The Baptist church came into existence in 1827, and the "Evangelical Church," in 1832. On the latter date the Northborough Meeting-house became the "Unitarian Church," and has since been known by that name. Dr. Allen, consequently, ceased to be the "town minister," and has no further place in this chapter. But, as he continued to be a dominant figure in the life of the town for many years thereafter, it seems better to continue the sketch of his life here begun, than elsewhere.

Dr. Allen entered upon his pastoral duties with an enthusiasm natural to a young man. He was immensely interested in education. And it was not long after his settlement that he embarked upon an educational crusade that was destined to make the schools of Northborough take rank with the best in the state. In after years he prided himself upon the large number of teachers the schools turned out. Edward Everett Hale once asked him "what proportion of teachers do your Northborough schools send out?" "All of them," he answered; "all of them." That is hardly an exaggeration, so far as the female students are concerned, for a large acquaintance with the women of this town will disclose the fact that practically "all of them" have taught school at some time in their lives.

In 1817 he introduced a unique plan for the improvement of the children, which he continued in operation for ten or twelve years. This plan he called a "Lecture to the Schools," and was, as its name implies, an address to all the children of the town. It was given in the Meeting-house at the close of the winter term. The method of assembling the children was spectacularwhich fact doubtless helped the children to keep up their interest in the plan. There were six district schools in town at that time. On the appointed day the pupils gathered at Munroe's Tavern where they were arranged according to their respective districts, each district being in charge of its teacher. Arranged thus, in procession they marched to the Meeting-house where the minister instructed them "in the way they should go."

This plan was continued until about the time a new state law required all towns to provide a general school committee. This was in 1826. Dr. Allen was elected a member of that first school committee, and he was re-elected every year for fifty years, all of which time he was its chairman. During those fifty years he spent two solid years of his life in the schoolhouses of Northborough.

He loved the children; and almost to his dying day he could call every child in town by name. The children loved him. One of the happiest days of his life was a day when all the children

in town presented him a fur coat which they had bought with pennies they themselves had saved. He had received many tokens of appreciation throughout his long career, but none of them all touched his heart as did that love-token from the children. Text books were not provided by the town in those days, but by the pupils. This entailed considerable expense, especially upon those parents who had several children in the schools. It was a matter of common knowledge that Dr. Allen at his own expense furnished books to many children in order that they might remain in school.

In years gone by, Northborough enjoyed a reputation all her own, for education, culture, and breadth of view. That sort of thing does not spring up of itself; it is not indigenous to the soil of any community. It must have some underlying inspiration, some guiding force. And it cannot be gainsaid that so far as Northborough is concerned that inspiration and guiding force was the personality of Dr. Allen. Early in his ministry he began to lead the people into the pleasures and satisfactions of the intellectual life.

With this end in view Dr. Allen, in 1827, gave a course of lectures on "Astronomy" in the town hall. These lectures met with a keen response on the part of the people, for they opened up to them a newer and larger world of intellectual life than they had ever known before. Those lectures proved to be the beginning of the "Northborough Lyceum," an institution which, for fifty years thereafter brought to the town the best platform orators in the country, who discussed every conceivable subject of interest. An open discussion, participated in by many keen and active-minded men, followed each lecture.

The result was wholesome, for the men of this town soon developed the ability of thinking on their feet; and the town meetings of those days never lacked men who could discuss matters of local and national concern which were brought before them.

Another direction in which Dr. Allen's activity manifested itself was the public library. Our present public library was not organized until 1868. But that was the logical outcome of several smaller libraries that preceded it,* with all but one of which Dr. Allen had much to do.

But this sketch has already extended beyond its bounds, and must be drawn to a close. There is no question but that Dr. Allen for upwards of half a century was the leader of the

*The subject of libraries is discussed more fully in a separate chapter, "The Northborough Free Library."

intellectual and cultural life of this town. His life touched the life of the community, directly and indirectly, at more points than can be enumerated. In educational matters he always occupied an advance position; and it is the testimony of those best qualified to judge, that, had he followed the profession of education exclusively, he would have become an educator second to none in the country.

But this sketch cannot be closed without a reference to his influence upon the physical aspects of the town. Northborough is known far and wide as a beautiful New England town on account of her many shade trees. The thousands of automobilists that ride through our main street every summer have spread her fame in this respect broadcast. Even the inhabitants of the town are conscious of her superior beauty. But do we ever stop to consider to whom we are indebted for this physical beauty? I am afraid that we do not.

"We boast the blessings we possess,

Yet scarcely thank the one who sends."

Dr. Allen records in his journal that when he brought his bride to Northborough (February, 1818), "there was not a shade tree between my house and the village." And he might have added, "and there were less than half a dozen on the main street."

The author was speaking with a highly cultivated woman from Providence, a few years ago; and happening to mention Dr. Allen's name she burst forth as follows: "Dr. Allen! Dr. Allen! Why, he taught the people botany, and horticulture, and Christian charity!" There are many yet living who know that all the shade trees on our streets were set out either by Dr. Allen himself, or by those who were under his influence. His interest in horticulture was profound; as was also his interest in botany. His wonderful flower garden is one of the traditions of this town.

GENEALOGY

Joseph Allen was born in Medfield, Mass., August 15, 1790; died in Northborough, February 23, 1873. He was the son of Phineas and Ruth (Smith) Allen. He was graduated from Harvard College, 1811; was ordained in Northborough, October 31, 1816, and was settled as minister of the town; held that position until 1832, when the church ceased to be the town church; continued as minister of the Unitarian church until his death in 1873, an unbroken ministry of fifty-six years and four months. He married Lucy Clark Ware, daughter of Professor Henry Ware, February 3, 1818. She was born in

Hingham, Mass., June 6, 1791, and died in Northborough, February 10, 1866.

They had the following children:

Mary Ware, born March 7, 1819; married Dr. J. J. Johnson. Joseph Henry, born August 21, 1820; married Anna M. Weld. Thomas Prentice, born July 7, 1822; married Sarah A. Lord. Elizabeth Waterhouse, born June 29, 1824; died July 15, 1893, unmarried.

Lucy Clark, born October 28, 1826; married Albert E. P. Powers.

Edward A. H., born August 15, 1828; married Eugenia S. Tenlon.

William F., born September 5, 1830; married Mary T. Lambert.

CHAPTER V

NORTHBOROUGH IN THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WARS

The only data concerning Northborough's participation in the early wars is contained in Dr. Allen's "History of Northborough." That "History" was written in 1826; and as Dr. Allen knew personally some of the men who participated in those wars, what he says concerning them is first-hand knowledge. And, as his "History" has long been out of print, and copies of it very scarce (we have been able to locate only three copies in this town), we have thought it advisable to reproduce verbatim what he says on the subject, that it might be more generally available On pages thirty-nine and forty he says:

"Nothing has been found on record relating to the part which this town bore in the old French wars, as we have been accustomed to hear them called by our aged fathers. We learn, however, from the few who survive of the generation then on the stage of active life, that this small district was not backward in furnishing men to join the several expeditions, which were undertaken for the conquest of the French in Canada.

"Eliphalet Warren, John Carruth and Adam Fay joined the expedition to Halifax in 1754. In the following year, Benjamin Flood and Eber Eager, the latter of whom did not live to return, were at Crown Point. In 1758, the following eight persons were with the army under General Abercrombie, at his defeat before Ticonderoga. Captain Timothy Brigham (now living and who retains a perfect recollection of the scenes he passed through in this ill-fated expedition), Eliphalet Stone, Samuel Stone (who died on his return), Benjamin Flood, Josiah Bowker, Samuel Morse, Gideon Howard, and Joel Rice. Captain Brigham says that the attack upon the French lines commenced at 5 o'clock, A.M. and lasted till 7 o'clock, P.M.; and that over 1,900 of our men were missing at the calling of the rolls that evening. Capt. B. says that after this repulse, the army retreated to Lake George, soon after which, the company to which he belonged (Captain Stephen Maynard's, of Westborough) was dismissed and returned home.

"There is one man now living in this town, at the age of 88, nearly (Lieut. Abraham Monroe), who was at Halifax, in the regiment of Maj. Rogers, of Londonderry, N. H., in the year 1757, and, at the taking of Ticonderoga under Gen. Amherst,