Extracted from Historic Homes & Institutions and Personal Memoirs of Worcester, County, Massachusetts. Prepared under the Editorial Supervision of Ellery Bicknell Crane, and Published by the Lewis Publishing Company, 1907. Vol # 3, pages 263-266

THE CHARLTON PUBLIC LIBRARY was first organized under a constitution and by-laws May 23, 1861, and was then called the Charlton Agricultural Library Association. Its first officers were: President, Dr. Charles M. Fay; vice-president, Levi Hammond; secretary, Henry Blake; librarian and treasurer, A. E. Fiske. On Saturday, September 30, 1882, the Library was transferred to the town of Charlton and became the Charlton Free Public Library. At that time it contained five hundred and twenty-three volumes. Since then it has. been the established rule for the town to appropriate annually the sum of two hundred dollars for the purchase of books. In February, 1904, a new library room was provided for the books in the new Dexter Memorial Hall, given by William H. Dexter, of Worcester, where it is now installed with new book stacks, tables, chairs, attractive pictures and engravings adorning its walls. In 1905 the books were newly cataloged and classified and systematically arranged on the racks for the convenience of the librarian. The library is open every Saturday afternoon from four to eight o'clock. It is well provided with magazines and periodicals of the better class, which are placed n the circulating department after the first month. The building is lighted by electricity.. The total number of books in the library March 3, 1906, is 3,991, of which 3,252 are in the circulating department. The books are classified as follows: Fiction, 1,409; juvenile, 350; history, 301; travel, 219 nature, 60; biography, 446; religious, 104; agricultural, 103; miscellaneous, 1888; and many poetical works. Mrs. Hattie L. Carpenter is the librarian. The present board of trustees consists of F. O.Wakefield, L. A. Mclntire and George 0. Jennen.
WILLIAM HENRY DEXTER. Richard Dexter (1) the immigrant ancestor of William Henry Dexter, donor of the Dexter Memorial Building in Charlton, was born in England about 1606 and died in 1680 in Charlestown, (Mystic Side), Massachusetts. He was admitted a freeman February 28, 1641-2. He bought a farm at Malden, December 7, 1663, and resided there until 1667. From January, 1677-8, until his death, he lived with his daughter Elizabeth or Ann of Charlestown. He and his wife Bridget attended the Malden Church. He was constable of Charlestown, Mystic Side, in 1660. Richard Dexter came from the vicinity of the town of Slane, county Meath, Ireland, whence he and his wife Bridget had to flee to England on account of the great Irish massacre of Protestants which commenced October 27, 1641. They were in England but a short time, going from there to Boston, in New England. The family had been in Ireland some two hundred years or more. He was descended from Richard de Excester, the Lord Justice of Ireland. The children of Richard and Bridget Dexter were: 1. Alice, died about 1682; married, 1653, Benjamin Muzzy. 2. Elizabeth, died October, 1693 ; married James Mellen, son of Richard Mellen, of Charlestown. 3. John, born 1639; died December 8, 1677, mentioned below. 4. Ann, married John Pratt. 5. Sarah, born November I, 1644, at Charlestown, married, July or August. 1666, Edward Pinson.
(II) John Dexter, son of Richard Dexter (I), was born in 1639; died December 8. 1677, at Malden. He inherited his father's farm and in turn deeded it to his son John, February 24. 1674-5, reserving for life free rent. Some of this land is still in the Dexter family. He was shot in the back by accident, December 4, 1677, by Captain Samuel Hunting, and the wound caused his death. He married Sarah_____ . She married second William Boardman and third Daniel Hutchins,. of Lynn. His children: 1. John, born August 21, 1671, mentioned below. 2. Sarah, born June 11, 1674; married May 19, 1697, at Reading, John Brown. 3. Richard, born November 6, 1676, at Cambridge; died at Malden April 21, 1747.
(III) John Dexter son of John Dexter (2), was born August 21, 1671, and died at Malden November 14, 1722, aged fifty one years and 2 months and 24 days. His will was dated April 8, 1721. It mention, his wife and children. It was proved December 10, 1722. His wife died December 5, 1752, at Malden He m Winnifred Sprague. who was born December 31, 1673, at Malden. She was the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Crawford) Sprague John Dexter was a farmer and weaver. He lived and died on the homestead at Malden. He was captain of the foot company; selectman 1700, 1710. 1716. 1777 and 1721: moderator in 1722. The children of John and Winnifred were : 1. John, born January 3, 1606-7 died March 4. 1686-7. 2. Winnifred. born March 30, 1698 : died June 30, 1698. 3. Samuel, born October 23, 1700, mentioned below. 4. John, born April, 10, 1702 died July 4, 1705. 5. Timothy, born August 20, 1703 : died November 3, 1703. 6. Timothy, born July 28, 1704; died October 17. 1704. 7. John, born December 19, 1705; died May 17, 1790. 8. Richard, born June 15, 1713; died November 25, 1793.
(IV) Rev. Samuel Dexter, son of John Dexter (3), was born at Malden, October 23, 1700, and died January 29, 1755, at Dedham, Massachusetts. He graduated at Harvard College in 1720, and was ordained May 6, 1724, as the fourth minister in the First Church of Dedham, where he continued until his death. He was admitted to the church at Malden, May 1, 1720. He kept the school at Taunton one term of six months, another term at Lynn, and another at Malden. He was also invited to preach at Brimfield, Medford, Westboro and Yarmouth. He married, July 9, 1724, at Boston, Catharina Mears, born September 25, 1701, at Boston, died June 10, 1797, at Dedham, daughter of Samuel and Maria Catharina (Smith) Mears. She married second (intentions August 21, 1756, at Dedham) Samuel Barnard, of Salem. Her maternal grandfather was Captain Thomas Smith, mariner, a portrait of whom, painted by himself, is in the American Antiquarian Hall, Worcester. A portrait of his wife (?) and his daughter Maria Catharina, mother of Mr,. Dexter, is owned by Misses Catharina and Rebecca Clapp, of Dorchester. Much material, in diary and manuscript form,, has been preserved relating to the life of Rev. Samuel Dexter. His children: I. Samuel, born March 18, 1724-5; died April 9, 1725. 2 Samuel born March 18, 1724-5; died April 9, 1725. 2. Samuel, born March 16, 1725-6; died at Malden, June 10, 1810. 3. John, January 30, 1727-8; died November 5, .1731, at Dedham. 4. Ebenezer, born October 17, 1729; died May 4, 1769. 5. William, born September 12, 1731; died. May 26, 1736. 6. Catharina. born September 28, 1733; died February 2, 1734-5. 7. John, born August 12, 1735 ; died February 7, 1800, at Marlboro. 8. Catharina born November 21, 1737; died August 30, 1814. 9. Rebecca, born October 4. 1739; died May 31, 1823. 10. William, born July 17, 1741 ; died June 9, 1749. 11, Mary, born October 12, 1743; died May 13, 1775.
(V) John Dexter, son of Samuel Dexter (4), was born August 12, 1735, at Dedham; baptized August 17, 1735, and died, according to the record on his gravestone, February 7, 1800, He was a soldier in the revolution, a private in Captain Silas Gates' company,. Colonel Ward's regiment, in 1775 and 1776. He was a goldsmith by trade. He married, October 14,. or 23, 1765, Mary How, daughter of (Deacon Josiah) and Mary (Goodale) How. The children of John and Mary Dexter: 1. Catherina, born at Marlboro, November 25, 1768: married, March 12, 1801, Silas Witt ; she died October 4, 1816 2 Elizabeth, born January 5, 1771, died July 16, 1812 married 1798 James Colburn. 3. Charles,
born July 2, 1773, mentioned below. 4. Mary, born December 30, 1778 died November 7, 1850, married March 12, 1797 Moses Woodward, who died September 8, 1838 she married second February 13, 1839, Asahel Johnson of Westboro.
(VI) Charles Dexter son of John Dexter (5), was born at Marlboro July 2, 1773 He also settled in Marlboro. He married. December 26, 1796, Sarah How, He removed to Brimfield, Massachusetts 1809, and died there January 14, 1817. His wife Sarah was born in Marlboro, January 8, 1779, and died at Charlton, July 27, 1862. She was the daughter of Luther and Elizabeth (Watson) How of Marlboro.. She married second. December 13, 1829, David Gates, of Stow. and third. November 23, 1842, at Bolton, Deacon Richard Haven, of Bolton. His children : 1. John Bradford. born June 21, 1798, mentioned below. 2. Richard Mears, born October 10, 1800 ; died at Brimfield. February 22, 1819. 3. Mary, born November 4, 1802: died April 1, 1832; married Solomon Morgan, of Brimfield. 4. Elizabeth Colburn, born January 19, 1804; died August 2, 1808. 5. Sally, born August 13, 1806; died at Sturbridge, October 13, 1878. 6. Charles, born September 20, 1808, at Stow; died March 8, 1871, at Worcester. 7. James Munroe, born April 28, 1811, at Marlboro; died April 8. 1854, at Bolton. 8. Charlotte Chamberlain, born July 14, 1813; died March 3, 1821. 9. Alvin Corbin, born May 25, 1816, at Charlton; died October 11, 1871, at Nashua, New Hampshire.
(VII) John Bradford Dexter, son of Charles Dexter (6), was born in Marlboro, June 24, 1798. He lived in Brimfield, and later in Charlton, Massachusetts. He was an enterprising builder and contractor; also proprietor of a general store at Charlton. He died at Worcester. November 24, 1867. He married, February 12, 1818, Lucinda McIntire, who was born at Charlton, April 8, 1793, and died at Worcester, January 5, 1866, daughter of Elnathan and Martha McIntire, granddaughter of Eleazer, Jr. and Elizabeth Mclntire. Her father was born at Charlton, February 24, 1762. Children of John Bradford and Lucinda Dexter: 1. Richard, born February 18, 1819; died December 3, 1885, at Worcester. 2. John Bradford. born March 22, 1821; died February 4, 1864, at Worcester. 3. William Henry, born January 11, 1823. 4. Phila, born December 14, 1825; died June 17, 1900, at Lowell. 5. Lucinda. born September 2, 1828; died April 22, 1874, at Worcester; married______Andrews. 6. George, born October 25, 1834, at Charlton; died May 28, 1903. at Dorchester; graduate of Amherst College 1860, of Harvard Divinity School 1864; Unitarian minister at Bridgewater : broker in Boston: married January 1, 1866, Cornelia Waitstill
Cornell, daughter of Emmons and Mary Harvey (Hollingsworth) Cornell. 7. Lorinda West, born May 25, 1831 ; died at Charlton, July 16, 1840.
(VIII) William Henry Dexter, son of John Bradford Dexter (7), was born January 11, 1823, at Charlton. He attended the Charlton public schools, and at the age of fourteen entered his father's employ as clerk in the country store. He left home to take a similar position at Burrillville, Rhode Island, where he worked until he was seventeen, when he returned to the employ of his father. The following year he became a clerk in a general merchandise house in Boston. In 1846 he started in business on his own account, having a thorough knowledge of business and the requisite capital. His store was located on Southbridge Street in Worcester the first grocery store in that city not located on Main street. This enterprise was successfully conducted by him for five years, after which he entered into the wholesale and retail flour and grain business, with headquarters at the corner of Main and Pleasant streets, and there he laid the foundations of his fortune. Three years later he found larger quarters necessary, and built a four-story block at Franklin Square on land bought of Judge Charles Allen. He built up the largest and most flourishing business in his line in the county and always enjoyed a reputation for integrity and business sagacity. In 1877 having acquired a competence, he sold his flour and grain store to Holbrook & Co and gave his entire attention to his real estate investments and to the further development of Franklin Square, where he built several business blocks. He has another block on the corner of Main street and Allen Court. Mr. Dexter was interested in his younger days in city affairs, and from 1873 to 1878 he was a member of the common council, and for three years on the school board. He was one of the Organizers of the First National Bank, which has lately been amalgamated with the Worcester Trust Company, was a director for twenty-four years, and vice president two years. Mr. Dexter is best known for his philanthropy. Since 1874 he has contributed generously to the funds of Worcester Academy, of which he has been trustee and treasurer. He gave the building named for him, Dexter Hall, at Worcester Academy, in 1892, and has given liberally to the Baptist Church, as well as large sums to educational institutions. He gave to his native town the Dexter Memorial Building, in which its library and town hall are located. He married, February 2, 1848, at Thompson, Connecticut, Eliza Adeline Foss, who was born Aug 3, 1824, at Wayne, Maine, daughter of Phineas and Dorothy (Jenkins) Foss. Their only child was: Carrie Eliza, born April 6, 1852, at Worcester; died there August 13, 1852. Mrs. Dexter died January 20, 1907, aged eighty-two years, five months and seven days. The funeral was held with services at 2 0 clock in the First Baptist church, of which she was one of the oldest members. The Rev. Dr. Lemuel Call Barnes, pastor of the church, officiated and the body was placed in the vault in the family lot which is in Hope cemetery. Mrs. Dexter's death occurred in the home of the couple, Main and Charlton streets, and was due to a general decline in old age. She had been in failing health for several months and confined to bed the last three weeks. Mrs. Dexter was born at Wayne hill. in the town of Wayne, Maine. She was married in 1848 to William H. Dexter and they would have observed the fifty-ninth anniversary of their marriage in February had she lived. In the death of Mrs. Dexter the First Baptist Church loses one of the first two persons to be baptized as members, the other being her husband. Mrs. Dexter was probably the only woman in Worcester who received an invitation to attend wedding of Mr. and Mrs. John D Rockefeller, at Cleveland. Mr. and Mrs. Dexter sat at the head table at the wedding dinner. They also received invitations when John D. Rockefeller, Jr., was married to the daughter of the Hon. Nelson T. Aldrich, of Rhode Island. Mrs. Dexter and Mrs Rockefeller were classmates at the Oread Institute and spent many vacations together. Mrs. Dexter was very fond of driving and when in health took daily drives with her husband. They occupied the same pew in the First Baptist Church for more than half a century. Mr. Dexter celebrated his eighty-fourth birthday January 11. Mr. Dexter recently contributed $3,500 to the Rev. McLeod Harvey for the First Presbyterian Church, which is to buy the First Baptist edifice when the congregation moves to the new building, and at that time said he would like to retain the pew so that they could drop in at any time. Mrs. Dexter’s father was well to do and there was no need for her to leave home or to work for her own livelihood but she was of an independent spirit and left home at the age of fourteen to work in a Saco, Maine mill. While there she attended night school as she was ambitious for an education and studied nights while she worked days. She won the first prize for scholarship, supporting herself entirely and went to Boston, and worked at dressmaking for some of the old Beacon street families.
On February 29, 1848, the day Worcester became a city she was married to Mr. Dexter. They came to Worcester and have lived here ever since. They had one daughter, Carrie Eliza, born April 6. 1852, and dying August 13 of the same year. During his wife's illness Mr. Dexter passed a great part of his time at her bedside, leaving the care of his business affairs to others. Her home and the grounds surrounding it were a source of great pride and care to Mrs. Dexter and to those who passed the house during the summer could not help remarking the unique arrangement of the lawn on the Main Street side. The fountain plays in the central part and tubs of plants stand about in the warm weather. A desire that the girls of her native state should have educational advantages not to be had when she was a girl impelled Mrs. Dexter to give the trustees of Colby University, Waterville, Maine, a hall known as Foss Hall, to be used by the Maine girls who attended the university. Mr. Dexter said that Mrs. Dexter often had remarked that she believed the happiest day of her life was that on which she gave the keys of the new building to the superintendent of the college.

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