Class
Book.
W"
No. XXIII.
PEOCEEDINGS
OF THE
MoptFstFP jSoriFtg of ^ntiqnitg,
FOR THE YEAR
1885.
WORCESTER, MASS.:
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY,
1886.
U. S. A. ex.
' >0-%tSiAijLl/ M
COLLECTIONS
OF THE
MorrfxtFr Horiptg of jStnMqnitg,
VOLUME VII.
WORCESTER, MASS.:
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY.
1888.
U. S. A. CXII.
1^5X1
"^' 8681
PROCEEDINGS
OF THE
y
MopfPstFP ^oriFtg of ^nHqnilg,
FOR THE YEAR
1885.
WORCESTER, MASS.:
PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY,
1886.
U. S. A. ex.
WORCESTER :
PRIVATE PRESS OF FRANKLIN P. RICE.
MDCCCLXXXVI.
OFFICERS FOR 1886.
PRESIDENT,
ELLERY B. CRANE.
VICE-PRESIDENTS,
ALBERT TOLMAN, GEORGE SUMNER.
SECRETARY,
WILLIAM F. ABBOT,
TREASURER,
HENRY F. STEDMAN.
LIBRARIAN,
THOMAS A. DICKINSON.
DEPARTMENTS OF WORK.
ARCH/EOLOGY AND GENERAL HISTORY.
CHARLES R. JOHNSON, Chairman.
LOCAL HISTORY AND GENEALOGY.
HENRY M. SMITH, Chairman.
ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS, PUBLICATIONS
AND ENGRAVINGS.
' CLARK jn.LSON, Chairman.
RELICS, COINS AND CURIOSITIES.
THOMAS A. DICKINSON, Chairman.
. MILITARY HISTORY.
AUGUSTUS B. R. SPRAGUE, Chairman.
1
I
â– J
\
COMMITTEES FOR 1886.
executive; committee :
ELLERY B. CRANE, ALBERT TOLMAN,
GEORGE SUMNER, WILLIAM F. ABBOT,
HENRY F. STEDMAN.
STANDING COMMITTEE ON NOMINATIONS
EDWARD R. LAWRENCE, for one year ;
DANIEL SEAGRAVE, for two years ;
JOSEPH JACKSON, for three years.
COMMITTEE ON BIOGRAPHY :
ALBERT TYLER, ALFRED S. ROE,
NATHANIEL PAINE, CLARK JILLSON,
SAMUEL E. STAPLES.
COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS :
ELLERY B. CRANE, SAMUEL E. STAPLES,
FRANKLIN P. RICE.
MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY
admitted in 1885.
ACTIVE MEMBERS.
Joseph Hartshorn Perry, . . . Worcester.
Joseph Jackson, . • . Worcester.
Franklin Whiting Brigham, M. D. . . Shrewsbury.
Henry Gleason Taft, . . . Worcester.
Addison Palmer, Worcester.
George Milton Pierce, . . . Worcester.
Uriel Waldo Cutler, . . . Worcester.
William Towle Souther, M. D. . . Worcester.
John Ira Souther, .... Worcester.
Myron Edward Barrows, . . . Worcester.
Daniel Bayard Hubbard, . . . Grafton.
David Sewall Messinger, . . . Worcester.
George Smith Adams, M. D. . . . Worcester.
James Green, Worcester.
Daniel Waterhouse Niles, M. D. . . Worcester.
William Woodward, . . . Worcester.
George Henry Mellen, . . . Worcester.
Charles Lemuel Nichols, M. D. . Worcester.
Horatio Lincoln Miller, . . . Worcester.
Henry Dickinson Woods, . . Boston.
Bernard Ammidown Leonard, . . Southbridge.
William Henry Saw\'er, . . Worcester.
Albert Fremont Simmons, . . . Worcester.
Daniel Webster Abercrombie, . Worcester.
Rev. John Gregson, . . . Wilkinsonville.
John Carter Otis, . . Worcester.
John Calvin Crane, . . . Millbury.
CORRESPONDING MEMBER.
Ray Greene Huling, .... Fitchburg.
PROCEEDINGS.
PROCEEDINGS
For 1885.
HE JANUARY MEETING was held on
the evening of Tuesday the 6th. President
Crane in the chair.
The followino- named members attended : Messrs.
Crane, Staples, T, A. Dickinson, Rice, Stedman,
J. A. Smith, Gould, Maynard and Seagrave.
The President made the following
ADDRESS.
Metnbers of The JVorces/er Society of Antiquity :
We are just approaching the end of
the first decade in the hfe and achievements of this Society. On
the 24th day of this present month, the shadow upon the dial will
mark the close of ten eventful and prosperous years of its existence.
I say eventful, for a few of you may remember something of the
anxiety felt at the time of its institution and organization, how
lO
skeptical some were as to its future, and how the hope was kept
alive meeting after meeting by a few zealous workers, whose minds
were thoroughly imbued with the desire and love for antiquarian
research.
It was not long, however, before a sufficient amount of faith had
been generated to enable nearly all its members to feel that to
labor within the circle of such an organization would not only
prove to be a profitable employment of their time, but would also
gratify a noble and worthy ambition. Of the genuineness of that
love and desire we seem to be surroiuided in these rooms with
abundant and unmistakable evidence.
As I glance backward over the years that are gone, and recall
the little beginnings made at those pleasant and enjoyable meet-
ings held from time to time at the homes of the different members,
and trace the line of events along down to the act of incorporation,
when the organization became clothed with definite responsibility ;
and even when we assumed, as was thought by some, the hazard-
ous risk of the care and expense of this one room, and still further
when, owing to rapid accumulations, it became necessary to take
the second room, — all along up to the present hour, I do not re-
member that there has been a moment of doubt or misgiving as
to the future of this Society.
It is only seven years since we began to collect books upon
these shelves, and less time than that since we began to arrange
curiosities and antiques in these cases, but already we are crowded
for want of space in which to give proper display to many of the
valuable and interesting relics in our possession.
The past year has brought upon us more than our usual measure
of success. Fourteen names have been added to our list of mem-
bership, and we have received over 8,600 additions to our library
and collection of curiosities. This includes the George Allen
Library of 2300 bound volumes and 2000 pamphlets, which came
into the possession of the Society last April through the generosity
of a few leading gentlemen of our city. That gift marked an im-
portant era in the growth and importance of our library, and gave
US a red-letter day in the history of our Society.
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i6
of Sheriff of the newly constituted County of Worcester. His
training in the prison and house of correction at Cambridge, under
the eye of his father, was, doubtless, considered by the Council in
making the appointment.
There are but few facts now obtainable concerning Mr. Gookin,
and these chiefly refer to his management of the responsible office
of Sheriff.* His name first appears upon the records of the Court
of Sessions of the new county in August, 1732, when he presented
for approval his first account of expenditures. The following
November, for some unexplained reason, he withdrew this account
and substituted another, which was allowed by the Court.
This action would not be noticed but for the facts hereafter
mentioned. His second account presented and allowed by the
Court in November, 1 733, is interesting as it shows a few of the
duties of the Sheriff at that period. It is as follows : f
October
1732
March
April
1733
August
Nov
the County of Worcester Dr
£ S D
to Distributing 16 proclamations for
thanksgiving o 16
to 21 County treasurey Warrants i i
to 16 proclamations for a fast o 16
to 16 precepts i 12
paid James Hamilton for Cloth for bedding 3 o
to making the bed and Bolsters o 6
to Returning ye precepts 2 o
to 1 6 Tax bills & Country treasurey Warrants i 1 2
to four blanketts for ye prison 5 4
to 16 proclamations for thanksgiving o 16
Salary ending August 1733 5 o
Keeping ye house of Corection nothing
3 o
Dan' Gookin
Some items of record regarding Mr. Gookin 's performance of
official duty, which attracted my attention, may prove of interest
to all, and instructive to those in similar positions of trust.
* In 1733 he had a house lot granted him near the present corner of Main
and Park streets. See "Records of the Proprietors."
fThe original is in the possession of the American Antiquarian Society.
17
On the ist of July, 1737, Mr. John Wolcot, administrator of the
estate of Captain Peter Papillon, deceased, made complaint to the
Council that one Manassah Osmore, against whom he had re-
covered judgment, and who was committed to jail in Worcester by
Sheriff Gookin, had "through the negligence or connivance of the
Gaoler, made his escape & yo'' Petitioner could never yet under-
stand it was thro' the Deficiency of the Gaol or that there was
any break in the Gaol or any Lock broak" ; and that he, the pe-
titioner, had thereby lost all benefit of the judgment, and that the
said Sheriff had taken no pains to secure the escaped prisoner.
[Mass. Archives, vol. 41, page 219.]
Upon hearing this complaint the Council ordered the Sheriff to
appear before them on the 14th instant, which date allowed thir-
teen days for service of notice. The following letter from Mr.
Gookin, written on the 14th, shows the uncertainty of communica-
tion between the several towns in the Province, and what would
be called to-day a slipshod method of attending to business.
May it please yo'' Excellency dr^ Honourable Council
Last night at Ten of the Clock it Being the
Thirteenth Instant (by the Hands of Coll" Chandler) I Received a Copy of
Mr Wolcots Petition Wherein it is your Excellencys & Hon**'^ Councills
pleasure to Direct me to appear Before your Excellency and the Hon*"'^
Councill ye fourteenth Instant To make answer to s
possible for me to do at such a short and sudden warning It very much
Surprised me when I Saw ye Date of the order and no Longer Time to make
my answer and should not Have Known it now if it had [not] been very
accidently Brought by Mr. Dwight a Tavern keeper in Boston who Told me
it was Left at his house for Conveyance, but by whom he knows not. I
would Therefore Humbly Intreat yo' Excellency and y"" Honb'*" Council That
that petition may be suspended untill I can have Time to make my answer
to it. I Humbly Begg yr Excellency and Hon''* favour in this
affair and Humbly Subscribe myself Yo"" Excellencys and Hon'''* most Dutifull
and obedient Servt Dan' Gookin
Worcester July 14 1737
[Mass. Archives, vol. 105, page 148.]
The hearing was postponed from time to time until Oct. 6, 1 737,
when the Sheriff presented himself, and, "having made some ex-
i8
cuses was ordered to withdraw & the complaint to ly for further
Consideration" ; and this, so far as the records are concerned,
appears to be the end of that affair.
On the 4th of April, 1 740, a similar complaint against the Sheriff
was made by Hezekiah Maynard, but on the 1 7th instant Mr.
Maynard acknowledged that he had received the amount of his
judgment, and appeared satisfied. However, upon the same day,
Mr. Paul Brintnall complained that the Sheriff had liberated from
jail one James Holden, Jr., of Worcester, against whom he had
recovered judgment in the sum of ;^33, 17, 1 ; that he had made
frequent applications for his money, but had received only ^23.
He adds : "Unless aided by the Justice of your Excellency &
Honours [he] is well assured that He shall never get one farthing
more altho' your Petitioner shall sue him. The demonstration of
which arises from the Office He Sustains & the Circumstances He
is in. Wherfore as he is an officer appointed by your Excellency
& Honours as it is a most Grievous thing that the subject should be
put to their Action for all the Money he gets into His hands by
force of any Executions committed to him he prays the Compas-
sionate & just regards of your Excellency & Honours to a whole
Country & Province by the amendment or removal of so bad an
officer & as in duty bound shall ever pray."
The Council thereupon directed the Secretary to write to Mr.
Gookin, and order him to appear before them the following week.
The letter of the Secretary is here given :
Boston April 17 1740.
Sir
I am directed by the Gov'' & Council to acquaint you
that they are much displeased with you that your Conduct gives them so
much Trouble of hearing so many Complaints. And that if you don't pres-
ently reform, they will take Care to remedy these things by putting in an
other Officer in your room. Your humble Servant
J. WiLLARD.
The Sheriff, however, did not appear at the time named, and an
order was sent him to attend the Council at its next meeting the
following week "upon pain of their highest Displeasure." The
19
displeasure of the honorable body must have been great when
they found upon the day fixed that Mr. Gookin had concluded
not to come to Boston in person, but had sent a letter instead.
This letter read as follows :
April 29, 1741.
May it please yo'' Excellency and your Honb'<" Council These
may Certify That I have paid Mr Brintnall his Debt & Charges as yo'' Ex-
cellency and Hon" will see by his Receipt I Do Heartily acknowledge
That it was by my means that mr Holding was Dismist out of Gaol His
parents Came to me (They being my near neighbours) and was so Concerned
for their son being in prison and were grieved and made so many premisses
for the Speedy payment of the Remainding part of the Debt That I had
Compassion on their aged Tears and Did upon their promise Dismiss him
but Their failing of their promise has put me to this Cost and Trouble.
I Do Therefore Humbly Intreat yo"" Excellency and Hon'''* to Take these
Lines into yo'' wise Consideration and according to yo"" Great Clemency and
Goodness Have Compassion on me and family and wherein I have offended
yo"" Excellency and Hon'''* and any Others I will by Divine assistance Do so
no more Mr Brintnall might had his money when he was up the Last Time
but Refus
Back of the Complaints But being instigated by some malicious persons as
is by Every body supposed would not Take it for it was Thought would be a
means of my being Dismis'i from my office; I Therefore Humbly Intreat yo''
Excellency and Hon'' that you would be pleas'" in yo'' Great wisdom to Con-
tinue me Slill and I Shall (in all Regards) indeavor a universall amendment
for the Time to Come upon all accounts
I am yo'' Excellency's and Hon'" most unworthy (tho' most obedient)
Servt Dan' Guokin
[Mass. Archives, vol. 41. page 509.]
This letter was accompanied by certificates of Joshua Eaton, Jr.
and Isaac Barnard that the complaint of Mr. Brintnall had been
read to Mr. Gookin, and an acknowledgment of Mr. Brintnall
(witnessed by Caleb Johnson and William Jennison) that he had
received the money claimed by him. There is also a brief note
from William Jennison stating that Mr. Brintnall might have had
his money five days before, but would not take it because Mr.
Gookin was unwilling to pay -£8. for charge and trouble.
The Council peremptorily ordered the Sheriff to be present at
the meeting on the 29th of May next following, and Mr. Gookin
20
appears to have been sufficiently impressed by the order, and
made his appearance. The Council record reads [May 29, 1 740] :
"Daniel Gookin Esq"" Sheriff of the County of Worcester, being by
the order of this Board of the first of May last required to attend
this Board to answer for his disobedience in not appearing person-
ally upon divers summons as also for his neglect & misconduct in
his office, appeared this day and after he was heard in answer to
these complaints. His ExcelP^ admonish'^ him for his ill conduct
and warned him against such behaviour for the time to come lest
he should render himself utterly unworthy of his office."
Notwithstanding this reprimand, within two weeks another com-
plaint was made that he had paid over only a portion of a debt
recovered in a case (Andrew Caverly vs. Thomas Harback and
James Waite of Worcester), but no action appears on the records ;
and in October following, a similar complaint was preferred by
Joseph Crosby, of Worcester, which was subsequently dismissed
by the Council.
Accompanying this last complaint is the following interesting
letter addressed to Governor Belcher by Hon. John Chandler, the
Chief Justice :
Worcester January 26* 1 740/1
May It Please Your Excellency
s -
I am very sensible Mr Sheriff Gookin
has some enemies in this County as well as myself; I suppose we are envyed
because we (by your Excellency's favour) enjoy Posts of Profitt within the
same.
I humbly apprehend if it be True what he tells me as doubtless tis, our
neighbor Crosby had no Reason to Complain; However that be, yet I would
humbly beg leave to inform your Excellency, that his conduct since he was
before your Excellency and the Honourable Board is less Exceptionable
then before.
I humbly ask your Excellencys Pardon for making this Excuse for Mr
Gookin, when my own conduct is so Liable to Exceptions.
But Relying upon your Excellencys great Goodness to excuse mine,
I am S'' your Excellencys
most Humi'' Obed' & Dutifull Servant
John Chandler
21
The reason for Judge Chandler's allusion to his own conduct
being liable to exceiDtions, was on account of his connection with
the Land Bank Scheme, to which I shall presently refer.
With this gratifying statement of the Judge that Mr. Gookin
had made some improvement in the management of his office, we
must leave the subject, trusting that before his death in June,
I 743,* he became a model Sheriff.
The inventory of his estate, presented by Jabez Tatman, shows
a value of only ;^i34. in all, which indicates that he did not grow
rich during his administration. In the settlement of the estate no
mention is made of his wife or children, although he had four
children in Cambridge.
MANUFACTORY BILLS OR LAND BANK SCHEME.
In the year 1 740 the Province of Massachusetts Bay was passing
through a period of financial difficulties occasioned by an over-
issue of paper currency, whereby the credit of the Province was
placed in a lamentable condition. Many schemes to meet the
exigency and relieve the distress were proposed and abandoned ;
and to add to the difficulty of the situation, Governor Belcher and
his Council were not in accord with the views of the House as to
the solution of the problem.
Among the plans proposed by private individuals was that
known as the Manufactory Company or Land Bank Scheme.
This company was organized with about four hundred partners,
with the design to loan the sum of ^150,000 on notes on land
security, payable in twenty years in various articles of merchandise.
The Governor was bitterly opposed to this company, and issued
proclamations denouncing it as a fraud, and enjoining upon all in
the civil and military service of the Province to discountenance it
in every way upon peril of dismissal.
Among the papers in the State Archives are lists returned by
Registers of Deeds of all mortgages recorded in behalf of this
*Juhe 17th, 1743, the Council had notice of his death, and on the 23d
appointed Benjamin Flagg as his successor.
22
company. In these lists the names of many Worcester men ap-
pear, among them the following : Daniel Bigelow, Robert Barber,
Daniel Boyden, John Boyden, Luke Brown, Palmer Goulding,
Elisha Hedge, James How, William Johnson, James Holden,
Henry Lee, James Moore, Matthias Rice, Eliakim Rice, Gershom
Rice, Jr., Jotham Rice, John Stearns, Daniel Ward.
The Bank proved a sad failure either from the unsoundness of
its basis, or the determined opposition of the Governor, or from
both causes.
My object in bringing this to your notice is to present letters
from three gentlemen holding official positions in Worcester, show-
ing their relations to the scheme, and with what spirit they "faced
the music." The first letter is from William Jennison, Esq., one
of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas ; the second from
Chief Justice John Chandler ; and the third from Henry Lee, Esq.,
one of the Justices of the Peace.
On the 6th of January, 1 740/1, by order of the Council, letters
were addressed by the Secretary to the several Courts in the
Province, instructing them "to take all convenient opportunities
and methods both when in Court, and when separate to prevent
the spreading of the great Fraud & particularly you are desired
strictly to charge your officers by no means to pass receive or
countenance the said Bills." [Mass. Archives, vol. 102, page 130.]
In addition to this circular letter, it is very probable that specific
charges were brought to the notice of the three gentlemen above
named.
Mr. Jennison 's reply was as follows :
Worcester January ye g^^ i74o[i]
Honored Sir
This day I Receiued yours wharein your honour
Informs me that his Exlency the Govenour and the Hono''^ Council are in-
formed that I haue in Couriged the passing of the bills called manifactory
bills over His Excellencys proclamation to warn all offesors in the Gouerment
against In coriging the same Hon'''^ Sir this is to inform your honour thet
be fou"" nor sen his Excellencys procklimation I never did anything to in
Corige the pasing of S** bills for I never Licked them so well neather was I
any way conserned about that afayor for I never Licked the Skeme that was
23
Laid about S'^ bills I can't say but I have sum time past Reseved sum of S^i
bills but at this time I han't one of them and had youre honour not wrot to
me about them I had Concluded not to have tacken them any moore
I am Redy to answer any Complaint made against me on that acount sir &
that I have write is the truth of the mater honored sir pray Give my duty to
his Excellency and the hon''''^ Council and Sir I am your Honours most
humbel Saruant
William Jennison
[Mass. Archives, vol. 102, page 132. This letter is in Mr. Jennison's hand-
writing.]
Judge Chandler's reply was :
Worcester jAN^y io«h 1 740/1
Honbi S"-
Your letter of ye 6'h Instant I Rec*" by Oliver
Partridge Esq. and in answer to it would Humbly say.
I account it my Hon"" and Happiness to have such for my Judges in this
affair, as I am Sure will hear me with Patience and give Judgment with mercy;
So agreeable to their Known Justice, goodness & Clemency.
The Truth of ye aftair is this; vizt; the night before I was called before ye
Governour and Councill I was Accidentally in Company with CajJt Blanchard
& two or three people living his way, and discourseing about the Line between
This, & the province of New Hampshire, as Lately Settled by the King in
Councill, I ask'd him whither Groton Gore so called, being a Tract of Land
Lately Granted by the Generall Court would fall into New Hampshire, he
said it would. I Replyed, I have one hundred Acres of Land in said Gore,
and since it falls out of the province, I w^ sell it him for Just what he w
& if he said Twas worth nothing, he should have it free or words to that effect.
After a few words pass'd, he Reply'd I will give you four pound in Manufac-
tory Bills & no more. I told him he had my word, and I would not go back,
accordingly he paid me the Same at that time. The next day & soon after
Mr. Blanchard* had been before ye Gov' & Councill, my Self being sent for
also, I desired him to keep ye money till I had been up, being under Surprize
& concern, but as the property was in me the Night before and as I informed
the Hon''' Board how much I had in which Sum was included Said four
pounds, I apprehended I did not Break my promis in taking what was my
own before I believe I told this To the Hon''' Sam' Danforth Esq'' in Mr.
Blanchards presence in order to set the matter in a True Light. I would Add
that before Capt Blanchard & my Self had finished our Bargain Mr Partridge
* Mr. Blanchard lost his position through his connection with the scheme.
24
I think came into ye same Room and heard Something of the Affair, & 1 left
him with Mr. Blanchard and the other people.
This may it please Your Hon"", is the Truth of this Story, if it is a Crime
twas done in a Surprize, I hope my thus frankly discovering ye whole matter
will not be improved to my disgrace or hurt, but Rather intitle me to favour,
and Especially Since in answer to ye last Clause in your Hon''* Letter : I do
with great freeness Sincerity and Honesty declare that I will not give coun-
tenance directly or indirectly to the Bills called Land Bank or Manufactory
Bills. This is my firm and finall Resolution in the affair.
I am Hon" S^
Your very humble