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Vol. 4, No.8 - 1 February 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";
From Our Readers; 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

Kinq Philips' War

During a period of 20 years from the incorporation of the town until
its destruction in 1676, the settlers were on terms of mutual peace
and good will with the Indians, and so long as Sholan lived, all was
peace. Matthew, his nephew, also kept faith with the white men. Then
came King Philip's War and Shoshanim, or "Sam" as he was commonly
called, the grandson of Sholan, who at that time ruled over the
Nashaways, joined forces with Philip, and on August 22 1675, the
Indians made a raid upon Lancaster in which eight persons were killed.
On the 10th of February 1676, they again raided the town, led by
Philip himself, with about 1,500 warriors [14], assailing the town from
five different points, and at least fifty (some writers say fifty
five) were slain or captured. Nearly one half of them were killed on
the spot or in the wilderness. The women and children were taken into
captivity, among them Mrs. Rowlandson, the wife of the minister.[15]
These captives were hurried off towards Canada, but finally, after
terrible hardships and suffering, nearly all of them were restored
to their friends. Nearly all of the houses were burned, and a large
part of the settler's livestock and other valuables were carried
away or destroyed. The town was abandoned, and was without an
inhabitant for more than three years.

The rebuilding of the town began about 1679 or 1680, and from that
time until 1692 the inhabitants were unmolested. On July 18, 1692
the Indians again visited Lancaster, and murdered two women and
three children. One of the women slain, and the three children, were
the wife and children of Peter Joslin, and another woman and one other
Joslin child were carried away. This woman was Elizabeth Howe of
Marlborough, who was at Lancaster on a visit to her sister, Mrs.
Joslin. They were the daughters of John Howe, the first white settler
of Marlborough.

The child was slain in the forest, and Elizabeth Howe was taken to
Canada where she remained until she was ransomed by her brother,
Col. Thomas Howe of Marlborough. She was about 20 years of age when
she was ransomed. She married Deacon Thomas Keyes of Marlborough on
December 28, 1698. He was one of the Proprietors of the Township of
Shrewsbury, and had 2 house lots there, granted to him, upon which
he settled. Their two sons, Deacons Jonathan and Cyprian Keyes were
among the earliest settlers of the Shrewsbury North Precinct, now
Boylston.[16] The house lot upon which Deacon Jonathan Keyes lived was
#28 of the Shrewsbury house lots, and is now the homestead farm of
Miss Jennie Flagg[17]: that of Deacon Cyprian Keyes was #35, and is now
owned and occupied by George Sumner Barton.[18]

In 1695, one of the settlers of Lancaster was shot by the Indians.
There were no more atrocities in Lancaster until 1697, when the
Indians fell upon the town under five leaders, with the intention
of attacking and taking the garrison of Thomas Sawyer, and it was
by the merest accident that they were prevented from carrying out
their design. The gates of the' stockade were open, and Jacob Fair
banks, a neighbor of Sawyer, mounted his horse which came running
to him. Suspicious of the horse's fright, he rode rapidly to the
garrison and through the gates for the purpose of getting his son
who was there. The Indians, thinking that they had been discovered,
gave up their design, and retreated, firing upon some of the settlers
who were at work in the fields. They met the minister, Rev. John
Whiting, at some distance from his garrison, and offered him
quarter, which he rejected, and bravely fought to the last. After
killing him, they killed twenty others, wounded two, and captured
six, five of whom afterwards returned to Lancaster.

The cessation of the wars in Europe brought a short stop to the
Indian hostilities. In 1702 the war between England and France was
renewed, and again reached the American colonies.
In 1704, a party of 700 French and Indians marched against North
Hampton, but finding the place too strongly guarded, turned their
course toward Lancaster, and in the early morning of July 31, made
a sudden and bold attack in the westerly part of the town, now Sterling,
and killed Lieutenant Nathaniel Wilds near the gate of his garrison,
and during the day killed three others, two of whom belonged to
Marlborough. The inhabitants of Lancaster defended themselves bravely,
although the Indians greatly outnumbered them. Captain William Tyng
of Dunstab1e, who had commanded the garrison with some soldiers sent
up for duty, assisted the settlers, and an alarm was hurriedly sent
to Marlborough, which brought Capt. Thomas Howe with what men he
could quickly raise to the rescue. The English were obliged to
retreat to the garrisons. The French and Indians then sent out raiding
parties who ransacked the town, burned several houses and barns,
and destroyed much of the livestock and other property, such as hay
and grain. Before night came, the alarm had so spread through the
country, that relief came from the other towns to such a degree that
the French and Indians abandoned further depredations, and hastily
fled from the town. On the 6th of November following, another party
of Indians was discovered near Still River, and the soldiers and
settlers went in pursuit of them, and not finding them returned.

During the night, Rev. Andrew Gardiner, the minister, took his place
among the watchers, and a continued outlooking kept up. Mr. Gardiner,
coming out of the garrison late in the night, was heard by one of the
watchers in the house who, mistaking him for an enemy, fired and
mortally wounded him.
#14 - The Indians involved in the war were mostly Peqotes, Naragansetts and Nipmucs. For a complete listing of casualties, see "The Early Records of Lancaster", edited by H.S. Nourse 1884 pp.104-106
#15 - For a moving narrative of Mrs. Rowlandson's capture, see "History of the United States", by Cassell, volume I, page 291 fff
#16 - The Keyes family probably settled in Boylston in 1720
#17 - The site is located on Route 140, between the Mountain View Restaurant and the Capera Construction Co.
#18 - The site is on land now belonging to the Diocese of Worcester.
[to be continued next month]
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From Our Readers

From Nel Lazour - the Hillside Restoration Project

A Civil War Re-enactment Sponsored by the Hillside Restoration Project:
The public is invited to attend a meeting Monday, February 3 at 7 pm at the Boylston Historical Society to discuss plans for a Civil War Re-enactment weekend in the fall. Members of the Central Massachusetts Regiment will be available, in full gear, to provide information and answer questions about the upcoming event. Individuals and groups interested in participating are encouraged to attend. For more information and to RSVP contact the Boylston Historical Society at 508-869-2720.

This is a family event and we encourage history lovers of all ages to participate. Those outside the Boylston Community are also encouraged to take part. We plan to make this a countywide event and are looking to broaden the interest. Please spread the word that all are invited to participate.

Looking forward to seeing you and learning more about this exciting fall event!

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Tidbits
From the 1938 Town Report
Statement on Soldier's Monument

February 10, 1939.

At the annual Town Meeting held March 1, 1920 it was voted to "accept, set aside and order deposited in some savings institution to be selected by the Selectmen the sum of one hundred and eleven dollars and seven cents ($111.07)
now in the hands of the Welcome Home Committee, said sum to be used by said town in connection with any grants or appropriations or other funds secured for the purpose, in erecting a suitable memorial to those who served our country in her wars."

At the time George H. Boyden, Munson C. Flagg, Walter B. Weston, Joseph H. Woodhead and James H. Woods were appointed to report at the next town meeting some plan to carry out this vote. From time to time the town has added to this nucleus by appropriations at the annual town meetings. At the annual meeting of 1927, Harold B. French, Anna E. Knight and Alice C. Brigham were added to this committee. The committee did not feel a suitable memorial. could be purchased with the sum then available
($810) and no definite action was taken until 1936 when the accrued appropriation and interest amounted to $3,664.09. The committee was then instructed by the town to report their recommendations to the next town meeting and was empowered to take the necessary steps to have the memorial ready for the 150th anniversary. celebration of the founding of the town, August 16, 1936.

At a special town meeting held July 13, 1936 the committee reported that it felt the only suitable memorial was a monument of stone or like material. After considering various other projects it was voted to erect such a monument as a memorial.

After considerable investigation and many meetings, the committee awarded the contract for erecting a monument at the easterly end of the Common to the Davis-Person Company of Worcester for $3,375. This monument is of the finest Barre granite, sixteen feet six inches long, three feet six inches wide, and eleven feet three inches high.

To make the landscaping about the monument complete something over a hundred loads of loam were needed. This was donated by our fellow townsman, George S. Barton, to whom the town hereby expresses its sincere thanks.

The monument was dedicated Memorial Day, 1937.

Financial Statement
Money available through appropriation and interest - $3,664.09
Davis Person Company for Monument - $3,375 00
Bigelow Nurseries-Shrubs, etc. - 100.00
Hauling loam, grass seed and labor -- 113.61
Total - $3,588.61
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REPORT OF THE W. P. A. for the year 1938
From March 20th to December 31st, 1938 under the work relief program we have been able to give an average of 25 men steady employment. The Federal Government has assisted us to the amount of $13,800 for labor, which has been paid to local men, certified by our own Welfare Department as eligible for relief work.

We have tried to use care in choosing projects suitable to the training of our workers.

We have built approximately 1 mile of permanent stone fill roadway on Linden Street.

Due to the hurricane in September, we were forced to abandon regular projects, to clean up roads, cemeteries, electric light lines and fire hazards.

CONRAD ALSTERBERG.

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Roads Resurfaced on Chapter 81
Name of Street Remarks

Dewey Avenue - Entire length
Flagg Street - Entire length
Cook Street - Entire length
Glazier Street - Entire length
Mill Road - 1,100 feet
Melrose Street - 800 feet
East Temple Street - Entire length and Honed 2,000 feet
West Temple Street - Entire length and honed
School Street - 7,600 feet and honed
Church Street - Entire length
Central Street - 3,200 feet and honed
Sewall Street - 6,300 feet surfaced
Sewall Street - 5,280 feet grading and rolling and new surface applied

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BHS 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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NEW HOURS
We are open Tuesday and Thursday - 9 am to noon
AND
The FIRST TUESDAY of each month [year round]- 6-8 pm
Please stop by and visit on Tuesday, Feb. 3
As always ...we are open by appointment for those who can not make any of our open hours.

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COMING UP THIS WINTER
2002 - 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!
-------------------------------------------

Beginner's Genealogy Workshop - Learn how to get started in the exciting hobby of genealogy. This workshop will include non-computer methods as well as internet genealogy.
A packet of instructional materials is included.
instructor: Betty Thomas
Class size limited. Sign up early!
Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003 from 1 to 4 pm
BHSM Members: $20
Non-Members - $30

Eat Your Way Through History - at BHSM, Clinton Historical Society, and West Boylston Historical Society
Participants will enjoy food [breakfast, lunch, desserts] and a historical program at each Historical Society.
Food, Historical Societies, Historical Programs - all for - $15/person
Saturday, March 29, 2003 from 10 am to 4 pm
Seating limited....get your tickets early!

Coming in the Spring

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

Free Drop-In Workshops - for Genealogy, Collecting, and Archival Storage. Have a question, need advice or help? Stop by and consult an expert! FREE! The Museum will also be open.
Tuesday & Thursday, April 15 & 17 , 2003 10am to noon
AND Wednesday, April 16, 7:30pm to 9 pm
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

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!

Annual Meeting/ Dinner - Thursday, June 12
at the Manor in West Boylston
$25/ per person
Buffet to include American, Italian, and Greek cuisine.
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Visit the gift shop
http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/gift.htm

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On the Web
Make Your Own Victorian Valentines
http://www.mccrafts.com/victoria.htm

The History of Victorian Valentines Electronic Ones to Send!
http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/valentines/valentine.html

More Victorian Valentines
http://www.scrapalbum.com/stvalent.htm

Valentines in the Victorian Years - American Antiquarian Society
http://www.americanantiquarian.org/Exhibitions/Valentines/index.htm

Abraham Lincoln On-line -- Your Source for Lincoln News
http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln.html

Histories of All the Presidents
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/

George Washington Birthplace National Monument
http://www.nps.gov/gewa/

On-line Literature Library - Charles Darwin [ born Feb. 12]
http://www.literature.org/authors/darwin-charles/

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow [born Feb. 27]
http://eclecticesoterica.com/longfellow.html

On Feb. 23 in 1601, Gervais Markham, the author or "assembler" of The Complete Housewife [1615], married Mary Gelsthorpe, an inspiration for his book. He summed up this collection of "physicke, cookery, banqueting-stuffe, distillation, perfumes, wooll, hemp, flax, dayries, brewing, baking, and all other things belonging to an household," calling it "a worke very profitable and necessarie, gathered for the generall good of this kingdome."
This book was also the first book printed in America.
http://www.mqup.mcgill.ca/book.php?bookid=466
www.medievalcookery.com/books.html - scroll down to Markham's book
http://me.essortment.com/hstorycookbook_rdox.htm
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Humor -
A mild-mannered man was tired of being bossed around by his wife, so he went to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist said he needed to build his self-esteem and gave him a book on assertiveness training, which he read before going home.

The man stormed into the house and walked up to his wife. Pointing a finger in her face, he said, "From now on, I want you to know that I am the man of this house, and my word is law! I want you to prepare me a gourmet meal tonight, and when I'm finished eating my meal, I expect a sumptuous dessert afterward. Then, after dinner, you're going to draw me my bath so I can relax. And when I'm finished with my bath, guess who's going to dress me and comb my hair????"

"The funeral director," said his wife.

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Written by -author's name, e-mail address, and URL, if given-
Previously published by PotpourrEMAIL,
PotpourrEmail, Vol. 4, No.8 - 1 February 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/