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THIS township was originally granted to the Hon. Messrs. Paul and William Dudley of Roxhury, while yet in the
possession of the aborigines, the tribe which was known by the name of the Pegan tribe. It was incorporated by
the general court in 1731, and the name of Dudley was given to it as a token of respect to the abovementioned men,
who were principal proprietors of the soil, and great benefactors to the first settlers in their infancy. The church
was founded here in 1732, and the Rev. Perley Howe was ordained their first minister in 1735. He was dismissed
in 1743, and the next year Rev. Charles Gleason was ordained, who continued the faithful minister till his death,
in 1790. The Rev. Joshua Johnson was installed as successor to Mr. Gleason in 1790. His successors have been Rev.
Abiel Williams, ordained in 1799, and Rev. James H. Francis, in 1831.
The central part of Dudley is situated on a commanding eminence, called Dudley Hill. The village consists of two
churches, an academy, and about twenty five dwelling houses. The view abnve, shows the appearance of the place
as seen from a. point about half a mile eastward, on the road to Webster. The Congregational church is seen in
the central part of the engravjng, before which is seen the road ascending the hill, which here descends with considerable
abruptness. The Universalist church and the academy stand south from the Congregational church. Merino village
is about 2 miles eastward. Four acres of land on the summit of this hill were given to the town for public uses
by the Pegan tribe of Indians, on condition that all of their tribe who should ever inhabit the town should have
the right to convenient seats in the meeting-house. The face of the town is uneven, but not mountainous. It is
beautifully interspersed with hills, valleys and streams of water. The soil is generally good and fertile. There
are quarries of gneiss in this town, which yield great quantities of excellent building stone. There are 4 large
ponds, the largest of which is in the east part of the town, called by the Indians Chau-bun-a-gung-a-maug. French
and Quinebaug rivers, both considerable streams, pass in a southerly course through this town. There are 3 churches,
1 Congregational, 1 UniversaList, and 1 Methodist. Population, 1,415. Distance, 18 miles from Worcester, 6 from
Southbridge, 45 from Hartford, (Conn.,) and about 60 from Boston. In 1837 there were 3 woollen mills, 11 sets of
machinery; 196,653 yards of cloth were manufactured; value, $319,991; males employed, 101; females, 98. There were
27,740 pairs of shoes manufactured; value, $22,698; males emDloyed, 26; females. 18.
The following, respecting the Indians who lived in this town, is from Gookin1s Collections.
"About five miles distant from hence #Oxford# is a second town, called Chabanakongkomun. It hath its denomination
from a very great pond, about five or six miles long, that borders upon the southward of it. This village is fifty
five miles south-west from Boston. There are about nine families and forty.five souls. The people are of sober
deportment, and better instructed in the worship of God than any of the new praying towns. Their teacher's name
is Joseph, who is one of the church of Hassanamessit; a sober, pious, and ingenious person, and speaks English
well, and is well read in the scriptures. He was the first that settled this town, and got the people to him about
two years since. It is a new plantation, and is well accommodated with uplands and meadows. At this place dwells
an Indian called Black James, who about a year since was constituted constable of all the praying towns. He is
a person that bath approved himself diligent and courageous, faithful and zealous to suppress sin; and so he was
confirmed in his ofilce another year. Mr. Eliot preached unto this people, and we prayed and sung psalms with them,
and we exhorted them to stand fast in the faith. A part of one night we spent in discoursing with them, and resolving
a variety of questions propounded by them, touching matters of religion and civil order. The teacher Joseph and
the constable James went with us unto the next town, which is called Maanexit, is a third village, and lieth about
seven miles westerly from Chabanakongkomun. It is situated in a very fertile country, and near unto a fresh river,
upon the west of it, called Mohegan river. it is distant from Boston about sixty miles west and by south. The inhabitants
are about twenty families, as we compute one hundred souls. Mr. Eliot preached unto this people out of the 24th
Psalm, seven to the end: Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King
of glory shall come in, &c.
"After sermon was ended we presented unto them John Moqua, a pious and sober person there present, for their
minister, which they thankfully accepted. Then their teacher named and Set and rehearsed a suitable psalm, which
being sung, and a conclusion with prayer, they were exhorted, both the teacher to be diligent and faithful, and
to take care of the flock, whereof the Holy Ghost had made him overseer, and the people also to give obedience
and subjection to him in the Lord."
FROM:
Historical Collections Relateing to the
History and Antiquities of
Every town in Massachusetts with
Geographical Descriptions.
By John Warner Barber.
Worchester
Published by Warren Lazell.
1848
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