~ LEWIS HAPGOOD ~ Lewis Hapgood House - built ca 1856
See additional information below pictures
Aerial view about 1941 - courtesy of Blair Gaulin
Hosmer Street is shown
Below - Closeup of house
Hapgood House
From Ella Bigelow's book
Once on a time there was it man we now call Shadrach Hapgood, who could trace his ancestral line to Thomas of 1587, who married Helena Earle, daughter of Richard Earle of Collenshourne, Kingston, England, and was knighted in Elizabeth's time. When the Normans were mixing their Latin with the Saxon, Habgood was spelled Hapgood which was an ancient name as the arms of Habgood denote. Shadrach, when he was fourteen rears old embarked in the year 1656 in the Speedwell and settled in Sudbury, Mass., where he married Elizabeth Treadway, whose grandmother, Margaret Howe, married for her second husband George Bunker, constable of Charlestown, 1630, and owner of the summit of that renowned hill of glory bearing his name. Shadrach Hapgood was a man of enterprise and early laid the foundation of the spacious and fertile landed estate which so many of his descendants have enjoyed down to the present time. Immediately before the breaking out of Phillip's war in 1675, the Indians near Quaboag, now Brookfield, manifested a disposition to treat with the English, and Captain Hutchinson of Boston, and Captain Wheeler of Concord, with a small party of men among whom was Shadrach Hapgood, were sent to treat with them.
Three of the sachems promised an interview on the second of August, 1675, at the head of Wickaboag Pond. The English repaired to the spot agreeably to the appointment, but the Indians were not there. On proceeding further, the Indians who had treacherously ambushed their path, fired upon them, killing or mortally wounding eight of their number. Hapgood, then of Sudbury, was among the slain, and there his wife with her five children heard the sorrowful news. Among her children was Thomas, who married Judith (Symonds) Barker of Concord. They settled in Marlborough and in 1695, purchased of Edmund Rice land in the northeasterly part of the town on what was afterward known as the Colonel Wesson Spurr place. Here was No. 21, the garrison of Thomas Hapgood, assigned to John Forbush, John Wheeler, Josiah Howe, B. Curly Sr. and James Curly.
Thomas Hapgood lived to be ninety-five years old. He had nine children, ninety-two grandchildren, two hundred and eighty great grandchildren and four great, great grandchildren, in all 313. His grandchildren saw their grandchildren and their grandfather at the same time. Among Thomas' children was Joseph, who married Mary Brooks, daughter of Hugh and Abigail ( Barker) Brooks of Concord. Joseph inherited the homestead of his father with the east half of his spacious farm in Marlborough. He was selectman and a prominent and leading citizen. Their son, Joseph, named for his father, married Ruth Jackson. Among the latter's children was Jonathan, deacon of the first church, who married Betsey Elizabeth Priest. They settled in Princeton, near Wachusett mountain, where all his children were born. After his death, she returned with her children to Marlborough and lived in her father's old home.
Their son Lewis married Almira E. Stow of Southborough and built the above Lewis Hapgood homestead. He was an intimate friend of Deacon Goodale and used to say one reason for selecting this sight was that he might look over every morning and see by the smoke when his dear old friend had lighted his fire. The Deacon had laughingly exclaimed "Lewis, if you can discover a location on this spot where we can see the smoke of each one's chimney, I'll present you with the equivalent of two oxen and a day's labor."
The picture to the left is that of a water color done by Ellen carpenter noted Boston Artist and is of the Lewis Hapgood house.
Lewis Hapgood, resident of Hosmer Street. In an article in The Daily Enterprise, Tuesday December 10, 1889 states "Saturday evening Lewis Hapgood upwards of 70 years of age, living near the Fort Meadow reservoir, was letting his bull loose in his barn when it rushed him and knocked him down and gored his right groin to a depth of four inches besides dislocating his hip. Fortunately assistance was near and Mr. Hapgood was rescued from his perilous position and conveyed to his house and Dr. Ellis summoned who made the patient as comfortable as possible. The animal never showed any vicious propensities before, but suddenly became wild, and was speedily dispatched with a shot gun. It is hoped that fatal results will not follow the accident.
Marlboro - The Daily Enterprise, Saturday December 19, 1889, article states that " Lewis Hapgood, deceased at his home near Fort Meadow at 1 o'clock Wednesday morning. Mr. Hapgood was terribly gored by a bull December 7, but for the first week was apparently recovering from the accident, but Sunday brought a change for the worse. and he sank rapidly until the end came. Mr. Hapgood was 74 years of age and the last survivor of the old residents in this neighborhood. He was born in Princeton, but had lived in town since he was 15 years old, and 50 years in the house where he breathed his last. His widow, to whom he had been married more than 50 years and 6 children survive. Mr. Hapgood will be missed as one or our most upright citizens and substantial farmers. Funeral at his late residence Saturday at 10 o'clock with burial in family lot in Hudson.
This place fell to his son and successor, Lyman Hapgood, who married Sarah Hosmer of Southborough, daughter of Sylvester and Abby Forester of Framingham. Lewis and Almira had eleven children among whom was Caroline M. Hapgood, who used to walk daily from this house up to the old academy to profit from the instruction of O. W. Albee. As she grew to womanhood she married ,James McAuslan, who coming from Glasgow, Scotland, settled in Marlborough and died respected by all. Their children were Margaret, and Dr. ,James Lewis, now living in Hudson, who married May Marshall of Boston. Their children are Catherine, Caroline and ,James Lewis Jr.
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