nearly two miles long and about the same width, and, except Wachusett, is the highest land in the county. The ascent from the eastern part, which lies in Holden, is much steeper than on the west, and when viewed from the valley between this and Stonehouse hill in Holden, it has a grand and mountainous appearance. From the top of this hill, in a clear and favorable day, the prospect is very extensive and delightful, and not less than twenty five churches may be seen without the aid of a telescope.

The soil, in some parts is fertile, producing fine crops of grass, potatoes, indian corn and other grain. Much of it is devoted to pasturage, and some is still covered with wood. Although the surface is generally not rocky, yet there is reason to believe that the hill contains an immense mass of a species of granite, in which have been discovered small parcels of plumbago, or black lead. In many places this rock approaches to within a few inches of the surface; in others it is covered by earth to the depth of many feet. Sufficient examination has never been made to ascertain whether or not this stone might be quarried out for building stone, &c. to good advantage. During the summer months it not unfrequently happens that the summit, and sometimes a great part of this hill is enveloped in fog and mist, in the morning and evening, more frequently than the neighboring heights, which is generally thought to be indicative of rain. But the neighboring farmers do not place quite so much dependence on this sign as is intimated by the Rev. Mr. Whitney.

Just east of the meeting house is another large hill, but, is not designated by any particular name. The prospect from this hill is very extensive, commanding a view of the adjoining towns, the highlands in New Hampshire and Vermont, and in the western parts of this state. The grand Monadnock, Wachusett Hill, and Hoosac mountain may be very distinctly seen in a clear day from this hill.

STREAMS, PONDS, &c.-There are but two natural ponds in Paxton. Turkey Hill Pond is one of these and lies on the west of that hill. It is about half a mile in diameter; a great part of it has a muddy bottom, and the water, though rather shoal, has a black, disagreeable appearance. The fish, of which there is a good supply, are of a darker hue and less delicious flavor than those taken from most other waters in the vicinity. There is an outlet at the southern part, the channel of which has been enlarged and deepened, and a dam and gate constructed upon it, for the conven30

VOL. II.

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ience of mills below. This stream sometimes called Jennison's brook, runs about south-southwest, nearly two miles in Paxton, then enters the town of Spencer, and after being joined by several others, unites with the Chickapee.

There are three other small streams which empty into the above; two join it in Paxton, the other just within the bounds of Spencer. One of these rises in the southwesterly part of Rutland, passes into Paxton and empties into Jennison's brook in the meadow below Jennison's mills. Another rises in a small swamp about a mile southeast of the meeting house, runs a northwesterly direction and empties into the above, in what is called Howe's meadow. The third proceeds from two springs in the southwest corner of the town, runs a northwesterly direction through what is called "the great swamp," when it takes the name of "Toby," or more properly, "Tobias's brook," and empties into Jennison's brook in the edge of Spencer. The other pond lies in the northeasterly part of the town a little northwardly of Hasnebumskit Hill and bears the same name. This is a smaller, though handsomer pond than that of Turkey Hill. The surface of the former is several feet higher than that of the latter. A considerable stream flows from the northern part, which runs in a northerly direction until it enters Holden, thence it inclines more to the east and finally empties into the Quine poxet in that town, which is a branch of the Nashua river.

A few rods south of Hasnebumskit pond and west of the hill is the source of a stream called "Arnold's brook," which runs in a southwesterly direction into Leicester and is the most northerly branch of the Blackstone river. Another considerable brook rises in some low grounds in the southwesterly part of the town, passes through the northwest corner of Leicester, where uniting with the outlet from "West," or "Shaw's pond," it passes into Spencer and unites with the stream from Turkey Hill.

Three of the above water courses have mills erected upon them in Paxton. On Jennison's brook, are two grist mills, one saw mill, and a triphammer shop. These are situated very near together, and the water from the first is successively used by all the others. The fall is great, and the supply of water generally sufficient, and is, in fine, a valuable site.

There is a very good mill privilege on the outlet of Hasnebumskit pond. Here are, likewise, two, if not three grist mills, at which much business during a part of the year, is done. On Ar

nold's brook there is a saw and grist mill. But the supply of water during the summer, is not sufficient to keep them in operation.

CURIOSITIES.-About a mile north of the meeting house, a little west of the road leading to Rutland, is a spring, the water from which divides, a few rods from its source; a part running westerly empties into Jennison's brook, and thence passes into Connecticut river. The other part flows northeasterly into the stream from Hasnebumskit pond and thence into the Merrimack. About a mile southeast of the meeting house, there is a house so situated that the water from the eves on the west side passes into Connecticut river, while that from the east side flows through Kettle brook into Blackstone river.

The waters of Hasnebumskit pond, which, as has before been said, flow eventually into the Merrimack, are separated from the head of Arnold's brook, which empties into the Blackstone, by a strip of land but a few rods wide.

About a mile and a quarter from the meeting house, and a short distance west of the road leading to Rutland, is a meadow or swamp, of some extent, across which is a natural causeway, compos ed of gravel and stones, extremely hard and firm, while on each side the mud is very soft and deep. The surface of this causeway is nearly on a level with that of the swamp, though at one end, for some rods, it is lower and the mud extends quite across it in that part. It is about twelve feet wide, and stretches across the swamp from one side to the other, a distance of perhaps a hundred rods. Its direction is not in a straight line, but a little curved. Its width and appearance are very uniform. It has been observed by the present and former proprietors, that the surface of this swamp, in some parts,is several feet lower than formerly and that it continues to sink gradually.

POPULATION.-The population of this town has never been large and has not increased very much for many years. In 1790, the number was 558, and in 1820, it amounted to no more than 613 making an increase of only 55 in thirty years. There are, at present, but ninety nine dwelling houses in this town, and even some of these are not occupied. The increase of the population has been retarded and other inconveniences experienced in consequence of an unusually large proportion of the lands having been owned by non-residents.

SETTLEMENT, HISTORY, &c.-The principal part of Paxton originally belonged to Rutland and Leicester; the line between which

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towns formerly passed a little north of where Paxton meeting house now stands. A strip of land, about two miles wide and four long, on the north part of Leicester, and a like quantity from the south part of Rutland, was formed into a distinct district, and incorporated as such by an act of "the Great and General Court" by the name of "The District of Paxton," on the 12th day of February, A. D. 1765. The first warrant for a town meeting found on the District Records is from John Murry, Esq. directed to Phinehas Moore, requiring him to warn a meeting of the Inhabitants for the choice of officers, dated the 25th of Feb. 1765. The first town, or rather district meeting was holden on the 11th of March, 1765, at the house of Mr. John Snow, where the proper officers were chosen and the district organized. In consequence of Paxton having been taken, as before observed, from other towns, there is some difficulty in collecting many facts in relation to its first settlement, without blending the history of the one more with that of the others than comports with the design of this sketch. Indeed it is not known in what year the first families were established in this place. But it is probable that permanent settlements were made within its limits, a few years after those in Rutland and Leicester, which happened about the year 1720. It is certain, that before the year 1746, there were several families in Paxton, and some considerable improvements made. For, about this time, from certain family records, it appears, there were two or three families located in the southwesterly part of the town. In 1748, Josiah Livermore, and his brother Jason Livermore, removed from Weston to that part of the town, to lands upon which there had been some improvements made. About the same time, Abijah Bemis settled in the same neighborhood, from Weston or Waltham. Near them was also Wm. Thompson and one or two of his sons. It is highly probable that the other parts of the town were settled as early, or, perhaps, earlier than the time above mentioned. The settlement of the town was never interrupted by Indian depredation, or by any other ca. lamity, but progressed gradually until all the lands were taken up. What the number of inhabitants was at the time of incorporation, does not appear. But it must have been some hundreds; for of the one thousand men raised in the counties of Worcester and Hampshire, in the year 1756, to succour General Winslow against the French and Indians, five* men went from what is now Paxton.

*Their names were Ezekiel Bellows, Jacob Wicker, Jason Livermore, David Wicker, and John Wicker. They were under Brigadier Ruggles' command, and a part, if not the whole, were employed at Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and Fort Edward, at different times during the war.

At what time Paxton assumed all the privileges of a town, does not appear from the Records. At first it was incorporated only as a district; and indeed, it is very uncertain whether it has ever been constituted a town by any direct Legislative act. For several years the inhabitants gave their votes for Representatives in the town of Leicester.

By the following extracts from the Records of Paxton, it seems that it took the name and began to exercise all the powers and privileges of a Town, some time between the 11th of Sept. 1775, and the 19th of Feb. 1776; for under the first date, we find, "at a meeting of the District of Paxton," &c. and a warrant bearing the latter date, is the first one directed to the "Constable of the Town of Paxton." At this meeting, holden March 4th, 1776, they voted to pay to the administratrix of "the late Mr. Thomas Denny, (formerly representative from Leicester,) the sum of £1 158 and 9d which is the proportion of this town of the sum of £7 10s, being the said Denny's expenses at the General Court, in the months of May and June, in the year 1774."

The record of the proceedings of the next meeting, held May 23d, 1776, is the first attested by the Clerk, as Town Clerk, all the former ones bearing the attestation of the District Clerk. At a meeting on the 3d of March, 1777, it was "voted, that Mr. Abra. ham Smith, our present Representative, use his influence in the General Assembly that the act passed last year altering the Representation of this state may be repealed." This is the first mention made of the town's having a Representative in the Legislature; and it is probable that Mr. Smith was the first ever sent from Paxton, though no record was made of his election. There is, however, a warrant dated May 13th, 1776, for calling a meeting on the 23d of that month, for the purpose of choosing "a person to represent them in the great and General Court," that year, "agreeably to a precept directed" to the town for that purpose. This warrant was not recorded until 1779, and it does not appear whether any meeting was holden or proceedings had.

These facts are mentioned, principally for the purpose of ascertaining the time when Paxton did, in fact, become a town, or began to exercise all the rights and powers of one; which, from the foregoing circumstances, must have happened some time in the year 1776.

Mr. Smith was an inhabitant of Paxton and had held many of the highest offices in the District.