PotpourrEMAIL

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PotpourrEMAIL

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Vol. 5, No.4 - 1 October 2003. Circulation: 200 and growing!
(C) 1999-2003 Boylston Historical Society and Museum
7 Central St., PO Box 459, Boylston, MA 01505
potpourremail@boylstonhistory.org 508-869-2720
Editors: Betty L. Thomas and Judith Haynes
Boylston Historical Society and Museum Web Page:
http:www.boylstonhistory.org

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:
potpourremail@boylstonhistory.org

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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, the DAR 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 4

The Lands of Gershom Keyes
Lot #35: granted to Gershom Keyes December 30,1718. Contained 52 acres, and was located on the

southwest by the 28th lot, and northeasterly by the 45th lot. It was occupied in 1729 by

Deacon Thomas Keyes of Marlborough, and was later in the possession of Deacon Cyprian Keyes.

It was later known as the George Sumner Barton Place.

The Lands of Samuel Brigham
Lot #36; granted to Samuel Brigham December 30,1718. Contained 70 acres and lay on both sides of the Malagasco Brook. It was, in 1729 in the possession of Gershom Flagg. (Then it was owned by his son,Stephen,who was followed by his son, Capt. Gershom Flagg, and then by his son, Jonathan, and by his sons, Salon, William, Gilbert and John Thomas. The latter took down the old house, and built a new one near the junctions of School and Sewall Streets. This was then owned by Loring Fuller, John Flagg who built the present house subsequently occupied by George W. Shattuck.) Ed. It comprised the two places owned later by the heirs of Henry J.Scott and Loring Fuller. [30] (Near School and Sewall Streets)

The Lands of Richard Temple
Lot #37: granted to Richard Temple December 30, 1718. Contained 70 acres, and lay on the east side of Muddy Brook. In 1729 it was in the possession of Richard Temple, and was later known as the John N. Flagg place. [31]

The Lands of Abiah Bush
Lot #38: granted December 30,1718 to Abiah Bush. Contained 60 acres, and was bounded westerly by lot #43, and northerly by lot #25. In 1729 it was in the possession of Ensign John Bush. The Bush family retained it until 1857 when it came into the possession of Charles Andrews and Nathaniel Laud and others. It was more recently known as the Miles W. Tabor Place. [32]

The Lands of John Wheeler
Lot #39: granted to John Wheeler December 30,1718. Contained 60 acres, and was located southerly of the Davenport Farm, and was bounded northerly by the Lancaster line. It was subsequently owned by Jonathan Page, Jonathan French, Captain Robert Andrews; Willard Andrews, and finally by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is now part of the Reservoir.

The Lands of Captain Joshua Haynes
Lot #40: granted December 30, 1718 to Joshua Haynes. Contained 60 acres, and was located northwesterly of Brigham's Farm, and partly off Diamond Hill Avenue. In 1729 there was a saw mill below this lot belonging to the widow Sarah Taylor. It was later in the possession of Mrs. Frederique Ropp. [33] It was settled in 1723-24 by Ebenezer Taylor. who purchased part of it from widow Sarah.

The Lands of Caleb Rice
Lot #41; granted December 30,1718 to Caleb Rice. Contained 60 acres, and was 1ocated at what was later known as the A.V.R.Prouty place. [34]

The Lands of John L Keyes, Senior
Lot #42; granted December 30, 1718 to John Keyes, Senior. Contained 66 acres, and was located south of the Brigham Farm. It was later occupied by Mr. Fred C. Stark. [35]

The Lands of Eleazar Taylor
Lot #43; granted December 30,1718 to Eleazar Taylor. Contained 58 acres. and was westerly of the 38th lot. It was later owned by Rev. Ward Cotton. his son, John Cotton. Henry V. Woods, and James Woods. It is said that when the well was dug in the land now leading to the house, sentinels were stationed near the well with loaded guns to warn the diggers of the approach of Indians. The grant probably included the present ( early 20th century) John G. Warner Place, the William S. Garfield Place, the land occupied by the Old Cemetery, and the present Common in front of the Cemetery, where the first church stood.The land for the Common area was given to the town by the heirs of Lieutenant Eleazar Taylor in 1742. [36]

The Lands of Deacon Thomas Keyes
Lot #45; granted to Thomas Keyes, December 30,1718, but was never occupied by him. Contained 70 acres. and was located in the northern most section of Spring Garden. It was given by the original owner to his kinsman, Henry Keyes, a soldier in the King George's War. It was later owned by Hugh C. F. Smith, and came into the possession of George S. Barton, who added it to his estate.

Some of these grantees probably never settled in Shrewsbury, but disposed of their grants to other persons who settled thereon, while some of them settled their sons on the grants.[ 37]

The First Meeting House
The settlement of Shrewsbury probably began soon after the lay-out and allotment of house lots, or about 1718. [38] Its Meeting House was built in 1721, and the Church was gathered on September 4, 1723. The Rev. Job Cushing was at that time ordained and settled as the first Minister. Mr. Cushing was born in Hingham July 11, 1694, and was a son of Matthew Cushing, and a grandson of Matthew Cushing, who came from Norfolk, England in 1638. He was graduated from Harvard in 1714, and his ministry in Shrewsbury continued from the time of his ordination to his death, August 6, 1760 at the age of 66 years. Mr. Cushing followed the custom of many of the ministers of his time, and was a farmer as well as a preacher. His death was sudden and came without premonition. He fell dead while at work in his field, bundling sheaves of grain. After a pastorate of nearly thirty-seven years, which covered a period of more than one half of the time that Boylston was a part of Shrewsbury, and until 1742, the date of Incorporation of the North Precinct, he was the sole Minister of the Town. Upon the gathering of the Shrewsbury Church, John Keyes, Sr., who lived in the section now Boylston, was chosen as one of the Deacons. Later, his kinsman, Cyprian Keyes, who lived at Spring Garden [39] in the same section of Shrewsbury, was made a Deacon of the Shrewsbury Church, and they were among the officiating Deacons of that church at the time of the gathering of the church in the North Precinct.

The North Precinct - A First Attempt At Recognition
At the first Town Meeting held December 1727, Deacon John Keyes, Senior, was chosen Moderator, and also Town Clerk, and Isaac Stone was chosen one of the Selectmen; they were both from the North part of Shrewsbury. This part of the town kept apace with that of the other parts of Shrewsbury, so that within ten years after this first Town Meeting, the people of the North section were considering the question of being set off and Incorporated into a township of their own.

To this project, the town of Shrewsbury offered no objection, and the matter went so far that a petition was presented for this purpose, which passed the General Court, but was vetoed by the Royal Governor. The matter was later taken to the King's Privy Council, who sustained the Royal Governor.

Even at that early period, the King was jealous of his royal prerogatives, and had begun to view with suspicion the rapid growth and development, and somewhat independent attitude of the American colonies. At that time every incorporated town was entitled to a Representative in the General Court, and an increase in the number of Representatives might mean, in the case of any difficulty with the colonies, a stronger democratic expression of the will of the people. So the people of the North Precinct were forced to remain a part of the parent town.

The distance from the Meeting House in Shrewsbury, and their poor condition of travel rendered attendance upon divine worship and at town meetings inconvenient and difficult, and they took measures for incorporation as the Second or North Precinct and Parish of Shrewsbury. This project did not meet with any objection from the church and townspeople in the other parts of the town, or from the province authorities, and so they were accordingly incorporated as such on December 17, 1742. [40] They, however, remained a part of Shrewsbury for municipal purposes until March 1, 1786, when the Precinct became the Town of Boylston.

The Settlers of the North Precinct
Boylston and West Boylston were parts of Shrewsbury about sixty-nine years, dating from the settlement of Shrewsbury until the incorporation of the town of Boylston. The Second or North Precinct of Shrewsbury had a corporate existence of forty-four years, from 1742-1786, and during these long periods they had been one town in spirit as well as in existence. The highest degree of loyalty and harmony had prevailed, and many of the families had inter-married. The North Parish had always been recognized in the transaction of town affairs.
The early Boards of Selectmen in Shrewsbury had usually consisted of five persons, and generally two members of the Board were from the parish served upon the board:
North Parish. During this period, the following persons from that Parish served upon the board:
John Keyes, Sr.,Esq. - 4 years
Gershom Flagg - 1 year
Dea. Cyprian Keyes -19 years
Isaac Temple-16 years
Daniel Hastings - 5 years
Dea. Jonathan Keyes-3 years
Capt. Joseph Bigelow -1 year
Capt. Joseph Bigelow,Jr.- 2 years
David Child - 3 years
Capt. Jabez Beaman- 3 years
Nathaniel Davenport - 1 year
Dea. Amariah Bigelow - 6 years
Col. Edward Raymond- 2 years
Joseph Smith- 7 years
Major Ezra Beaman- 10 years
Stephen Flagg- 1 year
Capt. Robert Andrews - 5 years
Lieut. Jonas Temple - 6 years
David Taylor- 1 years
Dea. Jonathan Bond -1 year
Capt. Jonathan Fassett -1 year
Lieut. Ephraim Beaman-1 year

Town Clerks of Shrewsbury from the North Parish:
John Keyes, Sr.- 2 years
Dea. Cyprian Keyes- 7 years
David Taylor-2 years
Dea. Amariah Bigelow-1 year

End of Chapter 4

Footnotes:
30. Now on land owned by Roland Lizotte, 100 School St., and Harold Scott, 24 Sewall St.
31. Located on Diamond Hill Ave.
32. Located at 723 Main St.
33. Located at 875 Main St. Circle
34. Located at 246 Central St.
35. Located on land now belonging to the Mt. Pleasant Country Club
36. This land included among others, 651-661 Main St. and Cottonwood Place.
37. This is a debatable point which will be discussed in a later chapter.
38. Apparently the town received its name from the Duke of Shrewsbury, Charles Talbot, who died in 1718.
39. Located in the southern section of Boylston; in the general area between School and Cross Streets and Central Street.
40. Some of the Boylston settlers most closely associated with the move toward separation were: John Keyes, Eleazar Taylor, Oliver Keyes, Jonathan Keyes, Cyprian Keyes, Ebenezer Taylor, Josiah Bennett, Elisha Maynard, Phineas Howe, Jonathan Bennett, John Keyes, Sr., Daniel Bixby, and Nathaniel Bixby.

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Tidbits is BACK !!!

Boston Globe
no date
-----------------------------

Married a Mullatto..... LIVELY SENSATION IN BOYLSTON.

The inhabitants of Boylston, or as the town is generally called throughout this portion of Worcester county, "Old Pot," are stirred up to a great extent over the mating of two of the town residents, both well known and each rep�resenting extremes in the social scales of the community of farmers families which compose the people of the town. Boylston is remote from railroads, situated among the hills, with�out conveniences and facilities accorded most of the towns in the Commonwealth, but it is able to furnish at this time a peculiar and rath�er unusual circumstance. The present agitation� among the people springs from the mari�tal relations recently entered into between Alice Flagg, white and George Hazard, colored and the circumstances surrounding the case make it more mysterious and perplexing. Alice is a young lady about 26 years of age, medium height, fair complexion, brown hair, rather prepossessing and attractive, of unex�ceptionable intelligence and a graduate of the leading female seminary in Worcester. Her home has ever offered to her every comfort which a kind and wealthy father could provide. She was surrounded with all the essential features to bring happiness and contentment with�in her grasp, and yet she has thrown these aside for a mulatto, a former laborer on her father's farm.

Levi L. Flagg, the father of Alice, is regarded, next to John B, Gough, the noted orator, as the richest man in town, whose standing among his fellow-men is of the best; and who has been honored with all of the positions of trust and responsibility which his fellow-citi�zens could bestow upon him, being at the pres�ent time one of the selectmen and the town treasurer. About five years ago Hazard, whose parents were in the humblest walks of life, came to work for him. He and Alice were not known to have held any special regard for each other, although she evinced sufficient interest in him to teach him to read and write. After living at the farm about two years he com�menced speculating in wood lots and to drive cattle from Brighton through to this section of the country. The first intimation the relatives had of the young lady had that any affection existed between the two was two weeks ago last Wednesday night, when they learned that Alice and George had that day been to Rochester, N. H., and been made man and wife by Rev. Mr. Kimball of that town, who was formerly settled over the Congregational society here. On that morning they drove to Clinton, took the train on the Worcester &; Nashua railroad, went to the point named, were married, and returned at night, going immediately to the farm of Mr. and Mrs. Jane Dutton, which Hazard has managed for, the past two years, and there commenced their new relations in a neat two-story, French-roof house, about twenty rods from the centre of the town. The news was most sorrowfully received by the members of her family, con�sisting of father and younger sister, at the farm on the Shrewsbury Road, and two brothers, who are well to do and engaged in business in Worcester. The blow was most severely felt by the father, who for several days after receiving the intelligence, was about crazed with grief and mortification and who, it is stated has yet refused to recognize the newly-wedded twain.

Mrs. Dutton and Mrs. John Andrews had been apprised by Hazard of his prospective action, and that word had been sent the reverend gentleman that the course pursued was contemplated, and that he would be called upon at such a time. He made due arrangements, and provided a turkey dinner for his guests, which made an impression upon the bride�groom, who has subsequently remarked with considerable earnestness that he "had a bully dinner;" The people of this small town, while thoroughly excited over the matter, differ very materially from the average community in as much as they do not speak scornfully or in derision of their former favorite or her associate, but rather refer to the circumstances in tones of pity and sympathy for the young lady, who they say will yet feel the disgrace of her position.

At the weekly meeting of the literary society Tuesday evening it was announced that a public reception would be tendered .to the happy couple at their home next Tuesday night, to which all were invited. It appears that a clandestine courtship has been maintained since Hazard left the employ of Mr. Flagg three years ago.

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BHSM News

2003 - 2004 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!
------------------------------------------------
ONGOING
"We Were There" exhibit
Exhibit focuses on the World War II military careers of three Boylston soldiers...
Victor Delnore, Fenton Bean, and Florence Swenson Tobiesen Smith.
The exhibit is open during normal open hours.

On our Web Site:
Share your memories of WW II ...whether you were in the service, at home, at school, or college.
Fill in the form and hit submit...it's as easy as that!
http://www.boylstonhistory.org/ww2form.htm

October -
Sat. 4 - Appraisal Day - 10am - 2pm, at the Townhouse 599 Main St.
Paul Royka of Fitchburg will be doing appraisals
$5 / item donation $10/ 3 items
GET THERE EARLY !!!!!

16-19 - Reform, Restore, & Rally- A Civil War Event
Cosponsored by BHSM and the Hillside Restoration Project
A Unique and fun event that makes the connection between our
nation's War of the States and socially-defining reform movements
of the 19th century
Adults - $10 Seniors/Students - $7 Family[ 4] - $25 *Meals are extra.

Scholar's Lecture - Thursday Oct., 16 7:30 pm
at BHSM, 7 Central St., Boylston, MA
Carolyn J. Lawes, Associate Professor of History at Old Dominion
University in Norfolk, VA will lecture about the Soldiers' Rest in
Worcester and temperance during the Civil War years.
Free with event button $5 all others

Closing Down the Pub - Friday, Oct. 17 - 8:30 PM
Temperance advocates & soldiers will close down The Other Place Pub
71 Shrewsbury St. [Rt. 140], Boylston, MA

AT HILLSIDE, 221 Main St., Boylston, MA
Saturday, Oct 18 - 9am to 7 pm
Breakfast with the soldiers*, a Civil War encampment and
demonstrations, a lecture by the "Apostle of Cold Water, "
John B. Gough and a candlelight tour of the camp site.

Dedication - Sunday, Oct 19, 10am -
1at Hillside, 221 Main St., Boylston, MA
Chaplain's service and dedication to Civil War hero John W. Partridge

NOVEMBER
"Hillside My Refuge" Thursday, November 13 7:30pm
Slide Lecture by William Dupuis detailing the history, architecture,
1development, people, owners and modern rehabilitation of
John B. Gough's Boylston home, Hilliside.
Nonmembers - $3 Members - $2 Under 18 FREE

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Visit the gift shop
http://www.boylstonhistory.org/gift.htm

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On the Web ...for the month of October

3rd - Birthday of novelist Thomas Wolfe - 1900-1938
http://library.uncwil.edu/wolfe/wolfe.html
http://www.thomaswolfe.org/

5th - Yom Kippur begins
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday4.htm
http://www.ou.org/chagim/yomkippur/default.htm

12th - Columbus Day
http://www.usis.usemb.se/Holidays/celebrate/Columbus.html
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/oct12.html

13th - Canadian Thanksgiving Day
http://www.web-holidays.com/canada/
http://www.annieshomepage.com/canadianthanksgiving.html

16th - Birthday of Noah Webster - 1758 - 1843
http://noahwebsterhouse.org/
http://www.amherstcommon.com/walking_tour/noah.html

22nd - Birthday of Sarah Bernhardt
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~temple/Sarah.htm
http://www.theatrehistory.com/french/bernhardt001.html

27th - Birthday of Theodore Roosevelt
http://www.theodoreroosevelt.org/
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tr26.html

31st - Halloween
http://www.halloween-online.com/
http://www.holidays.net/halloween/
http://wilstar.com/holidays/hallown.htm
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Humor - from Pat Cushman Ton

Three friends from the local congregation were asked "When
you're in your
casket, and friends and congregation members are mourning over you,
what
would you like them to say?"

Artie said: "I would like them to say I was a wonderful
husband, a fine
spiritual leader, and a great family man."

Eugene commented: "I would like them to say I was a
wonderful teacher
and servant of God who made a huge difference in people's
lives."

Don said: "I'd like them to say, "Look, he's
moving!"

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 -author's name, e-mail address, and URL, if given-
Previously published by PotpourrEMAIL,
PotpourrEmail, Vol. 5, No.4 - 1 October 2003.
Please visit Boylston Historical Society and Museum's main
Web page at http://www.boylstonhistory.org
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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Boylston Historical Society and Museum
7 Central St., POB 459
Boylston, MA 01505
www.boylstonhistory.org
508-869-2720
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