : " Prices current, four pounds a week 
 for board, besides finding your own washing, shaving, candles, 
 liquors, pipes, tobacco, wood, etc. Thirty shillings a week for 
 a servant. It ought to be thirty shillings for a gentleman and 
 four pounds for the servant, because he generally eats twice as 
 much and makes twice as much trouble. Shoes, five dollars a 
 pair. Salt, twenty-seven dollars a bushel. Butter, ten shillings 
 a pouTid. Punch, twent}^ shillings a bowl." 
 
 How enormous was the depreciation of the Continental Cur- 
 rency, may be seen also, from the following waggish notice in 
 the New York Gazette for Oct. 28, 1775: "Wanted by a 
 gentleman fond of curiosities, who is shortly going to England, 
 a parcel of Congress Notes, with which he intends to paper 
 some rooms. Those who wish to make something of their 
 stock in that commodity, shall, if they are clean and fit for the 
 purpose, receive at the rate of one guinea per thousand for all 
 they can bring before the expiration of. the present month. 
 Inquire of the printer. N. B. — It is expected they will be 
 much lower. 
 
 *Robert Eantoul, Jr., on Banks. 
 
 10 
 
74 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 It is a fact, within the memory of those still living, that 
 sharp, nnfecling men, in those clays, came out into the country, 
 from the cities, and purchased farms, paying for them in Con- 
 tinental money, which soon became worthless to the receiver, 
 so that, in reality, he lost his farm. But, if some men, who 
 were in debt to others, were anxious to pay, because they had 
 the money, there Avere, on the other hand, those in debt, who 
 were not able to pay. Hence they were greatly distressed, by 
 suits, brought against them. Creditors fell, without mercy, 
 upon their debtors, and for want of better laws, regarding these 
 matters, he who first laid suit, had his full claim allowed. If 
 anything was left, the next Avho came, was, in like manner, 
 served, till all were paid, or the man's possessions had been all 
 taken away. Suits, at this time, were surprisingly numerous ; 
 no less than two thousand acti(jns were entered, during the year 
 1784, in the Court of Common Pleas at Worcester. This was, 
 considering the population at that time, a great number, and 
 serves to give us some clearer idea, of the troubles and incon- 
 veniences, which the people of this country, were then called to 
 endure. 
 
 Whoever shall take the pains to review the journals of the 
 Massachusetts House of Representatives, for the period of 
 which we are now speaking, will be struck with the frequency, 
 with which petitions, from many of the towns of the state, are 
 there found, praying for abatement of taxes, on account of ina- 
 bility to pay. These petitions are an indication of the universal 
 distress, that was then telt, on account of depreciated currency, 
 combined with other causes. 
 
 The result was great and general distress and impending 
 financial ruin. The people, thus disturbed, would naturally 
 look to the state government for relief. It was with our fathers, 
 as it is Avith us ; if there are hard times, growing out of the 
 unsettled condition of the currency, or from an overstocking of 
 the markets of the world, or from whatever cause, there is 
 always a feeling, resting in the public mind, that the government 
 is responsible, and if one administration cannot remove the 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 75 
 
 troubles, another must be substituted for it. In America, from 
 the beginning, every man regards himself, as a political econo- 
 mist, equal to Smith, Mill, Bowen, or Wayland, and fully com- 
 petent to point out the causes of all financial ditficulties, and 
 the wisest manner, in which they may be remedied. 
 
 At all events, the average citizen is confident that the state, 
 or general government is responsible for the results of those 
 laws of political economy, which are as inexorable, in their 
 action, as the law of gravitation, and to the discharge of this 
 responsibility, he holds public officials with an unyielding grip. 
 This disposition, manifests itself, in the early history of this 
 town. Though a new and very obscure town, there was a de- 
 termination, to make themselves heard, on the part of the early 
 inhabitants. They were poor and but little known, yet they 
 were not afraid to make such demands, upon the state or 
 national officials, as they felt their circumstances demanded. 
 They shared with other towns and counties, in the state, the 
 feeling, that something should be done to redress their wrongs. 
 
 The spirit of discontent, so rife in all parts of the state, took 
 palpable form, in County Conventions, which were held in 
 178G, at Concord, Leicester, Paxton and Hartfield. In these 
 conventions, questions like these, had grave discussion, as is 
 evident from the records of this and other towns : Sitting of 
 the General Court in Boston ; the want of a circulating sys- 
 tem ; the abuses, in the practice of the law, and the exorbi- 
 tance of the fee table ; the existence of the Court of Common 
 Pleas, in their present mode of administration ; the appro- 
 priating the revenue, arising from the impost and excise, to the 
 payment of the state securities ; the unreasonable and unneces- 
 sary grants made by the General Court, to the Attorney Gen- 
 eral and others ; tlie servants of the government being too 
 numerous, and having too great salaries ; the existence of the 
 Senate.* 
 
 These were heavy grievances, upon the hearts of our early 
 townsmen, which they sought, in what they considered, the best 
 
 *See Marvin's History of Winchendon, p. 107. 
 
76 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 way, to remove. If, from Ji misunderstanding of the real 
 functions and powers of the government, or if from a too great 
 jealousy of other, more densely populated, portion of the state, 
 they, in the clearer light of our present knowledge, and expe- 
 rience, conducted themselves impatiently and unwisely, we 
 nevertheless, cannot fail to admire the manly spirit, with which 
 they bore themselves, iu those times. We must remember that 
 they were, some of them, fresh from the achievements of their 
 national independence, whose import, they perhaps did not 
 fully comprehend. They were men of clear heads and intelli- 
 gent minds. They had a broad sense, through which they Avere 
 able to discern their troubles, if they were not able always to 
 give a clear diagnosis of them. They were men, little learned, 
 in the lore of a wise statesmanship. They could not produce 
 a written document, whose grammatical merits, would leave 
 nothing to be desired by Richard Grant White. And yet, they 
 were not wanting in just that ability which enabled them to 
 secure their ends. Indeed, what is generally called " book 
 learning," is not always essential to the greatest efficiency, 
 or highest success in life, so that a man has brains, and a suffi- 
 cient amount of vital force to work them vigorously. It is said 
 that, "as late as the fourteenth century, Du Guesclin, Consta- 
 ble of France, the greatest man in the state, and one of the 
 greatest men of his age, could neither read nor write." 
 
 With all their disadvantages, in matters of general culture, 
 there is something of real manhood and lofty spirit, which our 
 fathers have left recorded upon these murky records, that chal- 
 lenges our admiration. They were freemen, and as such, they 
 felt it to be a solemn duty to see that the repul)lic should re- 
 ceive no detriment. For them, there was no need of the prayer 
 of Cicero, for the Conscript Fathers, " that it might indeed be 
 written, upon the forehead of every one of the citizens, what 
 he thought concerning the republic," for every man was so full 
 of interest, in public matters, that he found it easy to make 
 known his feelings, upon matters of highest concermiient in the 
 state and nation. 
 
H18T0RY OF GARDNER. 11 
 
 Hence, though few in number, our fathers, hi the very infancy 
 of their corporate existence, did not hesitate to utter their sen- 
 timents in the hearing of tlie governor and his council, as we 
 shall find, in what now follows. In those events, of public 
 interest, Avhich agitated the state, at this time, to which refer- 
 ence has been made in this chapter, our fathers bore an impor- 
 tant part. At this precise period, we shall find this spirit of 
 discontent and jealousy, cr^'stallizing itself into armed force, 
 preparing to resist opp'.-ession and maintain personal and mu- 
 nicipal rights. In order to carry out this purpose, parties, 
 called Regulators, were formed all over the state, whose object 
 was to take the redress of public grievances into their own 
 hands. As Regulators, their intention, if circumstances favored, 
 was to regulate the affairs of the state and to see that they, at 
 least, secured their own rights. In a somewhat milder sense, 
 than the term is usually employed, they were an armed mob, 
 willing to be orderly and Avell behaved, if their wishes should 
 be consulted and gratified, but ready to shed blood if they 
 were not. 
 
 Among the leaders in this mobocracy, was a man known by 
 the name of Capt. Shattuck. He had been arrested and was, 
 at this time, confined in jail. His confinement gave great 
 uneasiness, especially to those who were in sympathy with the 
 Regulators, and even to some who were not, and yat, who 
 desired the peace and happiness of the state, through the enjoy- 
 ment of equal rights. As a consequence of this general feeling, 
 a County Convention, was called, to meet at Paxton, the 26th 
 day of November, 1786, whose object may be indicated in the 
 following vote of the town, and in the instructions given the 
 delegate chosen to sit in that convention. 
 
 The town meeting was called, especially, as the warrant 
 reads, " To see if the town Avill choose a person to sit in con- 
 vention, at Paxton, on Tuesday, the twenty-sixth day of this 
 instant, agreeable to a letter sent to this town, for that purpose, 
 or act anything relating thereunto as the town shall think best 
 when met. Met agreeable to warrant. Voted, To send a man 
 
78 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 to the convention at Paxton. Made choice of Capt. Samuel 
 Kelton,to sit in convention, at Paxton, on Tuesday, the twenty- 
 sixth day of September, 1786. Voted, To choose a committee 
 of three to give directions to the delegate, namely : William 
 Bickford, David Foster, Elijah Wilder, committee." The com- 
 mittee made their report as follows : 
 
 Whereas, The difficulties and tumults that are rising, by 
 reason of the scarcity of money and large salaries to support 
 government, and high tax of officers at large, we desire that 
 you will use your influence, that these salaries may be taken 
 down, and salaries given, that may be handsome for their sup- 
 port, and not too burdensome to the people at large, and that 
 the lawyers and inferior courts, may be entirely annihilated, 
 and also that the General Court, might not make any grants of 
 state lands, to any person, except it is to pay state charges. 
 Also that the General Court may be removed, out of Boston, 
 
 into some country to\Vn. 
 
 William Bickford, ^ 
 David Foster, > Cotiimittee. 
 
 Elijah Wilder, ) 
 
 Gardner, Sept. 25th, 1786. 
 
 Voted, To accept the report of this committee. 
 To Capt. Samuel Kelton, chose to sit in convention. 
 
 It is not certain that an}- of the citizens of Gardner, actively 
 participated in the opposition then raised against state govern- 
 ment. It will, however, be seen, by the instructions given to 
 the delegate chosen to sit in convention, at Paxton, that they 
 possessed emphatic ideas, upon the scarcity of money, high 
 salaries, which, while they were willing to have "handsome," 
 they desired to have " taken down," and that the " lawyers and 
 inferior courts should be entirely annihilated." They also had 
 so little regard for what has since been called the Athens of 
 America, as to desire that the General Court should be removed 
 out of it, " to some country town." 
 
 Since nothing further is recorded, upon the town records, 
 concerning the action of this convention, nor of the town in it, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJ^ER. 79 
 
 we may conclude that the inhabitants had ceased to vent their 
 feelings in this direction. They did not, however, cease to 
 manifest a deep interest in state affairs. Leaving inferior 
 things, their minds were brought to bear upon the Governor 
 himself, whose ears they feared not to assault, in the following 
 well expi'iissed petition, which Capt. Elisha Jackson was chosen 
 to bear directly to the hands of Governor Bowdoin. 
 
 Let the reader picture to himself the personal appearance of 
 this same Capt. Elisha Jackson, as, " intent on high designs," 
 and " true to imagined right," he laid the petition of his town, 
 before the Governor, with the spirit of the " Arvernian aristo- 
 crat," Vercingetorix, as he cast his arms at the feet of Csesar, in 
 his Gallic camp. Though " little among the thousands" of the 
 state, Gardner was intent on being heard by the Governor and 
 his Council. What effect the petition had upon these august 
 personages, or what Avas its influence upon the future destinies 
 of the state, does not appear. 
 
 To his Excellency , James Boivdoin, Esq., Governor of the 
 Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and to the Honorable Council 
 of said Commonwealth : 
 
 The petition of the town of Gardner, humbly showeth, that, 
 whereas, the state disturl)ances, and rising of the people in this 
 state, in stopping the courts, etc., threatens the ruin of this 
 state, if not all the states in the union, if matters are not settled 
 soon, and in peace ; we therefore pray, your Excellenc}^ with 
 the Council, to do everything in your power, for the settlement 
 of the same, even to the liberating of Capt. Shattuck and others, 
 Avho are confined in any of the gaols of this commonwealth, who 
 are of the party that is called Regulators, and are confined on 
 that account, if it could be, without a trial, if not, that they mav 
 have it as quick as may be, and if even found guilty, they may 
 have a pardon, and that no more of that party may be taken, 
 if there is any likelihood of there being any means of settling 
 the matter. And we have been informed, that the body, called 
 Regulators, have petitioned that the Court of the General Ses- 
 
80 HISTORY OF GABBNER. 
 
 sions of the Peace, etc., should be put l)y, in several of the 
 counties, until a new house should be chosen. We had better 
 suffer a little, than a civil war should take place. Therefore, 
 if the suspension of the courts, a little while, in a few counties, 
 would be a means of accommodating the matter, we could wish 
 for that, and until the people in the out counties, coukl even be 
 informed of what the General Court have already done, con- 
 cerning matters that are called grievances, though we have not 
 a right of representation, by the Constitution, yet we have a 
 right to pray for peace, which must be the strength and happi- 
 ness of a people. Therefore, we pray, that everything you can 
 do, to bring about peace, might l)e done, and that your Excel- 
 lency lay the above before the General Court at their session. 
 And we pray for their acceptance in completing the same, and 
 that the God of Peace, may grant 3'ou all that wisdom, that the 
 times call for ; that peace and happiness be restored again to 
 the people of this state. 
 
 Voted, That the town clerk date this petition and sign it. 
 
 Joseph Bacon, Town Clerk. 
 Gardner, January 15th, 1787. 
 
 Voted, To choose some person to convey this petition to the 
 Governor. Voted, That Elisha Jackson be the person. 
 
 For the sake of our children, who might otherwise remain 
 in ignorance of the events which threatened the existence and 
 perpetuity of our republican institutions, at this particular 
 period of our history, we cannot resist the temptation to insert 
 here, an account of " The Shays' Eebellion," which occurred at 
 this time. We arc indebted to William L. Smith, Esq., a 
 lawyer in Springfield, for the following comprehensive and 
 reliable account of this rebellion, which he read before the Con- 
 necticut Valley Historical Society, at Springfield, Oct. 1st, 1877. 
 
 SHAYS' REBELLION. 
 
 The history of the insurrection in Massachusetts — commonly 
 called the " Shays' Rebellion" — is interesting as the record of 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER, 81 
 
 the only serious attempt ever made against the authority of the 
 state government. The insurrection having first taken an 
 organized form in the Connecticut valley and having here met 
 its final overthrow, the preservation of local facts concerning it 
 is expressly within the province of this society. This paper 
 will relate mainly to such incidents of the rebellion as occurred 
 in Springfield and the immediate vicinity. 
 
 The insurrection wais the result of a condition of things now 
 popularly described as "hard times." It did not originate so 
 much in disaffection toward the state 2:overnment as in an 
 uncontrollable impulse of a distressed people to seek relief in 
 some way, or any way. The long and burdensome war of the 
 Revolution had just been brought to a close. The country was 
 impoverished. The continental paper money had become 
 worthless, and no substitute for it had l)een provided. There 
 was no trade, no demand for labor, no way in which the value 
 of property of any kind could be measured. Under the bar- 
 barous laws then in force, the jails were becoming filled with 
 prisoners whose only offense was their inability to pay their 
 debts. Men who had nothing to do but to talk about their 
 grievances and distresses were easily excited to turbulence, and 
 local disturbances were frequent and serious. The authorities 
 were too often in sympathy with the oflenders against the law, 
 and guilty parties went unpunished. The state constitution, 
 adopted in 1780, was viewed with disfavor by a large minority 
 of the people and was not regarded as securely established. 
 The constitution of the United States had not then been framed, 
 and all existing government was merely experimental. 
 
 There Avas at that time no law for the equitable distribution 
 of a debtor's property among his creditors. The executions of 
 the creditors were levied in the order in which their attach- 
 ments were made, and each creditor was satisfied in his tui'u 
 until all Avere paid, or the debtor's estate was exhausted. A 
 man whose credit was suspected found his property covered by 
 attachments at once, and in the condition of things then exist- 
 ing a very slight circumstance excited suspicion. Litigation 
 
 11 
 
82 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 became general. The state was showered with executions, and 
 hirge amounts of property Avere sold for almost nothing to 
 satisfy them. In the unreasoning excitement of the time, the 
 courts, lawyers and sheriffs were denounced in the wildest 
 terms as the promoters of the suffering that men were inflicting 
 upon each other. A cry arose that the courts ought to be 
 abolished. Threats were made that the courts should not be 
 allowed to sit, that no more suits should be entered and no 
 more executions issued. It was such wild clamor as this that 
 led to the first overt act in resistance to the lawful authority. 
 
 There was no geuci-al insurrection until the summer of 178(3, 
 but as early as 1783 a bold attempt was made at Springfield to 
 break up the session of the court of common pleas. The 
 "Massachusetts Gazette or the General Advertiser' (then 
 printed at Springfield j of May 27, gives this account of it : — 
 
 On Tuesday last, beiug the day on which the geueral sessions of the 
 peace and the court of common pleas opened in this town, a banditti, 
 collected from the obscure corners of the county, composed of men of 
 the most infamous character, to the amoimt of about sixty in number, 
 met in this town to prevent the sitting of the court. * * * They 
 showed no disposition to attack the courts in the forenoon ; at two 
 o'clock they met at a public house in the town and resolved themselves 
 to be a convention of tlie county, met together for the purpose of re- 
 dressing grievances ; after having passed several important resolves they 
 adjourned their convention to the elm tree near the court-house ; when 
 the bell rang for tlie court, they, in hostile parade, armed with white 
 bludgeons, cut for that pui'pose, marched befoi-e the door of tlie court- 
 house, and when tlie court, headed by the sheriff, came to the door, with 
 insolence opposed their entrance ; the slieriif, in tlie mild terms of per- 
 suasion, addressing them as gentlemen, desired them to make way. 
 His civiUty was repaid with outrage, and an action soon commenced ; 
 happily there was a collection of people friendly to the government pres- 
 ent, and the mob was repulsed with broken heads. A number of them 
 were instantly taken and committed to prison ; after which, by a regular 
 procedure, they were brought before the court of sessions for examina- 
 tion, and were bound to appear before the supreme court. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJ\^ER. 83 
 
 The Legislature of 1786 was elected at a time of o-reat ex- 
 citement. Demaofoafism was in its "lorv, and the distresses of 
 the people were used for the accomplishment of personal and 
 political ends. Many of the men who had hitherto been in- 
 trusted with the responsibilities of legislation, and were prom- 
 inent in the service of the state, were superseded by inexpe- 
 rienced and in many cases by utterly unfit persons. Patriots 
 of the revolution, Avhose eloquent appeals had aroused the 
 spirit that carried the country triumphantly through the Avar of 
 independence, were defeated as candidates, merely because they 
 happened to be lawyers. AVhen the Legislature assembled 
 various visionary schemes were brought forward, among them 
 a proposition that the state should go into the business of raan- 
 utacturing paper money. The "greenback" party of the day 
 was active and nois}'. The very men who had lived through a 
 period of great inflation and consequent depreciation wanted 
 to travel over the same wretched road again. We should 
 wonder at this if we had not recently seen history repeating 
 itself in this particidar. After reading the discussions of that 
 time one is brought to the conclusion that the advocates of raof 
 money have not materially strengthened their arguments during 
 the last ninety years. The Legislature proceeded deliberately, 
 influenced, no doubt, by the conservative sentiment of Boston, 
 and finally rejected the proposition ; and the Senate stood firmly 
 in the way of other dangerous schemes. Thereupon there 
 arose a new clamor. It was declared that the senate should be 
 abolished and that the Legislature should not continue to hold 
 its sessions at Boston ; and the agitators proceeded to supple- 
 ment their boisterous declamations by a formal organization. 
 
 The Legislature adjourned on the 8th of July. On the 28th 
 of August delegates from fifty towns in Hampshire county 
 (Hampden and Franklin counties were part of Hampshire at 
 that time) met in convention at Hatfield and held a session of 
 three days. All the issues of the day were represented in that 
 convention. The paper money part}- was in strong force. The 
 men wdio " had fought for liberty and meant to have it," were 
 
84 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 there, and liberty as they understood it Avas defined by one of 
 their leaders in a speech at West Springfield. Liberty, ho said, 
 " is for every man to do as he pleases and to make other folks 
 do as you please to have them." Of course there was a mixture 
 of local politics. There was some in the convention wdio hon- 
 estly thought they could see their w^ay out of their troubles 
 throuo;h mere lesrislation, but with all of them the idea of re- 
 dressing grievances by revolution was familiar and popular. 
 
 The convention solemnly voted " that this meeting is con- 
 stitutional," and issued a declaration of its purposes. The 
 declaration was a marked specimen of energetic fault-finding, 
 but failed to present practical recommendations for the removal 
 of the evils complained of. They wanted, among various other 
 things, a revisal of the state constitution, the al)olition of the 
 Senate and of the court of common pleas, and more paper 
 money. The convention called upon other counties to organize 
 and took care to go through the form of advising the people to 
 abstain from all mobs and unlawful assemblies. 
 
 The events of the next few days gave an unexpected con- 
 struction to the convention's declaration against mobs and 
 unlawful assemblies. The last Tuesday of August was the day 
 fixed b^^ law for the term of the court of common pleas at 
 NorthamptoD. Some fifteen hundred men took possession of the 
 court-house, and prevented the sitting of the court. The term 
 Avas not held, and the men who did not intend to pay their debts 
 celebrated a victory over the law. After accomplishing its 
 object the mob dispersed, but the insurrection was then under 
 full headway. 
 
 It took the clerk of the court but very little time to record 
 the proceedings of that term. Here is the full record : — 
 
 Early on the morning of this day tliere was collected a considerable 
 number of persons under arms, wlio paraded near the court-liouse, with 
 a proposed design to prev'cut tliis court from sitting ; a committee from 
 whom presented a petition, requesting the court would not proceed to do 
 any business. The court having considered thereof thought proper to 
 open the same at the house of Capt. "Samuel Clark, innliolder, in North- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNEB. 85 
 
 amptou ; and having continued all matters now pending in said court to 
 the term of this court next to be holden in Springfield, in and for the 
 county of Hampshire, on the second Tuesday of November next, ad- 
 journed without day. 
 
 The November term, to which the matters pending were con- 
 tinued, was never held, nor w^as any term of the court held in 
 the county until May of the following year. The docket was 
 kept alive by legislative action. 
 
 Gov. Bowdoin issued a proclamation calling upon the civil 
 otEcers and the good citizens of the state to sustain the laws, 
 but the officers were powerless and the good citizens were over- 
 awed by the aggressive violence of the insurgents. In some 
 localities the militia were ordered out, but the order was soon 
 countermanded, for it was found that the militia, as then organ- 
 ized, was composed in a very large degree of the insurgents 
 themselves, and could not be trusted. Meantime the rioters 
 were profiting by the enforced inaction of the state authorities. 
 The judges whose duty it was to hold the September term of 
 the court of common pleas at Worcester found the door of the 
 court-house bristling with bayonets, and they were not admitted. 
 Like outrages were committed in INIiddlesex, Bristol and Berk- 
 shire counties. In the other counties there was less open insur- 
 rection, but, with the exception of the towm of Boston and its 
 immediate vicinity, the rebels had substantially the control of 
 the state. The extent of the disaffection at this time was not 
 known to the state authorities, and probably not to the insur- 
 gents themselves, until after the troubles were over, and after 
 the Legislature had made a law disqualifying persons engaged 
 in the rebellion from holding civil office. It was then found 
 that in some towns there were not enough men untainted with 
 rebellion to fill the necessary town offices, and further legisla- 
 tion was necessary to bridge over the difficulty. It is probable 
 that about one-third of the population of the state were more 
 or less actively in sympathy with the insurrection. 
 
 The governor issued a proclamation calling the Legislature 
 to meet in special session on the 27tli of September. The 
 
86 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 proclamation was an incentive to still greater activity on the 
 part of the insurgents. On the other hand, the supporters of 
 the government felt the increased necessity' of making a stand 
 against insurrection. The law required the supreme judicial 
 court to sit at Springfield on the fourth Tuesday of September. 
 The insurgents, who had not hitherto interfered with the court, 
 declared that the term should not be held. At that time the 
 grand juries reported to the supreme court, and the insurgent 
 leaders knew that if the grand jury assembled and did its dut}' 
 they would be indicted for treason. The friends of law and 
 order declared that the court should be protected in any event, 
 and at whatever cost. The issue was thus squarely made up, 
 and each party meant what it said. 
 
 Gen. William Shepard of V\'estiield, who had served with 
 distinction through the war of the Revolution, and had been a 
 member of the continental congress and a trusted ofHcer of 
 Gen. Washington, was appointed to command such forces as 
 could be raised for the protection of the court. Shays, the 
 leader of the insurgents, had held a commission in the conti- 
 nental army, and was conspicuous for his personal bravery at 
 Bunker Plill and Stony Point, and was present at the surrender 
 of Burgoyne. Revolutionary experiences were still fresh, and 
 almost every man in the community was accustomed in some 
 degree to the use of arms and military drill. It was well 
 understood that neither party would give way to the other, and 
 there was hardly ground for hope that a blo(>dy collision would 
 be averted. 
 
 Gen. Shepard succeeded in collecting about 600 militia and 
 volunteers, and anticipated the plans of the insurgents by 
 taking possession of the court-house. On the appointed day 
 the court was opened. Chief Justice Gushing and Justices Sar- 
 geant, Sewall and Sumner being present, and Shays appeared 
 at the head of a force largely superior in numbers to Gen. 
 Shepard's, but his men were not as well armed as Avere the 
 militia. The insurgent leaders were disconcerted at finding the 
 militia in possession of the court-house ; their followers were 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJSTER. 87 
 
 enraged, and insisted npon making an iannediate attack. But 
 the leaders were more prudent. They knew that the govern- 
 ment troops were well armed, they had no artillery and they 
 were especially disgusted with the bark of a small cannon, 
 which they styled the "government's puppy." They offered 
 to withdraw if the judges would agree that no other than the 
 ordinary criminal business of the term should be taken up. 
 The judges replied in substance that they had a public duty to 
 discharge, iind would attend to such business as should properly 
 come before them. But by the time this answer was received 
 the insurgent leaders Avere indiflerent as to the action of the 
 court, for they were satisfied the jjrand jury could not be got 
 together and that there would be no trials. They saw their my in 
 purpose would be accomplished Avithout fighting. Shays had 
 his headquarters on or near Ferry lane (now Cypress street,) 
 and a tavern that stood on the southerly corner of the present 
 Main and Sargent streets was a favorite rendezvous of the 
 insurgents. 
 
 The inhabitants of Springfield were beginning to feel some 
 relief from their anxiety when a new commotion was seen in 
 the camp of the insurgents. It was rumored among them that 
 the militia had determined that they should not be permitted to 
 march past the court-house. It is not likely that any person in 
 authority on the government side threw down the gauntlet in 
 that way. It is more probable that the rumor originated with 
 some of the Shays men who wanted a pretext for a fight and 
 consequent pillage. But the rumor, however it originated, 
 aroused the fighting qualities of the insurgents. Old soldiers 
 were not to be told that they must not march over the highway. 
 They notified Gen. Shepard that they would march past the 
 court-house forthwith, and they did so in military order and 
 with loaded muskets, and they countermarched and again passed 
 under the windows of the court-house. But no one come for- 
 ward to knock the chip from their leader's shoulder. The 
 experiment of the insurgents proved a failure. The militia 
 could not be tempted to accept a mere challenge or invite a 
 
88 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 battle. A taunt or a careless word would have occasioned a 
 collision, but the word was not spoken. But some of the 
 militia were so impressed by the numbers and bearing of the 
 insurgents that they deserted their colors and enlisted imder 
 Shays. 
 
 The court was kept open three days, but the proceedings 
 amounted to a mere ceremony. The grand jury did not assem- 
 ble. Parties to causes, jurors and witnesses were under arms, 
 cither on one side or the other. One defendant, who was out 
 on bail, was defaulted, and that was the only business trans- 
 acted at the term. The adjournment of the court, under such 
 circumstances, was a victory for the insurgents, and their tri- 
 umj)h was made complete when they learned that the judges 
 had determined not to hold the October term at Great Barring- 
 ton. The judges had been informed of the preparations made 
 for their reception at that place, and knew it would be useless 
 to attempt to hold the term. 
 
 The rebels had accomplished all they intended, and more, 
 but success had crazed them. The rank and file were clamor- 
 ous for a light, and Shays sent a message to General Shepard 
 demanding a surrender of the court-house. Gen. Shepard did 
 not deem the possession of the court-house worth fighting for, 
 the court having adjourned, and moved his forces to the federal 
 arsenal, wdiere there was valuable property that required pro- 
 tection. The insurgents, finding no satisfaction in standing 
 guard over an empty building, and not yet being ready to make 
 war against the federal authority, soon dispersed. 
 
 Minot's History of the insurrections, etc., published within 
 two years after these occurrences, says, " The condition of the 
 town of Springfield was truly melancholy during this civil con- 
 tention. Neighbors were opposed to each other under arms, 
 the houses were rendered the scenes of female distress, and it 
 was in the power of accident only to have brought an action 
 which might have destroj'cd the lives of thousands, and sub- 
 jected all property to the immediate vengeance of the party 
 that miirht have become victorious. After remaining in this 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 89 
 
 situation for four clays the inhabitants were relieved by the dis- 
 persing of both parties." 
 
 The conservative sentiment of Springtield as a town is 
 shown by the record of a town meeting held on the 25th of 
 September. At a previous meeting a committee, consisting of 
 William Pynchon, Capt. Thomas Stebbins, Reuben Bliss and 
 Thomas Williston, had been appointed " to take into consider- 
 ation the present aspect of our public affairs and what meas- 
 ures are prudent to be adopted by the town to extricate us out 
 of our present difficulties." The report of this committee, 
 which was made by Mr. Pynchon, was in the form of a letter 
 of instructions to Samuel Lyman, the representative of the 
 town in the General Court, which was about to meet in special 
 session. I quote from the report : — 
 
 If a motion sliould be made for a paper medium to be substituted in 
 the place of solid coin, as a tender in discharge of private debts, you 
 will oppose it with all your influence. Such a medium is iniquitous 
 in itself, pregnant of innumerable evils, both political and moral, con- 
 trary to the spirit of our constitution, and inconsistent with the rights of 
 mankind ; whatever order government may see fit to make with respect 
 to future contracts, no government can possibly have a right to alter 
 private contracts, already made under her patronage, and the protection 
 and security of laws then existing. A usurpation in such an instance 
 might soon become a precedent for usurpation still more dangerous, till 
 the liberties of the people were annihilated, not to add that the increase 
 of our paper debt at a time when it is already a burthen, appears a pre- 
 posterous and ridiculous remedy. 
 
 You are not to favor any motion for a present revisal of our constitu- 
 tion. We are far from thinking it too perfect to be amended, but as 
 witliin a few years it is to be revised of course if then found necessary, 
 we cannot suppose it would be prudent to incur the extraordinary 
 expense and peculiar danger of attempting an alteration in so burthen- 
 some and so critical a time as this. There are matters of greater and 
 moi'e immediate consequence which require your attention and on which 
 present relief more especially depends. The general perturbation of 
 people's spirits at this instant will scarcely admit that calm, dispassion- 
 ate deliberation which is necessary in laying the groundwork in govern- 
 ment in so large and so economical a state, and a state which has so 
 12 
 
90 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 many foreign as well as domestic connections, and probably would pre- 
 vent a tolerable agreement in any amendments that would be proposed. 
 
 We imagine that part of our discontents may arise from misapprehen- 
 sion, and therefore it is our wish that when the Legislature have done all 
 in their power to relieve our real burthens, they would in a public address 
 state our case to us in its various circumstances with as much perspi- 
 cacity as possible that our mistakes, if we have unhappily fallen into 
 any, may be rectified, and our imaginary as well as real grievances may 
 
 be removed. 
 
 * * * * * * * * 
 
 When tlie Legislature assembled it was found that the Senate 
 was in favor of vigorous measures in support of the govern- 
 ment. In the House there Avas a party in sympathy with the 
 insurgents, and another party opposed to disorder, hut nf)t in 
 favor of coercive measures. There were others who thousfht 
 they saw in the successful defiance of the courts a failure of 
 republican institutions, and who looked to a revolution as a 
 necessary or convenient step toward the establishment of an 
 aristocratic government. Extremes were thus meeting and co- 
 operating. Toward the close of the session, however, acts 
 were reluctantly passed authorizing the governor and council 
 to imprison without bail such persons as they deemed danger- 
 ous to the public safetjs and providing that persons indicted for 
 treason might be tried in iany county. But these wholesome 
 measures were qualified by an ofier of a free pardon to such of 
 the insurgents as should take the oath of allegiance before the 
 1st of January. An address to the people was voted, as had 
 been suggested by the Springfield town meeting, but the most 
 important thing of all was neglected. They did not provide 
 money to meet the expenses of dealing successfull}^ with the 
 insurrection. 
 
 The failure of the legislature to adopt energetic measures 
 gave new courage to the insurgents. They derided what they 
 called the weakness and timidity of the government, and 
 laughed at the offer of pardon. The war upon the courts was 
 persistently maintained. In December Shays made another 
 raid upon Springfield, and forcibly prevented the session of the 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 91 
 
 court of common pletis. A letter from Springfield to the Bos- 
 ton Chronicle, under date of December 27, gives this account 
 of his proceeding : — 
 
 There is a stagnatiun of ahiiost every kind of business among iis by 
 reason of the tumults which are so prevalent here. Yesterday we had 
 another visit from the mobility ; about 350 men marched in hostile 
 array, with drums beating, and took possession of the court-house, com- 
 manded by Shays, Day and Grover, in order to prevent the sitting of 
 the court of common pleas, which by law was to have been held here at 
 that time. This they elFected, as there was no opposition on the part of 
 the government. It was not possible for the court (as they were sur- 
 rounded by an armed force and a guard placed at the door of the room 
 in which the judges were met) to proceed to do business. They there- 
 fore informed a committee who were chosen by the insurgents to wait 
 on them that they would not attempt to open the court. After which, 
 about dark, the insurgents left the town. 
 
 It is evident that this was a surprise to the people of S[)ring- 
 field. For some reason or other they had believed that the 
 court would not be interfered with. The indio-nation amonsr 
 the friends of the government was intense, and within a few 
 hours a permanent military force Avas organized for local pur- 
 poses. But the outrage upon the court was productive of good 
 results. It proved to be a material element in arousing the 
 party of order to vigorous and decisive action, and was the last 
 armed attack made upon the courts of Massachusetts. This 
 form of mob rule had its beginning and end in Springfield. 
 
 News traveled slowly in 1786. Information of this last 
 exploit of Shays was not received by the governor until the 
 first of January. The news was received at Boston with sur- 
 prise and alarm. Springfield had been regarded as the govern- 
 ment stronghold in the western part of the state, and an uncon- 
 tested insurgent success had not been expected at that point. 
 At the same time an attack upon Boston was threatened by the 
 insurgents, and there were indications that a part of the popula- 
 tion of that town were ready for revolt. Disturbances, too, 
 were occurring in other states. In New Hampshire au armed 
 
92 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 mob surrouiidcd the Legislature, demanding the enactment of 
 a paper mone}- hiw. There were well-founded apprehensions 
 that general anarchy would be the barren sequence of all the 
 magnificent achievements of the continental armies. 
 
 The governor and the members of the executive council were 
 capable and resolute men, and were faithful to their great trusts, 
 but they were powerless. They did not have at their command 
 the means of sustaining even a single regiment in tlie field. 
 The emergency was finally met by some of the capitalists and 
 business men of Boston, who realized the danger to which their 
 interests would be exposed by a revolution, and came forward 
 wdth an oiler of a loan to the state, trusting to future legisla- 
 tion for their reimbursement. Their offer was accepted, and 
 there was at once a change in the condition of affairs. There 
 was a new and wholesome activity in the executive departments. 
 Orders were issued for the raising and equipment of forty-five 
 hundred men, a considerable army in that day. Pul)lic senti- 
 ment at once exhibited a more healthy tone. The wavering 
 and doubting began to get off the fence and range themselves 
 on the side that had troops and money, and the lukewarm and 
 more thoui>htful amono- the insuroents be^an to think of their 
 allegiance. Shays and his council had been in deliberation 
 over two distinct plans of operation. The more reckless of 
 the leaders advised an attack upon Boston for the purpose of 
 releasino; two of their number who had been arrested and were 
 held in jail. Others advised that the attack on Boston be de- 
 layed until after the seizure of the continental arsenal at Spring- 
 field, with its store of war material, and this last plan was the 
 one adopted. 
 
 The Hampshire county quota of twelve hundred men were 
 ordered to assemble at Springfield, and Gen. Sheparcl was 
 placed in command. The eastern militia were to meet at Rox- 
 bury, whence they were to march to Worcester and there be 
 joined with the force raised in Worcester county. The chief 
 command was given to Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, an accomplished 
 oflScer of the Revolutionary war. Gov. Bowcloin's orders to 
 
HISTORY OF GABDNER. 93 
 
 Gen. Lincoln required him to protect the court of common 
 pleas at the January' term at Worcester, and left his further 
 movements against the insurgents to his own discretion. 
 
 Gen, Shepard again anticipated the movements of Shajs. 
 Acting under the authority of the secretary of war, he took 
 possession of the arsenal. Gen. Lincoln reached Worcester on 
 the 22d of January after a three days' march from Roxbury 
 through the deep snow of midwinter. The court Avas opened 
 and proceeded with the business of the term. Order was re- 
 stored at Worcester and substantially at all points in the state 
 east of that place. The insurgents were concentrating their 
 strength in the western counties, and it was understood on all 
 hands that the issue was to be tried and determined at Spring- 
 field. 
 
 The positions of the several armed forces oii the evening of 
 January 24 were as follows : Gen. Shepard was posted at the 
 arsenal with aljout one thousand men. Shays had just reached 
 WMlbraham on his march from Rutland. A part of Lincoln's 
 command Avas less than two days' march in the rear of Shays. 
 Luke Day, an insurgent leader, Avas at West Springfield with 
 about four hundred men and boys, well armed and Avell drilled. 
 There Avas a good ice bridge at the time, so that he Avas Avithin 
 easy reach of the arsenal. Eli Parsons, a Berkshire leader, 
 was in the north parish cf Springfield (noAV Chicopee) with 
 about four hundred men. The total insurgent force was about 
 double that of Gen. Shepard. 
 
 The inhabitants of Springfield, except such as Avere Avithin 
 the immediate protection of Gen. Shepard, Avere kept in con- 
 stant alarm. Respectable citizens Avere seized in their own 
 houses and taken to Day's camp in A¥est Springfield, where 
 they Avere kept under guard as hostages and for purposes of 
 retaliation. Men were not sure whether their near neighbors 
 were friends or foes, and unprotected homes were exposed^to 
 outrage and plunder. L^pon the receipt of the ucavs that Shays 
 had reached Willmiham, most of the Avomen and children Avho 
 had means of conveyance fled from the town, the greater part 
 of them goiuo- to LongmeadoAv. 
 
94 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 On his arrival at Wilbraham Shays sent a message to Day 
 informing him that he intended to attack the arsenal on the 
 25th. Day replied by letter that lie conld not move on that 
 diiy, bnt would join in the attack on the 26th. Day's messenger 
 was arrested, and his letter, instead of going to Shays, went to 
 General Shepard. On the 25th Shays moved upon Springfield, 
 expecting, of course, the co-operation of Day and Parsons. 
 Even if he had received Day's letter he could not have delayed 
 his attack. His only chance of success was in seizing the 
 arsenal before Gen. Lincoln could come up. 
 
 At that time none of the buildings now standing on the 
 arsenal grounds had been erected. There were two wooden 
 buildings, built for barracks and for storage on the brow of the 
 hill looking to the north, on or near the site of the present 
 store-house. There was a private dwelling-house on the site of 
 the present middle arsenal (opposite the Olivet church.) It 
 was to this house that the dead and woinided insurgents were 
 carried. East of that point there were no buildings except the 
 powder magazine that stood in a then remote spot in the woods. 
 Magazine street has since been located over its site. The pres- 
 ent main Armory square was the public training field. There 
 were not then anj' gun shops on the arsenal grounds. If there 
 was one in the town at that time it was in Ferry lane, where 
 government gun work was originally done in Springfield. 
 
 When Shays left Wilbraham on the morning of the 25th, 
 Asaph King, a deputy sheriff, started on horseback to give in- 
 formation to Gen. Shepard. He was obliged to avoid the high- 
 ways and made his way across the fields, through snowdrifts 
 and over fences, and is said to have accomplished the distance 
 jn forty-five minutes. This was the first exact information 
 received by Gen. Shepard of the approach of Shays, and he 
 proceeded to make ready for his fitting reception. His men 
 were stationed near the barracks, and his cannon were planted 
 on the brow of the hill commanding the approach by the Boston 
 road. A part of his force was posted in Main street, at the 
 point now crossed by the Boston and Albany railroad, for the 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 95 
 
 [)urpose of holding Day in check, in case he shonlcl attempt to 
 come to the aid of Shays. A considerable mob collected at 
 that point, bnt did not attempt an attack upon the militia. 
 
 It was towards the close of the short winter day that the 
 insurgents were seen from the arsenal making their toilsome 
 march through the snow on the Boston road. They were in 
 the best of spirits. Every attempt they had hitherto made had 
 succeeded, but it was not an unprotected court-house they were 
 now intending to occupy. Some of them were to be dead 
 Avithiu the next few minutes. Shays was entirely confident. 
 Some of his old army comrades went out to meet him, and 
 advised him to keep out of the range of Gen. Shepard's guns, 
 and abandon his treason. He received them pleasantly, told 
 them he was sure of success, and was inclined to be jocose. 
 He did not know his own men. 
 
 There is a good deal of loose tradition about the affair of the 
 2.5th of January, which is entirely omitted here, for the reason 
 that it does not seem to be supported by any trustworthy con- 
 temporary evidence. There was not any battle. The only 
 firing was on the government side and there was but little of 
 that. Only one shot seems to have been fired in genuine 
 earnest, and that was followed bv a panic amono^ the insurofents 
 and a flight. The official report of the firm but kind-hearted 
 Gen Shepard to the government gives us reliable history. It 
 is as follows : — 
 
 Springfield^^ January 26, 1787. 
 
 Sir : — The unhappy time has come in which we have been obliged 
 to shed blood. Shays, who was at the head of about twelve huadred 
 men, marched yesterday afternoon about four o'clock toward the public 
 buildings, in battle array. He marched his men in an open column by 
 platoons. I sent several times, by one of my aids, and two other gen- 
 tlemen, Capts. Buffington and Woodbridge, to him to know what he was 
 after, or what he wanted. His reply was, he wanted barracks, barracks 
 he would have, and stoi'es. The answer was, he must purchase them 
 dear, if he had them. He still proceeded on his march, until he 
 approached within two hundred and fifty yards of the arsenal. He then 
 made a halt. I immediately sent Maj. Lyman, one of my aids, and 
 
96 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Capt. BufRugtou, to inform liiin not to inarch his troops any nearer the 
 arsenal on his peril, as I was stationed here by order of your excellency 
 and the secretary at war, for the defense of the publick property ; in case 
 he did, I should surely fire on him and his men. A Mr. Wheeler, who 
 appeared to be one of Shays' aids met Mr. Lyman after he had deliv- 
 ered my orders in the most peremptory manner, and made answer, that 
 that was all he wanted. Shays immediately put his troops in motion 
 and marched on rapidly near one hundred yards. I then ordered Maj. 
 Stephens, who commanded the artillery to fire upon them ; he accord- 
 ingly did. The two first shot he endeavored to overshoot them, in hope 
 they would have taken warning, without firing among them, but it had 
 no effect on them. Maj. Stephens then directed his shot through the 
 centre of his column. The fourth or fifth shot put the whole column 
 into the vitmost confusion. Sliays made an attempt to display his col- 
 umn, but in vain. We had one howit. Wliich was loaded with grape 
 shot, which, when fired, g(ive them great uneasiness. Had I been dis- 
 posed to destroy them, I might have charged upon their rear and flanks 
 with my infantry and the two field-pieces, and could have killed the 
 greater part of his whole army within twenty-five minutes. There was 
 not a single musket fired on either side. 
 
 I found three men dead on the spot, and one wounded, who is since 
 dead. One of our artillerymen, by inattention, was badly wounded. 
 Three muskets were taken up with the dead, which were all deeply 
 loaded. I enclose to your excellency a copy of a paper sent to me last 
 evening. I have received no reinforcements yet, and expect to be at- 
 tacked this day by their whole force combined. I am sir, with great 
 respect, 
 
 Your Excellency's most obedient, humble servant, 
 
 William Shepard. 
 His Excellency James Bowdoin, Esq. 
 
 The following is a copy of the paper enclosed in the above 
 
 letter : — 
 
 Headquarters, West Springfield, \ 
 January 25, 1787. ] 
 
 The body of the people assembled in arms, adhering to the first prin- 
 ciples in nature, self-preservation, do^ in the most peremptory manner, 
 demand 
 
 1. That the troops in Springfield lay down their arms. 
 
 2. That their arms be deposited in the publick stores, under the care 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 97 
 
 of the proper officers, to be returned to the owners at the termination of 
 the present contest. 
 
 3. That the troops return to their homes upon parole. 
 
 Luke Day, 
 Captain Commandant of this division. 
 
 To the commanding officer at Springfield, Jan. 25, 1787. 
 On the back,—" By Col. Eli Parsons." 
 The " captain commandant" Avho made this high-sounding de- 
 maud ran away, two days hiter, without firing a shot. 
 
 The lives so foolishly thrown away before the arsenal were 
 those of Ezekiel Root and Ariel Webster of Gill, Jabes Spicer 
 of Leyden and John Hunter of Shelburne. In the evening 
 Shays sent a messenger to Gen. Shepard with a flag of truce 
 requesting that the bodies of five of his men killed before the 
 arsenal should be returned to him. Gen. Shepard's rather grim 
 reply was that he could not furnish him at that time with five 
 insurgents, as he had but four, and one of them Avas not quite 
 dead, but that if Shays would attack the arsenal again, Gen. 
 Shepard would furnish him as many rebels as he should desire. 
 The attack anticipated by Gen. Shepard was not made. 
 Shays retreated on the night of the 25th to " Chapin's tavern," 
 five miles east of the town. The next day he joined Parson's 
 force at Chicopee, two hundred of his men deserting by the 
 Ava}'. A bold dash on the morning of the 27th might possibly 
 have helped him, but he lost the only opportunity there was 
 remaining to him. At noon on that day a part of Gen. Lin- 
 coln's army consisting of three regiments of infantry, three 
 companies of artillery and a body of cavalry reached Spring- 
 field. After a rest of one hour the Lincoln infantry and artil- 
 lery crossed the river for the purpose of seizing Day and his 
 party. At the same time Gen. Shepard moved up the river on 
 the east bank, and the cavalry went up the river on the ice to 
 prevent a junction of Day and Shays. There was no inclina- 
 tion to fight among the insurgents, who retired as the militia 
 advanced, their numbers lessening by desertions as they went. 
 The pursuit Avas vigorously maintained uiitil the insurgent 
 13 
 
98 HI8T0RY OF GAllBNEli. 
 
 leaders were captured or driven from the state, but several 
 months elapsed before quiet was entirely restored. The peace 
 of Springfield was not again disturbed by the rebellion. 
 
 The insurrection was practically subdued before Shays ap- 
 peared before the arsenal. Most of the men of influence who 
 had taken part in the earlier proceedings of the insurgents had 
 withdrawn from active participation with them. Some of them 
 were affrighted at the confusion they had aided in creating. 
 Others had become convinced of the power of the state to inforce 
 its laws and punish offenders. There were others who could 
 not be induced to lift their hands against the federal authority 
 or property, and there %vas an evident distrust of the capacity 
 of the insuro'ent leaders to successfully conduct a rebellious 
 enterprise. Shays, though his personal courage is admitted, 
 did not possess the qualities of leadership. He was a soldier 
 of fortune, with a dull idea of personal honor, though at this 
 late day we can, perhaps, aflbrd to adopt the suggestion of a 
 newspaper correspondent of the time, Avho spoke of him as 
 " one Shays a deranged officer of the late wai'." He was not 
 the man to retain the respect of his subordinates and followers. 
 The men who cried " murder" and ran away at the first sight 
 of blood, were not the old soldiers who had challenged the 
 militia to a fight in the main street of Springfield in September. 
 
 Daniel Shays who gave his name to the rebellion was l)orn 
 at Hopkinton in 1747. He removed to Great Barrington and 
 afterward resided in Pelham. After the suppression of the 
 insurrection he removed to Sparta, N. Y., Avhere he lived in 
 utter poverty, until 1825. Luke Day was born in West Spring- 
 field and died there in poverty, in 1801. 
 
 John Hancock, Avho Avas the first governor under the state 
 constitution was again elected in 1787. It is no unfavorable 
 criticism of the administration that immediately preceded him 
 to say, that his election was generally received as a promise of 
 the removal of the prevailing discontent. The armed insurrec- 
 tion had been suppressed, but the work of bringing the people 
 of the state to a cordial and unanimous support of the consti- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 99 
 
 tiition and laws remained to be performed. The new governor 
 assumed this difficult undertaking and accomplished it. John 
 Hancock did not believe in the religion of hate. Nine of the 
 leading insurgents who were convicted of treason and sentenced 
 to death were pardoned, some of them at the foot of the gal- 
 lows, the only condition being that they should never hold any 
 office, civil or military, within the commonwealth. A large 
 number of persons convicted of seditious offences were par- 
 doned unconditionally. A member of the Legislature who was 
 convicted of treasonable practices was sentenced to stand for 
 an hour on the gallows, with a rope around his neck and to pay 
 a fine of fifty pounds. This seems to have been the only sen- 
 tence carried into execution. It would be a good plan perhaps 
 to revive this mode of dealing with recreant legislators. Con- 
 ciliatory measures were adopted by the Legislature. The sul- 
 len mutterings of the defeated insurgents gradually subsided. 
 Commerce soon settled commercial difficulties in its own way, 
 as it always does if unfettered by meddlesome legislation, and 
 a season of prosperity ensued. The rebellion was ended at 
 last in accordance with the grand precepts of the gospel of for- 
 giveness and of peace. And all history tells us that rebellion 
 is never completely conquered in any other way. 
 
 As giving a more minute account of the closing scenes of the 
 rebellion, we also insert the following extract from Lincoln's 
 History of Worcester, together with a notice of Shays, by the 
 same author : — 
 
 " The career of Shays, was fast drawing to its close. Driven 
 from post to post, he suddenly retired from Pelham to Peters- 
 ham, where he expected to concentrate the forces of expiring 
 rebellion and make his final stand. Intelligence of this chanofe 
 of position reached Gen. Lincoln at Hadley, February 3d, and 
 he determined, by prompt and decisive action, to terminate the 
 warfare. When the troops took up the line of march, at eight 
 o'clock, the evening was bright and mild. Before morning the 
 cold became intense ; the dry and light snow, whirled before a 
 
100 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 violent north wind, filled the paths and rendered them almost 
 impassable. The severity of the cold prevented any halt for 
 rest or refreshment. At a distance from shelter, withont de- 
 fence against the inclemency of the weather, it became neces- 
 sary to press on withont pausing, to the camp occupied by men 
 possessing all martial advantages, except courage and a good 
 cause. The heavy sufJ'erings of the night Avere terminated, by 
 the arrival of the troops in the very centre of Petersham. The 
 folloAvers of Shays, trusting to the violence of the storm and 
 the obstruction of the highways, rested in careless security. 
 The first warning of danger, Avas from the appearance of the 
 advanced guard of the forces of government, after a journey 
 of thirty miles, in the midst of their cantonment. Had an army 
 dropped from the clouds, upon the hill, the consternation could 
 not have been greater. Panic struck, the insurgents fled, with- 
 out firing a gun, or offering resistance to soldiers exhausted by 
 fatigue, with frozen liml)s and almost sinking under the priva- 
 tions and hardships of the severe service." 
 
 NOTICE OF DANIEL SHAYS. 
 
 This individual acquired an unenviable notoriety, Avhich im- 
 parts some degree of interest to the incidents of his life. He 
 Avas born in Hopkinton, in 1747 ; the son of parents not in 
 afHuent circumstances, he worked Avith Mr. Brinley, a respect- 
 able farmer of Framingham. The activity and energy of his 
 3'outh promised at maturity more desirable elevation than he 
 attained. That his education Avas neglected, is apparent from 
 his official letters, bidding defiance alike to government, gram- 
 mar and good spelling. Just before the rcA'olution, he removed 
 to one of the toAvns beyond Connecticut river, and aftcrAvards 
 resided in Pelham. When the Avar commenced, he entered the 
 army, at the age of tAventy-eight, Avith rank of ensign, in Capt. 
 Dickinson's company, in Col. Benjamin Buggies Woodbridge's 
 regiment. His ambition, activity, and plausible manners cover- 
 ing the Avant of acquirements, joined Avith personal intrepidity, 
 obtained promotion, and in 177(), he Avas appointed Lieutenant 
 
HISTOBY OF GABDXER. 101 
 
 in Col. Varnum's regiment. At the time when the line pecu- 
 liarly needed reinforcement, he avu-s detached on the recruiting 
 service, Avith the promise of some suitable reward for the en- 
 listment of twenty men. For this purpose he visited his native 
 state, and his unwearied exertions were crowned with ample 
 success. When the complement assigned to him was filled, a 
 plan suggested itself for grasping honor and pay at once. 
 Finding the pulse of patriotism beat high, and the men of Xew 
 England were ready to devote themselves for their countr\", he 
 continued his enlistments. Insinuating address and bold rep- 
 resentations, produced impressions of his ability and influence, 
 easily turned to his own advantage, and by holding out expec- 
 tations of indulgence to those who should sQv\e under his com- 
 mand, a compau}' was raised, on the condition that he should 
 be their captain. With these men he returaed to the camp, 
 where they were mustered. "NA'hen the inspector was about to 
 distribute them to different corps, Shays produced the enlist- 
 ment papers : pointed to the condition which held them to serve 
 under himself alone ; and requested the appointment of Cap- 
 tain. The necessity of the times prevented the sacrifice of so 
 many recruits, and after indignant remonstrances, it was deemed 
 expedient to yield to his demands. The commission was prom- 
 ised, and issued after long delay, in September, 1770, to relate 
 back to Jan. 1st, 1777. Such is the account tradition gives 
 of his military rank. The honors, ill won, were not long worn. 
 He was discharged October 14, 1780, at Newark, in Xew .Jer- 
 sey, from Col. Rufus Putnam's regiment. 
 
 The deficiency of honorable sentiment in his mental constitu- 
 tion, may be inferred from a characteristic incident. Lafayette 
 had presented in 1780, to each of the American officers under 
 his immediate command, an elegant sword. Such pledge of 
 regard from the patriot chief, a soldier with a spark of gener- 
 ous feeling, would have cherished as his dearest possession, and 
 transmitted to his posterity as an heirloom of inestimable value. 
 Shavs sold the sift of his commander for a few dollars. 
 
102 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 After being' disbanded, he retired to Pelhani, and lived in ob- 
 scurity. Bankrupt in fortune and in fame, Shays was ready to 
 embark on the tlood of any desperate adventure. \A'ithout the 
 energetic decision or enlarged conceptions, the strong spirit or 
 the bold daring, which befit a leader, by some accident, he Avas 
 elevated to the command of the insurgents. Of capacity too 
 humi)le to direct the movements of an army in those moments 
 Avhen the force of talent makes itself felt by triumphant results, 
 and turns even obstructions into encouragements, he was weak, 
 vacillating and irresolute. It was providential that the physi- 
 cal power of the arm of rebellion had so feeble a head to direct 
 its blow. 
 
 With the first shade of adversit}', he made indirect overtures 
 to the agents of government, to abandon his comrades to their 
 fate, on assurance of personal safety ; and when his base propo- 
 sitions were rejected, and promises of indemnity and pardon 
 were oflered to his followers, his persuasions induced them to 
 reject the profl'ered mercy and retain the arms of hopeless con- 
 troversy, to purchase by their sacrifice, security for himself. 
 
 AVhen the insurrection was crushed, he retired to Vermont. 
 After the lapse of a few years, the General of the rebellion 
 passed through the streets of AVorcester, which he once entered 
 at the head of an army, and received assistance from those 
 Avhose homes he had threatened with desolation. 
 
 At length he removed to Sparta, in New York. As a pen- 
 sioner of the United States, he derived his chiily bread from the 
 government whose forces he had encountered, in arms. Decla- 
 rations tiled in the department of war, by himself, show that 
 his family consisted of an aged wife, and that he lived in ex- 
 treme poverty. He died September 29th, 1825, aged 78. 
 
 However much the honor and integrity of Daniel Shays were 
 questioned, his courage was never disputed. He was in the 
 battle of Bunker's Hill, at the capture of Burgoyne, and at the 
 storming of Stou}' Point ; was under Lafayette, and did good 
 service in many bloody encounters. A severe wound, received 
 during the revolution, was honorary testimonial of intrepidity. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 103 
 
 For 51 few years, after the events already recited, the country 
 enjoyed a good degree of peace and prosperity. There is noth- 
 ing of a public nature recorded, upon the town records, until 
 we come to the year 1808, when the country became greatly 
 agitated, in consequence of an embargo, laid, December 22, 
 1807, on recommendation of President Jefferson, upon the 
 shipping in the ports of the United States. For many years, 
 American ships had profited, very much, by a general destruc- 
 tion of commerce, in consequence of the wars then transpiring 
 in Europe. As neutrals, our ships had been allowed to enter 
 all ports, in consequence of which privilege, a brisk and profit- 
 able business was done by our shipping. In 1801), England 
 issued her orders to blockade the ports of France and her allies. 
 This order was soon followed, by Napoleon's Berlin decree, 
 closing the harbors of England. In addition to this, P^ngland 
 claimed the "right of search," under color of which, American 
 vessels were ])oarded, on the high seas, and their seamen, im- 
 pressed into the English service. This outrageous conduct, on 
 the part of England, had been strenuously opposed by our 
 countrymen, but had never been disavowed by England. 
 
 In 1807, an event occurred, which brought on a crisis with 
 Great Britain. In June of that year, the American frigate 
 Chesapeake, which had just set sail for the Mediterranean, was 
 stopped by the British ship of war Leopard. Her commander 
 refusing to permit a search, she was fired upon and forced to 
 surrender four of her crew. She returned immediately to 
 Hampton Roads. The intelligence of this outrage spread, like 
 a prairie fire, over the whole country, wrapping it in a flame of 
 intensest indignation. But while this outrage was disowned by 
 the English government, and two of the men sent back to 
 America, the order against neutrals entering the ports of France, 
 still remained unrevoked, while a new decree of the French 
 Emperor followed. In order to countervail Napoleon's Berlin 
 and Milan decrees, and the British orders regarding the block- 
 ade of French ports, congress laid its embargo upon American 
 shipping, prohibiting the departure, from the ports of the 
 
104 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 United States, of all but foreign armed vessels, with public 
 commissions, or foreign merchants' ships, in ballast, or with 
 such cargo only, as they might have on board, when notified of 
 the act. All American vessels, engaged in the coasting trade, 
 were required to give heav}^ bonds to land their cargoes in the 
 United States. In consequence of such an act of congress, all 
 our commerce was speedily paralyzed, and consequent suffering 
 ensued throughout the country. ■« 
 
 The people of Gardner shared in the general inconvenience 
 and sufiering. Consequently acting, in the same high toned 
 spirit, which had distinguished them in former years, a spirit 
 which caused them to feel that they were the peers of all Amer- 
 icans, not excepting those highest in authority, they boldly ad- 
 dressed a petition to his excellency, Thoman Jefferson, then on 
 the last year of his second term, as President of the United 
 States, setting forth in l)ecoming phraseology, their difficulties 
 and burdens and calling on him for " a i-edress of grievances." 
 
 It appears, from the records, that a town meeting was called, 
 September 16, 1808, for the special purpose of seeing if the 
 town would take any action, in regard to the difficulties then 
 pending. The second article in the warrant was as follows : 
 " To hear a letter, from the town of Boston, directed to the 
 selectmen of the town of Gardner, to be laid before the inhabi- 
 tants of said town, and act or transact anything relating 
 thereto." 
 
 Upon this article the following vote was passed: " Voted, 
 That the town of Gardner draw a petition to send to the Pres- 
 ident of the United States, agi'eeable to the article in the war- 
 rant for that purpose. Voted, That there be a committee, of 
 three men, chosen to draw this petition. Chose Jonathan Os- 
 good, Aaron Wood and Asa Hill for this committee. Voted, 
 That this meeting be adjourned for one hour and then meet at 
 this place. Met according to adjournment. Voted, That a 
 copy, of this petition, be taken and kept. Voted, That the 
 selectmen sign the petition, and that the said committee that 
 drawed it, forward it on, to the President of the United States." 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 105 
 
 That the reader, looking back upon the events of that period 
 and reviewing them in the light of present experiences, may see 
 the " unsuppressive metal" of which the inhabitants of our 
 town were then possessed, we introduce here, as the closing part 
 of this chapter, the exact petition Avhich they voted, in town 
 meeting, to present to Mr. Jefferson. We have no means of 
 ascertaining the effect which this document had upon that solid 
 democrat, except that which w^e find in the significancy of dates. 
 As will be observed, the petition is dated September IGth, 1808 ; 
 the embargo was repealed' February 27th, 1809, making only 
 five months between the date of the petition and the repeal of 
 the act. 
 
 The petition was undoubtedly prepared by Mr. Osgood, 
 the first pastor, and ready to be acted upon, when the town 
 should come together. Mr. Osgood was a staunch Federalist. 
 
 To the President of the United States: 
 
 The inhabitants of the town of Gardner, in the Common- 
 wealth of Massachusetts, in legal town meeting, called for the 
 express purpose of petitioning your Excellency, respectfully 
 represent : That we feel the importance of submitting to, and 
 supporting the laws of our country, in common with the citizens 
 of the United States, and we think we ever have been, and 
 ever shall be w^illing to make any sacrifice that shall be neces- 
 sary for the true interest and honor of our nation ; but, in time 
 of great distress and trouble, we think it no less our duty, than 
 our privilege, to assemble in a peaceable manner, and petition 
 the government for a redress of grievances. Being impressed 
 with these sentiments, we feel impelled to confess, to your Ex- 
 cellency, that we, in common with our fellow citizens, of New 
 England, sufier great and increasing difficulties from the oper- 
 ation of the laws laying an embargo on the shipping and vessels, 
 in the ports and harbors of the United States of America. Could 
 we perceive an end of our troubles, we would patiently acqui- 
 esce, but, with astonishment, we perceive ^hat the embargo is 
 not a temporary measure, but injoined by perpetual laws. We 
 14 
 
106 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 grant that Congress has power to regulate commerce, but to 
 make laws to abolish it, or to prevent all foreign intercourse, 
 we doubt whether this was ever contemplated being granted to 
 that body, b}^ the framers of the constitution of the United 
 States. Your petitioners, living in a district Avhere agriculture 
 is the principal employment of the inhabitants, and therefore 
 cannot, from their own industry, supply themselves with all the 
 conveniences of life and while an interdiction of commerce re- 
 mains, much of the produce of their farms must remain, as a 
 dead weight, upon their hands, or be disposed of to little or no 
 aclvantaoe. 
 
 It is very evident from the experience of our ancestors, Avho 
 came into this country with a design, solely to cultivate the soil, 
 that we cannot comfortably live by that, without the aid of for- 
 eign intercourse. And commerce appears to be designed, by 
 God, for the comfort and convenience of mankind, that the 
 diiferent productions of the earth, might be transported from 
 one place to another, for the mutual beneiit of man. Being 
 heretofore accustomed to the advantage of commerce, and from 
 the surplusage of our produce, we were enabled to supply our- 
 selves with the conveniences of life. This now being inter- 
 dicted, our encouragement to industry is small, and the embar- 
 rassments we, with all ranks of society, labor under, are great, 
 and mau}^, who, by industry, had arrived to a degree of inde- 
 pendence, in point of property, find it so fallen in value, that 
 it might be nearly or quite all sacrificed, to the disadvantage of 
 their debts. 
 
 To extricate themselves from this situation, all their exer- 
 tions avail nothing, and they can only lament the wretched 
 situation into which they are brought, and the prospect of their 
 families being left to depend upon the cold hand of charity for 
 support. Our troubles and distress are rendered more severe 
 by a conviction that the British Provinces, in North America, 
 are, by the embargo laws, acquiring advantage over us, which 
 their natural situation and circumstances, could never have 
 given them. Besides this, the embargo laws, which subject us 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 107 
 
 to such great sufterings, the prospect or policy of which is, to 
 say the least, very doubtful, and the temptation to violate those 
 laws, from the very nature of mankind, is almost irresistible. 
 These laws, Ave think, will have a great tendency to destroy the 
 morals of society, and to introduce loose principles and a con- 
 tempt for the laws, which are more to be dreaded, than the 
 great waste of property. 
 
 From these and various other considerations, Avhich might be 
 mentioned, and particularly from the alteration in the affairs 
 of Europe, your petitioners pray your Excellency, wdiolly, or 
 partiall}^ to suspeud the embargo laws, if in your power; if 
 not, to convene congress, as soon as may be, or if in your 
 wisdom, it should be thought not advisable to call them together, 
 uutil the time to which they are adjourned, to lay before them 
 when met, the im[)ortance of a repeal of those laws, which so 
 severely atHict the inhabitants of the United States. 
 A true copy, attest, 
 
 Reuben Haynes, Town Clerk. 
 
 Dated at Gardner, Sept. 16th, 1808. 
 
 There is a pretty well founded conviction, in the minds of 
 our citizens, that Mr. Jefferson made reply to this petition, but, 
 such was its nature and import, that those who received it, 
 never cared to make it public. 
 
108 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 ROADS. 
 
 " These high wild hills aurl rough uneven waj's 
 Draw out our miles and make them wearisome." 
 
 — Bichard II, Act. II, Scene III. 
 
 SAVING observed, somewhat, the conduct of the early 
 inhabitants, of the town, in their relation to state and 
 national matters, we now return to the more prosaic labor, of 
 considering them, in the ordinary transactions of life. We 
 shall now direct attention to the roads of the town, having first 
 had something to say about roads, as not only a necessity, but 
 also a sign and natural concomitant of human progress. Start- 
 ing from the serpentine trail of the wild man, after which many 
 modern roads seem to have been modeled, and following along 
 through paths denoted by " blazed trees," till we come to 
 the most complete achievements of recent times, we are con- 
 vinced that roads, like other objects in nature, are subject to 
 the scientists' law of evolution and development, with, in many 
 instances, " a survival of the fittest." 
 
 Gibbon tells us, in his "Decline and Fall of the Roman 
 Empire," in speaking of the principal cities of that empire, 
 that "from A. D. 98 to 180, they were connected with each 
 other, and with the capital, by the public highways, which, 
 issuing from the forum of Rome, traversed Italy, pervaded the 
 provinces, and were terminated only by the frontiers of the 
 empire. If we carefully trace the distance from the wall of 
 Antoninus to Rome, and from thence to Jerusalem, it will be 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 109 
 
 found that the great chain of communication, from the north- 
 west to the southeast point of the empire, was drawn out to the 
 length of four thousand and eighty Roman miles, or three 
 thousand, seven hundred and forty English miles. 
 
 " The public roads were actually divided by mile-stones, and 
 ran in a direct line, from one city to another, with very little 
 respect for the obstacles either of nature or private property. 
 Mountains were perforated, and l)old arches thrown over the 
 broadest and most rapid streams. The middle part of the road 
 was raised into a terrace, which commanded the adjacent coun- 
 try, and consisted of several strata of sand, gravel and cement, 
 and was paved Avith large stones, or, in some places near the 
 capital, with granite. Such was the solid construction of the 
 Roman highways, whose firmness has not entirely yielded to 
 the effort of fifteen centuries. They united the subjects of the 
 most distant provinces by an easy and familiar intercourse ; but 
 their primary object had been to facilitate the marches of the 
 legions ; nor was any country considered as completely sub- 
 dued, till it had been rendered, in all its parts, pervif)us to the 
 arms and authority of the conqueror. The advantage of re- 
 ceiving the earliest intelligence, and of conveying their orders 
 with celerity, induced the emperors to establish, throughout 
 their extensive dominions, the regular institution of posts. 
 Houses were everywhere erected, at a distance of only five or 
 six miles, each of them was constantly supplied with forty 
 horses, and by the help of these relays, it was easy to travel a 
 hundred miles a day, along the Roman roads."* 
 
 It will be seen, from this statement, that public roads, among 
 the Romans, were a " military necessity," and that they far 
 excelled, in solid firmness and smoothness, anything of the sort 
 seen in our own country. But, while Rome was thus fiivored 
 with good roads, it is evident that she was an exception to most 
 other countries of importance, both before and since the period 
 of which Gibbon writes. 
 
 Gibbon's Rome, vol. 1st, p. 63-G4. 
 
no HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 According to writers upon Palestine, there never have been, 
 in that country, anything like roads fitted for the passage of 
 wheeled vehicles. Chariots were sometimes used on the plains, 
 and in the lowlands. Only miserable bridle paths exist for 
 the accommodation of travelers. Even in England, according 
 to Macaulay, as late as sixteen eighty-five, the public highwa3^s 
 were very poor, and, at certain seasons of the year, well nigh 
 impassable. In speaking of the roads at that time, he says, 
 " it was by the highways that both travelers and goods gener- 
 ally passed from place to place. And those highways appear 
 to have been far worse than might have been expected from the 
 degree of wealth and civilization which the nation had even 
 then attained. On the best lines of communication the ruts 
 w^ere deep, the descents precipitous, and the way often such as 
 it was hardly possible to distinguish, in the dusk, from the 
 unclosed heath and fen which lay on both sides. 
 
 "It was only in fine weather that the whole breadth of the 
 road was available for wheeled vehicles. 01"ten the mud lay 
 deep on the right and left, and only a narrow track of firm 
 ground rose above the quagmire. At such times obstructions 
 and quari'els were frequent, and the path was sometimes blocked 
 up during a long time by carriages, neither of which would 
 break the Avay. It happened almost every day that coaches 
 stuck fast, until a team of cattle could be procured, from some 
 neisfhborino- farm, to tug them out of the slouirh. But in bad 
 seasons the traveler had to encounter inconveniences still more 
 serious. Thoresby, who was in the habit of traveling between 
 Leeds and the capital, has recorded in his diary, such a series 
 of perils and disasters as might suffice for a journey to the 
 Frozen Ocean or to the Desert of Sahara. On one occasion he 
 learned that floods were out between Ware and London, that 
 passengers had to swim for their lives, and that a higgler had 
 perished in an attempt to cross. In consequence of these tid- 
 ings he turned out of the high road, and was conducted across 
 some meadows, wdiere it was necessary for him to ride to the 
 saddle-skirts in water. In the course of another journey he 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJSTER. Ill 
 
 narrowly escaped being swept away by an inundation of the 
 Trent. He was afterwards detained at Stamford four days, on 
 account of the state of the roads, and then ventured to proceed 
 only because fourteen members of the House of Commons, who 
 were going up in a bod}^ to parliament with guides and numer- 
 ous attendants took him into their company. On the roads of 
 Derbyshire travelers were in constant fear for their necks, and 
 were frequently compelled to alight and lead their beasts. 
 
 "The great route through Wales to Holyhead Avas in such state 
 that, in sixteen eightj'-tive, a viceroy, going to Ireland, was 
 live hours in traveling fourteen miles, from St. Asaph to Con- 
 way. Between Conway and Beaumaris, he was forced to walk 
 a great part of the way ; and his lady was carried in a litter. 
 His coach was, with great difficulty, and by the help of many 
 hands, brought after him entire. In general, carriages were 
 taken to pieces at Conway, and borne, on the shoulders of 
 stout Welsh peasants, to the Menai Straits. In some parts of 
 Kent and Sussex none but the strongest horses could, in winter, 
 get through the bog, in which, at every step, they sank deep. 
 
 " The markets were often inaccessible during several months. 
 It is said that the fruits of the earth were sometimes suffered 
 to rot in one place, while in another place, distant only a few 
 miles, the supply fell far short of the demand. The wheeled 
 carriages were, in this district, generally pulled by oxen. When 
 Prince George of Denmark visited the stately mansion of Pet- 
 worth, in wet weather, he was six hours in going nine miles; 
 and it was necessary that a body of sturdy hinds should be on 
 each side of the coach, in order to prop it. Of the carriages 
 which conveyed his retinue several were upset or injured. A 
 letter, from one of his gentlemen in waiting, has been preserved 
 in which the unfortunate courtier, complains that, during four- 
 teen hours, he never alighted, except when his coach was over- 
 turned or stuck fast in the mud. People, in the time of Charles 
 the Second, traveled with six horses, because, with a smaller 
 number, there was great dana-er of sticking fast in the mire."* 
 
 *See Macaulay's History of EnglaDcl, vol. 1st, p. 280-284. 
 
112 HISTORY OF GABBNER. 
 
 These extracts, from Macimlay, are sufficient to give the 
 reader, not already familiar with the facts, some idea of the 
 condition of roads in England less than two hundred 3'ears ago, 
 and show him how patiently and often with what great risk to 
 comfort and life, even the highest noblemen in the king's realm, 
 made their wearisome journeys over the kingdom. Of course, 
 when the Pilgrim Fathers began the settlement of this country, 
 they had to furnish themselves with whatever roads they needed. 
 It must, however, be borne in mind, that, for several years, 
 they had but little occasion for the nse of what we now call 
 highways. Only Indian trails, through the forest, or blazed 
 trees, guided them from place to place. But, with increasing 
 and more Avidely spreading populations, there soon arose the 
 necessity for public highways. This necessity demanded the 
 attention of the General Court in both the Plymouth and Mas- 
 sachusetts colonies, so that we find in the colonial records, fre- 
 quent legislation upon this subject. A few extracts we will 
 here introduce, to show tiie reader how the peo[)le of the colo- 
 nies began that system of highways, which has since spread 
 itself out like net work, over the entire land. 
 
 October 1st, 1634, at a court holden before the governor and 
 assistants the following named persons were appointed for lay- 
 ing out the highways : For Duxbury side, Capt. INIiles Stand- 
 ish, Mr. William Collier, Jonathan Brewster, William Palmer, 
 Stephen Tracy — men familiarly associated in the minds of all, 
 with every event of importance in the early colonies, from the 
 landing of the Pilgrims in the Mayflower, to their establish- 
 ment upon a firm basis in town and state. 
 
 " At a court of Assistants held the second day of May, in the 
 12th year of his Majesty's reign, of England, etc. May 2d, 
 1637, Bradford, governor. It was ordered by this court, that 
 a jury should be empaneled to set forth, the highways about 
 Plymouth, Ducksborrow, and the Eele River, which was ac- 
 cordingly summoned, and upon the ninth day of May next 
 after they appeared before the governor, and took their oath to 
 lay forth su(-h highways about the towns of Plymouth, Ducks- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 113 
 
 borrow, and the Eele River equally and justly, without respect 
 of persons, and according as they shall be directed b}^ the in- 
 formation of others, and as God should direct them in their 
 discretion, for the general good of the colony, and Avith as little 
 prejudice to any man's particular as may be, and to mark the 
 trees upon the said way, and so it to remain a way forever." 
 
 We omit the names of jurymen given. "July 7. The ver- 
 dict or order of the aforesaid jury, performed by them the tenth 
 day of May, 1637, and delivered l)y them into the General 
 Court held the 6th of July next after, and by the same con- 
 firmed in these words following, viz : — 
 
 '"It is agreed, that the highways, both for horse, cart and 
 foot, shall be as followeth : From the town of Plymouth to 
 Joanes River, as it was cleared, provided it be holpen at Mr. 
 AUerton's, by going through the old cow-yard, at the river, the 
 place being commonl}^ called the Old Wading Place, and so 
 through a valley up the hill, and then to turn straight to Abra- 
 ham Pierce's around, and through his "round as it is marked, 
 and so the old path to Massachusetts, leaving Mr. Bradford's 
 upon the west, and from Mr. Bradford's to Stephen Tracy's 
 ground, as the way now lyeth, being already trenched, a foot 
 way from the lower stepping stones to Stephen Tracy's, the 
 highway lying through Stephen Tracy's field now enclosed. 
 Also, we allow a way from Francis Billington's ground through 
 the nook, as it now lyeth, to the ferry, and from the ferry to 
 Stephen Tracy's house, and so through the meadow to the 
 bridge. The highway from Stephen Tracy's ground through the 
 other grounds, as far as the trees were marked, to the bridge 
 at John Rodgers and from John Rodgers along as the way 
 now lyeth to the corner of Jonathan Brewster's cow-yard, and 
 so by a valley down his ground, near to the house of Mr. Prince, 
 and from thence the old way to Christopher Wadsworth, whose 
 palisade is to be removed and a sufficient way allowed to enter 
 into Francis Sprage's ground, and there to fall into a way, that 
 leads from Morton's Hole, to Ducksborrow town, and from 
 thence a Avay to fall to the CaptJiin Standish's and Mr. Brews- 
 15 
 
114 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 ter's, as it is now marked, the ancient foot way to be continued 
 from Mr. Brewster's to Francis Sprage's, and so through Wil- 
 liam Bassett's ground to the highway. The highway leading 
 from Christopher Wadsworth to be continued through Francis 
 Sprage's and William Bassett's, being his garden or orchard to 
 the east side. Also, we allow a highway from the cut between 
 William Bassett's and Francis Sprage's, to go to Ducksborrow 
 toAvn ; the highway to be continued from William Bassett's 
 garden or orchard, through John Washburne's ground, to Wil- 
 liam Palmer's gate, as it now is, and so along through Peter 
 Brown's ground, by the outside of which we allow a way to the 
 marsh, and up to the woods ; the way still to pass by Henry 
 Rowland's house, leaving it on the east side, so keeping the old 
 way through the marsh to Mr. John Alden's house, and from 
 thence through a valley which leadeth to the corner of Phillip 
 Delanoy's field, so to pass to Edward Bumpas' house, and forty 
 foot to be allowed above his house straight to Rowland Ley- 
 horne's house to Green's harbor path. The upper part also to 
 be allowed as marked from Mr. Rowland's. '"* 
 
 " Whereas, The highways in this jurisdiction, have not been 
 laid out, with such conveniency for travelers as were fit, nor as 
 was intended by this court, but that in some places, they are 
 felt too straight, and in other places travelers are forced to go 
 far about, it is therefore ordered that all highways shall be laid 
 out before the next General Court, so as may be with most ease 
 and safety for travelers ; and for this end every town shall choose 
 two or three men, who shall join with two or three others, of 
 the next town, and these shall have power to lay out the high- 
 ways, in each town where they may be most convenient; and 
 those which are so deputed shall have power to lay out the 
 highways where they may be most convenient, notwithstanding 
 any man's property, or any corn ground, so as it occasion not 
 the pulling down any man's house, or laying open any garden 
 or orchard, and in common grounds or where the soil is wet or 
 
 ♦From Plymouth Colony Records, vol. 1st, p. 58-59. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 115 
 
 , miry they shall lay the ways the wider, as six or eight or ten 
 rods, or more, in common grounds ; provided, that if any man 
 shall suffer any extraordinary damage in his improved grounds, 
 by execution of this order, the town shall make him some 
 reasonable satisfaction, provided also that if any case shall fall 
 out wherein those that are deputed, cannot agree, it shall be 
 referred to the determination of this court ; and if any person 
 shall find himself unjustly grieved with anything which the said 
 persons deputed shall do, he may appeal to this court, or to the 
 Court of Assistants, who shall have power to determine the 
 cause ; but if the party shall be found to have complained with- 
 out just cause, he shall pay all charges, and be fined by the 
 discretion of the court. And all towns are enjoined to have 
 this order performed before the next General Court, upon pjjin 
 of five pounds, for every town making default. And it is not 
 intended that any person shall be charged with repairing the 
 highways in his own land."* 
 
 We come now to consider the roads of this town, from their 
 earliest history. It Avill be remembered that the first town 
 meeting was held August 15th, 1785. The second meeting 
 was called the following month, September 6th, 1785. The 
 second article in the warrant, for this meeting, was this : "To 
 know their minds relating to a count}'- road, going through said 
 town, and act anything relating thereto, as they shall think 
 proper." At this meeting it was " Voted, That it is the opinion 
 of the town, that the county road ought to go through the centre 
 of said town. Voted, To petition the court, for a committee 
 to lay said road through the centre of the town of Gardner." 
 
 The following is the petition which gives us the first action 
 of the town regarding public highways : — 
 
 To the Court of Quarter Sessions, noiv sitting at Woi'cester, 
 in and for the County of Worcester. A request of the Town of 
 Gardner : 
 
 Whereas, A committee from the Honorable Court have lately 
 laid out a county road from Royalston down through part of 
 
 *From Massachusetts Colony Records, vol. 1st, p. 280. 
 
116 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 this town, and as it is now laid, it will not convene this town, 
 nor the public, so well as if it was laid through the centre of 
 the tow^i ; therefore we pray the Honorable Court would not 
 accept of the road no further down than the line of Jonathan 
 Bancroft's and Ebenezei" Keyes', which is about three-quarters of 
 a mile above our centre ; and it is our request, that a committee 
 may be sent and view and lay out a road from the above men- 
 tioned place, through our centre and come into the county road 
 that leads from Winchendon to Westminster meeting-house ; to 
 come into that road near Josiah Wheeler's, or between there 
 and Westminster meeting-house, where it will best serve the 
 public. This way has been measured since the committee Avere 
 here, and found to be the nearest, and supposed to make the 
 best way. 
 
 This day the town voted the above request to be sent to court, 
 being assembled together for that purpose. Then the meeting 
 was dissolved. 
 
 Seth Heywood, Clerk. 
 
 At the next town meeting, held November 7th, 1785, the 
 following article in the warrant was up for consideration : "To 
 know the minds of the town concerning the roads that are to 
 be laid out, what width they would have them laid out, or what 
 direction they will give concerning the same." Upon this 
 article the town " Voted, To lay out the roads two rods and a 
 half wide." At an adjourned meeting, held November 14th, 
 1785, the town voted to reconsider the foregoing vote, and 
 " Voted, To lay out the roads two rods wide." 
 
 In the subsequent year, 1786, at the annual town meeting, the 
 following article concerning roads was inserted in the warrant ; 
 " To see if the town will accept of a number of roads, viz. : A 
 road laid out for William Goss. Beoinnino; on the line of lot 
 number fifteen about four rods from the southwest corner of 
 the same, beginning at a stake and stones, from thence straight 
 to a hemlock about ten rods from the stake standino; about a rod 
 north of the line, between lot number fifteen and thirty-six, 
 from thence to a ledire of rocks about twentv rods in said line, 
 
HISTOMY OF GARDJ^ER. Ill 
 
 from thence to the northeast corner of lot number thirty-six, 
 hiid out upon the south side of said boundaries. 
 
 " Also a road laid out from Reuben Haynes' house, as the 
 road is now trod, until 3'ou come within two rods of Moses 
 Hill's land, thence to the southwest corner of said Hill's lot, 
 from thence straight, two rods, to the west of the southeast 
 corner of lot number thirty-six, from thence straight to a 
 marked stump in the old town line, about twenty-live rods, 
 south of Gideon Fisher's house, from thence straight to Wil- 
 liam Fisher's land, that he bought of Gideon Fisher, two rods 
 to the west of the old town line. Keeping two rods west of 
 the old town line on William Fisher and Ebenezer Howe's land, 
 until you come to the county road that leads from Winchendon 
 to Westminster ; laid out on the east side of said boundaries 
 and beginning at a heap of stones in Edward Kelton's fence 
 at the above said county road, about twenty-one rods from 
 Ebenezer Howe's land, from thence straight through said Kel- 
 ton's land and through the Dana lot, to a rock with some stones 
 upon it in Peter Goodale's land, near the swamp at the old 
 road, laid out upon the west side of said boundary. 
 
 "And also a road laid out beginning at the old road, by 
 Capt. Kelton's, that leads to Ashburnham, from thence to a 
 stake and stone in the fence about two rods to the southeast of 
 Capt. Kelton's house, from thence to a rock in said Kelton's 
 land, from thence to a beech in the line between said Kelton's 
 and Josiah Wilder's land, from thence to a stake and stones in 
 said Wilder's land, two rods east of the line between said 
 Wilder and Wheeler, from thence straight to the line between 
 said Wilder and said Wheeler at twenty rods from the stake and 
 stone, from thence to the southeast corner of said Wheeler lot 
 at the other road laid out on the west side of said boundary. 
 
 "And a road laid out beginning at a hemlock stump a little 
 beyond the Widow Hill's, in the fence on the east side of the 
 old road, from thence to a heap of stones in the old road, to 
 the southeast of the Widow Hill's, from thence to a hemlock in 
 the low land, from thence to a heap of stones at the county 
 
118 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 road leading from Winchendon to Westminster, about forty 
 rods east of the above said Hill's land, laid out on the north- 
 westerly side of said boundaries. 
 
 " And a road laid out beginning at a stake and stones in the 
 line between Jonathan P. Whitcomb and John White, from 
 thence to a stake and stones at said White's orchard, thence to 
 a heap of stones, four rods, to the southwest corner of said 
 White's house, thence through Wallace's land, and David 
 Comee's land to the end of the wall about a rod west of said 
 Comee's house, at the county road, laid out on the west side of 
 said boundaries. 
 
 " And a road laid out for Levi Fairbanks, beginning at the 
 northwest corner of lot number ninety-five, formerly in West- 
 minster, running southwesterly on the old town line upon the 
 south side of said line until it come to the southeast corner of 
 John Putnam's lot, from thence one rod on each side of the old 
 town line until you come within about twelve rods of David 
 Comee's land, at a hemlock, from thence to a hemlock in Mr. 
 Wallace's laud, thence to a great hemlock marked, near the 
 causeway, continuing the same course until it strikes White's 
 road, on the north side of said hemlock. 
 
 " And a road laid out from the county road at the line be- 
 tween David Comee's and Joseph Payson, running southwest- 
 erly one rod, on each side of the line until we come to the lot 
 number one hundred and four, and through said lot, by marked 
 trees, to a great rock in the new county road that leads from 
 Lieut. Wheeler's to John Glazier's, laid out on the north side 
 of said boundaries. 
 
 "And a road laid out from the east corner of Joshua Whit- 
 ney's land, straight to the northwest corner of Elijah Symond's 
 lot, from thence to a stake and stones about three rods to the 
 southeast of Stephen Miles' house, thence east to a pine stump, 
 about eight rods, thence through fourth division, to the south 
 corner of Elisha Jackson's and Joseph Wright's lot, thence to a 
 rock with some stones upon it, a little east of the line between 
 said Jackson and Wright's, thence to a rock about a rod east 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNEB. 119 
 
 of said line, thence to a white pine, about four rods upon said 
 Wright's hmd, thence to a maple in said Wright's land, thence 
 to a maple in William Biekfoid's land, thence to a stake and 
 stone near the meadow line, thence to a marked stump in said 
 Bickford's land, about ten feet from the meadow line, thence to 
 a pine stump, about two rods to the south of the bank below 
 the mill, thence to the west corner of said Bickford's house and 
 on the back side of said house, out to the county road, laid out 
 on the west side of said boundaries. 
 
 "And a road laid beo;inning at Simon Gates', lot number 
 twenty-six, at the Westminster road, thence on the line between 
 Gates and the Widow Margaret Miles and Josiah Kendall and 
 Edward, and said Gates, one rod on each side of the line, until 
 it comes to a stake and stone in said Gates' land, thence to a 
 hemlock, thence through fourth division to a stake and stones, 
 two rods to the south of John Matthews' north corner, thence 
 to a beech, thence through the Beaman lot, to a hemlock, out 
 to the county road, leading to Winchendon, laid out upon the 
 north of said boundaries. 
 
 "And a road laid out through Samuel Sanderson's, Samuel 
 Edgell's, John and Stephen Hoar's, Samuel Miller's and Cut- 
 ting: Hoar's land, beo^inning at the said Sanderson's barns at a 
 heap of stones, thence to a hemlock, thence to a stake and 
 stones at the line of said Sanderson's and said Edgell's, thence 
 to a hemlock, thence to a hemlock, thence to a hemlock, thence 
 to a black birch, thence to a hemlock, thence to a hemlock, 
 thence to a maple, thence to a maple, thence to a beech, thence 
 to a birch, thence to a beech, thence to a hemlock, thence to an 
 oak, thence to a bunch of maples at the new county road, on 
 the south of said boundary. 
 
 "A road laid out for Elijah Wilder and others, beginning at 
 a hemlock in Jesse Hill's land, at the old road near his last line, 
 thence to a hemlock in Samuel Clark's land, thence southerly 
 to a hemlock on Joseph Clark's land, thence easterly to a 
 white pine on Benjamin Clark's land, thence easterly to a hem- 
 lock on said Clark's land, and comes into the old road by Ben- 
 jamin Clark's house, on the southwest of said boundaries. 
 
120 HISTOItY OF GARDNER. 
 
 "And a road laid out for Jonathan Eaton, beginning at the 
 southeasterly corner of lot number one hundred and sevent}'- 
 nine and one hundred and eighty, running northerly upon 
 the line of said lots, to the new county road, one rod on each 
 lot. 
 
 "And a road laid out beginning at Jonathan Bancroft's fence, 
 about four rods, southeast of said Bancroft's house, on the 
 westerly side of the road that is now trod, thence to a maple 
 near the line between said Bancroft and Ebenezer Keyes, thence 
 to a white pine, thence to a poplar standing about two rods 
 from the south corner of the pond, thence to a white ash in said 
 Keyes' land, near the line between said Keyes and Seth Hey- 
 wood, from thence through said Heywood's land, to a heap of 
 stones, which was the corner of Winchendon and Ashburnham, 
 laid out on northeast side of said boundaries. 
 
 " In all the above said roads, laid out by the selectmen two 
 rods wide, except from the west corner of William Bickford's 
 house, out to the county road, which is but one rod and a half, 
 and it is laid across William Fisher's meadow about twelve 
 rods, but twenty feet wide. 
 
 "To see if the town will discontinue any of the old roads, 
 or any part of roads or road, as they shall think best, and also 
 to see if the town will alloAv any person that has more of their 
 lands taken for roads, than the allowance for the same that they 
 shall be credited for the same in their other lots, or act anything 
 relating thereunto, as they shall think l)cst." 
 
 The minuteness of the above description may seem some- 
 what trivial to the reader, but he must remember that this town 
 was then little else than a wilderness, through which these roads 
 were laid, by the selectmen, whose direction, they indicated by 
 blazing the trees along the line of the proposed highway. 
 Upon the above routes, as laid out by the selectmen, the town 
 at an adjourned meeting, March 14th, 1786, voted as follows : — 
 
 " Accepted of Mr. William Goss's road; accepted the road 
 from Mr. Reuben Haynes to the county road ; accepted the road 
 from the county road to Peter Goodale's land as the said roads 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 121 
 
 are now Itiid ; accepted the road from Capt. Samuel Kelton to 
 Josiah Wilder's. Voted, To accept the road, heginning at Mr. 
 Jonathan P. Whitcomb's to John Whites. Voted, To accept 
 of a road, beghmiug at Levi Fairbanks, leading to David 
 Comce's. Voted, To accept of the road laid out for David 
 Comee and others, beginning at the county road and ending at 
 the new county road. Voted, Not to make allowance to any 
 for the old roads laid out before. Voted, To accept of the 
 road from Mr. Joshua Whitney's, coming out at Mr. Bickford's. 
 Voted, To accept of the road from Mr. Simon Gates' to Lieut. 
 Josiah Wheeler's. Voted, To accept the road from Mr. San- 
 derson's, by Mr. Edgell's to the county road. Voted, To ac- 
 cept of the road from Jesse Hill's to Benjamin Clark's. Voted, 
 To accept of a road from Mr. eTonathan Bancroft's to Mr. Seth 
 Hey wood's. Voted, To accept of a road for Mr. Jonathan 
 Eaton as laid oat. The above said roads accepted as laid out 
 by the selectmen of Gardner. Voted, To mend the highways 
 by a rate this year. Voted, Sixty pounds to be laid out on the 
 highways, to mend and make them this present year." This is 
 the first appropriation for making and mending of highways in 
 the town of Gardner. 
 
 It appears from the records that some were not satisfied Avith 
 the action of the town, as above indicated, and began to make 
 their feelings known to such an extent that the town felt 
 obliged to take formal notice of their uneasiness. Among 
 those dissatisfied with the damages awarded them, were Lieut. 
 Seth Hey wood and Capt. William Bickford, the former de- 
 manding sixty dollars and the latter eighteen dollars as damages 
 for roads laid through their lands. Upon the fifth day of June 
 following their first annual March meeting, 1786, the town 
 "Voted, To choose a committee for to agree with those men 
 that are uneasy with their roads that were accepted last March." 
 This committee gave their report at an adjourned meeting, June 
 12th, which was not accepted by the town. However, " It was 
 put to see if the town would give Lieut. Seth Heywood sixty 
 dollars for the damages of a road laid through his land, that 
 16 
 
122 HISTORY OF GARDI^jER. 
 
 being what he requested for the damages." It passed in the 
 negative. Upon the request of Mr. William Bickford for 
 damages of a road laid through his land " It was put to see if 
 the town would give him eighteen dollars." It passed in the 
 negative. 
 
 At the annual town meeting, March 3d, 1788, the town 
 " Voted, To choose a committee to see if they can settle with 
 Seth Hevwood concernino; a road laid throuoh his land and 
 make report at the adjournment of this meeting." This com- 
 mittee made their report as follows and it was accepted by the 
 town : " We have considered the matter with Mr. Hey wood 
 concerning a road throuo;h his land. He asked three shillinofs 
 a rod for one hundred and thirty-two rods of wall ; we have 
 offered nine pounds ; then he offers to make one quarter of the 
 wall ; we thought we could not offer anything more." 
 
 In the warrant for the annual town meeting for March 2d, 
 1789, was the following article: "To hear the petition of 
 Seth Hey wood with the order of court thereon, concerning a 
 road through said Hey wood's land, and take such action thereon 
 and concerning said road, as the town shall think proper when 
 met." Upon this article the town "■ Voted, To choose a com- 
 mittee to try and settle with Seth Heywood and if they cant, 
 to make answer to the court." At an adjourned meeting March 
 9th, the town "Voted, That the selectmen be a committee to 
 try to settle with Lieut. Seth Heywood, and if they cannot to 
 make answer to his petition at the court concerning his road, 
 which is as follows : — 
 
 To the HonorahJe the Justices of the Court of General Ses- 
 sions of the Peace to he holden, at Worcester, within and for 
 the County of Worcester, on the first Tuesday of September, 
 A. D. 1789: 
 
 The petition of Seth Heywood humbly showeth, that the 
 town of Gardner, in March, 1786, laid out, and accepted a road, 
 through a part of your petitioner's land, of between sixty and 
 seventy rods in length, thereby separating about four acres of 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 123 
 
 mostly improved laud, in a triangular form, from the rest of 
 his farm, and which 'svill oblige him, to build upward of one 
 hundred and thirty rods of stone wall, as there is not timber 
 near the same that he can make use of for that purpose. That 
 as your petitioner can receive no kind of benefit from the afore- 
 said road ; and as there has been a county road, laid out and 
 opened, across his farm, and another extensive town road, with- 
 out any expense to the county or town, he must think that an 
 unequal burden is laid upon him, and cannot therefore consent 
 that the aforesaid road, should be continued, unless he has rea- 
 sonable damages allowed him therefor ; that such damages your 
 petitioner applied for, at the time of laying out and accepting 
 the road ; that the matter has been under discussion, at various 
 town meetings, from that time, down to the commencement of 
 the present year, but no adequate damages have, or probably 
 will be granted him, without the interposition of this Honorable 
 Court. 
 
 Your petitioner, therefore, prays 3'our Honors to take his 
 case into your wise consideration, and grant him such relief, 
 either by a discontinuance of said road, or causing him to be 
 paid equal damages therefor as you shall think him justly en- 
 titled to ; and as in duty bound shall ever pray. 
 
 Seth Hey wood. 
 
 Commomvealth of Massachusetts. 
 Worcester, ss. 
 
 At a Court of General Sessions of the Peace, begun and held 
 at Worcester, within and for the county of Worcester, on the 
 first Tuesday of September, being the second day of said 
 month. Anno Domini, one thousand seven hundred and eighty- 
 eight, on the foregoing petition, ordered that the petitioner 
 therein named, notify the said inhabitants of the town of Gard- 
 ner, by serving them Avith an attested copy of said peti- 
 tion of the order thereon, thirty days, at the least, before the 
 next Court of General Sessions of the Peace, to be holden at 
 Worcester, within and for said county, on the last Tuesday of 
 
124 HISTORY OF GAllDNEll. 
 
 March next, that said inhabitants may then and there show 
 cause, if anj- they have, why the prayer of said petitioner 
 
 should not be o-ranted. 
 
 Attest, Jos. Allen, Clerk. 
 Copy entered and attested. Jos. Allex, Clerk. 
 
 No further trace of the controversy, between Lieut. Seth 
 Hey wood and the town, can be found upon the town records. 
 The presumption, however, is that some arrangement was made, 
 satisfactory to the parties concerned, of which no record was 
 preserved. The strusfo-le was Ions;, running through several 
 years, and ended in the continuance of the road, as originally 
 laid through Mr. Hey wood's land. This road is now a part of 
 Central Street, beginning at the junction of Lynde and Central 
 streets " at a heap of stones which was the corner of Winchen- 
 don and Ashburnham" and running down to Crystal Lake. 
 
 The triangular piece of land, spoken of in the petition, is 
 the piece now bounded by Central and Lynde streets. It Avill 
 be noticed that Winchendon and Ashburnham cornered near the 
 junction of these two streets, under Capt. Gardner's house. 
 
 The following is a petition which the town voted, March 25th, 
 1794, to present to the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, 
 concerning proposed alterations in the county road, then run- 
 ning over Kendall Hill and on through South Gardner. It is 
 here introduced, in part, to afford a glimpse of the town's con- 
 dition then financially, as also to show the motives actuating a 
 people, influenced by a tavern keeper, who is in great fear of los- 
 ing a portion of his customers by diverting trade from his own 
 " public house, that has been occupied for that service upwards 
 of twenty years" : — 
 
 To the llonorahle Court of the General Sessions of the Peace 
 for the County of Worcester, to be holden at Worcester in and 
 for said County, on Tuesday, the tiventy-fifth day of March, 
 A. D., 1794: 
 
 A petition of the town of Gardner, humbl}^ showeth, whereas, 
 there have been several alterations made, in the county road 
 
HIS TOBY OF GARDNER. 125 
 
 through this town, one in particular, south of Landlord Jack- 
 son's and across a meadow below Capt. Bickford's mill, to the 
 great damage of the town and individuals in said town, and we 
 cannot see that the traveler can receive any real advantage by 
 the same, and a great number of them seem to choose the old 
 road, rather than the new one, as it is a good road and has been 
 traveled upwards of forty years and goes upon a neck of land 
 between two meadows, where it will be always kept good as it 
 must be kept for a town way, and the new one is a very bad 
 one to make, and if not discontinued it seems, we must have to 
 apply to the Honorable Court for some help, before it can be 
 made passable. 
 
 It also will be a "reat damage on account of havins: mills be- 
 ing put up at the lower end of the meadow, which we shall stand 
 in great need of, for the mill, at the upper end of the meadow, 
 in some seasons, cannot grind for one-half of the town now it 
 is small, and when we come to have three times our [present] 
 number, and lands cleared up, which will much shorten the 
 water, it will make a wide odds, and we shall have to travel 
 five, six, seven and eight miles for grinding, which will be a 
 very great grievance ; it also takes it from a public house that 
 has been occuiDied for that service, upwards of twenty years, 
 and of late has been at great expense for buildings to serve the 
 public : and as we have three county roads through this little 
 town, and a most all our roads are new and very bad to make, 
 and but a little while since our incorporation, and have had a 
 meeting-house to build and of late a minister to settle, and have 
 school houses to build, before we can reap any great advantage 
 by schooling. We, therefore, pray your honors to take our 
 case into your wise consideration and discontinue the new laid 
 road, about eighty rods west of the Sawyer road, so called, to 
 where it comes out again at the old road, up the hill, east of 
 Capt. Bickford's new barn, and to keep the old road as it is now 
 traveled, which is but two tallies further than the new one, 
 which, had there been a full bench, we cannot think, would 
 have l)een accepted. But, if your Honors should not see meet 
 
126 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 to discontinue the said piece of road, we then pray your Honors 
 would appoint a new committee to view from Otter River bridge, 
 so called, in Gardner to Westminster meeting-house, in order, 
 if there must be an alteration, to hit upon the best place for the 
 travel and cost, as we cannot think the last one, the meadow, 
 is the best one, which, if a committee so granted, and should 
 not report in [our] favor, and alteration from what the last 
 committee did, they shall come at the expense of your petition- 
 ers. All [of] which is humbly submitted and your petitioners 
 in duty bound shall ever pray. 
 
 " Voted, To choose a committee to present this petition to 
 the court. Capt. Elisha Jackson was chosen committee." 
 
 Without attempting to describe or even mention all the roads 
 Avhich have been laid out in this town, whose name is legion, 
 we will briefly notice those of most importance. It will be re- 
 membered, that those who drew the remonstrance, against the 
 petition of Wilder, Coolidge and the Priests to be restored to 
 Winchendon, therein state that they have " laid out the biggest 
 part of our roads, to convene that spot," that is, the centre of 
 the town, where has since stood the first church ever built in 
 town. These could not have been, what we are accustomed to 
 call roads now-a-days, but, simply bridle paths, over which the 
 early inhabitants rode on horseback to church. The first record 
 we find, respecting the highway from the centre, toward the 
 north part of the town, bears date November 22d, 1803, when 
 the town, " Voted, To accept a road from the northwest corner 
 of the pound near the meeting-house." This road was then 
 laid out, no fiirther, in a northerly direction, than the Green place, 
 now owned by Mr. Charles Heywood. Turning there, it ran 
 towards Joel Matthews'. Beyond the Green phice, in a north- 
 erly direction, there is no town record of the road's having been 
 laid, notwithstanding such must have been the fact. The road, 
 running east and west, through the centre, was the old county 
 road from Royalston to Westminster. What is now called 
 Lyude Street, is a part of the old road from Gardner to Tern- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDINER. 127 
 
 pletoii, running westerly by Dr. Parker's mill, and coming into 
 the old turnpike, about a mile this side of East Templeton, 
 over which, in part, a new road has recently been laid. 
 
 The following is the history of Elm Street : Soon after the 
 first minister. Rev. Jonathan Osgood, was settled here, he built 
 for himself, the house now^ owned by Dea. Henry Lawrence. 
 The road from the church, to his house, w\as very crooked ; run- 
 •ning around somewhere near the garden of Mr. Levi Heywood, 
 behind Mr. John Edu'cll's old house, then veering to the rioht, 
 then again to the left, where are still traces of its bed in the 
 pasture of Mr. Edgell, it reached the spot near which Mr. 
 Osgood erected his house, where it terminatecL 
 
 In the warrant for the annual town meeting for March 5th, 
 1792, was the following article : " To see if the town will 
 make any alteration in the roads laid through the Rev. Mr. 
 Osgood's land, and part of Mr. Seth Hey wood's land, as fol- 
 lows, viz. : Beginning at a beech tree, in said Heywoocl's land, 
 thence running southerly to a marked stump north of the cause- 
 w^ay, near the old house in said Osgood's land ; also beginning 
 at a stake in the fence south of said causew\ay and running east- 
 erly to a hemlock marked, then keeping the same course till it 
 strikes the road laid out for Ephraim Temple and others, laid 
 two rods wide, northeasterly of said boundaries." At this town 
 meeting it was " Voted, To accept of the alteration as made by 
 the selectmen." 
 
 Thus Elm Street was opened to the house of Mr. Osgood in 
 March 1792. Beyond this point south, there was no road till 
 March 2d, 1795. In the warrant, for the March meeting for 
 the above named year, was this article : "To see if the town 
 will accept of the alterations in the road between Capt. Wil- 
 liam Bickford's and Rev. Jonathan Osgood's through Benjamin 
 Sawin's land and the Rev. Jonathan Osgood's land, agreeable 
 to the selectmen's minutes." At this meeting the town "Voted, 
 To accept the alteration made in the road between Capt. Wil- 
 liam Bickford's (now the house of Aaron Greenwood in South 
 Gardner,) and the Rev. Jonathan Osgood's through Benjamin 
 
128 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Sawiii's land and the Rev. Jonathan Osgood's land." Thns by 
 two separate efforts of the town, was obtained the road from 
 the Centre to South Gardner. 
 
 The road from the junction, near the house of H. C. Hill, to 
 the corner in the West Village, has a somewhat interesting 
 history. In October, 1832, the selectmen laid out this road, 
 and brought their action before the town, for their acceptance 
 or rejection. Strange as it may seem to us now, the town 
 "Voted, To dismiss the article;" but, in less than one year 
 after, September 14th, 1833, when the matter was again urged, 
 they " Voted, To choose a committee to oppose or advocate the 
 road," and on June 2d, 1834, the town •' Voted, To choose a 
 committee to let out the road." 
 
 From the corner in West Village, to the depot, on what is 
 now called North Main Street, the road was laid, at two sepa- 
 rate times. The first part, from Mr. Frank Conant's store to 
 Mr. Philander Derby's chair shop, was laid out March 6th, 
 1843. From the Fitchburg depot to Mr. Derby's shop the 
 road was laid Feb. 3d, 1849. Spring Street was laid, March 
 28th, 1851. The road from the Centre, througli Pleasant Street 
 to the old turnpike, was relocated by the county commissioners 
 October 19, 1857 ; also that from the Centre to South Gardner; 
 also the old turnpike from the Westminster to the Templeton 
 line. In 1842 the county commissioners relaid and ordered 
 the immediate rebuilding of the old turnpike from Westminster 
 to Templeton. The reconstruction of this road, cost the town 
 about $7000, a j^art of which, was paid out of the surplusage of 
 the United States revenue. School Street was laid out, to the 
 slaughter-house of C. W. Morse, September 28th, 185(i ; Cross 
 Street from Mr. Thomas E. Glazier's, to slaughter-house, July 
 27, 1858 ; Cherry Street Avas extended, from the house of Miss 
 Martha Barker to Elm Street, July 27th, 1858 ; the first part 
 of Chestnut Street, from Central to Cross Street, was laid May 
 17th, 1867 ; second part, from Cross Street, to Atherton house. 
 May 17, 1869 ; the last part, from Atherton house, to Fitch- 
 burg depot, August 29th, 1870 ; Maple Street, October 25th, 
 
I,'' : 
 
 !l I'll"! I'^f^SHIl 
 
 
HI8T0EY OF GARDINER. .129 
 
 1869 ; Cross Street was extended to Pine Street, May 12th, 
 1871 ; Nichols Street was laid May 12th, 1871 ; Walnut Street 
 was also laid May 12th, 1871 ; first part of Pine Street, from 
 Lynde to Cross Street, August 19th, 1867 ; last part of Pine 
 Street, from Cross to North Main Street, May 17th, 1869 ; Ver- 
 non Street, May 26th, 1868 ; Washington Street, June 2d, 
 1875 ; Mechanics Street, May 15, 1873; extended August 9th, 
 1877; Lincoln Street, October 28th, 1873; Union Street, No- 
 vember 1st, 1851 ; Summer Street, May 26th, 1868 ; extended 
 May 12th, 1871 ; Mill Street ordered by the county commis- 
 sioners May 24th, 1869; Prospect Street, August 29th, 1870; 
 High Street extended, August 29th 1870; Conant Street was 
 laid out October 28th, 1871. 
 
 April 4th, 1870, there was an article in the warrant " to see 
 if the town Avill take any measures to designate by name the 
 different roads and streets in said town and act anything in re- 
 lation thereto." Upon this article the town " Voted, To choose 
 a committee of five to report to the town at some future meet- 
 ing, uaraes for the several roads and streets." This committee, 
 consisting of Charles Hey wood, Francis Eichardson, S. W. A. 
 Stevens, John W. Hill and Asaph Wood, made their report 
 September 6th, 1870, which was accepted, — sec. Town Records, 
 vol. 5, p. 523 and following. At the same meeting the town 
 " Voted, That the selectmen cause sign boards to be put up at 
 the termini of each street in town." 
 
 We have endeavored to give above, a pretty full summary of 
 the roads in this town, while at the same time we are aware, 
 that not all the roads, highways and byways have been men- 
 tioned, a thing impossible and needless to do. As the years 
 have gone by, there has been evident progress made, in the 
 manner of constructing and caring for our highways. In its 
 infancy and poverty, in 1786, the town expended the sum of 
 three hundred dollars ; in the year 1877, the sum of three thou- 
 sand dollars was appropriated for highways. While our roads 
 are necessarily hilly, they are, as a general thing, kept in good 
 repair, much vigilauce being constantly exercised over them by 
 17 
 
130 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 our selectmen and road masters. It is to be hoped that before 
 the hipse of many years, there will be a greater and more gen- 
 eral interest manifested by the town, in the construction of 
 sidewalks and planting of shade and ornamental trees along our 
 streets. Within the last few years individuals have laid con- 
 venient and permanent sidewalks in front of their own dwel- 
 lings, and have erected lamp posts for the benefit of the public ; 
 but much yet remains to be done in this direction, before the 
 town is made to possess the attractiveness it is capable of. 
 
 Having said thus much concerning the highways and streets 
 of Gardner, from the earliest time to the present, it is thought 
 best to introduce here some account of the Turnpike, which 
 was once a marked feature of this town. By so doing we hope 
 to preserve a record, for the benefit of future generations, of 
 facts and scenes, of which they might otherwise remain forever 
 ignorant. 
 
 FIFTH MASSACHUSETTS TURNPUvE CORPORATION. 
 
 This turnpike was incorporated March 1st, 1799. The rea- 
 sons, for establishing it, are given in the preamble to the act 
 of incorporation, in the following Avorcls : — 
 
 WJiereas, The highway leading from Northfield in the county 
 of Hampshire, through Warwick and Orange to Athol, and also 
 from Greenfield through Montague and unimproved lands up 
 Miller's liiver to Athol aforesaid, thence through Gerry, (now 
 Phillipston,) Templeton, Gardner, Westminster and Fitchburg 
 to Leominster, in the county of Worcester, is rocky and moun- 
 tainous ; and the expense of straightening, making and repair- 
 ing the same, through the said towns, so that the same may be 
 conveniently traveled with horses and carriages, is much greater 
 than reasonably ought to be required of said towns : 
 
 Be it tJierefore enacted by the Senate and House of Represen- 
 tatives in General Court assembled, etc. This turnpike had its 
 commencement at Capt. Elisha Hunt's in Northfield, passed 
 through Warwick, Orange, Athol, Phillipston, Templeton and 
 Gardner to Westminster meetiuir-house, from thence to Jonas 
 
HIST OB Y OF GARDNER. 131 
 
 Kendall's tavern in Leominster ; also from Calvin Munn's 
 tavern in Greenfielcl, through Montague to Athol. The road 
 was to be four rods wide, and the path to be traveled not less 
 than eighteen feet wide, in any place. The corporation was 
 authorized to erect five turnpike gates, convenient for collect- 
 ing the toll. One of these gates was near David Mayo's tavern, 
 in Warwick ; another near the tavern of Samuel Sweetser, in 
 Athol ; another near the line between Gardner and West- 
 minster ; another near the tavern of Jonas Kendall, in Leom- 
 inster ; there was another at such convenient place between 
 Greenfield and Athol as the corporation should determine. The 
 following were the rates of toll : — 
 
 For every coach, pha?ton, chariot, or other four-wheel car- 
 riage drawn by two horses, ticenty-five cents, and if drawn by 
 more than two horses, an additional sum of four cents for each 
 horse ; for every cart or wagon, drawn by two oxen or horses, 
 twelve and an half cents, and if drawn by more than two horses 
 or oxen, an additional sum of three cents for each ox or horse ; 
 for every curricle, sixteen cents ; for every chaise, chair or other 
 carriage, drawn b}' one horse, twelve and an half cents ; for 
 every man and horse, ^re cents ; for every sled or sleigh, drawn 
 by two oxen or horses, nine cents, if drawn by more than two 
 oxen or horses, an additional sum of tJiree cents for each ox or 
 horse ; for each sled or sleigh, drawn by one horse, eight cents ; 
 for all horses, mules, oxen or neat cattle, led or driven, besides 
 those in teams or carriages, one cent each ; for all sheep or 
 swine, at the rate of three cents for one dozen. 
 
 If the corporation, or their toll-gatherers, or others in their 
 employ, should unreasonably delay or hinder any traveler, at 
 any of the gates, or should receive more toll than was estab- 
 lished by the act of incorporation, the corporation should for- 
 feit a sum not exceeding ten dollars nor less than two dollars, to 
 be recovered before any justice of the peace of the county 
 where the offence should be committed, by any person thus in- 
 jured, delayed oi- defrauded. The corporation was liable for 
 any damage which should arise from defective brido;es, or want 
 
132 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 of repairs, in said way. They were also indictal)le for not 
 keeping the road in good repair. If any person shonld cut, 
 break down, or otherwise destroy any turnpike gates, or dig up 
 or cany away any earth, or in an}' manner damage the road, 
 or should forcibly pass or attempt to pass the toll-gates, with- 
 out having first paid the legal toll, he should pay a fine not 
 exceeding^^?/ doUars nor less than ten dollars. If any person, 
 with his team, cattle, or horse, should turn out of the road to 
 pass by any of the turnpike gates, and again enter the road, 
 with intent to evade the toll, he should pay three times as much 
 as the legal toll would have been. Persons passiug to or from 
 public worship, also persons passing on military duty, were 
 exempt from toll. The corporation Avere oljliged to erect, and 
 keep constantly exposed to view, at all places where toll was to 
 be collected, a sign or board with rates of toll, of all the toll- 
 able articles, fairly and legibl}' written thereon in large or 
 capital characters. 
 
 This turnpike ran straight from Templeton through South 
 Gardner, to Westminster, irrespective of hills or swamps. 
 There was a toll-gate near the house of Elijah Foster, in Gard- 
 ner, which was subsequently removed to a position near the 
 store of S. W. A. Stevens, in South Gardner. This turupike 
 formed the most direct route from Brattleborough, Vt., to Bos- 
 ton, and was the old stage road between these points. In the 
 history of these turnpikes, we begin to trace those improve- 
 ments, in public travel, which have since grown into rapid rail- 
 road, and steamship conveyance. Let it not, however, be for- 
 gotten, that turnpikes were matters of great public interest, in 
 those days. There was, among the projectors of these roads, 
 laying them in a direct course, from point to point, as they did, 
 something of that determination to annihilate time and space, 
 of which so much is heard at the present time. 
 
 Then too, those stages, with their four and six horses, dash- 
 ing along the highways, with their heavy freight of passengers 
 and luggage, were objects fitted to awaken admiration in all the 
 dwellers along the route. With what a sense of self-importance 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 133 
 
 did the driver sound his horn and crack his whip, as he ap- 
 proached the tavern where men and boys Avere the self-con- 
 stituted committee of reception of the incoming stage. How 
 they gazed upon the passengers and watched their movements, 
 especially if they were from " down below." 
 
 What jovial times those must have been at the taverns, when 
 it was not thought immoral for everybody to assemble and talk 
 over national affairs and drink the ever present draft of toddy, 
 and crack the jokes that called forth the uproarious laughter. 
 It is true, we are better acconnnodated, by the oft-coming and 
 departing railroad trains, but these, creeping along through 
 valleys and around upon hillsides and through dismal swamps, 
 awaken no such admiration, as the old New England stage did, 
 with its pompous driver and spirited six-in-hand, as they passed 
 along the public highway or brought up, flecked with foam, at 
 one of our old county taverns. But with all our improvements, 
 in consequence of steam, it is a noticeable fact, that roads are 
 coming to be more and more a matter of public attention, and 
 more lavish expenditure. There is a more intelligent convic- 
 tion in the public mind, that good roads have much to do with 
 the economy of living, since it must always cost more to draw 
 a load over a bad road, than over a good one. 
 
 In England, at the period already referred to, in this chapter, 
 Macaulay tells us that such was the execrable condition of the 
 roads, that the expense of transmitting heavy goods, in wagons 
 was enormous, costing about fifteen pence a ton, for every mile, 
 or fifteen times more than is demanded by railroads. Such, 
 indeed, was the expense of transportation, upon these high- 
 ways that, coal for instance, was never seen in England, except 
 in the districts where it was produced, or in districts where it 
 could be carried by water. On by-roads, goods were carried 
 on long trains of pack horses. But in this respect, England 
 has very greatly improved since the time of which Macaulay 
 writes, having now several thousand miles of the finest roads 
 in the world, being made firm and hard by the gravel and 
 broken stone with which thej' are ballasted. The same is true 
 
134 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 of the roads in Switzerland. Tiiese people have already learned, 
 that Avhich we are coming aradually, better to understand, that 
 the best and most substantially built road, at whatever cost, is 
 cheaper and more satisfactory in the long run, than that of 
 poorer construction. Says Hon. Charles G. Davis of Plym- 
 outh, who has traveled extensively in England and on the Con- 
 tinent, " Go to the poorest canton in Switzerland, much poorer 
 than any district in Massachusetts, and you Avill find roads, 
 made always with even grades, never Avith a pitch or hollow to 
 suit the natural surface of the country, but always upon even 
 pitches up and doAvn, sometimes bridging across dry vallej^s, 
 the engineering and m.^sonry of the most excellent character. 
 These roads are constantly watched, as a mother watches her 
 child, as the trackmen upon our railroads, tend the track that 
 the engines pass over, watched day by day, and swept week by 
 week."* 
 
 It is to be hoped that our roads will be yet made after models 
 of this high character. 
 
 ♦Agricultural Report 1870-1871. 
 
ffljSTOBY OF GARDNER. 135 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 KAILROADS. 
 
 " Carriages without horses shall go, 
 And accidents fill the world with woe. 
 Around the world thoughts shall fly- 
 In the twinkling of an eye. 
 Water shall yet more wonders do ; 
 Now strange, yet shall be true. 
 The world upside down shall be. 
 And gold be found at root of tree. 
 Through hills man shall ride, 
 And no horse or ass be at his side. 
 Under water men shall walk ; 
 Shall ride, shall sleep, shall talk. 
 In the air men shall be seen. 
 In white, in black, in green. 
 Iron in the water shall float. 
 As easy as a wooden boat. 
 Gold shall be found, and found 
 In a land that's not now known. 
 Fire and water shall wonders do, 
 England shall at last admit a Jew." 
 
 — Mother Shipton's Prophecy, A. D. 1488. 
 
 EFORE entering upon a minute history of the raih'oacls 
 passing through this town, it is thought not inappropriate, 
 to present, in the opening of tliis chapter, a brief sketch of 
 public communications, a hundred years ago, and even at a 
 much Uiter day, that the reader may be able, to put events then, 
 in contrast, with events now. The difficulties and perils of 
 travel in the United States one hundred years ago, are graphi- 
 cally sketched, by Mr. Edward Abbott, in a little work, entitled 
 
136 HISTORY OF GAlWNEli. 
 
 " Revolutionary Times," from which, we take a portion of the 
 information here presented. He refers us to a brief narrative, 
 of the journey, which a young man, by the name of Elkanah 
 Watson, of Rhode Ishuid, made, in 1777, from Providence to 
 Charleston, South Carolina, on an errand of great pecuniary 
 importance. The young man, then only nineteen years of age, 
 started in September on horseback, and with a " hanger" at his 
 side, and a pair of pistols at his holster, journeyed through 
 eastern Connecticut to Hartford, "a wealthy and respectable 
 place of almost three hundred houses," thence " to New Haven 
 which he found to be somewhat larger." Crossing the Hudson 
 at Peekskill, he came to Morristown, N. J., where he fell in 
 with two other travelers going the same way, and here ex- 
 changed his seat, on the saddle, for one in a " sulky." The 
 British having just taken possession of Philadelphia, the party 
 were obliged to mtdve, a considerable detour, by way of Read- 
 ing, Lancaster :uid York, but were even then detained for a 
 night, under arrest on suspicion of being British spies. They 
 spent two days at Bethlehem, where was " a spacious tavern 
 alfording them welcome comforts;" at Reading they found " a 
 town of four hundred houses ;" and at Reamstown, young Wat- 
 son had his tirst experience of sleeping in a German house, 
 " between two feather beds." At Euphrates he heard the sound 
 of Washington cannonading Germantown. Through Lancaster, 
 he went to York, where Congress, driven out of Philadelphia, 
 were in session, and where pussports, had to be obtained, for the 
 continuation of the journey, which so far, had occupied just a 
 month. Crossing Maryland, JNIr. Watson came to Fredericks- 
 ])urg, Virginia, which he found '' to be a place of a thousand 
 inhabitants." Willianisl)uroj contained more than three hundred 
 dwellings, " built chiefly of wood, on one street nearly a mile 
 in length." Entering North Carolina, the first place of impor- 
 tance was Edenton, with " thirty-five houses, and a brick court 
 house." Thence, his route lay partly by land and partly by wa- 
 ter, to Bath ; this region was uninhabited and desolate ; crossing 
 the Neuse River by night, with considerable danger, he finally 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 137 
 
 reached Newbern, the capital of the colony. The journey from 
 Newbern to Wilmington, lay through an almost unbroken 
 wilderness ; at one point he lost his way, at another encount- 
 ered a large bear. Be3^ond Wilmington, the route lay along 
 the beach, for sixteen miles ; he here met a party going north, 
 who had with them tidings of Burgoyue's surrender. • On the 
 18th of November, Mr. Watson entered Charleston, having 
 been seventy days, in traveling one thousand two hundred and 
 forty-three miles. Mr. Watson was the bearer of funds, not in 
 checks and drafts of modern times, but in gold, securely quilted 
 into the lining of his coat. 
 
 From this narrative, it will be easy to see, what it was to 
 travel an hundred years ago. It was a time, when forests gave 
 protection to many wild beasts, and the highways were infested 
 like Gads Hill, with highway robbers, who have since given 
 their attention to wrecking, and plundering railroad trains, and 
 bank safes. Then, when night came and found the traveler, 
 far from any settlement or habitation, he Avas compelled to 
 bivouac, in the forest with his horse for a companion and the 
 sky alone above his head. Such was the condition of the 
 country, one hundred years ago, that a traveler must provide 
 himself, with permits to pass military lines, if he intended to 
 go any distance from home. Then there were no canals ; 
 the first one, from AValtham to Richmond, Virginia, not bein"- 
 then completed. There was then one trunk road, from Boston, 
 closely following the coast to the mouth of the Kennebec ; 
 another into New Hampshire, and so into Canada ; another to 
 Providence ; one to New York, connecting the towns of Sprino-- 
 field, Hartford and New Haven, and joined at this latter jjlace, 
 by one skirting the Sound, and going east, as far as the Narra- 
 gansett Bay. From New York, there were two roads northward 
 on each side the Hudson River, as far as Albany, one goino- on 
 thence to Lake George, the other diverging to the Mohawk 
 Valley. Southward a road crossed New Jersey to the Delaware 
 River, then down to Philadelphia, and the region beyond. 
 These were of course, all stage roads. Between New York and 
 18 
 
138 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Philadelphia there run the fast stage, " The Flying Machine," 
 making the journey in two clays ; from Philadelphia to Balti- 
 more the stage took five days to go ; from Boston to Philadel- 
 phia was a wonderful journey. There Avas a weekly stage from 
 Boston to Portsmouth and another also to Newburyport. The 
 following is an advertisement in the "Boston Gazette," May 
 10th, 1773, which is a sign of the times. 
 
 •EZRA LUNT 
 
 Begs Leave to inform the Public, That he has lately pur- 
 chased an Interest, in the Newbury -Port Stage, which has been 
 lately fixed on a new Construction, in which he intends to im- 
 prove four horses, which he will drive himself. Therefore he 
 flatters himself that those Gentlemen and Ladies, that will 
 oblige him with their Custom, will find more Ease and Pleasure, 
 in their Passages to and from Boston, than they did heretofore. 
 As said Lunt intends to observe Punctuality in his Business, 
 therefore he l)egs that those Gentlemen and Ladies that intend 
 to be his Customers, would take Notice, that he will wait on 
 them, for their Commands at his House in Newbury-Port, oppo- 
 site the Rev. Mr. Parsons' Meeting-house ; from whence he will 
 set out, on Monday every Week, at 7 o'clock, and puts up at 
 Mrs. Bean's, at the Sign of the Ship, in Kings Street, Boston, 
 where all Baggage, Bundles, etc., will l)e received, and deliv- 
 ered, as directed, and Passages engaged. All Favors will be 
 gratefully acknowledged. 
 
 After the Revolution, a semi-weekly stage, was established 
 between New York and Boston, which made the trip in six days. 
 Sometimes travelers would go by their own conveyance, occa- 
 sionally advertising for a companion. Sometimes they would 
 go by water. Mr. Josiah Quinc}', Jr., went from Boston to 
 Charleston, S. C, in 1773, by water, a voyage which took 
 him twenty days to make. There was communication every 
 ten days, by packet, between Massachusetts and Maine. " The 
 Publick's Humble Servant, William Holland, proprietor, adver- 
 tising that the master of the packet, in order to prevent the 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 139 
 
 usual Trouble of Gentlemen and Ladies, procuring their Stores, 
 will furnish good Liquors of all Sorts, and proper attendance at 
 the common prices in Taverns." 
 
 Occasionally there was a packet between Boston, and various 
 parts of the South, and between Boston and the settlements on 
 the St. Lawrence. There were regular packets between Bos- 
 ton and New York, and English ports, six wrecks being the 
 common length of the voyage across the Atlantic. At that 
 time the transportation of troops for the war, was exceedingly 
 laborious and difficult, entirely unlike wdiat our eyes have wit- 
 nessed in recent years. 
 
 The postal system was in a very imperfect condition. In 
 certain parts of the country, there were no mails whatever, and 
 to a large extent letters w^ere sent by private hands, making 
 correspondence exceedingly uncertain and dilatory. During 
 the lievolntionary War, it was entirely interrupted. The Lon- 
 don papers of September 28th, 1776, contained this notice from 
 the general post office : "A mail Avill be dispatched from hence 
 on Wednesday next, for New York, and also one for Charles- 
 town ; after which there will be no regular Conveyance for 
 Letters from the Office to North America ; but Avhcnever a Packet 
 may be dispatched to any part of that continent, proper notice 
 will be given." 
 
 As a further evidence of the infrequency of postal facilities, 
 we give the foUowiuir : — 
 
 GENERAL POST OFFICE. 
 
 PJdladelphia, Feb. 14th, 1775. 
 
 It having been found very inconvenient, to persons concerned 
 in trade, that the mail from Philadelphia to New England sets 
 out, but once in a fortnight, during the winter season, this is to 
 give notice that the New England mail will go henceforth, once a 
 week the year round ; when a correspondence may be carried 
 on, and answers obtained to letters, between Philadelphia and 
 Boston in three weeks, which used, in the winter, to require 
 six weeks. 
 
 By the command of the postmaster-general, 
 
 William Franklin, Comptroller. 
 
140 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 The arrangements for the conveyance of the mails, as often 
 practiced, will be shown by the following advertisement from 
 the "Continental Journal" of December 25th, 1777. 
 
 WILLIAM SHURTLIFF, POST RIDER. 
 
 Letters directed to the army, now at the southward, lodged 
 at the public houses or places, hereafter named, on Thursday, 
 the 8th day of January, 1778, viz. at Col. Sprout's, Middle- 
 borough ; Capt. Nathaniel Little's, Kingston ; Mr. Thomas 
 Witherel's, Plymouth ; Mr. Jonathan Parker's, Plympton ; 
 Messrs. Porter's & White's, Taunton ; Mr. Samuel Lane's, Nor- 
 ton ; Gill's Printing Office and Lamb Tavern, Boston ; Mr. 
 Partridge's, Roxbury ; Mr. Daniel Vose's and Mrs. Bent's, Mil- 
 ton ; Mrs. May's, Stoughton ; Mr. Randell's, Stoughtonham ; 
 Mr. Man's, Wrentham, and at his house in Mansfield, will be 
 carefully conveyed, and a speedy return made, by the Publick's 
 most humble Servant. 
 
 William Shurtliff. 
 
 P. S. It will be expected that the postages be left with the 
 letters ; and am very sorry to acquaint my customers, and 
 others, that I cannot afford to carry under three shillings per 
 single letter; and if it be duly considered, that the season of 
 the Year is bad, the journey long, and the expenses on the road 
 so amazing great, I flatter myself I shall not be thought unrea- 
 sonable. 
 
 Gradually these great inconveniences of travel, and the trans- 
 mission of intelligence, were in some degree overcome, within 
 the first fifty years subsequent to the close of the Revolutionary 
 War, by the straightening of roads and building of turn- 
 pikes, together with the attendant increase of postal facilities, 
 so that fifty years ago one could come from Boston to this place, 
 in a little less than a day. It is difficult for us, Avith our man}' 
 and rapid railroad trains, our frequent mails, and telegraphic 
 conveniences, to appreciate the privations and discomforts of 
 two generation ago ; and yet all these facilities of travel and 
 communication are of recent date. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 141 
 
 The first railroad in the United States, the Quincy, was built 
 in 1826. Gridley Bryant, the inventor of the eight-wheeled 
 car, the tnrn-tal)le and the switch, was according to good au- 
 thority, the projector, builder and engineer, of this new rail- 
 road, which was only four miles, in length, and made, for the pur- 
 pose of transporting granite for the Bunker Plill Monument. It 
 was not till the period embraced, between 1828 and 1833, that 
 our great system of railroads may be said to have begun. In 
 1830 there were but twenty-three miles of railroads in the United 
 States. In 1845, there were four thousand, six hundred and 
 thirty-three miles of railroads. 
 
 This In-ings us to a consideration of the Vermont and Mas- 
 sachusetts Railroad Company, in its relations to the growth and 
 prosperity of this town. The original act of incorporation, 
 bears date March 15th, 1844. According to section first, of 
 this act, the road was located "through the north part of the 
 town of Gardner, to Otter Eiver, thence down Otter River to 
 the village of Baldwinsville, in the north part of Templeton." 
 At this point, it may be well to consider the character of a 
 struggle, which raged for two years, in this community and 
 which involved in its decisions the destiny of this town. It was 
 a war, in Avhich Greek met Greek, and bitter was the conflict, 
 sometimes, and at this distant day, we would like to make our 
 townsmen familiar with the facts, that they may know, from 
 what they have been delivered, and to whose exertions they are 
 indebted for the facilities of trade and travel they now enjoy. 
 
 About 1842, Hon. iVlvah Crocker, the projector and first pres- 
 ident, of the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, one of Fitch- 
 burg's honored citizens, and subsequently our representative in 
 congress, came to this and other towns, upon the proposed route, 
 Icctui'ing upon the feasibility of the road, and awakening an in- 
 terest in the minds of the people. Stock was subscribed in this 
 town and in Templeton, and the leading men of the day, saw the 
 desirability of the road ; but when the subject came to the con- 
 sideration of the legislature, in the winter of '43 and '44, it had 
 a new and very different face from that which had been pre- 
 
142 HISTORY OF GARDINER. 
 
 sentecl to the citizens of these towns at the outset. Evidently 
 Garcluer, to the prophetic vision of some of the projectors, was 
 seen to be a near and accessible point, from which to extend an 
 arm to the Boston and Alban}^ Railroad at Worcester, and so 
 divertin<>' trade and travel from the cast, and from the Fitch- 
 burg Railroad ; hence to their minds, came the necessity of 
 locating the route, to the north, and over the summit, making all 
 converge toward Boston, by the way of Fitchburg solely ; so 
 that iu the original bill, as it appeared before the house, Bald- 
 winsville did not appear, but was inserted, through the agency of 
 Col. Artemas Lee, Messrs. Boynton, Day and Davis of Temple- 
 ton, and Mr. Levi Heywood of Gardner. Previous to the pas- 
 sage of this act of incorporation, Mr. Crocker had proceeded to 
 locate and build the eleventh section, which ran from Ashburn- 
 ham toward Winchendon Village, not having been authorized 
 by law, but trusting to the coming legislature, to legalize and 
 sive permission for such a course ; in this he was disappointed 
 by the action of the above-named gentlemen, who, by their 
 timely exertions, had secured the insertion of the name of Bald- 
 winsville, in the proposed route, before the bill had passed the 
 house. Mr. Crocker petitioned to leave Baldwinsville out, and 
 appealed to the county commissioners to change the direction 
 of the road. To oppose this petition, Gardner called a town 
 meeting, July 22d, 1845, and Messrs. Levi Heywood, Thomas 
 E. Glazier and S. S. Howe, were chosen to meet the county 
 commissioners, at Templeton, July 23d, 1845, and also were 
 authorized to employ counsel to assist them in opposing the 
 alteration of said charter. The Vermont and Massachusetts 
 Railroad claimed, at this meeting, that it would be impracticable 
 to construct the road, through the north part of this town, upon 
 the chartered line, because there was, as they expressed it, " so 
 much rock, the worst kind of rock, viz., trap rock.'' Mr. Ed- 
 wards, the engineer of the road, was present and standing at 
 the desk with the profile before him, Avas requested to point out 
 the stations where such rock would be found. Now this gen- 
 tleman had no personal knowledge of this section, his subor- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDINER. 143 
 
 clinate, Johnson, huving made the survey, but trusting to his 
 judgment, he immediately complied with the request, and des- 
 ignated the stations where this formation would be found. Mr. 
 Hey wood then secured, through Judge Allen, his counsel, an 
 adjournment of the case, for one week ; meanwhile parties w-ent 
 upon the line, and were enabled to sink shafts to grade line, 
 but found no rock as indicated by Mr. Edwards. This foct be- 
 ing presented at the adjourned meeting of the commissioners, 
 virtually killed the case, and they refused to grant the prayer 
 of petitioners. 
 
 The Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, thwarted in this 
 attempt to secure a change in its route, brought its case before 
 the legislature, petitioning for the proposed alteration in its 
 chartered line. The chief reasons alleged, by Mr. Crocker and 
 others, were peculiar, and the subterfuges resorted to, were 
 certainly very curious, as will be seen, in the light of subse- 
 quent events. It was claimed by the petitioners that the dam, 
 at the reservoir in Ashburnham, was too high to admit of the 
 construction of the road by the side of it. But it was ascer- 
 tained, that this dam had been raised two feet, with this object, 
 of defeating the chartered line, in view. 
 
 Again it w^as claimed that the grade of the Fitchburg road 
 was too low to admit of a connection of the line through Gard- 
 ner with it. But the fact, was afterwards disclosed, that the 
 petitioners had lowered the grade of the Fitchburg road through 
 Ashburnham, fifteen feet, so that the chartered line should not 
 be able to connect. To meet this newly made objection, the 
 friends of the proposed route, through the north part of this 
 town, lowered the grade of this road fifteen feet from its original 
 plan. 
 
 These devices, however, did not avail, and new measures 
 were resorted to, to secure the object of the petitioners. When 
 all hope of defeating the road as originally chartered, was lost, 
 other and more indirect means were used to secure the location 
 of the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad through Winchen- 
 don. On the 28th day of February, 1845, the Vermont and 
 
144 HI8T0RY OF GARDINER. 
 
 Massachusetts Railroad secured the passage of a bill extending 
 the time for building their road to three years, provided any 
 section of it between Fitchburg and Athol should be con- 
 structed within that time. Within thirteen days, after the pas- 
 sage of this bill, viz., on the 13th day of March, following, an 
 act passed the legislature chartering the Winchendon Railroad. 
 This road was to begin at the " southern boundary of the state 
 of New Hampshire, in the town of Fitzwilliam or the town of 
 Rindge, and passing thence to some convenient point at or near 
 Winchendon Village, or Waterville Village, in said town of Win- 
 chendon, or in either of the towns of Royalston, or Templeton, 
 or Gardner, upon the railroad, which may be constructed by the 
 Vermont and JMassachusetts Railroad." We find in the charter 
 of the Winchendon Railroad this proviso, in which appears the 
 influence of Mr. Crocker, with his face steadfastly set like a flint 
 toward Winchendon, viz.: "That if said Vermont and Mas- 
 sachusetts Railroad shall not, within two years from April 1st 
 next, locate and construct their railroad through Winchendon 
 Village, to their chartered line in Royalston, then said Win- 
 chendon corporation are hereby authorized and empowered, to 
 locate, construct and extend their road through said Winchen- 
 don to some convenient point upon the said Vermont and Mas- 
 sachusetts Railroad, in the town of Ashburnham." 
 
 After long and excited discussions before the committee, the 
 leading and prevailing question of equity was presented by Mr. 
 Hey wood and others, viz. : " That stock had been largely sub- 
 scribed in Gardner, while in Winchendon not one dollar had 
 been subscribed." The petitioners, not feeling quite at ease 
 with this question of equity before the committee, desired to 
 separate Gardner from Templeton. After the hearing had been 
 closed before the committee, and before they had made their 
 report, the question was asked, if Gardner would not be satis- 
 fied with a branch, allowing the main line to go through Win- 
 chendon, which question w\as pertinently answered by their 
 own assertion, " that there was no practicable line to Gardner," 
 to which the reply came, " not one for a main line, but one for 
 
HISTOEY OF GARDNER. 145 
 
 a branch." Then came the proposition to our ap^ent to accom- 
 pany the engineer, Mr. Edwards, over some line that he, Mr. 
 Heywood, miglit select from Ashburnham tTunction to Gardner. 
 Starting from the Junction fliey followed a route, now used as 
 the road bed between this town and the Junction, until they 
 connected it with a line that had already been surveyed by Mr. 
 Hiijginson for a road runnino" from Fitchburir through West- 
 minster to Gardner. Mr. Edwards, having surveyed this route, 
 brought his chart to ]Mr. Heywood at Boston and requested him 
 to take that before the committee and say that Gardner would 
 be satisfied with a branch as indicated on the chart. "But it 
 would be exparte," Mr. Heywood replied, " as the case has 
 been virtually closed." 
 
 The survey which Mv. Edwards had made was taken and 
 united to the one which Mr. Higginson had made, and Col. 
 Day of Templeton, being acquainted with one member of the 
 committee of the house, laid the case with the charts before him, 
 and convinced him that there did exist a good route from Fitch- 
 burg through Gardner, by their own actual survey. 
 
 As the result of all this conflict the legislature relocated the 
 line from Ashburnham to Baldwinsville, April IGth, 1846, in 
 the following words : " Said company, in locating and con- 
 structing that portion of their railroad, which shall be between 
 the point of junction aforesaid, and South Royalston, are hereby 
 empowered to adopt a route, diverging from their present 
 chartered line, in manner following, viz. : Commencing at some 
 convenient point in Westminster, westward of Whitman's Vil- 
 lage, or in Gardner, or in Ashburnham, and thence through the 
 town of Gardner, to the valley of Otter River ; and thence by 
 such a line as shall be found most feasible, through Templeton 
 to a point in their chartered line between Gibson's mill and the 
 village of South Royalston." 
 
 Thus the struggle, lasting for more than two years, ended at 
 last, through the adroitness, skill and persistent determination, 
 and unfaltering efforts of these agents, in a victory for this town ; 
 a victory without which, Gardner must have been to-da}-, but 
 
 19 
 
146 HISTORY OF GAlWNEll. 
 
 little in adviuicc of what it was, thirty years ago. Such an 
 nnwearied pursuit, of a good object, is worthy of the lasting 
 gratitude, of all who are profited by the great advantages 
 thereby secured to the town, and illustrates the truth of the 
 Virgilian saying, " Possunt quia jiosse videntur ;''' they are able 
 because they seem to be able. 
 
 Yet the determination to carry the Vermont and Massachu- 
 setts Railroad north of this town, did not even then, become 
 extinct in the minds of those who petitioned for an alteration 
 in the original charter. Hence, instead of coming to Gardner, 
 as the road now does, on a curve at Ashburnham Junction, 
 there was constructed, that bewildering anomaly, in railroad 
 traveling, to the confusion of all passengers, the turning of the 
 engine and the seats of the cars, in order to run upon the new 
 line. This was a declaration daily made, for thirty years, that 
 the road to this [dace should yet be only a branch, of the main 
 line. But if the road has been of great advantage to Gardner, 
 it may with equal truth be said, that Gardner has been of great 
 yearly advantage to it. During the year ending January 1st, 
 1878, the amount of income derived from the sale of tickets at 
 the office in Gardner was, $10,521. Adding to this sum an 
 equal amount sold at other stations to those returning hither, 
 we have the sum of $21,042. For freight 23,817.85 ; making 
 total income to the road from Gardner, for the year 1877, $44,- 
 859.85, exclusive of the freight shipped from this to other places, 
 and of express business done upon the road. There are ten regu- 
 lar passenger trains leaving the depot of the Fitchburg Railroad 
 daily, five each way. There are also ten freight trains daily, 
 consisting of a hundred cars each way. 
 
 The Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad next claims our at- 
 tention. The original charter for this railroad, was granted, by 
 the legislature, April 26th, 1847. The company were "em- 
 powered to locate, construct, and maintain a railroad with one, 
 or more tracks, from some convenient point, on the Nashua and 
 Worcester Railroad, in the town of Worcester, through the 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 147 
 
 towns of Holden, Rutland, Princeton, Hubl)ai'd.ston, and Oak- 
 ham, to some convenient point, near the centre of Bane ; and 
 also from some convenient point, on said route, in the town of 
 Princeton, through the town of Hubbardston, to some conven- 
 ient point, on the Vermont and ^Massachusetts Railroad in the 
 town of Gardner." 
 
 By an act of the legislature, extending the time, for the con- 
 struction of this road, passed March 24th, 1849, permission was 
 granted, to change the name from that of "The Barre and 
 Worcester Railroad Corporation," to " The Boston, Barre and 
 Gardner Railroad Corporation." An additional act was passed, 
 April 24th, 1851, extending the time for building the road, and 
 at the same time, releasing the corporation " from all obliga- 
 tion to construct that part of their said railroad as described in 
 their charter, from a point at the junction of the two branches 
 of said railroad, in the town of Princeton, through the towns 
 of Rutland, Hubbardston, and Oakham, to some convenient 
 point near the centre of Barre ; and they may construct, or 
 omit to construct any part thereof, as they may elect ; and they 
 may also construct, and maintain, the other, parts of the said 
 railroad, from some convenient point, on the Worcester and 
 Nashua Railroad, in the city of Worcester, through the towns 
 of Holden, Rutland, Princeton and Hubbardston, to some con- 
 venient point on the Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad, in 
 the town of Gardner." 
 
 Permission was also jriven, in this act, grantins: a relocation 
 of the road, to open a new subscription for the capital stock of 
 this corporation, releasing also, from all assessments, all per- 
 sons holding stock before subscribed, and from all expenses 
 afterwards incurred by said corporation." On March 12th, 1853, 
 another act passed the legislature, extending the time for con- 
 structing this road, to July 1st, 1856, and authorizing the com- 
 pany, to build their road by sections. The first section was to 
 begin, in Worcester, at some convenient point on the Worces- 
 ter and Nashua Railroad, and extend through the toAvns of 
 West Boylston and Holden, to some convenient point in the 
 
148 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 town of Princeton. The second section, was to extend from 
 the northerly end of the first section, in Princeton, through 
 Hubbardston to Gardner. Tiie third section, was to extend 
 from some convenient point on the first section, through the 
 towns of Rutland, Hubbardston and Oakham, to some conven- 
 ient point in Barre. The last act of the legislature renewing 
 the charter, was passed February 21st, 1868, extending the 
 time of construction to the 1st day of July, 1871. 
 
 An act approved July 8th, 1869, authorized the city of 
 Worcester to subscribe to the capital stock of the Boston, 
 Barre and Gardner Railroad Company, one per centum of its 
 valuation for 1868. The towns of Holden, Princeton, Rutland, 
 Barre, Hubbardston and Gardner, were also, by the same act, 
 authorized " to subscribe, to the said capital stock, an amount 
 not exceeding in all, five per centum of their valuation, as given 
 by their assessors for 1868, and to pay for the same, out of the 
 treasury of the town that shall so subscribe, and to hold the 
 same, as town property ; and said stock, when so subscribed 
 and paid for, shall be subject to the disposal of the said city, 
 and each of the said towns, that shall become subscribers, to 
 the said stock, under this act, for public purposes, in the same 
 manner, as any other property it may possess ; provided, that 
 if the citizens aforesaid, shall become subscribers to the stock 
 of any other railroad company, under authority, that has been 
 heretofore conferred upon them, or may hereafter be conferred 
 upon them, b}^ any act of the legislature, the whole amount of 
 their subscriptions to all railroad companies, shall not exceed 
 five per centum, of the aforesaid valuation." 
 
 The total amount subscribed must be determined, at city or 
 town meetings legally warned and called. This mone}^ the city 
 of Worcester, and the towns above named were empowered to 
 raise, by the issuing of bonds, or by loan or tax. They were 
 authorized " to appoint a committee, to subscribe, in behalf of 
 the city or town for such number of such shares, in the capital 
 stock of this corporation, as should be voted by city or toAvn ; and 
 this committee were authorized, to cast the vote of said city or 
 
HISTORY OF GARDINER. 149 
 
 towns, ill the choice of directors of said raih'oad, at the first 
 meeting of the stockholders thereof, after said city or town 
 should subscribe, called for that purpose : and thereafter the 
 vote of said city or towns, in the choice of directors of said 
 railroad, shall be cast, by the person or persons, whom said city 
 or towns may appoint." 
 
 The final act of relocation of this road, was approved March 
 11th, 1870. It pertained to the relocation of the first, second, 
 and third sections. This act permitted the corporation to 
 extend its line, " from some convenient point in the city of 
 Worcester, thence through Holden, and through, or near the 
 centre village thereof; and thence through Princeton and Hub- 
 bardston, and the southerly part of Gardner, to some conven- 
 ient point, on the road of the Vermont and Massachusetts 
 Raili'oad Company in said Gardner." The corporation was also 
 authorized, to locate the third section of its road, so that it 
 might extend from some convenient point, in the first or second 
 section of its road, to some convenient point in the town of 
 Barre. With the final location of this road, and the act of the 
 legislature authorizing the cit}^ of Worcester, and the towuis 
 along the line to subscribe to the capital stock, there began to be 
 manifested an increased interest, in its immediate construction. 
 
 In Gardner, a town meeting was called August 18th, 1869, 
 to consider the subject of subscribing to the stock, of the Bos- 
 ton, Barre and Gardner Eailroad. This meeting was largely 
 attended, and much interest manifested, in the project. Upon 
 motion of Mr. Levi HeyAvood, it was "Voted, That the town 
 subscribe for stock in the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad 
 Corporation, to the amount of three per centum of the valuation 
 of the town in 1868." This subscription amounted to $38,500, 
 and was increased to $100,000 by private subscription. 
 
 INIuch public interest was evinced in the speedy accomplish- 
 ment of this enterprise, which had lain dormant for twenty-two 
 years. The towns along the line of this new road, were quite 
 enthusiastic, in their determination to build it. Hubbardston 
 went to the utmost limit granted by the legislature, and sub- 
 
150 HISTOBY OF GARDNER. 
 
 scribed five per cent, of its valuation for 1868, making the 
 amount of its. subscription $37,600, which was subsequently 
 increased to |50,000 ; Princeton subscribed $6,000 and Holden 
 $30,000, Avhich was largely increased by private subscription ; 
 while the city of Worcester, by a large majority, subscribed 
 one per cent, of its valuation for 1868, amounting to about 
 $280,000. 
 
 At a meeting of the directors, held at Worcester, September 
 15th, 1869, a vote was passed to put that portion of the road 
 between Worcester and Gardner under contract immediately. 
 This contract was made with Messrs. Cook &. Co. of Canada, 
 in November, 1869. The company organized at Worcester 
 September 28th, 1869, with the following officers : President, 
 Col. Ivers Phillips, Worcester; Secretary and Treasurer, Wil- 
 liam E. Starr, Worcester ; Directors, Ivers Phillips, Stephen 
 Salisl)ury, W. W. Rice, Calvin Foster, D. Waldo Lincoln, 
 Horatio N. Tower, Lewis Ballard of Worcester, Joab S. Holt, 
 David Parmenter of Holden, John Brooks of Princeton, Henry 
 Prentiss of Hubbardston and Levi Heywood of Gardner. From 
 the time of the contract, the construction of the road, was 
 rapidly and faithfully pursued, till the 26th day of April, 
 1871, when Col. Phillips drove the first spike, in Gardner, 
 promi'sing at the same time to have the rails laid to Worcester 
 by the 4th of July following. True to his word, the road was 
 so far advanced towards completion, that upon the 4th of July, 
 1871, an excursion train passed over it, from Worcester to this 
 town, although it was not formally opened, to the public till 
 later. Such is the history of the Boston, Barre and Gardner 
 Railroad. 
 
 At this point we must go back a little, and take up the con- 
 temporaneous history relating to the extension of this road to 
 Winchendon, as it now exists. It will be remembered that 
 the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad, was chartered in 
 1847, but no action was taken, looking to Its construction till 
 twenty-two years after. During these years, especially the 
 latter part of them, the chair manufacturers of this town, w^ere 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 151 
 
 gi-eatly enlarging their business, and making constantly in- 
 creasnig demands for lumber, for its successful prosecution. 
 Much of this lumber came from Vermont and New Hamp- 
 shire. But such were the railroad inconveniences, that they 
 were obliged to have their stock, or lumber, come over the 
 Cheshire Railroad, and be drawn by teams from Ashburnhara 
 Junction, or be brought, upon the Vermont and Massachusetts, 
 from the Junction to Gardner, at great cost, the two railroads 
 charging high tariffs. Tliis inconvenience affected not only the 
 chair manufacturers, but our grain merchants, and other lousi- 
 ness men, as well. Hence there began to be a conviction in 
 the minds of our citizens, that there ought to be a railroad, 
 from Gardner to Winchendon, to connect with the Cheshire 
 and Monadnock. If this road could be built, it would open up 
 direct and less costly communication, Avith the lumber regions of 
 Vermont and New Hampshire, and be a matter of great con- 
 venience and profit to Gardner. Prompted b}^ these motives, 
 a petition was presented, l)y our representative, in the General 
 Court, for 1869, Mr. Calvin S. Greenwood, signed by Mr. 
 Charles Hey wood and others, for a road from here to Winchen- 
 don, to be called the Gardner and Winchendon Railroad. This 
 petition was presented February 4th, 1869, and was referred to 
 the Committee on Railroads. February 24th there was a peti- 
 tion presented by B. D. Whitney and others, in aid of the peti- 
 tion of Charles Hey wood and others. This also was referred 
 to the above committee. In the senate, May 2nth, 1869, there 
 was a report upon the petition of Charles Heywood and others, 
 which was considered, and on motion of Mr. Buttrick, a bill to 
 incorporate the Gardner and Winchendon Railroad Company, 
 was substituted therefor ; whereupon, the whole subject was 
 referred to the next General Court. Thus the Gardner and 
 Winchendon enterprise was, for this year prevented, Avhich, to 
 one looking at events, in an honest and unselfish light, seems 
 strange, inasmuch as the enterprising citizens of Gardner and 
 Winchendon proposed to build the road with money from their 
 own pockets and did not propose to ask the state for a dollar, 
 in aid of their much desired project. 
 
152 III8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 This agitation, coucerning a road from here to Winehendon, 
 in the legislature of 18G9, was not, however, without its favor- 
 able results, as will now be seen. The petition of Mr. Charles 
 Hey wood and others, had the beneficial effect to arouse a new 
 interest in the minds of enterprising men, in Worcester, in the 
 desirability of building the long chartered line from Worcester 
 to Gardner, and of extending the same, to Winehendon, thus 
 obviating any necessity for the incorporation of the Gardner 
 and Winehendon Railroad, as prayed for by the petitioners. In 
 the legislature of 1870, in which Mr. John M. Moore was rep- 
 resentative of the district of which Gardner forms a part, 
 according to the journal of the house, for January 18th, 1870, 
 " a bill to incorporate the Gai-dner and Winehendon Railway 
 Company, referred by the senate, in 1869, to this General Court, 
 came down, having been taken from the files of the Senate, 
 and referred to the Committee on Railways, and the house con- 
 curred in the reference." 
 
 "January 14th, 1870, a petition of the Boston, Barre and 
 Gardner Railroad Company, for a change of location and exten- 
 sion of road, was referred, in concurrence, to the Committee 
 on Railways. January 17th, 1870, Mr. Moore of Gardner, 
 presented the petition of Mr. Thomas E. Glazier and others, of 
 Gardner, that the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad may be 
 extended to Winehendon. February 28th, 1870, Mr. Earle of 
 Worcester, from a Committee on Railways, to whom was re- 
 ferred the petition of the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad 
 Company, reported on the part of said petition, a bill author- 
 izing the company to relocate its road. This was read and 
 ordered to a second reading, March 1st, 1870." 
 
 "The bill was ordered to a third reading March 2d, 1870. 
 Mr. Marble of Worcester, moved a reconsideration of the vote 
 by which the report, on the petition of the Boston, Barre and 
 Gardner Railroad Company w^•ls accepted, and the motion was 
 placed on the orders of the day following. March 3d, 1870, 
 motion was withdrawn. March 10th, 1870, bill was engrossed. 
 March 1st, 1870, Mr. Parker of Lancaster, from Committee on 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 153 
 
 Railways, to Avhom was referred the petition, of the Boston, 
 Barre and Gardner Raih'oad Company, for extension of its 
 road, reported reference to the next General Court. March 2d, 
 1870, Mr. Marble of Worcester, moved a reconsideration of 
 the above, and the motion Avas placed on the orders of the day 
 following. March 3d, 1870, a motion was made to reconsider 
 the vote, by which the report, on the petition of the Boston, 
 Barre and Gardner Railroad Company, was yesterday accepted, 
 was agreed to, and Mr. Earle of Worcester moved to amend 
 the report, by substituting a bill, to authorize the said road to 
 extend to Winchendon, and for other purposes, pending, the 
 consideration of which, the subject was postponed till the next 
 clay." 
 
 March 4th, 1870, a report, on the petition of the Boston, 
 Barre and Gardner Railroad Company, was accepted, Mr. Earle 
 withdrawing his motion to amend the same. This action of 
 Mr. Earle was taken because of an agreement entered into be- 
 tween the friends of the extension and their opponents, that, if 
 referred to the next legislature, they would not oppose it. The 
 managers of the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad, were 
 induced to make this agreement, in order to insure the passage 
 of the bill then pending, for the relocation of their road, which 
 was of vital importance to them at that time, and which would 
 have been seriously endangered, had they pressed the extension. 
 In 1871, the matter came again before the legislature, Mr. Levi 
 Heywood being the representative, for that year, in the General 
 Court. 
 
 In all fairness of agreement, between the parties interested 
 for and against the extension, it was hoped and expected that 
 no more opposition would be made to the extension to Win- 
 chendon. But, in this hope, the friends of the road were des- 
 tined to disappointment. Petitions, were presented to this 
 legislature from the city council of Worcester, Charles Hey- 
 wood and five hundred and seven other citizens of Gardner, 
 Nelson D. White and others, William B. Goodnow and others, 
 Ethan Davis and others, Monadnock Railroad Company, N. P. 
 20 
 
154 HISTORY OF GABTfNER. 
 
 Parkhui'st and others, in favor of the extension to Winchendon, 
 while Mr. George C. Winchester and others of Ashburnham, 
 presented petitions against the extension. 
 
 From this time onward, through the whole session, the oppo- 
 sition, to the petitioners for an extension, was exceedingly 
 intense. Contrary to an agreement made at the last session, 
 the old opponents were again in the field, or rather the lobby, 
 ready to do all, within their power, to have the petition denied. 
 Supreme selfishness was the inspiring force, in all their conduct. 
 The Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad Company was there, 
 with its agents, though they had, as they claimed, been sum- 
 moned. The Nashua and Worcester, the Boston, Clinton and 
 Fitchburg and the Providence and Worcester railroad com- 
 panies, were all represented in force, to defeat the enterprise, 
 and in addition to these, Mr. Geo. C. Winchester of Ashburn- 
 ham, was also no indifferent spectator, if not an abettor, of the 
 opposition. But, in the face of all this opposition, Senator 
 Bird reported a bill in favor of the extension, while some of 
 the members, as Towne of Fitchburg, dissented. 
 
 Meanwhile, the friends of the proposed extension, at home, 
 were not dormant. Convinced that they had a righteous cause, 
 and one that must and ought to prevail, the citizens of the city 
 of Worcester and of all the towns along the line, to Win- 
 chendon, assembled " for the purpose of considering the pro- 
 posed extension of the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad 
 Company, to Winchendon, and the dark and disgraceful means, 
 which have been used by the opponents of the project, in and 
 out of the legislature, for its defeat." In Gardner, an enthusi- 
 astic meeting was held, April 29th, 1871, at which, Mr. Thom- 
 as E. Glazier presided, who reviewed the history of the Boston, 
 Barre and Gardner Railroad, and the efforts made to secure a 
 charter to Winchendon, at the same time, referring to the faith- 
 lessness of the opponents, who agreed not again to resist the 
 petitioners. Mr. Charles Hey wood also spoke of the nature of 
 the opposition and the foolishness of those who desired the 
 Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad to form a connection, east 
 
HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 155 
 
 of the village, and so go to Wincheudoii by way of Ashburn- 
 ham, for the benefit of the opponents of the extension. After 
 a thorough discussion of the motives actuating the opposition, 
 a committee, on resolutions, consisting of Messrs. Charles Hey- 
 wood, E. J. Sawyer and John M. Moore was chosen, who re- 
 ported the following resolutions : — 
 
 Whereas, An attempt of the most unscrupulous character, is 
 being made, to defeat the proposed extension of the Boston, 
 Barre and Gardner Railroad, from Gardner to Winchendon, 
 and, whereas such extension is of vital importance to our com- 
 munity, therefore ; 
 
 Resolved, That as a matter of justice to towns and individ- 
 uals, who have taken the stock of the Boston, Barre and Gard- 
 ner Railroad, it should be extended to Winchendon, in order 
 that they may have a direct communication with the north, by 
 their own line, rather than by a circuitous route over two hostile 
 and competing railroads. 
 
 Resolved, That we most earnestly protest against the pro- 
 posed diversion of the road from its present location in this 
 town, towards Ashburnham, thereby depriving us, in a great 
 measure, of the advantages to which we are entitled, and in- 
 flicting incalculable injury upon our business community, as an 
 act of gross injustice to us, who, as a town and as individuals, 
 have invested so largely of our means, in the road, while it 
 would only benefit a few, who have never given either pecuniary 
 or moral support to the enterprise. 
 
 Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be sent to our 
 senator and representative in the state legislature, and that they 
 be requested to use every honorable means to accomplish the 
 prayer of the petitioners. 
 
 Upon the same day meetings were held in Hubbardston and 
 Winchendon, at which, resolutions of similar import were 
 passed. Two of the resolutions passed by the people of Hub- 
 bardston, were to this efiect : — 
 
 Resolved, That inasmuch as the stockholders and the towns 
 along the line propose to construct the extension, with their 
 
156 HI8T0BY OF GARDNER. 
 
 own funds, with Avhich neither individuals nor towns, aside from 
 the line of the road, have any equitable or moral right to inter- 
 fere, and in the present opposition to the project, in the state 
 legislature, we recognize only the unwarranted and unjustitiable 
 interference of parties, who have no interest in its success, by 
 any financial or local connections with it, and in the peculiar 
 and unusual tactics adopted, by the opposition, we recognize 
 only the factious, unscrupulous and reprehensible efforts of men, 
 who will lose nothing by the extension, and only fear that 
 others may be prospered more than they are themselves. 
 
 Resolved, That we denounce these efforts as unjust and inde- 
 iensible, and we appeal to the legislature to grant us the privi- 
 lege of building our own route, with our own means, and at our 
 own risk, without the selfish and outrageous interference of 
 those who seek only to embarrass and injure the prospects 
 and prosperity of the road. 
 
 These resolutions, when presented to the legislature, were 
 declared, by the opponents of the extension, to be " disrespect- 
 ful," while they continued, unremittingly, their efforts to defeat 
 the project, till success crowned their unworthy endeavors. 
 The senate of 1871, decided l:)y a vote of twenty to fifteen, 
 against granting the prayer of the petitioners. This action of 
 the legislature seems exceedingly strange and unfair, in view of 
 the fact that no money Avas sought from the state to aid in build- 
 ing the road, and that the convenience to this community, from 
 the extension, would be so great. But the citizens of these 
 towns, were not discouraged. Such was the justice of their 
 cause, that they felt confident, that the next legislature would 
 grant their prayer. In this confidence they were not disap- 
 pointed. The bill for the extension to Winchendon passed the 
 senate, February 14th, and the house February 17th, 1872, and 
 was subsequently approved by the governor, thus securing to 
 Gardner the railroad connection with the north, it had labored 
 so long and so persistently to obtain. However, the location of 
 the road wtis not immediately determined. By some, it was 
 suggested, that the route to Winchendon be upon the Vermont 
 
HIST OR Y OF GARDNER. 1 5 7 
 
 and Massachusetts Railroad to Baldwinsville ; thence over the 
 Ware River Railroad. 
 
 Pending the location of this road to Winchendon, a special 
 town meeting was called June 3d, 1872, to see if the town 
 would take more stock in the Boston, Barre and Gardner Rail- 
 road Company. After a short discussion, it was " Voted, That 
 Levi Hey wood, Sylvester K. Pierce and Henry C. Hill, be a 
 committee to subscribe in behalf of the town, for two hundred 
 and fifty shares of the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad 
 Company, whenever in the opinion of said committee, or a 
 majority of them, sufhcient stock shall be subscribed, to insure 
 the building of the extension of said company's road, from 
 Gardner to Winchendon, and the treasurer of the town is hereby 
 authorized to borrow such sums of money as may be needed to 
 pay for such stock." 
 
 In due time, the contract for building the extension from 
 Garcbier to Winchendon, was given to i\Ir. B. N. Farren, of 
 Greenfield, who began work upon it in December, 1872. The 
 last rail connecting the road with the Cheshire, was laid at 
 Winchendon Thanksgiving day, Nov. 27, 1873, the same day 
 on which the final blast, opening the Hoosac Tunnel, was ex- 
 ploded. In the afternoon of the same day a train, conveying 
 the Mayor of Worcester, Superintendent Ross and many prom- 
 inent citizens, passed over the road to Winchendon, where a 
 Thanksgiving dinner was eaten at the American house, with 
 hearty rejoicings and congratulations, that an enterprise of such 
 importance, to the growth and general welfare, of this section 
 of country, had at length, with great toil, and in the face of 
 most unfiir and unscrupulous oppositicm, been successfully 
 consummated. 
 
 Regular trains began running from Worcester to Winchen- 
 don, and Peterboro', New Hampshire, Feb. 2, 1874. Since the 
 time of construction of the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad, 
 its business has been such as not. to disappoint those most in- 
 terested in its prosperity. It is certainly a great and much 
 needed auxiliary, to the railroad facilities, of the whole region, 
 
158 HISTORY OF GAEDNFR. 
 
 and when the line is extended, as it soon will be to Concord, 
 New Hampshire, it will aflbrd a most direct route from the 
 capital of New Hampshire to New York. 
 
 We have been thus minute and circumstantial, in our recital 
 of the history of the two railroads passing through this town, 
 that those interested, in studying the causes of our municipal 
 growth, now and hereafter, may be furnished, with a clear idea 
 of their cost, in time, money, labor, inextinguishable patience, 
 and uncompromising determination, on the part of our most 
 enterprising business men, and citizens, among whom, without 
 justly exposing ourselves to the charge of invidiousness, we 
 may place, as most prominent, the name of Mr. Levi Hey wood, 
 as in an eminent sense, the father of our present railroad 
 facilities. 
 
 With no such natural advantages as most other towns enjoy, 
 but on the contrary, with man}' natural disadvantages, Gardner 
 has, through its railroad accommodations, come into possession 
 of great and substantial elements of future growth and pros- 
 perity, which under judicious management, must inevitably, 
 tend to make the town one of the largest and most important 
 in the commonwealth. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 159 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 INDUSTRIES. 
 
 "Productive industry is the only capital which enriches a people, aud 
 spreads national prosperity and well-being." — Samuel Laing. 
 
 " God provides the good things of the world, to serve the needs of nature, 
 by the labors of the plowman, and the skill aud pains of the artisan, and the 
 dangers aud traffic of the mei'chant." — Jeremy Taylor. 
 
 " Self-reliance aud self-denial, Avill teach a man to driuk out of his own 
 cistern, and eat his own sweet bread, and to learn aud labor trulj'^ to get his 
 own living aud carefully to save, aud expend the good things committed to 
 his trust." — Lord Bacon. 
 
 " Cai'e preserves what industry gains. He who attends to his business 
 diligently, but not carefully, throws away with one hand, what he gathers 
 with the other." — Golton. 
 
 "The roughest road, often leads to the smoothest fortune." — Franklin. 
 
 "The parent, who does not teach his child a trade, teaches him to be a 
 thief." — Brahminical Scriptures. 
 
 " Seest thou a man diligent, in his business? he shall stand before kings; 
 he shall not stand before mean men." — Prov. 22 : 29. 
 
 IT is a fact clearly apprehended, by the student of political 
 economy, that the great distinctions, existing among men, 
 in regard to wealth and poverty, competence and want, are 
 due, not so much, to a disparity in mental endowments, as to 
 the determination, persistency, and unflinching courage, with 
 which, they apply themselves, to some wisely selected vocation 
 in life. Experience teaches, that the really industrious man, 
 the man who is daily employed, in some honest labor of muscle 
 or brain, is the one wdio achieves permanent success, in life, 
 while the man who is unsteady of habit, to-day doing one thing 
 and to-morrow another, never really setting himself to any 
 particular task, with an invincible determination to adhere to it 
 
160 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 till he has made it a success, will come, at length, to verify the 
 proverb, " a rolling stone gathers no moss." 
 
 The lives of too many persons, illustrate the distinction in 
 meaning, between avocation and vocation ; they have too many 
 of the former, while they are destitute of the latter. It is also 
 an obvious truth, that habits of industry, or the want of them, 
 have a very powerful influence, in shaping the character, of an 
 individual, or a community. An idle man, if he has the ability 
 to labor, and will not use it, is a pest in society. 
 
 Robert Burton, in his wonderful work, "Anatomy of Mel- 
 ancholy," says that " idleness is the bane of body and mind, the 
 nurse of naughtiness, stepmother of discipline, the chief au- 
 thor of all mischief, one of the seven deadly sins, a sole cause 
 of this, i. e., melancholy, and many other maladies, the devil's 
 cushion and chief reposal. As ferns grow in untilled grounds, 
 and all manner of weeds, so do gross humors in an idle body. 
 A horse in a stable that never travels, a hawk in a mew that 
 seldom flies, are both subject to diseases. An idle dog will be 
 mangy, and how shall an idle person expect to escape? Idle- 
 ness of mind is worse than idleness of body. Wit without 
 employment, is a disease, the rust of the soul. When you shall 
 hear, and see so many discontented persons, in all places where 
 3^ou come, so many several grievances, unnecessary complaints, 
 fear, suspicions, the best way to redress it is, to set them 
 awork, so to busy their minds ; for the truth is, they are idle. 
 Well may they build castles in the air, for a time, and soothe 
 up themselves with fantastical and pleasant humors, but in the 
 end, they will prove as bitter as gall, they shall be still, I say 
 discontented, suspicious, fearful, jealous, sad, fretting and vex- 
 ing of themselves ; so long as they be idle, it is impossible to 
 please them. An idle person knows not, when he is well what 
 he would have, or whither he would go. He is tired out with 
 everything, displeased with all, weary of his life."* 
 
 But we need not be told, by such high authority, that laziness 
 and idleness, have a detrimental influence, upon the lazy and 
 
 ♦Burton's Anatomy, vol. 1, p. 321-325. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJ^ER. 161 
 
 idle themselves ; our own observation confirms us, in tlie opin- 
 ion, that not only does the idle man suffer, but he has a corrupt- 
 ing influence upon others, by putting a slight upon hard, indus- 
 trious, honest labor, in which it is all men's duty to engage. 
 Hence the wisdom of the world has concentrated itself, into 
 those proverbs which have been spoken in favor of industry. 
 
 No paius, no gains. 
 No sweat, no sweet. 
 No mill, no meal. 
 
 Says the Scotch proverb, 
 
 " He that wad eat the kernel, maun crack the nut." 
 
 " He that gapes till he be fed, will gape till he be dead." 
 
 " An idle brain's the devil's smiddy." 
 
 The Latin proverb is, "By doing nothing, we learn to do mis- 
 chief." " Idle dogs worry the sheep." Say the Chinese, " The 
 dog in the kennel barks at his fleas ; the dog that hunts does 
 not feel them." 
 
 Work has been called, by one of our living writers, "a 
 man's life preserver," a truth which no one observant of its bene- 
 ficial effects will care to dispute. Sidney Smith embodies, re- 
 ligion, philosophy, and good common sense in the following 
 sentence : " Let every man be occupied, in the highest employ- 
 ment of which his nature is capable, and die with the con- 
 sciousness that he has done his best." It is also true, that 
 habits of industry, in the founders of a town or community, 
 have very much to do in producing industrious habits, in those 
 who succeed them. Men of industry, integrity, of high prin- 
 ciple, of real honesty of purpose, who toil hard for a series of 
 years, at any one employment, and who are willing to live 
 frugally, in the presence of their children, whom by example 
 and precept they teach to be rightly and profitably employed, 
 cannot fail to make a lasting impression for good, which will 
 reveal itself, in the character of the community, of which these 
 children form a part. Let it never be forgotten, that the man 
 who possesses industry, frugal itj^ and integrity, lives in his in- 
 fluence upon those who succeed him, and his memory will not 
 
 21 
 
102 HI8T0RY OF GARD^^ER. 
 
 f;iil of being honored. But the man who has no other ambition, 
 
 than to be, as Pope says, 
 
 " Fixed like a plant, on his peculiar spot, 
 To draw nutrition, propagate and rot," 
 
 will have little to comfort himself or others, while he lives, and 
 dying will not be regretted. 
 
 Gardner is very fortunate, in the industrious habits of its 
 earliest inhabitants. Whether from necessity or choice, they 
 were a busy people, whose children were taught the value of 
 industry and economy, and who, not content to follow the sim- 
 ple routine, of the fathers, have, in the progress of years, built 
 up industries, and inaugurated enterprises, which have made 
 the town famous, not only in our own, but in foreign lands. 
 The design of this chapter, is to trace the development and 
 growth of the business of the town, from its very small begin- 
 ning, to the present time, taking each industrial department in 
 
 ^^^^^^* AGRICULTURE. 
 
 " He that by the plow would thrive. 
 Must either hold himself or drive." 
 
 During the first twenty years, subsequent to the incorporation 
 of the town, the principal occupation of the inhabitants was 
 farming. Difficult of cultivation, as the soil of the town has 
 ever been, it furnished for these years, almost the entire means 
 of subsistence which the people then enjoyed, few in numbers, 
 and scattered over the surface of the township, as they were. 
 At the present time even, although the town is characterized by 
 its chair manufacturing, it should not be understood, that there 
 is no successful farming done among us. According to the 
 State Census for 1875, there were one hundred and seven farms 
 in town, consisting of ten thousand two hundred and fifty and 
 one-half acres, of which one thousand seven hundred and thirty- 
 four acres are under cultivation, with a total value of farm 
 property of four hundred and fifty-four thousand, six hundred 
 and fifty-four dollars. The hay crop was fourteen hundred and 
 twenty-nine tons ; there were four hundred and twenty-nine 
 bush els of corn raised : seven thousand and one hundred and 
 
HIS TOBY OF GARDNER. 163 
 
 fifty-four bushels of potatoes ; two thousand six hundred and 
 five hushels of apples; eighteen thousand pounds of beef; 
 twenty-three thousand five hundred and sixty-seven pounds of 
 pork ; twelve thousand four hundred and five pounds of butter ; 
 four thousand one hundred and twenty-one gallons of milk ; 
 eight hundred and sixty-six pounds of cheese ; besides many 
 other agricultural products, not worthy of mention, in detail, 
 making the total valuation of fiirm products for 1875, $72,066, 
 while that of Barre, which is a distinctively agricultural town, 
 was $266,167. 
 
 From these figures it will be seen that Gardner, is not devoid 
 of farming interests, which employ the muscle and brain, of a 
 considerable portion of its population, who are able to supply 
 their own wants, with the labor of their hands, while they car- 
 ry something to the column of accumulation, from year to year. 
 Quite a number of these farms have for the last few years been 
 subjects of great improvements, in the laying of stone fences, 
 and in a high degree of fertilization, and cultivation. Such, 
 however, is the number of the populatioji, not engaged in agri- 
 cultural pursuits, that the products of the farms of Gardner, 
 are by no means suiEcient to supply the demand for them. 
 Hence, the town furnishes a good market for other towns, to 
 which, it is easy of access. 
 
 COOPERAGE. 
 
 While farming was the chief employment of the people, for 
 the first twenty years, there were a few persons who gave some 
 attention, to the making of tubs and barrels, which they did 
 without the aid of anything, like modern machinery, using only 
 the axe and shave. This, however, never assumed the dignity 
 of a distinct business, but served to fill out the time not needed 
 upon small farms, and furnished employment through the winter 
 season. 
 
 CHAIR MANUFACTURING. 
 
 Missionaries, among the Zulus, inform us that the first evi- 
 dence of the humanizing and elevating influence of relio-ion and 
 
16t HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 civilization, upon the natives, is seen in their demand for a 
 cotton shirt. In like manner, it may be said that the demand, 
 which a progressive, civil and religions culture, makes for the 
 use of chairs, is indicative of the fact that men have risen from 
 a lower to a hig-her condition of intelligence as well as of men- 
 tal and moral growth. In the opinion of the savants and lovers 
 of antiquarian knowledge, the first man sat, or lay, on the 
 ground, whenever he rested. He was of the earth, earthy. 
 But as time advanced, there came gradually to be invented seats 
 of different sorts, as the supply of a natural want, so that house- 
 hold furniture of a rude description dates its origin to remote 
 antiquity, when men first began to build houses to dwell in. 
 
 It is evident from the monuments of ancient Egypt and 
 Assyria, that the art of constructing elaborate furniture, for 
 dwellings, was carried to a very high degree. The throne of 
 the king, was noted for its costliness and beauty of ornamenta- 
 tion ; while the chair of the subject was not wanting in con- 
 venience and strength. It is said that the chairs in the houses 
 of these ancient kings, were made of most rare and costly 
 woods, beautifully carved, and inlaid with gold and ivory. The 
 backs and seats, of these chairs and settees, were covered with 
 elaborately Avrought tapestries. The " camp chair," of modern 
 days, was used in these ancient times, covered with the skins 
 of animals. Instead of our cane seat chairs, now so common 
 and so convenient, the ancients had a chair of similar construe^ 
 tion, made from leather, cut into strips and woven into net work, 
 which made a seat strong, easy and durable. 
 
 From the Assyrians, the Asiatic lonians and the Greeks de- 
 rived the art of furniture making, with all the convenience, 
 ornamentation and elegance of their household furniture. From 
 the Athenians, this art was transferred to the Romans, who still 
 further advanced it in beauty of carving and ornamentation. 
 It is said that, " the couches, upon which the old Romans re- 
 posed at table, were often inlaid with silver, gold, ivory, tor- 
 toise-shell and precious woods, with carved ivory and metal 
 feet ; and the furniture of a rich man's house represented, in it- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 165 
 
 self, an enoriiTous fortune." This fact is evident from the dis- 
 coveries made at Pompeii. Till the fifteenth century, in Eng- 
 lund the household furniture was by no means elegant, but 
 rather of the roughest type. The chairs and " settles " were 
 very strong and generally fixed to the floor or against the wall. 
 
 Subsequent to this time, furniture w^as made of much more 
 elegant finish, though not very abundant even in the houses of 
 the most wealthy. These articles of furniture, including chairs, 
 were constructed from the native woods, oak and chestnut, and 
 were devoid of taste. Not until the reign of William III, 
 1G97-1702, did these woods give place to mahogany, out of 
 which were made those sombi-e, inelegant designs, then so com- 
 mon in England, and which, came to this country with the ear- 
 liest settlers. Soon after this time, instead of the solid mahog- 
 any chairs and other articles of furniture, there came to be 
 used a mahogany veneer, which still prevails in England and 
 America. It is said that, since the establishment of the royal 
 manufactory of furniture, in Paris, by Louis XIV, France 
 stands at the head of all nations, in the costliness, beauty and 
 elegance of its furniture, and that it furnishes models for the 
 rest of the world. 
 
 For the first few years after the settlement of this country, 
 the furniture used by the colonists was imported. It is hardly 
 possible to ascertain very precisely when the manufacturing of 
 household furniture first began in this country. A writer in a 
 work entitled the " Great Industries of the United States," tells 
 us that " among the first pieces of furniture made in this coun- 
 try, were such economical devices as seats that could be turned 
 into tables, and tables hinged against the wall so that, when not 
 in use, they could be turned down, thus giving more room in 
 the apartment."* After a time there was made the straight, 
 high-backed, uncomfortable, solid mahogany or veneered chairs, 
 some of which remain, as curious relics, unto this day. After 
 this, rare woods, from the West Indies and South America, be- 
 gan to be used and were very popular. 
 
 *Great Industries of the Uuited States, p. 1099-1103. 
 
166 HISTORY OF GAllDJ^FR. 
 
 The common kinds of furniture were mncle of oak, pine, 
 maple and chestnut. These woods still continue to be largely 
 used. Within a few years, black walnut has come into use for 
 more costly furniture, and is at the present date, quite popular, 
 not only for chairs, but for chamber sets. There is in this 
 country, at the present time, an enormous manufacture of cane 
 seated chairs, whose frames are made from oak, maple and 
 walnut, whose market is in almost all parts of the globe. The 
 seats and backs of these chairs are made from a palmaceous 
 plant, called Calamus Rotang and Calamus Viminalis. From 
 Borneo to Bengal, this cane is gathered in great quantities, for 
 the Chinese, European and American markets. The process 
 by which it is prepared for the seats and backs of chairs, will 
 come under review farther on in this chapter. 
 
 Coming, as we do now, to speak of the manufacture of chairs 
 in this town, which is its chief business, and by which it has 
 obtained its fame and wealth, we shall iind, that like the great 
 streams flowing through a country, this great industry is trace- 
 able to a very small beginning. Sometime, about the year 1805, 
 Mr. James M. Comee began the making of Avood and flag seated 
 chairs, in the house, on Pearl Street, now owned by Mr. Webster 
 Gates. These chairs he made entirely by hand, with the aid 
 of a foot lathe. He employed several young men, as apprenti- 
 ces, among whom were Isaac Jaquith, Enoch Brick, Elijah Brick, 
 Elijah Putnam, Luke Fairbank, Joseph Jackson and Artemas 
 Brown. Some of these gentlemen afterwards entered into the 
 chair business for themselves. The chairs manufactured by Mr. 
 Comee were transported to Worcester, Boston and other places, 
 by teams of horses, and sold in small lots as opportunity offered. 
 This proved to be a profitable business for those times, so that 
 Mr. Comee was enabled to accumulate quite a handsome estate 
 from his industry and frugality. The machinery used in mak- 
 ing chairs, at that time, was so simple, and the tools so few, 
 that there was an inducement for others to enter the business 
 for themselves. Consequently one shop after another was es- 
 tablished, until they have reached the number of twelve in the 
 town, of which a detailed account will now be presented. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 167 
 
 During the latter part of Mr. Comee's life, Mr. Ezra Baker, 
 then living upon the west side of Crystal Lake, constructed a 
 small dam, near the house of Mr. G. W. Bickford, on Knee- 
 land Brook, for the purpose of securing sufficient water power 
 to carr}'^ a turning lathe. Mr. Baker bought timber of his 
 neighbors, partly prepared, by being sawed into suitable length 
 and rounded somewhat upon the corners, for turning in this 
 lathe driven by water power, it being then thought impossiI)le 
 to turn a perfectly square stick. Subsequently, Mr. Baker, 
 thinking he might as well prepai'e his own lumber, for turn- 
 ing, introduced a small circular saw, which was also driven by 
 water power. The stock thus turned, by Mr. Baker, was sold 
 to Mr. Comee, and in this way greatly facilitated the manufac- 
 ture of the chairs made and sold by him. 
 
 Sometime, about 1827, Deacon Asa Perley constructed the 
 shop now standing near the house of Deacon Samuel Clark, 
 where he manufactured chair stock upon a scale so much more 
 extensive than did Mr. Baker, as to make it unprofitable for 
 the latter to continue the business as formerly. During these 
 years, Mr. Elijah Brick built, for himself, a shop about three- 
 fourths of a mile north of the common, where, for several 
 years, he employed a number of men in chair making. There 
 was also a shop built and conducted by Mr. Walter Hey wood, 
 now of Fitchbnrg, upon the site where stands the house of 
 Asher W. Shattuck. Mr. Hey wood employed, in his chair 
 business, from fifteen to twenty hands. This shop was burned 
 in 1834, and was never rebuilt. 
 
 Sometime, previous to the erection of these two shops, first 
 named, Mr. Merrick Wallace began the turning of chair stock, 
 upon a somewhat extensive scale, upon the site now occupied 
 by the shops of Heywood Bros. & Co., having purchased a 
 water privilege of Deacon Nnah Fairbanks, who had already 
 deepened the channel leading from Crystal Lake, for the pur- 
 pose of obtaining a better supply of water, for his grist mill, 
 then standing upon the site now occupied by the chair shop of 
 L. H. Sawin & Co. The shop erected by Mr. Wallace, for this 
 
168 HISTOBY OF GARDNER. 
 
 purpose, was about forty feet in length by twenty -five feet in 
 width. With the increased facilities, thus obtained, Mr. Wal- 
 lace was able to furnish a partial supply of turned stock, for 
 the several shops then in the business of chair making, in this 
 town. 
 
 There was also, about the same time, a shop erected by Mr. 
 Elijah Putnam, upon the site now occupied by the house of 
 Mr. Charles Scolla}'. Here Mr. Putnam employed horse power 
 for a while, in preparing stock for his chairs, till subsequently 
 he purchased the water privilege now owned by J. A. & I. J. 
 Dunn, to which place he moved his shop, which now forms a 
 part of the chair shop of the above-named firm. About the 
 year 1830, a company composed of Messrs. Levi Heywood, 
 Benjamin F. Heywood, Walter Heywood and William Hey- 
 wood, under the firm name of B. F. Heywood & Co., bought 
 out Mr. Merrick Wallace and erected a larger shop, where they 
 carried on the manufacture of chairs till 1837, when Mr. Levi 
 Heywood bought out his brothers, and continued the business 
 alone till 1842, when he formed a partnership with Mr. Moses 
 Wood. The two continued the business together till 1847. Mr. 
 Wood then retired and a new company was formed, called Levi 
 Heywood & Co., which continued from 1847 to 1851, when the 
 Heywood Chair Manufacturing Company, was formed, which 
 was a joint stock company, in which, some of those employed 
 in the shop, held shares. 
 
 This arrangement continued till 1861, when the shops, owned 
 by the company, were burned. In 1862 a new company was 
 formed consisting of Messrs. Levi Heywood, Seth Heywood, 
 Charles Heywood and Henry C. Hill, called Heywood Brothers 
 & Co. This company continued till January 1st, 1868, at which 
 time, Messrs. Charles Heywood and Henry C. Hill retired, and 
 Messrs. Henry Heywood, George Heywood — sons of Seth Hey- 
 wood — and Alvin M. Greenwood — son-in-law of Levi Hey- 
 wood — and subsequently Amos Morrill, entered the firm, con- 
 tinuing the old firm name, which is still known as Heywood 
 Brothers & Co. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER, 169 
 
 In 187{). Mr. Charles Heywoocl, re-entered this firm of which 
 he is now u member. 
 
 Mr. Jonas Brick, brother of Elijah Brick, began the*manu- 
 facture of chairs upon the site, now occupied by the lumber 
 mill of Mr. Marcus Wright, in South Gardner. The date at 
 which the chair business was commenced, in this place, cannot 
 be definitely recalled. About the same time, Messrs. Stephen 
 Taylor, George Whitney, Ephraim Wright and Gen. Moses 
 Wood, were engaged, individually, in the manufjicture of chairs, 
 at the South Village. 
 
 The chair shop, now owned and conducted by Mr. Sylvester 
 K. Pierce, stands upon the site formerly occupied by Mr. 
 Stephen Tajdor, Avho purchased an old potash shop, standing 
 upon the premises, which he enlarged and supplied with a 
 wheel. He afterward sold his business to Mr. Pierce, who had 
 been employed, for several years previously, l)y Mr. Taylor, as 
 one of the workmen, in his shop. Mr. Pierce, since purchas- 
 ing the above named premises, has erected new and commodi- 
 ous shops, as his constantly increasing business, has from time 
 to time, demanded, using both water and steam power. 
 
 The shop where now Messrs. Wright & Read are employed, 
 in the manufacture of chairs, stands upon the site where for- 
 merly stood a wool carding mill, which was used for that pur- 
 pose until sometime, between 18.30 and 1840, Avhen a company 
 was formed for the manufacture of pine furniture, particularly 
 washsfands, known b}^ the firm name of Goodspeed & Baker. 
 This furniture w^as extensively sold in California. Afterwards 
 Messrs. Greenwood & Wright bought out this company, and 
 built a large shop, where they carried on the chair business for 
 several years. Afterwards a new company was formed, called 
 the South Gardner Manufacturing Company, of which Messrs. 
 Greenwood & Wright were members. This company was sub- 
 sequently dissolved, Messrs. Greenwood & Wright purchasing 
 the property. They afterwards dissolved partnership, Mr. 
 Wright retaining the business, having admitted as partners, 
 Messrs. John M. Moore and Charles F. Read. These gentle- 
 
 22 
 
170 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 men continued the l)usiness under the firm nume of Wright, 
 Moore & Co., till the fall of 1877, when Mr. Moore retired. 
 The firm name was then changed to Wright & Read, by whom 
 the business is now conducted. The shops of Wright, Moore 
 & Co., were burned and rebuilt in May, 1<S66. 
 
 The site now occupied by C. S. Greenwood's Sons, was 
 originally owned by Mi'. Alfred Bickford, who, having learned 
 the trade of turning chair stock, built a shop upon these grounds 
 for that purpose, introducing a circuhir saw and other appliances, 
 for facilitating his business, which he continued for several 
 years, until he sold out to Messrs. C. S. Greenwood and David 
 Wright, who, for a number of years, continued the manufac- 
 ture of chairs, having also purchased, as will be seen above, 
 the shops then standing upon the site now owned by Messrs. 
 Wright & Read. When Messrs. Greenwood & W^right dis- 
 solved partnership, Mr. C. S. Greenwood retained this shop, 
 where he continued to manufacture chairs till his death in 1873, 
 under the firm name of C. S. Greenwood. He was immediate- 
 ly succeeded by his sons, Charles H. Greenwood and Frederick 
 M. Greenwood, who have since continued the business, under 
 the title of C. S. Greenwood's Sons. During the time Mr. C. 
 S. Greenwood occupied these premises, he enlarged the shops, 
 by adding to them, the first meeting-house built by the Evan- 
 gelical Society, which was discarded, when this society entered 
 their new church, built in 1856. Besides this, other enlarge- 
 ments and improvements were, from time to time made, as his 
 increasing business demanded. 
 
 The shop now owned and occupied b}'' S. Bent & Brothers, 
 stands upon the premises originally used by John Merriam, for 
 a clothins mill. There was afterwards a shop for turning chair 
 stock, upon the same site. Mr. Merriam subsequently sold out 
 to Mr. Sullivan Sawin, who used the shop for the same purpose, 
 and was afterwards succeeded by his son, John Sawin, who 
 sold the property to S. Bent & Brothers, who have since con- 
 ducted the business of chair making. The partners in this firm 
 are Messrs. Samuel, Charles O. and Roderic L. Bent. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 171 
 
 Mr. Thomas Greenwood carries on the chair business, estab- 
 lished by his father, Mr. Walter Greenwood. He is engaged 
 chiefly in the manufacture of high backed rocking chairs, and 
 makes use of water power only. 
 
 The Travers mill was originally a grist and saw mill, built by 
 Capt. William Bickford. It was afterwards sold to Mr. Elijah 
 Travers, who used it for the same purpose, for a number of 
 years. He was a carpenter, and house builder by trade. His 
 two sons, Messrs. E. C. and O. A. Travers coming in posses- 
 sion of the property, here established the business of chair 
 making. 
 
 Messrs. Conant, Ball & Co., own the shop, which was built 
 by Messrs. Aaron R. Jackson and Aaron L. Greenwood, who 
 originally liegan the business of chair making, which subse- 
 quently passed to their successors, A. White & Co. This firm 
 was succeeded b}- Messrs. Conant Brothers & Co., who con- 
 ducted the business successfully for several years, when the 
 present firm name of Conant, Ball & Co., was taken. The gen- 
 tlemen now comprising this firm are Messrs. John R. Conant, 
 Carlos E. Ball and Charles W. Conant. This shop is on the 
 road from South Gardner to Templeton, and is run by both 
 water and steam power. 
 
 A. & H. C. Knowlton. The shop of these brothers, was 
 erected, upon its present site, by Mr. Abner White, who having 
 bought the old Coolidge house, which formerly stood in the 
 northwest part of the town, moved it down to its present loca- 
 tion, where it has since been enlarged. It was for sometime, 
 occupied by Messrs. White & Derby, then ])y Knowlton & 
 Derby, when Mr. Derby retiring, it passed into the hands of 
 the above named gentlemen, who have since carried on the busi- 
 ness of chair making, employing steam and water power. 
 
 E. Wright & Co. Mr. Abner White built the shop now oc- 
 cupied by this firm. He afterward sold it to Mr. Ephraim 
 Wright, who continued the business of chair making till his 
 death, about twelve years since. He was immediately suc- 
 ceeded by his sons, William W. and Edwin L. Wright, who 
 
172 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 continue the business under the iirra nnme of E. Wright &. 
 Co. A portion of the shop of this Hrm, was originally a two- 
 story house, which stood upon the Green place, and was moved 
 to its present position, by Mr. Abner White. 
 
 Philander Derby's shop. About the year 1834 Mr. Benjamin 
 F. Ileywood built the dam, Avhere now Mr. Derby's shop stands. 
 Here he erected a saw mill, connecting with it other machinery 
 for the manufacture of lumber and chairs. After a time, he sold 
 his interest to Mr. Martin Dunster, who occupied the shop for 
 the manufacture of barrel covers, boxes and other articles of 
 Avooden Avare. In 1844 the shop Avas burned. The privilege 
 was then bought by some parties Avho organized under the tirm 
 name of Edgell, Bush & Co. This tirm built a new shop which 
 they used, for the manufacture of lumber, boxes and chairs. 
 Subsequently it was sold to Messrs. Nichols & Baker, Avho used it 
 for a grist mill, flour and grain store. In 1863 Messrs. Derby, 
 Knowlton & Co., bouo;ht the buildino- making large additions, 
 and occupied it as a chair shop till 1868, Avhen Mr. Derby 
 bought out the others, and has conducted the business alone, 
 till the present date. 
 
 The shop now OAvned by Messrs. J. A. & I. J. Dunn, AA'as 
 originally l)uilt by Mr. Elijah Putnam, who having bought the 
 AA'ater privilege of Mr. William Lynde, built a dam, and moved 
 upon the site his old shop Avhich, as already noticed, stood near 
 the house of Mr. Charles Scollay. He afterward sokl the prop- 
 erty to Collester, Kugg & Co. This company consisted of 
 Messrs. Thorley Collester, Benjamin Rugg, Ruel Comee, Maro 
 Collester and Edward Stevens. Some of the latter gentlemen 
 retiring, Messrs. Franklin and George Eaton, became members 
 of the company. Mr. Thorley Collester died in 1862, when 
 Messrs. John A. Dunn and Nathaniel Holmes succeeded him, 
 under the firm name of Eaton, Holmes & Dunn. Mr. Holmes 
 retired in 1865, leaving Messrs. Eaton and Dunn partners in 
 the business. This partnership continued till 1875, when Mr. 
 Eaton sold his interest to Mr. Isaac J. Dunn, since Avhich time 
 the firm name has been J. A. & I. J. Dunn. This shop has 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 173 
 
 been greatly enlarged from its original dimensions, and a pow- 
 erful engine added to the facilities for driving the machinery. 
 
 The site where now stands the shop of L. H. Sawin & Co., 
 was originally occupied by Deacon Noah Fairbanks, for a grist 
 mill. Mr. Fairbanks began business at this place about the 
 year 1^00, and remained here for thirty years, using the mill 
 for the al)ove purpose ; he afterward sold to Mr. Ezra Baker, 
 Avho enlarged the building, and added the business of manufac- 
 turing chair stock. Mr. Baker sold to Mr. Elijah Putnam, who 
 began the work of chair making, but in 1839 the shop was 
 burned. Subsequently a new building was erected, which was 
 purchased in 1851 by Mr. L. H. Sawin, who having enlarged 
 the same, carried on the chair business alone till 1861, when 
 he admitted as partner Mr. Mason Osgood, who continued in 
 the business under the firm name of Sawin & Osgood till 1869, 
 when Mr. Osgood retired. After Mr. Osgood's retirement, 
 Mr. Edward H. Sawin, son, and Mr. Reuben H. Twichell, 
 son-in-law of Mr. L. H. Sawin, entered the firm, which has 
 since been known, as the firm of L. H. Sawin & Co. This com- 
 pany use both Avater and steam power. 
 
 Having given as accurately as we are able to obtain it, a brief 
 history of all the chair firms in town, from their inception, we 
 present in the following tabular form, a statistical statement of 
 the average amount of business done, bj' each firm, for the last 
 ten years, the number of hands employed, number of chairs 
 made annually, average value per chair at the shop, amount of 
 capital invested and amount of horse power used. 
 
174 
 
 HISTORY OF GATtBNER. 
 
 Names of Fikms. 
 
 - z -i 
 
 C C p 
 
 d < 
 
 if. J '~ 
 
 — 9' 
 C _ 
 
 Steam. Water. 
 
 *Heywoo(i Brothers & Co., 
 
 Philander Derby, 
 
 S. K. Pierce, 
 
 J. A. & I. J. Dunn, 
 
 A. & 11. C. Knowiton, 
 
 Conant, Ball & Co., 
 
 C. S. Greenwood's Sons,... 
 
 E. Wright & Co., 
 
 S. Bent & Bros., 
 
 L. II. Sawin & Co., ■ 
 
 Wrio-ht & Head, , 
 
 Thos. Greenwood, 
 
 .«!700,000 4.50.000 
 
 .$1.25 
 
 $500,000 
 
 467 
 
 125 
 
 1.50,000 
 
 150,000 
 
 1.00 
 
 50,000 
 
 65 
 
 70 
 
 135,000 
 
 135,000 
 
 1.00 
 
 41,000 
 
 75 
 
 50 
 
 103,760 
 
 100.738 
 
 1.03 
 
 30,000 
 
 60 
 
 100 
 
 59,438 
 
 49,532 
 
 1.20 
 
 12,000 
 
 20 
 
 15 
 
 58,280 
 
 31,000 
 
 1.88 
 
 40,000 
 
 35 
 
 25 
 
 50,000 
 
 50,000 
 
 1.00 
 
 35,000 
 
 30 
 
 
 50,400 
 
 70,000 
 
 72 
 
 25,000 
 
 20 
 
 15 
 
 50,250 
 
 75,000 
 
 67 
 
 30,000 
 
 20 
 
 
 50,000 
 
 40,000 
 
 1.25 
 
 19,400 
 
 35 
 
 35 
 
 45.000 
 
 52,325 
 
 86 
 
 25,000 
 
 35 
 
 12 
 
 19,906 
 
 13,271 
 
 1.50 
 
 8,000 
 
 7 
 
 
 10 
 15 
 40 
 10 
 15 
 25 
 25 
 20 
 25 
 10 
 35 
 
 *JucIu(ling Cane. 
 
 It will lie seen from the above statistics, that the chair busi- 
 ness in this town, has grown to very large dimensions ; its 
 average annual amount for the last ten years being one million 
 four hundred and seventy-two thousand and thirty-four dollars ; 
 the capital required about a million of dollars, while the chairs 
 manufactured annually, number neaily two millions. 
 
 In justice to the enterprise of the above named gentlemen, it 
 should be stated that, in addition to their business interests here 
 in Gardner, several of them have opened houses in Boston, 
 Providence, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago and 
 San Francisco, where is carried on an extensive business, in- 
 volving a larffe amount of capital not named in the above 
 schedule. 
 
 For the information of those who have little, or no knowl- 
 edge of the manufacture of chairs, from actual observation, it 
 may be regarded as not amiss to give, in this place, some ac- 
 count of the different i)rocesses and machines employed in their 
 manufacture. For this purpose we select the shops of Hey- 
 wooci Bros. & Co., who make a variety of chairs peculiar to 
 themselves. 
 
 Entering the chair shops of these gentlemen and giving 
 ourselves up, with that docility of mind, needful to secure 
 
HISTOUY OF GARDNER. 175 
 
 the requisite iiifonniitioii, let us fuUow our frieudly guide 
 for a few liours, us he leads us from ste[) to step, in the process 
 of constructing a chair, which is of a pattern common, to all 
 these shops, called Grecian. We shall tind that the woods, of 
 different sorts, enter these shops, in two conditions. They are 
 sometimes brought in the log. If so, they are first taken into 
 the saw mill, where, with a large, rapidly revolving saw, they 
 are cut into planks of required dimensions. These planks are 
 immediately sawed by a cutting off saw, into pieces of deisred 
 length. These pieces are then taken, and marked out, with a 
 pencil, according to different patterns, laid upon them, and 
 are sawed into strips, for the different parts of a chair, after 
 which, they are carried to the dry-house, or " stuck up" in the 
 yards, t(j be seasoned for future use. A large portion, however, 
 of the materials for a chair, are now partially prepared at a saw 
 mill, near the place where the timber grows, in the several 
 states from which it is obtained. Prepared in this way, it 
 comes to the shops, of these manufacturers, in a rough state, 
 where it is subjected to various processes of preparation, need- 
 ful for a tinished chair. For instance, in the Grecian chair, 
 already named, we have, tirst, the posts, which come to the 
 shop sawed out, but left in a rough condition. These posts are 
 tirst planed, rounded and finished on the sides and edges, by 
 what is called a scraper. The backs and centers also come to 
 the shops sawed in convex shape on the back and concave on 
 the front sides. These are marked, I)v pencil, according to the 
 desired pattern, for the edges, then" jigged, "and rounded on the 
 top edge ; after this, the back and front sides are smoothed with 
 a scraper. The last process, is that of sanding. 
 
 The seats, also, come sawed in four pieces. These pieces 
 are all exactly fitted to each other, iu a machine for that pur- 
 pose, so that all similar pieces are of precisely the same dimen- 
 sions. They are then glued and driven together with dowels, 
 after which, they are planed and rounded, then scraped, sanded 
 and bored, ready for receiving the cane, at the hands of the 
 seaters. The posts are mortised, preparatory to receiving 
 
170 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 the backs and centres, which are themselves prepared with 
 tenons for insertion, in the mortises, into which they are driven 
 with glue, after which process, they are held in clamps till dry. 
 'The front posts and rounds of the chair, we are now describing, 
 are sawed from the log into square pieces, of the required length 
 and size. These are then put into a gauge lathe of the Whit- 
 ney pattern, capable, with its variety of knives, of producing 
 any desired shape. The stretchers are then inserted in the 
 posts, bored for that purpose, their ends having been fitted in a 
 tenoning machine. The chair is then said to be " finished in 
 the wood." 
 
 Having now observed the various processes, through which 
 the different parts of this chair have passed, let us recall the 
 variety of machines which have been used, having in mind, 
 at the same time, the foot lathe and tools of a primitive chair 
 shop. 
 
 We have first, the large circular saw, passing through a log 
 with a rapidity fitted to astonish the minds of our fathers, w^ith 
 their grunting, spasmodic, upright saw. Then follows the 
 Whitney lathe, the belt saw, the boring, tenoning, planing, 
 ronnding, scraping, mortising machines, the planing machine, 
 adapted to the back of the chair, small jig saw, sandpaper 
 wheel, jointing saw and boring machine, for fitting frames, 
 rounding machine, for rounding and surface planer, for smooth- 
 ing frames, and a machine for rounding inside edge of frames, 
 to prevent them fiom cutting the strands of cane, after the chair 
 has been seated. We shall find that seventeen diflerent ma- 
 chines have been employed, in fitting the wood, of which the 
 chair is composed, aside from the process of caning. 
 
 We have been hitherto, speaking of the different sorts of 
 machines used in making a Grecian chair, manufactured by all 
 the chair makers, in order to show the great advance made in 
 chair making, since the business first began. 
 
 Leaving now this chair, let us walk about one of these shops 
 and examine other machines used for the manufacture of differ- 
 ent patterns of chairs. Our attention will be arrested by the 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 177 
 
 various kinds of bending machines, and the variety of the princi- 
 ple employed in the bending process. We have, for instance, 
 a machine of immense power, capable of bending, by one oper- 
 ation, three pieces of timber, each two and one-fourth by 
 one and seven-eighths inches, and fifty-seven inches in length. 
 These sticks, having first been dried, are placed in a steam box, 
 where they are allowed to remain, from one to three hours, 
 after which, they are taken out and placed in a strap, with cast 
 iron ends, formed in a box like shape, for receiving the ends of 
 the pieces and holding them secure. They are then placed in 
 position, in the bending machine, in front of which, is a block of 
 wood, Avhose convex side is of the shape required to form the 
 bow of the chair, of which it is to be a part. Thus placed, the 
 machine is put in motion, carrying the block rapidly back 
 against the middle of these pieces, by a tremendous pressure, 
 while at the same time, their ends are brought around against 
 the front part of the block, where they are confined by clasps. 
 These pieces are then carried to the dry house, from which, 
 after a few days, they are ready to be removed. They are then 
 sawed lengthwise, into two pieces each, 'after which, they are 
 again bent, in two other directions, before being made into a 
 chair. It requires three men to work the machine. 
 
 Aside from this machine, marvellous for its power, we shall 
 find a machine for bending the rails of a chair, one piece, when 
 bent, forming the whole rail ; another for bending the backs of 
 chairs ; another for bending the arms of rocking chairs, in the 
 form of a scroll, till the diflferent sorts of bent work, amount in 
 all to about one hundred. 
 
 The wood when bent, is subjected to the process of drying, 
 in a room whose temperature ranges from one hundred and fifty 
 to one hundred and eighty degrees, where it remains from one 
 to three weeks, after which, it is placed upon cars, in the build- 
 ing, and run to the elevator, in the main shop, upon which 
 it is, like all other prepared stock, carried to the upper story 
 where, in an assorted condition, it is packed away, in different 
 23 
 
178 HISTORY OF GAEDNFR. 
 
 stalls, ready for the future use of the workmeu, when calletl 
 upon " to iill an order." 
 
 Continuing our observations upon different machines, we 
 shall iind those, which are still more curious and complicated. 
 Here in a certain room, is a dovetailing machine, of strange de- 
 vice, fitted to do its work rapidly and well ; again a cutting 
 and a molding machine, making five thousand revolutions in a 
 minute, with its several knives revolving so rapidly as not to 
 be seen, making its beautiful beads, bevels, and grooves, upon 
 the wood that comes in contact with it ; also a machine for 
 rounding the bottoms of wood seat chairs, revolving with such 
 rapidity and power, that its strong knives hurl their chips with 
 tremendous force and noise against the plaidvs, with which it is 
 surrounded, for the safety of the workmen ; besides many other 
 kinds of machinery, which we cannot now mention in detail. 
 
 There is one machine, however, deserving of special mention, 
 as showing at present, the highest advancement, in the rapid 
 construction of cane seated chairs. The name of this machine 
 is the Automatic Channeling Machine, and is the invention of 
 Mr. G. A. Watkins, whose genius, as an inventor, will engage 
 our attention, in a succeeding chapter of this work. 
 
 The object of this machine, is to channel the seat frame of a 
 chair, for the reception of the woven seat. It will be seen, that, 
 while a machine might be invented for channeling one par- 
 ticular kind of frame, provided that frame were a complete 
 circle, the difficulty must be greatly enhanced, wdien the inven- 
 tor should seek to adapt his machine, to the work of channeling 
 frames of different sizes and of irregular patterns. After long 
 and patient study, this obstacle, was finally overcome, by Mr. 
 Watkins, so that now, we have a machine that is automatic, and 
 capable of doing its work, with entire success, upon any kind 
 of seat, that may be desired. 
 
 In the first place the frame, to be channeled, is placed upon 
 a metallic form, of the exact shape of the wood seat frame, and 
 secured by a thumb screw. The periphery of this metallic 
 form is grooved transversely, for gearing to a cog-wheel, revolv- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 179 
 
 ing horizontally upon u perpendicular spindle of the machine. 
 The under side of this form has a beveled groove, for the pur- 
 pose of adapting it, to the centre pin upon the table. The 
 crown of this pin is about one-fourth of an inch in thickness, 
 and has a greater diameter than the pin itself. By the head of 
 this pin so adjusted, that it revolves within the beveled gro(jve 
 of the metallic form, for the prevention of friction, the form, 
 is held firmly in its place, while performing its revolutions, 
 with the chair fi-ame fastened upon it. 
 
 In addition to this invention, for holding and revolving the 
 seat frame, there is a revolving bit, of such peculiar construc- 
 tion, that it not only channels the frame, but at the same time 
 throws the chips almost entirely out of the channel which it 
 makes, thus preventing clogging. There is, moreover, a com- 
 pound lever by which, with the motion of a cam, the bit is sunk 
 stil). deeper, in the wood, at the precise moment, the rapidly re- 
 volving frame completes one revolution, and begins another, 
 until four revolutions are completed, three of which are for 
 making the channel, while the fourth is for clearing it of any 
 remaining chips or dust. When these four revolutions are ac- 
 complished, the machine throws itself out of gear automatically, 
 its work being done. It requires only about one minute and a 
 third with this machine, to channel a frame for the reception of 
 the woven seat, and so perfect and reliable is it in the accom- 
 plishment of its work, that boys are able to operate it. 
 
 The distinguishing peculiarity of this machine is found, in 
 that arrangement, whereby the pin, that holds the revolving 
 form firmly in its position, is placed exactly under the bit, thus, 
 securing the identical sort of a channel, in each frame, since, if 
 this could not be done, the die, that presses the woven seat into 
 the channel, would crush the wood, and spoil the seat frame. 
 In other words the channel and the die, must be in every in- 
 stance of perfect identity in pattern. This essential feature is 
 secured by fixing the pin, holding the form, exactly under the 
 bit that makes the channel. 
 
180 HISTOEY OF GARDNER, 
 
 The frame, thus prepared, is passed on for the reception of 
 its woven seat. This seat is cut, by dies, into the shape required 
 by difierent kinds of frames, from a web woven in another part 
 of this shop, in the short space of two minutes. When this is 
 cut, it is dipped into a tank of water, made hot, by passing 
 steam through it. The object of wetting the cane, is to secure 
 its greater tension when dried, after being inserted, in the 
 frame. 
 
 To insert a woven seat in a frame, requires three different 
 processes. In the first place, one man fills the channel of the 
 frames, in part, with glue, which he does, by means of a metallic 
 nozzle, with a valve so contrived, that when this nozzle touches 
 the bottom of the channel, it causes this valve to open, and the 
 hot glue to pour out, through a hose connected with a copper 
 glue tank, suspended over the tank for hot water. When this 
 nozzle has been thus rapidly passed around in the channel, the 
 required amount of glue has been supplied. 
 
 This process, of gluing the channel, completed, the seat frame 
 is passed along to another workman, to receive its woven seat, 
 under the pressure of the Crimping Press. This is a simple 
 press, with a sliding table, guide pins and web guide. Upon 
 the follower or movable part of the press, is fastened a thin 
 piece of brass, shaped so as to correspond to and enter the 
 channel of the seat frame, when forced downward by the action 
 of a treadle. The woven seat is placed upon the seat frame, 
 in such a manner, as to allow it to extend three-quarters of an 
 inch over and beyond the groove, on all sides. The seat frame 
 is then placed upon pins, which spring from the surface of the 
 table, the web guide being swung down upon the frame, the 
 web of cane is placed within the guide, over the channel, and 
 the whole is slid under the press, the crimping ring forced on 
 to the web and into the bottom of the channel, the table slid out, 
 the seat guide swung back and the seat is then ready to be 
 passed to the next workman, for the reception of the spline, 
 which is pressed into the channel by a machine called the 
 Spline and Embossing Press. 
 
HISTORY OF GAIWNEIL 181 
 
 This is a double geared machine, of great strength, weighing 
 five thousand four hundred pounds, and capable of exerting 
 great power. The die, which it operates, does a five fold duty. 
 It is made of the best gun metal, of proper size and form, to 
 correspond to the seat frame, to be caned. It consists of a 
 sliding table, guide pins, type, hinge and main part, or spline 
 driver, and an outer and inner ring. The object of the table is 
 to receive the patent stamp, type and guide pins. All the other 
 parts are also attached to this, and slid under the jaws of the 
 press, when ready for operating. The inner ring rests on four 
 coiled springs, and when coming in contact with the web and 
 frame, yields back, into the main part of the die, doing the 
 double duty of holding the inner side of the spline, in its posi- 
 tion, and of preventing the die from shearing the cane, while 
 being forced home. 
 
 The outer ring, rests on springs, the same as the other, doing 
 the double duty of supporting the outer side of the spline, 
 while being forced in, and at the same time embossing the face 
 of the seat, all around the outer edge of the spline, thus mak- 
 ing a perfect joint and forming a beautiful bead. The main 
 part, to which all the other parts are attached, sends the spline 
 to the bottom of the channel, stretches the web, giving uniform 
 tension to each strand of cane, by causing it to turn three right 
 angles, one over the edge of the channel and two at the bottom 
 of the spline, sunk to the lower surface of the channel. To pre- 
 pare the machine to do its work, the spline is first placed within 
 the rings of the die, the seat frame is placed on guide pins, as 
 before, and the die folded down on the frame, then all are slid 
 under the jaAvs of the great press, whose power is now instantly 
 brought to bear, driving in the spline, stretching the web, em- 
 bossing the seat, stamping the dates of the dififerent patents, 
 in the wood on the under side of the seat frame, thus brinffiusf 
 cane, glue, spline and frame into one solid mass, and com- 
 pleting the operation. 
 
 The three processes now described, occupy only about forty 
 seconds of time. Allowing two minutes to weave a seat, one 
 
182 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 minute and one-third to channel the seat frame and forty seconds 
 to insert the woven seat, as above described, we have about 
 four minutes for completing a chair scat, after the seat frame 
 has been made. 
 
 Having completed our observations of the different kinds of 
 machinery used in the construction of chairs, we are not only 
 greatly impressed, with the fact of the wonderful advance, that 
 has been made, in complicated and intricate mechanical inven- 
 tions, but also wnth the rapidity with Avhich the work upon the 
 different parts of a chair is done. For instance, here is a ma- 
 chine for fitting the front part of the seat frame of a Grecian 
 chair, which is so constructed that, when this particular part of 
 the frame is placed upon a carriage, it is carried by the work- 
 man along past a circular saw, by which both ends of the piece 
 are cut off, at precisely the same angle ; this done, four revolving 
 bits, are by means of a treadle, brought up against the parts of 
 the piece thus sawed, by which four holes, are made for dowels. 
 This whole process of sawing and boring, occupies less than 
 four seconds of time. How difierent, from the old pi-ocess by 
 which Mr. Comee did his work with auger, saw and bit. Yet 
 this is only one instance in many, of the rapidity with which 
 machinery is doing the work of making chairs in all these shops. 
 
 Aside from constructing a chair in the shop, there is another 
 part of the Avork, that of seating or caning the bottoms and 
 backs, which is done by women and children, in the homes of 
 the citizens of this and oUier towns,. while the firm of Heywood 
 Brothers & Co., as some others, employ the hil)or of reform 
 schools in this and other states. 
 
 The seats, backs and cane, with which to fill these, are car- 
 ried out to difierent places, by an agent of the company, whose 
 duty it is to deliver the materials and keep an accurate account 
 of what each one receives. When seated, these frames and 
 backs are gathered up and returned to the shop, where they are 
 packed away ready for future use. Thus employment is fur- 
 nished to a large number of our population, which is quite re- 
 munerative. When the required work has been done to the 
 
fflSTOHY OF GARDNER. 183 
 
 chnirs in the shop devoted to their construetion, they are then 
 loaded upon a hand-car, which is drawn up by the elevator 
 to the dift'erent rooms. This car, having received its freight, 
 is lowered and run out of the shop, and across the street to the 
 extensive paint shop, where the chairs are painted and var- 
 nished ; after which they are " knocked down" and placed in 
 boxes, ready for shipping to their destination. 
 
 If the chairs are to be shipped " in the wood," as it is called, 
 they are knocked down without being painted, and packed in 
 such an orderly manner in boxes, that when they have reached 
 the customer, they may, without difficulty, be " set up" again, 
 ready for painting and varnishing at the paint shop of the dis- 
 tant purchaser. 
 
 Since the construction of the Boston, Barre and Gardner 
 Railroad, the cars, of this company, can be placed for lading at 
 the platform of this paint shop and loaded with the utmost con- 
 venience, furnishing a most striking contrast, to the old method 
 of transporting chairs to Boston and other places, by horse teams, 
 with enormous wagons. 
 
 An important l)ranch of the business of this firm, is its cane 
 department, introduced within a few years. The cane is im- 
 ported by an agent of the company residing in New York, 
 directly from Singapore. Having been brought, upon the cars, 
 directly to the shops of the company, it passes through several 
 difierent processes of preparation, before it is fitted for the use 
 of seating chairs. Coming in bundles, it is first unbound, 
 sorted and then straightened upon a wheel attached to an up- 
 right piece of wood, over which, it is passed. The joints 
 of the cane are then scraped, by passing it, through a ma- 
 chine, designed expressly for that purpose. When this has 
 been done, the cane is placed in long, square, revolving boxes, 
 filled with water in which it is allowed to remain for half an 
 hour or more. It is then ready for splitting. 
 
 This process is accomplished by passing the cane rod through 
 a machine, its knives so constructed, that they split the stock 
 into from five to nine strands. When thus split, the pith of 
 
184 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 the caue passes on through a central aperture, surrounded by 
 the knives, while the strands are thrown off, and removed by a 
 boy in attendance. After this the strands are gauged and 
 shaved in another machine. They are then counted out into 
 bunches of a thousand each, while these bunches are tied up in 
 bundles of ten, and placed in the bleaching room, where b}^ the 
 action of burning brimstone they are whitened for their jjroper 
 place in the cane seat or cane back chair. 
 
 Much of this cane, is used by the Hey wood Brothers & Co., 
 while almost all the chair shops, in this region receive their sup- 
 ply of cane from this source. The Heywood Brothers & Co. 
 are also engaged in the manufacture of a great variety of rattan 
 chairs of tasteful and beautiful construction. The frames of 
 these chairs are made at the wood shop, of light and delicate 
 patterns. They are then taken, to the upper room of the large 
 paint shop, where men, women and boys are engaged in 
 clothing them, in the beautiful garb, with which they are 
 adorned. Grass work of delicate finish, is also made in this 
 room, and many fancy articles of household furnishing. This 
 branch of industry is a necessary out-ofrowth of the cane l)usi- 
 ness already described, the object of it, being, in part to work 
 up and utilize some portions of the cane not required in cane 
 seated chairs. 
 
 There is also another shop of this company, where the weav- 
 ing of the web for the woven seat chair is done. Also a 
 machine shop in which most of the machinery used in the other 
 shops is made. There is also a varnish shop for the manufac- 
 ture of the varnish used in painting the chairs of the company. 
 There are in all, connected with the business of this company, 
 twenty-two buildings scattered over about nine acres of land 
 and actually covering an aggregate area of four and one-half 
 acres. 
 
 Contrasted with its small beginning, in the shop of Mr. 
 James M. Comee, the chair business, in thistown, has confess- 
 edly made an enormous advance, out-weighing the aggregate 
 of all other kinds of business done among us, and is the result 
 
HISTORY OF GARDj^ER. 185 
 
 of the industry, enterprise and frugality of men, who, begin- 
 ning with little or no pecuniary means, have gone on steadily 
 from year to year, till they have reached their present position 
 of competence and atHuence, and in some instances, cosmopoli- 
 tan reputation. 
 
 FOUNDRY. 
 
 Closely allied to the chair business, of the town, and almost 
 a necessity to its convenience, is the foundry of the Hey wood 
 Foundry Company. 
 
 This firm beijan business December 1st, 1876. Their build- 
 ing, is of brick, the main part being two stories in height, with 
 a molding room extending from the main part, whose dimen- 
 sions are eighty by fifty feet, the main building being fifty by 
 fifty feet. The business done here, is making castings for all 
 machines, including railroad castings. The company are also 
 engaged in the manufacture of cooking stoves, of a popular pat- 
 tern. The furnace has a capacity for melting two tons of iron 
 per day, and consumes about eight hundred pounds of coal 
 daily, while four hundred pounds are consumed in running the 
 engine of thirty-five horse power, and in the core works. This 
 foundry is remarkable for the convenience of its location, being 
 situated near the track of the Boston, Barre and Gardner Rail- 
 road, from which there are extended two tracks, one running 
 upon the upper side of the foundry, for the purpose of unload- 
 ing the stock used in the works easily, into the building, on a 
 level with the cars, and the other track, about twelve feet lower, 
 upon the opposite side of the building, for the cars upon which 
 are shipped the manufactured goods. 
 
 In the upper story of the main building, is the machine shop 
 of Messrs. McKnight & Carter, whose room has a capacity of 
 fifty by twenty feet. Upon the opposite side, is a carpenter's 
 shop and the office of the company. Capital required in this 
 business is $15,000. The amount of business done annually is 
 $30,000. 
 
 24 
 
18() HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 TUBS AND PAILS. 
 
 There is but one luanuiMetoiy oF this sort in the town, (hat of 
 A. Bancroft & Co., situated in the southwesterly part of the 
 town. This business was coniineuced in 183(5, by Mr. Amasa 
 Bancroft. The present tirni consists of Messrs. Amasa Ban- 
 croft and his son-in-law John C. Bryant, whose partnership 
 was formed in 18()f). This (irm manufactures annually, ten 
 thousand nests of tubs, of, from two to eig'ht tubs, to the nest, 
 vidued at $20,000. The number of pails manufactured, an- 
 nually, is thirty thousand, valued at $5,000, making the total 
 amount of business per annum $25,000. The number of oper- 
 atives employed by this lirm, is eighteen. There is also con- 
 nected with the business of this lirm, a saw mill, in which is 
 prepared a portion of the stock, used in the manufacture of 
 tubs and pails. This company deal in lumber prepared by 
 themselves, aside from sawing for others. 
 
 MANUFACTURE OF LUMBER. 
 
 There are two mills, doing business of this sort, in town, 
 that of Mr. Marcus Wright, in South Gardner, who employs 
 fifteen operatives and whose business is $18,000, annually, wi{h 
 a required capital of $12,000, and a water power of seventy-five 
 horses ; and that of Dr. David Parker, in the westerly jiart of 
 the town, who employs eight operatives. The capital required 
 is $8000. The amount of business done being $12,000 annually. 
 A water power of fifty horses alone, is used. 
 
 MANUFACTORY OF DOLL TOY CARRIAGES, CHAMBER 
 
 SETS, ETC. 
 
 The only firm of this kind, in town, is that of Messrs. Rams- 
 dell & Goodale, Avho do a business, annually, amounting to 
 $18,000, employing twenty operatives. The capital required 
 is $12,000. Water power, only, is used by this firm. 
 
IimTOllY OF GAJWNEIL 187 
 
 MANLJ'ACTURE OF JvAVK TROUGHS, GTTTTKRS AS\) 
 CONJJCC'IOKS. 
 
 This business is conducted by Messi-s. C. O. & K. A. Stone 
 Brothers, their business amounts to about $3,fj00 a year, (jap- 
 ital invested, $4000. 
 
 SJ'RING VAA) MAXUFACTL'RKR. 
 
 Mr. George J^. Rawson is tiie only manufactui'er of" this artichi 
 in the town, at the present time. 
 
 FURNITURE DEALERS AN J; UNDERTAKERS. 
 
 There are t\v'(; furniture rooms in this town, tliat of Mi-. S. 
 K. J^i( ice in South Gardner and that of Mr. E. Alexander 
 at the Centre. Each of tljese gentlemen is also an undertaker. 
 
 manufacturf:r.s of tin ware. 
 
 Messrs. Jaqiiith & Richardson are largely engaged in this 
 business, in this town. This business was formei'ly con- 
 ducted in Templeton. Jn 1877, Mr. liichaidson, forming a 
 partnership with Mr. Jaquilh, of the above named towji, they 
 removed the large shop, formeily owned by Messrs. Smith and 
 Jaquith, of Templeton, to its present site, beside the track of 
 the Fitchburg Railroad Company, near their depot in Gardner, 
 where they afe now engaged, in an extensive business, consisting 
 of paper stock, metals, manufacture of tin ware, and are also 
 joljbcrs of wooden, glass and plated ware. The capital invested 
 is $16,000. '^I'he amount of business annually, $35,000. 
 
 HARDWARE DEALERS. 
 There are two hardware stores in this town, one of these, is 
 that owned by Mr. George F. Ellsworth, in South Gardner. 
 Mr. Ellsworth commenced business in this place, in 1851, in a 
 shop known as the old Newbury shop, then standing near the 
 house now occupied by Mr. Abram Sawin. At the commence- 
 ment of his business career, Mr. Ellsworth devoted himself 
 exclusively, to the manufacture of chair tools, bits, etc., making' 
 
188 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 the manufacture of bits, a specialty, for wliich, at that time and 
 ever since, there has been a steady and increasing demand all 
 over the country. After working at this business about three 
 years, Mr. Ellsworth began to add, to the goods of his own 
 manufacture, certain other classes, in the same line. His capi- 
 tal being somewhat limited, at that time, he was obliged to 
 govern himself accordingly, in his purchases. In the year 1854, 
 he brought from Boston, in a good sized leather valise, the first 
 invoice of goods, with which he commenced business, the value 
 of which amounted to sixty dollars, consisting of files, gouges, 
 bits, &c. This valise, on account of its unusuyl weight, served 
 as a matter of astonishment to the baggage smashers who, per- 
 haps, apprehensive that it might contain something of a dan- 
 gerous or explosive nature, lifted it very carefully, depositing 
 it in the basrsrage car. 
 
 The goods contained in this valise were immediately exposed, 
 by Mr. Ellsworth, for sale, and were all sold within a week, 
 when more were immediately ordered. Mr. Ellsworth continued 
 increasing his stock, as fast as his limited accommodations 
 would permit. In 1857 he erected a portion of the store which 
 he now occupies for stoves and tin ware, the size of which was 
 eighteen by twenty-four feet, supposing that this would be suf- 
 ficiently large, for both store and workshop. However, after 
 occupying these quarters for three years, he begaJi to feel that 
 the place was again too straight for him, thereupon he deter- 
 mined to enlarge his building by an addition of eighteen by 
 twenty-four feet, making it double its original size. While in 
 the process of constructing this addition, one of the leading 
 men, of an adjoining town, wondering at the temerity of Mr. 
 Ellsworth, and ignorant of the business capacity of Gardner, 
 inquired of him, if he thought there would be demand enough, 
 for his line of goods, in this town, to warrant his filling such a 
 store. It was, however, only three or four years before his 
 business had airain out-2:rown its accommodations, which were 
 once thought to be enough and to spare, so that, in 1868, Mr. 
 Ellsworth built the store he now occupies, the size of which 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 189 
 
 is sixty by forty feet, two stories high, with burn attached, 
 which is also fort}^ by sixty feet, nearly one-half of Avhich is 
 used for store room. Thus commencing business, with a stock 
 of goods, all of which could be contained in a medium sized 
 leather valise, Mr. Ellsworth has steadily increased the same 
 till, at the present time, his business equals, if not exceeds, 
 in variety and value, that of any similar store in Worcester 
 County. One department of this business, is hardware ; another 
 crockery, china, plated ware, chandeliers, brackets and table 
 lamps ; the third department contains a well manufactured stock 
 of stoves and tin ware. 
 
 The other store is that owned by Mr. Amasa Bancroft, 2d, 
 upon Chestnut Street, who keeps the usual variety of goods 
 found, in similar stores, and employs a number of workmen. 
 Mr. Bancroft has, for several years, been engaged in this busi- 
 ness, very successfully. 
 
 MANUFACTURE OF BRICK. 
 
 There are two brick manufactories at the present time, in this 
 town. One is that owned and operated by Messrs. ET. N. Dyer 
 & Son. The number of bricks made annually by this firm, is 
 six hundred thousand. The other party engaged in this busi- 
 ness, is Mr. Abijah Hinds, whose annual production of bricks, 
 is four hundred thousand, making the number of bricks manu- 
 factured yearly, one million. 
 
 GRIST MILL. 
 
 The parties engaged in this business are Messrs. Howe Broth- 
 ers. Their mill is situated in the southwesterly part of the 
 town and is the only one in town. They also have a flour and 
 grain store near the depots. Capital invested in their business, 
 is $11,500. Amount of business done annually is $35,000. 
 
 MARBLE WORKER. 
 
 Mr. Thomas J. Staflbrd is the only gentleman engaged in the 
 manufacture of monuments, head-stones and tablets in this town, 
 at the present time. 
 
190 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 WHEELWRIGHTS. 
 
 The following gentlemen are engaged in the wheelwright 
 business : Messrs. Henry M. Banister and E. Saunders. 
 
 BLACKSMITHS. 
 
 The town is well supplied with blacksmiths. The following 
 named gentlemen are engaged in this business : Messrs. Fran- 
 cis P. Learned, L. Sawin & Son, J. S. Cox, William W. Cas- 
 well and John Tighe. 
 
 HOUSE AND CARRIAGE PAINTERS. 
 
 The following gentlemen are engaged in house and carriage 
 painting : William H. Wilder, house painter ; E. H. Totting- 
 ham, carriage and sign painter; C. S. Knights, house painter; 
 William Barratt, house painter; J. G. Cashin, chair painter. 
 
 HARNESS MAKERS. 
 
 There are two harness shops in town, that of George E. 
 
 Godfrey, who is also a dealer in robes, trunks, etc., and that of 
 
 Roderic L. Bent, whose business is chiefly making and repairing 
 
 harnesses. 
 
 CARPENTERS. 
 
 The first carpenter, of any prominence, in this town, was 
 Joseph Bacon, whose skill evinces itself in the bill of lumber 
 which he prepared for the construction of the first meeting- 
 house, as will be seen by reference to the chapter on ecclesias- 
 tical history, in this work. At present there are two contractors 
 eno-ao-ed in this business in this town, Mr. B. F. Mason and 
 
 Mr. M. M. Favor. 
 
 MASONS. 
 
 Messrs. Harris & Coleman are the only masons in this town. 
 Mr. Harris carried on this business for a long time alone, until 
 within a few years, he has been associated with Mr. Coleman. 
 The faithfulness of Mr. Harris' work, is everywhere apparent 
 throughout the town. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER, 191 
 
 JEWELERS. 
 There are three jewelers in this town, Messrs. Henry L. 
 Graham, Henry E. Woodberry and J. F. Cook. 
 
 CIVIL ENGINEERS AND SURVEYORS OF LAND. 
 
 Mr. Aaron Greenwood has, for many years, been engaged as 
 a surveyor of hmd in this, and other towns. Mr. Charles J. 
 Day is employed as engineer, by the Boston, Barre and Gard- 
 ner Railroad Company. This gentleman has an office in this 
 town, and is the maker of the maps, which accompany this 
 
 work. 
 
 PHOTOGRAPHERS. 
 
 There are two photographic rooms in this town, that of Mr. 
 Warren P. Allen, established in 1865, and that of Mr. William 
 A. Cowee, established December 1st, 1874. Both of these 
 gentlemen have pleasant and attractive rooms and an encourag- 
 ing patronage. Mr. Allen does a large business in photograph- 
 ing chairs, for the different firms in town, while Mr. Cowee 
 makes a specialty of stereoscopic views. The negatives of the 
 views accompanying this work, were taken by Mr. Cowee. 
 
 ENGRAVER OF WOOD AND METALS. 
 
 Mr. Henry L. Murdock is a skillful engraver of wood and 
 metals. His art is well appreciated by his patrons, who are 
 numerous. 
 
 FLORICULTURE. 
 
 This branch of industry, was established, in 1874, by Mr. 
 Henry L. Murdock. His plant house now covers eleven hun- 
 dred and twenty feet, aside from a space of five hundred square 
 feet, used for germinating plants, in the spring. The arrange- 
 ments for conducting this business are very convenient, and 
 show much taste on the part of the proprietor. Mr. Murdock 
 cultivates a great variety of plants, for both the wholesale and 
 retail market. It is complimentary to the citizens of the town, 
 that such an industry is so well encouraged. 
 
192 HISTORY OF GAllDNER. 
 
 DEALERS IN COAL AND LUMBER. 
 
 The first ear load of eoal, for consumption in this town, was 
 introdiieed in 18(10, by Mr. Ezra Osgood and was retaikxl by 
 him at $12.50 per ton. There has been a gradual increase from 
 year to year in the consumption of coal, till at the present time, 
 the amount sold by Mr. Osgood alone, is four thousand tons 
 annually, at a valuation of between $30,000 and $35,000. Mr. 
 Osgood is also engaged in the sale of lumber, his business in 
 this department amounting to $5,000, annually. Mr. Chester B. 
 Kendall is also engaged in the same business. He sells annually, 
 fifteen hundred tons of coal and five hundred cords of wood. 
 Amount of business annually, $12,000. 
 
 DRY GOODS AND GROCERIES. 
 
 The first store, at the Centre of the town, was that kept by 
 Mr. Jonathan Prescott, as far back as 1793. This store stood 
 upon the site now occupied by the hay scales, in front of the 
 Central House. Subsequently, Mr. Prescott built the house 
 now owned by Mr. Francis Richardson, connected with which, 
 was a store and barn. This store was, afterwards, owned by 
 Messrs. B. F. Hey wood, Walter Hey wood and Gen. Moses 
 Wood. These gentlemen then built a store, on what is now 
 the corner of Elm and Pearl streets, near the curve in the stone 
 fence of Mr, Levi Heywood, just north of his house. This 
 store was afterwards moved to Spring Street, where it now 
 forms the Crystal Lake Hotel. Originally, there was a store, 
 at South Gardner, where stands the hotel, owned by Mr. Adams 
 Noyes. 
 
 The following parties are engaged in the business of dry 
 goods and groceries. Their names are here given, with the 
 amounts of capital invested, and business done annually: S. 
 W. A. Stevens & Son, dry goods and groceries, capital, $6,500 ; 
 amount of business, $30,000 ; William Whittemore & Son, 
 dry goods and groceries, capital $6,000, amount of business 
 $25,000 ; Milo Hartwell, flour, grain and groceries, capital 
 
s»^ 
 
HISTORY OF GABDNER. 193 
 
 $1,500, amount of business, $15,000; Gardner Sovereigns Co- 
 operative Association, groceries, capital, $1,800, business, $24,- 
 000; S. S. Lane, groceries, capital, $3,000; E. A. Lusk, gro- 
 ceries, capital, $600; William L. Shattuck, groceries, capital, 
 $1,200 ; Frank Conant, dry goods and groceries, capital, $5,000 ; 
 Thomas Glasheen, groceries, capital, $1,100; John Byron, gro- 
 ceries, capital, $1,000. 
 
 MEAT MARKETS. 
 
 The town is supplied at the present time, with three meat 
 markets. One kept by Mr. C. W. Morse, who h;is been in the 
 business, in this town, twenty-nine years; another kept by Mr. 
 Alvin Matthews, and a third at South Gardner, kept by Roder- 
 ic P. Adams. 
 
 DRY GOODS. 
 
 Stratton Brothers, diy goods, millinery, dressmaking and 
 carpets, capital invested, $15,000, business, $50,000; William 
 J. Drenning, dry goods, capital invested, $2,500. 
 
 MILLINERY. 
 
 The following are the millinery establishments in this town : 
 Mrs. M. E. Priest, Mrs. H. J. Hunt, Mrs. A. R. Jaquith, 
 Mrs. P. A. Adams. 
 
 TOYS AND FANCY GOODS. 
 
 Edwin H. Cady and Albert E. Robbins are dealers in toys 
 and fancy goods. The former also conducts a sewing ma- 
 chine agency, and the latter has established a circulating library 
 in the West Village. 
 
 CLOTHING STORES. 
 
 H. L. Ballard, capital invested, $6,500; J. L. Alger, Jr., 
 capital invested, $4,000; H. A. Earns worth & Co., capital in- 
 vested, $4,000. 
 
 MERCHANT TAILORS. 
 
 There are but two gentlemen engaged in this business in 
 town, Mr. Jonathan L. Alger and Mr. G. AV. Black. 
 
 25 
 
194 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 DEALERS IN BOOTS AND SHOES. 
 
 Josiah J. Dunn, capital invested, $8,000; F. Blodgett ; Eli 
 Hunting-, capital invested, $3,500 ; J. K. Axtell, capital in- 
 vested, $3,000. 
 
 DRUGS AND MEDICINES. 
 
 G. W. Garland, M. D., capital invested, $3,500 ; J. Emerson, 
 M. D., capita] invested, $2,500; L. W. Brown & Son, capital 
 invested, $3,500. 
 
 FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF GARDNER. 
 
 The First National Bank of Gardner was established in 1864, 
 with a capital of $100,000, chiefly subscribed by the citizens of 
 Gardner. The first meeting was held on the 25th of February, 
 1865, at the Lower Town Hall. Mi-. Charles Hey wood was 
 chosen chairman, and Mr. Francis Richardson clerk, of the 
 meeting. The following named gentlemen constituted the first 
 board of directors : Levi H. Sawin, Seth Hey wood, C. S. 
 Greenwood, Levi Heywood, John Edgell, S. W. A Stevens, 
 Francis Richardson, Amasa Bancroft, of Gardner, John F. 
 Woodward of Hubbardston, Joel Merriam of Westminster, 
 Edwin Sawyer of Templeton. Mr. Amasa Bancroft was chosen 
 first president of the bank, and Mr. John D. Edgell the first 
 and to the present time, the only cashier. March 27th, 1876, 
 Mr. Volney W. Howe was chosen assistant cashier. In 1875, 
 the capital stock was increased to $150,000. 
 
 The dividends of this bank, from its commencement to July, 
 1876, were ten per cent, per annum, when they dropped to eight 
 per cent., payable semi-annually. The amount of bills now in 
 circulation is $102,600. The average amount of deposits, about 
 $100,000 for the six months, ending January 1st, 1878. Li 
 1868 the stockholders erected the building, which the bank 
 now occupies. In 1872, Mr. Charles Heywood was chosen pres- 
 ident, in place of Mr. Amasa Bancroft, which position he now 
 holds. The following named gentlemen are the present board 
 of directors : Francis Richardson, Levi Heyw^ood, Henry C. 
 
HISTORY OF QARDJ^ER. 195 
 
 Hill, Seth Heywood, John Edgell, Philandei' Derby, Charles 
 Heywood, Augustus Kiiowlton, Roderic L. Bent, Thos. Green- 
 wood and Charles W. Conaut. Under the wise and judicious 
 management of its presidents and board of directors, this bank 
 has, from the beginning, enjoyed more than the average amount 
 of prosperity, there having been but few losses, so that to-day it 
 stands strong, in the confidence of the community. 
 
 GARDNER SAVINGS BANK. 
 The Gardner Savings Bank was organized June 22d, 1868, 
 Mr. Francis Richardson was chosen first secretary, Mr. Charles 
 Heywood was elected first president and Mr. John D. Edgell 
 treasurer. Upon the first week, after the opening of the bank, 
 the deposits amounted to $4, 328. 50. The first of January, 
 1878, the deposits, in the bank, amounted to $613,613.78. The 
 amount of money deposited, since the organization of the bank 
 is $1,291,413.58. Number of deposits since organization, 25,- 
 330. Mr. Henry C. Hill was chosen president of this bank, in 
 place of Mr. Charles Heywood, June 26th, 1876. Mr. Hill 
 died Februar}^ 13th, 1878, having served the bank, as its pres- 
 ident, ibr nearly two years, with great faithfulness and finnncial 
 ability. Tlie presidency is now vacant. June 23d, 1<S77, Mr. 
 Volney \\ . Howe was chosen secietaiy. The loans of this bank 
 upon real estate, are mostly in Gardne)'. The bank has been 
 fortunate, not having met with any losses. It stands strong and 
 seciu'e, in the confidence of the comniunit}-, and is of great as- 
 sistance to the growth of the town. 
 
 POST OFFICES. 
 For quite a number of years after the incorporation of the 
 town, there was no regularly established post office within its 
 limits. The citizens in various parts of the town, received 
 their mail and posted their letters in the adjoining towns, 
 nearest to their places of residence. After some years, a post 
 ofiice was established at South Gardner, the mail being brought 
 to that place, by the stage, that ran between Brattleboro' and 
 Boston. In the Centre of the town, there was no post office 
 
196 HISTORY OF GAllDNEll. 
 
 until about the year 1827, at which time, a small office was 
 established in a private residence, the few letters, which came to 
 this part of the town, being brought from the office at South 
 Gardner. So few were these letters, they could be placed in a 
 small frame, with a glass door, where they were retained, by 
 strips of tape, for the inspection of all visitors. 
 
 As indicative of the steady growth of the town, in popula- 
 tion and business, we give the following statistics regarding the 
 post offices, in Gardner and South Gardner : The post office, 
 in Gardner, has, since Januar}' 8th, 1873, been under the 
 charge of Miss Sarah E. Richardson, who has efficiently con- 
 ducted its affiiirs, to the general satisfaction of the public. 
 During the year 1877, there were sold, at this office, eighty-five 
 thousand postage stamps, sixteen thousand postal cards and 
 eighteen thousand stamped envelopes and newspaper wrappers. 
 The gross receipts, at this office, in 1867, were $1,628.94, the 
 salary and expenses, $770, and the net revenue to the post 
 office department, $558.94, while for the year 1877, the gross 
 receipts were $2,817.59, salary and expenses, $1,250 and the net 
 revenue $1,567.59, showing that the gross receipts, in ten years, 
 at this office, have more than doubled, and that the net income, 
 to the government, has nearly trebled. 
 
 The South Gardner post office has, for several years, been in 
 charge of S. W. A. Stevens, Esq., who has, for man}' j^ears, 
 conducted a successful grocery and dry goods business, in this 
 place, aud is eminently satisfactory to the public, in the capacity 
 of postmaster. The gross receipts at this office for 1867, were 
 $677.68, salary and expenses, $400, and the net revenue, $277.- 
 68. In 1877, the gross receipts were $1,183.79, the salary and 
 expenses $711.89 and net revenue to the government, $471.90. 
 These figures, so far as the nature of the case permits, arc one 
 of the indications of growth in the town. 
 
 PRINTING. 
 
 About the middle of October, 1868, Mr. A. G. Bushnell, 
 formerly of Templeton, opened the first printing office in this 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 197 
 
 town. His office, occupied one room only, in the third story 
 of the new Bank building. Here he worked, unaided by any 
 one, till the following spring, when, his business having suffi- 
 ciently increased to warrant it, he employed one assistant. 
 During the spring of 1869, the project, of establishing a weekly 
 newspaper, was agitated. For the purpose of encouraging and 
 organizing this important enterprise, Mr. Charles Heywood 
 became associated Avith Mr. Bushnell, in business, at that time, 
 under the firm name of A. G. Bushnell & Co., each member 
 furnishing one-half of the capital. It was, however, under- 
 stood, that Mr. Heywood would not be actively engaged in the 
 business. This relation still continues. 
 
 The prospectus for a weekly paper, to be called the Gardner 
 News, was issued, immediately, without a single subscriber 
 being previously .secured, or a dollar of patronage solicited, in 
 advance. The first number of this paper, made its appearance 
 on the morning of July 3d, 18(59. It was a sheet of four pages, 
 whose dimensions were twenty-two by thirty-two inches, and 
 contained twenty-four columns. The subscription was two dol- 
 lars per annum. The News had, upon its first issue, three 
 hundred and fifty subscribers. The following is the first edito- 
 rial, which we insert here to show that the editor began his 
 enterprise, with hopefulness and courage, also that the reader 
 may see how well he has endeavored to redeem his pledges : — 
 
 " In presenting to our patrons this, the first number of our 
 paper, it ma}^ be expected that something should be said in 
 regard to the course we mean to pursue. We cannot make 
 great promises for the future, yet it will be our aim to furnish 
 our readers from week to week, with fresh and reliable local 
 news and items of interest, and also the general news of the 
 day. In our selections of miscellaneous articles, we shall en- 
 deavor to give those not readily accessible to the majority of 
 our subscribers, and which shall not have reached them throuo-h 
 the columns of the daily press. Since the issue of our pro- 
 spectus, the question, ' What will be the politics of your paper?' 
 has been asked us very many times. In reply we have only to 
 
198 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 say that we shall not advocate the ideas and principles of any 
 particular party. Whatever we publish will be entirely inde- 
 pendent, and, we hope, from time to time, to furnish our read- 
 ers with well written articles on the various interesting topics 
 of the day. 
 
 "The project of a weekly local paper in this vicinity, is a new 
 one; it has not been very long in contemplation. We are 
 starting at a time of the year when there is a scarcity of inter- 
 estino' local news. Our arranofements for collecting local infor- 
 mation, are, as 3^et, l)ut partially perfected. But we wish our 
 patrons to feel that we are in earnest, and shall labor for the 
 success of this enterprise. We ask their co-operation and en- 
 couragement, and with them, we feel that we can issue a sheet 
 which will be readable and acceptable to this community." 
 
 The increasing patronage, soon warranted a reduction, of the 
 subscription price, to one dollar and fifty cents, which was made 
 at the expiration of six months from the date of the first issue. 
 October 1st, 1870, the News was enlarged, to a sheet of twenty- 
 four by thirty-six inches, by the addition of one column to each 
 page. But, such were the increasing demands, upon its col- 
 umns, that this enlargement was found to be insufficient, so 
 that, on January 4th, 1873, another enlargement was made, 
 making a sheet of twenty-seven by forty-one inches, contain- 
 ing thirty-two columns, which are its present dimensions. From 
 the day of its first publication, the News has been constantly 
 increasing in its subscription list, till, at the present date, it 
 has a weekly issue of about seventeen hundred copies. 
 
 As a local, weekly paper, the Gardner News is a sheet of 
 which the citizens of this town may well be proud. Its edito- 
 rials are generally far above the average of similar papers, 
 being broadly intelligent of events of great importance, through- 
 out the accessible parts of the world, not hesitating to express 
 honest convictions, upon matters of morals and religion, inde- 
 pendently criticising our public servants, in the state and national 
 legislature, laboring for the promotion of the highest interest 
 of the town, in advocating and advancing all projects for local 
 
HI8T0EY OF GARDNER. 199 
 
 improvements, unci are often quoted with evident satisfaction, 
 by papers of no less importance than the Springfield Republi- 
 can. The editor is a hard working, self-made man, who, with- 
 out an hour's apprenticeship, has acquired a thorough knowl- 
 edge of his business, whose hio;best ambition is to make his 
 work satisfactory to his patrons, by giving them faithful and 
 acceptable services, in return for the patronage bestowed. The 
 work of Mr. Bushnell, in printing this History, furnishes good 
 evidence of his ability, as a printer. The business of the job 
 department of this office, has been constantly increasing, necessi- 
 tating the frequent addition of new machinery and materials, 
 so that, with the exception of a single room, it now requires 
 the use of the entire floor of the third story of the Bank 
 building and employs five operatives, aside from the editor. 
 Considering the size of the town, the office of the Gardner 
 News, is Avorthy of mention, for its magnitude, its variety of 
 work, the excellence of its mechanical execution, its orderly 
 arrangement, and general appearance of neatness. 
 
 We have sought, in this chapter, to give, as accurately as we 
 could obtain it, a true statement of the industries of this town. 
 We are aware that we have undertaken a diiBcult and laborious 
 task, in the performance of which, it is quite easy to make 
 many mistakes, in view of which possibilities, we invoke the 
 considerate judgment of those most interested in what has now 
 been stated. 
 
200 HISTOEY OF GARDNER. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 GOVEKA'OKS, KEPKESENTATIVES, TOWN OFFICERS, JUSTICES OF 
 THE PEACE, ETC. 
 
 And Absalom yaid moreover, Oh tluvt I were made jiulge in the hind, that 
 every man which hath any snit or cause, miirht come unto me, and I would do 
 him justice ! 
 
 And it was so that when any man t'ame uijih to him, to do him obeisance, 
 he put forth his hand and took him and kissed him. 
 
 And, on this manner, did Absalom to all Israel, that came to the king for 
 judgment. So Al)salom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 
 
 — 2 Sannu'l, 15:4, 5, G. 
 He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he 
 shall bo as the light of the morning, wlien the sun riseth, even a morning 
 without clouds, as the tencler grass, springing out of the earth, by clear shin- 
 ing after rain. — 2 Samuel, 23 :o, 4. 
 
 Wherefore also the legislator ought often to impress upon himself the cpies- 
 tion — What do I want? Do I attain my aim, or do I miss the mark? — Plato. 
 For j\ist experience tells in every soil, 
 
 That thosc that think must govern those that toil. — Goldsmith. 
 Of the law, ther- .can be no less acknowledged, than that her seat is the 
 bosom of God, he. voice the harmony of the worUl.—Jiislidp liichard Ilouker. 
 Curse on all laws, but those which love has made. — Popp. 
 Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness 
 thrust upon them — Twelfth Xitjht, Act. II., Scene. V. 
 I awoke one morning and found myself famous. — Buron. 
 
 I have touched the highest point of all my greiituess; 
 
 And from the full meridian of my glory 
 
 I haste now to my setting; I shall fall 
 
 Like a bright exhalation, in the evening, 
 
 And no man se(> me more. 
 
 Corruption wins not more than honesty. 
 
 — Cardinal Wolsey, Henry VIII., Act III, Scene II. 
 
 IN this chapter will be found, the names of the difterent 
 candidates for governor of the state for their respective 
 years, the number of votes each man had, and the name of the 
 successful candidate, plainly indicated ; also the names of the 
 representatives of the town or district to the General Court, 
 from the year 1785 to the present date ; also names of town 
 officers, justices of the peace, member of constitutional con- 
 vention and state senator. 
 
HISTOllY OF GAIiDNER. 
 
 201 
 
 VOTES FOR GOVERNOR. 
 
 The following are the votes for Governor, from the organiza- 
 tion of the town, to the present time. Those marked with an * 
 were the successful candidates : 
 
 1786. 
 
 * James Bowdoiu . . 
 
 .. 1.0 
 
 1787. 
 
 *Jolin Hancock . . . 
 
 .. 29 
 
 1788. 
 
 Elbridge Geriy. . . . 
 
 . . IG 
 
 1781). 
 
 *John Hancock . . . 
 
 .. 29 
 
 1790. 
 
 *.John Hancock . . . 
 
 .. 19 
 
 1791. 
 
 *.John Hancock . . . 
 
 . . 24 
 
 1792. 
 
 *Johu Hancock . . . 
 
 .. 26 
 
 1793. 
 
 *Jolin Hancock . . . 
 
 .. 27 
 
 1794. 
 
 *8amuel Adams. . . 
 
 .. 18 
 
 1795. *8amuel Adams. 
 
 179G. Increase .Sunnier 
 
 1797. James Sullivan. . 
 
 1798. *Incrcase Sumner 
 
 1799. *Increase Sumner 
 
 1800. Elbridge Gerry. . 
 
 IHOI. *Caleb Stron;r . . 
 
 1 802. *Caleb Strong . . 
 
 1803. *Caleb Strong . . 
 
 1804. *Caleb Strong . . 
 
 1805. *Caleb Strong . . 
 
 1806. *Caleb Strong . . 
 
 1807. Caleb Strong . . . 
 
 1808. Christopher Gore 
 
 1809. *Christopher Gon 
 
 1810. Christopher Gore 
 
 1811. Christopher Gore 
 
 1812. *Caleb Strong . . 
 
 1813. *Caleb Strong . . 
 
 26 
 
 32 
 30 
 
 19 
 42 
 37 
 30 
 
 54 
 
 71 
 
 50 
 
 59 
 
 7.5 
 
 104 
 
 105 
 
 99 
 
 104 
 
 106 
 
 99 
 
 111 
 
 119 
 
 .James Bowdoin 1 
 
 Benj. Lincoln 1 
 
 *John Hancock 11 
 
 James Bowdoiu 2 
 
 .James Bowdoin 1 
 
 Samuel Phillips 14 
 
 Elbridge Gerry 7 
 
 William Cushing 2 
 
 Samuel Phillips 2 
 
 Moses Gill 1 
 
 *Samuel Adams 5 
 
 *Increase Sumner 16 
 
 A\'illiam Heath 4 
 
 *Caleb Strong 12 
 
 Moses Gill 2 
 
 Elbridge Gerry 15 
 
 Elbridge Gerry 19 
 
 lOlbridge Gerry 2 
 
 .James Sullivan 10 
 
 .James Sullivan 22 
 
 .James Sullivan 18 
 
 *.James Sullivan 23 
 
 *.James Sullivan 22 
 
 Levi Lincoln 29 
 
 *Elbridge Gerry 34 
 
 *Elbridge Gerry 37 
 
 I<21bridge Gerry 35 
 
 Joseph B. Varnum 28 
 
202 
 
 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 1814. *Caleb Strong 119 
 
 1815. *Caleb Strong 117 
 
 1816. *John Brooks Ill 
 
 1817. *Jolm Brooks Ill 
 
 1818. *John Brooks 96 
 
 1819. *John Brooks 103 
 
 1820. -'-'John Brooks 98 
 
 1821. *,John Brooks 95 
 
 1822. *John Brooks 101 
 
 1823. Harrison G. Otis 100 
 
 1824. Samuel Lathrop 104 
 
 1825. *Levi Lincoln 68 
 
 1826. James Llojd 87 
 
 1827. *Levi Lincoln 65 
 
 1828. *Levi Lincoln 76 
 
 1829. Samuel Allen 34 
 
 1830. No record. 
 
 1831. *Levi Lincoln 70 
 
 1832. *Levi Lincoln 55 
 
 1833. -^-'Levi Lincoln 98 
 
 1834. *John Davis 105 
 
 1835. *Jolm Davis 112 
 
 1836. *Edward Everett 106 
 
 1837. No record. 
 
 1838. *Edward Everett 141 
 
 1839. -•'Edward Everett 150 
 
 1840. Edward Everett 125 
 
 1841. *John Davis 191 
 
 1842. *John Davis 165 
 
 1843. John Davis 124 
 
 1844. --George N. Briggs . . 129 
 
 1845. *George N. Briggs . . 135 
 
 Samuel Dexter 31 
 
 Samuel Dexter 29 
 
 Samuel Dexter 32 
 
 Henry Dearborn 32 
 
 Benj. "W. Crowninshield 35 
 
 Benj. W. Crowninshield 29 
 
 William Eustis 26 
 
 William Eustis 22 
 
 William Eustis 25 
 
 * William Eustis 31 
 
 *William Eustis 29 
 
 *Levi Lincoln 23 
 
 William C Jarvis 5 
 
 Thomas L. Wiuthrop 1 
 
 ■^'Levi Lincoln 11 
 
 Marcus Morton 7 
 
 Marcus Morton 12 
 
 Marcus Morton 20 
 
 Samuel Lathrop 1 
 
 Samuel Lathrop 35 
 
 Marcus Morton 12 
 
 John Q,. Adams 36 
 
 Marcus Morton 18 
 
 John Bailey 27 
 
 Marcus Morton 24 
 
 Marcus Morton 56 
 
 Marcus Morton 85 
 
 Marcus Morton 74 
 
 ^Marcus Morton 87 
 
 Marcus Morton 68 
 
 Marcus Morton 60 
 
 ^Marcus Morton 73 
 
 Samuel Sewell 28 
 
 Marcus Morton 69 
 
 Samuel P2. Sewell 15 
 
 George Bancroft 70 
 
 Samuel E. Sewell 22 
 
HISTOBY OF GABDNEH. 
 
 203 
 
 1846. *George N. Briggs . .107 
 
 1847. *George N. Briggs.. 95 
 
 1848. *George N. Briggs.. 110 
 
 1849. Stephen C. Phillips. .162 
 
 1850. Stephen C. Phillips. . 130 
 
 1851. Stephen C. Phillips. .131 
 
 1852. John G. Palfrey 118 
 
 1853. Horace Mann 172 
 
 1854. Henry Wilson 179 
 
 1855. *Henry J. Gardner. .242 
 
 1856. '-Henry J. Gardner.. 191 
 
 1857. *Henry J. Gardner. .229 
 
 1858. 
 1859. 
 1860. 
 1861. 
 1862. 
 1.^63. 
 1864. 
 1865. 
 1866. 
 1867. 
 1868. 
 1869. 
 1870. 
 1871. 
 
 *Natlianiel P. Banks. 177 
 *Nathaniel P. Banks. 157 
 *Nathaniel P. Banks. 198 
 
 *John A. Andrew. 
 *John A. Andrew. 
 *John A. Andrew. 
 *John A. Andrew. 
 *John A. Andrew . 
 *Alex. H. Bullock. . . 147 
 *Alex. H. Bullock... 229 
 *Alex. H. Bullock 
 *William Claflin . 
 
 *William Claflin 290 
 
 *William Claflin 265 
 
 .338 
 .163 
 .175 
 .180 
 
 .280 
 
 .297 
 .366 
 
 t Isaac Davis 61 
 
 Samuel E. Sewell 12 
 
 Isaac Davis 35 
 
 Samuel E. Sewell 26 
 
 Caleb Gushing 31 
 
 Samuel E. Sewell 31 
 
 *George N. Bi'iggs 83 
 
 Caleb Gushing 16 
 
 *George N. Briggs 95 
 
 George S. Boutwell 44 
 
 George N. Briggs 78 
 
 ■"George S. Boutwell 29 
 
 Robert C. Winthrop 110 
 
 *George S. Boutwell 44 
 
 *JohnH. Clifford 86 
 
 Henry W. Bishop 41 
 
 *Emory Washburn 81 
 
 Henry W. Bishop 30 
 
 Henry Wilson 49 
 
 Emory Washburn 28 
 
 Henry W. Bishop 23 
 
 Julius Rockwell 92 
 
 Erasmus D. Beach 56 
 
 Erasmus D. Beach 56 
 
 Luther Bell 14 
 
 Henry J. Gardner 81 
 
 Erasmus D. Beach 110 
 
 Benj. F. Butler 164 
 
 Erasmus D. Beach 146 
 
 Isaac Davis 107 
 
 Charles Devens, Jr 160 
 
 Henry W. Paine 156 
 
 Henry W. Paine 157 
 
 Darius N. Couch 15 
 
 Theodoi'e H. Sweetser 54 
 
 John Q, Adams 260 
 
 John Q. Adams 141 
 
 John Q. Adams 1 70 
 
 John Q. Adams 234 
 
204 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 1872. *Wm. B. Washbura . 237 John Q. Adams 109 
 
 Eobert C. Pitman 19 
 
 1873. *Wm. B. Washburn. 407 F. W. Bird 104 
 
 1874. t*Wm. B. Washburn237 William Smith 175 
 
 1875. * William Gaston 337 Thomas Talbot 231 
 
 1876. William Gaston 230 "'Alexander H. Rice 192 
 
 John I. Baker 58 
 
 C.F.Adams 6 
 
 1877. *Alexander H. Rice .416 Charles F. Adams 306 
 
 John I. Baker 52 
 
 1878. *Alexander H. Rice .219 William Gaston 160 
 
 Robert C. Pitman 76 
 
 Wendell Phillips 28 
 
 Delegate to the convention in 1853, to revise the constitution of Mas- 
 sachusetts, Levi Heywood. 
 
 State senator from Gardner in 1861, Thomas E. Glazier. 
 
 Ill giving the votes for governor, we huve put the name 
 having the highest number first, irrespective of party, or the 
 success of the candidate. 
 
 Previous to 1797 there was no distinct party organization. 
 Various parties had sprung up, but they were founded on tem- 
 porary questions, which soon passed away. About 1798 the 
 Republican and Federal parties gradually came into being. The 
 main question at issue was the power of the national govern- 
 ment ; the Republican party taking the ground that tlie national 
 government was only a compact, or confederacy of states, and 
 carrying to the furthest extreme the doctrine of state sov- 
 ereignty ; while the Federals contended for what was then 
 termed, a " Strong Government." After the war of 1812 the 
 Federal party gradually faded away, and under the administra- 
 tion of James Munroe there was a political union, from which 
 a new party arose, first called the National Republican, and 
 afterwards Whig. This party, in the state and nation, were 
 
 f Governor Washburn resigned his office April 29th, in consequence of hav- 
 ing been elected Senator to Congi'ess, and Lieutenant-Governor Talbot offici- 
 ated the remainder of the term. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 205 
 
 opposed to the Democratic party. About the year 1826 the 
 question of "American Slavery," began to be discussed in the 
 North, and especially in Massachusetts, and although at first, it 
 was a purely moral question, it finally took a political form, 
 and a third party was formed, called the "Anti-Slavery party," 
 which continued till 1848, when a new party was formed called 
 the " Free-Soil party," which embraced most of the Anti-Slavery 
 party, and the anti-slavery element of the Whig and Democratic 
 parties. In 1857 the Republican party was formed in Massa- 
 chusetts and most of the Northern states. The Whig party, 
 gradually fjiding, finally became extinct in 1857 or 1858, since 
 when the political parties of the state and nation, are the Ee- 
 publican and Democratic. 
 
 JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 
 
 The following is a list of Justices of the Peace in this town 
 since its organization : 
 
 Aaron Wood, Lewis H. Bradford, John M. Moore, 
 
 Simeon Leland, S. W. A. Stevens, C. W. Carter, 
 
 Smyrna Glazier, Edward J. Sawyer, Charles Heywood, 
 
 Asaph Wood, JL. W. Brown, *Ephraim D. Howe, 
 
 *Francife Richardson, Thorley Collester, Thatcher B. Dunn, 
 
 John Edgell, Rufus Newton, Leander C. Lynde, 
 
 fThos. E. Glazier, John D. Edgell. 
 
 TOWN OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 1785. — Moderator, Capt. Elisha Jackson ; Town Clerk, Seth Heywood ; 
 Selectmen, Elisha Jackson, Samuel Stone, Simon Gates, John 
 Glazier, John White ; Assessors, Eh'sha Jackson, Samuel Stone, 
 Simeon Gates, John Glazier, John White ; Treasurer, Seth Hey- 
 wood. 
 
 1786. — Moderator, Capt. Elisha Jackson ; Town Clerk, Capt. Joseph 
 Bacon ; Selectmen, Elisha Jackson, Samuel Stone, Simon Gates, 
 John Glazier, Joseph Bacon ; Assessors, Elisha Jackson, Joseph 
 Bacon, Elijah Wilder ; Treasurer, Peter Goodale. 
 
 ♦Notary Public. fTrial Justice. JDeputy Sheriff. 
 
206 HI8T0RY OF GABBJ^FB. 
 
 1787. — Moderator, John White; Town Clerk, Capt. Joseph Bacon; 
 Selectmen, Setli Heywood, Elisha Jackson, David Nichols, David 
 Comee, Nathan Green ; Assessors, Elisha Jackson, Seth Heywood, 
 John White ; Treasurer, Seth Heywood. 
 
 1788. — Modei-ator, Capt. Samuel Kelton ; Town Clerk, Capt Joseph 
 Bacon ; Selectmen, Elisha Jackson, Samuel Stone, David Nichols, 
 William Bickford, Peter Goodale ; Assessors, Jgseph Bacon, Seth 
 Heywood, Ebenezer Howe ; Treasurer, Seth Heywood. 
 
 1789. — Moderator, Ebenezer Howe ; Town Clerk, Capt. Joseph Bacon ; 
 Selectmen, Elisha Jackson, Samuel Stone, David Nichols, William 
 Bickford, Ebenezer Howe ; Assessors, Elisha Jackson, Joseph 
 Bacon, Ebenezer Howe ; Treasurer, Ebenezer Howe. 
 
 1790. — Moderator, Capt. Samuel Kelton ; Town Clerk, Capt. Joseph 
 Bacon ; Selectmen, Elisha Jackson, Ebenezer Howe, Samuel Stone, 
 David Nichols, Simon Gates ; Assessors, Joseph Bacon, Ebenezer 
 Howe, Simon Gates ; Treasurer, Ebenezer Howe. 
 
 1791. — Moderator, John White; Town Clerk, Capt. Joseph Bacon; 
 Selectmen, Elisha Jackson, Ebenezer Howe, Samuel Stone, Aaron 
 Greenwood, Josiah Wheeler ; Assessors, Joseph Bacon, Ebenezer 
 Howe, Elisha Jackson ; Treasurer, Ebenezer Howe. 
 
 1792. — Moderator, Ebenezer Howe ; Town Clerk, Capt. Joseph Bacon ; 
 Selectmen, Elisha Jackson, Ebenezer Howe, Aaron Greenwood, 
 David Foster, Joseph Payson ; Assessors, Reuben Haynes, Jona- 
 than Wood, Jonathan Greenwood ; Treasurer, Ebenezer Howe. 
 
 1793. — Moderator, Capt. Samviel Kelton, Town Clerk, Capt. Joseph 
 Bacon ; Selectmen, Elisha Jackson, Ebenezer Howe, Aaron Green- 
 wood, David Foster, Joseph Payson ; Assessors, Reuben Haynes, 
 Jonathan Wood, Jonathan Greenwood ; Treasurer, Ebenezer Howe. 
 
 1794. — Moderator, Ebenezer Howe; Town Clerk, Jonathan Prescott ; 
 Selectmen, Ebenezer Howe, Aaron Greenwood, Reuben Haynes ; 
 Assessors, Ebenezer Howe, Aaron Greenwood, Reuben Haynes ; 
 Treasurer, Ebenezer Howe. 
 
 1795. — Moderator, Capt. Elisha Jackson ; Town Clerk, Jonathan Pres- 
 cott ; Selectmen, Elisha Jackson, Ebenezer Howe, Reuben Haynes ; 
 Assessors, Ebenezer Howe, Elisha Jackson, Reuben Haynes ; 
 Treasurer, Ebenezer Howe. 
 
HISTORY OF GABBJSrUB. 207 
 
 1796. — Moderator, John Wliite ; Town Clerk, Jonatlian Prescott ; Se- 
 lectmen, Renben Haynes, James Coolidge, Aaron Wood, Joshua 
 AYhitney, Joel Wilder ; Assessors, Simeon Leland, Samuel JEdgell, 
 William Whitney ; Treasurer, Ebenezer Howe. 
 
 1797. — Moderator, Capt. Samuel Kelton ; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben 
 Haynes ; Selectmen, Elisha Jackson, James Coolidge, Reuben 
 Haynes, Aaron Wood, Joshua Whitney ; Assessors, Simeon Le- 
 land, Samuel Edgell, Williaiu Whitney ; Treasurer, Ebenezer 
 Howe. 
 
 1798. — Moderator, Capt. Samuel Kelton; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben 
 Haynes ; Selectmen, Elisha Jackson, Reuben Haynes, Aaron Wood, 
 Ebenezer Howe, Josliua Whitney ; Assessors, Jonathan Wood, 
 Reuben Haynes, Ebenezer Howe ; Treasurer, Ebenezer Howe. 
 
 1799.— Moderator, Col. Abel Kendall; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben 
 Haynes; Selectmen, James Coolidge, Simeon Leland, Abel Ken- 
 dall ; Assessors, William Whitney, Samuel Edgell, Lewis Glazier ; 
 Treasurer, Smyrna Glazier, Esq. 
 
 1800.— Moderator, Col. Abel Kendall; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben 
 Haynes ; Selectmen, Jonathan Greenwood, Thomas Baker, Allen 
 Perley ; Assessors, Reuben Haynes, William Whitney, Joseph 
 Edgell ; Treasurer, Aaron Wood, Esq. 
 
 1801. -^Moderator, Joseph Edgell ; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben Haynes ; 
 Selectmen, Jonathan Greenwood, Thomas Baker, Allen Perley ; 
 Assessors, Reuben Haynes, Jonathan Wood, William Whitney ; 
 Treasurer, Aaron Wood, Esq. 
 
 1802.— Moderator, Col. Abel Kendall; Town Clerk. Capt. Reuben 
 Haynes ; Selectmen, Samuel Stone, William Whitney, James 
 Coolidge, Aaron Wood, Simeon Leland ; Assessors, Reuben 
 Haynes, William Whitney, Abel Kendall ; Treasurer, Aaron 
 Wood, Esq. 
 
 1803.— Moderator, Col. Abel Kendall ; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben 
 Haynes ; Selectmen, Samuel Stone, James Coolidge, Simeon Le- 
 land, Levi Fairbanks, Aaron Wood ; Assessors, William Whitney, 
 Reuben Haynes, Josiah Conant ; Treasurer, Aaron Wood, Esq. 
 
 1804, — Moderator, Lewis Glazier ; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben Haynes ; 
 Selectmen, Samuel Stone, James Coolidge, Simeon Leland, Aaron 
 Wood, Joshua Whitney ; Assessors, Reuben Haynes, William 
 Whitney, William Bickford, Jr. ; Ti'easurer, Lewis Glazier. 
 
208 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 1805. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier ; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben Haynes ; 
 Selectmen, Aaron Wood, William Whitney, William Bickford, 
 Jr. ; Assessors, Reuben Haynes, Simeon Leland, Arna Bacon ; 
 Treasurer, Lewis Glazier. 
 
 1806. — Moderator, Col. Abel Kendall; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben 
 Haynes ; Selectmen, Aaron Wood, William Whitney, William 
 Bickford, Jr. ; Assessors, Aaron Wood, William Whitney, Wil- 
 liam Bickford, Jr. ; Treasurer, Lewis Glazier ; Representative, 
 Rev. Jonathan Osgood. 
 
 1807. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier ; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben Haynes ; 
 vSelectmen, William Whitney, William Bickford, Jr., Smyrna Gla- 
 zier ; Assessors, AVilliam Whitney, William Bickford, Smyrna Gla- 
 zier ; Treasurer, Lewis Glazier ; Representative, Rev. Jonathan 
 Osgood. 
 
 1808. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier ; Town Clerk, Capt, Reuben Haynes ; 
 Selectmen, William Whitney, Smyrna Glazier, Reuben Haynes ; 
 Assessors, Lewis Glazier, William Bickford, Jr., Reuben Haynes; 
 Treasurer, Lewis Glazier. 
 
 1809. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier ; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben Haynes ; 
 Selectmen, William Whitney, Smyrna Glazier, Reuben Haynes ; 
 Assessors, William Whitney, William Bickford, Jr., Aaron Wood ; 
 Treasurer, Lewis Glazier ; Representative, Aaron AVood, Esq. 
 
 1810. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier ; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben Haynes ; 
 Selectmen, William Whitney, Reubc-n Haynes, William Bickford, 
 Jr. ; Assessors, Aaron Wood, William Whitney, William Bick- 
 ford, Jr. ; Treasurer, Lewis Glazier : Representative, Aaron 
 Wood, Esq. 
 
 1811 — Moderator, Col. A. Kendall; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben 
 Haynes ; Selectmen, William Bickford, Jr., Reuben Haynes, Noah 
 Fairbanks; Assessors, Willicim Whitney, William Bickford, Jr., 
 Simeon Leland ; Treasurer, Smyrna Glazier, Esq. ; Representa- 
 tive, Aaron Wood, Esq. 
 
 1812. — Moderator, Asa Hill ; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben Haynes ; Se- 
 lectmen, William Bickford, Jr., Reuben Haynes, Noah Fairbanks ; 
 Assessors, William Bickford, Jr., Reuben Haynes, Smyrna Ban- 
 croft ; Treasurer, Smyrna Glazier ; Representative, Aaron Wood, 
 Esq. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 209 
 
 1813. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier ; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben Haynes ; 
 Selectmen, William Bickford, Jr., Smyrna Bancroft, James M. 
 Comee ; Assessors, William Bickford, Jr., James Scollay, Smyrna 
 Bancroft ; Treasurer. Smyrna Glazier, Esq. ; Representative, 
 Aaron Wood, Esq. 
 
 1814. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier ; Town Clei'k, Capt. Reuben Haynes ; 
 Selectmen, William Bickford, Jr., Smyrna Bancroft, James M. 
 Comee; Assessors, William Bickford, Jr., Smyrna Glazier, Smyr- 
 na Bancroft ; Treasurer, Smyrna Glazier, Esq. ; Representative, 
 William Bickford, Jr. 
 
 1815. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben Haynes ; 
 Selectmen, AVilliam Whitney, Smyrna Glazier, Aaron Wood ; As- 
 sessors, William Whitney, James Scollay, Smyrna Glazier; Treas- 
 urer, Asa Richardson ; Representative, William Bickford, Jr. 
 
 1816. — Moderator, Asa Hill; Town Clerk, Capt. Reuben Haynes; Se- 
 lectmen, William Whitney, William Bickford, Jr., James Scollay ; 
 Assessors, William Whitney, William Bickford, Jr., James Scol- 
 lay ; Treasurer, Asa Richardson ; Representative, William Whit- 
 ney, Esq. 
 
 1817. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier; Town Clerk, Asa Richardson; Se- 
 lectmen, William Bickford, Jr., Adam Partridge, Levi Priest; As- 
 sessors, William Whitney, James Scollay, William Bickford, Jr. ; 
 Treasurer, Asa Richardson. 
 
 1818. — Moderator, William Whitney, Esq. ; Town Clerk, Asa Richard- 
 son ; Selectmen, William Bickford, Jr., William Whitney, James 
 Scollay; Assessors, William Bickford, Jr., William Whitney, 
 James Scollay ; Treasurer, Asa Richardson. 
 
 1819. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier; Town Clerk, Smyrna Glazier; Se- 
 lectmen, Smyrna Glazier, Noah Fairbanks, Abel Jackson ; Asses- 
 sors, William Bickford, Jr., Walter Greenwood, Ezra Baker; 
 Treasurer, Asa Richardson ; Representative, William Whitney, 
 Esq. 
 
 1820. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier ; Town Clerk, Asa Richardson ; Se- 
 lectmen, William Whitney, William Bickford, Jr., Benjamin Stone ; 
 Assessors, William Whitney, William Bickford, Jr., Benjamin 
 Hey wood; Treasurer, Asa Richardson ; Representative, William 
 AVhitney, Esq. 
 
 27 
 
210 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 1821. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier; Town Clerk, Asa Richardson; Se- 
 lectmen, William Bickford, Jr., James M. Comee, Lewis Glazier; 
 Assessors, William Bickford, Jr., William Whitney, Benjamin 
 Hey wood ; Treasurer, Asa Richardson. 
 
 1822. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier; Town Clerk, Asa Richardson; Se- 
 lectmen, James M. Comee, James Scollay, Lewis Glazier; Asses- 
 sors, William Wiiitney, Abel Jackson, James Scollay ; Treasurer, 
 Asa Richardson. 
 
 1823. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier; Town Clerk, Daniel Spaulding ; 
 Selectmen, Lewis Glazier, James M. Comee, Joel Cowee ; Asses- 
 sors, William Whitney, William Bickford, Jr., James Scollay; 
 Treasurer, Benjamin Heywood. 
 
 1824. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier ; Town Clerk, Daniel Spaulding ; Se- 
 lectmen, Lewis Glazier, James M. Comee, Joel Cowee; Assessors, 
 William Whitney, Benjamin Heywood, James Scollay ; Treasurer, 
 Beiijamin Heywood. 
 
 1825. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier; Town Clerk, Daniel vSpaulding ; Se- 
 lectmen, Lewis Glazier, James M. Comee, Joel Cowee ; Assessors, 
 James Scollay, Walter Greenwood, Asa Richardson ; Treasurer, 
 Benjamin Heywood ; Representative, William Whitney, Esq. 
 
 1826. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier; Town Clerk, Asa Richardson ; Se- 
 lectmen, William Whitney, Smyrna Glazier, Noah Fairbanks; 
 Assessors, Benjamin Heywood, AVilliam Whitney, Martin Dunster ; 
 Treasurer, Benjamin Heywood. 
 
 1827. — Moderator, Lewis Glazier ; Town Clerk, Asa Richardson; Se- 
 lectmen, Noah Fairbanks, Smyrna Glazier, Joseph Wright; As- 
 sessors, James Scollay, Nathaniel Wright, George W. Davis ; 
 Treasurer, Benj. Heywood; Representative, Smyrna Glazier, P^sq. 
 
 1828. — Moderator, Martin Dunster; Town Clerk, Levi Heywood ; Se- 
 lectmen, Lewis Glazier, Walter Greenwood, Joseph Wright; As- 
 sessors, George W. Davis, Nathaniel Wright, Martin Dunster; 
 Treasurer, Benj. Heywood; Representative, Smyrna Glazier, Esq. 
 
 1829. — Moderator, INIartin Dunster; Town Clerk, Levi Heywood; Se- 
 lectmen, Walter Greenwood, Joseph Wright, Joel Cowee ; Asses- 
 sons, William Whitney, James Scollay, Benjamin Heywood ; 
 Treasurer, Benj. Heywood; Representative, Smyrna Glazier, Esq. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 211 
 
 1830. — Moderator, Martin Dunster ; Towu Clerk, Levi Heywood ; 
 Selectmen, Walter Greenwood, Joseph Wright, Nathan Green ; 
 Assessors, William Whitney, Nathaniel Wright, James Scollay ; 
 Treasurer, Benj. Heywood. 
 
 1831. — JModerator, Martin Dunster; Town. Clerk, Benj. F. Heywood; 
 Selectmen, A¥ alter Greenwood, Nathan Green. Nathaniel Wright ; 
 Assessors, William Whitney, James Scollay, Timothy Heywood ; 
 Treasurer, Benjamin Heywood ; Representative, Timothy Hey- 
 wood. 
 
 1832. — Moderator, Martin Dunster; Town Clerk, Benj. F. Heywood; 
 Selectmen, Nathan Green, Aliio Temple, Adam Partridge, George 
 W. Davis, Asaph Wood ; Assessors, James Scollay, Timothy 
 Heywood, Amasa Whitney ; Treasurer, Benj. Heywood. 
 
 1833. — Moderator, Martin Dunster; Town Clerk, Benj. F. Heywood ; 
 Selectmen, Nathan Green, Adam Partridge, George W. Davis ; 
 Assessors, Timothy Heywood, Amasa Whitney, Amasa Leland ; 
 Treasurer, Asa Richardson ; Representative, Timothy Heywood. 
 
 1834. — Moderator, Martin Dunster; Town Clerk, Benj. F. Heywood; 
 Selectmen, Adam Partridge, George W. Davis, Isaac Jackson ; 
 Assessors, Timothy Heywood, Amasa Leland, Amasa Whitney ; 
 Treasurer, Walter Heywood ; Representative, Timothy Heywood. 
 
 1835. — Moderator, Martin Dunster; Town Clerk, Benj. F. Heywood; 
 Selectmen, George W. Davis, Isaac Jackson, Nathan Green; As- 
 sessors, Timothy Heywood, Amasa Leland, Amasa Whitney ; 
 Treasurer, Walter Heywood ; Representative, Timothy Heywood. 
 
 1836. — Moderator, Martin Dunster; Town Clerk, Benj. F. Heywood; 
 Selectmen, George W. Davis, Isaac Jackson, Nathan Green ; As- 
 sessors, Amasa Leland, Smyrna W. Bancroft, Asaph Wood ; 
 Treasurer, Walter Heywood ; Representative, James Scollay. 
 
 1837. — Moderator, Asaph Wood; Town Clerk, Benj, F. Heywood; Se- 
 lectmen, George W. Davis. Nathan Green, Asaph Wood ; Asses- 
 sors, Amasa Leland, Smyrna W. Bancroft, Benj. F. Heywood ; 
 Treasurer, Walter Heywood. 
 
212 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 1838. — Moderator, Martin Dunster ; Town Clei-k, Benj. F. Hey wood ; 
 Selectmen, George W. Davis, Nathan Green, Nathaniel Wriglit ; 
 Assessors, Benj. F. Heywood, Amasa Leland, Smyrna AY. Ban- 
 croft ; Treasurer, WaUer Heywood ; Representative, Timothy Hey- 
 wood. 
 
 1839.— Moderator, Asaph Wood ; Town Clerk, Theophilus P. Wood ; 
 Selectmen, George W. Davis, Nathan Green, Joseph Wright ; As- 
 sessors, Asaph Wood, James Scollay, Smyrna W. Bancroft ; Treas- 
 urer, Walter Heywood. 
 
 1840. — Moderator, Martin Dunster ; Town Clerk, Theophilus P. Wood ; 
 Selectmen, George W. Davis, Joseph Wright, Smyrna Bancroft; 
 Assessors, Asaph Wood, Amasa Leland, John Edgell ; Treasurer, 
 Walter Heywood. 
 
 1841.— Moderator, Asaph Wood; Town Clerk, Theophilus P.Wood; 
 Selectmen, George W. Davis, Joseph Wright, Smyrna W. Ban- 
 croft ; Assessors, Asaph Wood, Charles W. Bush, Walter Hey- 
 wood ; Treasurer, Walter Heywood ; Representative, Timothy 
 Heywood. 
 
 1842.— Moderator, Martin Dunster ; Town Clerk, *Tlieophilus P. Wood, 
 Francis Richardson ; Selectmen, Joseph Wright, Amasa Leland, 
 Mirick Stimpson ; Assessors, Thomas E. Glazier, John Edgell, 
 Amasa Leland; Treasurer, Benj. F. Heywood; Representative, 
 Joseph Wright. 
 
 1843. — Moderator, Martin Dunster; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson 
 Selectmen, Thomas E. Glazier, Walter Greenwood, John Edgell 
 Assessors, Thomas E. Glazier, Walter Greenwood, John Edgell 
 Treasurer, Seth Heywood ; Representative, Joseph Wright. 
 
 1844 — Moderator, Martin Dunster ; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson ; 
 Selectmen, Thomas E. Glazier, George W. Davis, John Edgell ; 
 Assessors, Thomas E. Glazier, John Edgell, Hubbard Kendall ; 
 Treasurer, Seth Heywood ; Representative, Joseph Wright. 
 
 1845. — Moderator, Asaph Wood ; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson ; 
 
 ^ Selectmen, John Edgell, Smyrna W. Bancroft, Nathaniel Wright ; 
 Assessors, Thomas E. Glazier, Smyrna W. Bancroft, Hubbard 
 Kendall ; Treasurer, Seth Heywood ; Representative, Joseph 
 Wright. 
 
 *Kesigned. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER, 213 
 
 1846. — Moderator, Asapli Wood ; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson ; 
 Selectmen, Asaph Wood, George W. Davis, John Edgell ; Asses- 
 sors, Thomas E. Glazier, Francis Richardson, Nathaniel Wright ; 
 Treasurer, Seth Heywood ; Representative, S. W. Bancroft. 
 
 1847. — Moderator, Asaph Wood ; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson ; 
 Selectmen, Joseph Wright, Thorley Collester, Stephen Taylor ; As- 
 sessors, Thomas E. Glazier, Aaron B. Jackson, C. S. Greenwood; 
 Treasurer, Seth Heywood ; Representative, S. W. Bancroft. 
 
 1848. — Moderator, L. H. Bradford : Town Clerk, Francis Richardson ; 
 Selectmen, Thorley Collester, L. H. Bradford, Alonzo Sawtell ; 
 Assessors, Aarou B.Jackson, C. S. Greenwood, John Edgell; 
 Treasurer, Seth Heywood ; Representative, Asaph Wood. 
 
 1849. — Moderator, L. H. Bradford ; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson ; 
 Selectmen, Thomas E. Glazier, Alonzo Sawtell, Jonas Pierce; 
 Assessors, Nathaniel Wright, S. W. Bancroft, Aaron B. Jackson ; 
 Treasurer, E. S. Jackson; Representative, Thomas E. Glazier. 
 
 1850. — Moderator, Asaph Wood ; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson ; 
 Selectmen, Thomas E. Glazier, Thorley Collester, Elisha S. Jack- 
 son ; Assessors, Austin Whitney, Rufus Newton, J. A. Whitney; 
 Treasurer, E. S. Jacksou ; Representative, John Edgell. 
 
 1851. — Moderator, Asaph Wood; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson; 
 Selectmen, Thomas E. Glazier, Thorley Collester, Elisha S. Jack- 
 son ; Assessors, Austin Whitney, Rufus Newton, Alonzo Sawtell ; 
 Treasurer, E. S. Jackson ; Representative, John Edgell. 
 
 1852. — Moderator, Asaph Wood; Town Clerk, Abel S, Wood; Select- 
 men, Aaron B. Jackson, Asa Merriam, Rufus Newton ; Assessors, 
 Aaron B. Jackson, Asa Merriam, Rufus Newton ; Treasurer, E. 
 S. Jackson ; Representative, Amasa Whitney. 
 
 1853. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier ; Town Clerk, P'rancis Richard- 
 son ; Selectmen, Alonzo Sawtell, Thomas E. Glazier, Smyrna W. 
 Bancroft ; Assessors, Alonzo Sawtell, Thomas E. Glazier, Smyr- 
 na W. Bancroft ; Treasurer, E. S. Jackson ; Representative, David 
 Wright. 
 
 1854. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier ; Town Clerk, Francis Richard- 
 son ; Selectmen, Thomas E. Glazier, Alonzo Sawtell, Smyrna W. 
 Bancroft ; Assessors, Thorley Collester, Hubbard Kendall, S. W. A. 
 Stevens ; Treasurer, E. S. Jackson ; Representative, David Wright. 
 
214 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 1855. — Moderator, John M. Moore ; Town Clerk, James H. Greenwood ; 
 Selectmen, Asa Merriam, A. L. Greenwood, M. A. Gates ; Asses- 
 sors, Abel Stevens, Edward Greenwood, Asa F. Smith ; Treasurer, 
 E. S. Jackson ; Representatives, John M. Moore. 
 
 1856. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier ; Town Clerk, James H. Green- 
 wood ; Selectmen, Thomas E. Glazier, S. W. A. Stevens, Charles 
 Thompson ; Assessors, Simeon K. Leland, Thorley CoUester, Ivers 
 Whitney ; Treasurer, E. S. Jackson ; Representative, Asa Mer- 
 riam. 
 
 1857. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier ; Town Clerk, James H. Green- 
 wood ; Selectmen, A. L. Greenwood, Asa Merriam, M. A. Gates; 
 Assessors, Asa F. Smith, Rufus Newton, Edward Greenwood; 
 Treasurer, E. S. Jackson. 
 
 1858. — Moderator, Asaph Wood ; Town Clerk, James H. Greenwood ; 
 Selectmen, Asa Merriam, M. A. Gates, Amasa Bancroft ; Asses- 
 sors, Rufus Newton, Francis Richardson, Ivers Whitney ; Treas- 
 urer, E. S. Jackson ; Representative, Thomas E. Glazier. 
 
 1859. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier ; Town Clerk, Francis Richard- 
 son ; Selectmen, Asa Merriam, Amasa Bancroft, M. A. Gates ; 
 Assessors, Francis Richardson, Ivers Whitney, Aaron Gi'eenwood ; 
 Treasurer, E. S. Jackson ; Representative, William Mayo, West- 
 minster. 
 
 1860. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier ; Town Clerk, Francis Richard- 
 son ; Selectmen, Amasa Bancroft, Thorley CoUester, Aaron Green- 
 wood ; Assessors, Aaron Greenwood, Ivers Whitney, Francis 
 Richardson ; Treasurer, Elisha S. Jackson ; Representative, Seth 
 Heywood. 
 
 1861. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier; Town Clerk, Francis Rich- 
 ardson ; Selectmen, Aaron Greenwood, Thorley CoUester, Amasa 
 Bancroft; Assessors, Aaron Greenwood, Asa F. Smith, Ivers 
 Whitney ; Treasurer, Elisha S. Jackson ; Representative, Joseph 
 W. P^orbush of Westminster. 
 
 1862. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier ; Town Clerk, Francis Rich- 
 ardson ; Selectmen, Amasa Bancroft, Thorley CoUester, Jonas 
 Pierce ; Assessors, Ivers Whitney, Thomas E. Glazier, Aaron 
 Greenwood ; Treasurer, Elisha S. Jackson ; Representative, Thor- 
 ley CoUester. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 215 
 
 1863. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier; Town Clerk, Francis Richard- 
 son ; Selectmen, Smyrna W. Bancroft, Thorley Collester, Marcius 
 A. Gates ; Assessors, Aaron Greenwood, Thomas E. Glazier, Ivers 
 Whitney ; Treasurer, C. Webster Bush ; Representative, Franklin 
 Wyman of Westminster. 
 
 1864. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier; Town Clerk, Francis Richard- 
 son ; Selectmen, Amasa Bancroft, M. A. Gates, John Edgell ; As- 
 sessors, Marcus Wright, Ivers Whitney, Aaron Greenwood ; Treas- 
 urer, C. Webster Bush ; Representative, Allen Folger. 
 
 1865. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier; Town Clerk, Francis Richard- 
 son; Selectmen,. Marcius A. Gates, Ezra Osgood, Asa Temple; 
 Assessors, Ivers Whitney, Benj. F. Kendall, Hiram Wood ; Treas- 
 urer, C. Webster Bush ; Representative, Augustine Whitney of 
 AVestminster. 
 
 1866. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier; Town Clerk, Francis Richard- 
 son; Selectmen, Marcius A. Gates, Ezra Osgood, Asa Temple; 
 Assessors, Ivers Whitney, Aaron Greenwood, Hiram Wood; 
 Treasurer, C Webster Bush ; Representative, A. A. Bent. 
 
 1867. — Moderator, A. Allen Bent; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson; 
 Selectmen, Asa Temple, Ezra Osgood, Amos B. Minott ; Asses- 
 sors, Ivers Whitney, Aaron Greenwood, Hiram Wood ; Treasurer, 
 C. Webster Bush ; Representative, George P. Hawkes of Tem- 
 plet on. 
 
 1868. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier; Town Clerk, Francis Rich- 
 ardson ; Selectmen, Ezra Osgood, Asa Temple, A. B. Minott ; 
 Assessors, Ivers Whitney, Aaron Greenwood, Hiram Wood ; 
 Treasurer, C. Webster Bush ; Representative, Charles Heywood. 
 
 1869. — Moderator, A. A. Bent ; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson ; Se- 
 lectmen, Charles Heywood, Allen Folger, S. W. A. Stevens; 
 Assessors, Ivers Whitney, Aaron Greenwood, Francis Richard- 
 sou ; Treasurer, C. Webster Bush ; Representative, Calvin S. 
 Greenwood. 
 
 1870. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier ; Town Clerk, Francis Richard-- 
 son; Selectmen, Chai-les Heywood, S. W. A. Stevens, Thomas E. 
 Glazier ; Assessors, Aaron Greenwood, Ivers Whitney, Francis 
 Richardson ; Treasurer, C. Webster Bush ; Representative, John 
 M. Moore. 
 
216 HISTOBY OF GAEDNFR. 
 
 1871. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier; Town Clerk, Francis Richard- 
 son ; Selectmen, Thomas E. Glazier, Henry C. Hill, Marcus 
 Wright ; Assessors, Aaron Greenwood, Ivers Whitney, Thomas E. 
 Glazier; Treasurer, C. Webster Bush ; Representative, Levi Hey- 
 wood. 
 
 1872. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier ; Town Clerk, Francis Richard- 
 son ; Selectmen, C. Webster Bush, H. C. Hill, Marcus Wright; 
 Assessors, Aaron Greenwood, Ivers Whitney, Asa F. Smith ; 
 Treasurer, C. Webster Bush ; Representative, William Stone of 
 Templeton . 
 
 1873. — Moderator, Thomas E. Glazier ; Town Clerk, Fi-ancis Richard- 
 son ; Selectmen, Levi H. Sawin, Augustus Knowlton, Samuel 
 Bent ; Assessors, Aaron Greenwood, Ivers Whitney, Asa F. Smith ; 
 Treasurer, C. Webster Bush ; Representative, William N. Wal- 
 ker of Templeton. 
 
 1874. — Moderator, M. R. Hunting; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson; 
 Selectmen, Levi H. Sawin, Augustus Knowlton, Samuel Bent; 
 Assessors, Aaron Greenwood, Ivers Whitney, Asa F. Smith ; 
 Treasurer, C. Webster Bush ; Representative, Levi II. Sawin. 
 
 1875. — Moderator, Asa Merriam ; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson ; 
 Selectmen, Ezra Osgood, A. L. Greenwood, A. B. Jackson; As- 
 sessors, Aaron Greenwood, Ivers AVhitney, A. F. Smith ; Treas- 
 urer, C. Webster Bush ; Representative, Edward Sanderson of 
 Templeton. 
 
 1876. — Moderator, John M. Moore; Town C'erk, Francis Ricliardson ; 
 Selectmen, Ezra Osgood, A. L. Greenwood, Thomas Greenwood ; 
 Assessors, Ivers Whitney, Aaron Greenwood, Henry lladley ; 
 Treasurer, C. Webster Bush ; Representative, H. C. Knowlton. 
 
 1877. — Moderator. Asaph Wood; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson; 
 
 Selectmen, Ezra Osgood, A. L. Greenwood, Thomas Greenwood ; 
 
 Assessors, Aaron Greenwood, Ivers Whitney, C. Webster Bush ; 
 
 Treasurer, C. Webster Bush ; Representatives, Simeon Merritt of 
 
 Ashburnham, Wilder P. Clark of Winchendon. 
 1878. — Moderator, John M. JNIoore ; Town Clerk, Francis Richardson ; 
 
 Selectmen, Ezra Osgood, A. L. Greenwood, Thomas Greenwood ; 
 
 Assessors, Aaron Greenwood, Ivers Whitney, C. Webster Bush ; 
 
 Treasurer, C. Webster Bush ; Representatives, C. Webster Bush, 
 
 Artemas Merriam of Westminster, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNEB. 217 
 
 In 1857, the State Constitution was so amended that the House 
 of Representatives should consist of two hundred and forty 
 members and no more, and for this purpose the state was divided 
 into districts of one or more towns ; Westminster and Gard- 
 ner forming one district, and entitled to one Representative each 
 year. In 1867, the state was districted anew, Templeton and 
 Gardner forming a district, and entitled to one Representative 
 yearly. In 1877, the state was again redistricted and Gardner, 
 Winchendon, Ashburnham, Westminster and Princeton were 
 made a double district, and entitled to two Representatives, each 
 year. It seems necessary to make the above statement, in 
 order to show why this town has been represented some years 
 by men not belonging here. 
 28 
 
218 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 CARE OF THE POOR. 
 
 " For the poor shall never cease out of the land : therefore I comraand thee, 
 saying, Thou shalt open thiue hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and 
 to thy needy, in thy land." — Dent. 15 : 11. 
 
 "For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will, ye may 
 do them good." — 2Iark 14 : 7. 
 
 "True is it that we have seen better days, 
 And have with holy bell been knoU'd to church; 
 And sat at good men's feasts ; and wiped our eyes 
 , Of drops that sacred pitj^ hath cngender'd." 
 
 —As You Like It, Act II., Scene VII. 
 " Oppress'd with tAvo weak evils, age and hunger." 
 
 —.4s You Like It, Act 11., Scene VII. 
 
 " Give him a little earth for charity !" 
 
 —Henry VIIL, Act IV, Scene II. 
 " Children of wealth or want, to each is given 
 One spot of green and all the blue of heaven." 
 
 — O. W. Holmes. 
 " My equal he will be again, 
 
 Down in that cold oblivious gloom, 
 Where all the prostrate ranks of men 
 Crowd, without fellowship, the tomb." 
 
 — J. Montgomory. 
 " Want is the only Avoe God gives you power to heal !" 
 
 — Mrs. Caroline E. Norton. 
 
 CARE for the poor and needy is a plain dictate of hnnianity. 
 We learn, from the oldest records extant, that this was 
 regarded as a prominent and commendable practice among 
 nations of the greatest antiquity. For instance, in the book of 
 Job, so much admired by Daniel Webster, for the beauty and 
 sublimity of its language, we have frequent mention of this sort 
 of charity, for the poor, the widow and the orphan, as evidence 
 of a righteousness meriting the approval of all good men, while 
 he, who neglected this duty, w^as denounced as worthy of se- 
 verest reprobation, upon whom, was invoked the punishment 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 219 
 
 of the Almighty-' and the deserved disapproval of all mankind. 
 The man, destitute of this virtue, whose conduct is actuated by 
 supreme selfishness, is described, as manifesting this selfishness 
 in his treatment of the poor and the oppressed ; " they violently 
 take away flocks and feed thereof. They drive away the ass of 
 the fatherless, they take the widow's ox for a pledge. They 
 turn the needy out of the way; the poor of the earth hide 
 themselves together. They pluck the fatherless from the breast, 
 and take a pledge of the poor. They cause him to go naked 
 without clothing, and they take away the sheaf from the hungry. 
 The murderer, rising with the light, killeth the poor and needy. 
 Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor ; because 
 he hath violently taken away an house which he builded not; 
 surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save 
 of that which he desired. In the fullness of his sufliciency he 
 shall 1)6 in straits ; every hand of the wicked shall come upon 
 him." 
 
 While on the other hand. Job appeals to a directly opposite 
 course of conduct in himself, as affording the clearest evidence 
 of his integrity and righteousness, in the sight of God and men. 
 *' When the ear heard me, then it blessed me ; and when the 
 eye saw me, it gave witness to me : because I delivered the 
 poor that cried, and the ftitherless, and him that had none to 
 help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came 
 upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I 
 was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a 
 father to the poor : and the cause of which I knew not I searched 
 out. I break the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out 
 of his teeth. Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was 
 not my soul grieved for the poor? If I have withheld the poor 
 from their desire or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail ; 
 or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath 
 not eaten thereof; if I have seen any perish for want of cloth- 
 ing, or any poor without covering ; if his loins have not blessed 
 me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep ; if 
 I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my 
 
220 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 help ill the gate : then let mine arm foil from my shoulder blade 
 and mine arm be broken from the bone. The stranger did not 
 lodge in the street ; but I opened my doors to the traveler." 
 
 In the Hebrew nation, under the Mosaic law, there were 
 special divine enactments in favor of the poor and needy ; the 
 following are some of these enactments : — 
 
 "And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shall not 
 wholly reap, the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather 
 the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy 
 vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vine- 
 yard ; thou shalt leave them for the poor and the stranger."* 
 
 " When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and 
 hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch 
 it ; it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the 
 widow : that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work 
 of thine hands. When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt 
 not go over the bows again : it shall be for the stranger, for the 
 fatherless, and for the widow. When thou gatherest the grapes 
 of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward : it shall be 
 for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. And if 
 a man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge : in any 
 case, thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun 
 goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment and bless 
 thee. Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant, that is poor and 
 needy. At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall 
 the sun go down upon it ; for he is poor and setteth his heart 
 upon it ; lest he cry against thee unto the Lord and it be sin unto 
 thee. Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger ; 
 nor of the fatherless ; nor take the widow's raiment to pledge. ''-f 
 
 The poor and the stranger were to have their portion, from 
 the produce of the land, in the seventh or sabbatical year. 
 "And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the 
 fruits thereof; but the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie 
 still; that the poor of the people may eat: in like manner 
 thou shalt deal with thy vineyard and thy oliveyard."J 
 
 *Levt. 19 : 9, 10. tDeut. 24. JEx. 23 : 10, 11. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 221 
 
 The lands of the poor, were not allowed to be permanently 
 alienated, but the original owners had the right of re-entry upon 
 these lands, at the expiration of fifty years, or in the year of 
 jubilee, with certain limitations. 
 
 There was also the prohibition of usury, and of the retention 
 of loans, without interest. "And if thy brother be waxen poor, 
 and fallen in decay with thee ; then thou shalt relieve him : yea, 
 though he be a stranger, or a sojourner ; that he may live with 
 thee. Take thou no usury of him or increase. Thou shalt not 
 give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for 
 increase."* 
 
 Permanent bondage was foibidden, and the emancipation, of 
 Hebrew bondsmen and bondswomen, was enjoined in the sab- 
 batical and jubilee years, even when bound to a foreigner. "If 
 there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within 
 any of thy gates, in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth 
 thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, nor shut thine hand from 
 thy poor brother ; but thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, 
 and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which 
 he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked 
 heart, saying. The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand ; 
 and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest 
 him naught ; and he cry unto the Lord against thee and it be a 
 sin unto thee. Thou shall surely give him, and thine heart 
 shall not be grieved, when thou givest unto him : because that 
 for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, 
 and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall 
 never cease out of the land : therefore I command thee saying, 
 Thou shalt open thine hand Avide unto thy brother, to thy poor, 
 and to thy needy, in thy land. And if thy brother, an Hebrew 
 man or an Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee 
 six years, then in the seventh year, thou shalt let him go free 
 from thee. And when thou sendest him out free from thee, 
 thou shalt not let him go away empty : thou shalt furnish him 
 
 *Levt. 25 : 35, 86, 37. 
 
222 HISTORY OF GAIWNFR. 
 
 liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, aud out of thy 
 winepress : and that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed 
 thee."* 
 
 Under this theocratic government, the severest woes were 
 pronounced upon the oppressors of the poor, in the ordinary 
 transactions of life, or in judicial proceedings unfavorable to 
 them. " Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and 
 that write grievousness which they have prescribed ; to turn 
 aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from 
 the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and 
 that they may rob the fatherless !"| 
 
 " For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not 
 turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the right- 
 eous for silver and the poor for a pair of shoes ; that pant after 
 the dust of the earth, on the head of the poor, and turn aside 
 the way of the meek."| 
 
 " Execute true judgment, and show mercy and compassions, 
 every man to his brother : and oppress not the widow, nor the 
 fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you 
 imagine evil against his brother in your heart. ''§ 
 
 Under this government, mendicants were divided into two 
 classes, the settled poor, and the vagrants. In the light of the 
 enactments of the Jewish theocracy, above adduced, and the 
 various instances of assisting the poor referred to, it is made 
 sufliciently clear, that poor and needy humanity has been, from 
 the earliest ages, an object of divine and human sympathy and 
 charity. 
 
 That this evil, of mendicancy, continued to be prevalent, in 
 the Eastern nations, is evident from the repeated instances re- 
 corded in the New Testament, in the times of Christ and of his 
 apostles, who, out of their common and scanty purse, made 
 frequent provision for the poor. The observance of this duty 
 of caring for the poor, was regarded as an essential qualification 
 in any one who would go forth as a representative of the Chris- 
 
 *Deiit. 15 : 7-15. fls. 10 : 1, 2. JAinos 2 : G, 7. §Zecli. 7 : 9, 10. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 223 
 
 tian religion. " Onl}^ they would that we should remember the 
 poor; the same which I also was forward to do."* 
 
 Notwithstanding, the care of the poor and necessitous, is a 
 natural outcome of humanity and religion, nevertheless, the best 
 methods to be adopted for the management of this class, es- 
 pecially the vagrant poor, must ever be a question of gravest 
 importance, surpassing, sometimes, the ability of our wisest 
 legislators to solve. Hume, refei-ring to this, as a matter of 
 great importance, in the reign of Henry the VIII., 1509-1547, 
 says, " Some laws were made with regard to beggars and 
 vao-rants ; one of the circumstances in oovernment, which hu- 
 manity would most powerfully recommend to a benevolent leg- 
 islator ; which seems, at first sight, the most easily adjusted, and 
 which is yet the most difficult to settle, in such a manner as to 
 attain the end, without destroying industry. "f 
 
 For many centuries, previous to the reign of Henry the VIII., 
 the care of the poor was chiefly committed to the monasteries, 
 which, for a long time, continued to fulfil honestly the inten- 
 tions for which they were established ; but, according to Fronde, 
 as early as the reign of Eichard II., 1377-1399, " it was found 
 necessary to provide some other means for the support of the 
 aged and impotent ; the monasteries not only having then 
 begun to neglect their duty, but by the appropriation of bene- 
 fices having actually deprived the parishes, of their local and 
 independent means of charity. Licenses to beg, were, at that 
 time, granted to deserving persons ; and it is noticeable that 
 this measure was, in a few years, followed by the petition to 
 Henry the IV., 1399-1413, for the secularization of ecclesias- 
 tical property. Thus early, in our history, had the regular clergy 
 forgotten the nature of their mission, and the object for which 
 the administration of the nation's charities had been submitted 
 to them. Thus early, while their houses were the nurseries of 
 dishonest mendicancy, they had surrendered to lay compassion, 
 those who ought to have been their especial care. At the open- 
 
 *Gal. 2 : 10. tHunie's History of Englaud, vol. 3, p. 317. 
 
224 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 ing of the sixteenth century, before the suspension of the mon- 
 asteries h.'id suggested itself in a practical form, pauperism was 
 a state question of great difficulty. 
 
 " For the able bodied vagrant, it is well known that the old 
 English laws had no mercy. When wages are low, and popu- 
 lation has out-grown the work which can be provided for it, 
 idleness may be involuntary and innocent ; at a time when all 
 industrious men could maintain themselves in comfort and 
 prosperity, ' Avhen a fair day's wages for a fair day's work ' 
 was really and truly the law of the land, it was presumed that 
 if strong, capable men preferred to wander about the country, 
 and live upon the labor of others, mendicancy was not the only 
 crime of which they were likely to be guilty : while idleness 
 itself was justly looked upon as a high offense and misdemeanor. 
 The penalty of God's laws against idleness, as expressed in the 
 system of nature, was starvation ; and it was held intolerable 
 that any man should be allowed to escape a divine judgment 
 by begging under false pretences, and robbing others of their 
 honest earnings." 
 
 The following is an act of parliament, concerning the increase 
 of vagrancy, passed in the year 1531 : — 
 
 " Whereas, in all places throughout this realm of England, 
 vagabonds and beggars have of long time increased, and daily 
 do increase in great and excessive numbers, by the occasion of 
 idleness, mother and root of all vices ; whereby hath insurged 
 and sprung, and daily insurgeth and springeth, continual thefts, 
 murders, and other heinous ofienses and great enormities, to 
 the high displeasure of God, the inquietation and damage of 
 the King's people, and to the mar^ellous disturbance of the 
 common weal of this realm : and whereas, strait statutes and 
 ordinances have been before this time devised and made, as well 
 by the king our sovereign lord, as also by divers, his most 
 noble progenitors, kings of England, for the most necessary 
 and due reformation of the premises ; yet that notwithstanding, 
 the said number of vagabonds and beggars be not seen in any 
 part to be diminished, but rather daily augmented and increased 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER, 225 
 
 into great routs or companies, as evidently and manifestly it 
 doth and may appear : Be it therefore enacted by the king our 
 sovereign lord, and by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and 
 the Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, that the 
 justices of the peace of all and singular the shires of England 
 within the limits of their commission, and all other justices of 
 the peace, mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, and other officers of every 
 city, borough, or franchise, shall from time to time, as often as 
 need shall require, make diligent search and inquiry of all aged, 
 poor, and impotent persons, which live, or of necessity be com- 
 pelled to live by alms of the charity of the people ; and such 
 search made, the said officers, every of them within the limits 
 of their authorities, shall have power, at their discretions, to 
 enable to beg within such limits as they shall appoint, such 
 of the said impotent persons as they shall think convenient ; 
 and to give in commandment to every such impotent beggar 
 (by them enabled) that none of them shall beg without the 
 limits so appointed to them. And further, they shall deliver to 
 every such person so enabled, a letter containing the name of 
 that person, witnessing that he is authorized to beg, and the 
 limits within which he is appointed to beg, the same letter to 
 be sealed with the seal of the hundred, rape, wapentake, city 
 or borough, and subscribed with the name of one of the said 
 justices or officers aforesaid. And if any such impotent persons 
 do beg in any other place than within such limits, than the jus- 
 tices of the peace, and all other the king's officers and ministers, 
 shall by their discretions punish all such persons by imprison- 
 ment in the stocks, by the space of two days and two nights, 
 giving them only bread and water. 
 
 " If any such impotent person be found begging without a 
 license, at the discretion of the justices of the peace, he shall 
 be stripped naked from the middle upwards, and whipped, 
 within the town in which he be found, or within some other 
 town, as it shall seem good. Or if it be not convenient so to 
 punish him, he shall be set in the stocks by the space of three 
 days and three nights. 
 
 29 
 
22[) IIISTOBY OF GAIIDXEL\ 
 
 ''And be it further enacted, that it* any person or persons, 
 being whole and mighty in body and able to labor, be taken in 
 begging in any part of this realm ; and if any man or woman, 
 being whole and mighty in body, having no land, nor master, 
 nor using any lawful merehandry, eraft or mystery whereby he 
 might get his living, be vagrant, and can give none account 
 how he doth lawfully get his living, then it shall be lawful to 
 the constables and all other king's otlicers, ministers, and sub- 
 jects of every town, parish and hamlet, to arrest the said vaga- 
 bonds and idle persons, and bring them to any justice of the 
 peace of the same shire or liberty, or else to the high constable 
 of the hundred: and the justice of the peace,. high constable, 
 or other otficer, shall cause such idle person so to him brought, 
 to be had to the next market town or other place, and there to 
 be tied to the end of a cart, naked, and be beaten with whips 
 throughout the same town till his body be bloody by reason of 
 such whipping ; and after such punishment or whipping had, the 
 person so punished shall be enjoined upon his oath to return 
 forthwith without delay, in the next and straight way, to the 
 place where he was born, or where he last dwelled before the 
 same punishment, by the ^pace of three yeai's : and then put 
 himself to labor like a true man ought to do ; and after that 
 done, ever}^ such person so punished and ordered, shall have a 
 letter, sealed with the seal of the hundred, rape or wapentake, 
 witnessing that he hath been punished according to this statute, 
 and containing the day and place of his punishment, and the 
 place whereunto he is limited to go, and by what time he is 
 limited to come thither; for that within that time, showing the 
 said letter, he may lawfully beg by the way, and otherwise not: 
 and if he do not accomplish the order to him appointed by the 
 said letter, then to be eftsoons taken and whipped ; and so often 
 as there be fimlt found in him, to be whipped till he has his 
 body put to labor for his living, or otherwise truly get his living 
 so long as he is able to do so. 
 
 "Be it further enacted, that scholars of the Universities of 
 Oxford and Cambridjxe, that 2:0 about beuiiino-, not bcinu' au- 
 
HISTORY OF GAIWJ^EU. 227 
 
 tliori/cd iiiul(n- the scnl of the said universities, by the commis- 
 sai-y, c'liMiiccllor, or vice cliancellor of the same ; and tiiat all 
 and .siii.<::idarshi[)inon pretending losses of their shii)sand goods, 
 going ahout llu; coiinlry begging ^vithout sudicicnt authority, 
 shall be punished and ordered in manner and form as is above 
 rehearsed of strong beggars; and that nil proetors and pardon- 
 ers, and all other idle persons going about in eounties or 
 abiding in any town, eity or borough, some of them using 
 divers subtle, crafty and unlawful games and plays, and sonic 
 of them feigning themselves to have; knowledges in physic, 
 physnamye, and palmistry, or other crafty science, whereby 
 they bear the people in hand that they can tell their destinies, 
 dreams and fortunes, and such other like fantastical imagina- 
 tions, to the great deceit of the king's subjects, shall, upon an 
 examination had bi'fore two justices of the peace, if by provable 
 witn(>sses they be found guilty of such deceits, be punished l)y 
 whipping at two days together, after the manner before re- 
 hearsed. And if they eftsoons oifend in tlu^ sam(> or any like 
 offence, to be scourged two days, and the third day to be put 
 upon the [)illory, from nine o'clock till eleven, the forenoon of 
 the same day, and to have the right ear cut oft'; and if they 
 offend the third time, to have like punishment, with whippinir 
 and the [)illory, and to have the other ear cut off'." 
 
 As if this act was not sufficiently severe to cure the evils of 
 " sturdy mendicancy, "and to rid the hind of " sturdy' and valiant 
 beggars," the provisions of it were expanded, five years later, 
 enhancing the penalties, and, at the same time, providing vag- 
 rants with labor upon public works, as roads, harbors, embank- 
 ments and fortifications. Another important alteration was a 
 restriction upon private eharit}'. According to Fronde, "pri- 
 vate i)ersons wen; forl)idden, under heavy penalties, to give 
 money to beggars, whether deserving or undeserving. The 
 poor, of each parish, might call at houses, within the boundaries 
 for broken meats ; but this was the limit of personal alms 
 giving; and the money, which men might be disposed to offer, 
 was to be collected by the church wardens, on Sundays and 
 
228 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 holidays, in the churches. The parish priest was to keep an 
 account of the receipts and expenditure. 
 
 " The sturdy vagabond, who, by the earlier statute, was con- 
 demned on his second offence to lose the whole or part of his 
 right ear, was condemned, by the amended act, if found a third 
 time offending, with the mark upon him of his mutilation, ' to 
 suffer pains and execution of death as a felon, and as an enemy 
 of the commonwealth.' For an able bodied man to be caught 
 a third time begging, Avas held a crime deserving death, and 
 the sentence was intended, on tit occasions, to be executed. If 
 out of employment, preferring to be idle, he might be demanded 
 for work, by any master of the ' craft' to which he belonged, 
 and compelled to work whether he would or not. If caught 
 begging once, being neither aged nor infirm, he was whipped at 
 the cart's tail. If caught a second time, his ear was slit or 
 bored through with a hot iron. If caught a third time, being; 
 thereby proved to be of no use upon this earth, but to live 
 upon it only to his own hurt and to that of others, he suffered 
 death as a felon. So the kuv of England remained in force for 
 sixty years. It was therefore the expressed conviction of the 
 English nation, that it was better for a man not to live at all, 
 than to live a profitless and worthless life. The vagabond was 
 a sore spot upon the connnon wealth, to be healed by wholesome 
 discipline if the gangrene was not incurable ; but to be cut 
 away with the knife, if the milder treatment of the cart- whip 
 failed to be of profit."* 
 
 This se^^'erity, in the treatment of vagrants, did not, however, 
 have the effect to rid the land of this deeply rooted evil. It is 
 said to have failed from over severity, so that through " foolish 
 pity of them that should have seen the laws executed," there 
 had been no hanging and very little whipping. This may be 
 said to be the result of all unduly severe legislative acts. After 
 the death of Henry VIII., in 1547, an act was passed, 
 called the vagrancy act, by which an attempt was made to 
 
 *Frucle's Ilistoiy of Eiiiiiand, vol. 1, p. 78-90. 
 
HISTORY OF GABBJ^FB. 229 
 
 reduce the vagrant to the coudition of a slave. " A servant 
 determmately idle, leaving his work, or an able bodied vagrant, 
 roaming the country without means of honest self-support and 
 without seeking employment, was to be brought before the two 
 nearest magistrates. On proof of the idle living of the said 
 person, he was to be branded on the breast, where the mark 
 would be concealed by his clothes, with the letter V, and 
 adjudged to some honest neighbor as a slave, ' to have and to 
 hold the said slave for the space of two years then next follow- 
 ing ;' ' and to order the said slave as follows :' that is to sajs 
 ' to take such person adjudged as slave with him, and only 
 giving the said slave bread and Avater, or small drink, and such 
 refuse of meat as he should think meet, to cause the said slave 
 to work.' If mild measures failed, if the slave was still idle or 
 ran away, he was to be marked on the cheek or forehead with 
 an S and to be adjudged as slave for life. This measure failed 
 and, in two years, was withdrawn."* 
 
 From these instances, now adduced from English history, 
 relating to vagrancy, and the failure of parliamentary enact- 
 ments to suppress it, legislators and town officers of modern 
 times will discover, that they are engaged in no new conflict 
 with this useless and dangerous class, who to-day, throng the 
 streets of our cities, and the highways of our entire land, plun- 
 dering houses and stores, and consuming the hard earnings of 
 our honest and industrious citizens, parasites of society. 
 
 It appears from the Colonial Records that the early colonists 
 encountered this same evil, which they sought to control by 
 legislation. September 3d, 1639, the following act was passed 
 by the Plymouth Colony, " for the preventing of idleness and 
 other evils, occasioned thereby. It is enacted, by the Court, 
 that the grand jurymen of every town shall have power Avithin 
 their several townships, to take a special view and notice of all 
 manner of persons, married or single, dwelling within their 
 several towns, that have small "means to maintain them, and are 
 
 *rrude's History of Euglaud, vol. 5, p. 75-76. 
 
230 HIST OB Y OF GAlWNEll. 
 
 suspected to live idly and loosely, and to require an account of 
 them, how they live, and such as they find delinquent, and can- 
 not give a good account unto them, that they cause the consta- 
 ble to brino- them before the Governor and Assistants, at Plvm- 
 outh, the first Court of Assistants, after such delinquents shall 
 be found out. That such course may be taken with them as in 
 the wisdom of the government, shall be judged just and equal."* 
 
 "It is enacted, by the court and the authority thereof, that 
 if an}^ person or persons shall come into this government, that 
 according to the law^ of England, may justly be accounted vaga- 
 bond ; the marshal or the constable of the town whereunto they 
 come ; shall apprehend him or them ; and upon examination so 
 appearing, he shall whip them or cause them to be whipped 
 W'ith rods, so as it exceed not fifteen stripes ; and to give him 
 or them a pass to depart the government, and if any such per- 
 son or persons shall be found without their pass, or not acting 
 according thereunto, they shall be punished again as formerly ; 
 and in case any constable of this jurisdiction shall be unwilling, 
 or cannot procure any to inflict the punishment aforesaid, that 
 then they shall bring such persons to Plymouth, to the under 
 marshal and he shaH inflict it."f 
 
 In the Massachusetts Colony, in 1639, we have the following 
 record : " It is ordered, that the court, or any two magistrates 
 out of court, shall have power to determine all diiferences about 
 a lawful settling and providing for poor persons, and shall have 
 power to dispose of all unsettled persons into such towns as 
 they shall judge to be most fit for the maintenance of such 
 persons and families and the most ease of the country.":]: 
 
 In 1659, we have the followino- record, which throws lisfht 
 upon the custom formerly adopted, in all our towns, of legally 
 warning all new comers, rich or poor, to depart the limits of 
 the town Avithin a certain specified time, that the town might 
 avoid their support, in case they should afterwards become 
 
 ♦Plymouth Colony Kecords, vol. 11, p.. 32. 
 tPlymouth Colony Records, vol. 11, p. 206. 
 {Records of Massachusetts, vol. 1, p. 264. 
 
HISTOliY OF GARDNER. 231 
 
 paupers : " For the Jivoidiiig of all future inconveniences refer- 
 ring to the settling of poor people that may need relief from 
 the place where the}^ dwell, it is ordered by this Court and the 
 authority thereof, that where any person, with his family, or in 
 case he hath no family, shall be resident in any town or pecu- 
 liar of this jurisdiction for more than three months, without 
 notice given to such person or persons, by the constable, or one 
 of the selectmen of the said place, or their orders, that the town 
 is not willing that they should remain as an inhabitant amongst 
 them, and in case after such notice given, such person or per- 
 sons shall, notwithstanding, remain in the said place, if the 
 selectmen of the said place shall not, by way of complaint, 
 petition the next County Court of that shire for relief in the said 
 case, and the same prosecuted to effect, every such person or 
 persons, as the case may require, shall be provided for and re- 
 lieved, in case of necessity, by the inhaliitants of the said place 
 where he or she is so found, 
 
 "And it is further ordered, that each County Court shall, from 
 time to time, hear and determine all complaints of this nature, 
 and settle all poor persons, according to directions of this law, 
 in any town or peculiar within this colony, and every such per- 
 son or persons shall accordingly be entertained and provided for 
 by the selectmen or constable of the said place, at a town 
 charge ; and in case any town or peculiar shall find themselves 
 aggrieved at such dispose of the County Court, they may appeal 
 to the next Court of Assistants ; and where any person or per- 
 sons cannot according to this law be settled in any town or 
 peculiar, they shall then be placed in any town of that county 
 wherein they are found, according as the County Court shall 
 appoint, and their charges satisfied unto them by the county 
 treasurer/'* 
 
 In 1682, still farther legislation, upon this subject, seemed to 
 be demanded, as is apparent from the following enactment of 
 the Great and General Court of Massachusetts : — 
 
 *Recorcls of Massachusetts, vol. 4, Part First, p. 365. 
 
232 HISTORY OF GAIWNFR. 
 
 "Whereas, there are in sundry of our towns, and especially 
 in Boston, many idle persons in families, as well as other single 
 persons, who are greatly, if not altogether, negligent in their 
 particular callings, and some that do not follow any lawful em- 
 ployment for a livelihood, but misspend their time and that 
 little which they earn, to the impoverishing, if not utter undoing, 
 of themselves and families, for prevention whereof, it is or- 
 dered, by this Court and the authority thereof, that the tything- 
 men in each town shall inspect all such families and persons, 
 and speedily return their names to the selectmen of the town 
 where they dwell, who shall forthwith return to the next mag- 
 istrate, and (if in Boston) to any of the magistrates or com- 
 missioners there, who are hereby empowered to issue out 
 warrants to the constable of the respective towns to require 
 such person or family to work in or about any employment they 
 are capable of, in the town or place wdiere they reside, and if 
 they refuse to be regulated, as aforesaid, then to be sent by 
 said authority to the house of correction, and there receive, ac- 
 cording to the orders of that house, and kept to work ; and that 
 such persons and families may be provided for, it is ordered, 
 that all fheir clear earnings shall (by said selectmen or their 
 order) be laid out in necessaries suitable for them or their 
 families' use and relief, and that their wages shall from time to 
 time, be stated by said selectmen ; and if any person or persons 
 shall think themselves wronged thereby, they may complain 
 to the County Court for relief."* 
 
 " No idle drone may live amongst us," was the motto upon 
 which they conducted their legislation towards vagrants. 
 
 In imitation of the ancient custom, of the Massachusetts 
 Colony, in its enactment concerning vagrants, in 1659, we have 
 frequent occurrences recorded upon our town records, of legally 
 warning all recent settlers to leave the town forthwith, of which 
 the following is one of many : — 
 
 ♦Records of Massachusetts, vol. 5, p. 373. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 233 
 
 Worcester, ss. Gardner, June 7ih, 1791. 
 
 To Elijah Wilder, constable for the town of Gardner in said 
 county : Greeting. 
 
 You are, in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
 directed to warn and give notice unto Isaac Jackson, yeoman, 
 and Jonathan Brown, yeoman, and Beulah his wife and their 
 child, and Samuel Edgell, gentleman, and Sarah his wife, and 
 Betsey and Sarah their children, and Joseph Edgell, yeoman, 
 and Dorcas his wife, and Sarah Laws, spinster, all of West- 
 minster, and Rufus Dresser, yeoman, and Elizabeth his wife, of 
 Lancaster, and William Whitney, Jr., yeoman, and Anna his 
 wife, of Winchendon, and Anna Knights, spinster, of Sterling, 
 all of the county of Worcester ; and Daniel Fisher, yeoman, 
 of Walpole and county of Suffolk, and Lewis Dunn, yeoman, 
 and Hannah his wife, and Lucy their daughter, spinster, all of 
 Marlborough, and county of Middlesex and state of Massachu- 
 setts, and Joseph Simond, yeoman, and Miriam his wife, from 
 Putney, and Grace Palmer, spinster, of Shrewsbury, all of 
 Vermont state, who have lately come into this town, for the 
 purpose of abiding therein, not having obtained the town's con- 
 sent ; therefore, that they depart the limits thereof, within 
 fifteen days. And of this precept, with your doings thereon, 
 you are to make return into the office of the town clerk, within 
 twenty days next coming, that such further proceedings may 
 be had in the premises as the law directs. 
 
 Elisha Jackson, 
 Ebenezer Howe, 
 
 Samuel Stone, 
 JosiAH Wheeler, 
 
 Selectmen. 
 
 It is not to be inferred, from the above precept, that the citi- 
 zens of this town had any wish or intention to exclude from 
 their limits these recent comers, but that they were only acting 
 in accordance with the law of self-defense. It may be said, 
 that usually these precepts, of warning were, as Macbeth says, 
 like, 
 
 30 
 
234 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 " A tale 
 Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, 
 Signifj-ing nothing," 
 
 unless it was, the performance of a solemn fsirce. 
 
 That there have been great improvements made in the con- 
 dition of the working man, within the last two centuries, under 
 the ameliorating influences of Christianity, with its consequent 
 advanced civilization, as also a manifest decrease of vagrancy 
 and pauperism, cannot be denied, by the intelligent student of 
 history. Macaulay informs us that, in England, the wages of 
 the laborer, estimated in money, were, in 1685, not more than 
 half of what they were in 1848 ; that, although meat was so 
 cheap, in 1685, it was still so dear, that hundreds of thousands 
 of families, scarcely knew the taste of it ; bread, such as is 
 now given to the inmates of a work-house, was then seldom 
 seen even on the trencher of a yeoman, or a shopkeeper. The 
 great majority of the people lived on rye, barley and oats. 
 Among the commodities, for which the laborer would have had 
 to pay higher, in 1685, than his posterity paid in 1848, "were 
 sugar, salt, coals, candles, soap, shoes, stockings, and generally 
 all articles of clothing and beddinor. 
 
 In confirmation of these facts, as stated by Macaulay, he 
 introduces a statement from King's Natural and Political Con- 
 clusions, who roughly estimated the common people of Eng- 
 land, in 1685, at 880,000 families, of which 440,000 ate animal 
 food twice a week, the remaining 440,000 ate meat not at all, 
 or at most, not oftener than once a week. Beneath this labor- 
 ing class, were a large portion of the population, who were 
 unable to subsist, without more or less aid from the parish. 
 They constituted about one-tifth of the whole population, making 
 the poor rate, the heaviest tax, then borne by the people. In 
 the reign of Charles II., this tax was computed at near seven 
 hundred thousand pounds a year, a little less than the entire 
 revenue of the crown. In a short time, it rose to between 
 eight and nine hundred thousand pounds. Paupers and beggars, 
 in 1696, were estimated at 1,330,000, out of a population of 
 
HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 235 
 
 5,500,000. In 1846, the number of persons who received relief, 
 as appeared from official returns, was 1,332,089, out of a popu- 
 lation of about 17,000,000, showing that, in England, the pau- 
 per rate has been constantly decreasing.* 
 
 Speaking of the condition of the poor, in the reign of Queen 
 Elizabeth and previous, Hume, refers in a note, to his third 
 volume, to a statement made by Holinshead, author of Chroni- 
 cles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, concerning the condi- 
 tion of the poorer classes, " that there are old men dwelling in 
 the village, where I remain, which have noted three things to 
 be marvellously altered in England, within their sound remem- 
 brance. One is the multitude of chimneys lately erected ; 
 whereas, in their young days, there were not above two or three, 
 if so many, in most upland towns of the realm, the religious 
 houses and manor places of their lords, always excepted, and 
 peradventure some great personage, but each made his fire 
 against a reredosse, in the hall where he dined, and dressed his 
 meat. The second is, the great amendment of lodofinofs ; for, 
 said they, our fathers and we ourselves have lain full oft on 
 straw pallets, covered only with a sheet, under coverlets made 
 of dag-swain and a good round log under their head, instead of 
 a bolster. If it was so that the father, or the good man of the 
 house, had a mattress, or flock-bed, and thereto a sack of chafi", 
 to rest his head upon, he thought himself to be as well lodged 
 as the lord of the town, so well were they contented. Pillows, 
 said they, Avere thought meet only for women in childbed. As 
 for servants, if they had any sheet above them, it was well ; for 
 seldom had they any under their bodies to keep them from the 
 prickling straws, that ran oft through the canvas, and rased 
 their hardened hides. The third thing they tell of, is the ex- 
 change of treen platers, so called, I suppose, from tree or wood, 
 into pewter, and wooden spoons into silver or tin. For so 
 common were all sorts of treen vessels, in old time, that a 
 man should hardly find four pieces of pewter of which, one was 
 peradventure a salt, in a good farmer's house"! Erasmus attrib- 
 
 *Macaulay's History of England, vol. 1, p. 317-318. 
 fHume's History of England, vol. 3, p. 465. 
 
236 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 utes the frequent plagues, in England, to the filthiuess, dirt and 
 slovenly habits of the common people ; at the time above refer- 
 red to, he says, " the floors are commonly of clay, strewed with 
 rushes, under which lies, unmolested, an ancient collection of 
 beer, grease, fragments, bones, spittle, excrements of dogs and 
 cats, and ever}' thing that is nasty." 
 
 Comparing the condition of the working men and the poorer 
 classes, in the sixteenth century, with their poor fare and un- 
 comfortable dwellings, so poorly furnished, with the condition 
 of the same classes, with their comfortable homes, and im- 
 proved means of subsistence and education, at the present time, 
 we are brought to the inevitable conclusion that great advances 
 have been made. It is true that, since the close of the war, 
 and especially since the decreased demand for labor, the country 
 has been greatly infested with a class of vagrants, popularly 
 called "tramps," yet the number of these will hardly bear 
 comparison with those which existed in the reign of Henry 
 VIII. and his immediate successors. This class of persons is 
 defined, by the Massachusetts Statute in the following ferms : — 
 
 "Rogues and vagabonds, idle and dissolute persons, who 
 go about begging, persons who use an}' juggling or unlawful 
 games, or plays, common pipers and fiddlers, stubborn children, 
 runaways, common drunkards, common night walkers, pilferers, 
 lewd, wanton, and lascivious persons, in speech or behavior, 
 common railers and brawlers, persons who neglect their calling, 
 or employment, misspend what they earn and do not provide 
 for themselves, or for the support of their families, and all other 
 idle and disorderly persons, including therein those persons 
 who neglect all lawful business and habitually misspend their 
 time by frequenting houses of ill-fame, gaming-houses or tip- 
 pling shops, may, upon conviction, be committed, for a term 
 not exceeding six months, to the house of correction, or the 
 house of industry or work-house within the city or town Avhere 
 the conviction is had, or to the work-house, if any there is, in 
 the city or town in which the offender has a legal settlement, if 
 such town is within the county."* 
 
 ♦Massachusetts General Statutes, chap. 165, sect. 28. 
 
HISTOBY OF GARDNEB. 237 
 
 The question of how to abate this evil, is engaging the atten- 
 tion of our Massachusetts legislature at the time of this writing, 
 March 2«3th, 1878. Various opinions exist as to the best 
 methods to be pursued, no new legislation being thought nec- 
 essary, unless it be to provide for a better enforcement of the 
 above statute, under the vigilance of the state detective force. 
 The general opinion is, that vagrancy, in all countries, is fos- 
 tered by indiscriminate almsgiving, which is not charity. In 
 confirmation of such an opinion, Mr. Lambert, late poor-law 
 inspector of England, says, " I cannot too emphatically enforce 
 my conviction, that, as long as the public persists in bestowing 
 alms upon valiant beggars and sturdy vagabonds, every attempt, 
 on the part of those who make or administer the laws for the 
 suppression of vagrancy and mendicancy, will, most assuredly, 
 prove unavailing." 
 
 That there is a decreasing necessity for the fostering or con- 
 tinuance of this evil, is evident from the statistics of the 
 Labor Bureau, of Massachusetts, for 1877. According to the 
 careful investigation of Col. Wright, of this bureau, with the 
 exception of the building trades and unskilled laborers, no large 
 bodies of men have been found, out of employment. Since 
 1875, there has been an average deduction in wages of nine per 
 cent., Avhich corresponds, very nearly, to the decline in gold. 
 Wherever the municipal administration did its duty, there was 
 much less spent for pauperism in 1877, than in 1875, showing 
 the expenditure for paupers to be on the decrease. The con- 
 clusion then, is, if men are vagabonds, they are such from 
 preference, and as a general rule, should be treated according 
 to the provisions of the statute relating to vagrancy. 
 
 It may be thought, by the reader, that a disproportionate 
 space is given, in this chapter, to the discussion of vagrancy. 
 Our only apology is the greatness of the evil, as it now exists, 
 throughout all our towns and states. 
 
 In directing the attention of the reader to that part of the 
 history of Gardner, which relates to the care of its paupers, we 
 shall be interested in and perhaps somewhat surprised, at the 
 
238 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 manner in which they were annually disposed of, by vendue or 
 auction, previous to the purchasing of the present town farm. 
 We are not, however, to associate this method of disposing of 
 paupers, with the auction block of the southern slave dealer. 
 It was a method of public charity, which the necessity of the 
 times demanded. That this unfortunate portion of our inhabi- 
 tants have always been well provided for is, unquestionably, 
 true. We give the following as an illustration of the manner in 
 which the town annually made provision for its poor. 
 
 In the town warant for January 5th, 1789, vol, 1, page 100, 
 Town Eecords, we have the following: — 
 
 " To see what method the town will come into, to take care 
 
 and provide for Oliver Upton and his family ; to vendue them 
 
 out to the lowest bidder, or take some other method, as the 
 
 town shall think best when met. Voted, To vendue them to 
 
 the lowest bidder. Voted, To choose a committee to draw the 
 
 conditions of sale. 
 
 Joseph Bacon, Committee. 
 
 "The conditions of the sale of Oliver Upton and wife are 
 such, that the lowest bidder have them until March meeting, 
 with their household stuff, and to proA ide victuals and drink, 
 convenient for them ; and to take care of them. The selectmen 
 to take a minute of his household stuff. Also the children to 
 be let out to the lowest bidder until the selectmen can provide 
 better for them ; and to provide victuals and drink for them. 
 
 Joseph Bacon, Committee. 
 
 " Voted to accept of the report of conditions of sale. Chose 
 Ebenezer Eaton vendue master. Oliver Upton and wife bid off 
 by Simon Gates, at ten shillings per week. Oldest child bid 
 off by Simon Gates, at one shilling per week. Second child, 
 bid off by John Hey wood at ten pence per week. Third child, 
 bid off by Andrew Beard, at one shilling, two pence per week. 
 Fourth child, bid off by Ebenezer Bolton, at one shilling, nine 
 pence per week." 
 
HISTOBY OF GARDNER. 239 
 
 This method, of disposing of the poor, was pursued by the 
 town until the year 1841), when the present town farm was 
 purchased. For a few years, previous to 1849, the care of the 
 poor was left discretionary with the selectmen. In June, 1789, 
 there was an article in the town warrant, to see " if the town 
 will build a work-house, in order for the poor to be set at work, if 
 the town shall think proper, or act anything relating thereunto, 
 as they shall think best when met. Voted, That the selectmen 
 put this article into the next warrant for a town meeting." 
 This article appeared in the warrant for a town meeting Sep- 
 tember 14th, 1789. "Voted, To dismiss it.'' Thus began and 
 ended all action, of the town, respecting a work-house for the 
 poor, until the year 1849, when the following article appeared 
 in a warrant for a town meeting, January 1st, of that year : 
 " To see if the town will choose a committee to ijurchase a farm 
 or house for the more convenient support of their paupers, act 
 or transact anything relating thereto. Voted, To choose a 
 committee of five to purchase a farm for the support of the 
 poor, at their discretion, and report at a future meeting." This 
 committee consisted of Messrs. Francis Richardson, Chas. Green, 
 Asaph Wood, Smyrna W. Bancroft, Joseph Whitney. March 
 5th, 1849, the town " Voted, To accept of the report of the 
 committee chosen to purchase a pauper farm. Voted, That the 
 treasurer be authorized to give a note to Abraham Stone, for 
 three thousand, five hundred dollars, in consideration of pur- 
 chasing his farm. Voted, That the overseers of the poor, stock 
 and furnish the pauper farm, and that the treasurer be author- 
 ized to borrow one thousand dollars for the same." 
 
 At a town meeting held April 2d, 1849, the town "Voted, 
 To accept of the following rules and regulations for the gov- 
 ernment of the work-house : — " 
 
240 HI8T0BY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Rules and Regulations for the government of the Work-house in 
 the town of Gardner, and duty of the Overseers of the Poor, 
 the Master, the Physician and the Inmates of said house. 
 
 POWER AND DUTY OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE POOR. 
 
 It shall be the duty of the Overseers of the Poor, to provide for 
 all poor and indigent persons, who are, or may be unable to take 
 care of and support themselves, and at all times when circum- 
 stances will admit, they shall be supported on the farm, which 
 the town has purchased for that purpose, which shall be hereafter 
 known by the name of Gardner Work-house. And to provide 
 suitable stock, farming utensils and household furniture, and to 
 make such additions and repairs as are necessary for said estab- 
 lishment, and to manage the concerns in the best possible manner, 
 and to provide suitable places for all poor children, as soon as 
 they can earn their living ; and see that they are brought up to 
 some trade or calling, and suitably schooled, and they shall 
 constantly keep suitable persons for a master and mistress, and 
 such other help as they shall deem necessary, and they shall 
 employ a physician to attend to the sick, when requested by the 
 overseer or master. Said physician shall keep a record of all 
 his visits, the price and for whom said visits were made, for 
 which he shall receive such compensation as may be agreed upon 
 by him and the overseers, and may be removed at the pleasure 
 of the overseers. It shall be the duty of the overseers to meet 
 at the work-house on the last Saturday in February, May, Au- 
 gust and November, annually, for the purpose of inspecting the 
 concerns of the establishment and giving directions to the mas- 
 ter. It shall be the duty also, of one of the overseers to visit 
 said work-house, as often as once a month, for the purpose of 
 inspecting the management of the concerns, the usage of the 
 inmates, and giving directions to the master, etc. ; and at their 
 meeting in February, they shall take an inventory of all the 
 personal property and the betterments, if any, which shall be 
 recorded in a book, kept by them for that and other purposes, 
 and they shall also keep a record of all persons who are sup- 
 
X .. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDjSFEE. 241 
 
 ported in said work-house, the time when they come and the 
 time when they go away ; and to record all other matters which 
 they shall deem necessary, all of which shall be reported by 
 them at the annual March meetinsf. 
 
 POWER AND DUTY OF THE MASTER. 
 
 The master shall have the immediate care and control of the 
 inmates, and all the property belonging to the institution, and 
 shall give an account of the same to the overseers, when called 
 upon by them ; he shall see that the inmates are suitably pro- 
 vided with lodging, clothes, victuals and drink, and shall call 
 on the overseers for such things as are necessary for that pur- 
 pose. It shall also be the duty of the master to see that all 
 who are able to labor are employed in such a manner as shall 
 be most advantageous to the town, and to instruct in regard to 
 the moral character of all persons in his care, and see that the 
 Sabbath is duly observed, and to take care of all the fires, see 
 that the lights are struck, and that the inmates retire to bed in 
 proper season, and that the children in his care are suitabl}^ 
 schooled ; and it shall be his duty to punish any ol" the inmates, 
 who are refractory or disobedient, and perform all other duties 
 which may devolve on him by the direction of the overseers. 
 
 DUTY OF THE INMATES. 
 
 All persons, who are maintained in the work-house, shall be 
 under the immediate care and control of the master and mistress 
 of the house, and shall not absent themselves from the premises 
 without their consent, and such as are able to labor shall labor 
 according to the directions of the master. There shall be no 
 ardent spirits used on the premises except by special direction 
 of the physician. 
 
 The above rules and regulations shall be laid before the town 
 at a regular meeting, and when accepted by them, shall be the 
 Rules and By-laws of the Gardner Work-house, and shall be 
 read at the work-house, in the presence of the master and in- 
 mates, at the commencement of each year, by one of the over- 
 
 31 
 
242 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 seers. These rules and regulations may be altered or amended 
 at any legal meeting of the town. 
 
 The town farm consists of two hundred thirty-three and 
 twenty-one thirty-seconds acres, including the road. The house 
 is large, commodious and in good condition of repair. 
 
 March 7th, 1870, the town voted, that the overseers of the 
 poor, with four other persons, chosen by the town, at that 
 meeting, be a committee to superintend the construction of a 
 new barn on the town farm. The barn is 40 by 72 feet and 
 cost the town about $3,000. 
 
 We give, below, the cost of supporting the poor, at the town 
 farm, each year since 1860, previous records being inaccessible. 
 Also cost of supporting the poor away from the toAvn farm 
 since 1860, with the exception of those years of which the 
 record is not obtainable. 
 
 Cost of supporting poor, annually, Cost of supporting poor, annually, 
 
 at Almshouse since 1860: away from Almshouse since 1860: 
 
 18G0 $917 33 18G0 $176 62 
 
 1861.,., 1,300 14 1861 232 24 
 
 1862 1,073 22 1862 294 55 
 
 1863 882 48 1863 299 04 
 
 1864 1 ,060 44 1864 
 
 1865 1,004 91 1865 42150 
 
 1866 692 95 186G 562 25 
 
 1867 756 19 1867 46154 
 
 1868 708 22 1868 690 22 
 
 1869 997 71 1869 41153 
 
 1870 1,250 02 1870 372 61 
 
 1871 967 87 1871 528 43 
 
 1872 1,304 27 1872 738 97 
 
 1873 1,258 29 1873 
 
 1874 1,459 67 1874 
 
 1875 1,756 14 1875 
 
 1876 2,544 67 1876 
 
 1877 1,223 45 1877 1,194 88 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 243 
 
 Names of masters of the Work or Almshouse from its estab- 
 lishment in 1849, to the present time : — 
 
 Abram Stone 1849-1851 . Isaac B. Hathaway. . . 1869-1870 
 
 John V. Platts 1852-1857 Levi P. Wood 1871-1872 
 
 Daniel S. Elkins 1858-1861 Albert Sanderson 1873-1876 
 
 Washburn Whitney, . . 1862 T. D. Marstin 1877 
 
 Artemas S. Hubbard .1863-1868 Albert Sanderson 1878 
 
 According to the secretary's report for the Board of State 
 Charities, the returns show that two hundred and twenty-two, 
 of the three hundred and forty-two cities and towns in the state, 
 provided for their paupers during the pauper year ending March 
 31st, 1877, in almshouses. The whole number of persons sup- 
 ported at these establishments, within the year above named, 
 w%as six thousand one hundred and sixty-six. The number of 
 persons supported out of almshouses, was two thousand five 
 hundred and five. The average cost, per week, for each pauper, 
 in the almshouse, is two dollars and forty-four cents ; the 
 average cost per week, for each pauper outside the almshouse, 
 is three dollars and forty-eight cents. 
 
244 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 VARIOUS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. 
 
 "A place for everything, and everything in its place." 
 
 — Benjamin Franklin. 
 " Variety's the source of joy below, 
 
 From which, still fresh revolving pleasures flow."— G'rai/. 
 " Variety's the very spice of life, 
 That gives it all its flator." — Cowper. 
 
 IN this chapter, we shall speak of the various organizations 
 that have been in existence, in this town, shice its incorpor- 
 ation, some of which still exist, and some, having had their day 
 and done their work, have ceased to be. 
 
 MILITARY. 
 
 " Sound all the lofty instruments of war. 
 And by that nnisic, let us all embrace." 
 
 —First Part King Henry IV., Act. F., Scene- 11. 
 
 The year 171)4, is distinguished in American history, for the 
 celebrated defeat, by General Wayne, of the Indians of the 
 Northwest, as well as for the famous Whiskey Insurrection in 
 Pennsyhania, when, as General Washington expressed it, " the 
 contest' was " whether a small proportion of the United States 
 shall dictate to the whole Union." It was a year of feverish 
 excitement, througfhout the nation, requiring unusual vigilance, 
 on the part of those in authority, lest the liberty, secured by 
 the war of the Revolution, should be sacrificed by the spirit of 
 anarchy, so rife in many quarters. Acting upon the principle, 
 that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, the au- 
 thority of the commonwealth, issued its order to all towns for 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNEU. 245 
 
 their quotas of men, Avho should be ready at a minute's warning 
 for any military service that might be required of them. 
 
 Accordingly a town meeting was called, August 4th, 1794, 
 " To see what method the town will come into, to raise the men 
 that are now sent for, to stand at a minute's warning, agreeable 
 to order now sent to town, or act anything relating thereto, as 
 they shall think best when met." Upon this article, the town 
 " Voted, To make some consideration to the soldiers' pay, more 
 than what the continent has made, in case they are called for." 
 " Voted, To make up the wages to the soldiers, in case they are 
 called and have to march, forty shillings per month, with what 
 the continent and state shall give, as wages, and twenty shillings 
 bounty, per man, the bounty to be paid when the men march. 
 It is to be understood always, the soldiers that are raised, in 
 this town, should march and the continent or the state should 
 give them forty shillings per month, and twenty shillings boun- 
 ty, then the town is not to give them any bounty or wages." 
 Who these men were, or how many, is not given in the record. 
 October Dth, 171)7, the town " Voted, To make up to those men, 
 that turn out to stand at a minute's warning, if they march, ten 
 doliars a month, including what the continent and state give 
 them." 
 
 According to the laws of the commonwealth, a military com- 
 pany was formed, with William Bickford, captain.* This 
 company continued to perform military duty, as required by 
 law, till the time when the statute under which it was created, 
 was repealed. The following are the names of the different 
 commanders : William Bickford, Reuben Haynes, Samuel 
 Edgell, Aaron Greenwood, Abel Kendall, Benjamin Edgell, 
 David Nichols, Arna Bacon, Ezra Moore, William Bickford, Jr., 
 Ahio Temple, Levi Priest, Ezekiel Howe, Abel Jackson, Bart- 
 lett Stoddai-d, Henry Whitney, William Learned, George W. 
 Co wee and Ephraim Wright. 
 
 August 10th, 1812, there was an article in the town warrant to 
 this effect : "To see if the town will choose a deleofate to meet 
 
 ^Revised Statutes, 1836, chap. 12, sec. 5-12. 
 
246 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 ill county convention at Worcester, on Wednesday, the 12th 
 day of August, instant ; to consult upon the alarming situation 
 of our country, on the declaration of war, between the United 
 States and Great Britain and her Dependencies, and to petition 
 the president of the United States, if they see fit, to bring 
 about a speedy and honorable peace with Great Britain." 
 " Chose Eev. Jonathan Osgood, delegate." 
 
 GARDNER LIGHT INFANTRY. 
 
 Acting in accordance with the spirit indicated in the above 
 vote, in 1813, a volunteer company was formed, called the 
 Gardner Light Infantry. It was ordered, soon after its organi- 
 zation, to South Boston, where it remained, on duty, until the 
 close of the war. The following are the names of the commis- 
 sioned and non-commissioned officers, belonging to this com- 
 pany, at the time they were ordered into service : Ephraim 
 Williams, Captain ; Samuel Sawin, Lieut. ; Joel Cowee, Ensign ; 
 Ebenczer Bolton, 1st Serg. ; Charles Hoar, 2d Serg. ; Benj. 
 Stone, 3rd Serg. : Reuben Wheeler, 4th Serg. Privates : Luke 
 Whitney, Josiah Eaton, Joel Wheeler, James Coolidge, Jr., 
 Josiah Wilder, Isaac Wilder, David Wilder, Phineas Moore, 
 Aaron Conant, Abram F. Glazier, George W. Davis, Seth 
 Whitney, Joseph Whitney, 2d, Joseph P. Whitney, Thomas 
 Bennett, Jr., Hubbard Kendall, Joseph L. Newell, Pliny Bil- 
 lings, David Perley, David Reed, Jr., Isaac Jackson, John 
 Woodbury, Nathaniel Wright, Jonas Brick, Amasa Leland, 
 Farwell Conant and Benjamin Edgell. William Fenno, drum- 
 mer ; Levi Divol, bass drummer; Edward Loud, fifer. 
 
 The following were the officers of this company : Ej)hraim 
 Williams, Joel Cowee, Reuben Wheeler, Benjamin Stone, 
 Thomas Bennett, Jr., Isaac Jackson, Martin Dunster, Luther 
 Alden and Isaac P. Kendall. This company continued its 
 existence for about twenty years, under the command of the 
 above named officers, and enjoyed the reputation of being 
 spirited and well disciplined. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 247 
 
 GARDNER GREYS. 
 
 lu 1844, a military company was formed, called the Gardner 
 Greys. The following is a list of the officers and privates in 
 this company : — 
 
 James Coolidge, 2d, Capt. ; David Kendall, Joseph Wood 
 and Hiram Wood, Lieuts. ; Charles Leland, Quarter-master; 
 John W. Hill, Henry C. Hill, Aaron B. Jackson, Edwin A. 
 Stevens and Alonzo B. Clark, Sergs. ; Josiah A. Jackson, Hosea 
 Adams, John H. Peabody and James W. Woodbury, Corporals ; 
 Aaron B. Jackson, Treasurer. 
 
 Privates : Edwin Hill, Asher W. Shattuck, James B. Lord, 
 Ebenezer Ballou, Alonzo Davis, Addison A. Walker, Joseph 
 L. Wheeler, William B. Hill, George A. Glazier, Nathan A. 
 Gates, John M. Seaver, Edwin Howe, Charles E. Bickford, 
 Abijah Hinds, Jr., Merrick Adams, William H. Learned, Still- 
 man D, Colburn, Harrison R. Rawson, Lysander B. Jaquith, 
 William T. Peabody, Chas. Noyes, Hiram Williams, Elijah W. 
 Foster, John H. Walker, Albert Bickford, J. H. Sperling, Geo. 
 T. Lowell, Ai Stone, J. P. Lynde, Ransom Bolton, Belarmin 
 Bolton, Luke Whitney, R. G. Reed, Daniel Adams, Ephraim 
 S. Bowker, Luther B. Walker, Samuel Hodgman, B. G. Coch- 
 ran, Asa F. Smith and Benjamin H. Rugg. 
 
 D. G. FARRAGUT POST NO. 116, G. A. R. 
 
 This Post was organized January 6th, 1870. There were, at 
 the commencement, seventeen charter members, with the fol- 
 lowing officers : G. W. Wilson, P. C. ; D. R. Symonds, S- 
 V. C. ; G. H. Pond, J. V. C. : E. P. Brown, Adjt. ; N. W. 
 Cramm Q. M. : C. F. Tenney, Surg. ; E. F. Wiley, O. D. ; 
 C. H. Newton, O. G. ; R. B. Baker,''S. M. ; H. G. Pollard, Q. 
 M. S. The Post has now fifty-one members. Since its organ- 
 ization, it has expended, for charities, $629.90, besides the 
 amount which comrades have bestowed from their private 
 purses, which is probably an equal amount. Assisted by an 
 annual appropriation of the town, this Post, upon Decoration 
 
248 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Day, strews the graves of their fallen comrades, in the various 
 cemeteries of the town, with flowers furnished by the friends of 
 the soldiers, after which, assembling in the Town Hall, they 
 listen to an oration, pronounced by some gentleman of their 
 own selection. The present oflScers are ; O. F. Smith, P. C. ; 
 C. Beckwith. S. V. C. ; J. B. Thompson, J. V. C. ; H. Clark, 
 Adjt. ; E. J. Gushing, Q. M. ; J. W. Clapp, Surg. ; J. W. 
 Walcott, O. D. ; D. O. Remingt(m, O. G. ; M. V. Coburn, 
 S. M. ; J. F. Ashley, Chap. 
 
 HOPE LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS. 
 
 " The world is in pain, 
 
 Our secrets to gain ; 
 
 But still let them wonder and gaze on, 
 
 For they ne'er can divine 
 
 The word nor the sign 
 
 Of a Free and Accepted Mason." 
 
 The first regular communication, of Hope Lodge, was held in 
 Free Mason Hall, Gardner, Tuesday evening, March 22d, 1864. 
 Charles Heywood, M. ; Henry C. Hill, S. W. ; Edward J. Saw- 
 yer, J. W. ; Alonzo B Clark, Treas. ; George Heywood, Sec. ; 
 George E. Woodman, S. D. ; George Nichols, J. D. ; L. S. 
 Stowe, S. S. ; Andrew J. Moore, J. S. 
 
 Charter members: Levi Heywood, Horace Whitney, Charles 
 Heywood, Henry C. Hill, Edward J. Sawyer, Alonzo B. Clark, 
 George Heywood, George E. Woodman, George Nichols, Alvin 
 M. Greenwood, Nathaniel Holmes, James H. Greenwood, F. 
 C. Whitcomb. The hall now occupied by Hope Lodge, is in 
 the attic story of the Town Hall, which, in accordance Avith a 
 vote of the town, February 18th, 1865, was leased for a term 
 of years. This room was prepared and elegantly furnished, for 
 the use of the Lodge, in the spring of 1865, and was dedicated, 
 by members of the Grand Lodge, in April of the same year, 
 since which time it has continued in a flourishing condition, care 
 being taken, to preserve the high tone of its membership, in 
 which it was instituted. The regular meetings of this lodge 
 are held monthly, on or before the full moon. The ofiicers of 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 249 
 
 the present year are : Marcus H. Howe, W. M. ; Frank W. 
 Ciimmings, S. W. ; Charles F. Read, J. W. ; John W. Hill, 
 Treas. ; John C. Stone, Sec. ; Rev. E. A. Read, Chap. ; Chas. 
 N. Edgell, M. ; Henry H. Adams, S. D. ; Albert Lovejoy, J. 
 
 D. ; Andrew C. Upham, S. S. ; Arthur W. Brown, J. S. ; 
 George W. Lusk, I. S. ; Lucian N. Hadley, Organist; John 
 Dustin, Tyler. 
 
 Past Masters : Charles Hey wood, Henry C. Hill, Edward J. 
 Sawyer, John D. Edgell, Frank W. Cummings, Charles F. 
 Read, William Stone. 
 
 Committee on Charity : Henry C. Hill, Ezra Osgood, Chas. 
 
 F. Read. 
 
 INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS. 
 " Frieudship, Love and Truth." 
 
 The William Ellison Lodge, No. 185, of the Independent 
 Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted March 19, 1878, with a 
 membership of thirty-two. The professed objects of American 
 Odd Fellowship are "to visit the sick, relieve the distressed, 
 bury the dead and educate the orphan, to improve and elevate 
 the character of man, imbue him with proper conceptions of 
 his capabilities for good, enlighten his mind, enlarge the sphere 
 of his affections, and lead him to the cultivation of the true 
 fraternal relation, designed by the great Author of his being." 
 The hall of this lodge is located near the depots, over Messrs. 
 Howe Brothers' grain store. 
 
 The following is a list of officers chosen at the institution of 
 the lodge : J. Warren Spring, N. G. ; H. O. Tubbs, V. G. ; 
 W. H. Cowee, Sec. ; J. J. Dunn, Treas. ; A. W. Wilson, W. ; 
 C. O. Plantier, C. ; J. S. Garner, O. G. ; A. M. Richards, I. 
 
 G. ; E. N. Goddard, R. S. N. G. ; F. A. Laws, L. S. N. G. ; 
 
 E. L. Gates, R. S. V. G. ; W. B. Heathtield, L. S. V. G. ; C. 
 
 F. Woodbury, R. S. S. ; H. D. Lusk, L. S. S. ; C. H. Spring, 
 Organist ; W. W. Tandy, Chaplain. 
 
 32 
 
250 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS. 
 
 " Eriu, iny country! though sad and forsaken, 
 
 In dreams I revisit thy sea-beaten shore ; 
 But, alas ! in a for foreign land I awaken, 
 
 And sigh for the friends who can meet me no more !"' 
 
 — Thomas Campbell. 
 
 The Ancient Order of Hibernians was organized February 
 ocl, 1873, with the following officers: Thomas F. Carney, 
 President; Daniel Reagan, Vice President; Daniel McKeough, 
 Recording and Financial Secretary ; John F. Barnes, Treasurer. 
 The motto of this order is " Friendship, Unity and True Chris- 
 tian Charity." The present officers are as follows : Henry F. 
 Carney, President; Timothy Mclnerney, Recording Secretary; 
 John J. Maloney, Financial Secretary ; John F. Barnes, Treas- 
 urer. 
 
 FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Hear the loud alarum bells — 
 Brazen bells ! 
 What a tale of terror, now, their turbulency tells ! 
 In the startled ear of night 
 How they scream out their affright ! 
 Too much horrified to speak. 
 They cau only shriek, shriek, 
 Out of tune. 
 In the clamorous appealing to the mercy of the fire, 
 In a mad expostulation with the deaf and frantic fire 
 Leaping higher, higher, higher, 
 With a desperate desire. 
 And a resolute endeavor, 
 Now — now to sit or never, 
 By the side of the pale-faced moon. 
 Oh, the bells, bells, bells. 
 What a tale their terror tells 
 Of despair! 
 How they clang, and clash, and roar ! 
 What a horror they outpour 
 On the bosom of the palpitating air!" — l^oe. 
 
 It Avas not until the year 1833, that the town took any action 
 looking to protection from fire, by furnishing itself with fire 
 engines. In the warrant for the annual town meetinsr of that 
 
HISTORY OF GABDNER, 251 
 
 year, there was an article to see " if the town will raise two 
 hundred dollars, to be appropriated towards two engines, for 
 the purpose of guarding against loss by fire, act or transact 
 anything relating thereto." " Voted, To raise two hundred 
 dollars, to be laid out to purchase tw^o engines. Voted, To 
 chpose a committee of three at the Centre of the town and three, 
 at the South Village, to see to the purchasing of two engines. 
 Chose Moses Wood, Smyrna Glazier, Walter Heysvood, com- 
 mittee for the Centre of the town. Chose Abijah M. Severy, 
 Walter Greenwood, Adams Partridge, committee for the South 
 Village. Voted, That one engine be located in the Centre of 
 the town, and the other at the South Village. Voted,' To have 
 the committee draw on the town treasurer for the money, as 
 soon as they procure the engines and get their engine houses 
 ready." These engines cost two hundred dollars each ; individ- 
 uals subscribing what the town did not appropriate. The 
 engine house, at the Centre, was located where now stands the 
 National Bank Building: that at the South Village, near the 
 corner of what are now called Broadway and Prospect Streets, 
 opposite the store of Messrs. S. W. A. Stevens & Son. The 
 engine at the South Village was familiarly known by the name 
 of the " Pine Tub," and is now owned by Messrs. A. Bancroft 
 & Co. These engines, of course, were small and incapable of 
 very great service. 
 
 Feeling the n^ed of greater facilities for protection against 
 fire, the town voted, March 13, 1852, " to choose a committee 
 of five, to procure two fire engines, one situated at South Gard- 
 ner, so called, and the other situated near the Centre Village, 
 in Gt^i'dner, and the expense not to exceed one thousand dollars 
 each. Chose Levi Hey wood, Calvin S. Greenwood, Thorley 
 Collester, Levi H. Sawin, Amasa Bancroft, that committee." 
 
 It appears from the records, that there was an attempt made 
 to reduce the amount appropriated at the annual meeting, for 
 fire engines. At the April meeting, 1852, there was an article 
 in the town warrant, " to see if the town will so annul the vote 
 passed at a meeting of said town, on the 13th day of March, 
 
252 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 1852, choosing a committee to purchase two fire engines at a 
 sum not exceeding one thousand dollars each, so as to make it 
 read, not exceeding five hundred dollars each, instead of one 
 thousand dollars, act or transact anything relating to said vote." 
 "Voted, To pass over this article." September 6th, 1852, the 
 town voted, "that the committee locate the engine house on 
 either side of Messrs. Levi Heywood & Go's counting house, as 
 the said committee, chosen for that purpose, may deem it best." 
 The engine house at the Centre is located on Central Street, 
 near the shop of Messrs. Heywood Bros. & Co. That at South 
 Gardner, is located on Broadway, near the chair shop of Messrs. 
 Wrio-ht & Read. Both of these buildings are two stories in 
 height. The upper story, in each of these buildings, contains a 
 hall, for the accommodation of the engine companies, whose walls 
 are decorated with pictures, appropriate for such places. The 
 names of the two fire companies are, at the South Village, 
 " Cataract No. 1," and at the Centre, " Torrent No. 2." 
 
 CATARACT NO. 1. 
 
 This company was organized, November I5th, 1852, taking 
 the name of " Cataract Engine Company No. 1.'' The follow- 
 ing is the Constitution and B3''-Laws of this company : — 
 
 PREAMBLE. 
 
 We, the subscribers, hereby associate ourselves together as 
 members of a company to be attached to Cataract Engine No. 
 I, in South Gardner Village, and do hereby pledge ourselves 
 to perform the duties of enginemen in said company, and to 
 conform to the by-laws which may be established by a majority 
 of the members, of the said company, agreeable to the laws of 
 the commonwealth ; and do adopt the following constitution for 
 our government : — 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Art. 1. This company shall be dc.'^ignated and known as 
 Cataract Engine Company No. 1. 
 
 Art. 2. The officers of this company shall be a Foreman, a 
 First and Second Assistant Foreman, Clerk, Treasurer and two 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 253 
 
 Stewards, to be choseu annually, on the first Saturday in May. 
 
 Art. 3. Stated meetings of this company shall be held at the 
 engine house on the first Saturday of e^ery month, at a quarter 
 to seven o'clock, p. m., unless otherwise ordered by vote of the 
 company. 
 
 Art. 4. Ten members, exclusive of the presiding officer and 
 clerk, shall form a quorum ; and in all cases, not otherwise 
 ordered, a majority of those present shall govern. 
 
 Art. 5. The officers of this company may be removed from 
 office, by a vote of three-fourths of the company. 
 
 Art. 6. For all expenditures, except the ordinary current 
 expenses of the company, the money shall be appropriated by a 
 vote of three-fourths of the members present at a regular meet- 
 ing of the company. 
 
 Art. 7. This constitution shall not be altered or amended, 
 except by a vote of three-fourths of the members present, at a 
 regular meeting. 
 
 Art. 8. All propositions, to alter or amend this constitution, 
 must be made in writing, and laid before the company, at least, 
 one month before being acted upon. 
 
 BY-LAWS. 
 
 Art. 1. The foreman shall have command of the com- 
 pany, when on duty, and shall be respected and obeyed. He 
 shall have power to call special meetings, of the company, shall 
 preside at all meetings of the company and have the general 
 supervision of engine apparatus and engine house, shall annually, 
 before the first day of May, transmit, to the assessors, a list of 
 all persons who have done duty, in the company, during the 
 year preceding, and with the tAvo assistants, shall constitute a 
 standing committee 
 
 Art. 2. In the absence of the Foreman, at any meeting of 
 the company, the officer next in rank, who maybe present, shall 
 have command, and in the absence of all the officers, the oldest 
 member of the company present, shall preside until one of the 
 officers arrive, or a foreman ^:>ro tern, be chosen. 
 
254 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 AiiT. 3. The First Assistant shall be Foreman of the suc- 
 tion hose and shall select four members, who, under his direction, 
 shall have charo-e of the same. The Second Assistant shall be 
 Foreman of the leading hose and shall select eight members, 
 who, under his direction, shall have charge of the same. The 
 hosemen, when not engaged on the hose, shall assist on the 
 engine. 
 
 Art, 4. The clerk shall have charge of all the books and 
 papers of the company, keep a record of all the proceedings 
 and shall hand a list of all delinquents, at each meeting, to the 
 Treasurer, one week after such meeting ; shall keep constantly 
 posted up, at the engine house, a list of names of all the mem- 
 bers of the company, and shall post a notice of each stated 
 meeting of the company, at some place, at least four days pre- 
 vious to holding such meeting, and shall receive such compen- 
 sation for his services, as the aompany may direct. 
 
 Art. 5. The Treasurer shall have charge of all the funds of 
 the company. He shall collect all fines ; receive from town 
 treasurer all sums that may be allowed by the town, to the com- 
 pany, or that may be received from any other source. He shall 
 pay such orders as the standing committee may draw upon him, 
 and shall render an account of all mone}^ received and paid out 
 by him, at the annual meeting, and at such other times as the 
 company may direct. 
 
 Art. 6. The duty of the Stewards shall be to keep the en- 
 gine and all the appurtenances thereof, in good and effective 
 order, and ready for use, at any moment, and report any repairs 
 that are needed, to the Foreman. They shall provide all nec- 
 essary refreshments for the company, when on duty, under the 
 direction of the standing committee, and for their services, 
 shall receive such compensation as the company may direct. 
 
 APtT. 7. All vacancies in the government of the company, 
 shall be promptly filled, and the commander shall have power 
 to appoint a Clerk ^ro tern.., in the absence of the Clerk. 
 
 Art. 8. To all special meetings, called by the Foreman, the 
 company shall be warned by the Clerk, or such other member. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 255 
 
 of the compjiny, as the foreman may appoint, indivicliially or 
 by having a written notice left at the usual place of bnsiness or 
 abode of such member, at least twelve hours before the time of 
 holding such meeting. 
 
 Art. 9. On an alarm of fire, in town, each member shall 
 repair forthwith to the engine, assist in forwarding it to the 
 place of action, do all reasonable service that may be required 
 of him, and shall not depart without leave of the commander. 
 
 Art. 10. The distinguishing badge of this company shall 
 be a belt or band, with Cataract No. 1, printed upon the same, 
 and shall be worn at such times as the Foreman may direct. 
 
 Art. 11. The following fines shall be imposed upon and 
 collected of the respective members, for violation of the follow- 
 ing rules : For absence at any stated or regular meeting, at 
 first roll call, twelve and one-half cents ; for absence at last roll 
 call, twelve and one-half cents ; for absence at an alarm of fire, 
 one dollar ; for leaving any stated or special meeting, before the 
 company is dismissed, without leave of the commander, fifty 
 cents; for leaving at a fire, without permission, two dollars; 
 for disobedience of orders, one dollar. 
 
 Art. 12. The standing committee shall have power to remit 
 fines, in the folloAving cases : For non-attendance, in the case 
 of sickness, of the member himself; for non-attendance at 
 special meetings, when not warned of the same ; for absence at 
 an alarm of fire Avhen the alarm was not known. All excuses 
 must be tendered at or before the next meetins:. 
 
 Art. 13. Any person who shall receive a two-thirds vote of 
 the members present, at a regular meeting, may become a mem- 
 ber of this company, by signing the constitution, and any 
 member may be dischai-ged therefrom by vote of the company. 
 
 Art. 14. All money in the hands of, or due the Treasurer, 
 at the annual meeting, shall remain in the treasury unless other- 
 wise ordered by vote of the company, but no member shall be 
 entitled to a dividend unless he shall have attended, at least, 
 four regular meetings, unless by special vote of the company. 
 
256 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 The following is a list of the first officers of this company : 
 Samuel Bent, Foreman; O. C. Jillson, First Assistant; Porter 
 Monroe, Second Assistant; J. M. Moore, Clerk; A. Sawtelle, 
 Treasurer; William Greenwood, A. C. Bennett, Stewards. 
 
 The Cataract is a well drilled and efficient compan}^ ; it has, 
 several times, successfully competed for prizes offered at firemen's 
 musters. The following is its record : October 28th, 1868, at 
 Orange, 158 feet, prize, $25, which sum was one-half of the 
 third prize; September 20th, 1873, at Brattleboro', Vt., 182 
 feet, 6 inches, second prize, $200 ; October 6th, 1876, at Win- 
 chendon, 174 feet, 4 1-2 inches, third prize, $50 ; September 14th, 
 1877, at Athol, 200 feet, 1 1-2 inches, second prize, $75 ; also 
 a prize for running, $25. 
 
 The following are the present officers of this company : C. 
 O. Bent, Foreman; Amos Coleman, First Assistant; R. L. 
 Bent, Second Assistant; W. F. Learned, Clerk and Treasurer; 
 G. R. Pratt and Edwin Rice, Stewards. 
 
 TORRENT ENGINE COMPANY. 
 
 This company belongs to the Centre of the town. It was 
 organized October oOth, 1852. We give the following, as the 
 constitution and by-laws of this company, at the present time : — 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Art. 1. This company shall be designated and known as 
 Torrent Engine Company, No. 2. 
 
 Art. 2. The officers of this company shall be a Foreman, 
 First and Second Assistant Foreman, Clerk, Treasurer and two 
 Stewards, to be chosen annually, by ballot, on the first Monday 
 in May. 
 
 Art. 3. Stated meetings shall be held on the first Saturday 
 in every month. 
 
 Art. 4. Ten members, exclusive of the presiding officer 
 and clerk, shall form a quorum ; and in all cases not otherwise 
 directed, a majority of those present shall govern. 
 
 Art. 5. The officers of the company shall be liable to be 
 removed from office by a vote of three-fourths of the members 
 of the company. 
 
HISTOKY OF GARDNER. 'ibl 
 
 Art. 6. For call expenditures, except the ordinary current 
 expenses of the company, the money shall be appropriated by 
 a vote of three-fourths of the members present at a regular 
 meeting of the company. 
 
 Art. 7. Every active member who shall perform engine 
 
 duty for one 3^ear, shall receive , minus his fines ; and 
 
 every active member who shall perform engine duty for less 
 than a year shall receive a month, minus his fines. 
 
 Art. 8. All by-laws or resolves shall be equally binding 
 with the constitution, provided always that no by-laws or re- 
 solves shall be passed by the company repugnant with the tenor 
 of this instrument. 
 
 Art. 9. All propositions to alter or amend this constitution 
 must be made in writing, and handed to the clerk, whose duty 
 it shall be to lay it before the company at least one mouth be- 
 fore it is acted upon. 
 
 Art. 10. This constitution shall not be altered or amended 
 except by a vote of three-fourths of the members present at a 
 regular meeting. 
 
 Art. 11. This company may keep a roll of honorary mem- 
 bers, whose duty shall be to keep a general lookout for the in- 
 terests of the company ; and who shall annually, in the month 
 of May, pay into the treasury the sum of three dollars and 
 twenty-five cents. Honorary members may take part in the fes- 
 tivities and entertainments of the company the same as other 
 members. Honorary members shall be admitted and discharged 
 in same manner as other members. 
 
 Art. 12. These articles of the constitution we, the under- 
 signed, do hereby bind ourselves to support. 
 
 BY-LAWS. 
 
 Art. 1. The Foreman shall have command of the company 
 when on duty, and shall be respected and obeyed accordingly. 
 He shall preside at all stated and special meetings, and shall 
 have a general supervision of the engine apparatus and engine 
 house. 
 
 33 
 
258 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Art. 2. The Assistants shall aid the Foreman in the perform- 
 ance of his duties ; and in case of the absence of the Foreman, 
 or vacancy of the office, the First Assistant shall have command ; 
 and in case of his absence the Second Assistant shall have com- 
 mand ; and in case of the absence of the Foreman and both 
 Assistants, the Clerk shall preside and have command of the 
 company. 
 
 Art. 3. The Clerk shall have charge of all books and papers 
 of the company, keep a record of all proceedings, and shall 
 annually, in the month of April, transmit to the selectmen a 
 list of members, for their approbation. He shall post or publish 
 notices of regular meetings, as the company may direct, on or 
 before the morning of the day of the meeting: and, upon ap- 
 plication in writing of five members of the company, special 
 meetings may be called by the Clerk, leaving individually, or 
 causing to be left, at the usual residence of each member, a 
 notice of such meeting, or by publishing the same in the Gard- 
 ner News. 
 
 Art. 4. The First Assistant shall be Foreman of the suction 
 hose, and shall select four members, who under his direction 
 shall have charge of the same. The Second Assistant shall be 
 Foreman of the leading hose. He shall select eight members, 
 who under his direction shall have charge of the same. The 
 hosemen, when not engaged on the hose, shall assist on the 
 euijine. 
 
 Art. 5. The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the 
 company, collect all fines, and receive from the toAvn treasurer 
 all sums that may be allowed by the town to the company and 
 which may be received from any other source. He shall pay 
 such orders as the Foreman may draw on him, and render an 
 account of all money received and paid by him at the annual 
 meeting of the company. 
 
 Art. 6. The duty of the Stewards shall be to keep the 
 engine house and all the appurtenances thereto in good and 
 effective order and ready for use, report any repairs that are 
 wanted, to the Foreman, and keep a general lookout for the in- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJ^ER. 259 
 
 terests of the company. They shall provide all necessary re- 
 freshments for the company when on clnty, under the direction 
 of the commanding officer ; and for such service shall receive a 
 reasonable compensation. 
 
 Art. 7. All vacancies in the government of the company 
 shall be promptly filled, and the Foreman shall have power to 
 appoint a Clerk ^;ro tern, in case of absence of the Clerk. 
 
 Art. 8. The stated meetings of the company shall be held 
 at the engine house, at 7 o'clock, p. m., unless otherwise ordered 
 by a vote of the company at any regular meeting. 
 
 Art. 9. On an alarm of fire in town, each member shall 
 repair forthwith to the engine, assist in forwarding it to the 
 place of action, do all reasonable service which may be required 
 of him, and not depart without leave from the commanding 
 oflScer. 
 
 Art. 10. The following fines shall be imposed and collected 
 of the respective members for violation of the following rules : — 
 
 For being absent at the first roll call, and present at the 
 last, twelve and one-half cents. 
 
 For being present at the first roll call, and absent at the 
 last, twelve and one-half cents. 
 
 For absence at an alarm of fire in town, fifty cents. 
 
 For leaving any regular or special meeting before the com- 
 pany is dismissed without leave from the Foreman, twenty-five 
 cents. 
 
 For leaving at a fire without permission, $1. 
 
 For disobedience of orders, $2. 
 
 Art. 11. The roll shall be called at the opening of the 
 meeting, and again at the adjournment. 
 
 Art. 12. All excuses for non-attendance at meetings of the 
 company, and at fires, shall be made to the Foreman ; and when 
 he shall not see fit to determine on the sufiiciency of the ex- 
 cuse, he may submit the subject to the company. All excuses 
 must be made at or before the next meeting. 
 
 Art. 13, No person shall be admitted a member of this 
 company except by a vote of two-thirds of the members pres- 
 
260 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 entand voting by ballot, " Yes " or " No," at a regular meeting. 
 
 Art. 14. There may be an addition or amendment to these 
 by-laws, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any 
 regular meeting, — provided this proposed amendment be handed 
 to the clerk, in writing, and it be laid before the company at 
 least one month previous to its being acted upon 
 
 Art. 15. Any active member who does not attend four regu- 
 lar meetings during the year, shall receive no pay for services 
 as fireman, and his name may be dropped from the roll by a vote 
 of two-thirds of the members present and voting at a regular 
 meetins;. 
 
 The following are the names of the first officers of this com- 
 pany : Joel Cowee, Foreman ; George L. Peckham, First 
 Assistant; Merrick Adams, Second Assistant; C. Thompson, 
 Jr., Clerk and Treasurer ; John Burdick, First Stew^ard ; G. F. 
 Conant, Second Steward. 
 
 This is also a well trained and efiicient company, possessing 
 much of the esprit de corps, which ought to characterize such 
 organizations, to whom is intrusted, to so large a degree, the 
 preservation of so much property. 
 
 The following is the record of this company, in its successful 
 competition for prizes, at firemen's musters : October 20th, 
 1870, at Greenfield, 192 feet, third prize, $100; October 
 6th, 1876, at Winchendon, 174 feet, 4 1-2 inches, first prize, 
 $175; July 4, 1877, at Peterboro', N. H., 200 feet, 2 inches, 
 first prize, $25. There was a local contest in September, 1870, 
 between Cataract No. 1 and Torrent No. 2. There were two 
 prizes offered, one of $50 for the best horizontal playing, and 
 one of $25 for the quickest time in running ten rods, setting 
 machine and playing through three hundred feet of hose, a dis- 
 tance of fifty feet. The first prize was won by Torrent No. 2, 
 the second by Cataract No. 1 . 
 
 The following is a list of the present oflScers of this com- 
 pany : C. N. Edgell, Foreman ; Harvey Clark, First Assistant ; 
 H. C. Wood, Second Assistant; S. W.Howe, Clerk and Treas- 
 urer; F. P. Cowan, J. W. Thompson, Stewards. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 261 
 
 The following are the engineers of the Fire Department for the 
 year 1877 : Ezra Osgood, Chief Engineer ; S. W. A. Stevens, 
 First Assistant ; Walter Bancroft, Second Assistant and Tub 
 Engineer ; L. L. Sawin, Third Assistant and Clerk ; F. P. 
 Learned, Fourth Assistant; J. M. Moore, Fifth Assistant and 
 Tub Engineer; Edmund Coleman, Sixth Assistant. 
 
 The following are the expenses of the Fire Department for the 
 year above mentioned : Cataract Engine Company No. 1, ser- 
 vices of sixty men, for one year, at $7.50 per man, $450; 
 expenses of company, $5G. 27. Torrent Engine Company No. 
 2, services of sixty men for one year, at $7.50 per man, $450 ; 
 expenses of company, $113.76: Services of engineers, $52.50. 
 Total, $1122.53. 
 
 SPECIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE FIRE DE- 
 PARTMENT. 
 
 Art. 6. If any member of either of the several companies 
 belonging to the Fire Department shall wilfully neglect or refuse 
 to perform his duty, or shall be guilty of disorderly conduct, 
 disobedience to the officers or to any engineer, he may for such 
 oflence be discharged from the Fire Department, and shall be 
 liable to a fine of not less than two nor more than ten dollars. 
 
 Art. 8. All members of the Fire Department, while on 
 duty or drill, shall wear such badges as are provided for them ; 
 and any member refusing or neglecting to wear the same, until 
 the several companies shall be dismissed at roll call, shall forfeit 
 all pay for his services for three months previous to such refusal 
 or neglect, unless he can furnish an excuse that shall be satis- 
 factory to a majority of engineers. 
 
 Art. 11. It shall be the duty of the Foreman of the com- 
 pany to make, or cause to be made, on the last Monday of 
 April, annually, to the Chief Engineer, a statement of the con- 
 dition of the engine or other apparatus, with an inventory of 
 all the other property intrusted to his care and belonging to the 
 town, too:ether with a correct list of the names of the members. 
 It shall be his duty to see that said property is properly taken 
 
262 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 care of, uucl to report any deficiency, defect or Avant of repair 
 therein as soon as known to him, to the Chief Engineer if 
 practicable, if not, to any Assistant Engineer. He shall also see 
 that the engine, house and other apparatus are kept ueat, clean 
 and read}^ for immediate use, and the passage to said house 
 clear of snow or other obstructions. He shall have (subject to 
 the board of engineers, or any member thereof) the entire com- 
 mand of the company at all times. 
 
 Art. 12. It shall be the duty of the Foreman to make, or 
 cause to be made, a monthly re[)ort to the board of engineers 
 of all officers chosen and all resignations, discharge of members 
 and all cases of neglect of duty or disobedience of orders. 
 
 It shall also be his duty to cause the engine to be taken out 
 and worked once at least in each of the following months, viz. : 
 May, June, Jul}^ August, September, October and November. 
 
 Art. 13. Any member of the company expecting to be 
 absent from town thirty da3's or more shall be required to pro- 
 cure a substitute to be approved by the Foreman, whose name 
 he shall hand to the Clerk of the company. But no member 
 shall be allowed a substitute except in sickness or absence from 
 town, and in no instance for a longer period than two months, 
 except in case of sickness. 
 
 Art. 15. Every member of the Fire Department shall be held 
 responsible for an}' property of the department entrusted to his 
 care ; and in case of loss or damage, through neglect, its value 
 shall be deducted from his compensation. 
 
 The town has provided large reservoirs in difl'erent localities, 
 within its limits, for the convenience of the Fire Department, 
 whose ability and readiness afford our citizens a sense of security 
 against the destruction of property by fire. 
 
 RULES FOR ALARMS OF FIRE. 
 
 After an alarm of fire has been sounded in either village, if 
 assistance is needed from the other, a second alarm must be 
 sounded. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 263 
 
 It, after a second alarm has been sounded, it is found tliat no 
 assistance is required, a third alarm signal of four short whistles 
 to be followed by four more in about half a minute, should be 
 given. 
 
 September 5th, 1877, there was a Firemen's Muster, in this 
 town, at which were assembled nineteen machines, from various 
 parts of this state and Ncav Hampshire. The companies, in their 
 march about town, made a fine appearance. Mr. Ezra Osgood 
 acted as chief marshal Avith Messrs. S. W. A. Stevens and L. 
 L. Sawinasaids. The playing took place on Pine Street. Four 
 hundred and twenty-five dollars were offered as prizes. The 
 following is a list of the successful companies, with the sum of 
 money taken by each, as a prize : First prize, $200, Volunteer 
 No. 4 of Peabody ; second, $100, Excelsior No. 1 of Wilton, 
 N. H. ; third, $75, Phoenix No 6, of Brattleboro', Vt. ; fourth, 
 $50, Bay State No. 1 of East Templeton. 
 
 GARDNER DRIVING PARK ASSOCIATION. 
 
 " There's something in a flying horse, 
 
 There's something in a huge balloon." 
 '• A horse ! a horse ! my kingdom for a horse !" 
 "I wish your horses swift, and sure of foot." 
 
 This Park is situated in the northern part of the town, about 
 two miles from the Centre, and is enclosed on all sides by a 
 high fence. It is said, by experts, to be the best half-mile track 
 in all the region. This association was organized June 2d, 
 1875, with a paid up capital of $1,250; authorized capital, 
 $3,000. The first otficers of this association were as follows : 
 R. F. Andrews, M. D., President; Charles Heywood, Vice 
 President ; John D. Edgell, Secretary and Treasurer ; W. P. 
 Allen, li. F. Andrews, M. D., L. L. Sawin, Charles Heywood, 
 John D. Edgell, Directors. The best time ever made, in any 
 race, on this track was one mile, in two minutes and forty-three 
 seconds. Present officers : Charles Heywood, President ; E. 
 F. Andrews, M. D., Vice President; V. W. Howe, Secretary 
 and Treasm-er. 
 
264 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 GARDNER RIFLP: CLUB. 
 
 "A straight line is the shortest distance between two points." 
 
 This club was organized September 1st, 1875. The object 
 of it is expressed in the following terms: "We, the un- 
 dersigned, agree to form a Rifle Club, for the purpose of 
 practicing ofl-hand shooting and for our mutual benefit and 
 pleasure." The range of the club, is upon the farm of Mr. 
 Seneca Partridge, in the southeast part of the town, where the 
 members of this club practice, every Saturday, during the 
 summer. The membership is limited to twenty-five. Fee 
 for admission, two dollars. Annual tax, one dollar. The 
 following are the present officers : H. C. Kuowlton, Presi- 
 dent ; C. O. Bent, Vice President; Frank E. Nichols, Secre- 
 tary and Treasurer. 
 
 CRYSTAL LAKE STEAMBOAT COMPANY. 
 
 " Multum in parvo." 
 
 This company was organized, in the summer of 1875, with 
 the following officers: G. W. Garland, M. D., President; J. • 
 J. Dunn, Secretary and Treasurer; G. W. Garland, M. D., 
 H. C. Knowlton, J. W. Hill, Directors. July 1st, 1875, this 
 company purchased a small screw steamer, called the " Little 
 Favorite," capable of seating thirty persons and costing $650. 
 This steamer is in great demand, by the numerous excursion 
 parties, which gather at Crystal Lake Grove, during the sum- 
 mer months, as well as by private parties, on Saturday after- 
 noons and pleasant evenings of the week, the trip around the 
 lake costing only ten cents. 
 
 SOVEREIGNS OF INDUSTRY. 
 
 " Providence has so contrived that our daily food is not to be procured 
 without much pains and labor. — Addison." 
 
 The Gardner Council, No. 33, of the order of Sovereigns of 
 Industry, was organized by Deputy J. H. Sampson, of the 
 National Council, at the Grand Army Hall, on Thursday even- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 265 
 
 ing, Feb. 26th, 1874, with twenty-two charter members, viz. : A. 
 L. Greenwood, A. B. Minott, Franlv E. Nichols, L. C. Lyncle, H. 
 P. Coleman, J. N. Adams, E. P. Noyes, J. W. Clapp, G. C. Cor- 
 nish, C. H. Eaton, A. C. Kendall, H. S. Coleman, G. R. Pratt, 
 Edmund Coleman, Joel Nichols, Jonas Joslin, A. H. Howard, 
 B. Barrett, George S. Talcott, Asa P. Whitney, D. O. Eem- 
 ington and O. C. Jillsou. The organization was completed by 
 the choice of the following officers : A. B. Minott, H. M. ; E. 
 P. Noyes, Secretary; O. C. Jillson, Overseer; J. W. Spring, 
 Treasurer; J. W. Clapp, Lecturer; G. R. Pratt, Steward; 
 Asa P. Whitney, Inside Guard ; L. C. Lynde, Outside Guard ; 
 Aaron L. Greenwood, George S, Talcott and J. W. Spring, 
 Investigating Committee. This council has had a membership of 
 four hundred, since its organization, and is, at the present time, 
 in a prosperous condition. The store belonging to this council, 
 is situated near the depots. Its meetings are held at the G. A. 
 E,. Hall every Saturday evening. 
 
 The following are its officers for 1878 : J. H. Minott, Presi- 
 dent ; B. T. Joslin, Vice President; A. K. Learned, Secre- 
 tary ; L. A. Wheeler, Assistant Secretary ; J. W. Clapp, 
 Treasurer; G. R. Pratt, Ellen Holt, Stewards; M. C. Gould, 
 Inside Guard. 
 
 MUSICAL ASSOCIATIONS. 
 
 " The mau that hath no music in himself, 
 Nor is not mov'cl with concord of sweet sounds, 
 Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils ; 
 The motions of his spirit are dull as night, 
 And his affections dark as Erebus ; 
 Let no such man be trusted." 
 
 — Merchant of Venice, Act V., Scene I. 
 
 There is in souls a sympathy with sounds : 
 
 And as the mind is pitch'd the ear is pleased 
 
 With melting airs, or martial, brisk, or grave ; 
 
 Some chord in unison with what we hear 
 
 Is touch'd within us, and the heart replies." — Coioper. 
 
 Almost from the . date of incorporation, to the present 
 time, the people of Gardner have ever shown a commendable 
 
 34 
 
266 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 degree of interest in musical cnlture. At the annual town 
 meeting, March 7th, 1791, the town " Voted, To grant some 
 money to hire a singing master." "Voted, To raise twelve 
 dollars." "Voted, That Samuel Edgell and Jonathan Green- 
 wood be a committee to provide a singing master and lay out 
 this money." Again in 1792, at the annual town meeting, it 
 was " Voted, To raise three pounds, twelve shillings, to hire a 
 singing master, for the present year." "Voted, To choose a 
 committee to lay out this money, to the best advantage for the 
 
 schools." 
 
 BANDS. 
 
 In 1855, there were two bands formed in this town ; the one 
 in the Centre was called the Gardner Cornet Band, and was 
 composed of eighteen members. The other, was at South 
 Gardner, and was called the Mechanics' Cornet Band, consisting 
 of nineteen members. 
 
 After a time, the Mechanics' Cornet Band ceased to exist. At 
 the breaking out of the Rebellion, several members, of the 
 Gardner Cornet Band, went into the arm}- as musicians, and 
 were with General Sherman in his march to the sea. After the 
 war, this band was reorganized, September 29th, 1865, with 
 seventeen members. The following are their names : O. C. 
 Jillson, Charles Bancroft, A. T. Greenwood, William Putnam, 
 C. A. Mauley, Alvin M. Greenwood, Webster Cowee, Alexan- 
 der Priest, J. S. Garner, L. W. Brown, Wilder Merriam, T. 
 P. Connery, E. L. Wright, L. L. Sawin, F. P. Learned, J. W. 
 Spring and F. M. Stanley. O. C. Jillson, Leader and Director. 
 
 The present members are, Webster Cowee, Alexander Priest, 
 L. W. Brown, J. W. Spring, J. S. Garner, G. A. Stone, 
 H. C. Boyles, E. A. TwicheU, E. H. Spring, H. C. Priest, 
 John Felch, William H. Hey wood and O. F. Smith. 
 
 Since 1874, this band, while it still continues its organization, 
 has had onl}' a nominal existence. The leaders were : Messrs. 
 Laws, Merriam, Grovner, Rich, Goodale, Richardson, and 
 Russell. This band consisted of eighteen members, and 
 in the days of its greatest efficiency, was regarded as a very 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 267 
 
 superior organizjition, and was in frequent demand upon im- 
 portant public occasions. With numerous other bands, it 
 played, in June, 1867, at the great Masonic celebration, in 
 Boston, at which time Andrew Johnson, President of the 
 United States, was present. This band, with a few others, 
 elicited special mention in the Boston papers, for the superior 
 manner in which it discoursed music, on that occasion. 
 
 A few of the members, organized January 1st, 1874, under 
 the name of " The Gardner Serenade Band," with William 
 H. Heywood, Conductor; C. A. Clark, William Putnam, 
 R. A. Twichell, Augustus Warren, Charles J. Day, Wilder 
 Merriam, members. These gentlemen furnish music on various 
 festive occasions, and are highly appreciated for their ability. 
 
 WORCESTER COUNTY NORTH MUSICAL ASSOCIATION. 
 
 This association was formed September 5th, 1851. The fol- 
 lowing is its preamble and constitution : — 
 
 PREAMBLE. 
 
 Whereas, It is obvious that the singing of church music, as 
 now practiced, has not i-isen to that degree of excellence which 
 it ought to obtain in this community, and whereas, it is evident 
 from the experience of the past, that without combination, in- 
 dividual effort can never succeed, in elevating the present stand- 
 ard, and in giving to the execution of this science, the beauty 
 and perfection which its claims demand : Therefore, for the 
 purpose of meeting this exigency, and of acquiring a more ele- 
 vated style, as well as improving ourselves in an abstract knowl- 
 edge of the science, we hereby subscribe to the following consti- 
 tution : — 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Art. 1. This society shall be called the Worcester County 
 North Association for Improvement in Sacred Music. 
 
 Art. 2. The officers of said association shall consist of a 
 President, two Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and 
 an Executive Committee of seven. 
 
268 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Art. 3. The President shall preside over all the business 
 sessions of the association. 
 
 Art. 4. The Vice President may sustain the President, and 
 in his absence shall preside over the meeting. 
 
 Art. 5. The Secretary shall record all the acts of the Asso- 
 ciation. 
 
 Art. (j. The Treasurer shall hold the funds, and disburse 
 them at the order of the Executive Committee. 
 
 Art. 7. The Executive Committee shall determine the time 
 of holding meetings, make all necessary notices, be the super- 
 visors of the pecuniary concerns of the association, give orders 
 to the Treasurer for disbursements and have a general supervi- 
 sion of the interests of the association. 
 
 Art. 8. The annual meeting shall be holden during the 
 month of September, at Gardner. 
 
 Art. 9. The officers shall be chosen annually, by ballot, on 
 the evening preceding the last day's session of the convention, 
 unless otherwise ordered. 
 
 Art. 10. Individuals may become members of the associa- 
 tion by subscribing to this constitution. 
 
 Art. 11. This constitution may be altered or amended, at 
 any session of the annual meeting, designated for the purpose, 
 by a vote of a majority of the members present. 
 
 These conventions were gathered from year to 3^ear, in differ- 
 ent towns, in the county, receiving the hospitality of, and form- 
 ing pleasant associations w^ith the people of each town. In 1865, 
 it was, however, voted that the constitution be so aUered that 
 Gardner should be the place at which the convention should 
 assemble. In 1871, a further change was made, so that the 
 convention should be held alternately at Athol and Gard- 
 ner. The success of this association has been such as to war- 
 rant its continuance. The meetings have been pleasant occa- 
 sions to all lovers of good music, and, as the years go by, we 
 find the places of those made vacant by death, filled with others 
 "who enjoy the ministry of song. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 269 
 
 YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. 
 
 " I have written unto you young men, because ye are strong and the woi'd 
 of God abideth in you."— 1 John, 2 : 14. 
 
 The Young Men's Christian Association, at the Centre, was 
 formed May 27th, 1868. For several years its membership 
 continually increased, and much efficient service was done, not 
 only in the village, but in the out districts of the town. About 
 1874, the association began to decline in interest and numbers, 
 the members ceasing to evince anything like an earnest desire 
 and determination to continue their accustomed meetings, till, 
 at the present time, they have altogether ceased to be held, 
 excepting the annual meeting, which occurs upon the first 
 Wednesday in May. Mr. Charles W. Bush, who died in 1872, 
 left to this association a legacy of two thousand dollars, which 
 constitutes its sole fund. This association had a small library 
 and formerly held their meetings in the Bank Building. 
 
 There was also a South Gardner Young Men's Christian As- 
 sociation, which continued, for a time, to be flourishing and 
 useful, but for the last few years has been entirely inoperative. 
 
 TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS. 
 
 " Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? swagger? swear? and discourse 
 fustiau witli one's own shadow? — O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast 
 no name to be known by, let us call thee — devil." 
 
 — Othello, Act II., Scene III. 
 
 It is a matter of universal acknowledgment, that the control 
 of the sale of intoxicating drinks, is one of the most difficult 
 questions which is constantly demanding the most candid and 
 vigilant attention of our legislators and reformers. Nor is this 
 a new question, in this country ; it is as old as the Plymouth 
 and Massachusetts Colonies, some of whose legislation upon 
 this subject, we here introduce, to show how the evils, connected 
 with the sale of intoxicating liquors, troubled the Pilgrim Fath- 
 ers and demanded their highest legislative wisdom to provide 
 
270 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 against. As early as 1629, nine years after tlie landing of the 
 Pilgrims npon Plymouth Rock, in the " second general letter, 
 of the Governor and Deputy of the New England Company, for 
 a Plantation in Massachusetts Bay, to the Governor and Council 
 for London's Plantation, in the Massachusetts Bay, in New 
 England," we have the following petition : — 
 
 " We pray you would endeavor, though there be much strong 
 waters sent for sale, yet so to order it, as that the savages may 
 not for our lucre sake, be induced to the excessive use, or rather 
 abuse of it and at any hand take care our people give no ill 
 example ; and if any shall exceed in that inordinate kind of 
 drinking as to become drunk, we hope you will take care his 
 punishment be made exemplary for all others. Let the laws be 
 first published to forbid these disorders, and all others you fear 
 may grow up, whereby they may not pretend ignorance of the 
 one nor privilege to offend, and then fear not to put good laws, 
 made upon good ground and warrant, in due execution. And 
 so recommending you and all your affairs to the protection of 
 the Almighty, we conclude and rest."* 
 
 That the founders of these colonies, had a vigorous faith in 
 the practical utility of sumptuary laws, is clearly evinced by 
 their legislation, of which, the following are specimens. At a 
 General Court, holden at Newtown, "it is ordered, that no 
 person that keeps an ordinary, shall take above five pence a 
 meal for a person, and not above one penny for an ale quart of 
 beer, out of meal time, under the penalty of ten shillings per 
 every oflence, either of diet or beer. Likewise, that victualers, 
 or keepers of an ordinary, shall not suffer any tobacco to be 
 taken in their houses, under the penalty of five shillings for 
 every ofi'ence, to be paid oy the victualer and eleven pence by 
 the party that takes it. 
 
 " Further, it is ordered, that no person shall take tobacco 
 publicly under the penalty of two shillings six pence, nor pri- 
 vately, in his own house, or in the house of another, before 
 
 ♦Records of Massachusetts, vol. 1, p. 406. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 271 
 
 strangers, and that two or more shall not take it together any- 
 where, under the aforesaid penalty for every offence."* 
 
 If severity of legislative enactment is all that is required, to 
 secure the prevention of the evil of intemperance, the Pilgrim 
 Fathers certainly gave such legislation a fair test. It did not, 
 however, secure the end they so devoutly sought. Further 
 legislation seemed to be required. In 1645, we have the fol- 
 lowing : — 
 
 "It is ordered, that no man shall be allowed to keep a public 
 house of entertainment, for strangers or travelers, nor shall any 
 one be a common victualer, innkeeper, or keeper of a cook- 
 shop, vintner, taverner, or public seller of wines, ale, beer, 
 strong water, without allowance in some Quarter Court, in the 
 shire where such do dwell, upon pain of forfeiture of twenty 
 shillings per week, while they continue without the said license ; 
 nor shall any such persons as have public houses of entertain- 
 ment, and have licenses, sell beer for above two shillings an ale 
 quart ; neither shall any such person or persons formerly named 
 suffer any to be drunk, or drink excessively, or continue tip- 
 pling above the space of half an hour, in any of their said 
 houses, under penalty of five shillings for every such offence 
 suffered ; and every person found drunk in the said houses or 
 elsewhere, shall forfeit ten shillings, and for every excessive 
 drinking, he shall forfeit three shillings four pence ; for sitting 
 idle, and continuing drinking above half an hour, two shillings 
 six pence ; and it is declared to be excessive drinking of wine, 
 when above half a pint of wine is allowed at one time, to one 
 person to drink ; provided that it shall be lawful for any stran- 
 gers, or lodgers, or any person or persons, in an orderly way, 
 to continue in such houses of common entertainment during 
 meal times, or upon lawful business, what time their occasions 
 shall require. 
 
 And if any person offend in drunkenness, excessive or long 
 drinking, the second time, they shall lay double fines, and if 
 
 ♦Records of Massachusetts, vol. 1, p. 126. 
 
272 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 they fall into the same offence the third time, they shall pay 
 treble fines ; and if the parties be not able to pay the fines, then 
 he that is found drunk shall be punished with ten stripes, and 
 he that offends in excessive or long driidving, he shall be put in 
 the stocks for three hours, when the weather is seasonable, and 
 if they offend the fourth time, they shall be put into prison, 
 and there remain till they put in two sufficient sureties for their 
 good behavior."* 
 
 Although frequent legislation, of this sort occurs, in the 
 Eecords of the Massachusetts Colony, it does not seem to have 
 availed for the extinguishment of the evil. In 1670, with a 
 tone approaching that of despair, the Great and General Court, 
 held at Boston, passed the following additional act, for prevent- 
 ing drunkenness : — 
 
 Whereas, This Court hath made several laws and orders for 
 the prevention of the sin of drunkenness and misspending prec- 
 ious time and estate, and yet, notwithstanding, great complaint 
 is made of several persons spending their time and estate by 
 drinking and tippling in taverns and ale houses, to the great 
 dishonor of God and prejudice of their families, for the preven- 
 tion whereof, it is ordered, by this Court and the authority 
 thereof, that the selectmen of each town shall be and are hereby 
 required and empowered to take special care and notice of all 
 and every person and persons transgressing as above said, and 
 thereupon to require of him or them to forbear the frequenting 
 of such houses or taverns ; and if any pei'son shall, after such 
 warning given him, be found in any such house of entertain- 
 ment, and be legally convicted thereof, before any one magis- 
 trate or commissioner, he shall forfeit five shillings, to be paid 
 to the treasurer of that town, for every such offence, or sit in 
 the stocks, as the judges shall see meet ; and it is further ordered 
 that the selectmen shall give notice to the keepers of such 
 houses that they sutler no such noted person in any of their 
 houses, upon the penalty of twenty shillings for every such defect 
 to be paid to the treasurer, as aforesaid.''! 
 
 ♦Records of Massachusetts, vol. 2, p. 100. 
 fKecords of Massachusetts, vol. 4, p. 4G3. 
 
HISTORY OF GABJDjSrUR. 273 
 
 It is evident, to the attentive student of our colonial and state 
 enactments, that a profuse amount of legislation, concerning the 
 liquor traffic, has not been wanting for the last two hundred 
 years, the general aim of which has been either to control, or 
 entirely to suppress the general sale of intoxicating drinks. 
 But has it e^er been effective, in accomplishing the desired end? 
 And if not, why not? 
 
 We have seen that, in the earlier days of the colonies of 
 Plymouth and Massachusetts, there were frequent enactments of 
 what was called a stringent license law, with its various modi- 
 fications, as experience, from year to 3'ear, might suggest. We 
 are also ftmiiliar with the fact, that for nearly thirty years, pre- 
 vious to the year 1875, there was upon our statute books, an 
 enactment concerning the sale of intoxicating drinks, with its 
 various phases, known as the Prohibitory Law. Since April 
 5th, 1875, an act to regulate the sale of intoxicating liquors, 
 more familiarly known as the License Law, has been in opera- 
 tion. Whether license, or prohibition, has been of greater 
 utility, in promoting the cause of temperance, is still a question 
 upon which the sentiment of real, honest lovers of sobriety, 
 industry, good order and temperance, is yet divided. 
 
 The legislation of either sort, that of license or prohibition, 
 has seemed to be restrained, heretofore, tiirough a want of 
 hearty co-operation and moral support of those of opposing 
 views ; so that, it is evident, that neither law can accomplish the 
 end for which it was enacted, until the lovers of temperance, 
 irrespective of party lines, or political ends, shall combine for 
 the execution of the law in accordance with the spirit in which 
 it was framed. That there must be legal enactment, as well as 
 moral suasion, in reaching the highest and best results, in all 
 effective temperance work, is abundantly evident from the expe- 
 rience of the past. When these two forces shall be happily 
 wedded, in our state, we may expect those fruits for which all 
 lovers of temperance are now working. 
 
 Towards the close of the last century, when intoxicating 
 drinks, as a beverage, had become hardl}' less than universal, 
 
 35 ^ 
 
274 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 and drunkenness was everywhere common, there began to be 
 awakened in the minds of some who saw, in this evil, a fruitful 
 cause of moral and pecuniary ruin, a desire to inaugurate some 
 movement looking to its supj^ression. Among these philan- 
 thropists was the celebrated Dr. Rush, of Philadelphia, who 
 wrote forcibly, against the free use of intoxicating beverages. 
 There seems, however, to have been no temperance organization 
 established in the countr}', until the year 1808, when Dr. J. B. 
 Clark of Milton, New York, instituted "The Temperance Society 
 of Milton and Northumberland." The constitution of this 
 society stipulated that " no member shall drink rum, gin, 
 whiskey, wine, or any distilled spirits, or compositions of the 
 same, or any of them, except by the advice of a physician, or 
 in case of actual disease, (also excepting wine at public dinners,) 
 under penalty of twenty-tive cents. Provided, that this article 
 shall not infringe on any religious ordinance. No member shall 
 be intoxicated under penalty of fifty cents. No member shall 
 offer any of said liquors to any other member, or urge any other 
 person to drink thereof, under penalty of twenty-five cents." 
 
 In 1813, was formed, the "Massachusetts Society for the 
 suppression of intemperance." This movement did not attain 
 any considerable momentum, until 1824. In 1826, this reform 
 movement had become so potent in its influence, throughout 
 New England, as to warrant the formation of an " American 
 Temperance Union," which was instituted by Pev. Justin Ed- 
 wards, D. D., who was the author of the " Temperance Manual," 
 of which, nearly two hundred thousand copies were printed. 
 Although total abstinence from distilled spirits, except when 
 prescribed as a medicine, was the general requirement, the use 
 of wines, cider, or malt liquors was not interdicted. 
 
 GARDNER TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. 
 
 About the year 1829, the first temperance organization, 
 of which we have any record, was formed in this tow^n, evidently 
 originated by Rev. Sumner Lincoln, who was ordained over the 
 First Congregational Church, in 1824. This organization was 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 21b 
 
 called the " Gardner Temperance Society." We give below, 
 its constitution and the names of its first signers : — 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 We, the subscribers, under a deep sense of the great evil and 
 vice of intemperance, as it exibts in our country, and for the 
 purpose of contributing our influence, to its removal, as friends 
 of humanity, virtue and religion, mutually agree to the follow- 
 ing articles : — 
 
 Akt. 1. This society shall lie called the Gardner Temperance 
 Society, auxiliary to the American Temperance Society. 
 
 Art. 2. Any person, subscribing this constitution, shall be 
 a member of this society. 
 
 Art. 3. AVith a sacred regard to truth and honor, we pledge 
 ourselves to give, at the annual meeting of this society, a 
 strict and impartial account of what quantity of ardent spirits 
 and wine we ourselves have personally drank, the preceding 
 year, and what it cost. Likewise, to give a true account of 
 what we use in our families and what we give those in our 
 employ, and our families, and the cost of the same. 
 
 Art. 4. We obligate ourselves to use as small a quantity of 
 ardent spirits and wine, as we seriously believe to be necessary 
 to health ; and also to use all consistent means to discourage 
 the free use of it, in all those within the sphere of our influence. 
 
 Art. 5. The oflScers of this society shall be a President, 
 Secretary and Treasurer, to be chosen at each annual meeting of 
 the society ; and who shall perform the duties customarily as- 
 signed to such ofiicers. 
 
 Art. 6. The society shall meet annually, on the 4th day of 
 July, and at such other times as shall be judged necessary, by 
 the officers of the society. 
 
 Art. 7. This constitution may be altered at any regular 
 meeting, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present. 
 
 Names of the first signers : Sumner Lincoln, Lewis Glazier, 
 Asa Richardson, Ezra Baker, George Scott, Avery Turner, 
 Joel Cowee, Elijah Travers, Joseph Wright, Samuel H. Clark, 
 
27(; HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Charles Childs, Luke Whitney, Farwell Conant, Joseph Whit- 
 ney, 2d, Lyman Conant, John Merriam, Jonathan Bancroft. 
 
 It was not till 1833, at a meeting held in Philadelphia, that 
 the i^riuciple of " Total Abstinence from all that may intoxi- 
 cate," was first propounded in this country, in a national gath- 
 ering of the friends of temperance. The proposition was 
 rejected by the convention. However, at its annual meeting, 
 held at Saratoga Springs, in August, 1836, the principle of 
 total abstinence was adopted by the union, and has ever since 
 been the war cry of the champions of temperance. Prominent 
 among the pioneer workers in the temperance cause at this time, 
 were Dr. Lyman Beecher, author of " Six Sermons on Temper- 
 ance," which had a great influence in arousing a public sentiment 
 in behalf of temperance, throughout the country, and Dr. 
 Eliphalet Nott, President of Union College, who was early and 
 honorably known as a sturdy friend of temperance. 
 
 As one of the results of this increasing sentiment, concerning 
 the evils of intemperance, we have the Washingtonian move- 
 ment, which was originated in Baltimore, Md., by six hard 
 drinking men, who occasionally met at a tavern, in that city, 
 where, in 1840, they resolved, then and there, to drink no 
 more. These men formed a society for the propagation of total 
 abstinence among those who, like themselves, had been addicted 
 to the use of intoxicatiiTg liquors. All but one of these men 
 stood firm to this principle, till their death. The influence of 
 this movement soon reached Gardner and resulted in the for- 
 mation of a society, for the promotion of temperance, called the 
 
 WASHINGTON TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY OF GARD- 
 NER. 
 
 This society was organized February 8th, 1842, with the 
 choice of Dr. David Parker as Chairman and Mr. Thomas E. 
 Glazier as Secretary. The following is the constitution of this 
 society : — 
 
 Art. I. This society shall be called the Washington Total 
 Abstinence Society of Gardner. 
 
HISTORY OF GABDNER. "Ill 
 
 Art. 2. The members of Ihis society agree that they will 
 never again drink any intoxicating liquors, except when pre- 
 scribed by a medi(;al attendant, and that they will not provide 
 them for their friends, or persons in their employ, and that they 
 wnll, in all suitable ways, discountenance the use of them in 
 the community ; and above all, that they will use their utmost 
 endeavors to reclaim and restore to temperance, those who are 
 unfortunately addicted to drunkenness. 
 
 Art. 3 The officers of this society shall be a President, 
 four Vice Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer, to be chosen 
 annually. 
 
 Art. 4. The annual meeting of this society shall be holden 
 in the last week in May ; officers then to be elected and any 
 business transacted that may come before the meeting. 
 
 Art. 5. The officers of this society, shall deliver to their 
 successors in office, within one week after they cease to be 
 officers, all property belonging to the society. 
 
 Art. 6. Any person may become a member of this society 
 by signing the constitution. 
 
 Art. 7. This constitution may be altered or amended by a 
 vote of two-thirds of the members present at any meeting, such 
 alterations or amendments being proposed in writing at least 
 two weeks previous to action thereupon. 
 
 BY-LAWS. 
 
 Art. 1. It shall be the duty of each member to bring for- 
 ward and reclaim all inebriates, wherever they may be found, 
 and in no case to abandon a drunkard as irreclaimable. 
 
 Art. 2. It shall be the duty of any member of this society, 
 to make known any case of habitual drunkenness that may 
 come within the limits of this society, in order that the subject 
 may be conversed with, and persuaded to abandon the deathly 
 drink, and sign the total abstinence pledge. 
 
 Art. 3. If it should so happen that in an unguarded moment, 
 any one who has signed the pledge, should partake of any 
 alcoholic drink as a beverage, or in any other way violate the 
 
278 HISTORY OF GABDNER. 
 
 constitution, such committee shall be chosen as is thought proper 
 to wait upon the delinquent, and remonstrate with him in a kind, 
 affectionate manner, and in no case shall we consider any per- 
 sons beyond reform, who, though they have broken their pledge, 
 are willing to acknowledge the wrong and show a fixed deter- 
 mination to try again. 
 
 Art. 4. Each member shall hold himself or herself ready 
 to relieve the wants of any who may need, that none from dis- 
 couragement, may be tempted to go back to partake of the 
 intoxicating cup. 
 
 Apt. 6. No speaker, whether a member of this society, or 
 a stranger, shall introduce in any of his remarks, either politics 
 or sectarianism, or personal allusions of any kind, in debate, 
 but shall confine himself to the abolition of drunkenness and 
 the building up of total abstinent principles. A violation of 
 this article will subject the speaker to be called to order by the 
 chair. 
 
 The total number of signers, to this constitution, was three 
 hundred and ninety-six, at the outset. Isaac Jaquith was the 
 first President ; Henry Whitney, James M. Comee, John Kemp, 
 Jr., John Comee, Vice Presidents; Thomas E. Glazier, Secre- 
 tary ; Theophilus P. Wood, Treasurer. 
 
 As an evidence of the earnestness, with which this society began 
 its work, January 25th, 1843, it" Voted, To choose two in each 
 school district, to obtain members to the abstinence pledge and 
 to serve as a committee to reclaim those who have broken it." 
 August 14th, 1843, the society voted to have a picnic, as soon 
 as the necessary arrangements could be made. This was the 
 day of cold water armies, when the principle of total abstinence 
 was inculcated among the children. With this end in view, 
 celebrations and picnics were in order, for the benefit of the 
 young, as well as those older. Upon the occasion now under 
 consideration, the society voted to choose a marshal of the day 
 and his assistants. They made choice of Mr. Levi Heywood 
 for Chief Marshal. It was also voted that the "ladies write 
 letters to the gentlemen, anonymous, if they please, on any 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 279 
 
 subject they wish. The gentlemen to pay ten cents postage on 
 all letters, to the number of five or less. The proceeds of the 
 postage, to be appropriated towards the expenses of the picnic." 
 The society voted, June 24th, 1844, to unite with the various 
 sabbath schools, in the town, in the celebration of the coming 
 Fourth of July. It appears, from the records of this society, 
 that the interest in the temperance movement had so far abated, 
 that September 9th, 1846, a suggestion was made, " upon 
 the necessity of having lectures before the society, in order to 
 arouse the slumbering energies of the total abstinence men," 
 showing how quickly the enthusiasm, at first manifested, in this 
 movement, had abated. In 1846, the old Washingtonian con- 
 stitution and by-laws were annulled. The same year, a new 
 society was formed, with a new, yet similar constitution, called 
 the 
 
 GARDNER TEMPERANCE SOCIETY. 
 
 Mr. Thorley Collester was its first president. In 1848, Dr. 
 David Parker was choseit president. December 21st, 1851, a 
 new constitution was adopted. January 11th, 1852, the follow- 
 ing board of officers was chosen : Rev. John C. Paine, Pres- 
 ident ; Messrs. Thomas E. Glazier, Thorley Collester, Ephraim 
 Wright, Amasa Bancroft, Vice Presidents; Alonzo Gould, Sec- 
 retary ; Seth Heywood, Treasurer. At this meeting, the 
 society " Voted, To choose a committee of two, in each school 
 district, to obtain signatures of the legal voters, to petition to 
 the legislature for a law similar to the ' Maine Liquor Law,' so 
 called." Under this new constitution, the society evidently 
 flourished for a number of years, enjoying, from time to time, 
 lectures from various individuals, by which the interest in the 
 temperance cause was kept revived. At a meeting of this 
 society, held in August, 1852, the following individuals were 
 chosen a prosecuting committee, "for the purpose of taking 
 some action in relation to enforcing the new liquor law, so 
 called : Messrs. Henry Lawrence, Benjamin H. Rugg, Joseph 
 Whitney, Hubbard Kendall, Ivers Whitney, John Sawin, Nel- 
 son P. Wood, Amasa Bancroft, C. W. Bush, Thorley Collester, 
 
280 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 C. S. Greenwood, Farwell Edgell." That this committee per- 
 formed the duty assio^ned it, with discretion, boldness and entire 
 thoroughness, is evident from the records of the secretary of 
 this organization, who evinces a facetiousness worthy of notice. 
 The following is, in part, his record of January 3d, 1853 : "In 
 the Boston Times of to-day, appears the following paragraph : — 
 
 " ' There were five seizures of liquor in Gardner, last Thurs- 
 day ; three of which were decided adverse to the defendants, 
 and the trial of the others was postponed for one week. In the 
 evening a bonfire was made, amidst great rejoicing of the 
 people.' " 
 
 Says the secretary, "the circumstances in relation to the 
 above paragraph appear to be something like the following : 
 Our faithful, patient and persevering committee, that was chosen 
 last August, to prosecute all known violations of the new anti- 
 liquor law, it seems, have not been asleep nor idle. They were 
 chosen to annihilate the traffic and pursue the seller to judgment, 
 and the above paragraph shows how faithfull}' they have per- 
 formed the duties of their oflSce. They have held secret meet- 
 ings occasionally, at which the}' have reported what information 
 they have been able to obtain, in regard to certain shanties, 
 stables, sand-banks and other localities, which had a good deal 
 of suspicious manoeuvring about them, and have laid and per- 
 fected their plans for their destruction, with so much prudence 
 and secrecy, and so simultaneous was the grab made by the 
 officers, that nobody, but the officers and the committee, had 
 the least idea of what was in the wind, till they saw the ' old 
 king himself,' on his way to judgment. Some of those con- 
 victed, were fined twenty dollars and costs, while others con- 
 cluded they would go to Worcester. In the evening, while the 
 liquor was being emptied out, some of the boys tried to set it 
 afire, and when they found it was such contemptible, poor stuflf, 
 it would not burn alone, they got some drj^ straw and poured 
 some of the liquor on that and set fire to it, and in that way, 
 made out to get up considerable of a bonfire. The scene was 
 witnessed by quite a crowd of spectators, some of whom were 
 mad and some were glad." 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER, 281 
 
 This seems to have been the first real temperance blaze, if 
 not the last, which the town has enjoyed. Gradually the Gard- 
 ner Temperance Society continued to decrease, in interest and 
 numbers, till January 5th, 1870, when its last recorded action, 
 by its last secretary, Mr. Charles P. Wood, was made. The pres- 
 idents of these societies, besides those already mentioned, were 
 Messrs. Benjamin H. Rugg, C. K. Wood, Charles P. W^ood, 
 Rev. Samuel J. Austin, Allen Folger, JohuM. Moore and Dea. 
 Henry Lawrence. That this society was founded upon the 
 right basis and was so conducted as to result in great benefit to 
 the town, in promoting the interests of temperance, no one, 
 familiar with the facts, will care to dispute. 
 
 SONS OF TEMPERANCE. 
 
 There was an organization, called the Sons of Temperance, in 
 this town. The precise date of its rise and disappearance we 
 are not able to state, the records of the society not being within 
 our reach. 
 
 PHILOKALIA LODGE NO. 82, I. 0. OF G. T. 
 
 A lodge, of the "Independent Order of Good Templars," 
 was formed in this town, in January, 1866, and was called 
 Philokalia Lodge, which name signifies "love of moral and 
 personal beauty." This was a secret organization. It con- 
 tinued to thrive for several years, its sessions being held every 
 week. Its exercises were of a literary nature, embracing plays, 
 original essays and declamations, all in the interests of temper- 
 ance. In 1873, this lodge became extinct, by the smTender of 
 its charter. 
 
 REFORM CLUB. 
 
 This movement was inauguiated by Dr. H. A. Reynolds, in 
 March, 1876. Dr. Reynolds had the reputation of being a very 
 successful apostle of temperance, in Maine and the eastern part 
 of this state, previous to his coming to Gardner. Thousands 
 
 36 
 
282 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 had been induced to take the pledge, through his instrumentality. 
 Having experienced the degradation and sorrow that befalls the 
 man who surrenders himself to the power of strong drink, and 
 having himself been mercifully lifted up, he was enabled, out 
 of his own experience, to make simple, strong, earnest and 
 pathetic appeals to drinking men, " to be good to themselves," 
 by taking and keeping the pledge. His motto was " With malice 
 toward none, with charity for all." During the few days he 
 remained in town, he made an apparently strong impression 
 upon the class of men he sought to reach. Many were induced 
 to take the pledge and become members of the " Reform Club 
 of Gardner,' which was immediately organized, with constitu- 
 tion and by-laws. The first president of this club, was Joseph 
 Whipple, who was afterwards succeeded by Messrs. George W. 
 Mason, Levi W. Wood, J. L. Alger, Jr., and M. A. Powers. 
 The club held frequent meetings, in the Town Hall, and else- 
 where, and great enthusiasm was awakened throughout the 
 town, in behalf of the movement, which seemed to give 
 promise of highest success. The old friends of temperance, 
 waiving all private preferences in regard to means and methods, 
 united cordially in support of the movement. All, without 
 denominational distinction, united in holding a fair in the Town 
 Hall, the object of which was to procure funds for the benefit 
 of the Reform Club. As a result of this fair, together with a 
 temperance ball, which succeeded it, about five hundred dollars 
 were secured. Messrs. Philander Derby and John A. Dunn, 
 generously offered the club a lot, on Vernon Street, upon which 
 was to be erected a suitable house for the accommodation of the 
 club, providing two hundred names should be secured to the 
 pledge. Stimulated by this offer, frequent meetings were held 
 and urgent efforts made to obtain the requisite number. At 
 length the efforts of the club were crowned with success, in 
 procuring the required number of signers. Still the fond antici- 
 pations, of the more earnest and steadfast members of the club, 
 were destined not to be realized. As the summer advanced, 
 many, who had taken the pledge, began to violate it, and having 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 283 
 
 been several times restored, at length abandoned the organiza- 
 tion and returned to their old habits. Gradually the club 
 diminished in numbers, until in the spring of 1877, a division 
 occurred between the members resid ins; in the Centre and South 
 part of the town, and a separate club was formed, in each village, 
 with an amicable division of the funds, remaining in the hands of 
 the treasurer. For the accommodation of the club, while it 
 remained undivided, as well as afterwards for the club at the 
 Centre, Mr. Philander Derby furnished a room, free of rent, 
 while members of the " Woman's Christian Temperance Union " 
 provided the same with suitable furnishings. Still, in spite 
 of all the efforts made, on the part of its friends, to sus- 
 tain it, the Reform Club, at the Centre, continued to diminish 
 in numbers and interest, till the day it committed vifelo de se. A 
 better destiny however, was in store for the Reform Club of 
 South Gardner, which was organized as a separate institution 
 April 2d, 1877, with Mr. J. R. Foster, as its first President. At 
 its organization, this club numbered about twenty-five members, 
 and rapidly increased to a membership of seventy-five, which 
 has since decreased, till it has about thirty at the present time. 
 This club holds its meetings in a building owned by Mr. S. K. 
 Pierce, by whom the rent is gratuitously afforded. The room is 
 supplied with daily and weekly papers and periodicals, and 
 pictures adorn the walls, furnished by the friends of the club. 
 The following gentlemen have acted as presidents of this club : 
 Messrs J. R. Foster, M. A. Powers and W. O. Sawin. The 
 badge, of the Reform Clubs, formed by Dr. Reynolds, is the red 
 ribbon . 
 
 WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNIONS. 
 
 These Unions, one at the Centre, and one at the South Vil- 
 lage, are organizations designed to be auxiliary to the Reform 
 Clul)s, and have proved themselves efficient aids in the promo- 
 tion of temperance work. Mrs. W. D. Herrick has been presi- 
 dent of the union at the Centre, since its organization. The 
 following ladies have officiated as presidents of the South Gard- 
 
284 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 ner Union: Mrs. Abel Jackson, Mrs. S. T. Frost and Mrs. 
 Allen Newton. 
 
 TEMPERANCE LEAGUE. 
 
 This organization was formed No^ ember 16th, 1877, through 
 the instrumentality of Mrs. L. C. Partington, of Providence, 
 R. I. This organization is now in operation, holding its meet- 
 ings weekly, its exercises being chiefly literary. 
 
 '* THE MURPHY MOVEMENT. 
 
 This peculiar kind of temperance work has been begun and 
 is in progress, at this time, April 20th, 1878, in this town. 
 The originator and inspirer of the movement, Mr. Francis 
 Murphy, was born in Wexford County, Ireland, in 1834. He 
 came to this country, when he was but seventeen years of age, 
 led a varied life, till the breaking out of the Kebellion, when he 
 enlisted and went through the war as a soldier, and at its close, 
 went to Portland, Maine, as a hotel keeper, where, with the 
 many temptations, incident to such a life, as he had led, he 
 found himself addicted to the use of strong drink. With 
 troubles and sorrows, he plunged deeper into intoxication, and, 
 at last, was placed, by friendly hands, in the jail in Portland, 
 where, with time for reflection and an escape from temptation, 
 it was hoped he might be led to reform. In the midst of 
 his disgrace and discouragement, Capt. Silas Sturdevant visited 
 the jail, and by his kindly christian influence, inspired him with 
 a desire for reform, and encouraged him to begin a better life. 
 In time he was liberated, and as he went forth a free man, he 
 went so in a new sense, for he was free from the old habits 
 which had been the cause of all his woe. He went out address- 
 ing temperance meetings and laboring for intemperate men, and 
 quietly grew in favor until he was invited West ; hitherto he had 
 simply a local name, and had met w^ith but little more than 
 ordinary success. 
 
 However, in January, 1877, he was invited by some tem- 
 perance men to go to Pittsburg, Pa., where his labors were 
 
HISTORY OF GARDN^ER. 285 
 
 crowned with great success, over forty thousand signers being 
 pledged to the work of temperance. This was the beginning 
 of a series of meetings, held all over the country, which have 
 resulted in good to millions of men. The work is denominated 
 "The Gospel Temperance Work," having for a motto, "with 
 malice toward none and charity for all," and the prayer for God's 
 help upon the pledge. Mr. Murphy has a corps of workers, who, 
 filled with the spirit of their leader, go out all over the country 
 with the Bible in one hand and the pledge in the other. 
 
 Dr. H. B. Kankin, a descendant of one of the early families 
 in Gardner, (Kendall), and Col. E. I. Moore of Ithaca, both 
 reformed men, came to Gardner as lieutenants of Mr. Murphy 
 and labored for three weeks, holding meetings every evening, 
 and by affectionate and earnest endeavor, won many men 
 addicted to intemperance, to the pledge, so that at the time ot 
 this writing, the town is thoroughly alive, and a thousand names 
 have been recorded as signers of the pledge and workers in the 
 Murphy movement. The blue ribbon, the Murphy badge, 
 is seen every where, upon the breast. This is regarded 
 as the most efficient and popular temperance movement yet 
 known in this town, a movement which commends itself most 
 heartily to the judgment and candid consideration of a great 
 majority of our citizens, encouraging the lovers of temperance 
 to struggle on, till the final triumph is obtained over that which 
 leads men to say, with Cassio, " O that men should put an 
 enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains ! that we 
 should, with joy, revel, pleasure and applause transform our- 
 selves into beasts !" 
 
 It will be seen, by a careful review of the account of the 
 various temperance organizations, now given, that while they 
 promote the interests of temperance, during the periods of their 
 existence, they yet are of brief duration, suggesting to the 
 friends of temperance whether this cause, so dear to their hearts, 
 should not be vitally connected with those organizations, which 
 have in them the elements of perpetuity, namely, the Sabbath 
 
286 HISTORY OF GARDNER, 
 
 School and the Church, which must keep themselves constantly 
 identified with the work, if its highest and most permanent 
 success is to be secured. 
 
 Although there have, for years, been many staunch, strong, 
 intrepid and unswerving temperance workers, in this town, who 
 have never failed to identify themselves with the temperance 
 cause, in its various methods of labor, some of whom have 
 suffered in their persons and property, because of their undis- 
 guised adherence to their principles, as temperance men, yet it 
 cannot be conscientiously said, that, acting in its corporate 
 capacity, the town has ever taken anything like advanced 
 ground upon the subject of temperance. In 1834, there was 
 an article in the warrant for the annual town meeting, " to see 
 if the town will instruct the selectmen not to recommend any 
 person to be licensed to retail or mix any spirituous liquors, 
 within the limits of the town, during the year ensuing, or trans- 
 act anything relating thereto." Of this article the town made 
 short work. The record is, "Voted, To dismiss this article." 
 This action may serve to indicate the sentiment of a majority 
 of the voters, regarding the subject of temperance, from that 
 day, to the present. However, in justice to the friends of 
 temperance, it should be stated that the town, September 6th, 
 1870, upon the question, " shall any person be allowed to sell 
 ale, porter, strong beer, or lager beer, within the limits of the 
 town, previous to the first Tuesday of May, next?" voted 
 in the negative, there being seventy-eight votes in favor, and 
 ninety-six against allowing the sale of the above named articles. 
 Also, April 5th, 1871, upon the question, " shall the sale of ale, 
 porter, strong beer and lager beer, be allowed in this town for 
 one year from this date? — May 2d, 1871 — ," the vote Avas, 
 "yeas, twenty-eight, nays, thirty-nine." These votes, although 
 they do not represent a very large proportion of the voters of 
 the town, yet are indicative of the ability of the citizens to 
 expel the traffic in these beverages, from their midst, when they 
 are so disposed. 
 
HI8T0BY OF GABDNER. 287 
 
 Under the present license law, our selectmen have not failed, 
 annually, to respond to the wishes of those, by whom they 
 have been elected to office, in furnishing such number of 
 licenses as, in their opinion, the highest need and welfare of 
 the community have seemed to require. It should be recorded, 
 however, that there are many among us, who would be better 
 pleased with less licenses, or even none at all. 
 
288 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 CEMETEEIES. 
 
 " Beneath those rugged elms, that yew tree's shade, 
 Where heaves the turf in many a mouldering heap, 
 
 Each in his narrow cell forever laid. 
 
 The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep." 
 
 " The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power, 
 And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave, 
 
 Await alike the inevitable hour ; 
 The paths of glory lead but to the grave." — Gray. 
 
 "E'er sin could blight or sorrow fade, 
 
 Death came with friendly care. 
 The opening bud to heaven conveyed 
 
 And bade it blossom there." — Coleridge. 
 
 " To live in hearts we leave behind. 
 Is not to die." — Campbell. 
 
 " Above the gloomy grave our hope ascends, 
 
 E'en as the moon above the silent mountains. 
 
 These partings are reunions in the skies. 
 
 To that great company of holy ones 
 
 They go ; and we that stay how soon shall follow ! 
 
 Through all our stubborn fears and craggy doubts 
 
 Are Christ-worn paths that lead into the future. 
 
 Well-beaten by the stress of pious feet. 
 
 Let not our hearts be troubled; Christ has gone 
 
 Before ; whither we know, the way we know. " 
 
 " I am the resurrection and the life." — John 11 : 25. 
 
 ' I \HE word cemetery derived, as it is, trom the Greek word 
 J- koimaomai, meaning to sleep, or to repose, is beautifully 
 expressive of thetinal resting place, of all that is mortal, of our 
 dearly cherished friends. When " Abraham stood up, from 
 before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth saying, I am 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 289 
 
 a straiiofer and a sojourner with you ; give me a possession of a 
 burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my 
 sight,"* and when the patriarch Jacob said to his son Joseph, 
 " Bury me not I pray thee in Egypt, but I will lie with my 
 fathers ; and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in 
 their burying place, "f they both expressed the universal senti- 
 ment of mankind, concerning the final disposition of the dead. 
 Says Mr. John Jay Smith, superintendent of Laurel Hill 
 Cemetery, referring to the acts of these patriarchs, "such are 
 the natural expressions of human feeling ; it is a matter of 
 instinct, a spiritual impulse, which supersedes belief and dis- 
 dains question. Even the American Indians have been known 
 to burden themselves with the bones of their ancestors when 
 removing to new reservations. These feelings are common to 
 all ages — to the barbarian and the civilized, to the bond and 
 free, to the heathen, to the christian. They are manifested by 
 the barrows, cairns and mounds of olden times ; and every 
 where spots seem to have been so selected that the magnificence 
 of nature might administer comfort to human sorrow and incite 
 to human sympathy. The aboriginal Germans interred their 
 dead in graves consecrated by their priests. The Egyptians 
 soothed their grief by embalming the dead and interring them 
 in vast catacombs or enclosing them in stupendous pyramids. 
 The Hebrews watched with religious care over their places of 
 burial. They usually selected for this purpose ornamental 
 gardens, deep forests, fertile valleys, or rocky mountains ; and 
 they still designate them, with a sad emphasis, as the ' house 
 of the living.' The ancient Asiatics lined the approaches to 
 their cities with sculptured sarcophagi and mausoleums em- 
 bosomed in shrubbery. The Greeks exhausted the resources of 
 their exquisite art in adorning the habitations of the dead. 
 They discouraged interments within the limits of their cities, 
 and consigned their relics to shaded groves in the neighborhood 
 of streams and fountains, and called them ' places of repose.' 
 
 *Gen. 23 : 3, 4. fGeu. 47 : 29, 30. 
 
 37 
 
290 HI8T0RY OF GAEDNEE. 
 
 The Romans erected the monuments of the dead in the suburbs 
 of the city, on the sides of their spacious roads, in the midst of 
 trees and ornamental walks. The Appian Way was crowded 
 with columns and obelisks in memory of their heroes, and at 
 every turn the short and touching inscription met the eye — 
 Siste, viator, (pause, traveler), inviting at once to sympathy 
 and thoughtfulness. These suggestions must have given for- 
 merly, as they may do still, to the language of the senseless 
 stone a voice enforced by the benignity of that nature with 
 which it is in unison. The Moslems placed their burial grounds 
 in rural retreats and embellished them as a religious duty." 
 
 THE TOWN BURYING YARD. 
 
 In obedience to a time honored custom, the early settlers, of 
 this town, proceeded, immediately after its incorporation, to 
 select an appropriate place, in the Centre of the town, for a 
 meeting-house, common, and burying yard. At a meeting held 
 November 7th, 1785, the town " Voted, To purchase land of 
 Seth Heywoodfor a meeting-house, common, and burying yard, 
 for the sum of thirty-six pounds, bounded as follows, viz. : Be- 
 ffinnina: at a stake and stones at the road between John Glazier 
 and said Heywood, running west twenty rods, to a stake and 
 stone ; thence south, to the county road ; thence east on said 
 county road to the first mentioned road; thence on said road, 
 to where it first began. Voted, To appropriate one acre and a 
 half for a burying yard, at the north end of said land. Voted, 
 That the selectmen be a committee to take a deed." November 
 14th, 1785, " Voted, That the selectmen take a deed of the 
 four acres of land of Mr. Seth Heywood, that Mr. Samuel 
 Cook surveyed oif last spring, with the encumbrance of a road 
 on the same, and give him, the said Heywood, security for the 
 same, in behalf of the town. Thirty pounds is the price, and 
 the said Heywood to improve the same one year, he relinquish- 
 ing the interest, so long as he improves the same, excepting so 
 much of [the] burying yard, as the town shall have an occasion 
 
HISTORY OF GARDj^EE. 291 
 
 for to bury their dead in."* April 7th, 180(3, there was an 
 article in the town warrant " to see if the town will purchase a 
 piece of hind, of Lieut. Seth Hey wood on the west side of the 
 common and burying ground, to enlarge said common and 
 burying ground." Upon this article, the town "Voted, To 
 choose a committee of three, to talk with Lieut. Hey wood, and 
 see how they can buy a piece of land of him, and make report 
 at May meeting next." '• Chose Aaron Wood, Esq., Mr. 
 Smyrna Glazier and Mr. Simeon Leland for this committee." 
 At the May meeting the town " Voted, To purchase a piece of 
 land of Lieut. Seth Hey wood. Voted, To give said Hey wood 
 one hundred and thirty-four dollars, for one acre of land west 
 of the meeting-house, and for him to move the wall. Voted, 
 The selectmen take the deed of said land."! The following is a 
 true copy of the deed : — 
 
 Know all Men by these Presents, That I, Seth Heywood of 
 Gardner in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of 
 Massachusetts, gentleman, in consideration of one hundred and 
 thirty-four dollars, paid me by the inhabitants of the town of 
 Gardner, in the county and Commonwealth aforesaid, the receipt 
 whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, sell 
 and convey unto the said inhabitants of Gardner, their succes- 
 sors, a certain tract of land lying and being on the west side of 
 the common, near the meeting-house in Gardner, aforesaid, 
 containing one acre, and is bounded as follows, viz. : Beginning 
 at a stake and stones on the northerly line of the county road, 
 about three rods northerly of the northeasterly corner of said 
 Seth Hey wood's barn, at a stake and stones ; thence running 
 north, thirty-eight rods, to the southwesterly corner of the 
 burying ground ; thence west, four rods and five links to a stake 
 and stones; thence south, thirty-eight rods, to a stake and 
 stones at said county road ; thence easterly, to the first men- 
 tioned bound, four rods and five links. Said Seth Heywood 
 agrees to build all the division fence, between said acre of land 
 
 *Town Records, vol. 1, p. 6. fTown Records, vol. 1, p. 446. 
 
292 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 and his land, upon his own expense, and the inhabitants ot 
 Gardner, on their part, agree never to erect any building south 
 of a line drawn parallel with the south side of the meeting- 
 house on said land. 
 
 To Have and to Hold the same, to the said inhabitants of 
 Gardner, their successors, to their use and behoof forever. And 
 1 do covenant with the said inhabitants of Gardner, their suc- 
 sessors, that I am lawfully seized* in fee of the premises, that 
 they are free from all incumbrances, and that I will warrant, 
 defend the same to the said inhabitants of Gardner, their suc- 
 cessors, forever, against the lawful claims and demands of all 
 persons. In witness whereof I, the said Seth Hey wood, have 
 hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty-first day of October in 
 the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six. 
 
 Seth Heywood. [seal.] 
 
 Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of us, 
 
 Aaron Wood, William Whitney. 
 Worcester, ss. July 11th, 1807. Then Seth Heywood above 
 named, acknowledged this instrument to be his free act and 
 deed ; before me, 
 
 Abel Wood, Justice of the Peace. 
 
 This burying yard is situated directly in the rear of the First 
 Congregational Church, and, at the present time, is noticeable 
 for the antique forms of its grave stones. Here is to be found 
 the grave of Rev. Jonathan Osgood, the first minister of the 
 town. By means of recent appropriations, this yard is made 
 very commendable in appearance, showing no disposition on the 
 part of the living to neglect the final resting place of the dead. 
 In connection with this burying yard, is the town's tomb ; also 
 a hearse house. The first hearse owned by the town, was pur- 
 chased in 1821 and was without a seat for the driver, the horse 
 being led. The hearses, now used, were purchased in 1870. 
 
 Recently a heavy, substantial wall, capped with large flat 
 stones, has been erected upon the easterly side of these grounds. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 293 
 
 SOUTH GARDNER GREEN BOWER CEMETERY. 
 
 The company, owning and controlling the grounds of this 
 cemetery, was organized as a corporation, under the statutes of 
 1841, November 26th, 1841). The following are the by-laws : — 
 
 Art. 1. This company shall be called the South Gardner 
 Green Bower Cemetery Company. 
 
 Art. 2. The annual meeting of the proprietors, shall be 
 holden on the last Mondaj^ of November, at six o'clock, p. m. 
 
 Art. 3. There shall be chosen, by ballot, at each annual 
 meeting, five or more of the proprietors, who shall constitute a 
 Board of Trustees ; one of whom shall be chosen, by the trustees. 
 President of the company ; and also by the Board of Trustees, a 
 Clerk, who shall also be Clerk of the company and of the board ; 
 also a Treasurer; all of whom, shall hold their office, one year, 
 and until others are chosen and qualified in their stead. 
 
 Art. 4. The President shall preside at all meetings of the 
 proprietors, and of the Trustees, and shall perform such other 
 duties as shall be devolved upon him by the company, or by 
 the board. He shall call special meetings of the company, at 
 any time, on the application, in writing, of five or more of the 
 proprietors, and special meetings of the board, on the written 
 application of any one of its members. 
 
 Art. 5. The Trustees shall be authorized to purchase a site 
 or plot of ground tor a burying ground, said ground or lot to be 
 called the South Gardner Green Bower Cemetery. Said site 
 or plot to be purchased of John Sawin, by a deed running to 
 the Trustees of the company. The Trustees shall manage the 
 affairs of the company and for this purpose may erect and 
 repair such suitable fences as they may judge necessary to 
 enclose the South Gardner Green Bower Cemetery, may lay 
 out the said cemetery into plots, suitable for burying spots, may 
 divide the said cemetery into paths and make all other improve- 
 ments, for utility or ornament. 
 
 Art. 6. The Clerk shall be sworn to the faithful discharge 
 of his duty and shall keep, in separate books, a true record of 
 
294 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 the doings of the proprietors and Trustees ; be shall notify all 
 meetings as hereinafter provided, and perform such other duties 
 as may be devolved upon him by the company or board. 
 
 Art. 7. The Treasurer shall give bonds in the sum of five 
 hundred dollars, with two sureties to the acceptance of the 
 Trustees. He shall collect all assessments, issue certificates of 
 burying lots, and execute all instruments for the purchase, sale, 
 or transfer of lots, or other property, under the directions of 
 the board ; and shall perform such other duties as the propri- 
 etors or Trustees may prescribe. 
 
 Art. 8. The President and Trustees shall receive no com- 
 pensation for their ordinary services, but when performing any 
 special service as agent, or performing labor for the company 
 shall be reimbursed their expenses and shall receive such 
 further sums as the Trustees may think reasonable. The Clerk 
 and Treasurer of the company shall receive a reasonable com- 
 pensation for their services, to be agreed upon by the Trustees. 
 
 Art. 9. Ten of the proprietors shall constitute a quorum 
 for doing business, and all votes passed and all business trans- 
 acted, at any legal meeting of the proprietors, shall be as truly 
 and absolutely binding as though they were present. Absent 
 proprietors may vote by proxy authorized in writing, but no 
 proxy shall extend beyond one meeting including adjournments 
 of the same. 
 
 Art. 10. All meetings of the proprietors shall be notified 
 by the Clerk, by posting up notices in two or more public 
 places in said Gardner, at least five days before the time of 
 holding such meeting. The Clerk shall also notify the meet- 
 ings of the Trustees, in such manner as they may designate. 
 
 Art. 11. In the absence of the President or Clerk, at any 
 meeting of the company or the board, they shall respectively 
 have the power of filling the vacancy, for the time being. Any 
 permanent vacancy in the offices of Clerk or Treasurer may be 
 filled by the company at any meeting duly notified for that 
 purpose, but any permanent vacancy in the Board of Trustees, 
 or President, may be filled by the other members of the board ; 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNEB. 295 
 
 but all such officers shall hold their office only till the next 
 annual meeting, or till others are chosen or qualified in their 
 stead . 
 
 Art. 12. The by-laws may be altered or amended at any 
 meeting of the company, such alterations having been presented 
 in writing at a previous meeting. 
 
 Art. 13. All persons, becoming proprietors, shall be required 
 to sign and be bound by the by-laws of the compau}'. 
 
 This cemetery originally contained one acre and eighty-three 
 rods of land. It is pleasantly situated, upon the southwest side 
 of the South Village, about a quarter of a mile from Broadway. 
 The main portion of the land, comprising this cemetery, is 
 sufficiently elevated in position, to afford a pleasant outlook, in 
 all directions. Its avenues are pleasantly laid out, making the 
 lots easy of access, many of which are arranged very tastefully 
 and are bordered with costly curbing. There are, in this cem- 
 etery, several beautiful and expensive monuments. There is 
 also, within the enclosure, a tomb. In 1864, this cemetery was 
 enlarged by the addition of one and nine-tenths acres upon the 
 north side, making, in all, about four acres. These grounds, 
 bordered as they are, upon one side, by a grove of pines, afford 
 an appropriate and pleasant resting place for the dead. 
 
 CRYSTAL LAKE CEMETERY. 
 
 Previous to the laying out of the South Gardner Green Bower 
 Cemetery, in 1849, all interments, for the whole town, were 
 made in the old burying yard at the Centre. This yard, con- 
 sequently, became very fully occupied, creating a necessity on 
 the part of the town, for providing a suitable place for the 
 burial of the dead. August 7th, 1858, there was an article in 
 the town warrant " to see if the town will take measures to 
 procure a piece of land for a cemetery, for the use of the town, 
 or act anything relating to the same." Acting upon this article 
 the town voted to choose a committee of three " to see on what 
 terms land could be purchased for a cemetery, and report to 
 
296 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 an adjourned meeting." This committee reported the expedi- 
 ency of procuring a tract of land, upon the west side of Cr3^stal 
 Lake, comprising in all, about ten acres, which the town au- 
 thorized them to purchase " for a cemetery, for the use of the 
 town." This cemetery is remarkable for the beauty of its 
 location, occupying as it does, an elevated tract of land, which 
 gradually slopes down to Crystal Lake, whose clear waters form 
 a delightful foreground to this resting place of the dead. This 
 cemetery, with its background of pines, viewed in connection 
 with Crystal Lake, reposing so peacefully at its foot, furnishes 
 a scene of natural beauty and picturesqueness, whose tranquil- 
 izing eflfect, serves to deprive the grave of its terror, and to 
 take away from the minds of the living, all desire for " couch 
 more magnificent," while 
 
 " Sustained and soothed 
 By an unfaltering trust," 
 
 they feel assured that here they may approach their graves, 
 
 " Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch 
 About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams." 
 
 These grounds are divided into suitable burying lots, several 
 of which are enclosed, by costly and substantial curbing, and are 
 interspersed with avenues, walks and ornamental plots, beauti- 
 fied with cultivated flowers and green sward, which present a 
 scene of beauty and attractiveness, under the careful and tasteful 
 management of the present committee, Messrs. Lyman F. 
 Wood, Ambrose P. Chase and Thomas B. Warren, the latter of 
 whom, is an Englishman, by birth, and though aged more than 
 three score years and ten, yet continues to combine unusual 
 vigor, with excellent taste in the care and attention which he 
 bestows upon these grounds. There are, in this cemetery, 
 several monuments of superior costliness and beauty. The 
 town makes an annual appropriation for the benefit of these 
 grounds, varying in amount, from year to year, as the neces- 
 sities of the case may require, which, together with the pro- 
 ceeds from the sale of burying lots affords a fund which is 
 sufficient to give to this " sleeping chamber" of the dead, the 
 
HI8T0BY OF GARDNER. 297 
 
 cure and labor needful for its continued attractive appearance 
 and beauty. 
 
 The following are the rules and regulations of Crystal Lake 
 Cemetery : — 
 
 Any person who shall become the owner of a lot in said 
 Cemetery shall hold the same subject to the following condi- 
 tions and limitations, as set forth in the deed, executed by the 
 Treasurer, by order of the Cemetery Committee : — 
 
 Art. 1. Upon the selection of a lot, the committee shall 
 issue to the person proposing to purchase, a certificate stating 
 the amount agreed upon ; and said person shall present it to the 
 Treasurer, and pay to him said amount within thirty days from 
 date thereof. If not presented within the time aforesaid, all 
 rioht to the selected lot shall cease. 
 
 Art. 2. Said lot shall not be used for any other purpose 
 than as a place of burial for the dead, otherwise than to erect 
 thereon some funeral monument or structure, and cultivate trees, 
 shrubs or plants. 
 
 Art. 3. When a burial lot has been sold, it shall be graded 
 within one year from the date of the deed, under the direction 
 of the Cemetery Committee ; or the committee may at any time 
 thereafter cause the same to be done at the expense of the 
 proprietor. 
 
 Art. 4. If any tree, shrub or bush in any lot shall, by 
 means of its roots, branches or otherwise, become, in the 
 opinion of the committee, detrimental to the adjoining lots or 
 avenues or dangerous or inconvenient to passengers, the com- 
 mittee shall enter said lot and remove the same or any part 
 thereof. 
 
 Art. 5. If any structure or inscription be placed in or 
 around said lot which a majority of the committee shall decide 
 to be oifensive or improper, said committee may enter upon said 
 lot and remove the same. 
 
 Art. 6. Proprietors of neglected lots shall be notified by 
 the committee of their condition ; and in case of continued 
 neglect, so as, in the opinion of the committee, to impair the 
 
 38 
 
298 HISTOBY OF GARDNER. 
 
 general appearance of the cemetery, such lot may be put in 
 order by said committee at the expense of the proprietor. 
 
 Art. 7. No tomb shall be constructed within said cemetery 
 except by the written consent of the Cemetery Committee. 
 
 Art. 8. The deed of the lot shall be executed by the Treas- 
 urer, iu behalf of the town, by order of the Cemetery Com- 
 mittee. 
 
 Art. 9. All burials in the public burial ground shall be 
 made in the location directed by the Cemetery Committee. 
 
 Art. 10. The receiving tomb shall be used as a temporary 
 place of interment ; and no body placed therein between the 
 first day of May and the first day of November shall be kept 
 therein more than ten days. No body shall be placed in or 
 removed from the tomb or any lot in the cemetery, except by 
 the Sexton or by his direction, he keeping a true record of the 
 same and reporting the same to the town each year at the annual 
 town meeting in March. 
 
 Art. 11. No unseemly noise, discharge of fire-arms or dis- 
 orderly conduct will be permitted within the cemetery. 
 
 Art. 12. No horse shall be driven faster than a walk within 
 the cemetery or left unfiistened without a keeper, nor fastened 
 except at such places provided for that purpose. 
 
 Art. 13. No person on horseback or in a carriage shall 
 cross any lot or ride or drive on any walk or path ; but all 
 riding or driving shall be confined exclusively to the avenues. 
 
 Art. 14. No dog shall be allowed to run at large in the 
 cemetery. 
 
 Art. 15. All persons are strictly forbidden bathing in Crys- 
 tal Lake from or near the banks of the cemetery. 
 
 Art. 16. All persons are forbidden to write upon or other- 
 wise deface or injure any fence or other structure in the ceme- 
 tery ; or to gather any flowers, either wild or cultivated, except 
 on their own lot ; or break any tree, shrub or plant therein ; 
 under the penalty in such case made and provided. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 299 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS. 
 
 " Deduct all that meu of the humbler classes have clone for England in the 
 way of inventions only, and see where she would have been but for them." 
 
 — Arthur Helps. 
 
 " Neither the naked hand, nor the understanding, left to itself, can do much ; 
 the work is accomplished by instruments and helps." — Lord Bacon. 
 
 " Patience is the tinest and worthiest part of fortitude, and the rarest too. 
 Patience lies at the root of all pleasures, as well as of all powers." 
 
 — John Buskin. 
 
 "The sire of gods and men, with hard decrees, 
 Forbids our plenty to be bought with ease ; 
 Himself invented tlrst the shining share, 
 And whetted human industry by cure."— Dryden. 
 
 " For sure by wit is chiefly meant 
 Applying well what we invent." — Swift. 
 
 " See, I have called by name Bezaleel, and I have filled him with the spirit 
 of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all 
 manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in 
 silver, and in brass, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of work- 
 manship." — Ex. 31 : 2-5 
 
 "And King Solomon sent, and fetched Hiram out of Tyre: he was filled 
 with wisdom and understanding and cunning to work all works in brass. And 
 he came to King Solomon and wrought all his work." — 1 Kings, 7 : 13, 14. 
 
 /TXhE truthfulness of the proverb, " Necessity is the mother 
 -L of invention," finds frequent verification, in connection 
 with the chair manufacturing enterprises of this town. Atten- 
 tion has ah-eady been directed, in chapter VII., page 166, of this 
 work, to the simplicity of the tools, originally employed in 
 the construction of chairs. With a growing market, for this 
 product of industry, there has ever been a growing demand for 
 increased facilities for this sort of manufacture. Stimulated 
 by this demand, the inventive brain and cunning hand of some 
 
300 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 of the more thoughtful and studious of our citizens, have not 
 been inactive, nor slow to respond. As a result, of this demand, 
 Gardner claims the honor of having, within its limits, several 
 individuals whose inventive genius, and whose invaluable in- 
 ventions have given them a cosmopolitan reputation, among all 
 manufacturers of chairs. The names of some of these inven- 
 tors, together with their inventions, we shall now proceed to 
 
 mention. 
 
 PEARSON COWEE. 
 
 This gentleman was born in Gardner, in 1797, where he died 
 in July, 1876. Being engaged, early in life, in the manufac- 
 ture of chair stock, he conceived the idea of constructing a dish 
 saw, which could be used in sawing chair backs into the con- 
 cave shape required, in chairs, instead of being obliged to work 
 them out by hand. He accordingly employed the mechanical 
 skill of a neighboring blacksmith to forge, for him, a disk of 
 iron, of a dishing form, and having eight points, upon which 
 were adjusted saw teeth. This done, Mr. Cowee, fastening his 
 invention to a revolving shaft, found that it did the required 
 work admirably, which had before been doue so laboriously, by 
 hand, and in much less time. Mr. Cowee, however, never 
 secured a patent upon this, his invention, though he must, in 
 justice be the acknowledged inventor. 
 
 LEVI HEYWOOD. 
 
 Prominent among the business men and inventors, of this, his 
 native town, stands the name of Mr. Levi Hey wood, a sketch 
 of whose ancestors, life and inventive genius, we here give, by 
 courteous permission of the authors, as extracts from a large 
 and valuable work, now in press and soon to be issued by 
 Messrs. Van Slyck & Co., No. 7 Pemberton Square, Boston, 
 entitled " The Manufacturers of New England." 
 
 " In connection with each of the varied industries which have 
 made New England the work-shop of the country, there is, in 
 almost every case, some single name, that of a pioneer or 
 especially successful manufacturer, which is at once suggested 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 301 
 
 when the industry is named. In this relation, to the chair 
 manufacture, -stands the name of Heywood. The various 
 families of this name, widel}^ disseminated through Middlesex 
 and Worcester Counties in Massachusetts, are, all of them it is 
 believed, descended from John Heywood, who, prior to 1650, 
 came from England and settled in Concord, Mass. His son, 
 well and widely known as Dea. John Heywood, was a man of 
 large influence both in civil and in ecclesiastical affiiirs. One of 
 his sons, Phineas, born in Concord in 1707, removed, in 1739, to 
 Shrewsbury, Mass. He was a selectman, a representative in 
 the Provincial Congress, a member of the Committee of Cor- 
 respondence, in 1774-1775, and a man of large influence in 
 public afiiiirs and an ardent patriot. His son, Benjamin, born 
 in 1746, was commissioned in 1776, a captain and paymaster in 
 the Army, and served through the war. He was present at the 
 surrender of Gen. Burgoyne. From 1802 to 1811, he was one 
 of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas, and for many 
 years was one of the most eminent citizens of Worcester County. 
 "His older brother, Seth, born in Concord in 1738, was 
 carried with his father's family to Shrewsbury and in 1762 was 
 married to Martha Temple of that town. He soon after re- 
 moved to Sterling and served as lieutenant in the army of the 
 Revolution. Purchasing a farm within the limits of what is 
 now the town of Gardner, he was li^ ing there at the time of 
 the incorporation of that town in 1785, and, in connection with 
 John Glazier, was one of the petitioners and chief promoters 
 of that act, and was the first Town Clerk. He was a black- 
 smith and carried on the large farm which he owned in the 
 centre of the town, his house being on the site of the present 
 Town Hall, and the farm embracing within its limits, the com- 
 mon, the burial ground, and the lauds occupied h\ the church, 
 the hotel and most of the residences in the vicinity of the Town 
 Hall. He died in 1827, aged 81) years. His son Benjamin, 
 born in Gardner in 1773, was married to Mar}' Whitney, sister 
 of Phineas and Amasa Whitney, prominent citizens of Winchen- 
 don, Mass. He inherited his father's farm. He Avas, for many 
 
302 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 years, the Town Treasurer and was highly respected and influ- 
 ential in town afiairs. 
 
 "His children were Levi, Benjamin F., Walter, William, 
 Seth and Charles. He died in 1849, in his 77th year. Of his 
 children, Charles died at the age of six years ; Benjamin F. 
 died, in 1844, having been engaged successfully since his ma- 
 jority as a trader, and a part of the time, as a manufacturer of 
 chairs ; William died, in 1873, in Boston, where he had resided 
 since 1830, and had been engaged in business there and in 
 Charlestown, with success, till 1855, in which year he retired 
 from business ; Levi, Walter, and Seth survive and are each of 
 them engaged successfully in the manuf^icture of chairs. 
 
 " Levi Ileyicood was born in Gardner, December 10th, 1800. 
 His early advantages, for education, w'ere only those usually 
 enjoyed by the children and youth, at that time, in rural towns, 
 with the addition of two terms at the academy in New Salem, 
 Mass. The diligent improvement of these opportunities fitted 
 him for the vocation of a school teacher, in which he was en- 
 gaged, in his native town and in the adjoining town of Win- 
 chendon during the Avinters 1820-21 and 22. Li the spring of 
 the latter year he went to Rochester, N. Y., and was employed 
 there about a year in stone-work by contract. Returning in 
 1823 to Gardner, he entered into partnership with his brother 
 Benjamin, in the very miscellaneous business of a country store. 
 This relation he continued till the year 1829. 
 
 "In 1826, he commenced, in Gardner, the manufacture of 
 wood-seated chairs. In 1831, he went to Boston and opened a 
 store for the sale of chairs, in which business he continued till 
 1836. He also, in connection with W^illiam R. Carnes and his 
 brother William, under the firm style of Hey wood & Carnes, 
 started a mill for sawing veneers from mahogany, etc., in 
 Charlestown. This mill was burned in 1835. He then returned 
 to Gardner and entered into partnership with his brother Wal- 
 ter, who, with others, had been for some years engaged in the 
 manufacture of chairs, on part of the premises now occupied 
 by Hey wood Bros. & Co. The veneer mill in Charlestown was 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 303 
 
 rebuilt aud Mr. Levi Heywood retained his interest in it, 
 until 1849. 
 
 "The business, of the new firm in Gardner, was conducted 
 with success, the manufacture being mainly by hand, the only 
 machinery being the ordinary turning lathe, and circular saws, 
 which were operated by water power, obtained from the pond 
 now known as Crystal Lake. In L841, it occurred to Levi 
 Heywood, that machinery specially adapted to the various 
 processes of manufacture, might be introduced to advantage. 
 His brother, of a more conservative disposition, hesitated to 
 leave the well-worn paths in which they were achieving reason- 
 able success. This difference of opinion led to a dissolution of 
 the partnership, Levi purchasing his brother's interest. He at 
 once gave his thoughts and labor, to the devising and construct- 
 ing of special machinerj^ as well as to the introduction of dif- 
 ferent kinds of wood-working machinery, which were already 
 in use for other purposes, and were also adapted to his purpose. 
 In the successful carrying out of this idea, he inaugurated a new 
 era in the chair manufacture, and herein manifested much enter- 
 prise, together with the fertility of resource, mechanical skill 
 and inventiveness, and the purpose to introduce constantly new 
 and valuable features, both in methods of manufacture and in 
 style of product, Avhich have always characterized him, and have 
 been large elements of his success. 
 
 " As an instance of his originality, in the matter of mechani- 
 cal devices, it may be said that as early as 1835, he conceived 
 the idea of the band saw, now universally adopted as one of the 
 most valuable tools in wood-work. The idea was original with 
 him, though not really novel, for as early as 1808, "VVm. New- 
 berry of London, Eng., had conceived the same idea and made 
 a crude model of a band sawing machine, but did nothing more 
 with it. So thoroughly were its advantages anticipated by Mr. 
 Heywood, that he consulted with B. D. Whitney of Winchen- 
 don and with Charles Griffiths, of Welch & Griffiths of Boston, 
 as to the feasibility of constructing a machine of the kind. Both 
 of these gentlemen, experts in such matters, agreed that Avith 
 
304 HISTORY OF GAEDNEli. 
 
 the quality of saw-blades then made, or any known methods of 
 uniting them so as to make an endless band, the idea could not 
 be successfully carried out. As is well known, M. Perin of 
 Paris, France, has, since that time, accomplished what Mr. 
 Hey wood, so many years before, conceived to be both desirable 
 and feasible. 
 
 " In 1844, on the first day of July, he received into partner- 
 ship Gen. Moses Wood, then of Providence and afterwards 
 President of the Rollstone Bank of Fitchburg, and his brother 
 Seth, the style of the firm being Hey wood & Wood. This 
 partnership continued till July 1st, 1849. At that date Gen. 
 Wood retired from the firm, and Messrs. Calvin Hey wood and 
 Henry C. Hill were admitted, the style of the firm being 
 changed to L. Hey wood & Co. 
 
 "Mr. Heywood, in addition to his business relations, as the 
 head of the firm of Hey wood Bros. & Co., has since 1847, been 
 a partner with Hon. W. B. Washburn of Greenfield, Mass., in 
 the manufacture of chairs and wooden ware, at Erving, Mass., 
 the style of the firm being Washburn & Heywood. They are 
 also largely engaged in the manufacture and sale of lumber, 
 owning about 3,000 acres of woodland in Erving, Northfield 
 and New Salem. 
 
 " At this point, it is proper to refer to the inventions of Mr. 
 Heywood, Avhich have been mostly to meet the demands of his 
 own business, and have largely contributed to its success. 
 Among them may be named one for a wood chair-seat, one 
 for tilting-chair, three for machines for splitting, shaving and 
 otherwise manipulating rattan, and four for machinery for 
 bending wood. He has also invented a very valuable jirocess 
 (not immediately connected with his own business l)ut of value 
 to it, as utilizing in a new direction, the pith of the rattan after 
 stripping the enamel from it,) for injecting rattan with india- 
 rubber or other suitable material, thus making an excellent sub- 
 stitute for whalebone. 
 
 " Of the merits of his wood-bending process, it may be proper 
 to introduce the testimony of M. Fr. Thouet of Vienna, Austria, 
 
HISTORY OF GABBjSrUB. 305 
 
 the heticl of the largest chair manufacturing firm in the world, 
 employing some live thousand operatives. After visiting the 
 factories of the Messrs. Heywood, he wrote, ' I must tell you 
 candidly that you have got the best machinery for bending wood 
 that I ever saw, and I will say that I have seen and experi- 
 mented a great deal in the bending of wood.' The Heywood 
 patents have been combined with those of John C. Morris of 
 Cincinnati, on which the patents of Blanchard have, after pro- 
 tracted litigation, been decided to be infringements. The com- 
 bined patents, owned by the Morris & Heywood Wood-bending 
 Co., it is believed, cover the really effective methods for bend- 
 ing wood. 
 
 "Mr. Heywood, in addition to his large personal business, 
 he having retained to the present time — though now in his 
 seventy-eighth 3'ear, — the supervision in all its details, of the 
 mechanical department of the business, including the adapta- 
 tion and construction of new machinery and devices for greater 
 economy and perfection of manufacture, has been very active in 
 public enterprises. He represented the town in the Convention 
 for revising the Constitution of the State in the year 1853, and 
 in the lower branch of the Legislature in 1871. He has been a 
 Director in the Gardner National Bank and a Trustee of the 
 Gardner Savings Bank from the organization of those institu- 
 tions. 
 
 " Mr. Heywood is not personally identified, by membership, 
 with any church. A regular attendant, however, of the Con- 
 ofreo'ational Church in Gardner, he is a liberal contributor to its 
 current expenses, and responds cheerfully and liberally to the 
 calls of benevolence. He is also largely interested in educa- 
 tional matters, and personally in the schools and has made 
 liberal donations of land and otherwise, to the town in this 
 direction. Respected in the highest degree for personal in- 
 tegrity and excellence of his character in all the relations of 
 life, his example is for good to the large number of his em- 
 ployes and to the community by which he has been long looked 
 up to as its wealthiest and most influential citizen." 
 
 39 
 
306 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 GARDNER A. W ATKINS. 
 
 This gentleman was l)oi-n in Peru, Berkshire County, Mas- 
 sachusetts, September 13th, 1833. Being, from childhood, of 
 a mechanical turn of mind, when not engaged in school, or at 
 work on the fiirm, he was occupied as a carpenter, and in kin- 
 dred employment, until he was eighteen years of age, when he 
 went to Lakeville, Conn., where he was engaged, for five years, 
 in the ofiice and factory of the celebrated surgeon. Dr. Benja- 
 min Welsh, manufacturer of surgical instruments. At the ex- 
 piration of this time, he removed to Springfield, Vt., where he 
 was engaged in the same business, until the breaking out of the 
 war of the Rebellion, in the spring of 1861, when he turned his 
 attention to the construction of complex machinery, for the 
 manufacture of shoe lasts, hooks and eyes, etc. In the year 
 1863, he went to Proctorsville, Vt., where he became interested 
 in the manufacture of clothes pins, mop-handles, flour-sifters and 
 chair stock. In 1866, he began the manufacture of wood seat 
 chairs and also made an attempt at splint and cane bottom 
 chairs. 
 
 The followino: are some of the reasons, restins: in Mr. Wat- 
 kins' mind, for making a new departure from the old Chinese 
 pattern, used for more than four centuries, in the construction 
 of cane chairs : The demand for a smooth, better and more 
 durable chair seat for common use ; some method by which to 
 avoid waste of cane, time and trouble, in distributing the frames 
 of chairs over the country, to be seated, as well as the annoy- 
 ance of teaching a new generation, the art of caning chairs; 
 some way by which this work could be done, systematically, 
 in the factory, under the supervision of the manufiicturer, with 
 the use of suitable machinery, and, lastly, a better chair, for 
 less money. 
 
 After thorough and patient experimenting, he found that 
 cane could not be superseded by any other then known sub- 
 stance, for seats and backs, for common chairs, the grain of 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 307 
 
 swamp ash ])eing the nearest to cane, but so scarce and expen- 
 sive, as to limit its use. Obstacles, which at times, seemed in- 
 surmountable, were finally overcome. After months of patient 
 and incessant toil, in inventing tools and machinery for this 
 special purpose, Mr. Watkins succeeded in weaving an all wood 
 or cane fabric, of various figures and patterns, of any desired 
 width and length. This was acknowledged, at the United 
 States Patent Office, to be the first production of this sort 
 and an entirely new article of manufacture. The question 
 then arose as to the most practical method of securing this 
 fabric to the frames of chair seats and backs, of all forms. This 
 problem, at first, seemed to be one easy of solution, but, after 
 various attempts which proved either to be worthless or too 
 expensive, Mr. Watkins became almost satisfied that the Chinese 
 was the only possible method, namely, that of making holes 
 through the frame of a seat or back, as near together as possi- 
 ble, then drawing in the cane, from side to side, to the greatest 
 possible amount. This would produce just that figure of net 
 work, so common in the old Chinese pattern. However, per- 
 severance, with a commendable degree of Yankee ingenuity, 
 was destined to be more than a match for the " heathen Chinee." 
 In the spring of 1867-8-9, Mr. Watkins succeeded in reaching 
 satisfactory results, which were recognized, from time to time, 
 at the United States Patent Office, in various grants, some of 
 which bear the following dates : Patent chair seat, May 14th, 
 
 1867 ; patent chair seat, April 6th, 1868 ; patent chair seat, 
 April 7th, 1868 ; shuttle for weaving chair seats, March 10th, 
 
 1868 ; improved shuttle for weaving chair seats, reissue, Novem- 
 ber 2d, 1869 ; seating machine, July 13th, 1869 ; scroll saw- 
 table, August 2, 1869 ; channeling or grooving machine, Sep- 
 tember 6th, 1870 ; embossing chair seats, September 6th, 1870 ; 
 spliced bottom, September 6th, 1870; continuous spline, Au- 
 gust 15, 1871 ; improved rattan for chair seats, September 19th, 
 1871 ; process for splicing cane, December 12th, 1871. 
 
308 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 SPLICING CANE. 
 
 This process is worthy of special mention. In the specifica- 
 tion, forming part of Letters Patent, the inventor uses the fol- 
 lowing language : " The object of this invention is to prepare 
 strands of rattan, for weaving; and the invention consists in 
 removing the enamel surftice, from the ends of the strands, by 
 ' scarfing' them down preparatory to splicing, and connecting 
 the ends together in the manner hereinafter referred to. As is 
 well known, the outer surfiice of rattan is covered by a silicious 
 enamel, which is extremely hard, and, to a great extent, im- 
 pervious to moisture, so that any attempt to join one or more 
 strands together by means of cement, is sure to prove in- 
 efiectual ; hence, the great value to be derived from splicing 
 such strands together, for the purpose of weaving them in a 
 cloth of any desired length and width, has, to some extent, 
 been lost. My invention fully obviates this difficulty. * * * 
 * * * Since the length of these strands is limited, to a 
 great extent, it is essential, in order to successfully weave 
 them, in a loom, that the strands be spliced one to the other, to 
 any desired length. In order to accomplish this, I scarf the 
 ends ofi". This scarfing * * * * jg for the double pur- 
 pose of removing the enamel from the surface of the strand, so 
 that cement will adhere thereon, and also to enable one scarfed 
 end to be cemented to another, without increasing the thickness 
 of the strand at the splice. The scarfing may be done in many 
 ways, not necessary here to mention, since I do not limit my- 
 self to any particular means of accomplishing this object. The 
 ends of the strands being scarfed, as above described, are next 
 charged with cement, and when a sufficient quantity of strands 
 is so prepared, the cemented ends are exposed to a jet of dry 
 steam, or other artificial heat, until the cement liquifies, and 
 then pressing the scarfed and cemented ends together, they will 
 at once adhere, and the strands thus prepared or spliced may 
 be reeled up, in any desired length, ready for weaving." 
 
HISTORY OF GABDMEIL 309 
 
 The machinery, by which this scarfing process is accom- 
 plished, is Avorthy of mention, as a product also of Mr. Wat- 
 kins' inventive genius. The instrument, by which the ends of 
 the cane are shaved down to the thinnest edge, is a small cylin- 
 der, about two inches in diameter, upon whose surface are 
 formed numerous horizontal knives or cutters. This cylinder 
 is fixed upon a revolving shaft, upon which it is capable of per- 
 forming six thousand revolutions in a minute. Directly in front 
 of this cylinder, is a brass plate, whose surface is so contrived, 
 that, when the end of the strand is placed upon it, and, by 
 means of a treadle, is moved back under this revolving cylinder, 
 it so adjusts itself to the revolving knives, as to produce, in 
 the most exact manner, the required " scarf." This process, 
 is almost instantaneous. The pressure, being removed from 
 the treadle, the beveled brass table, by means of a weight, 
 is immediately thrown back, ready for the rencAval of the 
 process. Near by the person doing this work, is stationed a 
 pot containing hot cement, into which is plunged a small brush, 
 so connected with this machinery for scarfing the ends of the 
 cane, that while the end of the strand is passing under the re- 
 volving cylinder, the brush is dipped in the cement, from which 
 it immediately arises, on the removal of the pressure from the 
 treadle. The strand, thus scarfed, is drawn under this brush, 
 by which it is immediately cemented. It requires from two to 
 three hours to harden this cement, on the scarfed ends of the 
 strand. These strands are then taken, by another operative, 
 whose duty it is to join them together and wind them upon 
 bobbins. Near this person is a jet of dry steam, which is made 
 to pass through wood, in order to secure freedom from moisture. 
 Into this steam jet are passed two cemented ends of the strands, 
 the cement, upon which, is instantly liquified, after which, the 
 two ends joined together are passed between two heated iron 
 wheels whose surfaces are pressed together by means of a 
 treadle. This process firmly unites the scarfed and cemented 
 ends of the strands. By means of another treadle motion, the 
 united strands are wound upon a bobbin capable of containing 
 
310 HISTORY OF GAIWJVUB. 
 
 three thousand five hundred feet. This bobbin is so arranged, 
 that it revolves at the option of the operator. By the motion 
 of a spiral shaft, upon which is cut a right and left hand groove, 
 the strand, while being wound, is carried automatically, from 
 side to side, of the inner surfaces of the bobbin, thus produc- 
 ing uniformity in filling it. 
 
 POWER LOOM FOR WEAVING CHAIR SEATS. 
 
 This loom involves the general principle of all looms. One 
 distinguishing characteristic, however, in the loom now to be 
 described, is the shuttle, b}'^ which, strands of cane are drawn 
 through the warp, formed of the spliced strands, from the 
 bobbins already mentioned. It is well known, that, in the 
 weaving of cloth, the shuttle is driven through the warp strands, 
 delivering the woof thread, as it passes. Considering the in- 
 flexibility and bulkiness of the cane strands, to be used as filling, 
 even should it be possible to wind them upon spools, it will be 
 readily seen, that the ordinary process of weaving, could not 
 prevail in the construction of rattan fabric. To obviate this 
 difficulty, Mr. Watkins invented the shuttle now used in his 
 loom. This shuttle is a flat bar of steel, about twenty-two 
 inches in length, consisting of two equal plates, which are so 
 united, that the difierent parts form two jaws, at the end which 
 enters the warp. This end, of the shuttle, is shaped like a pair 
 of pliers, thus making it susceptible of passing, without inter- 
 ference, through the warp strands. Within the jaws, of this 
 shuttle, are little spurs or nippers, for holding the end of the 
 woof strand, which it is to draw through the warp. Between 
 the two halves of the shuttle, there is a wedge shaped device, 
 called the tongue, which is attached to a rod, also within the 
 shuttle, and which is so contrived, that, when the mouth of the 
 shuttle has reached the woof strand, which it is to carry back, 
 this tongue, passing over a swell, within the jaws of the shuttle, 
 causes its mouth to open, when it drops instantly into a con- 
 cavity, by which operation, the jaws are allowed to close im- 
 mediately upon the end of the strand, thus holding it firmly in 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 311 
 
 their teeth. The shuttle is then drawn back, through the warp, 
 holding the strand in its mouth, till it reaches the edge of the 
 web, when the tongue passing forward, over the swell, again 
 opens the mouth of the shuttle, leaving the end of the strand 
 in the precise position required. The shuttle is then ready to re- 
 turn, repeating the operation at the rate of seventy-five " picks" 
 per minute. Upon the feed side of the reed, of this loom, by 
 which the woof is beaten firmly together, is fixed a knife, which 
 is so adjusted, in its relation to another knife edge, that, the 
 instant the shuttle reaches the opposite side of the web, it cuts 
 oflT the strand, at the exact length required. This shuttle is 
 fixed upon a carriage, which is made to pass back and forth, 
 upon its ways, by crank motion. Attached to the rod within 
 the shuttle, to which is fastened the tongue, which opens and 
 closes its jaws, is a projecting horizontal bar, the end of which, 
 striking adjustible hunters, upon one side of the ways, throws 
 the tongue, by which the jaws of the shuttle are opened and 
 shut, backwards and forwards as convenience requires. 
 
 As a matter of course, it would be impossible to describe 
 accurately this ingenious device, for weaving cane web, without 
 the assistance of the necessary diagrams. Although this shut- 
 tle is capable of making seventy-five "picks" a minute, Mr. 
 Watkins, whose motto is "excelsior," is confident that he can 
 construct a loom, whose shuttle shall be capable of one hundred 
 and twenty-five " picks" a minute, and even more. Another 
 feature of this loom, is the saving of time, by so arranging the 
 reed, that it returns to its position, after having beaten up the 
 web, before the shuttle has receded from the warp, by passing 
 under it, while the shuttle is still in motion. Another charac- 
 teristic, of this loom, is the ino:enious device for feedinsf : ten 
 strands being used in such a manner as to cause a desirable 
 variety, in the texture of the web. Still another feature of 
 the loom is the simplicit}^ of the method, by which tension is 
 applied directly to the outer rim of the bobbins, this being 
 secured by the friction of steel springs pressing against the 
 wood. This loom is capable of weaving fifty-four thousand 
 
312 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 feet of cane, per day, which is equal to three hundred and 
 thirty Grecian seats. 
 
 That Mr. Watkins has achieved a wonderful success, in this 
 invention, is universally confessed. By it, he has revolution- 
 ized the manufacture of chairs, and created a new era in this 
 important branch of our industries. 
 
 To Mr. Watkins is also due the honor of having first applied 
 power to the process of bending wood for chair frames and 
 backs. Previous to this time the rails and backs of chairs were 
 bent by levers worked l)y men, making the labor very ex- 
 hausting to those engaged in it. With the application of power, 
 to this particular branch of the chair business, only half as 
 many men are now required to do the same amount of labor, 
 as were required previous to this invention. 
 
 Mr. Watkins is also the inventor of machines for making spi- 
 ral springs, used in tilting chairs, and for cutting the thread upon 
 the ends of these springs. Mr. Watkins is a gentleman who 
 has spared no pains in nourishing his genius, as an inventor. 
 Whatever of scientific works, or expensive tools, have been 
 regarded, by him, as essential to the attainment of the one 
 great aim of his life, he has not hesitated to procure. He 
 has, since 1870, been employed by Hey wood Bros. & Co., 
 upon a salary. 
 
 The Automatic Channeling Machine, the Crimping Press, the 
 Spline and Embossing Press, also inventions of Mr. Watkins, 
 have already passed under review, in chapter VH., of this 
 work. This gentleman has perfected several improvements in 
 machinery, for the manufacture of chairs, for which he has not 
 yet secured Letters Patent. At the present time, he is engaged 
 in the construction of a Double Press for inserting woven seats 
 in frames, weighing five thousand five hundred pounds, eight 
 feet long, four feet wide and ten feet high. The following, 
 among others, are the inventions and improvements of Mr. 
 Watkins previous to his engaging in the chair business, for 
 which he has received Letters Patent, namely : Hook Fasten- 
 lugs for army tents. Improved Physician's Pocket Prescription 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 313 
 
 Scale and Measure, Improved Letter Weight and Eraser, Arti- 
 ficial Arm and Hand, Invalids' Drink Tube, Swinging Splint, 
 for fracture of the leg, scapula, patella and elbow joint. Sur- 
 geons' Bullet Extractor, Spring and Tooth Holding Stethescope, 
 Ball and Socket Truss, etc. 
 
 SAMUEL L. FITTS. 
 
 This gentleman was born in Mason Village, N. H., in 1830. 
 His father was a mill-wright, in which business he himself was 
 engaged, till the age of twenty, w^hen he went to Fitchburg, 
 where he was employed by the Putnam Machine Company. He 
 went to Ashburnham in 1858, where he was employed by the 
 Winchester Brothers until 1877, when he came to Gardner in 
 the employ of Heywood Brothers & Co. The following are his 
 inventions : An Automatic Boring Machine, for boring frames 
 to chair seats, patented June, 1861 ; a Machine for Dressing 
 Chair Backs, patented in 1864. These patents are now owned 
 by Mr. George Winchester, of Ashburnham. Also a Power 
 Loom for weaving chair seats. The novelty of this invention 
 consists in the construction of the shuttle and fillino; holder, 
 which holds a number of pieces, at the same time making the 
 changes automatically, and is regarded as a very efiicient 
 machine, for the purpose for which it is designed. 
 
 FRANK F. PARKER. 
 
 This gentleman was born in Keene, N. H., in 1851. The 
 following are his patents for Folding Chairs : One patent issued 
 August 15th, 1876, and another issued October 3d, 1876. These 
 patents are both owned by Mr. Philander Derby. 
 
 GEORGE W. PARKER. 
 
 This gentleman was born August 14th, 1824, in Concord, N. 
 H., and came to Gardner in November, 1870. Letters Patent, 
 of the United States, were issued to him March 18th, 1856, for 
 an improved Machine for Making Clothes Pins ; May 6th, 1873, 
 patent for Improvement in Speed Regulators; April 6th, 1875, 
 
 40 
 
314 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 patent for an Improvement in Machines for Tenoning Chair 
 Rounds ; July 18th, 1876, patent for Improvement in Folding 
 Chairs; June 26th, 1877, patent for Improvement in Machines 
 for Making Pail Bottoms and Barrel Heads. 
 
 The above list does not embrace all our mventors or inven- 
 tions. There are others of which we have not been able to 
 obtain sufficiently accurate information, to enable us to make a 
 true record in this work. Those now given are enough to in- 
 dicate the ability of the town, in this direction. As a fitting 
 close to this chapter we give the following from Lord Bacon : — 
 
 " The introduction of noble inventions, seems to hold, by 
 far, the most excellent place among all human actions. And 
 this was the judgment of antiquity, which attributed divine 
 honors to inventors, but conferred only heroical honors upon 
 those who deserved well in civil affairs, such as the founders of 
 empires, legislators, and deliverers of their country. And 
 whoever rightly considers it, will find this a judicious custom 
 in former ages, since the benefits of inventors may extend to 
 all mankind, but civil benetits only to particular countries or 
 seats of men ; and these civil benefits seldom descend to more 
 than a few ages, whereas inventions are perpetvuited through the 
 course of time. Besides, a state is seldom amended in its civil 
 aftairs, without force and perturbation, whilst inventions spread 
 their advantage, without doing injury or causing disturbance." 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNEll. 315 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 PUBLIC LIBRAKIES. 
 
 "Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, aud some few to be 
 chewed and digested."' 
 
 "Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an 
 exact man." 
 
 " Histories make men wise ; poets witty; the mathematics subtile ; natural 
 philosophy deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend." 
 
 — Lord Bacon. 
 " And books we know 
 Are a substantial world, both pure and good." 
 
 — Wordsworth. 
 
 " The past but lives in words ; a thousand ages 
 Were blank, if books had not evok'd their ghosts, 
 And kept the pale, unbodied shades to warn us, 
 From fleshless lips."— iiwZwer. 
 
 " Turn back the tide of ages to its head, 
 And hoard the wisdom of the honor'd AQAA.''—Sprague. 
 " Books should to one of these four ends conduce 
 For wisdom, piety, delight, or use."— Denham. 
 
 IN his work, entitled " Lectures on English Literature," Prof. 
 Henry Reed, of Philadelphia, introduces, in his chapter on 
 Literature of Wit and Humor, the following, as an instance of 
 unconscious wit: "It is," says he, "in Horrebou's History 
 of Iceland, an old folio volume, which is divided into chapters 
 according to various subjects. One of these is headed ' Con- 
 cerning Owls.' I can quote the whole chapter without fatiguing 
 you, for it is in these words : ' There are, in Iceland, no owls 
 of any kind whatever.' Yet the historian seems to have con- 
 sidered himself under some obligation to that species of birds, 
 so far, as to devote a chapter to their absence." 
 
 Althouo-h we have headed this chapter Public Libraries, we 
 are, nevertheless, under a painful and serious obligation, like 
 
316 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 the author above named, of stating, that there are, in Gardner 
 at the present time, no public libraries whatever. A portion 
 of this chapter, is devoted, therefore, to the absence of this 
 desideratum in our midst. Several years ago, there was a 
 small public library kept in the Centre of the town, containing 
 many valuable works. This library w\as allowed, gradually, to 
 fall into decay, till at length, it entirely disappeared. 
 
 At the present time, there is a feeling, widely spread through- 
 out the town, that with all its enterprise in other praiseworthy 
 directions, Gardner should not longer continue without a public 
 library. It is therefore hoped, and confidently expected, that 
 some measures will soon be taken for the establishment, upon a 
 firm and permanent basis, of a public library, as a fountain of 
 light, in this communit}^ There is certainly no better way, in 
 which some of our Avealthy and prominent citizens can render 
 their names immortal, than in the establishment of such an in- 
 stitution, whose lasting benefits will continually give occasion 
 to those who shonld hereafter enjoy them, to cherish with ven- 
 eration and oratitude, the memories of their benefactors. 
 
 Although there is, at the present time, no public library in 
 this town, yet we are not entirely wanting in the possession of 
 collections of books, w^hose ownership and circulation are of a 
 somewhat private and limited nature. As an instance of this 
 kind, we have the library connected with the South Gardner 
 Social Library Association, to whose support, Mr. Abijah M. 
 Severy bequeathed the income of five hundred dollars, which is 
 to enure annually to its benefit. We here introduce the wall of 
 Mr. Severy, in order to make intelligent the object of his 
 legacy : — 
 
 Be it Eemembered, That I, Abijah M. Severy, of Gardner, in 
 the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 
 Esq. do, on this eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord 
 one thousand eight hundred and forty-two, make and publish 
 this my last will and testament, in manner following, viz : — 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJSTER. 317 
 
 In the first place, 1 give and bequeath to my sister, Mary S. 
 Howe, wife of Eli Howe, and Lucy Ann Cowee, wife of Buel 
 G. Cowee, two hundred dollars each, payable in one year from 
 my decease. Then, I give, bequeath and devise to my wife, 
 Polly Severy, all my household furniture, and five hundred 
 dollars, to beat her disposal, and then, the use, rents and profits 
 of all my real estate, and the interest of the residue and 
 remainder of all my personal estate, for and during her natural 
 life. 
 
 Provided, however, if at any time, during the life of my 
 wife, the said Polly Severy, m^^ mother, Sally Merriam, wife of 
 John Merriam, should become poor and in needy circumstances, 
 the said Polly is hereby authorized to expend so much of the 
 principal of my personal estate, as in her judgment is necessary 
 for the purpose of assisting my said mother, to a comfortable 
 support. The personal estate, which is to be kept on interest, for 
 the benefit of my wife, the said Polly, shall, at all times, as far 
 as may be, [be] kept safely secured, by mortgage on real estate, 
 and in case my Executor or Executrix (as the case may be,) 
 shall decline being trustee, for the safe keeping and payment of 
 the same, the Judge of Probate may appoint some other per- 
 son or persons, to that trust. And then at the decease of my 
 wife, the said Polly Severy, it is my will that the Judge of 
 Probate, shall appoint one or more trustees, to take charge of 
 my estate, both real and personal, and the said trustee or 
 trustees shall be authorized to sell at public vendue, all my 
 real estate, and to the purchaser or purchasers thereof, to give 
 good and sufficient title or titles to the same, and then the pro- 
 ceeds arising from such sale, together with whatever may re- 
 main of my personal estate, held in trust as aforesaid, shall be 
 paid over, or dealt with as follows, to wit : One hundred 
 dollars to be paid over to the South Gardner Social Library 
 Association, and by said Association to be expended in the 
 purchase of books for their library, and then the income arising 
 from the interest of five hundred dollars, shall be annually 
 paid over to said Association, and by said Association be ex- 
 
318 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 pended for the same purpose, as the above mentioned one 
 hundred dolhirs. 
 
 Then the proceeds arising from the interest of one thousand 
 dolhirs shall be annually paid over to an}' person or persons 
 authorized to receive it, for the purpose of being expended for 
 the support of a school, for the benefit of the inhabitants of 
 South Gardner Village ; said school shall be taught, the first 
 season, by a male teacher, and the second season, by a female 
 teacher, and shall continue to change teachers alternately, in 
 the same order. 
 
 Then the proceeds arising from the interest of one thousand 
 dollars more, to l)e paid annually, if called for, to any person 
 or persons authorized to receive the same, for the purpose of 
 defraying the expenses of a school or schools, for teaching 
 sacred music, for the benefit of the choir of singers, to the 
 Baptist Church, in said Gardner. 
 
 Then the proceeds, arising from the interest of three thou- 
 sand dollars more, shall be paid over annually, to any person or 
 persons authorized, by the above mentioned Baptist Church, to 
 receive the same, for the purpose of being expended in paying 
 the salary of such minister or ministers as the members of such 
 church shall, from time to time employ. 
 
 All of the above mentioned sums of money which, after the 
 decease of her, the said Polly, are to be kept in the hands of a 
 trustee or trustees, for the purpose of the interest, arising from 
 said sums, being paid over and appropriated to the purpose as 
 aforesaid, shall, at all times, as far as may be, [be] kept safely 
 secured by mortgage or mortgages on real estate, and should 
 there be a surplus over and above five thousand and five 
 hundred dollars, which is the sum total of all the funds to be 
 held in trust,' after the decease of her the said Polly, said 
 overplus shall be paid over to my heirs at law, or their legal 
 representatives, and also if the proceeds arising from the 
 interest on any of the sums included in said afore mentioned 
 five thousand and five hundred dollars, which is to be held in 
 trust, for the purposes as specified aforesaid, shall cease to be 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 319 
 
 applied to the pnqDoses, for which they were respectively be- 
 queathed, for the term of three successive years, then the 
 principal and interest, remaining in the hands of the trustee or 
 trustees, of e^ery such sum or sums, non applied, to the pur- 
 poses as aforesaid, shall revert to my heirs at law, or their 
 legal representatives. 
 
 Lastly, I hereby appoint Polly Severy, my wife, to be Ex- 
 ecutrix of this my last will and testament ; hereby revoking all 
 other and former wills, by me made, and declaring this and this 
 only, to be my last will and testament. 
 
 In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand and seal the day 
 
 and year above written. 
 
 His 
 Abu AH M. X Severy. [seal.] 
 
 Mark. 
 Signed, published, pronounced and declared, by the said 
 Abijah M. Severy, to be his last will and testament, in pres- 
 ence of the subscribers, who, in his presence and at his request, 
 and in his presence and in presence of each other, hereunto set 
 our hand as witnesses. 
 
 Asaph Wood, 
 James H. Clark, 
 Samuel Gates. 
 
 At the time this will was executed, Mr. Severy was very 
 sick, and not being able to write his name, made his mark. 
 
 According to article third, of the constitution of this associa- 
 tion, "for the first establishment of said library, two dollars 
 shall be the sum to be paid by all members on every share they 
 respectively own, to be applied exclusively to the purchase of 
 books ; all other expenses accruing for the establishment of the 
 same, to be paid by equal assessment on the shares of said 
 library. 
 
 This association received the $100, bequeathed it, by Mr. 
 Severy in 1852. It began, in 1853, to receive the income from 
 the $500, named in the will, since which time, the annual income 
 has been about $25. This library contains, at the present time, 
 twelve hundred and fifty volumes ; number of shares, one 
 hundred. 
 
320 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 MEMORABLE EVENTS. 
 
 " Whereiu I spoke of most disastrous chances, 
 
 Of moving accidents, by flood and tield ; 
 
 Of hairbreadtli 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach." 
 
 —Othello, Act I.. Scene III. 
 
 " For murder, though it have no tongue, 
 Will speak with most miraculous organ," 
 
 — Hamlet, Act 11. , Scene II. 
 
 " Of no distemper, of no blast he died. 
 
 But fell like autumn fruit that mellowed long. 
 
 Even wondered at because he dropt no sooner; 
 
 Eate seemed to wind him up for four score years. 
 
 Yet freshly ran he on, ten winters more. 
 
 Till like a clock worn out with eating time, 
 
 The wheels of weary life at last stood still." — Dryden. 
 
 WE present, in this chapter, ii brief record of some of the 
 more noteworthy events that have transpired in this 
 town since its incorporation. 
 
 FIRES AND INJURIES BY LIGHTNING, ETC. 
 
 1798. — August 10th, a barn of Mr. Seth Hey wood, Avas set on fire by 
 lightning and consumed, with its crops of hay and grain. August 
 24th, a barn of Mr. Samuel Stone was struck by lightning and 
 burnt ; this was also filled with hay and grain. 
 
 1808. — In May, a dwelling house of Mr. Joseph Wright, with all the 
 furniture it contained, was consumed. The fire Avas occasioned by 
 a defect in the oven. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 321 
 
 1809. — In November, a house of Mr. Allen Perley was burned, with the 
 furniture. He was having it repaired at the time, and the work- 
 men had left shavings so near the fireplace, that on opening the door 
 to go out, the wind took them to the fire, thus communicating the 
 flames to the building with such rapidity that there was no chance 
 to save it. 
 
 1810. — In the spring of this year, a house of Capt. Ezekiel Howe, was 
 struck by lightning. The house was not burned, but so shattered, 
 that he built a new one. A loaded gun, standing in the house, was 
 discharged by electricity. 
 
 1813. — The card shop of Josiah Wilder, Jr., was destroyed by fire. 
 Also, the same year, a dwelling-house of Mr. Aaron Pratt. 
 
 1820. — A house owned by Mr. Nathan Green was struck by lightning. 
 
 1827. — In February, a chair shop of Mr. James M. Comee was burned. 
 
 1829. — A grist-mill, belonging to Capt. William Bickford, was burned. 
 
 1834. — In June, the dwelling-house of Mr. Seth Whitney, took fire upon 
 the roof, and was destroyed. In October of the same year, a chair 
 shop of Mr. Walter Heywood, was burned, on the site where Mr. 
 Asher W. Shattuck's house now stands. Capt. Henry Whitney 
 had a saw-mill burned, and built another on the same site, which 
 he sold to Daniel J. Goodspeed, which was afterwards burnt. Capt. 
 Martin Dunster had a box shop destroyed by fire, on the site where 
 Philander Derby's chair factory now stands. 
 
 1839. — In March, a chair shop of Elijah Putnam, was burned, on the 
 site where now stands the chair factory of L. H. Sawin & Co. 
 
 1841. — August 20th, the blacksmith's shop of Capt. William Learned, 
 was destroyed by fire. 
 
 1846. — A mill, belonging to Ai Stone, in the north part of the town, 
 was burned. A small house of Heman Ray was burned the same 
 year. Also a shop of Daniel J. Goodspeed, was consumed by fire, 
 where Wright &. Read's chair factory now stands. 
 
 1850. — June 20, a severe hail storm passed over the north part of the 
 town, breaking the glass on the west and northwest sides of build- 
 ings, where it went. The hail came with such force that it broke 
 down the growing vegetables, in its course. 
 
 41 
 
322 HISTORY OF GABDNER. 
 
 1852. — In November, Daniel J. Goodspeed had a shop burned, on the 
 site where now stands the grist-mill of Howe Brothers. 
 
 1855. — In March, the house that had been occupied by Miss Kneeland 
 
 and Mrs. Phinney, was burned. 
 1857. — In September, a large paint shop of the South Gardner Chair 
 
 Manufacturing Company, near the depots, was burned. 
 
 1862. — January 5th, the chair factories of Heywood Brothers & 
 Co., were burned. 
 
 1866 — May 16th, the chair factory of Wright & Moore was destroyed 
 by fire. 
 
 1867. — The school-house at theCentre has been struck by lightning three 
 times since 1867, the last time (1876) setting it on fire, which was 
 extinguished before great damage was done. 
 
 CASUALTIES. 
 
 1802. — Seth Heywood was found dead by the roadside, between Leom- 
 inster and Westminster. He had been to assist a man in driving 
 cattle, in returning home he stepped out of the road and died. 
 He was a young man dearly beloved and greatly lamented. His 
 age was 25. 
 
 1818. — David Wilder was killed by a tub of gravel falling on him while 
 he was at work in a well. His age was 30. 
 
 1820. — Joseph Clark, Jr.. died in a fit. His age was thirty 33. 
 
 1822. — William Fenno died in consequence of falling from his wagon. 
 The accident was caused by a lynchpin getting out and letting a 
 wheel off". 
 
 1826. — July 4th, Jonathan Martin was found dead in a house, being 
 left alone for a short time. The same year Jonathan Bancroft was 
 found dead in a field. He was on a visit to his son, and as he was 
 going from the field to the house, he died, (as was supposed) in a 
 fit. His age was 76. 
 
 1831. — Asahel Brick died in a fit. His age was 47. Same year Har- 
 riet, daughter of Abijah Hinds, was drowned in a clay pit. She 
 was 7 years of age. 
 
 1834. — Capt. Aliio Temple died suddenly in his bed. His age was 70. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 323 
 
 1835. — Benjamia Howe fell from a ladder in his barn, injuring him so 
 badly that he died the third day after. His age Avas 52. 
 
 1837. — Daniel Gates was so injured by the upsetting of his wagon, 
 (near the house of Amos Ray) that he lived but a few days. 
 
 1842. — Winslow Davis was wouaded by falling from his wagon, caus- 
 ing his death in a few days. Amasa Leland was killed by a rafter 
 falling upon his head while taking down his barn. He was 49 
 years of age. Silas, son of George W. Davis, while sliding from 
 a haymow, came forcibly upon a pitchfork, which entered his body 
 causing his death. He was 10 years of age. 
 
 1844, — Mrs. Joel Cowee died suddenly in her bed. Her age was 54. 
 
 1846. — Horace P., son of David P. Bickford, was drowned. He was 
 
 5 years old. 
 1851. — Andrew Beard was found dead in his bed. His age was 79. 
 
 1852. — A child of George Howe died in a fit. He was 2 years of age. 
 
 1855. — Levi Richardson was found in a freezing condition in Mr. Bal- 
 lou's mill ; he lived but a short time after being discovered. His 
 age was 53. Hubbard Kendall was killed by the falling of a tree. 
 His age was 65. Mrs. Merriam was found dead in her bed. Her 
 age was 69. 
 
 1856. — Mrs. Lorenzo Cheney died in consequence of being burned. 
 A fluid lamp was broken, setting fire to her clothing and burning her 
 so badly that she lived but a few hours. Her age was 48. 
 
 1857. — Hammond Hardy, aged 21, was frozen so that he died. George 
 W. Davis, aged 68, was drowned, 
 
 1859. — A son of Lyman Fenno, four years of age, was drowned in a 
 shiner box. A son of Mr. Flynn, two years of age, was drowned 
 in a well ; also a son of John M. Hyde, four years of age was 
 drowned. 
 
 1862. — Marcus F. Oxford, aged two years, died from accidental pois- 
 oning. 
 
 1863. — In August, Ellen Reagan, aged 13 years, was drowned. The 
 same month Cornelius Bresnehan was killed on the Vermont and 
 Massachusetts Railroad. 
 
324 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 1865. — In May, Frederick A. Wheeler son of Augustus A. Wheeler, 
 was killed by being caught in an elevator. His age was 9 years. 
 
 1866. — In June, Cornelius Sullivan was drowned in Conant Brothers' 
 mill pond. 
 
 1868. — In March, Noah Richards was killed by the falling of an eleva- 
 tor. In November, Dennis Murphy was killed by the caving in of 
 a gravel bank. A child of William Morrisey was scalded to death. 
 
 1870. — In July, George Franklin was found dead in his bed. 
 
 1873. — In July, Mede Millet was drowned in Crystal Lake. December 
 6th, Alvin Noyes, son of Charles Noyes, and Joseph Chagnon, son 
 of Theodore Chagnon, were drowned in Crystal Lake, while skating. 
 
 1874. — In April, Paul Harrigan Avas drowned in L. H. Sawin & Co's 
 pond. In July, John Dodwell was found dead in a well. In Sep- 
 tember, Alfred Murray, a boy nine years old was killed on the rail- 
 road, near Dr. Parker's saAv mill. In October, Ellen Reagan was 
 killed by a fragment of a stone thrown from a ledge, by a blast. 
 
 IS 75. — Thomas Lynch died in consequence of being thrown from a 
 wagon. 
 
 1876. — In May, Daniel O'Connell and Frank Donahue were killed on 
 the railroad a short distance west of Dr. Parker's mill. October 
 5th, Samuel G. Gates was struck by cars and killed, at Gates' 
 crossing, on the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad. In October, 
 James Allen was killed by falling from a tree. 
 
 1877. — March 25th, Patrick O'Connor was killed by a tree falling on 
 him. 
 
 Small Pox. — There were four deaths from small pox in 1854, 
 two in 1855, one in 1870 and two in 1871. 
 
 Suicide. — There have been nine deaths by suicide since the 
 organization of the town. 
 
 Murders. — It is not known that there have ever been more 
 than two murders committed in Gardner. On the night of the 
 7th of March, 1855, a shocking murder was committed in this 
 town. The house of Miss Miriam Kneeland and Mrs. Sarah K. 
 
HISTORY OF GABDNEB. 325 
 
 Phinney, was entered, by breaking in a window, while the oc- 
 cupants were in their beds, and the murderer, with malice pre- 
 pense, and without any provocation, maliciously murdered 
 these two persons by striking them on their heads with a 
 cudgel. The instrument used was a chair post. The murder 
 was not disclosed until the next day evening. This affair so 
 agitated the town, that there was but little business accom- 
 plished for a week. There was great exertion made to ascer- 
 tain the perpetrator of the horrible deed. The selectmen 
 oflfered a reward of $500 to any one who would detect and bring 
 to justice the assassin. 
 
 A young man by the name of George Stacy was arrested and 
 examined before a Justice Court in this town. The evidence 
 was so strong against him, that he was held to appear before the 
 justices of the Superior Court, next to be holden at Worcester. 
 The Grand Jury found a bill against him, and the case went to 
 the Trial Jury, but their verdict was — not guilty. 
 
 The funeral of these ladies was attended at the meeting- 
 house the next Sabbath, by a large congregation. Rev. A. 
 Stowell preached a sermon from these words: "They were 
 lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their deaths they were 
 not divided," 2 Samuel, 1 : 23. The congregation was so large 
 that a part of them repaired to the Town Hall, where Rev. J. 
 C. Paine preached from the text found in Proverbs, 4:27, 
 " Turn not to the right hand or to the left, remove thy foot from 
 evil." 
 
 The victims of this murder were daughters of Timothy Knee- 
 land, whose name is mentioned among the early settlers of 
 Gardner. Miss Kneeland was 85 years of age, and Mrs. Phin- |f 
 ney, 75. For a number of years they were the only occupants 
 of the house. They were humble and exemplary christians. 
 
 Longevity. — Only one resident in town has been known to 
 arrive at the age of one hundred years. A man by the name 
 of Chapel, of English birth, died in this town in 1820, supposed 
 to be about 103 years old. 
 
326 
 
 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 As near as can be ascertained there have been one hundred 
 and forty-three deaths in this town of persons eighty years old 
 and upwards, within the last sixty years, twenty-three of whom 
 were ninety and upwards, viz. : 
 
 Mrs. Rebecca Clark 81 
 
 Mrs. Betsey Dickenson 81 
 
 Mrs. Daniels 82 
 
 Mrs. Margaret Delay 85 
 
 John Eaton 81 
 
 Mrs. John Eaton, Jr 82 
 
 Levi Fairbank . 90 
 
 Mrs. Levi Fairbank 92 
 
 Levi Fairbank, Jr 83 
 
 Mrs. Levi Fairbank 81 
 
 Noah Fairbank 80 
 
 Mrs. Noah Fairbank 82 
 
 Jacob Fisher 88 
 
 Mrs. Jacob Fisher 88 
 
 Mrs. Peres French 81 
 
 Mrs. Martha Freeman 91 
 
 Mrs. Jonathan Greenwood.. . .82 
 
 John Glazier 86 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Glazier 86 
 
 Lewis Glazier 86 
 
 Mrs. Lewis Glazier 94 
 
 Smyrna Glazier 94 
 
 Mrs. Symrna Glazier 81 
 
 Mrs. Simeon Gates 88 
 
 Mrs. Nathan Gates 84 
 
 Mrs. Simeon Gates, Jr 84 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Goodnow 91 
 
 Mrs. Charles Greenwood 82 
 
 Mrs. Susanna Gates 88 
 
 Seth Hey wood.- 89 
 
 Mrs. Abigail Hill 93 
 
 Reuben Haynes 86 
 
 Mrs. Ebenezer Howe 86 
 
 Mrs. Asa Hill 90 
 
 Loami Hartshorn 82 
 
 Daniel Adams 85 
 
 Mrs. Lucy Allen 88 
 
 Mr. Axdaile 82 
 
 William Bickford 89 
 
 Mrs. William Bickford 87 
 
 Andrew Beard SQ 
 
 Mrs. Andrew Beard 90 
 
 Ebenezer Bolton 87 
 
 Mrs. Ebenezer Bolton 87 
 
 Thomas Baker 81 
 
 Joel Brooks 84 
 
 William Bickford, Jr 89 
 
 Aaron Bolton 83 
 
 John Baker 87 
 
 Mr, Brooks 84 
 
 Ebenezer Bickford 82 
 
 Miss Hepzibah Beaixl 84 
 
 Mrs. Betsey Barber 89 
 
 Mrs. Edmoud Bickford 90 
 
 Mrs. Elijah Brick 84 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Bancroft 86 
 
 Mrs. Hannah Brown 80 
 
 Artemas Bush 85 
 
 James Coolidge 94 
 
 Mrs. James Coolidge 80 
 
 Mrs. Mary H. Cutler 83 
 
 John Crosby 83 
 
 David Comee 82 
 
 Mrs. David Comee, Jr 90 
 
 Mrs. James Comee 84 
 
 Joseph Clark 80 
 
 Mrs. Benjamin Clark 82 
 
 Uriah Clapp 83 
 
 Joel Cowee .80 
 
 Mrs. Coleman 89 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 327 
 
 Abijah Hinds.... 80 
 
 Mrs. Mary A. Houghton 85 
 
 Mrs. Ellen Haley 80 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Henshaw 82 
 
 Joseph Hill 80 
 
 Ebenezer Jackson 83 
 
 Josiah Jackson 83 
 
 Mrs. Elisha Jackson 80 
 
 Benjamin Kendall 96 
 
 Mrs. Polly Kendall 90 
 
 Jonathan Kendall 87 
 
 Mrs. Jonathan Kendall 90 
 
 Timothy Kneeland 81 
 
 Mrs. Timothy Kneeland 87 
 
 John Kemp 82 
 
 Mrs. John Kemp 87 
 
 Miss Lydia Kneeland 87 
 
 Miss Miriam Kneeland 86 
 
 Mrs. Enos Kelton 80 
 
 Samuel KeUon 92 
 
 Stephen Knowlton 91 
 
 Mrs. Mary Lynde 80 
 
 James Lynch 80 
 
 John Matthews 82 
 
 Abel Mosman 87 
 
 Mrs. Abel Mosman 90 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Martin 85 
 
 John McNamara 81 
 
 Miss Polly Moore 84 
 
 Mrs. Lucy Metcalf 83 
 
 Mrs. Hasadiah Mead 82 
 
 Mrs. Nabby Merriam 85 
 
 John Miles 89 
 
 Mrs. John Miles 81 
 
 Henry Newton 83 
 
 Mrs. David Nichols 84 
 
 Joseph Payson 89 
 
 Mrs. Joseph Payson (Betsey) . .82 
 Mrs. Joseph Payson (Sarah) . .82 
 
 Mrs. Adam Partridge 87 
 
 Mrs. Jabez Partridge 83 
 
 Mrs. Anna Putnam 84 
 
 Mrs. Allen Perley 89 
 
 Moses Porter 84 
 
 Mrs. Robert Powers 88 
 
 Ephraim Pratt 84 
 
 Ebenezer Reed 83 
 
 Abel Richardson 82 
 
 Asa Richardson >^Q 
 
 Mrs. Mary Rugg 93 
 
 Miss Mary Rugg 82 
 
 Dr. Shumway 88 
 
 Samuel Stone 80 
 
 Mrs. Samuel Stone 90 
 
 Jude Sawyer 93 
 
 Mrs. Jude Sawyer 85 
 
 Mrs. Joseph Simonds 84 
 
 Moses Sanders 88 
 
 Mrs. Sally Stevens 88 
 
 Mr. Tucker 84 
 
 Mrs. Elijah Traverse 82 
 
 Mrs. Dorcas Wheeler 80 
 
 Miss Hasadiah Wilder 85 
 
 Mrs. Joanna Wilder 91 
 
 Wm. Whitney 81 
 
 Joseph Whitney 83 
 
 Joseph Whitney, 2d 82 
 
 Joel Whitney 92 
 
 Mrs. Jonas White 86 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Waite 88 
 
 Mrs. Polly Wood 85 
 
 Jonathan Wood 83 
 
 Isaiah Warren 83 
 
328 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 The following is the ratio of deaths to population in this town 
 during the four decades between 1830 and 1870 : — 
 
 The average ratio of deaths from 1830 to 1840, was one in 
 64.4 of the population or 15.5 per 1000; from 1840 to 1850 it 
 was one in 50.2, or 19.9 per 1000; from 1850 to 1860 it was 
 one in 59.6, or 16.6 per 1000 ; from 1860 to 1870 it was one in 
 65.3, or 15.1 per 1000; average for the forty years, one in 
 59.8, or 16.7 per 1000. 
 
 From 1870 to 1875, one in 61.9 or 16.1 per 1000; average 
 for 45 years, one in 60.3, or 16.5 per 1000. The ratio of deaths 
 to population in the state in 1875 was one in 52.8, or 19.2 per 
 1000. 
 
 The oldest person now living in town is Mrs. Joseph Cool- 
 idge, whose age is 96. She is a daughter of Dea. Moses 
 Hale of Wiuchendon. She has a brother now living' whose age 
 is 94, the Hon. Artemas Hale of Bridgewater, Mass. 
 
-^^^t/^^;^ 
 
 <3rc 
 
 '/AJL^ 
 
/^ 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 329 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 GENEALOGY OF THE EARLY FAMILIES OF GARDNER. 
 
 " My derivation was from ancestors 
 Who stood equivalent with mighty Ijings." 
 
 — Pericles. Act V., Scene I. 
 
 % 
 
 " My boast is not that I deduce my birth 
 
 From loins enthroned, and rulers of the earth ; 
 
 But higher far my proud pretensions rise — 
 
 The son of parents pass'd into the skies." — Cowper. 
 
 "Look where we may, the wide earth o'er. 
 
 Those lighted faces smile no more. 
 
 We tread the paths their feet have worn. 
 
 We sit beneath their orchard trees, 
 
 We hear, like them, the hum of bees 
 
 And rustle of the bladed corn ; 
 
 We turn the pages that they read. 
 
 Their written words we linger o'er, 
 
 But in the sun they cast no shade. 
 
 No voice is heard, no sign is made, 
 
 No step is on the conscious floor!" 
 
 — Whittier's Snoio Bound. 
 
 IT was our i)Lirpose, originally, to bring the genealogies, 
 presented in this chapter, down to the present time. We 
 however, soon discovered this design to be impracticable, for 
 want of space. Consequently Ave have selected the year 1840 
 as the date at which we would pause, excepting, only those 
 families whose commencement was previous to that time, in 
 which children have been born subsequent to that period. In 
 such cases we have not felt at liberty to stop in the midst of a 
 family. 
 
 42 
 
330 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 We are not siiiBcieiitly vain to suppose that we have made a 
 perfect record of the families here named. Every one, who 
 has had experience in this sort of hibor, very well understands 
 that errors, in such instances, are unavoidable. It is not too 
 much to suppose, that it would be impossible to tind a toAvn, in 
 which the family records have been kept with perfect accuracy 
 and completeness. Previous to 1840, or about that time, the 
 laws of this state, were not so strict, in the matter of recording- 
 births, deaths and marriages, as they are at the present time ; 
 and the negligence of the most careful parents, in having the 
 proper records made, in connection with other causes, renders 
 it impossible to give an accurate genealogy of families, from 
 the town records. WehaAe, however, sought with considerable 
 labor and pains, to present the following records as completely 
 and accurately as the means within our reach would permit, and 
 as a last resort, must now cast ourselves upon the charitable 
 judgment of those most interested, in the study of that which 
 is here recorded. 
 
 Abbreviations. — B. denotes born; cl., died; ni., married; s., sou; dan., 
 daughter; ch., child or children. Towns referred to, are understood as 
 located in Massachusetts, unless otherwise designated. 
 
 Adams, Daniel, m. Dinah Metcalf; their ch. were: 1. Ezekiel, b. 
 Mar. 2, 1813. 2. Hosea, b. Apr. 4, 1814. 3. Sarah, b. Nov. 1, 
 1815, m. Job Clark. 4. Louisa, b. Feb. 27, 1817, m. Charles 
 Hartwell. 5. Sophia, b. Oct. 16, 1818, m. George KeUon. 6. 
 Ehoda, b. Aug. 9, 1820, m. Ivers Whitney. 7. Merrick, b. June 
 14, 1823, m. Martha Brown. 8. Daniel, b. Sept. 6, 1826, m. Miss 
 Rolfe. His second wife was Mary (Baker) Nichols. 
 
 Adams, Ezekiel, s. of Daniel, m. Rhoda Bolton ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Nelson, b. Oct. 24, 1841. 2. Horatio, b. July 26, 1845. 3. 
 Eveline E., b. Oct. 13, 1847. 4. Eugene, b. Aug. 13, 1852. 
 
 Adams, Hosea, s. of Daniel, m. Rebecca Conant ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Flavila R., b. May 10, 1841. 2. Ellen M., b. Nov. 24, 1845. 
 
 Bacon, Joseph, one of the first settlers, came from Sherborne about 
 1772, and located on the place now owned by David W. Miller, at 
 
HISTORY OF GABDNEIL 331 
 
 the upper or north side of Crystal Lake. He buik the house now 
 occupied by Mr. Miller. He was a carpenter and farmer. Until 
 the organization of the town, he was an inhabitant of Winchendon, 
 and, according to the records of that town, a somewhat prominent 
 man. After its organization he was its Town Clerk eight consecu- 
 tive years, besides filling other important town offices. He m. 
 Abigail Cole; their ch. were: 1. Cliarlotte, b. Jan. 25, 1769. 
 2. Arna, b. Jan. 1(3, 1771. 3. Joseph, b. June 19, 1774, d. Aug. 
 31, 1775. 4. Abigail, b. May 12, 1776. 5. Atarah, b. June 3, 
 1778, ra. Mr. Burbank. 6. Eliel, b. Sept. 7, 1780. 7. Arathusa, 
 b. Sept. 26,- 1784. 8. Joseph, b. Mar. 2, 1787. 9. Francis, b. 
 Mar. 15, 1794. Mr. Bacon died Nov. 27, 1808, aged 62. His 
 wife died in Dec, 1806. 
 
 Bacon, Ahna, s. of Joseph, m. Betsey Sawin of Westminster ; their 
 eh. were: 1. Betsey, b. Aug. 22, 1793. She is now living, and 
 is eighty- four years of age. 2. Sophronia M., b. Sept. 4, 1809, 
 m. John Lewis of Westminster. Mr. Bacon moved to Westmins- 
 ter about 1815. 
 
 Bacon, ICliel, s. of Josej)h, m. Christiana, dau. of David and Hannah 
 (Mailman) Comee ; their ch. were: 1. Calvin C, b. Sept. 15, 
 1804. 2. Eliza C. 3. Francis. 4. Nancy. 5. Cynthia M. 6. 
 James. 7. Matthias C. He left town in 1805 for the West. 
 
 Bacon, Joseph, son of Joseph, m. Lucy, dau. of Aaron and Lucy 
 (Jackson) Wood ; their ch. were : Sereno, Almira and Francis. 
 Mr. Bacon moved to Pennsylvania soon after he married. 
 
 Bacon, Francis, s. of Joseph 1st, m. Malinda, dau. of Abel Kendall ; 
 their ch. were: Mary, Charles, Maria and Asa. He also left 
 town for the West soon after marrying. 
 
 Banister, Daniel, from Boylston, m. Anna ; their ch. were : 
 
 1. Sally, b. Dec. 27, 1800. 2. Angelina, b. May 11, 1805. He 
 moved back to Boylston in 1812. 
 
 Bancroft, Jonathan, from Ward, (now Auburn) came here about 
 1772, and settled where his grandson, Dea. S. W. Bancroft, now 
 lives. He was a farmer and shoemaker. He very narrowly es- 
 caped being drowned while attempting to cross the pond, one even- 
 ing, on the ice. Coming to an open place he fell in, but recovered 
 himself. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and was at 
 
332 HISTORY OF GABDNER. 
 
 the taking of Burgoyne aud liit; nriny in 1777. He m. Sarah Case ; 
 their children were: 1. Jonathan, b. Feb. 7, 1775. 2. Smyrna, 
 b. May 15, 1776. 3. Sally, b. Jan. 21, 177.S. 4. Mary, b. Oct. 
 13, 1779. 5. Betsey, b. Jan. 7, 1782. G. Lucy, b. Sept. 11, 
 1787. 7. Koxy, b. May 31, 178i). Mr. Bancroft's tirst wife, 
 (mother of tlje above named children) died Feb. 17, 181(5. Tie 
 
 afterward m. Elizabeth , who died Dec 2, 1822. He died 
 
 Sept. 25, 1826, aged 76. 
 Bancroft, Jonathan, s. of Jonathan, m. Betsey Parker, from West- 
 ford ; their ch. were : 1. Sophia, b. Jan. 19,1800. 2. Mary, 
 b. Oct. 23, 1801, d. Sept. 17, 1805. 3. Laura F., b. Aug. 24, 
 1803, d. Sept. 3, 1805. 4. Jonathan O., b. Sept. 12, 1806. 5. 
 Mary Amanda, b. Nov. 17, 1808. 6. Laura E.,b. Dec. 12, 1812. 
 7. Jesse P., b. April 15, 1815. 8. Lucius L.,b. Oct. 25, 1818. 9. 
 Smyrna 0., b. Jan. 9, 1822. Mr. Bancrof\ died in 1840, aged 65. 
 
 Bancroft, Smyrna, s. of Jonathan 1st, m. Sarah Whitney of Win- 
 chendon ; their ch. were : 1. Harvey M., b. May 1, 1803, in 1828 
 he m. Betsey C, dau. of Lewis and Lucy (Keyes) Glazier, when 
 they moved to Ashburnham where they are noAv living. 2. Smyr- 
 na W., b. Dec. 13, 1804. 3. Mary E., b. Nov. 5, 1807. 4. Sally 
 W., b. April 13, 1810. 5. Amasa, b. Mar. 16, 1812. 6. Viola, 
 b. Aug. 26, 1815. Mr. Bancroft d. May 5, 1818, aged 4 2. 
 
 Bancroft, Smyrna W., s. of Smyrna, m. Lucy, dau. of Elisha and 
 Relief (Beard) Jackson; their ch. were: 1. Sally W., b. Feb. 2. 
 1828, d. Mar. 30, 1832. 2. Walter, b. Mar. 7, 1830. 3. Mary, 
 b. Feb. 21, 1832. 4. Charles, b. May 5, 1836. 5. Elmira, b. 
 June 13, 1843. 6* Amasa, b. Aug. 21, 1846. 7. Eugene, b. 
 June 16, 1849. 
 
 Bancroft, Amasa, s. of Smyrna, m. Caroline A., dau. of Nehemiah 
 and Matilda (Bolton) Shumway ; their ch. were: 1. Caroline JNL, 
 b. June 2, 1837. 2. Mary A., b. Aug. 1, 1844, d. Sept. 12, 1862. 
 His second wife was Mrs. Jane AVyman. 
 
 Baker, Jonas, from INlarlboro', was a farmer in the south part of the 
 town. He m. Miss Adams. His second wife was Susan Simonds, 
 whose ch. were: 1. Joseph S., b. Nov. o, 1790. 2. Betsey, b. 
 Oct. 21, 1793. 3. Jonas. Mr. Baker left town about 1794. 
 
 Baker, John, from JNIarlboro', was also a farmer living in the south 
 part of the town and brother of Jonas. He m. Elizabeth Marshall ; 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 333 
 
 their cli. were : 1. INIilley, in. Nathan Eaton of Westminster. 2. 
 Esther. 3. Lydia. He was a three years man in the Revohition- 
 ary War. He died in 1835, aged 87. 
 
 Bakek, George, also from Marlboro', and brother of the two preced- 
 ing. They all located in the same vicinity and were of like occu- 
 pation. He married Dinah Parmenter ; their ch. were: 1. Ar- 
 temas, b. Aug. 6, 1777, m. Sarah Nichols. 2. Persis, b. June 3, 
 1783. 3. George A., b. Oct. 5, \lxl , m. Olive Holden. 4, 
 Nancy, b. July 7, 178*), d. Aug. 12, 171)1. 5. Dinah, b. Apr. 
 11, 171)1, m. Ebei Underwood. 6. Amos. 
 
 Baker, Thomas, from Westminster, settled on a farm now owned by 
 Daniel Adams. He m. Mary Lewis ; their ch. were: 1. Ezra, 
 b. Apr. 19, 1789. 2. Richard, b. Mar. 1, 1791. 3. Mary, b. 
 May 26, 1793, m. David Nichols. 4. Joseph, b. July 15, 1795. 
 5. Roena, b. Sept. 28, 1803, m. Charles Childs. Mr. Baker died 
 Mar. 24, 1842, aged 81. 
 
 Baker, Ezra, s. of Thomas, m. Lucy, dau. of Joseph and Patience 
 (Styles) Priest; their children were: 1. Fanny, b. Feb. 2, 1813, 
 m. Merrick Wallace. 2. Joel, b. April 5, 1815. 3. Levi, b. 
 June 21, 1817, d. August 21, 1819. 4. Betsey, b. Sep. 27, 1819. 
 5. Joseph, b. July 15, 182G. 6. Charles, b. Dec. 14, 1828. 
 
 Baker, Richard, s. of Thomas, m. Althina, dau. of William and Ann 
 (Heywood) Whitney; their children were: 1. William, b. Jan. 
 22, 1817. 2. Lucy, b. Mar. 3, 1818, d. Dec. 26, 1834. 3. 
 Mary, b. Apr. 22, 1819. 4. Walter, b. Nov. 5, 1821, d. Oct. 14, 
 1843. 5. Betsey, b. Oct. 14, 1823. 6. Francis L., b. Jan. 30, 
 1827. 7. Richard B., b. July 25, 1830 " 8. Calvin H., b. Apr. 
 10, 1832. 9. Lucy Ann, b. Nov. 12, 1834. 10. Angeline, b. 
 Nov. 22, 1838. 
 
 Baker, Joseph, s. of Thomas, m. Esther Holt; they had one child 
 named Alexander, b. Mar. 10, 1819. He soon after left town. 
 
 Baker, George A., s. of George, m. Olive Holden; their ch. w^ere : 
 1. George H., b. Feb. 20, 1817. 2. Willard, b. July 15, 1819. 
 3. Roxa, b. Oct. 9, 1821. 4. Sumner, b. Oct. 21, 1826. 
 
 Baker, George H., s. of George A., m. Roena, dau. of David and 
 Mary Nichols; their ch. were: 1. Mary Jane, b. July 1, 1838. 
 Plis other children were born after he left town. 
 
334 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Baker, Luthkr, m. Harriet Partridge; their cli. were: 1. Jude Saw- 
 yer, b. Mar. 12, 1821, d. Apr. 22, 1821. 2. Jouas, b. Feb. 9, 
 1822. 3. Mary Aun, b. Nov. 16, 1823. 4. Calvin, b. Apr. 12, 
 1827. 5. Lucas, b. Jan. 28. 1829. 
 
 Barker, Joseph, m. 3Iartha, dau. of Ahio and Betsey (Heywood) Tem- 
 ple ; their ch. were : 1. Martha, b. Mar. 9, 1810. 2. Mary, b. 
 Aug. 31, 1811. 3. Joseph, b. Jan. 25, 1813. He died July 19, 
 
 1813. 
 
 Barker, Joseph, s. of Joseph, m. Lucy, dau. of Noah and Hannah 
 (Whitcomb) Fairbank ; their ch. Avere : 1. Mary E., b. June 4, 
 1839. 2. Eliza A., b. Oct. 27, 1841. 3. Martha M., b. April 26, 
 1845. 
 
 Ballou, Oziel, m. Emily ; their ch. were: 1. Henry E., b. 
 
 May 24, 1841. 2. Emily J., b. Feb. 13, 1843; moved to Rich- 
 mond, N. H. 
 
 Ballou, Ebexezer, m. Betsey, dau. of Ezekiel and Susanna (Payson) 
 Howe; their ch. were: 1. Mary, b. Aug. 8, 1844. 2. Olive, b. 
 May 2. 1848. 3. Joseph P., b. Oct. 24, 1851, d. July 16, 1856. 
 4. Fanny, b. June 25, 1P58. 5. Martha P., b. May 17, 1861. 
 
 Baldwin, Josiah, one of the first inhabitants, lived in town a few 
 years, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary War three years. He 
 m. Susanna, dau. of Israel Green ; they had one child whose name 
 was Susanna, she m. James Cowee ; their ch. were : Persis, Joel, 
 Rebecca, Susan, Betsey, Mehitable, Sarah, Lucinda, Pearson, 
 George AV., Aaron, James, William, John and Reuel G. 
 
 Beard, Andrew, from Reading, settled in the south part of the town 
 about 1772, andAvas, by trade, a carpenter. He m. Miss Burnap ; 
 their ch. Avere : 1. Lizzie. 2. Tabitha, m. Abel Woodard. 3. 
 AndreAv, m. Lucy Dunn. 4. Artemas, m. Lydia Baker. 5. 
 Aaron, m. Anna Dunster. 6. Mary. 7. Abel. 8. Bethia, m. 
 Aaron Wood. 9. Dorcas, m. Mr. Jewett. 10. Hephzibah. 11. 
 Lucinda. Mr. Beard died in 1831. 
 
 Beard, Andreav, s. of AndreAv, m. Lucy ; their children Avere ; 
 
 1. Andrew, b. Dec. 19, 1795. 2. Vinal C, b. Jan. 31, 1807, d. 
 June 21, 1817. Mr. Beard died in 1851, aged 79. 
 
 Bennett, Thomas, m. Mary ; their ch. Avere : 1. Thomas, b. 
 
 Jan. 14, 1798,m. Emma Foster. 2. Hannah, m. Nahum Wallace. 
 3. Mary, m. Samuel H. Clark. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 835 
 
 Bennett, Thomas, s. of Thomas, m. Emma Foster of Ashburnham ; 
 they had oue child named Mary Ami H., b. Oct. 24, 1823, and 
 soon after they moved to Ashburuliam, where they liad other chil- 
 di-en. He was a sohlier in the war of 1812, and is still living and 
 about 80 years of age. 
 
 BiGELOAV, Marsiiaee, m. Elizabeth Clark ; they had one child named 
 Sylvia, b. Mar. 13, 1801. 
 
 BiCKFOUD, William, came from Readiag about 1771. He located in 
 what is now the South Village. He built a saw and grist-mill, the 
 first in the town, where the chair shop of Horace F. Parker now is. 
 He served a period in the French War at Nova Scotia and was a 
 soldier in the Revolutionary War. He m. Tabitha Pai'ker ; their 
 ch. were* 1. Tabitha, m. Nathan Howard. 2. William, m. 
 Betsey White. .'5. P^benezer, m. Sarah Hill. 4. Nathan, d. 5. 
 David, d. G. Edinond, m. Nancy Emory. 7. David, d. Mr. 
 Bickford died in 1832, aged 89. 
 
 BiCKFORD, William, s. of William, m. Betsey White ; their children 
 were: 1. Cassandana, b. May lo, 1812, m. Abram Temple. 2. 
 Amanda M. b. Dec. 9, 1814, d. Dec. 12, 1814. 3. Betsey, b. 
 Dec. 4, 1817, d. Dec. 4, 1817. Mr. Bickford died in 1847, aged 
 7i), his wife in 1841, aged G3. 
 
 Bickford, Ebenezer, s. of William 1st, m. Sarah Hill; their ch. 
 were: 1. Roena, b. July 8, 1801. 2. George W., b. June 25, 
 1803. 3. Francis A., b. Feb. 7, 180G. 4. Asa D., b. Mar. 17, 
 1808. T). Sally, b. Nov. 5, 1810. 6. Mary, b. Aug. 17, 1813. 
 
 7. Martha, b. Feb. 17, 1816. 8. David. 9. William: He died 
 Nov. 10, 1855, aged, 82. She died June 19, 1857, aged 76. 
 
 Bickford, Edmond, s. of William 1st, m. Nancy Emory ; their ch. 
 were: 1. Albert, b. Feb. 16, 1807. 2. Lucinda, b. July 10, 
 1808. 3. Tabitha, b. Dec. 16, 1811. 4. Oliver E., b. Mar. 12, 
 1812. 5. Nancy, b. Dec. 20, 181o. 6. Betsey, b. Apr. 1, 1820, 
 d. Apr. 20, 1820. 7. Charles, b. May 23, 1824. 8. Otis, b. 
 Dec. 12, 1825, d. April 13, 1826. He died in 1826 and she died 
 in 1876, aged 91. 
 
 Bickford, George W., s. of ICbenezer, m. Amanda Cole; their ch. 
 were: 1. Walter B., b .May 15, 1829. 2. Harriet B., b. Sept. 
 6, 1830. 3. Ann Maria, b. Mar. 30, 1832. 4. Otis H., b. Feb. 
 
 8, 1836. 
 
336 HISTORY OF GAIWNEB. 
 
 BiCKFORD, Asa D., s. of Ebenezer, m. Sarah AUeu ; their ch. were ; 1. 
 Eliza, b June 10, 1837. 2. Amelia, b. Jan. 4, 1840. 3. Chas., 
 b. Feb. 23, 1842. 4. Ellen L., b. Nov. 15, 1'843. 5. Lucy A., b. 
 ()ct. 4, 1850. 
 
 BiCKFORD, David P., s. of Ebenezer, m. Lydia, dau. of Elijah and 
 Betsey (Martin) Travers ; their ch. were : 1. Horace P., b. May 23, 
 1840, d. 2. Clara J., b. Apr. 6, 1845. 3. Horace C, b. Jan. 5, 
 1848. 4. David, b. July 22, 1850. 5. Imogene, b. Sept. 15, 1851. 
 
 Blodgett, Fletcher, m. Elmira ; their ch. were : 1. Eugene, 
 
 b. July 12, 1840, d. 2. Poena F., b. Aug. 15, 1842. 3. Mary L., 
 b. Mar. 7, 1846, d. Feb. 17, 1847. 4. Eugene, b. Dec. 7, 1847. 
 5. Charles, b. Nov. 26, 1850. 6. Mary H., b. May 23, 1853. 
 
 Boyden, Joseph, came into town about 1780, m. Mary, dau. of Seth 
 and Mary (Temple) Heywood ; their ch. were : 1. Mary, b. Oct. 
 17, 1792. 2. Wyat C, b. Dec. 5, 1794. 3. Lucy. 4. Ebenezer, 
 5. Frederick. 6. Joseph. Mr. Boyden was a physician, and after 
 practicing here a few years, he went to Tamworth, N. H., where 
 he became eminent, but was suddenly cut olf in the midst of life, 
 by a fall from his horse. 
 
 Bolton, Ebenezer, one of the first settlers, from Reading, located in 
 the south part of the town as a farmer. He was in the battle of 
 Bunker Hill, and was afterwards a pensioner. He m. Elizabeth 
 Holt; their ch. were: 1. Betsey, m. Nathan Taft. 2. Jerusha, 
 m. Silas Holt. 3. Esther, d. 4 and 5. Abram and Asa, (^twins) 
 d. 6. Ebenezer, m. Lenday Leland. Mr. Bolton died in 1835, aged 
 87. 
 
 Bolton, Ebenezer, s. of Ebenezer, m. Lindey, dau. of Simeon and 
 Rhoda (Hill) Leland; their ch. were: 1. Hollis, b. Dec. 1, 1799. 
 2. Horatio N., b. May 25, 1806. 3. Emily, b. Feb. 26, 1814. 4. 
 Ransom, b. May, 2, 1817. 5. Rhoda, b. Dec. 24, 1821. 6. Be- 
 larmin, b. Oct. 10, 1824. « 
 
 Bolton, Horatio N., m. Mary Waite ; their ch. were : 1. Harriet, b. 
 Oct. 6, 1831. 2. Melinda, b. Dec. 22, 1832. 3. Christopher, b. 
 Nov. 4, 1834. 4. Sidney, b. July 13, 1838. Mr. Bolton died 
 Nov. 15, 1838. 
 
 Brick, Jonas, one of the first settlers, came from Sherburne, and 
 located in the south part of the town, near Westminster line. He 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 337 
 
 m. Hannah Ricliardson ; their first four children, viz. : Silas, 
 Asahel, Charlotte and Sally were born in Sherburne. 5. Enoch, 
 b. June 24, 1790. 6. Elijah, b. Apr. 26, 1792. 7. Jonas, b. 
 July 31, 1794, d. Apr. 19, 1795. 8. Judith, b. July 31, 1794. 
 9. Jonas, b. Oct. 10, 179G. Mr. Brick died in 1822, aged 64. 
 
 Brick, Asahel, s. of Jonas, m. Betsey Snow; their ch. were: 1. 
 Asahel Augustus, b. July 14, 1812. 2. Ephraim Sumner, b. June 
 
 25, 1814. 3. Susan Sawyer, b. May 8, 1816, d. Oct. 1, 1826. 
 4. Jonas R., b. July 4, 1818, d. Aug. 11, 1821. 5. Jerome Snow, 
 b. Nov. 3, 1820. His second wife was Betsey Carpenter; they 
 
 had: Betsey Jane, b. Mar. 10, 1822, m. Dr. Allen. 
 
 Asahel A. and Ephraim S. went to Augusta, Me., where they have 
 since died. 
 
 Brick, Jerome, s. of Asahel, m. Lucy Ann Oliver ; their ch. were : 
 1. Sarah E.,b. May 23, 1843, m. George W. Marshall. 2. Geo. 
 S., b. Feb. 25, 1846, d. Feb. 26, 1846. 3. Mary R.,b. Apr. 15, 
 1849, m. Daniel M. Rice. 4. Hattie M., b. Mar. 4, 1854, d. 
 Oct. 12, 1854. 5. Frank M.,b. Apr. 23, 1856, d. May 25, 1856. 
 
 Brick, Elijah, s. of Jonas, m. Sally, dau. of David and Christiana 
 (Maltman) Comee ; their ch. were: 1. Alfred 11., b. Jan. 26, 
 1815. 2. David C, b. Mar. 8, 1817. 3 and 4. Mary and Maria, 
 (twins) b. May 18, 1821. Mary d. 5. Eliza, b. Feb. 25, 1823, 
 d. Aug. 2, 1824. 6. Sarah, b. July 24, 1826. 7. Mary, b. June 
 
 26, 1829. 8. Walter, b. Jan. 17, 1834. 
 
 Brick, Jonas, s. of Jonas, m. Esther Whitney ; their ch. were : Mary 
 Ann and Esther. He left town many years since. 
 
 Brick, Alfred H., s. of Elijah, m. Lucy, dau. of James and Dolly 
 (Corey) Scollay. For some reason he has no record on the town 
 book; their ch. were: 1. Francis. 2. Eliza, d. 3. Harriets. 
 His second wife was Martha C. Mahoney ; their ch. were : George 
 A., Henry H., Charles E. and Helen M. His first wife died Nov. 
 19, 1846. 
 
 Brick, David C, s. of Elijah, m. Sarah Priest ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Charles Augustus, b. Jan. 19. 1839. 2. Squire Wesley, b. Mar. 
 30, 1842, d. same year. Mrs. Brick died June 6, 1842, and Mr. 
 Brick moved to Fitchburg soon afterwards. 
 
 43 
 
338 HISTORY OF GAEDNFE. 
 
 Brigham, Seth, m. Eunice ; their ch. were: 1. Emerald, b. 
 
 May 1, 1790. 2. Tameson, b. Sept. 10, 1792. 3. p:mcthist. b. 
 Aug. T), 1796. Mr. Brigham was in town but a few years and it 
 is uncertain where he went. 
 
 Brinkman, John, m. Nancy (Temple) Fairbauk ; they had one child, 
 John, b. Nov. 3, 1838. 
 
 Brooks, Joel, one of the first settlers, came irom Stow. He located 
 in the west part of the town, on what is known as the Brooks Hill, 
 and was one of the best farmers in town. He m. Tameson, dau. of 
 Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Deland) Howe; their ch. were: 1. 
 Lydia, b. Mar. 7, 1792, m. David Nichols. She died Nov. 30, 
 1812. 2. Lucy, b. Feb. 18, 1794, m. George Scott. 3. Betsey, 
 b. June 22, 1796, m. Isaac Jackson. 4. Joel, b. Apr. 5, 1798. 
 5. Silas, b. July 8, 1800. 6. Luke, b. July 20, 1803, d. May 25, 
 1806. 7. Anna, b. Dec. 21, 1805. Mrs. Brooks died Jan. 13, 
 1806, aged 36. He married for his second wife, Azubah Pierce, 
 who died Mar. 19, 1841. He died Feb. 4, 1841, aged 84. 
 
 Brooks, Joel, s. of Joel, m. Cynthia, dau. of Isaac and Betsey (Whit- 
 ney) Taylor; their ch. were: 1. Betsey, b. Apr. 15, 1825, m. 
 Luman H. Heudrick. 2. Lucy Ann, b. May 23, 1829, m. Charles 
 Roper. Mr. Brooks died Feb. 13, 1877, aged 78. 
 
 Brooks, Silas, s. of Joel 1st, m. Emily, dau. of Josiah and Annis 
 (Derby) Conant ; their ch. were: 1. Luke, b. May 14, 1825. 
 2. Sylvanus, b. Feb 18, 1828. 3. Emily E., b. Feb. 28, 1830. 
 4. George, b. May 4, 1835. 5. Joel, b. June 4, 1837. 6. Web- 
 ster, b. Dec. 8, 1841. He died in 1846, aged 46. » 
 
 Brown, Jonathan, from Westminster, m. Beulah, dau. of Elisha and 
 Beulah (Taylor) Jackson; their ch. were: 1. Jonathan, b. Jan. 
 21, 1791. 2. John, b. Mar. 12, 1793. 3. Charles, b. Oct. 23, 
 1795, d. 4. Elisha, b. Apr. 25, 1798. 5. Charles, b. Mar. 12, 
 1800. 6. Sally, b. July 22, 1803, d. 7. Sally, b. Sept. 16, 1805. 
 8. Benjamin Babbitt, b. Oct. 24, 1807. 9. Lucy, b. June 7, 1810. 
 10 Nancy, b. Mar. 12, 1813. Mr.- Brown lived in the east part 
 of the town where his grandson Charles Brown now lives. He 
 died Jan. 24, 1840, aged 74. His wife died Nov. 24, 1839, aged 67. 
 
 Brown, Jonathan, s. of Jonathan, m. Abigail, dau. of Josiah and 
 Annie (Derby) Conant; their ch. were: 1. Abigail. 2 and 3. 
 
U18T0BY OF GARDNER. 339 
 
 Maria and Myraudu (twins). 4. Emily. 5. Jonathan L. 6. Eli- 
 sha J. 7. Martha. 8. Charles. 'J Lucy, b. Apr. 30, 1833. 10. 
 Mary, b. Mar. 15, 1836. 11. Edward R., b Mar. 9, 1838. The 
 first eight of his children were born in Wendell, Mass., the other 
 three in Gardner. His second wife was Miss Marriet Thompson. 
 Childs, Daniel, one of the first settlers, located in the north part of the 
 
 town, where the late Ai Stone lived. He m. Phebe ; their 
 
 ch. were : 1. William, b. Nov. 22, 1778. 2. Daniel, b. Sept. 22, 
 1780. 3. Jonas, b. Dec. 23, 1782, d. Jan. 10, 1790. 4. Polly, 
 b. Apr. 12, 1785. 5. Timothy, b. Nov. 7, 1787. 6. Nathaniel, 
 b. Jan. 31, 1789. 7. Cynthia, b. Nov. 3, 1790, 8, Jonas, b. 
 Aug. 17, 1792, m. Amelia L. F. Osgood. 9. Betsey, b. Oct. 16, 
 1794, m. Abel Kendall. 10. Harriet, b. Dec. 10, 1796. 11. 
 Lucy, b. Nov. 15, 1798. 12. Charles, b. June 2, 1801, m. Poena 
 Baker. 13. Abijah, b Apr. 11, 1805. 14. Francis, b. Sept. 29, 
 1807. Mr. Childs moved to N. Y., in 1815. 
 
 Childs, Daniel, s. of Daniel, m. Sally ; they had one child 
 
 named Mary, b. Feb. 17, 1809. 
 
 Childs, Jonas, s. of Daniel 1st, m. Amelia L. F., dau. of Rev. Jona- 
 than Osgood; their ch. were: 1. Lucius, b. June 12, 1815. 2. 
 Amelia A. 3. Amanda. 
 
 Cheney, Lorenzo, m Lorena Lane ; their ch. were: 1. Lorenzo L., 
 b. Aug. 10, 1839. 2. Charles A., b. May 17, 1847. 
 
 Clapp, Stephen, m. Hannah ; their ch. were: 1. Betsey, b. 
 
 Oct. 27, 1798. 2. Rachel, b. Apr. 3, 1801. 
 
 Clapp, Uriah, m. Azubah Wilder ; their ch. were : 1. Asahel, b. Sept. 
 15, 1809. 2. Daniel, b. Feb. 12, 1811. 3. Mary, b. Jan. 6, 
 1813, d. Jan. 27, 1813. 4. Bellona, b. June 22, 1815. 5. Lovell, 
 b. June 17, 1818. 
 
 Clapp, Asahel, s. of Uriah, m. Hannah Harris; their ch. were: 1. 
 Waldo E., b. Feb. 9, 1838. 2. Florance F., b. Sept. 9, 1849. 
 
 Clapp, Daniel, s. of Uriah, m. Catherine E. Grout; their ch. 
 were: 1. Susan G., b. Oct. 12, 1837, m. Artemas Coolidge. 2. 
 Joseph W., b. Dec. 14, 1839, m. Agnes Hobby. 3. Samuel, b. 
 June 9, 1841, d. at Alexandria, Va., Dec. 14, 1861. 4. Sarah M., 
 b. Nov. 15, 1843, m. Charles Eaton. 5. Daniel E., b. June 26, 
 1848. 6. Edward, b. Oct. 7, 1853. His second wife was Mrs. 
 Izanaa Wood. 
 
340 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Clark, Joseph, came to tliis place from Sherborne and located in the 
 west part of the town, and was one of the first settlers. He was a sol- 
 dier in the Revolutionary War seven years. He m. ]Mary Maltmau ; 
 they had one child named Joseph, b. Mar. 3, 1787, who m. Sarah 
 Sawyer; their ch. were: 1. Leonora, b. July 28, 1812. 2 Sylves- 
 ter, b. Jan. 30, 1814. 3. Mary, b. June 4, 1816. 4. Joseph M., 
 b. July 10, 1818, Joseph, Sen., died in 1837, aged 80, and Joseph, 
 Jr., July 4, 1820, aged 33. 
 
 Clark, Benjamin, brother of Joseph Sen., also came from Sherborne 
 and was a farmer in the west part of the town, where his son Dea. 
 Samuel H. Clark now lives. He m. Martha Minott ; their ch. were : 
 
 1. Esther M., b. Feb. 8, 1789. 2. Benjamin, b. Dec. 28, 1790. 
 
 3. Polly, b. July 23, 1793. 4. Betsey, b. May 17, 1795, m. Low- 
 ell Leland. 5. Sally, b. June 16, 1797. 6. Joanna M., b. Dec. 
 23, 1799. 7. Samuel H., b. Mar. 17, 1805. Mr. Clark died in 
 1827, aged 65. 
 
 Clark, Samuel H., s. of Benjamin, m. Mary, dau. of Thomas and 
 Hannah Bennett; their ch. were: 1. George, b. Aug. 31, 1846, 
 
 2. William R., b. Aug, 31, 1848. 
 
 Clark, Hiram, m. Louisa, dau. of Joseph and Rebecca (Nichols) 
 AVright ; their ch, were: 1. Harrison O., b. July 24, 1822. 2. 
 Joseph W., b. June 23, 1825. 3. George D., b. May 22, 1827. 
 
 4. Cyrus P., b. Aug. 29, 1828. 5. Eliza M., b. Dec. 4, 1830. 
 6. Louisa A., b Jan. 8, 1833. 7. James F., b. Mar. 28, 1835. 
 They had Martha, Frederic and Charles after leaving town. 
 
 Clark, Joel C, m. JNIary Ann, dau. of Joel and Bridget (Glazier) 
 Cowee ; they had one child named Sumner Lincoln, b. Aug. 30, 
 1836. She died Nov. 16, 1843. Mr. Clark married a second time 
 and moved to Worcester, where he is now living. 
 
 Clark, George W., m Mary ; they had one child named Mary 
 
 Ann P., b. Oct. 28, 1841. 
 
 Comee, David, one of the first settlers, came from Lexington about 
 1774, and located in the east part of the town. He was a soldier 
 in the Revolutionary War. He m. Christiana Maltmau ; their ch. 
 were: 1. David, b. Mar. 2, 1775. 2, James M., b. Apr. 18, 
 1777. 3. Benjamin, b. May 28, 1779, d. Jan. 26, 1785. 4. 
 Christiana, b. Oct. 30, 1781. 5. Polly, b. Sept. 4, 1784. 6. Benj., 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJ^EU. 341 
 
 b. Dec. 13, 1786, d. Apr. 4, 17!)0. 7. John, b. Jan. 24, 178;), d. 
 Mar. 25, 1802. His second wife was Hannah Maltman ; their ch. 
 were: 1. Hannah, b. Apr. 6, 1790, d. Mar. 10, 1810. 2. Sarah, 
 b. Feb. 12, 1793. 3. Patty, b. Oct. 2, 1795, d. Mar. 19, 1808. 
 4. Ruhama, b. Feb 20, 1798. 5. Benjamin, b. Sept. 16, 1800. 
 6. Joseph, b. Jan. 14, 1803. 7. Martha. 8. George W., b. Aug. 
 22, 1809. Mr. Comee died Mar. 14, 1826, aged 82. 
 
 CoMEE, David, s. of David, m. P^sther Baker; their ch. were: 1. 
 David, b, June 4, 1801, d. Apr. 17, 1803. 2. Betsey, b. Dec. 9, 
 1802, m. Jesse Lovewell. 3. John, b. Dec. 21, 1804. 4. Louisa, 
 b. Oct. 4, 1808 ra. Leonard Lovewell. 
 
 Comee, James M., s. of David 1st, m. Sarah Putnam ; their ch. were : 
 1. Maria, b. Sept. 2, 1802. 2. Christiana, b. Apr. 1, 1805. 3. 
 Sally, b. May 14, 1807. 4. James, M., b. May 31, 1809. 5. 
 Mary, b. May 23, 1811. 6. William W., b. Aug. 19, 1813. 7. 
 Abigail, b. Apr. 24, 1816. 8. John P., b. Sept. 3, 1818, d. Mar. 
 8, 1819. 9. Leauder P., b. Dec. 26, 1819. 10. Eliza, b. Apr. 
 28, 1822, d. Mar. 10, 1836. 11. Daniel W., b. Aug. 21, 1825. 
 Mr. Comee was the first and only chair manufacturer in town for 
 a number of years, though in a small way, to be sure, but from 
 that beginning the business has developed to such a degree that, at 
 the present time, the annual production in value, will reach the sura 
 of neai'ly one and a half million dollars. He died Aug. 27, 1832. 
 
 Comee, Benjamin, s. of David 1st, m. Lovina Mead; their ch. were: 
 1. Charlotte E., b. Aug. 31, 1824. 2. Caroline A., b. June 26, 
 1826. They moved to New York many years since, where they 
 had Martha Ann, James M. and Sarah M. His second wife was 
 Mrs. E. A. Seager ; their ch. were : Rosette, William, Esquire 
 and Helen. 
 
 Comee, Joseph, s. of David 1st, m. Miriam, dau. of Samuel Stone ; 
 they had one child named Christopher Columbus, b. Jan. 28, 1827. 
 They afterward moved to New York, where they had Samuel, 
 Martha S. and George. 
 
 Comee, George W., s. of David 1st, m. Fanny Vining. His second 
 wife was Betsey Howard ; their ch. were : George M., b. May 1, 
 1842, Francis, Fanny and Frank. 
 
342 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 CoMEE, James M., s. of James M., m. Emily Nichols; they had one 
 child in this town named James, b. July 2, 1836. He afterwards 
 moved to Fitchburg. 
 
 Comee, William W., s. of James M., m. Mai-ia Wiuship ; their ch. 
 were: 1. William, b. July 17, 1837. 2. Charles H., b. Aug. 
 17, 1840. He afterwards moved to Fitchburg. 
 
 CoNANT, JosiAH, from Westminster, one of the first seftlers, located on 
 a place in the east part of the town, now known as the Shute place. 
 He m. Annis Derby; their ch. were: 1. Aaron, b. Mar. 15, 
 1785. 2. Lucy, b. Feb. 19, 1787, m. Isaac Miller. 3. Nancy, 
 b. Fel . 6, 17811, m. Alpheus Symonds. 4. Betsey, b. Apr. 8, 
 17!)1. 5. Farwell, b. Apr. 12, 1793. 6. Abigail, b June 11, 
 1795. 7. Mary, b. Aug. 30, 1797, m. Asahel Corey. 8. Josiah, 
 b, July 30, 1799. 9. Emily, b. Aug. 19, 1801. 10. Susanna, 
 b. July 18, 1803. 11. Lyman, b. Aug. 12, 1805, m. Emma 
 Wells. 12. Maria, b. June 16, 1807. 13. Lanson, b. May 2, 
 1809, d. May 15, 1809. 14. Sylvester T., b. June 20, 1810. Mr. 
 Conant died in 1835, aged 77. 
 
 CoNANT, Aaron, s. of Josiah, m. Lucy, dau. of Jonathan and Sarah 
 (Case) Bancroft; their ch. were: 1. Catherine, b. 1807. 2. 
 Rosvvell B., b. May 15, 1813, d. Dec. 7, 1813. 3. Roswell, b. 
 Mar. 24, 1815, d. Apr. 14, 1815. 4. Smyrna B., b. Jan. 18, 
 1818. 5. Emily, b. Dec. 13, 1819, d. Jan. 2, 1820. 6. George 
 F., b. May 28, 1821. 7. Aaron W.,b. Mar. 15, 1823. 8. Mary 
 B., b. June 11, 1825. 9. Sarah C, b. Dec. 1, 1829. 
 
 Conant, Farwell, s. of Josiah, m. Lucy, dau. of Joseph and Rebecca 
 (Nichols) Wright ; their ch. were : 1. Rebecca, b. Dec. 11, 1820. 
 2. Mary Ann, b. Jan. 13, 1823. 3. Calvin, b. Apr. 3, 1825. 4. 
 John R., b. Oct. 25, 1829. 5. Charles, b. Sept. 16, 1833. 6. 
 Lucy M., b. May 3, 1837. 
 
 Conant, Josiah, s. of Josiah, m. Harriet Graves ; their ch. were : 1. 
 Harriet A., b. Apr. 9, 1825. 2. William, b. Mar. 6, 1827, d. 
 Jan. 18, 1829. 3. Walter, b. May 16, 1829. 4. Joseph L., b. 
 Oct. 18, 1831, d. Jan. 19, 1833. 5. Francis, b. Oct. 18, 1835. 
 6. Ellen M., b. Aug. 18, 1838, d. May 25, 1840. 7. George A., 
 b. Dec. 18, 1841, d. 1861. 8. Eliza Jane, b. Sept. 25, 1843. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 343 
 
 CooLiDGE, James, one of the first settlers, came from Sherbm'ne about 
 the year 1770, and was a farmer, located in the north part of the 
 town (then Winchendon^. While he was a resident of Winchen- 
 don, as appears from the records of that town, he was a somewhat 
 prominent man, serving on the board of selectmen, parish com- 
 mittee, and in 1778, was on the committee of correspondence relat- 
 ing to war matters. It seems by the record that he was much 
 attached to his old town, for we find that he was opposed to being- 
 taken from Winchendon, and petitioned the legislature to set him 
 back to that town, but was refused the favor. After a few years 
 he became reconciled, and took hold in earnest to assist others in 
 building up the town. He m. Sarah Gould ; their ch. were : 
 Sarah, Joseph, Betsey and James. Mr. Coolidge died in 1847, 
 aged 94. 
 
 Coolidge, Joseph, s. of James, m. Achsah, dau. of Moses Hale ; their 
 ch. were: 1. Catherine, b. Apr. 24, 1811. 2. Lucy, b. Nov. 4, 
 1814. 3, Joseph H., b. Feb. 28, 1818. 4. Sally, b. May 9, 
 1820. 5. Artemas, b. Nov. 2, 1823. 6. Charles M., b. Dec. 6, 
 1826. 
 
 Coolidge, James, s. of James, m. Annis Sawin ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Warren, b. Aug. 1, 1805. 2. Betsey, b. Feb. 2, 1807, m. Mr. 
 Damon. 3. Charles, b. Aug. 23, 1809. 4. Samuel S., b. Aug. 
 24, 1813, m. Miss Townsend. 5. Sally, b. Sept. 26, 1815, d. 
 Mar. 26, 1816. 6. Martha, b. Aug. 24, 1817. 7. James, b 
 Nov. 20, 1819. 8. Abigail, b. Sept. 13, 1824. He died in 1841. 
 
 Coolidge, Joseph H., s. of Joseph, m. Betsey Davis ; their ch. were : 
 Henry, Nettie L., George H. and Lucy A. 
 
 Crosby, John, m. Lucetta ; their ch. were: 1. Webster, b. 
 
 June 10, 1839, d. Apr. 18, 1840. 2. Lucia T., b. Sept. 25, 1841. 
 
 CoBURN, Henry F., m. Maria M. ; they had one child named 
 
 Charles Edwin, b. July 7, 1842. 
 
 Currier, Jonathan, from Methnen, he m. Betsey, dau. of Jonas and 
 Mary (Bailey) Richardson; their ch. were: 1. Mary, b. Dec. 
 14, 1799. 2. Hannah, b. Nov. 21, 1801. 3. Betsey, b. Oct. 14, 
 1803. .They moved to Methnen where they had Nathan and 
 Almira. 
 
344 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 CuRKiER, Nathaniel, m. Mary ; their ch. were : 1, Nathaniel, 
 
 b. Apr. 22, 1800. 2. Amos, b. Dee. l8, 1801, d. Feb. 14, 1802. 
 
 Corey, Stephen, m. Anna ; their ch. were: 1. Stephen, b. 
 
 Nov. 27, 1795. 2. Nancy, b. Jan. 3, 171)1). 3. Ehnira, b. Feb. 
 27, 1801. He afterwards moved to Ashbiirnliam. 
 
 CowEE, James, from Westminster, m. Susanna, dan. of Josiali and 
 Susanna (Green) BaldAvin ; their ch. were: 1. Persis. 2. Joel, 
 3. Rebecca. 4. Susanna. 5. Betsey. G. Mehitable. 7. Sally, 
 b. Apr. 15, 1794. 8. Lucinda, b. Dec. 14, 1795. 9. Pearson, 
 b. Oct. 6, 1797. 10. George W.,b. Sept. 30, 1799. 11. Aaron, b. 
 Aug. 4, 1801. 12. James, b. Dec. 28, 1802. 13. William, b. 
 Feb. 12, 1805. 14. John, b. June 9, 1807. 15. Eeuel G. The 
 six first of Mr. Cowee's children were born in Westminster and 
 the last one in Ashby. Mr. Cowee owned the place on which Hez- 
 ekiah Corey afterwards lived and who petitioned the legislature to 
 have it set back to Ashburnham, which was done in 1814. 
 
 Cowee, Joel, s. of James, m. Bridget, dau. of Smyrna and Bridget 
 (Foster) Glazier; their ch. were: 1. Mary Ann, b. Mar. 18. 
 1813. 2. Adeline, b. Dec. 18, 1815. 3. Lewis L., b. Apr. 30, 
 1820, d. Aug. IG, 1824 4. Jonathan O., b. Sept. 10, 1822, d. 
 Aug. 28, 1824. 5. Joel, b. Nov. 20, 1825. 6. Porter, b. Mar. 
 29, 1828. 7. Webster, b. June 23, 1832. 
 
 Cowee, George W., s. of James, m. Leonora, dau. of Jonathan and 
 Sybil (Holbrook) Greenwood; their ch. Avere : 1. Sybil C, b. 
 Nov. 3, 1824. 2. George L., b. June 7, 1827. 3. Alvin G., b. 
 Apr. 28, 1829. 4. Aaron, b. Aug. 17, 1831. 5. Mary M , b. 
 Aug. 4, 1833. 6. Adaline, b. Nov. 4, 1835. Mrs. Cowee died 
 May 14. 1838, His second wife was Sarah Wilcox; their ch, 
 were : 1 and 2. Frank and Fred, (twins) b. Feb. 4, 1852, Frank 
 d. 3. Frank, b, Feb. 3, 1853. 4. Harriet, b. Jan. 11, 1855. 
 5. Ellen E. 
 
 Cowee, Reuel G., s, of James, m. Lucy Ann Severy ; their ch. were : 
 1. Aaron, b. June 10, 1835. 2. Mary, t). Nov. 18, 1839. 
 
 Coleman, Lafayette, m. Eunice Kendall ; their ch. were : 1. Orison, 
 b. Feb. 25, 1834. 2, Melvin, b, Apr. 17, 1839. Mr. Coleman 
 had other cliildren previous to moving into this town. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJ^ER. 345 
 
 Cutler, Curtis, m. Clarissa ; their ch. were: 1. Sarah 
 
 M., b. Aug. 23, 1836, d. Aug. 30, 183G. 2. Sarah M., b. April 
 14, 1838. 
 
 Derby, Joel, m. Susanna ; their ch. were: 1. Joel, b. Mar. 
 
 14, 1805. 2. Loenza, b. July 9, 1809. 
 
 Davis, Gkorge W., m. Anna Perley ; their ch. were: 1. Walter, b. 
 Nov. 18, 1813. 2. George, b. Nov. 17, 181.5. 3. Alonzo, b. 
 Nov. 15, 1817. 4. Betsey, b. Oct. 18, 1821. Mrs. Davis died 
 Dec, 10, 1821. His second wife was Betsey Conant ; their ch. 
 were: 1. Lyman, b. Nov. 23, 1824. 2. Leander, b. June 29, 
 1826. 3. Anna, b. Sept. 25, 1827. 4. Maria, b. Mar. 30, 1829. 
 5. Lucy Ann, b. June 5, 1830. 6. Silas, b. Jan. 1, 1832, d. 
 Apr. 19, 1842. 7. Charles, b. July 13, 1834. 
 
 Davis, Winslow, m. Lydia Learned ; their ch. were : 1. Mary L., b. 
 May 21, 1824. 2. Martha L., b. June 29, 1827. 3. Silas, b. 
 Sept. 10, 1829. 4. Porter, b. Jan. 2, 1832. 5. Charles, b. Sept. 
 27, 1834. 6. Sarah, b. Mar. 27, 1837. 
 
 Dalrymple, Wm. H., m. Elizabeth ; they had one child in this 
 
 town named Mary Elizabeth, b. Jan. 24, 1842. 
 
 Dyer, John, m. ; their ch. were: 1. Ezra. b. Nov. 
 
 4, 1828. 2. Lucy Ann, b. Dec. 12, 1830. 3. John A., b. Oct. 
 
 5. 1832. 4. Ai O., b. Oct. 27, 1834. 5. Thomas L., b. Jan. 
 27, 1837. 6. Ellen S., b. Nov. 12, 1840. 
 
 DuNSTER, Hubbard, from Westminster, m. Rebecca, dau. of Benjamin 
 and Keziah (Twichell) Kendall; their ch. were: 1. Martin, b. 
 Jan. 3, 1798. 2. Pruda, b. Jan. 23, 1800, m. Isaac Fitts. 3. 
 Rebecca, b. Feb. 11, 1802, m. Oilman Robbins. 4. Louisa, b. 
 Feb. 18, 1805. 5. Asaph, b. July 6, 1807. 6. Mary Jane, b. 
 Nov. 12, 1809, m. Stephen Tyler. 7. Lydia, b. Jan. 24, 1816. 
 8. Daphena, b. July 18, 1818. 
 
 Eaton, Jonathan, one of the first settlers, came from Needham, and 
 was a farmer in the west part of the town. He married Beulah 
 Ward; their ch. were: 1. Beulah, b. Dec. 29, 1791, d. Dec, 14, 
 1801. 2. Jonathan, b. Sept. 13, 1794, d. Apr. 15, 1795. 3. 
 Joseph, b, Jan, 7, 1796, d. Jan. 25, 1796, 4. Benjamin, b. Jan. 
 7, 1796, d. Jan 28, 1796. 5. Jonathan, b. June 3, 1798. 6. 
 Rebecca, b, Oct. 1, 1801. Mr. Eaton died in August, 1819. 
 
 44 
 
346 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Eaton, John, came from Needham. He was one of the early settlers 
 and located in the north part of the town. He was a soldier at the 
 taking of Burgoyne's army. He m. Mary Larkin ; their ch. were ; 
 1. Lucy, b. May 31, 1783, m. Mr. Boyden. 2. Josiah, b. Jan. 
 13, 1787. 3. Mary, b. Jan. 1, 1790, m. Isaac Williams. 4. 
 John, b. Aug. 3, 1792. 5. Nancy, b. July 6, 1795. 6. Peter, 
 b. Dec. 27, 1799. Mr. Eaton died Nov. 24, 1827, aged 81. His 
 wife died Sept. 22, 1817. 
 
 Eaton, Ebenezek, (brother of the two preceding) was also from Need- 
 ham and an early settler. He located in the south part of the town. 
 He m. Joanna Hutchinson ; their ch. were : 1. Betsey H., b. May 
 26, 1786, d. April 4, 1795. 2. George, b. Feb. 14, 1788. 3. 
 Clarissa, b. July 6, 1790, d. Apr. 5, 1795. His second wife was 
 Mrs. Richardson ; their ch. were : Betsey, George and Clarissa. 
 
 Eaton, Josiah, s. of John, m. Mary Weston; their ch. were: 1, 
 Merrick, b. Oct. 2, 1811. 2. Mary Ann, b. Dec. 4, 1812. 3. 
 Josiah, b. May 5, 1814. Afterwards they moved to Ashburnham 
 where they had Otis, Danford, George, Nancy and Charles, 
 
 Eaton, John, s. of John, m. Betsey Esty ; their ch. Avere : 1. George, 
 b. Jan. 21, 1822. 2. Warren, b. Feb. 15, 1823, d. Oct. 8, 1838. 
 
 3. Franklin, b. Jan. 13, 1825. 4. Eliza, b. May 31, 1826. 5. 
 John, b. Nov. 13, 1827. 6. Amasa, b. Apr. 9, 1829. 7. Mary, 
 b. Oct. 8, 1830. 8. Maria, b. Feb. 8, 1833. 9. Oliver, b. Aug. 
 19, 1834. 
 
 Eaton, Peter, s. of John 1st, m. Catherine Coolidge ; their ch. were : 
 
 1. Mary Ann, (bora in Winchendon) m. Henry C. KnoAvlton. 
 
 2. Charles, b. Aug. 15, 1839, m. Sarah Clapp. 
 
 Eaton, John, 2d, m. Emma, dau. of John and Sarah (Shattuck) 
 Kemp; their ch. were: 1. Thomas S., b. Aug. 29, 1823. 2. 
 Franklin, b. Jan. 13, 1825. 3. Eliza, b. May 31, 1826. They 
 afterwards moved to Westminster, where they had Milley, Sarah, 
 Nathaniel, James, Wendall, Simeon, Jefferson, Francis and Chas. 
 
 Edgell, Samuel, from Westminster, one of the first settlers, located 
 in the east part of the town. He m. Sarah, dau. of Seth and 
 Mary (Temple) Hey wood ; their ch. were: 1. Betsey, b. Mar. 
 7, 1786. 2. Sarah, b. Aug. 5, 1791. 3. Polly, b. July 5, 1793. 
 
 4. William, b. June 20, 1795. 5. Mary. 6. Lucinda. 7. Samuel. 
 
HISTORY OF GAlWNEIi. 347 
 
 Edgell. Joseph, from Westminster, m. Dorcas ; their ch. 
 
 were: 1. Charles, b. Dec. 14, 1791. 2. Nancy, b. May 8, 1793. 
 3. Joseph, b. Feb. 6, 1795, d. June 21, 1795. 4. Rebecca, b. Feb. 
 21, 1797. 5. Joseph, b. Aug. 21, 1801. C. Kendall F.,b. Oct. 
 
 30, 1804. He moved back to Westminster in 1805, where they 
 had their seventh child, whose name was Mary. 
 
 Edgell, Benjamin, (brother of the two preceding) was one of the 
 first settlers, and located in the south part of the town. He m. 
 Priscilla Graves; their ch. were: 1. Susanna, b. May 26, 1794. 
 
 2. Benjamin, b. Oct. 16, 1795, m. Mary Ann Dollonson. 3, 
 Catherine, b. Sept. 3. 179/. 4. Priscilla, b. Sept. 18, 1799, m. 
 Newell Brown. 5. Mary, b. April 1, 1802, m. Luther Alden. 
 6. Farwell, b. Feb. 28, 1805. 7. Louisa, b. Apr., 1807. 8. 
 Lucy, b. June 16, 1808. 9. Abigail, b. Nov. 16, 1810, m. Ed- 
 ward Turner. 10. Martha, m. Jonas Pierce. 
 
 Edgell, John, m. Elvira, dau. of David and Rachel (Howard) Nich- 
 ols ; their ch. were : 1. Elvira E., b. July 19, 1831, d. Nov. 19, 
 1839. 2. P:mily, b. Aug. 8, 1834, m. Christopher C. Temple. 3. 
 John D., b. Sept. 16, 1836. m. Sarah Greenwood. 4. Charles H., 
 b. Aug. 27, 1840, d. Sept. 3, 1840. 5. Charles N., b. Jan. 29, 
 1843, m. Helen Bryant. 6. Theodore F., b. June 15, 1845, d. 
 July 1845. 7. Walter E., b. Sept. 9, 1850, d. Mar. 8, 1861. 
 
 Edgell, Fakwell, s. of Benjamin, m. Mary Ann Sawin ; their ch. 
 were : 1. Emily, b. May 27, 1837, d. May 27, 1840. 2. Elvira 
 C, b. Nov. 29, 1840. 3. Emily J., b. Sept. 25, 1842, d. Nov. 3, 
 1843. His second wife was Mary Ann Minott. She had one child 
 whose name was George B., b. Oct. 21, 1845. 
 
 Fairbank, Levi, from Harvard, was one of the first settlers and located 
 in the east part of the town. He m. Eunice Randall ; their ch. 
 were: 1. Levi, b. July 2, 1781. 2. Jabez, b. May 19, 1784. 
 
 3. Ephraim, b. April 29, 1786. 4. Joseph, b. June 4, 1788. 5. 
 Eunice, b. June 16, 1792, m. Stephen Weston. 6. Lydia, b. Mar. 
 
 31, 1796, m. Arba Brooks. 7. Stephen, b. Jan. 29, 1800, d. 
 May 11, 1800. 8. Luke, b. Feb. 12, 1803. Mr. Fairbank died 
 in 1845, aged 90. His wife died in 1851, aged 92. 
 
 Fairbank, Levi, s. of Levi, m. Miss Anderson; their ch. were: 1. 
 Phebe, b. Dec. 1, 1809, m. Mr. Wilker. 2. Walter, b. Jan. 2, 
 
348 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 1811. 3. Mary A., b. Oct. 9, 1812, d. Apr. 14, 1837. 4. 
 Stephen, b. Nov. 1, 1814. 
 
 Fairbank, Jabez, s. of Levi 1st, m. Abigail Seaver ; their ch. were: 
 1. Abigail, b. Dec. 31, 1812, m. Simeon Howe. 2. Louisa, b. 
 May 7, 1816, in. Aaron Seaver. His second wife was Nancy 
 Temple. She had one child named Sardis, b. Nov. 3, 1820. 
 
 Faikbank, Joseph, s. of Levi 1st, m. Ruth Jaquith ; their ch. were : 
 
 1. Harriet N., b. July 13, 1817. 2. Ruth J., b. Oct. 12, 1819. 
 
 3. Joseph, b. June 17, 1823. 4. Alonzo, b. June 22, 1828. 
 Fairbank, Walter, s. of Levi 2d, m. Lucy Wallace ; their ch. were : 
 
 1. George W., b. July 20, 1841, d. Sept. 6. 1841. 2. Mary A., 
 
 b. Aug. 10, 1849, m. L. L. Atherton. 
 
 Fairbank, Noah, from Harvard, m. Hannah Whitcomb, their ch. were : 
 1. Emory, m. Eunice Heywocd. 2. Noah, d. Dec. 14, 1825. 3. 
 Sewell, b. Mar. 3, 1804, m. Susan Hey wood. 4. Asaph, b Jan. 
 7, 1806, m. Hannah Whitcomb. 5. Sophrona, b. Feb. 12, 1808, 
 m. Lewis H. Graham. 6. Hannah, b. Apr. 9, 1810, d. Oct. 29, 
 1828. 7. Lucy, b. Apr. 24, 1812, m. Joseph Baker. 8. Joel, b. 
 July 14, 1814, m. Esther Lelaud. Mr. Fairbanks died in 1852, 
 aged 80. 
 
 Fisher, Gideon, was one of the first settlers and located in the north 
 part of the town. He was a great help to the place in clearing it 
 from wild animals, for he was a "■ mighty hunter." He m. Mrs. 
 Rebecca Hutchins ; they had one child whose name was William. 
 Mr. Fisher sold after a few years and left town. 
 
 Fenno, William, from Boston, m. Rachael Ray • they had one child 
 whose name was Mary, who m. Abel Wood. His second wife was 
 Lydia Ray; their ch. were: 1. William, m. Mary Corey. 2. 
 Asa, m. Gratia Wheeler. 3. Joel, m, Sarah Corey, 4. Elmira, 
 m, Joseph Carter. 5. Lucinda, m. Washington Nichols. 6. Ly- 
 man, m. Mary Miller, wdiose ch. were: Jane M., Ellen I., Geo. 
 H. and Hattie I. Mr. Fenno died in 1S22. 
 
 Foster, Sajviuel, fi-om Reading, one of the first settlers, and located in 
 the w^est part of the town. He m. Elizabeth Boydea ; their ch. 
 were: 1. Jesse, b. Sept. 16, 1781. 2. Asenath, b. Jan. 15, 1783. 
 3. Samuel, m. Mary Payson. 4. Jonah, b. Sept 12, 1786. 5. 
 Rufus, b. Oct. 6. 1789. 6. Dolly, m. Mr. French. 7. Peter.. 8. 
 Elizabeth. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDINER. ' 349 
 
 Foster, David, brother of Samuel, was also from Reading and an early- 
 settler of the town. He located on the north side of Crystal 
 Lake on what is now known as the Stevens' place. He was in the 
 Revolutionary War nine months, and was one of the last men who 
 fled from the enemy at the battle of Banker Hill, and assisted in 
 carrying Gen. Joseph Warren from the battle field on that day. 
 He m. Betsey Minott ; their ch. were : 1. Betsey, b. Mar. 2, 1781, 
 d. Dec, 1783. 2. Susanna, b. Jan. 11, 1783. 3. David, b. Feb. 
 17, 1787, d. Apr. 2, 1787. 4. David, b. Feb. 26, 1789. 5. 
 Betsey, b. Nov. 17, 1791. Mr. Foster died in 1815, aged 70. 
 
 Foster, Samuel, s. of Samuel, m. Mary Payson ; they had one child 
 named Joseph Payson, b. Sept. 22, 1800. His second wife was 
 Mary Pearsons. 
 
 Foster, Elijah W., m. Tryphena ; their ch. were : 1. Abigail, 
 
 b. June 17, 1835, d. Dec. 12, 1840. 2. Alvara, b. Feb. 15, 1838. 
 3. Addison, b. Feb. 22, 1840. 4. Willard, b. Oct. 1, 1842. 5. 
 Henry, b. Aug. 7, 1845. 6. Mary L., b. Apr. 15, 1848. 
 
 Ford, Oryille, m. Sally Jackson, dau. of Sullivan and Sally (Ban- 
 croft) Jackson; their ch. were: 1. Sarah M., b. Apr. 14, 1839, 
 d. Sept. 19, 1839. 2. John S., b. Oct. 10, 1840. 
 
 Gates, Simon, from Westminster, owned a good farm on what is com- 
 monly called Beech Hill, where his grandson, Horace Gates, now 
 lives. He m. Susan Reed; their ch. were: 1. Nathan, m. Abi- 
 gail Knowlton. 2. Simon, ra. Sarah Taylor. 3. Daniel, m. 
 
 Phebe Mosmau. 4. Reuben, b. Apr. 21, 1786, m. Mos- 
 
 man. 5. Ezekiel, b. Oct. 31, 1789, d. Aug. 2, 1809. 6. Eliza- 
 beth, d. Jan. 21, 1791. 7. Elizabeth. 
 
 Gates, Nathan, s. of Simon, m. Abigail Knowlton ; their ch. were : 
 1. Nathan, b. Apr. 13, 1791. 2. Jeremiah, b. Mar. 21, 1792. 
 3. Abel, b. July 10, 1793. 4. Asaph, b. Dec. 7, 1794. 5. Luke, 
 b. Feb. 14, 1796, d. May 21, 1796. 6. Abigail, b. Feb. 24, 1797. 
 7. Luther, b. Apr. 6, 1798. 8. Amos, b. Nov. 6, 1799. 9. Su- 
 sanna, b. Feb. 17, 1801. 10. A girl,b. Feb. 8, 1803, d. Feb. 12, 
 1803. 11. Lucinda, b. Mar. 9, 1805. 12. Clarissa, b. May 25, 
 1806. 13. Jeremiah K., b. Sept. 28, 1808. 14. James E., b. 
 June 11, 1810. 15. Benjamin A., b. Feb. 26, 1813. 
 
350 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Gates, Daniel, s. of Simon, m. Phebe Mosman ; their ch. were: 1. 
 
 Daniel M. b. Apr. 22, 1806. 2. Soplirona, b. Apr. 18, 1808. 3. 
 
 Leonard M., b. July 28, 1810. 4. Lucy, b. Feb. 8, 1813. 5. 
 
 Phebe, b. Aug. 26, 1815. 6. Charlotte, b. Aug. 11, 1818. 7. 
 Solomon K., b. May 16, 1821. 
 
 Gates, Reuben, s. of Simon, m. Mosman ; their ch. were : 1. 
 
 Samantha K , b. July 23, 1806, d. Nov. 23, 1820. 2. Anna M., 
 b. Oct. 16, 1807. 3. Ezekiel, b. Sept. 21, 1800. 4. Darwin. 
 
 5. Bial. 6. Pliny. 
 
 Gates, Simon, s. of Simon, m. Sarah Taylor; their ch. were: 1. 
 
 Louisa, b. May, 9, 1806. 2. Simon H., b. Nov. 4, 1807, m. 
 
 Elvira Bancroft. 3. Horace, b. Oct. 27, 1809. 4. Dennis, b. 
 
 . Feb. 20, 1812. 5. Mary, b. Sept. 14, 1815, m. Samuel Hale. 6. 
 
 Dolly, b, June 28, 1818, m. Amos P. Spaulding. 
 
 Gates, Amos, s. of Nathan, m. Betsey Kemp; their ch. were: 1. 
 Walter, b. Feb. 17, 1824. 2. George, b. June 8, 1826. 3. Mary, 
 b. Nov. 19, 1828, d. July 3, 1833. 4. Maria, b. Nov. 3, 1831, 
 d. July 3, 1833. 5. Webster, b. Dec. 18, 1834, m. Mary Jaquith. 
 
 6. Adeline, b. Oct. 13, 1840, m. Walter Perley. 
 
 Gates, Benjamin A., s. of Nathan, m Nancy Kemp; their ch. were: 
 
 1. Viola, b. Nov. 3, 1833. 2, Francis, b. Dec. 28, 1834. 3. 
 Lucy, b. Sept. 26, 1836. 4. Mary, b. Oct. 30, 1837. 5. Isaac, 
 b. Apr. 24, 1839. 6. Newell, b. Aug. 14, 1840 7. Hiram, b. 
 June 3, 1842. 8. Edwin, 
 
 Gates, Ezekiel, s. of Reuben, m. Abigail ; their ch. were: 1. 
 
 Calvin, b Feb. 25, 183S. 2. Samantha, b. July 25, 1839. 3. 
 Sawyer, b. Sept. 4, 1841. 
 
 Gage, Moses, m. Nancy Beard; their ch. were: 1. Moses M. 2. 
 Louisa. 3. Sophia, b. Sept. 10, 1811. 4. Orrison, b. Sept. 3, 
 1814. 5. Maria, b. Apr. 3, 1816. 6. Betsey, b. Oct. 15, 1818. 
 
 7. Daniel J., b. May 9, 1823. Moses M. and Louisa were born 
 in Hubbardston. 
 
 Gage. Orrison, m. Elvira ; they had one child named Nelson 
 
 M., b. Jan. 22, 1839. 
 
 Gay, Ira, m. Mary ; their ch. were: 1. Jane, b. Jan. 1, 1833. 
 
 2. Elizabeth, b. July 14, 1834. 3. Lyman, b. Sept. 23, 1835. 4. 
 Lucy, b. June 16, 1838. 5. Martha, b. May 11, 1840. 6. Ada- 
 line, b. Oct. 11, 1841. 
 
HISTORY OF GABDNER, 351 
 
 Glazier, John, one of the first settlers, came from Shrewsbury in 1773, 
 and located in what is now the Centre. He built the house now 
 owned and occupied by William Austin, and kept a public house 
 for several years. He m. Sarah, dau. of Isaac and Mary Temple 
 of Shrewsbury; their ch. were. 1. Smyrna, b. Mar. 5, 1767. 2. 
 Lewis, b. June 16, 1771. 3. Ruth, b. July 4, 1776. 4. Eliza- 
 beth, b. Oct. 30, 1780. 5. Sarah, b. Apr. 30, 1785, d. Oct. 7, 
 1786. This was the first death in town after its organization. Mr. 
 Glazier died in December, 1826, aged 86 years and 6 months. Mrs. 
 Glazier died in Feb., 1835, aged 86 years and 7 months. 
 
 Glazier, Smyrna, s. of John, m. Bridget Foster of Reading; their ch. 
 were: 1. Bridget, b. May 15, 1790, m. Joel Cowee 2. Abram 
 F., b. May 8, 1796. He died in 1861, aged 94. He was one of the 
 leading men in town for nearly half a century. 
 
 Glazier, Lewis, s. of John, m. Betsey, dau. of James and Sarah 
 (Gould) Coolidge ; their ch. were: 1. John C, b. Sept. 7, 1798. 
 2. Sarah T., b. Sept. 2, 1801, m. Pearson Cowee. His second 
 wife was Lucy, dau. of Thomas and Mary (Temple) Keyes ; their 
 ch. were: 1. Betsey C, b. Nov. 17, 1805, m. Harvey Bancroft. 
 
 2. Thomas E., b. Mar. 5, 1807. 3. Mary Ann, b. May 1, 1812, 
 d. Jan. 8, 1813. 4 and 5. Smyrna S. and Lewis L., (twins) b. 
 Dec. 2, 1814, d. Dec. 19, 1814. 6. Lucy Ann, b. Oct. 18, 1816, 
 d. Feb. 15, 1838. 7. Mary K., b. June 3, 1818, d. Jan. 14, 
 1871. He was a deacon in the Congregational Church from 1815 
 to 1839. He died Dec. 15, 1857, aged 86 years and 6 months. 
 His second wife died in 1873, aged 94 years, 5 months and 24 days. 
 
 Glazier, Abram E\, s. of Smyrna, m. Lucinda Cowee ; their ch. were : 
 1. Smyrna, b Jan. 8, 1818, 2. George A., b. -June 14, 1820. 
 
 3. Lewis L , b. Apr. 20, 1822. 4. Susan, b. in 1825, d. in 1846. 
 
 5. Orange, b. 1828, d 1852. 6. Mary J., m. Johnson. 
 
 7. Curtis C. 
 
 Glazier, John C, s. of Lewis, m. Sophia Bancroft ; their ch. were : 
 1. Jonathan B., b. Nov. 9, 1823, d. Dec. 16, 1823. 2. Betsey, 
 m. Edward S. Flint. 3. Harvey, d. 4. Lucy Ann, m. Alva S. 
 Howe. 5. Lewis. He moved to Ashburnham in 1824, where he 
 died in 1860. 
 
 Glazier, Thomas E., s. of Lewis, m. Lucy BroAvn ; their ch. were: 
 1. Thomas K., b. May 10, 1832, d. Aug. 15, 1832. 2. William 
 
352 HISTOEY OF GAEDNEE. 
 
 ■\V., b. Juue 7, 1(S34, m. Anua Pierce. 3. Mary Ann, b. April 
 19, 183ti, d. July 2, 1847. 4. Charles E., b. June 6, 1839, m. 
 Lucy M. Scollay. 5. Francis B., b. May 3, 1843, d. Oct. 30, 
 1865. 6. Lucy E., b. July 23, 184G, m. Charles H. Green. 
 
 GooDALE, Peter, one of the first settlers, came from Boylston, (now 
 West Boylston) in 1773, and bought the farm now owned by Charles 
 Heywood, one-fourth of a mile north of the Centre of the town. 
 He m. Abigail, dau. of Benjamin Hinds; their ch. were: 1. 
 Elizabeth, b. Dec. 23, 1775. 2. Benjamin, b. Sept. 5, 1778. 3. 
 Jason, b. Sept. 7, 1780. 4. Peter, b. May 4, 1783. 5. Asaph, 
 b. May 13, 1787. 6. Juuia, b. Apr. 17, 1789. He moved back 
 to Boylston in 1791. 
 
 GooDsPEED, Daniel J., m. Mary Baker; their ch. were : 1. Thomas 
 B., b. Sept. 23, 1840. 2. Warner W., b. Oct. 3, 1845. 3. James 
 F., b Aug. 24, 1848. 4. Mary A., b. Aug. 23, 1854. 
 
 Gkeen, Nathan, from Lancaster, one of the first settlers, lived in 
 the north part of the town. He m. Margaret, dau. of John De 
 Jersey, from the Island of Journsey ; they had no children. He 
 died in 1822, aged 71. 
 
 Green, Nathan 2d., nephew and adopted son of Nathan, m. Fanny 
 Bicknell. They had one son whose name was Charles, b. Oct. 9, 
 1808. Mr. Green died Oct 2, 1840. 
 
 Green, Charles, s of Nathan 2d, m. Mary Learned ; their ch. were : 
 1. Fanny, b. Dec. 19, 1831, m. Charles Heywood. 2. Mary, b. 
 July 30, 1836. 3. Nathan, b. Mar. 28, 1838, m. Carrie Barney. 
 4. Charles H., b, Jan. 11, 1842, m. Lucy E. Glazier. 5. Emma 
 A., b. Jan. 16, 1851, m. Charles H. Vanduzer. 
 
 Green, Israel, the fourth inhabitant of the town, lived one and a half 
 miles north from its centre. He had four sons who were " mighty 
 hunters," and were noted for killing bears. They all enlisted in the 
 Revolutionary War ; only one of them ever returned. He had one 
 dau. who m. Josiah Baldwin. Mr. Green removed to Westminster 
 before his death 
 
 Greenwood, Aaron, from Sherburne, one of the first settlers, located 
 in the southwest part of the town, where his grandson, Edward 
 Greenwood now lives. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary AVar 
 
HISTORY OF GABDNER. 353 
 
 three years. He m. Anua Learned; their ch. were: 1. Charles, 
 b. July 5, 1789. 2. Anna, b. June 7, 1791, m. Allen Perley. Mr. 
 Greenwood died in 1824, aged 68. 
 
 Greenwood, Charles, s. of Aaron, m. Betsey, dau. of Ahio and Bet- 
 sey (Heywood) Temple; their childi'en were: 1. Aaron L., b. 
 May o, 181S. 2. Francis F., b. Oct. U, 1820, d. Jan. 2, 1840. 
 3. Betsey, b. Dec. 29, 1823, m. James Raymond. 4. Edward, b. 
 May 20, 1826. 5. AsaT., b. July 29, 1828, m. Sarah Ray. 
 
 Greenwood, Jonathan, from Sherburne, was a farmer and kept a pub- 
 lic house in the south part of the town, where his grandson, Thomas 
 Greenwood, now lives. He m. Sybil Holbrook ; their ch. were: 
 1. Alvin, ra. Mary Childs. 2. Sybil, d. 3. Jonathan, m. Phebe 
 Temple. 4. Walter, m. Rebecca Wright. 5. Sybil, m. William 
 Whitney. 6. Leonora, m. George Cowee. Mr. Greenwood died 
 in 1821, aged 66. 
 
 Greenwood, Alvin, s. of Jonathan, m. Mary Childs ; their ch. were : 
 
 1. Sophia, b. Feb. 28, 1805, d. Jan. 9, 1806. 2. Sophia, b. Aug. 
 31, 1807, m. George Whitney. 3. Maria, b. June 7, 1808, d. 
 May 10, 1830. 4. Calvin S., b. May 18, 1810. 5. Alvin M., 
 b. Oct. 22, 1812, d. Mar. 4, 1840. 6. James H., b. July 26, 
 1814. 7. Charles, b. June 14, 1816. 8. William, b. June 4, 
 1818. 9. Mary b. Mar. 13, 1821, m. Frederick Parker. Mr. 
 Greenwood died in 1821. 
 
 Greenwood, Walter, s. of Jonathan, m. Rebecca Wright ; their ch. 
 Avere: 1. Aaron, b. May 29, 1813. 2. Emily, b. May 19, 1818, 
 m. William Hogan. 3. Martha, b. Mar. 18, 1821, m. Simeon W. 
 A. Stevens. 4. Rebecca, b. May 13, 1823. 5. Edward W. b. 
 Mar. 14, 1828. 6. George, b. May 5, 1830. 7. Judson, b. June 
 
 2, 1832. 8. Thomas, b. Apr. 24, 1834, m. Miss Nichols. 
 
 Greenwood, Calvin S., s. of Alvin, m. Ruth Howe ; their ch. were : 
 1. Marcus, b. Apr. 24, 1833. 2. Maria E., b. Aug. 31, 1835, m. 
 Rev. John F. Ashley. 3. Harriet S., b. Apr. 30, 1838. 4. Sarah 
 A., b. Mar. 14, 1840, m, John D. Edgell. 5. Charles H., b. Apr. 
 13, 1845. 6. Frederic M., b. Aug. 9, 1847. 
 
 Greenwood, James H., s. of Alvin, ra. Adeline Cowee ; their ch. were: 
 1. Alvin M., b. Dec. 5, 1832, m. Helen Heywood. 2. Otis, b. 
 Nov. 19, 1836. 
 
 45 
 
354 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Greenwood, Cpiarles H., s. of Alvin, m. Elizabeth Jackson ; their 
 ch. were: 1, Gilbert H., b. Nov. 25, 1838. 2. Marston D., b. 
 Aug. 13, 1841. Mr. Greenwood died Jan. 16, 1844. 
 
 Greenwood, Alvin M., s. of Alvin, m. Sally Gay ; they had one son, 
 b. June 15, 1838, named Theodore, d. June 15, 1<S42. Mr. Green- 
 Avood died March 3, 1840. 
 
 Greenwood, William, s. of Alvin, m. Harriet Jackson ; they had one 
 child named Alcy Beaty, b. Oct. 5, 1841. They moved to New 
 York where they had several other children. 
 
 Greenwood, Aaron, s. of Walter, m. Rebecca Prentiss of Hubbardston ; 
 they had one child named Charlotte A , b. May 22, 1842, m. Geo. 
 H. Rice. 
 
 Grimes, Henry, m. Susan ; they had Harrison, b. Aug. 13, 
 
 1840. 
 
 Hadley, Joseph, one of the early settlers, was a farmer in the north 
 
 part of the town. He m. Naomi ; their ch. were: 1. 
 
 Mehitable, b. Mar. 31, 1784. 2. Stephen, b. Nov. 14, 1785. 3. 
 Nathan, b. Feb. 19, 1788. 
 
 Haynes, Reuben, came from Sudbury about the year 1776, and was a 
 farmer in the north part of the town. ' He was a soldier in the 
 Revolutionary War three years ; was a capital penman and from 
 1797 he was town clerk twenty consecutive years. He m. Susan- 
 na Willis; their ch. were: 1. Susanna, b. Nov. 16, 1778. 2. 
 Ezra W., b. Dec. 22, 1780. 3. Sarah, b. July 25, 1783, m. Jon- 
 athan Temple. 4. Israel, b. Jan. 6, 1786, d. Jan. 28, 1786. 5. 
 Eunice, b. Apr. 6, 1787. 6. Reuben, b. Nov. 17, 1789, d. Aug. 
 25, 1790. 7. Ruth, b. Apr. 1, 1792. S. Rebecca, b. July 20, 
 1794. 9. Jerusha, b. May 29, 1798. 10. Aseuath, b. Jan 2, 
 1802. Capt. Haynes died in 1841, aged 86 
 
 Hayncs, Ezra W,, s. of Reuben, m. Martha, dau. of Samuel and Mar- 
 tha (Wilder) Stone ; their ch. were : 1. Reuben, b. Mar. 3, 1813, 
 m. Charlotte Gates. 2. Mary, b. Feb. 23, 1815. 3. Martha W., 
 b. May 12, 1817. Mr. Haynes died Jan. 2, 1817. 
 
 Hayward, Barzill.a, m. Hannah ; their ch. Avere : 1. Wight- 
 man, b. Feb. 22, 1821. 2. Eliza Jane, b. Sept. 21, 1823. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 355 
 
 Heywood, Seth, (son of Phineas and grandson of Dea. John Iley- 
 wood) came from Sterling to Gardner about 1773, was one of the 
 first settlers, located in the Centre. He built a house where the 
 Town Hall now stands. He was a lieutenant in the Hevolutionary 
 AVar nine months. He m. Martha, dau. of Isaac and Mary 
 Temple of Shrewsbury; their ch. were: 1. Betsey, b. Nov. 27, 
 1762. 2. John, b. Dec. 8, 1764, m. Mary Hutchins. 3. Sarah, 
 b. Mar. 24, 17G6. 4. Anna, b. Jan. 28, 1770. 5. Mary, b. Oct. 
 24, 1771. 6. Benjamin, b. July 10, 1773. 7. Martha, b. Sept. 
 
 2. 1775. 8, Seth, b. Aug. !), 1777, d. Sept. 24, 1802. 9. Lucy, 
 b. July 17, 1771), m. Gardner Pollard of Lancaster. 10. Levi, b. 
 June 25, 1783, m. Nancy Healy. Mr. Heywood died in 1826, 
 aged 8!). 
 
 Heywood, Benjamin, s. of Seth, m. Mary Whitney; their ch. were: 
 1. Levi, b. Dec. 10, 1800. 2. Benjamin F., b. Jan. 10, 1802. 
 
 3. Walter, b. Feb. 13, 1804. 4. William, b. Nov. 9, 1808. 5. 
 Seth, b. Nov. 12, 1812. 6. Charles, b. Mar. 10, 1818, d. Sept. 
 10, 1824. Mr. Heywood died in 1849, aged 75 years and 6 months. 
 
 Heyvtood, Levi, s. of Benjamin, m. Martha Wright ; their ch. were : 
 1. Calvin, b. Sept. 11, 1826. 2. Mary W., b. Aug. 27, 1827, 
 m. Samuel M. Washburn. 3. Cliarles, b. Nov. 12, 1831, m. 
 Faimie Green. 4. Solon, b. Nov. 10, 1834. 5. Helen, b. Mar. 
 7, 1837, m. Alvin M. Greenwood. 
 
 Heywood, Benjamin F., s. of Benjamin, m. Sarah Comee ; their ch. 
 were: 1. Charles. 2. Sarah Jane, b. Oct. 21, 1730, m. Sylves- 
 ter Bowker. 3. Lucy A., b. Feb. 17, 1832, m. Dr. Harriraan, 
 
 4. Melissa M., b. June 6, 1834, m. Amos Morrill. 5. Abby C, 
 b Oct, 2, 1837, d. July 12, 1842. 6. Eliza M , b. Aug. 27, 1840, 
 m. Henry E. Thurstin. 7. Mary F., b. April 3, 1843. Mr. Hey- 
 wood died Apr. 2, 1843 
 
 Heywood, Walter, s. of Benjamin, m. Nancy Foster ; their ch. were: 
 1. Kosette, b. Dec. 13, 1834. 2. Ellen, b. Jan 31, 1841. Mr. Hey- 
 wood moved to Fitchburg some years ago, where he still resides, 
 and is a very prominent business man. 
 
 Heywood, Seth, s. of Benjamin, m. Emily Wright ; their ch. were : 
 1. Henry, b. June 25, 1836, m. Martha Temple. 2. George, b. 
 Jan. 3, 1839. 3. Frances, b. Mar. 12, 1847. 4. Mary, b. Apr. 
 3, 1852, d. Apr. 5, 1852. 5. Mary E., b. Dec. 26, 1853, m. 
 Howard L. Ballard. 
 
356 HISTOBY OF GABD^^Fn. 
 
 Heywooo, Caklisi.k, m. Koeiia (Bioktoul) Wliitnoy ; thoir oh. wore : 
 1. AViUiam O., b. Nov. 2, 1835. 2. Joisoph F., b Oot. ID, 1837. 
 
 8. Goorgo C. b. Jau, 3, 1840. 4. Thoodoro A., b. Juno 2S. 1842. 
 
 Hill. Mahvkick, tVom 3Ioil\vay, was a fanner in the north part of the 
 town, and was one of the lirst settlers. He m. Abigail "Moulton ; 
 their ch. were: 1. Moses. 2. Jesse. 3. Bezaleel. 4. Nathaniel. 
 
 5. Mary. 6. Mercy. 7. Sylveuus. Mrs. Hill died in 1817, aged 
 !13 years and months. Spinning linen was her oniploynient the 
 last years of her life. She spun the warp for a wob of tliivtv vards 
 after she was ninety-three years old. 
 
 Hill. Moses, s. of ^larvriok, ni. Lnoy Adams; thoir ch. were: 1. 
 Elizabeth C, b. Mar. 23, 1778. 2. Jamos M., b. Nov. 4. 1780. 
 3. Thomas A . b. July 3, 1783. 4. Lucy, b June 10, 178."). 5. 
 Cyrus, b. May 29, 1787. G. Clement, b. Sept. 2, 178!). 7. Han- 
 nah A., b. Oct. 5, 1791, d. Feb. 11, 1793. 8. Moses, b. July 19, 
 1793. 9. Isaac Watts, b. Apr. 6, 1795. 10. Hannah Adams, b 
 Aug. 21, 1797. She was named after Hannah Adams, the author- 
 ess, who was sister to her mother. 11 and 12. ^Millie and Harriet 
 (twins) b. Jnne 12, 1800. Mr. Hill's large family loft town with- 
 out making any settlements here. 
 
 Hill, Jesse, s. of Marvrick, m. Keziah Brick; thoir ch. were: 1. 
 Keziah. m. Benjamin Howo. 2 Abigail. 3. Gilbert. 4. Sarah, 
 b. April 1, 1785. 5. Julia, b. Juno 12, 1787, m. ^Ir. Goodwiu. 
 
 6. Heman, b. Sept. 25, 1790. 7. Jesse, b. Fob. 14, 1793. 8. 
 ^lercy, b. Juno 12. 1797. :\Ir. Hill died Dec. 25, 182(k 
 
 Hill, Be/.aleel, s. of Marvrick, m. Hannah Baker ; their ch. were : 
 1. Nancy, b. June 22, 1786. 2. Caleb, b. Doc. 19, 1788. 3. 
 Hannah, b. Mar. 24, 1791. 4. Lucy, b. Fob. 7, 1793. m. David 
 Smith. 5. Orinda, b. Dec. 11, 1794. 6. Bezaleel, b. Apr. 2, 
 1797. 7. Amza, b. Feb. 24. 1799. 8. Mo.ses, b. Apr. 14, 1801. 
 
 9. Abigail, b. Dec. 26, 1803. 10. Silas B., b. July 1, ISOt?. 11. 
 Lydia, b. 1808. Mr. Hill and all his family loft town about 1815. 
 
 Hill, Nathaniel, s. of Marvrick, m. Annis AVhitcomb ; thoir ch. 
 were: 1. Tamer, b. Feb. 16, 1790, d. Sept. 28, 1805. 2. Lu- 
 cinda, b. July 5, 1793. 3. Polly, b. Aug. 22, 17!)5. 4. Eliza- 
 beth, b. June 14, 1797, d. Dec. 18, 1805. 5. Annis, b. Dec. 7, 
 1799. 6. Ebenezer, b. Nov. 30, 1800, d. Oct. 1, 1805. 7. Na- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJ^EU. 357 
 
 tl.uriici, h. .May 20, iHi)'.',, d. Sept. 2G, 1X05. ^. Mercy, b. .July 
 12, 1804, d. Aug. 3, 1804. ii. Tamer, b. Oct. 30, 180,5. There 
 arc none of his descendants living in town at tJie present time. 
 
 Iljf.r,, Sylvanus, s. of Marvrick, m. Charlotte, daii. of Joseph liacon ; 
 they had one son named Sylvanus, b. May 18, 1796. Mr. Hill 
 moved to New York many years ago. 
 
 Hill, Jkssf:, s. of Jesse, m. Sally Penniman ; their ch. were: 1. Jo- 
 seph M.. b. Mar. 12, 1814. 2. Sarah, b. Nov. 6, 181,0. .3. Ed- 
 win, b. Apr. VA, 1818. 4. (Jaivin, b. Dec. 2^), l>sllj,d. Sept. 2,3, 
 1822. ->. Kliza, b. Jan. 27, I82;i. Mr. Hill died Feb. 1.5, 182,3. 
 
 Hill, Asa, one of the lirht settlers, located in the south part of the 
 
 town, m. ; their ch. were: 1. Francis. 2. Sarah, 
 
 m. Kbcnezer liickford. .Mr. Hill died in 1828. 
 
 Hill, Fuanois, s. of Asa, m. Mary ; their ch. were: 1. Har- 
 rison G. O., b. May 26, 1808. 2. Francis L., b. May 12, 1801J. 
 
 Hill, H. G. O., s. of F'rancis, m. Anna ; their ch. were: 1. 
 
 Sarah, b. Mar. 14, 1838. 2. Mary, b. Feb. 16, 1840. 3. Fran- 
 cis L., b. Mar. 26, 1842. 
 
 Hinds, Damll, from West Boylston, one of the first settlers, located 
 in the south part of the town. He m. Sarah Holbrook ; their ch. 
 were: 1. Sarah, d. Mar. 26, 1819. 2. .James. 3. Benjamin. 
 4. Daniel, b. Mar. 31, 1790. :>. Milton, b. June 2, 1791. He 
 moved back to West Boylston. 
 
 Hinds, Akijaii, m. Susanna ; their ch. were: 1. Martha H., 
 
 b. ,Iune 7, 1817. 2. Charlotte A., b. Aug. 11, 1818. 3. Nancy, 
 b. Apr. 3, 1820. 4. Sophrona, b. Oct. 22, 1822. '). Harriet, b. 
 July 3, 1824, d. June .30, 1831. 6. Eliza I., b. Oct. 6, 1827. 7. 
 Allison, d. June 3, 1844. 8. Abijah, Jr. 
 
 Holland, Joseph, one of the first settlers, came from Boylston, located 
 on the summit of Glazier Hill, near the centre of the town. He 
 m. Elizabeth Gleason ; their ch. were : Joseph, James, Ruth and 
 Ephraim. He sold his place in 1772 to .John Glazier and went 
 North. 
 
 Howi:, Ebenezer, whose ancestors lived in Marlboro,' came to this town 
 from Tcmpleton. He located about one mile north of the Centre. 
 The place is now owned by Charles Eaton. He m. Elizabeth De- 
 
358 HISTORY OF GAJRBJSrML 
 
 land; their ch. were: 1. Tameson, b. Aug. 31, 1770, in. Joel 
 Brooks. 2. Perley, b. Nov. 7, 1772. 3. Ezekiel, b. Mar. 20, 
 1775. 4. Sarah, b. Dec. 11, 1777, m. Silas AVood. 5. Betsey, 
 b. Apr. 12, 1781, m. Johu Miller. 6. Benjamin, b. Feb. 16, 1783. 
 7. Amos, b. June 17, 1785. This was the fn-st birth iu town after 
 its incorporation ; he died in 1805, aged 20. Mr. Howe's second 
 wife was Mary Hill. He died in 1N08, aged G2. 
 
 HoAVE, Perlky, s. of Ebeuezer, m. Jane T. Belcher ; their ch. were : 
 1. Betsey D., b, June 2, 1709, d. June 5, 1822. 2. Sally, b. 
 Sept. 18, 1801, m. Jonathan Harris. 3. Eli. b. Apr. 2, 1804, m. 
 Mary Severy. 4. Francis J\I., b. Nov. 24, 1806, m. Joel Derby. 
 ■ 5. Ebenezer, b. Apr. 7, 1809. 6. Perley, b. Sept. 17, 1811. 7. 
 Lydia, b. Sept. 22, 1S13, d. July 1, 1835. 8. Jane K., b. Sept. 
 28, 1816, d..Aug. 1, 1835. 9. Emily, b. Oct. 2, 1819, m. Jona- 
 than Burges. Mr. Howe died Mar. 4, 1839, aged 67. 
 
 Howe, Ezekiel, s. of Ebenezer, m. Susanna Payson ; their ch. were : 
 1. Ezekiel, b. Dec. 7, 1802, d. July 16, 1«29. 2. Franklin, b. 
 Oct. 19, 1804, m. Mary Gill. 3. Joseph P., b. Mar. 23, 1807. 
 4. Samuel S., b. Oct. 11, 1808. 5. Stowel, b. Dec. 27, 1810. 
 6. Mary P., b. Apr. 12, 1813, d. Nov. 10, 1.S32. 7. Susanna, 
 b. Sept. 5. 1815, d. Jan. 15, 1836. 8. George, b. Nov. 6, 1817. 
 m. Jerusha Howe. 9. David M., b. Mar. 30, 1820, m. Sarah B. 
 Stratton. 10. Betsey, b. Mar. 22. Mr. Howe d. Jan. 13, 1842. 
 
 HoAVE, Benjamin, s. of Ebenezer, m. Keziah PI ill ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Benjamin, b. July 9, 1804. 2. Amos, b. Sept. 1, 1805, d. in 
 1836. 3. Sarah, b. JNlay 5, 1808, m. Luke Bowker. 4. Ebenezer 
 D., b. Mar. 14, 1811, d. Feb. 19, 1837. 5. Simeon, b. May 14, 
 1813. 6. Mary Ann, b. Nov. 2, 1814, d. Jan. 29, l<s4.s. 7. 
 Lucy, b. Jan. 23, 1816, d. ^Mar. 6, 1837. 8. Harrison, b. Oct. 5, 
 1818, m. Fanny Kendall. 
 
 Howe, Ebenezer, s. of Perley, m. Amy Ann Bly ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Henry M., b. Aug. 1, 1834. 2. Maria, b. Sept. 23, 1.S38. 3. 
 Nancy S. b. Apr. 8, 1840. 4. Jason J., b. June 23, 1843. 
 
 Howe, Pekley, s. of Perley, m. Mary AVhitney ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Orange E., b. Dec, 23, 1835. 2. Alva S., b. Aug. 30, 1837. 
 
 Howe, Joseph P., s. of P^zekiel, m. Maria Conant ; their ch. were: 
 1. Maria, b. Mar. 26, 1839, d. Oct. 31, 1858. 2. Abby, b. Aug. 
 23, 1844, d. Dec. 12, 1852. 3. Edward P., b. Jan. 11, 1847. 
 4. Emogene, b. Nov. 13, 1848, m. Hiram Ray. 
 
HISTORY OF GAllDKEIt. 359 
 
 IIowE, Samuel 8., s. of Ezekiol, m. Emeline Wood; tlieir cli, were: 
 1. Moses W., b. Dec. 7, 183G. 2, ILirriet E., b. Apr. 24, 1841. 
 3. Ella F., b. Aug. 2o, 1848. 
 
 Howe, Simeon, s. of Benjamin, in. Abigail Fairbank ; their ch. were : 
 1. Simeon A., b. July 2, 1839. 2. Marcus II., b. Dec. 6, 1841. 
 3. Adeline F., b. Aug. 30, 1843, d. May 3, 1861. 4. Marshall, 
 b. Aug. 21, 1845. 5. Charles H.,b. Aug. 26, 1851. 6. Willie F., 
 b. Mar. 24, 1856. 
 
 Howe, Isaiah, m. Abigail Penniman ; their ch. were : 1. Sylvester, b. 
 Mar. 21, 1819. 2. Amina, b. July 12. 1821. 3. Franklin, b. 
 July 13, 1823. 
 
 HOLDEN, JosiAii II., m. Roxanna Pierce; they had one child named 
 Harriet, b. Nov. 5, 1831. 
 
 HoLDEN, Levi, m. Phebe Temple; their ch. were: 1. Leander, b, 
 Apr. 29, 1839, d. Sept. 11, 1839. 2. Mary, b. Sept. 15, 1842, d. 
 Sept. 29, 1842. 
 
 HoLDEN, Elbridge, m. Louisa ; they had one child named Hol- 
 
 lis, b. Mar. 18, 1840. His second wife was Triphosa Rolfe ; their 
 ch. were: 1. Jason C, b. Aug. 31, 1843. 2. Harriet L., b. 
 Oct. 23, 1849. 3. Charley F., b. Jan. 23, 1854. 
 
 HoGAN,. William, m. Emily Greenwood; their ch. were: 1. Walter 
 W., b. July 17, 1838. 2. p:mma R., b. May 2, 1854. 
 
 Holt, Liberty, m. Lucy ; they had Charles II., b. Aug. 29, 
 
 1843. They moved to Royalston. 
 
 Huntington, L. W. C, m. Betsey Nichols; they had Caroline E., b. 
 Oct. 3, 1835. They moved to Ohio previous to 1840. 
 
 Jackson, Elisha, was the first man who settled in what is now Gard- 
 ner. He was born in Westminster in 1737. About the year 1764 
 he bought four hundred acres of .land in the northwest part of 
 Westminster, (now south part of Gardner) a part of which is 
 known as the Hubbard Kendall place, and the house now standing 
 there was built by him and used for several years as a public house. 
 His children, which were numerous, were, with the exception of 
 the youngest, born before the incorporation of Gardner. While he 
 was a citizen of Westminster, he was a prominent man, and repre- 
 sented it twice in the legislature. He ra. Beulah Taylor ; their ch. 
 
360 HISTORY OF GABDNER. 
 
 were: 1. Jemima, m. Ebenezer Keyes. 2. Lucy, m. Aaron 
 Wood. 3. Beulali, m. Jouathau Brown. 4. Ruth, m. Nahum 
 Wood, 5. Sullivau. G. Elislia. 7. Josiah. 8. Ebenezer, m. 
 Susanna Foster. 9. Abigail, m. Timothy Tail. 10. Abel. Mr. 
 Jackson died iu 1814, aged 77. 
 
 Jacksox, Sulliaax. s. of Elisha, m. Sally Bancroft ; their ch. were : 
 1. Roena, b. May 24, 1804, d. May 4, 1818. 2. Laura, b. Aug. 
 7, 1806, m. Asaph Foskett. 3. Edwin, b. July 30, IBOD, m. Lucy 
 Gill. 4. Sally, b. Jan 1), 1818, m Orvilie Ford. 
 
 Jackson, Elisha, s. of Elisha, m. Relief Beard; their ch. were: 1. 
 Phebe, b. Sept. 28, 1803. 2. Lucy, b. Mar. 7, 180(5. 3. Elisha 
 S., b. Apr. 7, 1808. 4 and 5. Sophrona and Samautha, (twins) 
 b. Jan. 18, 1810, Sophrona m. Oscar Parker. Samantlia m. Wil- 
 liam Young. 6. Joseph L., b. j\Iar. 19, 1813. 7. Charles W., 
 • b. Dec. 1, 1814. 8. Elvira, b. June 22, 1817. 9. Leonard F., b. 
 Oct. 27, 1820, d. Nov. 18, 1842. 
 
 Jackson, Josiah, s. of Elisha 1st, m. Arathusa Bacon ; their ch. were : 
 1. Christiana B., b. Mar. 3, 1803. 2. Arathusa C, b. Nov. 21, 
 1810. 8. Josiah A., b. Oct. 27, 1S16. 4. Abigail S., b. Jan. 6, 
 1820, m. Mr. Lord. 5. Eliza A., b. Mar. 4, 1823, d. Feb 30, 
 1824. Mr. Jackson died Feb. 1, 1842. 
 
 Jackson, Abel, s. of Elisha 1st, m Betsey Foster; their ch. were: 1. 
 David F., b. Feb. 14, 1815 2. Elizabeth, b. Mar. 14, 1817, m. 
 Charles Greenwood. 3. Susanna, b. Apr. 22, 1819. 4. Harriet, 
 b. May 2, 1821, m. William Greenwood. 5. Abel, b. Nov. 12, 
 1823. 
 
 Jackson, Elisha S., s. of Eli.sha 2d, m. Phebe Williams ; their ch. were : 
 1. Otis, b. Sept. 14, 1838. 2. Rosella, b. May 18, 1841, m. 
 Elias E. Ilorton. 
 
 Jackson, Josiah A., s. of Josiah, m. Sally Coolidge ; their ch. were: 
 
 I. Francis, b. May 27, 1840, d. Sept. 9, 1840. 2. George F., b. 
 April 7, 1842. 3. Eliza A., b. Sept. 2, 1844, m. Alvin Matthews. 
 Ella A., b. June 11, 1848, m David Porterfield. 
 
 Jackson, Caleb, m. Betsey ; their ch. were: 1. Isaac, b. 
 
 May 19, 1782. 2. Caleb, b. June 17, 1786. 3. Joseph, b. Jan. 
 
 II, 1791. 4. Charles, b. Jan. 8, 1793. 5. Betsey, b. Jan. 22, 
 li96. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. ■ 361 
 
 Jackson, Isaac, m. Betsey Brooks; their ch. were: 1. Susan E., b. 
 Aug. 7, 1820, m. Sylvester K. Pierce. 2. Betsey T., b. Aug. 22, 
 1822. His second wife was Hattie Minott ; their ch. were.: 1. 
 Rockwell, b. Nov. 22, 1827. 2. Maria, b. Aug. 12, 1830. 3. 
 Melaucia, b. July 24, 1832, d. May 5. 1833. 4. Ellen, b. Nov. 
 26, 1836. 0. Daniel W.,b. Sept. 17, 1839. 6. Edward, b. June 
 21, 1844. 
 
 Jaquith, Isaac, m. Maria Comee ; their ch. were: 1. Abbie I., b. 
 Sept. 4, 1826, m. Lysander B. Jaquith. 2. Sarah M., b. July 29, 
 1830, d. Mar. 31, 1833. 3. Maria L., b. Mar. 5, 1832, m. Ilollis 
 Thonapsou. 4. Mary F., b. Apr. 17, 1835, m. Webster Gates. 
 
 Jaquith, Abram, m. Abigail Mead ; they had one child named Isaac 
 P., b. Apr. 30, 1825. His second wife was Ruhama Comee. 
 
 JiLLSON, Sylvester W., m. Mary ; their ch. were : 1. Justin 
 
 K., b. Nov. 17, 1839. 2. Henry H., b. Nov. 6, 1841. 3. Le- 
 ander S., b. Mar. 17, 1844. 
 
 Johnson, Nathaniel, m. Lucy ; they had Nathaniel, b. Mar. 
 
 29, 1789. They left town soon after. 
 
 Kelton, Samuel, one of the first settlers, from Needham, located in the 
 north part of the town. He was a captain in the Revolutionary 
 War. He m. Mary Leeds ; their ch. were : 1. Lemuel. 2. Esther. 
 
 3. Enos. 4. William. 5. Eliam, b. Oct. 26, 1785. 6. Mary, 
 b. Oct. 18, 1791, m. Stillman Holden. He died at the age of 79 
 years. 
 
 Kelton, JjEMUel, s. of Samuel, m. Patty Angier ; their ch. were : 1. 
 Patty, b. Sept. 12, 1796, m. Joel Wheeler. 2. Nabby, b. Sept. 
 13, 1802, d. Oct. 12, 1841. 3. Samuel, b. May 28, 1810, m. 
 Mary Ann Eaton. 
 
 Kelton, Enos, s. of Samuel, m. Dorothy Winchester ; their ch. were : 
 1. Louisa, b. July 18, 1815, m. Augustus Houghton. 2. George, 
 b. Apr. 19, 1817. 3. Salina, b. Sept. 25, 1820, m. Warren Cramm. 
 
 4. Charles, b. Dec. 27, 1821. 5. Lucinda, b. Oct. 6, 1825, d. 
 
 Kelton, Eliam, s. of Samuel, m. Sophia Horsley ; their ch. were : 1. 
 David, b. June 25, 1827. 2. Nancy, b. Jan. 22, 1831, m. Lean- 
 der Knowlton. 
 
 46 
 
362 HISTORY OF GARDNEB. 
 
 Keltox, George, s. of Enos, m. Sophia Adams; their oh. wore: 1. 
 Charles F., b. Got. 'lb, 1848. 2. Ella K., h. Juno 25, 1819, d. 
 July 20, IS,')!. 
 
 Keltox, Charles, s. of Enos, ui. Susan Rood; their oh. wore: 1. 
 Laura M., b. July 16, 1843. 2. Charles G., b. Aug. 26, 1845. 
 
 0. Amasa AV., b. June 18, 1848. 4. Eliza, b. Get. 2, 1851. 5. 
 Luolla A., b. June 12, 1855. 6. George H. 7. Etta L. 
 
 Kendall, Benjamin, from Sherburne, one o^ the first settlors, looatod 
 in the south part of the town. lie ni. Keziah Twiohell ; their oh. 
 were: 1. Asaph, ni. Eunioe Case. 2. Rebeoca, d. 8. Jonathan, 
 m. ;Mary Nichols. 4. Rebecca. 5. Martin, ni. Prudence Ken- 
 dall. 6. Anna, ni. Marshall Stoddard. 7. Miriam, m. Bartlott 
 Stoddard. 8. Keziah. ^Iv. Kendall was born in 1745 and died 
 iu 1841, aged 1)6 years. 
 
 Kendall, Jonathan, s. of Benjamin, m. jMary Nichols ; their oh. were : 
 
 1. Asaph, b. Sept. 3, 1794. 2. Hubbard, b. Apr. 18, 1796. 3. 
 Moses, b. May 16, 1798. 4. Eunice. 5. Grrison. 6. Edmond. 
 
 7. Crusoe. 8. Rebeoca. 9. ^lary. 10. Fanny, m. Harrison 
 Howe. 11. Harrison. 
 
 Kendall Martin, s. of Benjamin, m. Prudence Kendall ; their oh. 
 were: 1. Isaac, b. Sept. 6, 1801, m. Caroline Partridge. 2. 
 Mary, b. Sept. 8, 1803, m. Asa Perley. 8. Alvin, b. Dec. 13, 
 1805, m. Mary Bemis. 4. Auuis, b. Dec. 18, 1807, m. Robert 
 Powers, Jr. 5, David, b. Feb. 27, 1810. 6. Adeline, b :\lay 
 23, 1812 7. Bartlett S., b. Mar. 2b, 1814, m. Martha Hinds. 
 
 8. Benjamin, b. June 80, 1816. 9. Martin, b. July 28, 1818, d. 
 Nov. 19, 1821. 
 
 Kendall, Hubbard, s. of Jonathan, ni. Rhoda Sawia ; their oI>. were : 
 1. Nancy. 2. Albert A., b. Mar. 3, 1828. He was a surgeon in 
 the 12th INIassachusetts Regiment of Volunteers, and shot at the 
 battle of Antietam, while in discharge of his duty. 3 and 4. Ed- 
 ward A. and Edwin L., (twins) b. Get. 4, 1882. 5. Abigail S., 
 b. Nov. 12, 1834. 6. Rhoda 1\I., b. Deo. 7, 1886. 7. Harriet 
 E., b. Feb. 22, 1839. 
 
 Kendall, Edmond, s. of Jonathan m. ; they had 
 
 Chester, b. Sept. 11, 1840, d. Got. 24, 1842. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 363 
 
 Kendali., David, s. of Martin, m. Lucy Kemp ; lluir <;h. were: 1. 
 Eliza Ann, b. May 9, 18:^7. 2. George, b. Mar. 1, 1839. 3. 
 Webster A., b. Mar. 5, 1841. 4. Fraucena M., b. Jan. 9, 1848. 
 ;•). Mary J., b. Mar. 14, 18o0. «. Alice I., b. Mar. 18.'»2. 
 
 Keyes, Ebenezek, one of the early inhabitants, settled in the west part 
 of the town. lie m. Jemima, dau, of Elisha and Beulah (Taylor) 
 Jack.son ; their ch. were: 1. Solomon, b. Mar. 30, 1788, d. Sept. 
 2',, 1793. 2. Ebenezer, b. Mar. 9, 1790, d. Aug. 27, 1794. 3. 
 Elihha, b. Feb. 18, 1792. 4. Jemima, b. Apr. 19, 1794. .0. Eb- 
 enezer, b. Apr. 25, 179G. 0. Solomon, b. June 2, 1798. 7. 
 Naomi, b. Oct. 12, 1800. 8. Lucy J., b. Oct. 25, 1802. Mr. 
 Keyes moved to the state of Maine about 1812. 
 
 Kendall, Auel, from Sterling, one of the first settlers, located in the 
 east part of the town. He staid in town but a few years. The 
 name of liis wife is not on record; their ch. were: I. Abel, b. 
 Feb. 7, 1792, m. J3etsey Childs. 2. Betsey, b. Aug. IG, 1793. 3. 
 Polly, b. Dec. 25, 1794. 4. Silas, b. June 11, 1797, d. July 29, 
 1797. 5. Lucinda, b. Aug. 29, 1798. 6. Silas, b. Jan. 5, 1800. 
 7. Heman, b. Feb. 6, 1802, d. Feb. 14, 1802. 8. Wilder, b. June 
 
 21, 1«03, d. July 8, 1803. 9. Ezra, b Mar. 13, 1805. 10. He- 
 man W,, b. Apr. 1, 1808. 11. Lima S., b. Oct. 17, 1812. Mr. 
 Kendall moved West about 1813. 
 
 Kemp, John, from Groton, an early settler, was a miller in the south 
 part of the town. He m Sarah Shattuck ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Jonathan, m. Fidelia Johnson. 2. Sarah, m. Amos Ray. 3. Bet- 
 sey, m. Amos Gates. 4. Amy, m. John Eaton. 5. John, m. 
 Sylvia Sawin. 6. Olive, m. Almond Ray. 7. Lucinda, b. June 
 
 22, 1812. 8. Nancy, b. Aug. 20, 1814, m. Benjamin A. Gates. 
 9. Lucy, b. Jan. 26, 1810, m. David Kendall. 10. Abijah, b. 
 Oct. 13, 1817, d. Dec. 17, 1817. Mr. Kemp died in 18.53, aged 82. 
 
 Knapi*, Houace, m. Martha ; their ch, were: 1. Rebecca, b. 
 
 Apr. 22, 1842. 2 and 3. Clement and Clara, (twins) b. July 4, 
 1844. 4. Eliza Jane, b. June 20, 1846. 
 
 Knowlton, Emery, m. Polly Fisher; their ch. were: 1. Leander, b. 
 Nov. 21, 1828, m. Nancy Kelton. 2. Augustus, b. Oct. 14, 1831, 
 m. Martha Putnam. 3. Henry C, b. Dec. 24, 1833, m. Mary 
 Ann Eaton. 4. Mary, b. May 19, 1836, ra. Charles Whitney. 5. 
 Maria, b. June 23, 1838, ra. Edwin F. Baker. 6. Lyman, b. 
 Apr. 26, 1842. 
 
364 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Kneeland, Timothy, from Harvard, was the third inhabitant of the 
 town. He came here in 1771, (Samuel Cook was the second, and 
 lived where Edward Greenwood now lives ; nothing more can be 
 ascertained concerning him, as he left the place before the organiza- 
 tion of the town) and located one and a half miles west of the 
 Centre, (which was then Winchendon). He was a soldier in the 
 Revolutionary War three years and three months. Although he 
 had a large family of children there are none of his descendants 
 living in town at the present time. The exact spot where he 
 located was near the junction of the Wilder and Kneeland brooks, 
 at the upper end of what is now Dr. Parker's mill pond ; the old 
 cellar may be seen at the present day. At the time of his settle- 
 ment it was an unbroken wilderness for miles about him, with the 
 exception of the meadow, (now flowed by Dr. Parker's pond) which 
 it is supposed was cleared by beavers, and was at that time produc- 
 ing large crops of grass. It is probable that this was the principal 
 inducement which led him to settle in that place. He was a 
 carpenter as well as farmer, and was of great service to those who 
 afterwards settled around him. He had ten children, all of whom, 
 with one exception, lived to be old, and most oi them had large 
 families. Inasmuch as there are some things somewhat remarkable 
 concerning the family, it may be interesting to the reader to have a 
 more detailed account of it, then we have generally adopted in this 
 record of families. He m. Maria Stone ; their ch. were : 1. Maria, 
 m. Joseph Nichols, whose ch. were : Andrew, Sarah, David, Levi, 
 Sabria and Fanny. 2. Oliver, m. Betsey Baldwin, whose ch. 
 were: Lucy, Israel, Silas, Esther, Betsey, Levi, Abner and Ed- 
 ward. 3. John, m. Mary Johnson, whose ch. were : Mary 
 Cynthia, Electa, Lucy, Bial, Arza, Eliza and John W. 4. Miriam, 
 b. in 1769. These four children of Mr. Kneeland were born before 
 he came to this town, probably in Harvard, the remaining six were 
 born in Gardner, as follows : 5. Asa, m, Hannah Cheney, whose 
 ch. were: John, Philand, Hannah G., Dulcena, Asa, Maria, 
 Abner, Leonard, Sarah, Gardner and Averill. 6. Abner, m. 
 Waity Ormsby, whose ch. were : Waitstill, Sophronia and .John 
 S. His second wife was Lucinda Mason ; their ch. were: Lucin- 
 da and Abner O. His third wife was Mrs. Osburn. His fourth 
 wife Avas a lady from Boston. Abner Kneeland, whose fame reached 
 almost every country, was brought up in the good old-i'ashioned 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJ^ER. 365 
 
 ways of our ancestors. Being naturally of a strong mind, he, with 
 but little assistance, gained a fair education, and was employed as a 
 school teacher for some time. In 1802 he published a spelling 
 book of 200 pages, entitled the " American Definition Spelling 
 Book." In 1805 he was ordained as a Baptist minister in Langdon, 
 N. H,, and for several years was a member of that denomination. 
 Afterward he was a preacher of universal salvation for several 
 years. Subsequently he became a deist, and was for many years 
 editor of the Boston Investigator. He died in 1844, aged 70. 7. 
 Lucy, m. Paid Stearns, whose ch. were: Timothy K., Lucy, 
 Thomas, John M., (who is a counsellor and attorney at law in 
 Williamsburg, N. Y.) Sarah, Benjamin Franklin, (a merchant in 
 Felchville, Vt.) and George Washington, (twins) (a physician in 
 New Bedford, Mass.) Paul W. and Honestus. 8. Sarah, m. Mr. 
 Phinney 9. Edward, d. 10. Silas, m. Martha Laws, whose ch. 
 were : Lucy, Maria, Martha, Ira, Joel, Nancy, Abel L. M., George 
 W. S. and Mary. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Kneeland had ten 
 children and fifty-five grandchildren. Mr. Kneeland died in March, 
 1818, aged 81. Mrs. Kneeland died Aug. 6, 1831, aged 87. 
 
 Leland, Simeon, s. of Simeon and grandson of William Leland 
 from Sherborne. He bought a farm of Peter Goodale, about the 
 year 1794 ; (it is the one now owned by Charles Hey wood) their 
 ch. were: 1. Lynda. 2. HoUis, m. Betsey Graves. 3. Belar- 
 mine, m. Hattie Hill. 4. Simon, m. in the western country. 5. 
 Amasa. 6. Elbridge, m. Betsey Priest. 7. Rhoda, m. Silas 
 Seaver. 
 
 Leland, Amasa, s. of Simeon, m. Martha Seaver; their ch. were: 1. 
 Martha J., b. Mar. 21, 1818. 2. Elbridge G., b. Aug. 8, 1820. 
 3. Simeon A. K., b. Jan. 12, 1824. 4. Amasa IL, b. June 9, 
 1826, d. Nov. 30, 1842. 5. Rosella S., b. Mar. 30, 1828. 6. 
 HoUis J., b. Aug. 22, 1830. 7. Leonard L., b. Feb. 18, 1833. 
 8. Mary S., b. May 28, 1835. His second wife had Walter AV., 
 b. May 1, 1840, and Lucy C, b. Aug. 8, 1841. 
 
 Learned, Samuel, from Cambridge, a farmer and blacksmith in the 
 east part of the town. He m. Lydia Knapp ; their ch. were : 1. 
 William, b. Aug. 19, 1794. 2. Samuel, b. July 2, 1796. 3. 
 Lydia, b. Sept. 11, 1798, m. Winslow Davis. 4. Anna, b. Oct. 
 31, 1802. 5. John, b. Dec. 20, 1806. 6 and 7. Mary and Mar- 
 
366 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 tlia, (twins) b. Apr. 12, 1810. Mary m. Charles Green. Martha 
 m. George M. Travers. 8. Ebenezer T., b. July 19, 1812, m. 
 Mary White. 
 
 Learnek, William, s. of Samuel, ni. Kebecca Nichols ; their ch. were : 
 1. WilliamH.,b. May 30, 1820,111. Marietta Whitney. 2. LyiliaK., 
 b. July 2, 1822, m. Asher W. Shattuck. 3. Walter N., b. Mar. 17, 
 1825. 4. Rebecca L., b. June 17, 1827, m, Charles Gates. 5. 
 Francis, b. Mar, 11, 1830, ni. Sarah Newton. 6. Emily A., b. 
 May 27, 1833, d. 7. Emily A., b. Sept. 5, 1835, m. Webster 
 Cowee. 8. Lucy P., b. June 17, 183S, m. Albert Lovejoy. His 
 second wife was Lois W. Davis, who had one child named Myron, 
 b. Feb. 18, 1847. 
 
 Learned, Samuel, s. of Samuel, m. Abigail Jaquith ; whose ch. were: 
 Samuel and John. His second wife was Jerusha Hayues ; their 
 ch. were : Turel and Jerusha. His third wife was Sarah Joslin ; 
 their ch. were : William and Frank. His fourth Avife was Mrs. 
 Eaton. 
 
 Lord, James B., m. Abigail Jackson ; they had one child named Charles 
 Henry, b. May 22, 1841. They afterwards left town. 
 
 Lovewell, Isaac, m. Eliza ; came to this town about 1839; 
 
 they had one child b. Oct 17, 1841, named Lyman F. They had 
 other children born in Hubbardston of which we have no record. 
 
 Lovewell, Leonard, m. Louisa Comee ; their ch. were: 1. John 
 H., b. Aug. 7, 1831. 2. Charles L., b. May 2, 1834, m. Lucy 
 Stone. 3. Mary J., b. July 5, 183G. 4. Martha M., b. Oct. 3, 
 1838. 
 
 Lynde, William, from Maiden, became a resident of Gardner about 
 1795, and bought the valuable farm recently OAvned by his son, 
 Wm. S. Lynde,' and now by George F. Peabody. He m. JNIary 
 Waite of Maiden ; they had one child whose name was William S., 
 b. Aug. 1, 1800. 
 
 Lynde, William, S., s. of William, m. Christiana Comee; their ch. 
 were: 1. Mary M., b. Mar. 12, 182C, m. John Peabody. 2. 
 James P., b. Mar., 1828. 3. Charles, b. May 20, 1830. 4. 
 Celia, b. Jan. 13, lH32,ni. David Lovewell. 5. Sarah P., b. Oct. 
 5, 1834, m. Ephriam H. Wetlierbee. (!. Leander C, b. Aug. 27, 
 1839, m. Elizabeth E. Reed. His second wife was Addie A. Lin- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 367 
 
 nell. 7. An inf.int, b. May 1, 1842, d. May 3, 1842. His second 
 wife was Mrs. Mary Bolton ; their ch. were : 1, Octavia, b. Sept. 
 24, 1840, m. George F. Peabody. 2. Harriet M., b. Sept. 24, 
 184J), d. July 30, 1850. 
 
 Matthews, John, from Holden, located as a farmer, where his grand- 
 son, Joel Matthews, now resides. He was a soldier in the Revoln- 
 tiooary War six months. He m. Patience Graves ; their ch. were : 
 
 1. John, m. Mary Turner. 2. Abel, m. Lucretia Wilder. 3. 
 Patience. 4. Joel, m. Sarah Coolidge. 5. Priscilla, m. Luke 
 Baker. 6. Lydia, m. Joel Fisher. 7. Phebe. 8. Hezekiah. 
 Mr. Matthews died in 1817, aged 82. 
 
 Matthews, Joel, s. of John, m. Sally, dau. of James and vSally 
 (Gould) Coolidge; their ch. were: 1. Phebe, b July 25, 1805, 
 m. Mr. Flint. 2. Joel, b. Feb. 5, 1807. 3. James C, b. Feb. 
 6, 1809. 4. Betsey G., b. May 16, 1811, m. Joseph Guild. 5. 
 Sarah, b June 28, 1813, m. William Pratt. 6. Lydia, b. Dec. 27, 
 1814, m. Mr. Flint. 7. Lewis G , b. May 13, 1817. 8. Heze- 
 kiah, b. Oct. 24, 1818, m. Sally Gates. 9. Lucy, b. Feb. 27, 
 1821. Mr. Matthews died July 7, 1863, aged 87. 
 
 Matthews, John, s. of John, m. Mary Turner ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Abel, b. Jan. 13, 1806, d. Mar. 8, 1815. 2. Edward T., b. Sept. 
 
 2, 1807. 3. Betsey T., b. Mar. 21, 1809. 4. Lucy, b. July 4, 
 1811, d. May 26, 1813. 
 
 Matthews, James C, s. of Joel, b. Feb. 6, 1809. m. Elvira Bush ; their 
 ch. were : 1. Ephraim, b. July 28, 1837, m. Nellie A. Fiske. 2. 
 Eliza M., b. Nov. 1, 1838, m. Charles Averell. 3. James, b. 
 Sept. 12, 1840, d. Oct. 11, 1840 4. Lucina, b. Oct. 20, 1841. 
 5. Alvin, b. Sept. 1, 1843, m. Eliza A. Jackson. 6. James L., 
 b. Dec. 24, 1844. 7. Sarah E., b. Dec. 11, 1846, m, Jacob Holden. 
 
 Martin, Jonathan, from Lunenburg, was a farmer in the west part of 
 the town, where Horatio Stoddard now lives. He m. Susanna 
 Taylor; their ch. were: 1. John. 2. David. 3. George, m. 
 Fanny Brikley. 4. Jonathan, m. Lydia Dukley. 5. James, m. 
 Lucy Travers, who had eleven children. His second wife was 
 Mary Wads worth who had three children. His third wife was 
 Mary Upton, who had three children — seventeen in all. 6. Su- 
 
368 HI8T0BY OF GABDNER. 
 
 sauna, in, Austin Parker. 7. Betsey, d. 8. Betsov, ni. Elijah 
 Tnivers. 9. Lucy, b. Sept. 30, 1702. Mr. RIartiu died ,luly 1, 
 182G. 
 
 Merkitt, Noah, m. Eunice ; their eli. were: 1. Noadiah, b. 
 
 Dec 2, 1782. 2. Aehsaii. b. Mar. oU, 17S1. 3. Abigail, b. Sept. 
 
 23, 1785. 
 Merkiam, Jonathan, troni Westminster, was a huMuer in the north part 
 
 of the town, where Asa W. Kayuunul now lives. He m. Betsey 
 
 Harris; their eh. were: 1. Jacob 11., b. Jan. 22, 179!). 2. 
 
 Nathan, b. Aug. 7, 1800, d. Sept. 19, 1805. 8. Betsey AV., b. 
 
 Aug. 7, 1802, d. Sept. 10, 1805. 4. Sally, b. in Oct , 1804. 5. 
 
 Samuel H., b. :May 16, 1808. G. ]Milton, b. June 20, 1810. 7. 
 
 Betsey, b. Nov. 17, 1813. Mr. ]Merrian\, Samuel and INIilton died 
 
 in Dec, 1820, of typhoid fever. 
 
 Merkiam, John, m. Sally Severy ; their eh. were: 1. Caleb S., b. 
 July 18, 1817. 2. Anna C, b. Nov. 22, 1819, m. ^h-. Flagg. 3. 
 Jonas, b. Mar. 19. 1823. 4. Oliver M., b. Sept. 2, 1825. 5. 
 Sally R., b. July 2, 1828. 
 
 Merriam, Nathan, ni. Abigail, dau. of Abner and Elizabeth (Derby) 
 Holden ; their ch. Avere : 1. Joel, b. Feb. 3, 1780, m. Polly Farns- 
 worth. 2. Nathan, b. Nov. 27, 1787, m. Ruth Keyes. 3. Reu- 
 ben, b. May 15. 1790. 4. Asaph, b. Mar. 20, 1792, m. Miss 
 Gibson. 0. Abigail, b. Jan. 29, 1795, m. Farwell Cowee. 
 
 Maynard, Joseph, m. jNIary Crosby ; their cli. were : 1. Mary A., b. 
 
 Mar. 14, 1<S29, m. Calvin Conant. 2. Ellen, b. Dec. 22, 1830, m. 
 
 Mr. Gushing. 3. Henry, b. July 20, 1833. 4. Eliza, b. June 17, 
 
 1837. 
 Miller, Amos, m. Martha "Williams; their ch. were: 1. George W., 
 
 b. May 23, 1835. 2. James, b. D^c. 1, 1830. 
 
 Merritt, Increase S., ni. Susan Penniman ; their ch. were: 1. Sim- 
 eon, b. INIar. 21, 1823. 2. Ezra iM , b. Mar. 2, 1825. 
 
 Miles, Oliver, from Concord, was a cabinet maker. He m. Sarah 
 Joslyn ; their ch. were: 1. Orinda, b. Jan. 14, 1798, m. Andrew 
 Mentser. 2. John J., b. Nov. 2, 1799, m. Sarah Mosman. 3. 
 Charles, b. Sept. 28, 1801, ni. Sophia Brown. 4. Walter, m. Miss 
 lugalls. 5. Luke, m. Mary Ann Conant. 0. Cyrus, m. Ann 
 Whitney. 7. Harriet, m. Charles Crane. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 369 
 
 Miles, John, from Concord, brother of Oliver, was a farmer ia the 
 east part of the town, m, Mary Mosman ; their ch. were : 1. Mary. 
 2. Louisa, m. John Dalrymple. 
 
 MiNOTT, Amos B.. ni. Maria, dau. of Elijah and Sarah (Comee) Brick ; 
 
 their ch. were: 1. i:dwia M., b. Aug. 10, 1843. 2. b, 
 
 Apr. 24, 1845. 3. William II., b. July 11, 1848. 4. Sarah, b. 
 Apr. 4, 1850. 5. Frank, b. Sept. 21, 18.54. 
 
 .Moore, Phineas, m. Hannah ; their ch, were: 1. Thaddeus, 
 
 b. July 25, 1812. 2. f:zra S., b. Nov 29, 1814. 
 
 Moore, Ezra, a farmer in the west part of the town. He m. Sally 
 ; they had one child named Polly. 
 
 Munroe, Samuel, m. Abigail Seaver ; their ch. were: 1. Samuel 
 VV., b. Dec. 25, 1840. 2. Edward M., b. Nov. 4, 1846. 
 
 Newton, Rueus, m. Rebecca Willard ; their ch. were: 1. Lucy A., 
 
 b. Jan. 27, 1839. 2. Charles H., b. Nov. 3, 1841. 3. , 
 
 b. Apr. 21, 1844. 4. George, b. .Jan. 11, 1848. 
 
 Newton, Eumond, m. Mary N. ; their ch. were: 1. Mary E., 
 
 b. Sept. 6, 1841, d. Sept. 11, 1841. 2. George W., b. Dec. 3. 
 1843. 3 Althea A., b. May 15, 1846. 4. Franklin D., b. Apr. 
 13, 1855. 
 
 Newbury, Dayton, m. Elizabeth ; their ch were : 1. Albert, 
 
 b. Oct. 25, 1831, at Springfield. 2. Harriet E., b. Oct. 9, 1833, at 
 Uxbridge. 3. Gilbert B., b. Aug, 5, 1835. 4. Dwight, b. Mar. 
 11, 1838. 5. Franklin, b. June 2, 1840, d. Sept. 22, 1843. 6. 
 Maria A., b. June 12, 1842. 
 
 Nichols, David, from Reading, one of the first settlers, was a farmer 
 and blacksmith in the south part of the town. He. m. Rebecca 
 Burknap ; their ch. were: 1. David, m. Rachel Howard. 2. 
 Kendall, m. Deborah Partridge. 3. Rebecca. 4. Mary. 5. 
 Isaac, m. Nancy Dodge, 6. Asa, m. Mary Derby. 7. Sarah. 8. 
 Edmond, m. Esther Jackson. His second wife was Rhoda Forbush. 
 9. John, m. Betsey Stevens. Mr. Nichols died at the age of fifty. 
 
 Nichols, David, s. of David, m. Rachel Howard ; their ch. were : 1. 
 Lydia B., b. Apr. 26, 1789. 2. David, b. Feb. 13, 1791. 3. 
 Betsey, b. Feb. 10, 1793. 4. Isaac, b. July 29, 1795. 5. Nathan, 
 b. Mar. 11, 1797. 6. Rebecca, b. July 7, 1799, m. William 
 
 47 
 
370 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Learned. 7. Edmond, b. Aug. 20, 1801. 8. Amos, b. Aug. 
 27, 1804. i). Elvira, b. Dec. 3, 1806, m. John Edgell. 10. 
 Enaily A., b. July 21, 1801), m. James M. Comee. 11. Charles, 
 b. Sept. 5, 1811. 
 
 Nichols, Kendall, s. of David 1st, m. Deborah Partridge ; their ch. 
 were: 1. Amos, b. Apr. 24, 1793. 2. Asaph, b. Feb. 25, 1797. 
 
 Nichols, Isaac, s. of David 1st, m. Nancy Dodge ; their ch. were : 1. 
 Farwell, b. Jan. 11, 1799, m. Azubah Pierce. 2. Nancy, b. Nov. 
 27, 1800. 3. Lucy, b. 1803, d. Sept. 29, 1811. 4. Lyman, b. 
 June 30, 180G. 
 
 Nichols, Asa, s. of David 1st, m. Mary Derby; their ch. were: 1. 
 Merrick, b. Nov. 8, 1806, m. Amanda Wood. 2. Burknap, b. 
 Apr. 28, 1810. 3. Washington, b. Apr. 8, 1814. m. Lucinda 
 Fenno. 4. Lucy B., b. Jan. 20, 1817. 5. William, b. Aug. 12, 
 1820. 
 
 Nichols, Edmond, s. of David 1st, m. Esther Jackson ; they had one 
 child named Benjamin F., b. Aug. 24, 1806. His second wife 
 was Rhoda Forbush ; their ch. were : Esther, Edmond, Martha 
 and Amos. 
 
 Nichols, John, s. of David 1st, m. Betsey Stevens ; their ch. were : 1. 
 
 Eliza E. L., b. Mar. 17, 1811. 2. Betsey, b. Jidy 9, 1812. 3. 
 
 John L., b. Mar. 19, 1813. 4. Charles C, b. Jan. 18, 1816. 5. 
 
 Abel S., b. Oct. 24, 1817. 6 and 7. Mary and Martha (twins). 8. 
 Franklin. 
 
 Nichols, Zachariah, m. Rebecca ; their ch. were : 1. Zacha- 
 
 riah, b. July 18, 1795. 2. Nahum, b. Apr. 26, 1797. 3. James, 
 b. May 1, 1799. 4. Rebecca, b. Oct. 24, 1801. 
 
 Nichols, Farwell, s. of Isaac, m. Azubah Pierce; their ch were: 1. 
 Lucy, b. Apr. 6, 1825. 2. Louisa, b. 1831, m. first, Mr. Thomas, 
 second, Mr. Jones Mr. Nichols was fatally shot, by accident, on 
 a Fourth of July, at Fitchburg. 
 
 Nichols, Washington, s. of Asa, m. Lucinda Fenno ; their ch. were : 
 1. Harriet W., b. June 17, 1835, d. Sept. 20, 1835. 2. Eliza 
 Jane, b. Dec. 4, 1837, m. Charles Baker. 3. George B., b. Dec. 
 25, 1840, m. Anna Brewster. 4. Charles M., b. Nov., 1844, m. 
 Josie Batson. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 371 
 
 Nichols, Burknap, s, of Asa, m. Sarah Fletchei- ; they had one child 
 named George, b. May 20, 1835, d. May 13, 1S37. Mr. Nichols 
 died March 9, 1838. 
 
 NoYKS, Adam, m. Mehitable ; their eh. were: 1. Henry W., 
 
 b. Dec. 28, 17'.)9. 2. Thomas R., b. Aug. 31, 1801. 3. Adam 
 S., b. Dec, 1802. 4. Charles M. A., b. Nov. 12, 1805, d. Dec. 
 30, 1805. 5. Maria M., b. Feb. 17, 1807. fi. Ciiarles A., b. 
 Mar. 31, ISO!). 
 
 Notes, Henry J., m. Jaue Gates; their ch. were: 1 and 2. Jane 
 and James II., (twins) b. July 20, 1835, James d., Jane m. John 
 Simonds. 3. Samuel L., b. Jan. 0, 1837. 4. Susan E., b. 
 Sept. 17, 183!), m. Henry C. Boyles. 5. Charles L., b. Mar. 13, 
 1842. 6 and 7. Edward P. and Ellen D., (twins) b. Sept. 23, 
 1847, Ellen d. Sept. 25, 1847. 
 
 Osgood, Jonathan, from Westford, was the first minister settled in 
 Gardner. He is spoken of more particularly in the ecclesiastical 
 department. He m. Orange Wadsworth ; their ch. were : 1. 
 Amelia L. F., m. Jonas Childs. 2. Eliza O. W., m. Joshua M. 
 Whitcomb. 3. Jonathan W. D. His first wife was Eliza Bar- 
 nard ; they had one child whose name was Walter B. His second 
 wife was Miss M. F. Stone, whose ch. were: James S., Eliza F. 
 and Caroline P. More will be said of him in another chapter. 4. 
 Amanda A., m. Clement Jewett. 5. Harrison M., m. Miss 
 Leonard. 
 
 Partridge, Jabez, from Sherburne, located as a farmer in the south 
 part of the town, where his grandson, Seneca Partridge, now lives. 
 He was one of the early inhabitants of the town. He m. Anna 
 Twichell ; their ch. were: 1. Adam, d. 2. Deborah, m. Elisha 
 Pierce. 3. Adam, m. Mary Jackson. 4. Hannah, m. Mr. 
 Bigelow. 5. Cynthia, b. Dec. 1, 1785, m. Luke Whitney. 6. 
 Miriam, b. A\xg. 20, 1787. 7. Henry, b. June 5, 17'.)1. 
 
 Partridge, Adam, s. of Jabez, m. Mary Jackson ; their ch. were : 1 . 
 Asa, b. Aug. 1, 1800. 2. Seneca, b. July 26, 1802. 3. Oran, 
 b. June 30, 1806, m. Polly Wood. 4. Caroline, b. Nov. 13, 
 1808, m. Isaac P. Kendall. 5. Loenza, b. June 27, 1814. 6. 
 Adam, b. June 14, 1817, m. Melissa Underwood. 7. Mary, b. 
 Dec. 12, 1819, m. James Stearns. 8. Louisa, b. May 3, 1822, 
 m. Mr. Benton. Mr. Partridge died May 22, 1855, aged 77. 
 
372 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Partridge. Seneca, s. of Adam, m. Sally Brown ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Silas, b. May 26, 1829, m. Mary Sanders. 2. Harriet W., b. 
 Jan. 16, 1832, m. Solon Kendall. 3 and 4. Francis and Frederic, 
 (twins) b. Mar, 15, 1840. His second wife was Sarah Under- 
 wood; their ch. were : 1. George W., b. Apr. 17, 1847, d. Aug. 
 11, 1848. 2. George A., b. Dec. 18, 1849. 3. Orlando, b. 
 Dec. 12, 1854. 
 
 Partridge, Reuben, from Sherburne, an early inhabitant, located in 
 the south part of the town. He ra. Mary Perry; their ch. were: 
 1. Deborah. 2. Mary, m. Samuel Hill, whose ch. were: Amos, 
 Moses, John, Nathaniel and William. 
 
 Parker, John, m. Mary White; their ch. were: 1. Lucy, b. May 
 25, 1806, d. May 26, 1806. 2. Adeline, b. Sept. 6, 1807, d. Dec. 
 23, 1827. 3. Oscar A., b. Nov. 14, 1808. 4. Frederick, b. 
 Apr. 26, 1811, m, Mary Greenwood. 5. Mary, b. .Jan. 19, 1814. 
 6 Lucy W., b. Aug. 20, 1817. 7. Abner W., b. July 17, 1820. 
 Mr. Parker died Mar. 1, 1829. 
 
 Parker, Oscar A., s. of .John m. Sophrona Jackson ; their ch. were : 
 
 1. Emily A., b. at Concord, N. H., Sept. 17, 1835. 2. Elvira 
 J., b. Nov. 26, 1837. 3. Harriet A., b. Nov. 26, 1839. 
 
 Parker, Abram G., m. Lydia Nichols; their ch. were: 1. Hannah 
 G., b. Jan. 30, 1811. 2. Alexander G., b. Jan. 14, 1814. 
 
 Parker, David, from Westford, came to this town more than fifty 
 years ago, and settled here as a physician. He m. Eliza Sawin ; 
 their ch. were: 1. Lucy, b. April 14, 1835, m. Mr. Perkins. 2. 
 Eliza, b. Aug. 19, 1837, d. Sept. 13, 1841. 3. Horace P\, b. 
 Aug. 13, 1839, m. Mary Travers. His second wife was Sarah 
 Scollay, who had one child named Eliza, b. Nov. 29, 1845, m. 
 Frank Smith. 
 
 Page, Jonathan, m. Tamar ; their ch. were: 1. Jonathan. 
 
 2. Hannah. 3. Tamar. 4. Oilman, b. June 4, 1812. 5. Eliza- 
 beth G., b. Dec. 7, 1814. 6. Zimri, b. Aug. 27, 1817. 
 
 Payson, Joseph, from Framingham, one of the first inhabitants, was a 
 farmer in the east part of the town, where his grandson, Joseph P. 
 Howe, now lives. He m. Mary Hill; their ch. were: 1. Mary, 
 b. Apr. 6, 1774, m. Samuel Foster. 2. Susanna, b. July 7, 1779, 
 m. Ezekiel Howe. 3. Eleanor, b. July 29, 1782, m. Uriah Clapp. 
 
HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 373 
 
 Mr. Payson was one of the company that held a tea party in Bos- 
 ton Harbor, just before the commencennent of the Revolutionary 
 War. 
 
 Penniman, Ezra, from Braintree, was a farmer in the west part of the 
 town, where Asa T. Greenwood now lives. He m. Lovisa Eager ; 
 their ch. were: 1. Lovisa, m. Uriah Mei-ritt. 2. Abigail, m. 
 Isaiah Howe. 3. Benjamin. 4. Sarah, m. Jesse Hill. 5. Mary, 
 m. Bartholomew Cheevers. 6. Betsey, d. 7. Susan, m. Increase 
 
 5. Merritt. 8. Tabitha, ra. Granville Williams. 
 
 Perley, Allen, from Ward, now Auburn, was a farmer, living where 
 John Stacy now lives. He was one of the first settlers. He m. 
 Juda Chase ; their ch. were: 1. Susanna, b. Apr. 9, 1780, m. 
 Mr. Marsh. 2. Allen, b. Aug. 24, 1782. 3. Sally, b. Dec. 14, 
 1784. 4. David, b. Apr. 10, 1786. 5. Anna, b. Aug. 19, 1795. 
 
 6. Asa, b. Oct. 4, 1797. 
 
 Perley, Allen, Jr., s. of Allen, m. Anna Greenwood ; their ch. were : 
 1. Martha, b. Jan. 16, 1809. 2. Sylvia, b. June 19, 1810. 3. 
 Elizabeth, b. Jan. 30, 1814, m. Cephas Phinney. Mr. Perley died 
 Mar. 25, 1844. Mrs. Perley died Mar. 6, 1844. 
 
 Perley, David, s. of Allen, m. Miriam Partridge; their ch. were: 
 1. Elmina, b. June 23, 1809. 2. Anna, b. Aug. 20, 1811, m. 
 Mr. Howard. 3. Thuseba, b. Nov. 21, 1813, m, John S. Crosby. 
 Her second husband was Augustus Bigelow. 4. Hannah B., b. 
 Nov. 1, 1816, m. F. D. Nichols. 5. David, b. Mar. 6, 1819, m. 
 Susan E. Mann. 6, Mary Ann, b. Apr. 12, 1821. 7. Asa, b. 
 Aug. 27, 1825, m. Harriet E. Smith. 8 and 9. Adam and Hiram, 
 (twins) b. Apr. 11, 1827, d. 10. Henry P., b. Feb. 23, 1828, m. 
 Cynthia Hunting. 11. Caroline, b. June 25, 1830, m. Edwin 
 Rice. 
 
 Perley, Asa, s. of Allen, m. Mary Kendall ; their ch. were : 1. Mary 
 E , b. May 5, 1822, m. John Nichols. 2. Asa P., b, June 4, 1824, 
 
 m. Miss Austin. 3. Charles A., b. Sept. 15, 1826, m. 
 
 Whitney. 4. William P., b. Apr. 2, 1829. 5. George A., b. 
 July 8, 1831. 6. James M., b. Feb. 26, 1834. 7. Francis W., 
 b. May 4, 1836. 8. Theophilus P., b. Nov. 12, 1838. 9. Lean- 
 der A., b. June 19, 1841. 10. Lewis F., b. June 17, 1844. 11. 
 Ellen M., b. Sept. 10, 1846. 
 
374 HISTORY OF GAIWJSTUB. 
 
 Pkabody, William, m. Mary Stevens; their ch. were: 1. William 
 T., b. Feb. 21, 1820, ni. Hannah Howe, d. Sept. 2, 18G4. 2. 
 John H., b. 3Iar. 22, 1822, m. Mary M. Lynde. 3. Mary A., b. 
 1824, m. Edwin O. Gibson, d. in Pittsburg, Pa. 4. George C.,b. 
 1826, d. 1829. 5. George F., b. Jan. 11, 1832, m. Octavia A. 
 Lynde. 6. Charles F., b. 1834, m. Elizabeth Delany. d. 1855. 
 7. Eliza J., b 1836, m. Sumner P. Whitney. 
 
 Phillips, John, m. Roxa Bancroft; their ch. were: 1. Warren, b. 
 Nov. 18, 1806, d. Sept. 3, 1808. 2. Eliza, b. Jan. 4, 1809. 3. 
 Caroline, b. Sept. 19, 1810, m. Dea. Foskett. 4. Warren, b. 
 Aug. 17, 1813, m. Mcxry Parker. 5. Polly B., b. July 19, 1815, 
 d. July 4, 1816. 
 
 Phinnet, Cephas M., m. Elizabeth Perley ; their ch. were: 1. Mar- 
 cellus P., b. July 1, 1838. 2. Martha E., b. Aug. 23, 1840. 3. 
 
 Sylvianna, b. Aug. 13, 1842. 4. , b. Dec. 25, 1844. 5. 
 
 Mary J., b. Dec. 28, 1846. 
 
 PiEKCE, John, m. Lucy ; their ch. were : 1. Nathan, b. Aug. 
 
 19, 1788. 2. Lucy, b. Dec. 8, 1790. 3. Peter, b. Sept. 9, 1792. 
 4. Abigail, b. July 28, 1795. 5. John, b. June 21. 1799. 6. 
 Susanna, b. Feb. 17, 1802. 
 
 Pierce, Jonas, m. Martha Edgell ; their ch. were: 1. Calvin, b. 
 
 - July 7, 1833. 2. Catherine, b. Aug. 12, 1836, d. Dec. 9, 1837. 
 
 His second wife w^as Sarah M. (Fletcher) Nichols ; they had one 
 
 child named Erastus N., b. June 11, 1840. His third wife was 
 
 Betsey F. Styles. 
 
 Pierce, Josiah, m. Polly ; their ch. Avere : 1. Harvey L., b. 
 
 Oct. 22, 1837. 2. Oliver N., b. July 29, 1839. 
 
 Powers, Robert, m. ; their ch. were: 1. Joseph, b. Sept. 
 
 27, 1812. 2. Emeline, b. Apr. 23, 1816. 4. John, b. May 12, 
 1818. Mr. Powers had several children previous to his moving 
 into this town, but we have no record of them. 
 
 Powers, Robert, Jr., s. of Robert, m. Annis Kendall ; their ch. were : 
 1. Frederic W., b. Dec. 3, 1830. 2. Mary S., b. July 30, 1832, 
 d. Oct. 21, 1843. 3. Adeline K., b. Apr. 17, 1834. 4. Martin 
 K., b. Feb. 1, 1837. 5. Prudence E., b. May 16, 1840. 
 
HISTORY OF GABDNEli. 375 
 
 Pratt, Ephraim, came into town about 1775, and located in the south- 
 east part ; his ch. were: 1. Aaron. 2. Miriam, m. Joseph Simonds. 
 His age, when he died, was 84 years. 
 
 Pratt, Aaron, s. of Ephraim, m. Betsey ; their ch. Avere : 
 
 I. Aaron, b. Apr. 22, 1798. 2. Betsey, b. Nov. 16, 1799. 3. 
 Mercy, b. Aug. 23, 1802, 4. John, b, Aug. 2, 1804. 5. Lovisa, 
 b. Jan. 6, 1807. 6. Susanna, b. Feb. 6, 1809. 7. William, b, 
 Jan. 2, 1811. 8. Russel, b. Nov. 18,1812. Mr. Pratt died in 
 1812. 
 
 Pratt, William, s. of Aaron 2d, m. Sarah Matthews ; their ch. were : 
 1. Aaron, b. Nov. 9,1832. 2. Otis, b. Dec. 18, 1833. S.Sally, 
 b. Nov. 13, 1835, 4. Joel, b. Jan. 12, 1840. 5. William, b. 
 Apr. 9, 1842. 6. Walter. 7. Eliza. 
 
 Priest, Joseph, one of the first settlers, located in the west part of the 
 town, where Nahuni Wallace now lives. He m. Patience Stiles ; 
 their ch. were: 1. Levi, m. Hannah Woodbuiy. 2. Joseph. 3. 
 Lucy, b. Aug. 2, 1789. 4. Jacob, b. July 28, 1791. 5. Betsey, 
 b. Sept. 17, 1800, m. Elbridge Leland. 6. Caleb, b. June 30, 
 1804. 
 
 Priest, Levi, s. of Joseph, m. Hannah Woodbury ; their ch. were : 1. 
 LevlW., b. May 22, 1813. 2. Francis D.,b. June 19, 1815. 
 
 3. Nancy, b. Jan. 26, 1817. 4. Joseph. 5. Milo. His second 
 wife was Prudence Hyde. 
 
 Priest, Jacob, s. of Joseph, m. Patty Clark ; their ch. were : Joseph, 
 Jacob W., Mary, Martha, Betsy, Lucy, Eliza and Harriet. 
 
 Priest, Caleb, s. of Joseph, m. Louisa Gage; their ch. were: 1. 
 Lorenzo S., b. Apr. 20, 1827. 2. Caleb A., b. Dec. 4, 1829, 3. 
 Julius W,, b. Sept. 9, 1832. 4. George B., b. Mar, 27, 1834. 
 5, Calvin M., b. Jan. 9, 1838. 6. Francis O., b. June 4, 1841. 
 7. Nancy L., b. Mar. 12, 1847, d. Dec. 15, 1861. 
 
 Putnam, John, from Danveis, Avas an early settler in the east part of 
 the town. He m. Anna Penniman ; their ch. were: 1. John, b. 
 July 21, 1794, d. Feb. 25, 1813. 2. Amasa, b. May 6, 1796, m. 
 Mary Temple. 3. Nancy, b. June 3, 1798, ra. Joseph Whitney. 
 
 4. Elijah, b. Mar. 11, 1801, m. Elmira Bancroft. 5. William, b, 
 Oct, 5, 1804, m, Mary Ann Flood, Mr. Putnam died at the 
 a^e of 77. 
 
376 HISTORY OF GARDNEB. 
 
 Putnam, Amasa, s. of John, m. Mary Temple; their ch. were: 1. 
 Amasa, b, June 26, 1818, d. Sept. 6, 1836. 2. Mary T., b. Feb. 
 18, 1821, m. Sumner J. Simonds. 3. Lucy, b. Dec. 3, 1822, m. 
 Levi H. Sawin. 4. Martha B., b. Nov. 13, 1824, m. Augustus 
 Knowlton, 5. Nancy, b. June 12, 1827, m. William E. Marsh. 
 6. Sarah W., b. July 16, 1831, m. Amasa Merritt. 7. Betsey H., 
 b. Aug. 7, 1834, m. Lewis Bebee. 
 
 Putnam, Elijah, s. of John, m. Ehnira Bancroft; their ch. were: 1, 
 Mary, b. Dec. 26, 1826, d. Mar. 23, 1844. 2. Viola, b. Aug. 17, 
 1833, d. July 18, 1849. 3. William, b. June 23, 1836, m. Olive 
 Wetherbee. 
 
 Prescott, Jonathan, from Lancaster, m. Euth, dau. of John Glazier; 
 their ch. were: Jonathan, Bushrod W., Elizabeth, William, 
 George and Ruth Ann. Mr. Prescott was the first merchant in 
 Gardner. He built the house and lived, where Francis Richardson 
 now resides, and was Town Clerk in 1 794-5 and 6. In 1799 he moved 
 to Boston, where he was appointed constable, which office he held 
 during life. He died in 1852, aged 92. For the last few years of 
 his life he was unable to attend regularly at court, yet he annually 
 received tlie appointment and drew the pay, out of respect for his 
 long service. 
 
 Phescott, Bushrod W., s. of Jonathan, m. Melinda Wiswal ; their ch. 
 were: 1. Mary W., b. Aug. 8, 1825, d. June 22, 1842. 2. SarahG., 
 b. Feb. 28, 1827. 3. Ruth, ]?■ May 18, 1829, d. Mar. 15, 1845. 4. 
 Jonathan H., b. Mar. 1, 1831, d. June 9, 1844. 5. Elizabeth, b. 
 Apr. 10, 1833. 6. Nancy, b. Feb. 17, 1837. 
 
 Ray, Heman, m. Lydia Richardson ; their ch. were: 1. Elizabeth, b. 
 June 1, 1829, m. Cephas B. Stevens. 2. Sarah G., b. July 9, 
 1831, m. Asa T. Greenwood. 3. Seth, b. May 24, 1835, m. Sarah 
 Ostrum. 4. Martha O., b. Sept. 11, 1840, m. Theophilus Wood. 
 5. Henry E., b. June 10, 1845. 
 
 Ray, Asa, m. Susanna Gates ; their ch. were : 1. Newell, b. Aug. 21, 
 1818. 2. Asaph, b. Oct. 5, 1825. 3. Susan, b. Mar. 10, 1832. 
 4. Adaline, b. Jan. 18, 1834. 5. Lyman, b. June 11, 1837. 6. 
 Eliza, b. Dec. 3, 1838, d. July 27, 1840. 7. Mary E., b. Oct. 19, 
 1841. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 377 
 
 Ray, Amos, m. Sally Kemp; their ch. were: 1, Eliza Ann, ra. 
 Samuel G. Gates. 2, Sarah M., m. David Howe. 3. Elvira, b. 
 July 3, 1828, m. James Priest. 4. Charles H., b. July 21, 1830. 
 His second wife was Hephzibah Garfield, who had one child named 
 Lucy G., b. July 4, 1837. 
 
 Ray, Almond, m. Olive Kemp ; their ch. were : 1. Malvina 2. Lu- 
 cy Ann, b. June, 22, 1832. 3. Harriet. 4. Elmira, b. June 26, 
 1837. 5. Jane, b. Mar. 7, 1852. 
 
 Ray, Newell, s. of Asa, m. Elvira W. ; their ch. were : 1. New- 
 ell E., b. Mar. 5, 1843. 2. Maria A., b. Jan. 15, 1845. 3. De- 
 wit Clinton, b. Apr. 2, 1846. 4. Dolly, b. July 6, 1848. 
 
 Reed, David, from Stowe, one of the fii-st settlers, was a farmer in the 
 east part of the town. He m. Naomi Wright ; their ch. were : 1. 
 Abram. 2. Asa, b. June 18, 1789, d. 3. David, b. Feb. 13, 
 1793. 4. Asa, b. Aug. 12, 1795. 
 
 Reed, David, s. of David, m. Polly Smith ; their ch. were : 1. David 
 A., b. Oct. 25, 1819, d. Nov. 4. 1819. 2. David J., b. Aug. 26, 
 1821. 3. Mary N., b. Sept. 16, 1824. 
 
 Reed, Asa, s. of David 1st, m. Rhoda Brooks; their ch. were: 1. 
 Mary Ann, b. June 4, 1821. 2. Rhoda E., b. Mar. 31, 1824. 3. 
 David W., b. Nov. 6, 1826. 
 
 Richardson, Jonas, one of the first settlers, located in the east part of 
 the town ; their ch. were: 1. Azubah, m. Benjamin Pierce. 2., 
 Abel, m. Sarah Lincoln. His second wife was Mrs. Whitcomb. 
 3. Mary, m. Benjamin Hill. 4. Betsey, m. Jonathan Currier. 5. 
 Persis. 6. Hattie, m. Daniel Currier. 7. Jonas, m. Abigail Cur- 
 rier. 8. Asa, b. Feb. 6, 1784, m. Elizabeth Glazier. 9. Nathan, 
 b. July 26, 1785. His second wife was Lydia Woodbury; they 
 had one child named Levi, b. April 4, 1801, ra. Lovisa Pratt. Mr. 
 Richardson d. in 1815, aged 72. 
 
 Richardson, Asa, s. of Jonas, m. Elizabeth Glazier ; their ch. were : 
 1, Lydia, b. Dec. 16, 1809, m. Heman Ray. 2. Elizabeth, b. 
 Feb. 23, 1812, d. Jan 31, 1814. 3. Francis, b. Feb. 17, 1814. 4. 
 Lucy, b. April 13, 1816, m. William Austin. 5. Jonas, b. Dec. 
 30, 1817, d. in 1839. 6. Persis. b. Nov. 5, 1819, d. Nov. 16, 
 1819. 7. Isaac, b. Dec. 26, 1820, d. July 30, 1841. 
 
 4« 
 
378 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Richardson, Jonas, s. of Jonas 1st, m. Abigail Currier; their ch. 
 
 were: 1. Mary Jane, b. May 27, 1808. 2. Betsey, b. Jan. 23, 
 
 1811, d. Apr. 8, 1811. 3. Charles, b. Oct. 21, 1812. 4. Abel, b. 
 
 Mar. 31, 1815. 
 Richardson, Nathan, s. of Jonas 1st, m. Sophia Boutelle ; their ch. 
 
 were: 1. Thomas B., b. Oct. 28, 1818, d. Mar. 14, 1819. 2. 
 
 Louisa B. 3. Charles. 4. Loenza B. 5. Henry H. 6. Jonas. 
 
 7. Sarah S. 
 Richardson, Francis, s. of Asa, m. Belinda Fletcher ; their ch. were : 
 
 1. Sarah E., b. Aug. 7, 1839. 2. Frederic, b. May 3, 1841. 3. 
 
 Lucy A., b. Mar. 28, 1843, m. Frederic Turney. Ilis second wife was 
 
 Eliza (Cutler) Wood; their ch. were: 1. Francis C, b. June 
 
 29, 1846, d. Dec. 25, 1847. 2. Charles F., b. July 8, 1849, m. 
 
 Emma Hill. 
 Robbins, Nathan, m. Nancy Bickford ; they had one child named 
 
 George E., b. Feb. 2, 1842. 
 
 Ross, Phineas, m. Betsey Marshall; their ch. were: 1. Esther, b. 
 Aug. 13, 1816, d. Mar. 29, 1876. 2. Phineas M., b. Aug 1, 
 1818. 3. Almeda, b.Nov. 30, 1821. 4. Betsey, b. Dec. 6, 1823, 
 d. Aug. 14, 1825. 5. Robinson, b. May 17, 1826, d. Aug. 20, 
 1877. 6. William, b. Sept. 16, 1828. 7. A. Hastings, b. Apr. 
 28, 1831. 8. George P., b. May 9, 1833. 9. Alvah W., b. 
 May 21, 1834, d. July 7, 1837. 
 
 Saunders, Samuel, from Ashby, one of the first settlers, located in the 
 
 southeast part of the town, was a farmer. He m. Lydia Boynton ; 
 
 their ch. were: 1 and 2. Lydia and Sarah, (twins) Lydia m. 
 
 Philemon Stacy, whose ch. were: John, Philemon and Joseph. Her 
 
 second husband was William Fortiner. Sarah, ni. Whitman Austin. 
 
 3. Abigail, m. Jonas Shepard. 4. Patience, m. Oliver Clark. 
 
 5. Ruth, m. Isaac Holbrook. 6. Lucy, m. Asa Fairbank. 7. 
 
 Samuel, m. Rachel Turner, whose ch. were: Rachel, Jolin, Joseph 
 
 and Samuel. 8. Moses, m. Sarah Underwood. 9. Jonas, m. 
 
 Hannah Trask. 10. Aaron, m. Sarah Gragg. 11. Abram, m. 
 
 Betsey Trask. 
 Saunders, Moses, s. of Samuel, m. Sarah Underwood ; their ch. were: 
 
 1. Betsey, b. Feb. 1, 1798, d. Oct. 3, 1803. 2. Cynthia, b. Jan. 
 
 16, 1800, d. Oct. 3, 1803. 3. Amos U., b. Mar. 20, 1802, d. 
 
 Dec. 12,1803. 4. Willard, b. Mar. 11, 1804. 5. Maria, b. Dec. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 379 
 
 26, 1805. 6. Franklin, b. Jan. 17, 1808, 7. Eunice, b. Dec. 9, 
 1809, m. William Barrett. 8. Amos, b. Nov. 22, 1812. 9. 
 
 Isaac, b. Mar. 30, 1815, m. Eleanor . 10. Jacob W., b. 
 
 Ang 7, 1817. 11. Joseph L., b. Apr. 6, 1821. 
 
 Saunders, Willard, s. of Moses, m. ; their ch. were : 
 
 I. Mary, b. Oct. 20, 1838. 2. Henry A. C, b. Aug. 28, 1811. 
 3 Eliza J., b. May 17, 1844. 4. Ira L., b. Sept. 1, 1849, d. 
 May 16, 1852. 
 
 Sawin, Benjamin, from Westminster, an early settler, m. Lucy Laws ; 
 their ch. were : 1. Lucy, b. Apr. 8, 1795 2. Benjamin, b. Feb. 
 
 27, 1797. He left town after a few years. 
 
 Sawin, Samuel, m. Martha Heywood, dau. of Seth and Mary (Tem- 
 ple) Heywood ; their ch. were: 1. Samuel W., b. Feb. 19, 
 1801, d. Jan. 27, 1823. 2. Eliza A., b Feb. 25, 1807, m. Mr. 
 Houghton. 3 John H., b. Oct. 13, 1812. 4. Levi H., b. Nov. 
 
 II, 1816. 
 
 Sawin, Levi H., s. of Samuel, m. Lucy Putnam; their ch. were: 1. 
 Helen, b. Sept. 17, 1842, m. Reuben A. Twichell. 2. Alice, b. 
 Sept. 18, 1844, m. Charles H. Greenwood. 3. Mary, b. Nov. 20, 
 1847, m. Mr. Washburn. 4. Edward H., b. Feb. 25, 1849. 5. 
 Lucy, b. July 15, 1853. 6. Clifford H., b. June 25, 1855. 
 
 Sawin, Jonathan, m. Mary Ann ; they had one child whose 
 
 name was Rozina Almina, b. Mar. 4, 1842. 
 
 Sawin, Luke, m. Clarissa Lane; their ch. were: 1. Mary G., b. 
 June 8, 1827, d. Aug. 7, 1829. 2. Maria, b. Jan. 15, 1829. 3. 
 Otis F., b. June 15, 1831, d. Dec. 25, 1833. 4. Mary G., b. 
 May 14, 1833. 
 
 Sawin, Joseph D., m. Marcia Scribner ; their ch. were : 1. Myra A., 
 b. July 12, 1832, m. John M. Moore. 2. Otis D., b. Apr. 17, 
 1834, m. Miss Comee. 3. Sarah W., b. July 3, 1836. 4. Lin- 
 coln L., b. June 18, 1838, m. Miss Fenno. 5. Maxy Ann, b. 
 Oct. 22, 1843, m. Mr. Allen. 6. Cora L., b. Jan. 17, 1850. 
 
 Sawin, Eli G., m. Tabitha Bickford ; they had one child named Smyr- 
 na, b. Apr. 21, 1836. 
 
 Sawyer, Jude, from Lancaster, one of the first settlers, located in the 
 south part of the town, Avhere Ezekiel Gates now lives. He was a 
 
380 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 farmer and blacksmith, and was noted for making steel traps. He 
 made one after he was ninety years of age. He m. Phebe Keyes ; 
 they had no children. Mr. Sawyer died in 1843, aged 93. 
 
 ScOLLAY, James, m. Dolly Corey ; their eh. were : 1. Dolly, b. Nov. 
 
 8, 1808, m. Amasa Whitney. 2. Sarah, b. Sept. 10, 1810, m. 
 Dr. David Parker. 3. James, b. Mar. 26, 1812, m. Lucy M. 
 Youug. 4. Charles, b. Jan. 8, 1814, m. Elizabeth Garfield. 5. 
 Lucy, b. Aug. 26, 1816. m. Alfred II. Brick. 6. Ezra, b. Apr. 
 
 9, 1821, d. Nov. 26, 1841. 
 
 SiMONDS, Elijah, came to this town about 1772, from Shirlej', and 
 
 located in the south part. He m. Abigail ; their ch. were : 
 
 1. Elizabeth, b. Apr. 7, 1774, d. June 29, 1776. 2. Elijah, b 
 Jan. 28, 1777, d. Sept. 10, 1777. 3. Elijah, b. Nov. 14, 1778, 
 m. Persis Richardson. 4. Jonathan, b Dec. 9, 1780. 5. Ezekiel, 
 b. Feb. 25, 1783. 6, David, b. Mar. 4, 1786. 7. Abigail, b. 
 July 11, 1788, d. Aug. 5, 1791. 8. Asa, b. Nov. 7, 1790. 9. 
 Abigail, b. Aug. 5, 1793. 10. Lucy, b. Nov. 11, 1797. 
 
 SiMONDS, Joseph, from Boston, was a soldier in the Revolutionary "War, 
 
 and noted for his bravery. He m. Miriam Pratt ; they had no 
 
 children. 
 SiMONDS, Elijah, s. of Elijah, m. Persis Richardson ; their ch. were: 
 
 1. Mary. 2. Asa R., b. Feb. 6, 1812. 3. Sumner J., b. Feb. 13, 
 
 1817. 
 SiMONDS, Sumner, J., s. of Elijah 2d, m. Mary Putnam ; their ch. were : 
 
 1 and 2. Amasa and Abel, (twins) b. Oct. 16, 1837. Amasa d. 
 
 Nov. 23, 1838. 3. Lucy A., b. Oct. 19,1839. 4. Georgianna, 
 
 b. Feb. 23, 1841. 5. Mary G., b. June 26, 1848. 
 
 Seaver, Ethan, from Westminster, Avas a farmer in the east part of 
 
 the town. He m. Lydia — '■ ; their ch. Avere : 1. Luther, b. 
 
 Mar. 4, 1794, m. Eunice Holden. 2. Lydia, b. May 7, 1798, m. 
 Mr. Bancroft. 3. Aaron, b. Feb. 12, 1800, m. Louisa Fairbank. 
 
 Seaver, Luther, s. of Ethan, m. Eunice Holden ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Sarah H., b. May 22, 1825. 2. Luther, b. Aug. 1, 1829. 3. Mary 
 B., b. Sept. 10, 1831. 4. John H., b. Aug. 1, 1835. 
 
 Seaver, Aaron, s. of Ethan, m. Louisa Fairbauk ; their ch. were : 
 1. Abigail, b. Apr. 30, 1832. 2. Fanny, b. Apr. 24, 1834. 3. 
 Joseph, b. Sept. 11, 1835. 4. Lucy, b. Jan. 11, 1842. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 381 
 
 Stearns, Otis, m. Lucy ; they had one child named George 
 
 Otis, b. Aug, 3, ISIO, Mr. Stearns was a merchant in the South 
 Village a few years. 
 
 Stearns, James C, m. Mary Partridge ; their ch. were: 1. Euphelia 
 A., b. Feb. 2, 1842. 2. , b. Mar. 2, 1846. 
 
 Stoddard, Bartlett, m. Miriam Kendall; their ch. were: 1. Bart- 
 lett, b. June 22, 1817. 2. Nancy K., b. Oct. 3, 1820, d. Nov. 25, 
 1820. 
 
 Stone, Simon, from Templeton, was a farmer and had a saw mill, the 
 one now owned by Dr. Parker. He m. Rhoda Stone; their ch. 
 were : 1. Rhoda, b. Feb. 29, 1796. 2. Simon, b. Feb. 19, 1800. 
 His second wife was Miss Boynton, who had one child named Jo- 
 seph W., b. Aug. 22, 1811. His third wife was Keziah Kendall. 
 
 Stone, Samuel, from Groton, was one of the first settlers. He pur- 
 chased a lot of wild land in the north part of the town, (then Win- 
 chfindou) previous to 1770, the same that is now owned and used 
 by the town for a town farm. He m. Martha Wilder ; their ch. 
 were : 1. Eunice, m. Israel Stone. 2. Samuel, m. Susan Haynes. 
 3. Joseph, m. Miss Stiles. 4. Josiah, m. Eunice Haynes. 5. 
 Martha, b. Dec. 26, 1786. 6 and 7. Benjamin and Oliver, (twins) 
 b. Jan. 20, 1789. 8. Mary, b. Feb. 28, 1791, m. Jonas Patch. 
 9. Abram, b. Dec. 29, 1792. 10. Diadamia, b. Mar. 17, 1795, 
 m. Joel Walker. 11. Miriam, b. July 13, 1799, m. .Joseph Comce. 
 He died in 1831, aged 80. 
 
 Stone, Josiah, m. Maria ; they had one child named Amelia 
 
 Z. P., b. Jan. 26, 1819. 
 
 Stone, Bei^jamin, s. of Samuel, m. Lucy Wheeler ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Leonard, b. Aug. 31, 1815, d. Sept. 12, 1818. 2. Ai, b. Aug. 
 25, 1817, m. Miss Hadley. 3. Calvin, b. Nov. 28, 1819, d. 4. 
 Albert, b. June 31, 1822. 5. Leonard, b. Mar. 3, 1825. 6. Sam- 
 son, b. May 18, 1827. 7. Lucy, b. Jan. 28, 1831, m. Charles H. 
 Lovewell. 8. Judson, b. .July 26, 1834. 
 
 Stone, Abram, s. of Samuel, m. Abigail Barrel; their ch were: 1. 
 Abigail, b. July 26, 1822. 2. Lydia, b. Oct. 24, 1824. 3. Mary, 
 b. Aug. 19, 1832. 4. Abram, b. Sept. 15, 1834. 5. Fanny, b. 
 July 2, 1837. 
 
382 HISTOEY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Stone, William B., was a Congregational minister in this town eight 
 years. He m. Phebe Robinson; their ch. were: 1. An infant 
 son, b. Apr. 21, 1843, d. same day. 2. Francis B., b. June 14, 
 1844. 3. Phebe A., b. May 26, 1849. His second wife was 
 Samantha Robinson. 
 
 Smith, Asa, m. Rhoda Foster, who had one child named Asa F., b. Oct. 
 20, 1821, m. Fidelia Jackson. The mother died Oct. 30, 1821. 
 
 Smith, Charles W., m. Sarah Wood; their ch. were: 1. Sarah A., 
 b. Sept. 11, 1837. 2. Margaret M., b. Oct 15, 1839. 3. Charles 
 W., b. Mar. 14, 1842. 
 
 Spaulding, Daniel, m. Lucinda ; their ch. were: 1. Mary 
 
 E., b. Oct. 11, 1822. 2. Jared P.,b. July 29, 1825. Mr. Spauld- 
 ing came from Fitzwilliam to this town about 1821. He was a 
 merchant in the Centre of the town, and an active and influential 
 citizen for the six or seven years he lived here. He i*eturned to 
 Fitzwilliam, where he is now living at an advanced age. 
 
 Stimson, Mirick, from Ashburnham, was a merchant in the South Vil- 
 lage. He m. Sarah ; they had one child while living in this 
 
 town, named Charles, b. Sept. 4, 1837. Mr. Stimson moved back 
 to Ashburnham where he now lives. 
 
 Shumway, Nehemiah, m. Matilda Bolton ; their ch. were: 1. Caro- 
 line A., b. Feb. 5, 1817, m. Amasa Bancroft. She d. Sept. 12, 
 1858. 2. Charles A., b. Apr. 27, 1818, m. Adeline Davis. 3. 
 Almira M., b. Apr. 17 1820, d. Sept. 23, 1828. 4. Albert A., 
 b. Jan. 7, 1824, d. Oct. 30, 1848. 5. Edwin E., b. Aug. 14, 
 1826, d. Sept. 5, 1838. 6. Handel M., b. Mar. 27, 1828, m. 
 Martha Underwood. 
 
 Temple, Ephraim, came from Shrewsbury about the year 1771. He 
 located at first on the summit of Beamau Hill, on the north side 
 of Crystal Lake, an old cellar still marking the spot. He subse- 
 quently built a house where his grandson, Seth H. Temple, now 
 lives. It may not be amiss to relate an incident, which the writer 
 has heard from the lips of one of the parties interested, (Mr. Josiah 
 AVilder), to show the trouble and inconvenience which the first 
 settlers experienced in consequence of the depredations of bears, 
 which were very common at that time. After Mr. Temple had 
 cleared a few acres of land around his house, he discovered that 
 
HISTOR Y OF GARDJSTER. 383 
 
 the bears were making havoc in his cornfiehl, by breaking off the 
 ears and appropriating them to their own use. He immediately 
 notified Mr. Wilder, who lived then, where Leander Knowlton now 
 lives, whereupon Mr. W. took his steel trap and proceeded to the 
 cornfield of Mr. Temple, and set it for the detention of Bruin, 
 should he again attempt to forage in said cornfield. The next morn- 
 ing Mr. Temple found not Bruin, but an offspring of Mrs. Bruin, 
 caught in the trap. Word was sent to Mr. Wilder, who soon ar- 
 rived, and, comprehending the situation, resolved he would have 
 the old lady also. Accordingly he sent for Mr. Gideon Fisher, 
 another neighbor, living about a mile to the north, a regular " Nim- 
 rod," to come with his dogs and gun. Upon the arrival of Mr. 
 Fisher, Mr. Wilder proceeded to cuft' the ears of the cub with a 
 switch, which made it cry lustily. In a very short time the mother 
 bear made her appearance in the clearing, whereupon Mr. Fisher 
 lodged a ball from his gun in her head, thus securing both bear and 
 cub. He m. Elizabeth, dau, of Jacob Hinds of Shrewsbury. His 
 second wife was Mary Farrar ; their ch. were: 1. Francis, who 
 was drowned, on his way home from Maine, in consequence of 
 being cast away in a storm off the coast of Rye, N. H. 2. Isaac, 
 m. Elizabeth Houghton. 3. Ephraim, m. Sybil'Ilay. 4 I^zra ; it 
 is supposed that he died in the army. 5. Ahio, m. Elizabeth, dau. 
 of Seth and Mary (Temple) Heywood. 6. Loammi. Mr. Temple 
 died iu West Boylston in 1789, aged 62. 
 
 Temple, Ephraim, s. of Ephraim, m. Sybil Ray; their ch. were: 1. 
 Polly, b. Mar. 1, 1789, m. Isaiah Warren. 2. Asa, b. June 8, 
 1791, d. Nov. 9, 1794. 3. Nancy, b. Sept. 6, 1796, m. Jabez 
 Fairbanks. 4. Phebe, b. Mar. 7, 1802, m. Levi Holden. Mr. 
 Temple was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. 
 
 Temple, Ahio, s. of Elphraim 1st, m. Betsey, dau. of Seth and Mary 
 Heywood; their ch. were: 1. Martha, b. Mar. 31, 1791, m. 
 Joseph Barker. 2. Betsey, b. Jan. 25, 179-3, m. Charles Green- 
 wood. 3. Francis, b. Jan. 18, 1795, d. Jan. 3, 1801. 4. Mary, 
 b. June 12, 1797, m. Amasa Putnam. 5. Ahio, b. Aug. 1, 1799, 
 d. Mar. 19. 1800. 6. Asa, b. Feb. 13, 1801, m. Susan Conant. 
 7. Seth H., b. Feb. 10, 1803, m. Phebe Jackson. 8. Lucy, b, 
 Oct. 23, 1805, d. Dec. 18, 1805. 
 
 Temple, Asa, s. of Ahio, m. Susan Conant ; their ch. were : 1. Eliza- 
 beth H., b. Sept. 3, 1823, m. Orin P. Stiles. 2. Christopher C, 
 b. Jan. 15, 1826, m. Emily Edgell. 
 
384 HI8T0RY OF GAIWJSrUIi. 
 
 Temple, Seth H., s. of Ahio, m. Phebe Jackson ; tlieir ch, were : 1. 
 Lucy, b. Apr. 15, 1827, m. Maro Collester. 2. Asa, b. Feb. 23, 
 1829, m. Mary Church. 3. Eliza, b. June 6, 1831, m. Joel Cowee. 
 4. Charles, b. Apr. 27, 1834, d. Sept. 16, 1835. 5. Martha, b. 
 Oct. 22, 183G, m. Henry Heywood. 6. Charles, b. Nov. 13, 1841, 
 d. Oct. 8, 1847. 
 
 Temple, Aaron, m. ; their ch. were: 1. Betsey. 2. 
 
 Jason. 3. Rebecca, b. Mar. 23, 1809. 4. Anna, b. May 25, 
 1813. 
 
 Temple, Abram, m- Casendana Bickford ; their ch. were : 1. Francis 
 H., b. Aug. 18, 1839, d. Dec. 12, 1839. 2. Ellen M., b. Aug. 
 15, 1841. 
 
 Travers, Elijah, m. Betsey Martin ; their ch. were: 1. George M., 
 m. Martha Learned. 2. Lydia P., m. David P. Bickford. 3. 
 Charles S., b. Feb. 26, 1814, m. Roxa Baker. 4. Fidelia W., b. 
 Nov. 12, 1816, m. Ransom Bolton. 5. Betsey L. L., b. Jan. 11, 
 1819, m. Wardon B. Howe 6. Sarah S., b. Feb. 26, 1822. 7. 
 Horace P., b. Dec. 1, 1824. 8. Elijah C, b. Sept. 21, 1826, m. 
 Diantha Williams 9. Otis A., b. Dec. 6, 1829. 
 
 Travers, Geowge M., s. of Elijah, m. Martha Learned; their ch. 
 were: 1. Martha E., b. Jan. 15, 1833, m. William B. Durgan. 
 2. Mary, b. Feb. 26, 1842, m. Horace F. Packer. 
 
 Travers, Charles S., s. of Elijah, m. Roxa Baker; they had one 
 child while living in this town named Charles S., b. Nov. 1, 1841. 
 
 Trask, Nathaniel, m. Millie Eaton ; their ch. were: 1. Betsey B., 
 b. Dec. 5, 1819. 2. Nathaniel, b. Aug. 2, 1821, d. same day. 3. 
 William, b. Aug. 6, 1822, d. Aug. 7, 1822. 
 
 Turner, Avery, m. ; their ch. were: 1. Edward, b. 
 
 Oct. 25, 1822. 2. Samuel, b. Sept. 6, 1825. 3. Eliza Ann, b. 
 Aug. 17, 1827. 4. Asa, b. Feb. 24, 1830. 5. Susan, b. Apr. 
 30, 1833. Mr. Turner moved to Quincy, 111., where he died in 
 1877 at an advanced age. 
 
 Wallsbury, Charles F., m. Mary , their ch. were: 1. Geo. 
 
 W., b. Dec. 26,- 1836, at St. Joseph, Mich. 2. Catherine S., b. 
 Nov. 17, 1838. 3. Mary Ann, b. Dec. 5, 1840. 4. Frances, b. 
 Apr. 30, 1844. 
 
H18T0EY OF GARDNER. 385 
 
 Wallace, Merrick, m. Fanny Baker ; their ch. were : 1. Merrick W., 
 b. Dec. 18, 1831. 2. Ellen R., b. May 20, 1843. 
 
 Wallace, Nahum, m. Hannah Bennett ; their ch. were : 1. Ann M., 
 b. Aug. 7, 1835. 2. John W., b. Mar. 19, 1837. 3. Mary, b. 
 Dec. 3, 1838, m. Asaph B. AVhitney. 4. Adelaide A., b. May 21, 
 1841, d. Mar. 16, 1842. 5. Albert A., b. Sept. 10, 1846. 6. 
 Martha, b. Apr. 1, 1848. 
 
 White, John, from Lexington, was an early settler, aud located on the 
 place now owned and occupied by John Brinkman. He m, Ruth 
 Holdeu ; their ch. were: 1. Betsey, b. Sept. 21, 1776, m. Wil- 
 liam Bickford, Jr. 2. Abigail, b. Apr. 30, 1780, d. 3. John, b. 
 May 5, 1782, m. Persis Cowee. 4. Polly, b. Feb. 17, 1784, m. 
 John Parker. 5. Augustine, b. Feb. 24, 1786. 6. Abner, b. 
 Dec. 10, 1787. 7. Rebecca, b. May 9, 1790. 8. Lucy, b. Oct. 
 26, 1792. 9. Abigail, b. Apr. 20, 1796. He died in 1806, aged 59. 
 
 White, John, s. of John, m. Persis Cowee ; their ch. were : 1. John, 
 b. Aug. 1, 1804. 2. Louisa, b. Sept. 3, 1805. 3. Horatio N., 
 b. Feb. 22, 1809. 4. Abner, b. Oct. 6, 1816, m. Mary Ana 
 Conant. 5. Leander, m. Elizabeth (Jackson) Greenwood. 
 
 White, Horatio N., s. of John 1st, m. ; their ch. were : 
 
 1. Horatio W., b. June 30, 1841. His other children w^ere born in 
 Templetou. 
 
 White, Abnee, s. of John 1st, m. Mary Ann Conant ; their ch. were : 
 1. Lorilla A., b. July 13, 1842, d. Nov. 26, 1842. 2. Frederic 
 L., b. Nov. 12, 1848. 
 
 White, Daniel, m. ; there was no record of their 
 
 children, except the last one, whose name was Mary E., b. May 28, 
 1841. 
 
 Wheeler, Josiah, from Westminster, one of the first thirty of the 
 early settlers, was a farmer in the east part of the town, where 
 Asa F. Smith now lives. He was in the French War a short time. 
 He m, Lucy Graves ; their ch. were : 1. Priscilla, b. Apr. 2, 1769, 
 d. 2. Lucy, b. May 31, 1771, m. Jonathan Whitney. 3. Abi- 
 gail, b. Feb. 25, 1773. 4. Dolly, b. May 3, 1775. 5. Patience, 
 b. Jan 22, 1778, d. Feb. 6, same year. 6. Richard, b. Aug. 21, 
 1779. 7. Josiah, b. Dec. 31, 1781. 8. Betsey, b. Aug. 27, 
 1784. 9. Levi, b. July 27, 1786, d. June 25, 1789. 10. Reuben, 
 b. Sept. 6, 1788, m. Betsey Nichols. 
 
 49 
 
386 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Wheeler, Reuben, s. of Josiah, m. Betsey Nichols; their ch. were: 
 1. David, b. Jan. 8, 1812. 2. Calviu, b. May 4, 1814. 3. Jo- 
 siah M., b. Nov. 20, 1816. 4. Reuben, b. Sept. 25, 1819. 5. 
 Elvira, b. Feb. 13, 1823. 6. Charles A., b. Sept. 12, 1826. 
 
 Wheeler, David, s. of Reuben, m. Rozilla ; they had one 
 
 child in this town named William H., b. Mar. 6, 1842. 
 
 Wheeler, Calvin, s. of Reuben, m. Cyrena ; they had one 
 
 child in this town, named Henry Clay, b. July 9, 1839. 
 
 Wheeler, Josiah M., s. of Reuben, m. Maria ; their ch. were : 
 
 1. Luther D., b. Nov. 20, 1844. 2. William W., b. Feb. 15, 
 1850. 
 
 Wheeler, Joseph, m. Sarah J. ; their ch. were: 1. Charles 
 
 S., b. Dec. 4, 1843. 2. Albert A., b. Jan. 29, 1845. 
 
 Wheeler, Joel, from Concord, one of the first settlers, located in the 
 north part of the town. The place is now owned by his grandson, 
 Francis Wheeler. He was a farmer, but had a saw and grist mill. 
 He m. Dorcas Stearns; their ch. were: 1. Timothy, b. Dec. 24, 
 1781, m. Mary Stearns. 2. Mary, b. Sept. 19, 1786. 3. Lucy, 
 b. July 27, 1789, m. Benjamin Stone. 4. Joel, b. Mar. 1, 1792, 
 m. Martha Kelton. 5. Betsey, b. Dec. 25, 1794, m. Edward Loud. 
 
 Wheeler, Timothy, s. of Joel, m. Mary Stearns ; their ch. were : 1. 
 Stephen, b. Mar. 8, 1811. 2. Timothy, b. Aug. 15, 1813. 
 
 Wheeler, Joel, s. of Joel, m. Martha Kelton; their ch. were: 1. 
 Horatio P., b. Oct. 16, 1825, m. Miss Frost. 2. Francis L., b. 
 Apr. 24, 1827. 3. Edwin J., b. Mar. 24, 1829, m. Harriet N. 
 Whitney. 4. Lucretia A., b. May 14, 1833, d. Nov. 6, 1845. 
 His second wife was Lydia Emerson; their ch. were: 1. Betsey 
 E., b. Aug. 25, 1.S42. 2. Lucy L., d. 3. Mary L., d. 
 
 Whitcomb, Jonathan P., was an early settler, and a farmer in the east 
 
 part of the town. He m. Tamar ; their ch. were: 1. 
 
 Jonathan, m. P^unice . 2. Aunis. 3. Lucinda. 4. Sul- 
 livan. 5. Abram. Mr. Whitcomb left town soon after its organ- 
 ization and little is known to us in regard to his family. 
 
 Whitcomb, Jonathan, s. of Jonathan P., m. Eunice ; their 
 
 ch, were: 1. David, b. Aug. 18, 1784, d. Aug. 2G, 1785. 2. 
 Eunice, b. June 21, 1786. 3. David, b. June 10, 1788. 4. Isaac, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 387 
 
 b. Mar. 15, 1791, d. June 6, 1796. 5. Mary, b. Oct. 1, 1793. 
 6. Thomas, b. Feb. 4, 1797. 
 
 Whitcomb, Joshua, m. Eliza 0. W., dau. of Jonathan and Orange 
 (Wardswoi'th) Osgood; their ch. were: 1. Jonathan O., b. May 
 21, 1817. 2. Harriet E. 3. Joshua M. 4. Charles W. 
 
 Whitney, Joshua, one of the first settlers, came from Harvard about 
 the year 1778, and located in the south part of the town, where his 
 grandson, Joshua A. Whitney now lives. He was a soldier in the 
 Revolutionary War three years. He m. Vashti Knight ; their ch. 
 were: 1. Oliver, b. Apr. 28, 1784, m. Rebecca Nichols. 2. 
 Joshua, b. Feb. 9, 1786, d. Feb. 16, 1792. 3. Dorcas, b. Jan. 
 14, 1798, m. Edmond Nichols, whose ch. were: Joel and Betsey. 
 4. Dolly, b. Mar. 28, 1790, d. May 9, 1791. 5. Joseph, b. Mar. 
 24, 1792, m. Nancy Sawin. 6. Dolly, b. Sept. 27, 1793, m. Asa 
 Holden. 7. Joshua, b. Mar. 24, 1795, d. May 2, 1795. 8. John, 
 b. Apr. 21, 1796, m Rachel Osgood. 9. Joel, b. Apr. 13, 1798, 
 d. Mar. 15, 1801. 10. Ebeuezer, b. Aug. 1.1800, d. 11. Silas, 
 b. Nov. 11, 1804. 12. Mary, b. Dec. 20, 1807, m. John Sawyer. 
 Mr. Whitney died in 1812, aged 58. 
 
 Whitney, Joseph, s. of Joshua, m Nancy Sawin ; their ch. were : 1. 
 Joshua A., b. Feb. 28, 1814. 2. Fidelia, b. Oct. 11, 1815, m. 
 Samuel N. Laws. 3. Asaph B.,b. Aug. 21, 1817, m. Mary Wal- 
 lace. 4. Mary Jane, b. Sept. 27, 1819, d. Nov. 3, 1820. 5. 
 Marietta, b. July 27, 1821, m. William Learned. 6. Nancy Jane, 
 b. Aug. 12, 1823, m. Mr. Young. 7. Abigail M., b. Jan. 20, 
 1825, m. Thorley Collester. 8. Joseph L., b. Dec. 17, 1826. 9. 
 Harriet N., b. Apr. 15, 1829, m. Edwin J. Wheeler. 10. Mary 
 S., b. Feb. 20, 1831, m. John M. Hyde. 11. Frederic, b. Feb. 17, 
 1833, m. Miss Merriam. 12. Harvey, b. Sept. 29, 1836. 
 
 Whitney, Levi, m. Rebecca ; their ch. were: 1. Ruth M., 
 
 b. Sept. 3, 1801. 2. Levi W., b. Jan. 11, 1810. 
 
 Whitney, William, m. Anna dau. of Seth and Martha (Temple) 
 Heywood ; their ch. were: 1. William, b. Sept. 17, 1791, m. 
 Sybil C. Greenwood. 2. Seth, b. Dec. 8, 1792, m. Sally Wood. 
 3. Joseph, b. Feb. 28, 1794, m. Nancy Putnam. 4. Althina, 
 b. Apr. 3, 1796, m. Richard Baker. 5. Anna, b. Oct. 23, 1797, 
 m. Mr. Bruce. 6. Hollis, b. Aug. 11, 1801. 7 and 8. Amasa 
 and Lucy, (twins) b. June 19, 1805. Lucy m. Oliver Esty. 
 
388 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Whitney, William, s. of AVilliam, m. Sybil C. Greenwood ; they had 
 one child named Betsey, b. Apr. 16, 1815. Mr. Whitney moved 
 to Templeton where he had other children. 
 
 Whitney, Seth, s. of William 1st, m, Sally Wood; their ch. were: 
 1. Seth, b. May 25, 1817, d. Aug. 29, 1822. 2. Austin, b. Feb. 
 27, 1819, m. Miss Allen. 3. Lucy, b. June 22, 1821, m. Ivers 
 Whitney. 4. Webster W., b. Nov. 29, 1824. 5. A twin mate 
 who died in infancy. His second wife was Chloe Lincoln ; their 
 ch. were: 1. William, b. Feb. 5, 1827. 2. Chloe, b. Oct. 4, 
 1828. 3. Sally, b. Nov. 6, 1830. 4. Seth, b. Jan. 30, 1833. 5. 
 Mary, b. Jan. 28, 1838, d. Aug. 13, 1838. 
 
 Whitney, Joseph, s. of William 1st, m. Nancy Putnam; their ch. 
 were: 1. Ivers, m. Lucy Whitney. His second wife Avas Rhoda 
 Adams. 2. Eliza, m. Mr. Peck. 3. Caroline. 
 
 Whitney, Amasa, s. of William 1st, m. Dolly Scollay ; their ch, were: 
 1. Charles, b. Sept. 21, 1830, m. Mary Knowlton. 2. James, b. 
 Oct. 4, 1830. d. Feb. 16, 1844. His second wife was Lucy Cool- 
 idge. 
 
 Whitney, Luke, brother of Wm. 1st, m. Cyntha Partridge; their ch. 
 were: 1. Orison, b. Jan. 12, 1806. 2. Thuseba, b. Mar. 19, 
 1808, d. Dec. 5, 1813. 3. Luke, b. Feb. 14, 1810, m. Miss 
 Wood. 4. Cynthia, b. June 26, 1813, m. Mr. AVatkins. 5. 
 Thuseba, b. May 6, 1815, m. Elisha Pierce. 6. WilliaiB, b. Aug. 
 30, 1817. 7. Anna, b. Apr. 1, 1819, d. Aug. 10, 1838. 8. Je- 
 rome, b. May 6, 1821, d. Aug. 6, 1838. 9. Mary, d. Aug. 1, 
 1838. 10. Eliza. 11. Asa. 
 
 Walker, Addison A., m. Susan J. ; they had one child named 
 
 Susan J., b. Apr. 20, 1842. Mrs. Walker died Aug. 21, 1843. 
 Mr. Walker moved to Ashburnham, where he is now living. 
 
 Wheeler, John B., m. ; their ch. were: 1. Nathan 
 
 W., b. Oct. 14, 1792. 2. Otis, b. Aug. 11, 1794. 3. Cynthia 
 B., b. Apr. 11, 1797. 4. John B., b. Jan. 25, 1799. 5. Asenath, 
 b. Aug. 7, 1800. 6. Mary T.,b. Apr. 3, 1802. 7. Benjamin F., 
 b. Feb 15, 1804. 
 
 Whitney, Joshua A., s. of Joseph, who was the son of Joshua, m. 
 Mehitable ; their ch. were: 1. Julia Ann, b. Aug. 31, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDN^EB. 389 
 
 1842. 2. Laura I., b. May 22, 1844. 3. Mary E., b. Apr. 16, 
 1851. 4. Joseph O., b. Feb. 23, 1853. 5. Myra A., b. Aug. 
 16, 1855. 
 
 Whitney, Jonathan, m. Mehitable ; their ch. were: 1. Lucy 
 
 P., b. Jan. 27, 1821. 2. Jonathan A., b. Feb. 10, 1822, d. Oct. 
 6, same year. 3. Caleb W., b. Nov. 29, 1824. 4. Jonathan D., 
 b. Feb. 8, 1826. 
 
 Whitney, Joseph 1st, m. Sally Parks; their eh. were: 1. Henry, b. 
 1793, m. Mary Ann Bassett. 2. Sally, b. 1795, m. Luther Alden. 
 3. Esther, b. 1797, m. Jonas Brick. 4. Joseph Parks, b. 1798, 
 m, Roeua Bickford. 5. George, b. 1801, m. Sophia Greenwood. 
 6. Charles, b. 1804, d. 1824. 7. Samuel, b. 1806, d. 1826. 8. 
 Anna P., b. 1809, m. Mr. Read. 
 
 Whitney, Henry, s. of .Joseph 1st, m. Mary Ann Bassett ; their ch. wei-e : 
 1. Eliza Ann, b. Mar. 1, 1825. 2. Dulcina, b. Jan. 10, 1827, m. 
 John Q. Clark. Her second husband was Benjamin T. Joslin. 3. 
 Isaac H., b. Nov. 27, 1828. 4. Mary P., b. Aug. 25, 1830, m. 
 E. P. Hardy. 5. Sarah P., b. June 12, 1832. 6. Caroline M., 
 b. Oct. 24, 1834, m. A. M. Wilson. 7. John T., b. May 14, 1838. 
 8. Florence A., b. June 15, 1840, m. L. H. Brown. 9. Ellen, b. 
 1842, m. C. S. VYarren. 10. p:veline, b. 1844. 
 
 Whitney, Joseph P., s. of Joseph 1st, m. Roena Bickford; they had 
 one child named Roena H., b. July 25, 1823. Mr. Whitney d. 
 Jan. 19, 1824. Mrs. Whitney afterwards m. Carlisle Heyvvood. 
 
 Wilder, Elijah, one of the first settlers, a farmer, located in the west 
 part of the town on the Wilder Brook. An old cellar, a few ancient 
 apple trees and the remains of a mill-dam, are all that are left to 
 indicate civilization. He m. Azubah Larkin ; their ch. were : 1. 
 Persis, b. May 20, 1786. 2. Mary, b. May 22, 1788. 3. Asa 
 W., b. May 23, 1790. 4. Phineas, b. May 5, 1792. 5. Eri, b. 
 Apr. 17, 1795. Mr. Wilder moved to the Province of Maine about 
 the year 1796. 
 
 Wilder, Josiah, cousin of Elijah, one of the first settlers, came from 
 Sterling about the year 1773, and located in the north part of the 
 town, where Leander Knowlton now lives. He was a farmer and 
 blacksmith. He m. Hezediah Larkin ; their ch. were : 1. Azubah, 
 b. Mar. 23, 1776. 2. Katie, b. July 19, 1779. His second wife 
 
390 HISTORY OF GAEDJ^ER. 
 
 Avas Joanna Baker ; their cli. were : 1. Ilezediali, b. Nov. 2, 1784. 
 2. Josiah, b. Mar. 5, 178G, m. Polly Wheeler. 3. David, b. Nov. 
 10, 1787. He was killed while digging in a well in 1818. 4. 
 Isaac, b. Nov. 23, 1789, m. Percia Joops. 5. Joanna, b. Mar. 
 30, 1792. Mr. Wilder died in 1826, aged 76. His last wife died 
 in 1842, aged 91. 
 
 Wilder, Josiah, s. of Josiah, m. Polly Wheeler; their ch. were: 1. 
 Betsey, b. Apr. 13, 1818. 2. Mary, b. Dec. 2, 1819. Mr. Wil- 
 der moved to Fitzwilliam, N. H., where he had sons and daughters. 
 
 Williams, Ephraim, m. Betsey Sawin ; their ch were: 1. Phebe, b. 
 Apr. 7, 1810, m. Elisha S. Jackson. 2. Martha S., b. May 11, 
 1813, m. Mr. Woodward. 3. Betsey, b. Jan. 25, 1817, m. Amos 
 Miller. 4. Isaac, b. Mar. 30, 1818, d. Nov. 10, 1844. 5. Ruth, 
 b. Apr. 7, 1821. 6. Samuel, b. Jan. 1, 1832. 
 
 Williams, Abel, ra. Rebecca ; their ch. were : 1. Mary Ann, 
 
 b. Sept. 11, 1837, m. Thomas Averill. 2. Edmond L., b. Sept. 
 22, 1840. 3. Hannah M., b. May 8, 1846. 
 
 Williams, John, brother of Abel, m. Mary Foster ; they had one 
 child named Mary Ann, b. Sept. 11, 1837. 
 
 Williams, Hiram, brother of the preceding, m. Jane ; their ch. 
 
 were: 1. Charles H., b. Feb. 15, 1842. 2. George 0., b. Nov. 
 17, 1843. 
 
 Williams, Lovell. brother of the preceding, m. Betsey Young ; they 
 had one child named Eliza A., b. Aug. 7, 1841. 
 
 Wilson, Joseph, m. ; their ch. were : 1. Hannah, b. 
 
 Mar. 11, 1792. 2. Joseph, b. Feb. 26, 1794. 3. Timothy, b. 
 Sept. 23, 1796. 4. Rebecca, b. Mar. 26, 1798. 5. Rachel, b. 
 May 25, 1804, d. July 16, 1804. 
 
 Woodbury, John, m. Lucretia ; their ch. were : 1. Jonathan 
 
 B. H., b. Mar. 4, 1811. 2. Sarah A., b. May 26, 1813. 
 
 Wood, Jonathan, an early settler, located in the southwest part of the 
 
 town. He m. Anna ; their ch. were. 1. Jonathan, m. 
 
 Betsey Bancroft. 2. Catherine, b. June 9, 1790, d. July 28, same 
 year. His second wife was Lois ; their ch. were : 1. Ben- 
 jamin, b. Nov. 29, 1799. 2. Windsor D., b. July 26, 1801. 3. 
 Oliver, b. Aug. 30, 1803. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 391 
 
 Wood, Jonathan, s. of Jonathan, m. Betsey Bancroft ; their ch. were : 
 1. Polly B., b. Nov. 4, 1809, in. Oran Partridge. 2. Betsey, b. 
 Jan. 2, 1812. 3. Almond, b. July 22, 1814. 4. Smyrna, b. Oct. 
 21, 1815. His second wife was .Sarah Perley ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Sally C, b. June 27, 1818. 2. Nelson P., b. Jan. 26, 1821, m. 
 Mary Nichols. 
 
 Wood, Benjamin, s. of Jonathan 1st, m. Sarah Hill; their ch. were : 
 1. Betsey, b. Jan. 28, 1826. 2. Amanda, b. Oct. 6, 1827. S. 
 Lowell, b. Sept. 17, 1829, 4. Oliver, b. Oct. 31, 1831. 5. Geo. 
 F., b. Feb. 25, \^M. 6. Mary A., b. July 17, 1836. 
 
 Wood, Elijah, an early settler, located in the southwest part of the 
 
 town, where Abijah Hinds now lives. He m. Isabella ; 
 
 their ch. were : 1. Isabella, b. Dec. 5, 1772. 2. Elijah P., b. 
 Sept. 18, 1774. 3. Susanna, b. Mar. 11, 1777. 4. Eunice, b. 
 Apr. 9, 1779. 5. Abel, b. Apr. 18, 1781. 6. Dolly, b. Apr. 5, 
 1784. 7. Timothy, b. Dec. 24, 1786. 
 
 Wood, Jeremiah, m. Rebecca ; their ch. were: 1. Mary, b. 
 
 June 29, 1805. 2. Heret. b. Oct. 16. 1808. 3. Betsey, b. Feb. 
 3, 1811. 4. Silas, b. Oct. 25, 1813. 
 
 Wood, Nahum, m. Ruth Jackson, dau. of Elisha Jackson ; they had 
 one child named Louisa, b. Sept. 24, 1800. Soon after he moved 
 to Maine where he had other children. 
 
 Wood, Aaron, brother of Nahum, m. Lucy Jackson, dau. of Elisha 
 Jackson ; their ch. were: 1. Lucy, b. Sept. 30, 1792, ra. Joseph 
 Bacon. 2. Sally, b. Mar. 7, 1795, m. Seth Whitney. 3. Aaron, 
 b. Dec. 11, 1797. His second wife was Bethia Beard; their ch. 
 were: 1. Moses, b. Apr. 2, 1803, m. Mary Comee. 2. Cyrena, 
 b. Jan. 20, 1805, m. Ephraim Wright. 3. Asaph, b. Dec. 30. 
 1806. 4. Amanda, b. Feb. 3, 1809, m. Merrick Nichols. 5. 
 Emeline, b. May 23, 1811, m. Samuel S.Howe. 6. Theophilus 
 P., b. Oct. 4, 1813. 7. Abel S., b. July 17, 1815, m. Sarah Rus- 
 sell. His second wife was Caroline E. Allen. 
 
 Wood, Moses, s. of Aaron, m. Mary Comee ; their ch. were: 1. Wil- 
 liam B., b. July 21, 1830. 2. James C, b. Apr. 13, d. Apr. 17, 
 1835. 3. Mary T., b. Sept. 12, 1837. 4. Charles Henry, b. 
 Sept. 25, 1843. 5. Edward L., b. Oct. 6, 1845. 
 
392 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Wood, Asaph, s. of Aaron, m. Martha Edgell ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Prucius M,, b. Nov. 9, 1830, d. June 16, 1831. 2. Priicius M., 
 b. July 17, 1832. 3. Amanda, b. Mar. 10, 1834, m. Moses Emery. 
 4. Theophilus, b. Nov. 30, 1836, d. Apr. 28, 1838. 5. Lucy A., b. 
 Sept. 5, 1838. 6. Theophilus P., b. June 22, 1840. 7. Adelia, b. 
 Oct. 9,' 1841. His second wife was Abbie H. Pierce. She had 
 one child named Eliza H., b. Jan. 8, 1846, m. Elijah Warren. 
 
 Wood, Theophilus P., s. of Aaron, m. Eliza A. Cutler. They had one 
 child named Charles, b. July 20, 1841, d. Feb. 19, 1842. Mr. 
 Wood died June 15,. 1843. 
 
 Wood, Silas, m. Sarah Howe, dau. of Ebenezer ; their ch. were: 1. 
 Amos, b. Dec. 15, 1801. 2. Phebe, b. Jan. 23, 1804, d. Jan. 
 31, 1804. 
 
 Wood, Ltman F., m. Elvira Ray; their ch. Avere : 1. Mary F., b. 
 Sept. 20, 1836, d. Oct. 7, 1836. 2. Francis L., b. Jan. 11, 1838. 
 3. Converse, b. Nov. 27, 1840, d. Dec. 11, 1840. 4. Edwin L., 
 b. July 16, 1843. 
 
 Wright, Joseph, from Sterling, one of the early settlers, located in the 
 south part of the town on Wright's Hill. He m. Rebecca Nichols ; 
 their ch. were: 1. Rebecca, b. June 25, 1791, m. Walter Green- 
 wood. 2. Joseph, b. Apr. 3, 1794, m. Nancy Eaton. 3. Nathaniel, 
 b. May 30, 1796, m. Susan Edgell. 4 Lucy, b. May 8, 1798, m. 
 Farwell Conant. 5. Ephraim, b. June 22, 1800. 6. Martha, b. 
 July 12, 1802, m. Levi Heywood. 7. Louisa, b. June 4, 1804, m. 
 Hiram Clark. 8. Edward, b. June 20, 1806, m. Catherine Con- 
 ant. 9. David, b. Oct. 25, 1808, m. Elizabeth Gay. 10. Polly, 
 b. Oct. 24, 1810, m. Abijah M. Severy. 11. Emily, b. Dec. 24, 
 1814, m. Seth Heywood. 
 
 Wright, Joseph, s. of Joseph, m. Nancy Eaton. They had one child 
 named Charles A., b. Sept. 11, 1823. 
 
 Wright, Nathaniel, s. of Joseph 1st, m. Susan Edgell ; their ch. 
 were: 1. Susan, b. Oct. 29, 1823, m. W. AV. Walton. 2. Mar- 
 cus, b. Apr. 23, 1825, m. Maria S. Bent. 3. Thomas, b. Aug. 15, 
 1829, d. July 12, 1830. 4. Francis, b. Nov. 3, 1831, d. May 14^ 
 1832. 5. Martha, b. Aug. 3, 1836, m. Elias E. Horton. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDIsfER. 393 
 
 Wright, Ephuaim, s. of Joseph 1st, m. Cyrena Wood ; they had one 
 child named William W., b. May 23, 1824, d. Feb. 24, 1825. His 
 second wife was Sally W. Bancroft. His third wife was Eliza 
 Brick; their ch. were: 1. William W., b. Feb. 5, 1830. 2, Ed- 
 win, d. 3. Eliza, d. 4. Edwin, m. Almira Jackson. 5. Charles, 
 m, Ilattie M. Hill. 6. Henry. 7. Ann Eliza, m. Walter Pratt. 
 
 Wkigiit, David, s of Joseph 1st, m. Elizabeth Gay; their ch. were: 
 1. Catherine A., b. Apr. 9, 1839, m. Charles F. Read. 2. Ellen 
 E., b. Dec. 25, 1843. 
 
 50 
 
394 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 BIOGRAPHIC. 
 
 " Honour and sliame from no condition rise ; 
 Act well your part, there all the honour lies. 
 
 Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow ; 
 The rest is all but leather or pruuello." — Pope. 
 
 WE shall incliicle, in this chapter, the names of resident 
 physicians, physicians who have resided here, dentists, 
 resident lawyers, graduates who were born here, but pursuing 
 their professions elsewhere, graduates of various S(!hools, acad- 
 emies and colleges, and other men of note. The different cler- 
 gymen who have served the town, will receive attention in the 
 chapter on churches. 
 
 RESIDENT PHYSICIANS. 
 
 David Parker, M. D., was born in Westford, Mass., March 
 18th, 1802, where his ancestors settled, before the incorporation 
 of that town. There were three brothers who came from Europe, 
 in the same ship. One settled at Lexington, from whom sprang 
 Bishop Parker, and Captain John Parker, who w-as killed in the 
 battle of Lexington, also Theodore Parker. Another settled in 
 Reading, Mass., and the third in Westford, from whom have 
 descended several lawyers and eminent judges, of our courts, 
 besides many physicians. Dr. David Parker, a descendant 
 of the latter, came to Gardner, October 23d, 1823, having 
 spent three years, as a student, at Westford. He commenced 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 395 
 
 the study of mediciue with his brother Horace. He attended 
 his first course of lectures at Pittstield, the next year after 
 coming to Gardner. He was afterwards a student in the office 
 of Dr. Nathan Smith, of New Haven. In 1827, he attended a 
 course of lectures at Castleton, Vt., at the close of which, he 
 received the degree of M. D. He then returned to Gardner, 
 where he practiced, with his brother, about nine months. In 
 accordance with the advice of his brother, he then went to Bos- 
 ton and was, for a time, in the office of Dr. George B. Doane, 
 who was head surgeon of the American fleet, sent out against 
 Algiers. While in Boston, he attended the lectures of Drs. 
 John C. Warren, James Jackson and Walter Channing. While 
 in Dr. Doaue's office, whose kindly assistance and friendship 
 he enjoyed, he w^as a constant visitor at the Massachusetts Gen- 
 eral Hospital, where he was thrown into a dissecting class with 
 Drs. Charles G. Jackson and Willard Parker, now the most 
 eminent physician and surgeon in New York. 
 
 At the time Dr. Parker commenced the practice of medicine, 
 in this town, the Massachusetts Statute, concerning physic and 
 surgery, required that, " Every person, who has been licensed 
 to practice physic or surgery, since the year one thousand eight 
 hundred and eighteen, or who shall hereafter be so licensed, 
 shall deposit a copy of his license with the clerk of the town, 
 in which such licentiate may reside ; and the said clerk shall file 
 in his office such copy, attested by him with his certificate there- 
 on, of the time when the same was so deposited, for which he 
 shall receive, from the licentiate, the sum of fifty cents." In 
 accordance with this provision of the statute. Dr. Parker depos- 
 ited the following diploma, which Ave have transcribed from the 
 town records, as a matter of interest to practitioners of the 
 present day : — 
 
396 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 PRASES ET PBOFES SORES, 
 AGADEMIM MEDICINM GA8TLET0NM 
 
 IN 
 
 Republia Viridimontana Lectoribus, Salutem: 
 
 Cum Domiuus David Parker operam cliligentein et assiduam 
 studiis Medicinalibus atque Philosophicis ex pra^scripto hujusce 
 AcadeniiB dederit et a nobis petierit ut ipsum Titulo Medicinal 
 Doctoris ornaremus : Nos Pr^eses et Professores, antedicti po- 
 testate, a summo Reipublicae Viridimontanse imperio concessa 
 eundura Dominum David Parker post approbatiim examine ac- 
 curate, in universa Mediciua, eruditionem Medicinje Doctorem 
 rite et legitime creavimus et renuntiavimus eique tanquam vere 
 idoneo omnia Jura, Honores et Privilegia contulimus, qua? Med- 
 icinseDoctori, legibus aut consuetudine, concedi tribuique solent. 
 Cujus rei quo major esset fides, Prfesidis et Professor uni Chiro- 
 graphum et Academise Sigillum his Uteris patentibus, opponeuda 
 curavimus. 
 
 Datum Castletona? die dessimo nono Mensis Decembri, Anno 
 Domini millessimo octingentesimo vicesimo septimo annoque 
 Reipublicge Americse Septentrionalis foederato3 quinquagesimo 
 secundo. 
 
 William Tully, Prmses. 
 
 Theodore Woodward, 
 
 Academice Ohstitis. 
 
 William Tully, 
 
 Theorice et Prceses Medicinw. Professor. 
 
 Theodore Woodward, 
 
 Chirugice et Obstetrici, Professor. 
 Jonathan A. Allen, 
 
 Materice 3Iedirce et Pharmaceuticis, Professor. 
 Alden March, 
 
 Anatomicis et-PhysioIogicv, Professor. 
 
 Lewis C. Beck, 
 
 Chymice et Hystorice Naturalis, Professor. 
 
 Amos Eaton, 
 
 PhilosopMce Nattiralis, Professor. 
 A true copy, attest, 
 
 Levi Hey wood, Towji Clerk. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 397 
 
 Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 
 
 We, the subscribers, Censors of the First District of the 
 Massachusetts Medical Society, duly appointed and authorized, 
 have examined the letters testimonial of David Parker, M. D., 
 of Gardner, in the County of Worcester, and having found 
 them satisfactory, do hereby admit him to all the privileges of 
 those who have been examined and approbated, by the Censors. 
 Dated at Boston this 29th day of July, A. D., 1827. 
 
 John Diswell, M. D. 
 
 Kurus Wyman, M. D. 
 
 Walter Chaining, M. D. 
 
 George Heywood, M. D. 
 
 Enoch Hale, M. D. 
 
 By virtue of the power in me vested, I have here unto affixed 
 the Seal of the Massachusetts Medical Society. 
 
 J. Jackson, President. 
 Attest, 
 
 George Heywood, Recording Secretary. 
 
 A true copy, attest, 
 
 Levi Heywood, Toiun Clerk. 
 
 It will be seen, by the above testimonials, that Dr. Parker 
 commenced the practice of medicine, in this town, well qualified 
 for his profession, and fully endorsed by the highest medical 
 authority in the state. From that date to the present time, he 
 has ever proved himself to be a wise, discreet, faithful and con- 
 siderate family physiciau, not careful to consult his own ease or 
 preference, by day or by night, when the welfare and comfort 
 of his patients requires his presence, sympathy and medical 
 skill, in their chambers of sickness and distress. Dr. Parker 
 is still engaged in the practice of medicine, in this toAvn, and 
 although well advanced in years, evinces no disposition to remit 
 the arduous duties of a life time, in the faithful performance of 
 which, he has ever found delight and satisfaction. As a citizen 
 he has readily and cheerfully performed the duties allotted him 
 
398 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 ill the viirious positions he has filled. His aim seems ever to 
 
 have heeu the promotion of the highest peaee and welfare of 
 
 the community in which he has resided for so many years, and 
 
 from which he will be greatly missed and sincerely lamented 
 
 when he has gone, especially by the poor, to whose call he has 
 
 always cheerfully responded, even when 
 
 '' Thick darkuess broodeth o'ei- the earth," 
 
 and others are enjoying 
 
 " Sleep, that knits up the ravell'd sleave of care. 
 The death of each day's life, sore labors bath. 
 Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course. 
 Chief nourisher in life's feast." 
 
 EuwAED J. Sawyer, M. D. , was born August 3d, 1821), at \\'est 
 Haven, Rutland County, Vermont. He was educated at New 
 London, New Hampshire, and Chester Academy, Vermont. He 
 studied medicine with Dr. Lowell of Chester, Vt. He attended 
 medical lectures at the Medical College in Castleton, Vermont, 
 from which institution he received his medical degree, in June, 
 1853. He began the practice of medicine, in August, 1853, in 
 Acworth,N. H., where he remained four years and a half. He 
 then removed to Gardner, in January, 1858, where he has con- 
 tinued in the practice of his profession, till the present time. 
 Dr. Sawyer is a gentleman of culture and refinement, which, 
 added to his medical skill, serve to render him a very affa- 
 ble and much esteemed physician, whose courtesy, kindness 
 and assiduous attention, are greatly appreciated by his patients. 
 
 It. Foster Andrews, M. D., was born in New Salem, March 
 31st, 1836. He is the sou of Dr. Robert Andrews, formerly of 
 New Salem, where for many years he practiced medicine, pre- 
 vious to his removal to Orange, where he died in 1869. Dr. 
 Andrews received his academical education at New Salem Acad- 
 emy. While quite young, he pursued the study of medicine 
 with his father. In 1854, he took a full course of medical lec- 
 tures, at Dartmouth Medical College, Hanover, N. H. ; also, in 
 1855-6, a course of medical lectures at Harvard Medical Col- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 399 
 
 lege. In 1857, he took a third course of medical lectures, at 
 Dartmouth, where he graduated November 11th, 1857. He 
 practiced his profession a short time, at Erving and New Salem, 
 Mass., Fletcher, Vt., and Woodstock, New Brunswick. Com- 
 ing to Gardner in the spring of 1860, he established a drug store, 
 in the West Village, in company with Mr. Joseph Hager. Sub- 
 sequently he spent tAvo winters in New York city, attending 
 lectures at the College of Physicians andl Surgeons and at the 
 Medical College at Belle vue Hospital. He practiced medicine 
 three years, in California, at Mendocino and Santa Cruz. He 
 was also, a short time, in government employ, as surgeon, at 
 Fort Braog. Eeturning East, in 1869-70-71, he took three full 
 courses of lectures, given to physicians only, b}' Prof. H. K. 
 Storer, of Boston, on " The Surgical Diseases of Women." He 
 also took a special course of instruction by Prof. H. R. Oliver 
 on diseases of the throat. In 1866, he returned to Gardner, 
 where, being unable to ride, he established the drug store now 
 owned by Dr. James Emerson. He is a member of the Massa- 
 chusetts Medical Society, of the American Medical Association, 
 and corresponding member of the Gynecologycal Society of Bos- 
 ton. It will be seen, from the above sketch, that Dr. Andrews 
 has been thoroughly educated for his profession, having enjoyed 
 the hi2;hcst medical advantao-es, which have well fitted him for a 
 very successful practice of his art. 
 
 Guy W. Garland, M. D., was born in East Plainville, N. H., 
 December 11th, 1844. He entered the office of Dr. M. E. 
 Thompson, as a student of medicine, in 1863, and graduated at 
 the Medical University of Pennsylvania, April 30th, 1867. He 
 began the practice of medicine, in Gardner in June, 1867. In 
 connection with the practice of medicine, Dr. Garland conducts 
 a drug store in the West Village. As an Eclectic physician. Dr. 
 Garland possesses those qualifications, which make him very 
 acceptable, to those who prefer this method of practice. 
 
 James Emersox, M. D., was born at Barnstead, N. H., June 
 30th, 1827. He fitted for college at Mount Vernon, N. H., and 
 
400 HISTORY OF GARDINER. 
 
 entered Dartmouth College, where he continued till sometime in 
 the junior year, when he was compelled to relinquish his college 
 course on account of impaired health. He then resumed the 
 stndy of medicine, which he had begun previous to entering col- 
 le<je. He o-raduated at Dartmouth Medical School in 1857. He 
 practiced medicine in New Hampshire till November, 1862 ; he 
 then settled at Ashby, Mass., where he remained until Novem- 
 ber, 1865, when he went to Minnesota for his health and remained 
 in that state, for nearly two years. He came to Gardner, in 
 March, 1868, where, for a time, he was engaged in the practice 
 of his profession, but subsequently, and to the present time, has 
 been engaged in the drug business, still practicing in his pro- 
 fession as occasion offers. Dr. Emerson is a man of literary 
 taste and culture, and of affable address. He has served, for 
 several years with efficiency, upon the school board of this town, 
 and has done very much to lift our public school system to higher 
 
 levels. 
 
 PHYSICIANS F0RMP:RLY RESIDENT HERE. 
 
 Joseph Boyden, M. D. This gentleman was probably the 
 first physician in Gardner. Soon after the settlement of Rev. 
 Jonathan Osgood, in 1791, Dr. Boyden left town. Mr. Os- 
 good, as was not unfrequently the custom, in those daj^s, united 
 the medical with his clerical profession, thus making the longer 
 continuance of Dr. Boyden, undesirable on his part. Mr. 
 Osgood supplied the medical wants of the town for nearly thirty 
 years. He was regularly qualified for the practice of medicine, 
 having enjoyed the advantages of medical lectures and studies, 
 and was an active, influential member of the Massachusetts 
 Medical Society, in which he filled various offices. 
 
 Dk. Howard succeeded Mr. Osgood in the practice 
 
 of medicine, and remained here a few years. 
 
 Horace Parker, M. D., began the practice of medicine here 
 in 1822. He continued in the practice of his profession about 
 seven years, when, his health failing, he returned to Westford, 
 his native town where, he died June 13th, 1829, aged thirty- 
 three years. 
 
^?^ 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 401 
 
 Algernon Sidney CARrENTER,M-I^-'. was born in Alstead, N. 
 H., October 16th, 1814. He received his education in the com- 
 mon schools and at Alstead Academy. He began the study of 
 medicine with his father, in 1834, and attended three courses of 
 medical lectures at the Vermont Medical College, Woodstock, 
 receiving the degree of M. D., from Middlebury College, in 
 1837. He commenced the practice of medicine, in 1838, in his 
 native town. He removed to Gardner in the autumn of 1843, 
 where he remained till the autumn of 1847, when he went to 
 Keene, where he has since continued in the active practice of his 
 profession. 
 
 George Jewett, M. D., was born in Rindge, N. H., April, 
 28th, 1825. He received his medical education, principally, 
 at Woodstock, Vt., and Berkshire Medical College, at Pittslield, 
 Mass., where he received his degree in 1846, and at Harvard 
 Medical College, Boston. He commenced the practice of 
 medicine at Baldwinsville, in 1847, and removed to Gardner, in 
 1852, from wbich place he removed to Fitchburg in 1858, where 
 he has since continued in the practice of medicine, with the 
 exception of one year spent in travel, and a little less than two 
 years spent in the army, as surgeon of the 51st Massachusetts 
 Regiment, with which he remained till the discharge of the 
 regiment. 
 
 D. B. Whittier, M. D., commenced the practice of medicine 
 in Gardner, in 1860, and removed to Fitchburg, in 1861, where 
 he still resides. He received his education at the New York 
 Homoeopathic Medical College. 
 
 Besides these, there have been other physicians who have 
 resided here for a time, among whom were Drs. Sanborn, Har- 
 riman, Warner, Macomber and Walcott. 
 
 DENTISTS. 
 
 William H. H. Hinds, D. D. S., was the first settled dentist 
 in Gardner. He was born in Milan, N. H., January 20th, 
 1821. When he was about six years of age, his father and 
 
 51 
 
402 HISTORY OF GABDJ^FR. 
 
 oldest brother were murdered, while on a hunting excursion. 
 At the age of seven, he went to Dublin, N. H., to live with a 
 farmer. From early childhood, Dr. Hinds was taught the virtue 
 of self-reliance. Having drifted about, from place to place, at 
 the age of fourteen he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's 
 trade, in which business he served six years, receiving, in addi- 
 tion to his board and clothes, only two months' schooling each 
 winter. Having, by his trade, acquired sufficient means to 
 enable him to enjoy higher educational advantages, he entered 
 the academ}' at New Ipswich, N. H. Subsequently he taught 
 district schools, during the winter, working at his trade, as a 
 carpenter, the rest of the year. He afterwards studied archi- 
 tecture and architectural drawing, at Lowell, and was employed 
 as an architect and teacher of drawing, till 1848, when he be- 
 gan the study of dentistry, in Fitchburg, and continued it in 
 Boston. He began the practice of dentistry in Gardner, where 
 he had previously taught school. Here he continued several 
 years, till he removed to Groton Junction, now Ayer. In 1872 
 he returned to Gardner, where he now resides. Dr. Hinds 
 enjoys the reputation of being a patriotic citizen. At the 
 breaking out of the Eebellion, he was instrumental in forming 
 a military company, of which he was first lieutenant. This 
 company was attached to the 16th Regiment, Massachusetts 
 Volunteers, as Company C. Eesigning his position, in the fall 
 of 1861, he returned home, and raised another company, of 
 which he was commissioned captain. This company was at- 
 tached to the r33d Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, as 
 Company E. Dr. Hinds continued in this company, in active 
 service, till after the battle of Chancellorsville, when, on ac- 
 count of ill health, he resigned. Pie was appointed an agent of 
 the United States Treasury, and directed by Secretary Chase to 
 organize a body to collect abandoned property, which served as 
 a supply to the rebels. This movement was originally sug- 
 gested to Secretary Chase, by Captain Hinds, and proved of 
 very great advantage to the goycrnment. Captain Hinds was 
 the recipient of very flattering testimonials from Gov. Andrew 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNEli. 403 
 
 .and the officers uncler whom he served, for his fidelity and de- 
 votion to duty, while in the army. 
 
 Hartwell a. Dalrymple, D. D. S., was born in Heath, 
 Mass., August 26th, 1848. He worked on a farm in liowe, 
 till he was twenty-one years of age, after which, he removed 
 to Greenfield, Mass., where he was a student in the High 
 School. He afterwards removed to Wilmington, Vt., where he 
 entered the dental office of Dr. Pike, as an apprentice. In 1870 
 he attended a course of lectures in the Pennsylvania College of 
 Dental Surgeons, at Philadelphia. The same year he opened a 
 dental office in Gardner. In 1873, he returned to Philadelphia, 
 where, having continued his studies, in the above named college, 
 he received his diploma, in the spring of 1874. He then re- 
 turned to Gardner, where he has since continued in his profes- 
 sion, in which, his aim is constant growth. 
 
 Dr. Foskett practiced dentistr}"^ here for several ^a^ars, and 
 afterwards removed to Winchendon, where he died in 1876. 
 
 attornp:ys and counsellors at law. 
 
 Till within a few years Gardner has never furnished an invit- 
 ing field for lawyers. The first resident lawyer was the Hox. 
 C. H. B. Snow, who came to Gardner in 1847, and continued 
 here aljout one year. Following him, w^as C. W. Carter, Esq., 
 who commenced the practice of his profession here, in 1852 
 and continued until 1861. 
 
 Ephraim D. Howe was born in Marlboro', Mass., April 4th, 
 1842. His father was a farmer, and his early life was spent in 
 working on the farm and in attending school. He fitted for 
 college at the Marlboro' High School, under the instruction of 
 Hon. O. W. Albee, a famous teacher, and at that time princi- 
 pal of this school. He was admitted to Tufts College in July, 
 1862, but did not enter upon his collegiate course at that time, 
 as, in a few days, he enlisted, as a private with the nine months 
 men, in Company I, 5th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers. 
 
404 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 His regiment saw active service and participated in several en- 
 gagements. July 2d, 1863, he was discharged by reason of 
 the expiration of his term of service. Upon his return from 
 the army, he entered Tufts College, from which institution he 
 graduated in July, 1867. He taught school during the winter 
 vacations, and in this way earned the money, in part, to defray his 
 college expenses. After his graduation from college, he com- 
 menced the study of law, in the office of J. M. Baker, Esq., 
 in Marlboro', Mass. Having been appointed principal of an 
 evening school in Boston, he moved to that city and continued 
 the study of law in the office of Hon. Charles Robinson, Jr. 
 Mr. Howe was admitted to the bar, at East Cambridge, Mass., 
 June 22d, 1870, and opened an office in this town, August 23d, 
 same year. He has continued in the successful practice of the law 
 in this town, to the present time. September 8th, 1870, he 
 was appointed a Justice of the Peace by Gov. Claflin, and was 
 reappointed in September, 1877, by Gov. Rice. July 7th, 
 J 874, he was appointed a Notary Public by Lieut. Governor 
 Talbot. September 3d, 1873, he married Miss Clara E. Allen, 
 daughter of John Allen of this town. Mr. Howe enjoys the 
 reputation of being thoroughly versed in his profession, and is a 
 successful practitioner. 
 
 Thatcher B. Dunn, was born in Ludlow, Vt., December 5th, 
 1844. He was educated at Black River Academy, in his native 
 town. He commenced the study of law, at the age of twenty- 
 one, with Sewall Fullam, Esq., of Ludlow, and continued with 
 him and with Messrs. Barrett and Athertion of Nashua, N. H., 
 for over three years, when he entered the law school at Albany, 
 N. Y. Mr. Dunn was admitted to the bar, July 27th, 1869, 
 and commenced the practice of his profession at Lathrop, Clin- 
 ton County, Missouri, where he remained over four years. In 
 October, 1873, he removed to Gardner, where he has since been 
 engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Dunn is well 
 versed in the law and is a man whose honor, and integrity, inspire 
 confidence, in his clients. He is a good citizen, to whom, his 
 
HI8T0RY OF GARDjSTEE. 405 
 
 fellow townsmen have accorded the honor of making him a mem- 
 ber of the school board, and in whom the elements are so mixed, 
 
 "That Nature mig-tit staud up, 
 Aud say to all the world, this is a maa." 
 
 GRADUATES. 
 
 Abner Kneeland was born within the limits of what is now 
 Gardner, in 1774. The place of his birth is abont a mile and 
 a half west of the Centre, in what was then the town of Win- 
 chendon. Being a young man of strong mind and great resolu- 
 tion, in the face of great disadvantages, he obtained a good edu- 
 cation, and was employed, for some time, as a school teacher. 
 In 1802, he published a spelling book, of two hundred pages, 
 entitled the "American Definition Spelling Book." In 1805, 
 he was ordained as a Baptist minister, in Langdon, N. H., and 
 for several years, was a member of that denomination. Subse- 
 quently, he became a preacher in the Universalist denomination. 
 Finally, he became a deist. From 1821 to 1823 he was editor of 
 a Universalist periodical, in Philadelphia. In 1828, he was edi- 
 tor of the Olive Branch, New York. In 1832, he founded the 
 Investigator, at Boston and in 1836, was tried before the supreme 
 court at Boston, on a charge of blasphemy. He died at Salu- 
 bria, Ind., August 27th, 1844. He was the author of the follow- 
 ing works : " The Deist," " Lectures on Universal Salvation," 
 "A Translation of the New Testament," "A Review of the 
 Evidences of Christianity," and other works. 
 
 Asaph Merriasi, son of Nathan Merriam, born March 20th, 
 1792 ; studied for the ministry, and without receiving a colle- 
 giate education, became a preacher in the Baptist denomination. 
 
 Jacob H. Merriam, son of Jonathan Merriam, was born Jan- 
 uary 22d, 1799. He received a collegiate education, at Bruns- 
 wick, Maine, and studied theology at Bangor, and became a 
 preacher of the gospel. 
 
 Henry H. Wyman was born in Westminster. In early boy- 
 hood, he came to reside in Gardner, with his step-father, Mr. 
 
406 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Amasa Bancroft. He euily discovered a great fondness for 
 books. Having prepared for college, in the High School of 
 this town, he entered Amherst College in the fall of 1868, where 
 he continued till sometime in the first term of his sophomore 
 3^ear, when he left Amherst and entered the junior class of 
 Brown University, where he graduated in 1871. In Sep- 
 tember, of the same year, he Avas employed as teacher of Eng- 
 lish, in St. Louis Catholic College, New York Ciiy. January 
 8th, 1872, he entered the novitiate of the Con^reoation of Mis- 
 sionary Priests, of St. Paul the Apostle, New York City. He 
 became a professed member of this religious community, Sep- 
 tember 7th, 1875. He was ordained a priest of the Roman 
 Catholic Church, March 8th, 1876. Since that time he has been 
 occupied in giving Catholic missions, in difierent parts of the 
 United States. Father Wyman is a fine scholar, a diligent stu- 
 dent and enthusiastically devoted to the propagation of the 
 Catholic faith. 
 
 W. C. BoYDEN, M. D., was born in Gardner, December 5th, 
 1794, and is the son of Dr. Joseph Boyden, who moved from 
 Gardner to Tamworth, N. H., in 1796, where he died in 1832, 
 at the age of sixty-three. Dr. Boy den's mother, was Mary 
 Heywood, daughter of Seth Heywood. He pursued his pre- 
 paratory studies under Rev. Samuel Hidden, of Tamworth, N. 
 H., and at Fryeburg, Me. He entered Dartmouth College in 
 1815, where he graduated in 1819. He pursued his medical 
 studies with his father, and at the Medical School, at Hanover, 
 N. H., where he graduated in 1825. The same year he settled 
 in Beverly, where he continued, in the regular practice of 
 his profession until 1876. 
 
 Jonathan W. D. Osgood, M, D., is a son of Rev. Jonathan 
 Osgood, the first minister of this town. He was born in Gard- 
 ner, July 29th, 1802. He entered the New Salem Academy in 
 the Autumn of 1817, where he prepared for college. He en- 
 tered Williams College in 1819. Here he continued until De- 
 cember, 1821, when he went to Dartmouth, where he graduated 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJSTER. 407 
 
 ill 1823. He entered the Medical department of Dartmouth, 
 where he took his degree, in 1826. The same year he went to 
 Phihidelphia, wliere lie spent several months in attending lec- 
 tures, at the Pennsylvania University, and in hospital practice, 
 in that city. He commenced the practice of medicine in Tem- 
 pleton in 1827, continuing in that town till 1858, when he 
 removed to Greentield, where lie now resides and continues the 
 practice of his profession. Dr. Osgood is a member of the 
 Massachusetts Medical Society, in which he has held various 
 offices, and of which he was once Vice President. Dr. Osgood 
 has always enjoyed the reputation of being a sound and skillful 
 physician. As a medical practitioner, he is widely and favor- 
 ably known, and in the success which he has achieved, reflects 
 honor upon this, his native town. 
 
 Charles Coolidge, M. D., son of James Coolidge, was born in 
 Gardner, August 23d, 1809. Without further education, than 
 what he received in the schools of this town, he commenced, 
 while quite young, the teaching of common schools, during the 
 winter seasons, while in the summer he worked at farming. 
 After attaining his majority, he attended school in Greenwich, 
 N. Y., two years, when he commenced the study of medicine, 
 and attended lectures in New York City. After completing his 
 medical studies he went to Waterloo, Missouri, where he com- 
 menced the practice of medicine. In 1841 he moved to War- 
 saw, 111., where he followed his profession until the breaking 
 out of the Rebellion, in 1861. He entered the service of the 
 government as a surgeon and remained until the close of the 
 war, the last two years of which, he was stationed at Quincy, 
 111., as examining surgeon. While in the service, he contracted 
 a disease of the heart, which finally resulted in his death, No- 
 vember 25th, 1870. 
 
 Ebenezer L. Learned, M. D., was born in Gardner, July 
 19th, 1812. His father was a blacksmith and farmer. Having 
 enjoyed the advantages of the common schools of his native 
 town, Dr. Learned, at the age of sixteen, made choice of the 
 
408 HISTORY OF GABDNEli. 
 
 medical profession as his vocation for life. With this end in 
 view, he pursued his preparatory studies, for two years, with 
 Rev. Josiah D. Crosby, Congregational clergyman of Ash])urn- 
 ham, Mass. At the end of this period, during which he worked 
 more or less in the chair factory, in that town, he entered the 
 Harvard Metlical School, where he spent a year in the study of 
 medicine, attending lectures and witnessing practical surgery. 
 Afterwards he attended a course of medical lectures, under Dr. 
 Muzzey of Dartmouth Medical College, where, having made 
 diligent improvement ot his time and opportunities, during one 
 course, he was able to pass the necessary examinations, and to 
 receive a diploma. He afterwards returned to Boston, where 
 he completed the course of medical instruction, and was regu- 
 larly graduated from the Harvard Medical School, in 1837. In 
 1838, he commenced the practice of medicine in North Wey- 
 mouth, where he remained about eight years. His health then 
 failing, he removed to Philadelphia, and connected himself with 
 the Jefferson Medical School, attending lectures and securing 
 the advantages of hospital visitation. At the expiration of six 
 months, he returned to Massachusetts, and settled in Fall River, 
 where he has since resided, and has always enjoyed the high 
 esteem of the citizens. His practice has continually increased, 
 from year to year, till at the present time, it has reached an 
 almost burdensome extent, while his genial qualities have won 
 for him, a warm place in the atfections of his patrons, both old 
 and young. Aside from the immediate duties of his profession, 
 he has served upon the school board, both in Weymouth and 
 Fall River. He was, for two years, president of the Bristol 
 South District Medical Societ}^ and in 1877, was chosen coun- 
 cillor of the Massachusetts State Medical Society, for three 
 years, from that district. 
 
 Jesse P. Bancroft, M. D., was born April 17, 1815. He 
 prepared for college at Phillips Academy, Andovcr, and Leices- 
 ter, Mass. He entered Dartmouth College in 1837, and gradu- 
 ated in 1841. He inmiediately entered Dartmouth Medical 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 409 
 
 College, where he enjoyed the instructions of Profs. Peaslee, 
 Crosby and Phelps, and graduated in 1844. He afterwards 
 pursued his medical studies in the schools and hospitals of 
 Philadelphia. He began the general practice of medicine in St. 
 Johnsbury, Vt., where he continued until July, 1857, when he 
 removed to Concord, N. H., having been appointed Superin- 
 tendant and Treasurer of the New Hampshire Asylum for the 
 Insane. This position he has held to the present time, with the 
 exception of eighteen months, spent in travel and observation, 
 in Europe. 
 
 Nathan S. Lincoln, M. D., was born in this town. He 
 graduated, at Dartmouth College, in 1850. He studied medicine 
 in Baltimore, Md. After graduating, he commenced the prac- 
 tice of medicine at Washington, D. C, where, at the present 
 time, he enjoys the reputation of great eminence, as a physician. 
 
 James P. Lynde, M. D., is the son of William S. and Chris- 
 tiana Comee Lynde, and was born in Gardner, March 19th, 
 1828. He was educated in the common and private schools of 
 this town and at Lawrence Academy, in Groton, Mass. He be- 
 gan the study of medicine in Gardner, with Dr. Harriman, and 
 continued with Dr. Ira Russell of Winchendon. He attended 
 medical lectures at Hanover, N. H., and at the medical depart- 
 ment of Harvard University, at Boston, where he graduated 
 March 3d, 1852. He commenced the practice of medicine, at 
 Hardwick, Mass., in 1852, where he remained until 1856, when 
 he removed to Athol, Mass., where he now resides, in the active 
 practice of his profession. As a physician, Dr. Lynde cherishes 
 an exalted opinion of his profession, which is, to him, a con- 
 stant incentive to the attainment of still greater excellence 
 therein. As a citizen, he is interested in the afRiirs of the town 
 in which he resides, and has, for several years, been honored, 
 by a position, on its school board. He is a faithful and pro- 
 gressive physician, and is an honor to the town that gave him 
 birth. 
 
 52 
 
410 fflSTOBY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Albert A. Kendall, M. D., was the son of Hubbard Ken- 
 dall, of this town. He m^is born in Middlebury, Vt., March 
 3d, 1828. He came to Gardner in his early boyhood. He at- 
 tended school at the academy in Shelburne Falls, Mass. In 
 1852, he o-raduated at the New York Medical Colles^e, and soon 
 after commenced the practice of medicine, in New Braintree, 
 where he remained three years. In 1855; he settled in Newton 
 Lower Falls, where he remained seven years, greatly beloved 
 and respected, as physician, friend, citizen and neighbor. May 
 1st, 1862, he entered the United States service, as assistant 
 surgeon to the 12th Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers, 
 then serving in Virginia. While connected with this regiment, 
 he did bold, faithful and kindly service, to the soldiers under 
 his care. He was killed at Antietam, while ensaged in the 
 active discharge of his professional duties. He died, at the age 
 of thirty-four years and six months. He was a Free Mason 
 and had a very high appreciation of that Order. 
 
 James H. Noyes, M. D., was born in this town, July 20th, 
 1835. At the age of fourteen, he entered Burr Seminary, Vt., 
 where he remained three years and a half; also a season at Ap- 
 pleton Academy, New Ipswich, N. H. He then commenced 
 the study of medicine and surgery, with Dr. I. G. Graves of 
 Nashua, N. H., graduating four years later, in 1860, at Colum- 
 bia College, New York. At the breaking out of the Kebel- 
 lion, he entered the United States service, as assistant surgeon, 
 and was soon after promoted to the position of surgeon. Since 
 the close of the war, he has been actively engaged in the prac- 
 tice of his profession, in Ogden, Boone County, la. 
 
 Francis Brick, M. D., was born in Gardner. He received 
 his preliminary education, in the common schools of the 
 town. He also spent one year at Castleton Seminary, Vt. He 
 commenced the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. 
 E. J. Sawyer, of Gardner, and continued, Avitli Dr. J. C. 
 Freeland, of Fitchbiirg, Mass. He attended two courses of 
 medical lectures at the Homoeopathic Medical College, at Cleve- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER, 411 
 
 land, Ohio, where he graduated in 1861. He located at Win- 
 chester, N. H., in 1862, where he remained till the summer of 
 1864, when he removed to Keene, N. H., where he continued 
 the practice of medicine until January, 1875. He spent one 
 winter, in Philadelphia, in attendance upon lectures and clinical 
 study, in hospitals. In January, 1875, he established himself 
 in Worcester, where he now resides. He is a member of the 
 American Institute of Homoeopathy and Secretary of the Wor- 
 cester County Homoeopathic Medical Society. 
 
 Levi Heywood, son of Seth and Mary (Temple) Heywood, 
 was born June 25th, 1783. He graduated at Dartmouth Col- 
 lege, in 1808. Commenced the study of law with Hon. Nathan- 
 iel Paine of Worcester, and finished with the Hon. Elijah Mills 
 of Northampton. He was admitted to the bar in 1811, and 
 commenced practice, in Worcester, the same year. In October, 
 1818, he removed to Pickneyville, Louisiana, where he engaged 
 in teaching school. Subsequently, for a time, he was principal 
 of the Academy in Hackensack, New Jersey. He resumed the 
 practice of law, in New York, where he died in 1832. 
 
 Orlando Partridge, son of Seneca Partridge, was born De- 
 cember 12th, 1854. He attended the High School in Gardner, 
 and afterwards entered the Academy, at Franklin, Mass., from 
 wdiich he graduated in September, 1875. At the present time, 
 he is engaged in the study of law, with Milo Wilson, Esq., at 
 Scrauton, Pa., and is expecting soon to be admitted to the bar. 
 
 Eugene B. Collester, son of Thorley Collester, was born 
 in Gardner, Dec. 20th, 1847. He prepared for college at 
 Wesley an Academy, Wilbraham, Mass. He entered Amherst 
 College, in 1869, and graduated, with honor, in 1873. Mr. Col- 
 lester has, since his graduation, followed the profession of a 
 teacher, and is, at the present time, successfully pursuing his 
 vocation, as principal of Bulkley High School, New London, 
 Connecticut. 
 
412 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Frank M. Collester, son of Thorley Collester, wus horn in 
 Gardner, September 21st, 185a. He prepared for college, at 
 the Amherst High School, at which he graduated in 1873. En- 
 tering Amherst College, the same year, he graduated in 1877. 
 Mr. Collester is now teaching the High School in Gardner, with 
 very general acceptance. 
 
 Horace G. Howe, oldest son of George Howe, was born in 
 Gardner, April 2d, 1845. He obtained such education, as the 
 schools of his native town, at that time, afforded. He was dis- 
 tinguished, among his schoolmates, as a good scholar, and had a 
 strong desire for a higher education. The death of his father 
 compelled him to work, in the chair shops of Gardner, from the 
 age of fifteen until he was twenty-two. In 1867, he went to 
 Poughkeepsie, N. Y., to attend a commercial school, after which 
 he taught school for a time, and then entered the New York 
 State Normal School , at Albany, where he graduated, with honor, 
 in 1869. After leaving Albany, he was one year principal 
 of the Union School, at Cooperstovvn, N. Y. He was six 
 years the principal of a graded school at Orange, New Jersey, 
 where he labored with marked success. In 1876, he was invit- 
 ed to become the principal of one of the largest ward schools, 
 in the city of Troy, N. Y. In this position, he is at present 
 engaged. Mr. Howe ranks among teachers, as a man of ability, 
 and has worked earnestly, to elevate the condition of the schools, 
 and to give dignity and character, to the teacher's profession. 
 
 Jonathan Prescott, son of Jonathan Prescott, was born in 
 Gardner, in January, 1798. He received his education, at West 
 Point, where he graduated in 1822, with the diplomas of Pro- 
 fessor of Enginery and Chemistry, and Lieutenant in the 
 United States Army. After graduation, he remained three years, 
 as a professor of chemistry. After leaving West Point, most of 
 his time was spent, in the service of the government, superin- 
 tendino^ its works in the various harbors of the United States. 
 
 • 
 
HISTORY OF GARBjVFB. 413 
 
 Myron W. Howe was born in Gardner, November 5th, 1851. 
 He attended the public schools of his native town, till the age 
 of fifteen, where he showed much aptness, as a scholar. He 
 afterwards worked three years, in the chair shops of Gardner. 
 In 1869, the Hon. William B. Washburn, then representing the 
 Ninth Congressional District of Massachusetts, in Congress, 
 oifered a cadetship,at West Point, to the young man, who should 
 pass a successful competitive examination, for this position. 
 Young Howe, receiving intelligence of this examination, while 
 at work in the shop, on the afternoon previous to its occurrence, 
 too late to allow him to reach Greenfield that night, by cars, 
 secured a horse and carriage and rode nearly all night, in order 
 to be present at the examination the next morning. In the 
 examination, in which many competed, he proved to be the suc- 
 cessful competitor. He entered at West Point, June, 1870, and 
 graduated June, 1875. He was immediately commissioned 2d 
 Lieutenant, in the 4th United States Artillery. He was stationed, 
 with his company, at San Francisco, Cal., a little less than a 
 year, when he was ordered to Sitka, Alaska. After remaining 
 there about a year, he was ordered to Oregon, in the summer 
 of 1877, to join Gen. O. O. Howard, in his campaign, against the 
 Nez Perces Indians. In this campaign, he distinguished him- 
 self by his gallantry and bravery. 
 
 Daniel D. Parker was born in Fitzwilliam, N. H., June 
 29th, 1851. He came to Gardner, March 20, 1871, where he 
 attended the High School, then in charge of Joseph Jackson. 
 He graduated, from the Agricultural department, of Dartmouth 
 College, receiving the degree of B. S. 
 
 George A. Parker, brother of the above, was born in JFitz- 
 william, N. H., April 28th, 1853. He came to Gardner, in 1871, 
 where for a time he attended the Gardner High School. In 
 September, 1872, he entered the Massachusetts Agricultural 
 College, at Amherst, where he graduated June 21st, 1876. He 
 ranked the sixth, in a class of twenty-four members, and re- 
 ceived the first prize of fifty dollars, in agriculture. 
 
414 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Calvin Heywood Hill, son of Henry C. Hill, was born in 
 Gardner, Mass., August 8th, 1857. He entered the High 
 School, in Gardner, in the fall of 18G9, and attended regularly 
 until January, 1874. He then entered the Technical Institute, 
 at Worcester, where he graduated, July 11th, 1877, receiving 
 the diploma of a Mechanical Engineer. 
 
 MEN OF NOTE. 
 
 Gen. Moses Wood was born in Gardner, April 2d, 1803, and 
 died in Fitchburg, May 8th, 1869. He commenced business, in 
 Gardner, as a merchant, in 1827, which he successfully prose- 
 cuted until 1834, when he removed to Providence, R. I., and 
 was there connected, with the mercantile firm of Child, Vial & 
 Wood, which was engaged extensively, in the sale of wooden 
 ware and chairs. While connected with this iirm, he was a lead- 
 ing director and financier, in the Arcade Bank. In 1838, the 
 General Assembly of Rhode Island, elected him Brigadier Gen- 
 eral of Militia of Providence County. In 1849, he was elected 
 first president of the Pollstone Bank, Fitchburg, Mass. He 
 was also a director, in the old Fitchburg Bank. He moved to 
 Fitchburg in 1850. He was once chosen delegate to the National 
 Democratic Convention, for the nomination of President and Vice 
 President of the United States. In 1851-2, he represented this 
 Senatorial District, in the Senate of Massachusetts, with marked 
 ability. He was president, of the Worcester North Agricultural 
 Society, for several years. His character was marked by un- 
 flinching honesty and uncommon courtesy. He was a man of 
 great commanding j)ersonal presence. He died greatly honored 
 and esteemed, by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. 
 
 Sumner Lincoln, brother of Nathan S., was born in Gard- 
 ner, in 1841. Although not receiving a liberal education, he 
 has a record, which is very honorable. At the commencement 
 of the late war, he volunteered, in the service of the United 
 States, as a private, remaining until the Rebellion was subdued, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 415 
 
 when he came home, a Colonel. He has been in the United 
 States Army since 1866, still retaining the position of Colonel. 
 He is now stationed in Texas. 
 
 The following young men are, at the present time, pursuing 
 a course of education, in different colleges and schools : Charles 
 Noyes, having been connected with Brown University, for three 
 years, is now a student of medicine at Harvard Medical Col- 
 lege ; Edward A. Sawyer, at Amherst College, George A. 
 Black and Eugene C. Upton, at Harvard College, and Solon B. 
 Stone, at a medical college, at Washington, D. C. 
 
416 HIST OB Y OF GARDNER . 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 MILITARY AFFAIES. 
 
 " Once to every inau aud iiatiou comes the nioiuent to decide, 
 lu the strife of Truth with Falsehood, for the good or evil side." 
 
 — Lowell. 
 "Here once the embattled farmers stood, 
 Aud fired the shot heard round the world." 
 
 — B. W. Emerson. 
 "We wait beneath the furnace-blast 
 The pangs of transformation ; 
 Not painlessly doth God recast 
 And mould anew the nation. 
 Hot burns the Are 
 Where wrongs expire ; 
 Nor spares the hand 
 That from the laud 
 Uproots the ancient evil." — Whittier. 
 " Let them not live to taste this land's increase. 
 That would, with treason, wound this fair land's peace! 
 Now civil wounds are stopped, peace lives again ; 
 That she may long live here, God say — Amen." 
 
 — Bidiard III., Act V., Scene II. 
 
 IT has been deemed JKh isable, before giving u detailed ac- 
 count of the men who went from this town, into the war for 
 the Union, to present a brief statement of the causes of this 
 war, and the public action of the citizens of Gardner, in fur- 
 nishing its required number of men. Before doing this, how- 
 ever, we shall first give the names of those, among the earl}' 
 settlers, who served in the Revolutionary War. The names of 
 those who served in the w^ar of 1812, are given in Chapter X., 
 page 246, of this history. 
 
z> 
 
 ^ 
 
 /^X^ 
 
HI8T0BY OF GARDNER. 417 
 
 GARDNER IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 
 NAMES OF SOLDIERS. 
 
 ^Bickford, William Eaton, John Kneeland, Timothy 
 
 Bolton, Ebenezer Foster, David Kelton, Samuel 
 
 Baldwin, Josiah Greenwood, Aaron Matthews, John 
 
 Bancroft, Jonathan Heywood, Seth Symonds, Joseph 
 
 Comee, David Haynes, Reuben *Wheeler, Josiah 
 
 Clark, Joseph Whitney, Joshua 
 
 GARDNER IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION. 
 CAUSES OF OUR CIVIL WAR. 
 
 Previous to the Revolutionary War, slavery existed, to some 
 extent, in all the British Colonies, in North America. After the 
 Declaration of Independence, on the 4th of July, 1776, and 
 before the adoption of the federal constitution in 1788, Massa- 
 chusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, New 
 York, New Jersey and Connecticut had either abolished slavery 
 or taken measures to effect the emancipation of all their slaves. 
 Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina 
 and Georgia still retained the system, in their respective states. 
 The question of slavery was generally understood to be settled 
 in the states by the Constitution. But as the territory after- 
 wards acquired was admitted into the union as states, the ques- 
 tion of slavery was a troublesome one, until what was called the 
 Missouri Compromise, was made by congress, in 1820, to the 
 effect that slavery, or involuntary servitude, shall forever be 
 prohibited, in all the territory north of latitude 36° 30'. 
 
 Although the territory south of the line above named, was 
 as well adapted to slave labor as any in the world, yet it seemed 
 to be a fact, that in order to have the system self-supporting, 
 its area must be constantly extending. Consequently, after all 
 the territory south of the line above named, including Texas, 
 was formed into slave-holding states, and admitted into the 
 union, the slave-holders were not satisfied, and persistent efforts 
 
 *Also served during the old French War. 
 53 
 
418 HI ST OB Y OF GAIW^EB. 
 
 were imule to extend the system north of oG^ 30'. The terri- 
 tories of Kansas and Nebraska were opened for settlement, and 
 desperate etibrts were made for the introdnetion of slavery 
 therein. Notwithstanding it would be a direet violation of the 
 compromise of 1820, there were northern men, in Congress, who, 
 for the sake of peace, were willing to submit to the demands ot 
 the South ; while others were in favor of leaving the question 
 of slavery or no slavery to the people of the territories, after 
 having been admitted, as states into the union : while others still 
 were for forever prohibiting slavery north of the line men- 
 tioned, in the compromise of 1820. Hence in the presidential 
 campaign of 1860, we tind three distinct political parties with 
 their respective candidates, in the field, having deliberately 
 planted themselves, respectively, on the following positions : — 
 
 FIKST, THAT OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN : 
 
 Slavery can only exist, by virtue of municipal law ; and there 
 is no law for it in the tei'ritories and no power to enact one. 
 Congress can establish or legalize slavery nowhere, but is bound 
 to prohibit it in, or exclude it from, any and every Federal 
 Territor}', whenever and wherever there shall be necessity for 
 such exclusion or prohibition. 
 
 SECOND, THAT OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS: 
 
 Slaver}^ or no slavery, in any territory, is entirely the affair 
 of the white inhabitants of such territory. If they choose to 
 have it, it is their right ; if they choose not to have it, they 
 have a right to exclude or prohibit it. Neither congress nor 
 the people of the union, or of an}' part of it, outside of said 
 territory, have any right to meddle with or trouble themselves 
 about the matter. 
 
 THIRD, THAT OF JOHN C. BRECKENRIDGE : 
 
 The citizen of any state has a right to migrate to any terri- 
 tory, taking with him anything Avhich is property, by the law 
 of his owni state, and hold, enjoy, and be protected in, the use 
 
HISTORY OF GAUDNEIL 419 
 
 of such property, in said territory. And Congress is bound to 
 render such protection, whenever necessary, whether with or 
 without tlie co-operation of the tei'ritorial legislature. 
 
 The election of 1860, resulted in the choice of Abraham Lin- 
 coln as president, and this fact seemed to be a decision, by the 
 people, that the compromise of 1820, should be strictly adhered 
 to. The South, finding they were defeated, immediately seceded 
 and formed a Confederate government, for the permanent estab- 
 lishment and independence of which, they inaugurated the war 
 of the Rebellion, by firing upon Fort Sumpter, April 12th, 
 1861. This event caused great excitement all over the country, 
 and resulted in an immediate proclamation, by Mr. Lincoln, 
 declaring the South in rebellion, and calling for seventy-five 
 thousand volunteers, for ninety days, to engage in the suppres- 
 sion of the insurgents. 
 
 Gardner, like all other towns, shared in this excitement, and 
 began at once to take measures to respond to the call of the 
 president. 
 
 Accordingly the first town meeting, held after the war of 
 the Ilebellion broke out, was on the 30th day of April, 1861. 
 It was called for the special purpose of taking measures for 
 raising volunteers and for providing relief for their families. 
 The following votes were passed, at the meeting : — 
 
 " Voted, unanimously. That the selectmen be and are hereby 
 authorized to purchase, at the expense of the town, clothing or 
 uniforms, (suitable for wear in actual service), sufficient for the 
 members of a volunteer militia company, which may be raised, 
 by enlistment of the citizens or inhabitants of the town, and be 
 organized, agreeable to the laws of the commonwealth, as a 
 volunteer company of militia, on or before the first day of June 
 next. Provided, that said company shall pledge themselves to 
 enter the service of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, or of 
 the government of the L^nited States, to defend and sustain 
 said government against the traitors and rebels which now, or 
 may threaten its destruction, if called for, by the proper author- 
 
420 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 ity, or authorities for that purpose, at any time within one year 
 from the date of the organization of said company. Also pro- 
 vided, that if an entire company cannot be raised in the town 
 of Gardner, the selectmen are hereby authorized to furnish uni- 
 forms or clothing as aforesaid, to such citizens or inhabitants 
 of said town, as shall enter the service of their country, for the 
 purpose aforesaid." 
 
 " Voted, That the selectmen pay, to the order of the several 
 members of a militia company, which may be raised from the 
 citizens of the town, or to the order of their fomilies, in their 
 absence, the sum of one dollar per day, payable monthly, for 
 three months, from the commencement of actual service.'' 
 
 At a meeting of the town held on the 29th day of June, 1861, 
 it was " Voted, That the town appropriate the sum of one dol- 
 lar per week, for each of the members of the families of per- 
 sons, (inhabitants of the town), who are, or may be, mustered 
 into the service of the United States, in accordance with the 
 statutes of this commonwealth." 
 
 These were the only legal meetings held, in the town dur- 
 ing the year 1861, for the purpose of raising volunteers; yet, 
 meetings of the citizens were often held, for consultation, and 
 to aid in the efforts being put forth by the town. 
 
 But all these efforts proved unavailing, so far as raising a 
 compan}^ was concerned ; nevertheless, fifty-seven young men 
 volunteered and went into different regiments, then being raised 
 in the state, in 1861. 
 
 At a town meeting, April 16th, 1862, it was "Voted, That 
 aid be paid to the families of soldiers the same as last year." 
 
 At a meeting of the town on the 23d day of July, 1862, it 
 was "Voted, That the selectmen be and are hereby authorized 
 to offer a bounty of one hundred dollars, (in addition to the 
 bounty now offered by government) , for each and every volun- 
 teer, who may enlist into the service of the United States, on 
 or before the 15th day of August next, as a part of the 
 quota of forty men to be furnished, by the town of Gardner, 
 under the late requisition of the governor of Massachusetts, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDI^EB. 421 
 
 and that the sum of $4,200 be and hereby is appropriated by said 
 town, for the purpose of carrying the same into effect. Also 
 that the selectmen be, and are hereby authorized to draw their 
 order on the treasurer of said town, in the sum of $100, for 
 each and every volunteer, (not exceeding the number of forty), 
 when they shall produce to them satisfactory evidence that they 
 are mustered into United States service, as a part of said quota 
 of volunteers, to be furnished by said town ; and that said 
 selectmen constitute a committee to procure necessary enlist- 
 ment papers, and immediately open a recruiting office under 
 their own superintendence." 
 
 At a meeting of the town on the 23d of August, 1862, it 
 was "Voted, That the town pay one hundred dollars to each 
 and every volunteer, who has enlisted or may enlist under the 
 last call of the president of the United States, to fill our quota 
 of nine months men, before the third day of September next, 
 the bounty to be paid when mustered into service." 
 
 " Voted, That John F. Ashley, S. K. Pierce, John M. Moore, 
 L. W. Brown and James H. Greenwood, be a committee to 
 raise the volunteers for nine months service, to fill the quota of 
 this town under the last call of the president of the United 
 States." 
 
 " Voted, To appropriate $6000 for the purpose of carrying 
 into effect the votes passed under this article." 
 
 " Voted, That the selectmen be authorized and instructed to 
 draw their orders on the treasurer of the town, to pay the vol- 
 unteers, in accordance with the votes passed at this meeting." 
 
 " Voted, To instruct the selectmen to call a town meeting, as 
 soon as may be, and insert an article in the warrant, to see if 
 the town will borrow money to defray the appropriations made 
 at this meeting." 
 
 At a meeting held September 1st, 1862, it was " Voted, That 
 the treasurer be authorized to borrow such sums of money, 
 under the direction of the selectmen, as shall be necessary to 
 defray town expenses, not exceeding $8,000." 
 
422 HISTORY OF GAllDNER. 
 
 Oil the 11th day of October, 1862, at a legal meeting of the 
 town, it was " Voted, That the town pay to each of the volun- 
 teers, who have enlisted, or who may enlist, into the service of 
 the United States, from this town, for nine months, over and 
 above the town quota, not exceeding twent3'-three, $100, to be 
 paid when mustered into service." 
 
 It seems that, after the vote passed, on the 23d of August, 
 giving a sufficient number of volunteers to fill the quota of the 
 town, $100 each, there was a surplus of twenty-three ; hence 
 the necessity of the above vote. 
 
 There were, from this town, fifty volunteers, in the year 1862, 
 who, with about the same number from Templeton, formed 
 Company G., 53d Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers. These 
 were enlisted for nine months. Aside from these, there were 
 forty-five men, who volunteered for the service, thirty-five of 
 whom, were in the 36th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers ; 
 three in the naval service, the remainder being in difterent regi- 
 ments, making ninety-five men, who voluntarily entered the 
 United States service in 1862. 
 
 At a meeting of the town, June 27th, 1863, it was " Voted, 
 That the selectmen of the town are hereby authorized to draw, 
 from time to time, upon the treasurer, at their discretion, in ac- 
 cordance with the laws of the commonwealth, for the purpose 
 of rendering the necessary aid, to the families of those, who 
 have been or may be engaged in the military service of the 
 United States." 
 
 After the year 1862, business having revived to such an ex- 
 tent, that young men were unwilling to enlist, in suflScient num- 
 bers to fill the quotas, which were required of the town, it be- 
 came necessary to hire recruits, wherever they might be obtained ; 
 consequently, recruiting was mostly done through brokers, in 
 Boston and elsewhere, the expense of which was paid, by the 
 town. The sum of $2,375 was raised by individual subscrip- 
 tion, which was afterwards refunded by the town. 
 
 On the 4th day of April, 1864, it was, " Voted, That the sum 
 of $125 be paid to each recruit, for the purpose of filling the 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 423 
 
 quota of this town, under the Inst call of the president of the 
 United States, in accordance with the act of the legislature, in 
 relation thereto. Provided, that no money be paid to any re- 
 cruit until he shall have been credited to the town, as a part of 
 its quota." 
 
 April 20th, 18(54, it was "Voted, That the town refund to 
 the subscribers the amount of $125, for each recruit furnished, 
 under the call of the president of October 17th, 1863." 
 
 It was voted at the same meeting " That the town appropri- 
 ate the sum of one dollar per week, for each of the members of 
 the families of persons who are, or who may be mustered into 
 the service of the United States, as a part of the quota of this 
 town, to be applied under the direction of the selectmen, in ac- 
 cordance with the statutes of this commonwealth." 
 
 It was also "Voted, That the sum of $2,375 be raised and 
 applied, under the direction of the selectmen, for the purpose 
 of refunding the money paid by individuals, in procuring men 
 to fill the quota of this town, under the call of the president, of 
 October 17th, 1863. 
 
 On the 1st day of June, 1864, it w\as "Voted, That the 
 selectmen be and are hereby authorized, to pay $125 for each 
 and every recruit who has enlisted, since May 1st, 1864, and 
 been duly mustered into the United States service, to the credit 
 of the town of Gardner, and for whom no town bounty has 
 been paid." It was also voted at the same time "That the 
 selectmen be authorized to pay $125 for each and every recruit 
 who may enlist under their sanction, or under the sanction of 
 any responsible committee of the citizens of Gardner, and be 
 duly mustered into the service of the United States, to the 
 credit of the town of Gardner, under any or all calls or orders 
 of the president of the United States, issued between March 
 1st, 1864 and March 1st, 1865." It was also " Voted, That the 
 town treasurer be authorized to borrow such sum or sums of 
 money, from time to time, as may be necessary to meet the 
 orders of the selectmen, in accordance with previous votes 
 passed at this meeting." 
 
424 HISTORY OF GABDNER. 
 
 During the years 1863-4, there were twenty-seven enlist- 
 ments, from this town. 
 
 The following tables show the name, age at the time of en- 
 listment, date of mustering in, regiment and company, date 
 and reason of discharge, of every man who entered an}" depart- 
 ment of the United States service, during the war. Those 
 marked with a * were non-residents ; all others were from 
 Gardner. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
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432 
 
 HISTORY OF GAEDITFR. 
 
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HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 433 
 
 Time out. 
 
 20, 1864, near Petersburg, Va. 
 
 Disability. 
 Oct. 2, 1864, Beverly, N. J. 
 
 Time out. 
 
 Time out. 
 6, 1864, Wilderness, Va. 
 
 Time out. 
 
 Disability. 
 
 
 
 
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 1, 1863, New Orleans, La. 
 
 Disability. 
 
 Disability. 
 
 Time out. 
 
 Rejected, 
 
 Deserted Aug. 23, 1863. 
 8, 1864, Spottsylvania, Va. 
 
 Time out. 
 of wounds, Aug. 30, 1864. 
 
 Time out. 
 Disability. 
 Time out. 
 
 June 30, 1865 
 
 signed. 
 
 Killed July 
 Feb. 5, 1863 
 
 Died 
 Nov. 26, 1864 
 June 8, 1865 
 
 Killed May 
 June 8, 1865 
 Apr. 26, 1863 
 
 
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 Sept. 2, 1863 
 
 Died June 
 Mar. 27, 1863 
 Jan. 30, 1863 
 Oct. 20, 1865 
 Jan. 14, 1864 
 
 Killed May 
 
 Sept. 2, 1863 
 Died 
 
 Oct. 20, 1865 
 Apr. 4, 1865 
 June 8, 1865 
 
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 *Rock, Charles 
 Ray, Dewit C. 
 Ray, Edson N. 
 Reagan, Michael 
 Read, Chas. F., Sergt. 
 Reed, George W. 
 Reed, Luther P. 
 Remington, Diah 0. 
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 *Smith, William 
 Sawin, Levi C, Corp. 
 *Smith, William 
 *'Smitli, James 
 ^''Smith, William 
 Shehan, James 
 Smeady, John 
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 55 
 
434 
 
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436 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 COST OF THE WAR TO THE TOWN IN MONEY. 
 
 The whole number of men furnished by the town, for the war 
 was two hundred and ninety-eight, which was a surplus of nine- 
 teen, over and above all demands. Six were commissioned 
 officers. The total amount of money raised and expended, by 
 the town for Avar purposes, exclusive of state aid, was $23,062.- 
 27. In addition to this, $13,343.70 were raised by voluntary 
 subscription. 
 
 The amount of money paid, during the war, by the town for 
 state aid to soldiers' families, and repaid by the commonwealth, 
 was as follows: In 1861, $1,053.54 ; in 1862, $4,068.10 ; in 
 1863, $6,050.25; in 1864, $3,791.23 ; in 1865, $2,400.00. To- 
 tal amount, $17,363.12. 
 
 As this last named sum was refunded by the state, it might 
 be supposed by some, that it did not really come out of the town, 
 but as the state was taxed to pay it, and this town being about 
 on an average with other towns, it is fair to infer that the tax 
 paid by this town, is about equivalent to the sum received. 
 
 In 1862, there was a " Soldiers' Aid Society" formed by the 
 the ladies of the town, who met once a week, at first, and after- 
 wards once in two weeks, to work for the soldiers. These meet- 
 ings were well attended, sometimes as many as one hundred 
 being present at one time. They received contributions of any- 
 thing that could be converted into articles suitable for hospital 
 use, or for clothing for soldiers in the field. It is not known 
 exactly what the value in money, of what was sent by them, 
 would be, as the articles were not all inventoried, but it appears 
 from their record that at one time they sent a box valued at $190, 
 and at another time a box and barrel of articles valued at $60. 
 It would be safe to put the amount expended by the ladies in 
 their organized capacity, and of private individuals, who sent 
 articles of clothing and other necessaries, to their friends, at 
 $1000, making the cost in mone}' to the town during the war as 
 follows : — 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 437 
 
 Raised and expended by the town $23,062.27 
 
 Raised by voluntary subscriptions 13,343.70 
 
 Paid state aid to soldiers or their families 17,363.12 
 
 Sent by the Soldiers Aid Society, to the soldiers, 
 through the Christian and Sanitary Commission 
 and by individuals, direct to the soldiers 1,000.00 
 
 Making a total of $54,769 09 
 
 Nor is this all. State aid is still paid to disabled soldiers and 
 their families, and since the close of the war the town has paid 
 as follows: For the year 1866, $2,312.36; 1867, $1,567.44; 
 1868, $1,458.00; 1869, $1,225.00; 1870, $1,430.00; 1871, 
 $1,662.00; 1872, $1,098.66; 1873, $1052.00, making, since the 
 close of the war, $11,905.46, which added to the above, makes 
 a total of $67,674.55. 
 
 There is another item of cost, which is of no small importance, 
 and which ought to be included in the aggregate of war expenses. 
 In 1863, the government having need of more troops, and volun- 
 teers coming in slowly, resort was had to conscription. The 
 number drafted from this town was about seventy. Of this 
 number, twenty-five were accepted. No one of them entered 
 the service personally, but all procured sulistitutes at an expense 
 of $300 each, making for the whole $7,500, which added to the 
 foregoing, makes a total of $75,174.55. 
 
 The preceding statements relate only to the pecuniary costs 
 of the war, which are as nothing, in comparison with the suffer- 
 ings and death of our soldiers, in the camp and on the field, 
 and the sadness and grief of their friends at home. Silver and 
 gold are worthless, Avhen compared with the lives and happiness 
 of those we love. Seven of our citizens were killed, in battle, 
 three died of wounds, and seventeen died of various diseases, 
 incident to camp life, and the hardships of long marches, and 
 several came home, only to die of diseases contracted in the 
 service of their country. The following are the names of those 
 who were killed, or died of disease while in service : — 
 
438 HI8T0RY OF GARDJSfER, 
 
 Walter Bickford, killed at Cedar Mount, Va., Aug. 9, 1862. 
 
 Joel J. Brooks, died at Libby Prison, Va., 
 
 Samuel B. Clapp, died at Alexandria, Va., Dec. 14, 1861. 
 
 George Clark, died at Baton Rouge, La., Apr. 13, 1863. 
 
 George F. Conant, died at Washington, N. C, Sept. 7, 1863. 
 
 Asahel Clapp, died at Clinton, Miss., July 20, 18(i3. 
 
 Augustus Coval, died of wounds at Annapolis, Md., September 7, 1864. 
 
 Ai O. Dyer, died of wounds at Knoxville, Tenn., Dec. 26, 1863. 
 
 Addison Foster, died at P'almoulh, Va., Dec. 25, 1862. 
 
 Charles Gilbert, died July 10, 1864. 
 
 Hiram Gates, killed at Petersburg, Va., May 9, 1864. 
 
 Gilbert H. Greenwood, died of wounds at Wasli., D. C, May 10, 1863. 
 
 William B. Hill, killed at Chantilly, Va., Sept. 21, 1862. 
 
 James B. Hogau, died at Brashear City, La., May 20, 1863. 
 
 James B. Lathrop, died at Baton Rouge, Aug. 14, 1863. 
 
 Martin Manning, died at sea, Aug. 14, 1863. 
 
 Michael Murray, killed at Gaines Mills, Va.. Jiuie 27, 1862. 
 
 Patrick McNamara, died at Hampton, Va.. May ], 1864. 
 
 Alonzo Perley, died at Mound City, 111., Aug. 19, 1863. 
 
 William H. Pratt, died at Crab Orchard, Ky., Oct. 6, 1863. 
 
 Daniel B. Rugg, died at Baton Rouge, La., Mar. 29, 1863. 
 
 George F. Robbius, killed at Chantilly, Va., Sept. 1, 1862. 
 
 Dewitt C. Ray, died near Petersburg, Va., July 20, 1864. 
 
 Michael Reagan, died in Beverly, N. J., Oct. 2, 1864. 
 
 Luther P. Reed, killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. 
 
 Ai B. Stone, died at New Orleans, June 1, 1863. 
 
 Edward Van Benthusen, died at Brashear City, La., May 20, 1863. 
 
 Besides those of our citizens who enlisted to fill the quota of 
 Gardner, there were several who volunteered and were accred- 
 ited to other towns. Of the whole number of soldiers credited 
 to this town, 9.61 per cent, were killed, or died before reaching 
 home. 
 
 The whole number of men called into the national service, 
 during the war, was 2,088,523. Ten per cent, of the whites and 
 about 15 per cent, of the blacks were killed or died while in 
 service. 
 
 The war of the Kebellion was virtually ended by the surren- 
 der of Lee and his army on the 9th of April, 1865, and in less 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 439 
 
 than four months, six hundred and forty thousand, eight hundred 
 and six soldiers of the Union army were mustered out of service 
 and returned to their homes, most of them entering immediately 
 into their former industrial pursuits.* 
 
 We close this chapter with a quotation from the very able 
 report, (House Doc. No. 7), made by Mr. Wentworth to the 
 legislature in 1867 : "No better evidence of the determination 
 of the people of the Commonwealth to support the General 
 Government in the war, can perhaps be found than the individ- 
 ual contributions given in aid of its prosecution, which, in many 
 of the towns, were astonishingly large. In Bradford, Water- 
 town, Gardner, Mendon and Templeton, they exceeded five 
 dollars to each inhabitant ; in Somerville, seven ; in West Cam- 
 bridge, eight; in Leyden, nine; in Longmeadow, ten, and in 
 Belmont ten." 
 
 *Greeley's Great Conflict, vol. 2, p. 759. 
 
440 HISTORY OF GARDNEIL 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 " The room displays 
 Long rows of desk and bench ; the former stain'd 
 And streak'd with blots and trickles of dried ink, 
 Lumber'd with maps and slates, and well-thumb"d books, 
 And carv'd with rude initials." — Street's Poems. 
 
 " Yet, on her rocks, and on her sands. 
 And wintry hills, the school house stands. 
 And what her rugged soil denies, 
 The harvest of the mind supplies." — Whittier. 
 
 "And then, the whining school boy, with his satchel, 
 And shining morning face, creeping like a suail, 
 Unwillingly to school." — As You Like It, Act II., Scene VII. 
 
 "There, in his noisy mansion skilled to rule, 
 The village master taught his little school. 
 A man severe he was, and stern to view ; 
 I knew him well, and every truant knew. 
 Yet he was kind, or if severe in aught. 
 The love he bore to learning was in fault. 
 The village all declar'd how much he knew ; 
 . 'Twas certain he could write, and cipher too. 
 Land he could measure, terms and tides presage, 
 And even the story ran that he could ginige."— ^Goldsmith. 
 
 ^rl)EFORE passing, immediately, to a review of the schools 
 JLJ of this town, since their inception, it may be profitable 
 to glance briefly, at the origin, of our common school system. 
 As is well known, to every student of history, children of such 
 parents as were able to provide them with the rudiments of 
 learning, either placed them in parochial schools, or furnished 
 them with private teachers. This was the custom in England 
 
HI8T0RY OF GARDNEB. 441 
 
 previous to the settlement of the colonies. Indeed, the Plym- 
 outh and Massachusetts Colonies had been in existence for nearly 
 twenty years, before any organized effort had been made, for 
 the general education of the young. Whatever instruction the 
 youth received, they obtained in private families. 
 
 As early as 1623, three years after the landing of the Pil- 
 grims at Plymouth, these colonists were informed that it was 
 asserted in London, as something derogatory to them, that their 
 " children were not catechised, nor taught to read." To which 
 the reply was made, " this is not true, in neither part thereof; 
 for divers take pains with their own, as they can. Indeed, we 
 have no common schools for want of a tit person, or, hitherto, 
 means to maintain one, though we desire to begin." In 1635, 
 Benjamin Eaton, " was, by the Governor and Assistants, with 
 his mother's consent, put to Bridget Fuller, widow, for fourteen 
 years, she being to keep him to school two years."* 
 
 It was not, however, until 1670, that the government of 
 Plymouth Colony took any action regarding the establishment 
 of public schools, at which time, the General Court, " upon 
 divers serious considerations, them thereunto moving, did freely 
 give and grant all such profits as might or should annually 
 accrue, or grow due to this colony, from time to time, for fish- 
 ing with nets or seines, at Cape Cod, for mackerel, bass or her- 
 rings, as l)y the said grant doth fully appear, to be employed 
 and improved for and towards a free school, in some town of 
 this jurisdiction, for the training up of youth, in literature, for 
 the good and benefit of posterity."! I^ will be seen, b}^ the 
 above, that the early colonists were not ignorant of the intimate 
 relation existing between fish, and intellectual vigor. 
 
 In 1641, the first step, taken by the central government of 
 Massachusetts, in respect to education, was a request " that the 
 elders would make a catechism for the instruction of youth in 
 the grounds of religion." Shortly after, in consideration of " the 
 
 *Plymouth Colony Records, vol. 1, p. 37. 
 fPlymouth Colony Records vol. 5, p. 107. 
 
 56 
 
442 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 great neglect of many parents and masters, in training np their 
 children in learning and labor and other employments which 
 might be profitable to the commonwealth," power was given to 
 the selectmen of towns, to "take acconnt, fron) time to time, 
 of all parents and masters, and of their children, concerning 
 their calling and employment of their children, especialh^ of 
 their ability to read and understand the principles of religion 
 and the capital laws of the country." Selectmen were also au- 
 thorized with " consent of an}^ court or the magistrate, to put 
 forth apprentices, the children of such as they should find not 
 to be able and fit to employ and bring them up,"* and were 
 indicted by the grand jurors, if they neglected their duty. Ac- 
 cording to Palfrey, "Boston had a school, with some sort of 
 public encouragement, in its fifth year," the inhabitants voting 
 " that our brother, Philemon Pormont be entreated to become 
 school-master for the teaching and nurturing the youth among 
 us."t 
 
 In 1641, the income from Deer Island, in Boston Harbor, 
 was appropriated for the support of a school. In New Haven, 
 Conn., as early as 1642, it was "ordered that a free school 
 should be set up," and that Mr. Davenport and the magistrates 
 should " consider what yearly allowance was meet to be given 
 to it, out of the common stock of the town, and also what rules 
 and orders were meet to be observed in and about the same." 
 The first school-master of New Haven, was the renowned Ezekiel 
 Cheever, afterwards of Boston, to whom, with Corlet, of Cam- 
 bridge, Cotton Mather accords the praise of saving New Eng- 
 land from barbarism. He thus commemorates Cheever's long 
 life and labors : — 
 
 ''He lived, and to vast age no illness knew; 
 Till Time's scythe waiting for him rusty grew. 
 He lived and wrought ; his labors were immense, 
 But ne'er declined to preterperfect tense." 
 
 It was not, however, until 1647, that Massachusetts, during 
 the administration of Governor Winthrop, of whom "to love 
 
 ♦Massachusetts Eecords, vol. 2, p. 6-7. fSnow's History of Boston, p. 348. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER, 443 
 
 and be beloved was his soul's paradise," took action upon the 
 question of public schools, in these remarkable words : — 
 
 "It being one chief project of that old clelucler, Satan, to 
 keep men from the knowledge of the Scriptures, as in former 
 times by keeping them in an unknown tongue, so, in these 
 latter times, by persuading from the use of tongues, that so at 
 least the true sense and meaning of the original might be 
 clouded hy false glosses of saint-seeming deceivers, — that learn- 
 ing may not be buried in the grave of our fathers, in the church 
 and commonwealth, tlie Lord assisting our endeavors ; — 
 
 "It is therefore ordered, that every township in this juris- 
 diction, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of 
 fifty householders, shall then forthwith appoint one within their 
 town to teach all such children as shall resort to him, to write 
 and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or 
 masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general, by 
 way of supply, as the major part of those that order the pru- 
 dentials of the town shall appoint; provided, those that send 
 their children be not oppressed b}' paying much more than they 
 can have them taught for in other towns. And it is further 
 ordered, that when any town shall increase to the number of 
 one hundred families or householders, they shall set up a gram- 
 mar school, the master thereof being able to instruct youth so 
 far as they ma}^ be fitted, for the University; provided, that if 
 any town neglect the performance hereof above one year, that 
 every such town shall pay five pounds to the next school, till 
 they shall perform this order."* 
 
 It will now be seen, from what has been stated, that the 
 subject of public instruction, out of which has come the com- 
 mon school system of our land, the pride and glory of the 
 nation, was early taken into consideration, by our Pilgrim 
 Fathers and their immediate descendants. It will also be seen, 
 that the great object which these worthy men had in view, pri- 
 marily, was the religious instruction of their children. As 
 
 *Massachusetts Eecords, vol. 2, p. 203. 
 
444 HISTORY OF GAllDNER. 
 
 Palfrey says, " learning, after religion and social order, was 
 the object nearest to the hearts of the New England Fathers. 
 Rather, it should be said, they were persuaded that social order 
 and a religious character could not subsist in the al)sence of 
 mental culture." Hence it was, that they founded public 
 schools, and provided for their maintenance, by enforced taxa- 
 tion, and compulsory attendance. Nor should it be forgotten 
 that we are to-day indebted, for our common school sj^stem, to 
 men of liberal education, who had passed through the curric- 
 ulum of Oxford and Cambridge, men of broad and fine culture, 
 who like Harvard, Brewster, Hooker, Davenport and Stone, 
 having, some of them, founded the college, proceeded after- 
 ward to estal)lish the high, the grammar and the common school. 
 
 For as President J. H. Seelye, of Amherst College says, 
 "the historical fact has always been, that the higher has first 
 descended upon and breathed its inspiration into the lower, 
 before the latter has shown any impulse to improvement. In 
 our processes of education, the higher schools have not grown 
 out of the lower and do not rest upon them, but the higher school 
 is historically first, and the lower one is not its precursor, ])ut 
 its product ; there is no law of evolution by which the common 
 school grows up into the college, for as an historical fact, the 
 college is actually first, and gives birth to the common school. 
 It is not by the lower education of the many, that we come to 
 have the higher education of the few, but the exact converse of 
 this, is the universal rule." 
 
 What Carlyle says of Protestantism in Europe, is true of the 
 outcome of it, in America: "Protestantism is the grand 
 root from which our Avhole subsequent European history branches 
 out." Permeated and inspired by this conviction of the para- 
 mount value and necessity of the universal diffusion of general 
 knowledge, so early developed in the colonies of New England, 
 the fathers, of this town, as we shall now see, began at once to 
 make provision, according to their ability, for the instruction 
 of their children. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 445 
 
 FIRST DIVISION OF THE TOWN INTO DISTRICTS. 
 
 In the warnint for the first annual town meeting, for March 
 7th, 178G, there was the following article : — 
 
 " To see if the town will grant money for schooling, and act 
 anything relating to schools, as they shall think best when met." 
 Upon this article, the town "Voted, To choose a committee of 
 three to divide the town into four squadrons and make report 
 at the adjournment of the meeting." At the adjourned meet- 
 ing, March 14th, the town " Voted, To accept of the report of 
 the school committee, which was to divide the town into four 
 squadrons or districts, namely, South, West, North and East, 
 giving the names of the families residing within the limits 
 named by the committee." At a town meeting held April 3d, 
 1786, there was a vote '• to divide one-half of the school money 
 into four equal divisions ; and the rest of the money to be 
 divided into the said divisions according to the number of 
 scholars from twenty-one years of age, down to four years old. 
 Each squadron to provide their own school-master, or mistress, 
 and have liberty for to say how much shall be kept in a woman's 
 school, they not exceeding more than one-half of the money, 
 in a woman's school. Voted, To choose four persons, one in 
 each squadron, to provide a school and to take the number of 
 children in the several squadrons, namely : William Bickford, 
 David Foster, Ebenezer Howe, Josiah Wheeler." At the annual 
 meeting in the following year, 1787, the town " Voted, To lay 
 the school money out in the same form and manner that it was 
 laid out last year. Voted, To choose four committee-men to 
 notify their squadrons and see how they will lay out the school 
 money and provide masters and mistresses for the same." That 
 this committee attended to their duty is evident, from the 
 following record, of 1788, when the town, at its annual meet- 
 ing, "Voted, To allow David Tainter's account, for keeping 
 school two months, of six pounds. Voted, To allow Joshua 
 Frost, for keeping school six weeks and throe days, three 
 pounds, eleven shillings and nine pence." 
 
44G HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Ill 1789, the town "Voted, To alloAV Betsey Heywood's ac- 
 count, for keeping school and for board." Th6 record does not 
 state the amount. Also, " Voted, To allow Elijah Wilder's 
 account, for boarding the school-darae two weeks, six shillings. 
 Voted, To allow Joel Wheeler's account, for boarding the 
 school-master four weeks, sixteen shillings." Several fticts ap- 
 pear from these records, viz : That, in these early days, both 
 male and female teachers were employed in the public schools ; 
 that the school terms were very brief; the wages of teachers, 
 compared with those of the present, were very low; and that, 
 board was correspondingly cheap. 
 
 In 1790, there w^as an article in the Avarrant, " To see if the 
 town will have a school kept in the middle of the town." 
 " Voted, To dismiss this article." In 1791, the town " Voted, 
 To choose a committee-man in each squadron, to say how the 
 money should be laid out." Up to this date, according to the 
 Town Records, vol. 1st, page 252, there was but one school- 
 house within the limits of the town, and this " so old and shat- 
 tered, that it is not fit to keep school in, and schools kept in 
 private houses, and very small too, are not convenient for the 
 scholars." Hence it appears, that in the absence of school- 
 houses, the schools were kept in private dwellings, as conven- 
 ience offered. 
 
 In 1794, March 3d, there was an article in the warrant, " To 
 see if the town would make any alterations in the school squad- 
 rons and build school-houses as they see fit." " Voted, To 
 make alterations, in the school squadrons. Voted, To have 
 seven squadrons. Voted, To choose a committee to squadron 
 the town out. Voted, To have seven men in the committee. 
 Voted, That the committee appoint the places where the school- 
 houses shall stand, and report at the adjournment of this meet- 
 ing." This action indicates that there were no school-houses in 
 town, up to this date. At the adjourned meeting the town 
 voted thirty-six to twenty-three, to reconsider all this action. 
 
 It appears, from the above record, that the attempt made to 
 redistrict the town, making seven school districts or squadrons, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 447 
 
 instead of four, and to furnish the town with school-houses, 
 proved a failure, up to 1794. In the following year, there was 
 an article in the warrant, for the annual meeting, " To see if 
 the town will make any alteration in the school squadrons, and 
 build school-houses." Upon this article, the town " Voted, To 
 build four school-houses. Voted, To have a committee to say 
 where the school-houses shall stand. Voted, To have twelve 
 men in the committee. Voted, That the committee be chosen 
 by written votes. Voted, That the committee be divided into 
 four parts, that is, three of the committee in each squadron." 
 
 This committee made their report at the April meeting, upon 
 which the town " Voted, Not to accept of the report of the 
 committee, for placing school-houses, which is as follows, viz : — 
 
 " The committee chosen to pitch upon the spots to build 
 school-houses, report as follows : That one be built at the crotch 
 of the road, by Joel Wheeler's ; and one at the crotch of the 
 road by Daniel Parline's ; and one, five and twenty rods from 
 the corner, by Capt. Bickford's barn, towards Capt. Jackson's ; 
 and one near to Joseph Payson's. Motion was made and sec- 
 onded, to have five school-houses. Then voted to have five 
 school-houses, and voted to set the fifth school-house at the 
 crotch of the road by Jonathan Eager's." 
 
 At an adjourned meeting, May 6th, 1705, the town " Voted, 
 To set one school-house at the crotch of the road, near Daniel 
 Parline's. Voted, To set one school-house half way between 
 Joseph Wright's lane, and Andrew Beard's house. Voted, To 
 set one school-house at the corner of the road that comes from 
 John Eaton's to the road from Daniel Child's to the Meeting- 
 house. Voted, To set one school-house at the corner of the road 
 between David Comee's and Joseph Payson's. Voted, To choose 
 a committee to say how big the school-houses shall be, and make 
 immediate report. Voted, To have three men in the committee." 
 
 Having adjourned this meeting, for half an hour, the town 
 again met, and " Voted, To divide the town into four equal 
 parts, and place a school-house in the centre of each quarter. 
 Voted, To reconsider the vote for the fifth school-house, that is. 
 
448 HISTORY OF GAIWN^ER. 
 
 that school-house placed by Jonathan Eager's. Voted, To 
 choose a committee to divide the town into four equal parts. 
 Voted, To have a- committee of five, to divide the town into 
 four equal parts. Voted, To reconsider all former votes, re- 
 specting school-houses, all up to the last vote, to divide the town 
 into four equal parts, and for placing the school-houses in the 
 centre of each quarter. Voted, That the committee for divid- 
 ing the town into four equal parts, shall say where the centre 
 of each quarter is, and say how big the school-houses shall be." 
 
 The town meeting was then adjourned, until four o'clock in 
 the afternoon. Having then met, it was " Voted, To accept of 
 the report of the committee for dividing the town into four 
 parts and placing and saying how big the school-houses shall be." 
 The committee reported its follows : — 
 
 " The committee chosen to squadron out the town, into four 
 squadrons, beg leave to report as follows : The West school- 
 house, to stand at the crotch of the road, by Daniel Parline's ; 
 the North school-house, to stand in the centre, between Capt. 
 Haynes' and Lieut. Edgell's, on the road ; the East school-house 
 to stand in the centre, between Jonathan \Miitcomb's and David 
 Eeed's and David Cohee's, on the county road, where it will best 
 convene; the South school-house, to stand in the centre, be- 
 tween Westminster line and Templeton line, on the county 
 road ; the said school-houses to be built twenty-eight b}- twenty- 
 two, and ten feet post." 
 
 " Voted, To choose a committee t^j build school-houses and 
 measure from the extreme parts, as reported by the committee 
 chosen to divide the town into four squadrons. Voted, To have 
 three committee-men in each squadron. Voted, That the com- 
 mittee in each squadron shall notify the inhabitants in each 
 squadron, after they have found the spots where the school- 
 houses shall stand, to meet, in order for letting out all the ma- 
 terials, by lots, for building the houses, to the lowest bidder; 
 also that all the committee shall notify all the inhabitants of the 
 town, to meet at the Meeting-house, to vendue said stufi, they 
 giving ten days' notice, at least, and said materials shall all be 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNEIl. 449 
 
 cleli\erecl, at the several spots, where the school-houses are to 
 be built, by the first day of April next." 
 
 This legislation, however, did not prove entirely satisfoctory, 
 for, on November 30th, the same year, the town " Voted, To 
 make alterations in the school-houses. Voted, To set the South 
 school-house at the corner of the wall, at Capt. Bickford's old 
 barn, the west side of the road, as near the corner as is conven- 
 ient. Voted, To move the North school-house to the north, 
 over the causeway." That this question of school-houses was 
 not yet settled, is evident, for, in the warrant for a town meet- 
 ing to be held February 2d, 1796, there Avere the following 
 articles : — 
 
 " To see if the town will make any alterations in any of the 
 school-houses, to stand ditferent from where they are now placed. 
 To see if the town will build a school-house, on the common, 
 near the Meeting-house." " Voted, To move the South school- 
 house to the east end of the county road, at the crotch of the 
 road, by Capt. Bickford's. Voted, To reconsider the last vote. 
 Voted, To take in Ephraim Pratt's, from him to the Meeting- 
 house, thence from the Meeting-house j to Simon Stone's, and 
 take him into the south squadron, and place the school-house 
 in the centre of the body of land, or the nearest convenient 
 place to the centre. Voted, To reconsider the last vote. Voted, 
 to set the South school-house at the east end of the county 
 road." 
 
 At an adjourned meeting, March 9th, the town " Voted, To 
 set the South school-house in the centre, between the Widow 
 Wood's house and Jonas Brick's, on the county road. Voted, 
 To set the South school -house where the new county road 
 crosses the road from Elijah Simonds' to the Meeting-house." 
 April 4th, 1796, "Voted, To raise two hundred and fifty 
 pounds, to build school-houses.'' March 6th, 1797, the town 
 " Voted, To provide a chair and table, for each school-house, in 
 said town." Although there is no record made regarding the 
 execution of the town's vote for building school-houses, yet it 
 may be inferred, from the last vote, relating to furnishing these 
 
 57 
 
450 HISTOMY OF GARDINER. 
 
 school-houses, that they were built, in the places, and according 
 to the plan above desiofnated. 
 
 Subsequently, eflbrts were made to change these school- 
 houses, but without success. That these school-houses were 
 plain structures, and entirely innocent of paint, is evident from 
 an article in the warrant for the March meeting of 1802 : — 
 
 " To see if the town will choose a committee, to see what 
 repairs, if any, the school-houses need, and paint them with 
 Spanish brown and lye." Whatever the school-houses needed, 
 the town "Voted, To pass over this article." In 1807, there 
 was an article in the town warrant " To see if the town will 
 build a school-house in the middle of the town, or otherwise 
 give the petitioners and others the privilege of building, on the 
 common." The town " Voted, To dismiss the article." 
 
 As showing an increased interest, in the prosperity of their 
 schools, the town, in 1809, "Voted, To choose a committee of 
 four men to inspect the schools in said town, at the opening and 
 close of said schools, for the year ensuing." Here was the be- 
 ginning of that system of school visiting, which has been prac- 
 ticed ever since. Although the town repeatedly refused to 
 erect a school-house at the Centre, yet it may be inferred, from 
 the records, that one was built by private funds, upon the com- 
 mon, somewhere about the year 1814. 
 
 SECOND DISTRICTING OF THE TOWN. 
 
 In 1818, the* town, at its April meeting, " Voted, To choose 
 a committee to divide the town into school districts." The re- 
 port of this committee was, " That the town be divided into six 
 school districts, viz. : — 
 
 " That the East district include Joel Matthews, Samuel Fos- 
 ter, John Miles, Jabez Fairbank,aud all eastwardly of said line, 
 including thirty families. One South district, including Reuben 
 Gates, David Reed, Moses Saunders, Widow Thiah Wood, 
 Amasa Leland, David Perley, Thomas Baker, and all south and 
 east of said line, including twenty-seven fomilies. The South- 
 erly district, to include Joseph Whitney, 2d, Asa Hill, William 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 451 
 
 Bickford, John Kemp, Sullivan Jackson, and on the Turnpike 
 Road, to Templeton line, and all south and west of said line, 
 including twenty-seven families. That the Northwesterly dis- 
 trict include Simon Stone, Jonathan Eaton, Ezra Penniman, 
 Allen Perley, Ezra Baker, Jacob Priest, James Coolidge, and 
 all northerly and westwardly of said line, including twenty- 
 three families. That the North district include Samuel Stone, 
 James Coolidge, Jr., William Whitney, Benjamin Howe, Eli- 
 jah Travis, Nathan Green, Jonathan Merriam, and all north- 
 wardly and eastwardly of said line, including twenty-three 
 families. All within said bounds, to make a middle district, 
 including twenty-three families." 
 
 It will be seen by this report, that Gardner, in 1818, con- 
 tained one hundred and Hfty-three families. At the same meet- 
 ing, the town "Voted, That each district shall build and sup- 
 port their own school-houses. Voted, That each district shall 
 have the privilege of placing their own school-houses, if they 
 can agree, otherwise, the town shall place them." At the 
 March meeting, in 1820, the town " Voted, That the school 
 money be divided according to the number of families that shall 
 be in each district, on the first Monday of May next. Voted, 
 that the school committee divide the school mone}^ if they can 
 agree, if not, the selectmen shall divide it." This method of 
 dividing the school money, was pursued till 1837, when the 
 town " Voted, That six hundred dollars be laid out for school- 
 ing ; that one-third of the money be divided according to the 
 number of scholars in their respective districts, the scholars to 
 be counted between the ages of four and twenty-one, the re- 
 mainder to be divided into six equal parts ; that the school 
 agents ascertain the number of scholars in their respective dis- 
 tricts." 
 
 The first mention we have, in the records, of money received 
 from the state, for the benefit of schools, was in 1838, when 
 the town " Voted, That the money, we received from the state, 
 be divided according to the number of scholars." In March, 
 1839, the town first " Voted, That the school agents be author- 
 
452 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 izecl to hire teachers for their respective districts." In 1840, 
 the town "Voted, To divide two-thirds of the money ($700) 
 raised for schooling, equally among the several school districts. 
 The remaining one-third, to be divided among the districts, 
 according to the number of scholars Avhich they contain, from 
 four to sixteen years of age." 
 
 In 1844, the town " Voted, To divide one-half of the school 
 money ($700) equally among the districts, and the other half 
 according to the number of scholars, reckoning them as the 
 state does." In 1850, the town " Voted, To raise nine hundred 
 dollars for the support of schools, the ensuing year, and that 
 one-fourth of the sum be divided equally among the districts, 
 and the remaining three-fourths in proportion to the number of 
 scholars." March 23d, 1850, the question was before the town 
 "To see if the town will assist the West school district, in 
 repairing their school-house." Upon this question, the town 
 " Voted, That if the tax in the West school district for repair- 
 ing their school-house, at their estimate, of four hundred and 
 seventy-five dollars, exceed the average of the Centre, South- 
 west and Southeast school district tax, for building their school- 
 houses, that the town pay the balance above that average, 
 provided it does not exceed the sum of one hundred dollars." 
 
 In May, 1851, the town "Voted, That George and Sumner 
 Baker have the privilege of drawing their share of the school 
 money, per scholar, jjro rata^ from the Southeast school district 
 in this town, and paying the same in Westminster." March 6th, 
 1854, the town " Voted, That the school committee procure six 
 hundred copies of their school report, to be distributed among 
 the families of the town, at the expense of the town." This is 
 the first instance on record, of printed school reports. At the 
 same meeting, the town "Voted, To raise twelve hundred 
 dollars for the support of schools, the ensuing year, and to 
 divide the same, one-third equally among the districts in town 
 and the remainder in proportion to the number of scholars. 
 Voted, To raise one hundred dollars in addition to the above, 
 to be put in the hands of the school committee, to be divided 
 as they think proper, among the districts." 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 4o3 
 
 In 1857, a committee, of one from each district, was chosen, 
 " To establish the lines between the several school districts, 
 according to the records, and report at an adjourned meeting." 
 This committee attended to their duty, and their report ma}^ be 
 found recorded in Town Records, vol. 5, page 70-79, which is 
 too extended for insertion in this chapter. 
 
 At the March meeting, 1861, the town " Voted, To raise 
 eighteen hundred dollars for the support of schools, the ensuing 
 year, to be placed in the hands of the school committee, to be 
 divided at their discretion." However, at the April meeeting, 
 the town reconsidered the above vote, and " Voted, To raise nine 
 hundred dollars, for the same purpose, instead of eighteen hun- 
 dred dollars." In explanation of this great reduction in the school 
 appropriation, it should be stated, that this was a year of great 
 financial prostration in this town, occasioned by the burning of 
 the Hey woods' Chair Factories, which occurred January 5th, of 
 this year. 
 
 ABOLISHMENT OF THE DISTRICT SYSTEM AND THE IN- 
 AUGURATION OF GRADED SCHOOLS. 
 
 Acting in accordance with the provisions of the General 
 Statutes of 1869 there was an article in the town warrant for 
 this year, "To see what measures the town will take for the 
 appraisal of the school-houses, and other property belonging to 
 the several School Districts, in the town, act or transact any- 
 thing relating thereto." "Voted, That the selectmen be instructed 
 to appoint three appraisers, from some other town, to appraise 
 the property belonging to the several School Districts, and re- 
 port said appraisals to an adjourned March meeting." The 
 following is the report of the committee to appraise the School 
 District property : — 
 
 The undersigned, a committee chosen to appraise the 
 several school-houses, in the town of Gardner, would respect- 
 fully submit the following as their appraisal of said land, furni- 
 ture, etc., exclusive of wood: — 
 
454 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 In District No. 1, the sum of $10,666 
 
 In District No, 2, the sum of 2,550 
 
 In District No. 3, the sum of 5,150 
 
 In District No. 4, the sum of . . . , 500 
 
 In District No. 5, the sum of 475 
 
 In District No. G, the sum of 417 
 
 Making a total of $19,758 
 
 Sidney Fairbanks, ^ Committee 
 Bethuel Ellis, > of 
 
 George B. Eaymond, ) Appraisal. 
 Gardner, April 20th, 1869. 
 
 The sum of this appraisal, the town voted to raise, in addi- 
 tion to the regular appropriation, for this year. Thus the 
 graded system, now in successful operation, in this town, was 
 inaugurated. 
 
 HIGH SCHOOL. 
 
 In the town warrant for February 9th, 185(3, there was an 
 article "To see what action the toAvn will take, in relation to 
 supporting a High School, as required by the 5th section, 23d 
 chapter, of the Revised Statutes." This article was referred to 
 a committee, who reported " that in the opinion of the majority 
 of your committee, it is inexpedient that the town take meas- 
 m-es to support a High School. Asaph Wood, Levi Hey wood, 
 John Edgell, S. W. A. Stevens, S. H. Clark, Alonzo Sawtell, 
 Jonathan Brown." April 2d, 1866, "Voted, On motion of 
 Allen Folger, that a High School be established in town, ac- 
 cording to law, and that the selectmen and superintending 
 school committee, be a committee to carry into eflect this vote, 
 and provide a suitable place for holding said school." 
 
 Accordingly, in the fall of 1866, a High School was opened, 
 in the old school-house, formerly occupied by the Centre dis- 
 trict, as the best accommodations, at that time, to be procured. 
 Here the High School continued to be taught, until its removal 
 to the new High School-house, which it now occupies. This 
 building has since been removed to a site near the depots, and 
 is occupied by the Messrs. Howe Brothers, as a grain store, with 
 a hall for the Odd Fellows, in the second story. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJ^ER. 455 
 
 April 1st, 1872, the town "Voted, To choose a committee of 
 three, to secure a location for a High School-house, and pro- 
 cure a plan and estimates for a building, and report at the next 
 annual March meeting. S. K. Pierce, Henry C. Kuowlton, 
 Francis Richardson, committee." 
 
 There was an article in the warrant for March 4th, 1872, " To 
 see if the town will take any measures for the further accom- 
 modation ot the High School." Upon this article, the town 
 " Voted, To choose a committee of three to investigate the 
 subject of additional accommodations for the High School, and 
 report the best plan in their judgment, at the adjournment of 
 this meeting. Chose S. K. Pierce, Henry C. Knowlton, Cyrus 
 K. Wood, committee." This committee made the following 
 report, which the town voted to accept : — 
 
 " Your committee are of the unanimous opinion, after exam- 
 ining the building now occupied, by our High School, that the 
 accommodations and conveniences, which it affords, are not 
 what the best interests of such a school demand. Its location 
 is also unsatisfactory to a large proportion now sending schol- 
 ars to the school, and to others who would send if its location 
 was more central. 
 
 " Your committee are therefore of the opinion, that tiie grow- 
 ing interests and demands of the town, require a new building, 
 furnishing better accommodations, in a more central part of the 
 town. Taking this view of the subject, we have endeavored 
 to ascertain where the most available location, accommodating 
 the whole town, could be found, and we are of the opinion that 
 the most desirable place, is on the high ground, below the so 
 called ' Atherton House' in the Hey wood pasture, on Chestnut 
 Street. After the committee had decided on the location, they 
 consulted Mr. Levi Heywood in regard to the lot, and he gen- 
 erously proposed to donate a good and liberal spot to the town, 
 foi- that purpose, in that locality, if they should deem it best to 
 accept it. Your committee would therefore reccommend that 
 the town accept the liberal offer made by Mr. Heywood, and 
 that a committee of three be chosen to locate a spot, at once, 
 
456 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 and report at the next town meeting ; also that the same com- 
 mittee procnre plans and estimates for a bnilding, and report at 
 the next annual town meeting, to be held in March, 1873." 
 
 At the same meeting, the town " Voted, To choose a com- 
 mittee of three, to secure a location for a High School-house, 
 and procure a plan and estimates for a building, and report at 
 the next annual March meeting. S. K. Pierce, H. C. Knowl- 
 ton, Francis Richardson, committee." 
 
 At the March meeting, 1873, this committee made a report, 
 part of which, is here given. " We have taken a deed of a lot 
 of land donated, by Mr. Levi Hey wood, lying on the west side 
 of Chestnut Street, containing one and one-fourth acres, which 
 we think is the most eligible site to accommodate all parts of 
 the town. The land is given on condition that it shall be used 
 for a High School, and other school purposes; and that there 
 shall be erected a building, on said land for a High School- 
 house, in three years. We have also procured a plan and esti- 
 mated costs of a High School-building, made by Earle and Ful- 
 ler, architects of Worcester, which we think suitable for the 
 purpose. We consulted the school committee in getting the 
 plan, and it is approved by them. We believe the estimated 
 cost of the building, above the foundation, not including the 
 furniture, is thirteen thousand three hundred dollars, Avhich the 
 architects are confident can be built within that estimate." 
 
 This report was accepted and the town " Voted, That the 
 same committee be authorized and instructed, to cause a build- 
 ing to be built, after the plan presented, and grade the land 
 within the three years limited in the deed of the land." 
 
 The High School-building was erected under the immediate 
 superintendence of Mr. Francis Richardson, and was ready for 
 occupancy December 21st, 1874, and is, in all respects, a very 
 substantial structure. The main building is forty-six by seventy 
 feet, with a front projection and porch, seventeen by twenty- 
 two feet. It is two stories high, having a tower ninety feet in 
 height. It is constructed of brick, and has brown sand-stone 
 trimmings, the under-pinning being of Fitchburg granite. It 
 
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HISTORY OF GABDNER. 457 
 
 has three front entrances, all of which have open porches and 
 large halls. At the right, of the main entrance, is a cloak- 
 room for the gentlemen. Directly opposite the entrance, npon 
 the lower floor, is a room occupied by the Higher Grammar 
 School, which is thirty by forty feet. This room is twelve feet 
 in height, and is nearly surrounded, by a wall black])oard. It 
 is furnished with ash seats and desks, with a black walnut desk 
 for the teacher. There is a stairway leading from the main 
 entrance to the second floor, where the High School-rooms are 
 located. The High School-room, is forty b}' forty -three feet, 
 and fifteen and a half feet in height, and is furnished like the 
 room below. At the rear of the teachers' desk, is a recitation- 
 room ; also a library aud apparatus-room. These rooms are 
 light and pleasant, the windows being provided with inside 
 shutters. The basement is divided into four rooms, all of which 
 have cemented floors, with partition walls of brick. The 
 buikling is heated by furnaces and is supplied with earth closets. 
 Its cost with furnishiugs, was twenty-two thousand dollars. 
 
 The grounds about this building, are ample and well graded, 
 being adorned also, upon their borders, with elm trees, which, 
 in their maturity, in the years to come, will serve to make them 
 delightful and attractive, not unlike the classic shades of ancient 
 times. There is also, upon three sides of these grounds, a 
 close board fence, Avith stone posts. 
 
 The town is certainly to be congratulated, upon the posses- 
 sion of its High School-building. Since its establishment, in 
 the fall of 1866, the High School has been, in the main, fortu- 
 nate in its teachers, whose influence for good, has been felt 
 throughout the town. The following are the names of these 
 teachers : Messrs. Asa A. Spear, Horace Goodhue, Jr., William 
 J. Morton, George A. Bacon, Joseph Jackson, Jr., Rev. John 
 F. Ashley, Charles E; Quimby, J. B. Davis and Frank M. 
 CoUester, who is the present teacher. Assistants, since the 
 fall of 1875, Misses Ella O. Dike aud Lucy J. Warner. The 
 following is the course of study adopted in the High School : — 
 58 
 
458 
 
 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
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HISTORY OF GARDNER. 459 
 
 SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND APPROPRIATIONS. 
 
 We present here a list of the school committee for each year, 
 together with the annual appropriation for schools, since the 
 incorporation of the town : — 
 
 1786. — Samuel Kelton, David Nichols, Ebenezer Howe. Appropria- 
 tion, thirty pounds. 
 
 1787. — John White, Ebenezer Howe, Timothy Kneeland, David Nich- 
 ols. Appropriation, twenty pounds. 
 
 1788. — No record of committee. Appropriation, forty-five pounds. 
 
 1789. — Capt. William Bickford, Capt. Samuel Kelton, Lieut. Jonathan 
 Wheeler, Jonathan Bancroft. Appropriation, thirty pounds. 
 
 1790. — Elisha Jackson, Jesse Hill, Jonas Richardson, Joel Wheeler. 
 Appropriation, thirty pounds. 
 
 1791. — David Nichols, Samuel Edgell, Ebenezer Howe, Peter Good- 
 ale. Appropriation, twenty pounds. 
 
 1792. — Aaron Greenwood, John White, Moses Hill, David Foster. 
 Appropi'iation, thirty pounds. 
 
 1793. — Jude Sawyer, Jonathan Bancroft, Ebenezer Howe, David 
 Comee. Appropriation, thirty pounds. 
 
 1794. — Timothy Kneeland, Reuben Haynes, Reuben Partridge, Lieut. 
 Josiah Wheeler. Appropriation, thirty pounds. 
 
 1795. — Levi Fairbanks, Seth Brigham, Smyrna Glazier, Reuben Par- 
 tridge. Appropriation, thirty pounds. 
 
 1796. — Josiah Conant, Joseph Priest, Ebenezer Howe, Aaron Wood. 
 Appropriation, forty-five pounds. 
 
 1797. — Joshua Whitney, Joseph Payson, Joel Wheeler, Joseph Clark, 
 Appropriation, forty-five pounds. 
 
 1798. — Samuel Edgell, William Whitney, Joseph Edgell, John Pierce. 
 Appropriation, fifty pounds. 
 
 1799. — Ahio Whitney, Abel Kendall, Joseph Wright, Allen Perley. 
 Appropriation, fifty pounds. 
 
 1800. — Ebenezer Howe, Ethan Seaver, Jonathan Wood, Joel Brooks. 
 Appropriation, two hundred dollars. 
 
460 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 1801. — Samuel Stone, Beujamin Edgell, David Nicliols, Ezra Moore. 
 Appropriation, two hundred dollars. 
 
 1802. — Joel Wheeler, William Fenno, Elisha Jackson, Benjamin Clark. 
 Appropriation, two hundred dollars. 
 
 1803. — Samuel Kelton, Abel Kendall, Josepli AVright, Smyrna Bancroft. 
 Appropriation, two hundred dollars. 
 
 1804. — James Coolidge, Jonathan Brown, Thomas Baker, William 
 Whitney. Appropriation, two hundred dollars. 
 
 1805. — Reuben Ilaynes, Nathan Gates, Timothy Kneeland, Smyrna 
 Glazier. Appropriation, two hundred and forty dollars. 
 
 1806. — Lewis Glazier, William Fenno, David Foster, William Bickford, 
 Jr Appropriation, three hundred dollars. 
 
 1807. — Ahio Temple, John Putnam, Ezra Moore, Sullivan Jackson. 
 Appropriation, three hundred dollars. 
 
 1808. — John Eaton, Samuel Learned, Allen Perley, Adam Noyes. 
 Appropriation, three hundred dollars. 
 
 1809. — Adam Noyes, Abel Kendall, Daniel Banister, Smyrna Bancroft. 
 Appropriation, three hundred dollars. 
 
 1810. — Rev. Jonathan Osgood, Adam Noyes, Abel Kendall, Lewis Gla- 
 zier, Smyrna Bancroft. Appropriation, three hundred dollars, 
 
 1811. — Rev. Jonathan Osgood, Adam Noyes, Smyrna Glazier, Lewis 
 Glazier, Asa Hill. Appropriation, three hundred dollars. 
 
 1812. — Rev. Jonathan Osgood, Asa Hill, Lewis Glazier, Enos Kelton, 
 Asa Richardson. Appropriation, three hundred dollars. 
 
 1813. — Asa Hill, James Scollay, Enos Kelton, Levi Priest. Appropri- 
 ation, three huudred dollars. 
 
 1814. — Lewis Glazier, James Scollay, Smyrna Bancroft, Asa Hill. 
 Appropriation, three hundred dollars. 
 
 1815. — Rev. Jonathan Osgood, Perley Howe, Smyrna Glazier, Noah Fair- 
 banks, Benjamin Heywood. Appropriation, three hundred dollars. 
 
 1816. — James Coolidge, James M. Comee, Ezra Baker, Adam Par- 
 tridge. Appropriation, three hundred dollars. 
 
 1817. — Rev. Jonathan Osgood, Ezekiel Howe, Ethan Seaver, Allen Per- 
 ley, Jr., AsaNichols. Appropriation, three huudred and thirty dollars. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 461 
 
 1818. — Aliio Temple, Joel Matthews, George W. Davis, Walter Green- 
 wood. Appropriation, four hundred dollars. 
 
 1819. — Joel Cowee, Joseph Clark, Jr., Jonas Brick, Joseph Whitney, 
 Enos Kelton, Simon Gates. Appropriation, four hundred dollars. 
 
 1820. — Benjamin Heywood, Levi Fairbanks, Jr., George Scott, John 
 Merriam, Seth Whitney, Nathan Green, 2d. Appropriation, four 
 hundred dollars. 
 
 1821. — Asa Richardson, Josiah Conant, Joseph Baker, Charles Green- 
 wood, Richard Baker, Benjamin Stone. Appropriation, four hun- 
 dred dollars. 
 
 1822. — James M. Comee, Jonathan Bancroft, Jr., Simeon Leland, Eli- 
 sha Jackson, I-Czra Baker, Perley Howe. Appropriation, four hun- 
 dred dollars. 
 
 1823. — Josiah Jackson, Samuel Learned, Edward W. Kendall, Sulli- 
 van Jackson, Avery Turner, Ezekiel Howe. Appropriation, four 
 hundred dollars. 
 
 1824. — Noah Fairbanks, John Miles, Capt. Abel Jackson, Amasa Le- 
 land, George W. Davis, Benjamin Howe. Appropriation, four 
 hundred dollars. 
 
 1825. — Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Daniel Spaulding, Asa Richardson. Ap- 
 propriation, four hundred dollars. 
 
 1826. — Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Levi Heywood, Martin Dunster. Ap- 
 propriation, four hundred dollars. 
 
 1827. — Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Asa Smith, John Merriam, Charles Child, 
 Joseph Coolidge, John Eaton, Jr., Capt. Ahio Temple. Appro- 
 priation, four hundred dollars. 
 
 1828. — Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Levi Heywood, Clemant Jewett, Esq. 
 Appropriation, four hundred dollars. 
 
 1829. — Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Asa Richardson, Levi Heywood. Ap- 
 propriation, four hundred dollars. 
 
 1830. — Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Levi Heywood, Capt. Martin Dunster. 
 Appropriation, four hundred dollars. 
 
 1831. — Rev. Jonathan Farr, Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Dr. David Parker. 
 Appropriation, four hundred dollars. 
 
462 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 1832. — Rev. Jonathan Farr, Rev. Sumner Lincoln. Appropriation not 
 given, probably four hundied and fifty dollars. 
 
 1833. — Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Joseph Wright, Jonathan Brown, Jr., 
 Rev. Jonathan Farr. Appropriation, six hundred dollars. 
 
 1834. — Rev. Curtis Cutler, Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Amasa Leland. Ap- 
 propriation, five hundred dollars. 
 
 1835. — Rev. Curtis Cutler, Amasa Leland, Rev. Sumner Lincoln. Ap- 
 propriation, five hundred dollars. 
 
 1836. — Rev. Curtis Cutler, Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Amasa Leland. Ap- 
 propriation, six hundred dollars. 
 
 1837. — Rev. Curtis Cutler, Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Timothy Heywood. 
 Appropriation, six hundred dollars. 
 
 1838. — Rev. Curtis Cutler, Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Timothy Heywood, 
 Appropriation, six hundred dollars. 
 
 1839 — Martin Uunster, Theophilus P. Wood, Jonathan Brown, Jr. 
 Appropriation, six hundred dollars. 
 
 1840. — Martin Dunster, Theophilus P. Wood, Jonathan Brown, Jr. 
 Appropriation, seven hundred dollars. 
 
 1841. — Rev. Sumner Lincoln, Jonathan Brown, Thomas E. Glazier, 
 Samuel H. Clark, Joshua A. Whitney, Joseph AV right. Appropri- 
 ation, six hundred dollars. 
 
 1842. — Thomas E. Glazier, Rev. William B. Stone, John Edgell. Ap- 
 propriation, six hvxndred dollars. 
 
 1843. — Thomas E. Glazier, Rev. William B. Stone, Stephen Holman. 
 Appi'opriation, eight hundred dollars. 
 
 1844. — Rev. William B. Stone, Thomas E. Glazier, Dr. A. S. Carpen- 
 ter. Appropriation, seven hundred dollars. 
 
 1845.— Rev. William B. Stone, Rev. Josiah H. Tilton, Dr. A. S. Car- 
 penter. Appropriation, seven hundred dollars. 
 
 1846.— Rev. William B. Stone, Rev. Josiah H. Tilton, Dr. A. S. Car- 
 penter. Appropriation, seven hundred dollars. 
 
 1847.— Rev. William B. Stone, Rev. Josiah H. Tilton, Thomas E. Gla- 
 zier. Appropriation, eight hundred dollars. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 463 
 
 1848.— Rev. William B. Stone, Rev. John C. Paine, Dr. H. C. Harri- 
 man. Appropriation, eight hundred dollars. 
 
 1849.— Rev. William B. Stone, Rev. John C. Paine, Dr. H. C. Harri- 
 man. Appropriation, nine hundred dollars. 
 
 1850.— Rev. William B. Stone, Rev. John C. Paine, Dr. H. C. Harri- 
 mau. Appropriation, nine hundred dollars. 
 
 1851. — Rev. John C. Paine, Dr. H. C. Harriman, Henry Lawrence. 
 Appropriation, nine hundred and fifty dollars. 
 
 1852. — Rev. John C. Paine, Dr. H. C. Harriman, Henry Lawrence. 
 Appropriation, one thousand dollars. 
 
 1853. — Rev. John C. Paine, Rev. Abijah Stowell, Amasa Brown. Ap- 
 propriation, one thousand dollars. 
 
 1854. — Rev. John C. Paine, Rev. Abijah Stowell, Dr. George Jewett. 
 Appropriation, one thousand three hundred dollars. 
 
 1855. — Thomas Wood, John M. Moore, Avery B. Whitney. Appro- 
 priation, one thousand three hundred dollars. 
 
 1856. — Rev. John C. Paine, Rev. Abijah Stowell, John M. Moore. 
 Appropriation, one thousand three hundred dollars. 
 
 1857. — Rev. John C. Paine, Rev. Abijah Stowell, John M. Moore. 
 Appropriation, one thousand five hundred dollars. 
 
 1858.— John M. Moore, C. K. Wood, Dr. W. H. H. Hinds. Appro- 
 priation, one thousand seven hundred dollars. 
 
 1859.— John M. Moore, C. K. Wood, C. Webster Bush, in place of Dr. 
 W. H. H. Hinds resigned. Appropriation, two thousand dollars. 
 
 1860. — John M. Moore, C. K. Wood, C. Webster Bush. Appropri- 
 ation, two thousand dollars. 
 
 1861. — John M. Moore, C. K. Wood, C. Webster Bush. Appropria- 
 tion, nine hundred dollars. 
 
 1862. — C. K. Wood, C. Webster Bush, John M. Moore. Appropria- 
 tion, one thousand two hundred dollars. 
 
 1863. — C. Webster Bush, John M. Moore, Rev. Samuel J. Austin. 
 Appropriation, one thousand five hundred dollars 
 
 1864. — John M. Moore, Rev. Samuel J. Austin. John D. Edgell. Ap- 
 propriation, one thousand seven hundred dollars. 
 
464 HISTOIiY OF GARDJ^ER. 
 
 1865.— John D, Edgell, John M. Moore, C. K. Wood to fill vacancy 
 caused by resi^natiou of Rev. Samuel J. Austin. Appropriation, 
 two thousand dollars. 
 
 1866.— John D. Edgell, John M. Moore, Rev. W. D. Herrick. Ap- 
 propriation, two thousand dollars. 
 
 1867. — John D. Edgell, John M. Moore, David Keltou. Appropriation, 
 three thousand five hundred , dollars. 
 
 1868. — David Kelton, Murray Closson, John M. Moore. Mr. Moore 
 resigned. Appropriation, three thousand five hundred dollars. 
 
 1869.— David Kelton, John M. Moore, Charles Heywood, C. K. Wood, 
 Joseph Burnett, Allen Folger. Appropriation, three thousand eight 
 hundred dollars. 
 
 1870.— John M. Moore, C. K. Wood, C. Webster Bush, Charles Hey- 
 wood, Joseph Burnett. Appropriation, three thousand eight hun- 
 dred dollars. 
 
 1871. — John M. Moore, C. K. Wood, Charles Heywood, Dr. James 
 Emerson, C. AVebster Bush. Appropriation, four thousand five 
 hundred dollars. 
 
 1872. — John M. Moore, Dr. James Emerson, Rev. John E. Wheeler. 
 Appropriation, four thousand eight hundred dollars. 
 
 1873. — Rev. John E. Wheeler, John M. Moore, Dr. James Emerson. 
 Appropriation, five thousand dollars. 
 
 1874. — Dr. James Emerson, John M. Moore. Appropriation, five thou- 
 sand five hundred dollars. 
 
 1875. — John M. Moore, Dr. James Emerson, Edward H. Sawin. Ap^ 
 propriation, six thousand five hundred dollars. 
 
 1876. — Dr. James Emerson, Edward H. Sawin, Dr. W. H. H. Hinds. 
 Appropriation, six thousand five hundred dollars. 
 
 1877.— Edward P. Noyes, Dr. W. H. H. Hinds, Thatcher B. Dunn. 
 Appropriation, six thousand five hundred dollars. 
 
 1878. — Thatcher B. Dunn, E. P. Noyes, John M. Moore. Appropri- 
 ation, seven thousand dollars. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDINER. 465 
 
 It will be seen, by consulting page 447, of this work, that 
 the first school-houses were erected in this town, in 1794. Since 
 that time, but more especially since the abolishment of the dis- 
 trict and adoption of the graded system, this town has always 
 furnished itself with ample and convenient school accommoda- 
 tions. In 1858, School District No. 1, erected a large and con- 
 venient house, with four departments, at a cost of ten thousand 
 dollars. In the same year. District No. 3, built a school-house 
 with four departments, costing five thousand dollars. In 1876, 
 the Southeast school-house, was remodeled, at an expense of 
 three thousand five hundred seventy-four dollars and eighty- 
 nine cents. At the present date, a new school-house is be- 
 ing erected in the West Village, containing two departments, 
 at an estimated cost of five thousand dollars. At present, 
 all the school-houses in the town, are in an excellent con- 
 dition, and most of them well furnished with the means of 
 successful instruction. 
 
 In carefully reviewing the present chapter, the reader will be 
 convinced that Gardner has never been backward, in responding 
 to the demands which the education of her youth have made 
 upon her, and is, at the present time, occupying advanced 
 ground, in matters of general culture. The words of Bancroft 
 will form a fitting conclusion to this chapter: "In the laws 
 establishing common schools, lies the secret of the success and 
 character of New England. Every child, as it is born into the 
 world, was lifted from the earth, by the genius of the country,' 
 and, in the statutes of the land, received, as its birthright, a 
 pledge of the public care for its morals and its mind." 
 59 
 
466 HISTORY OF GARDNEll. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 CHURCHES AND THEIR PASTORS. 
 
 " On other shores, above their moulcl'ring towns, 
 
 In sullen pomp, the tall cathedral frowns, 
 
 Pride in its aisle, and paupers at the door. 
 
 Which feeds the beggars whom it fleeced of yore. 
 
 Simple and frail, our lowly Temples throw, 
 
 Their slender shadows on the paths below ; 
 
 Scarce steal the winds, that sweep his woodland tracks. 
 
 The larch's perfume from the settlers axe. 
 
 Ere like a vision of the morning air. 
 
 His slight fi-amed steeple marks the house of prayer!" 
 
 —0. W. Holmes. 
 
 " Wide was his pai'ish — houses far asunder — 
 
 But he neglected naught for rain or thunder, 
 
 In sickness and in grief to visit all. 
 
 The furthest in his parish, great and small, 
 
 Always on foot and in his hand a stave. 
 
 This noble example to his flock he gave : 
 
 That first he wi'ought and afterward he taught ; 
 
 Out of the gospel, he that lesson caught, 
 
 And this new figure added he thereto. 
 
 That if gold rust then what should iron do?" — Chaucer. 
 
 IN attempting to unfold, as faithfully as circumstances will 
 permit, that portion of this history, which has special ref- 
 erence to ecclesiastical aflairs, we regard it as fitting and proper, 
 to direct the attention of the reader, to some of the more prom- 
 inent events, which preceded the establishment of the church 
 and the ministry, in this town. 
 
 This we do, for the purpose of forming, in the reader's mind, 
 an intelligent basis for a clearer understanding of the conduct, 
 of our fathers, in devoting themselves so assiduously to the task, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 467 
 
 which they immediately assumed, of providing religious instruc- 
 tion for themselves and their families. Says D'Aubigne, "to 
 study great things in small, is one of the most useful exercises. 
 The foundations upon which a building stands are certainly not 
 the most interesting part, but they are, perhaps, the most nec- 
 essary." Should we undertake to trace the streams of civil and 
 religious liberty, which flow, in such innumerable and irrigating 
 channels, over the entire surface of our great republic, causing 
 spiritual verdure and delightful fruitage, on every hand, we 
 should find them having their origin, far back in the sixteenth 
 century, or, indeed, previous to that time. 
 
 Says D'Aubigne again, " Calvin was the founder of the 
 greatest of republics. The Pilgrims, who left their country in 
 the reign of James 1st, and, landing on the barren shores of 
 New England, founded populous and mighty colonies, are his 
 sons, his direct and legitimate sons ; and that American nation, 
 which we have seen growing so rapidly, boasts as its father the 
 humble reformer, on the shores of the Leman." The principle 
 of religious liberty, now so deeply seated in our country, had 
 its incarnation and fearless utterance, in the person of John 
 Calvin. Englishmen, who took refuge in Geneva, from the 
 bloody persecution of Marj', learned of this man, the love of 
 spiritual liberty and the hate of spiritual tyranny. Returning 
 to England, with their minds aflame with these lofty sentiments, 
 they inspired a spirit of discontent, with nationalism, in the 
 hearts of many, against that tyranny which, by Acts of Unifor- 
 mity, High Commission and the Star Chamber, sought to coerce 
 men to worship God, contrary to the dictates of their enlight- 
 ened conscience, which, says Dr. Bacon, " in conscientious men, 
 when it has been aroused to declare itself, is an obstinate thing." 
 
 Permeated by this love of religious liberty and freedom of 
 conscience, caught from the lips and life of this great Genevan 
 reformer, whose virtues and mighty deeds, in behalf of freedom 
 from ecclesiastical bondage, seem now to have been forgotten, 
 by too many, who are boasting of a liberty, for the existence 
 of which, he prepared the way, there were, in the latter part of 
 
468 HISTORY OF GABDJ^UB. 
 
 the sixteenth century, such noble martyrs as Henry Barrowe, 
 John Greenwood and John Peury, who were willing to testify 
 to their love of religious liberty, by the sacrifice of their own 
 lives. Hence arose, in England, that religious sect, called 
 Puritans, whose aim was, at first, not separation from the Es- 
 tablished Church, but a reformation of what they regarded as 
 its abuses. Gradually, however, they became convinced that 
 what they sought in connection with this church, they were not 
 likely to obtain. 
 
 Hence came that separation, which, subsequently, resulted in 
 the formation, at Scrooby, in the house of William Brewster, of 
 a church of Separatists, from which place, in 1607, " by a joint 
 consent, they resolved to go into the Low Countries, not as 
 individuals, but as a church, for which their native country had 
 no place of rest." After a sojourn, of eleven years, at Amster- 
 dam and Leyden, w^efind these Puritans seeking, for themselves 
 and their children, some place beyond the sea, where they 
 might enjoy that religious freedom, in behalf of which, they 
 had suffered so much, and for the establishment of which, upon 
 other shores, they were willing to impei'il their lives. Their lan- 
 guage was, "all great and honorable actions are accompanied with 
 difficulties, which must be met and conquered with corresponding 
 courage. What though the dangers be great, they are not des- 
 perate. What though the difficulties be many, they are not invin- 
 cible. Some of the things, so greatly feared, may never befall 
 us; others, by foresight, care, and good use of means, may, in 
 a great measure, be prevented ; and all of them, by fortitude, 
 patience, and God's help, can be borne and overcome. Such 
 attempts, it is true, are not to be made without good ground 
 and reason ; but have we not good ground and honorable rea- 
 son? Have we not in the providence of God, a lawful and 
 urgent call to the proposed undertaking? May we not, there- 
 fore, look for God's blessing upon it? Yea, though we should 
 lose our lives in this action, yet may we have comfort in the 
 same, and our endeavors will be honorable." 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 469 
 
 The meaning of this language is, that such was their love of 
 religious liberty and the rights of conscience, they were willing 
 to sacrifice their li\ es, for the supremacy of these, among men. 
 Having received abundant instruction and counsel, from their 
 excellent pastor, John Robinson, August lath, 1620, a hundred 
 and twenty souls embarked, upon the Mayflower, at South 
 Hampton, for their voyage across the Atlantic, "to begin the 
 great work of plantation, in New England." They had bidden 
 farewell to Leyden, " that goodly and pleasant city, which had 
 been their resting place for nearly twelve years. But they knew 
 that they were Pilgrims, and looked not much on those things, 
 but lifted up their eyes to the heavens, their dearest country, 
 and quieted their spirits." After a voyage of sixty-three days, 
 during which one of their number had died, they discovered 
 land, and soon were safely moored in the harbor of Cape Cod, 
 November 9th, 1620. 
 
 The testimony, which the Dutch magistrates, of the city of 
 their almost twelve years sojourn, concerning this people, was, 
 " Never, never did we have any suit or accusation against them." 
 There was no desire, on their part, that these exiles, from their 
 native land, for conscience's sake, should withdraw from their 
 midst ; but inspired with " a hope and inward zeal of advancing 
 the gospel of the kingdom of Christ, in the remote parts of the 
 New World ; yea, though they should be but stepping-stones 
 unto others, for performing so great a work," the Pilgrims 
 sought and found these western shores. Should any one inquire 
 for the motive, moving these men, with their wives and children, 
 to seek a habitation in " the wilderness," the answer will be 
 found, upon the lips of the eminent men of those and subse- 
 quent times. 
 
 Said the venerable Higginsou, of Salem, in his election ser- 
 mon, 1663, " It concerneth New England always, to remember 
 that these are originally a plantation religious, not a plantation 
 of trade. The profession of the purity of doctrine and dis- 
 cipline is written upon her forehead. Let merchants and such 
 as are increasing cent per cent., remember this: that worldly 
 
470 HISTOliY OF GARDJ^^ER. 
 
 gain was not the end, nor the design of the people of New 
 Enghind, but religion. And if any among us make religion 
 as twelve and the world as thirteen, such an one has not the 
 spirit of a true New England man." 
 
 To the same effect, is the language of Dr. Increase Mather, 
 when, in speaking of the Pilgrims, he sa3's, " They did not, in 
 coming hither, propound any great matters to themselves, re- 
 specting this world ; only that they should have liberty to serve 
 God, and to walk with him, in all the ways of his worship." 
 Says Rev. AVilliam Plubbard, of the fathers, " they came not 
 hither for the world, or for land, or for traffic ; but for religion, 
 and for liberty of conscience, in the worship of God, which 
 was their only design." 
 
 With this sole end, of religious liberty in view, the Pilgrims, 
 landed upon Plymouth Rock, bringing with them these social, 
 civil and religious, institutions, out of which, has come so much 
 of good, to this nation. Thev had lived lonsf enouo;h, in Ens:- 
 land, as lovers of liberty of conscience, to make their influence 
 felt to such an extent, as to compel the sceptical Hume to ad- 
 mit, that the English nation is indebted to the Puritans, for all 
 the liberty of its constitution. 
 
 In the judgment of Bancroft, our philosophical historian, 
 the Calvinian theory, which these founders of our republic 
 brought to these shores, instead of being narrow, illiberal, or 
 irrational, " combines and perfects the symbolic wisdom of the 
 Orient, and the reflective genius of Greece ; conforming to rea- 
 son, yet enkindling enthusiasm, guaranteeing absolute freedom, 
 yet invoking the inexorable restraints of duty ; awakening the 
 inner man, to a consciousness of his destiny, and yet adapted 
 with exact harmony, to the outer Avorld." 
 
 Referring to the compact, which the Pilgrims signed, in the 
 cabin of the Mayflower, this same historian says, " This was 
 the birth of popular constitutional liberty. In the cabin of the 
 Mayflower, humanity recorded its rights, and instituted govern- 
 ment on the basis of ' equal laws,' for the general good. As the 
 Pilgrims landed, their institutions were already perfected. Dem- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 471 
 
 ocratic liberty and independent Christian worship, at once ex- 
 isted in America. Enduring every hardship themselves, they 
 were the servants of posterity, the benefactors of succeeding 
 generations, who scattered the seminal principles of republican 
 freedom and national independence." 
 
 With these ends in view, we can easil}^ see how the original 
 government, of the colonies, should be of the nature of a theocra- 
 cy, in which, the great head of all power and authority was Christ, 
 to whom, above all earthly sovereigns, they paid most devout 
 homage and reverent obedience. Hence, there existed, at tirst, 
 and for a long time, a union of state and ecclesiastical affairs, 
 in the same body, called the Court of Assistants. To this Court, 
 all matters of the church and state, were referred. 
 
 So close was the union of church and state, that, in 1631, 
 " to the end, the Ijody of the commons may be preserved of 
 honest and good men, it was likewise ordered and agreed, that 
 for time to come, no man shall be admitted to the freedom of 
 this body politic, but such as are members of some of the 
 churches, within the limits of the same." In 163G, it was 
 ordered, "that no person, being a member of any church, 
 which shall hereafter be gathered, without the approbation of 
 the magistrates and the greater part of the said churches, shall 
 be admitted to the freedom of this commonwealth." It was 
 also ordered, " that none but freemen, shall have any vote, in 
 any town, in any action of authority, or necessity, or that 
 which belongs to them by virtue of their freedom, as receiving 
 inhabitants and laying out of lots, etc." These freemen were 
 obliged to take an oath, of great scope and sanctity, that they 
 would defend the interests of the colony, to the extent of their 
 ability, and as would best conduce and tend to the public weal 
 of the body, without respect of persons, or favor of any man." 
 
 In these acts of legislation, by the Great and General Court, 
 we discover, not only the close alliance of religious and secular 
 interests, but also the motive which led to this union, which 
 was, that the religious liberties, here planted by the Pilgrim 
 Fathers, might be carefully guarded and preserved, by the 
 
472 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 highest authority then existing. Looking at the basis on 
 which the Pl3'mouth and Massachusetts colonies were founded, 
 we cannot reo-ard this result as unnatural. These men came to 
 these shores as Congregational ists, or as members of a church 
 whose government was in the hands of its male membership. 
 Naturally, would the}^ seek to foster this religious order and 
 mode of worship, even though it should require, what to us 
 now seems so unwise, the strong arm of the Great and General 
 Court, for its support. 
 
 Had not the church and state been thus identical, for several 
 years, succeeding the landing of the Pilgrims, we can hardly 
 see how the principles of civil and religious liberty, could have 
 become so strongly rooted in this American soil, as to warrant 
 their continuance, to the present time. This policy made the 
 Congregational, the established church, to which, all members 
 of the colonies must give their support, or sutfer the penalty 
 imposed, by the secular power. Every man was obliged, for a 
 time, to worship God, in accordance with the rules of the estab- 
 lished church. For its support, he must be taxed. The rigor 
 of this law, after a time, began to abate and men were allowed 
 to worship, in accordance with their own preferences. They 
 were exempt from punishment, for not worshiping with the 
 established church, but not from taxation, for its support. 
 Thus, the dissenter was obliged to bear a double burden, if he 
 should worship, in accordance with his preference. 
 
 By successive acts of legislation, this law was so modified, 
 as to allow any one to connect himself with the religious assem- 
 bly, of his own choice, providing he should bring a certificate 
 from the proper authorities of that religious body, to the oiSi- 
 cers of the Congregational parish, established within the limits 
 of his town, that he was a regular attendant upon divine service, 
 in connection with that body, and contributed to the support of 
 
 the same. 
 
 Subsequently, the law was so changed, as to annul all con- 
 nection between town and parish, and all persons were allowed 
 to identify themselves with any religious body they should pre- 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 473 
 
 fer, or with none at all. So that, at the present time, there is 
 no compulsory, but only a voluntary support, of religious in- 
 stitutions. This liberty was granted in 1833. 
 
 The inhabitants of this and every town were compelled, by 
 law, to support preaching, while the town and parish were 
 identical. This explains the votes of the town, acting in its 
 capacity of town and parish, interchangably, which will be in- 
 troduced hereafter, from the Town Records, wherein w^e find 
 the secular and the sacred, strangely mixed on the same page. 
 As for instance, on page 199, vol. 1, we have such votes as 
 these : " Voted, The Rev. Jonathan Osgood eighty pounds, for 
 one-half of his settlement and seventy-five pounds, for his two 
 years salary." " Voted, That the lowest bidder take the meet- 
 ing-house, to sweep it four times a 3'ear, well, and open the 
 doors, at all public meetings, and see that the doors and win- 
 dows are kept shut, after the meeting is over, and bring water 
 for christening." " Voted, To let swine run at large, under 
 the regulations of the law." In these records the minister, 
 meeting-house, schools, christenings and swine, have, to us of 
 the present day, an almost ludicrous intermingling ; but to the 
 men of those days, these were matters of grave importance. 
 
 But, not only did the Great and General Court provide for 
 the enforced maintenance of gospel preaching, they also pro- 
 vided for the gospel ministry. Says Johnson, in his Wonder- 
 working Providence, A. D. 1654, " it being as unnatural for a 
 right New England man to live without an able ministry, as for 
 a smith to work his iron without a fire," therefore, the peoiDle 
 delayed "seating themselves" in a town's estate, until they 
 " came to hopes of a competent number of people, as might be 
 able to maintain a minister." The Court required " all towns 
 to be supplied with a minister, a meeting-house and a parson- 
 age," and all inhabitants to be taxed, for their support. In case 
 of any defect, in any congregation, or town, to provide " for the 
 settlement and encouraging maintenance of ministers," the 
 County Court ordered what the maintenance should be, and 
 issued warrants to the selectmen, to assess the inhabitants. 
 
 60 
 
474 HISTORY OF GABBNEB. 
 
 The General Court, as early as 1654, held it to be their 
 *' great duty, to provide that all places and people, within their 
 gates, should be supplied with an able and foithful minister of 
 God's holy word." Presidents of County Courts and Grand 
 Juries, were to present all abuses. As late as the year 1800, 
 we have the exact penalties which towns should pay, for neg- 
 lecting to supply the people with good preaching. If the 
 neglect continued, three months out of six, the penalty was 
 from thirty to sixty dollars; if repeated, the penalty was from 
 sixty to one hundred dollars. This law, of the Great and Gen- 
 eral Court, explains the fact, that the first public act. in all 
 these towns, after getting their municipal machinery in motion, 
 was to select a spot, in the geographical centre of the town, 
 and proceed, at once, to the erection of a meeting-house, and 
 to provide themselves, immediately with " a learned gospel 
 minister." This was not a matter of option with the founders 
 of a new town. It was the mandate of the highest civil au- 
 thority, which could not be set aside. 
 
 This explains, to us, the action of the first settlers of this 
 town, who were so prompt and earnest, and self-denying, in 
 erecting their first church edifice and supplying themselves so 
 early, with a gospel preacher. Nor should our readers forget 
 the character, of the ministry of the early days of our colonies, 
 and of these New England States. History supports us in saying, 
 that these early ministers were men of no common powers, nor 
 learning. Says Stoughton, in his Election Sermon, 1668 : "God 
 sifted a whole nation that he might send choice grain, into this 
 wilderness. They were men of great renown, in the nation 
 from which the Laudian persecution exiled them ; their learn- 
 ing, their holiness, their gravity, struck all men who knew them, 
 with admiration. They were Timothies in their houses, Chrys- 
 ostoms, in their pulpits, Augustines, in their disputations." 
 
 They were the men, who founded the College at Cambridge, 
 and wrote upon its forehead, Christo et Ecdesice. So great was 
 the learning, wisdom, probity and piety, of many of the cler- 
 gymen, of our early history, that their counsel was often sought 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER, 475 
 
 b}' statesmen, and the advice given from their pnlpits, espec- 
 ially, in their election sermons, was incorporated into legisla- 
 tive enactments. Of Dr. Jonathan Mayhew, it was said, by 
 Robert Treat Paine, that he was " The father of Civil and Re- 
 ligious Liberty, in Massachusetts and America." President 
 Adams called him "a Whig of the first magnitude, a clergy- 
 man equaled by very few of any denomination, in piety, virtue, 
 genius or learning ; whose works will maintain his character as 
 long as New England shall be free, integrity esteemed, or wit, 
 spirit, humor, reason and knowledge admired." It was this 
 distinguished man who in 1766, suggested to James Otis, the 
 idea of a " Committee of Correspondence," which had such a 
 powerful efiect in pi'oducing concert of action, between the 
 colonies. " You have heard," said he, " of the communion of 
 churches. While I was thinking of this in my bed, the great use 
 and importance of a communion of colonies, appeared to me 
 in a strong light."* 
 
 This was the kind of clergymen, who came, originally, to aid, 
 in founding the colonies, to prepare and shape the events, which 
 preceded the Revolution, and to fire the hearts of their coun- 
 trymen, with that courage, zeal, fortitude and patience, which 
 caused them, guided by Providence, to win the liberties which 
 are ours to-day. When we consider who these men, and their 
 associates in all public affairs, both civil and religious, were, and 
 what they did really accomplish, in working out the problem of 
 civil and religious liberty, for themselves and their posterity, 
 we can afford to look, with charity, upon some things in their 
 conduct, that to us of more liberal ideas, seem severe and even 
 unchristian, if not positively inhumane. 
 
 With these preliminary statements, regarding ecclesiastical 
 matters, in the days preceding the incorporation of this town, 
 we may now direct attention to the action of the early settlers 
 of the town, in regard to matters of religious importance. 
 
 *Thoniton's Pulpit of the Kevolution, p. 44-45. 
 
476 HI8T0RY OF GABDNEll. 
 
 FIRST PARISH AND CHURCH TILL 1867. 
 
 It will be remembered, that the town was incorporated June 
 27th, 1785, and that the first town meeting was held Angnst 
 15th, of the same year. The second town meeting was held 
 the 6tb of the following month, the object of which, was to see 
 about a county road, going through the Centre of the town. 
 But, upon November 7th, 1785, a little more than four months 
 from the date of incorporation, the town was assembled to act 
 upon the following articles, with some others of a difierent 
 nature : "To know their minds concerning giving security for 
 the meetinjj-house o;rounds, and take a deed of the same." " To 
 know their minds concerning building a meeting-house and to 
 act anything relating thereunto, as they shall think proper when 
 met." " To know their minds concerning hiring of preaching." 
 
 At this town meeting, the citizens of Gardner, passed the 
 following votes, relating to the erection of a meeting-house, 
 and furnishing themselves with preaching: " Chose Joseph 
 Bacon, John White, Capt. Kelton, Moses Hill and David Fos- 
 ter, a committee to draw a plan of the meeting-house and to 
 see what stuff it will take." " Chose Simon Gates, Elisha Jack- 
 son and Capt. Kelton, a committee to hire preaching." " Voted, 
 To hire four days preaching." It will be observed, that the 
 town did not call a meeting, to see if they would build a church 
 and provide a preacher, as is done now ; that matter w'as already 
 settled for them, by the General Court. They were obliged to 
 do this, by the law of that court, and their duty was, to pro- 
 ceed at once. At an adjournment of this meeting, Nov. 14th, 
 the town " Voted, To take a deed of the land already surveyed, 
 for a site for a meeting-house common and burying yard." 
 The town then heard the report of the meeting-house committee 
 and " Voted, To Iniild a meeting-house, forty feet wide and 
 sixty-five feet long, with three porches. Then chose Joseph 
 Bacon, John White, Andrew Beard, William Bickford, Capt. 
 Kelton, a committee to lot out the timber and stuif, in small 
 lots." 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 477 
 
 This meeting was then adjourned, to January 2d, 1786, at 
 which, the town, acting as a parish, " Voted, To reconsider 
 that part of the third article respecting the bigness of the meet- 
 ing-house, and voted to build the house forty-five by sixty, and 
 two porches. Voted, To vendue the timber and stuif, for build- 
 ing, in small lots. Chose Joseph Bacon vendue master. Chose 
 Capt Kelton, Samuel Stone, Peter Goodale, a committee to draw 
 conditions of sale. Then adjourned one-half hour ; then met 
 and accepted the conditions of sale. Voted, That the hewing 
 timber be cut by the last of June next." Then chose " a com- 
 mittee to accept of the timber and stufi"." 
 
 The following are the conditions of sale, of " the timber and 
 stuff," which, together Avith the schedule of the articles used, 
 in the construction of the first meeting-house, as presented by 
 the committee chosen "to draw a plan of the meeting-house 
 and to see what stutf it will take," with the price, at which 
 each piece was bidden ofi", and the name of each person, agree- 
 ing to furnish the same, we here introduce, in full, partly as a 
 matter of curiosity, and partly to show the intelligence and 
 skill of Mr. Joseph Bacon, a master workman of those days. 
 
 "Be it known, to all whom these come before, that those 
 whom any part or parts of the materials for building the meet- 
 ing-house be vendued to, or any other way, do undertake to 
 provide and delive-r, on the spot, that the town shall appoint, 
 do engage to fulfill and deliver on said spot, and further, do 
 engage that the materials be good, and to the town's acceptance, 
 or to the acceptance of a committee that may be appointed for 
 the accepting of the same. And do further engage, that in 
 failure of any of the above mentioned articles, and that for 
 each article not delivered on said spot, do engage to pay the 
 town nine pounds, to be paid on demand ; and do further en- 
 gage, that all the hewing timber be cut by the last of June, 
 1786, and that all the materials be delivered by the first day of 
 April, 1787." 
 
478 HISTORY OF GARDJSFEB. 
 
 SCHEDULE. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 Reuben Haynes, 1 pitch pine sill, 60 ft. long, 12 by 12, at. ... 0150 
 
 Jucle Sawyer, 1 pitch pine sill, 60 ft. long, 12 by 12, at 14 6 
 
 AVilliam Bickford, 2 pitch pine sills, 45 ft. long, 12 by 12, at. . 1 10 
 
 Joseph Clark, 2 white pine sills, 45 ft. long, 12 by 12, at 1 4 
 
 Ezra Moore, 2 white pine sills, 45 ft. long, 12 by 12, at 1 2 
 
 Moses Hill, 2 oak posts, 27 ft. long, 12 by 12, at 15 
 
 Ephraim Pratt, 2 oak posts, 27 ft. long, 12 by 12, at 18 
 
 Moses Hill, 2 oak posts, 27 ft. long, 12 by 12, at 15 
 
 Joseph Holland, 2 oak posts, 27 ft. long, 12 by 12, at 16 
 
 Ephraim Pratt, 2 oak posts, 27 ft, long, 12 by 12, at 16 
 
 Moses Hill, 2 oak posts, 27 ft. long, 12 by 12, at 15 
 
 Gideon Fisher, 2 oak posts, 27 ft. long, 12 by 12, at 15 
 
 Ephraim Pratt, 2 oak posts, 27 ft. long, 12 by 12, at 15 
 
 Samuel Stone, 2 white pine plates, 63 ft. long, 9 by 10, at. ... 1 6 
 
 Benj. Kendall, 5 white pine plates, 13 ft. long, 10 by 10, at. . . 10 
 
 Benj. Kendall, 5 white pine plates, 13 ft. long, 10 by 10, at. . . 10 
 
 Samuel Stone, 4 white pine beams, 48 ft. long, 12 by 14, at . . 3 9 
 Joseph Wright, 2 beams, the six beams to spring 18 inches in 
 
 the midst of each one, at 1 14 
 
 Reuben Haynes, 2 white pine gallery sills, 45 ft. long, 12 by 14, 1 5 
 
 Jesse Hill, 1 white pine gallery sill, 40 ft. long, 12 by 14, at 11 
 
 Reuben Haynes, 4 oak girts, 17 ft. long, 10 by 12, at 15 
 
 Seth Heywood, 7 oak girts, 13 ft. long, 8 by 10, at 10 
 
 Gideon Fisher, 8 oak girts, 13 ft. long, 10 by 12, at 16 
 
 Seth Heywood, 2 oak girts, 22 ft. long, 10 by 12, at 7 
 
 Joshua Whitney, 6 pitch pine sills, 14 ft. long, 8 by 12, at. ... 15 
 
 Jabez Partridge, 6 white pine plates, 19 ft. long, 8 by 8, at. . . 10 
 
 Seth Heywood, 4 oak posts, 15 ft. long, 8 by 8, at 6 
 
 Seth Heywood, 4 oak king posts, 16 ft. long, 12 by 12, at. ... 130 
 
 Reuben Haynes, four oak girts, 14 ft. long, 8 by 9, at 8 
 
 Peter Goodale, 3 oak girts, 12 ft. long, 8 by 9, at 4 
 
 Peter Goodale, 6 oak girts, 13 feet long, 8 by 9, at 7 
 
 Moses Hill, 4 oak rafters, 29 ft. long, 9 by 10, at 8 
 
 Ephraim Pratt, 4 oak rafters, 29 ft. long, 9 by 10, at 9 
 
 Moses Hill, 4 oak rafters, 29 ft. long, 9 by 10, at 8 
 
 Ephraim Pratt, 4 hackmatack span braces, 25 ft. long, 9 by 10, 
 
 to spring one foot, at 6 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 479 
 
 £ s. d. 
 Moses Hill, 4 hackmatack span braces, 25 ft. long, 9 by 10, to 
 
 spring 1 foot, at 6 
 
 Elisha Jackson, a oak braces, 25 ft. long, 8 by 8, at . . , 16 
 
 Seth Heywood, 5 oak braces, 25 ft. long, 8 by 8, at 15 
 
 Moses Hill, 5 oak ridge poles, 14 ft. long, 7 by 7, at 7 
 
 Jabez Partridge, 24 pieces of oak or beech slitwork, 11 ft. long, 
 
 4 by 5, at 5 
 
 Ephraim Pratt, 24 pieces of oak or beech slitwork, 13 ft. long, 
 
 4 by 5, at 8 
 
 Reuben Haynes, 24 pieces of oak or beech slitwork, 13 ft. long, 
 
 4 by 5, at * 8 
 
 Jabez Partridge, 24 pieces, 11 ft. long, 4 by 5, at 7 
 
 Benj. Kendall, 24 pieces, 11 ft long. 4 by 5, at 7 
 
 William Bickford, 24 pieces, 11 ft. long, 3 by 4, at 4 6 
 
 William Bickford, 24 pieces, 13 ft. long, 3 by 4, at 4 6 
 
 Seth Heywood, 24 pieces, 13 ft. long, 3 by 4, at 6 
 
 Israel Keyes, 24 pieces, 11 ft. long, 3 by 4, at 7 
 
 Benj. Kendall, 24 pieces of slitwork, 16 ft. long, 5 by 6, at. . . 14 
 
 Ephraim Pratt, 24 pieces of slitwork, 16 ft. long, 5 by 6, at. . . 14 
 
 Elisha Jackson, 23 pieces of slitwork, 16 ft. long, 5 by 6, at. . 13 
 
 Benj. Kendall, 24 pieces of oak slitwork, 14 ft. long, 4 by 5, at 14 
 
 Benj. Kendall, 48 pieces of oak slitwork, 14 ft. long, 4 by 5, at 15 
 
 William Bickford, 24 oak, 13 ft. long. 4 by 5, at 12 
 
 Benj. Kendall, 24 oak, 13 ft. long, 4 by 5, at 11 
 
 Elijah Wilder, 24 oak, 10 ft. long, 4 by 5, at 11 
 
 Elijah Wilder, 24 oak, 10 ft. long, 3 by 4, at 6 
 
 Joseph Wright, 24 oak, 8 ft. long, 3 by 4, at 6 
 
 Joseph Wright, 20 pieces oak, 16 ft. long, 4 by 5, at 9 
 
 Elijah Wilder, 20 oak or beech rafters, 10 ft. long, 4 by 5, at. 6 
 
 Elijah Wilder, 26 pieces oak or beech, 14 ft. long, 5 by 6, at. . 14 
 
 Elijah Wilder, 26 pieces oak or beech, 14 ft. long, 5 by 6, at. . 14 
 
 Elijah Wilder, 26 pieces oak or beech, 14 ft. long, 5 by 6, at. . 14 
 
 Samuel Stone, 35 oak, beech or birch braces, 8 ft. long, 5 by 6, 10 
 
 Ephraim Pratt, 35 oak, beech or birch braces, 8 ft. long, 5 by 6, 9 
 
 Benj. Kendall, 35 oak, beech or birch braces, 8 ft. long, 5 by 6, 9 
 
 Elijah Wilder, 16 oak or beech braces, 10 It. long, 5 by 6, at. . 7 
 
 Elijah Wilder, 35 oak braces, 7 ft. long, 3 by 5, at 8 
 
 Elijah Wilder, 35 oak braces, 7 ft. long, 3 by 5, at 8 
 
 Elijah^ Wilder, 2 thousand of inclosing boards, inch, at 2 
 
480 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 David Nichols, 2 thousand of inclosing boards, inch, at 2 
 
 Joseph Clark, 2 thousand of inclosing boards, inch, at 2 
 
 Jesse Hill, 2 thousand of inclosing boards, inch, at 2 
 
 Elijah Wilder, 2 thousand of inclosing boards, inch, at 2 
 
 David jSichols, 2 thousand of inclosing boards, inch, at 2 
 
 Elijah Wilder, 2 thousand of inclosing boards, inch, at 2 
 
 Joseph Clark, 2 thousand of inclosing boards, inch, at 2 
 
 Jabez Partridge, 2 thousand of inclosing boards, inch, at 2 
 
 Caleb Jackson, 2 thousand of inclosing boards, inch, at 2 
 
 Josiah Wilder, 1000 clapboards, ^ inch thick, 5i inches wide, 
 
 4 ft. .^ ft. long,-at '. 3 3 
 
 Gideon Fisher, 1000 clapboards, 5 inch thick, .')i inches wide, 
 
 4 ft. j ft. long, at 3 9 
 
 Josiah AVilder, 1000 clapboards, ^ inch thick, ok inches wide, 
 
 4 ft. ?j ft. long, at 3 9 
 
 Samuel Foster, 1000 clapboards, ^ inch thick, 5 J- inches wide, 
 
 1 ft. J- ft. long, at 3 10 
 
 Josiah Wilder, 500 clapboards, i inch thick, 5^ inches wide, 
 
 4 ft. J- ft. long, at 1 15 
 
 Ephraim Pratt, 4 thousand good white pine shingles, at 1 10 
 
 Jonathan Eaton, 4 thousand good white pine shingles, at 1 10 
 
 Benjamin Clark, 4 thousand good white pine shingles, at I 10 
 
 David Foster, 4 thousand good white pine shingles, at 1 10 
 
 Joseph Clark, 4 thousand good white pine shingles, at 1 10 
 
 pjlijah Simonds, 4 thousand good white pine shingles, at 1 10 
 
 Ezra Moore, 4 thousand good white pine shingles, at I 10 
 
 Jonathan Greenwood, 4 thousand good white pine shingles, at. . 1 10 
 
 Elisha Jackson, 500 white pine 2-inch plank, 14 ft. long, at. . . 1 8 
 
 Elisha Jackson, 500 white pine 2-inch plank, 14 ft. long, at. . . 1 9 
 
 Jonathan Bancroft, 500 white pine 2-inch plank, 14 ft. long, at 1 9 
 
 Elijah Wilder, 500 white pine 2-inch plank, 14 ft. long, at. ... 1 9 
 
 Joseph Clark, 500 of sash stuff, 1^: inches thick, at 1 5 
 
 Ebenezer Elaton, 500 of sash stuff, 1^ inches thick, at 1 7 
 
 Jonathan Bancroft, 500 of sash stuff, 1| inches thick, at 1 GO 
 
 Andrew Beard, 500 of sash stuff, 1^ inches thick, at I 7 
 
 Elijah Simonds, 500 of sash stuff, 1^ inches thick, at 1 7 
 
 Joshua Whitney, 500 of sash stuff, 1^ inches thick, at 1 7 
 
 Peter Goodale, 1000 of boards, '^ of an inch thick, clear stuff, at 1 IG 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 481 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 Elijah Simonds, 500 of boards, f of an inch thick, clear stuff, at 18 
 
 Ezra Moore, 500 of boards, | of an inch thick, clear stuff, at 17 
 
 Ebenezer Eaton, 25 pieces of pine slitwork, 4 by 5, at 14 
 
 Elijah Simonds, 25 pieces of pine slitwork, 4 by 5, at 13 6 
 
 Elisha Jackson, 25 pieces of pine slitwork, 4 by 5, at 13 
 
 Elisha Jackson, 25 pieces of pine slitwork, 4 by 5, at 12 6 
 
 Elisha Jackson, 500 of pine slitwork, 5 by 5, at 1 
 
 Elijah Wilder, 11 pieces of cant stuff, 11 feet long, at 10 
 
 March 7th, 1786, the town " Voted, To choose a committee of 
 three, to see how much it will cost to frame and finish the out- 
 side of the meeting-house." At an adjourned meeting, March 
 14th, " Voted, To raise £400, for the framing and finish- 
 ing the outside of the meeting-house, and laying the floor, and 
 to pay for the timber and other articles, for the meeting-house." 
 September 25th, 1786, " Voted, To choose a committee to pitch 
 on a spot, to set the meeting-house on." " Voted, To choose 
 a committee, to lot out the underpinning of the meeting-house, 
 in small lots, and draw conditions of sale." In 178(5 the town 
 " Voted, To accept the spot which the committee staked out, 
 for the meeting-house to stand on." " Voted, To see if the 
 town is willino; that all the free-holders should vote concerninor 
 the buildino- of the meetin2:-house. Passed in the afiirmative." 
 
 The following is the report of the committee, concerning un- 
 derpinning the meeting-house. " Voted, To accejjt the report 
 of the committee and conditions of sale, which is as follows : — 
 
 "Be it known, to all whom these come before; That we, 
 who shall, or may undertake to dig, or underpin the hole, or 
 any part or parts, to set the meeting-house upon, do engage to 
 dig it, two feet and a half wide, and two feet and a half deep, 
 and fill the trench up, with small stones, and to provide good 
 square stones, and to lay the same square, in line, eighteen 
 inches from the ground, the highest corner of the ground, and 
 so to have it a true level on the top of the underpinning ; and 
 to do the same, to the acceptance of the town, or a committee 
 that the town shall appoint for the same. The lots are as fol- 
 
 61 
 
482 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 lows, the digging and filling up, fit to lay the underpinning : — 
 "First lot, beginning at the southeast corner, and from thence 
 to the southwest, sixty feet; Ezra Moore, 17s. Second lot, 
 beginning at the southwest corner, and thence round the porch, 
 to the northwest corner, seventy-three feet; Seth Heywood, 
 19s. ^d. Third lot, beginning at- the northwest corner, so to 
 the northeast corner, sixty feet; David Foster, 16s. Fourth 
 lot, beginning at the northeast corner, so round the porch, to 
 the southeast corner, seventy-three feet ; Jonathan Bancroft, 
 15s. — to provide stones and the lime. Fifth lot, beginning at 
 the middle of the front door, and from thence to the west porch, 
 forty-six and a half feet; Samuel Kelton, £4 10s. Sixth lot, 
 round the west porch, forty-two feet; William Bickford, £3 
 10s. Seventh lot, beginning at the west porch, and so to the 
 middle of the north side, forty-six and a half feet ; Jonathan 
 Bancroft, £4. Eighth lot, beginning at the middle of the north 
 side, so to the east porch, forty-six and a half feet; Ebenezer 
 Keyes, £4 12s. Ninth lot, round the east porch, forty-two feet ; 
 Benjamin Clark, £4 12s. Tenth lot, beginning at the east 
 porch, and so to the middle of the front door, forty-six and a 
 half feet; Ebenezer Howe, £4 18s." 
 
 " Voted, To complete the underpinning, of the meeting- 
 house, by the 20th of June, 1787." " Voted, To vendue the 
 underpinning." " Voted, To choose a committee of five to get 
 the window frames' and sashes made, and provide articles nec- 
 essary for building the outside of the meeting-house, which are 
 not already provided." " Voted, To build the meeting-house 
 in June, 1787." "Voted, To choose a committee of three to 
 view the trench, before it is filled up, and see if it will answer 
 the end ; and to view it after it is filled up, and see if it is fit 
 for to lay the square stone on, and to accept of the underpin- 
 ning, if done workmanlike ; and to strike out the porches, 
 twelve feet by fourteen feet long." 
 
 At a meeting held December 25th, 1786, " Voted, To let out 
 the framing and finishing of the outside of the meeting-house." 
 " Voted, That a receipt from the committee that is to accept of 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 483 
 
 the timber and stuff, for building the meeting house, shall be a 
 sufficient order on the town treasurer." " Voted, Not to drop 
 the porches to the meeting-house." " Voted, To choose a com- 
 mittee to see how they can get the meeting-house framed and 
 the outside finished, and lay it before the town, at the adjourn- 
 ment of this meeting." At an adjourned meeting, January 15th, 
 1787, " Voted, To give Joseph Bacon, for framing and finish- 
 ing the outside of the meeting-house, setting the glass, and 
 painting the house and laying the lower floor, and making the in- 
 side doors, the town finding all the materials, £172 10s. he assist- 
 ing with his hands, in raising." " Voted, To choose a committee 
 of three for to take bonds, of Joseph Bacon, for the fulfilment 
 of the bargain, and give bonds for the town's fulfilment on their 
 part." 
 
 June 6th, 1787, the town being legally assembled, "Voted, 
 To choose a committee to provide a number of hands for to 
 raise the meeting-house, and entertain them, with provisions 
 and drink, and all other articles necessary for the raising of 
 said house." " Voted, That this committee consist of nine men." 
 " Voted, That Joseph Bacon appoint some man, to see that the 
 common be kept clear of spectators, on said day, that the meet- 
 ing-house is to be raised, as to being in the way of raising said 
 house." "Voted, That the collector take butter, of the per- 
 sons that are in his rates, provided, that they bring the butter 
 by the first of July, next, at Id. per pound ; and the collector 
 to provide firkins to put said butter in, and to deliver the butter 
 to the committee that are to provide the nails for the meeting- 
 house, when called for. It is expected, that the collector put 
 the butter into firkins, well salted, and the butter to be good 
 butter." June 26th, 1787, the town met agreeable to adjourn- 
 ment. "Voted, For the committee to give the spectators one 
 drink." This was the only vote passed at this meeting. 
 
 Although there is no record of the date of the raising of the 
 meeting-house, there is a strong probability, that the raising oc- 
 curred June 27th, 1787, just two years from the date of incor- 
 poration. Tradition informs us, that the committee chosen to 
 
484 HI8T0RY OF GARDNER. 
 
 supervise the raising of the meeting-house, made application to 
 Captain Samuel Savvin, of Westminster, Esquire Smith, of Ash- 
 burnham, Deacon Moses Hale, of Wiuchenclon, and Mr. Joseph 
 Wright, of Templeton, to be present, with a number of good 
 hands, to assist in the raising of the house. In accorclance with 
 this invitation, these parties all appeared, on the common, early 
 in the morning of June 27th, 1787, each with a company of 
 chosen men, for the eminent services of the day. It is said, 
 that the raising commenced early, and went on rapidly, till near 
 noon, when an accident occurred. While several men were 
 standing on the ground, within the frame, drinking water, a 
 joist fell from the upper loft, striking two of them on their 
 heads and w^oundiug them severely. One of these was a Mr. 
 Day, of Wiuchenclon, the other was a Mr. Gregory, of Tem- 
 pleton. The raising was completed before sunset. It was 
 thought that the frame was put together so strong, that if turned 
 down upon one side, and rolled across the common, it would 
 not wreck the body of it. 
 
 Although the meeting-house was finished, upon the outside, 
 immediately, it is evident, from the records, that the interior 
 was not completed for some years subsequently. This was a 
 matter of progressive development, the town acting, in this par- 
 ticular, according to its ability. June 9th, 1788, the town 
 " Voted, To sell the pew^s at vendue, also to choose a committee 
 to draw a plan of the pews and the finishing the inside of the 
 meeting-house, and to draw the conditions of sale. June 23d, 
 " Voted, To accept the plan of pews and seats." "Voted, 
 To reserve Pew No. 1, by the pulpit stairs, as the town's prop- 
 erty." 
 
 The following is a report of the committee to sell the pews 
 at vendue : — 
 
 " The committee, chosen by the town of Gardner, to draw 
 the conditions of sale, of the pews and for finishing the inside 
 of the meeting-house report as follows : That is, for the inside 
 of the meeting-house to be finished according to the Ionic 
 order of work, and the bigness of the pews and seats, to be 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 485 
 
 according to the plan that the town has accepted. The condi- 
 tions of sale to be such that the highest pew be set up at £8 
 18.S'. and so down, by diminutions, 2s. upon each pew, till the 
 whole be disposed of; and the highest bidder to have his first 
 choice, in the pews, and a bid is to be not less than Is. ; and that 
 2s. and 6tZ. on the pound, be paid by the first of September, 
 next, and that the money be laid out for the glazing of the 
 meeting-house, and one-half of the remaining part, to be paid 
 in fourteen months from the first payment, and the remaining 
 part, to be paid within one year from the second payment. 
 And that the town choose a committee to receive the money, or 
 the security, that the purchaser of the pew or pews, shall give, 
 to the acceptance of the above said committee ; and if the first 
 payment be not made, by the time prefixed, then he forfeits the 
 security that he gives, and the pew, or pews remain the prop- 
 erty of the town ; and if the purchaser of the pew or pews, 
 shall not make the remaining payments, according to the con- 
 ditions above prefixed, then he forfeits what he has paid, and 
 the pew or pews, remain the property of the town. And if the 
 pews be not finished by the time prefixed, for the last payment, 
 the purchaser, of the pew or pews, shall receive interest from 
 the payments, till the pews be finished. And that the money 
 be disposed of, for finishing the meeting-house, and no other 
 way, till the meeting-house be finished." 
 
 " Voted, That the above said committee lay out so much of 
 the money, of the first payment, as to get the materials to glaze 
 the meeting-house." 
 
 June 24th, 1788, the town " Voted, To vendue the pews, 
 according to the conditions previously adopted." "Voted, 
 That any person that bids ofl' any pew, shall give security, for 
 the first payment, to the acceptance of the committee, immedi- 
 ately, and he, on the refusing to give such security, it shall be- 
 come no bid, and such person shall not be a bidder on the pews 
 afterwards." According to a transcript of the sale of pews, 
 found on page 85, vol. 1, of the Town Records, there were, 
 in the first meeting-house, forty-seven pews on the ground 
 
486 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 floor, and tweuty-four in the gallery, making a total of seventy- 
 one, all of which, were sold for £473 bs. The reader may 
 imagine what the shape of this church was, by reflecting that 
 the main part was sixty feet in length, b}^ forty-five in width, 
 having two porches, each twelve by fourteen feet, attached, one 
 on the east side and the other on the west, with the whole 
 facing the south, where the main entrance was located. 
 
 Such was the external appearance of the new meeting-house. 
 It must, however, be remembered, that the inside was in a 
 wholly unfinished condition, the sale of the pews already re- 
 ferred to, having been made upon a plan, of what the meeting- 
 house was yet to be, instead of what it really was ; for, on the 
 following November, it was " Voted, To see if the town will 
 finish the inside of the meeting-house, next year, so far as to 
 case the timber and windows, and build the stairs and the ceil- 
 ing, fit for plastering ; anci the lathing and plastering, by the 
 first of November, 1789 ; and to la}' the gallery floor, and the 
 frame for the breast-work of the gallery, by the same time." 
 On the 8th day of the following month, the town voted, to 
 vendue " the stuff required for finishing the inside of the house 
 upon the following conditions, viz. : — 
 
 " The conditions of this vendue are such, that the lowest 
 bidder upon each of the following lots or articles, to which his 
 name is subscribed, doth promise and engage to get and deliver 
 the same at the meeting-house in Gardner, to the acceptance of 
 the town, or the committee at the time prefixed, in each lot or 
 article, and in failure hereof a penalty of 245. for each lot or 
 article, to be paid by the respective subscribers. And each lot 
 or article to be accepted by the town or their committee. The 
 respective subscriber shall not be entitled to receive the re- 
 spective sum annexed to his name, until the first day of Feb- 
 ruary, 1791, except he be a purchaser of a pew or pews; in 
 such case, it shall answer for the payments for his respective 
 pew or pews. All the boards to be white pine." Here follows 
 a long list, of the difierent articles, to be used in finishing the 
 interior of the house, with the names of the individuals who 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 487 
 
 agreed to furnish them, and the prices they were to receive, 
 too vokiminous to be inserted in this work. 
 . December 18th, 1788, the town "Voted, To choose a com- 
 mittee of three persons, to see how they can get the work done, 
 for finishing the inside of the meeting-house, and make report 
 to the town." This committee reported, January 5th, 1789, 
 that five individuals had offered to do the work, the highest 
 price being £220, the lowest,' Lieut. David Foster's, £199 
 10s. The town voted, to give the Avork to the lowest bidder, 
 and " that the committee that was chosen, to see how they could 
 get the inside of the meeting-house done, to be a committee to 
 take and give bonds, in behalf of the town, for finishing the 
 inside of the meeting-house. Voted, To accept Lieut. Foster's 
 offer, which is as follows : — 
 
 " I will finish the inside of the meeting-house, as Westmins- 
 ter meeting-house is finished, the town finding all the materials, 
 by the time or times, they let out, by the vendue, to be pro- 
 vided : and if there is anything more wanting, to be provided, 
 in fourteen days, after I notify the committee of it for the sura 
 of £199 10.S. I having liberty to take my pay, of men that have 
 bought pew or pews, if they and I can agree, if not, the town 
 to pay me £100, by the 15th day of November, 1789, and the 
 other £99 lO*-. when the work is done, and all the work to be 
 done by the 1st day of November, 1790." 
 
 May 9th, 1791, the town " Voted, To choose a committee to 
 view the meeting-house and make report to the town." This 
 committee reported as follows, concerning the work: "All 
 accepted, except the painting not being uniform, and the pews 
 not being marked, with their respective numbers, on each door, 
 and some few standards being loose, one seat, in the southeast- 
 erly corner of the body pews, being shaky, and part of the 
 casing of some of the pews, not being bradded ; and also four 
 squares of glass broken." The town, however, voted to accept 
 the work, Mr. White " promising to finish it agreeable to the 
 report of the committee." 
 
488 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 Previously, the town had "Voted, That the color, for the 
 meetiug-house, the groundwork, be a stone color, the window 
 frames and sashes, and weather-boards and girt, be white, the 
 doors green." The meeting-house having been finished, accord- 
 ing to contract, in 1791, four years after the erection of its 
 frame, at an expense of about $2,800, some of the persons who 
 had bidden off pews, fiiiling to comply with the conditions upon 
 which these pews w^ere sold, a new sale was necessitated, which 
 occurred September 5th, of the same year. Thus, the meeting- 
 house, after these years of patient toil, on the part of the early 
 inhabitants of Gardner, was completed and made fully ready 
 for their occupancy, both for divine worship and the transaction 
 of town business, which, in those days, always occurred, in this 
 edifice. In this particular, our fathers have left an example of 
 patient continuance, worthy of imitation, by their descendants. 
 
 This custom of holding town meetings, in the meeting-house, 
 prevailed till 1845, when it greatly needing repair, both inside 
 and out, the First Parish made the town the following proposi- 
 tion, viz. : "To convey to the town of Gardner, the lower part 
 of the meeting-house, belonging to the First Parish, in said 
 town, being all of that part, which is between the ground and 
 a level, with lower timbers of the gallery ; also, the two porches 
 and the materials of which the galleries are made, on condition 
 that the said town, in consideration thereof, shall agree to make 
 a good substantial floor, over said lower part, on a level with 
 the lower timbers of the galleries, and finish the apartment 
 above said floor, erect pews, pulpit and singers' galleries, suita- 
 ble for a place of religious worship, and make a porch, or pro- 
 jection, at the east end of said house, with convenient stairs 
 and entrance into said apartment, for religious worship ; and 
 also paint the outside of said house, and shall agree to make 
 one-half of all future repairs, and agree further, to keep said 
 house insured, and in case of loss by fire, to pay over to said 
 parish, one-half the amount received from said insurance, pro- 
 vided that said town will comply with the following conditions, 
 to wit : Said town shall reimburse to said parish, the appraised 
 
HI8T0RY OF GARDJ^EB. 489 
 
 value of the risjhts of the pew holders, in said house, together 
 with the expense of appraisal, etc. The fitting up of said upper 
 part of the house, not above specified, shall be done, in such a 
 manner, as a committee of said parish, chosen for that purpose, 
 may agree with said town ; and the said parish shall pay over to 
 said town, the full sum of money that they receive for the sale 
 of pews, in said upper part of the house.'' 
 
 Subsequently, Levi Heywood and others, offered to make the 
 repairs, which were required by the parish, to finish the town 
 hall, armory and selectmen's room, pay the proprietors of the 
 old pews, and receive the proceeds of the new, for the sum of 
 $1,500, on condition that a subscription of $1,000 should be 
 made. Accordingly, the town voted, March 8th, 1845, "To 
 accept the proposition of Levi Heywood and others, provided 
 that a committee of the town, chosen for the purpose, agree 
 with them about the details of finishing the town hall, armory 
 and selectmen's room." Previously, Feb. 15th, 1845, the town 
 had " Voted, To accept the proposition of the First Parish, in 
 Gardner, in relation to repairing their meeting-house, for a 
 town house and an armory." And " To give David Parker and 
 others, the privilege of turning the meeting-house one quarter 
 round, and building a belfry and providing a bell for said 
 house." A committee of three were chosen, Avho were in- 
 structed to have the house completed by the first day of No- 
 vember, following. It appears, from this recoi'd, that the meet- 
 ing-house, of the First Parish, had neither belfry nor bell, till 
 1845. 
 
 The church, connected with the First Parish, continued to 
 worship in this house, till May 1st, 1867, Avhen, having united 
 with the Evangelical Church, the edifice was sold to the Univer- 
 salist Society, who occupied it, till the erection of their new 
 church, the town having. May 15th, 1867, A-^oted, on certain 
 conditions, to relinquish all its rights, in the church edifice, 
 the lower part of which it had used for a town hall, till 1859. 
 The Universalist Societ}', after the erection of their new church, 
 sold the "bell meeting-house" to Mr. Charles Heywood, who 
 
 62 
 
490 HISTORY OF GARDJSfER. 
 
 has since removed the original part, to its present site on Chest- 
 nut street. 
 
 The porches, to this house, at the time of its remodeling, 
 were removed, to the place now owned by Mr. William H. Lam- 
 son, where, having been united, they form the shop now stand- 
 ing upon his premises. The pews, in this meeting-house, were 
 originally square, with their seats arranged with hinges so as to 
 be lifted, while the congregation was standing. The clattering 
 which was made all over the house, when these seats were let 
 down, is still fresh in the minds of some now living. The pul- 
 pit was on the north side of the church, opposite the main en- 
 trance, and was one of those lofty structures, so common in 
 those days, which was reached by long flights of stairs. Sus- 
 pended above the preacher, was the sounding-board, which, 
 to youthful eyes, seemed ever read}* to fall upon his head. 
 On either side of the pulpit were seats for the deacons, 
 selectmen and other ofiicials, while directly in front, were long 
 pews, for the accommodation of the aged men, for in those 
 days, old age received that consideration and respect, to which 
 it is ever entitled. 
 
 The position of the singers was, evidently, for several years, 
 in the pews, upon the lower floor, as is seen by the following 
 article, in a town warrant for September, 1789 : " To see if 
 the town Avill build a pew for the singers to sit in, in the front 
 gallery, in the meeting-house, in room of the seats or any part 
 of the seats." The town voted to dismiss the article, leaving 
 the singers still without special accommodations. The pre- 
 sumption is, that for several years, the singing was conducted 
 without very much assistance from musical instruments. In 
 the warrant, for March meeting, 1797, there Avas an article 
 " To see if the town will let a bass-viol be carried into the 
 meeting-house, and played upon, in the time of singing, in the 
 time of public worship." Upon which, the town "Voted, To 
 let a bass-viol come into the meeting-house on Sunday's." It is 
 possible that some, in the congregation, may have had serious 
 objections to the presence of this instrument, in the house of 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 491 
 
 God, for, in March, 1799, there was au article in the warrant, 
 " To see if the town will clo anything further about the bass- 
 viol, act or transact anything thereto." Upon which, the town 
 " Voted, That the singers act as they think best about bringing 
 the bass-viol into the meeting-house, or not bringing it in." 
 
 It should be observed here, that the old meeting-house was, 
 for many years, entirely destitute of any means of heating, foot- 
 stoves supplying the place of modern conveniences for making 
 the worshiper comfortable. During the intermission, the con- 
 gregation availed themselves of the glowing fire, upon neigh- 
 boring hearth-stones, at which, having warmed themselves, and 
 refilled, with glowing coals, their foot-stoves, they were ready 
 for the service of the afternoon. Nor should we overlook the 
 existence of the tithing men, whose presence, in the congrega- 
 tion, was recognized, by every boy, whose good behavior, in 
 time of worship, this important functionary was empowered to 
 secure. 
 
 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 
 
 The first church of Christ formed, in this town, was the 
 Congregational. It was constituted, by an ecclesiastical council 
 convened for that purpose, February 1st, 1786. This council 
 was composed of the neighboring churches of Westminster, 
 Templeton, Winchendon and Ashburnham. This church, which 
 has ever since been connected with the First Parish, was com- 
 posed, originally, of members of the churches of the neighbor- 
 ing towns, who brought from these churches, letters of dismis- 
 sion and recommendation, to the council forming them into a 
 church. At the same time, there were a few who united with 
 this church by profession, making the total membership, at the 
 organization of the church, thirty-three. The following is the 
 covenant adopted by this church, in the presence of the coun- 
 cil, at this time, there being no articles of faith : — 
 
492 HISTORY OF GAEDNFE. 
 
 COVENANT. 
 
 " We whose names are hereunto subscribed, apprehending 
 ourselves called of God into the church state of the gospel, do 
 iirst of all confess ourselves unworthy to be so highly favored 
 of the Lord, and admire that free, rich grace of his, which tri- 
 umphs over so great unworthiness. And thus with an humble 
 reliance on the aids of grace therein promised for them that, in 
 a sense of their inability to do any good thing, do humbly wait 
 on him for all, thankfully laying hold on his covenant, and 
 would choose the things that please him. 
 
 " We declare our serious belief of the Christian religion, as 
 contained in the sacred Scriptures, and with such a view thereof, 
 as the confession of faith, in our churches, for the substance, 
 has exhibited. Heartily resolving to conform our lives unto the 
 rules of that holy religion, as long as we live in the world, we 
 give up ourselves unto the blessed Jesus, who is the Lord Je- 
 hovah, and adhere to him, as the head of his people, in the 
 covenant of his grace, and rely on him as our Priest, and our 
 Prophet and King, to bring us unto eternal blessedness. We 
 acknowledge our e^'erlasting and indispensable obligations to 
 glorify our God, in all the duties of a godly, sober and 
 righteous life ; and very particularly, in the duties of a church 
 state, and a body of people appointed for an obedience to him, 
 in all the ordinances of the gospel. 
 
 " And we thereupon depend upon his gracious assistance for 
 our faithful discharge of the duties thus incumbent upon us. 
 We desire and intend and, with dependence on his promised 
 and powerful grace, we engage to walk together, as a Church 
 of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the faith and order of the gospel, 
 so far as we shall have the same revealed unto us, conscien- 
 tiously attending the public worship of God, the sacraments of 
 the New Testament, the discipline of his kingdom, and all liis 
 holy institutions, in communion with one another; and watch- 
 fully avoiding sinful stumbling blocks and contentions, as be- 
 come a people whom the Lord has bound np together in a 
 bundle of life. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 493 
 
 " At the same time, we do also present our offspring with us, 
 unto the Lord, professing, with his help, to maintain the daily 
 worship of God in our houses, and to do our part in all the 
 other methods of a religious education, that our children may 
 be the Lord's. 
 
 " And all this we do, flying to the blood of the everlasting cov- 
 enant, for the pardon of our many errors, and praying that the 
 glorious Lord, who is the Great Shepherd, would prepare and 
 strengthen us for every good work, to do his will, working in 
 us that which is well pleasing in his sight, to whom be glory 
 forever and ever. Amen." 
 
 Then follows the names of the subscril)ers to this covenant. 
 Previous to this time, however, the town had not been remiss 
 in its duty, in providing for itself, gospel preaching. In its third 
 town meeting, held November 7th, 1785, the citizens were called 
 upon " To know their minds concerning of hiring of preaching." 
 A vote was passed, choosing "a committee to hire preaching. 
 Voted, To hire four days' preaching." March 14th, 1786, the 
 town " Voted, To hire preaching one-fourth of this year. Chose 
 a committee of two, to hire preaching this year. Voted, To 
 leave it to the committee, who to hire for to preach. Voted, 
 That the committee hire four Sabbaths in the spring and four in 
 the summer, and the rest in the fall." 
 
 Although there Avas an article, in the warrant for the annual 
 town meeting, for 1787, " to know the minds of the town, con- 
 cerning hiring preaching the ensuing year, and grant money for 
 the same," yet the town voted, to pass over this article. The 
 inference is, that, being so busy in the erection of the new 
 church, there was a disposition to economize, in matters of 
 parochial expenses. 
 
 In 1788, the town "Voted, To hire preaching the present 
 year." Voted, £20 for this object, and that " the committee 
 hire a man to begin to preach by the middle of May next, as 
 near as thej^ can." 
 
494 HISTORY OF GARDNER, 
 
 The town, at its annual meeting in 1789, voted to raise £20 
 for preaching and chose a committee of three to carry their vote 
 into effect. They then " Voted, That the committee that was 
 chosen to hire preaching this year, hire Mr. Parker three Sab- 
 baths following, then to lay out the rest of the money, as they 
 shall think best for the town." May the 11th, of the same year, 
 the town, evidently having heard with satisfaction, Mr. Parker, 
 called a meeting " To see if the town would join with the church 
 in giving Mr. Frederick Parker a call, to settle in the work of 
 the gospel ministry, in this place." At this meeting they "Voted, 
 That all freeholders shall have liberty to express their minds by 
 vote, or verbally." "Voted, That they liked Mr. Frederick 
 Parker well enough to have him for their gospel minister." 
 
 "Voted, To join with the church, in giving Mr. Frederick 
 Parker a call to settle in the work of the gospel ministrj' in this 
 place." A committee was then chosen to draw conditions of 
 settlement, which w^ere, that Mr. Parker was to receive " for 
 the settlement, £150, to be paid in neat stock, at the then mar- 
 ket price." " For salary £60 per year, for five years, and 
 £()6 per year afterwards. One-half of the above salary, to be 
 paid in produce of the farm, viz. : Beef, pork, grain, butter, 
 cheese, at the market price ; also tw^euty cords of hard wood 
 yearly, cord wood length, delivered at his dwelling house." It 
 is evident, that Mr. Parker was, for some time, in doubt as to 
 his duty, in declining or accepting this call, of the church and 
 parish, since, on the twentieth day of the following October, 
 the town was called together, to see if they were willing " that 
 Mr. Frederick Parker would have until next spring, to make 
 answer to the call that we have given, if it is agreeable to him." 
 At this meeting, the town " Voted, That Mr. Frederick Parker 
 may refuse giving his answer to the call given him, by the 
 church and congregation, to the settlement in the gospel min- 
 istry in this place, if it should be most agreeable to him, until 
 next spring." They also voted, at the same time, to hire Mr. 
 Frederick Parker six Sabbaths, beginning the second Sabbath 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 495 
 
 in November, and preaching four Sabbaths then, and the other 
 two next sprhig. At the March meeting, 1790, the town voted, 
 to raise £30 for preaching and "that the committee hire Mr. 
 Frederick Parker four Sabbaths, if he can be had." It is evi- 
 dent, from the record, that Mr. Parker, after due deliberation, 
 declined the call, for, in »Tune 1790, a town meeting was called 
 "to see if the town will concur with the church, in renewing of 
 the call of Mr. Frederick Parker, in the work of gospel min- 
 istry in this place." The call was renewed, twenty-six voting in 
 the affirmative and six in the ne^^ative. Although their hearts 
 were evidently set upon Mr. Parker, as their first pastor, he, 
 nevertheless, declined their second urgent call. In 1791, the 
 town voted to expend £30 for preaching. They also " Voted, 
 That the committee hire some person of a good character for 
 four Sabbaths." 
 
 At length, "the person of good character" appeared, who 
 was destined to serve the town and church, as their pastor, for 
 the succeeding thirty-one years. July 21st, 1791, the town was 
 assembled to act, among others, upon the following article : 
 "To see if the town will join with the church in giving Mr. 
 Jonathan Osgood a call, to settle in the work of the gospel 
 ministry, in this place." At this meeting, all the freeholders 
 were desired, in the warrant, to attend and show their approba- 
 tion, or disapproval, as they saw fit, as to giving Mr. Osgood a 
 call. 
 
 At this meeting, the town voted to unite with the church in 
 giving Mr. Osgood a call, sixty freeholders voting in the affirm- 
 ative, and three against it. " Tried by the voters, thirty-two 
 for it, and two against it." A committee was also chosen, to 
 draw conditions of settlement and salary. This committee, 
 after an adjournment of about one hour, reported as follows : 
 "First, for his settlement, £178, one-half of it to be paid in 
 one year, from the time of his settlement with us in the gospel 
 ministry, and thq other half in two years, from his settlement ; 
 and £75 for his salary, yearly, as long as he continues in the 
 gospel ministry with us." This report, of the committee, was 
 
496 HI8T0EY OF GARDNER. 
 
 not agreeable to the town, thirty-four freeholders voting for, 
 and thirty against the report, while nineteen voters were in 
 favor, and fifteen against it. The vote was reconsidered. The 
 town then voted for the settlement of Mr. Osgood, £160, and 
 for his salary, £75. 
 
 Snbsequentl}', the town voted to give Mr. Osgood, twenty 
 cords of hard wood, yearly, to be delivered at his dwelling 
 house, to begin in three years after he should be settled. On 
 the conditions above described, Mr Osgood accepted the call, 
 in a letter, a copy of which may be found on page 170, vol. 1, 
 Town Records. In this letter, to the church and congregation, 
 bearing date, September 21st, 1791, he says, " I trust that you 
 will endeavor to strengthen my hands by your Christian con- 
 duct, and that you will be desirous that harmony should be kept 
 up with the neighboring churches, and that I should frequently 
 exchange with my brethren, the clergy. The proposals you have 
 made me for m}^ support, are according to the infancy of the 
 town. If at any future period, as you increase in wealth, I 
 should stand in need, 1 trust you will be ready to alFord me 
 relief. I shall depend that j^ou punctually fulfill the proposals 
 you have made." 
 
 Previously to this date, July 6th, 1791, the church taking 
 the lead, as it always should in such matters, had passed a vote 
 inviting Mr. Osgood to become their pastor, also, " To choose 
 a committee to apply to the selectmen for to call a town meet- 
 ing, to see if the toAvn will join with the church, in giving Mr. 
 Jonathan Osgood a call, to settle as a gospel minister in this 
 place." September 21st, 1791, the church " Voted, To send 
 to the five adjacent churches and to two churches in Andover, 
 the second church in Boxford, the church in Littleton and the 
 church in Bolton, for a council to assist in the ordination of 
 Mr. Jonathan Osgood as a gospel minister in this place." This 
 council was convened October 18th and 19th, and after the ex- 
 amination of Mr. Osgood, and the proceedings of the church 
 and town, in giving him a call, the church " Voted, That it was 
 their desire that the council proceed to ordination." It appears 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 497 
 
 from the above records, that Mr. Osgood was installed as the 
 first pastor of this town, October 19th, 1791. 
 
 Rev. Jonathan Osgood was born in Andover, Mass., Septem- 
 ber 21st, 1761. In early life, he was engaged in the business 
 of a tanner, which he was obliged to relinquish, on account of 
 ill health. He then fitted for college, graduating at Yale, in 
 1789. It is not known, with whom he studied theology. As 
 is elsewhere indicated, in this work, Mr. Osgood was a very 
 active and useful pastor, among the people of those earlier 
 days, who were prompt, in fulfilling their pecuniary obligations 
 to him. Sometimes, in case of depreciation of the currency, 
 they made him a present of £25, and annually voted him twenty 
 cords of " good hard wood," to be delivered at his door, at a 
 specified time. This wood was always vendued ofi" at the an- 
 nual town meeting, in lots of four cords each. 
 
 Aside from performing the duties of a pastor and physician, 
 he was the counsellor of those, in the town, who needed advice 
 on subjects not immediately connected with his two professions. 
 He never allowed his medical business, however, to interfere 
 with his duties, as a minister, on the Sabbath. It was always 
 understood, that if a physician was needed, at a time which 
 would interfere with his clerical duties, on the Sabbath, another 
 than himself must be sent for. From this course, he was never 
 known to deviate. Some are now living, who have a ^ivid re- 
 membrance of the appearance of Mr. Osgood, as he rode hur- 
 riedly to the steps of the meeting-house, upon his foaming 
 horse, at the hour of morning service, having just come from 
 visiting his patients, in some distant part of the town, some 
 kind parishioner taking charge of the beast, while its owner 
 reverently ascended the pulpit stairs, as a physician of the souls 
 of those, for whom he was set to watch. Mr. Osgood was 
 actively interested in all municipal and state afiairs, serving the 
 town as a member of the school board, drafting petitions to the 
 General Court, and the President of the United States, and 
 representing the town, in the legislature. He built, for himself, 
 the house now owned by Deacon Henry Lawrence, where he 
 
 63 
 
498 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 died, May 21st, 3 822, greatly lamented by his parishioners and 
 friends, whom he had served, as a minister of the gospel and 
 l)hysician, for nearly thirty-one years, and was buried at the 
 expense of his parish, which then embraced the whole town. 
 He married Miss Orange Wadsworth, of Farmington, Ct., by 
 whom he had five children. 
 
 Mr. Osgood was a man of fine personal appearance, very 
 portly in his mien, possessing a loud, clear-toned voice, which 
 he used with impressive effect, in offering prayer, while seated 
 upon his horse, on the muster field. 
 
 " A mau he was to all the country dear, 
 
 And passing rich with forty pounds a year. 
 
 Remote from towns, he ran his godly race, 
 
 Nor e'er had chang'd nor wish'd to change bis place." 
 
 The church, under the ministrations of Mr. Osgood, enjoyed 
 a goodly degree of prosperity. It was not, however, without 
 some instances of heart burnings, derelictions from duty, on 
 the part of some of its members, and cases of discipline, which 
 were faithfully attended to, by the pastor and the church. Some 
 of its members absented themselves from divine service, be- 
 cause, as they informed the committee, they had not money to 
 buy decent clothes and to pay for the elements used at the 
 Lord's Su[)per. Some also, like Mr. Sullivan Jackson, gave 
 the church trouble and anxiety, because of their rejection of 
 the rite of infant baptism. Others, not satisfied Avith the 
 " standing order," desired to withdraw to other churches. 
 Some were offended with their brethren and ceased to attend 
 communion. All these disturbing elements were kindly and 
 patiently dealt with, by the pastor and the people, in order to 
 reclaim them, but, in some cases, without avail. It should be 
 remembered, that these were times when the various reliiiious 
 denominations, which had sprung up, and were disseminating 
 their new views, were making their influence felt, in every town 
 throughout the commonwealth, and were greatly disturbing the 
 serenity to the " standing order," who looked with no com- 
 placency upon the departure of any of its members, to other 
 folds. 
 
HISTORY OF GABBJSrUB. 499 
 
 Subsequently, to the death of Mr. Osgood, the pulpit was 
 supplied, by various individuals, some of whom came very near 
 being called, as pastor, till 1824, when a town meeting was 
 called. May 3d, to see if they would give a call to Mr. Sumner 
 Lincoln, to settle as a stated gospel minister. The town 
 " Voted, To give Mr. Sumner Lincoln a call to settle with us, 
 in the work of the ministry," one hundred and twelve voting in 
 the affirmative and none in the negative. Mr. Lincoln was to 
 receive five hundred dollars as his salary, with the addition of 
 a pew, called the minister's pew, in the meeting-house, for his 
 use, " so long as he should supply the desk, as a gospel min- 
 ister." Mr. Lincoln accepted the ofier, making, at the same 
 time, a request, which the town voted to grant, to have the 
 privilege of being absent two or three Sabbaths, annually, if 
 he should wish to visit his friends. Previously, upon the same 
 day, without a dissenting voice, the church voted to invite Mr. 
 Lincoln to become their pastor. The town, acting in its 
 capacity as parish, chose a committee, at the same time, to 
 confer with Mr. Lincoln, in regard to a council, for his ordina- 
 tion and installation. This committee reported that the follow- 
 ing churches be invited with their pastors and delegates : "The 
 Congregational Church in Athol, Barre, Templeton, Hubbards- 
 tou, Westminster, Petersham, Ashburnham and Ashby." At 
 the same meeting, the town " Voted, That a committee of five 
 be chosen to let out, to the lowest bidder, the provision for the 
 council ; to appoint marshals for the day, and secure the meet- 
 ing-house against damage." They also " Voted, That the fore- 
 going committee, be a committee to send the letters missive, to 
 the council." 
 
 It will be seen, that this w^as a departure from the true 
 method, which should always be observed by the church, in 
 taking the lead in extending a call to a candidate, and inviting 
 the parish to concur. This unusual proceeding is explained, 
 by the fact, that the church had previouly voted, February 12th, 
 1823, unanimously, " To yield the privilege and to dispense 
 with the custom of preceding the town, on occasions of this 
 
500 HISTORY OF GAllDITEE. 
 
 kind, aud to act with the town, in convention, in all measures 
 relating to a settlement of the gospel ministry among them." 
 The council, which ordained and installed Mr. Lincoln, over 
 the First Church, in Gardner, as its second pastor, convened, 
 for that purpose, June 16th, 1824. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln was born, at AVarren, June 20th, 1799. He grad- 
 uated at Yale College, in 1822, and studied theology at New 
 Haven, Conn., and, as stated above, was ordained and installed 
 over the First Churcii and Parish, in Gardner, June IGth, 1824, 
 from which he was dismissed, by an ecclesiastical council, August 
 11th, 1830, that he might become the first pastor of the Evan- 
 gelical Congregational Church and Society, of Gardner, over 
 which, he was installed, as pastor, upon the same day of his 
 dismission, from the First Church and Parish, which he had 
 served, as pastor, for a little more than six years. Mr. Lincoln 
 was twice married. His first wife was Miss Gratia E. Smith, 
 daughter of Dr. Nathan Smith, of New Haven, by whom he had 
 ten children. His second wife was Mrs. Abbie Comee Harwood, 
 daughter of Mr. James M. Comee, of Gardner, by whom he 
 had two children. Mr. Lincoln is now pastor of the First Con- 
 gregational Unitarian Society, of Wilton, N. H. In 1857, the 
 name Increase was legally prefixed to his name, which was given 
 him in infancy, but which was never recorded. He was named 
 for Increase Sumner, Governor of Massachusetts, who died the 
 year he was born. As a minister of the gospel and pastor of 
 the First Congregational Church, and afterwards of the Evan- 
 gelical Congregational Church, in this place, he was alwa3's 
 actively interested in everything that pertained to the highest 
 welfare of the town, and to the spiritual interests of the people 
 whom he served. He was, for several years, a member of the 
 school committee, and did very much to improve the educational 
 advantages of the town. At the time of his settlement, in Gard- 
 ner, the two great national questions, of slavery and temperance, 
 were coming prominently before the public, in which Mr. Lin- 
 coln became greatly interested, both as a strong anti-slavery and 
 temperance man. Into the discussion of these questions, both 
 
HIS TOBY OF G ARBITER. 501 
 
 in private and in public, Mr. Lincoln entered, with great zeal 
 and persistent energy, which have never abated, even to this 
 seventy-ninth year of his age, and fifty-fourth of his ministry. 
 It should be stated, in this connection, that the last vote of the 
 town, acting in its double capacity of town and parish, was 
 passed April 2d, 1827, during Mr. Lincoln's pastorate of the 
 First Church, and was as follows : " Voted, To grant five hun- 
 dred dollars for the Eev. Sumner Lincoln's salary." From this 
 date, the town and parish virtually ceased to be one. 
 
 At this particular period, in the history of the First Church 
 and Parish, namely, 1830, there sprung up a diversity of religious 
 sentiment, respecting what is termed Unitarianism and Ortho- 
 doxy, which resulted in a division of the church, and the dismis- 
 sion of Mr. Lincoln, the strictly evangelical portion withdrawing 
 and formiug a new church and society, of Gardner, hereafter to 
 be noticed. Previous to this separation, an amicable arrange- 
 ment was entered into, whereby the tankards, cups, plates, table- 
 cloth, and chest containing these articles, should be owned and 
 used in common, by the remaining and the newly formed church ; 
 also, that the money in hajid, and otherwise due, should be 
 equally divided between them. 
 
 At the same time, namely, July 28th, 1830, Mr. Lincoln made 
 the following proposition to the First Parish : "I hereby agree 
 to have the civil contract, between me and the First Parish and 
 Church, in Gardner, dissolved, and to take a dismission from 
 the same, provided the parish will pay me one hundred and 
 twenty-five dollars, and pay their proportional part of what is 
 coming to me for preaching since my ministerial year commenced, 
 till the contract is dissolved ; and provided they will agree to 
 call a council, of three ministers and delegates, that I shall 
 choose, to carry the same into efiect, and provided they will 
 grant me the use of the meeting-house, and to preach in it, till 
 the first cf September, next." 
 
 Whereupon, the parish "Voted, To accept the agreement 
 which Rev. Mr. Lincoln made with the committee, provided the 
 parish be at no expense for the council.'' Also, "Voted, To 
 
502 HISTOBY OF GARDINER. 
 
 grant one hundred and sevent}' dollars for the purposes specified 
 in the warrant." Haviuo^ now virtually become a Unitarian 
 Church and Society, measures were at once adopted by the par- 
 ish, to provide itself a pastor, in sympathy with their religious 
 views. November 1st, 1830, a meeting of the parish was 
 called, to see if a call should be extended to Mr. Jonathan Farr, 
 to settle with them as their minister. A call was extended to 
 Mr. Farr, November 15th. The salary offered was four hundred 
 dollars a year, to be paid semi-annually. He was to remain 
 their pastor so long as the majority of the parish were satisfied 
 with him ; whenever they were dissatisfied with him, they were 
 to sfive him three months' notice. In case he should become 
 dissatisfied with them, he was to give the same notice. His dis- 
 missal, whenever it occurred, was to take place without expense 
 to the parish. Mr. Farr was ordained, as pastor of the First 
 Church, by a council composed of Unitarian ministers, Decem- 
 ber 9th, 1830, and was dismissed in July, 1833. 
 
 Rev. Jonathan Farr w\as born at Harvard, September 20th, 
 1790. Studied theology at Harvard College. After his dis- 
 mission from Gardner, he never was again settled as a minister. 
 He died June 3d, 1844. 
 
 September 21st, 1833, the parish voted to give Mr. Curtis 
 Cutler a call, to become their pastor, at a salary of five hundred 
 dollars a 3'ear, to be paid annually. The conditions, of his 
 settlement, were the same as those of Mr. Farr, He was 
 ordained and installed October 30th, 1833. His connection 
 with the parish ceased in 1839. 
 
 Rev. Curtis Cutler was born in Lexington, January 1st, 1806. 
 He was a graduate of Harvard College, where he studied the- 
 ology. He died in Cambridge, in September, 1874. As a 
 pastor, Mr. Cutler was well received by his parishioners. He 
 was dismissed from Gardner, at his own request. His depart- 
 ure was greatly regretted by those to whom he ministered. Dur- 
 ing his ministry, the parish " Voted, To give leave to take the 
 sounding board down, and whatever it fetches, to go towards 
 trimming the pulpit." After the dismission olf Mr. Cutler, Rev. 
 
HISTORY OF GABBuSrUB. 503 
 
 George W. Stacy supplied the pulpit of this society for one year 
 or more. Commencing in 1843, Rev. W. H. Fish supplied the 
 pulpit, for a short time. Here ended, virtually,* the existence 
 of this church, as a distinctively Unitarian body. 
 
 April 27th, 1846, there was an effort made to unite this society, 
 with the Evangelical Congregational Society. Messrs. Smyrna 
 W. Bancroft, David Parker and Amasa Whitney were a com- 
 mittee, on the part of the First Parish, to effect this union. 
 The}' proposed, "That it be referred to the ministers of the 
 Worcester North Association, to recommend candidates, for the 
 supply of the pulpit, till such times as the two societies, united, 
 shall find one, in whom the}' can unite in settling over them, as 
 pastor." 
 
 The Evangelical Congregational Society voted to accept this 
 proposition, " provided the First Parish will add to it, the fol- 
 lowing amendment, viz. : That the societies, when united, shall 
 employ Rev. William B. Stone to preach for one year, and 
 after that, if we can't agree in the minister, to refer it to the 
 association, according to the proposal of the committee of the 
 First Parish." At an adjourned meeting, December 21st, 1846, 
 the Evangelical Society, "Voted, That under the present cir- 
 cumstances of the two societies, it is inexpedient to unite the 
 two societies. We therefore choose to postpone the matter for 
 the present." 
 
 Following Mr. Fish, was Rev. Mr. Banister, who was a strong 
 Calviuist, and in connection with whose ministry, the church 
 began to turn its sympathies towards orthodoxy, as it is gener- 
 ally termed. Precisely how long Mr. Banister occupied, or sup- 
 plied the pulpit, is not stated, in the church or parish records. 
 
 October 18th, 1847, the church extended a unanimous call to 
 Rev. John C. Paine, to become their pastor. In this action of 
 the church, the parish concurred, oflfering him a salary of six 
 hundred dollars per annum, and two Sabbaths vacation. Hav- 
 ing accepted this invitation of the church and parish, Mr. Paine 
 was installed, January 12th, 1848, and dismissed in May, 1864. 
 
504 HISTORY OF GAEDNEE. 
 
 Rev. John C. Paine was bom in Ashfielcl, Mass., January 
 29th, 1806. He graduated at Amherst College, in 1834. He 
 studied theology at the Theological Institute at Hartford, Conn., 
 and at Princeton Theological Seminary, N. J. He was ordained 
 to the gospel ministry in 1838. He married Miss Eliza Folger 
 of Nantucket, in 1839. He is now residing at Groveland, 
 Mass. During his pastorate of this church, Mr. Paine proved 
 himself to be a gentleman of thorough culture, ot affable man- 
 ners, a studious and devoted pastor, thoroughly interested in the 
 welfare of the people, whom he ever sought to inspire with 
 courage and hopefulness, in times of great misfortune and dis- 
 couragement. As a preacher, Mr. Paine was thoroughly' evan- 
 gelical, in the doctrines which he promulgated, possessing a 
 pleasing and attractive address in the pulpit, and drew to him- 
 self and the society, a steadily increasing congregation, so that, 
 for a time, there was no spare pew to be rented in the church. 
 Under his ministry, the church voted, February, 1857, to 
 change their creed and to adopt another, more evangelical. 
 
 August 9th, 1864, the parish "Voted, To unite with the 
 church in giving Rev. William D. Herrick, a call to settle over 
 them as their minister, on a salary of one thousand dollars per 
 year, to be paid quarterly," which was afterwards increased to 
 fifteen hundred. 
 
 Rev. William D. Herrick was born in Methuen, Mass., 
 March 26th, 1831. He prepared for college at Atkinson Acad- 
 emy, N. H., and graduated at Amherst College, in 1857. He 
 studied theology at Andover Theological Seminary, and was 
 ordained at Redding, Conn., January 18th, 1860, where he re- 
 mained till September 1st, 1864. He was installed pastor of the 
 First Congregational Church and Parish, in Gardner, October 
 19th, 1864, President J. H. Seelye, of Amherst College, preach- 
 ing the installation sermon. Upon the union of the two 
 churches of Gardner, he was dismissed, May 27th, 1867, and 
 was installed, as pastor of the Congregational Church, in North 
 Amherst, Mass., September 19th, 1867, where he remained till 
 June 11th, 1874, when he was installed pastor of the First 
 
,4^^- 
 
 dlM ' I'll 
 
 
 ^^iB 
 
 1 
 
 u 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNEIL 505 
 
 Congregational Church, in Gardner, Prof. R. H. Mather of 
 Amherst College, preaching the sermon of installation. Dur- 
 ing Mr. Herrick's ministry, as the last pastor, of the First 
 Church and Parish, previous to their union with the Evangelical 
 Church and Society, the church and parish were thoroughly 
 united, harmonious and prosperous. 
 
 EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY AND 
 CHURCH 
 
 From 1830 to 1867. 
 
 Having traced the principal events connected with the First 
 Parish and Church, from the time of their organization, in 1785 
 and 178(), to the time of their union with the Evangelical 
 Church and Society, in 1867, we will now go back and take up 
 the history of the Evangelical Congregational Society and 
 Church, from the date of their organization to the time of the 
 union of the two churches. 
 
 The Evangelical Congregational Society was legally organ- 
 ized June 25th, 1830, by the adoption of the following consti- 
 tution : — 
 
 We, the subscribers, members of the religious society, in the 
 town of Gardner, called the Evangelical Congregational Society, 
 considering it our privilege, as well as our duty to assist each 
 other in the support of the gospel ministry, do hereby form 
 into a society, by the name of the Evangelical Congregational 
 Society of Gardner, for the above purposes, and promise, cove- 
 nant and agree to and with each other, that w^e will conform to 
 and be governed by the following articles, viz. ; — 
 
 Art. 1. There shall be chosen, annually, a President, to 
 preside at all meetings of the society. 
 
 Art. 2. A Clerk shall be annually chosen, whose duty it 
 shall be to record the proceedings, and transact all the business 
 of the society, agreeable to the statute of the commonwealth. 
 
 Art. 3. A Prudential Committee shall be chosen annually, 
 whose duty it shall be to solicit subscriptions, for the support 
 of the gospel ministry in this society, and collect all moneys 
 
 64 
 
506 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 subscribed therefor, and manage all the prudential concerns of 
 the society. 
 
 Art. 4. A Treasurer shall be chosen annually, whose duty 
 it shall be to receive in and pay out, all moneys of the society, 
 subject to the order of the prudential committee of said society. 
 
 Art. 5. All the officers of the society shall be chosen by 
 ballot. 
 
 Art. 6. Any person voluntarily becoming a member of this 
 society, shall be holden to pay all moneys by him or her sub- 
 scribed ; and may withdraw, at any time, by paying whatever 
 may be due from such person, to the society. 
 
 Art. 7. There shall be an annual meeting of the society, 
 holden on the second Monday in April, for the purpose of 
 choosing officers and transacting any other business of the 
 society. 
 
 Art. 8. A meeting of the society shall be called, at any 
 time, by the request of ten or more of the members of the 
 society ; and the prudential committee shall give, at least eight 
 days notice, in such manner as the society shall direct. 
 
 Art. 9. Immediately after the adoption of this constitution, 
 there shall be chosen a committee of three or more to receive 
 all voluntary subscriptions, by individuals, in money, material, 
 or labor to be applied to the building a meeting-house, for 
 public and religious worship of said society, in the following 
 manner : That when said meeting-house shall have been finished, 
 the pews — except so many as shall be thought necessary, by 
 the society, to be reserved, for the accommodation of those 
 who are unable or unwilling to hire pews — shall be rented to 
 the members of the society — subject in manner to their direc- 
 tion — and the money arising from the rent, shall be applied to 
 the support of the gospel ministry, in this society ; that is, to 
 pay as far as it goes, or is neccessary, the stated salary of our 
 present minister; and after him, to pay the salary of any one, 
 whom the church and society shall call to preach to them, or to 
 be their settled gospel minister. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 507 
 
 Art. 10. All persons, who contribute of their propert}' for 
 the building of said house, shall have no exclusive public or 
 private interest in the same, above any member of said society, 
 so long as it shall be applied to the use, and in the manner 
 above said ; but when, if ever, said house ceases to be so ap- 
 plied, it shall revert to those individuals, in this place, (Gard- 
 ner) or their heirs, who contributed of their wealth, to the 
 amount of five dollars, and said house may be disposed of ac- 
 cording to their directions; provided, nevertheless, that the 
 original contributors, or their heirs, in this place, shall appro- 
 priate to their own private use, only the principal, originally 
 given : the remaining value of the house, shall be appropriated, 
 in money, to missionary purposes ; to aid that class of Chris- 
 tians in their missionary efforts, domestic or foreign, in this 
 state, (Massachusetts) commonly distinguished, at this date, 
 (1830), by the name of Orthodox. 
 
 Art. 11. This constitution and form of government may 
 be revised or altered — excepting the tenth article, which shall 
 never be altered — at a meeting of the society, called for that 
 purpose, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present. 
 
 Art. 12. Any person wishing to become a member of said 
 society, shall produce a certificate of recommendation, from the 
 prudential committee. 
 
 Such was the basis upon which the Evangelical Society was 
 originally formed. Forty-one male members immediately signed 
 the above constitution, by which they were formed into a society 
 for the transaction of business. The necessary officers were 
 chosen upon the day of incorporation. A committee was 
 immediately chosen, to solicit subscriptions for building a 
 meeting-house, and to " examine a piece of ground to set the 
 meeting-house upon, and receive proposals." At an adjourned 
 meeting, on the same day, a vote was passed "to have the 
 society buy a piece of land of Esquire Glazier, near the pound, 
 to set the meeting-house upon." Mr. John Merriam was chosen 
 to procure a plan of Rev. Mr. Gay's meeting-house, in Hubbards- 
 
508 HISTORY OF GAllBKEll. 
 
 ton. The prudential committee were authorized to take a deed 
 of Mr. GUizier, of as much land as they should think necessary. 
 A committee of three was chosen to let out the materials for 
 building the meeting-house. July 2d, 1830, the society " Voted, 
 That the timber and materials, for a frame, for a meeting-house, 
 shall be brought near the spot where the house is to stand, 
 where the prudential committee shall direct, by the 10th day of 
 September, next." All the necessary materials having been 
 provided, the meeting-house was raised, October 2d, 1830, the 
 society voting " to have no ardent spirits drank, at the raising." 
 The interior was finished the winter following. 
 
 This meeting-house was dedicated June 16th, 1831, the 
 society having " Voted, That the Rev. Sumner Lincoln have 
 his choice of all the pews in the meeting-house, for his use." 
 "Voted, That the pews Nos. 1 and 2 be reserved for elderly 
 people." November 19th, 1846, the meeting-house greatl}^ 
 needing repair, the society voted to take out all the pews, and 
 bring the floor to a level, to build new pews, place the pulpit 
 at the north end, build a gallery, for the singers, at the south 
 end, and make such other repairs as should be necessary. 
 
 February 14th, 1855, a meeting of the society was called 
 to consider the project of building a new meeting-house. 
 A committee of three was chosen, to ascertain whether the 
 original proprietors, of the society's first meeting-house, Avould 
 relinquish their claims to it, if they had any. Also a com- 
 mittee of six was chosen, to ascertain if sufficient funds could 
 be raised, to build a new meeting-house, and to see if a place 
 could be found, on which to locate it. The society continued 
 to worship in this meeting-house, until sometime in the year 
 1855, when it was abandoned as a house of worship, and be- 
 came a part of the chair shop of Mr. Calvin S. Greenwood, at 
 South Gardner. 
 
 August 9th, 1855, the new church, of this society, was raised, 
 prayer being olTered, at the raising, by Rev. Abijah Stowell, 
 pastor. This church was built, by recommendation of a build- 
 ing committee, after the model of the Barre church. It was 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 509 
 
 dedicated May 8th, 1856. Its cost was about nine thousand 
 dollars. This society continued to worship in this house, until 
 the union, in the spring of 1867. In February, of this year, a 
 movement, looking to the union of the two churches and socie- 
 ties, began to be made, which, after frequent meetings and 
 much discussion, on the part of both societies, resulted in the 
 adoption of the following resolutions, as the basis of union : — 
 The report, of the two committees, chosen to elfect an union, 
 between the two Congregational Societies, in Gardner, embody- 
 ing the conditions, etc., is as follows : — 
 
 At a meeting of the committee of the First Parish, of Gard- 
 ner, and the committee of the Evangelical Congregational So- 
 ciety of Gardner, chosen to confer together and agree upon 
 conditions for an union of the two societies, Thomas E. Gla- 
 zier was chosen chairman, C. K. Wood and J. M. Moore were 
 chosen secretaries, the following resolution and conditions were 
 agreed upon and adopted : — 
 
 Resolved, That the two societies be united, upon the follow- 
 ing conditions, viz : — 
 
 First, the Evangelical Congregational Society dissolve their 
 organization, and the members join the First Parish. 
 
 Second, the pew holders in the Evangelical Congregational 
 Society, permit their pews to be resold at auction, to the 
 highest bidder, above the original appraisal, upon condition that 
 they shall receive a sum equal to the original appraisal for the 
 same. If any pew shall not be sold, then it shall remain the 
 property of the person previously owning it, unless such per- 
 son has purchased some other pew, in the house of said society, 
 in which case, such person shall be allowed the original appraisal 
 and the pew shall become the property of the First Parish. If 
 any of the pews now belonging to the Evangelical Congrega- 
 tional Society shall remain unsold, then the First Parish shall 
 take all such as are not sold, at the original appraisal. 
 
 Third, the present members of the First Parish shall pay to 
 the Evangelical Congregational Society, the sum of eight hun- 
 dred and forty-three dollars for one-half of their organ, and the 
 
510 HISTORY OF GARDNEli. 
 
 Evangelical Congregational Society shall allow the present 
 members of the First Parish, the sum of two hundred dollars, 
 for one-half of their right in the bell, upon the house of the 
 First Parish. Then the above-named orsan and rieht in the 
 bell are to become the property of the united societies. 
 
 Fourth, it is furthermore agreed, that the present members, 
 of the First Parish, shall retain their meeting-house and satisfy 
 the claims of the pew holders in the same. Provided, the said 
 members shall remove the meeting-house from the common, 
 after having six months notice from the First Parish. And it 
 is also agreed that the E> angelical Congregational Society shall 
 transfer and convey to the First Parish, all their real estate. 
 
 Thos. E. Glazier, 
 C. S. Greek WOOD, 
 George Kelton, 
 S. K. Pierce, 
 J. M. Moore, 
 Levi Heywood, 
 S. W. Bancroft, 
 C. W. Bush, 
 Amasa Bancroft, 
 C. K. Wood, 
 Gardner, April 18th, 1867. 
 
 At a subsequent meeting, of this union committee, held May 
 7th, 1867, it was " Voted, That the pew holders, in the Evan- 
 gelical Society, give possession of the pews in their house, on 
 the 30th of May, 1867." In accordance with the above agree- 
 ment, the two societies began worshiping together, as one, 
 upon the first Sabbath in June, 1867. 
 
 THE EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. 
 From the most accurate information which we are able to 
 obtain, from the church and parish records, the Evangelical Con- 
 gregational Church was formed, August 11th, 1830. The mem- 
 bers, composing it, were those who had withdrawn from the 
 church connected with the First Parish, because of the latter's 
 unsoundness. This secession seems to have been a step seri- 
 
 Commiitee 
 
 of the 
 
 Two Parishes. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNEH. 511 
 
 ously contemplated, for a long time, previous to final action. 
 How large the number of those seceding was, we have no means 
 of stating. It would appear, from the records, that the church, 
 which became connected with the new society, regarded itself, 
 as in fact, the church while associated with the First Parish, and 
 that, by its own act, was transferring itself to the Evangelical 
 Society. 
 
 Previous to their separation from the First Parish, and their 
 union with this society, they " Voted, That this church agree to 
 be connected with the Evangelical Congregational Society, of 
 Gardner, for the support and enjoyment of religious worship 
 and ordinances, immediately after the Rev. S. Lincoln is dis- 
 missed, as contemplated." The record then goes on to state 
 that, " Whereas, This church having consented to the dismis- 
 sion of our pastor, the Rev. S. Lincoln, from us, in connec- 
 tion with the First Parish, Avith the full purpose of retaining 
 his pastoral services to us, in connection with the Evangelical 
 Congregational Society of Gardner : — 
 
 Resolved, That we will unite with the E. C. Society, of 
 Gardner, in requesting him to become our minister, and to have 
 his pastoral relation renewed to us, in connection with the said 
 society, on the same day that it will be dissolved, according to 
 a contemplated arningement." 
 
 A committee was chosen, at this time, to inform Mr. Lincoln 
 of the action of the church, and to receive his answer, which 
 was in the affirmative ; also to unite, with a committee of the 
 Evangelical Society, in calling a council, to install Mr. Lincoln, 
 upon the same day that his connection with the First Parish 
 should be dissolved. The council, which dismissed Mr. Lin- 
 coln from the First Parish, and installed him over the Evan- 
 gelical Church and Society, convened August 11th, 1830. The 
 society, which concurred in the action of the church, oflered a 
 salary of four hundred dollars. Mr. Lincoln continued the 
 pastor of this church, until February 23d, 1842, when his pas- 
 toral relation was dissolved, by a mutual council. 
 
512 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 The church and parish, having previously, extended a call 
 to Mr. William B. Stone, to become their pastor, at a salary of 
 five hundred dollars a year, " beginning on the day of his ordi- 
 nation and ,to be paid in quarterly payments," with a vacation 
 of two Sabbaths, he was ordained and installed upon the same 
 day and by the same council, which dismissed Mr. Lincoln. 
 Mr. Stone continued the pastor of this church, till August, 
 1850, when his pastoral relation was dissolved on account " of 
 bodily infirmity." 
 
 Rev. William B. Stone was born in North Brookfield, Janu- 
 ary 24th, 1811. He graduated at Amherst College, in 1839. 
 He entered Audover Theological Seminary, the same year, but 
 finding the rules, of the institution, in regard to discussing the 
 subject of slavery, too rigid to suit his views, he left, atter a 
 few months, and continued his theological studies wnth the cele- 
 brated anti-tobacco apostle. Rev. George Trnsk, then of War- 
 ren. Mr. Stone, having served this church eight 3'ears and 
 a half, retired from the ministry and went to live with his 
 parents, at the old homestead in West Brookfield, where he 
 still resides, making farming his principal business. He was a 
 member of the legislature, in 1873. 
 
 Subsequent to the dismission of Mr. Stone, Rev. D. C. Frost, 
 for a time, supplied the pulpit, at a salary of five hundred dol- 
 lars per year. March 25th, 1852, the society invited Rev. 
 Abijah Stowell to become their stated minister, at a salary of 
 four hundred and seventy-five dollars per year, to be paid in 
 semi-annual payments. 
 
 Rev. Abijah Stowell was born in Lyndon, Vt., August 20th, 
 1815. Without receiving a collegiate education, he studied 
 theology at Andover, where he graduated in 1844. He com- 
 menced his labors in Gardner, in May, 1852, and was acting 
 pastor, of this church, about five years. 
 
 October 13th, 1857, a call, was extended to Rev. J. W. 
 Healy, to become pastor of this church and society, at a salary 
 of seven hundred dollars, per annum, to be paid quarterly. Mr. 
 Healy was installed December 3d, 1857, and was dismissed at 
 
HISTORY OF GABBJSrUB. 513 
 
 his own request, July 11th, 1859. Since his dismission, from 
 Gardner, Mr. Healy has received the degree of D. D.,and was, 
 for a time, President of Strait University, La., and is now pastor 
 of a church in Ottumwa, Iowa. 
 
 October 29th, 1859, the church and society extended a call 
 to Rev. Samuel J. Austin, at a salary of eight hundred dollars 
 per annum, he to have three Sabbaths, annually, for himself, 
 and to leave at any time, by giving three months notice. Hav- 
 ing accepted this call, Mr. Austin was installed over this church 
 December 8th, 1859, and was dismissed at his own request, 
 in May, 1864. 
 
 Rev. Samuel J. Austin was born in Becket, Mass., Novem- 
 ber 22d, 1826. He graduated at Union College, in 1847. He 
 studied theology at East Windsor, Conn., and at Andover. 
 
 After Mr. Austin's dismission, the church had various candi- 
 dates, to some of whom, they unavailingly extended an invita- 
 tion to become their pastor. Among these, were Revs. John 
 W. Dodge, Temple Cutler, A. K. Wilcox and L. S. Watts. 
 April 5th, 1866, the church and society extended a call to Mr. 
 George F. Stanton, offering him a salary of one thousand dol- 
 lars per annum, and giving him three Sabbaths vacation. The 
 committee chosen to confer with Mr. Stanton, assured him, 
 " that an unusual degree of cordiality and unanimity, in regard 
 to your settlement with us, prevails throughout the parish." 
 Having accepted this call, Mr. Stanton was ordained and in- 
 stalled over this church, June 6th, 1866, Rev. Eden B. Foster, 
 D. D., of Lowell, preaching the sermon, and Rev. W. D. Her- 
 rick of the First Church, extending the right hand of fellow- 
 ship. As the last pastor of the Evangelical Church and So- 
 ciety, Mr. Stanton was dismissed, May 27th, 1867, in order 
 that the union between the two churches might be consummated. 
 
 Rev. George F. Stanton was born in Lowell, December 16th, 
 1835. Having prepared for college at Dummer Academy, he 
 graduated at Amherst, in 1863. He studied theology at Ban- 
 gor Theological Seminary, where he graduated in 1866. Since 
 October 27th, 1870, he has been the pastor of the Congrega- 
 
 65 
 
514 HI8T0BY OF GARDNER. 
 
 tional Church of South Weymouth, Mass. While pastor of 
 this church, Mr. Stanton engaged in his pastoral duties, with 
 great ardor and efficiency, and, though his connection with the 
 church was brief, he did very much in promoting its spiritual 
 welfare. 
 
 From the time of the formation of this church and society, 
 down to the date of its union with the First Church and Parish, 
 the Evangelical Church ever exhibited an aggressive and pro- 
 gressive spirit. Some of the votes, which it has placed on 
 record, are worthy of notice. May loth, 1835, "the church 
 unanimously passed a resolution, to refuse to acknowledge slave- 
 holders, as christians, by communing with them at the Lord's 
 table, and also to refuse to acknowledge a slave-holding minister, 
 to be a christian minister, by sitting under his preaching, 
 knowing them to be guilty of the sin of slave-owning." June 
 6th, 1839, the church voted, " That it is the dut}^ of the pastor 
 to preach prejxiratory lectures, and the duty of each member 
 of the church to attend." 
 
 The following preamble and resolution was presented by Mr. 
 Asa Eichardson, July 1st, 1842, and passed by the church, at 
 a regular church meeting : — 
 
 " Whereas, the ministers and members of the churches of our 
 land, are, many of them, partakers of the guilt of slavery, 
 either by holding slaves, or by apologizing for the wicked sys- 
 tem, and whereas, the gospel requires us to have no fellowship 
 with the unfruitful works of darkness : — 
 
 "5e it therefore resolved, That it is the duty of this church, in 
 giving invitation to members of evangelical churches, to com- 
 mune with us, to except all such as are guilty of the sin of 
 slavery, as specified in the above preamble." 
 
 It will be seen, from the above resolution, that this church 
 early occupied advanced ground, in regard to our great national 
 sin, and very early put its foot, with emphasis, upon it. It 
 may also be said, that it has always been favored with pas- 
 tors who have led it courageously, not only against this great 
 evil, but also against that of intemperance. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 515 
 
 THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND PARISH. 
 
 Since 1867. 
 
 In the above sketch, of the two Congregational Societies and 
 Churches connected with them, we have sought to give, as ac- 
 curately and completely as the records and our space would 
 permit, a true history of the more important events connected 
 with these organizations. We are aware, that by some of our 
 readers, the recital will be regarded as too long, too tedious, 
 and withal, disproportionate to the space allotted to the other 
 religious societies of the town. It should, however, be remem- 
 bered, that the existence of one of the societies, whose history 
 has now been given, reaches back to the date of the town's in- 
 corporation, while the other covers a period of forty-eight years. 
 
 Having now traced these two churches, the one from its be- 
 ginning, in 1786, the other, from its divergence in 1830, to 
 their confluence in 1867, we have now to record the history of 
 the united parishes and churches, to the present time. The 
 history of the union of the two parishes having been already 
 given, on page 509 need not here be restated. 
 
 At a meeting of the two churches, May 14th, 1867, the fol- 
 lowing resolution was presented and adopted, viz. : — 
 
 That the First Congregational Church and the Evangelical 
 Congregational Church, in Gardner, unite and become consoli- 
 dated, in one church, adopting the Articles of Faith and the 
 Covenant of the Evangelical Congregational Church and the 
 name of the First Congregational Church, in Gardner, and be 
 connected with the First Parish, in said Gardner. 
 
 Also, resolved, that this union be consummated by a mutual 
 meeting of both churches, to be called at such time as the union 
 committee may deem proper. 
 
 AMASA BANCROFT, 
 S. W. BANCROFT, 
 C. K. WOOD, 
 ALLEN FOLGER, 
 C. WEBSTER BUSH, J 
 
 C. S. GREENWOOD, 1 
 WHEATON WILSON, | Committee of the 
 MARO COLLESTER, } Evangelical 
 
 THOS. E. GLAZIER, Congregation'l Church. 
 HENRY LAWRENCE, J 
 
 Committee 
 > of the 
 
 First Church. 
 
516 HISTORY OF GAliDNER. 
 
 The first meeting, of the united parishes, was held May 30th, 
 1867, at which, all necessary officers were chosen. As has 
 already been stated, the first union service, of these churches, 
 was held upon the first Sabbath in June, 1867. Various can- 
 didates supplied the pulpit, for several months. November 6th, 
 1867, the parish voted to concur with the church, in extending 
 a call to Eev. Temple Cutler, ofiiering him fifteen hundred dol- 
 lars a year, as salary. Mr. Cutler declined the call. Decem- 
 ber 23d, same year, the parish united with the church in extend- 
 ing a call to Rev. William Belden, offering him a salarj' of 
 fifteen hundred dollars per year, to be paid quarterly, and two 
 Sabbaths vacation. This call Mr. Belden accepted, in a letter 
 bearing date January 4th, 1868, and was installed the 22d day 
 of the same month. Rev. C. Blodgett, D. D.,of Pawtucket, R. 
 I., preaching the sermon. Mr. Belden was dismissed March 
 22d, 1869. 
 
 June 23d, 18,69, the parish voted to concur Avith the church 
 in extending a call to Rev. John E. Wheeler, to become their 
 pastor, offering him a salary of two thousand dollars a year, 
 payable quarterly, and granting him two Sabbaths vacation. 
 
 Rev. John E. Wheeler was born in Amherst, N. H., Septem- 
 ber 9th, 1833. He graduated at Amherst College, in 1857, 
 and studied theolog}^ at the Connecticut Theological Institute. 
 He was installed pastor of this church, August 25th, 1869, and 
 closed his labors on the first Sabbath in July, in 1872. 
 
 November 19th, 1873, the parish voted to concur with the 
 church, in extending a call to Rev. F. A. Warfield, to become 
 their pastor, offering him a salary of two thousand dollars, and 
 the use of a parsonage, with a vacation of four Sabbaths. Mr. 
 Warfield declined the call, which was renewed January 13th, 
 1873, and was again declined. 
 
 September 24th, same year, the parish concurred with the 
 church in extending a call to Rev. W. D. Herrick, to become 
 their pastor, with a salary of two thousand dollars annually, 
 payable quarterly, and four Sabbaths vacation, with the use of 
 a parsonage. This call was declined, in accordance with the 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 517 
 
 advice of a council called at North Amherst, Mass., to advise 
 the church and pastor, in regard to dissolving the pastoral re- 
 lation, then existing between Mr. Herrick and the church, in 
 that place. On May 15th, 1874, at a meeting of the parish 
 called to concur with the church, in renewing the call to Rev. 
 W. D. Herrick, "It was voted, yeas, seventy-six, nay, one, 
 that we renew the call to Rev. Wm. D. Herrick, to become our 
 pastor, with an annual salary of two thousand dollars, payable 
 monthly, and the use of a parsonage, and that he have a vaca- 
 tion of four Sabbaths." This call was accepted, by Mr. Her- 
 rick, and he was installed, June 11th, 1874, since which time, 
 he has remained pastor of the church and parish. 
 
 It is due to the facts of history, to state, that at the com- 
 mencement ot the union of the two churches and societies, the 
 feeling existing between the hitherto separate peoples, was not 
 as unanimous and cordial, as could be desired. Gradually, 
 however, old lines of separation have become less distinct, 
 while the era of brotherly kindness has come to be more and 
 more prominent, till, at the present time, as great harmony, 
 cordiality, unanimity and spirit of co-operation, exists, as can 
 be found in any of our churches. It is true, indeed, that the 
 church, since the union, has not been exempt from some degree 
 of internal commotion and sharp contention, among its mem- 
 bers, resulting, it may be feared, in the permanent disaffection 
 of some, arising from cases of discipline, concerning which, 
 there seems to have been a conscientious difference of opinion ; 
 yet time, the great healer, is kindly doing its work, in effacing 
 these unpleasant memories and bringing the membership, grad- 
 ually, into " the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace." 
 
 In 1875, the parish erected a parsonage, which is both com- 
 modious and convenient, for which they voted the sum of six 
 thousand dollars. This parsonage is located on Cherry Street, 
 and is, at present, occupied by the author of this work. 
 
 February 15th, 1878, on motion of Mr. Henry Heywood, it 
 was " Voted, That the parish build anew church, on or near the 
 site where the bell church now stands." The parish " Voted, 
 
518 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 That Charles Hey wood, Philander Derby, Charles W. Conant, 
 Augustus Knowlton, Henry Hey wood, Gardner A. Watkins, 
 Alvin M. Greenwood, be a building committee ; that they be 
 empowered to decide upon the location and a suitable place for 
 the proi^osed new church edifice, and to cause the same to be 
 constructed as soon as, in their judgment, it may be properly 
 done." 
 
 Justice requires us to state that for nearly three months, pre- 
 vious to the date of this parish meeting, Mrs. Alvin M. Green- 
 wood, daughter of Mr. Levi Hey wood, and Mrs. Henry Hey- 
 wood, voluntarily, took upon themselves, the task of raising, 
 by subscription, a sufiicient sum of money, with which to erect 
 the new church edifice, without incurring a debt upon the 
 society. They entered zealously upon their work, till by 
 energy, courage and perseverance, they at length had the satis- 
 saction of seeing their labors rewarded, by the pledge, from 
 responsible parties, of nearly thirty-two thousand dollars. Such 
 ladies are worthy of special mention, in thus taking their places 
 among "the honorable women, not a few." Many daughters 
 have done virtuously, but they have excelled them all. 
 
 The committee chosen to erect the new church edifice, have 
 promptly and diligently tiiken up their work, and after having 
 examined various plans, have adopted the one presented by Mr. 
 James E. Fuller, architect, of Worcester. Ground was broken, 
 for the church, upon parish land, at the head of the common, 
 June 17th, 1878. The work will be completed and the church 
 ready for dedication, sometime in June of the next year. The 
 following is a description of the edifice : — 
 
 The First Congregational Church Edifice is built in Gothic 
 style, with steep slated roof, southern front of sixty-four feet 
 by one hundred eighteen feet in length, having square tower at 
 southeast corner, one hundred twenty-five feet high, containing 
 clock with four dials. The material is brick, underpinning and 
 steps of Roclqjort granite, with trimmings of Longmeadow 
 and Ohio sandstone. It is lighted by stained glass set in lead 
 sashes, a large Rose window adorning the front gable. It has 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 519 
 
 four eutrances, two in front, and one on each side leading to 
 auditorium and chapel. The main audience room is sixty-two 
 by eighty-four feet, forty feet high, with open timber roof, 
 decorated walls and ceiling, and wood finish of ash and black 
 walnut. 
 
 It has six hundred sittings facing the north end which is oc- 
 cupied by the preacher's platform in the centre, choir and 
 organ at his right, and pastor's room at his left. On both sides 
 of this platform are passages to the chapel, which is thirty-three 
 by sixty-four feet, containing lecture room, twenty-eight by 
 thirty-two feet; infant class room, twenty by twenty-two feet; 
 library, eight by ten feet; parlor, sixteen by twenty-four feet. 
 In the upper story, are dining room, kitchen, lavatory, and all 
 modern appurtenances, for social gatherings. The building is 
 heated, by four furnaces, and piped throughout for gas. 
 
 The entire cost of the church edifice, furniture and organ, 
 will be thirty thousand dollars. When this work is completed 
 this society, wath its parsonage and beautiful church, will be 
 placed upon a permanent, prosperous and debtless foundation, 
 with a grand opportunity for usefulness before it, in the years to 
 come, as the parent church and society of the town. 
 
 THE BAPTIST SOCIETY AND CHURCH. 
 
 It is evident, from an examination of the records of the First 
 Church, as kept by its pastor. Rev. Jonathan Osgood, that 
 sentiments peculiar to close communion Baptists, began to man- 
 ifest themselves, among some of his members, to his great an- 
 noyance and grief, as early as 1813. Among those who were 
 dissatisfied, with the tenet of infant baptism, so strongly held 
 by the First Church and its pastor, were Mr. Sullivan Jackson 
 and his wife, Sally. So great was the anxiety of the church 
 and pastor, that these members should be convinced of the 
 error of their ways, the church was stayed, after divine service, 
 on May 7th, 1815, and a committee was chosen to converse 
 with these uneasy individuals, and if possible, to induce them 
 to return to the fold. At a subsequent meeting, this committee 
 
520 HISTORY OF GAllDNEB, 
 
 reported verbally, " that they could not convince our brother 
 and sister, Sullivan Jackson and Sally his wife, of their error." 
 Whereupon the church requested the pastor to prepare a letter 
 to be sent to said Jackson and his wife, which letter was pre- 
 pared and laid before the church, and a copy ordered to be sent. 
 This letter, as it lies spread upon the original church records, 
 is filled with argumentation upon the question of infant baptism, 
 aflfectionate entreaties to return, earnest avowals of a readi- 
 ness to forgive past errors, and an assurance of continued love 
 and fellowship. Still, as if already convinced that his words 
 would be unavailing, Mr. Osgood says, "but if you persist in 
 your error, we cannot but esteem it our duty, to withdraw our 
 watch and communion from you ; not that we reject you, but 
 still hope, that by the aid of divine grace, you will see the 
 error of your waj^s, return to your duty, and renew your 
 solemn vows to the God who m;ide you. If 3'ou do this we 
 shall be read}^ and w^illing to receive and embrace you, as our 
 brother and sister." 
 
 Notwithstanding this entreaty, so tender and pathetic, Mr. 
 Jackson and his wife Sally, as well as some others, sympathiz- 
 ing with them, in their peculiar views, evidently refused to be 
 reclaimed from " the error of their ways." Ceasing longer to 
 worship with the First Church, they, with others, withdrew and 
 for several years, attended the Baptist Church in Templetou, 
 till, in the year 1827, active measures were taken by Mr. Sul- 
 livan Jackson and nine others, to form a religious society, to be 
 called "The Baptist Society in Gardner." The following 
 record, declares the object w^hich these individuals had in view, 
 which we here give as showing the basis and first action of this 
 society : — 
 
 We, the subscribers, impressed with the importance, of a 
 preached gospel, and believing that it would be for our benefit 
 and for the benefit of families and neighbors, to establish a 
 Baptist Society, in the town of Gardner, of which we are in- 
 habitants, do agree that we unite in a society, to be called the 
 Baptist Society in Gardner, and it is our intention to organize 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 521 
 
 this society, with the approbation and under the patronage of 
 the Baptist Church and Society in Templeton, and to consult 
 and co-operate with them, so far as circumstances will permit. 
 
 Sullivan Jackson, Daniel H. Grant, 
 
 George Scott, Joel Derby, Jr, 
 
 Ezra Baker, Robert Poavers, 
 
 Moses M. Gage, Asaph Foskett, 
 
 Caleb Priest, Liberty Partridge. 
 Gardner, May 25th, 1827. 
 
 The parochial society, now connected with the Baptist Church, 
 in this place, Avas legally organized, January 30th, 1828. Dea- 
 con Sullivan Jackson was chosen moderator and Mr. George 
 Scott, clerk, at whose house the parish meetings were held, for 
 some length of time. The society set itself, at once, to the 
 task of procuring preaching, and the necessary funds to sustain 
 it. March 10th, 1830, they voted that " the money received, 
 be laid out in preaching, on the Lord's day, at the house of 
 Deacon Sullivan Jackson, for the year to come." March 9th, 
 1831, they voted to raise money by subscription, and " that the 
 money raised, be laid out in preaching, on the Lord's day, at 
 the Southwest school-house, in Gardner." 
 
 March 6th, 1833, the society chose Ezra Baker and Sullivan 
 Jackson, a committee to hire preaching, and that this com- 
 mittee procure a place of worship. This committee proceeded, 
 at once, to the discharge of the duty assigned them, of erecting 
 a house of w^orship, for the society, Avhich was completed in 
 1833, at a cost of three thousand dollars, towards which, Sul- 
 livan Jackson, George Scott and Walter Greenwood, were very 
 generous contributors. This meeting-house is located in South 
 Gardner, at the junction of Broadway and High Street. The 
 society continued to occupy this meeting-house, till the year 
 18'( 2, when, feeling that the place was " too straight " for them, 
 they determined to enlarge and repair it, adding fifteen feet to 
 its length, frescoing the audience room, furnishing new pews, 
 cushions, pulpit and carpet. A commodious vestry, with ante- 
 rooms, in the basement, was also supplied. A new spire was 
 
522 HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 erected, in which was placed an excellent clock, thus making 
 a neat and convenient honse of worship, at an expense of about 
 seven thousand, five hundred dollars. This church was redodi- 
 cated November 6th, 1872. 
 
 In May, 1851, at the decease of Mrs. Mary W. S. Bradford, 
 the society began to receive the benefit of a legacy of four 
 thousand dollars, left by her former husband, Mr. Abijah M. 
 Severy, the income accruing from three thousand, to be ex- 
 pended in support of preaching, and the income of one thou- 
 sand, for the support of sacred music in connection with the 
 church and society. In addition to this, in 1870, Mrs. Susanna 
 Stone, dying, left, in her will, a legacy of one thousand dollars, 
 the income of which is to be expended in the support of 
 preaching. At the time the meeting-house was repaired, in 
 1872, a commodious dwelling house was built, near the church, 
 by Deacon Marcius A. Gates, which has since been occupied as 
 a parsonage. At the present time, the society is in a very 
 flourishing condition. 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 The first movement looking to the formation of a Baptist 
 Church, in Gardner, was in the year 1830, when twenty-three 
 members of the Baptist Church, in Templeton, then residing in 
 Gardner, represented, by letter, to the church in Templeton, 
 "that they thought their number and circumstances such, it 
 would be for their advantage and the general interest of the 
 cause of Christ, to be organized into a distinct church." On 
 the 15th of November, same year, an ecclesiastical council was 
 convened at the house of Sullivan Jackson, in South Gardner, 
 for the purpose of organizing and recognizing them as a Bap- 
 tist Church. The council was composed of the Baptist Churches 
 in Templeton, Westminster, Princeton and West Boylston. 
 After duly considering the question, " Shall a church be con- 
 stituted at South Gardner," the council voted to recognize them, 
 as a Baptist Church, by public services, conducted in the South- 
 east school-house. Rev. Abial Fisher preached the sermon, 
 Eev. Appleton Morse, of Princeton, gave the right hand of 
 
HISTOEY OF GARDNER. 523 
 
 fellowship, and Rev. Elisha Andrews gave the charge to the 
 people. At the same time, Mr. Sullivan Jackson was ordained, 
 as deacon of the church. The following is a list of the pastors 
 of this church, from its organization, till the present date : — 
 
 From May 1831, to March 1834, Rev. Samuel Glover: from 
 March 1834, to April 1837, Revs. Winthrop Morse, Joshua 
 Millett, John Holbrook, and Ransom O. Dwyer, a licentiate ; 
 from April 1837, to June 1838, Rev. John Clapp ; from Au- 
 gust 1838, to May 1840, Rev. Andrew Pollard; from June 
 1840, to October 1842, Rev. William H. Dalrymple ; from Oc- 
 tober 1842, to October 1843, Revs. Erastus Andrews and N. 
 B. Jones; from April 1844, to November 1847, Rev. Josiali 
 H. Tilton; from June 1848, to May 1849, Rev. B. H. Clift; 
 from November 1849, to January 1853, Rev. Amasa Brown; 
 from April 1853, to December 1860, Rev. R. K. Ashley; from 
 February 1861, to May 18(54, Rev. Wm. H. Walker; from No- 
 vember 1864, to April 1867, Rev. George W, Ryan; from 
 October 1867, to April 1868, Rev. C. L. Thompson ; from Sep- 
 tember 1868, to October 1870, Rev. Joseph Burnett; from 
 October 1870, to July 1875, Rev. William Read; from Sep- 
 tember 1875, to November 1877, Rev. S. T. Frost; from 
 December 1877, to the present date. Rev. F. B. Sleeper. 
 
 It will be seen, by the above list, that this church has never 
 been long without a stated minister. The faithfulness of these 
 pastors, is attested, by accessions to the church, yearly, both 
 by profession of faith and by letters from other churches. Be- 
 ginning, in 1830, with only twenty-three members, the church 
 has gradually increased, till, at the present time, it numbers 
 one hundred and fifty-nine members. 
 
 CATHOLIC CHURCH. 
 
 According to the best information, which we have been able 
 to obtain, the Catholics, of Gardner, were first temporarily 
 organized in 1863, by the Rev. Thomas Bannon, then resident 
 pastor of Templeton, and other missions. Previous to this time, 
 as far back as 1856, the Catholics, of this town, attended ser- 
 
524 HISTORY OF GAEDNFE. 
 
 vices at Otter River, with an occasional visit from the pastor of 
 the mission, Rev. Edward Turpin, then resident of Fitchburg. 
 In the summer of 1856, Father Turpin celebrated the first mass 
 in Gardner, at the residence of Mr. Patrick Carney. In 1863, 
 so greatly had the number of Catholics increased wdthin the 
 mission, that it was found necessary to divide it into two divi- 
 sions. Rev. Thomas Bannon was appointed pastor of the North 
 division, and was located at Otter River, where a small church 
 had been erected. Havins; ascertained that the number of 
 Catholics, in this town, were about three hundred, he deemed 
 it advisable to organize them into a congregation, to whom he 
 ministered, by public services, in the Town Hall, at least once a 
 month. Here he formed a Sunday school, and laid the founda- 
 tions for the present, permanent and prosperous organization. 
 Having served his people for two years and a half, he was 
 obliged, by ill health, to resign his position, and was succeeded 
 by Rev. William Orr, who himself, shortly after, was obliged 
 to retire Irom the mission, on account of the severe labors in- 
 cident thereto. In 1871, so great was the work required, it 
 became uecessar}' again to divide the mission. 
 
 The Rev. Dennis C. Moran is now pastor of the parish com- 
 prising Winchendon, Gardner and Ashburnham. He is a man 
 of great energ3% zeal and perseverance, as is evident from 
 his efforts in organizing the present Catholic Society, and in 
 erectins their new church edifice. Under his care, a church 
 debt society was formed for the purpose of accumulating a fund 
 which should, at some future day, be so increased as to warrant 
 the erection of a church edifice. The people became imbued 
 with the same spirit which animated their pastor, and almost 
 every Catholic contributed his ofiering to this desired object. 
 Some time previous to the erection of the church, a great fair 
 was held, in aid of this project, contributions of money and 
 articles of value being freely given, by all classes, the Protes- 
 tants, themselves, contributing liberally. The receipts amounted 
 to thirteen hundred dollars, which, added to the amount already 
 accumulated, placed the society on a permanent financial basis. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJSTEE. 525 
 
 In the fall of 1873, a site for the new church edifice was pur- 
 chased on Cross Street, upon which, work was immediately 
 begun. The church was completed and ready for occupation, 
 December, 1874, at a total cost of twenty-six thousand dollars. 
 It has a seating capacity of seven hundred. Mass was first 
 celebrated in this church, on Christmas day, 1874. 
 
 It is proper to state, in this connection, that the Catholics 
 have a cemetery located in the westerly part of the town, on 
 the road to Otter River, which has been consecrated to the 
 burial of their dead. 
 
 THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH. 
 
 In 1864, Rev. Jacob Baker, while acting as Universalist State 
 Missionary, began preaching the distinctive doctrines of Uni- 
 versalism in Gardner. On the 4th of June, of the same year, 
 a society was formed and the following preamble was adopted, 
 together with a brief constitution : — 
 
 PREAMBLE. 
 
 Desirous of discharging all proper obligations, and being im- 
 pressed that the true, Christian element is designed to draw the 
 members of the human family into friendship in society, and 
 that God asks the devotion of the heart, and the homage of the 
 world : Therefore, the better to co-operate with the spirit of 
 our Lord, we organize a religious society, and pledge our 
 united efibrts as far as possible to support and further its prin- 
 ciples. 
 
 At a meeting held March 7th, 1865, the parish committee 
 were instructed to secure the ser\'ices of Mr. Baker one-half the 
 time for the ensuing year. He continued his labors with the 
 society, and did much toward sowing the seeds of the " Larger 
 Hope" broadcast. He was a strong advocate and able defender 
 of Universalist principles. 
 
 On the 19th of March, 1866, the society extended a call to 
 Rev. Harrison Closson, to become their pastor. He preached 
 one-half the time, till January, 1867, when the society secured 
 his undivided services. 
 
526 HISTORY OF GAlWJSrFB. 
 
 CHURCH ORGANIZATION. 
 
 A church wtis organized on the evenmg of April 23cl, 1868, 
 and publicly recognized with appropriate exercises, on the first 
 Sunday in June following. At the first meeting, which was 
 held at the home of the pastor, the covenant formerly held by 
 the First Congregational Church, was adopted M'ith the addition 
 of scripture quotations from the first chapter of Ephesians, 
 making it more distinctly Universalist in sentiment. The or- 
 ganization was to be known as The Church of the Unity and 
 Restoration. The following covenant was afterwards adopted, 
 expressed assent to which should be essential to membership in 
 the church : — 
 
 COVENANT. 
 
 "VVe believe that the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New 
 Testament contain a revelation of the character of God, and of 
 the duty, interest and final destination of mankind. 
 
 We believe in the existence of an all-perfect God, who has 
 done, is doing, and will still continue to do all that infinite love 
 can prompt, all that infinite wisdom can devise, and all that in- 
 finite power can execute, to save every soul from sin, and train 
 all to holiness, without doing violence to human freedom. 
 That being perfect in wisdom, knowledge and love, and having 
 already converted, regenerated and saved some of the most 
 ignorant and hardened unbelievers, and the most wicked sin- 
 ners of earth, he will continue his work of redemption until all 
 souls are converted, regenerated and saved. 
 
 We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son, and sent of God, 
 the mediator between God and man, and the delegated Saviour 
 of the world. We accept his precepts as the rule of our life, 
 and his doctrine as our hope and comfort. 
 
 We believe in the Holy Spirit, as the spirit of truth and love, 
 which is sent forth into all the world to guide men into all 
 moral and religious truth. 
 
 We believe in the necessity of faith and repentance; that we 
 must break ofi" our sins by righteousness and our iniquities by 
 turnino; to God. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 527 
 
 We believe that holiness and true happiness are inseparably 
 connected, and that believers ought to maintain order and prac- 
 tice good works, for these things are good and profitable unto 
 men. 
 
 Rev. H. Closson was installed as pastor of the church on the 
 23d of June, 186'J, Rev. A. A. Minor, D. D., of Boston preach- 
 ing the sermon. Under the ministry of Mr. Closson, the 
 church and society grew and prospered. Continual additions 
 were made to their numbers, until a large and influential parish 
 was built up. Toward the close of his labors, in the spring of 
 1871, an effort was made to further improve the place of wor- 
 ship, services being held, at this time, in the " bell meeting- 
 house." A portion of the society wished to remove the build- 
 ing and to tit it up thoroughly. Others desired to build a new 
 church. But .ditficulties arose, mistakes were made, and no 
 definite plan of action was agreed upon. The result was, the 
 organization became for a time impaired. 
 
 During the next three years, there was no stated preaching. 
 But many of the society, remembering their rapid growth and 
 prosperity, in the past, still cherished hopes for the future. 
 Under the inspiration of these hopes, they went forward to 
 carry into eflect the idea of building a church. Land was given 
 for the purpose by Mr. William S. Lynde, an aged gentleman 
 and devoted friend of the society. A building committee, con- 
 sisting of Ezra Osgood, Benjamin M. Carruth and Amos W. 
 Goodnow, was chosen. The new edifice was completed, in the 
 spring of 1874, and dedicated on the 26th of May, of the same 
 year. Rev. T. E. St. John of Worcester, preaching the sermon. 
 Dedicatory prayer was olEFered by Rev. J. V, Wilson of Brigh- 
 ton, and Rev. E. Maguire of Fitchburg gave the address to the 
 church and parish. 
 
 Rev. R. T. Sawyer was called, as pastor, shortly after the 
 dedication of the church, and remiiined with the society for 
 three years. Several members were added to the church while 
 under his charge. 
 
 Rev. E. A. Read, the present pastor, commenced his labors 
 with the church, the first of July, 1877. 
 
528 HISTOEY OF GARDJ^ER. 
 
 The society is at present united and prosperous. The names 
 of one hundred families are upon the roll. Many of these are 
 active, earnest workers. Since the formation of the church 
 lifty-eight persons have been received into membership. The 
 society has always recognized the value and influence of woman 
 in its work, and justly so, for she has been its best ally. At an 
 early date after the society's organization, the ladies, anxious to 
 share the burden with their brothers and hubbands, organized 
 a social circle, through which they have always worked with 
 untiring zeal. 
 
 The Sabbath School was instituted shortly after the organiza- 
 tion of the society, in 1864. From a small beginning it has 
 grown to take its proper place, and do its share of religious 
 work, for the children of the community. It has a library of 
 over five hundred volumes. 
 
 The present valuation of church property, including a hall 
 owned by the society, is about twelve thousand dollars. In 
 1877, a house costino; nearly two thousand dollars, was erected 
 for a parsonage, upon land belonging to the society and in close 
 proximity to the church. This is owned by two members of 
 the parish, Avho will hold it until the society is able to purchase 
 it, at cost. 
 
 The following is a sketch of those who have served this 
 church as pastors : — 
 
 Rev. Jacob Baker, who started and organized the society in 
 1864, was the acting pastor for two years. 
 
 Rev. Harrison Closson was the first settled pastor. He com- 
 menced his labors in March, 1866, and continued with the peo- 
 ple until the spring of 1871. He was born in Northampton, 
 July 23d, 1828, was a member of the Edward's Church, from the 
 age of fifteen years, until his conversion to Universalism. He 
 was educated in the High School, in his native town, where he 
 prepared for college. He afterwards took an independent 
 course, in the classics, and gave three years to the stud}' of 
 Theology, with a clergyman. He was ordained over the Uni- 
 versalist Church, in Oxford, in 1855. He is at present settled 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. ^ 529 
 
 over the Universalist Church in Marblehead, where he has been 
 jDastor for seven years. 
 
 Rev. Royal Tyler Sawyer was called, as pastor, in the spring 
 of 1874, and served the society for three years. He was born 
 atMt. Holly, Vt., April 25th, 1848. He received his early 
 education at the common and High School, and commenced 
 teaching at the age of sixteen. The following season, while act- 
 ing as clerk in Worcester, Mass., and attending the Methodist 
 Church, he became interested in reliijion. On returninir to 
 Vermont, he joined the Baptist Church of his native town. In 
 the winter of '69-70, by a careful study of the scriptures, he 
 embraced the principles of Universalism and joined the Univer- 
 salist Church in Chester, where he was ordained April 25th, 
 1871. His first settlement was in Cavendish, Vt., where he 
 remained one year. He then went to Tufts Divinity School 
 and graduated in 1873. The following winter he supplied the 
 pulpit in Marlboro', N. H., and the next spring accepted the 
 call from Gardner. He is settled at present in South New- 
 market, N. H. 
 
 Rev. Ephraim A. Read, the present pastor, commenced 
 his labors with the church, the first of July, 1877. He was 
 born in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, in 1846. Received 
 a common and grammar school education at home, and studied 
 the languages in the High School of his native town. He came 
 to the United States in 1868, and entered Dean Academy, 
 Franklin, Mass., where he remained about six months; after- 
 w^ards he entered St. Lawrence University, taking a full course 
 in the Divinity School, from which he graduated in 1870. His 
 first settlement was in Alstead, N. H., where he was ordained 
 March 2d, 1871. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 In revicAving the history of the Baptist Church, of this town, 
 Ave have found it to be, in some sense, an outcome, in the per- 
 son of Sullivan Jackson and others, of the First Congregational 
 Church, then under the care of Rev. Jonathan Osgood. We 
 
 67 
 
530 ^HISTORY OF GARDNER. 
 
 slmll tilso find the same to be true of Methodism, "which seems 
 to have had its beginning in Mr. Samuel Stone, who early 
 exhibited a preference for that form of worship. As has 
 been stated, in the former part of this chapter, the law re- 
 lating to religious societies, in the latter part of the last cen- 
 tury, gave to every man the privilege of worshiping, with what- 
 ever Christian denomination he preferred. It only required 
 him to bring a certificate from the minister, or officers of the 
 society where he worshiped, to the Town Clerk, who was then 
 clerk of the First Parish, that he regularly attended the church 
 of his preference, and freely contributed to its support. In 
 accordance with this law, we find this certificate, upon the Town 
 Records, vol. 1, page 290 : — 
 
 This may certify that Samuel Stone of Gardner, attends 
 public worship with the Methodists, in Ashburnham, and freely 
 contributes to the support of their ministry. 
 Signed in behalf of the society, 
 
 Phillip Wagkr, Elder. 
 Gardner, February loth, 1797. 
 
 Attest, Reuben Haynes, Toion Clerk. 
 
 We also find upon the same page, the following : — 
 
 Gardner, in Massachusetts, March 20th, 1798. 
 To all ioho7n it may concern: This is to certify that Simon 
 Stone, of this town, attends the public worship of God, amoiig 
 the people called Methodists ; and contributes to the support of 
 their ministry. 
 
 Signed in behalf of the society. 
 
 Smith Weeks, Minister. 
 Attest, Reuben Haynes, Toivn Clerk. 
 
 Whatever may have been the motives, leading Mr. Samuel 
 Stone to withdraw from the First Congregational Church, we 
 are not sufBciently well informed to state with certainty. It 
 has been said, by those still living, who derived their informa- 
 tion from those noAV dead, who were acquainted with the facts, 
 
HISTORY OF GARDJ^EE. 531 
 
 that Mr. Stoue withdrew from the church and parish through 
 soDie personal disaffection toward the pastor. It appears, from 
 the records of the First Church, that previous to April 14th, 
 1797, Mr. Stoue and his wife Martha had requested a dismission, 
 from the First Church, upon which, the church took action, which 
 is recorded in the following words, bearing the above date : — 
 
 "After much conversation, and many observations being 
 made, the church voted not to dismiss Samuel Stone and 
 Martha Stone." May 4th, 1797, the church " Voted, That a 
 letter be prepared and laid before the church, for its approba- 
 tion, to send to Mr. Samuel Stone and his wife." May 19th, 
 the church met, according to adjournment, to hear the letter 
 prepared b}- the pastor, to be sent to Mr. Samuel Stone and 
 wife. We quote this letter, of Mr. Osgood to Mr. Stone, in 
 behalf of the church, as indicating the sorrow they experienced 
 and the solicitude and earnest entreaty which they manifested 
 on the departure, of any of their numbers, to other churches 
 of Christ : — 
 
 To Mr. Samuel Stone and Mrs. Martha Stone: 
 
 We the church of Christ, in Gardner, feel ourselves grieved 
 that you, members of our body by the most solemn covenant 
 obligations, have broken off from us, without any sufficient 
 grounds, and by so doing, our Divine Master is wounded in 
 the house of his friends. We earnestly solicit you, as in the 
 fear of God, duly to consider the motives, on which you act and 
 whether they are such as will justify you, before that God, who 
 searches the heart, or whether your conduct is not such as the 
 apostle speaks of as causing divisions and offences contrary to 
 the doctrine which ye have learned. 
 
 We are fully willing that all persons should enjoy the liberty 
 of conscience, and are quite free, to hold communion with all 
 regular churches of other denominations, differing from us, 
 only in the non-essentials of Christianity, but, as you have 
 broken off from us, in an irregular manner, we esteem it our 
 duty to withdraw our watch and communion from you, but have 
 
532 . HISTORY OF GARDNFli. 
 
 still hope that you will perceive your error, and return to your 
 duty. If you do this, we shall be fully willing and ready to 
 receive and embrace you, as our brother and sister. In the 
 name and behalf of the church. 
 
 Jonathan Osgood, Pastor. 
 
 It is probable that about this time, the influence of the 
 eccentric Lorenzo Dow, began to make itself felt, in this 
 region, since we find the following entry in his journal of Oc- 
 tober 22d, 1796 : " I spoke in Hardwick, to about four hundred 
 people, thence to Petersham and Winchendon, to Fitchburg, 
 and likewise to Notown, where God gave me one spiritual child. 
 Thence to Ashburnham, where we had some powerful times." 
 On his way from Winchendon to Ashburnham, he would 
 naturally pass near the residence of Mr. Samuel Stone, who 
 then lived upon what is now the town farm, and at whose house 
 he may possibly have preached. That a Methodist society ex- 
 isted, as early as the year 1800, in this town, is evident from 
 the following record : — * 
 
 We, the subscribers, Henry Eames, public teacher of a 
 society of the religious sect or denomination called Methodists, 
 in the town of Gardner, and Ebenezer Richardson and Samuel 
 Stone, committee of said society, do hereby certify that Simon 
 Stone doth belong to the said society, and that he, as the case 
 may be, frequently and usually, when able attends with us, in 
 our stated meetings for religious worship, and doth contribute 
 to the said preacher. 
 
 Done at Winchendon, September 5th, 1800. 
 
 Henry Eames, ^ 
 
 Samuel Stone, > Committee. 
 
 EiJENEZER Richardson, } 
 
 Attest, Reuben Haynes, Toivn Cleric. 
 
 In 1826, Gardner was included in the Ashburnham circuit, 
 then embracing Ashburnham, Winchendon, Northfield, Orange, 
 
 *Town Kecords, vol. 1, p. 332. 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 533 
 
 Montague, Wendell, Rojalston, Warwick, Athol, Templeton 
 and Gardner. The preacher, then upon this circuit, was 
 Rev. John E. Risley and the Presiding Elder, Rev. John Lind- 
 say. 
 
 In 1827, quite an extensive revival occurred, in this town, 
 originating in the southeast district, which, had its good effects, 
 upon all parts of the town. The Baptist Societ}', which was 
 formed this year, with Mr. Sullivan Jackson at its head, was 
 greatly quickened, while it is said that the impulse of this re- 
 ligious interest was perceptible, in the preaching of the pastor 
 of the First Church and, in those to whom he ministered, 
 causing the Hues between Unitarianism and Orthodoxy, to be 
 more closely drawn, and resulting probably, in the secession of 
 the more Evangelical portion of that church in 1830. 
 
 The meetings, from which this interest spread, were held at 
 the house of Mr. George Scott, whose name appears as one of 
 the founders of the Baptist Society. It is said, a young 
 Methodist girl, who had come from a neighboring town, to 
 sojourn for a while, attracted considerable attention, by her 
 singing of Methodist hymns, in these meetings, which served 
 to draw the curious, to listen to her, who were thus interested 
 in Spiritual matters. 
 
 Although the few Methodist people residing in Gardner, held 
 services infrequentl}', and occasionally enjoyed preaching by 
 ministers of their own denomination, they took no measures 
 looking to the formation of a church, till the year 1869. In 
 February and March, 1869, Rev. William P. Blackmer, then 
 pastor of the Methodist Church, in East Templeton, preached 
 a few sermons, in the Lower Town Hall. A committee was ap- 
 pointed, and a paper circulated, upon which, money enough 
 was soon subscribed, to make it reasonably certain, that preach- 
 ing could be sustained, and a pastor was asked for. March 
 24th, 1869, the New England Conference appointed Mr. Black- 
 mer to Gardner, which thus became again an appointment, in 
 the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Blackmer was born at 
 Norwich, Conn., January 29th, 1830, and was licensed to 
 
534 HISTOliY OF GARDINER. 
 
 preach at North Brookfield, Mass., December 8th, 1854. He 
 was Captain of the 13th Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers. 
 The church was formall}^ organized July 3d, 1869, by Rev. 
 Loranus Crowell, the Presiding Elder of Worcester District, 
 with a membership of eighteen and a Sunday School ot fifty. 
 
 In April, 1870, Rev. W. M. Hubbard was appointed to this 
 church, to which he ministered successfully for three years. 
 Mr. Hubbai'd was born in Unadilla, N. Y., in 1816. He was 
 licensed to preach at Hatfield, Mass., in 1849. Up to the date 
 of Mr. Hubbard's pastorate, the church was without a place of 
 worship of their own. Such was their growth, however, that 
 a church edifice was demanded, for the procuring of which, the 
 members of the church and their friends, devoted their utmost 
 energies. Mr. Lewis H. Graham donated a site, for a church, 
 on West Street. In the early summer, of the same year, there 
 was erected, upon this spot, a Chapel, which was eighty by 
 fifty feet, which was dedicated September 14th. 
 
 In April, 1873, Rev. Daniel Atkins became the pastor of this 
 church, where he continued for three years. Mr. Atkins was 
 born at Truro, Mass., August 16th, 1824, and was licensed to 
 preach at Gloucester, Mass., January 18th, 1851. 
 
 In April, 1875, Rev. Seth C. Carey received the appointment 
 to this church, to which he ministered for three years. Mr. 
 Carey was born in Hebron, N. Y., June 1st, 1838; and was 
 licensed to preach at Hebron, N. Y., in 1865. He graduated 
 at the School of Theology of Boston University, in 1869. He 
 was, for three years, in the union army, from 1862 to 1865, 
 with the rank of 2d Lieutenant, 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant. 
 He was in ten battles, besides skirmishes. During the ministry 
 of Mr. Carey the need of enlarged accommodations, began to 
 force itself upon the attention of the people, and the building 
 of a new church, became a question of duty. In the summer 
 of ]876, a member of the church presented the society one of 
 the most eligible lots on Chestnut Street. This was accepted, 
 and September 20th, ground was broken for a new church 
 edifice fifty by eighty feet, with a spire one hundred and thirty 
 
HISTORY OF GARDNER. 535 
 
 feet in height. The church has <a seating capacity of six hundred. 
 It is of wood and is a model of neatness, convenience and sim- 
 plicity. It was dedicated August yth, 1877, Bishop Randolph 
 S. Foster, of Boston, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The 
 organ, bell and tower-clock, were presented by members of 
 the church and friends of the society. The entire cost of the 
 church, including land and furnishings, was a little less than 
 thirteen thousand dollars. 
 
 The present pastor, of this church, is Rev. William D. 
 Bridge, who was born in Duxbury, Mass., February 23d, 1840. 
 He grauated at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., July 
 20, 1861. He was licensed to preach at Middletown, Conn., 
 February 15th, 1861. Since its commencement, in 1869, this 
 church has enjoyed a steady growth. Its membership, is actively 
 devoted to the legitimate objects of church work. Its pastors 
 have ever been diligent and faithful, in their calling, and have 
 all had the satisfaction of seeing their work prospering under 
 their hand. With their present church accommodations, the 
 Methodists in this place, have a reasonable prospect of success, 
 in view of which, they have great reason to rejoice and take 
 courage. 
 
 We have sought to give, in this chapter, a faithful chrono- 
 logical delineation of each religious church and society, accord- 
 ing to the facts which we have been able to obtain. We take 
 pleasure in recording our gratification, that Gardner is so abun- 
 dantly supplied with church accommodations at the present time. 
 May the zeal and devotion of the fathers, continue to live in 
 their children; "that our sons may be as plants grown up in 
 their youth ; that our daughters may be as corner stones, pol- 
 ished after the similitude of a palace." 
 
i 
 
JUL -0 I5I..2 
 
 ' I