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PotpourrEMAIL
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Vol 3, No.10- 2 April 2002. Circulation: 100 and growing!
(C) 1999 Boylston Historical Society and Museum
7 Central St., PO Box 459, Boylston, MA 01505
boyhisoc@ma.ultranet.com 508-869-2720
Editors: Betty L. Thomas and Judith Haynes
Boylston Historical Society and Museum Web Page:
http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/
To subscribe or unsubscribe to the PotpourrEmail, or
to submit information to be included in the PotpourrEmail,
e-mail info to: boyhisoc@ma.ultranet.com
CONTENTS. Welcome; Looking for Bannisters; What's in a name?;
Tidbits; Book of the Month; BHS News; On The Web; Humor
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Welcome to our email newsletter! For those of you who are not
members of BHS and don't receive the snailmail newsletter, it is called
The Potpourri. Sooooo, we thought the appropriate name for this version
would be PotpourrEMAIL. This email version is not meant to repeat or
copy the snailmail version, but to complement it, with the addition of
topics of interest to those with computer and web capabilities. If you
have a story to tell, information to impart, a good joke, computer
or web genealogy info, a Boylston genealogy query, or anything that would
be of interest to our readers--please email us at:
boyhisoc@ma.ultranet.com
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Looking for Bannisters!
Betty Thomas is looking for any living descendants of Nathan Bannister.
She is compiling family information, documents, photos and memorabilia of
Nathan's family for a book entitled " The Bannisters of Boylston"
Surnames of a few of the local families who married Bannister women are:
Harlow, Tilton, Reed, Pratt, Barre, Doty, Ward, Knox
The Bannister men married women from the following families:
Whitney, Stone, Champney, Drury, Hastings, Johnson, Howe, Brewer,
Arms, Kendall, Adams, Smith, Maynard, Flagg, Hill, Guertin
Betty would also like to speak with anyone who knew the last
Bannister in Boylston, Bob Bannister.
Contact her at BHSM or at home 508-869-2064 or email:
bettythomas@charter.net
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What's In a Name??
The following is from Vol.III of the Historical Series.
The book is no longer available for sale, but there are
copies in the Boylston Public library, the Boylston Museum
research library and the Allen County Public Library
[Fort Wayne, IN.] You might want to take a look at
Volume I, as there are drawings, sketches and photos
in the book that I cannot include in this email.
"Bay Path Road in Boylston"
by John A. Peterson, B.S.
Based on records of George L. Wright
By 1630, with hundreds of settlers arriving at Massachusetts Bay,
it was only a short time before the demand for good land brought
settlements to the west: Watertown, Weston, Waltham, Wayland,
and Sudbury. Sudbury was divided into 47 farms, with a road built
there in 1637, and a Charter the next year. The road was called
"Bay Path" or sometimes Sudbury Road."
The Nashaway Indians sold land rights in 1642 - 1643 for what
became Lancaster. With a company organized and the sanction
of purchase from Boston, farms were laid out in 1644. The path
from Sudbury was made passable, and log cabins appeared
that year. The path from Worcester went through Leicester,
Spencer, Brookfield, Warren, Palmer, and to Springfield.
But Boylston, and the towns that our road passes through aren't
alone in claiming a "Bay Path." Historians note that roads to
Boston and the Bay may have commonly been dubbed " Bay Path,"
and that each led to different areas of the Colony. The most historical
and well-documented path came from Boston near the Framingham
Grant, south of Worcester near Lake Singletary, and on to
Springfield by way of the Sturbridge area. It was an old
Indidan trail, and was rather straight by comparison.
General references of the earliest days tend to concentrate
on the path south of Worcester, and do not mention the
Lancaster to Worcester road, or if they do, that it was little
used and its value questionable. Because of its difficult
course, a better way was laid out and referred to in John
Winthrop's Journal, page 343:
"This year [1648] a new way was found out to Connecticut
by Nashaway which avoids much of the hilly way."
This route was laid out by John Prescott. It began at the
Old Common in Lancaster, crossed the Nashua River,
passed southwest to near East Whalom [Waushaccum]
Pond in Sterling, then along Maple street in West Boylston
and Burncoat Street in Worcester where it joined the old
route at Adams Square.
The original route passed east of the Old Common
[near the Industrial School for Girls,] along the east side
of the Nashua River to Bolton Station, then southwest
to the Acre and Clamshell Pond in Clinton. The next
few miles are hazily described in George Wright's records
of Boylston. More detailed sources have not yet been
found. By studying maps to find when other Town roads
were opened, to note the lay of the land, and assuming
that surveyors at that time would pick the easiest of the
worst choices, some speculation for a few miles is needed.
From the Acre, Wright says, the path followed the Boston-Barre
Road [maybe Route # 62 to the river] for more than a mile
[ in the Nashua River Valley toward Sawyers Mills] to Mile Hill
Road in Boylston. Wright could not have meant Mile Hill Road,
as it is not shown on a town map even as late as 1856. However,
this map shows a road from Clinton east of the River toward
Sawyers Mills, then climbing the westerly side of Mile Hill,
crossing what is now Route # 70 at Duffy Road, and meeting
Linden Street at Medio R. Chiarelli's. From there it followed
Linden Street, and in about 2.2 miles came out at the Boylston
town Farm [H. Chester Smith home.]
Here Wright's directions are adequate to trace the Path to the
former Barton Estate [now owned by the Diocese of Worcester,]
thorough two shortcuts, and a section of the road from Marlboro.
The Bay Path enters the pasture beside a small pond, and within
1/4 of a mile it turns south over a knoll, and crosses Muddy Brook
on a stone bridge [collapsed.] A small dam upstream of this
bridge is gone. The part over the knoll has been obliterated to
the bridge and a short way past it. This could confuse anyone
without a map because, what is easily visible today follows
the last shortcut [about 1725] and crosses another stone
bridge [good condition, rebuilt by Mr. Smith] less than 100
feet downstream of the original one.
more next month
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Tidbits
This month's Tidbits is dedicated to Evelyn Murray who
passed away in March. Evelyn was one of our devoted
Cut & Paste Club members who have made these
Tidbits possible. She will be missed by all of us here at BHSM.
No Year Dates
April 24
William M. Demond moved from George A. Flagg's tennant
on the west road to Leominster Monday. Mr. Demond is
employed as conductor on the Worcester Consolidated
electric road, division 3. The company has decided to
take away all cars from the car barn in Boylston.
Mrs. Frank E. Hopkins was called to Beachmont yesterday
on account of the sudden death of her father.
Mrs. E.J. Nichols, Everett, today called on Mrs. Susan
B. Morgan, who is seriously ill.
April 26
The body of Ira A. Eames, who died at West Boylston
Tuesday, was brought to Boylston today and buried
in Pine Grove cemetery.
Deacon William Brown, Worcester, has bought the
John Johnson cottage at Morningdale. He will take
possession at once.
Mrs. Lenora A. Moore returned from Beachmont
last night where she attended the funeral of Walter
Bryant.
Mrs. Levi P. Hawes, Somerville, came today to pass
a few days with her brother Rev. George S. Dodge.
Mrs. Penniman M. Brigham, Worcester, was the
guest of Mrs. H. M. Andrews today.
March 5
A skunk held up a trolley car a few minutes this afternoon
at Boylston Center. Employees threw stones at it to
drive it away. It then walked around George A. Hastings'
house and seeing a side door open, walked into the
woodshed and was about to enter the kitchen, when
discovered. It took refuge in the coal bin, where it was
finally killed.
Frank Bartlett, who recently moved to Leominster, is
reported to be dangerously ill.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry D. Reed are sick with the grip.
George E. Brigham, Worcester, passed today with his
parents, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Brigham.
Mr. and Mrs. William N. Davenport, Marlboro, visited
Mrs. Davenport's father, Lyman P. Kendall, today.
Charles G. Frost, Boston, is visiting Mr. and Mrs.
George H. Vickery.
March 7
The public schools close Friday for a two week vacation.
These pupils are on the roll of honor list for perfect
attendance: Collins Bray, Goldie Pouty, Beth L. Walker,
Littie Anderson, Marion Brigham, Arthur Christianson,
Ida Johnson, Stotta Saunders, Lena E. Wright,
Henry O. Anderson, Phillip H. Bigelow, Harold B. French,
Roland G. Hastings, Mildred D. Bigelow, Ida Christianson,
Hilda Christianson, Willie Flagg, Agnes Kimball.
Mrs. Asenath M. Bartlett is in Leominster, taking care
of her son, Frank Bartlett.
Rev. George S. Dodge went to Somerville today to visit his
sisters, Mrs. Levi Hawes and Mrs. Minot J. Savage.
Another Mill occupation definition :
A mule spinner was usually a man who worked on a
spinning machine known as a spinning mule in a cotton mill
or factory. He would have been quite well paid, but out of his
wages he would have had to pay several underlings,
mostly children, to act as doffers (replacing the cotton
bobbins as they became full) and piecers
(piecing together or reattaching broken threads),
usually underneath the machine, hence the need for
small children. The spinner, his doffers and piecers had to
work at repairing and replacing whilst the machine was
moving - something which was very, very dangerous. A
lot of children died or were maimed in accidents in cotton mills.
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Book of the Month
This is the LAST MONTH for this SALE !!!!!
"Strangers and Pilgrims: Immigration in Boylston 1740-1930"
by William O. Dupuis
This is a two volume set, spiral bound, 8x11 size, almost
200 pages. The set includes histories of the immigrating
groups, family information, census information, family
photos, occupations, town offices held, excerpts form
the payrolls of the Lancaster Mills located at Sawyers
Mills, tenants in the mill owned buildings, Boylston
school lists, and more.
WAS $6 for the two volume set.
NOW ONLY $4 for the two volume set!!!! plus shipping
visit the on-line gift shop for more info:
http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/gift.htm
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BHS News
2001 - 2002 PROGRAMS and EVENTS
All Programs open to the public and
held at the Society (unless otherwise noted).
7 Central St., Boylston
Donations at the door are gratefully accepted!
-------------------------------------------
"Be Our Valentine" Exhibit -
The exhibit will run through September 2002 and is
open during normal open hours and at regular
museum admission.
[Members - free Non-Members - $3]
-----------------------------------------
Program - Thursday, April 18, 2002 at 7:30 pm
"Genealogy on the Internet"
by Betty Thomas - BHS Computer Services Dir.
Find out what you need to know about
doing genealogy on the Internet.
Members - $2 Non-Members - $3
--------------------------------------------
Event - Monday, May 27, 2002, 10am to 2pm
"Memorial Day Open House" Come and visit!!!
Free Museum admission
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Nominations for Board of Directors
There are two openings on the Board of Directors.
Each is an elected, three [3] year term.
Nominations are now being taken. Send nominee's name,
address, and phone to:
Boylston Historical Society and Museum
POB 459, Boylston, MA 01505
or email same to:
boyhisoc@ma.ultranet.com
---------------------------------------------------
Visit the gift shop
http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/gift.htm
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On The Web
Obtain a free trial copy of the new HISTORY MAGAZINE
http://www.history-magazine.com/
Articles include "Evolution of the Skyscraper," "Geronimo," "Quantrill's
Raiders," "New York Society 1860s," " Wine, the Divine Gift," "Torture
and Capital Punishment," "Anesthesiology," "The King Who Lost the Crown
Jewels," and many others.
A Mule Spinner was the operative of a Spinning Mule in the spinning mills.
See "Spinner" at http://rmhh.co.uk/occup.html
Like to get email ? Join a genealogy email list...there are
thousands at rootsweb...by geographic areas, surnames, interests!!
http://lists.rootsweb.com/
A new PBS TV show - The Frontier House
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/frontierhouse/
The Hurricane of "38
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/hurricane38/
Selected old newspaper articles from many states
including MA, CT, RI. --
scanned images of the articles mostly 1800s
http://theoldentimes.com/old_news_ma.html
The Association for Gravestone Studies
http://www.gravestonestudies.org/
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Humor - from Colleen Kirby - TheKirbyTree@aol.com
My granddaughter Leah (4 yrs at the time) came up to me while I was working
on the computer and asked me if I had talked to great grandma (my mom) yet,
and to ask her what heaven was like. I turned to her and asked her what gave
her the idea that I could talk with my mother. She then informed me that her
sister Arielle (age 11) had told Leah that I looked up dead people on the
computer.
Out of the mouth of babes. And so I do.
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PERMISSION TO REPRINT articles from PotpourrEMAIL is granted
unless specifically stated otherwise, PROVIDED: (1) the reprint
is used for non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the
following notice appears at the end of the article:
Written by
Previously published by PotpourrEMAIL,
PotpourrEmail, Vol. 3, No.10 - 1 April 2002. Please visit
Boylston Historical Society and Museum's main Web page at
http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/
This newsletter is distributed monthly, on the first day of the month,
to all Boylston Historical Society members (who have email!), genealogists,
and friends who have a special interest in the history of the town of
Boylston.
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boyhisoc@ma.ultranet.com
508-869-2720
Boylston Historical Society
PO Box 459
Boylston, MA 01505
Web Page: http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/
boyhisoc@ma.ultranet.com
508-869-2720
Boylston Historical Society
PO Box 459
Boylston, MA 01505
Web Page: http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/