History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

emjes of New England, and they were a de-
cided improvement on the text-books previously-
used. He was a leading man in his profession,
as well as a prominent author. He was a dili-
gent student during his life, investigating the
cause of things, and laying open their 'hidden
relations and affinities. A mind like his may be
compared to tiie head-light of a locomotive, that
darts its rays far along tlie track. He married
Nancy jMulliken, August 17, ISOO. They had
two sons and three daughters. Both of his sons
received a collegiate education. He died at Keene
in 186i, aged 91 years.
For about twenty years this town contained the
residence of Henry Price, the man who laid the
corner-stone of speculative Masonry in America.
He was born in London about 1697, and came to
New England about 173:3. From the record of
the proceedings in a suit commenced by him against
a debtor in \Ti-l it is proved that he was a shopkeeper
and tailor in Boston as early as 1731. On
petition of several masonic brethren of Boston,
addressed to Viscount Montague, grand master of
Masons of England, he was appointed " a provin-
cial grand master of free and accepted masons in
New^England," April 30, 1733. Within a short
time after this appointment he was commissioned
cornet in governor Belcher's troop of guards, with
the rank of major. He was then thirty-six years
old. For some time his place of business was on
Cornhill, very near where No. 96 Washington Street
TOWNSEXD. 389-
now stands. In 1737 he married Mary Townsend,
who was superior to most of her sex both in mental
and personal endowments, and in 1738 a daughter,
Mary, was bom to them. He carried on business,
sometimes with a jjartner, till 1751, when he retired
to take care of his real estate, of which he possessed
a large amount in diflerent towns. His wife (Mary
Townsend) died about 1750, and in 1752 he mar-
ried Mary Tilden, of Boston, at Trinity Cinirch,
as he was an Episcopalian. About 17C0, while
looking forward to a bright future, his wife and
daughter died at nearly the same time, leaving his
home desolate and forsaken. It was probably his
sorrow at these losses thr.t induced him to make
himself a home elsewhere. In 1761 he came to
Townsend, and settled on land which he had owned
about twenty years. A prospect of scenic beauty
meets the eye from the hillside where he hved.
He was soon appreciated by the Townsend people,
for in 1761 and 1765 he represented them in the
piovincial legislature, in which body he served on
several committees.
" September y' 17, 1771, were lawfully married
Henry Price Esq., with Lydia Kaiidall," both of
Townsend, by Ikverend Samuel Dix of Townsend."
By this third marriage two cliildren were born to
him, Mary and Rebecca. He lived quietly in this
town and enjoyed his increasing years. Tradition
says that on nearly every Sabbath morning he and
his faTnily were driven to church by his negro slave
Scipio, and that they invariably returned home at
noon, when a good dinner awaited their arrival.
Hedied on the 20tli of May, 1780, from the effect
of a wound in his abdomen caused by a glancing
axe held in his own hands. He performed many
journeys to Boston in connection with his masonic
duties, where in his old age he was regarded with
reverence by the order. At the age of seventy-one
years, and while installing Grand Master Eowe, he
used these impressive words —
:
"It is God's decree that every one shall di(;.
Death is his messenger to enforce his law ; nor will
he let any of us carry from hence any mark of human
pride, treasures or honors, or any proof of our
earthly consequence but a good conscience obtained
from a well-spent life; from which reflects the
most brilliant legacy we can leave our friends in
this world, — a good name."
Through the moss on the slate head-stone at his
grave the passer-by may trace these words, which
have remained there for a century : " An Honest
Man. The Noblest AVork of God."