An essay written in 1965 by Howard W. Cooke, first president of the Athol Historical Society.
Margery Morton – Pequoig’s first daughter.
If Margery Morton, the first white girl to be born in Athol had left a diary, the early history of this town would have
been much clearer. Her life nearly spanned the period of our first three meetinghouses and did span all of the
Humphrey pastorate and the first 38 years of the Estabrook pastorate. She was born in October 28, 1737 in a cabin
located very near the residence of Mr. & Mrs. Frank A. King at 813 Pleasant Street.
Where did this little girl go to church? I think that she was too young to go “cross lots” with older people when they
attended services held at the first meeting house on what is now Hapgood Street. I associate her with the second
meeting house which must have been erected when she was about four years old, only a few steps from her home.
It was a small building, but large enough for the not more than 20 families on the east hill. She must have sat upon
uncomfortable planks gazing with longing and perhaps envy at the one pew in the church. It was the property of
Doctor Joseph Lord. We could not blame her if her mind sometimes wandered and she thought of the possibility of
an Indian attack. Perhaps the knowledge that guards were stationed outside reassured her. Maybe the sight of the
minister’s gun in the pulpit near him made her feel safe.
Mary Lord, daughter of Dr. Lord, was the only other girl in the village and she was a few years older. She had much
to occupy her mind. She might have crossed the road (now Pleasant Street) to watch the building of the fort and the
digging of the well. This well still exists today, the pump mounted in the center of a concrete curb and marked by a
bronze tablet. She probably drank the fine water of this well and lingered to gaze with curiosity at weary travelers
who had reached this spot by toiling over the Old Boston Turnpike from the east, having climbed the steep hills of
Phillipston before descending down Lyons Hill to the Corduroy Road crossing the swamp which is now Lake Ellis. Or
it may be that some traveler from the west paused to exchange words comparing experiences with the dwellers on
east Pequoig hill. The crossroads were near the intersection of Pleasant Street and Victoria Avenue.
At the age of 13 years, Margery helped prepare the banquet to welcome the Rev. James Humphrey back to Athol
with his new bride (Esther Wiswall). He was ordained minister November 7, 1750. Margery’s father Lt. Richard
Morton was one of the church officials.
In her later years, Margery witnessed the construction of the first schoolhouse (1766), just north of Ellinwood
Country Club on Pleasant St and the construction of at least three taverns. Crosby’s Tavern where the first Masonic
Lodge was instituted in 1803, was just across the road from her home. The noted Cutting’s Tavern was a little to the
north of her home. It was here that Col. John Murray was entertained when he came to preside at the first town
meeting in 1762. During the Revolutionary War a Tory kept this tavern by the name of Ward. His place was closely
watched as he was suspected of giving aid to British spies. The third tavern on the street was to the south, at 1307
Pleasant Street, currently the home of Mr. & Mrs. John B Lawton. The large barn and two thirds of the house have
been removed. Stagecoaches from Worcester arrived to change horses and departed via Doe Valley Road,
Petersham and Barre. Other coaches plied between this tavern and Springfield via Batchelder Road and New
Salem.
Margery Morton probably saw the first post office installed in General James Humphrey’s Store. Humphrey was the
son of our first minister, Rev James Humphrey who had a fine residence, which was destroyed by the hurricane of
1938. The cellar hole of this residence is located across Pleasant Street from the Briggs homestead at 996
Pleasant St. The store was located just north of the Harland Freitag home. Probably this post office was not a very
busy place. Stamps were not sold, although postage was paid – 10 cents a letter.
Aunt Margery, as she was called by the entire community died unmarried February 3, 1825, at the age of 88 years.
The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is named in her memory.
In the forty years since this essay was written, ownership, of a few of the houses mentioned, has changed, and many
more dwellings have been built in Margery’s neighborhood.
September is Athol History Month. If you would like more information about the Athol Historical Society and its
calendar of events, please check us out at www.atholhistoricalsociety.com
Margery Morton – Pequoig’s first daughter.
If Margery Morton, the first white girl to be born in Athol had left a diary, the early history of this town would have
been much clearer. Her life nearly spanned the period of our first three meetinghouses and did span all of the
Humphrey pastorate and the first 38 years of the Estabrook pastorate. She was born in October 28, 1737 in a cabin
located very near the residence of Mr. & Mrs. Frank A. King at 813 Pleasant Street.
Where did this little girl go to church? I think that she was too young to go “cross lots” with older people when they
attended services held at the first meeting house on what is now Hapgood Street. I associate her with the second
meeting house which must have been erected when she was about four years old, only a few steps from her home.
It was a small building, but large enough for the not more than 20 families on the east hill. She must have sat upon
uncomfortable planks gazing with longing and perhaps envy at the one pew in the church. It was the property of
Doctor Joseph Lord. We could not blame her if her mind sometimes wandered and she thought of the possibility of
an Indian attack. Perhaps the knowledge that guards were stationed outside reassured her. Maybe the sight of the
minister’s gun in the pulpit near him made her feel safe.
Mary Lord, daughter of Dr. Lord, was the only other girl in the village and she was a few years older. She had much
to occupy her mind. She might have crossed the road (now Pleasant Street) to watch the building of the fort and the
digging of the well. This well still exists today, the pump mounted in the center of a concrete curb and marked by a
bronze tablet. She probably drank the fine water of this well and lingered to gaze with curiosity at weary travelers
who had reached this spot by toiling over the Old Boston Turnpike from the east, having climbed the steep hills of
Phillipston before descending down Lyons Hill to the Corduroy Road crossing the swamp which is now Lake Ellis. Or
it may be that some traveler from the west paused to exchange words comparing experiences with the dwellers on
east Pequoig hill. The crossroads were near the intersection of Pleasant Street and Victoria Avenue.
At the age of 13 years, Margery helped prepare the banquet to welcome the Rev. James Humphrey back to Athol
with his new bride (Esther Wiswall). He was ordained minister November 7, 1750. Margery’s father Lt. Richard
Morton was one of the church officials.
In her later years, Margery witnessed the construction of the first schoolhouse (1766), just north of Ellinwood
Country Club on Pleasant St and the construction of at least three taverns. Crosby’s Tavern where the first Masonic
Lodge was instituted in 1803, was just across the road from her home. The noted Cutting’s Tavern was a little to the
north of her home. It was here that Col. John Murray was entertained when he came to preside at the first town
meeting in 1762. During the Revolutionary War a Tory kept this tavern by the name of Ward. His place was closely
watched as he was suspected of giving aid to British spies. The third tavern on the street was to the south, at 1307
Pleasant Street, currently the home of Mr. & Mrs. John B Lawton. The large barn and two thirds of the house have
been removed. Stagecoaches from Worcester arrived to change horses and departed via Doe Valley Road,
Petersham and Barre. Other coaches plied between this tavern and Springfield via Batchelder Road and New
Salem.
Margery Morton probably saw the first post office installed in General James Humphrey’s Store. Humphrey was the
son of our first minister, Rev James Humphrey who had a fine residence, which was destroyed by the hurricane of
1938. The cellar hole of this residence is located across Pleasant Street from the Briggs homestead at 996
Pleasant St. The store was located just north of the Harland Freitag home. Probably this post office was not a very
busy place. Stamps were not sold, although postage was paid – 10 cents a letter.
Aunt Margery, as she was called by the entire community died unmarried February 3, 1825, at the age of 88 years.
The local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is named in her memory.
In the forty years since this essay was written, ownership, of a few of the houses mentioned, has changed, and many
more dwellings have been built in Margery’s neighborhood.
September is Athol History Month. If you would like more information about the Athol Historical Society and its
calendar of events, please check us out at www.atholhistoricalsociety.com
