HISTORY OF WEST BOYLSTON.

BY REV. C. C. P. CROSBY.

In presenting to the public a history of this town, we shall have no occasion to record any of those sanguinary scenes, which distinguish the annals of many of our neighboring towns, arising from the incursions of a savage foe.

No predatory warfare has ever stained the soil, or crimsoned the streams, with the blood of white men. Scarcely an incident, aside from the general course of human affairs, has transpired within any recollection, or is entered upon any record. So that the chief interest in the history of this town, comes from what it now is, rather than from what it has been.

Within a few years, the town has obtained an importance on account of the facilities for manufacturing purposes, little expected by its early inhabitants. And it is but a limited stretch of prophetic genius to predict, that within a few years, this town will be the theatre of extensive manufacturing and mechanical operations.

This town was settled as early as 1720, by several families from Marlborough; being then included in the grant of land called Shrewsbury. Among the first settlers were Benjamin Hinds, Isaac Temple, Edward Goodale, William Whitney, Bixby, and

Holt. These inhabitants suffered much from the want of dwellings, but were seldom, if ever molested by the Indians. They toiled for their posterity, as well as for themselves, and the descendants of these families are now numerous, and respectable in town; several of them residing on their paternal possessions.

The history of this town, as a corporation, extends no farther back than 1808, being then merged in that of Boylston and Sterling, and earlier in that of Shrewsbury and Lancaster. The northern part of

this town is a portion of that tract called Shrewsbury leg; the southern part was identified with the north parish of that town, now Boylston, so called in honor of a distinguished family of the name, and incorporated in 1786. The leg was set off to the west parish in Lancaster, now Sterling, in 1768; this was done to accommodate the inhabitants with meetings, &c. as they were 10 or 12 miles distant from Shrewsbury. When this town was incorporated, a part of the first named tract, say about half, was included in the act. In 1796, the present town was erected into a precinct, and in 1808, enjoyed the benefit of an act of incorporation.

In obtaining these privileges, the inhabitants suffered much perplexity from their neighbors on every side, but by perseverance they obtained their wishes.

In 1792, sundry inhabitants of Boylston, Sterling, Holden, and Worcester, assembled to consider the expediency of forming a new town, or parish. They agreed to build a meeting house for their accommodation, next year. They then formed themselves into a society, and chose Mr. David Goodale clerk, and elected a parish committee.

The meeting house was raised in 1793, being 58 by 46 feet, with a cupola, in which a good bell was placed by Ward N. Boyls ton, Esq. and in eighteen months it was finished by the enterprise and public spirit of Ezra Beaman, Esq. "who proposed that for the proceeds of the pews already sold on the place, and for those remaining unsold, he would finish the house."

"This he did," says the record, "in a very decent and faithful manner, and at an expense far exceeding any compensation he can expect or hope to receive in future."

In 1794, the inhabitants applied to several clergymen in the vicinity, to meet and consult on the propriety of forming a church and hiring a preacher. Their result was against forming a church, but recommended "occasional worship in the house they had

erected."

Why these gentlemen did not recommend constant worship, is difficult to imagine. The meeting house was dedicated January 1, 1795, by a Sermon from Rev. Daniel Grosvenor, of Paxton. In the same month, was sent to the General Court, a petition for an act of incorporation as a town; signed by 43 inhabitants of Boylston, 24 of Sterling, 21 of Holden, and 3 of Worcester.

This petition had a hearing in 1796, but being strenuously opposed by the representatives from each town where the petition

ers resided, they only had leave to withdraw their petition. Soon after, they petitioned for an act to form themselves into a precinct, by the name of the second precinct in Boylston, Sterling, and Holden. This also was as strongly opposed as the other; but in June, 1796, an act was passed granting the prayer of the petitioners. Accordingly, the first meeting for the choice of precinct officers was held, August 22, 1796, under the warrant of John Sprague, Esq.

In 1796, a Congregational church was gathered, and received into fellowship by the Rev. Messrs. Sumner, Avery, and Holcomb, consisting of thirty two members. March, 1797, the precinct voted to concur with the church in calling Mr. William Nash, A. M. to settle as a minister of the gospel; and at a subsequent meeting, they voted to give him £100, lawful money, as an annual salary, and in addition, they made a subscription for his benefit of about $200. In June following, Mr. Nash returned an affirmative answer, in which he regrets the "want of an entire unanimity in the call," and on the 11th of October, he was ordained over the parish.

In 1801, the parish made a grant of $800 to Mr. Nash, on certain conditions, to aid him in building a house.

In 1804, the manufacture of Cotton was here commenced, for the first time in the county of Worcester; but through inexperience, little progress was made for several years.

In 1808, the inhabitants succeeded in obtaining an act of incorporation for a town, by the name of WEST BOYLSTON, bounded as follows, viz. on the north by Sterling, east by Boylston, south by Worcester, and west by Holden, being about four by five miles in extent, and lying near the centre of the county of Worcester.

In all these transactions, Ezra Beaman, Esq. was a very active man, and to his perseverance, influence, and wealth, the town is indebted for many of their present privileges; after its incorporation, he was successively chosen to represent the citizens in the State Legislature.

Soon after the town was incorporated, they remonstrated against the embargo laid by Mr. Jefferson, declaring it to be ruinous to the country; but their remonstrances did no good, and the embargo little injury to them.

In 1810, the Baptists first began to hold occasional meetings in town.

In 1812, an attempt was made to dismiss Mr. Nash, but it proved abortive-also a remonstrance was sent to Mr. Madison, against the war declared with Great Britain.

In 1813, the Baptists formed themselves into a distinct body, and had preaching about half the time in a school house. In 1818, the Baptist meeting house was built.

In 1815, the pastoral connexion between Mr. Nash and the parish was amicably and honorably dissolved, at his request, on account of ill health.

In 1816, Mr. Samuel Clark, of Princeton, was invited to preach as a candidate.

-In 1818, Mr. Osgood, now of Sterling, preached a few Sabbaths in town.

In 1820, Mr. Shedd, of Acton, received a call to settle, which he declined; and in December, of the same year, Mr. John Boardman received a call to settle, with a salary of $500. The votes were 65 to 28; many present declined acting.*

In January, 1821, Mr. Boardman gave his answer in the affirmative, stating his intention of exchanging with all the neighboring ministers, they had been regularly inducted into office; and accordingly he was ordained, February 28.

In 1819, a Baptist church was organized of about fifty members, who had been dismissed from the church in Holden. In 1821, they had constant preaching by Rev. Nicholas Branch.

Thus far we have followed the history of the town, in the connected series of events; we shall now attend to those particulars, not connected with its general history.

FACE OF THE COUNTRY, SOIL, AND PRODUCTIONS.-The face of the country is uneven, there being but very little champain land in town. The Nashua runs nearly through the whole town, from west to east, and the land rises on both sides, nearly as far as the boundary lines; but there is no very important elevation, except Malden hill, which is situated in the southwest part. From its summit a very pleasant and extensive prospect is afforded to the eye, fully sufficient to compensate for the trouble of a ride to the top. On the river is found some of the best interval land in the county, and in a high state of cultivation.

Nothing in the natural world can exceed the rich and luxuriant appearance of the great meadow in front of Beaman's tavern and the adjoining factory, and so extending down into the limits of Boylston.

The meanderings of the river, the canal for the factory, and the artificial pond, raised above the surface of the waving * Several other gentlemen supplied the pulpit as candidates for a short time, whose names are not mentioned on record.

fields of grass, English grain, and yellow corn, bounded by rising woodlands, unite to show what the industry of man, and the bounty of the Creator can do, in beautifying and adorning what was an unsightly and dismal swamp, when Ephraim and Ezra Beaman commenced on this tract.

The soil is good, and fertile, without an exception, easily cultivated, and productive; well watered by streams and springs.

There are no swamps or bogs in town, and in some parts, there is a deficiency of stone to inclose farms with suitable fences. Our farmers have good pastures for neat stock, and sheep; and by cultivation, they have good hay, corn, rye, oats, potatoes, some wheat, and barley, and cider sufficient for their own use. The dairies in this town are not large, but excellent for butter.

The manufacturing establishments, give encouragement to the agriculturalist, by affording a ready market, for all his surplus produce. The farmer here, as in other portions of our county, needs only industry and economy to gather from his fields and employment, the full harvests of wealth and happiness.

RIVERS. Quinne poxet river from Holden, and Stillwater from Sterling, enter this town on the north, and west sides, and unite their waters just below the Upper Factory, and form, what is called NASHUA, which continnes its course easterly, until it enters Boylston. Besides these, there are three or four brooks, in various parts of the town, which fertilize the land, and carry some light machinery during a part of the year.

ROADS AND BRIDGES.-There is no turnpike road intersecting this town; but the county road, from Worcester to Lancaster, and Groton, and also those to Princeton, Templeton, Sterling, Leominster, and Fitchburg, go through the town, from south to north. They are all post roads for the U. S. Mail, which passes every day in the week, except Sunday, opening a direct communication to Boston, New York, Providence, and Vermont.

The roads are generally in good repair, and easy for travelling, and connect with all the adjacent towns.

There are four wooden bridges for public use, which cost about five hundred dollars each. These roads and bridges are kept in repair by a tax of about four hundred dollars per annum.

EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS.-There are five districts in this town, with a brick school-house in each. They contain about 315 scholars, who are taught in the winter by masters, and in the summer by females. The schools in this town, are under the inspec