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Vol. 4, No.10 - 1 April 2003. Circulation: 100 and growing!
(C) 1999 Boylston Historical Society and Museum
7 Central St., PO Box 459, Boylston, MA 01505
boyhisoc@rcn.com 508-869-2720
Editors: Betty L. Thomas and Judith Haynes
Boylston Historical Society and Museum Web Page:
http://users.rcn.com/boyhisoc/
To subscribe or unsubscribe to the PotpourrEmail, or
to submit information to be included in the PotpourrEmail,
e-mail info to: boyhisoc@rcn.com

CONTENTS. Welcome; "The History of Boylston 1642-1741";
Tidbits; 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@rcn.com

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"The History of Boylston 1642-1741"

The following is from Vol.II of the Historical Series.
This book is no longer available for sale, but there are bound
copies of all the Historical Series books in the Museum's Fuller
Research Library, the Boylston Public Library, and the
Allen County Public Library [Fort Wayne, IN.] There are drawings,
sketches and photos in the book that we cannot include
in this Email.

"The History of Boylston 1642-1741"
A Critical Edition of the Papers of George L. Wright
by William O. Dupuis
Volume II in the Boylston Historical Series
Revised edition 1978

Chapter 3
"The Mother Town of Lancaster"
by George L. Wright

The Last Indian Raid

Nearly two years after the capture of Thomas Sawyer, another Lancaster settler was slain by the Indians, and on the 30th of August following this last raid, Jonathan Wilder, who was a son of Lieutenant Nathaniel Wilder, killed by the Indians in 1704, was slain. He had been
captured in Marlborough and taken to Lancaster by a party of twenty-four Indians. The following day, the Indians were pursued by about thirty men from Marlborough, among who was Ephraim Wilder, a brother of the captive. They overtook the Indians about two or three miles northwest of the present village of Sterling. The English surprised the Indians when they were unprepared for fighting, and might have easily seized the entire party if they had immediately rushed upon them. The Indians had determined to give themselves up to the whites when perceiving that only about a third of the pursuing party came down upon them, they rallied and fought with a vengeance, having first dispatched their captive lest he might escape. Nine of the Indians were killed, and the rest escaped. Two of the whites were killed, and Ephraim Wilder and another man were wounded. Ephraim Wilder recovered from his wounds, and left a numerous posterity, among whom was Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, the father of Mrs. Nancy J. Bigelow, wife of Rev. Dr. Andrew Bigelow of Boylston. The last act of Indian violence in Lancaster occurred August 5,1710 when an attack was made upon two brothers, Nathaniel and Oliver Wilder, the remaining sons of Lieutenant Nathaniel Wilder, who with an Indian servant were at work in a field on the east slope of George Hill. The Indian was killed. but the brothers escaped into the garrison. While this was the last Indian attack, the inhabitants did not rest entirely free from fear until after the fall of Quebec, which brought English supremacy in America.

NEIGHBORING SETTLEMENTS

During this early period Lancaster was a frontier settlement. Its nearest neighbor on the east for most of the time was Sudbury, which antedated it by only a few years. The settlement of Sudbury had begun in 1638. Marlborough began its settlement in 1656, and was incorporated as a town in 1660. Groton, on the north was settled and became a town about the same time as Marlborough. On the west there was an unbroken wilderness, unsettled by the white man as far as Northampton, the settlement of which began about the same time as Lancaster. At the formation of Hampshire County in 1662, only three towns composed the new County: Springfield, Northampton, and Hadley. Worcester was not incorporated until 1684, nearly ten years after the Lancaster Massacre. The first grant of the township was made in 1668, but on account of the Indian hostilities, its settlement was not begun until after its incorporation. The settlers were forced to abandon it so that its permanent settlement did no t begin until 1713, and its first town meeting was not held until 1722. On the south, West Brookfield began its settlement nearly two years after the incorporation of Lancaster, and its incorporation as a town was only two years before the Lancaster Massacre. Mendon, the next in age after Lancaster of the Worcester County towns, did not receive its grant until 1660, and its Act of Incorporation until 1667. Lancaster was surrounded on all sides by the unbroken wilderness, uninhabited save by the red men and the wild beasts of the forest. Never-the-less, John Prescott and Thomas Sawyer and their hardy associates remained in this wilderness amid all the hardships and dangers of the pioneer; the isolation of the forest, and the cruelty of the Indian foe, and persisted in their undertaking, and gave to their descendants the good heritage which has, by the blessings of God, developed into the beautiful and prosperous Lancaster-by-the Nashua of today.

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Tidbits

Worcester Daily Telegram
Friday, April 15, 1955
Girl Scouts Get Badges at Boylston
Girl Scout Troop 5 held its badge presentation ceremony Thursday in the Town House. The program was in charge of the troop leader, Mrs. John W. Fellows and assistants Mrs. Ralph V. White and Mrs. Grantley B. Warren.
Receiving badges were: Second Class, Lucille Bean and Suzanne Slack; Child Care, Eva Banfill, Gail Brown, Suzanne Chase, Betty Keulian, Karen Lund, Carol Marengo, Mary Olson and Alberta Saarl; Cook, Clara Fellows, Alice Fuller, Jane Mosso, Madeline Slack, Susan Anderson; Dabbler, Sharon Boynton, Helen Cyganiewicz, Karen Lund.
Also Seamstress, Gail Brown, Suzanne Chase, Helen Cyganiewicz, Betty Keulian, Karen Lund; Skater, Helen Cyganiewicz, Arline Wright; Trees, Suzanne Chase and Karen Lund; Birds, Karen Lund; Housekeeper, Sharon Boynton and Gail Brown.
Refreshments were served by the troop committee including Mrs. Clarence A. Wright, chairman, Mrs. Phillip B. Griggs and Mrs. Ethel M. Lund.

January 24, 1944
Mrs. Lillian Hastings
Boylston - Jan.23 The funeral of Mrs. Lillian Frances [Tucker] Hastings, widow of former Rep. George A. Hastings, who died in her home Thursday morning, was held this afternoon from her late home on Main street.
Rev. John E. Morgan, pastor of the Boylston congregational Church of which she had been a member for many years, and at one time was one of its Sunday School teachers, officiated.
Bearers were Myron S. Garfield, George E. Keogh, Royal J. Gillander, Wilbur Larson, John J. Durkin and Harry A. Souci
Burial was in the family lot in Pine Grove Cemetery.

Princeton, May 26, 1788
A considerable number of the respectable inhabitants of Princeton, consisting of 37 gunners and their waiters, spent the day past in hunting; and this evening they have brought in 1596 birds of prey.

March 24, 1933
Boylston Parent-Teacher association had a whist party tonight in the Town Hall, with 9 tables , an attendance of 38 people, the attendance prizes being won by Mrs. George P. Hutton of Worcester, Mrs. Matthew Hakala and Henry A. Smith.
The prizes were given as follows tonight: First for ladies, Mrs. Hariett L. Stone, second, Mrs. Arthur E. Nylin, and consolation, Mrs. Clara C. Zalneraitis; for men, first, Harry A. Lovell; second, Henry E. Hakala, and consolation went to Richard A. Hubbard.
Refreshments were served by Mrs. Clarence C. Allen, Mrs. Edgar B. Donaldson, Mrs. Clara C. Zalneraitis, Mrs. Matthew, Mrs. Jacob and Mrs. Augustus A. Hakala, Mrs. H. Lloyd Brigham, and Mrs. Russell Shattuck.

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BHSM News

"Be Our Valentine" Exhibit -
Extended by Popular Demand !!
This is a display of Victorian Valentines,
Lace from our collection, and wedding dresses
circa 1950 and 1930.

Open during normal open hours and at regular
museum admission.
Members - free Non-Members - $3
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2003 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!
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The History of Boylston - a slide lecture by William Dupuis - BHSM Curator
Thursday, April 10, 2003 at 7:30 pm
Members - $2 Non-Members - $3 Under 18 - free
Sponsored in part by Fuller Transportation
------------------------------------------------
Ask an EXPERT!
Genealogy, Scrapbooking, Collecting, Old House research, and Archival Storage

Tuesday & Thursday, April 15 & 17 , 2003 10am to noon
AND Wednesday, April 16, 7:30pm to 9 pm

Have a question, need advice or help?
Stop by and consult an expert! FREE! The Museum will also be open.

Museum Staff will :
1. give advice on how to store your heirlooms, documents, clothing, and photos so they will last for future generations.
2.help you get started on genealogical or old house research.
3. show you how to use our research library in documenting your antiques and collectibles.

Special guest Expert: Karen Barber - Creative Memories Scrapbooking Consultant - Karen is a Boylston resident who will show you all the decorative ways to put together a scrapbook of memories, photos, etc.

Sponsored in part by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Thomas
--------------------------------------------------------------

Flagg Pond - a slide lecture by Bob Haynes. Learn about the history, biology, and mysteries of Boylston's Flagg Pond. Thursday, May 15, 2003 at 7:30 pm
Members - $2 Non-Members - $3 Under 18 - free
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Memorial Day Open House - Come and visit!!! Monday, May 26, 2003, 10am to 2pm
Free Museum admission - Look for our "Attic Sale" on the Green!
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WE NEED- Items for our Attic Sale on Memorial Day. Keep us in mind while you are doing you spring cleaning. You may drop items off at the museum during open hours or call 508-869-2720 to arrange a pick up.
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Annual Meeting/ Dinner - Thursday, June 12
at the Manor in West Boylston
6 p.m. Cocktails (cash bar)
7 p.m. Dinner buffet [to include American, Italian, and Greek cuisine]
$25/ per person
We need your reservation no later than Tuesday, June 3rd.
Call the BHSM at 508-869-2720 to make your reservation.
RESERVATIONS REQUIRED

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Visit the gift shop
http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/gift.htm

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On the Web

America's First Circus
http://www.arborday.org/index1.html
http://www.circusweb.com/cwhistory.html

Arbor Day, April 10
http://www.theatrehistory.com/british/beaumont001.html
http://www.arbor-day.net/

History of Taxation
http://www.taxworld.org/History/TaxHistory.htm
http://www.worldwide-tax.com/history_of_tax.htm

Oklahoma Land Rush - April 22, 1889
http://www.library.cornell.edu/Reps/DOCS/landrush.htm
http://www.doi.gov/museum/murals/rush.html
http://marti.rootsweb.com/land/oklands.html

Earth Day - April 22
http://www.earthday.net/
http://www.earthsite.org/

Amelia Simmons - April 28, 1796 - Connecticut courts granted her a copyright for her book "American Cookery"
http://www.foodhistory.com/classics/simmons/ac.htm
http://www.lib.ksu.edu/depts/spec/rarebooks/cookery/simmons1812.html
http://www.library.upenn.edu/exhibits/rbm/aresty/004.html

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Humor -

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that
you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
Alan, age 10
No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry.
God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
Kirsten, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
Camille, age 10
No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.
Freddie, age 6 (Very wise for his age)

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
Lynnette, age 8 (Isn't she a treasure)

On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich.
Pam, age 7
The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
Curt, age 7
The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
I don't know which is better. But I'll tell you one thing, I'm never going to have sex with my wife. I don't want to be all grossed out.
Theodore, age 8

It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
Anita, age 9 (Bless you child)

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is........
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty even if she looks like a truck.
Ricky, age 10

PERMISSION TO REPRINT articles from PotpourrEMAIL is granted
unless specifically stated otherwise, PROVIDED: (1) the reprint
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following notice appears at the end of the article:
Written by -author's name, e-mail address, and URL, if given-
Previously published by PotpourrEMAIL,
PotpourrEmail, Vol. 4, No.10 - 1 April 2003. Please visit
Boylston Historical Society and Museum's main Web page at
http://users.rcn.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@rcn.com
508-869-2720
Boylston Historical Society
PO Box 459
Boylston, MA 01505
Web Page: http://users.rcn.com/boyhisoc/