front. The upper story is used for a district school house for the Centre ward. The land upon which it stands was granted by Ebenezer Pope,* and the town have but a limited use in the lot. The several district school houses were generally built about the same time, all at the expense of the town, but are repaired by the individual districts. 1808. That part of the town that belonged to the second parish in Boylston, Holden and Sterling, was incorporated into a town by the name of West Boylston. It included thirty one families, being about one eighth part of the population and territory, and one eleventh part of the taxable property of the whole town. An equitable division was made of the town property, and the poor then chargeable were to be supported in the proportion last named. The act of incorporation being unskilfully drawn, an additional act was found necessary to explain one of the provisions of the first statute, to enable the town of Sterling to obtain their equal rights. This was resisted by West Boylston, but passed the Legislature. POPULATION.-Before the adoption of the Federal Constitution, there were enumerations of the inhabitants, at very great intervals for certain purposes. But such were the superstitious prejudices against numbering the people, that no great dependence can be placed upon the returns. The most accurate, probably, is that of 1764: It is noted in the church records, that there were at that time 151 families in this parish. In the town of Lancaster there were 328 families and 1862 inhabitants, making to a family 53, consequently in Sterling in The number of rateable polls at different periods is as follows. 1793 1800 364 1810 422 455|| *This gentleman was for more than 40 years, a respectable trader in town. He descended from the ancient family of that name in Danvers: was nephew to Gen. Putnam by marriage.—He died in March, 1825, aged 73, leaving a considerable estate. + Deed recorded, book 168-page 61. Stat. 1807, ch. 48, and 1810,ch. 7. ◊ This diminution may be attributed to the loss occasioned by the setting off thirty one families, containing about 200 inhabitants, to West Boylston. These are the numbers set to the town in the State valuations. The polls actually taxed, it is believed never exceeded 410. It has always been the fate of this town, to be severely doomed, in this particular. The number of births and deaths if accurately kept, furnishes important data, from whence to infer the amount of population, as well as the state of the health of the territory. An inquiry into the causes of the constant increase in the number of deaths, is an important subject of examination in our political economy. It is our duty to furnish the details merely. The remissness of our citizens in causing their family events to be recorded with the Town Clerk, is a subject of regret. Our church records furnish no information previous to the settlement of Rev. Mr. Holcomb in 1779. The following is the result from that time in periods of ten years. *In these years the town was visited by epidemical diseases, chiefly among children. + But one adult female died this year, and she aged 92 years. R FINANCES.-The revenues of the Corporation are wholly derived from an annual tax upon the polls of the Inhabitants and estates within the town. The highways are generally repaired by a tax of $1200 paya ble in labor, allowing a man 12 cents an hour; oxen, carts and ploughs in the same proportion. The last year a new method was introduced by appropriating for this object 600 dollars in money, and provision was made for its expenditure by agents chosen for that purpose. The result of the experiment was far from furnishing satisfactory evidence of its economy or utility; but as it was opposed by the immemorial usages and prejudices of the inhabitans, it was this year abandoned, without further trial. The two first items in the above schedule, are uniform in every year's grant, the others vary according to circumstances. The support of the poor has been a subject of serious investigation; various expedients have been adopted to lessen the expenditure and the result of all of them is not yet fully ascertained. It was formerly the custom to contract for the support of each pauper separately. This mode was abandoned 5 or 6 years since, after the annual expenses had gradually increased, until it amounted to $1371. The town then adopted the method of contracting with a single individual to support the poor collectively; it was found that the total expense was reduced. In 1822 a farm of about 60 acres was purchased for The salary of the Minister is granted by the town, and assessed by their officers, without the intervention of a Parish. There are but few dissenters from the Congregational establishment; the whole amount of their proportion of the Ministerial tax in Sterling is short of $25: fifteen or sixteen of them belong to the Baptist Society in West Boylston, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Crosby; two to the Congregational Parish in that town; one to the Presbyterians; and one or two to the Universalists. Some of the inhabitants of West Boylston pay their taxes and attend worship with the Congregationalists here. $1900, and is yet held by the town.* The person undertaking the support of the poor has the use of this farm, besides a sum in money from 3 to $400 annually. The whole expenses for paupers since, has not much exceeded the sum of $600 dollars. Still there is a lamentable growth of pauperism, principally resulting from profligacy, idleness and vice. This has awakened the slumbering energies of the virtuous part of the community, and vigorous measures are now in operation to suppress the alarming evil. The town has voted that the Poor house should also be a Work house, and the overseers are clothed with sufficient powers to enable them to execute the laws upon that subject. Suitable apartments are about to be erected for the confinement of the idle, the refractory and the insane. A code of wholesome bye laws and regulations is provided for the due order of the establishment, and the moral discipline of the unfortunate inmates of the house. So that if the present generation sustain heavier burdens, posterity will reap the benefits, in the diminution of the causes of pauperism. The difficulty most to be apprehended is, that a majority of the town will not have sufficent firmness and resolution to persevere, in a system introduced from motives so praiseworthy and honorable. In 1825, a fund of a $1000 was established by the liberal donation of one of the most opulent of the townsmen, for the relief of such poor persons, as are not actually chargeable to the public for their support, to be appropriated in the first instance, towards helping females in obtaining fuel in the winter season. The fund was derived from the sale of a farm, granted to the town for this purpose.t It has been sold for the sum abovenamed. The proceeds are secured by a mortgage of sufficient real estate for twenty years, with the interest payable annually. The fund is under the control of a board of five trustees, to be selected every year, one from the Justices of the Peace resident in town, one from the Deacons of the Church and the residue from the board of Selectmen. They are to account annually to the town and their books and papers are always to be subject to the inspection of the town as well as to the founder and his heirs. A judicious management of this property will silently relieve much individual distress. FIRES. Several buildings have been burnt at different times, *Deed, Recorded Book 229, page 67. + See deed from Jacob Conant to Inhabitants of Sterling, Recorded Book 246 page 536. Ibid page 534. but in general they were of little value. The most remarkable fires were the following: 1794, Sept. 27. The store of Moses Smith, the Town Clerk, was burnt, with all its contents; among which were all the public records of the town, from its first organization as a Parish. 1809, Oct. A Blacksmith's shop was burnt in the village. 1813. A valuable barn, with its contents, was struck by lightning and consumed. 1815, Nov. 30. The dwelling house of Jesse Partridge, upon the farm of Hon. John Welles, of Boston, was burnt in the evening of Thanksgiving day, when the three sons of the tenant, the youngest of whom was four years, and the eldest eight years of age, perished in the flames. The family were upon a visit to a neighbor's house, leaving these boys quietly asleep; and in a few hours, the house was discovered to be completely enveloped in flames; it was too late to save any of the property, or to afford any relief to the sufferers. Another dwelling house was burnt upon the same farm, thirty or forty years since. 1819, March. A Cabinet-maker's shop was burnt. 1821. Two old dwelling houses were consumed this year; they were of little value. These are all the dwelling houses ever burnt in town. 1826. A Grist mill and Saw mill belonging to Mr. Jesse Dana, were set on fire by the carelessness of some fishermen and consumed. The same year a valuable barn with its contents was burnt from some unknown cause. Many attribute it to the work of an incendiary, others believe it was caused by lightning. Many of the Inhabitants have availed themselves of the facilities of Insurance, afforded by the Worcester County Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Upwards of twenty buildings belonging to this town are insured in the office of that Corporation. The people of this place have been distinguished for their benevolence in affording relief to the unfortunate sufferers by these calamities. These contributions being entirely voluntary, are consequently unequal; it is true they afford an opportunity for the exercise of the kindest affections of the human heart, but in principle such frequent appeals to the public charity are unjust and improper. The sums paid for the loss of a single building would oftentimes insure every house in the town, not for one year only, but for seven. Should the man who loses his fortune by the dan |