HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER,

OR THE

NORTHERN HALF

OF THE LANCASTER

NEW OR ADDITIONAL GRANT,

FROM JUNE 26, 1701,

THE DATE OF

THE DEED FROM GEORGE TAHANTO, INDIAN SAGAMORE,

TO JULY 4, 1852.

BY DAVID WILDER.

FITCHBURG:

PRINTED AT THE REVEILLE OFFICE,

1853.

PREFACE.

LEOMINSTER, December 3, 1851.

This day I commence the work of preparing a history of this town from its earliest existence as a purchase from the Indians. And in view of my incompetency to perform a task of so great responsibility, in a manner satisfactory to myself or to others, I am ready to exclaim,

O, that some abler native son
Had written out what I've begun;
'Tis too important to be lost,

And 'tis too late to count the cost.

Submitting myself however, to the disposal of that Almighty Being through whose goodness my life has been spared beyond the common age of man, I would humbly pray for a few months more, and that He will continue my health, and grant me strength, both of body and mind, to complete an undertaking which, as I trust and believe, may not be wholly uninteresting to those who are at present, or who may hereafter be citizens of this town. DAVID WILDER.

December 3, 1852.

It is done. My prayers have been answered. My life has been prolonged. My health and strength, both of body and mind, have been preserved. The work which, a year ago, was commenced with doubts and fears has been completed. And while I would be truly grateful for the unmerited favors of the past, I would for the future humbly submit myself to Him who has sustained me through a long and diversified life of difficulties and trials.

I regret exceedingly that the following pages could not have been written by some one whose education is superior to mine; but such as they are I cheerfully submit them to my friends, not doubting but that when they read, instead of criticising the language, they will "put on charity." My business has been principally with the facts. And although no inconsiderable portion of them have been written from memory and oral tradition, yet I have had recourse to the Records of the Church, the town, the County, the State, and the Proprietor's Book. And I have also extracted, and in some instances rather copiously, from the Centennial Discourse preached by the Rev. R. P. Stebbins, in 1843, from the History of Lancaster, by J. Willard, Esq.; that of Sterling, by I. Goodwin, Esq., and some others. So that instead of being a work of mine, the book may with propriety be Considered a compilation from the works of others.

And now I would return my thanks to those friends who have kindly furnished me with statistical and other facts concerning the Churches, the Agricultural, the Manufacturing, the Mechanical and other interests of the people here.

I feel myself under particular obligations to the Rev. Amos Smith, and to the Messrs. J. C. Allen, Leonard Burrage, James Boutelle, Charles H. Colburn, Samuel M. Carter, Wm. F. Howe, John Gardner, Amos Haws, Jabez B. Low, J. C. Lane, Luke Lincoln, G. & A. Morse, Josiah and Sewall Richardson, Albert Stratton, of this town; and to Hon. O. B. Morris, of Springfield, Charles G. Prentiss, Esq., of Worcester, Charles W. Lovett, Esq., of Boston, Silas Bruce, Esq., of Townsend, Doctor P. T. Kendall, of Sterling, Mr. S. C. Simonds, of Norwich, Vt., Hon. John Prentiss, of Keene, and Mr. Asa Kendall, of Mount Vernon, N. H., and Hon. Timothy Boutelle, of Waterville, Maine.

If, with their aid, I have been instrumental in preserving such a knowledge of past events as may be interesting and useful to posterity, my reward is ample and sure.

DAVID WILDER.

HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER.

In order to render the history of this town the more intelligible, it is proper, and even necessary, to give some account of Lancaster and Sterling, with both of which it has been intimately connected.

Joseph Willard, Esq., in his history published in the Worcester Magazine for September, 1826, says: "The first settlement of Lancaster goes far back in the early history of Massachusetts. It was the tenth town incorporated in the County of Middlesex, and precedes, by many years, every town now within the limits of the County of Worcester. Indeed, no town, so far from the sea coast, excepting Springfield, was incorporated so early. * The plantation at Nashaway was undertaken sometime in 1643. The whole territory around was in subjection to Sholan or Shauman, Sachem of the Nashaways, and whose residence was Waushacum, now Sterling. Mr. Thomas King, of Watertown, united with a num