OF THE TOWN OF WINCHENDON, FROM THE GRANT OF THE TOWNSHIP BY THE LEGISLATURE OF MASSACHUSETTS IN 1735, TO THE PRESENT TIME. BY EZRA HYDE. WORCESTER: PRINTED BY HENRY J. HOWLAND, Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1849, by in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. TO THE YOUTH OF WINCHENDON. Having a desire of rescuing from oblivion a series of facts, many of which will be interesting to the inhabitants of Winchendon, when the present generation shall be gone, it is believed, is a sufficient apology for publishing the following history. The editor would rejoice with you, that our happy lot is cast in such a land as this, in which is the knowledge of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, a land of liberty both religious and civil. Let us, for a moment, take a retrospective view of the time when our forefathers fled from persecution in England, their native country, and sought an asylum in this then barren wilderness. Here they patiently endured almost intolerable hardships. But they flourished and grew to a people and a nation. At length, being oppressed by the mother country, they resisted her unjust encroachments and tyrannical usurpa tions, and would not submit to her unjust demands. And what was the consequence? Why, a long, a destructive, a terrible war ensued, in which many lives and much property were lost. Our fathers fought, they bled, they conquered; and obtained for their posterity that invaluable blessing, Independence. Surely, these considerations cannot do less than excite in us the warmest emotions of gratitude towards the memories of those who, under God, obtained for us our Freedom and Independence. |