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EDWARD    E.   PARKER 


HISTORY 


OF 


BROOKLINE 


Formerly  RABY 


HILLSBOROUGH  COUNTY       NEW  HAMPSHIRE 


WITH 


Tables  of  Family  Records  and  Genealogies. 


By  EDWARD  E.  PARKER. 


Published  by  The  Town. 


I 


T- 


HISTORY  COMMITTEE 

AS  FIRST  CONSTITUTED  IN  1906. 


Clarence  R.  Russell, 
*Samuel  Swett, 
*Eddy  S.  Whitcomb, 
*Edward  C.  Tucker, 
*John  B.  Hardy, 

David  S.  Fessenden. 


AS  RE-ORGANIZED   IN    1913. 


Clarence  R.  Russell, 
Walter  E-  Corey, 
*David  S.  Fessenden, 
Frank  L.  Willoby. 


'Deceased. 


I 


COMMITTEE   ON   BROOKLINE   HISTORY 


To 

The  Citizens  of  Brookline 

In  Memory  of  the  Early  Fathers  of  the  Town 

And  of  Their  Descendants  Wherever  Located 

This  History 

Is  Respectfully  Dedicated 

By 

The  Author. 


INTRODUCTION 


This  history  of  Brookline  is  the  culmination  of  long  continued  desires 
on  the  part  of  its  inhabitants  that  the  acts  and  annals  of  the  early  settlers 
in  the  town,  as  well  as  those  of  the  generations  succeeding  them,  in  order 
that  they  should  inure  to  the  edification  and  benefit  of  the  generations 
yet  to  come,  should  be  preserved  in  some  durable  and  permanent  form. 

Its  preparation  for  publication  was  authorized  by  a  vote  of  the  citi- 
zens at  a  town  meeting  holden  on  the  13th  day  of  March,  1906.  At  the 
same  meeting  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  appoint  a  history  com- 
mittee consisting  of  five  citizens.  The  selectmen  subsequently  appointed 
the  committee,  and,  soon  after  its  appointment,  the  committee  arranged 
with  the  undersigned  to  prepare  the  history  for  publication. 

In  presenting  the  completed  work  to  his  old  time  fellow  citizens 
and  to  the  public  in  general,  for  their  and  its  approval,  or  disapproval, 
as  the  case  may  be,  the  compiler  has  but  little  to  say  by  way  of  intro- 
duction. 

For  him  the  work  of  preparing  it  has  been  a  labor  of  love;  and  now 
that  his  task  is  completed,  he  can  only  hope  that  it  will  not  turn  out 
to  be  a  case  of  love's  labor  lost. 

In  the  labor  attendant  upon  its  preparation,  from  beginning  to  end, 
the  compiler  has  been  actuated  by  a  desire  to  produce  a  record  history 
of  the  town.  A  history  which,  so  far  as  possible,  should  depict  the  char- 
acteristic qualities  of  its  people,  as  those  qualities  have  been  exhibited 
in  their  acts  and  procedure  during  the  years  of  the  town's  existence. 

"With  that  end  in  view,  the  materials  used  in  its  compilation  have, 
for  the  main  part,  been  taken  from  the  town's  official  books  of  records, 
the  unofficial  accounts,  published  and  unpublished,  of  the  acts  of,  and 
incidents  happening  to,  its  people;  and  from  such  of  its  traditions  as, 
having  survived  the  lapse  of  years,  have  come  down  to  the  present  gen- 
eration stamped  with  such  marks  of  authenticity  as  would  seem  to  render 
them  worthy  of  preservation. 

In  following  out  this  line  of  procedure,  care  has  been  taken  to  keep 
as  closely  as  possible  to  the  language  of  the  original  text;  quoting  from 
the  same  freely,  and  oftentimes  voluminously;   especially  in  instances  in 


8  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

which  the  subject  matter  relates  to  events  and  occurrences  of  more  than 
ordinary  interest  to  the  people. 

The  result  has  been  to  produce  a  work  in  the  construction  of  which, 
consideration  is  given  to  matters  which  would  ordinarily  be  regarded  as 
of  minor  importance — mere  details — to  an  extent  much  greater  than  is 
generally  customary  in  histories  of  this  description. 

At  first  thought,  this  phase  in  the  work,  i.e.,  redundency  in  the  mat- 
ter of  details,  for  obvious  reasons,  would  strike  many  as  being  in  the 
nature  of  a  fault.  But  when  one  takes  into  consideration  the  fact  that 
the  life  of  a  town,  like  that  of  an  individual,  is  for  the  greater  part  made 
up  of  details,  in  the  formation  of  which,  at  some  period  of  his  life  every 
citizen  is  more  or  less  actively  engaged,  it  becomes  apparent  at  once 
that,  in  the  compilation  of  its  history,  matters  of  detail  constitute  a  very 
important  element  for  consideration.  For  the  more  voluminously  and 
accurately  they  are  spread  upon  its  pages,  the  more  thoroughly  will  its 
readers  be  able  to  comprehend  the  characteristic  qualities  of  its  inhabi- 
tants— the  men  and  women  from  the  details  of  whose  lives  it  is  in  a  great 
measure  constructed. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  mentioned  sources  of  information,  re- 
course has  also  been  had  to  the  official  records  and  public  documents 
of  the  State  and  to  the  published  histories  of  Towns  in  this  vicinity  and 
elsewhere,  for  such  historical  material  relating  to  Brookline  as  could  be 
gleaned  from  their  pages;  care  being  exercised  in  each  instance  to  select 
for  use  only  such  materials  as,  from  their  actual  connection  with,  and 
bearing  upon  the  town  and  its  people,  were  necessary  to  the  complete 
elucidation  of  its  history. 

Thanks  are  also  due,  and  the  same  are  hereby  gratefully  extended, 
to  Charles  E.  Spaulding  and  Cyrus  F.  Burge  of  Hollis,  W.  F.  Bucknam 
of  Woburn,  Mass.,  and  many  others,  for  valuable  information  relative 
to  the  town  and  its  people  by  them  contributed  to  the  work  during  the 
progress  of  its  compilation;  especially  to  Mr.  Spaulding:  to  whose  cour- 
tesy it  is  indebted  for  a  considerable  portion  of  its  data  relative  to  the 
families  of  some  of  the  early  settlers. 

The  incompleteness  of  the  work  in  the  matter  of  family  records  and 
genealogies  will  doubtless  be  a  cause  of  regret  to  many  of  the  citizens; 
and  apparently  justly  so.  But  it  must  be  remembered  that  in  under- 
taking the  task  of  preparing  the  history,  those  having  the  work  in  charge 
were  not  called  upon  to  seriously  consider  that  phase  in  its  make-up 
relating  to  the  preparation  of  family  records,  no  appropriation  for  that 
purpose  having  been  made  by  the  town. 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  9 

But  to  the  end  that  the  history  might  not  be  wholly  lacking  in  that 
respect,  the  town's  history  committee  at  the  very  commencement  of  the 
work  caused  to  be  prepared  and  sent  to  all  known  representatives  of  the 
families  of  early  settlers,  the  families  of  former  citizens  of  the  town  and 
of  those  of  its  residents  at  the  present  time,  circular  letters,  in  which 
the  recipients  of  the  same  were  requested  to  prepare  the  vital  records 
of  their  respective  families  and  forward  them  to  the  committee  for  pub- 
lication. 

To  these  circulars  but  a  very  small  minority  of  the  recipients  made 
any  response  whatever.  Of  those  who  did  respond  the  tables  of  statistics 
were,  in  the  majority  of  instances,  brief  and  incomplete.  In  but  very 
few  instances  were  the  returns  reasonably  full  and  satisfactory;  and  the 
instances  in  which  full  and  complete  records  or  genealogies  were  returned 
could  easily  be  counted  on  one's  fingers. 

The  records  and  genealogies  thus  received  all  appear  in  the  following 
pages.  That  there  is  not  a  larger  number  of  them  can,  under  the  circum- 
stances, be  justly  attributed  to  no  other  cause  than  that  of  neglect  or 
indifference  on  the  part  of  those  who,  having  had  the  opportunity  of 
furnishing  them,  failed  to  comply  with  the  committee's  request  to  that 
effect. 

In  conclusion,  the  writer  feels  that  the  citizens  of  the  town  have 
a  very  proper  cause  for  congratulating  themselves  in  the  fact  that,  by 
the  publication  of  this  work,  upon  the  list  of  the  names  of  New  Hamp- 
shire towns  whose  histories  have  already  been  published,  will  hereafter 
appear  that  of  their  own  town. 

It  is  a  little  town,  to  be  sure.  Its  history  during  the  years  of  its  exist- 
ence has  scarcely  created  a  ripple  in  the  current  of  events  by  which  the 
history  of  the  state  has  been  formulated.  As  a  town  it  has  no  claims 
to  any  special  marks  of  distinction  over  its  sister  towns  in  general.  It 
has  produced  no  men  or  women  who  have  become  particularly  distin- 
guished in  any  line  of  action.  But  it  can  justly  boast  of  having  been  the 
mother  of  many  men  and  women  whose  qualities  as  citizens  have  been 
fully  up  to  the  average  standard  of  New  Hampshire  crops  in  that  line, 
and  of  a  record  for  patriotism  which  is  second  to  no  town  in  this  state. 
But  above  all  — a  fact  which  is  especially  to  its  credit  — it  is,  and  always 
has  been  a  town  for  which  the  love  and  affection  of  its  sons  and  daughters 
has  never  failed;  and  of  which  it  could  always  be  truthfully  said — in 
the  language  once  employed  by  Daniel  Webster  when  speaking  of  his 
alma  mater,  Dartmouth  College — "There  are  those  who  love  it." 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

Topographical  and  Otherwise. 

Surface  and  Soil — Forests — Granite  Ledges — Clay  Banks — Ponds — 
River  and  Brooks — Natural  Curiosities — Stone  House  and  Devil's  Den — 
Witch  Story — Indians — The  Bear's  Den — Population  of  Town  at  Different 
Periods. 

CHAPTER   II. 

Old  Dunstable. 

Farm  Grants — New  Plantation  Chartered— Its  Extent — Its  Disinte- 
gration— Names  and  Dates  of  Incorporation  of  Towns  Formed  from  Its 
Territory  in  New  Hampshire — Copy 'of  Proprietors'  Deed — Old  Canal 
Leading  out  of  Muscatanipus  Pond — Rock  Raymond  Hill. 

CHAPTER   III. 

Brookline  Before  Its  Incorporation. 

1673—1769. 

The  Mile  Slip — Land  Derived  from  Townsend,  Mass. — The  Old 
North  Boundary  Line  of  Townsend — The  Groton  Gore — Petitions  for  a 
New  Township,  1738-1739— West  Parish  of  Old  Dunstable— The  Province 
Line,  1741— Brookline  as  a  Part  of  Hollis,  1746-1769— Early  Settlers. 


12  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

CHAPTER   IV. 

Incorporation  of  Raby  and  Events  Connected  with  the  Same. 

1746-1769. 

Dissatisfaction  among  the  Inhabitants  in  the  West  Part  of  Hollis — 
Unsuccessful  Attempts  to  Procure  a  Division  of  the  Township — Appoint- 
ment of  Lieut.  Samuel  Farley  as  Agent  for  the  Inhabitants  of  the  West 
Part  of  Hollis  and  of  the  Mile  Slip  to  petition  the  General  Court  for  the 
Organization  of  a  New  Township — First  and  Second  Petitions  for  a  Char- 
ter— Charter  of  the  Town  of  Raby— Area  of  Raby  as  Incorporated — 
Subesquent  Changes  in  Its  Area — Loss  of  Land  in  Raby's  North  West 
Corner  in  1794 — Origin  of  the  Name  of  Raby. 

CHAPTER   V. 

1769-1775. 

First  Town  Meeting- — First  Board  of  Town  Officers — Second  Town 
Meeting — First  Public  Building — First  Appropriation  for  a  Public  High- 
way— First,  Second  and  Third  Cattle  Pounds — First  and  Last  Boards  of 
Tithing  Men — First  Highway  Accepted  by  the  Town — First  List  of  Rate 
Payers — First  Bridge  over  the  Nissitisset  River  below  its  outlet  from 
Muscatanipus  Pond — Straightening  of  the  Highway  in  1804  on  the  West 
Side  of  Meeting-house  Hill— Second  Pond  Bridge,  1808— Third  Pond 
Bridge,  1812-1814— Fourth  Pond  Bridge,  1843— First  Appropriation  for 
Public  Schools — Highway  from  Douglass  Brook  to  the  House  of  Ben- 
jamin Shattuck  Accepted  by  the  Town. 

CHAPTER   VI. 

War  of  the  Revolution. 

Population  of  the  Town  at  the  Opening  and  During  the  Continuance 
of  the  War — Town's  Recorded  List  of  its  Soldiers  in  the  War — Its  Soldiers 
in  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill — Its  Soldiers  in  the  Battle  of  Bennington — 
Action  Taken  by  the  Town  During  the  Progress  of  the  War — The  Asso- 
ciation Test— Names  and  War  Records  of  the  Town's  Soldiers — Com- 
mittees of  Safety — Names  of  the  Town's  Commissioned  Officers — List  of 
Names  of  Revolutionary  Soldiers  Buried  in  Brookline. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  13 

CHAPTER   VII. 

Current  Events,  Incidents  and  Happenings. 

1775-1786. 

Classification  of  Raby  with  Mason  in  the  Matter  of  Representation 
in  the  General  Court — Raby's  First  Representative  in  the  General  Court 
— Second  Representative — Raby  Classed  with  Milford  in  the  Matter  of 
Representation,  1796  and  1798-^Raby  Classed  by  Itself  for  the  First 
Time  in  1802— Small  Pox  Scare  in  1780— The  Dark  Day,  1780— The 
Town's  Action  Relative  to  Damming  the  Outlet  to  Muscatanipus  Pond 
— Early  and  Modern  Cemeteries — Disturbances  over  the  Law  Regulating 
the  Killing  of  Salmon  and  Other  Fishes — Ancient  and  Modern  Inns. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Current  Events  Continued. 

1786-1800. 

Title  to  the  Strip  of  Land  on  Raby's  Eastern  Borders  Adjacent  to 
Hollis  Which  Had  Long  Been  a  Matter  in  Dispute  between  the  Two 
Towns  Settled  by  a  Decree  of  the  General  Court  as  Being  in  Raby — 
Bridges  Over  the  Nissitisset  River — Highway  West  of  the  South  Cem- 
etery Accepted  by  the  Town — Gift  to  the  Town  of  the  Land  upon 
which  the  Old  Meeting-house  Stands  by  R.  Cutts  Shannon — First  Guide 
Boards  set  up  in  Town — Change  of  Town's  Name  from  Raby  to  Brook- 
line — Prices  Current  of  Commodities  in  1795 — U.  S.  Census  of  1790 . 

CHAPTER   IX. 

Early  Bridie-Paths  and  Highways — Framed  Dwelling  Houses  in 
Town  in  1800. 

Brief  Biographical  Sketches  of  Some  of  the  Petitioners  for  Raby's 
Incorporation  in  1768,  Who  Subsequently  Removed  from  the  Town  and 
Have  no  Known  Representatives  here  at  the  Present  Time,  viz. :  Thomas 
Astin  (Austin) — William  Blanchard — Robert  Campbell — Isaac  Stevens — 
Simeon  Blanchard — James  Nutting — William  Spaulding — Daniel  Shed — 


14  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

Jonas  Shed — Francis  Butterick — Jonathan  Powers — Henry  Spaulding — 
Abigail  Spaulding — Peter  Honey. 

CHAPTER   X. 

Industries,  Early  and  Late. 

1740-1852. 

The  Jasher  Wyman  Sawmill — The  James  Conneck  Sawmill — The 
Melvin  Sawmill — Old  Sawmill  on  Rocky  Pond  Brook — The  Washington 
Wright  Grist  Mill  and  Blacksmith  Shop— The  David  Hobart,  Sr.,  Black- 
smith Shop — The  Benjamin  Brooks  Sawmill — The  James  Campbell  Saw- 
mill— The  Benjamin  Shattuck  Sawmill — The  Abel  Spaulding  Sawmill — 
The  Sawtelle  and  Newell  Sawmill — The  Thomas  Bennett  Sawmill — The 
John  Conant  Sawmill — The  Ensign  Bailey  Sawmill,  Tannery  and  Sash 
and  Blind  Shop — The  Samuel  Brooks  Sawmill — The  George  Betterly 
Fulling  Mill— The  Alpheus  Shattuck  Scabbard  Mill— Clay  Banks  and 
Bricks — The  Coopering  Business — Charcoal  Burning — Granite  Business — 
Ephraim  L.  Hardy  Tool  Shop — The  David  Hobart,  Jr.,  Steam  Sawmill. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Schools  and  Other  Educational  Matters. 

First  Appropriation  for  Public  Schools — Depreciation  of  Currency — 
Second  Appropriation  for  Schools — First  Public  School  Teachers,  in  1783 
— First  Schools  Kept  in  Dwelling  Houses — First  School  Districts — First 
Schoolhouses  and  Their  Locations — School  Teachers  in  1806 — First 
Superintending  School  Committee — New  School  Districts  in  1812 — New 
Schoolhouses  in  -1812  and  Their  Locations — Description  of  the  School 
Houses  of  1812 — First  Printed  School  Report — Redistricting  of  the  Schools 
in  1848-49 — New  Schoolhouses  and  Location  of  Same  in  1850 — Schools 
Included  in  One  District  in  1884 — New  Schoolhouses  and  Location  of 
Same  in  1886 — Names  of  Superintending  School  Committees  from  1815 
to  1914  inclusive — Partial  List  of  Names  of  Teachers  from  1850  to  1914 
— Biographical  Sketches  of  Ellen  C.  Sawtelle,  Julia  H.  Gilson,  Louise  O. 
Shattuck  and  Frances  D.  Parker — College  Graduates  and  Biographical 
Sketches  of — Biographical  Sketches  of  Graduates  Born  in  Brookline 
but  Graduating  from  Other  Towns. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  15 

CHAPTER   XII. 

.  Ecclesiastical  History. 

1783-1791. 

Early  Religious  Movements — The  Meeting-house  War,  So  Called — 
The  Completion  in  1791  of  The  First  Meeting-house. 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

Ecclesiastical  History,  Continued. 

1791-1837. 

Rev.  John  Wythe — Organization  of  The  Congregational  Church,  Dec. 
20,  1795 — First  Deacons — Church  Covenant — Call  and  Settlement  of  Rev. 
Lemuel  Wadsworth — Rev.  Mr.  Wadsworth's  Ordination,  His  Ministry, 
and  Sketch  of  His  Life — Inscription  on  the  Tombstone  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wads- 
worth— The  "Rev."  Doctor  William  Warren — Movement  in  Favor  of 
Formation  of  a  Church  of  the  Christian  Denomination  in  1821 — Rev. 
Jesse  Parker — Rev.  Leonard  Jewett— Rev.  Samuel  H.  Holman — The  Pas- 
torate of  Rev.  Jacob  Holt — Sketch  of  Mr.  Holt's  Life — Opening  of  the 
Meeting-house  to  the  Occupancy  of  All  Religious  Denominations  and 
The  Formation  of  a  "Christian"  Church  in  1831— The  Pastorate  of  Rev. 
Henry  Eastman  and  Sketch  of  His  Life — Abandonment  of  the  Old 
Meeting-house  as  a  Place  of  Worship  by  the  Congregationalists. 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

Ecclesiastical  History,  Continued. 

1837-1914. 

Building  of  the  Congregational  Meeting-house  in  1837-39 — Rev. 
Daniel  Goodwin  Called  to  the  Pulpit — Mr.  Goodwin's  Ordination  and 
Dedication  of  the  New  Meeting-house — Presentation  of  Communion 
Service  by  Deacon  Thomas  Bennett — A  Feud  in  the  Church  and  Society 
and  the  Resulting  Unhappy  Effects — Rev.  Mr.  Goodwin  Severs  His  Con- 
nection with  the  Church  and  Society — Biographical  Sketch  of  Rev. 
Daniel  Goodwin — Pastorate  of  Rev.  Theophilus  Parsons  Sawin — Sketch 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Sawin's  Life — Pastorate  of  Rev.  John  H.  Manning — Sketch 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Manning's  Life — Pastorate  of  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent — 
Revised  Articles  of  Faith  and  Covenant,  1871 — The  James  H.  Hall  Be- 


16  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

quest  to  the  Church  and  Society — Repairing  and  Remodeling  of  the 
Meeting-house  in  1875— The  Mary  F.  Peabody  Bequest— The  Gift,  of 
the  Clock  on  the  Church  Tower — The  Dedication  of  the  Remodeled 
Meeting-house — The  Gift  of  a  New  Church  Bell  by  Edward  T.  Hall — 
The  James  N.  Tucker  Bequest  to  the  Church  and  Society — The  Wilkes 
W.  Corey  Bequest  to  the  Church  and  Society — Rev.  Mr.  Sargent's  Res- 
ignation as  Pastor — Biographical  Sketch  of  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent's  Life — 
Pastorate  of  Rev.  George  L.  Todd — Biographical  Sketch  of  Rev.  Mr. 
Todd's  Life— Pastorate  of  Rev.  Fred  E-  Winn  and  Sketch  of  His  Life- 
Pastorate  of  Rev.  Alphonse  Belanger  and  Sketch  of  His  Life — Centennial 
Celebration  of  the  Organization  of  the  Church — Address  at  the  Celebra- 
tion by  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent — Presentation  of  a  Silver  Communion  Service 
to  the  Church  by  Its  Past  and  Absent  Members — Post-Prandial  Exercises 
at  the  Celebration — Original  Centennial  Poem  by  Edward  E.  Parker — 
The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Thorpe  with  Biographical  Sketch  of  His  Life 
— Pastorate  of  Rev.  George  A.  Bennett — Repairing  and  Re-Dedication  of 
the  Meeting-house  with  an  Account  of  Exercises  Attendant  upon  Same 
in  1906 — Biographical  Sketch  of  Life  of  Rev.  George  A.  Bennett — Pas- 
torate of  Rev.  Warren  L.  Noyes  with  Biographical  Sketch  of  His  Life — 
Deacons  of  the  Church  from  1797  to  1914,  Inclusive — Clerks  of  the  Church 
from  1797  to  1914,  Inclusive. 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Ecclesiastical  History,  Concluded. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  Society. 

Organization  of  the  Church  and  Society  in  1852 — Pastorate  of  Rev. 
Amos  Merrill  with  Biographical  Sketch  of  His  Life — Pastorate  of  Rev. 
Gustavus  Silverstein — Pastorate  of  Rev.  Henry  B.  Copp — Biographical 
Sketch  of  Rev.  H.  B.  Copp's  Life — Names  in  the  Order  of  Their  Succes- 
sion of  Pastors  of  the  Church — Building  of  the  Methodist  Meeting-house 
in  1859 — The  first  Organ  Installed  in  the  Church — The  Second  Organ 
Installed  in  the  Church — The  Purchase  and  Installation  of  the  Church 
Bell— The  Gift  of  the  Pulpit  in  1907— The  Gift  of  the  Communion  Serv- 
ice in  1908 — Celebration  of  the  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  the  Building  of 
the  Meeting-house — Boards  of  Trustees — The  Joseph  C.  Tucker  Gift  to 
the  Church  and  Society — The  Calvin  R.  Shedd  Devise  to  the  Church  and 
Society — The  James  N.  Tucker  Bequest  to  the  Church  and  Society — 
The  Wilkes  W.  Corey  Bequest  to  the  Church  and  Society— The  Albert 
W.  Corey  Memorial  Fund — The  Mary  Corey  Legacy. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  17 

CHAPTER   XVI. 

Current  Events,  Incidents  and  Happenings. 

1800-1830. 

Local  Conditions  in  1800— Tax  List  of  1801— Town  Classed  by 
Itself  in  the  Matter  of  Representation  in  1802— The  Killing  of  the  Last 
Panther  in  Town— Census  of  1810— War  of  1812— Old  Militia  Days  in 
Raby — A  May  Day  Training  in  the  Forties — The  Brookline  Independent 
Cadets — A  Year  Without  a  Summer,  1816— Laying  Out  of  Highway  at 
West  End  of  the  Pond — Brookline  Social  Library — The  First  Fire  Engine 
— First  Hearse— First  Hearse  House — Post  Office  and  Post  Masters — 
Engine  Men  in  the  Year  1829. 

CHAPTER   XVII. 

Current  Events,  Incidents  and  Happenings. 

1830—1860. 

Population  in  1830 — Laying  Out  of  Three  New  Highways— Star 
Shower  of  1833— The  Town's  Bass  Viol— Stoves  Installed  for  the  First 
Time  in  the  Old  Meeting-house — Disappearance  of  the  Pulpit  Sounding 
Board — Building  of  the  Stone  Bridge  near  the  Abel  Foster  Sawmill — 
Vaccination  of  the  Town's  Inhabitants — Building  of  the  Congregational 
Meeting-house — Population  in  1840 — Town  Poor  Farm — Proposed  Change 
in  the  Name  of  the  Town — The  Ladies'  Benevolent  Society — Inventory 
of  1848— Population  in  1850— The  Steam  Sawmill  Fire— New  Fire  En- 
gine—The Old  Militia  Band — Brookline  Brass  Band  and  the  Musical 
Festival  of  1866 — Brookline  Cornet  Band — The  Prohibitive  Liquor  Law. 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Brookline  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Current  Events,  Incidents  and  Happenings. 

1860-1890. 

Local  Conditions  in  1860 — The  Young  Men's  Library  Association — 
Town's  Centennial  Celebration — Accident   on  Meeting-house    Hill  Spet. 


18  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

9,  1869 — The  Democratic  Cannon— The  Cook,  Putnam  and  Company 
Furniture  Manufactory — Hobart,  Kendall  and  Company — Town's  Action 
Relative  to  School  District  No.  8  in  Milford — Renting  of  Old  Meeting- 
house to  Cook,  Putnam  and  Co. — Destruction  of  Pulpit  and  Pews  in 
the  Old  Meeting-house — Three  Days  Town  Meeting  in  1874 — Death  by 
Accident  of  George  W.  Peabody — vStraightening  of  Main  Street  in  1878 — 
Delegates  to  Constitutional  Convention  in  1876 — Vote  on  the  Proposed 
Amendments  to  the  Constitution  in  1877 — Brookline  Public  Library — 
Order  of  the  Golden  Cross — Accidental  Death  of  Frank  Hobart — Burn- 
ing of  the  Fernando  Bailey  Dwelling  House — Death  by  Exposure  of 
Daniel  S.  Wetherbee- — Burning  of  J.  A.  Hall  Cooper  Shop — Burning  of 
the  Miles  Foster  Dwelling  House— Burning  of  the  Samuel  Gilson  House 
— The  "Yellow  Day" — Burning  of  David  S.  Fessenden  Sawmill — Brook- 
line  and  Hollis  Telephone  Company — Burning  of  School  House  in  District 
One — Memorial  Day  Observances— Discontinuance  of  Certain  Highways 
— J.  H.  S.  Tucker's  Store  Burglarized— Delegate  to  Constitutional  Con- 
vention in  1888 — Burning  of  the  Charles  A.  Stickney  Sawmill. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Railroads  in  Brookline  and  a  Narrative  of  the  Events  which  led  up  to 

Their  Construction. 

Failure  of  the  Citizens'  First  Attempt  to  Obtain  a  Railroad  in  1844 
— The  East  Wilton  and  Groton  Railroad  Company  in  1846 — The  Brook- 
line Railroad,  1871— The  Manchester  and  Fitchburg  Railroad,  1877— The 
Brookline  Railroad  Company,  1891 — Celebration  of  the  Opening  to  Public 
Traffic  of  the  Brookline  Railroad  in  1892— The  Brookline  and  Milford 
Railroad  Company,  1893. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Current  Events,  Incidents  and  Happenings. 

1890-1914. 

Population  in  1890 — First  Concrete  Sidewalks — The  Public  Drinking 
Fountain — Burning  of  Sampson  Farnsworth's  Dwelling  House — Burning 
of  the  Rufus  Woodward  House- — The  Fresh  Pond  Ice  Company — Sketch 
of  the  Life  of  Noah  Farley— Bond  Street  Laid  Out — The  Caroline  Brooks 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  19 

Legacy — The  Grange— O.  D.  Fessenden's  Gift  to  the  Town— Brookline 
Improvement  Company — Burning  of  the  Alpheus  Shattuek  House — Burn- 
ing of  the  John  Sanders  House — The  New  England  Type  Factory — 
Congregational  Church  Struck  by  Lightning— New  Hearse— Murder  of 
Adelbert  Parker — Old  Home  Week  Celebrations — The  James  Carlton 
Parker  Legacy — The  Freshet  of  1900 — The  Harriet  Gilson  Legacy— Burn- 
ing of  the  Thomas  O.  Heren  House — Burning  of  the  Emma  S.  Dunbar 
House— State  Roads — The  Imla  M.  Williams  Legacy — Orville  D.  Fessen- 
den  Company — Burning  of  the  J.  A.  Hall  and  the  Joseph  Hall  Houses — 
The  Dodge  Legacy — Brown  Tail  Moths — New  Valuation  of  the  Town — 
The  Emily  M.  Peterson  Legacy — The  Eliza  J.  Parker  Legacy — The  Martha 
E.  Perkins  Legacy— The  Bertha  Hutchinson  Legacy — Burning  of  the"Bee- 
hive,"  and  Deaths  of  Edward  0.  Brien  and  John  Powers — Water  Plant — 
The  Brookline  Public  Park — Electric  Lights. 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

The  Daniels  Academy  Building. 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Biographical  Sketches  of  Physicians  Resident  of  and  Practising  in 
Brookline  from  1827  to  1914  Inclusive. 

David  Harris,  1827-1839— Jonathan  C.  Shattuek,  1850-1861— David 
P.  Stowell,  1862-1867— Darius  S.  Dearborn,  1875-1879— Alonzo  S. 
Wallace,  1879-1888— Charles  H.  Holcombe,  1888- 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 

List  of  Names  of  Town  Officers  from  1769  to  1914. 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Votes  for  Governor  from  1786  to  1913  Inclusive. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Marriages  from  1743  to  1914  Inclusive. 


20  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Part  I. 

Opp.  Page 

Brookline  Brass  Band,           -- -  321 

Brookline  Public  Park,          - 399 

Congregational  Meeting-house,  1839,              -         -         -         -         -  231 

Congregational  Meeting-house,  1875,              -  250 

Daniels  Academy  Building,            -         - 402 

First  Meeting-house,  1791,             -         - 205 

First  Fire  Engine,  1826,                                    -----  308 

Fresh  Pond  Ice  Company  Plant,            ------  377 

Group  of  History  Committee,       -------  4 

Group  of  Brookline  Soldiers  in  Civil  War,     -----  327 

"Inncroft,"  Residence  of  Edward  E.  Parker  (Old  Nathan  Corey 

House),     ----------  194 

Map  of  Early  Raby,     ---------  42 

Map  of  Disputed  Territory,           - 114 

Methodist  Meeting-house,  1859, -         -  278 

Muscatanipus  Hills,      ---------  30 

Muscatanipus  Pond,     ---------  24 

Pond  bridge,  1914,        -                  73 

Railroad  Bridge  Over  River  Below  the  Pond,        -         -         _  367 

Railroad  Depot  at  Village,             -------  365 

Residence  of  Dr.  C.  H.  Holcombe,         ------  415 

Residence  of  Miss  Ellen  C.  Sawtelle,     ------  189 

Second  Fire  Engine,      ---------  308 

The  Old  Yellow  House,  or  "Ehnwood,"         -         -         -         -         -  111 

Village  School  House,  1854,           -------  175 

Village  Main  Street,  1914,    -         -         - 419 

Part  II. 

Capt.  Nathan  Corey  House,  1805, 487 

Capt.  Robert  Seaver  House,  1775, 612 

Jonas  French  Homestead,               - 513 

Lieut.  John  Cummings  House,  1775, 489 

Lieut.  Samuel  Farley  House,  1769,        ------  504 

Residence  of  Clarence  R.  Russell,  1914, 601 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  21 
PORTRAITS. 

Parti. 

Page 

Copp,  Rev.  Henry  B.,                                                ...  282 

Dodge,  Thomas  H., -         -         -  407 

Dodge,  Eliza  Daniels,  -------  408 

Farley,  Hon.  Benjamin  Mark,       -------  193 

Goodwin,  Rev.  Daniel,          -------  241 

Holcomb,  Dr.  Chas.  H.,                 -  416 
Parker,  Edward  E.,      -----                  -            Frontispiece 

Parker,  Miss  Frances  D.,      - -  192 

Sargent,  Rev.  Frank  D.,       - -         -  253 

Sawin,  Rev.  Theophilus  P.,                              -                                    -  244 

Sawtelle,  Miss  Ellen  C,        --------  189 

Shattuck,  Dr.  Jonathan  C, -         -  411 

Pari  II. 

Fessenden,  David  S.,     -------  oil 

Fessenden,  Orville  D.,-         --------  512 

French,  John  A.,        -           -         -                  ...               .  -  515 

French,  Charlotte  L.  (Pierce)      -------  516 

Gilson,  Deacon  Eleazer        --------  521 

Hall,  Joseph  A.,     ---------  533 

Hall,  James  H.,                     --------  535 

Hardy,  John  B.,           -                  -                            -  539 

Hobart,  David,  Jr.,      ------         -                  -  541 

Hobart,  George  W.  L.,         -         -                  -                           -  542 

Hobart  Group,    -         -         -                  -         -         -                           -  542 

Hobart,  Maria  Sawtelle,      --------  543 

Horton,  James  A.,        -         -         -         -         -         -         -         -         -  546 

Hutchinson,  John  F.,-        -         -         -         -         -         -         -         -  550 

McDaniels,  Mary,        -         -                  ...         -  494 

Nye,  George  H.,           ---------  572 

Parker,  William  Harrison    --------  576 

Parker,  Walter  Lang,           --------  578 

Parker,  James  Carlton,        --------  579 

Parker,  Deverd  Corey,         -                                             -  581 

Parker,  James  Clinton,        --------  582 


22  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Page 

Parkhurst,  Lewis,         ---------  584 

Rockwood,  Cynthia  Hobart,        -------  593 

Rockwood,  William  Brooks,         -                  -  599 

Russell,  Rufus  Granville,     -         -         -  603 

Russell,  Mary  A,  (French)  -  604 

Russell,  Clarence  R.,    -  606 

Sawtelle,  Isaac,             ---------  608 

Sawtelle,  Joseph,          -__--.-___  610 

Shattuck,  Nathaniel    -         -         - 620 

Smith,  William,                                -         - 629 

Smith,  Mrs.  Eunice  Augusta,       -------  631 

Swett,  Samuel,                      -         -                  -----  637 

Swett,  Mrs,  Ellen  S.,  --------  638 

Tucker,  Joseph  C,      -                           _.-...  642 

Tucker,  Edward  C,    -                  .__-___  644 

Wallace,  William,        -                                    648 

Whitcomb,  Eddy  S.,             --------  652 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  23 


CHAPTER   I. 

Topographical  and  Otherwise. 

Surface  and  Soil — Forests — Granite  Ledges — Clay  Banks — Ponds — Rivers 
and  Brooks —  Hills — Natural  Curiosities,  Stone  House,  Devil's 
Den — Witch  Story — The  Bear's  Den — Indians — Population  of  the 
Town  at  Different  Periods. 

Brookline  is  situated  in  the  southern  part  of  New  Hampshire  on  the 
Massachusetts  state  line.  It  is  bounded  on  the  south  by  Townsend  and 
Pepperell  in  Massachusetts;  on  the  west  by  Mason,  on  the  north  by 
Milford,  and  on  the  east  by  Hollis. 

The  surface  of  the  entire  township  is  hilly;  there  being  but  few 
level  tracts,  and  these  of  small  size.  The  soil  is,  for  the  greater  part,  a 
sandy  loam,  not  especially  well  adapted  to  agricultural  purposes.  There 
is,  however,  a  considerable  acreage  of  good  land,  strong  and  productive, 
and  some  excellent  farms.  Fifty  years  ago  there  were  more.  But  since 
then  many  of  the  town's  sons  and  daughters,  like  those  of  many  another 
New  England  town,  lured  by  the  call  of  the  great  world  outside,  have 
gone  forth  to  seek  their  fortunes  in  its  midst.  In  the  meantime,  the 
deserted  farms  have  never  ceased  to  send  forth  mute  but  expressive 
appeals  for  the  return  of  their  absent  ones.  Within  the  past  few  years, 
in  some  instances,  these  appeals  have  been  heeded,  and  as  a  result,  many 
of  the  old  farms  are  being  rejuvenated. 

In  the  southern  part  of  the  town,  on  the  farm  of  the  late  Luther 
Rockwood,  there  is  an  extensive  bed  of  clay,  from  which  bricks  of  most 
excellent  quality  were  formerly  manufactured;  but  for  the  past  forty 
years  the  plant  has  been  idle. 

The  town  has  always  been  noted  for  its  forests.  For  many  years  in 
its  history,  its  magnificent  growth  of  white  and  pitch  pines,  chestnuts, 
oaks,  hemlocks,  maple  and  other  varieties  of  forest  trees  were  a  sure  and 
stable  source  of  income  and  profit  to  its  people.  The  old  growth  trees 
and  even  the  second  growth  had  practically  disappeared  forty  years  ago. 
But  in  the  meantime  their  places  have  been  taken  by  a  new  growth  which, 
in  quantity  at  least,  more  than  compensates  for  their  loss.     In  the  esti- 


24  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

mation   of  competent   and   conservative  judges,    the   town's  acreage   of 
woodlands  at  the  present  time  is  larger  than  it  was  forty  years  ago. 

The  town  is  founded  upon  a  rock;  and  that  rock  is  granite.  It  un- 
derlies the  entire  surface  of  the  township.  Except  near  the  river  bottoms, 
it  is  impossible  to  excavate  the  soil  to  any  considerable  depth  without 
striking  it  solid,  firm  and  sure.  On  hilltops  and  hillsides,  in  forests  and 
fields,  its  ledges  are  to  be  continually  found,  cropping  out  above  the 
surface.  Some  of  the  ledges  have  been  opened  up  and  operated  for  many 
years  past.  But  until  within  comparatively  few  years  their  products 
have,  for  the  greater  part,  been  confined  to  home  consumption.  But  in 
1892,  by  the  opening  of  the  Brookline  and  Pepperell  railroad  to  public 
use,  they  were  brought  near  to  the  open  markets;  and  as  a  result,  since 
then  many  new  quarries  have  been  opened ;  some  of  which,  at  the  present 
time,  are  being  worked  with  profit.  The  granite  is  generally  of  excellent 
quality  and  is  easily  quarried. 

Ponds. 

MUSCATANIPUS  POND,  which  still  retains  its  Indian  name, 
meaning,  according  to  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society's  Records, 
Great  Bear  Pond,  is  located  about  one-half  mile  north  of  the  village  Main 
street  in  a  basin  formed  by  the  hills  of  the  same  name  on  its  west  side 
and  by  Rock  Ramond  hill  on  its  east  side.  Many  years  ago  the  towns- 
people, as  a  matter  of  convenience  in  pronouncing  its  name,  cut  out  the 
first  two  syllables  of  the  same  and  always  referred  to  it  as  "Tanipus" 
pond.  In  the  state,  county  and  other  maps  which  have  been  published 
from  time  to  time  during  the  last  seventy-five  years,  its  name  has  ap- 
peared with  many  variations  in  the  manner  of  spelling;  among  which 
Potanipo,  Potanipa  and  Potanipus  have  been  more  frequently  used.  But 
Muscatanipus  is  its  original  and  correct  name.  This  pond  is  about  one 
mile  in  length  by  one-half  mile  in  width,  and  contains  about  two  hundred 
and  fifty  acres.  It  is  fed  by  two  streams,  which  flow  into  it  from  the 
northwest  and  north,  respectively.  Its  waters  abound  in  the  different 
species  of  fish  indigenous  to  the  waters  of  the  state  generally.*  From  the 
earliest  times  this  pond  has  been  a  favorite  resort  for  pleasure  seeking 
parties  from  the  surrounding  country.     At  the  present  time   (1914)  its 

*  Within  the  sixty  years  last  passed,  two  attempts  to  stock  this  pond  with  species  of  fishes  natur- 
ally foreign  to  its  waters  have  been  made.  Of  these  two  attempts,  the  first  was  made  about  the  year  1864 
by  the  late  Joseph  C.  Tucker;  who  at  the  time  placed  in  its  waters  two  pikes,  a  male  and  a  female.  The 
second  attempt  was  made  in  1905  by  Edward  E.  Parker  in  company  with  Emri  W.  Clark,  of  Nashua, 
by  whom  forty  thousand  Michigan  lake  trout  fry  were  planted  in  this  pond.  Both  of  these  attempts 
were  failures. 


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HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  25 

waters  furnish  the  Fresh  Pond  Ice  Company  of  Somerville,  Mass.,  with 
its  annual  supply  of  ice. 

LAKIN'S  POND  is  located  about  four  miles  north  of  the  village 
Main  street,  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Milford.  It  is  a  natural 
pond,  contains  about  fifty  acres,  has  no  inlet,  and  discharges  its  overflow 
into  Scabbard-Mill  brook.  At  the  present  time  it  is  known  to  some  peo- 
ple as  Melendy's  pond.  But  in  the  early  maps  of  the  state  and  county 
the  name  of  Lakin  was  invariably  applied  to  it:  and  by  that  name  it 
has  been  known  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  from  time  immemorial. 
The  origin  of  its  name  is  unknown.  Neither  tradition  nor  written  record 
mention  any  family  of  the  name  of  Lakin  as  ever  having  lived  in  the 
vicinity. 

POUT  POND  is  located  about  one  mile  south  of  the  village  on 
the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Pepperell,  Mass.  Although  dignified  by 
the  name  of  pond,  it  is  really  little  better  than  a  pond-hole.  It  contains 
about  two  acres,  is  fed  by  springs  and  rain  water,  and  drains,  when  it 
does  drain,  into  the  Nissitisset  river.  Its  waters,  in  which  there  are  no 
fish  of  any  description,  invariably  "dry  up"  in  the  summer  time.  And 
the  only  matter  of  interest  connected  with  it  that  justifies  its  mention 
here,  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact  that  for  many  generations  past  its  icy 
surface  in  the  winter  time  has  furnished  a  safe  and  excellent  skating 
field  for  the  children  of  the  families  living  in  its  vicinity. 

GOOSE  POND  is  located  about  three  miles  north  of  the  village  on 
the  west  side  of  the  road  leading  out  of  the  highway  to  Greenville  on 
its  north  side,  at  a  point  near  the  old  district  number  6  schoolhouse, 
and  passing  in  a  northerly  direction  to  the  old  Nathaniel  Hutchingson 
place.  It  is  a  very  small  pond,  having  an  area  of  probably  less  than  one- 
eighth  of  an  acre.  But  it  is  rarely  ever  entirely  devoid  of  water,  even  in 
the  dryest  summers.  Few  of  the  town's  people  even  know  of  its  exist- 
ence; and  none  know  the  origin  of  its  name.  Possibly  it  originated  in 
the  fact  that  on  some  occasion  in  the  long  ago,  a  wandering  wild  goose, 
or  even  a  flock  of  geese,  made  an  over-night  stop  in  its  waters.  But  if 
it  ever  harbored  a  flock,  however  small,  of  geese  at  one  time,  its  waters 
must  have  slopped  over. 


26  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

River  and  Brooks. 

THE  NISSITISSET  RIVER  rises  in  the  hills  of  Mason;  its  prin- 
cipal source  being  Pratt  pond.  It  retains  its  original  Indian  name,  of 
which  the  meaning  is  unknown.  From  "Pratt's"  for  the  first  five  miles 
the  stream  flows  in  a  south-easterly  direction,  passing  in  its  course  through 
the  southwest  corner  of  Milford  and  the  northwest  part  of  Brookline. 
About  midway  of  its  course  through  Brookline  its  waters  unite  with  those 
of  Campbell's  brook  to  form  Muscatanipus  pond.  Leaving  Muscatanipus 
by  an  outlet  in  its  south  shore,  the  stream  continues  on  in  a  southeasterly 
course  and  bisecting  the  southerly  part  of  this  town,  passes  through  the 
southwest  corner  of  Hollis  and  the  northwest  part  of  Pepperell,  Mass., 
where  it  flows  into  the  Nashua  river  from  the  west  at  a  point  located  a 
short  distance  below  the  bridge  over  the  latter  stream  known  as  "Jew- 
etts."  Its  length  from  its  source  to  its  junction  with  the  Nashua  is  not 
far  from  eighteen  miles,  of  which  seven  miles  are  in  Brookline's  territory. 

At  the  upper  part  of  its  course  in  Mason,  this  stream  is  known  as 
the  vStarch  Factory  brook.  In  Milford  it  is  known  as  the  Spaulding 
brook;  the  name  being  derived  from  Abel  Spaulding,  a  settler  in  the 
Mile  Slip  as  early  as  1782,  who  built  his  log-cabin  upon  its  banks  in  that 
part  of  the  Slip  which  in  1769  was  incorporated  as  a  part  of  Brookline, 
but  which  in  1794  was  taken  away  from  the  latter  town  and  incorporated 
as  a  part  of  Milford.  In  Brookline  it  is  also  known  as  the  Spaulding 
brook  up  to  the  last  mile  of  its  course  before  entering  Muscatanipus 
pond,  during  which  it  is  known  as  the  North  Stream. 

The  Nissitisset,  largely  increased  in  size,  makes  its  exit  from  Mus- 
catanipus pond  by  an  outlet  in  its  south  shore;  and  descending  in  a 
series  of  rapids,  in  the  first  quarter  of  a  mile  of  its  course  experiences 
a  fall  of  some  thirty  feet.  For  more  than  a  century  the  power  generated 
by  these  falls  was  in  almost  constant  use  for  the  purpose  of  operating 
small  manufacturing  plants  located  on  the  river's  banks.  But  at  the 
present  time  all  of  these  plants  have  ceased  to  exist,  and  the  river's  waters 
are  running  to  waste. 

HUTCHINGSON,  or,  as  it  was  formerly  known,  MOSIER  BROOK 
is  a  small  stream  located  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  town,  and  having 
its  source  oh  the  farm  of  the  late  John  Q.  A.  Hutchingson.  Its  course 
from  its  source  is  southwesterly.  It  is  tributary  to  Spaulding's  brook, 
which  it  enters  a  mile,  more  or  less,  north  of  the  site  of  the  sawmill  of 
the  late  Alpheus  Shattuck. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  27 

SCABBARD-MILL  BROOK  rises  in  the  north-east  part  of  the 
town  and  flowing  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  empties  into  the  North 
Stream  about  one  mile  above  Muscatanipus  pond.  In  the  early  days 
of  the  town  this  stream  was  known  as  Bennett's  brook,  and  later  as  Saw- 
telle's  brook;  these  names  being  derived  from  Thomas  Bennett  and  Eli 
Sawtelle,  respectively;  both  of  whom  were  early  settlers  on  its  banks. 
It  derives  its  present  name  from  a  scabbard-mill  which  was  erected  upon 
its  banks  in  the  early  thirties  by  Lawrence  Bailey;  and  which  was  sub- 
sequently owned  and  operated  for  many  years  by  the  late  Alpheus  Shattuck. 

NEEDHAM'S  BROOK  is  a  small  stream  which  has  its  source  near 
the  old  Nathaniel  W.  Colburn  place  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town. 
Its  general  course  is  southwesterly.  It  is  tributary  to  Scabbard-Mill 
brook,  into  which  it  flows  about  one  mile  north  of  the  latter  brook's  junc- 
tion with  the  North  Stream.  It  received  its  present  name  from  Jeremiah 
Needham,  who  for  many  years  owned  and  occupied  the  dwelling  house 
at  the  present  time  standing  upon  the  old  Captain  Eli  Sawtelle  place  on 
the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Milford,  some  three  miles  north  of  the 
village.  This  brook  was  formerly  known  as  the  Sawtelle  brook,  and  also 
as  the  Stickney  brook;  the  latter  name  being  derived  from  Ebenezer 
Burge,  better  known  by  his  sobriquet  of  "Dr.  Stickney,"  who  for  many 
years  lived,  and  finally  died,  in  a  little  cottage  near  its  source. 

CAMPBELL'S  BROOK  rises  in  the  southeast  part  of  Mason,  from 
whence  it  enters  Brookline  from  the  west.  Its  general  course  is  south- 
easterly, its  length  about  three  miles.  It  empties  into  Muscatanipus  pond 
on  its  west  shore,  where  it  is  known  as  the  West  Stream.  This  stream 
received  its  name  originally  from  James  Campbell,  an  early  settler  in 
the  Mile  Slip;  who,  immediately  before  the  opening  of  the  Revolution, 
built  the  first  sawmill  to  be  erected  upon  its  banks.  In  the  years  that 
have  passed  since  then,  it  has  been  known  at  different  times  as  Foster's 
brook,  from  Abel  Foster,  who  for  many  years  owned  and  operated  a 
sawmill  standing  on  its  banks  on  the  site  of  the  Campbell  mill ;  and  the 
Hall  brook,  from  J.  Alonzo  Hall,  who  owned  and  operated  said  mill  after 
the  Civil  War.  The  upper  part  of  the  stream  in  Mason  is  known  as  the 
Bennett  brook,  from  a  Mr.  Bennett  of  Groton,  Mass.,  who  formerly 
owned  and  operated  a   sawmill  located  upon  its  banks  in  that  locality. 

About  one  mile  below  its  source,  this  stream  receives  from  the  west 
a  small  tributary  brook,  which  is  also  known  as  Campbell's  brook;  its 
name  undoubtedly  originating  from  the  same  source  as  did  that  of  the 


28  HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

larger  stream.     Like  the  larger  brook,  it  too  has  its  source  in  Mason. 
Its  general  course  is  easterly,  and  its  length  about  one  mile. 

ROBBINS'  BROOK,  sometimes  called  Wetherbee's  brook  from 
Daniel  S.  Wetherbee,  who  for  a  number  of  years  resided  near  it,  has  its 
source  in  the  easterly  part  of  Mason,  and  flowing  in  a  southwesterly 
direction  through  this  town,  becomes  tributary  to  Campbell's  brook, 
about  one-half  mile  above  its  entrance  into  Muscatanipus  pond. 

In  the  early  days  of  the  town  this  stream  was  known  as  Cram's 
brook.  There  is  a  tradition  to  the  effect  that  about  the  time  of  the  town's 
incorporation  one  Cram,  given  name  unknown,  built  a  sawmill  upon  its 
banks  below  the  bridge  by  which,  at  the  present  time,  it  is  crossed  in  the 
highway  at  the  foot  of  the  Ezra  Farnsworth  hill. 

THE  MILFORD  or  OLD  HOUSE  BROOK  rises  at  the  west  end 
of  Bear  hill,  about  two  miles  north  of  the  village  Main  street,  and,  flowing 
in  a  westerly  direction,  crosses  the  highway  to  Milford  a  few  rods  north 
of  the  point  where  said  highway  intersects  the  highway  to  Greenville. 
It  is  tributary  to  Scabbard-Mill  brook.  It  is  a  very  small  stream,  but 
it  seldom  dries  up. 

TALBOT  BROOK,  so  named  from  Ezra  Talbot,  an  early  settler  in 
town  near  its  source,  rises  in  the  valley  between  the  Muscatanipus  hills. 
Its  general  course  is  easterly.  It  is  about  one  mile  in  length.  It  flows 
into  the  Nissitisset  river  from  the  west  a  short  distance  below  the  river's 
outlet  from  Muscatanipus  pond. 

THE  VILLAGE  BROOK  has  its  head  waters  in  the  northeasterly 
part  of  the  town.  It  is  formed  by  the  junction — about  one-half  mile  north 
of  Main  street — of  two  small  streams  known  respectively  as  the  west  and 
east  branches.  Its  general  course  is  southwesterly.  Its  length  is  about 
one  and  one-fourth  miles.  It  empties  into  the  Nissitisset  river  about  one 
fourth  of  a  mile  southwest  of  the  village  Main  street.  In  the  early  days 
this  stream  was  known  as  Douglass  brook;  the  name  being  derived  from 
Capt.  Samuel  Douglass,  whose  log-cabin  as  early,  at  least,  as  1786,  stood 
on,  or  near,  the  site  of  the  dwelling  house  at  the  present  time  occupied 
by  the  widow  of  Charles  N.  Corey,  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street  opposite 
E.  E.  Tarbell's  store. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  29 

STONE  HOUSE  BROOK  has  its  source  in  the  woodlands  about 
one  mile  east  of  the  village  Main  street.  It  takes  its  name  from  a  natural 
curiosity  near  its  head  waters,  which  has  long  been  locally  known  as 
"The  Stone  House."  The  stream  is  small  in  size,  flows  in  a  westerly 
direction  and  discharges  into  the  Village  brook  in  the  meadows  west  of 
Main  street.     Its  length  is  about  one  and  one-fourth  miles. 

WALLACE  BROOK  was  named  from  Capt.  Matthew  Wallace,  an 
early  settler  in  the  Mile  Slip.  It  rises  in  the  northern  part  of  Townsend, 
Mass.,  enters  this  town  near  its  southwest  corner,  and  flowing  in  an 
easterly  direction  through  the  south  part  of  the  town,  empties  into  the 
Nissitisset  at  South  Brookline.  Its  length  in  Brookline  is  about  two  and 
one-half  miles.  Next  to  the  Nissitisset,  it  is  perhaps  the  largest  stream 
in  town.  It  never  runs  dry;  and  in  years  past  has  furnished  power  for 
several  sawmills  and  other  small  manufacturing  plants. 

STICKNEY  BROOK  rises  in  the  north  part  of  Townsend,  Mass., 
and  flowing  in  a  northerly  direction,  enters  this  town  at  South  Brookline, 
where  it  empties  into  the  Wallace  brook  a  few  rods  below  the  sawmill 
of  Deacon  Perley  Pierce.  Its  length  is  not  far  from  one  and  one-fourth 
miles.  In  early  years,  before  Brookline  was  incorporated,  this  stream 
was  known  as  Wolf  brook.  In  1740  Jasher  Wyman  built  upon  its  banks 
the  first  sawmill  to  be  erected  within  Brookline's  present  territory. 

ROCKY  POND  BROOK  rises  in  Rocky  Pond  in  Hollis.  Its  general 
course  is  southerly,  and  its  length  is  about  two  miles.  For  the  first  mile 
after  leaving  the  pond  the  stream  flows  through  Hollis  territory;  it  then 
crosses  the  line  between  Hollis  and  Brookline  and  finishes  its  course  in 
the  territory  of  the  latter  town,  of  which  it  crosses  the  southeast  corner, 
and  where  it  flows  into  the  Nissitisset  river  about  two  miles  below  its  out- 
let from  Muscatanipus  pond. 

This  brook  at  different  times  within  the  past  ninety  years  has  been 
known  as  the  Hobart  brook  and  the  Hardy  brook;  the  former  name 
being  derived  from  David  Hobart,  Sr.,  who  settled  on  its  banks  in  Brook- 
line about  1818,  coming  here  from  Pepperell,  Mass.,  and  the  latter  from 
Ephraim  L.  Hardy,  a  settler  in  this  town  from  Hollis  in  about  1840. 

On  the  majority  of  both  the  state  and  county  maps  which  have 
been  published  within  the  last  seventy-five  years  this  brook  has  been 
represented  as  lying  wholly  within  the  town  of  Hollis.  But  such  repre- 
sentations are  erroneous;  the  lower  part  of  its  course  being  in  Brookline, 
as  stated  above. 


30  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

Hills. 

Of  the  hills  in  Brookline  the  most  prominent  are  the  two  known 
respectively  as  Little  and  Big  Muscatanipus,  and  Rock  Ramond  and  Bear 
Hills. 

LITTLE  MUSCATANIPUS  HILL  is  located  immediately  west  of 
the  village  Main  street,  its  eastern  side  forming  the  west  wall  of  the  val- 
ley in  which  the  village  is  situated.  Its  height  above  the  sea  level,  as 
given  by  the  United  States  Coast  Survey,  is  six  hundred  feet.  It  extends 
in  a  southerly  direction  from  the  southwest  shore  of  Muscatanipus  pond 
to  South  Brookline,  a  distance  of  about  one  and  one-fourth  miles.  The 
hill  has  been  many  times  denuded  of  its  forest  growth.  At  the  present 
time  (1914)  it  is  covered  with  a  thrifty  growth  of  young  trees.  With  the 
exception  of  a  tract  of  cleared  land  on  its  northern  slope  and  some  cleared 
lands  around  its  base,  no  portion  of  its  surface  has  ever  been  under  cul- 
tivation. 

BIG  MUSCATANIPUS  HILL  is  situated  west  of  Little  Musca- 
tanipus, from  which  it  is  separated  by  a  narrow  valley.  Its  height  above 
the  sea  level  is  seven  hundred  feet.  It  is  located  wholly  in  that  part  of 
the  twonship  formerly  known  as  the  Mile  Slip;  the  east  boundary  line 
of  which  (the  same  being  identical  with  the  west  boundary  line  of  Old 
Dunstable)  ran  north  and  south  through  the  valley  between  it  and  Little 
Muscatanipus  Hill.  Like  its  sister  hill,  Little  Muscatanipus,  this  hill  has 
long  been  denuded  of  its  original  forest  growth.  At  the  present  time  its 
summit,  southeasterly,  easterly  and  northwesterly  slopes  are  bare,  and, 
to  a  considerable  extent  under  cultivation;  constituting  the  farm  of 
Clarence  R.  Russell,  Esq.  (From  the  latter  fact,  this  elevation  is,  at  the 
present  time,  occasionally  mentioned  as  Russell's  hill.)  On  its  southerly 
slope  lies  the  farm  late  of  Eli  Cleveland,  deceased;  at  the  present  time 
it  is  owned  and  occupied  by  George  L.  Dodge.  Save  for  these  two  farms 
this  hill  is  covered  with  young  forest  growth. 

The  views  to  be  obtained  from  the  summits  of  each  of  these  hills, 
although  that  from  Little  Muscatanipus  at  the  present  time  (1914)  is 
somewhat  obstructed  by  trees,  are  among  the  finest  in  southern  New 
Hampshire. 

ROCK  RAMOND  HILL  is  located  on  the  east  shore  of  Musca- 
tanipus pond.     It  derives  its  name  from   Daniel   Ramond  of  Concord, 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  31 

Mass.,  who  as  early  as  1730  owned  a  large  tract  of  land  in  which  it  was 
included,  in  the  west  part  of  old  Dunstable,  and  which  he  sold  to  Jona- 
than Melvin  in  1738.  In  the  early  deeds  of  lands  in  this  vicinity  this  hill 
is  invariably  mentioned  as  Rock  Ramond;  a  name  which  in  modern  years 
has  been  corrupted  into  "Rock  Rament." 

BEAR  HILL  lies  to  the  north  of  and  about  one  mile  distant  from 
the  village  Main  street.  It  is  of  inconsiderable  height,  but  whatever  dig- 
nity it  loses  from  that  fact  is  amply  compensated  for  by  its  length ;  which, 
from  its  easterly  to  its  westerly  terminus,  is  about  two  miles.  From  tbe 
earliest  times  it  has  been,  and  now  is,  covered  with  forest  growth;  that 
at  the  present  time,  of  course,  being  young.  In  late  years,  the  correct 
way  of  spelling  this  hill's  name  has  been,  to  some  extent,  a  matter  of 
discussion  among  the  town's  people;  the  question  being  as  to  whether 
it  should  be  spelled  B-e-a-r  or  B-a-r-e.  In  early  deeds  of  lands  in  its 
vicinity  both  forms  of  spelling  the  name  are  used.  But  as  the  name 
dates  back  to  the  days  of  the  early  settlers,  when  the  virgin  forests  which 
then  covered  its  sides  were  the  haunts  of  the  wild  beasts  common  to  the 
country,  the  theory  that  it  derived  its  name  from  bear,  the  beast,  rather 
than  from  bare,  indicating  a  state  of  nakedness,  would  seem  to  be  more 
probable  than  otherwise. 

COREY'S  HILL  is  the  name  applied  to  the  southeasterly  part  of 
the  hill  immediately  east  of  the  village  Main  street.  The  name  is  derived 
from  Capt.  Nathan  Corey,  who  came  from  Groton,  Mass.,  to  Brookline 
about  1800;  his  being  the  first  of  the  families  of  the  same  name  now  living 
here  to  settle  here. 

HOBART'S  HILL  is  the  name  applied  to  the  northeasterly  part 
of  the  hill  immediately  east  of  the  village  Main  street;  its  name  being 
derived  from  George  W.  L.  Hobart,  a  descendant  of  David  Hobart,  Sr., 
who  settled  in  Brookline  in  1818,  coming  here  from  Pepperell,  Mass. 

COLBURN  HILL  is  located  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town. 
The  east  Milford  highway  crosses  its  summit  about  one  and  one-half 
miles  north  of  the  village.  This  hill  was  named  after  Lot  Colburn,  a 
descendant  of  one  of  the  families  of  that  name,  which  in  the  early  part 
of  the  last  century  settled  in  this  town,  coming  here  from  Hollis. 


32  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

Natural  Curiosities. 

There  are  few  New  England  towns  which  do  not  have  within  their 
limits  more  or  less  objects  of  natural  formation  which,  either  in  con- 
struction, location,  general  appearance,  or  all  of  these  conditions,  are  so 
far  removed  from  the  ordinary  as  to  cause  them  to  be  regarded  as  natural 
curiosities.  Brookline  has  at  least  two  such — the  "Stone  House"  and 
the  "Devil's  Den." 

THE  STONE  HOUSE  is  located  about  one  mile  east  of  the  village 
Main  street  on  the  side  of  a  ravine  in  which  the  brook  named  from  the 
house  has  its  source.  The  ravine  on  its  east  side  is  hemmed  in  by  a  nat- 
ural wall  of  granite  which,  rising  somewhat  abruptly  from  its  base  to  an 
average  height  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet,  extends  north  and  south  for  a 
distance  of  one-fourth  of  a  mile,  more  or  less.  A  large  portion  of  the 
wall's  surface  is  covered  with  ragged  pieces  of  broken  granite,  some  of 
which  are  of  large  size,  and  it  is  scarred  with  seams  and  crevices,  which 
traverse  and  indent  it  in  all  directions.  At  a  point  about  midway  of 
the  wall's  length,  a  huge  mass  of  rock  projects  itself  upward  from  the 
surrounding  surface.  This  mass  is  in  form  of  an  irregularly  shaped  solid 
square,  and  is  faced  on  its  south  and  west  sides  by  flat  and  nearly  per- 
pendicular surfaces.  At  some  remote  period  in  its  history  some  immense 
natural  power  has  removed  from  the  base  of  this  mass,  at  its  southwest 
corner,  a  large  square  block  of  its  original  material.  The  vacant  space 
caused  by  the  removal  of  the  block,  together  with  a  large  crevice,  known 
as  "The  Chamber,"  in  the  face  of  the  rock  above  it,  have  been  known 
from  the  days  of  the  early  settlers  as  the  "Stone  House." 

The  main  "room"  of  the  house  is  about  eight  by  eight  feet  in  length 
and  breadth  and  ten  feet  in  height.  On  the  north  and  east  sides,  its  walls 
are  solid,  with  comparatively  smooth  surfaces;  conditions  which  also 
apply  to  its  ceiling,  which  is  formed  by  the  under  surface  of  that  part  of 
the  original  mass  which  projects  over  it.  An  irregular  opening  in  the  wall 
on  the  west  side  of  the  room  serves  as  a  window;  and  another  and  larger 
opening  in  its  south  side  serves  as  a  door.  Between  the  door  and  the 
window,  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  room,  a  slender  column  formed 
of  broken  pieces  of  granite  rises  from  the  floor  to  the  ceiling;  serving, 
apparently,  as  a  support  for  the  weight  of  the  enormous  mass  above  it. 
The  "chamber"  over  the  main  room  is  of  a  size  and  dimension  sufficient 
to  admit  of  the  occupancy  at  one  and  the  same  time  of  two  or  three  per- 
sons lying  at  full  length  upon  its  floor. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  33 

For  an  hundred  and  forty  years  last  past,  this  house  of  stone  has 
been  a  resort  for  pleasure  parties,  sight-seers,  and  searchers  after  the 
curious  in  Nature.  Generation  after  generation  of  the  village  children 
have  used  it  as  a  play -ground,  and  it  has  been  the  scene  of  many  a  social 
gathering,  hilarious  and  otherwise,  on  the  part  of  their  elders.  Beneath 
its  roof  many  a  party  of  belated  coon-hunters,  disgusted  with  the  un- 
successful results  of  a  night's  tramp  in  search  of  their  favorite  game, 
have  found  a  grateful  shelter  while  waiting  for  the  hour  when  — "In  the 
morning  by  the  bright  light" — they  could  wend  their  weary  ways  home- 
ward; and  within  its  sheltering  walls  many  a  weary  tramp  has  slept  and 
dreamed  of  other  and  happier  days.  Upon  its  walls  are  inscribed  the 
names  of  many  of  the  town's  citizens,  both  the  living  and  the  dead.  Of 
the  latter  class  there  are,  I  think,  some  whose  names  have  never  appeared 
on  any  memorial  stone  other  than  this  in  this  town. 

Tradition  says  that  during  the  Revolutionary  War  this  house  was 
used  by  the  Tories  in  this  vicinity  as  a  place  in  which  to  meet  and  delib- 
erate upon  their  plans  for  the  overthrow  of  the  Rebel  Government.  Early 
in  the  last  century  a  cobbler,  whose  name  has  long  since  passed  into 
oblivion,  is  said  to  have  opened  up  his  shop,  and  for  a  short  time  carried 
on  his  business  within  its  walls. 

At  the  present  time  (1914)  the  ravine  in  which  the  house  is  situated, 
and  through  which  in  past  years  it  was  more  easily  reached,  is  rapidly 
filling  up  with  brush  and  brambles,  making  the  approach  to  the  house 
much  more  difficult  than  it  formerly  was.  But  by  taking  a  more  cir- 
cuitous route  and  approaching  the  house  from  its  rear,  it  is  still  easily 
accessible;  and  year  by  year  parties  of  the  townspeople,  accompanied 
by  their  guests  from  abroad,  make  frequent  pilgrimages  to  it. 

The  Devil's  Den. 

THE  DEVIL'S  DEN  is  located  at  the  base  of  the  east  side  of  Little 
Muscatanipus  hill,  a  short  distance  in  a  southerly  direction  from  the 
railroad  station  in  the  village.  The  entrance  to  the  den  is  at  the  foot  of 
an  out-cropping  ledge,  and  is  so  small  as  to  be  practically  impassable  to 
any  but  persons  of  small  size.  At  the  present  time  this  entrance  is  par- 
tially concealed  by  bushes  and  young  pines.  The  den  has  been  explored 
by  very  few  people;  and  these  who  have  made  the  venture  have  found 
the  passage-way  so  tortuous  and  narrow  as  to  compel  them  to  "crawl  on 
their  hands  and  knees"  for  the  first  twelve  or  fifteen  feet,  at  the  end  of 
which  distance  they  report  the  passage  as  widening  out,  and  increasing 


34  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

in  height  so  as  to  form  a  small  room  in  which  it  is  possible  to  sit  erect. 
The  passage-way  continues  on  beyond  this  room;  but  from  this  point  its 
dimensions  are  too  small  to  permit  further  explorations.  Among  those 
who  in  their  boyhood  days,  "in  fear  and  trembling,"  penetrated  into  its 
mysterious  depths  are  James  P.  S.  Tucker,  Bryant  A.  Wallace,  and  E- 
E-  Parker. 

In  connection  with  this  cave  and  Little  Muscatanipus  hill,  the  writer 
many  years  ago  heard  the  late  Samuel  Talbot  relate  the  following  legend; 
which  he  claimed  to  have  heard  when  a  boy,  many  times  told  by  his 
father,  Ezra  Talbot,  who  lived  oh  the  west  slope  of  the  hill.  It  is  a  witch 
story;  and  one  of  the  few  of  that  kind  which  have  survived  here  from 
the  early  days  of  the  town.  It  dates  back  to  a  period  in  the  country's 
history  immediately  following  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  when  New 
England  was  flooded  with  witch  stories  in  which  the  celebrated  Moll 
Pitcher  was  the  heroine;  her  reputation  as  a  witch  having  been  estab- 
lished from  the  fact  that,  owing  to  the  insufficient  methods  then  in  use 
for  the  dissemination  of  news,  the  brave  deeds  which,  as  a  soldier  in  man's 
clothing,  she  performed  in  the  Patriot  army  while  fighting  by  the  side 
of  her  husband  in  its  ranks,  were,  in  their  transmission  throughout  the 
country,  so  changed,  and  the  real  facts  so  altered  and  distorted,  as  to 
impress  the  general  public  with  the  idea  that  she  was  endowed  with 
supernatural  powers. 

But  to  return  to  the  story.  Moll  Pitcher  once  made  a  visit  to  this 
town,  where  she  was  for  a  brief  pericd  the  guest  of  one  of  its  citizens. 
One  day  while  walking  out  with  her  host  and  a  party  of  his  friends, 
prompted,  perhaps,  by  a  desire  of  pleasing  him  and  them  as  a  slight  re- 
turn for  their  hospitality,  she  suddenly  stopped  in  a  small  cleared  space 
near  the  den,  and,  standing  erect  with  uplifted  hands,  began  to  mutter 
what  appeared  to  them  to  be  incantations.  As  the  moments  passed,  her 
gestures  became  more  and  more  violent,  and  her  language  more  wild  and 
incoherent.  Suddenly,  to  the  great  surprise,  and,  very  probably,  to  the 
consternation  of  her  audience,  an  old  sow  with  a  litter  of  twelve  pigs 
issued  from  the  surrounding  woods  and  began  to  run  around  her  in  a 
circle.  Twelve  times  they  circled  around  her  form  and  then  disappeared; 
vanishing  as  suddenly  as  they  came.  With  their  disappearance  the 
witch  resumed  her  normal  condition,  and  proceeded  to  inform  her  as- 
tonished hearers  that  the  day  would  come  when  silver  and  gold  would 
be  dug  out  of  that  hill  by  the  cart  load.  The  witch's  prophecy  is  as  yet 
unfulfilled;    but  the  citizens  of  today  are  still  able  to  point  with  pride 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  35 

to  the  cave,  and  also  to  the  hill,  the  most  important  concomitants  necessary 
to  its  fulfilment. 

The  Bear's  Den. 

THE  BEAR'S  DEN  is  located  in  the  west  part  of  the  township 
near  the  foot  of  Big  Muscatanipus  hill,  on  its  southeasterly  slope.  It 
has  the  appearance  of  being  a  natural  cave,  and  is  of  considerable  size. 
Its  internal  appearance  is  such  as  indicates  that  it  has  long  been  a  resort 
for  wild  animals.  From  time  immemorial  it  has  been  known  to  the  people 
dwelling  in  its  vicinity  as  the  bear's  den.  But  there  is  no  person  at  the 
present  time  living  who  has  personal  knowledge  of  its  ever  having  been 
the  abode  of  an  animal  of  that  description.  Its  name  probably  originated 
with  the  Indians  long  before  the  advent  of  the  whites  in  this  part  of  the 
township,  and  has  survived  to  the  present  time  as  a  matter  of  tradition. 
It  is  not  improbable  that  this  cave  was  the  original  home  of  the  identical 
bear  in  whose  honor,  possibly  from  its  extraordinary  size,  the  Indians 
gave  to  the  hill  upon  which  it  is  located,  as  well  as  to  its  sister  hill  on 
its  eastern  side,  and  the  pond  which  nestles  at  its  feet  on  the  north,  the 
name  Muscatanipus,  meaning  "great  bear." 

Indians. 

There  are  no  proofs  that  this  town,  either  before  or  after  its  incor- 
poration, ever  suffered  from  Indian  depredations.  Indeed,  neither  by  tra- 
dition nor  record,  are  they  mentioned  as  having  been  at  any  time  even  tem- 
porary sojourners  within  its  limits.  But  that  at  some  period  in  time  past 
they  were  frequent  visitors,  and,  possibly,  so  far  as  their  nomadic  habits 
permitted,  even  permanent  residents  in  this  town,  the  implements  of 
their  manufacture  which  have  been  found  in  various  locations,  and  the 
retention  by  the  pond  and  the  hills  adjacent  to  it  and  the  river  of  their 
original  Indian  names  of  Muscatanipus  and  Nissitisset  furnish  abundant 
proof.  But  perhaps  the  strongest  proof  of  this,  at  least  quasi,  perma- 
nency of  their  habitation  here,  is  furnished  by  the  fact  that  within  a  few 
years  last  past  an  Indian  burying  place  has  been  located  on  the  east  shore 
of  Muscatanipus  pond,  between  the  shore  and  the  ice-houses  of  the  Fresh 
Pond  Ice  Company. 

In  1902  this  burying  ground  was  made  a  matter  of  investigation  by 
the  authorities  of  Harvard  College ;  who  caused  many  of  the  graves  to  be 
opened  and,  as  a  result,  obtained  many  specimens  of  Indian  skulls,  and 


36 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


also  of  various  implements  of  their  manufacture,  which  were  added  to 
the  ethnological  department  of  the  college  museum. 

In  1891,  also,  the  employees  of  the  Brookline  and  Pepperell  railroad, 
while  engaged  in  building  the  road-bed  for  the  spur-track  on  the  west 
side  of  Rock  Ramond  hill,  excavated  several  skulls,  which  good  authori- 
ties pronounced  to  be  of  Indian  origin,  and  of  which  one  was  perforated 
by  a  hole  apparently  caused  by  a  rifle  ball. 

Population  of  the  Town  at  Different  Periods  in  Its  History. 


1769 
1775 
1786 
1790 
1800 
1810 
1820 
1830 
1840 
1850 
1860 
1870 
1880 
1890 
1900 
1910 
1914 


Estimated  by  the  writer, 
Guessed  at  by  the  State  authorities, 
Selectmen's  return  to  the  State, 
United  States  Census, 


(Estimated), 


135 
320 
262 
338 
454 
538 
592 
641 
652 
708 
756 
741 
698 
546 
600 
501 
550 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  37 


CHAPTER    II. 

Old  Dunstable. 

Farm  Grants — New  Plantation  Chartered — Its  Extent- — Its  Disintegration 
— Names  and  Dates  of  Incorporation  of  Towns  Formed  from  Its 
Territory  in  New  Hampshire — Copy  of  Proprietor's  Deed — Old 
Canal  Leading  Out  of  Museatanipus  Pond — Rock  Ramond  Hill. 

The  township  of  Brookline  as  constituted  at  the  present  time  includes 
within  its  eastern  limits  a  tract  of  land  two  miles  in  width  and  extending 
north  and  south  for  the  entire  length  of  its  east  boundary  line  which  was 
originally  included  in  the  territory  of  Old  Dunstable,  of  which  it  formed 
the  extreme  western  limits. 

In  1746  the  west  part  of  Old  Dunstable,  including  this  tract,  was 
incorporated  as  a  new  township  under  the  name  of  Hollis. 

In  1769  this  tract  was  taken  away  from  Hollis  and  in  conjunction 
with  the  southern  part  of  the  Mile  Slip,  incorporated  into  a  township 
under  the  name  of  Raby.  Thus  it  appears  that  the  history  of  this  tract, 
up  to  the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  Raby  in  1769,  was  identical  with 
the  histories  of  Old  Dunstable  and  Hollis  during  the  same  period.  But 
the  social,  civil,  political  and  ecclesiastical  histories  of  each  of  the  latter 
towns  has  already  been  written  and  published;  and  thus,  partly  because 
those  histories  are  easily  accessible  to  the  general  public,  but  more  es- 
pecially because  of  the  fact  that  the  early  settlers  in  that  part  of  Dun- 
stable and  Hollis  which  subsequently  became  a  part  of  Raby  were  so 
remote  from  the  centres  of  activity  in  each  as  to  have  few  or  no  interests 
in  common  with  either,  a  repetition  in  these  pages  of  the  subject  matter 
in  them  contained,  except  so  far  as  the  same  may  be  necessary  for  the 
purposes  of  this  work,  is  deemed  by  the  writer  to  be  unnecessary.  But 
because  of  this  early  territorial  connection  of  Raby  with  Old  Dunstable, 
we  deem  it  proper  at  this  point  to  narrate  as  briefly  as  possible  the  story 
of  the  origin,  life  and  disintegration,  territorially  considered,  of  the  latter 
township. 

Prior  to  the  establishment  by  the  King,  in  1741,  of  the  boundary 
line  between  the  Provinces  of  New  Hamsphire  and  Massachusetts,  the 


38  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

latter  Province  had  claimed,  and  virtually  exercised,  jurisdiction  over  all 
that  part  of  southern  New  Hampshire  lying  west  of  the  settlements  at 
Dover  and  Portsmouth;  and  under  that  claim  had  issued,  at  various 
times  and  to  different  individuals  and  companies,  grants  of  lands  lying 
in  the  valley  of  and  on  both  sides  of  the  Merrimack  river  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

These  tracts  of  land  thus  distributed  were  known  as  Farm  Grants. 
Among  the  larger  of  them  were  the  Charlestown  School  Farm  containing 
1000  acres,  and  located  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Souhegan  river  in  the 
present  town  of  Milford ;  and  of  which  the  southwest  corner,  now  marked 
by  a  granite  monument,  was  at  Dram-Cup  hill,  and  was  identical  with 
the  northwest  corner  of  Old  Dunstable;  and  the  Artillery  Farm  Grant, 
which  was  made  in  1673  to  the  Honorable  Artillery  Company  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  and  which  comprised  1000  acres  of  land  lying  on  the  north  bank 
of  the  Nashua  river  and  west  bank  of  the  Merrimack  river  in  Nashua. 

In  the  year  1673  the  number  of  acres  that  had  been  disposed  of  by 
these  grants  amounted  to  about  fifteen  thousand;  and  the  grants  were 
scattered  over  a  large  territory,  few  of  them  being  contiguous,  some  of 
them  unsettled,  and  others  sparsely  settled. 

Of  those  which  were  settled,  the  inhabitants  of  each,  acting  inde- 
pendently of  each  other,  were  practically  without  any  local  government, 
and  so  far  removed  from  the  home  government  at  Boston  as  to  be  prac- 
tically outside  of  its  oversight  and  control.  Recognizing  the  inconven- 
iences and  hardships  to  which  they  were  subjected  from  the  existence  of 
these  conditions,  in  September,  1673,  the  proprietors  of  certain  of  these 
grants  petitioned  the  Great  and  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  to  con- 
solidate them  into  a  plantation.  After  due  consideration,  the  Court, 
on  the  26th  day  of  October,  of  the  same  year,  granted  the  prayer  of  the 

The  and  on  the  same  date  issued  a  charter  for  the  plantation, 
petition,  new  plantation  included  not  only  the  original  grants  of  the  pro- 
prietors to  whom  the  charter  was  issued,  but  also  all  of  the  territory  lying 
outside  of  their  several  grants  which  was  afterwards  in  the  township  of 
Old  Dunstable.  In  1674  the  plantation  received  the  name  of  Dunstable; 
the  name  being  given  in  honor  of  Mrs.  Mary  Tyng,  wife  of  Edward  Tyng, 
an  immigrant  in  1630  from  Dunstable,  England. 

The  plantation  of  Old  Dunstable  as  it  was  originally  constituted 
contained  about  two  hundred  square  miles  of  land  lying  on  both  sides  of 
the  Merrimack  river.  On  the  east  side  it  included  nearly  all  of  the  present 
town  of  Litchfield,  a  portion  each  of  Londonderry  and  Pelham,  and  all  of 
Hudson.    Its  southeast  corner  was  located  at  the  corner  of  Methuen  and 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  39 

Dracut,  Mass.  West  of  the  Merrimack  river,  it  was  bounded  on  the 
north  by  the  Souhegan  river,  on  the  west  by  a  line  running  due  south 
from  Dram-Cup  hill  to  the  Groton  new  line,  established  in  1730;  (this 
west  boundary  line  ran,  at  its  nearest  point,  about  18  rods  west  of  Mus- 
catanipus  pond  in  Brookline);  and  on  the  south  by  Groton  Plantation, 
Chelmsford,  and  Provinceland,  now  Townsend,  Mass.  The  following 
named  towns  in  New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts  were  included  wholly 
or  in  part  within  its  original  limits.  In  New  Hampshire: — Nashua, 
Hollis,  and  Hudson  in  full;  and,  in  part,  Amherst,  Merrimack,  Milford, 
Litchfield,  Londonderry,  Pelham,  and  Brookline. 

In  Massachusetts : — Dunstable  and  Tyngsboro  in  full ;  in  part ;  Groton, 
Dracut,  Pepperell  and  Townsend. 

Disintegration. 

The  process  of  the  disintegration  of  Old  Dunstable  in  New  Hamp- 
shire began  in  1722.  In  that  year  a  small  tract  of  land  was  taken  from 
its  northeast  corner  and  annexed  to  Londonderry. 

The  dates  of  the  incorporation  of  the  several  towns  which  either  in 
whole  or  in  part  were  formed  out  of  its  territory  in  New  Hampshire  are 
as  follows : — 

Hudson:  twice  incorporated;  the  first  time  as  Nottingham,  by 
Massachusetts,  Jan.  4,  1733;  the  second  time  as  Nottingham  West,  by 
New  Hampshire,  July  5,  1746;  the  name  was  changed  to  Hudson  in 
June,  1830. 

Litchfield:  twice  incorporated;  the  first  time  by  Massachusetts, 
July  4,  1734;  the  second  time  by  New  Hampshire,  June  5,  1749. 

Munson,  by  New  Hampshire,  April  1,  1746.  In  1770  Munson  sur- 
rendered its  charter  to  the  State,  and  its  territory  was  divided  between 
the  towns  of  Hollis  and  Amherst;  where  it  remained  until  1794,  when  it 
was  taken  in  conjunction  with  the  northerly  part  of  the  Mile  Slip  and  the 
Charlestown  and  Duxbury  School  Farms  to  form  the  town  of  Milford. 

Nashua:    by  New   Hampshire  as   Dunstable,   April    1,    1746.     The 
name  Dunstable  was  changed  to  Nashua  Dec.  7,  1836. 
• .    Merrimack;  by  New  Hampshire,  April  2,  1746. 

Hollis;  by  New  Hampshire,  April  3,  1746. 

Pelham;  by  New  Hampshire,  July  5,  1746. 

Brookline;  by  New  Hampshire,  March  30,  1769. 

Milford;  by  New  Hampshire,  Jan.  11,  1794. 


40  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

During  the  years  intervening  between  the  issuing  of  their  grant  in 
1673  and  the  year  1794,  when  by  the  incorporation  of  Milford  all  the 
territory  which  it  originally  included  had  been  incorporated  into  town- 
ships, the  proprietors  of  Old  Dunstable  continued  to  exercise  the  rights 
conferred  upon  them  under  the  terms  of  their  charter. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  for  many  years  after  the  incorporation  of  Milford, 
they  continued  to  issue  grants,  or  deeds,  of  lands  located  within  the  original 
bounds  of  Old  Dunstable;  and  only  ceased  to  do  so  when,  by  reason  of 
their  having  revoked,  for  conditions  broken,  so  many  of  their  grants  and 
made  so  many  reconveyances  to  so  many  different  parties  of  the  same 
tracts  of  land,  the  titles  to  the  same  became  so  hopelessly  involved  as  to 
render  their  acts  farcical;  and  as  grantors  of  land  under  the  Old  Dun- 
stable Grant,  they  finally  dropped  out  of  sight.  But  they  left  behind 
them,  as  a  legacy  to  their  descendants,  a  crop  of  law  suits  over  contested 
titles  to  lands  which  for  many  subsequent  years  supplied  the  county  courts 
with  business;  the  echoes  of  which  are  occasionally  heard,  even  at  the 
present  time. 

These  grants,  or  proprietors'  deeds,  were  certainly  issued  as  late  as 
1803.  The  following  copy  of  one  of  them  is  inserted  here  as  a  matter  of 
curiosity.  It  is  dated  in  November,  1791,  and  is  one  of  many  similar 
grants  now  in  the  possession  of  the  writer  which,  taken  together,  include 
2900  acres  of  land  within  the  limits  of  Brookline;  and  in  all  of  which 
David  Wright  of  Pepperell  ,Mass.,  the  great-grandfather  of  the  writer,  is 
named  as  grantee. 

"Laid  out  to  David  Wright  on  the  original  right  of  Robert  Ox  two 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  lying  in  that  part  of  Old  Dunstable  called 
Raby  fifty  acres  on  the  forty-second  Division  the  remainder  on  the  third 
Bounded  as  follows  Beginning  on  the  east  side  of  the  stream  or  river 
running  out  of  Muscatanipus  pond  just  where  the  water  enters  into  the 
ditch  that  leads  to  Conant's  mills  thence  Down  the  east  side  of  the  road 
to  stake  and  stones  thence  East  to  the  North  West  corner  of  lot  of  land 
Layd  out  to  Maj'r  Hobbart  Being  about  twenty  rods  thence  East  by  the 
North  Bounds  of  the  said  lot  last  mentioned  fifty  rods  to  a  lot  of  land 
claimed  by  Randal  McDonols  thence  North  three  Degrees  West  by  said 
McDonols  land  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  poles  to  a  small  read  oak 
tree  marked  thence  north  eighty  degrees  East  fifty-eight  Poles  to  a  large 
White  Pine  tree  marked  on  the  side  of  the  road  west  of  said  McDonols 
House  thence  North  five  degrees  West  by  said  road  one  hundred  and  four 
poles  to  a  Pine  tree  marked  thence  North  one  hundred  and  twenty  Poles 
thence  West  one  hundred  and  fifty-six  Poles  to  land  formerly  layd  out  to 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  41 

Mr.  Benjamin  Prescott  on  Rock  Raymond  thence  South  thirteen  degrees 

West  by  said  Prescott  land  eighty  Poles  thence  south  seventy  degrees 

West  by  said  Prescott  land  fifty-six  Poles  to  a  Great  Pine  tree  standing 

on  the  East  Bank  of  the  North  Stream  thence  Down  the  easterly  Bank 

thereof  to  the  place  of  Beginning. 

Surved  by  Joseph  Blanchard 

The  two  hundred  acres  lay  out  on  the  third  Division  to  be  equal  to  fifty 

acres  of  the  Best  Land 

Toseph  Blanchard,  )  _  .,A     ,, 

xt     u  t  11         C  Committee 

Noah  Love  well,        ) 

The  foregoing  grant,  or  laying  out,  was  approved  by  the  proprietors 
at  a  meeting  holden  at  the  house  of  Jonathan  Pollard,  innholder  in  Dun- 
stable, Nov.  1,  1791;  as  appears  by  the  attestation,  signed  by  Noah 
Lovewell,  proprietor's  clerk,  on  the  back  thereof. 

The  grant  is  interesting,  not  only  because  it  shows  the  usual  form  of 
the  proprietor's  deeds,  but  also  because  it  establishes  the  fact  that  at  the 
time  of  its  date,  in  1791,  a  canal,  of  which  the  vestiges  are  visible  at  the 
present  time,  extended  from  the  east  shore  of  Muscatanipus  pond  down 
the  east  side  of  the  river  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  water  to  operate  a 
sawmill  below  the  outlet  of  the  pond,  and  that  the  mill  was  known  as 
"Conant's." 

It  is  interesting,  further,  because  of  its  mention  of  the  hill  on  the 
northeast  shore  of  the  pond  by  the  name  of  Rock  Raymond,  instead  of 
"Rock  Rament";  thus  conclusively  proving  that  the  latter  name,  by 
which  in  mcdern  times  this  hill  has  been  known,  is  a  corruption  of  the 
former. 


42  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER    III. 

Brookline  Before  Its  Incorporation. 

1673-1769. 

The  Mile  Slip— Land  Derived  from  Townsend,  Mass. — The  Old  North 
Boundary  Line  of  Townsend — The  Groton  Gore — Petitions  for  a 
New  Township,  1738-1739— West  Parish  of  Old  Dunstable— The 
Province  Line,  1741— Brookline  as  a  Part  of  Hollis,  1746-1769 
— Early  Settlers. 

At  the  date  of  the  incorporation  of  Old  Dunstable,  Oct.  27,  1673, 
the  territory  now  comprised  within  the  limits  of  Brookline  was  divided 
into  three  parts.  Of  these  parts,  the  eastern  and  by  far  the  larger  part 
was  then  included  within  the  limits  of  the  former  town;  of  which,  as 
has  already  been  stated,  it  formed  the  extreme  western  limits.  The  second 
part  consisted  of  the  southerly  portion  of  a  tract  of  land  located  on  the 
western  borders  of  old  Dunstable,  and  known  as  the  Mile  Slip.  The 
third,  and  smallest  part,  consisted  of  a  triangular  shaped  tract  of  land 
located  at  Dunstable's  southwest  corner,  which  was  then  Province  land, 
but  which  subsequently  became  a  part  of  Townsend,  Mass. 

The  Mile  Slip. 

THE  MILE  SLIP,  or,  as  it  was  sometimes  written  in  the  early 
records,  Mile  Strip,  consisted  of  a  tract  of  land  about  one  mile  in  width 
and  ten  miles  in  length  which  extended  in  a  northerly  direction  from 
the  old  north  boundary  line  of  Townsend,  Mass.,  to  the  south  boundary 
line  of  Lyndeborough. 

It  was  bounded  on  the  east  by  old  Dunstable,  and  by  a  township 
then  known  as  Narragansett  No.  3,  (now  Amherst )  under  a  grant  of  the 
same  from  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  to  certain  officers  and 
soldiers  who  served  in  the  Narragansett  War  in  1675;  the  grant  being 
made  in  1728;  and  on  the  west  by  township  No.  1,  now  Mason,  and 
township  No.  2,  now  Wilton,  in  the  old  Masonian  grant  of  1749. 


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HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  43 

Originally  the  Slip  was  unincorporated  land;  it  having,  for  some 
unknown  reason,  failed  to  be  included  in  either  the  Dunstable  or  Ma- 
sonian  grants.  In  1769  its  southern  half  was  incorporated  as  a  part  of 
Brookline.  In  1776  its  northern  part,  together  with  the  Duxbury  School 
Farm,  were  incorporated  into  a  township  under  the  name  of  Duxbury. 

Duxbury  had  but  a  short  existence;  and  when  Milford  was  incor- 
porated in  1794,  it,  with  the  northern  part  of  the  Mile  Slip,  was  covered 
into  the  territory  of  the  latter  town.  Thus  the  entire  original  area  of  the 
Mile  Slip  is  today  included  within  the  boundary  lines  of  Brookline  and 
Milford. 

The   Triangular   Tract   of   Land    Derived  from  Townsend,  Mass., 
and  the  Old  North  Boundary  Line  of  Townsend. 

At  that  date,  1673,  all  of  that  portion  of  the  west  part  of  old  Dun- 
stable which  is  now  included  in  Brookline  was  bounded  on  the  south  by 
Groton  Plantation,  now  Pepperell,  Mass.,  and  the  present  town  of  Towns- 
end,  Mass.;  which  was  then  an  unbroken  wilderness.  Townsend  was 
chartered  in  1732;  and  for  many  years  subsequently,  or  until  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  Province  Line  in  1741,  its  northeast  corner  was  located 
at  the  junction  of  its  east  boundary  line  with  the  north  boundary  line 
of  Groton  Plantation.  This  location  probably  never  was,  and  certainly 
is  not  now,  definitely  known.  But  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  about  one 
mile  south  of  Townsend's  present  northeast  corner.  The  old  north 
boundary  line  of  Townsend  commenced  at  its  said  northeast  corner  and 
ran  west,  thirty-one  and  one-half  degrees  north,  until  it  reached  its  ter- 
minus somewhere  in  the  present  town  of  Greenville ;  crossing  in  its  course 
the  southwest  part  of  Brookline's  present  territory,  and  the  central  part 
of  township  No.  1,  now  Mason. 

By  the  establishment  of  the  Province  line  in  1741,  that  part  of  Towns- 
end  lying  north  of  that  line,  and  east  of  the  east  boundary  line  of  Mason, 
became  a  part  of  New  Hampshire;  and  subsequently,  at  Brookline's  in- 
corporation, was  included  in  its  charter.  This  was  the  Triangular  Tract 
in  question.  It  was  in  the  shape  of  a  scalene  triangle.  As  to  its  bound- 
ary lines,  they  have  been  hitherto  somewhat  difficult  to  locate,  because 
of  the  lack  of  sufficiently  accurate  data  from  which  to  establish  the  point 
at  which  the  old  north  boundary  line  of  Townsend  crossed  the  south 
boundary  line  of  Brookline. 

But,  fortunately,  an  old  deed  of  the  home  farm  of  the  late  Leonidas 
Pierce   in  South  Brookline   describes  the  farm's  east  boundary  line  as 


44  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

being  identical  with  the  old  north  boundary  line  of  Townsend,  Mass. 
This  farm's  east  boundary  is  at  the  present  time  not  only  marked  by 
bounds  set  in  the  ground,  but  its  course  in  a  southeasterly  direction  is 
indicated  by  a  trcdden  trail  which,  until  within  a  few  years  past,  was 
well  defined;  and  which,  even  now,  can  be  traced  to  the  state  line.  This 
trail,  during  his  residence  of  many  years  on  the  farm,  was  always  known 
and  spoken  of  by  Mr.  Pierce  and  his  family  as  the  "Old  Dunstable  Line"; 
and  over  it,  during  the  forties,  they  were  accustomed  to  see,  nearly  every 
morning,  Capt.  Samuel  Brooks  come  riding  down  on  horseback  from  his 
home  on  Townsend  hill  to  the  sawmill  on  Wallace  brook  which  he  built 
in  the  thirties,  and  which  still  bears  his  name. 

It  is  apparent,  therefore,  that  by  beginning  at  any  point  in  the  eastern 
boundary  line  of  the  Leonidas  Pierce  farm,  and,  reversing  the  course  of 
the  old  North  boundary  line  of  Townsend,  running  east  thirty-one  and 
one-half  degrees  south,  the  point  at  which  the  latter  line  crossed  the 
present  south  boundary  line  of  Brookline,  and  consequently  its  course 
across  the  town,  may  be  established,  at  least,  approximately. 

Having  made  the  experiment,  we  find  that  the  old  north  boundary 
line  of  Townsend  crossed  the  present  south  boundary  line  of  Brookline 
at  a  point  in  the  same  located  about  one  and  one-fourth  miles  west  of  the 
town's  southeast  corner,  and  continuing  on  in  its  designated  course  across 
the  town,  crossed  its  west  boundary  line  at  a  point  in  the  same  located 
about  one  mile  north  of  its  southwest  corner;  passing  in  its  course  about 
one-fourth  of  a  mile  to  the  south  of  Little  Muscatanipus  hill,  and  skirting 
the  base  of  Big  Muscatanipus  hill  on  its  southwesterly  side;  where,  on 
the  farm  of  Samuel  A.  W.  Ball,  there  is  standing  at  the  present  time  a 
stone  wall  which  is  mentioned  in  old  deeds  of  the  farm  as  being  located 
on  the  old  north  boundary  line  of  Townsend. 

Bearing  upon,  and  corroborative  of  the  fore-going,  relative  to  the 
location  in  this  town  of  the  old  north  boundary  line  of  Townsend,  Mass., 
the  writer  submits  the  following  statement  of  admitted  facts,  and  the 
results  obtained  from  computations  founded  upon  them. 

By  the  survey  made  by  Jonathan  Danforth  in  1668  of  Groton  Plan- 
tation, its  territory  lying  west  of  the  Nashua  river  and  south  of  old  Dun- 
stable, was  bounded  on  the  north  by  a  line  extending  west  from  the  river 
and  four  miles  in  length.  At  the  west  end  of  this  line  the  northeast 
corner  of  Townsend  was  afterwards  located;  and  from  it  the  old  north 
boundary  line  of  Townsend  commenced  to  run;  its  course  being  west, 
thirty-one  and  one-half  degrees  north;  a  course  which  would  take  it 
through  the  south  and  southwesterly  part  of  Brookline's  present  territory. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  45 

When  the  Province  line  was  established  in  1741,  its  course  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Nashua  river  began  at  a  point  substantially  identical 
with  that  at  which  the  said  north  boundary  of  Groton  Plantation  began, 
and  ran  north  eighty  (80)  degrees  west. 

When  Hollis  was  incorporated  in  1746,  its  charter  described  its  south 
boundary  line  as  running  on  the  Province  line — "North  Eighty  Degrees 
West  Six  miles  and  ninety  six  rods  from  the  Nashua  river."  Its  west 
boundary  line,  which  was  identical  with  the  west  boundary  line  of  old 
Dunstable,  began  at  the  west  end  of  the  south  boundary  line  and  ran 
due  north  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Munson;  a  length  of  four  miles 
and  one  hundred  and  forty  rods. 

Again,  when  Brookline  was  incorporated  in  1769,  its  south  boundary 
line  as  described  in  its  charter  was  exactly  three  miles  in  length.  Of  the 
three  miles  two  represented  the  width  of  the  strip  of  land  taken  for  the 
new  township  from  the  west  side  of  Hollis,  and  one  mile  the  width  of  the 
Mile  Slip;  which  was  also  taken;  and  which  was  supposed  to  be  a  mile 
wide,  more  or  less.  It  was  probably  more;  for  the  present  measurement 
of  the  town's  south  boundary  line  is  three  miles  and  eighty-five  rods. 

By  using  the  foregoing  data,  and,  beginning  at  its  old  northeast  cor- 
ner, laying  out  the  course  of  Townsend's  old  north  boundary  line,  it  will 
be  found  to  enter  Brookline  at  practically  the  same  point  and  to  pursue 
practically  the  same  course  across  its  territory  as  is  indicated  in  the  re- 
sults obtained  from  the  first  employed  of  the  foregoing  two  methods. 

The  Triangular  Tract. 

The  triangular  tract  of  land  was  bounded  as  follows:  On  the  south 
by  a  line  beginning  at  a  point  in  the  Province  (State)  line  about  one 
mile  and  one  hundred  and  ten  rods  west  of  Brookline's  southeast  corner 
and  running  west  by  the  Province  or  State  line  one  mile  and  two  hun- 
dred and  ninety -five  rods  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Mason;  thence 
turning  and  running  north  by  the  east  boundary  line  of  Mason  about 
one  mile.  Thence  turning  and  running  east  thirty-one  and  one-half 
degrees  south  by  the  old  north  boundary  line  of  Townsend,  Mass.,  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

The  southwest  corner  of  old  Dunstable  was  located  in  the  north 
boundary  line  of  this  tract  of  land  at  a  point  where  the  same  was  inter- 
sected by  Dunstable's  west  boundary  line. 

After  the  triangular  tract  of  land  was  set  off  from  Massachusetts 
into  New  Hampshire  by  the  establishment  of  the  Province  line  in  1741, 


46  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

it  remained  as  unincorporated  land  until  the  incorporation  of  Hollis  in 
1746;  when  a  small  part  of  its  east  end  was  included  within  the  charter 
limit  of  that  town.  The  remaining  portion  remained  as  unincorporated 
territory  until  it  was  taken  to  form  a  part  of  Brookline  at  its  incorporation 
in  1769. 

The  present  dwelling  house  and  sawmill  of  Perley  L.  Pierce  in  South 
Brookline,  the  old  Samuel  Brooks  sawmill,  the  dwelling  houses  of  the 
late  Leonidas  Pierce  and  of  the  late  Henry  T.  Pierce  are  all  located  upon 
territory  which  was  formerly  included  within  the  bounds  of  the  triangular 
tract  of  land. 

The  Groton  Gore. 

Among  the  many  grants  of  lands  within  the  limits  of  the  Province 
of  New  Hampshire  which  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  had  issued 
prior  to  1741  was  one  made  in  1734;  by  the  terms  of  which,  in  response 
to  a  petition  by  the  inhabitants  of  Groton,  Mass.,  the  latter  town  became 
the  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land  located  west  of,  and  adjoining  to,  Old 
Dunstable. 

This  grant  was  made  to  Groton  as  a  compensation  for  the  loss  by  it 
of  the  "Nashoba  land,"  so  called;  a  tract  of  four  thousand  acres  located 
on  its  east  and  southeast  borders  to  which  it  had  set  up  a  claim  of  title 
as  being  a  part  of  its  original  territory.  But  which  claim,  after  being 
for  many  years  a  subject  of  dispute  between  Groton  and  other  claimants, 
was  finally  settled  by  the  disputed  territory's  being  incorporated  with 
certain  other  lands  as  Littleton,  Mass.  The  grant  received  its  name  of 
Gore  from  the  fact  that  it  was  located  in  the  gore  of  land  between  the 
west  boundary  line  of  Old  Dunstable  and  the  old  north  boundary  line 
of  Townsend,  Mass. 

Groton  Gore  contained  ten  thousand  and  eight  hundred  acres.  The 
House  Journal  of  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  under  date  of 
Nov.  28,  1734,  on  page  94,  gives  its  bounds  as  follows: 

"Beginning  at  the  North  West  corner  of  Dunstable*  at  Dram-Cup 
hill  by  Souhegan  river  and  running  South  in  Dunstable  line  last  Peram- 
bulated and  run  by  a  committee  of  the  General  Court,  two  thousand 
one  hundred  and  fifty  two  poles  to  Townsend  line,  there  making  an  angle 
and  running  West  31^  Degrees  North  on  Townsend  line  and  Province 
land  Two  Thousand  and  Fifty  Six  poles  to  a  pillar  of  Stones  then  turning 

*  This  corner  is  at  the  present  time  marked  by  a  stone  monument,  erected  by  the  Milford  Histori- 
cal and  Genealogical  Society,  with  appropriate  exercises,  August  21,  1895. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  47 

and  Running  by  Province  Land  31^2  Degrees  North  two  Thousand  and 
forty  eight  poles  to  corner  first  mentioned." 

But  the  Massachusetts  Court  Records  of  June  15,  1736,  at  which 
date  the  Grant  was  confirmed,  describes  each  of  its  boundary  lines  as 
being  considerably  shorter  than  they  were  described  as  being  in  the  fore- 
going excerpt  from  the  House  Journal. 

But  in  each  of  said  descriptions,  however,  the  Gore's  east  boundary 
line  is  described  as  "Beginning  at  Dram-Cup  hill  and  running  south  in 
Dunstable  line  as  last  perambulated  to  Townsend  line";  and  as  at  this 
late  day  the  question  as  to  which  of  said  descriptions  gives  the  correct 
length  of  the  Gore's  east  boundary  line  is  one  of  comparatively  little 
importance,  in  the  map  of  early  Brookline  accompanying  this  chapter 
the  "Gore"  is  plotted  in  accordance  with  the  measurements  as  given  in 
the  said  Massachusetts'  Court  Records  of  Nov.  28,  1734. 

From  the  foregoing  it  appears  that  the  Groton  Gore  was  in  the  shape 
of  a  scalene  triangle;  the  west  point  of  which  was  located  in  the  west 
part  of  Mason,  now  Greenville.  That  it  was  bounded  on  the  east  by 
the  west  boundary  line  of  old  Dunstable,  on  the  south  by  the  old  north 
boundary  line  of  Townsend,  Mass.,  and  on  the  north  by  a  line  beginning 
at  its  said  west  point  in  Mason  and  running  by  Province  land  (now  Mason 
and  Wilton),  north  31^  degrees  east,  to  Dram-Cup  hill. 

Apart  from  its  being  a  matter  of  general  historical  interest,  the  Gro- 
ton Gore,  because  of  the  fact  that  it  included  within  its  area  nearly  or 
quite  all  of  that  part  of  the  Mile  Slip  which  was  subsequently  incor- 
porated in  and  now  forms  a  part  of  Brookline,  is  of  especial  interest  to 
Brookline  folk.  Yet,  fifty  years  ago,  the  town's  oldest  inhabitants  then 
living  had  little,  save  traditional,  knowledge  of  it,  or  of  its  location.  Nor, 
in  the  latter  respect,  were  those  who  had  then  written  histories  of  the  towns 
in  this  vicinity  much  better  informed.  One  of  them,  at  least,  having 
located  the  Groton  Gore  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  present  town  of 
Pepperell,  Mass.* 

By  the  establishment  of  the  Province  line  in  1741,  the  Gore  became 
a  part  of  New  Hampshire;  and  Groton  people  had  to  surrender  their 
rights  in  it.  During  the  years  of  its  existence,  the  Gore  does  not  appear 
to  have  had  any  permanent  settlers.  Dr.  Samuel  Green  in  his  "Boundary 
Lines  of  Groton,  Mass.,"  says  it  was  used  by  Groton  people  for  pasturing 
their  cattle.  So  says  also  John  B.  Hill  in  his  History  of  Mason.  Mr. 
Hill  says,  further,  that  the  only  settlement  was  a  camp  near  a  place  later 
settled  and  occupied  by  Joel  Annis.     It  is  very  probable  that  for  many 

*  Butler's  History  of  Groton,  Mass.,  Foot-note,  page  59. 


48  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

years  after  Groton  had  been  dispossessed  of  the  Gore,  its  people  con- 
tinued to  pasture  their  cattle  in  that  part  of  it  which  subsequently  be- 
came a  part  of  Brookline.  For  the  descendants  of  Samuel  Russell,  who 
still  own  and  occupy  the  farm  on  the  northwest  side  of  Big  Muscatanipus 
hill  upon  which  he  settled  in  1750,  have  a  family  tradition  that  at  that 
time  the  meadows  on  Campbell's  brook  to  the  north  of  the  farm  were 
still  in  us"e  for  cattle  grazing. 

PETITION  FOR  NEW  TOWNSHIPS  IN  1738  AND  1739. 

During  the  years  1738  and  1739,  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts 
was  called  upon  to  consider  three  distinct  and  separate  petitions  for  the 
incorporation  of  new  townships  out  of  lands  to  be  taken  from  Dunstable 
and  Groton,  Mass.,  jointly,  or  from  Dunstable  alone.  Because  of  the 
fact  that  in  each  of  these  petitions  a  part  of  the  land  proposed  to  be  taken 
was  afterwards  included  in  Brookline' s  territory,  and  more  especially  be- 
cause of  the  fact  that  some  of  the  signers  of  each  of  them  were,  either 
then  or  shortly  afterwards,  settlers  within  the  town's  present  limits,  it 
seems  proper  to  give  at  this  point  a  brief  history  of  each  of  these  petitions. 

The  first  petition, — the  original  of  which,  as  well  as  the  originals  of 
the  other  two,  is  on  file  in  the  Secretary  of  State's  office  in  Boston — was 
dated  Nov.  29,  1738.  It  was  addressed  "To  the  Governor,  the  Council 
and  the  General  Court,"  and  was  styled — "Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of 
Dunstable  and  Groton  For  a  Town  Charter." 

After  a  preamble  in  which  it  set  forth  the  disadvantages  accruing  to 
the  subscribers  by  reason  of  their  living  at  such  distances  from  their 
respective  meeting  houses  as  to  prevent  their  families  from  attending 
divine  worship,  generally,  for  any  portion  of  the  year — "By  which  means 
your  Petitioners  are  deprived  of  the  benefit  of  preaching  the  greater  part 
of  the  year" — the  petition  proceeded  as  follows: — 

"There  is  a  Tract  of  good  land  well  situated  for  a  Township  of  the 
contents  of  about  six  miles  and  a  half  square,  bounded  thus,  beginning 
at  Dunstable  Line  by  Nashaway  River,  so  running  by  the  Westerly  side 
of  said  River,  southerly  one  mile  in  Groton  land;  then  running  Westerly, 
a  parallel  Line  with  Groton  North  Line  till  it  comes  to  Townsend  Line; 
then  turning  and  running  north  to  Groton  North- West  Corner;  and  from 
Groton  North- West  Corner  by  Townsend  Line  and  by  the  Line  of  Groton 
New  Grant*  till  it  comes  to  be  five  miles  and  a  half  to  the  North  Ward  of 
Groton  North  Line ;  from  thence  due  east  seven  miles ;  from  thence  South 

*  Grcton  Gore. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


49 


to  Nashua  River  and  so  by  Nashua  River  South-westerly  to  Groton  Line> 
the  first  mentioned  bound.  Which  described  Lands  can  by  no  means  be 
prejudicial  to  the  Town  of  Dunstable  or  Groton;  (it  not  coming  within 
six  miles  or  thereabouts  of  either  of  their  Meeting  Houses  at  the  nearest 
place)  to  be  taken  off  from  them  and  erected  into  a  separate  Township." 

"That  there  is  already  settled  in  the  bounds  of  the  afore  described 
Tract,  near  Fort)*  Families,  and  many  more  ready  to  come  on  were  it 
not  for  the  difficulties  and  hardships  aforesaid  of  getting  to  Meeting. 
These  with  many  other  Disadvantages  we  find  very  troublesome  to  us, 
our  living  so  remote  from  the  Towns  we  respectively  belong  to." 

The  petition  concluded  with  the  following  prayer:  "That  the  Afore- 
said Lands  may  be  erected  into  a  separate  and  distinct  township";  and 
also  "That  the  non-resident  proprietors  in  the  said  Lands,  by  reason  of 
the  great  benefit  which  they  would  receive  from  the  increased  value  of 
their  lands  and  the  easier  settling  of  the  same,  should  be  made  to  pay 
their  proportional  part  for  the  building  of  a  meeting  house  and  settling  a 
minister,"  etc. 

The  names  of  those  signing  this  petition  were  as  follows: — 

Settlers  on  the  Aforesaid  Lands. 


Obadiah  Parker 
Josiah  Blood 
Jerahmael  Cummings 
Eben'r  Pearce 
William  Colburn 
vStephen  Harris 
Thomas  Densmore 


Peter  Powers 
Abram  Taylor,  Jun. 
Benj  Farley 
Henry  Barton 
Peter  Wheeler 
Robert  Colburn 
David  Nevins 


Philip  Woolerich 
Nath'l  Blood 
William  Adams 
Joseph  Taylor, 
Moses  Proctor 
Will'm  Shattuck 
Thos  Nevins. 


Non-Resident  Proprietors. 


Samuel  Brown 
W.  Brown 
Joseph  Blanchard 
John  Fowle,  Jun. 
Nath'l  Saltonstall 


Joseph  Eaton 
Joseph  Lemmon 
Jeremiah  Baldwin 
Sam'l  Baldwin 
Daniel  Ramant 


John  Malvin 
Jona'.  Malvin 
James  Cummings 
Isaac  Far  well 
Eben'r  Proctor 


In  Council  Jan.  4,  1739,  this  petition  was  read  and  considered;  and 
was  finally  referred  for  further  consideration  to  the  next  May  session. 
At  the  same  time  a  committee  was  appointed  to  consider  the  same  and 


50  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

report — "What  in  their  opinion  might  be  proper  for  the  Court  to  do  in 
answer  thereto."  It  does  not  appear  that  the  committee  ever  reported. 
If  the  foregoing  petition  had  been  granted,  the  new  township  would  have 
included  all  that  part  of  Brookline's  present  territory  lying  between  its 
south  boundary  line  and  a  line  parallel  to  and  about  three  miles  north  of 
the  same.  Yet  of  the  twenty-one  "settlers"  who  signed  it,  although  the 
majority  of  them  were  then  living  in  the  west  part  of  Old  Dunstable, 
not  one  of  them  then  resided  in  Brookline's  present  territory.  Of  the 
number  of  non-resident  signers,  however,  Jonathan  Melvin  and  Samuel 
Brown  were  afterwards  residents  here;  Melvin  coming  here  in  1739,  and 
Samuel  Brown  a  few  years  later. 

The  Second  Petition  for  a  New  Township. 

While  the  first  petition  was  still  pending  in  the  General  Court,  certain 
inhabitants  of  the  north  part  of  Groton  who  were  dissatisfied  because  the 
new  township  for  which  it  asked  did  not  include  so  large  a  part  of  Groton 
as  they  desired,  united  with  certain  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  west  part  of 
Dunstable  in  presenting  to  the  General  Court  a  second  petition  for  the 
formation  of  a  new  township. 

This  second  petition  was  dated  Dec.  12,  1739.  Its  preamble,  except 
for  its  brevity,  was  similar  to  that  of  the  first  petition.  Its  description 
of  the  proposed  new  township  was  as  follows : 

"Beginning  at  the  Line  between  Groton  and  Dunstable,  where  it 
crosses  Lancaster  (Nashua)  River,  and  so  up  said  River  until  it  comes  to 
a  place  called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Joseph  Blood's  Ford  Way  on 
said  River — thence  a  West  Point  till  it  comes  to  Townsend  Line,  etc., 
with  such  a  part  and  so  much  of  the  town  of  Dunstable,  as  this  Honor- 
able Court  in  their  great  Wisdom  shall  think  proper,  with  the  inhabitants 
thereof,  may  be  Erected  into  a  separate  and  distinct  Township,  that  they 
may  attend  the  Public  worship  of  God  with  more  Ease  than  at  present 
they  can  by  reason  of  the  great  distance  they  live  from  the  places  thereof 
as  aforesaid." 

Signers — Residents  in  Groton. 

Richard  Warner  Ebenezer  Gilson  Josiah  Tucker 

Benjamin  Swallow  Ebenezer  Pierce  Zachariah  Lawrence, Jr 

William  Allen  Samuel  Fisk  William  Blood 

Isaac  Williams  John  Green  Jeremiah  Lawrence 

vStephen  Eames. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  51 


Residents  in  Dunstable. 

Enoch  Hunt,  William  Blanchard,  Samuel  Parker, 

Eleazer  Flagg,  Gideon  Honey,  Samuel  Farley, 

Samuel  Cummings,  Josiah  Bloed,  William  Adams, 

Phillip  Woolerich. 

Of  those  whose  signatures  are  attached  to  the  second  petition,  Samuel 
Farley  was  the  only  one  then  living  within  the  present  limits  of  Brookline. 
Of  the  Groton  signers  of  the  petition,  Josiah  Tucker  was  the  father  of 
Swallow  Tucker,  who  settled  here  several  years  prior  to  the  town's  incor- 
poration in  1769,  and  Ebenezer  Gilson,  who  came  here  from  Groton 
before  the  Revolution. 

The  Third  Petition  for  a  New  Township. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  so  many  of  the  settlers  in  the  west 
part  of  old  Dunstable  signed  either  one  or  the  other,  or  both,  of  the  fore- 
going petitions  for  the  formation  of  a  new  township,  it  is  apparent  that 
the  majority  were  opposed  to,  or  at  least,  dissatisfied  with  each  and  all 
of  them.  For  while  the  majority  favored  the  formation  of  the  proposed 
new  township,  they  desired  that  it  be  formed  wholly  out  of  Dunstable 
territory ;  and  with  that  end  in  view,  they  presented  to  the  General  Court 
of  Massachusetts  a  third  petition — or,  as  it  is  sometimes  styled — re- 
monstrance. 

This  third  petition  was  dated  Dec.  21,  1739;  and  was  in  terms  as 
follows : 

"We,  the  Sub'rs  Inhab'ts  of  ye  Town  of  Dunstable  and  resident  in 
that  part  of  it  called  Nissitissit,  Do  hereby  Authorize  and  fully  Empower 
Abraham  Taylor,  Jun.  and  Peter  Powers  to  represent  to  the  General 
Court  our  unwillingness  that  any  part  of  Dunstable  should  be  sett  to 
Groton  to  make  a  Township  or  Parish  and  to  shew  fourth  our  Earnest 
Desire  that  a  Township  be  made  entirely  out  of  Dunstable  Land,  Ex- 
tending Six  Miles  North  from  Groton  Line  which  will  bring  them  on  the 
Line  on  ye  Brake  of  Land  and  just  include  the  present  settlement;  or 
otherwise  as  ye  Honorable  Committee  Reported,  and  Agreeable  to  the 
tenour  thereof,  as  the  Honorable  Court  shall  see  meet,  and  as  in  Duty 
bound,  &c, 


52 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


Thomas  Dinsmore, 
Jeramael  Cummings, 
Joseph  Whitcomb, 
Jonathan  Melvin, 
William  Adams, 
William  Wilson, 
Moses  Proctor, 


James  Whiting, 
James  MeDaniels, 
Randal  MeDaniels, 
Joseph  MeDaniels, 
William  Colburn, 
Robert  Colburn, 
Stephen  Harris, 


Peter  Wheeler, 
David  Nevins, 
Thomas  Nevins, 
Nathaniel  Blood, 
William  Shattuek, 
Joshua  WYight, 
Henry  Barton. 


The  General  Court  referred  this  petition  to  a  committee,  which 
subsequently  reported  as  follows: 

Report  of  the  Committee. 

"The  committee  appointed  on  the  petition  of  the  inhabitants  and 
proprietors  situated  on  the  westerly  side  of  Dunstable  and  northerly  side 
of  Groton,  after  notifying  all  parties,  having  repaired  to  the  lands  peti- 
tioned to  be  erected  into  a  township  and  carefully  viewed  the  same,  find 
a  very  good  tract  of  land  in  Dunstable,  west  of  Nashaway  river,  between 
said  river  and  Souhegan  river,  extending  from  Groton  New  Grant  "  (Gro- 
ton Gore)"  and  Townsend  line  six  miles  east  lying  in  a  very  commodious 
form  for  a  township,  and  on  said  lands  there  is  now  about  twenty  families 
and  many  more  settling.  That  none  of  the  inhabitants  live  nearer  to  a 
meeting  house  than  seven  miles,  and  if  they  go  to  their  town  have  to 
pass  over  a  ferry  the  greater  part  of  the  year. 

We  also  find  in  Groton  a  sufficient  quantity  of  land  accommodable 
for  settlement,  and  a  considerable  number  of  Inhabitants  thereon,  that 
in  some  short  time,  when  they  are  well  agreed,  may  be  erected  into  a 
Precinct  or  Parish,  and  that  it  will  be  very  inconvenient  to  erect  a  town- 
ship in  the  form  prayed  for.  The  committee  are  of  opinion  that  the 
Petitioners  in  Dunstable  are  under  such  circumstances  as  necessitates 
them  to  ask  relief  which  will  be  fully  obtained  by  their  being  made  a 
township. 

The  committee  are  further  of  the  opinion  that  it  will  be  greatly  for 
the  good  and  interest  of  the  township  that  the  non-resident  proprietors 
have  liberty  of  voting  with  the  inhabitants  as  to  the  Building  and  Placing 
a  meeting  house  and  that  the  lands  be  equally  taxed,  and  that  for  the 
support  of  the  Gcspel  ministry  among  them  the  lands  of  the  non-resident 
Proprietors  be  taxed  at  two  pence  per  acre  for  the  space  of  five  years. 

All  of  which  is  humbly  submitted  in  behalf  of  the  committee." 

(Signed)     THOMAS   PERRY. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  53 

This  report  was  read  in  the  Council  Dee.  27,  1739;  and  was  so  far 
accepted  that  it  was  ordered — "That  the  lands  mentioned  and  described 
therein  with  the  inhabitants  there  be  erected  into  a  separate  and  distinct 
Precinct  and  the  said  inhabitants  are  hereby  vested  with  all  such  powers 
and  privileges  as  any  other  Precinct  in  this  Province  have  or  by  law  ought 
to  have  or  enjoy.  And  they  are  also  empowered  to  assess  and  lay  a  tax 
of  two  pence  per  acre  per  annum  for  the  space  of  five  years  on  all  the 
unimproved  land  belonging  to  the  non-resident  proprietors  to  be  applied 
to  the  support  of  the  ministry  according  to  said  Report." 

Dec.  28,  1739,  the  House  of  Representatives  concurred  in  the  fore- 
going order.  And  thus,  as  the  result  of  this  and  the  two  prior  petitions, 
the  west  part  of  old  Dunstable  was- — "Erected  into  a  separate  and  distinct 
Precinct." 

The  West  Parish  of  Dunstable. 

This  Precinct  of  Old  Dunstable,  which  during  its  existence  was  known 
as  West  Dunstable,  enjoyed  the  rights  and  privileges  as  set  forth  under 
the  act  of  its  establishment  by  the  General  Court  on  the  28th  day  of 
December,  1739,  until  its  incorporation  as  a  new  township  under  the  name 
of  Hollis,  April  3,  1746. 

It  was  bounded  on  the  north,  west,  and  south  by  the  boundary  lines 
of  old  Dunstable,  and  on  the  east  by  the  Nashua  river  and  a  line  extend- 
ing northerly  therefrom  to  the  Souhegan  river;  and  included  within  its 
bounds  all  of  the  land  which,  with  the  exception  of  the  south  part  of  the 
Mile  Slip,  at  the  present  time  is  included  within  the  limits  of  Brookline 
and  Hollis  respectively. 

But  although  the  settlers  in  that  part  of  West  Dunstable  which  now 
constitutes  Brookline  were  citizens  of  the  Precinct,  and  as  such,  entitled 
to  the  enjoyment  of  all  its  privileges  and  immunities,  they  were  few  in 
number;  and  there  is  little  or  no  evidence  that  they,  or  any  one  of  them, 
so  far  as  taking  an  active  part  in  the  management  of  its  affairs  was 
concerned,  were  ever  particularly  interested  in  its  fortunes. 

The  Province  Line  of  1741. 

The  original  charters  of  the  Provinces  of  New  Hampshire  and  Massa- 
chusetts were,  of  course,  granted  by  the  King  of  England.  In  the  matter 
of  boundary  lines,  their  descriptions  were  very  indefinite;  for  the  king's 
counsellors  had  very  indefinite  knowledge  of  the  country  wherein  they 
were  granted. 


54  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

When  the  charter  of  Massachusetts  was  granted  in  1629,  the  coun- 
sellors fixed  its  north  boundary  line  as  being  three  miles  north  of,  and 
parallel  to,  the  Merrimack  river;  the  course  of  which  was  then  supposed 
to  be  west  and  east.  Afterwards  it  was  discovered  that  the  river's  longer 
course  was  north  and  south.  This  discovery  was  the  beginning  of  a  dis- 
pute between  the  two  Provinces  over  the  question  of  the  location  of  the 
boundary  line  between  them,  which  continued  for  a  period  of  twelve  or 
fifteen  years. 

The  dispute  was  finally  ended  by  the  King;  who,  in  1739-40,  issued 
a  decree  establishing  the  boundary  line.  The  line  thus  established  by  the 
King  was  surveyed  and  located  by  Richard  Hazzen  in  1740-41.  Hence 
it  is  known  as  the  Province  Line  of  1741.  By  the  establishment  of  the 
Province  Line,  Townsend,  Mass.,  lost  all  of  the  territory  which  it  had 
previously  claimed  in  New  Hampshire,  a  small  part  of  which  was  the  said 
triangular  tract  now  in  Brookline.  But,  at  the  same  time,  its  loss  was  in 
some  measure  compensated  for  by  the  fact  that  it  gained  new  territory 
at  its  northeast  corner  by  coming  into  possession  of  lands  which  the 
running  of  the  line  transferred  from  New  Hampshire  into  Massachusetts; 
the  land  thus  transferred  being  that  part  of  old  Dunstable  which  was 
located  south  of  the  new  line.  It  was  in  shape  a  scalene  triangle.  Its 
northern  boundary  line  began  at  the  point  in  Brookline  where  the  Province 
line  was  intersected  by  the  old  north  boundary  line  of  Townsend,  and 
extended  easterly  on  said  Province  line  about  two  miles.  It  was  bounded 
on  the  south  by  Groton  Plantation  and  Townsend. 

Through  this  tract  the  old  east  boundary  line  of  Townsend  was  sub- 
sequently extended  in  a  northerly  direction  for  about  one  mile  to  its  present 
northeast  corner  at  the  state  line.  The  land  in  the  tract  to  the  west  of 
the  line  thus  extended  became  a  part  of  Townsend;  that  to  the  east  of 
the  line  became  a  part  of  Groton  Plantation,  now  Pepperell,  Mass. 

Brookline  as  a  Part  of  Hollis  1746-1769. 

West  Dunstable  enjoyed  its  privileges  as  a  precinct  of  Old  Dunstable 
until  1746.  But  early  in  the  latter  year,  the  Governor  and  Council  ap- 
pointed a  board  of  five  commissioners  to  examine  all  that  part  of  Old 
Dunstable  lying  north  of  the  Province  line  and  west  of  the  Merrimack 
river  and  report  as  to  the  feasibility  of  dividing  it  into  new  townships. 
This  committee  attended  to  its  duties  and  reported.  In  accordance  with 
its  report,  soon  after  it  was  made,  all  of  that  part  of  Dunstable  lying  west 
of  the  Merrimack  river  was  divided  into  four  parts,  each  of  which  was 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  55 

incorporated  as  a  new  township  under  the  respective  names  of  Dunstable, 
Hollis,  Munson,  and  Merrimack.  The  township  of  Hollis  was  chartered 
April  3,  1746.  It  included  within  its  limits  all  that  part  of  the  present 
town  of  Brookline  which  was  originally  a  part  of  Old  Dunstable. 

From  April  3,  1746,  until  its  own  incorporation  as  a  township,  March 
30,  1769,  a  period  of  23  years,  Brookline  continued  to  constitute  a  part 
of  Hollis.  But  although  its  inhabitants  were  in  Hollis,  they  do  not  appear 
to  have  been,  either  socially,  politically,  or  ecclesiastically,  to  any  great 
extent  of  it.  They  attended  church,  to  be  sure,  in  Hollis  meeting  house, 
not  having  any  of  their  own.  But  the  roads  leading  from  their  homes  to 
the  meeting  house  were,  for  the  most  part,  mere  bridle  paths;  and  in 
such  poor  condition  as  to  render  a  trip  to  church  a  task  which  only  the 
most  devout  of  the  settlers  had  the  fortitude  to  undertake  with  any  degree 
of  regularity. 

The  same  cause— poor  roads  —  and  also  a  poverty  of  possessions, 
which  compelled  them  to  stay  at  home  and  work  their  little  clearings  for 
all  they  were  worth,  in  order  to  obtain  a  sustenance  that  would  make 
their  lives  worth  living,  were  also  undoubtedly  answerable  for  their  play- 
ing a  somewhat  inconsiderable  part  in  the  social  and  civil  affairs  of  the 
town;  which  in  those  days  centered  around  the  meeting  house  in  Hollis 
village. 

Nevertheless,  and  notwithstanding  the  disadvantages  under  which 
they  were  placed  during  this  period,  some  of  the  settlers  in  the  eastern 
part  of  Brooklin£'s  present  territory  were  at  times  more  or  less  actively 
engaged  in  the  management  of  the  town  affairs  of  Hollis.  Among  those 
thus  actively  participating  were  James  McDaniels,  who,  at  Hollis'  first 
town  meeting,  April  28,  1746,  was  elected  surveyor  of  highways,  an  office 
to  which  he  was  again  elected  in  1748;  Samuel  Douglass,  James  Joseph 
and  Randall  McDaniels,  John  and  Jonathan  Melvin,  Jasher  Wyman  and 
Isaac  Farrar;  all  of  whom  on  the  5th  day  of  August,  1746,  signed  a  re- 
monstrance directed  to  the  General  Court  against  the  proposed  location 
of  a  proposed  new  meeting  house,  as  being  too  far  away  from  their  homes 
in  the  west  part  of  the  township  to  properly  serve  their  needs. 

Early  Settlers. 

At  the  date  of  the  establishment  of  the  Province  line,  in  1741,  it  is 
very  doubtful  if  the  territory  which  now  constitutes  the  township  of 
Brookline  contained,  all  told,  more  than  ten  families  of  bona  fide  settlers; 
and  these  were  nearly  all  located  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  adjacent 


56  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

to  what  is  now  the  west  part  of  Hollis;   for  there  is  little  or  no  evidence 
that  the  southern  part  of  the  Mile  Slip  contained  settlers  prior  to  1750. 

Of  these  ten  families,  it  is  impossible  to  decide  which  was  first  to 
come.  But  so  far  as  the  dates  of  old  deeds  of  lands  located  here  and  the 
names  of  the  resident  signers  to  the  foregoing  three  petitions  for  a  new 
township  are  entitled  to  be  considered  as  evidence,  the  honor  of  having 
been  the  first  settler  in  Raby  might  have  been  claimed  with  equal  pro- 
priety by  any  one  of  them.  In  the  following  brief  statements  is  embodied 
such  information  as  the  writer  has  been  able  to  obtain  relative  to  these 
early  settlers  in  town. 


Farley. 

CAPT.  SAMUEL  FARLEY  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  second 
of  the  three  foregoing  mentioned  petitions  for  a  new  township,  in  1738. 
At  that  time  he  was  a  resident  in  that  part  of  Old  Dunstable  which  is  now 
a  part  of  Brookline,  coming  there  from  Bedford.  Mass.  His  log  cabin 
was  located  about  one  mile  south  of  the  village  main  street  en  the  east 
side  of  the  highway  leading  from  Brookline  to  Pepperell,  Mass.  Its  site 
at  the  present  time  is  occupied  by  a  dwelling  house  which  he  erected 
prior  to  the  opening  of  the  Revolution,  and  which  is  believed  to  be  the 
oldest  framed  building  standing  in  town.  At  the  date  of  this  writing, 
this  house  is  owned  and  occupied  by  Elmer  Wallace.  For  many  years 
past  it  has  been  known  as  the  "Old  Samuel  Farley  place."  It  is  famed, 
locally,  as  having  been  the  birthplace  of  Honorable  Benjamin  Mark  Far- 
ley; for  many  years  a  distinguished  member  of  the  Hillsborough  County 
Bar,  and  also  of  George  Frederic  Farley,  a  lawyer  late  of  Groton,  Mass., 
who  were  grandchildren  of  Captain  Samuel. 

In  1768,  he  prepared  the  petition  to  the  legislature  in  which  the  in- 
habitants of  the  west  part  of  Hollis  and  the  south  part  of  the  Mile  Slip 
asked  to  be  incorporated  into  a  new  and  separate  township;  and,  in  the 
following  year,  acting  as  agent  for  the  petitioners,  he  was  chiefly  instru- 
mental in  procuring  the  passage  by  the  legislature  of  the  act  in  which 
the  prayer  of  the  petition  was  granted  by  the  incorporation  of  Raby. 
The  same  year,  1769,  he  issued  the  call  for,  and  presided  as  moderator 
over,  the  first  town  meeting  to  be  holden  in  the  new  township.  (See 
Family  Records,  post. ) 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  57 

McDaniels.* 

James,  Joseph  and  Randal  McDaniels  were  brothers.  Their  names 
appear  as  signers  of  the  third  of  the  foregoing  petitions  for  a  new  town- 
ship; all  three  of  them  being  at  that  time  residents  in  West  Dunstable, 
now  Brookline;  coming  there  prior  to  1739,  from  Groton,  Mass.  They 
settled  in  West  Dunstable  on  land  which  was  conveyed  to  James  Mc- 
Daniels, the  eldest  of  the  three,  by  Maj.  Joseph  Blanchard  by  his  deed, 
dated  July  17,  1739,  and  recorded  in  Middlesex,  Mass.,  records,  Vol.  XL, 
page  11. 

James  McDaniels'  house,  at  the  time  of  his  settlement  here,  was 
located  about  one  mile  north  of  the  present  village  main  street  on  the 
west  side  of  the  east  highway  to  Milford.  It  was,  of  course,  a  log  cabin. 
Its  site  was  subsequently  occupied  by  a  framed  dwelling  house  erected  by 
McDaniels,  which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1850-51;  it  being  at  that  date 
owned  and  occupied  by  the  late  Col.  Artemas  Wright.  He  was  the  only 
one  of  the  three  brothers  who  left  children  surviving  him;  and  from  him 
are  descended  not  only  all  the  McDaniels,  or  Daniels,  as  they  now  style 
themselves,  who  since  his  day  and  generation  have  lived,  and  at  the  pres- 
ent time  are  living,  in  this  town,  but  also  many  others  of  the  same  name 
who  in  the  years  gone  by  have  emigrated  from  Brookline  to  various  local- 
ities in  New  England  and  elsewhere.  He  died  April  11,  1801,  aged  84 
years,  and  is  buried  in  the  Pond  cemetery7.  His  family  record  is  given  on 
a  subsequent  page. 

RANDAL  McDANlELS'  log  cabin  in  Raby  was  located  about  one- 
half  mile  north  of  the  village  Main  street  on  the  west  side  of  the  north 
highway  to  Hollis;  its  exact  location  being  a  few  rods  northeast  of  the 
V  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  latter  highway  with  the  east  highway 
from  Brookline  to  Milford.  According  to  the  family  traditions,  he  was 
unmarried.  These  traditions  say,  further,  that  he  died  about  1752,  and 
was  buried  in  the  cemetery  in  the  wocds,  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  east- 
erly of  the  eld  Dickey  place,  now  owned  by  Mrs.  E.  J.  Rideout. 

JOSEPH  McDANlELS  remained  in  Raby  but  a  short  time  after  its 
incorporation,  ere  he  removed  from  town.  Where  he  went,  or  what  finally 
became  of  him  are,  as  yet,  unanswered  questions. 


*  Original  spelling  of  the  name  as  written  in  said  Blanchard  deed.  On  the  town  records  the  name 
is  spelled  in  several  different  ways;  among  which  are  McDaniels,  McDonald,  McDaniel,  McDonel,  and 
Daniels. 


58  HISTORY    OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKL1NE 

SAMUEL  DOUGLASS  was  a  settler  in  West  Dunstable,  now  Brook- 
line,  as  early  as  1735,  coming  there  frcm  Townsend,  Mass.,  where  he  was 
the  immigrant  settler  of  his  family;  coming  there  from  Scotland  in  1731; 
his  name  appearing  as  grantee  in  recorded  deeds  of  lands  in  that  town  as 
early  as  Dec.  2,  of  the  latter  year. 

In  1735  he  purchased  of  Col.  Joseph  Blanchard  a  tract  of  land  located 
in  the  southwest  part  of  old  Dunstable ;  of  which  the  deed  of  conveyance 
to  him  is  recorded  in  Middlesex  records,  Vol.  36,  page  95.  Upon  this  tract 
of  land,  soon  after  its  purchase,  he  built  a  log  cabin,  and,  with  his  family, 
took  up  his  residence. 

At  this  time,  old  Dunstable  included  within  its  bounds  a  considerable 
portion  of  territory  which  now  constitutes  the  northeast  part  of  Towns- 
end,  Mass.;  and  which  was  transferred  from  the  former  to  the  latter  town 
by  the  establishment  of  the  Province  line  in  1741.  The  lands  thus 
transferred  included  the  greater  part  of  Nissiquassick  Hill,  now  known  as 
Townsend  Hill ;  upon  the  northern  slope  of  which  in  Brookline  the  Doug- 
lass cabin  was  located.  Its  site  at  the  present  time  is  marked  by  an  an- 
cient cellar  hole,  still  in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation,  which  is  located 
in  Brookline  about  midway  of  the  hill's  ascent,  on  the  east  side  of,  and 
about  thirty  rods  distant  from,  the  highway  which  leads  from  South 
Brookline  to  the  summit  of  the  same,  and  a  few  rods  north  of  the  state 
line.  The  establishment  of  the  Province  line  left  him  still  an  inhabitant 
of  Dunstable.  In  1742,  his  name  appears  as  one  of  forty-three  citizens 
of  the  West  Parish  of  Dunstable  who  signed  the  call  to  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Emerson,  the  first  minister  of  the  parish.  In  1746,  by  the  incorporation 
of  the  West  Parish  of  Dunstable  as  a  new  township,  under  the  name  of 
Hollis,  he  became  a  citizen  of  the  latter  town ;  and  as  such,  on  the  5th  day  of 
August  of  that  year,  in  company  with  Stephen  Ames,  William  Adams, 
Isaac  Farrar,  James,  Joseph  and  Randall  McDaniels,  the  majority  of 
whom  were  afterwards  citizens  of  Brookline,  he  signed  a  remonstrance 
against  the  proposed  location  of  the  second  meeting  house  in  Hollis.  In 
1769,  when  the  west  part  of  Hollis  and  part  of  the  Mile  Slip  were  incor- 
porated as  a  township  under  the  name  of  Raby,  his  farm  was  included  in 
that  part  of  Hollis  which  was  taken  for  the  new  township,  and  he  thus 
became  a  citizen  of  the  latter  town. 

He  continued  to  reside  in  Raby  for  several  years  after  its  incorpora- 
tion. His  name  appears  as  a  resident  of  this  town  in  the  United  States 
census  of  1790.  About  1792-1793,  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Little- 
ton, N.  H.,  where  his  descendants  are  numerous  at  the  present  time,  and 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  59 

where  tradition  says  he  died  and  is  buried,  although  his  grave  is  unmarked 
by  any  tombstone. 

His  family  record  is  given  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  family  records 
and  genealogies,  post. 

JASHER  WYMAN  was  born  in  Woburn,  Mass.,  Jan.  6,  1692.  The 
Woburn  records  give  the  names  of  his  parents  as  John  and  Hannah  (Far- 
rar)  Wyman.  At  the  time  of  the  establishment  of  the  Province  line,  in 
1741,  he  was  living  in  the  north-east  part  of  Townsend,  Mass.  By  the 
establishemnt  of  the  line  he  was  transferred  from  Massachusetts  into 
New  Hampshire.  His  house  was  located  in  that  part  of  the  southwest 
part  of  old  Dunstable  wThich  is  now  a  part  of  Brookline;  its  site  being 
near  that  now  occupied  by  the  dwelling  house  of  Deacon  Perley  L.  Pierce 
in  South  Brookline.  He  owned  and  operated  a  sawmill  which  was  located 
on  Stickney  brook,  and  of  which  it  is  claimed  that  it  was  the  first  saw- 
mill to  be  erected  within  the  limits  of  Brookline.  Mr.  Wyman  continued 
to  reside  in  West  Dunstable  for  several  years  after  his  involuntary  intro- 
duction into  its  territory.  He  certainly  was  a  resident  as  late  as  1746,  as 
in  the  latter  year  his  name  appears  on  the  West  Dunstable  records  as  one 
of  the  signers  to  a  remonstrance  against  the  proposed  location  of  the 
second  meeting  house  of  that  town. 

Ithimar  B.  Sawtelle,  in  his  history  of  Townsend,  Mass.,  says  that  he 
removed  from  West  Dunstable  to  Townsend  Harbor  soon  after  the  es- 
tablishment of  the  Province  line,  and  that  he  died  there.  Other  authori- 
ties, however,  claim  that  he  eventually  removed  to  and  died  in  Woburn. 
He  was  related  by  marriage  to  the  Prescotts  of  Pepperell,  Mass.  He  has, 
so  far  as  known,  no  descendants  in  this  town  at  the  present  time. 

ISAAC  FARRAR  in  1741  was  living  in  West  Dunstable,  now  Brook- 
line, coming  there  from  Woburn,  Mass.,  where  he  was  born  April  2,  1702. 
He  was  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  (Wescott)  Farrar.  His  house  in  Brook- 
line was  located  just  north  of  the  state  line  and  west  of  the  Jasher  Wyman 
sawmill.     Its  site  cannot  to-day  be  identified. 

The  late  Nathan  Farrar,  of  this  towrn,  deceased,  was  probably  one  of 
his  descendants,  and  he  is  represented  here  at  the  present  time  by  his 
great-great-great-grandson,  Frank  Farrar,  of  South  Brookline. 

JONATHAN  MELVIN  was  a  son  of  John  and  Hannah  (Lewis) 
Melvin  of  Concord,  Mass.  He  came  from  Concord  to  old  Dunstable  and 
settled  in  its  west  part  at  some  time  between  the  years  1738  and  1741. 


60  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINF. 

In  1738  his  name  appears  on  the  second  of  the  foregoing  three  petitions 
as  one  of  the  non-resident  signers.  But  at  that  time  he  was  already  a 
land  owner  here;  as  appears  by  a  deed  of  land  dated  in  1738  and  recorded 
in  Middlesex  County  records,  Vol.  39,  page  421;  in  which  he  is  named  as 
grantee  from  Daniel  Raymond  of  certain  lands  in  the  southwest  part  of 
Dunstable.  His  log  cabin  was  located  in  the  northeast  part  of  Raby 
near  the  west  boundary  line  of  Hollis.  How  long  he  resided  here  is  un- 
known. But  he  was  certainly  here  in  1746;  for  in  that  year  his  name 
appears  on  the  Hollis  records  as  one  of  the  signers  of  the  remonstrance 
against  the  proposed  location  of  the  meeting  house.  He  must  have 
removed  from  Raby  before  its  incorporation,  as  his  name  does  not 
appear  on  its  records. 

JOHN  MELVIN,  a  brother  of  the  aforesaid  Jonathan  Melvin,  set- 
tled in  the  west  part  of  old  Dunstable,  now  Brookline,  at  the  same  time 
as  did  the  latter.  His  residence,  like  his  brother's,  was  in  the  northeast 
part  of  the  town.  According  to  the  West  Dunstable  records,  he  was 
residing  here  as  late  as  1746.  It  is  not  known  when  he  left  the  town  nor 
whither  he  went. 

JOSEPH  WHITCOMB  in  1739  was  living  in  the  northeast  part  of 
old  Dunstable,  now  Brookline,  near  the  Hollis  line.  He  was  probably  a 
descendant,  possibly  a  son,  of  Jonathan  Whitcomb  of  Lancaster,  Mass.; 
who,  as  early  as  1730,  was  the  proprietor  of  a  tract  of  land  now  located  in 
Brookline,  which  he  purchased  of  one  J.  Moore.  (See  Middlesex  Records, 
Vol.  32,  page  90.)  Joseph,  or  possibly  one  of  his  sons  of  the  same  name, 
was  living  in  Raby  as  late  as  1790,  as  his  name  appears  in  the  list  of  names 
of  its  inhabitants  as  given  in  the  United  States  Census  of  that  year. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  61 


CHAPTER    IV. 

The  Town  as  a  Part  of  Hollis,  1746-1769. 

Dissatisfaction  Among  the  Inhabitants  in  the  West  Part  of  Hollis — 
Unsuccessful  Attempts  to  Procure  a  Division  of  the  Town — Ap- 
pointment of  Samuel  Farley  as  Their  Agent  to  Petition  the  General 
Court  for  a  Division  of  the  Township — First  and  Second  Petitions 
for  a  Charter — Charter  of  the  Town  of  Raby — Area  of  Raby  as 
First  Incorporated — Subsequent  Changes  in  Its  Area — Loss  of 
Land  in  Its  Northwest  Corner  in  1794 — Origin  of  the  Name  of 
Raby. 

For  a  period  of  twenty-two  years  from  the  date  of  the  incorporation 
of  Hollis  in  1746,  the  inhabitants  of  its  western  part  continued  faithful 
in  their  allegiance  to  the  town.  But  during  that  entire  period  they  con- 
tinued to  live  under  the  conditions  described  in  a  prior  chapter.  For, 
although  they  made  many  attempts  to  obtain  pecuniary  aid  from  their 
more  prosperous  fellow-citizens  in  the  east  part  of  the  township,  both  by 
causing  articles  looking  to  that  end  to  be  inserted  in  the  warrants  for  the 
annual  town  meetings,  and  also,  by  direct  appeals  to  their  sympathies, 
the  articles  were  generally  defeated.  Or,  if  allowed  to  be  passed,  were 
changed,  altered  and  amended,  both  in  matter  and  form,  to  the  extent 
that  the  resulting  appropriations  were  so  insignificant  as  to  fall  far  short 
of  the  amount  necessary  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  purposes  for  which 
they  were  originally  intended  to  be  used;  and  their  sympathetic  appeals 
to  their  neighbors  were  either  unheeded  by  them  or,  having  been  politely 
received  and  acknowledged,  were  immediately  forgotten. 

Thus  matters  went  on  until  the  year  1764;  when,  apparently  thor- 
oughly disgusted  with  the  condition  of  their  affairs,  and  just  as  thoroughly 
convinced  that  they  could  expect  no  change  for  the  better  so  long  as  they 
continued  to  retain  their  connections  with  a  town  in  which,  although 
nominally  citizens,  they  were  in  reality  in  the  condition  of  that  class  of 
outsiders  known  as  "Non-resident  proprietors"; — subject  to  taxation,  but, 
save  to  a  limited  extent,  exempt  from  its  benefits, — the  "west-enders" 
determined,  if  possible,  to  sever  their  connection  with  the  mother  town, 


62  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

and  to  set  up  housekeeping  for  themselves  in  a  new  township  to  be  formed 
out  of  that  part  of  its  territory,— with  as  much  more  as  they  might  be 
able  to  obtain, — which  as  citizens  they  had  hitherto  occupied. 

Accordingly  they  caused  an  article  calling  for  a  division  of  the  town 
to  be  inserted  in  the  warrant  for  the  annual  town  meeting  in  March,  1764. 
The  majority  of  the  voters  were  opposed  to  any  division  of  the  township 
which  would  result  in  changing  the  location  of  the  meeting  house  from  its 
position  in  the  exact  center  of  a  line  drawn  through  the  centre  of  the 
town  from  east  to  west;  and,  accordingly,  when  the  article  came  to  be 
considered  in  town  meeting,  it  was  disposed  of  by  the  following  vote : — 

"To  measure  East  from  the  meeting  house  to  the  town  line  and  then 
to  measure  West  from  the  meeting-house  the  same  length  of  line — and 
all  West  by  North  and  South  line  to  be  set  off  to  the  One  Mile  Strip  so 
called."  Such  a  division  as  that  contemplated  by  this  vote  was  unsatis- 
factory to  the  west-enders,  and  they  declined  to  accept  it.  But,  realizing 
that  they  were  in  a  hopeless  minority,  they  resolved  to  defer  further  action 
at  that  time,  and  wait  for  a  more  favorable  opportunity  in  which  to 
accomplish  their  purpose. 

In  1768  they  appear  to  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  the  time 
for  further  action  had  come.  For  in  the  warrant  for  the  annual  town- 
meeting  of  that  year  there  again  appeared  an  article  calling  for  a  division 
of  the  township.  But  upon  the  articles  being  considered  the  majority 
disposed  of  it  by  a  vote,  or  resolution,  precisely  similar  in  its  terms  to 
that  by  which  they  disposed  of  the  similar  article  in  the  warrant  for  the 
town  meeting  in  1764. 

Disappointed,  but  not  disheartened,  by  this,  their  second  failure  to 
obtain  the  consent  of  their  fellow-citizens  to  what  they  considered  an 
equitable  division  of  the  township,  and  convinced  of  the  futility  of  their 
making  any  further  efforts  along  the  lines  in  which  they  had  been  moving, 
the  west-enders  resolved  to  appeal  to  the  state  authorities  for  a  solution 
of  the  matter  in  question;  and  accordingly,  to  that  end,  on  the  6th  day 
of  January,  1768,  they  united  with  the  inhabitants  of  the  Mile  Slip  in 
executing  the  following  paper: 

"Appointment  of  Samuel  Farley  Agent 

We  the  Subscribers  Inhabitants  of  the  Westwardly  part  of  the  Town 
of  Hollis  and  the  Inhabitants  &  the  free-holders  of  the  Tract  of  Land 
call'd  the  Mile  Slip,  in  the  Province  of  New  Hampshire  do  constitute 
and  Appoint  Samuel  Farley  of  Hollis  Gent  to  be  our  Agent  Attorney 
and  Trustee  in  our  name  and  Stead  to  Petition  His  Excellency  the  Gov- 
ernor, the  Honour'ble  His  Majesties  Counsel  &  House  of  Representatives, 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


63 


that  we  the  Inhabitants  afores'd  may  be  set  off  and  Incorporated  as  a 
Distinct  Town. 
January  6th,  1768. 


George  Russell, 
Archibald  Mcintosh, 
James  McDonell, 
Thomas  Asten, 
Nathaniel  Patten, 
Sam'l  Brown, 
Isaac  Stevens, 
Simeon  Blanchard, 
Joshua  Smith, 
Abigill  Spaulding, 
James  Campbell, 


Samuel  Russell 
Daniel  Shed, 
William  Blanchard, 
Benjamin  Shattuck, 
James  Conek, 
Elexander  Mcintosh, 
John  Cummings, 
James  Nutting, 
Fra's  Buttrick, 
Henry  Spaulding, 
Clark  Brown, 


Mathew  Wallace, 
Jonathan  Powers, 
Isaac  Shattuck, 
Swallow  Tucker, 
Robert  Seaver, 
Peter  Honey, 
Sam'l  Farley, 
Rose  Dickey, 
William  Spaulding, 
Robert  Campbell, 
James  Nutting,  Jun. 


Mr.  Farley  accepted  the  foregoing  appointment,  and  on  the  19th 
day  of  May  in  the  same  year,  drew  up  and  presented  to  the  General  Court 
a  petition  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy: — 


''Petition  for  the  Formation  of  a  New  Town. 

"To  His  Excellency  John  Wentworth  Esq.  Captain  General,  Governor, 
&  Commander  in  chief  in  and  over  his  Majesty's  Province  of  New  Hamp- 
shire And  to  the  Honorable  his  Majesty's  Councel  for  said  Province. 

"Humbly  sheweth  Samuel  Farley  of  Hollis  in  said  Province,  in  behalf 
of  himself  and  sundry  of  the  Inhabitants  living  in  the  westerly  side  of 
said  Hollis  &c  in  a  Tract  of  Land  adjoining  to  the  same,  called  the  Mile 
Slip;  that  those  persons  live  very  Remote  from  the  Meeting  House  in 
said  Hollis,  that  to  attend  the  Public  Worship  of  God  there,  is  attended 
with  much  Travil — Whereupon  your  Petitioner  prays  in  behalf  of  said 
Inhabitants  that  the  westerly  part  of  said  Hollis  may  be  set  off  &  Joined 
to  the  Tract  of  Land  called  the  Mile  Slip  &  be  made  a  Town  (or  a  seper- 
ate  Parish  from  Hollis)  or  otherwise  as  Your  Excellency  &  Honors  shall 
see  meet,  &  your  Petitioner,  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray, 
Dated  May  19th,  1768." 


SAMUEL  FARLEY. 


64  HISTORY  'OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

For  some  unknown  reason,  the  Governor  and  Council  failed  to  act 
upon  this  petition;  and  the  following  year  Mr.  Farley  prepared  and  filed 
with  the  authorities  at  Concord  a  new  petition,  as  follows: — 

"Petition  for  the  Formation  of  a  New  Town,  1769. 

"To  His  Excellency  John  Wentworth  Esq.,  Captain  General,  Gov- 
ernor &  Commander  in  chief  in  &  over  his  Majestys  Frovince  of  New 
Hampshire  And  to  the  Honourable  his  Majestys  Councel  for  said  Province 

"The  Petition  of  Samuel  Farley,  in  behalf  of  himself,  &  a  number  of 
the  Inhabitants,  in  the  westerly  part  of  Holies,  &  the  Mile  Strip  so  called, 
in  said  Province  humbly  sheweth,  that  your  Petitioners,  in  the  said  west- 
erly part  of  Holies,  are  so  remote  from  the  Centre  of  said  Town,  by  reason 
of  the  distance,  that  they  cannot  attend  Town  Privileges,  without  great 
difficulty  &  expence,  &  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Mile  Slip  aforesaid, 
are  not  incorporated,  but  are  destitute  of  Town  priviledges,  wherefore 
your  Petitioner  Prays  as  aforesaid,  that  your  Excellency  &  Honours  would 
take  of  the  westerly  part  of  Hollis  aforesaid  &  Incorporate  the  same  to- 
gether with  the  Mile  Strip,  into  a  Seperate  or  distinct  Town,  with  the 
same  Priviledges  of  other  Towns  &  your  Petitioner  as  in  Duty  Bound 
shall  ever  pray. 

SAMUEL  FARLEY." 

The  petition  was  accompanied  with  a  plan  of  the  proposed  new 
township,  and  also  with  a  description  of  its  boundary  lines,  as  follows: 

"Boundaries  of  Raby    1769. 

"Beginning  at  a  Stake  &  Stones  in  the  South  Side  Line  of  the  Town 
of  Holies  which  is  also  the  Province  Line  which  Stake  stands  about  two 
miles  due  East  frcm  the  south-west  corner  of  said  Holies,  thence  running 
north  by  the  Needle  cross  the  said  Town  to  one  other  Stake  &  Stones 
standing  in  the  Ncrth  Side  Line  of  Said  Holies,  leaving  the  meeting  House 
in  said  Holies  in  the  middle  between  this  Line  &  the  East  Side  Line  of 
Holies,  then  running  from  the  last  mentioned  Stake  Westerly  by  Holies 
to  the  North  West  Corner  thereof  then  continuing  that  Line  cross  a 
Tract  call'd  the  Mile  Slip  to  the  easterly  side  Line  of  Mason — thence 
turning  off  &  running  south  by  the  Needle  on  the  easterly  side  Line  of 
Mason-  afores'd  to  the  Province  Line  then  due  east  partly  on  the  Province 
Line  &  partly  on  the  South  Side  Line  of  Hollis  afore  said  to  Stake  bgan 
at." 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  65 

This  petition,  although  it  was  strongly  opposed  by  the  majority  of 
the  people  of  Hollis,  was  successful;  and  on  the  30th  day  of  March,  1769, 
the  Governor  and  Council  incorporated  the  new  town,  in  accordance  with 
the  above  described  boundaries,  under  the  name  of  Raby. 

It  is  to  be  noted  at  this  point  that  the  description  of  the  boundary 
lines  of  the  proposed  new  town  which  accompanied  the  foregoing  de- 
scribed petition  of  1769,  are  precisely  the  same  as  the  boundary  lines  of 
Raby,  as  described  in  its  charter.  Yet  for  a  period  of  seventeen  years 
immediately  following  Raby's  incorporation,  Hollis  laid  claim  to  and  at- 
tempted to  exercise  jurisdiction  over,  a  part  of  the  territory  which  was 
clearly  and  explicitly  included  in  Raby's  limits  as  described  in  its  charter; 
the  same  being  a  tract  of  land  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  width,  extending 
its  entire  length  north  and  south,  and  located  in  its  eastern  part,  con- 
tiguous to  Hollis. 

Hollis'  claim  of  jurisdiction  over  this  strip  of  land  was  founded  upon 
no  other  reason  than  that  of  a  desire  upon  the  part  of  its  inhabitants  to 
keep  the  location  of  their  meeting-house  in  the  exact  centre  of  a  line 
running  east  and  west  through  the  township.  During  this  entire  period 
of  seventeen  years  the  question  of  jurisdiction  was  a  matter  in  dispute 
between  two  towns,  and  the  land  itself  was  known  as  the  "disputed  teri- 
ritory." 

The  question  of  jurisdiction  was  finally  settled  in  favor  of  Raby  by 
an  act  of  legislature  in  1786.  But  that  is  another  story.  It  will  be  told 
later  on. 

Charter  of  Raby. 

Province  of      ^  George  the  Third  by  the  grace  of  God  of  Great  Britain 
New  Hampshire  V  France  and  Ireland  King  defender  of  the  Faith  and  so 
J  forth. 

[L.  S.]         To  all  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come,  Greeting. 

Whereas  our  Loyal  Subjects  in  habitants  of  the  westerly  part  of  the 
Town  of  Holies  and  the  Mile  Slip  so  called  in  our  Province  aforesaid 
Have  humbly  Petitioned  and  requested  us  that  they  may  be  erected  and 
incorporated  into  a  Township  and  enfranchised  with  the  same  Powers  and 
Privileges  which  other  Towns  within  our  said  Province  by  Law  have  and 
Enjoy  and  it  appearing  unto  us  to  be  conducive  to  the  general  good  of 
our  said  Province  as  well  as  of  said  Inhabitants  in  particular  by  main- 
taining good  order  and  encouraging  the  culture  of  the  Land  that  the 


66  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

same  should  be  done — Know  Ye  that  we  of  our  special  grace  certain 
knowledge  and  for  the  encouragement  and  promotion  of  the  good  pur- 
poses and  Ends  aforesaid  (by  and  with  the  advise  of  our  Trusty  and 
well-beloved  John  Wentworth  Esq:  our  Governor  and  Commander  in 
chief,  and  of  our  Council  for  the  said  Province  of  New  Hampshire)  have 
Erected  and  ordain'd  and  by  these  Presents  for  us  our  heirs  &  Successors 
do  will  and  ordain  that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  aforesaid  Tract  of  Land, 
and  others  who  shall  improve  and  inhabit  thereon  hereafter,  the  same 
being  butted  and  bounded  as  follows  viz:  Beginning  at  a  Stake  and 
Stones  in  the  South  side  line  of  the  Town  of  Holies,  (which  is  also  the 
Province  Line)  which  stake  stands  about  two  miles  due  East  from  the 
South  West  corner  of  said  Hollis,  thence  running  North  by  the  Needle, 
cross  the  said  Town  to  one  other  stake  and  Stones  standing  on  the  North 
side  line  of  said  Holies,  leaving  the  meeting  house  in  the  middle  between 
this  line,  and  the  East  side  line  of  Holies  then  running  from  the  last  men- 
tion'd  stake  Westerly  by  Holies  to  the  North  west  corner  thereof  then 
continuing  that  line  'cross  a  tract  of  land  call'd  the  mile  slip  to  the  East- 
erly side  line  of  Mason,  then  turning  off  and  running  South  by  the  needle 
on  the  Easterly  side  line  of  Mason  aforesaid  to  the  Province  line  then 
due  east  partly  on  the  Province  Line  and  partly  on  the  South  side  line 
of  Holies  aforesaid  to  the  stake  began  at.  Be  and  they  are  hereby  de- 
clared to  be  a  Town  Corporate  and  are  hereby  erected  and  Incorporated 
into  a  Body  Politic  and  corporate  to  have  continuance  for  ever  by  the 
name  of  Raby  with  all  the  Powers  and  Authorities,  Priviledges,  Im- 
munities and  Franchises  which  any  other  Towns  in  said  Province  by 
Law  hold  and  enjoy — to  the  said  Inhabitants  or  who  shall  hereafter  in- 
habit there  &  their  Successors  for  ever — Always  reserving  to  us  our  heirs 
and  Successors  all  while  pine  Trees  that  are  or  shall  be  found  growing  and 
being  on  said  Tract  of  land,  fit  for  the  use  of  our  Royal  Navy,  reserving 
also  to  us  our  heirs  and  Successors,  the  Power  and  right  of  dividing  said 
Town,  when  it  shall  appear  necessary  &  convenient  for  the  Inhabitants 
thereof.  Provided  Nevertheless  &  tis  hereby  declar'd  that  this  charter 
and  Grant,  is  not  intended  and  shall  not  in  any  maner  be  construed  to 
affect  the  Private  property  of  the  Soil  within  the  limits  aforesaid  and  as 
the  several  Towns  within  our  said  Province,  are  by  the  Laws  thereof, 
enabled  and  Authoriz'd  to  assemble  and  by  the  Majority  of  the  Voters 
present  to  choose  all  such  Officers  &  transact  such  affairs  as  in  the  said 
Laws  are  declar'd — We  do  by  these  Presents  nominate  and  appoint  Sam- 
uel Farley  to  call  the  first  meeting  of  said  Inhabitants  to  be  held  within 
the  said  Town  at  any  time  within  Thirty  days  from  the  date  hereof, 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  67 

giving  legal  notice  of  the  Time  and  design  of  holding  such  meeting,  after 
which  the  annual  meeting  in  said  Town  shall  be  held  for  the  choice  of 
said  Officers  and  the  Purposes  aforesaid  on  the  first  Wednesday  of  March 
annually. 

In  testimony  whereof  we  have  caused  the  Seal  of  our  said  Province 
to  be  hereunto  affixed  Witness  John  Wentworth  Esq  our  aforesaid  Governor 
and  Commander  in  chief  the  30th  day  of  March  in  the  9th  year  of  our 
Reign  Anno  domini  1769. 

J.   WENTWORTH. 
By  his  Excellency's  Comand 
with  advice  of  Council 

T.   ATKINSON   Jun'r  Sec'ry." 

Original  Area  of  Raby,  and  Loss  of  Territory  in  1794. 

As  constituted  under  its  charter,  Brookline  contained  about  seven- 
teen square  miles.  Its  dimensions  remained  without  change  until  1794. 
In  1794,  however,  at  the  incorporation  of  Milford  one  square  mile  of  its 
territory  was  taken  out  of  its  northwest  corner  and  transferred  into  the 
territory  of  the  latter  town;  of  which  it  has  ever  since  remained  a  part. 

By  the  transfer  of  this  square  mile  of  land  as  above  stated,  Brook- 
line's  area  was  reduced  from  seventeen  to  sixteen  square  miles;  an  area 
which  at  the  present  time  it  still  retains.  A  diligent  search  on  the  part 
of  the  writer  has  failed  to  disclose  any  satisfactory  reason  for  the  transfer 
of  this  tract  of  land  from  Brookline  to  Milford.  But  the  process  by  which 
the  transfer  was  made,  which  was  very  simple  and  so  far  as  known  per- 
fectly legitimate,  appears  to  have  been  as  follows : 

By  an  examination  of  the  charter  of  Raby  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
town's  north  boundary  line  (which  was  identical  with  the  north  boundary 
line  of  Hollis)  ran  "Westerly  by  Hollis'  north  boundary  line  to  the  north- 
westerly corner  thereof ;  then  continuing  that  line  across  a  tract  called 
the  mile  slip  to  the  easterly  side  line  of  Mason;  thence  turning  and  run- 
ning due  south  by  the  Mason  line  to  the  Province  line." 

The  northern  boundary  line  of  Hollis  ran  South  80  degrees  East. 
A  continuation  of  that  line  in  a  westerly  direction  would  have  crossed 
and,  so  far  as  Raby's  charter  was  concerned,  did  cross  the  Mile  Slip  so 
as  to  include  this  transferred  piece  of  land  within  its  bounds. 

When  Milford  was  incorporated  in  1794  its  south  boundary  line  from 
east  to  west  was  identical  with  the  north  boundary  line  of  Brookline 
until  it  reached  the  east  boundary  line  of  the  Mile  Slip,  where,  instead 


68  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

of  continuing  on  and  crossing  the  slip  as  did  the  Brookline  line,  it  turned 
and  ran  due  south  along  the  west  boundary  line  of  Old  Dunstable  for 
one  mile;  and  then  turning  again  crossed  the  Mile  Slip  by  a  line  parallel 
to  and  one  mile  south  of  the  point  where  the  same  was  originally  crossed 
by  the  north  boundary  line  of  Brookline. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  by  the  terms  of  their  respective  charters 
this  square  of  land  was  included  in  the  area  of  each  of  these  towns  at  the 
time  of  their  several  incorporations. 

But  the  charter  of  Brookline  ante-dated  that  of  Milford  by  a  period 
of  twenty -five  years,  and  therefore  as  a  matter  of  right  it  would  seem  that 
this  square  of  land  should  now  be  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  former 
town.  But  as  Milford  under  its  charter  rights  took  immediate  possession 
of,  and  has  ever  since  held  the  same,  her  right  to  its  possession  acquired 
by  adverse  possession  under  "color  of  title,"  is  probably  too  strong  to  be 
thrown  down,  even  if  Brookline  should  be  disposed  to  question  it. 

RABY  was  named  after  a  town  of  the  same  name  in  the  county  of 
Durham  in  the  north  part  of  England  from  which  some  of  its  early  settlers 
are  said  to  have  come. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  G9 


CHAPTER    V. 

Raby. 

1769-1786. 

First  Town  Meeting — First  Board  of  Town  Officers — Second  Town- 
Meeting — First  Public  Building,  a  Cattle  Pound — First  Appropri- 
ation for  Highways — Second  and  Third  Cattle  Pounds — First  and 
Last  Tithing  Men — First  Highway  Accepted  by  the  Town — First 
List  of  Rate  Payers — First  Pond  Bridge — Straightening  of  High- 
way on  West  Side  of  Meeting-House  Hill — Second  Pond  Bridge, 
1808— Third  Pond  Bridge,  1812-1814— Fourth  Pond  Bridge,  1843 
— First  Appropriation  for  Public  Schools — Highway  from  Douglass 
Brook  to  Benjamin  Shattuck's  House  Accepted. 

On  the  11th  day  of  April.  1769,  Samuel  Farley,  who,  as  the  agent  of 
its  inhabitants,  had  been  chiefly  instrumental  in  procuring  the  passage 
by  the  General  Court  of  the  Act  by  which  Raby  was  incorporated  and 
who  by  the  terms  of  its  charter  was  duly  authorized  to  act  in  the  premises, 
issued  the  call  for  the  first  town  meeting  of  its  citizens,  as  follows : 

"Province  of  New  Hampshire 
Hillsborough,  ss. 

By  virtue  of  a  charter  obtained  for  incorporating  the  westerly  part  of 
Hollis  and  part  of  the  mile  slip  into  a  town  by  the  name  of  Raby  and 
also  for  the  subscriber  to  caull  the  first  meeting  for  the  choice  of  Town 
officers  and  other  Affairs  necessary  to  be  acted  upon  Said  day  I  do  hereby 
notify  the  town  of  Raby  that  they  meet  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Cram 
in  sd  Raby  on  Wednesday  the  twenty  sixth  Day  of  April  at  ten  of  the 
clock  in  the  forenoon  then  and  there  to  make  choice  of  Town  officers  for 
the  present  year  and  to  act  upon  any  other  matters  that  the  town  may 
think  proper  when  meet. 

Given  under  my  hand  at  Raby  this  11th  Day  of  April  1769. 

SAMUEL  FARLEY." 


70  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

In  accord  with  this  call,  the  inhabitants  met  at  the  designated  time 
and  place.  Lieutenant  Farley  called  the  meeting  to  order,  and  officiated 
as  moderator.  The  only  business  transacted  was  a  vote  to  accept  the 
charter,  and  the  election  of  the  first  board  of  town  officers,  as  follows: 
Selectmen,  James  Conneck,  William  Blanchard  and  Alexander  Mcintosh; 
town  clerk,  James  Conneck;  town  treasurer,  Robert  Campbell;  constable, 
Samuel  Brown. 

Concerning  Samuel  Cram,  at  whose  house  this  first  town  meeting 
was  holden,  it  may  be  said  that  the  above  is  the  first  and  last  time  that 
his  name  is  mentioned  in  the  records.  Who  he  was,  from  whence  he  came 
to  Raby,  and  whither  he  went  when  he  departed  from  it,  are  questions 
which  are  answered  neither  by  record  nor  tradition.  There  is,  however, 
a  tradition  to  the  effect  that  the  stream  in  the  northwest  part  of  the 
township.which  at  the  present  time  is  known  as  Robbins'  brook,  was 
known  ninety  or  more  years  ago  as  the  Cram  brook,  and  that  a  wood-lot 
then  standing  in  that  vicinity  was  known  as  the  "Cram  lot." 

From  these  circumstances  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  Cram  house 
was  located  in  this  vicinity.  Indeed,  there  are  now  living  in  town  old 
residents  who  are  strongly  impressed  with  the  belief  that  the  original 
dwelling  house  of  Lieut.  Samuel  Cram  and  therefore  the  scene  of  Raby's 
first  town  meeting  was  the  rear  house  of  two  dwelling  houses  now  in 
ruins,  but  which  stood  formerly  on  the  north  side  of  the  Robbins'  brook, 
a  few  rods  west  of  the  foot  of  the  hill  in  the  highway  leading  northerly 
from  the  brook  to  the  dwelling  house  late  of  Ezra  Farnsworth,  deceased; 
formerly  the  old  Sampson  Farnsworth  place. 

The  second  town  meeting,  which  occurred  in  May  of  the  same  year, 
was  holden  in  the  dwelling  house  of  Alexander  Mcintosh.  At  this  meeting 
it  was  voted:  "To  raise  sixty  gold  Spanish  milled  dollars,  and  to  add  ten 
dollars  to  it  to  pay  Samuel  Farley  for  his  services  in  procuring  the  char- 
ter." It  was  also  voted:  "To  build  a  pound  near  the  brook  by  the  high- 
way in  Samuel  Brown's  land,  he  giving  the  land";  and  George  Russell 
and  William  Blanchard  were  chosen  as  a  building  committee. 

The  pound  was  probably  completed  within  the  year.  For  the  fol- 
lowing year  Samuel  Brown  was  appointed  pound  keeper.  It  was  con- 
structed of  logs  and  was  located  on  the  south  side  of  the  highway  from 
Raby  to  Mason,  just  west  of  the  Pond  Bridge. 

This  pound  was  the  first  public  building  to  be  erected  in  Raby,  and 
its  construction  is  an  interesting  event  in  the  history  of  the  town;  be- 
cause that,  with  the  exception  of  the  sum  appropriated  for  paying  Samuel 
Farley  for  procuring  the  charter,  it  marks  the  matter  for  which,  and  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  71 

manner  in  which,  it  expended  its  first  appropriation  of  money  raised  for 
public  purposes. 

The  second  action  of  the  citizens,  relative  to  expenditure  of  public 
moneys,  occurred  at  a  subsequent  meeting  in  the  same  month,  when  it 
was  voted:  "To  raise  thirteen  pounds  six  shillings  and  eight  and  one- 
half  pense  for  the  use  of  highways,"  and  George  Russell  was  selected  as 
the  town's  first  highway  surveyor.  This  vote,  following  so  closely  as  it 
did  upon  that  to  raise  money  to  build  a  pound,  would  seem  to  indicate 
that  in  considering  the  relative  values  as  public  utilities  of  cattle  pounds 
and  public  highways,  the  citizens  were  disposed  to  estimate  the  former 
as  of  more  importance  than  the  latter.  Nor  is  it  strange  that  such  should 
be  the  case.  For  cattle  were  then  among  the  most  valuable  of  the  settlers 
assets. 

These  particular  assets  for  obvious  reasons  were  allowed  to  run  at 
large;  and  from  the  general  lack  of  fences  both  around  private  clearings 
and  on  public  highways  there  was  nothing  to  prevent  them  from  becom- 
ing lost  or  stolen  assets.  In  either  case  the  possibilities  of  their  recovery 
by  their  owners  were  much  enhanced  by  the  probability  of  their  being 
taken  up,  impounded  and  held  for  identification.  And  the  people  evi- 
dently considered  a  cow  in  the  pound  worth  two  in  the  bush. 

In  1782  this  pound  was  replaced  by  another  built  also  on  practically 
the  same  site. 

The  third  and  last  pound  was  erected  in  1808-09.  It  was  built  of 
granite  and  located  in  the  northeast  corner  of  the  Common  on  meeting- 
house hill  where  at  the  present  time  it  is  still  standing,  although  it  is 
many  years  since  it  was  used  for  its  original  purpose.  At  the  present  time 
it  contains  the  wreck  of  the  town's  first  hearse,  the  original  house  for 
which,  standing  a  few  rods  west  of  the  pound,  is  being  utilized  as  the 
town  "lock  up." 

In  the  spring  of  1770,  in  addition  to  the  usual  board  of  town  officers, 
James  Campbell  and  Daniel  Shedd  were  elected  tithing  men. 

This  office,  long  since  obsolete,  was  considered  as  an  important  one 
in  the  early  days  of  New  England.  The  duties  of  its  happy  possessors 
were  similar  to  those  of  the  modern  town  constable.  They  were  sup- 
posed— "To  inspect  all  licensed  houses,  to  inform  of  all  disorders  to  the 
Justice  of  the  Peace  and  of  all  cussers  and  swearers."  In  towns  of  suffi- 
cient wealth  to  support  it,  they  were  equipped  at  the  town's  expense  with 
insignia  of  office  in  the  form  of — "Black  staffs  two  feet  long,  tipped  at 
one  end  for  about  three  inches  with  brass  or  pewter." 


72  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

The  town  continued  for  about  seventy  years  to  elect  these  officials. 
But  during  the  latter  part  of  this  period  the  performance  of  their  official 
duties  was  chiefly  confined  to  the  inside  of  the  meeting-house ;  where,  on 
Sundays,  they  endeavored  to  prevent  the  youngsters  from  disturbing  with 
their  impish  pranks  the  somnolent  condition  in  which  their  elders  were 
accustomed  to  complacently  listen  to  the  parson's  prosy  expositions  of 
his  ideas  of  Divine  love  and  justice  as  exemplified  in  the  doctrines  of 
pre-destination,  fore-ordination  and  election;  doctrines  in  which  the  di- 
vines of  those  days,  both  in  and  out  of  the  pulpit,  were  as  open  and  pos- 
itive in  expressing  their  belief  as  those  of  the  present  day  are  reticent  and 
careful. 

In  1843,  Deacon  Timothy  Wright,  Benjamin  Shattuck  and  Asa 
Seaver  were  elected  to  this  office  and  they  were  the  last  of  the  tithing 
men.     The  office  became  obsolete. 

The  wage  question  for  the  year  1770  was  settled  by  the  citizens  in 
town  meeting  assembled,  when  they  unanimously  voted  that — "A  man 
should  have  25  shillings  per  day  till  August  15th  and  oxen  11  shillings 
per  day." 

At  the  March  town  meeting  in  1771  it  was  voted — "To  accept  as  a 
public  highway  the  road  leading  out  from  Campbell's  brook  and  mill  to 
Townsend  line."  This  is  the  road  leading  out  of  the  highway  to  Mason 
near  to  and  just  south  of  Campbell's  mill-pond,  and  running  in  a  south- 
erly direction  past  the  present  dwelling  house  of  Clarence  R.  Russell. 
So  far  as  the  records  show,  it  was  the  first  road  in  town  to  be  accepted  as 
a  public  highway. 

In  1771,  also,  appeared  the  town's  first  recorded  list  of  rate,  or  tax, 
payers.  By  this  list  it  appears  that  the  whole  number  of  rateable  polls 
was  forty-five.  Of  this  number  there  unquestionably  are  some  who  were 
non-residents,  although  there  is  nothing  on  the  face  of  the  records  to 
indicate  how  many  and  who  they  were. 

For  instance:  Benjamin  Brooks  and  Benjamin  Brooks,  Jr.,  whose 
names  are  on  the  list,  did  not  become  residents  here  until  1783.  But  be- 
cause the  names  as  recorded  are  for  the  most  part  the  names  of  those 
who  were  residents  of  the  town  at  the  time  of  its  incorporation,  a  copy 
of  the  list,  omitting  the  assessed  taxes,  is  given  as  follows  : 

List  of  Taxpayers  for  the  Year  1771. 

Clark  Brown,  Jonas  Shed,  Timothy  Davis, 

Peter  Cummings,  Isaac  Shattuck,  Eason  Dix, 


05 


O 

9 


O 

a. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


73 


James  Connex, 
Silas  Fuller, 
William  Hall, 
Archibold  Mcintosh, 
Alexander  Mcintosh, 
James  Mcintosh, 
Josiah  Nutting, 
Nathaniel  Patten, 
George  Russell, 
Samuel  Russell, 
Daniel  Shed, 
Daniel  Shed,  Jr. 
William  Shed, 


Mathew  Wallace, 
James  Waugh, 
Thomas  Asten, 
William  Blanchard, 
Simeon  Blanchard, 
Samuel  Brown, 
Benjamin  Brooks, 
Benjamin  Brooks,  Jun. 
Joshua  Brooks, 
Nathaniel  Badger, 
James  Badger, 
James  Campbell, 
John  Cummings, 


Rosany  Dickey, 
Isaac  Farrow, 
Oliver  Hildrth, 
James  McDonald, 
Benjamin  Shattuck, 
Isaac  Stevens, 
Robert  Sever, 
Joshua  Smith, 
Caleb  Stiles, 
Swallow  Tucker, 
John  Whiting, 
Ezekiel  Proctor. 


The  Pond  Bridge. 

At  a  town  meeting  hoi  den  on  the  8th  day  of  January,  1772,  the  town 
took  its  first  action  relative  to  bridging  the  river  below  its  outlet  from 
Muscatanipus  pond  at  the  point  where  it  is  crossed  by  the  highway  to 
Mason  by  voting:  "To  build  a  bridge  over  the  river  at  the  pond,"  and 
electing  Isaac  Shattuck,  Alexander  Mcintosh  and  James  Campbell  to  see 
the  work  effected.  It  was  also  voted — "To  have  the  bridge  completed  by 
the  last  day  of  June  next";  and — "That  any  person  that  doth  not  work 
out  his  proportion  to  the  building  of  said  bridge  after  due  notice  shall 
pay  his  deficiency  in  money."  At  a  subsequent  meeting  in  March  of  the 
same  year,  it  was  voted — "To  raise  forty  pounds  for  building  the  bridge 
and  repairing  highways."  As  these  votes  are  the  only  recorded  reference 
to  the  building  of  this  bridge  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  building 
committee  attended  to  its  duty  and  completed  the  bridge  that  year,  1772. 

Prior  to  and  at  this  time  the  road  to  Mason,  at  the  brow  of  the  west 
side  of  meeting-house  hill,  turned  out  into  the  field  on  the  south  side  of 
the  highway  as  it  is  now  and,  describing  a  semi-circle  around  the  Wads- 
worth  house,  crossed  the  present  highway  just  easterly  of  the  "old  ditch" 
at  the  foot  of  the  hill  and  continued  on  in  a  northerly  direction  through 
the  land  at  the  present  time  owned  by  the  Fresh  Pond  Ice  Company, 
until  it  reached  a  point  near  the  pond  where  the  road  to  Hollis  via  Randal 
McDaniels'  house  led  out  of  it.  From  this  point  it  turned  and,  passing 
westerly  along  the  shore  of  the  pond,  crossed  the  river  by  a  ford-way 
either  at  or  a  few  rods  below  the  pond's  outlet;  from  whence  it  continued 


74  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

on  through  the  field  until,  at  a  point  near  the  old  Joseph  A.  Hall  place, 
it  again  became  identical  with  the  present  highway  to  Mason. 

This  first  bridge  was  erected  over  said  ford- way.  It  was  built  on 
wooden  piers  with  log  stringers  covered  with  sawn  plank,  and  continued 
to  be  used  for  sixteen  years  from  the  time  of  its  completion. 

Meanwhile,  during  this  whole  period  of  sixteen  years,  a  sentiment  in 
favor  of  straightening  this  particular  part  of  the  Great  Road  had  been 
gradually  developing  in  the  community,  and  nearly  every  year  the  war- 
rants for  the  annual  March  town  meeting  had  contained  articles  looking 
to  that  end. 

These  articles  were  invariably  defeated  or  passed  over  until  the 
annual  town  meeting  in  March  in  1799,  when  the  following  vote  was 
passed:  "To  straighten  the  road  from  the  meeting  house  to  adjutant 
Green's  the  town  to  be  at  no  cost  that  is  meaning  to  cross  the  river  below 
where  the  bridge  now  stands"—;  and  ajd't  William  Green  and  Lieut. 
Isaac  Shattuck  were  elected  as  a  committee  "To  straighten  the  road  and 
build  the  bridge." 

This  vote  was  apparently  unsatisfactory  to  some  of  the  citizens. 
For  at  a  subsequent  meeting  on  the  fourth  day  of  the  following  month 
there  was  an  article  in  the  warrant — "To  see  if  the  town  will  rebuild  the 
pond  bridge  where  the  old  bridge  now  stands  and  move  the  ditch  bridge 
down  the  stream  about  three  or  four  rods  to  a  good  place  to  build  on  so 
as  to  make  the  road  straighter  than  where  the  old  ditch  now  stands." 
This  article  was  passed  over. 

But  at  some  time  between  the  date  of  this  last  mentioned  meeting 
and  the  year  1804  the  road  was  straightened.  For  it  is  recorded  that  at 
a  town  meeting  holden  in  Feburary  of  the  latter  year  the  selectmen  were 
appointed  a  committee- — "To  settle  with  the  Rev.  Lemuel  Wadsworth 
for  his  land  which  is  cut  off  by  straigthening  the  road  near  his  house." 
Soon  after  this  vote  work  on  the  new  bridge  was  begun  and  continued  at 
intervals  until  it  was  completed  in  the  year  1808. 

This  second  bridge  to  be  built  over  the  stream  at  this  point  stood 
on  the  site  of  the  present  bridge.  Like  its  predecessor,  it  was  constructed 
of  hewn  logs  and  planks  laid  on  wooden  piers. 

The  third  bridge  over  the  river  at  this  point  was  built  under  the 
supervision  of  the  selectmen  by  Capt.  Nathan  Corey  between  the  years 
1812  and  1814.  In  its  construction  wooden  abutments  and  wooden  piers 
were  used.  It  was  erected  on  the  site  of  the  second  bridge  and,  with  occa- 
sional repairs,  continued  to  be  used  until  1843. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  75 

The  fourth  bridge  to  stand  over  the  river  at  this  point  was  constructed 
in  1843-1844  under  the  supervision  of  a  building  committee  appointed  by 
the  town  on  the  28th  day  of  November  of  the  former  year,  and  consisting 
of  Abel  Foster,  Horace  Warner  and  Benjamin  Shattuck.  In  this  bridge, 
stone  abutments  and  stone  piers  were  used  for  the  first  time.  At  the 
present  time  it  is  still  in  use. 

During  the  three  years  succeeding  the  meeting  of  Jan.  8,  1772,  many 
town  meetings  were  holden,  but,  with  the  exception  of  the  annual  election 
of  town  officers,  little  business  of  importance  was  transacted. 

At  the  March  meeting  in  1773,  however,  public  sentiment  in  favor  of 
public  schools  was  expressed  by  a  vote — "To  raise  four  pounds  for  school- 
ing the  present  year."  At  this  same  meeting,  also,  a  highway  from  Doug- 
lass brook  to  Benjamin  Shattuck's  house  was  accepted.  As  there  were  at 
this  time  three  roads,  or  bridle  paths,  crossing  Douglass  brook,  it  is  almost 
impossible  to  determine  from  which  one  of  the  three  this  accepted  high- 
way commenced  to  run.  The  probabilities,  however,  are  that  it  began 
at  the  upper  end  of  the  brook  at  a  ford-way  where  it  was  crossed  by  a 
bridle  path  which  led  out  of  the  east  highway  to  Milford  a  few  rods  west 
of  the  old  James  McDaniels  place  and  passed  in  a  westerly  direction,  via 
the  dwelling  house  afterward  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin,  to  the  said 
Benjamin  Shattuck  place,  and  was  identical  with  the  present  highway 
between  those  points. 

That  part  of  said  accepted  highway  which  was  comprised  in  the 
bridle  path,  together  with  the  bridle  path  itself,  was  in  constant  use  as 
a  public  thoroughfare  from  1773  until  about  the  year  1815.  It  was  es- 
pecially convenient  for  the  settlers  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town,  for 
whom,  in  going  to  and  from  Hollis,  it  furnished  a  route  considerably 
shorter  than  that  via  the  Great  and  Proctor  hill  roads.  It  is  many  years 
since  the  east  end  of  the  bridle  path  has  been  closed  to  public  travel; 
but  its  vestiges  still  remain,  and  by  them  its  course  from  the  ruins  of 
the  old  Daniel  Goodwin  place  to  its  junction  with  the  east  Milford  high- 
way is  easily  traceable  at  the  present  time. 

The  annual  town  meeting  in  March,  1774,  was  the  last  to  be  held 
before  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution,  and  it  was  also  the  last  to  be  called 
in  the  name  of  the   Province  of  New  Hampshire.     Henceforth,   town 
meetings  were  called  in  the  name  of  the  Colony. 


76  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER    VI. 

War  of  the  Revolution. 

1775-1786. 

Population  of  the  Town  at  the  Opening  and  During  the  Continuance  of 
the  War — Town's  Recorded  List  of  Its  Soldiers  in  the  War— Its 
Soldiers  in  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill- — In  the  Battle  of  Bennington 
• — Action  Taken  by  the  Town  During  the  Progress  of  the  War — 
The  Association  Test — Names  and  Records  of  The  Town's  Soldiers — 
Committees  of  Safety — Names  of  Commissioned  Officers — Names 
of  Revolutionary  Soldiers  Buried  in  Brookline. 

When  the  War  of  the  Revolution  opened  in  1775  Raby,  or  Brookline, 
was  in  the  sixth  year  of  its  corporate  existence  as  a  town.  The  years 
which  had  passed  since  its  incorporation  had  made  no  material  changes 
either  in  the  number  of  its  inhabitants  or  in  the  conditions  which  sur- 
rounded them  in  the  beginning.  In  this  year  the  State's  Committee  of 
Safety,  acting  under  instructions  from  the  Continental  Congress,  called 
upon  the  boards  of  selectmen  throughout  the  state  to  make  and  return 
to  it  a  census  of  the  population  of  their  respective  towns.  Seventeen 
towns,  among  which  was  Raby,  failed  to  make  returns.  Thereupon,  the 
Committee  of  Safety  apparently  proceeded  to  guess  at  the  population  of 
each  of  the  recalcitrant  towns,  and  to  make  up  its  estimates  accordingly. 
Its  guess  relative  to  Raby  was  that  it  had  a  population  of  three  hundred 
and  twenty  (320). 

But  in  the  year  1767,  only  two  years  before  its  incorporation  with 
the  western  part  of  Hollis  to  form  the  new  town  of  Raby,  the  Mile  Slip 
had  a  population  of  only  sixty-seven;  and  as  all  the  circumstances  indi- 
cate that  at  the  time  of  the  incorporation  it  was  the  more  densely  popu- 
lated of  the  two  uniting  tracts,  it  would  seem  to  be  not  unreasonable  to 
estimate  Raby's  population  in  1769  as  being  twice  that  of  the  Mile  Slip 
in  1767,  or  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  (134). 

In  1771,  two  years  after  its  incorporation,  the  town  made  up  its  first 
rate  list.     By  that  list  the  number  of  the  tax  payers  for  that  year  was 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  77 

forty-five.  In  1775  the  rate  list  shows  the  number  of  tax  payers  to  have 
been  forty-five.  In  other  words,  it  appears  that  from  the  year  1771  up 
to  and  including  the  year  1775  there  was  no  change  in  the  number  of 
rate  payers.  From  this  fact  it  is  inferred  that  during  the  above  stated 
period  there  was  also  no  change  in  the  number  of  inhabitants,  and,  conse- 
quently, that  the  town's  population  in  1775  was  substantially  the  same 
as  it  was  in  1769,  or  about  134. 

But  another  fact  which  tends  not  only  to  confirm  the  probable  cor- 
rectness of  the  foregoing  estimate  of  the  town's  population  in  1775  as 
being  one  hundred  and  thirty-four,  but  also  to  conclusively  disprove  the 
reliability  of  the  State  Committee  of  Safety's  guess  of  three  hundred  and 
twenty  as  being  even  an  approximation  to  the  correct  number,  is  that  in 
1786,  eleven  years  later,  the  selectmen  took  a  census  of  the  town  and 
found  its  population  to  be  two  hundred  and  sixty-two  (262),  as  appears 
by  their  report  to  the  General  Court,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy: 

"Pursuant  to  the  Requisition  of  the  Genl  Court  of  the  3d  of  March 
last  past  we  have  carefully  sought  the  Number  of  Souls  within  the  town 
of  Raby  &  find  them  to  be  262  having  no  Indians  no  Negro  Slaves. 
Raby  June— 1786  R.    M.   McDONALD  1    Selectmen 

ROBERT  SEAVKR  >  of 

JAMES   CAMPbl  J     Brookline 

Honi.  E-  Thompson  Esq.  Sec" 

Now  in  1786,  when  the  above  census  was  taken,  the  town's  popula- 
tion was  found  to  be  262 ;  by  the  rate  list  in  the  same  year  its  tax  payers 
numbered  eighty-six  (86),  or  about  double  the  number  of  its  tax  payers 
in  1775.  By  the  rule  of  proportion,  therefore,  it  follows  that  86,  the 
number  of  rate  payers  in  1786,  bears  the  same  relation  to  forty-five,  the 
number  of  rate  payers  in  1775,  that  262,  the  number  of  its  inhabitants 
in  1786,  does  to  the  number  of  inhabitants  in  1775;  which  the  solution 
of  the  problem  shows  to  have  been  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven  (137). 
A  result  which  conforms  so  closely  to  the  results  obtained  in  each  of  the 
foregoing  estimates  as  to  practically  confirm  them.  Attention  is  called 
to  the  fact  that  each  of  the  above  estimates  is  based  upon  the  assumption 
that  each  of  the  rate  lists  for  the  years  1771,  1775  and  1786,  respectively, 
contains  only  the  names  of  those  who  were  bona  fide  residents  in  Raby 
in  the  year  for  which  it  was  made;  when,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  each  con- 
tains the  names  of  some  who  were  non-resident  rate  payers.  So  that  in 
each  of  the  above  estimates  the  results  obtained  are  obviously  too  large. 


78  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

From  the  foregoing  the  writer  feels  warranted  to  make  the  statement 
that  in  the  year  1775  the  population  of  Raby  was  not  over,  and  probably 
considerably  under,  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  (135).  The  town  was 
still  in  the  log  cabin  pericd  of  its  existence,  not  more  than  two  framed 
buildings  having  been  erected.  Its  only  public  building  was  a  log  pound. 
It  had  neither  meeting  house  nor  schoolhouse;  the  schools,  when  there 
were  any,  being  kept  in  private  dwellings  in  which,  also,  religious  gatherings 
assembled  and  town  meetings  were  holden. 

The  public  highways,  what  few  there  were  of  them,  were  at  all  times 
of  the  year,  in  a  wretched  condition  and  at  certain  seasons  almost  im- 
passable. There  was  not  a  horse  vehicle  in  town.  Traveling  was  per- 
formed on  horseback,  in  the  saddle  and  on  the  pillion,  or  by  the  lumbering 
and  springless  ox  carts.  The  surface  of  the  township  was  still  covered 
with  the  primeval  forests;  unbroken,  save  here  and  there,  at  long  intervals 
apart,  by  the  small  clearings  of  the  settlers;  of  whom  the  majority  were 
engaged  in  farming,  or  at  least  they  imagined  they  were.  For  farming 
operations  were  chiefly  confined  to  pulling  stumps  and  blasting  rocks 
from  land  which  when  cleared  and  cultivated  was  better  adapted  to  the 
production  of  crops  of  Canada  thistles  than  of  grain.  There  were  no 
grist-mills  in  town,  and  no  store  that  deserved  the  name.  Poverty  pre- 
vailed, and  for  many  of  the  people  stagnation  and  starvation  walked 
hand  in  hand.  The  town  itself  was  solvent  because  it  had  no  debts;  not 
having  as  yet  succeeded  in  establishing  a  credit  which  enabled  it  to  bor- 
row of  its  neighbors  money  for  public  improvements.  But  at  the  same 
time  it  was  also  bankrupt  because;  when  it  needed  money,  the  treasury 
was  generally  empty. 

Such  were  the  conditions  prevalent  in  Raby  at  the  opening  of  the 
war.  And  yet,  notwithstanding  the  paucity  in  numbers  of  its  people  and 
the  poverty  of  their  circumstances,  few  towns  in  New  Hampshire  have 
a  better  record  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution  than  is  that  of  Raby  or 
Brookline.  Before  the  war  closed  practically  all  of  its  entire  adult  male 
population  served  as  soldiers  in  the  army. 

As  has  already  been  stated,  when  the  war  opened  the  rate  list  shows 
the  number  of  voters  in  town  as  forty-five.  Well,  on  a  space  in  the  town's 
record  book  especially  reserved  for  the  purpose,  are  recorded  the  names 
of  Raby's  soldiers  in  the  war,  with  the  time,  place  and  length  of  service 
of  each.  This  record  list  was  evidently  made  either  during  the  time  the 
war  was  in  progress,  or  soon  after  its  close.  The  number  of  individual 
names  appearing  in  the  list  is  forty-two.  It  was  undoubtedly  intended 
to  include  all  who  served  in  the  war  from  this  town  from  its  beginning  in 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  79 

1775  to  its  close  in  1783.  All  the  names  upon  it  appear  upon  the  rate  lists 
between  those  years;  and  an  examination  of  the  rate  list  for  1783  shows 
the  tax  payers  for  that  year  to  have  been  fifty-six;  an  increase  of  only 
eleven  over  and  above  the  number  in  1775. 

Following  is  a  copy  of  this  list,  taken  from  book  number  1,  page  44, 
Raby's  Records: 

Town's  Record  List  of  Raby's  Soldiers  in  the  Revolution. 

These  are  the  men  that  went  to  Cambridge :  L. 

Wm.  Spaulding  and  his  son.      Rates  1.       13.8     8  :  16  -  6  24-0-0 

Archld.  Macintosh.  Rates  0-18-8     4  :  16  :  0  12-0-0 

James  Conek  12-0-0 
Nathl.  Badger  for  James  Badger  to  Cambridge 

Rates  2  :  19  :  2  12-0-0 

James  Mcintosh  Rates  3-7-26:3:0  12-0-0 

Nathl.  Patten  12-0-0 

Jeremiah  Hubert  Rate  0-1-4  12-0-0 

Swaller  Tucker  Rates     3-3-4       5:9:6  12-0-0 

Daniel  Shed  Jur.  Rates  0-18-8       2-  12-6  24-0-0 

These  are  the  men  that  went  to  York  one  year  each  man. 
Josiah  Sewerd.     Rate  1  -  0  -  0  :  1  -  16 
Wm.  Spalding  Jr.  for  his  father 
John  Coneck  0-16-0         1-16-0 
Archld.  Macintosh,  Jr. 

Isaac  Shattuck.     Rate  2-13-8         t  -  11  -  0         30-0-0 
Benj.  Patten. 

Wm.  Mcintosh  for  Nathl.  Patten  to  York. 
Capt.  Samuel  Douglass. 

These  are  the  men  that  went  to  Tygh  for  five  months : 
Benj.  Shattuck.        Rates  3  -      1-4:7-5-6       6-0-0 
Clark  Brown.  Rates  2  -    11       1  :  5  -  3  -  0       9-0-0 

Samel.  Russell.         Rates  4  -  11    -  8  :  6  -  7  -  0       6-0-0 
Isaac  Shattuck  {  each  man  half  a  turn. 

George  Woodward  j   Rates  2-  13  -8:5-11-0 

I   Rates  1  -  19  -  8  :  3  -  15  -  0     6-0-0 
Isaac  Stavens,  Jr.  j 

Phineas  Aston  1  Rates  0  -  16  -  0  :  2  -  2. 


80  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

These  are  the  men  that  went  to  Canada  one  year: 
Hlias  Dickey.     Rate     2  -      0-8:6-0-6  2-0-0 

Caleb  Brown.     Rates         0  -    16  -  0  :  16  -  0  -  0         5-0-0 

These  are  the  men  that  went  to  York  three  months  5-0-0  each : 
Alonr  Macintosh.        Rates  2  -  14  -  0  :  5  -  18 
Benj.  Muzzey.  Rates  2-2     -  4 

Andrew  Russell  for  his  father  5:1-8.     Rates  7-13-0 

These  are  the  men  that  went  to  York  two  months  4-0  each : 
Randel  McDonnels.        Rates  1  -  17  -  2  :    3-15 
James  RolfeR.  1  -  0  -  0  and  Moses  Lowell's  Rates  2-10-1 
2-2-0 

These  are  the  men  that  went  to  Bentn'  two  months.     7-0  each : 
James  Campbell.  Rates  2-14-0:    6-19-0 

Thomas  Alton.  Rates  0-16-0:    1-10-0 

Andrew  Russell  for  his  father. 

Jonas  Sheed  half  turn.  Rates  0  -  18  -  8  :    1  -  •  16  -  0  -  0 

Sm.  Farnsworth  half  turn.     Rates  2-0-9:3-      8-0-0 

These  are  the  men  that  went  to  Cambridge  six  weeks : 
Robert  Seaver.  Rates  3-     1-4:    7-7 

Clark  Brown.  Rates 

Randel  Mcdonnel. 
Andrew  Russell. 

John  Conek.  Rates  0-16-0 

James  Diekay.  Rates  2  -     0-6 

Mathew  Wallas.  Rate  3-10 

The  men  that  went  on  the  alarms.  ,  0-8  each 

Robert  Sever. 

James  Dickey.  Rates  1  -     2-6 

Swaller  Tucker. 
James  Campbell. 
James  Mcintosh. 
Andrew  Russell. 
Wm.  Spaulding. 
Clark  Brown. 
Benj.  Shattuck. 
Daniel  Sheed,  Jr. 

David  Davidson.  Rates  1-7-1:    3-14-0 

Waldron  Stone. 


0  - 

-8-0 

0  - 

-8-0 

0  - 

-8-0 

HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  81 

The  whole  number  of  names  appearing  on  the  list  is  fifty-six.  But 
it  will  be  noticed  that  many  of  the  names  are  repeated;  some  of  them 
twice  or  even  more  times,  owing  to  re-enlistments  on  part  of  their  owners. 
Taking  out  the  re-enlistments,  the  number  of  the  names  of  those  who 
served  the  town  as  soldiers  is  forty-two  (42).  Adding  to  this  number 
the  names  of  Benjamin  Patten,  Benjamin  Osgood,  and  John  Gardner, 
each  of  whom  enlisted  and  served  as  soldiers  for  Raby,  as  appears  by  its 
records,  and  also  by  the  State  Revolutionary  Rolls,  and  Lieut.  John 
Cummings,  Ebenezer  Gilson,  Ezekiel  Proctor  and  Joshua  Smith,  all  of 
whom  served  as  soldiers  in  the  Revolution,  and  all  of  whom  were  resi- 
dents within  the  chartered  limits  of  this  town  at  the  time  of  its  outbreak 
during  its  continuance  and  after  its  close,  and  the  resulting  aggregate 
shows  the  number  of  revolutionary  soldiers  furnished  by  Raby  to  have 
been  forty-eight  (48). 

Raby,  of  course,  was  not  large  enough  to  furnish  a  company  con- 
sisting wholly  of  its  own  citizens,  and  thus  its  soldiers  were  forced  to 
enlist  in  companies  from  other  towns,  or  in  companies  forming  parts  of 
the  State's  Continental  regiments. 

The  town  sent  three  commissioned  officers  into  the  war,  i.e.,  Lieut. 
Robert  Seaver,  Capt.  Samuel  Douglass  and  Lieut.  John  Cummings.  Its 
citizens,  as  privates,  were  present  and  fought  at  Bunker  Hill,  Bennington, 
White  Plains  and  many  other  battle  fields  of  the  Revolution.  There 
were  at  least  nine  of  its  men  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  as  follows:  Ar- 
chibald Mcintosh,  James  Conneck,  Nathaniel  Badger,  William  Spaulding, 
William  Spaulding,  Jr.,  Nathaniel  Patten,  Ebenezer  Gilson,  Ezekiel  Proc- 
tor and  Lieut.  John  Cummings.  Of  these  nine  men,  Archibald  Mcintosh 
and  John  Conneck  were  mortally  wounded  in  the  battle  and  taken  prison- 
ers. They  were  confined  in  Boston  Jail,  where  each  subsequently  died: 
Mcintosh  on  the  10th  day  of  August,  and  Conneck  on  the  24th  day  of 
July,  1775.  They  were  the  first  and  only  men  from  this  town  who  were 
killed  in  battle  during  the  Revolution.  Their  names  are  inscribed  upon  a 
memorial  tablet  in  Winthrop  Square,  Charlestown,  Mass.,  as  being  among 
the  number  of  those  who  were  killed  at  Bunker  Hill,  and  they  are  credited 
to  Brookline,  N.  H.  In  the  same  battle,  William  Spaulding,  Jr.,  of  Raby, 
received  a  wound  which  rendered  him  a  cripple  for  the  remainder  of  his 
life. 

The  names  of  Raby's  soldiers  in  the  battle  of  Bennington  are  as 
follows:  Jonas  Shed,  John  Conneck,  Archibald  Mcintosh,  Jr.,  Ezekiel 
Proctor,  Andrew  Russell,  James  Dickey  and  Daniel  Shed. 


82  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

When  and  by  whom  the  news  of  the  conflicts  at  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord were  brought  to  Raby  is  unknown.  But  Worcester,  in  his  history 
of  Hollis,  says  that  the  news  of  the  British's  march  from  Charlestown 
was  brought  to  that  town  by  Capt.  John  Boynton  about  noon  on  the 
19th  of  April  and  that  it  was  immediately  carried  by  mounted  messen- 
gers to  other  parts  of  the  town.  It  is  very  probable  that  one  of  those 
messengers  brought  the  news  to  this  town.  But  although  there  is  no 
evidence  as  to  how  the  news  came,  there  is  indisputable  evidence  as  to 
how  it  was  received.  For  when,  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  Capt. 
Reuben  Dow's  company  of  ninety-two  minute  men  marched  from  Hollis 
for  Lexington,  seven.,  at  least,  of  Raby's  citizens  marched  in  its  ranks. 
The  names  of  the  seven  are  as  follows:  James  Mcintosh,  James  Dickey, 
Randal  McDaniels,  Robert  Seaver,  Ezekiel  Proctor,  Lieut.  John  Cum- 
mings  and  Ebenezer  Gilson.  In  addition  to  those  who  marched  in  Cap- 
tain Dow's  company  four  others,  at  least,  of  Raby's  citizens,  i.e.,  Elias 
Dickey,  William  Spaulding,  Daniel  Shedd  and  Samuel  Douglass  responded 
to  the  Lexington  alarm.  Of  the  four  Dr.  Samuel  Green,  in  his  "Groton 
in  the  Revolution,"  mentions  three  as  having  been  members  of  companies 
which  marched  from  that  town  as  follows:  Elias  Dickey,  private  in  Capt. 
John  Nutting's  company,  William  Spaulding,  private  in  Capt.  Josiah 
Sawtelle's  company,  and  Daniel  Shedd,  private  in  Capt.  Asa  Lawrence's 
company.  The  fourth,  Samuel  Douglass,  responded  to  the  alarm  as  cap- 
tain of  a  company  which  marched  from  Townsend  Hill,  Mass.,  near  which 
his  residence  in  Raby  was  at  that  time  situated. 

The  first  action  of  the  town,  as  such,  relative  to  the  war,  so  far  as  its 
records  show,  occurred  at  a  town  meeting  held  on  the  second  day  of  Oc- 
tober, 1775;  when  there  was  an  article  in  the  warrant — "To  chose  a 
committy  for  the  town  concerning  arms  for  the  town."  This  was  what 
was  known  as  a  "committee  of  safety";  an  institution  common  in  New 
England  throughout  the  war.  At  this  meeting  Ebenezer  Muzzey,  James 
Badger,  Robert  Seaver,  Benjamin  Shattuck  and  Clark  Brown  were  elected, 
and  thus  constituted,  the  town's  first  Committee  of  Safety.  That  they 
were  men  of  character  and  good  repute  in  the  estimation  of  their  fellow 
citizens  is  indicated  by  their  election.  That  they  were  patriots  is  indi- 
cated from  the  fact  that  one  of  them,  Captain  Seaver,  had  already  been 
in  the  service  at  Cambridge,  and  that  all  the  others  became  soldiers  be- 
fore the  war  closed.  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  also  voted — "To  act 
according  to  the  advoice  of  our  Congress."  This  vote  probably  referred 
to  the  Continental  Congress  then  in  session  at  Philadelphia.  It  had  not 
yet  fully  established  itself  in  the  confidence  of  the  people  and,  therefore, 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  83 

this  action  upon  the  part  of  the  voters  of  Raby  is  significant  because  it 
shows  their  disposition  to  support  those  in  authority  — even  though  that 
authority  might  be  deemed  questionable  ■ — as  long  as  they  exercised  it  in 
advocating  and  defending  the  rights  of  the  people  against  tyranny  and 
oppression. 

The  records  show  no  further  war  action  on  the  part  of  the  town  until 
the  next  year  when,  at  a  town  meeting  held  February  17,  1776,  George 
Russell,  James  Badger,  Benjamin  Shattuck,  Swallow  Tucker  and  Ebenezer 
Muzzey  were  elected  a  Committee  of  Safety. 

This  last  committee,  for  some  reason  or  other,  was  apparently  unsatis- 
factory ;  for,  at  a  subsequent  meeting  held  May  22nd  of  the  same  year 
the  town  voted  to  choose  a  new  committee  and  did  so.  The  new  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Alexander  Mcintosh,  Eson  Dise  (Dix  ?),  Clark  Brown, 
Mathew  Wallace,  Benjamin  Muzzey,  James  Campbell  and  Daniel  Shed. 

Of  this  committee  the  names  of  all  except  Dix  appear  in  the  list  of 
the  names  upon  the  town's  record  of  those  who  served  as  soldiers  during 
the  war.  It  will  be  noticed  that  of  those  whose  names  have  been  men- 
tioned as  appearing  on  the  records  and  holding  town  offices  at  this  time, 
but  comparatively  few  are  represented  in  town  today  by  their  family 
names.  The  names  of  Dix  and  Muzzey  and  many  others,  as  descendants 
of  those  whom  I  have  named,  have  long  been  unknown  here. 

It  may  be  well  to  say,  also,  that  the  surnames  of  many  other  fam- 
ilies who  have  for  many  years  been  residents  in  and  prominently  iden- 
tified with  the  town's  history  do  not  appear  on  its  Revolutionary  War 
records,  for  the  reason  that  their  ancestors  were  not  yet  inhabitants  of 
the  town,  but  were  engaged  in  making  their  war  records  in  other  towns 
and  localities.  The  names  of  Corey,  Rockwood,  Hobart,  Bailey,  Foster, 
Peterson,  Burge,  Bohonon,  French,  Kendall,  Baldwin,  Colburn,  Burgess, 
Pierce,  Betterly,  Parker,  Gould,  Cleveland,  Stiles,  Swett  and  many  others 
who  have  resided  or  are  now  residing  or  represented  in  town  do  not  appear 
on  the  records  until  after  the  close  of  the  Revolution. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  March  5,  1777,  the  town  voted— "to  raise 
thirty  pounds  of  powder  for  the  town  and  lead  and  flints  as  the  law  directs 
and  chose  Capt.  Robert  Seaver  geat  the  powder  as  a  committy  man." 
At  this  same  meeting,  James  Campbell,  Clark  Brown  and  Capt.  Robert 
Seaver  were  chosen  as  a  Safety  Committee  for  the  town. 

In  April,  1777,  William  Spaulding,  Swallow  Tucker  and  Isaac  Shat- 
tuck were  chosen  a  committee  "to  settle  and  see  what  every  man  has 
done  in  the  town  of  Raby  since  the  Concord  fite."  It  does  not  appear 
that  this  committee  ever  reported;  and  as  it  was  "so  quickly  done  for," 


84  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

one  wonders  "what  it  was  begun  for."  At  this  same  meeting  it  was  voted 
"not  to  dismiss  Capt.  Robert  Seaver  and  Mathew  Wallace  from  their 
training  out  for  three  years  or  during  the  war." 

I  have  been  surprised  and  interested  in  my  researches  in  the  records 
to  find  so  many  men  with  military  titles  among  our  townspeople  at  this 
period  in  its  history.  There  were  more  captains  and  lieutenants — "lef- 
tenants"  they  called  them  then — in  this  town  in  proportion  to  its  popu- 
lation than  there  were  frogs  in  Egypt  at  the  time  of  the  plague.  But 
on  investigation  this  state  of  affairs  was  easily  accounted  for.  For  before, 
through  and  for  many  years  after  the  close  of  the  war  its  male  citizens 
were  enrolled  and  obliged  to  drill  as  soldiers  in  a  sort  of  home  guard, 
known  as  the  train  band.  In  this  train  band  every  man  of  any  import- 
ance in  town  at  some  period  of  his  life  served  as  an  officer.  The  result 
was  an  abundance  of  military  titles.  The  only  reason  that  some  of  them 
were  not  brigadier-generals  was  because  the  law  recognized  no  such  rank 
in  "train  bands."  But  as  late  as  the  year  1840,  Artemas  Ward's  idea 
of  a  regiment  of  brigadier-generals  could  have  been  realized  in  Raby, 
only  the  regiment  would  have  been  a  company  and  its  members  captains 
and  lieutenants  instead  of  brigadiers. 

June  12th  of  the  same  year,  1777,  the  town  voted — "To  drop  the 
powder  that  was  voted  to  be  raised  this  year."  Whether  it  was  dropped 
or  not  does  not  appear.  But  if  so  there  was  no  explosion  for  there  is  no 
report  of  it  recorded  subsequently.  At  this  meeting,  also,  the  names  of 
William  Spaulding  and  James  Rolfe  were  added  to  the  committee  of 
safety.  It  was  also  voted — "To  raise  seventy  dollars  for  Benjamin  Pat- 
ten and  twenty  dollars  for  Benjamin  Osgood  if  they  did  serve  the  town 
of  Raby  for  three  years  or  during  the  war,"  and  at  a  later  meeting  the 
town  voted — "to  allow  Benjamin  Osgood  as  much  as  they  allowed  Benj. 
Patten  if  the  said  Benjamin  Osgood  did  serve  the  town  of  Raby  as  conti- 
nental man  during  the  war."  This  is  the  first  mention  of  a  bounty  for 
soldiers  appearing  in  the  records. 

1778,  town  meeting  April  23,  voted — "Not  to  send  a  representative 
to  the  convention  at  Concord  for  the  Sole  purpose  of  forming  and  laying 
a  permanent  system  of  Government."  June  11  "Voted — To  give  Joseph 
Osgood  thirty  pounds  as  a  town  bounty  which  was  voted  to  his  son  Benj. 
Osgood  in  case  he  did  serve  this  Town  in  ***  the  continental  service  said 
Osgood  an  order  to  the  Selectmen  on  the  treasurer  of  **." 

In  1779  the  town  voted — "To  pay  Mr.  Daniel  Shed,  Junior,  one 
thousand  paper  dollars  at  the  end  of  one  year  from  the  date  of  his  note 
that  we  subs  promised  him  paid."    This  was  undoubtedly  bounty  money 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  85 

• 

as  Shed  afterwards  served  as  a  soldier.  But  if  he  ever  received  it  he  cer- 
tainly did  not  die  from  the  shock  occasioned  by  the  sudden  acquisition 
of  so  much  wealth  as  would  seem  to  be  indicated  by  "a  thousand  paper 
dollars";  for  at  this  time  paper  currency  was  greatly  depreciated  in 
value  and  shortly  after  became  worthless.  A  pair  of  boots  at  this  time 
was  worth  fifty  dollars  in  this  currency.  At  this  same  meeting  it  was 
voted — "To  raise  men  for  the  war  as  a  town  and  pay  them  as  a  town." 
April  30  of  the  same  year,  1779,  the  said  Shed  note  was  further  consid- 
ered by  the  people  in  town  meeting  assembled,  as  is  apparent  from  the 
following  record  of  that  date:  "Voted  to  pay  Daniel  Shed  Juner  one 
thousand  paper  dollars  at  the  end  of  one  year  from  the  date  of  the  note 
that  the  subrs  promis  him."  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  also  voted — 
"To  pay  Daniel  Shed  Jr.  twenty  bushels  of  Rye  Also  to  allow  the  said 
Shed  as  much  as  the  Sbrs  have  promised  him  as  a  town." 

Owing  to  the  scarcity  of  money  and  its  depreciation  in  value,  the 
town  early  in  the  war  adopted  the  practice  of  abating  its  soldier's  taxes. 
Their  wages  were  also  paid  in  part  to  their  families  in  grain.  At  a  town 
meeting  in  November,  1780,  an  article  in  the  warrant  was — "to  see  if 
the  town  will  clear  John  Gardner  and  William  Conneck  of  their  rates 
(taxes)  for  going  into  the  army."  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted — 
"that  the  price  of  grain  to  pay  the  soldiers  shall  be  as  follows — that  endien 
corn  shall  be  three  shillings  per  bushell  and  rye  four  shillings  per  bushell." 

At  a  town  meeting  in  the  spring  of  1780  it  was  voted — "To  allow 
Capt.  Seaver  fifty  dollars  for  a  pair  of  shoes  that  Jonas  Shed  had";  also, 
"To  allow  Alexander  Mcintosh  twenty  dollars  for  a  pair  of  stockings 
that  Shed  had."  At  a  meeting  in  June  of  the  same  year,  William  Spauld- 
ing  and  Clark  Brown  were  chosen  a  committee  to  hire  men  for  the  Conti- 
nental Army;  and  in  July  it  was  voted- — "To  raise  four  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  to  pay  the  soldiers."  In  August  of  the  same  year,  Capt. 
Samuel  Douglass  and  James  Badger  were  elected  as  a  committee — "To 
hire  a  man  for  the  continental  army  during  the  war,  or  three  years"; 
and  at  the  same  meeting,  Waldron  Stone  and  Captain  Douglass  were 
elected  delegates  to  the  meeting  of  the  county  committee  of  safety  at 
Temple.  April  3,  1781,  the  selectmen  were  appointed  as  a  committee  to 
purchase  beef  for  the  army,  and  it  was  also  voted — "To  allow  David 
Davidson  34  pounds  and  ten  shillings  for  sarvis  dun,  and  20  pounds  for 
sarvice  dun  in  gitting  oats." 

In  1781  Swallow  Tucker,  Samuel  Douglass  and  James  Badger  were 
elected  as  a  committee — "To  hire  three  men  for  the  continental  army 


86  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

during  the  war,  or  three  years";    and  the  same  year  the  town  voted — 
"To  approve  the  Constitution  and  not  to  send  a  man  to  convention." 

The  constitution  which  was  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing  vote  was 
that  which  was  framed  by  the  convention  holden  at  Exeter  in  1781; 
and  was  the  same  which,  after  it  had  been  submitted  to  and  approved 
by  the  people,  was  finally  accepted  and  adopted  by  their  delegates  in  the 
convention  held  in  Concord  in  October,  1783.  It  went  into  effect  in 
1784. 

The  New  Hampshire  General  Court  at  its  session  of  this  year,  act- 
ing under  the  provisions  of  an  act  of  Congress  calling  upon  the  state  to 
furnish  the  continental  army  with  ten  thousand  gallons  of  West  India 
rum,  passed  an  act  apportioning  out  to  the  several  towns  the  amount  of 
rum  to  be  furnished  by  each.  Under  this  act  the  amount  to  be  furnished 
by  Raby  was  seventeen  gallons. 

At  the  March  town  meeting  of  the  following  year,  1782,  there  was 
an  article  in  the  warrant  to  the  following  effect — "To  see  what  the  town 
will  do  in  regard  to  their  proportion  of  Rum  as  was  ordered  by  the  'Cort'." 
It  is  evident  from  what  follows  that  the  people  fully  realized  the  urgency 
of  the  "cort's"  order  for  rum.  For,  when  the  article  was  reached,  it  was 
voted — "To  take  the  money  that  is  now  ascst  to  pay  for  the  rum  and 
the  cort  and  assess  money  immediately  in  place  of  it."  Doubtless  "the 
money  now  ascst"  was  used  in  accordance  with  the  above  vote.  But  if 
the  rum  was  purchased  and  brought  into  town,  it  is  extremely  doubtful 
if  the  continental  army  or,  for  that  matter,  the  "cort"  either,  ever  had 
an  opportunity  to  even  sample  it. 

March  29,  voted — "To  allow  Waldron  Stone  fourteen  shillings  and 
James  Campbell  ten  and  eight  pense  for  sarvis  as  soldiers." 

May  13,  voted — "To  raise  the  soldiers  agreeable  to  act  of  court"; 
and  chose  the  selectmen — "A  committee  to  hire  them."  At  the  same 
meeting,  Capt.  Roberts  Seaver,  Lieut.  James  McDaniels  and  Lieut. 
Sampson  Farns worth  were  elected  a  committee — "To  settle  with  those 
who  have  credit  due  them  for  war  service  in  the  town." 

Jan.  23,  1783,  voted — "To  send  the  committee  of  safety  a  return  of 
the  men  that  belong  to  this  town  who  have  listed  in  the  bay  sarvis  and 
claim  two  of  them  as  our  men  for  the  army."  The  two  men  especially 
referred  to  in  the  foregoing  vote  were  Benjamin  Patten  and  Benjamin 
Osgood,  who  had  enlisted  in  a  Massachusetts  regiment.  The  matter  was 
subsequently  attended  to,  as  will  be  noticed  in  a  subsequent  page. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  87 

February  15th  of  the  same  year  it  was  voted — "That  Clark  Brown 
have  his  son's  credit  for  war  sarvis  as  on  the  town  books, — and  that 
Capt.  Douglass  and  Waldron  Stone  be  allowed  their  credit  as  on  the 
town  books." 

July  15,  1783,  voted — "To  pay  Elias  Dickey  the  money  for  his  serv- 
ices in  the  war";  and,  also, — "That  Clark  Brown  have  his  son's  credit 
for  war  service  as  on  the  town's  books;  and  that  Capt.  Douglass  and 
Waldron  Stone  be  allowed  their  credit  for  service  as  on  the  town's  books." 

The  above  is  the  last  record  on  the  book  referring  to  the  Revolutionary 
War  during  its  progress. 

The  Association  Test. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1776,  the  New  Hampshire  committee  of 
safety,  acting  under  the  provisions  of  a  resolution  passed  by  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  sent  to  the  selectmen  of  the  several  towns  circulars 
containing  a  declaration  to  which  the  committee  requested  the  boards 
of  selectmen  to  procure  the  signatures  of  all  the  males  over  twenty-one 
years  of  age  in  their  respective  towns,  and  to  report  the  names  of  all  who 
refused  to  sign  the  same.  The  "declaration"  in  said  circular  contained 
was  termed,  "An  Association  Test."  The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  same, 
together  with  the  names  of  those  in  Raby  who  signed  it : 

"We  the  Subscribers  do  hereby  solemnly  engage  and  promise,  that 
we  will,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  at  the  Risque  of  our  Lives  and  For- 
tunes, with  arms,  oppose  the  Hostile  Proceedings  of  the  British  Fleets 
and  Armies  against  the  United  American  Colonies." 

George  Russell,  Nath'l  Badger, 

James  Badger,  James  Campbell, 

Benjamin  Muzzey,  James  Rolf, 

Randel  McDonald,  Swallow  Tucker, 

James  Dickey,  Samuel  Russell, 

Nath'ell  Patten,  George  Woodward, 
Sampson  Farnsworth,           •      James  Mcintosh, 

Will'  Hall,  Mathew  Walless, 

Denet  Shaw,  Jr.,  Robert  Seaver, 

Eason  Dix,  Isaac  Shattuck, 

Moses  Lowell,  WTilliam  Spaulding. 
Phinehan  Asten, 


88  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

Names  and  Records  of  Raby's  Soldiers  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 

1.  CAPT.  ROBERT  SEAVER  enlisted  April  19,  1775,  as  a 
private  in  Capt.  Reuben  Dow's  company  of  Hollis  which  marched  from 
Hollis  in  response  to  the  Lexington  alarm  and  served  twelve  days  at 
Cambridge.  During  this  same  year  he  was  second  lieutenant  in  Capt. 
Noah  Worcester's  company  of  Hollis,  serving  this  time  at  Cambridge 
from  December  to  April  following.  At  the  time  known  as  the  "First 
Ticonderoga  Alarm,"  when,  in  June,  1777,  General  Burgoyne  was  re- 
ported to  be  marching  upon  Fort  Ticonderoga,  he  was  first  lieutenant 
in  Capt.  Daniel  Emerson's  company  of  Hollis  which,  in  response  to  the 
State's  call  for  troops  to  repel  the  invasion,  marched  as  far  as  Walpole, 
and  was  then  ordered  back. 

Mr.  Worcester,  in  his  history  of  Hollis,  claims  Captain  Seaver  as  a 
Hollis  man,  saying  that  in  1775  "his  name  appears  on  the  Hollis  tax  lists 
as  a  resident  tax  payer."  By  that  process  of  reasoning  nearly  every 
man  who  went  to  the  war  from  this  town  might  have  been  claimed  as 
a  resident  of  Hollis,  for  it  was  not  quite  six  years  since  Raby  had  been 
incorporated  out  of  territory  that  had  previously  been  a  part  of  Hollis, 
and  no  doubt  many  of  the  citizens  were  still  taxed  in  Hollis,  although  no 
longer  residents  there.  But  in  1769,  when  Raby  was  incorporated  as  an 
independent  township,  Robert  Seaver  was  living  within  its  limits, — as 
were  also  Randell  McDaniels,  John  Cummings,  Ezekiel  Proctor,  Ebenezer 
Gilson,  Joshua  Smith  and  James  Dickey;  six  other  soldiers  of  Raby,  who 
were  claimed  for  Hollis,  probably  for  the  same  reason  as  was  Captain 
Seaver.  The  fact  of  their  residence  in  Raby  at  that  time  is  established 
conclusively  by  a  plan  of  Hollis  and  Raby,  which  was  filed  with  a  peti- 
tion of  the  people  of  Raby,  addressed  to  the  General  Court  of  New  Hamp- 
shire in  June,  1785;  a  copy  of  which  plan  appears  in  this  book,  and  in 
which  the  sites  of  the  dwelling  houses  of  Cummings,  Proctor,  Gilson  and 
vSmith  are  designated  by  marks  and  names.  In  this  plan  and  petition, 
Robert  Seaver,  James  Dickey  and  Randell  McDaniels  are  mentioned  and 
described  as — "Living  in  Raby  on  the  side  next  to  Hollis,"  and,  further- 
more, the  petition  itself  is  signed  by  Robert  Seaver  as  one  of  the  select- 
men of  Raby.  Not  only  this,  but  his  name  appears  on  the  tax  list,  or 
rates,  of  Raby  for  1771  and  every  succeeding  year  up  to  and  including 
1775,  and  for  every  year  after  as  long  as  he  lived.  Oct.  2,  1775,  he  was 
chosen  one  of  the  town's  first  committee  of  safety,  as  by  its  records  ap- 
pears; and  the  records  show  that  he  was  repeatedly  a  member  of  that 
committee  during  the  war.    As  a  further  proof  of  his  citizenship  in  Raby, 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  89 

I  produce  the  evidence  of  himself  as  embodied  in  the  following  certificate, 
copied  from  the  Town  Papers  of  New  Hampshire,  Vol.  XI,  Page  241. 
It  is  entitled — "Certificate  of  Men  enlisted  1776." 

"Raby,  July  18,  1776. 
Pursuant  to  orders  from  the  Honble .  Nathaniel  Fulsom,  Esq.  Major- 
General  to  me  directed  to  raise  six  men  in  the  company  under  General 
Sullivan.  In  consequence  of  said  Order  I  have  Raised  and  caused  to 
muster  &  march  in  to  said  service  five  men  Exclusive  of  one  belonging 
to  the  town  of  Raby  who  had  enlisted  into  said  service  and  passed  muster." 

(Signed)  Robert  Seaver,  Capt. 
"To  the  committee  of  safety  for  the  colony  of  New  Hampshire." 
And  finally  his  name  appears  as  one  of  the  subscribers  in  1768  to  the  in- 
strument by  which  certain  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Mile  Slip  and  the 
west  part  of  Hollis  appointed  Samuel  Farley  their  agent  to  petition  the 
Governor  and  Council  to  incorporate  them  and  theirs  into  a  new  town- 
ship. His  title  of  "Captain"  came  from  the  fact  that  he  was  for  many 
years  captain  of  the  local  Militia  company.  He  died  at  Brookline,  Nov. 
3,  1828,  aged  85  years,  and  is  buried  in  the  cemetery-on-the-plain,  his 
grave  being  marked  by  a  marble  slab. 

2.  JAMES  McINTOSH  was  one  of  Raby's  men  who  marched  with 
Captain  Dow's  company  for  Lexington  and  Cambridge  on  the  evening  of 
April  19,  1775.  When  a  portion  of  Captain  Goss'  company  returned  to 
Hollis  from  Cambridge  after  a  few  days  absence,  Mcintosh  remained  and 
enlisted  for  eight  months  in  a  company  which  Capt.  Reuben  Dow  or- 
ganized at  Cambridge,  and  which  was  mustered  into  the  service  as  a 
part  of  Col.  William  Prescott's  Massachusetts  regiment.  He  was  one  of 
the  corporals  of  this  company,  and  in  its  ranks  he  fought  in  the  Battle 
of  Bunker  Hill.  He  died  at  Brookline,  Oct.  16,  1823,  80  years  old,  and  is 
buried  in  the  pond  cemetery.  His  grave  is  marked  at  the  present  time 
by  a  head  stone. 

3.  RANDALL  McDANlELS  was  also  in  Captain  Dow's  company 
April  19,  1775.  He  was  probably  one  of  that  portion  of  the  company 
which  returned  to  Hollis  at  the  expiration  of  twelve  days.  In  December, 
1776,  he  again  enlisted  in  the  regiment  of  Col.  David  Gilman,  which  was 
organized  to  reinforce  the  army  in  New  York.  This  time  he  was  in  Capt. 
William  Walker's  company  of  Dunstable,  now  Nashua,  and  served  for  two 
months,  as  appears  from  the  company's  roll  at  Concord.  He  is  buried  in 
the  pond  cemetery. 

4.  ARCHIBALD  McINTOSH,  Sr.,  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Capt. 
Samuel  Gilbert's  company,  Prescott's  regiment,  May  10,  1775.     He  was 


90  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  where  he  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner. 
He  died  of  his  wounds  Aug,  10,  1775,  having  served  eighty-three  days. 
His  name  is  inscribed  on  one  of  the  memorial  tablets  in  Charlestown, 
Mass.,  as  one  of  Brookline's  soldiers  who  were  killed  in  that  battle.  Nov. 
30,  1775,  Captain  Gilbert  signed  a  paper  certifying  to  the  fact  that  he 
was  either  taken  prisoner  or  killed  in  the  battle;  and  also  that  he  had 
never  received  a  bounty  coat  or  value  thereof.  His  widow,  Rachel  Mcin- 
tosh, afterwards  received  the  money  value  of  the  coat.* 

5.  JAMES  CONNECK  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill;  serv- 
ing in  the  same  company  with  Archibald  Mcintosh.  Like  Mcintosh,  he 
was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  He  is  reported  in  the  State  Rolls  as 
having  died  of  his  wounds  July  24,  1775.  His  name  is  inscribed  with  that 
of  Mcintosh  on  the  said  tablet  in  Charlestown. 

6.  NATHANIEL  BADGER  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Samuel 
Gilbert's  company,  Colonel  Prescott's  regiment,  in  May,  1775.  He  fought 
in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

7.  WILLIAM  SPAULDING,  Sr.,  was  a  volunteer' from  Raby  in 
Capt.  Josiah  Sawtelle's  company  of  minute  men,  which  marched  from 
Groton,  Mass.,  for  Lexington,  on  the  alarm  of  April  19,  1775.  In  May 
of  the  same  year  he  re-enlisted  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Joseph  Moore's 
company,  Col.  William  Prescott's  regiment.  He  was  in  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill,  where  he  was  severely  wounded  in  the  arm.  March  12, 
1777,  he  petitioned  the  New  Hampshire  House  of  Representatives  for  an 
allowance,  as  follows: 

"To  the  Hon'ble  ye  General  Assembly  of  ye  State  of  New  Hamp- 
shire— The  Petition  of  William  Spaulding  Humbly  Sheweth  That  he  was 
wounded  in  the  battle  at  Bunker  hill  by  which  he  hath  lost  the  use  of  his 
right  hand — that  he  is  on  ye  roll  for  half  pay — that  he  has  lived  in  Raby 
and  in  said  state  upwards  of  twelve  years — that  the  loss  of  his  hand  and 
his  poll  taxes  and  a  large  family  to  maintain  hath  much  reduced  him — 
and  that  he  was  chosen  by  sd  Town  of  Raby  constable  for  ye  year  1782 
— and  beg'd  to  be  excused  but  was  not  released — that  his  own  Taxes 
with  some  small  Debts  which  he  ow'd  have  brought  him  into  such  sur- 
comstances  that  he  is  in  the  arear  the  sum  of  £25-7-3-3  to  the  state 
Treasr  and  that  he  hath  one  state  note  of  £20,  and  one  order  of  £12 
from  ye  president  both  of  them  herein  which  is  all  he  has  to  pay  with — 
that  he  is  about  to  remove  to  Norrigewalk  in  on  the  Kenebec  river — 
Therefore  he  prays  your  Honors  to  except  of  the  only  means  he  hath  to 
satisfie  ye  Treasr  and  Grant  that  ye  Treasr  may  be  Directed  to  receive  so 

*  Mass.  Soldiers  and  Sailors. — Vol.  X,  page  510. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  91 

much  of  sd  note  and  order  as  you  in  your  great  wisdom  &  Justice  to  my 

necessities  shall  see  fit  as  in  duty  bound  shall  pray. 

April  1784.  Will"1  Spalding." 

This  petition  was  considered  by  the  House  March  21,  1777,  and  he 
was  granted  half  pay  from  the  last  day  of  December,  1775, — "On  con- 
sideration of  his  doing  Garrison  Duty  in  a  corps  of  invalids,  and  that  in 
case  he  shall  be  called  upon  &  refuse  to  do  said  duty  he  will  not  be  enti- 
tled to  said  half  pay." 

On  the  7th  day  of  August,  1778,  as  appears  by  the  State  Rolls,  Swal- 
low Tucker,  James  Badger  and  Benj.  Shattuck,  as  selectmen  of  Raby, 
certified  to  the  paymaster  general  that — "William  Spaulding  of  Raby  in 
said  State  Remains  lame  as  he  hath  since  he  was  wounded  in  the  service 
of  the  United  States  at  Bunker  Hill";  and  on  the  3rd  day  of  April,  1777, 
he  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  a  certificate  for  thirty  pounds  of  Ephraim 
Robinson — "In  full  of  his  half  pay  as  an  Invalid  Pensioner  to  April  1st, 
1778." 

His  name  appears  upon  the  State  pension  rolls  as  late  as  1785. 

8.  WILLIAM  SPAULDING,  Jr.,  was  a  son  of  William,  above  men- 
tioned. He  served  in  the  same  company  with  his  father  and  fought  by 
his  side  at  Bunker  Hill.  He  afterwards  served  as  a  private  in  Captain 
Goss'  company,  Colonel  Nichols' regiment,  Stark's  brigade,  for  two  months 
and  nine  days,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Bennington. 

9.  NATHANIEL  PATTEN  enlisted  from  Brookline  for  eight 
months  in  Capt.  Reuben  Dow's  company,  of  Prescott's  regiment,  and 
was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  In  July,  1776,  he  served  in  Capt.  Daniel 
Emerson  Jr.'s  company,  Colonel  Joshua  Wingate's  regiment,  which  was 
raised  to  reinforce  the  army  in  Canada.  He  was  in  the  service  this  time 
about  six  months.  In  1777  he  again  enlisted;  this  time  for  Hollis,  as  a 
private  in  the  First  New  Hampshire  Continental  Regiment,  then  com- 
manded by  Col.  Moses  Nichols.  This  last  enlistment  was  for  three  years. 
But  in  July,  1780,  he  appears  to  have  re-enlisted  for  Hollis  as  a  recruit 
for  the  Continental  Army  for  six  months,  receiving  as  a  bounty  510  pounds 
and  seventy-nine  bushels  of  Rye.  He  served  this  last  time  five  months 
and  nineteen  days.  He  was  at  West  Point  in  1780  in  Company  4,  of  the 
Regt,  of  N.  H. continental  troops,  then  commanded  by  Col.  Joseph  Cilley. 

In  the  New  Hampshire  War  Rolls,  under  the  date  of  April  23,  1777, 
is  the  following : 


92  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

"Received  of  the  town  of  Hollis  by  the  hands  of  the  selectmen  the 
sum  of  twenty  pounds  as  a  bounty  for  engaging  in  the  Continental  Army 
to  serve  the  term  of  three  years.     Receive  for  me  Jonathan  Taylor." 

(Signed)     NATHANIEL   PATTEN. 

On  said  rolls  under  date  of  May  20,  1779,  appears  the  following 
record:  "Received  of  the  selectmen  of  Hollis  by  the  hands  of  James 
Mcintosh  one  Bushel  of  Rye  at  nine  pound — Eleven  pound  of  Pourk  at 
nine  pound  eighteen  shillings — one-half  bushel  of  Beans  at  three  pound 
twelve  shillings  for  my  support  as  my  husband  is  in  the  Continental 
army  for  said  Hollis."  her 

"Byrne  (Signed)     GRace     X     PATTEN. 

JAMES  McINTOSH."  mark. 

10.  JAMES  MeDANlELS  (McDonald).  He  is  claimed  in  the  Hollis 
history  as  a  Hollis  man.  But  his  name  appears  on  Raby's  recorded  list 
of  soldiers  and  also  on  the  town's  tax  list  in  1771  and  1775.  He  enlisted 
in  Capt.  John  Goss'  company,  Col.  Moses  Nichol's  regiment,  which 
marched  from  Hollis  in  July,  1777.  He  served  two  months  and  twenty- 
nine  days  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Bennington.  He  died  in  Brookline, 
April  11,  1801,  in  the  84th  year  of  his  age,  and  is  buried  in  the  pond 
cemetery.     His  grave  is  marked  by  a  marble  slab. 

11.  ELI  AS  DICKEY  enlisted  from  Raby  April  19,  1775,  as  a 
private  in  Capt.  John  Nutting's  company  of  Groton,  Mass.,  Colonel 
Prescott's  regiment.  But  for  some  unknown  reason  he  was  absent  from 
his  company  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  His  name  appears  on  the  roll 
of  Captain  Nutting's  company.  It  also  appears  in  the  New  Hampshire 
Revolutionary  Rolls  as  gone  to  Quebec;  and  on  Raby's  record  list  of  its 
soldiers,  his  name  is  recorded  as  one  of  the — "Men  that  went  to  Canada 
for  one  year."  In  July,  1776,  he  enlisted  in  Capt.  Daniel  Emerson's 
company,  Colonel  Wingate's  regiment,  in  the  Continental  Army. 

12.  DANIEL  SHED  was  a  volunteer  from  Raby  April  19,  1775,  in 
Capt.  Asa  Lawrence's  company  of  minute  men,  Groton,  Mass.  July  7, 
1777,  he  re-enlisted  for  Raby  for  one  year  in  Capt.  John  Goss'  company 
of  Hollis,  Col.  Moses  Nichol's  regiment.  His  name  appears  on  Raby's 
record  list  of  its  soldiers.  In  June,  or  July,  1779,  he  re-enlisted  in  the 
third  New  Hampshire  Continental  regiment  and  served  until  June  or 
July,  1780.  At  his  enlistment  in  1779  the  town  voted  him  a  bounty  of 
one  thousand  dollars  in  cash  and  eighty  dollars  for  four  months  supply 
of  firewood.     He  received  a  state  bounty  of  60  pounds. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  93 

On  the  New  Hampshire  Revolutionary  Rolls,  Vol.  3,  p.  584,  appears 
the  following  statement : 

"Raby  now  Brookline." 

"The  State  of  New  Hampshire  to  the  selectmen  of  Raby  D.  To  cash 
paid  Daniel  Shed  as  a  soldier  enlisted  in  the  continental  service  for  one 
year  being  the  state  bounty 

— Per  Rec  L  60,  Errors  excepted  in  behalf  of  the  selectmen  of  Raby." 

(Signed)     NOAH   WORCESTER. 
"In  committee  of  claims  f 

Exeter  11th.  Feb.  1780  <  Daniel  Shed  was  mustered  in  by 

is  lodged  in  this  office."  (_  Col.  Moses  Richards  the  receipt 

Exc  J.   GILMAN" 

Feb.  11,  1780.     An  order  on  the  Treasurer  for  twenty  pounds." 

("Signed)     NOAH   WORCESTER. 
CopyexdN.  PARKER." 

13.  ANDREW  RUSSELL  was  a  private  in  Capt.  William  Read's 
company,  Col.  Nahum  Baldwin's  regiment  in  1776.  He  re-enlisted  in 
Capt.  Daniel  Emerson's  company  at  the  time  of  the  first  "Ticonderoga 
Alarm"  in  1777.  This  alarm  was  caused  by  the  news  of  Burgoyne's  ad- 
vance upon  the  fort  at  Ticonderoga.  The  company  left  Hollis  June  30, 
and  marched  as  far  as  Walpole,  where  the  regiment  to  which  it  was  at- 
tached was  ordered  back  home.  At  the  time  of  the  second  alarm  in  July 
of  the  same  year  he  was  in  Capt.  John  Goss'  company  of  same  regiment, 
(Colonel  Nichol's),  for  two  months  and  nine  days,  and  was  present  at 
and  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Bennington.  In  July,  1781,  he  re-enlisted  in 
Capt.  Moses  Nichol's  regiment,  where  he  served  six  months. 

14.  JONAS  SHED  enlisted  in  Capt.  John  Goss'  company  of  Hollis, 
July  20,  1777.  He  was  discharged  September  28  of  the  same  year,  having 
served  two  months  and  nine  days.     He  was  in  the  battle  of  Bennington. 

15.  CLARK  BROWN  enlisted  in  Capt.  Joseph  Bennett's  company 
of  Mason,  Col.  Moses  Nichol's  regiment,  which  marched  from  Mason  for 
Ticonderoga  June  29,  1777,  on  the  alarm,  to  re-enforce  General  St.  Clair, 
and  was  out  five  days. 

16.  JAMES  DICKEY  was  a  volunteer  in  Capt.  Reuben  Dow's 
company,  which  marched  from  Hollis  April  19,  1775,  at  the  time  of  the 
Lexington  alarm.  In  June,  1777,  he  was  a  private  in  Capt.  Daniel  Emer- 
son's company,  which  marched  from  Hollis  at  the  time  of  the  first  Ticon- 
deroga alarm,  and  was  absent  five  days.  In  1781  he  was  a  private  in  the 
2nd  company,  1st  New  Hampshire  continental  regiment. 


94  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

17.  JOHN  CONNECK  served  as  a  private  in  Captain  Goss'  com- 
pany, which  marched  from  Hollis,  July  20,  1777,  to  re-enforce  the  northern 
army.  He  served  two  months  and  nine  days.  He  was  in  the  battle  of 
Bennington,  where  he  was  severely  wounded. 

18.  WILLIAM  CONNECK,  at  nineteen  years  of  age,  enlisted  June 
18,  1780,  for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  as  a  private  in  the  Fourth  New 
Hampshire  continental  regiment,  Capt.  John  House's  company.  He  was 
mustered  in  by  Major  Scott,  and  discharged  December  6,  of  the  same  year. 

19.  SAMUEL  RUSSELL  was  a  private  in  Captain  Stone's  com- 
pany, Colonel  Hale's  regiment,  at  the  time  of  the  first  Ticonderoga  alarm 
in  June,  1777. 

20.  JAMES  ROLFE  in  1777  was  a  private  in  Capt.  William  Walk- 
er's company  of  Dunstable,  Col.  David  Gilmore's  regiment.  In  1781  he 
enlisted  from  Raby  for  Hollis  as  private  in  the  fifth  company,  second  N. 
H.  continental  regiment.  He  was  mustered  in  at  Amherst  February  13. 
His  term  of  service  was  three  years. 

21.  ISAAC  SHATTUCK  served  in  the  garrison  at  Portsmouth; 
and  also  in  the  army  in  New  York,  in  Capt.  Timothy  Clement's  company, 
Colonel  Long's  regiment.  He  was  in  the  service  twelve  months  in  all. 
He  is  buried  in  the  Pond  cemetery. 

22.  JAMES  CAMPBELL  was  a  private  in  Colonel  Nichol's  regi- 
ment in  June,  1777,  at  the  time  of  the  first  "Ticonderoga  Alarm."  He 
was  in  Capt.  Daniel  Emerson's  company,  and  served  four  days.  He  died 
July  5,  1779,  and  is  buried  in  the  south  cemetery. 

23.  SWALLOW  TUCKER  was  in  the  same  company  and  regi- 
ment with  James  Campbell,  and  served  for  the  same  length  of  time. 
His  name  also  appears  on  the  town  list  as  one  of  those  "who  went  to 
Cambridge."    He  died  April  29,  1809,  and  is  buried  in  the  south  cemetery. 

24.  BENJAMIN  SHATTUCK  was  in  Capt.  Joseph  Barrett's  com- 
pany of  Mason,  Colonel  Nichols'  regiment,  which  marched  for  Ticonderoga 
at  the  time  of  the  alarm,  June  19,  1777.    He  is  buried  in  the  Pond  cemetery. 

25.  ISAAC  STEVENS,  Jr.,  in  June,  1776,  was  a  member  of  Cap- 
tain Emerson's  company  of  Hollis,  Col.  Joseph  Wingate's  regiment. 
This  regiment  was  raised  to  re-enforce  the  army  in  Canada.  He  served 
about  six  months. 

26.  SAMPSON  FARNSWORTH  served  in  Capt.  Robert  Fletcher's 
company,  Colonel  Hale's  regiment;  enlisting  Aug.  10,  1778.  He  saw  21 
days  service  in  Rhode  Island. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  95 

27.  BENJAMIN  PATTEN  enlisted  from  Raby  Jan.  1,  1777,  for 
three  years  or  the  war,  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Hugh  Maxwell's  company, 
Col.  John  Bayley's  regiment,  in  the  Continental  Army  for  the  state  of 
Massachusetts.  He  served  from  Jan.  1,  1777,  to  Dec.  31,  1779.  In  1778 
he  was  with  his  company  at  Valley  Forge.  A  company  return  under 
date  of  March  7,  1780,  reports  him  as  having  deserted. 

28.  BENJAMIN  OSGOOD  enlisted  from  Raby  Feb.  17,  1777,  for 
three  years  or  during  the  war,  in  Capt.  W.  H.  Ballard's  company,  Col. 
Ichabod  Alden's  regiment,  in  the  Continental  Army  for  Massachusetts. 
He  is  said  to  have  been  originally  of  Chelmsford,  Mass. ;  from  whence  he 
came  to  Raby. 

The  enlistment  of  Patten  and  Osgood  into  a  Massachusetts  regiment 
called  the  attention  of  the  citizens  of  Raby  to  the  necessity  of  some  action 
on  their  part  relative  to  having  them  counted  as  a  part  of  the  town's 
quota  of  soldiers  called  for  by  their  own  state.  Accordingly,  Robert 
Seaver  and  Alexander  Mcintosh,  acting  in  behalf  of  the  selectmen,  pre- 
pared and  sent  to  the  Massachusetts  legislature  the  following  memorial : 

"State  of  Massachusetts  Bay:  To  the  Hon'ble  Council  &  the  Hon'ble 
House  of  Representatives  in  General  Court  Assembled  The  Petition  of 
Robert  Server  &  Alex'r  Macintosh  in  behalf  of  the  Selectmen  &  Town 
officers  of  Raby  in  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  Humbly  shews — That 
in  the  Month  of  Jany.  ye  last  past  Benj.  patten  of  said  Raby  in  the  State 
of  N.  Hampshire  aforesaid  did  iniist  himself  a  soldier  &  mustered  by 
James  Barrett  Esq  muster  master  for  the  County  of  Middlesex  as  appears 
upon  said  muster  masters  Returns  now  lodged  in  the  Secretarys  Office  of 
this  State,  that  in  the  month  of  February  17th  Day  Last  past  that  Benj. 
Osgood  of  said  Raby  In  the  State  of  N.  hampshire  aforesaid  Did  iniist 
himself  a  Soldier  &  was  mustered  by  James  Barrett  Esq. — muster  master 
For  the  County  of  middlesex  as  appears  upon  Said  Muster  masters  Re- 
turns Now  Lodged  in  the  Secretary  office  of  the  State  ye  Petitioners 
therefore  humbly  Request  this  Hon'ble  Court  Would  Direct  Some  Suit- 
able person  to  Receive  your  Petitioners  this  State  Bounty  &  Likewise  the 
Continental  Bounty  if  this  Court  Shall  think  of  it  so  that  said  Patten  & 
said  Osgood  may  be  Returned  as  Continental  Soldiers  for  said  Raby  In 
said  State  of  New  Hampshire. — and  your  Petitioners  as  in  Duty  Bound 
will  ever  pray  &c — 
Raby  March  3,  1778. 

ROBERT  SERVER   Capt. 

ALEX'R   MACINTOSH." 


96  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

The  Massachusetts  legislature  responded  to  this  memorial  by  giving 
the  petitioners  leave  to  withdraw.  The  matter  was  allowed  to  rest  quiet- 
ly until  1783,  in  which  year  it  was  called  to  the  attention  of  the  New 
Hampshire  authorities  by  the  following  memorial : 

"State  of  New  Hampshire. 

To  the  Honorable  the  Senate  &  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire. 

The  Petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Raby  Humbly  Shews 
— That  Benj'a  Osgood  &  Benj'a  Patten  two  privates  belonging  to  the 
train  band  in  said  town  of  Raby  in  the  year  A.  D.  1777  inlist  into  the 
Service  of  Massachusetts  in  the  Continental  Army  for  three  years  or 
during  the  war  which  men  were  claimed  by  the  town  &  were  returned  by 
the  commanding  officer  of  sd  Train  Band  in  favour  of  said  Town  and 
applied  to  the  General  Court  of  the  Massachuettts  for  an  order  whereby 
your  petitioners  might  have  relief,  but  upon  the  principal  that  by  a  gen- 
eral resolve  they  had  made  Sufficient  provision  already  for  relief  ordered 
the  petition  to  be  withdrawn,  as  may  appear  from  the  certificat  accom- 
panying this  petition.  Whereas  the  Town  of  Raby  have  been  fined  for 
a  delinquency  of  said  two  men  when  the  supposed  they  had  fully  com- 
plied with  the  requisisions  laid  upon  them  Seems  to  your  petitioners  not 
founded  in  Justice  your  petitioners  therefore  humbly  pray  your  honors 
to  take  their  case  under  your  wise  consideration  and  remit  the  fine  layed 
on  the  Town  or  grant  such  relief  as  you  in  your  wisdom  may  see  fit.  And 
your  petitioners  as  in  Duty  bound  will  ever  pray." 

SWALLOW  TUCKER  y      Selectmen 
ROBERT  SEVER       [-     of  Raby 
DANIEL  TYLER      ) 

The  above  petition  was  accompanied  with  the  following  certificates: 

"This  may  certify  Benj'a  Patten  &  Benj'a  Osgood  both  of  Raby  in 

the  County  of  Hillsborough  &  State  of  New  Hampshire  were  &  are  proper 

Inhabitants  of  said  Town  of  Raby  &  belonging  to  my  Company  as  private 

soldiers  &  belong  to  the  Regiment  whereof  Moses  Nichols  Esq  is  Colonel 

who    have    lately    enlisted    into    the     Continental    service 

as  privates  in  the  same  for  the  space  of  three  years  or  during  the 
present  war  (Viz)  the  said  Benja  Osgood  under  Lieut  Jonas  Parker  of 
Acton  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Ballard  in  Col.  Alden's  Regt.  and 
the  sd  Benja  Patten  in  Capt.  Maxwell's  Company  Col0  Bayleys  Regt. 
both  in  the  State  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay  by  means  whereof  we  are  orpos- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  97 

sibly  may  be  deprived  of  two  men  which  we  ought  not  to  be  by  the  re- 
solves of  the  State  with  regard  to  inlistments  in  this  ease  made  &  provided 
Raby  May  5th  1777 
To  Col0  Moses  Nichols 

A  True  Copy  attest  Robert  Sever  Capt." 
"This  may  certify  that  the  hire  of  Benja  Osgood  was  paid — and  the 
hire  of  Benja  Patten  was  tendered. 
Raby  May  31,  1784.  SWALLOW  TUCKER  1  Select 


ROBERT  SEVER  Men. 


29.  ARCHIBALD  McINTOSH,  Jr.,  was  a  private  in  Capt.  John 
Goss'  company,  which  marched  from  Hollis,  June  29,  1777,  to  re-enforce 
the  army  in  the  north.     He  was  in  the  battle  of  Bennington. 

30.  BENJAMIN  MUZZEY  served  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Philip 
Putnam's  company  of  Wilton,  which  marched  from  Wilton  for  Saratoga, 
Sept.  29,  1777.  He  afterwards  re-enlisted  in  Capt.  William  Reed's  com- 
pany, Col.  Nahum  Baldwin's  regiment;  the  company  having  been  raised 
in  the  6th  regiment  of  the  Militia,  and  mustered  into  the  service  by  Abiel 
Abbott,  mustering  officer. 

31.  CALEB  BROWN,  in  1776,  was  a  private  in  Capt.  Timothy 
Clement's  company,  Col.  Pierce  Long's  regiment,  in  the  continental  serv- 
ice. Time  of  service  nineteen  days.  In  1778  he  was  in  Capt.  Moses  Leav- 
ett's  company,  Col.  Moses  Nichol's  regiment,  which  marched  that  year  to 
re-enforce  the  continental  army  in  Rhode  Island.  Time  of  service,  twenty- 
five  days.  Dec.  15,  1783,  the  town  allowed  him  1  pound  and  8  pense — 
"For  war  service." 

32.  THOMAS    ALTON     (Austin)  served  as  a  private  in  

company,    Col.    Thomas   Nichol's   regiment,    which   was 


raised  in  July,  1777,  to  re-enforce  the  northern  army. 

33.  CAPT.  SAMUEL  DOUGLASS,  whose  name  appears  on  Raby's 
record  list  of  its  soldiers  in  the  Revolution,  was  captain  of  a  company  of 
twenty  men  which  marched  from  Townsend  Hill,  Mass.,  in  response  to 
the  Lexington  alarm,  April  19,  1775.  At  that  time,  he  was  living  in  "Pad- 
dledock,"  now  South  Brookline,  his  house  being  located  a  few  rods  north 
of  the  State  line,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  which  leads  from 
South  Brookline  to  the  summit  of  Townsend  Hill.  Its  cellar  hole  is  still 
in  existence  at  the  present  time,  and  is  in  a  remarkable  state  of  preserva- 
tion, considering  the  fact  that  it  was  built  more  than  one  hundred  and 
sixty  years  ago.    At  a  town  meeting  holden  Feb.  15,  1783,  it  was  voted — 


98  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

"That  Capt.  Douglass  and  Waldron  Stone  be  allowed  credit  for  war 
sarvis  as  on  the  town  book";  and  under  date  of  Oct.  23,  1784,  the  town's 
order  book  contained  the  following  entry — "Capt  Douglass  order  for  3 
pounds-3-4-1 ;  it  being  for  his  war  service." 

34.  MOSES  LOWELL  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  5th  company 
of  the  second  New  Hampshire  continental  regiment,  his  term  of  service 
being  for  three  years  or  during  the  war. 

35.  JEREMIAH  HUBERT  (Hobart),  whose  name  is  on  the 
town's  record  list  of  its  soldiers,  in  August,  1775,  was  a  private  in  Capt. 
Asa  Lawrence's  company  of  Groton,  Colonel  Prescott's  regiment. 

36.  JOSIAH  SUARD  (Seward?)  enlisted  for  Raby  April  25,  1775, 
in  Capt.  John  Nutting's  company  of  Groton,  Colonel  Prescott's  regi- 
ment, and  served  three  months  and  eight  days.  According  to  Raby's 
records,  he  was  also — "at  York  1  year." 

37.  WILLIAM  McINTOSH,  April  12,  1781,*  was  hired  as  a  re- 
cruit by  the  town  of  Stoughton,  Mass.  His  company,  regiment  and  term 
of  service  are  unknown.  Opposite  to  his  name  on  the  town's  list  are  the 
words — "For  Nathaniel  Patten  to  York." 

38.  WALDRON  STONE  was  a  volunteer  from  Raby  in  Capt. 
Daniel  Stone's  company  of  minute  men  of  Ashby,  Mass.,  which  marched 
from  Ashby  for  Cambridge,  Mass.,  at  the  time  of  the  Lexington  alarm, 
April  19,  1775.  August  1,  of  the  same  year,  he  was  a  private  in  Capt. 
Abijah  Wyman's  company,  Col.  William  Prescott's  regiment.  His  name 
appears  on  Raby's  record  list  of  its  soldiers. 

39.  LIEUT.  JOHN  CUMMINGS  was  second  lieutenant  of  the 
Hollis  company  of  minute  men,  which,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Reu- 
ben Dow,  in  response  to  the  alarm  from  Lexington,  marched  from  Hollis 
for  Cambridge  and  Lexington  on  the  evening  of  April  19,  1775.  After 
some  twelve  days  service  at  Cambridge  a  part  of  the  company  returned 
to  Hollis.  Of  the  men  who  remained  at  Cambridge,  fifty-nine  were  or- 
ganized into  a  new  company  under  the  command  of  Captain  Dow,  and  the 
company  was  mustered  into  the  service  for  eight  months  as  a  part  of  Col. 
William  Prescott's  Massachusetts  regiment.  It  completed  its  full  term  of  ser- 
vice, and  was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  Among  the  names  of  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  organized  company  were  the  following  citizens  of  Raby : 
Second  Lieut.  John  Cummings;  second  corporal,  James  Mcintosh;  pri- 
vates, Nathaniel  Patten,  Ezekiel  Proctor  and  Ebenezer  Gilson.  Lieutenant 
Cummings  at  this  time  was,  and  for  many  years  prior  thereto  had  been,  a 

*  Mass.  Soldiers  and  Sailors. — Vol.  X,  page  512. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  99 

resident  of  Raby.  His  name  appears  as  a  resident  taxpayer  on  its  first 
rate  list  in  1771,  and  also  upon  its  rate  list  for  every  subsequent  year  up 
to  about  1790.  His  dwelling  house,  a  log  cabin,  was  located  in  the  eastern 
part  of  the  township,  as  its  limits  were  described  in  its  charter  in  1769, 
and  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  northeasterly  from  the  present  village 
Main  street.  Its  site  at  the  present  time  (1914)  is  occupied  by  one  of  the 
oldest  framed  dwelling  houses  in  town;  which,  about  1800,  was  owned  and 
occupied  as  his  home  by  James  Parker,  1st,  and  after  him,  from  about 
1840  to  some  time  in  the  seventies,  by  the  late  James  H.  Burgess. 

40.  EZEKIEL  PROCTOR  was  a  member  of  Capt.  Reuben  Dow's 
company  of  Hollis  when  it  marched  from  Hollis  for  Cambridge,  April  19, 
1775.  He  continued  to  be  a  member  of  the  company  after  its  reorganiza- 
tion at  Cambridge,  and  fought  with  it  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  His 
term  of  service  in  this  enlistment  was  eight  months.  In  1776,  he  re- 
enlisted  from  Raby  with  twenty  men  from  Hollis  who  enlisted  during  that 
year  in  the  first  and  third  New  Hampshire  continental  regiments,  a  part 
of  whom  were  in  Capt.  John  House's  company  of  the  first  regiment,  and 
a  part  in  Capt.  Isaac  Frye's  company  of  Wilton,  of  the  third  regiment. 
Both  of  these  regiments  served  in  New  York  and  New  Jersey.  His  term 
of  service  in  this  last  enlistment  was  one  year. 

Before,  at  the  time  of,  and  for  many  years  after  these  enlistments, 
Ezekiel  Proctor  was  a  resident  taxpayer  in  Raby.  His  name  appears  as 
such  upon  its  first  rate  list  in  1771,  and  for  many  years  afterwards.  His 
dwelling  house  was  located  about  one  mile  north  of  the  village  Main 
street  on  the  west  side  of  the  north  highway  to  Hollis.  Its  site  until  some 
fifteen  or  twenty  years  since,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  was  occupied 
by  one  of  the  oldest  framed  buildings  in  town  which,  at  various  times  in 
its  existence,  was  known  from  the  names  of  its  different  owners  as  the 
Amos  Blodgett  place,  the  Pope  place  and  the  Luke  Baldwin  place. 

41.  EBENEZER  GILSON  was  a  private  in  Capt.  Reuben  Dow's 
company  when  in  response  to  the  Lexington  alarm  it  marched  from  Hollis 
on  the  evening  of  April  19,  1775.  He  was  probably  one  of  those  members 
of  the  company  who,  after  an  absence  of  twelve  or  thirteen  days,  re- 
turned to  Hollis.  For  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  he  re-enlisted  in  the 
Hollis  company  of  forty-five  men  which,  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Noah  Worcester,  responded  to  the  call  of  the  New  Hampshire  Committee 
of  Safety  for  troops  to  re-enforce  Gen.  John  Sullivan,  then  in  command  of 
the  New  Hampshire  troops  at  Winter  Hill  near  Boston.  He  was  in  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill.    His  house  was  located  in  the  disputed  territory  in 


100  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

the  eastern  part  of  Raby  on  the  west  side  of  the  east  highway  from  Brook- 
line  to  Milford,  and  about  one  and  one-half  miles  north  of  the  present 
village  Main  street.  At  the  present  time  (1914)  its  exact  site  is  a  matter 
of  doubt. 

42.  JOSHUA  SMITH  was  a  private  in  Capt.  William  Reed's  com- 
pany in  Col.  Nahum  Baldwin's  regiment,  which  was  raised  in  September, 
1777,  to  re-enforce  the  continental  army  at  White  Plains,  New  York.  He 
served  five  months.  His  house  in  Raby  at  that  time  was  located  in  the 
disputed  territory  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town  on  the  east  side  of 
the  highway  to  Oak  hill,  and  about  one  and  one-half  miles  south  of  the 
present  village  Main  street.  A  dwelling  house  standing  on  its  site  at  the 
present  time  was  known,  sixty  years  ago,  as  the  Christopher  Farley  place. 
At  present  it  is  known  as  the  Moses  Bohonon  place. 

43.  JOHN  GARDNER  enlisted  from  Raby  in  1776.  He  was  hired 
by  the  town  to  help  fill  out  its  quota  for  that  year,  and  was  paid  a  bounty 
of  six  pounds.  He  served  first  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Samuel  Cornell's  com- 
pany, Col.  Daniel  Moore's  regiment.  In  1777  he  was  in  Capt.  John  Lang- 
don's  company  when  it  joined  the  army  under  General  Gates  at  Saratoga. 
His  term  of  service  in  this  last  enlistment  was  twenty-five  days. 

Concerning  the  war  records  of  the  following  five  soldiers  of  Raby  in 
the  Revolution,  each  of  whose  names  appear  on  its  record  list,  the  writer 
has  been  unable  to  obtain  any  information  other  than  that  afforded  by 
said  list  as  follows : 

44.  GEORGE   WOODWARD;  "To  Tigh  for  five  months." 

45.  PHINEAS   ASTON    (Astin?) ;  "Canada  1  year." 

46.  ALEXANDER   McINTOSH;  "Canada  1  year." 

47.  MATHEW  WALLACE;  "To  Cambridge  6  weeks." 

48.  DAVID    DAVIDSON;  "Went  on  the  alarms." 


Raby's  Committees  of  Safety. 


* 


1775.  Ebenezer  Muzzey,  James  Badger,  Robert  Seaver,  Benjamin 
vShattuck,  Clark  Brown. 

1776.  George  Russell,  James  Badger,  Benjamin  Shattuck,  Swallow 
Tucker,  Ebenezer  Muzzey. 

1776.  (Re-organized  Committee.)  Alexander  Mcintosh,  Eason  Dix, 
Clark  Brown,  Mathew  Wallace,  Benjamin  Muzzey,  James  Campbell, 
Daniel  Shedd. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


101 


1777.  Alexander  Mcintosh,  Eson  Dix,  Clark  Brown,  Mathew  Wal- 
lace, Benjamin  Muzzey,  James  Campbell,  Daniel  Shedd,  William  Spauld- 
ing,  James  Rolfe. 

Raby's  Commissioned  Officers. 

Captain  Samuel  Douglass. 
First  Lieutenant,  Robert  Seaver. 
Second  Lieutenant,  John  Cunmmigs. 

Names  of  Soldiers  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  Buried  in  Brook- 
line,  Whose  Graves  are  Marked  by  Memorial  Tablets. 


Cemetery  on  the  Plain : 

Capt.  Robert  Seaver,  died  Nov.  3,  1828,  aged  85. 


Swallow  Tucker, 
Benjamin  Brooks, 
James  Campbell, 
Joshua  Smith, 
David  Gilson, 

Pond  Cemetery: 

Randell  McDaniels, 
Adj't.  William  Green, 
George  Russell, 
Samuel  Russell, 
Isaac  Shattuck, 
James  Mcintosh, 
David  Davisdon, 
James  McDonald, 
Benjamin  Shattuck, 
Mathew  Wallace,  Sr. 
Eleazer  Gilson, 
Sampson  Farnsworth. 


April  22,  1809,     "  67. 

April  2,  1829. 

July  5,    1799,  aged  52. 

1838. 

July  10,  1839. 


died  Jan.     27,  1825. 

Nov.   29,  1809,  aged  82. 


Nov. 

25,  1812,   ' 

'  92 

Nov. 

31,  1807,   ' 

'  74 

Nov. 

19,  1807,   ' 

'  72 

Oct. 

16,  1828,   ' 

'  80 

Dec. 

3,  1796,   ' 

'  41 

April 

11,  1801,   ' 

'  84 

Sept. 

12,  1813, 

'  88 

Dec. 

21,  1851,   ' 

'  95 

102  HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER   VII. 

Raby,  Continued. 

1775-1786. 

Classification  of  Raby  with  Mason  in  the  Matter  of  Representation  in  the 
General  Court — First  Representative  from  Raby  to  the  General 
Court — Second  Representative  to  the  General  Court — Raby 
Classed  with  Milford  in  the  Matter  of  Representation — Small  Pox 
Scare— The  Dark  Day  of  1780— The  Pond  Dam— Early  and 
Modern  Cemeteries — Disturbances  over  the  Law  Relative  to 
Killing  Salmon  and  Other  Fishes — Ancient  and  Modern  Inns. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  war  in  1775  until  the  close  in  1783,  the 
records  furnish  but  little  information  relative  to  municipal  affairs;  the 
town  apparently  having  all  it  could  attend  to  by  way  of  raising  money 
and  supplies  for  meeting  expenses  incurred  by,  and  exigencies  arising 
from,  the  war. 

There  are,  to  be  sure,  occasional  records  of  votes  to  raise  sums  of 
money  for  preaching,  school  purposes,  and  the  building  and  repairing  of 
highways  and  bridges.  But  in  all  these  cases  the  sums  voted  were  very 
small;  and  it  not  infrequently  happened  that  a  sum  of  money  voted  for 
some  especial  purpose  at  one  meeting  would,  at  some  subsequent  meet- 
ing, by  vote,  be  changed  from  the  use  for  which  it  was  originally  intended 
and  applied  to  the  carrying  out  of  some  other  scheme.  There  are,  also, 
during  this  period  almost  every  year  recorded  votes  for  the  appointment 
of  committees- — "To  git  two  tiers  of  lots  laid  off  to  Raby  from  the  west 
part  of  Mason";  or,  "To  git  a  portion  of  the  west  part  of  Hollis  laid  off 
to  Raby."  The  desire  on  the  part  of  Raby's  people  for  more  territory 
and  their  hopes  of  acquiring  it,  as  expressed  in  the  foregoing  votes,  while 
in  the  case  of  Mason  they  were  destined  never  to  be  realized,  were,  never- 
theless, in  the  case  of  Hollis,  afterwards  fully  realized,  as  will  appear 
further  along  in  these  pages. 

Of  the  highways  which  were  accepted  during  this  period  little  can 
be  said.     Many  of  them  were  mere  bridle  paths  which  have  long  since 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  '  103 

ceased  to  be  used  as  highways  and,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  the  descrip- 
tions of  their  laying  out  are  as  indefinite  and  hard  to  decipher  as  it  is 
today  to  establish  their  original  locations. 

Representation  in  the  General  Court. 

During  these  years  the  state  laws  allowed  one  representative  to  the 
General  Court  for  every  nine  hundred  inhabitants.  Mason  had  at  this 
time  a  population  of  a  little  over  five  hundred;  while  Raby's  population, 
owing  to  the  failure  of  its  selectmen  to  return  a  census  of  its  inhabitants 
in  1775,  was  unknown.  It  was  probably  this  latter  fact  that  caused  the 
state  authorities  to  guess  at  its  population  as  being  three  hundred  and 
twenty,  in  order  that  it  might  be  classed  with  Mason  and  thus  secure  the 
number  of  people  necessary  for  representation.  Thus  it  happened  that 
until  1794  Raby  and  Mason  elected  a  representative  together. 

The  joint  March  meetings  for  the  election  of  a  representative  appear 
to  have  generally  been  held  at  Mason,  the  warrants  for  the  same  being 
posted  in  each  town.  In  these  meetings  Raby  does  not  appear  to  have 
played  any  particularly  prominent  part.  Indeed,  its  books  fail  to  record 
or  even  mention  them.  From  the  year  1775  to  1784  the  two  towns  were 
represented  by  Deacon  Amos  Dakin  of  Mason.  But  in  the  latter  year, 
either  through  a  special  dispensation  of  Providence  or  because  of  political 
paralysis  on  the  part  of  the  politicians  of  Mason,  Capt.  Samuel  Douglass 
of  Raby  was  elected  representative  and  thus  acquired  the  distinction  of 
being  the  first  of  its  citizens  to  attain  that  honor.  The  second  Raby 
man  to  acquire  the  distinction  was  James  Campbell,  who  represented  the 
two  towns  in  1789. 

In  1794  Milford  was  incorporated  and  thereafter  until  the  year  1802 
Raby  was  classed  with  the  latter  town  in  the  matter  of  representation. 
During  the  period  of  the  town's  classification  with  Milford  in  1796  and 
again  in  1798,  Benjamin  Farley  of  Brookline  represented  the  two  towns 
in  the  legislature.  Brookline  continued  to  be  classed  with  Milford  until 
1802.  But  in  the  latter  year  the  General  Court,  upon  the  petition  of  its 
inhabitants,  granted  to  the  town  the  privilege  of  being  classed  by  itself 
in  the  matter  of  representation  in  the  state  legislature.  The  original  peti- 
tion, in  response  to  which  the  right  was  conferred,  has  been  lost;  but  the 
vote  of  the  General  Court  in  considering  the  same  was  as  follows: 

"State  of  New  Hampshire,  In  the  House  of  Representatives;  June 
16,  1802 


104  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Upon  Reading  &  Considering  the  foregoing  Petition  and  the  Report 
of  a  Committee  thereon  Voted  that  the  prayer  thereof  be  granted  and 
that  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Brookline  be  entitled  to  send  a  Rep- 
resentative to  the  General  Court  in  future 
Sent  up  for  Concurrence 

John  Prentice     Speaker 
In  Senate  June  17,  1802     Read  &  Concurred 

NATH'    PARKER   DY  Sec're'y" 

March  1,  1780,  the  citizens  voted — "Not  to  have  the  small  pox  in 
town."  March  22  of  the  same  year  Samuel  Douglass  was  drawn  as  a 
grand  juror — "to  serve  at  the  Superior  Court  at  Amherst";  he  being  the 
first  of  Raby's  citizens  to  act  in  that  capacity. 

As  to  the  foregoing  vote  relative  to  the  smallpox ;  while  at  first  thought, 
because  of  its  apparent  presumption,  it  appeals  strongly  to  one's  sense  of 
the  ridiculous,  at  second  thought  both  its  presumptuous  and  its  ridicu- 
lous features  are  eliminated  when  it  is  taken  into  consideration  that  the 
vote  was  really  nothing  more  nor  less  than  an  expression  of  the  popular 
opinion  at  that  time  relative  to  the  employment  of  vaccination  as  a  pre- 
ventive of  that  dread  disease ;  a  practice  which  was  then  beginning  to  be 
introduced,  and  against  which  there  was  strenuous  opposition  upon  the 
part  of  the  general  public. 

As  bearing  upon  the  question  of  the  numbers  and  distribution  of 
horned  cattle  among  the  farmers  in  Raby  at  that  time,  it  may  be  stated 
here  that  in  the  spring  of  1786  the  dwelling  house  of  Joshua  Smith,  lo- 
cated about  one  mile  south  of  the  present  village  Main  street  on  the  east 
side  of  the  highway  to  Oak  hill,  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire;  and  that 
at  the  time  of  the  fire  Mr.  Smith  was  the  owner  of  nine  milch  cows. 

The  Dark  Day  of  1780. 

"May  19,  1780,  has  long  been  known  in  the  annals  of  New  England 
as  'The  Dark  Day.'  The  darkness  commenced  to  come  on  about  ten 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  and  lasted  until  the  middle  of  the  following  night. 
It  extended  all  over  New  England  and  far  along  the  Atlantic  coast  to  the 
southward.  During  the  daytime,  its  density  was  so  great  that  men  at 
work,  out  of  doors,  were  unable  to  see  and  forced  to  cease  from  their 
labor.  In  doors  lighted  candles  for  seeing  and  doing  were  as  necessary 
as  in  the  darkness  of  ordinary  nights.  Fowls  went  to  their  roosts  and 
birds  to  their  nests  as  at  nightfall.    The  atmosphere  appeared  to  be  charged 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  105 

with  yellow,  brown  and  blue  light  intermingled;  which  imparted  a  weird 
and  immaterial  appearance  to  all  objects  in  nature.  The  people  were  ter- 
rified; all  labor  was  suspended  or  entirely  dropped.  To  many  it  seemed 
that  the  judgement  day  was  at  hand.  After  midnight  the  gloom  gradu- 
ally diminished,  and  long  before  morning  the  night  had  resumed  its  original 
conditions." 

The  Pond  Dam. 

At  the  March  meeting  of  1781  there  was  an  article  in  the  warrant — 
"To  see  if  the  town  will  give  their  consent  to  have  a  dam  built  across  the 
stream  at  the  mouth  of  Tanapus  pond  right  in  the  highway  by  any  per- 
son or  persons  that  shall  agree  to  build  two  good  mills  near  the  dam." 
This  article  contains  the  first  mention  of  a  dam  at  the  outlet  of  the  pond, 
or  mills  on  the  streams  below  it;  and  seems  to  furnish  absolute  proof  of 
the  non-existence  at  this  time  of  either.  The  article  was  passed  over;  but 
the  warrant  for  the  March  meeting  of  the  following  year  contained  an 
article  similar  to  the  foregoing  relative  to  the  building  of  the  dam.  In 
response  to  this  last  article  it  was  voted — "That  any  person  who  will  up- 
rear  and  build  two  good  mills  that  is  a  saw  mill  and  corn  mill  as  near 
tanapos  pond  as  may  be  convenient  in  Raby  shall  have  liberty  to  build 
a  dam  across  the  stream  at  the  mouth  of  sd  pond  so  high  as  to  raise  the 
water  one  foot  above  where  the  ice  now  is  where  the  bueoy  is  marked  in 
presence  of  Capt  (Isaac)  Shattuck,  Capt.  "(James)"  Campbell  and  Wil- 
liam Hall  providing  that  raising  the  water  to  that  height  shall  not  tres- 
pass upon  any  owner  of  land  above."  The  above  vote  is  particularly 
interesting  because  of  its  assumption  on  the  town's  part  of  the  right  of 
building  a  dam  at  the  pond's  outlet,  and  also  of  limiting  the  height  to 
which  its  waters  should  be  raised. 

Apparently,  no  one  appeared  to  take  advantage  of  the  privilege 
offered  in  the  above  vote;  for  the  following  year,  1783,  the  town  gave 
Waldron  Stone  a  special  privilege  of  building  the  dam,  as  appears  by  the 
following  vote — "Voted,  that  Waldron  Stone  be  granted  of  the  privilege 
of  building  a  dam  across  the  stream  at  the  mouth  of  tanapus  pond  in  the 
highway  to  flow  the  pond  for  the  mills  he  proposes  to  build  on  said  stream 
&  the  selectmen  are  hereby  directed  to  give  grant  of  same  to  him  and  his 
heirs  and  assigns  in  consideration  that  he  is  answerable  for  all  damage  he 
may  do  to  the  owners  of  land  above  the  highway  &  gulling  &c  if  said 
Stone  do  not  build  sd  mills  in  two  years  this  grant  to  be  void." 


106  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

The  foregoing  abstracts  from  the  town's  record  book  contain  all  there- 
in recorded  relative  to  the  building  of  this  dam.  There  is  no  proof,  either 
written  or  traditional,  that  Waldron  Stone  built  it;  but  if  he  did,  he  did 
not  build  it  within  the  specified  time  of  two  years  from  the  date  of  said 
vote ;  nor  did  he  then  or  at  any  subsequent  time  build  a  mill  or  mills  on 
the  stream  below  the  pond's  outlet. 

Dec.  31,  1781 — "Voted  to  approve  the  Constitution  lately  adopted 
and  not  to  send  a  man  to  convention."  The  above  vote  refers  to  the 
State  Convention  which  met  at  Concord  in  June  of  that  year  and  adopted 
a  constitution  which,  upon  its  being  submitted  to  the  people  for  their 
ratification,  was  rejected  by  a  majority  of  the  towns  of  the  state.  It  may 
as  well  be  stated  here  that  at  the  various  conventions  of  the  people  held 
at  Portsmouth,  Exeter  and  Concord  before,  during,  and  for  some  years 
after  the  war,  Raby  was  generally  represented  by  Deacon  Amos  Dakin  of 
Mason.  Lieut.  Sampson  Farnsworth  did,  however,  attend  a  county  con- 
vention at  Peterborough,  in  1785,  and  received  therefor  the  munificent 
sum  of  eleven  shillings  and  sixpense. 

In  November,  1782,  Clark  Brown  was  paid  six  shillings—  "For  help- 
ing to  find  the  Senter  of  the  town."  Tradition  says  that  Brown  was  one 
of  a  committee  of  several  citizens  appointed  by  the  selectmen  for  this 
purpose  and  that  the  committee  acted,  and  finally  reported  the  centre  of 
the  township  as  being  located  in  the  field  to  the  west  of  the  main  highway 
to  Milfcrd  at  the  point  where  the  same  turns  to  the  left  near  the  house, 
(now  burned  down),  formerly  occupied  as  a  parsonage  by  the  Rev.  Daniel 
Goodwin,  one  mile  north  of  the  village  Main  street.  The  purpose  of  find- 
ing the  town's  "Senter"  probably  had  to  do  with  the  location  of  the  pro- 
posed meeting-house,  the  building  of  which  was  then  under  discussion;  as 
public  sentiment  at  that  time  demanded  that  the  meeting-house  should 
be  built  as  near  to  the  exact  centre  of  the  township  as  it  was  possible  to 
locate  it. 

In  1783,  Randal  McDonald  was  paid  one  pound  for  one  year's  service 
as  selectman;  and  the  same  year,  Caleb  Trowbridge,  for  teaching  school 
five  weeks,  was  paid  one  pound  and  ten  shillings,  or  at  the  rate  of  about 
one  dollar  per  week. 

Cemeteries. 

THE  POND  CEMETERY,  or  west  cemetery,  as  it  is  sometimes 
called,  is  located  about  one  mile  north  of  the  village  Main  street  on  the 
east  side  of  the  highway  to  Mason,  and  on  the  west  side  of  Muscatanipus 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  107 

pond.  The  first  mention  made  of  this  cemetery  in  the  town's  records 
occurs  under  the  date  of  March  3,  1784,  when  the  town  voted—  "To  give 
Mr.  Hall  12  shillings  for  half  an  acre  of  land  in  square  form  where  the 
burying  ground  now  is  in  the  south  west  side  of  the  pond  and  that  the 
westerly  half  of  the  town  fence  the  burying  ground  above."  The  Mr. 
Hall  named  in  the  foregoing  vote  was  William  Hall,  Jr.,  and  an  entry  in 
an  ancient  order  book  of  the  town  shows  that  March  6,  1787,  the  town 
paid  him  12  shillings  for  said  half  acre  of  land.  The  language  used  in  the 
foregoing  vote  would  indicate  that  at  the  time  of  its  being  passed  the  land 
in  question  was  already  in  use  as  a  burying  ground. 

THE  SOUTH  CEMETERY,  so-called,  situated  on  "the  plain" 
south  of  the  village  Main  street,  was  in  existence  at  the  time  of  the  town's 
incorporation  in  1769,  as  is  shown  by  the  dates  on  some  of  its  tomb- 
stones; one  of  them  at  least  bearing  a  date  as  early  as  1766.  The  original 
and,  therefore,  the  oldest  part  of  the  cemetery  was  located  in  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  present  enclosure.  Its  original  bounds,  in  form  of  well 
defined  ridges  of  grass  covered  earth,  are  at  this  date  easily  traceable. 
For  many  years  after  Raby's  incorporation,  its  inhabitants  continued  to 
use  this  original  part  of  the  cemetery  as  a  burial  place  for  their  dead; 
although  up  to  the  year  1796  it  does  not  appear  that  the  town  was  pos- 
sessed of  even  "color  of  title"  in  the  land.  On  the  6th  day  of  September 
of  the  latter  year,  however,  Swallow  Tucker,  by  his  deed  of  that  date, 
conveyed  the  same  to  the  town— "For  use  as  a  burying  place."  Mr. 
Tucker's  deed,  for  some  unknown  reason,  failed  to  be  recorded  at  the 
time  it  was  given;  but  in  1840  it  was  entered  in  the  Hillsborough  County 
Registry,  Vol.  203,  page  602. 

In  1850  this  cemetery  was  enlarged  by  the  addition  to  it  of  a  tract 
of  land  purchased  by  the  town  from  Joseph  Jefts.  The  following  de- 
scription of  the  tract  of  land  so  added  is  taken  from  the  record  of  the 
town  meeting  hoi  den  September  1-6  of  that  year — "Commencing  at  the 
north-east  corner  of  the  old  cemetery  thence  northerly  on  the  main  road 
170  feet  to  stake  and  stones — thence  westerly  380  feet  to  a  stake  and 
stones — thence  southerly  320  feet  by  or  near  the  road  leading  from  the 
dugway  (so  called)  to  Townsend — thence  easterly  by  said  road  200  feet 
to  the  old  burying  yard  wall."  That  part  of  the  cemetery  which  at  the 
present  time  is  fenced  in,  with  possibly  some  land  south  of  the  present 
enclosure,  is  made  up  of  the  said  original  burying  ground  and  the  fore- 
going described  addition.  In  1904-05  this  cemetery  was  again  enlarged 
by  the  addition  to  it  of  a  considerable  tract  of  land  located  on  its  west 
side.    At  the  present  time  the  entire  lengths  of  the  west  and  east  sides  of 


108  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

this  last  addition  are  bordered  by  rows  of  young  and  thrifty  white  pine 
trees  which  were  set  out  in  1909  by  Clarence  R.  Russell,  Esq.,  and  it  has 
been  laid  out  in  avenues  and  lots.  In  1912-13  this  addition  was  enclosed 
by  an  iron  fence  erected  by  the  town. 

THE  NORTH  CEMETERY  is  located  about  two  and  one-fourth 
miles  north  of  the  present  village  Main  street  on  the  west  side  of  the 
highway  from  Brookline  to  Milford.  Compared  as  to  its  antiquity  with 
the  South  and  Pond  cemeteries,  it  appears  to  have  been  of  more  modern 
origin  than  either  of  them.  It  is  very  probable  that  in  the  beginning  this 
cemetery  was  the  property  of  some  family  in  that  part  of  the  town  who 
used  it  for  the  burial  of  their  own  dead.  If  so,  it  furnishes,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  "Cemetery  in  the  woods,"  the  only  known  instance  in  town 
of  what  were  formerly  known  as  "Family  burial  lots." 

This  cemetery  was  taken  in  charge  by  the  town  on  the  8th  day  of 
March,  1825,  as  appears  by  a  vote  cast  at  a  town  meeting  of  that  date  as 
follows — "Voted  to  recieve  the  burrying  ground  laid  out  in  the  north  part 
of  the  town  as  town  property." 

The  Cemetery-in-the- Woods. 

The  oldest  and  in  some  respects,  at  least,  by  far  the  most  interesting 
cemetery  in  town,  and  of  the  existence  of  which,  even,  many  of  its  citi- 
zens are  ignorant,  is  one  to  which  for  lack  of  a  better  the  writer  has  given 
the  foregoing  name.  It  is,  as  the  name  implies,  situated  in  the  woods, 
and  is  located  on  the  eastern  slope  and  near  the  summit  of  the  hill  to  the 
southeast  of,  and  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  distant  from,  the  dwelling 
house  on  the  west  side  of  the  north  highway  to  Hollis,  formerly  known  as 
the  Dickey  place,  or  Capt,  Robert  Seaver  place;  the  same  being  at  the 
present  time  the  property  of  Mrs.  Ebenezer  J.  Rideout. 

This  cemetery  was  in  existence  certainly  as  early  as  1752.  For  in 
that  year,  Randal  McDaniels,  one  of  the  three  original  settlers  of  the 
name  in  this  town,  was,  according  to  the  family  traditions,  buried  in  it. 
Tradition  says,  also,  that  it  furnished  a  last  resting  place  for  at  least  some 
members  of  the  Dickey  family.  It  has  not  been  the  scene  of  a  burial  for 
more  than  a  century  past.  Sixty  years  ago  it  contained  some  fourteen  or 
fifteen  graves  marked  by  rough  unhewn  stones  of  granite  and  void  of  in- 
scription of  any  character.  But  in  the  years  intervening  since  then,  time 
and  the  ruthless  hands  of  men  have  thrown  down  and  removed  many  of 
the  stones  from  their  original  positions.  So  that  at  the  present  time  it 
is  difficult  to  locate  more  than  seven  of  the  original  graves;    and  in  an- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  109 

other  fifty  years,  unless  measures  are  taken  to  prevent  it,  this  ancient 
burial  place  where  sleep  the  rude  forefathers  of  Raby,  its  early  settlers, 
will  have  passed  beyond  the  knowledge  of  men  then  living.  Connected 
with  this  cemetery  there  is  a  tradition  to  the  effect  that  with  one  of  its 
inmates,  a  young  lady,  were  buried  her  personal  articles  of  jewelry. 

Disturbances  Over  the  Law  Relative   to   the   Killing  of  Salmon 

and  Other  Fishes,  1784. 

In  1784  the  Great  and  General  Court  passed  an  act  prohibiting — 
"The  Killing  or  destroying  any  salmon  shad  or  alewives  in  the  Merrimack 
River  or  any  waters  falling  thereinto  in  this  state,  except  on  Tuesdays, 
Wednesdays  and  Thursdays,  under  a  penalty  of  2  lbs";  and  further — 
"That  no  person  shall  erect  or  build  annually  within  the  months  of  May, 
June,  September  and  October,  any  dams  or  other  obstructions  across  said 
streams,  nor  continue  said  mill-dams  or  other  obstructions  under  a  pen- 
alty of  20  pounds." 

This  act,  according  to  tradition,  because  of  its  provisions  for  keeping 
the  dams  open  during  certain  months  of  the  year,  was  the  cause  of  no 
little  commotion  in  Raby,  where  the  project  of  damming  the  Nissitissett 
River  at  or  below  its  outlet  from  the  pond  was  already  being  seriously 
considered.  It  divided  the  people  into  two  factions.  It  was  a  question 
of  "To  dam  or  not  to  dam."  One  faction  was  opposed  to  the  act,  claim- 
ing that  to  build  a  dam  across  the  river  with  the  obligation  of  keeping 
it  open  during  four  months  of  the  year,  two  of  which,  at  least,  were  spring 
months  when  mill  business  was  most  active,  was  prohibitive  to  that  ex- 
tent that  it  reduced  to  a  minimum  the  chances  of  making  even  a  living 
profit  in  the  mill  business  and  therefore  cut  out  all  inducements  for 
capital  to  invest  in  building  mill-dams.  The  men  who  argued  as  above 
were,  of  course,  the  town's  capitalists;  many  of  them  passing  rich  with  a 
mortgaged  farm  and  an  income  of  five  pounds  a  year.  Thus  it  happened 
that  they  opposed  the  damming  of  the  river  and  instead  d — d  the  General 
Court  for  passing  the  law. 

The  other  faction  favored  the  act  because,  as  they  claimed,  if  the 
dams  were  not  kept  open  during  the  spring  months,  the  pond  itself,  as 
well  as  all  the  streams  which  flowed  into  it,  would  no  longer  furnish  the 
inhabitants  with  their  annual  spring  supply  of  brain  food  in  form  of  lam- 
prey eels  and  alewives;  a  species  of  nutrition  of  which  they  openly  hinted 
the  brains  of  their  opponents  were  sadly  in  need.  This  latter  faction, 
therefore,  was  in  favor  of  damming  the  river  and  obeying  the  law. 


110  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

A  few  years  later,  and  while  the  foregoing  act  was  still  operative,  a 
dam  was  built  across  the  river  at  its  outlet  from  the  pond ;  and  for  many 
years  after  the  seafish  continued  to  make  their  annual  migrations  up  and 
down  the  Nissitissett  and  its  tributary  streams.  Indeed,  that  ancient 
"chestnut"  of  alewives  crowding  into  brooks  so  thickly  as  to  enable  one 
to  cross  upon  their  backs  from  shore  to  shore,  continued  to  be  told  of 
Douglass  brook  in  the  village  well  into  the  nineteenth  century. 

Inns  and  Inn  Keepers,  Ancient  and  Modern. 

In  the  year  1785  the  General  Court  of  the  State  passed  an  act — 
"For  the  Better  Keeping  of  the  Lords  Day."  By  this  act,  traveling  on 
Sunday  was  prohibited;  "Excepting  from  some  adversity  or  upon  a  li- 
cense obtained  from  some  Justice  of  the  Peace";  and  inn  holders  were 
forbidden — "To  entertain  or  suffer  the  inhabitants  to  be  about  their 
houses  on  the  Lord's  day." 

The  last  of  the  foregoing  extracts  from  said  act  recalls  the  bromidic 
saying  of — "How  history  repeats  itself."  For  at  the  time  of  its  enaction 
there  was  a  license  liquor  law  upon  the  statute  books  of  this  state,  as 
there  is  today;  and  one  of  the  provisions  of  the  present  law  relative  to 
the  sale  by  hotel  keepers  to  their  Sunday  guests  is  very  similar  to  the  one 
above  set  forth. 

At  this  time  there  were  in  town  three  inn  keepers :  Benjamin  Farley, 
Samuel  Douglass  and  Alexander  Mcintosh;  each  of  whom  had  been  li- 
censed as  such,  under  the  provisions  of  the  law  as  it  then  was.  Mr  Far- 
ley's inn  was  kept  in  the  old  Lieut.  Samuel  Farley  house,  now  the  property 
of  Elmer  Wallace,  and  situate  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Pep- 
perell,  Mass.,  about  one  mile  south  of  the  village  Main  street.  It  was 
the  first  inn  to  be  opened  in  this  town,  and  it  was  kept  by  Mr.  Farley 
in  connection  with  a  general  store,  which  was  also  the  first  store  to  be 
opened  here. 

The  inn  of  Samuel  Douglass  was  located  on  the  west  side  of  what  is 
now  the  village  Main  street,  near  the  brook  named  after  him.  The  Mc- 
intosh inn  was  located  in  the  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Henry 
G.  Shattuck,  and  standing  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Mason, 
about  one  mile  northwest  of  the  village  Main  street.  The  annual  town 
meetings  were  held  alternately  in  these  two  latter  inns  until  the  comple- 
tion of  the  town  house  in  1791. 

The  passing  of  the  above  mentioned  law  did  not,  to  any  appreciable 
extent,  discommode  either  of  these  three  inn  keepers.     For  they  imme- 


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HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  111 

diately  obtained  from  a  justice  a  license  which  enabled  them  to  catch, 
corral  and  entertain  all  Sunday  travelers  who  chanced  to  come  their  way, 
and  continued  to  serve  their  in  town  customers,  without  paying  any  spe- 
cial attention  to  the  day  of  the  week  upon  which  the  service  was  ren- 
dered, with  "cider  flip"  straight  or  New  England  rum  at  "three  cents 
with  sug"  or  "two  without,"  as  did,  also,  their  successors  in  the  business 
for  many  years  after  them. 

The  Old  Yellow  House. 

In  addition  to  the  houses  mentioned  above  there  are  at  the  present 
time  several  other  houses  in  town  which  at  some  period  of  their  existence 
have  been  used  as  inns.  Among  the  oldest  of  them  is  the  "Old  Yellow 
House,"  as  it  was  called  seventy -five  years  ago,  a  name  which  was  es- 
pecially well  applicable  to  it  at  that  time.  For  even  then  its  weather 
beaten  appearance,  as  well  as  certain  streaks  and  patches  of  yellow  paint, 
■ — all  that  was  left  of  its  original  coating — which  were  in  evidence  under 
the  eaves  and  on  the  sides  less  exposed  to  the  weather  — furnished  ample 
and  sufficient  reasons  for  the  use  of  the  adjectives  "old"  and  "yellow" 
as  applied  to  it.  The  name  of  its  builder  is  unknown,  although  there  is 
a  tradition  to  the  effect  that  it  was  built  by  Capt.  Robert  Seaver  soon 
after  the  close  of  the  Revolution.  It  was  occupied  and  used  as  a  wayside 
inn  until  well  along  into  the  thirties  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Among 
those  who,  during  that  period,  occupied  it  as  landlord  was  Capt.  Joshua 
Hall.  From  1840  to  1847,  the  year  of  his  death,  it  was  the  property  and 
dwelling  place  of  James  Parker,  Jr.,  father  of  the  writer  who  was  born 
in  it.  After  Mr.  Parker's  death,  his  widow,  Deverd  Corey  Parker,  con- 
tinued to  live  in  the  house  until  1853-54,  when  she  sold  it  to  the  late 
Kdwin  C.  Bailey,  then  postmaster  of  Boston  and  editor  of  the  Boston 
Herald;  who  at  that  time  owned  and  was  occupying  as  a  summer  resi- 
dence the  dwelling  house  adjacent  to  it  on  the  west,  which  is  at  the  pres- 
ent time  the  property  and  residence  of  Mrs.  Edward  C.  Tucker.  Later 
on,  Mr.  Bailey  conveyed  the  house  to  the  late  Philemon  French,  who 
made  his  home  in  it  until  his  death.  At  the  present  time  this  house  is 
owned  and  occupied  by  Mrs.  Amos  A.  Peabody,  a  daughter  of  the  late 
Alpheus  vShattuck,  Esq.,  under  whose  charge  it  has  returned  to  its  original 
use  as  a  hotel,  under  the  name  of  the  Elm  House.  The  house  is  located 
on  the  east  side  of  the  village  Main  street  opposite  to  the  Nissitisset 
Hotel.  At  the  present  time  it  is  easily  identified  by  three  very  old  and 
magnificent  elm  trees  which  are  grouped  around  it. 


112  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

The  Capt.  Nathan  Corey  house,  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  vil- 
lage Main  street,  a  short  distance  south  of  the  Old  Yellow  House,  is  also 
another  house  which  in  its  early  days  did  duty  as  an  inn.  It  was  built 
by  Captain  Corey  about  1805,  a  few  years  after  he  settled  in  Brookline, 
coming  here  from  Groton,  Mass.  Captain  Corey  occupied  and  kept  the 
house  as  an  inn,  in  connection  with  his  business  as  a  general  store  keeper, 
until  his  death  in  1836;  since  when  it  has  been  used  only  as  a  private 
dwelling  house.  After  Captain  Corey's  death,  the  house  passed  into  the 
hands  and  ownership  of  his  daughter,  Susan  J.  Abbott,  wife  of  the  late 
Jonathan  Abbott,  formerly  of  Andover,  Mass.  At  Mrs.  Abbott's  decease 
in  1889,  it  passed  into  the  possession  and  ownership  of  her  son,  Charles 
H.  Abbott.  In  1899  it  was  purchased  from  Charles  H.  Abbott  by  the 
writer,  Edward  E-  Parker,  a  grandson  of  Capt.  Nathan  Corey,  by  whom 
it  is  utilized  at  the  present  time  as  a  summer  home. 

THE  NISSITISSET  HOTEL  is  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  vil- 
lage Main  street  and  opposite  to  the  "old  yellow  house,"  or  Elm  House, 
as  it  is  known  at  the  present  time.  Although  its  use  as  a  hotel  is  of  a  more 
modern  date  than  that  of  either  of  the  foregoing  described  houses,  it  has, 
nevertheless,  been  in  use  for  that  purpose  for  nearly  or  quite  eighty  years. 
The  ell  part  of  the  house  is  one  of  the  oldest  buildings  at  the  present  time 
standing  on  Main  street.  The  date  of  its  erection,  like  that  of  the  "old 
yellow  house,"  is  unknown.  The  main  part  of  the  house  was  built  by 
Capt.  Daniel  Bills  about  1840.  But  for  several  years  prior  to  that  date 
the  ell  had  been  in  use  as  an  inn,  its  upper  story  being  finished  off  as  a 
hall  which  at  that  time  was  used  and  for  many  years  subsequent  to  the 
building  of  the  main  part  of  the  house  in  1840  continued  to  be  used  for 
dancing  parties  and  other  social  gatherings. 

The  earliest  known  landlord  of  the  house  was  Daniel  Bills,  who 
acted  in  that  capacity  prior  to  the  addition  of  the  main  part  of  the  build- 
ing in  1840,  and  possibly  a  few  years  after.  Captain  Bills  was  succeeded 
as  landlord  by  Capt.  John  Smith,  who  in  his  turn  was  succeeded  by  Jo- 
siah  Shattuck  of  Pepperell,  Mass.  About  1854  Shattuck  sold  the  house 
and  good  will  to  Bigelow  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  removed  to  Pepperell, 
Mass.,  where  he  subsequently  died.  In  1855  Capt.  Joseph  Jefts  became 
both  proprietor  and  landlord  of  the  house.  During  Mr.  Jefts'  ownership 
the  upper  part  of  the  ell  was  lengthened  by  an  addition  to  its  south  end. 
Aug.  13,  1867,  Captain  Jefts  conveyed  the  hotel  property  to  his  son,  J. 
Frank  Jefts,  who  officiated  as  its  landlord  until  May  24,  1862,  at  which 
date  he  sold  the  same  to  Joseph  C.  Tucker.  Soon  after  disposing  of  the 
hotel  to  Mr.  Tucker,  J.  Frank  Jefts  left  town  and,  from  the  day  of  his 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  113 

departure  to  the  present  time,  (1914),  his  whereabouts  has  remained  a 
mystery  to  his  former  fellow  citizens.  During  Mr.  Tucker's  proprietor- 
ship the  hall  in  the  ell  part  of  the  house  was  divided  into  sleeping  rooms. 
April  6,  1864,  Joseph  C.  Tucker  sold  the  hotel  to  James  W.  Fessenden  of 
Townsend,  Mass.,  who  continued  to  act  as  its  landlord  until  April  30, 
1873,  at  which  latter  date  he  conveyed  it  to  Marshall  Davis  of  Amherst. 
Mr.  Davis  was  landlord  of  this  house  until  March  30,  1875,  at  which 
date  he  sold  it  to  Mrs.  Martha  Shattuck,  wife  of  George  J.  Shattuck  of 
Townsend,  Mass.  Mr.  Shattuck  was  succeeded  as  proprietor  and  land- 
lord of  the  hotel  by  James  Wise  of  Leominster,  Mass.,  who,  after  con- 
ducting the  business  for  a  few  years,  returned  to  Leominster,  where  he 
died  Feb.  3,  1909.  At  the  present  time  (1914)  his  widow,  Mrs.  James 
Wise,  is  the  owner  of  the  property. 

During  the  early  years  of  its  existence  this  hotel  was  managed  after 
the  manner  of  conducting  inns  or  taverns  in  those  days.  It  was  never 
without  an  open  bar,  where  all  kinds  of  distilled  liquors  could  be  obtained 
by  those  who  had  the  wherewith  to  purchase  them;  and  purchasers  were 
never  lacking,  neither  from  among  the  town's  people  nor  from  the  citizens 
of  the  neighboring  towns.  Yet,  during  all  this  period,  its  reputation  as  a 
hostelry  which  afforded  entertainment  for  man  and  beast  was  second  to 
that  of  no  country  hotel  in  the  county.  Its  landlords  in  those  days  were, 
on  the  whole,  typical  specimens  of  their  class:  jolly,  courteous  and  obliging 
to  their  guests. 

But,  like  the  majority  of  the  old-time  taverns,  this  house  has  had  its 
day.  At  this  time  its  doors  are  and  for  several  years  past  have  been  closed 
to  the  public;  and  the  rooms,  which  have  echoed  to  the  laughter,  songs 
and  stories  of  nearly  four  generations  of  men;  and  which,  if  they  could 
speak,  could  furnish  more  information  relative  to  the  good  and  bad, 
humorous  and  sad,  pathetic  and  sympathetic  sides  of  the  characters  of 
some  of  the  town's  old-time  peculiar  citizens  than  could  be  obtained  from 
any  other  source  of  information,  are  deserted  and  lone. 


114  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

Brookline. 

1786-1800. 

Recovery  from  Hollis  of  the  Disputed  Strip  of  Land  on  Raby's  Eastern 
Borders — Current  Events,  1786  to  1800 — Bridges  over  the  Nissi- 
tisset  River — Highway  West  of  the  South  Cemetery  Accepted  by  the 
Town — Gift  to  the  Town  of  the  Land  upon  Which  the  Old  Meet- 
ing-House  Stands,  by  R.  Cutts  Shannon,  Esq. — First  Guide  Boards 
— Change  of  Town's  Name  from  Raby  to  Brookline — Prices  Cur- 
rent of  Commodities  in  1795 — United  States  Census  of  1790. 

From  the  time  when,  immediately  after  Raby's  incorporation  in  1769, 
the  surveyor  who  ran  the  boundary  line  between  Raby  and  Hollis,  either 
through  ignorance  or  treachery,  had  located  that  line  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  west  of  its  right  location  as  set  forth  in  Raby's  charter,  thus  at- 
tempting to  deprive  the  latter  town  of  its  title  in  and  to  a  strip  of  land 
on  its  eastern  borders  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in  width  and  extending  north 
and  south  the  entire  length  of  the  township,  until  the  year  1786,  when  by 
act  of  legislature  the  title  to  said  strip  of  land  was  settled  as  being  in 
Raby,  the  citizens  of  the  latter  town  had  never  ceased  to  claim  their 
rights  of  ownership  in  the  same. 

During  the  years  preceding  the  Revolution,  both  Raby  and  Hollis 
claimed  and  endeavored  to  exercise  jurisdiction  over  this  tract  of  land; 
and  the  question  of  its  ownership  was  a  frequent  and  fruitful  subject  for 
discussion  between  their  respective  inhabitants;  the  citizens  of  Raby  ar- 
guing upon  the  justice  of  their  claim  of  rights  to  the  same  and  the  possi- 
bility of  their  establishing  those  rights;  and  those  of  Hollis  upon  the  pos- 
sibilities of  their  being  able  to  retain  possession  of  it.  Moreover,  it  fre- 
quently happened  that  when  a  citizen  of  one  of  the  towns  met  a  citizen 
of  the  other,  the  twain  would  immediately  engage  in  a  war  of  words  which, 
tradition  says,  sometimes  ended  in  fisticuffs  over  the  disputed  territory. 
Thus  it  happened  that  in  process  of  time  the  peaceful  relations  formerly 
existing  between  the  two  towns  became  somewhat  strained.     It  was  dur- 


Mffktn€  Jfe*". 


MAP   OF    DISPUTED   TERRITORY 
(From  the  Original  at  the  State  House  at  Concord) 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  115 

ing  this  period  that  the  Rabyans  began  to  speak  of  their  neighbors  in 
Hollis  as — "Those  who  dwelt  by  Hollis  sea  shore" — thereby  intimating 
that  they  were  clams;  and  by  way  of  retaliation  the  Hollisites,  whenever 
they  saw  a  flock  of  three  crows  coming  from  the  direction  of  Raby  towards 
Hollis,  would  point  in  a  derisive  manner  their  forefingers  at  them,  at  the 
same  time  exclaiming,  "There  come  the  selectmen  of  Raby"; 

This  state  of  affairs  had,  so  far  as  Raby  was  concerned,  reached  a 
climax,  and  its  inhabitants  were  about  prepared  to  apply  to  the  Great 
and  General  Court  for  a  solution  of  the  matter  in  dispute  between  the 
two  towns,  when  the  advent  of  the  Revolution  caused  both  towns,  for 
the  time  being  at  least,  to  suspend  their  individual  hostilities,  and  to 
unite  with  their  sister  towns  in  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  against 
the  common  enemy  of  the  country. 

But  although  the  coming  and  continuance  of  the  Revolution  caused 
the  two  towns,  so  far  as  their  personal  warfare  was  concerned,  to  bury 
the  hatchet,  the  burial  was,  nevertheless,  only  a  temporary  one.  The  old 
feelings  of  antagonism  were  not  dead,  but  sleeping;  and  the  last  echoes 
of  the  Revolution  had  not  ceased  to  sound  ere  Raby  dug  up  the  buried 
hatchet,  and  again  took  the  war  path  which  led  towards  her  neighbors  on 
the  old  question  cf  the  disputed  territory.  Hollis,  equally  alert,  and  prob- 
ably far  more  confident,  girded  up  her  loins  and  calmly  awaited  the  at- 
tack. It  was  evidently  understood  in  both  towns  that  the  conflict  between 
them  was  no  longer  to  consist  of  a  warfare  of  words,  but  of  deeds. 

At  a  town  meeting  of  its  inhabitants  holden  on  the  5th  day  of  Feb., 
1783,  Raby  commenced  the  war  by  voting — "To  petition  the  town  of  Hol- 
lis for  a  part  of  the  west  and  Nor  West  part  of  their  town  to  be  laid  out  to 
Raby";  and  chose  Capt.  Samuel  Douglass,  Waldron  Stone  and  Lieut. 
James  McDonald  as  a  committee — "To  consider  the  matter  and  report  to 
the  town  from  time  to  time  as  they  have  opportunity." 

There  is  no  record  of  the  foregoing  committee's  having  made  any 
report  of  their  proceedings  up  to  December  8th  of  the  same  year.  But 
at  a  town  meeting  holden  on  the  latter  date  their  original  appointment 
as  a  committee  was  re-affirmed. 

Meanwhile,  on  the  5th  day  of  December  of  the  same  year,  1783,  cer- 
tain inhabitants  of  the  disputed  territory,  i.  e.,  the  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
strip,  petitioned  the  town  of  Hollis  as  follows: 

"Petition  of  Certain  Persons  to  be  set  off  to  Raby. 
To  the  Town  of  Hollis 

The  Petition  of  us  the  Subscribers  Inhabitants  of  the  Westerly  Part 
of  sd  Hollis  Humbly  Sheweth  that  by  Reason  of  many  Inconveniences 


116  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

We  Labor  under  by  Living  at  such  a  Remote  part  of  Hollis  so  far  from 
meeting  and  at  such  a  Distance  from  the  other  Inhabitants  of  sd  town 
that  we  are  Depriv  in  a  great  measure  of  the  privilege  of  Sehoolling  and 
by  Reason  of  the  badness  of  the  Rods  it  is  Very  Defieult  for  sum  of  us 
to  git  to  the  Town  of  Hollis  at  sum  Sesons  of  the  year  it  is  even  imprac- 
ticable Except  We  first  goo  into  the  town  of  Raby  and  travel  Sum  Ways 
in  the  same  before  We  Enter  Hollis  again — and  as  we  live  much  more 
Compact  with  the  Inhabitants  of  Raby  and  think  it  mite  be  more  Con- 
venient for  us  to  belong  to  the  Town  of  Raby  to  which  if  we  were  set  of 
it  is  Lickly  the  sd  Inhabitants  of  Raby  and  us  your  Petitioners  mite  both 
Injoy  the  privileges  of  preaching  and  Sehoolling — &c — in  a  ful  and  ample 
manner  than  ether  they  or  us  can  under  our  present  Sitteration  we  there- 
fore beg  you  to  take  our  case  into  your  wise  consideration  &  if  you  in 
your  Wisdom  can  see  fit  that  you  would  give  your  Consent  to  have  a 
part  of  the  westerly  part  of  Hollis  set  off  to  Raby — (that  is  that  part  of 
Raby  formerly  expected)  Beginning  at  said  Sandy  bank  so  cold  (called) 
at  Nissitisit  River  and  from  thence  a  North  pint  by  the  Nedel  acrost 
Hollis  which  we  humbly  conseve  would  not  be  a  great  Damage  to  Hollis 
But  Verey  advantagus  to  the  town  of  Raby — and  to  us  your  Petitioners 
Dec.  5—1783. 

(Signed)    James  McDonels   Simeon  Senter  James  McDaniels  Jun.   Jesse 
Parkins   Phinehas  Bennet,  Jr.   Joshua  Smith  John  Cummings." 

Hollis  refused  to  grant  the  foregoing  petition;  and  in  January,  the 
following  year,  Raby  through  its  selectmen  supplemented  the  efforts  of 
the  petitioners  by  forwarding  to  the  Hollis  authorities  the  following  paper: 

"Memorial  asking  for  part  of  Hollis  to  be  annexed  to  Raby 
To  the  Town  of  Hollis 

the  Petition  of  the 
Town  of  Raby  humbly  sheweth  that  we  your  Petitioners  have  for  a  Con- 
siderable Nomber  of  years  Labored  under  many  Disadvantages  by  Reson 
of  the  Town  being  So  Small  which  we  belong  to  and  we  so  fue  in  Nomber 
that  we  are  not  able  to  Settel  a  minister  nor  to  hier  preaching  but  a  Small 
part  of  the  year.  Nor  to  carre  on  town  affairs  without  great  cost  and  as 
there  is  a  part  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  westerly  part  of  Hollis  that  have 
a  Desire  to  be  Set  of  to  the  town  of  Raby  which  we  sopose  might  be  very 
advantageous  to  us  your  petitioners  and  those  that  Desire  to  be  set  of 
and  not  a  great  Damage  to  the  town  of  Hollis.  We  therefore  beg  you  to 
take  our  Case  into  your  wise  consideration  and  if  you  can  see  fit  that  you 
would  give  your  Consent  that  a  part  of  the  Westerly  part  of  Hollis  be  set 
of  to  Raby — (Viz)  beginning  at  the  Sandey  bank  So  call'd  on  Nissitiset 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  117 

River  and  from  themce  a  North  pint  acrost  Hollis  to  Amherst  line — which 

line  we  think  would  Divid  the  towns  of  Hollis  and  Raby  much  more  to  the 

advantage  of  the  whol  than  wheir  the  Line  now  is — 

Jan  18—1784  ROBERT   SEVER         1     in  behalf 

SWALLOW  TUCKER  }~  of  the  town 
JAMES  CAMPBELL    J    of  Raby" 

Hollis  ignored  this  petition,  as  it  had  the  one  preceding  it,  and  con- 
tinued to  hold  on  to  the  disputed  territory;  meanwhile,  metaphorically 
speaking,  thumbing  its  municipal  nose  at  both  the  petition  and  petitioners. 

At  a  town  meeting  holden  March  2,  1784,  Raby  re-elected  Capt. 
James  Campbell,  Swallow  Tucker  and  Capt.  Robert  Seaver — "As  a  comit- 
tee  to  carry  on  the  Petition  we  sent  into  Hollis  to  git  a  piece  of  land  set 
to  Raby." 

If  this  committee  endeavored  to — "carry  on  the  Petition."  its  efforts 
were  unsuccessful;  and  finally  Raby's  people,  having  exhausted  their 
stock  of  patience,  as  well  as  their  committees'  knowledge  of  the  system 
of  phonetic  spelling  then  in  use,  on  the  29th  day  of  April,  1784,  voted  to 
carry  the  question  in  issue  to  the  General  Court;  and,  at  a  subsequent 
meeting  on  the  5th  day  of  October,  instructed  their  committee  to  act 
accordingly.  The  committee  delayed  its  action  until  the  following  year, 
1785;   when,  in  June,  it  filed  in  court  the  following  petition: 

"Petition  for  Annexation  of  Part  of  Hollis  State  of  New  Hampshire. 

To  Honorable  the  Senate  and  house  of  Representatives  of  Said  State 
in  General  Court  assembled  at  Portsmouth  in  said  State  June  1785 

The  petition  of  Swallow  Tucker  Robert  Seaver  and  James  Campbell 
Committee  in  behalf  of  the  Town  Raby — humbly  Shews — 

That  the  Town  of  Raby  is  of  Small  extent  N.  &  South  consisting  of 
about  four  and  a  half  miles  in  lenth  and  E-  &  W.  two  milds  59  1-2  in 
bredth  and  much  of  the  land  unfit  for  cultivation  and  more  unfit  for 
settlement  and  consequently  thinly  inhabited  and  unable  to  Settle  or  Sup- 
port the  Gospel  or  necessary  Schools  for  the  instruction  of  youth  (so 
necessary  in  Society)  and  other  Town  charges,  and  such  is  the  unhappy 
Scituation  of  ye  Town  that  should  we  anexed  to  other  Town  our  difficul- 
ties would  not  be  remided.  the  inhabitants  are  So  Sensible  of  the  im- 
portance of  the  education  of  youth  that  they  can  by  no  means  rest  easy 
to  have  their  children  brought  up  in  Savage  ignorance  unfit  members  for 
Society  either  in  Church  or  State — that  the  Town  of  Hollis  is  a  large 
Town  both  in  quantity  of  land  and  Number  of  inhabitants  &  can  well 


IIS  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

spare  a  part  to  build  up  the  Town  of  Raby.  the  Town  of  Raby  have 
repeatedly  applied  to  the  Town  of  Hollis  to  vote  off  to  the  Town  of  Raby 
some  part  of  said  Town  which  they  refuse  to  doe,  the  Town  of  Raby 
therefore  find  themselves  constrained  to  apply  to  your  honors  to  take 
their  difficult  case  under  your  wise  consideration  &  set  off  from  the  Town 
of  Hollis  and  annex  to  the  Town  of  Raby  the  following  tract  of  land 
with  the  inhabitants  consisting  of  nine  families  (Viz)  beginning  at  the 
great  Sand  bank  (so  called )  and  running  parall  with  east  line  of  the  town 
of  Raby  untill  it  comes  opposite  to  Northeasterly  corner  of  the  sd  Town 
of  Raby  thence  to  said  Northeasterly  corner,  in  width  about  three  Quar- 
ters of  a  mile  that  the  inhabitants  Settled  on  said  tract  of  land  are  de- 
sirous to  be  Sett  of  to  the  Town  of  Raby  (one  excepted),  we  beg  leave 
further  to  represent  to  your  honers  that  nature  seemed  to  design  the 
abovesaid  tract  of  land  for  the  Town  of  Raby  as  the  proposed  line  will 
run  thro  a  tract  of  poor  land  unfit  for  cultivation  and  the  Town  of  Raby 
at  their  incorporation  had  reason  to  expect  some  further  help  from  the 
town  of  Hollis — these  reasons  (with  many  others  which  may  be  given  if 
oppertunity  therefor)  we  submit  to  the  wise  consideration  of  this  Honor- 
able Court — praying  your  honors  to  grant  us  relief  and  your  petitioners 
as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray 
SWALLOW  TUCKER     JAMES  CAMPBELL     ROBERT  SEVER." 

With  the  foregoing  petition  was  filed  a  plan  of  Hollis  and  Raby, 
showing  the  proposed  alterations,  and  also  a  plan  of  Raby  alone.  These 
plans,  of  which  copies  accompany  this  chapter,  are  papers  Nos.  183  and 
184,  Town  Papers,  Vol.  I,  collection  of  1880,  in  the  office  of  the  secretary 
of  state.  By  an  examination  of  these  plans,  it  will  be  seen  that  No.  184 
marks  the  location  upon  the  disputed  land  of  the  dwelling  houses  of  the 
residents;  it  also  gives  their  names,  as  follows:  "Senter's  house,  James 
McDaniels,  Perkins,  Ezekiel  Proctor,  John  Cummings,  Mr.  Farley,  Phin's 
Bennet,  Joshua  Smith,  Joshua  Smith,  Jr."  It  also  gives  the  names  of 
those  living  in  Raby  on  the  side  adjacent  to  Hollis,  as  follows:  "Jonas 
Shead,  R.  McDaniels,  Capt.  Sever,  Widdow  Dickey,  R-  Cutts  Shannon, 
Esq.,  James  Dickey,  Gray,  Thos  Asten." 

On  the  loth  day  of  Oct.,  1785,  while  the  foregoing  petition  was  still 
pending  in  the  General  Court,  the  inhabitants  of  the  disputed  land  filed 
in  court  another  petition,  framed  in  language  similar  to  that  used  in  their 
petition  under  date  of  Dec.  5,  1783.  The  names  of  the  signers  of  this  last 
petition  were  as  follows;    James  McDonell,  Jesse  parkins,  Thomas  Law- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  119 

rence,  Simeon  Senter,  Joshua  Smith,  Ezekiel  Proctor,  Ebr's  Gilson,  Joshua 
Smith,  Jun.  Phinehas  Bennet. 

Benjamin  Farley,  a  son  of  Samuel  Farley,  who  acted  as  attorney  for 
Raby  at  the  time  of  its  incorporation,  was  appointed  as  the  town's  agent 
for  attending  to  all  matters  relative  to  the  petition  while  it  was  pending 
in  the  legislature ;  and  his  efforts  were  ably  seconded  by  Samuel  Douglass, 
the  town's  representative  for  that  year. 

Hollis,  of  course,  opposed  the  petition.  At  a  meeting  of  its  inhabit- 
ants holden  on  the  15th  day  of  Sept.,  1785,  it  was  voted — "That  this 
Town  will  oppose  the  Petition  preferr'd  to  the  Gen1  Court,  by  the  Town 
of  Raby,  That  Daniel  Emerson  Esq.  be  fully  impower'd  to  oppose  said 
Petition,  also  voted  that  Noah  Worcester  Esq.  Capt.  Dow  Ens.  Jerem 
Ames  William  Cumings  &  Capt.  Goss,  be  a  Committee  to  State  the  mat- 
ter fairly  and  give  said  Emerson  Instructions  in  writing  relative  to  the 
same,  taken  from  the  Town  Records 

True  Copy  Attest  William  Cumings  Town  Clerk" 

"To  Daniel  Emerson  Esq.  Representative  for  the  Town  of  Hollis — 

Agreable  to  the  above  votes  of  the  Town  of  Hollis,  impowering  you 
to  oppose  the  Petition  of  the  Town  of  Raby,  &  us  to  give  you  instructions 
thereon,  You  are  hereby  instructed  to  oppose  said  Petition — in  behalf  of 
the  Town  of  Hollis,  for  the  following  Reasons  (viz)  first  as  the  said  Peti- 
tioners represent  their  Weakness  and  inability  to  support  the  Gospel  or 
maintain  Schools,  it  cannot  be  supposed  that  the  addition  of  nine  families 
Settled  on  such  a  Tract  of  Land  as  they  Represent  unfit  for  Cultivation 
if  Granted  could  remove  the  Difficulties  of  which  they  complain — 

2d  as  they  represent  in  said  Petition,  that  they  at  their  Incorporation 
had  reason  to  expect  some  further  help  from  said  Town  of  Hollis,  that  we 
know  of  no  Reason  that  they  had  to  expect  any  such  thing  unless  it  was 
by  some  mistake  in  their  own  measure  as  they  themselves  measured  it 
before  the  incorporation,  that  the  Town  of  Hollis  never  measured  nor 
Joined  in  Measuring  until  after  the  Incorporation,  That  the  Votes  of  the 
Town  of  Hollis,  previous  to  said  incorporation  of  Raby  were  design'd  to 
fix  the  meeting  house  in  the  Sentre  of  the  Town  east  and  west,  which 
Votes  of  said  Town  were  confirmed  by  the  Charter  of  the  Town  of  Raby — 
3d  That  they  in  their  Petition  request  to  begin  at  the  Grat  Sand  Bank 
so  called,  and  run  a  Paralel  line  with  the  town  of  Raby  opposite  to  their 
Northeast  corner,  then  a  closing  line  to  their  Northeast  Corner,  which  if 
granted  will  leave  a  Tract  of  land  with  a  Number  of  inhabitants  on  the 
same  about  two  miles  Square  belonging  to  Hollis,  at  the  Northerly  end  of 


120  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Raby  extending  as  far  west  as  the  west  line  of  Raby  excepting  the  width 
of  the  Mile  Strip— 

4th  That  the  meeting  House  in  Hollis  now  stands  on  a  plat  of  Ground 
which  it  seems  nature  form'd  for  that  purpose  being  pleasantly  Situated, 
that  the  Town  has  been  at  a  Great  Expense  in  laying  Out  and  making 
Roads  to  accommodate  the  same,  which  well  convenes  the  Inhabitants 
from  all  parts  of  said  Town  That  if  said  Petition  should  be  granted,  con- 
sequently the  meeting  house  would  not  be  in  the  sentre  of  the  Town — 
which  probably  cause  an  uneasiness  in  the  Easterly  part  of  ye  Town, 
which  might  cause  the  Town  to  live  in  Contention  or  lay  them  under  the 
disagreeable  Necessity  of  building  a  New  meeting  house,  and  of  being  at 
a  Vast  expence  to  accomodate  Roads,  to  the  same,  which  never  can  be 
done  with  that  Convenience  that  it  now  is — 

NOAH  WORCESTER 

REUBEN    DOW 
Hollis  Sepr  28th  JEREMIAH   AMES 

1785.  WILLIAM   CUMINGS  Hollis. 

JOHN   GOSS  J 


Comtee  in  behalf 
(-    of  ye  Town  of 


The  contest  in  the  legislature  over  the  petition  was  of  comparatively 
short  duration,  but  was  very  strenuous  while  it  lasted.  But,  finally,  on 
the  17th  day  of  July,  1786,  an  act  was  passed  by  which  the  prayer  of  the 
petition  was  granted. 

Thus,  by  act  of  legislature,  the  title  in  and  to  a  strip  of  land  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  in  width  on  the  east  side  of  Raby,  which  was  included 
within  its  original  limits  as  defined  in  its  charter  at  the  date  of  its  incor- 
poration in  1769,  but  over  which,  from  the  date  of  its  incorporation  up 
to  the  date  of  this  act,  Hollis  had  wrongfully  claimed  and  attempted  to 
exercise  jurisdiction,  was  settled  as  being  in  Raby,  where  it  has  ever 
since  remained  unquestioned. 

Hollis'  inhabitants  gracefully  accepted  the  dictum  of  the  legislature 
as  expressed  in  the  act.  For  although  they  had  opposed  its  passage, 
their  opposition  was  not  occasioned  by  any  real  desire  to  hold  possession 
of  the  land  in  question,  which  was  of  comparatively  little  value,  but 
rather,  as  has  already  been  stated  herein,  by  the  fact  that  by  its  loss  their 
meeting-house  would  no  longer  stand  in  the  exact  center  of  the  township. 
A  state  of  affairs  which,  in  accord  with  the  ideas  prevalent  in  those  days, 
would  in  their  estimation  be  deplorable ;  because  it  would  compel  those  of 
the  people  who  lived  on,  or  near,  the  limits  of  that  part  of  the  town  far- 
thest from  the  meeting-house,  in  going  to  and  from  the  same,  to  cover 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  121 

more  ground  than  was  covered  for  the  same  purpose  by  their  fellow  towns- 
men who  lived  near  the  limits  of  that  part  of  the  town  which  was  nearest 
to  the  meeting-house. 

There  is,  however,  no  record  that  the  change  in  the  location  of  the 
Hollis  meeting-house  had  any  noticeable  effect  upon  the  church-going 
proclivities  of  its  people;  or,  for  that  matter,  upon  those  of  the  people  of 
Raby;  the  majority  of  whom  continued  to  worship  in  Hollis  until  the 
completion  of  their  own  meeting-house  in  1791. 

Municipal  and  Other  Events  1789—1800. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  by  the  passage  of  the  foregoing  men- 
tioned act  of  the  legislature,  Raby  had  become  confirmed  in  the  possession 
of  its  original  territory,  its  inhabitants,  far  from  being  satisfied  with  the 
amount  of  land  which  they  already  possessed,  were  apparently  desirous 
of  acquiring  more.  For  on  the  28th  day  of  Feb.,  1786,  they  passed  a 
vote — "To  petition  the  town  of  Mason  for  two  tiers  of  lots  on  its  easterly 
part";  and  chose  Capt.  Samuel  Russell,  Lieut.  Isaac  Shattuck  and  Clark 
Browh  as  a  committee  to  "petition  and  see  if  they  are  willing  to  be  set  off 
to  Raby."  On  the  31st  day  of  March  of  the  same  year  they  again  "voted 
and  chose  Capt.  Russell,  Capt.  Samuel  Russell  and  Ebenezer  Gilson"  as 
a  committee — "To  git  2  lots  from  easterly  part  of  Mason  set  off  to  Raby." 

At  a  later  meeting  in  the  same  year,  Benjamin  Farley  was  appointed 
as  the  town's  agent — "To  git  a  piece  of  the  northwest  part  of  Hollis  and 
the  mile  slip  laid  off  to  Raby." 

It  does  not  appear  that  either  of  the  above  mentioned  committees, 
or  the  "agent,"  ever  reported.  The  votes  probably  originated  from  an 
indefinite  understanding  relative  to  the  territory  actually  embraced  within 
the  town's  limits;  and,  although  for  a  few  years  subsequently  there  are 
recorded,  occasionally,  similar  votes,  the  matter  finally  ceased  to  interest 
the  public  and  was  allowed  to  drop. 

1787.  Dec.  5th,  Swallow  Tucker  was  elected  grand  juror,  to  attend 
court  at  Amherst  at  the  "General  Sessions  of  the  Peace."  Mr.  Tucker 
was  the  second  from  this  town  to  be  elected  to  this  position. 

Capt.  Robert  Seaver  was  for  the  second  time  serving  the  county  as 
coroner;  as  was  also  Capt.  Samuel  Douglass. 

1788.  Aug.  5th,  Eleazer  Gilson  was  elected  as  the  town's  first  petit 
juror;  and  at  the  same  meeting  Capt.  Robert  Seaver  was  elected  as  a 
grand  juror. 


122  HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

In  the  rate  lists  of  this  year  the  name  of  John  Conant,  who  subse- 
quently built  the  first  sawmill  on  the  river  below  the  outlet  from  the 
pond,  appears  for  the  first  time;  as  does  also  the  name  of  Caleb  Trow- 
bridge, the  town's  second  schoolmaster.  The  number  of  names  on  the 
tax  lists  for  the  year  was  83. 

At  the  convention  which  met  at  Exeter,  February  13th,  and  adopted 
the  Federal  Constitution,  Raby,  Mason  and  New  Ipswich  were  repre- 
sented by  Deacon  Amos  Dakin  of  Mason. 

1790.  Minister  rates  were  levied  for  the  first  time,  and  continued  to 
be  levied  until  about  the  year  1843;  when  the  church  having  become  in- 
dependent of  the  town's  control,  there  was  no  longer  occasion  for  them. 

Richard  Cutts  Shannon  was  for  the  second  time  acting  as  coroner  for 
the  county  and,  on  December  16,  was  appointed  a  justice  of  the  peace  and 
quorum. 

Census  of  1790. 

This  year  by  order  of  the  legislature  a  census  of  the  state  was  taken. 
The  population  of  this  town  was  found  to  be  338 ;  as  shown  by  the  return 
of  its  selectmen,  as  follows:  Males  above  16,  86;  Males  under  16,  89; 
Females,  160;  Other  persons,  10;  Total,  338. 

At  the  March  meeting  this  year  the  vote  for  president  was  21;  all  of 
which  were  cast  for  John  Pickering. 

1791.  At  the  convention  to  revise  the  State  Constitution  which  met 
at  Concord  on  the  7th  day  of  September,  Raby,  Mason  and  New  Ipswich 
were  represented  by  Charles  Barrett,  Esq.,  of  New  Ipswich. 

Bridges  Over  the  Nissitisset  River. 

As  has  already  been  stated  in  a  prior  chapter,  the  first  bridge  built 
by  Raby  over  the  river  below  its  outlet  from  the  pond  was  erected  in  1772. 
But  at  the  time  of  its  construction,  there  was  already  in  existence  a  bridge 
at  the  point  where  the  Townsend  highway  crosses  the  stream  at  South 
Brookline.  This  latter  bridge  was  built  by  the  town  of  Hollis  before  the 
incorporation  of  Raby.  One  hundred  and  twenty  years  ago,  it  was  known 
as  the  Benjamin  Tucker  bridge.  It  is  known  today  as  the  Fessenden 
Bridge,  from  David  S.  Fessenden,  who  owns  the  brick  house  near  it. 

The  second  bridge  to  be  built  over  the  river  by  Raby  is  that  crossing 
the  stream  a  mile  below  the  Tucker  bridge.  It  is  located  at  the  point 
where  the  river  is  crossed  by  the  highway  leading  from  Brookline  to  Oak 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  123 

Hill,  in  Pepperell.  Of  late  years  it  has  been  known  as  Bohonon's  bridge, 
from  the  fact  that  it  is  situated  near  the  late  dwelling  house  of  the  late 
Moses  Bohonon,  deceased.  At  the  time  it  was  built,  and  for  many  years 
afterwards,  it  was  known  as  the  Joshua  Smith  bridge. 

The  first  action  of  the  town  relative  to  building  this  bridge  occurred 
at  a  town  meeting  holden  May  12  of  the  above  year,  when  it  was  voted 
— "To  build  a  bridge  across  the  River  that  runs  across  the  Road  that 
leads  from  Raby  meeting  house  to  Mr.  Joshua  Smith's  house  Provided 
Pepperell  people  did  open  the  road  to  meet  us."  Probably  Pepperell 
people  did — "Open  the  road  to  meet  us."  For  at  a  meeting  holden  on  the 
7th  day  of  March  of  the  following  year  it  was  again  voted  to  bridge  the 
said  stream  at  this  place,  and — "To  leave  the  building  of  the  same  to  the 
selectmen  to  order  it  as  they  should  think  best."  This  is  the  last  recorded 
reference  to  the  building  of  this  bridge.  It  is,  therefore,  fair  to  infer  that 
the  selectmen  did  as  they  thought  best,  and  that  the  bridge  was  completed 
the  same  year,  1792. 

1795.  The  town  voted  to  lay  out  a  road  west  of  the  south  cemetery. 
The  next  year,  1796,  this  vote  was  repeated  in  the  following  language — 
"To  lay  out  a  road  on  the  north  side  of  the  burying  ground  near  Swallow 
Tucker's  if  they  think  best  to  turn  the  course  of  the  road  now  to  the 
south  side  of  the  burying  ground." 

1796.  During  this  year  the  above  mentioned  road  was  built  and 
accepted. 

Town  Common. 

November  2,  R.  Cutts  Shannon  by  his  deed  of  that  date  recorded  in 
Hillsborough  records  Vol.  203,  p.  603,  conveyed  "To  the  selectmen  and 
their  successors  forever  for  the  use  of  the  town"  the  land  on  which  the  old 
meeting-house  now  stands. 

1798.  This  year  the  first  guide  boards  to  be  placed  in  position  in 
town  were  set  up.  They  were  constructed  of  pine  boards  placed  upon 
oak  posts.  Samuel  T.  Boynton  was  licensed  for  one  year  as  an  inn  keeper; 
and,  as  such,  in  the  house  situate  on  the  town  common  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  Mrs.  Newton  W.  Colburn,  he  hung  out  his  sign;  a  guide 
board  which  directed  both  the  traveling  and  non-traveling  public  to  a 
locality  not  even  indirectly  suggested  by  those  erected  by  the  town  fathers ; 
and  which  both  tradition  and  the  records  say  was  a  sample  of  many  others 
of  a  similar  design  which  for  many  years  previous  to  its  advent  had  existed 
in  town. 


124  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Change  of  Name  from  Raby  to  Brookline. 

1798.  At  the  time  of  the  town's  incorporation  under  the  name  of 
Raby,  there  was  a  large  minority  of  its  inhabitants  who  were  dissatisfied 
with  the  name.  This  minority  gracefully  submitted  to  the  will  of  the 
majority;  and  in  the  progress  of  events  attendant  upon  the  organization 
of  the  new  town  and  the  War  of  the  Revolution  the  matter  for  the  time 
being,  at  least,  ceased  to  attract  public  attention. 

But  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  the  old  feeling  of  dissatisfaction, 
intensified  no  doubt  by  the  fact  that  the  name  of  Raby  recalled  associa- 
tions connected  with  the  town's  past  that  were  far  from  agreeable  to  the 
majority  of  its  citizens,  was  again  revived.  Year  by  year  the  numbers  of 
those  who  advocated  a  change  in  the  name  of  the  town  increased;  and 
year  by  year  public  sentiment  in  favor  of  the  change  grew  stronger.  At 
last,  in  this  year,  1798,  matters  were  brought  to  a  climax  by  the  insertion 
into  the  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  on  the  30th  day  of  May  of  an  article 
calling  for  a  change  of  the  name  of  the  town  from  Raby  to  Brookline.  The 
article  was  passed  with  little  opposition;  and  Benjamin  Farley  was  sub- 
sequently ordered  by  the  selectmen  to  draw  up  and  present  to  the  General 
Court  a  petition  calling  for  a  change  of  the  town's  name,  in  accordance 
with  the  above  vote.  Mr.  Farley  obeyed  the  order  and  drew  up  and  filed 
in  court  a  petition  to  the  following  effect: 

"To  the  Hon  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  For  Said  State 
Convened  at  Hopkintown. 

Humbly  Shews — The  Subscribers  Select  men  for  the  Town  of  Raby 
that  it  is  the  earnest  desire  of  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Town  that  the  Name 
thereof  may  be  changed  as  by  their  vote  in  Town  meeting  may  appear — 
We  therefore  pray  your  Honors  to  pass  an  Act  whereby  said  Town  of 
Raby  may  take  and  hold  the  name  of  Brookline  in  future — and  as  in  duty 
bound  shall  pray. 
Hopkintown  June  11th  1798. 

RANDEL   McDONALD  ^|       select- 
BENJA.   FARLEY,  V      men 

JAMES   McINTOSH        J  of  Raby" 

The  prayer  of  the  petitioners  was  granted  by  the  passage  of  an  act 
to  that  end  which  was  approved  on  the  fourth  day  of  December  of  the 
same  year.  Thus  the  name  of  Brookline  was  substituted  for  that  of  Raby 
and  the  latter  became  only  a  memory. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  125 

vSome  idea  of  the  cost  of  living  at  this  time  may  be  obtained  from  the 
following  list  of  "Boston  Prices  Current,"  which  is  copied  from  the  "Am- 
herst Journal  and  the  New  Hampshire  Advertiser,"  under  date  of  Dec. 
12,  1795. 

BOSTON  PRICES   CURRENT. 


Carefully  Corrected. 
Boston,  December  10. 


Obferve,  T.  ftands  for  ton. — M.  for  thoufand  H.  for  hundred — Cwt.  for 
hundred  weight — Hhd.  for  hogfhead — Bbl.  for  barrel — lb.  for  pound 
— gal.  for  gallon,  &c. 

Average  Price  per  Quantity. 

Dls.-Cents 

Ashes  Pot.  per  T.  166  66 

Pearl,  per  T.  140 

Allum,  per  cwt.  7 
Beef,  1ft  quality,  bbl.  11  50 
—  2d,  do.  bll.  10 


Butter,  lb.  15 

Beans,  per  bufhel,  1  25 

Bees  Wax,  lb.  33 

Corn,  Indian,  95 

Cloth,  tow,  American,  yd.  20 

Cheefe,  American,  lb.  10 

Flour,  Superfine,  bbl.  15 

Fine  14  50 

Middlings,  11 

Hides,  dried,  2 

Hogs, Lard         lb.  14 

Leather,  foal,  lb.  21 

Lime,  per  hhd.  4 

Molaffes,  gall.  63 

Pork,  one  hog,  bbl.  18 

one  and  half  hog,  16 

middling  pieces,  25 

Meal,  Rye,  per  bufhel  1 


126  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Rum,  Jamaica,  gall.  1  75 

Winward,  do.  1   17 

N.  England,  do.  70 

Rice,  Carolina,  cwt.  7  33 

Staves,  white  oak  hhd.  M.  30 

red  oak,  hhd.  do.  13 

Staves,  barrel  white  oak,  do.  20 

Sugar,  brown,  cwt.  fr.  9  10  14 

Loaf,  lb.  26 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


127 


The  Population  of  Brookline  at  the  First  Census  of  the  United  States  in  the 

Year  1790. 


Free  white  males 

Free 

of  16  years 

white  females, 

Name  of  head 

and  upward, 

Free  white  males 

including 

of  family. 

including 

under  16 

heads  of 

heads  of 

families 

families. 

Shannon,  R.  Cutts 

2 

2 

6 

Shattuck,  Benja. 

1 

2 

4 

Farnsworth,  Sampson 

3 

- 

3 

Hall,  William,  Jr. 

1 

- 

1 

McDonold,  Randal 

2 

2 

5 

Sever,  Robert 

1 

3 

2 

Dickey,  James 

1 

3 

2. 

Brown,  Clark 

2 

- 

5 

Douglass,  Samuel 

1 

2 

2 

Emery,  Ebenezer 

3 

1 

2 

Gowing,  Ezekiel 

1 

- 

2 

Graham,  William 

1 

1 

3 

Gilson,  Ebenezer 

3 

1 

4 

Gilson,  Eleazer 

1 

3 

3 

Hall,  William 

1 

2 

1 

Lesley,  Jonas 

1 

3 

4 

McDonald,  James 

1 

- 

3 

Proctor,  Ezekiel 

2 

— 

2 

Parker,  Abijah 

1 

1 

2 

Perkins,  Jesse 

1 

2 

1 

Senter,  Simeon 

1 

2 

3 

Shattuck,  Isaac 

2 

— 

2 

Sartell,  Ephraim 

3 

1 

3 

Sawyer,  Jonathan 

1 

1 

3 

Wheeler,  Abiezer 

1 

2 

1 

Wetherbee,  Oliver 

1 

1 

1 

Austin,  Phineas 

1 

4 

2 

Austin,  Bulah 

1 

— 

6 

Brooks,  Benjamin 

1 

1 

4 

Bennet,  Phineas 

1 

3 

4 

128 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


The  Population  of  Brookline  at  the  First  Census  of  the  United  States  in  the 

Year  1790. — Continued. 


Free  white  males 

of  16  years 

Free 

Name  of  head 

and  upward, 

Free  white  males 

including 

of  family. 

including 

under  16. 

white  females, 

heads  of 

heads  of 

families. 

families. 

Campbell,  James 

5 

1 

3 

Davidson,  David 

1 

2 

Emerson,  John 

1 

1 

Farley,  Benjamin 

8 

5 

Blood,  Reuben 

- 

2 

Green,  Samuel 

2 

3 

Grace,  Benjamin 

2 

2 

Hodgman,  Joseph 

1 

1 

Hodgman,  Abel 

- 

2 

Hodgman,  Abraham 

2 

1 

Lawrence,  Ezekiel 

2 

1 

Mcintosh,  Alexander 

- 

4 

Mcintosh,  James 

— 

3 

Mcintosh,  Archibald 

1 

5 

Patten,  Nathaniel,  Jr. 

3 

2 

Russell,  George 

- 

3 

Russell,  Samuel 

1 

3 

Russell,  Andrew 

2 

3 

Spaulding,  Daniel 

1 

4 

Smith,  Joshua 

3 

2 

Smith,  Joshua,  Jr. 

3 

2 

Tucker,  Swallow 

1 

2 

Sanders,  Isaac 

3 

2 

Kirk,  Charles 

3 

2 

Wetherbee,  Timothy 

3 

4 

Turrel,  William 

2 

2 

Wood,  John 

2 

1 

Emery,  Ebenezer 

2 

2 

2 

Boston,  Philip 

" 

HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  129 

Recapitulation . 

Heads  of  families  and  free  white  males  over  16 86 

Free  white  males  under  16 89 

Free  white  males,  including  heads  of  families 160 

Family  of  Philip  Boston,  a  free  Negro 3 

Total  population 338 

Oct.  16,  1790,  Samuel  Douglas,  Jr.,  was  appointed  Justice  of  the 
Peace  and  Quorum,  and  was  reappointed  to  the  same  position  on  the 
following  year.  He  also  held  the  position  of  county  coroner  for  the  year 
1790. 


130  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Early  Highways,  Bridle  Paths  and  Dwelling   Houses,  Together  with  Brief 
Sketches  of  Such  of  the  Signers  of  the  Petition  for  the  Incorpora- 
tion of  Raby  as  Left  Behind  Them  No  Records  of  Their  Families. 

The  Great  Road,  So  Called — The  Highway  to  Hollis  via  Proctor  Hill — 
Bridle  Paths:  i.  e.,  From  Paddledock  to  Meeting-house  Hill — 
From  the  Daniel  Goodwin  Place  via  the  James  McDaniels  Place 
to  the  Jesse  Perkins  Place— From  the  Latter  Path  to  the  Senter's 
Place — From  the  North  Highway  to  Hollis  to  the  Proctor  Hill 
Highway — From  the  Latter  Path  to  the  Village — Early  Dwelling 
Houses:  The  Old  "Yellow  House" — The  Capt.  Nathan  Corey 
House- — The  James  Campbell  House- — The  Samuel  T.  Boynton 
House — The  Colburn  Green  House — Cellar  Hole  of  the  Rev. 
Lemuel  Wadsworth  House — The  Sampson  Farnsworth  House— 
The  Lieut.  Samuel  Farley  House — Sketches  of  the  Signers  of  the 
Petition  for  Incorporation. 

At  the  date  of  the  incorporation  of  Raby  there  were  within  its  limits 
only  two  laid  out  and  legally  established  highways.  "The  Great  Road," 
so  called,  leading  from  Pepperell,  Mass.,  entered  the  town  on  its  east  side 
and,  continuing  on  through  its  territory  in  a  westerly  direction,  crossed 
the  Nissitisset  river  by  a  ford  way  near  wThere  the  stream  is  spanned  by 
the  present  Pond  Bridge,  so  called,  a  few  rods  below  its  outlet  from  Mus- 
catanipus  pond;  from  whence  it  extended  to  Mason  and  on  through  the 
southern  border  towns  of  the  state,  until  it  terminated  at  Hinsdale  on  the 
Connecticut  river. 

At  this  time  and  for  many  subsequent  years  this  road  was  the  prin- 
cipal route  in  New  Hampshire  for  travel  and  traffic  between  these  border 
towns  and  Boston.  So  far  as  its  location  in  Brookline  is  concerned,  it 
remains  today  practically  the  same  as  in  the  beginning. 

The  second  of  these  laid  out  highways  was  that  known  at  the  present 
time  as  the  Proctor  hill  road  to  Hollis.  Its  location  today  is  also  practi- 
cally the  same  as  in  the  beginning.  From  Raby  this  latter  road  extended 
on  in  a  southwest  direction  via  Townsend  hill  to  Townsend,  Mass. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  131 

The  majority  of  the  other  roads  in  town  at  that  time  were  mere 
bridle  paths;  suitable  only  for  horseback  riders  or,  in  some  instances,  for 
the  passage  of  the  lumbering  ox  wagons  then  in  use.  For,  although  there 
was  no  especial  scarcity  of  horses,  vehicles  drawn  by  them,  except  those 
of  the  rudest  description,  were  unknown  here  until  well  along  into  the 
nineteenth  century ;  the  first  "chaise,"  according  to  local  tradition,  having 
been  brought  into  town  about  1820  by  Deacon  Eleazer  Gilson. 

These  bridle  paths,  as  they  were  called,  although  many  of  them  were 
mere  foot  trails  between  the  log  cabins  of  the  settlers,  were  to  be  found 
leading  in  all  directions  through  the  dense  forest  growth  which  then  cov- 
ered the  entire  surface  of  the  township.  In  subsequent  years  some  of  them 
were  laid  out  and  accepted  as  public  highways,  and  are  in  use  as  such  at 
the  present  time.  Others  continued  to  be  used  for  public  travel  for  many 
years  or  until,  by  the  construction  of  other  more  direct  and  therefore 
more  convenient  routes  between  the  points  which  they  connected,  they 
gradually  passed  into  disuse. 

Among  the  latter  class  is  one  which  formerly  connected  Paddledock,* 
now  South  Brookline,  with  the  western  part  of  the  township.  It  led  out 
of  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Townsend,  Mass.,  at  a  point  near  the 
location  of  the  present  steam  sawmill  of  Orville  D.  Fessenden  in  South 
Brookline  and,  skirting  the  east  base  of  Little  Muscatanipus  hill,  followed 
up  the  west  bank  of  the  Nissitisset  river  to  a  point  in  the  same  a  few  rods 
northwest  of  the  present  iron  bridge  on  Bond  street,  where  it  crossed  the 
stream  by  a  ford  way  and,  continuing  on  up  its  east  bank,  connected  with 
the  Great  Road  at  the  point  where  the  same  is  crossed  by  the  "old  ditch," 
a  few  rods  south  of  the  present  pond  bridge. 

This  bridle  path  was  especially  useful  for  the  settlers  in  the  western 
part  of  the  town,  for  whom  it  furnished  a  short  cut  to  Townsend,  Mass. 
After  the  completion  of  the  town's  first  meeting-house  in  1791,  it  became 
the  principal  route  for  the  citizens  of  Paddledock  in  going  to  and  from 
divine  worship.  It  continued  to  be  used  as  a  public  thoroughfare  until 
well  along  into  the  nineteenth  century,  but  there  is  no  record  of  its  ever 
having  been  accepted  by  the  town  as  a  public  highway. 

When  Ensign  Bailey  built  his  sawmill  and  tannery  soon  after  the 
year  1800,  this  bridle  path  turned  at  the  ford  way  (or,  rather,  another 
path  way  branched  off  from  it  at  that  point),  and  passed  through  the 

*  A  name  which  in  the  early  days  of  the  township  was  given  to  that  part  of  the  town  which  at  the 
present  time  is  known  as  South  Brookline.  The  origin  of  the  name  is  obscure.  But  it  is  probably  a  cor- 
ruption of  "Puddledock,"  a  name  by  which  a  certain  locality  in  Dover  was  formerly  known;  and,  if  so, 
the  name  was  perhaps  imported  into  Brookline  by  Swallow  Tucker;  an  early  settler  here,  whose  family, 
although  he  came  here  from  Groton,  Mass.,  was  originally  of  Dover. 


132  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

millyard  up,  and  contiguous  to,  the  west  bank  of  the  river;  which  it  crossed 
by  a  stringer  bridge  erected  by  Mr.  Bailey  and  located  a  few  rods  south 
of  the  present  mill-dam  near  the  village  railroad  station.  The  bridge  re- 
mained in  existence  until  about  the  time  of  the  beginning  of  the  Civil 
War;  when,  having  become  unsafe  from  age  and  want  of  repairs,  it  was 
put  out  of  commission,  either  by  the  spring  floods  or  the  hands  of  men, 
perhaps  both.  There  are  those  living  today  who  remember  this  bridge 
as  among  the  pleasantest  of  their  boyhood  memories.  For  beneath  its 
shadow  and  from  its  location  upward  to  the  dam,  they  speared  many  and 
many  a  pickerel,  and,  occasionally,  a  lusty  trout  with  which  the  river  at 
this  point  then  abounded,  especially  during  the  period  of  the  subsidence 
of  the  spring  freshets. 

The  trail  of  this  bridle  path  for  almost  its  entire  length  is  easily  trace- 
able at  the  present  time,  although  for  a  portion  of  the  distance  between 
the  village  and  the  South  Brookline  railroad  station  it  is  identical  with 
the  railroad  track. 

Upon  its  east  side  about  one-half  way  between  the  two  railroad  sta- 
tions is  an  old  cellar  hole  upon  which,  tradition  says,  in  Revolutionary 
times  was  located  the  log  cabin  of  George  Davidson,  one  of  Raby's  soldiers 
in  the  war. 

Another  bridle  path,  much  used  in  its  day,  and  which  has  already 
been  mentioned  in  a  prior  chapter,  led  out  of  the  east  side  of  the  main 
highway  to  Milford  at  or  near  the  residence  of  the  late  Rev.  Daniel  Good- 
win, one  mile  north  of  the  village  Main  street  and,  pursuing  an  easterly 
direction,  came  out  on  the  east  Milford  highway  a  few  rods  west  of  the 
old  James  McDonald  house;  from  whence  it  crossed  the  latter  highway 
and,  still  pursuing  its  easterly  course,  terminated  at  the  north  highway 
to  Hollis;  into  which  it  entered  at  a  point  near  the  dwelling  house,  before 
and  after  the  Revolution,  of  Ezekiel  Proctor,  and  known  to  the  present 
generation  as  the  Ralph  Burns,  Amos  Blodgett,  and  Luke  Baldwin  place. 
The  dwelling  house  of  Jesse  Perkins,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in 
Raby,  was  located  on  the  east  side^of  this  bridle  path,  a  few  rods  back 
from  its  junction  with  the  north  highway  to  Hollis. 

Relative  to  this  path,  under  date  of  March  1,  1786,  the  town  records 
contain  the  following  entry  —  "Voted  to  accept  of  a  road  from  Capt. 
Seaver's  house  to  Randel  McDonalds'  so  on  to  the  great  road  by  James 
McDonells  old  field.    Said  road  to  be  a  bridle  road." 

Leading  out  of  the  foregoing  described  bridle  path  upon  its  north 
side  and  about  midway  between  the  two  Milford  highways  another  an- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  133 

cient  bridle  path  which  at  the  present  time  is  easily  traceable  ran  in  a 
northeasterly  direction  and  ended  at  or  near  the  dwelling  house  on  the 
west  side  of  East  Milford  highway  late  of  William  Gilson,  deceased,  but 
one  hundred  and  forty  years  ago  of  Simeon  Senter.  On  this  bridle  path 
about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  west  of  said  Gilson  house  is  a  cleared  space 
in  which  is  located  a  cellar  hole.  This  cellar  hole  is  supposed  to  mark 
the  site  of  the  log  cabin  of  Jonathan  Whitcomb,  one  of  the  earliest  set- 
tlers in  this  town,  coming  here  from  Lancaster,  Mass.,  as  early  as  1730. 
This  clearing  has  long  been  locally  known  as  "The  Boston  Place,"  the 
name  originating  from  the  fact  that  in  1790  a  log  cabin  standing  in  it 
and  located  a  few  rods  west  of  the  Whitcomb  cabin  was  occupied  by 
Philip  Boston,  a  negro,  and,  so  far  as  known,  the  first  of  his  race  to  settle 
in  town.  According  to  the  United  State's  Census  of  1790,  his  family  at 
that  time  consisted  of  himself,  wife  and  three  children.  Whatever  became 
of  them  is  unknown.  Subsequently,  the  Whitcomb  house  passed  into  the 
ownership  of  the  late  Abel  Gilson,  father  of  said  William  Gilson,  who  for 
many  years  occupied  it  as  his  homestead.  In  the  fifties  of  the  last  century 
the  house  was  occupied  by  William  Whitcomb  for  a  few  years,  since  when 
it  has  remained  unoccupied.    At  the  present  time  it  is  in  ruins. 

Another  of  these  old-time  bridle  paths,  and  one  of  the  very  earliest, 
led  out  of  the  north  highway  from  Raby  to  Hollis  at  a  point  on  its  south- 
erly side  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  east  of  the  Dickey  house,  or,  as  it  is 
known  at  the  present  time,  Ebenezer  J.  Rideout's  place.  Its  course  from 
its  starting  point  was  southerly,  its  length  about  two  miles,  and  it  term- 
inated at  a  point  in  the  road  to  Hollis  via  Proctor  hill,  a  few  rods  west  of 
where  the  latter  road  crosses  the  Rocky  Pond  brook.  Its  vestiges,  which 
can  at  the  present  time  be  easily  traced,  furnish  the  strongest  proof  of  its 
having  once  been  a  much  traveled  road.  But  no  living  man  can  remem- 
ber when  it  was  used  as  a  public  thoroughfare.  Beside  the  evidence  fur- 
nished by  the  road  itself,  another  proof  of  its  antiquity  is  to  be  found  in 
the  fact  that  upon  it  is  located  the  "Cemetery  in  the  Woods,"  the  oldest 
cemetery  in  town  of  the  white  settlers.  This  cemetery  is  located  upon 
the  west  side  of  and  some  six  or  seven  rods  back  from  the  path,  and  about 
one-fourth  of  a  mile  from  its  starting  point  at  the  north  Hollis  highway. 

Leading  out,  on  its  west  side  and  about  midway  of  its  length,  of  the 
foregoing  described  path,  another  bridle  path  runs  in  a  westerly  direction, 
crossing  the  Stone  House  brook,  and  terminating  in  the  village  at  the 
east  Milford  highway  immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  old  Nathan  Corey 
house.  From  this  latter  bridle  path,  near  where  it  crosses  the  Stone 
House  brook,  another  bridle  path  leads  out  and  passes  in  a  northerly 


134  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

direction  through  the  woods  back  of  the  Stone  House.  Upon  this  latter 
path,  to  the  east  of  the  Stone  House,  is  an  old  cellar  hole  which  marks 
the  site  of  a  dwelling  house  in  which,  in  the  forties,  one  Chapman  had 
his  habitation  and  home. 

Dwelling  Houses  in  Town  in  the  Year  1800. 

Of  the  dwelling  houses  erected  in  town  prior  to  and  for  twenty-five 
years  following  1768,  few  are  standing  today.  The  locations,  even,  of  the 
majority  of  them  are  known  only  by  their  cellar  holes;  and  of  the  cellar 
holes,  there  are  many  of  which  it  cannot  be  claimed  with  certainty  that 
they  mark  the  sites  of  the  location  of  the  dwelling  houses  of  any  one  of 
the  settlers  in  particular.  Nevertheless,  the  fact  that  over  them  once 
stood  the  rude  structures  in  which  dwelt  the  forefathers  of  the  town, 
and  that  around  them  played  the  children  who  subsequently  became  the 
grandparents  of  the  succeeding  generations,  invest  them  with  a  charm 
which,  as  long  as  they  exist,  will  always  cause  them  to  be  objects  of  peculiar 
interest  and  veneration. 

Of  the  dwelling  houses  at  the  present  time  standing  on  the  village 
Main  street,  the  "old  yellow  house,"  now  known  as  the  "Elmwood,"  the 
ell  of  the  Nissitisset  Hotel,  and  the  Capt.  Nathan  Corey  house,  all  of 
which  have  been  written  up  in  another  chapter  of  this  book,  are  the  old- 
est standing  in  the  compact  part  of  the  village;  all  of  them  dating  back 
to  about  the  year  1800  or  a  few  years  prior  thereto.  Save  for  these  four 
houses,  the  dwelling  houses  at  the  present  time  standing  on  said  Main 
street,  in  the  compact  part  of  the  village,  are  of  comparatively  modern 
origin,  none  of  them  dating  back  of  the  year  1825. 

On  the  summit  of  "Meeting-house  hill,"  there  are  three,  possibly 
four,  houses  which  were  built  prior  to  the  year  1800.  The  house  on  the 
west  side  of  the  "great  road"  opposite  to  the  old  meeting-house,  which 
at  the  present  time  is  owned  and  occupied  by  Lieut.  William  Ladd  Dodge, 
was  in  existence  when  the  meeting-house  was  completed  in  1791;  it  having 
been  built  as  early,  at  least,  as  1783.  For  in  the  latter  year  it  was  occu- 
pied by  James  Campbell  who  was  then  operating  with  John  Colburn  the 
"Conant  Sawmill"  on  the  river  below  the  outlet  to  the  pond. 

This  house  was  very  probably  the  scene  of  Raby's  first  public  school, 
which  was  established  in  1783,  and  of  which  said  Campbell  and  Isaac 
Shattuck  were  joint  teachers;  as  the  town  records  mention  the  school  as 
having  been  kept — "In  James  Campbell's  house  near  the  pond." 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  135 

The  dwelling  house  on  the  east  side  of  the  "great  road,"  some  twelve 
or  fifteen  rods  south  of  the  old  meeting-house,  which  at  the  present  time 
is  owned  and  occupied  by  widow  Newton  W.  Colburn,  also  dates  back  of 
1800.  In  the  nineties  of  the  last  century  it  was  the  home  of  Samuel  T. 
Boynton,  who  kept  an  inn  and  store  in  it.  After  Boynton,  the  house 
was  occupied  as  a  store  and  inn  by  John  H.  Cutter,  subsequently  of  "Cut- 
ter's Old  Bourbon  Whiskey"  fame.  Still  later,  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
forties,  this  house  was  the  home  of  Dr.  David  Harris  who  occupied  it 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1849. 

The  dwelling  house  on  the  east  side  of  the  great  road  immediately 
north  of  the  old  meeting-house,  and  known  to  the  present  generation  as 
the  Asher  Shattuek  place,  in  the  thirties  of  the  last  century  was  the  hab- 
itation of  Colburn  Green,  one  of  the  town's  most  influential  citizens  at 
that  time.  He  was  a  son  of  William  and  Ruth  Green  of  Pepperell,  Mass., 
from  whence  he  came  to  Brookline. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  great  road  half  way  down  the  hill  between 
the  old  meeting-house  and  the  pond  bridge,  an  ancient  cellar  hole  at  the 
present  time  (1914)  marks  the  site  of  the  dwelling  house  of  the  town's 
first  minister,  Rev.  Lemuel  Wadsworth. 

The  oldest  dwelling  house  standing  at  the  present  time  in  that  part 
of  the  town  formerly  known  as  the  Mile  Slip  is  undoubtedly  the  old  Samp- 
son Farnsworth  house.  It  is  located  on  the  summit  of  the  hill  in,  and  on 
the  west  side  of,  the  road  which  leads  northerly  from  the  main  highway 
to  Mason  and  crosses  the  Robbin's  or  Wetherbee  brook,  the  house  being 
about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  north  of  the  bridge  over  the  brook. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  highway  from  Brookline  to  Pepperell,  Mass., 
about  one  mile  south  of  the  village  Main  street  at  the  present  time  stands 
the  dwelling  house  of  Lieut.  Samuel  Farley.  This  house  is  the  oldest 
framed  building  now  standing  in  town,  it  having  been  built  by  Mr.  Far- 
ley as  early,  probably,  as  1750.  On  the  same  side  of  the  same  highway 
and  some  fifteen  or  twenty  rods  north  of  the  latter  house  is  an  ancient 
cellar  hole  which  is  said  to  mark  the  site  of  Lieutenant  Farley's  original 
log  cabin. 

Concerning  other  ancient  dwelling  houses  in  Brookline,  as  well  as  of 
the  cellar  holes  which  at  the  present  time  mark  the  sites  of  such  of  them 
as  have  disappeared,  such  information  as  the  writer  has  been  able  to 
obtain  may  be  found  in  this  book  incorporated  in  connection  with  the 
brief  sketches  of  the  lives  and  family  records  of  its  early  settlers. 


136  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Habitations  and  Brief  Biographical  Sketches  of  Such  of  the 

Signers  of  the  Petition  for  the  Incorporation  of  Raby 

in  1768  as  Left  Behind  Them  No  Family  Records. 

In  writing  what  follows  in  this  chapter  concerning  the  signers  of  the 
petition  for  Raby's  incorporation,  as  well  as  all  that  is  written  concerning 
them  in  subsequent  chapters,  and  in  the  family  records  and  genealogies 
in  this  history  contained,  the  author  desires  to  be  distinctly  understood  as 
speaking  of  and  concerning  those  of  the  signers  aforesaid  who  at  the  date 
of  their  signing  the  petition  were  either  bona  fide  settlers,  or  non-resident 
taxpayers,  within  the  limits  of  Raby;  as  those  limits  were  described  and 
set  forth  in  its  charter  at  the  date  of  its  incorporation  in  1769;  which  in- 
cluded, of  course,  the  three-fourths  of  a  mile  wide  strip  of  land  on  its 
eastern  borders  to  which  the  town  of  Hollis  set  up  an  unjust  claim  of 
ownership,  but  the  title  to  which  as  being  in  Raby  was  finally  established 
by  act  of  legislature  in  1786;  the  same  being  known  in  the  intervening 
years  as  the  "disputed  territory." 

For  the  sake  of  brevity,  as  well  as  of  convenience,  the  names  of  the 
signers  who  at  the  time  of  their  signing  were  living  in  the  "disputed  ter- 
itory"  will  hereinafter  be  designated  by  the  letters  D.  T.  immediately 
following  their  several  names ;  and  in  like  manner  the  names  of  those  then 
living  in  the  Mile  Slip  will  be  designated  by  the  letters  M.  S.  The  names 
of  those  living  outside  of  these  two  tracts  will  be  written  without  marks 
of  identification  as  to  their  residences. 

WILLIAM  BLANCHARD,  M.  S.,  was  originally  of  old  Dunstable. 
In  1768  he  was  residing  in  the  Mile  Slip.  In  1769  he  was  one  of  Raby's 
first  board  of  selectmen ;  his  house  at  that  time  being  located  in  the  south- 
west part  of  the  town  on  land  bordering  on  Townsend,  Mass.,  which  was 
conveyed  to  him  by  Simeon  Blanchard. 

He  married,  Feb.  28,  1733,  Deliverance  Parker,  daughter  of  Na- 
thaniel and  Lydia  Parker,  of  Groton,  Mass.  He  has  no  descendants — of 
his  family  name,  at  least — living  here  at  the  present  time. 

ROBERT  CAMPBELL,  M.  S.,  at  the  date  of  his  signing  the  peti- 
tion, was  probably  a  resident  in  the  Mile  Slip.  He  was  originally  of 
Townsend,  Mass.,  and  was  a  brother  of  James  Campbell,  an  early  settler 
in  the  Slip.  He  married,  March  6,  1738,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  James 
McDaniels,  then  a  resident  of  Groton,  Mass.,  but  afterwards  of  Raby. 
His  residence  at  the  time  of  his  marriage  was  given  as  Roxbury,  Mass. 
But  a  deed  of  land  conveyed  by  him  in  1758  describes  him  as  being  of 
Townsend,  Mass. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  137 

ISAAC  STEVENS,  at  the  date  of  his  signing  the  petition  ,was  a 
land  owner  and  probably  a  resident  within  the  present  limits  of  Brookline. 
His  name  appears  on  its  first  list  of  rate  payers  in  1771.  It  also  appears 
on  its  recorded  list  of  its  soldiers  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  His  war 
record  is  given  on  a  prior  page. 

He  married,  Jan.  2,  1771,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Sarah 
(  )  Johnson  of  Hollis.     No  descendants  here  at  the  present  time. 

SIMEON  BLANCHARD,  M.  S.,  was  a  resident  land  owner  in  the 
Mile  Slip.  His  farm  was  located  in  the  southwest  part  of  Raby  near  the 
old  Samuel  Russell  place.  At  the  present  time  some  of  his  descendants 
are  living  in  New  Ipswich. 

JAMES  NUTTING,  M.  S.,  was  probably  a  son  of  Ebenezer  and 
Ruth  (Shattuck)  Nutting  of  Groton,  Mass.,  where  he  was  born  April  10, 
1713.  He  and  his  son,  James  Nutting,  Jr.,  each  of  whom  signed  the 
petition,  were  probably  then  non-resident  land  owners.  Their  names  do 
not  appear  on  Raby's  first  rate  list  in  1771,  nor  upon  any  rate  lists  there- 
after.   James  Nutting,  Sr.,  married  Hepsibah  Rolfe  of  Pepperell,  Mass. 

FRANCIS  BUTTERICK  was  originally  of  Hollis.  He  was  probably 
a  non-resident  land  owner  in  Raby.  His  name  does  not,  however,  appear 
on  its  first  tax  list. 

JONATHAN  POWERS,  M.  S.,  was  a  brother  of  Peter  Powers,  the 
first  settler  in  Hollis.  At  the  time  of  his  signing  the  petition,  he  was  the 
proprietor  of  several  tracts  of  land  located  in  the  Mile  Slip,  now  Brook- 
line.     His  name  does  not  appear  in  its  first  rate  list  in  1771. 

HENRY  S  PAULDING,  M.  S.,  at  the  date  of  the  petition  was  a 
non-resident  land  owner  in  the  Mile  Slip.  He  was  probably  originally  of 
Pepperell,  Mass.;  and,  if  so,  married  Rachel  Conant,  Nov.  22,  1770.  He 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  a  resident  in  Raby  after  its  incorporation. 

ABIGAIL  SPAULDING,  M.  S.,  one  of  the  signers  concerning  whom 
the  writer  has  not  been  able  to  obtain  information. 

PETER  HONEY,  M.  S.,  at  the  date  of  the  petition  was  a  resident 
in  the  Mile  Slip,  coming  there  from  old  Dunstable.  His  land,  which  con- 
sisted of  two  lots,  was  conveyed  to  him  by  William  Blanchard  by  deed 
dated  Jan.  28,  1765;  and,  according  to  the  description  in  the  deed,  was 
located  west  of  "Great  Massepatanipus  hill";  one  lot  on  Campbell's 
brook,  and  the  other  on  the  old  north  boundary  line  of  Townsend,  Mass. 
There  is  no  record  of  his  having  lived  in  Raby  after  its  incorporation. 
In  the  War  of  the  Revolution  he  served  as  a  soldier  for  Dunstable,  now 
Nashua,  and  also  for  Hollis  and  Amherst. 


13S  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN    OF   BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER   X. 

Industries,  Early  and  Late. 

1740-1852. 

The  Jasher  Wyman  Sawmill — The  James  Conneek  Sawmill — The  Melvin 
Sawmill — Old  Sawmill  on  Rocky  Pond  Brook — The  Washington 
Wright  Gristmill  and  Blacksmith  Shop — The  David  Hobart,  Sr., 
Blacksmith  Shop — The  Benjamin  Brooks,  Sr.,  Sawmill — The  James 
Campbell  Sawmill — The  Benjamin  Shattuck  Sawmill — The  Abel 
Spaulding  Sawmill— The  Sawtelle-Newell  Sawmill — The  Thomas 
Bennett  Sawmill — The  Conant  Sawmill — The  Ensign  Bailey  Saw- 
mill— Tannery  and  Sash  and  Blind  Shop — The  Samuel  Brooks 
Sawmill— The  George  Betterly  Fulling  Mill— The  Alpheus  Shat- 
tuck Scabbard  Mill — Clay  Banks  and  Bricks — The  Coopering 
Business — Charcoal  Burning — Early  Granite  Business — The  Eph- 
raim  L.  Hardy  Tool  Shop— The  David  Hobart  Steam  Sawmill. 

Among  the  earliest  and  probably  the  very  earliest  of  the  industries, 
outside  of  that  of  farming,  to  be  carried  on  by  the  original  settlers  within 
the  present  limits  of  Brookline  was  that  of  the  manufacture  of  lumber. 

For  many  years  before,  as  well  as  after,  the  town's  incorporation, 
and  in  fact  well  up  to  the  close  of  the  last  century,  its  magnificent  forests 
were  the  principal  source  of  its  prosperity.  In  the  town's  early  days 
they  not  only  furnished  large  quantities  of  lumber  for  local  use,  but  also 
material  for  the  manufacture  of  pearl  ashes,  soft  coal,  and  rift  timber  for 
hard  wood  barrels.  At  a  later  period  when,  as  early  as  1840,  the  saw- 
mills began  to  install  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  sawed  barrel 
staves  and  heads,  they  were  the  cause  of  the  establishment  here  of  the 
coopering  business  which  for  many  years  was  the  principal  source  of 
income  for  a  large  percentage  of  the  town's  inhabitants. 

The  Jasher  Wyman  Sawmill. 

The  first  sawmill  to  be  erected  within  the  present  limits  of  the  town 
was  built  prior  to  1741  by  Jasher  Wyman.    It  was  located  on  the  stream 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN    OF   BROOKLINE  139 

then  known  as  Wolf  brook,  but  at  the  present  time  known  as  Stickney 
brook,  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town;  its  site  being  on  or  near  that 
of  the  present  sawmill  of  Deacon  Perley  L.  Pierce,  in  South  Brookline. 
At  the  date  of  its  erection  the  mill  was  located  in  Townsend,  Mass.,  from 
whence  it  was  transferred  into  Brookline  by  the  running  of  the  Province 
line  in  1741. 

As  appears  by  the  Hollis  records,  Wyman  continued  to  own  and  to 
operate  the  mill  until,  at  least,  as  late  as  1746;  after  which  date  we  have 
no  further  definite  information  concerning  him,  although  there  is  a  tra- 
dition to  the  effect  that  he  removed  from  Raby  to  Townsend  Harbor, 
and  that  he  died  there.  Another  tradition  says  that  he  died  in  Woburn, 
Mass. 

After  Wyman's  ownership  ceased,  there  was  a  long  interval  of  years 
during  which  little  or  nothing  is  known  concerning  this  mill.  But  about 
the  year  1795,  its  site  was  occupied  by  a  sawmill  which  was  owned  and 
operated  by  David  Wright,  Jr.,  a  son  of  David  Wright  and  his  wife  Pru- 
dence (Cummings)  Wright,  who  arrested  the  tory,  Whiting,  at  Jewett's 
bridge  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  in  1775.  David  Wright,  Jr.,  deceased  in 
1825  and  is  buried  in  the  South  Cemetery.  After  Wright's  decease  the 
mill  was  owned  and  for  several  years  operated  by  Thomas  Tarbell.  Sub- 
sequently it  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  late  Andrew  Rockwood.  In 
1855  Mr.  Rockwood  sold  the  mill  to  the  late  William  J.  Smith.  Smith, 
soon  after  his  purchase,  entered  into  partnership  with  Noah  Ball,  of 
Townsend,  Mass.,  and  the  twain  under  the  name  of  Smith  and  Ball  oper- 
ated the  mill  until  Oct.  22,  1870,  when  Smith  sold  it  to  Deacon  Perley 
L.  Pierce. 

Dec.  26,  1872,  during  Deacon  Pierce's  ownership,  the  mill  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire.  April  25,  1873,  Pierce  conveyed  one  undivided  half  part 
of  the  mill  privilege  to  David  S.  Fessenden;  and  the  same  year  Pierce 
and  Fessenden  rebuilt  the  mill.  In  1877  Mr.  Pierce  repurchased  Mr. 
Fessenden's  interest  in  the  mill  and,  in  1879,  sold  the  entire  plant  to 
Charles  A.  Stickney  and  William  M.  Armstrong.  Stickney  and  Arm- 
strong operated  the  mill  until  Oct.  17,  1889,  when  they  reconveyed  it  to 
Deacon  Pierce,  by  whom  it  has  ever  since  been  owned  and  operated. 
At  the  present  time  (1912),  of  three  water  power  sawmills  standing  in 
town,  this  mill  is  the  only  one  in  full  operation.  Of  the  other  two,  the 
old  Capt.  Sam  Brooks  mill  has  been  idle  for  many  years,  and  the  Charles 
J.  Stickney  mill  is  being  operated  occasionally  and  spasmodically. 

The  Jasher  Wyman  mill  house  was  located  on  the  north  side  of 
Townsend  hill,  a  few  rods  southeast  of  the  mill.    At  the  time  of  this  writ- 


140  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

ing  it  is  occupied  as  his  dwelling  house  by  Luther  Lawrence.  In  the 
vicinity  of  this  mill,  in  Wyman's  day,  were  living  Samuel  Wheeler,  John 
Wright,  Ensign  Farrons  (FarrarP)and  Capt.  Samuel  Douglass.  Of  whom 
Richard  Hazzen,  who  in  1740-41  surveyed  the  western  section  of  the 
boundary  line  between  the  Provinces  of  New  Hampshire  and  Massa- 
chusetts, in  his  journal  of  the  survey,  speaks  as  follows.  "At  three  Miles 
and  Two  hundred  poles  from  the  Nashua  River  we  crossed  the  Nissitissit 
River,  and  near  the  End  of  Our  Measure  this  day  by  the  highway  in 
Townsend" — Townsend  hill — "Samuel  WTheeler's  house  was  north  of  our 
line  about  twelve  poles  and  Joshua  Wright's  House  further  north.  These 
Two  houses  are  all  that  were  inhabited  in  Townsend  on  the  North  of 
Our  Line  and  Ensign  Farron's  House  was  South  about  Ninety  Rods,  by 
whose  fire  we  lodged  this  Night."  * 

The  sites  of  the  houses  of  Joshua  Wright,  Samuel  Wheeler  and  En- 
sign Farron,  as  they  were  then  located,  are  unknown  at  the  present  time. 
But  the  site  of  the  Captain  Douglass  log  cabin  is  still  marked  by  its  cellar 
hole,  which,  although  it  was  built  more  than  one  hundred  and  sixty  years 
ago,  is  in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation.  It  is  located  in  Brookline  in 
an  open  field  lying  about  midway  of  the  north  side  of  Townsend  hill,  and 
on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  leading  from  South  Brookline  to  the 
summit  of  the  hill;  from  which  highway  it  is  distant  about  twenty  rods 
in  an  easterly  direction.  It  is  situated  a  few  rods  north  of  the  state  line. 
At  the  present  time,  it  may  be  found  by  following  a  stone  wall  which, 
beginning  at  said  highway,  bounds  said  open  field  on  its  north  side,  for 
about  twenty  rods,  at  the  end  of  which  distance  the  cellar  hole  lies  a  few 
rods  almost  directly  south. 

The  James  Conneck   (Connex?)  Sawmill. 

This  mill  was  built  by  James  Conneck,  probably  before  the  town 
was  incorporated.  Like  the  Wyman  mill,  it  was  originally  located  in 
Townsend,  Mass.  Its  location  in  Brookline  was  in  the  southwest  part 
of  the  town  on  the  upper  part  of  the  Wallace  brook;  its  exact  location 
on  the  brook  being  at  the  point  where  the  stream  makes  its  outlet  from 
the  meadows  in  front  of  the  old  Mathew  Wallace  place;  where  the  ves- 
tiges of  the  ancient  mill-dam  are  still  to  be  seen.  All  traces  of  the  mill 
disappeared  many  years  ago.  Seventy-five  years  ago  the  oldest  inhabit- 
ants then  living  had  no  personal  knowledge  of  it  and,  save  for  tradition 

*  Province  Papers  of  New  Hampshire,  Vol.  XIX,  p.  494. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  141 

and  the  ruins  of  the  dam,  the  knowledge  of  its  ever  having  existed  would 
long  since  have  passed  into  oblivion. 

James  Conneek,  its  builder,  was  one  of  the  town's  soldiers  in  the 
War  of  the  Revolution.  He  died  of  wounds  received  in  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill.  His  dwelling  house,  of  which  the  cellar  hole  is  still  in  exist- 
ence, was  located  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  south  of  the  Mathew  Wal- 
lace place,  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  leading  from  that  place  to 
South  Brookline.  Within  the  past  forty  years  a  dwelling  house  standing 
upon  its  site  has  been  known  as  the  "Pickerel  Nutting  Place." 

The  Ebenezer  Melvin  Sawmill. 

The  Melvin  Sawmill  was  perhaps  the  third  sawmill,  in  point  of  time, 
to  be  erected  in  this  town.  It  was  built  by  Capt.  Ebenezer  Melvin  as 
early,  at  least,  as  1747;  as  the  Hollis  records  for  that  year  contain  a 
mention  of  "Melvin's  milldam."  The  mill  was  located  on  the  upper  part 
of  the  scabbard  mill  brook  a  few  rods  north  of  the  site,  afterwards,  of  the 
Thomas  Bennett  sawmill.  Its  site  at  the  present  time  is  marked  by  the 
ruins  of  its  old  dam;  which  are  still  of  magnitude  and  strength  sufficient 
to  retain  within  their  limits,  especially  in  more  than  ordinarily  wet  weather, 
enough  water  to  form  a  small  pond. 

Captain  Melvin,  whose  genealogy  is  given  on  another  page,  in  1770, 
in  company  with  James  Gould,  Jonas  Hobart  and  Samuel  Farley,  Jr.,  all 
early  settlers  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  removed  from  Raby  to  Groton, 
N.  H.,  where  they  were  the  first  settlers.  So  far  as  known,  this  mill  was 
never  operated  after  Captain  Melvin  abandoned  it. 

The  Old  Sawmill  on  Rocky  Pond  Brook. 

When  or  by  whom  the  first  sawmill  to  be  erected  on  Rocky  Pond 
brook  within  the  limits  of  Brookline  was  built  is  unknown.  But  it  is 
reasonably  certain  that  a  sawmill  was  standing  upon  its  banks  as  early, 
at  least,  as  1765.  For  in  a  deed  dated  July  24  of  that  year  and  recorded 
in  Vol.  3,  page  5,  of  Hillsborough  County  Registry,  by  which  Col.  David 
Hobart  conveyed  to  Caleb  Farley  a  tract  of  land  lying  upon  the  brook's 
banks  within  the  present  limits  of  Brookline,  mention  is  made  of  "Pierce's 
dam  and  Flint's  meadow;"  and  the  records  show  further,  that  at  that 
time  and  for  many  subsequent  years,  James  Flint  was  the  owner  of  the 
meadows  lying  on  the  stream  above  the  point  where,  about  one  mile 
south  of  the  village  Main  street  and  a  few  rods  north  of  the  point  where 


142  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

it  crosses  the  highway  to  Pepperell,  Mass.,  the  stream  at  the  present 
time  is  blocked  by  the  ruins  of  an  ancient  dam. 

That  these  ruins  mark  the  site  of  "Pierce's  dam,"  mentioned  in  the 
foregoing  named  deed,  there  can  be  little  or  no  doubt.  For  in  the  entire 
stretch  of  the  meadows  above  them  through  which  the  brook  flows,  there 
is  not  a  single  place  suitable  for  the  location  of  a  mill. 

This  first,  or  original  sawmill  disappeared  about  1800.  Some  ac- 
counts say  that  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Others  say  that  it  was  torn 
down  by  Asa  Shattuck  of  Pepperell,  Mass.,  about  1808-10;  and  that 
soon  after  tearing  it  down,  Shattuck  built  a  new  mill  upon  its  site.  The 
latter  statement  is  probably  the  true  one.  At  any  rate,  Asa  Shattuck 
operated  a  sawmill  standing  upon  the  site  of  the  old  one  for  a  few  years 
between  the  years  1808  and  1822. 

About  the  year  1828  the  mill  was  again  torn  down;  this  time  by 
James  Hobart,  a  brother  of  David  Hobart,  Sr.,  who  erected  a  new  mill 
upon  its  site,  it  being  the  third  sawmill  to  stand  upon  the  same  site. 
James  Hobart  operated  the  mill  by  him  erected  until  about  the  year 
1835,  when  he  abandoned  it;  and  from  that  year  until  1840  the  mill 
remained  idle. 

In  1841  the  mill  was  leased  by  William  Wright  and  Milo  J.  Rock- 
wood  who  operated  it  until  1848,  when  they  abandoned  it.  Soon  after 
the  mill's  abandonment  by  Wright  and  Rockwood  its  machinery  was  sold 
to  Alfred  Spaulding  by  whom  it  was  removed  to  and  installed  in  his  saw- 
mill on  the  Spaulding  brook  in  the  southwest  part  of  Milford.  From  the 
time  of  the  removal  of  its  machinery  the  mill  building  gradually  de- 
cayed, and  for  many  subsequent  years  it  was  known  to  the  public  only 
as  a  picturesque  ruin.  Finally  all  traces  of  the  original  structure  dis- 
appeared. At  the  present  time  (1912)  its  site  can  be  located  only  by  its 
crumbling  foundations  and  the  ruins  of  its  ancient  dam  and  race  way. 

During  the  period  between  1808  and  1812,  when  it  was  owned- and 
operated  by  Asa  Shattuck,  this  mill  was  the  scene  of  a  deplorable  acci- 
dent, in  which  Benjamin  Cummings  lost  his  life. 

The  Washington  Wright  Blacksmith    Shop    and    the    Gristmill 

Connected  Therewith. 

In  1806-07  Washington  Wright  removed  from  Pepperell,  Mass.,  to 
this  town,  where  he  settled  on  a  farm  near  the  old  sawmill  on  the  Rocky 
Pond  brook.  His  dwelling  was  located  on  the  summit  of  the  hill  a  few 
rods  southwest  of  the  mill  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway.     The 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  143 

house  was  destroyed  by  fire  Jan.  19,  1810,  a  day  known  in  the  annals  of 
New  England  as  cold  Friday.  Its  site  is  marked  at  the  present  time  by 
its  cellar  hole,  which  still  survives. 

Soon  after  he  came  here  Mr.  Wright  erected  upon  the  brook  below 
the  sawmill,  and  between  it  and  the  highway,  a  blacksmith  shop,  and 
installed  therein  a  gristmill;  the  latter  mill  being,  so  far  as  is  known, 
the  only  mill  of  its  description  to  have  ever  been  erected  upon  this  stream. 
Both  shop  and  mill  were  operated  by  Mr.  Wright  until  about  1828,  when 
he  gave  up  the  business  and  the  shop  was  torn  down. 

The  Blacksmith  Shop  of  David  Hobart    Sr. 

In  1828-29,  soon  after  the  Washington  Wright  shop  was  torn  down, 
David  Hobart,  Sr.,  a  settler  near  the  old  mill  on  Rocky  Pond  brook, 
coming  there  from  Pepperell,  Mass.,  built  a  dam  across  the  stream  a 
few  rods  below  the  point  where  it  crosses  the  Pepperell  highway,  and 
erected  thereon  a  building  in  which  for  many  subsequent  years  he  carried 
on  the  business  of  blacksmithing. 

The  shop  which  was  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  Ephraim 
L.  Hardy  is  still  standing,  but  has  not  been  used  for  its  original  purpose 
for  many  years.  At  the  present  time  it  is  owned  by  Walter  Taylor,  who 
utilizes  it  as  a  storehouse. 

At  the  date  of  his  building  the  shop,  Mr.  Hobart  owned  and  was 
living  in  a  dwelling  house  which  was  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  high- 
way, a  few  rods  north  of  the  bridge  over  the  brook,  and  near  the  site  of 
the  original  log  cabin  of  Phineas  Bennett.  This  house  was  destroyed  by 
fire  June  10,  1877.  Its  site  at  the  present  time  (1912)  is  occupied  by  the 
dwelling  house  of  Walter  Taylor. 

The  Benajmin  Brooks  Sawmill. 

This  mill,  which  was  the  earliest  of  at  least  four  which  within  the 
last  one  hundred  years  have  stood  upon  the  same  site,  was  located  upon 
the  south  side  of  the  Wallace  brook  a  few  rods  above  the  point  where, 
at  South  Brookline,  it  crosses  the  highway  to  Townsend,  Mass.  Ac- 
cording to  tradition,  the  mill  was  built  about  1791  by  Benjamin  Brooks, 
Jr.,  several  years  after  he  settled  in  this  town,  coming  here  from  Towns- 
end,  Mass.  But  while  the  tradition  in  this  instance  is  undoubtedly  true, 
there  is  some  reason  for  doubting  the  claim  that  the  Brook's  mill  was  the 
first  to  occupy  the  site  upon  which  it  was  erected.     For  an  examination 


144  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

of  the  Hillsborough  County  Records  shows  that  the  land  upon  which  the 
mill  was  built  was  conveyed  by  Robert  Fletcher,  of  Amherst,  to  Benja- 
min Brooks,  Sr.,  by  deed  dated  May  7,  1790;  and  that  in  the  deed  the 
land  conveyed  is  mentioned  as  the — "Sawmill  lot."  Of  course,  the  use  of 
the  words  "sawmill  lot"  in  the  description  of  the  land  conveyed  may 
have  meant  nothing  more  nor  less  than  that  at  that  time  the  lot  was 
considered  a  good  site  for  a  sawmill.  But  that  the  words  may  have  had 
reference  to  the  fact  that  the  site  had  been  previously  occupied  by  a 
sawmill  is  too  obvious  to  be  a  cause  for  discussion. 

In  the  said  deed  of  conveyance,  Benjamin  Brooks,  Sr.,  is  described 
as  living  in  Townsend,  Mass.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  his  house  at  that  time 
was  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  leading  from  South  Brook- 
line  (then  Paddledock)  to  Townsend  hill.  It  stood  a  few  rods  south  of 
the  State  line.  Its  site  at  the  present  time  is  occupied  by  the  dwelling 
house  of  George  Kendall. 

Benjamin  Brooks,  Jr.,  at  the  time  of  said  conveyance,  was  living  in 
Raby;  his  log  cabin  being  located  in  Paddledock,  now  South  Brookline, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  leading  from  Brookline  to  Townsend, 
Mass.,  and  a  few  rods  north  of  the  bridge  over  the  Wallace  brook.  Its 
site  at  the  present  time  is  occupied  by  the  dwelling  house  of  Frank  Farrar. 
He  continued  to  live  in  the  log  cabin  until  1810.  In  the  latter  year  he 
built  on  the  east  side  of  said  highway  and  a  few  rods  north  of  his  cabin 
the  framed  house  afterwards  known  as  the  Luther  Rockwood  place,  into 
which  he  removed,  and  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  of  interest  to  mention  some  others  of 
the  dwelling  houses  which  were  standing  in  the  vicinity  of  this  mill  at 
the  date  of  its  being  built,  or  shortly  after.  Among  them  was  the  brick 
house  now  standing,  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Townsend  a  few 
rods  south  of  the  bridge  over  the  Nissitisset  river;  which  was  built  about  the 
year  1795  by  Benjamin  S.  Tucker,  a  son  of  Swallow  Tucker,  and  father  of 
the  late  James  N.  and  Joseph  C.  Tucker.  At  the  present  time  this  house 
is  owned  and  occupied  as  his  home  by  David  S.  Fessenden.  Save  for  the 
brick,  or  Tucker  house,  and  the  Brook's  log  cabin  already  mentioned, 
there  were  no  dwelling  houses  on  this  highway  between  the  bridge  over 
the  Nissitisset  and  that  over  the  Wallace  brook. 

Immediately  south  of  the  Wallace  brook  bridge  a  lane  led  out  of  the 
highway  on  its  east  side  and  ran  in  an  easterly  direction  for  a  short  dis- 
tance; at  the  end  of  which,  tradition  says,  there  was  a  log  cabin  which 
at  one  time  was  occupied  by  Samuel  Douglass,  Sr.  Tradition  says  fur- 
ther that  sometime  in  the  remote  past  a  tannery  for  curing  sheep  skins 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  145 

was  located  near  this  house;  but  the  tradition  fails  to  give  the  name  of 
its  owner  and  operator.  The  house  was  afterwards  for  many  years  the  home 
of  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Esquire.  Coming  back  to  the  Wallace  brook 
bridge,  and  passing  southerly  along  the  Townsend  highway,  the  next 
house  to  be  encountered  was  that  of  Samuel  Douglass,  Jr.  It  was  located 
on  the  west  side  of  the  road  a  short  distance  south  of  the  mill.  The  origi- 
nal house  is  standing  at  the  present  time.  In  the  fifties  it  was  owned  and 
occupied  as  his  home  by  the  late  Levi  Rockwood.  About  one-fourth  of 
a  mile  south  of  the  Samuel  Douglass,  Jr.,  house  and  on  the  same  side  of 
the  highway  was  located  the  house  of  Jonas  Smith,  by  whom  it  is  said 
to  have  been  built.  In  the  sixties  this  house  was  owned  and  occupied 
by  the  late  Thomas  V.  Wright.  At  the  present  time  it  is  owned  and 
occupied  by  Stephen  Barnaby. — But  to  return  to  the  Brooks  sawmill. 

Jan.  13,  1813,  Benjamin  Brooks  sold  the  mill  to  William  S.  Crosby. 

For  a  period  of  thirty-one  years  from  the  date  of  the  Brooks  deed  to 
Crosby,  or  until  1844,  the  mill  was  owned  and  occupied  at  different  times 
by  no  less  than  seven  different  individuals  or  firms.  Among  these  differ- 
ent owners  was  Reuben  Baldwin,  in  whom  the  title  was  vested  three 
different  times;  viz.,  in  1826,  in  1829,  and  from  1834  to  1836. 

During  the  last  term  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  ownership  the  plant  was  run 
in  connection  with  a  gristmill.  Whether  this  gristmill  was  installed  in 
the  sawmill  building  by  Mr.  Baldwin,  or  whether  it  was  installed  before 
his  purchase  of  the  same,  the  writer  has  been  unable  to  ascertain.  Neither 
has  he  been  able  to  ascertain  definitely  how  long  after  1836  the  gristmill 
continued  to  be  operated. 

During  the  last  term  of  Mr.  Baldwin's  ownership  of  the  mill,  he 
built  the  dwelling  house  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  south 
of  and  adjacent  to  the  Levi  Rockwood  millhouse;  it  being  the  house  of 
which  the  late  Andrew  Rockwood  was  afterward  the  owner,  and  in  which 
he  was  living  at  the  date  of  his  decease,  March  1,  1889. 

Oct.  1,  1836,  Reuben  Baldwin  sold  the  plant  to  Franklin  McDonald, 
who  operated  it  until  1844,  when  he  sold  out  to  Levi  and  Milo  J.  Rock- 
wood. Up  to /this  time  the  mill  had  been  equipped  with  only  the  old- 
fashioned  "up  and  down"  board  saw.  But  soon  after  taking  possession, 
the  Rockwoods  added  to  its  facilities  for  doing  business  by  putting  in  a 
stave  and  also  a  head  saw.  March  6,  1846,  Levi  Rockwood  sold  his  inter- 
est in  the  mill  to  his  partner,  Milo  J.  Rockwood,  who  thus  became  the 
sole  owner. 

Nov.  15,  1847,  while  the  plant  was  still  in  his  possession,  Milo  J. 
Rockwood  was  killed  in  the  mill  by  falling  onto  a  circular  saw.     After 


146  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Milo  J.  Rockwood's  death  the  mill  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  father, 
Luther  Roekwood,  who  operated  it  until  May  11,  1851,  when  he  sold  to 
his  son,  Levi  Roekwood. 

In  the  month  of  December,  1852,  during  Levi  Rockwood's  owner- 
ship, the  mill  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire.  The  following  year  Mr. 
Roekwood  erected  upon  its  site  a  new  sawmill  and  equipped  the  same 
with  new  and  modern  machinery;  including,  in  addition  to  the  stave 
and  head  saws,  a.  shingle  mill,  and  continued  to  operate  the  plant  until 
his  death,  which  occurred  in  the  millhouse,  Nov.  7,  1863. 

Levi  Rockwood's  death,  because  of  the  circumstances  under  which  it 
occurred,  was  one  of  the  saddest  events  of  the  history  of  the  town,  and 
was  the  cause  of  universal  regret  and  sorrow  upon  the  part  of  its  citizens, 
by  whom  he  was  held  in  the  highest  respect  and  esteem.  He  died  of 
diphtheria  which  in  that  year  was  epidemic  in  Townsend,  Mass. — where 
its  victims  numbered  over  sixty  souls — and  from  whence  it  was  trans- 
mitted to  and  became  epidemic  in  South  Brookline.  At  the  same  time 
with  Mr.  Rockwood's  death  occurred  the  deaths  of  three  of  his  children, 
and  also  the  death  of  Ann  M.  Roekwood,  a  daughter  of  his  brother, 
Andrew  Roekwood. 

After  Levi  Rockwood's  death,  his  wife,  Cynthia  T.  Roekwood,  as 
administratrix  of  his  estate,  on  the  27th  day  of  Aug.,  1864,  sold  and  con- 
veyed the  mill  property  to  Benjamin  Shattuck.  Mr.  Shattuck  operated 
the  plant  for  about  one  year,  and  then  sold  it  to  David  S.  Fessenden. 
Mr.  Fessenden  operated  the  mill  until  December,  1874,  when  he  sold  it 
to  William  B.  West.  In  1876  Mr.  West  sold  the  plant  to  Martha  R. 
Patten,  and  in  the  same  year  Mrs.  Patten  sold  and  conveyed  the  same 
to  Susan  H.  Pratt. 

In  1883,  Walter  Fessenden  of  Townsend,  Mass.,  as  the  result  of  the 
foreclosure  of  a  mortgage  which  he  held  on  the  premises,  became  the 
owner  of  the  mill.  Prior  to  this,  however,  on  the  18th  day  of  Feb.,  1881, 
the  mill  was  again  destroyed  by  fire,  and  was  rebuilt  the  same  year  by 
David  S.  Fessenden. 

Feb.  20,  1883,  Walter  Fessenden  sold  the  mill  property  to  Charles 
A.  Stiekney,  then  of  Milford,  by  whom  it  has  ever  since  been,  and  now  is, 
owned. 

June  23,  1884,  the  mill  was  again  destroyed  by  fire.  It  was  imme- 
diately rebuilt  by  Mr.  Stiekney.  Oct.  6,  1888,  the  mill  was  again,  and 
for  the  fourth  time  within  a  period  of  thirty-six  years,  burned  down. 
It  was  rebuilt  the  same  year  by  Mr.  Stiekney.  In  1898  Mr.  Stiekney 
equipped  the  mill  with  a  steam  plant,  in  addition  to  its  water  power. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  147 

At  the  same  time  he  substituted  a  steel  penstock  for  the  ancient  channels 
through  which  the  water  had  hitherto  passed  from  the  reservoir  to  the 
mill. 

At  the  present  time  (1914)  this  mill  is  standing  and  is  in  good  con- 
dition. 

The  James  Campbell  Sawmill. 

This  mill  was  built  at  least  as  early  as  1768.  At  that  time  its  site 
was  within  the  limits  of  the  Mile  Slip  where  Campbell  was  an  early  settler. 
It  was  located  about  three  miles  northwest  of  the  present  village  Main 
street  on  the  north  side  of  the  highway  to  Mason,  and  on  the  north  side  of 
Campbell's  brook,  at  the  point  where  the  brook  crosses  the  highway. 
The  mill  is  one  of  the  earliest  to  be  mentioned  in  the  town's  official  records 
where,  in  1783,  there  is  recorded  a  vote — "To  give  Capt.  Campbell  twelve 
days  work  of  men  and  four  days  work  of  oxen  to  build  a  bridge  at  his 
mill  dam." 

Captain  Campbell  owned  and  operated  the  mill  until  the  year  1796, 
possibly  longer.  To  whom  he  finally  sold  it  is  unknown.  But  the  next 
owner,  of  record,  after  him  was  Abel  Foster,  who  operated  it  during  the 
forties.  Mr.  Foster  was  succeeded  in  the  ownership  of  the  mill  by  Wil- 
liam Gilson ;  who,  in  his  turn,  was  succeeded  both  as  owner  and  operator, 
by  Amos  A.  Gould.  Oct.  5,  1870,  Mr.  Gould  sold  and  conveyed  the  mill 
to  J.  Alonzo  Hall,  by  whom  it  was  owned  and  operated  from  the  date  of 
his  purchase  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  November,  1899. 

Nov.  15,  1899,  the  heirs  of  J.  Alonzo  Hall  sold  the  mill  and  the  ad- 
jacent land  at  public  auction  to  Franklin  Worcester  of  Hollis.  Mr. 
Worcester  operated  the  plant  until  Dec.  17,  1903,  at  which  date  he  sold 
it  to  the  Fresh  Pond  Ice  Company,  in  whose  name  the  title  to  the  plant 
at  the  present  time  stands.  The  mill  building  was  torn  down,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Ice  Company,  by  James  Segee,  in  1903-04.  Its  mate- 
rials were  used  by  Mr.  Segee  in  the  construction  of  his  dwelling  house  on 
the  highway  west  of  Clarence  R.  Russell's  house.  At  the  present  time 
(1914)  the  old  mill-dam  is  still  standing,  but  in  a  very  dilapidated  condition. 

Of  the  cabins  of  the  early  settlers  who,  at  the  time,  or  soon  after, 
this  mill  was  built,  were  living  in  its  vicinity,  that  of  Capt.  SamuelRussell 
was  located  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  southwest  of  the  mill  on  the  east 
side  of  the  road  leading  out  of  the  west  side  of  the  Mason  highway  at  a 
point  just  south  of  the  mill  pond  and  passing  to  Townsend,  Mass.  Its 
site  at  the  present  time  is  occupied  by  the  dwelling  house  of  his  great 


14S  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

grandson,  Clarence  R.  Russell.  On  the  east  side  of  the  same  road,  and 
immediately  south  of  the  Samuel  Russell  cabin,  was  located  the  cabin 
of  his  brother,  George  Russell;  south  of  which  and  on  the  same  side  of 
the  road  was  the  cabin  of  George  Woodward;  who  settled  here  in  1772, 
coming  from  Mason,  and  whose  name  appears  on  Brookline's  recorded 
list  of  the  names  of  its  soldiers  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  Still  fur- 
ther south,  and  adjoining  the  Woodward  farm,  stood  the  cabin  of  Simeon 
Blanchard,  originally  of  Hollis,  who  settled  here  about  the  same  time  as 
did  Woodward.  With  the  exception  of  the  cabin  of  Captain  Russell,  the 
sites  of  all  these  cabins  are  unknown  at  the  present  time.  But  the  prob- 
abilities are  very  strongly  in  favor  of  the  presumption  that  their  sites  are 
now  occupied  by  the  dwelling  houses  located  on  this  road  which  in  1855 
and  later  were  owned  and  occupied  by  Elnathan  Russell,  Jonas  Kendall 
and  James  French,  respectively;  all  of  which  are  located  within  the 
original  limits  of  the  Mile  Slip. 

The  Benjamin  Shattuck,  Sr.,  Sawmill . 

The  first  sawmill  to  be  erected  on  the  North  Stream  was  built  by 
Benjamin  Shattuck,  Sr.,  soon  after  his  settling  in  this  town,  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  sixties  of  1700,  coming  here  from  Groton,  Mass.  The  mill 
was  located  about  three  miles  north  of  the  present  village  Main  street  on 
the  west  bank  of  the  stream  at  the  point  where  it  crosses  the  highway 
leading  from  this  town  to  Greenville.  Its  site,  however,  was  consider- 
ably higher  up  the  stream  than  was  the  site  upon  which  at  least  two  of 
the  sawmills  which  succeeded  it  were  built. 

The  mill  is  said  to  have  been  a  very  crude  affair;  a  mei«e  shanty 
formed  of  upright  poles  supporting  cross  pieces,  upon  which  were  laid 
coverings  of  rough  plank,  which  afforded  but  little  protection  to  the  mill 
machinery  and  still  less  to  the  men  who  operated  it.  In  a  very  few  years 
after  the  mill  was  built  it  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  a  new  mill  was  built 
upon  its  site.  This  second  mill  was  also  probably  built  by  Benjamin 
Shattuck,  Sr.,  although  it  is  possible  that  it  was  built  by  his  son,  Ben- 
jamin, Jr.  The  date  of  its  construction  was  not  far  from  1775.  In  ad- 
dition to  the  up  and  down  board  saw  used  in  the  first  mill,  the  new  mill 
was  equipped  with  machinery  for  sawing  shingles;  it  being,  probably,  the 
first  mill  of  that  description  to  be  set  up  in  this  town.  The  mill  remained 
in  use  until  about  1780;  when,  having  become  out  of  repair  to  the  extent 
that  it  was  practically  useless,  it  was  torn  down. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  149 

The  third  sawmill  to  be  erected  on  the  stream  at  this  point  was 
built  in  1783  by  Benjamin  Shattuek,  Jr.,  who  at  the  same  time  constructed 
a  new  dam.  The  sites  of  the  mill  and  dam  were  located  further  down  the 
stream  than  had  been  those  of  the  two  prior  mills  and  dam;  their  loca- 
tion having  been  just  south  of  the  highway  to  Greenville,  at  the  point 
at  which  it  then  crossed  the  stream;  which  was  considerably  higher  up 
the  stream  than  is  the  point  at  which,  at  the  present  time,  it  is  crossed 
by  the  same  highway.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  this  third  mill  and  dam  were 
built  just  above  the  point  where  the  stream  at  the  present  time  crosses 
the  Greenville  highway;  which,  at  this  point,  was  relocated  and  recon- 
structed that  same  year  by  Mr.  Shattuek. 

In  this  third  sawmill  was  gotten  out  the  lumber  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  dwelling  house  of  Benjamin  Shattuek,  Jr.;  or,  as  it  was 
known  in  latter  years,  the  Alpheus  Shattuek  house;  which  was  built  in 
1783.  The  mill  lasted  until  well  into  the  nineteenth  century,  but  was 
finally  torn  down. 

The  fourth  mill  to  be  erected  on  the  north  stream  at  this  point  was 
built  by  Alpheus  Shattuek,  a  son  of  Benjamin  Shattuek,  Jr.,  about  1825. 
It  was  located  on  the  site  of  the  third  mill.  Like  its  predecessors,  it  was 
fitted  up  as  a  sawmill  and  a  shingle  mill.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  fifties, 
or  forepart  of  the  sixties,  this  mill's  machinery  was  increased  by  the  addi- 
tion of  a  saw  for  cutting  out  barrel  staves  and  heads  and,  also,  a  planing 
machine. 

Alpheus  Shattuek  continued  to  own  and  operate  this  mill  until  1862. 
December  5th  of  the  latter  year  he  sold  the  mill  plant,  together  with  the 
entire  area  of  four  hundred  acres  comprised  in  the  original  farm  of  Ben- 
jamin Shattuek,  Sr.,  to  James  H.  Hall;  and,  shortly  after  the  sale,  re- 
moved with  his  family  into  the  "Old  Yellow  House"  in  the  village,  where 
he  resided  until  his  decease  in  1886. 

The  Alpheus  Shattuek  Shingle  Mill. 

At  some  period  during  the  existence  of  the  fourth  of  the  Shattuek 
sawmills,  Alpheus  Shattuek  increased  the  efficiency  of  the  plant  by  the 
addition  thereto  of  a  new  shingle  mill;  the  machinery  for  which  was 
installed  in  a  building  erected  for  the  purpose  by  Mr.  Shattuek,  and  lo- 
cated just  south  of  the  highway  bridge  and  on  the  east  bank  of  the  stream, 
and  but  a  few  rods  distant  from  the  sawmill;  from  which  it  derived  its 
motive  power  by  means  of  an  endless  rope  connecting  the  machinery 
of  the  two  mills.    This  mill  was  unique  in  that  it  performed  its  work  by 


150  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

the  use  of  knives,  instead  of  saws;  the  shingles  being  cut  from  blocks  of 
wood  which  had  been  prepared  for  the  purpose  by  being  steamed.  Tra- 
dition says  that  the  knives  proved  to  be  a  poor  substitute  for  saws,  and 
that  their  use  was  soon  discontinued. 

The  building  remained  in  position  until  as  late  as  1869;  when,  in  the 
great  freshet  which  occurred  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  it  was  swept  from  its 
foundations,  and  its  timbers  were  torn  apart  and  carried  down  stream 
to  the  meadows  below,  where  some  of  them  are  to  be  seen  at  the  present 
time. 

As  has  been  previously  stated,  on  the  5th  day  of  December,  1862, 
Alpheus  Shattuck  sold  his  farm,  including  the  sawmill  and  privileges  con- 
nected with  it,  to  James  Harvey  Hall.  Mr.  Hall  took  immediate  pos- 
session of  the  premises,  and  continued  to  operate  the  sawmill  until  his 
death,  which  occurred  Aug.  11,  1874.  During  this  period,  on  the  18th 
day  of  Dec,  1873,  George  W.  Peabody,  a  son-in-law  of  Mr.  Hall,  and  a 
young  man  of  the  highest  character,  was  accidentally  killed  in  the  mill, 
of  which,  at  the  time  of  his  decease,  he  was  in  charge  as  foreman.  Jan. 
31,  1881,  Charles  Burgess,  an  employee  in  the  mill,  was  also  accidentally 
killed  within  its  walls. 

For  a  few  years  succeeding  Mr.  Hall's  death  the  mill  was  operated 
by  his  heirs.  Feb.  13,  1890,  the  Hall  heirs  sold  the  mill  to  William  H. 
Hall,  a  nephew  of  James  H.  Hall.  This  sale  included  the  mill  property 
only.  William  H.  Hall  operated  the  mill  until  May  10,  1897;  at  which 
date  he  conveyed  it  back  to  the  James  H.  Hall  heirs,  by  whom,  on  the 
18th  day  of  Jan.,  1897,  its  site  was  sold  and  conveyed  to  Walter  F.  Rock- 
wood;  by  whom  it  was  subsequently  sold  to  the  Fresh  Pond  Ice  Co.,  in 
whose  name  it  stands  at  the  present  time  (1914).  Prior  to  Mr.  Rock- 
wood's  purchase  of  the  site,  however,  the  mill  building  was  destroyed  by 
fire.     It  has  never  been  rebuilt. 

The  mill  property  of  Benjamin  Shattuck,  Sr.,  as  well  as  his  farm  of 
more  than  four  hundred  acres,  remained  in  the  ownership  and  possession 
of  his  descendants  from  1766-67  to  1862;  a  period  of  nearly  one  hun- 
dred years.  During  this  time  the  Shattuck  sawmills  were  always  the 
centres  of  the  social,  as  well  as  of  the  business  activities  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  township.  The  Shattuck  dwelling  house,  or  "mill-house,"  as 
it  was  locally  known,  both  in  the  days  of  its  builder,  Benjamin  Shattuck, 
Jr.,  and  later,  when  it  was  the  home  of  his  son,  Alpheus,  was  famed  for 
the  hospitality  of  its  proprietors.  Its  doors  were  open  at  all  times  to 
welcome  the  coming  or  speed  the  parting  guest;  and  whoever  entered 
them  as  a  friend  of  the  host  or  hostess  never  passed  out  of  them  without 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  151 

feeling  that  the  cordial  invitation  to — "come  again" — was  as  sincere  as 
it  was  hearty.  There  are  yet  living  in  this  town — and  for  that  matter,  in 
all  of  the  towns  of  this  vicinity — citizens  who  recall  with  pleasure  the  years 
between  1840  and  1860,  when  the  Alpheus  Shattuck  place  was  one  of  the 
principal  centres  of  the  town's  social  attractions.  To  be  present  at  any 
social  function  transpiring  there,  whether  it  was  a  husking-bee,  a  barn 
dance,  or  a  turkey  dinner,  was  the  nearest  approach  to  perfect  earthly 
happiness  of  which  the  townspeople  had  any  conception.  The  house  was 
destroyed  by  fire  April  30,  1896. 

In  this  connection  it  may  be  interesting  to  mention  some  others  of  the 
dwelling  houses  which  during  the  years  of  the  existence  of  the  Shattuck 
sawmills  were  located  in  their  vicinity. 

About  one-half  mile  northwest  of  the  old  Shattuck  house,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  highway  to  Greenville,  in  the  days  of  Benjamin  Shattuck, 
Sr.,  was  located  the  log  cabin  of  Moses  Shattuck,  a  nephew  of  Benjamin, 
Sr.  The  log  cabin  was  torn  down  early  in  the  nineteenth  century;  and 
in  1808  Mr.  Shattuck  erected,  a  little  to  the  east  of  its  site,  and  nearer  to 
the  highway,  the  framed  dwelling  house  in  which  he  resided  until  his 
decease,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  sixties.  It  was  in  this  latter  house,  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  sixties,  that  the  six  children  of  his  son,  Asa  Shat- 
tuck— each  of  whom  died  of  consumption  after  reaching  maturity — were 
born.  In  this  house,  also,  after  Moses  Shattuck's  death,  Henry  K.  Kemp 
resided  for  many  years,  or  until  1872;  in  which  year  he  purchased  the 
Alonzo  Bailey  house  in  the  village,  into  which  soon  after  his  purchase 
he  moved  and  where  he  resided  until  his  decease.  For  several  years 
after  the  death  of  Moses  Shattuck,  the  house  was  occupied  by  Mrs.  A. 
A.  Bucknam  and  her  son,  Wilton  Bucknam,  who  came  here  from  Stone- 
ham,  Mass.  In  1874  the  house  became  the  property  of  Jeremiah  Bald- 
win who  tore  it  down  and  used  its  timbers  in  building  a  new  house  for 
himself  in  the  village.  The  dwelling  house  which  at  the  present  time 
(1914)  is  standing  on  the  site  of  the  Moses  Shattuck  house  was  formerly 
the  schoolhouse  of  school  district  number  8,  in  Milford.  It  was  pur- 
chased from  the  town  of  Milford  and  removed  into  its  present  position 
by  Fred  Farnsworth. 

A  few  rods  north  of  the  Moses  Shattuck  place  on  a  lane  leading 
out  of  the  highway,  on  its  west  side,  at  the  present  time  is  located  a  cel- 
lar hole  upon  which  once  stood  a  dwelling  house  which  in  the  early  six- 
ties was  the  home  of  Jeremiah  Harwood,  a  descendant  of  a  family  of 
that  name  which  settled  in  this  town  at  an  early  date,  coming  here  from 


.152  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

old  Dunstable,  where  the  Harwoods  were  among  its  early  and  most  re- 
spectable settlers. 

Still  further  north,  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  and  at  or  near 
the  point  where  it  unites  with  the  highway  leading  from  Brookline,  via 
the  Ezra  Farnsworth  place,  to  Mason,  is  a  cellar  hole  which  marks  the 
site  of  the  dwelling  house  formerly  of  Samuel  Farnsworth,  Jr.  The  house 
was  destroyed  by  fire  many  years  ago.  To  the  northeast  of  the  Shattuck 
millsite  and  but  a  short  distance  from  it,  on  the  old  highway  leading 
from  Brookline  to  Milford,  via  the  Nathaniel  Hutchinson  place,  are  to 
be  found  at  the  present  time  several  cellar  holes,  each  of  which  marks  the 
site  of  ancient  dwelling  houses. 

Of  these  cellar  holes,  one,  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway 
just  north  of  the  site  of  the  old  district  number  6  schoolhouse,  marks 
the  site  of  a  dwelling  house  which  in  the  fore  part  of  the  last  century  was 
occupied  by  Thomas  Tarbell,  originally  of  Pepperell,  Mass.  He  was  the 
same  Tarbell  who,  at  a  later  date,  operated  the  old  Wyman,  now  Pierce's 
mill  in  South  Brookline,  and  lived  in  the  old  Wyman,  now  Luther  J. 
Lawrence  place  on  Townsend  hill.  Passing  along  this  highway  north 
from  the  Tarbell  cellar  hole,  the  next  cellar  hole  on  the  east  side  of  the 
road  is  that  of  a  dwelling  house  formerly  occupied  by  Withee,  originally 
of  Mason,  and  an  early  settler  in  this  town.  Still  further  north  on  the 
west  side  of  the  road  is  located  the  cellar  hole  of  a  dwelling  house  once 
occupied  by  Jeremiah  Harwood,  northwest  of  and  distant  but  a  few  rods 
from  which  is  the  cellar  hole  of  the  dwelling  house  of  his  son,  Jeremiah 
Harwood,  Jr. 

At  the  end  of  a  lane  which  leads  out  of  the  east  side  of  the  highway 
at  a  point  just  south  of  the  Jeremiah  Harwood,  Jr.,  house  cellar  hole  is 
located  the  cellar  hole  of  the  dwelling  house  formerly  of  Amariah  Ames, 
who  came  here  in  the  fore  part  of  the  last  century  from  Wilmington, 
Mass.  This  house  was  at  one  time  occupied  by  Kimball  Shattuck,  a  son 
of  Abel  Shattuck. 

Coming  back  from  the  Ames'  cellar  hole  to  the  highway  and  passing 
on  still  northerly,  the  next  cellar  hole  to  be  encountered  is  located  on  the 
west  side  of  the  road.  It  marks  the  site  of  the  dwelling  house  formerly 
of  David  Stickney,  who  settled  here  about  1825,  coming  here  from  Town- 
send,  Mass.  On  the  west  side  of  the  highway  north  of  the  Stickney  house 
cellar  hole,  there  is  located  the  cellar  hole  of  a  house  of  which  the  former 
occupant  is  unknown;    nearly  opposite  to  which  on  the  east  side  of  the 

highway  is  the  cellar  hole  of  the  dwelling  house  formerly  of — 

Peacock;    north  of  which  on  the  same  side  of  the  road  is  the  cellar  hole 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  153 

of  the  dwelling  house  formerly  of  Wilkins.     On  the  west 

side  of  this  highway,  not  far  from  the  Milford  boundary  line,  and  at  the 
end  of  its  limits  in  Brookline,  is  still  standing  the  old  Nathaniel  Huteh- 
ingson  house,  which  was  built  by  Mr.  Hutehingson  not  far  from  the  year 
1808  and  which,  although  it  is  one  of  the  oldest  houses  in  town,  is  at  the 
present  time  in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation. 

The  Abel  Spaulding  Sawmill. 

This  mill  was  originally  located  in  that  part  of  the  Mile  Slip  which 
now  constitutes  the  southwest  corner  of  Milford,  but  which,  until  the 
incorporation  of  Milford  in  1794,  constituted  the  northwest  part  of  Brook - 
line;  its  site  being  about  four  miles  north  of  Brookline  village  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  brook  formerly  known  as  Swallow's  stream,  but  which 
at  the  present  time,  for  obvious  reasons,  is  known  as  Spaulding's  brook; 
its  exact  location  being  at  the  point  where  the  brook  crosses  the  highway 
leading  from  Brookline,  via  the  old  Sampson  Farnsworth  place,  to  Milford. 

The  mill's  site  is  located  upon  land  which  was  conveyed  by  William 
Spaulding,  Sr.,  to  his  sons  Thomas  and  Abel  Spaulding  by  his  deed  April 
9,  1784.  It  is  probable  that  at  the  time  of  this  conveyance  there  was  or 
previously  had  been  a  sawmill  on  the  brook  at  or  near  the  site  of  the 
present  mill,  for  the  deed  of  conveyance  mentioned  the  brook  as  the 
"Mill  Stream."  Tradition  says  that  the  original  Spaulding  sawmill  was 
built  by  Abel  Spaulding,  Sr.,  in  1784,  soon  after  he  purchased  its  site 
from  his  father.  At  the  decease  of  Abel  Spaulding,  Sr.,  the  mill  passed 
into  the  hands  of  his  son,  Abel  Spaulding,  Jr.  Abel  Spaulding,  Jr.,  died 
in  1849,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  ownership  of  the  mill  by  his  son,  Alfred 
Spaulding. 

For  a  period  of  about  eighty  years  from  the  date  of  its  erection  the 
mill  did  a  profitable  business,  its  products  finding  a  ready  sale  in  this 
and  also  in  the  neighboring  towns.  But  during  all  of  this  period,  the 
forests  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mill,  upon  which  it  depended  for  the  supply 
of  lumber  with  which  to  carry  on  its  operations,  were  being  gradually 
depleted  of  their  growths.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  fifties  the  diminu- 
tion in  the  amount  of  standing  timber  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mill  had 
increased  to  the  extent  that  the  advent  of  the  day  when  the  mill  would 
be  compelled  to  go  out  of  buisness,  on  account  of  lack  of  the  supply  of 
lumber  with  which  to  operate  it,  became  only  a  question  of  time. 

About  1860,  Alfred  Spaulding,  who  then  owned  and  was  operating 
the  mill,  equipped  it  with  additional  machinery  in  the  form  of  saws  for 


154  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

manufacturing  barrel  staves  and  heads.  This  increase  in  machinery,  while 
it  added  to  the  mill's  capacity  for  production,  had  also  the  effect  of  in- 
creasing its  demand  for  lumber  with  which  to  operate.  For  a  few  years 
the  supply  of  lumber  continued  to  partially  meet  the  mill's  demands  for 
it.  But  by  the  middle  of  the  sixties  the  greater  part  of  available  forest 
growth  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mill  had  been  practically  denuded  of  its 
marketable  timber  and,  as  a  result,  the  supply  of  timber  necessary  to 
the  mill's  existence  ceased  longer  to  be  forthcoming;  and  in  1870,  Alfred 
Spaulding  closed  out  the  plant  for  good.  At  the  present  time  (1914) 
the  mill  is  in  ruins. 

Abel  Spaulding,  Sr.,  by  whom  the  sawmill  was  built,  was  a  son  of 
William  and  Hepzibah  (Blood)  Spaulding  of  Pepperell,  Mass.,  where  he 
was  born  June  12,  1749.  He  married  Lucy  Wethee  Wetherell,  by  whom 
he  had  several  children,  among  whom  was  his  son,  Abel  Spaulding,  Jr., 
who  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  March  2,  1782. 

Abel  Spaulding,  Jr.,  married  at  Pepperell,  Feb.  19,  1815,  Anna  Shat- 
tuck.  He  died  in  Milford,  April  17,  1849,  at  the  old  homestead.  His 
wife,  Anna,  died  April  8,  1883.  His  children,  all  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead, after  it  was  set  off  from  Brookline  into  Milford,  according  to  the 
records,  were  as  follows: 

1.  Elizabeth  Ann  born  in  Milford  Feb.  9,  1816,  m.  Justus  Peabody 
Dec.  3,  1840,  res.  Millerton,  N.  Y. 

2.  Josephine  Augusta,   born  in  Milford  Feb.    10,   1818,   m.   Ezra 
Farnsworth  in  1842,  res.  Brookline,  N.  H. 

3.  Alfred,  born  in  Milford  Dec.  9,  1819,  res.  in  Brookline,  died  un- 
married at  Samuel  Bancroft's  in  North  Pepperell  about  1905. 

4.  William,  born  in  Milford  Dec.  10,  1821,  m.  Abby  R.  Stearns 
March  27,  1855,  res.,  Ayer  Junction,  Mass. 

5.  Edward,  born  in  Milford  Sept.  3,  1824,  m.  1st,  Olive  C.  Atherton, 
m.  2d,  Jennie  Ambrose,  res.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

6.  John,  born  in  Milford  March  2,  1827,  m.  1st,  Maria  J.  Smith 
Sept.  25,  1851,  m.  2d,  Mrs.  Emma  L.  Hart,  Oct.  30,  1885,  res.,  San 
Francisco. 

7.  Alonzo  Jasper,  born  in  Milford  April  5,  1830,  m.  Rosanna 
Harris,  res.,  Arkansas  City,  Kan. 

8.  Erastus,  born  in  Milford  Aug.  14,  1832,  m.  Lizzie  Kent,  May 
8,  1860,  res.,  Dayton,  Org. 

9.  Andrew,  born  in  Milford  May  21,  1834,  m.  Susan  Shockley, 
April  5,   1865,  res.,  San  Francisco. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  155 

The  log  cabin  of  Abel  Spaulding,  St.,  at  the  time  of  his  settling  in 
Brookline  in  1784,  was  located  a  few  rods  north  of  the  sawmill.  Its  cellar 
hole  is  still  in  existence. 

North  of  the  cellar  hole  of  the  Abel  Spaulding  cabin  and  but  a  short 
distance  from  it  is  a  cellar  hole  which  tradition  says  marks  the  site  of  the 
location  of  the  cabin  of  Daniel  Shed,  after  the  close  of  the  Revolution. 
Still  further  north  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  are  two  additional 
cellar  holes,  of  which  one  marks  the  site  of  the  cabin  of  William  Green, 
and  the  other  that  of  Phineas  Holden.  On  the  west  side  of  the  highway 
north  of  the  mill,  from  which  it  is  distant  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile,  is 
located  the  cellar  hole  of  the  cabin  of  James  Badger,  a  resident  of  and 
one  of  the  leading  citizens  in  the  Mile  Slip  before  the  Slip  became  a  part 
of  Brookline.  He  is  said  to  have  been  born  in  Ireland  in  1749,  and  to 
have  come  from  Ireland  to  America  with  his  parents  when  he  was  a  child. 

His  wife's  name  was  Martha  — ■ ;    she  was  born  in  1742,  and 

died  May  27,  1812. 

On  Raby's  book  of  records  of  its  soldiers  in  the  Revolution  appears 
the  following  entry:  "Nathaniel  Badger  for  James  Badger  to  Cambridge 
Rates  2;  19;  2." 

During  the  years  of  his  residing  in  Raby  he  was  one  of  its  leading 
citizens.  He  was  moderator  in  1774,  town  clerk  in  1774  and  1775,  town 
treasurer  in  1775,  and  selectman  in  1773  and  1774.  He  was  the  father 
of  eight  children,  all  born  in  this  town.  His  family  record  is  given  in  a 
subsequent  page.     He  died  at  Milford,  Jan.  28,  1841,  aged  97  years. 

North  of  the  site  of  the  James  Badger  cabin  on  the  west  side  of  the 
highway  and  just  north  of  the  north  boundary  line  of  the  town  is  to  be 
seen  the  vestiges  of  the  site  of  the  old  number  8  district  sehoolhouse,  in 
Milford.  The  school  building  itself,  at  the  present  time,  is  located  on 
the  old  Moses  Shattuck  place  in  Brookline,  where  it  is  utilized  as  a 
dwelling  house. 

In  the  field  to  the  northeast  of  the  sawmill  and  but  a  few  rods  dis- 
tant from  the  same,  one  may  still  gaze  upon  the  cellar  hole  of  the  cabin 
of  Jonas  Shed,  another  of  the  town's  Revolutionary  soldiers;  of  whom 
and  his  brother,  Daniel  Shed,  another  chapter  in  this  book  speaks  more 
definitely.  In  1840  this  cellar  hole  was  occupied  by  the  dwelling  house 
of  Otis  Horton,  which,  one  winter's  evening  during  the  forties  Samuel 
Gilson,  Jr.,  moved  "cross  lots"  over  the  snow  to  a  new  location  on  the 
poor  farm  road,  and  in  which  he  resided  for  many  subsequent  years 


156  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

The  Sawtelle -Newell  Sawmill 

This  mill  was  built  about  1785  by  Major  Eli  Sawtelle,  a  son  of  Capt. 
Ephraim  vSawtelle.  It  was  located  about  two  and  one-half  miles  north 
of  the  present  village  Main  street,  upon  the  stream  then  known  as  Ben- 
nett's brook;  but  which  at  the  present  time  is  known  as  the  Scabbard 
Mill  brook.  The  mill  was  never  used  for  any  other  purpose  than  that  of 
sawing  out  boards  and  planks.  In  the  thirties  of  the  last  century  it  was 
operated  by  Samuel  Newell,  who  is  supposed  to  have  owned  it  with  Saw- 
telle. The  mill  ceased  to  be  operated  about  1840.  It  finally  rotted  down. 
All  traces  of  the  mill  disappeared  many  years  since.  Its  site,  however 
at  the  present  time  may  be  located  by  the  vestiges  of  its  dam,  some  of 
the  stones  used  in  the  construction  of  which  are  still  in  evidence  at  a 
point  on  the  stream  almost  directly  west  of  the  old  Eldad  Sawtelle  place 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Milford  highway,  three  miles  north  of  the  village 
Main  street.  The  cellar  hole  of  Samuel  Newell's  dwelling  house  is  located 
in  the  open  field  west  of  the  Eldad  Sawtelle  place 

The  Sawmill  of  Dea.  Thomas  Bennett. 

This  mill  was  built  by  Dea.  Thomas  Bennett  about  1800,  soon  after 
he  settled  in  town,  coming  here  from  Groton,  Mass.  It  was  located  about 
three  miles  north  of  the  present  village  Main  street  on  the  stream  then 
known  as  Bennett's  brook,  but  known  at  the  present  time  as  the  Scabbard 
Mill  brook. 

Deacon  Bennett  owned  and  operated  the  mill  for  more  than  forty 
successive  years.  In  1840  he  sold  the  mill  plant  to  Thomas  Melendy, 
Jr.,  and  Alpheus  Melendy.  The  following  year  Alpehus  Melendy  con- 
veyed his  interest  in  the  mill  to  his  partner,  Thomas  Melendy,  Jr.,  who 
thus  became  the  sole  owner  of  the  plant. 

In  1841  Thomas  Melendy  tore  down  the  old  mill  and  built  a  new 
mill  upon  its  site  in  which,  in  addition  to  the  old-fashioned  "up  and  down" 
board  saw,  he  installed  a  saw  for  getting  out  barrel  staves  and  heads. 

In  1853  Mr.  Melendy  sold  the  mill  to  John  Q.  A.  Hutchingson,  who 
operated  it  until  1855,  when  he  sold  the  plant  to  Beri  Bennett,  a  son  of 
Dea.  Thomas  Bennett,  by  whom  the  mill  was  owned  and  operated  for 
the  following  thirty  years. 

During  Beri  Bennett's  ownership  the  mill  building  was  thoroughly 
repaired,  and  the  machinery  was  subjected  to  such  changes  and  alterations 
as  were  necessary  to  enable  it  to  meet  and  comply  with  such  changes  in 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  157 

the  nature  of  manufcatured  lumber  as  the  public's  demand  for  the  same 
then  required  of  mills  of  its  description.  The  old  up  and  down  board 
saw  was  taken  out  and  a  circular  saw  installed  in  its  place ;  the  old  stave 
saw  was  also  replaced  by  a  new  one;  and  such  changes  made  as  were 
necessary  for  increasing  the  mill's  facilities  for  production. 

For  many  years  following  these  changes,  Mr.  Bennett  operated  the 
mill  successfully.  But  the  cares  and  incidents  attendant  upon  his  increas- 
ing years  finally  compelled  him  to  retire  from  business.  In  1885  he  sold 
his  farm,  including  the  mill  plant,  to  Joseph  H.  Russell  of  Cambridgeport, 
Mass.  Prior  to  his  sale  to  Russell,  however,  he  had  already  disposed  of 
the  mill's  machinery.  This  machinery  was  subsequently  installed  in  the 
Rockwood  sawmill  in  South  Brookline.  For  several  years  after  its  sale 
to  Russell  the  mill  building  remained  standing.  But  in  the  meantime  its 
timbers  were  gradually  decaying.  They  finally  fell  apart,  and  such  por- 
tion of  them  as  was  not  used  for  firewood  was  swept  down  the  stream  by 
floods.  At  the  present  time  only  the  old  foundations  and  some  remnants 
of  its  dam  are  left  to  mark  the  former  site  of  the  mill. 

Following  are  the  names  of  the  several  owners,  and  the  dates  of  their 
respective  ownerships,  of  the  Bennett  sawmill,  as  recorded  in  the  Hills- 
borough Registry: 

Deacon  Thomas  Bennett,  1800,  to  April  2,  1840;  Thomas  Melendy, 
Jr.,  and  Alpheus  Melendy,  April  2,  1840,  to  April  2,  1841;  Thomas  Me- 
lendy, Jr.,  April  2,  1841,  to  Sept.  22,  1853;  John  O.  A.  Hutchingson, 
Sept.  22,  1853,  to  Oct.  11,  1855;  Beri  Bennett,  Oct.  11,  1855,  to  Feb. 
4,  1885.  At  which  latter  date  Bennett  conveyed  the  farm  and  mill  to 
Joseph  H.  Russell,  whose  heirs  at  the  present  time  are  still  in  possession 
of  the  premises. 

The  John  Conant  Sawmill. 

The  first  sawmill  to  be  erected  on  the  Nissitisset  river  within  the 
limits  of  this  town  was  built  between  the  years  1785  and  1790  by  John 
Conant,  of  Townsend,  Mass.  It  was  located  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
stream,  about  two  hundred  rods  below  its  outlet  from  Muscatanipus 
pond,  its  site  being  the  same  as  that  afterwards  occupied  by  the  "Upper 
saw-mill,"  so  called,  of  Ensign  Bailey. 

At  the  time  the  mill  was  built,  Conant,  probably  to  avoid  the  expense 
of  building  a  dam,  conceived  the  idea  of  bringing  the  water  from  the  pond 
to  the  mill  by  means  of  an  artificial  channel  or  ditch.  He  carried  out 
his  idea  and  caused  the  ditch  to  be  constructed.     Tradition  says  that  so 


158  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

far  as  the  conveyance  of  water  by  means  of  this  ditch  was  concerned, 
the  experiment  was  a  success,  but  that  the  water  conveyed  by  it  failed 
to  develop  power  sufficient  to  turn  the  mill  wheel  and  that,  as  a  result 
of  this  failure,  Conant  subsequently  spent  more  time  in  d — g  the  ditch 
than  it  would  have  taken  him  in  the  first  instance  to  dam  the  river. 

The  ditch  left  the  pond  at  a  point  on  the  south  shore  just  west  of 
the  big  granite  boulder  near  the  Orman  F.  Shattuck  boat  landing  and, 
passing  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  crossed  the  highway  a  few  rods  south 
of  the  present  pond  bridge,  from  whence  it  continued  to  the  mill.  North 
of  the  highway  all  traces  of  the  ditch  have  long  since  disappeared.  But 
south  of  the  highway  its  course  is  still  distinctly  defined. 

Several  years  after  the  mill  was  built,  James  Campbell,  of  Brookline, 
having  bought  one-half  of  the  mill,  entered  into  a  partnership  with  Conant 
for  carrying  on  its  business.  Feb.  8,  1796,  Conant  and  Campbell  sold 
the  plant  to  Joseph  Stickney  and  Benjamin  Campbell,  both  of  Brookline. 
The  consideration  for  the  sale  was  twelve  hundred  dollars.  The  descrip- 
tion of  the  premises  conveyed,  as  set  forth  in  the  deed,  contained  the 
following  proviso — "Allowance  had  through  the  same  for  a  road  with  a 
dwelling  house  and  a  sawmill  and  cornmill  standing  on  the  same  and  the 
damb  that  raises  the  pond  for  the  use  of  said  mills."  From  this  "pro- 
viso" it  would  seem  that  the  sawmill  at  this  time  was  operated  in  connec- 
tion with  a  gristmill.  If  so,  the  gristmill  was,  so  far  as  the  writer  has 
been  able  to  ascertain,  the  first  mill  of  that  description  to  be  located  on 
the  river  in  this  town. 

From  Stickney  and  Campbell  the  mill  passed  into  the  ownership  of 
John  Colburn.  Colburn  operated  the  mill  until  July  5,  1808,  at  which 
date  he  conveyed  it  to  Ensign  Bailey,  who  continued  to  own  it  until  his 
death  in  August,  1863.  Aug.  11,  1864,  the  heirs  of  Ensign  Bailey  sold 
and  conveyed  the  mill  together  with  the  sawmill  known  as  the  Bailey 
"lower  mill"  and  located  on  the  stream  below  it  to  Charles  A.  Priest  and 
J.  Alonzo  Hall.  Sept.  2,  1869,  Hall  and  Priest  sold  the  mills  to  James 
W.  Cook  of  Reading,  Mass.,  and  S.  Abbott  Putnam  of  Lyman,  Mass., 
and  the  same  date  Cook  and  Putnam  sold  and  conveyed  both  plants  to 
J.  Alonzo  Hall  and  Joseph  Peterson,  both  of  this  town.  July  21,  1874, 
Hall  and  Peterson  sold  the  upper  or  Conant  mill  to  James  W.  Cook  and 
William  H.  Hall.  Sept.  14,  1877,  James  W.  Cook  sold  and  conveyed  to 
William  H.  Hall  his  undivided  half  in  the  mill;  and  on  the  5th  day  of  Oc- 
tober, 1877,  William  H.  Hall  sold  the  plant  to  John  S.  Daniels  and  Na- 
thaniel Hobart.  Feb.  7,  1885,  John  S.  Daniels  disposed  of  his  interest  in 
the  mill  to  David  H.  Kendall,  Henry  S.  Manning,  Charles  W.  Hughes 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  159 

and  Horace  Richmond;  who,  in  company  with  Nathaniel  Hobart,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Hobart,  Kendall  &  Company,  operated  the  plant  until 
June  15,  1886,  at  which  date  the  company  sold  the  entire  plant  to  Albert 
L.  Fessenden,  of  Townsend,  and  John  Buffum,  of  Boston,  to  be  held  in 
trust  by  them  for  the  benefit  of  its  creditors.  Aug.  28,  1888,  the  trustees 
sold  the  mill  privileges  and  site  to  William  G.  Shattuck;  and  on  the  19th 
day  of  December  of  the  same  year,  Shattuck  sold  the  plant  to  George 
W.  Bent,  of  Boston,  Mass.  At  the  present  time  the  mill  premises  and 
privileges  are  owned  by  the  Fresh  Pond  Ice  Company,  of  Somerville, 
Mass. 

Nov.  27,  1889,  the  mill  buildings  were  destroyed  by  fire.  At  the 
present  time  they  have  not  been  rebuilt. 

The  Ensign  Bailey  Sawmill,  Tannery  and  Sash  and  Blind  Shop. 

The  second  sawmill  to  be  erected  on  the  Nissitisset  river  below  its 
outlet  from  the  pond  was  erected  by  Ensign  Bailey  in  1805  on  land  which 
was  conveved  to  himself  and  his  brothers,  Kendall  and  Laomi,  by  Swallow 
Tucker  by  his  deed  dated  December  21,  1804. 

At  the  date  of  this  deed  there  was  already  a  dam  across  the  river 
below  the  Conant  sawmill.  This  dam  was  mentioned  in  the  deed  as 
"Shannon's  dam."  Its  site  was  identical  with  that  of  the  dam  now  stand- 
ing on  the  stream  a  few  rods  north  of  the  railroad  passenger  station  in 
the  village ;  which  was  erected  by  the  late  Ensign  Bailey,  and  in  the  con- 
struction of  which  it  is  probable  that  some  of  the  materials  used  were 
obtained  from  the  Shannon  dam. 

The  Bailey  sawmill  was  located  about  one  hundred  rods  south  of  this 
dam  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  at  a  point  in  the  same  nearly  opposite 
the  iron  bridge  which  at  the  present  time  spans  the  stream  at  Bond  street. 

In  addition  to  the  machinery  necessary  for  its  use  as  a  sawmill,  the 
mill  was  also  equipped  with  a  gristmill,  the  latter  being  the  second  mill 
of  its  description  to  be  located  on  the  river  in  this  town.  At  the  same 
time  at  which  he  built  the  sawmill,  Mr.  Bailey  also  erected  another  and 
much  larger  building  to  be  used  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  the  tan- 
ning business,  in  which  he  was  an  expert.  This  latter  building  was  lo- 
cated to  the  east  of  and  but  a  short  distance  from  the  sawmill.  The 
water  necessary  for  operating  both  sawmill  and  tannery  was  obtained  by 
means  of  an  artificial  canal  which  connected  the  plants  with  the  mill 
pond  above  the  dam.  At  the  present  time  (1914)  the  vestiges  of  the  canal 
are  still  in  evidence. 


160  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

For  many  years  after  their  erection,  Mr.  Bailey  occupied  these  build- 
ings in  carrying  on  his  business  as  a  miller  and  tanner;  in  the  manage- 
ment of  which  he  was  highly  successful,  accumulating  a  comfortable  for- 
tune, and  also  acquiring  a  far  more  than  local  reputation  as  a  citizen  and 
man  of  affairs  whose  word  was  "as  good  as  his  bond." 

About  the  year  1830  Mr.  Bailey  erected  on  the  premises  a  building 
in  which  he  installed  a  plant  for  the  manufacture  of  window  sashes  and 
blinds.  The  building  was  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  adjacent  to 
the  mill-dam.  This  manufactory  was  the  first  and,  for  that  matter,  the 
last  plant  of  its  description  to  be  established  in  this  town.  For  many 
years  the  plant  did  a  large  and  successful  business,  its  products  being  in 
constant  demand  in  this  and  the  neighboring  towns.  In  or  about  1860  the 
plant  went  out  of  commission.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  nineties,  the 
building  in  which  it  was  located — the  old  "Sash  and  Blind  Shop" — was 
removed  from  its  original  site  near  the  mill-dam  to  a  new  site  on  the  east 
bank  of  the  river  west  of  the  old  sawmill,  where  it  was  fitted  up  as  a  kit 
mill.  It  was  subsequently  occupied  by  Charles  W.  Smith,  a  son  of  William 
J.  Smith,  as  a  wheelwright  shop. 

In  1863  Ensign  Bailey  died,  having  retired  from  business  several 
years  prior  to  his  death.  On  the  16th  day  of  Aug.,  1863,  his  heirs  sold 
the  mill  plant,  which  included  the  "upper"  and  "lower"  sawmills,  to 
Charles  A.  Priest  and  Joseph  A.  Hall,  who  immediatley  formed  a  part- 
nership under  the  firm  name  of  Priest  and  Hall,  and  established  them- 
selves in  the  milling  business  in  the  old  Ensign  Bailey,  or  "lower,"  saw- 
mill. 

Priest  and  Hall  carried  on  business  in  the  old  Bailey  mill  for  five 
years.  By  the  end  of  this  period  their  business  had  increased  to  the  ex- 
tent that  the  firm  was  compelled  to  look  for  larger  and  more  commodious 
quarters.  They  found  them  in  the  old  tannery  building,  into  which,  in 
1868,  the  company  moved  its  business,  leaving  in  the  abandoned  sawmill 
only  the  stave  and  head  saws.  In  the  tannery  building,  in  addition  to 
the  machinery  brought  from  the  old  sawmill,  the  firm  also  installed  a 
circular  board  saw,  a  kit  machine  and  a  planing  mill. 

After  doing  a  prosperous  business  in  the  new  plant  for  five  years, 
Priest  and  Hall,  on  the  2nd  day  of  Sept.,  1869,  sold  the  entire  mill  property, 
including  the  upper  and  lower  sawmills,  to  James  W.  Cook  and  S.  Abbott 
Putnam.  The  same  date  Cook  and  Putnam  sold  and  conveyed  the  entire 
mill  property  to  Joseph  A.  Hall  and  Joseph  W.  Peterson,  who  formed  a 
partnership  in  the  mill  and  lumber  business  and  located  their  business  in 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  161 

the  Ensign  Bailey  sawmill.  July  21,  1874,  Hall  and  Peterson  sold  the 
upper  sawmill,  or  old  Conant  mill,  to  William  H.  Hall. 

Hall  and  Peterson  continued  to  operate  the  Ensign  Bailey  sawmill 
plant  until  the  year  1877.  In  the  latter  year  poor  health  compelled  Mr. 
Peterson  to  withdraw  from  the  firm;  and  Jan.  11,  1877,  he  sold  and  con- 
veyed his  undivided  one-half  part  of  the  old  Ensign  Bailey  sawmill  plant 
to  William  J.  Smith.     Mr.  Peterson  died  Aug.  31,  1884. 

Soon  after  his  purchase  of  the  Joseph  W.  Peterson  interest  in  the 
Ensign  Bailey  sawmill  plant,  William  J.  Smith  entered  into  a  partner- 
ship with  Joseph  A.  Hall  for  the  purpose  of  operating  the  sawmill  and 
the  lumbering  business  connected  with  it.  This  partnership  lasted  until 
1895.  In  the  latter  year,  Mr.  Smith  became  financially  embarassed  and 
assigned  his  property,  including  his  interest  in  the  mill,  to  Enoch  J.  Col- 
burn,  as  trustee  for  the  benefit  of  his  creditors.  Sept.  5,  1895,  the  as- 
signee sold  the  Smith  interest  in  the  mill,  subject  to  the  value  of  a  mort- 
gage held  by  the  Congregational  Church  and  Society  upon  the  same,  to 
Perley  L.  Pierce.  December  14  of  the  same  year,  Perley  L.  Pierce  sold 
and  conveyed  his  interest  in  the  mill  to  Thomas  S.  Hittinger  of  Townsend, 
Mass.,  and  April  21,  1898,  acting  in  his  capacity  as  trustee  of  the  gift  of 
James  H.  Hall  to  the  Congregational  Church,  Mr.  Pierce  sold  one  un- 
divided half  part  of  the  plant  to  the  said  Thomas  S.  Hittinger,  thus  com- 
pleting Mr.  Hittinger's  title  to  that  part  of  the  plant  which  had  been 
formerly  owned  by  William  J.  Smith.  April  19,  1898,  Alpha  A.  Hall,  as 
administrator  of  the  estate  of  his  father,  Joseph  A.  Hall,  sold  and  con- 
veyed the  other  half  of  the  plant  to  William  S.  Hittinger,  who  thus  be- 
came the  sole  owner  of  the  original  Ensign  Bailey  sawmill  plant.  April 
23,  1898,  Mr.  Hittinger  sold  the  plant  to  the  Fresh  Pond  Ice  Company, 
by  which  it  is  owned  at  the  present  time  (1914) . 

vSoon  after  its  purchase  of  the  property,  the  ice  company  tore  down 
and  removed  all  the  buildings  standing  upon  the  premises.  These  build- 
ings have  never  been  replaced;  and  there  are  at  the  present  time  no 
indications  that  they  ever  will  be.  Thus  the  old  Ensign  Bailey  sawmill 
became  a  memory  only.  Today  the  valuable  water  power  by  which  it 
was  for  so  many  years  operated  is  unutilized. 

The  Capt.  Samuel  Brooks  Sawmill. 

This  mill  was  located  on  the  Wallace  brook  in  the  southwest  part  of 
the  town.  It  stood  on  the  south  side  of  the  highway  which  leads  in  an 
easterly  direction  from  the  old  Mathew  Wallace  place  to  the  main  high- 


162  HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

way  from  this  town  to  Townsend,  Mass.,  with  which  it  connects  at  a 
point  near  the  sawmill  of  Deacon  Perley  L.  Pierce  in  South  Brookline, 
from  which  the  Brook's  mill  was  distant  about  one-half  mile  in  a  westerly 
direction. 

The  mill  was  built  at  some  time  in  the  thirties  by  Capt.  Samuel 
Brooks,  of  Townsend  hill.  So  far  as  known,  it  is  the  first  and  only  mill 
to  be  located  upon  this  site.  Captain  Brooks  operated  the  mill  for  many 
years.  After  his  decease  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  son,  George 
Brooks.  George  Brooks  operated  the  mill  until  the  fall  of  1863;  when, 
on  the  30th  day  of  December,  he  sold  the  plant  to  Anson  D.  Fessenden, 
of  Townsend,  Mass.,  and  Levi  F.  Lowell,  of  this  town,  and,  shortly  after 
the  sale,  removed  with  his  family  to  Detroit,  Mich.;  where  for  many 
years  he  carried  on  a  large  wholesale  lumbering  and  coopering  business, 
and  where  he  subsequently  died. 

Messrs.  Fessenden  and  Lowell  took  immediate  possession  of  the  pur- 
chased premises  and  operated  the  mill  until  1870.  In  1870  the  firm  sold 
the  mill  to  Mrs.  Diantha  Peaslee,  of  Somerville,  Mass.,  and  removed  its 
business  to  Merrimack,  where  the  firm  is  located  at  the  present  time 
(1914). 

Mrs.  Peaslee,  through  her  husband,  Harrison  Peaslee,  operated  the 
mill  until  the  10th  day  of  July,  1875;  at  which  date  she  sold  and,  by 
her  deed  of  that  date,  conveyed  the  plant  to  Jennie  F.  Averill,  wife  of 
Hartley  Averill,  of  Boston,  Mass.  Feb.  7,  1908,  Mrs.  Averill  sold  the 
plant  to  Orville  D.  Fessenden,  of  this  town,  in  whose  name  it  stands  at 
the  present  time. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1900  the  mill's  dam  was  swept  away  by  a 
freshet.  The  dam  was  never  rebuilt  and  after  its  destruction  the  mill 
remained  unoccupied  until  1912,  when  it  was  burned  down. 

Of  the  dwelling  houses  which  at  the  present  time  are  standing  in  the 
vicinity  of  this  mill,  the  house  located  in  the  mill  yard  a  short  distance 
west  of  the  plant  was  probably  built  by  Capt.  Samuel  Brooks  when  he 
erected  the  mill.  The  dwelling  house  located  on  the  north  side  of  the 
highway  nearly  opposite  to  the  mill  was  erected  in  the  first  part  of  the 
last  century.  Its  builder  is  unknown.  But  about  1810-1812,  the  house 
was  occupied  by  a  certain  "Doctor"  Howe.  Of  whom  tradition  says  that 
upon  one  occasion  he  took  in,  and  entertained,  a  peddler  as  his  guest  for 
the  night;  and  that  the  peddler,  after  entering  the  house,  was  never  seen 
again  alive,  or  for  that  matter,  dead  either. 

After  the  "doctor"  removed  from  the  house — going  perhaps  in  search 
of  the  peddler— it  was  occupied  for  several  years  by  Solomon  Sanders, 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  163 

father  of  the  late  John  Sanders.  Sanders'  name  may  still  be  seen  inscribed 
many  times  on  the  mantle  of  the  old  fireplace  in  the  sitting  room. 

In  1843  Leonidas  Pierce,  then  of  Hollis,  purchased  the  house  of  Ben- 
jamin M.  Farley,  Esq.,  and  the  same  year  took  up  his  residence  therein. 
Mr.  Pierce  continued  to  own  and  to  occupy  the  house  until  his  death. 
Of  his  children  who  were  all  born  in  this  house,  one  son,  Deacon  Perley 
L.  Pierce,  at  the  present  time  owns  and  operates  the  sawmill  standing  on 
the  site  of  the  old  Wyman  sawmill  in  South  Brookline.  Another  son, 
George  W.  Pierce,  is  a  resident  of  Pepperell,  Mass.,  where  he  is  a  wholesale 
dealer  in  grain.     The  house  at  the  present  time  is  unoccupied. 

On  the  east  side  of  the  highway,  a  half  mile,  more  or  less,  west  of  the 
Leonidas  Pierce  house,  is  still  standing  a  dwelling  house,  at  the  present 
time  unoccupied,  which  for  many  years  was  owned  and  occupied  as  his 
home  by  Henry  T.  Pierce,  a  brother  of  Leonidas.  His  son,  Albert  T. 
Pierce,  at  the  present  time  is  residing  in  the  village.  Tradition  says  that 
this  house  stands  on  the  site  of  the  dwelling  house  of  one  of  the  Connecks 
before  and  during  the  Revolution. 

The  George  Betterley  Fulling  Mill. 

About  1825-30,  George  Betterley,  who  came  from  Woodstock,  Vt., 
to  Brookline  in  1815,  erected  a  fulling  mill  on  Campbell  brook  in  the 
westerly  part  of  the  town.  The  mill's  situation  on  the  brook  was  a  few  rods 
southwest  of  the  point  at  which  at  the  present  time  the  stream  is  spanned 
by  the  bridge  in  the  "poor  farm  road." 

At  the  time  of  the  mill's  construction,  wool  growing  as  an  industry 
was  quite  generally  followed  in  town.  Nearly  every  farmer  owned  at 
least  a  small  flock  of  sheep;  and  in  nearly  every  farmhouse  the  noise  of 
hand  looms  engaged  in  weaving  the  "Home  made"  woolen  cloth  which  then 
constituted  the  principal  wearing  apparel  of  the  inhabitants  was  a  fa- 
miliar and  almost  constant  sound.  The  fulling  mill  was  used  for  "dress- 
ing" the  cloth  before  it  was  manufactured  into  garments. 

The  mill  continued  to  be  operated  for  many  years  or  until  the  gen- 
eral introduction  into  use  of  the  power  loom,  and  the  consequent  diminu- 
tion in  the  cost  of  manufacturing  woolen  cloth,  rendered  the  use  of  the 
hand  loom  no  longer  profitable. 

About  the  middle  of  the  forties  the  mill  ceased  to  be  operated.  Sev- 
eral years  after  it  was  shut  down,  the  mill  was  torn  down.  Some  of  its 
timbers  were  used  in  constructing  the  cottage  house  directly  west  of  and 
but  a  short  distance  from  its  site,  which  was  owned  and  for  many  years 


164  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

occupied  as  her  home  by  the  late  Miss  Isabella  Lancey.  The  cottage 
house,  formerly  of  Ferdinand  Lancey,  located  on  the  east  side  of  the 
poor  farm  road  a  few  rods  north  of  the  mill's  site,  was  also  constructed 
in  part,  at  least,  of  its  timbers;  and  it  is  an  interesting  fact  to  know  that 
the  site  of  this  latter  house  is  identical  with  that  upon  which  stood  the 
dwelling  house  first  occupied  by  George  Betterley  after  his  advent  in  this 
town. 

The  Scabbard  Mill. 

About  the  year  1830,  Lawrence  Bailey,  a  half  brother  of  Ensign 
Bailey,  began  the  business  of  manufacturing  wooden  bandboxes  in  this 
town.  For  that  purpose  he  erected  on  the  stream  then  known  as  Ben- 
nett's brook,  but  since  then  for  obvious  reasons  known  as  the  Scabbard 
Mill  brook,  a  mill  for  sawing  out  the  scabbards,  or  thin  strips  of  wood, 
of  which  the  boxes  were  constructed.  The  mill  was  located  about  two 
and  one-half  miles  north  of  the  village  on  the  north  side  of  the  brook, 
and  immediately  southwest  of  the  point  where  it  crosses  the  Greenville 
highway.  Mr.  Bailey  had  carried  on  the  business  but  a  few  years  when 
he  became  financially  embarrassed,  and  was  obliged  to  dispose  of  his 
property  and  leave  town.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  ownership  of  the  mill 
and  of  the  business  by  Alpheus  Shattuck,  by  whom  for  many  succeeding 
years  it  was  carried  on. 

From  the  mill  the  scabbards  were  carried  to  the  old  Shattuck  saw- 
mill where,  in  a  room  fitted  up  for  the  purpose  they  were  manufactured 
into  bandboxes,  for  which  at  that  time  Boston  furnished  a  ready  market. 
For  many  years  the  business  furnished  employment  for  many  of  the 
townspeople,  both  men  and  women.  But,  in  the  course  of  years,  the 
time  came  when  the  merits  of  wood  as  a  material  for  the  construction 
of  bandboxes  had  to  yield  to  the  superior  claims  of  paper  for  that  pur- 
pose; and  about  1848  Mr.  Shattuck  retired  from  the  business  as  being 
no  longer  profitable.  The  mill  wheels  ceased  to  turn  and  the  mill  itself 
was  allowed  to  go  to  decay.  Its  ruins  were  in  evidence  as  late  as  1860. 
At  the  present  time  they  have  entirely  disappeared. 

Clay  Banks  and  Bricks. 

The  manufacture  of  bricks  in  this  town  began  as  early,  at  least,  as 
1780.    The  first  to  engage  in  the  business  was  Swallow  Tucker,  who  ob- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  165 

tained  the  materials  necessary  for  the  conducting  the  same  from  clay 
banks  located  upon  his  farm  in  South  Brookline. 

Mr.  Tucker's  operations,  which  covered  but  a  comparatively  short 
space  of  time,  were  on  a  small  scale,  and  his  manufactured  products  were 
chiefly  confined  to  home  use.  Among  the  buildings  which  were  con- 
structed with  bricks  of  his  manufacture  were  a  schoolhouse  which  in 
1783  the  town  erected  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Pepperell,  Mass., 
at  a  point  nearly  opposite  the  southeast  corner  of  the  south  cemetery; 
and  the  brick  dwelling  house  located  in  South  Brookline  on  the  east  side 
of  the  highway  to  Townsend,  Mass.,  a  few  rods  south  of  the  bridge  over 
the  Xissitisset  river;  which  is  said  to  have  been  built  about  1795  by  his 
son,  Benjamin  S.  Tucker. 

The  Tucker  clay  banks  were  located  in  the  open  field  southwest  of 
the  site  at  the  present  time  (1914)  occupied  by  the  steam  sawmill  of 
Orville  D.  Fessenden,  from  which  they  were  distant  some  twenty -five  or 
thirty  rods;  where  at  the  present  time  the  site  of  the  kilns  is  indicated 
by  a  small  mound  of  sand. 

The  second  party  to  engage  in  the  manufacture  of  bricks  here  was 
Capt.  Benjamin  Brooks,  who  commenced  the  business  about  1790.  Like 
his  predecessor  in  the  business,  Swallow  Tucker,  he  obtained  his  mate- 
rials from  clay  banks  located  upon  his  own  farm  in  South  Brookline. 
His  kilns  were  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Townsend, 
Mass.,  and  west  of  his  dwelling  house  (afterwards  known  as  the  Luther 
Rockwood  place),  from  which  they  were  distant  one  hundred  rods,  more 
or  less. 

Captain  Brooks  continued  to  own  and  operate  the  plant  until  1812 
In  that  year  he  associated  with  himself  his  son-in-law,  Luther  Rockwood 
as  a  limited  partner  in  the  business;   and  from  that  time  until  his  death 
in  1829,  the  plant  was  operated  by  himself  and  Mr.  Rockwood. 

Upon  the  death  of  Captain  Brooks,  Luther  Rockwood  succeeded  to 
the  ownership  of  the  plant;  which  he  continued  to  operate  for  many 
succeeding  years.  During  this  period  the  plant's  field  of  operations  was 
largely  extended,  and  its  business  correspondingly  increased.  Consider- 
able quantities  of  bricks  were  sold  in  the  adjacent  towns,  and  in  the  cities 
of  Nashua  and  Lowell,  Mass.,  where  they  were  delivered  by  means  of 
ox  teams,  which  more  frequently  than  otherwise  were  driven  by  Mr. 
Rockwood  himself.  This  state  of  affairs  continued  until  the  middle  part 
of  the  fifties;  when  advanced  age  and  the  competition  in  the  business, 
resulting  from  the  increased  facilities  for  transportation  afforded  by  the 
newly  constructed  railroads,  compelled  Mr.   Rockwood  to  abandon  the 


166  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

business.  The  last  stack  of  bricks  to  be  manufactured  by  the  plant  was 
burned  about  1855.  Since  when  both  the  Brooks  and  the  Tucker  clay 
beds  have  remained  dormant. 

The  Coopering  Business. 

Among  the  early  industries  of  New  England,  coopering  was  one  of 
the  most  important.  At  first  the  business  was  confined  to  the  manufac- 
ture of  barrels  for  home  use.  But  after  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  as  the 
country  increased  in  population  and  wealth,  the  increase  in  the  amount 
of  importation  of  such  luxuries  as  "West  India  goods"  and  molasses  cre- 
ated a  demand  for  additional  barrels,  and  the  business  of  manufacturing 
them  was  correspondingly  benefited. 

Brookline's  people  were  not  slow  in  responding  to  the  demands  of 
the  new  conditions  of  affairs.  They  immediately  began  to  manufacture 
barrels  for  export  and  sale.  The  barrels  were  all  made  from  hard  wood, 
chiefly  oak.  For  the  manufacture  of  which  the  materials  used  were  got- 
ten out  by  hand  labor.  Hard  wood  hand-made  barrels  were  the  only 
kind  to  be  manufactured  here  until  the  last  of  the  thirties.  During  this 
period,  a  large  percentage  of  the  citizens  were  coopers  by  trade.  But,  in 
addition  to  this  class,  there  was  scarcely  a  farmer  who  did  not  at  favor- 
able seasons  of  the  year,  especially  in  the  winter  time,  engage  in  the  busi- 
ness of  making  barrels;  and  thus  from  its  profits  increase  the  meager 
income  from  his  farm.  For  the  greater  part  each  cooper  worked  by  and 
carried  on  his  business  for  himself. 

Whenever  a  cooper  had  accumulated  a  stock  of  barrels  sufficient  to 
warrant  the  undertaking,  he  loaded  them  onto  wagons  and  sent  them  by 
ox  teams  into  Boston.  Sometimes  two  or  more  coopers  or  farmers  would 
unite  their  stocks  in  trade  and  send  them  in  together.  In  Boston  the  bar- 
rels were  sold  for  cash  or,  more  frequently,  exchanged  for  such  commodi- 
ties as  salt  fish,  rum  and  molasses;  and,  occasionally,  for  wearing  apparel; 
laden  with  which  the  teams  returned  home.  The  round  trip  usually 
occupied  about  a  week's  time. 

About  1846  the  introduction  into  the  sawmills  of  machinery  for  man- 
ufacturing barrel  staves  and  heads  effected  an  immediate  and  radical 
change  in  the  coopering  business.  Up  to  that  time  the  business  had  been 
confined  to  the  manufacture  of  hard  wood  barrels  only.  But  barrels  of 
that  description  were  expensive  to  make  and  clumsy  to  handle.  And, 
besides,  their  use  was  principally  confined  to  the  holding  of  liquids,  for 
which  purpose  they  were  especially  adapted.    In  the  meantime  there  had 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  167 

been  developing  a  demand  for  a  less  expensive  and  lighter  class  of  casks 
adapted  to  the  storing  and  easy  transportation  of  dry  commodities.  The 
change  in  the  nature  of  mill  machinery  made  it  possible  to  meet  this 
demand  by  substituting  in  place  of  the  hard  woods  hitherto  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  barrels  such  soft  woods  as  pine  and  chestnut.  In  fact,  it 
instituted  a  new  epoch  in  the  coopering  business. 

With  the  change  in  the  nature  of  the  barrels  or  casks,  came  also  a 
change  in  the  methods  of  making  and  putting  them  onto  the  market. 
The  business  was  no  longer  confined  to  single  individuals,  each  working 
for  himself,  but  passing  into  the  hands  of  men  of  capital  and  enterprise, 
became  wholesale  in  its  nature.  For  the  following  forty  years  it  consti- 
tuted the  town's  chief  industry. 

Levi  Rockwood  was  among  the  first  to  engage  in  the  wholesale  coop- 
ering business  here.  He  carried  on  the  business  in  connection  with  his 
sawmill  at  South  Brookline,  and  continued  to  do  a  successful  business 
until  his  death  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fifties.  In  the  village  the  business 
was  carried  on  by  James  Parker,  Jr.,  and  by  James  N.  Tucker. 

In  1846-1847,  Joseph  C.  Tucker  and  Henry  B.  Stiles  formed  a  co- 
partnership under  the  firm  name  of  Tucker  and  Stiles,  for  the  purpose  of 
engaging  in  the  sale  of  West  India  goods  and  groceries.  The  firm's  place 
of  business  was  located  in  a  room  in  the  east  end  and  on  the  ground  floor 
of  the  ell  of  the  Nissitisset  hotel.  Soon  after  its  organization,  the  firm,  in 
addition  to  its  regular  business,  took  on  that  of  manufacturing  and  selling 
barrels  at  wholesale.  Its  operations  in  both  lines  of  business  were  suc- 
cessful from  the  first. 

In  1850  the  company's  business  had  increased  to  the  extent  that  it 
was  forced  to  seek  for  larger  and  more  commodious  quarters;  and  it 
moved  into  the  "red  store"  building  located  on  the  east  side  of  Main  street 
adjacent  to  the  village  brook,  its  site  being  the  same  as  that  now  occupied 
by  the  store  building  of  Everett  S.  Tarbell.  The  company  occupied  the 
"red  store"  until  1857.  During  this  period  it  carried  on  a  highly  suc- 
cessful and  prosperous  business,  especially  in  the  line  of  wholesale  coop- 
ering ;  in  which  branch  it  had  the  reputation  of  doing  the  largest  and  most 
lucrative  business  of  any  firm  in  southern  New  Hampshire. 

During  this  period,  also,  in  addition  to  fish  and  dry  casks,  the  firm 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  syrup  casks  and  barrels;  and  for  many 
years  furnished  the  East  Boston  Sugar  Company  with  the  entire  supply 
of  syrup  casks  used  in  its  business. 

In  the  first  part  of  the  fifties,  Thomas  Melendy,  Jr.,  entered  the  firm 
as  a  partner  in  that  part  of  its  business  which  had  to  do  with  the  buying 


168 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN    OF  BROOKLINE 


and  selling  of  lumber.  Mr.  Melendy  was  connected  with  the  firm  for 
several  years,  but  finally  withdrew  from  his  membership  and  removed  to 
Milford.  Subsequently  he  removed  from  Milford  to  Nashua  where,  after 
engaging  for  several  years  in  the  wholesale  lumber  business,  he  died. 

In  1857  business  had  increased  to  such  a  magnitude  that  the  neces- 
sity for  larger  quarters  in  which  to  transact  it  was,  for  the  second  time, 
apparent;  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  the  firm  removed  the  "red  store" 
from  its  foundations  and  built  a  new  store  upon  its  site.  The  new  store 
was  dedicated  on  the  evening  of  Thursday,  Dec.  17,  1857,  by  a  grand 
ball,  which  was  given  by  Messrs.  Tucker  and  Stiles  in  the  hall  in  the  second 
story  of  the  building.  The  ball  was  an  elegant  affair.  It  was  attended  by 
more  than  one  hundred  couples.  The  music  was  furnished  by  Hall's  cele- 
brated band  of  Boston.     The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  card  of  invitation: 

GRAND  DEDICATION  BALL 

AT 

TUCKER  &  STILES'  HALL, 
BROOKLINE,  N.  H., 

ON  THURSDAY  EVE'G,  DEC.  17,  57 


Committee  of  Arrangements. 


Alpheus  Shattuck, 

J.  C.  Tucker, 

W.  W.  Corey, 

Benjamin  Shattuck, 

Geo.  W.  L.  Hobart, 

Chas.  Gilson, 

John  B.  Hall, 

James  C.  Parker, 
P.  H.  Clark,  New  Ipswich. 
L.  Chamberlin,  Mason  Vil. 
Chas.  McGowan,  Milford. 
John  H.  Poole,  Hollis. 
N.  W.  Cowdrey,  Pepperell. 
L.  W.  Cummings,  Towns.  Har. 

Albert  Howe, 


Benjamin  Gould, 
Alonzo  Bailey, 
Wm.  Wallace, 
John  A.  Wright, 
W.  B.  Rockwood, 
Frank  Rockwood, 
Wm.  Wright, 
Eli  Brooks. 

R.  Peabody,  Mason  Cen. 
Albert  Powers,  Milford. 
John  H.  Cutter,  Hollis. 
Henry  Blake,  Pepperell. 
U.  S.  Clark,  Groton. 
W.  E.  Shattuck,  T.  Cen. 
Townsend  West  Village. 


Floor  Managers. 


Albert  Shattuck. 
Chas.  Willoughby. 


Luke  Baldwin. 
J.  C.  Tucker. 


MUSIC  BY  HALLS  CELEBRATED  BAND,  BOSTON. 

Tickets,  (including  Turkey  Supper, )  Three  Dollars. 
Dancing  to  commence  at  6  o'clock. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  169 

It  may  be  said  here  that  at  the  time  of  the  building  the  new  store, 
the  old  "red  store"  was  taken  from  the  foundations  and  removed  to  the 
west  side  of  the  street  leading  from  the  store  to  the  north  highway  to 
Milford;  where  it  was  used  to  form  the  ell  of  the  Jeremiah  Baldwin  dwell- 
ing house,  which  was  built  that  year. 

In  1860,  while  at  the  height  of  its  prosperity,  the  firm  of  Tucker  and 
Stiles  was  induced  to  invest  largely  in  the  kerosene  oil  business,  which 
was  then  beginning  to  be  recognized  as  a  promising  field  for  the  invest- 
ment of  capital.  The  investment  proved  to  be  a  disastrous  one.  The 
company  in  which  it  was  made  failed  and,  by  its  failure,  the  firm  of  Tucker 
and  Stiles  was  financially  ruined.  It  never  recovered  from  the  blow,  and 
shortly  afterwards  the  partnership  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent  of 
its  members. 

In  the  early  fifties  William  Gilson  engaged  in  the  wholesale  coopering 
business  here.  He  carried  it  on  in  connection  with  his  transactions  in 
wood  lands  and  in  lumber,  in  each  of  which  he  was  a  heavy  dealer.  Mr. 
Gilson  removed  from  this  town  to  Milford  in  1866.  At  the  time  of  his 
removal,  his  coopering  business  was  second  in  importance  only  to  that  of 
Tucker  and  Stiles.  In  Milford  he  established  himself  in  the  same  business, 
which  he  carried  on  until  his  death.  He  died  at  Milford,  July  19,  1887, 
aged  84  years. 

Soon  after  the  dissolution  of  the  firm  of  Tucker  and  Stiles,  James 
Clinton  Parker  and  J.  Alonzo  Hall,  each  acting  independently  of  the 
other,  engaged  in  the  wholesale  coopering  business. 

Mr.  Parker  carried  on  the  business  until  1876.  In  that  year  he  sold 
his  plant  to  the  Proctor  Brothers  of  Hollis,  by  whom  it  was  removed  to 
the  latter  place.  The  same  year  of  his  sale  to  the  Proctors,  Mr.  Parker 
removed  to  Nashua  where,  for  the  six  years  following,  he  was  in  charge 
of  the  City  Farm,  as  superintendent.  He  was  afterwards  superintendent 
for  four  years  of  the  Wilmington,  Mass.,  town  farm,  and  for  fifteen  years 
superintendent  of  the  Billerica,  Mass.,  town  farm.  He  died  at  Lowell, 
Mass.,  Jan.  1,  1909.  He  is  buried  in  the  family  lot  in  the  south  cemetery 
in  this  town. 

Joseph  A.  Hall  was  the  last  to  engage  on  a  large  scale  in  the  whole- 
sale coopering  business  in  this  town.  But,  if  last,  he  was  by  no  means  least 
in  the  amount  and  importance  of  business  transacted.  Starting  in  with 
a  small  financial  capital  and  little  or  no  experience  in  the  business,  but 
with  a  large  stock  of  energy  and  "push,"  he  so  managed  that  in  a  very 
few  years  from  the  beginning  he  was  the  owner  and  operator  of  a  whole- 
sale coopering  plant  which  in  the  amount  of  its  products  and  in  the  extent 


170  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

of  its  dealings  was  fully  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  that  of  any  of  his  prede- 
cessors in  the  business  here. 

Mr.  Hall's  prosperity  increased  that  of  the  town.  Business  in  other 
lines  boomed.  The  fortuitous  conditions  which  prevailed  here  in  the  days 
when  the  business  of  the  firm  of  Tucker  and  Stiles  was  at  its  best  seemed 
to  have  returned  and  the  prospects  for  the  future  were  of  the  most  en- 
couraging nature. 

This  state  of  affairs  continued  for  some  eight  or  ten  years;  but,  in  the 
meantime,  the  profitable  nature  of  the  coopering  business  had  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  general  public;  and,  as  a  result,  the  number  of  those 
engaged  in  the  business  in  New  England  had  grown  to  large  proportions. 
The  competition  arising  from  this  state  of  affairs  had  the  effect  of  in- 
creasing the  price  of  labor  employed  and  the  cost  of  the  materials  used  in 
conducting  the  business;  and,  consequently,  of  diminishing  the  profits. 
In  Mr.  Hall's  case  these  profits  were  still  further  diminished  by  the  fact 
that  in  order  to  reach  the  markets,  his  prodcuts  had  to  be  transported  to 
the  railway  stations  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  or  Townsend,  Mass.,  by  means 
of  horse  teams  which  were  maintained  at  great  expense.  Notwithstand- 
ing these  drawbacks,  Mr.  Hall  continued  for  several  years  to  do  a  large 
and  prosperous  business. 

Early  in  the  seventies,  however,  the  centre  of  activity  in  the  cooper- 
ing business  was  suddenly  shifted  from  Massachusett  ands  southern  New 
Hampshire  into  Maine,  where,  by  reason  of  an  abundant  supply  of  cheap 
materials,  lower  prices  of  labor,  and  the  reduced  cost  of  freightage  ob- 
tained by  transporting  their  wares  to  Boston  by  water  rather  than  by 
rail  the  manufacturers  were  enabled  to  put  them  on  the  market  at  much  lower 
prices  than  had  hitherto  prevailed.  The  result  obtaining  from  this  change 
in  conditions  were  disastrous  to  the  barrel  manufacturers  in  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Massachusetts,  especially  to  the  smaller  and  weaker  firms,  of 
whom  many  immediately  closed  out  business. 

Mr.  Hall  at  this  time  was  somewhat  heavily  involved  in  debt,  the 
debt  having  been  contracted  in  the  course  of  his  business,  not  only  as  a 
barrel  manufacturer,  but  also  as  an  extensive  dealer  in  lumber.  The 
change  in  the  condition  of  affairs  embarrassed,  but  did  not  dismay  him. 
He  continued  to  do  business,  but  on  a  reduced  scale.  In  the  meantime,  he 
devoted  his  leisure  time  to  straightening  out  his  financial  affairs,  an  un- 
dertaking in  which  in  the  end  he  was  wholly  successful,  paying  his  in- 
debtedness to  the  last  dollar. 

Mr.  Hall  continued  for  the  remainder  of  his  life  to  carry  on  the 
coopering  and  the  lumbering  business.    In  the  lumbering  business  he  was 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  171 

very  successful;  accumulating  a  very  considerable  fortune.  But  in  spite 
of  his  efforts  he  was  never  able  to  restore  the  coopering  business  to  even 
a  resemblance  of  its  former  prosperous  conditions.  He  died  at  Brook- 
line,  Aug.  3,  1897.  With  his  death  the  wholesale  coopering  business  in 
this  town  became  practically  a  matter  of  history.  At  the  present  time 
the  business  is  being  carried  on  to  a  limited  extent  by  Orville  D.  Fes- 
senden  at  South  Brookline. 

Charcoal  Burning. 

Prior  to  1840  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  charcoal,  as  compared  with 
other  industries  already  established  here,  was  of  very  little  importance 
because  of  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  transporting  it  to  market,  the 
only  available  means  for  transportation  being  ox  teams. 

Nevertheless,  prior  to  that  date,  there  were  a  few  citizens  who  en- 
gaged in  the  business  on  a  small  scale ;  among  whom  were  Otis  and  James 
Horton,  Amariah  Ames,  and  Daniel  Shedd,  all  of  whom  found  the  principal 
market  for  their  product  in  Lowell,  Mass. 

The  completion  and  opening  to  public  traffic  of  the  Worcester  and 
Nashua  railroad  in  1847,  because  of  the  additional  facilities  which  it  af- 
forded for  freightage  was  the  cause  of  an  increase  in  the  number  of  those 
who  were  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  charcoal  here  and,  consequently, 
of  a  corresponding  increase  in  the  amount  produced.  Among  those  who 
at  this  time  engaged  in  and  for  several  subsequent  years  carried  on  the 
business  somewhat  extensively  were  Deacon  Thomas  Bennett,  Alpheus 
Melendy,  Jr.,  and  James  Parker,  Jr.  About  this  time,  also,  James  H. 
Hall  began  the  business  which,  as  a  wholesale  manufacturer  and  dealer  in 
charcoal,  he  carried  on  until  his  death,  a  period  of  thirty  odd  years;  dur- 
ing which  by  his  careful  management  and  untiring  industry  he  became 
the  largest  operator  in  that  line  in  Hillsborough  County. 

In  addition  to  his  coalpits,  which  were  in  constant  operation  all  over 
the  township,  Mr.  Hall  also  built  and  operated  five  brick  coal  kilns.  Three 
of  these  brick  kilns,  of  which  the  vestiges  are  still  visible,  were  located 
just  west  of  the  present  railroad  crossing  in  North  Brookline,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  highway  to  Greenville.  Another  was  located  on  the 
north  side  of  the  highway  to  Townsend,  Mass.,  via  the  old  Mathew  Wal- 
lace place;  from  which  it  was  distant  a  few  rods  in  a  northwesterly  direc- 
tion. And  still  another  stood  near  the  John  Hempell  place,  in  the  west 
part  of  the  town. 


172  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

At  the  time  of  Mr.  Hall's  death  in  1773,  in  addition  to  his  other 
extensive  dealings  in  this  line,  he  was,  and  for  many  years  had  been, 
furnishing,  under  a  special  contract,  four  of  Boston's  largest  hotels  with 
their  annual  supply  of  charcoal. 

In  the  early  sixties,  Lot  Colburn  and  Ebenezer  J.  Rideout,  each 
acting  independently  of  the  other,  began  to  manufacture  and  to  deal  in 
charcoal;  finding  a  ready  market  for  the  same  in  Nashua,  to  which  city 
they  hauled  it  by  horse  teams;  and  where  for  many  subsequent  years 
their  heavily  laden  coal  wagons  were  familiar  and  welcome  sights  to  its 
citizens.  Mr.  Rideout  continued  in  the  business  for  some  fifteen  or  more 
years,  when  ill  health  compelled  him  to  abandon  it.  Mr.  Colburn  carried 
on  the  business  until  his  death  in  the  last  of  the  eighties.  With  Mr.  Col- 
burn's  death,  charcoal  burning,  as  one  of  the  town's  industries,  became 
relatively  of  little  importance;  and  so  remains  at  the  present  time. 

The  Granite  Business. 

Although  the  town  abounds  in  ledges  of  granite  of  most  excellent 
quality,  prior  to  the  opening  of  the  Brookline  and  Pepperell  railroad  in 
1892,  but  few  of  them  had  been  worked;  and  for  obvious  reasons  the  use 
of  the  quarried  materials  had  been  restricted  to  home  enterprises. 

The  Corey  ledge,  so  called,  was  one  of  the  first  to  be  opened  up.  It 
was  worked  for  the  first  time  about  1804  by  Capt.  Nathan  Corey,  who 
obtained  from  it  the  underpinning  for  his  dwelling  house  on  the  east  side 
of  Main  street  in  the  village,  which  he  was  then  engaged  in  building. 

During  the  past  one  hundred  years  this  quarry  which  has  always 
remained  in  the  possession  of  Captain  Corey's  descendants  has  been 
operated  under  lease  by  many  different  individuals  and  firms ;  and  in  that 
time  has  produced  many  thousands  of  tons  of  granite  of  the  highest  grade 
of  quality.  At  the  present  time  this  ledge  is  owned  by  Walter  E.  Corey, 
a  great  grandson  of  Capt.  Nathan  Corey.  The  ledge  is  located  on  the  west 
side  of  Corey  Hill,  some  one  hundred  rods  almost  directly  east  of  the  old 
Capt.  Nathan  Corey  dwelling  house. 

As  early,  probably,  as  1825,  Samuel  Gilson,  Sr.,  began,  and  for  many 
years  subsequently  continued,  to  carry  on  business  here  as  a  worker  and 
dealer  in  granite  in  the  rough  and  also  in  the  finished  state.  His  quarry 
was  located  about  one  mile  north  of  the  village  on  the  east  side  of  the 
main  highway  from  this  town  to  Milford.  After  Mr.  Gilson's  death,  he 
was  succeeded  in  the  business  by  his  son,  Samuel  Gilson,  Jr.,  who  carried 
on  the  business  until  1892,  when  he  sold  the  ledge  to  the  firm  of  Badger 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  173 

Brothers,  of  Ouincy,  Mass.  At  the  present  time  (1914)  the  ledge  is 
owned  by  Mrs.  Samuel  Swett  of  this  town,  and  is  lying  idle.  During 
the  years  when  it  was  operated  by  the  Gilsons,  father  and  son,  this  ledge 
produced  more  rough  and  finished  granite  than  was  gotten  out  in  the 
same  period  by  all  the  other  ledges  in  town  combined. 

The  ledge  known  as  the  Wright  ledge,  located  about  one  mile  north 
of  the  village  on  the  west  side  of  the  east  highway  to  Milford,  was  opened 
up  by  Col.  Artemas  Wright  about  1840.  Colonel  Wright  continued  to 
operate  the  ledge  until  about  1860,  when  he  abandoned  it  and  removed 
with  his  family  to  Ayer,  Mass.  The  ledge  remained  unworked  from  1860 
to  1892,  since  when  it  has  been  operated  occasionally  and  in  rather  a 
spasmodic  way. 

The  Ephraim  L.  Hardy  Edge  Tool  Manufactory. 

Ephraim  L.  Hardy  came  from  Hollis  to  this  town  in  1841.  He  set- 
tled in  the  south  part  of  the  town  on  the  old  David  Hobart,  Sr.,  place, 
which  he  purchased  of  Benjamin  M.  Farley  on  the  13th  day  of  November 
of  that  year.  Soon  after  coming  here  he  began  to  manufacture  hand- 
made ploughs  and  edge  tools  in  the  blacksmith  shop  on  the  premises. 
At  that  time  the  coopering  business  was  beginning  to  exhibit  signs  of  the 
activity  which  subsequently  made  it  for  many  years  one  of  the  town's 
leading  industries. 

Mr.  Hardy,  who  was  a  skilled  mechanic,  immediately  took  advant- 
age of  the  situation,  and  made  a  specialty  of  the  manufacture  of  edged 
tools  for  coopers'  use.  In  a  short  time  the  name  of  Hardy  when  stamped 
on  an  edge  tool  of  his  make  became  synonymous  with  the  word  excellent. 
His  reputation  as  a  maker  of  edge  tools  of  the  highest  quality  increased 
with  his  years,  and  throughout  his  life  was  the  cause  of  a  steady  and  con- 
stant demand  on  the  part  of  the  public  for  implements  of  his  manufacture. 
He  died  Nov.  28,  1870,  and  with  his  death  the  business  ceased  to  exist. 

The  Hobart  Steam  Sawmill. 

In  1846  David  Hobart  built  the  first  steam  sawmill  to  be  erected  in 
town.  The  mill  was  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  street  which,  begin- 
ning at  a  point  near  the  general  store  of  E.  E-  Tarbell,  connects  Main 
street  with  the  east  highway  to  Milford.  Its  site  at  the  present  time  is 
occupied  by  the  dwelling  house  formerly  of  Jeremiah  Baldwin,  but  now 
belonging  to  the  Albert  W.  Corey  heirs. 


174  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

In  1847,  the  year  following  its  erection,  Mr.  Hobart  sold,  at  different 
dates,  and  to  different  parties,  his  interest  in  the  plant,  as  follows:  March 
10,  to  Wilkes  W.  Corey,  one  undivided  half  part;  March  27,  to  Lemuel 
Brooks,  one  undivided  fourth  part;  April  27,  to  James  N.  Tucker,  one 
undivided  fourth  part. 

After  doing  a  successful  business  for  several  years,  the  mill  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  the  summer  of  1852.     It  was  never  rebuilt. 


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HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  175 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Schools  and  Other  Educational  Matters. 

First  Appropriations  for  Public  Schools — Depreciation  of  Currency — 
Second  Appropriation  for  Schools — First  Public  School-Teachers — 
Wages  Paid  School-Teachers  in  1783 — Schools  Kept  in  Dwelling 
Houses — First  School  Districts — First  Schoolhouses  and  Their 
Locations — School-Teachers  in  1806 — First  Superintending  School 
Committee — New  School  Districts  in  1812 — New  Schoolhouses  in 
1812  and  Their  Locations — Descriptions  of  the  New  Houses — 
First  Printed  School  Report — Redistricting  of  the  Schools  in  1848- 
49 — New  Schoolhouses  and  Locations  of  Same  in  1850 — Schools 
Included  in  One  District  in  1884 — New  Schoolhouses  and  Loca- 
tions of  Same  in  1886 — Superintending  School  Committees  from 
1815  to  1914  Inclusive— Partial  List  of  Names  of  Teachers  from 
1850  to  1912— Biographical  Sketches  of  Ellen  C.  Sawtelle,  Juliette 
H.  Gilson,  Louise  O.  Shattuck,  and  Frances  D.  Parker — College 
Graduates  and  Biographical  Sketches  of  Same — Biographical 
Sketches  of  College  Graduates  Born  in  Brookline,  but  Graduating 
from  Other  Towns. 

The  first  recorded  action  of  the  town  relative  to  appropriating  money 
for  school  purposes  occurred  at  the  annual  March  town  meeting  in  1781, 
when  a  vote  "To  raise  three  hundred  pounds  for  schooling"  was  passed. 
There  is  no  record  that  this  vote  was  subsequently  carried  into  effect. 
And  if  it  had  been,  the  sum  realized  compared  with  that  indicated  by  the 
vote  would  have  been  insignificant.  For  at  that  time  the  continental 
paper  money  had  depreciated  in  value  to  the  extent  that  one  hundred 
pounds  in  the  latter  currency  was  equal  in  value  to  one  pound  only  in 
silver. 

The  actual  value  of  the  Continental  paper  money,  as  compared  with 
that  of  silver,  is  shown  by  a  scale  of  values  which  was  that  year  prepared 
and  adopted  by  the  Great  and  General  Court  of  New  Hampshire,  as 
follows : 


176  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

"Authorized  Scale  of  Depreciation  of  Continental  Paper  Money. 

June,  1777,  £100  in  silver  equal  to  £120  in  Continental  Paper  Money. 
"     177(>,  £100         "  "         £425 

"     1779,  £100         "  "         £1342 

"     1780,  £100         "  "         £5700 

"     1781,  £100         "  "         £12000 

By  that  scale  it  is  evident  that  the  three  hundred  pounds  authorized 
by  the  vote,  if  raised  in  silver,  would  have  been  equivalent  to  thirty-six 
thousand  dollars  in  continental  currency;  a  tidy  little  sum  of  money,  the 
raising  of  one-sixth  part  of  which,  at  that  time,  would  have  rendered  the 
town  insolvent.  It  is  probable  that  the  vote  was  passed  on  the  assump- 
tion on  the  part  of  the  voters  that  its  absurdity  would  have  the  effect 
of  destroying  its  validity. 

No  further  action  relative  to  schools  was  taken  by  the  town  until 
the  March  town  meeting  of  1783,  when  the  following  vote  was  passed; 
"To  raise  four  pounds  for  schooling  the  present  year;  said  schools  to  be 
kept  by  Isaac  Shattuck  and  James  Campbell  at  James  Campbell's  house 
at  the  pond  and  each  party  to  draw  their  own  money." 

There  is  no  reason  for  doubting  but  that  these  schools  were  kept  at 
the  house  designated  in  the  vote  and  by  the  designated  parties ;  and  thus 
it  happened  that  Isaac  Shattuck  and  James  Campbell  became  the  town's 
first  public  school-teachers  of  record.  And  as  at  the  time  the  vote  was 
passed  Campbell  was  living  in  the  dwelling  house — or  a  house  then  stand- 
ing on  its  site — at  the  present  time  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mason 
highway  opposite  the  old  meeting-house,  and  owned  and  occupied  as  his 
home  by  Lieut.  William  L.  Dodge,  there  can  be  but  little  doubt  but 
that  in  that  house  was  kept  Brookline's  first  public  school. 

The  schools  at  this  time,  and  for  many  subsequent  years  were  kept 
in  private  dwelling  houses.  The  second  school-teacher  of  record  was 
Caleb  Trowbridge,  supposed  to  be  a  son  of  Rev.  Caleb  Trowbridge,  of 
Groton,  Mass.,  who,  in  1783,  officiated  in  that  capacity,  and  received  for 
his  services  one  pound  and  four  pence. 

In  the  same  year  James  Campbell  received — "One  pound  and  seven 
shillings  and  one  half  bushel  of  rye  for  keeping  school  in  the  Lieut.  Shed 
house";  probably  Jonas  Shed's  house  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  town. 
In  that  same  year,  also,  Caleb  Trowbridge  for  teaching  school  five  weeks 
received  one  pound  and  ten  shillings,  or  about  one  dollar  per  week,  and 
he  provided  his. own  board  and  lodging  at  that.     In  these  modern  days 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  177 

of  high  prices,  one  wonders  where  he  lodged  and  of  what  his  fare  con- 
sisted. But  Caleb  evidently  was  not  discouraged  nor  cast  down;  for 
after  retiring  from  the  business  for  several  years  during  which  he  was, 
perhaps,  engaged  in  spending  his  five  dollar  wage  in  riotous  living,  he 
again  appears  on  the  scene  in  his  old  role  of  schoolmaster;  as  did  also, 
for  the  first  time,  Eleazer  Gilson;  each  receiving  pay  at  the  rate  of  one 
pound  and  eight  shillings  for  the  term,  or  forty-two  cents  per  week.  This 
last  experience  as  a  teacher  probably  finished  Trowbridge,  for,  thereafter, 
his  name  does  not  appear  again  in  the  list  of  teachers  mentioned  in  the 
records  of  the  town. 

The  first  action  taken  by  the  town  relative  to  the  building  of  school- 
houses  occurred  Nov.  6,  1786,  when  there  was  an  article  in  the  warrant — 
"To  see  if  the  town  will  build  a  house  for  the  benefit  of  the  schools." 
The  article  was  passed  over. 

Up  to  this  time  all  matters  appertaining  to  public  schools  had  been 
conducted  in  an  irregular  and  unsystematic  manner.  Some  years  the 
town  failed  to  make  any  appropriation  for  them  and,  in  the  years  when 
appropriations  were  made,  it  frequently  happened  that  the  appropriation 
was  used  for  other  purposes.  There  were  no  prudential  or  superintending 
school  committees,  their  functions  being  performed  by  the  selectmen;  who 
hired  and  paid  the  teachers,  and  regulated  the  terms  at  which  and  the 
places  in  which  the  schools  should  be  kept;  and  as  there  were  no  school 
districts  established,  they  apparently  located  them  for  any  time  of  the 
year  and  at  any  part  of  the  town  which  best  suited  their  fancies  or  whims. 

First  School  Districts. 

At  a  town  meeting  in  March,  1787,  the  selectmen  were  empowered — 
"To  divide  the  town  into  squadrons";  and  it  was  voted — "That  such 
squadrons  have  the  benefit  of  their  own  money  for  schooling  but  in  case 
any  squadron  neglects  to  school  out  their  money  within  the  year  that 
those  squadrons  which  have  schooled  out  their  own  money  shall  have  the 
benefit  of  the  same." 

The  word  squadron  as  used  in  the  foregoing  vote  was  equivalent  to 
the  word  district  as  it  is  used  in  connection  with  the  public  schools  at  the 
present  time.  The  above  vote  was  not  carried  into  effect.  But,  the 
following  year,  the  town  again  voted  to  divide  its  territory  into  school 
districts,  and  also  designated  the  number  of  districts  to  be  formed  as 
five,  and  selected  a  committee  to  make  the  division  as  follows:   Benjamin 


178  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Farley,   Lieut.   Isaac  Shattuek,   Lieut.   Ephraim  Sawtelle,   Lieut.  James 
Mcintosh,  and  Ezekiel  Proctor. 

April  11  of  the  same  year  this  committee  reported  as  follows — "To 
have  the  town  stand  as  it  is  classed  now  that  is  four  classes."  At  the 
same  meeting  it  was  voted — "To  build  a  house  for  each  class  and  to  do  it 
as  a  town;  and  to  raise  one  hundred  and  ten  pounds  to  build  said  houses; 
and  to  build  them  twenty  feet  long  and  eighteen  feet  wide,  and  to  have 
said  houses  completed  by  January  next." 

The  First  Schoolhouses. 

The  foregoing  vote  was  carried  into  effect  and  before  the  end  of  the 
year  in  which  it  was  passed,  the  four  schoolhouses  for  which  it  called 
were  either  completed  or  well  under  way;  and  in  the  following  year, 
1788,  all  of  them  were  completed  and  occupied. 

At  this  late  day  it  is  almost  impossible  to  locate  the  sites  of  these 
houses.  But  tradition  says  that  the  house  erected  in  the  northwest  class, 
or  district,  was  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Greenville 
(then  Mason)  near  the  dwelling  house  then  of  Moses  Shattuek,  but  after- 
wards of  the  late  Henry  K.  Kemp.  The  house  in  the  northeast  class  was 
located  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Milford  near  Lakin's  pond; 
that  in  the  center  class  was  located  a  few  rods  north  of  the  old  meeting- 
house on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Mason ;  and  that  of  the  southeast 
class  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Pepperell,  Mass.,  and  opposite 
to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  South  cemetery. 

Of  these  first  schoolhouses,  that  in  the  centre  class  located  near  the 
old  meeting-house  is  mentioned  by  the  Rev.  T.  P.  Sawin  in  his  "Chroni- 
cles," read  at  the  town's  centennial  in  1869.  There  is  also  a  reference  to 
it  in  an  ancient  "order  book"  of  the  town  as  follows:  "Ezekiel  Proctor — 
one  pound  two  shillings  six  pence  and  three  farthings,  it  being  his  rate 
towards  Building  the  schoolhouse  by  the  meeting-house";  and  again  in 
1796  it  is  mentioned  in  the  order  book,  in  connection  with  an  order  on 
Asher  Spaulding,  as  the  "Central  schoolhouse  near  the  meeting-house." 

In  the  southeast  class  schoolhouse  in  1798,  the  year  after  he  was  or- 
dained, the  Rev.  Lemuel  Wadsworth  taught  for  seven  weeks  at  a  wage 
of  four  dollars  per  week.  In  the  same  year  Louis  Jewett  taught  in  this 
class,  Samuel  Brown  in  the  northeast  class,  Polly  McDonald  in  the  central 
class  and  John  Daniels  in  the  northwest  class. 

The  town  maintained  this  system  of  four  school  classes  for  a  period 
of  sixteen  years,  or  until  1808.    During  this  period  the  records  furnish  but 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  179 

little  information  concerning  the  schools.  But  on  the  said  order  book 
there  is  a  record  to  the  effect  that  in  the  winter  of  1801,  Benjamin  Mark 
Farley  taught  school  in  the  southeast  class,  receiving  as  pay  for  his  services 
thirteen  dollars  and  thirty-two  cents  for  the  term. 

In  1806  the  school-teachers  were  Lucy  Wadsworth,  Joseph  F.  Ben- 
nett and  Polly  Daniels.  Polly  taught  the  summer  term  in  the  northwest 
class  at  a  wage  of  nine  dollars  and  twenty-six  cents  for  the  term. 

In  the  year  1807  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  dollars  was 
raised  for  the  support  of  the  schools. 

In  1806  the  word  district  as  a  substitute  for  class  appears  on  the 
records  for  the  first  time  when,  at  a  town  meeting  holden  on  the  twenty- 
ninth  day  of  August,  it  was  voted  to  accept  the  report  of  a  committee  in 
favor  of  a  new  division  of  the  town  into  school  districts.  The  report  was 
in  favor  of  three  instead  of  four  districts.  No  action  was  taken  on  the 
vote,  and  the  old  system  of  four  districts  prevailed  until  1810. 

First  Superintending  School  Committee. 

In  1808  the  town  elected  its  first  superintending  school  committee 
as  follows : 

James  Parker,  Sr.,  Capt.  Eli  Sawtelle,  Deacon  Joseph  Emerson,  Lieut. 
Benjamin  Shattuck,  George  Daniels,  James  Mcintosh,  and  Capt.  Robert 
Seaver.    It  was  styled — "A  committee  to  regulate  the  school  classes." 

The  following  year,  1809,  John  Daniels,  Lieut.  George  Daniels  and 
Rev.  Lemuel  Wadsworth  were  elected  "Inspectors  of  Schools."  Among 
the  names  of  the  school-teachers  for  that  year  appear  the  names  of  Amos 
Ames  and  Sally  Daniels. 

In  1810  the  question  of  redistricting  the  town  again  came  up  for  con- 
sideration and,  at  a  town  meeting  holden  on  the  5th  day  of  August,  the 
town  voted  to  divide  its  territory  into  three  school  districts. 

No  immediate  action  relative  to  carrying  this  vote  into  effect  appears 
to  have  been  taken.  But  in  reading  between  the  lines  of  the  records  it 
becomes  apparent  that  between  the  years  1812  and  1815  the  said  division 
into  three  districts  was  made,  and  that  the  old  schoolhouses  were  aban- 
doned and  new  ones  erected. 

The  three  new  districts  were  known,  respectively,  as  the  north,  north- 
west, and  southeast  districts.  The  three  new  schoolhouses  were  located 
as  follows:  that  in  the  north  district  was  located  about  two  miles  north 
of  the  village  Main  street  on  the  west  side  of  the  Milford  highway  and 
a  few  rods  north  of  the  north  cemetery;    that  in  the  northwest  district 


180  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

was  located  about  one  mile  north  of  the  village  Main  street  on  the  west 
side  of  the  highway  to  Mason  in  the  V  formed  by  the  junction  of  the 
latter  highwa)  with  the  highway  leading  out  of  it  to  the  Mathew  Wallace 
place.  Of  these  two  schoolhouses,  that  in  the  northwest,  or  Pond  district, 
was  destroyed  by  fire  many  years  ago.  But  the  house  in  the  north  dis- 
trict is  in  existence  at  the  present  time.  A  few  years  after  its  abandon- 
ment by  the  town,  it  was  removed  to  a  site  near  the  dwelling  house  on 
said  Milford  highway,  formerly  of  Calvin  Shedd,  but  at  the  present  time 
of  Ichabod  Lund,  where  for  many  years  it  was  used  as  a  cooper's  shop, 
and  where  at  the  present  time  (1914)  it  is  still  standing. 

The  third  in  number  of  these  three  schoolhouses,  or  that  one  erected 
in  the  southeast  district,  was  located  at  what  is  now  the  south  end  of  the 
village  Main  street,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Pepperell, 
Mass.  It  was  built  in  1812  by  Capt.  Nathan  Corey  with  bricks  burned  in 
the  Luther  Rockwood  kiln  in  South  Brookline.  Its  cost  was  two  hundred 
and  fifty-two  dollars.  This  house  is  still  standing.  At  the  present  time 
it  is  owned  and  occupied  as  her  home  by  widow  Ira  Daniels. 

As  to  their  outside  dimensions,  these  houses  were  identical.  Inside, 
they  were  patterned  after  the  style  then  prevailing  in  schoolhouse  inte- 
riors. The  central  ground  space,  for  a  breadth  of  from  eight  to  ten  feet 
and  extending  in  length  from  end  to  end  of  the  room,  was  covered  with 
rough  plank  flooring  which,  on  either  side,  rose  on  inclined  planes  to  the 
side  walls  of  the  house.  Upon  these  inclined  planes  were  located  the 
desks  and  seats  of  the  pupils.  Both  desks  and  seats  were  of  primitive 
shapes,  rudely  constructed,  and  as  uncomfortable  as  it  was  possible  for 
human  ingenuity  to  conceive  and  construct  them.  The  girls  sat  together 
on  one  side  of  the  house  and  the  boys  on  the  other.  At  the  back  part  of 
the  room,  opposite  the  entrance  door  to  the  house,  was  a  large  chimney 
with  a  fireplace  of  dimensions  sufficient  to  take  in  cord  wood  sticks;  on 
one  side  of  which,  generally  on  the  side  next  to  the  girls,  the  teacher's 
desk  was  placed. 

Pupils  attended  school  to  a  much  more  advanced  period  in  their  lives 
than  at  the  present  time.  Especially  was  this  the  case  in  the  winter  time, 
when  a  large  percentage  of  the  scholars  was  made  up  of  young  men  and 
women  of  from  21  to  25  and  even  older  years  of  age. 

In  the  winter  terms  of  school,  males  were  generally  employed  as 
teachers,  and  their  success  in  the  business  depended  more  upon  their 
physical  than  their  mental  qualifications. 

The  big  boys  generally  devoted  the  first  few  days  to  "trying  out"  the 
master;   and  woe  to  him  if  he  failed  to  exhibit  the  tact,  nerve  and  strength 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  181 

necessary  to  govern  and  control  them;  for,  in  that  case,  his  reign  was 
generally  brief,  and  its  ending  an  ignominious  one. 

In  some  districts  it  was  no  unusual  event  for  the  school  to  experience 
a  change  of  teachers  several  times  in  the  same  term  ere  one  could  be  pro- 
cured whose  staying  powers  were  sufficiently  developed  to  enable  him  to 
hold  out  to  the  end. 

The  textbooks  in  use  at  this  time,  as  they  continued  to  be  until  well 
into  the  forties,  were  Emerson's  Mental,  Colburn's  Mental  and  Adams' 
Practical  Arithmetics,  and  Olney's  Geographies. 

From  1815  to  1836  the  annual  appropriations  for  schools  averaged 
from  $150  to  $200. 

In  1827  Dr.  David  Harris'  name  appears  upon  the  records  for  the 
first  time  as  a  member  of  the  school  committee,  a  position  which  he  con- 
tinued to  hold  for  several  years  in  succession  thereafter.  In  1828  the 
Rev.  Jacob  Holt  served  on  the  committee.  In  1836  the  committee  con- 
sisted of  Dr.  Harris  and  Rev.  Henry  E.  Eastman. 

School  Report  Printed  in  Pamphlet  Form  for  the  First  Time. 

In  1832  the  superintending  school  committee,  as  the  school  board 
was  then  termed,  consisting  of  Dr.  David  Harris,  John  Sawtelle  and  Capt. 
John  Smith,  submitted  to  the  town  the  first  formal  and  detailed  report 
of  the  condition  of  its  public  schools. 

By  the  report  it  appeared  that  the  number  of  pupils  attending  the 
schools  during  that  year  was  148,  divided  among  the  three  districts  as 
follows:  District  number  one,  44;  district  number  two,  44;  district  num- 
ber three,  60.  Among  the  textbooks  reported  as  being  in  use  at  that 
time  were  The  National  Reader,  Scott's  lessons,  Analytical  Reader,  Easy 
Lessons,  and  Kelley's  Spelling  Book. 

In  1842  the  school  report  shows  the  number  of  pupils  in  the  public 
schools  to  have  been  180;  and  gives  a  list  of  the  textbooks  then  in  use 
as  follows:  "Rhetorical  Reader,  Monitorial  Reader,  National  Reader, 
Young's  Reader,  New  Testament,  Emerson's  First  and  Second  Spelling 
Books,  Smith's,  Olney's  and  Peter  Parley's  Geographies,  Adam's  and 
Colburn's  Arithmetic's  and  Smith's  Grammar." 

Redistricting  of  the  Schools.  1848-49. 

Almost  every  year  from  1836  to  1849  the  warrants  for  the  annual 
town  meetings  contained  articles  calling  for  a  re-division  of  the  town  into 


182  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

school  districts.  These  articles  were  generally  voted  down  or  passed  over; 
but,  finally,  at  the  March  meeting  in  1849,  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  I.  Bard 
Sawtelle,  Artemus  Wright,  Abel  Foster  and  Eldad  Sawtelle  were  elected 
as  a  committee — "To  redistrict  their  territory  into  school  districts  and 
define  their  bounds."  March  30th  of  the  same  year  this  committee  re- 
ported in  favor  of  dividing  the  town  into  seven  school  districts.  The 
report  was  accepted  and,  although  at  a  subsequent  meeting  an  attempt 
to  reconsider  it  was  made,  stood. 

The  report  defined  the  boundary  lines  of  each  of  the  contemplated 
new  districts  and,  soon  after  its  acceptance  by  the  town,  the  inhabitants 
in  each  district  met,  organized  and  commenced  the  building  of  new  school- 
houses.  Before  the  close  of  the  following  year,  1850,  the  houses  were  all 
completed  and  in  use. 

The  Locations  of  the  Schoolhouses  Built  in  1850. 

The  schoolhouse  in  district  number  one,  known  as  the  "Paddledock 
district,"  was  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  road  leading  out  of  the  south 
side  of  the  highway  to  Townsend,  Mass.,  at  a  point  just  south  of  the 
bridge  over  the  Wallace  brook  in  South  Brookline  and  passing  in  an  east- 
erly direction  to  the  Oak  Hill  road,  so  called,  with  which  it  united  near 
the  bridge  over  the  river  known  as  Bohanon's.  It  was  located  about  one 
hundred  rods  west  of  the  latter  bridge.  The  house  in  district  number 
two,  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town,  was  located  on  the  east  side  of 
the  north  highway  to  Townsend  and  a  few  rods  west, of  the  old  Mathew 
Wallace  place;  that  in  district  number  three,  known  as  the  Pond  dis- 
trict, was  located  about  two  and  one-half  miles  north  of  the  village  Main 
street  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Mason,  and  nearly  opposite  a 
lane  which  leads  out  of  said  Mason  highway  on  its  westerly  side  and 
terminates  at  the  dwelling  houses  formerly  of  John  S.  Daniels  and  Davis 
Green.  The  house  in  district  number  four,  the  village  district,  was  lo- 
cated on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Milford  a  few  rods  north  of  the 
Congregational  church;  that  in  district  number  five  was  located  on  the 
west  side  of  the  east  highway  to  Milford  about  one  mile  north  of  the  vil- 
lage Main  street,  and  a  short  distance  north  of  the  old  James  McDaniels 
place  (more  recently  the  Artemas  Wright  place).  The  house  in  district 
number  six,  known  as  the  Alpheus  Shattuck  district,  was  located  about 
three  miles  north  of  the  village  Main  street,  on  the  east  side  of  the  high- 
way to  Greenville,  near  the  point  where  the  highway  to  the  old  Nathaniel 
Hutchingson  place  leads  out  of  the  same.     The  schoolhouse  in  district 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  183 

number  seven,  which  comprised  the  northeast  part  of  the  town,  was  lo- 
cated about  three  miles  north  of  the  village  on  the  west  side  of  the  high- 
way to  Milford,  and  near  the  dwelling  house  and  sawmill  of  the  late 
Beri  Bennett. 

Of  these  seven  schoolhouses  there  are  remaining  at  the  present  time 
(1914)  only  two;  i.  e.,  that  in  the  Pond  district,  which  has  been  trans- 
formed into  a  dwelling  house;  and  the  schoolhouse  in  the  village,  which 
at  the  present  time  is  in  use  for  the  Grammar  schools.  The  bell  which 
hangs  in  the  tower  of  this  house  was  a  gift  from  the  late  Ensign  Bailey 
to  the  district  in  the  fifties,  soon  after  the  house  was  built. 

At  the  date  of  the  building  of  the  seven  schoolhouses  the  number  of 
the  town's  school  children  was  two  hundred  and  fifty  (250),  divided 
among  the  districts  as  follows:  number  one,  49;  number  two,  16;  num- 
ber three,  33;  number  four,  61;  number  five,  34 ;  number  six,  30;  number 
seven,  27. 

The  division  of  the  town  into  seven  school  districts  continued  for  a 
period  of  thirty-five  years  or  until  1884.  In  the  meantime,  however, 
several  attempts  to  abolish  the  system  were  made. 

The  first  of  these  attempts  occurred  in  1880,  when  there  was  an 
article  in  the  warrant  for  the  annual  March  meeting — "To  see  if  the  town 
will  divide  into  five  districts";  and  a  committee  of  seven,  one  from  each 
school  district,  was  appointed  to  consider  the  matter. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  in  the  same  year,  this  committee,  which 
consisted  of  Jedidiah  L-  Wilbur,  dist.  1,  Eli  S.  Cleveland,  dist.  2,  Joseph 
Sawtelle,  dist.  4,  Franklin  Gilman,  dist.  5,  William  H.  Hall,  dist.  6,  and 
Ichabod  Lund,  dist.  7,  reported  in  favor  of  the  division  into  five  districts. 
The  report  was  accepted,  and  the  selectmen  and  superintending  school 
committee  were  instructed  to  make  the  division.  But  at  a  subsequent 
meeting  in  April  of  the  same  year  this  vote  was  rescinded. 

For  the  following  three  years  the  question  was  allowed  to  rest  with- 
out any  action  on  part  of  the  town.  But  in  the  meantime,  to  those  of  its 
citizens  who  had  its  educational  interests  at  heart,  it  was  becoming  more 
and  more  apparent  that  its  antiquated  school  system  as  well  as  its  old- 
fashioned  schoolhouses  had  passed  their  days  of  usefulness;  and  that  a 
change,  both  in  methods  of  teaching  and  in  the  style  of  the  schoolhouses, 
was  absolutely  necessary  to  the  future  welfare  of  its  public  schools. 

These  advocates  of  a  change  in  the  public  school  system  kept  the 
matter  in  constant  agitation.  Among  them  no  one  worked  more  strenu- 
ously or  more  ably  for  the  cause  than  did  the  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent, 


184  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

superintendent  of  the  schools  for  the  years  1882  and  1884;    as  is  shown 
by  his  reports  for  those  years. 

Gradually  the  public  developed  a  preponderating  sentiment  in  favor 
of  the  change  and  when,  at  the  March  town  meeting,  in  1884,  there  ap- 
peared an  article  looking  to  the  abolishment  of  the  system  of  seven  school 
districts,  and  the  establishment  in  place  thereof  of  a  new  system  in  which 
the  entire  township  should  be  included  in  one  district,  the  article  was 
passed  almost  unanimously. 

The  Public  Schools  under  the  One  District  System. 

New  Schoolhouses. 

At  the  same  meeting  at  which  the  town  voted  to  include  all  its  schools 
in  one  school  district,  i.  e.,  April  8,  1884,  a  vote  to  build  three  new  school- 
houses  was  also  passed;  and  Joseph  A.  Hall,  David  H.  Kendall  and  the 
board  of  education,  which  that  year  consisted  of  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent, 
were  elected  as  a  committee  to  superintend  the  building  of  the  same. 
At  the  same  time  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to  appraise  the  school 
property  owned  by  the  town.  This  appraisal  was  made  the  same  year; 
and  its  valuation,  as  reported  by  the  board  of  selectmen,  was  found  to 
be  eleven  hundred  and  twenty -three  and  tVo  dollars  ($1123.50). 

Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  action  by  the  town  relative  to  the 
building  of  new  schoolhouses,  some,  at  least,  of  the  old  houses  continued 
to  be  used  for  school  purposes  for  several  years  after  it  was  taken;  the 
house  in  district  number  two  remaining  in  the  service  until  1886.  In 
the  meantime,  however,  the  schoolhouses  in  districts  numbers  three  and 
six  became  so  dilapidated  as  to  be  unfit  for  further  occupancy  and  they 
were  abandoned. 

Finally,  however,  in  1886,  the  building  committee  reported  the  three 
schoolhouses  as  completed  and  ready  for  use,  and  they  were  that  year 
turned  over  to  the  school  authorities.  Of  these  three  houses,  however, 
only  one  was  newly  built,  the  other  two  having  been  supplied  by  repairing 
and  remodeling  two  of  those  in  use  under  the  old  system.  The  new  house 
of  the  three  was  located  on  "The  Plain"  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway 
to  Pepperell,  Mass.,  and  about  one-half  mile  south  of  the  Congregational 
meeting-house.  At  the  present  time  it  is  in  use  for  a  primary  school. 
The  second  of  these  three  "new"  schoolhouses  was,  and  is,  located  in  the 
Pond  district  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Mason,  and  about  one 
hundred  rods  north  of  the  junction  of  the  latter  highway  with  the  high- 
way leading  out  of  it  to  the  old  Mathew  Wallace  place.     It  is  the  same 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  185 

schoolhouse  which  under  the  seven  district  system  was  in  use  in  district 
five;  its  location  under  that  system  having  been  on  the  west  side  of  the 
east  highway  to  Milford,  a  few  rods  north  of  the  old  James  McDaniels 
place. 

The  third  in  number  of  these  houses  is  that  which  at  the  present  time 
is  standing  in  the  fork  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  highways  to  Milford 
and  Greenville,  two  miles  north  of  the  village  Main  street.  It  is  the 
schoolhouse  formerly  of  the  old  school  district  number  seven;  where  its 
location  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Milford  near  the  Beri 
Bennett  sawmill. 

The  building  of  the  new  house,  with  the  removal  and  continued  use 
of  two  of  the  old  ones,  and  the  retention  and  continued  use  of  the  old 
schoolhouse  in  the  village,  reduced  the  town's  schoolhouses  to  four  in 
number,  a  number  which  up  to  the  present  time  (1914)  has  remained 
unchanged. 

With  the  establishment  of  the  one  district  system,  the  name  district 
as  applied  to  the  classification  of  the  schools,  became  obsolete ;  and  in  its 
place  were  substituted  the  words  primary  and  grammar,  representing,  re- 
spectively, the  two  grades  into  which  the  schools  were  that  year  divided. 
Under  this  system  the  school  located  on  Milford  street  in  the  village  was 
classed  as  a  grammar  school,  and  the  remaining  three  as  primary  schools 
— a  classification  which  at  the  present  time  (1914)  still  exists.* 

At  the  time  it  was  made  the  number  of  the  town's  school  children 
was  ninety-four  (94),  divided  between  the  sexes  as  follows:  Boys,  42; 
girls,  52.  At  the  present  time  (1913)  the  whole  number  of  pupils  in  the 
schools  is  86,  of  which  number  43  are  boys  and  43  are  girls.  The  text- 
books in  use  at  the  present  time  are  as  follows:  Arnold  and  Kittredge's 
Grammar,  Charles  E.  Merrill's  Readers, — "Graded  Literature" — Went- 
worth's  Arithmetics,  Montgomery's  History,  Redding  and  Hirman's 
Geography,  Albert  F.  Blaisdel's  Physiology. 

Superintending  School  Committees,  1815-1914. 

1815;  Rev.  Samuel  Wadsworth,  James  Parker,  Sr.,  Thomas  Bennett. 
1816;  Rev.  Samuel  Wadsworth,  James  Parker,  Sr.,  Thomas  Bennett. 
1817;  James  Parker,  Sr.,  Samuel  T.  Boynton,  Thomas  Bennett. 
1818;  James  Parker,  Sr.,  Samuel  T.  Boynton,  Thomas  Bennett. 
1819;  James  Parker,  Sr.,  Thomas  Bennett,  Nathaniel  Shattuck. 

*  In  the  summer  of  1914  the  grammar  school  was  removed  from  the  school-house  in  District  No.  4 
into  the  school-room  in  Daniels  Academy  building. 


186  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

1820;  Samuel  T.  Boynton,  James  Parker,  Sr.,  John  Daniels. 

1821 ;  Thomas  Bennett,  Gecrge  Daniels,  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1822;  Nathaniel  Shattuek,  Isaac  Sawtelle. 

1823;  Nathaniel  Shattuek,  James  Parker,  Sr.,  Randal  McDonald. 

1824;  John  Sawtelle,  George  Daniels,  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1825;  No  record. 

1826;  No  record. 

1827;  Nathan  Corey,  David  Harris,  Nathaniel  Shattuek. 

1828;  Rev.  Jacob  Holt,  Dr.  David  Harris. 

1829;  Rev.  Jacob  Holt,  Dr.  David  Harris. 

1830;  Rev.  Jacob  Holt,  Dr.  David  Harris. 

1831;  Rev.  Jacob  Holt,  Dr.  David  Harris. 

1832;  Rev.  Jacob  Holt,  Dr.  David  Harris. 

1833 ;  John  Smith,  John  Sawtelle. 

1834;  John  Smith,  Alpheus  Shattuek,  Dr.  David  Harris. 

1835;  John  Smith,  EH  Sawtelle. 

1836;  No  record. 

1837;  Rev.  Henry  C.  Eastman,  Dr.  David  Harris. 

1838;  No  record. 

1839;  No  record. 

1840;  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin,  Dr.  David  Harris. 

1841;  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin,  Dr.  David  Harris,  George  A.  Daniels. 

1842;  Isaac  Sawtelle,  Nathaniel  Shattuek,  Ransom  Fisk. 

1843;  Isaac  Sawtelle,  Ransom  Fisk,  Fernando  Bailey. 

1844;  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin,  Ransom  Fisk,  Fernando  Bailey. 

1845;  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin,  Nathaniel  Shattuek,  Jr.,  William  Gilson. 

1846;  Nathaniel  Shattuek,  Jr.,  Ithimar  B.  Sawtelle,  Fernando  Bailey. 

1847;  Nathaniel  Shattuek,  Jr.,  Eldad  Sawtelle,  Dr.  David  Harris. 

1848;  Nathaniel  Shattuek,  Jr.,  Ithimar  B.  Sawtelle,  N.  Herman  Shattuek. 

1849;  Francis  A.  Peterson. 

1850;  N.  Herman  Shattuek,  Dr.  Jonathan  C.  Shattuek,  Fernando  Bailey. 

1851 ;  Dr.  Johathan  C.  Shattuek,  Isaac  Sawtelle,  Francis  A.  Peterson. 

1852;  Dr.  Jonathan  C.  Shattuek. 

1853;  Dr.  Jonathan  C.  Shattuek. 

1854;  N.  Herman  Shattuek. 

1855;  Nathaniel  H.  Lund. 

1856;  N.  Herman  Shattuek. 

1857;  Benjamin  Gould. 

1858;  Dr.  Jonathan  G.  Shattuek. 

1859;  Joseph  F.  Jefts. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  187 

1860;  Dr.  Jonathan  C.  Shattuek. 

1861;  Dr.  Jonathan  C.  Shattuek. 

1862;  Rev.  George  C.  Thomas. 

1863;  Fernando  Bailey. 

1864;  Rev.  Theophilus  P.  Sawin. 

1865;  Rev.  George  F.  Eaton. 

1866;  Dr.  David  P.  Stowell. 

1867;  Henry  K.  Kemp. 

1868;  Rev.  Charles  H.  Chase. 

1869;  Edward  E.  Parker. 

1870;  Benjamin  Gould. 

1871;  No  record. 

1872;  No  record. 

1873;  Edward  E.  Parker. 

1874;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Shattuek. 

1875;  Rev.  William  E.  Bennett. 

1876;  Henry  K.  Kemp. 

1877;  Henry  K.  Kemp. 

1878;  Charles  A.  Stickney. 

1879;  Benjamin  Gould. 

1880;  Benjamin  Gould. 

1881 ;  Benjamin  Gould. 

1882;  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent. 

1883;  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent. 

1884;  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent. 

Board  of  Education. 

1885;  No  record. 

1886;  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent,  Dr.  Alonzo  S.  Wallace,  George  W.  Bridges. 

1887;  Dr.  Alonzo  S.  Wallace,  George  W.  Bridges. 

•1888;  Dr.  Alonzo  S.  Wallace,  Charles  A.  Stickney,  Charles  Shattuek. 

1889;  George  H.  Nye,  George  E.  Stiles. 

1890;  Caroline  E.  Hardy,  Orville  D.  Fessenden,  Mrs.  Ella  W.  Tucker. 

1891 ;  Mrs.  Ella  W.  Tucker,  Caroline  E-  Hardy,  George  W.  Bridges. 

1892;  George  W.  Bridges,  Rev.  George  L.  Todd. 

1893;  George  W.  Bridges,  Mrs.  Ella  W.  Tucker. 

1894;  Ella  W.  Tucker,  Orville  D.  Fessenden,  George  E.  Stiles. 

1895;  Ella  W.  Tucker,  Orville  D.  Fessenden,  George  E-  Stiles. 

1896;  Orville  D.  Fessenden,  Ella  W.  Tucker,  George  H.  Nye. 


188  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 


1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 


Ella  W.  Tucker,  Orville  D.  Fessenden,  George  H.  Nye. 

George  H.  Nye,  George  W.  Bridges. 

George  H.  Nye,  George  W.  Bridges,  Miss  Myrtie  L.  Shattuek. 

George  W.  Bridges,  Myrtie  L-  Shattuek. 

Rev.  John  Thorp,  George  W.  Bridges. 

Rev.  John  Thorp,  George  W.  Bridges. 

George  W.  Bridges,  Eddie  S.  Whiteomb,  Alpha  A.  Hall. 

Eddie  S.  Whiteomb,  Harry  H.  Marshall. 

Harry  H.  Marshall,  Ella  W.  Tucker. 

Harry  H.  Marshall,  Ella  W.  Tucker. 

George  Nye,  Eddie  S.  Whiteomb,  Mrs.  Nancy  J.  Daniels. 

Mrs.  Nancy  J.  Daniels,  Eddie  S.  Whiteomb,  Mrs.  Abbie  B.  Bennett. 

George  L.  Dodge,  Nancy  J.  Daniels,  George  H.  Nye. 

George  L.  Dodge,  George  H.  Nye,  Mrs.  Nancy  J.  Daniels. 

George  L.  Dodge,  Nancy  J.  Daniels,  George  H.  Nye. 

George  H.  Nye,  Nancy  J.  Daniels,  Arthur  A.  Goss. 

George  H.  Nye,  Nancy  J.  Daniels,  Arthur  A.  Goss. 

Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe,  Ella  W.  Tucker,  George  H.  Nye. 


A  Partial  List  of  the  Names  of  the  Town's  Native  Born  Teachers, 

1850-1910. 

Frances  D.  Parker,  Martha  Bailey,  Amanda  Sawtelle,  Caroline  Shat- 
tuek, N.  Herman  Shattuek,  Edward  E.  Parker,  Ellen  C.  Sawtelle,  Theresa 
Seaver,  Celia  A.  Hobart,  Myrtie  L.  Shattuek,  Josie  Seaver,  Carrie  Rus- 
sell, Lizzie  H.  Hutchingson,  Loella  V.  Shattuek,  Jennie  M.  Russell,  Bertha 
A.  Swett,  Florence  N.  Hobart,  Mrs.  Emma  Kline,  Minnie  A.  Colburn, 
Cora  F.  Cleveland,  Fannie  M.  Cox,  Mabel  L.  Edson,  Mabel  S.  Tucker, 
Bertha  E.  Bohonon,  Edith  M.  Bohonon,  Jennie  A.  Shattuek,  Mary  L. 
Brown,  Mabel  L.  Hodgman,  Mae  E-  Kline,  Frank  W.  Kendall,  Bertha 
Kline,  Grace  Whiteomb,  Marion  Stiles,  Helen  Hobart,  Juliette  H.  Gilson. 

Of  those  whose  names  appear  on  the  above  list,  four  at  least  adopted 
teaching  as  an  avocation  and  made  it  their  life  work.  The  names  of  the 
four  are  as  follows:  Ellen  C.  Sawtelle,  Juliette  H.  Gilson,  Louisa  O.  Shat- 
tuek, and  Frances  D.  Parker. 


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HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


189 


MISS   ELLEN   C.  SAWTELLE 


ELLEN  CATH- 
ERINE  SAW- 
TELLE was  born 
in  Brookline  March 
16,1843.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Catherine 
(Parker)  Sawtelle, 
and  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  Richard 
Sawtelle,  an  early 
settler  in  Groton, 
Mass.,  coming  there 
from  Watertown, 
Mass.  On  her 
mother's  side  of  the 
house  she  is  a  de- 
scendant in  the  fifth 
generation  of  Deacon  Thomas  Parker,  an  early  settler  in  Reading,  Mass. 
She  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  her  native  town,  Appleton 
Academy  of  Mont  Vernon,  and  the  State  Normal  School  at  Salem,  Mass., 
graduating  at  the  latter  institution  in  1864.  Soon  after  her  graduation 
at  the  Normal  School  and  during  the  same  year,  she  received  an  appoint- 
ment as  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  was  immedi- 
ately assigned  to  a  position  in  the  Hancock  Grammar  School,  where  from 
the  date  of  her  appointment  to  the  present  time,  a  period  of  forty-eight 
years,  she  has  taught  continuously. 

During  this  period  she  has  filled  every  position  open  to  the  school's 
corps  of  teachers,  holding  for  a  large  portion  of  the  time  that  of  first 
assistant.  In  1904  she  was  appointed  master  of  the  school ;  a  position  which 
she  continues  to  hold  at  the  present  time,  and  in  the  occupancy  of  which 
she  is  one  of  eight  only  of  the  city's  female  teachers  who  have  attained  to 
the  honor  of  that  position. 

The  Hancock  School  is  one  of  the  largest  and,  from  its  location  and 
the  number  and  character  of  its  pupils,  one  of  the  most  important  of  Bos- 
ton's public  schools.  As  its  master,  Miss  Sawtelle  has  exercised  a  most 
powerful  influence  in  the  work  of  Americanizing  the  children  of  the  foreign 
born  population  of  the  city.  Her  labors  in  this  line  and  the  results  ac- 
cruing from  them  are  justly  regarded  as  being  entitled  to  rank  with  the 
city's  largest  and  most  important  missionary  enterprises.    In  retiring  from 


190  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

her  work  as  a  teacher,  which  she  contemplates  doing  at  the  end  of  the 
present  school  year  (1912),  Miss  Sawtelle  will  leave  behind  her  the  repu- 
tation of  having  been  for  many  years  one  of  the  city's  most  conscientious 
and  efficient  public  school-teachers. 

Miss  Sawtelle's  success  as  a  teacher  has  been  fully  equalled  by  her 
success  socially.  There  is  probably  not  a  better  known  woman  in  Boston. 
She  numbers  her  friends  by  the  legion  not  only  in  the  city,  but  also  in  the 
towns  in  the  vicinity.  She  is  an  active  and  honored  member  of  many  of 
the  city's  social  and  literary  societies,  including  the  Twentieth  Century 
Club. 

During  all  the  years  of  her  sojourn  in  Boston,  she  has  retained  her 
love  and  affection  for,  and  continued  to  hold  her  residence  in,  her  native 
town  where,  with  the  exception  of  several  seasons  spent  in  traveling  in 
Europe  and  in  her  own  country,  she  has  passed  her  vacations  in  the  old 
homestead,  receiving  and  entertaining  her  friends  and  acquaintances  with 
a  hearty  and  generous  hospitality  which  is  one  of  her  marked  characteris- 
tics, and  where  she  enjoys  the  respect  and  esteem  of  her  fellow  townsmen. 

In  the  early  part  of  June,  in  accord  with  her  often  expressed  deter- 
mination to  retire  from  teaching  during  the  year  1912,  Miss  Sawtelle 
announced  her  resignation  as  Master  of  the  Hancock  School.  The  news 
of  her  resignation  was  received  with  sincere  expressions  of  regret  by  her 
friends;  and  especially  so  by  the  two  thousand  girls  who  had  graduated 
from  the  school  during  the  years  of  her  connection  with  it ;  who,  in  recog- 
nition of  their  esteem  for  her,  on  the  evening  of  June  7th,  tendered  her  a 
reception  in  the  Hancock  School  building,  at  which  more  than  five  hundred 
of  their  number  were  present. 

At  the  close  of  the  reception,  her  former  pupils  organized  themselves 
into  a  permanent  association  under  the  name  of  "Miss  Sawtelle's  Girls." 

JULIETTE  HANNAH  GILSON  was  born  in  Brookline,  Jan.  11, 
1845.  She  is  a  daughter  of  William  and  Hannah  W.  (Wheeler)  Gilson, 
each  late  of  Milford,  deceased.  Miss  Gilson  graduated  at  Mount  Holyoke 
Seminary.  1868;  she  was  a  missionary  in  Southern  Illinois,  1868-70; 
professor  in  Bluenhof  Seminary,  Stellenbosch,  Cape  Colony,  1876-1883; 
mission  work  among  Kaffirs  and  Zulus,  South  Africa,  1883-1886.  Regular 
and  post-graduate  course  at  Hartford  Theological  Seminary,  1890-94, 
receiving  degree  of  S.  T.  B.;  missionary  of  A.  B.  C,  Zulu  Mission,  Rho- 
desia, Africa,  1896  to  present  time. 

Miss  Gilson's  life  was  passed  in  this  town  until  1865,  when  she  re- 
moved with  her  father  to  Milford.    Since  then,  as  appears  from  the  fore- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  191 

going,  she  has  passed  many  years  in  Africa,  devoting  herself  to  mission- 
ary work,  an  avocation  for  which  by  natural  abilities,  training  and  edu- 
cation, she  is  thoroughly  fitted,  and  in  which  she  has  acquired  a  most 
excellent  reputation,  and  one  far  more  than  local  in  its  extent.  Miss 
Gilson  is  a  good  public  speaker,  and  as  such  is  well  known  in  this  vicinity . 

LOUISA  O.  SHATTUCK,  a  daughter  of  Gardner  and  Silence 
(Warren)  Shattuck,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Nov.  11,  1827.  She  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  of  her  native  town  and  in  the  Female 
Seminary  at  West  Townsend,  Mass.  In  1849  she  removed  from  Brook- 
line  to  Framingham,  Mass.,  where  she  made  her  home  with  her  brother, 
Gardner  Iv.  Shattuck.  She  taught  for  several  terms  in  the  public  schools 
of  Framingham,  Mass.,  and  subsequently  in  the  Hopkinton,  Mass.,  High 
School.  About  1854  she  returned  to  Brookline,  where  for  several  years 
following  she  engaged  in  teaching,  both  in  public  and  private  schools. 

Miss  Shattuck  was  apparently  born  with  a  predilection  for  teaching 
as  a  profession.  It  constituted  a  predominating  element  in  her  character 
throughout  her  entire  life;  always  enthusiastic,  she  was  uniformly  suc- 
cessful.    She  excelled  especially  in  Latin  and  drawing. 

In  1858  she  left  her  old  New  England  home  for  California,  sailing 
from  New  York  July  5th.  After  what  was  then  considered  a  quick  pas- 
sage, she  arrived  in  San  Francisco  July  28.  In  San  Francisco  she  met 
and  married  Pillsbury  Hodgkins,  who  was  then  employed  as  an  agent  by 
the  Wells-Fargo  Express  Company,  running  on  the  company's  boat  be- 
tween San  Francisco  and  Stockholm.  In  the  latter  place,  soon  after  their 
marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hodgkins  settled  and  established  their  home; 
and  in  that  place  were  born  their  children,  three  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Mrs.  Hodgkins'  children  received  their  education  largely,  if  not 
wholly,  from  their  mother. 

In  1892  her  husband  died,  and  soon  after  his  death  she  removed 
from  vStockholm  to  San  Francisco,  where  she  made  her  home  with  one  of 
her  sons. 

In  San  Francisco,  true  to  her  natural  predilections,  she  resumed  her 
old  calling  of  teaching,  confining  her  work,  however,  to  the  instruction 
of  private  pupils,  among  whom  were  many  Chinese,  in  whom  she  was 
especially  interested.  She  never  taught  in  the  public  schools  of  San 
Francisco. 

Mrs.  Hodgkins  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  early,  as  well  as  the  mod- 
ern, history  of  San  Francisco;    was  closely  identified  with  many  of  its 


192 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


leading  clubs  and  societies,  and  keenly  alive  to  and  deeply  interested  in 
all  matters  appertaining  to  the  welfare  of  its  citizens. 

She  died  in  San  Francisco  Jan.  28,  1911,  her  death  occurring  on  the 
anniversary  of  her  arrival  in  California  fifty- three  years  before.  She  is 
buried  in  San  Francisco. 


FRANCES  D.  PARKER 
the  only  daughter  of  James 
and  Deverd (Corey) Parker, 
was  born  in  Brookline,  Dec. 
26, 1833.  She  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  her 
native  town  and  in  Appleton 
Academy,  New  Ipswich.  At 
sixteen  years  of  age  she 
commenced  teaching  in  the 
public  schools  of  Brookline 
and,  with  the  exception  of 
brief  intervals  taken  for 
i  est,  continued  to  follow  her 
chosen  calling  until  her 
death.  During  her  career, 
Miss  Parker  taught  in  nearly 
all  the  towns  bordering  on 
Brookline,  acquiring  the  rep- 
utation of  being  a  thorough, 
conscientious  and  compe- 
tent instructor.  Up  to  the 
year  1870  her  work  was  confined  to  the  common  schools;  but  in  the 
latter  year  she  accepted  a  position  as  assistant  in  the  Warrensburg 
Academy,  Warrensburg,  N.  Y.,  where  she  remained  two  terms. 

In  1876-77  she  was  elected  as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Nashua, 
where  she  taught  in  the  Grammar  grade  until  failing  health  compelled 
her  to  resign  her  position.  She  was  a  Christian  woman.  Throughout  her 
life  she  enjoyed  the  respect  of  and  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  her 
friends  and  acquaintances.  She  died  at  her  home  in  Brookline  Feb.  16, 
1889,  and  is  buried  in  the  family  lot  in  the  "cemetery-on-the-plain." 


MISS    FRANCES   D.  PARKER 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


193 


College  Graduates  from  Brookline  with  Short  Biographical 

Sketches  of  Their  Lives. 


Harvard, 

1804 

Harvard, 

1815 

Dartmouth, 

1857 

Dartmouth, 

1869 

Wesleyan, 

1874 

Univ.  of  Vermont  (Med. ) 

1891 

Williams, 

1892. 

Yale, 

1898 

Providence  University, 

1899 

Mount  Holvoke, 

1900 

Albany  Med., 

1903 

Dartmouth, 

1908 

Simmons, 

1909 

N.  H.  State, 

1913. 

1.  Benjamin  Mark  Farley, 

2.  George  F.  Farley, 

3.  Ephraim  J.  Hardy, 

4.  Edward  E.  Parker, 

5.  George  H.  Hardy, 

6.  Alvin  H.  Wright, 

7.  James  E.  Peabody, 

8.  George  H.  Abbott, 

9.  Elmo  D.  Lancey, 

10.  Florence  D.  Sargent, 

11.  Joseph  B.  Swett, 

12.  Harold  S.  Hobart, 

13.  Ethel   Rockwood, 

14.  Charles  R.  Hardy, 


BENAJMIN  MARK 
FARLEY  was  a  native  of 
Brookline,  where,  within  its 
original  charter  limits,  he 
was  born  April  8,  1783.  He 
was  a  grandson  of  Lieut. 
Samuel  Farley,  and  a  son 
of  Benjamin  and  Lucy 
(Fletcher)  Farley.  His 
father  was  a  prominent 
citizen  of  this  town  until 
as  late  as  1810,  and  was 
the  representative  in  the 
legislature  in  1798.  Benja- 
min Mark  prepared  for  col- 
lege in  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  town  and 
in  New  Ipswich  Appleton 
Academy.  He  graduated 
from  Harvard  College  in 
1804,  and  was  the  first  college  graduate  from  this  town  (then  known 
as  Raby ) .    He  was  admitted  to  the  Hillsborough  County  Bar  in  1808  and 


HON.   BENJAMIN   MARK   FARLEY 


194  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

in  the  same  year  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Hollis.  In  1855 
he  retired  from  practice  and  removed  from  Hollis  to  Boston;  from 
whence,  after  a  brief  residence,  he  removed  to  Lunenburg,  Mass.  He  died 
at  Lunenburg  Sept.  16,  1865. 

In  his  day  and  generation  Mr.  Farley  ranked  not  only  with  the  most 
eminent  members  of  his  profession  in  Hillsborough  County,  where  he  was 
a  confrere  of  Franklin  Pierce,  afterwards  President,  Hon.  Charles  G. 
Atherton,  Hon.  Charles  W.  Morrison,  and  others  scarcely  less  eminent 
in  the  profession,  but  also  with  the  most  eminent  lawyers  in  the  state. 
As  a  citizen  he  was  highly  honored  and  respected.  During  his  residence 
of  forty-seven  years  in  Hollis,  in  addition  to  holding  many  positions  of 
public  trust,  he  represented  the  town  for  fifteen  years  in  the  legislature 
where,  for  several  terms,  he  was  chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee. 

GEORGE  F.  FARLEY,  a  brother  of  Benjamin  Mark  Farley,  was 
born  in  Brookline  April  5,  1793.  He  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in 
1816.  He  read  law  in  the  office  of  his  brother  Benjamin,  in  Hollis,  and 
in  the  office  of  Luther  Lawrence,  of  Groton,  Mass.  In  1821,  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  Hillsborough  County  and  the  same  year  began  to 
practice  his  profession  in  New  Ipswich.  In  1831  he  represented  New 
Ipswich  in  the  legislature,  and  the  same  year  he  removed  to  Groton, 
Mass.,  where  for  twenty -four  years  following  he  was  a  successful  practi- 
tioner.    He  died  at  Groton,  Nov.  8,  1855. 

EPHRAIM  JEWETT  HARDY  was  born  in  Hollis  May  26,  1830. 
He  was  a  son  of  Ephraim  L-  and  Susan  Jewett  Hardy.  His  father  re- 
moved from  Hollis  to  Brookline  about  1840.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  in  Brookline,  and  fitted  for  college  at  Phillips  Andover  Academy, 
and  at  Kimball  Union  Academy,  Meriden.  He  entered  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege in  1853,  but  did  not  live  to  graduate,  dying  in  his  senior  year  in  1857. 
He  was  a  young  man  of  great  promise;  a  sincere  Christian,  of  manly 
and  decided  character,  and  an  excellent  scholar.  His  death  was  deeply 
deplored  by  his  classmates,  and  by  the  college  generally.  He  is  buried  in 
the  South  Cemetery. 

Edward  Everett  Parker. 

Hon.  Edward  E.  Parker  was  born  in  Brookline  Jan.  7,  1842.  He  is 
a  son  of  James  and  Deverd  (Corey)  Parker,  and  a  lineal  descendant  in 
the  sixth  generation  of  Deacon  Thomas  Parker  who  came  from  England 
to  America  in  the  ship  Susan  and  Ellen,  and  settled  at  Reading,  Mass., 
in  1633. 


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HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  195 

His  paternal  grandmother,  wife  of  James  Parker,  1st,  was  a  daughter 
of  Abijah  and  Sarah  (Chamberlain)  Boynton  of  Pepperell,  Mass.;  and 
a  descendant  of  John  Boynton  and  William  Boynton,  who  came  to  America 
from  Yorkshire,  England,  and  settled  in  Rowley,  Mass.,  in  1638.  His 
maternal  great-grandmother,  wife  of  David  Wright  of  Pepperell,  Mass., 
was  the  leader  of  the  band  of  patriotic  women  who  captured  the  noto- 
rious tory,  Leonard  Whiting,  at  Jewett's  bridge  in  Pepperell,  in  1775. 

His  paternal  great-grandfathers,  Edmund  Parker  and  Abijah  Boynton, 
and  his  maternal  great-grandfathers,  Nathan  Corey  and  David  Wright, 
were  soldiers  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 

He  prepared  for  college  at  Phillips  Exeter  Academy  and  at  Mont 
Vernon  Appleton  Academy,  graduating  at  the  latter  institution  in  1863. 
He  served  for  Brookline  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  enlisting  in  the 
United  States  Navy  Aug.  20,  1863.  His  service  was  performed  on  the 
United  States  Ship  Perry,  of  which  he  was  yeoman.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  from  the  service  at  Philadelphia  in  October,  1864,  by  reason 
of  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  enlistment.  In  the  spring  of  1865,  with 
a  determination  to  complete  his  education,  he  entered  Colby  Academy 
at  New  London,  graduated  there  in  the  summer  and  entered  Dartmouth 
College  in  the  autumn,  where  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1869.  For 
the  three  years  immediately  following  his  graduation  he  was  engaged  in 
teaching  school.  He  was  principal  of  Warrensburg  Academy,  Warrens- 
burg,  N.  Y.,  in  1869-70;  principal  of  Wareham,  Mass.,  High  School  in 
the  fall  of  1870.  Meantime  he  decided  to  make  the  law  his  profession, 
and  so  resigned  his  position  at  the  end  of  the  first  term  and  entered  the 
law  office  of  Thomas  Cunningham  at  Warrensburg,  N.  Y.,  where  he  re- 
mained six  months.  Returning  to  New  England  and  feeling  the  neces- 
sity of  saving  money  with  which  to  pursue  his  studies,  he  accepted  the 
position  of  principal  of  the  high  school  at  Middleboro,  Mass.,  and  taught 
one  year. 

In  August,  1872,  Judge  Parker  became  a  resident  of  Nashua.  He 
entered  the  office  of  Gen.  Aaron  P.  Stevens,  and  while  studying  law  was 
principal  of  a  Nashua  evening  school  and  engaged  from  time  to  time  in 
reporting  for  the  newspapers.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Hillsborough 
County  bar  at  the  March  term  of  the  court  held  at  Amherst  in  1873. 
Immediately  after  he  formed  a  co-partnership  with  General  Stevens 
under  the  firm  name  of  Stevens  and  Parker,  which  continued  until  July, 
1879;  when,  on  the  resignation  of  Judge  Henry  E.  Burnham  of  Man- 
chester, he  was  appointed  judge  of  probate  by  Governor  Cheney.  He 
held  the  position  of  Judge  of  Probate  of  Hillsborough  County  until  Jan. 


196  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

7,  1912,  a  period  of  thirty-two  and  one-half  years,  when  his  term  of  office 
expired  by  reason  of  his  having  reached  the  age  of  seventy  years;  an 
age  to  which,  under  the  state's  constitution,  the  terms  of  office  of  all 
the  state's  judges  are  limited. 

Among  the  complimentary  articles  concerning  Judge  Parker  which 
were  published  in  the  various  newspapers  of  the  County  at  the  expira- 
tion of  his  term  of  office,  the  following,  written  by  Col.  Elbridge  J.  Copp 
who,  as  register  of  probate,  was  associated  with  him  during  the  entire 
term,  appeared  in  the  editorial  columns  of  the  Nashua  Daily  Telegraph 
under  date  of  Jan.  6,  1912: 

"In  the  retirement  of  Judge  Edward  E-  Parker  from  the  office  of 
Judge  of  Probate  the  people  of  Hillsborough  County  meet  with  a  loss 
that  cannot  at  once  be  filled;  the  unfortunate  provision  of  the  Constitu- 
tion of  New  Hampshire  fixing  an  age  limit  to  the  judges  of  our  courts  has 
proven  detrimental  in  more  cases  than  otherwise. 

"It  is  recognized  by  all  who  have  business  with  the  Probate  Court, 
and  have  been  associated  with  Judge  Parker  that  his  mental  powers  and 
administrative  abilities  are  at  their  best,  his  thirty  years  experience  and 
his  mature  judgment  in  the  application  of  the  laws  of  probate  in  the 
settlement  of  estates  is  a  valuable  asset  to  the  people  of  the  County  of 
Hillsborough  that  is  lost  in  his  retirement.  To  sit  in  judgment  in  the 
unsnarling  of  complicated  conditions  that  are  incident  to  the  probating 
of  estates  is  not  the  work  for  ordinary  minds.  In  the  practice  of  the 
Probate  Court  hardly  any  two  estates  are  settled  in  identically  the  same 
way,  new  conditions  are  continually  rising,  and  frequently  where  no  prece- 
dent is  found,  that  must  be  settled  in  the  discretion  of  the  Judge  of  Probate 
by  the  application  of  principles. 

"The  importance  of  the  office  is  perhaps  not  fully  appreciated  by  the 
public,  practically  the  entire  property  of  the  County  passes  through  the 
Probate  Court  once  in  about  thirty  years,  involving  of  course  large  in- 
terests, calling  for  administrative  ability,  sound  judgment  and  broad  dis- 
cretion of  power,  even  more  than  that  of  Judges  of  the  Superior  Court. 

"In  Judge  Parker  we  have  found  these  qualities  to  a  rare  degree. 
In  education,  in  his  experience,  in  his  natural  intuitive  judgment,  and 
with  a  mind  characterized  by  strong  common  sense  and  a  love  of  justice, 
he  has  been  eminently  equipped  fcr  the  position  he  has  so  honorably 
filled. 

"The  writer  is  in  position  to  perhaps  better  know  Judge  Parker's 
official  life  than  most  people;    for  thirty  years  I  have  been  in  most  inti- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  197 

mate  official  relations  with  him,   I  have  known  every  official  act,   the 
history  of  every  case,  leading  to  his  every  decree. 

"In  all  the  thousands  of  cases  in  all  these  years  that  have  passed 
through  Judge  Parker's  hands,  he  has  been  true  to  his  convictions  of 
justice,  uninfluenced  by  personal  friendship  or  selfish  interest,  giving  to 
every  one  in  interest  so  far  as  was  in  his  power,  all  of  his  or  her  inherited 
rights. 

"Never  was  the  custody  of  a  minor  child  upon  petition  for  guardi- 
anship granted  without  the  consent  of,  or  an  opportunity  given  to  be  heard 
to  the  parent,  whatever  representation  may  have  been  made  as  to  the 
unfitness  of  the  natural  parent;  never  was  the  widow's  rights  more  jeal- 
ously guarded  than  by  Judge  Parker;  in  short,  never  was  the  seat  of 
justice  graced  by  a  more  upright  judge,  and  without  ambition  further 
than  to  do  his  whole  duty  in  the  position  he  was  filling,  from  day  to  day. 

"Judge  Parker's  native  ability  would  undoubtedly  have  brought  to 
him  wealth  and  honor  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  or  if  he  had  so 
chosen,  he  would  have  gained  high  honors  in  the  political  field,  but  what 
to  him  has  been  a  loss  has  been  a  personal  gain  to  those  whom  he  has 
served,  and  is  it  not  the  highest  honor,  after  all,  to  have  gained  and  re- 
tained the  love  and  respect  of  your  fellowmen? 

"I  think  I  express  the  sentiment  of  all  the  people  of  Hillsborough 
County,  and  more  than  of  Hillsborough  County,  regardless  of  political 
creed,  that  it  is  with  profound  regret  that  we  bid  him  good-bye,  as  Judge 
of  Probate,  and  in  his  retirement  to  private  life,  sincerely  hope  that  he 
may  enjoy  many  years  of  health  and  happiness,  so  richly  earned." 

During  his  residence  of  forty  years  in  Nashua,  Judge  Parker  has  held 
many  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  He  was  a  member  of  the  committee 
appointed  by  the  Governor  in  1902  for  the  revision  and  unification  of  the 
forms  used  in  the  probate  courts  of  the  state.  He  was  city  solicitor  in 
1876  and  1877,  has  served  twelve  years  on  the  board  of  education,  of 
which  he  was  president  in  1902,  and  in  1901  was  elected  as  a  member  of 
the  board  of  trustees  of  the  public  library;  a  position  which  he  is  holding 
at  the  present  time.  He  has  served  several  terms  as  moderator  of  Ward 
4,  and  represented  the  ward  as  its  delegate  in  the  constitutional  conven- 
tions holden  at  Concord  in  1902  and  1910. 

Judge  Parker  was  made  a  Mason  in  Benevolent  Lodge  A.  F.  and 
A.  M.  of  Milford  in  1868.    At  the  present  time  he  is  a  member  of  Rising 
Sun  Lodge  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  of  Nashua.    He  is  a  member  of  John  G.  Fos 
ter  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Nashua,  of  which  he  is  a  past  commander.     He 
has  held  appointments  on  the  staff  of  the  Commander-in-chief,  and  served 


198  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

twice  as  Judge  Advocate  General  of  the  department  of  New  Hampshire, 
G.  A.  R.,  the  last  time  in  1893.  He  was  delegate-at-large  to  the  Na- 
tional Encampment,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  Spetember,  1895. 
He  is  past-commander  of  the  Department  of  New  Hampshire,  G.  A.  R., 
having  holden  that  position  in  1903-1904;  and  was  in  command  of  the 
department  at  the  National  Encampment,  G.  A.  R.,  holden  at  San 
Francisco,  Cal.,  in  1903. 

As  a  lawyer,  Judge  Parker  stands  high  in  his  profession.  He  is  a 
pleasing  public  speaker  and  has  delivered  many  addresses  on  Memorial 
Days  and  other  public  occasions.  He  was  the  orator-of-the-day  at  the 
celebration  of  the  opening  of  the  Brookline  and  Pepperell  railroad  at 
Brookline  in  1892.  He  is  a  writer  of  ability  both  in  poetry  and  prose. 
He  was  centennial  poet  at  the  celebration  of  the  centennial  year  of  Dart- 
mouth College  in  1869;  and  the  same  year  officiated  as  poet  at  the  cen- 
tennial celebration  of  Brookline.  In  the  past  forty  years  he  has  written 
many  poems  of  acknowledged  merit  which  have  been  published  in  leading 
newspapers  and  magazines.  Among  his  published  prose  works  are  the 
following : 

"John  Lovewell,  Sr.,"  published  in  Granite  State  Magazine  of  Man- 
chester, June  8,  1908.  He  was  one  of  the  authors,  and  was  editor-in- 
chief,  of  the  History  of  Nashua,  published  in  1897.  At  the  present  time 
he  is  engaged  in  writing  this  work,  of  which  he  is  the  compiler.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Brookline. 

Judge  Parker  was  united  in  marriage  Dec.  20,  1877,  with  Alice  Prince 
Hammond,  youngest  daughter  of  Dr.  Evan  B.  and  Sarah  Ann  (Adams) 
Hammond,  whose  lineage  appears  in  a  sketch  of  the  life  of  the  former, 
given  in  the  History  of  Nashua. 

The  children  of  their  marriage  are  Rena  Deverd,  born  Nov.  23,  1878; 
graduated  at  Wellesley  College  in  1901.  At  present  time  (1912)  teacher 
of  art  in  the  High  School  of  Practical  Arts,  Boston,  Mass.;  Edna  Alice, 
born  Dec.  13,  1880;  graduated  at  Mt.  Holyoke  College  in  1903;  at  pres- 
ent time  teacher  of  sciences  in  the  High  School  at  Manchester,  Mass. 

REV.  GEORGE  HENRY  HARDY,  a  son  of  Ephraim  Lund  and 
Delana  (Lapham)  Hardy,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Nov.  15,  1849.  He 
prepared  for  college  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town,  the  Mount 
Pleasant  Grammar  School,  Nashua,  and  Phillips  Exeter  Academy.  He 
graduated  at  Wesley  an  University  in  1874,  and  at  Drew  Theological 
Seminary,  Madison,  N.  J.,  in  1876. 

He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Methodist  Quarterly  Conference 
at    Middletown,    Conn.,  Feb.  16,  1874.     In  1874-75  he  was  principal  of 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  199 

Spring  Valley  Academy,  Madison,  N.  J.;  from  1875  to  1876  he  taught 
Latin  and  mathematics  in  Madison  Institute,  N.  J.  In  1876  he  was  ad- 
mitted on  trial  to  the  New  Hampshire  Conference.  April  4,  1878,  he  was 
ordained  as  deacon  by  Bishop  Merril  at  Lancaster,  and  April  11,  1880, 
as  elder,  by  Bishop  Andrews  at  Great  Falls. 

Appointments — Henniker,  1876-77;  Groveton,  1878;  Mouton- 
ville,  1879-80,  with  Chickville  and  North  Wakefield  in  1880;  Moulton- 
borough,  1881;  Gilford  Village,  1882;  Grantham  and  North  Grantham, 
1883-85;  Peterborough,  1886-89;  North  Charlestown  and  West  Unity, 
1889-93;  West  Rindge,  1894-95;  Conference  Historian,  Ashburnham, 
Mass.,  1896-1913. 

May  24,  1876,  he  married  Emma,  daughter  of  George  Washington 
and  Nancy  Smith  (Brainard)  Guy,  of  Middletown,  Conn. 

ALVIN  H.  WRIGHT,  M.  D.,  a  son  of  Moses  and  Henrietta  (Gard- 
ner) Wright,  was  born  in  Brookline,  March  23,  1857.  He  attended  the 
public  schools  of  Brookline  and  Hollis,  graduating  from  the  Hollis  High 
School  in  1885.  Shortly  after  his  graduation  from  the  high  school,  he 
entered  a  technical  school  in  Nashua,  working  half  of  each  school  day  as 
a  machinist  apprentice,  and  pursuing  his  studies  the  other  half.  In  1886, 
his  health  being  in  poor  condition,  he  returned  to  Hollis  and  studied 
medicine  for  one  year  in  the  office  of  Dr.  L.  R.  Qua.  He  then  entered 
the  medical  school  of  the  University  of  Vermont;  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated with  honors  in  1891,  being  one  of  five  men  in  his  class  to  attain  to 
thftt  distinction. 

Soon  after  his  graduation  from  the  medical  school,  he  accepted  a  posi- 
tion in  the  employ  of  the  Santa  Fe  Railroad  Company,  by  which  he  was 
commissioned  as  its  resident  surgeon  in  the  territory  of  New  Mexico. 
In  1892  the  company  transferred  him  from  New  Mexico  to  Ottawa,  Kans., 
where  he  was  placed  in  charge  of  its  hospital  in  that  town.  In  1900,  he 
resigned  from  the  company's  employment  and  established  in  Ottawa  a 
private  hospital  of  his  own,  which  he  continued  to  conduct  in  connection 
with  his  surgical  practice  until  1903;  when,  his  health  giving  out,  he 
disposed  of  his  business  in  Ottawa  and  removed  to  San  Francisco,  Cal., 
where  he  has  ever  since  been  located. 

At  the  present  time  (1911)  Dr.  Wright  is  professor  of  Clinical  surgery, 
and  demonstrator  of  anatomy  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons 
of  San  Francisco.  His  prospects  for  a  life  of  usefulness  and  prosperity 
are  of  the  most  flattering  nature. 

In  1890  he  was  united  in  the  bonds  of  matrimony  to  Olive  Bartlett 
Sanborn  of  Burlington,  Vt.,  by  whom  he  has  had  two  children,  Olive  F. 


200  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Wright  and  Alvin  H.  Wright,  Jr.;  both  of  whom  are  living  at  the  present 
time. 

JAMES  E.  PEABODY,  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Frances  (Hall) 
Peabody,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Aug.  21,  1869.  He  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  town  and  in  Cushing  Academy,  Ashburnham, 
Mass.;  graduating  from  the  latter  institution  in  1889  as  valedictorian  of 
his  class.  He  graduated  from  Williams  College  in  1892.  From  1892  to 
1895  he  was  principal  of  the  Williamstown,  Mass.,  High  School.  He  was 
employed  for  five  years  in  the  United  States  Fish  Commission  and  Marine 
Biographical  Laboratories  at  Woods  Hole;  during  which  time  he  pub- 
lished an  original  paper  on  the  structure  and  functions  of  certain  sense 
organs  of  the  shark.  In  1896-97,  he  graduated  at  Harvard  University 
with  the  degree  of  A.  M.  During  his  course  at  Harvard  he  taught  in 
Radcliffe  College.  In  1896-97,  he  taught  in  the  English  High  School  and 
also  in  the  evening  High  Schools  of  Boston.  Since  1897  he  has  been  at 
the  head  of  the  department  of  biology  in  the  Morris  High  School,  New 
York  City;  has  published  a  book  on  "Laboratory  Exercises  in  Physiology" 
a  book  on  "Studies  in  Physiology,"  and,  at  the  time  of  this  writing,  has 
nearly  ready  for  the  press  a  book  on  High  School  "Biology";  he  has  been 
secretary  of  the  New  York  Association  of  Science  Teachers,  twice  presi- 
dent of  the  New  York  Association  of  Teachers  of  Biology,  and  twice 
chairman  of  both  the  state  and  the  New  York  City  Committees  for  the 
preparation  of  geology  syllabus  outlines  and  for  the  nature  study  syllabus. 
At  the  present  time  (1911)  he  is  clerk  of  the  Westchester,  N.  Y.,  Congre- 
gational Church,  and  resides  in  Scarsdale,  N.  Y. 

July  13,  1898,  Mr.  Peabody  married  Sarah  Emma  Barrett  of  Barre, 
Mass.  Two  children  have  been  born  of  this  marriage:  Elizabeth  Barrett, 
born  Aug.  30,  1900;  George  Wellington,  born  Aug.  17,  1907. 

GEORGE  HAVEN  ABBOTT  was  born  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  Oct. 
7,  1876.  He  is  a  son  and  the  only  child  of  Rev.  Thomas  Jefferson  and 
Theresa  Maria  (Seaver)  Abbott.  His  father  was  a  member  of  an  old  and 
excellent  Vermont  family.  On  the  maternal  side  of  his  family,  he  is  a 
lineal  descendant  in  the  fifth  generation  of  Lieut.  Robert  Seaver,  and  also 
of  Capt.  Samuel  Douglass,  each  of  whom  served  for  Brookline  as  Com- 
missioned officers  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 

Shortly  after  his  birth,  his  father  resigned  his  position  as  pastor  over 
a  church  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  denomination  located  in  Charleston,  S. 
C,  and  with  his  family  returned  north,  where  he  died  soon  after  his  return. 
Upon  the  death  of  his  father,  his  mother  with  her  infant  son  returned  to 
Brookline,  where  she  resided  with  her  father,  Asa  Seaver,  until  her  death. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  201 

Mr.  Abbott  prepared  for  college  in  the  public  schools  of  this  town 
and  at  Tilton  Seminary,  Tilton,  N.  H.,  where  he  graduated  with  honors 
in  1894.  He  graduated  from  Yale  University  in  1898,  with  honors,  receiv- 
ing the  degree  of  B.  A.,  and  being  elected  a  member  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa 
Society.  For  the  two  years  immediately  succeeding  his  graduation,  he 
was  a  member  of  the  Harvard  Law  School.  July  1,  1899,  he  entered  the 
law  office  of  Weeks,  Battles  and  Marshall  in  New  York  City.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  New  York  State  Bar  in  February,  1902,  and  immediately 
associated  himself  in  the  law  business  with  Barton  S.  Weeks,  in  New 
York  City.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he  severed  his  connection  with  Mr. 
Weeks,  and  opened  a  law  office  for  himself  at  No.  58  Nassau  Street,  where 
he  is  located  at  the  present  time. 

Oct.  31,  1906,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Katharine  Faith  Har- 
grave,  daughter  of  William  Gillard  and  Katherine  Hargrave,  of  New 
York  City.  He  is  a  member  of  the  New  York  Athletic  Club,  Republican 
Club,  Yale  Club,  Lawyer's  Club,  and  New  York  Bar  Association.  No 
children. 

ELMO  DUSTIN  LANCEY,  a  son  of  Ferdinand  and  Katherine 
(Robins)  Lancey,  was  born  in  Brookline  Oct.  5,  1871.  He  was  prepared 
for  college  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town  and  at  Cushing  Academy. 
He  graduated  at  Brown  University  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts 
in  the  class  of  1899.  "After  graduation  from  college,  he  engaged  in  the 
insurance  business  at  Providence  until  his  health  began  to  fail.  In  1898 
he  removed  to  the  West,  hoping  to  arrest  his  disease,  which  was  con- 
sumption. He  lived  at  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  at  Denver,  Col.,  and  at 
Albuquerque,  N.  M.  At  last  he  gave  up  all  hope  of  recovery  and  returned 
to  the  east  to  die."  He  died  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  Dec.  21,  1901,  aged 
thirty  years,  two  months  and  nineteen  days. 

Mr.  Lancey  was  a  member,  originally,  of  the  Congregational  Church 
of  this  town,  but  later,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
of  the  Redeemer  in  Providence.  He  was  a  man  of  noble  character  and  of 
hopeful  promise  for  usefulness  in  life. 

He  married  Alice  Louise  Brown,  daughter  of  Mr.  Herbert  Brown, 
of  Providence,  who  survived  him.     He  left  no  children. 

FLORENCE  GERTRUDE  SARGENT  was  born  in  Brookline, 
July  8,  1878.  She  is  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Frank  D.  and  Emma  S.  (Taylor) 
Sargent.  She  prepared  for  college  in  the  public  schools  of  her  native 
town  and  in  the  Putnam,  Conn.,  High  School.  She  graduated  from  Hol- 
yoke  College  in  1900.  For  the  six  years  immediately  following  her  grad- 
uation she  was  engaged  in  teaching  school.     Two  years  of  this  period, 


202  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

1900  and  1901,  were  passed  in  the  High  School  in  Plainville,  Mass.,  and 
four  years,  1902-06,  in  the  Putnam  High  School.  In  1906  and  1907  she 
took  the  post  graduate  course  in  Radcliffe  College.  Subsequently,  she 
was  for  three  years  a  member  of  Mrs.  Von  Mack's  Private  School  for 
girls,  Boston,  Mass.,  and  for  two  years  a  member  of  the  Misses  Shipley's 
School,  Bryn  Mawr,  Pa.  At  the  present  time  (1912)  she  is  teaching  in  the 
Putnam  High  School.  Miss  Sargent  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the 
first  of  Brookline's  native  born  female  college  graduates. 

JOSEPH  BENJAMIN  SWETT,  Jr.,  M.  D.,  son  of  Joseph  and 
Emily  (Gilson)  Swett,  was  born  in  Brookline,  March  5,  1865.  He  was  a 
descendant  of  John  Swett,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Oxton,  England, 
in  1742,  and  settled  in  Newbury,  Mass.  Dr.  Swett  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native  town  and  at  Cushing  Academy,  Ashburnham, 
Mass.;  graduating  from  the  latter  institution  in  1890.  From  the  Academy 
he  entered  the  Albany,  N.  Y.,  Medical  College,  from  which  he  graduated 
with  honors  in  1893,  receiving  the  degree  of  M.  D.  After  his  graduation, 
he  was  for  several  years  an  instructor  in  the  college;  until  he  finally  re- 
signed his  position  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Albany, 
where  he  died  Oct.  3,  1897.  He  was  never  married.  At  the  time  of  his 
decease,  Dr.  Swett  was  a  member  of  the  Albany  County  Medical  Society; 
a  member  of  Lodge  No.  5,  F.  A.  M.,  of  Albany,  and  a  member  of  Company 
B,  10th  Battalion  N.  Y.  S.  M. 

HAROLD  SAWTELLE  HOBART,  a  son  of  Willie  and  Harriet 
(Rideout)  Hobart,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Sept.  29,  1884.  He  prepared 
for  college  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town  and  the  Nashua  High 
School,  and  graduated  from  Dartmouth  College  in  1908.  Soon  after 
leaving  college,  he  entered  the  employment  of  the  Proctor  Marble  Com- 
pany, of  Proctor,  Vt.,  where  he  is  located  at  the  present  time. 

ETHEL  MAY  ROCKWOOD,  daughter  of  Walter  Francis  and  Clara 
(Whitcomb)  Rockwood,  was  born  in  Brookline,  March  4,  1887.  She  pre- 
pared for  college  in  the  public  schools  of  her  native  town  and  in  the  Mil- 
ford  High  School.  She  graduated  from  Simmon's  College  in  1909  with 
the  degree  of  D.  S.  After  leaving  Simmon's,  Miss  Rockwood  studied 
medicine  and  graduated  from  John  Hopkins'  Medical  School,  Baltimore, 
Md.,  with  the  degree  of  M.  D.,  in  1914. 

CHARLES  RICHARDSON  HARDY,  son  of  John  Baldwin  and 
Carrie  (Richardson)  Hardy,  was  born  in  Brookline,  April  10,  1893.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  was  prepared  for  col- 
lege in  the  Milford  High  School.     He  entered  the  New  Hampshire  State 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  203 

College  and,  taking  the  two-years  course,  graduated  from  the  college  in 
1913.  At  the  present  time  (1913)  he  is  residing  in  Hollis  and  is  engaged 
in  practical  farming. 

Biographical  Sketches  of  College  Graduates  Born  in  Brookline, 
hut  Graduated  from  Other  Towns. 

REV.  EDWARD  HAMMOND  BROOKS,*  Baptist,  son  of  George 
and  Mary  A.  Brooks,  was  born  in  Brookline,  May  9,  1849.  Prepared  for 
college  at  Groton,  Mass.,  Academy,  Appleton  Academy,  New  Ipswich, 
and  Amenia  Seminary,  New  York.  Graduated  at  Kalamazoo  College, 
1874.  Studied  for  the  ministry  at  Morgan  Park,  111.,  1874-75,  and  at 
Newton,  Mass.,  1875-76,  and  1882-83,  Theological  Seminaries.  Ordained, 
Boston,  Mass.,  June  11,  1876.  Pastor,  Cassopolis,  Mich.,  July,  1876-78; 
Lapeer,  Mich.,  September,  1878-79;  Crown  Point,  Ind.,  October,  1879- 
82;  Second  Church,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich.,  1883-90;  Aurora,  111.,  1891- 
96;  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  1897-98;  East  Los  Angeles,  1899. 

Married  Mary  E.  Bennett  at  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  Sept.  27,  1876. 

REV.  CHARLES  PELT  FESSENDEN,*  Baptist,  son  of  Joseph 
and  Rachael  (Crosby)  Fessenden,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Jan.  15,  1813. 
Graduated  at  Lay  College,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  Hamilton  (New  York) 
Theological  Seminary,  1878.  Ordained,  West  Union,  N.  Y.,  March,  1867. 
In  itinerant  and  missionary  work  for  twenty-five  years.  Went  to  Michi- 
gan in  1869.  Missionary  in  Newaygo  and  Musekgon  counties.  At  Rives, 
Mich.,  1872.  Pastor,  Medina,  North  Adams,  and  Litchfield.  Residence, 
Hesperia,  Mich.,  1882,  Eaton  Rapids,  Mich.,  1885-91.  Died  there 
Nov.  27,  1891. 

Married  Elizabeth  R.  Hakes  at  Columbia,  Pa.,  Jan.  1,  1837. 

REV.  CLIFTON  FLETCHER,  Baptist,*  son  of  Jesse  and  Patience 
(Hobart)  Fletcher,  was  born  in  Brookline,  March  5,  1823.  Student,  Wes- 
leyan  University,  1864-68.  Ordained,  North  Tewksbury,  Mass.,  June  4, 
1856.  Pastor  there,  1856-69;  Billerica,  Mass.,  1869-76;  Canton,  Mass., 
July  1,  1875-77.  Without  charge,  Melrose,  Mass.,  Nov.  1,  1876-92, 
meanwhile  serving  as  acting  pastor,  Brookline,  Mass.,  1878-84.  Member 
of  the  School  Board,  Melrose,  1878-86,  and  chairman,  1880-86.  Was  also 
an  active  member  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  Died  at  Melrose,  Mass.,  Aug.  19, 
1902. 

GEORGE  E.  WRIGHT  was  born  in  Brookline,  Jan.  20,  1867.  He 
is  a  son  of  William  and  Eliza  A.  (Elliott)  Keyes  Wright.    In  his  childhood 

*  Native  Ministry  of  New  Hampshire,  84. 


204  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

his  father  removed  from  Brookline  to  Townsend,  Mass.  He  fitted  for 
College  in  Phillips  Exeter  Academy,  and  graduated  from  Harvard  College 
in  1889,  and  from  the  Harvard  Law  School  in  1892.  He  has  received  from 
Harvard  the  following  degrees:  A.  B.,  1889;  L.  L.  B.,  1892;  A.  M.,  1892. 
At  the  present  time  (1914)  he  is,  and  since  1893  has  been,  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law  in  Seattle,  Wash.  In  1906  he  delivered  an  address  before 
the  Washington  State  Bar  Association;  and  in  1907  was  appointed  a 
trustee  of  the  Seattle  Public  Library.  He  married,  July  16,  1895,  Mary 
Estelle  Wyckoff  at  Delhi,  111.  His  family  record  is  given  in  another  page 
of  this  book. 

WILLIAM  HARMON  WRIGHT,  a  son  of  William  and  Eliza  A. 
(Elliott)  Wright,  of  this  town,  was  born,  Dec.  2,  1869,  in  Townsend, 
Mass.,  to  which  place  his  parents  removed  from  Brookline  a  short  time 
before  his  birth.  He  fitted  for  college  in  the  public  schools  of  Townsend 
and  at  Phillips  Exeter  Academy,  and  graduated  at  Harvard  University  in 
the  class  of  1892.  At  both  of  those  institutions  he  distinguished  himself 
in  athletics.  In  1893  he  removed  from  Townsend  to  Seattle,  Wash.,  where 
he  was  employed  for  eight  years  as  teller  in  the  Bank  of  Commerce.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  he  retired  from  his  position  in  the  bank,  and  devoted 
his  time  to  the  buying  and  selling  of  real  estate  and  to  beautifying  the 
grounds  around  his  residence,  in  which  he  took  great  pride. 

He  married,  Oct.  11,  1899,  Frances  Rumsey  of  Seattle;  by  whom  he 
is  survived.     He  died  at  Seattle,  May  26,  1911. 

Children:  Hammond,  born  Oct.  27,  1900;  Margaret,  born  June  23, 
1902;  William  Francis,  born  Feb.  5,  1904. 

MORTON  BOWLER  FRENCH  was  born  in  this  town  Dec.  7, 
1879.  He  is  a  son  of  John  E.  and  Caroline  M.  (Kendall)  French.  In  his 
childhood  his  parents  removed  from  Brookline  to  Athol,  Mass.  He  pre- 
pared for  college  in  the  Athol  High  School.  He  graduated  from  Dart- 
mouth College  in  1903.  At  the  present  time  (1912)  he  is  located  in  New 
York  City,  where  he  is  connected  with  the  American  Telephone  and 
Telegraph  Company  as  Telephone  Engineer. 

DAVID    ALLEN    ANDERSON,    a  son  of  Levi  and  

Anderson,  was  born  in  Brookline,  April  19,  1840.  He  graduated  from 
Dartmouth  College  in  1868.  Soon  after  his  graduation  he  settled  in 
North  Adams,  Mass.,  where  he  engaged  in  business.  He  died  at  North 
Adams,  Jan.  1,  1907. 


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HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  205 


CHAPTER   XII. 

Ecclesiastical  History. 

Early  Religious  Movements — The  Meeting-house  War,  So  Called — The 
Completion  in  1791  of  the  First  Meeting-house. 

During  the  first  six  years  succeeding  its  incorporation,  Raby's  records 
contain  no  mention  of  any  appropriation  of  money  for  religious  purposes. 
But  from  this  fact  it  must  not  be  inferred  that  its  people  were  indifferent 
to  their  religious  or  moral  obligations.  For  tradition  says  that  during 
this  period  religious  meetings  at  which  ministers  from  neighboring  towns 
officiated  were  held  at  various  places  in  town.  Among  those  who  thus 
officiated  was  the  Rev.  Jacob  Burnap  of  Merrimack,  who  on  one  occasion 
preached  in  the  barn  of  Capt.  Samuel  Douglass.  This  barn  was  located 
near  Captain  Douglass'  dwelling  house  on  the  village  Main  street,  its  site 
being  not  far  from  that  now  occupied  by  the  house  late  of  the  widow 
John  Spaulding,  deceased.  Tradition  says,  further,  that  during  this  period, 
and  for  many  years  subsequently,  the  town  was  visited  by  itinerant 
preachers,  who  held  services  in  the  open,  preaching  to  congregations  who 
heard  them  gladly. 

But  the  real  reason  for  the  town's  laxity  in  the  matter  of  raising  money 
for  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  during  this  period,  is  undoubtedly  to  be 
found  in  the  fact  that  its  inhabitants  continued  to  practice  their  long 
established  custom  of  attending  divine  worship  in  Hollis  and  other  neigh- 
boring towns.  Coupled  with  this  fact  also  are  those  of  their  paucity  of 
numbers  and  poverty  in  possessions;  powerful  arguments  against  the 
expenditure  of  money  for  any  purpose  other  than  that  of  actual  existence. 

The  first  recorded  action  relative  to  public  worship  occurred  at  a 
town  meeting  holden  March  6,  1775;  when  it  was  voted — "To  raise  the 
sum  of  eight  dollars  to  pay  the  priest";  and  James  Campbell  and  James 
Badger  were  chosen  as  a  "Committee  to  agree  with  the  priest." 

The  foregoing  vote  would  seem  to  indicate  that  there  was  already  a 
minister  in  town.  But  there  is  no  record  of  his  name  or  origin.  Whoever 
he  was,  during  the  time  he  was  employed  in  preaching  out  that  eight  dol- 
lars appropriation,  he  must  have  often  longed  for  the  flesh  pots  of  Egypt ; 


206  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

for  three  years  passed  before  the  town  raised  any  additional  sum  for 
preaching;  the  second  appropriation  for  that  purpose  occurring  in  March, 
1778,  when  it  was  voted  to  raise  ten  pounds. 

The  number  of  the  town's  rateable  polls  at  the  date  of  the  second  ap- 
propriation was  sixty,  and  its  population  not  far  from  one  hundred  and 
fifty.  It  is  possible  that  at  this  time  the  "priest"  was  still  living  in  town, 
and  that  he  continued  to  do  so  for  the  succeeding  three  years,  or  until  the 
time  of  the  next  appropriation.  But,  if  he  did  so,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that 
his  was  a  case  where  Providence  tempered  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb. 
For,  owing  to  the  depreciation  in  value  of  the  Continental  paper  money 
which  at  this  time  was  the  only  money  in  circulation,  the  ten  pounds 
appropriated  was  really  equivalent  to  only  five  pounds  in  silver,  or  one- 
half  its  face  value;  and,  as  this  depreciation  in  the  value  of  the  currency 
was  attended  with  a  corresponding  appreciation  in  the  value  of  commodi- 
ties, it  is  evident  that  his  position  was  no  sinecure. 

Under  such  circumstances  as  the  foregoing,  it  is  no  wonder  that  so 
many  of  the  early  ministers  in  New  England  became  experts  as  horse 
traders. 

Speaking  of  the  depreciation  in  the  currency,  both  that  issued  by  the 
state  and  also  by  Congress,  it  increased  so  rapidly  as  to  cause  general 
alarm;  and  early  in  the  spring  of  1777,  the  New  Hampshire  legislature, 
for  the  purpose  of  relieving  the  tensity  of  the  situation,  passed  a  law  by 
which  the  price  at  which  the  common  necessities  of  life  could  be  sold 
were  regulated.  Among  the  commodities  upon  which  prices  were  fixed 
by  this  law  are  the  following : 


s  d 

s 

d 

Oats  per  bushel 

2  0 

Beef,  per  lb. 

0 

3 

Indian  Corn  per  bushel 

3  6 

Pork  per  lb. 

0 

43^ 

Rye  per  bushel 

4  6 

Linen  Cloth  per  yd. 

4 

0 

Beans  per  bushel, 

6  0 

Flannel  cloth  per  yd. 

3 

6 

Salt  per  bushel, 

10  0 

Molasses  per  gal., 

4 

0 

Butter  per  lb., 

0  6 

N.  E-  Rum  per  gal., 

3 

10 

Cotton  per  lb., 

3  0 

W.  I.  Rum  per  gal., 

7 

8 

Wool  per  lb., 

2  2 

The  passage  of  this  law,  however,  was  of  little  effect.  For  the  cur- 
rency still  continued  to  depreciate  in  value,  and  the  necessities  of  life  to 
appreciate  in  price;  the  latter  being  governed  by  the  actual  value,  as  a 
medium  of  exchange,  of  the  former. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1781,  at  the  annual  town  meeting,  it  was 
voted  to  raise  three  hundred  pounds  for  preaching.    At  the  time  this  vote 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  207 

was  taken,  both  the  State  and  the  Continental  currency  had  depre- 
ciated in  value  to  the  extent,  that,  in  exchange,  seventy-five  pounds  of 
paper  money  was  equivalent  to  one  pound  in  silver.  So  that  the  three 
hundred  pounds  voted,  when  reduced  to  its  value  in  silver  coin,  was 
equal  to  four  pounds,  or  about  twenty  dollars.  March  30,  of  the  same 
year,  it  was  voted — "To  hire  the  Rev.  Mr.  Houston  to  preach  out  the 
whole  of  the  money  raised  for  preaching." 

Who  the  Rev.  Mr.  Houston  was,  from  whence  he  came  to  Raby,  and 
whither  he  went  when  he  departed,  are  questions  which  are  answered 
neither  by  the  records  nor  by  tradition.  But  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  he 
accepted  the  offer  and — "preached  out  the  whole  of  the  money";  and 
thus  he  became,  so  far  as  the  records  show,  the  town's  first  minister  of  the 
Gospel. 

From  the  date  of  the  vote,  in  1781,  to  raise  three  hundred  pounds, 
up  to  and  including  the  year  1791,  the  town  records  contain  no  mention 
of  any  sums  of  money  as  having  been  appropriated  for  religious  purposes. 
But  in  the  latter  year,  a  Reverend  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Wythe  was 
hired — "To  preach  out  the  whole  of  the  money."  Mr.  Wythe's  ante- 
cedents, like  those  of  his  predecessor,  Mr.  Houston,  are  unknown.  Tra- 
dition says,  however,  that  previous  to  his  coming  to  Raby,  he  had  been 
preaching  in  Mason. 

Up  to  this  time  (1781)  religious  meetings  had  been  holden  in  private 
dwelling  houses,  a  practice  which  was  continued  until  the  year  1783-84, 
when  the  town  built  its  first  schoolhouses ;  in  which,  after  the  latter  date 
until  1791,  when  the  meeting-house  was  ready  for  occupancy,  public 
gatherings  of  all  descriptions  convened. 

The  town's  first  definite  action  relative  to  building  a  meeting-house 
occurred  at  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  holden  March  1,  1780;  when  it  was 
voted  to  build  a  house  30  feet  wide  and  40  feet  long ;  and  Samuel  Douglass, 
Alexander  Mcintosh,  Clark  Brown,  James  Campbell,  and  William  Spauld- 
ing  were  elected  as  a — "Committee  to  find  the  place  to  set  the  same." 
At  a  subsequent  meeting  holden  the  same  year,  this  committee  reported 
in  favor  of  a  site  located  about  midway  of  the  south  side  of  meeting-house 
hill,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  leading  up  the  same.*  The 
people  refused  to  accept  the  report,  and  immediately  divided  into  factions 
upon  the  question  of  the  location  of  the  house.  One  faction  favored  the 
site  selected  by  the  committee.  Another,  and  apparently  the  larger  one, 
was  in  favor  of  the  location  on  the  summit  of  meeting-house  hill,  where 

*  This  site  was  afterwards  occupied  by  the  dwelling  house  of  the  late  Horace  Warner.  The  Warner 
house  which  is  standing  at  the  present  time  is  that  which  was  owned  and  occupied  by  the  late  Wlliiam 
Gardner  Shattuck  at  the  time  of  his  death,  1892. 


208  HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

the  house  now  stands.  In  addition  to  these  two  principal  factions,  there 
were  others,  minor  ones,  composed  of  two  or  three  persons,  and  even  of 
single  individuals,  each  of  whom  had  opinions  of  their  own  as  to  the  best 
site  for  locating  the  house. 

From  these  differences  of  opinion  there  resulted  a  factional  contest 
over  the  question  of  what  particular  spot  or  locality  was  most  suitable 
for  the  location  of  the  house,  which  was  known  locally  as 

The  Meeting-house  War. 

This  war  between  the  several  factions  was  carried  on  with  more  or 
less  intensity  and  bitterness  of  spirit  for  a  period  of  nearly  eleven  years 
in  duration,  during  which  neither  side  would  yield;  nor  did  either  gain 
any  permanent  advantage.  For  if,  by  chance,  at  any  of  the  numerous 
town  meetings  called  in  reference  to  the  meeting-house,  either  faction 
succeeded  in  carrying  a  vote  by  which  the  location  was  fixed,  the  defeated 
faction  would  immediately  cause  the  calling  of  another  meeting ;  at  which, 
aided  by  the  smaller  factions,  and  individuals  who,  because  they  couldn't 
rule,  were  bound  to  ruin,  they  generally  succeeded  in  revoking  the  vote 
of  the  preceding  meeting  and  passing  another  one  by  which  the  site  of  the 
house  was  fixed  in  a  location  more  in  accord  with  their  own  wishes. 

After  the  first  outbreak,  there  seems  to  have  been  a  lull  in  the  war 
of  a  year  or  so  in  duration  during  which  the  citizens  were  engaged  in 
another  and,  for  the  time  being,  more  engrossing  controversy  over  the 
building  and  locating  of  a  cattle  pound. 

But  when  in  1783  the  latter  question  was  finally  settled,  the  meeting- 
house war  again  broke  out,  and  with  renewed  intensity.  At  the  March 
meeting  of  the  latter  year,  after  a  lengthy  and  heated  discussion,  it  was 
finally  voted  to  set  the  house  "On  a  hight  of  land  north  of  the  road  and 
east  of  the  burying  ground,  if  the  committee  can  agree  with  the  owners 
of  the  land."  The  burying  ground  referred  to  in  this  vote  was  evidently 
that  located  on  the  west  shore  of  the  pond,  and  the  "hight  of  land"  the 
summit  of  the  hill  upon  which  the  meeting-house  now  stands. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  in  March  of  the  same  year,  Capt.  Samuel 
Douglass,  Waldron  Stone,  Swallow  Tucker,  Lieut,  Randal  McDonald  and 
Lieut.  Sampson  Farnsworth  were  elected  as  a  committee  "to  oversee  the 
business  and  conduct  the  matter  of  building  the  house."  It  was  also 
voted  that  the  house  should  be- — "Forty  feet  long,  thirty  feet  wide  and 
eighteen  foot  posts";  and  that  "every  man  in  town  have  an  equal  chance 
as  may  be  in  gitting  stuff  and  laboring  at  the  house." 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  209 

The  foregoing  vote  would  seem  to  indicate  that  there  was  at  last  a 
prospect  of  making  some  progress  in  the  matter  of  locating  and  building 
the  house.  But,  alas!  the  next  entry  in  the  records  shows  that  the  ap- 
parently peaceable  prospect  was  only  an  illusionary  one.  For  at  a  meeting 
of  the  townspeople  in  June  of  the  same  year,  the  old  question  of  the  house's 
location  again  came  to  the  front,  and  it  was  voted  that—  "The  setting  up 
of  the  meeting-house  be  put  off  till  next  April,  and  that  the  comittee  git 
Mr.  Brown." 

Who  "Mr.  Brown"  was,  or  what  they  wanted  to  get  him  for,  does  not 
appear  in  the  records.  Nor  does  it  appear  that  the  committee  presented 
any  petition  to  the  Great  and  General  Court.  But  the  vote  itself  was  a 
fine  piece  of  strategy  on  the  part  of  the  partisans  of  the  location  on  the 
hill.  For  it  opened  up  the  minds  of  the  opponents  to  that  site  to  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  possibility  that  outside  of  the  citizens  of  Raby  there  were 
others  who,  if  called  upon,  had  the  authority  as  well  as  the  power  to 
settle  the  question  at  issue;  and  that  their  opponents  had  the  will  as 
well  as  the  numerical  strength  necessary  to  call  in  that  arbitrator. 

For  the  four  years  succeeding  the  foregoing  vote  there  was  another 
lull  in  the  proceedings  relative  to  the  meeting-house ;  occasioned,  no  doubt, 
by  the  town's  being  busily  engaged  in  an  effort  to  obtain  additional  terri- 
tory by  adding  to  that  which  it  already  possessed  the  strip  of  land  on  the 
west  side  of  Hollis  to  which  under  the  terms  of  its  charter  it  was  legally 
entitled.  But  when  in  1786  that  important  matter  had  been  settled  in 
favor  of  Raby,  its  inhabitants,  with  renewed  zeal,  returned  to  the  prose- 
cution of  the  Meeting-house  War. 

At  the  March  meeting  in  1787  the  town  again  voted,  and  for  the 
third  time,  to  build  a  meeting-house ;  and  at  the  same  time  elected  Samuel 
Douglass,  James  Campbell,  Randal  McDonald,  Isaac  Shattuck  and 
Thomas  Bennett  as  a  committee — "To  see  the  timbers  got  to  build  the 
same."  Again  the  dimensions  of  the  house  were  fixed;  this  time  "38  feet 
long,  28  feet  wide  and  two  stories  high."  The  committee  was  even  in- 
structed as  to  the  time — "within  which  the  frame  must  be  set  up." 

But  again  the  discordant  elements  warred.  The  spirit  of  contention 
got  in  its  work,  and  at  a  town  meeting  in  April  following,  it  was  voted — 
"To  Chose  a  committee  to  say  where  the  meeting-house  shall  stand  and 
their  judgment  to  be  final  and  end  all  dispute  in  regard  to  that  matter." 

In  the  month  of  October  following,  in  accordance  with  that  vote, 
Capt.  Samuel  Douglass  and  Capt.  James  Campbell  were  chosen  as  the 
committee;  and,  at  the  same  meeting  they  reported  as  follows:  "That 
the  meeting-house  shall  stand  at  or  near  where  the  fence  comes  to  the 


210  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

road  from  Foster's  hovel  and  on  the  south  side  of  the  road  and  east  of  the 
grate  bridge."  The  report  was  accepted  by  the  meeting,  and  thus  the 
problem  of  the  location  of  the  house,  which  had  vexed  and  worried  the 
people  since  when  in  1780  they  first  voted  to  build  it,  at  last  seemed  to 
have  been  satisfactorily  solved. 

The  friends  of  the  location  as  fixed  by  this  vote  were  jubilant  and, 
like  David  of  old,  exalted  their  horns.  They  rejoiced  with  exceeding  great 
joy.  In  fact  they  evidently  overdid  the  rejoicing  act  by  indiscreetly 
boasting  of  their  victory  over  their  opponents.  So  that,  at  last,  the  eyes 
of  the  latter  were  opened ;  and  it  dawned  upon  them  that  both  the  prompt- 
ness of  the  committee  in  making  its  report,  as  well  as  the  nature  of  the 
same,  indicated  that  its  members  were,  and  had  from  the  beginning  been, 
in  favor  of  the  location  which  they  had  recommended,  and  were  there- 
fore governed  by  their  prejudices  in  selecting  it.  In  fact,  the  opponents 
of  the  hill  site  soon  realized  that  they  had  been  the  subjects  of  trickery, 
in  that  the  said  committee  was,  in  its  makeup,  wholly  one-sided,  and  that 
they  were  the  victims  of  non-representation.  Accordingly  they  hustled 
around  and  procured  the  calling  on  the  14th  day  of  April,  1788,  of  an- 
other town  meeting,  at  which,  after  much  skirmishing  and  debating,  they 
finally  succeeded  in  carrying  a  vote — "To  have  a  Court's  committee  to 
prefix  a  place  to  set  our  meeting-house." 

In  accord  with  the  foregoing  vote,  on  the  29th  day  of  May,  the  se- 
lectmen framed  and  forwarded  to  the  Great  and  General  Court  a  petition, 
of  which  the  following  is  a  copy : 

"To  the  Hon11  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  for  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire : 

The  petition  of  the  Subscribers  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Raby 
in  the  county  of  Hillsborough  in  said  State  Humbly  shews  That  the  In- 
habitants of  said  Town  have  voted  to  build  a  meeting-house  in  said  Town 
but  cannot  Exactly  agree  on  any  particular  spot  of  Ground  to  set  it  upon, 
and  have  agreed  to  petition  your  honors  to  send  a  committee  to  find  out 
a  suitable  place  for  that  purpose. 

Your  petitioners  therefore  humbly  pray  your  honours  to  Interpose 
and  grant  us  such  a  Committee  as  your  Honours  in  your  great  wisdom 
shall  think  fit  and  they  as  in  duty  bound  will  ever  pray: 
Raby  May  29,  1788  JAMES   CAMPBELL  ]     Selectmen 

SAMPSON    FARNSWORTH  \  of 

RANDELL   McDONALD  Raby." 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  211 

On  the  7th  day  of  June  following,  the  Court  granted  the  prayer  of 
the  petition,  and  Timothy  Farrer,  of  New  Ipswich,  Abiel  Abbott,  of  Wil- 
ton, and  John  Goss,  of  Hollis,  were  appointed  a  committee — "to  locate 
the  meeting-house,  the  town  to  pay  the  expense."  It  is  probable  that 
this  committee  acted,  selected  the  "spot"  for  the  house's  location,  and 
reported  accordingly.  But  a  diligent  search  in  the  town  records  and  State 
papers  fails  to  reveal  any  record  of  such  a  report.  Nor  does  it  appear 
that  the  committee's  decision,  if  they  came  to  any,  had  any  immediate 
effect  by  way  of  settling  the  question  at  issue.  For,  from  the  date  of  its 
appointment  up  to  and  including  April  9,  1789,  there  occurred  four  addi- 
tional town  meetings,  at  each  of  which  the  location  of  the  meeting-house 
furnished  the  principal  subject  for  discussion.  At  two  of  these  meetings 
it  was  voted  to  delay  the  building  of  the  house;  and  at  one  of  them,  that 
of  March  4,  1789,  a  building  committee  was  again  elected.  At  this  latter 
meeting  occurred  the  first  action  relative  to  appropriating  money  to  build 
the  house;  it  being  voted  to  raise  thirty  pounds  for  that  purpose. 

By  this  time,  the  fact  that  they  were  engaged  in  a  foolish  and  profit- 
less warfare,  seems  to  have  dawned  upon  the  minds  of  all  the  interested 
parties.  Since  the  town  first  voted  to  build  a  meeting-house  a  period  of 
nine  years  had  elapsed,  during  which  the  entire  population  had  been  em- 
broiled in  a  bitter  controversy,  no  substantial  progress  made,  and  the  end 
as  yet  was  apparently  afar  off.  Meanwhile  many  of  those  who  were  alive 
and  interested  in  the  matter  at  the  beginning,  had  succumbed  to  the  in- 
evitable, and  passed  on  to  that  mystical  land,  where,  in  all  probability, 
both  cattle  pounds  and  meeting-houses  are  unknown.  Others  had  passed 
into  their  dotage,  and  were  unable  to  have  distinguished  the  meeting- 
house, if  it  had  been  built,  from  the  pound,  which  was  built.  The  young 
men  and  women  had  reached  maturity,  married,  had  children  of  their 
own  and,  having  divided  up  between  the  factions,  were  now  asissting 
their  elders  in  carrying  on  the  war. 

Such  was  the  condition  of  affairs  when,  at  a  meeting  of  the  inhab- 
itants in  the  month  of  April,  1789,  the  town  took  what  appears  to  have 
been  its  final  action  relative  to  either  the  building  or  location  of  the  house. 
For  from  this  time  the  records  contain  no  further  references  to  the  matter. 
At  this  meeting,  after  again  voting  to  build  a  meeting-house,  it  was  finally 
voted — "To  send  another  petition  to  the  court's  committee  praying  them 
to  come  and  view  the  town  again  and  see  if  they  can  find  a  spot  of  ground 
for  us  to  set  our  meeting-house  on  that  is  satisfactory  to  the  town."  And 
at  the  same  meeting,  Lieut.  Ephraim  Sartell,  Lieut.  James  Mcintosh, 
Benjamin  Shattuck  and  Joshua  Smith  were  elected  as — "A  committee  to 


212  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

wait  on  the  court's  committee."  The  records  contain  no  evidence  that 
the  "court's  committee"  were  ever  called  upon  to  act  under  the  provisions 
of  the  foregoing  vote.  Tradition  says,  however,  that  it  did  act,  and  that 
it  reported  in  favor  of  the  site  upon  which  the  house  now  stands. 

Soon  after  the  passing  of  the  vote  of  April,  1789,  work  on  the  house 
was  begun,  and  continued  with  considerable  regularity  until  it  was  ready 
for  occupation  in  1791. 

The  land  upon  which  the  meeting-house  stands  was  a  gift  to  the 
town  from  Richard  Cutts,  Shannon  Esq.  His  deed  of  conveyance  of  the 
same  to  the  town,  recorded  in  Hillsborough  Registry,  Vol.  203,  page  603, 
is  dated  Nov.  21,  1796. 

The  men  who  constituted  the  building  committee  were  Benjamin 
Farley,  Joshua  Smith,  Eleazer  Gilson,  and  Daniel  Spaulding.  This  com- 
mittee had  the  general  supervision  of  the  work.  The  house  was  built  by 
the  people ;  each  one  contributing  to  its  construction  in  labor  or  materials, 
or  both,  according  to  their  several  means  and  circumstances.  From  time 
to  time  appropriations  to  defray  necessary  expenses  were  made.  Besides 
these  appropriations,  money  was  raised  by  selling  pew  grounds. 

The  inconveniences  and  troubles  to  which  the  people  were  subjected 
in  the  matter  of  raising  funds,  and  the  straits  to  which  they  were  reduced 
by  reason  of  their  poverty,  are  well  illustrated  by  an  article  inserted  in 
the  warrant  for  a  town  meeting  on  the  15th  day  of  April,  1790;  which, 
referring  to  a  prior  vote  of  the  town  to  sell  pew  grounds,  reads  as  follows — 
"That  it  is  thought  by  a  considerable  number  of  the  inhabitants  to  be 
attended  with  great  difficulties  and  inconveniences  as  well  as  a  vast  deal 
more  expense  and  to  hinder  the  building  of  the  house  as  soon  as  the  same 
might  be  done."  The  article  concludes  with  these  words — "And  to  act 
thereon  as  the  town  may  think  proper  as  well  as  for  the  interest  as  the 
Peace  and  quietness  of  the  town."  At  this  same  meeting  it  was — "voted 
that  Daniel  Spaulding,"  who  was  one  of  the  building  committee,  and 
also  a  carpenter,  "should  build  the  porches";  which,  the  vote  specified, 
were  to  be  ten  feet  square  and  ten  feet  high. 

These  porches  were  subsequently  built  by  Mr.  Spaulding,  he  furnish- 
ing all  the  materials  and  performing  all  the  labor,  for  which  he  was  to 
receive — "One  pew  in  each  corner  of  the  South  side  of  the  meeting-house 
and  what  room  he  shall  make  above  by  building  the  porches." 

In  May,  1790,  ninety  pounds  were  voted  for  furnishing  the  house, 
of  which  amount  it  was  stipulated  that  nine  pounds  should  be  paid  in 
hard  money.  In  this  same  year  Minister's  rates  were  levied  for  the  first 
time. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  213 

On  the  12th  day  of  March,  1791,  eleven  years  and  two  months  after 
the  town's  first  vote  to  build  it,  the  meeting-house  was  so  far  completed 
that  it  was  used  for  the  first  time,  the  occasion  being  that  of  holding  a 
town  meeting. 

Thus,  after  a  war  of  words  extending  over  a  period  of  more  than  ten 
years,  the  meeting-house  was  so  far  completed  as  to  be  ready  for  occu- 
pancy and  use.  There  is  no  record  that  it  was  ever  formally  dedicated, 
and  tradition  also  is  silent  on  that  point. 

Although  it  was  erected  as  a  house  of  God,  the  first  meeting  holden 
within  the  walls  was  a  secular  one.  For  many  years,  or  at  least  as  long  as 
the  town  continued  to  look  after  the  religious  as  well  as  the  worldly  inter- 
ests of  its  people,  the  house  was  used  both  as  a  place  of  worship  and  a 
town  house.  It  still  is  and  always  has  been  used  for  holding  the  annual 
and  special  meetings  of  the  town  (with  the  exception  of  a  few  years  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  last  century,  when  the  town  meetings  were  held  in 
Tarbell's  hall  in  the  village) . 

But  its  use  as  a  place  of  public  worship  ceased  many  years  ago.  Dur- 
ing its  use  for  the  latter  purpose,  it  was  occupied  at  various  times  by  the 
Congregationalists,  Methodists,  Christians,  and  Universalists  in  turn. 
The  house  has  received  some  severe  usage  in  its  day.  Forty  years  or 
more  ago,  after  it  ceased  to  be  used  for  religious  purposes,  the  town  au- 
thorities, influenced  doubtless  by  a  desire  of  obtaining  from  it  some  rev- 
enue for  the  town,  were  induced  to  lease  it  to  a  local  company  for  the 
storage  of  furniture  and  lumber  and,  in  order  to  make  room  for  storage, 
authorized  the  removal  of  its  furnishings,  or  the  greater  part  of  them. 
Under  this  authority  the  lofty,  ornate  and  beautiful  pulpit  was  ruthlessly 
torn  down  and  carried  away,  disappearing  from  sight  as  completely  as  if 
it  had  never  existed;  the  box-pews,  the  "sheep-pens"  of  our  childhood, 
were  removed  from  the  main  floor  of  the  house,  and  only  the  gallery  pews 
are  now  left,  as  samples  of  the  architectural  skill  of  the  early  fathers  of  the 
town,  and  proofs  of  their  painful  and  loving  endeavors  to  beautify  and 
adorn  the  house  with  the  work  of  their  hands.  It  stands  today  as  a  most 
worthy  monument  to  their  memories. 

It  is  perhaps  the  only  representative  of  the  type  of  meeting-houses 
common  in  New  England  a  century  and  more  ago  now  standing  in  Hills- 
borough County.  The  memories  associated  with  it  are  holy.  Partially 
despoiled  though  it  is,  it  still  retains  sufficient  marks  of  its  original  inside 
architectural  beauty  to  attract  the  antiquarian  and  the  lovers  of  the  past, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  no  sacrilegious  hand,  moved  by  the  spirit  of 
despoilation,  will  ever  again  be  lifted  against  it. 


214  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

Ecclesiastical  History,  Continued. 
1791-1837. 

Rev.  John  Wythe — Organization  of  the  Congregational  Church,  Dec.  20, 
1795 — First  Deacons — Church  Covenant — Call  and  Settlement  of 
Rev.  Lemuel  Wadsworth — His  Ordination,  His  Ministry,  and 
Sketch  of  His  Life — Inscription  on  the  Tombstone  of  Rev.  Lemuel 
Wadsworth — The  "Rev."  "Doctor"  William  Warren — Movements 
in  Favor  of  the  Formation  of  a  Church  of  the  "Christian"  De- 
nomination in  1821 — Rev.  Jesse  Parker — Rev.  Leonard  Jewett — 
Rev.  Samuel  H.  Holman — The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Jacob  Holt — 
Sketch  of  Mr.  Holt's  Life — Opening  of  the  Meeting-house  to  the 
Occupancy  of  all  Religious  Denominations  and  the  Formation  of  a 
"Christian"  Church  in  1831— The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Henry  E. 
Eastman,  and  Sketch  of  His  Life — Abandonment  of  the  Old  Meet- 
ing-house as  a  Place  of  Worship  by  the  Congregationalists. 

As  has  already  been  stated  in  a  prior  chapter,  the  old  meeting-house 
was  occupied  for  the  first  time  on  the  12th  day  of  March,  1791,  the  occa- 
sion being  that  of  holding  a  town  meeting.  For  the  consecutive  five 
years  following  its  opening  the  house  continued  to  be  used  for  both  civic 
and  religious  meetings.  During  this  period,  as  had  from  the  beginning 
been  the  custom,  all  secular  matters  connected  with  divine  worship  con- 
tinued to  be  controlled  by  the  town  authorities;  who  attended  to  the 
expenditure  of  appropriations  raised  for  that  purpose,  hired  the  minis- 
ters, and  did  such  other  acts  as  in  their  judgment  were  essential  for  the 
general  religious  welfare  of  the  citizens. 

The  only  minister  of  record  who  preached  here  during  this  period  was 
the  Rev.  John  Wythe. 

Meanwhile,  the  building  of  the  meeting-house  was  substantially  com- 
pleted, the  last  appropriation  for  that  purpose — sixty  pounds — having 
been  made  in  May,  1792. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  215 

There  was,  as  yet,  no  regularly  organized  church  in  town ;  but  there 
were  a  considerable  number  of  professing  Christians,  some  of  whom,  at 
least,  were  actively  engaged  in  doing  the  Master's  work. 

Organization  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

Dec.  10,  1795,  fifteen  of  the  town's  citizens  united  to  form  the  Con- 
gregational church  existing  here  at  the  present  time.    The  names  of  these 
original  members  of  the  church  are  as  follows : 
Benjamin  Farley,  Samuel  Farley, 

Ezekiel  Proctor,  Lucy  Farley, 

Joshua  Smith,  Rebekah  Campbell, 

Clark  Brown,  Hannah  Shattuck, 

Ephraim  Sawtell,  Abigail  Sawtell, 

Eleazer  Gilson,  Hannah  Gilson, 

Joshua  Emerson,  Lydia  Emerson. 

Joshua  Smith,  Jr. 

On  the  day  of  the  church's  organization,  Eleazer  Gilson  and  Joshua 
Emerson  were  elected  as  its  first  deacons ;  and  on  the  same  day  it  entered 
up  its  first  record  as  follows : 

"Dec.  10,  1795;  This  day  was  the  church  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in 
Raby  embodied  after  the  Congregational  order." 

Covenant  of  the  Church. 

The  members  subscribed  to  the  following  covenant: 

"We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  enjoined,  do  covenant  with  the  Lord 
and  with  one  another,  solemnly  binding  ourselves  in  the  presence  of  God 
and  His  people,  that  we  will,  by  divine  assistance,  walk  after  the  Lord 
in  all  his  ways,  as  he  hath  revealed  them  in  his  holy  word. 

1st.  We  avouch  the  Lord  Jehovah,  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Spirit,  to 
be  one  God,  and  give  up  ourselves  and  children  to  be  His  people. 

2ndly.  We  give  up  ourselves  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  as  our  Prophet, 
Priest  and  King ;  relying  on  his  word  for  instruction,  his  merits  for  justi- 
fication, and  his  power  and  grace  for  assistance,  protection  and  salvation. 

3dly.  We  engage  by  divine  assistance  to  walk  together  in  the  spirit 
of  love,  watching  over  one  another  with  humility  and  fear,  avoiding  every 
occasion  of  offence,  and  reasonably  admonishing,  and  in  weakness  restoring 
such  as  may  be  overtaken  in  a  fault. 


216  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

4thly.  We  engage  to  watch  and  pray  that  we  so  cause  our  light  to 
shine  before  men  that  they,  seeing  our  good  works,  may  glorify  our  Father 
who  is  in  heaven,  and  the  peace  and  prosperity  of  Jerusalem,  and  to  sub- 
mit to  the  Gospel  discipline  of  the  church. 

5thly.  We  engage  to  submit  ourselves  to  the  Congregational  order 
and  discipline  of  Christ's  house,  and  to  the  lawful  ordinance  of  man  for 
the  Lord's  sake. 

6thly.  We  engage  to  give  up  our  infant  offspring  to  God  in  baptism, 
and  to  bring  up  those  committed  to  our  care,  in  the  nurture  and  admoni- 
tion of  the  Lord ;  setting  an  example  of  piety  before  them,  both  in  public 
and  in  private. 

All  these  things  we  engage  in  the  sincerity  of  our  hearts,  this  tenth 
day  of  December,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-five." 

For  more  than  a  year  after  the  organization  of  the  church  both  it 
and  the  town  continued  to  be  without  a  settled  pastor;  although  there  is 
reason  to  believe  that  during  the  latter  part  of  that  period  the  Rev.  Lemuel 
Wadsworth  was,  so  far  at  least  as  the  church  was  concerned,  officiating  in 
that  capacity. 

On  the  21st  day  of  November,  1796,  the  church  voted  unanimously 
to  give  Rev.  Lemuel  Wadsworth  a  call  to  become  its  pastor,  and  at  the 
same  time  instructed  its  moderator  to  invite  the  town  to  join  with  the 
church  in  the  call.  This  "call"  by  the  church  could,  under  the  circum- 
stances, be  construed  in  no  other  way  than  as  an  expression  of  its  mem- 
bers' confidence  in  the  reverend  gentleman's  qualifications  for  the  position; 
a  recommendation  on  their  part  which  might  serve  to  guide  their  fellow- 
citizens  in  their  selection  of  a  minister,  for  the  support  of  whom  each  would 
have  to  bear  his  proportionate  share  of  taxation,  and  in  whose  ministra- 
trations  each  and  all  were  entitled  to  participate  equally. 

The  Town's  Call  and  Settlement  of  the  Rev.  Lemuel  Wadsworth. 

On  the  7th  day  of  December,  1796,  a  little  over  a  year  after  the 
organization  of  the  church,  the  citizens  in  town  meeting  assembled,  voted 
— "To  give  the  Rev.  Lemuel  Wadsworth  a  call  to  settle  as  a  gospel  minis- 
ter"; and  chose  William  Green,  Clark  Brown,  Ephraim  Sawtell,  Joseph 
Emerson  and  Eleazer  Gilson  as  a  committee — "To  consult  with  Mr.  Wads- 
worth and  see  if  he  is  disposed  to  settle  in  the  ministry."  This  committee 
attended  to  its  duties  and,  at  the  same  meeting,  reported  a  favorable 
answer  from  Mr.  Wadsworth.  Upon  receiving  the  committee's  report, 
the  meeting  proceeded  to  elect  the  following  named  citizens  as  a  commit- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  217 

tee — "To  arrange  upon  the  terms  of  his  settlement  and  salary,  i.  e.,  Wil- 
liam Green,  Ephraim  Sawtell,  Joseph  Emerson,  Isaac  Shattuck,  Swallow 
Tucker,  James  Campbell,  James  Mcintosh,  Randel  McDonald  and  Eleazer 
Gilson."  At  an  adjourned  meeting,  on  the  following  day,  the  committee 
reported,  and  its  report  was  accepted,  as  follows: 
Rev.  Mr.  Wadsworth's  Settlement: 

Voted — "To  give  the  Rev.  Lemuel  Wads  worth  for  a  Settlement  as  a 
gospel  minister  in  this  town  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  one- 
third  thereof  at  or  before  the  first  day  of  Nov.  1797,  one  third  thereof  at 
or  before  the  first  day  of  Nov.  1798,  and  the  other  third  thereof  at  or 
before  the  first  day  of  Nov.  1799."  It  was  also  unanimously  voted — 
"That  said  Wadsworth's  salary  take  place  at  the  time  of  his  ordination 
and  that  the  town  pay  him  sixty  pounds  yearly  as  a  salary  until  the  first 
of  Nov.  1799  and  after  the  last  mentioned  date  seventy  pounds  yearly 
during  his  being  a  gospel  minister  in  this  town";  also  voted — "That  Mr. 
Wadsworth  return  about  the  first  day  of  April  next  to  give  his  answer." 

Mr.  Wadsworth  undoubtedly  did  "return"  and  agree  to  the  foregoing 
offer  of  settlement.  For  May  22,  following,  the  town  appointed  Isaac 
Shattuck,  Ephraim  Sawtell  and  William  Green  as  a  committee — "To  con- 
sult with  him  concerning  his  ordination" ;  which,  as  it  was  finally  arranged, 
occurred  Oct.  11,  1797. 

Ordination  of  Rev.  Lemuel  Wadsworth. 

A  full  account  of  the  services  attendant  upon  the  ordination  of  Mr. 
Wadsworth  would  doubtless  be  very  interesting  reading.  But,  alas,  such 
an  account  is  impossible.  Relative  to  it  tradition,  even,  is  silent;  and 
the  records  of  the  town  furnish  little  or  no  information.  The  only  entries 
on  the  records  of  the  church  relative  to  it  are  recorded  under  the  dates  of 
September  7th  and  8th,  respectively.  By  these  records  it  appears  that  an 
invitation  to  join  in  the  ordination  exercises  was  extended  by  the  Brook- 
line  church  to  the  churches  in  Hollis,  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Townsend,  Mass., 
Mason,  New  Ipswich,  Wilton,  Milford,  Canton,  Mass.,  Stoughton,  Mass., 
Groton,  Mass.,  and  Amherst. 

As  to  the  part  taken  by  the  town  in  that  important  event  in  its  his- 
tory, the  following  excerpts  from  its  records  furnish  the  only  attainable 
information : 

"Aug.  28,  1897,  voted:  That  Mr.  Asher  Spaulding  provide  for  the 
Council  at  the  ordination  in  the  following  manner — that  for  the  supper 
sixteen  cents  each  on  said  ordination  day  and  for  all  other  meals  seventeen 


218  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

cents  each  and  for  horses  eleven  cents  each  and  for  all  the  liquors  lemons 
and  shugar  at  the  common  retail  prices."  It  was  also  voted:  "That  the 
selectmen  and  Esquire  (Benjamin)  Farley  adjust  Mr.  Spaulding's  account 
respecting  the  above  entertainment";  also — "That  R.  M.  McDonald, 
Joseph  Tucker,  Eli  Sawtell  and  Daniel  Spaulding  be  a  committee  to  take 
care  of  the  meeting-house  on  said  ordination  day." 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing,  the  following  entries  copied  from  the 
pages  of  an  ancient  order  book  of  the  town,  undoubtedly  refer  to  the 
ordination  exercises: 

"Feb.  17,  1798,  Paid  Asher  Spaulding  in  full  for  nales  and  brandy 
delivered  to  the  committee  for  building  the  stage  for  ordination  seventy 
two  cents." 

"March  5;  Asher  Spaulding  in  full  for  providing  for  the  council  -133." 

As  to  the  duties  of  the  foregoing  named  committees,  according  to  the 
traditions  prevailing  among  the  old  people  of  fifty  years  ago,  they  were 
well  performed.  The  committee  on  building  the  stage,  by  the — it  is  to 
be  hoped — judicious  use  of  the  "nales"  and  "brandy,"  succeeded  in  erect- 
ing a  platform  which  sufficed  for  the  occasion;  and  the  committee  on 
entertainment  provided  a  sumptuous  ordination  dinner;  which,  according 
to  one  tradition,  was  served  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Swallow  Tucker,  on 
"the  plain"  and  was  lacking  in  neither — "liquors,  lemons  or  shugar," — 
and  under  the  influence  of  which,  some,  at  least,  of  the  partakers  became 
spiritously  elevated  to  the  degree  that  their  spirituality,  for  the  time 
being,  passed  under  a  cloud. 

Mr.  Wadsworth  at  the  time  of  his  ordination  was  in  the  29th  year  of 
his  age,  and  just  out  of  college. 

Immediately  after  his  ordination,  he  moved  into  the  house  which  to 
the  day  of  his  death  he  continued  to  occupy  as  a  parsonage.  This  house 
was  located  on  the  southerly  side  of  the  highway  leading  westerly  from 
the  old  meeting-house  to  the  "Pond  bridge,"  and  at  a  point  about  half 
way  between  the  meeting-house  and  the  bridge.  The  house  disappeared 
many  years  ago;  but  its  cellar  hole  is  still  in  evidence,  and  may  be  iden- 
tified by  a  large  elm  tree  which  grows  out  of  its  depths;  and,  also,  by  a 
clump  of  lilacs,  which,  having  survived  the  flights  of  years,  still  flourish 
on  its  borders  and  with  each  returning  spring  pay  fragrant  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  its  former  occupant. 

Mr.  Wadsworth's  pastorate  covered  a  period  of  about  twenty  years; 
during  which  the  town's  population  increased  from  about  400  in  1797,  to 
about  550  in  1817,  and  the  church  is  said  to  have  been  strengthened  by 
the  addition  of  nineteen  new  members. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  219 

As  to  Mr.  Wadsworth's  personal  appearance,  the  writer  in  his  boy- 
hood days  often  heard  his  mother,  who  during  the  latter  part  of  his  min- 
istry was  a  girl  in  her  teens,  describe  him  as  a  man  of  short  stature  and 
large  body;  light  complexioned,  and  full  face  with  pleasant  features; 
polite  and  courteous  in  his  manner  and  very  social  in  his  habits. 

She  well  remembered  seeing  him  on  many  occasions  at  her  father's 
house,  when  engaged  in  making  his  pastoral  calls;  during  which,  as  was 
then  the  custom,  the  decanter  of  spirits  was  invariably  produced  and  its 
contents  sampled  by  him  before  his  departure.  She  said,  too,  that  it  was 
no  unusual  event  for  him  to  drop  in  on  the  young  people  at  their  social 
gatherings,  and  even  at  their  dancing  parties;  where,  in  the  pauses  of 
the  music,  during  which  the  young  men  bearing  waiters  loaded  with  liquid 
refreshments  circulated  among  the  dancers,  he  would  help  himself  to  a 
glass  of  brandy  and,  having  drank  the  same,  depart  with  a  courteous 
bow  and  a  hearty  "good  night." 

Mr.  Wadsworth  died  at  Brookline  on  the  25th  day  of  November, 
1818;  leaving  a  widow  surviving  him,  but  no  children.  His  funeral,  which 
was  largely  attended,  occurred  in  the  old  meeting-house  on  the  27th  day 
of  that  month.  The  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Hill  of  Mason.  The  sermon  was  afterwards  printed;  and,  from  a  copy 
of  the  same  which,  fortunately  has  been  preserved  through  the  passing 
years,  the  following  excerpt,  containing  a  brief  sketch  of  Mr.  Wadsworth's 
life,  and  a  brother  clergyman's  estimation  of  his  character  and  abilities, 
has  been  taken.     Mr.  Hill  said: 

"The  REV.  LEMUEL  WADSWORTH  was  born  of  respectable 
parents  at  Stoughton,  Massachusetts,  March  9th,  1769.  In  the  early 
part  of  his  life  he  had  no  more  advantages  of  education  than  were  common, 
at  that  time,  to  all  classes  of  people.  His  circumstances  did  not  allow 
him  to  follow  his  strong  inclination  to  obtain  a  collegiate  education, 
until  his  time  was  his  own.  Then  under  many  forbidding  circumstances 
and  embarrassments,  he  applied  himself  to  study  with  resolution.  With 
little  charitable  aid,  principally  by  his  own  exertions,  he  maintained  him- 
self when  fitting  for  college,  and  through  the  course  of  his  studies.  While 
a  member  of  college  he  conducted  himself  with  such  regularity,  sobriety, 
meekness,  unassuming  manners,  and  close  application,  as  to  gain  the  es- 
teem of  the  officers  and  of  his  fellow  students.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four 
years  he  graduated  at  Brown  College  in  Providence,  in  the  year  1793  and, 
without  delay,  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  divinity.  He  soon  became 
a  candidate  for  the  gospel  ministry,  the  object  for  which  he  labored  to 


220  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

qualify  himself.  Divine  Providence  directed  him  to  this  place  and,  after 
preaching  a  suitable  time  for  the  people  to  be  acquainted  with  his  gifts, 
a  church  being  formed,  he  received  the  almost  unanimous  call  of  the 
church  and  town  to  settle  with  them  as  their  minister.  Their  call  he 
accepted,  and  was  ordained  Oct.  11,  1797.  From  that  time  he  continued 
to  labor  among  them  and  to  enjoy,  in  a  degree  very  remarkable  at  this 
day,  the  high  esteem  of  his  people  until  suddenly  removed  by  death  on 
the  25th  instant. 

It  was  in  the  milder  virtues,  humility,  gentleness,  condescension, 
filial  piety,  brotherly  love  and  Christian  kindness,  Mr.  Wadsworth  shone 
with  distinguished  brightness.  He  was  exemplary  in  his  life,  and  a  pat- 
tern of  Christian  forbearance  and  forgiveness.  He  always  appeared  con- 
tented with  the  allotments  of  Divine  Providence,  for  he  did  not  seek  great 
things  for  himself  here.  Philanthropy  and  kindness  were  congenial  to  his 
heart.  He  was  at  all  times  ready  with  whatever  he  possessed,  to  admin- 
ister relief  to  the  distressed,  and  comfort  to  his  friends,  and  all  men  were 
his  friends.  Not  only  was  the  law  of  kindness  on  his  lips,  but  all  who 
had  occasion  for  it  experienced  his  kindness.  His  liberality  to  the  poor 
was  extended  to  the  utmost  of,  if  not  beyond,  his  ability.  And  even  the 
vicious  he  sought  to  reclaim  rather  by  kindness  than  by  severity.  His  filial 
piety  and  brotherly  affection  shone  brightly  in  his  tender  care  and  liberal 
support  of  an  aged  mother  and  a  helpless  sister,  to  the  close  of  their  lives. 
His  brethren  in  the  ministry  he  loved,  and,  diffident  of  himself,  and  mod- 
est in  his  manners,  he  in  honor  preferred  others  to  himself.  On  every 
occasion  they  experienced  the  kindness  of  his  heart. 

For  several  of  the  last  years  of  his  life  he  was  exercised  with  many 
bodily  infirmities,  but  not  so  as  often,  or  for  a  long  time,  to  take  him  off 
from  his  stated  labors.  His  increasing  infirmities  and  disorders  he  viewed 
with  calmness  as  harbingers  of  early  death.  His  pains  he  bore  with  firm- 
ness of  mind  and  with  patience  and  resignation,  as  coming  from  the  hand 
of  God.  As  the  time  of  his  departure  evidently  approached,  his  hopes 
were  strong  and  full  of  immortality.  *  *  *  While  he  manifested  a 
readiness  to  depart,  his  only  hope  was  in  a  crucified  Savior.  He  said: 
'I  have  coveted  no  man's  silver  or  gold,  I  have  labored  with  my  hands  to 
supply  my  necessities,  and  I  have  had  a  little  to  give  to  the  poor,  and  I 
gave  it  cheerfully.  But  I  have  no  merit.  I  have  endeavored  to  convince 
others  that  there  is  salvation  for  sinners  only  in  Christ.  I  have  no  other 
hope  and  I  desire  no  other  way.'  *  *  *  Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die 
in  the  Lord  from  henceforth;  yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  they  may  rest  from 
their  labors,  and  their  works  do  follow  them.'  " 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  221 

Mr.  Wadsworth  was  buried  in  the  Pond  cemetery.  On  the  10th  day 
of  March,  1818,  the  town  voted  to  erect  a  tombstone  over  his  grave,  and 
chose  as  a  committee  for  that  purpose,  EH  Sawtell,  Deacon  Eleazer  Gilson 
and  Benjamin  Shattuck.  Under  the  supervision  of  this  committee,  the 
tombstone  was  subsequently  prepared  and  placed  in  position  by  Luther 
Hubbard,  at  a  cost  of  forty-five  pounds  and  sixteen  shillings.  It  is  located 
in  the  front  part  of  the  cemetery  near  the  entrance  gate,  and  consists  of 
an  oblong  block  of  hewn  granite  with  a  slab  of  slate  stone  lying  flat  upon 
its  upper  surface.    The  slate  stone  slab  bears  the  following  inscription : 

"This  Monument  is  Erected  to  the  Memory  of  Rev.  Lemuel  Wads- 
worth,  the  first  Minister  of  the  Gospel  in  Brookline." 

He  was  born  in  Stoughton,  Mass.,  March  9,  1769,  and  ordained  pastor 
of  the  church  in  this  place  Oct.  11,  1797.  He  performed  the  work  of  a 
gospel  minister  twenty  years.  Living  in  harmony  with  the  people  of  his 
charge,  being  highly  esteemed  for  his  ministerial  labors,  for  meekness, 
humility,  gentleness  and  brotherly  kindness.  He  departed  this  life  Nov. 
23,  1817,  in  full  hope  of  a  glorious  immortality,  through  Jesus  the  Lamb 
of  God,  in  whom  he  trusted  and  in  whom  he  labored  to  persuade  others  to 
trust,  as  the  only  Saviour  of  Sinners.  "Mark  the  perfect  man  and  behold 
the  upright.  For  the  end  of  that  man  is  peace.  Blessed  are  the  dead  who 
die  in  the  Lord,  and  their  memory  is  blessed." 

Several  years  after  Mr.  Wadsworth's  death,  his  widow,  Abigail  Wads- 
worth,  was  united  in  marriage  with  Lieut.  Ephraim  Sawtell.  During  her 
married  life  with  Mr.  Sawtell  they  resided  in  the  old  Capt.  Robert  Seaver 
house  on  the  north  highway  to  Milford,  the  same  being  at  the  present 
time  owned  and  occupied  as  his  home  by  George  F.  Shattuck.  Mrs. 
Sawtell  survived  her  husband  for  many  years,  dying  at  an  advanced  age 
in  the  fifties. 

For  twenty  successive  Sundays  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Wadsworth, 
the  pulpit  was  occupied  by  ministers  hired  by  Mrs.  Wadsworth  Among 
those  thus  hired  were  the  Rev.  Jesse  Parker,  Rev.  John  Barrett,  and 
Rev.  Samuel  Dix  of  Townsend,  Mass. 

At  the  March  town  meeting  of  the  year  1818  there  was  an  article  in 
the  warrant  relative  to  giving  Mr.  Barrett  a  call,  but  it  was  passed  over. 
However,  it  was  voted  to  raise  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  preaching, 
and  Ensign  Bailey  and  Randel  McDonald  were  elected  a  committee — 
"To  lav  out  the  same." 


222  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

The  "Reverend"  Doctor   (?)  William  Warren. 

Soon  after  the  date  of  the  foregoing  vote  the  townspeople  were  agree- 
ably surprised  by  the  advent  in  their  midst  of  a  stranger  who  answered  to 
the  name  of  William  Warren,  announced  himself  as  a  physician  by  profes- 
sion, and  signified  his  intention  of  opening  an  office  in  town,  which  he  did. 
Where  he  originated  and  from  whence  he  came  to  Brookline  are  questions 
which  to  this  day  have  remained  unanswered.  Indeed,  for  what  little 
information  we  have  relative  to  his  career  in  town,  until  toward  the  very 
last  of  it,  we  are  indebted  solely  to  tradition.  But,  whoever  he  was,  he 
came  here  as  a  pilgrim  and  a  stranger  and  the  citizens  took  him  in.  Af- 
terwards, he  took  them  in. 

Being  a  man  of  good  address,  courteous  and  polite  in  his  manners, 
and  possessed  of  a  knowledge  of  medicine  which,  however  superficial  it 
may  have  been,  he  had  the  tact  or  good  fortune  to  use  discreetly,  he  soon 
acquired  a  local  reputation  as  an  excellent  physician.  Nor  was  he  less 
successful  in  establishing  the  reputation  of  being  a  consistent  Christian, 
which  he  professed  to  be.  He  was  a  regular  attendant  at  religious  meet- 
ings, where  his  pious  demeanor,  ready  command  of  language,  and  fluency 
of  speech  soon  won  the  approval  of  the  elders,  and  undoubtedly  suggested 
to  them  the  idea  of  engaging  him  to  fill  the  then  vacant  pulpit.  This  idea 
was  carried  into  effect;  and  thus  it  happened  that  in  but  a  very  short 
time  after  his  arrival  he  was  serving  his  fellow  citizens  in  the  dual  ca- 
pacity of  medical  adviser  and  spiritual  shepherd;  a  state  of  affairs  which 
appears  to  have  been  satisfactory  to  all  parties  concerned.  For  a  while 
this  arrangement  worked  well,  and  everything  moved  on  harmoniously. 
The  "doctor"  labored  assiduously,  exhibiting  equal  skill  in  cutting,  slash- 
ing, plastering,  purging  and  bleeding  his  patient's  mortal  parts,  and  sooth- 
ing, comforting,  and  instructing  their  immortal  parts;  and  his  patients, 
of  both  parts,  in  turn  tumbled  over  each  other  in  their  zeal  to  employ  and 
pay  him  for  his  services. 

But,  as  after  events  proved,  Mr.  Warren,  notwithstanding  his  pious 
pretensions,  was  really  a  wolf  in  sheep's  clothing,  a  bold,  bad  man.  Like 
many  another  successful  rogue  before  him,  however,  he  couldn't  stand 
prosperity.  After  a  while,  feeling  secure  in  the  strength  of  his  hold  upon 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  citizens,  he  began  to  exhibit  his  true 
colors.  Gradually  it  leaked  out  that  he  was  a  gay  Lothario — a  typical 
Don  Juan,  and  most  scandalous  stories  concerning  him  began  to  be  cir- 
culated. These  stories  increased  in  magnitude  and  number  until  they 
involved  in  their  meshes  half  the  families  in  town,  and  threatened  to  be 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  223 

the  causes  of  a  series  of  divorce  cases  which  would  have  swamped  the 
county  courts.  Matters  at  last  came  to  such  a  pitch  that  the  citizens 
were  forced  to  take  action. 

At  a  town  meeting  holden  Sept.  18,  1820,  the  warrant  contained  the 
following  article — "To  see  if  the  town  will  discharge  Dr.  William  Warren 
from  any  further  ministerial  services  and  pay  him  for  what  service  he  has 
done  to  this  time,  or  act  anything  on  said  article  that  the  town  may  think 
proper."  After  a  heated  discussion  and  after  the  taking  of  several  ballots, 
which  showed  considerable  dissimilarity  of  opinion  among  the  voters,  the 
article  was  finally  carried,  and  the  selectmen  were  authorized — "To  notify 
Dr.  Warren  that  he  is  dismissed  from  any  further  ministerial  services  after 
this  time."  The  selectmen  dismissed  him  and,  subsequently,  he  was  paid 
the  amount  due  him  for  services  rendered — not  by  the  town,  however,  as 
appears  by  the  following  record : 

"Jan.  30th,  1821";  article  in  the  warrant:  "To  see  if  the  town  will 
unite  in  forming  a  society  in  said  town  for  the  support  of  the  ministry 
providing  that  those  that  brought  in  certificates  not  to  pay  Dr.  Warren 
for  his  services  as  a  preacher  will  pay  their  proportional  part  with  those 
who  have  paid  to  Dr.  Warren,  which  sum  is  to  be  annexed  and  laid  out 
in  having  a  gospel  minister." 

In  response  to  the  foregoing  article,  the  citizens  voted  to  join  such 
a  society  as  was  suggested  by  it. 

The  foregoing  is  the  last  record  which  mentions  the  name  of  Dr. 
William  Warren.  He  probably  shook  from  his  feet  the  dust  of  Brookline 
and  departed  for  more  congenial  surroundings.  But  the  evil  effects  of 
his  "ministry"  upon  the  community  and  church  were  not  effaced  for  many 
a  year.  The  little  church  was  greatly  demoralized;  and  although  imme- 
diately after  his  departure  the  old  meeting-house  became  the  scene  of  a 
series  of  religious  gatherings  at  which  both  the  laymen  and  pastors  the 
neighboring  churches  volunteered  their  services  and,  with  the  members 
of  the  home  church,  labored  earnestly  and  zealously  to  inspire  them  and 
the  citizens  with  renewed  zeal  and  enthusiasm  in  religious  affairs,  their 
efforts  were  comparatively  fruitless  of  results. 

For  the  four  following  years  the  town  was  without  the  services  of  a 
pastor. 

In  the  meantime,  in  1821,  certain  of  the  citizens  who  were  in  their 
religious  beliefs  of  the  "Christian"  persuasion,  made  a  movement  towards 
the  establishment  in  town  of  a  church  of  that  denomination.  To  that 
end  they  endeavored  to  obtain  the  use  of  the  meeting-house  for  holding 
their  meetings.     After  some  opposition,  they  succeeded,  on  the  30th  day 


224  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

of  January,  1821,  in  obtaining  from  the  citizens  the  following  vote — "To 
let  the  Christian  Society  have  the  privilege  of  the  meeting-house  if  they 
bring  a  minister  of  good  credit."  The  words  "minister  of  good  credit" 
in  this  vote  are  especially  noticeable.  The  people  did  not  want  any  more 
Doctor  Warrens.  To  what  extent  the  "Christians"  at  this  time  availed 
themselves  of  the  said  "privilege"  is  now  unknown;  as  are,  also,  the 
names  of  those  who  were  active  in  the  movement.  But  it  was  the  first 
religious  society  other  than  the  Congregationalists  to  obtain  the  privilege 
of  occupying  the  meeting-house. 

In  1822  and  1823  the  Rev.  Jesse  Parker,  the  Rev.  Leonard  Jewett 
and  the  Rev.  Samuel  H.  Tolman  each  occasionally  preached  in  town. 
Of  the  three  foregoing  mentioned  clergymen,  the  writer  has  been  unsuc- 
cessful in  his  search  for  information  relative  to  the  Rev.  Jesse  Parker. 

Rev.  Leonard  Jewett  was  a  native  of  Hollis  where,  at  that  time,  he 
was  residing  and,  being  in  poor  health,  occasionally  supplying  pulpits  in 
the  neighboring  towns.  In  1833  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Temple,  where  he  was  ordained  March  6  of  that  year.  July 
25,  1844,  he  resigned  his  charge  in  Temple  and  returned  to  Hollis,  where 
he  died  Feb.  16,  1862. 

Rev.  Samuel  H.  Tolman  was  born  in  Dorchester,  Mass.,  April  30, 
1781.  He  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1806;  studied  for  the  min- 
istry, and  was  ordained  at  Shirley,  Mass.  At  the  time  of  his  supplying 
the  pulpit  in  Brookline,  he  was  preaching,  probably,  either  in  Dunstable, 
Mass.,  or  in  South  Merrimack.     He  died  at  Atkinson,  N.  H.,  April  2,  1856. 

The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Jacob  Holt. 

By  the  year  1825  the  community  had  so  far  recovered  from  the  dis- 
astrous effects  of  the  "ministry"  of  "Dr."  Warren  that  it  began  to  give 
serious  consideration  to  the  question  of  settling  another  minister.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  citizens  holden  on  the  20th  day  of  April,  the  selectmen 
were  instructed  to  confer  with  the  Rev.  Jacob  Holt — "Respecting  preach- 
ing or  act  anything  respecting  the  same  as  they  may  think  best." 

No  further  action  relative  to  preaching  appears  to  have  been  taken 
until  the  14th  day  of  March  following,  when  it  was  voted — "To  ordain 
Rev.  Jacob  Holt  on  condition  a  sufficient  subscription  should  be  obtained, 
and  that  William  S.  Crosby,  Moses  Shattuck,  George  Daniels,  Esq.,  and 
William  Hall  be  a  committee  to  draft  off  the  old  bond  get  subscribers 
and  sign  a  new  one  with  such  enlargements  as  will  be  thought  proper." 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


225 


The  committee  commenced  its  labors,  but  evidently  was  not  very 
successful  in  procuring  signatures  to  the  bond.  For  on  the  second  day  of 
October  of  the  same  year,  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Deacon  Eleazer  Gilson 
and  Capt.  Mathew  Wallace  were  elected  as  a  new  committee — "To  obtain 
an  additional  minister  bond." 

Dec.  6,  1825,  the  church,  as  appears  by  its  records,  joined  in  the  call 
to  Mr.  Holt. 

Dec.  27,  1825,  although,  as  appears  by  a  subsequent  town  record,  the 
minister's  bond  had  not  been  completed,  the  town  voted — "To  ordain  Mr. 
Jacob  Holt  to  take  pastoral  care  of  our  church."  At  the  same  time  with 
this  vote,  Thomas  Bennett,  Ensign  Bailey,  George  Daniels,  Esq.,  William 
Hall,  and  Deacon  Eleazer  Gilson  were  elected  as  a  committee — "To  wait 
on  Mr.  Holt  and  appoint  the  council  and  find  a  place  where  they  can  be 
entertained  and  appoint  a  day  for  his  ordination  and  make  provisions  for 
the  same." 

This  committee  attended  to  its  duties,  and  on  the  31st  day  of  De- 
cember, 1826,  the  Rev.  Jacob  Holt  was  ordained  as  a  gospel  minister  and 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  local  church. 

The  Ecclesiastical  Council  called  for  the  purpose  of  Mr.  Holt's  ordi- 
nation convened  at  the  house  of  James  Parker,  2nd.  The  council  was 
constituted  of  pastors  and  delegates  from  the  churches  in  the  following 
named  towns : 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Hill, 

Rev.  EH  Smith, 

Rev.  David  Palmer, 

Rev.  Humphrey  Moore, 

Rev.  James  Howe, 

Rev.  Thomas  Bede, 

Rev.  Charles  Robinson, 
The  council  was  organized  by  choosing  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Hill  as 
moderator,  and  Rev.  James  Howe  as  clerk. 


Mason, 
Hollis, 

Townsend,  Mass. 
Milford, 

Pepperell,  Mass., 
Wilton, 
Groton,  Mass., 


William  B.  Flagg. 
Ephraim  Burge. 
Eliot  Gowen. 
Daniel  Burns. 
Deacon  Jonas  Parker. 
Deacon  Ezra  Abbott. 
Calvin  Boynton. 


Order  of  Exercises. 


Introductory  Prayer, 

Sermon, 

Charge, 

Ordaining  Prayer, 

Right  hand  of  fellowship, 

Concluding  prayer, 


Rev.  David  Palmer. 
Rev.  Humphrey  Moore, 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Hill. 
Rev.  Eli  Smith. 
Rev.  James  Howe. 
Rev.  Charles  Robinson. 


226  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

An  interesting  part  of  the  proceedings  of  this  council  was  its  action 
on  the  following  resolution  relative  to  the  church  in  Groton,  Mass. : 

"Resolved  that  this  council  do  not  consider  the  transactions  of  this 
day  as  acknowledging  the  regular  standing  of  the  church  in  Groton,  over 
which  the  Rev.  Charles  Robinson  is  Pastor." 

The  vote  on  the  resolution  was  taken  by  yeas  and  nays  and  resulted 
as  follows:  Yeas:  Smith,  Burge,  Moore,  Burns,  Palmer,  Gowan,  Hill, 
Flagg,  Howe,  and  Parker;   Nays:   Bede,  Abbott,  Robinson,  and  Boynton. 

As  to  the  day's  doings  outside  of  the  ordination  exercises  proper,  there 
is  little  doubt  that  they  were,  to  say  the  least,  pleasant  if  not  exhilarating. 
For  by  a  license  obtained  from  the  selectmen,  John  H.  Cutter  who  was 
then  keeping  store  in  this  town,  on  that  day  "mixed  and  sold  liquors  at 
the  dwelling  house  of  Asher  Shattuck  and  Coburn  Green's  house  and 
shop";  and  Lieut.  John  Smith  was  licensed — "To  mix  and  sell  on  the 
Common." 

There  were  also  present  "music"  from  Pepperell;  and  a  "band  of 
singers"  from  Hollis,  concerning  which  and  whom  the  following  items 
copied  from  an  ancient  order  book  of  the  town  form  interesting  reading: 

"Feb.  26,  Luke  George  Order  $6.00  It  being  in  full  for  the  music 
from  Pepperell  on  ordination  day." 

"Feb.  7,  James  Parker,  Jr.  order  for  $7.00  it  being  in  full  for  his  find- 
ing supper  and  spirit  for  the  Hollis  singers  on  ordination  day." 

"Capt.  Joseph  Hall,  order  $6.91  It  being  in  full  for  providing  the 
singers  on  ordination  day." 

By  this  order  book  it  also  appears  that  James  Parker,  Jr.,  also  pro- 
vided the  entertainment  for  the  members  of  the  council  at  a  cost  of  thirty- 
one  dollars. 

Mr.  Holt's  pastorate,  which  extended  over  a  period  of  about  four 
years,  appears  to  have  been  quiet  and  uneventful.  Tradition  has  pre- 
served no  information  concerning  it  and,  after  his  ordination,  the  only 
entry  relative  to  him  to  be  found  in  the  town  records  is  under  date  of 
March  13,  1829;  when  it  was  voted — "To  appoint  a  committee  to  assist 
Mr.  Holt  to  collect  money  of  those  who  signed  his  bond." 

But  this  entry  is  a  significant  one  for,  from  it,  it  is  fair  to  draw  the 
inference  that  the  failure  of  his  parishioners  to  comply  with  their  obliga- 
tions under  the  terms  of  their  bond  securing  the  payment  of  his  salary 
was  the  cause  which  finally  led  him  to  sever  the  bonds  by  which  he  was 
bound  to  them;  which,  in  1831,  he  did.  He  went  from  Brookline  to 
Ipswich,  Mass. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  227 

The  following  sketch  of  Mr.  Holt's  life  is  taken  from  a  historical 
discourse  delivered  before  the  Hollis  Association  of  Ministers,  May  6, 
1862,  at  Hollis,  by  Rev.  A.  W.  Burnham,  D.  D.,  of  Rindge.  : 

REV.  JACOB  HOLT.  "Very  little  is  on  record  respecting  Mr. 
Holt.  He  was  born  in  Andover,  Mass.,  in  1780, — graduated  at  Dartmouth 
College  in  1803,— became  the  second  pastor  of  the  church  in  Brookline, 
N.  H.,  in  1827, — resigned  in  1831, — passing  the  remainder  of  his  life  in 
Ipswich,  Mass.,  where  he  died,  probably  about  1851  *-52.  Quiet  and 
retiring  in  his  habits,  a  sincere  Christian,  he  was  evangelical  in  his  re- 
ligious faith,  and  cordially  devoted  to  his  work  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel." 

It  may  be  well  at  this  point  to  mention  the  fact  that,  after  the  ex- 
piration of  Mr.  Wadsworth's  pastorate,  the  word  "settlement,"  referring 
to  the  town's  contract  with  its  ministers,  does  not  again  appear  on  its 
records.  In  the  case  of  Mr.  Holt,  Mr.  Wadsworth's  successor,  although 
he  was  engaged  by  the  town,  the  payment  of  his  salary  appears  to  have 
been  guaranteed  by  a  bond  signed  by  individual  citizens;  and  it  is  prob- 
able that  the  same  arrangement  prevailed  in  the  case  of  Rev.  Mr.  East- 
man, the  town's  third  minister.  Nevertheless,  the  town  doubtless  con- 
tinued to  contribute  to  the  support  of  preaching  during  the  years  covered 
by  the  pastorates  of  the  first  three  of  its  ministers.  For  the  "minister 
tax,"  which  was  assessed  for  the  first  time  in  1790,  continued  to  be  as- 
sessed and  collected,  as  the  records  show,  year  by  year,  until  as  late  as 
1843,  when  it  appears  on  the  book  for  the  last  time. 

For  the  four  years  next  succeeding  that  of  Mr.  Holt's  resignation  the 
town  and  church  were  without  a  settled  pastor.  During  this  period  the 
sentiment  in  favor  of  a  more  liberal  interpretation  of  the  Scriptures  and 
a  broader  expansion  and  freer  expression  of  religious  thought,  which  had 
manifested  itself  in  the  attempt,  in  1821,  to  establish  in  town  a  "Chris- 
tian Society,"  again  came  to  the  surface. 

This  sentiment,  although  vigorously  opposed  by  the  Congregation- 
alists,  gained  in  strength  so  that  in  1831,  at  a  town  meeting  holden  on  the 
8th  day  of  March,  its  advocates  were  sufficiently  strong  in  numbers  to 
carry  a  vote — "That  the  Meeting-house  may  be  occupied  by  different 
denominations." 

By  that  vote,  religious  tolerance,  so  far  as  the  use  of  the  Meeting- 
house was  concerned,  was  established  in  Brookline ;  and  from  that  day  to 
the  present  time  the  house  has  been  open  to  the  use  of  any  and  all  relig- 
ious denominations  whose  adherents  profess  to  worship  God  in  spirit  and 
in  truth,  and  according  to  the  dictates  of  their  own  consciences. 

*  Mr.  Holt  died  in  1847,  aged  66  years. — [Ed.] 


228  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

That  vote  was  really  the  beginning  of  the  end  of  the  support  by  the 
town,  as  such,  of  what  the  records  term  "gospel  preaching." 

The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Henry  E.  Eastman. 

Mr.  Eastman  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  Congregational 
Church  on  the  15th  day  of  September,  1835.  He  was  called  by  the  Church 
and  Society.  There  is  no  record  of  the  town's  joining  in  the  call.  Indeed, 
as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  town's  records  make  no  mention  of  him  whatever, 
except  in  connection  with  his  holding,  in  1837,  the  position  of  superin- 
tending school  committee.  But  from  the  fact  that  during  his  pastorate 
the  minister's  tax  continued  to  be  assessed,  it  is  probable  that  the  town 
contributed  toward  his  support. 

Mr.  Eastman  was  ordained  Dec.  9,  1835.  His  ordination  council  was 
constituted  of  pastor  and  delegates  from  the  Congregational  churches  in 
Mason,  Milford,  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Hollis,  Amherst,  and  Townsend,  Mass. 

Order  of  Exercises. 

Introductory  Prayer  Rev.  David  Palmer. 

Sermon,  Rev.  James  Howe. 

Consecration  Prayer,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Hill. 

Charge,  Rev.  Silas  Aiken. 
Right  Hand  of  Fellowship,  Rev.  David  Perry. 

Address  to  the  people,  Rev.  Humphrey  Moore. 

Concluding  Prayer,  Rev.  David  Perry. 

In  the  meantime,  from  the  date  of  the  town's  vote  in  1831  to  open 
the  meeting-house  to  all  denominations,  the  "Christians"  had  been  en- 
joying its  use  in  conjunction  with  the  Congregationalists.  But  just 
prior  to,  or  soon  after,  Mr.  Eastman's  ordination,  this  joint  occupancy 
ceased.  The  Congregationalists,  who  viewed  with  apprehension  and 
alarm  the  growth  in  town  of  the  spirit  of  liberalism,  and  who  were  dis- 
satisfied in  being  compelled  to  share  with  a  society  whose  creed  was,  in 
their  judgment,  fraught  with  so  much  danger  to  the  welfare,  both  here 
and  hereafter,  of  the  citizens  of  the  town,  in  the  use  of  a  house  of  worship 
of  which  for  so  many  years  they  had  held  undisputed  possession,  resolved 
to  abandon  the  old  meeting-house  as  a  place  of  worship,  and  did  so.  For 
a  few  years  succeeding  their  abandonment  of  the  old  meeting-house  they 
held  their  meetings  in  the  schoolhouses. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  229 

It  has  been  claimed  by  some  people  in  the  past,  that  the  Congrega- 
tionalists  were  compelled  to  leave  the  old  meeting-house  by  action  on  part 
of  the  town,  and  that  the  town  formed,  or  authorized  the  formation,  of 
a  "Christian"  church,  with  the  understanding  that  its  ministers  should 
exchange  puplits  with  the  Universalists  and  Unitarians.  But  so  far  as  the 
records  of  the  town  are  concerned  they  do  not  contain  a  particle  of  evi- 
dence of  any  such  action  on  its  part;  except  it  be  found  in  the  vote  of 
1831,  which  opened  the  house  to  the  use  of  all  religious  denominations. 
For  from  that  date  onward,  the  records  contain  no  mention  of  any  vote, 
or  action  of  any  description,  on  the  part  of  the  town  relative  to  hiring  or 
engaging  the  services  of  a  minister  of  any  denomination  whatever,  not 
even  of  Mr.  Eastman.  Nor  that  the  citizens  in  any  way  changed  their 
dictum,  as  expressed  in  the  vote  of  1831,  relative  to  the  occupancy  of  the 
meeting-house. 

That  the  Congregationalists  abandoned  the  house  is  true;  and  that 
they  abandoned  it  voluntarily,  and  for  the  reasons  herein  before  stated, 
and  not  because  they  were  compelled  to  do  so  by  any  action  upon  the 
part  of  the  town,  is  probably  equally  true. 

Mr.  Eastman  held  his  pastorate  until  the  fall  of  1837  when  he  was 
released  at  his  own  request  and  by  the  society,  as  appears  by  the  following 
entries  in  its  records : 

"Oct.  28,  1837;  voted,  to  grant  the  request  of  Rev.  Henry  E.  East- 
man in  dissolving  his  pastoral  relations  now  existing  between  him  and  the 
Society.     Voted  to  grant  his  request  so  that  he  may  leave  immediately." 

The  following  sketch  of  Mr.  Eastman's  life  was  written  by  the  Rev. 
Daniel  Goodwin,  late  of  Mason,  deceased. 

"REV.  HENRY  E.  EASTMAN  was  for  a  short  time  a  member  of 
the  Hollis  Association.  He  was  born  in  Granby,  Mass.;  was  graduated 
at  Amherst  College  in  1832,  and  at  Andover  in  1835;  was  married  to 
Miss  Minerva  Nash,  of  Conway,  Mass.,  1836;  was  ordained  in  Brookline, 
Dec.  9,  1835.  He  remained  there  two  years.  Afterwards  preaching  in 
Tolland,  Mass.,  for  a  time,  when  he  went  to  the  West  under  the  direction 
of  the  Home  Missionary  Society,  and  had  been  located  four  years  in 
Somerset,  Hinsdale  County,  Michigan,  when  his  master  called  him  home. 

He  died  of  typhoid  fever  in  September,  1852.  In  his  last  sickness,  it 
is  said,  he  was  remarkably  peaceful,  though  strongly  desirous  of  recover- 
ing for  the  good  of  others.  For  himself,  he  felt  it  would  be  sweet  to  rest 
in  the  bosom  of  Jesus.  He  left  a  widow  and  two  sons,  to  whom  he  spoke 
words  of  hope  and  counsel,  saying:    'Do  not  be  troubled;    the  Lord  will 


230  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

provide.'     When  asked,  in  his  last  moments,  how  he  was,  he  replied, 
'Happy  in  the  Saviour.' 

Mr.  Eastman  is  represented  as  a  conscientious  man,  a  faithful  min- 
ister, distinguished  for  his  amiable  and  inoffensive  traits  of  character. 
In  a  resolution  passed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Marshall,  he  is  spoken  of — 
'As  a  brother  beloved  in  the  Lord;  intelligent,  earnest,  and  faithful,  and 
as  an  example  of  single  hearted  devotedness  to  the  cause  of  Christ.' " 


CONGREGATIONAL   MEETING-HOUSE—  1 839 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  231 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

Ecclesiastical  History,  Continued. 

1837-1912. 

Building  of  the  Congregational  Meeting-house,  1837-1839 — Rev.  Daniel 
Goodwin   Called   to   the   Pulpit — Mr.   Goodwin's   Ordination  and 
Dedication  of  the  New  Meeting-house — Presentation  of  Commun- 
ion Service  by  Deacon  Thomas  Bennett — A  Feud  in  the  Church 
and  the  Society,  and  the  Resulting  Unhappy  Effects — Mr.  Good- 
win Severs  His  Connection  with  the  Church  and  Society — Bio- 
graphical Sketch  of  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin — The  Pastorate  of  Rev. 
Theophilus  Parsons  Sawin— Services  at  His  Installation — Sketch 
of  His  Life — Pastorate  of  Rev.  John  H.  Manning — Pastorate  of 
Rev.  Francis  D.  Sargent — Revised  Articles  of  Faith  and  Covenant, 
1871 — The  James  H.  Hall  Bequest  to  the  Church  and  Society — 
Repairing   and   Remodeling  of  the   Meeting-house  in   1875 — The 
Mary  F.  Peabody  Bequest — The  Gift  of  the  Clock  on  the  Church 
Tower — Dedication  of  the  Remodeled  Meeting-house — The  Gift  of 
a  New  Church   Bell  by  Edward  T.  Hall — The  James  N.  Tucker 
Bequest  to  the  Church  and  Society — The  Wilkes  W.  Corey  Bequest 
to  the  Church  and  Society — Rev.   Mr.  Sargent's  Resignation  as 
Pastor,   Biographical  Sketch  of  Rev.  F.   D.  Sargent's  Life — Pas- 
torate of  Rev.  George  L.  Todd— Sketch  of  Rev.  Mr.  Todd's  Life- 
Pastorate  of  Rev.  Fred  E-  Winn  and  Sketch  of  His  Life — The  Pas- 
torate of  Rev.  J.  Alphonse    Belanger,    and  Sketch  of  His  Life — 
Centennial  Year  of  the  Organization  of  the  Congregational  Church 
and  the  Church's  Celebration  of  the  Same  in  1895 — Address  at 
the  Celebration  by  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent — Original  Centennial 
Poem  by  Edward  E.  Parker — The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Thorpe 
— Sketch  of  Mr.  Thorpe's  Life — Pastorate  of  Rev.  George  A.  Ben- 
nett, and  Sketch  of  His  Life — Meeting-house  Repaired  and  Re- 
dedicated  in  1906 — Pastorate  of  Rev.  Warren  L.  Noyes,  and  Sketch 
of  His  Life — List  of  Deacons  of  the  Congregational  Church  from 
1795  to  1912  Inclusive — Clerks  of  the  Congregational  Church  from 
1795  to  1912  Inclusive. 


232  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

In  the  preceding  chapter  Rev.  Mr.  Eastman's  resignation  is  recorded 
as  having  been  accepted  Oct.  28,  1837.  On  the  23rd  day  of  December 
following,  the  members  of  the  Congregational  Society  met  at  the  dwelling 
house  of  Asher  Shattuck  and,  having  elected  Thomas  Bennett  as  moder- 
ator and  James  Parker,  Jr.,  as  clerk  of  the  meeting,  after  a  lengthy  dis- 
cussion, resolved  that  "it  was  expedient  to  build  a  new  meeting-house"; 
and  voted  that  the  said  new  house  should  be  located — "On  the  east  side 
of  the  Milford  road  on  the  hill  near  to  Mr.  Benjamin  Wheeler's  shoe- 
maker's shop  on  land  owned  by  Mr.  Albert  George,  provided  the  land 
could  be  purchased  of  Mr.  George  for  that  purpose." 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  on  the  27th  day  of  the  same  month,  Horace 
Warner,  James  Parker,  Jr.,  and  Asa  Betterly  were  elected  as  a  building 
committee.  Jan.  15,  1838,  William  Gilson  was  appointed  as  a  committee 
of  one — "To  take  a  deed  of  a  piece  of  land  Suitable  to  set  said  meeting- 
house on."  On  the  16th  day  of  February,  1838,  Albert  George  of  Boston, 
Mass.,  by  his  deed  of  that  date,  in  consideration  of  sixty  dollars  to  him 
paid,  conveyed  to  the  Congregational  Society  of  Brookline  the  land  on 
which  its  meeting-house  now  stands. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  society  on  the  25th  day  of  February,  it  was 
voted — "To  build  the  meeting-house  agreeably  to  a  plan  drawn  by  Horace 
Warner,  *  *  *  the  dimensions  of  which  on  the  ground  is  fifty  feet  by 
forty."  At  a  subsequent  meeting  in  the  same  month,  the  society  voted 
— "To  build  a  vestry  in  the  roof  of  the  house." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  "stockholders"  on  the  18th  day  of  March,  1839, 
James  Parker,  Jr.,  and  Asa  Betterly  were  elected  a  committee — "To  sell 
pews,  and  to  let  such  pews  as  remain  unsold  until  there  is  an  opporutnity 
of  selling  the  same." 

The  foregoing  meeting  was  holden  in  the  "new  meeting-house";  and 
as  the  last  recorded  meeting  prior  to  it  was  holden  at  the  dwelling  house 
of  Capt.  Nathan  Dunphee  on  the  5th  day  of  June,  1838,  it  is  evident 
that  at  some  time  between  these  two  last  mentioned  dates  the  house  was 
so  far  completed  as  to  be  ready  for  occupancy. 

As  to  the  methods  employed  in  building  the  new  meeting-house,  the 
records  show  that  they  were  similar  to  those  employed  in  building  the  old. 
Every  member  of  the  society  contributed  to  its  construction,  according  to 
his  means  or  disposition,  either  by  donations  of  money  or  building  mate- 
rials, or  both;  and  the  deficits  in  the  amount  necessary  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses was  made  up  from  the  sum  realized  by  the  sale  of  the  pews. 

On  the  3rd  day  of  January,  1838,  the  pews  were  sold  at  public  auction. 
The  conditions  of  the  sale  appear  to  have  been  to  sell  to  the  highest  bidder 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 


233 


the  privilege  of  selecting  by  number  the  pew  which  he  desired,  and  for 
which,  when  so  selected,  he  paid  its  price  as  already  fixed  by  the  committee 
on  the  sale  of  the  pews. 

The  following  record  of  the  sale  is  given  here  not  only  because  it  gives 
the  names  of  those  who  purchased  the  pews  and  the  price  paid  by  each, 
but  also  because  it  establishes  the  identity  of  some,  at  least,  of  those  who 
were  then  members  of  the  society. 

"Pews  Sold  at  Auction 


No.    8 
1 
13 
11 
9 
7 
29 
15 
27 
5 

10 
17 
31 
33 
20 
23 
19 
36 
34 
18 
6 
2 
32 
16 
40 
39 
12 
25 
14 
30 


to  Timothy  Wright; 

"  Asa  Betterly; 

"  Nathaniel  W.  Colburn; 

"  C.  Farley; 

"  James  H.  Hall; 

"  E.  Sawtell; 

"  Horace  Warner; 

"  W.  W.  Corey; 

"  Nathan  Dunphee; 

"  William  Gilson; 

"  John  Burge; 

"  Robert  Seaver; 

"  James  Parker; 

Thomas  Bennett; 
"  David  Harris; 
"  Stephen  Perkins; 
"  Leonard  French; 
"  John  Hutchinson; 
"  Timothy  Wright,  Jr. ; 
"  Waldo  Wallace; 
"  Francis  A.  Peterson; 
"  William  Gilson; 

Thomas  Bennett; 
"  Abel  Foster; 
"  Eli  Sawtell; 

Thomas  Bennett; 
'  Artemas  Wright; 
'  Franklin  McDonald; 
"  Asher  Shattuck ; 

Jonas  Hobart; 


choice  money,  $9 .     price 


7. 

7. 
10. 
12. 

8. 

8. 

8. 

8. 

7. 

3. 

2. 

5. 

2. 

3. 

1. 

1. 

2. 

3. 

1. 

1. 

1. 


1. 


$64.00 
57.00 
67.00 
75.00 
77.00 
73.00 
73.00 
63.00 
68.00 
67.00 
58.00 
47.00 
70.00 
67.00 
38.00 
46.00 
36.00 
47.00 
58.00 
51.00 
46.00 
51.00 
55.00 
50.00 
50.00 
50.00 
50.00 
55.00 
46.00 
50.00 


234  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Price  60.00 
60.00 
35.00 
45.00 
50.00 
130.00 
The  Amount  of  Pews  Sold  1825.00 


No 

3  ' 

'  John  S.  Daniels; 

i  t 

35  ' 

William  Gilson; 

t i 

22  ' 

'  Isaac  and  Joseph  Sawtell; 

a 

24  ' 

i             a             1 1                 tt                      a 

it 

28  ' 

t            a            a                a                    a 

$1955.00" 


The  average  price  per  year,  at  this  date,  for  pew  rental  was  three 
dollars. 

In  the  summer  of  1849  the  new  meeting-house  was  remodeled,  and 
underwent  some  changes,  the  nature  of  which  are  not  definitely  known. 
Prior  to  making  these  alterations,  however,  the  authorities  took  the  pre- 
caution to  secure  from  the  owners  of  the  pews  the  following  receipt : 

"Brookline,  August  9th,  1849. 

We  the  undersigned,  Pew  holders  in  the  Congregational  Meeting 
house  in  Brookline  before  the  Altering  and  Remodeling  of  Said  house  Do 
Hereby  Acknowledge  that  wee  have  Received  Payments  in  full  of  the 
Congregational  Society  for  all  Pews  by  us  owned  Before  the  Alteration  of 
Said  House. 

William  Gilson,  James  H.  Hall,  Robert  Seaver,  Horace  Warner, 
Eldad  Sawtell,  John  S.  Daniels,  Thomas  Bennett,  John  Burge,  Calvin  R. 
Shed,  Louisa  Spaulding,  Deverd  C.  Parker,  Joseph  Hall,  David  Hobart, 
Asa  Betterly,  Nathan  Dunphee,  Franklin  McDonald,  Isaac  Sawtelle, 
Joseph  Sawtell,  N.  W.  Colburn,  F.  A.  Peterson,  Asher  Shattuck,  Wilkes 
W.  Corey,  Artemas  Wright." 

The  interior  arrangements  of  the  new  meeting-house  as  it  was  origin- 
ally constructed,  were  very  similar  to  those  in  it  at  the  present  time. 
The  pulpit  was  located  at  the  back  part  of  the  house,  and  in  very  nearly 
the  same  position  as  that  occupied  by  the  present  pulpit.  Behind  the 
pulpit,  built  out  from  the  church  walls,  was  an  alcove,  in  which  were  lo- 
cated the  chairs,  and,  at  a  later  period,  the  sofa,  designed  for  the  use  of 
the  minister  and  his  visiting  clerical  friends.  The  seats  for  the  congrega- 
tion faced  the  pulpit,  and  were  constructed  so  as  to  be  at  right  angles 
with  the  side  walls  of  the  house.  The  gallery  over  the  vestibule  at  the 
front  of  the  building  was  for  many  years  used  as  a  choir  loft;  so  that, 
whenever,  during  that  part  of  the  devotional  exercises  devoted  to  singing, 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  235 

the  congregation  arose  and  remained  standing,  in  order  to  face  the  music 
it  had  to  right  about  face. 

For  a  number  of  years  after  moving  into  the  new  meeting-house,  01 
until  the  house  was  remodeled  in  1875,  the  choir  continued  the  practice, 
which  had  been  established  during  the  latter  part  of  its  sojourn  in  the 
old,  of  using  violins,  violoncellos  and,  occasionally,  a  cornet,  as  accom- 
paniments and  aids  to  its  singing.  But  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fifties  a 
seraphine,  an  instrument  then  just  coming  into  general  use,  was  installed 
in  the  choir  loft;  and  with  its  installation,  the  fiddles  and  cornets  were 
gradually  relegated  back  to  the  dance-halls  and  military  bands,  where,  in 
the  opinion  of  many  of  the  congregation,  they  properly  belonged. 

Pastorate  of  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin. 

In  1839,  the  new  meeting-house  having  been  practically  completed, 
the  church  and  society  decided  to  call  a  pastor  to  fill  the  pulpit  which  had 
been  vacant  ever  since  the  resignation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Eastman  in  1837. 

After  due  deliberation,  on  the  10th  day  of  January,  1839,  a  call  was 
extended  to  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin.  The  call  was  signed  on  the  part  of 
the  church  by  Deacon  Thomas  Bennett,  Eldad  Sawtell  and  Timothy 
Wright;  on  the  part  of  the  society  by  Nathaniel  W.  Colburn,  John  Burge 
and  Robert  Seaver.  By  its  terms  Mr.  Goodwin's  salary  was  fixed  at  four 
hundred  dollars  per  annum,  to  be  paid  semi-annually,  and  he  was  to  be 
allowed — "Four  Sabbaths  in  a  year  for  himself." 

Mr.  Goodwin  accepted  the  call  and,  on  the  27th  day  of  February, 
1839,  he  was  ordained  in  the  new  meeting-house;  and  at  the  same  time 
the  house  was  dedicated  with  appropriate  ceremonies  to  the  service  of 
the  Lord. 

Exercises  Attendant  upon  the  Dedication  of  the  New  Meeting- 
house and  the  Ordination  of  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin, 

Feb.  17.  1849. 

The  council  was  composed  of  the  following  pastors  and  delegates: 
Mason;  Rev.   Ebenezer  Hill  and  Rev.  A.   H.  Reed,  Moses 

Merriam,  Del. 
Merrimack;  Rev.  H.  Moore,     EH  Sawtell,  Del. 

Townsend,  Mass. ;  Rev.  David  Stowell  and  Rev.  David  Palmer. 
Pepperell,  Mass. ;  Rev.  James  Howe  and  Deacon  Jonas  Parker. 
Milford;  Rev.  Abner  Warren,         Richard  Williams,  Del. 


236  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

Hollis;  Rev.  David  Perry,  Thomas  Cummings,  Del. 

Derry;  Rev.  E.  L.  Parker. 

Rev.  Ebenezer  Hill  was  elected  moderator  and  Rev.  David  Perry 
scribe  of  the  Council. 

The  dedicatory  exercises  occurred  first,  and  were  conducted  as  fol- 
lows: 

Invocation  and  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  Rev.  Abner  Warren. 

Prayer,  Rev.  H.  Moore. 

Sermon,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Hill. 

Concluding  Prayer,  Rev.  David  Stowell. 

Ordination  Exercises. 

Introductory  prayer,  Rev.  Abner  Warren. 

Sermon,  Rev.  E.  L.  Parker. 

Charge  to  the  pastor,  Rev.  H.  Moore. 

Ordination  Prayer,  Rev.  David  Stowell. 

Right  hand  of  fellowship,  Rev.  David  Perry. 

Address  to  the  people,  Rev.  A.  H.  Reed. 

Concluding  prayer,  Rev.  James  Howe. 

Mr.  Goodwin  was  the  fourth  in  order  of  succession  of  the  pastors  of 
the  church.  At  the  time  of  his  taking  charge  as  pastor  of  its  people,  the 
church  was  still  suffering  from  the  demoralizing  conditions  occasioned  by 
its  abandonment  of  its  original  place  of  worship.  But  it  was  still  the 
church  of  the  fathers,  and  was  recognized  as  such  by  the  townspeople, 
the  majority  of  whom  continued  to  worship  within  its  walls. 

Mr.  Goodwin,  who  was  a  young  man,  a  recent  graduate  of  Andover, 
and  well  equipped  for  the  work  in  which  he  was  about  to  engage,  came  into 
his  charge  with  a  full  knowledge  of  the  situation  in  which  the  church  was 
then  placed;  and  doubtless  entered  into  the  performance  of  his  pastoral 
duties  with  a  firm  determination  to  work  for  its  upbuilding ;  to  be  zealous 
in  season  and  out  of  season  in  doing  all  things  necessary  and  proper  for 
the  promotion  of  peace  and  harmony  between  it  and  the  citizens  and  for 
the  advancement  of  the  cause  of  Christ. 

He  was  from  the  beginning  successful  in  his  efforts.  A  thorough  be- 
liever in  the  principles  of  Christianity,  his  emphatic  and  unreserved  ad- 
vocacy of  those  principles,  as  well  as  his  consistent  Christian  life,  soon 
imbued  the  minds  of  his  fellow  citizens  with  a  belief  in  the  sincerity  of  his 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  237 

professions;  and  his  affability,  courteousness,  and  ability  to  readily  adapt 
himself  to  his  environments  won  their  respect  and  esteem.  Under  his 
ministrations  the  church  partially  regained  its  weakened  prestige,  and  for 
many  years  he  was  a  tower  of  strength  in  the  church  and  a  power  for 
good  in  the  town. 

May  2,  1848,  Deacon  Thomas  Bennett  presented  the  church  with  a 
communion  service  consisting  of  a  tankard  and  four  cups  of  Brittania 
ware ;  for  which  the  church  tendered  him  a  vote  of  thanks. 

In  1850,  the  harmonious  relations  which  had  hitherto  existed  be- 
tween the  pastor  and  his  people  were  disturbed  by  the  happening  of  an 
event  which,  though  insignificant  in  itself,  had  the  immediate  effect  of 
dividing  the  society  and  church  into  two  warring  factions,  and  in  the  end 
resulted  in  Mr.  Goodwin's  withdrawing  from  his  pastoral  connections  with 
them. 

The  trouble  originated  in  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  Dr.  Jonathan  C. 
Shattuck  to  procure  the  construction  of  the  southerly  part  of  the  highway 
which  connects  the  village  Main  street  with  Milford  street  via  the  brow 
of  the  hill  back  of  the  Congregational  meeting-house.  In  1849-50,  Dr. 
Shattuck  purchased  of  the  Congregational  society  a  lot  of  land  on  the 
summit  of  said  hill  and  erected  thereon  the  dwelling  house  in  which  he 
afterwards  made  his  home,  the  house  being  the  same  which,  at  the  present 
time  is  owned  and  occupied  by  Albert  T.  Pierce.  At  the  same  time 
he  constructed  that  part  of  the  road  in  question  which  leads  in  a  westerly 
direction  from  the  house  down  the  hill  to  Milford  street. 

Soon  after  the  completion  of  his  dwelling  house,  Dr.  Shattuck  be- 
came desirous  of  lengthening  the  road  which  he  had  already  constructed 
by  extending  the  same  down  the  southerly  side  of  the  hill  to  Main  street. 
To  that  end,  he  applied  to  the  Congregational  society  which  owned  the 
land  over  which  the  contemplated  extension  would  necessarily  pass  for  a 
right  of  way  by  purchase  of  the  same.  Upon  receipt  of  the  Doctor's  re- 
quest or  proposition,  both  the  society  and  church  immediately  divided 
into  two  factions,  the  members  of  one  faction  favoring,  and  those  of  the 
other  opposing  the  same.  The  objections  raised  by  those  opposed  to  the 
project  were  that  the  construction  of  the  contemplated  road  would  injure 
the  symmetry  and  beauty  of  the  grove  in  the  rear  of  the  church  and,  by 
diminishing  its  size,  diminish  its  utility  as  a  place  for  holding  out-door 
meetings,  such  as  festivals  and  picnics,  for  which  purpose  it  had  long  been 
in  customary  use. 

Thus  the  trouble  began.  In  the  contention  which  followed,  Mr. 
Goodwin  took  an  active  part,  siding  with  those  who  favored  the  granting 


238  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

of  Dr.  Shattuck's  petition.  Gradually,  the  entire  body  of  the  townspeople 
was  drawn  into  the  fray  upon  one  side  or  the  other.  For  several  years 
matters  went  on  in  this  way;  the  church  meanwhile  worshipping  to- 
gether beneath  the  same  roof,  and  both  pastor  and  people  in  the  perform- 
ance of  their  ordinary  duties  as  Christians,  conducting  themselves  toward 
each  other  with,  at  least,  an  appearance  of  harmony.  But  year  after  year 
the  contention  over  the  roadway  grew  fiercer  and  more  bitter. 

At  last,  from  being  a  contention  in  which  each  party  was  at  first 
disposed  to  discuss  fairly  and  in  a  Christian-like  spirit  the  matter  in  dis- 
pute, the  discussion  reached  the  point  where  passion  and  prejudice  took 
the  place  of  reason  and  Christian  fellowship,  and  merged  into  a  wordy 
war  of  personalities,  in  which  the  members  of  each  faction  exerted  them- 
selves to  vilify  and  abuse  those  of  the  other. 

While  matters  were  in  this  condition,  the  town  authorities,  acting 
upon  a  petition  of  some  of  the  citizens,  laid  out  and  built  the  entire  length 
of  the  road  in  question,  in  1853,  and  the  same  was  accepted  as  a  public 
highway.  It  would  seem  as  if  this  action  on  the  part  of  the  town  relative 
to  the  roadway  should  have  caused  the  ending  of  the  dispute  between  the 
factions  of  the  society  and  church.  But  it  did  not.  On  the  contrary,  it 
added  to  its  intensity.  The  road,  of  course,  was  no  longer  a  matter  of  con- 
tention. But  there  remained  the  fact  that  in  the  contention  over  it,  Mr. 
Goodwin  had  taken  sides  with  those  who  were  in  favor  of  its  being  built 
and,  by  his  influence  and  counsel,  aided  them  in  bringing  the  affair  to  a 
result  by  which  the  opponents  of  the  road  felt  that  they  had  been  grievously 
wronged. 

This  latter  faction  also  argued  that  Mr.  Goodwin,  by  acting  as  a 
partisan,  had  destroyed  his  usefulness  as  pastor  of  the  church.  Accord- 
ingly, they  requested  him  to  resign  his  pastorate. 

Mr.  Goodwin,  who  doubtless  felt  that  he  had  acted  in  the  matter 
conscientiously  and  for  the  best,  declined  to  accede  to  the  request  of  the 
majority  and,  in  so  doing,  was  supported  by  his  friends. 

Failing  in  their  attempts  to  obtain  Mr.  Goodwin's  resignation,  the 
majority  faction,  at  a  meeting  of  the  church  on  the  12th  day  of  January, 
1855,  approached  him  with  a  proposition  to  call  a  council,  ex  parte  or 
mutual,  and  refer  the  church  difficulties  to  it  for  a  settlement.  Mr.  Good- 
win declined  to  accept  the  proposition  and,  with  his  friends,  withdrew 
from  the  meeting.  After  his  departure  the  majority  voted  to  call  an  ex 
parte  council,  and  appointed  Eldad  Sawtell,  James  H.  Hall  and  Levi 
Anderson  as  a  committee  of  arrangements  for  the  same.  The  committee 
attended  to  its  duties,  and  in  response  to  the  call,  Jan.  12,  1855,  an  ex 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


239 


parte  council  consisting  of  pastors  and  delegates  from  the  following  named 
churches,  Kirk  Street  Congregational  Church,  Lowell,  Mass.;  Congrega- 
tional Church,  Amherst;  Congregational  Church,  Francistown,  and  the 
Congregational  Church  at  Lyndeboro,  met  in  the  new  meeting-house — 
"For  the  purpose  of  hearing  the  grievances  of  said  majority  of  the  church 
with  their  pastor  and  advising  them  what  to  do  in  relation  to  their  diffi- 
culties."    Mr.  Goodwin  was  present  by  invitation. 

After  deliberating  over  the  matter  at  issue,  the  council  united  in 
advising  the  calling  of  a  mutual  council — "To  investigate  existing  diffi- 
culties in  the  church  and  to  advise  respecting  them,  with  authority  to 
recommend  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relations  if  in  the  judgment 
of  the  council  it  be  deemed  expedient."  This  recommendation  was  adopted 
by  both  factions  of  the  church;  which  at  the  same  time  united  in  issuing 
a  call  for  a  mutual  council. 

May  2,  1855,  the  mutual  council  assembled  in  the  new  meeting- 
house.    It  was  constituted  as  follows: 


Congregational  Church, 


Rindge, 


Olive  Street  Church, 

Nashua, 

Congregational  Church, 

Milford, 

Congregational  Church, 

Francestown, 

Congregational  Church, 

Mason, 

Congregational  Church, 

Mason  Village, 

Congregational  Church, 

Amherst, 

First  Congregational  Church, 

New  Ipswich, 

Second  Congregational  Church 

,  New  Ipswich, 

Congregational  Church, 

Hollis, 

First  Congregational  Church, 

Lowell, 

Kirk  Street  Church, 

Lowell, 

Congregational  Church, 


Pepperell, 


Rev.  A.  W.  Burnham, 
Deacon  L.  Goddard. 
Rev.  Austin  Richards. 
Rev.  E.  N.  Hidden. 
Rev.  L.  Taylor, 
Deacon  Seville  Taylor. 
Rev.  J.  L.  Arms, 
Thomas  Wilson. 
Rev.  E.  M.  Kellogg, 
Deacon  Simeon  Cragin. 
Rev.  J.  G.  Davis,  D.D. 
Deacon  B.  B.  David. 
Rev.  Samuel  Lee, 
Deacon  James  Davis. 
Rev.  J.  Ballard, 
Deacon  Henry  Adams. 
Deacon  Oliver  Scripture. 
Rev.  Linus  Child. 
Rev.  Amos  Blanchard, 
Deacon  Sewell  G.  Mack. 
Rev.  Thomas  Morey, 
N.  Cutter. 


240  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

Rev.  Linus  Child  was  elected  moderator  and  Rev.  Amos  Blanchard, 
scribe. 

Rev.  B.  F.  Clark  appeared  as  counsel  for  the  aggrieved  members  of 
the  church,  and  Rev.  S.  C.  Bartlett  appeared  in  behalf  of  the  pastor  and 
minority  members.  Both  parties  agreed  to  abide  by  the  decision  of  the 
council,  with  the  understanding  that  letters  of  dismission  and  recommen- 
dation to  other  churches  should  be  granted  to  any  who  might  desire  them. 

After  hearing  and  considering  the  evidence  submitted  by  each  fac- 
tion in  support  of  the  charges  and  complaints  by  each  made,  the  council 
unanimously  reported,  in  substance,  that  the  charges  were  unsustained; 
and,  further — "That  nothing  has  transpired  prejudicial  to  the  moral  or 
ministerial  character  of  Rev.  Mr.  Goodwin.  That  no  complaint  has  been 
made  of  any  want  of  ability  or  fidelity  in  preaching  the  gospel  or  in  dis- 
charging his  parochial  duties — that  nevertheless  through  a  variety  of 
causes  a  portion  of  the  church  have  been  so  far  alienated  towards  him  as 
to  render  his  withdrawal  and  removal  to  another  sphere  of  labor  probably 
conducive,  in  the  judgment  of  the  council,  to  his  enjoyment  and  useful- 
ness." 

"The  council  therefore  bear  testimony  to  his  abundant  self-denying 
and  successful  labors  for  the  good  of  the  people  and,  without  advising 
him  to  ask  for  a  dismission,  they  assure  him,  in  the  event  of  his  deeming 
such  a  step  to  be  expedient,  of  their  cordial  sympathy  and  esteem,  and 
recommend  him  as  an  able  and  faithful  minister  of  Christ." 

The  pastor  and  church  then  concurred  in  requesting  the  council  to 
dissolve;  which,  with  renewed  expressions  of  respect  and  esteem  for  the 
pastor  and  people,  and  commending  the  latter  to  the  care  of  the  Great 
Shepherd,  it  proceeded  to  do. 

From  the  date  of  the  dissolution  of  the  council,  Mr.  Goodwin's  pas- 
toral connections  with  the  church  ceased. 

Mr.  Goodwin's  withdrawal  from  his  connection  with  the  church  was 
followed  by  the  withdrawal  from  its  membership  of  a  majority  of  those 
who  had  been  his  friends  and  supporters;  some  of  whom  united  with  the 
church  of  the  same  denomination  at  Hollis,  others  with  the  church  at 
Mason,  and  a  few  with  the  church  at  Dunstable,  Mass.  Others  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  this  place,  twelve  being  received 
into  its  membership  in  1858. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


241 


REV.  DANIEL  GOOD- 
WIN was  born  at  London- 
derry, Jan.  25,  1809.  He 
was  a  son  of  Joshua  and 
Elizabeth  (Jones)  Goodwin. 
He  prepared  for  college  at 
Pinkerton  Academy,  gradu- 
ating in  1831.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege in  the  class  of  1835, 
and  of  Andover  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  in  1838.  In 
April,  1838,  he  was  licensed 
to  preach  by  the  Andover 
Association.  Feb.  25,  1839, 
he  was  ordained  as  pastor  of 
the  Congregational  Church 
in  Brookline,  a  position 
which  he  occupied  for  over 
sixteen  consecutive  years, 
he  having  resigned  May  3, 
1855.  In  1855  he  officiated  as  acting  pastor  over  the  church  at  Hills- 
borough Bridge,  and  in  1856  officiated  in  the  same  capacity  over  the 
churches  in  Londonderry  and  Derry.  In  1857  he  received  a  call  from  the 
Congregational  Church  in  Mason  and  was  installed  there  April  18,  1860, 
serving  until  April  23,  1878,  when  he  was  dismissed  at  his  request. 
After  his  dismissal  he  continued  to  reside  in  Mason  as  a  private  citizen 
until  the  date  of  his  death,  which  occurred  Dec.  30,  1893. 

Mr.  Goodwin  was  scribe  of  the  Hollis  Association  seventeen  years. 
Many  of  his  sermons  and  sketches  were  published,  among  which  were  the 
following:  Sketch  of  the  Church,  Brookline,  1845 — True  Piety  and  its 
Reward— Funeral  Sermon  of  David  Harris,  M.  D.,  Brookline,  Jan.  29, 
1849— Funeral  Sermon  of  Mrs.  Abigail  Hill,  Mason,  April  29,  1849— 
Sketches  of  Deceased  Members  of  the  Hollis  Association,  1862 — Sketches 
of  Towns  and  Cities  of  Hillsborough  County,  in  the  History  of  New 
England,  1880. 

Mr.  Goodwin  was  thrice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Julia  Ann, 
daughter  of  Eben  and  Lucy  (Cross)  Shute  of  Derry,  to  whom  he  was 
united  in  marriage,  Feb.  12,  1839.  She  died  at  Brookline,  Sept.  10,  1845. 
Aug.  24,  1846,  he  married  Martha,  daughter  of  Eli  and  Mary  (McDonald) 


REV.  DANIEL  GOODWIN 


242  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Boynton  of  Pepperell,  Mass.  She  died  in  Mason,  April  14,  1875.  His 
third  marriage  was  with  Mrs.  Lucy  Jane  Boynton,  daughter  of  John  and 
Susan  (Jewett)  Blood  of  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Oct.  3,  1876.  His  last  wife 
survived  him,  and  at  this  date  is  residing  in  Pepperell,  Mass. 

During  his  residence  in  Brookline  he  was  a  member  of  the  school 
board  in  1840-41,  1844-45.  In  Mason  he  was  town  clerk,  1870-75;  su- 
perintendent of  schools,  1858,  1873-75  and  1884-85;  member  of  the 
school  board,  1889-90;  justice  of  the  peace,  1876-93;  notary  public, 
1872-93;  postmaster,  1869-78  and  1884-86.  He  represented  Mason  in 
the  Legislature  in  1885-86.  He  died  at  Mason,  Dec.  30,  1893,  aged  84 
years,  11  months,  and  is  buried  in  the  village  cemetery  in  that  town. 

The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Theophilus  Parsons  Sawin. 

Oct.  11,  1856,  the  church  and  society  united  in  extending  a  call  to 
the  Rev.  Theophilus  P.  Sawin,  then  in  charge  of  the  City  Missionary 
Society  of  Manchester,  to  become  their  pastor.  By  the  terms  of  the  call 
Mr.  Sawin  was  to  receive  a  salary  of  six  hundred  dollars  per  annum  and 
to  be  provided  with  a  home  suitable  for  himself  and  his  family. 

Mr.  Sawin  accepted  the  call,  and  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church 
and  society  Dec.  11,  1856. 

The  installing  council  comprised  the  following  named  pastors  and 
delegates : 

Amherst,  S.  B.  Melendy,  del. 

Pearl  Street  Church,  Nashua,  Rev.  E.  E-  Adams. 

Mark  W.  Merrill,  del. 

Church  in  Hollis,  Rev.  Pliny  B.  Day. 

Noah  Farley,  del. 

Church  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Rev.  Edward  P.  Smith, 

Deacon  A.  J.  Ames,  del. 

Church  in  Francestown,  Rev.  L.  Taylor. 

Deacon  Serville  Starrett,  del. 

Franklin  Street  Church,  Manchester,     S.  Benton,  del. 

Rev.  E.  N.  Hidden. 

Church  in  Milford,  Rev.  Humphrey  Moore,  D.D. 

Daniel  Burns,  Jr.,  del. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  243 

Order  of  Exercises. 

Reading  of  Scriptures  and  prayer,    Rev.  Edward  P.  Smith. 

Sermon,  Rev.  E-  E.  Adams. 

Installing  Prayer,  Rev.  h-  Taylor. 

Charge  to  the  Pastor,  Rev.  E.  N.  Hidden. 

Right  Hand  of  Fellowship,  Rev.  h.  Taylor. 

Address  to  the  People,  Rev.  Pliny  B.  Day. 

Closing  Prayer,  Rev.  Humphrey  Moore. 

Benediction,  Pastor. 

Mr.  Sawin  entered  upon  the  performance  of  his  ministerial  duties 
under  more  than  ordinary  discouraging  circumstances.  The  church  was 
weakened  by  the  loss  of  nearly  one-half  of  its  members,  who  withdrew 
from  its  communion  in  1855,  and  also  by  a  corresponding  diminution  in 
the  number  of  those  who  constituted  its  society  membership.  In  addition 
to  its  loss  in  membership  it  was  also  considerably  involved  in  debt.  But 
the  new  pastor  set  himself  energetically  to  work  to  remedy  the  situation. 
In  his  efforts  to  that  end,  he  had  the  full  and  cordial  support  of  the  church 
and  society.  Under  the  combined  efforts  of  pastor  and  people  the  church 
soon  regained  a  great  measure  of  its  former  prosperity;  and,  gradually, 
confidence  in  its  future,  which  had  been  weakened  by  the  recent  unhappy 
episode  in  its  history,  was  restored  to  its  members,  and  at  the  close  of  Mr. 
Sawin's  pastorship  it  had  practically  resumed  its  normal  condition  before 
the  war. 

After  serving  as  the  church's  pastor  for  a  period  of  nine  years,  four 
months  and  twenty-six  days,  on  the  7th  day  of  May,  1866,  Mr.  Sawin 
tendered  his  resignation;  and  at  a  council  called  to  consider  the  same,  on 
the  18th  day  of  May,  following,  it  was  voted  that  it  be  accepted.  He 
went  from  here  to  Manchester  to  engage  in  Home  Mission  work. 

During  Mr.  Sawin's  pastorate  in  Brookline  the  total  increase  in  his 
church's  membership  was  48;  of  which  number,  eight  were  admitted  by 
letter  and  38  by  profession  of  faith. 

As  a  preacher  and  exponent  of  the  gospel,  Mr.  Sawin  never  hesitated 
to  tell  the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth,  as  he  under- 
stood it.  No  one  ever  questioned  the  soundness  of  his  theology.  Yet, 
while  earnest  and  explicit  in  expressing  his  own  religious  convictions,  he 
was  always  mindful  and  respectful  of  the  religious  sentiments  of  those 
who  differed  from  him.  To  this  spirit  of  tolerance,  combined  with  the 
evident  sincerity  of  his  belief  in  his  own  religious  convictions,  is,  doubt- 


244 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


less,  to  be  ascribed,  under  Providence,  his  success  as  a  laborer  in  the 
Lord's  vineyard  in  this  place. 

As  a  citizen,  Mr.  Sawin  was  popular  and  respected.  He  was  frank  and 
social  in  his  nature,  democratic  in  his  ways,  witty,  and  possessed  of  a  large 
fund  of  humor  which  he  used  readily  and  aptly,  as  occasion  demanded. 
For  example:  on  one  occasion,  a  citizen,  an  easy-going  man  about  town, 
presented  him  with  a  fine  string  of  brook  trout  which  Mr.  Sawin  received 
with  thanks.  A  day  or  two  after  the  donor,  meeting  him  on  the  street, 
asked  him  if  he  enjoyed  the  trout.  "Very  much  indeed,  they  were  excel- 
lent," replied  Mr.  Sawin.  "Well,  parson,"  said  the  citizen,  "I  forgot  to 
tell  you  that  they  were  caught  on  Sunday."  "Very  likely,"  came  the 
quick  response,  "but  that  wasn't  their  fault." 

REV.  THEOPHIIvUS 
PARSONS  SAWIN,  son  of 
Bela  and  Becca  (Barber) 
Sawin,  was  born  in  Natick, 
Mass.,  Feb.  4,  1817.  After 
passing  through  the  public 
schools  of  Natick  and  Lynn, 
he  succeeded  in  obtaining 
an  academic  education. 
Subsequently  he  taught  in 
the  public  schools  of  Lynn; 
at  the  same  time  studying 
theology  with  Rev.  Parsons 
Cooke,  D.  D.  of  that  city. 
He  was  a  graduate  of  An- 
dover  Theological  Seminary 
and  was  ordained  to  the 
ministry  at  Saugus,  Mass., 
April  14,  1843.  Soon  after 
his  ordination,  Mr.  Sawin 
was  settled  as  pastor  over 
the  Congregational  Church  at  Harwich,  Mass.,  where  he  remained  until 
1851.  In  the  latter  year  he  severed  his  connection  with  the  church  in 
Harwich  and  removed  to  Manchester,  N.  H.,  where  he  officiated  as  city 
missionary  until  he  was  called  to  the  church  in  Brookline,  in  1856. 

May  7,  1866,  he  resigned  his  pastorate  here  and  returned  to  Man- 
chester, where,  for  the  three  years  following  his  return,  he  occupied  his 
former  position  as  city  missionary.    Subsequently,  and  for  various  lengths 


REV.  THEOPHILUS  P.  SAWIN 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


245 


of  time,  he  was  pastor  over  the  churches  in  Revere,  Mass.,  Middleboro, 
Mass.,  and  Lyndeborough,  N.  H.,  the  latter  church  being  his  last  charge. 
He  died  at  Medford,  Mass.,  Jan.  19,  1886,  aged  68  years  and  11  months. 

His  children:  Theophilus  Parsons  Sawin,  Jr.,  born  Jan.  14,  1841; 
James  Milton,  born  Jan.  27,  1842;  Henry  Chapin,  born  Aug.  22,  1843; 
Martha  Anna,  born  1845;  Lura  Sabrina,  born  Dec.  25,  1846;  William 
Mason,  born  Aug.  10,  1849;   Martha  Ellen,  born  1851. 

Rev.  Theophilus  Parsons  Sawin,  Jr.,  died  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  Nov.  13> 
1906,  after  a  pastorate  of  eighteen  years  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  that  city;  Henry  Chapin  Sawin  died  in  Newton,  Mass.,  April  28,  1905, 
after  serving  as  principal  of  the  Bigelow  School  in  that  city  for  thirty-one 
years,  continuous  service;  James  Milton  Sawin  resides  in  Providence, 
R.  I.,  where  he  has  been  princiapl  of  the  Elm-Point  Street  Grammar 
School  since  May  18,  1868,  a  period  of  forty  years  continuous  service; 
Lura  Sabrina  now  resides  in  Lynn,  Mass.,  as  a  companion  to  a  lady; 
William  Mason  resides  in  Bedford,  Mass.,  and  is  a  manufacturer  of  brushes, 
and  a  merchant  in  Boston,  Mass.     The  other  two  girls  died  in  infancy. 

Pastorate  of  Rev.  John  H.  Manning. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Sawin's  pastorate  was  followed  by  that  of  Rev.  John 
H.  Manning.  Mr.  Manning  was  called  by  the  church  and  society  through 
their  committee,  James  H.  Hall,  John  Burge  and  Francis  A.  Peterson. 
The  call  fixed  his  salary  at  seven  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  per  annum 
and  the  free  use  of  the  pasonage.  He  accepted  the  call,  and  was  ordained 
in  the  Congregational  meeting-house  March  6,  1867. 

In  the  council  of  ordination  the  following  churches  were  represented 
by  their  pastors  and  delegates : 


Amherst, 
First  Church, 


South  Church, 


Nashua, 

Pepperell,  Mass. 
Andover,  Mass., 
Milford, 


Rev.  J.  G.  Davis,  D.D. 
Francis  Peabody. 
Rev.  E.  C.  Hooker. 
Virgil  C.  Gilman. 
Rev.  S.  L.  Blake. 
Asher  Blood. 
Rev.  Charles  Smith. 
Nathan  P.  Abbott. 
Rev.  F.  D.  Ayre, 
A.  C.  Crosby. 


246  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

Hollis,  Rev.  Pliny  B.  Day, 

John  Perkins. 
Mount  Vernon,      Rev.  B.  M.  Frink, 
William  H.  Conant. 
Mission  Church,  Manchester,  Rev.  T.  P.  Sawin. 

Order  of  Exercises. 

Reading  of  Scriptures. 

Anthem  by  the  Choir. 

Invocation  and  Reading  of  Scriptures.      Rev.  B.  M.  Frink. 

Prayer,  Rev.  E.  C.  Hooker. 

Hymn. 

Sermon,  Rev.  Charles  Smith. 

Ordaining  Prayer,  Rev.  J.  G.  Davis. 

Charge  to  Pastor,  Rev.  P.  B.  Day,  D.D. 

Fellowship  of  Churches,  Rev.  F.  D.  Ayre. 

Charge  to  the  People,  Rev.  T.  P.  Sawin. 

Prayer,  Rev.  S.  h.  Blake. 

Anthem. 

Benediction,  Pastor. 

Mr.  Manning  came  to  this  church  from  Andover,  Mass.,  his  native 
place.  He  was  educated  in  its  public  schools  and  Theological  Seminary, 
of  which  latter  institution  he  was  a  graduate.  His  ministry  over  the 
church  in  Brookline  was  very  brief,  extending  over  a  period  of  only  one 
and  one-half  years  in  duration.  It  was  ended  by  his  death  after  a  brief 
hlness,  Aug.  19,  1868.  His  sudden  demise  was  sincerely  mourned  by  the 
citizens,  who  had  learned  to  respect  and  esteem  him  as  an  honorable 
citizen  and  a  faithful  pastor. 

On  the  records  of  the  church,  under  the  date  of  Aug.  19,  1868,  is  the 
following  entry : 

"Rev.  John  H.  Manning  died  after  an  illness  of  about  ten  days  of 
brain  fever,  aged  about  44  years.  His  funeral  was  attended  at  the  church 
on  Friday,  Aug.  21st,  by  a  sad  and  sorrowing  people. 

The  exercises  were  conducted  by  Rev.  J.  G.  Davis,  D.  D.,  of  Amherst, 
Rev.  P.  B.  Day,  D.  D.,  of  Hollis,  and  Rev.  S.  L.  Blake,  of  Pepperell, 
Mass.  His  remains  were  on  Saturday  attended  by  his  family  and  a  dele- 
gation of  his  people  to  Andover,  Mass.;  where,  after  further  appropriate 
exercises,  they  were  interred  to  await  a  blessed  resurrection." 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


247 


The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Francis  D.  Sargent. 

For  about  one  year  succeeding  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Manning 
the  church  remained  without  a  pastor.  Aug.  10,  1869,  its  members 
united  in  extending  a  call  to  Rev.  Francis  D.  Sargent.  By  the  terms  of 
the  call  the  salary  was  fixed  at  eight  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  the  free 
use  of  the  parsonage  and  four  or  five  Sunday  vacations  yearly.  The 
committee  of  arrangements  consisted  of  James  H.  Hall,  John  Burge  and 
Amos  Gould  on  part  of  the  church,  and  William  J.  Smith,  and  J.  Alonzo 
Hall  in  behalf  of  the  society. 

Mr.  Sargent  accepted  the  call  and  was  ordained  as  pastor  of  the 
church,  Oct.  20,  1869. 

Council  of  Ordination. 


Amherst  Congregational  Church, 

East  Wilton  Congregational  Church, 

Milford  Congregational  Church 

Hollis  Congregational  Church, 

Townsend  Congregational  Church, 

Mason  Village  Congregational  Church, 

Chelsea,  Mass.,  "Winnese," 

Nashua  First  Congregational  Church, 
Mount  Vernon  Congregational  Church, 


Rev.  J.  G.  Davis,  D.D. 
Eli  Sawtelle,  Del. 
Rev.  D.  E.  Adams, 
Zebediah  Abbott,  Del. 
Rev.  George  E.  Freeman, 
R.  D.  Bennett,  Del. 
Rev.  David  Perry. 
A.  H.  Wood,  Del. 
Rev.  G.  H.  Morse. 
Noah  Ball,  Del. 
Rev.  George  F.  Merriam. 
Elisha  B.  Barrett,  Del. 
Rev.  A.  H.  Plumb. 
Samuel  D.  Green,  Del. 
John  D.  Proctor,  Del. 
Rev.  Seth  H.  Keeley, 
Deacon  William  Conant,  Del. 


The  council  was  organized  by  the  election  of  Rev.  J.  G.  Davis  as 
moderator  and  Rev.  George  E.  Freeman  as  scribe.  The  order  of  exercises 
of  ordination  was  as  follows : 


Reading  results  of  Council, 
Reading  of  Scriptures, 
Sermon, 


Rev.  George  F.  Merriam. 
Rev.  G.  H.  Morse. 
Rev.  A.  H.  Plumb. 


248  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

Ordaining  Prayer,  Rev.  J.  G.  Davis,  D.D. 

Charge  to  Pastor,  Rev.  David  Perry. 

Right  Hand  of  Fellowship,  Rev.  D.  E-  Adams. 

Address  to  the  People,  Rev.  George  E.  Freeman. 
Concluding  Prayer  by  the  Pastor  of  local 

M.  E.  Church,  Rev.  Alonzo  Draper. 

Benediction,  Pastor. 

Mr.  Sargent  was  a  graduate  in  the  class  of  1866  of  Amherst  College, 
and  also  of  Andover  Theological  Seminary ;  having  graduated  at  the  latter 
institution  the  same  year  in  which  he  was  ordained  as  pastor  of  the  church 
in  Brookline. 

He  entered  upon  his  duties  as  pastor  with  the  zeal  and  enthusiasm 
of  one  who  had  thoughtfully  and  prayerfully  devoted  himself  to  a  life  of 
labor  in  and  love  for  the  work  to  which  he  felt  he  had  been  called  of  God. 
He  was  welcomed  by  his  church  with  a  respect  which  soon  ripened  into 
esteem,  and  eventually  quickened  into  love  which  never  failed,  but  grew 
stronger  and  more  abiding  during  the  entire  course  of  his  ministry  here. 

Under  his  ministrations,  the  church  and  society  enjoyed,  perhaps,  the 
highest  degree  of  prosperity  in  its  history.  Peace  and  harmony  prevailed 
in  its  councils,  and  year  by  year  it  grew  in  grace  and  in  the  knowledge  of 
God. 

During  his  pastorate  the  total  increase  in  the  membership  of  the 
church  was  ninety-six  (96);  of  this  number,  seventy-three  (73)  joined  on 
profession  of  faith,  and  twenty-three  (23 )  were  received  by  letter. 

Jan.  5,  1871,  the  church  voted  to  revise  its  articles  of  faith  and  cove- 
nant, and  appointed  as  a  committee  or  revision,  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent, 
Deacon  John  Peabody  and  Francis  A.  Peterson.  The  committee  attended 
to  its  duties  and  the  same  year  made  a  report,  which  was  accepted  by  the 
church,  in  which  it  recommended  the  acceptance  and  adoption  of  revised 
articles  of  faith  and  covenant,  which  were  adopted  by  the  church,  as 
follows : 

Articles  of  Faith  and  Covenant,  1871. 

"Art.  I.  We  believe  that  there  is  one  God,  the  Creator,  and  Pre- 
server of  the  universe,  infinite  in  all  natural  and  moral  perfection. 

'Art.  II.  We  believe  that  the  Scripture  of  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ments were  given  by  the  inspiration  of  God,  and  are  the  only  sufficient 
rule  of  religious  faith  and  practice. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  249 

"Art.  III.  We  believe  that  God  is  revealed  in  the  Scriptures  as  the 
Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  that  these  three  are  one,  and 
in  all  the  attributes  of  God-head  equal. 

"Art.  IV.  We  believe  that  God  governs  all  things  according  to  his 
sovereign  and  eternal  purpose  yet  in  such  manner  as  not  to  impair  the 
freedom  of  men  or  his  accountability  for  all  his  actions. 

"Art.  V.  We  believe  our  first  parents  fell  from  the  state  of  holiness 
in  which  they  were  created  by  transgressing  the  divine  commandment  and 
that  in  consequence  all  their  descendants  are  by  nature  alienated  from 
God  and  while  left  to  themselves  do  invariably  choose  a  life  of  sin. 

"Art.  VI.  We  believe  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  God  and 
man,  has  by  his  obedience,  suffering  and  death,  made  an  atonement  for 
sin  which  is  adequate  to  the  salvation  of  all  men,  but  is  effectual  in  the 
salvation  of  only  those  who  accept  of  its  provisions  by  repentance  and 
faith  in  Christ. 

"Art.  VII.  We  believe  that  justification  is  an  act  of  God's  free 
grace  whereby  he  pardons  the  penitent  sinner,  and  receives  him  into 
divine  favor,  not  on  account  of  any  works  of  righteousness  done  by  him, 
but  only  for  Christ's  sake,  through  faith  in  His  blood. 

"Art.  VIII.  We  believe  that  Christ  has  a  visible  church  in  the 
world,  that  its  ordinances  are  baptism,  and  the  Lord's  Supper;  that  it  is 
the  duty  of  Christians  to  unite  with  the  visible  church  and  observe  its 
sacred  ordinances,  and  that  it  is  the  privilege  of  believeing  parents  to 
devote  their  children  to  God  in  baptism. 

"Art.  IX.  We  believe  that  there  will  be  a  general  resurrection  of 
the  just  and  of  the  unjust  and  a  day  of  judgment  in  which  all  shall  give 
account  to  Christ  for  all  the  deeds  done  in  the  body,  and  that  then  the 
righteous  will  be  received  into  a  state  of  blessedness  and  the  unrepentant 
into  a  state  of  punishment;  both  of  which  will  be  without  end." 

The  Covenant. 

"You  do  now  avouch  the  Lord  Jehovah  to  be  your  God  and  portion 
forever. 

"You  acknowledge  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  be  your  Savior,  and  the 
Holy  Spirit  to  be  your  Sanctifier,  Comforter  and  Guide. 

"You  humbly  and  cheerfully  consecrate  to  his  service  all  your  powers 
and  possessions,  and  promise  that  you  will  seek,  above  all  things,  the 
honor  and  interests  of  his  kingdom. 


250  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

"You  cordially  join  yourselves  with  his  church  in  a  direct  and  special 
union,  engaging  to  love  and  watch  over  its  members,  as  your  brethren, 
and  to  receive  from  them  all  needful  care  and  admonition;  to  give  dili- 
gent attendance  with  them  to  all  parts  of  instituted  worship ;  to  avoid  all 
those  worldly  amusements  which  are  inconsistent  with  the  spirit  of  the 
Gospel  and  to  live  a  sober,  righteous  and  Godly  life. 

"All  this  you  do  relying  upon  the  merits  of  the  Savior  for  the  pardon 
of  your  sins,  and  beseeching  God  to  prepare  and  strengthen  you  for  every 
good  work,  to  do  His  will,  working  in  you  that  which  is  well  pleasing  in 
His  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord." 

The  James  H.  Hall  Bequest  to  the  Church  and  Society. 

Aug.  15,  1874,  James  Harvey  Hall,  an  active  member  of  the  church 
and  one  of  the  town's  leading  citizens,  died  testate.  Under  the  provisions 
of  his  will,  which  was  admitted  to  probate  in  August  in  that  year,  the 
church  and  society  became  beneficiaries  in  his  estate  in  the  sum  of  two 
thousand  dollars,  which  they  subsequently  received.  The  bequest  was 
set  forth  in  the  will  as  follows: 

"To  the  Orthodox  Congregational  Church  and  Society  the  sum  of 
two  thousand  dollars  to  be  used  as  a  fund,  the  interest  of  which  shall  be 
expended  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  in  said  Church.  Provided  never- 
theless that  if  said  Congregational  Church  and  Society  shall  cease  to 
exist,  the  said  sum  shall  revert  to  my  beloved  wife  and  my  children, 
Mary  Frances  Peabody  and  Edward  T.  Hall  and  their  heirs." 

Meeting-house  Repaired  and  Remodeled.  1875. 

During  Mr.  Sargent's  pastorate  the  meeting-house  was  remodeled. 
The  work  of  remodelling  was  begun  April  20,  1875.  It  was  completed  in 
about  seven  months  time.  In  the  course  of  the  work,  the  original  struc- 
ture was  raised  from  its  foundations  and  the  basement,  as  it  exists  today, 
constructed  beneath  it.  The  size  of  the  house  was  also  enlarged  by  the 
addition  to  its  north  end  of  an  extension  fifteen  feet  in  length.  At  the 
same  time  the  old-fashioned  windows  were  replaced  by  modern  win- 
dows of  stained  glass,  and  the  auditorium  improved  and  renovated.  The 
cost  of  renovation  was  largely  met  by  a  generous  donation  of  one  thou- 
sand dollars,  given  for  that  purpose  by  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Hall,  widow  of 
James  H.  Hall. 


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HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  251 

At  this  time  also  Mrs.  Mary  Frances  Peabody,  widow  of  George  W. 
Peabody,  as  a  tribute  to  her  husband's  memory,  presented  the  church 
and  society  with  the  beautiful  and  excellent  pipe  organ  which  at  the 
present  time  occupies  its  appropriate  position  in  the  choir  loft;  and 
coincident  with  the  reconstruction  of  the  meeting-house,  the  "Town 
Clock"  was  installed  in  its  present  position  on  the  church  tower. 

At  the  time  of  its  being  placed  in  position  on  the  tower,  this  clock 
was  said  to  be  a  gift  to  the  church,  but  the  name  of  the  donor  was  with- 
held from  the  public;  and,  although  since  then  a  generation  of  men  have 
come  and  gone,  the  name  of  the  donor  still  remains  unknown. 

In  this  year,  also,  Edward  T.  Hall,  in  honor  of  the  memory  of  his 
father,  James  H.  Hall,  presented  the  church  and  society  with  the  bell, 
which  hangs  in  the  church  tower  at  the  present  time. 

Early  in  the  month  of  October,  1875,  the  work  of  reconstruction  was 
practically  completed;  and  on  the  13th  day  of  that  month,  the  recon- 
structed meeting-house  was  with  appropriate  ceremonies  rededicated. 

Dedicatory  Exercises. 

Hymn,  Choir. 

Sermon,  Rev.  Charles  Wetherbee,  Nashua. 

Dedicatory  Prayer,         Rev.  J.  G.  Davis,  D.D.,  Amherst. 

Anthem,  Choir. 

Address  by  the  Pastor,  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent. 

Addresses  by  Rev.  D.  E.  Adams,  Wilton;   Rev.  Hiram  L.  Kelsey,  Hollis; 

Rev.  William  E.  Bennett  of  M.  E.  Church,  Brookline;   and  Rev.  Mr. 

Lincoln  of  Wilton. 
Singing  of  Doxology. 
Benediction. 

In  1876,  Charles  H.  Russell  and  Jefferson  Whitcomb  were  elected 
deacons  of  the  church;  and  in  1882  Perley  L.  Pierce  was  elected  to  the 
same  office. 


*  The  bell  which  originally  hung  in  this  tower  was  purchased  by  the  church  and  society,  soon  after 
the  completion  of  its  meeting-house  in  1849,  from  the  First  Cong.  Church  and  Society  of  Nashua.  When 
in  Nashua  it  hung  in  the  tower  of  the  old  "North  Church"  in  the  "Harbor."  Originally,  it  is  said  to  have 
done  service  for  a  Spanish  convent  in  the  West  Indies;  from  whence  it  was  brought  north  by  a  sailing 
vessel.  In  1875,  from  some  unknown  cause,  it  became  cracked,  and  was  removed  from  the  tower.  Its 
materials,  so  far  as  available,  were  used  in  the  construction  of  the  bell  presented  by  Mr.  Hall. 


252  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

The  James  N.  Tucker  Bequest. 

In  1882,  the  Congregational  church  and  society  and  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  society  received  from  the  estate  of  James  N.  Tucker, 
of  Townsend,  Mass.,  bequests  in  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  each 
($1000). 

The  Wilkes  W.  Corey  Bequest. 

In  the  same  year,  1882,  each  of  said  churches  and  societies  received 
from  the  estate  of  Wilkes  W.  Corey,  of  Brookline,  bequests  in  the  sum  of 
one  hundred  dollars  ($100.) . 

The  conditions  attendant  upon  the  bestowal  of  each  of  these  bequests 
are  set  forth  in  the  chapter  devoted  to  the  history  of  the  local  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  subsequent  pages  of  this  book. 

Aug.  25,  1883,  Mr.  Sargent,  after  fourteen  years  of  faithful  service, 
tendered  to  the  church  and  society  his  resignation,  giving  as  his  reasons 
for  so  doing  impaired  health  and  the  possible  supposition  that  a  change 
of  pastors  would  be  agreeable  as  well  as  beneficial  to  his  parishioners. 
His  resignation  was  met  by  the  church  and  society  by  a  prompt  and 
unanimous  request  that  it  be  withdrawn.  But  as  he  still  insisted  on  its 
being  accepted,  his  parishioners  reluctantly  consented  to  call  a  council  to 
consider  it;  and,  to  that  end,  summoned  several  of  the  Congregational 
churches  and  societies  of  the  neighboring  towns  to  send  delegates  to  a 
council  to  be  convened  in  the  Congregational  Church  Meeting-house  in 
Brookline,  Dec.  19,  1883. 

The  council  met  at  the  time  and  place  mentioned  in  the  call.  It  was 
constituted  of  pastors  and  delegates  from  the  churches  in  Hollis,  Nashua 
(First  and  Pilgrim  churches),  Wilton,  Mason,  Milford  and  Mount  Vernon. 

After  due  deliberation,  during  which  the  church  and  society  joined 
in  protesting  against,  and  presented  strong  reasons  for  not  accepting,  the 
resignation,  it  was  voted — "that  the  pastoral  duties  be  not  dissolved," 
and  the  council  was  dissolved. 

In  1887-88,  by  an  arrangement  between  himself  and  his  parishioners, 
Mr.  Sargent,  for  a  portion  of  the  time,  filled  the  vacant  pulpit  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  in  Townsend,  Mass.,  preaching  there  in  the  forenoon 
and  in  his  home  church  in  the  afternoon  of  each  Sunday. 

In  vSeptember,  1888,  he  again  tendered  his  resignation  which,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  church  and  society,  November  1,  was  by  his  consent  laid 
on  the  table;  but  only  for  a  short  time.    Mr.  Sargent  was  insistent  in  his 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


253 


demands  for  its  consideration;  and  December  27,  it  was  taken  from  the 
table,  and  a  committee  for  calling  a  council  to  consider  it  appointed. 
The  committee  consisted  of  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent,  Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe, 
Deacon  Perley  L.  Pierce,  William  J.  Smith,  J.  Alonzo  Hall,  William  H. 
Hall  and  George  E.  Stiles.  It  attended  to  its  duties  and,  in  response  to 
its  summons,  on  the  15th  day  of  January,  A.  D.,  1890,  the  members  of 
the  council  met  in  the  Congregational  Church.  It  was  made  up  of  pas- 
tors and  delegates  from  the  churches  in  Greenville,  Hollis,  and  the  First 
Congregational  Church  in  Nashua. 

Rev.  George  F.  Merriam  of  Greenville  was  elected  moderator,  and 
Rev.  Samuel  L.  Gerould,  of  Hollis,  scribe.  The  council  approved  of  the 
resignation,  expressed  its  sympathy  with  the  church,  and  recommended 
Mr.  Sargent  to  the  churches  of  Christ. 

After  severing  his  connection  with  the  church  in  Brookline,  Mr. 
Sargent  continued  for  several  years  to  preach  in  Townsend,  but  finally 
accepted  a  call  to  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  in  Putnam,  Conn.,  a 
position  which  at  the  present  time  (1914)  he  still  continues  to  occupy. 

REV.  FRANK  DANA 
SARGENT  was  born  in 
Boston,  Mass.,  Nov.  10, 
1844.  He  is  a  son  of  John 
and  Louisa  (Hunt) Sargent. 

He  prepared  for  college  in 
the  public  schools  of  Boston 
and  of  Newton,  Mass.,  and 
graduated  from  Amherst 
College  in  1866.  He  studied 
theology  in  Newton  and 
Andover  Theological  semi- 
naries, graduating  from  the 
latter  institution  in  1869. 

Soon  after  his  graduation 
from  Andover  and  the  same 
year,  the  Congregational 
church  of  this  town  extended 
to  him  a  call  to  fill  its  vacant 
pulpit  as  its  pastor.  Mr. 
Sargent  accepted  the  call, 
and  at  an  ecclesiastical  council  holden  in  the  meeting-house  of  the  church 


REV.  FRANK   D.  SARGENT 


254  HISTORY   OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

and  society  in  Brookline  on  the  20th  day  of  October,  1869,  was  ordained 
to  the  ministry  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Sargent's  pastorate  in  Brookline  covered  a  period  of  twenty-one 
years  in  length,  extending  from  1869  to  1890,  during  the  last  four  years  of 
which,  in  connection  with  his  home  church,  he  was  in  charge  of  the  Con- 
gregational Church  in  Townsend,.  Mass. 

During  his  stay  here  he  was  the  frequent  recipient  of  flattering  invi- 
tations to  accept  pastorates  in  other  and  wealthier  and  more  influential 
churches;  all  of  which  for  many  years  he  invariably  declined  to  accept; 
conceiving  it  to  be  his  duty  to  remain  with  the  church  which  had  been 
the  scene  of  his  public  entry  into  the  service  of  the  Master,  and  which  was 
endeared  to  him  by  ties  of  love  and  affection  formed  by  many  years  of 
most  cordial  and  friendly  associations  with  its  members;  and  being  loth 
to  sever  his  connections  with  a  community  in  whose  midst  he  had  first 
set  up  his  family  altars,  and  established  a  home;  and  of  whose  people  he 
enjoyed  in  the  highest  degree  the  respect  and  confidence. 

In  the  latter  years  of  his  pastorate,  however,  while  his  love  and 
affection  for  his  church  and  people  experienced  no  change,  influenced, 
doubtless,  to  some  extent  by  a  growing  conviction  that  his  opportunities 
for  future  usefulness  in  his  work  would  be  largely  increased  if  enjoyed  in 
a  larger  field  of  action;  and  also  by  a  desire  to  provide  his  children  with 
better  facilities  for  their  education  than  his  position  here  would  enable 
him  to  afford  them,  he  decided  to  sever  his  connections  here;  and  to  that 
end,  in  1890,  tendered  to  the  church  and  society  his  resignation.  After 
some  delay  on  the  part  of  the  church  and  society,  during  which  both  the 
church  and  the  community  made  strenuous  endeavors  to  influence  him  to 
reconsider  his  decision,  his  resignation  was  accepted.  Soon  after  its  ac- 
ceptance, he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Putnam,  Conn.,  to  take  charge 
of  the  Congregational  Church  in  that  place,  over  which  he  was  installed 
as  pastor,  Sept.  1,  1890;  a  position  which  at  the  present  time  (1914)  he 
is  still  occupying. 

Mr.  Sargent's  pastorate  in  Brookline  was  a  most  successful  one. 
The  cause  of  its  success  is  to  be  found  in  the  fact  that  he  practiced  what 
he  preached.  His  was  not  a  religion  of  all  things  to  all  men,  but  of  the 
right  thing  to  every  man.  He  thoroughly  believed  in  the  truth  of  the 
religion  which  he  professed,  and,  having  the  courage  of  his  convictions, 
did  not  hesitate  to  proclaim  them,  if  need  be,  from  the  housetops. 

A  preacher  of  more  than  ordinary  abilities  and  eloquence,  in  his 
pulpit  and  elsewhere,  he  avoided  display  and  ostentation,  and  used  his 
abilities  and  eloquence  to  convince  and  convert  his  hearers  by  presenting 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  255 

to  them  the  truths  of  the  gospel  in  plain,  simple  and  direct  language 
which  they  could  understand  and  comprehend. 

Firm  and  steadfast  in  the  advocacy  of  his  religious  convictions,  he 
nevertheless  treated  with  respect  the  sentiments  of  those  who  differed 
with  him  in  their  religious  beliefs;  even  when  those  beliefs  were  in  direct 
contradistinction  to  his  own;  and,  avoiding  contention  and  strife,  in  a 
spirit  of  conciliation,  strove  to  lead  them  to  search  the  Scriptures,  as 
being  the  fountain  head  of  all  religious  truth,  rather  than  by  antagoniz- 
ing their  views,  to  arouse  in  their  souls  that  spirit  of  combativeness  which 
would  tend  to  strengthen,  rather  than  to  weaken,  them  in  their  beliefs. 

As  a  citizen,  Mr.  Sargent  was  held  in  no  less  esteem  than  he  was 
held  as  a  pastor.  He  was  public  spirited,  and  always  ready  to  lend  his 
aid  and  assistance  to  the  advancement  of  the  town  and  its  citizens.  Dig- 
nified and  courteous  in  his  deportment  and  manners,  he  treated  all  men 
as  his  equals  in  the  Lord,  and  responded  promptly  to  all  calls  upon  his 
humanity  for  aid  and  assistance  upon  the  part  of  those  who  were  in  dis- 
tress of  mind,  body  or  estate. 

He  was  an  earnest  and  zealous  advocate  of  the  cause  of  education 
and  a  warm  friend  and  supporter  of  the  town's  public  schools;  of  which, 
during  his  residence  here,  he  was  many  times  elected  superintendent,  and 
of  which  their  present  efficiency  and  utility  is  owing  in  a  large  measure 
to  his  labors  in  their  behalf. 

Mr.  Sargent  was  united  in  marriage  to  Emma  S.  Taylor,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Stevens  and  Rachel  (Hills)  Taylor,  of  Dunstable,  Mass.,  Oct. 
21,  1869.  Three  children,  all  born  in  Brookline,  have  been  the  result 
of  this  mani  ge:  Bertha  Louise,  born  March  19,  1872;  Florence  Ger- 
trude, born  July  8,  1878,  and  Harold  Taylor,  born  Oct.  15,  1885. 

The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  George  L.  Todd. 

Rev.  George  L.  Todd  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  this  church 
Feb.  18,  1890.  He  was  acting  pastor  from  March  to  May  8,  1890,  when 
he  was  ordained  to  the  ministry, 

Council  of  Ordination. 

The  Council  of  ordination  met  in  the  Congregational  Church,  and 
consisted  of  pastors  and  delegates  from  the  following  churches. 
Congregational  Church,  Greenville,  Rev.  George  F.  Merriam 

Elisha  B.  Bennett. 


256 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


Congregational  Church, 
Congregational  Church, 
Congregational  Church, 
Congregational  Church, 
First  Congregational  Church, 
Pilgrim  Church, 
Congregational  Church, 
Congregational  Church, 


Hollis, 

Rev.  S.  Iv.  Gerould, 

Franklin  P.  Colburn. 

Mason, 

Rev.  F.  T.  Smith. 

Geo.  Whittaker. 

Milford, 

Rev.  W.  A.  Thomas. 

Frederic  W.  Sawyer. 

New  Boston, 

Deaon  Moses  A.  Dane. 

J.  P.  Todd. 

Nashua, 

Rev.  Cyrus  Richardson 

A.  N.  Shepard. 

Nashua, 

Rev.  Geo.  W.  Grover. 

Dea.  Kimball  Emerson 

Pepperell,  Mass., 

Rev.  C.  S.  Tomblin. 

Rev.  Eli  Harrington. 

Townsend,  Mass., 

Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent, 

Waldo  Spaulding. 

Order  of  Exercises. 


Reading  of  Minutes, 

Invocation, 

Reading  of  Scripture, 

Prayer, 

Sermon, 

Prayer  of  Installation, 

Right  Hand  of  Fellowship, 

Charge  to  Pastor, 

Charge  to  People, 

Prayer, 

Benediction, 


Rev.  George  F.  Merriam. 
Rev.  Cyrus  Richardson. 
Rev.  Geo.  W.  Grover. 
Rev.  C.  S.  Tomblin. 
Rev.  W.  R.  Cochran. 
Rev.  Geo.  F.  Merriam. 
Rev.  W.  A.  Thomas. 
Rev.  S.  L.  Gerould. 
Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent. 
Rev.  G.  N.  Bryant. 
Pastor. 


Mr.  Todd's  term  of  service  here  was  brief.  But,  brief  as  it  was,  it 
was  of  length  sufficient  to  enable  his  parishioners  to  fully  realize  the  fact 
that  in  him  they  had  acquired  a  most  worthy  successor  to  Mr.  Sargent, 
and  they  congratulated  themselves  accordingly.  He  labored  assiduously 
and  discreetly,  both  as  pastor  and  citizen,  in  the  performance  of  his  du- 
ties. He  was  eloquent  and  persuasive  in  the  pulpit,  and  out  of  it  his 
deeds  and  words  were  thoroughly  consistent  with  the  religion  in  which 
he  professed  to  believe.  He  had  acquired  the  confidence,  respect  and 
esteem  of  his  church  and  the  citizens,  and  the  prospect  of  a  successful 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  257 

and  profitable  pastorate  among  a  harmonious  and  most  friendly  people 
was  before  him  when,  on  Oct.  5,  1892,  he  tendered  his  resignation. 

His  resignation  was  reluctantly  and  sorrowfully  accepted  by  the 
church  and  greatly  regretted  by  the  citizens.  He  went  from  Brookline 
to  the  church  in  Merrimack,  Mass.,  where  he  was  installed  as  pastor, 
Oct.  9,  1892. 

The  following  sketch  of  his  life  is  taken  from  Rev.  F.  N.  Carter's 
"Native  Ministry  of  New  Hampshire." 

GEORGE  LORING  TODD,  D.D.,  Presbyterian,  son  of  Deacon 
James  Page  and  Desire  (Loring)  Todd,  was  born,  June  19,  1859.  Pre- 
paratory studies  at  Francistown  Academy.  Graduated  at  Amherst  Col- 
lege, 1884,  and  at  Auburn  Theological  Seminary,  1887.  Licensed  to 
preach  and  ordained  by  the  Boston  Presbytery,  at  Lowell,  Mass.,  April 
13,  1887.  Labored  in  Northern  Michigan,  summers  of  1885  and  1886. 
Went  to  La  Paz.,  Bolivia,  South  America,  to  establish  a  collegiate  insti- 
tute, December,  1887.  Succeeded,  but  was  soon  turned  from  his  charge 
by  the  Jesuits.  While  waiting  for  opportunity  to  return  home,  engaged 
in  mining  works.  Vice-consul  of  the  United  States  there.  Left  Oct.  29, 
1889,  reaching  New  York,  Nov.  23,  1889.  Acting  pastor,  Brookline, 
March  to  May,  1890;  ordained  pastor  May  8,  1890;  dismissed  Oct.  5, 
1892.  Installed  Merrimack,  Mass.,  Oct.  9,  1892;  dismissed  Sept.  9, 
1900.  First  church,  Havana,  Cuba,  October,  1900-01.  Superintendent 
of  Reform  and  Industrial  School  at  Guanajay,  Cuba,  April,  1901.  En- 
tered again  the  employ  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society  and  pastor, 
Havana,  Cuba,  Jan.  1,  1902-04.     D.  D.  from  Wheaton  College,  1904. 

Married   Alice,    daughter   of    Elijah    Fuller   and    Elizabeth   Jacobs 
(Dunklee)  Gould,  at  Antrim,  Dec.  20,  1886. 

At  the  present  time  Mr.  Todd  is  still  in  Cuba,  where  he  is  employed 
in  educational  work  by  the  United  States  government. 

The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Fred  E.  Winn. 

For  nine  months  immediately  following  Mr.  Todd's  resignation,  the 
church  was  without  a  settled  minister;  the  pulpit  in  the  meantime  being 
supplied  by  pastors  from  the  churches  in  the  neighboring  towns,  and  by 
others  who  preached  as  candidates,  especially  the  latter.  Listening  to 
candidates  for  the  vacant  position  finally  became  monotonous,  and  be- 
sides it  was  felt  that  it  was  conducive  neither  to  harmony  nor  progress  in 
spiritual  affairs.  Realizing  the  truth  of  these  facts,  June  20,  1893,  the 
church  and  society  united  in  extending  a  call  to  Rev.  Fred  E-  Winn  of 


258  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

Hudson.  Mr.  Winn's  settlement  was  fixed  at  a  salary  of  seven  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars  per  annum  and  the  use  of  the  parsonage.  Mr.  Winn 
accepted  the  call,  and  was  ordained  Aug.  31,  1893. 

Council  of  Ordination. 

The  churches  represented  in  the  council  were  as  follows:  Congrega- 
tional Church  in  Andover  Theological  Seminary;  Congregational  Church, 
Hudson;  First  Congregational  Church,  Nashua;  Congregational  Church, 
Greenville;  First  Congregational  Church,  Merrimack;  Congregational 
Church,  Hollis;  Congregational  Church,  Merrimack,  Mass.;  Congrega- 
tional Church,  Milford;  Congregational  Church,  Amherst;  Rev.  F.  D. 
Sargent,  Putnam,  Conn. ;  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin,  Mason. 

Order  of  Exercises. 

Anthem,  Choir. 

Invocation,  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin. 

Reading  of  Scripture,  Rev.  C.  H.  Dutton, 

Sermon,  Rev.  E.  J.  Hinch. 

Ordaining  Prayer,  Rev.  S.  L.  Gerould. 

Charge  to  Pastor,  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent. 
Right  Hand  of  Fellowship,      Rev.  F.  P.  Chapin. 

Charge  to  the  People,  Rev.  G.  L.  Todd. 

Closing  Prayer,  Rev.  A.  J.  McGown. 

Benediction,  Pastor. 

Mr.  Winn  came  here  soon  after  his  graduation  from  Andover  The- 
ological Seminary.  The  church  at  the  time  of  his  advent  had  already 
passed  the  high  water  mark  of  its  day  of  prosperity.  Many  of  those  who 
had  been  prominent  in  its  councils  and  generous  contributors  to  its  sup- 
port had  passed  on.  The  society  was  also  weakened  in  numbers,  and 
the  congregation  diminished  in  size. 

The  new  pastor  entered  upon  his  work  with  the  courage  born  of  faith 
and  the  zeal  of  an  enthusiast.  Indeed,  his  zeal  in  doing  his  work  often- 
times seemed  to  race  with  and  outstrip  his  discretion,  especially  so  in  his 
efforts  to  advance  the  cause  of  temperance,  of  which  he  was  a  most  en- 
thusiastic advocate.  In  that  cause,  Mr,  Winn  evidently  felt  it  to  be  his 
duty  to  "Cry  aloud  and  spare  not";  and  there  appears  to  be  no  question 
but  that  he  did  his  duty  faithfully.    He  spared  no  one,  whether  in  or  out 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  259 

of  the  church,  whom  he  deemed  guilty  of  directly  or  indirectly  using,  or 
dealing  in,  intoxicants.  His  work  for  the  cause  of  temperance  was  un- 
questionably conscientiously  performed.  But  Providence  only  knows 
what  of  good  for  the  cause  he  really  accomplished.  So  far  as  apparent 
results  were  concerned,  when  at  the  close  of  a  pastorate  of  less  than  two 
years  duration,  he  resigned  his  charge  here,  the  temperance  question  was 
still  in  statu  quo;  and  the  church  had  barely  held  its  own,  having  gained 
ten  new  members  (seven  by  profession  of  faith  and  three  by  letter),  and 
dismissed  eleven. 

Mr.  Winn  resigned  his  pastorate,  May  17,  1895.  His  resignation  was 
accepted  by  the  church,  May  23  of  the  same  year.  At  a  council  held  here 
July  2,  1895,  which  was  constituted  of  pastors  and  delegates  from  the 
churches  in  Amherst,  Greenville,  Hollis  and  Mason,  the  acceptance  of  his 
resignation  by  the  Brookline  church  was  approved.  Mr.  Winn's  de- 
parture was  regretted  by  the  church,  in  which  he  had  labored  assiduously 
and  faithfully.  He  left  behind  him  the  reputation  of  being  a  sincere 
Christian  with  the  courage  of  his  convictions. 

REV.  FRED  E.  WINN,  son  of  William  F.  and  Lucy  M.  (Richard- 
son) Winn,  was  born  in  Hudson,  Dec.  14,  1863.  He  prepared  for  college 
in  the  public  schools  of  Hudson  and  at  McGaw's  Institute,  Reeds  Ferry; 
graduated  from  Dartmouth  College  in  1887,  and  from  Andover  Theological 
Seminary  in  1892.  From  July,  1892,  to  April,  1893,  he  supplied  the  pulpit 
of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Hudson.  June  20,  1893,  he  was  called 
to  the  pulpit  of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Brookline,  where  he  was 
ordained  Aug.  31,  1893.  He  was  dismissed,  at  his  request,  from  the  Brook- 
line church  May  23,  1895.  He  went  from  Brookline  to  Bennington,  where 
he  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church.  From  Benning- 
ton he  removed  to  Bridgeton,  Mass.,  where  at  the  present  time  (1910) 
he  is  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

July  25,  1888,  Mr.  Winn  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah  C.  Moul- 
ton,   daughter  of  George  W.   and  Hannah  H.    (Spofford)   Moulton  of 
Merrimack. 

The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  J.  Alphonse  Belanger. 

Nov.  6,  1895,  the  Congregational  Church  and  society  extended  a 
call  to  the  Rev.  J.  Alphonse  Belanger  to  become  their  pastor  at  a  salary 
of  seven  hundred  dollars  per  annum,  the  free  use  of  the  parsonage  and  an 
annual  vacation  of  two  weeks  duration.  Mr.  Belanger  accepted  the  call, 
and  was  "recognized"  Dec.  17,  1895. 


260  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

The  "Council  of  Recognition"  consisted  of  pastors  and  delegates 
from  the  churches  in  Mason,  Hollis,  Amherst,  Greenville,  Milford,  and 
Townsend,  Mass.,  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent,  Rev.  George  L.  Todd  and  Rev. 
Fred  E.  Winn.  The  council,  upon  examination,  found  that  Mr.  Belanger 
was  a  congregational  minister  in  good  and  regular  standing,  but  declined 
to  give  him  the  position  of  an  installed  pastor,  suggesting  that,  as  a  con- 
sequence of  its  action,  he  could  be  dismissed  without  the  necessity  of 
calling  a  council.  In  accord  with  the  council's  finding,  Mr.  Belanger  was 
"inducted"  into  the  pulpit  Dec.  17,  1895. 

Service  of  Recognition. 

Voluntary,  Choir. 
Reading  of  Scripture  and  Invocation,      Rev.  D.  W.  Morgan. 

Welcome  to  the  Pastor,  Rev.  H.  P.  Peck. 

Recognition  Prayer,  Rev.  George  F.  Merriam. 

Right  Hand  of  Fellowship,  Rev.  S.  L.  Gerould. 

Charge  to  Pastor,  Rev.  George  E-  Todd. 

Charge  to  the  People,  Rev.  F.  E-  Winn. 

Benediction,  Pastor. 

Mr.  Belanger's  term  of  service  lasted  two  years,  eleven  months  and 
twenty-three  days.  He  was  a  faithful  shepherd  over  the  little  flock  com- 
mitted to  his  charge,  laboring  early  and  late  to  advance  in  its  midst  the 
cause  of  the  Master.  During  his  ministry,  sixteen  new  members  were 
added  to  the  church,  of  whom  nine  were  received  on  profession  of  faith 
and  seven  by  letter. 

Mr.  Belanger,  like  his  immediate  predecessor  in  the  pulpit,  was  a 
radical  temperance  advocate  and,  like  his  predecessor,  in  advocating  the 
temperance  cause,  he  worked  on  radical  lines,  sparing  in  his  advocacy 
neither  friend  nor  foe. 

Mr.  Belanger  resigned  from  his  pastorate  Dec.  29,  1898.  On  the  day 
of  his  resignation  the  church,  after  voting  to  accept  the  same,  passed  a 
resolution  in  which  it  bore  testimony— "To  his  more  than  common  abil- 
ity as  a  preacher,  his  faithfulness  as  a  pastor,  and  his  manly  Christian 
courage,  doing  with  his  might  what  his  hands  found  to  do."  He  went 
from  Brookline  to  the  church  in  Wallingford,  Vt. 

REV.  JOSEPH  ALPHONSE  BELANGER  was  born  in  Quebec, 
P.  Q.,  Oct.  9,  1857.  He  graduated  at  Boston  University  in  1895,  and  was 
ordained  May  22,  1895.     He  was  "recognized"  and  "inducted"  into  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  261 

pulpit  of  the  Congregational  Church  of  Brookline,  Dec.  17,  1895;  and 
dismissed  at  his  request  March  1,  1899.  From  Brookline  he  went  to  the 
Congregational  Church  in  Wallingford,  Vt. 

Centennial  Year  of  the  Congregational  Church  and  the  Exercises 
Attendant  upon  the  Celebration  of  the  Same. 

During  Mr.  Belanger's  pastorate,  on  the  10th  day  of  December, 
1895,  the  church  completed  the  one  hundredth  year  of  its  existence.  In 
anticipation  of  and  with  a  view  of  properly  observing  this  event,  at  a 
meeting  holden  January  3  of  that  year,  the  church  appointed  Rev.  Fred 
K.  Winn,  Deacon  Perley  L-  Pierce,  J.  Alonzo  Hall,  Miss  Emily  M.  Peter- 
son, and  Mrs.  Nancy  J.  Daniels  as  a  committee  of  arrangements  for  a 
centennial  celebration.  This  committee  was  subsequently  somewhat 
changed  by  substituting  the  name  of  Rev.  J.  A.  Belanger  for  that  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Winn,  who  in  the  meantime  had  resigned  and  left  town,  and  also  by 
the  addition  to  it  of  Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe.  Under  the  supervision  of 
the  foregoing  committee,  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  celebration 
were  made  and  subsequently  successfully  carried  out. 

This  anniversary,  an  event  in  its  history  second  in  importance  only 
to  that  of  its  organization,  was  most  enthusiastically  observed  by  the 
church  and  its  friends,  large  numbers  of  whom,  especially  of  its  absent 
members,  and  of  those  who  having  formerly  been  included  in  its  member- 
ship, were  at  this  time  residents  and  members  of  churches  in  other  towns, 
returned  to  the  home  church;  and  by  their  presence  and  active  partici- 
pation helped  to  contribute  to  the  success  of  the  celebration. 

The  exercises  which  occupied  three  days  were  conducted  under  the 
following 

PROGRAMME. 

Sunday,  December  15th, 
10.45  A.  M. 

Centennial  Sermon  by  the  Pastor,  with  Special  Music. 

5.45  P.  M. 

Reunion  of  the  Sunday-school. 

Singing  by  the  children. 

History  of  the  School,  Mrs.  Nancy  J.  Daniels. 


262  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

The  Sunday-school  Superintendent,         J.  Alonzo  Hall. 
Primary  Work,  Mrs.  Wm.  J.  Smith. 

Intermediate  Work,  Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Hall. 

7.00  P.  M. 

Young  People's  Work.     Addresses: 

Miss  Emily  M.  Peterson,  Miss  Jennie  M.  Litchfield. 

Miss  M.  L.  Shattuck,  Miss  Mary  E.  Rockwood. 

Monday,  December  16th. 
7.30  P.  M. 

Devoted  to  Woman's  Work  in  the  Church. 

Scripture  Reading,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Belanger. 

Prayer,  Mrs.  N.  J.  Daniels. 

Address,  Miss  H.  Juliette  Gilson. 

Social  Work  of  Woman,  Mrs.  Frank  D.  Sargent. 

Address,  Mrs.  Anna  Kemp. 

Rising  Womanhood,  Miss  Mary  L.  Brown. 

Tuesday,  December  17th. 
10.30  A.  M. 

Doxology,  Congregation. 

vScripture  and  Prayer,  Rev.  F.  E.  Winn. 
Hymn  by  the  Choir  of  Long  Ago. 

Addresses  of  Welcome,  Dr.  C.  H.  Holcombe. 

Historical  Address,  Rev.  J.  Alphonse  Belanger. 
Brookline  Church 

Twenty-six  Years  Ago,  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent. 
Brookline  Church 

of  the  Future,  Rev.  Geo.  L.  Todd. 

1.30  P.  M. 

Banquet,  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent,  Toast-master. 

4.30  P.  M. 

Convening  of  Ecclesiastical  Council  to  examine  the  new  Pastor. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  263 

7.30  P.  M. 

Brookline  Church  among  its  Neighbors,  Rev.  A.  J.  McGown. 

Centennial  Poem,  Hon.  B.  E.  Parker. 

8.15  P.  M. 

Recognition  Services. 

The  exercises  on  this  occasion  were  all  of  the  most  interesting  char- 
acter. The  entire  proceedings  were  subsequently  published  in  pamphlet 
form.  Their  reproduction  in  these  pages  would  form  one  of  the  book's 
most  interesting  chapters,  but  want  of  space  forbids  it.  It  has,  however, 
been  thought  best  to  insert  the  address  of  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent,  and  the 
Centennial  Poem  delivered  by  Hon.  E.  E.  Parker.  The  address,  because 
of  its  historical  nature,  in  that  it  dealt  with  the  lives  and  characteristics 
of  some  of  the  men  and  women  connected  with,  and  the  events  transpiring 
in,  and  happening  to,  the  church  and  society  during  the  twenty  and  more 
years  immediately  preceding  the  celebration;  and  the  poem  because  of 
its  significance  in  connection  with  the  Old  Meeting-house,  the  Church  and 
society's  first  place  of  worship. 

THE  BROOKLINE   CHURCH  TWENTY-SIX   YEARS  AGO. 

By  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent. 

Your  church!  Our  church!  My  church!  Twenty-six  years  ago  last 
January  a  young  man  from  the  seminary  at  Andover  stood  for  the  first 
time  in  the  pulpit  of  your  church.  He  came  and,  so  far  as  he  knew,  went 
away  as  other  students  had  come  and  gone.  Eight  months  later  the  same 
young  man  stood  before  the  same  people,  but  he  had  changed  the  phrase 
"your"  church  to  "our"  church.  Twenty-six  years  go  by,  and  that  same 
man,  no  longer  young,  nor  yet  old,  changes  again  the  pronoun,  and  now, 
as  for  many  years  past,  he  speaks  of  this  as  "my"  church.  Say  what  we 
will,  there  are  experiences  in  life  that  stand  out  like  headlands  on  the 
coast,  promontories  that  rise  above  the  surrounding  country.  Life  is  not 
a  monotonous  level,  neither  is  it  so  devoid  of  the  unusual  as  to  be  un- 
eventful. Especially  is  this  true  of  pastoral  life.  While  Dr.  Smith  Baker 
of  Boston  may  be  right  when  he  says,  "Every  new  people  with  me  has 
been  better,  richer,  more  desirable  than  the  preceding,"  yet  to  the  average 


264  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

pastor  one  church,  one  pastorate,  one  period  of  ministerial  life  will  be, 
Saul  like,  head  and  shoulders  above  all  others  in  point  of  interest  and 
affection,  and  this  will  not  necessarily  be  the  last  one.  It  matters  not 
how  commodious  and  beautiful  the  other  churches  may  be,  how  cultured 
and  wealthy  their  congregations,  how  influential  their  membership,  the 
relation  with  the  one  church  which  we  denominate  with  the  personal  pro- 
noun "my"  will  be  intimate  more  than  all  the  others. 

Associations  and  conditions  play  a  large  part  in  the  make  up  of  every 
life.  As  some  of  you  have  heard  me  say,  there  is  a  little  schoolhouse  in 
northern  Vermont,  with  desks  old-fashioned,  and  showing  the  marks  of 
many  a  schoolboy's  knife,  floors  worn  through  in  spots,  walls  disfigured, 
woodwork  unpainted,  yet  that  little  room  is  more  beautiful  to  me  than 
any  palace  that  art  ever  contrived,  or  fancy  fashioned,  because  in  that 
building  the  dear  old  Mother  heard  the  first  and  only  sermon  which  she 
was  ever  permitted  to  listen  to  from  the  lips  of  her  boy,  whom  she  loved 
as  she  loved  her  life.  When  a  year  after  her  death,  I  went  again  to  that 
country  hamlet  and  visited  the  schoolhouse  on  the  hill,  not  even  the 
Holy  of  Holies  of  the  ancient  tabernacle  could  have  been  more  sacred  to 
the  Israelites  than  was  that  place  to  me  as  I  knelt  beside  the  seat  where 
Mother  sat.  Nothing  but  association  could  develop  such  sentiments  as 
these  and,  yet  because  of  associations,  this  and  like  experiences  become 
marked  and  influential. 

I  esteem  it  a  privilege  to  speak  of  this  as  my  church,  not  to  the  det- 
riment of  others  with  which  I  may  have  been  connected,  but  because  of 
the  peculiar  interest  that  twenty  years  of  ministerial  life  and  labor  has 
engendered.  This  church  is  not  altogether  unnoted  in  her  past.  I  would 
not  be  pessimistic  in  regard  to  the  present,  nor  unmindful  of  the  fact  that 
the  last  quarter  of  a  century  has  been  throbbing  with  that  which  goes  to 
make  men  better,  and  the  world  more  Christlike.  I  do  not  believe  that 
this  period  of  time  that  has  witnessed,  so  far  as  this  community  is  con- 
cerned, the  introduction  of  the  telegraph  and  telephone,  the  iron  horse, 
improved  educational  advantages  and  wider  business  influences,  have 
been  so  many  triumphs  for  Satan,  and  consequently  so  many  steps  back- 
ward, yet  is  it  not  true  that  temporal  prosperity  may  not  always  be  able 
to  be  utilized  by  spiritual  forces.  Bright  as  may  be  the  membership  of 
this  church  today,  full  of  life  and  vigor  as  may  be  her  determination,  yet 
she  is  not  now  in  membership  and  influence  what  she  was  a  quarter  of  a 
century  ago. 

Allow  me  to  picture  the  church  and  people  as  I  first  knew  them. 
In  those  days  the  building  in  which  we  worshipped  was  far  from  pleasing 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  265 

architecturally.  A  neighboring  pastor  in  a  fit  of  possible  jealousy  de- 
nominated it  a  "spiritual  butterbox."  It  was  sixteen  feet  shorter  than 
now,  and  the  auditorium  was  twelve  feet  nearer  the  ground.  The  front 
steps  were  so  close  to  the  street  that  very  little  detour  was  needed  to 
bring  the  churchgoers  to  the  very  doors.  It  had  broad,  plain  windows, 
blinded  on  the  outside;  plain  straight-backed  pews,  grained  in  colors  so 
gloomy  and  style  so  unutterable  that  it  was  not  necessary  to  shade  the 
windows  in  order  to  get  the  "dim  religious  light"  that  is  supposed  to  be 
so  helpful  to  religious  meditation;  the  pulpit  of  mahogany,  flanked  on 
either  side  by  pillars  or  ornamental  bases  of  a  like  material;  the  long 
lines  of  stovepipes  through  which  the  heat  was  flashed  from  roaring  fires 
in  the  box  stoves  in  the  front  corridor  that  made  that  place  somewhat 
like  the  furnace  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  "seven  times  hotter"  than  such  places 
are  wont  to  be;  and  last,  the  choir  gallery,  with  its  ancient  melodeon  and 
bassoon,  with  now  and  then  a  bass  viol  as  an  accompaniment,  and  the 
singers  so  separated  by  the  arched  roof  and  high  balustrade  from  the  rest 
of  the  congregation  that  much  of  their  praise  reached  neither  the  heavens 
above  them,  nor  the  earth  below.  Such  was  the  church  as  I  remember  it 
twenty-five  years  ago,  and  yet  we  loved  that  old  building  and,  when  in 
1875,  after  serious  and  careful  consideration,  we  voted  to  remodel  and 
beautify  the  same,  not  a  few  regrets  were  expressed,  and  on  the  last  Sab- 
bath that  we  worshipped  in  the  old  edifice  the  whole  day  was  given  up  to 
reminiscence,  and  grateful  recognition  of  the  goodness  of  God  in  connection 
with  church  life. 

Primitive  as  the.  church  building  may  have  been,  the  people  who 
worshipped  within  its  walls  were  neither  lacking  in  culture  nor  ambition. 
As  I  write  I  picture  tham  as  they  appeared  Sunday  after  Sunday,  each  in 
their  accustomed  places.  On  my  right  hand,  in  the  old  wing  pews,  sat 
Asher  and  Beri  Bennett,  the  latter,  with  elbow  on  the  back  of  the  seat 
in  front  of  him,  eagerly  taking  in  the  thoughts  of  the  young  minister  who 
was,  to  him  at  least,  a  veritable  messenger  from  God.  I  remember  the 
loyalty  of  these  two  men  to  their  pastor,  and  their  pride  in  him  which 
they  did  not  try  to  conceal.  Do  you  wonder  that  they  are  not  forgotten 
by  us,  when  I  tell  you  that  upon  the  very  first  Sabbath  of  the  new  pas- 
torate, just  as  we  were  entering  the  church  a  trifle  late,  Brother  Beri, 
his  face  all  aglow  with  satisfaction,  turned  to  Asher  and  in  a  stage  whisper, 
audible  in  nearly  every  part  of  the  room,  said,  "Here  comes  our  dear 
pastor  and  his  cunning  little  wife."  Honest  as  the  day  was  long,  almost 
childish  in  their  likes  and  dislikes,  old-fashioned  in  their  notions,  they 


266  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

were  more  dear  to  us  than  many  whose  ideas  and  station  were  more 
modern. 

Right  in  front  of  the  pulpit  sat  another  man  with  his  family,  always 
there,  and  always  in  season.  I  should  as  soon  have  thought  of  the  heavens 
falling  as  to  even  dream  that  John  Burge  would  not  be  in  his  place  in 
church  at  least  fifteen  minutes  before  the  bell  tolled.  More  than  once 
have  I  passed  the  church  door  on  my  way  to  exchange  with  a  minister 
in  a  neighboring  town,  and  met  Brother  Burge  driving  into  the  churcl^ard. 
Blunt,  decided,  humorous,  almost  rough  in  his  expressions,  he  was  ever 
ready  to  stay  up  the  hands  of  the  pastor,  and  do  his  part  in  the  labor  and 
contributions  of  the  church. 

Intimately  associated  with  Brother  Burge  was  James  H.  Hall,  a 
man  who  used  his  wealth  for  the  good  of  the  church  and  the  glory  of 
God.  I  should  do  violence  to  my  own  conscience  if  I  did  not  place  a 
personal  tribute  above  the  memory  of  this  man,  who  had  so  much  to  do 
with  the  shaping  of  my  early  ministry.  A  man  with  faults  like  humanity 
everywhere,  yet  his  faults  seemed  to  make  his  virtues  even  more  pro- 
nounced than  they  otherwise  would  have  been.  For  years  it  was  his 
custom  each  quarter  to  bring  to  the  pastor  $50  as  his  share  of  the  salary. 
To  this  he  also  added  the  rent  of  one-quarter  or  one-half  of  the  parsonage. 
Not  infrequently,  in  fact  generally  in  winter  this  long  sleigh  drawn  by 
two  horses  would  be  filled  with  his  family  and  neighbors,  thereby  adding 
materially  to  the  number  of  the  congregation.  The  prosperity  of  this 
church  was  due  in  no  small  measure  to  the  faithful  and  assiduous  labors  of 
this  man  of  God.  Well  did  the  pastor  say  at  his  death,  "A  prince  has 
fallen  in  Israel." 

Another  man,  younger  than  the  others,  in  fact  the  youngest  of  the 
active  men  of  the  church,  was  George  Peabody.  Wonderfully  gifted  in 
prayer  and  testimony,  quick  to  think,  apt  in  remark,  versatile  in  ability, 
his  sudden  and  terrible  death  made  a  deep  and  lasting  impression  upon 
the  community.  At  the  time  of  his  decease,  he  was  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school,  leader  of  the  choir,  deacon  in  the  church,  an  officer  in  the 
society,  and  the  pastor's  right-hand  man.  I  doubt  if  his  place  in  this 
church  has  ever  been  made  good,  even  though  worthy  men  have  followed 
him. 

It  was  not  many  years  after  his  death  that  God  called  to  himself  his 
brother,  Deacon  John  Peabody.  He  was  not  a  man  of  great  talent  or  re- 
markable genius.  I  do  not  recall  a  thing  that  he  did  that  would  warrant 
unusual  mention,  and  yet  I  do  not  know  of  any  life  I  ever  touched  that 
was  so  heartily  and  fully  given  to  God  as  was  his.     He  was  a  veritable 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  267 

Abraham,  yea,  in  many  respects  the  peer  of  the  old  prophet,  for  if  God 
had  asked  his  life,  I  believe  he  would  have  given  it.  If  ever  this  church 
had  an  illustration  of  a  perfect  man,  that  man  was  Deacon  John  Peabody. 
I  do  not  think  that  he  ever,  in  his  later  life  at  least,  did  anything  that  his 
conscience  did  not  approve,  and  many  a  sad  heart  and  burdened  soul, 
and  toiling  laborer  here  and  elsewhere,  have  reason  to  praise  the  self- 
sacrifice  of  this  man  of  God. 

Another  man  who,  on  account  of  his  years,  was  only  occasionally 
seen  in  church,  was  Deacon  Timothy  Wright.  Ignorant  of  books,  some- 
what unfortunate  in  business,  poor  in  earthly  goods,  yet  upon  him  God 
had  seemed  to  breathe  the  gift  of  prayer  that  was  truly  delightful. 

One  of  the  staunch  supporters  of  the  church,  whose  name  was  upon 
the  church  roll  twenty-six  years  ago,  but  who  was  then  a  resident  of 
Milford,  was  William  Gilson.  For  many  years  he  was  thoroughly  identi- 
fied with  this  church,  and  while  afterwards  connected  with  another  fellow- 
ship, he  still  kept  his  interest  in  the  old  church  home.  He  was  a  frequent 
visitor  both  at  the  church  service  and  other  gatherings,  and  there  were 
few  improvements  which  required  the  outlay  of  money  that  did  not  bear 
his  name.  It  was  through  his  generosity,  in  part,  that  the  church  is  in 
possession  of  its  parsonage. 

Another  man  upon  whom  the  church  depended  for  counsel  and  help 
in  spiritual  and  social  life  was  Deacon  Jefferson  Whitcomb.  A  busy  man, 
hard  working,  almost  intemperate  in  his  industry,  he  yet  gave  a  large 
part  of  his  vitality  to  the  church.  It  was  his  voice  that  led  the  choir  for 
years,  while  his  help  in  the  Sunday  school  as  superintendent  and  teacher, 
and  his  efforts  in  the  prayer  meetings  and  social  gatherings  were  decided 
and  beneficial. 

Never  shall  I  forget  another  whom  I  saw  at  times  in  the  congrega- 
tion, and  who  was  familiarly  known  as  "Uncle  Jimmie."  I  hardly  believe 
he  would  have  known  to  whom  you  referred  if  you  had  addressed  him 
as  Mr.  Pierce.  I  never  met  him  only  as  I  found  him  fairly  bubbling  over 
with  good  nature,  expressing  itself  with  a  face  wreathed  in  smiles  and 
words  accompanied  with  a  chuckle  that  was  simply  indescribable.  He 
was  one  of  the  few  men  that  the  minister  loved  to  meet  on  "blue  Monday." 

Twenty-six  years  ago  last  July  after  a  Sabbath  of  candidating,  I 
met  a  company  of  fourteen  or  fifteen  men  who  gathered  in  the  home  of 
Francis  Peterson.  Men  they  were  who  represented  the  life  and  talent, 
property  and  influence  of  the  town  of  that  day.  Their  object  was  to  show 
me  that  the  call  of  God  and  the  need  of  the  hour,  so  far  as  I  was  con- 
cerned, was  the  acceptance  of  the  invitation  to  become  their  pastor.     As 


268  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

I  now  regard  it,  I  think  that  that  little  company  of  men,  by  their  pres- 
ence, manhood,  and  evident  sincerity,  did  more  to  shape  the  first  twenty 
years  of  my  ministerial  life  than  all  other  forces  put  together.  A  part  of 
those  men  are  living  today;  many  of  them  God  has  called  to  himself. 
The  most  modest  and  retiring  of  them,  the  truest  and  most  loyal  was 
Francis  Peterson.  He  it  was  who  with  an  eye  to  economy,  with  a  heart 
that  always  beat  in  sympathy  with  the  progress  of  the  church,  whose 
word  in  season  and  out  of  season  was  a  stimulus  to  pastor  and  people 
who,  not  rich  in  the  world's  estimation  practiced  economy  that  he  might 
be  rich  toward  God,  put  his  life  into  the  spiritual  and  temporal  fabric  of 
this  church  and  society.  While  by  no  means  eloquent  in  remark  or  prayer, 
yet  rarely  a  prayer  meeting  in  the  early  days  passed  without  his  presence 
and  participation. 

I  wish  I  had  the  time  to  speak  of  "Grandpa"  Pettee,  venerable  with 
the  multiplicity  of  years;  of  Joseph  Hall,  aged  and  feeble,  yet  rarely 
absent  from  the  church  service,  and  loving  the  prosperity  of  Zion;  of 
Joseph  Peterson,  a  man  whose  physical  sufferings  were  almost  indescrib- 
able, and  yet  who  contributed  to  the  upbuilding  of  the  society;  of  Amos 
Gould  who  loved  to  be  a  little  different  from  others,  showing  itself,  for 
example,  in  his  subscriptions  when,  instead  of  making  a  round  number, 
he  would  place  upon  the  paper  the  figures  $49.99  instead  of  $50;  of 
James  French,  crippled  years  ago  with  disease,  battling  with  physical  and 
other  difficulties,  yet  trying  in  his  way  to  live  for  God  and  truth;  of 
John  S.  Daniels,  keen  and  critical,  kind  of  heart,  informed  upon  many 
questions  beyond  his  associates,  living  a  life  that  touched  us  more  than 
we  knew;  of  Joseph  Shattuck,  a  living  witness  of  what  camp  exposure 
and  the  deprivations  of  war  could  do;  of  Willie  Hodgman,  modest  and 
Christlike;  these  and  others  stand  out  in  my  memory  today.  Add  to 
these  the  names  of  men  who,  while  not  members  of  the  church,  were  con- 
tributors to  its  social  and  financial  success:  Gardner  Shattuck,  Andrew 
Rockwood,  Joseph  Tucker,  Reuben  Baldwin,  Mr.  Joseph  Smith  and  son, 
Frank  Hobart,  whose  early  death  was  a  sad  blow  to  both  family  and 
community,  Henry  Pierce,  Wm.  Wallace,  Joseph  Sawtelle,  and  F.  Shattuck. 

All  these  are  dead,  and  yet  their  forms  and  faces  were  familiar  in  the 
early  life  of  the  parish.  I  do  not  need  to  speak  of  the  living  members, 
since  most  of  them  are  with  you  today.  True  to  their  convictions  at  that 
time,  they  have  been  staunch  supporters  of  the  church.  The  future  may 
bring  enthusiastic  supporters,  but  this  church  will  never  find  more  worthy 
contributors  to  its  demands  than  the  men  and  women  now  living  who, 
twenty-six  years  ago  and  less,  stood  with  their  young  pastor  and  pledged 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  269 

him  their  sympathy.  I  do  not  need  to  speak  of  the  women  of  the  church 
since  they  have  been  referred  to  in  another  paper,  only  to  add  this  testi- 
mony that  this  anniversary  could  never  have  occurred,  or,  if  celebrated, 
would  have  been  lacking  in  enthusiasm  only  for  the  quiet,  patient,  self- 
sacrificing  labors  of  its  women. 

We  speak  of  the  congregations  that  gather  in  this  auditorium  Sun- 
day after  Sunday.  Do  you  know  that  they  do  not  compare  numerically 
with  those  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago?  Let  me  read  a  few  figures  from 
my  record  of  those  days.  I  take  them  from  the  month  of  August,  1870, 
as  they  come,  morning  and  afternoon:  126,  136;  156,  128;  112,  122; 
120,  305;  105,  114;  120,  122;  122,  112;  133,  122;  127,  143;  141,  145; 
149,  148;  and  so  on.  These  give  you  an  idea  of  how  people  came  to  church 
in  those  days.  They  believed  in  church-going.  It  was  not  church  in  the 
morning  and  a  ride  or  visit  in  the  afternoon,  but  a  service  in  the  morning 
at  10.45,  Sunday  school  at  12.00,  preaching  again  at  1.15,  outside  meeting 
in  one  of  the  schoolhouses  at  3.00  or  4.00,  and  a  prayer  meeting  in  the 
evening  at  6.00  or  7.00  o'clock,  according  to  the  season  of  the  year,  and 
these  services  were  largely  attended  by  the  same  class  of  hearers. 

Twenty-six  years  ago  the  church  depended  for  the  support  of  its 
pastor  on  Home  Missionary  aid.  It  did  not  require  very  many  words 
from  me  to  convince  them  that  they  were  too  strong  to  hold  out  the 
hand  like  a  beggar,  and,  when  once  they  became  self-supporting,  not 
even  financial  depression  and  almost  bitter  self-denial  could  tempt  them 
to  apply  for  aid.  I  do  not  know  of  an  ecclesiastical  society  in  this  vicinity 
where  the  church  held  so  large  a  place  in  the  lives  of  its  members  as  it 
did  here  in  Brookline.  Take  the  subscription  list,  and  read  the  pledges 
of  the  few  names  that  made  up  its  roll,  $200,  $100,  $80,  $50,  $30,  $20, 
$15,  $10,  $5,  $1,  and  this,  too,  from  men  who  with  one  or  two  exceptions 
would  be  regarded  as  comparatively  poor.  I  recall  as  though  it  were 
yesterday  the  feeling  of  shame  that  came  over  me  when  I  thought  of 
what  was  being  done,  and  the  feeling  that  prompted  me  to  relinquish 
one  hundred  dollars  of  my  salary  was  not  altogether  to  my  credit,  but 
was  a  response  to  the  greater  sacrifice  that  they  were  making. 

I  wish  that  I  might  be  permitted  to  speak  all  that  is  in  my  heart  in 
recognition  of  what  was  done  by  the  people  who  made  up  this  congrega- 
tion twenty  or  twenty-five  years  ago.  Think  you  that  I  can  recall  the 
past,  and  remember  that  first  evening  after  I  became  their  pastor,  when 
the  people  gathered  in  the  parsonage  and  in  leaving  placed  in  the  young 
minister's  hand  a  note  with  thirty  or  more  names  attached,  and  inside 
the  package  bank  bills  amounting  to  $400?     Think  you  that  I  am  un- 


270  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

mindful  of  the  kindness  of  this  people,  or  hesitate  to  declare  them  large- 
hearted  and  generous,  when  I  look  over  my  personal  record  and  see  items 
that  in  the  aggregate  make  individual  gifts  to  the  amount  of  more  than  a 
thousand  dollars?  Think  you  that  I  can  lightly  regard  the  spirit  of  gen- 
erosity that  influenced  this  church,  when  I  take  up  another  paper  and 
read  the  following : 

Brookline,  N.  H.,  Jan.  13,  1875. 

We,  the  undersigned,  agree  to  pay  the  sums  attached  to  our  names 
for  the  purpose  of  moving  and  remodelling  the  church. 

To  this   are   attached  twenty   names,   aggregating  pledges   to   the 
amount  of  between  $4000  and  $5000. 

Think  you  that  I  altogether  regret  the  little  sacrifice  I  might  have 
made  when,  instead  of  ignoring  the  kindness  and  devotion  of  this  people, 
I  turned  my  back  upon  flattering  calls  from  larger  fields?  All  honor  I 
say  to  this  old  church  whose  centennial  we  celebrate  today.  I  would 
that  I  had  the  ability  to  speak  fittingly  of  the  men  who  have  been  leaders 
in  spiritual  things,  but  who  have  now  entered  into  their  rest!  Much  of 
the  prosperity  of  this  people  is  due  to  Brother  Daniel  Goodwin,  more  if 
possible  to  Brother  Sawin,  while  Brother  Manning,  whose  early  death 
was  a  sad  grief  to  all,  left  his  impress  upon  this  church  which  will  never 
be  effaced.  God  bless  these  memories,  and  help  those  who  remain  to 
continue  the  work,  relying  upon  Him  who  in  every  change  of  time  and 
condition  is  a  helper  and  advocate. 

At  the  close  of  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent's  address,  C.  H.  Russell,  a  former 
member,  came  out  of  the  pastor's  room,  bearing  on  a  large  tray  a  beautiful 
and  costly  silver  communion  service,  the  centennial  gift  of  past  and 
absent  members.  Mr.  Sargent  in  a  few  well-chosen  words,  on  behalf  of 
the  donors,  presented  to  the  church  this  beautiful  gift  and,  turning  to 
the  present  pastor,  said,  "We  commit  this,  my  brother,  to  your  charge." 
Mr.  Belanger  was  taken  by  surprise  and,  with  emotion,  accepted  in  be- 
half of  the  church  the  beautiful  token  of  love  in  a  few  words  to  the  effect 
"that  whenever  the  church  gathered  around  the  Lord's  Table  our  prayers 
would  go  up  for  our  benefactors." 

At  1.30  P.  M.  two  hundred  sat  around  well-laden  tables  in  the  ves- 
tries below.  When  the  appetites  seemed  to  have  been  satisfied,  Rev.  J. 
A.  Belanger  introduced  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent  as  toastnaster  of  the  occa- 
sion. Dr.  A.  Wallace,  of  Nashua,  responded  to  the  toast,  "The  Relation 
of  the  Physician  to  the  Minister."  Mr.  James  Peabody,  of  Harvard 
University,  to  that  of  "The  Young  Men."  Rev.  C.  F.  Crathern  to  that 
of  "Opportunities  of  the  Young."     Rev.  F.  E.  Winn,  "The  Sphere  of  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  271 

Country  Church."     Rev.  J.  A.  Belanger,  "The  Brookline  Ministry  of  the 
Future." 

The   "Old  Meeting-house." 

By   HON.    EDWARD    E.   PARKER 

Upon  the  hill-top's  rounded  crest,  naked,  and  brown,  and  bare, 

Firm  and  securely  founded  on  its  solid  granite  base, 
The  father's  ancient  meeting-house  uplifts,  in  crystal  air, 

Its  crude  and  homely  outline;  void  of  beauty  and  of  grace. 
Yet  there  are  those  who  love  it,  and  the  memories  it  recalls, 

And  traditions  which  surround  it,  from  the  days  of  long  ago ; 
Which,  like  a  flame  of  glory,  deck  its  time-defaced  walls, 

With  a  drapery  of  beauty  human  skill  could  ne'er  bestow. 

To  them  the  rough-hewn  timbers  which  enter  in  its  frame, 

From  the  massive  superstructure  to  the  porches  quaint  and  odd, 
Are  witnesses  forever  of  the  fathers'  zeal  and  fame, 

And  their  fixed  and  firm  reliance  on  the  promises  of  God; 
And  the  croonings  of  the  night  winds,  through  each  crevice  rare  and  slim, 

Are  but  the  ghosts  of  melodies, — the  solemn,  sad  refrains, — 

Of  spirit  choirs  invisible,  who,  in  its  shadows  dim, 

Still  chant  their  adoration  in  the  old-time  minor  strains. 

Around  its  sacred  precincts,  as  a  centre  fixed  and  firm, 

Are  grouped  the  township's  records  through  a  century  of  years; 
All  of  ill  the  fathers  suffered,  all  of  glory  they  could  earn. 

As  Providence  dealt  with  them,  in  its  history  appears. 
There  they  worshipped,  there  they  married,  and  there,  when  time  was  o'er, 

Their  tributes  of  affection  to  departed  friends  were  paid; 
E'er  the  living,  through  its  portals,  in  sad  procession  bore 

Their  dead  to  rest  forever  in  the  churchyard's  quiet  shade. 

And  there  the  sounding  viol,  and  the  cornet's  silver  tones, 

First  broke  the  Sabbath  stillness  with  melodies  profane; 
Which  the  elders  heard  with  horror,  and  trembled,  in  their  bones, 

At  the  sound  of  other  music  than  the  pitch-pipe,  wind  and  rain. 
Alas,  for  its  departed  days!     Deserted  now  and  still, 

The  summer  winds  around  it  whisper  dirges  soft  and  low, 
And  the  demon  winds  of  winter,  sweeping  down  from  Ramond  hill, 

In  scorn  of  its  long  vanished  fame,  their  blatant  trumpets  blow. 

The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  John  Thorpe. 

The  Rev.  John  Thorpe  was  called  to  this  church  May  11,  1899.  He 
accepted  the  call  and  on  the  first  day  of  June  of  the  same  year,  without 
any  formalities,  entered  upon  the  performance  of  his  pastoral  duties. 
His  term  of  service  was  somewhat  brief,  lasting  only  a  few  days  over  two 


272  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

years.  But,  brief  as  it  was,  it  was  sufficiently  long  to  enable  him  to  es- 
tablish the  reputation  of  being  an  able  minister  and  a  faithful  servant  of 
his  Master. 

During  his  pastorate  the  church  and  society  experienced  little  or  no 
change.  He  resigned  his  pastorate  May  5,  1902,  to  take  charge  of  the 
Congregational  Church  in  Centre  Harbor. 

REV.  JOHN  THORPE,  son  of  Joel  and  Sarah  Brown  Thorpe,  was 
born  in  Manchester,  England,  May  4,  1845.  He  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Manchester,  and  studied  theology  with  a  pastor  of  that  city. 
At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  preaching  in  Manchester  as  a  local  Meth- 
odist preacher.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1871,  and  settled  in 
Lawrence,  Mass.,  as  an  employee  in  the  mills.  While  in  Lawrence  he  also 
engaged  in  local  preaching.  June  1,  1885,  he  was  called  to  supply  the 
pulpit  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  South  Weare;  where  he  was  or- 
dained Dec.  20,  1885.  From  June  17,  1888,  to  Sept.  1,  1894,  he  was 
pastor  of  the  church  in  Mount  Vernon.  Sept.  1,  1894,  he  took  charge  as 
pastor  of  the  Congregational  churches  in  Andover  and  East  Andover. 
June  1,  1899,  he  commenced  his  duties  as  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  this  town.  From  June  1,  1902,  to  January,  1908,  he  was  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Centre  Harbor.  From  Centre  Harbor 
he  removed  to  Dolgeville,  Los  Angeles  County,  Cal.,  where,  Jan.  12, 
1908,  he  entered  upon  his  duties  as  pastor  of  the  Bethlehem  Congrega- 
tional Church,  a  position  which  at  this  date  (1908)  he  still  holds.  In 
addition  to  his  abilities  as  a  preacher,  Mr.  Thorpe  is  also  a  poet,  he  having 
been  the  author  of  over  fourteen  hundred  religious  hymns,  many  of  which 
have  been  published. 

Feb.  22,  1870,  Mr.  Thorpe  married  Emily  A.  C.  Bennett,  daughter 
of  Alfred  and  .Sarah  Ann  (Clowes)  Bennett  of  Newton  Heath,  England. 
No  children  were  born  of  the  marriage. 

In  1902,  after  Rev.  Mr.  Thorpe  had  resigned  his  charge,  representa- 
tives of  the  local  Congregational  and  Methodist  Episcopal  churches  joined 
in  an  attempt  to  bring  about  a  union  of  the  two  churches.  After  several 
weeks  of  conference  and  discussion,  however,  the  project  was  found  to 
be  impracticable  and,  for  the  time  being,  at  least,  it  was  abandoned. 

The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  George  A.  Bennett. 

The  Rev.  George  A.  Bennett  was  called  to  the  pastorate  by  the 
church  and  society,  June  5,  1903.  His  salary  was  fixed  at  five  hundred 
dollars  per  annum,  to  be  paid  in  monthly  installments,  and  an  annual 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  273 

vacation  of  two  weeks  in  duration.     He  began  his  duties  as  pastor,  June 
24,  1903.     There  is  no  record  of  any  installation  services. 

Meeting-house  Repaired  and  Rededicated — 1906. 

During  Mr.  Bennett's  pastorate  in  the  months  of  June  and  July, 
1906,  the  meeting-house  was  repaired  and  improved  at  an  expense  of 
nine  hundred  and  forty-five  dollars,  raised  by  subscription,  by  putting  in 
new  ceilings  and  new  coverings  upon  the  walls  of  the  auditorium.  The 
auditorium  was  also  provided  with  a  new  carpet,  and  other  needed  repairs 
and  improvements  made  at  a  total  cost  of  sixteen  hundred  dollars.  Upon 
the  completion  of  the  work,  the  church  was  rededicated  Thursday,  Aug. 
23,  1903.     The  dedicatory  services  were  as  follows: 

Sermon,  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent. 

Dedicatory  Prayer,     Rev.  John  Thorpe. 

Remarks,  Rev.    Mr.    Corson,    Mason;     Rev.    Mr.    Harmon, 

Townsend,  Mass. ;  Rev.  W.  F.  Bennett,  of  the 
local  Methodist  Church,  and  the  Pastor. 

Nov.  4,  1908,  Mr.  Bennett  tendered  his  resignation.  But  the  church 
declined  to  accept  it  and,  upon  the  receipt  of  a  petition  signed  by  seventy- 
five  of  his  parishioners  requesting  him  to  reconsider  it,  he  withdrew  the 
same.  October  1  of  the  same  year  he  again  tendered  his  resignation. 
It  was  accepted,  and  November  1st  he  severed  his  connection  with  the 
church. 

REV.  GEORGE  ALFRED  BENNETT,  son  of  Alfred  Lorenzo  and 
Ann  (Nutting)  Bennett,  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass.,  Oct.  11,  1853.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Groton  and  Pepperell,  Pepperell  and 
Ashby  high  schools,  and  Wesleyan  Academy,  Wilbraham,  Mass.  After 
leaving  school,  although  desirous  of  fitting  himself  for  the  ministry,  Mr. 
Bennett  was  compelled  to  devote  several  years  of  his  young  manhood  to 
mercantile  pursuits.  In  1874  he  commenced  doing  evangelistic  work 
from  which  in  1895  he  was  called  to  the  pastorship  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Ripton,  Vt.  During  his  pastorate  in  Ripton  he  studied  the- 
ology with  Rev.  Robert  J.  Barton,  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church 
at  Salisbury,  Vt.,  and,  in  the  meantime,  received  a  license  to  preach  from 
the  Addison  County  Minister's  Association. 

In  December,  1898,  he  was  called  to  the  Congregational  Church  in 
Acworth,  N.  H.,  where  he  was  ordained  July  3,  1900.    June  3,  1903,  he 


274  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

accepted  a  call  to  the  church  in  Brookline,  a  position  which  he  resigned 
Oct.  1,  1908. 

Mr.  Bennett  has  been  twice  married.  Sept.  25, 1879,  he  married  Ella 
S.  Robbins,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.,  who  died  Oct.  14,  1882.  He  married 
Abbie  V.  Hartford,  of  Brockton,  Mass.,  Sept.  20,  1884.  His  children  are 
— by  his  first  wife— Etta  L.,  born  July  19,  1880.  By  his  second  wife: 
Gladys  Hartford,  born  at  Watertown,  Mass.,  Jan.  17,  1890;  Charles 
Alfred,  born  at  Ripton,  Vt.,  June  1,  1896. 

The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Warren  L.  Noyes. 

From  the  date  of  Rev.  Mr.  Bennett's  severing  his  connection  with 
the  church,  Nov.  1,  1908,  to  April  1,  1909,  the  church  was  without  a 
pastor.  During  this  period  the  pulpit  was  filled  by  stated  supplies.  In 
the  meantime,  however,  the  church  and  society  were  in  communication 
with  various  parties  with  a  view  to  filling  the  vacancy.  Finally,  the 
church  succeeded  in  entering  into  an  agreement  with  Rev.  Warren  L. 
Noyes,  then  pastor  of  the  West  Church  in  Peabody,  Mass.,  whereby  he 
was  engaged  to  fill  its  then  vacant  pulpit.  Rev.  Mr.  Noyes  assumed  his 
pastoral  duties  April  1,  1909.  No  formal  exercises  were  attendant  upon 
the  occasion.  He  continued  to  act  as  pastor  of  the  church  until  Novem- 
ber ,  1913,  at  which  date  he  resigned  his  position  and  removed  to 
Nashua,  where  he  is  residing  at  the  present  time  (1914).  Mr.  Noyes 
proved  himself  to  be  a  faithful  pastor  of  his  flock.  He  was  well  liked  by 
his  people  and  by  the  citizens  generally,  whose  respect  and  esteem  he  ac- 
quired by  his  uniformly  gentlemanly  and  courteous  deportment,  and  by 
whom  he  was  regarded  as  a  power  for  good  in  the  community. 

During  Mr.  Noyes  pastorate,  among  the  events  which  transpired  in 
connection  with  the  church  are  the  following:  The  month  of  January, 
1909,  was  distinguished  by  a  series  of  revival  services.  In  January,  1910, 
a  new  order  for  morning  worship  was  instituted.  In  February,  1910,  a 
new  communion  service  was  purchased.  In  December,  1911,  the  Apostle's 
Creed  was  adopted  as  the  creed  of  the  church. 

In  1909,  under  Mr.-  Noyes  influence  and  governed  by  his  counsels, 
the  church  effected  the  organization  of  an  association  to  be  known  as  the 
Congregational  Brotherhood. 

This  Association  was  constituted  of  members  of  the  church  and 
society  and  of  non-church  members  resident  in  the  town.  It  had  for  its 
object  the  general  uplift  of  the  community  along  the  lines  of  morality 
and  religion.    It  was  organized  Dec.  15,  1909,  with  the  following  board  of 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  275 

officers:  President,  Chester  B.  Valedge;  Vice-President,  Arthur  A.  Goss; 
secretary,  Stephen  T.  Marshall;  treasurer,  Perley  L.  Pierce;  teacher,  the 
Rev.  Warren  L.  Noyes;  membership  and  invitation  committee:  Frank 
E.  Gilman,  chairman;  Henry  S.  Bailey  and  Charles  R.  Hardy;  com- 
mittee on  religious  work,  H.  Arthur  Brown,  chairman,  Carl  Clifford  and 
Luther  J.  Lawrence;  committee  on  public  meetings,  C.  H.  Holcombe, 
chairman,  Stephen  T.  Marshall;  committees  on  benevolence,  and  finance, 
Chester  B.  Valedge,  chairman,  Perley  L.  Pierce  and  the  Rev.  Warren  L. 
Noyes;  citizenship  committee,  A.  A.  Goss,  chairman,  Albert  T.  Pierce. 
The  Brotherhood  met  on  the  first  Friday  evening  of  each  month.  The 
association  is  still  in  existence  at  this  time  (1913). 

During  Mr.  Noyes  pastorship  thirty  new  names  were  added  to  the 
church's  roll  of  membership.  At  the  present  time  it  has  a  membership  of 
eighty  souls,  of  whom  a  considerable  number  are  out  of  town  residents. 
Its  Sunday  school  library  contains  300  volumes. 

REV.  WARREN  L.  NOYES  was  born  in  Chelsea,  Vt.,  Dec.  25,  1841. 
He  is  a  son  of  Abiel  and  Louisa  (Corwin)  Noyes.  His  father  was  a  farmer, 
poor  in  worldly  possessions,  but  rich  in  the  possession  of  a  large  family 
of  children.  Until  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age,  he  remained  at  home, 
working  on  his  father's  farm  and  attending  the  public  schools  of  his  na- 
tive town.  From  his  thirteenth  to  his  twentieth  year,  he  worked  out 
much  of  the  time  for  the  neighboring  farmers,  his  wages  contributing  to 
the  support  of  his  father's  family.  During  this  period  he  attended  the 
public  schools  in  the  winter  terms,  often  working  for  his  board  and  lodg- 
ings. In  his  twentieth  3^ear,  realizing  that  the  time  had  arrived  for  him 
to  begin  the  carrying  out  of  his  long  cherished  plan  of  obtaining  a  liberal 
education,  he  abandoned  farming  forever,  and  entered  his  name  as  a  stu- 
dent in  New  Hampton,  N.  H.,  Academy.  His  capital  at  this  time  amounted 
to  twenty-five  dollars.  With  that  amount  and  such  additional  sums  of 
money  as  he  was  able  to  earn  by  working  as  janitor  of  the  academy, 
teaching  school,  and  working  out  during  vacations,  he  was  able  to  com- 
plete his  academic  course,  graduating  in  severely  broken  health  in  1865. 

Soon  after  his  graduation  from  New  Hampton,  he  entered  Dartmouth 
College,  where,  however,  he  remained  but  a  short  time,  ill  health  and  lack 
of  funds  compelling  him  to  abandon  his  college  course.  After  leaving 
Dartmouth,  he  entered  Bates  Theological  Seminary,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1868.  He  was  ordained  to  the  ministry  as  a  Free  Baptist  at 
Sutton,  Vt.,  in  1868.  Subsequently  he  left  the  Baptist  denomination  and 
united  with  the  Congregationalists.     His  pastorates  under  the  Baptist 


276  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

denomination  were  at  Sutton,  St.  Johnsbury,  and  Lyndon,  Vt. ;  and  he 
supplied  pulpits,  for  one  year  each,  in  Chicago,  111.,  and  Jackson,  Mich. 

After  uniting  with  the  Congregationalists,  he  was  pastor  of  the 
churches  located  at  Chester  and  Castelton,  Vt.,  and  the  West  Church  at 
Peabody,  Mass.  For  a  period  of  nearly  three  years  in  duration,  begin- 
ning in  1901,  he  was  located  at  Harriman,  Ten.,  where  he  was  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  American  Missionary  Association.  In  1898  his  wife  died  at 
Castelton,  Vt.,  and  at  the  same  time  he  had  a  severe  and  protracted 
attack  of  illness.  Soon  after  his  wife's  death,  influenced  thereto  by  a  hope 
of  regaining  his  health,  he  went  to  California,  where  he  remained  for  a 
considerable  time.  For  five  consecutive  years  from  the  time  of  his  going 
to  California,  including  his  stay  in  that  state,  he  was  without  a  settled 
pastorate,  the  condition  of  his  health  being  such  as  to  prevent  his  ac- 
cepting a  permanent  position.  During  the  greater  part  of  that  time  he 
preached  in  response  to  calls  for  stated  supplies.  In  1903,  having  in 
some  measure  recovered  his  health,  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  pastorate  of 
the  Congregational  church  in  Francestown,  a  position  which  he  occupied 
until  1905.  In  the  latter  year  he  severed  his  connections  with  the  church 
at  Francestown,  and  took  charge  as  pastor  of  the  West  Church  in  Peabody, 
Mass.,  where  he  remained  until  1909.  From  Peabody  he  removed  to 
Brookline,  where  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  pulpit  of  the  local  Congrega- 
tional Church,  of  which  he  became  pastor  April  1,  1909,  a  position  which 
he  resigned  in  November,  1913,  when  he  removed  to  Nashua,  where,  at 
the  present  time  (1914),  he  is  residing. 

Mr.  Noyes  has  been  twice  married.  He  married  first,  July  15,  1868, 
Miss  Susan  S.  Johnson,  of  Springfield,  N.  H.  She  died  in  1898.  One 
child,  Clarence  E.,  was  born  Sept.  2,  1874,  the  result  of  this  marriage. 
Married,  second,  in  May,  1902,  Miss  Mary  Olivia  Northrop  of  Castelton, 
Vt. 

Deacons  of  the  Brookline  Congregational  Church. 

Joseph  Emerson,  1795-1812.  Removed  to  Wendell,  Mass.,  1812 

Eleazer  Gilson,  1795  Died,  Dec.  21,  1851,  aged,  95. 

Thomas  Bennett,  1812-1855.  Dismissed  June  12,  1855. 

Christopher  Farley,  1833-1839.  Died  March  21,  1859,  aged  48. 

Timothy  Wright,  1833-1849.  Died  Nov.  10,  1871,  aged  80. 

Eldad  Sawtelle,  1855-1857.  Died  Sept.  12,  1857,  aged  51. 

J.  Henry  Hall,  1859-1870.  Dis.  to  Cong.  Ch.,  Pepperell  Mass 

John  Peabody,  1859-1876.  Died  Jan.  13,  1878,  aged  48. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  277 

George  W.  Peabody,  1871-1873.      Died  Dec.  18,  1873,  aged  35. 

Charles  H.  Russell,  1876-1882. 

Jefferson  Whitcomb,  1876-1882.      Died  March  16,  1882,  aged  53. 

Perley  L.  Pierce,  1882- 

Edward  T.  Hall,  1886-1888. 

Charles  H.  Holcombe,  1888- 

Charles  H.  Russell,  elected  honorary  deacon,  Jan.  1,  1908. 

Clerks  of  the  Church. 

Joseph  Emerson,  1797-1812.  Dismissed  to  Wendell,  Mass.  1812 

Thomas  Bennett,  1812-1855.  Dismissed  June  12,  1812. 

James  H.  Hall,  1855-1859.  Died  Aug.  15,  1874,  aged  64. 

Rev.  Theophilus  P.  Sawin,  1859-1866.  Died  at  Medford,  Mass.,  Jan.  19, 

1886,  aged  68. 

Francis  A.  Peterson,  1866-1884.  Died  Jan.  14,  1884,  aged  70. 

Henry  C.  Hall,  1884-1886. 

Emily  C.  Peterson,  1886-1907.  Died  Nov.  6,  1907,  aged  68. 

Marion  Stiles,  1907- 


278  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER   XV. 

Ecclesiastical  History,  Continued. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  Society. 

Organization  of  the  Church  and  Society — Pastorship  of  Rev.  Amos  Mer- 
rill— Sketch  of  Rev.  Mr.  Merrill's  Life — Pastorate  of  Rev.  Gusta- 
vus  Silverstein — Pastorate  of  Rev.  Henry  B.  Copp — Sketch  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Copp's  Life — Names  in  the  Order  of  Their  Succession  of 
the  Ministers  Succeeding  Rev.  Henry  B.  Copp — Building  of  the 
Methodist  Meeting-house — The  First  Organ  Installed  in  the 
Church— The  Second  Organ— The  Church  Bell— The  Gift  of  the 
Pulpit,  1907— The  Gift  of  the  Communion  Service,  1908— Cele- 
bration of  the  Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  the  Building  of  the  Meeting- 
house— Boards  of  Trustees — The  Joseph  Tucker  Gift  to  the  Church 
and  Society — The  Calvin  R.  Shedd  Devise — The  James  N.  Tucker 
Bequest— The  Wilkes  W.  Corey  Bequest— The  Albert  W.  Corey 
Memorial  Fund — The  Mary  Corey  Legacy. 

The  Methodists  commenced  holding  services  here  as  early  as  1848. 
Tradition  says  that  the  first  clergyman  of  that  denomination  to  preach  in 
town  was  Rev.  Horace  Moulton'of  Townsend,  Mass.,  who  conducted  a 
series  of  meetings  in  the  old  meeting-house  in  the  fall  of  1850.  Mr.  Moul- 
ton  was  followed  by  Rev.  Samuel  Tupper  of  Townsend,  and  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Parmenter  of  Lunenburg,  Mass. 

Organization  of  the  Church  and  Society. 

On  the  12th  day  of  March,  1852,  the  present  local  Methodist  Church 
and  society  were  formally  established  by  the  organization  of  an  official 
board,   or  quarterly  conference.     The  record  of  its  organization  is  as 
follows : 

"The  male  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  of  Brookline, 
N.  H.,  met  in  the  old  meeting-house  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  an  Offi- 
cial Board  or  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  M.  E.  Church  of  this  place. 


METHODIST   MEETING-HOUSE— 1859 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  279 

"The  meeting  was  opened  by  prayer  by  Rev.  C.  N.  Smith,  the  pre- 
siding elder  for  this  district. 

The  following  named  members  of  the  society  were  elected  as  officers 
of  the  Board : 

Secretary,  pro  tern,  O.  P.  Pitcher. 
Stewards,  Gardner  Shattuck,  Randal  Daniels,  Samuel  Gilson  and  Henry 

Spaulding, 
Recording  Steward,  Ralph  Burns., 
Estimating  Committee,  Ehab  B.  Shattuck,  Henry  Spaulding." 

For  the  first  few  years  of  its  existence  the  society  worshipped  in  the 
old  meeting-house.  But  about  1858  it  began  to  hold  its  meetings  in 
Tucker  and  Stiles'  hall,  where  it  continued  to  worship  until  the  comple- 
tion of  its  new  meeting-house  in  1859. 

The  first  settled  pastor  of  the  church  was  the  Rev.  Amos  Merrill, 
who  commenced  his  pastoral  duties  a  short  time  prior  to  its  organization, 
coming  here  from  New  Ipswich,  where  up  to  the  date  of  his  advent 
in  Brookline  he  had  been  pastor  of  the  local  Methodist  church. 

As  it  was  organized  at  first,  the  society  was,  of  course,  small  in  num- 
bers. But  what  it  lacked  in  that  respect  was  amply  compensated  for  by 
the  zeal  and  enthusiasm  of  its  members,  who  were  instant  in  season  and 
out  of  season  in  rendering  service  to  the  Master;  doing  in  His  name  what- 
ever their  hands  found  to  do,  and  with  an  eye  single  to  His  glory.  As  a 
result  of  their  devotedness,  in  a  very  few  years  after  its  organization,  the 
society  was  firmly  and  securely  established  in  the  community. 

Mr.  Merrill's  pastorate  ended  in  1855.  He  went  from  Brookline  to 
the  state  of  Vermont,  leaving  behind  him  the  reputation  of  being  an  able, 
earnest  and  sincere  preacher  of  the  Word.  As  a  pastor  he  was  courteous 
and  gentlemanly  in  his  intercourse  with  his  fellow-citizens 'and,  at  the  same 
time,  fearless  in  the  expression  of  his  religious  views.  Although  not  a  man 
of  liberal  education,  he  was  endowed  with  a  natural  eloquence  which  ena- 
bled him  to  present  the  truths  of  Christianity  in  a  way  and  manner  which 
carried  conviction  to  the  souls  of  his  hearers. 

The  local  church  was  most  fortunate  in  having  secured  his  services 
as  its  pastor  in  the  days  of  its  infancy.  He  found  it  weak  in  numbers, 
poor  in  wealth,  and  with  but  a  dubious  outlook  for  the  future.  He  left 
it,  still  weak  in  numbers,  to  be  sure,  and  poor  in  worldly  possessions, 
but  strong  in  a  spirit  of  self  reliance,  and  rich  in  the  possession  of  an 
abundant  faith  in  the  promises  of  God,  which  eventually  established  it 
upon  a  sure  and  firm  foundation. 


280  HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Biographical  Sketch  of  Rev.  Amos  Merrill. 

REV.  AMOS.  MERRILL,  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Polly  (Kyle)  Merrill, 
was  born  at  Corinth,  Vt.,  Oct.  26,  1809.  He  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  native  town.  In  his  early  manhood  he  was  employed  as  a 
local  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  officiating  in  Vermont 
and  New  Hampshire.  About  1842-43,  he  removed  from  Corinth  to  New 
Ipswich,  N.  H.  In  1852  he  was  called  to  the  ministry  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  Brookline,  he  being  its  first  pastor.  In  1855  Mr. 
Merrill  resigned  his  pastorship  in  Brookline  and,  after  preaching  for 
several  years  in  different  towns  in  Vermont  and  New  Hampshire,  finally 
took  charge  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  East  Haverhill,  N.  H.,  where 
he  died  June  29,  1865. 

Mr.  Merrill  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Phoebe  Reynolds, 
of  Wilton,  Canada.  She  died  at  Corinth,  Vt.,  June  31,  1871.  His  second 
wife  was  Amelia  C.  Martin,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  of  Wilton,  Canada. 
She  died  at  Somerville,  Mass.,  June  18,  1893. 

Mr.  Merrill  was  the  father  of  three  children,  all  by  his  first  wife, 
viz:  Charles  N.  Merrill,  born  at  Corinth,  Vt.,  Oct.  22,  1831;  died  at 
Nashua,  Dec.  25,  1874.  Melvina,  born  at  Corinth,  Aug.  13,  1833;  died 
at  West  Corinth,  Aug.  30,  1858.  James  A.,  born  at  Corinth,  Vt.,  Sept. 
12,  1835;  died  at  Nashua  in  1913. 

Charles  N.  for  several  years  prior  to  and  at  the  time  of  his  decease 
was  instructor  in  music  in  the  public  schools  of  Nashua.  James  A.  was 
secretary  of  the  New  Hampshire  State  Temperance  Union  from  1882  to 
1894. 

For  the  three  years  immediately  following  Mr.  Merrill's  pastorate, 
the  pulpit  was  filled  by  the  following  named  clergymen :  1854,  Rev.  Henry 
Chandler;  1855,  Rev.  Joseph  C.  Emerson  and  Rev.  A.  McLean;  1856, 
Rev.  Linvill  J.  Hall. 

The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Gustavus  Silverstein. 

REV.  GUSTAVUS  SILVERSTEIN  was  installed  as  pastor  in  1857. 
Mr.  Silverstein  was  a  foreigner,  a  Swede,  and,  when  he  came  here,  but  a 
short  time  in  this  country.  He  was  possessed  of  a  considerable  natural 
ability,  educated,  and  devoted  to  his  work  and,  notwithstanding  his  im- 
perfect knowledge  of  English,  an  eloquent  and  effective  pulpit  orator  and 
exhorter. 

During  his  ministry  here  the  country  was  swept  by  the  great  relig- 
ious revival  of  1857,  the  effects  of  which  were  largely  felt  in  this  town. 
In  the  revival  Mr.  Silverstein  labored  earnestly  and  zealously  and,  through 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  281 

his  untiring  efforts,  was  instrumental  in  bringing  many  souls  to  repent- 
ance and,  by  newly  acquired  membership,  strengthening  his  charge  in 
numbers  and  spirituality. 

Mr.  Silverstein's  broken  speech  and  lack  of  command  of  language  in 
which  to  express  his  ideas  were  oftentimes  productive  of  ludicrous  results 
and,  not  infrequently,  the  cause  of  his  hearers,  even  in  their  soberest 
moments,  being  convulsed  with  merriment.  Such  was  the  case  when  on 
one  occasion  at  the  close  of  an  evening  service  he  made  the  following 
announcement:  "Brederen  and  sisters,  dere  vill  be  a  evenin'  meetin'  here 
nex  Vendnesday  night  if  it  don't  rain;  und  dere  vill  be  a  meetin'  here  if 
it  does  rain;  und  if  you  can't  come  yourselves,  blease  bring  your  lankerns." 
At  that  time  whale  oil  lanthorns  and  lamps  were  in  ordinary  use  for 
illuminating  purposes;  and  in  such  an  interior  as  that  comprised  in  the 
old  meeting-house,  where  the  feeble  glimmer  of  a  few  such  lights  only 
served  to  make  the  darkness  more  apparent,  the  more  of  them  displayed 
the  better. 

Mr.  Silverstein's  term  of  service  expired  in  1858.  He  was  succeeded 
as  pastor  by  Rev.  Levi  Smith.  Mr.  Smith  occupied  the  pulpit  from  April, 
1858,  to  April,  1859;  when  he  was  succeeded  as  pastor  by  Rev.  Henry 
B.  Copp. 

The  Pastorate  of  Rev.  Henry  B.  Copp. 
Rev.  Henry  B.  Copp  officiated  as  pastor  of  the  church  from  the  18th 
day  of  April,  1859,  to  April,  1862.  Mr.  Copp  came  into  his  pastorate  here 
at  an  interesting  period  in  the  history  of  his  church.  As  the  result  of  the 
revival  of  1857,  its  membership  at  that  time  was  largely  increased  in 
numbers.  This  increase  had  also  been  augmented  by  the  addition  to  its 
membership  in  1858  of  twelve  citizens  who,  having  formerly  been  members 
of  the  local  Congregational  Church,  had  withdrawn  from  its  communion 
at  the  time  of  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin's  resignation  as  its  pastor  in  1855. 
As  one  of  the  results  of  the  withdrawal  of  the  twelve  from  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  and  their  subsequent  uniting  with  the  Methodist  Church, 
the  relations  existing  between  the  two  churches  were  not,  to  say  the  least, 
of  the  most  cordial  nature. 

It  was  the  period,  also,  in  which  were  transpiring  the  momentous 
events  which  subsequently  culminated  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion;  and 
which,  because  of  their  importance  as  bearing  upon  the  future  of  the 
Republic,  engrossed  the  attention  of  the  public  to  the  extent  that  all 
other  matters  of  general  interest,  even  those  of  a  religious  nature,  were, 
for  the  time  being,  in  danger  of  being  relegated  to  a  secondary  position  as 
subjects  for  its  consideration. 


282  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

In  Brookline,  as  everywhere  else  in  New  England,  the  people  were 
divided  in  their  opinions  as  to  the  righteousness  of  the  impending  conflict. 
This  division  of  sentiment  was  shared  in  by  the  members  of  the  local 
churches,  whose  members  naturally  shared  in  the  views  of  the  political 
party  to  which  each  happened  to  belong. 

To  this  division  in  political  sentiments  was  owing  the  existence  of  a 
strong  faction  of  citizens  who  were  opposed  to  the  preaching  in  the  pulpit 
of  what  they  termed  political  sermons.  That  is  to  say,  sermons  which  ad- 
vocated the  crushing  out  of  the  Rebellion  as  a  matter  of  patriotism.  Such 
a  state  of  affairs  made  it  unpleasant  for  clergymen  whose  sense  of  duty 
prompted  them  to  speak  openly  and  frankly  against  what  they  conceived 
to  be  evil,  under  whatever  guise  it  existed, 

But  Mr.  Copp  proved  himself  to  be  a  Christian  and  a  patriot  with 
the  courage  of  his  convictions.  As  a  pastor  he  was  a  faithful  and  fearless 
preacher  of  the  truths  of  Christianity,  as  he  understood  them.  As  a 
shepherd,  he  admonished,  encouraged  and  guided  his  little  flock  in  their 
intercourse  with  their  fellow  Christians  so  that  during  his  pastorate  the 
relations  existing  between  the  two  churches  were  peaceful  and,  on  the 
whole,  harmonious;  and  as  a  patriot,  he  was  equally  frank  and  fearless 
in  his  advocacy  not  only  of  the  right  but  also  of  the  duty  on  the  part  of 
the  Government  to  punish  traitors  to  its  laws. 

During  his  pastorate,  the  church  erected  its  present  house  of  worship 
on  the  east  side  of  Main  street  in  the  village. 

Biographical  Sketch  of  Rev.  Henry  B.  Copp. 

REV.    HENRY    B.   COPP  was   born   in 
Piermont,    Dec.   25,     1833.      He    is  a  son  of 
Joseph  M.  Copp,  born  in  Warren  in  1801,  and 
Harriet   H.   Brown,   born   in  Cavendish,    Vt., 
in  1810.    His  parents  were  farmers  and  excellent 
Christian  people.     When  he  was  about  twelve 
years  of  age,  his  father  moved  from  Piermont 
to  Warren,  where,  for  a  short  time,  he  resid- 
ed in  a  log  cabin.     In  1846,  his  father,  tired  of 
trying  to  support  his  family  on  the  precarious 
income    derived    from  a    farm    in    the   back- 
woods,    removed    from   Warren    to    Nashua, 
then  a  place  of  some  six  thousand  inhabitants.    In  Nashua  he  worked  to 
help  support  the  family,  selling  newspapers  and  doing  such  other  work 
as  came  to  hand.     During  this  period  his  labors  occupied  his  time  to  the 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  283 

extent  that  he  found  but  little  opportunity  to  attend  the  public  schools. 
Nevertheless,  being  of  a  studious  disposition,  he  devoted  his  leisure  hours 
to  study  at  home ;  and  so  diligently  did  he  apply  himself  that  when  the 
Nashua  High  School  was  opened  to  the  public  he  was  able  to  enter  it  as 
a  student  most  excellently  well  prepared  for  his  work.  After  leaving  the 
high  school,  he  attended  for  a  short  time  Crosby's  Academy  in  Nashua. 
From  his  boyhood  days  Mr.  Copp  had  been  actuated  by  a  desire  of  some 
day  becoming  a  minister  of  the  gospel ;  and  it  was  with  that  end  in  view 
that  he  had  attended  both  the  high  school  and  the  academy,  hoping  that 
eventually  he  might  be  able  to  complete  his  education  by  a  college  course 
and  thus  fit  himself  for  the  responsible  position  to  which  he  aspired. 
But  like  many  another  aspiring  lad,  his  dreams  of  a  college  education 
were  destined  never  to  be  realized.  While  he  was  yet  a  student  in  the 
high  schools,  circumstances  were  such  that  he  was  compelled  to  engage 
in  teaching,  not  only  between  terms,  but  also  during  some  terms,  in  order 
to  procure  pecuniary  means  to  support  himself.  One  winter  while  teaching 
in  Hudson  he  was  stricken  with  a  severe  attack  of  bleeding  from  the  throat 
and  lungs,  which  gave  symptoms  of  being  permanent  in  its  nature.  This 
incident  caused  him  to  give  up  his  idea  of  entering  college;  and  eventu- 
ally he  entered  as  a  student  the  Methodist  Theological  School  which  was 
then  located  in  Concord,  but  which  at  the  present  time  constitutes  a  part 
of  Boston  University.  He  had  been  a  member  of  the  school  but  a  short 
time  when  a  return  of  his  old  complaint  compelled  him  to  leave  the  insti- 
tution and  to  abandon,  temporarily  at  least,  his  studies.  He  returned  to 
his  home  in  Nashua.  This  was  in  the  fall  of  1858.  In  the  early  winter  of 
that  year  he  received  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Brookline 
an  invitation  to  occupy  for  a  few  Sundays  its  pulpit  which  was  then  vacant. 
He  accepted  the  invitation  and  filled  the  position  to  the  entire  satisfaction 
of  the  people  until  the  following  spring;  when  he  was  engaged  by  the 
church  as  its  regular  pastor ;  a  position  which  he  held  until  the  expiration 
of  his  term  of  sendee,  under  the  rules  then  governing  the  Methodist 
Church. 

Mr.  Copp  went  from  Brookline  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
in  Rindge.  During  the  last  half  century,  in  addition  to  Brookline  and 
Rindge,  he  has  been  a  pastor  in  the  following  places:  Auburn,  Chester, 
Seabrook,  Newmarket,  Exeter,  Amesbury,  Salisbury,  and  Merrimackport 
in  Massachusetts;  also  Laconia,  Lisbon,  Londonderry,  Milford,  Kingston, 
Hampton,  Epping,  West  Rindge,  Peterborough  and  Deny  Village. 

Mr.  Copp  is  well  known  in  many  parts  of  the  state,  where  his  reputa- 
tion as  an  able,  faithful  and  eloquent  preacher  of  the  gospel  and  a  patriotic 


284  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

and  conscientious  citizen  is  firmly  and  securely  established.  He  is  a 
brother  of  Col.  E-  J.  Copp  of  Nashua,  now,  and  for  many  years  past,  reg- 
ister of  probate  for  Hillsborough  County,  and  author  of  "The  History  of 
The  Third  New  Hampshire  Volunteer  Regiment"  in  the  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion, and  Capt.  C.  D.  Copp,  late  of  Clinton,  Mass.,  deceased;  both  war 
veterans.  At  the  present  time  (1913)  Mr.  Copp  is  residing  in  Derry 
where,  although  he  is  in  his  eighty-first  year,  he  is  still  engaged  in  his 
regular  work  of  the  ministry,  preaching  regularly  in  Derry  Village. 

Mr.  Copp  married  for  his  first  wife  Miss  Almira  E.  Plumer  of  Lon- 
donderry. She  died  in  1896.  In  1901  he  married  for  his  second  wife  Mrs. 
Laura  Luella  Pond  of  Manchester,  who  is  still  living.  No  children  by 
either  marriage. 

Names,  Order  of  Succession  of  Instalment,  and  Duration  of  Term 
of  Service  of  the  Clergymen  Succeeding  Rev.  Henry 
B.  Copp  as  Pastors  of  the  Church. 

Rev.  George  C.  Thomas,  April,       1862,  to  April,      1863. 

Rev.  George  F.  Eaton,  April,       1863,  to  April,      1866. 

Rev.  Charles  H.  Chase,  April,       1866,  to   April,      1869. 

Rev.  Lorenzo  Draper,  April,       1869,  to  April,      1871. 

Rev.  Albert  F.  Baxter,  April,       1871,  to  April,      1873. 

Rev.  William  E.  Bennett,  April,       1873,  to  April,      1876. 

Rev.  William  H.  Stuart,  April,       1876,  to  April,      1878. 

Rev.  Irad  Taggart,  April,       1878,  to  April  25, 1881. 

Rev.  Joseph  W.  Presby,  April  25, 1881,  to  April  23, 1883. 

Rev.  John  H.  Hillman,  April  23, 1883,  to  April  26,  1886. 

Rev.  Amos  B.  Russell,  April    2, 1886,  to  May     5,  1887. 
Rev.  Eugene  N.  Thrasher  and  Rev.  F. 

A.  Zimmerman,  May    5, 1887,  to                   1888. 

Rev.  George  N.  Bryant,  May    5,  1888,  to  April  13, 1891. 

Rev.  Herbert  F.  Quimby,  May    3, 1891,  to                   1892. 

Rev.  J.  C.  C.  Evans  and  A.  B.  Russell,  1892,  to                   1893. 

Rev.  William  T.  Boultonhouse,  April  20, 1893,  to                  1895. 

Rev.  Irad  Taggart,  April,       1895,  to                  1896. 

Rev.  Arthur  M.  Shattuck,  April  12, 1896,  to  April  10, 1898. 

Rev.  Walter  Woodyard,  April  24, 1898,  to                  1899. 

Rev.  Herbert  J.  Foote,  April        1899,  to  April,       1902. 

Rev.  W.  E.  Covell,  April,       1902,  to  April  19,  1903. 

Rev.  William  G.  Babcock,  April  26, 1903,  to  April    4, 1904. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


285 


Rev.  Charles  W.  Dockrill, 
John  Bard,  student, 
Henry  B.  Mansell,  student, 
Walter  F.  Whitney,  student, 
T.  Ross  Hieks,  student, 
D.  Howard  Hickey,  student, 
James  N.  Seaver,  student, 
John  Beard,  student, 
Rev.  Charles  W.  Dockrill, 


April  17,  1904,  to  April    4,  1905. 

1905,  to  Sept.,       1905. 

1905,  to  Sept.  8,  1906. 
April  22,  1906,  to  April  10,  1907. 
April  28,  1907,  to  April,  1908. 
April  10,  1908,  to  April,   1909. 

1910,  to  April,  1912. 
April,   1912,  to        1913. 

1914, 


The  Building  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Meeting-house. 

Almost  from  the  date  of  its  organization  in  1852,  the  members  of  the 
church  began  to  lay  plans  for  building  a  new  meeting-house.  The  first 
five  years,  however,  passed  away  with  little  or  no  encouragement  for  the 
immediate  realization  of  their  plans,  and  the  prospect  of  their  fulfillment 
appeared  to  be  as  far  off  as  in  the  beginning. 

But  in  1858,  during  the  pastorship  of  Rev.  Henry  B.  Copp,  the  church 
was  materially  strengthened  in  numbers  and  in  wealth  by  the  addition 
to  its  membership  of  twelve  of  the  number  of  those  who  had  withdrawn 
from  their  connection  with  the  local  Congregational  Church  in  1855,  at 
the  time,  or  soon  after,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin  severed  his  connection 
with  the  same.  Under  the  stimulus  of  this  addition  to  its  strength,  the 
plans  of  the  church  for  building  a  new  meeting-house  received  a  fresh 
Impetus.  Preparations  for  building  the  house  were  immediately  begun 
and,  as  rapidly  as  possible,  carried  forward  towards  completion.  In  this 
preliminary  work  Rev.  Mr.  Copp,  the  pastor,  labored  tirelessly  and 
zealously. 

The  money  necessary  for  building  the  house  was  raised  by  subscrip- 
tions from  the  members  of  the  church  and  the  citizens  generally.  The 
land  upon  which  the  house  stands  was  conveyed  to  the  society  and  church 
by  Joseph  C.  Tucker  by  his  deed  dated  April  27,  1859.  The  considera- 
tion for  the  deed  was  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  ($250).  By  the 
terms  of  the  deed  the  land  conveyed  was  to  be  used — "To  build  thereon 
a  house  of  worship"  *  *  *  "to  be  used  for  that  purpose  and  no  other." 
And  it  was  conditioned  further: 

"That  whenever  said  premises  ceases  to  be  used  and  occupied  for  the 
above  specified  purpose  for  the  term  of  three  years  said  land  shall  revert 
back  to  said  Tucker  or  his  heirs  free  and  clear  of  all  encumbrances." 


286  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

The  house  was  completed  and  occupied  for  the  first  time  in  the 
summer  of  1859.  The  dedicatory  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Sulli- 
van Holman,  of  Nashua.  Rev.  A.  F.  Bailey,  of  Townsend,  offered  the 
dedicatory  prayer. 

Its  interior  arrangements,  which  were  modeled  after  those  of  the 
Congregational  meeting-house,  have  remained  practically  unchanged  up 
to  the  present  time  (1914). 

Soon  after  the  house  was  completed,  Asa  Seaver,  Mrs.  Louisa  Spauld- 
ing,  Orman  F.  Shattuck,  Asher  Shattuck,  John  S.  Daniels,  Henry  B. 
Stiles  and  Jonas  Kendall  presented  the  church  and  society  with  a  reed 
organ,  which  was  installed  in  the  choir  loft.  This  organ  remained  in  use 
until  1869,  when  it  was  superseded  by  a  five  octave  double  reed  Esty  in- 
strument, the  cost  of  which  was  paid  by  popular  subscription.  The  pipe 
organ  which  is  in  use  at  the  present  time  was  installed  in  position  Sept. 
21,  1886.  It  was  purchased  of  Isaac  W.  Butler,  by  whom  it  was  made. 
Its  cost  was  four  hundred  and  forty-five  dollars,  which  was  met  by  money 
raised  for  the  purpose  by  popular  subscription. 

The  bell  which  hangs  in  the  tower  of  the  house  was  installed  in  its 
position  in  1873.  Its  weight  is  1260  pounds.  Its  original  cost  was  six 
hundred  and  twenty-eight  dollars.  It  was  paid  for  with  money  raised  by 
popular  subscription.     It  was  rung  for  the  first  time,  July  4,  1873. 

For  the  first  five  years  from  the  date  of  its  organization  in  1852,  the 
growth  of  the  church  in  membership  and  in  material  prosperity  was  slow 
but  steady. 

In  1858,  six  years  after  its  organization,  its  membership  had  in- 
creased to  thirty-four  in  number,  and  it  had  accumulated  a  Sunday-school 
library  of  two  hundred  and  forty-two  volumes.  At  the  quarterly  confer- 
ence of  that  year  Levi  Smith  received  a  license  as  a  local  preacher. 

For  the  twenty  years  immediately  following  the  completion  of  its 
meeting-house,  in  1859,  the  church  continued  to  increase  in  numbers  and 
in  strength.  During  this  period,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Charles  H. 
Chase,  in  1866-68,  it  became  entirely  free  from  the  burden  of  indebted- 
ness to  which  it  had  been  subjected,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  since  its 
organization. 

In  1872,  under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  William  Bennett,  the  church 
reached  the  height  of  its  prosperity.  It  had  a  membership  of  fifty-two  in 
number,  and  fifteen  probationists.  Its  Sunday-school  contained  ninety 
scholars.  Its  library  consisted  of  500  volumes,  and  its  real  estate  was 
valued  at  four  thousand  dollars.  From  1876  to  the  latter  part  of  the 
eighties,   the  church  and  society  continued  to  remain  in  a  prosperous 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  287 

condition.  Although  during  that  entire  period  the  membership  of  both 
was,  on  the  whole,  gradually  decreasing ;  the  decrease  being  caused  by  the 
deaths  of  some  of  the  oldest  and  most  influential  members,  and  by  the 
removal  from  town  of  others,  the  vacancies  caused  by  the  deaths  and 
removals  of  whom  failed  to  be  filled  as  rapidly  as  they  were  made. 

Another  cause  for  this  decrease  in  membership  is,  also,  undoubtedly, 
to  be  found  in  the  fact  that  during  that  period  the  population  of  the  town 
was  slowly  decreasing,  and  by  this  decrease  in  population  the  opportuni- 
ties for  an  increase  in  church  membership  were  correspondingly  diminished. 

In  1907,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Walter  F.  Whitney,  the  exte- 
rior and  interior  of  the  church  underwent  extensive  repairs;  and  in  the 
same  year  Orville  D.  Fessenden  presented  the  church  and  society  with 
the  beautiful  pulpit  which  at  the  present  time  adorns  the  interior  of  its 
house  of  worship. 

In  1908,  the  church  was  the  recipient  of  a  handsome  silver  com- 
munion service;  the  gift  of  George  Haven  Abbott,  who  presented  the  same 
in  memory  of  his  mother,  Theresa  Seaver  Abbott. 

Fiftieth  Anniversary  of  the  Church. 

On  the  11th  day  of  November,  1909,  this  church  observed  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  the  building  of  its  house  of  worship.  The  following  account 
of  the  exercises  attendant  upon  the  celebration  is  taken  from  a  news- 
paper in  which  it  was  printed  at  the  time. 

"The  church  was  beautifully  decorated  with  laurel  wreaths.  An  arch 
of  evergreen  and  laurel  was  suspended  above  the  platform,  upon  which  in 
figures  and  letters  of  gold  was  inscribed  '1859 — Welcome — 1909'. 

"The  platform  and  pulpit  were  adorned  with  laurel,  ferns  and  large 
yellow  chrysanthemums.  The  afternoon  exercises  consisted  of  an  organ 
voluntary,  Mrs.  Emma  Valedge;  hymn,  'Our  Lord,  Our  Faith,  Our  Bap- 
tism,' choir;  Apostle's  Creed,  congregation;  reading,  ninety-fifth  Psalm, 
the  Rev.  T.  Rose  Hicks,  of  Nashua;  prayer,  the  Rev.  Herbert  J.  Foote,  of 
Sunapee;  solo,  'The  Celestial  City,'  Mrs.  Jennie  Boutelle;  welcome,  the 
Rev.  D.  H.  Hickey;  anthem,  'How  Excellent  is  Thy  Name,'  Mrs.  Phoebe 
Jenness  Randall  and  choir ;  reminiscences  of  the  church,  the  Rev.  Henry 
B.  Copp,  of  West  Derry;  church  history,  the  Rev.  George  H.  Hardy,  of 
Ashburnham. 

"Communion  was  administered  very  impressively  by  the  district 
superintendent,  the  Rev.  R.  T.  Wolcott;  hymn,  'The  Solid  Rock';  bene- 
diction. 


288  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

"At  5.30  o'clock  a  banquet  was  served  at  the  Congregational  vestry, 
under  the  supervision  of  Mrs.  Ellen  S,  Swett,  assisted  by  Mrs.  Clinton  D. 
Gilson  and  Mrs.  Stanley,  nearly  one  hundred  partaking. 

The  evening  serivce  which  began  at  7.30  o'clock  was  as  follows: 
Organ  voluntary,  Mrs.  Emma  Valedge;  hymn,  'How  Firm  a  Foundation'; 
Scripture  reading,  the  Rev.  Warren  L.  Noyes;  prayer,  the  Rev.  Walter 
F.  Whitney  of  Hillsborough;  anthem,  'How  Lovely  is  Zion,'  choir;  ad- 
dress, 'Mission  and  Evangelism,'  by  the  Rev.  R.  T.  Wolcott,  which  was 
strong,  thoughtful  and  inspiring,  the  speaker  earnestly  advocating  personal 
evangelism,  urging  the  preachers  of  the  gospel  to  be  men  among  men,  to 
come  in  personal  contact  with  them;  solo,  'The  Holy  City,'  Delbert  Porter. 

"Remarks  replete  with  happiness  and  good  cheer  were  given  by  the 
Revs.  H.  J.  Foote,  Walter  F.  Whitney,  T.  Ross  Hicks  and  Albert  F. 
Baxter  and  James  A.  Merrill  of  Nashua.  The  benediction  was  pronounced 
by  Rev.  R.  T.  Wolcott. 

"The  entire  services  were  of  unusual  interest  and  enjoyed  by  all  in 
attendance. 

"Among  those  from  out  of  town  were  the  Rev.  and  Mrs.  R.  T.  Wolcott, 
the  Rev.  Henry  B.  Copp,  West  Deny;  the  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Herbert  J. 
Foote,  the  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Walter  F.  Whitney,  Hillsborough;  the  Rev. 
George  H.  Hardy,  Ashburnham;  the  Rev.  Albert  Baxter,  the  Rev.  and  Mrs. 
T.  Ross  Hicks,  Nashua;  Rev.  and  Mrs.  D.  H.  Hickey,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Augustus  Lovejoy,  Ayer,  Mass.;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  P.  Hall,  Nashua; 
Mr.  and  Airs.  Charles  Dunbar,  Sandown;  Mrs.  May  Kline  Pingree,  John 
Kline,  Fitchburg,  Mass.;  James  A.  Merrill,  Nashua." 

At  the  present  time,  1914,  the  church  has  a  membership  of  about 
twenty  souls.  It  is  free  from  debt  and  has  a  fund,  derived  from  gifts  and 
legacies,  of  twenty -five  hundred  dollars.  Its  members  are  zealous,  earnest 
and  hopeful;  and  are  looking  forward  to  a  future  of  usefulness  resulting 
from  the  upbuilding  of  God's  work  in  their  midst. 

Boards   of  Trustees   of   the   Church  and  Society,    1859-1912. 

April  4,  1859,  the  church  appointed  its  first  board  of  trustees,  as  follows: 
Calvin  R.  Shedd,  Jonas  Kendall,  Asher  Shattuck,  Dr.  Jonathan  C.  Shat- 
tuck,  Samuel  Gilson,  Sr.,  Asa  Betterly,  and  Benjamin  Kendall. 

This  board  remained  practically  unchanged  until  1864-65,  when 
several  of  its  members  dropped  out  and  Luther  McDonald,  John  Shedd, 
Nathaniel  B.  Hutchingson  and  Nathaniel  Vickery  were  appointed  in 
their  places. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  289 

From  1865  to  1877  new  members  were  appointed  and,  at  various  times, 
installed  in  the  board  as  follows:  1871,  Ichabod  F.  Lund;  1872,  Orman  F. 
Shattuck;  1874,  Albert  W.  Corey,  Charles  P.  Hall  and  David  S.  Fessen- 
den;  1875,  J.  Ransom  Bean,  Jackson  Rideout  and  George  S.  Hull. 

In  1877  the  board  was  reorganized;  all  of  its  old  members  were 
dropped,  and  a  new  board  appointed,  consisting  of  the  following  named 
members:  Henry  G.  Shattuck,  Lorenzo  Draper,  Jr.,  George  H.Nye,  George 
Peacock,  Mrs.  Margaret  Vickery,  and  Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Kendall.  This  board 
remained  unchanged  until  1884,  when  the  name  of  Jeremiah  B.  Needham 
was  added  to  the  list  of  members. 

From  1884  to  1890  new  members  were  added  to  the  board  from  time 
to  time  as  follows:  1887,  George  E.  Stiles;  1889,  Daniel  McKensie; 
1890,  William  Jenness. 

Following  are  the  boards  of  trustees  as  constituted  from  1891  to  1912, 
inclusive,  so  far  as  the  same  are  obtainable. 

1891. 
Henry  G.  Shattuck,  Orman  F.  Shattuck,  David  S.  Fessenden,  Jere- 
miah Needham,  Asa  Seaver,  George  H.  Nye,  George  A.  Peacock. 

1892. 

Henry  G.  Shattuck,  Orman  F.  Shattuck,  David  S.  Fessenden,  Jere- 
miah Needham,  Asa  Seaver,  George  H.  Nye,  Geo.  A.  Peacock. 

1893. 
George  H.  Nye,  Orman  F.  Shattuck,  David  S.  Fessenden,  Henry  G. 
Shattuck,  Jeremiah  Needham,  Asa  Seaver. 

Records  from  1894  to  1907,  inclusive,  are  missing. 

1908. 

Henry  G.  Shattuck,  David  S.  Fessenden,  Orville  D.  Fessenden, 
Morton  Campbell,  Mrs.  Imogene  Dunbar,  Mrs.  Ellen  S.  Swett,  George  H. 

Nye. 

1909. 

Henry  G.  Shattuck,  David  S.  Fessenden,  Orville  D.  Fessenden, 
Morton  Campbell,  Mrs.  Imogene  Dunbar,  Mrs.  Ellen  S.  Swett,  George 
H.  Nye. 


290  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

1910. 

Henry  G.  Shattuck,  David  S.  Fessenden,  Orville  D.  Fessenden, 
Morton  Campbell,  Mrs.  Imogene  Dunbar,  Mrs.  Ellen  S.  Swett,  George 
H.  Nye. 

1911. 

Henry  G.  Shattuck,  David  S.  Fessenden,  Orville  D.  Fessenden, 
Morton  Campbell,  Mrs.  Imogene  Dunbar,  Mrs.  Ellen  S.  Swett,  George 
H.  Nye,  Herbert  S.  Corey. 

1912. 

Henry  G.  Shattuck,  David  S.  Fessenden,  Orville  D.  Fessenden, 
Morton  Campbell,  Mrs.  Imogene  Dunbar,  Mrs.  Ellen  S.  Swett,  George 
H.  Nye,  Herbert  S.  Corey. 

Gifts,  Devises  and  Bequests  to  the  Church  and  Society. 

The  Joseph  C.  Tucker  Gift. 

The  gift,  in  1859,  by  Joseph  C.  Tucker  to  the  church  and  society  of 
the  lot  of  land  upon  which  the  meeting-house  is  located  has  already  been 
mentioned  in  a  prior  page  in  this  chapter. 

The  Calvin  R.  Shedd  Devise. 

In  1874,  under  the  terms  of  the  will  of  Calvin  R.  Shedd,  of  this  town, 
the  church  and  society  came  into  possession  and  conditional  ownership 
of  a  parsonage.  The  clause  in  the  will  by  which  this  devise  was  estab- 
lished reads  as  follows — "To  the  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  Society  in  said  Brookline  in  trust  the  lot  of  land  with  the  dwelling 
house  and  buildings  thereon  situate  in  said  Brookline  conveyed  to  me  by 
widow  Sawtelle  and  now  occupied  as  a  parsonage  in  connection  with  said 
church  and  society  as  such  parsonage  forever.  If  however  after  the  pay- 
ment of  my  debts  and  expenses  of  administration  my  estate  shall  not  be 
sufficient  in  the  judgement  of  my  Executors  to  secure  to  my  said  wife 
her  comfortable  support  and  maintenance,  as  aforesaid  without  taking 
the  rent  and  income  that  may  be  derived  from  said  parsonage  premises 
towards  her  support  and  maintenance,  then  the  said  devise  and  bequest  to 
said  Trustees  is  not  to  take  effect  until  the  death  or  marriage  of  my  said 
wife ;  but  whenever  this  devise  or  bequest  may  take  effect  whether  at  my 
decease  or  at  the  decease  or  marriage  of  my  said  wife  it  is  upon  the  condi- 
tion that  the  premises  so  devised  shall  be  used  as  a  parsonage  in  connec- 
tion with  said  church  and  society;  but  with  power  to  said  Trustees  to  sell 
and  convey  said  premises  whenever  in  their  opinion  it  may  be  for  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  291 

interest  of  said  Church  and  Society  to  exchange  their  parsonage  for  one 
in  a  different  place  and  to  invest  the  proceeds  in  the  purchase  of  other 
premises  to  be  so  used  for  a  parsonage  and  whenever  the  said  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  shall  cease  to  maintain  its  organization  in  connection 
with  a  church  having  occasion  to  make  use  of  such  parsonage  then  the 
said  devise  shall  be  void  and  the  said  estate  shall  be  disposed  of  as  a  part 
of  the  rest  and  residue  of  my  Estate,  as  next  hereinafter  provided." 

The  James  N.  Tucker  Bequest. 

In  1881,  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  society,  and  the  Con- 
gregational Church  and  society  became  beneficiaries  under  the  will  of 
James  Noble  Tucker,  of  Townsend,  Mass.,  a  native  of  this  town,  in  the 
sum  of  one  thousand  dollars  each. 

The  terms  of  this  bequest,  which  constituted  the  16th  clause  of  the 
will,  were  as  follows: 

"I  give  and  bequeath  to  both  of  the  Religious  Societies,  namely  the 
Congregational  Society  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  in  Brook- 
line,  New  Hampshire,  One  thousand  dollars  each;  that  is  to  say,  the 
income  on  said  Bequests  shall  be  paid  yearly  to  said  Societies  equally  for 
the  support  of  preaching,  as  long  as  both  Societies  keep  up  preaching, 
provided  should  either  of  said  Societies  fail  to  support  preaching  then 
and  in  that  case  the  whole  of  the  income  on  both  bequests  shall  be  paid 
to  the  Society  supporting  preaching,  and  the  said  income  shall  not  be  used 
for  any  other  purpose.  And  I  order  my  trustees  to  invest  in  some  safe 
securities  all  the  above  Bequests  named  to  Religious  Societies  that  the 
income  may  be  paid  to  said  Societies  as  above  provided." 

Nov.  7,  1882,  Orman  F.  Shattuck  was  appointed  as  the  first  trustee 
of  the  James  N.  Tucker  Fund;  a  position  which  he  held  until  his  death. 
He  was  succeeded  as  trustee  by  George  H.  Nye,  who  continues  to  hold 
the  office  at  the  present  time  (1914). 

The  Wilkes  W.  Corey  Bequest. 

At  the  decease  of  Wilkes  W.  Corey  in  1882,  under  the  terms  of  his 
will,  the  church  and  society  became  beneficiaries  in  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
dollars  from  his  estate. 

» 

The  Albert  W.  Corey  Memorial  Fund. 

In  1907,  the  widow  and  heirs-at-law  of  Albert  W.  Corey,  a  native  of 
and  life-long  resident  in  this  town,  and  throughout  his  life  a  firm  friend  of 


292  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

this  church,  in  honor  of  his  memory,  presented  the  church  and  society 
with  one  thousand  dollars  in  trust,  the  same  to  be  known  as  the  Albert 
W.  Corey  Memorial  Fund.  The  deed  of  trust  ran  to  Henry  G.  Shattuck, 
George  H.  Nye,  Morton  Campbell,  Orville  D.  Fessenden,  David  S.  Fes- 
senden,  and  Charles  S.  Dunbar,  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Brookline.  The  conditions  under  which  the  trust  was  created, 
and  upon  the  performance  of  which  its  perpetuity  depends,  are  set  forth 
in  the  instrument  creating  the  trust  as  follows : 

'  'To  be  invested  in  proper  and  safe  securities  or  other  interest  bearing 
investments  in  the  name  of  and  for  the  benefit  of  said  church. 

"To  use  and  apply  the  income  from  said  investment  of  said  sum  for 
the  preaching  of  the  gospel  annually. 

"The  trust  herein  created  shall  continue  indefinitely  as  above  set 
forth  as  regards  the  use  of  said  income,  and  the  principal  shall  remain 
forever  intact  unless  the  present  edifice  used  for  church  purposes  shall 
be  destroyed  by  fire,  in  which  event  the  said  principal  may  then  be  used 
if  necessary  to  aid  in  the  reconstruction  of  said  church  edifice. 

"If  the  said  trustees  or  their  successors  shall  decide  not  to  re- 
construct said  church  or  for  any  reason  the  said  church  shall  be  discon- 
tinued or  services  therein  abandoned  definitely,  then  the  said  sum  of 
$1000.  shall  revert  to  the  party  of  the  first  part  to  be  divided  in  the  pro- 
portions of  one-half  to  the  said  widow  and  one-half  to  the  other  members 
of  said  party  of  the  first  part,  their  respective  heirs  or  assigns. 

"In  case  of  suspension  of  regular  services  in  said  church  for  six  con- 
tinuous months,  then  this  trust  shall  be  terminated  and  the  said  sum  of 
one  thousand  dollars  shall  revert  and  be  divided  as  above  set  forth." 
Dated  Jan.  28,  1908. 

Signed:  Mary  Corey,  Herbert  S.  Corey,  Jessie  M.  Corey,  Walter  E. 
Corey,  Henry  G.  Shattuck,  George  H.  Nye,  David  S.  Fessenden,  Orville 
D.  Fessenden,  Morton  A.  Campbell,  Charles  S.  Dunbar. 

The  Mary  Corey  Legacy. 

In  1912,  Mrs.  Mary  Corey,  by  her  will,  admitted  to  probate  June 
25,  of  that  year,  bequeathed  five  hundred  dollars  to  the  church.  The 
conditions  under  which  the  bequest  was  given  are  as  follows — "The  in- 
come to  be  used  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  as  long  as  the  church  exists 
as  a  preaching  place.  Should  it  cease  to  exist,  then  the  amount  above 
mentioned  is  to  be  equally  divided  between  John  H.  Kline  and  Morton 
Kline." 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  293 


CHAPTER   XVI. 
Current  Events,  Incidents  and  Happenings. 

1800-1830. 

Local  Conditions  in  1800 — Tax  List  of  1801 — Town  Classed  by  Itself  in 
the  Matter  of  Representation — The  Killing  of  the  Last  Panther  in 
Town— Census  of  1810— War  of  1812— Old  Militia  Days  in  Raby 
A  May  Day  Training  in  the  Forties — The  Brookline  Independent 
Cadets — 1816,  A  Year  Without  a  Summer — Laying  Out  of  High- 
way at  West  End  of  the  Pond — Brookline  Social  Library — The 
First  Fire  Engine — First  Hearse — First  Hearse  House — Post 
Office  and  Post  Masters — Fire  Engine  Men  in  the  Year  1829. 

In  1800,  according  to  the  United  States  Census  of  that  year,  the  num- 
ber of  Brookline's  inhabitants  was  454;  an  increase  of  116  over  the  num- 
ber given  in  the  census  of  1790.  The  town  was  still  in  the  log  cabin  period 
of  its  existence,  not  more  than  ten  or  twelve  framed  dwelling  houses-  hav- 
ing been  erected  within  its  limits,  one  of  which  was  the  old  meeting-house, 
built  in  1791. 

The  dwelling  houses  of  the  inhabitants  were  scattered  all  over  the 
township.  The  "village"  of  the  present  time  was  not  in  existence.  It 
was  not  even  thought  of.  Commencing  on  the  great  road  at  the  point 
where  it  is  crossed  by  the  town's  east  boundary  line,  and  passing  along  its 
course  westerly  to  the  summit  of  meeting-house  hill,  of  all  the  framed 
dwelling  houses  at  the  present  time  located  upon  it  only  five  were  then 
standing,  viz :  the  old  Samuel  Farley  house,  located  on  the  east  side  of  the 
road  one  mile  south  of  the  village;  the  old  "yellow  house"  so  called  in  the 
village,  the  same  being  known  at  the  present  time  as  the  Elm  wood; 
the  L  part  of  the  village  hotel;  the  Samuel  T.  Boynton  house,  located  on 
the  summit  of  meeting-house  hill,  afterwards  known  as  the  Doctor  Harris 
house,  and  at  the  present  time  owned  and  occupied  as  her  home  by 
widow  Newton  W.  Colburn ;  the  dwelling  house  on  the  west  side  of  the 
road  opposite  the  old  meeting-house,  now  the  residence  of  Lieut.  William 
L.  Dodge;  and  the  old  meeting-house  itself. 


294  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Save  for  these  five  dwelling  houses,  and  the  old  Douglass  log  cabin, 
located  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  near  where  the  dwelling  house  of 
widow  of  Charles  N.  Corey  now  stands,  there  were,  so  far  as  is  known,  no 
other  human  habitations  on  the  road  between  the  points  above  indicated; 
and  the  road,  including  the  present  village  Main  street,  for  the  entire 
distance  named,  was  for  the  greater  part  of  the  distance  bordered  by 
dense  forest  growth. 

The  great  majority  of  the  inhabitants  were  engaged  in  farming, 
although  the  avocations  of  coal  burning,  coopering  and  lumbering  were 
carried  on  to  a  considerable  extent.  Save  for  the  sawmills,  of  which  there 
were  at  this  time  seven  in  operation,  there  was  not  a  manufacturing  plant 
of  any  description  located  in  town.  There  was  but  one  church,  the  Con- 
gregationalist,  which  occupied,  as  its  place  of  worship,  the  old  meeting- 
house on  the  hill;  and  three  schoolhouses,  located  in  different  parts  of  the 
township,  sufficed  to  furnish  the  young  and  rising  generation  with  mental 
pabulum  sufficient,  as  it  was  then  believed,  to  ensure  its  usefulness  as 
future  citizens.  The  public  highways  were  for  the  greater  part  in  wretched 
condition.  For  the  ancient  practice  of  citizens  assembling  at  stated  times 
in  each  recurring  spring  upon  the  highways  located  in  each  of  their  re- 
spective "Highway  Districts,"  and  working  out  their  respective  highway 
taxes  upon  the  same  by  leaning  for  the  greater  part  of  the  day  upon  their 
respective  spades  and  hoes  and  discussing  politics  or  retailing  scandal, 
was  still  in  vogue. 

But,  nevertheless,  the  town's  outlook  for  the  future  was,  on  the  whole, 
most  encouraging;  and  its  people,  far  from  being  discouraged,  were,  each 
and  all,  actively  engaged  in  minding  their  own  business,  as  well  as,  to  some 
considerable  extent,  attending  to  that  of  their  neighbors,  and  looking 
hopefully  forward  to  the  coming  of  better  times.  Nor  in  the  end  were 
their  hopes  disappointed.     But  that  is  another  story. 

The  Tax  List  for  the  Year  1801. 

The  names  of  the  citizens  who  in  the  spring  of  1801  "worked  out" 
their  highway  taxes  by  retiring  from  labor  to  repose  were  as  follows : 

Jonathan  Ames,  Jacob  Austin,  Benjamin  Brooks, 

Clarke  Brown,  Ebenezer  Brown,  Abnah  Bills, 

Samuel  T.  Boynton,  John  Colburn,  James  Campbell, 

Benja.  Campbell,  Ebenezer  Emery,  Joseph  Emerson, 

John  Emerson,  Benjamin  Farley,  Samuel  Farnsworth, 

Philip  Farnsworth,  Adjt.  William  Green,  Colburn  Green, 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


295 


Calvin  Green, 
Lieut.  Eleazer  Gilson, 
Nathan  Gilson, 
Abraham  Hodgman, 
vStephen  Hall, 
Jonas  Leslie, 
Alexander  Mcintosh, 
Major  McDonald, 
Richard  Melendy, 
Abijah  Proctor, 
Joseph  Pike, 
Samuel  Russell,  Jr., 
Benjamin  Shattuck,  Jr., 
Joshua  Smith, 
Capt.  Simeon  Senter, 
Lieut.  Eli  Sartell, 
Ezra  Talbot, 
Mathew  Wallace, 
Moses  Shattuck, 
Abraham  Withington, 
Gardner  Conant, 
Elisha  Towns, 
Daniel  Wright, 


Abel  Green, 
Ebenezer  Gilson, 
David  Gilson, 
Abraham  Hodgman, 
Uriah  Hall, 
Thomas  Lancey, 
Lieut.  Jas  Mcintosh., 
George  McDonald, 
Thomas  Melendy, 
Jesse  Parker, 
Capt.  Geo.  Russell, 
John  Russell, 
Benjamin  Shattuck, 
Joshua  Smith,  Jr., 
Lieut.  Daniel  Spaulding, 
Swallow  Tucker, 
Lieut.  Luther  Wright, 
Joseph  Wyman, 
Ebenezer  Wheeler, 
Thomas  Bennett, 
David  Lawrence, 
Nathaniel  Patten, 
Oliver  Wetherbee, 


Ezekiel  Green, 
Abel  Gilson, 
Abel  Hodgman, 
William  Hall, 
Phinehas  Holden, 
Lieut.  Alex.  Mcintosh, 
James  Mcintosh, 
John  McDonald,  Jr. 
Ezekiel  Proctor, 
Abijah  Parker, 
Samuel  Russell, 
Stephen  Robbins, 
Lieut.  Isaac  Shattuck. 
Capt.  Robert  Seaver. 
Lieut.  Ephraim  Sartel, 
Josiah  Tucker, 
David  Wright, 
Benj.  Lock, 
Joshua  Woodbridge, 
Joshua  Seaver, 
Jonas  Lawrence, 
Wid.  Polly  Tucker, 
Joseph  Jepson. 


The  Town  Classed  by  Itself  in  the  Matter  of  Representation. 

1802.  As  has  been  previously  stated,  up  to  the  year  1802,  Brookline, 
in  the  matter  of  its  being  represented  in  the  state  legislature  had  been, 
classed  with  other  towns;  it  being  classed  with  Mason  from  1769  to  1794, 
and  with  Milford  from  1794  to  1802.  This  state  of  affairs  had  long  been 
a  source  of  great  dissatisfaction  to  its  inhabitants;  and  in  1802  they  de- 
termined to  make  an  effort  to  be  classed  in  the  future  by  themselves. 
To  that  end  the  town  petitioned  the  General  Court.  In  response  to  this 
petition  the  house  of  representatives,  after  considering  the  same,  passed 
the  following  act : 

"State  of  New  Hampshire 

In  the  House  of  Representatives 

June  16,  1802. 

Upon  reading  and  Considering  the  foregoing  Petition  and  the  Report 

of  a  Committee  thereon  Voted  that  the  prayer  thereof  be  granted  and  that 


296  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

the  Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Brookline  be  entitled  to  send  a  Representa- 
tive to  the  General  Court  in  future 
Sent  up  for  concurrence 

John  Prentice     Speaker. 
In  Senate  June  17,  1802.     Rec'd  and  concurred 

Nath  Parker  D.  J.  Secry. 
A  True  copy  of  a  vote  of  the  General  Court  on  the  Petition  of  the 
Legal  Voters  of  the  town  of  Brookline 

Attest    Nath'l  Parker  D.  J.  Secy." 

Soon  after  the  passage  of  the  foregoing  act,  and  during  the  same 
year,  James  Parker,  Sr.,  was  elected  to  represent  the  town  in  the  General 
Court;  and  thus  Mr.  Parker  was  the  first  one  of  its  citizens  to  fill  that 
office  under  the  new  classification.  Mr.  Parker  also  represented  the  town 
in  the  legislature  of  the  years  1803  and  1804  following. 

At  this  time  the  pond  in  Hollis  known  at  the  present  time  as  Rocky 
Pond  was  known  as  Pout  pond;  and  in  this  year,  1802,  a  road  across 
"Pout  pond  brook"  was  accepted  by  the  town;  as  was  also  a  bridge 
which  David  Wright  built  over  the  "sluice  way"  to  his  mill;  and  for  the 
building  of  which  he  was  exempted  from  taxes  for  the  term  of  two  years. 
Mr.  Wright  was  a  son  of  David  and  Prudence  Wright  of  Pepperell  and  a 
brother  of  Mrs.  Nathan  Corey.  His  mill  was  located  on  or  near  the  site 
now  occupied  by  the  sawmill  of  Deacon  Perley  L.  Pierce,  in  South  Brook- 
line. 

It  would  seem  that  predatory  wild  animals  and  birds  had  not  yet 
ceased  to  terrify  and  annoy  the  townspeople.  For  this  very  year  the  town 
voted  a  bounty  of  two  dollars  per  head  for  wild  cats,  and  seventeen  cents 
per  head  for  crows. 

The  Killing  of  the  Last  Panther  in  Town. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  "last  panther  in  town"  v/as  killed. 
The  story  of  its  killing,  which  for  many  years  subsequently  was  one  of  the 
town's  traditions,  was  substantially  as  follows: 

One  Sunday  late  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  the  Rev.  Lemuel  Wadsworth, 
perched  up  in  his  two-storied  pulpit,  like  an  owl  in  a  hollow  tree,  was  en- 
gaged in  administering  to  his  congregation  their  usual  Sunday  morning 
sleeping  draught ;  said  draught  being  in  form  of  a  sermon  divided  into  two 
parts,  and  subdivided  into  sixteen  heads.  He  had  reached  the  "fif- 
teenthly,"  and  been  so  far  successful  in  his  efforts  that  the  majority  of 
his  patients  were  already  engaged  in  nodding  vigorous  assents  to  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  297 

theological   dogmas   which  constituted  the  principal  ingredients  of   the 
said  sleeping  draughts; — althouth  as  to  the  real  nature  and  efficacy  of 
said  ingredients,  they  knew  as  little  as  did  the  minister  himself — which 
was  absolutely  nothing.     Suddenly  the  meeting-house  was  filled  with  the 
clamor  of  baying  hounds,  coming,  apparently,  from  the  direction  of  Rock 
Ramond  hill.    At  the  familiar  sound,  the  parson  pricked  up  his  ears,  and 
his  congregation  opened  their  eyes.    Moment  by  moment  the  baying  be- 
came louder  and  more  vociferous,  and  the  congregation  more  restless. 
Then  there  came  to  their  ears  the  sound  of  hurrying  feet  crunching  through 
the  snow-crust  in  the  direction  of  the  house;    a  moment  later  the  doors 
swung  in  on  their  hinges  and  upon  the  threshold  appeared  the  form  of  a 
man  who,  in  stentorian  tones,  shouted:    "Ther  dogs  have  got  a  wild  crit- 
ter treed  on  Rock  Rament"!    A  moment  after  this  announcement  every 
man  and  boy  in  the  audience  had  got  outside  the  meeting-house  and, 
leaving  behind  them  the  dogmas  which  they  did  not  understand,  were 
pressing  on  in  the  direction  of  the  dogs,  whose  voices  they  could  and  did 
understand.     On  arriving  at  the  hill,  the  pack  was  found  to  be  baying  at 
the  foot  of  a  tall  hemlock  tree  which  stood  a  short  distance  from  the  base 
of  the  granite  cliff  on  its  western  side,  and  in  the  branches  of  which,  near 
its  top,  the  wild  beast  was  indistinctly  visible.    The  crowd  at  once  entered 
into  a  discussion  as  to  what  species  of  animal  it  was.    There  was  a  great 
diversity  of  opinions;  but  the  majority  seemed  to  be  inclined  to  the  belief 
that  it  was  a  panther.    In  the  meantime,  a  citizen,  who,  more  thoughtful 
than  his  fellows,  had  been  home  and  returned  with  a  rifle,  commenced 
firing  at  the  animal ;  and,  at  the  third  shot,  brought  it  snapping  and  snarl- 
ing to  the  ground,  where  the  dogs  immediately  set  upon  and  soon  worried 
the  life  out  of  it.     A  post  mortem  examination  showed  that  the  "pan- 
ther" was  a  wild-cat  and,  as  one  of  the  participants  in  the  affair  after- 
wards said,  "A  danged  measly  one  at  that." 

1806.  The  names  of  Ensign  and  Abraham  Bailey  appeared  on  the 
tax  list  for  the  first  time.  At  its  March  meeting  the  town  voted — "To 
accept  the  road  from  Jesse  Perkins  to  Abijah  Proctor's  where  it  is  trod." 
The  road  thus  accepted  was  really  the  lane  which  connected  the  old  Per- 
kin's  homestead  place  with  the  north  highway  to  Hollis,  which  it  entered 
on  the  north  side  about  one  mile  north  of  the  village.  It  was  discontinued 
by  vote  of  the  town  many  years  since. 

1809.  Robert  Seaver,  Jr.,  was  appointed  county  coroner,  a  position 
which  he  continued  to  hold  for  the  following  fourteen  consecutive  years, 
or  until  1823;  serving  the  last  two  years  of  this  term  in  conjunction  with 
Colburn  Green,  who  continued  to  hold  the  office  until  the  vear  1826. 


298  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

1810.  The  United  States  Census  of  this  year  gave  the  town  a  popula- 
tion of  538;  an  increase  over  the  number  of  its  inhabitants  as  found  by 
the  census  of  1800  of  eighty-four  souls. 

Cold  Friday,  1810. 

Friday,  Jan.  19,  1810,  was  known  throughout  New  England  as  "The 
cold  Friday."  The  cold  was  of  the  intensest  description.  It  was  accom- 
panied by  a  fierce  gale,  the  wind,  which  came  out  of  the  northwest,  blow- 
ing throughout  the  day  and  the  night  following  with  hurricane  violence, 
and  causing  an  immense  amount  of  damage  to  property,  not  only  in  New 
England,  but  also  throughout  the  entire  country.  At  the  height  of  the 
gale,  the  dwelling  house  of  Washington  Wright,  located  about  one  mile 
south  of  the  village  Main  street  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Pep- 
perell,  Mass.,  caught  fire  and  was  burned  to  the  ground.  An  infant  child 
of  Mr.  Wright  perished  in  the  flames. 

1811.  Benjamin  Shattuck,  Jr.,  was  this  year  appointed  deputy  sheriff 
for  the  county.  He  continued  to  hold  this  office  for  every  year  following 
until  1820.  when  he  was  succeeded  in  the  position  by  William  S.  Crosby, 
who  held  the  office  until  the  year  1828. 

The  War  of  1812-1815. 

Immediately  after  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  the  British  Govern- 
ment inaugurated  and,  for  many  years  in  succession,  carried  out  a  policy 
of  aggression  against  the  United  States  and  its  people. 

In  pursuance  of  this  policy,  among  others  of  its  unwarranted  insults 
and  outrages,  it  impressed  into  its  naval  service  citizen  sailors  of  this 
country,  and  seized  and  confiscated  its  ships. 

In  the  meantime,  the  United  States  Government  made  many  and 
strenuous  protests  against  the  commission  of  these  outrages,  but  without 
avail.  Finally,  its  stock  of  patience  became  exhausted  and,  on  the  18th 
day  of  June,  1812,  Congress  passed  a  resolution  declaring  war  against 
Great  Britain  and  its  dependencies. 

In  this  war  the  State  of  New  Hampshire  furnished  its  full  quota  of 
soldiers  for  the  regular  army.  But  as  the  records  of  the  war  are  on  file  at 
Washington  and  inaccessible  to  the  general  public,  it  has  hitherto  been 
impossible  to  give  definite  information  concerning  them.  So  far  as  known, 
however,  no  citizens  of  Brookline  served  as  soldiers  in  the  regular  army 
during  this  war;  those  who  did  serve  doing  so  as  members  of  the  force  of 
the  state's  militia  which  was  called  out  for  the  defence  of  Portsmouth. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  299 

At  this  time  the  militia  company  in  this  town  formed  a  part  of  the 
fifth  regiment  of  the  State  militia.  In  September,  1814,  Portsmouth  was 
threatened  with  an  attack  from  the  British  fleet,  and  on  two  separate 
occasions  in  that  month,  men  for  its  defense  were  drafted  from  the  militia. 
The  first  draft,  which  was  taken  from  twenty-three  regiments,  marched 
for  Portsmouth  on  the  9th  day  of  September,  and  was  mustered  in  at  Ports- 
mouth on  the  16th  day  of  that  month.  The  soldiers  comprising  this  draft 
served  three  months.  The  second  contingent  of  drafted  men  was  mus- 
tered in  at  Portsmouth  September  27,  and  served  sixty  days. 

The  only  action  taken  by  Brookline  relative  to  this  war,  so  far  as  its 
records  show,  is  indicated  by  the  following  extracts  from  the  same;  than 
which  said  records  contain  not  another  allusion  to  the  war. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town's  inhabitants  in  July,  1812,  it  was  voted — 
"To  make  the  detached  soldiers  up  to  $12  per  month  from  the  time  they 
were  called  on  until  they  were  discharged!"  Prior  to  the  foregoing  vote, 
however,  at  a  meeting  holden  March  9,  1809,  the  citizens,  evidently  an- 
ticipating trouble  to  come,  had  voted — "To  pay  the  soldiers  seven  dollars 
that  stand  as  minute  men." 

But  while  the  town's  book  of  records  furnishes  no  information  rela- 
tive to  its  action  in  this  war,  other  than  which  has  already  been  given 
in  the  above  two  extracts,  fortunately  for  this  history,  the  writer  has 
come  into  possession  of  an  ancient  and  well  preserved  "Town  order  book," 
from  the  entries  in  which  he  has  been  able  to  establish  the  fact  that  eight, 
at  least,  of  Brookline's  citizens  served  as  soldiers  in  the  war.  The  names 
of  the  eight  are  given  in  the  following  copies  of 

Entries  in  the  Said  Order  Book. 

"1815 

Robert  Seaver,  Jr., $10.00 

It  being  in  full  for  his  services  at  Portsmouth  which  the  town  voted  to 

make  up  to  the  soldiers  in  addition  to  Government  pay. 

Benjamin  Smith, $10 .  00 

John  Hutchinson $10.00 

Jonas  Smith, $10.00 

John  Sawtell, $10.00 

1816,  Feb.  5th, 

Henry  Hutchinson's  order.     It  being  in  full  for  his  services  at 

Portsmouth $7 .00 

Moses  Shattuck, $7 .00 

Solomon  Sanders,    $7 .  00" 


300  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Old  Militia  Days  in  Raby  and  Brookline. 

At  the  time  of  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution,  and  for  many  years 
prior  thereto,  the  colonies  had  an  organized  militia,  established  under  the 
laws  of  the  mother  country.  Under  this  system  every  New  England  town 
of  a  sufficient  number  of  inhabitants  maintained  a  company  of  militia  men. 
In  the  early  days  these  companies  were  called  "Training  bands."  Raby 
had  its  training  band  which  it  kept  up  during  the  continuance  of  the  Rev- 
olution, and  of  which  Robert  Seaver,  during  that  period,  when  not  absent 
on  war  service,  was  captain. 

After  the  country  had  established  its  independence,  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire  proceeded  to  the  organization  of  a  militia  system  of  its  own; 
which  was  of  course  based  upon  the  laws  of  the  United  States  for  organ- 
izing the  militia  in  the  country  at  large. 

In  1817,  this  system,  after  undergoing  many  changes  and  modifica- 
tions at  the  hands  of  successive  legislatures  had  reached  a  condition  which, 
though  far  from  being  perfect,  was  so  satisfactory  that,  except  for  occa- 
sional changes  in  regimental  and  other  minor  formations,  it  remained  sub- 
stantially the  same  until  the  advent  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion. 

Under  this  system,  the  State's  militia  in  1819  was  constituted  of 
thirty-eight  regiments  divided  into  three  divisions  of  six  brigades  each. 
Brookline's  company  at  that  time  was  in  the  fifth  regiment,  in  which 
regiment  also  were  the  companies  in  the  towns  of  Amherst,  Merrimack, 
Litchfield,  Mount  Vernon,  Milford,  Dunstable,  Hollis  and  Nottingham 
West  (Hudson).  In  the  regimental  organization  of  the  fifth,  Brookline's 
company  was  known  as  the  eleventh.  Locally,  throughout  its  existence  of 
more  than  fifty  years,  it  was  known  as  "the  Slam  Bang's." 

In  its  ranks  during  the  years  of  its  existence,  every  able-bodied  male 
resident  in  town,  of  the  age  of  eighteen  and  under  the  age  of  forty-five 
years,  at  some  period  in  his  life  marched  as  a  private;  and  from  it  origi- 
nated a  crop  of  captains,  lieutenants,  ensigns,  sergeants,  corporals,  and 
other  military  titles,  which,  appearing  as  they  do  upon  the  town's  records 
during  this  period,  as  prefixes  to  the  names  of  so  many  of  its  citizens,  have 
a  tendency  to  create  in  the  minds  of  its  readers  today  the  impression  that 
the  number  of  the  town's  citizens  who  at  that  time  were  possessed  of 
military  titles,  preponderated  to  the  extent  that  the  number  of  those  who 
served  as  private  soldiers  was  an  exception  to  the  rule. 

By  the  state  laws  at  that  time,  an  infantry  company  with  full  ranks 
consisted  of  sixty-four  men,  rank  and  file.     Its  officers  were  a  captain, 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


301 


one  lieutenant,  one  ensign,  four  sergeants  and  four  corporals,  the  corporals 
to  be  included  in  the  rank  and  file. 

The  writer  has  lying  before  him  at  the  time  of  this  writing  the  Journal 
— commencing  in  June,  1817 — of  the  Brookline  Militia  company.  From 
its  pages  it  appears  that  at  the  company's  annual  May  training  in  June, 
1817,  it  mustered  sixty-nine  men  in  its  rank  and  file;  and  as  a  matter  of 
interest  today,  because  the  company  was  supposed  to  contain  within  its 
ranks  all  the  able-bodied  men  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty -five 
in  town  at  that  date,  and  also  because  many  of  those  whose  names  appear 
upon  its  rolls  were  then,  and  for  many  years  afterwards,  prominent  men  in 
town  affairs,  and  are  represented  in  town  at  the  present  time  by  their  de- 
scendants, I  give  herewith  the  roll's  list  of  names,  as  follows: 

"Officers  of  the  eleventh  Company  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  seventeen. 

Captain,  Samuel  Smith;  Lieutenant,  Eli  Parker;  Ensign,  Joseph 
Boynton;  sergeants,  James  Parker,  1st,  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Jr.,  2nd., 
John  Smith,  3rd,  Jonathan  Foster,  4th. 


Rank  and  File. 


Sargents : 


James  Parker,  Jr. 
Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Jr. 
John  Smith, 


Johnathan  Foster, 
Abel  Gran,  Jr., 
Samuel  Gilson. 


David  Daniels, 
Jonas  Smith, 
Luther  Rockwood, 
William  Bacon, 
John  Cleveland, 
Calvin  Clemens, 
Philip  Farnsworth,  Jr., 
Jesse  Fletcher, 
Lemuel  Hall, 
David  Hobart, 
Caleb  G.  Jewett, 
Eleazer  Kemp, 
Joseph  Law, 
Samuel  Lawrence, 
John  Sanders, 
Samuel  Perkins, 


Eri  Daniels, 
Randal  Daniels, 
Asher  Bennett, 
Asa  Betterly, 
James  Campbell, 
John  Colburn,  Jr., 
Sampson  Farnsworth, 
John  Hutchinson, 
James  Hutchinson, 
Uriah  Hall, 
Joseph  C.  Jackson, 
Timothy  Kemp, 
Ebenezer  Lund, 
Sampson  Mcintosh, 
Thomas  Tarbell, 
Stephen  Perkins,  Jr., 


Davis  Bills, 
Robert  Seaver,  Jr., 
Benjamin  Brooks,  Jr., 
William  S.  Crosby, 
Simeon  Clement, 
Samuel  Dix, 
Samuel  Farnsworth, 
Joseph  Hall, 
Samuel  Hodgman, 
William  Hall,  Jr., 
David  G.  Kemp, 
Horace  Knap, 
James  Lancey, 
Sidney  Osgood, 
Stephen  Perkins, 
John  Shattuck, 


302  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Moses  Shattuck,  Luther  Shattuck,  Wm.  Sanders, 

Benjn  Smith,  Solomon  Sanders,  George  H.  Verder, 

Timothy  Wright,  Isaac  Woodard,  Benj'n  Wetherbee, 

Prescott  Wright,  David  Withe,  William  Wright, 

Asher  Shattuck." 

In  addition  to  the  commissioned  and  non-commissioned  officers  and 
the  rank  and  file,  each  company  was  entitled  to  two  musicians,  a  fifer  and 
a  drummer. 

Judging  from  the  aforesaid  Journal,  life  in  the  militia  in  those  days 
was  no  sinecure.  Twice  a  year,  in  the  spring,  and  again  in  the  fall,  the 
company  was  compelled  to  turn  out  at  home  for  training  and  inspection. 
In  the  months  of  September  or  October  of  each  year  it  attended,  at  Am- 
herst meeting-house  generally,  but  occasionally  at  Milford,  Hollis  or  Dun- 
stable,— the  regimental  inspection  and  drill;  and,  at  longer  intervals,  the 
brigade  musters  at  "Cork  Plains,"  in  Windsor.  Besides  these  gatherings, 
it  was  called  out  by  its  officers  several  additional  times  in  each  year  for 
home  drill. 

In  view  of  all  these  meetings,  musterings,  marchings  and  drillings, 
it  is  no  wonder  that  the  pages  of  the  "Journal"  abound  in  copies  of  written 
excuses  from  members  of  the  "rank  and  file"  for  not  appearing,  "armed  and 
equipped  as  the  law  directs,"  at  certain  company  meetings.  These  excuses 
were  generally  of  a  trivial  nature.  But,  in  the  majority  of  cases,  they 
seem  to  have  been  acceptable  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  company, 
or  to  the  surgeon's  mate  of  the  regiment ;  and  there  are  recorded  instances 
where  a  stone  bruise  on  the  applicant's  heel,  or  a  sore  finger  were  con- 
sidered as  excuses  of  importance  sufficient  to  gain  for  their  fortunate  pos- 
sessors exemption  from  military  duty  for  periods  varying  anywhere  from 
two  months  to  two  years  in  length. 

In  the  early  days,  the  members  of  the  company  were  usually  warned 
to  appear  for  training,  or  inspection,  as  the  case  might  be,  on  the  town 
common.  But  at  a  later  period,  during  the  last  of  the  forties,  it  became 
customary  for  them  to  rendezvous  at  the  village  tavern,  then  kept  by 
Capt.  John  Smith,  and  known  as  the  Nissitisset  hotel. 

As  a  matter  of  curiosity,  the  results  of  the  last  recorded  inspection  of 
this  company,  which  occurred  in  May,  1847,  is  given  below: 
"   1  Captain,  36  cartridges, 

1  Lieutenant,  36  priming  wires  and  brushes, 

1  Ensign,  36  cartridge  boxes  and  belts, 

1  Clerk  and  Orderly,  72  spare  flints, 

52  Privates.  36  knapsacks  and  canteens, 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  303 

17  Absent,  1  drum," 

35  Present,  1  fife, 

39  present  including  officers,  1  Infantry  Regulations, 

36  muskets,  1  Militia  Law, 
36  bayonets,  1  Roll  Book, 
36  iron  and  steel  ramrods,  1  Order  book." 

A  May  Training  Day  in  the  Forties. 

On  the  morning  of  the  day  the  townspeople  were  astir  at  a  very 
early  hour.  By  sunrise,  in  every  household,  breakfast  had  been  eaten, 
the  chores  done,  and  the  inmates,  dressed  in  their  best  attires,  were  ready 
for  the  day's  festivities.  The  soldiers  were  already  in  evidence  on  the 
village  streets,  the  first  arrivals  coming  in  on  foot,  singly  or  in  groups  of 
two  or  three  each.  A  little  later,  they  were  followed  by  their  comrades- 
in-arms,  who  came  in  all  sorts  and  descriptions  of  vehicles,  each  of  which 
was  filled  to  overflowing  with  men,  women  and  children  who,  quickly 
disembarking,  joined  the  throng  of  those  who  had  already  arrived.  Each 
moment  brought  fresh  arrivals.  Until,  long  before  the  hour  set  for  the 
commencement  of  the  exercises,  it  would  seem  as  if  the  town's  entire 
population  had  been  assembled  in  the  village,  Gradually  the  tavern  and 
its  immediate  vicinity  became  the  centre  of  attraction  for  the  crowd, 
which  was  constantly  being  increased  in  size  by  the  arrival  from  the 
neighboring  towns  of  strangers,  who  were  attracted  either  by  a  desire  to 
witness  the  thrilling  and  wonderful  military  evolutions  of  the  company, 
or  to  sample  the  tavern  keepers  liquid  refreshments ;  perhaps  both. 

Intermingled  with  the  crowd  were  peddlers  and  hucksters  of  all  sorts 
and  descriptions,  from  the  irrepressible  small  boy  who  sold  sheets  of  home- 
made gingerbread  and  knurly,  worm  eaten  apples  of  natural  fruit,  to  the 
grownup  vendors  of  corn  extractors,  one  application  of  which  was  guar- 
anteed to  effect  a  cure  by  eating  out  the  corn  from  its  surface  to  its  roots 
without  pain  or  damage  to  the  surrounding  flesh,  and  dealers  in  that  class 
of  "gold"  jewelry  which  was  then  beginning  to  be  in  vogue  and  which  was 
afterwards  known  as  "Attleboro."  At  the  appointed  hour  the  company 
fell  into  line,  broke  into  columns  of  fours  and  at  the  word  of  command 
from  the  captain  to  the  music  of  the  fife  and  drum,  marched  away  through 
the  dusty  streets  and  emerald  lanes.  Behind  them,  armed  with  hoop- 
poles  and  sticks  and  imitating  with  military  precision  every  movement 
of  their  elders,  followed  the  urchins  who  but  a  few  years  later  were  carrying 
real  muskets  and  doing  real  military  service  on  the  battlefields  of  the 
Civil  War. 


304  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

At  the  noon  hour  there  was  generally  an  intermission  of  an  hour  or  so, 
during  which  the  soldiers  partook  of  refreshments.  These  refreshments 
were  paid  for  by  the  town  which  let  out  the  contract  for  furnishing  them  to 
the  lowest  bidder.  They  consisted,  generally,  of  crackers  and  cheese  and 
codfish  and  rum,  especially  rum.  The  effect  of  this  bill  of  fare  upon  those 
partaking  in  it  was,  to  say  the  least,  exhilerating,  as  was  manifest  in  the 
company's  after-dinner  evolutions  which,  if  they  were  lacking  in  a  strict 
compliance  with  military  rules,  were  at  least  characterized  by  vim,  vigor 
and  vigilance,  three  very  essential  qualifications  for  a  soldier's  life. 

Nor  were  the  elements  of  pugnacity  and  esprit  de  corps  wanting  in 
the  company's  members  either  collectively  or  individually.  As  witness 
the  following  incident  which  occurred  at  one  of  the  May  trainings  towards 
the  last  of  the  forties  and  of  which  the  writer  then  a  small  boy  was  a 
witness. 

On  the  morning  of  the  day  in  question  the  members  of  the  company 
were,  as  usual,  assembled  in  the  "office"  of  the  village  tavern,  outside  of 
which  the  usual  crowd  of  sightseers  were  waiting  for  the  exercises  to  begin. 
Suddenly,  Capt.  Artemas  Wright,  the  then  commanding  officer,  ordered 
the  drummer  boy  to  beat  the  call  to  fall  in.  The  drummer  obeyed  orders 
and,  as  the  rattling  thunder  of  his  drum  reverberated  through  the  square, 
the  soldiers  began  to  fall  out  of  the  tavern  and  to  fall  into  line,  which  was 
formed  opposite  to  the  piazza  on  the  ell  part  of  the  house.  But  such  a 
line!  It  wavered  back  and  forth  in  undulations  as  unsteady  and  unstable 
as  a  loose  rope  swayed  by  the  wind.  After  repeated  efforts,  in  obedience 
to  the  captain's  commands,  the  men  had  managed  to  "right  face,"  "size 
up,"  and  "front  face,"  and  were  making  vigorous  efforts  to  "right  dress" 
when,  most  unexpectedly,  a  soldier  whose  diminutive  height  brought  him 
near  the  foot  of  the  line,  stepped  forth  from  the  ranks  and,  throwing  his 
musket  down  into  the  sand,  walked  up  to  a  stranger  (who,  with  a  grin  on 
his  face,  was  leaning  against  a  piazza  post  and  watching  the  show, )  and 
deliberately  struck  him  in  the  face.  The  stranger,  although  taken  by 
surprise,  was  not  slow  in  responding  to  the  soldier's  attack,  and  in  a 
moment  the  twain  were  clinched  and  down  in  the  sand,  where  they  rolled 
over  and  over,  swearing  strenuously,  and  scratching  and  pummelling  each 
other  until  they  were  at  last  separated  by  the  spectators.  The  soldier 
immediately  sprung  to  his  feet,  picked  up  his  musket  and,  shaking  the 
sand  from  his  garments,  resumed  his  position  in  the  company  ranks. 
"Wetherbee,"  said  the  captain,  addressing  the  offending  militia  man, 
"you  are  fined  twenty-five  cents"!  "Don't  give  a  d — n,  sir,"  came  the 
quick  response,  "I'll  pay  it,  sir!    But  I  want  you  to  distinctly  understandf 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  305 

sir,  that  there  can't  no  d — n  Massachusetts  man  come  over  here  and  grin 
at  this  company  when  it's  on  parade,  sir"! 

In  1846-47,  Capt.  Artemas  Wright  of  Brookline  was  commissioned  as 
colonel  of  the  fifth  regiment;  and  in  the  same  year  Ithimar  B.  Sawtelle, 
also  of  Brookline,  was  appointed  as  the  regiment's  adjutant.  In  1850, 
Henry  B.  Stiles  of  Brookline  was  one  of  the  regiment's  majors.  During 
Mr.  Wright's  colonelcy  in  1846  the  regiment  mustered  at  Nashua.  The 
muster  field  was  located  on  the  west  side  of  Main  street  and  opposite  to 
the  grounds  on  the  east  side  of  the  street  afterwards  occupied  by  the 
buildings  of  the  Waltham  Watch  Factory.  The  Brookline  company  was 
present  at  this  muster  and  it  was  the  last  muster  it  ever  attended.  The 
company,  however,  kept  up  its  organization  in  a  feeble  way  until  about 
1849,  when  it  was  quietly  disbanded. 

During  its  existence,  a  period  of  more  than  half  a  century,  the.  com- 
pany was  commanded  at  various  times  by  the  following  named  citizens : 

Capt.  Robert  Seaver.  during  the  Revolution. 

Capt.  George  Russell,  during  the  Revolution. 

Capt.  Samuel  Smith,  from  1817  to  1820. 

Capt.  Eli  Parker,  from  1820  to  1821. 
Capt.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Jr.,     from  1821  to  1827. 

Capt.  John  Smith,  from  1827  to  1831. 

Capt.  Joseph  Hall,  from  1831  to  1832. 

Capt.  Eli  Sawtell,  Jr.,  from  1832  to  1833. 

Capt.  Reuben  Baldwin,  from  1833  to  1834. 

Capt.  Abiel  Shattuck,  from  1834  to  1837. 

Capt.  Nathan  Dunphee,  from  1837  to  1838. 

Capt.  Franklin  McDonald,  from  1838  to  1840. 

Capt.  William  R.  Green,  from  1840  to  1841. 

Capt.  Wilkes  W.  Corey,  from  1841  to  1842. 

Capt.  Artemas  Wright,  from  1842  to  1847. 

Capt.  Joseph  F.  Jefts,  from  1847  to  1848. 

The  Brookline  Independent  Cadets. 

In  1845  several  of  the  town's  citizens  who  were  liable  to  do  military 
duty  refused  to  respond  to  the  summons  of  their  superiors  to  appear  at 
the  annual  May  training.  As  a  result  of  their  disobedience  they  were 
subjected  to  fines  which  they  refused  to  pay.  Capt.  Artemas  Wright, 
who  was  then  in  command  of  the  company  and  who  was  a  strict  discipli- 
narian, immediately  commenced  legal  proceedings  against  the  rebellious 


306  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

members  of  the  company  and  had  them  brought  before  the  proper  author- 
ities by  whom  the  recalcitrants  were  found  to  be  guilty  and  were  sen- 
tenced to  pay  not  only  their  fines  but  also  the  costs  of  the  trial.  An- 
gered by  their  defeat  the  disobedient  militia  men  resolved  to  form  a  new 
and  independent  military  company  which  they  at  once  proceeded  to  do. 
The  new  company  was  organized  under  the  name  of  The  Brookline  Inde- 
pendent Cadets.  It  was  constituted  of  the  seceding  members  of  the  old 
company  and  of  other  citizens  who,  having  reached  the  age  at  which  they 
were  by  law  exempt  from  the  further  performance  of  military  duties, 
volunteered  to  serve  in  its  ranks.  James  N.  Tucker  was  the  new  com- 
pany's first  and,  so  far  as  the  writer  has  been  able  to  ascertain,  its  only 
commander  during  its  brief  existence.  It  was  the  first  and  only  uniformed 
military  company  which  the  town  ever  possessed.  The  uniforms  of  its 
members  were  home  made.  They  consisted  of  frock  coats  of  blue  and 
black  inch-square  checked  cloth  with  caps  of  the  same  material,  and 
white  pants.  The  caps  of  the  privates  were  ornamented  with  turkey 
feathers;  while  those  of  the  officers  sported  more  ornate  adornments  in 
the  form  of  ostrich  plumes. 

During  its  existence  the  company  trained  annually  and  attended 
musters.  And  once,  possibly  twice,  in  its  history,  it  was  present  at  and 
took  part  in  certain  military  events,  or  sham  fights,  known  as  "Corn- 
wallis'  Surrender,"  which  occurred  at  Pepperell,  Mass.,  and  in  which, 
besides  the  cadets,  a  Pepperell  infantry  company,  a  company  of  artillery 
from  Groton,  Mass.,  and  possibly  other  companies  participated.  Con- 
nected with  the  cadets  was  a  band  of  music,  the  first  to  be  organized  in 
town,  of  which  more  will  be  said  in  a  subsequent  page  of  this  history. 
The  company  disbanded  about  1850. 

A  Year  Without  a  Summer. 

1816.  This  year  was  known  as  a  year  without  a  summer.  Old  people 
then  living  had  known  no  year  like  it,  nor  has  it  since  been  duplicated. 
Heavy  frosts  and  snow  storms  prevailed  throughout  the  spring.  The 
summer  was  cold  and  stormy.  The  people  of  this  town  were  at  their 
wit's  ends  to  provide  food  for  their  cattle.  Hay  sold  for  one  dollar  per 
hundred  pounds.  Corn  was  two  dollars  per  bushel,  and  hard  to  obtain 
even  at  that  price.  To  such  extremities  were  the  farmers  driven  that 
they  cut  down  forest  trees  in  order  that  the  cattle  might  browse  on  the 
branches. 

1820.     Town's  population,  592. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  307 

1821.  This  year  James  Parker,  Jr.,  and  Isaac  Sawtelle  were  en- 
gaged in  keeping  store  in  their  dwelling  house  on  Main  street,  the  house 
being  the  same  which,  with  store  attached,  is  at  the  present  time  owned 
and  cocupied  by  Walter  E.  Corey,  the  present  store  building  having  been 
built  several  years  subsequent  to  the  above  date  by  James  N.  Tucker. 
So  far  as  known,  the  said  store  of  Parker  and  Sawtelle  was  the  first  store 
to  be  opened  on  Main  street  in  the  village.  At  this  date,  also,  Samuel  T. 
Boynton  was  keeping  store  in  his  house  on  Meeting-house  hill.  At  a 
town  meeting  holden  October  30,  the  town  voted — "To  accept  the  road 
laid  out  near  Sawtell  and  Parker's  house."  The  road  thus  accepted  is 
that  which  leads  out  of  the  east  side  of  Main  street  at  a  point  opposite 
the  ell  of  the  tavern,  and  runs  easterly  to  the  east  Milford  highway.  The 
number  of  taxpayers  this  year  was  192,  of  which  number  124  were  resi- 
dents and  68  non-residents. 

1822.  March  12,  the  town  voted  to  accept  of  a.  road  "running  from 
Alexander  Mcintosh's  house  to  the  road  that  leads  from  George  Betterly's 
to  the  meeting-house."  At  that  time  Alexander  Mcintosh  was  living  in 
the  present  house  of  Henry  G.  Shattuck,  and  George  Betterly  was  living 
on  the  east  side  of  the  "Poor  farm  Road"  on  the  west  shore  of  Muscatani- 
pus  pond. 

At  the  same  meeting — March  12 — it  was  voted — "That  the  selectmen 
be  a  committee  to  superintend  the  building  of  a  road  around  the  ledge 
near  or  west  of  the  pond,  and  that  they  should  provide  so  much  powder 
and  rum  as  may  be  necessary  while  making  sd  road."  The  selectmen  that 
year  were  George  Daniels,  James  Parker,  Jr.,  and  Thomas  Bennett. 
Tradition  says  that  the  road  was  built  the  following  summer,  and  that 
during  its  construction  there  was  lack  of  neither  powder  nor  rum.  The 
ledge  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  vote  was  that  located  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Mason  highway  at  a  point  nearly  opposite  to  the  present  dwelling 
house  of  Fred  Farns worth  at  the  head  of  the  pond.  Prior  to  the  building 
of  this  new  road,  the  traveled  path  ran  in  a  westerly  direction  from  the 
ledge  to  the  dwelling  house  then  of  Alexander  Mcintosh,  but  at  the  pres- 
ent time  of  Henry  G.  Shattuck.  The  "new  road"  being  that  part  of  the 
present  highway  leading  from  the  said  Farnsworth  house  to  that  of  said 
Henry  G.  Shattuck. 

1823.     Brookline  Social  Library. 

The  first  public  library  to  be  established  in  this  town  was  organized 
in  1823  under  the  name  of  The  Social  Library  of  Brookline.     It  was  a 


308  HISTORY   OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

voluntary  association,  comprising  within  its  membership  many  of  the 
town's  leading  citizens.  Soon  after  its  organization,  the  association  was 
incorporated  by  the  legislature.  Its  first  board  of  directors  were  Ensign 
Bailey,  George  Daniels  and  EH  Sawtelle.  The  Association  had  an  active 
existence  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  years.  During  that  period  it  accumu- 
lated a  library  of  nearly,  or  quite,  one  hundred  volumes.  Since  the  latter 
part  of  the  fifties  the  Association  has  been  practically  defunct;  and  dur- 
ing that  period  the  remnant  of  the  library  has  been  stored  in  the  dwelling 
house  of  the  late  Wilkes  W.  Corey.  Several  years  since,  Mrs.  W.  W. 
Corey  placed  this  remnant,  consisting  of  some  forty  odd  volumes,  in  the 
custody  of  E.  E.  Parker,  with  the  understanding  that  they  should  eventu- 
ally become  a  part  of  the  present  town  library.  In  1914  Mr.  Parker  car- 
ried out  Mrs.  Corey's  wishes,  and  the  books  now  constitute  a  part  of  the 
latter  library. 

The  Town's  First  Fire  Engine. 

1826.  This  year  the  town  purchased  its  first  fire  engine.  It  was,  of 
course,a  hand  machine,  its  supply  of  water  being  furnished  by  buckets 
made  of  leather.  Soon  after  its  purchase  a  company  of  firemen  was 
organized  and,  soon  after  its  organization,  incorporated  by  the  legislature. 
This  engine  was  in  active  service  from  1826  to  1852;  after  which  latter 
date  the  disastrous  steam  sawmill  fire  having  caused  the  town  to  pur- 
chase a  more  modern  machine,  it  gradually  passed  into  disuse.  At  the 
present  time  it  is  stored  in  a  building  in  South  Brookline. 

First  Hearse. 

As  early  as  the  year  1819  the  town  voted  to  purchase  a  hearse.  But 
the  vote  was  subsequently  rescinded  and  no  further  action  relative  to  the 
matter  was  taken  until  this  year.  When,  by  vote  of  the  citizens,  the  town 
purchased  its  first  hearse  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  by  whom  it  was 
built.  It  was  in  use  for  man}'  subsequent  years.  At  the  present  time 
(1914)  its  ruins  are  lying  in  the  old  cattle  pound  on  meeting-house  hill; 
where  for  the  past  twenty  years  or  more  it  has  gradually  been  going  to 
decay. 

First  Hearse  House. 

1827.  At  the  March  town  meeting  of  this  year  it  was  voted  to 
build  a  hearse  house  and  the  sum  of  thirty  dollars  was  appropriated  for 
that  purpose.     Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Mathew  Wallace,  Jr.,  and  Horace 


FIRST  FIRE  ENGINE— 1826 


SECOND  FIRE  ENGINE- 1852 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  309 

Warner  were  elected  as  a  committee  to  locate  and  build  the  same.  The 
committee  attended  to  its  duties  and  the  same  year  the  house  was  erected. 
The  house  is  standing  at  the  present  time  (1913),  although  many  years 
have  passed  since  it  was  used  for  its  original  purpose.  It  is  located  on  the 
town  common  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Mason  and  just  west 
of  the  old  town  pound.  For  twenty  years  or  more  last  past  it  has  been 
used  as  the  "town  lockup." 

As  bearing  on  the  question  of  the  town's  authority  over  the  cemeteries, 
it  may  be  noted  here  that  it  this  year  granted  "Leave  to  any  person  to 
build  tombs  in  the  west  cemetery." 

Post  Office  and  Postmasters. 

From  the  date  of  Brookline's  incorporation  under  the  name  of  Raby 
in  1769  until  the  year  1828  its  mail  was  received  at  the  post  office  in 
Amherst,  where  it  was  held  until  called  for  by  the  owners,  or  from  whence, 
at  infrequent  and  irregular  intervals,  it  was  brought  into  this  town  by  its 
citizens  on  their  return  from  business  or  pleasure  trips  to  Amherst,  and 
by  them  distributed  to  its  respective  owners,  or  else  left  for  distribution 
at  dwelling  houses  designated  for  that  purpose,  and  located  in  different 
parts  of  the  township.  The  house  of  Capt.  EH  Sawtell  in  the  northeast 
part  of  the  town,  the  inn  of  Alexander  Mcintosh  in  the  west  part,  and  the 
inn  of  Capt.  Samuel  Douglass  in  the  central  part  of  the  town,  were  all 
used  as  places  for  such  distribution. 

In  1828  the  Government  designated  Brookline  as  a  post  town  and, 
January  2  of  that  year,  appointed  Dr.  David  Harris  as  its  first  post- 
master. The  first  post  office  was  located  in  the  dwelling  house  at  the 
present  time  owned  and  occupied  by  Walter  E.  Corey  in  connection  with 
his  store  on  the  east  side  of  Main  street  in  which  Dr.  Harris  was  then 
residing.  In  1832  Dr.  Harris  built  the  dwelling  house  on  the  west  side  of 
Main  street  which  was  afterwards  owned  and  occupied  until  his  death  by 
the  late  Wilkes  W.  Corey,  and  the  same  year  moved  into  the  house  and 
established  the  post  office  therein. 

Dr.  Harris  was  succeeded  as  postmaster  by  William  S.  Crosby,  who 
was  appointed  June  4,  1832.  Mr.  Crosby  held  the  position  from  1832  to 
1834.  During  this  period,  tradition  says,  the  post  office  was  located  in  the 
ell  part  of  the  village  hotel. 

In  1834  Mr.  Crosby  was  succeeded  as  postmaster  by  Dr.  Harris  who 
received  this,  his  second  appointment  as  such,  September  11  of  that  year. 
Soon  after  his  appointment,  Dr.  Harris  sold  his  house  in  the  village  to 


310  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Wilkes  W.  Corey  and  purchased  the  Samuel  T.  Boynton  house  on  meeting- 
house hill,  in  which  he  immediately  installed  himself  and  family,  and  the 
post  office  as  well. 

The  office  remained  in  the  Boynton  house  until  about  1840-42,  after 
which  year  its  location  for  many  years  alternated  between  the  two  stores 
on  the  village  Main  street,  the  same  being  governed  by  the  politics  of  the 
quondam  postmaster. 

In  1861  at  the  date  of  the  appointment  of  Henry  B.  Stiles  as  post- 
master the  post  office  was  located  in  the  Tucker  and  Stiles  Store  on  the 
west  end  of  Main  street,  in  the  village,  where  it  remained  until  the  death 
of  Mr.  Stiles  in  1892.  In  the  latter  year  George  E.  Stiles,  a  son  of  Henry 
B.  Stiles,  was  appointed  postmaster  and,  soon  after  his  appointment,  he 
installed  the  office  in  the  location  which  it  occupies  at  the  present  time ; 
(1913)  in  the  little  building  on  the  east  side  of  Main  street,  a  few  rods 
west  of  the  E-  E.  Tarbell  store;  which  had  previously  been  in  use  for 
storing  the  town's  fire  engine. 

In  1795  the  Amherst  Journal  and  New  Hampshire  Advertizer,  estab- 
lished at  Amherst  by  Nathaniel  Coverly  January  16  of  that  year,  and  the 
first  newspaper  to  be  printed  in  Hillsborough  County,  was  the  only  news- 
paper to  be  taken  in  this  town.  It  had  an  existence  of  only  one  year,  and 
was  followed  by  the  Farmer's  Cabinet,  which  was  established  at  Amherst 
by  Joseph  Cushing  in  1802. 

From  1802  to  1845  the  Farmer's  Cabinet  was  the  only  newspaper 
having  any  considerable  circulation  in  Brookline. 

During  this  period  envelopes  and  postage  stamps  were  unknown; 
stamps  not  coming  into  use  until  1847.  The  rates  of  postage  were  written 
on  the  outside  of  each  letter,  paper  and  package  sent  through  the  mail, 
and  were  governed  by  the  weight  of  each  package  and  the  distance  of  the 
place  to  which  it  was  to  be  carried.  These  rates  were  changed  from  time 
to  time  by  the  government.  Following  are  the  postal  rates  as  they  were 
established  in  1843 : 

"Single  letters,  thirty  miles  and  under,  6  cents;  exceeding  thirty  and 
less  than  80  miles,  10  cents;  exceeding  80  and  less  than  150  miles,  12J^ 
cents;  exceeding  150  and  not  over  400  miles,  25  cents.  For  double, 
treble  and  quadruple  letters  the  postage  increased  accordingly.  All 
packages  weighing  one  ounce  and  a  quarter  were  considered  equal  to  five 
single  letters,  each;  and  thus  onward  in  the  same  ratio.  Newspapers  were 
transported  throughout  the  state  in  which  they  were  printed  for  one  cent 
each;  exceeding  100  miles  and  without  the  limits  of  the  state,  one  and 
one-half  cents  each.     All  moneys  sent  by  mail  at  risk  of  owner." 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  311 

For  the  first  five  years  after  the  establishment  here  of  the  post  office, 
Brookline's  mail  continued  to  be  received  through  the  Amherst  post 
office.  But  subsequently  Nashua  was  substituted  for  Amherst  as  a  dis- 
tributing office.  During  this  period  the  mails  were  brought  into  town  by 
mounted  postmen. 

About  1838,  possibly  a  little  earlier,  a  stage  route  from  Nashua  via 
Hollis,  Brookline  and  Mason  to  New  Ipswich  was  established.  At  Nashua 
the  line  connected  with  the  Nashua  and  Lowell  Railroad,  which  was 
opened  to  public  travel  in  the  month  of  October,  1838,  and  made  three 
round  trips  per  week,  leaving  Nashua  on  Mondays,  Wednesdays  and 
Fridays  at  9  o'clock  A.  M.,  and  returning  on  Tuesdays,  Thursdays  and 
Saturdays.  The  stagecoach  horses  both  on  the  outward  and  inward 
trips  were  changed  in  Brookline,  the  shifting  being  done  at  the  barn  in 
the  village  connected  with  "the  old  yellow  house,"  then  the  property  and 
residence  of  James  Parker,  Jr.  The  line  was  equipped  with  Concord 
coaches  during  the  last  part  of  its  existence.  From  its  beginning  to  its 
ending  it  carried  the  United  States  mails  to  and  from  the  towns  located 
on  its  route.  It  was  discontinued  in  1848  when  by  reason  of  the  comple- 
tion of  the  Worcester  and  Nashua  railroad  it  ceased  to  be  profitable. 

The  Worcester  and  Nashua  railroad  was  opened  to  public  travel 
Dec.  18,  1848.  Soon  after  the  opening  of  the  road  the  government  es- 
tablished a  mail  route  between  Pepperell,  Mass.,  and  Brookline.  The 
establishment  of  this  new  route  was  the  cause  of  the  opening  of  a  new 
stage  line  for  the  transportation  of  the  mail  between  these  towns;  an 
arrangement  which  was  in  the  highest  degree  satisfactory  to  Brookline 
people  because  of  the  fact  that  they  thus  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  receiving 
their  mail  daily,  instead  of  tri-weekly,  as,  up  to  this  time,  they  had  been 
accustomed  to  receive  it.  And  also  because  it  brought  them  into  closer 
contact  with  the  outside  business  world. 

The  mail  continued  to  be  carried  over  this  route  until  about  1869, 
when  the  route  was  discontinued  and  a  new  one  established  between 
Townsend,  Mass.,  and  Brookline.  Over  this  latter  route  during  its  exist- 
ence the  town  received  and  sent  out  two  mails  daily.  This  route  was 
abolished  by  the  opening  of  the  Brookline  and  Pepperell  railroad  in  1892; 
since  when  the  mails  arrive  and  depart  twice  daily. 

Postmasters  and  Their  Terms  of  Office. 

David  Harris,  appointed  Jan.  2,  1828;  William  S.  Crosby,  appointed 
June  4,  1832;   David  Harris,  appointed  Sept.  11,  1834;  James  N.  Tucker, 


312  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

appointed  July  30,  1842;  Ithimar  B.  Sawtell,  appointed  Dec.  4,  1844; 
Reuben  Baldwin,  appointed  April  6,  1846;  James  N.  Tucker,  appointed 
July  25,  1849;  Joseph  C.  Tucker,  appointed  April  26,  1850;  Sumner  S. 
Kendall,  appointed  April  14,  1853;  Henry  B.  Stiles,  appointed  June  5, 
1861;  George  E.  Stiles,  appointed  Dec.  ,  1892;  Geo.  W.  Bridges,  ap- 
pointed March  28,  1895;  Fred  A.  Hall,  appointed  April  18,  1913. 

At  the  present  time  (1914)  the  post  office  is  located  in  the  store  of 
A.  A.  Hall  on  Main  street. 

1829.  The  town  was  for  the  first  time  divided  into  fire  wards.  The 
engine  company  consisted  of  eighteen  men  as  appears  from  the  following 
copy  of  an  entry  on  one  of  the  town's  old  order  books: 

"Engine  Men 

April  18th;  This  certifies  that  Rufus  Center,  Alonzo  Bailey,  Alpheus 
Shattuck,  Lawrence  Bailey,  Europe  Shattuck,  William  Whitcomb,  Asia 
Shattuck,  James  Parker,  Moody  Lancy,  Samuel  Gilson,  Asher  Mcintosh, 
John  Conic,  Benjamin  C.  Jaques,  James  Wallis,  Louisiana  Lancy,  Joseph 
Smith,  Silas  D.  Tanner,  and  America  Shattuck  are  legally  appointed  to 
be  engine  men  in  Brookline 

Attest,  Eldad  Sawtell,  Clerk." 

The  original  certificate,  of  which  the  foregoing  is  a  copy,  was  prob- 
ably returned  to  the  state  authorities  at  Concord.  It  was  made  in  ac- 
cordance with  a  state  .law  passed  in  1815,  and  which  was  still  in  force,  a 
clause  from  one  of  the  provisions  of  which  was  as  follows:  "18  men  in 
all  towns  where  there  are  fire  engines  exempt  or  excused  from  military 
duty,  except  in  annual  June  trainings." 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  313 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Current  Events,  Incidents  and  Happenings. 

1830-1860. 

Population  in  1830 — Laying  Out  of  Three  New  Highways — Star  Shower 
of  1833— The  Town's  Bass  Viol— Stoves  Installed  for  the  First 
Time  in  the  Old  Meeting-house — Disappearance  of  the  Meeting- 
house Sounding  Board — Building  of  the  Stone  Bridge  near  Abel 
Foster's  Sawmill — Vaccination  of  the  Town's  Inhabitants — Build- 
ing of  the  Congregational  Meeting-house — Population  in  1840 — 
Town  Poor  Farm — Proposed  Change  in  Name  of  Town — The 
Ladies'  Benevolent  Society — Inventory  of  1848 — Population  in 
1850 — Delegate  to  Constitutional  Convention  in  1852 — The  Steam 
Sawmill  Fire— New  Fire  Engine— The  Old  Militia  Band— Brook- 
line  Brass  Band  and  Its  Musical  Festival  in  1866 — Brookline  Cornet 
Band — The  Prohibitory  Liquor  Law — Date  of  the  Building  and 
Dedication  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

1830.  Population,  627. 

1831.  April  1,  the  town  voted — "To  lay  out  a  road  from  Calvin 
Clemans  (Clement?)  to  Philip  Farnsworth's."  At  the  date  of  this  vote 
Clement  was  living  in  the  house  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Mason, 
about  two  miles  north  of  the  village,  which  afterwards  became  the  prop- 
erty and  for  many  years  the  home  of  the  late  Jonas  French,  Sr. ;  and  the 
road  referred  to  in  the  vote  was  the  highway  which  at  the  present  time 
leads  out  of  the  highway  to  Mason,  on  its  east  side,  a  few  rods  west  of 
the  site  of  the  old  Clement  house,  and  passes  in  a  northeasterly  direction, 
crossing  the  Robbins'  brook — to  the  old  Sampson  Farnsworth  place. 

May  26  the  selectmen  laid  out  a  road  from  Thomas  Tarbell's  to 
John  Hutchingson's  house.  At  that  date  Tarbell  was  living  in  a  house 
which  stood  just  west  of  the  site  at  a  later  period  of  the  schoolhouse  in 
District  No.  6;  and  the  road  in  question  was  identical  with  the  road  at 
the  present  time  leading  from  the  old  site  of  the  schoolhouse  to  the  old 
Nathaniel  Hutchingson  farm. 


314  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

In  September  of  that  year  the  town  voted — "To  pay  forty  dollars  for 
stone  to  be  furnished  on  the  ground  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  wall 
around  the  pond  cemetery."  The  wall  was  subsequently  built  by  Samuel 
Gilson,  Jr. 

1832.  November  22  the  town  voted  to  accept — "A  road  Beginning 
near  the  bridge  near  Baldwin's  mills  thence  easterly  across  Jonas  Smith's 
land  to  land  of  Eli  Parker  thence  easterly  across  sd  Parker's  land  to  the 
road  to  Christopher  Farley's  near  the  bridge  across  the  river."  At  the 
date  of  the  foregoing  vote  Reuben  Baldwin  was  operating  the  sawmill  in 
South  Brookline  which  at  the  present  time  is  owned  by  Charles  J.  Stickney; 
and  the  said  road  was  identical  with  the  road  at  the  present  time  leading 
out  of  the  south  side  of  the  highway  to  Townsend  at  a  point  just  south  of 
the  bridge  over  the  Wallace  brook,  and  running  southerly  to  Bohonon's 
bridge,  so  called. 

1833.  The  prices  to  be  paid  for  labor  this  year  were  fixed  by  the  town 
as  follows:  for  men  ten  cents  per  hour;   for  oxen,  eight  cents  per  hour. 

The  "Star  Shower"  of  1833. 

Those  of  Brookline's  inhabitants  who  happened  to  be  awake  and  out 
of  doors  before  daylight  on  the  morning  of  Jan.  19,  1833,  were  witnesses  to 
a  most  remarkable  display  of  heavenly  fireworks.  The  entire  expanse  of 
the  upper  atmosphere  was  filled  with  "shooting  stars"  which  coming, 
apparently,  from  every  direction,  crossed  and  recrossed  each  other's  paths 
in  bewildering  confusion.  Many  years  after  the  event,  one  of  the  town's 
then  oldest  inhabitants,  who  had  witnessed  the  display,  in  speaking  of  it, 
said  that  it  appeared  to  her — "as  if  all  the  stars  in  heaven  were  falling 
from  their  places,  and  that  the  sight,  although  a  most  beautiful  one,  was  in 
its  effects  most  awe-inspiring."  The  display  was  witnessed  throughout 
the  country. 

Brookline's  Bass  Viol. 

1835.  At  this  time  Brookline  was  and  for  several  years  has  been 
the  owner  of  a  bass  viol.  How,  when  or  from  where  the  instrument  came 
into  the  town's  possession  is  unknown.  Several  years  prior  to  1835  an 
attempt  has  been  made  to  procure  a  vote  to  sell  it.  The  attempt  failed 
and,  for  the  time  being,  the  matter  was  dropped. 

In  1835,  however,  at  a  town  meeting  holden  on  the  28th  day  of  No- 
vember the  viol  was  again  brought  into  public  notice  by  an  article  in  the 
warrant  which  called  for  its  being  sold  or  otherwise  disposed  of.    After  a 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN    OF   BROOKLINE  315 

heated  discussion  the  article  was  disposed  of  by  the  following  vote: 
"That  the  bass  viol  shall  still  be  owned  by  said  town  and  that  the  select- 
men put  it  into  the  hands  of  some  person  who  will  keep  it  well  strung  at 
his  own  expense  and  bring  it  to  the  meeting-house  when  religious  meetings 
are  holden  in  the  same  and  use  the  same  according  to  his  best  skill  to 
promote  religious  harmony." 

At  this  time  the  Congregational  Church  and  society  and  in  fact  the 
town's  entire  population  divided  into  two  factions  were  engaged  in  dis- 
cussing the  question  of  the  propriety  of  using  stringed,  wind,  or  other 
musical  instruments  in  the  Sunday  services  of  the  choir.  Those  who 
were  opposed  to  the  practice,  representing  the  more  conservative  part  of 
the  community,  argued  that  for  men  to  worship  the  Supreme  Being  by 
the  use  of  any  kind  of  musical  instrument  other  than  that  with  which  he 
was  naturally  endowed,  viz,  his  voice,  was  sacrilegious.  This  faction  was 
especially  opposed  to  the  use  of  the  viol  in  question.  Probably  because 
its  use  even  in  church  music  was  suggestive  of  worldly  pleasures,  and 
therefore  calculated  to  draw  the  minds  of  the  congregation  away  from 
the  contemplation  of  subjects  fitting  for  the  day  and  send  them  wandering 
off  into  by  and  forbidden  ways. 

On  the  other  hand  the  radicals,  those  who  favored  the  use  of  the 
viol,  laughed  their  opponents  to  scorn  and  called  them  old  fogies  and 
their  arguments  antiquated ;  claiming  that  the  use  of  musical  instruments 
as  an  aid  to  the  voice  in  singing  divine  praises  was  no  more  sacrilegious 
then,  than  it  was  in  the  days  when  King  David  played  on  a  harp  of  a 
thousand  strings,  or  when  Miriam  sang  her  song  of  triumph  and  accom- 
panied it  with  the  timbrel.  In  the  end  the  matter  in  dispute  was  carried 
into  town  meeting  and  settled  as  is  recorded  in  the  foregoing  vote.  The 
viol  was  in  use  in  the  choir  for  many  subsequent  years.  But  whoever 
became  its  final  custodian  or  whatever  finally  became  of  it  are  today 
matters  of  conjecture  only. 

At  the  said  November  town  meeting  it  was  voted — "To  purchase  a 
stove  or  stoves  and  pipes  sufficient  to  warm  the  meeting-house,"  and 
Moses  Shattuck,  Reuben  Baldwin  and  James  Parker,  Jr.,  were  elected  a 
a  committee  to  carry  the  vote  into  effect.  The  stoves  were  installed  in  the 
house  the  same  year. 

Prior  to  that  year  the  old  meeting-house  had  been  without  heating 
facilities.  For  although  at  the  time  of  its  being  built' it  was  provided  with 
chimneys,  the  chimneys  had  never  been  provided  with  fireplaces.  Conse- 
quently, during  all  the  winters  of  the  seventy  which  had  come  and 
gone  since  the  house  was  completed  in  1791,  the  worshipers  within  its 


316  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

walls  whose  means  enabled  them  to  do  so,  in  order  to  be  able  to  endure 
the  cold  with  any  sense  of  comfort  whatever,  had  been  compelled  to  pro- 
vide themselves  with  little  tin  or  zinc  stoves  heated  by  "tallow  dips," 
and  called  "foot- warmers."  From  which  the  fortunate  possessors  derived 
sufficient  warmth  to  enable  them  to  listen  with  some  degree  of  compla- 
cency to  the  sermon,  while  their  stoveless  neighbors  were  shivering  out- 
wardly and,  doubtless,  in  many  instances,  swearing  inwardly. 

Disappearance  of  the  Sounding  Board. 

At  that  same  meeting,  also,  it  was  voted — "To  take  down  the  sound- 
ing board  and  sell  it  to  the  highest  bidder."  Subsequently,  and,  according 
to  the  records,  during  the  same  year,  the  sounding  board  was  taken  down 
and  sold  to  David  Willoughby.  And  thus  the  mystery  connected  with  its 
disappearance  is  at  last  cleared  away. 

1837.  The  wooden  bridge  over  the  stream  near  the  sawmill  of  Abel 
Foster,  on  the  highway  to  Mason,  was  replaced  by  one  built  of  stone. 
Dr.  Harris,  by  a  vote  of  the  town — "Vaccinated  all  its  inhabitants  with 
kine  pox  who  have  not  had  it."  and  received  for  his  services  sixty -seven 
and  sixty-five  one  hundredth  dollars. 

1839.  The  Congregational  meeting-house  was  built  and  dedicated. 
Colburn  Green  was  still  holding  the  position  of  county  coroner,  and  Capt. 
John  Smith  that  of  deputy  sheriff.  The  price  of  labor  was  eighty-three 
and  one-half  cents  per  day.  The  selectmen  received  for  their  services  each 
twenty  dollars  per  year  and  found  themselves.  Asa  Betterly  received 
twenty  dollars  per  thousand  for  planks  furnished  the  town  for  repairing 
the  pond  bridge. 

1840.  Population,  652. 

Two  soldiers  of  the  Revolution,  Eleazer  Gilson  and  Abel  Hodgman, 
were  still  living  in  town.  The  main  part  of  the  village  tavern,  Nissitisset 
house,  was  built  this  year  by  Daniel  Bills.  Highway  from  Jeremiah 
Hood's  house,  in  the  Milford  line,  to  the  main  road  from  Brookline  to  Mil- 
ford  was  laid  out  and  accepted. 

Town  Poor  Farm. 

1841.  Prior  to  this  year  the  keeping  of  the  town's  poor  had  been  put 
up  at  public  auction,  each  individual  case  being  farmed  out  to  the  lowest 
bidder.  This  practice,  although  a  very  convenient  and,  perhaps  under 
the  circumstances,  even  a  necessary  one,  had  been  far  from  satisfactory  to 
the  majority  of  the  townspeople ;  and  year  by  year  there  had  been  devel- 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  317 

oping  in  the  community  a  strong  sentiment  against  its  continuance. 
This  sentiment  found  expression  at  a  town  meeting  holden  March  9th  of 
this  year,  when  it  was  voted  to  purchase  a  poor  farm,  and  Samuel  Farns- 
worth,  Jr.,  George  Daniels,  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Jr.,  and  Luther  Rock- 
wood  were  elected  as  a  purchasing  committee. 

On  the  19th  day  of  April  following,  the  committee  purchased  of  Asa 
Burgess  the  land  and  buildings  on  the  same  located  on  the  east  side  of  what 
was  afterwards  known  as  the  Poor  Farm  road  in  the  northerly  part  of  the 
town  which  was  subsequently  for  many  years  used  as  a  town  farm,  paying 
therefore  the  sum  of  fourteen  hundred  dollars. 

September  20th  of  the  same  year  the  town  voted  to  make  the  poor- 
house  a  workhouse,  and  elected  John  Hemphill  as  its  manager;  thus  es- 
tablishing for  the  first  time  in  town  the  office  of  overseer  of  the  poor.  The 
farm  thus  purchased  continued  to  be  used  as  a  home  for  the  town's  poor 
until  the  year  1864. 

In  the  meantime,  on  the  very  year  of  its  establishment,  the  legislature 
passed  an  act  by  which  all  settlements  gained  in  towns  prior  to  1796  were 
declared  to  be  void.  By  the  passage  of  this  act,  the  number  of  paupers  to 
be  supported  by  the  county  was  largely  increased.  In  1839,  the  county 
judges,  Hon.  Jacob  Whittemore  of  Antrim,  and  Jesse  Carr  of  Goffstown, 
who  at  that  time  were  in  charge  of  all  matters  appertaining  to  the  county 
paupers,  with  a  view  of  diminishing  the  county  expenses,  purchased  a 
farm  located  in  Goffstown  to  be  used  as  a  county  farm.  In  1850  this 
farm  was  opened  to  the  admission  of  paupers.  In  1861,  the  legislature 
passed  a  law  voiding  all  settlements  gained  in  towns  prior  to  1840.  By 
this  act  the  county  became  responsible  for  the  support  of  nearly  all  pau- 
pers; and  the  result  was  that  nearly  all  of  the  towns  sold  their  poor  farms. 

At  a  town  meeting  holden  Nov.  8,  1864,  Brookline  voted  to  sell  its 
poor  farm,  and  elected  Wilkes  W.  Corey,  Abel  Foster  and  James  Clinton 
Parker  as  a  committee  to  effect  the  sale.  The  committee  immediately 
proceeded  to  divide  it  into  suitable  lots  and,  during  this  and  the  following 
year,  sold  the  same  at  public  auction.  Lot  number  13,  which  included  the 
farm  buildings,  was  sold  to  William  Gilson,  James  H.  Hall,  and  John 
Burge,  on  the  24th  day  of  February,  1865. 

1846.  At  the  March  town  meeting  of  this  year  there  was  an  article 
in  the  warrant — "To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  alter  the  name  of  this 
town  from  the  name  of  Brookline  to  Oregon."  The  article  was  passed  over. 
The  year  was  noted  for  the  settlement  by  compromise  of  a  long-continued 
controversy  between  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  over  the  question 
of  title  in  and  to  the  northwest  territory,  which  each  claimed,  and  in  the 


318  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

dispute  concerning  which  matters  had  reached  the  point  where  war  be- 
tween the  two  countries  was  imminent.  By  the  compromise,  which  was 
suggested  by  Great  Britain,  the  49th  parallel  was  fixed  upon  as  the  bound- 
ary line  between  the  United  States  and  Canada.  It  was  probably  in  con- 
nection with  this  event  that  some  patriotic  citizen  was  inspired  with  the 
idea  of  a  change  in  the  town's  name. 

The  steam  sawmill  which  stood  on  the  west  side  of  the  street  leading 
easterly  from  Main  street,  at  a  point  near  the  store  of  Tucker  and  Stiles 
to  the  north  highway  to  Hollis,  was  built  this  year. 

Milo  Rockwood,  a  son  of  Luther  and  Kesiah  Rockwood,  was  killed 
by  coming  in  contact  with  a  saw  in  the  sawmill  of  Levi  Rockwood  in  South 
Brookline.  He  was  a  young  man,  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  in  the  com- 
munity. He  was  buried  with  military  honors  by  the  local  militia  company, 
of  which  he  was  a  member. 

The  Ladies'  Benevolent  Society. 

1847.  This  society  was  organized  January  20th  of  this  year.  Its 
object,  as  set  forth  by  its  constitution,  was — "To  assist  any  among  us  who 
may  need  and  desire  assistance;  and  to  aid  such  other  objects  of  benevo- 
lence as  may  present  themselves  from  time  to  time,  according  to  our 
means";  and  at  the  same  time — "To  improve  our  minds  by  profitable 
conversation,  reading,  &c." 

The  society  as  originally  constituted,  although  it  originated  with  the 
ladies  of  the  Congregational  Church  and  society — then  the  only  church  in 
town— was  intended  to  be  unsectarian  in  its  nature;  a  policy  which,  so 
far  as  possible,  it  maintained  throughout  its  existence;  a  period  of  twenty- 
five  years.  It  was  exclusively  a  woman's  organization.  It  commenced 
its  existence  with  a  membership  of  thirty-three  in  number.  Its  first  board 
of  officers  were  as  follows : 

President,  Mrs.  Thomas  Bennett, 

Vice-President,  Mrs.  Rhoda  Betterly, 

Directors,  Mrs.  David  Harris,  Mrs.  James  Parker, 

Secretary,  Mrs.  Daniel  Goodwin, 

Treasurer,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Hall. 

In  1856  the  society  was  re-organized  under  the  same  name,  but  with 
a  new  constitution  and  new  by-laws  which,  however,  were  practically 
identical  with  the  original.  Under  its  re-organized  conditions,  the  society's 
first  board  of  officers  were  as  follows : 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  319 

President,  Mrs.  Linville  J.  Hall,  > 

Vice-President,  Mrs.  Amos  Merrill, 

Secretary,  Mrs.  Daniel  Goodwin, 

Treasurer,  Mrs.  Lucy  Pierce. 

Directors,  Mrs.  Mary  Wright,  Mrs.  Calvin  R.  Shedd. 

In  1861  the  society  was  again  re-organized,  this  time  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  Brookline  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Under  this  last  or- 
ganization the  complexion  of  the  society  was  so  far  changed  that  gentle- 
men were  admitted  to  membership.  At  this  time  its  membership  was 
thirty-four;  and  its  board  of  officers  was  made  up  as  follows: 

President,  Mrs.  Orman  F.  Shattuck, 

Vice-president,  Mrs.  Benjamin  F.  Kendall, 

Secretary,  Miss  Marietta  Dustin, 

Treasurer,  Mrs.  Nathaniel  B.  Hutchingson, 

Directors,  Mrs.  Lucy  Blodgett,  Mrs.  Henry  B.  Stiles,  Mrs.  Amos 

Merrill. 

The  society  had  an  existence  of  over  twenty-five  years,  its  records 
showing  its  last  regular  meeting  to  have  been  holden  Sept.  29,  1872. 

At  the  present  time  (1914)  organizations  similar  to  the  foregoing  are 
maintained  by  the  ladies  of  both  churches. 

Inventory  of  Brookline  for  the  Year  1848.* 

"No.  and  value  of  Polls— 87 $  4,296.00 

No.  and  value  of  cows,  oxen  and  other  neat  stock — 391 ....  $  9,944.00 

No.  and  value  of  sheep— 108 $  147.00 

No.  of  buildings  not  specially  designated — 250 

Value  of  improved  and  unimproved  lands —       $153,289 .  00 

Value  of  carriages $  300 .  00 

Value  of  shares  in  bank  and  other  corporations $  160.00 

Amount  of  money  on  hand,  at  interest  and  on  deposit $  187.54 

Value  of  stock  in  trade $  80 .  60 

Value  of  mills $  87.00 

Amount  of  Inventory $256,100  00" 

1850.     Population,  718. 

At  a  special  town  meeting  holden  February  6  the  citizens  were  called 
upon  to  act  on  the  following  article  in  the  warrant — "To  see  if  the  town 

*  See  Inventory  of  Hillsborough  County,  1848. 


320  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

will  vote  to  build  a  new  townhouse,  or  to  remove  the  old  house  at  or  near 
the  centre  of  the  town,  and  fit  up  the  lower  part  of  the  same  as  a  school- 
room for  school  district  number  four,  and  the  upper  part  for  a  hall  to  be 
used  for  town  meetings,  and  also  as  a  suitable  place  for  religious  and  scien- 
tific instruction;  and  for  all  social  gatherings  the  purposes  of  which  are 
sanctioned  by  the  good  taste  of  the  present  age." 

The  citizens  voted  not  to  build  a  new  house,  but  did  elect  a  commit- 
tee to  see  about  repairing  the  old  one.     The  committee  never  reported. 

1852.  March  12  Isaac  Sawtelle  was  elected  as  a  delegate  to  the  Con- 
stitutional Convention  which  was  holden  at  Concord  on  the  first  Wednes- 
day in  November. 

The  Steam  Sawmill  Fire. 

This  year  was  marked  in  local  history  by  the  destruction  by  fire  of 
the  steam  sawmill  at  the  north  end  of  the  compact  part  of  the  village. 
The  fire  occurred  in  the  forenoon  of  a  day  in  June.  A  stiff  breeze  from 
the  northwest  was  blowing  at  the  time.  The  wind  carried  the  sparks  and 
burning  cinders  over  and  set  fire  to  many  of  the  buildings  at  the  south  end 
of  the  village  Main  street.  At  one  time  during  the  fire's  progress  eleven 
dwelling  houses  were  simultaneously  reported  to  be  in  flames.  The  only 
fire  engine  in  town  was  the  old  hand  tub;  and  so  inadequate  to  meet  the 
exigencies  of  the  case  was  it  deemed,  that  messengers  asking  for  assistance 
were  dispatched  to  Hollis  and  other  neighboring  towns.  Hollis  responded 
to  the  call  and  sent  its  engine.  But  before  it  arrived  the  local  firemen, 
aided  by  the  citizens,  who  turned  out  en  masse,  had  succeeded  in  checking 
the  progress  of  the  flames,  and  in  the  end,  although  considerable  damage 
was  done,  the  sawmill  was  the  only  building  to  be  destroyed. 

The  New  Fire  Engine. 

As  a  result  of  the  claimed  inefficiency  of  the  old  "hand  tub"  at  the  time 
of  the  steam  mill  fire,  soon  after  the  fire  occurred,  certain  citizens  began 
to  agitate  and  discuss  the  question  of  the  town's  purchasing  a  new  fire 
engine.  As  usual  in  discussions  of  questions  of  this  nature,  the  towns- 
people divided  into  two  factions,  one  faction  favoring  and  the  other 
opposing  the  purchase.  In  the  end,  those  in  favor  of  the  purchase  carried 
the  day,  and  on  the  second  day  of  September  the  town  voted  to  purchase 
a  new  engine,  and  at  the  same  time  elected  S.  Warren  Shattuck,  James  N. 
Tucker  and  Ensign  Bailey  as  a  purchasing  committee.  Soon  after  its 
appointment  and  during  the  same  year,  the  said  committee  purchased 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  321 

the  Hunniman  fire  engine    which  ever  since  has  been  and  at  the  present 
time  is  in  service. 

The  new  machine's  advent  in  town  was  greeted  by  those  who  had 
opposed  its  purchase  with  contemptuous  smiles  and  derisive  words. 
And  when,  one  afternoon  soon  after  its  arrival,  it  was  brought  out  for  the 
purpose  of  testing  its  capabilities,  they  appeared  in  force  with  the  old  tub 
prepared  to  dispute  the  claimed  superiority.  Both  companies  prepared 
their  respective  mahcines  for  the  test  which,  by  agreement  between  them, 
was  to  consist  of  each  engine's  playing  a  stream  against  the  somewhat 
decayed  shingles  on  the  roof  of  Tucker  and  Stiles' -store,  (the  old  store), 
the  company  whose  machine  did  the  most  damage  by  way  of  tearing  up 
and  ripping  off  the  shingles  to  have  the  honor  of  having  won  the  victory. 
The  new  engine  played  first.  But,  although  it  threw  a  great  volume  of 
water,  the  stream  lacked  force  and  had  little  or  no  effect  upon  the  sta- 
bility of  the  roof  covering.  Then  the  "old  tub"  took  its  turn  and  the 
stream  tore  up  and  scattered  the  rotten  shingles  like,  as  one  spectator 
expressed  it, — "They  were  a  pile  of  dead  autumn  leaves."  Its  company 
members  immediately  claimed  the  victory  and  made  the  welkin  ring  with 
their  triumphant  cheers.  In  the  midst  of  the  excitement  that  followed, 
Orman  F.  Shattuck,  the  leading  hoseman  of  the  new  machine  company, 
accidentally,  probably,  held  his  hose  pipe  in  such  a  position  that  the 
spray  from  its  nozzle  fell  upon  the  members  of  the  other  company,  by 
whom  it  was  received  as  a  challenge  to  battle,  which  they  immediately 
accepted.  Capt.  Artemas  Wright,  who  for  the  nonce  was  acting  as  their 
foreman  ordered  his  men  to  man  the  brakes,  and  at  the  same  time  directed 
his  leading  hoseman  to  turn  the  stream  full  upon  the  members  of  the  new 
company.  His  commands  and  directions  were  obeyed  to  the  letter.  The 
stream  from  the  pipe  struck  squarely  in  the  face  of  Shattuck  who,  blinded 
and  nearly  strangled  by  the  force  and  volume,  endeavored,  for  a  mo- 
ment, to  retaliate  by  an  answering  stream;  but  was  finally  forced  to  drop 
his  pipe  and  make  an  ignominious  retreat;  as  did  also  all  the  members  of 
his  company ;  not,  however,  until  they  were  thoroughly  wet  down. 

Military  Bands  of  Music. 

Since  the  town  was  incorporated  it  has,  at  different  times  in  its  his- 
tory, been  the  home  of  three  separate  and  distinct  military  bands  of 
music.  The  first  of  these  was  the  old  militia  band,  so  called,  which  was 
associated  with  and  furnished  music  for  the  old  militia  company.  Origi- 
nally, the  company  marched  to  the  music  furnished  by  a  fifer  and  a  drum- 


322  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

mer  who  were  paid  by  the  State.  But,  as  years  passed  by,  the  fifer  and 
drummer  were  joined  by  musicians  who  played  upon  musical  instruments 
of  other  and  different  descriptions.  In  1847,  by  reason  of  these  additions 
to  its  ranks,  the  company's  corps  of  musicians  had  increased  to  eight  in 
number,  and  attained  to  the  dignity  of  being  called  "The  Band."  The 
following  is  the  list  of  the  names  of  its  members  at  that  time  and  the 
kind  of  instrument  played  by  each:  George  W.  L.  Hobart,  E-flat  bugle; 
William  Wallace,  clarionet;  Lemuel  Brooks,  ophiclide;  Moses  Bohonon, 
trombone;  Abner  H.  Bills,  trombone;  Kendall  Shattuck,  snare  drum; 
Eliab  Shattuck,  bass  drum.  This  band  went  out  of  existence  with  the 
militia  Company  in  1848. 

The  Brook  line  Brass  Band. 

The  Brookline  Brass  Band  was  organized  in  the  summer  and  fall  of 
1851.  As  originally  constituted,  its  membership  consisted  of  sixteen  men, 
as  follows :  Wilkes  W.  Corey,  John  S.  Daniels,  Joshua  J.  Hobart,  Fernando 
Shattuck,  Luke  Baldwin,  N.  Herman  Shattuck,  Orman  F.  Shattuck, 
William  B.  Rockwood,  John  Hall,  William  Wallace,  Eliab  Shattuck,  Ira 
Daniels,  George  W.  L.  Hobart,  Harvey  M.  Hall,  David  D.  Rockwood, 
Benjamin  Shattuck. 

During  the  thirty  or  more  years  of  its  existence,  in  addition  to  its 
original  members,  there  were  enrolled  in  its  ranks  at  various  times  eleven 
others  of  the  town's  citizens,  as  follows:  Bela  G.  Cochran,  Charles  S.  Wil- 
loughby,  Albert  W.  Corey,  Charles  Coggin,  Frank  L.  Willoughby,  John 
E.  French,  Clinton  Coggin,  Leroy  A.  Wallace,  J.  Edgar  Hobson,  Charles 
E.  Shattuck,  Clinton  Bohonon. 

The  band's  first  leader  was  George  W.  L.  Hobart,  who  held  the  posi- 
tion for  twenty-five  consecutive  years.  For  the  first  ten  years  of  its  exist- 
ence it  was  under  the  instruction  of  Peter  A.  Clark  of  New  Ipswich,  who 
at  this  time  enjoyed  throughout  this  part  of  New  England  the  reputation 
of  being  an  excellent  musician,  both  vocally  and  also  as  a  performer  on 
wind  instruments;  his  favorite  instrument  being  the  E-flat  bugle,  in  the 
playing  of  which,  his  admirers  claimed,  he  was  second  to  none,  the  cele- 
brated Ned  Kendall  alone  excepted.  About  1865,  Mr.  Clark  retired  from 
his  position  as  the  band's  instructor.  He  was  succeeded  by  Alonzo  Bond 
of  Boston,  Mass. 

Musical  Festival,  1866. 

In  1866,  while  under  Mr.  Bond's  instruction,  and  at  his  suggestion, 
the  "Old  Brass"  as  it  had  then  begun  to  be  called,  issued  invitations  to 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  323 

several  of  the  military  bands  located  in  the  towns  and  cities  in  this  vi- 
cinity to  attend  a  musical  festival  to  be  holden  in  Brookline  on  the  6th 
day  of  September  of  that  year.  The  invitation  was  accepted  by  the 
bands  in  Nashua,  Milford,  Wilton,  Hollis,  Dunstable,  Mass.,  Townsend, 
Mass.,  Pepperell,  Mass.,  and  Groton  Junction,  Mass.,  each  of  which  was 
present  on  the  occasion. 

The  scene  of  the  gathering  was  in  the  grove  on  the  north  shore  of 
Muscatanipus  pond.  Besides  the  citizens  of  Brookline,  who  turned  out 
en  masse,  there  were  present  large  delegations  from  neighboring  towns. 
At  ten  o'clock  the  procession,  having  already  been  formed,  marched  from 
Main  street  to  the  grove  in  the  following  order:  each  band  being  followed 
by  their  respective  delegations — Brookline  Brass  Band,  G.  W.  L.  Hobart, 
leader,  including  Prof.  Alonzo  Bond,  leader  of  Bond's  Band  of  Boston; 
Pepperell  Cornet  Band,  Augustus  Shattuck,  leader,  sixteen  pieces; 
Townsend,  Mass.,  Cornet  Band,  Stephen  A.  Tyler,  leader,  fourteen  pieces; 
Hollis  Cornet  Band,  W.  A.  Trow,  leader,  nineteen  pieces;  Milford  Cornet 
Band,  A.  A.  Nickles,  leader,  W.  C.  Kidder,  director,  including  Walter  Dig- 
nam,  leader  of  Manchester  Band,  nineteen  pieces;  Wilton  Cornet  Band, 
Carl  Krebs,  leader,  eighteen  pieces;  Nashua  Cornet  Band,  B.  F.  Sargent, 
leader,  E.  T.  Baldwin,  director,  fifteen  pieces;  Dunstable,  Mass.,  Cornet 
Band,  H.  Spalding,  leader,  eighteen  pieces;  Groton  Junction,  Mass., 
Band,  fourteen  pieces. 

On  arriving  at  the  grove  the  following  citizens  were  elected  as  officers 
of  the  day:  Rev.  C.  H.  Chase,  President;  Charles  A.  Priest,  Secretary; 
J.  Alonzo  Hall,  Chief  Marshal;  David  Hobart,  James  Clinton  Parker, 
Charles  A.  Priest,  Henry  B.  Stiles,  Dr.  David  P.  Stowell,  William  Wright, 
and  Nathaniel  Hobart,  Assistant  Marshals. 

The  estimated  number  of  people  present  was  three  thousand.  At 
eleven  o'clock  the  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  Rev.  Mr.  Chase.  The 
order  of  exercises  was  as  follows:  Music  by  the  Brookline  Brass  Band; 
prayer  by  President  Chase;  addresses  by  President  Chase  and  Henry  K. 
Kemp.  Esq.,  of  Brookline,  after  which  each  of  the  bands  present  played 
select  pieces  of  music. 

At  the  close  of  the  exercises  more  than  eight  hundred  people,  includ- 
ing the  bands,  partook  of  a  most  bountiful  banquet,  which  had  been  pro- 
vided for  the  occasion  by  the  citizens  of  Brookline.. 

At  the  close  of  the  banquet,  the  consolidated  bands,  consisting  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  pieces,  played  patriotic  airs.  The  procession  was  then 
re-formed  and  marched  back  to  the  square  in  front  of  Tucker  and  Stiles 
store,  where  the  consolidated  bands,  under  the  leadership  of  Professor 


324  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Bond,  by  way  of  a  finale,  played  several  popular  airs.    The  several  bands 
then  adjourned  to  and  met  in  convention  in  the  hall  of  Tucker  and  Stiles. 

Musical  Association. 

During  the  post  prandial  exercises  at  the  grove,  Professor  Bond,  in  an 
eloquent  speech,  had  suggested  the  idea  of  forming  a  musical  association, 
to  consist  of  the  bands  then  present  and  of  such  other  bands  in  the  vicinity 
as  could  be  induced  to  join  with  them  in  the  enterprise. 

The  idea  was  enthusiastically  received  by  the  members  of  the  bands; 
and  at  a  meeting  in  the  hall  a  motion  to  form  such  an  association  was 
carried  unanimously.  A  committee  of  one  from  each  band  was  appointed 
to  nominate  a  board  of  officers.  And  upon  the  reception  and  adoption  of 
the  committee's  report,  the  following  gentlemen  were  elected  as  the  asso- 
ciation's first  board  of  officers : 

Wilkes  W.  Corey,  Brookline,  President;  E.  T.  Baldwin,  Nashua,  W. 
C.  Kidder,  Milford,  vice-presidents;  E.  A.  Blood,  Pepperell,  Mass.,  sec- 
retary. The  band  leaders  and  the  said  board  of  officers  were  appointed  as 
an  executive  committee. 

In  1868,  this  Association  held  its  second  annual  meeting,  under  the 
name  of  "Band  Convention,"  at  Nashua,  on  the  15th  day  of  September; 
on  which  occasion,  in  addition  to  eight  of  the  bands  of  which  it  was  orig- 
inally composed,  there  were  also  present  bands  from  Hooksett,  Franklin, 
North  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  and  Leominster,  Mass.  The  third  and  last 
convention  of  this  Association  was  held  at  Leominster,  Mass.,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1869. 

This  convention  of  military  bands  was  the  first  of  its  kind  to  be  formed 
in  New  England.  To  Alonzo  Bond  belonged  the  honor  of  originating  the 
idea  of  forming  it.  To  Brookline  belongs  the  honor  of  being  the  place  of 
the  Association's  birth  and  the  scene  of  its  first  convention.  An  honor 
which  is  more  highly  appreciated  because  of  the  fact,  as  was  claimed  at 
the  time  and  never  since  disputed,  that  from  this  musical  festival  in 
Brookline,  Patrick  Gilmore  derived  the  idea  which  inspired  him  to  under- 
take the  work  of  holding  the  first  "Peace  Jubilee,"  which  was  holden  in 
Boston  in  the  fall  of  1869. 

In  1877-78,  the  "Old  Brass,"  by  the  deaths  of  some  of  its  members 
and  removal  from  town  of  others,  had  become  so  diminished  in  numbers 
that  it  became  apparent  that  its  continued  existence  was  dependent  upon 
additional  membership.  Accordingly  new  members  were  taken  in,  and  a 
re-organization  of  the  band  was  effected.     Under  its  re-organized  condi- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  325 

tion  the  names  of  its  members  were  as  follows:  Eldorus  C.  Shattuck, 
John  B.  Hardy,  Henry  A.  Hall,  Alpha  A.  Hall,  Horace  Richmond,  Frank 
Cook,  Francis  Coil,  Willie  A.  Hobart,  Frederic  G.  Hobart,  George  Man- 
ning, Henry  Bohonon,  Clinton  Bohonon,  Charles  L.  Willoughby,  Bela 
G.  Cochran,  Onslow  Daniels,  David  D.  Rockwood. 

David  D.  Rockwood  was  elected  leader.  During  the  remainder  of 
its  existence  it  had,  at  various  times,  as  instructors,  James  Lovejoy,  of 
Hollis,  and  Augustus  Cummings  of  Nashua.  It  continued  to  play  until 
1882;  when  it  quietly  disbanded.  At  the  time  of  its  disbandment,  it 
enjoyed  the  distinction  of  being  the  oldest  military  band  in  the  State,  it 
having  had  a  continuous  existence  of  thirty-one  years. 

Brookline  Cornet  Band. 

This  band,  the  third  to  be  formed  in  town,  was  organized  in  the  fall  of 
1859.  It  was  started  in  opposition  to  the  "Old  Brass";  but  as  a  rival  to 
the  latter  band  it  failed  completely.  It  had  an  existence  of  about  one 
year  and  then  disbanded.  Its  original  membership  was  as  follows :  Charles 
E.  Shattuck,  David  H.  Cochran,  Albert  Foster,  Charles  Bohonon,  John 
E.  French,  Edward  E.  Parker,  William  Wright,  Clinton  Bohonon,  J. 
Edgar  Hobson,  J.  Miron  Stickney,  George  H.  Jefts,  Charles  H.  Stiles 
Perley  A.  Smith,  Daniel  W.  Smith,  Willie  M.  Wright,  Edward  C.  Tucker, 
Henry  Stickney.     Of  its  original  members,  ten  served  in  the  Civil  War. 

1855.  Population,  718;  number  of  polls,  186;  amount  of  inventory, 
$266,333.00;  number  of  sheep,  78;  neat  stock,  457 ;  horses,  113. 

The  Prohibitory  Law. 

This  year  was  famed  for  the  passage  by  the  legislature  of  a  law  pro- 
hibiting the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  throughout  the  state,  except  by 
licenses  granted  to  certain  persons  for  certain  purposes,  and  under  certain 
conditions  therein  named,  specified  and  set  forth. 

It  strictly  prohibited  inn  holders,  saloon  keepers  and  all  other  persons 
from  selling  intoxicating  liquors  to  be  drank  on  the  premises,  or  to  be 
carried  away  in  bulk.    The  law  remained  in  force  for  a  period  of  forty-eight 
years,  or  until   1903;    in  which  year  the  present  license  law  went  into 
effect. 

During  said  period  of  forty-eight  years  there  was  not  a  year  when 
intoxicating  liquors  were  not  sold  openly  and  publicly  in  this  town.  All 
attempts  to  enforce  the  law  were  ineffectual.  Occasionally  parties  were 
arrested  and  fined  for  selling  or  keeping  for  sale.    They  either  paid  their 


326  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

fines  and  kept  on  in  the  business,  or  else  escaped  punishment  by  promis- 
ing to  go  out  of  business  and  left  town,  having  in  the  meantime  sold  out 
to  other  parties  who,  no  less  unscrupulous  than  themselves,  came  in  and 
carried  on  the  business  at  the  old  stand.  And  so  the  farce,  for  farce  it 
was,  went  on  from  year  to  year. 

The  conditions  prevailing  in  Brookline  under  this  law  were  practi- 
cally identical  with  those  existing  in  a  large  proportion  of  the  towns,  and 
in  nearly  all  of  the  cities,  in  the  State. 

Among  the  law's  provisions  was  one  which  provided  for  the  sale  of 
liquors  for  medicinal  and  mechanical  purposes  by  an  agent  appointed  for 
that  purpose  by  the  town's  boards  of  selectmen.  On  the  first  day  of 
April  of  this  year,  Asher  Shattuck  was  appointed  as  the  town's  first 
liquor  agent.  His  fees  for  services  were  fixed  by  law  at  five  dollars  per 
annum,  and  he  was  authorized  to  sell— on  a  doctor's  prescription  only — 
all  liquors  at  a  profit  of  only  twenty-five  per  cent  over  the  original  cost  of 
the  same.  Mr.  Shattuck  was  a  strictly  temperate  and  conscientious  man, 
and  during  his  agency  complied  strictly  with  the  provisions  of  the  law. 
But,  so  far  as  making  money  for  himself  or  materially  aiding  the  tem- 
perance cause,  his  business  was  profitless ;  and  the  same  statement  would 
be  true  of  all  those  in  this  town  who  in  after  years  succeeded  him  in  the 
agency. 

Under  the  present  license  liquor  law  the  town  is  and  for  several  years 
past  has  been  a  no-license  town.  There  are  at  the  present  time  no  places 
within  its  limits  where  intoxicating  liquors  are  openly  sold.  Under  local 
option  its  inhabitants  have  succeeded  in  bringing  about,  in  the  short  space 
of  five  years,  a  state  of  affairs  under  which  the  town  is  freer  from  the 
traffic  in,  and  the  evil  effects  resulting  from  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors 
than  it  ever  was  before  during  its  entire  corporate  existence. 

1858.  March  9,  the  town  voted  "the  use  of  old  meeting-house  to 
the  Methodists  week  days  when  they  want  it  and  it  is  not  in  use  by  the 
town."  At  the  same  time,  "the  use  of  the  house  for  one-half  of  the  time 
Sundays"  was  granted  to  the  Universalists. 

1859.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  meeting-house  on  Main  street  was 
erected  this  year,  and  was  dedicated  with  appropriate  exercises  to  the 
service  of  Almighty  God. 


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HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  327 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 
Brookline  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Rebellion  in  1861,  Brookline  was  near  the 
height  of  its  prosperity.  It  had  a  population  of  756  souls,  and  a  valuation 
of  about  three  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Thousands  of  its  acres  were  still 
covered  with  old  growth  forests,  and  nine  sawmills  were  in  active  opera- 
tion. Its  cleared  lands  were  all  under  cultivation;  there  were  no  deserted 
farm  houses.  Among  its  industries  were  a  tannery,  a  wheelwright's 
shop,  a  sash  and  blind  manufactory,  and  more  than  one  hundred  of  its 
citizens  found  steady  and  remunerative  employment  in  the  coopering 
business,  which  was  then  the  town's  leading  industry.  Three  religious  so- 
cieties,—  Congregational,  Methodist  and  Universalist, — were  flourishing; 
and  its  public  schools  were  filled  with  puplis. 

In  politics  the  Republican  voters  were  in  the  majority  as  shown  by 
the  gubernatorial  vote  at  the  annual  March  meeting,  when  the  whole 
number  of  votes  cast  was  179,  divided  as  follows:  Nathaniel  S.  Berry, 
Republican,  105;  George  Stark,  Democrat,  74.  Party  feeling  ran  high  in 
those  days,  and  the  political  battles  at  the  polls  were  bitterly  fought. 

The  Democrats  in  town  in  common  with  their  brethren  throughout 
the  North  professed  to  believe  in  Jeffersonian  principles,  and  swore  by 
Andrew  Jackson.  But  while  they  believed  in  the  Jeffersonian  principles 
of  the  equality  of  men,  they  were  nevertheless  inclined  to  tolerate  and 
wink  at  the  slavery  of  the  negro.  For  although  they  admitted  that  its  ex- 
istence in  this  country  was  not  exactly  in  accordance  with  the  Jefferson- 
ian idea,  they  were  content  to  justify  it  on  Scriptural  grounds,  and  claimed 
that  even  if  it  was  of  itself  evil,  its  existence  was  necessary  to  the  con- 
tinuance in  power  of  the  Democratic  party;  a  state  of  affairs  upon  which 
in  their  belief  was  based  the  hopes  of  the  future  stability  of  the  Union. 

At  the  presidential  election  they  cast  their  votes  in  common  with  the 
northern  wing  of  the  party  for  Stephen  A.  Douglass;  thus  putting  them- 
selves on  record  as  being  in  favor  of  the  doctrine  of  Squatter  Sovereignty. 

The  Republicans  in  town  also  believed  in  Jeffersonian  principles  and 
some  of  them  swore ;  but  not  by  Andrew  Jackson.  They  were  in  full  accord 
with  their  party's  policy  of  confining  the  institution  of  slavery  to  the 


328  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

States  where  it  then  existed,  and  prohibiting  its  extension  into  new  terri- 
tory.    There  were  but  two  out  and  out  Abolitionists  in  town. 

The  store  of  Tucker  and  Stiles  at  the  west  end  of  the  village  street 
was  generally  regarded  as  the  headquarters  of  the  Republicans,  and  that 
of  Kendall  and  Wright  at  the  east  end  of  the  street  as  the  headquarters  of 
the  Democrats. 

At  this  time  the  only  daily  newspapers  circulating  in  town  were  the 
Boston  Journal  and  the  Boston  Post,  each  of  which  was  represented  by 
one  copy;  the  Journal  being  taken  by  Tucker  and  Stiles,  and  the  Post  by 
Kendall  and  Wright.  Nightly,  during  the  winter  of  1860-61,  the  contents 
of  each  of  these  papers  were  read  aloud  at  the  headquarters  of  the  party 
which  it  represented  to  the  partisans  therein  assembled,  who,  after  listen- 
ing to  the  reading,  having  resolved  themselves  into  a  committee  of  the 
whole,  commented  on  its  news,  and  discussed  the  general  condition  of 
affairs  in  the  country. 

These  discussions,  although  invariably  partisan  in  their  nature,  were 
generally  harmonious  because  they  were  generally  carried  on  by  those 
who  represented  only  one  side  of  the  question  under  consideration.  But 
it  occasionally  happened  that  members  of  one  party  would  stray  into  the 
other  party's  headquarters  and  butt  into  the  debates  there  going  on.  In 
such  cases  all  sense  of  harmony  instantly  disappeared,  discord  took  its 
place,  and  soon  pandemonium  reigned.  The  disputants,  eager  to  uphold 
their  party's  principle  and  throw  down  those  of  their  opponents,  were  all 
engaged  in  talking  at  one  and  the  same  time,  each  one  intent  on  expressing 
his  owTn  opinions  and,  for  the  greater  part,  entirely  oblivious  to  those  of 
his  adversary;  the  majority,  by  way  of  emphasis,  occasionally  punctuating 
their  arguments  with  words  bordering,  at  least,  on  the  profane,  and  ges- 
tures which  were  more  forcible  than  graceful. 

In  these  debates,  the  Democrats,  true  to  their  traditions,  derived 
from  years  of  political  association  with  the  Southern  wing  of  the  party, 
unconsciously  followed  the  trend  of  their  old  affiliations.  They  argued  in 
a  general  way  in  favor  of  the  doctrine  of  Secession,  and  questioned  the 
Government's  right  to  coerce  States  which,  by  withdrawing  from  the 
Union,  might  attempt  to  enforce  that  doctrine.  They  claimed,  moreover, 
that  even  if  the  Government  possessed  that  right  and  should  attempt  to 
enforce  it,  the  attempt  would  be  futile  and  disastrous,  because  of  the 
strong  opposition  to  such  a  course  existing  in  the  North ;  by  reason  of 
which,  in  case  of  war,  a  majority  of  its  citizens  would,  in  their  opinion, 
either  take  up  arms  in  favor  of  the  cause  of  the  South  or,  by  refusing  to 
obey  the  Government's  summons  to  defend  the  Union,  render  its  efforts 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  329 

to  that  end  abortive;  and  among  the  disputants  there  were  not  wanting 
those  who  openly  and  frankly  stated  that  in  case  of  war  they  would  be 
found  among  that  majoirty. 

To  these  and  similar  arguments  the  Republicans,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  replied  in  kind;  controverting  every  statement  of  their  opponents. 

These  meetings  oftentimes  lasted  until  a  late  hour  of  the  night;  and 
frequently  when  they  broke  up,  the  partisans  separated  in  such  frames  of 
mind  as  caused  them  to  hurl  at  each  other  such  opprobious  epithets  as 
"black  republicans"  and  "copper-head";  epithets  which,  in  the  light  of 
subsequent  events  had  as  little  relevancy  and  meaning  as  do  the  nick- 
names which  school  children,  in  their  angry  moments,  apply  to  each 
other.  For,  when  the  war  really  came,  many  of  those  who  in  these  de- 
bates were  most  strenuously  opposed  to  it,  were  among  the  first  to  enlist 
on  the  side  of  the  Union;  while  others  who  in  their  words  were  brave 
fighters  for  the  Union,  still  continued  to  fight  its  battles  in  their  minds 
and  at  a  distance. 

In  the  meantime,  as  the  winter  wore  on,  several  of  the  southern 
States  formally  withdrew  from  the  Union  and,  Feb.  4, 1860,  seven  of  them 
met  in  convention  at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  and  instituted  a  new  government 
under  the  name  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America.  On  the  14th  day 
of  April,  1861,  Fort  Sumpter,  in  the  harbor  of  Charleston,  S.  C,  after  a 
bombardment  lasting  for  thirty-six  hours,  surrendered  to  Confederate 
forces  under  the  command  of  General  Beauregard. 

The  next  day  President  Lincoln  issued  a  proclamation  calling  for 
seventy -five  thousand  volunteers  to  put  down  the  rebellion. 

Extracts  from  Brookline's  Records  Relative  to  the  War. 

On  the  23rd  day  of  April,  eight  days  after  the  date  of  the  President's 
proclamation,  the  town  authorities  of  Brookline  issued  a  warrant  calling 
for  a  town  meeting  on  the  9th  day  of  May  following.  This  warrant  con- 
tained the  following  article : 

"To  see  if  the  town  will  vote  to  raise  and  appropriate  one  thousand 
dollars,  or  any  sum  of  money  to  arm  and  equip  a  military  company  to  aid 
the  General  Government  in  capturing  and  hanging  upon  the  most  con- 
venient tree  Jeff  Davis  and  his  associate  traitors." 

In  response  to  this  call  the  citizens  met  and,  after  some  discussion 
relative  to  raising  a  company,  the  impracticability  of  which  was  finally 
admitted,  passed  resolutions  as  follows : 


330  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

"That  the  town  raise  a  sum  of  money  not  exceeding  one  thousand 
dollars  for  the  following  purposes. 

1st.  To  aid  such  persons  as  may  enlist  and  actually  serve  in  the 
present  war  in  such  manner  as  may  be  decided  on  as  hereinafter  provided. 

2nd.  To  aid  the  families  of  such  person  or  persons  as  may  enlist  and 
actually  serve  in  the  war  when  in  actual  need  of  aid. 

3rd.  That  any  man  having  a  family  shall  receive,  in  addition  to 
Government  pay,  a  sum  not  exceeding  ten  dollars  per  month,  and  a  man 
without  family  shall  receive  a  sum  not  exceeding  seven  dollars  per  month. 

4th.  That  a  select  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  examine  each 
case  that  shall  be  presented  and  make  appropriations  according  to  their 
judgment  and  the  selectmen  shall  upon  their  decision  draw  an  order  in 
favor  of  the  person  for  the  same. 

5th.  That  the  treasurer  of  the  town  be  authorized  to  borrow  such 
sums  of  money  as  may  be  necessary  to  meet  said  drafts. 

6th.  That  all  persons  who  hereafter  enlist  must  enlist  within  the 
limits  of  this  state  in  order  to  entitle  them  to  the  benefits  of  the  foregoing 
appropriation — that  this  is  not  to  be  considered  to  affect  the  rights  of  those 
persons  who  have  already  enlisted  out  of  the  state." 

Ensign  Bailey,  Calvin  R.  Shedd  and  Sumner  S.  Kendall  were  elected 
as  the  select  committee  mentioned  in  the  fourth  of  the  said  resolutions. 

Between  the  date  of  the  foregoing  meeting  and  the  month  of  October 
following,  fifteen  of  the  town's  citizens  enlisted  into  the  service;  the 
majority  of  them  in  Massachusetts  regiments. 

October  23  the  town  voted — "To  raise  a  sum  not  exceeding  two  thou- 
sand dollars  for  the  support  of  those  who  have  enlisted  or  may  hereafter 
enlist  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  in  accordance  with  Pamphlet 
Laws,  Chap.  218";  and  authorized  the  town  treasurer  to  borrow  the  same. 
Benjamin  Gould,  Wilkes  W.  Corey  and  Henry  B.  Stiles  were  elected  as  a 
committee  to  apply  and  expend  said  two  thousand  dollars. 

1862.  April  1  the  town  voted  three  hundred  dollars  to  pay  unmarried 
men  for  services  in  the  army. 

July  26,  1862,  by  a  census  taken  by  the  selectmen,  the  number  of 
citizens  liable  to  do  military  duty  was  found  to  be  one  hundred,  with 
twenty-two  men  already  in  the  service. 

September  1 — "Voted  to  pay  each  person,  he  being  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  who  has  enlisted  for  this  town  since  July  15  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  for  three  years  or  the  war,  the  sum  of  150  dollars"; 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  331 

and  also — "To  each  citizen  of  Brookline  who  should  enlist  between  the 
date  of  this  meeting  and  the  fifteenth  day  of  September,  next,  for  nine 
months  in  the  service." 

1863.  July  15  voted — "to  pay  the  sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  to 
citizens  of  Brookline  who  may  be  drafted  into  the  service." 

September  19  voted — "To  pay  all  men  drafted  under  this  draft,  or 
their  substitutes,  three  hundred  dollars,  each  within  ten  days  after  they 
are  mustered  into  the  service." 

November  30  voted — "That  the  selectmen  be  instructed  to  borrow 
money  sufficient  to  pay  all  men  that  enlist  from  this  town  to  fill  out  the 
last  call  of  the  President  amounting  to  9  men  in  all,  and  that  they  draw 
town  orders  for  the  same  not  exceeding  four  thousand  dollars  ($4000.)." 
Also  voted — "To  furnish  two  more  men  than  they  have  furnished  on  the 
last  call  and  let  it  remain  for  the  present." 

1864.  June  7 — "Voted  to  pay  all  men  who  were  drafted  on  the  17th 
of  May  last  and  are  liable  and  all  who  may  be  until  March  meeting  1865." 

June  11  voted — "That  the  town  shall  pay  all  men  that  are  drafted 
and  liable  to  the  militia  State  Service,  if  the  State  does  not  pay  the  same." 

June  30  voted — "That  the  town  should  furnish  men  to  fill  the  quota 
of  the  town  until  March  next,  and  pay  for  the  same  except  what  they 
may  draw  from  the  State  or  the  United  States ;  and  that  the  town  choose 
two  agents  to  furnish  substitutes  for  the  present  war  to  fill  the  quota  of 
the  town." 

July  9,  Joseph  C.  Tucker  and  Wilkes  W.  Corey  were  elected  agents 
to  furnish  substitutes  to  fill  the  quota  of  the  town  for  the  present  year, 
and  to  pay  drafted  men  two  hundred  dollars. 

July  23.  The  appointment  of  the  foregoing  agents  was  rescinded, 
and  the  town  voted — "To  put  in  ten  men  as  substitutes  at  an  expense 
of  not  over  three  hundred  dollars  each;  and  that  any  man  liable  to  the 
draft  who  may  furnish  a  substitute  for  himself  shall  receive  three  hundred 
dollars." 

August  4.  Voted — "To  draw  up  a  paper  for  the  purpose  of  seeing 
how  much  money  may  be  raised  to  clear  the  draft  for  three  years,  and  the 
largest  sum  paid  by  any  one  man  liable  to  the  draft  shall  have  the  first 
substitute";  and  Joseph  A.  Hall  and  William  J.  Smith  were  chosen  as  a 
committee  to  draw  the  said  paper. 

August  13,  voted — "That  16  men  volunteer  to  pay  $150  each  and 
their  names  to  be  stricken  from  the  enrolment  for  three  years,  the  town  to 
pay  the  balance  of  the  expense." 


332  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

1865.  March  14,  voted— "That  the  selectmen  should  fill  all  calls  for 
soldiers  from  the  president  for  the  ensuing  year  and  borrow  money  for  the 
same."  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  also  voted — "To  pay  Fletcher  Spauld- 
ing,  George  P.  Brown,  David  H.  Burge  and  Ward  Messer  the  sum  of  $150 
who  have  re-enlisted  in  the  army  the  past  year  and  count  on  the  quota  of 
the  town  of  Brookline";  also  voted  "To  pay  J.  E.  Hobson  and  Lewis  L. 
Emery  $150  each." 

1866.  March  13,  voted— "To  pay  Thomas  Bennett  and  Albert  French 
$150,  each,  as  bounty." 

The  foregoing  is  the  last  entry  in  the  record  book  relative  to  the  Civil 
War,  during  its  progress. 

The  war  records  have  been  given  here  in  full ;  not  only  because  they 
are  records  and,  therefore,  history,  but  also  because,  to  one  reading  be- 
tween the  lines,  they  tell,  far  more  accurately  and  truthfully  than  any 
historian,  writing  at  this  late  date,  could  hope  to  do,  the  story  of  the 
conditions  prevailing  in  town  during  the  period  covered  by  the  war. 

The  town's  obligations,  as  recorded  in  its  records,  to  the  men  who 
represented  it  in  the  war,  were  subsequently  faithfully  performed.  It 
paid  out  in  bounties  and  aid  to  soldiers'  families  sums  amounting  in  all  to 
over  twenty  thousand  dollars. 

The  following  figures  compiled  by  the  Rev.  Theophilus  P.  Sawin 
were  taken  from  a  sermon  by  him  delivered  on  the  7th  day  of  December, 
1865,  and  are  undoubtedly  close  approximations  to  the  truth: 

"Paid  out  by  the  town  to  its  own  citizens 

Paid  during  the  war $  7,750.00 

Paid  out  by  individual  citizens 400 .  00 

Paid  out  by  the  State  as  aid  to  soldiers'  families 3,460.01 


$11,610.01 
Paid  out  to  substitutes  by  the  town  and  individual  citizens.  .    25,055.00 


Total  received  by  men  enlisting  from  this  town  as  principals 

and  substitutes    (including  aid  to  families) $36,665.01 

Subtracting  from  the  above  total  the  amount  that  has  been 
paid,  or  which  may  be  paid  by  the  State  and  General 
Government,  and  also  what  has  been  paid  by  individuals, 
i.  e $16,220.00 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


333 


and  it  leaves  the  amount  actually  paid  out  by  the  town  as 
twenty  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty-five  and  1-100 
dollars $20,445 .  01" 

The  whole  number  of  men  furnished  by  Brookline  in  the  war  was  one 
hundred  and  four  (104).  Of  this  number,  seventy  were  either  residents 
in  town,  or  natives  residing  in  other  towns  at  the  time  of  their  enlistments, 
and  thirty-four  were  substitutes  furnished  by  the  town  and  its  citizens 
individually. 

The  following  list  compiled  by  the  Rev.  T.  P.  Sawin  gives  the  names 
of  those  who  furnished  Substitutes,  and  also  the  names  of  the  substitutes 
furnished  by  each. 


Table, 

showing  a  list  of  substitutes  employed  by  Brookline  to  put  down  the 
Rebellion  of  1861.     Also  the  time  of  enlistment  of  each. 


Names  of 'Principals. 

Names  of 

Time  of 

Remarks. 

Substitutes. 

Enlistment. 

Cleveland,  Eli 

Felix  Montacine 

Aug.  16, 1864 

Coggin,  Charles  H. 

William  Longfield 

Sept.    1,1863 

Died  of  wounds  re- 
ceived May  14,64 

Colburn,  Frank  P. 

John  McCabb 

Sept.    1,1863 

Colburn,  Newton  W. 

William  Rowman 

Aug.  18, 1864 

Daniels,  Onslow 

James  Elwin 

June    9, 1864 

Mis'g  at  Pop.  Gr.  Ch 
Va.,  Sept.  20,  '64. 

French,  John  E. 

James  Dorr 

Sept.    1,1863 

Mis'g     at     Olustee, 
Fla.,  Feb.  20,  '64. 

Gilson,  Henry  S. 

Louis  Duble 

Oct.    11,1864 

Deserted  Oct.  17,  '64 

Hall,  Edward  T. 

George  Jackman 

Aug.  16, 1864 

Hall,  Joseph  A. 

Henry  Robson 

Aug.  15,1864 

Hall,  James  Henry 

Louis  Wilson 

Aug.  20, 1864 

Hobart,  Joshua  J. 

William  K.  King 

Aug.  20, 1864 

Lawrence,  Silas 

Daniel  Glaughlin 

Oct.    10,1863 

Lawrence,  Simon 

George  Boyemat 

Oct.    10,1863 

McDonald,  Luther 

Daniel  W.  Smith 

Parker,  James  Clinton 

John  Kelly 

Aug.  20, 1864 

Peabody,  John 

George  Thomson 

Aug.  19, 1864 

Deserted  Oct.  12,  '64 

Rockwood,  William  Brooks 

Dennis  Burke 

Dec.  16,1864 

Russell,  Rufus  G. 

Robert  McDonald 

June  20, 1864 

Deserted  en  route  to 
regiment. 

Smith,  William  J. 

John  Mcguire 

Aug.  17,1864 

334 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


Table  Showing  a  List  of  Substitutes  employed  by  Brookline  to  put  down  the 
Rebellion  of  1861.     Also  the  Time  of  Enlistment  of  each. — Continued. 


Names  of  Principals. 

Names  of 
Substitutes. 

Time  of 

Enlistment. 

Remarks. 

Shattuck,  George  J. 

George  Roda 

Aug.  15, 1864 

Shedd,  John  C. 

Martin  Muldoon 

Aug.  20, 1864 

Stiles,  Charles  H. 

John  McDernett 

Sept.    1,1863 

Towns,  Darwin 

William  Johnson 

Aug.  20, 1864 

Wallace,  Laroy  A. 

John  Fenis 

Oct.   10,1863 

Willoby,  Charles  L. 

Thomas  Redmand 

Oct.     5, 1863 

Wright,  Frederick 

James  Murphy 

Aug.  20, 1864 

Wright,  William 

Dennis  Barry 

Aug.  18, 1864 

Town  of  Brookline 

James  Sweeny 

Nov.  18, 1863 

Deserted  March  19, 
1864 

Town  of  Brookline 

William  Driscoll 

Nov.  24, 1863 

Town  of  Brookline 

Alulford  Noodal 

Dec.  24, 1864 

Town  of  Brookline 

Hugh  Robertson 

Nov.  18, 1863 

Died  of  dis.at  Hamp- 
ton, Va.,  Nov.13,  '64 

Town  of  Brookline 

Allen  Dean 

Oct.   11,1864 

Deserted  Oct.  16,  '64 

Town  of  Brookline 

Isaac  Wetherbee 

Dec.  24,1864 

Town  of  Brookline 

John  Noonan 

Dec.  24,1864 

An  Unique  War  Document. 


In  the  fall  of  1864  the  President  issued  a  call  for  more  troops.  At  that 
time  the  conditions  in  this  town  were  such  that  in  order  to  enable  it  to 
furnish  its  quota  of  men  required  under  the  call,  it  became  necessary  to 
resort  to  the  hiring  of  substitutes;  the  cost  of  which  was  extremely  high, 
the  prices  ranging  from  five  hundred  to  one  thousand,  and  often  more, 
dollars  for  each  man  hired.  These  prices,  the  board  of  selectmen,  to 
which  the  town  had  already  delegated  the  authority  to  act  in  such  emer- 
gencies, hesitated  to  pay,  fearing  that  by  so  doing  it  might  exceed  the 
limits  of  its  authority.  But  the  demand  for  men  was  urgent  and  the 
time  for  action  limited.  To  avoid  the  calling  of  a  town  meeting,  and  at 
the  same  time  to  protect  the  board,  individually  and  collectively,  from 
any  liability  to  which,  by  reason  of  its  acts  in  the  emergency,  it  might  be 
subjected  in  the  future,  certain  patriotic  citizens  caused  to  be  drawn  up, 
executed  and  delivered  to  the  board  a  bond  of  indemnity.  The  signers  of 
the  bond  were  all  citizens  of,  and  taxpayers  in,  the  town.  To  the  signature 
of  each  was  affixed  his  individual  seal;  and  the  borders  of  the  instrument 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  335 

bore  the  United  States  revenue  stamps  then  necessary  to  the  legality  of 
such  documents.     Following  is  a  copy  of  the  bond : 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  we  subscribers  citizens  of 
Brookline  in  the  County  of  Hillsborough  and  State  of  New  Hampshire, 
are  held  and  firmly  bound  to  the  Selectmen  of  said  Brookline  in  the  sum  of 
Five  Thousand  Dollars,  to  be  paid  to  said  selectmen,  to  the  payment 
whereof  we  respectively  bind  ourselves  and  our  heirs  firmly  by  these 
presents,  sealed  with  our  seals,  and  dated  the  24th  day  of  August,  1864. 

The  condition  of  this  obligation  is  that  if  we  the  said  Subscribers  shall 
indemnify  said  selectmen  against  all  cost  and  damages  to  which  they  may 
be  subjected  by  reason  of  their  paying  more  than  Three  Hundred  Dollars 
respectively  out  of  the  town's  funds  for  the  purchase  or  hire  of  substi- 
tutes to  fill  the  quota  of  said  town  of  Brookline  under  the  call  of  the  Gen- 
eral Government  issued  in  the  month  of  July,  1864 — Then  this  obligation 
shall  be  void. 

Subscribers'  Names.  Subscribers'  Names 

Alpheus  Shattuck,  Leroy  A.  Wallace, 

Andrew  Rockwood,  Geo.  J.  Shattuck, 

Abel  Foster,  George  V.  Hodgman, 

S.  S.  Kendall,  Joseph  Sawtelle, 

Benj.  Shattuck,  Franklin  Rockwood, 

Joshua  J.  Hobart,  Brooks  Rockwood, 

David  Hobart,  Frederick  Wright, 

Nathan  Farrar,  Andrew  J.  Shattuck, 

Benjamin  Gould,  Eli  Brooks, 

N.  B.  Hutchinson,  Nathaniel  Hobart, 

Abel  Shattuck,  Saml.  D.  Gilson, 

Ira  Daniels,  Silas  Lawrence. 

We  subscribe  to  and  are  hoi  den  and  firmly  bound  by  the  within 
bond — 

George  H.  Jefts,  W.  G.  Shattuck, 

Nathaniel  Vickery,  J.  B.  Swett, 

James  M.  Stickney,  G.  W.  L.  Hobart, 

John  Sanders,  James  H.  Hall, 

J.  H.  Bennett,  Wm.  Wright, 

T.  J.  Stickney,  Luther  McDonald, 


336 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


John  A.  Kendall, 
Clinton  Bohanon, 
Joseph  Baxter, 
Eli  S.  Cleveland, 
George  Hall, 
Abel  R.  Ball, 
Frank  D.  Colburn, 
Samuel  Talbott, 
A.  S.  Betterly, 
Joseph  Hall, 
C.  F.  vShattuek, 
Albert  Foster, 
David  P.  Stowell, 
Jerry  Harward,  Jr., 
George  W.  Peabody, 
Edward  T.  Hall, 
Henry  F.  Carlton, 
Amos  Farnsworth, 
Francis  A.  Law, 
William  M.  Foster, 
E.  F.  Lancey, 
John  Hemphill, 
Amos  A.  Gould, 


Randall  Daniels, 
Thomas  V.  Wright, 
J.  W.  Fessenden, 
D.  D.  Rock  wood, 
Stephen  S.  Mixer, 
Fernando  Bailey, 
Henry  B.  Fish, 
B.  G.  Cochran, 
Albert  W.  Corey, 
Job  Shattuck, 
Lot  Colburn, 
Asher  Bennett, 
James  Henry  Hall, 
William  J.  Smith, 
John  Peabody, 
John  Hall, 
Henry  Swett, 
Newton  W.  Colburn, 
Charles  L.  Willoby, 
Erastus  D.  Towne, 
Elhanen  W.  Russell, 
Wm.  Gilson, 
W.  J.  French." 


Brookline's  Soldiers  in  the  Civil  War. 

Third  Regiment  New  Hampshire  Volunteer  Infantry  (Three  Years). 

Burgess,  Benjamin  D.,  Co.  G;  b.,  Brookline;  age  21;  res.,  Brookline; 
enl.  March  27,  '62;  must,  in  March  27,  '62,  as  Priv.;  wd.,  Aug. 
27,  '64,  Petersburg,  Va.;  disch.  April  26,  '65,  Wilmington,  N.  C. 
Awarded  "Gilmore  Medal"  by  Maj.  Gen.  0.  A.  Gilmore,  for  gal- 
lant and  meritorious  conduct  during  operations  before  Charleston, 
S.  C. 


Fourth  Regiment  New  Hampshire  Volunteer  Infantry  (Three  Years). 

Bennett,  Thomas  D.,  Co.  C;   b.  Brookline;   age  30;   res.  Brookline;   enl. 

Aug.  24,  '61;  must,  in  Sept.  27,  '64.     P.  O.  ad.  Brookline. 
Burge,  David  H.,  Co.  C;    b.  Brookline;    age  21;    res.  Brookline;    enl. 

Aug.  24,  '61;   must,  in  Sept.  18,  '61,  as  Priv.;   re-enl.  Feb.  28,  '64; 

must,  out  Aug.  23,  '65.     P.  O.  ad.  Vineland,  N.  J. 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  337 

Brown,  George  P.,  Co.  C;  b.  Temple;  age  22;  ered.  Brookline;  enl. 
Aug.  29,  '61;  must,  in  Sept.  18,  '61,  as  Priv. ;  re-enl.  and  must, 
in  Feb.  28,  '64;  app.  Wagoner;  must,  out  Aug.  23,  '65.     Dead. 

Bohonon,  Moses,  Co.  C;   b.  Danbury;   age  44;   res.  Brookline;   enl.  Aug. 

23,  '64;    cred.  Cornish;    must,  in  Aug.  23,  '64,  as  Priv.;    disch. 
disab.  June  22,  '65,  Concord;   Died  Nov.  7,  '84,  Pepperell,  Mass. 

Cochran,  David  H.,  Co.  C;  b.  Brookline;  age  32;  res.  Brookline;  enl. 
Nov.  25,  '63;  must,  in  Nov.  25,  '63,  as  muse;  disch.  Oct.  10,  '65 
to  date  Aug.  23,  '65,  Raleigh,  N.  C;   died  at  Brookline. 

Colburn,  Irvin,  Co.  C;    b.  Brookline;    age  37;    res.  Brookline;    enl.  Aug. 

24,  '61;  must,  in  Sept.  18,  '61,  as  Corp.;  captd.  May  16,  '64, 
Drewry's  Bluff,  Va.;  died,  dis.  Feb.  7,  '65,  Florence,  S.  C.  as 
prisoner. 

French,  Albert  M.,  Co.  C;  b.  Dunstable,  Mass.,  age  27;  res.  Brookline; 
enl.  Aug.  28,  '61;  must,  in  Sept.  18,  '61  as  Priv;  disch.  Sept.  26, 
'64;  time  ex. 

French,  Jonas  C,  Co.  C;  b.  Dunstable,  Mass.;  age  19;  res.  Brookline; 
enl.  Aug.  28,  '61;  must,  in  Sept.  18,  '61,  as  Priv.;  app.  Sergt.; 
re-enl.  Feb.  17,  '64;  must,  in  Feb.  28,  '64;  captd.  Aug.  22,  '64; 
d.  Dec.  5,  '64,  Salisbury,  N.  C. 

King,  Asa  J.,  Co.  C;    b.  Chelmsford,  Mass.;    age  43;    res.  Brookline; 

enl.  Aug.  31,  '61;    must,  in  Sept.   18,  '61  as  Priv.;    disch.  disab. 

Jan.  12,  '62,  Hilton  Head,  S.  C. 
Green,  Lorenzo,  Co.  B.;    b.  Brookline;  age  35;   res.  Brookline;   enl.  Aug. 

27,  '61;  must,  in  Sept.  18,  '61,  as  Priv.;  disch.  disab.  Oct.  19,  '61, 

Annapolis,  Md. 
Lancey,  George  F.,  Co.  C;   b.  Brookline;   age  19;   cred.  Greenfield;   enl. 

Sept.  3,  '61;   must,  in  Sept.  18,  '65,  as  Priv.;   d.  dis.  Sept.  24,  '63, 

Morris  Isl.,  S.  C. 
Messer,  Ward,  Co.  C;    b.   Lunenburg,  Mass.;    age  30;    res.   Brookline; 

enl.  Aug.  27,   '61;    must,  in  Sept.   18,  '61,  as  Priv.;    app.  Corp.; 

re-enl.  and  must,  in  Feb.  28,  '64;   wd.  May  20,  '64,  Drewry's  Bluff, 

Va.;  disch.  disab.  May  29,  '65,  Manchester;   d.  July  24,  '85,  Bow. 
Ricker,  Oliver  P.,  Co.  A;    b.  Bartlett;    age  18;    res.  Brookline;    cred. 

Dover;    enl.  Aug.  16,  '62;    must,  in  Aug.  18,  '62,  as  Priv.;    app. 

Corp.  March  1,  '65;    Sergt.  May  1,  '65;    disch.  June  15,  '65,  Ra- 
leigh, N.  C. 
Smith,   Perley  A.,   Co.   C;    b.   Brookline;    age   18;    res.   Brookline;    enl. 

Aug.  14,  '62;    must,  in  Aug.  18,  '62,  as  Priv.;    mis.  May  16,  '64, 


338  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Drewry's  Bluff,  Va.;  gd.   from  mis.;  disch.   May  30,   '65;  d.   Oct. 

26,  '81,  Brookline. 
Spaulding,  Stephen  A.,  Co.  C;  b.  Townsend,  Mass.,  age  20;  cred.  Brook- 
line;    enl.  Aug.  18,  '62;    must,  in  Aug.  18,  '62  as  Priv.;    disch. 

disab.  Oct.  26,  '63,  Morris  Isl.,  S.  C;    died  Nov.  12,  '63,  Hilton 

Head,  S.  C. 
Spaulding,  Albert,  Co.  C;  b.  Townsend,  Mass.;  age  23;  cred.  Brookline; 

enl.  Aug.  18,  '62;    must,  in  Aug.  18,  '62  as  Priv.;    disch.  disab. 

Oct.  5,  '63,  Morris  Isl.,  S.  C. 

Spaulding,  Amos  F.,  Co.  C;  b.  Townsend,  Mass.;  age  19;  res.  Brookline; 

enl.  Sept.  9,  '61;   must,  in  Sept.  18,  '61,  as  Priv.;   re-enl.  Feb.  25, 

'64;  must,  in  Feb.  28,  '64;  must,  out  Aug.  23,  '65. 
Stiles,  Charles  H.,  Co.  C:    b.  Brookline;    age  18;    res.  Brookline;    enl. 

Aug.  24,  '61;  must,  in  Sept.  18,  '61,  as  Priv.;  disch.  disab.  May  3, 

'62,  St.  Augustine,  Fla.     P.  O.  ad.  Keene. 

Stiles,  John  A.,  Co.  C;    b.  Brookline;    age  18;    res.  Brookline;    enl.  Aug. 
14,  '62;    must,  in  Aug.  20,  '62,  as  Priv.;    wd.  Sept.  29,  '64,  with 
ball;  disch.  June  15,  '65;  Raleigh,  N.  C.     P.  O.  ad.  Townsend, 
Mass. 

Wright,  William  M.,  Co.  C;  b.  Pepperell,  Mass.;  age  21;  res.  Brookline; 
enl.  Dec.  15,  '63;  must,  in  Dec.  15,  '63  as  Muse;  reported  on 
m.  o.  roll  dated  Aug.  23,  '65,  as  absent  sick  since  April  25,  '64, 
N.  &  V.  A.  G.  O.  Prior  enl'mts;  14th  Mass.,  Aug.  7,  1861,  as 
muse;  disch.  Sept.  25,  '62;  re-enl.  47th  Mass.,  Nov.  18,  1862  as 
muse. ;  disch.  Sept.  2,  1863. 

Seventh  Regiment  New  Hampshire  Volunteer  Infantry  (Three  Years). 

Shattuck,  Warren,  Co.  D;    b.  Groton,  Mass.;    age  44;    res.  Brookline; 

enl.  Oct.  18,  '61;    must,  in  Nov.  6,  '61,  as  Priv.;    disch.  disab. 

Jan.  4,  '63,  St.  Augustine,  Fla. 
Wright,  Ezra  S.,  Co.  H;   b.  Hollis;   age  33;   res.  Brookline;   enl.  Oct.  26, 

'61;   must,  in  Nov.  12,  '61,  as  Priv.;  must,  out  Dec.  27,  '64;   died 

at  Brookline. 

Eighth  Regiment  New  Hampshire  Volunteer  Infantry  (Three  Years). 

Griffin,  Cyrus  N.,  Co.  A;  b.  Pelham;  age  19;  res.  Brookline;  enl.  Sept. 
16,  '61;  must,  in  Oct.  25,  '61  as  Priv.;  must,  out  Jan.  18,  '65; 
died  Oct.  6,  '67. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  339 

Stowell,  David  P.,  Co.  F;  b.  Massachusetts;  age  25;  res.  Brookline; 
cred.  Brookline;  enl.  Nov.  25,  '63;  must,  in  Nov.  25,  '63,  as  Priv. 
app.  2  Asst.  Surg.  Nov.  25,  '63;  disch.  June  24,  '64;  dead. 

Ninth  Regiment  New  Hampshire  Volunteer  Infantry  {Three  Years). 

Bennett,  John  C,  Co.  B;  b.  Brookline;  age  25;  cred.  Nashua;  enl. 
July  31,  '62;  must,  in  Aug.  9,  '62,  as  muse;  must,  out  June  10, 
'65.     P.  O.  ad.  Spokane  Falls,  Wash. 

Bohonon,  Charles,  Co.  A;  b.  Brookline;  age  24;  cred.  Brookline;  enl. 
Dec.  15,  '63;  must,  in  Dec.  15,  '63  as  Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  A,  6  N.  H.  V. 
June  1,  '65;  disch.  to  date  July  17,  '65,  Concord.  P.  O.  ad. 
Townsend,  Mass. 

Hall,  Harvey  M.,  Co.  C;  b.  Brookline;  age  27;  cred.  Hollis;  enl.  Nov. 
4,  '63;  must,  in  Nov.  4,  '63,  as  Muse;  died  dis.  Sept.  1,  '64,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 

Hobson,  Edgar  J.,  Co.  B ;  drafted;  b.  Pennsylvania;  age  29;  res.  Brook- 
line; cred.  Brookline;  drafted  Sept.  1,  '63;  must,  in  Sept.  1,  '63; 
Priv.;  tr.  to  Co.  B,  6  N.  H.  V.  June  1,  '65;  disch.  Sept.  11,  '65, 
to  date  July  17,  '65,  Concord;  prior  enl.  Band,  14  Mass.;  enl. 
July  5,  '61;  must,  in  July  5,  '61,  as  muse;  disch.  Aug.  14,  '62. 
P.  O.  ad.  Concord,  N.  H. 

Thirteenth  Regiment  New  Hampshire  Volunteer  Infantry  (Three  Years). 

Emery,  Lewis  L.,  Co.  B;  b.  Hillsborough;  age  27;  res.  Brookline;  cred. 
Brookline;  enl.  Aug.  28,  '62;  must,  in  Sept.  18,  '62,  as  Priv.; 
disch.  disab.  Feb.  5,  '63;  drafted  and  must,  in  Sept.  1,  '63;  as- 
signed to  Co.  G,  13  N.  H.  V.;  wd.  sev.  Sept.  29,  '64,  Ft.  Harrison, 
Va.;  disch.  May  30,  '65;  died  in  Brookline. 

Hill,  David  A.,  Co.  A;  b.  Mason;  age  29;  res.  Brookline;  cred.  Brookline; 
enl.  Sept.  1,  '62;  must,  in  Sept.  18,  '62,  as  Priv.;  must,  out  June 
21,  '65.     P.  O.  ad.  Mason. 

Russell,  Charles  H,  Co.  G;  b.  Brighton,  Me.;  age  29;  res.  Mason;  cred. 
Brookline;  enl.  Aug.  14,  '62;  must,  in  Sept.  19,  '62,  as  Priv.; 
app.  Corp.  Oct.  1,  '64;  must,  out  June  21,  '65.     P.  O.  ad.  Brookline. 

Wetherbee,  John  F.,  Co.  I;  b.  Wilton;  age  37;  res.  Brookline;  cred. 
Brookline;  enl.  Aug.  22,  '62;  must,  in  Sept.  20,  '62,  as  Priv.; 
disch.  disab.  Feb.  26,  '63,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 


340  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

Sixteenth  Regiment  New  Hampshire  Volunteer  Infantry  ( Nine  Months ) . 

Bohonon,  Clinton,  Co.  C;    b.  Brookline;    age  20;    res.  Brookline;    cred. 

Brookline;  enl.  Sept.  4,  '62;   must,  in  Oct.  18,  '62,  as  Corp.;  must. 

out  Aug.  20,   '63,  as  Corp.;    volunteered  for  storming  party  at 

Port  Hudson,  La.,  under  G.  O.  No.  49,  Headquarters  Dept.  of  the 

Gulf,  June  15,  '63;  dead. 
Bohonon,   John,   Co.   C;    b.   Brookline;    age   18;    res.   Brookline;    ered. 

Brookline;  enl.  Sept.  4,  '62;   must,  in  Oct.  18,  '62,  as  Priv.;   must. 

out  Aug.  20,  '63;    re-enl.  6  Regt.  Mass.,  July  7,  '64  for  100  days; 

must,  in  July  17,  '64,  as  Priv.;    must,  out  Oct.  27,  '64,  tm.  ex. 

P.  O.  ad.  Pepperell,  Mass. 
Burgess,  Asa  S.,  Co.  C;    b.   Brookline;    age   19;    res.   Brookline;    cred. 

Brookline;   enl.  Sept.  4,  '62;  must,  in  Oct.  18,  '62,  as  Priv.;   must. 

out  Aug.  20,  '63;   volunteered  for  storming  party  at  Port  Hudson, 

La.,  under  G.  O.  No.  49,  Headquarters  Dept.  of  the  Gulf,  June 

15,  '63. 
Boutwell,  William  C,  Co.  C;   b.  Lyndeborough ;   age  20;   res.  Brookline; 

cred.  Brookline;   enl.  Sept,  .22,  '62;   must,  in  Oct.  18,  '62,  as  Priv.; 

died  dis.  June  21,  '63,  New  Orleans,  La. 
Kendall,  Daniel,  Co.  C;   b.  Mason;   age  35;   res.  Brookline;   cred.  Brook- 
line;  enl.  Sept.  15,  '62;   must,  in  Oct.  18,  '62,  as  Priv.;   must,  out 

Aug.  20,  '63;  died  in  Brookline. 
Merrill,  James  A.,  Co.  C;   b.  Corinth,  Vt.;   age  26;   res.  Brookline;   cred. 

Brookline;   enl.  Sept.  3,  '62;   must,  in  Oct.  18,  '62,  as  Priv.;   must. 

out  Aug.  20,  '63;  d.  in  1913. 
Sawtelle,  Augustus  I.,    Co.    C;     b.    Brookline;    age   41;    res.    Brookline; 

cred.  Brookline;  enl.  Sept.  15,  '62;  must,  in  Oct.  18,  '62,  as  Sergt. ; 

died  dis.  July  6,  '63,  Algiers,  La. 
Smith,  Daniel  W. ;  Co.  C;    b.  Brookline;    age  22;    res.  Brookline;    cred. 

Brookline;    enl.  Nov.   18,   '62;    must,  in  Nov.   18,   '62,  as  Priv.; 

disch.  disab.  May  5,  '63,  New  Orleans,  La.;  died  at  sea  May  11,  '63. 

Massachusetts  Regiments  Volunteer  Infantry. 

Burgess,  Charles  H.,  Co.  K;    56  Regt.;  b.  Brookline;    age  29;    must,  in 

Nov.  23,  '63,  as  Priv. ;  must,  out  July  22,  1865. 
Burgess,  James  L.,  Co.  B;   56  Regt.;  b.  Brookline;   age  25;  res.  Harvard, 

Mass.;   cred.  Harvard;   enl.  Nov.  25,  1863;   must,  in  Feb.,  '64,  as 

Priv.;   wd.  May  18,  '64  at  Spotsylvania  Court  House,  Va.;   must. 

out  at  Washington,  D.  C,  May  18,  '65;  time  ex. ;  P.  O.  ad.  Nashua. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  341 

Burgess,  John  C,  Co.  D,  21st  Regt.;  b.  Brookline;  age  21;  enl.  Sept.  2, 
'62,  as  Priv.  diseh.  Sept.  2,  '63.     P.  O.  ad.  Pepperell,  Mass. 

Dunphee,  Eli  S.,  Co.  B,  26th  Regt.;  b.  Brookline;  age  21;  enl.  Nov.  6, 
'62;  diseh.  June  5,  '63,  as  Orderly  Sergt.  Butlers  body  gd.;  wd. 
mor.  by  ball  June  5,  near  Port  Hudson,  La.;  died  in  Hospital. 

Foster,  George  W.,  Co.  A,  36th  Regt.;  b.  Brookline;  age  19;  enl.  July  23, 
'62  as  Priv.  diseh.  June  24,  '65. 

French,  John  A,  Co.  A,  36th  Regt.;  b.  Dunstable,  Mass.;  age  21;  res. 
Brookline;  ered.  Fitehburg;  must,  in  July  26,  '62;  must,  out 
June  8,  '65;  tm.  ex.  absent  wd. 

French,  Orrin  A.,  Co.  C,  15th  Mass.;   b.  Nashua;   age  18;  res.  Brookline; 

cred.   Dartmouth,   Mass.;    enl.   March   15,   '64;    must,   in  March 

15,  '64,  as  Priv.;   tr.  to  Co.  E.,  20  Mass.  Inf.  July  27,  '64;  captd.; 

died  Jan.  1,  '65,  at  Salisbury,  N.  C. 
Gardner,  Charles  H.,  Co.  C;    16  Mass.;    b.  ;    age  32; 

res.  Brookline;    cred.  Brookline;    must,  in  July  2,   '61,   as  Priv.; 

must,  out  July  11,  '63;   wd.  near  Fair  Oaks,  Va.,  and  lost  a  leg. 
Gilson,  Charles,  Co.  B,  26th  Mass.;  b.  Brookline;   age  17;   res.  Brookline; 

cred.  Brookline;  enl.  ;   must,  in  March  13, '63, 

as  Priv. ;  must.  out. 
Gillis,  James,  Co.  A,  36th  Mass.;    age  44;    res.  Brookline;    enl.  July  23, 

'62;  must,  in  July  23,  '62;  must,  out  July  22,  '65. 

Gould,  Peter  W.,  Co.  C,  16th  Regt.;  age  27;  b.  Brookline;  res.  Brookline; 
must,  in  July  2,  '61 ;  must,  out  Sept.  18,  '63,  as  Sergt.  disability. 

Hardy,  Warren  C,  Co.  C,  25th  Regt.;  age  22;  b.  Brookline;  res.  Brook- 
line; cred.  Worcester;  must,  in  Oct.  15,  '61,  as  Priv.;  must,  out 
to  re-enlist  Dec.  17,  '63,  as  corp.;   died  of  dis.  at  Newburn,  S.  C. 

Jefts,  Albert  N.,  Co.  C,  15th  Regt.;  age  21;  b.  Brookline;  res.  Brookline; 
cred.  Clinton,  Mass.;  must,  in  July  12,  '61,  as  Priv.;  must,  out 
Nov.  12,  '62,  to  enlist  in  U.  S.  A. 

Jefts,  Ed.  Farwell,  Co.  B,  46th  Mass.;  b.  Brookline;  age  44;  res.  Brook- 
line; cred.  ;  enl.  July  19,  '61;  must,  out 
July  26,  '62. 

Jefts,  George  H,  Co.  F,  77  Pa.;  b.  Brookline;  age  23;  res.  Brookline; 
enl.  Nov.  18,  '64,  as  Priv.;  diseh.  Aug.  28,  '65,  at  Waldon,  N.  C; 
res.  Fitehburg,  Mass. 

Mann,  Oliver  J.,  Co.  E.  B.  S.  2  L-  C;  ;    age  20;   res 

Brookline;  enl.  Nov.  7,  '62;  Tr.  to  Co.  C,  Mass.  31  Cav. 


342  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

Shattuck,  Joseph  C,  Co.  C,   15th  Mass.;    b.  Brookline;    age   17;    res. 

Brookline;    cred.  Dartmouth,  Mass.;    must,  in  March  14,  '63,  as 

Priv.;  tr.  July  27,  1864,  to  20th  Inf. 
Nelson,  Eugene  L.,  Co.  F,  3  H.  A.;  b.  Brookline;  age  21;  res.  Brookline; 

ered.  Boston,  Mass.;    must,  in  Sept.  16,  '63,  as  Priv.,    must,  out 

Sept.  18,  '65,  tm.  ex. 

Woodward,  Andrew  L,  Co.  E,  33rd  Regt.;    b.  Brookline;    age       ;    res. 

Brookline;    cred.  Townsend,  Mass.;    enl.  July  22,  1862,  as  Priv.; 

must,  in  July  26,  '62;  d.  of  dis.  Nov.  8,  1864;  buried  at  Chattanooga. 
Laws,  Francis  A.,  Co.  D,  53rd  Regt.;  b.  Brookline;  age      ;  res.  Brookline; 

cred.  Brookline;  enl.  ;   must,  in  Oct.  17,  1862;   as 

Priv.;  dis.  Jan.  15,  1863.     Surgeon's  certificate. 

Laws,  Lewis  O.,  Co.  D,  53rd  Mass.  Regt.;  b.  Brookline;  age  21;  res. 
Brookline;  cred.  Brookline;  must,  in  Oct.  17,  1862;  died  at  Marine 
Hospital,  New  Orleans,  Aug.  5,  1863. 

Wetherbee,  Charles  W.,  Co.  E,  33rd  Regt.;  b.  Brookline;  age  22;  res. 
Brookline;  cred.  Brookline;  enl.  July  26,  '62;  must,  in  July  26, 
'62,  as  Priv.;  d.  of  dis.  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  28,  '62. 

Wright,  William  H.,  Co.  E,  33rd  Regt.;  b.  Brookline;  age  21;  res.  Brook- 
line; cred.  Townsend,  Mass.;  must,  in  Aug.  5,  '62,  as  Priv.  dis. 
July  3,  '65,  order  of  War  Dept. 

Wright,  Lewis  T.,  Co.  E,  33rd  Regt.;  b.  Brookline;  age  24;  res.  Brookline; 
cred.  Townsend,  Mass.;   must,  in  Aug.  5,  '62,  as  Priv.;   died  Oct. 

14,  '64,  Charleston,  S.  C. 

First  Regiment  New  Hampshire  Heavy  Artillery. 

Pierce,  Geo.  W.,  Co.  F;  b.  Brookline;  age  19;  cred.  Nashua;  enl.  Sept. 
'64,  for  one  year;   must,  in  Sept.  6,  '64,  as  Corp.;   must,  out  June 

15,  '65. 

United  States  Navy. 

Wallace,  Bryant,  W. ;  b.  Brookline;  age  21;  res.  Brookline;  cred.  Brook- 
line; enl.  Aug.  12,  '62,  for  one  year  as  a  landsman;  served  on 
U.  S.  S.  Ohio,  North  Carolina,  Daylight  and  Morse;  disch.  Aug.  14, 
'63,  from  the  Morse,  tm.  ex.  P.  O.  ad.  Nashua. 

Parker,  Edward  E.;  b.  Brookline;  age  21;  res.  Brookline;  cred.  Brook- 
line; enl.  Aug.  20,  '63,  for  one  year  as  landsman;  served  on  U.  S.  S. 
Ohio  and  Perry;  app.  yeoman;  disch.  Oct.  10,  '64,  from  receiving 
ship  Princeton  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  tim.  ex. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  343 

Currier,  Charles;  b.  Wilton,;  age  23;  res.  Brookline;  enl.  May  17,  '64, 
as  ordinary  seaman,  for  one  year;  served  on  U.  S.  S.  Ohio  and  Mas- 
sachusetts; disch.  Aug.  17,  '65;  tm.  ex.;  died  at  Brookline. 

Little,  George  S. ;    b.  Salisbury;    age  19;    res.  Brookline;    enl.  Oct.,  '63; 

as  coal  heaver;    served  on  U.  S.  S.   Nipsic;    disch.  Dec.  20,  '64, 
from  U.  S.  S.  Savannah,  New  York  City;  tim.  ex. 


344  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Current  Events,  Incidents  and  Happenings,  Continued. 

1860-1890. 

Local  Conditions  in  1860 — The  Young  Men's  Library  Association — Town's 
Centennial  Celebration — Accident  on  Meeting-house  Hill,  Sept. 
9,  1869 — The  Democratic  Cannon — The  Cook,  Putnam  &  Com- 
pany Furniture  Manufactory — Hobart,  Kendall  &  Company — 
Town's  Action  Relative  to  School  District  No.  8  in  Milford — 
Rentnig  of  Old  Meeting-house  to  Cook,  Putnam  &  Co. — De- 
struction of  Pulpit  and  Pews  in  Old  Meeting-house — Three  Days 
Town  Meeting  in  1874 — Death  by  Accident  of  George  W.  Peabody 
— Straightening  of  Main  Street  in  1878 — delegates  to  Constitu- 
tional Convention  in  1876 — Vote  on  the  Proposed  Amendments  to 
the  Constitution  in  1877 — Brookline  Public  Library — Order  of  the 
Golden  Cross — Accidental  Death  of  Frank  Hobart — Burning  of 
the  Fernando  Bailey  Dwelling  House — Death  of  Daniel  S.  Wether- 
bee — Burning  of  J.  A.  Hall  Cooper  Shop — Burning  of  the  Miles 
Foster  House — Burning  of  Samuel  Gilson's  House — The  Yellow 
Day — Burning  of  David  S.  Fessenden's  Sawmill — Brookline  and 
Hollis  Telephone  Company — Burning  of  Schoolhouse  in  District 
One — Memorial  Day,  Observances  of — Discontinuance  of  Certain 
Highways — J.  H.  S.  Tucker  Store  Burglarized — Delegate  to  Con- 
stitutional Convention  in  1888 — Burning  of  the  Charles  A.  Stickney 
Sawmill. 

From  the  year  1860  up  to  and  including  the  year  1865,  the  only  im- 
portant or  interesting  events  occurring  in  town  were  such  as  were  con- 
nected with  the  citizens'  action  relative  to  the  Civil  War,  which  have 
already  been  narrated  in  a  prior  chapter.  The  same  statement  is  applic- 
able to  the  period  intervening  between  the  years  1865  and  1869,  during 
which  period  the  townspeople  were  endeavoring  to  work  out  satisfactory 
solutions  of  the  problems  of  debt  and  a  general  disarrangement  in  affairs 
which  had  been  left  them  as  legacies  by  the  War. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  345 

The  Young  Men's  Library  Association. 

1861.  This  association  was  organized  Feb.  12,  1861.  It  was  a  citi- 
zen's organization  and  formed,  as  its  name  indicates,  for  the  purpose  of 
founding  a  library.  It  was  a  stock  company,  but  was  unincorporated. 
Residents  of  either  sex  in  town  were  eligible  to  membership  in  the  company. 

The  association  maintained  its  organization  for  a  period  of  about  nine 
years.  During  the  entire  term  of  its  existence  its  headquarters  were  in  the 
hall  over  the  store  of  Kendall  and  Wright  at  the  south  end  of  the  village 
Main  street,  where,  also,  its  library  was  located. 

In  1863  the  association's  library  consisted  of  two  hundred  and  nine 
volumes  of  well  selected  books.  This  collection  was  gradually  increased 
in  number,  by  the  addition  of  new  instalments  of  books  purchased  by  the 
association  and  books  donated  to  it  by  its  friends  until,  in  1869,  its  library 
numbered  between  three  hundred  and  four  hundred  volumes. 

From  1869  to  1877  the  association  appears  to  have  passed  through  a 
period  of  inactivity,  its  last  meeting  of  record  occurring  Jan.  17,  1869. 

In  1877,  the  association  transferred  its  library  to  the  town.  The 
condition  upon  which  the  transfer  was  made  was  that  the  books  should 
be  used  for  the  purpose  of  founding  a  public  library.  The  town  agreed  to 
the  condition,  accepted  the  books,  and  used  them  as  the  nucleus  of  the 
Brookline  Public  Library,  which  was  organized  that  year.  With  the 
transfer  of  its  library  to  the  town  the  association  ceased  to  exist. 

1867.  This  year  a  lodge  of  the  order  of  Good  Templars  was  estab- 
lished in  town.  It  had  an  existence  of  several  years  in  duration,  during 
which  it  was  a  very  flourishing  institution,  having,  at  the  height  of  its 
prosperity,  a  membership  of  over  one  hundred  souls. 

Brookline's  Centennial  Celebration,  Sept.  8,  1869. 

By  the  year  1868  the  work  of  readjustment  of  the  town's  affairs, 
while  it  was  by  no  manner  of  means  to  be  regarded  as  even  near  comple- 
tion, had,  nevertheless,  progressed  so  satisfactorily  that  the  citizens  had 
regained  confidence  in  themselves  and  in  their  resources,  and  were  ready 
to  engage  in  the  work  of  preparing  for  the  celebration  of  the  one  hundredth 
anniversary  of  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  which  was  due  to  occur  on 
the  30th  day  of  March  the  following  year,  1869. 

The  first  action  of  the  town  relative  to  the  celebration  was  taken  at 
a  town  meeting  holden  Nov.  3,  1868,  when  Alonzo  Bailey,  James  H.  Hall, 
Henry  K.  Kemp,  Henry  B.  Stiles,  Wilkes  W.  Corey,  and  Joseph  A.  Hall 


346  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

were  elected  as  a  committee — "To  consider  the  advisability  of  the  town's 
celebrating  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  its  incorporation." 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  in  the  same  year,  this  committee  reported 
in  favor  of  a  celebration,  but  on  account  of  the  inclemency  of  the  weather 
usual  in  the  season  in  which  the  event  properly  fell,  suggested  the  ad- 
visability of  deferring  it  to  some  date  in  the  fall  of  the  year.  After  some 
discussion,  the  report  was  accepted;  and,  under  the  designation  of  "Com- 
mittee of  Arrangements,"  the  same  committee  was  re-elected  with  full 
power  to  make  all  necessary  preparations  for  the  celebration,  and  to  select 
the  day  for  the  same,  which  it  subsequently  set  for  the  8th  day  of  Sep- 
tember, 1869. 

No  appropriation  for  defraying  the  expenses  was  made  by  the  town. 
Nor,  after  that  recorded  in  the  last  of  the  two  foregoing  mentioned  town 
meetings,  was  any  further  action  relative  to  the  same  taken  by  the  town 
as  such;  except  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  Nov.  9,  1869,  a  com- 
mittee consisting  of  James  Clinton  Parker,  Wilkes  W.  Corey,  William 
G.  Shattuck,  Henry  K.  Kemp,  and  Joseph  A.  Hall  was  appointed  "To 
publish  the  Centennial  Proceedings."  For  some  unknown  reason  this 
committee  failed  to  act;  and  thus  no  official  report  of  the  celebration  was 
ever  published. 

The  funds  necessary  for  paying  the  expenses  of  the  celebration  were 
raised  by  subscriptions  from  the  citizens.  Over  one  thousand  dollars  were 
raised  and  expended  by  the  committee  of  arrangements;  and,  as  the  re- 
sult of  its  efforts,  the  advent  of  the  day  found  the  old  town  fully  and  amply 
prepared  not  only  to  welcome  its  absent  sons  and  daughters,  but  also  to 
welcome  and  suitably  entertain  the  strangers  who  gathered  within  its 
gates. 

Hundreds  of  its  living  absent  sons  and  daughters  and  of  the  de- 
scendants of  its  early  settlers  took  the  opportunity  to  return  and  revisit 
the  scenes  amidst  which  they  or  their  parents  had  passed  the  happy  days 
of  childhood;  and,  by  their  presence,  assist  in  doing  appropriate  honors  to 
a  town  whose  simple  history  and  homely  traditions  have  always  endeared 
it  to  the  hearts  of  its  children. 

The  morning  of  the  day  of  the  celebration  broke  with  signs  of  rain. 
But  by  seven  o'clock  the  skies  had  partially  cleared  off,  and  through  the 
rifts  in  the  clouds  the  sunlight  shone  on  the  gray  mists  climbing  the  sides 
of  Little  Muscatanipus  hill ;  a  condition  of  affairs  which  from  time  imme- 
morial has  been  regarded  by  the  townspeople  as  an  almost  unfailing  sign 
of  fair  weather.     Nor  did  the  sign  fail  in  this  instance. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  347 

At  nine  o'clock  a  procession  was  formed  in  the  square  in  front  of  the 
store,  then  of  J.  A.  Hall  and  Brother,  at  the  west  end  of  the  village  Main 
street,  as  follows: 

Chief  Marshal  and  Aids, 

Brookline  Brass  Band, 

Committee  of  Arrangements, 

The  President  of  the  Day,  Orator,  Poet,  and  Chaplain, 

Vice-presidents, 

The  Rev.  Clergy,  Invited  Guests,  Representatives  of  the  Press  and 
Others, 

The  Choir, 

Citizens  of  Brookline, 

Citizens  at  Large. 

From  the  square  the  procession,  headed  by  the  band  and  escorted  by 
the  town's  soldiers  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  marched  to  the  summit  of 
the  hill  back  of  the  Congregational  Church  where,  in  the  natural  amphi- 
theatre formed  by  a  hollow  or  depression  in  the  surrounding  land,  and 
known  locally  as  the  "Devil's  punch  bowl,"  the  literary  exercises  of  the 
day  were  observed.  Three  sides  of  the  amphi-theatre  had  been  fitted  up 
with  seats  for  the  accommodation  of  the  audience;  which,  when  the  exer- 
cises opened,  was  estimated  to  consist  of  more  than  three  thousand  people. 
The  other  side  was  occupied  by  a  large  and  commodious  platform  profusely 
decorated  with  flags  and  flowers,  upon  which  were  seated  the  aged  people 
of  the  town,  the  Brookline  Brass  Band,  a  large  choir  organized  from  the 
native  talent  and  under  the  leadership  of  Charles  N.  Merrill  of  Nashua, 
the  invited  guests  and  the  following  named  officers  of  the  day : 
President,  Alonzo  Bailey. 

Vice-presidents:    Captain  Franklin  McDonald,  Capt.  Joseph  Hall, 
Joseph  Smith,  Henry  K.  Kemp,  Major  Wilkes  W.  Corey,  Alpheus  Shat- 
tuck,  Newton  W.  Colburn,  William  J.  Smith,  Andrew  Rockwood,  James 
H.  Hall,  Joseph  Sawtelle,  W.  G.  Shattuck. 
Chief  Marshal,  J.  Alonzo  Hall. 

Aids : Joseph  W.  Peterson,  Nathaniel  Hobart,  William  Wright, 

Edward  T.  Hall. 

Committee  of  Reception:   Benjamin  Gould,  Henry  B.  Stiles,  Reuben 
Baldwin. 

Toastmaster,  James  Clinton  Parker. 
Secretary,  Charles  A.  Priest. 

Town  Committee:    Alonzo  Bailey,  James  H.  Hall,  W.  W.  Corey, 
Henry  K.  Kemp,  J.  Alonzo  Hall. 


348  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

The  assemblage  was  called  to  order  by  the  Chief  Marshal,  who,  in  a 
few  introductory  remarks,  introduced  Alonzo  Bailey,  Esq.,  as  president 
of  the  day. 

Mr.  Bailey  on  taking  the  chair  spoke  substantially  as  follows  : 

"We  have  met  to  celebrate  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
good  old  town  of  Brookline.  As  children  and  friends  assemble  under  the 
paternal  roof  to  commemorate  the  paternal  birthday,  so  we  meet  today  to 
celebrate  with  joy  and  festivities  the  one  hundredth  birthday  of  our  com- 
mon parent.  It  affords  great  pleasure  to  us  who  have  continued  to  abide 
in  the  old  homesteads  and  linger  around  the  old  haunts  to  welcome  back 
to  them  the  friends  and  associates  of  our  childhood  days;  and  our  pleas- 
urable feelings  are  enhanced  by  the  consciousness  that  our  desires  for  your 
return  are  no  less  strong  than  are  yours  to  come.  You  are  welcome. 
Since  you  wandered  away  from  the  old  homes,  time  has  wrought  many 
changes  in  the  old  town.  But  the  old  homes  are  still  here,  and  the  old 
associations,  in  memory  at  least  still  linger  around  them.  The  hills  and 
valleys,  the  forests,  ponds,  and  streams,  substantially  unchanged  by  the 
flight  of  years,  still  invite  you.  And  more  than  all  else,  that  home  love 
which  has  ever  characterized  Brookline  people,  still  glowing  in  their 
hearts,  welcomes  you  back  as  children  of  a  common  family. 

For  the  stranger  we  have  no  striking  natural  attractions.     But  we 
can  show  him  homes  founded  in  love,  and  supported  by  honest  toil; 
worthv  fathers  and  mothers,  and  sturdy  and  intelligent  sons  and  daughters. 

We  have  no  great  manufacturing  plants  or  educational  institutions. 
But  we  can  show  many  cooper  institutes  which,  in  industry,  at.  least,  can 
vie  with  their  New  York  namesake. 

Our  farmers  are  poor;  but  our  farmers  are  industrious  and  honest. 
Our  sources  of  material  wealth  are  few  and  meager;  consequently,  we 
have  accumulated  but  little  of  this  world's  goods.  But  we  are  rich  in  our 
inheritance  of  the  patriotic  spirit  which  sent  so  many  of  our  fathers  into 
the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  of  their  sons  into  the  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion; and  we  cling  to  our  traditions,  revere  the  memory  of  our  ancestors, 
and  honor  God;  gratefully  acknowledging  His  many  mercies  and  bles- 
sings upon  the  town  through  the  hundred  years  of  its  exsitence. 

Once  more,  in  the  name  of  my  townsmen,  I  extend  a  welcome  to  all 
the  sons  of  Brookline,  whether  native  or  adopted,  and  to  all  who  have  come 
to  join  their  hearts  with  ours  on  this  occasion." 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Bailey's  address,  the  Rev.  Theophilus  P.  Sawin, 
of  Manchester,  a  former  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  this  town 
offered  prayer.     During  the  prayer,  which  was  very  touching  and  im- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  349 

pressive,  the  entire  audience  rose  and  remained  standing.  At  its  close  the 
choir  sang  the  following  ode,  written  for  the  occasion  by  Miss  Frances 
Deverd  Parker,  a  native  of  this  town,  and  a  daughter  of  James  Parker,  Esq. 

Ode. 

By  Miss  Fannie  D.  Parker. 
(Tune,  America. ) 

Hail!     Brookline,  home  to  thee, 
Thy  sons  with  joy  we  see 
Return  today. 
From  far  and  near  they  throng, 
Friends  who've  been  parted  long, 
Chanting  thy  praise  with  song 
And  joyful  lay. 

One  hundred  years  have  fled 
Since  first  our  fathers  sped 

Their  prayers  to  heaven, — 
Asking  that  light  sublime 
O'er  their  dark  paths  might  shine; 
God  heard: — the  gift  divine 

To  them  was  given. 

Let  us,  their  children,  now, 
In  adoration  bow 

To  God  above. 
Praising  His  mighty  power, 
Whose  goodness  deigned  to  shower 
O'er  them  in  danger's  hour, 

Protecting  love. 

And  when  an  hundred  years 
Again — with  hopes  and  fears, 

Have  passed  away. 
May  our  descendants  here 
Our  memories  revere, 
Who  greet  with  joy  sincere 

This  festal  day. 

Following  the  singing  of  the  ode,  the  principal  address  of  the  day  was 
delivered  by  Ithemar  B.  Sawtelle,  Esq.,  a  native  of  the  town,  but,  at  that 
time,  a  resident  of  Townsend,  Mass,;  of  which  town  he  was  afterwards 
the  historian.  His  address  on  this  occasion  was  historical  in  its  character, 
dealing  chiefly  with  the  early  history  of  the  town,  and  was  an  able,  scholarly 


350  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

and  eloquent  production.  From  its  beginning  to  its  ending  it  held  the 
closest  attention  of  the  audience,  by  which,  at  its  close,  it  was  enthusi- 
astically applauded.  It  was  subsequently  published  and  copyrighted  by 
Mr.  Sawtelle. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  oration,  the  choir  sang  the  following  ode  by 
Mrs.  Sarah  D.  Tarbell,  of  Mason;  a  native  of  Brookline,  and  a  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin. 

Ode. 

By  Mrs.  Sarah  D.  Tarbell. 
(Tune,  Autumn.) 

Welcome!  all— in  gladness  meeting, 

Hail  we  our  centennial  day! 
Friends,  long  absent,  joyful  greeting 

Join  in  our  exulting  lay. 
While  our  voices  sweetly  blending, 

Swell  the  chorus  loud   and  long, 
May  our  hearts  to  heaven  ascending 
Raise  our  centenary  song. 

"Hoary  heads,  with  honors  laden, 

Manhood  in  the  flush  of  pride 
Aged  matron,  blooming  maiden, 

Meet  together,  side  by  side." 
Cheerfully  our  footsteps  gathering, 

On  the  soil  our  fathers  trod, 
Peaceful  blessings  now  imploring, 

From  our  God — our  father's  God. 

Though  today  we  meet  in  gladness, 

Back  o'er  distant  years  to  roam, 
Many  hearts  are  filled  with  sadness, 

Lingering  near  the  early  home. 
But,  though  death  full  oft  hath  taken 

Well-known  faces  we  have  loved, 
Sweet  the  memories  they  awaken, 

Sweet  the  thought — they  rest  above. 

The  ode  was  followed  by  an  original  poem  written  for  the  occasion 
by  Edward  E.  Parker,  a  native  of  Brookline  and  a  graduate  that  year  of 
Dartmouth  College,  which  was  read  by  the  author.  But  a  few  weeks 
prior  to  this  occasion,  Mr.  Parker  had  enjoyed  the  honor,  at  the  class  day 
exercises  during  Commencement  week,  of  delivering  an  original  poem 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  351 

written  by  him  for  the  celebration  of  Darthmouth's  centennial  anniver- 
sary, which  occurred  that  year. 

After  the  poem  came  the  reading  of  the  Chronicles;  which  had  been 
prepared  for  the  occasion  by  the  Rev.  T.  P.  Sawin,  by  whom  they  were 
read.  Written  in  Scriptural  style,  and  dealing  with  current  events  in  the 
past  and  present  history  of  the  town,  their  pathos,  wit  and  humor  made 
them  especially  attractive  and  satisfactory  to  the  audience.  But  the 
reader  was  not  allowed  to  finish  his  task.  For  in  the  midway  of  his  reading, 
rain,  which  had  for  a  long  time  been  threatening,  commenced  to  fall,  and 
with  its  coming  the  audience,  scattering  in  all  directions  for  shelter,  van- 
ished. 

The  exercises  at  the  grove,  thus  abruptly  broken  up,  were  not  resumed. 
But  the  only  feature  lacking  for  the  complete  carrying  out  of  the  original 
programme,  was  the  rendition  of  an  original  hymn,  prepared  for  the 
occasion  by  Mrs.  Sarah  B.  Lawrence,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.;  a  native  of 
Brookline.    The  hymn  follows : 

Hymn. 

By  Mrs.  Sarah  B.  Lawrence. 

(Tune,  Antioch.) 

A  hundred  years  ago  today, 

Where  wild  beasts  roamed  at  will, 
The  brave  man's  bold  and  fearless  stroke, 

As  towering  forests  fell, 

Silenced  the  savage  yell, 
And  on  the  deep,  grand  stillness  broke. 

Rude  homes  arose,  and  wilderness  fled — 

The  fields  with  plenty  smiled — 
Blessings  of  peace  distilled  like  dew, 

While  every  man  and  child 

With  busy  hand  beguiled 
A  life  so  simple,  free  and  true. 

So  year  by  year  new  merices  crowned 

Those  quiet  homes  are  blest, 
So  one  by  one  in  silence  passed, 

To  find  a  sweeter  rest, 

Where  toil  nor  care  molest, 
And  noble  life  is  crowned  at  last. 


352  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Our  fathers'  memory  honored  be! 

While  here  from  far  and  wide 
The  sons  and  daughters  willing  come 

To  laud  with  honest  pride, 

And  view  on  every  side 
Glad  scenes  that  cheer  our  natal  home. 

We  boast  a  river  flowing  free, 

In  busy  service  found, 
Of  "Tanapus"  so  smooth  and  bright, 

Where  festive  scenes  abound, 

And  echoing  sports  resound, 
Waking  the  hills  to  life  and  light! 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  exercises  at  the  grove,  a  banquet  was  served 
in  a  large  tent  which  had  been  hired  for  the  occasion,  and  pitched  on  the 
lot  of  land  (at  the  present  time  the  site  of  the  Daniels  Academy  Building) 
located  nearly  opposite  to  the  Congregational  church,  and  on  the  west 
side  of  the  highway.  The  banquet  was  prepared  and  served  by  James  W. 
Fessenden.  The  tables  were  decorated  with  flowers  and  bountifully 
loaded  with  food.  Seven  hundred  plates  were  laid  and  they  were  all 
taken.  But  before  the  conclusion  of  the  banquet,  the  rain,  which  had  con- 
tinued to  fall  intermittently,  began  to  descend  in  torrents.  It  soon  came 
pouring  through  the  tent  roof  in  streams  which  reduced  the  food  to  un- 
palatable and  uneatable  masses  of  pulp.  The  guests  were  deluged  in 
cataracts  of  water.  Umbrellas  and  parasols  were  spread  by  those  who 
were  so  fortunate  as  to  have  them,  but  with  little  effect.  The  toastmaster, 
James  Clinton  Parker,  made  an  effort  to  continue  the  post-prandial  exer- 
cises, in  the  form  of  responses  to  toasts  and  the  reading  of  letters  from 
absent  citizens  and  former  residents.  But  his  efforts  were  only  partially 
successful,  for  the  rain,  which  continued  to  fall,  dampened  the  spirits  of 
the  audience,  and  checked  all  attempts  at  enthusiasm.  To  prolong  the 
exercises  under  such  circumstances  was  impossible.  The  audience  finally 
stampeded  from  the  tent  en  masse;  and  thus  this  part  of  the  day's  exer- 
cises closed  prematurely. 

An  hour  or  so  after  the  close  of  the  banquet  the  rain  ceased  to  fall, 
the  clouds  cleared  away,  and  for  the  remainder  of  the  day  fair  weather 
prevailed.  In  the  glow  of  the  sunlight,  the  discomforts  of  the  rain  were 
soon  forgotten.  The  streets  once  more  filled  up  with  happy  people.  Old 
scenes  were  revisited,  old  friendships  renewed,  and  new  ones  formed. 
Family  ties  were  strengthened  and  new  plans  for  the  future  developed. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  353 

The  day's  festivities  were  brought  to  a  close  in  the  evening  by  a  dis- 
play of  fireworks,  and  by  a  grand  reunion  and  reception  tendered  by  the 
citizens  to  their  guests,  the  "Home  Comers",  in  the  hall  of  J.  A.  Hall 
and  Brother. 

It  would  afford  the  writer  great  pleasure  to  be  able  to  reproduce  in 
these  pages  the  letters  received  from  old  residents  and  others  in  response 
to  invitations  for  them  to  be  present  at  the  celebration.  But  diligent 
search  has  failed  to  produce  them;  and  we  are  forced  to  the  conclusion 
that  they  are  lost  beyond  recovery. 

Sad  Accident  on  Meeting-house  Hill,  Sept.  9th. 

The  programme  for  the  Centennial  day  exercises  included,  among 
other  features,  the  firing  of  salutes  at  sunrise  and  sunset  from  the  summit 
of  meeting-house  hill.  At  the  close  of  the  day  it  was  found  that  a  portion 
of  the  powder  provided  for  that  purpose  had  been  left  over.  The  day 
following,  Sept.  9,  a  party  of  the  citizens  were  engaged  on  the  hill's  summit 
in  firing  salutes  with  this  unexpended  powder,  when,  at  about  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  by  a  premature  explosion  of  a  charge  in  the  gun,  two  of 
the  firing  party,  Samuel  Gilson  and  Charles  A.  Gilson,  father  and  son,  re- 
ceived injuries  which  disabled  them  for  life. 

The  Cannon — What  Became  of  It.? 

As  to  the  cannon  used  in  firing  the  foregoing  salute,  it  may  be  record- 
ed that  it  disappeared  soon  after  the  celebration.  Originally,  it  was  the 
property  of  the  members  of  the  Democratic  party  in  town,  by  whom  it 
was  purchased  in  1856  and  used  in  firing  salutes  during  the  Presidential 
campaign  of  that  year.  At  the  time  of  its  disappearance,  rumor  had  it 
that  it  had  been  taken  by  a  self  appointed  committee  of  citizens,  consist- 
ing of  members  of  both  political  parties,  and  sunk  in  the  depths  of  Mus- 
catanipus  lake.  But  up  to  the  present  time  the  rumor  has  never  been 
verified,  and  the  cannon's  whereabouts  is  still  a  mystery. 

The  Cook,  Putnam  and  Company  Furniture  Factory. 

In  the  fall  of  1869,  James  W.  Cook  of  Reading,  Mass.,  and  S.  Abbott 
Putnam  of  Lynn,  Mass.,  rented  of  Joseph  A.  Hall  and  Joseph  W.  Peterson, 
who  were  then  its  owners,  the  sawmill  known  as  "Bailey's  upper  mill" 
and  located  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river  a  few  rods  below  its  outlet  from 


354  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

the  pond;  and,  having  installed  the  necessary  machinery,  commenced 
therein  the  manufacturing  of  pine  chamber  sets  and  walnut  lounge  frames, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Cook,  Putnam  and  Company.  The  firm  continued 
to  carry  on  the  business  until  1874,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  the  with- 
drawal from  it  of  Mr.  Putnam.  July  21,  of  the  same  year,  Messrs,  Hall 
and  Peterson  sold  the  mill  and  appurtenances  to  James  W.  Cook  and 
William  H.  Hall;  who  at  once  entered  into  partnership  and,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Cook,  Hall  and  Company,  resumed  and  continued  to  carry  on 
the  business  of  the  old  firm  until  Sept.  14,  1877;  at  which  date  Mr.  Cook 
disposed  of  his  entire  interest  in  the  plant  to  his  partner,  Mr.  Hall,  who 
thus  became  sole  owner  of  the  same.  William  H.  Hall  continued  to  oper- 
ate the  plant  until  Oct.  5,  1877;  at  which  date  he  sold  the  same  to  Nathaniel 
Hobart  and  John  S.  Daniels.  Under  the  firm  name  of  Hobart  and  Daniels, 
the  new  owners  of  the  plant  carried  on  the  business  until  the  7th  day  of 
February,  1885;  at  which  date  Daniels  withdrew  from  the  firm,  and  sold 
out  his  interest  in  the  mill  and  its  appurtenances  to  David  H.  Kendall, 
Henry  S.  Manning,  Charles  W.  Hughes,  and  Horace  S.  Richmond.  The 
new  owners  of  Mr.  Daniel's  one  half  part  of  the  plant  immediately  entered 
into  co-partnership  with  Nathaniel  Ho.bart,  who  still  continued  to  own  the 
other  half,  and,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hobart,  Kendall  and  Company, 
continued  the  business. 

Hobart,  Kendall  and  Company. 

The  new  firm  installed  new  and  improved  machinery  in  the  mill,  and 
endeavored  by  every  legitimate  means  to  improve  its  business.  It  was  so 
far  successful  in  its  efforts  that  in  1889,  four  years  after  its  formation,  its 
affairs  were  in  a  most  prosperous  condition,  and  its  outlook  for  the  future 
excellent. 

Up  to  the  year  1879,  the  company  had  manufactured  pine  and  walnut 
furniture  only;  which  was  shipped  in  "the  rough"  to  purchasers.  But,  in 
the  meantime,  the  public  had  been  developing  a  taste  for  chestnut  chamber 
furniture  in  place  of  pine.  By  the  year  1879  this  sentiment  had  grown  to 
the  extent  that  the  demand  for  furniture  of  the  latter  description  had  al- 
most entirely  ceased.  Under  these  circumstances,  the  firm  gave  up  the  use 
of  pine  as  a  factor  in  its  business,  and  commenced  the  manufacture  of 
finished  chestnut  chamber  sets  only.  It  met  with  immediate  success  in 
its  new  enterprise;  and  its  business  increased  to  the  extent  that  it  was 
forced  to  enlarge  its  plant  by  building  a  finishing  and  packing  shop  thirty 
by  seventy-eight  feet  in  its  dimensions,  and  two  stories  in  height;  and  equip 
the  same  with  a  new  engine  and  new  machinery. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  355 

At  that  time  the  firm  was  employing  from  forty  to  fifty  men;  nearly 
all  of  whom  were  skilled  mechanics  from  out  of  town  who  brought  their 
families  here  with  them.  The  churches  had  good  congregations  every 
Sunday  and  the  merchants  were  prosperous.  It  was  a  happy  state  of  affairs 
for  the  town  and  its  people.    Too  good  to  last. 

In  a  few  years  the  supply  of  chestnut  lumber,  at  least  such  as  was 
located  within  reasonable  hauling  distance  of  the  mill,  had  become  practi- 
cally exhausted.  Oak,  ash  and  sycamore  were  substituted  in  its  place. 
But  the  additional  cost  of  procuring  these  woods,  together  with  the  ex- 
pense incurred  by  the  company  by  hauling  its  manufactured  products 
to  and  from  Pepperell  or  Townsend  for  railroad  shipment,  and  the  sharp 
competition  of  western  furniture  manufacturers,  finally  compelled  the 
firm  to  go  out  of  business;  and,  in  1886,  it  assigned  its  plant  and  business 
to  Albert  L.  Fessenden  and  John  Buffum,  to  be  held  by  them  in  trust  for 
the  benefit  of  its  creditors. 

At  the  time  of  the  failure,  Nathaniel  Hobart  was  the  only  monied 
member  of  the  firm.  Consequently  nearly  the  whole  burden  of  the  firm's 
indebtedness  fell  upon  his  shoulders,  and  he  lost  heavily. 

The  failure  of  the  firm  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  town,  and  one  from 
which  it  has  not  recovered  even  to  the  present  time. 

1870.— Population,— 741. 

At  the  March  town  meeting  of  this  year  there  was  an  article  in  the 
warrant — "to  see  if  the  town  would  receive  the  territory  included  in  school 
district  number  8,  in  the  town  of  Milford." 

The  territory  alluded  to  in  the  article  was  the  square  mile  of  land  at 
the  northwest  corner  of  Brookline  which,  having  originally  been  included 
within  its  charter  limits,  was  taken  from  Brookline  and  included  in  the 
territory  of  Milford  at  the  time  of  its  incorporation  in  1794.  The  above  is 
the  first  and  only  record  appearing  on  the  town's  books  of  any  action  on 
the  town's  part  looking  to  the  restoration  to  it  of  said  territory,  or  any 
part  thereof. 

1871.  March  meeting.  The  town  voted — "To  let  the  lower  part  of 
the  town-house  to  Cook,  Putnam  and  Co.  for  a  term  of  four  years  at  a 
rental  of  fifty  dollars  per  annum;"  and  William  Wright,  Joseph  Sawtelle 
and  Wilkes  W.  Corey  were  elected  as  a  committee  to  carry  out  the  terms 
of  the  vote;  which  they  did  at  once.  The  same  year  Cook,  Putnam  and 
Co,,  took  possession  of  the  lower  part  of  the  house,  and  having  torn  down 
and  removed  the  ancient  and  ornate  pulpit,  and  also  the  pews  in  the 


356  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF   BROOKLINE 

center  of  the  house,  the  "Sheep-pens"  of  the  early  settlers  childhood  days, 
used  the  same  as  a  store  room  for  the  firm's  manufactured  products  in 
the  furniture  line.  A  sacrilege  sanctioned  by  the  town  which  must  have 
caused  those  same  early  settlers,  figuratively  speaking,  to,  at  least,  sit  up 
in  their  graves  and  take  notice. 

1872.  May  17,  the  old  fire  engine  house  located  on  the  west  side  and 
about  midway  of  the  village  Main  street  was  torn  down  in  the  night  time 
by  an  unknown  party  of  citizens  and  the  engine  removed  to  South  Brook- 
line. 

Dec.  26,  the  sawmill  of  Deacon  Perley  L.  Pierce  in  South  Brookline 
was  destroyed  by  fire. 

Sept.  8,  the  Asher  Bennett  dwelling  house  on  the  highway  to  Mil- 
ford  was  burned  down. 

1873.  January  4,  the  dwelling  house  of  Frederick  Wright  on  the 
east  highway  to  Milford  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

September  6,  the  Pope  house, — old  Ezekiel  Proctor  house, — on  the 
north  road  to  Hollis  burned  down. 

Dec.  18,  George  W.  Peabody  was  accidently  killed  while  at  work  in 
the  sawmill  of  his  father-in-law,  James  H.  Hall,  in  the  north  part  of  the 
town. 

1874.  January  23,  the  Congregational  Church  and  Society  installed 
a  new  bell  weighing  1819  pounds  in  its  church  tower. 

1875.  For  the  first  time  in  the  town's  history,  by  a  vote  of  its  citizens, 
curfew  bells  were  rung  throughout  the  year;  and  the  practice  was  continued 
throughout  the  following  year. 

Straightening  of  Main  Street. 

1876.  The  town  voted — "To  straighten  Main  street  from  Bela 
Cochran's  house  to  Joseph  Smiths  house" ;  and  instructed  the  selectmen  to 
attend  to  the  same.  The  project  was  opposed  by  some  of  the  citizens, 
who  finally  carried  the  matter  into  the  court;  where,  after  some  little  de- 
lay, a  decision  was  rendered  in  favor  of  the  town ;  and  in  1877-78  the  street 
was  straightened  in  accordance  with  the  original  vote. 

Joseph  A.  Hall  represented  the  town  in  the  Constitutional  Conven- 
tion which  convened  at  Concord  this  year. 

1877.  In  the  matter  of  the  proposed  amendments  to  the  State's 
Constitution  which  had  been  agreed  upon  by  the  members  of  the  Consti- 
tutional Convention  of  1876,  and  which  were  this  year  submitted  to  the 
voters  of  the  state  for  their  approval,  or  otherwise,  Brookline  voted  to 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  357 

strike  out  the  word  "Protestant"  from  the  Bill  of  Rights;  in  favor  of 
biennial  elections  of  the  Governor,  counsellors,  members  of  the  senate  and 
house  of  Representatives ;  in  favor  of  a  house  of  Representatives  whose 
number  should  be  based  upon  the  state's  population;  and  in  favor  of 
abolishing  the  religious  test. 

March  23,  Frank  Hobart,  a  son  of  David  Hobart,  while  working  in 
the  woods,  was  killed  by  a  falling  tree. 

June  17,  the  Ephraim  L.  Hardy  house  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway 
to  Pepperell,  Mass.,  one  mile  south  of  the  village,  was  burned  to  the  ground. 

July  6,  the  dwelling  house  of  Fernando  Bailey  on  the  summit  of  the 
hill  back  of  the  Congregational  church  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

August  7,  Daniel  S.  Wetherbee  died  of  exhaustion  resulting  from  an 
exposure  of  26  days  without  food  or  shelter  in  the  woods  in  the  notherly 
part  of  the  town. 

August  17,  an  infant  daughter  of  William  H.  French  was  scalded  to 
death. 

September  ,  the  cooper  shop  of  J.  Alonzo  Hall  on  the  east  side 
of  the  highway  to  Milford,  a  few  rods  north  of  the  Congregational  church, 
was  totally  destroyed  by  fire. 

Brookline  Public  Library. 

The  town's  first  action  relative  to  the  establishment  of  a  public 
library  occurred  at  the  annual  March  town  meeting  of  this  year;  when 
the  following  vote  was  passed: — "To  appropriate  one  hundred  dollars  to 
establish  a  town  library  providing  the  stock  holders  of  the  old  library 
will  release  all  their  claims  on  the  old  library  in  favor  of  the  new  library." 
At  a  subsequent  town  meeting  holden  the  same  year,  a  vote  re-affirming 
the  foregoing  vote  was  passed,  and  the  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent,  Henry  W. 
Kemp  and  George  W.  Bridges  were  "accepted"  as  a  board  of  library 
trustees  with  authority  to  draw  the  money  appropriated  for  the  same. 

The  "old  library"  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing  votes  was  not  the  Social 
Library  of  1823,  but  another  and  later  library  which,  several  years  prior 
to  this,  had  been  formed  by  an  association  of  citizens;  and  which  at  this 
time  was  located  in  the  hall  over  the  store  of  Kendall  and  Wright  at  the 
south  end  of  the  village  Main  street.  The  town  subsequently  purchased 
its  books. 

The  necessary  arrangements  for  establishing  the  library  were  com- 
pleted within  the  year  following  the  aforesaid  votes;  and  at  the  annual 
March  meeting  of  the  following  year,  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  fifty 


358  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

dollars  was  appropriated  for  its  use.  At  the  same  meeting,  George  W. 
Bridges,  Luke  Baldwin  and  Charles  N.  Corey  were  elected  as  its  first 
board  of  trustees. 

For  a  few  years  after  it  was  established,  the  library  was  located  in 
the  room  on  the  ground  floor  in  the  back  part  of  the  store  at  the  present 
time  owned  by  Everett  E.  Tarbell,  at  the  west  end  of  the  village  Main 
street.  But  subsequently  it  was  removed  from  the  store  into  the  back 
part  of  the  village  schoolhouse,  where  it  remained  until  the  spring  of  1914, 
when  it  was  removed  from  the  schoolhouse  into  the  Daniels  Academy 
Building;  where  it  is  located  at  the  present  time. 

At  the  date  of  its  establishment  the  library  contained  about  two 
hundred  volumes;  of  which  the  majority  came  to  it  from  the  Young  Men's 
Library  Association.  Since  then  the  original  number  of  volumes  has  been 
largely  increased  from  time  to  time  by  the  addition  of  books  purchased 
by  appropriations  of  money  from  the  town  for  that  purpose,  and  by  gifts 
of  books  from  citizens  and  others.  At  the  present  time,  (1914)  it  contains 
2341  volumes,  besides  many  valuable  pamphlets. 

Librarians  Since  Organization. 

1877—1878  George  W.  Bridges,  Rev.  Frank  A.  Sargent. 

1879  Charles  N.  Corey. 

1889  Mrs.  Ella  W.  Tucker. 

1890-1896     Mabel  S.  Tucker. 

1897-1910     Mrs.  Ella  W.  Tucker. 

1911-1914     Blanche  W.  Hall. 

Boards  of  Trustees,  1878  to  1910. 


1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 


George  W.  Bridges,  Luke  Baldwin,  Charles  N.  Corey. 
Charles  N.  Corey,    David  H.  Kendall,  Edward  C.  Tucker. 
George  E.  Stiles,  Horace  S.  Richmond,  Henry  E.  Putnam. 
George  E.  Stiles,  Charles  F.  Pressey,  James  H.  S.  Tucker. 
George  E.  Stiles,  James  H.  S.  Tucker,  Edward  T.  Hall. 
George  E.  Stiles,  James  H.  S.  Tucker,    Edward  T.  Hall. 
George  E.  Stiles,  James  H.  S.  Tucker,  Edward  T.  Hall. 
George  E  Stiles,  James  H.  S.  Tucker,  Edward  T.  Hall. 
James  H.  S.  Tucker,  George  E.  Stiles,  Edward  T.  Hall. 
James  H.  S.  Tucker,  George  E.  Stiles,  Edward  T.  Hall. 
James  H.  S.  Tucker,  George  E.  Stiles,  Edward  T.  Hall. 


1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  359 

George  E.  Stiles,   Edward  T.  Hall,  James  H.  S.  Tucker. 
Charles  W.  Smith,  Ella  W.  Tucker,  Orville  D.  Fessenden. 
Charles  W.  Smith,  Ella  W.  Tucker,  Orville  D.  Fessenden. 
Charles  W.  Smith,  Ella  W.  Tucker,  Orville  D.  Fessenden. 
L.  S.  Powers,  Ella  W.  Tucker,  Orville  D.  Fessenden. 
Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe,  Ella  W.  Tucker,  Orville  D.  Fessenden. 
Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe,    Ella  W.  Tucker,  Orville  D.  Fessenden. 
Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe,    Ella  W.  Tucker,    Orville  D.  Fessenden. 
Ella  W.  Tucker,  Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe,  O.  D.  Fessenden. 
Ella  W.  Tucker,  Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe,  O.  D.  Fessenden. 
Ella  W.  Tucker,  Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe,  O.  D.  Fessenden. 


1900-1911;    Ella  W.  Tucker,   Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe,   O.  D.  Fessenden. 


1912 
1913 
1914 


Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe,  Ella  W.  Tucker. 

Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe,  Warren  L.  Noyes,  Fred  A.  Hall 

Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe,  Mrs.  Ella  W.  Tucker. 


Samaritan  Commandery  No.  96,  United  Order  of  the  Golden  Cross. 

1880. 
This  Commandery  was  organized  in  Brookline  February  23,  1880. 
Its  charter  members  were  Dr.  Alonzo  S.  Wallace,  Mrs.  Mary  F.  Wallace, 
Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent,  Edward  T.  Hall,  Emily  M.  Hall,  David  H.  Kendall, 
Sophia  R.  Kendall,  Emma  S.  Sargent,  William  J.  Smith,  and  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Smith. 

First  Board  of  Officers. 

Past  Noble  Commander,  Alonzo  S.  Wallace. 

Noble  Commander,  David  H.  Kendall. 

Vice-Noble  Commander,  Mary  E.  Smith. 

Prelate,  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent. 

Worthy  Herald,  Edward  T.  Hall. 

Noble  Keeper  of  Records,  C.  T.  Pressey. 

Financial  Keeper  of  Records,  Emma  S.  Sargent. 

Treasurer,  William  J.  Smith. 

Warder  of  the  Inner  Gates,  Sophia  R.  Kendall. 

Warder  of  the  Outer  Gates,  Perley  L.  Pierce. 

From  the  date  of  its  organization  to  the  present  time  (1914)the  com- 
mandery has  held  its  meetings  in  the  vestry  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

During  the  years  of  its  existence  it  has  enjoyed  continuous  prosperity, 
and  its  rolls  have  borne  the  names  of  many  of  the  town's  most  influential 


360 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


citizens— its  membership  at  one  time  reaching  ninety-two  members.  Of 
those  who,  since  its  organization,  have  been  among  the  number  of  its 
members  ten  have  died;  as  follows:  Jefferson  Whitcomb,  George  E.  Stiles, 
Emily  M.  Hall,  Lenora  M.  Nye,  Joseph  A.  Hall,  Julia  F.  Dunbar,  David 
H.  Kendall,  Helen  I.  Hoitt,  Georgia  A.  Shattuck,  and  Samuel  Swett;  and 
many  others  have  removed  from  town.  At  the  present  time  (1914)  the 
organization  has  a  membership  of  twenty-seven  of  whom  sixteen  are  non- 
residents. 

Names  of  Members,  March  18,  1914. 


Edward  T.  Hall, 
Clara  A.  Fessenden, 
Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe, 
Ella  H.  Nye, 
John  D.  Hobart, 
Herbert  J.  Hall, 
Clara  G.  Kennedy, 
John  E.  Silvernail, 
James  C.  Douglass, 


Perley  L.  Pierce, 
Albert  T.  Pierce, 
Clintina  A.  Holcombe, 
Annie  M.  Gilson, 
Edwin  A.  Shattuck, 
Ada  M.  Hall, 
Albert  B.  Eaton, 
Byron  D.  Pease, 


David  S.  Fessenden, 
Hattie  F.  Pierce, 
George  H.  Nye, 
Fred  E.  French, 
Grace  E.  Pierce, 
Frank  P.  Kennedy, 
Flora  J.  Eaton, 
George  Sargent. 


1880— Population,— 698. 

Nov.  25,  the  dwelling  house  of  Miles  Foster  in  the  north  part  of  the 
town  was  burned  down. 

1881.  Jan.  31,  Charles  Burgess  was  accidently  killed  while  working 
in  the  sawmill  of  James  H.  Hall  in  the  north  part  of  the  town. 

Feb.  16,  Ebenezer  T.  Burge  was  burned  to  death. 

Feb.  16,  the  dwelling  house  of  Samuel  Gilson,  Jr.  located  on  the  poor- 
farm  road  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  Yellow  Day,  Sept.  6,  1881. 


Tuesday,  Sept.  6,  1881,  was  known  throughout  New  England  as  the 
"Yellow  Day."  It  was  an  uncomfortable,  although  not  particularly  hot, 
day.  At  daybreak  the  atmosphere  appeared  to  be  filled  with  a  yellowish 
light,  which,  while  it  had  not  the  appearacne  of  haze,  or  fog,  had 
nevertheless,  the  effect  of  completely  obscuring  the  sun.  Under  its 
influence  foliage  and  vegetation  of  all  descriptions  were  changed 
from  green  to  a  spectral  violet  blue.  The  sky  took  on  a  brassy 
aspect.      The     wild    birds     ceased    to    fly    and    to     sing.       Barnyard 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  361 

fowls  retired  to  their  roosts,  as  if  the  night  had  come;  and  do- 
mestic animals  had  the  appearance  of  being  cowed  by  the  unusual 
conditions  surrounding  them.  All  objects,  animate  and  inaminate,  ap- 
peared strange  and  unatural.  As  the  day  advanced,  the  darkness  increased 
in  density.  By  one  o'clock  it  had  increased  to  the  extent  that  it  became 
necessary  to  use  artificial  lights  in  the  interiors  of  buildings,  the  same  as 
in  the  darkness  of  night.  Hour  by  hour  the  gloom  deepened  and  the  brassy 
appearance  of  the  sky  increased  in  density.  This  state  of  affairs  continued 
until  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon;  after  which  daylight  gradually 
returned.  By  5  o'clock  the  darkness  had  almost  disappeared;  and  from 
that  time  until  nightfall,  the  remainder  of  the  day  was  passed  under, 
approximately,  the  usual  atmospheric  conditions;  the  daylight,  however, 
being  of  apparently  diminished  intensity. 

The  night  following  was  a  very  dark  one.  The  singular  and  un- 
natural phenomena  attendant  upon  the  day  were  a  cause  of  anxiety  to 
timorous  folk;  and  especially  so  to  those  who  were  of  superstitious  natures; 
to  whom  this  ominous  aspect  appeared  as  signs  of  the  coming  of  the  day 
of  doom.  To  the  scientists  these  phenomena  were,  like  those  attendant 
upon  the  famous  "Dark  Day"  of  1780,  enigmas  for  which  they  then  were, 
and  ever  since  have  been,  unable  to  give  any  satisfactory  solution. 

1882.  Feb.  18;  the  sawmill  of  David  S.  Fessenden  in  South  Brook- 
line  was  destroyed  by  fire. 

Nov.  7.  The  town  voted  to  accept  the  bequest  of  five  hundred 
dollars  left  to  it  under  the  will  of  James  N.  Tucker;  the  income  to  be  used 
for  the  pepetural  care  of  the  South  Cemetery. 

The  Brookline  and  Hollis  Telephone  Company. 

1884.  This  company  was  organized  by  citizens  of  Brookline.  in  the 
summer  and  fall  of  1884.  Its  object  was  to  construct  a  telephone  line 
from  this  town  via  Hollis  to  Nashua.  It  was  not  an  incorporated  company. 
The  funds  for  building  the  line  were  raised  by  subscription.  Bight  citizens 
of  this  town  contributed  fifty  dollars  each,  and  the  remainder  of  the  neces- 
sary amount  was  raised  in  Hollis.  The  following  citizens,  all  of  this  town, 
were  elected  as  the  company's  first  board  of  officers:  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sar- 
gent, president;  Walter  F.  Rockwood,  treasurer;  George  W.  Bridges,  clerk. 

Oct.  21,  the  company  petitioned  the  town  authorities  for  a  license  to 
erect  poles  and  stretch  wires  from  the  store  of  James  H.  S.  Tucker  at  the 
west  end  of  Main  street  to  the  town  line  of  Hollis,  via  the  highway  toPep- 
perell,  Mass.    The  license  was  immediatley  granted;  and  the  line  was  com- 


362  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

pleted  that  same  year.  The  first  public  telephone  station  was  established 
in  the  store  of  J.  H.  S.  Tucker.  The  first  citizens  to  install  telephones 
in  their  dwelling  houses  were  the  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent  and  Dr.  A.  S. 
Wallace. 

The  following  year,  1885,  the  citizens  of  Townsend,  Mass.,  became 
desirous  of  extending  the  line  into  that  town.  To  that  end  they  raised 
and  expended  a  sum  of  money  sufficient  to  carry  the  project  into  exe- 
cution. With  the  completion  of  the  line  to  Townsend  the  company's 
original  name  was  changed  to  "Brookline,  Townsend  and  Hollis  Telephone 
Co.";  the  original  board  of  officers,  however,  were  continued  in  office.  A 
few  years  later,  the  line  was  extended  to  Fitchburg,  Mass. 

The  company  continued  to  do  a  profitable  business  until  1898;  when 
it  sold  its  entire  plant  to  the  New  England  Telephone  and  Telegraph 
Company;  by  which  company  it  is  owned  and  managed  at  the  present 
time.  (1914). 

1886.  In  June  of  this  year,  the  schoolhouse  in  District  1,  South 
Brookline,  was  burned  down. 

Memorial  Day — Observances  of — 

For  many  years  prior  to  1886  the  town  made  annual  appropriations 
of  money  to  be  expended  in  decorating  the  graves  of  its  deceased  veteran 
soldiers  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  But  during  this  period  the  exercises 
attendant  upon  the  performance  of  this  duty  were  informal,  and  unat- 
tended with  martial  pomp  or  display. 

In  1886,  however,  as  the  result  of  a  citizen's  movement  in  that  di- 
rection, the  town  for  the  first  time  observed  Memorial  Day  in  a  formal 
manner. 

The  exercises  were  under  the  management  of  Post  30,  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  of  Hollis;  an  organization  to  which  many  of  Brookline's 
Veterans  at  that  time  belonged.  The  ceremonies  were  very  simple.  A 
procession,  consisting  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  citizens  on  foot,  and  as 
many  more  in  carriages  was  formed  on  Main  street;  from  whence,  headed 
by  the  West  Townsend,  Mass.,  Cornet  Band,  it  marched  to  the  south 
cemetery.  On  arriving  at  the  cemetery,  the  exercises  consisted  of  singing 
by  a  local  choir,  and  brief  remarks  by  the  reverends  Frank  D.  Sargent 
and  A.  B.  Russell,  and  members  of  the  Post.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
exercises  the  living  comrades  decorated  the  graves  of  the  dead,  and  the 
assemblage  quietly  dispersed. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  363 

The  following  year,  1887,  the  exercises  attendant  upon  the  day's  ob- 
servance were  more  formal  in  their  character.  The  anniversary  of  the 
day  that  year  fell  on  Sunday,  and  for  that  reason  its  obesrvance  was  placed 
for  Saturday,  May  29. 

The  exercises  for  the  day  were  in  charge  of  the  following  officers  and 
committee  of  arrangements:  President  of  the  day,  George  E.  Stiles;  Vice- 
President,  James  H.  S.  Tucker;  Chief  Marshal,  George  W.  Bridges;  Aids, 
Samuel  Swett,  Alpha  A.  Hall. 

Committee  of  Arrangements. 

Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent,  James  H.  S.  Tucker,  George  W.  Bridges, 
Samuel  Swett,  Daniel  Kendall,  George  E.  Stiles,  Albert  W.  Corey, 
Walter  F.  Rockwood,  Edward  C.  Tucker,  Ira  Daniels,  Frank  L.  Willoby, 
Mrs.  Frank  1.  Willoby,  H.  W.  Seaver,  Mrs.  H.  W.  Seaver,  Imla  M. 
Williams,  Mrs.  Imla  M.  Williams,  Charles  N.  Corey,  Mrs.  Nathaniel 
Hobart. 

The  exercises  were  conducted  in  accordance  with  a  programme  pre- 
pared for  the  occasion  as  follows : 

PROGRAM. 


"The  procession  will  form  in  the  Square  at  the  store  of  J.  H.  S.Tucker, 
at  9.30  A.  M.  and  in  the  following  order  proceed  to  the  West  Cemetery, 
then  countermarching  to  the  South  Cemetery,  then  returning  to  the 
Square  aboved  mentioned. 

Chief  Marshal 
2nd.  REGIMENT  BAND,  W.  A.  Cummings,  Leader; 
John  H.  Worcester  Post  and  Brookline  Veterans; 

Aid 
President  of  Day,  Speakers  and  Disabled  Soldiers  in  carriages ; 

Marshal 
Schools  of  Brookline 
Citizens. 

12  o'clock,  Collation  for  Band,  Soldiers  and  invited  guests,  at  the  Hall 
of  J.  H.  S.  Tucker. 

2  o'clock,  at  Tucker's  Hall,  Music;  Prayer;  Address;  Music;  Address; 
Music;  Address;  Music. 


364  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

The  Hall  has  been  engaged  for  a  Camp  Fire  and  Reunion  at  7  1-2 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  all  Brookline  Soldiers  are  requested  to  remain 
and  form  a  permanent  organization. 

All  are  invited  to  contribute  flowers  and  food  for  this  first  grand  Me- 
morial Day  Brookline  has  witnessed,  and  those  who  accept  the  invitation, 
are  requested  to  bring  in  their  contributions  by  9  A.  M.,  Saturday." 

For  may  years  subsequent  to  these  first  two  observances,  Memorial 
Day,  or  "Decoration  Day,"  as  it  was  then  called,  continued  to  be  formally 
observed  here;  and  year  by  year  the  town  voted  appropriations  for  that 
purpose.  But  as  the  years  passed,  and  the  veterans  became  few  in  numbers 
and  enfeebled  by  age,  the  more  pretentious  formalities  incident  to  the 
day  were  gradually  dispensed  with. 

For  the  last  few  years,  Memorial  Day  exercises  have  been  conducted 
by  the  children  of  the  public  schools;  who  assemble  under  the  charge  of 
their  teachers  in  some  public  hall,  from  whence,  after  carrying  out  a  pro- 
gramme consisting  of  patriotic  songs  and  recitations,  they  march  in 
procession  ,  headed  by  the  surviving  veterans  and  the  citizens,  to  the 
"cemetery-on-the-plain" ;  bearing  in  their  arms  an  abundance  of  fragrant 
flowers  and  wreaths  of  evergreen ;  with  which  upon  arrival  at  the  cemetery 
they  deck  the  graves  of  the  veterans;  after  which  ceremony,  the  exercises 
are  closed  with  prayer  by  the  attendant  clergyman. 

1888.  At  the  annual  March  town  meeting,  the  citizens  voted  to  dis- 
continue the  following  named  highways:  "The  highway  from  Abraham 
Betterly's  to  the  Senter  Place;  the  highway  from  the  Pope  Place,"  (old 
Ezekiel  Proctor  house)  "to  the  Jesse  Perkin's  Place,"  and  "the  highway 
from  the  Eddie  Whitcomb  Place,"  (old  William  Gilson  place) ,  "to  the 
Boston  Place." 

March  13,  the  store  of  James  H.  S.  Tucker  at  the  west  end  of  the 
village  Main  street  was  entered  by  burglars  and  the  safe  blown  open  and 
robbed  of  its  valuable  contents. 

Brookline  was  represented  in  the  Constitutional  Convention  this  year 
holden  at  Concord,  by  David  S.  Fessenden. 

1889.  September  17,  the  sawmill  of  Charles  J.  Stickney  in  South 
Brookline  was  destroyed  by  fire. 


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HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  365 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Railroads  in  Brook  line  and  a  Narrative  of  the  Events  Which  Led  Up  to  Their 

Construction. 

Failure  of  the  Citizen's  First  Attempt  to  Obtain  a  Railroad  in  1844 — The 
East  Wilton  and  Groton  Railroad  Company,  1846 — The  Brookline 
Railroad,  1871— The  Manchester  and  Fitchburg  Railroad,  1877— 
The  Brookline  Railroad  Company,  1891 — Celebration  of  the  Open- 
ing of  the  Brookline  Railroad  Company  to  Public  Travel  in  1892 — 
The  Brookline  and  Milford  Railroad  Company,  1893 

The  Nashua  and  Lowell  railroad  was  incorporated  by  act  of  legis- 
lature on  the  23rd  day  of  June,  1835.  It  was  the  first  railroad  to  enter 
New  Hampshire.  It  was  opened  for  business  in  1838,  and  went  into  full 
operation  in  1840.  Up  to  this  time  the  Middlesex  Canal,  in  Massachusetts, 
and  the  canal  system  in  connection  with  the  Merrimack  river  in  New 
Hampshire,  had  served  as  modes  of  conveyance  of  freight,  and  to  some 
extent  of  passengers,  between  Boston  and  the  towns  on  the  Merrimack, 
and  the  adjacent  country.  There  was  naturally  much  opposition  to  the 
building  of  the  road,  especially  among  the  stock-holders  in  the  canal 
companies. 

The  establishment  and  successful  operation  of  this  railroad  naturally 
excited  not  only  curiosity,  but  finally  created  a  feeling  of  intense  interest 
among  the  inhabitants  of  the  neighboring  towns.  A  railroad  fever  struck 
the  surrounding  country.  Brookline  was  one  of  the  first  of  the  towns  in 
this  vicinity  to  feel  its  effects;  and,  soon  after  the  road's  completion,  the 
desirability  of  a  railroad  from  some  point  in  Massachusetts  into  its  own 
borders,  and  perhaps  beyond,  began  to  be  vigorously  discussed.  Among 
the  projects  for  the  new  railroad  which  were  favorably  considered,  was  one 
which  contemplated  the  continuation  of  the  Boston  and  Lowell  railroad 
from  its  terminus  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  via  Brookline  to  East  Wilton;  and  a 
somewhat  active  effort  was  made  to  put  this  project  into  execution.  But 
meanwhile  another  project,  carried  on  by  those  who  were  interested  in 
building  the  present  Wilton  railroad,  was  under  way ;  and  after  some  con- 
siderable sparring  between  the  rival  factions,  those  opposed  to  the  Brookline 


366  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

route  carried  the  day,  and  the  Nashua  and  Wilton  railroad  was  incor- 
porated Dec.  28,  1844. 

The  East  Wilton  and  Groton  Railroad  Company. 

Far  from  being  discouraged  by  the  failure  of  their  attempt,  in  1844, 
to  obtain  a  railroad  charter,  the  citizens  of  Brookline  continued  to  agi- 
tate and  discuss  the  question  of  building  the  contemplated  road.  In  this 
agitation  and  discussion  they  were  aided  by  certain  of  the  citizens  of  East 
Wilton,  and  also  by  citizens  of  Groton  and  Pepperell,  in  Massachusetts. 
In  1846,  they  again  petitioned  the  legislature  for  a  railroad  charter;  and 
finally,  on  the  10th  day  of  July  of  that  year  succeeded  in  obtaining  the 
passage  of  an  act  whereby  the  road  was  incorporated  under  the  name  of 
the  East  Wilton  and  Groton  Railroad  Company.  The  original  grantees 
under  this  act  were  Samuel  W.  Blake  and  Asa  F.  Lawrence  of  Groton, 
Mass.,  Benjamin  Gould  and  Alpheus  Shattuck  of  Brookline,  and  William 
H.  Burns  of  East  Wilton.  By  the  terms  of  the  charter  the  road  was  to 
begin  in  East  Wilton;  thence  to  Milford,  thence  to  Brookline,  thence 
through  the  southwest  corner  of  Hollis  to  the  state  line;  there  to  intersect 
and  unite  with  the  East  Wilton  and  Groton  railroad  as  it  had  been  chartered 
by  the  Massachusetts  legislature  in  March,  1845.  By  its  act  of  incorpor- 
ation, the  capital  stock  of  the  company  was  to  consist  of  2000  shares.  The 
par  value  of  the  shares,  however,  was  not  stated.  But  as  the  president 
and  board  of  directors  were  restricted  from  laying  an  assessment  on  over 
one  hundred  dollars  for  each  share,  it  is  presumable  that  the  par  value 
was  at  least  SI 00  per  share.  By  section  15  of  the  act  it  was  provided  that 
— "If  the  Wilton  railroad  should  proceed  according  to  their  charter  granted 
in  December,  1844,  then  this  act  is  to  become  null  and  void."  It  is  a  matter 
of  record  that  the  Wilton  railroad  did  so  proceed.  In  1848  the  charter  of 
the  East  Wilton  and  Groton  railroad  was  amended;  and  there  the  legis- 
lative record  relative  to  the  road  ends. 

It  is  probable  that  by  the  completion  of  the  Wilton  railroad,  the 
charter  of  the  East  Wilton  and  Groton  railroad  became  "null  and  void." 
Tradition  says  that  the  only  action  taken  by  the  grantees  under  this  charter 
was  to  cause  a  survey  of  the  route  of  the  road  from  Brookline  to  Pepperell 
to  be  made.    That  such  a  survey  was  made  is  an  unquestioned  fact. 

Among  the  petitioners  for  the  charter  from  Brookline  were  Alpheus 
Shattuck,  Benjamin  Gould,  James  Clinton  Parker,  Andrew  Rockwood  and 
many  others.  In  the  work  before  the  legislature,  preliminary  to  obtaining 
the  charter,  the  petitioners  were  opposed  by  the  Lowell  and  Nashua  rail- 


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HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  367 

road;  which  employed  as  its  counsel  James  U.  Parker  of  Merrimack,  and 
Franklin  Pierce;  afterwards  President.  The  petitioners  were  represented 
before  the  legislature  by  Asa  F.  Lawrenc  an  able  and  efficient  lawyer  of 
Groton,  Mass. 

The  Brookline  Railroad. 

For  a  period  of  twenty-three  years  dating  from  the  time  of  the  loss  of 
its  charter  by  the  East  Wilton  and  Groton  railroad,  no  active  efforts  for 
procuring  a  charter  for  a  railroad  into  Brookline  were  made.  But  during 
all  that  period  the  matter  was  constantly  under  consideration  on  the  part 
of  the  citizens;  the  majority  of  whom  were  not  only  hopeful,  but  confident 
that  the  road  would  come  some  time,  even  if  they  did  not  live  to  see  it. 
In  1871  their  hopes  were  realized;  for  on  the  13th  day  of  July  of  that  year, 
in  response  to  a  petition  to  that  end,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  for  the 
incorporation  of  a  railroad  into  Brookline,  under  the  name  of  the  Brook- 
line Railroad.  The  charter  issued  under  the  provisions  of  the  act  was  the 
second,  in  order  of  number,  to  be  issued  for  a  railroad  in  Brookline.  The 
names  of  the  grantees  under  the  act  were  as  follows :  Joseph  A.  Hall,  James 
W.  Fessenden,  Joseph  Sawtelle,  James  W.  Cook,  Wilkes  W.  Corey,  Alpheus 
Shattuck,  Joseph  C.  Tucker,  William  J.  Smith,  James  Clinton  Parker, 
Rufus  G.  Russell,  David  G.  Russell,  David  S.  Fessenden,  and  Nathaniel 
Hcbart  of  Brookline;  John  N.  Worcester,  Timothy  E-  Flagg,  Charles  A. 
Reed,  William  A.  Trow,  Henry  N.  Smith,  Samuel  A.  Worcester,  George  L. 
Pierce,  Ambrose  H.  Woods,  Calvin  M.  Smith,  and  Abel  Colburn  of  Hollis. 

By  the  terms  of  this  charter  the  grantees  were  empowered  to  locate 
the  road  from  any  point  between  the  States  of  Massachusetts  and  New 
Hampshire,  and  between  the  towns  of  Hollis  and  Pepperell  to  any  point 
at  or  near  the  village  in  the  town  of  Brookline,  and  to  connect  with  the 
Middlesex  Central  railroad,  or  the  Brookline  and  Tyngsboro  railroad  in 
Massachusetts;  the  capital  stock  to  be  not  more  than  $150,000;  and  the 
corporation  was  to  organize  and  lay  out  $15,000  in  construction  before 
Jan.  1,  1876,  or  the  charter  was  to  be  void.  This  the  grantees  failed  to  do 
and  the  charter  was  allowed  to  expire. 

The  Manchester  and  Fitchburg  Railroad. 

On  July  14,  1877,  the  third  charter  for  a  railroad  into  Brookline  was 
granted  by  the  legislature,  under  the  name  of  the  Manchester  and  Fitch- 
burg railroad.     The  names  of  the  grantees  under  this  charter  residing  in 


368  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Brookline  were  as  follows.  Joseph  A.  Hall,  Joseph  Sawtelle.  Associated 
with  them  were  sixteen  others,  residents  of  Manchester,  Bedford,  Amherst, 
New  Ipswich  and  Fitchburg,  Mass.  By  the  charter's  provisions  they  had 
power  to  locate  and  construct  the  road  from  some  point  in  Manchester 
through  Bedford,  Merrimack,  Amherst  and  Milford,  to  some  point  on 
the  line  between  New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts  in  Brookline,  Mason, 
New  Ipswich  or  Rindge,  with  a  right  to  enter  upon  and  use  the  Concord 
railroad,  the  Manchester  and  North  Weare  railroad,  the  Concord  and  Ports- 
mouth railroad,  the  Nashua  and  Wilton,  and  the  Peterboro  and  Shirley 
railroad;  paying  such  tolls  as  fixed  upon  by  agreement  or  by  the  legislature. 
The  capital  stock  was  fixed  at  not  more  than  10,000  shares  of  $100  each, 
the  road  to  be  constructed  within  five  years  from  the  passage  of  the  bill, 
or  the  same  would  be  void.  Meetings  were  held  at  various  places  and  con- 
siderable enthusiasm  aroused;  but  enthusiasm  was  about  all  that  was 
aroused.  Capital  was  not  forthcoming,  and  the  time  limited  in  the  charter 
was  about  to  expire,  when  in  1881  events  transpired  that  instilled  new  life 
into  the  enterprise,  and  on  Aug.  17,  1881,  the  legislature  passed  an  act  to 
revive  and  continue  the  charter  to  July  1,  1890.  In  this  revival  of  the 
charter  it  was  provided  that  the  route  of  said  road  should  be  within  100 
rods  of  the  townhouse  at  Amherst  plain.  When  by  means  of  this  revival 
of  the  charter  the  nearly  defunct  road  had  been  galvanized  into  a  seeming 
appearance  of  new  life,  the  hopes  of  the  citizens  of  Brookline  were  raised 
to  the  highest  point.  Never  since  the  inception  of  a  railroad  into  the  town 
in  1844  had  all  appearances,  signs,  omens,  reports  and  manifestations 
been  so  favorable  for  a  railroad  as  now;  and  it  was  currently  reported  that 
if  the  road  should  be  built  from  Manchester  to  the  State  line,  certain 
capitalists  in  Fitchburg  would  build  the  remaining  portion  of  the  road  to 
Fitchburg.  In  fact,  these  capitalists,  it  was  understood,  guaranteed  it. 
Meanwhile  certain  of  the  manufacturing  corporations  in  Manchester  were 
apparently  interested  in  the  matter.  They  were  at  that  time,  and  had 
previously  been,  having  trouble  with  the  railroads  leading  south  out  of  the 
city  of  Manchester  in  regard  to  the  cost  of  freightage,  and  they  appeared 
very  desirous  of  obtaining  means  of  egress  that  would  render  them  inde- 
pendent of  the  Concord  railroad. 

Eminent  counsel  were  employed,  frequent  meetings  were  held  at  Man- 
chester and  Fitchburg,  and  at  intermediate  points  along  the  route;  where 
affairs  relating  to  the  projected  road  were  discussed,  and  viewed  in  all 
lights.  The  several  towns  along  the  route  either  voted  the  5  per  cent  on 
their  several  valuations  which  the  law  allowed,  or  expressed  their  will- 
ingness to  do  so.     Two  or  more  different  surveys  were  made;  one  sub- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  369 

stantially  over  the  route  as  set  forth  in  the  charter,  and  one  down  the  west 
bank  of  the  Merrimack  river,  passing  through  the  easterly  portion  of 
Hollis.  This  latter  survey  was  made  I  think  before  the  alteration  of  the 
charter  in  1881,  which  required  the  road  to  run  within  100  rods  of  the 
Amherst  townhouse.  In  fact  the  elements  of  capital  and  labor  seemed  to 
be  working  harmoniously  in  conjunction  with  the  wishes  of  the  people, 
and  "all  went  merry  as  a  marriage  bell,"  when,  "hush,  hark,  a  sound 
broke  in  like  a  rising  knell."  In  fact  something  dropped.  An  investi- 
gation showed  that  the  Concord  railroad  had  dropped  on  the  price  of 
freightage,  and  with  that  drop  the  project  of  the  Manchester  and  Fitch- 
burg  railroad  dropped  also,  and  passed  away  like  "the  baseless  fabric  of 
a  dream."  A  few  years  later,  as  the  time  approached  for  the  expiration 
of  the  term  of  the  charter,  viz.,  July,  1890,  some  talk  was  made  as  to  hav- 
ing the  term  extended;  but  upon  search  being  made  it  was  found  that 
that  valuable  instrument,  the  charter,  had  dropped  also — completely  out 
of  sight.  And  from  that  day  to  this  no  citizen  of  Brookline  has  ever  seen 
it.  It  is  supposed  to  be  resting,  with  other  equally  valuable  papers,  in  the 
archives  of  the  first  railroad  to  enter  New  Hampshire.  How  it  got  there 
the  Lord  only  knows.  We  can  only  say  of  it,  in  the  language  of  tombstone 
epitaphs,  "Requiescat  in  pace." 

The  Brookline  Railroad  Company. 

The  fourth  and  last  charter  for  a  railroad  in  this  town  was  granted 
by  the  New  Hampshire  legislature,  March  31,  1891,  under  the  name  of  the 
Brookline  Railroad  Company — the  road  that  is  in  sucessful  operation 
today  (1914).  The  grantees  under  this  charter  were  William  G.  Shattuck, 
Thomas  S.  Hittinger,  George  W.  Bridges,  Walter  F.  Rockwood,  James  H. 
S.  Tucker,  Gilman  P.  Huff,  David  Hobart,  Ira  Daniels,  James  H.  Hall, 
Willie  A.  Hobart,  Samuel  Swett,  Albert  W.  Corey,  Charles  E.  Shattuck, 
and  Charles  A.  Stickney,  all  residents  of  Brookline  except  Thomas  S. 
Hittinger,  who,  at  that  time,  was  a  resident  of  Townsend  Harbor,  Mass. 

This  charter  authorized  the  construction  of  a  railroad  not  exceeding 
6  rods  in  width  from  some  point  on  lake  Potanapo  to  some  point  on  the 
State  line  of  Massachusetts,  in  Brookline  or  Hollis,  over  such  a  line  as 
would  be  passed  over  in  the  construction  of  a  railroad  in  the  most  feasible 
route  to  a  point  at  or  near  the  station  on  the  Worcester,  Nashua  and  Port- 
land railroad  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  with  a  right  to  connect  with  the  Wor- 
cester, Nashua  and  Portland  railroad,  and  to  lease  to  any  railroad  corpo- 
ration in  manner  and  form  consistent  with  the  laws  of  this  State.     The 


370  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

capital  stock  was  limited  to  1000  shares  of  $100  each  and  the  act  was  to 
be  void  unless  the  road  was  completed  within  ten  years  from  the  passage 
of  the  bill. 

The  charter  was  obtained  by  the  personal  and  persistent  efforts  of  the 
citizens  of  Brookline,  aided  and  assisted  by  Thomas  S.  Hittinger,  super- 
intendent of  the  Fresh  Pond  Ice  Company  of  Cambridge,  Mass.  To  Mr. 
Hittinger,  in  a  very  large  measure,  belongs  the  credit  of  the  road's  exis- 
tence. Hon  Franklin  Worcester  of  Hollis  was  also  a  zealous  advocate  of 
the  road  from  its  inception ;  giving  freely  of  his  time  and  money  in  further- 
ance of  the  enterprise;  and  under  his  skilful  guidance  the  bill  was  sucess- 
fully  engineered  through  the  legislature,  in  spite  of  the  strenuous  oppo- 
sition of  one  or  two  powerful  railroad  corporations  in  this  State.  Shortly 
after  the  road  obtained  its  charter,  the  railroad  commissioners  of  Massa- 
chusetts granted  a  charter  for  a  new  railroad  in  that  State,  extending  from 
some  point  in  Groton  to  the  State  line  in  Pepperell.  This  road  was  subse- 
quently built  and  connected  with  the  Brookline  road;  and  at  the  present 
time  (1914)  the  entire  line  of  the  two  roads  is  being  operated  under  the 
name  of  the  Brookline  and  Pepperell  railroad. 

The  road  is  fourteen  miles  in  length;  of  which  three  miles  are  located 
in  New  Hampshire.  It  connects  with  the  Peterborough  and  Shirley  rail- 
road, a  branch  of  the  Fitchburg  railroad,  at  West  Groton,  Mass.  From 
West  Groton  it  follows  down  the  west  side  of  the  Nashua  river  to  Pepperell, 
Mass. ;  thence,  turning  at  nearly  a  right  angle,  it  follows  up  the  west  bank 
of  the  beautiful  Nissitisset  river  to  its  terminus  in  Brookline,  on  the  shores 
of  Muscatanipus  pond.  From  the  date  of  its  being  opened  for  traffic  to 
the  present  time,  the  road  has  done  a  profitable  business. 

Originally  this  road  was  under  the  management  of  the  Fitchburg 
railroad,  by  which  corporation  it  was  built.  Subsequently,  when  the 
Boston  and  Maine  railroad  company  leased  the  Fitchburg  system,  it 
passed  into  the  control  of  the  former  company.  At  the  present  time 
(1914)  it  is  controlled  by  the  N.Y.  N.  H.  &  H.  under  its  lease  of  the  B.  &  M. 
system  of  roads. 

Celebration  of  the  Opening  of  the  Brookline  Railroad  Company  to 

Public  Traffic,  Sept.  8,  1892. 

The  Brookline  railroad  was  formally  opened  to  public  traffic  on  the 
8th  day  of  September,  1892.  The  opening  day  was  made  the  subject  of  a 
public  celebration — for  which  elaborate  preparations  had  been  going  on 
for  weeks  before  the  event — bv  the  citizens  of  Brookline  and  their  friends 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  371 

in  its  vicinity.  The  following  account  of  the  celebration,  and  the  events 
attendant  upon  it,  is  compiled  from  an  article  written  and  published  at 
the  time  in  a  New  Hampshire  newspaper. 

At  about  ten  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  first  train,  consisting  of  seven  coaches 
loaded  down  with  humanity,  with  Henry  A.  Hall  and  Herbert  W.  Bout- 
well,  both  natives  of  Brookline,  at  the  throttles  of  the  engines,  and  con- 
ductor Frank  W.  Barns  in  charge  of  the  train,  came  in  from  the  south. 
Immediately  the  train  came  to  a  stop  in  the  village  depot,  Capt.  Frank 
Eaton  let  loose  the  Lyndeboro  Lafayette  artillery,  and  thirty  times  the 
cannon  boomed  above  the  valley  town.  Ere  the  train  upon  the  track  had 
departed,  forty-eight  school  girls,  under  direction  of  George  H.  Bridges, 
chairman  of  the  school  board,  decked  the  already  flagged  engine  with 
beautiful  flowers.  Then  the  train  drew  out,  and  another  of  nine  coaches, 
Conductor  Sexton's,  came  thundering  in.  On  this  train  was  the  East 
Pepperell  brass  band,  Gilman  Robbins  leader.  Half  an  hour  later  the 
procession  proceeded  down  Main  street  in  the  following  order :  Chief  mar- 
shal, D.  D.  Rockwood;  aids,  A.  A.  Hall,  G.  P.  Huff,  O.  D.  Fessenden; 
platoon  of  Nashua  and  Brookline  police;  Second  Regiment  Band,  W.  A. 
Cummings  leader;  Brookline  firemen  in  line;  barge  containing  school 
children;  other  barges;  carriages  with  some  of  the  State's  distinguished 
citizens.  In  a  carriage  with  James  H.  S.  Tucker  were  his  excellency  Gov. 
Hiram  A.  Tuttle  and  Senator  Jacob  H.  Gallinger.  Gen.  Henry  M.  Baker, 
Gen.  Charles  Williams  and  the  orator  of  the  occasion,  a  native  of  Brookline, 
Judge  E.  E-  Parker,  followed  in  carriages.  Behind  these  came  visitors  and 
citizens  in  their  carriages.  The  line  proceeded  through  the  principal 
streets,  with  the  accompanying  music  of  the  bands.  Under  the  most 
beautiful  old  flag  that  ever  floated  over  this  old  earth,  the  procession 
marched.  The  names  of  Harrison  and  Reid  greeted  them  on  "the  old 
flag"  as  they  passed  Tucker's  store.  In  front  of  the  hotel,  Cleveland  and 
Stevenson's  names  were  attached  to  the  stars  and  stripes.  The  column 
halted  in  front  of  E.  C.  Tucker's  residence  and  Governor  Tuttle,  Senator 
Gallinger  and  the  other  prominent  guests  entered  Mr.  Tucker's  hospitable 
home.    Many  entered  to  greet  the  governor  and  his  friends. 

At  11  A.  M.,  as  the  governor  ascended  the  rostrum,  which  was  on  the 
east  side  of  Main  street  in  front  of  the  M.  E.  church,  the  second  Regiment 
band,  which  was  near  by  upon  a  raised  platform,  rendered  the  stirring 
strains  of  "Hail  to  the  Chief."  Rev.  G.  L.  Todd,  pastor  of  the  Brookline 
Congregational  church  and  president  of  the  day,  then  called  the  assembly 
to  order.  A  most  touching  prayer  was  made  by  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin, 
an  aged  and  retired  clergyman  of  Mason,  who  years  ago  was  a  pastor  of 


372  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

the  Congregational  church  of  Brookline.  President  Todd  then  gave  a 
brief  and  happy  welcoming  address.  The  Second  Regiment  band  after- 
wards played  the  "American  Hymn."  The  president  then  introduced  the 
orator  of  the  day,  Judge  E.  E.  Parker,  of  Nashua,  a  native  of  the  town, 
who  gave  a  scholarly  and  eloquent  address. 

Following  Judge  Parker's  grand  and  appreciated  effort,  the  Second 
Regiment  band  again  did  itself  proud.  It  was  now  1  o'clock — the  dining 
hour — and  so  President  Todd  at  this  point,  announced  a  pause  in  the 
proceedings,  during  which  time  he  invited  the  guests  and  as  many  as 
could  be  accomodated  to  repair  to  Tucker's  hall,  and  there  partake  of  one 
of  P.  &  J.  Besse's  best  and  most  celebrated  Boston  repasts.  Assembled 
at  the  festive  board,  a  brief  silence  was  maintained  while  Rev.  C.  F.  Cra- 
thern  of  Mason  invoked  the  Divine  blessing  in  a  few  well  chosen  words. 
Then  the  cheerful  company  dined  to  their  hearts'  and  stomachs'  content. 
R.  B.  Pope,  the  colored  head  waiter,  gave  a  dinner  to  444  people  at  the 
first  sitting.  He  had  a  score  or  more  of  able  and  gentlemenly  colored 
waiters  at  his  command.  The  banquet  hall  was  tastefully  decorated  with 
bright  colored  paper  fans  and  with  evergreen  strung  overhead,  and  wreaths 
hung  here  and  there.  Dinner  ended,  the  company  re-assembled  at  the 
grand  stand.  The  president  invited  the  press  representatives  upon  the 
platform.  He  then  called  for  three  rousing  cheers  for  the  governor,  and 
got  them  in  good  shape.  Then  he  introduced  his  excellency  to  the  sea  of 
upturned  faces. 

Governor  Tuttle  in  substance,  said  that  he  was  pleased  to  be  present 
and  take  part  in  the  day's  proceedings.  He  referred  to  the  time  when 
the  first  train  of  cars  came  plunging  into  his  old  home,  Pittsfield.  He  had 
visited  Brookline  for  the  first  time  only  recently,  and  was  so  well  pleased 
then  that  they  found  him  here  again  on  this  gala  day.  He  referred  to  the 
fine  pure  water  of  their  shining  lake,  spoke  of  the  people  of  these  little 
country  hamlets  furnishing  the  sinews  of  the  country.  They  could  bring 
muscle  as  well  as  brains  to  the  front.  In  closing  he  pronounced  himself 
proud  to  have  had  the  privilege  of  signing  their  railroad  bill,  thanked 
them  for  their  cordial  reception  and  polite  attention,  and  then  gracefully 
withdrew. 

Gov.  Tuttle's  address  was  followed  by  brief  speeches  by  U.  S.  Senator 
Jacob  Gallinger,  Gen.  H.  M.  Baker  of  Bow,  Hon.  Robert  M.  Wallace  of 
Milford,  Hon.  John  MeLane  of  Milford,  Hon.  Franklin  Worcester  of 
Hollis,  Albert  L.  Fessenden,  Esq.,  of  Townsend,  Mass.,  Hon.  George 
A.  Wason  of  New  Boston,  Rev.  A.  Woods  of  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Rev. 
Daniel    Goodwin    of    Mason,    Edward    Wason    of    Nashua    and    many 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  373 

others.  As  night  came  on  apace  the  gathering  lessened,  but  many  tarried 
for  the  fireworks  and  the  music  of  the  later  hours. 

Among  the  names  of  the  many  out  of  town  people  present  were  Col. 
Dana  W.  King,  James  H.  Hunt,  E.  W.  Eaton,  C.  J.  Hamblett,  John  A. 
Spaulding,  and  J.  W.  Howard  of  Nashua,  Henry  S.  Gilson,  James  A. 
Mixer,  Col.  F.  E.  Kaley,  F.  E.  Bartlett,  Dr.  H.  S.  Hutchinson,  Dr.  D.  S. 
Dearborn  and  lady,  O.  H.  Foster  and  lady,  Mrs.  John  McLane  and  a  party 
of  ladies  from  Milford.  The  press  representatives  present  were  Edward 
M.  Stanyan  and  W.  S.  Towner,  New  Hampshire  Republican;  Frank  J. 
Maloney,  Associated  Press;  W.  B.  Rotch,  Farmer's  Cabinet;  J.  G.  Faxon, 
Boston  Herald;  Col.  F.  E.  Pecker,  Boston  Journal;  and  A.  E.  DeWolfe, 
Nashua  Telegraph. 

Three  thousand  people  were  on  the  street  at  noon.  The  evening  was 
enlivened  by  the  music  of  the  band  and  a  brilliant  display  of  fireworks; 
which  closed  the  festivities  of  one  of  the  most  notable  days  in  the  town's 
history. 

The  Brookline  and  Milford  Railroad  Company. 

The  Brookline  and  Milford  Railroad  was  incorporated  by  act  of  legis- 
lature February  22,  1893.  The  grantees  under  the  act  were  John  McLane, 
R.  M.  Wallace,  H.  H.  Barber,  F.  E-  Kaley,  O.  H.  Foster,  Clarence  J. 
Gutterson,  of  Milford;  Franklin  J.  Worcester,  L.  B.  Dow,  of  Hollis,  and 
James  H.  S.  Tucker  and  Thomas  L.  Hittinger  of  Brookline. 

By  the  terms  of  the.  act  the  road  was  to  be  built  from  some  conven- 
ient point  on  the  Brookline  railroad  in  Brookline  to  some  convenient  point 
in  the  town  of  Milford;  with  the  right  to  connect  with  the  Brookline  rail- 
road in  Brookline  and  with  the  Wilton  road  in  said  town  of  Milford.  The 
road  was  built  and  said  connections  made  in  little  less  than  one  year  and 
nine  months  from  the  date  of  its  incorporation.  It  was  opened  to  public 
traffic  Thursday,  November  15,  1894;  and  the  event  was  made  the  oc- 
casion of  a  grand  celebration  at  Milford. 

Like  the  Brookline  railroad,  this  road  was  built  by  the  Fitchburg 
railroad  corporation.  At  the  present  time  (1914)  it  forms  a  part  of  the 
Boston  and  Maine  railroad  system  in  New  Hampshire  under  lease  to  the 
N.  Y.,  N.  H.,  &  H.  railroad;  by  which  company  the  entire  line  of  railroads 
from  Milford  to  Ayer,  Mass.,  is  controlled  and  operated. 


374  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

Current  Events,  Incidents  and  Happenings,  Continued. 

1890—1914. 

Population — Concrete  Sidewalks — The  Public  Drinking  Fountain — 
Burning  of  Sampson  Farnsworth  House — Burning  of  the  Rufus 
Woodward  House — The  Fresh  Pond  Ice  Company — Sketch  of 
Life  of  Noah  Farley— Bond  Street  Laid  Out — The  Caroline  Brooks 
Legacy — The  Grange — O.  D.  Fessenden's  Gift  to  the  Town— 
Brookline  Improvement  Company — Burning  of  the  Alpheus  Shat- 
tuck  House — Burning  of  the  John  Sanders  House — The  New  Eng- 
land Type  Factory — Congregational  Church  Struck  by  Lightening 
— New  Hearse — Murder  of  Adelbert  Parker — Old  Home  Week 
Celebrations — The  James  Carlton  Parker  Legacy — The  Freshet  of 
1900 — The  Harriet  Gilson  Legacy — Burning  of  the  Thomas  O. 
Heren  House— Burning  of  the  Emma  S  Dunbar  House — State 
Roads— The  Imla  M.  Williams  Legacy — Orville  D.  Fessenden 
Steam  Sawmill — Burning  of  the  J.  A.  Hall  and  Joseph  Hall 
Houses — The  Dodge  Legacy — Brown  Tail  Moths — New  Valuation 
of  the  Town — The  Emily  M.  Peterson  Legacy — The  Eliza  J. 
Parker  Legacy — The  Martha  E.  Perkins  Legacy — The  Bertha 
Hutchinson  Legacy— Burning  of  the  "Beehive"  and  Deaths  of 
Edward  O'Brien  and  John  Powers — Water  Plant — The  Brookline 
Public  Park — Electric  Lights. 

1890— Population— 501 

At  the  annual  March  town  meeting  of  this  year,  for  the  first  time  in 
its  history,  the  town  voted  an  appropriation  of  money  to  be  used  exclusively 
in  improving  the  conditions  of  its  sidewalks.  The  amount  of  the  appropri- 
ation was  over  one  hundred  dollars.  It  was  expended  the  following  summer 
in  the  construction  of  a  concrete  sidewalk  on  the  east  side  of  the  village 
Main  street  between  the  stores  of  Walter  E.  Corey  and  Everett  E.  Tarbell. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  375 

From  time  to  time  during  the  years  immediately  succeeding  1890, 
appropriations  similar  to  that  of  the  latter  year  and  for  the  same  purpose, 
but  frequently  of  much  larger  amounts,  were  raised  and  expended  on  the 
sidewalks;  principally  on  those  in  the  village.  As  a  result  of  those  ex- 
penditures, at  the  present  time  (1914)  concrete  sidewalks  have  been  con- 
structed and  are  in  use  on  portions  of  the  following  named  streets :  Main 
street  on  its  east  side  from  a  point  opposite  the  residence  of  K.  E.  Parker 
continuously  to  the  summit  of  meeting-house  hill;  on  its  west  side  from 
the  same  point  at  its  east  end  to  a  point  opposite  the  dwelling  house  of 
widow  Charles  N.  Corey;  Bond  street,  on  its  west  side  from  its  junction 
with  Main  street  to  the  railroad  depot;  Milford  street,  on  its  east  side 
from  the  Congregational  meeting-house  northerly  to  the  residence  of  Widow 
Eddy  Whitcomb;  the  street  running  easterly  from  Main  street  near  Tar- 
bell's  store,  on  its  west  side  for  the  entire  length.  In  addition  to  the  fore- 
going, concrete  sidewalks  have  been  put  in  on  the  highway  to  Townsend 
opposite  the  residences  of  David  S.  Fessenden  and  William  B.  Rockwood 
in  South  Brookline. 

The  Public  Drinking  Fountain. 

At  the  same  meeting,  March  11,  Charles  W.  Smith,  David  Hobart 
and  Charles  N.  Corey  were  elected  as  a  committee  to  enquire  into  the  cost 
of  erecting  a  public  drinking  fountain  in  the  square  at  the  west  end  of  Main 
Street  near  the  store  of  James  H.  S.  Tucker.  At  the  March  meeting  of 
the  following  year  this  committee  reported;  and,  upon  considering  the 
report,  the  meeting  passed  the  following  vote; — "To  establish  as  a  common 
such  part  of  the  triangle  near  J.  H.  S.  Tucker's  store  as  is  necessary  for 
the  purpose,  and  to  improve  the  same  by  placing  thereon  a  public  drink- 
ing fountain.  Also  to  appropriate  a  sum  not  exceeding  one  hundred  and 
seventy-five  dollars  to  make  such  improvements  and  to  furnish  the  water 
for  the  same."  At  the  same  time  the  committee  of  the  previous  year  was 
re-elected,  under  the  title  of  "Trustees  of  the  drinking  fountain,"  with 
power  to  carry  the  vote  into  effect. 

In  the  summer  of  1892  the  board  of  trustees  erected  the  bronze  drink- 
ing fountain  at  the  present  time  standing  upon  the  square  at  the  west  end 
of  the  village  Main  street,  and  at  the  same  time  constructed  the  reservoir 
which  supplies  it  with  water,  at  an  expense  to  the  town,  including  the  cost 
of  the  fountain,  of  four  hundred  and  odd  dollars. 

1890.  April  30,  the  old  David  J.  Stickney  house  in  North  Brookline 
was  destroyed  by  fire. 


376  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

July  24,  the  Rufus  Woodward  house  on  the  plain  south  of  the  village 
was  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  Fresh  Pond  Ice  Company. 

The  Fresh  Pond  Ice  Company  of  Somerville,  Mass.,  removed  its 
plant  from  Somerville  to  this  town  in  the  fall  or  spring  of  this  year,  1890, 
and  established  its  business  in  its  present  location  on  the  south  shore  of 
Muscatanipus  lake. 

Prior  to  its  location  here,  the  company  had  purchased  from  its  owners 
all  of  the  land  surrounding  and  contiguous  to  the  lake ;  with  the  exception 
of  a  small  tract,  on  its  west  shore,  which  at  the  present  time(  1914)is  owned 
by  Frederick  Farns worth. 

Soon  after  locating  here,  and  during  the  same  year,  the  company 
through  its  agent,  Thomas  S.  Hittinger,  who  was  also  one  of  its  members, 
commenced  the  erection  of  its  ice  houses.  They  were  all  completed  in  the 
following  year.  The  houses,  which  were  nine  in  number,  were  all  covered 
by  one  and  the  same  roof.  At  the  time  of  their  completion,  their  storage 
capacity  was  sixty  thousand  tons.  The  dimensions  of  the  building  as 
first  erected  were  245  feet  in  length  by  180  feet  in  breadth. 

Since  its  erection,  the  original  building  has,  at  various  times,  been  en- 
larged by  the  addition  of  new  houses,  until  at  the  present  time  it  encloses 
within  its  walls  thirteen  houses,  with  a  capacity  for  holding  eighty  thous- 
and tons  of  ice ;  and  is  said  to  be  the  largest  ice  plant  under  one  roof  in  the 
State 

Practically,  the  company's  entire  product  is  sold  in  Cambridge  and 
Somerville,  Mass.,  to  which  cities  it  is  shipped  via  the  Fitchburg  division 
of  the  B.  &  M.  railroad.  Its  daily  shipments  during  the  summer  months 
average  from  twenty  to  forty  loaded  cars.  In  addition  to  its  plant  at  the 
lake,  the  company  also  owns  the  sites,  and  controls  the  water  power  con- 
nected with  the  same,  of  the  two  saw  and  grist  mills  formerly  owned  and 
operated  by  the  late  Ensign  Bailey,  and  located  on  the  river  below  its 
outlet  from  the  lake. 

Thomas  S.  Hittinger,  the  company's  superintendent  from  the  time  of 
its  establishment  in  this  town,  died  at  his  home  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  Oct. 
26,  1904.  His  death  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  company,  in  whose  interests 
he  was  an  indefatigable  worker,  and  a  cause  of  sincere  regret  to  the  citizens 
of  Brookline ;  by  whom  he  was  highly  respected.  It  was  owing  to  his  efforts, 
as  much  perhaps  as  to  the  efforts  of  any  other  one  man,  that  this  town 


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HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  377 

finally  obtained  its  railroad;  and  it  was  through  his  influence  that  the  ice 
business  was  established  here. 

Mr.  Hittinger  was  succeeded  as  the  company's  superintendent  by  E. 
A.  Davenport;  who  in  his  turn  was  succeeded  by  Edward  L.  Hadley,  the 
present  occupant  of  the  position. 

The  Brookline  Granite  Company. 

1891.  During  the  construction  of  the  Brookline  and  Pepperell  rail- 
road in  1891,  Fayette  Cutler  and  William  Burnham  of  Barre,  Vermont, 
purchased  of  Vernal  Barber  and  Joseph  A.  Hall  two  separate  lots  of  land 
located  on  the  west  side  of  Ramond  hill  and,  under  the  firm  name  of  The 
Brookline  Granite  Company,  commenced  to  quarry  granite  from  the  ledges 
located  on  the  purchased  premises. 

Subsequently,  on  the  24th  day  of  October,  1892,  the  company  through 
its  agent,  Jacob  McClure,  purchased  of  Samuel  Gilson,  Jr.,  a  tract  of  land 
containing  granite  ledges,  and  consisting  of  sixteen  acres  located  on  the 
easterly  side  of  said  hill. 

The  company,  under  the  management  of  Col.  McClure,  began  its 
first  operations  upon  the  ledge  located  on  the  northwest  side  of  the  hill, 
near  the  terminus  of  a  spur-track  of  the  Brookline  and  Pepperell  railroad 
which  led  up  the  hill  on  its  westerly  side,  and  which  had  been  built  for  its 
accomodation.  It  employed  a  large  number  of  quarrymen;  and,  under  the 
active  and  constant  oversight  of  the  manager,  the  work  of  developing  the 
ledge  progressed  rapidly  and  satisfactorily;  and  the  prospects  for  the 
future  success  of  the  enterprise  appeared  to  be  most  auspicious. 

Such  was  the  state  of  affairs  when  on  the  evening  of  September  7, 
1893,  Col.  McClure  was  suddenly  stricken  down  by  heart  failure;  from  the 
effects  of  which  he  died  on  the  third  day  of  October  following. 

Soon  after  Col.  McClure's  death  the  company  suspended  its  oper- 
ations on  the  ledge  and  apparently  abandoned  the  enterprise.  The  work 
was  never  resumed  and  from  the  day  of  its  abandonment  to  the  present 
time  the  plant  has  remained  idle. 

Noah  W.  Farley. 

December  28  Noah  W.  Farley  died  of  heart  failure  at  his  residence 
in  Auburndale,  Mass.,  aged  seventy  years.  Mr.  Farley  was  an  adopted 
son  of  Christopher  and  Ruth  Jewett  Farley,  and  a  native  of  this  town. 


378  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Boston, 
Mass.,  where  he  started  a  retail  business  on  Hanover  street.  From  that 
time  until  his  decease  he  was  one  of  Boston's  most  successful  business 
men.  During  that  period  he  was  connected  as  a  partner  with  several  of 
the  city's  largest  and  most  successful  business  firms.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Farley,  Harvey  &  Company  on 
the  corner  of  Chauncy  and  Bedford  streets.  He  was  a  member,  and  for 
many  years  treasurer  of  the  Park  Street  Congregational  Church.  As  a 
business  man  he  was  honest,  upright  and  conservative.  As  a  friend  he 
was  constant  and  sincere. 

In  1849  he  married  Pamelia  Thayer  of  New  Ipswich.  He  was  sur- 
vived by  his  wife,  three  sons  and  a  daughter. 

Badger  Brothers. 

During  this  year,  Charles  L.,  William,  George  I,.,  Charles  F.,  and 
Fred  L.  Badger,  all  of  Quincy,  Mass.,  where  under  the  name  and  style  of 
Badger  Brothers  they  were  extensive  manufacturers  of  and  dealers  in 
granite  products,  located  a  branch  of  their  business  in  Brookline. 

The  scene  of  the  company's  operations  here  was  the  ledge  located  on 
the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Milford  about  one  half  mile  north  of  the 
village  Main  street,  and  known  as  the  Samuel  Gilson,  Jr.  Ledge;  which 
was  purchased  for  it  of  Henry  A.  Willey. 

For  several  years  following  its  purchase,  the  company  worked  the 
ledge  at  intervals;  expending  considerable  sums  of  money  in  an  effort  to 
quarry  the  granite  in  blocks  of  dimensions  suitable  for  its  requirements. 
To  that  end  the  ledge  was  excavated  to  a  very  considerable  depth.  But 
with  but  indifferent  results.  For  the  granite,  although  excellent  in  quality 
and  abundant  in  quantity,  continued  to  develop  in  layers  too  thin  to  be 
available  for  the  use  for  which  the  company  intended  it.  Discouraged 
with  the  results,  the  company  finally  abandoned  the  enterprise,  and  sold 
its  plant  to  Samuel  Swett. 

1892.  March  8,  the  town  voted  to  convey  a  narrow  strip  of  land 
from  the  east  side  of  the  west  cemetery  bordering  on  Muscatanipus  Pond 
to  the  Fresh  Pond  Ice  Company.  The  conveyance  was  subsequently 
made. 

March  8,  Bond  Street  was  laid  out. 

February  14,  The  Timothy  J.  Wright  dwelling  house  near  the  rail- 
road crossing  in  North  Brookline  was  destroyed  by  fire. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  379 

July  20,  the  old  Samuel  Farnsworth  house  in  North  Brookline  was 
burned  down. 

Brookline  was  represented  in  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  this 
year  by  Orville  D.  Fessenden. 

1893.  May  24,  the  old  Mathew  Wallace  place  in  the  southwest  part 
of  the  town  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire. 

The  town  voted  to  accept  a  legacy  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight 
and  36-100  dollars  from  Caroline  W.  Brooks,  the  income  of  the  same  to 
be  used  for  the  perpetual  care  of  her  family  burial  lot  in  the  south  cemetery. 

Brookline  Grange  No.  211. 

1894.  "Brookline  Grange  No.  211  P.  of  H.  was  organized  March  14, 
1894.  The  Hillsboro  Co.  Pomona  Grange  records  give  the  following  events 
which  preceded  its  organization : 

'At  a  Pomona  Grange  meeting  held  at  Goffstown  Feb.  7,  1891,  Brook- 
line was  presented  as  a  favorable  field  for  the  organization  of  a  subordinate 
Grange.  George  Tarbell  of  Milford,  Andrew  H.  Spalding  of  Hollis  and 
George  A.  Wason  of  Nashua  were  appointed  a  committee  to  go  to  Brook- 
line and  investigate  and  report,  and  Pomona  Grange  voted  to  hold  a  public 
meeting  there  providing  the  citizens  were  willing  to  have  them  do  so. 

This  committee  reported  at  the  next  Pomona  meeting  held  at  Mason, 
Feb.  27,  that  the  citizens  of  Brookline  would  gladly  receive  them  at  an 
early  date.  They  voted  to  hold  said  meeting  March  7.  On  that  date  a 
load  of  enthusiastic  patrons  came  over  from  Milford  and  in  all  there  were 
one  hundred  and  ten  present.  And  all  arrangements  were  made  to  organize 
a  Grange  in  Brookline.  David  D.  and  Martha  A.  Rockwood  at  this  time 
became  interested,  and  they  kindled  the  fire  of  enthusiasm  for  the  organiz- 
ation of  a  Grange  among  the  citizens  of  Brookline,  and  they  ever  remained 
true  and  loyal  to  the  end  of  life. 

The  record  of  the  first  meeting,  on  the  night  of  the  organization  of 
Brookline  Grange  is  as  follows : 

Brookline,  N.  H.,  March  14,  1894. 

Agreeable  to  a  previous  notice  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  small  vestry 
of  the  Congregational  church,  on  the  evening  of  March  14,  1894,  for  the 
purpose  of  considering  the  question  of  organizing  a  Grange  , there  being 
present  several  of  the  citizens  of  the  town,  and  E.  C.  Hutchinson  of  Mil- 
ford, Sec.  and  Special  Deputy  of  the  N.  H.  State  Grange,  H.  O.  Hadley  of 
Temple,  District  Deputy  of  the  N.  H.  State  Grange  for  district  No.  10, 
A.  H.  Spalding,  Master  of  Hollis  Grange,  and  a  few  other  patrons  of  neigh- 


380  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

boring  Granges.  A  petition  was  presented  containing  the  following  names, 
who  were  the  charter  members  of  the  Grange:  Joseph  A.  Hall,  Mrs.  Eliza 
A.  Hobart,  Charles  A.  Stickney,  Mrs.  Clara  A.  Stickney,  Mrs.  Susie  E. 
French,  Miss  Abbie  F.  Barrett,  Clarence  R.  Russell,  Mrs.  Clara  E.  Russell, 
Hattie  S.  Williams,  David  S.  Fessenden,  David  D.  Rockwood,  Mrs.  Ella 
F.  Rockwood,  William  B.  Rockwood,  Mrs.  Etta  E.  Rockwood,  George  H. 
Kendall,  Mrs.  Alice  Kendall,  Mrs.  Mary  F.  Barber,  Martin  A.  Rockwood, 
Mrs.  Mary  E.  Rockwood,  David  Hobart  and  William  J.  Bailey;  and  the 
requisite  fee  having  been  paid  by  each,  they  were  presented  at  the  Altar 
and  obligated  as  Patrons  of  Husbandry  by  State  deputy  E.  C.  Hutchinson. 
Proceeded  to  the  election  of  officers  resulting  in  the  choice  of  the 
following:  Master,  David  D.  Rockwood;  Overseer,  Clarence  R.  Russell; 
Lecturer,  Mrs.  Susie  E.  French;  Steward,  David  Hobart;  Ass't.  Steward, 
William  J.  Bailey;  Chaplain,  Joseph  A.  Hall;  Treasurer,  Martin  A.  Rock- 
wood; Secretary,  David  S.  Fessenden;  Gate  Keeper,  George  H.  Kendall; 
Ceres,  Mrs.  Ella  F.  Rockwood;  Pomona,  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  Hobart;  Flora, 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  Rockwood;  Lady  Ass't.  Steward,  Mrs.  Clara  E.  Russell. 
And  the  aboved  named  officers  were  duly  installed  by  Deputies  E.  C.  Hut- 
chinson and  H.  O.  Hadley,  who  then  proceeded  to  instruct  them  in  the 
work  of  the  order. 

Voted  that  the  Grange  be  called  Brookline  Grange  No.  211. 
The  following  were  appointed  a  committee  on  Constitution  and  By- 
Laws:  C.  A.  Stickney,  D.  S.  Fessenden,  M.  A.  Rockwood.  Voted  that 
the  next  meeting  be  held  at  this  place  on  Saturday  evening,  March 
24,  1894,  at  7:30  P.  M.  The  following  committee  was  chosen  to  fix  the 
time  and  provide  a  place  for  the  meetings  of  the  Grange:  Joseph  A.  Hall, 
Eliza  A.  Hobart,  Susie  E.  French. 

After  remarks  by  the  Deputies  and  some  others,  the  Grange  was 
closed  in  due  form  by  Deputy  H.  O.  Hadley  as  Master  and  Deputy  E.  C. 
Hutchinson  as  Overseer." 

A  true  record  attest  H.  O.  Hadley,  Secretary. 

The  first  three  meetings  of  the  Brookline  Grange  were  held  on  Satur- 
day evenings  in  the  small  vestry  of  the  Congregational  Church.  The 
fourth  meeting,  on  April  11,  1894,  was  held  in  Tarbell's  Hall,  which  place 
has  ever  since  been  the  Grange's  home.  The  evenings  of  its  regular  meet- 
ings are  the  second  and  fourth  Wednesdays  of  each  month,  except  July 
and  August,  when  meetings  are  held  on  the  fourth  only. 

A  good  literary  program  is  assured  at  each  meeting  and,  at  the  close, 
marching,  games  and  other  pastimes  are  enjoyed. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  381 

During  its  existence  here  the  Grange  has  exerted  its  influence  for 
good  among  the  citizens  of  the  town.  It  has  thrown  open  its  doors  to  the 
public  on  many  occasions  to  enable  the  citizens  to  recieve  the  benefit  of 
lectures,  meetings  of  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  Pomona  meetings, 
and  children's  nights.  It  has  held  several  very  successful  fairs,  and  to  it 
the  Old  Home  Week  Association  in  Brookline  owes  its  existence. 

Eight  of  the  charter  members  of  the  Brookline  Grange  have  died 
since  its  organization,  viz;  Mrs.  Eliza  Hobart,  Joseph  Hall,  Martin  Rock- 
wood,  Mrs.  Mary  Rockwood,  David  Hobart,  David  Rockwood,  William 
Rockwood,  Mrs.  Clara  Stickney;  and  two;,,  viz  Charles  Stickney  and  Mrs. 
Abbie  Barrett  Prescott,  have  withdrawn  from  the  order.  Another  member, 
Mrs.  Hattie  Williams  Carruth,  at  the  present  time  (1914)  is  living  in 
Houston,  Texas.  The  remaining  ten  were  present  at  its  twentieth  anni- 
versary. 

Besides  the  charter  members  who  have  died,  the  Grange  has  lost  ten 
others  by  death:  Miss  Grace  N.  Nye,  Charles  W.  Currier,  Mrs.  Harriet 
A.  Baldwin,  Mrs.  Fannie  E-  French,  Mrs.  Nettie  M.  Rideout,  Mrs.  Mary 
LeClaire,  John  H.  B.  Pierce,  Edward  W.  Smith,  Mrs.  Emily  C.  Swett, 
Mrs.  Augusta  J.  Smith. 

The  membership  at  the  present  time  (1914)  is  one  hundred  and  eight, 
of  whom  forty-four  are  men  and  sixty -four  women.  Since  its  organiaztion 
the  Grange  has  had  ten  Masters,  as  follows:  David  Rockwood,  one  year; 
Clarence  Russell,  four  years;  William  Bailey,  three  years;  Martin  Rock- 
wood, two  years;  Albert  Pierce,  one  year;  Clara  Russell,  one  year;  Orville 
Fessenden,  one  year;  George  Tarbell,  one  year;  Fred  Hall,  three  years; 
and  Edward  Pierce,  the  present  worthy  master,  who  is  serving  his  fourth 
year. 

Twentieth  Anniversary. 

The  Grange  observed  its  twentieth  anniversary  March  11,  1914,  by  a 
day  meeting  under  the  direction  of  the  Charter  Members.  The  morning 
session  at  11:15  was  the  regular  meeting;  literary  program,  accordion  solo 
by  Arthur  Goss,  short  addresses  by  Frank  P.  Fisk  and  Clarence  L.  Trow 
of  Milford,  Master  and  Lecturer,  respectively,  of  Hillsboro  Co.  Pomona 
Grange,  Fred  C.  Willoby  and  Andrew  H.  Spalding,  Master  and  P.  M.,  re- 
spectively, of  Hollis  Grange,  Mrs.  Emma  F.  Seaver,  Master  of  Townsend 
Grange,  Joseph  D.  Batchelder  and  John  Smith,  Master  and  P.  M.,  re- 
spectively, of  Fruitdale  Grange,  Mason;  piano  solo,  Miss  May  Pierce. 
Dinner  was  served  at  the  banquet  hall  above  at  12:30. 


382  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

The  afternoon  session,  which  occurred  at   1 :30,  was  public,  and  a 

good  sized  audience  listened  to  the  following  program : 

Anniversary  Song,  Grange  Choir. 

Welcome  and  Poem,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Barber. 

Music,   piano  and  cornet,  Mrs.  Louise  Bailey,  Bernard  Slocomb. 

Grange  History,  Mrs.  Clara  E.  Russell. 

Song,  Mrs.  Maude  Greeley  and  Miss  Ethel  Taylor. 

Address,  H.  O.  Hadley  of  Peterboro,  P.  M.  of  N.  H.  State  Grange. 

Piano  Duet,  Misses  May  Pierce  and  Alice  Whitcomb. 

Addresses,  by  Wesley  Adams  and  Mrs.  M.  N.  Adams  of  Derry,  Master 
and  Ceres  of  the  N.  H.  State  Grange,  and  George  B.  Drake 
of  Manchester,  Secretary  State  Grange. 

Farce, — Scarlet  Bonnet — Characters,  Mrs.  Hattie  Pierce,  Mrs.  Catherine 
Cady,  Mrs.  Delia  Hall,  Miss  Blanche  Hall,  Miss  Lila  Barnaby 
and  Miss  May  Pierce. 

In  Memoriam,  Mrs.  Alice  Kendall. 

Letter  of  Andrew  D.  Rockwood  of  Chico,  Cal.,  read  by  Miss  Blanche  Hall. 

Dutch  Selection,  William  J.  Bailey. 

Supper  was  served  in  the  banquet  hall  from  6:30  to  7:30 

At  8  o'clock  the  following  program  was  presented: 

Piano  Duet,  Misses  May  Pierce  and  Alice  Whitcomb. 

Song,  Mrs.  Maud  Greeley  and  Miss  Ethel  Taylor. 

Piano  Solo,  Miss  May  Pierce. 

Song,  Velma  Taylor. 

Recitation,  Miss  Mattie  Kent. 

Piano  Solo,  Miss  Alice  Whitcomb. 

Piano  duet,  Misses  May  Pierce  and  Alice  Whitcomb. 

Coon  song.  Edward  Taylor  and  Wallace  Jenness. 

Original  sketch,  written  by  A.  Starr  Barnaby.  A.  Starr  Barnaby  and  Wal- 
lace Jenness. 

Marching  and  dancing  followed,  which  closed  the  exercises  of  the  twentieth 
Grange  Anniversary." 

1894.     At  the  November  town  meeting,  Orville  D.  Fessenden  pre- 
sented the  town  with  an  ebony  gavel  suitably  inscribed,  to  be  used  by  the 

moderator  at  town  and  school  meetings. 

The  Brookline  Improvement  Company. 

1896.     This  company  was  incorporated  March  2,  of  this  year.    The 
company  owed  its  existence  to  the  Brookline  Board  of  Trade,  which  had 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  383 

been  organized  the  previous  year;  but  which,  by  the  organization  of  the 
Improvement  Company,  ceased  to  exist  as  an  independent  organization, 
and  became  merged  into  the  latter  company. 

The  company,  as  set  forth  in  its  articles  of  association,  was  formed 
— "To  promote  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  town." 

The  names  of  its  original  members  were  as  follows :  Walter  F.  Rock- 
wood,  Frank  L.  Willoby,  Charles  W.  Smith,  Orville  D.  Fessenden,  Samuel 
Swett,  Imla  M.  Williams,  Charles  W.  Currier,  Charles  L.  Willoby,  Henry 
G.  Shattuck,  George  H.  Nye,  Edward  C.  Tucker,  Herbert  S.  Corey. 

By  the  terms  of  its  charter,  its  capital  stock  was  fixed  at  three  thous- 
and dollars,  divided  into  120  shares,  at  a  par  value  of  twenty-five  dollars 
each. 

On  the  twenty-second  day  of  January  of  this  year  the  company  held 
its  first  meeting  for  the  organization  under  its  charter,  and  elected  its  first 
board  of  officers,  consisting  of  a  president,  vice-president,  treasurer, 
secretary  and  three  directors. 

The  board  of  directors  was  constituted  as  follows:  Albert  W.  Corey, 
Charles  S.  Dunbar  and  Frank  L  Willoby. 

May  1,  1897,  the  company  made  its  first  annual  return  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  State  as  follows : 

"Capital  stock  authorized, $3000  00 

No.  of  shares  issued, 62 

Par  value  of  shares, 25  00 

Paid  in, 1550  00 

Debts  due  company, 37  50 

Debts  due  from  company 550  00 

Amount  of  property,  including  real  and 

personal  estate, 2350  00" 

Soon  after  its  organization,  the  company  purchased  a  tract  of  land 
located  on  the  south  side  of  Bond  street  and  adjacent  to  the  railroad  track 
upon  which  it  erected  a  commodious  one  story  wooden  building  and  in- 
stalled therein  an  engine.  This  building  when  completed  was  rented  to 
John  Ridge  of  Nashua.  Mr.  Ridge  took  immediate  possession  of  the 
premises  and  commenced  the  business  of  manufacturing  horse  shoe  files, 
under  a  patent  which  he  claimed  to  own,  or  to  have  the  right  to  use. 

For  several  years  following  the  business  was  carried  on  with  indiffer- 
ent success.  Then  trouble  came.  Certain  parties  in  Boston,  Mass.,  set 
up  a  claim  of  priority  of  rights  of  ownership  in  Mr.  Ridge's  patent,  and 


384  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

instituted  proceedings  to  deprive  him  both  of  the  patent  and  the  right  to 
use  the  same.  Mr.  Ridge  opposed  the  suit,  but  in  the  end  was  compelled 
to  surrender  his  claim  both  to  the  patent  and  its  use;  soon  after  which  he 
closed  out  his  business  and  left  town. 

With  Mr.  Ridge's  departure  the  company's  plant  was  closed  down 
never  to  be  re-opened.  Its  building  remained  unoccupied  until  Nov.  15, 
1903;  at  which  date  it  was  sold  to  the  New  England  Type  Company.  With 
this  sale  the  company  closed  out  its  affairs  and  ceased  to  exist. 

The  New  England  Type  Factory. 

1897.  This  company  established  its  plant  in  Brookline  during  this 
year,  coming  here  from  Boston,  Mass.,  where  it  was  originated  by  Harry 
and  Henry  Marshall,  brothers,  soon  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War.  Its 
business  was  the  manufacture  of  wooden  printing  type.  At  the  time  of 
its  location  in  this  town,  it  was  said  to  be,  with  one  exception  the  only 
company  of  its  kind  in  the  United  States. 

For  several  years  after  coming  to  Brookline  the  company  conducted 
its  operations  in  a  small  building  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway 
to  Milford  about  one  mile  north  of  the  village.  In  the  month  of  April, 
1899,  Henry  Marshall  sold  his  interests  in  the  plant  to  his  brother  Harry, 
who  from  that  time  forward  until  the  company  ceased  to  exist,  carried  on 
the  business  alone ;  Henry  Marshall  having  in  the  meantime  acted  as  the 
company's  agent  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1907. 

Nov.  13,  1903,  the  company  purchased  the  factory  building  of  the 
Brookline  Improvement  Company  located  on  Bond  street  in  the  village, 
and  soon  after  its  purchase  moved  into  and  established  its  plant  in  the 
same. 

During  the  last  few  years  of  its  existence,  the  company,  in  addition  to 
its  regular  business,  engaged  somewhat  extensively  in  the  manufacture  of 
children's  toys,  and  also  of  various  kinds  of  wooden  implements. 

From  the  date  of  the  establishment  of  the  plant  in  Brookline,  the 
company's  business  prospered;  and  it  was  constantly  and  steadily  improv- 
ing when,  at  noon  time  on  the  19th  day  of  November,  1909,  its  factory 
with  its  contents,  was  destroyed  by  fire  caused  by  a  spark  from  a  loco- 
motive of  the  Boston  and  Maine  railroad  company. 

At  the  present  time,  (1914)  the  factory  has  not  been  rebuilt,  and  the 
business,  like  many  another  of  the  town's  enterprises  in  the  past,  has  van- 
ished in  the  smoke  of  the  flames  by  which  it  was  destroyed,  apparently 
never  to  return. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  385 

July  17,  the  Congregational  Church  was  struck  by  lightning.  The 
Bolt  tore  off  one  of  the  faces  of  the  clock  on  its  tower,  and  then  passed 
into  the  interior  of  the  house;  where  it  raised  havoc  with  the  steel  ceilings, 
walls  and  furniture;  causing  damages  to  the  extent  of  several  hundreds  of 
dollars. 

1898.  March  8,  the  town  voted  to  remove  the  public  library  into  the 
Grammar  schoolhouse  on  Milford  street. 

June  5,  the  John  Sanders  house  and  the  barber's  shop  connected  with 
the  same  were  destroyed  by  fire. 

1899.  March  14,  the  town  voted  to  buy  a  new  hearse  at  an  expense 
not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars;  and  elected  Charles  S.  Dunbar,  Walter 
F.  Rockwood  and  Charles  E.  Shattuck  as  a  committee  to  purchase  the 
same. 

The  Murder  of  Adelbert  Parker. 

On  the  night  of  Sunday,  September  28,  of  this  year,  near  the  midnight 
hour,  occurred  the  first  and  so  far  as  is  known  the  only  murder  ever  com- 
mitted in  this  town.  The  scene  of  the  murder  was  in  the  old  dwelling 
house  known  as  the  Lemuel  Hall  place,  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  high- 
way to  Oak  Hill  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  and  about  two  miles  south  of  Brook- 
line  Village. 

The  murderer's  name  was  Frank  Worby.  His  victim  was  Adelbert 
Parker;  a  native  of,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  a  resident  in,  Pepperell, 
Mass. ;  a  young  man  of  excellent  family  and  up  to  the  time  of  this  event  of 
good  reputation. 

Worby,  who  was  a  mulatto,  was  a  comparative  stranger  in  this  town; 
he  having  resided  here  but  a  short  time  when  the  murder  was  committed. 
His  reputation  was  bad.  He  was  reputed  to  be  a  horse  thief,  and  known 
to  be  an  ex-state  prison  convict.  For  about  two  months  preceding  his 
brutal  act,  he  had  occupied  the  premises  in  question  for  the  purpose  of 
carrying  on  a  road-house;  which  under  his  management  had  acquired  an 
evil  reputation. 

On  the  night  of  the  murder  the  house  was  visited  by  a  party  of  young 
men  from  Oak  Hill,  among  whom  was  the  murdered  man.  In  addition  to 
the  party  from  Oak  Hill,  there  were  present  also  other  young  men;  the 
loafers  and  idlers  usually  found  about  such  places.  As  the  evening  wore 
on  the  entire  party  indulged  in  intoxicating  drinks;  and  with  the  usual 
results.  About  midnight  Parker  and  Worby  became  embroiled  in  an  angry 
dispute  over  a  female  inmate  of  the  house,  and  finally  came  to  blows  and 


386  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

clinched.  They  were  separated  by  the  bystanders,  and  Worby  passed  out 
of  the  room  into  an  adjoining  bed-room ;  from  which,  however,  he  immedi- 
ately returned  with  a  loaded  revolver  with  which  he  shot  and  killed  Parker 
in  his  tracks. 

Immediately  after  committing  the  murder,  Worby  disappeared.  For 
several  days  subsequently  the  county  and  town  authorities  made  diligent 
but  unsuccessful  search  for  him.  He  was  finally  located  in  Lee;  where, 
having  in  the  meantime  added  the  crime  of  bigamy  to  his  list,  he  completed 
his  criminal  record  before  he  could  be  arrested,  by  committing  suicide. 

Old  Home  Week — Celebrations  of. 

Old  Home  Week  was  first  observed  in  New  Hampshire;  where  it  was 
instituted  in  1899  by  Governor  Edward  W.  Rollins.  Gov.  Rollins'  idea 
was  to  make  it  a  carnival  week.  A  week  when  every  native  born  son  and 
daughter  of  the  State  should  return  to  the  place  of  his  or  her  nativity  and 
— "See  what  he  or  she  could  do  to  assist  in  improving  and  beautifying  the 
place  and  its  general  uplifting  and  upbuilding." 

The  idea*  met  with  immediate  success.  The  week's  first  celebration  in 
1899  was  formally  observed  by  about  fifty  of  the  cities  and  towns  of  the 
State,  among  which  number  was  Brookline. 

For  the  three  first  years,  1899,  1900  and  1901,  the  celebration  in 
Brookline  was  confined  to  the  holding  of  basket  picnics  at  the  grove  on 
the  shore  of  Muscatanipus  lake.  These  picnics  were  attended  by  the  citi- 
zens generally,  and  to  some  extent  by  its  sons  and  daughters  from  abroad. 

But  the  town's  first  general  and  elaborate  celebration  of  the  events 
occurred  in  1902;  when  an  entire  week,  commencing  Saturday,  August  16 
and  ending  August  23,  was  devoted  to  its  observance. 

The  week  was  ushered  in  and  closed  by  special  religious  services.  On 
the  evening  before  the  opening  day  of  the  festival,  bon-fires  were  lighted 
on  the  hill-tops — Big  Muscatanipus  hill  being  especially  noticeable  for  its 
huge  cap  of  flame, — and  by  the  ringing  of  the  church  bells.  During  the 
week,  the  streets,  public  buildings,  and  many  of  the  dwelling  houses  were 
decorated  with  the  national  colors.  Hundreds  of  the  towns'  absent  sons 
and  daughters  returned  to  their  old  homes,  and  many  of  them  remained 
throughout  the  week. 

The  exercises  for  the  week  were  planned  and  carried  out  under  the 
supervision  of  an  association  of  citizens  known  as  "The  Brookline  Old 
Home  Week  Association" ;  of  which  the  officers  were  as  follows :  President, 
Clarence  R.  Russell;  vice-presidents,  OrvilleD.  Fessenden  and  Rev.  H.  E. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  387 

Coville;  secretary,  Mrs.  Ella  W.  Tucker;  treasurer,  Albert  W.  Corey;  ex- 
ecutive committee,  Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcomb,  Frank  L.  Willoby,  Samuel 
Swett. 

Friday,  August  22,  was  observed  as  Old  Home  Day.  Music  for  the 
occasion  was  furnished  by  the  Ashby,  Mass.,  Band. 

The  reception  committee  consisted  of  David  S.  Fessenden,  Charles  E. 
vShattuck,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walter  F.  Rockwood,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  E- 
Parker,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  C.  Tucker,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  S.  Dun- 
bar, Miss  Myrtie  L.  Shattuck,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alpha  A.  Hall,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Samuel  Swett  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clarence  R.  Russell. 

The  literary  part  of  the  day's  programme  occurred  at  eleven  o'clock 
A.  M.  in  the  auditorium  of  the  Congregational  church.  The  meeting  was 
called  to  order  by  Clarence  R.  Russell,  president  of  the  day.  The  order  of 
exercises  was  as  follows: 

Prayer,  Rev.  H.  E-  Covell. 

Selection,  Band. 

Selection,  Choir. 

Address  of  welcome,  Clarence  R.  Russell. 

Song,  Choir. 
Oration,                                                                        Judge  Edward  E.  Parker 

Song,  Choir. 

At  the  close  of  the  exercises  in  the  church,  the  audience  formed  in 
procession  and,  led  by  the  band,  marched  to  Tarbell's  hall,  where  dinner 
was  served  to  over  four  hundred  guests.  The  dinner  was  followed  by  post 
prandial  exercises ;  during  which  brief  addresses  were  delivered  by  citizens, 
invited  guests,  and  old  residents  of  the  town. 

The  afternoon  was  devoted  to  family  and  other  reunions,  and  to  ath- 
letic games  for  the  young  folks.  The  day  closed  with  fire-works,  and  a 
grand  reunion  and  ball  in  Tarbell's  hall  in  the.  evening. 

During  each  of  the  years  succeeding  1902,  up  to  and  including  the 
year  1909,  the  town  continued  its  annual  observance  of  the  week.  In 
1910,  its  observance  was  omitted.  Its  omission,  however,  was  not  the 
result  of  any  dimunition  of  interest  and  enthusiasm  either  on  the  part 
of  the  citizens  or  that  of  the  outside  public.  For  as  to  the  former,  they 
were  fully  sensible  of  the  benefits  which  had  accrued  to  the  town  from  its 
observance  in  the  past,  and  equally  desirous  of  its  continuance  in  the  fu- 
ture ;  and  as  to  the  latter,  its  interest  was  exemplified  from  the  fact  that 
the  attendance  of  strangers  at  the  Old  Home  Day  exercises  of  the  previous 
year  had  been  fully  equal  to  that  of  any  similar  occasion  in  the  past. 


388  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

The  omission  was  owing,  rather,  to  the  fact  that  the  care  and  labor 
of  preparing  for  the  celebration,  which,  (as  is  apt  to  be  the  case  in  such 
affairs),  had  devolved  upon  the  few  rather  than  the  many,  began  to  wear 
upon  those  upon  whom  the  burden  fell ;  and,  also,  of  the  apparent  danger 
that  the  week,  from  its  continued  annual  observance,  would  eventually 
lapse  into  something  in  the  nature  of  a — "Continuous  Performance,"  and 
thereby  lose  its  significance  and  attractiveness.  It  was  therefore  decided 
by  the  Association  and  the  majority  of  the  citizens  that  celebrations  of 
Old  Home  Week  in  the  future  should  occur  biennially  rather  than  annually. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  officers  of  The  Old  Home  Week 
Association  and  the  programmes  of  the  Old  Home  Day  exercises  for  each 
year  from  1903  to  1909  inclusive. 

1903.  President,  Clarence  R.  Russell  vice-presidents,  Orville  D.  Fes- 
senden,  Rev.  George  A.  Bennett;  secretary,  Mrs.  Ella  W.Tucker;  treasurer, 
Samuel  Swett;  executive  committee,  Albert  W.  Corey,  Frank  L.  Willoby, 
Frank  P.  Kennedy,  John  F.  Hutchingson. 

Old  Home  Day  Exercises,  Friday  August  21. 

Invocation,  Rev.  George  A.  Bennett. 

Song,  Choir. 

Address  of  Welcome,  Clarence  R.  Russell. 

Oration,  Hon.  John  F.  Hutchingson,  Lexington,  Mass. 

Dinner,  Tarbell's  Hall. 

Reunion  and  Ball  in  the  evening. 

1904. 
President,  Clarence  R.  Russell,  Esq. ;  vice-presidents,  Alpha  A.  Hall, 
Rev.  George  A.  Bennett;  secretary,  Mrs.  Ella  W.  Tucker;  treasurer,  Sam- 
uel Swett;  executive  committee,  Frank  P.  Willoby,  Frank  P.  Kennedy, 
Walter  F.  Rockwood. 

Old  Home  Day  Exercises,  August  26. 

9:30  A.  M.     Concert  by  the  Ashby,  Mass.,  Band. 
11 :00  A.  M.     At  the  Congregational  Church; 
Selection,  Band. 

Invocation,  Rev.  George  A.  Bennett. 

Address  of  Welcome,  Clarence  R.  Russell,  Esq. 

Response,  Morton  A.  Klein. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  389 

Song,  Choir. 

Oration,  Rev.  George  L.  Perin,  D.  D.  of  Boston,  Mass. 

Song,  Choir. 

Poem,  Hon.  Edward  E.  Parker. 
Song, 

12:30  P.  M.  Dinner,  Tarbell's  Hall,  followed  by  remarks. 

3:00  P.M.  Ball  Game. 

5:00  P.M.  Band  Concert. 

8:00  P.  M.  Reunion  and  Ball  in  Tarbell's  Hall. 

POEM. 

Brookline's  Welcome  Home. 

By  HON.  EDWARD  E.  PARKER 

Once  more  old  Brookline  welcomes  home  her  erstwhile  sons  and  daughters 

Who  left  her  pleasant  home-farms  in  the  happy  long  ago: 
And  joys  to  hear  their  voices,  like  the  sound  of  many  waters, 

Resounding  o'er  her  hillsides  as  with  faces  all  aglow 
They  tread  once  more  their  native  soil,  and  breathe  the  crystal  air 

Which  sweeps  above  its  wooded  heights  and  o'er  its  verdant  meadows, 
Just  as  they  did  in  childhood  days,  when,  free  from  doubt  and  care, 

Life's  pathway  wound  its  sunny  course  through  scenes  undimmed  by  shadows. 

The  times  have  changed  since  we  went  forth;  the  old  familiar  faces 

Of  those  we  knew  in  other  days  have  passed  away  forever; 
And  strangers  now  perform  the  task,  and  fill  the  vacant  places 
Where  we  and  ours  in  days  of  yore  were  wonted  to  foregather. 
Full  many  a  vacant  cellar-hole,  by  clambering  vines  concealed, 

Now  serves  to  mark  the  spot  where  once  a  modest  farm-house  stood, 
Whose  inmates,  in  their  simple  lives  and  daily  walks,  revealed 
The  sacredness  of  family  ties  and  human  brotherhood. 

And  yet,  in  spite  of  time  or  change,  our  minds,  in  freedom  ranging 

Above  this  sordid  present  life,  its  cares,  its  hopes,  its  charms, 
To  where  on  memory's  wall  engraved,  unchanged  and  aye  unchanging, 

Are  limned  the  pristine  glories  of  those  now  deserted  farms, 
While  gazing  on  its  varied  scenes,  unite  in  true  thanksgiving 

That  in  our  hearts  we  feel  once  more  the  glow  of  home-love  fires, 
And  ken  that  earth  affords  no  spot  where  life  is  worth  the  living, 

To  be  compared  with  that  where  first  we  learned  to  lisp  our  prayers. 

The  homestead  roof,  the  homestead  walls,  'neath  Time's  rude  touch  decaying, 

May  fall  in  ruins,  and  the  winds  in  wild  derision  sweep 
O'er  its  deserted  barren  greens,  where,  in  our  childhood's  playing, 

We  woke  on  Rament's  rocky  sides  the  echoes  long  and  deep; 
The  rains  may  beat,  the  snows  may  fall  upon  it,  and,  untrammelled 


390  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

By  sentiments  of  love  or  fear,  the  strangers  feet  may  tread 
Its  sacred  soil,  but  still,  like  scenes  on  ancient  walls  impanelled, 
Our  hearts  will  bear  its  impress  'till  we're  numbered  with  the  dead. 

Now,  as  of  old,  on  rainy  days,  the  mist-clouds,  lightly  dancing 

Before  the  east  wind's  humid  breath,  sail  o'er  the  river's  tide; 
Or,  at  the  twilight's  peaceful  hour,  in  ghostly  ranks  advancing. 

Move  upwards  from  the  meads  which  skirt  Potanapo's  steep  side; 
Until,  beneath  their  envious  folds,  the  village,  disappearing, 

Is  lost  to  sight,  and  in  its  place  a  sea  of  snowy  foam. 
Through  which  gigantic  forms  move  on  like  ships  at  sea,  each  steering 

Its  course  to  where  in  radiance  glow  the  beacon-lights  of  home. 

Still  on  the  maple's  topmost  bough,  in  sweet  abandon  swinging, 

The  robin  trills  his  welcome  to  the  coming  of  the  dawn; 
E'er  yet  the  night  in  tardy  flight  its  westward  course  is  winging, 

Or  morning's  whispering  winds  have  kissed  the  tassels  of  the  corn; 
And  at  the  midnight's  solemn  hour,  like  cloistered  monks  intoning 

Their  liturgies,  among  the  pines  resound  the  wind-harps'  strains; 
The  same  as  when  in  childhood  days,  their  magic  influence  owning, 

Unconsciously  we  passed  into  the  dream-god's  weird  domains. 

At  sunset  hour,  departing  day,  its  flaunting  banners  streaming 

High  o'er  the  western  mountain-tops,  lights  up  with  radiant  glow 
The  upland  fields,  the  lakes  and  streams,  whose  light,  reflected,  gleaming 

In  softened  radiance,  illumes  the  village  far  below; 
And,  as  the  daylight  softly  fades  into  the  shadowy  gloaming, 

In  plaintive  notes  the  whippoorwill  his  song  insistent  sings, 
And  through  the  gloom  the  swallows  make  their  evening  flights  of  homing, 

'Till  softly  o'er  the  sleepy  town  Night  spreads  her  drowsy  wings. 

Still  o'er  the  surface  of  the  pond  the  west-wind,  blithely  sweeping, 

Impels  the  rippling  waves  to  break  in  music  on  the  shore; 
And  o'er  its  moonlit  surface  rings,  in  song  or  joyous  greeting, 

The  merry  voices  of  the  crews  who  ply  the  flashing  oar. 
And  still  the  boisterous  winter  winds,  on  angry  pinions  rushing, 

Sweep  round  the  corners  of  the  house  with  weird  and  mournful  wails, 
The  summer  showers  dance  on  the  roofs,  and  summer  roses,  blushing, 

Bloom  in  the  wayside  hedge,  and  shed  their  fragrance  on  the  gales. 

These  are  the  scenes  which  Memory  shows,  responsive  to  our  gazing 

Upon  her  pictured  walls;  and  which,  in  rolling  years  to  come, 
As  in  the  past,  whate'er  of  Fortune's  gifts  our  future  lives  is  phazing, 

Will  draw  as  magnets  draw  the  steel,  our  wandering  foot-steps  home. 
The  vacant  chairs,  the  darkened  hearths,  the  vanished  friends  now  sleeping. 

Beneath  the  flowers  which  bud  and  bloom  on  hillside  and  on  plain, 
Though  silent,  in  their  silences  continually  are  speaking, 

In  tones  which  thrill  our  hearts,  the  words — "Come  home,  come  home  again!" 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  391 

1905. 

President,  Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe;  vice-presidents,  Alpha  A.  Hall, 
Esq.,  Rev.  George  A.  Bennett;  secretary,  Mrs.  Ella  W.  Tucker;  treasurer; 
Samuel  Swett;  executive  committee,  Frank  P.  Kennedy,  Walter  F.  Rock- 
wood,  George  H.  Nye. 

Old  Home  Day  Exercises,  August  24. 

11 :00  A.  M.     At  the  Congregational  Church; 

Invocation,  Rev.  George  A.  Bennett. 

vSelection,  Band. 

Song,  Choir. 

Address  of  Welcome,  Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe. 

Address,  John  H.  Klein. 

Song,  Choir. 

Oration,  Hon.  Edward  E.  Parker. 

12:30  P.  M.     Dinner  at  Tarbell's  Hall. 
5:00  P.M.     Concert  New  Ipswich  Band. 
8:00  P.  M.     Reunion  and  Ball  at  Tarbell's  Hall. 

1906. 

President,  David  S.  Fessenden;  vice-presidents,  Rev.  George  A.  Ben- 
net,  Frank  H.  Jenness;  secretary,  Mrs.  Ella  W.  Tucker;  treasurer  Samuel 
Swett;  executive  committee,  John  B.  Hardy,  Walter  E-  Corey,  Albert  T. 
Pierce. 

Old  Home  Day  Exercises,  August  24. 

9 :30  A.  M.     Concert  by  the  Laurel  Band  of  Milford. 
11:00  A.  M.     At  the  Congregational  Church: 

Selection,  Band. 

Invocation,  Rev.  George  A.  Bennett. 

Address  of  Welcome,  Mrs.  Clara  E.  Russell. 

Response,  James  A.  Horton. 

Song,  Quartette. 

Oration.  Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe. 

Song,  Quartette. 

Selection,  .  Band. 


392  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

12:30  P.  M.  Dinner  in  Tarbell's  Hall. 

3:00  P.  M.  Ball  Game,  Pepperell  vs.  Milford. 

5:00  P.M.  Band  Concert. 

8:00  P.  M.  Reunion  and  Ball,  Tarbell's  Hall. 

1907. 

President,  Frank  H.  Jenness;  vice-presidents,  Rev.  George  A.  Bennett, 
George  H.  Nye;  secretary,  Mrs.  Ella  W.  Tucker;  treasurer,  »Samuel  Swett; 
executive  committee,  Walter  E.  Corey,  Albert  T.  Pierce,  Francis  H. 
Lawrence. 

Old  Home  Day  Exercises,  August  23. 

9:30  A.  M.     Concert  by  the  Ashby  Band  of  Ashby,  Mass. 
11:00  A.  M.     At  the  Congregational  Church: 
Selection,  Band. 

Invocation,  Rev.  George  A.  Bennett. 

Greeting,  Frank  H.  Jenness. 

Address  of  Welcome,  D.  Wallace  Jenness. 

Response,  Mrs.  Mabel  Tucker  Badger. 

Vocal  Solo,  Mrs.  Phoebe  Jenness  Randall. 

Oration,  Rev.  Frank  D.  Sargent. 

Vocal  Solo,  R.  Cassius  Nye. 

Selection,  Band. 

12:30  P.  M.  Dinner  at  Tarbell's  Hall,  followed  by  toasts  and  re- 
marks by  former  residents. 

3:00  P.  M.     Base  Ball  Game,  Townsend  vs.  Pepperell. 

5:00  P.  M.     Band  Concert. 

8:00  P.  M.     Reunion  and  Ball,  Tarbell's  Hall. 

1908. 

President,  Frank  H.  Jenness;  vice-presidents,  George  H.  Nye,  Frank 
P.  Kennedy;  secretary,  Mrs.  Ella  W.  Tucker;  treasurer,  Samuel  Swett; 
executive  committee,  Edward  C.  Tucker,  Fred  E.  Rockwood,  H.  Arthur 
Brown. 

Old  Home  Day  Exercises,  August  21. 

9 :30  A.  M.     Concert  by  the  Ashby  Band,  Ashby,  Mass. 
11 :00  A.  M.     At  the  Congregational  Church. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


393 


Selection, 

Invocation, 

Selection, 

Welcome, 

Response, 

Selection. 

Oration, 

Selection, 

Selection, 

12:30  P.  M. 
remarks. 

2:00  P.  M. 

3:00  P.  M. 

5:00  P.  M. 

8:00  P.  M. 


Band. 

Rev.  George  A.  Bennett. 

Appleton  Quartet,  Boston,  Mass. 

Frank  H.  Jenness. 

Alfred  J.  Cox. 

Appleton  Quartet. 

Rev.  Charles  W.  Dockrill. 

Appleton  Quartet. 

Band. 

Dinner  at  Tarbell's  Hall,  followed  by  brief    toasts  and 


Athletic  Sports. 

Base  Ball  Game,  Brookline  1898  vs.  Brookline  1908. 
Band  Concert. 

Reunion  and  Ball  at  Tarbell's  Hall. 
Sunday,  August  16,  Union  Services  in  the  Methodist  Church;  sermon 
by  Rev.  Arthur  M.  Shattuck,  East  Rochester. 

Sunday,  August  23,    Union  Service   in  the  Congregational   Church; 
sermon  by  the  Rev.  George  L.  Perin,  D.  D.,  of  Brookline,  Mass. 


1909. 


President,  George  H.  Nye;  vice-presidents,  Fred  A.  Hall,  William  J. 
Bailey;  secretary,  Blanche  W.  Hall;  treasurer,  Harry  Marshall;  executive 
committee,  Mrs.  Jennie  Boutelle,  Frank  E-  Gilman. 


Old  Home  Day  Exercises,  August  27. 


9:30  A. 

M. 

Concert  by  the  Lunenburg  Military  Band  of  Lunenburg 

Mass. 

10:30  A. 

M. 

Ball  Game,  Local  Teams. 

11:00  A. 

M. 

At  the  Congregational  Church: 

Selection, 

Band. 

Invocation, 

Rev.  Warren  L.  Noyes. 

Selection, 

Mrs.  Phoebe  Jenness  Randall. 

Welcome, 

George  H.  Nye. 

Response, 

Miss  Ellen  C.  Sawtelle. 

Selection, 

Mrs.  Mabel  Brackett  and  Mrs.  W.  S.  Bickford. 

Oration, 

Rev.  Herbert  J.  Foote. 

Selection, 

Band. 

394  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

12:30  P.  M.     Dinner,  Tarbell's  Hall. 
2:00  P.M.     Base  Ball  Game. 
4:30  P.  M.     Band  Concert. 
7 :30  P.  M.     Fire  works. 
8:00  P.  M.     Reunion  at  Tarbell's  Hall. 
Sunday,  Aug.  22,  Union  Service  at  Congregational  Church ;  sermon  by 
Rev.  Warren  L.  Noyes. 

Sunday,  Aug.  29,  Union  Service  at  Methodist  Church ;  sermon  by  Rev. 
Elwin  Hitchcock  of  Keene. 

1913. 

President,  George  H.  Nye;  vice-president,  Homer  A.  Brown;  treasurer, 
Walter  E.  Corey;  secretary,  Alfred  S.  Barnaby;  executive  committee,  Ed- 
win H.  Taylor,  Delbert  W.  Porter,  Edward  O'Hern. 

Old  Home  Day  Exercises,  August  29. 

Forenoon. 

9:00     Concert  by  the  Townsend  Brass  Band  of  Townsend  Mass. 

9 :30     Ball  Game  by  Local  Teams. 
At  Daniels  Academy  Building : 
Selection,  Band. 

Invocation,  Rev.  Warren  U.  Noyes. 

Song,  Roswell  C.  Nye. 

Greeting,  President  George  H.  Nye. 

Response,  Precival  Betterly. 

Music,  Welcome  Song,  Quartette. 

Oration,  Fred  Fessenden.  Newton,  Mass. 

Address,  Rev.  George  H.  Hardy. 

Selection,  Band. 

Reading,  Mrs.  Mabel  Perkins. 

Dedication  Speech,  Hon.  Herbert  F.  Parker  of  Worcester,  Mass. 

Selection,  Band. 

Afternoon. 

12:15     Dinner  in  Banquet  Hall. 

2 :00     Ball  Game,  Milford  Camera  Club  vs.  Townsend  A.  A. 
4:00     Sports. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  395 

4:45    Automobile  Parade. 
5 :00     Concert  by  the  Band. 
Evening.     Concert  and  Ball. 

Sunday,  August  24,  Union  Service  at  Methodist  church;  sermon  by 
Rev.  C.  W.  Dockrill. 

Sunday,  August  31,  Union  Service  at  Congregational  church;  sermon 
by  Rev.  F.  D.  Sargent. 

1900.    The    Orville  D.  Fessenden  Steam  Sawmill. 

This  mill  is  owned  by  Orville  D.  Fessenden,  by  whom  it  was  erected 
in  1900.  It  is  located  in  South  Brookline  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway 
leading  from  Brookline,  to  Townsend,  Mass.,  a  few  rods  south  of  the 
bridge  in  said  highway  over  the  Nissitisset  river,  and  is  operated  by  Mr. 
Fessenden  in  connection  with  his  business  as  a  wholesale  manufacturer  and 
dealer  in  lumber  and  barrels.  As  its  name  indicates,  the  mill  is,  and  from 
the  beginning  has  been,  operated  by  steam  power. 

In  the  fall  of  1913  its  old  engine  was  replaced  by  a  new  Rollins  engine 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  horse  power,  and  at  the  same  time  a  new 
engine  house  was  constructed  and  the  mill  building  reconstructed  and  re- 
modelled. In  addition  to  the  mill  proper,  the  establishment  has  connected 
with  it  a  blacksmith  and  repair  shop,  a  large  and  commodious  office  build- 
ing, a  water  plant,  which  furnishes  it  with  an  abundant  supply  of  running 
water,  and  an  electric  lighting  plant.  To  the  water  and  electric  plants  con- 
nected with  this  mill  the  village  in  Brookline  is  indebted  for  the  systems  by 
which,  through  the  characteristic  enterprise  of  Mr.  Fessenden,  its  streets, 
public  buildings  and  many  of  its  dwelling  houses  are  supplied  with  running 
water  and  electric  lights;  the  water  system  having  been  established  by  Mr. 
Fessenden  as  a  private  enterprise  on  his  part  in  1913;  and  the  electric  light- 
ing having  been  introduced  under  a  contract  between  him  and  the  town 
authorities  in  1914. 

In  connection  with  Mr.  Fessenden's  plant  in  Brookline  he  also  owns 
and  operates  a  plant  for  the  manufacture  of  barrels  in  North  Acton,  Mass. 
and  in  Harvard,  Mass. 

At  the  present  time,  (1914),  Mr.  Fessenden's  business  in  each  of  its 
branches  is  in  a  prosperous  condition,  and  its  operations,  which  cover  a 
large  territory,  are  constantly  being  enlarged  and  extended. 

1900.  March  17,  the  town  accepted  a  legacy  of  three  hundred  dollars 
from  the  estate  of  James  Carlton  Parker;  the  income  to  be  used  for  the 
perpetual  care  of  his  family  lot  in  the  south  cemetery. 


396  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

The  Great  Freshet  in  the  Spring  of  1900. 

In  the  spring  of  this  year,  the  Nissitisset  river  experienced  one  of  the 
heaviest  freshets  known  in  its  history  within  the  memory  of  living  men. 
It  waters,  swollen  by  heavy  rains  and  melting  snows,  overflowed  its  banks 
and  inundated  the  adjacent  fields  and  meadows,  inflicting  considerable 
damage.  The  iron  bridge  over  the  river  at  Bond  street  and  its  abutments 
were  damaged  to  the  extent  that  it  required  the  expenditure  of  several 
hundred  dollars  to  restore  them  to  their  condition  before  the  flood. 

November  6,  the  town  voted  to  accept  a  legacy  of  one  hundred  dollars 
from  the  estate  of  Mrs.  Harriet  Gilson;  the  income  to  be  used  for  the  per- 
petual care  of  the  family  lot  in  the  south  cemetery. 

1901.  June  25,  the  dwelling  house  of  Thomas  O.  Heren,  (formerly 
known  as  the  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin  house),  located  on  the  east  side  of  the 
main  highway  to  Milford,  about  one  mile  north  of  the  village,  was  totally 
destroyed  by  fire. 

At  the  March  town  meeting  the  town  voted  to  purchase  the  Albert 
T.  Pierce  lot  on  the  east  side  of  Main  street  west  of  and  adjacent  to  the 
Post  Office,  for  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars.  The  purchase  was  effected 
in  the  summer  following. 

1903.  February  18,  the  dwelling  house  of  Mrs.  Emma  S.  Dunbar, 
located  one  mile  west  of  the  village  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to 
Mason  was  burned  down. 

1905.  March  14,  the  town  voted  to  accept  a  legacy  of  one  hundred 
dollars  from  the  estate  of  Imla  M.  Williams;  the  income  from  the  same  to 
be  used  for  the  perpetual  care  of  the  family  lot  in  the  south  cemetery. 

State  Roads. 

This  year,  at  its  March  town  meeting,  the  town  made  its  first  appro- 
priation under  the  law  providing  for  the  building  of  State  roads;  which 
was  passed  at  the  January  session  of  the  legislature  of  the  same  year.  The 
amount  appropriated  was  four  hundred  and  twenty-four  and  50-100 
dollars.  To  this  amount  the  State  added  two  hundred  and  fifty-four  and 
40-100  dollars,  as  provided  for  under  the  provisions  of  the  law;  making 
the  whole  amount  in  the  town's  hands  for  use  in  building  the  contemplated 
highway  six  hundred  and  seventy-four  and  90-100  dollars  ($674.90).  For 
some  reason  to  the  writer  unknown,  no  portion  of  this  sum  was  expended 
that  vear. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  397 

The  following  year,  1906,  the  town  made  an  additional  appropriation 
in  the  sum  of  four  hundred  and  thirty-six  and  50-100  dollars;  to  which 
amount  the  State  added  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  sixty-one  and  60-100 
dollars;  making  the  entire  amount  raised  for  the  State  road  in  that  year 
six  hundred  and  ninety-eight  and  10-100  dollars. 

This  sum  added  to  the  amount  of  the  appropriation  of  the  previous 
year,  placed  the  town  in  possession  of  thirteen  hundred  and  seventy-seven 
dollars  ($1377.00)  for  use  in  building  the  contemplated  road; 
to  which  amount  should  be  added  ten  and  40-100  dollars,  making 
the  entire  amount  of  the  State  road  fund  thirteen  hundred  and  eighty- 
seven  and  40-100  dollars  ($1387.40). 

With  this  amount  available  for  use,  the  town,  in  the  summer  of  1906, 
constructed  its  first  section  of  State  road.  The  road  commenced  at  a  point 
in  the  Milford  highway  nearly  opposite  the  Congregational  church,  and, 
following  the  highway  in  a  northerly  direction,  ended  a  short  distance 
north  of  the  dwelling  house  of  Dr.  Charles  H.  Holcombe.  Its  length  from 
end  to  end  was  3000  feet.  The  total  cost  of  its  construction  was  fourteen 
hundred  and  twenty-three  and  39-100  dollars  ($1423.39).  An  average 
cost  of  four  and  74-100  dollars  per  lineal  foot.  For  each  of  the  three  years 
immediately  succeeding  1906,  the  town  made  appropriations  for  and  con- 
structed sections  of  State  road  as  follows : 

1907.  Road  from  the  brow  of  the  hill  in  the  Townsend  highway  west 
of  the  south  cemetery  down  to  and  across  the  bridge  over  the  river  near 
the  dwelling  house  of  David  S.  Fessenden  in  South  Brookline.  The  con- 
struction of  this  section  of  road  included  the  raising  of  said  bridge  several 
feet  above  its  former  level. 

1908.  Road  in  the  highway  to  Pepperell,  Mass.,  beginning  on  the 
brow  of  the  hill  in  the  same  a  few  rods  west  of  the  point  where  it  is  crossed 
by  the  Rocky  Pond  brook,  and  extending  to  the  brow  of  the  hill  in  the  same 
a  few  rods  east  of  said  bridge. 

1909.  Road  in  the  highway  to  Mason  beginning  on  the  brow  of 
Meeting-house  hill  on  its  south  side,  and,  passing  southerly,  ending  at  its 
base,  at  its  intersection  by  Bond  street.  The  combined  length  of  these 
four  sections  was  7000  running  feet;  the  total  cost  of  their  construction 
three  thousand  nine  hundred  dollars  and  eighty-nine  cents.    ($3900.89). 

1906.  March  13,  the  town  voted  to  print  a  history  of  the  town,  pro- 
viding the  printing  of  the  same  should  not  cost  over  five  hundred  dollars; 
and  subsequently  the  selectmen  appointed  Clarence  R.  Russell,  Samuel 
Swett,  Eddie  S.  Whitcomb,  Edward  C.  Tucker,  John  B.  Hardy  and  David 
S.  Fessenden  as  a  committee  to  superintend  the  work  of  its  publication. 


398  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

September  2,  the  dwelling  houses  of  J.  Alonzo  Hall  and  Joseph  Hall, 
located  respectively  on  the  west  and  east  sides  of  the  highway  to  Mason 
about  one  mile  west  of  the  Congregational  church,  were  destroyed  by  fire. 

1907.  March  12,  at  the  annual  March  town  meeting,  the  following 
votes  were  passed: 

"To  accept  a  legacy  of  one  hundred  dollars  from  the  estate  of  Mrs. 
Eliza  D.  Dodge,  late  of  Worcester,  Mass.,;  the  income  of  the  same  to  be 
used  for  the  perpetual  care  of  the  grave  of  her  father,  John  Daniels,  in  the 
Pond  Cemetery." 

"To  accept  a  legacy  of  one  hundred  dollars  from  James  A.  Horton  of 
Greenfield,  Mass.;  the  income  of  the  same  to  be  used  for  the  perpetual 
care  of  his  family  lot  in  the  South  Cemetery." 

"To  raise  twenty-five  dollars  for  the  destruction  of  Brown  Tail  Moths." 

"To  buy  a  new  hearse  and  raise  six  hundred  dollars  to  pay  for  the 
same,  and  that  the  selectmen  be  a  committee  of  three  to  purchase  it." 

"To  take  a  new  valuation  of  the  personal  and  real  estate,  and  that  the 
selectmen  with  Willie  A.  Hobart  and  Elmer  W.  Wallace  take  the  same." 

Brown  Tail  Moths. 

These  pests  appeared  for  the  first  time  in  Brookline  in  the  summer  of 
1905.  The  foregoing  recorded  vote  of  March  13,  1906,  was  the  first  action 
on  the  part  of  the  town  relative  to  their  extermination.  In  the  following 
year,  1907,  the  State  passed  an  act  to  provide  for  the  suppression  of  the 
Gipsy  and  Brown  Tail  Moths.  From  the  time  of  the  passage  of  the  act, 
this  town,  acting  under  its  provisions,  continued  to  make  annual  appro- 
priations for  the  moth's  extermination;  but  expended  them  in  conjunction 
with  the  sums  of  money  appropriated  by  the  State  for  the  same  purpose  in 
paying  the  State's  agents  for  doing  the  work.  At  the  present  time  (1914) 
the  work  of  extermination  is  still  going  on;  but  with  apparently  little  de- 
crease in  the  amount  of  damage  done  by  the  pests. 

1908.  During  this  year  the  town  purchased  the  hearse  in  use  at  the 
present  time  (1914)  at  a  cost  of  five  hundred  and  fifty-five  dollars  and 
fifty-six  cents.  ($555,56) . 

During  this  year  also,  the  committee  elected  for  the  purpose  at  the 
annual  March  meeting  of  the  previous  year  proceeded  to  take  a  valuation 
of  the  town's  real  and  personal  estate;  which  was  found  to  be  three  hun- 
dred and  forty-four  thousand  five  hundred  and  fifty-two  dollars  ($344,552). 

March  10,  at  its  annual  town  meeting,  the  town  passed  the  following 
votes : 


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HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  399 

"To  accept  a  legacy  of  three  hundred  dollars  from  the  estate  of  Emily 
M.  Peterson;  the  income  to  be  used  for  the  perpetual  care  of  the  family 
lot  in  the  South  Cemetery." 

"To  accept  a  legacy  of  one  hundred  dollars  from  Miss  Eliza  Jane 
Parker;  the  income  of  the  same  to  be  expended  for  the  perpetual  care  of 
the  family  lot  of  Joseph  A.  Putnam  in  the  South  Cemetery." 

"To  accept  a  legacy  of  one  hundred  dollars  from  Miss  Martha  E. 
Perkins;  the  income  of  the  same  to  be  used  for  the  perpetual  care  of  her 
family  lot  in  the  South  Cemetery." 

The  Brookline  Public  Park. 

1909.  This  tract  of  land  was  conveyed  to  the  town  by  Clarence  R. 
Russell,  Orville  D.  Fessenden,  Samuel  Swett  and  Walter  E.  Corey,  by 
their  deed  of  gift  dated  March  4th  of  this  year.  It  was  accepted  by  the 
town  by  a  vote  of  its  citizens  at  its  annual  town  meeting  in  March  of  the 
same  year;  at  which  meeting,  also,  the  said  donors  were  elected  as  the  first 
board  of  Park  Trustees,  their  term  of  office  to  be  five  years  from  the  date 
of  their  election. 

The  idea  of  establishing  the  Park  originated  with  Clarence  R.  Russell, 
and  it  was  largely  due  to  his  efforts  that  the  idea  was  carried  into  effect. 

The  Park  consists  of  a  tract  of  about  eight  acres  of  land  located  on 
the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Milford  about  one  eighth  of  a  mile  north  of 
the  Congregational  church.  By  the  terms  of  the  deed  of  gift  the  control 
and  management  of  the  Park  is  wholly  in  the  hands  of  the  legal  voters  of 
the  town. 

1910.  March  8,  the  town  voted  to  accept  a  legacy  of  one  hundred 
dollars  from  Bertha  Hutchinson;  the  income  of  the  same  to  be  expended 
for  the  perpetual  care  of  her  family  lot  in  the  South  Cemetery. 

The  Burning  of  the  "Beehive." 

On  the  morning  of  January  29,  the  dwelling  house  known  as  the  "Bee- 
hive," located  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Mason  about  midway  of 
the  east  side  of  Meeting-house  Hill  was  partially  destroyed  by  fire.  While 
the  fire  was  in  progress  it  was  ascertained  that  Edward  O.  Brien  and  John 
Powers,  both  of  Milford,  employees  of  the  Fresh  Pond  Ice  Company  and 
roomers  in  the  house,  were  within  the  house.  Upon  the  discovery  of  this 
fact  Oscar  Elliott  and  Edward  O.  Heren,  members  of  the  local  fire  engine 
company,  voluntarily  entered  the  burning  building  and  at  the  risk  of  their 


400  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

lives  rescued  the  imperilled  men;  an  act  of  heroism  unparalleled  in  the 
history  of  this  town.  The  rescued  men,  however,  were  so  badly  injured  by 
the  smoke  and  flames  that  they  survived  their  injuries  but  a  short  time, 
each  dying  within  a  few  weeks  after  their  rescue. 

This  year  Orville  D.  Fessenden  installed  the  plant  by  which  the  village 
was  for  the  first  time  in  the  town's  history  supplied  with  running  water. 
At  the  present  time  (1914)  the  plant  continues  to  be  owned  and  managed 
by  Mr.  Fessenden. 

The  Charles  A.  Blodgett  Legacies. 

At  the  annual  March  meeting  the  town  voted  to  accept  a  legacy  of 
$100.00,  from  the  estate  of  Charles  A.  Blodgett,  the  income  to  be  used  for 
the  perpetual  care  of  the  family  lot  in  the  South  Cemetery. 

1911.  The  town  came  into  possession  of  $587.10  from  the  estate  of 
Charles  A.  Blodgett;  the  same  to  be  used  towards  building  a  town  house. 

1912.  Brookline  was  represented  in  the  State  Constitutional  Con- 
vention of  this  year  by  Orville  D.  Fessenden. 

Electric  Lights. 

1913.  During  this  year  Orville  D.  Fessenden  installed  in  his  mill  in 
South  Brookline  an  electric  plant.  Soon  after  the  plant  was  completed 
Mr.  Fessenden  entered  into  a  contract  with  the  town  authorities  under  the 
terms  of  which  he  agreed  for  a  stipulated  price  to  supply 
the  Daniels  Academy  Building  and  such  of  the  streets  and  highways  as 
should  be  designated  by  the  town  with  electric  lights  for  a  term  of  years. 
At  the  present  time  (1914)  said  contract  is  still  in  existence,  and  under 
its  provisions,  in  addition  to  the  Daniels  Academy  Building,  the  village 
streets  and  many  of  the  highways  of  the  town  are  nightly  illuminated  by 
electricity. 

Federation  of  the  Congregational  and  Methodist  Churches. 

1914.  In  the  month  of  April  the  Congregational  and  Methodist 
churches  entereed  into  a  federation  under  the  terms  of  which  the  two 
churches  agreed  for  the  future  to  unite  in  holding  services  for  public  wor- 
ship ;  the  meetings  to  be  holden  alternately  in  the  respective  houses  of  wor- 
ship of  each  church.  The  first  meeting  was  holden  in  the  Congregational 
meeting-house,  Sunday,  April  12,  and  was  under  the  charge  of  the  Rev. 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  401 

Charles  W.  Dockrell,  who  was  unanimously  elected  pastor  of  the  confeder 
ated  churches. 

April  15,  David  Fessenden  died. 


402  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER  XXII. 
The  Daniels  Academy  Building. 

In  1908,  Thomas  H.  Dodge  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  by  the  terms  of  his 
will,  which  was  admitted  to  probate  in  the  fall  of  that  year,  made  provisions 
for  the  establishment  in  Brookline  of  an  academy  for  boys  and  girls;  the 
same  to  be  known  as  Daniels  Academy,  in  honor  of  his  wife,  Eliza  Daniels 
Dodge,  who  was  a  native  of  this  town. 

The  terms  of  the  will  under  which  the  fund  for  establishing  said 
Academy  was  provided  were  as  follows: 
Extracts  from  the  Will  of  Thomas  H.  Dodge 

"64th — I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  Worcester  Trust  Co.  the  sum  of 
$15,000,  in  strict  trust  and  confidence,  however,  as  follows — 

"The  said  Trust  company  shall  hold  said  sum  of  $15,000  and  invest 
and  reinvest  the  principal  and  income  thereof  for  the  term  of  75  years  from 
the  date  of  my  decease. 

"At  the  expiration  of  75  years  from  the  date  of  my  decease,  said  trust 
company  shall  procure  the  formation  of  a  corporation  in  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  and  maintaining  an  academy 
for  both  boys  and  girls,  said  academy  to  be  located  in  the  town  of  Brook- 
line,  N.  H.,  the  birthplace  of  my  beloved  wife,  Eliza  D.  Dodge,  now  de- 
ceased, which  academy  shall  be  known  as  Daniels  Academy,  with  suitable 
provisions  as  to  officers,  their  powers  and  duties  for  control,  direction, 
conduct  and  administration  of  the  corporation,  and  the  care  and  manage- 
ment of  the  funds  in  its  charge;  and  upon  the  legal  formation  and  organi- 
zation of  said  corporation,  my  said  trustee  shall  transfer  to  it  all  the 
property  and  estate  then  in  its  hands  under  this  provision  of  trust,  the 
same  to  be  thereafter  used  and  employed  for  the  establishing  and  main- 
taining of  such  academy. 

"In  the  formation  of  said  corporation,  I  hereby  direct  and  request 
that  provision  shall  be  made  for  the  selection  of  eight  trustees  as  follows : 

"One  by  the  selectmen  of  said  Brookline,  one  by  the  Congregational 
church  of  said  Brookline,  one  by  the  Methodist  church  of  said  Brookline, 
one  by  the  selectmen  of  the  town  of  Pepperell,  one  by  the  Congregational 
church  of  said  Pepperell,  one  by  the  Congregational  church  of  the  town  of 


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HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  403 

Hollis,  N.  H.,  one  by  the  selectmen  of  said  town  of  Hollis-,  and  one  by  the 
selectmen  of  Townsend,  and  that  the  mayor  of  the  city  of  Nashua,  N.H 
the  city  solicitor  of  said  Nashua,  the  district  attorney  for  Hillsboro  county, 
New  Hampshire,  and  the  chairman  of  the  selectmen  of  said  Brookline, 
shall  be  ex-officio  trustees  of  said  academy,  making  twelve  trustees  in  all. 

"I  desire  and  direct  that,  if  practicable,  each  of  these  trustees  appoint- 
ed as  above  provided  shall  serve  for  a  period  of  five  years,  and  that  the 
same  officials  having  authority  to  appoint  such  trustees  shall  also  have 
authority  to  fill  any  vacancies,  meaning  and  intending  that  eight  of  the 
trustees  of  this  corporation  shall  hold  their  positions  by  appointment,  from 
time  to  time,  by  the  officials  above  mentioned,  and  that  such  mayor,  city 
solicitor,  district  attorney  and  chairman  of  selectmen  shall  act  as  trustees 
for  the  time  being  as  they  shall  hold  the  respective  offices. 

"In  case  I  should  not,  by  codicil  to  this  my  last  will  and  testament, 
give  some  directions  about  the  location  of  said  academy  building,  I  direct 
that  said  trustees  shall  select  such  location  in  the  town  of  Brookline,  as 
they  shall  deem  best  and  proper  for  such  academy." 

"67th — All  the  rest,  residue  and  remainder  of  all  my  property  and 
estate,  real  and  personal,  whatever  the  same  may  be,  and  wherever  the 
same  may  be  situated,  I  give  devise  and  bequeath,  as  follows: 

"The  same  shall  be  divided  into  two  equal  parts,  one  of  which  parts 
is  to  be  added  to  the  $30,000  fund  mentioned  in  the  second  clause  of  this 
will,  and  the  other  part  thereof  to  be  added  to  the  $15,000  fund  mentioned 
in  the  64th  clause  of  this  will. 

"68th — I  hereby  constitute  and  appoint  Rufus  B.  Dodge  of  said 
Worcester,  to  be  the  executor  of  this,  my  last  will  and  testament." 

The  citizens  of  Brookline  were  profoundly  grateful  to  the  founder  of 
the  academy  for  the  honor  conferred  upon  the  town  by  its  proposed  lo- 
cation in  their  midst;  an  honor  which  they  highly  appreciated. 

But  mingled  with  their  feelings  of  gratitude,  there  was  also  a  feeling 
of  disappointment;  arising  from  the  fact  that  by  the  terms  of  the  will  it 
was  stipulated  that  the  fund  devoted  to  the  establishment  of  the  Academy 
should  be  invested  for  a  term  of  seventy-five  years  before  it  became  avail- 
able for  that  purpose. 

To  be  sure,  at  the  end  of  that  period,  the  fund  with  its  accumulated 
interest  would  have  amounted  to  one  and  one-half  million  dollars,  more 
or  less.  But,  in  the  meantime,  they,  and  the  majority  of  their  descend- 
ants in  the  second  generation,  would  have  gone  to  a  land  in  which,  so  far 
as  they  knew,  academies  were  unknown  institutions,  without  having  en- 
joyed in  any  degree  the  benefits  which  would  have  accrued  to  them  and 


404  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

theirs  by  the  immediate  carrying  out  of  the  said  provision  of  the  will.  And 
realizing  the  truth  of  the  adage  that — "A  bird  in  the  hand  is  worth  two  in 
the  bush,"  they  were  disposed,  if  possible,  to  unite  with  others  of  the  bene- 
ficiaries under  the  will  who  were  reported  as  being  dissatisfied  with  its  pro- 
visions relating  to  their  several  interests  in  effecting  a  compromise  in  its 
terms  which  should  be  mutually  satisfactory;  an  arrangement  to  which  it 
was  generally  understood  that  all  the  interested  parties  were  agreeable. 

Under  these  circumstances,  the  executor  finally  filed  in  the  probate 
court  of  Worcester  county,  Mass.,  a  petition  in  which  the  matters  in 
question  between  the  devisees  and  legatees  under  the  will  were  submitted 
to  its  decision. 

After  a  period  of  two  years,  more  or  less,  had  elapsed,  during  which 
the  interested  parties  were  trying  to  arrive  at  an  agreement,  a  compromise 
was  finally  effected ;  and  soon  after  its  accomplishment,  the  same  was  filed 
in  court.  The  court  accepted  and  approved  of  its  provisions  and,  soon 
after  its  approval,  handed  down  a  decree,  the  substance  of  which,  so  far 
as  it  related  to  the  Daniels  Academy  fund,  was  as  follows: 

Final  Decree  of  the  Court  Relative  to  Daniels  Academy  Fund. 

'Fourth.  The  sixty-fourth  paragraph  in  said  instrument  shall  be 
modified  and  amended  so  that  as  so  modified  and  amended,  construed  and 
executed,  the  same  shall  be  of  the  tenor,  form  and  effect  as  follows : 

"SIXTY-FOURTH:  I  give  and  bequeath  to  the  Board  of  Select- 
men and  the  School  Committee  of  the  Town  of  Brookline  in  the  State 
of  New  Hampshire,  and  their  successors  in  office,  the  sum  of  FIFTEEN 
THOUSAND  DOLLARS  ($15,000.),  in  trust  however,  and  not  otherwise, 
for  the  following  trusts  and  uses: 

"First.  To  expend  an  amount  not  exceeding  said  fifteen  thousand 
dollars  ($15,000.)  for  the  purchase  or  acquisition,  by  gift  or  otherwise,  of 
a  proper  site  in  said  Town  of  Brookline,  and  for  the  erection  thereon  of  a 
suitable  building,  to  be  designated  and  named  The  Daniels  Academy 
Building,  In  Memory  of  Eliza  D.  Dodge,  which  said  building  shall  pro- 
vide a  room  or  rooms  adequately  furnished  and  equipped  for  the  uses  of 
the  public  schools  of  said  Town  of  Brookline,  and  shall  further  contain  a 
public  hall,  designed,  constructed,  furnished  and  equipped  for  the  use  of 
the  citizens  of  said  Town  of  Brookline,  for  educational,  social  and  public 
purposes  and  meetings,  together  with  a  room  or  rooms  in  said  building  for 
the  use  of  the  public  library  of  said  Town,  and  for  offices  for  the  Town 
officials  thereof.     The  said  building,  when  so  constructed,  shall  be  con- 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  405 

veyed  by  the  said  trustees  to,  and  shall  become  the  property  of  the  said 
Town  of  Brookline,  to  be  by  the  said  Town  maintained  for  the  purposes 
above  set  forth. 

"Second.  Any  excess  or  surplus  remaining  in  the  hands  of  the  said 
trustees,  after  the  disbursements  above  provided  for  the  acquisition  and 
construction  and  equipment  of  said  site  and  building  shall  be  held  by  the 
said  trustees  and  their  successors  in  said  trust,  and  shall  be  maintained 
perpetually  by  them  as  a  distinct  and  separate  trust  fund,  to  be  known 
and  designated  as  The  Eliza  D.  Dodge  School  Fund  and  the  said 
trustees  shall  annually  present  to  the  citizens  of  said  Town  of  Brookline, 
in  writing,  an  accurate  statement  and  account  of  said  fund,  and  the  said 
trustees  shall  annually  pay  over  to  the  School  Committee  of  said  Town, 
the  annual  net  income  of  said  fund  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  public 
schools  of  said  Town. 

"SIXTH.  The  sixty-seventh  section  of  said  instrument  shall  be 
modified  and  amended  so  that  as  so  modified,  amended,  construed  and 
executed,  the  said  section  shall  be  of  the  tenor,  form  and  effect  as  follows : 

"All  the  rest,  residue  and  remainder  of  my  property  and  estate,  real 
and  personal,  whatever  the  same  may  be,  and  wherever  the  same  may  be 
situated,  I  give,  devise  and  bequeath  as  follows : 

"The  same  shall  be  divided  into  two  equal  parts,  one  of  which  parts 
shall  be  paid  over  to  the  trustees  mentioned  in  the  second  section  of  this 
instrument,  as  hereby  modified  and  amended,  for  the  purposes,  uses,  and 
upon  the  trusts  therein  set  forth  and  specified;  and  the  other  part  thereof 
shall  be  paid  over  to  the  trustees  mentioned  in  the  sixty-fourth  section  of 
this  instrument,  as  hereby  modified  and  amended,  for  the  purposes,  uses, 
and  upon  the  trusts  therein  set  forth  and  specified." 

The  decree  provided  further,  that  RufusB.  Dodge,  as  executor thereof , 
should  "pay  on  account  of  costs,  expenses  of  professional  services,  aris- 
ing from  and  on  account  of  the  controversy  as  to  the  probate  of  said  will, 
and  the  settlement  and  adjustment  thereof,  and  the  agreement  for  com- 
promise thereof,  all  counsel  fees." 

Herbert  Parker,  Esquire,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  appeared  in  the  case  as 
counsel  for  the  town  of  Brookline. 

The  foregoing  decree  was  dated  Jan.  22,  1912.  At  the  date  of  its  be- 
ing rendered,  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Dodge  fund  consisted  of  George 
L.  Dodge,  David  S.  Fessenden  and  Lewellyn  S.  Powers,  constituting  the 
board  of  selectmen,  and  George  H.  Nye,  Mrs.  Nancy  J.  Daniels  and  Arthur 
A.  Goss,  constituting  the  board  of  education.   Shortly  after  the  date  of  the 


406  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

decree,  the  executor  of  the  will  paid  over  to  the  board  of  trustees  the  fif- 
teen thousand  dollars  building  fund;  and  the  board  began  to  make  prepa- 
rations for  erecting  the  building. 

August  17,  1912,  Mrs.  Samuel  Swett,  by  her  deed  of  gift  of  that  date, 
conveyed  to  the  board  of  trustees  the  lot  of  land  upon  which  the  building 
was  subsequently  erected,  in  honor  of  the  memory  of  her  husband,  Samuel 
Swett.  Among  other  conditions  mentioned  in  the  deed  was  the  following: 
"That  the  trustees  shall  prepare  and  install  or  cause  to  be  prepared  and 
installed,  permanently  in  said  building  ,when  the  same  is  erected  and  com- 
pleted, a  suitably  inscribed  tablet  in  honor  of  the  memory  of  said  Samuel 
Swett."  The  deed  also  provided,  further,  that  in  case  the  town  should 
ever  cease  to  use  the  land  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  conveyed,  the 
same  should  revert  to  the  donor  and  her  heirs. 

The  work  of  constructing  the  building  was  begun  in  the  fall  of  1912, 
soon  after  the  date  of  Mrs.  Swett's  deed  of  the  land  to  the  trustees.  The 
work  was  performed  and  the  materials  furnished  by  contract,  under  the 
supervision  of  the  board  of  trustees;  and  was  completed  in  the  summer  of 
1913. 

The  cost  of  the  plant,  all  told,  amounted  to  the  sum  of  about  seven- 
teen thousand  and  five  hundred  dollars ;  an  excess  of  two  thousand  and  five 
hundred  dollars  over  and  above  the  sum  originally  devoted  to  its  establish- 
ment under  the  terms  of  the  will.  This  excess  resulted,  principally,  from  the 
extra  expense  incurred  by  the  trustees  in  grading  the  building  lot;  an  opera- 
tion which  the  peculiar  location  of  the  lot  made  absolutely  necessary.  It 
was  paid  for  by  an  appropriation  raised  by  the  town  for  that  purpose. 

Soon  after  the  completion  of  the  building,  Walter  L.  Parker,  Esq.,  of 
Lowell,  Mass.,  in  honor  of  the  memory  of  his  father,  William  Harrison 
Parker,  a  native  of  Brookline,  presented  the  town  with  the  flag-staff, 
which  at  the  present  time  is  standing  on  its  grounds,  and,  also,  with 
a  beautiful  United  States  flag,  to  be  used  in  connection  with  the  staff. 

The  beautiful  and  ornate  clock  which  adorns  the  wall  of  the  build- 
ing's auditorium,  was  presented  to  the  town  in  the  summer  of  1914,  by 
Miss  Ellen  C.  Sawtelle,  a  native  of  Brookline. 

Dedication  of  the  Daniels  Academy  Building. 

On  Friday,  the  29th  day  of  August,  1913,  the  Daniels  Academy  Build- 
ing was  dedicated  with  appropriate  ceremonies  to  the  public  use.  The  dedi- 
catory ceremonies,  which  were  in  charge  of  officers  of  the  Old  Home  Week 
Association  for  that  year,  were  conducted  in  the  hall  of  the  Academy  Build- 


HON.   THOMAS   H.   DODGE 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  407 

ings,  and  were  largely  attended  by  citizens  of  the  town  and  visitors  from 
abroad.    The  programme  of  the  exercises  was  as  follows : 

Programme. 

Selection,  Townsend,  Mass.,  Brass  Band. 

Invocation,  Rev.  Warren  L.  Noyes. 

Song,  Mr.  Roswell  C.  Nye. 

Greeting,  George  H.  Nye,  Pres.  of  the  Day. 

Response,  Mr.  Percival  Betterly,  of  Fitchburg,  Mass. 

Music,  Welcome  Song,  Quartette. 

Address,  Rev.  George  H.  Hardy,  of  Ashburnham,  Mass. 

Selection,  .                                 Townsend,  Mass.,  Brass  Band. 

Reading,  Mrs.  Mabel  Perkins. 

Dedication  Address,  Hon.  Herbert  L.  Parker,  Worcester,  Mass. 

Selection,  The  Band. 


March  7,  1914,  the  board  of  trustees,  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of 
the  will,  conveyed  the  building  fully  completed  and  equipped,  together 
with  the  land  upon  which  it  is  located,  to  the  town.  At  the  date  of  said 
conveyance  of  the  building,  no  part  of  the  fund  set  apart  under  the  terms 
of  the  will  for  its  support  and  maintenance  has  as  yet  been  received  by 
the  board  of  trustees;  nor  was  the  amount  of  said  fund  definitely  known 
by  them,  the  same  remaining  to  be  established  by  the  decree  of  the  pro- 
bate court  for  the  county  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  in  which  court  the  settle- 
ment of  the  Thomas  H.  Dodge  estate  was  still  pending.  It  is  expected 
that  the  fund  will  amount  to  a  sum  of  not  less  than  forty-five  thousand 
dollars. 

THOMAS  H.  and  ELIZA  DANIELS  DODGE. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Daniels  Dodge,  in  honor  of  whose  memory,  her  husband, 
Thomas  H.  Dodge,  late  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  deceased,  by  his  last  will  and 
testament,  left  to  the  town  of  Brookline  a  generous  legacy  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting,  supporting  and  maintaining  the  edifice  at  the  present  time  stand- 
ing, and  known  as  "Daniels  Academy  Building,"  was  born  at  Brookline, 
February  6,  1822. 

She  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Bridget  (Cummings)  Daniels,  and 
a  grandchild  of  James  McDaniels,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  this  town; 
coming  here  from  Groton,  Mass.,  in  1743.  Her  grandfather,  James  Mc- 
Daniels, served  as  a  soldier  for  Brookline  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution ;  and, 


408  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

before  and  after  the  war,  was  classed  among  its  prominent  and  influential 
citizens.  On  the  maternal  side  of  the  house,  she  was  a  descendant  in  the 
eighth  generation  of  Isaac  Cummings  of  Ispwich,  Mass.,  and  a  grand-child 
of  Lieut.  Benjamin  Cummings  of  Hollis;  who  marched  from  Hollis  as  a 
private  in  the  company  of  Capt.  Reuben  Dow  at  the  Lexington  Alarm, 
April  19,  1775,  and  was  afterwards  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill;  and  a 
grand-niece  of  Samuel  and  Prudence  (Lawrence) Cummings  of  Hollis, 
whose  daughter  Prudence  married  David  Wright  and  settled  in  Pepperell; 
Mass.,;  where  at  the  time  of  the  Lexington  alarm  in  1775,  she  was  the 
leader  of  a  patriotic  band  of  women  who  captured  the  notorious  tory, 
Leonard  Whiting,  near  Jewett's  Bridge  in  that  town. 

Her  childhood  and  young  womanhood  were  passed  in  Brookline,  in 
whose  district  schools  she  was  educated,  and  for  which  throughout  her  en- 
tire life  she  continued  to  manifest  a  firm  and  abiding  love  and  affection. 

The  name  of  "Daniels  Academy  Building"  which  is  applied  to  the  edi- 
fice in  her  memory  standing  here  at  the  present  time,  probably  had  its 
origin  in  the  fact  of  her  original  purpose  of  founding  an  academy  in  its 
place. 

She  married,  June  29,  1843,  Thomas  H.  Dodge,  a  son  of  Malaichi  and 
Jane  (Hutchins)  Dodge,  and  a  native  of  Eden,  Vermont;  where  he  was 
born  September  27,  1823. 

At  the  date  of  their  marriage,  Mr.  Dodge  was,  and  for  many  years 
had  been,  a  resident  in  Nashua;  his  parents  having  removed  to  that  city 
when  he  was  fourteen  years  old.  He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  of 
Eden,  the  public  schools  of  Nashua,  Crosby's  Literary  Institute  of  Nashua, 
and  the  Gymnasium  Institute  at  Pembroke. 

He  read  law  in  the  offices  of  the  Hon.  G.  Y.  Sawyer  and  Gen.  Aaron 
F.  Stevens  of  Nashua;  and  was  admitted  to  the  Hillsborough  County  Bar, 
upon  examination,  at  Manchester,  Dec.  5,  1854.  Soon  after  his  admittance 
to  the  bar,  he  opened  an  office  in  Nashua,  and  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession. 

During  his  residence  in  Nashua,  in  his  minority,  he  became  interested 
in  the  subject  of  manufactures;  especially  in  the  manufacture  of  cotton 
cloths;  in  which,  by  assiduous  study,  he  acquired  a  knowledge  so  thorough 
and  practical  that  in  1850,  he  wrote  and  published  a  pamphlet  entitled, 
"Review  of  the  Rise  and  Progress  and  Present  Importance  of  Cotton 
Manufactures  of  the  United  States;"  which  attracted  immediate  at- 
tention and  was  widely  read,  both  in  this  country  and  in  England. 

During  this  period,  also,  he  manifested,  or  rather  developed,  a  natur- 
al genuis  for  invention;  which  he  put  to  practical  use  in  the  production  of 


MRS.   ELIZA   (DANIELS)    DODGE 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  409 

many  labor  saving  devices;  among  which  the  most  important,  perhaps, 
was  a  press  for  printing  upon  paper  or  cloth  from  the  roll;  which  was 
patented  November  18,  1851. 

In  1855,  Mr.  Dodge's  skill  as  an  inventor,  together  with  his  reputa- 
tion as  an  able  lawyer  and  his  knowledge  of  manufactures,  had  become  so 
widely  known  as  to  attract  the  attention  of  Hon.  Charles  Mason;  who  was 
then  United  States  Commissioner  of  Patents;  by  whom  he  was  that  year 
appointed  a  member  of  the  board  of  examiners  at  the  patent  office,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  He  accepted  the  appointment,  and  removed  from  Nashua 
to  Washington,  where  in  many  years  of  valuable  service  as  a  member  of 
the  board  of  patent  examiners,  he  acquired  a  fame  which  was  national  in 
its  scope. 

In  1858,  Mr.  Dodge  resigned  from  his  position  on  the  board  of  patent 
examiners,  and  opened  a  law  office  in  Washington ;  where,  for  several  years 
he  conducted  a  highly  successful  business  in  that  line,  and  from  whence  he 
finally  removed  to  Worcester,  Mass.;  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  He  died  at  Worcester  in  1908;  leaving  a  large  estate,  which,  under 
the  terms  of  his  last  will,  was  distributed  among  his  friends  and  relatives 
and  public  institutions,  in  generous  bequests;  not  the  least  of  which,  in 
the  estimation  of  its  citizens,  was  that  which  he  left  to  Brookline  in  honor 
of  the  memory  of  his  wife. 

Mrs.  Dodge  was  a  generous  hearted  and  public  spirited  woman, 
thoroughly  democratic  in  her  ideas,  dignified  and  courteous  in  her  manners 
and  in  her  disposition  charitable  to  a  degree.  In  her  lifetime,  from  her 
abundance  she  gave  freely  and  generously  to  the  worthy  poor,  and  to 
charitable  and  other  public  institutions.  At  her  decease,  under  the  terms 
of  her  will,  her  large  estate  was  distributed  widely  and  wisely.  Among  the 
beneficiaries  therein  named,  were  twenty-nine  public  institutions  and  near- 
ly fifty  of  her  relatives  and  friends.  She  died  at  Worcester,  March  27,  1908 ; 
and  is  buried  in  that  citv  with  her  husband. 


410  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Biographical  Sketches  of  Physicians  Residents  of  and  Practicing  in 
Brookline  from  1827  to  1914,  Inclusive. 

David  Harris,  1827-1849— Jonathan  C.  Shattuck,  1850-1861— David  P. 
Stowell,  1862-1867— Darius  S.  Dearborn,  1875-1879— Alonzo  S. 
Wallace,  1879-1888— Charles  H.  Holcombe,  1888—. 

DAVID  HARRIS,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Dunstable,  now  Nashua,  July 
20,  1798.  He  was  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Rachel  (Johnson)  Harris.  He 
graduated  from  Dartmouth  College  in  1826,  and  from  Pittsfield  Medical 
School  In  1827  he  came  to  this  town  and  began  to  practice  his  profession, 
being  the  first  regularly  educated  physician  to  settle  here.  He  continued 
to  live  and  to  practice  in  Brookline  until  his  death,  which  occurred  January 
26,  1849.    He  is  buried  in  his  family  lot  in  the  South  cemetery. 

Concerning  Dr.  Harris'  reputation,  both  professionally  and  as  a  citi- 
zen, the  following  excerpts  from  his  funeral  sermon,  preached  by  Rev. 
Daniel  Goodwin,  who  was  a  fellow  citizen  with  him,  speak  eloquently  and 
convincingly. 

"It  is  now  twenty- two  years  since  Dr.  David  Harris  came  among  you, 
and  commenced  the  labors  of  his  profession.  By  his  valuable  and  self-deny- 
ing services,  his  wise  and  judicious  deportment,  he  secured  and  retained  to 
the  last  the  entire  confidence  and  high  esteem,  not  only  of  this  community, 
but  of  that  of  the  neighboring  towns,  as  a  physician  and  a  man.  Few  men 
in  the  profession,  similarly  situated,  it  is  believed,  ever  had  warmer  or  more 
numerous  friends  or  fewer  enemies  than  he.  Indeed,  it  is  not  known  that 
he  had  an  enemy  on  earth.  Everybody  esteemed  him  and  spoke  well  of 
him;  and  the  reason  was  that  he  was  a  friend  of  every  one,  and  was  always 
willing,  at  whatever  sacrifice,  to  do  all  he  could  for  the  good  of  others.  He 
made  no  invidious  distinctions  between  the  rich  and  the  poor.  His  practice 
has  been  very  great,  extending  over  a  large  territory.  He  enjoyed,  in  an 
unusual  degree,  the  confidence  of  the  medical  profession  in  this  vicinity,  as 
a  safe  and  skilful  physician." 

"As  a  citizen  he  was  no  less  esteemed  and  beloved.  He  was  honest, 
upright,  open-hearted,  could  be  believed  and  trusted  everywhere,  and  in 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


411 


everything.  *******As  a  counsellor  he  was  wise  and  discreet.  He  was  a 
lover  of  good  order  and  a  firm  and  stedfast  supporter  of  the  institutions 
of  religion.  His  crowning  excellence,  however,  was  his  piety,  which  was 
humble  and  unobstrusive,  but  deep  and  real." 

Dr.  Harris  was  the  first  postmaster  of  Brookline,  having  been  appoint- 
ed in  1828.  He  was  re-appointed  in  1834.  He  was  many  times  a  member 
of  the  superintending  school  committee,  and  represented  the  town  in  the 
legislatures  of  1831,  1832  and  1834.  He  married  Louisa,  daughter  of 
Williard  and  Olivia  (Bowers)  Marshall  of  Nashua. 

JONATHAN  CHAM- 
BERLAIN SHATTUCK, 
M.  D.,  son  of  Way  ling  and 
Luanda  (Parker)  Shattuck, 
was  born  in  Pepperell, 
Mass.,  Sept.  10,  1813.  He 
prepared  for  college  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  native 
town  and  in  Pepperell  Acad- 
emy, and  graduated  at  Dart- 
mouth College  in  1842.  For 
the  four  years  immediately 
following  h  i  s  graduation 
from  Dartmouth  he  was 
engaged  in  teaching  school. 
He  then  studied  medicine, 
and  graduated  from  the 
College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  in  New  York  City 
in  1848.  Soon  after  his 
graduation  he  settled  in 
Brookline,  where  he  began  his  professional  life. 

From  the  beginning,  Dr.  Shattuck's  success  as  a  physician  was  as- 
sured. Possessed  of  more  than  ordinary  natural  abilities,  and  by  his  edu- 
cation thoroughly  equipped  for  his  work,  he  entered  into  the  performance 
of  his  professional  duties  with  a  zeal  and  enthusiasm  that  soon  acquired 
for  him  the  reputation  of  being  a  careful  and  skilful  physician ;  and  as  such 
he  was  known,  not  only  in  Brookline,  but  also  in  the  surrounding  towns ; 
all  of  which  were  included  within  the  scope  of  his  practice. 

As  a  citizen  Dr.  Shattuck  was  held  in  the  highest  respect  and  esteem 
by  his  fellow  citizens;  in  his  intercourse  with  whom  he  was  genial  and 


DR.  JONATHAN  C.  SHATTUCK 


412  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

affable  and  gentlemanly,  and  by  whom  he  was  honored  by  being  many 
times  elected  as  superintendent  of  schools.  He  was  moderator  in  1853, 
selectman  in  1860  and  1861,  and  town  clerk  in  1861. 

He  was  a  man  of  strong  will  power,  and  of  equally  strong  convictions ; 
a  firm  believer  in  the  Christian  religion,  and  an  equally  firm  advocate  of 
the  strict  observance  of  the  moralities  of  life;  and  as  such,  in  any  and  all 
causes  in  which  the  welfare  of  the  public  was  a  matter  in  issue,  his  work 
and  influence  were  invariably  exerted  on  the  side  which  he  believed  to  be 
right  and  just. 

Soon  after  coming  here,  Dr.  Shattuck  and  his  wife  united  with  the 
local  Congregational  church.  In  1850,  he  erected  on  the  summit  of  the 
hill  in  the  rear  of  the  church  the  dwelling  house  which  at  the  present  time, 
(1914)  is  owned  and  occupied  as  his  home  by  Albert  T.  Pierce.  After  the 
house  was  completed,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  connecting  it  with  Main 
street  by  building  a  roadway  down  the  south  side  of  the  hill.  With  that 
end  in  view,  he  approached  the  Congregational  church  and  society,  which 
owned  the  land  over  which  the  proposed  new  road  would  have  to  pass, 
with  a  proposition  to  buy  or  lease  the  same.  Upon  considering  his  propo- 
sition, a  majority  of  the  church  and  society  voted  not  to  accept  it,  and  re- 
fused to  either  sell  or  lease  the  land.  As  the  result  of  this  vote,  the  church 
and  society,  which  had  already  divided  into  factions,  became  embroiled 
in  a  bitter  church  war;  which  lasted  for  many  years,  and  in  which  the  only 
matter  at  issue  was  the  advisability  of  selling  or  leasing,  or  otherwise  dis- 
posing of,  the  land  in  question;  the  intrinsic  value  of  which  was  not  over 
ten  dollars.  In  the  end  the  war  divided  the  church  in  twain.  In  1858, 
Dr.  Shattuck  and  several  of  his  friends  severed  their  connection  with  the 
Congregational  church,  and  subsequently  united  with  the  local  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Dr.  Shattuck  continued  to  reside  and  to  practice  in  Brookline  until 
1861.  In  the  latter  year  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Pepperell,  Mass., 
where  for  several  years  he  conducted  a  private  hospital.  While  residing 
in  Pepperell,  during  the  winter  when  Gen.  Grant's  army  was  in  camp 
along  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  river  north  of  Vicks.burg,  Dr.  Shattuck, 
although  he  was  at  the  time  in  poor  health,  responded  to  a  call  for  volunteer 
surgeons,  and  served  for  four  months  as  a  surgeon  in  the  army  hospital  in 
St.  Louis.  In  1866,  failing  health,  and  the  certainty  that  he  could  not 
long  survive  the  rigors  of  the  New  England  climate,  induced  him  to  seek  a 
new  home  in  Minnesota.  The  change  in  climate  was  apparently  bene- 
ficial to  him.  His  health  improved,  and  for  awhile  he  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession.    But  not  for  a  long  time.    His  health  again  gave 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  413 

out,  and  for  the  last  four  months  of  his  life  his  decline  was  marked  and 
rapid.      He  died  in  Minnesota  of  consumption,  May  17,  1878. 

December  4,  1850,  Dr.  Shattuck  was  united  in  marriage  to  Phebe 
Ann  Cummings,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Joanna  (Wyman)  Cummings  of 
Antrim.  One  child  was  born  of  this  marriage,  Nellie  Vrybena,  born  in 
Brookline,  August  6,  1855.  She  married  Jan.  29,  1876,  at  Zumbrota, 
Minn.,  Dudley  Snow  Brainard,  M.  D.,  son  of  Oliver  and  Mary  Snow 
Brainard  of  Williamsburg,  N.  Y.;  children,  Mary  Phebe  Brainard,  b.  Oct. 
29,  1876;  Dudley  Shattuck  Brainard,  b.  Oct.  15,  1884. 

DAVID  PORTER  STOWELL,  M.  D.,  a  son  of  Rev.  David  and 
Emily  (Starrett)  Stowell,  was  born  in  Townsend,  Mass.,  Sept.  22,  1838. 
He  graduated  from  Phillips  Andover  Academy  in  1857.  In  1860  he  enter- 
ed Amherst  college,  but  did  not  graduate.  In  1862,  he  graduated  from  the 
University  of  New  York,  and  the  same  year  commenced  to  practice  his 
profession  in  this  town;  having,  however,  read  medicine  in  the  office  of 
Samuel  Dearborn,  M.  D.,  in  Milford.  In  1863  he  served  for  a  short  time 
in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  as  assistant  surgeon  in  the  eighth  New  Hamp- 
shire Volunteers.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  sixties  he  removed  from  Brook- 
line  to  Greenville.  In  1877  he  removed  from  Greenville  to  Mercer,  Me. 
In  1898  he  removed  from  Mercer  to  Waterville,  Me.,  where  he  practiced 
his  profession  until  his  death  which  occurred  Feb.  12,  1903.  During  his 
residence  at  Waterville,  he  was  for  eight  years  city  physician,  and  served 
on  the  board  of  education  ten  years.  He  was  a  Mason  and  a  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Dr.  Stowell  married  Sarah  Elizabeth  Batchelder,  of  Mount  Vernon, 
May  21,  1863.    He  was  survived  by  his  wife,  but  left  no  children. 

DARIUS  STEARNS  DEARBORN,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Northfield, 
January  4,  1834.  He  is  a  son  of  David  and  Nancy  Clay  Dearborn.  He 
passed  through  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  graduated  from 
the  New  Hampshire  Conference  Seminary  in  1855.  For  a  number  of  years 
after  his  graduation  from  the  Conference  Seminary  he  was  located  in  the 
west,  journeying  there  over  the  plains  at  the  time  of  the  excitement  over 
the  discovery  of  gold  in  Nevada.  During  this  period  he  engaged  to  some 
extent  in  teaching  school.  On  his  return  to  the  east,  he  read  medicine 
with  Dr.  Luther  Knight  of  Franklin,  and  attended  lectures  in  the  medical 
schools  of  Dartmouth  College  and  the  University  of  New  York;  graduat- 
ing from  the  latter  institution  in  1875.  Immediately  after  his  graduation 
from  the  University,  and  the  same  year,  he  settled  in  this  town  and  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  remained  in  Brookline  for  a  period  of 
four  years;  during  which  he  enjoyed  a  lucrative  practice,  and  was  highly 


414  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

esteemed,  both  as  a  citizen  and  as  a  physician,  by  his  fellow  citizens.  In 
1879  ill  health  compelled  him  to  give  up  work;  and  in  that  year  he  sold 
out  his  business  in  Brookline  to  Dr.  A.  S.  Wallace.  After  regaining  his 
health,  he  settled  in  Milford,  and  resumed  in  that  town  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  His  practice  in  Milford  covered  a  period  of  thirty  years 
in  length,  and  in  that  time  his  reputation  as  being  a  most  excellent  and 
trustworthy  physician  extended  throughout  the  country. 

As  a  citizen,  Dr.  Dearborn  was  kind,  courteous  and  gentlemanly  in 
his  bearing  towards  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact.  He  was  a  warm 
and  steadfast  friend,  and  a  sturdy,  but  not  bitter,  opponent.  He  was 
sympathetic  by  nature,  and  responded  willingly  to  all  calls  upon  him  for  aid 
and  assistance,  professional  or  otherwise,  on  the  part  of  those  who  were 
worthily  poor;  rendering  his  services  without  money  and  without  price. 
Simple  in  his  manner  of  living,  and  inclined  to  be  reticent  and  retiring  in 
his  intercourse  with  his  fellow  men,  he  neither  sought,  nor  cared  for  official 
honors  nor  political  preferments ;  preferring  rather  to  live  a  simple  life,  and 
enjoy  the  rewards  consequent  upon  a  faithful  and  conscientious  perform- 
ance of  his  duties  as  a  physician  and  a  citizen.  He  retired  from  practice 
in  1907,  and  the  same  year  removed  from  Milford  to  Northfield;  where  at 
the  present  time  he  is  living  on — "His  old  home  farm."  He  married  Sept. 
8,  1875,  M.  J.  Adams. 

ALONZO  S.  WALLACE,  M  D.,  was  born  in  Bristol,  Me.,  Feb.  17, 
1847.  He  is  the  only  son  of  David  and  Margaret  F.  Wallace.  His  grand- 
father, David  Wallace,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  New  Hampshire. 

Dr.  Wallace  fitted  for  college  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town, 
Lincoln  Academy,  New  Castle,  Me.,  and  the  Eastport  Conference  Semi- 
nary, Bucksport,  Me.  He  attended  the  medical  schools  of  Bowdoin  College 
and  of  Portland,  and  graduated  from  the  medical  school  of  Dartmouth 
College  in  1874. 

During  the  years  in  which  he  was  preparing  for  college,  he  was  en- 
gaged to  some  considerable  extent  in  teaching  and  also  held  the  position  of 
superintendent  of  schools  in  his  native  town.  At  an  early  age  he  was  prin- 
cipal of  Bucksport,  Me.,  High  School.  After  graduating  from  Dartmouth 
Medical  School,  he  accepted  the  position  of  assistant  teacher  in  the  Re- 
formatory School  of  the  city  of  Boston,  and  in  a  short  time  was  promoted 
to  the  principalship  of  the  school.  After  holding  this  position  for  several 
years,  during  which  he  acquired  an  enviable  reputation  for  his  excellent 
management,  he  resigned  to  accept  the  position  of  first  assistant  port  phy- 
sician of  the  city  of  Boston,  and  was  soon  promoted  to  port  physician. 


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HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  415 

In  1879  he  resigned  his  position  as  port  physician  and  removed  from 
Boston  to  this  town;  where  in  that  same  year  he  established  himself  as  a 
physician  in  the  general  practice  of  his  profession.  During  his  residence 
in  Brookline,  Dr.  Wallace  enjoyed  a  large,  lucrative  and  constantly  in- 
creasing practice,  embracing  not  only  this  town,  but  also  all  of  the  towns 
in  its  vicinity ;  his  reputation  as  a  physician  learned  and  skilled  in  his  pro- 
fession being  second  to  none  in  Hillsborough  county. 

By  1888  his  business  had  increased  to  the  extent  that  it  occupied 
nearly  all  of  his  time  both  by  night  and  by  day.  His  professional  calls 
were  urgent  and  frequent,  and  they  kept  him  constantly  on  the  move. 
The  exposure  to  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  weather  incident  upon  his  long 
professional  rides,  and  the  constant  strain  to  which  his  practice  subjected 
both  his  mental  and  physical  faculties  began  to  have  a  perceptible  effect 
upon  his  health,  and  after  careful  deliberation,  he  decided  that  a  change 
from  Brookline  to  some  location  where  he  could  practice  his  profession 
under  more  favorable  environments  would  under  the  circumstances  be 
both  prudent  and  reasonable.  Having  decided  upon  his  course  of  action, 
he  governed  himself  accordingly,  and  in  1888  removed  from  Brookline 
to  Rochester. 

Dr.  Wallace's  removal  from  this  town  was  sincerely  and  universally 
regretted  by  its  citizens,  by  whom  he  was  held  in  the  highest  respect  and 
esteem;  both  as  a  physician  and  a  citizen. 

He  remained  in  Rochester  but  a  comparatively  short  time,  and  finally 
removed  to  and  settled  in  Nashua,  where  he  is  located  at  the  present  time, 
and  where  his  practice  is  very  extensive,  covering  the  towns  and  cities  in  a 
large  area  of  the  surrounding  country.  His  reputation  as  a  physician  has 
grown  with  the  years,  and  he  ranks  with  the  leading  physicians  of  the 
State. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  United  Order  of  the  Golden  Cross,  and  of  the 
New  Hampshire  Medical  Society. 

He  married  Mary  F.  Maynard,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Harriet  May- 
nard  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  by  whom  he  has  four  children. 

CHARLES  HENRY  HOLCOMB,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Southwick, 
Mass.,  Nov.  12,  1859.  He  is  a  son  of  Franklin  and  Sarah  J.  (Robinson) 
Holcomb;  and  a  lineal  decendant  of  Thomas  Holcomb,  the  immigrant 
settler  at  Dorchester,  Mass.,  who  came  there  in  1630  from  the  county  of 
Devonshire,  England;  where  the  family  traces  its  descent  back  to  the  fif- 
teenth century.  The  descendants  of  Thomas  Holcomb  in  the  United 
States  are  not  only  very  numerous  but  they  are  also  classed  with  the  best 


416 


HISTORY    OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


and  most  representative  of 
its  citizens.  Many  of  them 
have  become  distinguished 
in  various  walks  in  life. 
Among  the  latter  class  was 
Dr.  William  F.  Holcomb; 
who  for  many  years  was  a 
professor  in  the  college  of 
New  York;  where  he  lec- 
tured on  diseases  of  the  eye 
and  ear;  he  being  the  first  of 
the  physicians  of  the  United 
States  to  make  a  specialty 
of  the  diseases  of  the  former 
organ.  He  was  also  for  sev- 
eral years  president  of  the 
New  York  Genealogical  So- 
ciety; and  was  the  author 
of  a  History  of  the  Hol- 
combs  in  America,  in  which 
he  records  the  names  of 
ninety  physicians  of  that  name. 

Another  worthy  representative  of  the  family  was  the  Rev.  Amasa  Hol- 
comb of  South  wick,  Mass.,  who,  with  only  the  advantages  of  a  common 
school  education,  after  leaving  school  continued  his  pursuit  of  knowledge 
unaided  and  alone;  and  finally  attained  to  such  proficiency  in  his  studies 
that  he  was  voluntarily  honored  by  Williams  College  by  the  bestowal  up- 
on him  of  the  degree  of  A.  M. ;  and  was  also  the  recipient  of  various  medals 
and  diplomas  from  scientific  societies  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia.  He 
is  said  to  have  been  the  first  to  manufacture  telescopes  in  America,  in 
which  business  he  was  without  a  rival  until  1842.  In  1839,  with  one  of  his 
reflecting  telescopic  mirrors,  he  succeeded  in  taking  portraits  from  life; 
thus  becoming  a  contemporary  of  Daguerre  in  the  discovery  of  that 
wonderful  art. 

In  1872,  Dr.  Holcomb,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  having  lost  his 
father  in  the  Civil  War,  removed  with  his  mother  from  South  wick  to 
Wilton;  where  they  settled  on  the  old  homestead  farm;  and  where  for  the 
following  two  years  he  worked  on  a  farm  during  the  summers  and  attend- 
ed the  public  schools  in  the  winters.  In  1875,  realizing  that  he  had  ex- 
hausted all  the  advantages  to  be  obtained  from  the  Wilton  schools,  and 


DR.  CHARLES   H.  HOLCOMB 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  417 

being  desirous  of  obtaining  a  liberal  education,  he  entered  McCullom 
Institute,  at  Mont  Vernon,  where  he  remained  one  year.  The  following 
year  he  passed  as  a  student  in  the  Milford  High  School.  From  Milford 
he  went  to  Westfield,  Mass.,  where  he  attended  school  for  four  years. 
From  Westfield  he  entered  Harvard  Medical  College;  from  whence  he 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1886,  having  in  the  meantime  taken  one  term  in 
the  Mass.  General  Hospital,  graduating  from  the  latter  institution  in  1886. 
Immediately  after  his  graduation,  he  settled  in  Milford,  where  he  com- 
menced to  practice  his  profession. 

In  1888,  by  the  removal  of  Dr.  Alonzo  S.  Wallace  to  Rochester, 
Brookline  was  left  without  the  services  of  a  physician.  Dr.  Holcomb,  al- 
though he  had  succeeded  in  establishing  a  good  practice  in  Milford,  took 
advantage  of  the  vacancy  caused  by  Dr.  Wallace's  removal,  and  soon  after 
it  occurred  and  during  the  same  year,  removed  from  Milford  to  Brookline. 

In  taking  this  step,  Dr.  Holcomb  was  doubtless  influenced  by  his 
hopes  that  in  Brookline  he  could  at  once  enter  into  the  enjoyment  of  a 
larger  field  of  action,  and,  consequently,  of  larger  opportunities  for  ad- 
vancement in  his  profession  than  he  could  expect  to  attain  by  years  of 
practice  in  Milford;  where  physicians  were  many  and  competition  sharp. 
Nor  were  his  hopes  disappointed.  His  reception  in  Brookline  was  a  cordial 
one,  and  he  soon  acquired  the  confidence  of  its  people.  Year  by  year,  his 
reputation  as  a  careful,  conscientious  and  skillful  physician  has  grown  in 
strength;  and  with  its  growth  his  field  of  action  has  expanded.  At  the 
present  time  his  practice  covers  a  large  territory,  extending  into  many  of 
the  neighboring  towns,  both  in  this  State  and  in  Massachusetts;  and  his 
professional  reputation  is  excellent  throughout  the  County.  Since  resid- 
ing here,  he  has  taken  post-graduate  courses  in  Harvard  Medical  College. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Nashua  Medical  Association,  the  New  Hampshire 
State  Surgical  Club,  the  State  Medical  Society,  and  the  Hillsborough 
County  Medical  Association,  of  which  he  is  the  president  this  year  (1912). 
Dr.  Holcomb  is  an  ardent  lover  of  Nature,  and  is  enthusiastically  interest- 
ed in  the  science  of  botany;  to  the  study  of  which  he  devotes  many  of  his 
leisure  hours. 

As  a  citizen  Dr.  Holcomb  is  highly  esteemed  and  respected  by  his 
fellow  citizens;  by  whom  he  has  been  honored  with  many  positions  of  trust 
during  the  twenty-five  years  of  his  residence  here.  He  was  president  of 
the  day  at  the  town's  celebration  of  "Old  Home  Week"  in  1905,  and  orator 
of  the  day  at  its  celebration  in  1906. 

At  the  present  time  he  is,  and  for  twenty-five  years  has  been,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  board  of  health,  and  is  a  member  and  treasurer  of  the 


418  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

board  of  trustees  of  the  Public  Library.  He  is  a  member  in  the  seventh  de- 
gree of  the  Patrons  of  Husbandry,  and  a  member  of  and  deacon  in  the 
local  Congregational  Church. 

Dr.  Holcomb  married,  June  23,  1888,  Clintina,  daughter  of  James  E. 
and  Olive  A.  (Robinson)  Burton,  of  Temple;  by  whom  he  has  had  one 
daughter,  Marion  Candace;  b.,  May  8.  1892,  in  Brookline. 


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HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 


419 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 


Town  Officers. 

1769-1914. 

Moderators. 

1769. 

Samuel  Farley, 

1797. 

William  Green 

1770. 

No  record. 

1798. 

Benjamin  Farley 

1771. 

No  record. 

1799. 

William  Green 

1772. 

James  Conneck 

1800. 

Benjamin  Farley 

1773. 

Samuel  Brown 

1801. 

Benjamin  Farley 

1774. 

James  Badger 

1802. 

Benjamin  Farley 

1775. 

James  Conneck 

1803. 

Benjamin  Farley 

1776. 

Clark  Brown 

1804. 

Benjamin  Farley 

1777. 

William  Spaulding 

1805. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1778. 

Clark  Brown 

1806. 

Benjamin  Farley 

1779. 

Saumel  Douglass 

1807. 

Benjamin  Farley 

1780. 

Samuel  Douglass 

1808. 

Randell  McDonal 

1781. 

Robert  Seaver 

1809. 

John  Daniels 

1782. 

Clark  Brown 

1810. 

John  Daniels 

1783. 

Clark  Brown 

1811. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1784. 

Robert  Seaver 

1812. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1785. 

Samuel  Douglass 

1813. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1786. 

Samuel  Douglass 

1814. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1787. 

R.  Cutts  Shannon 

1815. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1788. 

R.  Cutts  Shannon 

1816. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1789. 

Robert  Seaver 

1817. 

George  Daniels 

1790. 

R.  Cutts  Shannon 

1818. 

Ensign  Bailey 

1791. 

R.  Cutts  Shannon 

1819. 

Ensign  Bailey 

1792. 

R.  Cutts  Shannon 

1820. 

Ensign  Bailey 

1793. 

Robert  Seaver 

1821. 

Ensign  Bailey 

1794. 

Robert  Seaver 

1822. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1795. 

Robert  Seaver 

1823. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1796. 

Randall  McDonald 

1824. 

George  Daniels 

420 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


1825.  Thomas  Bennett 

1826.  John  Daniels 

1827.  John  Daniels 

1828.  Ensign  Bailey 

1829.  Ensign  Bailey 

1830.  James  Parker,  Jr. 

1831.  William  S.  Crosby 

1832.  William  S.  Crosby 

1833.  Reuben  Baldwin 

1834.  Ensign  Bailey 

1835.  James  Parker,  Jr. 

1836.  James  Parker,  Jr. 

1839.  John  Smith 

1840.  John  Smith 

1841.  John  Smith 

1842.  John  Smith 

1843.  John  Daniels 

1844.  George  W.  Daniels 

1845.  Ithimar  B.  Sawtelle 

1846.  Ithimar  B.  Sawtelle 

1847.  Ithimar  B.  Sawtelle 

1848.  Ithimar  B.  Sawtelle 

1849.  N.  Herman  Shattuck 

1850.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1851.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1851.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1852.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1853.  Jonathan  C.  Shattuck 

1854.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1855.  Isaac  Sawtelle 

1856.  Thomas  Melendy 

1857.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1858.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1859.  Albert  Shattuck 

1860.  William  G.  Shattuck 

1861.  William  G.  Shattuck 

1862.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1863.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1864.  William  G.  Shattuck 

1865.  William  G.  Shattuck 


1866.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1867.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1868.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1869.  William  G.  Shattuck 

1870.  William  G.  Shattuck 

1871.  James  Clinton  Parker 

1872.  Joseph  A.  Hall 

1873.  James  Clinton  Parker 

1874.  James  Clinton  Parker 

1875.  David  A.  Fessenden 

1876.  David  A.  Fessenden 

1877.  David  A.  Fessenden 

1878.  Joseph  A.  Hall 

1879.  Joseph  A.  Hall 

1880.  David  S.  Fessenden 

1881.  David  S.  Fessenden 

1882.  Joseph  A.  Hall 

1883.  Joseph  A.  Hall 

1884.  David  D.  Rockwood 

1885.  Charles  A.  Stickney 

1886.  Charles  E.  Shattuck 

1887.  Charles  E.  Shattuck 

1888.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1889.  George  W.  Bridges 

1890.  George  W.  Bridges 

1891.  David  S.  Fessenden 

1892.  James  W.  S.  Tucker 

1893.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1894.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1895.  Frank  L.  Willoby 

1896.  Frank  L.  Willoby 

1897.  Frank  L.  Willoby 

1898.  Frank  L.  Willoby 

1899.  Frank  L.  Willoby 

1900.  Frank  L.  Willoby 

1901.  Frank  I,  .Willoby 

1902.  Frank  L.  Willoby 

1903.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1904.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1905.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


421 


1906.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1907.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1908.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1909.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1910.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 


1911.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1912.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1913.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1914.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 


Town  Clerks. 

1769. 

James  Conneck 

1801. 

Benjamin  Farley 

1770. 

No  record. 

1802. 

Benjamin  Farley 

1771. 

No  record. 

1803. 

Randall  McDonald 

1772. 

No  record. 

1804. 

Randall  McDonald 

1773. 

Samuel  Brown 

1805. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1774. 

James  Badger 

1806. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1775. 

James  Badger 

1807. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1776. 

Alexander  Mcintosh 

1808. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1777. 

Alexander  Mcintosh 

1809. 

James  Parker,  Sr. 

1778. 

Swallow  Tucker 

1810. 

George  Daniels 

1779. 

Alexander  Mcintosh 

1811. 

George  Daniels 

1780. 

Elias  Dickey 

1812. 

George  Daniels 

1781. 

Waldron  Stone 

1813. 

George  Daniels 

1782. 

Waldron  Stone 

1814. 

George  Daniels 

1783. 

Waldron  Stone 

1815. 

John  Daniels 

1784. 

Swallow  Tucker 

1816. 

John  Daniels 

1785. 

Randall  McDonald 

1817. 

John  Daniels 

1786. 

Randall  McDonald 

1818. 

John  Daniels 

1787. 

Swallow  Tucker 

1819. 

John  Daniels 

1788. 

Randall  McDonald 

1820. 

John  Daniels 

1789. 

Randall  McDonald 

1821. 

Thomas  Bennett 

1790. 

Ezekiel  Proctor 

1826. 

Thomas  Bennett 

1791. 

Ezekiel  Proctor 

1827. 

William  S.  Crosby 

1792. 

Randall  McDoneld 

1828. 

William  S.  Crosby 

1793. 

Randell  McDonald 

1829. 

Thomas  Bennett 

1794. 

Randell  McDonald 

1830. 

James  Parker,  Jr. 

1795. 

Benjamin  Farley 

1831. 

James  Parker,  Jr. 

1796. 

Benjamin  Farley 

1832. 

William  S.  Crosby 

1797. 

Randall  McDonald 

1833. 

Reuben  Baldwin 

1798. 

Randall  McDonald 

1834. 

George  Daniels 

1799. 

Randall  McDonald 

1835. 

Isaac  Sawtelle 

1800. 

John  McDonald 

1836. 

James  Parker,  Jr. 

422 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


1837.  Isaac  Sawtelle 

1838.  Isaac  Sawtelle 

1839.  Isaac  Sawtelle 

1840.  George  Daniels 

1841.  George  Daniels 

1842.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Jr. 

1843.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,   Jr. 

1844.  Alonzo  Bailey 

1845.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,   Jr. 

1846.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,   Jr. 

1847.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,   Jr. 

1848.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,   Jr. 

1849.  Alonzo  Bailey 

1850.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1851.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1852.  Isaac  Sawtelle 

1853.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1854.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1855.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1856.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1857.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1858.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1859.  Nathaniel  W.  Lund 

1860.  Benjamin  Gould 

1861.  Jonathan  C.  Shattuck 

1862.  Benjamin  Gould 

1863.  Franklin  McDonald 

1864.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1865.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1866.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1867.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1868.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1869.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1870.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1871.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1872.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1873.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1874.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1875.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1876.  Henry  B.  Stiles 


1877.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1878.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1879.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1880.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1881.  Walter  F.  Rockwood 

1882.  Walter  F.  Rockwood 

1883.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1884.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1885.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1886.  George  E.  Stiles 

1887.  George  E.  Stiles 

1888.  George  E.  Stiles 

1889.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1890.  George  E.  Stiles 

1891.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1892.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1893.  George  E.  Stiles 

1894.  George  E.  Stiles 

1895.  George  E.  Stiles 

1896.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1897.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1898.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1899.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1900.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1901.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1902.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1903.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1904.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1905.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1906.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1907.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1908.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1909.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1910.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1911.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1912.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1913.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1914.  Alpha  A.  Hall 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 


423 


Town  Treasurers. 


1769.  Robert  Campbell 

1770.  No  record. 

1771.  No  record 

1772.  Swallow  Tucker 

1773.  Isaac  Shattuck 

1774.  Benjamin  Shattuck 

1775.  James  Badger 

1776.  Isaac  Shattuck 

1777.  Robert  Seaver 

1778.  Clark  Brown 

1779.  Clark  Brown 

1780.  Clark  Brown 

1781.  Robert  Seaver 

1782.  Robert  Seaver 

1783.  Samuel  Douglass 

1784.  Isaac  Shattuck 

1785.  Samuel  Douglass 

1786.  Samuel  Douglass 

1787.  James  Campbell 

1788.  Isaac  Shattuck 

1789.  Robert  Seaver 

1790.  Robert  Seaver 

1791.  Samuel  Douglass 

1792.  Samuel  Douglass 

1793.  Benjamin  Farley 

1794.  Benjamin  Farley 

1795.  Isaac  Shattuck 

1796.  Isaac  Shattuck 

1797.  Asher  Spaulding 

1798.  Samuel  T.  Boynton 

1799.  Samuel  T.  Boynton 

1800.  Samuel  T.  Boynton 

1801.  Randal  McDonald 

1802.  Benjamin  Farley 

1803.  John  Colburn 

1804.  John  Colburn 

1805.  John  Colburn 

1806.  John  Colburn 


1807.  David  Wright 

1808.  John  Daniels 

1809.  John  Daniels 

1810.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1811.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1812.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1813.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1814.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1815.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1816.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1817.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1818.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1819.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1820.  Ensign  Bailey 

1821.  Ensign  Bailey 

1822.  Randall  McDonald 

1823.  Randall  McDonald 

1824.  Eli  Sawtelle 

1825.  Benjamin  Shattuck 

1826.  Benjamin  Shattuck 

1827.  Benjamin  Shattuck 

1828.  Joshua  Hall 

1829.  John  Daniels 

1830.  John  Daniels 

1831.  John  Daniels 

1832.  Horace  Warner 

1833.  Ensign  Bailey 

1834.  Ensign  Bailey 

1835.  Ensign  Bailey 

1836.  George  Daniels 

1837.  George  Daniels 

1838.  Horace  Warner 

1839.  Horace  Warner 

1840.  Horace  Warner 

1841.  Horace  Warner 

1842.  Horace  Warner 

1843.  Horace  Warner 

1844.  Horace  Warner 


424 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


1845. 

Horace  Warner 

1880. 

1846. 

Wilkes  W.  Corey 

1881. 

1847. 

Wilkes  W.  Corey 

1882. 

1848. 

Wilkes  W.  Corey 

1883. 

1849. 

Horace  Warner 

1884. 

1850. 

Horace  Warner 

1885. 

1851. 

Horace  Warner 

1886. 

1852. 

Horace  Warner 

1887. 

1853. 

Wilkes  W.  Corey 

1888. 

1854. 

Francis  A.  Peterson 

1889. 

1855. 

Francis  A.  Peterson 

1890. 

1856. 

Nathaniel  W.  Lund 

1891. 

1857. 

Philemon  French 

1892. 

1858. 

Sumner  S.  Kendall 

1893. 

1859. 

Sumner  S.  Kendall 

1894. 

1860. 

Joseph  Smith 

1895. 

1861. 

Joseph  Smith 

1896. 

1862. 

Sumner  S.  Kendall 

1897. 

1863. 

Sumner  S.  Kendall 

1898. 

1864. 

Orman  F.  Shattuck 

1899. 

1865. 

Sumner  S.  Kendall 

1900. 

1866. 

Sumner  S.  Kendall 

1901. 

1867. 

Joseph  Sawtelle 

1902. 

1868. 

Joseph  Smith 

1903. 

1869. 

Joseph  Smith 

1904. 

1870. 

Joseph  Smith 

1905. 

1871. 

Joseph  Smith 

1906. 

1872. 

Joseph  Smith 

1907. 

1873. 

William  J.  Smith 

1908. 

1874. 

William  J.  Smith 

1909. 

1875. 

William  J.  Smith 

1910. 

1876. 

William  J.  Smith 

1911. 

1877. 

William  J.  Smith 

1912. 

1878. 

William  J.  Smith 

1913. 

1879. 

William  J.  Smith 

1914. 

William  J.  Smith 
William  J.  Smith 
William  J.  Smith 
William  J.  Smith 
William  J.  Smith 
William  J.  Smith 
James  N.  S.  Tucker 
James  N.  S.  Tucker 
James  N.  S.  Tucker 
James  N.  S.  Tucker 
William  J.  Smith 
George  B.  Stiles 
William  J.  Smith 
William  J.  Smith 
William  J.  Smith 
William  J.  Smith 
Albert  T.  Pierce 
Herbert  S.  Corey 
Herbert  S.  Corey 
Herbert  S.  Corey 
Herbert  S.  Corey 
Herbert  S.  Corey 
Albert  T.  Pierce 
Albert  T.  Pierce 
Albert  T.  Pierce 
Albert  T.  Pierce 
Herbert  S.  Corey 
Herbert  S.  Corey 
Herbert  S.  Corey 
Herbert  S.  Corey 
Herbert  S.  Corey 
Herbert  S.  Corey 
Herbert  S.  Corey 
Fred  A.  Hall 
Fred  A.  Hall 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 


425 


Selectmen. 


1769.  James  Conneck 
William  Blanchard 
Alexander  Mcintosh 

1770.  No  record. 


1771.  Samuel  Brown 
George  Russell 
Isaac  Shattuck 

1772.  James  Conneck 
Alexander  Mcintosh 
James  Campbell 

1773.  George  Russell 
Samuel  Brown 
James  Badger 

1774.  James  Badger 
Robert  Seaver 
Thomas  Asten 

1775.  George  Russell 
Alexander  Mcintosh 
James  Campbell 

1776.  Alexander  Mcintosh 
Benjamin  Shattuck 
Clark  Brown 

1777.  Alexander  Mcintosh 
Benjamin  Shattuck 
Isaac  Shattuck 

1778.  Swallow  Tucker 
Benjamin  Shattuck 
James  Badger 

1779.  Alexander  Mcintosh 
James  Mcintosh 
Sampson  Farnsworth 

1780.  Elias  Dickey 
Randall  McDonald 
David  Davidson 


1781.  Waldron  Stone 
Swallow  Tucker 
James  Campbell 

1782.  Waldron  Stone 
David  Davidson 
Randall  McDonald 

1783.  Waldron  Stone 
Randall  McDonald 
Clark  Brown 

1784.  Swallow  Tucker 
Robert  Seaver 
Daniel  Tyler 

1785.  R.  McDonald 
Robert  Seaver 
James  Campbell 

1786.  Randall  McDonald 
Robert  Seaver 
James  Campbell 

1787.  Swallow  Tucker 
Benjamin  Farley 
James  Mcintosh 

1788.  R.  McDonald 
James  Campbell 
Sampson  Farnsworth 

1790.  Ezekiel  Proctor 
Eleazer  Gilson 
Daniel  Spaulding 

1791.  Ezekiel  Proctor 
Eleazer  Gilson 
Daniel  Spaulding 

1792.  Randall  McDonald 

Joshua  Smith 
Joseph  Tucker 

1793.  Randall  McDonald 
James  Campbell 
James  Mcintosh 


426 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 


1794.  Randall  McDonald 
James  Campbell 
James  Mcintosh 

1795.  Benjamin  Farley 
Eleazer  Gilson 
Isaac  Shattuck 

1796.  Benjamin  Farley- 
Randall  McDonald 
Joseph  Emerson 

1797.  Randall  McDonald 
William  Green 
James  Mcintosh 

1798.  Randall  McDonald 
Benjamin  Farley 
James  Mcintosh 

1799.  Randall  McDonald 
Joseph  Emerson 
Eli  Sawtelle 

1800.  John  McDonald 
George  McDonald 
Colburn  Green 

1801.  Benjamin  Farley 
Joseph  Emerson 
EH  Sawtelle 

1802.  Benjamin  Farley 
Joseph  Emerson 
EH  Sawtelle 

1803.  Randall  McDonald 
James  Mcintosh 
Samuel  T.  Boynton 

1804.  Randall  McDonald 
James  Mcintosh 
Samuel  T.  Boynton 

1805.  James  Parker,  Sr. 
Benjamin  Shattuck,  Sr. 
George  Daniels 

1806.  James  Parker,  Sr. 
Benjamin  Shattuck,  Sr. 
George  Daniels 


1807.  James  Parker,  Sr. 
George  Daniels 
Colburn  Green 

1808.  James  Parker,  Sr. 
George  Daniels 
Colburn  Green 

1809.  James  Parker,  Sr. 
George  Daniels 
Colburn  Green 

1810.  George  Daniels 
John  Daniels 
Thomas  Bennett 

1811.  George  Daniels 
John  Daniels 
Thomas  Bennett 

1812.  George  Daniels 
Thomas  Bennett 
John  Daniels 

1813.  George  Daniels 
Thomas  Bennett 
John  Daniels 

1814.  George  Daniels 
Ensign  Bailey 
Mathew  Wallace 

1815.  John  Daniels 
Benjamin  Shattuck 
Colburn  Green 

1816.  John  Daniels 
Benjamin  Shattuck 
Colburn  Green 

1817.  John  Daniels 
Benjamin  Shattuck 
Colburn  Green 

1818.  John  Daniels 
Benjamin  Shattuck 
Thomas  Bennett 

1819.  John  Daniels 
Thomas  Bennett 
Colburn  Green 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


427 


1820.  John  Daniels 
Thomas  Bennett 
Mathew  Wallace 

1821.  Thomas  Bennett 
George  Daniels 
James  Parker,  Sr. 

1822.  George  Daniels 
James  Parker,  Sr. 
Thomas  Bennett 

1823.  James  Parker,  Sr. 
Samuel  T.  Boynton 
William  S.  Crosby 

1824.  James  Parker,  Sr. 
George  Daniels 
Ensign  Bailey 

1825.  Thomas  Bennett 
Samuel  T.  Boyntou 
Ensign  Bailey 

1826.  Thomas  Bennett 
Ensign  Bailey 
George  Daniels 

1827.  William  S.  Crosby 
Samuel  T.  Boynton 
James  Parker,  Sr. 

1828.  William  S.  Crosby 
Thomas  Bennett 
David  Daniels 

1829.  Thomas  Bennett 
William  S.  Crosby 
James  Parker,  Jr. 

1830.  James  Parker,  Jr. 
David  Daniels 
William  S.  Crosby 

1831.  James  Parker,  Jr. 
David  Daniels 
William  S.  Crosby 

1832.  William  S.  Crosby 
Eli  Parker 
Reuben  Baldwin 


1833.  Reuben  Baldwin 
Horace  Warner 
George  Daniels 

1834.  George  Daniels 
Horace  Warner 
Isaac  Sawtelle 

1835.  Isaac  Sawtelle 
John  Smith 
James  Parker,  Jr. 

1836.  James  Parker,  Jr. 
John  Smith 
Isaac  Sawtelle 

1837.  Isaac  Sawtelle 
Horace  Warner 
Nathaniel  Shattuck 

1838.  Isaac  Sawtelle 
John  Smith 
Samuel  Farnsworth 

1839.  Isaac  Sawtelle 
John  Smith 
Samuel  Farnsworth 

1840.  George  Daniels 
Samuel  Farnsworth 
Nathaniel  Shattuck 

1841.  George  Daniels 
Samuel  Farnsworth 
Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Jr. 

1842.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Jr. 
Alonzo  Bailey 

Abel  Foster 

1843.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Jr. 
Abel  Foster 

Alonzo  Bailey 

1844.  Alonzo  Bailey 
Abel  Foster 
Isaac  Sawtelle 

1845.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,   Jr. 
Wilkes  W.  Corey 
Andrew  Rockwood 


428 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


1846.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,   Jr. 
Wilkes  W.  Corey 
Henry  B.  Stiles 

1847.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,   Jr. 
Wilkes  W.  Corey 
Reuben  Baldwin 

1848.  Nathaniel  Shattuck,   Jr. 
Reuben  Baldwin 
Alpheus  Shattuck 

1849.  Alonzo  Bailey 
Henry  B.  Stiles 
David  Hobart 

1850.  Henry  B.  Stiles 
David  Hobart 
Nathaniel  W.  Lund 

1851.  Henry  B.  Stiles 
Isaac  Sawtelle 
Joseph  Smith 

1852.  Isaac  Sawtelle 
Philemon  French 
Abel  Foster 

1853.  Henry  B.  Stiles 
Franklin  McDonald 
John  Q.  A.  Hutchingson 

1854.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 
Joseph  Sawtelle 
Philemon  French 

1855.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 
Joseph  Sawtelle 
Philemon  French 

1856.  Alonzo  Bailey 
George  Brooks 
James  Clinton  Parker 

1857.  Alonzo  Bailey 
James  Clinton  Parker 
Abel  Foster 

1858.  Henry  B.  Stiles 
Nathaniel  W.  Lund 
William  J.  Smith 


1859.  Alpheus  Shattuck 
David  Hobart 
Wilkes  W.  Corey 

1860.  Benjamin  Gould 
Joseph  A.  Hall 
Jonathan  C.  Shattuck 

1861.  Benjamin  Gould 
Jonathan  C.  Shattuck 
Joseph  A.  Hall 

1862.  Wilkes  W.  Corey 
Calvin  Shedd 
David  Hobart 

1863.  Wilkes  W.  Corey 
David  Hobart 
George  Brooks 

1864.  Joseph  A.  Hall 
John  S.  Daniels 
James  Clinton  Parker 

1865.  Joseph  A.  Hall 
Joseph  W.  Peterson 
Stephen  S.  Mixer 

1866.  Wilkes  W.  Corey 
Fernando  Bailey 
Henry  K.  Kemp 

1867.  Henry  B.  Stiles 
James  Clinton  Parker 
Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1868.  James  Clinton  Parker 
Philemon  French 
Rufus  G.  Russell 

1869.  James  Clinton  Parker 
Philemon  French 
Rufus  G.  Russell 

1870.  David  S.  Fessenden 
Orman  F.  Shattuck 
Amos  A.  Gould 

1871.  Henry  B.  Stiles 
Benjamin  Kendall 
Amos  A.  Gould 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


429 


1872.  Henry  B.  Stiles 
David  S.  Fessenden 
Ira  Daniels 

1873.  Henry  B.  Stiles 
Ira  Daniels 
Edward  T.  Hall 

1874.  David  S.  Fessenden 
Perley  A.  Smith 
Martin  A.  Rockwood 

1875.  David  S.  Fessenden 
Henry  B.  Stiles 
Martin  A.  Rockwood 

1876.  Martin  A.  Rockwood 
Joseph  A.  Hall 
Samuel  Swett 

1877.  David  S.  Fessenden 
Samuel  Swett 
William  Wallace 

1878.  Henry  B.  Stiles 
Nathaniel  B.  Hutchingson 
Charles  B.  Powers 

1879.  Henry  B.  Stiles 
Nathaniel  B.  Hutchingson 
Jefferson  Whitcomb 

1880.  Jefferson  Whitcomb 
Charles  N.  Corey 
Charles  W.  Currier 

1881.  Charles  N.  Corey 
Rufus  G.  Russell 
Charles  S.  Dunbar 

1882.  Rufus  G.  Russell 
Charles  S.  Dunbar 
David  D.  Rockwood 

1883.  Charles  S.  Dunbar 
David  D.  Rockwood 
Albert  W.  Corey 

1884.  David  D.  Rockwood 
Albert  W.  Corey 
Ichabod  F.  Lund 


1885.  Albert  W.  Corey 
Ichabod  F.  Lund 
George  H.  Nye 

1886.  Charles  N.  Corey 
Onslow  Daniels 
Walter  F.  Rockwood 

1887.  Charles  N.  Corey 
Onslow  Daniels 
Walter  F.  Rockwood 

1888.  Onslow  Daniels 
Walter  F.  Rockwood 
Joseph  B.  Swett 

1889.  Walter  F.  Rockwood 
Joseph  B.  Swett 
Albert  W.  Corey 

1890.  Ira  Daniels 
Alpha  A.  Hall 
Clarence  R.  Russell 

1891.  Charles  N.  Corey 
James  H.  S.  Tucker 
Samuel  Swett 

1892.  Charles  N.  Corey 
George  H.  Nye 
John  B.  Hardy 

1893.  David  S.  Fessenden 
Alpha  A.  Hall 
Martin  A.  Rockwood 

1894.  Alpha  A.  Hall 
David  D.  Rockwood 
Linville  M.  Shattuck 

1895.  Albert  W.  Corey 
Linville  M.  Shattuck 
Ira  Daniels 

1896.  Albert  W.  Corey 
Linville  M.  Shattuck 
Ira  Daniels 

1897.  Albert  W.  Corey 
Ira  Daniels 
Eddy  S.  Whitcomb 


430 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 


1898.  Albert  W.  Corey 
Eddy  S.  Whitcomb 
Ozro  W.  Hodgman 

1899.  Albert  W.  Corey 
Eddy  S.  Whitcomb 
Ozro  W.  Hodgman 

1900.  David  S.  Fessenden 
Elbert  L.  Baldwin 
Charles  W.  Currier 

1901.  Alpha  A.  Hall 
Charles  W.  Currier 
Albert  W.  Corey 

1902.  Alpha  A.  Hall 
Edward  C.  Tucker 
Albert  W.  Corey 

1903.  Alpha  A.  Hall 
Edward  C.  Tucker 
Payson  Burge 

1905.  Alpha  A.  Hall 
Clarence  R.  Russell 
Samuel  Swett 

1906.  Clarence  R.  Russell 
Samuel  Swett 
Eddv  S.  Whitcomb 


1907.  Samuel  Swett 
Eddy  S.  Whitcomb 
Harry  Marshall 

1908.  Samuel  Swett 
Harry  Marshall 
Fred  E  Rockwood 

1909.  Harry  Marshall 
George  L.  Dodge 
David  S.  Fessenden 

1910.  George  L.  Dodge 
David  S.  Fessenden 
Harry  Marshall 

1911.  Harry  Marshall 
David  S.  Fessenden 
George  L.  Dodge 

1912.  George  L.  Dodge 
David  S.  Fessenden 
Llewellyn  S.  Powers 

1913.  David  S.  Fessenden 
Harry  Marshall 
Payson  Burge 

1914.  Harry  Marshall 
Payson  Burge 
George  H.  Nye 


Representatives. 


1775-1914. 


1775. 
1776. 
1777. 

1778. 
1779. 
1780. 
1781. 
1782. 
1783. 
1784. 
1785. 


Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 


Mason 
Mason 
Mason 
Mason 
Mason 
Mason 
Mason 
Mason 
Mason 
Mason 
Mason 


Dea.  Amos  Dakin  of  Mason 
Dea.  Amos  Dakin  of  Mason 
Dea.  Amos.  Dakin  of  Mason 
Dea.  Amos  Dakin  of  Mason 
Dea.  Amos  Dakin  of  Mason 
Joseph  Barrett  of  Mason 
Benjamin  Mann  of  Mason 
Benjamin  Mann  of  Mason 
Benjamin  Mann  of  Mason 
Samuel  Douglass  of  Raby 
Samuel  Douglas  of  Raby 


HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


431 


1786. 
1787. 
1788. 
1789. 
1790. 
1791. 
1792. 
1793. 
1794. 
1795. 
1796. 
1797. 
1798. 
1799. 
1800. 
1801. 


Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Raby  and 
Brookline 
Brookline 
Brookline 
Brookline 


Mason 

Mason 

Mason 

Mason 

Mason 

Mason 

Mason 

Mason 

Milford 

Milford 

Milford 

Milford 

and  Milford 

and  Milford 

and  Milford 

and  Milford 


Benjamin  Mann  of  Mason 
Dea.  Amos  Dakin  of  Mason 
Obadiah  Parker  of  Mason 
James  Campbell  of  Raby 
Obadiah  Parker  of  Mason 
Charles  Barrett  of  Mason 
Obadiah  Parker  of  Mason 
Joseph  Merriam  of  Mason 

No.  record 
William  Peabody  of  Milford 
Benjamin  Farley  of  Raby 
Augustus  Blanchard  of  Milford 
Benjamin  Farley  of  Brookline 
Augustus  Blanchard  of  Milford 
William  Peabody  of  Milford 
William  Peabody  of  Milford 


In  1902,  By  Act  of  the  Legislature,  Brookline,  in  the  matter  of  repre- 
sentation, was  for  the  first  time  classed  by  itself. 


1802.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1803.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1804.  Randall  McDonald 

1805.  Samuel  T.  Boynton 

1806.  Samuel  T.  Boynton 

1807.  Samuel  T.  Boynton 

1808.  Samuel  T.  Boynton 

1809.  Samuel  T.  Boynton 

1810.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1811.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1812.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1813.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1814.  James  Parker,  Sr. 

1815.  Samuel  T.  Boynton 

1816.  Benjamin  Sbattuck,  Sr. 

1817.  Benjamin  Shattuck,  Sr. 

1818.  Benjamin  Shattuck,  Sr. 

1819.  George  Daniels 

1820.  George  Daniels 

1821.  Thomas  Bennett 


1822.  Thomas  Bennett 

1823.  George  Daniels 

1824.  George  Daniels 

1825.  George  Daniels 

1826.  Voted  not  to  send. 

1827.  Voted  not  to  send. 

1828.  Thomas  Bennett 

1829.  William  S.  Crosby 

1830.  William  S.  Crosby 

1831.  David  Harris 

1832.  David  Harris 

1833.  David  Harris 

1834.  Reuben  Baldwin 

1835.  Horace  Warner 

1836.  Ensign  Bailey 

1837.  James  Parker,  Jr. 

1838.  James  Parker,  Jr. 

1839.  James  Parker,  Jr. 

1840.  Ensign  Bailey 

1841.  Ensign  Bailey 


432 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


1842.  James  Parker,  Jr. 

1843.  Alpheus  Shattuck 

1844.  Alpheus  Shattuck 

1845.  Alpheus  Shattuck 

1846.  Ithimar  B.  Sawtelle 

1847.  Ithimar  B.  Sawtelle 

1848.  Ithimar  B.  Sawtelle 

1849.  Alpheus  Shattuck 

1850.  James  N.  Tucker 

1851.  James  N.  Tucker 

1852.  Benjamin  Gould 

1853.  Nathaniel  Shattuck 

1854.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1855.  Henry  B.  Stiles 

1856.  Voted  not  to  send. 

1857.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1858.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1859.  Nathaniel  W.  Lund 

1860.  Francis  A.  Peterson 

1861.  Francis  A.  Peterson 

1862.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1863.  Joseph  C.  Tucker 

1864.  William  J.  Smith 

1865.  William  J.  Smith 

1866.  Alpheus  Shattuck 

1867.  Joseph  A.  Hall 

1868.  Joseph  A.  Hall 

1869.  James  W.  Hall 

1870.  James  W.  Hall 

1871.  James  Clinton  Parker 

1872.  James  Clinton  Parker 

1873.  Joseph  Sawtelle 

1874.  David  S.  Fessenden 

1875.  David  S.  Fessenden 

1876.  Franklin  McDonald 

1877.  Franklin  McDonald 

1878.  Rufus  G.  Russell 


1879.  Rufus  G.  Russell 

1880.  Rufus  G.  Russell 

1881.  Edward  T.  Hall 

1882.  Edward  T.  Hall 

1883.  Charles  E.  Shattuck 

1884.  Charles  E.  Shattuck 

1885.  Samuel  Swett 

1886.  Samuel  Swett 

1887.  James  H.  S.  Tucker 

1888.  James  H.  S.  Tucker 

1889.  Charles  N.  Corey 

1890.  Charles  N.  Corey 

1891.  Walter  F.  Rockwood 

1892.  Walter  F.  Rockwood 

1893.  Willie  A.  Hobart 

1894.  Willie  A.  Hobart 

1895.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1896.  Alpha  A.  Hall 

1897.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1898.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1899.  Frank  L.  Willoby 

1900.  Frank  L.  Willoby 

1901.  Charles  W.  Smith 

1902.  Charles  W.  Smith 

1903.  Linville  M.  Shattuck 

1904.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1905.  Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1906.  Elmer  W.  Wallace 

1907.  Elmer  W.  Wallace 

1908.  Herbert  S.  Corey 

1909.  Herbert  S.  Corey 

1910.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1911.  Edward  C.  Tucker 

1912.  Willie  C.  Hobart 

1913.  Willie  C.  Hobart 
1914. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  433 

Delegates  to  Constitutional  Conventions. 

1852.     Isaac  Sawtelle  1902.     Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1876.    Joseph  A.  Hall  1912.     Orville  D.  Fessenden 

1888.     David  S.  Fessenden 


434 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


Votes  for  Governor,  1786  to  1912,  Inclusive. 

The  chief  magistrate  of  the  State  held  the  title  of  President  and  was  elected 
by  the  people,  as  the  Governor  now  is,  up  to  the  date  of  the  adop- 
tion of  the  present  Constitution,  September  5,  1792;  when  the  name 
of  the  title  was  changed  from  "PRESIDENT"  to  Governor. 


Votes  for  State  President  from  1786  to  1792,  Inclusive. 


1786. 
1787. 
1788. 
1789. 


1793. 
1794. 
1795. 
1796. 
1797. 
1798. 
1799. 
1800. 
1801. 
1802. 
1803. 
1804. 
1805. 

1806. 
1807. 
1808. 
1809. 


John  Langdon 

John  Langdon,  25 ;  all  cast.  1790. 

John  Langdon,  30;  all  cast  1791, 

John  Pickering,  22;  all  cast.  1792, 


John  Pickering,  21;  all  cast. 
Josiah  Bartlett,  26;  all  cast. 
Josiah  Bartlett,       ;  all  cast. 


Votes  for  Governor  from  1793  to  1912,  Inclusive. 


John  Langdon,  38;  all  cast. 
John  T.  Gilman,  38;  all  cast. 
John  T.  Gilman,  47 ;  all  cast. 
John  T.  Gilman,  47 ;  all  cast. 
John  T.  Gilman,  38;  all  cast. 
John  T.  Gilman,  38;  all  cast. 
John  T.  Gilman,  32;  all  cast. 
John  T.  Gilman,  32;  all  cast. 
John  T.  Gilman,  40;  all  cast. 

No  record. 
John  T.  Gilman,  47;  all  cast. 
John  T.  Gilman,  51 ;  all  cast. 
John  Langdon,     51 ; 
John  T.  Gilman,   4; 
John  Langdon,     48 ; 
John  Langdon,    43; 

No  record. 
John  Langdon, 
Jeremiah  Smith, 


all  cast, 
all  cast. 

51. 
11. 


1810.  John  Langdon, 
Jeremiah  Smith, 

1811.  John  Langdon, 
Jeremiah  Smith 

1812.  William  Plumer, 
John  T.  Gilman, 

1813.  William  Plumer, 
John  T.  Gilman, 

1814.  John  T.  Gilman, 
William  Plumer, 

1815.  William  Plumer, 
John  T.  Gilman, 

1816.  William  Plumer, 
James  Sheafe, 

1817.  William  Plumer, 
James  Sheafe, 

1818.  William  Plumer, 
William  Hale, 


56. 

6. 

57. 

10. 

56. 
6. 

82. 
11. 

16. 
81. 

82. 
16. 

55. 
18. 
52. 
18. 
59. 
17. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


435 


1819. 

Samuel  Bell, 

75. 

William  Hale, 

16. 

1820. 

Samuel  Bell, 

67. 

Richard  H.  Ayer, 

34. 

1821. 

Samuel  Bell, 

55. 

1822. 

Samuel  Bell, 

57. 

Joseph  Hall, 

1. 

1823. 

Samuel  Dinsmore, 

26. 

Levi  Woodbury, 

58. 

1824. 

David  L.  Morrill, 

62. 

Levi  Woodbury, 

20. 

1825. 

David  L.  Morrill, 

74. 

William  S.  Crosby, 

3. 

Ebenezer  Lund, 

1. 

1826. 

David  L.  Morrill, 

60. 

Benjamin  Pierce, 

20. 

1827. 

Benjamin  Pierce, 

42. 

David  L.  Morrill, 

23. 

1828. 

John  Bell, 

100. 

Benjamin  Pierce, 

21. 

1829. 

John  Bell, 

92. 

Benjamin  Pierce, 

26. 

1830. 

Timothy  Upham, 

79. 

Matthew  Harvey, 

24. 

William  Hall,  Jr. 

1. 

1831. 

Ichabod  Bartlett, 

60. 

Samuel  Dinsmore, 

29. 

William  Hall,  Jr. 

1. 

1832. 

Samuel  Dinsmore, 

47. 

Ichabod  Bartlett, 

34. 

1833. 

Samuel  Dinsmore, 

50. 

1834. 

William  Badger, 

67. 

Nathaniel  W.  Colburn, 

1. 

1835. 

William  Badger, 

50. 

Joseph  Healey, 

39. 

1836. 

Isaac  Hill, 

49. 

Abel  Shattuck, 

1. 

1837. 

Isaac  Hill, 

54. 

1838. 

Isaac  Hill, 

49. 

James  Wilson,  Jr. 

83. 

1839.  James  Wilson,  Jr.  67. 
John  Page,  53. 

1840.  John  Page,  62. 
Enos  Stevens,  59. 

1841.  John  Page,  76. 
Enos  Stevens,  74. 

1842.  Henry  Hubbard,  73. 
Enos  Stevens,  52. 

1843.  Henry  Hubbard,  72. 
Daniel  Hoit,  31. 
Anthony  Colby,  25. 
John  H.  White,  12. 

1844.  John  H.  Steele,  79. 
Anthony  Colby,  38. 

1845.  John  H.  Steele,  74. 
Anthony  Colby,  43. 

1846.  Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  13. 
Anthony  Colby  59. 

1847.  Jared  W.  Williams,  79. 
Anthony  Colby,  32. 
Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  9. 

1848.  Jared  W.  Williams,  93. 
Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  74. 
George  Y.  Sawyer,  1. 

1849.  Samuel  Dinsmore,  89. 
Levi  Chamberlain,  67. 
Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  4. 

1850.  Samuel  Dinsmore,  86. 
Levi  Chamberlain,  73. 
Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  5. 

1851.  Samuel  Dinsmore,  87. 
Thomas  E.  Sawyer,  81. 
John  Atwood,  5. 

1852.  Thomas  E.  Sawyer,  93. 
Noah  Martin,  81. 
John  Atwood,  5. 

1853.  James  Bell,  74. 
Noah  Martin,  88. 
John  H.  White,  9. 


436 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


1854.  James  Bell, 
Nathaniel  S.  Baker, 
Jared  Perkins, 

1855.  Ralph  Metcalf, 
Nathaniel  S.  Baker, 
James  Bell, 

1856.  Ralph  Metealf, 
John  S.  Wells, 
Ichabod  Goodwin, 

1857.  William  Haile, 
John  S.  Wells, 
Charles  B.  Hadlock, 

1858.  William  Haile, 
Asa  P.  Cate, 

1859.  Ichabod  Goodwin, 
Asa  P.  Cate, 

1860.  Ichabod  Goodwin, 
Asa  P.  Cate, 

1861.  Nathaniel  S.  Berry. 
George  Stark, 

1862.  George  Stark, 
Nathaniel  S.  Berry, 
Paul  J.  Wheeler, 

1863.  Ira  A.  Eastman, 
Joseph  A.  Gilmore, 
Walter  A.  Harriman, 

1864.  Joseph  A.  Gilmore, 
Edward  W.  Harrington,  80. 

1865.  Frederick  Smyth,  105. 
Edward  W.  Harrington,  80. 

1866.  Frederick  Smyth,  101. 
John  G.  Sinclair,  102. 

1867.  Walter  Harriman,  108. 
John  G.  Sinclair,  109. 

1868.  Walter  Harriman,  115. 
John  G.  vSinclair,  106. 

1869.  Onslow  Stearns,  115. 
John  Bedel,  87. 


82. 

1870. 

86. 

5. 

81. 

1871. 

79. 

9. 

1872. 

82. 

80. 

1873. 

7. 

94. 

1874. 

81. 

1. 

1875. 

91. 

83, 

1876. 

85. 

108. 

1877. 

100. 
95. 

1878. 

105, 
74. 

1879. 

84. 

79. 
6. 

1880. 

92. 

87. 

1882. 

10. 
101. 

1884. 

1886. 


1888. 


1890. 


Onslow  Stearns,  100. 

John  Bedel,  71. 

Lorenzo  Burrows,  3. 

James  Pike,  108. 

James  A.  Weston,  81. 

Ezekiel  Straw,  113. 

James  A.  Weston,  85. 

Ezekiel  Straw,  102. 

James  A.  Weston,  81. 

James  A.  Weston,  91. 

Luther  McCutchings  89. 

Person  C.  Cheney,  107. 

Hiram  A.  Roberts,  105. 

Person  C.  Cheney,  110. 

Daniel  Marcey,  117. 

Daniel  Marcey,  118. 

Benjamin  F.  Prescott,  107. 

Benjamin  F.  Prescott,  115. 

Frank  A.  McKean,  104. 

Natt  Head,  118. 

Frank  A.  McKean,  85. 

Warren  G.  Brown,  15. 

Charles  H.  Bell,  113. 

Frank  Jones  105. 

Samuel  W.  Hale,  89. 

Martin  V.  B.  Edgerly,  98. 

John  M.  Hill,  86. 

Moody  Currier,  76. 

Larkin  D.  Mason,  4. 

George  Carpenter,  2. 

Thomas  Cogswell,  79. 

Charles  H.  Sawyer,  64. 

Joseph  Wentworth,  21. 

Charles  H.  Amsden,  84. 

David  H.  Goodale,  68. 

Edgar  L.  Carr,  3. 

Charles  H.  Amsden,  80. 

Hiram  A.  Tuttle,  56. 

Josiah  M.  Fletcher,  1. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


437 


1892.     William  O.  Noyes,  1. 

Luther  McKinney,  86. 

John  B.  Smith,  68. 

1894.     Daniel  C.  Knowles,  3. 

Henry  O.  Kent,  72. 

Charles  A.  Busiel,  108. 

1896.     George  A.  Ramsdell,  79. 

Henry  O.  Kent,  55. 

George  W.  Barnard,  1. 

1898.     Frank  W.  Rollins,  78. 

Charles  F.  Stone,  71. 

Augustus  F.  Stevens,  1. 

1900.     Chester  B.  Jordan,  85. 

Frederick  E.  Potter,  72. 

Harris  Towle,  1. 

1902.     Henry  F.  Hollis,  73. 

John  McLane,  69. 

David  Heald,  1. 


1904.     Daniel  Heald,  1. 

John  McLane,  69. 

Henry  F.  Hollis  73. 

1906.     Nathan  C.  Jameson,  82. 

Charles  M.  Floyd,  43. 

Edward  B.  Tetley,  2. 

1908.     Edward  B.  Tetley,  1. 

Walter  L.  Lewis,  2. 

Clarence  E.  Carr,  59. 

Henry  B.  Quimby,  63. 

1910.     Asa  W.  Drew,  1. 

Clarence  E.  Carr,  48. 

Robert  P.  Bass,  56. 

1912.     Alvah  H.  Morrill,  1. 

William  H.  Wilkins,  1. 

Winston  Churchill,  6. 

Franklin  Worcester,  56. 

Samuel  D.  Felker,  48. 


438  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Marriages. 

1743—1914. 

Marriages  by  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson  in  Groton,  and  Pepperell,  Mass.,  of 
Heads  of  Families  which  were  Among  the  Early  Settlers  in  Brook- 
line. 

In  Groton. 

1731.  Jan.  6,  William  Spaulding,  Hepsibah  Blood. 

1733.  Jan.  23,  Ebenezer  Gilson,  Anna  Searl. 

1733.  Feb.  28,  William  Blanchard,  Dunstable,  Deliverence  Parker. 

1735.  Jan.  6,  John  Cummings,  Sarah  Lawrence,  Littleton,  Mass. 

1738.  Mar.  6,  Robert  Campbell,  Roxbury,  Mass.,  Elizabeth  McDaniels. 

1741.  Oct.  6,  Daniel  Shed,  Mary  Tarbell. 

1741.  Jan.  19,  Thomas  Tarbell,  Jr.,  Esther  Smith 

1750.  Date  lost,  Samuel  Gilson,  Elizabeth  Shed. 

1752.  Jan.  22,  Benjamin  Brooks,  Jr.,Townsend,  Mass.,  Elizabeth  Green. 

1754.  Jan.  15,  David  Gilson,  Annis  Gilson,  of  Pepperell. 

1755.  Mar.  26,  Capt.  Ephraim  Sartell,  Wid.  Hannah  Stone,  Pepperell. 
1757.  Dec.  22,  Ephraim  Sartell,  Abigail  Stone. 

1762.  Sept.  30,  Capt.  Ephraim  Sawtelle,  Mrs.  Hannah  Parker. 

1763.  Dec.  8,  Benjamin  Shattuck,  Abigail  Farnsworth. 
1765.  April  16,  William  Green,  Pepperell,  Hannah  Woods. 
1765.  Sept.  25,  Sampson  Farnsworth,  Rachel  Shattuck. 
1765.  Sept.  26,  William  Shed,  Lydia  Farnsworth. 

1768.     Dec.  1,  Thomas  Gregg,  Eunice  Lakin. 
1770.     Dec.  27,  Nathan  Corey,  Molly  Green. 

In  Pepperell. 

1747.     May  14,  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Hannah  Simonds. 
1752.     Feb.  20,  Samuel  Gilson,  Elizabeth  Shed. 
1757.     April  28,  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Ruth  Shattuck. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  439 

1757.     Nov.  23,  Daniel  Shed,  Hannah  Lakin. 
1761.     Jan.  15,  Isaac  Shattuck,  Hannah  Hall. 

1770.  Feb.  15,  Joseph  Leslie,  of  Hollis,  Mary  Gilson. 

1772.  Jan.  21,  Abijah  Parker,  Sarah  Lawrence. 

Marriages   in   Dunstable    (Nashua)    of  Parties   Afterwards   Residing  in 

Brookline. 

1743.  Feb.  7,  Elias  Dickey,  Rose  McDaniels. 

1744.  Oct.  9,  Samuel  Farley,  Hannah  Brown. 

Marriages  of  Residents  of  Brookline  from  1743  to  1785,  as  Found  in  Hollis 

Town  Records. 

1755.  May  6,  Mathew  Wallace,  Jean  Leslie. 

1757.  July  11,  Joshua  Smith,  Hannah  Baldwin,  of  Townsend,  Mass. 

1761.  Dec.  24,  David  Wright,  of  Pepperell,  Prudence  Cummings  of  Hollis. 

1766.  Nov.  27,  Swallow  Tucker,  Lucretia  Carter,  of  Hollis. 

1767.  Feb.  26,  Isaac  Stearns,  Rebekah  Jewett. 

1768.  Nov.  15,  Benjamin  Shattuck,  Jr.,  Mary  Proctor,  Hollis. 

1771.  Jan.  2,  Isaac  Stevens,  Elizabeth  Johnson. 

1773.  Dec.  30,  Christopher  Farley,  Ruth  Jewett. 

1774.  Jan.  13,  Jonas  Leslie,  Elizabeth  Dow. 

1777.  Feb.  20,  Ebenezer  Melvin,  Cockemouth,  Janna  Bayley. 

1779.  Mar.  17,  Jonathan  Dix,  Miriam  Kneeland  of  Harvard. 

1782.  Feb.  13,  John  Connie,  Abigail  Hartshorn,  Dunstable. 

1783.  May  7,  Lt.  Samuel  Farley,  Elizabeth  Powers  of  Mason. 

1784.  May  20,  Nathaniel  Patten,  Mehitabel  Blood. 

In  the  Hollis  Marriage  Records. 

1785.  June  30,  Capt.  Samuel  Douglass,  Wid.  Tabitha  Fletcher  of  Hollis. 
1788.     Dec.  2,  Thomas  Kemp,  Hollis,  Wid.  Hannah  Shattuck,  Raby. 
1791.     April  28,  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  Jr.,  Hannah  Keyes. 

1794.  Feb.  27,  William  Merrill,  Hollis,  Dolly  Smith,  Raby. 

1796.  Feb.  10,  David  Burge,  Betsey  Mcintosh. 

1806.  Dec.  18,  Isaac  Senter,  Brookline,  Sally  Ball,  Hollis. 

1809.  Sept.  28,  Jonas  French,  Jr.  Dunstable,  Martha  Jewett,  Hollis. 

1814.  Dec.  27,  Samuel  Smith,  Brookline,  Sally  Dow,  Hollis. 

1838.  Mar.  19,  Eri  McDaniels,  Brookline,  Ann  Farley,  Hollis. 


440  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

1847.  Dec.    31,    Simeon   A.   Spaulding,    Hollis,    Catharine   P.    Sawtelle, 

Brookline. 

1858.  April  8,  James  T.  Willoby,  Hollis,  Cornelia  T.  Pierce,  Brookline. 

1877.  Nov.  14,  George  A.  Newton,  Hollis,  Mary  L.  Swett,  Brookline. 

Marriages  of  Brookline  People  in  Mason. 
By  Rev.  Jonathan  Searle. 

1772.  Dec.  9,  Randall  McDaniels,  Martha  Russell. 

By  Rev.  William  Eliott. 

1820.  Nov.  20,  Moody  Lancey,  Charlotte  Kemp. 

By  Rev.  Ebenezer  Hill. 

1790.  Nov.  4,  John  Seaver,  Esther  Russell. 

1790.  Nov.  17,  Josiah  Elliott,  Mason,  Polly  Wetherbee. 

1790.  Dec.  21,  John  Russell,  Leafee  Lawrence. 

1790.  Dec.  29,  Samuel  Farnsworth,  Azubah  Badger. 

1792.  Jan.  23,  Samuel  Russell,  Susannah  Campbell. 

1792.  Jan.  23,  Jonas  Campbell,  Elizabeth  Russell. 

1792.  Jan.  26,  Samuel  Douglass,  Jr.,  Mile  Slip,  Sarah  Seaver. 

1793.  May  2,  Stephen  Hall,  Submit  Shattuck. 
1793.  May  22,  Amos  Crotch,  Boxboro,  Lydia  Brown. 
1795.  April  16,  Ebenezer  Emery,  Jr.,  Abigail  Shattuck. 

1795.  Oct.  17,  Moody  Shattuck,  Elizabeth  Tarbell,  Pepperell,  Mass. 

1796.  Aug.  24,  Jacob  Austin,  Isabell  Mcintosh. 

1796.  Nov.  24,  Clark  Brown,  Mrs.  Sarah  Withee,  Mason. 

1805.  March  5,  Benjamin  Cummings,  Lucy  Whitaker,  Mason. 

1817.  Nov.  28,  David  Hobart,  Eunice  Wright. 

1821.  May  8,  Loami  Chamberlain,  Mason,  Eliza  Tucker. 
1824.  April  30,  Sampson  Mcintosh,  Eliza  Amsden,  Mason. 
1826.  Jan.  26,  James  Parker,  Deverd  Corey. 

1826.  March  30,  George  Betterly,  Hannah  Lee. 

1826.  Sept.  25,  Luke  George  .Harriet  H.  Howet. 

1831.  Nov.  6,  Davis  Green,  Brewer,  Me.,  Sophia  Daniels. 

1832.  March  11,  Hutchingson  Rogers,  Billerica,  Mass.,  Keziah  Colburn. 
1832.  March  22,  Nelson  Marsh,  Ashby,  Mass.,  Thirza  Mcintosh. 
1834.  March  5,  Mcintosh,  Betsey  Wright. 

1837.  Oct.       ,  David  Wallace,  Sarah  Ann  Smith. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN    OF   BROOKLINE  441 

Marriages  of  Brookline  People  in  Townsend,  Mass. 
By  Rev.  Samuel  Dix. 

1763.  Jan.  8,  Alexander  Mcintosh,  Mile  Slip,  Mary  Walker,  Pepperell. 

Mass. 

1764.  May  29,  Samuel  Douglass,  Slip  Town,  Mary  Conant,  Townsend, 

Mass. 

1777.  June  24,  Phineas  Astin,  Elizabeth  Spaulding. 

1778.  May  7,  Daniel  Spaulding,  Townsend,  Rebeekah  Osgood. 

1781.  Feb.  22,  Josiah  Seward,  Sarah  Osgood. 

1782.  March  7,  George  Woodward,  Jane  Wallace. 

1782.  Aug.  12,  Jacob  Wetherbee,  Mason,  Grace  Patten. 

1783.  May  1,  John  Wright,  Mason,  Hannah  Russell. 
1790.     May  21,  James  Searle,  Townsend,  Sally  Patten. 

,  Abel  Green,  Hannah  Farrer,  Townsend. 
1792.     Sept.  11,  Samuel  Hodgman,  Phene  Lawrence,  Townsend. 
1792.     Oct.  10,  David  Lawrence,  Townsend,  Kesia  Williams. 
1794.     Jan.  30,  John  Colburn,  Townsend,  Kesia  Campbell. 

From  Church  Records,  Townsend,  Mass. 

1801.  March  15,  John  Williams,  Lucy  Foster,  Townsend. 

1803.  Sept.  12,  Isaac  Sanders,  Hannah  Sanders. 

1813.  April  22,  Jeptha  Wright,  Polly  Hosley. 

1814.  June,  9  Phinehas  Austin,  Ruth  Baldwin,  Townsend. 
1819.  Dec.  19,  Joseph  Simonds,  Brookline,  Betsey  Tarbell. 
1821.  Feb.  15,  James  Lancey,  Azubah  Shattuck. 

1826.  Sept.  3,  Colburn  Green,  Sarah  Colson. 

1826.  Oct.  26,  Phillip  Farnsworth,  Jr.,  Abigail  Dix. 

1827.  May  29,  Lancey,  Going,  Lunenburg,  Mass. 
1830.  March  4,  Asa  Mars,  Sally  Foster. 

From  Brookline  Town  Records. 

1778.  May  6,  Swallow  Tucker  and  Anna  Sanders. 

1778.  March  19,  Archibald  Mcintosh  and  Susanna  Russell. 

1779.  Oct.  28,  Elias  Dickey  and  Jenny  Ferson. 

1780.  Feb.  10,  Eleazer  Gilson,  and  Hannah  Shattuck.. 

1781.  Feb.  22,  Josiah  Seward  and  Sarah  Osgood. 


442  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

1781.  June  12,  Samuel  Nutting  and  Molly  Russell. 

1782.  Feb.  12,  Andrew  Russell  and  Rebecca  Nutting. 
1782.  Feb.  13,  John  Connick  and  Abigail  Hartshorn. 
1786.  Nov.  16,  John  Wallace  and  Sarah  Pett. 

1788.  Mar.  11,  Ebenezer  Astin  and  Mary  Tucker. 

1782.  Mar.  27,  Thomas  Asten  and  Ruth  Russell. 

1788.  Sept.  4,  Isaac  Sanders  and  Mrs.  Hannah  Woodward. 

1789.  Jan.  6,  William  Hall  and  Mary  Mcintosh. 
1789  March  24,  Abijah  Parker  and  Eleanor  Seaver. 

1790.  Nov.  25,  Joseph  Douglass  and  Amy  Smith. 

1790.  Dec.  21,  John  Russell  and  Lefe  Lawrence,  of  Mason. 

1791.  Dec.  29,  Samuel  Farnsworth  and  Azubah  Badger,  M.  S. 

1792.  Jan.  23,  Samuel  Russell  and  Susanna  Campbell  of  Mason. 
1792.  Jan.  23;  Jonas  Campbell  and  Elizabeth  Russell. 

1792.  Jan.  26,  Samuel  Douglass,  Jr.,  and  Sarah  Seaver. 

1793.  May  2,  Stephen  Hall  and  Mrs.  Submit  Shattuck. 
1793.  May  22,  Amos  Crouch  of  Boxboro,  Mass.,  Lydia  Brown. 
1796.  Oct.  4,  Asher  Spaulding  and  Nabby  Green. 

1796.  Nov.  20,  Benjamin  Tucker  and  Elizabeth  Shannon. 

1797.  Nov.  16,  Aaron  Simons  and  Hannah  Proctor. 

1798.  Mar.  11,  Abijah  Shattuck  and  Nancy  Sanderson. 
1798.  Mar.  22,  Abijah  Proctor  and  Sally  Bills. 

1798.  April  5,  Uriah  Hall  and  Hannah  Shattuck. 

1798.  Nov.  15,  Caleb  Blood  and  Mary  Williams. 

1798.  Dec.  13,  Samuel  Brooks  and  Hannah  Bennett. 

1799.  Jan.  15,  Mathew  Wallace  and  Betsey  Mcintosh. 
1799.  Oct.  3,  Ezra  Shattuck  and  Polly  Sever. 

1799.  Feb.  17,  John  Cummings  and  Betsey  Hall. 

1799.  Dec.  3,  Jonathan  Clark  of  Washington  and  Betsey  Davidson. 

1800.  Nov.  11,  Oliver  Hall  and  Rebecca  Spaulding. 

1800.  June  22,  Ebenezer  Wheeler  and  Betsey  Leslie. 

1801.  June  25,  Gardner  Conant  and  Sally  Straw. 
1801.  Sept.  17,  William  Ayers  and  Hannah  Foster 

1801.  Nov.  26,  Nathan  Gilson  and  Abigail  Hobart. 

1802.  Sept.  7,  Josiah  Wheeler  and  Mary  Tucker. 
1802.  Sept.  19,  Thomas  Lancey  and  Molly  Wetherbee. 
1802.  Oct.  10,  Moses  Shattuck  and  Sally  Wetherby. 

1802.  Oct.  19,  Samuel  Peabody  and  Hannah  Pike. 

1803.  June  26,  Joshua  Smith  and  Mary  Austin 
1803.  June  29,  Samuel  Tucker  and  Lydia  Lowell. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  443 

1803.  July  6,  John  Peabody  and  Ede  Sartell. 

1803.  Sept.  11,  Richard  Davis  and  Polly  Stearns. 

1803.  Sept.  17,  William  Lovejoy  and  Esther  Burns. 

1805.  Oct.  27,  Benjamin  Brooks  and  Hannah  Lash. 

1805.  Nov.  28,  Sewell  Wetherby  and  Sally  Spaulding. 

1805.  Dec.  21,  John  Emerson  Wheeler  and  Lydia  Flagg. 

1806.  Mar.  9,  Samuel  Stearns  and  Anna  Lash. 

1807.  Jan.  22,  Ensign  Bailey  and  Martha  Daniels. 

1807.  Mar.  3,  Ephraim  Whitcomb,  Jr.  and  Nancy  Gilbert. 

1807.  Mar.  24,  Eleazer  Gilson  and  Mary  Senter. 

1807.  June  30,  Edward  Hazen  and  Esther  Cass. 

1807.  July  5,  Abraham  Bailey,  and  Olive  Dailey. 

1807.  Nov.  3,  James  White  and  Mary  Green. 

1807.  Nov.  26,  Prescott  Wright  and  Hannah  Gilson. 

1807.  Dec.  8,  Boag  Brown  Draper  and  Sally  Lowell. 

1808.  Feb.  11,  John  Daniels  and  Bridget  Cummings. 
1808.  May  29,  Daniel  Gassett  and  Betsey  Spaulding. 

1808.  Aug.  31,  John  Brown  and  Lucy  Brown. 

1809.  Feb.  9,  William  Hall  and  Betsey  Gilson. 

1810.  Oct.  14,  John  Orr  and  Mary  Wright. 

1810.  Nov.  18,  Jonathan  Jefts,  Mason,  and  Betsey  Wright,  Mason. 

1810.  Nov.  22,  Randall  McDonald  and  Rebeccah  Campbell. 

1811.  Jan.  31,  Nathaniel  Sawtelle,  Jr.,  and  Sybil  Shattuck,  both  of  Pep- 

perell,  Mass. 

1811.  June  3,  Jonas  Woods,  Jr.,  and  Patty  Hobart,  Dunstable,  Mass. 

1811.  June  25,  Daniel  Lawrence  and  Rebeccah  Lawrence. 

1811.  Dec.  29,  Jesse  Fletcher  and  Patience  Hobart,  Townsend. 

1812.  Jan.  14,  Luther  Rockwood  and  Kesiah  Brooks. 
1812.  Jan.  19,  John  Hutchinson  and  Rebeccah  Shattuck. 

1812.  April  7,  Samuel  Richardson,  Shirley,  Mass  and  Betsey  Hodgman. 

1812.  May  5,  Timothy  Wright  and  Lucy  Mellendy. 

1812.  July  22,  Thomas  Cummings  and  Sarah  Proctor,  both  of  Hollis. 

1812.  Sept.  27,  Jonathan  Brooks  and  Lydia  Austin.  » 

1812.  Oct.  1,  Aretus  Swallow,  of  Dunstable,  and  Susannah  Kendall. 

1812.  Oct.  8,  William  S.  Crosby  and  Lydia  Mira  Whitcomb. 

1812.  Oct.  11,  Eri  Daniels  and  Fannie  Wright. 

1812.  Nov.  30,  John  Sanders  and  Cyrena  Daniels. 

1812.  Dec.  24,  Benjamin  Smith  and  Sally  Daniels. 

1812.  Dec.  27,  David  Daniels  and  Mary  Fletcher. 

1813.  Mar.  9,  Samuel  Gilson  and  Rebeccah  Wright. 


444  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

1813.  Mar.  14.  Ebenezer  J.  Flagg  of  Mason  and  Ellis  Woods  of  Hollis. 

1813.  Mar.  16,  Robert  Sever  and  Hepzibah  Gilson. 

1813.  Sept.  3,  Joshua  Smith  and  Sally  Cummings. 

1813.  Dec.  2,  Simon  Pierce  and  Sally  Hodgman. 

1813.  Dec.  5,  David  Dutton,  Mont  Vernon  and  Delinda  Sanders. 

1813.  Dec.   26,   William  Adams,   Townsend,   Mass.,   Martha  Lawrence 
Hollis. 

1813.  Dec.  30,  Solomon  Sanders  and  Sally  Adams. 

1814.  Nov.  14,  Areal  Goin,  of  Jaffrey,  Betsy  Hazen,  Dunstable. 

1815.  Mar.  7,  Reuben  Tarbell,  Mason,  Susanna  Brown. 
1815.  July  16,  Joel  Tarbell,  Mason,  Betsy  Shattuck. 

1815.  Aug.  23,  Henry  Hutchinson,  Milford,  Sarah  Osgood,  Milford. 

1815.  Aug.  23,  Benjamin  Osgood,  Rachel  Hutchinson,  both  of  Milford. 

1815.  Aug.  31,  vSamuel  Perkins  and  Mary  Shattuck. 

1816.  Jan.  7,  Ebenezer  Mills,  Lyndboro,  Malvina  Holden. 
1816.  July  4,  Jacob  Nutting,  and  Hannah  Ames. 

1816.  Nov.  7,  Eleazer  Kemp,  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Nancy  Smith. 

1816.  Nov.  10,  George  H.  Verder  and  Deverd  Wright. 

1816.  Nov.  13,  Prince  Burnham,  Rhoda  Gilbert,  both  of  Boston. 

1816.  Dec.  3,  Asa  Betterly,  Rhoda  Swallow,  Dunstable.   Mass. 

1817.  Jan.  28,  David  Green  Kemp  and  Orphy  Hodgman,  Ashby,  Mass. 
1817.  Feb.  23,  Vernal  Barber,  Sherburne,  Mass.,  Mary  Waugh. 

1817.  June  17,  Davis  Bills  and  Hannah  Lawrence. 

1817.  May  20.  Daniel   Burns,  Milford,  and  Lydia  Sawtelle. 

1818.  Dec.  24,  John  Sawtell  and  Elizabeth  Parker. 

1819.  Dec.  30,  Samuel  Tucker  and  Clarinda  Ames. 
1821.  May  6,  Stephen  Perkins  and  Sally  Gilson. 
1821.  Nov.  8,  David  Gilson  and  Polly  Lovejoy. 
1821.  Mar.  15,  Noah  Shattuck  and  Clarissa  Sanders. 
1821.  Oct.  9,  Loammi  Parker  and  Mary  Mcintosh. 
1824.  July  4,  Horace  Warner  and  Abigail  Sawtelle. 

1824.  July  6,  David  Wright  and  Mary  Pedrick. 

1825.  Aug.  15,  James  Campbell  and  Betsy  Farnsworth. 

1825.  Nov.  24,  John  Hemphill  and  Polly  Gilson. 

1826.  Dec.  10,  Samuel  T.  Boynton  and  Martha  Daniels. 

1827.  Apr.  24,  David  Harris,  Louisa  Marshall  of  Dunstable,  Mass. 
1827.  Feb.  20,  Samuel  Green  and  Polly  Campbell,  both  of  Townsend. 
1827.  Mar.  15,  Abel  Shattuck  and  Deverd  Verder. 

1827.  Mar.  15,  William  Gilson  and  Eliza  Ames. 

1827.  May  3,  Luther  Burge  and  Almira  Reed,  of  Hollis. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  445 

1827.  July  5,  Thomas  V.  Wright  and  Mary  Bowers,  both  of  Hollis. 

1827.  Sept.  29,  Phineas  Holden  and  Sukey  Green. 
1826.  Mar.  26,  James  Parker  and  Deverd  Corey. 

1828.  Mar.  2,  Benjamin  Wheeler  and  Roxanna  Woods. 

1828.  May  25,  Abner  W.  Marble,  Wilton,  and  Mary  Melendy. 

1828.  June  12,  Beri  Bennett  and  Margaret  Russell  of  Milford. 

1828.  July  23,  John  Burns,  Milford.,  and  Susan  Daniels 

1828.  July  20,  Asia  Shattuck  and  Jane  Wallace. 

1828.  July  31,  James  Pierce  and  Lucy  Wheeler. 

1828.  July  13,  Rufus  Senter  and  Mary  Shattuck 

1828.  Aug.  19,  John  Colburn  and  Eliza  Wallace. 

1828.  Sept.  2,  Horace  Warner  and  Augusta  Hall. 

1829.  May  31,  Walter  Blood,  Townsend,  and  Lucy  Wadsworth. 
1829.  May  6,  Jonas  Wheeler,  Lyndeboro,  and  Mary  Hall. 
1829.  July  8,  Joseph  Robbins  and  Mary  Ann  Reed. 

1829.  Oct.  25,  Hezekiah  Beard  of  Townsend,  and  Eliza  Wadsworth. 

1829.  Nov.  29,  Louisana  Lancey  and  Martha  Farnsworth. 

1831.  Mar.  9,  Peter  Green  Robbins  and  Roxanna  Robins. 

1831.  May  31,  Nathan  Blood,  Pepperell,  and  Mary  Brooks. 

1831.  June  19,  Jonas  Lawrence  and  Sally  Wright. 

1833.  Feb.     , Benjamin  C.  Jaquith,  Barnard,  Vt.,  Grace  Wallace. 

1833.  Mar.  24,  Joseph  Smith  and  Abigail  Talbot. 

1834.  Oct.  4,  Waldo  Wallace  and  Catherine  Hall. 

1834.  Dec.  4,  Artemas  Wright,  Groton,  Mass.,  Mary  McDonald. 

1836.  Feb.  27,  Capt.  John  Smith  and  Lucy  Lund. 

1836.  July  7,  Franklin  McDonald  and  Lucy  Rockwood. 

1836.  Oct.  4,  John  G.  Jones  and  Abigail  Law. 

1837.  Mar.  20,  Heman  Sever  and  Eliza  Boynton  of  Weare. 
1837.  Dec.  6,  William  R.  Green  and  Betsy  Wallace. 

1839.  Apr.  4,  Moses  Bohonnon,  Danbury,  and  Hannah  Wright. 

1839.  May  1,  Ira  Proctor,  Hollis,  and  Mary  Hutchinson. 

1839.  May  1,  Asa  Seaver  and  Rebecca  Hutchinson. 

1840.  Jan.  28,  Daniel  A.  Alexander,  Medford,  Mass.,  Susan  Seaver. 
1840.  June  26,  Capt.  Jonathan  Abbott,  Andover,  Mass.,  Susan  Corey. 
1840.  Oct.  1,  Porter  Hartwell,  Boston,  Mass.,  Mary  Jane  Corey. 

1840.  Oct.  13,  Jotham  Grimes  and  Jane  Wright. 

1841.  Oct.  7,  Henry  B.  Stiles  and  Betsy  A.  Smith. 

1841.  Oct.  14,  Wilkes  W.  Corey  and  Sophia  R.  Shattuck. 

1842.  Nov.  29,  Levi  Rockwood  and  Cynthia  Hobart. 

1842.  Nov.   24,   Alfred  A.  Woodward,  Amherst,   Clorinda  Hutchinson. 


446  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

1843.  Apr.  6,  Jeremiah  Baldwin  and  Mary  Bennett. 

1843.  July  6,  John  Knowles,  Nashville,  Hannah  A.  Hall. 

1844.  Oct.  10,  Fernando  Bailey  Lucretia  Stevens,  Pepperell,  Mass. 

1844.  Dec.  31,  Joseph  F.  Jefts  and  Roxanna  Shattuck. 

1845.  Sept.  17,  N.  Herman  Shattuck  and  Charlotte  A.  Croiser. 
1845.  Sept.  25,  Henry  K.  Kemp,  Groton,  Mass.,  Paulina  J.  Hall. 

1847.  May  6,  William  Kendall,  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Augusta  Warner. 

1847.  Nov.  25,  Joseph  W.  Peterson  and  Martha  Hall. 

1847.  Nov.  25,  Oliver  O.  Davis,  Elmira  Davis,  both  of  Mason. 

1847.  June  27,  George  A.  Johnson,  Nashua,  Mary  A.  Betterly. 

1847.  Oct.   10,  Zachariah  Whitman,  Westminster,  Mass.,  and  Ellen  F. 

Johnson,  Leominster,  Mass. 

1848.  Mar.  31,  Sylvester  Jones,  Manchester,  Albina  Betterly. 
1848.  Nov.  6,  George  Russell,  Mason,  Hannah  Cram,  Lyndeboro. 

1848.  Nov.  7,  Augustus  May,  Ashburnham,  Mass.,  Sarah  E.  Reed,  Groton 

Mass. 

1849.  Apr.  21,  Jeremiah  Baldwin  and  Elizabeth  Hall. 

1849.  May  6,  John  Spaulding,  Millbury,  Mass.,  Mrs.  Louisa  Hobart. 

1849.  Aug.  4,  James  A.  Williams,  Hannah  Robbins,  both  of  Boston. 

1850.  Jan.  1,  Stanford  Cram  and  Hannah  L.  Cram. 

1850.  Jan.  24,  Charles  Gilson,  Rutland,  Vt.,  Sophia  Pierce,  of  Chelmsford, 

Mass. 

1850.  Jan.  31,  Henry  B.  Farwell,  New  Gloucester,  Mass.,  Emily  Harris. 

1850.  Jan.  10,  John  Waugh  and  Abigail  Hartwell. 

1850.  Mar.  7,  Joseph  F.  Johnson,  Caroline  Bills,  both  of  Townsend. 

1850.  Mar.  3,  George  Bumon,  Ellen  Hyrus,  both  of  Townsend. 

1850.  Mar.  19,  Nathaniel  Hobart  and  Eliza  Ann  Shattuck. 

1850.  Aug.  18.  Joseph  R.  Foss,  Merideth  Village,  Maria  A.  Woodward. 

1850.  Nov.   26,   Benjamin  F.  Worcester,   Rebecca  Worcester,  both  of 

Groton,  Mass, 

1850.  Dec,  3.  Irving  Colburn,  Melissa  Reed,  Mont  Vernon. 

1851.  Jan.  1,  Edward  P.  Cummings,  Francestown,  Harriet  Bailey. 
1851.  Jan.  16,  John  A.  Gutterson  and  Catherine  E.  Hall. 

1851.  June  4,  Bradley  Stone,  Milford,  Asenath  Colburn. 

1851.  June  4,  Frederick  F.  Wright  and  Mary  A.  Colburn. 

1851.  July  1,  Joseph  A.  Hall  and  Mary  M.  Foster. 

1851.  Oct.  23,  Samuel  Brooks  and  Alexena  S.  Lawrence. 

1852.  Feb.  26,  Isaac  W.  Vickery  and  Harriet  E.  Spaulding,  Lempster, 

Mass. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  447 

1850.  Aug.  24,  Thomas  Hartwell,  Charlestown,  Mass.,    and  Ann  Larkin, 

of  Gloucester,  Mass. 

1852.  Apr.  12,  John  H.  Worcester,  Elmira  Gilson,  both  of  Groton,  Mass. 

1852.  Apr.  27,  Newton  W.  Colburn  and  Sarah  E.  Leslie. 

1852.  Apr.  29,  Charles  L.  Willoby  and  Augusta  B.  Wheeler. 

1852.  Aug.  18,  Jefferson  Whitcomb,  Townsend,  Eliza  Ann  Gilson. 

1852.  Sept.  16,  Joseph  Smith  and  Mrs.  William  Whitcomb. 

1852.  Dec.  16,  Rufus  G.  Russell  and  Augusta  French. 

1853.  Apr.  7,  George  A.  McLure,  Meridan,  N.  Y.,  Malvina  A.  Merrill. 
1853.  Apr.  7,  Edward  P.  Crosby,  Milford,  Clara  F.  Haddon,  Nashua. 
1853.  July  24.  Benjamin  A.  Davis,  Lovina  Hemphill,  both  of  Nashua. 
1853.  Aug.  7,  Aaron  Blood,  Amy  Houston,  Ashby,  Mass. 

1853.  Sept.  4,  Charles  N.  Merrill,  Susan  E.  Morrill,  New  Ipswich. 

1853.  Nov.  24,  Charles  B.  Powers,  Worcester,  Mass.,  Sarah  Hemphill. 

1853.  Apr.   7,   Kendall  Shattuck,  Mary  C.  Nutting,   Pepperell,  Mass. 

1853.  May  4,  William  Wright  and  K.  Jane  Rockwood. 

1853.  Oct.  25.  Edwin  W.  Smith,  Milford,  E.  Augusta  Hobart. 

1853.  Nov.  3,  Henry  Spaulding  and  Sarah  A.  Perkins. 

1854.  Jan.  20,  John  Ritchie,  Nashua,  Lucinda  Bailey. 

1854.  Apr.  15,  George  F.  Chamberlain,  Barre,  Mass.,  and  Martha  Flagg 

of  Hubbardston,  Mass. 

1855.  Apr.  5,  John  Campbell,  Mason,  and  lydia  Campbell. 

1856.  Oct.  10,  William  McCall,  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  Louisa  Gould. 

1856.  June  15,  Morgan  Burdick,  Mary  Jane  Howe,  both  of  Milford. 

1857.  Jan.  29,  Samuel  Gilson,  Sarah  Reed,  Gardner,  Mass. 
1857.  Feb.  22,  Luther  Burge  and  Eliza  Ann  Seaver. 

1857.  Feb.  26,  Charles  H.  Porter  and  Rhoda  R.  Fredericks. 

1857.  April  1,  Charles  H.  Russell  and  Amanda  Gilson. 

1857.  Sept.  10,  Nathaniel  W.  Lund,  Mrs.  Caroline  B.  Gerry,  Townsend. 

1857.  Oct.  13,  Daniel  B.  Willoby  and  Mrs.  Mary  Lakeman. 

1857.  Dec.  7,  Benjamin  Boutwell  and  Frances  W.  Russell. 

1858.  April  8,  James  R.  Pierce  and  Catharine  Burge. 

1859.  Jan.   14,  Nathaniel  Gilson,  Nellie  C.  Harris,  Petersham,  Mass. 

1859.  April  7,  William  C.  Boutwell  and  Lucy  Converse. 

1860.  Sept,.  8  John  S.  Howard  and  Sophia  White. 

1860.  Sept.  11,  Timothy  Hodgman  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Love  joy. 

1860.  Sept.  18,  Otis  Clemens  and  Abbie  Ranger. 

1861.  Jan.  1,  Rodney  P.  Peabody  and  Mary  Flaws. 
1861.  April  26,  Augustus  Lovejoy  and  Hattie  A.  Wright. 
1861.  Aug.  11,  David  W.  Miller  and  Thirza  Bennett. 


448  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

1861.  Aug.  24,  Francis  A.  Grimes  and  Helen  Barnes. 

1861.  Sept.  1,  John  C.  Bennett  and  Lizzie  G.  Rood. 

1861.  Nov.  22,  David  A.  Hill  and  Caroline  Wetherbee. 

1861.  Sept.  24,  Phelps  Brooks  and  Betsy  J.  Adams. 

1861.  Oct.  23,  George  Farnsworth  and  Hattie  A.  Waters. 

1861.  Nov.  14,  Charles  C.  Hodgman  and  Mrs.  Nancy  Sylvester. 

1862.  Feb.  7,  Lewis  Cleveland  and  Sarah  D.  Ward. 

1862.  May  19,  James  Woodward  and  Melona  L.  Shattuck. 

1862.  Sept.  3,  Lewis  Law  and  Ellen  Lancey 

1862.  Sept.  13,  Ferdinand  E.  Lancey  and  Catherine  H.  Robbins. 

1862.  Nov.  5,  Nathaniel  B.  Hutchinson  and  Emily  T.  Shedd. 

1862.  Nov.  12,  Onslow  Daniels  and  Maggie  Cathcart. 

1862.  Nov.  22,  William  D.  Phelps,  Josephine  Wilcox,  Wilmington,  Mass. 

1862.  Nov.  6,  Calvin  R.  Shedd  and  Mrs.  Mary  Sawtelle. 

1862.  Nov.  27,  James  Page  and  Emily  Warren. 

1862.  Dec.  4,  George  Plummer  and  Hannah  M.  Martindale. 

1863.  Jan.  8,  Charles  G.  Hutchinson  and  Annette  S.  Jefts. 
1863.  Feb.  7,  Amos  Blodgett  and  Lucy  A.  Betterly. 
1863.  Oct.  15,  Albert  F.  Wright  and  Lydia  M.  Burgess. 

1863.  Dec.  23,  William  Wright  and  Mrs.  Eliza  A.  E.  Keyes,  Mason. 

1863.  Dec.  31,  P.  Warren  Gould  and  Augusta  Fessenden. 

1864.  Joseph  B.  Swett  and  Emily  C.  Gilson. 

1864.  May  3,  Luther  McDonald  and  Marietta  Dustin. 

1865.  July  1,  Charles  P.  Hall  and  Annie  S.  Green. 

1865.  March  12,  Clinton  Bohonon  and  Hattie  A.  Hobart. 

1865.  April  8,  Charles  N.  Corey  and  Sarah  J.  Sawtelle. 

1865.  May  18,  Norris  C.  Wetherbee  and  Abbie  M.  Smith. 

1865.  July  18,  Bryant  W.  Wallace  and  Jane  N.  Pierce. 

1865.  July  23,  Nathaniel  B.  Hutchinson  and  Lizzie  H.  Hunter. 

1865.  Sept.  17,  James  C.  Rounds  and  Jennie  Flagg. 

1866.  March  21,  Moses  B.  Wright  and  Seriphina  H.  Gardner. 
1866.  Aug.  24,  Frederick  A.  Nightingale  and  Fannie  D.  Chase. 
1866.  Nov.  26,  John  Holland  and  Ellen  Sullivan,  Milford. 
1866.  Nov.  29,  John  Bohonon  and  Phema  Page,  Pepperell,  Mass. 
1866.  Dec.  12,  Asa  S.  Burgess  and  Mary  L.  Forbes. 

1866.  Dec.  13,  Isaiah  E.  Scripture  and  Mary  Foster. 

1867.  Feb.  13,  John  C.  Burgess  and  Nellie  A.  Henderson,  Nashua. 
1867.  March  28,  Eugene  L.  Nelson  and  Emma  L.  Colburn. 

1867.  April  17,  Beri  Bennett  and  Mrs.  Nancy  Lynch. 

1867.  April  27,  Charles  F.  Carlton  and  Caroline  F.  Peabody. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  449 

1867.  Oct.  3,  E.  Henry  Gurney  and  Mary  W.  Orcutt. 

1867.  Nov.  25,  Joseph  C.  Shattuck  and  Eliza  J.  Gould. 

1867.  Dee.  11,  Joshua  Hobart  and  Mary  Baker,  Westminster,  Mass. 

1868.  Jan.  1,  Edward  T.  Hall  and  Marilla  E.  Edson. 
1868.  June  9,  Henry  Bradford  and  Martha  Gould. 
1868.  July  6,  Jonathan  Powers  and  Emerline  Ranson. 
1868.  Sept.  8,  George  M.  Peabody  and  Mary  Frances  Hall. 
1868.  Oct.  5,  George  H.  Needham  and  Abby  Farnum. 
1868.  Oct.  14,  Asa  S.  Burgess  and  Sarah  A.  Smith. 

1868.  Sept.     ,  Daniel  Parker  and  Sarah  A.  Wright. 

1868.  Nov.     ,  John  Wright  and  Alvira  Robbins. 

1868.  Sept.     ,  Charles  W.  Hunter  and  Alma  Holt  of  Peterboro. 

1868.  Sept.     , Solomon  O.  Robbins  and  Marion  Woods,  Milford. 

1869.  Jan.  20,  Nathaniel  M.  Vickery  and  Margaret  Valentyne. 
1869.  Feb.  6,  Fernando  Bailey  and  Mrs.  Evaline  B.  Ball. 
1869.  March  11,  James  M.  Nutting  and  Lizzie  Coudrey. 
1869.  May  29,  Timothy  Wright  and  Lucinda  Willoby,  Milford. 
1869.  Nov.  8,  Lewis  G.  Hunter  and  Nellie  S.  Needham. 

1869.  Nov.  18, 

1869.  ,Ai  W.  Stickney  and  Hattie  M.  Shattuck. 

1869.  Dec.  25,  William  Hodgman  and  M.  Louisa  Edson. 

1870.  Jan.  1,  Albert  B.  Brooks  and  Louisa  Harwood. 
1870.  Feb.  3,  Oren  J.  Bailey  and  Ellen  F.  Baldwin. 
1870.  Feb.  23,  Edward  H.  Russell  and  Adelaide  Colburn. 

1870.  Nov.  23,  Nathan  Buttrick  and  Roxanna  Wheeler. 

1871.  Jan.  4,  Leroy  A.  Wallace  and  Ellen  L.  French. 
1871.  Jan.  8,  Martin  A.  Rockwood  and  Mary  E.  Livermore. 
1871.  ,  Franklin  T.  Lane  and  Mary  McGauley. 
1871.  May  10,  Edward  C.  Tucker  and  Ella  Wade  of  Boston. 

1871.  Dec.  2,  William  H.  French  and  Susie  E-  Willoughby,  Milford. 

1872.  ,  Amos  Farnsworth  and  Sarah  A.  Foss  of  Nashua. 
1872.  Jan.  9,  Simon  Lawrence. and  Sarah  A.  Burgess. 

1872.  July  3,  Charles  A.  Wright,  Townsend,  Luoisa  J.  Burgess. 

1872.  July  25,  Joseph  R.  Smith  and  Lizzie  M.  Taylor,  Townsend. 

1872.  Aug.  23,  Albert  Wilson  and  Ella  M.  Whitaker,  both  of  Milford. 

1872.  Sept.  21,  Robert  Ellis  and  Mary  E.  F.  Bond,  both  of  Milford. 

1872.  Dec.  5,  Perley  A.  Smith  and  Maria  M.  Proctor  of  Hollis. 

1872.  Dec.  25,  Augustus  Flagg  and  Mary  J.  Coggswell,  Concord,  Mass. 

1873.  Sept.  17,  Luther  A.  Gilson  and  Lizzie  S.  Smith,  Hollis. 
1873.  Nov.  25,  John  O.  A.  Wiley,  Amherst,  and  Sarah  P.  Clark. 


450  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

1873.  Dec.  21,  Thomas  J.  Abbott  and  Theresa  M.  Seaver. 

1874.  April  21,  Samuel  D.  Gilson  and  Elizabeth  L.  Ross,  Bennington,  Vt. 
1874.  May  17,  Ai  W.  Stickney  and  Emma  E.  Fletcher,  Mt.  Holly,  Vt. 
1874.  May  27,  John  D.  Hobart  and  Mary  A.  Wallace. 

1874.  vSept.  10,  William  F.  Harwood  and  Georgia  A.  Wilkins. 

1874.  Oct.  6,  Franklin  McDonald  and  Louisa  J.  Fales,  Harvard,  Mass. 

1874.  Nov.  4,  Walter  F.  Cook  and  Lizzie  A.  Burrill,  Reading,  Mass. 

1875.  April  28,  Albert  T.  Pierce  and  Minnie  J.  Thomas. 
1875.  April  8,  George  H.  Blood  and  Harriet  A.  Hills. 
1875.  May  10,  Charles  H.  Burnham  and  Cora  A.  Lund. 

1875.  May  27,  Moses  B.  Wright  and  Addie  S.  Pierce,  Chelsea,  Mass. 

1875.  June  3,  Gorham  Storer  and  Achsah  N.  Bohonon. 

1875.  July  3,  Eli  S.  Cleveland  and  Mrs.  Addie  Kline. 

1875.  Aug.  17,  James  C.  Parker  and  Mrs.  Cynthia  Carr  of  E.  Washington. 

1875.  Sept.  8,  Dr.  D.  S.  Dearborn  and  M.  J.  Adams. 

1875.  Oct.  19,  Samuel  Swett  and  Lucy  C.  Pierce. 

1875.  Nov.  4,  George  H.  Nye  and  Lenora  M.  Wright. 

1876.  Jan.  18,  George  A.  Kendall  and  Adna  E.  Fretts,  Milford. 
1876.  March  5,  Albert  W.  Corey  and  Mary  Kline. 

1876.  March  30,  David  D.  Rockwood  and  Ella  F.  Herrick. 

1876.  May  3,  Daniel  R.  Bean  and  Louisa  Shattuck  of  Concord. 

1876.  May  21,  Charles  W.  Smith  and  Emma  A.  Gates  of  Townsend. 

1876.  June  3,  William  H.  Crossman  and  Sarah  A.  Betterly. 

1876.  Sept.  5,  Andrew  Rockwood  and  Rebecca  Pierce,  Townsend,  Mass. 

1877.  April  16,  George  W.  Foster  and  Areine  Worcester. 
1877.  April  10,  Hermon  O.  Bean  and  Sarah  E.  Storer. 

1877.  Dec.  23,  E.  A.  Bruce  and  Abbie  A.  Goin  of  Townsend. 

1876.  Dec.  30,  Daniel  Sullivan,  Townsend,  Mass.,  Delpha  Sanders. 

1876.  March  26,  George  L.  Whitcomb  and  Emma  Weyth  both  of  Town- 
send. 

1876.  Dec.  25,  William  A.  Bennett,  Milford,  and  Sarah  H.  Hardy. 

1877.  Nov.  13,  Moses  Bohonon  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Lawrence  of  Pepperell. 

1877.  Nov.  12,  Charles  A.  Robbins  of  Hollis  and  Clara  L.  Hayes. 

1878.  Jan.  1,  Parker  Jewett,  Gridley,  111.,  Rachel  Steele. 
1878.  April  3,  Icabod  F.  Lund  and  Alexina  S.  Brooks. 
1878.  June  2,  Samuel  Swett  and  Mrs.  Ellen  Hunter. 

1878.  Nov.  24,  Elmer  W.  Wallace  and  Jennie  E.  Rockwood. 

1878.  Dec.  25,  Jacob  Aspenwall  and  Lizzie  M.  Hill  of  New  Ipswich. 

1879.  Jan.  5,  Charles  G.  Dunbar  and  Flora  J.  Pinkham. 
1879.  Mar.  1,  George  O.  Hutchins  and  Laura  A.  Ludwig. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  451 

1879.  May  14,  Amos  A.  Gould  and  Arabella  A.  Green. 

1879.  Oct.  11,  Harry  S.  Richmond  and  Mattie  A.  Bailey. 

1879.  Sept.  18,  Orman  F.  Shattuck  and  Hattie  A.  Parker,  Townsend 

Mass. 

1879.  Oct.  2,  Orange  H.  Cook  of  Townsend,  Mass.  and  Etta  Kendall. 

1879.  Oct.  29,  Frank  A.  Cook,  Reading,  Mass.,  Helen  M.  Hobart. 

1879.  Dec.  31,  Albro  H.  Putnam  and  Ellen  J.  Russell,  Townsend. 

1880.  Jan.  18,  Charles  N.  Corey  and  Sarah  J.  Corey. 
1880.  April  6,  Freeman  E.  Wright  and  Etna  E.  Baldwin. 
1880.  Oct.  10,  Alpha  A.  Hall  and  Nellie  J.  Fletcher,  Hollis. 
1880.  Oct.  31,  George  E.  Stiles  and  Mary  J.  Sawtelle. 

1880.  Oct.  28,  Joseph  Sawtelle  and  Mrs.  Cynthia  J.  Roockwod. 

1880.  Nov.  24,  Zenas  M.  Gilman,  Boston,  Mass.,  Lula  S.  Ball. 

1881.  Feb.  27,  Charles  W.  Smith  and  Elnora  L.  Taylor,  Townsend. 
1881.  April  29,  Willie  A.  Hobart  and  Hattie  Rideout. 

1881.  Nov.  25,  Arthur  E.  Lawrence,  Shirley,  Mass.,  Nellie  E.  Chase, 
Hampton. 

1881.  Jan.  8,  William  O.  Buxton,  Fitchburg,Mass.,  Lulu  Johnson,  Lunen- 
burg, Mass. 

1881.  May  9,  William  N.  Alexander  and  Alice  E.  Johnson,  Mont  Vernon. 

1881.  June  15,  George  W.  Fish  and  Lellie  Chapman,  Hanover,  Mass. 

1881.  July  17,  Walter  F.  Rockwood  and  Clara  W.  Whitcomb. 

1881.  Aug.  3,  Charles  A.  Bills  and  Lizzie  E.  Peacock. 

1881.  Dec.  22,  Nathaniel  Hardy,  Hattie  M.  Willoby,  both  of  Milford. 

1881.  Nov.  12,  Frederick  Hildreth,  Townsend,  Martha  J.  Baxter. 

1882.  March  8,  John  F.  Hutchinson,  Lexington,  Mass.,  Mary  W.  Lund. 
1882.  Feb.  23,  Fred  Farnsworth  and  Ella  M.  Foster. 

1882.  Aug.  8,  Michael  Keefe  and  Mary  Grady  both  of  Fitchburg,  Mass. 

1882.  June  1,  Arthur  E.  Chase,  Lelia  L.  Barrett,  both  of  Mason. 

1883.  June  13,  George  H.  Willoby,  Emily  L.  Gardner,  Machias,  Me. 
1883.  July  9,  Hartly  R.  Lampson  and  Laura  E-  Pierce. 

1883.  Nov.  6,  Alpha  A.  Hall  and  Delia  R.  Peacock. 

1883.  Nov.  15,  Willie  E.  Betterly  and  Mary  L.  Hall. 

1883.  Nov.  22,  Albert  T.  Pierce  and  Ella  M.  Baldwin 

1883.  Dec.  30,  Fred  G.  Hobart  and  Francenia  Hofsess. 

1884.  Jan.  8,  Elza  A.  Tibbetts,  New  Castle,  Me.,  Mary  A.  Kendall. 
1884.  Jan.  25,  Augustus  E.  Wright,  Hollis,  Martha  Burgess. 

1884.  April  23,  Delbert  W.  Robbins,  Mary  E.  Alexander,  Mont  Vernon. 

1884.  Aug.  20,  James  E.  Corbin,  Glocester,  R.  I.,  Mary  E.  Pratt. 
1884.     Oct.  16,  James  H.  S.  Tucker  and  Ida  L.  Hodgman,  Mason. 


452  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

1885.  April  2,  Eddy  S.  Whitcomb  and  Adella  Baldwin. 

1885.  April  9,  Perley  A.  Gould  and  Grace  D.  Hobart. 

1885.  April  9,  Llewylln  S.  Powers  and  Celia  A.  Hobart. 

1885.  June  10,  George  E.  Betterly  and  Eliza  Day,  Townsend,  Mass. 

1885.  Aug.  2,  Carl  W.  Cochran  and  Minnett  Reed.  Townsend,  Mass. 

1885.  Nov.  2,  Elmer  J.  Rideout  and  Arrie  M.  Manson,  York,  Me. 

1885.  Nov.  25,  Frederick  A.  Sawyer,  Sterling,  Mass.,  Alice  R.  Rockwood. 

1886.  Sept.  30,  Addison  L.  Cleveland  and  Laura  Colwell,  Nashua. 

1887.  Jan.  8,  Frank  I,.  Weston  and  Jennie  F.  Gilson. 
1887.  June  15,  Amos  W.  Pierce  and  Louisa  Barnaby. 
1887.  Oct.  15,  Horace  H.  Nye,  Keene,  Winnie  H.  Hall. 
1887.  Oct.  29,  Herbert  M.  Smith,  Minta  J.  Paul  of  Hollis. 

1887.  Nov.  29,  Orville  D.  Fessenden  and  Isabella  McKenzie. 

1888.  April  12,  Edgar  M.  Smith,  Westboro,  Mass  ,  Lovilla  J.  Wright. 
1888.  April      ,  John  Dobson,  Townsend,  Mass.,  Nellie  Colburn. 
1888.  May  31,  Barnard  McGovern  and  Hannah  Donavan. 

1888.  June  23,  Charles  H.  Holcombe  and  Clintie  A.  Burton,  Temple. 

1888.  May  16,  John  B.  Hardy  and  Caroline  E.  Richardson,  Hollis. 

1888.  Oct.  9,  Henry  C.  Hall  and  Effa  A.  Pierce. 

1888.  Dec.  1,  Franklin  W.  Slocomb,  Pepperell.,  Mass,  Hattie  M.  Wright. 

1889.  Feb.  6,  Charles  W.  Reed,  Hollis,  Kittie  J.  Hannon,  Northfield,  Vt. 
1889.  April  21,  Charles  P.  Lawrence,  Pepperell,  Bessie  M.  Taylor. 
1889.  May  1,  John  Colon  and  Emma  J.  Elliott. 

1889.  June  12,  Frank  G.  Williams  and  Hattie  J.  Shattuck. 

1889.  Aug.  19,  Wellington  Peterson  and  Ella  Norcross. 

1889.  Oct.  17,  George  E.  Rockwood,  Lillian  M.  Colson,  Townsend. 

1890.  Feb.  5,  George  H.  Kendall  and  Alice  Pierce. 

1890.  March  11,  Charles  N.  Corey,  Ella  N.  Jones,  Chelsea,  Vt. 

1890.  May  8,  Daniel  McKenzie  and  Rebecca  Dean  of  Scotland 

1890.  June  4,  Albert  T.  Pierce  and  Hattie  F.  Goodwin,  Nashua. 

1890.  June  8,  George  F.  Colburn,  Lowell,  Isabella  M.  Wright. 

1890.  June  7,  Albert  H.  Whitcomb,  Wrilton,  Hannah  Johnson. 

1890.  June  11,  Elmer  J.  Rideout  and  Nettie  Sargent,  Milford. 

1890.  July  2,  John  G.  Abbott,  Mrs.  Mankin  Lake,  Pepperell,  Mass. 

1890.  Nov.  2,  Charles  H.  Buraham  and  Ellen  A.  Brooks. 

1891.  June  30,  Benjamin  H.  Pierce,  Cambridge  ,Mass.,  Grace  E.  Hall. 
1891.  Nov.  14,  Charles  A.  Gilson  and  Elmira  F.  Peacock. 

1891.  Feb.  27,  Stephen  Swicker  and  Lena  M.  Corkham. 

1892.  March  2,  Charles  C.  Wheeler,  Berlin,  Mass.,  Rose  Halstead. 
1892.  Nov.  23,  Patrick  O.  Kennan  and  Annie  T.  O'Neill. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  453 

1893.  Jan.  14,  Frank  D.  Taylor  and  Luna  A.  Mosher. 

1893.  Jan.  14,  Lemuel  Jones  and  Amy  L.  Mosher,  Hollis. 

1893.  Jan.  8,  James  M.  Lund  and  Grace  F.  Wheeler,  Hollis. 

1893.  April  5,  William  Haselton,  Townsend,  Mass.,  Clara  B.  Rockwood. 

1893.  July  12,  John  C.  Evans,  Ballard  Vale,  Mass.,  Frances  M.  Cox. 

1893.  Dec.  9,  Urbane  F.  Rowell,  Townsend,  Minnie  R.  Webb,  Fitchburg. 

1893.  Dec.  25,  William  A.  Hughes,  Townsend,  Mass.,  Estelle  L.  Currier. 

1894.  Jan.  1,  Herbert  S.  Corey  and  Elva  I.  Shattuck. 

1894.  April  12,  Charles  M.  Wilkins;  and  Mary  E.  Melendy,  Milford. 

1894.  June  14,  Elmer  E.  Daniels  and  Lavilla  M.  Kemp. 

1894.  Oct.  15,  George  L.  Wilkins  and  Mary  E.  Brooks. 

1894.  Nov.  28,  Alexander  Whitford  and  Rebecca  Corckham. 

1894.  Dec.  31,  Linville  M.  Shattuck  and  Minnie  M.  Daniels. 

1895.  March  19,  William  H.  Thorpe  and  Bertha  Z.  Lawrence. 
1895.  March  20,  Arthur  A.  Goss  and  Jennie  A.  Shattuck. 
1895.  April  24,  Ermon  E.  Bout  well  and  Jennie  M.  Frye,  Wilton. 

1895.  June  26,  William  T.  Boultonhouse,  Fitzwilliam,  N.  H.  and  Cora 

F.  Cleveland. 

1895.  Aug.  12,  Blanchard  D.  Sewell  and  Lucy  B.  Segree. 

1895.  Sept.  3,  George  L.  Badger,  Quincy,  Mass.,  Mabel  S.  Tucker. 

1896.  June  2,  George  W.  Bridges,  Elizabeth  C.  Todd,  New  Boston. 
1896.  June  16,  Onslow  Daniels  and  Lavina  R.  Eddy. 

1896.  Sept.  26,  Arthur  E.  Chase  and  Delia  E.  Peacock. 

1896.  Oct.  10,  Patrick  Regan  and  Mary  Shea  of  Belmont,  Mass. 

1897.  May  30,  Elmer  J.  Wyeth,  Townsend,  Mass.,  Jennie  E.  Coruth. 
1897.  June  9,  Ernest  W.  Nye  and  Addie  H.  P.  Segee. 

1897.  Sept.  29,  Allie  Jameson,  Katie  McGannis  of  Milford. 

1897.  Oct.  23,  Edwin  C.  Robbins  and  Clara  Robbins. 

1898.  Feb.  5,  Frederic  G.  Hall  and  Lucy  J.  Burton. 
1898.  April  14,  Samuel  E.  Thayer  and  Mabel  A.  Slattery. 

1898.  May  30,  Harry  G.  Lakin,  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Anna  J.  Halstead. 

1898.  July  4,  Ferdinand  Peanut  and  Jennie  E.  Plummer. 

1898.  July  23,  Charles  E.  Elliott  and  Emma  R.  Wilson. 

1898.  Sept.  6,  Levi  Gould  and  Mary  A.  Cheny. 

1898.  Sept.  17,  William  H.  Farwell  and  Mary  F.  Farnsworth. 

1898.  Dec.  17,  George  M.  Rockwood  and  Minnie  L.  Sweeny. 

1899.  Jan.  2,  Charles  A.  Robbins  and  Rose  B.  Wright. 

1899.  Jan.  28,  James  Hill  and  Etta  L.  Bennett,  Pepperell,  Mass. 

1899.  Feb.  4,  Charles  D.  Pope  and  Maud  A.  Greenleaf. 

1899.  March  22,  Delbert  Porter  and  Angie  Whitney. 


454  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

1899.  Nov.  4,  Willis  H.  Shattuck  and  Lilla  M.  Frost  of  Weare. 

1900.  Feb.  5,  James  I.  Corey,  New  York  City,  Agnes  Lamontagne. 
1900.  April  7,  Warren  D.  Shattuck,  Caroline  DeWolfe,  Boston. 

1900.  July  18,  Oscar  F.  Elliott  and  Eva  F.  Elliott  of  Mason. 

1901.  Jan.  26,  Samuel  J.  Jewett,  Princeton,  Mass.,  Hattie  Wright,  of 

Townsend. 

1901.  March  10,  Uriah  J.  Wright  and  Etta  M.  Foster. 

1901.  April  10,  Leroy  C.  Putnam  and  Mary  E.  Harwood. 

1901.  April  22,  William  J.  Hopkins  and  Sadie  Mclnnis. 

1901.  Sept.  2,  Charles  G.  Pingree,  Fitchburg,.Mass.,  Mary  E.  Kline. 

1901.  Dec.  31,  Albert  E.  Gilman,  Townsend,  and  Mabel  L.  Hodgman. 

1902.  April  24,  William  S.  Bailey  and  Philome  V.  Fournier,  Lowell. 
1902.  June  11,  William  E.  Thrope,  Johnana  E.  Corbett,  both  of  Pepperell. 

1902.  Dec.  25,  Isaac  W.  Thorpe,  Hughina  MeLeod,  Pepperell,  Mass. 

1903.  Jan.  6,  Perley  L.  Pierce,  Martha  E.  A.  Williamson,  Waltham,  Mass. 
1903.  March  3,  Edward  D.  Lancey,  Katherine  E.  Koch,  Townsend. 
1903.  April  12,  James  O'Connell,    Annie  M.  Lynch,  Cambridge,  Mass. 
1903.  Sept.  24,  William  J.  Bonner  and  Grace  H.  Lancey. 

1903.  Dec.  31,  Fred  E.  French  and  Fannie  E.  Pierce. 

1904.  Jan.  6,  Howard  W.  Carter,  Cottage  City,  Mass.,  Mary  E.  Rockwood 
1904:  Jan.  30,  Imla  M.  Williams  and  Margaret  A.  Stavert. 

1904.  Feb.  2,  Peter  G.  Bouchard  and  Georgiana  Lefevre. 

1904.  Oct.  13,  George  H.  Nye  and  Mrs.  Ella  H.  Segree. 

1904.  Nov.  22,  William  M.  Larsen,  Manchester,  Grace  I.  Marshall  of 

Hollis. 

1905.  March  6,  Walter  A.  Batchelder  and  Mrs.  Phoebe  Jane  Perkins. 
1905.  June  10,  Roland  Austin  and  Mrs.  Minnie  E.  Smith. 

1905.  July  18,  Linwood  Tasker,  Winthrope,  Mass.,  Emma  E.  Hardwick, 

Boston. 

1905.  Sept.  20,  Phineas  M.  Nutting,  Leominster,  Mass.,  Mrs.  Sarah  J. 

Chase. 

1905.  Oct.  12,  Charles  A.  Gilson  and  Mrs.  Annie  A.  Sweeny. 

1905.  Oct.  24,  Walter  E.  Corey,  Helen  B.  Lawrence,  Pepperell,  Mass. 

1905.  Dec.  25,  Silas  E.  Wheeler,  Margie  I.  Burns,  Milford. 

1906.  Nov.  9,  Charles  M.  Wilkins  and  Mrs.  Nellie  Austin. 

1906.  Aug.  29,  Arthur  C.  Sellere,  Chelsea,  Mass.,  Mabel  G.  Ryder. 

1906.  Sept.  30,  Nazer  Thurgion,  Maude  Bergner,  Lewiston,  Me. 

1906.  Oct.  2,  Alfred  Gagnon  and  Ida  Chaplin. 

1907.  Oct.  19,  Arthur  D.  Barber,  Merrimack,  Jennie  M.  Litchfield. 
1907.  Nov.  5,  Frank  A.  Austin  and  Alacia  Hammond. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  455 

1908.  March  16,  David  R.  Barnaby,  Julia  R.  Strong,  Littleton. 

1908.  Aug.  20,  Frederick  C.  Koch,  Florence  E.  Worden,  Townsend,  Mass. 

1908.  Sept.  17,  Parker  G.  Webber,  Fitchburg..  Mass.,  Laura  V.  Gilman. 

1909.  Jan.  2,  John  F.  Fales  and  Delia  Corless  of  New  Boston. 

1909.  Jan  28,  Harry  C.  Gilson  and  Eva  G.  Richards  of  Townsend,  Mass. 

1909.  Jan.  25,  Joseph  LeClair  and  Olive  LaBlanc. 

1909.  Feb.  16,  Fred  A.  Hall  and  Edna  A.  Ricker. 

1909.  May  4,  Richard  F.  Wright  and  Mrs.  Charlotte  A.  Frost. 

1909.  June  22,  Leon  D.  Mudgett,  Leominster,  Mass.,  Letitia  F.  Sherman, 
Shirley,  Mass. 

1909.  July  15,  William  Ladd  Dodge  and  Viella  C.  Thomas. 

1910.  Jan.  19,  Ivan  K.  Parkhurst,  Christy  C.  Corbett,  both  of  Pepperell. 
1910.  March  14,  Fred  P.  Farnsworth  and  Lavenia  Hay. 

1910.  June  8,  Clark  J.  Barnaby,  Mrs.  Sarah  P.  Gilfoil,  of  Nashua. 

1910.  June  11,  Joseph  Duphrey,  Hollis,  and  Mrs.  Nellie  L.  O'Connell. 

1910.  July  7,  Harry  J.  Drew  and  Rebecca  S.  Dearing. 

1910.  July  23,  Willard  R.  Snow,  Leominster,  Mass.,  Mrs.  Martha  A. 

Wright. 

1910.  Sept.  1,  Herbert  Taft  Crandall  and  Lillian  E.  Thayer. 

1910.  Oct.  5,  Henry  S.  Bailey  and  Annie  M.  Gilman. 

1910.  Nov.  9,  Henry  M.  Hall  and  Harriet  M.  Whitcomb. 

1910.  Nov.  23,  George  M.  Rockwood  and  Myrtle  B.  Eddy. 

1910.  Dec.  18,  Ralph  O.  Greeley  and  Maud  A.  Taylor. 

1911.  Jan.  7,  Edward  O.  Heren  and  Lora  May  Elliott. 

1911.  Mar.  13,  Albert  B.  Putnam,  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Elizabeth  M.  Mc- 

Grath  of  Lynn,  Mass. 

1911.  April  19,  George  E.  Cady  and  Marie  K.  Lavash,  Waltham,  Mass. 

1911.  June  11,  Alphonse  Plouret,  Sarah  Soucie  both  of  Manchester. 

1911.  Oct.  5,  John  E.  Mosher  and  Effie  White. 

1911.  Oct.  9,  William  H.  Fletcher  and  Mary  E.  Jenness. 

1911.  Oct.  27,  James  N.  Seaver  and  Frances  Boultonhouse. 

1911.  Nov.  29,  Harry  Sawtelle   Powers,  Annie  G.  Willey  of  Pepperell. 

1912.  Jan.  1,  Fred  M.  Burnham  and  Melvina  M.  Duffy. 
1912.  July  6,  James  E.  Farnsworth  and  Blanche  E.  Warden. 
1912.  Dec.  12,  Victor  E.  Maxwell  and  Mrs.  Minnie  L.  Rockwood. 


PART  II 


GENEALOGIES 


AND 


FAMILY  REGISTERS 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  459 


GENEALOGIES  AND  FAMILY  REGISTERS. 
List  of  Abbreviations 


b. — born.  res.— resides  or  resided, 

ch. — child  or  children.  unm. — unmarried, 

d. — died.  wid. — widow, 

dau. — daughter.  Regt. — Regiment, 

m. — married.  Dist. — District, 
mos. — months. 

There  are  the  usual  abbreviations  for  months  of  the  year,  and  States 
of  the  Union. 


Explanatory  Notes. 


The  sign  *  before  a  given  name  denotes  that  that  person  is  mentioned 
at  length  afterwards,  or  mentioned  elsewhere. 

The  numeral  placed  before  a  given  name  denotes  the  number  of  the 
generation  of  such  person  reckoning  from  his  earliest  ancestor,  mentioned 
in  the  genealogy. 

Abbott. 

JONATHAN  ABBOTT  was  born  in  Andover,  Mass.,  in  June  1795. 
About  1845  he  removed  from  Andover  to  Brookline.  He  was  a  farmer. 
He  was  twice  married:  m.  1st,  Feb.  16,  1826,  Lydia  Phelps  of  Andover; 
she  died;  m.  2nd,  June  26,  1840,  Susan  Jane,  dau.  of  Nathan  and  Deverd 
(Wright)  Corey  of  Brookline;  he  d.  April  8,  1869,  buried  in  Andover;  she 
d.  March  26,  1889,  aged  79  years,  3  mos. ;  buried  in  Brookline. 

Children;  By  First  Wife,  Born  in  Andover:  Jonathan  Edward, 
David  Warren,  and  William. 

Ch.  by  second  wife,  Charles  Henry,  b.  in  Andover,  Mass.,  Dec.  31, 
1842;  m.  Oct.  28,  1876,  Laura,  dau.  of  Henry  and  Mary  Ann  Wallace  of 
Port  Huron,  Mich.;  she  d.  June  16,  1882,  one  child,  Henry  Wallace,  b. 
in  Brookline,  Nov.  14,  1877;  res.  Jersey  City,  N.  J. 


460  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

Austin. 

THOMAS  AUSTIN  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  petition  for  the  in- 
corporation of  Raby.  He  lived  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town.  His 
house  was  located  on  a  bridle-path  which  led  out  of  the  west  side  of  the 
highway  from  South  Brookline  to  Oak  Hill,  at  a  point  nearly  opposite  the 
old  district  number  one  schoolhouse,  and  passed  through  the  fields  in  a 
southwesterly  direction.  Its  exact  location  on  the  path  cannot  be  de- 
termined at  the  present  time,  as  there  are  upon  it  several  other  cellar-holes, 
each  of  which  is  supposed  to  mark  the  site  of  a  dwelling  house  formerly  of 
some  member  of  the  Austin  family.     He  married  about  1750  Beulah 

Children;  Born  in  Raby. 

1.  Ruth,  b.  Sept.  27,  1752;  m.  Dec.  2,  1784,  Moses  Proctor,  of  Hollis. 

2.  *Phineas,  b.  Jan.  25,  1755;  m.  1st,  June  24,  1777,  Elizabeth 
Spaulding  of  Townsend;  m.  2nd,  June  9,  1814,  Ruth  Baldwin. 

3.  Thomas,  b.  July  11,  1758. 

4.  Ebenezer,  b.  Aug.  16,  1760. 

5.  Beulah,  b.  Nov.  16,  1762. 

6.  Rebecca,  b.  April  16,  1765. 

7.  Mary,  b.  Aug.  18,  1767;  m.  June  26,  1803,  Joshua  Smith,  Jr., 
Brookline. 

8.  Jacob,  b.  April  6,  1770. 

9.  Abner,  b.  Aug.  26,  1772. 

10.  Sarah,  b.  Jan.  26,  1775;  m.  Jan.  1,  1799,  Eleazer  Pierce  of  Hollis. 

PHINEAS  AUSTIN,  second  son  and  second  child  of  Thomas  and 
Beulah  Austin,  was  born  in  Hollis,  afterwards  Raby,  Jan.  25,  1755.  In 
1790,  his  mother,  Beulah,  was  still  living  and  was  residing  with  him  in 
Raby.  He  married  June  24,  1777,  Elizabeth  Spaulding  of  Townsend, 
Mass.    She  d.  ,  m.  2nd,  June  9,  1814,  Ruth  Baldwin  of  Townsend, 

Mass.    No  record  of  children  by  either  wife. 

Badger. 

JAMES  BADGER  was  an  early  settler  in  that  part  of  the  Mile  Slip 
which  originally  constituted  the  northwest  part  of  Raby;  but  which  at  the 
present  time  forms  the  southwest  part  of  Milford;  it  having  been  trans- 
ferred from  Raby  to  Milford  at  the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  the  latter 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  461 

town  in  1794.     (For  a  sketch  of  his  life  see  chap.  X,  ante).     He  married 
Martha  ,  who  was  born  in  1742,  and  d.  May  27, 

1812;  he  d.  at  Milford,  Jan.  28,  1841,  aged  97. 

Children  Born  in  Raby., 

1.  Azubah,  b.  Mar.  10,  1771;  m.  Dec.  29,  1791,  Sampson  Farnsworth. 

2.  Rhoda,  b.  Sept.  21,  1772;  m.  Nov.  23,  1796,  Phillip  Farnsworth. 

3.  Nancy,  b.  Apr.  11,  1774;  d.  Aug.  26,  1779. 

4.  Leonard,  b.  Sept.  18,  1775;  m.  Jan.  6,  1806,  Sally  Barrett  of 
Mason. 

5.  Bettey,  b.  Oct.  7,  1778. 

6.  Abigail,  b.  Oct.  6,  1780;  m.  May  17,  1798,  Abel  Blood  of  Wilton. 

Bailey. 

(VII)  ENSIGN  BAILEY,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in  Brookline, 
was  a  son  of  Abraham  Bailey  of  Tewksbury,  Mass.,  where  he  was  born 
Sept.  6,  1781.  He  was  a  descendant  in  the  seventh  generation  of  John 
Bailey,  immigrant  settler  in  1635  at  Newbury,  Mass.,  the  line  of  descent 
being  as  follows : 

(I)  John,  (II)  John,  (III)  Isaac,  (IV)  David,  (V)  David,  (VI) 
Abraham,  (VII)  Ensign. 

John,  1st,  the  immigrant,  came  from  England  to  America  in  1635, 
and  settled  in  Newbury,  Mass. ;  where  his  name  is  inscribed  on  the  monu- 
ment to  the  first  settlers  of  Newbury,  located  at  the  "Lower  Green," 
Newbury  Oldtown.  In  1637  he  removed  from  Newbury  to  Salisbury, 
Mass.;  where  he  died  in  1651.  His  name  appears  on  the  "Golgotha 
Boulder"  in  Amesbury,  Mass.,  as  one  of  the  original  settlers. 

Soon  after  Ensign  Bailey's  birth,  his  father  removed  with  his  family 
to  Keene,  N.  H.  The  death  of  his  mother  at  Keene  was  the  cause  of  the 
breaking  up  of  his  father's  family;  and  soon  after  her  death,  Ensign  went 
to  Jaffrey  where  he  lived  with  his  uncle  Oliver  until  he  was  eighteen  years 
old,  working  on  his  uncle's  farm  and  enjoying  such  educational  advan- 
tages as  were  afforded  by  the  "district  schools." 

About  1799  he  entered  as  an  apprentice  the  employment  of  his 
brother,  Kendall  Bailey,  who  at  that  time  was  carrying  on,  at  Charles- 
town,  Mass.,  a  flourishing  tanning  and  morocco  dressing  business;  in 
which,  after  a  short  apprenticeship,  he  became  a  partner.  In  1805,  the 
firm  resolved  to  remove  its  plant  to  some  more  convenient  and  less  expensive 


462  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

locality;  and  to  that  end  purchased  of  Swallow  Tucker  the  land  in  this 
town  upon  which  Mr.  Bailey  subsequently  established  himself  in  busi- 
ness. The  same  year  he  removed  from  Charlestown  to  Brookline.  Soon 
after  coming  here,  he  built  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river  and  at  the  foot 
of  the  falls  in  the  same  below  its  exit  from  Muscatanipus  pond,  the  saw- 
mill which  was  afterwards  known  as  "The  Lower  Mill,"  and  also  the 
building,  east  of  and  adjacent  to  the  sawmill,  in  which  he  established  and 
until  the  close  of  his  life  carried  on  a  tanning  and  morocco  dressing  busi- 
ness which,  for  more  than  half  a  century  following,  in  productive  capa- 
city and  extent  of  its  business  transactions,  was  unequalled  by  any  similiar 
enterprise  in  Hillsborough  County;  at  the  same  time  also  he  constructed 
the  canal  (of  which  the  vestiges  are  at  the  present  time  to  be  seen)  through 
which  was  brought  the  water  which  furnished  the  motive  power  for  the 
sawmill  and  tannery.  At  a  later  period  he  erected,  at  the  east  end  of  and 
near  to  the  mill-dam,  a  sash  and  blind  shop;  which  he  conducted  for 
many  years  in  connection  with  his  other  enterprises. 

Mr.  Bailey,  in  his  day  and  generation,  was  one  of  the  leading  and 
most  successful  business  men  of  the  town.  When  he  came  here  in  1805, 
the  majority  of  the  inhabitants  were  engaged  in  merely  existing,  as  farm- 
ers. The  only  manufacturing  enterprises  carried  on  were  coopering,  lum- 
bering, charcoal  burning,  and  brick-making;  and  those  were  limited  in 
extent  and  almost  profitless  in  results.  With  the  establishment  by  him  of 
the  new  industries  the  town  entered  upon  an  era  of  prosperity  which  con- 
tinued throughout  his  life,  and  in  the  promotion  and  success  of  which  he 
was  perhaps  the  principal  factor. 

As  a  citizen  he  was  highly  esteemed  and  respected.  In  his  politics, 
he  was  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat.  He  attended  Divine  worship  at,  and  was 
a  liberal  contributor  to  the  support  of,  the  Congregational  church  and 
society;  and  was  an  active  and  earnest  advocate  of  all  measures  which  in 
his  judgment  were  designed  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  town  and  of 
its  people. 

He  married,  Jan.  22,  1807,  Martha,  daughter  of  Randal  and  Martha 
(Russell)  McDonald,  of  Brookline.  He  d.  Aug.  2,  1863;  she  d.  Nov.  11, 
1862. 

Children  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Fernando  C,  b.  Feb.  16,  1808;  d.  Oct.  28,  1817. 

2.  *Alonzo,  b.  Sept.  15,  1810;  m.  Oct.  10,  1838,  Sarah  Jaques;  d. 
July  4,  1892. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKL1NE  463 

3.  Marinda,  b.  July  10,  1812;  m.  Dec.  31,  1840,  Sumner  Kendall;  d. 
July  31,  1882. 

4.  Kendall,  b.  Aug.  1,  1814;  d.  Dec.  8,  1827. 

5.  Martha,  b.  May  15,  1816;  d.  Oct.  25,  1826. 

6.  *Fernando,  b.  Feb.  6,  1818;  m.  Oct.  10,  1844.  Lucretia  Stevens; 
d.  Aug.  19,  1879. 

7.  Walter,  b.  June  26,  1820;  d.  Aug.  8,  1825. 

8.  Caroline,  b.  Jan.  10,  1822;  d.  Aug.  12,  1825. 

9.  Luke,  b.  Aug.  11,  1823;  d.  Aug.  15,  1825. 

10.  Caroline,  b.  Feb.  23,  1826;  d.  Jan.  11,  1892,  unm. 

11.  Harriet,  b.  Nov.  22,  1827;  m.  Jan.  1,  1851,  Dr.  Edward  P. 
Cummings  of  Exeter,  N.  H.;  she  d.  July  1,  1896.  Ch.,  Harriet  E.  Mary 
W.,  Willie  B.,  Alice  M. 

12.  Martha,  b.  Dec.  2,  1829;  d.  Dec.  5,  1889,  unm. 

13.  Emily,  b.  Mar.  25,  1832;  m.  Dec.  12,  1854,  Charles  A.  Priest, 
res.  Fitchburg,  Mass.  Children,  Elizabeth  A.,  b.  Dec.  30, 1858; George  H., 
b.  Sept.  24,  1865. 

(VIII)  ALONZO  BAILEY,  son  of  Ensign  and  Martha  (McDonald) 
Bailey,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Sept.  15,  1810.  In  his  early  manhood, 
and  until  he  reached  middle  age,  he  was  engaged  with  his  father  in  the 
milling  and  tanning  business.  He  was  possessed  of  excellent  business 
capacities,  and  endowed  with  a  large  stock  of  what  is  popularly  known  as 
"common  sense,"  and  also  of  an  equally  large  fund  of  humor;  qualities 
which  combined  to  endear  him  to  his  fellow  citizens,  by  whom  he  was 
highly  esteemed.  He  was  president  of  the  day  at  Brookline's  celebra- 
tion of  its  centennial  year  in  1869;  and  served  the  town  as  treasurer  in 
1848,  rmd  selectman  in  1842,  1844,  1849,  1856  and  1857.  He  was  a  Re- 
pub1  lean  in  his  politics,  and  an  Universalist  in  his  religious  belief. 

About  1870  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Claremont,  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  married  Oct.  10.  1839,  Sarah  Jaques 
vi  Barnard,  Vt.  He  died  at  Claremont  July  4,  1892;  she  died  May  30, 
1900. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Edward,  b.  Nov.  9,  1840;  d.  Oct.  4,  1859. 

2.  *Herbert,  b.  June  6,  1842;  m.  Dec.  27,  1864,  Alice  Sulloway. 

3.  Clara  L.,  b.  Dec.  18,  1856;  res,  Washington.  D.  C. 


464  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

(IX)  HERBERT  BAILEY,  son  of  Alonzo  and  Sarah  (Jaques) 
Bailey,  was  born  at  Brookline,  June  6,  1842.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  of  his  native  town,  and,  in  1860  and  1862,  was  a  student  at  Green 
Mountain  Liberal  Institute,  South  Woodstock,  Vt.  After  leaving  the 
Institute,  he  passed  a  year  in  Illinois;  and  then  returning  to  New  Hamp- 
shire, located  at  Enfield  Center;  where  in  1864  he  became  interested  in  a 
knitting  mill;  first  as  its  superintendent  and  later  as  owner  and  manu- 
facturer. As  a  citizen  of  Enfield  he  was  a  potential  factor  in  all  that  per- 
tained to  the  town's  welfare.  He  represented  the  town  in  the  legislatures 
of  1869,  1872  and  1873.  In  1877  he  removed  from  Enfield  to  Claremont; 
where  he  engaged  in  business  as  a  knitting  mill  owner,  and  continued  in 
the  business  until  1892.  He  was  commissioned  as  postmaster  of  Clare- 
mont, March  29,  1899;  a  position  to  which  he  was  twice  re-appointed,  and 
which  he  was  holding  at  the  time  of  his  death,  Oct.  2,  1909.  He  married. 
Dec.  27,  1864,  Alice  Lucy,  dau.  of  Israel  W.  and  Adaline  A.  (Richardson) 
Sulloway  of  Franklin. 

Children. 

1.  Annie  Louise,  b.  Apr.  21,  1866;  m.  Dec.  27,  1887,  William  E. 
Barrett  of  Boston. 

2.  Kate  Florence,  b.  Mar.  30,  1867. 

3.  Susie  Durell,  b.  Nov.  26,  1868;  m.  Jan.  7,  1890,  Francis  G.  Flint. 

4.  Mary  Adelaide,  b.  May  11,  1870. 

5.  Marguerite,  b.  Feb.  23,  1878;  m.  Nov.  7,  1905,  Samuel  R.  Upham, 
M.  D.,  Claremont. 

(VIII )  FERNANDO  BAILEY,  sixth  child  and  fourth  son  of  Ensign 
and  Martha  (McDonald)  Bailey,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Feb.  6,  1818. 
In  his  young  manhood  he  was  in  the  employ  of  his  father  in  the  tannery 
business.  In  the  fifties  he  was  a  partner  of  Reuben  Baldwin  in  the  general 
merchandise  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Baldwin  and  Bailey;  the 
firm  being  located  in  the  store  at  the  east  end  of  Main  street,  now  of  Walter 
E.  Corey.  He  was  an  active,  energetic  and  honorable  citizen.  He  was 
selectman  in  1866,  and  a  member  of  the  board  of  education  for  several 
terms.  He  was  twice  married;  he  m.  1st,  Oct.  10,  1844,  Lucretia  Stevens, 
of  Pepperell,  Mass;  she  died  June  2,  1886.  He  m.  2nd,  Feb.  6,  1869.  Mrs. 
Evaline  B.  Ball.    He  died  Aug.  19,  1879. 

Children;  By  First  Marriage. 

1.  Charles  F.,  b.  Aug.  12,  1847;  m.,  Esther  Haddock;  he  d.  Nov.  29, 
1900. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  465 

2.  George  W.,  b.  Nov.  24,  1849;  m.,  Arabella  Stevens. 

3.  Walter  B.,  b.  Aug.  24,  1851;  m.  Nov.  25,  1895,  Margaret  Tilton. 

4.  Albert  F.,  b.  June  3,  1853;  d.  July  11,  1868. 

5.  Martha  A.,  b.  July  10,  1860;  m.  Sept.  11,  1879,  Horace  Rich- 
mond. 

6.  Edward  K.,  b.  Feb.  1,  1864;  m.  Aug.  11,  1898,  Julia  E.  Peniston. 

7.  Joseph  W.,  b.  Jan.  31,  1866;  m.  June  24,  1901,  Amalia  Whelan. 

Baldwin. 

(V)  REUBEN  BALDWIN  came,  in  1826,  from  Hollis  to  Brook- 
line;  where  he  settled  in  South  Brookline,  then  known  as  Paddledock. 
He  was  born  probably  in  Billerica,  Mass.,  but  possibly  in  Greenfield,  N. 
H.,  and  was  a  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Rebecca  (Holman)  Baldwin,  of 
Billerica,  who  removed  from  Billerica  to  Greenfield  about  the  same  year 
of  his  birth,  1798;  and  a  descendant  in  the  fifth  generation  of  John 
Baldwin,  born  in  England,  who  settled  in  Billerica  as  early  as  1655;  the 
line  of  descent  being  as  follows:  (I)  John,  (II)  Thomas,  (III)  Benjamin, 
(IV)  Jeremiah,  (V)  Reuben. 

For  several  years  after  coming  to  Brookline  he  owned  and  operated 
the  old  Benjamin  Brooks  sawmill  in  South  Brookline.  From  1846  to 
1855  he  was  a  partner  of  Fernando  Bailey  in  the  sale  of  general  merchan- 
dise in  the  store  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Walter  E.  Corey  on  Main 
street  in  the  village.  He  was  postmaster  of  Brookline  from  1846  to  1852. 
In  1853  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Hollis,  where  he  remained  for  ten 
years,  returning  to  Brookline  in  1866.  During  his  residence  in  Hollis  he 
was  postmaster  in  1853  and  1854.  He  was  several  times  selectman  of 
Hollis.  He  was  moderator  of  Brookline  in  1833,  town  clerk  in  1833,  selct- 
man  in  1832,  1833,  1847  and  1848,  and  Representative  in  1834. 

He  married  in  1825,  Lucy,  dau.  of  Benjamin  and  Anna  (Merrill ) 
Farley,  of  Hollis;  he  died  in  Brookline  in  1872;  she  died  in  1883. 

Children. 

1.  Lucy  A.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Dec.  15,  1826;  d.  in  1831. 

2.  *Luke,  b.  in  Brookline,  Aug.  9,  1831;  m.  in  1856,  Harriet  A. 
Burge. 

3.  Lucy  A.,  b.  in  Hollis,  in  1840;  m.  Imri  Williams,  of  Pepperell, 
Mass. 


466  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

(VI)  LUKE  BALDWIN,  only  son  of  Reuben  and  Lucy  (Farley) 
Baldwin,  was  born  in  Brookline,  August  9,  1831.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
cooper.  He  married  in  1856  Harriet  Ann,  dau.  of  Luther  and  Almira 
(Reed)  Burge.  He  died  in  1900;  she  died  in  1903.  Both  are  buried  in 
the  cemetery  on  the  plain. 

Children. 

1.  Etna,  b.  in  Brookline,  in  1857;  m.  Apr.  6,  1880,  Freeman  E. 
Wright. 

2.  Adella,  b.  in  Hollis,  in  1863;  m.  in  1885,  Eddie  S.  Whitcomb. 

3.  Elbert  S.,  b.  in  Brookline,  in  1869;  unm.,  res.,  Seattle,  Wash. 

(VI)  JEREMIAH  BALDWIN  settled  in  Brookline  about  1842, 
coming  here  from  New  Boston,  where  he  was  born  Dec.  16,  1820.  He  was 
a  son  of  Jeremiah  and  Esther  (Maynard)  Baldwin  of  Hancock,  and  a 
descendant  in  the  sixth  generation  of  John  Baldwin  who  came  from  Eng- 
land to  this  country,  and  was  a  settler  in  Billerica,  Mass.,  as  early  as  1655. 
His  grandfather,  (IV)  Jeremiah,  was  a  soldier  for  Billerica  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution.  He  was  a  wheelwright  by  trade.  He  lived  in  this  town 
for  several  years  after  coming  here,  and  then  removing  to  Hancock,  spent 
several  years  in  that  town  and  in  Greenfield.  In  1866,  he  returned  to 
Brookline  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  married,  1st, 
April  6,  1843,  Mary  C.  Bennett  of  Brookline;  she  d.  m.  2nd,  April  21, 
1849,  Elizabeth  (Fletcher)  Hall  of  Brookline.  He  d.  Brookline,  July  20, 
1892;  she  d.  Jan.  24,  1900. 

Children. 

1.  Lizzie  J.,  b.  Feb.  9,  1852;  m.  Sept.  5,  1877,  Nestor  Haines  of 
Nashua,  supt.  of  Underhill  Edge  Tool  Co.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil 
War,  serving  as  a  Lieut,  in  Capt.  Barnes'  Co.  of  Nashua.  He  d.  at  Nashua, 
Nov.  15,  1885.  Children,  (1)  Ona  L.,  b.  Apr.  30  ,1879;  d.  May  2,  1884; 
(2)  Ollie  H.,  b.  Jan.  10,  1882. 

2.  Ella  M.,  b.  in  Hancock,  Aug.  19,  1857;  m.  in  1883,  Albert  T. 
Pierce  of  Brookline.    She  d.  Apr.  29,  1889. 

Ball. 

ABEL  BALL  was  born  in  Hollis,  Dec.  10,  1825.  He  was  a  son  of 
Abel  and  Sarah  (French)  Ball.    He  settled  in  Brookline  in  1857.    He  was 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  467 

a  cooper  by  trade.    He  married,  March  15,  1854,  Betsey  Eveline,  dau.  of 
Levi  and  Lucy  (Sawtelle)  Gilson.    He  died  at  Fremont,  March  23,  1901. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Lula  S.,  b.  June  22,  1856;  m.  1st,  Nov.  24,  1880,  Zenas  Giliman 
of  Boston,  Mass.;  m.  2nd,  June  6,  1896,  Thomas  McGrath,  Pepperell, 
Mass.    No  ch. 

2.  George  W.,  b.  Jan.  4,  1858;  m.  1888,  Sadie  A.  Todd  of  Fremont. 
Ch.  (1)  Helen  T.,  b.  at  Fremont,  July  17,  1889;  (2)  Arthur  A.,  b.  at  Fre- 
mont, Mar.  14,  1892;  (3)  Lula  M.,  b.  at  Fremont,  July  31,  1897;  (4) 
Bernice  A.,  b.  at  Fremont  Apr.  21,  1899;  (5)  George  H.,  b.  Fremont, 
Sept.  20,  1901;  (6)  Richard  G.,  b.  Fremont,  Dec.  29,  1903. 

Bennett. 

ENSIGN  PHINEAS  BENNETT  resided  in  the  east  part  of  Raby 
near  the  Hollis  line.  He  is  supposed  by  some  to  have  been  a  son  of  Phineas 
Bennett,  Sr.,  who  also  resided  in  Raby  after  it  was  incorporated.  (See 
Chap.  V,  ante).  But  his  name  does  not  appear  in  the  family  records  of 
the  latter  as  given  in  Mr.  Worcester's  history  of  Hollis.  He  married 
about  1779,  Elizabeth,  surname  unknown. 

Children;  Born  in  Raby. 

1.  Ede,  b.  Sept.  5,  1780. 

2.  Elizabeth,  b.  Nov.  3.  1782. 

3.  Ezra,  b.  Nov.  21,  1784. 

4.  James,  b.  April  11,  1787. 

5.  John,  b.  Dec.  3,  1789;  d.  June  15,  1790. 

DEACON  THOMAS  BENNETT  was  a  son  of  Stephen  and  Eliza- 
beth (  )  Bennett,  of  Groton,  Mass.;  where  he  was  born  in 
1778.  The  family  was  among  the  early  settlers  of  Groton,  where  it  was 
represented  as  early  as  1704.  About  1800,  he  removed,  from  Groton  to 
Brookline,  where  he  settled  about  two  miles  north  of  the  village  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Milford  highway.  He  was  prominent  both  in  town  and  in 
church  matters.  He  was  moderator  in  1825,  and  town  clerk  in  1821,  1825 
and  1826;  served  twelve  years  on  the  board  of  selectmen,  and  represented 
the  town  in  the  legislatures  of  1821,  1822  and  1825.    He  was  a  member  of 


468  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

the  local  Congregational  church,  and  one  of  its  deacons.  He  was  a  free- 
mason ;  a  member  of  Benevolent  Lodge  of  Milford ;  of  which  lodge  he  was 
master,  1832—1835. 

He  married  before  coming  here,  Nancy,  dau.  of  Job  and  Sarah  (Hart- 
well)  Shattuck,  of  Groton,  Mass.    He  died  in  Brookline  in  1863,  aged  85. 

Children. 

1.  *Asher,'b.  in  Groton,  Mass.  Apr.  2,  1799;  m.  in  1825,  Sarah  Hall. 

2.  Nancy,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  22,  1801. 

3.  Elmira,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  11,  1804;  m.  in  1828,  Leonard 
French,  Jaffrey. 

4.  Philomelia,  b.  in  Brookline,  Aug.  16,  1806;  m.  Apr.  12,  1832, 
John  Burge. 

5.  *Beri,  b.  in  Brookline,  Sept.  19,  1808;  m.  June  12,  1828,  Margaret 
Russell. 

6.  Thirza,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  14,  1811;  m.  June  23,  1835,  Calvin 
Shedd. 

7.  Thomas,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  9,  1814;  d.  young. 

8.  *Rudolphus  D.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Feb.  7,  1817;  m.  May  14,  1840, 
Mary  Woodward. 

9.  Rosilla,  b.  in  Brookline,  Feb.  10,  1819;  m.  Mar.  8,  1838,  Alpheus 
Melendy. 

10.  Mary  C,  b.  in  Brookline,  Oct.  29,  1820;  m.  Apr.  6,  1843,  Jere- 
miah Baldwin. 

DEACON  ASHER  BENNETT,  a  son  of  Thorns  and  Nancy  (Shat- 
tuck) Bennett,  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass.,  Apr.  2,  1799.  He  came  in  his 
infancy  with  his  father's  family  to  Brookline,  where  he  passed  the  remain- 
der of  his  life.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  a  member  of  and  deacon  in  the 
Congregational  church.  He  married,  about  1825,  Sarah,  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  (Mcintosh)  Hall,  of  this  town. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Sarah  C,  b.  May  28,  1826;  m.  May  30,  1843,  Stephen  S.  Mixer. 

2.  Mary  A.,  b.  Oct.  28,  1827;  d.  in  early  womanhood. 

3.  Augusta,  b.  ,  d.  young,  unm. 

4.  Plina,  b.  ;  d.  young,  unm. 

5.  James  H.,  b.  ;  m.  Dec.  4,  1862,  Mary  Eliza  Daniels, 
dau.  of  Sumner  S.  Daniels;  1  eh.,  Alvah  F.,  b.  Oct.  8,  1863. 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  469 

BERI  BENNETT,  second  son  and  fourth  child  of  Dea.  Thomas  and 
Nancy  (Shattuck)  Bennett,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Sept.  19,  1808;  he  m., 
1st,  in  1828,  Margaret  Russell,  of  Brookline;  m.  2nd,  Nancy  Marble,  of 
Milford.     He  was  a  farmer  and  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church. 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 

1.  Nancy  A.,  b.  Oct.  13,  1828;  m.  Dec.  13,  1849,  Frederick  W.  Pea- 
cock of  Amherst. 

2.  *Thomas  D.,  b.  Mar.  24,  1831;  m.  1st,  May  14,  1854,  Adeline 
Putnam,  of  Mason;  m.  2nd,  Mary  E.  Arnold,  of  Charlestown,  Mass. 

3.  Beri  S.,  b.  Dec.  19,  1832;  d.  in  infancy. 

4.  Thirza,  b.  June  28,  1835;  m.  Aug.  11,  1861,  David  Miller  of 
Nashua;  d.  Feb.  10,  1914. 

5.  John  C,  b.  Mar.  13,  1837;  m.  Dec.  13,  1855,  Ella  Bignall  of 
Brookline;  he  was  a  soldier  for  Brookline  in  the  Civil  War;  res.  Spokane, 
Wash. 

THOMAS  D.  BENNETT,  second  child  and  first  son  of  Beri  and 
Margaret  (Russell)  Bennett,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Mar.  24,  1831;  his 
early  manhood  was  passed  in  working  on  the  farm  and  in  the  sawmill  of 
his  father.  He  served  as  a  soldier  for  Brookline  in  the  Civil  War.  After 
the  close  of  the  War,  he  settled  in  Greenville,  where  he  was  engaged  for 
many  years  in  the  milling  business.  In  1905  he  returned  to  Brookline, 
where  he  is  living  at  the  present  time.  He  is  a  member  of  Benevolent 
Lodge,  F.  A.  A.  M.,  of  Milford. 

He  m.  1st,  May  4,  1855,  Adeline  Putnam,  of  Mason;  m.  2nd,  Mary 
Ella  Arnold,  of  Charlestown,  Mass. 

Children; By  First  Wife. 

1.  Eliza,  b.  Greenville,  May  4,  1856;  m.  Nov.  24,  1875,  Willard  J. 
Cow  drey. 

2.  James  H.,  b.  Greenville  ;  d.  1860,  unm. 

3.  Willard  A.,  b.  Brookline,  Nov.  24,  1860;  m.  Sept.  3,  1906,  Mrs. 
Annie  E.  Pratt,  Greenville. 

4.  Abbie  A.,  b.  Brookline,  June  16,  1866;  m.  June  15,  1882,  Howard 
J.  Nutting  of  Greenville. 

5.  Nellie  S.,  b.  Greenville,  Aug.  27,  1868. 


470  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

6.  Ida  A.,  b.  Greenville,  Apr.  26,  1870;  m.  Dec.  24,  1892,  George  L. 
Jowdres  of  New  Ipswich. 

7.  Cassie  B.,  b.  Greenville,  Nov.  27,  1872;  m.  at  East  Rindge,  Oct. 
27,  1897,  John  W.  Edwards 

Children;  By  Second  Wife. 

8.  Charlotte  A.,  b.  May  9,  1883;  m.  1st,  February.  18,  1904, 
Jesse  N.  Frost,  of  Pittsfield,  Me.;  m.  2nd,  May  4,  1909,  Richard  Wright, 
of  Brookline. 

Children;  By  First  Marriage. 

Norman  B.,  b.  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  Sept.  11,  1905. 

RUDOLPHUS  D.  BENNETT  third  son  of  Deacon  Thomas  and 
Nancy  (Shattuck)  Bennett,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Feb.  7,  1817;  he  was 
a  farmer.  He  removed  from  Brookline  to  Milford  in  1849;  d.  in  Milford, 
Feb.  19,  1885.  Married  May  14,  1840,  Mary  dau.  of  Issac  and  Mary 
(Melendy)  Woodward  of  Merrimack;  she  d.  in  Manchester,  Feb.  27,  1887. 

Children. 

1.  Albert  Rodolphus,  b.  in  Merrimack,  Sept.  27,  1842. 

2.  William  Alphonso,  b.  in  Merrimack,  Dec.  9,  1845. 

3.  Alfred  Allen,  b.  in  Brookline,  Nov.  30,  1848;  is  a  teacher  in  Ames, 
la.;  m.  July  1,  1878,  Permelia  E.  Chapin,  Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 

4.  Mary  Emily,  b.  in  Milford,  Sept.  20,  1851;  m.  Sept.  8,  1874, 
John  F.  Gillis  of  Hudson;  res.  Manchester. 

5.  Anna  Frances,  b.  Oct.  24,  1853;  m.  Jan.  23,  1879,  Louis  P.  Cum- 
nock, of  Lowell,  d.  at  Lynn,  Mass.,  July  24,  1880. 

6.  Clara  Louise,  b.  Dec.  5,  1859;  m.  Oct.  20,  1885,  Frank  L.  Downs. 

Betterly. 

GEORGE  BETTERLY,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in  Brookline, 
according  to  the  town  records,  came  here  in  1815  from  Woodstock,  Vt. 
He  was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  Aug.  18,  1769.  Little  is  known  of  the 
family's  antecedents,  except  that  it  is  of  English  origin;  the  immigrant 
settlers  having  been  three  brothers  who  came  from  England  to  America 
in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century.     He  settled  first  on  the  east 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  471 

side  of  the  highway  to  Mason  near  Museatanipus  pond.  Subsequently  he 
removed  to  the  Poorfarm  Road,  so  called;  where,  on  the  Campbell  brook, 
a  few  rods  above  the  point  where  it  crosses  said  road,  he  erected  a  two 
story  building,  in  which  he  took  up  his  residence  with  his  family  and  in- 
stalled a  fulling  mill.  He  operated  this  mill  until  well  along  into  the 
thirties. 

He  was  thrice  married;  m.  1st,  Lucy  Hodgkins;  m.  2nd,  Sarah  A.  H. 
Bailey;  she  d.  Aug.  22,  1824;  m.  3rd,  Hannah  Lee.    He  d.  March  29,  1839. 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 

1.  *Asa,  b.  at  Woodstock,  Vt.,  Apr.  17,  1793;  m.  Dec.  5,  1816, 
Rhoda  Swallow  of  Dunstable. 

Children;  By  Second  Wife. 

2.  Sally, 

3.  George  T.  J.;  had  a  son,  William  C,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  22, 
1830. 

ASA  BETTERLY,  son  of  George  and  Lucy  (Hodgkins)  Betterly  was 
born  Apr.  17,  1793,  at  Woodstock,  Vt.  In  1815  he  came  wth  his  father  to 
Brookline.  He  continued  to  live  in  his  father's  family  until  he  attained 
to  his  majority.  After  he  reached  manhood,  he  resided  for  a  while  in  a 
dwelling  house  located  on  the  site  of  the  J.  Alonzo  Hall  dwelling  house, 
lately  destroyed  by  fire.  At  a  later  period  he  built  the  dwelling  house  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Mason  highway  a  few  rods  north  of  the  Pond  Bridge ; 
in  which  he  made  his  home  for  many  years.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  mar- 
ried, at  Dunstable,  Dec.  5,  1816,  Rhoda  Swallow.  He  d.  Sept.  4,  1875; 
she  d.  Jan.  20,  1867. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *Abram  S.,  b.  Sept.  16,  1817;  m.  in  1847,  Mary  H.  Hall. 

2.  Lucy  Ann,  b.  June  22,  1820;  m.  Feb.  7,  1863,  Amos  Blodgett,  of 
Brookline. 

3.  Albina  P.,  b.  Aug.  10,  1822;  m.  Mar.  31,  1848,  Sylvester  Jones; 
res.  Manchester. 

4.  Mary,  b.  May  11,  1824;  m.  June  17.,  1847,  George  A  Johnson. 

5.  Sarah,  b.  Aug.  8,  1826;  d.  Dec.  2.  1846, 


472  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

6.  Caroline  F.,  b.  Sept.  13,  1828;  d.  in  1884. 

7.  Charles  E.,  b.  Dec.  19,  1831;  d.  June  29,  1851. 

8.  Casper,  b.  Nov.  9,  1833;  d.  May  25,  1834. 

ABRAM  S.  BETTERLY,  first  child  and  first  son  of  Asa  and  Rhoc 
(Swallow)  Betterly,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Sept.  16,  1817.  He  was 
farmer.  His  dwelling  house  was  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  Masc 
highway  and  on  the  south  side  of  the  road  leading  out  of  the  same  to  tl 
"Senter  place,"  a  few  rods  north  of  the  Pond  bridge.  He  married  in  184' 
Mary  H.,  dau.  of  Joseph  and  Abiah  (Shattuck)  Hall.  He  d.  Dec.  1 
1892;  she  d   Aug.  29,  1878. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Sarah  A.,  b.  Oct.  15,  1848;  m.  June  3,  1876,  William  H.  Crossmai 
res.  Shirley,  Mass. 

2.  Lucian  S.,  b.  Dec.  16,  1849;  unm.;  d.  Jan.  31,  1890. 

3.  George  E.,  b.  Nov.  13,  1853;  m.  June  10,  1885,  Eliza  Day,  Towi 
send,  Mass.;  ch.  (1)  Percy  D.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Aug.  3,  1887;  (2)  Matil 
b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  6,  1898. 

4.  Willis  E.,  b.  July  5,  1857;  m.  Nov.  15,  1883,  Mary  L.  Hill;  re 
Merrimack;  1  ch.,  Ernest  N,  b.  Aug.  9,  1885,  at  Reeds  Ferry. 

Blodgett. 

AMOS   BLODGETT,   originally  of   Nashua  and   Hollis,   settled 
Brookline  about  1860,  coming  here  from  Milford.     He  was  a  cooper  ar 
a  farmer,  living  on  the  old  Ezekiel    Proctor  place,   about  one  mile  norl 
of  the  village  on  the  west  side  of  the  north  highway  to  Hollis.    He  m.  Is 
before  coming  to  Brookline,  Hannah  V.  she  d.  May  3,  186 

aged  52  yrs.;  m.  2nd,  Lucy  A.  Betterly,  of  Brookline.     He  d.  Mar.  2 
1876. 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 

1.  Charles  A.,  b.  Oct.  8,  1832;  d.  at  Brookline,  June  13,  1910,  lea1 
ing  a  will  by  which  one  half  of  his  estate  was  given  to  the  town  to  be  use 
in  building  a  town-house. 

2.  Loretta  H.,  b.  Mar.  23,  1834. 

3.  Albert  P.,  b.  Aug.  31,  1839. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  473 

4.  Amanda  I.,  b.  June  24,  1842;  m.  in  1859,  Thomas  Tarbell  of  Pep- 
perell,  Mass.    He  d.  July  25,  1868;  she  d.  Aug.  10,  1866.  No  eh. 

5.  Clara  E.,  b.  Feb.  9,  1847;  d.  July  2,  1863. 

Blanchard. 

WILLIAM  BLANCHARD,  was  originally  of  Old  Dunstable.  In 
1768  he  was  living  in  the  Mile  Slip,  and  was  one  of  its  citizens  who  signed 
the  petition  for  the  incorporation  of  Raby.  In  1769  he  was  one  of  Raby's 
first  board  of  selectmen;  his  house  at  that  time  being  located  in  the  south- 
west part  of  the  town  on  land  bordering  on  Townsend,  Mass.,  which  was. 
conveyed  to  him  by  Simeon  Blanchard.  Feb.  28,  1733,  he  married  De- 
liverence  Parker,  dau.  of  Nathaniel  and  Lydia  Parker  of  Groton,  Mass. 

Bohonon. 

MOSES  BOHONON  settled  in  Brookline  in  the  forties  of  1800,  com- 
ing here  from  Danbury,  where  he  was  born  about  the  year  1820.  He  was 
a  farmer.  His  farm,  which  was  originally  the  old  Joshua  Smith  place,  was 
located  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town.  He  and  four  of  his  sons  served 
as  soldiers  for  Brookline  in  the  Civil  War.  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st, 
Apr.  4,  1839,  Hannah,  dau.  of  Prescott  Wright;  she  d.  Feb.  6,  1869;  m. 
2nd,  Nov.  13,  1877,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Lawrence  of  Pepperell,  Mass.  He  is 
buried  in  the  South  Cemetery. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline,  By  First  Wife. 

1.  Charles,  b.  Sept.  27,  1839;  is  a  cooper  by  trade;  was  a  soldier  for 
Brookline  in  the  Civil  War;  after  the  close  of  the  war  resided  for  many 
years  in  Townsend,  Mass.;  present  res.  Nashua.  He  m.  July  29,  1865„ 
Paulina  Powers.  1  ch.,  Fred  H.,  b.  July  1,  1866. 

2.  Clinton,  b.  Oct.  17,  1841;  cooper  by  trade;  served  as  a  soldier 
for  Brookline  in  Civil  War;  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church 
and  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  citizen.  Lived  for  many  years  in  Petersham, 
Mass.,  where  he  died.  M.  Mar.  12,  1865,  Harriet  A.,  dau.  of  David  and 
Elizabeth  (Hutchinson)  Hobart,  of  Brookline.  Ch.  (1)  Clarence  H.,  b. 
Nov.  16,  1865;  (2)  Bertha  E.,  b.  Mar.  22,  1872;  (3)  Edith  M,  b.  Sept.  29, 
1874;  (4)  Clinton  B„  d.  Dec.  11,  1898. 

3.  John,  b.  Jan.  23,  1844;  was  a  soldier  for  Brookline  in  the  Civil 
War.     At  the  present  time  he  is,  and  for  several  years  past  has  been,  en- 


474  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

gaged  in  the  lumber  business,  operating  a  portable  steam  sawmill;  m. 
Nov.  29,  1866,  Pherma  A.  Page  of  Pepperell,  Mass. ;  she  d.  Apr.  19,  1902. 
Ch.  (1)  Eva  L.,  b.  Mar.  9,  1868;  (2)  Ernest  L.,  b.  Nov.  20,  1876;  d.  Jan. 
29,  1912;  (3)  Lilla,  b.  in  Shirley,  Mass.,   Nov.  20,  1883. 

4.  Henry,  b.  Nov.  27,  1845.  He  was  a  farmer  and  cooper;  served  for 
Brookline  in  Civil  War;  m.  Sept.  24,  1866,  Martha  Powers,  of  Pepperell, 
Mass.;  d.  July  11,  1886;  Ch..  (1)  Earl,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.,  24.  1867; 
(2)  Lura,  b.  Nov.  17,  1871;  (3)  Walter,  b.  Nov.  28,  1876. 

5.  Martha  A.,  b.  Dec.  27,  1847;  m.  July  2,  1873,  W.  A.  Cummings, 
of  Nashua.  Ch.,  born  in  Nashua,  (1)  Velma  B.,  b.  Jan.  1,  1875;  (2)  Wil- 
lard  A.,  b.  July  17,  1886. 

6.  Mary  A.,  b.  July  12,  1852;  m.  June  3,  1875,  Gorham  Storer;  1  ch., 
Cecil,  b.  June  13,  1876;  res.  Nashua. 

7.  Adeline  A.,  b.  May  1,  1853;  d.  Oct.  1,  1853. 

8.  Elsie  J.,  b.  July  1,  1857;  res.  Nashua. 

9.  Erlman,  b.  July  4,  1859;  d.  Jan.  2,  1861. 

Boynton. 

SAMUEL  T.  BOYNTON,  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Tarbell) 
Boynton,  was  born  in  Westford,  Mass.,  July  16,  1776.  He  settled  in 
Brookline  about  1797.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  residing  on  Meeting- 
house hill  in  the  dwelling  house  at  the  present  time  (1911)  of  Mrs.  New- 
ton W.  Colburn;  where  he  kept  a  country  store.  He  was  a  prominent 
and  leading  citizen.  He  was  selectman  in  1803,  1804,  and  represented 
Brookline  in  the  legislatures  of  1805,  1807,  1808  and  1809,  respectively. 
He  d.  at  Broookline,  Sept.  22,  1812,  aged  44  years.  He  was  probably 
married  before  coming  here;  the  maiden  name  of  his  wife  is  unknown. 

Children; Bom  in  Brookline. 

1.  Thirza,  b.  Dec.  13,  1797. 

2.  Samuel  T.,  b.  July  28,  1805;  m.  Dec.  10,  1826;  Martha  Daniels 

Boutwell. 

WILLIAM  CLARK  BOUTWELL  came  to  Brookline  from  Crafts- 
bury,  Vt.,  in  1858.  He  was  a  son  of  Newton  and  Mary  Ann  (Merrill) 
Boutwell  of  Lyndeboro;  where  he  was  born  July  28,  1832.  He  was  a 
farmer.     He  served  as  a  soldier  for  Brookline  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  475 

He  died  in  the  service  June  21,  1863,  at  New  Orleans,  La.     (see  chap. 
XVIII,  ante).    He  m.  Apr.  7,  I860,  Lucy  Converse,  of  Brookline. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  William  Herbert,  b.  Aug.  29,  1860;  m.  Apr.  15,  1899,  Mrs.  Martha 
Reed  of  Waltharn.  Mass.  He  d.  Mar.  16,  1912,  at  Leominster,  Mass.  No 
ch. 

2.  Edwin  Urmore,  b.  Mar.  1,  1862;  m.  in  Apr.,  1896,  Jennie  M.  Frye, 
of  Wilton;  four  children,  2  living  at  present  time;  res.  Sterling,  Mass. 

3.  Emma  Abbie,  b.  Feb.  23,  1863;  m.  Oct.  4,  1887,  Fred  W.  Green- 
leaf,  of  Leominster,  Mass.;  where  they  are  residing  at  the  present  time. 
No  ch. 

Bridges. 

GEORGE  WOODBURY  BRIDGES  was  born  at  Wilton,  in  1838. 
He  is  a  son  of  Samuel  M.  and  Sabra  Bridges.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
War  in  1861,  he  and  his  three  brothers  enlisted  from  Wilton  for  three 
years,  or  during  the  war,  in  Company  B,  eighth  Regiment,  N.  H.  Volun- 
teers. Soon  after  his  enlistment,  he  was  promoted  to  Corporal,  and  after- 
wards to  Sergeant  in  the  company.  In  1863,  he  was  commissioned  second 
Lieutenant  in  the  92nd  U.  S.  colored  infantry;  and  was  afterwards  pro- 
moted to  1st  Lieutenant,  and  subsequently  to  Captain  of  his  company. 
He  was  in  the  service  four  years ;  all  of  which  he  passed  in  the  Department 
of  the  Gulf,  taking  part  in  the  campaigns  of  the  Red  River  and  Mississippi 
Valleys;  in  which  he  was  severely  wounded.  He  was  honorably  discharged 
from  the  service  in  1866,  by  reason  of  the  close  of  the  war. 

In  1875,  he  removed  from  Wilton  to  Brookline,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided.  He  was  postmaster  of  Brookline  from  March  28,  1895  to 
March  1,  1913,  when  he  voluntarily  resigned  the  position;  having  been 
absent  from  his  official  duties  but  six  days  during  his  entire  term.  During 
his  postmastership,  he  was  instrumental  in  procuring  the  establishment  of 
the  two  postal  routes  which,  at  the  present  time,  have  their  starting 
points  at  the  Brookline  office.  As  a  citizen,  he  is  esteemed  and  respected 
by  his  fellow-citizens.  He  has  served  fifteen  years  as  a  member  of  the 
board  of  education,  and  held  other  offices  of  trust.  He  is,  and  for  many 
years  has  been,  a  justice  of  the  peace  and  quorum  throughout  the  State. 

He  has  been  twice  married:  m.  1st,  Oct.  6,  1861,  Sarah  D.  Buss  of 
Wilton;  m.  2nd,  June  2,  1896,  Lizzie  C.  Todd,  of  New  Boston. 


476  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Child;  By  First  Wife. 

Theodore  L.,  b.  in  Wilton,  May  2,  1868;  m.  Jan.  18,  1902,  Agnes  Hill, 
of  Mt.  Desert,  Me. ;  res.  Boston,  Mass. ;  where  he  has  has  been  for  27  yrs. 
in  the  service  of  the  U.  S.  Weather  Bureau. 

Brooks. 

BENJAMIN  BROOKS,  Jr.  was  born  in  1754  in  Townsend,  Mass. 
He  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  (Green)  Brooks,  she  being  a 
daughter  of  Eleazer  and  Anna  (Tarbell)  Green,  of  Groton,  Mass.  He 
settled  in  Brookline  in  1782;  as  appears  from  the  following  record,  copied 
from  the  town's  book  of  records-  "Benjamin  Brooks,  Emme  his  wife,  Mollie 
their  daughter  and  William  Eaton,  their  servant,  moved  from  Townsend 
hill  into  Raby  in  1782." 

His  dwelling  house,  a  log  cabin,  was  located  in  South  Brookline;  its 
site  at  the  present  time  (1911)  is  occupied  by  the  dwelling  house  of  Frank 
Farrar.  In  1810  he  built  the  dwelling  house  in  South  Brookline  late  of 
Luther  Rockwood,  deceased;  into  which  he  moved  and  where  he  died. 
Between  1790  and  1800,  he  built  the  first  sawmill  to  be  erected  on  the 
present  site  of  the  Stickney  sawmill  in  South  Brookline.  He  was  a  farmer; 
but,  in  connection  with  his  farming,  operated  a  brick  kiln,  being  the  first, 
perhaps,  to  manufacture  bricks  in  this  town.  He  married  in  1780,  Emme, 
maiden  name  unknown.  He  died  Apr.  2,  1829,  aged  75  years;  his  wife 
died  Jan.  30,  1825,  aged  67  years. 

Children. 

1.  Mary,  b.  in  Townsend,  Mar.  3,  1781. 

2.  *Benjamin,  b.  in  Raby,  Jan.  19,  1783;  m.  Oct.  27,  1805,  Hannah 
Lash. 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  in  Raby,  July  5,  1787. 

4.  Kesiah,  b.  in  Raby,  Mar.  29,  1789;  m.  Jan.  14,  1812,  Luther 
Rockwood. 

5.  William,  b.  in  Raby,  in  1791 ;  d.  Apr.  20,  1857. 

(Ill)  Benjamin  Brooks,  second  child  and  first  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Emme  Brooks,  was  born  in  Raby,  Jan.  19,  1783.  He  was  a  farmer.  He 
married  Oct.  27,  1805,  Hannah  Lash,  of  Brookline. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  477 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Lemuel,  b.  no  record.  In  the  fifties  he  removed  to  Saratoga,  N. 
Y.;  where  he  married  and  died,  leaving  a  family  of  children. 

2.  *Samuel,  b.  July  5,  1811;  m.  Oct.  23,  1851,  Alexena  Lawrence. 

3.  Eli  K.,  b.  June  6,  1820;  d.  unm.  Aug.  28,  1908. 

(IV)  SAMUEL  BROOKS,  second  child  and  second  son  of  Benjamin 
and  Hannah  (Lash)  Brooks,  was  born  in  Brookline,  July  5,  1811.  He  was 
a  farmer  and  cooper.  He  m.  Alexena  Lawrence;  he  d.  Sept.  18,  1875.  He 
is  buried  in  the  South  Cemetery. 

Children. 

1.  Caroline  A.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Feb.  9,  1852;  d.  Mar.  29,  1891. 

2.  Emma  H.,  b.  in  Milford,  Sept.  27,  1853;  m.  Oct.  1,  1876,  Ben- 
jamin D.  Burgess. 

3.  Ai  L.  S.,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  8,  1855;  m.  in  1880,  Ellenor  Spain. 

4.  Christiana  J.,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  22,  1857;  m.  1st,  Charles 
Smith;  m.  2nd,  Henry  Adams. 

5.  Sarah  M.,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  30,  1859;  m.  Sept.  18,  1889, 
Luther  Brown. 

6.  Mary  E.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Sept.  24,  1861;  m.  Oct.  15,  1894,  Geo. 
L.  C.  Walker. 

7.  Ellen  A.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Feb.  17,  1864;  m.  Nov.  2,  1890,  Charles 
H.  Burnham. 

Brown. 

CLARK  BROWN  settled  in  the  Mile  Slip,  now  Brookline,  in  1760, 
coming  there  from  Harvard,  Mass.  In  1772,  he  united  with  the  Congre- 
gational church  in  Mason.  He  was  moderator  of  Raby  in  1776,  1778, 
1780,  and  1782;  selectman  in  1776,  and  town  treasurer  in  1778,  1779  and 
1780.  He  was  a  soldier  for  Brookline  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  He 
was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Lucy.  She  died  in  Brookline,  August  28,  1796, 
aged  61,  and  is  buried  in  the  Pond  Cemetery;  m.  2nd,  Nov.  28,  1796,  Mrs. 
Sarah  Withee,  of  Mason. 

Children;  Born  in  Raby. 

1.  Lucy,  b.  Sept.  17,  1768;  m.  Aug.  31,  1808,  John  Brown. 

2.  *Ebenezer,  b.  Aug.  16,  1770;  m.  Susanna. 


478  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

3.  Lydia,  b.  May  24,  1773;  m.  May  22,  1793,  Amos  Croutch,  Box- 
borough. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  Dec.  12,  1777. 

EBENEZER  BROWN,  son  of  Clark  and  Lucy  Brown,  was  born  in 
Brookline,  Aug.  16,  1770.    He  was  a  farmer.    He  married  in  1793,  Susanna 

Children. 

1.  Susanna,  b.  Feb.  18,  1794;  m.  Mar.  7,  1815,  Reuben  Tarbell. 

2.  Betsey,  b.  July  15,  1796. 

3.  Lucy,  b.  July  26,  1799. 

4.  Ebenezer,  b.  Sept.  18,  1801. 

5.  Aaron  Clark,  b.  Jan.  27,  1807. 

6.  Joseph,  b.  Mar.  8,  1810. 

7.  Benjamin,  b.  Mar.  8,  1810. 

SAMUEL  BROWN  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Brown  whose  daughter, 
Hannah,  married  Lieut.  Samuel  Farley.  (For  sketch  of  his  life  see  Chap. 
V,  ante.)  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  March  26,  1756,  Mary  Glene; 
m.  2nd,  Jan.  22,  1761,  Mary  Wheeler. 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 

1.  William,  b.  in  Hollis,  Nov.  13,  1758. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  in  Hollis,  Nov.  13,  1760. 

Children;  By  Second  Wife. 

3.  Bridget,  b.  in  Hollis,  Dec.  31,  1761. 

4.  Samuel,  b.  in  Hollis,  Jan.  11,  1764. 

5.  William,  b.  in  Hollis,  Feb.  4,  1766. 

6.  Abraham,  b.  in  Hollis,  Mar.  11,  1768. 

7.  Samuel,  b.  in  Raby,  Aug.  8,  1770. 

8.  Timothy,  b.  in  Raby,  Jan.  2,  1773. 

Burge. 

LUTHER  BURGE  settled  in  Brookline  about  1827,  coming  here 
from  Hollis.    He  was  a  farmer.    He  m.  May  3,  1827,  Almira  Reed  of  Hollis. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  479 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Luther,  b.  May  3,  1828;  m.  Feb.  22,  1857,  Eliza  Ann  Seaver. 

2.  John  Bigelow,  b.  May  7,  1830;  d.  in  1833. 

3.  Elizabeth  Ann,  b.  Jan.  27,  1833;  d.  Mar.  19,  1838. 

4.  Charles  Frederick,  b.  July  19,  1834. 

5.  Harriet  Ann,  b.  Feb.  24,  1837;  m.  in  1856,  Luke  Baldwin. 

6.  David  M.,  b.  Jan.  16,  1840;  served  in  Civil  War;  res.  Vineland, 
N.J. 

7.  Almira  B.,  b.  Feb.  5,  1845;  m.  and  settled  in  the  west. 

JOHN  BURGE,  a  son  of  David  and  Betsey  (Mcintosh)  Burge,  was 
born  in  Hollis,  Apr.  12,  1806.  He  settled  in  Brookline  about  1830.  He 
married,  in  Hollis,  Apr.  12,  1830,  Philomelia,  dau.  of  Dea.  Thomas  Ben- 
nett, of  Brookline.  He  was  a  farmer  and  an  active  member  of  the  Con- 
gregational church.    He  d.  Dec.  24,  1876;  she  d.  Sept.  22,  1871. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Katherine  A.,  b.  Dec.  28,  1833;  m.  Apr.  8,  1858,  James  R.  Pierce. 

2.  Emily  M.,  b.  May  15,  1841;  d.  Nov.  14,  1842. 

3.  Payson,  b.  Nov.  15,  1844;  m.  Lucy  C.  Wright,  June  1,  1870;  no 
ch.;  farmer;  member  of  Congregational  church;  selectman  in  1913  and 
1914. 

Burgess. 

JAMES  HARVEY  BURGESS  settled  in  Brookline  in  1833;  coming 
here  from  Groton,  Mass.  He  was  a  farmer.  From  1833  to  1843  he  lived 
on  the  farm  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  which  subsequently  became  the 
town  poorfarm.  In  the  latter  year  he  purchased  and  moved  onto  the  old 
Lieut.  John  Cummings  farm  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  where  he  resided 
until  his  death.  Four  of  his  family  of  eleven  children,  James  L-,  John  C, 
Asa  L.,  and  Sumner  A.,  served  as  soldiers  for  Brookline  in  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion.  He  married  before  coming  to  Brookline,  Mariam  Burgess 
(not  related)  of  Boxborough,  Mass.  He  d.  in  Brookline,  in  May,  1875; 
his  wife  d.  in  1883. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Charles  H.,  b.  Mar.  29,  1834;  d.  Jan.  31,  1881. 

2.  Olive  M.,  b.  June  18,  1836;  m.  1st,  in  1855,  Josiah  S.  Jaques, 
Tyngsboro,  Mass.;  m.  2nd.  Dec,  7,  1884,  Charles  G.  Hamblet,  Milford. 


480  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

3.  *James  L.,  b.  Dec.  30,  1838;  m.  Nov.  20,  1866,  Eliza  Reed,  of 
Merrimack. 

4.  John  C,  b.  Aug.  3,  1841;  m.  Oct.  13,  1866,  Villa  A.  Henderson, 
of  Nashua. 

5.  Asa  S.,  b.  Dec.  19,  1843;  m.  1st,  Dec.  12,  1866,  Mary  L.  Foster; 
m.  2nd,  Oct.  14,  1868,  Sarah  A.  Smith,  of  Brookline. 

6.  Lydia  M.,  b.  Sept.  26,  1846;  m.  Oct.  15,  1863,  Albert  F.Wright. 

7.  Henry  F.,  b.  Dec.  9,  1848;  res.  Brookline. 

8.  George  H.,  b.  June  16,  1851. 

9.  Louisa  J.,  b.  May  24,  1852;  m.  Charles  A.  Wright, 
Townsend,  Mass. 

10.  Sumner  A.,  b.  Sept.  9,  1855;  m.  March  30,  1883,  Ellen  B.  Hay- 
den. 

11.  Martha  A.,   b.   Feb.  17,  1858;   m.  Jan.  25,  1884,   Augustus  E. 
Wright. 

JAMES  LYMAN  BURGESS,  second  son  and  third  child  of  James 
H.  and  Mariam  W.  Burgess,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Dec.  30,  1838.  He 
passed  his  boyhood  in  Harvard,  Mass.;  where  he  attended  the  public 
schools.  In  1870  he  removed  from  Harvard  to  Nashua,  from  which  city 
he  removed  in  1874  to  Merrimack.  In  1881  he  removed  from  Merrimack 
to  Nashua,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  is  engaged  in  the  insurance 
business.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  War;  and  is  a  member  of  John  G. 
Foster  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Nashua;  of  which,  in  1908 — 1909,  he  was  a  com- 
mander. He  married,  Nov.  20,  1866,  Eliza,  dau.  of  Walter  and  Sophronia 
(Danforth)  Reed  of  Merrimack. 

Children. 

1.  Hattie  L.,  b.  in  Harvard,  Mass.,  Jan.  23,  1868;  d.  July  26,  1901. 

2.  Alice  G.,  b.  in  Harvard,  Mass.,  Apr.  6,  1869;  m.  Apr.  30,  1895, 
Charles  F.  Wright. 

3.  Loretta  M.,  b.  in  Nashua,  Jan.  23,  1878;  m.  Feb.  19,  1908,  Loren 
R.  Pierce,  of  So.  Londonderry,  Vt. 

DANIEL  BURGESS  settled  in  Brookline  about  1830,  coming  here 
from  Harvard,  Mass.  He  was  a  farmer  and  cooper,  living  in  the  west  part 
of  the  town.    He  married,  Sept.  11,  1831,  Abigail  Dix. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN    OF  BROOKLINE  481 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Albert,  b.  July  24,  1832;  d.  Nov.  23,  1856. 

2.  Abigail,  b.  Nov.  6,  1834;  m.  May  30,  1854,  Hiram  Wyeth. 

3.  Polly  N.,  b.  Oct.  20,  1837;  married  Frederick  Flanders. 

4.  *Benjamin  D.,  b.  Aug.  7,  1840;  m.  Oct.  1,  1876,  Emma  H.  Brooks. 

5.  Sarah  A.,  b.  Jan.  12,  1847;  married  Simon  Lawrence.  She  d. 
Sept.  30,  1913. 

BENJAMIN  DIX  BURGESS,  second  son  and  fourth  child  of  Daniel 
and  Abigail  (Dix)  Burgess,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Aug.  7,  1840.  He  re- 
sided in  Brookline  until  he  reached  his  majority.  He  served  for  Brookline 
as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  (For  his  war  record  see  Cha.  XV, 
ante).  After  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumpter  in  1864,  he  was  one  of  several 
soldiers  to  whom  Maj.  General  Gilmore  awarded  medals  of  honor  for  gal- 
lant and  meritorious  conduct  in  the  field.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he 
settled  in  Townsend,  Mass. ;  where  he  is  residing  at  the  present  time,  and 
where  he  is  a  respected  citizen.  He  married,  Oct.  1,  1876,  Emma,  dau.  of 
Samuel  and  Alexena  (Lawrence)  Brooks.    They  have  several  children. 

Burns. 

RALPH  BURNS  settled  in  Brookline,  in  1847,  coming  here  from 
Milford.  He  was  a  great-great-grandson  of  John  Burns,  the  first  settler  in 
Milford.  His  great-grandfather,  John  Burns,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary War,  serving  in  the  28th  Mass.  regiment  in  the  Continental 
army.  In  Brookline  he  lived  on  the  old  Ezekiel  Proctor  place,  which  he 
purchased  of  Dea.  Leonard  French,  at  the  time  of  his  coming  here.  In 
1856,  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Hollis;  where  he  died  in  1884.  He 
married  Elizabeth  D.  Pierce  of  Milford. 

Children. 

1.  Brooks  K.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Aug.  12,  1850;  m.  Harriet  J.  Lund  in 
1879;  ch.  all  born  in  Hollis,  (1)  Betsey  C;  (2)  Elizabeth  D.;  (3)  Warren 
R.;  (4)  Robert  B. 

Campbell. 

JAMES  CAMPBELL  settled  in  the  Mile  Slip  (now  Brookline)  as 
early  as    1750;  coming  here  from  Townsend,  Mass.     He  was  one  of  the 


482  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

signers  of  Raby's  petition  for  incorporation,  and  one  of  its  soldiers  in  the 
Revolutionary  War. 

He  m.  about  1770,  Rebeccah  Russell.  He  d.  July  5,  1779;  she  d.  Apr. 
30,  1836;  both  are  buried  in  South  Cemetery. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Benjamin,  b.  Oct.  14,  1770. 

2.  Kesiah,  b.  Dec.  25,  1774 ;  m.  Jan.  30,  1794,  John  Colburn  of  Town- 
send,  Mass. 

3.  James,  b.  Apr.  12,  1777;  d.  Sept.  14,  1801. 

DANIEL  CAMPBELL  and  Lucy. 
He  d.  at  Raby,  Apr.  4,  1787. 

Children;  Born  at  Brookline. 

1.  Lucy,  b.  May  23,  1783. 

2.  Daniel,  b.  July  11,  1785;  d.  Nov.  12,  1786,  at  Raby. 

Cochran. 

ABNER  COCHRAN  was  born  in  Londonderry,  Vt.,  Apr.  8,  1792. 
While  he  was  yet  a  young  man  he  removed  from  Londonderry  to  Dun- 
stable, Mass.;  from  whence  he  came  to  Brookline  about  the  year  1828. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  a  worthy  citizen.  He  married  before  coming  to 
Brookline,  Hannah  Cram.    He  d.  July  11,  1872;  she  d.  Nov.  11,  1862. 

Children. 

1.  Bela  G.,  b.  in  Dunstable,  Apr.  15,  1820.  Came  to  Brookline  with 
his  father  in  1828;  was  a  carpenter  and  builder,  and  a  musician  of  ability. 
He  acquired  an  excellent  reputation  as  a  manufacturer  of  hand-made 
violins  and  bass  viols;  m.  Jan.  5,  1861,  Lucy  M.,  dau.  of  Levi  Gilson;  d. 
in  Brookline  in  1903.  Ch.  (1)  Carl  W.,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  1,  1862;  res., 
Wollaston,  Mass.;  m.  1st,  Minnette  Reed  of  Townsend,  Mass.  She  died. 
M.  2d,  Lulu  May,  dau.  of  Wm.  H.  Sanborn  of  Greenville;  2  ch.,  Lulu  M. 
and  Lee  W. 

2.  David  H.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Aug.  21,  1829;  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade;  served  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  for  Brookline,  as  a  musician. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  483 

After  the  close  of  the  war  was  in  the  real  estate  business  in  Boston  for 
several  years.  Finally  settled  in  Townsend,  Mass.,  m.  Lottie  Williams  of 
Groton,  Mass;  d.  in  1903;  buried  in  Brookline;  1  ch.,  Earl. 

Colburn. 

JOHN  COLBURN  settled  in  Brookline  in  1795,  coming  here  from 
Townsend,  Mass.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  nineties  he  was  living  near  the 
Pond  bridge ;  he  being  at  that  time  engaged  with  James  Campbell  in  oper- 
ating the  sawmill  on  the  stream  below  the  bridge,  of  which  he  and  Camp- 
bell were  then  the  owners.  He  married  at  Townsend,  Jan.  30,  1794, 
Kesiah,  dau.  of  James  and  Rebeccah  (Russell)  Campbell.  He  died  in 
1836;  she  d.  in  1833,  aged  59  years. 

Children. 

1.  John,  b.  at  Townsend,  Dec.  27,  1794;  d.  Dec,  1798. 

2.  James,  b.  at  Brookline,  Nov.  9,  1796. 

3.  John,  b.  at  Brookline,  Aug.  19,  1798;  m.  Aug.  19,  1828,  Eliza 
Wallace. 

4.  Kesiah,  b.  at  Brookline,  July  28,  1800;  m.  Mar.  11,  1832,  Hutch- 
inson Rogers  of  Billerica,  Mass. 

5.  Aseneth,  b.  at  Brookline,  June  25,  1802;  d.  Oct.  12,  1802. 

6.  Varnum,  b.  at  Brookline,  June  9,  1806;  d.  in  1835. 

7.  Benjamin,  b.  at  Brookline,  Mar.  1,  1808. 

8.  Rebeckah,  b.  at  Brookline,  Mar.  2,  1810. 

9.  Betty,  b.  at  Brookline,  Feb.  23,  1812. 

10.  Randall,  b.  at  Brookline,  May  16,  1814. 

NATHANIEL  WHEAT  COLBURN,  son  of  Nathan  and  Abigail 
(Shattuck)  Colburn,  was  born  in  Hollis,  July  17,  1794.  About  the  year 
1821,  he  removed  from  Hollis  to  Brookline,  where  he  settled  in  the  north- 
east part  of  the  town;  his  house  being  located  about  one  and  one- half 
miles  north  of  the  village  Main  street,  and  on  the  west  side  of  the  north 
highway  to  Milford.  He  was  a  farmer  and  highly  respected  citizen.  He 
married,  Oct.  12,  1818,  Aseneth,  dau.  of  Richard  and  Polly  (Tay)  Me- 
lendy,  of  Brookline.    He  d.  Jan.  27,  1871 ;  she  d.  Mar.  13,  1888. 


484  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

Children. 

1.  Lot,  b.  in  Hollis,  May  19,  1819.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  dealer 
in  charcoal;  he  m.  Mrs.  Eunice  Leslie  Burge;  no  ch.  He  d.  July  4,  1899; 
she  d.  Dec.  27,  1882. 

2.  Aseneth  Jane,  b.  in  Hollis,  Mar.  21,  1821;  m.  Jan.  4,  1851,  Brad- 
ley Stone. 

3.  *Irving,  b.  in  Brookline,  July  31,  1824;  m.  Dec.  3,  1850,  Melissy 
Reed  of  Mt.  Vernon. 

4.     *Newton  W.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Apr.  29, 1827;  m.  Apr.  27,  1853, 
Sarah  Leslie. 

5.  Mahala,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  7,  1832;  d.  in  infancy. 

6.  Mary  A.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Dec.  9,  1833;  m.  Jan.  4,  1851,  Freder- 
ick Wright. 

7.  Lydia  M.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Feb.  6,  1839;  m.  K.  Darwin  Towne. 

8.  Adelaide,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  23,  1842;  m.  May  27,  1867,  Her- 
bert H.  Russell,  of  Greenville. 

9  Emerette  L.,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  11,  1844;  m.  Mar.  28,  186  7, 
Eugene  Nelson. 

IRVING  COLBURN,  second  son  of  Nathaniel  W.  and  Aseneth 
(Melendy)  Colburn,  was  born  in  Brookline,  July  31,  1824.  During  the 
Civil  War,  he  enlisted  for  Brookline  as  a  private  in  the  Fourth  N.  H. 
Volunteer  Regiment  and  went  to  the  front.  He  died,  in  the  service  as  a 
prisoner  in  the  rebel  prison  pen  at  Florence,  S.  C.  He  married,  Dec.  3, 
1850,  Melissy  Reed  of  Mount  Vernon;  she  d. ;  m.  2nd,  Maria  Reed  of 
Nova  Scotia. 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 

1.  Travelyn  A.,  b.  in  Boston,  Sept.  2,  1851;  res.  Brookline. 

2.  Leon  O.,  b.  in  Boston,  Aug.  22,  1853. 

3.  Orlado  S.,  b.  in  Brookline,  May  10, 1855;  m  in  1889,  Ora  Harwood 
of  Nashua. 

4.  Lionel  L.,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  21,  1857. 

By  Second  Wife. 

5.  Anna  M.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Mar.  7,  1861;  m.  Wilson 
Wellman,  of  Milford. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  485 

6.  James  Irving,  b.  in  Brookline,  Apr.  14,  1862;  m.  1st,  Lizzie  Win- 
ship  of  Greenville;  she  d.  m.  2nd,  ,  Mabel 
Collins,  of  Nashua. 

NEWTON  W.  COLBURN,  third  son  of  Nathaniel  W.  and  Aseneth 
(Melendy)  Colburn,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Apr.  29,  1827.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  cooper,  and  an  upright  and  honorable  citizen.  He  m.  Apr.  27, 
1852,  Sarah,  dau.  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Raymond)  Leslie.  He  d.  June 
15,  1903. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Nellie,  b.  Oct.  21,  1860;  m.  Apr.  8,  1888,  John  Dobson,  of  Town- 
send,  Mass.;  res.  Townsend, ;  one  ch.  Helen  C,  b.  Aug.  1.  1889. 

2.  Grace  E.,  b.  Oct.  14,  1862;  m.  Oct.  14,  1893,  Harry  Campbell,  of 
Bath,  Me.,;  no  ch. 

FRANKLIN  PERRY  COLBURN,  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Sally 
(Farley)  Colburn,  and  a  grandson  of  Nathan  and  Abigail  (Shattuck) 
Colburn,  was  born  in  Hollis,  Sept.  5,  1831.  In  1852,  he  removed  from 
Hollis  to  Brookline.  During  his  residence  in  Brookline  he  worked  at  his 
trade  as  a  cooper.  He  was  an  honorable  and  upright  citizen,  and  an  active 
member  of  the  local  Congregational  church.  In  1868,  he  removed  from 
Brookline  to  Hollis;  where  he  is  residing  at  the  present  time,  (1914).  He 
m.  May  29,  1856,  Mary  Ann,  dau.  of  Moses  and  Rebecca.  (Farley)  Hardy 
of  Hollis. 

Children. 

1.  Frank  Edward,  b.  in  Brookline,  Nov.  17,  1857;  m.  Sept.  18,  1889, 
Annie  Dimond  of  New  York  City;  ch.,  (1)  Annie  A.,  b.  Jan.  20,  1891; 
(2)  Frank  D.,  b.  Jan.  24,  1894. 

2.  Lura  Josephine,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  25,  1860;  d.  Sept.  25,  1861. 

3.  Charles  Webster,  b.  in  Brookline,  Oct.  12,  1862;  res.  New  York 
City. 

4.  Bertha  Louise,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  4,  1866;  res.  New  York  City. 

5.  Minnie  Adelaide,  b.  in  Hollis,  May  15,  1868;  res.  Hollis. 

6.  Frederic  Barton.,  b.  in  Hollis,  Aug.  30,  1870;  d.  Apr.  18,  1871. 

7.  Walter  Herbert,  b.  in  Hollis,  May  10,  1872;  res.  New  York  City 


486  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Conneck 

JAMES  CONNECK  was  originally  a  resident  in  Townsend,  Mass., 
from  which  town  he  was  transferred  into  Raby  by  the  running  of  the 
Province  Line  in  1741.  He  lived  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town.  He 
served  for  Raby  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution  and  was  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  He  was  moderator  in  1772  and  1775.  He  m.  in 
1760,  Betsey  Campbell  of  Townsend,  Mass.     No  record  of  his  children. 

Cook. 

FRANK  A.  COOK,  a  son  of  James  Warren  and  Sarah  (Pinkham) 
Cook,  was  born  at  Mansfield,  Mass.,  Apr.  7,  1856.  About  1870,  he  came 
with  his  father's  family  from  Reading,  Mass.  to  Brookline,  where  for 
several  years  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Cook,  Putnam  &  Company,  manu- 
facturers of  furniture.  In  the  eighties  he  removed  from  Brookline  to 
Columbus,  O.,  where  he  is  residing  at  the  present  time,  (1913).  He  m. 
at  Brookline  ,Oct.  29,  1879,  Helen  M.,  dau.  of  George  W.  L.  and  Lydia  M. 
(Sawtelle)  Hobart. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Arthur  S.,  b.  Sept.  2,  1881;  res.  Saranac  Lake,  N.  Y. 

2.  Harley  P.,  b.  Jan.  1,  1883;  res.  Brookline,  Mass. 

Corey. 

(V)  CAPT.  NATHAN  COREY  settled  in  Brookline  soon  after 
1800,  coming  here  from  Pepperell,  Mass.  He  was  a  son  of  Nathan  and 
Mary  (Green)  Corey,  who  was  a  daughter  of  Eliab  and  Sarah  (Parker) 
Green,  of  Groton,  Mass.,  and  probably  a  descendant  in  the  fifth  gener- 
ation of  Giles  Corey,  of  Salem,  Mass. ;  who  was  pressed  to  death  at  Salem 
for  witchcraft,  Sept.  19,  1692;  he  being  the  only  victim  of  that  terrible 
delusion  to  suffer  death  in  that  form  in  Massachusetts.  The  line  of  de- 
scent was  as  follows;  (I)  Giles;  (II)  Thomas;  (III)  Isaac;  (IV)  Nathan; 
(V)  Nathan. 

His  father  was  a  soldier  for  Groton,  Mass.,  in  the  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution. He  was  a  minute-man,  and  was  present  in  the  battle  at  Concord. 
He  subsequently  served  ninety-eight  days  in  Capt.  Asa  Lawrence's  com- 
pany, Col.  William  Prescott's  regiment.  In  1777,  he  served  two  months 
and  nine  days  in  Rhode  Island  in  Capt.  John  Marsh's  company,  CoL 
Joseph  Whitney's  regiment. 


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HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  487 

Soon  after  coming  to  Brookline,  Capt.  Corey  built  the  dwelling  house 
on  the  east  side,  and  at  the  south  end  of  the  village  Main  street  which 
at  the  present  time  (1914)  is  owned  and  occupied  under  the  name  of  "Inn- 
croft"  by  his  grandson,  Edward  E.  Parker,  as  his  summer  home. 

In  this  house  for  many  years,  until  his  death  in  1836,  Capt.  Corey 
kept  a  wayside  inn.  In  addition  to  his  duties  as  landlord  he  also  farmed 
and  dealt  in  real  estate,  of  which  he  was  an  extensive  owner.  He  married 
at  Pepperell,  before  coming  to  Brookline,  Deverd,  daughter  of  David  and 
Prudence  (Cummings)  Wright.  Prudence  Wright,  the  mother  of  his  wife, 
was  the  leader  of  the  patriotic  band  of  women  which  in  1775  captured  the 
notorious  Tory,  Leonard  Whiting,  at  Jewett's  bridge  in  Pepperell,  Mass. 
He  d,  at  Brookline,  May  27,  1836;  she  d.  Jan.  20,  1860. 

Children. 

1.  Deverd,  b.  at  Pepperell,  Mass.,  in  1806;  m.  Jan.  26,  1826,  James 
Parker. 

2.  Mary  Jane,  b.  at  Brookline,  July  22,  1809;  m.  Oct.  1,  1840,  Porter 
Hartwell,  of  Boston,  Mass.;  one  child,  Adelaide  Vandalia,  b.  at  Boston, 
July  24,  1844. 

3.  Susan  J.,  b.  at  Brookline,  Dec.  23,  1810;  m.  June  26,  1840,  Jona- 
than Abbott,  of  Andover,  Mass. 

4.  *Wilkes  Wright,  b.  at  Brookline,  Jan.  11,  1813;  m.  Oct.  14,  1841, 
Sophia  A.  Shattuck. 

(VI)  WILKES  WRIGHT  COREY,  only  son  of  Capt.  Nathan  and 
Deverd  (Wright)  Corey,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Jan.  11,  1813.  He  was 
a  farmer,  and  an  extensive  owner  of  real  estate.  He  was 
an  active  and  influential  citizen,  and  was  for  many  years  town  treasurer 
and  selectman.  He  was  a  member  of  the  general  committee  in  charge  of 
the  town's  centennial  celebration  in  1869.  In  1840 — 42,  he  was  Captain 
of  the  eleventh  company,  fifth  regiment,  of  the  New  Hampshire  State 
Militia,  and  subsequently  fife  major  of  the  same  regiment. 

He  m.  Oct.  14,  1841,  Sophia  A.,  dau.  of  Asher  and  Mary  (Wright) 
Shattuck.    He  d.  June  2,  1882;  she  d.  Oct.  21,  1892. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *  Albert  Wilkes,  b.  Mar.  6,  1842;  m.  Mar.  5,  1876,  Mary  Kline. 

2.  *Charles  Nathan,  b.  Aug.  2,  1843 ;  m.  Apr.  8,  1865,  Sarah  Sawtelle. 


488  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

(VII)  ALBERT  W.  COREY,  son  of  Wilkes  W.  and  Sophia  (Shat- 
tuck)  Corey,  was  born  in  Brookline,  March  6,  1842.  He  passed  his 
life  in  Brookline,  and  was  one  of  its  prominent  and  useful 
citizens.  He  was  a  constant  attendant  upon  and  a  liberal  supporter  of 
the  Methodist  church;  to  which,  at  his  decease,  his  estate  contributed  a 
fund  of  one  thousand  dollars.  He  served  thirteen  years  as  selectman  and 
held  many  other  offices  of  trust.  He  m.  Mar.  5,  1876,  Mary,  dau.  of  At- 
well  Kline.    No  children.    He  d.  Sept.  3,  1907;  his  wife  d.  June  14,  1912. 

(VII)  CHARLES  NATHAN  COREY,  second  child  and  second  son 
of  Wilkes  Wright  and  Sophia  (Shattuck)  Corey,  was  born  in  Brookline, 
Aug.  2,  1843.  In  his  early  manhood  he  resided  for  several  years  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  and  subsequently  lived  in  Greenville.  The  latter  part  of  his  life 
was  passed  in  Brookline,  where  he  held  many  positions  of  trust,  and  repre- 
sented the  town  in  the  legislatures  of  1889,  and  1890. 

He  m.  Apr.  8,  1865,  Sarah,  dau.  of  Eldad  and  Mercy  (Peterson) 
Sawtelle.    He  d.  Sept.  30,  1892. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Frank,  b.  in  1866;  d.  in  infancy. 

2.  Ellen  Louise,  b.  Sept.  21,  1867;  d.  young. 

3.  Herbert  Sawtelle,  b.  Oct.  17,  1869;  farmer  and  dealer  in  grain;  he 
was  Representative  in  1908  and  1909;  m.  Jan.  1, 1889,  Elva  Inda  Shattuck, 
dau.  of  William  Gardner  Shattuck;  ch.  (1)  Harry  Dearborn,  b.  Nov.  11, 
1889;  (2)  Eva  May,  b.  May  3,  1901. 

4.  Jessie  May,  b.  July  17,  1880;  res.  Brookline. 

5.  Walter  Ellsworth,  b.  Nov.  28,  1881;  dealer  at  retail  in  sale  of 
general  merchandise;  m.  Oct.  24,  1905,  Helen  Bernice  Lawrence  of  Pep- 
perell,  Mass.;  ch.  (1)  Lawrence  Ellsworth,  b.  Feb.  24,  1906;  (2)  Walter 
Ellsworth,  b.  July  16,  1908;  (3)  Elmer  Wilkes,  b.  Mar.  5,  1910. 

Cox. 

JAMES  SAMUEL  COX,  a  son  of  Philip  and  Mary  Belle  Cox,  was 
born  in  Fairfield,  Vt.,  May  10,  1834.  In  1880,  he  came  from  Fitzwilliam 
to  Brookline;  where  for  several  years  he  was  landlord  of  the  Nissitisset 
hotel.  He  m.  Dec.  11,  1862,  Mary  A.,  dau.  of  Levi  and  Anna  Pratt  of 
Fitzwilliam.    He  d.  at  Brookline,  Aug.  23,  1895. 


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HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  489 

Children. 

1.  Alfred  J.,  b.  at  Fitzwilliam,  Apr.  7,  1865;  res.  New  York  City. 

2.  Fannie  M.,  b.  at  Fitzwilliam,  Dec.  21,  1870;  m.  Apr.  12,  1893, 
Rev.  John  C.  Evans. 

3.  Lilla  B.,  b.  at  Fitzwilliam,  June  6,  1868;  d.  Aug.  24,  1881. 

Crosby. 

WILLIAM  S.  CROSBY,  son  of  William  and  Abigail  (Boynton) 
Crosby,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.,  came  from  Amherst  to  Brookline  in  Oct., 
1812.  His  residence  in  Brookline  was  located  about  one  mile  north  of  the 
village  on  the  west  side  of  the  east  highway  to  Milford.  At  the  present 
time  it  is  owned  and  occupied  by  H.  D.  Smith  of  Boston,  as  his  summer 
home.  He  was  a  farmer  and  at  one  time  operated  the  old  Brook's  sawmill 
in  South  Brookline.  He  was  a  prosperous  and  prominent  citizen  of  the 
town.  He  was  postmaster  in  1830  and  1832;  three  years  town  clerk,  eight 
years  selectman,  one  year  moderator,  and  Representative  in  1829,  and  1830. 
In  the  latter  part  of  the  thirties,  he  removed  to  Pepperell,  Mass.  where 
he  died.    He  m.  Oct.  8,  1812,  Linda  Whitcomb,  of  Brookline. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Walter,  b.  Dec.  10,  1812. 

2.  Linda,  b.  Dec.  17,  1815. 

3.  Charles,  b.  May  19,  1817. 

4.  William,  b.  Feb.  20,  1819. 

5.  Darius,  b.  Mar.  21,  1821. 

6.  Joanna,  b.  Jan.  25,  1823. 

7.  John,  b.  Aug.  23,  1826. 

Cummings. 

(VIII)  CAPT.  JOHN  CUMMINGS,  a  lineal  descendant  in  the 
eighth  generation  of  Isaac  Cummings,  and  a  son  of  Deacon  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Adams)  Cummings,  was  born  in  Westford,  Mass.,  June  1, 
1710.  He  resided  for  a  few  years  in  Groton,  Mass.  In  1744,  he  removed 
from  Groton  to  the  west  part  of  old  Dunstable ;  settling  in  that  part  of  the 
latter  town  which  in  1746  was  incorporated  as  a  part  of  Hollis,  and  which 
in  1769  was  incorporated  as  a  part  of  Raby,  now  Brookline.     His  farm  in 


490  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Brookline  was  located  in  the  east  part  of  the  town  near  the  Hollis  line.  It 
was  afterwards  known  as  the  James  Parker  place.  Of  late  years  it  has 
been  known  as  the  James  H.  Burgess  place.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  French 
and  Indian  wars.  About  1784,  he  removed  with  his  family  from  Brook- 
line  to  Hancock.  He  m.  Jan.  28,  1736,  Sarah,  dau.  of  Eleazer  and  Mary 
Lawrence,  of  Littleton,  Mass.  Seven  children  were  born  of  this  marriage. 
He  d.  at  Hancock,  Sept.  20,  1789,  and  she  d.  Oct.  3,  1799. 

(IX)  LIEUT.  JOHN  CUMMINGS,  first  child  and  first  son  of 
Capt.  John  and  Sarah  (Lawrence)  Cummings,  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass., 
Mar.  16,  1737.  In  1744  he  removed  with  his  father's  family  to  West  Dun- 
stable, now  Brookline.  He  was  a  soldier  for  Brookline  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution,  serving  as  ensign  in  Capt.  Reuben  Dow's  company  of  Hollis, 
Col.  Prescott's  regiment;  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  His  war 
record  is  given  in  a  previous  chapter.  His  title  as  lieutenant  was  probably 
derived  from  his  connection  with  the  State  militia.  He  removed  with  his 
family  from  Brookline  to  Hancock,  about  1779.  He  m.  Aug.  6,  1761, 
Rebecca,  dau.  of  Peter  Reed,  of  Littleton,  Mass.  He  d.  at  Hancock,  Oct. 
5,  1805;  his  widow  d.  at  Hancock,  Oct.  28,  1807. 

Children. 

1.  Peter,  b.  at  Hollis,  Nov.  12,  1761. 

2.  Rebecca,  b.  at  Hollis,  Mar.  2,  1764;  d.  in  infancy. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  at  Hollis,  Oct.  5,  1766;  m.  1784,  Nicholas  Lawrence;  d. 
Sept.  18,  1834. 

4.  John,  b.  at  Hollis,  Mar.  8,  1769. 

5.  Rebecca,  b.  at  Brookline,  Aug.  28,  1771;  m.  Oct.  7,  1792,  Seth 
Davis. 

6.  Abigail,  b.  at  Brookline,  Feb.  11,  1774;  m.  Mar.  18,  1800,  Jona- 
than Sawyer,  Peru,  N.  Y. 

7.  Ashabel,  b.  at  Brookline,  Jan.  13,  1777. 

8.  Henry,  b.  at  Brookline,  Nov.  1,  1779;  m.  1st,  Abigail  Carley;  she 
d.  Mar.  16,  1810;  m.  2nd,  Dec.  30,  1810,  Experience  Carley,  sister  of  his 
first  wife. 

9.  Beniah,  b.  at  Hancock,  Mar.  21,  1782. 

10.  Betty,  b.  at  Hancock,  Oct.  10,  1784. 

11.  Adams,  b.  at  Hancock, 

12.  Polly,  b.  at  Hancock,  Mar.  9,  1791 ;  m.   Dec.  26,  1909,  Nathaniel 
D.  Carley. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  491 

BENJAMIN  CUMMINGS,  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Bridgett  (Poole) 
Cummings,  was  born  in  Hollis,  Aug.  24,  1782.  About  1800  he  removed 
from  Hollis  to  Brookline;  where,  after  1810,  he  resided  on  the  old  Lieut. 
Samuel  Farley  place,  about  one  mile  south  of  the  village  on  the  east  side 
of  the  highway  to  Pepperell,  Mass.  Soon  after  the  birth  of  his  last  child, 
in  1816,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Unionville,  Ohio.  He  m.  May  6, 
1805,  Lucy,  dau.  of  John  and  Thankful  (Pierce)  Whitaker  of  Mason. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Lucy,  b.  Aug.  27,  1805;  m.  Jan.  3,  1828,  Martin  Rand  of  Mason; 
settled  in  Madison,  Ohio. 

2.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Apr.  26,  1807;  m.  Jan.  3,  1828,  Alexander  Harper 
Wheeler,  M.  D.,  of  Unionville,  Ohio. 

3.  Benjamin  Poole,  b.  July  11,  1809;  d.  Mar.  18,  1848. 

4.  Henry,  b.  Jan.  1,  1812;  m.  Aug.  21,  1844,  Julia  Ann  Hills  of  Plains- 
ville,  Ohio. 

5.  Charles,  b.  Sept.  5,  1814;  m.  Mar.  29,  1838,  Emily  Amsden,  of 
Ashtabula,  Ohio. 

6.  Emily,  b.  June  17,  1816;  m.  July  31,  1843,  Lysander  C.  Woods- 
worth,  of  Madison,  Ohio. 

7.  Eliza,  b.  May  30,  1818;  m.  Sept.  7,  1837,  Alurid  Plympton,  M. 
D.;  she  d,  in  Chicago.  Jan.  18,  1899. 

Daniels. 

JAMES  McDANlELS  settled  in  West  Dunstable,  now  Brookline,  as 
early  as  1738,  coming  there  from  Groton,  Mass.  He  was  probably  a  de- 
scendant of  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  same  name  in  Londonderry. 

He  was  a  farmer  and  land  surveyor,  and  an  influential  and  respected 
citizen.  In  1738,  he  was  one  of  the  highway  surveyors  of  the  West  Parish 
of  old  Dunstable.  In  1768,  he  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  petition  for 
the  incorporation  of  Raby.  He  served  as  a  soldier  for  Raby  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution.  His  name  appears  on  the  town's  recorded  list  of  its 
citizens  who  served  in  that  war. 

In  the  third  generation  his  descendants,  who  are  numerous  in  this 
town  and  in  other  towns  in  its  vicinity,  with  the  exception  of  one  family, 
dropped  the  prefix  "Mc",  which  was  originally  a  part  of  the  name.  (For 
a  more  detailed  account  of  his  life,  see  chap.  II,  ante).  He  married,  in 
1751,  Susanna.  He  d.  in  Brookline,  Apr.  11,  1801,  aged 

84  yrs;  and  is  buried  in  the  Pond  Cemetery.     His  wife  d.  Apr.  3,  1805. 


492  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Roxanna,  b.  July  19,  1752. 

2.  *Randall,  b.  Apr.  14,  1754;  m.  Dec.  9,  1774,  Martha  Russell. 

3.  Susanna,  b.  Jan.  18,  1756;  m.  Oct.  23,  1794,  Colburn  Green. 

4.  Lucy,  b.  Feb.  8,  1758. 

5.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  5,  1760. 

6.  Elizabeth,  b.  Nov.  10,  1761. 

7.  *James,  b.  Jan.  19,  1764;  m.  ,  Betsey  of 
Littleton.  Mass. 

8.  *John,  b.  June  5,  1766;  m.  in  1791,  Hannah 

(II)  RANDALL  McDANlELS,  second  child  and  first  son  of  James 
and  Susanna  McDaniels,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Apr.  14,  1754.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  prominent  citizen.  He  served  for  Raby  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution.  His  war  record  is  given  in  the  Chapter  on  the  War  in  this 
book.  He  was  moderator  in  1803  and  1804;  served  eleven  years  as  town 
clerk,  fifteen  years  as  selectman,  and  was  represented  in  1804.  He  m.,  at 
Mason,  Dec.  9,  1774,  Martha  Russell  of  Mason.  He  d.  June  27,  1848; 
she  d.  March  20,  1809. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *George,  b.  Mar.  13,  1774;  m.  in  1796,  Nancy  Smith. 

2.  *John,  b.  May  3,  1778;  m.  Feb.  11,  1808,  Bridget  Cummings,  of 
Hollis. 

3.  *Mary,  b.  Sept.  10,  1780;  M.  Dec.  17,  1809,  Maj.  Eli  Boynton,  of 
Pepperell,  Mass. 

4.  Jane,  b.  Feb.  21,  1783;  d.  Apr.  30,  1783. 

5.  David,  b.  Nov.  26,  1785;  m.  ,  Mary  Fletcher. 

6.  Martha,  b.  Mar.  17,  1788;  m.  Jan.  22,  1807,  Ensign  Bailey. 

7.  Sarah,  b.  July  27,  1790;  m.  Dec.  24,  1812,  Benjamin  Smith. 

(III)  GEORGE  DANIELS,  first  son  of  Randall  and  Martha  (Rus- 
sell) Daniels,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Mar.  13,  1774.  He  was  a  farmer. 
His  dwelling  house  was  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  Douglass  brook 
about  one-half  mile  north  of  the  village.  The  house  was  subsequently 
known  as  the  John  Mann  place.  He  m.  in  1796,  Nancy  Smith,  dau.  of 
Joshua  Smith  of  this  town.    He  d.  Nov.  5,  1857;  she  d.  Mar.  23,  1870. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  493 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Randal,  b.  Oct.  10,  1797;  m.  Nov.  22,  1810,  Rebecca  Campbell. 

2.  George,  b.  Jan.  7,  1799;  d.  June  20,  1799. 

3.  Alonzo,  b.  Nov.  30,  1800;  d.  Oct.  9,  1803. 

4.  George  S.,  b.  Sept.  3,  1802;  d.  Oct.  19,  1803. 

5.  Joshua  S.,  b.  Oct.  25.  1804;  d.  Aug.  16,  1805. 

6.  Sophia,  b.  Apr.  3,  1806;  m.  Nov.  6,  1831,  Davis  Green,  of  Brewer, 
Me. 

7.  Martha,  b.  Mar.  21,  1808;  m.  Dec.  10,  1826,  Samuel  T.  Boynton, 
Jr. 

8.  William,  b.  Oct.  30,  1809;  m.  Sarah  Page. 

9.  *John  Sumner,  b.  Nov.  2,  1811;  m.  in  1836,  Almira  Cowan,  of 
Hampden,  Me. 

10.  *George  W.,  b.  May  2,  1813;  m.  Eliza  S.  Hildreth  of  Henniker. 

11.  Augustus  F.,  b.  May  12,  1815. 

12.  Alden,  b.  Oct.  13,  1817;  d.  Mar.  16,  1824. 

(IV)  JOHN  SUMNER  DANIELS  seventh  son  and  ninth  child  of 
George  and  Nancy  (Smith)  Daniels,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Nov.  2,  1813. 
He  was  a  farmer  and  cooper.  He  was  a  great  lover  of  music;  and  for 
many  years  taught  singing  schools  in  Brookline  and  towns  in  its  vicinity. 
He  was  an  active  and  influential  citizen,  and  a  member  of  the  local  Congre- 
gational church.    He  m.  in  1836,  Almira  Cowan  of  Hampden,  Me. 

He  d.  Nov.  11,  1895;  she  d.  Oct.  13,  1898. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *Ira,  b.  Mar.  18,  1837;  m.  Mar.  18,  1862,  Nancy  J.  Fessenden. 

2.  *Onslow,  b.  Aug.  5,  1840;  m.  Nov.  12,  1862,  Margaret  Cathcart 
of  Townsend,  Mass. 

3.  Mary  Eliza,  b.  June  28,  1844;  m.  1st,  Dec.  4,  1862,  James  Harvey 
Bennett;  he  d.  m.  2nd,  Edward  P.  Gerrish,  of  Pepperell, 
Mass.;  one  ch.  by  1st  m.,  Alvah  F.,  b.  Oct.  8,  1863.     He  d.  in  1914. 

4.  Emma  Almira,  b.  June  23,  1861;  m.  Jan.  1,  1882,  Frank  L.  Wil- 
loby. 

(V)  IRA  DANIELS,  first  child  and  first  son  of  John  Sumner  and 
Nancy  (Smith)  Daniels,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Mar.  18,  1837.  He  was  a 
cooper  and  farmer,  and  a  leading  citizen  of  the  town,  occupying  many  po- 
sitions of  responsibility  and  trust.  He  was  selectman  in  1872,  1873,  1890, 
1895,  1896  and  1897.  He  m.  Mar.  8,  1862,  Nancy  J.,  dau.  of  Aaron  and 
Sarah  (Woods)  Fessenden.    He  d.  in  1900. 


494 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


Child. 

1.  Wilbur,  b.  in  Brookline,  Oct.  17,  1863;  m.  Aug.  1892,  Minnie 
Christie,  of  Sedgwick,  Me. ;  res.  Everett,  Mass. 

(V)  ONSLOW  DANIELS,  second  child  and  second  son  of  John  S. 
and  Nancy  (Smith)  Daniels,  was  born  Aug.  5,  1840,  in  Brookline,  where 
he  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  was  selectman  in  1886,  1887 
and  1889.  He  m.  Nov.  12,  1862,  Margaret  Cathcart,  of  Townsend,  Mass. 
She  d.  Jan.  16,  1894;  he  d.  May  7,  1912. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Elmer  E.,  b.  Oct.  15,  1864;  m.  June  14,  1894,  Lavilla  M.  Kemp, 
of  Pepperell,  Mass. 

2.  Herbert  C,  b.  Feb.  10,  1867. 

3.  Minnie  M.,  b.  Jan.  31,  1874;  m.  Dec.  3,  1894,  Linville  Shattuck; 
ch.  Gerald,  b.  Nov.        ,  1897. 

(Ill)  MARY  Mc- 
DANIELS,  the  third 
child  and  first  daughter  of 
Randal  and  Martha 
(Russell)  McDaniels 
was  born  at  Brookline, 
Sept.  10,  1780.  She 
passed  her  childhood 
days  in  Brookline,  and 
was  educated  in  its  pub- 
lic schools;  in  which,  and 
in  the  schools  of  town, 
in  its  vicinity,  in  her 
young  womanhood,  she 
was  for  several  years  en- 
gaged in  teaching.  She 
married  Dec.  17,  1809, 
Maj.  Eli  Boynton,  of 
Pepperell,  Mass.  She 
mary  McDaniels  was    a    member    of    the 

Congregational  church  in  Pepperell,  and  a  woman  of  strong  mental  at- 
tainments, and  active  in  all  good  works.  She  d.  at  Pepperell,  Apr.  14, 
1882,  aged  101  years  and  7  mos. ;  her  husband  d.  Aug.  7,  1856. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN    OF   BROOKLINE  495 

Six  children  all  born  in  Pepperell,  were  the  result  of  her  marriage  to 
Maj.  Boynton;  i.  e.,  Mary;  who  married  and  went  west,  where  she  died  in 
young  womanhood;  Martha,  for  many  years  a  teacher,  and  later  the  wife 
of  the  late  Rev.  Daniel  Goodwin;  Charles,  who  died  while  a  student  at 
Dartmouth  College;  Alfred,  who  passed  his  life  on  the  old  Boynton  home- 
stead in  Pepperell;  where,  with  filial  love  and  devotion,  he  watched  over 
and  provided  for  his  mother  in  the  declining  years  of  her  life ;  Sarah,  who, 
after  several  years  experience  in  teaching,  m.  Alfred  Lawrence  of  Pepperell ; 
where  at  the  present  time  (1914)  she  is  still  living;  a  remarkably  well  pre- 
served woman,  in  the  95th  year  of  her  age;  and  Everett  Boynton,  Esq.;  a 
graduate  in  1847  of  Dartmouth  College,  a  veteran  soldier  of  the  Civil 
War,  and  for  many  years  a  teacher  and  educator  well  known  throughout 
eastern  Massachusetts ;  who  at  the  present  time  is  residing  at  Swampscott, 
Mass.;  where,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two  years,  he  is  calmly 
awaiting  the  end  of  an  industrious  and  honorable  life. 

(IV)  GEORGE  W.  DANIELS,  eighth  son  of  George  and  Nancy 
(Smith)  Daniels,  was  born  in  Brookline,  May  2,  1813.  In  1844  he  removed 
from  Brookline  to  Wilton,  where  he  operated  a  store  for  the  sale  of  general 
merchandise;  and  where  he  died  and  is  buried.  He  m.  Eliza  S.  Hildreth  of 
Henniker.     She  d.  Dec.  23,  1880. 

Children. 

1.  Melissa,  b.  at  Henniker,  Oct.  11,  1837. 

2.  Emily  J.,  b.  at  Brookline,  Oct.  16,  1839. 

3.  Martha  M.,  b.  at  Brookline,  Feb.  21,  1842. 

4.  Adelaide  E.,  b.  at  Wilton,  Apr.  27,  1844. 

5.  Adeliza  A.,  b.  at  Wilton,  Aug.  9,  1846. 

6.  George  L.,  b.  at  Wilton,  Oct.  25,  1849. 

7.  Julia  S.,  b.  at  Wilton,  June  6,  1852;  m.  Fred  D.  Burt. 

8.  Elsie  O.,  b.  at  Wilton,  Feb.  19,  1855;  m.  Dec.  29,  1875,  Eli  J. 
Curtis. 

(Ill)  JOHN  DANIELS,  second  son  of  Randall  and  Martha  (Rus- 
sell) Daniels,  was  born  in  Littleton,  May  3,  1778.  He  m.  Feb.  11,  1808, 
Bridget  Cummings,  dau.  of  Lieut.  Benjamin  and  Bridget  (Poole)  Cum- 
mings,  of  Brookline.    He  d.  in  1849;  his  wife  d.  in  1865,  aged  82yrs. 


496  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Susan,  b.  Oct.  30,  1808;  m.  John  Burns,  of  Milford. 

2.  Nancy  Tarbell,  b.  Feb.  4,  1810;  m.  E.  A.  Stetson,  of  Nashua. 

3.  George  Sullivan,  b.  Oct.  21,  1811;  m.  Sally  Chase  of  Hopkinton. 

4.  Marantha,  b.  May  1,  1813;  m.  Samuel  Ames. 

5.  John,  b.  Jan.  12,  1815;  m.  Sally  Jane  Duncklee  of  Milford. 

6.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  7,  1816;  d.  June  24,  1823. 

7.  Lucy,  b.  May  15,  1818;  d.  Apr.  27,  1820. 

8.  Lucy  Poole,  b.  Apr.  12,  1820;  d.  Feb.  11,  1840;  unm. 

9.  Eliza,  b.  Feb.  6,  1822;  m.  Thomas  H.  Dodge,  of  Worcester,  Mass. ; 
d.  at  Worcester,  Mar.  27,  1907. 

10.  Randal,  b.  Sept.  4,  1823;  m.  May  Ann  Clark. 

11.  Sarah  Jane,  b.  June  22,  1825;  d.  Oct.  27,  1847;  unm. 

12.  Maria  Antoinette,  b.  Jan.  13,  1829;  d.  Sept.  27,  1858;  unm. 

13.  Catherine  Galantha,  b.  Feb.  13,  1830;  m.  Dec.  2,  1852,  Luther 
Noyes. 

(II)  JAMES  McDANlELS,  second  son  and  seventh  child  of  James 
and  Susanna  McDaniels,  was  born  in  Raby,  Jan.  19,  1764. 

In  1783,  he  was  one  of  the  signers  to  a  petition  on  the  part  of  certain  resi- 
dents in  the  disputed  territory,  in  the  the  east  part  of  Raby,  in  which  they 
prayed  to  be  set  off  from  Hollis.  About  1793  he  m.  Betsey  Ann,  surname 
unknown,  of  Littleton;  where  he  appears  to  have  resided  for  several  years 
after  his  marriage,  eventually  returning  to  Brookline. 

Child. 

1.     Ann,  b.  at  Littleton,  Feb.  11,  1794. 

(II)  JOHN  McDANlELS,  third  son  and  eighth  child  of  James  and 
Susanna  McDaniels,  was  born  in  Brookline,  June  5,  1766.  He  m.  about 
1791,  Hannah,  surname  unknown.  He  d.  Feb.  1,  1842;  his  wife  d.  Aug. 
12,  1842. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *Eri,  b.  Apr.  6,  1792. 

2.  Cyrena,  b.  Feb.  24,  1794. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  497 

(III)  ERI  MeDANlELS,  first  and  only  son  of  John  and  Hannah 
McDaniels,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Apr.  6,  1792.  He  was  a  farmer.  It 
is  said  of  him  that  in  1834,  he  and  Charles  S.  Crosby  imported  from  Boston 
the  first  barrel  of  flour  ever  brought  into  Brookline.  He  was  twice  married. 
M.  1st,  Apr.  11,  1812,  Fannie  Wright  of  Brookline;  she  d.;  m.  2nd,  Mar.  19, 
1838,  Ann  Farley  of  Hollis.    He  d.  in  1830. 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 

1.  *Franklin,  b.  in  Brookline,  Oct.  2,  1813. 

2.  Mary,  b.  in  Brookline,  Mar.  8,  1815;  m.  Dec.  4,  1834,  Artemas 
Wright. 

3.  Catharine,  b.  in  Brookline,  Nov.  30,  1820;  m.  in  1840,  William 
Wallace. 

(IV)  FRANKLIN  McDONALD,  first  and  only  son  of  Eri  and 
Fannie  (Wright)  McDaniels,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Oct.  2,  1813.  He 
was  a  carpenter  and  builder,  and  a  highly  respected  citizen.  He  served 
several  terms  on  the  board  of  selectmen,  and  held  other  offices  of  public 
trust,  and  was  Representative  in  1876  and  1877.  He  served  as  lieutenant 
and  captain  in  the  11th  Company,  5th  Regiment,  of  the  old  New  Hamp- 
shire State  Militia.  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  July  7,  1836,  Lucy, 
dau.  of  Luther  and  Kesiah  (Brooks)  Rockwood,  of  Brookline;  m.  2nd, 
Oct.  6,  1874,  Louisa  Fales,  of  Harvard,  Mass.  He  d.  Nov.  23,  1879; 
Lucy,  d.  July  3,  1871. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Franklin,  b.  May  6,  1840;  d.  May  20,  1840. 

2.  Luther,  b.  June  4,  1841;  m.  May  31,  1864,  Mary  Etta  Dustin, 
dau.  of  Jonathan  and  Hannah  Dustin,  of  Francestown,  and  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  Hannah  Dustin,  the  Indian  slayer,  of  Haverhill,  Mass.  At 
the  present  time  (1914)  he  is,  and  for  many  years  has  been,  a  resident  of 
Maiden,  Mass.    His  wife  d.  at  Maiden,  Apr.  21,  1911;  no  ch. 

3.  Infant,  b.  Nov.  28,  1849;  d.  in  infancy. 

Davidson. 

DAVID  DAVIDSON  settled  in  the  west  part  of  Hollis,  now  Brook- 
line, prior  to  1768,  coming  there  from  Windham.     He  served  as  a  soldier 


498  HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN    OF   BROOKLINE 

for  Raby  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  one  of  its  board  of  select- 
men in  1780  and  1782.  He  m.  in  1778,  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  Elias  and  Ro- 
sanna  Dickey.     He  d.  Dec.  3,  1796,  and  is  buried  in  the  west  cemetery. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  William,  b.  Apr.  20,  1779. 

2.  Margaret,  b.  Oct.  12,  1780. 

3.  Betty,  b.  July  24,  1782;  m.  Dec.  3,  1799,  Jonathan  Clark,  of 
Washington. 

Dickey. 

ELIAS  DICKEY  was  a  settler  in  the  west  part  of  Hollis,  afterwards 
Brookline,  as  early  as  1743;  coming  there  probably  from  Windham.  His 
house  in  Brookline  was  located  about  one-half  mile  north  of  the  village 
Main  street  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Hollis.  It  was  afterwards 
known  as  the  Robert  Seaver,  Jr.,  place.  It  is  owned  at  the  present  time 
(1913)  by  Mrs.  Eben  J.  Rideout.  He  probably  died  prior  to  1768;  as  the 
name  of  his  wife,  "Rose  Dickey"  appears  among  the  signers  of  the  peti- 
tion for  the  incorporation  of  Raby  in  that  year.  His  wife  died  in  1796; 
leaving  a  will,  which  is  recorded  in  Hillsboro  Records.  His  son,  Elias, 
was  a  soldier  for  Raby  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  The  family  is  not 
now,  and  for  many  years  has  not  been,  represented  by  the  family  name  in 
Brookline.  He  m.  Feb.  17,  1743,  Rosanna,  dau.  of  James  and  Susanna 
McDaniels  of  Raby. 

Children;  Born  in  Raby. 

1.  Elias,  b.  ;  m.  Oct.  28,  1778,  Jennie  Ferson. 

2.  Elizabeth,  b.  ;  m.  in  1778,  David  Davidson. 

3.  *James,  b.  ;  m.  Mary. 

JAMES  DICKEY,  son  of  Elias  and  Rosanna  (McDaniels)  Dickey, 
was  born  in  Raby  about  the  year  1747;  he  was  a  farmer  and  a  soldier  of 
Raby  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.    He  m.  in  1777,  Mary. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  William,  b.  June  25,  1778. 

2.  James,  b.  Nov.  11,  1779. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  499 

3.  George,  b.  Oct.  30,  1781. 

4.  Robert,  b.  Sept.  12,  1782. 

Douglass. 

(I)  SAMUEL  DOUGLASS,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in 
Brookline,  was  born  in  Scotland,  May  18,  1699.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of 
Samuel  and  Hepzibah  (Farrar)  Douglass.  He  came  from  Scotland  to 
America  about  1730,  and  settled  inTownsend,  Mass.  From  1735  to  1769, 
he  was  in  turn  a  citizen  of  Old  Dunstable  and  Hollis.  He  became  a  citi- 
zen of  Raby  at  the  time  of  its  incorporation  in  1769.  (For  a  sketch  of 
his  life,  see  chap.  Ill,  ante.) 

He  m.  in  Scotland,  Mar.  6,  1723,  Hepzibah,  dau.  of  Samuel  Richard- 
son  (Montgomery,  M.  S.)  . 

Children. 

1.  *Samuel,  b.  in  Scotland,  Dec.  26,  1723. 

2.  Hepzibah,  b.  ;  m.  Sept.  12,  1752,  Solomon  Parker, 
of  Hollis. 

(II)  CAPTAIN  SAMUEL  DOUGLASS,  eldest  son  of  Samuel  and 
Hepzibah  (Richardson)  Douglass,  was  born  in  Scotland,  Dec.  26, 1723.  He 
came  with  his  father's  family  from  Scotland  to  America  in  1730,  and  settled 
in  Townsend,  Mass.  His  boyhood  and  early  manhood  were  passed  on 
his  father's  farm  in  Hollis,  now  Brookline.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  War 
of  the  Revolution,  he  was  living  with  his  father  on  the  old  Douglass  home- 
stead in  "Paddledock,"  now  South  Brookline.  (For  the  location  of  the 
original  Douglass  house  in  Brookline  see  chap.  Ill,  ante).  He  was  one  of 
Brookline's  soldiers  in  the  Revolution.  His  name  appears  upon  the  town's 
recorded  list  of  names  of  its  citizens  in  the  war.  His  war  service  was  per- 
formed as  captain  of  a  company  of  twenty  men  which  marched  from  Town- 
send  Hill,  April  19,  1775,  in  response  to  the  alarm  from  Lexington.  His 
connection  with  the  company  was  undoubtedly  owing  to  his  living  in  close 
proximity  to  its  members,  although  in  another  State;  and  his  rank  as  com- 
mander of  the  company  a  merited  recognition  on  their  part  of  his  posses- 
sing the  qualities  necessary  for  filling  the  position. 

On  Raby's  record  book  under  date  of  February  15,  1783,  appears  the 
following  entry:  "Voted  that  Captain  Douglass  and  Waldron  Stone  have 
their  war  credit  as  on  the  town's  books."     In  1778,  he  removed  from 


500  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Paddledock  into  the  village;  where  he  established  himself  as  an  inn -keeper 
in  a  log-cabin  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  village  Main  street  a  few  rods 
northerly  of  the  dwelling  house  formerly  of  Jonas  Hobart,  at  the  present 
time  of  widow  Charles  N.  Corey,  and  near  the  stream  in  the  village  which 
was  subsequently  known  as  Douglass  brook.  From  that  time  until  he  re- 
moved from  Brookline  he  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  towns'  most  in- 
fluential citizens.  Between  the  years  1779  and  1792,  he  was  five  times 
elected  treasurer  and  four  times  moderator  of  the  town.  In  1780,  he 
represented  Brookline  at  a  meeting  of  the  County  Committee  of  Safety, 
holden  at  Temple.  In  1785,  he  represented  Mason  and  Brookline  in  the 
legislature;  he  being  the  first  of  Brookline's  citizens  to  act  in  that  capa- 
city. He  was  for  many  years  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  1785  was  county 
coroner.  Between  the  years  1792  and  1794,  he  removed  from  Brookline  to 
Littleton;  where  he  passed  the  last  years  of  his  life  with  his  son,  John.  He 
died  in  Littleton  in  1816  and  is  buried  there  in  an  unmarked  grave.  He 
was  twice  married.  He  was  married  1st  by  Rev.  Samuel  Dix  at  Town- 
send,  Mass.,  May  29,  1764,  to  Molly  Conant,  dau.  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Farrar)  Conant,  who  settled  in  Townsend  in  1739,  and  was  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  Giles  Corey  who  was  executed  at  Boston,  in  1692,  for  witch- 
craft. He  married  2nd,  June  30,  1785,  wid.  Tabitha  Fletcher,  of 
Hollis. 

Children. 

1.  *John,  b.  at  Methuen,  Mass.,  July  1,  1765. 

2.  *Samuel,  b.  at  Hollis,  Aug.  22,  1767. 

3.  *Simon,  b.  at  Raby,  in  1779. 

He  is  also  said  to  have  had  two  daughters,  Sally  and  Hannah;  but 
there  is  no  record  of  the  birth,  life  or  death  of  either. 

(Ill)  JOHN  DOUGLASS,  the  first  son  and  first  child,  according  to 
the  family  traditions,  must  have  died  unmarried.  For  if  the  said  tra- 
ditions are  correct,  John,  the  son  with  whom  Captain  Douglass  lived  in 
Littleton,  during  his  last  years,  was  his  son  by  his  second  wife,  Tabitha 
Fletcher;  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1785. 

If  this  be  true,  then  John,  of  Littleton,  was  the  fourth  in  order  of 
birth  of  Captain  Douglass'  children.  But  there  is  no  record  of  the  date  or 
place  of  his  birth.    He  m.  Lydia,  dau.  of  Obadiah  Morse. 

Children. 

William,  Mary,  Adeline,  Hannah,  and  John.  William,  a  son  of 
William,  was  living  at  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.  in  1900. 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  501 

(III)  DEACON  SAMUEL  DOUGLASS,  second  son  of  Captain 
Samuel  and  Molly  (Conant)  Douglass,  was  born  in  Hollis,  Aug.  22,  1767. 
He  was  a  resident  in  Brookline  during  his  young  manhood,  living  at  one 
time  in  Paddledock,  now  South  Brookline.  About  1803  he  removed  from 
Brookline  to  Littleton,  N.  H.;  where  he  is  said  to  have  resided  until  1813. 
In  1813,  he  removed  with  his  family  from  Littleton  to  Wilton.  He  was 
a  farmer,  and  a  deacon  in  the  Baptist  church  at  Wilton. 

He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Jan.  26,  1792,  Sarah,  dau.  of  Capt. 
Robert  Seaver  of  Brookline;  m.  2nd,  Ruth  Chandler.     He 

d.  May  18,  1841,  at  Wilton;  where  he  is  buried.  His  first  wife,  Sarah,  d. 
at  Wilton,  Sept.  22,  1829,  aged  60  years.  His  second  wife  d.  at  Wilton 
Oct.  29,  1849,  aged  73  yrs.  Both  wives  are  buried  at  Wilton. 

Children;  By  His  First  Wife.  . 

1.  Louisa,  b.  at  Brookline,  Feb.  10,  1795;  m.  1817,  Eli  Parker,  an- 
cestor of  the  William  H.  Parker  family  of  Lowell,  Mass. 

2.  Johannah,  b.  at  Brookline  ;  d.  in  Wilton,  July  26, 
1878;  unm. 

3.     Angeline;   b.   at   Brookline;   m.  Houston;   lived  in 

Temple  and  had  a  large  family. 

4.  Pamelia,  b.  in  1800,  at  Brookline;  m.  in  1836,  Isaac  Appleton, 
of  Old  Ipswich,  Mass. 

5.  Darius,  b.  at  Brookline;  m.  Sarah  Halstead,  and  settled  in  Michi- 
gan, near  Ann  Arbor.  He  had  6  ch.,  Louisa,  Hattie,  George,  Henry,  John 
and  Halstead  Samuel. 

6.  Samuel  Seaver,  b.  at  Brookline,  Dec.  25,  1806;  m.  Tamar  French 
of  Wilton;  settled  in  Wheatland,  Mich.;  where  he  d.  Jan.  28,  1873. 
Children,  (1)  Francis,  (2)  Dwight,  (3)  George  A.,  (4)  Sarah  V.,  (5) 
Justus  F.,  (6)  Edwin. 

7.  Edwin,  m.  Cylinda  Drake;  ch.  Lola,  Ruel  and  Henry. 

8.  Erastus,  b.  in  Lyman,  Nov.  28,  1801;  m  .  Susannah 
Gibbs  Brown;  lived  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  where  he  d.  Jan.  25,  1869.  Ch.  (1) 
Frederick  Erastus,  (2)  Amanda,  (3)  Albert  Alonzo;  all  born  in  Lowell, 
Mass. 

9.  Roswell,  b.  May  21,  1804;  m.  1st,  May,  1831,  Adeline,  dau.  of 
Isaac  Warren  of  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  and  7th  generation  from  Arthur 
Warren,  of  Weymouth,  Mass.,  1638;  m.  2nd,  Eliza  Sawyer.  He  d.  at  Low- 
ell, Aug.  28,  1847.    Adeline  d.  at  Lowell,  Oct.  26,  1838. 


502  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 

(1)  Adeline  Amelia,  b.  Lowell,  Mar.  15,  1832;  m.  June  26,  1860, 
Henry  Blandy,  Zanesville,  Ohio;  she  d.  at  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  Dec.  1,  1867. 
Ch. ;  Amy  Louisa,  Nellie,  Frances,  and  Douglass  Chapman.  (2)  Hen- 
rietta Merrill,  b.  at  Lowell,  Mass.,  Oct.  26,  1834;  m.  L.  S.  Parkhurst  of 
Chelmsford,  Mass.;  ch.  Samuel  Dutton  and  Lillian.  (3)  Ellen  Warren,  b. 
Lowell,  Mass.,  July  26,  1838;  d.  July  16,  1902;  m.  May  1,  1868,  Henry 
Blandy  of  Zanesville,  Ohio,  and  had  one  son,  Roswell  Douglass  Blandy, 
b.  in  Zanesville,  O.,  Feb.  27,  1875;  res.  Watertown,  Mass. 

Children  By  Second  Wife. 

(4)  Roswell  Sargent,  who  married  Fannie  Clark,  and  has  six  sons  and 
two  daughters. 

(Ill)     SIMON    DOUGLASS,    son   of   Captain   Samuel   and   Molly 
(Conant)  Douglass,  was  born  in  1779,  probably  in  Brookline.     He  lived 
in  Wells  River,  Vt.,  from  whence,  about  1818,  he  removed  to  Connecti- 
cut.    He  d.  at  Suffield,  Conn,  in  1844.    He  m.  Experience  Burbank. 

Children. 

1.  George  A.,  b.  Wells  River,  Vt.,  Jan.  3,  1812;  m.  C.  Abbe,  and 
had  one  son,  George  A.,  (b.  1849)  of  Thompsonville,  Conn.;  m.  A.  Vietts 
and  had  a  daughter,  Emma  C;  m.  L.  A.  Upson. 

2.  Barton  M.,  b.  Wells  River,  Vt.,  1817;  d.  1887;  m.  in  1843,  E. 
Chapin,  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  ch.;  (1)  Simon  B.,  (2)  Henry  C,  (3)  Ellen 
M.,  (4)  Frank  W.,  and  (5)  John  B. 

Dunphee. 

NATHAN  DUNPHEE  came  to  Brookline,  about  1820,  with  Cap- 
tain George  Hall  from  Duxbury,  Mass. ;  where  he  was  born  June  30,  1808. 
He  was  a  son  of  Nathan  and  Mary  (Cooper)  Dunphey  of  Duxbury,  Mass., 
and  a  grandson  of  Elisha  and  Mary  Dunphey  of  Bridge- 

water,  Mass.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Brookline,  and  became 
one  of  its  prominent  citizens.  He  was  a  carpenter  and  builder;  and  dur- 
ing a  part  of  his  life,  a  manufacturer  of  doors,  sash  and  blinds.  In  this 
latter  business  he  was  at  one  time  a  partner  of  Horace  Warner;  and  later 
of  Joseph  Peterson.    As  a  citizen  he  was  highly  esteemed. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  503 

He  m.  Nov.  28,  1833,  Mary,  dau.  of  Eli  and  Lydia  (Hunt)  Sawtelle. 
He  d.  Apr.  28,  1855;  she  d.  Oct.  29,  1889. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Henry  Martyn,  b.  Mar.  15,  1835;  went  west  in  his  young  man- 
hood; served  in  the  Civil  War,  enlisting  in  Illinois  under  the  first  call  for 
90  days;  re-enlisted  under  the  final  call  for  three  years;  was  made  corporal 
and  served  in  the  commissary  and  quartermasters  departments  for  about 
22  months,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged. 

He  m.  June  30,  1863,  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Mary  Wyllys  Gannett,  of  St. 
Louis;  a  descendant  of  the  distinguished  Wyllys  family,  Charter  Oak 
Estate,  Hartford,  Conn.;  res.  Bridgewater,  Mass.  Children,  one  son, 
Harry  Wyllys  Sawtelle,  b.  Oct.  4,  1864;  m.;  no  ch.;  res.  Leominster,  Mass. 

2.  Eli  Sawtelle,  b.  Feb.  22,  1841;  never  m.;  soldier  in  the  Civil  War; 
killed  in  battle,  June  5,  1863,  at  Port  Hudson  (His  military  record  is  in 
chap.  XVIII,  ante.). 

Edison. 

JAMES  AUSTIN  EDISON  was  born  in  Swanton,  Vt.,  Apr.  17,  1822. 
He  came  to  Brookline  in  1838,  in  his  sixteenth  year,  and  with  the  excep- 
tion of  six  years,  three  of  which  were  passed  in  Mason  and  three  in  Town- 
send,  Mass.,  he  continued  to  live  here  until  his  death.  He  was  a  farmer. 
He  owned  and  resided  on  the  old  Lieut.  Samuel  Farley  place.  He  m.  Sept. 
9,  1846,  Emily  E.  Gould,  who  was  born  in  Smithville,  Me.,  Nov.  1,  1821. 
He  d.  Aug.  21,  1905. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Emily  M.,  b.  Aug.  9,  1847;  m.  Jan.  1,  1868,  Edward  T.  Hall, 
Brookline. 

2.  Mary  Louisa,  b.  Nov.  26,  1849;  m.  Dec.  25,  1869,  William  Hodg- 
man. 

3.  Lizzie  C,  b.  Oct.  22,  1854;  d.  July  27,  1856. 

4.  Elwin  L.,  b.  May  19,  1859;  m.  Mar.  4,  1886,  Alice  M.  Davis  of 
New  Ipswich;  res.  Leominster,  Mass.  Ch.;  Florence  M.  and  Dwight 
James. 

Emerson. 

JOSEPH  EMERSON  settled  in  Brookline  prior  to  1795,  coming  here 
from  Massachusetts.    He  was  a  farmer  and  was  one  of  the  original  members 


504  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

of  the  local  Congregational  church ;  of  which  he  was  elected,  at  the  date  of 
its  organization  in  1795,  as  one  of  its  first  two  deacons.    He  m.  about  1794 
Lydia. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Samuel,  b.  Mar.  6,  1795. 

2.  Rebeckah,  b.  Feb.  19,  1798. 

3.  Mark,  b.  Apr.  5,  1801. 

4.  Mary,  b.  Oct.  7.  1803. 

5.  Sylvia,  b.  Aug.  12,  1806. 

JOHN  AND  IDESIA  EMERSON. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  John,  b.  Jan.  5,  1789. 

2.  Joseph,  b.  Nov.  14,  1791. 

3.  Benjamin,  b.  Nov.  24,  1793. 

Farley. 

CAPT.  SAMUEL  FARLEY  was  probably  a  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Anna  Farley  of  Roxbury,  Mass.;  where  he  was  born  Feb.  4, 

1717  or  1718,  and  a  brother  of  Lieut.  Benjamin  Farley,  who  came  from 
Bedford,  Mass.  to  the  west  part  of  Dunstable,  now  Brookline,  between 
the  years  1730  and  1740.  His  father  was  born  in  Billerica,  Mass.,  Feb.  8, 
1685;  m.  Oct.  29,  1707,  Anna  ,  and  d.  at  Roxbury,  Mass.,  Mar. 

12,  1717  or  1718. 

Capt.  Samuel  settled  in  West  Dunstable,  now  Brookline,  as  early  as 
1743,  coming  there  probably  from  Bedford,  Mass.  (For  a  more  detailed 
account  of  his  life,  see  chap.  Ill,  ante). 

He  m.  Oct.  9,  1744,  Hannah,  dau.  of  Samuel  Brown  of  West  Dun- 
stable, now  Brookline.  He  d.  in  Brookline,  Nov.  23,  1797.  His  wife  d. 
Oct.  15,  1782.  He  is  buried  with  his  wife  and  seven  of  his  children  in  the 
South  Cemetery. 

Children. 

1.  Ebenezer,  b.  in  Dunstable,  Oct.  9,  1745;  d.  June  5,  1746;  buried 
in  Brookline. 


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HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  505 

2.  Sarah,  b.  in  Dunstable,  ;  d.  Apr.  25,  1783,  aged  39; 
buried  in  Brookline. 

3.  Samuel,  b.  in  Hollis,  Mar.  14,  1747;  settled  in  Coekermouth 
(Hebron),  1771. 

4.  Hannah,  b.  in  Hollis,  Jan.  27,  1749;  d.  Oct.  30,  1786;  buried  in 
Brookline. 

5.  Joseph,  b.  in  Hollis,  ;  d.  Jan.  9,  1769,  buried  in 
Brookline. 

6.  *Benjamin,  b.  in  Hollis,  Mar.  11,  1756;  m.  June  18,  1780,  Lucy 
Fletcher. 

7.  Ezra,  b.  in  Hollis,  ;  d.  Apr.  16,  1766;  buried  in 
Brookline. 

8.  Anna,  b.  in  Hollis,  Feb.  19,  1868;  m.  Feb.  8,  1805,  Shubeal  Co- 
nant,  of  Pepperell,  Mass. 

9.  Elizabeth,  b.  in  Raby,  ;  d.  Jan.  30,  1771;  buried  in 
Brookline. 

10.  (Child)  b.  in  Raby;  d.  young,  buried  in  Brookline. 

BENJAMIN  FARLEY,  son  of  Lieut.  Samuel  and  Hannah  (Brown) 
Farley,  was  born  March  11,  1756,  in  that  part  of  Hollis  which  was  incor- 
porated as  part  of  the  township  of  Raby.  After  the  death  of  his  father,  in 
1797,  he  continued,  for  many  subsequent  years,  to  reside  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Brookline;  where  he  kept  an  inn,  and  also  a  country  store. 
He  was  one  of  the  town's  active  and  prominent  citizens.  In  1786,  as 
agent  for  Raby,  he  was  largely  influential  in  procuring  the  passage  of  an 
act  by  which  the  title  in  and  to  a  strip  of  land  on  its  east  side,  which  had 
hitherto  been  claimed  by  Hollis,  but  which  was  included  within  the 
original  charter  bounds  of  Raby,  was  established  as  being  in  the  latter 
town.  Between  the  years  1793  and  1808,  he  served  six  terms  as  moder- 
ator, three  terms  as  town  clerk,  two  terms  as  town  treasurer,  five  terms  as 
selectman,  and  represented  Raby  and  Milford  in  the  legislatures  of  1796 
and  1798.  About  1810  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Hollis;  where  he 
died  and  is  buried  in  a  tomb. 

He  m.  June  18,  1780,  Lucy  Fletcher,  of  Hollis. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Sarah,  b.  June  3,  1781. 

2.  Betsey,  b.  June  3,  1781 ;  d.  unm. 


506  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

3.  Mark*,  b.  Aug.  8,  1783;       (see  biographical  sketch,  chap.  XI, 
ante.). 

4.  Lucy,  b.  Dec.  26,  1784. 

5.  Luther,  b.  Dec.  25,  1786. 

6.  Charles,  b.  Oct.  13,  1788;  d.  unm. 

7.  Benjamin,  b.  Feb.  20,  1791;  d.  Dec.  4,  1799. 

8.  George  Frederick,  b.  Apr.  5,  1793;  (see  biographical  sketch,  chap. 
XI,  ante.). 

9.  Percy,  b.  Sept.  12,  1798. 

10.  Clarissa,  b.  Nov.  12,  1801;  m.  Apr.  9,  1829,  Obadiah  T.  Eaton, 
of  New  Ipswich;  she  d.  June  6,  1891,  in  Hollis. 

CHRISTOPHER  FARLEY  a  son  of  Stephen  and  Mary  (Shattuck) 
Farley,  was  born  in  Hollis,  Oct.  19,  1789.  In  1816  he  removed  from  Hollis 
to  Brookline;  where  he  settled  on  the  old  Joshua  Smith  place  in  the  south- 
east part  of  the  town.  He  was  prominent  in  the  town's  civic  affairs,  and 
a  member  and  deacon  of  the  Congregational  church.  Nov.  14,  1816,  be- 
fore coming  here,  he  married  Constantina,  dau.  of  Thomas  and  Mary 
(Whitney)  Cummings,  of  Hollis.  No  children  were  born  of  this  marriage; 
Noah  Farley,  his  only  child,  being  a  son  by  adoption.  He  died  in  Brook- 
line,  and  was  buried  in  the  South  Cemetery.  Subsequently  his  body 
was  disinterred  and  removed  to  Hollis.  His  adopted  son,  Noah  Farley, 
settled  in  Boston,  Mass.;  where  he  became  prominent  in  civil  and  mer- 
cantile affairs,  and  where  he  died.  Constantina,  the  wife  of  Christopher 
Farley,  d.  in  Boston,  May  30,  1864. 

Far  ns  worth. 

(IV)  SAMPSON  FARNSWORTH  settled  in  Raby,  in  1776;  coming 
here  from  Groton,  Mass.;  where  he  was  born  March  12,  1745.  He  was  a 
son  of  Mathias  and  Abigail  (Shedd)  Farnsworth,  and  a  lineal  descendant 
in  the  fourth  generation  of  Mathias  and  Mary  Farnsworth,  early  settlers  in 
Groton.  He  was  a  farmer.  His  farm  in  Raby  was  located  in  the  west 
part  of  the  town  (Mile  Slip)  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  crossing  the 
Robbins'  brook,  so  called,  a  short  distance  north  of  which  a  framed  dwell- 
ing house,  standing  at  the  present  time,  which  is  said  to  have  been  built 
by  his  son  Phillip,  marks  the  site  of  his  original  log-cabin.  He  served  for 
Raby  as  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.     He  was  twice  married; 

♦Afterwards  known  as  Benjamin  Mark  ;  the  name  Benjamin  having  been  added  to  that  of  Mark  in 
1807.  in  memory  of  another  son,  Benjamin,  who  was  born  Feb.  20.  1791,  and  died  Dec.  4,  1799.  (See 
Raby's  Record  of  Births). 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN    OF   BROOKLINE  507 

m.  1st,  Sept.  25,  1765,  in  Groton,  Rachel,  dau.  of  Samuel,  Jr.,  and  Anna 
(Williams)  Shattuek;  she  d.  ;  m.  2nd,  Rhoda  Stearns  of  Mason. 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 

1.  *Samuel,  b.  in  Groton,  Mass.,  Sept.  16,  1767;  m.  Dec.  29,  1790, 
Azubah  Badger. 

2.  *Phillip,  b.  in  Groton,  Apr.  2,  1769;  m.  Nov.  23,  1796,  Rhoda 
Badger. 

(V)  SAMUEL  FARNS WORTH,  the  first  child  and  first  son  of 
Sampson  and  Rachel  (Shattuek)  Farnsworth,  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass., 
Sept.  16,  1767.  He  came  to  Brookline  with  his  father  in  1776.  He  was  a 
farmer.  He  m.  Dec.  29,  1790,  Azubah,  dau.  of  James  Badgtr,  of  the  Mile 
Slip.    He  d.    Oct.  24,  1855. 

The  town's  books  do  not  record  the  births  of  their  children;  and  in- 
deed, so  far  as  known,  they  had  but  one  child,  a  son — Samuel  Farnsworth, 
Jr- 

(VI)  SAMUEL  FARNSWORTH,  JR.,  son  of  Samuel  and  Azubah 
(Badger)  Farnsworth,  was  born  at  Brookline  in  1796.  He  was  a  farmer. 
His  house  was  located  about  three  miles  north  of  the  village  on  the  north 
side  of  the  highway  to  Greenville,  and  west  of  the  old  Moses  Shattuek 
place,  on  the  same  highway;  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  many  years  ago. 

He  m.  about  1821,  Mary  Stevens.  He  d.  Mar.  18,  1870;  she  d.  May 
21,  1869,  aged  72  yrs. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Samuel,  b.  Dec.  26,  1822. 

2.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Nov.  27,  1824;  d.  Dec.  12,  1830. 

3.  Luther  Haskell,  b.  Sept.  24,  1828;  m.  Almira  Rideout,  of  Nashua. 

4.  Olive  Stevens,  b.  Sept.  17,  1839;  m.  in  the  fifties,  Henry  Carlton. 

5.  Mary  Ann,  b.  Sept.  22,  1834. 

(V)  PHILIP  FARNSWORTH,  second  child  and  second  son  of 
Sampson  and  Rachel  (Shattuek)  Farnsworth,  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass., 
April  2,  1769.  He  came  with  his  father  from  Groton,  to  Brookline  in  1776. 
He  married  Nov.  23,  1796,  Rhoda,  dau.  of  James  Badger,  of  the  Mile  Slip. 
He  d.  April  10,  1838;  she  d.  Nov.  24,  1848. 


508  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *  Philip,  b.  Dec.  7,  1797;  m.  Oct.  26,  1826,  Abigail  Dix,  of  Town- 
send,  Mass. 

2.  Sampson,  b.  Jan.  21,  1799;  d.  in  Newport  about  1880,  unm. 

3.  Abigail,  b.  Dec.  28,  1800. 

4.  Rhoda,  b.  Aug.  23,  1802. 

5.  Rockra,  b.  June  29,  1805. 

6.  *Ezra,  b.  Feb.  25,  1815;  m.  1st,  in  1845,  Josephine  A.  Spaulding; 
m.  2nd,  in  1852,  Clorinda  Stickney. 

(VI)  PHILIP  FARNSWORTH,  Jr.,  first  child  and  first  son  of 
Philip  and  Rhoda  (Badger)  Farnsworth,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Dec.  7, 
1797.  He  married  Oct.  26,  1826,  Abigail  Gill  Dix  of  Townsend,  Mass. 
He  d.  May  17,  1830. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *Amos  P.,  b.  about  1825;  m.  1st,  about  1860,  Lucy  Green;  m.  2nd, 
in  the  70's,  Mrs.  Sarah  Foss,  of  Nashua. 

2.  *  William,  b.  Dec.  24,  1826;  m.  in  1858,  Eliza  Brooks,  of  Town- 
send,  Mass. 

(VII)  AMOS  P.  FARNSWORTH,  first  son  and  first  child  of  Philip 
and  Abigail  (Dix)  Farnsworth,  was  born  in  Brookline,  about  1825;  he 
married,  1st,  about  1860,  Lucy  Green;  she  died;  married,  2nd,  in  1872, 
Mrs.  Sarah  Foss  of  Nashua. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Fernando,  b.  in  1860;  never  m. ;  res.  Ashby,  Mass. 

2.  Edward  J.,  b.  in  1861 ;  m.  in  1885,  Virginia  P.  Simonton.  Children, 
b.  in  Brookline,  (1)  Albert  L.,  b.  in  1886,  d.  Dec.  11,  1896;  (2)  Annabel, 
b.  in  1887,  d.  Dec.  11,  1896;  (3)  Happy,  b.  in  1888;  d.  Dec.  11,  1896; 
(these  three  having  been  drowned  in  Spaulding  brook);  (4)  James  E.,  b. 
in  1890;  m.  June  6,  1912,  Blanche  Worden;  (5)  Mabel  L.,  b.  in  1892;  (6) 
Esther  M.,  b.  in  1894;  (7)  Elsie  D.,  b.  Feb.  1,  1896;  d.  in  1896;  (8)  Frances 
M.,  b.  in  1897;  (9)  Jessie  D.,  b.  in  1899;  (10)  Arthur  W.,  b.  Aug.  23,  1904; 
d.  in  1904. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  509 

3.  Fred  P.,  b.  Jan.  1,  1862;  m.  1st,  Feb.  23,  1882,  Ella  M.  Foster, 
divorced;  m.  2nd,  Mar.  14,  1910,  Lavinia  Hay.  Ch.,  born  in  Brookline, 
by  first  wife,  (1)  Lucy,  b.  no  record;  d.  in  childhood;  (2)  Eva  M.,  b.  no 
record;  d.  in  childhood;  (3)  Lottie  B.,  b.  Nov.  3,  1886;  m.  Sept.  19,  1903, 
William  A.  Roockwood;  res.  Orient  Heights,  Mass.;  (4)  Walter,  res. 
Brookline;  (5)  Newall,  b.  no  record;  d.  Oct.  14,  1913. 
Children  by  Second  Wife;  (6)  Philip,  b.  in  1910. 

(VII)  WILLIAM  FARNSWORTH,  second  son  and  second  child  of 
Philip  and  Abigail  (Dix)  Farnsworth,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Dec.  24, 
1826.  He  married  in  1858,  Eliza  M.,  dau.  of  Phelps  Brooks,  of  Town- 
send,  Mass.    He  d.  Nov.  7,  1904;  she  d.  June  21,  1884. 

Children;  Born  in  Townsend,  Mass. 

1.  Amanda  M.,  b.  Sept.  30,  1859;  d.  Jan.  29,  1862. 

2.  Eliza  A.,  b.  Oct.  30,  1860;  d.  Feb.  5,  1862. 

3.  Lydia  A.,  b.  June  6,  1863;  m.  Feb.  25,  1892,  James  Russell  of 
Mason. 

4.  Abbie  M.,  b.  Feb.  27,  1865;  m.  Nov.  14,  1891,  Fred  C.  Willoby 
of  Hollis. 

5.  Herbert  W.,  b.  Nov.  29,  1867. 

6.  George  W.,  b.  May  6,  1869;  res.  Pepperell,  Mass. 

(VI)  EZRA  FARNSWORTH,  sixth  child  and  second  son  of  Philip 
and  Rhoda  (Badger)  Farnsworth,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Feb.  25,  1815. 
He  was  a  farmer  living  in  the  west  part  of  the  town.  He  married  1st,  in 
1845,  Josephine  A.,  dau.  of  Abel  Spalding;  she  d.;  m.  2nd,  in  1852,  Clo- 
rinda,  dau.  of  David  Stickney. 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Eliza  A.,  b.  Aug.  11,  1846;  d.  Nov.  8,  1861. 

2.  Ellen  M.,  b.  Dec.  27,  1848;  m.  Aug.  31,  1869,  George  D.  Jones. 

3.  Charles  E.,  b.  June  4,  1851;  m.  in  the  seventies,  and  resides  in 
Nashua;  one  son,  Charles  W.,  b.  in  Nashua,  in  the  seventies;  m.  June 
6,  1905,  Cora  S.  Baxter,  of  Nashua;  res.  Nashua. 

4.  Franklin  P.,  b.  Dec.  18,  1853;  m.  Dec.  23,  1877,  Kittie  M.,  dau. 
of  Daniel  Campbell,  Townsend,  Mass. 


510  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

By  Second  Wife. 

5.  Arthur  H.,  b.  May  27,  1856;  m.  Nov.  10,  1881,  Ella  M.  Sanders, 
of  Nashua. 

6.  Willis  O.,  b.  Apr.  21,  1859;  m.  Feb.  28,  1882,  Nellie  S.  Corey,  of 
Nashua. 

7.  Flora  A.,  b.  Jan.  13,  1862;  m.  1st,  Fred  McKean,  of  Nashua, 
divorced;  m.  2nd,  Apr.  5,  1888,  Henry  P.  Whitney,  of  Nashua;  one  child 
by  2nd  marriage. 

8.  Benjamin  A.,  b.  Feb.  4,  1865;  res.  Brookline,  unm. 

9.  Mary  E.,  b.  Apr.  1,  1869;  m.  Ernest  J.  Jeffery. 

10.  Alice  R.,  b.  July  4,  1872. 

Farrar. 

NATHAN  FARRAR  was  born  in  Townsend,  Mass.,  Nov.  2,  1811. 
He  was  a  son  of  Nathan  Farrar;  and  a  lineal  descendant  of  Issac  Farrar  of 
Woburn,  Mass.  He  came  from  Townsend,  Mass.,  to  Brookline  in  1855, 
and  settled  on  the  east  side  of  the  Pepperell  highway  about  one  mile  south 
of  the  village,  on  a  farm  which  he  purchased  of  Joseph  Sawtelle.  He  was 
a  farmer.  He  m.  in  1854,  Mary  A.,  dau.  of  David  and  Mary  (Fletcher) 
Daniels.    He  d.  June  15,  1889;  she  d.  Jan.  22,  1867. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Frank,  b.  Jan.  8,  1855;  unm.;  res.  Brookline. 

2.  Lucien,  b.  Jan.  26,  1857;  m.  in  1887,  Hattie  M.  Hodgman;  res. 
No.  Leominster,  Mass.  Ch.,  b.  in  Leominster,  Florence,  Flora,  Myrtle 
and  Roswell. 

3.  Charles  E.,  b.  Dec.  31,  1857;  d.  Oct.  29,  1874. 

4.  Mary  E-,  b.  Jan.  4,  1861;  d.  Jan.  23,  1864. 

Fessenden. 

AARON  FESSENDEN  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass.,  Oct.  8,  1810. 
He  settled  in  Townsend,  Mass.;  where  he  resided  until  1869.  In  the 
latter  year  he  removed  from  Townsend,  to  Brookline.  He  was  a  farmer. 
He  m.  Apr.  17,  1832,  Sarah  Woods,  of  Peterborough. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


511 


Children;  Born  in  Townsend,  Mass. 

1.  Authera,  b.  June  21,  1833;  m.  Apr.  26,  1854,  James  Campbell  of 
Townsend. 

2.  *David  S.,  b.  June  10,  1835;  m.  July  4,  1865,  Clara  Storer,  of 
Waldenboro,  Me. 

3.  Fidelia  M.,  b.  June  25,  1837;  m.  May  21,  1856,  Orland  D.  Barber, 
of  Townsend. 

4.  *James  W.,  b.  Apr.  6,  1839;  m.  May,  1861,  Susan  M.  Lane,  of 
Lunenburg,  Mass. 

5.  Augusta  A.,  b.  Aug.  30,  1841 ;  m.  Dee.  30,  1863,  Warren  P.  Gould. 

6.  Nancy  J.,  b.  June  29,  1843;  m.  Mar.  8,  1862,  Ira  Daniels. 

7.  Anna  M.,  b.  Apr.  4,  1855;  m.  1st,  Sept.  7,  1881,  Henry  W.  Kemp; 
m.  2nd,  May  30,  1911,  Lewis  E.  Bryant,  of  Manchester. 


DAVID  STEVENS 
FESSENDEN,  first  son 
of  Aaron  and  Sarah 
(Woods)  Fessenden, 
was  born  June  10,  1835, 
at  Townsend,  Mass.  In 
1865,  he  removed  from 
Boston,  Massachusetts, 
to  Brookline;  where  he 
settled  in  the  old  Benja- 
min Tucker  house  in 
South  Brookline  and  en- 
gaged in  the  lumbering 
and  milling  business.  He 
took  an  active  and 
prominent  part  in  town 
affairs ;  holding  many 
positions  of  public  trust. 
He  was  a  trustee  of  the 
local  M.  E.  church.  He 
david  stevens  fessenden.  represented  the  town  in 

the  legislatures  of   1874  and  1875.     He  m.  July  14,  1864,  Clara  Storer  of 

Walderboro,  Me.     He  d.  Apr.  15,  1914. 

Child. 
1.     *Orville  D.,  b.  in  Boston,  Mass.,  Apr.  11,  1865. 


512 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN    OF   BROOKLINE 


ORVILLE  D.  FE55ENDEN. 


ORVILLE  D.  FESS- 
ENDEN,  only  child  of 
David   S.    and      Clara 
(Storer)  Fessenden,  was 
born   at  Boston,   Mass., 
Apr.  11,  1865;  the  same 
year  he   came   with   his 
father's  family  to  Brook- 
line.     He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  and 
in     Cushing     Academy, 
Ashburnham,        Mass. 
Soon  after  attaining  to 
his  majority,   he   struck 
out   in   business    on    his 
own  account,  engaging  in 
the  wholesale    manufac- 
ture and  sale  of  lumber. 
In    1900,   he   erected   at 
South  Brookline  a  permanent  steam  sawmill;    the  same  being  the  second 
mill  of  that  description  to  be  erected  in  this  town.     From  the  date  of  its 
erection    to     the    present    time,     (1914),     he     has     been,      and     now 
is,      carrying     on    a     large     and      constantly     increasing    business    as 
a  manufacturer  and  dealer  in  lumber.     He  is  also  engaged  to  a  consider- 
able extent  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  barrels.     He  is  in  all  respects 
one  of  the  progressive  citizens  of  the  town,  in  the  welfare  of  which  he  takes 
a  deep  interest.     He  is  an  earnest  advocate  and  an  energetic  supporter  of 
all  public  improvements.    In  1910  he  inaugurated  the  first  movement  for 
supplying  the  village  with  running  water;  bringing  the  same  into  Main 
street  by  iron  pipes,  which  he  caused  to  be  laid  from  springs  located  on  the 
east  side  of  Little  Muscatanipus  hill.    In  1913,  he  installed,  in  his  mill  at 
South  Brookline,  an  electric  plant  from  which  the  public  streets  and  build- 
ings, as  well  as  the  private  dwelling  houses  of  the  town,  are  lighted  by 
electricity  at  the  present  time   (1914).     He  is  a  steady  attendant  upon 
Divine  Worship  at  the  M.  E.  church,  of  which  he  is  a  liberal  supporter. 
He  has  served  several  terms  as  a  member  of  the  board  of  education,  and 
also  as  moderator;  was  Representative  in  1897,  1898,  1905  and  1906,  and 
a  member  for  Brookline  of  the  State  Constitutional  Conventions  in  1902 
and  1912.    He  m.  Nov.  29,  1887,  Isabel  McKensie  of  P.  E.  I. 


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HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  513 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Walter  B.,  b.  May  30,  1888;  m.  Belle  Bailey. 

2.  Blanche  E.,  b.  Feb.  21,  1890. 

3.  Eldorus  C,  b.  Jan.  28,  1893. 

JAMES  W.  FESSENDEN,  son  of  Aaron  and  Sarah  (Woods)  Fes- 
senden,  was  born  at  Townsend,  Mass.,  in  1839.  In  1862,  he  settled  in 
Brookline;  remaining  here  until  1872.  In  the  latter  year  he  removed  to 
Kalamazoo,  Mich. ;  where  he  engaged  for  a  few  years  in  the  retail  grocery 
and  general  merchandise  business,  eventually  returning  east.  At  the 
present  time  he  is  residing  at  Newton,  Mass.  He  m.,  in  1861,  Susan  M. 
Lane,  of  Lunenburg,  Mass. 

Children. 

Frederic  J.,  b.  at  Lunenburg,  Mass.,  May  8,  1862;  graduated  at 
Williams  College  in  1887;  at  the  present  time  (1914)  he  is  proprietor  and 
head-master  of  the  Fessenden  School  for  Boys,  at  West  Newton,  Mass. 
He  m.  Dec.  27,  1894,  Emma  Hart,  of  Albion,  N.  Y.  Ch.  E.  Kirk  Hart, 
Louise,  Susan,  and  Frederic  James,  Jr. 

SOLOMON  FESSENDEN  and 

Child. 

Irena,  b.  in  Brookline,  Apr.  15,  1814. 

French. 

THE  FRENCH  FAMILY  is  numerous  in  New  England  and  many 
of  the  name  are  the  direct  descendants  of  Lieutenant  William  French  who 
at  the  age  of  thirty  came  in  the  ship  Defence  from  London  to  Boston  and 
settled  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  where  he  was  made  freeman  March  3,  1636. 
He  removed  to  Billerica  prior  to  1655,  where  he  held  various  civil  and 
military  offices.  He  was  one  of  the  selectmen  in  1660,  the  first  Repre- 
sentative in  1663-4,  and  had  authority  to  solemnize  marriages.  He  died 
at  Billerica  highly  respected  Nov.  20,  1681,  and  from  him  is  descended 
the  Brookline  Frenches,  of  his  family,  in  the  ensuing  order  of  succession: — 
WILLIAM  1st,  b.  in  England  1604,  d.  at  Billerica,  Mass.  Nov.  20,  1681. 


514  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

SAMUEL  2nd,  b.  at  Billerica  1647,  d.  "Dunstable"  one  of  the  8  founders 
of  the  first  church  in  1685. 

JOHN  3rd,  b.  at  Dunstable  May  6,  1691,  was  a  wheelwright  by  trade. 

JOHN  4th,  b.  at  Dunstable  Mar.  1,  1719,  d.  Mar.  15,  1761,  held  a  lieuten- 
ant's commission  as  early  as  1752. 

JONAS  5th,  b.  at  Dunstable  Aug.  17,  1757,  d.  Jan.  5,  1840,  he  and  his 
brother  William  joined  the  Continental  army,  did  effective  service 
at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  also  served  through  the  war. 

JONAS  6th,  b.  at  Dunstable,  Aug.  12,  1782,  he  was  of  large  stature  and 
spent  most  of  his  life  there.  He  moved  to  Brookline  in  the  year 
1850  and  settled  on  the  Calvin  Clements  place  in  the  westerly  part 
of  the  town  on  the  Mason  road,  where  he  d.  Aug.  13,  1860.  He  m. 
1st,  Martha  Jewett  of  Hollis,  N.  H.,  Apr.  3,  1809.  She  was  b.  in 
1785,  and  d  July  25,  1824.  Eleven  children  were  born  to  them, 
nine  dying  in  infancy,  William  James  and  Martha  Jane  b.  June  30, 
1822. 

WILLIAM  7th,  b.  at  Dunstable,  June  30,  1822,  d.  at  Brookline,  Feb.  23, 
1894,  m.  Susan  R.  Lovering  of  Springfield,  N.  H.,  Jan  12,  1847. 
She  was  b.  Mar.  10,  1819,  d.  Dec.  7,  1895.  Ch.,  Orrin  A.,  William 
H.,  and  Luella  A. 

ORRIN  A.  8th,  b.  at  Nashua,  Apr.  15,  1848,  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  15th  Mass. 
Regt.  Mar.  15,  1864,  taken  prisoner  at  Reams  Station,  Va.,  Aug. 
20,  1864,  and  d.  in  Salisbury  Prison,  S.  C.  Jan.  1,  1865. 

WILLIAM  H.  8th,  b.  at  Nashua,  Mar.  11, 1850,  m.  Susie  E.  Willoubhy  of 
Milford,  N.  H.,  Dec.  2,  1871,  she  was  b.  May  17,  1852.  Ch.,  Bertha 
E.,  b.  Sept.  3,  1876,  d.  Aug.  20,  1878,  Fred  E.,  b.  Aug.  22,   1881. 

LUELLA  A.  8th,  b.  at  Nashua,  Jan.  27,  1853.  m.  1st,  Frank  P.  Bacon  of 
Sharon,  N.  H.  at  Brookline,  Feb.  10,  1877.  He  was  b.Apr.  17, 
1852,  and  d.  Feb.  29,  1888.  She  m.  2nd,  Cutler  B.  Walker,  Mar. 
16,  1897,  at  Fitchburg,  Mass.  He  was  b.  at  Spencer,  Mass.,  Oct. 
4,  1843. 

MARTHA  7th,  married  Ephraim  Lund  of  Hollis,  N.  H.,  Sept.  9,  1854. 
He  was  b.  Nov.  19,  1825.    She  d.  at  Lowell,  Mass.,  Oct.  24,  1890. 

JONAS  Jr.  6th,  m.  2nd,  Mary  Pike,  of  Brookline,  N.  H.,  Nov.  20,  1824. 
She  was  b.  Aug.  27,  1799,  and  d.  Jan.  2,  1863,  and  is  buried  in  the 
West  Cemetery.  Twelve  children  were  born  by  this  marriage,  three 
dying  in  infancy. 

Joseph  Augustus  b.  Oct.  1,  1825,d.  Jan.  31,  1827. 
Eli  Sawtellb.  Nov.  19,  1826,  d.  Nov.  1,  1844. 
Mary  Augusta     b.  Jan.  8,  1828,  d.  Dec.  13,  1895. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


515 


Newell  Pike,  b.  Dec.  2,  1829. 

John  Dustin,  b.  Nov.  21,  1831,  d.  Feb.  18,  1832. 

Albert  Marshall,  b.  July  27,  1833,  d.  Sept.  22,  1900,  enlisted  in  Co. 

C,  4th  N.  H.  Regt.  Sept.  18,  1861,  discharged  Sept.  26,  1864. 

Lucy  Caroline,  b.  Jan.  10,  1836.  d.  May  1,  1914. 

John  Alfred,  b.  Dec.  4,  1839,  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  36th  Mass. 
Regt.  July  26,  1862,  wounded  May  12,  1864  at  Spottsylvania  and 
discharged  June  20,  1865,  d.  Feb.  27,  1908. 

Jonas  Clifton,  b.  Aug.  3,  1841,  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  4th  N.  H.  Regt. 
Sept.  18,  1861,  with  rank  of  Sergeant,  taken  prisoner  at  Reams 
Station,  Aug.  18,  1864,  and  died  at  Salisbury  Prison,  S.  C,  Nov. 
18.  1864. 

MARY  A.  7th,  married  Rufus  G.  Russell  and  settled  in  Brookline. 

ALBERT  M.  7th,  m.   Hannah  Wetherbee  and    settled  in  Ashby,  Mass. 

LUCY  C,  7th,  m.  Duncan  Harriman  and  settled  in  No.  Adams,  Mass. 


JOHN  A.  FRENCH. 


JOHN  A.  7th,  married 
Charlotte  L.  Pierce  of 
Boston,  Mass.,  June  27, 
1865,  she  was  b.  Nov. 
26,  1845.  Ch. 

Born  in  Brookline. 

Herbert  Alfred  b.  Sept. 
17,  1866. 
George  Amasa  b.  Oct. 

25,  1868. 

John    Elmer   b.    Mar. 

19,  1871. 

Addie  Caroline  b.  Feb. 

20,  1873. 

Charles  Henry  b.  Apr. 

26,  1875. 

Fannie  Louisa  b.  Mar. 
23,  1877. 

Frank  Eugene  b.  Nov. 
20,  1881. 


516 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


PHILEMON  FRENCH 
came  from  Tempi  eton, 
Mass.  to  Brookline  in 
1840.  He  was  a  painter, 
and  a  highly  respected 
citizen,  occupying  many 
places  of  public  trust. 
He  m.  in  1842,  Louisa 
L.,  dau.  of  Joseph  Jefts, 
Esq.  of  Brookline.  He 
d.  at  Brookline  in  1875, 
aged  66  years.  He  is 
buried  in  the  South 
cemetery. 

Children; 
Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  John  Erastus,  b. 
Mar.  19,  1843;  he  was  a 
painter;  residing  in  the 
last  years  of  his  life  in 
Athol  .Mass.  He  m.  in  1878,  Caroline  M.,  dau.  of  Sumner  S.  and  Marinda 
(Bailey)  Kendall.  He  d.  at  Athol,  Mass.,  in  1902;  she  d.  at  Athol  in  1897. 
Both  are  buried  in  the  South  cemetery  in  Brookline.  Ch.,  Morton  Bowles, 
b.  Brookline,  Dec.  7,  1879;  grad.  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1903. 

2.  Ellen  Louise,  b.  Mar.  16,  1842;  m.  Jan.  4,  1871,  Leroy  Wallace. 

3.  Adelaide  Isabel,  b.  Aug.  1855;  m. 


CHARLOTTE  L.  (PIERCE)  FRENCH. 


Foster. 


"ABEL  FOSTER  and  Mary  his  wife  and  Abel  his  son  came  from 
Townsend,  into  this  town  to  live  and  dwell  in  1784,  and  was  warned  out 
in  1785."  The  above  is  recorded  on  the  town's  book  of  records.  He  was 
probably  the  Abel  Foster  who  was  a  member  of  Capt.  Samuel  Douglass' 
company,  which  marched  from  Townsend  hill  at  the  time  of  the  Lexing- 
ton alarm  in  April,  1775. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Benjamin,  b.  Feb.  13,  1785. 

2.  Polly,  b.  Aug.  5,  1786. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  517 

3.  Betsey,  b.  May  8,  1788. 

4.  Lucy,  b,  June  15,   1798. 

CALEB  FOSTER  and  Hepzebah 

Child. 
Mary,  b.  in  Brookline,  Sept.  27,  1792. 

ABEL  FOSTER  settled  in  Brookline  in  April,  1832;  coming  here 
from  Ashby,  Mass. ;  where  he  was  born  in  December,  1800.  He  was  a  son 
of  John  and  Dorcas  (Upton )  Foster.  For  many  successive  years  he  owned 
and  operated  the  sawmill  standing  on  the  site  of  the  old  Campbell  saw- 
mill in  the  west  part  of  Brookline.  He  m.  in  1825,  Lydia  Miller  of  Mas- 
on.    He  d.  Dec.  8,  1883.    She  d.  July  10,  1879. 

Children. 

1.  Albert,  b.  in  Ashby,  July  31,  1826;  m.  1st,  Maria  Elkins,  of  Brook- 
line; she  d.;  m.  2nd,  Sarah  Davis,  of  New  Ipswich.  He  d.  Apr.  18,  1910. 
Two  ch.,  by  2nd  marriage;  (1)  Elmina,  b.  in  Brookline,  m.  Morton  Hut- 
chinson, of  Wilton.  (2)  Emma,  b.  in  Brookline,  m.  Fred  H.  Tarbell,  of 
Lyndeboro. 

2.  William  Miles,  b.  in  Ashby,  Feb.  21,  1828;  m.  in  1882,  Mary 
Brown,  of  Peterboro;  he  d.  Mar.  29,  1876.  2  ch.,  b.  in  Brookline,  (1) 
Ella,  m.  Feb.  23,  1883,  Fred  Farnsworth,  divorced;  m.  2nd,  William  Far- 
well;  m.  3rd.  Burke;  (2)  Algernon,  m.  Emma  Terrell,  Wilton,  he 
was  killed  in  railroad  accident  at  Rochester. 

3.  Mada  M.,  b.  at  Ashby,  June  25,  1830;  m.  July  1,  1851,  Joseph  A. 
Hall  of  Brookline. 

4.  Dorcas,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  30,  1836. 

5.  Lizzie,  b.  in  Brookline,  July  17,  1839;  m.  in  1873,  Francis  Coyle, 
N.  S.;  he  d.;  m.  2nd,  William  Foster,  of  New  Ipswich;  he  d.  in  Pepperell, 
Mass.,  Nov.  16,  1912.  She  lives  in  New  Ipswich;  1  ch.,  Annie,  (by  first 
marriage)  m.  William  Maloy  of  Mason. 

6.  Mary,  b.  in  Brookline,  Feb.  6,  1843;  m.  Dec.  13,  1866,  Isaiah 
Scripture,  of  Mason.  Ch.,  (1)  Anis  L-,  b.  Brookline,  Dec.  9,  1868;  (2) 
Abel  Ward,  b.  Brookline,  Apr.  12,  1871;  (3)  Lillian  M.,  b.  at  Milford, 
July  2,  1874; (4)  Charles  E.,  b.  Mason,  May  7,  1876;  (5)  Mabel  M.,  b. 
Mason,  July  1,  1877;  (6)  Edgar  M.,  b.  Brookline,  May  14,  1879;  (7) 
Alice  L.,  b.  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  Mar.  17,  1885. 


518  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Gerry. 

FREDERIC  HENRY  GERRY  came  to  Brookline  in  1859,  from 
Townsend,  Mass.,  where  he  was  born,  March  8,  1848.  He  is  a  son  of  Dr. 
Henry  A.  and  Caroline  (Brooks)  Gerry.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Brookline;  where  he  resided  until  he  attained  his  majority,  and  finally 
settled  in  Franklin;  where  at  the  present  time  (1914)  he  is  engaged  in  a 
prosperous  business  as  a  merchant.    He  m.  May  30,  1880,  Ida  Belle  Jones. 

Child;  Born  in  Franklin. 

Arthur  Peterson,  b.  May  26,   1881;  m.  Nov.  23,   1909,  Helen  G 
Holmes. 

Gilman. 

FRANKLIN  E.  GILMAN,  a  son  of  Franklin  and  Harriet  A.  (Stick- 
ney)  Gilman,  was  born  in  Brookline.  Sept.  6,  1863.  He  was  brought  up 
on  a  farm.  During  the  eighties,  he  resided  for  several  years  in  Hollis  and 
in  Pepperell,  Mass.  In  1904,  he  returned  to  Brookline,  where  he  engaged 
in  the  retail  fish  business  until  1913;  in  the  latter  year  he  removed  from 
Brookline  to  Gardner,  Mass.,  where  he  is  residing  at  the  present  time. 
He  is  an  excellent  citizen  and  a  member  of  the  Brookline  Congregational 
church.    He  m.  in  1888,  Bertha  A.  Simmons. 

Children. 

1.  Laura  V.,  b.  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Nov.  12,  1888;  m.  Sept.  17,  1908, 
Parker  G.  Webber  of  Fitchburg. 

2.  Annie  M.,  b.  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Nov.  3,  1892;  m.  Oct.  5,  1910, 
Henry  S.  Bailey. 

3.  Mildred  A.,  b.  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Sept.  1,  1894. 

Gilson. 

EBENEZER  GILSON,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in  Brook- 
line, came  here  in  1775  from  Pepperell,  Mass.  He  was  born  in  Groton, 
Mass.,  June  24,  1745,  and  was  a  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Anna  (Searl ) 
Gilson.  His  farm  in  Brookline  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  east  high- 
way to  Milford,  about  one  and  one  half  miles  north  of  the  present  vil- 
lage Main  street.     He   served   as   a   soldier  for  Raby  in  the  War  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  519 

Revolution.     He  m.  before  coming  here,  Aug.  24,  1769,  Elizabeth  Law- 
rence, of  Pepperell.    He  d.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  3,  1811. 

Children. 

1.  *Abel,  b.  in  Pepperell,  Aug.  8,  1770;  m.  in  1801,  Anna  Searl  of 
Pepperell,  Mass.,  d.  in  Brookline. 

2.  *Nathan,  b.  in  Pepperell,  Feb.  26,  1773;  m.  Nov.  26,  1801,  Abi- 
gail Hobart. 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  in  Brookline,  Aug.  16,  1775;  m.  Feb.  9,  1809,  William 
Hall. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  in  Brookline,  May  19,  1779;  d.  in  Amherst. 

5.  Esther,  b.  in  Brookline,  Mar.  24,  1782. 

6.  Joseph,  b.  in  Brookline,  Apr.  20,  1789. 

(II)  ABEL  GILSON,  first  child  and  first  son  of  Ebenezer  and 
Elizabeth  (Lawrence)  Gilson,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Aug.  8,  1770. 
He  came  to  Brookline  with  his  father's  family  in  1775.  He  was  a  farmer. 
His  dwelling  house  was  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  east  highway  to 
Milford  about  one  fourth  of  a  mile  distant  from  said  highway.  It  was 
subsequently  known  as  the  William  Whitcomb  place.  He  m  in  1801, 
Anne  Searl  of  Pepperell,  Mass.    He  d.  in  Brookline,  in  1850. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *William,  b.  Jan.  21,  1802;  m.  1st,  Mar.  15,  1827,  Eliza  Ames;  m. 
2nd,  Jan.  6,  1842,  Hannah  W.  Wheeler  of  Brookline. 

2.  Sally,  b.  no  record;  m.  May  6,  1821,  Stephen  Perkins. 

3.  Betsey,  b.  no  record. 

4.  George,  b.  no  record. 

(III)  WILLIAM  GILSON,  first  child  and  first  son  of  Abel  and 
Anna  (Searl)  Gilson,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Jan.  21,  1802.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  a  wholesale  manufacturer  and  dealer  in  barrels.  He  also  dealt 
extensively  in  real  estate.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church, 
and  a  respected  and  influential  citizen.  In  1861  he  removed  from  Brook- 
line to  Milford,  where,  for  the  remainder  of  his  life,  he  was  actively  en- 
gaged in  business.  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Mar.  15,  1827,  Eliza 
Ames,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.;  she  d.  in  Brookline,  May  21,  1841;  m.  2nd, 
Jan.  6,  1842,  Hannah  W.  Wheeler,  of  Brookline.  He  d.  at  Milford,  Jan. 
19,  1887;  his  wife  d.  at  Walpole,  Mar.  21,  1895,  aged  84  years. 


520  HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  William  H.,  b.  Dec.  28,  1827;  d.  at  Brookline,  unm. 

2.  Eliza  A.,  b.  Sept.  2,  1828;  m.  Aug.  18,  1852,  Jefferson  Whitcomb 
of  Townsend. 

3.  Mary  J.,  b.  May  19,  1830;  m.  in  the  fifties,  E.  D.  Sawin. 

4.  Harriet  M.,  b.  Feb.  1,  1832;  d.  at  Brookline. 

5.  Betsey  A.,  b.  Jan.  17,  1836;  m.  Apr.  1,  1857,  Charles  H.  Russell. 

6.  *Henry  S.,  b.  Nov.  2,  1837;  m.  Jan.  9,  1862,  Julia  M.  Downe. 

7.  William  F.,  b.  Apr.  12,  1839;  d.  at  Brookline. 

8.  Marshall  T.,  b.  Mar.  20,  1841;  d.  at  Brookline. 

By  Second  Wife. 

9.  Hannah  J.,  b.  Jan.  11,  1845;  (see  sketch,  chap.  XI,  ante.) 

10.  *  Albert  A.,  b.  Oct.  7,  1846;  m.  1st,  Sept.  29,  1874,  Hattie  E. 
Hyde;  m.  2nd,  Apr.  8,  1880,  Mary  E.  Colburn. 

11.  Emma  F.,  b.  Sept.  15,  1850;  d.  Aug.  22,  1853. 

(IV)  HENRY  SAMUEL  GILSON,  second  son  and  sixth  child  of 
William  and  Eliza  (Ames)  Gilson,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Nov.  2,  1837. 
He  passed  his  early  manhood  in  Brookline,  and  was  educated  in  its  public 
schools.  About  1866  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Milford,  where  for 
many  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  business  of  operating  a  sawmill.  He 
was  a  good  citizen,  and  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church.  He 
married,  Jan.  9,  1862,  Julia  Maria  Downe,  of  Fitchburg,  Mass.  He  d.  at 
Milford,  Jan.  15,  1903. 

Children. 

1.  William  H.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Dec.  30,  1864. 

2.  Alice  L.,  b.  in  Milford,  Feb.  18,  1867;  d.  in  Milford. 

3.  Frank  S.,  b.  in  Milford,  Aug.  8,  1873. 

(IV)  ALBERT  AUGUSTUS  GILSON,  a  son  of  William  and 
Hannah  (Wheeler)  Gilson,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Oct.  7,  1846.  He 
passed  his  boyhood  in  Brookline,  and  attended  its  public  schools.  Soon 
after  arriving  at  manhood,  he  removed  with  his  father  from  Brookline  to 
Milford,  and  subsequently  removed  to  Walpole,  where  he  is  residing  at  the 
present  time  (1914).  He  is  a  farmer  and  highly  respected  citizen.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Congregational  church.  He  married  1st,  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  Sept.  29,  1874,  Hattie  E.  Hyde;  she  d.  in  Milford,  May  8,  1876;. 
he  married  2nd,  Apr.  8,  1880,  Mary  E.  Coburn. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


521 


Children;  By  First  Wife. 

1.  Frank  Turney,  b.  in  Milford,  Apr.  8,  1876;  m.  Oct.  17,  1908, 
Margaret  A.  Stetson. 

By  Second  Wife. 

2.  Helen  E.,  b.  in  Walpole,  Sept.  5,  1882. 

3.  Ray,  b.  in  Walpole,  Dec.  26,  1888;  d.  July  24,  1910. 


(II)  NATHAN  GILSON,  second  son  and  second  child  of  Ebenezer 
and  Elizabeth  (Lawrence)  Gilson,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Feb.  26, 
1773.  He  came  to  Raby  with  his  father's  family  in  1774-75.  He  passed 
his  entire  life  in  Brookline.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  m.  Nov.  26,  1801, 
Abigail  Hobart. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Levi,  b.  Jan.  21,  1803. 

2.  Anne,  b.  Apr.  3,  1805. 

3.  Charles,  b.  Feb.  10,  1807. 

4.  Nathan,  b.  Sept.  26,  1809. 

5.  Luke,  b.  July  13,  1813. 


DEACON   ELEAZER  GILSON 


ELEAZER  GIL- 
SON,  the  first  of  his 
family  to  settle  in  Brook- 
line, came  here  about 
1780  from  Pepperell, 
Mass.,  where  he  was  born, 
March,  1756.  He  was  a 
son  of  Eleazer  and  Mary 
(Hall)  Gilson;  and  a  lin- 
eal descendant  in  the 
fourth  generation  of  Jo- 
seph Gilson,  the  immi- 
grant settler  from  Eng- 
land to  America,  who 
married  Mary  Cooper  of 
Chelmsford,  Mass.,  Nov. 
8,  1660 ;  and  one  of  whose 
sons,  Joseph,  finally  set- 
tled in  Groton,  Mass.; 
of  which  town  Joseph 
Gilson,    Sr.,   was  one   of 


522  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

the  original  proprietors.  The  farm  upon  which  Joseph  Gilson,  Jr.,  settled 
in  Groton,  subsequently  became  a  part  of  Pepperell,  Mass.,  at  the  time 
the  latter  town  was  incorporated;  and  in  1754,  Joseph  Gilson,  Jr.,  by  his 
will,  probated  that  year,  left  it  to  his  son,  Eleazer,  the  father  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  The  records  of  the  ancestors  of  Eleazer  Gilson  are  very 
fully  given  in  Mr.  Butler's  history  of  Groton,  Mass. 

Before  coming  to  Brookline,  he  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution ;  serv- 
ing as  a  private  in  Capt.  Jewett's  company  of  Pepperell.  He  was  in  the 
battle  of  White  Plains.  In  1795,  when  the  Congregational  church  of  this 
town  was  organized,  he  was  elected  as  one  of  its  two  first  deacons.  He 
was  a  selectman  in  1790,  1791,  and  1795;  and  in  1790,  a  member  of  the 
final  committee  chosen  to  construct  the  town's  first  meeting-house.  He 
m.  Hannah,  dau.  of  Isaac  Shattuck  of  Pepperell,  Mass.;  (afterwards  of 
this  town)  he  d.  at  Brookline,  Dec.  21,  1851,  aged  95  years;  she  d.  in 
Brookline,  May  15,  1834. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Eleazer,  b.  Oct.  1,  1780;  m.  for  his  first  and  second  wives  Mary 
and  Abigail,  daughters  of  Gen.  Center  of  Vt. 

2.  Isaac,  b.  Aug.  30,  1782;  m.  Eliza  Cunningham;  d.  Nov.  1863. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  Dec.  14,  1784;  m.  Prescott  Wright,  son  of  Josiah  and 
Betsey  Shattuck  Wright. 

4.  Ephraim,  b.  Jan.  16,  1787;  m.  Lydia  Barrett;  d.  Dec.  10,  1860. 

5.  Hepsibeth,  b.  Nov.  19,  1789;  m.  Robert  Seaver. 

6.  *Samuel,  b.  Apr.  6,  1792;  three  times  married. 

7.  John,  b.  June  9,  1794;  m.  in  Lynn,  Mass.,  Gennett  Orr;  d.  Feb. 
11,  1845. 

8.  William,  b.  May  28,  1796;  m.  1st,  L.  Floyd;  m.  2nd,  Huldah 
Newell  of  Lynn,  Mass. ;  d.  Oct.  23,  1845. 

9.  Lemuel,  b.  Oct.  10,  1798;  m.  Nancy  Tuttle;  d.  1831. 

10.  Mary,  b.  Dec.  14,  1800;  m.  John  Hemphill. 

11.  Betsey,  b.  Oct.  15,  1802;  m.  Thomas  Averhill;  d.  Feb.  26,  1863. 

(V)  SAMUEL  GILSON,  Sr.,  sixth  child  of  Eleazer  and  Hannah 
Gilson,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Apr.  6,  1792;  Mar.  9,  1813,  he  married  Re- 
becca Wright;  she  d.  Aug.  27,  1856;  Jan.  29,  1857,  he  married  Sarah  Reed; 
Oct.  30,  1859,  he  married  Martha  Smith.    He  d.  Mar.  30,  1870. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  523 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  *Samuel,  Jr.,  b.  Nov.  23,  1813;  m.  Betsey  Caroline  Cramm,  of 
Littleton,  Mass. 

2.  Nancy,  b.  July  24,  1815;  m.  Otis  Horton;  6  ch.;  d.  Aug.  1872. 

3.  Rebecca,  b.  Sept.  28,  1817;  m.  Joel  Crouch,  Harvard,  Mass.;  14 
children. 

4.  Mary,  b.  Sept.  12,  1819;  d.  Apr.  30,  1821. 

5.  Peter,  b.  Aug.  23,  1821;  m.  Marlina  Cramm,  Feb.  12,  1884;  4  ch. 

6.  James,  b.  June  18,  1823;  m.  Nancy  Spaulding  of  Townsend, 
Mass.;  6  ch. 

7.  Mary,  b.  June  10,  1825;  m.  Benj.  Kendrick  of  Amherst;  7  ch. 

8.  John,  b.  Mar.  31,  1827;  m.  Naama  Jessup  (born  in  England), 
Feb.  23,  1848;  2  ch. 

9.  Hannah,  b.  June  7,  1829;  m.  1st,  Emerson  Wright,  of  Townsend, 
Mass.;  m.  2nd,  Austin  Kendall,  Walpole;  one  ch.  She  d.  Dec.  25,  1903, 
in  New  Mexico. 

10.  Melissa,  b.  May  18,  1831;  m.  Warren  Woods;  2nd,  m.  George 
Cobb;  no  ch. 

11.  Lucinda,  b.  Mar.  16,  1833;  m.  William  Eddy,  July  9,  1860;  he 
d.  Jan.  31,  1891. 

12.  Eleazer,  b.  Mar.  25,  1835;  m.  Martha  Gates  of  Petersham, 
Mass.     2  ch. 

13.  A  boy. 

14.  Nathaniel,  b.  Mar.  17,  1839;  m.  Caroline  Harris  of  Athol,  Mass.; 
lch. 

(VI)  SAMUEL  GILSON,  Jr.,  first  child  of  Samuel  and  Rebecca 
(Wright)  Gilson,  was  born  Nov.  23,  1813.  He  m.  in  1837,  Betsey  Caro- 
line Cramm,  of  Littleton,  Mass.  He  was  a  stone  mason  by  trade,  and, 
with  his  father,  laid  the  foundation  walls  of  the  majority  of  the  dwelling 
houses  in  this  town.  At  the  centennial  of  the  town,  in  1869,  he  and  his 
son  Charles  were  terribly  injured  by  the  bursting  of  a  cannon,  while  they 
were  engaged  in  firing  a  salute  on  the  summit  of  Meeting-house  hill.  He 
d.  Sept.  26,  1900;  his  wife  d.  May  9,  1898. 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 

1.  Samuel  Dennis,  b.  July  24,  1838;  m.  Elizabeth  Ross,  of  Benning- 
ton, Apr.  21,  1874;  lives  in  Gardner,  Mass.;  ch.;  Adelaide  Gertrude,  b. 
Nov.  5,  1877;  Davis  Clinton. 


524  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

2.  Davis  Clinton,  b.  Jan.  27,  1842;  m.  Malvina  Willard  of  Harvard, 
Mass.,  Jan.  19,  1865;  d.  in  Brookline,  May  19,  1904;  ch.:  Alice  Caroline, 
b.  in  Pepperell,  in  1865;  Jennie  Florence,  b.  in  Pepperell,  in  1868.  Harry- 
Chester,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  12,  1884;  James  Herbert,  b.  in  Brookline, 
Apr.  12,  1887. 

3.  Emily  Caroline,  b.  Feb.  21,  1844;  m.  Joseph  Benjamin  Swett,  Jr.; 
he  b.  in  Mount  Vernon,  Jan.  15,  1841 ;  4  ch.    See  Swett  genealogy,  post. 

4.  Charles  Alvin,  b.  May  24,  1847;  m.  1st,  Nov.  14,  1891,  Almira 
Peacock;  m.  2nd,  Oct.  12,  1905,  Annie  Sweeney. 

5.  Luther  Addison,  b.  Apr.  8,  1851 ;  m.  Lizzie  Smith  of  Hollis,  Sept. 
22,  1873;  m.  2nd,  Aug.  16,  1913,  Augusta  A.  Dow.    No  ch. 

6.  Louisa  Jane,  b.  Mar.  21,  1854;  m.  Edward  N.  Gutterson,  of  Am- 
herst, Sept.  1875;  one  ch.,  Carrie  Lucinda,  b.  July  27,  1876. 

7.     Herbert  Cramm,  b.  march  10,  1859:  d.  Sep.  16,  1861. 

LEVI  GILSON,  a  son  of  John  and  Gilson,  was  born  in 

Old  Dunstable  in  1798.  He  settled  in  Brookline  about  1820.  He  was  a 
farmer,  residing,  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  on  the  old  Capt.  Robert 
Seaver  place  on  the  east  highway  to  Milford.  He  was  twice  m.;  m.  1st, 
Oct.  26,  1822,  Lucy,  dau.  of  Capt.  Ephraim  and  Hannah  (Beard)  Saw- 
telle;  she  d. ;  m.  2nd,  widow  of  Rev.  Samuel  Wadsworth.  He  d.  in  1852; 
she  d.  in  1857. 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 
Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Lucy  M.,  b.  Oct.  31,  1825;  m.  Bela  G.  Cochran  of  Brookline. 

2.  Levi  H.,  b.  Mar.  16,  1827;  m.  1st,  Maria  L.  Burt,  of  New  York; 
m.  2nd,  Sarah  E.  Bell,  of  Chester;  he  d.  at  Wakefield,  Mass.,  Sept.  28, 
1912. 

3.  Hannah  A.,  b.  July  19,  1829;  m.  Sept.  20,  1850,  James  Blake,  of 
Pepperell,  Mass. 

4.  Lydia  E.,  b.  Sept.  30,  1831;  m.  Charles  H.  Shattuck,  of  Pepperell. 

5.  Betsey  E.,  b.  July  23,  1833;  m.  1st,  Mar.  15,  1854,  Abel  Ball  of 
Hollis;  m.  2nd,  Feb.  6,  1869,  Fernando  Bailey. 

6.  Charles  F.,  b.  Jan.  25,  1835;  m.  Fannie  Lakin  of  Pepperell,  Mass. 

7.  James  A.,  b.  Sept.  11,  1839;  removed  to  Elmira,  N.  Y.;  m.  Minnie 
Wormley  of  Elmira;  died  there  leaving  children. 

8.  Levi  F.,  b.  Jan.  18,  1824;  d.  Sept.  20,  1825. 

9.  Martha  E.,  b.  July  25,  1837;  d.  Aug.  14,  1837. 


HISTORY  OF   THE    TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  525 

DAVID  GILSON  came  from  Dunstable  to  Brookline  in  January, 
1795.  He  settled  in  the  west  part  of  the  town.  He  was  a  cooper  and 
farmer.  According  to  an  inscription  on  his  tombstone,  he  served  as  a 
substitute  for  his  father  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  wounded 
in  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill.    He  m.  before  coming  here  Mary  ; 

she  d.  Sept.  7,  1821,  aged  78;  m.  2nd,  Polly  Fletcher.  He  d.  July  10,  1839; 
his  wife  Polly  d.  Mar.  13,  1874,  aged  84.  He  is  buried  with  his  two  wives 
in  the  South  cemetery. 

Goodwin. 

REV.  DANIEL  GOODWIN,  son  of  Joshua  and  Elizabeth  (Jones) 
Goodwin,  was  born  in  Londonderry,  Jan.  25,  1809.  He  was  educated  in 
Dartmouth  College  and  Andover  Theological  Seminary.  He  was  pastor 
of  the  Brookline  Congregational  church  from  1839  to  1857.  A  sketch  of 
his  life  is  given  in  prior  pages  of  this  work. 

Mr.  Goodwin  was  thrice  married.  He  married  Julia  Ann  Shute  of 
Deny,  Feb.  12,  1839.  She  died  in  Brookline,  Sept.  10,  1845.  August  24, 
1846,  he  married  Martha  Boynton  of  Pepperell,  Mass.  She  died  at  Mason, 
Apr.  14,  1875.  His  third  wife  was  Lucy  Jane  Boynton,  of  Pepperell,  with 
whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  Oct.  2,  1876.  He  d.  at  Mason,  Dec.  30, 
1893. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Sarah  Day,  b.  Jan.  3,  1840;  m.  Charles  Ward  Tarbell,  of  New 
York  City,  May  24,  1863.  He  d.  May  16,  1896.  Ch.,  Alice  Fanning,  b. 
Feb.  23,  1864,  d.  June  18,  1887,  at  Marietta,  Ga.;  Sarah  Gertrude,  b.  Oct. 
4,  1865,  m.  Rev.  C.  F.  Hill  Crathern,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  May  24,  1893. 

2.  Lucy  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  16,  1841. 

3.  Julia  Ann,  b.  Feb.  16,  1843;  d.  at  Mason,  Oct.  28,  1894. 

4.  Daniel  Dana,  b.  Nov.  13,  1844;  d.  at  Mason,  May  24,  1884. 

By  Second  Wife. 

5.  Mary  Ellen,  b.  Feb.  28,  1848;  d.  at  Brookline,  Sept.  8,  1848. 

6.  Charles  Boynton,  b.  Jan.  17,  1851;  res.  Mason;  where  he  is  a 
leading  citizen;  having  held  every  public  office  of  importance,  and  twice 
represented  the  town  in  the  legislature. 


526  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

7.  Henry  Alfred,  b.  Nov.  19,  1853;  m.  Emma  Frances  Childs  of 
Mason,  Nov.  27,  1881;  d.  at  Hollis,  Jan.  10,  1905;  ch.,  (1)  Martha  Louise, 
b.  Sept.  7,  1882;  m.  June  28,  1906,  Geo.  Fletcher  Hills;  (2)  Ethel  Marian, 
b.  Mar.  1,  1884;  (3)  Otis  Dana,  b.  Mar.  1,  1886;  (4)  Daniel  Henry,  b. 
May  2,  1894;  (5)  Ruth  Childs,  b.  Dec.  3,  1896;  (6)  Frances  Emma,  b. 
Aug.  21,  1901. 

Goss. 

ARTHUR  A.  GOSS  was  born  Dec.  29,  1867,  at  Holden,  Me.  He  is  a 
son  of  Henry  and  Melinda  A.  (Garland)  Goss.  He  settled  in  Brookline  in 
1889,  and  is  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  married  March  20,  1895,  Jennie 
A.,  dau  of  Henry  G.  Shattuck  of  Brookline. 

Child;  Born  in  Brookline. 

Hazel  E.,  b.  Feb.  20,  1896. 

Gould. 

BENJAMIN  GOULD  settled  in  Brookline  in  the  forties,  coming  here 
from  Canaan,  where  he  was  born,  May  24,  1802.  In  his  early  manhood  he 
was  employed  in  teaching  school;  subsequently  he  learned  the  trade  of 
tanning  and  shoe-making.  In  Brookline  he  was  engaged  in  the  manu- 
facture of  shoes  until  1862,  when  he  gave  up  the  shoe  business  and  re- 
sumed teaching.  In  1875,  when  past  his  seventy-fifth  year,  he  went 
south  and  taught  in  Tennessee  and  Georgia  for  about  sixteen  years ;  part  of 
the  time  in  public  schools  and  part  of  the  time  as  a  tutor  in  private  fami- 
lies. In  the  summer  of  1898,  at  the  age  of  96,  he  came  north  and  passed 
the  remainder  of  his  life  at  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Edwin  Wallace, 
in  Sturbridge,  Mass.;  where  he  died  Jan  8,  1901,  aged  98  years,  7  months 
and  15  days,  and  where  he  is  buried. 

During  his  residence  in  Brookline,  Mr.  Gould  was  regarded  as  one  of 
its  most  intelligent  and  most  influential  citizens.  He  held  every  public 
office  within  the  gift  of  its  people.  He  was  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school, 
dignified  and  polite  in  his  manners,  and  democratic  in  his  associations 
and  affiliations.  He  m.  Mar.  10,  1842,  Martha  Kimball,  of  Pepperell, 
Mass.  He  d.  at  Sturbridge,  Mass.,  Jan.  8,  1901,  aged  98  yrs.  7  mos.  and 
15  days;  she  d.  at  Sturbridge,  June  7,  1896. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Mary  L.,  b.  Jan.  20,  1857;  m.  Edwin  Wallace,  of  Sturbridge, 
Mass. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  527 

2.  *Perley  A.,  b.  June  10,  1861;  m.  Apr.  9,  1885,  Grace  D.  Hobart, 
of  Brookline. 

PERLEY  A.  GOULD,  only  son  of  Benjamin  and  Martha  (Kimball) 
Gould,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Jan.  29,  1860.  He  resides  at  Saranac  Lake, 
New  York;  where  he  is  superintendent  of  the  electric  lighting  plant.  He 
m.  Apr.  9,  1865,  Grace  D.,  dau.  of  George  W.  L.  and  Lydia  M.  (Sawtelle) 
Hobart  of  Brookline. 

Children;  Born  at  Saranac  Lake. 

1.  Carroll  B.,  b.  Apr.  18,  1887;  d.  Apr.  18,  1887. 

2.  Florence  E-,  b.  June  20,  1890. 

3.  Pearl  M.,  b.  Feb.  23,  1896. 

4.  Dorotha  G.,  b.  Oct.  3,  1899. 

5.  Kenneth,  b.  Nov.  4,  1902;  d.  Nov.  7,  1902. 

6.  Perley  A.,  b.  Feb.  7,  1905. 

PETER  WARREN  GOULD  settled  in  Brookline  in  1850,  coming 
here  from  Norridgewock,  Me.  He  was  a  son  of  Jonas  Gould  of  Springfield, 
Vt.,  where  he  was  born  Feb.  15,  1789.  He  was  a  leading  member  of  the 
local  M.  E.  Church,  and  a  citizen  of  excellent  repute.  He  m.  Nov.  7,  1816, 
Cynthia  Flint,  of  East  Pond,  Me.  He  d.  in  Brookline,  Oct.  28,  1873;  his 
wife  d.  Mar.  20,  1882. 

Children. 

1.  Climena  C,  b.  Apr.  15,  1818,  East  Pond,  Me.;  m.  Dec.  9,  1848, 
Daniel  R.  Bean. 

2.  Amos.  A.,  b.  Jan.  26,  1820,  East  Pond,  Me.;  m.  1st,  1844,  Phy- 
linda  Ranney;  m.  2nd,  1847,  Martha  J.  Fisk. 

3.  Emily  E.,  b.  Nov.  1,  1821,  East  Pond,  Me.;  m.  Sept.  9,  1846, 
James  A.  Edson. 

4.  Elizabeth  S.,  b.  Oct.  5,  1823,  East  Pond,  Me.;  m.  in  1843,  Leon- 
idas  Pierce. 

5.  Charlotte  F.,  b.  Nov.  10,  1825,  East  Pond,  Me.;  m.  Nov.  25, 
1851,  Fernando  Shattuck. 

6.  Louisa  M.,  b.  Feb.  11,  1828,  Norridgewock,  Me.;  m.  1855,  William 
M.  Coll. 

7.  Cynthia  M.,  b.  Aug.  21,  1830,  Norridgewock,  Me. 


528  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

8.  Ruth  N.,  b.  Feb.  10,  1833,  Norridgewock,  Me.;  m.  May  6,  1856, 
W.  Brooks  Rockwood. 

9.  Peter  W.,  Jr.,  b.  Feb.  21,  1835,  Norridgewock,  Me.;  m.  Dec.  31, 
1863,  Augusta  A.  Fessenden. 

10.  Lucetta  J.,  b.  June  25,  1837,  East  Pond,  Me.;  m.  Sept.  2,  1862, 
George  W.  Gilman. 

11.  Martha  A.,  b.  June  30,  1840,  Warnick,  Me.;  m.  June  9,  1868, 
Henry  Bradford. 

Gragg. 

BENJAMIN  GRAGG  came  from  Pepperell  to  Brookline  probably  as 
early  as  1776.  His  house  in  Brookline  was  located  on  the  south  side  of 
the  highway  leading  to  Oak  Hill,  a  few  rods  east  of  the  bridge  over  the 
Nissitisset  known  as  "Bohonon's";  where  but  a  few  years  since  the  dim 
outlines  of  its  cellar  hole  could  still  be  traced.  He  left  no  known  descend- 
ants here.    In  1781  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Mason. 

Graham. 

WILLIAM  GRAHAM  settled  in  Brookline  about  1772,  coming  here 
from  Groton,  Mass.     He  married  in  Groton,  May  12,  1772,  Mary  Mosier. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Betty,   b.  Dec.  5,  1772. 

2.  William,  b.  Jan.  22,  1776. 

3.  Polly,  b.  Aug.  15,  1778. 

Green. 

SAMUEL  GREEN  settled  in  Brookline  in  1785,  coming  here  from 
Pepperell,  Mass.  He  m.  Dec.  8,  1763,  Mary,  dau.  of  Timothy  Wetherbee, 
Sr. 

Children;  Bom  in  Pepperell,  Mass. 

1.  Mary,  b.  Sept.  16,  1763. 

2.  Joseph,  b.  Nov.  24,  1766. 

COLBURN  GREEN  settled  in  Brookline  about  1795;  coming  here 
from  Groton,  Mass,,  where  he  was  born  Oct.  26,  1772.  He  was  a  son  of 
William  and  Hannah  (Woods)  Green.       He  was  a  farmer  and  a  man  of 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  529 

affairs.    He  was  a  selectman  in  1800,  1807,  1808,  1809,  1815,  1816,  1817 
and  1819.    He  was  twice  married,    m.  1st.  in  1794,  Susanna;  she  d.  Feb 
25,  1801 ;  m.  2nd,  Sept.  3,  1826,  Sarah  Colson. 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 
Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Susan,  b.  Apr.  1,  1795;  m.  Sept.  29,  Phineas  Holden. 

2.  Eli,  b.  Jan.  25,  1797. 

3.  Harriet,  b.  Dec.  13,  1802. 

4.  Davis,  b.  Feb.  7,  1805;  m.  Nov.  6,  1831,  Sophia  Daniels. 

5.  Caroline,  b.  Mar.  1,  1807. 

6.  Adaline,  b.  Apr.  18,  1809. 

7.  William,  b.  Dec.  18,  1810. 

8.  Eli  Jackson,  b.  Aug.  5,  1816. 

By  Second  Wife. 

9.  Lorenzo,  b.  Feb.  23,  1826. 

DAVIS  GREEN  was  born  in  Brookline  Feb.  7,  1805.  He  was  a  son 
of  Colburn  and  Sussanah  Green.  In  his  young  manhood  he  removed 
from  Brookline  to  Brewster,  Me.;  returning  to  Brookline  in  1835.  He  was 
a  farmer.  He  m.  Nov.  6,  1831,  Sophia  D.  Daniels.  He  d.  May  29,  1836. 
She  d.  Jan.  24,  1876. 

Children. 

1.  Nancy  J.,  b.  in  Brewster,  Me.,  d.  in  infancy. 

2.  Alden  A.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Oct.  12,  1835;  d.  July  25,  1855. 

3.  Anna  S.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Mar.  21,  1843;  m.  Feb.  1,  1865,  Charles 
P.  Hall  of  Brookline;  res.  Pepperell,  Mass. 

WILLIAM  R.  GREEN  came  here  from  Pepperell,  Mass.,  in  1836. 
He  m.  in  Brookline,  Dec.  6,  1837,  Betsey  Wallace.  He  d.  Oct.  19,  1841. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Lucy,  b.  Oct.  30,  1837;  d.  Sept.  4,  1842. 

2.  Betsey  N.,  b.  Jan.  11,  1840;  d.  July  31,  1842. 

3.  William  E.,  b.  June  6,  1841;  d.  July  19,  1842. 


530  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Greeley. 

RALPH  OLIN  GREELEY  settled  in  Brookline  in  1909,  coming  here 
from  Amherst.  He  is  a  son  of  A.  Clifford  and  Ida  S.  (Stevens)  Greeley  of 
Chester,  Vt.,  where  he  was  born  Oct.  20,  1890.  For  a  few  years  after  com- 
ing here  he  was  employed  as  clerk  in  the  store  of  Walter  E.  Corey.  At 
the  present  time  he  is  in  the  employ  of  O.  D.  Fessenden  as  an  electrician. 
He  m.  Dec.  18,  1910.  Maude  A.  Taylor,  dau.  of  Edwin  H.  and  Kate  A. 
(Rockwood)  Taylor  of  this  town. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Ruth  Mae,  b.  Sept.  2,  1912. 

2.  Leon  Clifford,  b.  Oct.  8,  1913. 

Hall. 

(V)  WILLIAM  HALL,  Sr.  and  William  Hall,  Jr.,  father  and  son, 
settled  in  Brookline  in  1789;  coming  here  from  Billerica,  Mass.;  where 
William  Hall,  Sr.,  was  born  in  1736.  He  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Han- 
nah (Kittredge)  Hall,  and  a  lineal  descendant  in  the  fifth  generation  of 
Dea  Richard  Hall,  who  in  1676  was  living  in  Bradford,  Mass.     Oct.  30, 

1764,  he  married  Mary  Fletcher.  He  d.  in  Brookline,  July  24,  1797, 
leaving  his  son,  William  Hall,  Jr.,  as  his  only  descendant  in  this  town. 

At  the  time  of  their  coming  to  Brookline,  the  Halls  settled  about  one 
mile  north  of  the  present  village  on  the  east  side  of  the  present  main  high- 
way to  Milford,  then  a  bridle-path.  The  site  of  their  original  log-cabin 
is  at  the  present  time  occupied  by  a  dwelling  house  known  as  the  "Red 
house;"  which  was  built  in  1810  by  William  Hall,  Jr.  From  the  begin- 
ning, the  Halls  and  their  descendants  in  this  town,  and  in  towns  in  its 
vicinity,  have  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  being  among  its  most  highly 
honored  and  respectable  citizens. 

(VI)  WILLIAM  HALL,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Billerica,  Mass.,  Apr.  6, 

1765.  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Jan.  6,  1789,  Mary,  dau.  of  Alex- 
ander and  Mary  (Walker)  Mcintosh  of  this  town;  by  whom  he  had  seven 
children.  She  d.  Aug.  5,  1808.  Feb.  9,  1809,  he  married  for  his  second 
wife,  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  Ebenezer  Gilson  of  Brookline.  She  d.  Dec.  13, 
1825,  leaving  five  children. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  531 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  *William,  b.  Aug.  27,  1791;  m.  Dec.  1,  1814.  Hannah  Atwell  of 
Wakefield,  Mass. 

2.  James,  b.  Mar.  26,  1793. 

3.  *Joseph,  b.  Mar.  12,  1795;  m.  May  7,  1823,  Abiah  Shattuck  of 
Pepperell,  Mass. 

4.  "Lemuel,  b.  Nov.  17,  1796;  m.  Apr.  29,  1824,  Rebecca  Shattuck, 
Pepperell,  Mass. 

5.  Sally,  b.  Nov.  15,  1798;  m.  about  1825,  Asher  Bennett. 

6.  Mary,  b.  Jan.  10,  1801. 

7.  Mary,  b.  July  2,  1803. 

By  Second  Wife. 

8.  *James  H.,  b.  June  22,  1810;  m.  1st,  Nov.  10,  1835,  Mary  A. 
Boutwell  of  Lyndeboro;  m.  2nd,  Oct.  20,  1853,  Mary  J.  Fisher  of  Frances- 
town. 

9.  Elizabeth  F.,  b.  Oct.  26,  1815;  m.  Apr.  21,  1849,  Jeremiah  Bald- 
win. 

10.  Hannah  A.,  b.  Jan.  22,  1816;  m.  July  6,  1843,  John  Knowles, 
of  Nashua. 

11.  Paulina,  b.  Oct.  8,  1818;  m.  Sept.  25,  1845,  Henry  K.  Kemp  of 
Grot  on. 

12.  Abigail,  b.  May  16,  1821. 

(VII)  WILLIAM  HALL,  Jr.,  first  son  and  first  child  of  William 
and  Mary  (Mcintosh)  Hall,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Aug.  27,  1791.  He 
was  a  farmer.  His  farm  was  located  about  one  mile  north  of  the  village 
on  the  west  side  of  the  main  road  to  Milford.  He  m.  Dec.  1,  1814,  Hannah 
Atwell  of  Wakefield,  Mass.     He  d.  Aug.  9,  1863;  she  d.  June  26,  1863. 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 

1.  Betsey,  b.  Jan.  10,  1817;  d.  June  28,  1898;  unm. 

2.  Lucy,  b.  Aug.  10,  1822;  d.  Aug.  24,  1846. 

3.  John,  b.  March  23,  1826;  d.  Apr.  10,  1826. 

(VIII)  WILLIAM  H.  HALL  was  born  Sept.  29,  1843.  He  is  a 
farmer  and  a  traveling  agent.    He  is  a  highly  respected  citizen  and  a  mem- 


532  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

ber  of  the  Congregational  church.     He  m.  Apr.  5,  1865,  Helen  M.  Cob- 
leigh,  of  Gardner,  Mass. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Henry  C,  b.  Dec.  15,  1865;  m.  Oct.  9,  1888,  Etta  A.  Pierce  of 
Brookline;  ch.,  (1)  Ramond  H.,  b.  in  Leominster,  Mass.,  Dec.  22,  1889; 
d.;  (2)  Robert  W.,  b.  in  Leominster,  Mass,.  Jan.  10,  1894,  d.;  (3)  Elsie 
Mae,  b.  in  Leominster,  Mass.,  Oct.  24,  1897;  (4)  Evelyn  G.,  b.  in  Leom- 
inster, Mass.,  Aug.  29,  1899. 

2.  Herbert  J.,  b.  July  17,  1870;  m.  Apr.  5,  1892,  Ada  M.  Cummings 
of  Surrey;  ch.,  (1)  Forrest  H.,  b.  in  Brookline,  July  4,  1894;  (2)  Russell 
J.,  b.  in  Boston,  Mass.,  Oct.  16,  1899. 

(VII)  JOSEPH  HALL,  third  son  of  William,  Jr.,  and  Mary  (Mc- 
intosh) Hall,  was  born  in  Brookline,  March  12,  1795.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church.  He  married,  May  7,  1823, 
Abiah,  dau.  of  Jonathan  and  Betsey  (Giles)  Shattuck,  of  Pepperell,  Mass. 
He  d.  in  Brookline,  Nov.  10,  1882;  she  d.  June  27,  1874. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Mary,  b.  Jan.  16,  1825;  m.  in  1847  Abraham  S.  Betterly. 

2.  Martha,  b.  Jan.  6,  1827;  m.  Nov.  25,  1847,  Joseph  W.  Peterson  ; 
she  d.  July  17,  1849;  no  ch. 

3.  *Joseph  A.,  b.  Oct.  18,  1828;  m.  July  1,  1851,  Maria  M.  Foster. 
4.-   Henry,  b.  Aug.  22,  1830;  d.  May  17,  1856. 

5.  Catharine,  b.  Nov.  20,  1832;  m.  Jan.  16,  1851,  John  A.  Gutter- 
son,  of  Milford;  he  d.  Oct.  6,  1853;  m.  2nd,  Joseph  A.  Hovey,  of  Pepperell, 
Mass.;  she  d.  Mar.  31,  1855. 

6.  Charles  Putnam,  b.  Jan.  20,  1839;  m.  Feb.  1,  1865,  Annie  L. 
Green,  dau.  of  Davis  and  Sophia  (Daniels)  Green  of  Brookline.  For  a 
number  of  years  immediately  following  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  he  was 
in  the  retail  grocery  business  in  Brookline.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church.  He  passed  the  latter  part  of  his  life  in  Pepperell, 
Mass.,  where  he  d.  Apr.  1,  1910;  his  wife  survived  him.  Ch.,  born  in 
Brookline,  (1)  Lilla  Belle,  b.  Dec.  9,  1867;  d  July  12,  1868;  (2)  Linna 
May,  b.  June  17,  1869,  d.  Aug.  8,  1870;  (3)  Frank  D.,  b.  Aug.  25,  1871; 
m.  May  22,  1900,  Harriet  C.  Cummings  of  Akron,  N.  Y.;  ch.,  b.  in  Pep- 
perell, Mass.,  Rosco  D.  and  Luetta  Eleanor;  res.  at  the  present  time, 
Nashua. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


533 


(VIII)  JOSEPH 
ALONZO  HAL-L,  son 
of  Joseph  and  Abiah 
(Shattuck)  Hall  was 
born  in  Brookline,  Oct. 
18,  1828.  His  life,  un- 
til he  reached  his 
majority,  was  passed  on 
his  father's  farm.  His 
education  was  such  as 
he  obtained  by  attend- 
ing the  public  schools. 
About  1855,  he  com- 
menced doing  business 
for  himself  as  a  butcher. 
In  the  latter  part  of  the 
fifties  he  gave  up  the 
butchering  business  and 
began  that  of  a  whole- 
sale manufacturer  and 
Joseph  a.  hall  dealer  in  lumber  and 

barrels,  which  terminated  only  with  his  life;  and  in  which,  notwithstand- 
ing the  fact  that  during  the  panic  of  1873,  he,  in  common  with  many 
others,  became  financially  embarrassed  to  the  extent  that  he  was  forced 
for  a  while  to  suspend  operations,  he  nevertheless  died  with  the  reputa- 
tion of  having  been  one  of  the  most  successful  business  men  Brookline  had 
ever  produced. 

During  this  period,  in  addition  to  his  own  individual  business,  he  was 
frequently  associated  with  others  of  his  fellow-townsmen  in  conducting  lo- 
cal business  enterprises.  From  1863  to  1895,  he  was  the  owner  of  one-half 
interest  in  the  old  Ensign  Bailey  sawmill  plant;  and,  during  that  period, 
was  a  partner,  in  the  business  of  operating  the  mill,  of  three  different 
firms;  of  each  of  which  the  other  member,  like  himself,  was  an  equal 
owner  in  the  plant,  and  also  in  the  business  of  operating  the  same.  The 
names  of  the  members  of  each  of  these  firms,  and  the  length  of  time  each 
firm  continued  in  business  are  as  follows — Hall  &  Priest,  (Charles  W.), 
from  1863  to  1869;  Hall  &  Peterson,  (Joseph  W.),  from  1869  to  1877; 
Hall  &  Smith,  (William  J.),  from  1877  to  1895. 

In  the  seventies  he  owned,  and,  in  company  with  his  brother,  Charles 
P.  Hall,  for  several  years  operated,  the  old  Tucker  &  Stiles  store  on  Main 


534  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

street.  At  a  subsequent  peroid  he  owned  and  operated  a  grocery  store  lo- 
cated on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  leading  up  the  south  side  of  Meet- 
ing-house hill.  Besides  these,  he  was  connected,  either  directly  or  indi- 
rectly, with  many  other  business  enterprises,  both  in  and  out  of  town. 

As  a  citizen,  he  was  loyal  to  the  town  and  its  people;  responding  will- 
ingly and  promptly  to  all  calls  upon  his  time  and  resources  for  its  and 
their  advancement  and  improvement. 

He  occupied  all  the  town  offices  of  importance.  He  served  five  terms 
as  moderator,  five  terms  as  selectman,  was  Representative  in  1867  and 
1868,  and  represented  Brookline  in  the  Constitutional  Convention  of 
1872.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church.  He  m.  July  1, 
1851,  Maria  M.,  dau.  of  Abel  and  Lydia  (Miles)  Foster;  he  d.  Aug.  3,  1897. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Henry  A.,  b.  Aug.  21,  1857;  m.  1st,  Sept.  27,  1881,  Belle  C,  dau. 
of  Nathaniel  and  Eliza  (Shattuck)  Hobart;  1  eh.,  Blanche  W.,  b.  Dec.  2, 
1884;  they  were  divorced;  m.  2nd,  Aug.  9,  1898,  Clarissa  (Eldridge) 
Edson,  of  Charlestown,  Mass.  He  is  an  engineer  on  the  B.  &  M.  railroad; 
res.,  Ayer,  Mass. 

2.  Alpha  A.,  b.  Apr.  11,  1859;  m.  1st,  Oct.  10, 1880,  Nellie  J.  Fletch- 
er, of  Hollis;  she  d.  May  10,  1882;  m.  2nd,  Nov.  6,  1883,  Delia  R.  Pea- 
cock, dau.  of  Fred  W.  and  Almira  (Melendy)  Peacock,  of  Brookline,  by 
whom  he  has  had  3  ch.;  (1)  Fred  A.,  b.  Sept.  30,  1886;  m.  Feb.  16,  1909, 
Mary  Richer,  of  Charlestown,  Mass.,  2  children.  (2)  Harry  M.,  b.  Dec. 
1,  1888.     (3)  Forace  R.,  b.  Mar.  27,  1896. 

He  is  one  of  the  town's  active  and  progressive  citizens.  He  has 
served  eight  terms  as  selectman,  fourteen  terms  as  town  clerk,  a  position 
which  he  holds  at  the  present  time  (1914),  and  was  Representative  in  the 
legislatures  of  1895  and  1896.  At  the  present  time  he  is  engaged,  in  comp- 
any with  his  son,  Fred  A.,  in  carrying  on  a  retail  grocery  and  general 
merchandise  business  in  the  Tarbell  store  on  Main  street. 

3.  Winnie  M.,  b.  Apr.  20,  1863;  m.  Oct.  15,  1887,  Horace  H.  Nye  of 
Keene;  2  children,  Ralph  H.,  b.  June  1,  1889,  and  Maida  M.,  b.  May  21, 
1893. 

4.  Delia  M.,  b.  Nov.  15,  1867;  d.  Jan.  14,  1868. 

(VII)  LEMUEL  HALL,  fourth  son  of  William,  Jr.,  and  Mary 
(Mcintosh)  Hall,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Nov.  17,  1796.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  lived  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town  on  the  Oak  Hill  road.  He  m. 
Apr.  29,  1824,  Rebecca  Shattuck,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.  He  d.  July  11, 
1871;  she  d.  Aug.  30.  1877. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


535 


Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 

1.  Rebecca  Jane,  b.  June  16,  1826;  m.  Sept.  2,  1846,  Warren  S. 
Wood,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.  ch.,  (1)  Warren  Cornelius,  b.  Oct.  17,  1847; 
(2)  Georgiana,  b.  Sept.  1,  1849,  d.  Mar.  18,  1850. 

2.  James  Henry,  b.  Aug.  11,  1827;  d.  June  21,  1905;  m.  Apr.  5, 
1853,  Sarah  E.  Lawrence,  of  Pepperell;  ch.  (1)  Lura  Evelyn,  b.  Jan.  1, 
1858,  m  .Marshall  Swallow,  of  Dunstable,  Mass.,  June  27,  1888;  (2)  Lillie 
Aurelia,  b.  Jan.  6,  1862,  m.  Feb.  23,  1888,  Edward  A.  Caldwell  of  Nashua. 

3.  Lemuel  Franklin,  b.  July  16,  1829;  m.  July  3,  1856,  Rosetta 
Bliss,  Chicopee,  Mass.    He  d.  June  23,  1904;  she  d.  Mar.  23,  1904. 

4.  John  Bryant,  b.  July  12,  1832;  m.  Mrs.  Hannah  (Green)  Shat- 
tuck,  of  Lunenburg,  Mass.;  d.  Nov.  11,  1872. 

5.  Harvey  Martin,  b.  May  18,  1836;  d.  Nov.  11,  1872;  m.  Mar. 
16,  1859,  Lucinda  H.  Patch,  of  Hollis;  ch.,  Arthur  Lee,  b.  Oct.  28,  1859; 
d. 

6.  Hannah  Emiline,  b.  Oct.  27,  1838;  d.  Dec.  13,  1870. 

7.  Clara  Ann,  b.  Oct.  20,  1840;  m.  Isaac  Clinton  Coggin,  of  Amherst; 
she  d.  Dec.  13,  1870;  he  d.  in  San  Francisco,  in  1903  or  4. 

(VII)  JAMES 
HARVEY  HALL,  only 
son  of  William,  Jr.,  and 
Elizabeth  (Gilson)  Hall, 
was  born  in  Brookline, 
June  22,  1810.  He  re- 
ceived his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  his 
native  town.  He  re- 
mained at  home  until  he 
became  of  age,  working 
for  his  father,  who  was  a 
farmer  and  a  cooper.  In 
the  summer  of  1831,  he 
removed  from  Brookline 
to  Lyndeboro;  from 
whence,  after  a  brief 
stay,  he  removed  to 
Francestown.  He  re- 
mained in  Francestown 
until  the  spring  of  1840; 


JAMES  H.  HALL 


536  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

when  the  failing  health  of  his  parents  compelled  him  to  return  to  Brook- 
line.  Immediately  upon  his  return,  he  commenced  farming  on  a  large 
scale,  and  at  the  same  time  engaged  in  the  wholesale  manufacture  and 
sale  of  charcoal;  using  for  the  production  of  the  same,  for  the  first  time 
in  the  history  of  the  town,  brick  kilns,  instead  of  the  old  fashioned  coal- 
pits. A  business  which  he  continued  throughout  his  life  to  carry  on,  and 
in  which  he  enjoyed  for  many  years  the  reputation  of  being  the  largest 
operator  in  southern  New  Hampshire. 

As  a  business  man  he  was  active,  energetic  and  enthusiastic,  and  at 
the  same  time,  prudent  and,  to  a  degree,  conservative  in  his  transactions. 
Qualities  which,  combined  with  a  reputation  for  strict  integrity  and 
honesty  in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow-men,  led  him  to  ultimate  success, 
and  in  the  end  acquired  for  him  a  reputation  as  a  business  man  which  has 
never  been  excelled  by  any  man  doing  business  in  this  town. 

During  his  business  career  he  acquired  a  large  amount  of  property. 

At  one  time  he  was  the  owner  of  about  one  thousand  acres  of  real 
estate.  At  his  decease  he  left  an  estate  which  was  inventoried  at  a  value 
of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

He  was  a  prominent  and  influential  member  of  the  local  Congrega- 
tional church,  for  the  support  of  which  he  contributed  annually  for  many 
years  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  twenty -five  dollars;  and  to  which  at 
his  decease  he  left  a  legacy  of  several  thousand  dollars.  As  a  citizen  he 
was  highly  respected  and  esteemed;  and  was  honored  by  his  fellow  citizens 
with  many  positions  of  public  trust.  He  represented  the  town  in  the 
legislatures  of  1869  and  1870.  He  was  for  many  years  a  justice  of  the 
peace  for  Hillsborough  county. 

He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Nov.  10,  1835,  Mary  Ann,  dau.  of 
Major  Nehemiah  Boutwell,  of  Lydeborough.  She  d.  Jan.  24,  1853;  m. 
2nd,  Oct.  20,  1853,  Mary  J.,  dau.  of  Matthew  A.  and  Jane  W.  (Christie) 
Fisher  of  Francestown.    He  d.  Aug.  15,  1874;  she  d.  in  May,  1896. 

Children;  Born  of  the  First  Marriage. 

1.  Mary  Francis,  b.  at  Francestown,  Dec.  4,  1836;  m.  Sept.  8,  1868, 
George  W.  Peabody. 

2.  Sarah  Elizabeth,  twin  sister  of  Mary  Frances;  d.  Sept.  9,  1837. 

3.  James  Boutwell,  b.  in  Brookline,  Apr.  7,  1841 ;  m.  Mar.  17,  1863, 
Georgie  E.  Wilson,  of  Nelson.  He  d.  Nov.  11,  1868,  at  Nashua,  where 
at  the  date  of  his  death  he  was  clerk  of  the  Jackson  Manufacturing  Co. 
His  widow  subsequently  m.  Jacob  Nichols,  of  Milford.     He  left  one  ch., 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  537 

Herbert  Elmer,  who  m.  Carrie  Thompson,  of  Albion,  N.  Y.,  by  whom  he 
had  3  sons. 

4.  Edward  Thurston,  b.  in  Brookline,  Oct.  10,  1843;  m.  1st,  Jan.  1, 
1868,  Emily  M.  Edson  of  Brookline;  she  d.  Mar.  27,  1890;  m.  2nd,  Dec.  23, 
1892,  Fannie  E.  Pierce.  For  many  years  he  resided  in  Brookline,  where 
he  was  a  leading  and  respected  citizen.  He  served  one  term  as  selectman, 
and  was  Representative  in  1881.  Later,  he  removed  toMilford,  where  he 
now  resides.    At  the  present  time  he  is  agent  for  the  Am.  Express  Co. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Brookline;  to  which 
the  bell  at  the  present  time  hanging  in  its  tower  is  a  gift  from  him.  Ch., 
by  his  first  wife,  Grace  Ellen,  b.  Oct.  6,  1869;  m.  Benjamin  M.  Pierce  of 
Cambridge,  Mass.;  2  ch.,  Beulah  M.,  and  Gertrude  Louise,  at  the  present 
time  a  teacher  in  Putnam,  Conn.;  by  2nd  wife,  one  son,  Chester  Gorham, 
b.  Nov.  11,  1896;  d.  July  16,  1911. 

5.  Ellen  Louise,  b.  June  11,  1848;  d.  Mar.  6,  1850. 

CAPT.  JOSHUA  HALL  came  to  Brookline  from  Duxbury,  Mass.,  in 
the  thirties  of  1800.  He  was  a  retired  sea-captain.  During  his  residence 
in  Brookline  he  kept  a  tavern  in  the  "Old  Yellow  House,"  now  known  as 
the  Elm  House,  on  Main  street.  He  was  m.  before  coming  here.  Wife's 
maiden  name  unknown.    He  is  said  to  have  died  at  Lunenburg,  Mass. 

Children. 

1.  Catherine,  b.  at  Duxbury,  Mass.;  m.  Waldo  Wallace. 

2.  Harriet,  b.  at  Duxbury,  Mass.;  m.  George  of  Boston,  Mass. 

Harris. 

DR.  DAVID  HARRIS  was  born  in  Dunstable,  N.  H.,  July  20,  1798. 
He  was  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Rachel  (Johnson)  Harris;  he  came  to 
Brookline  in  1827,  and  was  the  first  physician  to  settle  here  permanently. 
(For  a  sketch  of  his  life  see  Chap.  XI,  ante.).  He  m.  about  1828,  Louisa, 
dau.  of  Willard  and  Olive  (Brown)  Marshall,  of  Dunstable.  He  d.  Jan. 
26,  1849. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Emily  Augusta,  b.  Aug.  1,  1828;  m.  Jan.  31,  1850,  Henry  B.  Far- 
well  of  New  Gloucester,  Mass. ;  no  ch.     She  d.  at  Nashua  in  1913. 

2.  Augustus  David,  b.  Feb.  29,  1832;  d.  unra. 

3.  Erastus  Fitzgerald,  b.  Mar.  5,  1837;  d.  Dec.  17,  1837. 

4.  Albert  Jerome,  b.  Dec.  7,  1840;  d.  unm. 


538  HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN    OF   BROOKLINE 

Hardy. 

EPHRAIM  L.  HARDY,  second  child  and  first  son  of  Enos  and  Mary 
(Lund)  Hardy,  was  born  in  Hollis,  Oct.  14,  1801.  About  1840,  he  re- 
moved from  Hollis  to  Brookline;  where  he  purchased  the  old  David  Ho- 
bart,  Sr.  homestead  in  the  south  part  of  the  town;  in  which  he  resided 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  skilled  mechanic,  a  manu- 
facturer of  hand  made  edge  tools.  For  thirty  years  he  pursued  his  calling 
in  this  town;  and  during  that  time  acquired  a  reputation  for  excellence 
in  his  products  that  extended  throughout  the  country.  He  was  a  quiet, 
unostentatious  man;  reserved  in  his  manners,  and  little  inclined  to  engage 
in  public  affairs;  but  a  worthy  citizen  and  a  firm  friend.  He  m.  1st,  May 
22,  1828,  Susan  Jewett  of  Hollis.  She  d.  Dec.  3,  1831;  m.  2nd,  May  24, 
1838,  Delana  Lapham.    He  d.  Nov.  28,  1870;  she  d.  Mar.  9,  1887. 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 

1.  Ephraim  J.,  b.  in  Hollis,  May  26,  1830;  d.  Mar.  3,  1857.     (See 
sketch  chap.  XI,  ante). 

2.  Charles  A.,  b.  in  Hollis,  Oct.  17,  1831;  m.  Jan.  4,  1853,  Caroline 
Preston,  of  Worcester,  Mass. 

By  Second  Wife. 

3.  Alvah  M.,  b.  in  Hollis,  Dec.  22,  1833;  d.  Feb.  28,  1834. 

4.  Julia  A.,  b.  in  Hollis,  Jan.  2,  1835;  d.  Jan  6,  1835. 

5.  Ardelia  A.,  b.  in  Hollis,  Dec.  19,  1837;  m.  Jan.  29,  1857,  Merritt 
A.  Wheeler,  of  Leicester,  Mass. 

6.  Warren  C,  b.  in  Hollis,  June  4,  1839;  d.  Nov.  27,  1864;  unm.; 
soldier  in  Civil  War. 

7.  Rufus  P.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Dec.  3,  1841;  m.  Oct.  12,  1865,  Hattie 
Pierce,  of  Winchendon,  Mass.,  she  d.;  m.  2nd,  Burns. 

8.  Daniel  G.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  21,  1844;  d.  June  1,  1845. 

9.  *George  H.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Nov.  15,  1849;  m.  May  24,  1876, 
Frances  E.  Grey. 

10.  *John  B.,  b.  in  Brookline,  July  25,  1851;  m.  May  16,  1888, 
Carrie  E.  Richardson. 

GEORGE  HENRY  HARDY,  son  of  Ephraim  and  Delana  (Lapham) 
Hardy,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Nov.  15,  1849.  He  is  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel  in  the  M.  E.  church.  At  the  present  time  he  is  located  in  Ash- 
burnham,  Mass.  (For  sketch  of  his  life  see  chap.  XI,  ante).  He  married, 
May  24,  1876,  Frances  E.  Grey,  at  Middleton,  Conn. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN    OF  BROOKLINE 


539 


*»,. 


Children. 

1.  Frank  Lapham,  b.  at  Henniker,  Mar.  23,  1877. 

2.  Blanche  G.,  b.  at  Ossipee,  Aug.  20,  1879. 

3.  Grace  M.,  b.  at  Moultonboro,  Feb.  17,  1882. 

4.  Elmer  M.,  b.  at  Peterboro,  Aug.  11,  1887. 

JOHN  BALDWIN 
HARDY,  son  of  Eph- 
raim  L.  and  Delana 
(Lapham )  Hardy,  was 
born  in  Brookline  July 
25,  1851  ;  where  he 
passed  the  greater  part 
of  his  life.  He  was  a 
mason  by  trade.  He 
was  twice  married,  m. 
1st,  MaylG,  1888, 
Carrie  E.  Richardson,  of 
Hollis;  she  d.  Aug.  13, 
1895;  m.  2nd,  Mar.  21, 
1901,  Lilla  Estelle 
Alden,  of  Fitchburg, 
Mass.  He  d.  in  Hollis, 
Nov.  5,  1906. 

john   b.  hardy  Children;  By  First  Wife. 

1.     Charles  R.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Apr.  10,  1893;  graduated  at  N.  H. 
State  College,  (See  sketch  chap.  XI,  ante). 


****** 


t  %*em 


By  Second  Wife. 
2.     John  Alden,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  16,  1907. 

Harwood. 


JEREMIAH  HARWOOD,  a  son  of  Achable  and  (Blood) 

Harwood,  was  born  in  Nashua;  from  whence  he  came  to  Brookline  about 
1830.  He  was  a  farmer  and  lived  in  the  west  part  of  the  town.  He  m.  in 
Nashua,  before  coming  here,  Harris,  of  Nashua. 


540  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Jeremiah,  b.  (no  record);  m.   (no  record,)  Ellen  Hancord. 

2.  Dana,  b.  (no  record);  unm. 

3.  Edward,  b.   (no  record);  m.  Louisa  Holt. 

4.  Mira,  b.  Jan.  19,  1832;  m.  William  Tucker. 

5.  Roxanna,  b.  Sept.  21,  1836;  m.  Jan.  1,  1856,  Joseph  S.  Patch  of 
Hollis;  he  d.  July  18,  1863;  one  ch.,  William  T.,  b.  in  Nashua,  Feb.  28, 
1861;  physician;  res.  Boston,  Mass. 

6.  George,  b.  (no  record);  unm. 

7.  Thomas,  b.  (no  record);  unm. 

Holden. 

PHINEAS  HOLDEN  settled  in  Brookline  about  1800,  coming  here 
from  Pepperell,  Mass.,  it  is  supposed.     He.  m.   1st,  about  1802,  Mary 

;  m.  2nd,  in  Brookline,  Sept.  29, 1827  Susanna  Green. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Lucy,  b.  Feb.  20,  1803. 

2.  Philemon,  b.  Nov.  22,  1804. 

3.  Dennis,  b.  July  17,  1806. 

By  Second  Wife. 

4.  Phineas,  b.  Feb.  24,  1828. 

5.  Abzanah,  b.  May  12,  1830. 

6.  Irene,  b.  Jan.  29,  1833. 

7.  George  W.,  b.  Feb.  6,  1835. 

Hobart. 

(V)  DAVID  HOBART,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in  Brook- 
line, came  here  about  1818,  from  Pepperell,  Mass. ;  where  he  was  born  in 
1792.  He  was  a  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Hannah  (Sawtelle)  Hobart,  and  a 
lineal  descendant  in  the  fifth  generation  of  Rev.  Gershom  Hobart,  the 
second  settled  minister  in  Groton,  Mass.  His  house  in  this  town  was  lo- 
cated about  one  mile  south  of  the  village  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway 
to  Pepperell,  Mass.     It  was  afterwards  known  as  the  Ephraim  L.  Hardy 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


541 


place.  He  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade.  He  m.  Nov.  28,  1817,  Eunice, 
dau.  of  Washington  and  Euncie  (Lawrence)  Wright.  He  d.  Mar.  1,  1839; 
she  d.  Sept.  16,  1894,  aged  94.     Both  are  buried  in  the  South  cemetery. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *David  D.,  b.  Apr.  1,  1819;  m.  Apr.  26,   1842, Elizabeth  Hut- 
chinson. 

2.  Cynthia  J.,  b.  June  16,  1820;  m.  Nov.  29,  1842,  Levi  Rockwood, 

3.  ^Nathaniel,  b.  Mar.  2,  1822;  m.  Mar.  19,  1850,  Eliza  A.  Shattuck. 

4.  *Geo.  W.  L.,  b.  June  29,  1824;  m.  Nov.  28,  1850,  Lydia  M. 
Sawtelle. 

5.  Joshua  J.,  b.  Dec.  6,  1828;  m.  1st,  Nov.  10,  1858,  Melvina  Davis; 
m.  2nd,  Dec.  11,  1867,  Mary  J.  Baker.  One  ch.,  by  first  wife,  George  A., 
b.  Oct.  11,  1862.    Joshua  J.  d.  Feb.  5,  1908;  1st,  wife  d.  Sept.  28,  1863. 

6.  Augusta,  b.  Feb.  21,  1830;  m.  Oct.  25,  1853,  Edwin 
W.  Smith  of  Milford. 

7.  Jane,  b.  in  1832;  m.  Horace  Bean. 

8.  Harriet,  b.  ;  d.  Sept.  13,  1839. 


DAVID  HOBART,  JR. 

June.      He   d.    May    19,   1907. 


(VI)  DAVID  HO- 
BART, Jr.,  first  child 
and  first  son  of  David 
and  Eunice  (Wright) 
Hobart,  was  born  in 
Brookline,  Apr.  1,  1819. 
With  the  exception  of  a 
few  years  passed  in  Rut- 
land, Vt.,  his  life  was 
passed  in  his  native 
town.  He  was  a  black- 
smith by  trade.  He  was 
an  active  and  energetic 
citizen,  and  held  many 
postions  of  public  trust 
in  town.  He  was  twice 
married;  m.  1st,  Apr. 
26,  1842,  Elizabeth  Hut- 
chinson; she  d.  in  1856; 
m.  2nd,  Marion 


542 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Mary  E.,  b.  Jan.  26,  1843;  m.  Feb.  1,  1865,  William  J.  Smith. 

2.  Harriett  A.,  b.  Dec.  14,  1844;  m.  Mar.  12,  1865,  Clinton  Bohonon. 

3.  Ducretia  J.,  b.  May  1,  1847;  d.  in  childhood. 

4.  John  D.,  b.  Oct.  18,  1848;  m.  May  27,  1874,  Mary  A.  Wallace. 

5.  Frank  P.,  b.  Mar.  12,  1854;  killed  by  a  falling  tree  in  1877. 


(VI)  NATHANIEL  W.  HOBART,  second  son  and  third  child  of 
David  and  Eunice  (Wright)  Hobart,  was  born  Mar.  12,  1822,  in  this  town, 
where  he  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  is  a  blacksmith  by  trade 
and  a  mechanic  of  more  than  ordinary  ability.  He  was  master  mechanic 
for  the  Nashua  River  Paper  Mills,  at  Pepperell,  Mass.,  for  a  period  of 
19  years.  In  1908  he  resigned  his  position  in  the  company  and  retired 
from  active  life.  At  the  present  time  he  is  living  at  his  residence  in  this 
town;  where,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-three  years,  he  is  calmly 
awaiting  the  end.  He  m.  Mar.  19,  1850,  Eliza  Ann,  dau.  of  Alpheus  and 
Clorinda  Shattuck.    She  d.  Dec.  16,  1894. 

Children; 
Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Clarence  B.,  b. 
Mar.  31,  1851;  d.  Mar. 
28,  1853. 

2.  Belle  C,  b.  Oct. 
2, 1855;  m.  Mar.  27, 1881. 
Henry  A.  Hall;  1  ch., 
Blanche,  b.  Dec.  2, 1884. 

3.  Guy  C,  b.  Mar. 
22,  1863;  d.  in  infancy. 

4.  RubieL.,b.  Mar. 
22,  1863;  d.  in  infancy. 


(VI)  GEORGE  W. 
L.  HOBART,  third  son 
of  David  and  Eunice 
( Wright )  Hobart,  was 
born  in  Brookline,  June 

GEORGE  W.  L.  HOBART  2%  ^34.    He  was  a  bkck. 


WILLIE  A.  HOBART 


GEORGE  W.  L.  HOBART    CLARENCE  A.  HOBART 
KENNETH  A.  HOBART 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


543 


smith  by  trade,  and  a  citi- 
zen who  enjoyed  the  respect 
and  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens  in  no  small  degree. 
For  a  period  of  twenty-five 
years,  he  was  the  leader  of 
the  Brookline  Brass  Band. 
He  m.  Nov.  28,  1850,  Lydia 
Maria,  dau.  of  Isaac  and 
Sarah  (Parker)  Sawtelle. 
He  d.  Jan.  16,  1913;  she  d. 
May  12,  1896. 

Children; 
Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  George  F.,  b.  Aug. 
27,  1851;  m.  Dec.  30,  1883, 
Mrs.  Francenia  E.  Hofses; 
no  ch.;  he  d.  June  26,  1907; 
she  d.  Sept.  1,  1908. 


MARIA  SAWTELLE  HOBART 

2.     *Willie  A.,  b.  Dec.  20,  1853;  m.  Apr.  29,  1881,  Hattie  E.  Ride- 


out. 


3.  Helen  M.,  Feb.  1,  1856;  m.  Oct.  29,  1879,  Frank  A.  Cook. 

4.  *Harry  F,  b.  Aug.  16,  1859;  m.  Dec.  25,  1885,  Fannie  Kimball, 
of  Mason. 

5.  Celia  A.,  b.  Nov.  26,  1861;  m.  Apr.  9,  1885;  Llewellyn  S.  Powers. 

6.  Grace  D.,  b.  July  12,  1864;  m.  Apr.  9,  1885,  Perley  A.  Gould. 

7.  Florence  N.,  b.  Aug.  17,  1869;  m.  Nov.  6,  1901,  Rev.  George  L. 
Perm,  of  Boston. 

(VII )  WILLIE  A.  HOBART,  second  son  of  George  W.  L.  and  Lydia 
M.  (Sawtelle)  Hobart,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Dec.  20, 1853.  He  is  a  butch- 
er by  trade;  retaining  his  citizenship  in  Brookline,  but  with  a  residence  in 
Nashua,  where  his  family  make  their  home.  He  has  held  many  offices  of 
trust  in  Brookline  and  represented  the  town  in  the  legislatures  of  1893-94 
and  1912-13.  He  m.  Apr.  29,  1881,  Hattie,  dau.  of  Ebenezer  J.  and  Emily 
(Hayden)  Rideout. 


544  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Clarence  A.,  b.  Sept.  11,  1882;  m.  Sept.  24,  1907  Addie  P.  Jean- 
notte,  dau.  of  Cornelius  and  Rosamond  Jeannotte  of  Nashua;  1  ch.,  Ken- 
neth A.  b.  Sept.  9,  1909. 

2.  Clayton  B.,  b.  Sept.  3,  1883;  res.  Brookline. 

3.  Harold  S.,  b.  Sept.  29,  1884  (see  sketch  chap.  XI,  ante). 

4.  Baby,  b.  Aug.  16,  1886;  d.  in  infancy. 

5.  Edith  H.,  b.  July  27,  1889;  res.  Nashua. 

(VII)  HARRY  FRANCIS  HOBART,  third  son  of  George  W.  I. 
and  Lydia  M.  (Sawtelle)  Hobart,  was  born  Aug.  16,  1859.  He  resides  in 
Pepperell,  Mass.  He  is  a  farmer,  and  largely  engaged  in  the  business  of 
raising  poultry.     He  m.  Dec.  25,  1885,  Fannie  Kimball  of  Mason. 

Children. 

1.  Mabel  Ruth,  b.  Mar.  27,  1889;  d.  June  22,  1893. 

2.  Katharine,  b.  Sept.  6,  1902. 

Horton. 

OTIS  HORTON,  a  son  of  John  and  Doratha  (Stevens)  Horton,  was 
born  in  Chester,  Vt.,  June  5,  1813.  He  came  from  Chester  to  Brookline  in 
the  thirties  of  the  last  century,  in  company  with  his  brother,  Jonas  Hor- 
ton. The  brothers  settled  in  the  north  part  of  the  town,  on  what  is  call- 
ed the  "Horton  lot",  where  they  engaged  in  the  business  of  burning  char- 
coal. They  built  the  first  brick  coal-kiln  to  be  erected  in  this  town.  Otis, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  married,  in  1835,  Nancy,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Rebecca  (Wright)  Gilson.  There  was  erected  on  the  "Horton lot",  in 
addition  to  the  coal-kiln,  or  kilns,  a  house  and  barn.  The  house  was  after- 
wards divided  and  moved  by  Samuel  Gilson,  Jr.,  on  sled  runners,  with 
sixteen  yoke  of  oxen,  to  a  spot  on  the  north  side  of  the  road  near  the  old 
Deacon  Eleazer  Gilson  place,  and  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Gilson.  The  house 
was  destroyed  by  fire  and  only  the  cellar-hole  remains  to  mark  the  spot. 
Otis  Horton  d.  in  Brookline,  Dec.  23,  1850;  his  wife  d.  in  Pepperell,  Mass., 
July  5,  1872.     They  are  both  buried  in  the  South  Cemetery,  Brookline. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Joseph  Stevens,  b.  Mar.  11,  1836;  m.  1st,.  Amelia  A.,  dau.  of 
John  and  Ann  (Larkin)  Lawrence,  (b.  Feb.  19,  1842),  at  Groton,  Mass.; 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  545 

she  d.  Apr.  30,  1865,  at  Pepperell,  Mass.;  m.  2nd,  May  3,  1870,  Augusta 
M.  (Jaquith)  Nutting,  dau.  of  Jonas  W.  and  Mary  J.  (Austin)  Jaquith 
of  Hollis;  Children,  (1)  Augustina,  b.  Oct.  12,  1864,  at  Chelsea,  Mass.; 
m.  Nov.  1,  1890,  Richard  S.  Journeay,  at  Boulder,  Col.;  she  d.  Oct.  10, 
1899,  at  Brookline.  (2)  William  F.,  b.  at  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Apr.  30,  1871; 
(3)  Hattie  E.,  b.  at  Hollis,  Sept.  6,  1873. 

2.  Infant  son,  b.  and  d.  in  1838. 

3.  Andrew  J.,  b.  Dec.  9,  1840;  m.  Mar.  30,  1862,  Harriet  A.,  (b. 
July  26,  1838),  dau.  of  Bliss  and  Mary  Bacon,  of  Barre,  Mass.  Resides 
at  Barre;  he  is  a  farmer.    No  ch. 

4.  Nancy  M.,  b.  Apr.  25,  1843;  m.  1863,  Lafayette  Dadmun  of 
Marlboro,  Mass.  They  now  reside  in  Sudbury,  Mass.  He  is  a  farmer  and 
teamster.  Ch.,  all  born  in  Marlboro,  (1)  Frank  H.,  b.  May  28,  1864; 
(2)  Willie  A.,  b.  Oct.  18,  1866;  (3)  Nellie  M.,  b.  Dec.  14,  1868,  d.  Sept. 
10,  1869;  (4)  Archie  A.,  b.  Feb.  2,  1870;  (5)  James  E.,  b.  Jan.  14,  1872, 
d.  July  28,  1875;  (6)  Hallie  A.,  b.  Nov.  15,  1875. 

5.  Susan  E.,  b.  June  21,  1845;  m.  1860,  David  A.  Weston  of  Pep- 
perell, Mass.;  resides  in  Pepperell;  he  is  an  engineer.  Ch.,  born  in  Pep- 
perell,  (1)  Anna  M.,  b.  Mar.  11,  1861;   (2)  David  E.,  b.  Nov.  18,  1862. 

6.  *James  A.,  b.  June  16,  1847;  m.  July  14,  1868,  Lima  T.,  (b.  in 
Whately,  Mass.)  dau.  of  Jonathans,  and  Electa  E.  (Marsh)  Slate,  of 
Bernardston.  Ch.,  born  in  Greenfield,  Mass.,  ;(1)  Helena  Louise,  b.  Oct. 
6,  1869,  d.  July  22,  1870; (2)  Jessie  May,  b.  June  12,  1873,  m.  May  29, 
1899,  Arthur  H.  Putnam  of  Greenfield,  Mass.;  ch.,  Bernard  Horton,  b. 
Apr.  30,  1900,  in  Greenfield. 

7.  Calista  Janette,  b.  Oct.  8,  1849;  m.  May  29,  1873,  at  Rockport, 
Mass.,  E.  Snow  W.  (b.  July  18,  1837),  son  of  Eli  W.  and  Harriet  (King) 
Packer,  of  Leyden,  Mass.    Resides  at  Greenfield,  Mass.    No  children. 

JAMES  A.  HORTON  was  the  sixth  child  of  Otis  and  Nancy  (Gil- 
son  )  Horton.  Otis  Horton  died  in  the  38th  year  of  his  age,  leaving  six 
children.  The  mother  was  unable  to  support  and  keep  them  all  to- 
gether. The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  taken  into  the  family  of  Richard 
Far  well,  a  lawyer  in  Marlboro,  Mass.,  when  only  four  or  five  years 
of  age.  He  was  brought  up  as  a  member  of  the  family  until  seventeen 
years  old,  when  he  enlisted,  in  1864,  in  the  Fifth  Massachusetts  In- 
fantry, during  one  of  the  last  calls  for  volunteers  for  one  hundred  days 
in  the  Civil  War  and  served  until  the  expiration  of  his  enlistment.  He 
served  most  of  the  time  at  Forts  McHenry  and  Federal  Hill,  in  Baltimore, 
Md.,  taking  two  trips  to  Harper's  Ferry  and  doing  duty  guarding  the  polls 


546 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


JAMES  A.  HORTON 


when  the  state  of  Mary- 
land voted  upon  the 
amendment  to  the  con- 
stitution abolishing  slav- 
ery. 

Richard  Farwell  died 
in  a  year  or  two  after 
young  Horton  was  taken 
into  the  family.  He  had 
two  sons  in  California 
and  one  of  them,  JohnM., 
came  home,  a  few  years 
following  the  death  of  his 
father,  took  an  interest 
in  the  Marlboro  Journal, 
and  young  Horton  was 
taken  out  of  school  at 
the  early  age  of  thirteen 
years  (which  the  law  does 
not  allow  at  the  present 
time)  and  put  into  the  printing  office  and  did  a  full  journey-man's  work  at 
an  age  when  most  boys  of  the  present  generation  are  attending  the  gram- 
mar schools.  He  left  the  office  to  enlist  and  after  his  discharge  from  the 
service,  came  back  to  Marlboro  and  took  charge  of  the  job  printing  office, 
conducting  the  business  and  doing  the  entire  work  (type-setting,  proof- 
reading, press-work  and  even  binding  the  town's  library  catalogue,  which 
he  printed  entire),  though  only  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  remained  in 
Marlboro  till  the  office  was  sold  and  then  removed  to  Hudson,  where  he  was 
employed  a  short  time.  In  order  to  get  a  more  thorough  knowledge  of 
the  printing  business,  he  worked  in  several  offices  in  Boston  and  Cam- 
bridge and  went  to  Greenfield,  Mass.,  in  1866  and  entered  the  Gazette  and 
Courier  office,  where  he  was  employed  till  about  the  year  1902  (most  of 
the  time  as  foreman),  when  he  resigned  his  foremanship  to  engage  in  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  the  "Horton  Mailer,"  a  machine  for  addressing 
newspapers,  envelopes,  circulars,  etc.,  which  he  had  invented  and  pat- 
ented, and  which  he  had  been  introducing  upon  the  market  for  several 
years.  After  conducting  the  business  for  about  five  years,  Mr.  Horton 
was  obliged  to  relinquish  it  on  account  of  poor  health ;  but  he  had  already 
established  the  reputation  of  his  mailer  as  one  of  the  best  machines  of  its 
class,  having  sold  between  three  and  four  thousand,  introducing  them  in- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN    OF   BROOKLINE  547 

to  every  state  in  the  Union,  the  Dominion  of  Canada  and  into  European 
countries  as  far  away  as  Finland.  Among  the  concerns  using  them  was 
the  Curtis  Publishing  Company,  of  Philadelphia  (publishers  of  the  Ladies' 
Home  Journal  and  the  Saturday  Evening  Post,  their  circulation  running 
into  the  millions),  perhaps  the  largest  publishing  house  in  the  country. 

Outside  his  regular  work  and  business,  Mr.  Horton  has  taken  an  en- 
thusiastic interest  in  floriculture,  agriculture  and  horticulture  from  his 
boyhood. 

In  company  with  his  brother-in-law,  E.  S.  W.  Packer,  Mr.  Horton 
bought  a  farm  in  Guilford,  Vt.,  and  conducted  it  for  several  years.  He 
has  made  a  speicalty  of  the  culture  of  grapes,  his  exhibits  at  the  agri- 
cultural fairs  always  winning  first  prize  and  being  pronounced  by  F.  C. 
Sears,  professor  of  pomology  in  the  Amherst  Agricultural  College  in  Massa- 
chusetts, to  be  the  finest  specimens  of  this  fruit  exhibited  in  New  England. 
Many  of  the  Brookline  people  will  remember  of  having  sampled  the  luscious 
fruit  sent  them  by  Mr.  Horton  during  the  seasons  of  the  "Old  Home 
Weeks." 

A  peculiar  coincidence  of  the  Horton  family  is  the  fact  that  Mr.  Hor- 
ton was  one  of  three  cousins  (sons  of  three  brothers, — Lewis,  Simeon  and 
Otis  Horton)  who  bore  the  same  name  of  Augustine — Lewis  Augustine, 
Augustine  E.,  and  James  Augustine.  These  three  cousins  were  all  in  the 
service  during  the  Civil  War.  Lewis  A.  Horton  was  in  the  navy.  By  the 
premature  explosion  of  a  cannon  (an  old  style  muzzle-loader)  which  he 
was  loading,  both  his  arms  were  blown  off,  rendering  amputation  above 
the  elbows  necessary.  Previous  to  this  event,  he  won  distinction  as  one 
of  the  volunteers  to  man  the  life-boat  when  part  of  the  crew  of  the  old 
Monitor  (of  Merrimack  fame)  was  saved  when  it  foundered  off  Cape 
Hatteras.  Two  boat-loads  were  rescued  from  the  Monitor  and  transferred 
to  the  gunboat  Rhode  Island  under  the  most  perilous  and  disadvantage- 
ous conditions.  Only  experienced  seamen  of  the  steadiest  nerves  and  most 
indomitable  courage  could  have  handled  its  life-boats  and  effected  the 
rescue,  with  the  tremendous  waves  tossing  and  plunging  the  Monitor  over 
and  under  them.  The  rescuing  boat-crew  made  a  third  attempt  to  save 
the  remaining  crew  of  the  Monitor,  but  this  historic  vessel  had  "fought  its 
last  fight"  and  disappeared  beneath  the  waves.  It  had  now  become  dark, 
and  the  crew  of  the  life-boat  had  become  so  exhausted  with  their  super- 
human efforts,  that  they  could  no  longer  handle  the  boat  and  were  washed 
out  to  sea,  where  they  remained  all  night  and  part  of  the  next  day  in  a 
helpless  condition;  when  they  were  rescued.  For  this  act  of  heroism,  Mr. 
Horton  was  awarded  a  medal  of  honor  by  the  United  States  government. 


548  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

He  is  still  alive,  and  has  been  employed  for  many  years  in  the  Boston 
Custom  House.  The  duties  of  his  office  require  him  to  do  writing.  This 
is  done  by  placing  the  pen  between  his  teeth,  his  chirography  under  this 
great  disadvantage  being  as  uniform  and  clean  as  that  of  an  expert  pen- 
man. 

James  A.  Horton  is  a  member  of  Greenfield  Republican  Lodge  of 
Masons,  curator  of  the  Greenfield  Historical  Society,  Trustee  of  the  Frank- 
lin County  Agricultural  Society  and  a  member  of  Edwin  E.  Day  Post" of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  having  served  as  commander.  He  has 
done  a  great  deal  of  work  as  a  member  of  the  State  Department,  install- 
ing officers,  giving  Memorial  Day  addresses,  etc.,  and  has  been  a  member 
of  the  National  Department. 

Mr.  Horton  was  married,  July  14,  1868,  to  Lima  T.  Slate,  dau.  of  the 
late  Jonathan  and  Electa  E.  (Marsh)  Slate  of  Bernardston,  Mass.  (See 
genealogical  record  of  Horton  family). 

Hutchinson. 

(I)  NATHANIEL  HUTCHINSON  came  from  Pepperell,  Mass.,  to 
Brookline  in  1808.  His  family  is  supposed  to  have  been  originally  of 
Lynn,  Mass.  He  settled  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  on  land  which  he 
purchased  of  Joseph  Blanchard,  Aug.  3,  1808.  His  dwelling  house  was  lo- 
cated about  four  miles  north  of  the  village  on  the  west  side  of  the  first 
highway  to  Milford  The  original  house  is  standing  at  this  time,  (1914). 
He  was  a  farmer  .  He  was  married  before  coming  to  Brookline.  Name  of 
his  wife  unknown.    He  d.  Sept.  8,  1808. 

Children. 

1.  *James,  b.  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  in  1780;  m.  Mar.  11,  1810,  Mary 
Leslie. 

2.  *William,  b.  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  about  1781;  m.  Rebecca 

3.  *John,  b.  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Mar.   17,  1787;  m.  1st,  Jan.  19, 
1812,  Rebekah  Shattuck;  m.  2nd,  Mar.  29,  1819,  Polly  Burnham. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  in  Pepperell,  Mass. 

(II)  JAMES  HUTCHINSON,  first  son  and  first  child  of  Nathaniel 
Hutchinson,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  in  1780.  He  came  from  Pep- 
perell to  Brookline  with  his  father's  family  in  1808.  He  was  a  farmer  liv- 
ing in  the  west  part  of  the  town.    He  married,  Mar.  11,  1810,  Mary  Leslie. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  549 

He  d.  May  2,  1852:  she  d.  Nov.  27,  1849.    Both  are  buried  in  the  South 
Cemetery. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  James  H.,  b.  Sept.  22,  1810;  he  was  a  machinist;  d.  in  Boston, 
Mass.,  Mar.  2,  1854. 

2.  George  N.,  b.  Sept.  3,  1812. 

3.  Eliza,  b.  May  4,  1815. 

4.  Clorinda,  b.  July  24,  1818;  m.  Nov.  24,  1842,  Alfred  A.  Wood- 
ward, of  Amherst. 

5.  John  B.,  b.  Aug.  29,  1820;  d.  July  22,  1842. 

6.  Samuel  E.,  b.  Sept.  26,  1822. 

7.  Elmira,  b.  Aug.  26,  1825;  m.  Richard  H.  Center. 

8.  Harriet,  b.  Sept.  2,  1827. 

(II)  WILLIAM  HUTCHINSON,  second  son  and  second  child  of 
Nathaniel  Hutchinson,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.  in  1781.  He 
came  with  his  father  to  Brookline  in  1808.     He  m.  about  1807,  Rebecca. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Abel,  b.  June  13,  1808. 

2.  Rebecca,  b.  Feb.  26,  1810. 

(II )  JOHN  HUTCHINSON,  third  son  and  third  child  of  Nathaniel 
Hutchinson  Sr.,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Mar,  1787.  He  settled  in 
Brookline  in  1808.  He  was  a  farmer  and  resided  on  the  old  homestead 
farm.  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Jan.  19,  1812,  Rebeckah,  dau.  of 
Nathaniel  and  Betty   (Hosley)  Shattuck,  of  Pepperell,  Mass;  she  d.  Nov. 

23,  1817;  m.  2nd,  Mar.  29,  1819,  Polly  Burnham  of  Milford.    He  d.  Dec. 

24,  1846;  shed.  Feb.  8,  1861. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Mary,  b.  Dec.  18,  1813;  m.  May  1,  1839,  Ira  Proctor  of  Hollis. 

2.  Rebekah,  b.  Dec.  30,  1815;  m.  May  1,  1839,  Asa  Seaver. 

By  Second  Wife. 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  May  14,  1821;  m.  Apr.  26,  1842,  David  Hobart. 

4.  Lucretia,  b.  Sept.  18,  1822;  d.  Aug.  16,  1839. 


550 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


5. 

worth. 

6. 

7. 
8. 


*John  Q.  A.,  b.  Feb.  5,  1826;  m.  Nov.  27,  1851,  Amanda  Wads- 
Nathaniel  B.,  b.  Nov.  8,  1828;  d.  Oct.  18,  1834. 
Hannah  B.,  b.  Jan.  26,  1836;  m.  Jan.  2,  1867,  Levi  F.  Lowell. 
♦Nathaniel,  B.  b.  May  8,  1838;  m.  1st,  Nov.  5,  1862,  Emily  T. 
Shedd;  m.  2nd,  July  23,  1865,  Lizzie  H.  Hunter. 

(Ill)  JOHN  QUINCY  A.  HUTCHINSON,  fifth  child  and  first  son 
of  John  and  Polly  (Burnham)  Hutchinson,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Feb.  5, 
1826.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  manufacturer  of  and  dealer  in  lumber.  He 
resided  on  the  old  Nathaniel  Hutchinson  farm  in  the  west  part  of  the  town, 
and  was  an  active  and  influential  citizen.  He  m.  Nov.  27,  1851,  Amanda, 
dau.  of  Samuel  and  Rhoda  (Phelps)  Wadsworth  of  Milford.  He  d.  Aug 
23,  1856;  she  d.  June  2,  1860. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Frances  A.,  b.  Oct.  25,  1853;  m.  Apr.  5,  1882,  Charles  Pressey. 

2.  *John  F.,  b.  Jan.  6,  1856;  m.  1st,  Mar.  8,  1882,  Mary  W.  Lund 
m.  2nd,  Mar.  3,  1879,  Maria  Butterfield. 

(IV)  JOHN  FRED- 
ERICK HUTCHIN- 
SON, second  child  and 
only  son  of  John  Quincy 
Adams  and  Amanda 
(Wadsworth )  Hutchin- 
son, was  born  in  Brook- 
line, Jan.  6,  1856.  He 
was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  of  his  na- 
tive town.  In  1869,  he 
removed  from  Brookline 
to  Lexington,  Mass., 
where  he  settled  per- 
manently, and  engaged 
in  the  real  estate  and  in- 
surance business,  and 
was  a  leading  and  honor- 
ed citizen.  Throughout 
his  entire  life  he  retained 
his  love  and  affection  for 


JOHN  FREDERICK  HUTCHINSON 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  551 

his  native  town,  keeping  its  people  in  close  and  intimate  connection.  He 
was  orator  of  the  day  at  Brookline's  celebration  of  Old  Home  Week  in 
1903.  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Mar.  8,  1882,  Mary  Warner,  dau.  of 
Nathaniel  W.  and  Caroline  (Gerry)  Lund,  of  this  town;  she  d.  Aug.  23, 
1893;  m.  2nd,  Mar.  3,  1897,  Maria  Butterfield.  He  d.  at  Lexington,  Mass., 
Jan.  2,  1904. 

Children;  Born  in  Lexington,  Mass. 

1.  John  G,  b.  Nov.  21,  1883;  m.  June  1,  1905.  Lucy  D.  Richardson 

2.  Bertha  M.,  b. 

(Ill)  NATHANIEL  BURNHAM  HUTCHINSON,  third  son  and 
sixth  child  of  John  and  Polly  (Burnham)  Hutchinson,  was  born  at  Brook- 
line,  May  8,  1838.  He  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Brookline,  but 
in  his  latter  years  resided  in  Milford,  where  he  died.  He  was  a  farmer  but 
dealt  extensively  in  real  estate,  of  which  he  was  a  large  owner.  He  was 
twice  married;  m.  1st,  Nov.  5,  1862,  Emily  T.  Shedd,  dau.  of  Calvin  Shedd 
of  Brookline;  she  d.;  m.  2nd,  July  23,  1865,  Lizzie. H.  Hunter.  He  d.  at 
Milford,  May  31,  1888. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  Second  Wife. 

1.  Florence  L.,  b.  Dec.  27,  1870. 

2.  Fred  N.,  b.  May  19,  1873;  m.  Jan.  29,  1896,  Mary  S.  Heald,  of 
Milford. 

Jefts. 

(I)  JOSEPH  JEFTS,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in  Brookline, 
came  here  from  Mason  about  the  year  1834.  He  was  a  son  of  John  and 
Lois  Jefts  of  Jaffrey,  where  he  was  born  July  2,  1885.  About  1800  his 
father  removed  from  Jaffrey  to  Mason.  For  many  years  after  coming  to 
Brookline  he  lived  on  the  old  Mathew  Wallace  place  in  the  west  part  of 
the  town.  About  1860  he  moved  into  the  village,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  until  his  decease.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  highly  respected  citizen. 
Married  in  1810,  Lucinda  Farwell  of  Groton,  Mass.  He  d.  Aug.  23,  1863; 
his  wife  d.  Dec.  1,  1871. 


552  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Children. 

1.  Lucinda,  b.  in  Mason,  May  3,  1811. 

2.  *Joseph  F.,  b.  in  Mason,  Apr.  17,  1813;  m.  in  1836,  Adelaide 
Pendleton. 

3.  Louisa  L.,  b.  in  Mason,  May  20,  1816;  m.  in  1842,  Philemon 
French. 

4.  *Edmund  F.,  b.  in  Temple,  Sept.  30,  1818;  m.  Mar.  31,  1839, 
Elizabeth  Pierce. 

5.  George  W.,  b.  in  Temple,  Dec.  26,  1820;  d.  Oct.  10,  1846. 

(II)  JOSEPH  FRANKLIN  JEFTS,  second  child  and  first  son  of 
Joseph  and  Lucinda  (Farwell)  Jefts,  was  born  in  Mason,  Apr.  17,  1813. 
He  came  to  Brookline  with  his  father's  family  about  1834.  After  his 
marriage,  his  dwelling  house  was  located  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  on 
the  west  side  of  the  poor-farm  road,  so  called.  In  the  latter  part  of  the 
fifties,  he  moved  into  the  village,  where  for  several  years  he  was  landlord 
of  the  hotel.  In  1862,  he  suddenly  left  town,  since  when  he  has  never 
been  heard  from.  He  was  four  times  married;  m.  1st,  May  1,  1836,  Ade- 
line Pendelton,  of  Bangor,  Me.;  she  d.  in  May,  1844;  m.  2nd,  Dec.  31, 
1844,  Roxanna  Shattuck  of  Pepperell,  Mass.;  she  d.  Sept.  15,  1851;  m.  3rd, 
Dec.  21,  1852,  Martha  E.  Lancey,  of  Brookline;  she  d.  July  17,  1858;  m. 
4th,  Mrs. 

Children. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Abbie  M.,  b.  in  Bangor,  Me.,  May  26,  1837;  m.  Dec.  1,  1853, 
John  L.  Tarbell;  she  d.  in  1907. 

2.  *George  H.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Apr.  1,  1840;  m.  Nov.  1,  1865, 
Fannie  A.  Mixer  of  Milford. 

3.  Albert  N.,  b.  in  Brookline,  May  26,  1841;  d.  unm.  Sept.  16,  1863. 

4.  Annot  N.,  b.  in  Brookline,  May  12,  1842;  m.  Jan.  8,  1863,  Charles 
G.  Hutchinson  of  Milford. 

5.  Joseph  W.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Sept.  25,  1843;  m.  Apr.  26,  1866, 
Lucy  M.  Wheeler;  he  d.  in  1886;  ch.,  J.  Frank  Jefts,  res.  Nashua. 

By  Second  Wife. 

6.  *Asa  S.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Aug.  6,  1847;  m.  Mar.  12,  1873,  Hattie 
Marshall. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  553 

By  Third  Wife. 

7.  Flora  L.,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  27,  1854. 

8.  Frank  R.,  b.  in  Brookline,  May  10,  1855;  d.  Sept.  7,  1861. 

9.  Lena  E.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Sept.  14,  1856;  d.  May  26,  1863. 

(II)  EDMUND  FAR  WELL.  JEFTS,  fourth  child  and  second  son 
of  Joseph  and  Lucinda  (Farwell)  Jefts,  was  born  in  Temple,  Sept.  30, 
1818.  About  1840,  he  settled  in  Brookline,  where  he  resided  a  few  years, 
and  then  moved  to  Holyoke,  Mass.  He  m.  Mar.  31,  1839,  Elizabeth 
Pierce  of  Charlestown,  Mass.  He  died  at  Holyoke,  Mass.,  Aug.  10,  1901. 
She  d.  at  Holyoke,  Mass.,  July  6,  1876. 

Children. 

1.  Charles  E.,  b.  in  Mason,  Aug.  16,  1841;  d.  Apr.  29,  1842. 

2.  Caroline  L.,  b.  in  Lunenburg,  Mass.,  Mar.  20,  1843;  d.  Jan.  13, 
1894. 

3.  Emaretta  D.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  22,  1847;  d.  Sept.  1,  1849. 

4.  Susan  Alice,  b.  in  Brookline,  Apr.  8,  1851;  m.  May  5,  1880;  Henry 
H.  Smith.  Res.  Holyoke,  Mass. 

(III)  GEORGE  HENRY  JEFTS,  second  son  and  second  child  of 
Joseph  F.  and  Adelaide  (Pendleton)  Jefts,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Apr.  1, 
1840.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Brookline,  and  upon 
arriving  to  manhood  learned  the  cooper  trade.  He  served  for  Brookline 
as  a  private  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  re- 
sided for  a  short  time  in  Milford,  and  then  passed  three  years  in  the  west. 
Between  the  years  1877  and  1889,  he  was,  at  different  times,  a  resident  in 
Ayer,  Shirley,  West  Boylston,  Fitchburg,  and  Lancaster,  Mass.,  and  in 
New  Britain,  Conn.  During  this  period  he  was  engaged  principally  in  work 
connected  with  town  institutions. 

He  was  for  three  years  superintendent  of  the  Massachusetts  Home  for 
Indigent  Odd  Fellows,  at  Worcester,  Mass.  He  is  living  at  the  present 
time  (1914)  at  Fitchburg,  Mass.  Mr.  Jefts  is  a  free  thinker  in  his  re- 
ligious views,  and  a  Republican  in  his  politics.  He  is  a  Free-Mason  and 
an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a  member  of  the  G.  A.  R. ;  being  at  the  present  time 
(1913),  Commander  of  Post  19,  of  Fitchburg,  Mass.  He  is  a  public 
speaker  of  ability,  and  is  frequently  called  upon  to  act  in  that  capacity, 
especially  so  in  Grand  Army  circles.  He  m.  Nov.  1,  1865,  Fannie  A.,  dau. 
of  Stephen  S.  and  Sarah  C.  (Bennett)  Mixer. 


554  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Children. 

1.  Albert  L.,  b.  in  Hannibal,  Me.,  Oct.  20,  1867. 

2.  Daisy  D.,  b.  in  Milford,  May  14,  1872. 

3.  Clara  B.,  b.  in  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  Jan.  14,  1876. 

(Ill)  ASA  S.  JEFTS,  son  and  only  child  of  Joseph  F.  and  Roxana 
(Shattuck)  Jefts,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Aug.  6,  1847.  He  is  a  farmer, 
residing  in  Fitchburg,  Mass.  He  m.  Mar.  12,  1873,  Harriet  R.,  dau.  of 
Abel  and  Roselma  (Narrowmore)  Marshall,  of  Fitchburg,  Mass. 

Children;  Born  in  Fitchburg,  Mass. 

1.  Ruth  M.,  b.  Jan.  16,  1874. 

2.  Annie  L.,  b.  Mar.  5,  1875. 

3.  Bessie  E.,  b.  June  24,  1876. 

Jepson. 

JOSEPH  JEPSON  AND  JANE. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  John,  b.  May  9,  1797. 

2.  Sally,  b.  Sept.  5,  1809. 

Kendall. 

(Ill)  BENJAMIN  KENDAIX,  Jr.,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in 
Brookline,  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  (Dean)  Kendall  of 
Woburn,  Mass.;  where  he  was  born  May  16,  1783.  He  was  a  lineal  de- 
scendant in  the  third  generation  of  Joshua  Benjamin  Kendall,  a  settler  in 
Woburn  as  early  as  1741,  living  in  that  part  of  the  town  then  known  as 
Wood  Market.  In  1785  he  removed  with  his  father  from  Woburn  to 
Mason.  About  1835,  he  removed  from  Mason  to  Brookline.  During  his 
residence  in  Brookline  he  lived  in  the  brick  house  opposite  the  old  Meet- 
ing-House.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church. 
He  m.  in  Mason,  Betsey  Wetherbee,  Sept.  8,  1817.  He  d.  Oct.  24,  1860; 
she  d.  Dec.  29,  1857. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  555 

Children;  Born  in  Mason. 

1.  Philena,  b.  July  2,  1809;  d.  1820. 

2.  *Sumner  S.,  b.  Jan.  15,  1812;  m.  Marinda  Bailey.  Dec,  31,  1840. 

3.  Arnold,  b.  Jan.  13,  1814;  m.  Mary  Phelps;  no  ch. 

4.  vSalma,  b.  Oct.  2,  1816;  m.  Melissa  Rollins;  no  ch. 

5.  Eliza,  b.  May  16,  1819;  m.  Putnam  Sawyer;  res.  Sterling,  Mass. 
Ch.,  William,  Samuel,  Mary,  Martha,  George,  Fred  and  Hattie. 

6.  *Benjamin  L.,  b.  Aug.  16,  1827;  m.  July  4,  1860,  Eliza  E.  Dins- 
more,  West  Townsend,  Mass. 

7.  Henry,  b.  Apr.  8,  1830;  m.  Louisa  Griswold;  d.  May  29,  1897; 
no  ch. 

(IV)  SUMNER  SPAUIvDING  KENDALL,  son  of  Benjamin  and 
Betsey  (Wetherbee)  Kendall,  and  a  descendant  in  the  fourth  generation 
of  Joshua  Benjamin  Kendall,  of  Woburn,  Mass.,  was  born  in  Mason,  Jan. 
15,  1812.  He  removed  from  Mason  to  Brookline  about  1840.  He  was 
postmaster  at  Brookline  from  1853  to  1861,  and  for  many  years  proprietor 
and  operator  of  a  store  for  the  sale  of  general  merchandise,  at  the  east 
end  of  Main  street.  He  held  many  public  offices  of  trust  in  town.  He  m. 
Marinda,  dau.  of  Ensign  and  Martha  (Daniels)  Bailey,  of  Brookline, 
Dec.  31,  1840.    He  d.  in  Brookline,  May  18,  1869;  she  d.  July  31,  1882. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Caroline  M.,  b.  May  4,  1843;  m.  John  E.  French  of  Brookline; 
he  d.  Mar.  9,  1902;  she  d.  Nov.  17,  1897;  both  are  buried  in  the  South 
cemetery;  ch.,  Morton  Bowler  French,  b.  in  Brookline,  graduated  at  Dart- 
mouth, College  in  1903. 

2.  Emily  F.,  b.  Apr.  12,  1846;  res.  Fitchburg,  Mass. 

3.  Ella  M.,  b.  Dec.  22,  1849;  res.  Fitchburg,  Mass. 

(IV)  BENJAMIN  L.  KENDALL,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Betsey 
(Wetherbee)  Kendall,  was  born  in  Mason,  Aug.  16,  1827.  He  came  from 
Mason  to  Brookline  about  1840.  He  was  a  cooper.  In  the  eighties  he 
removed  from  Brookline  to  Townsend,  Mass.  He  d.  in  Townsend,  Dec. 
28,  1891.  He  m.  July  4,  1850,  Eliza  E.  Dinsmore,  of  West  Townsend, 
Mass. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.     George  A.,  b.  June  17,  1852;  m.  Jan.  18,  1876,  E.  Areadna  Fretts, 
of  Milford;  one  son,  Harry;  res.  Clinton.  Mass. 


556  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

2.  Charles  B.   b.  Sept  27,   1854;  m.   Dee.   29,   1896,   Oetavia  M. 
Sawyer.  . 

3.  Etta,  b.  July  27,  1857;  m.  Oct.  2,  1879,  Herbert  O.  Cook,  of 
Brookline. 

4.  Mary  A.,  b.  Sept.  24,  1861;  m.  Jan.  8,  1884,  Ezra  A.  Tibbetts. 

5.  Belle  H.,  b.  July  31,  1864. 

6.  Katie  F.,  b.  Jan.  27,  1868;  m.  Nov.  5,  1885,  George  W.  Wood- 
ward. 

(Ill)  JONAS  KENDALL,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth  (Deane) 
Kendall,  originally  of  Woburn,  Mass.,  was  born  at  Mason.  July  8,  1793. 
About  1833  he  removed  with  his  father  from  Mason  to  Brookline,  set- 
tling here  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  town.  He  was  a  farmer.  Soon 
after  coming  here,  he  united  with  the  Congregational  church,  but  subse- 
quently joined  the  local  Methodist  church.  He  m.  Aug.  29,  1818,  Sarah 
Seaver  of  Brookline.  He  d.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  24,  1879;  she  d.  Oct.  5, 
1868. 

Children;  Born  in  Mason. 

1.     Samuel,  b.  Mar.  8,  1819;  d.  Dec.  30,  1850. 

2  Sarah  S.,  b.  June  6,  1821;  d.  Sept.  1,  1824. 

3  Elizabeth,  b.  Mar.  11,  1823;  d.  Aug.  21,  1824. 

4.  Jonas,  Jr.,  b.  June  16,  1824;  d.  Aug.  25,  1855. 

5.  *Daniel,  b.  Jan.  9,   1827;  m.  in  1854,  Lovina  Burnham,  of  New 
Boston. 

6.  John  A.,  b.  Feb.  7,  1829;  d.  Oct.  21,  1877,  at  Brookline,  unm. 

7.  Sarah  S.,  b.  Oct.  5,  1831;  d.  Dec.  14,  1900. 

8.  Mary  A.,  b.  Aug.  2,  1835. 

(IV)  DANIEL  KENDALL  was  born  in  Mason,  Jan.  9,  1827.  He 
was  a  son  of  Jonas  and  Sarah  (Seaver)  Kendall,  and  a  lineal  descendant 
of  Joshua  Benjamin  Kendall  of  Woburn,  Mass.  He  removed  with  his 
father  from  Mason  to  Brookline,  about  1833.  He  was  a  farmer.  He 
served  for  Brookline  in  the  Civil  War,  as  a  private  in  Company  C.  16th 
N.  H.  Volunteers.  He  m.  in  1854,  Lovina  Burnham  of  New  Boston.  He 
d.  in  Brookline,  May  13,  1906;  she  d.  July  1,  1889. 

Children. 

1.     Mary  F.,  b.  in  Nashua  in  1858;  d.  in  infancy. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  557 

2.  Emma  Belle,  b.  Nov.  10,  1864,  in  Brookline;  m.  Nov.  15,  1900, 
Fred  Sawyer,  of  Sterling,  Mass.;  res.  Sterling. 

3.  George  Henry,  b.  Sept.  9,  1868;  m.  Feb.  5,  1889,  Alice,  dau.  of 
Dea.  Perley  Pierce  of  Brookline;  res.  Townsend,  Mass. 

Klein. 

ATWEL  W.  KLEIN,  a  son  of  George  W.  and  Betsey  (Prince)  Klein, 
of  Jay,  N.  Y.,  settled  in  Brookline  in  November,  1873,  coming  here  from 
Jay.  He  was  a  farmer.  His  house  was  located  about  one  mile  north  of 
the  village  in  the  crotch  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  Mason  and  West 
Hill,  Townsend,  Mass.,  highways.  He  m.  Emma  Nye,  of  Jay,  N.  Y.  He 
d.  Sept.  3,  1887. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  John  H.,  b.  Mar.  3,  1874;  m.  Dec.  17,  1895,  Grace  A.  Bean  of 
Boston,  Mass.;  ch.,  (1)  Clarence  M.,  b.  Sept.  29,  1896;  (2)  Dorothy  M., 
b.  Dec.  27,  1897;  (3)  John  H.,  b.  July  13,  1902;  (4)  Florence  I.,  b.  May 
31,  1911,  d.  July  3,  1911. 

2.  Morton  A.,  b.  Oct.  4,  1876;  m.  Sept.  24,  1901,  Alice  S.  True,  of 
Pepperell,  Mass.;  res.  Fitchburg,  Mass.;  in  wholesale  lumber  business; 
ch.,  (1)  Helen  T.,  b.  July  13,  1902,  at  Fitchburg,  Mass.;  (2)  Mildred  W., 
b.  Sept.  9,  1903,  at  Fitchburg;  (3)  Margaret  A.,  b.  Sept.  28,  1905,  at 
Fitchburg;  d.  Jan.  1,  1906;  (4)  Morton  A.,  Jr.,  b.  Sept.  30,  1909,  at  Meri- 
den,  Conn.;  (5)  Norman  W.,  b.  Mar.  10,  1911,  at  Fitchburg. 

3.  Mary  E.,  b.  Aug.  3,  1879;  m.  Sept.  2,  1901,  Charles  G.  Pingree, 
Hudson,  Mass.;  no  ch. 

Kemp. 

HENRY  K.  KEMP,  a  son  of  Levi  Kemp,  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass., 
May  31,  1812.  About  1845,  he  removed  from  Groton  to  this  town,  where 
he  settled  on  the  old  Moses  Shattuck  place  in  the  north  part  of  the  town. 
About  1872,  he  removed  into  the  village.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  an  up- 
right and  honorable  man.  He  served  several  terms  as  a  member  of  the 
school  board  and  held  other  responsible  positions.  He  m.  in  Groton, 
Mass.,  Sept.  25,  1845,  Pauline  J.  Hall.  He  d.  at  Brookline,  Dec.  2,  1897; 
she  d.  at  Manchester,  June  13,  1906. 


558  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Henry  W.,  b.  Apr.  4,  1852;  m.  Sept.  7,  1881,  Anna  M.  Fessenden 
of  Townsend,  Mass.;  he  d.  in  Manchester,  Dee.  1,  1902.  Ch.,  (1)  Clarence 
F.,  b.  in  Manchester,  Jan.  12,  188  ;  (2)  Helen  S.,  b.  Ellensburg,  N.  Y., 
July  25,  1882;  (3)  Morna  B.,  b.  in  Manchester,  Oct.  15,  1906;  (4)  Mirian 
L.,  b.  in  Manchester,  Sept.  16,  1909;  (5)  Millicent  E.,  b.  in  Manchester, 
June  14,  1912. 

2.  William  H.,  b.  Aug.  1855. 

Lancey. 

THOMAS  LANCEY'S  name  appears  on  the  records  of  Brookline  as 
early  as  1792.  From  whence  he  came  to  this  town  is  unknown.  He  m. 
Abigail . 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *Moody,  b.  Feb.  20,  1793;  m.  Nov.  20,  1821,  Charlotte  Kemp  of 
Mason. 

2.  James,  b.  Dec.  9,  1795;  m.  Feb.  15,  1821,  Azubah  Shattuck  of 
Townsend,  Mass. 

3.  Eliza,  b.  Oct.  16,  1797. 

4.  Thomas,  b.  Oct.  23,  1801 ;  m.  Sept.  19,  1802,  Molly  Wetherbee. 

5.  George,  b.  Jan.  12,  1803. 

6.  Elossanna,     )  ^ 

7.  Lucre  tia,       )  J    J 

8.  Hiram,  b.  Mar.  13,  1842. 

MOODY  LANCEY,  first  son  and  first  child  of  Thomas  and  Abigail 
Lancey,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Feb.  20,  1793.  He  was  a  farmer,  residing 
on  the  west  side  of  the  poor-farm  road  and  north  side  of  the  Campbell 
brook,  in  the  west  part  of  the  town.  He  m.  Nov.  20,  1821,  Charlotte 
Kemp,  of  Mason.    He  d.  Feb.  19,  1879. 

His  children,  all  born  in  Brookline  were  Dustin,  Charlotte,  Thomas, 
Isabella,  Charles,  Milo,  Isabelle  J.,  and  *E-  Ferdinand. 

E.  FERDINAND  LANCEY,  eighth  child  and  fifth  son  of  Moody 
and  Charlotte  (Kemp)  Lancey,  was  born  in  Brookline,  May  30,  1835. 
He  m.  Sept.  3,  1862,  Catherine  H. ;  dau.  of  Jesse  Robbins  of  this  town.  He 
d.  in  Jan.  1907;  she  d.  Oct.  1906. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN    OF  BROOKLINE  559 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Mabel  E.,  b.  Feb.  6,  1864;  d.  Aug.  14,  1866. 

2.  Milo  F.,  b.  Aug.  14,  1866. 

3.  Lottie  L.,  b.  Sept.  27,  1868;  d.  Oct.  4,  1869. 

4.  Elno  D.,  b.  Oct.  5,  1871;  (see  sketch  chap.  XI,  ante). 

5.  Lora  M.,  b.  Nov.  18,  1876;  d.  July  7,  1878. 

6.  *Hdward  D.,  b.  Oct.  16,  1879;  m.  Mar.  3,  1903,  Katherine  Koch, 
of  Townsend,  Mass. 

7.  Grace  H.,  b.  Sept.  25,  1880;  m.  Sept.  24,  1890,  William  Bonner. 

EDWARD  D.  LANCEY,  sixth  child  and  third  son  of  E.  Ferdin- 
and and  Catherine  (Robbins)  Lancey,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Oct.  16, 
1879.    He  m.  Mar.  3,  1903,  Katherine  Koch  of  Townsend,  Mass. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Edward  A.,  b.  Jan.  23,  1904. 

2.  Elizabeth  M.,  b.  Feb.  24,  1905. 

3.  Katherine  E.,  b.  Aug.  15,  1906. 

4.  Ruth  D.,  b.  Dec.  7,  1908. 

5.  Evelyn  M.,  b.  Feb.  4,  1911. 

6.  William  W.,  b.  May  31,  1914. 

■ 

Lawrence. 

JONAS  LAWRENCE  was  born  in  Brookline  in  July,  1800.  He  was 
a  son  of  Jonas  and  Betsey  (Hazen)  Lawrence,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.,  who 
removed  from  Pepperell  to  Brookline  soon  after  the  close  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, and  subsequently  removed  from  Brookline  to  Hollis;  where  he  died 
and  is  buried.  He  was  a  cooper  by  trade.  He  lived  about  one  mile  south 
of  the  village  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Pepperell,  Mass.  He  m. 
June  19,  1831,  Sarah  H.,  dau.  of  Levi  Wright,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.  He  d. 
in  July,  1870;  she  d.  June  14,  1872.  Both  are  buried  in  the  South  Ceme- 
tery. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Alexina  S.,  b.  June  4,  1832;  m.  1st,  Oct.  23,  1851,  Samuel  Brooks; 
m.  2nd,  Apr.  3,  1878,  Ichabod  Lund. 


560  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

2.  Elizabeth,  b.  no  record;  m.   1st,  James  Blynn;  m.  2nd,  E.  S. 
Wright;  no  record. 

3.  Silas,  b.  no  record;  m.  Nancy  Going,  of  Townsend,  Mass. 

4.  Plummer,  b.  no  record;  m.  Annette  Campbell. 

5.  Lydia,  b.  no  record;  m.  George  Hodgman. 

6.  Simon,  b.  Oct.  10,  1843;  m.  Jan.  9,  1872,  Sarah  Burgess. 

7.  Luther,  b.  Feb.  14,  1845;  m.  Dec.  24,  1887,  Helen  M.  Hodgman. 

Law. 

JOSEPH  LAW  settled  in  Brookline  about  1835.  He  was  a  farmer, 
living  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town,  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway 
leading  out  of  the  Mason  highway  to  the  old  Mathew  Wallace  place.  He 
m.  May  15,  1834,  Ellen  S.  Cleveland  of  Brookline.  He  d.  Mar.  29,  1859; 
she  d.  June  17,  1890. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Francis  A.,  b.  Apr.  10,  1835;  m.  Apr.  10,  1860,  Hattie  Spaulding; 
he  d.  Jan.  16,  1903. 

2.  Mary  A.,  b.  Aug.  5,  1836;  m.  June,  1857,  James  A.  Merrill  of 
Brookline. 

3.  Lewis  O.,  b.  July  30,  1841;  m.  Sept.  3,  1862,  Ellen  Lancey;  d. 
Aug.  5,  1863;  soldier  in  Civil  War. 

4.  Byron  H.,  b.  Feb.  5,  1844;  m.  Dec.  25,  1862,  Carrie  Phelps. 

5.  Francena  E.,  b.  Aug.  28,  1849;  m.  1st,  Dec.  18,  1865,  Webster 
Hofses;  1  eh.;  m.  2nd,  Dec.  30,  1883,  Fred  G.  Hobart  of  Brookline;  she  d. 
Sept.  1,  1908. 

6.  Servilla  J.,  b.  Feb.  18,  1854;  d.  July  15,  1856. 

Leslie. 

JOSEPH  LESLIE  was  born  in  Hollis,  Apr.  7,  1782.  He  was  a  son 
of  Jonas  and  Elizabeth  (Dow)  Leslie.  His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  War 
of  the  Revolution,  serving  for  Hollis.  He  was  a  farmer,  living  in  his  young 
manhood  in  Newburyport,  Mass.  About  1825,  he  removed  from  New- 
buryport,  to  Brookline  where  he  settled  in  the  north  part  of  the  town.  He 
m.  Jan.  1,  1809,  Hannah  Raymond  of  Hampton  Falls.    He  d. 

.    They  are  buried  in  the  South  Cemetery,  Brook- 
line. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  561 

Children. 

1.  Hannah  D.,  b.  in  Newburyport,  July  2,  1810;  d.  Aug.  29,  1830. 

2.  Joseph  R.,  b.  in  Newburyport,  Mar.  10,  1812;  d.  Jan.  28,  1830. 

3.  Eunice  D.,  b.  in  Newburyport,  Feb.  10,  1818;  m.  William  Burge; 
she  d.  Jan.  28,  1882;  1  ch.,  Lizzie,  b.  Dec.  12,  1836. 

4.  Sarah  S.,  b.  in  Newburyport,  June  18,  1820;  d.  Sept.  23,  1821. 

5.  Sarah  E.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  14,  1828;  m.  Apr.  27,  1852,  Newton 
W.  Colburn. 

Lowell. 

LEVI  FRANKLIN  LOWELL,  born  in  Rindge,  Jan.  6,  1839,  settled 
in  Brookline  in  the  sixties  of  eighteen  hundred.  In  1863,  he  entered  into 
a  co-partnership  with  Anson  Fessenden  of  Townsend,  Mass.  in  the  whole- 
sale lumbering  and  coopering  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Fessenden 
&  Lowell.  For  many  years  the  firm  did  a  large  and  constantly  growing 
business  in  Brookline  and  Townsend.  In  1870  its  business  had  increased 
to  the  extent  that  the  firm  realized  the  necessity  of  having  better  facilities 
for  carrying  on  its  operations,  and  to  that  end,  in  the  latter  year,  estab- 
lished an  additional  plant  in  Merrimack.  The  same  year,  Mr.  Lowell  re- 
moved from  Brookline  to  Merrimack,  where  he  resided  until  his  death; 
and  where  he  ranked  with  its  most  highly  respected  and  influential  citi- 
zens. He  m.  Hannah  Burnham,  dau.  of  John  and  Polly  (Burnham)  Hut- 
chinson, of  Brookline,  Jan.  2,  1867.  He  d.  at  Merrimack  in  1914,  and  is 
buried  in  Brookline. 

Children. 

1.  Mabel  Lucretia,  b.  in  Brookline,  Nov.  15,  1870;  m.  Nov.  22, 
1892,  John  Edward  Haselton  of  Amherst;  ch. ;  Hazel  Louise,  b.  July  14, 
1894;  Franklin  Lowell,  b.  Apr.  10,  1896;  Eliazbeth  Hinds,  b.  Nov.  4,  1899; 
Edward  John,  b.  Jan.  23,  1909. 

2.  Bertha  Louise,  b.  Apr.  7,  1874,  in  Merrimack;  m.  Feb.  1,  1905, 
Arthur  Gilbert  Gordon  of  Merrimack. 

Lund. 

NATHANIEL  WARNER  LUND  settled  in  Brookline  about  1850; 
coming  here  from  Boston,  Mass.  He  was  born  in  1811,  probably  in 
Nashua.  He  was  one  of  Brookline's  leading  citizens,  holding  many  po- 
sitions of  trust  and  responsibility,  and  was  Representative  in  1859.     He 


562  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

was  a  justice  of  the  Peace.    He  m.  before  coming  here,  Sarah  ; 

she  d.  Mar.  11,  1856,  aged  46  years;  m.  2nd,  Sept.  10,  1857,  Mrs.  Eliza  B. 
Gerry,  wid.  of  Dr.  Henry  A.  Gerry  of  Townsend,  Mass.  He  d.  Dec.  15, 
1859,  and  is  buried  with  his  first  wife  in  the  South  Cemetery;  where  several 
children  by  his  first  wife  are  also  buried. 

One  child,  by  second  wife,  born  in  Brookline.  Mary  Warner,  b. 
June  23,  1859;  m.  Mar.  8,  1882,  John  W.  Hutchinson. 

McConnock. 

JAMES  McCONNOCK  in  1741  was  living  in  that  part  of  Town- 
send,  Mass.,  which,  by  the  running  of  the  Province  Line  in  that  year, 
was  set  off  from  Townsend  into  the  mile  Slip  in  New  Hampshire.  His 
house  at  that  time  was  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  leading  norther- 
ly from  the  Jasher  Wyman  sawmill — now  of  Deacon  Perley  Pierce — to 
the  old  Mathew  Wallace  place;  from  which  it  was  distant  about  one- 
fourth  of  a  mile  in  a  southerly  direction.  It  was  afterwards  known  as  the 
"Pickerell  Nutting  place."  The  cellar-hole  of  the  old  house  is  still  in  ex- 
istence at  the  present  time. 

Connex  is  said  to  have  come  from  Billerica  to  Townsend.  In  1769 
he  was  a  member  of  Raby's  first  organized  board  of  selectmen,  and  in 
1772  moderator  and  selectman.  He  was  one  of  the  town's  soldiers  in  the 
Revolution,  serving  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Reuben  Dow's  company  of 
Hollis,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  where  he  was  wounded  and 
taken  prisoner.  He  died  in  prison  of  his  wounds  July  10,  1775.  His  name 
is  inscribed  on  one  of  the  memorial  tablets  erected  in  honor  of  the  mar- 
tyred dead  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  as  one  of  Brookline's  soldiers  who  was 
killed  in  that  battle.  He  has  no  descendants  of  the  name  living  here 
at  the  present  time.  In  1768  he  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  petition  for 
the  incorporation  of  Raby.  He  m.  in  1755,  Elizabeth  Campbell  of  Town- 
send,  Mass. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  John,  b.  June  10,  1756;  m.  Feb.  13,  1782,  Abigail  Hartshorn  of 
Dunstable. 

2.  William,  b.  May  9,  1761. 

3.  Robert,  b.  Feb.  19,  1764. 

4.  Sarah,  b.  Dec.  20,  1766. 

5.  Elizabeth,  b.  July  19,  1769. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  563 

6.  Daniel,  b.  Feb.  25,  1772. 

7.  James,  b.  Sept.  22,  1775. 

Melvin. 

CAPT.  EBENEZER  MELVIN  was  born  in  Concord,  Mass.,  Nov. 
10,  1725.  He  was  a  son  of  Jonathan  and  Sarah  (Hartwell)  Melvin.  He 
was  captain  of  a  company  of  scouts  in  the  French  and  Indian  Wars.  In 
1747,  he  settled  in  the  northwest  part  of  Hollis,  now  Brookline.  His 
house  in  Brookline  was  located  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township 
and  on  the  upper  part  of  the  stream  now  known  as  the  Scabbard  Mill 
Brook;  upon  which,  a  few  rods  above  the  site,  afterwards,  of  the  Deacon 
Thomas  Bennett  sawmill,  he  erected,  and  for  many  years  operated,  the 
second  sawmill  to  be  built  in  Brookline.  In  1770,  in  company  with  four 
other  citizens  of  this  town,  i.  e.  James  Gould,  James  Hobart,  Phineas 
Bennett,  Jr.,  and  Samuel  Farley,  Jr.,  he  removed  from  Raby  to  Groton, 
N.  H. ;  where  they  were  the  first  settlers. 

Capt.  Melvin  married  for  his  first  wife  Susannah,  dau.  of  Thomas 
Dinsmore  of  Hollis;  she  d.  in  1765;  in  1766,  he  married  Mary  Bailey. 

Children. 

1.  Ebenezer,  Jr.,  b.  in  Hollis,  Dec.  28,  1752;  m.  Feb.  10,  1777, 
Joanna  Bailey;  d.  May  16,  1825. 

2.  Nathan,  b.  in  Hollis  ,Nov.  20,  1755. 

3.  Eunice,  b.  in  Hollis,  Feb.  9,  1759;  d.  young. 

4.  Daniel,  b.  in  Hollis,  Sept.  8,  1761. 

5.  Susannah,  b.  in  Hollis,  Oct.  23,  1764;  m.  in  1786,  William  Craw- 
ford, Plymouth. 

6.  Seth,  b.  in  Hollis,  Apr.  28,  1767. 

7.  Enoch,  b.  in  Raby,  Aug.  20,  1769;  m.  Mary  Reed,  Mar.  27,  1794. 

8.  Isaac,  b.  in  Groton,  Aug.  29,  1772;  m.  Mar.  27,  1796,  Abigail 
Dearborn. 

JONATHAN  MELVIN,  a  son  of  John  and  Hannah  (Lewis)  Melvin, 
of  Concord,  Mass.,  settled  in  the  west  part  of  old  Dunstable,  now  Brook- 
line, at  some  time  between  the  years  1738  and  1741.  In  1738  his  name 
appears  as  a  non-resident  signer  of  a  petition  by  certain  of  the  residents 
in  Dunstable  and  Groton,  Mass.,  for  the  formation  of  a  new  township 
from  territory  taken  from  the   northeast  part  of  Groton  and   the  south- 


564  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

west  part  of  old  Dunstable,  now  Brookline.  But,  while,  at  the  time  of 
his  signing  that  petition,  he  was  not  a  resident  of  Dunstable,  he  was  never- 
theless a  non-resident  land  owner  here;  as  appears  by  a  deed  of  land 
dated  in  1738  and  recorded  in  Middlesex,  Mass.,  Registry  of  deeds,  Vol. 
39,  p.  421;  in  which  he  is  named  as  grantee  from  Daniel  Raymond  of 
certain  lands  located  in  the  southwest  part  of  Dunstable.  When  he 
settled  in  Raby,  or  how  long  he  remained  here  is  unknown,  but  he  cer- 
tainly was  here  in  1746;  for  in  that  year  his  name  appears  on  the  Hollis 
records  as  one  of  the  signers  of  a  remonstrance  against  the  location  of  the 
Hollis  meeting-house.  His  dwelling  house  was  located  in  the  northeast 
part  of  Raby,  near  the  west  boundary  line  of  Hollis.  He  must  have  re- 
moved from  Raby's  territory  before  its  incorporation  in  1769;  as  his  name 
does  not  appear  on  the  records.    He  m.  Dec.  4,  1750,  Mary  Brooks. 

Child;  Born  in  Raby. 

Jonathan,  b.  June.  14,  1752. 

Mcintosh. 

The  original  settlers  in  Brookline  of  the  name  of  Mcintosh  consisted 
of  three  brothers,  Alexander,  James  and  Archibold;  all  of  whom  settled 
in  the  Mile  Slip,  coming  there  from  Townsend,  Mass.  In  the  following 
sketches  the  lists  of  the  names  of  the  children  of  each  are  copied  from  the 
Brookline  record  of  births,  and  are  undoubtedly  incomplete.  The  name 
of  Mcintosh  is  obselete  here  at  the  present  time. 

ALEXANDER  McINTOSH  was  probably  a  son  of  Archibald  and 
Elizabeth   (  )  Mcintosh  of  Londonderry,  where  he  was 

born  August  18,  1738.  About  1750,  the  family  moved  from  Londonderry 
to  Townsend,  Mass.  In  1761  he  removed  from  Townsend,  to  the  Mile 
Slip  (now  Brookline )  where  he  settled  on  land  which  he  purchased  of  Capt. 
William  Blanchard  by  deed  dated  May  6,  1761.  His  log-cabin  was  lo- 
cated about  one  and  one-fourth  miles  north  of  the  village  Main  street,  on 
the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Mason.  Its  site  at  the  present  time  (1914) 
is  occupied  by  the  dwelling  house  of  Henry  G.  Shattuck;  which,  tradition 
says,  was  built  by  Mcintosh.  This  house,  or  the  original  log-cabin  was 
the  scene  of  some  of  the  first  town  meetings  holden  in  Raby.  He  was 
one  of  Raby's  soldiers  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Selectmen  in  1772,  1775,  1776,  and  1777.    He  m.  Jan.  8, 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  565 

1763,  Mary  Walker  of  Pepperell,  Mass.    He  d.  in  Brookline  in  1817,  aged 
80  years,  and  is  buried  in  the  Pond  Cemetery. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Mary,  b.  Mar.  22,  1764;  m.  Jan.  6,  1789,  William  Hall,  Jr. 

2.  Alexander,  b.  Nov.  25,  1765. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  Nov.  8,  1767. 

4.  James,  b.  Sept.  12,  1769. 

5.  Elizabeth,  b.  Jan.  11,  1776. 

6.  Isabel,  b.  June  1,  1777;  m.  Aug.  24,  1796,  Jacob  Austin. 

7.  Joseph,  b.  Oct.  1,  1779;  d.  Dec.  22,  1779. 

JAMES  McINTOSH,  a  brother  of  Alexander  1st,  settled  in  the  Mile 
Slip  in  1761.  At  the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  Raby  in  1769,  he  was 
living  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  leading  out  of  the  highway  to 
Mason  on  its  south  side  at  a  point  near  to  the  late  residence  of  the  late 
Joseph  A.  Hall,  and  running  southerly  to  the  old  Mathew  Wallace  place; 
in  the  pasture  some  few  rods  east  of  which  the  cellar-hole  of  his  log-cabin 
is  still  in  evidence.  He  was  one  of  Brookline's  soldiers  in  the  Revolution; 
serving  as  a  corporal  in  Capt.  Reuben  Dow's  company  of  Hollis;  and  was 
in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  at  one  time 
captain  of  the  local  militia  company,  and  was  for  several  years  on  the 
board  of  selectmen.  He  m.  in  1777,  Jane  Tuten,  a  sister  of  Mary  Tuten, 
wife  of  David  Allds,  of  Dunstable,  N.  H.  He  d.  Oct.  16,  1828,  aged  80 
years;  and  is  buried  in  the  Pond  Cemetery. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

Betsey,  b.  Jan.  3,  1778;  m.  Jan.  15,  1799,  Mathew  Wallace. 

ARCHIBALD  McINTOSH  settled  in  the  Mile  Slip  in  1759.  His 
farm,  which  he  purchased  of  James  Connock  of  Townsend,  May  28,  1859, 
was  located  on  the  southwest  side  of  "Great  Mussepetanepus  Hill".  He 
was  a  soldier  for  Raby  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  in  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill,  where  he  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  He  died  of 
his  wounds  July  10,  1775.  His  name  is  inscribed  on  one  of  the  Memorial 
Tablets  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  as  one  of  the  soldiers  of  Brookline  who 
were  killed  in  that  battle.  His  farm  was  located  in  the  southwest  part  of 
the  town.    A  cellar-hole,  still  in  existence  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway 


566  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

leading  frum  the  old  Mathew  Wallace  place  to  Townsend,  and  a  few  rods 
south  of  the  point  where  the  same  is  crossed  by  the  Wallace  brook,  is  sup- 
posed to  mark  the  site  of  the  location  of  his  log-cabin.  He  m.  Rachel  Allds 
of  Dunstable,  N.  H.  She  d.;  m.  2nd,  Mar.  19,  1778,  Susanna  Russell  of 
Mason. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Archibald,  b.  Mar.  23,  1758;  he  was  a  soldier  for  Brookline  in  the 
Revolution.     (See  military  record  ante). 

2.  Rachel,  b.  Mar.  23,  1758;  d,  unm. 

By  Second  Wife. 

3.  Rachel,  b.  May  15,  1778. 

ASHER  McINTOSH  was  a  son  of  Alexander  Mcintosh,  Jr.  He  m. 
in  1833,  Betsey,  dau.  of  Prescott  Wright. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  George,  b.  May  4,  1834;  m.  Sarah  Smith  of  Nashua;  he  served  in 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion;  he  d.  at  the  Soldier's  Home  in  Pasedena,  Cal., 
in  1909;  he  left  one  son,  now  residing  in  California. 

2.  Charles,  b.  May  4,  1836. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  July  18,  1838. 

4.  Augustus,  b.  Feb.  12,  1841. 

5.  Erastus,  b.  May  20,  1843;  d.  in  childhood. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  marriages  of  some  of  the  Brookline  Mc- 
Intoshes,  whose  names  do  not  appear  upon  the  birth  records  of  the  town. 
Sampson,  m.  Apr.  30,  1824,  Eliza  Amsden  of  Mason. 
Thirza,  m.  Mar.  22,  1832,  Nelson  Marsh  of  Ashby,  Mass. 
Betsey,  m.  Feb.  10,  1796,  David  Burge  of  Hollis. 
Mary,  m.  Oct.  9,  1823,  Loammi  Parker. 

Mills. 

EBENEZER  MILLS  settled  in  Brookline  prior  to  1816,  coming  here 
from  Lyndeborough.     He  m.  Jan.  7,  1816,  Love  Holden. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  567 

Child. 
Alphonzo  T.,  b.  July  9,  1818. 

Melendy. 

THOMAS  MELENDY,  SR.,  came  from  Reading,  Mass.  to  Brook- 
line  in  1797.  He  was  a  descendant  from  one  of  three  brothers  who  came 
from  England  to  America  in  1729  and  settled  in  Essex  County,  Mass.  His 
family  was  from  the  same  source  as  was  that  of  the  family  of  William  Me- 
lendy, who  settled  in  Amherst  in  1761.  His  house  was  located  in  the 
northwest  part  of  the  town  on  the  north  side  of  the  Hood  brook  road,  so 
called,  and  a  short  distance  east  of  the  point  where  the  same  leads  out  of 
the  highway  from  Brookline  to  Milford.  Its  cellar-hole  is  still  in  evidence 
He  was  a  farmer.  He  married,  before  coming  here,  Sally  Tay,  of  Woburn, 
Mass.    He  d.  Nov.  13,  1855;  she  d.  July  3,  1832. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Sally,  b.  Apr.  18,  1800;   m.  David  Willoughby;  settled  in  Milford. 

2.  Mary,  b.  Aug.  24,  1803;  m.  Mar.  25,  1828,  Abner  Marble;  settled 
in  Wilton. 

3.  *Thomas,  b.  Feb.  19,  1810;  m.  Apr.  2,  1835,  Mary  Badger. 

4.  *Alpheus,  b.  May  12,  1816;  m.  Mar.  8,  1838,  Rosilla  Bennett. 

(II)  THOMAS  MELENDY,  Jr.,  first  son  of  Thomas  and  Sally 
(Tay)  Melendy,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Feb.  19,  1810.  He  was  a  farmer. 
In  the  last  of  the  thirties  of  1800,  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Amherst. 
In  1841  he  returned  to  Brookline.  In  1844,  he  purchased  the  Thomas 
Bennett  sawmill,  and  for  several  years  subsequently  operated  the  same. 
In  the  first  of  the  sixties  he  engaged  in  the  wholesale  lumbering  and  coo- 
pering business,  as  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  Tucker  and  Stiles  of  this  town. 
Retiring  from  the  firm,  he  removed  to  Milford.  In  1866,  he  removed  from 
Milford  to  Nashua,  where  he  died.  He  m.  1st,  Apr.  2,  1835,  Mary,  dau. 
of  Samuel  P.  Badger,  Of  Lyndeborough ;  she  d;  m.  2nd,  Dec.  10,  1857, 
Hannah,  dau.  of  Ebenezer  and  Abia  (Fiske)  Rideout  of  Hollis.  He  d. 
July  21,  1888;  1st.,  wife  d.  June  12,  1857. 

Children. 

1.  Charles  Henry,  b.  in  Amherst,  Feb.  16,  1836;  d.  Dec.  19,  1837. 

2.  Mary  Ann,  b.  in  Amherst,  Dec.  20,  1837;  d.  in  Milford,  Nov.  20, 
1857. 


568  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

3.  Henry  Harrison,  b.  in  Amherst,  Feb.  18,  1840;  was  a  wholesale 
lumber  dealer;  res.  in  Nashua;  d.  Apr.  8,  1886;  m.  Jan.  16,  1867,  Mattie  E-, 
dau.  of  Levi  and  Sarah  A.  (Libbey)  Barker,  of  Candia;  no  ch. 

4.  Hervey  Draper,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  14,  1842;  is  a  draughtsman, 
and  at  the  present  time  (1914)  superintendent  of  the  lumbering  business 
of  his  brother,  C.  F.  Melendy,  in  Hudson;  res.  Nashua.  He  m.  Nov.  1, 
1865,  Caroline  M.,  dau.  of  William  J.  and  Caroline  L.  (Putnam)  Darri- 
cott  of  Milford.  One  ch.,  Anna  L.,  b.  in  Nashua,  July  30,  1866;  m.  Nov. 
25,  1909,  Henry  L.  Sanderson  of  Nashua,  no  ch. 

5.  Charles  F.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Dec.  31,  1844;  is  in  the  wholesale 
lumbering  business;  res.  Hudson,  He  m.  Jan.  4,  1890.  Eva  D.,  dau.  of 
Nathaniel  and  Sally  (Willoby)  Hutchinson  of  Milford. 

Children. 

1.  Adelaide  R.,  b.  in  Wilton,  Apr.  24,  1891;  d.  Apr.  4,  1910. 

2.  Charles  T.,  b.  in  Temple,  Dec.  15,  1893;  d.  Apr.  17,  1896. 

3.  Pearl  E.,  b.  in  Temple,  Apr.  5,  1896. 

4.  Helen  R.,  b.  in  Temple,  Feb.  5,  1898. 

5.  Harry  A.,  b.  in  Temple,  Mar.  1,  1901;  d.  Apr.  15,  1901. 

6.  Ralph  R.,  b.  in  Temple,  Sept.  9,  1903. 

(II)  ALPHEUS  MELENDY,  second  son  of  Thomas  and  Sally 
(Tay)  Melendy,  was  born  in  Brookline,  May  12,  1816.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and  resided  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  on  the  highway  from  Brookline 
to  Milford.  Hem.  Mar.  8,  1838;  Rosilla,  dau.  of  Deacon  Thomas  Bennett, 
of  Brookline.    He  d.  Feb.  23,  1876;  she  d.  July  15,  1881. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Almira  F.,  b.  Oct.  11,  1839;  m.  Nov.  10,  1850,  Frederick  W.  Pea- 
cock, of  Amherst.    He  d.  Nov.  30,  1882;  she  d.  Jan.  28,  1893. 

2.  Emiline  M.,  b.  Nov.  20,  18  ;  m.  Apr.  24,  1871,  George  P.  Pet- 
tingill;  no  ch. 

3.  Sarah  A.,  b.  Dec.  11,  1854;  m.  July  26,  1870,  Harvey  T.  Dunklee; 
ch.,  (1)  Harry  H.,  b.  Nov.  30,  1871;  (2)  Ozro  J.,  b.  May  31,  1873;  (3) 
Ernest  T.,  b.  May  30,  1875. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  569 

(I)  RICHARD  MELENDY,  a  brother  of  Thomas  Melendy,  Sr., 
came  here  from  Reading,  Mass.,  in  1797.  He  settled  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Hood  brook  road,  a  few  rods  east  of  the  point  where  the  same  leads 
out  of  the  main  highway  from  Brookline  to  Milford.  He  m.  before  com- 
ing here  Polly  Tay,  of  Woburn,  Mass.  He  d.  April  28,  1845;  his  wife  d. 
Aug.  23,  1834. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Lucy,  b.  May  17,  1794;  m.  May  5,  1812,  Timothy  Wright. 

2.  Polly,  b.  Sept.  25,  1795;  m.  Isaac  Woodward  of  Merrimack. 

3.  Aseneth,  b.  Apr.  12,  1800;  m.  Oct.  12,  1818,  Nathaniel  W.  Col- 
burn. 

4.  Clarissa,  b.  Feb.  26,  1806;  m.  Joseph  Hill  of  Mason. 

5.  Richard,  b.  Apr.  12,  1809;  d.  Dec.  21,  1838. 

6.  *Lorenzo  P.,  b.  Oct.  26,  1814;  m.  in  1841,  Mary  M.  Williams. 

(II)  LORENZO  P.  MELENDY,  son  of  Richard  and  Polly  (Tay) 
Melendy,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Oct.  26,  1814.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
cooper.  He  lived  on  the  north  side  of  the  Hood  brook  road,  his  house  be- 
ing located  about  one-half  mile  east  of  that  of  his  father.  In  1867,  he  re- 
moved from  Brookline  to  Milford.  He  m.  in  1841,  Mary  Williams.  He  d. 
at  Milford,  Oct.  18,  1899;  his  wife  d.  July  3,  1870. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Mary  E-,  b.  June  19,  1842;  res.  Milford,  unm. 

2.  George  L.,  b.  Feb.  12,  1845;  rem.  to  Milford  in  1867;  was  in  the 
grocery  business  for  several  years,  and  later,  bookkeeper  in  Nashua;  m. 
Mar.  18,  1871,  Adelaide  E-,  dau.  of  Benjamin  E-,  and  Almira  (Vinton) 
Burpee  of  New  London;  ch.,  Jesse  George,  b.  Sept.  30,  1877. 

3.  John  P.,  b.  Nov.  7,  1848;  removed  to  Milford  in  1867;  m.  Feb. 
24,  1873,  Lizzie,  dau.  of  Hacks  and  Maggie  McLain  of  Nova  Scotia.  Ch., 
born  in  Milford,  (1)  Mary  E.,  b.  Jan.  28,  1874;  m.  Apr.  12,  1894,  Charles 
Wilkins  of  Brookline;  (2)  Frank  F.,  b.  Apr.  21,  1875;  m.  Apr.  21,  1893, 
wid.  Hattie  W.  Haynes;  (3)  Jennie,  b.  June  19,  1878;  m.  Oct.  23,  1895, 
Vascoe  H.  Plummer  of  Nashua,  (4)  Harry  W.,  b.  Feb.  26,  1800;  (5)  John 
M.,  b.  Feb.  1884;  (6)  Ethel  F.,  b.  Nov.  7,  1886;  (7)  Kate  L.,  b.  Apr.  11, 
1890. 


570  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Mixer. 

STEPHEN  S.  MIXER  was  born  in  Hillsborough,  Sept.  20,  1821.  He 
was  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Betsey  (Shepard)  Mixer.  He  came  to  Brook- 
line  about  1840.  He  was  a  carpenter.  Removed  from  Brookline  to  Mil- 
ford  in  1865.  He  m.  in  Brookline,  May  30,  1843,  Sarah  C,  dau.  of  Asher 
and  Sally  (Hall)  Bennett.  He  d.  at  Milford,  May  5,  1896;  she  d.  in  East 
Boston,  Mass.,  Dec.  27,  1899. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Fannie  Ann,  b.  July  23,  1846;  m.  Nov.  1,  1865,  George  H.,  son 
of  Joseph  F.  and  Adelaide  (Pendeleton)  Jefts  of  Brookline;  res.  Fitchburg, 

Mass. 

2.  Clara  Edna,  b.  Mar.  3,  1849;  m.  Nov.  10,  1865,  Henry  V.  Shat- 
tuck  of  Brookline;  res.  Townsend,  Mass. 

3.  James  Albert,  b.  Jan.  27,  1851;  m.  Apr.  10,  1880,  Nettie  G.,  dau. 
of  Charles  M.  and  Amelia  H.  (Hope)  Willard  of  Boston,  Mass.;  res.  Mil- 
ford. 

4.  Lizzie,  b.  July  3,  1853;  d.  June  3.  1855. 

5.  Augusta  C,  b.  Mar.  29,  1856;  m.  Nov.  28,  1889,  Azel  P.,  son  of 
Azel  P.  and  Mary  (Wilber)  Brigham  of  Milford;  she  d.  Apr.  26,  1896. 

6.  Harriet  P.,  b.  Apr.  19,  1858;  m.  Feb.  4,  1880,  Llewellyn  B.,  son 
of  Barzillai  and  Selura  (Aldrich)  Hinds  of  Milford;  res.  East  Boston, 
Mass. 

Merrill. 

REV.  AMOS  MERRILL,  the  first  pastor  of  the  M.  E.  church  in 
Brookline,  came  here  from  New  Ipswich  in  1852.  (See  sketch  of  his  life, 
chap.  XV  ante).    He  m.  before  coming  here,  Phebe  Reynolds  of  Vt. 

Children. 

1.  Charles  N.,  b.  in  Corinth,  Vt.,  Oct.  22,  1831;  he  was  a  singing 
master;  in  the  last  part  of  the  sixties  and  first  part  of  the  seventies  he 
taught  singing  in  the  public  schools  of  Nashua;  he  was  twice  married;  m. 
1st,  Susan  Morrill  of  Clinton,  Mass.;  she  d.,  leaving  no  ch. ;  m.  2nd,  Mrs. 
Elena  Holt  of  Nashua;  they  had  2  ch.,    (1)  Cora,  m.  Will  Lampson  of 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  571 

Worcester,  Mass.,  res.  Chicago,  111.;    (2)    Charles,  m.  Esther  Ecland  of 
Worcester,  Mass.,  no  ch. 

2.  Melvina,  b.  in  Corinth,  Vt.,  Aug.  18,  1833;  m.  Apr.  7,  1853, 
George  A.  McClure,  of  Meriden,  N.  Y.;  he  was  killed  in  the  Civil  War; 
she  d.  Aug.  30,  1858. 

3.  James  A.,  b.  Sept.  13,  1835;  came  to  Brookline  in  1852;  served 
for  Brookline  in  the  Civil  War;  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church; 
later  resided  in  Nashua ;  at  one  time  was  president  of  the  Commom  Coun- 
cil; several  years  secretary  of  the  State  Temperance  Union;  member  of 
Benevolent  Lodge  of  Masons  in  Milford.  He  d.  at  Nashua  in  1913;  buried 
in  Brookline. 

Needham. 

JEREMIAH  NEEDHAM  came  to  Brookline  in  1859,  from  Hollis, 
where  he  was  born.  He  was  a  son  of  Jeremiah  H.  and  Olive  (Parker) 
Needham.  He  was  a  farmer.  His  farm  was  located  on  the  west  side  of 
the  highway  to  Milford,  about  three  miles  north  of  Brookline  village,  and 
was  commonly  known  as  the  old  Capt.  Eli  Sawtelle  place.  He  m.  about 
1846,  Susan  Elliott  of  Amherst.  He  d.  in  Brookline;  she  d.  in  Brookline. 
Both  are  buried  in  the  South  Cemetery. 

Children. 

1.  George  H.,  b.  in  Hollis,  in  1846;  m.  Oct.  5,  1868,  Abbie  Farmer 
of  Nashua;  1  ch.,  Lester,  res.  Milford. 

2.  Charles  W.,  b.  in  Hollis;  m.  1st,  Mrs.  Amanda  Tuttle  of  Milford; 
m.  2nd,  Eva  Kendall  of  Milford;  res.  Milford. 

3.  Ellen  S.,  b.  in  Hollis,  Nov.  13,  1850;  m.  1st,  Nov.  8,  1869,  Lewis 
G.  Hunter;  he  d.;  m.  2nd,  June  2,  1878,  Samuel  Swett. 

Newhall. 

SAMUEL  NEWHALL  and  Mehitable. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  John,  b.  Aug.  30,  1824. 

2.  Mary  M.,  b.  Oct.  3,  1826. 


572 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


Nye. 


GEORGE  H.  NYE 
settled  in  Brookline 
Nov.  22,  1873,  coming 
here  from  Wilmington, 
N.  Y.  He  was  born 
Oct.  13,  1851,  in  Keene, 
N.  Y.  He  is  a  son  of 
Frederick  T.  and  Mary 
(Hinds)  Nye.  His 
mother  was  a  daughter 
of  John  L.  Hinds,  of 
Jay,  N.  Y.  He  is  a 
lineal  descendant  of 
Benjamin  Nye,  a  native 
of  Sweden,  who  came 
from  England  to  Ameri- 
ca about  the  year  1635, 
and  settled  in  Sandwich, 
Mass.  He  is  a  farmer 
and  is  highly  respected 
by  his  fellow  citizens.  He  is  a  leading  member  of  the  local  Methodist 
church,  and  at  the  present  time,  (1913)  is  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation. Mr.  Nye  has  been  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Nov.  4,  1875,  Lenora, 
dau.  of  Frederick  F.  and  Mary  R.  (Colburn)  Wright;  she  d.  Jan.  9,  1903; 
m.  2nd,  Oct.  13,  1904,  Mrs.  Ella  H.  Segree  of  Brookline. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Frederick  G.,  b.  Sept.  20, 1876;  m.  June,  1908,  Mattie  Lawrence. 

2.  Ernest  W.,  b.  Sept.  9,  1877;  m.  June  9,  1897,  Addie  P.  Segree. 

3.  Maud  E.,  b.  Sept.  29,  1878;  d.  Aug.  9,  1892. 

4.  Ethel  M.,  b.  Feb.  24,  1880;  m.  Aug.  1904,  Rufus  J.  Wills,  of  Nova 
Scotia. 

5.  Grace  E.,  b.  May  27,  1881;  d.  Apr.  19,  1899. 

6.  Roswell  C.,  b.  Jan.  6,  1884. 

7.  Chester  A.,  b.  July  3,  1885;  d.  Sept.  9,  1885. 

8.  Arthur  J.,  b.  Feb.  5,  1887;  m.  in  May,  1911,  Constance    Hunger- 
ford,  Hartford,  Conn. 


GEORGE  H.  NYE 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  573 

9.     Clarence  E.,  b.  Aug.  8,  1891;  d.  Oct.  6,  1891. 
10.     Walter  E.,  b.  Dee.  27,  1894;  d.  Aug.  25,  1898. 

Parker. 

(V)  JAMES  PARKER,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Feb.  4, 
1795.  He  was  a  son  of  Edmund  and  Elizabeth  (Green)  Parker,  and  a 
lineal  descendant  in  the  fifth  generation  of  Deacon  Thomas  Parker,  the 
immigrant  settler  at  Reading,  Mass.;  the  line  of  descent  being  as  follows; 
(I)  Deacon  Thomas  Parker,  born  in  England  in  1605;  embarked  March 
11,  1633,  in  the  ship  Susan  and  Ellen,  bound  for  America;  settled  in  Lynn 
village,  afterwards  Reading,  Mass.,  where  his  residence  was  located  near 
the  Wakefield  line.  He  was  the  founder  of  and  a  deacon  in  the  Reading 
church,  and  a  leading  and  prominent  citizen  of  the  town.  He  married — 
whether  before  or  after  coming  to  America  is  uncertain — Amy  (surname 
unknown);  by  whom  he  had  six  children;  John,  Thomas,  Nathaniel, 
Hananiah,  Mary,  and  Martha.  He  died  at  Reading  in  1683,  aged  88 
years.  His  wife  died  Jan.  15,  1690.  Among  his  descendants  was  the  Rev. 
Theodore  Parker.  Among  his  descendants  living  at  the  present  time  are 
the  Parkers  of  Nashua,  Brookline,  Lowell,  Mass.,  and  Pepperell,  Mass. 

(II)  Nathaniel  Parker,  third  son  of  Deacon  Thomas  and  Amy 
Parker,  was  born  at  Reading,  Mass.,  in  1651.  He  settled  in  the  west 
parish  of  Reading,  near  what  is  now  known  as  the  centre  of  the  town,  on 
the  Sanborn  place,  where  he  is  said  to  have  built  the  first  house  in  that 
parish.  He  m.  in  1687,  Bertha  Polly,  dau.  of  John  Polly  of  Roxbury, 
Mass.,  and  Bethia,  dau.  of  William  Cowdrey  of  Reading.  By  whom  he 
had  fourteen  children,  of  whom  the  last  was  Phineas,  mentioned  below. 

(III)  PHINEAS  PARKER,  son  and  fourteenth  child  of  Nathaniel 
and  Bertha  (Polly)  Parker,  was  born  Sept.  27,  1704,  in  Reading,  Mass. 
His  residence  in  Reading  was  located  near  the  residence  late  of  Ira  Rug- 
gles.  He  sold  the  place  to  Rev.  Mr.  Haven,  the  first  minister  of  Reading. 
At  some  time  between  1758  and  1775,  he  removed  from  Reading  to  Pep- 
perell, Mass.  He  m.  Martha  of  Reading,  surname  unknown; 
by  whom  he  had  eight  children.  He  d.  at  Pepperell,  Aug.  28,  1787,  aged 
83  years.    She  d.  Jan.  31,  1793,  aged  83  years. 

(IV)  EDMUND  PARKER,  first  son  and  first  child  of  Phineas  and 
Martha  Parker,  was  born  in  Reading,  Mass.,  Feb.  7,  1731.  Prior  to  the 
year  1776,  he  removed  from  Reading  to  Pepperell,  Mass.     His  residence 


574  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

in  Pepperell,  was  located  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town.  At  the 
present  time  (1914)  it  is  owned  and  occupied  by  Augustus  Reed.  He  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolution.  He  responded  to  the  Lexington  alarm  with 
the  Reading  company,  Capt.  Thomas  Eaton,  Col.  Green's  regiment.  In 
1776 — 1777,  he  was  in  Captain  John  Minot's  company,  Col.  Dike's  regi- 
ment. In  1777  and  1780,  he  was  in  Capt.  Woods'  company,  Col.  Jona- 
than Reed's  regiment,  and  in  Capt.  Benjamin  Brown's  company,  Col. 
Michael  Jackson's  regiment.  He  was  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational 
church  in  Pepperell.  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Lydia  Varnum,  of 
Groton,  July  22/  1755.  She  d.  Aug.  4,  1756;  m.  2nd,  Apr.  13,  1757.  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Green,  wid.  of  James  Green  of  Groton,  Mass.,  and  dau.  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  Boyden  Sheple  of  Groton.  He  d.  at  Pepperell,  Aug.  13,  1813, 
in  his  83rd  year;  she  d.  Nov.  21,  1812,  aged  82.  His  descendants  in 
Pepperell  at  the  present  time  are  among  its  leading  and  most  influen- 
tial citizens. 

Children;  Born  in  Groton,  Mass. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Lydia,  b.  July  30,  1756. 

By  Second  Wife. 

2.  Edmund,  b.  May  23,  1761. 

3.  Asa,  b.  Dec.  29,  1763. 

4.  Jonas,  b.  July  16,  1766. 

5.  *James,  b.  Apr.  10,  1769. 

6.  John,  b.  Oct.  3,  1774. 

7.  Elizabeth,  b.  Jan.  26,  1778. 

(V)  In  1801,  James  Parker,  Sr.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  removed 
from  Pepperell,  Mass.  to  Brookline;  where  he  settled  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  town  on  the  old  Lieut.  John  Cummings  place,  known  later  as  the  James 
H.  Burgess  place.  He  was  a  farmer  by  avocation.  But  with  a  mind  and 
disposition  which  led  him  to  take  an  active  interest  in  town  affairs ;  for  the 
management  of  which  he  exhibited  a  zeal  and  aptitude,  coupled  with  a 
strict  sense  of  honor  and  integrity,  which  won  for  him  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow-townsmen;  as  is  evinced  by  the  many  positions  of 
trust  with  which  they  honored  him.  In  1802  he  was  elected  to  represent 
the  town  in  the  legislature;  being  the  first  of  its  citizens  to  enjoy  that 
honor  under  the  act  of  the  legislature  passed  that  year,  by  which  Brook- 
line,  in  the  matter  of  representation,  was  classed  by  itself;  it  having  here- 
tofore been  classed  with  Mason  and  Milford,  respectively.     He  subse- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  575 

quently  represented  Brookline  in  the  legislatures  of  1803,  1810,  1811,  1812, 
1813,  1814  and  1815.  He  was  moderator  each  year  from  1811  to  1823, 
inclusive;  town  clerk  every  year  from  1805  to  1809  inclusive,  and  also  in 
1822  and  1823;  town  treasurer  from  1811  to  1819  inclusive,  and  first  select- 
man from  1805  to  1809. 

He  m.  Oct.  11,  1792,  Sarah,  dau.  of  Abijah  Boynton,  born  Mar.  25, 
1740,  in  Westford,  Mass.,  and  Sarah  Chamberlain,  his  wife,  born  in  West- 
ford.  She  is  said  to  have  been  a  niece  of  John  Chamberlain,  who  killed 
Paugus,  the  Indian  chief.  He  d.  at  Brookline,  Jan.  14,  1826,  aged  56 
years;  she  d.  Dec.  13,  1848,  aged  78  years. 

Children. 

1.  *Eli,  b.  in  Pepperell,  Apr.  27,  1793;  m.  in  1816,  Louise  Douglass. 

2.  *James,  b.  in  Pepperell,  Feb.  4,  1795;  m.  Mar.  26,  1826,  Deverd 
Corey. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  in  Pepperell,  Apr.  8.  1797;  m.  Isaac  Sawtelle. 

4.  Elizabeth,  b.  in  Pepperell,  Apr.  5,  1799;  m.  Dec.  24,  1818,  John 
Sawtelle;  res.  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

5.  *Abel  Boynton,  b.  in  Pepperell,  Mar.  12,  1801;  m.  in  1827,  Mar- 
tha W.  Evans. 

6.  Charles  F.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Feb.  28,  1803;  d.  in  Brookline  Nov. 
16,  1845;  unm. 

7.  Catharine,  b.  in  Brookline,  Nov.  8,  1805;  m.  Oct.  28,  1831,  Joseph 
Sawtelle. 

8.  Caroline,  b.  in  Brookline,  Nov.  8,  1805;  d.  June  1,  1877,  in  Brook- 
line. 

(VI)  ELI  PARKER,  first  son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Boynton) 
Parker,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Apr.  27,  1793.  In  1801  he  removed 
with  his  father's  family  from  Pepperell  to  Brookline.  In  1823,  after  his 
marriage,  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Bedford;  where  he  resided  until 
the  death  of  his  father  in  1826,  when  he  returned  to  Brookline  and  took  up 
his  residence  on  the  old  Parker  homestead;  living  there  during  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  was  a  farmer  and  an  active  energetic,  and  lead- 
ing citizen  of  the  town.  He  was  particularly  interested  in  military  affairs. 
In  1820  and  1821  he  was  captain  of  the  11th  company  of  the  5th  regiment, 
N.  H.  State  Militia,  and  subsequently  for  many  years,  major  of  the  regi- 
ment. He  m.  in  1816,  Louise,  dau.  of  Samuel  Douglass,  Jr.,  and  Sarah 
(Seaver)  Douglass,  who  was  a  dau.  of  Capt.  Robert  Seaver  of  Brookline. 
He  d.  July  6,  1847;  his  wife  d.  July  29,  1843. 


576 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *William  Harrison,  b.  Feb.  11,  1817;  m.  in  1843,  Lucy  B.  Lang, 
of  Tilton;  m.  2nd,  Dec.  15,  1894,  Elizabeth  D.  Cameron  of  Lowell,  Mass. 

2.  James  Carlton,  b.  Sept.  23,  1819;  m.  in  1846  Eliza  A.  Lang,  of 
Tilton;  he  d.  July  4,  1898;  she  d.  in  Feb.  1847;  1  eh.,  d.  in  infancy. 

3.  Samuel  Douglass,  b.  Aug.  24,  1821 ;  d.  Oct.  4,  1886. 

4.  Eli  Boynton,  b.  May  22,  1824;  m.  in  the  seventies  Mrs.  Eliza 
Tucker  Fiske;  he  d.  May  1,  1904;  she  d.  July  6,  1908;  1  ch.,  died  in  child- 
hood. 

5.  Eliza  Jane,  b.  Aug.  31,  1826;  res.  Lowell,  Mass. 

6;  Pamelia  D.,  b.  June  8,  1829;  m.  June  29,  1851,  Joseph  A.  Put- 
nam of  Hooksett;  no  ch.;  he  d.  Apr.  25,  1890;  she  d.  Nov.  29,  1907. 

7.  Charles  Frederick,  b.  Feb.  27,  1831 ;  d.  June  14,  1854;  unm. 

8.  Francis  Ferdinand,  b.  Mar.  25,  1835;  m.  Nov.  27,  1858,  Lovilla 
Justina,  dau.  of  David  and  Elizabeth  (Cromwell)  Walton,  of  Mercer,  Me. 
He  d.  Sept.  21,  1866;  she  d.  Nov.  20,  1870.  One  ch.,  Alice  Maud,  b.  June 
4,  1860;  m.  Oct.  26,  1886,  Lorens  Hull,  of  Omaha,  Neb.;  he  d.  July  5,  1894. 


WILLIAM  HARRISON  PARKER 


(VII)  WILLIAM 
HARRISON  PARKER, 
first  child  and  first  son 
of  Eli  and  Louise 
(Douglass)  Parker,  was 
born  in  Brookline,  Feb. 
11,  1817.  His  boyhood, 
with  the  exception  of  a 
few  years,  during  which 
his  father  was  living  in 
Bedford,  was  passed  in 
his  native  town;  where 
in  his  early  manhood  he 
was  employed  as  a  clerk 
in  the  store  of  his  uncle, 
James  Parker,  Jr.  In 
1837,  he  removed  from 
Brookline  to  Lowell, 
Mass.;  where  he  attend- 
ed the  public  schools 
and    the    old    Dracut 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  577 

Academy.  In  1841  he  entered  the  employment  of  the  Douglas  Brothers, 
manufacturers  in  Lowell  of  bobbins  and  shuttles;  with  whom  he  remained 
seven  years.  In  1848  he  severed  his  connection  with  the  Douglas  brothers, 
and  commenced  doing  business  for  himself  as  a  manufacturer  in  Lowell  of 
bobbins  and  shuttles;  a  business  in  which  he  continued  for  the  remainder 
of  his  life  to  be  engaged,  and  in  which  he  was  remarkably  successful;  ac- 
quiring in  that  line  a  reputation  for  business  capacity  equalled  by  but  few 
firms  engaged  in  the  same  business  in  New  England.  At  first  Mr.  Parker 
was  associated  in  the  business  with  John  L.  Fuller.  Mr.  Fuller  soon 
dropped  out  of  the  firm,  and  for  the  next  ten  years,  or  until  1859,  Mr. 
Parker  carried  on  the  business  alone.  In  the  latter  year,  he  organized  the 
company  of  Watson,  Parker  and  Nichols,  manufacturers  in  Lowell,  of 
bobbins  and  shuttles.  This  firm,  with  several  changes  in  its  membership, 
continued  to  do  a  successful  business  until  1884;  when  its  membership 
consisted  of  Mr.  Parker  and  John  L.  Cheney.  In  the  latter  year  Mr. 
Parker  bought  out  Mr.  Cheney's  interest  in  the  business,  and  thus  became 
its  sole  proprietor.  He  immediately  associated  with  himself  his  sons, 
Walter  L.  and  George  E.  Parker,  and  under  the  firm  name  of  W.  H.  Parker 
and  Sons,  continued  to  carry  on  the  business  until  his  death  in  1898. 

As  a  business  man,  Mr.  Parker's  success  was  attributed  by  his  fellow- 
citizens  in  Lowell  to  his  possession  of  a  sound  business  judgment  exercised 
in  a  conservative  manner  and  along  well  established  and  successful  busi- 
ness lines.  He  avoided  speculation.  His  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond; 
and  the  worth  of  his  bond  was  never  questioned.  He  was  for  30  years  a 
director  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Lowell;  director  in  the  Kitson 
Machine  Company;  director  in  the  City  Manufacturing  Company,  and 
in  the  Bristol  Manufacturing  Company,  both  of  New  Bedford;  director  in 
the  Hargrave  Mills,  and  president  of  the  Parker  Mills  in  Fall  River,  Mass. 

As  a  citizen  he  was  esteemed  and  honored.  He  was  a  Republican  in 
politics;  was  a  member  in  1869-70  of  the  Lowell  Common  Council;  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Aldermen  in  1867;  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Legislature  in  1867;  and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
in  1883  and  1884.  He  was  an  attendant  at  the  Kirk  Street  Congregational 
church.  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  in  1843,  Lucy  B.  Lang  of  Tilton; 
she  d.  Nov.  2,  1891;  m.  2nd,  Dec.  15,  1894,  Elizabeth  D.  Cameron  of 
Lowell.     He  d.  in  Lowell,  Oct.  7,  1898. 

Children;  Born  in  Lowell,  Mass. 

(VIII)  1.  George  Everett,  b.  Oct.  23,  1846;  engaged  for  many 
years  in  the  wholesale  manufacture  of  bobbins  in  Lowell.     In  1908  he  re- 


578 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


moved  with  his  family  to  Lewiston,  Me.;  where,  in  company  with  his 
sons,  at  the  present  time,  he  is  carrying  on  the  same  business.  He  m.  Oct. 
23,  1872,  Helen  A.  Jones,  of  Lowell;  ch.,  born  in  Lowell;  (1)  William  H., 
b.  Jan.  14,  1874;  (2)  Harry  J.,  b.  July  26,  1875;  (3)  Lucy  H.,  b.  Dec. 
25,  1879;  (4)  Everett  N.,  b.  Feb.  25,  1883;  (5)  Herbert  L.,  b.  Mar.  3, 
1885;  (6)  Clarence  A.,  b.  Feb.  24,  1887. 

2.  Hattie  Louise,  b.  Aug.  3,  1845;  m.  Oct.  16,  1866,  George  F. 
Moore  of  Lakeport;  ch.,  born  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  (1)  Howard  P.,  b.  Apr.  21, 
1868;  (2)  Arthur  C,  b.  Sept.  15,  1870. 

3.  Helen  E-,  b.  Aug.  23,  1849;  m.  June  2,  1874,  Joseph  W.  Griffin 
of  Lowell. 

4.  *Walter  L.,  b.  Nov.  29,  1857;  m.  Sept.  7,  1881,  Rebecca  Alice 
Johnson. 

(VIII)  WALTER 
LANG  PARKER, 
fourth  child  and  second 
son  of  William  H.  and 
Lucy  (Lang)  Parker, 
was  born  Nov.  29,  1857, 
in  Lowell,  Mass.;  where 
he  has  passed  his  entire 
life.  He  is  engaged,  in 
company  with  his  sons, 
in  the  business  of  manu- 
facturing bobbins,  and  is 
also  largely  interested  in 
the  manufacture  of 
cotton  goods;  being  a 
heavy  owner  of  stock  in, 
and  a  member  of  the 
boards  of  directors  of, 
several  of  the  large 
cotton  mills  of  New 
England.  He  is  one  of 
the  progressive  and  successful  business  men  of  Lowell;  where  he  is  highly 
respected  and  esteemed;  having  been  honored  by  its  citizens  with  many 
positions  of  public  trust.  He  is  closely  identified  with  the  city's  financial 
institutions,  having  been  a  director  in  several  of  its  banks.  He  was  a 
director  in,  and  president  of,  the  First  National  Bank,  of  Lowell,  from 
Nov.  1902  to  1908.     In  the  latter  year,  the  1st  National  Bank  having 


WALTER  LANG  PARKER 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


579 


united  with  the  Railroad  National  Bank  and  the  Merchant's  National 
Bank,  both  of  Lowell,  in  the  organization  of  a  new  bank  under  the  name 
of  the  Union  National  Bank,  with  a  consolidated  capital  of  three  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  he  was  elected  as  a  director  in,  and  vice-presi- 
dent of,  the  latter  bank;  a  position  which  he  still  holds.  He  is  and,  since 
1904,  has  been  a  trustee  in  the  Mechanics'  Savings'  Bank,  of  Lowell,  and 
a  member  of  its  investment  committee.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Lowell  General  Hospital  and  a  director  in  the 
Lowell  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Company. 

Mr.  Parker  is  a  member  of  William  North  Lodge,  A.  F\  and  A.  M.,  of 
Lowell,  and  a  32nd  degree  Mason. 

Mr.  Parker  passes  a  large  portion  of  his  summer  vacation  in  Brook- 
line,  N.  H,  where  he  has  a  summer  home.  In  1914  he  presented  to  the 
town  of  Brookline  the  flag  staff  at  the  present  time  standing  on  the 
grounds  of  the  Daniels  Academy  Building,  together  with  a  U.  S.  flag,  in 
memory  of  his  father,  William  H.  Parker,  a  native  of  Brookline.  He  m. 
Sept.  7,  1881,  Rebecca  Alice,  dau.  of  William  and  Lucy  (Hutchins)  John- 
son of  Lowell. 

Children;  Born  in  Lowell. 

1.  Lucille,  b.  July  8, 
1882. 

2.  Harold  Hutchins, 
b.  Nov.  8,  1884;  entered 
Yale  College  in  1904. 

3.  Allan  Douglass,  b. 
Dec.  6,  1886;  graduated 
at  Yale  in  1909. 

4.  Louise  Lang,  b. 
Sept.  16, 1888;  m.Feb.19, 
1912,  William  H.  Scarritt 
of  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

(VII)  JAMES 
CARLTON  PARKER 
second  child  and  second 
son  of  Eli  and  Louise 
(Douglass)   Parker,  was 

JAMES  CARLTON  PARKER  ,  ,    -r>         i  i-  o 

born  at  Brookline,  Sept. 
23,  1819.    He  passed  his  boyhood  and  early  manhood  in  his  native  town. 


580  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

Later  in  life  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  the  Island  of  Cuba,  where 
he  resided  for  many  years;  engaged  as  an  engineer  on  the  sugar  plan- 
tations. In  the  seventies,  having  accumulated  a  competence,  he  re- 
tired from  business  and  returned  to  Brookline,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  married  in  1846,  Eliza  A.  Lang,  of  Tilton.  He  died 
July  4,  1898;  she  d.  in  February,  1847;  1  child,  d.  in  infancy. 

(VI)  JAMES  PARKER  2nd,  second  child  and  second  son  of  James 
and  Sarah  (Boynton)  Parker,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Feb.  4,  1795. 
In  1801,  he  removed  with  his  father's  family  from  Pepperell  to  Brookline. 
He  passed  his  boyhood  days  upon  his  father's  farm;  working  summers 
and  attending  school  in  winters.  In  his  early  manhood  he  was  for  several 
terms  employed  as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools.  In  1816,  he  and  Isaac 
Sawtelle,  under  the  firm  name  of  Parker  and  Sawtelle,  opened  the  first 
store  to  be  established  on  Main  Street  in  the  compact  part  of  the  village ; 
the  store  being  located  in  the  dwelling  house  at  the  south  end  of  the  street 
which  at  the  present  time  is  owned  and  occupied  by  Walter  E.  Corey  as 
his  home.  The  firm  of  Parker  and  Sawtelle,  after  a  brief  existence,  was 
dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  In  the  early  part  of  the  thirties  he  removed 
from  Brookline  to  Boston,  Mass.,  where,  at  111  Court  Street,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Parker  and  Gilmore,  he  was  for  several  years  a  partner  of 
Joseph  Gilmore,  afterwards  governor  of  New  Hampshire,  in  the  whole- 
sale West  India  goods  and  grocery  business.  The  enterprise  proved  to  be 
unsuccessful ;  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Parker  removed  from 
Boston  to  Pepperell,  Mass. 

From  1832  to  1835  he  was  a  partner  of  William  S.  Crosby  in  the 
grocery  business  at  East  Pepperell,  Mass.  In  1835  he  removed  from  Pep- 
perell to  Brookline.  During  the  remainder  of  his  life,  which  was  passed 
in  Brookline,  he  was  engaged  somewhat  extensively  in  the  wholesale  coop- 
ering and  lumbering  and  charcoal  manufacturing  business.  In  1840,  he 
purchased  of  Isaac  Sawtelle,  the  old  "Yellow  House,"  at  the  present  time 
"Elm  House,"  on  the  east  side  of  Main  street,  and  moved  into  the  same 
with  his  family.  In  1845,  he  built  the  dwelling  house  on  the  east  side  of 
Main  street  which  at  the  present  time  is  owned  and  occupied  as  his  home 
by  Edward  C.  Tucker;  into  which  he  moved  with  his  family  and  where  he 
lived  until  the  following  year;  when  he  exchanged  the  house  with  James 
N.  Tucker  for  a  stock  of  merchandise  located  in  the  store  on  Main  street 
which  at  the  present  time  is  owned  by  Walter  E.  Corey;  but  which  at  the 
date  of  said  exchange  was  owned  by  Mr.  Tucker.     Mr.  Parker  took  im- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


581 


mediate  possession  of  the  stock  of  goods  and  the  store;  which  from  that 
time  until  his  death  he  operated  in  connection  with  his  other  business. 

Mr.  Parker,  like  his  father  before  him,  took  an  active  interest  in  all 
matters  pertaining  to  the  welfare  of  the  town  and  its  inhabitants;  by 
whom  he  was  highly  respected  and  esteemed.  He  was  moderator  in  1830, 
1831  and  1836;  town  clerk  in  1830,  1831  and  1836;  town  treasurer  in  1836; 
selectman  in  1829, 1830  and  1835;  and  Representative  to  the  legislature  in 
1837,  1838,  1839  and  1842.  He  was  also  many  times  a  member  of  the 
school  board.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Congregational  church 
and  society. 

He  m.  Mar.  26,  1826, 
Deverd,*  dau.  of  Capt. 
Nathan  and  Deverd 
(Wright)  Corey,  his 
wife;  who  was  a  dau.  of 
David  Wright  of  Pep- 
perell,  Mass.,  and  his 
wife  Prudence  (Cum- 
mings)  Wright;  who  was 
the  leader  of  the  band  of 
women  which  captured 
the  notorious  Tory, 
Leonard  Whiting,  at 
Jewett's  Bridge  in  Pep- 
perell,  Mass.,  April, 
1775.  He  died  Oct.  8, 
1846;  she  died  Dec.  11, 
1875. 


DEVERD  COREY  PARKER 


Children; 
Bom  in  Brookline. 


1.  James  Clinton  Parker,*  b.  Apr.  30,  1830;  m.  Aug.  17,  1875, 
Cynthia  (Jones)  Carr,  of  Berlin,  Vt,  she  d.  May  18,  1887;  m.  2nd,  in 
1889,  Mary  A.  Gallagher  of  Lowell,  Mass.;  no  ch.;  he  d.  Jan.  1,  1909. 

2.  Henry  Hamilton,  Jan.  31,  1832;  d.  Dec.  27,  1850;  unm. 

3.  *Frances  Deverd,  b.  Dec.  26,  1833;  d.  Feb.  16,  1889.  (See  sketch 
chap.  XI,  ante). 

4.  *Edward  Everett,  b.  Jan.  7,  1842;  m.  Dec.  20,  1877,  Alice  Prince, 
dau.  of  Evan  B.  Hammond,  M.  D.,  and  his  wife,  Sarah  Ann  Adams,  dau. 
of  Capt.  Phinehas  Adams,  formerly  of  Nashua,  deceased.     Ch.,  born  in 


582 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN    OF   BROOKLINE 


Nashua,  (1)  Rena  Deverd,  b.  Nov.  21,  1878;  grad.  of  Wellesley  College  in 
1901;  (2)  Edna  Alice,  b.  Dec.  13,  1880;  grad.  of  Mt.  Holyoke  College  in 
1903.     (See  sketch  chap.  XI,  ante). 

(VII)  *JAMES 
CLINTON  PARKER, 
first  child  and  first  son 
of  James  and  Deverd 
(Corey)  Parker,  was 
born  at  Brookline,  April 
30,  1830.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public 
schools  of  Brookline.  On 
arriving  at  manhood  he 
engaged  in  the  wholesale 
lumbering  and  cooper- 
ing business,  which  he 
followed  successfully  un- 
til 1870.  In  the  latter 
year  he  sold  out  his 
business  and  remov- 
ed from  Brookline  to 
Nashua;  where  he  was 
for  several  years  super- 
intendent of  the  City 
Farm.  Subsequently  he  was  for  four  years  superintendent  of  the  Wil- 
mington, Mass.,  town-farm,  and,  still  later,  for  fifteen  years,  superintend- 
ent of  the  Billerica,  Mass.,  town-farm. 

He  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and  probity,  and  was  highly  esteemed 
by  his  fellow  citizens.  He  was  moderator  of  Brookline  in  1873  and  1874; 
selectman  in  1857,  1868  and  1869;  and  represented  the  town  in  the  legis- 
lature of  1871-72. 

He  m.  Aug.  17,  1875,  Mrs.  Cynthia  (Jones)  Carr,  of  Berlin,  Vt.  No 
children.  He  d.  at  Lowell,  Mass.,  Jan.  1,  1909;  she  d.  May  18,  1887.  Both 
are  buried  in  the  South  Cemetery  at  Brookline;  m.  2nd,  Jan.  15,  1889, 
Mary  A.  Gallagher  of  Lowell,  Mass.;  res.  Lowell. 


JAMES  CLINTON  PARKER 


(VI)  ABEL  BOYNTON  PARKER,  third  son  of  James  and  Sarah 
(Boynton)  Parker,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Mar.  12,  1801.  In  the 
latter  year  he  moved  with  his  father's  family  from  Pepperell,  to  Brookline; 
where  he  grew  to  manhood.     He  was  a  cooper  by  trade.     In  1842,  he  re- 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  583 

moved  with  his  family  from  Brookline  to  Nashua,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  m.  about  1827,  Martha  Washington,  dau.  of  Ben- 
jamin and  Elizabeth  (Place)  Evans  of  Gonie,  N.  H.  He  d.  at  Nashua, 
Oct.  27,  1853;  she  d.  July  29,  1883. 

Children. 

1.  Elizabeth  Sarah,  b.  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  Mar.  31,  1828;  d. 
Nashua,  Feb.  28,  1902. 

2.  Martha  Ann,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  18,  1830;  res.  Nashua,  N.  H. 

3.  Catharine  Louisa,  b.  in  Brookline,  Mar.  3,  1832;  d.  Nashua,  Mar. 
24,  1856. 

4.  Clara  Ann  Rebecca,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  31,  1834;  m.  Jan.  4, 
1864,  Charles  Franklin  Fairbanks  of  Holden,  Mass.  .  Ch.,  (1)  Emma  El- 
dora,  b.  Worcester,  Mass.,  Sept.  5,  1866;  she  m.  Apr.  5,  1904,  Herbert 
Irving  Gray  of  Nashua;  res.  Hudson;  (2)  Frank  Evans,  b.  Worcester, 
Mass.,  June  9,  1869;  res.  Woonsocket,  R.  I. 

5.  Joseph  Boynton,  b.  Brookline,  Aug.  2,  1838;  m.  June  5,  1863, 
Sarah  Elizabeth  Tarbell  of  Worcester,  Mass.;  he  d.  at  Worcester,  Oct.  6, 
1896;  she  d.  Oct.  9,  1908;  1  ch.,  Kate  Evans,  b.  Worcester,  Oct.  28,  1864; 
res.  Worcester,  Mass. 

6.  John  Place  Evans,  b.  Brookline,  Feb.  12,  1841;  res.  Boston,  Mass.; 
he  was  a  soldier  in  the  Civil  War;  d.  in  Boston,  in  1913.    Buried  at  Nashua. 

Parkhurst. 

THOMAS  HENRY  PARKHURST  was  born  at  Dunstable,  Mass., 
July  17.  1825.  He  was  a  son  of  Henry  and  Abigail  (Taylor)  Parkhurst; 
and  was  a  farmer  by  avocation.  In  1866,  he  removed  with  his  family 
from  Dunstable  to  Brookline;  where,  in  company  with  William  Wright, 
his  brother-in-law,  he  engaged  in  the  wholesale  lumbering  and  coopering 
business  until  1872;  when,  the  firm  of  Wright  and  Parkhurst  having  been 
dissolved,  he  returned  with  his  family  to  Dunstable;  where  he  passed  the 
greater  part  of  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Parkhurst  was  a  man  of  strict  honesty  and  probity;  quiet  and 
unassuming  in  his  manners  and  deportment,  a  kind  and  indulgent  father, 
a  firm  and  faithful  friend,  and  a  citizen  whose  characteristics  won  for  him 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He  m.  Mar.  12,  1848,  be- 
fore coming  to  Brookline,  Sarah,  dau.  of  Luke  and  Hannah  (Wright) 
Wright,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.  He  d.  at  Nashua,  in  1908;  she  d.  at  Hudson, 
Mass.,  in  1896.    Both  are  buried  in  Dunstable,  Mass. 


584 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


Children;  Born  in  Dunstable,  Mass. 


1.  Willis  H.,  b.  Mar.  26,  1849. 

2.  Lewis,  b.  July  26,  1856. 

3.  Lizzie  Jane,  b.  May  8,  1860. 

LEWIS  PARK- 
HURST,  son  of  Thomas 
H.  and  Sarah  N. 
(Wright)  Parkhurst, 
was  born  July  26,  1856, 
at  Dunstable,  Mass.  He 
is  a  lineal  descendant  in 
the  seventh  generation 
of  Ebenezer  Parkhurst, 
a  settler  in  Dunstable  in 
1690.  Two  of  his  an- 
cestors (Joel  and  Leon- 
ard) were  soldiers  in  the 
War  of  the  Revolution. 
On  the  maternal  side  of 
the  house,  he  is  a  great- 
grand-child  of  Liberty 
and  Hannah  (Cooper) 
Wright,  and  a  great- 
great-grand-child  of 
David  Wright  and  Pru- 
dence Cummings,  his  wife;  who,  in  1775,  was  the  leader  of  a  band  of  Pep- 
perell,  Mass.,  women  which  captured  the  tory,  Leonard  Whiting,  near 
Jewett's  Bridge  in  that  town. 

His  childhood  days  until  he  was  ten  years  old  were  passed  on  the 
homestead  farm  in  Dunstable.  In  1866,  he  removed  with  his  father's 
family  from  Dunstable  to  Brookline ;  where  he  resided  until  1872.  He  left 
Brookline  with  a  feeling  of  sincere  affection  for  its  people;  a  feeling  which 
in  the  passing  years  has  perhaps  been  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  many 
of  his  nearest  relatives  on  the  Wright  side  of  the  house  are  residents  of  the 
town  today;  and  that,  of  those  deceased,  many  others,  including  his  grand- 
father Wright,  are  buried  beneath  its  soil. 

During  his  residence  in  Brookline,  he  attended  the  village  school  in 
the  fall  and  winter,  and,  for  four  successive  years,  worked  from  April  to 


LEWIS  PARKHURST 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  585 

September  on  a  farm  in  Dunstable,  at  a  wage  of  from  eight  to  sixteen 
dollars  per  month  and  his  board.  In  the  winter  following  his  fifteenth 
birthday,  he  drove  a  team  of  four  oxen  in  the  woods;  and,  for  one  season 
worked  at  the  bench  as  a  cooper. 

He  fitted  for  college  in  the  district  schools  of  Dunstable,  Mass.,  and 
Brookline,  and  Green  Mountain  Academy,  South  Woodstock,  Vt.;  and 
graduated  from  Dartmouth  College  in  the  class  of  1878;  delivering  the 
Class  Day  address  at  the  graduating  exercises.  He  was  president  of  his 
class  during  his  senior  year;  a  position  which  he  continued  to  hold  for 
several  years  following  his  graduation.  During  his  preparatory  course  at 
Green  Mountain  Academy,  and  subsequently  while  at  Dartmouth,  he 
taught  school  winters  and  worked  at  farming  summers;  using  his  wages 
in  helping  to  defray  the  expenses  of  obtaining  his  education.  Among  the 
places  in  which  he  taught  during  this  period  were  Woodstock,  Reading 
and  Weston,  Vermont;  Provincetown,  Mass.,  and  Hanover,  N.  H. 

In  the  eight  years  immediately  succeeding  his  graduation,  Mr.  Park- 
hurst  followed  teaching  as  a  profession.  He  was  principal  of  the  High 
Street  Grammar  School,  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  two  years;  Principal  of  the 
High  School,  Athol,  Mass.,  one  year;  and  principal  of  the  High  School  at 
Winchester,  Mass.,  five  years. 

In  1886,  Mr.  Parkhurst  having  decided  to  change  his  business,  re- 
signed his  position  as  principal  of  the  Winchester  High  School;  and,  de- 
clining to  accept  a  similar  position  in  the  High  School  at  Fitchburg,  Mass., 
to  which  he  was  that  year  elected,  entered  the  employment  of  the  publish- 
ing house  of  Ginn  and  Company,  Boston,  Mass.,  as  New  England  agent 
for  its  High  School  and  College  publications.  In  1888  he  was  admitted  to 
membership  in  the  firm.  In  1896,  he  built,  or  organized  and  equipped  for 
Ginn  and  Company  the  Athenaeum  Press ;  of  which  he  has  ever  since  been 
manager.  At  the  present  time  he  is  treasurer  and  business  manager  of 
Ginn  and  Company;  which  carries  on  its  pay-rolls  the  names  of  about 
1100  employees,  men  and  women,  and  has  an  annual  output  of  about  eight 
million  books;  with  offices  at  29  Beacon  Street,  Boston,  Mass.,  New  York 
City,  Chicago,  111.,  Atlanta,  Ga.,  Dallas,  Texas.,  Columbus,  Ohio.,  San 
Francisco,  Cal.,  and  London,  England. 

In  addition  to,  and  independent  of,  his  duties  as  manager  of  the 
business  of  Ginn  and  Company,  he  has  occupied  many  public  and  private 
positions  of  trust  and  responsibility.  He  was  president  of  the  Middlesex 
County  National  Bank,  of  Winchester,  Mass.,  from  1897  to  1900;  trustee 
of  Winchester,  Mass.,  Savings  bank  fcr  seventeen  years,  and  for  four  years 
a  member  of  its  Investment  Committee.     At  the  present  time   (1914)  he 


586  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

is  trustee  under  the  wills  of  George  A.  Wentworth  and  Edwin  Ginn,  re- 
spectively. In  1908,  he  was  elected  Alumni  Trustee  of  Dartmouth  College 
with  the  honorary  degree  of  A.  M.;  and  in  1913  was  re-elected  to  the  same 
position  and  also  to  the  position  of  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Busi- 
ness Administration  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  College.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  University,  Union,  Boston  Art,  and  Boston  City  Clubs, 
and  of  the  Winchester  County  Club,  and  Megantic  Fish  and  Game  Club. 

He  has  been  an  extensive  traveller;  and,  with  two  exceptions,   has 
visited  on  business  or  pleasure  every  State  in  the  union;  also  Canada, 
Mexico,  Cuba,  the  British  Isles,  France,  Germany,  Switzerland,  Holland, 
Belgium,  Italy,  Greece  and  Egypt. 

He  is  also  a  writer  of  ability.  In  1913,  he  published  a  book  which, 
under  the  title  of  "A  Vacation  On  The  Nile,"  contains  a  collection  of  in- 
teresting and  instructive  letters  written  by  him  from  Egypt  to  his  friends 
at  home. 

At  the  present  time,  Mr.  Parkhurst  is,  and  for  thirty  years,  has  been, 
a  resident  of  Winchester,  Mass.  As  a  citizen,  he  is  honorable,  upright  and 
public  spirited;  and  generous  in  giving  both  of  his  time  and  substance  for 
the  advancement  of  any  project  for  promoting  the  welfare  and  happiness 
of  his  fellow  citizens.  Nor  is  his  generosity  confined  to  home  giving  only. 
In  1911  he  presented  Dartmouth  College  with  a  gift  of  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  for  the  erection  of  an  Administration  Building  in  memory 
of  his  son,  Wilder,  who  died  there  in  1904,  while  a  member,  in  his  Sopho- 
more year,  of  the  class  of  1907.  In  1913  he  also  presented  the  town  of 
Brookline,  N.  H.  with  one  hundred  dollars  to  be  used  towards  defraying 
the  expenses  of  building  its  new  town  house,  which  was  erected  that  year. 

He  is  highly  esteemed  by  his  fellow  citizens;  who  have  honored  him 
with  many  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility.  He  has  been  a  member 
of  the  School  Committee,  Trustee  of  the  Public  Library,  member  of  the 
Water  Board  for  seven  years,  Chairman  of  Town  Committee  on  Annual 
Appropriations  and  Chairman  of  the  Committee  to  build  Mystic  School 
and-  High  School  buildings.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Standing 
Committee  of  the  Unitarian  church  for  twelve  years,  Chairman  of  the 
committee  to  build  the  Unitarian  church,  and  Chairman  of  the  town 
Committee  on  Improvement  of  Water  Ways. 

In  1908  he  represented  the  twenty-seventh  Middlesex  District  in  the 
Legislature;  and  was  a  member  of  the  joint  Senate  and  House  Committee 
on  Railroads. 

Mr.  Parkhurst  married  Nov.  18,  1880,  Emma  J.  Wilder,  dau.  of  John 
and  Sarah  (Cragin)  Wilder  of  Weston,  Vt. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  587 

Children;  Born  at  Winchester,  Mass. 

1.  Wilder,  b.  Feb.  22,  1886,  d.  in  1904. 

2.  Riehard,b.Nov.l5,1894. 

Patten. 

NATHANIEL  PATTEN  settled  in  the  south  part  of  the  Mile  Slip, 
now  Brookline,  as  early,  probably,  as  1764,  on  land  which  he  purchased  of 
William  and  Martha  Blanchard,  Feb.  22,  of  that  year;  coming  there  from 
Townsend,  Mass.  He  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  son  of  Nathaniel  and 
Mary  (Kidder)  Patten,  originally  of  Tewksbury,  Mass.;  but  who  removed 
from  Tewksbury  to  Townsend  between  the  years  1733  and  1741.  His 
dwelling  house  was  located  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town  on  the  high- 
way leading  southerly  from  the  old  Mathew  Wallace  place  to  the  Jasper 
Wyman  sawmill;  now  the  Perley  Pierce  sawmill,  in  South  Brookline.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  served  as  a  soldier  for  Raby  in  the  War  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. He  was  living  here  as  late  as  1795.  He  has  no  descendants  of  the 
name  living  here  today.    He  m.  May  20,  1784,  Mehitabel  Blood  of  Hollis. 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 

1  Nathaniel,  b.  July  10,  1785.   \ 

2.  Abel,  b.  Jan.  13,  1787.            /  No  records 

3.  John,  b.  Oct.  6,  1788.             I  of 

4.  Mehitabel,  b.  Dec.  5,  1792.  /  Marriages  or 

5.  Mighill,  b.  Mar.  14,  1795.     I  Deaths. 

6.  Shattuck,  b.  Jan.  18,  1797.  / 

Peabody. 

AMOS  A.  PEABODY  came  to  Brookline  about  1850  from  Milford, 
where  he  was  born,  Oct.  12,  1823.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade.  He  m. 
Dec.  22,  1853,  Lucilla  P.,  dau.  of  Alpheus  and  Clorinda  (Wallace)  Shat- 
tuck of  this  town.    He  d.  in  1882;  she  d.  in  Oct.,  1913.    No  children. 

JOHN  PEABODY  was  born  in  Amherst,  Nov.  9,  1827.  He  was  the 
third  son  of  Francis  and  Lydia  Peabody.  About  1850  he  removed  from 
Amherst  to  Brookline.  He  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  a  member  of, 
and  deacon  in,  the  local  Congregational  church.     He  m.  Fannie  E.  Sar- 


588  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

gent  of  Amherst.     He  d.  in  Brookline,  Dee.  23,  1873.     No  children.     He 
is  buried  with  his  wife  in  Amherst. 

GEORGE  W.  PEABODY,  a  son  of  Francis  and  Lydia  Peabody,  was 
born  in  Amherst,  Oct.  11,  1838.  He  settled  in  Brookline  about  1860.  He 
was  an  excellent  citizen  and  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church.  He 
m.  Sept.  8,  1868,  Mary  Frances,  dau.  of  James  H.  and  Mary  A.  (Boutwell) 
Hall  of  this  town.  He  d.  Dec.  18,  1873;  his  wife  d.  Dec.  19,  1913.  They 
are  buried  in  Amherst. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  James  Edward,  b.  Aug.  24,  1869;  a  graduate  of  Williams  College; 
and  at  the  present  time  (1911)  a  teacher  of  Biology  in  the  Morris  High 
School,  in  N.  Y.  City.  (See  sketch  of  his  life  in  Chap.  XI.  Ante.)  He 
m.  Emma  Barrett,  of  Barre,  Mass.;  he  has  three  ch.,  i.  e.  Elizabeth  Bar- 
rett, Richard  Hall,  and  George  Wellington. 

2.  George  Herbert,  b.  Oct.  14,  1871;  he  resides  at  Pawtucket,  R.  I., 
where  at  the  present  time  (1911 )  he  is  secretary  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  He  m. 
Mildred  Lane,  of  Swanzy;  ch.,  Marion,  Francis  and  Eleanor. 

Peacock. 

FREDERICK  W.  PEACOCK  settled  in  Brookline  about  1849,  com- 
ing here  from  Amherst,  where  he  was  born.  He  was  a  cooper  and  farmer. 
He  m.  Nov.  10,  1850,  Almira  F.,  dau.  of  Alpheus  and  Rosella  (Bennett) 
Melendy,  of  Brookline.    He  d.  Nov.  30,  1882;  she  d.  Jan.  28,  1893. 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 

1.  Leroy  A.,  b.  Apr.  3,  1861;  m.  in  1886,  Nellie  E.  Lund. 

2.  Delia  R.,  b.  Feb.  16,  1863;  m.  Nov.  6,  1883,  Alpha  A.  Hall. 

3.  Delia  E.,  b.  Dec.  30,  1865;  m.  Sept.  16,  1896,  Arthur  E.  Chase. 

Perkins. 

JESSE  PERKINS,  son  of  Mark  Perkins,  was  born  in  1757  in  Car- 
lisle, Mass.  He  was  a  soldier  from  Carlisle  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution; 
serving  as  a  private  for  two  years  and  several  months.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  he  was  pensioned  for  life  by  the  Government.     In  1781,  he  removed 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  589 

from  Carlisle  to  Raby;  where  he  settled  in  the  east  part  of  the  town.  His 
log-cabin  was  located  about  one  mile  northeast  of  the  village  on  the  west 
side  of  the  north  highway  to  Hollis;  its  exact  location  being  at  the  end  of 
a  short  lane  which  led  out  of  said  highway  near  the  old  Hzekiel  Proctor 
place,  from  which  it  was  distant  but  a  few  rods.  Its  cellar-hole  is  still  in 
evidence.  He  m.  in  1771,  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  Ezekiel  and  Elizabeth  Proctor 
of  Westford,  Mass.  He  d.  in  1857;  she  d.  in  1851.  Both  are  buried  in  the 
South  Cemetery. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Samuel,  b.  Feb.  26,  1782;  m.  in  1817,  Mary  Shattuck;  she  d.  in 
1849;  no  ch. 

2.  Leonard,     )  ,   •    •   <• 

1      V  ih  f     twins;  d.  in  infancy. 

4.  Abijah,  b.  Sept.  4,  1788;  never  m.;  d.  in  1862. 

5.  *Stephen,  b.  Mar.  19,  1793;  m.  May  6,  1821,  Sally  Gilson. 

6.  Betsey,  b.  Mar.  22,  1797;  m.  Jeremiah  Goodwin. 

STEPHEN  PERKINS,  fifth  child  and  fourth  son  of  Jessie  and  Eliza- 
beth (Proctor)  Perkins,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Mar.  19,  1793.  He  m. 
May  6,  1821,  Sally,  dau.  of  Abel  and  Anna  (Searl)  Gilson,  of  this  town. 
He  d.  in  1857;  she  d.  in  1879;  both  are  buried  in  the  South  Cemetery. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Stephen  William,  b.  Feb.  19,  1822;  d.  in  1890;  unm. 

2.  Leonard  Kilburn,  b.  June  5,  1824;  d.  in  1905;  unm. 

3.  Sarah  Amanda,  b.  July  2,  1832;  m.  Nov.  3,  1853,  Henry  Spauld- 
ing  of  Townsend,  Mass.;  she  d.  in  1881,  leaving  several  children. 

4.  Martha  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  5,  1838;  res.  Hollis,  N.  H. 

RALPH  R.  PERKINS  was  born  in  Milford,  Jan  20,  1882.  He  is  a 
son  of  Frederick  H.  and  Minnie  (Goodale)  Perkins.  He  removed  in  Apr. 
1904,  from  Milford  to  Brookline,  where  he  settled  on  the  Lot  Colburn 
place  on  the  east  highway  to  Milford.  He  is  a  plumber  by  trade.  He  m. 
Jan.  31,  1905,  Mabel  H.  dau.  of  Freeman  E.  and  Etna  (Baldwin)  Wright. 

Child;  Born  in  Brookline. 

Thelma  E-,  b.  Apr.  3,  1910. 


590  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

Peterson. 

JOSHUA  PETERSON  settled  in  Brookline  in  1824;  coming  here  with 
his  family  from  Duxbury,  Mass.,  where  he  was  born.  He  married  before 
coming  here,  Jemima  Adams  of  Kingston,  Mass.;  who  was  a  lineal  de- 
scendant of  Francis  Adams  who  came  from  Chester,  England,  to  Americ  a 
in  1692,  and  settled  in  Duxbury,  Mass. 

Children; 

1.  Francis  A.,  b.  in  Duxbury,  Mass.,  Sept.  13,  1813;  came  to  Brook- 
line  with  his  father;  he  was  a  cooper  by  trade,  an  upright  and  honorable 
man,  and  a  highly  respected  citizen.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church;  he  m.  Mar.  23,  1838,  Mary  W.  Pattee  of  Francestown;  he 
d.  Jan.  14,  1854;  she  d.  Jan.  23,  1905.  One  ch.,  Emily  Adams,  b.  in 
Brookline,  in  1839;  d.  in  Brookline,  Nov.  6,  1907;  aged  68;   unm. 

2.  Mercy  Adams,  b.  in  Duxbury,  Mass.  May  18,  1820;  twice 
married;  m.  1st,  Nov.  9,  1837,  Eldad  Sawtelle  of  Brookline;  he  d.;  m.  2nd, 
Nov.  6,  1882,  Calvin  R.  Shedd.    She  d.  July  21,  1900. 

3.  Joseph,  b.  May  14,  1822;  thrice  married;  m.  1st,  Nov.  25,  1847, 
Martha  Hall;  she  d.  July  17,  1849;  m.  2nd,  Emily  R.  Pattee;  she  d.  May 
28,  1858;  m.  3rd,  Mrs.  Nathaniel  W.  Lund.    He  d.  Aug.  30,  1884. 

Pierce. 

JAMES  PIERCE  settled  in  Brookline  about  1827 ;  coming  here  from 
Hollis,  where  he  was  born  Sept.  13,  1799.  He  was  a  farmer,  his  farm  be- 
ing located  on  the  east  side  of  the  east  highway  to  Milford  about  one 
and  one-half  miles  north  of  the  village.  He  m.  July  31,  1828,  Lucy,  dau. 
of  Ebenezer  and  Betsey  (Leslie)  Wheeler.  He  d.  May  5,  1884;  his  wife  d. 
July  12,  1885. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Caroline  L.,  b.  June  17,  1831. 

2.  Raymond  J.,  b.  July  21,  1833;  m.  Apr.  8,  1858,  Catharine  Burge. 

3.  Elizabeth  H.,  b.  Dec.  14,  1835. 

4.  Ellen  S.,  b.  Mar.  31,  1839. 

5.  Jennie  N.,  b.  Oct.  30,  1845;  m.  July  18,  1865,  Bryant  W.  Wallace. 

LEONIDAS  PIERCE  settled  in  Brookline  in  1842,  coming  here 
from  Lexington,  Mass.;    where  he  was  born  Dec.  11,   1818.      He  was  a 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  591 

son  of  George  and  Mary  (Merriam )  Pierce,  and  a  descendant  in  the  eighth 
generation  of  John  Pers,  who  was  born  in  London,  England,  in  1558,  and 
came  to  America  in  1637  and  settled  in  Watertown,  Mass. ;  where  he  was 
known  as  "John  of  Watertown."  The  line  of  descent  is  as  follows:  (I) 
John,  (II)  Anthony,  (III)  Joseph,  (IV)  Francis,  (V)  Jonas,  (VI)  Isaac, 
(VII)  George,  (VIII)  Leonidas. 

He  was  a  farmer  and  a  worthy  and  respected  citizen.  He  m.  Sept. 
19,  1842,  Susan  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  Peter  W.  and  Cynthia  (Flint)  Gould. 
He  d.  in  Brookline  Dec.  5,  1885;  she  d.  Oct.  24,  1886;  both  are  buried  in 
the  South  Cemetery. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *George  W.,  b.  Oct.  6,  1844;  m.  Apr.  24,  1866,  Emma  Wood  of 
Hollis. 

2.  *Perley  L.,  b.  Sept.  20,  1846;  m.  1st,  Mar.  31,  1867,  Mary  A. 
WTood  of  Hollis;  m.  2nd,  Jan.  6,  1902,  Martha  Williams  of  Waltham,  Mass. 

3.  Charlotte,  b.  Sept.  3,  1850;  d.  July  21,  1851. 

4.  Frank  J.,  b.  May  15,  1856;  d.  Apr.  17,  1887. 

5.  Amos    W.,     b.     Sept.     26,     1858;     m.     Louisa    J.     Barnaby; 
d.  Apr.  10.  1909. 

6.  Laura  E.,  b.  Oct.  2,  1861;  m.  July  15,  1882,  Roswell  H.  Lawson, 
Wiscasset,  Me. 

7.  Emily  E.,  b.  Dec.  31,  1866;  m.  Sept.  14,  1910,  Charles  J.  Stickney, 
Townsend,  Mass. 

(IX)  GEORGE  WARREN  PIERCE,  first  child  and  first  son  of 
Leonidas  and  Mary  (Merriam)  Pierce,  was  born  in  Brookline  Oct.  6, 
1844.  He  passed  his  boyhood  in  his  native  town  and  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools.  He  served  as  a  soldier  for  Brookline  in  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion.  (See  his  army  record,  ante).  Soon  after  the  close 
of  the  war,  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Pepperell,  Mass.;  where  he  en- 
gaged in,  and  for  many  years  conducted,  a  highly  successful  business  as 
a  wholesale  dealer  in  grain.  At  the  present  time  he  is  still  living  in  Pep- 
perell, but  has  retired  from  business,  and  is  devoting  his  time  to  the  study 
of  practical  forestry,  in  which  he  is  greatly  interested.  He  m.  Apr.  24, 
1866,  Emma  Wood  of  Hollis. 

Child. 

Emma  Caroline,  b.  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Apr.  4,  1867;  m.  Dec.  29, 
1887,  Valentine  Herrig,  of  Freeport,  N.  Y. 


592  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

(IX)  PERLEY  L.  PIERCE,  second  son  and  second  child  of  Leoni- 
das  and  Mary  (Merriam)  Pierce,  was  born  Sept.  20,  1846,  in  Brookline, 
where  his  entire  life  has  been  passed.  He  is,  and  for  many  years  has  been, 
engaged  in  the  business  as  a  wholesale  and  retail  dealer  in  lumber.  He 
resides  in  South  Brookline,  where  he  owns  and  operates  a  sawmill  in  con- 
nection with  his  business.  He  is  highly  respected  by  his  fellow  citizens, 
by  whom  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  town's  most  successful  business 
men.  He  is  a  member  of  and  deacon  in  the  local  Congregational  church. 
He  has  been  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Mar.  31,  1867,  Emma  Wood  of  Hollis; 
she  d.;  m.  2nd,  Jan.  6,   1902,  Martha  Williams  of  Waltham,  Mass. 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 

1.  Alice  M.,  b.  Oct.  8,  1868;  m.  Feb.  5,  1890,  George  Kendall. 

2.  Lucretia  E-,  b.  Oct.  30,  1872;  m.  Nov.  28,  1891,  John  Martin. 

3.  Susan  E-,  b.  in  1877. 

(VIII)  HENRY  T.  PIERCE  was  born  in  Lexington,  Mass.,  Nov 
19,  1820.  He  was  a  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Merriam)  Pierce,  and  a  de- 
scendant in  the  eighth  generation  of  John  Pierce  who  came  to  America 
from  England  in  1637,  and  settled  in  Watertown,  Mass.  In  1842  he  re- 
moved from  Lexington  to  Brookline,  where  he  settled  in  the  southwest 
part  of  the  town.  He  was  a  farmer  and  an  active  and  respected  citizen. 
He  m.  in  Lexington,  Mass.,  in  1844,  Elizabeth  (Davis)  Dane.  He  d.  in 
Brookline,  Apr.  6,  1887. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  John  H.,  b.  Mar.  4,  1847;  d.  Apr.  6,  1870;  unm. 

2.  Mary  E.,  b.  Jan.  4,  1849;  m.  June  2,  1870,  Charles  H.  Chapman. 

3.  *  Albert  T.,  b.  Feb.  28,  1851;  m.  1st,  Apr.  28,  1875,  Minnie  J. 
Thomas;  m.  2nd,  Nov.  22,  1883,  Ella  M.  Baldwin;  m.  3rd,  July  4,  1890, 
Hattie  F.  Goodwin  of  Nashua. 

(IX)  ALBERT  T.  PIERCE,  second  son  and  third  child  of  Henry 
T.  and  Elizabeth  (Dane)  Pierce,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Feb.  28,  1851. 
He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade;  and  an  exemplary  citizen.  He  has  been  thrice 
married;  m.  1st,  Apr.  28,  1875,  Minnie  J.  Thomas;  she  d.  m.  2nd,  Nov. 
22,  1883,  Ella  M.  Baldwin;  she  d.;  m.  3rd,  July  4,  1890,  Hattie  F.  Good- 
win of  Nashua. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  593 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 
By  Second  Wife. 

1.  Fannie,  b.  Oct.  4,  1884;  m.  Dec.  31,  1904,  Fred  F.  French;  d.  Jan. 
17,  1905. 

By  Third  Wife. 

2.  E.  May,  b.  May  14,  1891. 

3.  John  H.,  b.  Sept.  11,  1892;  d.  Apr.  7,  1910. 

Pike. 

JOSEPH  PIKE,  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Kendall)  Pike,  was  born 
in  Dunstable,  N.  H.,  June  5,  1757.  In  1778  he  settled  in  the  northeast 
part  of  Raby  on  the  farm  subsequently  known  as  the  Nathaniel  W.  Col- 
burn  place,  located  about  one  and  one-half  miles  north  of  the  village  on 
the  east  side  of  the  east  highway  to  Milford.  May  27,  1778  he  m.  Abi- 
gail, dau.  of  Ephraim  and  Abigail  (Stone)  Sawtelle,  formerly  of  Groton, 
but  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  a  resident  in  Brookline. 

Children;  According  to  Tradition. 

1.  Perley,  b.  Sept.  20,  1778;  m.  Mary  Cross,  June  19,  1804;  res. 
Plymouth. 

2.  Newhall,  b.  Sept.         ,  1780;  d.  at  sea  in  1803. 

3.  Betsey,  b.  about  1782;  m.  Samuel  Reed  of  Lowell,  Mass. 

4.  Lucy,  b.  about  1784;  m.  Paul  Davis  of  Mason,  Oct.  30,  1806;  res. 
Warren. 

5.  Hannah,  b.  about  1785;  m.  Samuel  Peabody;  res.  Milford;  d. 
Sept.  26,  1876. 

6.  Abigail,  b.  about  1787;  m.  Joseph  Law,  of  Brookline. 

7.  Joseph,  b.  Mar.  15,  1788;  m.  Mary  Hoit,  Nov.  22,  1810;  res. 
Plymouth;  d.  Mar.  18,  1867. 

8.  Moody,  no  record. 

9.  Eli,  no  record. 

10.  Nathan,  no  record. 

11.  Ralph,  b.  Apr.  11,   1796;   m.  Maribah  Hoit,  Nov.  29,  1821;  res. 
Plymouth. 

12.  Daniel,  no  record. 

13.  Luther,  no  record;  m.  Jane  Boynton;  res.  Newbury,  Vt. 


594  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

14.  William,  no  record;  m.  Lucy  Flint,  Apr.  15,  1824;  d.  in  1837. 

15.  Mary,  no  record;  m.  Jonas  French,  Oct.  15,  1824. 

16.  Rufus,  b.  Nov.  12,  1802;  m.  Nancy  Felton  in  1827;  res.  Water- 
bury,  Vt. 

Powers. 

LLEWELLYN  POWERS  came  to  Brookline  from  Hollis  in  1884. 
He  was  born  in  Hollis,  Jan.  29,  1860.  He  is  a  son  of  Harvey  and  Sarah 
(Colburn)  Powers;  and  a  great-great-grandson  of  Peter  Powers,  the  first 
settler  in  Hollis.  His  ancestor,  Peter  Powers,  was  a  soldier  in  the  old 
French  wars.  He  is  a  carpenter  and  painter  by  trade,  and  a  highly  re- 
spected citizen.  He  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  selectmen  for  the  present 
year  (1912)  and  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Dodge 
legacy  fund.  He  m.  Apr.  9,  1885,  Celia,  dau.  of  Geogre  W.  L.  and  Lydia 
M.  (Sawtelle)  Hobart. 

Child;  Born  in  Brookline. 

Harry  Sawtelle,  b.  Nov.  19,  1886;  m.  Nov.  29,  1911,  Anna  G.  Willey, 
of  Pepperell.  Mass, 

Proctor. 

EZEKIEL  PROCTOR  settled  in  Raby  in  1770,  coming  here  from 
Westford,  Mass.  He  was  a  son  of  Ezekiel  and  Elizabeth  (Chamberlain) 
Proctor.  His  log-cabin  was  located  about  one  mile  north  of  the  village 
on  the  west  side  of  the  north  highway  to  Hollis.  It  has  been  known  at 
various  times  of  late  years  as  the  Ralph  Burns  place,  Amos  Blodgett 
place,  and  the  Luke  Baldwin  place.  He  was  a  farmer  and  an  active  and 
influential  citizen.  He  served  as  a  soldier  for  Raby  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution.  He  survived  the  war  and  for  many  years  after  its  close  was 
a  citizen  of  this  town.  He  was  town  clerk  and  one  of  the  selectmen  in  the 
years  1790,  and  1791.  He  m.  probably  before  coming  to  Raby,  Elizabeth; 
(maiden  name  unknown). 

Children. 

1.  Ezra,  b.  at  Westford,  Mass.,  Jan.  18,  1761;  d.  at  New  York, 
May  15,  1776. 

2.  Elizabeth,  b.  at  Westford,  Mass.,  May  9,  1762. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  595 

3.  Ezekiel,  b.  at  Dunstable,  Mass.,  Dec.  5,  1764;  d.  at  Westford, 
June  24,  1766. 

4.  Mary,  b.  at  Westford,  Mass.,  Dec.  22,  1766. 

5.  Ezekiel,  b.  Westford,  Mass.,  Sept.  16,  1768. 

6.  Joseph,  b.  Westford,  Mass.,  June  11,  1770. 

7.  *Abijah,  b.  at  Raby,  Aug.  13,  1772;  m.  Mar.  11,  1798,  Sally  Bills. 

8.  Hannah,  b.  at  Raby,  Dec.  16,  1774;  m.  Nov.  16,  1797,  Aaron 
Simons. 

9.  Sarah,  b.  at  Raby,  Oct.  5,  1777. 

10.     Esther,  b.  at  Raby,  Jan.  7,  1781;  d.  Jan.  18,  1781. 

ABIJAH  PROCTOR,  seventh  child  and  fourth  son  of  Ezekiel  and 
Elizabeth  Proctor,  was  born  Aug.  13,^1772,  in  Raby,  where  he  passed  his 
entire  life.  His  dwelling  house  was  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  north 
highway  to  Hollis,  nearly  opposite  that  of  his  father.  Its  cellar-hole  is 
still  in  evidence.  He  m.  Mar.  11,  1798,  Sally  Bills.  He  d.  May  24,  1851; 
and  is  buried  in  the  South  cemetery. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Buhanah,  b.  Oct.  8,  1798. 

2.  Hanah,  b.  Jan.  13,  1800. 

3.  Sumner,  b.  Feb.  22,  1805. 

4.  Wilder,  b.  Nov.  10,  1806. 

5.  Susan,  b.  Nov.  13,  1808. 

6.  Lucy,  b.  Nov.  20,  1810. 

7.  John  Gardner,  b.  Dec.  7,  1812. 

8.  Eli  Sawtelle,  b.  Sept.  12,  1815. 

9.  Franklin,  b.  May  14,  1819. 

10.  Lewis,  b.  Apr.  7,  1821. 

11.  Mariha,  b.  Dec.  7,  1822. 

Rockwood. 

LUTHER  ROCKWOOD,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  permanent- 
ly in  Brookline,  came  here  in  1812  from  Wilton,  where  he  was  born  Apr.  30, 
1791.  He  was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Lucy  (Fletcher)  Rockwood,  and  a 
lineal  descendant  in  the  sixth  generation  of  Richard  Rocket,  or  Rockwood, 
who  came  from  Weymouth  or  Dorchester,  England,  to  America,  and 
settled  in  Dorchester,  Mass.,  in  1636;  the  line  of  descent  being  as  follows: 


596  HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

(1)  Richard,  (II)  Nicholas,  III)  Nathaniel,  (IV)  Elisha,  (V)  Joseph, 
(VI)  Luther.  His  house  in  Brookline  was  located  about  one  mile  south 
of  the  village  on  the  highway  to  Townsend,  Mass.  He  was  a  farmer. 
In  addition  to  his  farm  work,  he  was  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  man- 
ufacture and  sale  of  bricks;  the  material  for  which  he  obtained  from 
extensive  beds  of  clay  located  upon  his  farm. 

He  m.  Jan.  14,  1812,  Kezia,  dau.  of  Benjamin  Brooks,  Jr.    He  d.  Aug. 
18,  1863;  she  d.  Jan.  13,  1869. 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 

1.  *Andrew,  b.  Jan.  22,  1812;  m.  1833,  Maria  Daniels;  m.  2nd, 
Mar.  1,  1888,  Rebecca  Pierce  of  Townsend, 

2.  Lucy,  b.  June  5,  1813;  m.  July  7,  1836,  Franklin  McDonald. 

3.  Levi,  b.  July  28,  1815;  d.  Feb.  18,  1816. 

4.  Thirza,  b.  Feb.  3,  1817;  d.  Mar.  2,  1820. 

5.  *Levi,  b.  Jan.  13,  1819;  m.  Nov.  29,  1842,  Cynthia  Hobart. 

6.  Milo  J.,  b.  Apr.  26,  1821;  d.  Nov.  15,  1847. 

7.  *Franklin,  b.  Mar.  13,  1823;  m.  Dec.  12,  1848,  Cartharine  Smith. 

8.  Thirza,  b.  Mar.  24,  1825;  m.  Pierce  Edwards. 

9.  K.  Jane,  b.  Sept.  1,  1826;  m.  May  4,  1853,  William  Wright. 

10.  Mary,  b.  May  5,  1828;  married  William  Wright. 

11.  Rinaldo,  b.  Jan.  16,  1830;  d.  Jan.  16,  1830. 

12.  Benjamin,  b.  Dec.  27,  1832;  d.  Dec.  27,  1832. 

13.  *William  B.,  b.  Oct.  12,  1834;  m.  1st,  May  18,  1857,  Ruth  N. 
Gould;  she  d.;  m.  2nd,  Etta  Eliza  Litchfield,  May  27,  1863. 

(VII)  ANDREW  ROCKWOOD,  first  child  of  Luther  and  Kesiah 
(Brooks)  Rockwood,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Jan.  22,  1812.  His  residence 
was  in  South  Brookline;  where  he  passed  his  entire  life.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  dealer  in  choice  breeds  of  cattle;  his  reputation  in  the  latter  line  ex- 
tending throughout  Hillsborough  County.  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st, 
in  1833,  Maria,  dau.  of  David  and  Mary  Daniels;  m.  2nd,  Sept.  5,  1870, 
Mrs.  Rebecca  Pierce  of  Townsend,  Mass.  He  d.  Mar.  1,  1888;  Maria,  his 
wife,  d.  May  7,  1875. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By   His  First  Wife. 

1.     *David  D.,  b.  Mar.  5,  1834;  m.  Mar.  30,  1876,  Etta  F.  Herrick. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  597 

2.  Ann  M.,  b.  in  1846;  d.  Nov.  23,  1863;  unm. 

3.  *Martin  A.,  b.  about  1848;  m.  Jan.  8,  1871,  Mary  E.  Livermore, 
of  Wilton. 

(VIII)  DAVID  D.  ROCKWOOD,  first  son  and  first  child  of  An- 
drew and  Maria  (Daniels)  Rockwood,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Mar.  5, 
1834.  He  passed  his  entire  life  in  Brookline,  was  a  cooper  and  farmer, 
and  a  citizen  of  excellent  reputation.  He  was  selectman  in  1882,  1883 
1884  and  1894.  He  m.  Jan.  8,  1871,  Etta  F.  Herrick,  of  Wilton.  He  d. 
Dec.  3,  1906. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Andrew  J.,  b.  June  29,  1877;  he  served  in  the  Spanish  War  as  a 
soldier  from  Brookline  in  Company  M,  Mass.,  Fifth  Regiment;  m.  Maude 
Abbott  of  San  Francisco,  Cal. ;  res.  California. 

2.  George  M.,  b.  Sept.  11,  1879;  m.  1st,  Dec.  17,  1898,  Minnie  L. 
Sweeney;  div.;  one  ch,  Helen  M.,  b.  Mar.  6,  1903;  m.  2nd,  Nov.  23,  1910, 
Myrtle  B.  Eddy  of  Nashua. 

(VIII)  MARTIN  A.  ROCKWOOD  second  son  and  third  child  of 
Andrew  and  Maria  (Daniels)  Rockwood,  was  born  in  Brookline  about 
1848.  He  was  a  farmer,  residing  in  South  Brookline.  He  was  selectman 
in  1876  and  1893.     He  m.  Jan.  8,  1871,  Mary  E.  Livermore  of  Wilton. 

No  ch. 

(VII)  LEVI  ROCKWOOD,  third  son  of  Luther  and  Kesiah 
(Brooks)  Rockwood,  was  born  in  Brookline  Jan.  13,  1819.  For  many 
years  he  owned  and  operated  the  old  Benjamin  Brooks  Sawmill  in  South 
Brookline;  and  in  connection  therewith  carried  on  an  extensive  lumber- 
ing and  coopering  business.  He  was  an  active  and  energetic  business 
man,  and  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  citizen.  He  m.  Nov.  29,  1842,  Cyn- 
thia, dau.  of  David  and  Eunice  (Wright)  Hobart,  of  this  town.  He  d. 
Nov.  7,  1863;  she  d.  Nov.  21,  1895. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Bertie  H.,  b.  ;  d.  Sept.  6,  1861. 

2.  George  E.,  b.  Nov.         ,  1844;  d.  Dec.  25,  1863. 

3.  Martha  A.,  b.  Sept.     ,  1846;  d.  Sept.  5,  1863. 

4.  Ellen  A.,  b.  Aug.      ,  1850;  d.  Oct.  30,  1863. 


598 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


5.  Jennie  E.,  b.  Mar.  26,  1852;  m.  Nov.  24,  1878,  Elmer  W.  Wallace. 

6.  *Walter  F.,  b.  Aug.  2,  1854;  m.  July  17,  1881,  Clara  Whitcomb. 


(VIII)  WALTER  F. 
ROCKWOOD,  son  of 
Levi  and  Cynthia  (Ho- 
bart)  Rockwood,  was 
born  in  Brookline,  Aug. 
2,  1854.  In  his  early 
manhood  he  operated, 
for  a  few  years,  a  grocery 
and  general  merchandise 
store  in  the  village.  At 
a  later  period  he  gave  up 
the  store  business  to  en- 
gage in  that  of  dealing  in 
timber  lands;  a  business 
for  which,  both  by  train- 
ing and  association,  he  is 
peculiarly  well  qualified, 
and  in  which  he  has  been 
very  successful.  At  the 
present  time  (1911)  he 
cynthia  hobart  rockwood  is  residing  in  Townsend, 

Mass.;  where  he  is,  and  for  many  years  has  been,  connected  with  the  firm 
of  Anson  S.  Fessenden  and  Company,  by  which  he  is  employed  as  an  ex- 
pert in  buying  timber  lands.  He  was  town  clerk  of  Brookline  in  1881  and 
1882;  selectman  in  1886, 1887, 1888  and  1889;  and  Representative  in  1891 
and  1892.  He  m.  July  17,  1881,  Clara,  dau.  of  Jefferson  and  Clara  W. 
Whitcomb  of  this  town. 


1. 
2. 


Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

Ethel  May,  b.  Mar.  4,  1887;  graduate  of  Simmons  College  in  1909. 
Gertrude  Ellen,  b.  Sept.  29,  1891. 


(VII)  FRANKLIN  ROCKWOOD,  fourth  son  of  Luther  and 
Kesiah  (Brooks)  Rockwood,  was  born  Mar.  13,  1823.  He  was  a  farmer 
and  lived  in  South  Brookline.  He  m.  Dec.  12,  1848,  Catharine  Smith,  of 
Hubbardston,  Mass.    He  d.  Sept.  3,  1890;  she  d.  in  1901. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


599 


Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 


1.  Arthur  M.,  b.  Feb.  21,  1850;  married  Rogers,  of  Nashua. 

2.  Herbert  F.,  b.  Feb.  8,  1853. 

3.  Martha  J.,  b.  Sept.  3,  1854;  m.  Jan.  14,  1878,  Fred  G.  Hobart; 
m.  2nd,  Lyons. 

4.  Elizabeth,  b.  Feb.  19,  1857;  m.  Apr.  1880,  Frank  B.  Maynard. 

5.  Hattie  M.,  b.  Mar.  23,  1859;  d.  Dee.  8,  1872. 

6.  Katie  A.,  b.  Nov.  5,  1860;  married  Edwin  H.  Taylor,  of  Brook- 
line. 

7.  Ella,  b.  Sept.  11,  1869;  d.  Mar.  8,  1870. 

8.  Charles  E-,  b.  July  11,  1864;  d.  Mar.  5,  1870. 

9.  Fred  E.,  b.  Sept.  18,  1871;  m.  June  27,  1897,  Annie  R.  Turner, 
of  Norwich,  Vt. 

(VII)  WILLIAM 
BROOKS  ROCK- 
WOOD,  eighth  son  of 
Luther  and  Kesiah 
(Brooks)  Rockwood, 
was  born  Oct.  12,  1834. 
He  was  a  farmer,  living 
on  the  old  Rockwood 
homestead  in  South 
Brookline.  He  was  twice 
married;  m.  1st,  May  18, 
1857,  Reneth  N.  Gould, 
of  Norridgewock,  Me. 
She  d.  Apr.  3,  1862;  m. 
2nd,  May  27,  1863,  Etta 
Eliza  Litchfield  of  Pep- 
perell,  Mass.  He  d.  in 
1911. 

Children; 
william  brooks  rockwood  Born  in  Brookline. 

By  First  Wife. 


1.  Wilfred  Adelbert,  b.  May  19,  1859;  d.  Feb.  28,  1885. 

2.  Alice  Ruth,  b.  Mar.  22,   1862;  m.  Nov.  25,  1885.  Frederick  A, 
Sawyer,  of  Sterling,  Mass.    She  d.  Jan.  12,  1887. 


600  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

By  Second  Wife. 

3.  George  Edward,  b.  Mar.  20,  1869;  m.  Oct.  17,  18  ,  Lillian  M. 
Olson  of  Pepperell,  Mass. 

4.  Mary  Etta,  b.  Sept.  13,  1871;  m.  Jan.  6,  1904,  Howard  W.  Carter. 

5.  Clara  Belle,  b.  July  23,  1873;  m.  Apr.  5,  1893,  William  F.  Hazel- 
ton  of  Townsend,  Mass. 

Hideout. 

EBENEZER  RIDEOUT,  the  first  of  his  name  to  settle  in  Brookline, 
came  here  about  1840,  from  Hollis;  where  he  was  born  in  1799.  He  was 
a  son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Spaulding)  Rideout.  He  was  a  farmer.  Dur- 
ing his  stay  in  Brookline,  he  lived  on  the  old  Mathew  Wallace  place  in 
the  southwest  part  of  the  town.  In  the  sixties  he  removed  to  Nashua. 
He  m.  Sept.  19,  1821,  Aliva,  dau.  of  Capt.  David  Fisk,  of  Nashua;  a  Revo- 
lutionary soldier.    He  d.  at  Nashua,  Sept.  12,  1877;  she  d.  Sept.  7,  1873. 

Children. 

1.  Hannah  R.,  b.  Feb.  5,  1822,  Nashua;  m.  1st,  William  Rice;  m. 
2nd,  Dec.  10,  1857,  Thomas  Melendy,  Jr. 

2.  Belinda,  b.  Sept.  12,  1823;  m.  Jacob  Libbey  of  Nashua. 

3.  Harriet,  b.  Dec.  26,  1825,  Nashua;  m.  Ashabel  Colburn. 

4.  Almira,  b.  May  5,  1830,  Nashua;  m.  Haskel  Farnsworth. 

5.  *Ebenezer  J.,  b.  Jan.  3,  1833,  Nashua;  m.  Sept.  11,  1856,  Harriet 
E.  Hayden. 

6.  Melissa,  b.  Jan.  2,  1835,  Nashua;  m.  S.  Franklin  Hayden  of 
Hollis. 

7.  James,  b.  June  12,  1845,  Nashua;  m.  Ella  Hamblett. 

EBENEZER  JACKSON  RIDEOUT,  fifth  child  and  first  son  of 
Ebenezer  and  Aliva  (Fisk)  Rideout,  was  born  in  Nashua,  Jan.  3,  1832. 
He  came  to  Brookline  with  his  father's  family  in  1840.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and  was  also  for  many  years  engaged  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of 
charcoal.  He  m.  Sept.  11.  1856,  Harriet  Emily  Hayden  of  Hollis.  He  d. 
in  1912. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Elmer  J.,  b.  Nov.  19,  1860;  m.  1st,  Nov.  26,  1884,  Orrie  Manson, 
of  Kittery,  Me. ;  m.  2nd,  in  1889,  Nettie  Sargent,  Milford;  no  ch. 

2.  Hattie  E.,  b.  Nov.  7,  1863;  m.  Apr.  29,  1881,  Willie  A.  Hobart. 


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HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  601 

Russell. 

SAMUEL  RUSSELL  settled  in  the  Mile  Slip  prior  to  the  year  1757; 
coming  there  from  Lunenburg,  Mass.,  where  the  family  was  among  the 
early  settlers.  May  20,  1757,  Samuel  and  his  brother,  George,  in  consider- 
ation of  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars  by  them  paid,  purchased  of  Peter 
Powers  of  Hollis  a  tract  of  land  consisting  of  three  hundred  and  twenty 
acres  and  one  hundred  poles,  and  lying  in  the  Mile  Slip  on  the  westerly, 
northerly  and  easterly  slopes  of  great  Muscatanipus  hill — mentioned  in 
their  deed  of  purchase  as — "Great  Jane  Pot's  hill." 

Soon  after  their  purchase  the  brothers  apparently  divided  this  tract 
of  land  between  themselves;  George  taking  the  westerly  and  Samuel  the 
northerly  part.  The  land  thus  acquired  by  Samuel  Russell,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few  small  tracts  which  have  been  sold  off  from  time  to  time 
during  the  intervening  years,  has  ever  since  its  purchase  remained  in  the 
occupancy  and  possession  of  his  descendants  in  this  town. 

Samuel  Russell's  log-cabin  was  located  on  the  northerly  slope  of  the 
hill,  and  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  which  leads  out  of  the  west  side 
of  the  great  road  at  a  point  just  south  of  Campbell's  mill-pond  and  passes 
in  a  southerly  direction  to  Townsend,  Mass. ;  the  location  with  reference  to 
the  great  road  being  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  south  of  the  same.  Its 
site  at  the  present  time  is  occupied  by  the  dwelling  house  of  his  great- 
great-grand-son,  Clarence  R.  Russell.  He  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
petition  for  Raby's  incorporation,  and  one  of  its  soldiers  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution ;  and  both  before  and  after  the  war,  one  of  its  leading  citizens. 
During  the  war,  in  addition  to  his  services  as  a  soldier,  he  was  a  member 
of  the  town's  committee  of  safety  Jan.  23, 1792.  He  m.  November  28, 1757, 
Susanna  Mitchell  of  Lunenburg,  Mass.  He  d.  Nov.  30,  1807,  aged  74 
years,  and  is  buried  in  the  Pond  Cemetery.  Rufus  G.  Russell,  deceased, 
who  represented  this  town  in  the  legislature  in  1878,  1879  and  1880,  was 
his  great  grandchild.  Among  his  great  grandchildren  at  the  present  time 
living  are  Clarence  R.  Russell,  who  owns  and  occupies  the  old  homestead. 

GEORGE  RUSSELL  was  a  brother  of  Samuel  Russell.  His  log- 
cabin  was  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  same  highway  as  was  that  of 
Samuel ;  from  which  it  was  distant  but  a  few  rods  in  a  southerly  direction. 
Its  site  is  supposed  to  have  been  identical  with  that  at  the  present  time 
occupied  by  the  dwelling  house  of  Samuel  A.  W.  Ball.  He  was  repre- 
sented in  the  War  of  the  Revolution  by  his  son,  Andrew.  Both  before  and 
after  the  war,  he  was  captain  of  Raby's  "training  bands;"  and  served  on 


602  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

its  board  of  selectmen  in  1771,  1773  and  1775.    He  d.  Nov.  25,  1812,  and 
is  buried  in  the  Pond  Cemetery. 

THE  RUSSELL  FAMILY'S  earliest  record  known  at  this  writing  is 
that  of  Robert  and  Mary  Russell  of  Lunenburg,  Mass.  Children,  as  far 
as  known : — 

George  R.,  b.  1720;  d.  Nov.  12,  1812. 

Samuel,  b.  Mar.  9,  1734;  d.  Nov.  30,  1807. 
'    Mary. 

Jane,  b.  July  31,  1737. 

Elizabeth,  b.  Oct.  31,  1742. 

George  and  Samuel  married  daughters  of  Andrew  and  Martha  Mit- 
chell of  Lunenburg,  Mass.,  and  came  to  the  southern  part  of  the  Mile  Slip 
in  N.  H.  and  settled  some  twenty-five  years  or  more  before  the  town  was 
incorporated  as  Raby,  purchasing  seven  hundred  acres  of  land  of  Peter 
Powers  who  bought  it  of  Joseph  Blanchard  one  of  the  Masonian  proprie- 
tors and  the  homestead  has  remained  in  the  family  ever  since. 

SAMUEL  (2nd),  b.  Mar.  9,  1734;  d.  Nov.  30,  1807;  m.  Susanna  Mit- 
chell of  Lunenburg,  Mass.,  Nov.  28,  1757;  she  was  b.  Dec.  25,  1731  and 
d.  Oct.  31,  1803. 

Children. 

1.  Susanna,  b.  Aug.  18,  1758. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  Nov.  25,  1760. 

3.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  25,  1764. 

4.  Esther,  b.  June  6,  1767. 

5.  Samuel  Jr.,  b.  July  4,  1769. 

6.  Elizabeth,  b.  May  29,  1773. 

7.  James,  b.  June  7,  1777;  d.  Apr.  7,  1794. 

SAMUEL  Jr.  (3rd),  b.  July  4,  1769;  m.  Susanna  Martha  Campbell, 
Jan.  23,  1792. 

Children. 

1.  Samuel  Jr.,  b.  Sept.  23,  1792;  d.  June  26,  1820. 

2.  James,  b.  May  22,  1794;  d.  July  4,  1852. 

3.  Campbell,  b.  June  11,  1796;  d.  Aug.  18,  1838. 

4.  Susanna,  b.  June  27,  1798;  d.  June  15,  1800. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


603 


5.  Rebekah,  b.  Nov.  24,  1800;  d.  July  21,  1889. 

6.  Thomas,  b.  Aug.  14,  1802;  d.  Oct.  11,  1803. 

7.  Elhanan  W.,  b.  Nov.  16,  1805;  d.  Sept.  29,  1888. 

8.  Marguerite,  b.  Sept.  29,  1808;  d.  Oct.  30,  1866. 

CAMPBELL  (4th),  b.  June  11,  1796;  d.  Aug.  18,  1838;  m.  Lucretia 
Melvin  of  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  June  10,  1819;  she  was  b.  Feb.  13,  1797,  and 
d.  May  18,  1855. 

Children. 


1.  Charles  Campbell,  b.  Apr.  10,  1820;  d.  Sept.  22,  1909. 

2.  Samuel  Augustus,  b.  Aug.  24,  1821 ;  d.  July  4,  1862. 

3.  Benjamin  Melvin,  b.  Nov.  22,  1822;  d.  Jan.  22,  1842. 

4.  *Rufus  Granville,  b.  Dee.  4,  1825;  d.  Apr.  19,  1888. 

5.  Elhanan  Jerome,  b.  Apr.  17,  1827;  d.  Oct.  21,  1844. 

6.  Thomas  Aai,  b.  Nov.  17,  1828;  d.  Dec.  22,  1868. 

7.  Rhoda  Ann,  b.  June  8,  1830;  d.  May  23,  1903. 

8.  Susan  Barnet,  b.  June  26,  1833;  d.  Oct.  3,  1851. 

9.  William  Hall,  b.  Apr.  6,  1835;  d.  June  21,  1901. 


RUFU5  GRANVILLE  RUSSELL 


(V)  RUFUS  GRAN- 
VILLE RUSSELL,  4th 
child  and  4th  son  of 
Campbell  and  Lucretia 
(Melvin)  Russell,  was 
born  December  4,  1825 
in  Brookline;  where  he 
passed  his  life  on  the  old 
Russell  homestead.  He 
was  a  farmer,  and  a  lead- 
ing and  highly  respected 
citizen.  He  was  select- 
man in  1868  and  1869, 
and  Representative  in  the 
legislatures  of  1878,  1879 
and  1880.  He  married 
Dec.  16,  1852,  Mary  A. 
French  of  Brookline.  He 
died  April  19,  1888;  she 
died,  Dec.  13,  1895. 


604 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


Children; 
Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  MARY  A.  (6th) 
b.  Nov.  18,  1853;  m.  An- 
son J.  Rideout  of  Wil- 
ton, N.  H.,  July  1,  1873; 
he  was  b.  Aug.  12,  1842, 
son  of  Jacob  and  Lydia 
Peabody  Rideout. 

Child. 

Eugene  Anson  Ride- 
out b.  May  30,  1874. 

2.  CLARENCE  R.* 
(6th)  b.  Jan.  22,  1855; 
m.  Clara  E.  Colburn  of 
Hollis,  N.  EL,  Sept.  17, 
1884;  she  was  born  Nov.  mary  a.  (French)  russell 

26,  1854,  dau.  of  Enoch  J.  and  Elmira  (Steel)  Colburn;  settled  on  the  old 
homestead. 


3.  WILLIAM  A.  (6th)  b.  Nov.  7,  1856;  m.  1st,  Betsey  Ella  Jones, 
Nov.  7,  1883,  dau.  of  Dr.  Seth  S.  and  Mary  H.  (Spaulding)  Jones  of 
Effingham,  N.  H.;  she  was  b.  Apr.  14,  1851,  and  d.  Oct.  10,  1901. 

Child. 

1.     John  Spaulding,  b.  Dec.  4,  1889;  d.  Aug.  21,  1898. 

He  m.  2nd,  Charlotte  Annie  Tower  of  West  Townsend,  Mass.,  Sept. 
1,  1902;  she  was  b.  August  28,  1871,  dau  of  Waldo  T.  and  May  A. 
(Wyman)  Tower. 

Children;  Born  in  Townsend,  Mass. 


2.  Ruth  Tower,  b.  Aug.  11,  1904. 

3.  William  Albert,  Jr.,  b.  Nov.  20,  1905. 

4.  Hester  Mary,  b.  Feb.  4,  1907. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  605 

5.  Pearl  Augusta,  b.  Feb.  20,  1910. 

6.  Waldo  Rufus,  b.  June  15,  1911;  settled  in  Townsend,  Mass. 

4.  ALFRED  C.  (6th),  b.  Feb.  20,  1859;  m.  Mina  D.  Pettigrove  of 
St.  Albans,  Me.,  Oct.  9,  1883;  she  was  b.  Sept.  30,  1861,  dau.  of  Henry  A. 
and  Marian  (Wormwood)  Pettigrove. 

Children; 

1.  Alpha  R.,  b.  Nov.  20,  1886. 

2.  Lillian  M.,  b.  Feb.  14,  1898;  settled  at  Mead,  Washington. 

5.  CARRIE  A.  (6th),  b.  May  18,  1861,  m.  Willard  E.  Strong  of 
Vassleboro,  Me.,  June  28,  1893;  he  was  b.  Nov.  28,  1857,  son  of  Stephen 
and  Addie  K.  Strong. 

Children;  Born  in  Vassleboro,  Me. 

1.  Russell,  b.  July  19,  1894;  d.  June  9,  1895. 

2.  Mable  A.,  b.  Oct.  22,  1895. 

3.  Edna,  b.  Jan.  17,  1900;  d.  Apr.  13,  1901. 

4.  Willard  E.  Jr.,  b.  Nov.  1,  1901;  settled  at  Vassleboro,  Me. 

6.  CHARLES  C.  (6th),  b.  Feb.  12,  1866;  m.  Carrie  M.  Marden  of 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  Sept.  4,  1895;  she  was  b.  Sept.  16,  1867,  dau.  of  An- 
drew S.  and  Sarah  Marden. 

Children. 

1.  Kenneth  Samuel,  b.  Wednesday,  July  15,  1896. 

2.  Mary  Ethelyn,  b.  Friday,  Feb.  11,  1898. 

3.  Charles  Clifton,  Jr.,  b.  Thursday,  May  11,  1899. 

4.  Clarence  Rufus,  b.  Saturday,  June  23,  1900. 
5:  Philip  Campbell,  b.  Tuesday,  Sept.  9,  1902. 

6.  Elizabeth  Marden,  b.  Monday,  Dec.  30,  1907;  settled  at  Exeter, 
N.  H. 

7.  WALTER  H.  (6th),  b.  Aug.  10,  1867;  m.  Charlotte  K.  Achison 
of  Cumberlin  Co.,  Maryland,  Nov.  16,  1901;  she  was  b.  Oct.  8,  1880,  dau. 
of  John  W.,  and  Emma  S.  (Chappell)  Achison. 


606 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


Child. 


1.     Walter  Harvey,  b.  Jan.  5,  1905;  settled  at  Portland,  Oregon. 


(VI)  CLARENCE 
R.  RUSSELL,  second 
child  and  first  son  of 
Rufus  G.  and  Mary  A. 
French  Russell,  was 
born  Jan.  22,  1855,  in 
Brookline;  where,  at  the 
present  time  he  is  resid- 
ing on  the  old  Russell 
homestead.  He  is  a 
farmer  and  a  civil  en- 
gineer and  surveyor.  As 
a  citizen  he  is  highly  es- 
teemed by  his  fellow 
townsmen;  who  have 
honored  him  with  many 
positions  of  trust  and  re- 
sponsibility He  has 
served  several  terms  on 
the  board  of  selectmen. 
At  the  present  time,  he 
is  a  member  of  the  town's  History  Committee,  of  which  he  is  chairman. 
He  is  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  an  active  member  of  the  Grange;  having 
served  three  terms  as  Master  of  the  local  lodge.  He  married  Sept.  17, 
1884,  Clara  E.,  dau.  of  Dea.  Enoch  and  Elmira  (Steel)  Colburn  of  Hollis. 
No  children. 

Sawtelle. 


CLARENCE  R.  RUSSELL 


LIEUT.  ELI  SAWTELLE,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in  Brook- 
line,  came  here  about  1780  from  Groton,  Mass. ;  where  he  was  born  Nov. 
26,  1765.  He  was  the  second  son  of  Ephraim  and  Abigail  (Stone)  Saw- 
telle, and  a  descendant  in  the  4th  generation  of  Richard  Sawtelle;  a  resi- 
dent and  proprietor  in  Watertown,  Mass.,  prior  to  1637,  and  subsequently 
one  of  the  first  settlers  in,  and  a  proprietor  of  Groton,  Mass.  His  house 
in  Brookline  was  located  about  three  miles  north  of  the  village  on  the  west 
side  of  the  main  highway  to  Milford.    Of  late  years  it  has  been  known   at 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  607 

different  times,  as  the  Eldad  Sawtelle  place,  and  the  Jeremiah  Needham 
place. 

In  1783,  he  was  joined  by  his  father,  Capt.  Ephraim  Sawtelle,  who 
came  heie  from  Townsend,  Mass.;  where  he  was  then  a  resident.  Capt. 
Ephraim  subsequently  married  for  his  third  wife,  Mary  Wadsworth,  widow 
of  Rev.  Leumel  Wadsworth  of  Brookline. 

Lieut.  Eli  Sawtelle  was  one  of  Brookline's  prominent  citizens.  His 
descendants  here,  and  elsewhere  in  towns  in  this  vicinity,  always  have 
been,  and  today  are,  classed  among  the  honored  and  respected  families  of 
the  communities  wherein  they  dwell.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  busy  one. 
But  tradition  says  he  was  deeply  interested  in  town  matters,  to  which  he 
found  time  to  devote  considerable  attention.  He  was  selectman  in  1799, 
1801  and  1802.  He  derived  his  title  of  Lieutenant  from  the  fact  that  he 
held  at  one  time  that  official  rank  in  the  11th  Company  of  the  5th  Regi- 
ment of  the  New  Hampshire  State  Militia.  He  m.  about  1791,  Lydia 
Hunt,  dau.  of  John  and  Lydia  (Thorndyke)  Hunt  of  Tewskbury,  Mass. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

l.*John,  b.  Sept.  3,  1792;  m.  Dec.  24,  1818,  Elizabeth  Parker  of 
Brookline. 

2.  *Isaae,  b.  Mar.  25,  1794;  m.  1818,  Sarah  Parker  of  Brookline. 

3.  Lydia,  b.  Mar.  13,  1796;  m.  May  20,  1817,  Daniel  Burns  of  Mil- 
ford. 

4.  Abigail,  b.  July  18,  1798;  m.  July  4,  1824,  Horace  Warner. 

5.  *Eli,  b.  Oct.  1,  1800;  m.  1st,  May  10,  1835,  Lydia  Hall  of  Milford. 

6.  *Joseph,  b.  Apr.  22,  1804;  m.  Oct.  28,  1831,  Catharine  Parker. 

7.  *Eldad,  b.  Aug.  18,  1806;  m.  Nov.  9,  1837,  Mercy  A.  Peterson. 

8.  Mary,  b.  Aug.  5,  1808;  m.  Nov.  28,  1833,  Nathan  Dunphee. 

9.  *Ithimar  Bard,  b.  Feb.  2,  1814;  m.  May  23,  1850,  Martha  A.  H. 
C.  Bills  of  Townsend,  Mass. 

(VI)  JOHN  SAWTELLE,  the  first  child  and  first  son  of  Eli  and 
Lydia  (Hunt)  Sawtelle,  was  born  at  Brookline  Sept.  3,  1792.  He  m.  Dec. 
24,  1818,  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  James  and  Sarah  (Boynton)  Parker  of  Brook- 
line. Soon  after  his  marriage,  he  removed  to  Rochester,  N.  Y.;  where  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  His  descendants  are  living  in  Rochester 
at  the  present  time  (1914). 


608 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


Children ; 
Bom  in  Brookline. 


1.  Elizabeth,  b.  Aug.  17,  1820. 

2.  John,  b.  Dec.  22,  1823. 


(VI)  ISAAC  SAW- 
TELLE,  second  child 
and  second  son  of  Eli 
and  L/ydia  (Hunt)  Saw- 
telle,  was  born  at  Brook- 
line,  March  25,  1794.  In 
his  young  manhood,  he 
was  for  several  terms  a 
teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  the  town.  In 
1816,  he  entered  into  a 
co-partnership  with 
James  Parker,  Jr.  for  en- 
gaging in  the  sale  of 
general  merchandise,  in 
a  store  which  the  firm 
opened  in  the  dwelling 
house  on  the  east  side  of 
Main  street  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  Walter 
E.  Corey.  The  partner- 
ship was  of  brief  existence  and  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent. 

About  1840,  he  purchased  the  old  Lieut.  Samuel  Farley  place  in  the 
east  part  of  the  town,  and  moving  his  family  into  the  house  on  the 
premises,  settled  down  as  a  farmer;  an  avocation  which  he  followed  for 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  a  Whig  in  his  politics,  a  Unitarian  in 
his  religion,  and  a  citizen  of  progressive  and  liberal  ideas  and  of  unques- 
tioned integrity  and  ability.  From  1835  to  1852  he  served  three  terms  as 
town  clerk,  and  eight  terms  as  selectman.  He  was  for  many  years  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  was  a  member  of  Benevolent  Lodge  F.  A.  M. 
of  Milford;  of  which  he  was  worshipful  master  in  1823  and  1858.  He  m. 
in  1818,  Sarah,  dau.  of  James  and  Sarah  (Boynton)  Parker  of  Brookline. 
He  d.  June  4,  1860;  she  d.  Aug.         ,  1880. 


ISAAC  SAWTELLE 


HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  609 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Isaac  Augustus,  b.  Dec.  24,  1819;  m.  Helen  M.  Andrews;  no  ch.; 
he  d.  while  in  the  service  during  the  Civil  War  at  Algiers,  La.,  July  7, 
1863. 

2.  DeWitt,  b.  Mar.  22,  1821;  d.  Aug.  31,  1821. 

3.  Sarah  Augusta,  b.  July  6,  1822;  d.  Mar.  5,  1855. 

4.  Catharine  Parker,  b.  May  24,  1826;  m.  Dec.  21,  1847,  Simeon  A. 
Spalding  of  Hollis;  she  d.  Mar.  15,  1883;  1  ch.,  Katie  Frances,  b.  in  Hollis, 
July  18,  1852;  m.  July  15,  1868,  Eugene  A.  Flagg,  of  New  Ipswich;  ch., 
(1)  Katie  Reed,  b.  June  2,  1870;  d.  Jan.  23,  1871;  (2)  Katie  E.,  b.  Jan.  24, 
1872;  (3)  Frederick  L.,  b.  Oct.  7,  1873;  (4)  Winnifred  M.,  b.  Aug.  4,  1876. 

5.  Lydia  Maria,  b.  May  29,  1826;  m.  Nov.  28,  1850,  Geo.  W.  L. 
Hobart. 

6.  James  Frederick,  b.  July  16,  1828;  d.  Jan.  1903;  unm. )    T    . 

7.  John  Freeman,  b.  July  16,  1828;  d.  May  29,  1831.         )         mS" 

8.  Caroline  Amanda,  b.  May  4,  1831;  m.  in  1860,  True  Tucker 
Locke,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.;  ch.,  (1)  Cora  Sawtelle,  b.  Oct.  12,  1860;  m. 
Nov.  25,  1895,  James  E.  Mullin  of  Boston;  res.  Boston;  no  ch.;  (2)  Helen, 
b.  Feb.  19,  1863;  m.  Dec.  20,  1887,  Almond  M.  Tewksbury  of  Chicago; 
ch.;  (1)  Theodore  T.,  b.  Mar.  7,  1890;  (2)  Paul,  b.  July  8,  1891;  (3) 
Kathryn,  b.  May  9,  1893;  (4)  Almond  M.,  b.  Jan.  11,  1907. 

9.  Clinton  Freeman,  b.  July  10,  1836;  d.  Nov.  10,  1854. 

(VI)  ELI  SAWTELLE,  third  son  of  Lieut.  Eli  and  Lydia  (Hunt) 
Sawtelle,  was  born  in  Brookline  Oct.  1,  1800.  He  was  a  farmer  and  settled 
in  Amherst.  He  was  thrice  married;  m.  1st,  May  10,  1835,  Lydia  Hall  of 
Milford;  she  d.  in  Amherst,  June  25,  1861;  m.  2nd,  July  2,  1862,  Mrs. 
Hannah  Cutler  of  Nashua;  she  d.  Oct.  30,  1874. 

Children;  Born  in  Amherst. 

1.  Edward  P.,  b.  Mar.  8,  1836. 

2.  William  W.,  b.  Apr.  13,  1838;  d.  in  the  army,  Oct.  26,  1863. 

3.  Lyman  B.,  b.  Mar.  21,  1840;  in  the  Civil  War;  d.  at  Amherst, 
Sept.  4,  1863. 

4.  Eli  A.,  b.  July  27,  1844;  m.  Virginia  Rockwell  of  New  Haven, 
Conn.;  1  ch.  E valine. 

5.  Henry  G.,  b.  Oct.  27,  1844;  d.  Sept.  3,  1849. 


610 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


(VI)  JOSEPH  SAW- 
TELLE, fourth  son  of 
Lieut.  Eli  and  Lydia 
(Hunt)  Sawtelle,  was 
born  in  Brookline,  Oct. 
28,  1831.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  surveyor, 
and  a  citizen  of  large  in- 
fluence and  unquestion- 
able integrity.  He  was 
selectman  in  1854  and 
1855,  town  treasurer  in 
1867,  and  represented 
the  town  in  the  legisla- 
ture of  1873.  He  was  a 
Unitarian  in  his  Religious 
belief,  and  a  Republican 
in  his  politics.  In  the 
old  militia  days,  he  serv- 
ed as  major  in  the  23rd 
regiment  of  the  N.  H. 
State  Militia.  He  m.  Oct.  28,  1831,  Catharine,  dau.  of  James  and  Sarah 
(Boynton)  Parker.  She  d.  Aug.  20,  1879.  He  m.  2nd,  Oct.  28,  1880, 
Cynthia  (Hobart)  Rockwood,  widow  of  Levi  Rockwood.  He  d.  Mar. 
8,  1883;  ;she  d.  Nov.  21,  1895. 


JOSEPH  SAWTELLE 


Children;  by  First  Wife. 

1.     Two  children;  died  in  infancy. 

3.  Ellen  Catharine,  b.  Mar.  16,  1843;  she  is  a  graduate  of  the 
Salem,  Mass.,  Normal  School,  and  at  the  present  time  is  head  teacher  in 
the  Hancock  School  in  Boston,  Mass.  (For  sketch  of  her  life  see  Chap. 
XI,  ante). 


(VI)  ELD  AD  SAWTELLE,  fifth  son  of  Lieut.  Eli  and  Lydia 
(Hunt)  Sawtelle,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Aug.  18,  1806.  He  was  a  farmer, 
a  citizen  of  excellent  reputation,  and  a  member  of  the  local  Congregational 
church.  He  m.  Nov.  9,  1837,  Mercy  (Adams)  Peterson,  dau.  of  John  and 
Jemima  Peterson  of  Brookline.  He  d.  in  Brookline,  Sept.  12,  1857.  His 
widow  subsequently  married  Calvin  R.  Shedd  of  Brookline. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  611 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Julia  Ann,  b.  Oct.  5,  1840;  m.  about  1860,  Charles  Coggin  of  Am- 
herst; she  d.  Dec.  19,  1860;  he  d.  in  California  in  1903  or  4. 

2.  Sarah  Jane,  b.  July  22,  1846;  m.  Apr.  8,  1865,  Charles  N.  Corey. 

3.  Mary  Josephine,  b.  May  20,  1849;  m.  Oct.  31,  1880,  George  E. 
Stiles;  one  ch.,  Marion  Adams,  b.  Oct.  23,  1882. 

(VI)  ITHIMAR  BARD  SAWTELLE,  sixth  son  of  Lieut.  Eli  and 
Lydia  (Hunt)  Sawtelle,  was  born  in  Brookline  Feb.  2,  1814.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  of  his  native  town,  and  subsequently,  after  due  prepar- 
ation, entered  Amherst  College;  but  did  not  graduate,  leaving  the  college 
in  the  middle,  or  at  the  end,  of  his  freshman  year.  After  leaving  college 
he  taught  school  several  terms,  and  subsequently  took  a  position  as  clerk 
in  the  store  of  James  Parker.  Jr,  on  Main  street  in  Brookline.  He  re- 
signed this  position  in  1846;  and  for  the  four  successive  years  ensuing,  em- 
ployed his  time  in  teaching  school  and  attending  to  the  duties  devolving 
on  him  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  About  1848-49,  he  removed  from  Brook- 
line to  Townsend  Hill;  where  for  a  few  years  following  he  was  associated 
with  Daniel  Bills  in  the  coopering  business.  In  1855  he  removed  with  his 
family  to  Boston,  Mass.;  where  he  was  employed  as  book-keeper  in  the 
store  of  Joseph  C.  Tucker,  who  was  then  engaged  in  the  retail  West  India 
goods  and  grocery  business  in  that  city.  He  retained  this  position  until 
1869;  when,  Mr.  Tucker  having  closed  out  his  business,  he  returned  to 
Townsend  Hill.  In  the  fore  part  of  the  sixties  he  removed  from  the  Hill 
to  West  Townsend,  where  he  entered  the  employment  of  the  Hon.  Walter 
Fessenden  of  Townsend  Centre,  as  general  superintendent  and  overseer 
of  the  work  connected  with  his  business  as  a  wholesale  manufacturer  of 
and  dealer  in  lumber  and  barrels;  a  position  which  he  occupied  until  Mr. 
Fessenden's  death.  After  which  event  he  retired  from  active  business 
operations,  and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  at  his  residence  in  West 
Townsend,  in  the  society  of  his  family;  to  which  he  was  deeply  attached. 

As  a  citizen,  Mr.  Sawtelle  was  highly  esteemed  and  respected  by  his 
fellow  citizens,  both  in  Brookline  and  in  Townsend;  as  is  evinced  by  the 
many  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility  with  which  they  honored  him. 
During  his  residence  in  Brookline,  he  was  moderator  in  1845  and  1846, 
and  Representative  in  the  legislatures  of  1846,  1847  and  1848.  In  Town- 
send  he  served  many  times  on  the  board  of  education  and  occupied  other 
important  civil  positions. 


612  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

In  his  political  belief,  Mr.  Sawtelle  was  a  Democrat  of  the  Jeffer- 
sonian  school.  He  was  a  pleasing  public  speaker,  a  skilled  debator,  and  a 
writer  of  ability.  He  was  the  orator  of  the  day  at  Brookline's  celebration 
of  its  centennial  anniversary  in  1869;  on  which  occasion  he  delivered  an 
eloquent  address  which  was  subsequently  published.  Among  the  other 
published  products  of  his  pen  are  the  following: 

"History  of  Brookline,"  a  historical  sketch  prepared  for,  and  pub- 
lished in  a  "History  of  Hillsborough  County",  N.  H.,  published  in  1885 
by  J.  W.  Lewis  &  Co. 

"History  of  Townsend,  Mass."     Published  by  himself  in  1878. 

He  m.  May  23,  1850,  Martha  A.  H.  C.  Bills,  dau.  of  Daniel  and  Lu- 
cretia  Carter  (Tucker)  Bills.  He  d.  at  Townsend,  Nov.  1,  1905;  she  d. 
in  1898. 

Children;  Born  in  Townsend. 

1.  Arthur  Bills,  b.  May  17,  1851;  d.  Oct.  14,  1852. 

2.  Carrie  Frances,  b.  Jan.  8,  1853;  m.  Jan.  9,  1872,  Clarence  Stick  - 
ney,  Esq.,  of  Townsend;  ch.,  (1)  Charles  Bills,  b.  Sept.  28,  1874,  m. 
Hattie  Lawrence;  (2)  Wilfred  Roy,  b.  June  6,  1877,  d.  July  24,  1881;  (3) 
Agnes  W.,  b.  Apr.  25,  1882;  m.  Ivers  P.  Sherwin  of  Townsend. 

3.  Bertha  Sawtelle,  b.  May  14,  1858;  m.  Sept.  24,  1881,  Howard 
Bertram  White,  res.  Ayer,  Mass.;  ch.,  (1)  Annie  Sawtelle,  b.  Aug.  1, 
1882;  (2)  Howard  Arthur,  b.  Jan.  26,  1884. 

Seaver. 

(II)  CAPT.  ROBERT  SEAVER  the  first  of  his  family  to  live  in 
this  town,  settled  in  the  northeast  part  of  Hollis,  afterwards  Raby,  in 
1764;  coming  there  from  Marlborough,  Mass.;  where  he  was  born  in  1743. 
He  was  a  son,  probably,  of  Robert  and  Eunice  (Raymond)  Seaver. 

Capt.  Seaver's  log-cabin  in  Raby  was  located  about  one-half  mile 
north  of  the  present  village  on  the  east  side  of  the  east  highway  to  Milford. 
Its  site  at  the  present  time  is  occupied  by  the  dwelling  house  of  George 
Shattuck;  which  was  built  by  Capt.  Robert  soon  after  the  close  of  the 
Revolution.  In  1768,  he  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  petition  for  the  in- 
corporation of  Raby;  and  after  its  incorporation,  one  of  its  most  promin- 
ent and  influential  citizens.  He  derived  his  title  as  "Captain"  from  the 
fact  that  during  the  early  days  of  the  town's  existence,  he  was  many  times 
captain  of  its  training  band.  During  the  War  of  the  Revolution  he  was  a 
member  of  Raby's  Committees  of  Safety,  and  also  served  as  one  of  its 


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HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  613 

soldiers,  both  as  a  private  and  also  as  one  of  its  three  commissioned  offi- 
cers. He  was  a  private  in  Captain  Reuben  Dow's  company  of  Hollis; 
which  marched  from  Hollis,  Apr.  19,  1775,  at  the  time  of  the  Lexington 
alarm;  second  Lieutenant  of  Capt.  Noah  Worcester's  company  of  Hollis 
which  was  in  the  service  for  three  months  in  the  winter  of  1775  and  1776 
at  Cambridge,  Mass.;  and  First  Lieutenant  of  Capt.  Daniel  Emerson's 
company  of  Hollis,  which  marched  from  Hollis,  June  30,  1777,  upon  the 
receipt  of  the  news  of  Gen.  Burgoyne's  advance  upon  Ticonderoga. 

He  served  the  town  as  moderator  in  1781,  1784,  1789,  1793,  1794  and 
1795;  town  treasurer  in  1777,  1781,  1782,  1789  and  1790;  and  was  select- 
man in  1774  and  1786. 

He  m.  in  Sudbury,  Mass.,  Sept.  20,  1763,  Joanna  Parmenter.  At  the 
time  of  his  marriage,  according  to  the  Sudbury  town  records,  both  he  and 
his  wife  were  residents  in  Marlborough,  Mass.  He  d.  at  Brookline,  Nov. 
3,  1828,  aged  85  years.  His  wife  d.  at  Brookline,  Feb.  8,  1822,  aged  78 
years.    They  are  buried  in  the  South  Cemetery. 

Children. 

1.  Eleanor,  b.  in  Marlboro,  Mass.,  Feb.  2,  1764;  m.  Mar.  24,  1789, 
Abijah  Parker  of  Brookline. 

2.  *Joshua,  b.  in  Raby,  June  29,  1768;  m.  1st,  Esther; 
m.  2nd. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  in  Raby,  July  25,  1770;  m.  Jan.  26,  1792,  Samuel  Doug- 
lass, Sr. 

4.  Robert,  b.  in  Raby,  June  25,  1774. 

5.  Mary,  b.  in  Raby,  Apr.  4,  1777;  m.  Oct.  3,  1799,  Ezra  Shattuck. 

(Ill)     JOSHUA  SEAVER,  first  son  of  Capt.  Robert  and  Jonana 
(Parmenter)  Seaver,  was  b.  in   Brookline,  June  29,    1768.     He   was  a 
farmer,  a  citizen  of  repute,  and  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  local 
Congregational  church  at  the  time  of  its  organization  in  1795.     In  18 
he  removed  from  Brookline  to  ,  Vt.     He  was  twice  married; 

m.  1st,  Esther  ;  m.  2nd,  in  Vermont. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  *Robert,  b.  Apr.  13,  1791;  m.  Mar.  16,  1813,  Hepzibah  Gilson. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  Feb.  28,  1793;  m.  Aug.  29,  1818,  Jonas  Kendall;  he  d. 
Jan.  24,  1879;  she  d.  Oct.  5,  1868. 


614  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

3.  Persis,  b.  Mar.  7,  1795;  m.  Isaac  Blivens;  lived  in  McDonough, 
N.  Y. 

4.  Asa,  b.  June  17,  1797. 

5.  Susanna,  b.  Aug.  13,  1799. 

6.  Mary,  b.  May  4,  1801 ;  m.  Mar.  12,  1823,  John  Adams  of  Goffs- 
town. 

7.  Sophronia,  b.  Aug.  10,  1803;  m.  Nathaniel  Cotton  of  Deny. 

By  Second  Wife. 

8.  James  B.  ) 

9.  Joel  J.       >all  born  in  Vt.,  and  deceased. 
10.     JohnK.    ) 

(IV)  ROBERT  SEAVER,  Jr.,  first  child  and  first  son  of  Joshua 
and  Esther  Seaver,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Apr.  13,  1791.  He  was  a 
farmer,  an  excellent  citizen,  and  a  member  of  the  local  Congregational 
church.  He  m.  Mar.  16,  1813,  Hepzibah,  dau.  of  Eleazer  and  Hannah 
Gilson.    He  d.  in  1861 ;  his  wife  d.  in  1867. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Heman,  b.  Jan.  30,  1814;  m.  Mar.  20,  1837,  Eliza  Boynton  of 
Weare. 

2.  *Asa,  b.  Apr.  12,  1816;  m.  May  1,  1839,  Rebecca  Hutchinson. 

3.  William,  b.  July  23,  1818;  m.  Sophia  Braybrook  of  Boston,  Mass. 

4.  Susan,  b.  Feb.  1,  1821;  m.  Jan.  28,  1840,  Daniel  Alexander  of 
Medford,  Mass.;  m.  2nd,  Daniel  Wiggins  of  Meredith. 

5.  Marinda,  b.  July  16,  1823;  m.  John  Upton,  of  Peterboro. 

6.  Charles,  b.  July  30,  1826;  went  to  California  in  1849,  and  married 
there. 

7.  Mary  J.,  b.  Oct.  29,  1828;  m.  Chase  Wiggins  of  Meredith. 

8.  Eliza  A.,  b.  Apr.  14,  1831;  m.  Feb.  22,  1857,  Luther  Burge. 

(V)  ASA  SEAVER,  second  child  and  second  son  of  Robert  and 
Hepzibah  (Gilson)  Seaver,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Apr.  12,  1816.  He  was 
a  farmer  and  cooper.  With  the  exception  of  a  few  years  in  the  forties, 
during  which  he  resided  on  Townsend  Hill,  his  life  was  passed  in  his 
native  town.  He  was  a  reputable  citizen,  and  a  member  of  the  local  M. 
E.  Church.  He  m.  May  1,  1839,  Rebecca,  dau.  of  John  and  Rebecca 
Hutchinson.    He  d.  in  Brookline  Mar.  22,  1905;  his  wife  d.  Mar.  3,  1905. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  615 

Children. 

1.  Harriet  L.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Mar.  10,  1841;  m.  Oct.  20,  1859, 
Henry  B.  Stiles. 

2.  Theresa  M.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Oct.  29,  1842;  m.  Dec.  21,  1873, 
Rev.  T.  J.  Abbott  of  Derby,  Vt.  He  d.  in  Mar.  1878;  she  d.  Mar.  17,  1906; 
one  ch.,  George  b.  Oct.  7,  1876,  in  Charlestown,  S.  C.     (See  chap.  11  ante). 

3.  Josephine  R.,  b.  in  Townsend,  Mass.,  Jan.  10,  1845,  res.  Brook- 
line. 

4.  John  F.,  b.  in  Townsend,  Oct.  9,  1847;  d.  in  infancy. 

5.  Roswell,  b.  in  Brookline,  Sept.  5,  1848;  d.  Sept.  17,  1849. 

6.  Mary  E.,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  9,  1850;  d.  Mar.  5,  1851. 

Shannon. 

RICHARD  CUTTS  SHANNON  settled  in  Brookline  in  1785,  coming 
here  from  Hollis.  He  was  a  son  of  Cutts  and  Mary  (Vaughn)  Shannon 
of  Portsmouth,  where  he  was  born  May  9,  1743.  In  1774  he  removed 
from  Portsmouth  to  Hollis,  where  he  opened  an  office  and  began  the 
practice  of  law.  When  the  War  of  the  Revolution  opened  he  was  a  tory; 
and  as  such,  in  company  with  Samuel  Cummings  and  Leonard  Whiting 
both  of  Hollis,  was  arrested,  tried  and  convicted,  and  confined  in  Exeter 
jail;  from  which  he  was  discharged  in  1779,  upon  his  giving  bonds  to  keep 
the  peace.  He  returned  to  Hollis  and  resumed  the  practice  of  law.  He 
represented  Hollis  in  the  legislatures  of  1782  and  1783. 

In  1785  he  removed  from  Hollis  to  Brookline  where  he  opened  a  law 
office.  He  was  the  first  lawyer  to  settle  and  practice  law  in  this  town. 
His  dwelling  house  in  1786  was  located  in  the  village;  its  site,  at  the  pres- 
ent time,  is  occupied  by  the  ell  part  of  the  Nissitisset  hotel. 

While  living  here,  in  addition  to  his  practice,  he  dealt  somewhat  ex- 
tensively in  real  estate.  In  1795  he  presented  the  town  with  the  land  up- 
on which  its  first  meeting-house  now  stands.  The  town's  records  show 
him  to  have  been  active  in  its  affairs.  He  was  moderator  in  the  years 
1787,  1788,  1790,  1791  and  1792.  He  was  coroner  of  the  county  in  1790. 
He  removed  from  Brookline  in  1794,  and  is  said  to  have  returned  to  Ports- 
mouth. He  d.  at  Newcastle,  Apr.  7,  1822,  and  is  buried  at  Portsmouth. 
His  sister,  Eleanor,  d.  in  Brookline,  Nov.  27,  1834,  and  is  buried  in  the 
South  Cemetery;  where  her  grave  is  marked  by  a  marble  stone.  He  m. 
in  1774,  Elizabeth  Ruggles  of  Boston,  Mass. 


616  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Children. 

1.  James  N.,  b.  at  Hollis,  Aug.  16,  1774;  d.  young. 

2.  Elisabeth,  b.  at  Hollis,  June  12,  1776;  m.  Benjamin  S.  Tucker  of 
Brookline. 

3.  Mary  Ann,  b.  at  Hollis,  Aug.  12,  1778. 

4.  Abiagail,  b.  at  Hollis,  Oct.  21,  1780. 

5.  John  Langdon,  b.  July  4,  1783. 

6.  Sophia,  b.  at  Brookline,  June  4,  1786. 

7.  James  N.,  b.  at  Brookline,  Jan.  8,  1788. 

8.  Sarah,  b.  at  Brookline,  May  23,  1791. 

Shattuck. 

(VI)  BENJAMIN  SHATTUCK,  Sr.,  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
Anna  (Williams)  Shattuck,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.;  where  he  was  born,  Dec. 
9,  1828.  He  was  a  lineal  descendant  in  the  sixth  generation  of  William 
Shattuck  of  Watertown,  Mass.;  of  whom  little  is  known  except  that  he 
was  born  in  England  in  1621  or  1622,  and  died  in  Watertown,  Aug.  14, 
1672,  aged  50  years.  The  line  of  descent  is  as  follows:  (I)  William,  (II) 
William,  (III)  John,  (IV)  Samuel,  (V)  Samuel,  (VI)  Benjamin.  Prior 
to  1768,  he  removed  from  Pepperell  to  the  west  part  of  Hollis,  now  Brook- 
line, where  he  settled  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town  on  land  which  he 
purchased  of  Col.  William  Blanchard.  His  log-cabin  was  located  about 
three  miles  north  of  the  village  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  from 
Brookline  to  Greenville,  and  on  the  west  bank  of  the  North  stream.  Its 
site  at  the  present  time  is  marked  by  its  cellar  hole  and  the  ancient  well 
near  it.  Soon  after  coming  here  he  built  near  his  residence  the  first  saw- 
mill to  be  erected  on  the  North  stream,  in  Brookline.  In  1768,  he  was  one 
of  the  signers  of  the  petition  for  the  incorporation  of  Raby.  He  served 
for  Raby  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  town  treasurer  in  1774,  and  served 
on  the  Board  of  selectmen  in  the  years  1776,  1777  and  1778. 

He  m.  1st,  in  Pepperell,  Dec.  8,  1763,  Abigail,  dau.  of  Mathias  and 
Abigail  (Shedd)  Farnsworth.  She  d.  at  Brookline,  about  1767.  He  m. 
2nd,  Nov.  15,  1768,  Mary  Proctor,  dau.  of  Moses  Proctor,  of  Hollis.  He 
d.  in  Brookline,  Sept.  12,  1813,  aged  84  years.  She  d.  in  Brookline,  Nov. 
4,  1839,  aged  100  years  and  ten  months.  He  and  his  two  wives  are  buried 
in  the  Pond  Cemetery. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  617 

Children;  Born  in  Pepperell. 
By  His  First  Wife. 

1.  A  son    )      b.  Jan  12,  1765;  d.  on  the  day  of  birth. 

2.  A  son    )      twins.         d.  Jan.  23,  1765,  aged  11  days. 

3.  Abigail,      b.  Dee.  25,  1766;  m.  Ebenezer  Emery. 

Children;  By  His  Second  Wife. 
Born  in  Brookline. 

4.  *Benjamin,  b.  Apr.  7,  1777;  m.  May  13,  1800,  Sybel  Parker. 

5.  *Moses,  b.  Jan.  10,  1779;  m.  Sept.  10,  1802,  Naomi  Wetherbee. 

6.  Rebecca,  b.  Apr.  28,  1782;  m.  in  1812,  John  Hutchins. 

7.  Elizabeth,  b.  Apr.  4,  1785;  unm. 

(VII)  BENJAMIN  SHATTUCK,  Jr.,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary 
(Proctor)  Shattuck,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Apr.  7,  1777.  He  was  a 
farmer,  a  Democrat  in  his  politics,  and  one  of  the  town's  leading  and 
prominent  citizens.  He  held  every  town  office  of  note;  collected  the  U. 
S.  tax  in  1812,  1813  and  1814;  and  represented  the  town  in  the  legislatures 
of  1816  and  1817.  He  was  also  a  deputy  sheriff  for  the  county  and  a 
justice  of  the  Peace  and  quorum.  He  m.  May  13,  1800,  Sybel  Parker, 
b.  in  Groton,  July  29,  1772,  dau.  of  Eleazer  and  Lydia  (Lawrence)  Parker. 
He  d.  in  Brookline,  May  28,  1851,  aged  54  years;  his  wife  d.  in  Brookline, 
Dec.  1827,  aged  55  years  and  5  months. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *Luther,  b.  July  4,  1800;  m.  Jan.  2,  1826,  Louisa  Holt. 

2.  *Alpheus,  b.  Oct.  15,  1802;  m.  Apr.  1,  1822,  Clarinda  Wallace. 

3.  Benjamin,  b.  ;  d.  Apr.  26,  1807. 

(VIII)  LUTHER  SHATTUCK,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Sybel 
(Parker)  Shattuck,  was  born  in  Brookline,  July  4,  1800.  In  1838  he  re- 
moved to  Haverhill,  Mass.;  where  for  many  years  he  was  proprietor  and 
manager  of  mills.  While  living  in  Brookline,  he  held  various  town  offices, 
and  was  coroner  and  a  Justice  of  the  Peace.  He  m.  Jan.  2,  1826,  Louisa 
Holt,  b.  in  Andover,  Aug.  30,  1807,  dau.  of  Rev.  Jacob  and  Mary  (Frye) 
Holt. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Jacob  H.,  b.  June  9,  1827. 

2.  Enoch,  b.  Feb.  15,  1829;  d.  June  28,  1838. 


618  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

3.  Luther  P.,  b.  Jan.  4,  1831. 

4.  Kendall,  b.  Nov.  12,  1832. 

5.  Mary  L.,  b.  Oct.  13,  1834;  m.  in  1870,  Farley  M.  Wilkins. 

6.  Josephine,  b.  Sept.  13,  1836. 

(VIII)  ALPHEUS  SHATTUCK,  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Sybel 
(Parker)  Shattuck,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Oct.  15,  1802.  For  many 
years  he  resided  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town  on  the  old  Shattuck 
homestead;  where  he  farmed  and  operated  the  sawmill  connected  with 
the  premises.  About  1860,  he  retired  from  business,  and,  having  pur- 
chased the  "Old  Yellow  House,"  so  called,  in  the  village,  took  up  his  abode 
and  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  the  same.  He  was  an  active  and 
influential  citizen,  and  prominent  in  public  affairs.  He  represented  the 
town  in  the  legislatures  of  1843,  1844,  1845  and  1866.  He  was  a  Justice 
of  the  Peace  and  Coronor.  He  m.  Apr.  1,  1822,  Clarinda,  dau.  of  Mathew 
and  Betsey  (Mcintosh)  Wallace.  He  d.  at  Brookline  in  1886.  She  d.  in 
1878. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Mary  Jane,  b.  June  9,  1823;  m.  Apr.  30,  1844,  Hazzard  Bos- 
worth  of  Royalton,  Vt.  Ch.,  (1)  Willie  J.,  b.  Mar.  10,  1851;  d.  Aug. 
1852;  (2)  Percy,  b.  in  Bethel,  Vt.,  July  6,  1853;  d.  in  1904;  (3)  Bersba  C, 
b.  Jan.  6,  1854;  d.  in  1871. 

2.  Eliza  Ann,  b.  Jan.  2,  1825;  m.  May  19,  1850,  Nathaniel  Hobart. 

3.  *Benjamin,  b.  Jan.  20,  1831;  m.  in  1852,  Louisa  Wheeler. 

4.  Lucilla  Parker,  b.  Mar.  6,  1833;  m.  Dec.  22,  1853,  Amos  Pea- 
body  of  Milford;  1  ch.,  Lewie  A.,  b.  July  22,  1855;  d.  July  29,  1855. 

(IX)  BENJAMIN  SHATTUCK,  son  of  Alpheus  and  Clarinda 
(Wallace)  Shattuck,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Jan.  20,  1831.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  teamster.  During  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  lived  in  Fitch- 
burg,  Mass.  He  m.  Mary  Louisa  Wheeler,  dau.  of  Benjamin  and  Roxana 
(Woods)  Wheeler  of  Brookline.    He  d.  in  1905. 

Children. 

1.     Ida  Augusta,   b.  m.   William   Proctor,   of  Fitchburg, 

Mass.     Several  children. 

(VII)  MOSES  SHATTUCK,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Proctor) 
Shattuck,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Jan.  10,  1779.     He  was  a  farmer.    His 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  619 

house  in  Brookline  was  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Green- 
ville, about  four  miles  north  of  the  village.  He  m.  Sept.  10,  1802,  Naomi 
Wetherbee,  dau.  of  Timothy  and  Dydia  (Parker)  Wetherbee,  of  Con- 
cord, Mass.    He  d.  Apr.  25,  1869,  aged  90  years  and  3  months. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Roxana,  b.  June  6,  1803;  m.  Dec.  28,  1845,  Joseph  F.  Jeft.s. 

2.  *Asia,  b.  Sept.  18,  1804;  m.  in  1828,  Jane  Wallace. 

3.  Africa,  b.  Apr.  30,  1807. 

4.  Europe,  b.  Jan.  1,  1809;  m.  Olive  Homes.  He  d.  in  Sutton, 
Dec.  11,  1839;  2  ch.,  Moses  and  Martin. 

5.  America,  b.  Sept.  8,  1810;  m.  a  Spanish  lady  of  Porto  Rico,  and 
d.  at  Staten  Island,  June  1844. 

6.  Mary,  b.  June  23,  1812;  m.  Rufus  Senter;  5  ch.  Africa,  Moses, 
Harrison,  Deborah,  and  Eliza. 

(VIII)  ASIA  SHATTUCK,  son  of  Moses  and  Naomi  (Wetherbee) 
Shattuck,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Sept.  18,  1804.  He  was  a  farmer.  He 
m.  in  1828,  Jane  Wallace,  dau.  of  Mathew  and  Betsey  (Mcintosh)  Wal- 
lace.   He  d.  Apr.  8,  1842;  she  d.  July  6,  1842. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  James  Kilburn,  b.  Nov.  28,  1828;  d.  of  consumption,  Mar.  20, 
1848. 

2.  Achsah,  b.  Jan.  18,  1830;  d.  of  consumption,  May  19,  1853. 

3.  Henry  Milton,  b.  Oct.  8,  1831;  d.  of  consumption,  Apr.  3,  1852. 

4.  John  H.,  b.  May  23,  1833. 

5.  William  Wallace,  b.  Apr.  5,  1835;  d.  of  consumption,  Sept.  9, 
1853. 

6.  Charles  W.,  b.  Sept.  30,  1836;  d.  of  consumption,  Apr.  1858. 

(VI)  ISAAC  SHATTUCK,  third  son  of  Samuel  and  Anna 
(Williams)  Shattuck,  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass.,  Sept.  ,  1736.  He 
settled  in  Brookline  about  1780.  His  house  was  located  about  two  miles 
north  of  the  village  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  now  known  as  the 
poor-farm  road.  He  was  a  farmer  and  a  citizen  of  character  and  repute. 
In  1783  he  and  James  Campbell  taught  the  first  public  school  of  record  to 
be  established  in  this  town.     He  served  as  a  soldier  for  Brookline  in  the 


620 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


War  of  the  Revolution.  He  m.  1st,  Jan.  15,  1761,  wid.  Hannah  Hall, 
dau.  of  William  Spaulding  of  Pepperell,  Mass.  She  d.  Aug.  30,  1800  in 
Brookline;  m.  2nd,  Spaulding,  b.  in  Townsend,  Mass.;  she  d. 

in  Temple.    He  d.  Nov.  19,  1807. 

Children;  Bom  in  Pepperell,  Mass. 

1.  Hannah,  b.  June  9,  1762;  m.  Eleazer  Gilson. 

2.  Isaac,  b.  Oct.  2,  1764;  d.  Jan.  14,  1775. 

3.  Hepsibah,  b.  Mar.  20,  1768;  d.  Sept.  30,  1774. 

4.  Elizabeth,  b.  May  27,  1770;  d.  Jan.  23,  1775. 

5.  Anna,  b.  Apr.  25,  1773;  m.  Stephen  Hall  of  Brookline;  she  d.  in 
New  Ipswich;  he  d.  in  Brookline  and  is  buried  in  the  Pond  Cemetery. 

(VIII)  NATHAN- 
IEL SHATTUCK,  son 
of  Nathaniel  and  Han- 
nah (Ball)  Shattuck, 
was  born  in  Pepperell, 
Mass.,  Oct.  5,  1792.  He 
was  a  lineal  descendant 
in  the  eighth  generation 
of  William  Shattuck, 
immigrant  settler  from 
England,  who  died  in 
Watertown,  Mass.,  Aug. 
14,  1672;  the  line  of  de- 
scent being  as  follows: 
(I)  William,  (II) 
William,  (III)  John, 
(IV)  John,  (V)  Jona- 
than, (VI)  John,  (VII) 
Nathaniel,  (VIII)  Na- 
thaniel. In  1812,  he  re- 
moved from  Pepperell  to 
Brookline,  and  settled  as 
a  wheelwright.  His  house  and  shop  were  located  in  South  Brookline,  on 
the  east  side  of  the  road  leading  southerly  from  the  bridge  over  the  Wal- 
lace brook  to  Bohonon's  bridge  over  the  Nissitissett  River.  He  was  a 
leading  citizen.    He  commanded  the  5th  Company  of  the  11th  Regiment 


NATHANIEL  SHATTUCK 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  621 

of  N.  H.  State  Militia  from  1821  to  1828.  He  was  selectman  for  eight 
years;  six  years  town  clerk,  and  Representative  in  1853;  was  appointed 
Justice  of  the  Peace  in  1840,  and  of  the  quorum  in  1850.  He  m.  Dec.  30, 
1812,  Betsey  Green,  widow  of  Jonas  Green,  and  dau.  of  Elijah  and  widow 
Hannah  Reed  Shattuck.  He  d.  in  Brookline,  Nov.  23,  1863;  she  d.  Jan. 
9,  1855. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Nathaniel  V.,  b.  June  5,  1813;  d.  Oct.  14,  1817. 

2.  Eliab  B.,  b.  May  15,  1817;  m.  Nov.  30,  1843,  Indiana  Spaulding 
of  Townsend,  Mass.;  ch.,  Orin  Varnum,  b.  June  30,  1845. 

3.  Nathaniel  V.,  b.  May  26,  1821 ;  d.  June  4,  1825. 

4.  Thirza  A.,  b.  July  12,  1821;  d.  Aug.  30,  1825. 

5.  Fernando,  b.  July  1,  1823;  m.  Nov.  25,  1851,  Charlotte  Flint 
Gould  of  New  Ipswich;  ch.,  (1)  Rinaldo  Cortes,  b.  Oct.  11,  1852,  d.  May 
2,  1854;  (2)  Eldorus  Cobb,  b.  May  13,  1855;  unm.;  (3)  Unville  McColl, 
b.  Nov.  13,  1867;  m.  Dec.  31,  1894,  Minnie  M.  Daniels;  1  ch.,  Gerald,  b. 
Nov.  1897;  res.  Pepperell,  Mass.;  Master  mechanic  of  the  Nashua  River 
Paper  Company  of  Pepperell. 

6.  Catharine  Augusta,  b.  Sept.  12,  1825;  m.  Sept.  12,  1842,  Abra- 
ham Lawrence  of  Pepperell,  Mass.;  ch.,  Henrietta  Caroline,  b.  Sept.  25, 
1850. 

7.  Betsey  Ann  Caroline,  b.  Jan.  3,  1828;  d.  Dec.  26,  1854. 

8.  Charles  Elijah,  b.  May  6,  1830;  m.  Oct.  24,  1854,  Elizabeth  N., 
dau.  of  Vryling  and  Lucinda  (Parker)  Shattuck,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.  He 
held  many  town  offices  and  was  Representative  in  1884.     No  children. 

GARDNER  SHATTUCK,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Hannah  (Ball) 
Shattuck,  and  a  brother  of  Nathaniel  Shattuck,  late  of  Brookline,  de- 
ceased, was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Mar.  5,  1795.  He  settled  about 
1820  in  Brookline  on  the  old  Alexander  Mcintosh  place.  He  was  a  farmer. 
He  m.  Dec.  17,  1817,  Silence,  dau.  of  Joseph  Warren  of  Ashby,  Mass.  He 
d.  of  apoplexy,  at  Brookline,  Sept.  18,  1854. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline  and  Pepperell. 

1.  *William  Gardner,  b.  at  Pepperell,  May  14,  1819;  m.  Apr.  8, 
1841,  Harriet  B.  Dyer. 

2.  Samuel  Warren,  b.  at  Keene,  Aug.  9,  1821. 


622  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

3.  ^Nathaniel  Herman,  b.  June  6,  1825,  at  Brookline. 

4.  Olive  Louisa,  b.  Nov.  11,  1827,  at  Brookline;  m.  Pillsbury  Hodg- 
kins  of  San  Francisco,  Cal.,  and  settled  in  San  Francisco;  where  she  d.  in 
1911,  leaving  a  family  of  children.     (See  sketch  chap.  II,  ante). 

5.  Mary  Hannah,  b.  Feb.  13,  1831;  d.  in  Boston,  Nov.  20,  1832. 

WILLIAM  GARDNER  SHATTUCK,  son  of  Gardner  and  Silence 
(Dyer)  Shattuck,  was  born  at  Pepperell,  Mass.,  May  14,  1819.  He  was 
a  farmer.  He  resided  a  few  years  in  Framingham,  Mass.;  and  subse- 
quently in  York,  Me.  About  1860  he  returned  to  Brookline,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  his  death.  He  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  and  a 
public  spirited  citizen ;  taking  a  decided  interst  in  all  matters  appertaining 
to  the  town's  welfare.  He  was  an  active  participant  in  the  exercises  at- 
tendant upon  the  Centennial  celebration  in  1869  and  a  zealous  promoter 
of  the  building  of  the  Brookline  and  Pepperell  railroad.  He  m.  Apr.  8, 
1841,  Harriet  Burdett  Dyer.    He  d.  at  Brookline,  Mar.  15,  1892. 

Children. 

1.  *Henry  G.,  b.  at  Townsend,  Mass.,  Feb.  19,  1842;  m.  in  1864, 
Laura  Blood  of  Mason. 

2.  Caroline  A.,  b.  at  Brookline,  Apr.  12,  1843;  unm.;  res.  Brookline. 

3.  William  H.,  b.  at  Brookline,  June  30,  1844. 

4.  *Joseph  C,  b.  at  Brookline,  Nov.  25,  1846;  m.  Nov.  25,  1867, 
Eliza  J.  Gould. 

5.  Mary  E.,  b.  at  Brookline,  Mar.  26,  1848. 

6.  George  F.,  b.  at  Brookline,  Oct.  8,  1851;  d.  in  1913;  no  ch. 

7.  John  P.,  b.  at  Farmington,  Mass.,  Aug.  8,  1855;  d.  Feb.  20,  1875. 

8.  *Warren  D.,  b.  at  Brookline,  Nov.  4,  1857;  m.  1st,  Nov.  1,  1884, 
Annie  Wilson;  m.  2nd,  Apr.  7,  1900,  Caroline  D.  Wolfe. 

HENRY  GARDNER  SHATTUCK,  first  child  and  first  son  of 
William  G.  and  Harriet  (Dyer)  Shattuck,  was  born  in  Townsend,  Mass., 
Feb.  19,  1842.  He  came  with  his  fathers  family  in  1842  from  Townsend, 
to  Brookline,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  He  is  a  farmer  and  team- 
ster, a  worthy  citizen  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  He  m.  in 
1864  Laura  Blood  of  Mason. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
1.     Jennie  A.,  b.  Aug.  22,  1864;  m.  Mar.  20,  1895,  Arthur  A.  Goss. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  623 

2.  Elva  I.,  b.  Oct.  30,  1870;  m.  Jan.  1,  1889.  Herbert  S.  Corey. 

3.  William,  b.  Apr.  3,  1874;  m.  Nov.  4,  1899,  LMa  M.  Frost. 

JOSEPH  C.  SHATTUCK,  third  son  and  fourth  child  of  William  G. 
and  Harriet  (Dyer)  Shattuck,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Nov.  25,  1846.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  served  for  Brookline  in  the  Civil  War.  He  married  Nov. 
25,  1867,  Eliza  J.  Gould,  of  Brookline. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Harriet  J.,  b.  Sept.  28,  1868. 

2.  Clarence  E.,  b.  Jan.  1,  1871;  d.  Oct.  15,  1905. 

3.  Martha  R.,  b.  July  1,  1873. 

4.  Lottie  C,  b.  Oct.  7,  1876. 

5.  Sidney,  S.  b.  June  14,  1880. 

6.  Caroline  E.,  b.  Aug.  21,  1883. 

WARREN  DYER  SHATTUCK,  eighth  child  and  sixth  son  of 
William  G.  and  Harriet  (Dyer)  Shattuck,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Nov. 
4,  1857.  He  has  resided  in  Brookline  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  and  is 
one  of  the  towns'  leading  citizens.  He  has  been  twice  married;  m.  1st, 
Nov.  1,  1884,  Annie  Wilson,  of  York,  Me.;  she  d.  Mar.  16,  1887;  m.  2nd, 
Apr.  7.  1900,  Caroline  G.  DeWolfe. 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 

1.  Ina  May,  b.  May  12,  1885. 

2.  Roy  T.,  b.  at  Brookline,  Mar.  7,  1887;  d.  Mar.  8,  1887. 

SAMUEL  WARREN  SHATTUCK  brother  of  foregoing  William 
Gardner  Shattuck,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Aug.  9,  1821.  He  was 
a  farmer,  and  during  the  early  part  of  his  life  resided  in  Brookline.  Later 
he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Concord;  where  he  engaged  in  the  real  es- 
tate and  auctioneering  business;  and  where  he  died.  He  m.  Mar.  14,  1843, 
Sarah  Ann  Hartwell,  b.  Aug.  26,  1822. 

Children. 

1.  Emily,  b.  in  Brookline,  Apr.  2,  1843. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  in  Brookline,  June  10,  1845;  d.  May  3,  1850. 


624  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

3.  Warren,  b.  in  Brookline,  Mar.  29,  1847;  d.  Sept.  7,  1849. 

4.  Ned,  b.  Oct.  18,  1849. 

5.  Herman,  b.  Jan.  28,  1852. 

NATHANIEL  HERMAN  SHATTUCK,  brother  of  foregoing 
William  Gardner  Shattuck,  was  born  June  6,  1825.  He  was  a  farmer  and 
school  teacher.  He  resided  in  Brookline  until  some  time  in  the  sixties, 
when  he  removed  to  York,  Me.;  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life; 
and  where  he  was  employed  for  many  years  as  superintending  school 
committee,  and  also  as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools.  He  m.  Sept.  17, 
1845,  Charlotte  Ann  Crozier,  b.  Sept.  17,  1825;  he  d.  at  York,  Me. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Ella  Marion,  b.  Mar.  26,  1851;  d.  Sept.  6,  1852. 

2.  Hubert  Warren,  b.  Jan.  16,  1853. 

ABEL  SHATTUCK,  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Hannah  (Ball)  Shattuck, 
was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  July  24,  1802.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  came 
from  Pepperell  to  Brookline  prior  to  1827.  He  m.  1st,  in  Brookline,  Mar. 
15,  1827,  Deverd  Verder.  She  d.  in  Brookline,  Oct.  30,  1840,  aged  42, 
years,  6  months  and  13  days.  He  m.  2nd,  May  10,  1842,  Sally  Burnham, 
b.  Sept.  24,  1799.    He  d.  Aug.  23,  1870;  she  d.  Mar.  13,  1894. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Mary  Elizabeth,  b.  Dec.  5,  1827;  m.  June  3,  1846,  William  H. 
Mention  of  Pepperell,  Mass.;  1  ch.,  Mary  Elizabeth,  b.  Oct.  23,  1849. 

2.  Abel  Kendall,  b.  Nov.  21,  1829;  m.  about  1853,  Mary  C.  Nutting 
of  Pepperell,;  ch.  Mary  Sophia  and  Harriet  Maria,  twins,  b.  Apr.  12,  1854. 

ABEL  SHATTUCK,  son  of  John  and  Lydia  (Hobart)  Shattuck,  was 
born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Feb.  15,  1750.  He  removed  from  Pepperell  to 
Brookline.    He  m.  in  1779,  Hannah  Hobart.    He  d.  Dec.  30,  1783. 

Children. 

1.  Sarah,  b.  Oct.  1,  1778. 

2.  Hannah,  b.  June  2,  1780. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  625 

ASHER  SHATTUCK,  a  son  of  Abraham  and  Mary  (Wright)  Shat- 
tuck,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Aug.  9,  1793.  Like  all  the  families  of 
his  name  in  Pepperell,  he  was  a  descendant  from  William  Shattuck,  the 
immigrant  settler  in  Watertown,  Mass.  His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the 
War  of  the  Revolution.      He  came  from  Pepperell  to  Brookline,  about 

1815.  He  was  a  farmer  and  cobbler.  He  was  originally  a  member  of  the 
Congregational  church;  but  in  1859  withdrew  his  connection  with  the 
latter  church  and  united  with  the  local  M.  E.  Church.     He  m.  Nov.  28, 

1816,  his  cousin,  Rachel  Shattuck,  dau.  of  Levi  and  Sybil  (Wright)  Shat- 
tuck of  Pepperell.  He  d.  at  Brookline,  Aug.  31,  1875;  she  d.  Feb.  18, 
1887. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Sophia  R.,  b.  Apr.  17,  1818;  m.  Oct.  14,  1841,  Wilkes  W.  Corey. 

2.  Asher  W.,  b.  July  19,  1820;  m.  June  4,  1846,  Lydia  K.  Learned, 
dau.  of  William  and  Rebecca  Williams  of  Gardner,  Mass.;  2  ch.,;  res. 
Gardner,  Mass. 

3.  Ormand  F.,  b.  Sept.  5,  1822;  m.  1st,  Mary  Wolson;  she  d.  Jan.  17, 
1876;  m.  2nd,  Sept.  18,  1879,  Hattie  A.  Parker  of  Townsend,  Mass.;  no 
ch.  He  was  a  carpenter,  and  a  member  of  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  d.  Feb. 
22,  1894. 

4.  Mary  E.,  b.  Aug.  11,  1824;  d.  Feb.  2,  1826. 

WARREN  SHATTUCK,  son  of  Job  and  Elizabeth  (Blood)  Shat- 
tuck, was  born  in  Groton,  Mass.,  Feb.  10,  1803.  He  came  to  Brookline 
in  1830.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  m.  Mar.  29,  1825,  Olive  Proctor,  b.  Mar. 
2,  1807.     Both  are  buried  in  the  South  cemetery. 

Children;  Born  in  Groton.  Mass. 

1.  Warren  Eliott,  b.  Dec.  5,  1825;  m.  Elvira  Davis,  dau.  of  Seth 
Davis  of  Townsend,  Mass.;  1  ch.,  Annette,  b.  July  1,  1851. 

2.  Job,  b.  July  29,  1827;  settled  in  Brookline  about  1830;  he  was  a 
painter.  About  1860,  he  removed  to  Townsend,  Mass.,  where  he  died. 
He  m.  Elvira  Worcester,  b.  Feb.  11,  1830;  ch.,  Imogene  b.  in  Brookline, 
Oct.  27,  1850;  Isadore  V.,  b.  in  Brookline,  July  10,  1853;  W.  J.  res.  Nashua. 

ALBERT  SHATTUCK,  son  of  Job  and  Elizabeth  (Blood)  Shattuck, 
was  born  in  Groton,  Mass.,  Dec.  10,  1818.    He  settled  in  Brookline  about 


626  HISTORY   OF  THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

1850.     He  was  a  carpenter.    He  m.  June  1848,  Sybil  R.  Shattuek  of  Pep- 
perell,  Mass. 

Child;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.     Mary  Elizabeth,  b.  June  21,  1848. 

Shed. 

DANIEL  SHED  was  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Abigail  Shed  of  Groton, 
Mass.;  where  he  was  born,  June  12,  1715.  He  settled  in  the  Mile  Slip 
prior  to  1768,  coming  there  from  Groton.  His  farm  was  located  on  the 
east  boundary  line  of  Mason,  and  was  bounded  on  the  north  by  Spauld- 
ing  brook.  March  13,  1776,  he  sofd  his  farm  to  Sampson  Farnsworth. 
He  remained  here  for  several  years  after  the  sale  of  his  farm  to  Farns- 
worth;  but  his  residence  during  that  period  is  unknown.  He  finally  re- 
moved from  Brookline  to  Pepperell,  Mass. ;  where  he  was  residing  in  1794. 
His  son,  Daniel  Shed,  Jr.,  was  a  soldier  for  Brookline  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution.  He  m.  1st,  Oct.  6,  1741,  Mary  (Earnsworth)  Tarbell  of 
Groton,  Mass.    He  m.  2nd,  Nov.  23,  1757,  Hannah  Lakin  of  Dunstable. 

JONAS  SHED  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass.,  Aug.  24, 1750.  He  was  a 
son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Tarbell)  Shed.  In  1764,  he  was  living  in  the 
Mile  Slip,  now  Brookline.  His  farm  was  located  on  the  south  side  of  Hol- 
den  hill  north  of  the  Spaulding  brook.  He  served  as  a  soldier  for  Brookline 
in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.    He  m.  about  1770,  Hannah  ,  sur- 

name unknown. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Jonas,  b.  Mar.  27,  1771. 

2.  Mary,  b.  Feb.  5,  1773. 

3.  Isaac,  b.  June,  25,  1777. 

4.  Tarbell,  b.  Nov.  15,  1780. 

5.  Coburn,  b.  July  16,  1783. 

Shedd. 

CALVIN  R.  SHEDD  was  born  in  Hollis  in  1807.  He  was  a  son  of 
John  Shedd,  Jr.,  and  his  third  wife,  Mrs.  Lucy  Farley  Jewett,    widow  of 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  627 

James  Jewett  of  Hollis;  and  a  grandson  of  John  and  Martha  (Hosley) 
Shedd  of  Billerica,  Mass.  His  father  settled  in  Hollis  in  1790;  coming 
there  from  Billerica.  His  father  was  a  soldier  for  Billerica  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution,  and  a  Revolutionary  pensioner  from  1832  to  1838.  About 
1836  he  removed  from  Hollis  to  Brookline.  His  house  in  Brookline  was 
located  about  two  and  one-half  miles  north  of  the  village  on  the  west 
side  of  the  highway  to  Milford.  He  was  an  active  and  influential  citizen. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  here  until  1858,  when  he 
withdrew  his  membership  and  united  with  the  local  Methodist  church. 
He  d.  in  Brookline  Nov.  9,  1874.  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Thirza, 
dau.  of  Deac.  Thomas  Bennett;  she  d.  Sept.  24,  1861;  m.  2nd,  Nov.  6, 
1862,    Mrs.  Mercy  A.  (Peterson)  Sawtelle,  widow  of  Hldad  Sawtelle. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

By  First  Wife. 

1.  Emily,  b.  ;  m.  Nov.  5,  1862,  Nathaniel  B.  Hutchinson 
of  Brookline. 

2.  John,  b.  Mar.  6,1841;  m.  Clara  Daniels. 

Smith. 

JOSHUA  SMITH  was  living  in  Raby  at  the  time  of  its  incorporation 
in  1769,  and  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  petition  for  its  incorporation; 
his  dwelling  house  at  that  time  being  located  on  the  east  side  of  the  high- 
way leading  from  Brookline  to  Oak  Hill  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  about  one 
and  one-half  miles  south  of  Main  street.  It  was  afterwards  known  as  the 
Christopher  Farley  place,  and  still  later  as  the  Moses  Bohonon  place. 
The  original  house  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1786,  and  was  rebuilt  by  Mr. 
Smith.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  served  as  a  soldier  for  Raby  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution.  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Sept.  10,  1745,  Millicent 
Tarbell;  shed.;  m.  2nd,  June  11,  1757,  Hannah  Baldwin  of  Townsend, 
Mass. 

Children;  Born  in  Raby. 

1.  Nancy,  b.  (no  record);  m.  in  1796,  George  Daniels. 

2.  *  Joshua,  b.  (no  record);  m.  1st,  Mehitabel  m.  2nd, 
June  25,  1803,  Mary  Austen. 


628  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

3.  Amy,  b.  (no  record);  m.  Nov.  25,  1790,  Joseph  Douglass. 

4.  Dolly,  b.  (no  record);  m.  Feb.  11,  1794,  William  Merrill. 

5.  Daniel,  b.   (no  record);  killed  by  a  falling  tree  Nov.  17.  1786. 

JOSHUA  SMITH,  Jr.,  second  child  and  first  son  of  Joshua  Smith 
was  born  in  Raby  about  1758.  His  house  was  located  near  that  of  his 
father  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  leading  to  Oak  Hill  in  Pepperell, 
Mass.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  was  thrice  married;  m.  1st,  in  1783  Mehita- 
bel  ;  m.  2nd,  June  16,  1803,  Mary  Austin;  she  d.;  m.  3rd, 

Sept.  3,  1813,  Sally  Cummings.     He  d.  in  1838. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Daniel,  b.  Jan.  10,  1784. 

2.  Samuel,  b.  Sept.  1,  1785. 

3.  Benjamin,  b.  June  20,  1887;  m.  Dec.  24,  1812,  Sally  Daniels. 

4.  Polly,  b.  May  27,  1789. 

5.  *Jonas,  b.  Sept.  16,  1791;  m.  in  1824,  Emma  Brooks. 

6.  Anna,  b.  July  22,  1793. 

7.  *John,  b.  Aug.  4,  1795;  m.  about  1820,  Rachel 

8.  Sewell,  b.  June  27,  1797. 

9.  Elizabeth,  b.  May  17,  1799. 
10.  Mehitable,  b.  Apr.  16,  1801. 

By  Second  Wife. 

11.  *  Joseph,  b.  Mar.  20,  1805;  m.  1st,  Mar.  24,  1833,  Abigail  Talbot; 
m.  2nd,  Sept.  16,  1852,  Mrs.  William  Whitcomb. 

12.  Joshua,  b.  Jan.  2,  1806. 

JONAS  SMITH,  fourth  child  and  third  son  of  Joshua  Jr.,  and  Me- 
hitabel    Smith,  was    born  in  Raby,  Sept.  16,  1791.    He    was  a  farmer. 
He  was  a  soldier  for  Brookline  in  the  War  of  1812.    He  was  twice  married; 
m.  1st,  in  1824,  Emma  Brooks;  she  d.;  m.  2nd,  Sarah  He  d.  Feb. 

24,  1843;  Sarah  d.  Feb.  7,  1855. 

Child;  Born  in  Brookline. 

*William  J.,  b.  Feb.  1,  1825;  m.  1st,  May  7,  1851,  Elizabeth  M.  Ball; 
m.  2nd,  Feb.  1,  1865,  Mary  E-  Hobart. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


629 


WILLIAM  JONAS 
SMITH,  only  son  of 
Jonas  and  Emma 
(Brooks)  Smith,  was 
born  in  Brookline,  Feb 
1,  1825.  He  was  a  manu- 
facturer of,  and  dealer  in 
lumber.  From  1855  to 
1870,  in  company  with 
Noah  Ball  of  Townsend, 
Mass.,  he  owned  and 
operated  a  sawmill 
which  he  built  on  the 
site  of  the  old  Jasher 
Wyman  sawmill  at 
South  Brookline.  At  a 
later  period  he  owned 
and  operated  the  old 
sawmill  known  as 
"Brown's"  at  West  Hol- 
lis.  From  1877  to  1895, 
under  the  firm  name  of 
Hall  and  Smith,  he  was  a  partner  of  J.  A.  Hall  in  the  lumber  manufactur- 
ing business  in  the  old  Ensign  Bailey  sawmill;  which  the  firm  owned.  He 
was  a  respected  and  honored  citizen.  He  was  a  selectman  in  1858,  town 
treasurer  from  1872  to  1894  inclusive,  and  Representative  in  1864  and  1865. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church.  He  was  twice  married; 
m.  1st,  May  7,  1851  Elizabeth  M.,  dau.  of  Noah  and  Huldah  (Tenney) 
Ball  of  Townsend,  Mass.;  she  d.  May  22,  1863;  m.  2nd,  Feb.  1,  1865, 
Mary  E.  Hobart  of  Brookline.   He  d.  at  Townsend,  Mass.,  Nov.  21,  1903. 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 

1.  *Charles  W.,  b.  in  Townsend,  Mass.;  m.  Feb.  27,  1881,  Lydia  E. 
Taylor. 

2.  Lydia  E-,  b.  Apr.  11,  1863;  d.  Sept.  16,  1863. 

CHARLES  WILLIAM  SMITH,  only  son  of  William  J.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Ball)  Smith,  was  born  in  Townsend,  Mass.,  Dec.  8,  1853.  He  is  a 
millwright  by  trade  and  a  skilled  mechanic.  At  the  present  time,  (1914), 
he  is  a  resident  of  Townsend,  where  he  is  doing  a  prosperous  business  as 


WILLIAM  J.  SMITH 


630  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

the  owner  and  manager  of  a  garage.  During  his  residence  in  Brookline  he 
held  many  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility,  and  represented  the  town  in 
the  legislatures  of  1901  and  1902.  He  m.  Feb.  27,  1881,  Lydia  E.,  dau.  of 
Henry  N.  and  Mary  E.   (Parker)  Taylor,  of  Townsend,  Mass. 

Children, 

1.  Agnes  E.,  b.  in  Westerly,  R.  I.,  Nov.  6,  1883;  d.  July  28,  1888. 

2.  Hattie  M.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Feb.  4,  1887. 

CAPT.  JOHN  SMITH,  seventh  child  and  fifth  son  of  Joshua  Jr.,  and 
Mehitabel  Smith,  was  born  Aug.  4,  1795,  in  Brookline;  where  he  passed 
his  entire  life.  In  the  forties  and  fore  part  of  the  fifties,  he  was  landlord 
of  the  village  hotel.  He  was  interested  in  military  affairs,  and  was  at  one 
time  captain  of  the  local  Militia  Company.  He  was  moderator  in  1838, 
1839,  1841  and  1842;  and  selectman  in  1835,  1836,  1838,  and  1839.  He  m. 
about  1820,  Rachel. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Betsey  A.,  b.  July  18,  1821;  m.  Oct.  7,  1841,  Henry  B.  Stiles. 

2.  Martha  A.,  b.  Mar.  13,  1823. 

3.  Sarah,  b.  July  3,  1831;  d.  Sept.  21,  1831. 

4.  Charles,  b.  (no  record). 

(Ill)  JOSEPH  SMITH,  eleventh  child  and  seventh  son  of  Joshua 
and  Mary  (Austin)  Smith,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Mar.  20,  1804.  He  was 
a  cooper  by  trade  and  an  energetic  and  respected  citizen.  He  served  six 
terms  as  town  treasurer,  and  held  other  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility. 
He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Mar.  24,  1833,  Abigail,  dau.  of  Samuel  and 
Sarah  Talbot;  she  d.  Dec.  3,  1851;  m.  2nd,  Sept.  16,  1852,  Mrs.  William 
Whitcomb.  He  d.  Sept.  29,  1885;  his  wife,  Elinor  Whitcomb  Smith,  d. 
Feb.  19,  1880. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Daniel  W.,  b.  Dec.  4,  1839;  served  for  Brookline  in  the  Civil  War; 
d.  in  the  service  at  sea,  May  11,  1863';  unm. 

2.  Rosilla  T.,  b.  Jan.  3,  1842;  d.  May  5,  1860. 

3.  Perley  A.,  b.  Sept.  26,  1843;  served  for  Brookline  in  the  Civil 
War.;  m  Dec.  5,  1872,  Maria  Proctor  of  Hollis;  he  d.  Oct.  26,  1881;  1  eh., 
Georgie  Maria,  res.  Nashua. 

4.  *Joseph  R.,  b.  Dec.  1,  1846;  m.  July  25,  1872,  Mary  E.  Taylor. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


631 


(IV)  JOSEPH  RANDALL  SMITH,  fourth  child  and  third  son  of 
Joseph  and  Abigail  (Talbot)  Smith,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Dec.  1,  1846. 
He  is  a  cooper  by  trade.  In  the  early  part  of  the  seventies  he  removed 
from  Brookline  to  Townsend,  Mass.,  where  he  is  residing  at  the  present 
time  (1914).  He  m.  July  25,  1872,  Mary  E.,  dau.  of  William  P.  and 
Mary  (Robinson)  Taylor  of  Townsend,  Mass. 

Children;  Born  in  Townsend. 

1.  Walter  T.,  b.  June  8,  1873;  m.  Apr.  24,  1901,  Anna  E-  Glenden- 
ning  of  Providence,  R.  I.  Ch.,  Edna  L.  b.  Providence,  Jan.  30,  1903; 
Edith  H.,  b.  Providence,  Aug.  15,  1911. 

2.  Alice  E.,  b.  Feb.  5,  1876:  d.  Oct.  20,  1909. 


EDWIN  WALLACE  SMITH  came  from  Cambridge,  Mass.,  to 
Brookline  in  1893.  He  was  born  in  Manchester,  N.  H.,  July  28,  1831. 
He  was  a  son  of  Edwin  Smith  of  Medway,  Mass.,  and  Sybel  Wallace  of 
Townsend,  Mass.    He  was  a  master  mechanic,  and  was  superintendent  of 

the  machine  shops  of  the 
/  Watertown,    Mass.,    Ar- 

senal  from  1861  to  1865. 
In  his  religious  bejief  he 
was  a  Universalist,  and 
was  a  member  of  the 
Second  Church  of  Cam- 
bridge, Mass.,  and  for 
twenty-one  years  super- 
intendent of  its  Sunday 
School.  He  m.  Oct.  25, 
1853,  E.  Augusta,  dau. 
of  David  (Wright)  Ho- 
bart.  He  d.  at  Brook- 
line, July  27,  1901;  and 
is  buried  in  the  South 
Cemetery-  She  d.  Dec. 
24,  1913. 

Child. 


MRS.  EUNICE  AUGUSTA  SMITH 


line. 


Edwin  Ellis,  b.  in  Winchester,  Mass.,  July  13,  1856;  unm.;  res.  Brook- 


632  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

Spaulding. 

WILLIAM  SPAULDING,  Jr.,  settled  in  Raby,  in  1772,  coming  here 
from  Mason;  as  appears  from  the  following  entry  in  Raby's  book  of 
records:  "William  Spaulding  and  his  wife  Mary,  William  his  son  and 
Mary  and  Sibbel  and  and  Josiah  Betty  Sarah  and  came 

to  town  in  the  month  of  Dec.  1772,  and  was  warned  out  Feb.  7th,  1773 
and  they  came  last  from  the  town  of  Mason."  He  was  a  son  of  William 
and  Hepzibah  (Blood)  Spalding  of  Groton,  Mass.;  where  he  was  born 
Apr.  4,  1732.  In  1768,  his  name  appears  on  the  petition  for  Raby's  incor- 
poration as  one  of  its  signers.  At  that  time  he  was  probably  a  non-resi- 
dent taxpayer  in  the  Mile  Slip,  having  his  home  in  Mason.  His  farm  in 
Raby  was  located  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  town,  northwest  of  and 
adjacent  to  the  Benjamin  Shattuck,  Sr.,  place.  Dec.  26,  1782,  he  sold 
his  farm,  or  a  portion  thereof,  to  Benjamin  Martin,  of  Stowe,  Mass.;  and 
the  same  year  removed  from  Raby  to  Pepperell,  Mass.  In  1884,  he  re- 
moved from  Pepperell  to  Norridgewalk,  Me.;  where  his  descendants  are 
living  at  the  present  time.  Both  he  and  his  son,  William  Jr.,  served  in 
the  War  of  the  Revolution  as  soldiers  for  Raby.  Their  war  records  are 
given  in  a  previous  chapter.  In  1777  he  was  a  member  of  Raby's  commit- 
tee of  safety.  He  was  moderator  of  the  town  in  1778,  and  constable  in 
1782.  He  m.  in  1758,  Mary,  a  dau.  of  Jonathan  and  Mary  (Lakin) 
Green  of  Groton.  By  this  marriage  he  had  eight  children;  all  of  whom 
according  to  the  "Spalding  Memorial,"  were  born  in  Groton.  A  state- 
ment which  may  be  correct,  although  the  probabilities  would  seem  to 
indicate  that  several  of  them  were  born  in  Mason. 

Children. 

1.  William,  b.  July  19,  1759;  m.  in  1784,  Sarah  Russell,  d.  Dec.  6, 
1844. 

2.  Polly,  b.  Oct.  14,  1760;  m.  Dr.  Gilman  of  Norridgewalk,  Me. 

3.  Sybil,  b.  May  25,  1762;  m.  July  17,  1788,  Abel  Ware  of  Groton. 

4.  Jonathan,  b.  Sept.  1,  1763;  d.  about  1850,  unm. 

5.  Josiah,  b.  May  15,  1765;  m.  in  1792,  Sybil  Spalding,;  res.  Me. 

6.  Elizabeth,  b.  June  7,  1767;  m.  in  1793,  John  Spalding;  res.  Fox- 
croft,  Me. 

7.  Sarah,  b.  Nov.  13,  1768;  m.  in  1794,  David  Rowell  of  Maderson, 

Me. 

8.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  30,  1772;  m.  in  1794,  Joseph  Vickery  of  Norridge- 
walk, Me. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  633 

DANIEL  SPALDING  and  Rebeckah,  his  wife,  came  to  Raby  from 
Townsend,  Mass.,  about  1778.  He  m.  May  7,  1778,  Rebeckah  Osgood  of 
Townsend,  Mass. 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 

1.  Rebeckah,  b.  May  31,  1779;  m.  Nov.  11,  1800,  Oliver  Hall. 

2.  Sarah,  b.  Mar.  27,  1784;  m.  Nov.  28,  1805,  Sewell  Wetherbee. 

3.  Elizabeth,  b.  Feb.  20,  1786;  m.  in  1808,  Daniel  Gassett. 

4.  Daniel,  b.  July  6,  1789. 

5.  Benjamin,  b.  Jan.  20,  1794. 

ABEL  SPAULDING  and  Ann  Lucy.     (See  chap.  X,  ante.) 

Stiles. 

HENRY  B.  STILES  was  born  in  Leominster,  Mass.  He  was  a  son 
of  Josiah  and  Hannah  (Brown)  Stiles.  He  settled  in  Brookline  in  his 
young  manhood,  and  after  a  few  years  residence  here,  entered  into  a  co- 
partnership with  Joseph  C.  Tucker,  under  the  firm  name  of  Tucker  and 
Stiles,  in  the  wholesale  lumbering  and  coopering  business.  The  firm 
carried  on  a  large  business,  operating  a  large  general  merchandise  store 
in  connection  with  the  same  until  about  1860;  when  the  partnership  was 
dissolved  by  mutual  consent.  Mr.  Stiles  was  postmaster  from  June  30, 
1861,  until  Nov.  10,  1892,  when  he  resigned  the  office.  He  was  town 
clerk  for  twenty-three  years,  selectman  thirteen  years,  tax  collector  five 
years,  and  Representative  in  1854.  In  the  days  of  the  old  State  Militia, 
he  was  a  major  in  the  5th  N.  H.  Regiment.  He  m.  Oct.  7,  1841,  Betsey 
A.,  dau.  of  Capt.  John  and  Rachel  Smith.  She  d.;  m.  2nd.  Oct,  20,  1859, 
Hattie  L.,  dau.  of  Asa  and  Rebecca  (Hutchinson)  Seaver.  He  d.  Dec. 
4,  1892. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  *Charles  H.,  b.  Sept.  8,  1842;  m.  1st,  June  7,  1866,  Margaret 
Noonan  of  Boston,  Mass. ;  m.  2nd,  Grace  M.  Brown. 

2.  John  A.,  b.  Jan.  25,  1845;  res.  Townsend,  Mass.;  unm. 

3.  Frederick  M.,  b.  Nov.  1,  1843;  d.  in  infancy. 

4.  *George  E.,  b.  Dec.  15,  1849;  m.  Oct.  31,  1880,  Mary  Josephine 
Sawtelle. 


634  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

5.  Francis  H.,  b.  Jan.  2,  1851;  d.  in  infancy. 

6.  Frank  H.,  b.  Aug.  8,  1855;  d.  in  infancy. 

7.  Ellen  A.,  b.  Apr.  20,  1857;  d.  in  infancy. 

CHARLES  HENRY  STILES,  first  son  and  first  child  of  Henry  B. 
and  Betsey  (Smith)  Stiles,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Sept.  8,  1842.  He 
passed  his  early  life  in  his  native  town,  clerking  in  his  father's  store.  He 
served  as  a  soldier  for  Brookline  in  the  Civil  War.  After  the  close  of  the 
war  he  resided  for  a  few  years  in  Boston;  returning  to  Brookline  about 
1870.  He  then  settled  in  Keene  where  for  a  period  of  more  than  forty 
years  he  was  engaged  in  the  hotel  business;  he  being  for  many  years  pro- 
prietor and  landlord  of  the  City  Hotel.  At  the  present  time  he  is  resid- 
ing in  Hopkinton,  Mass.  He  has  been  twice  married;  m.  1st,  June  7, 
1866,  Margaret  Noonan  of  Boston,  Mass.;  m.  2nd,  Grace  M.  Brown. 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 

1.  Henry  Bowers,  b.  in  Boston,  Mass.,  Jan.  3,  1867;  m.  June  9,  1893, 
Clara  M.  Whiting.  Ch.  ,(1)  Edgar  W.,  b.  Jan.  27,  1894;  (2)  Russell  S., 
b.  Dec.  7,  1895. 

2.  Charles  E.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan.  11,  1870;  m.  Sept.  27,  1899, 
Rizpha  Brayshaw;  ch.,  (1)  Clifford  B.,  b.  Aug.  1,  1900,  No.  Weymouth, 
Mass.;  (2)  Bernice,  b.  Apr.  30,  1903,  No.  Weymouth,  Mass. 

GEORGE  EDGAR  STILES,  third  child  and  third  son  of  Henry  B. 
and  Betsey  (Smith)  Stiles,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Dec.  15,  1849.  He  was 
a  clerk  by  occupation,  pursuing  his  calling  for  several  years  in  Nashua. 
He  subsequently  returned  to  Brookline,  where  for  several  years  he  was 
employed  in  the  store  of  James  H.  S.  Tucker.  In  1892  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  of  Brookline;  a  position  which  he  continued  to  hold  until  his 
decease.  As  a  citizen  he  was  held  in  high  esteem.  He  was  town  clerk  in 
1886,  1887,  1888,  1891  and  1892,  and  town  treasurer  in  1891.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  local  Congregational  church.  He  m.  Oct.  31,  1880,  Mary 
Josephine,  dau.  of  Eldad  and  Mrs.  Mary  A.  (Peterson)  Sawtelle.  He  d. 
Mar.  14,  1895. 

One  Child  Born  in  Brookline. 

Marion  Adams,  b.  Oct.  23,  1882. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  635 

Stone. 

WALDRON  STONE,  Sarah,  his  wife,  and  Rachel,  their  daughter, 
came  to  Raby  from  Ashby,  Mass.  in  1774.  He  settled  in  the  west  part  of 
the  town  and  became  one  of  its  leading  citizens.  He  served  for  Raby  in 
the  War  of  the  Revolution,  enlisting  in  an  Ashby  company.  He  was 
town  clerk  in  1781  and  1782,  and  selectman  in  1781,  1782  and  1783. 

Children. 

1.  Rachel,  b.  at  Ashby,  Jan.  20,  1773. 

2.  Dolly,  b.  at  Raby,  Oct.  19,  1775. 

3.  Daniel,  b.  at  Townsend,  Mass.,  Nov.  8,  1780. 

4.  Jonas,  b.  at  Raby,  July  27,  1781. 

5.  Ebenezer,  b.  at  Raby,  Feb.  17,  1783. 

Stickney. 

DAVID  JEWETT  STICKNEY  came  from  Townsend,  Mass.,  to 
Brookline  about  1825.  He  was  born  in  Townsend,  Aug.  6,  1801.  His 
residence  in  Brookline  was  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  old  highway 
leading  from  the  Benjamin  Shattuck  sawmill  to  Milford,  near  the  Nathan- 
iel Hutchinson  place.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  passed  the  latter  part  of  his 
life  with  his  son,  J.  Miron  Stickney  in  Milford.  He  m.  Aug.  12,  1824, 
Lydia  Amsden  of  Mason.  He  d.  at  Milford,  Feb.  6,  1883;  she  d.  Nov. 
10,  1878. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Lorinda  C,  b.  Apr.  14,  1825. 

2.  Elbridge  H.,  b.  Apr.  5,  1828;  m.  ;  d.  May  9,  1901. 

3.  Harriett  A.,  b.  Mar.  24,  1830;  m.  Edgar  Hobson,  res.  Concord. 

4.  George  J.,  b.  Feb.  11,  1832;  m.  ;  d.  Feb.  7,  1868;  she  d. 
Dec.  21,  1903. 

5.  Timothy  J.,  b.  Apr.  5,  1835;  m.  1st,  ;  m.  2nd,  Angela  Tri- 
bou  of  Nashua. 

6.  Mary  J.,  b.  Oct.  28,  1837;  d.  Aug.  23,  1873. 

7.  James  M.,  b.  Sept.  10,  1840;  m.  Aug.  1,  1865,  Aurella  C,  dau. 
of  Grant  P.  and  Rhoena  (Colburn)  Mooar,  b.  in  Antrim,  Apr.  30,  1848. 

8.  Henry  H.,  b.  Aug.  22,  1842;  m.  ;  d.  May  26,  1911. 

9.  David  A.,  b.  Oct.  4,  1845;  d.  Sept.  9,  1849. 


636  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN    OF  BROOKLINE 

10.  Ai  W.,  b.  Mar.  21,  1848;  m.  1st,  Nov.  1869,  Hattie  M.  Shat- 
tuck;  m.  2nd,  May  17,  1884,  Emma  F.  Fletcher  of  Mt.  Holly,  N.  Y. 

Swett. 

HENRY  J.  SWETT  came  to  Brookline  in  1859  from  Marblehead 
Mass.;  where  he  was  born,  Nov.  19,  1804.  He  was  a  son  of  Samuel  and 
(Salter)  Swett.  He  settled  in  Brookline  on  the  west  side  of 
the  east  highway  to  Milford,  about  one  mile  north  of  the  village.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  an  excellent  citizen.  He  m.  Dec.  6,  1828,  Elizabeth, 
Brown  of  Marblehead.  He  d.  in  Brookline,  Sept.  8,  1896.  His  wife  d. 
Oct.  9,  1882.     Both  are  buried  in  Marblehead. 

Children. 

1.  Henry  ].,  b.  Dec.  3,  1828,  in  Marblehead,  Mass. 

2.  Elizabeth  A.,  b.  Jan.  3,  1831,  in  Marblehead,  Mass. 

3.  John  F.,  b.  Sept.  3,  1832,  in  Marbelhead,  Mass. 

4.  Rebecca  B.,  b.  June  16,  1834,  in  Marblehead,  Mass. 

5.  Mary  J.,  b.  Mar.  17,  1836,  Marblehead,  Mass. ;  d.  Jan.  12,  1844. 

6.  Sarah  J.,  b.  June  26,  1838,  in  Mt.  Vernon. 

7.  *Joseph  B.,  b.  Jan.  15,  1841,  in  Mount  Vernon,;  m.  Mar.  3, 
1864,  Emily  C.  Gilson  of  Brookline. 

8.  Mary  J.,  b.  Nov.  28,  1842,  in  Marblehead,  Mass. 

9.  *Samuel,  b.  Nov.  22,  1844,  Marblehead;  m.  1st,  Catharine  E. 
Ball  of  Boston,  Mass.;  m.  2nd,  Oct.  9,  1875,  Lucy  C.  Pierce.;  m.  3rd.  June 
2,  1878,  Mrs.  Ellen  Hunter. 

10.  Helen  M.,  b.  Mar.  9,  1845,  in  Marblehead;  d.  May  9,  1846. 

JOSEPH  BENJAMIN  SWETT,  seventh  child  and  third  son  of 
Henry  J.  and  Elizabeth  (Brown)  Swett  was  born  in  Mt.  Vernon,  Jan.  15, 
1841.  In  1859  he  came  with  his  father  to  Brookline,  where  he  grew  up 
to  manhood.  He  is  a  cooper  and  farmer,  and  a  highly  respected  citizen. 
He  has  served  the  town  as  road  surveyor,  and  was  one  of  the  selectmen  in 
1888  and  1889.  In  1904  he  removed  with  his  family  from  Brookline  to 
Dedham,  Mass.;  where  he  is  residing  at  the  present  time  (1914).  He  m. 
Mar.  3,  1864,  Emily  C,  dau.  of  Samuel  Gilson.  She  d.  Mar.  23,  1913, 
and  is  buried  in  the  South  Cemetery  in  Brookline. 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


637 


Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 


1.  Joseph  B.,  b.  Mar.  5,  1865;  d.  Oct.  3,  1897,  unm.  (See  sketch 
chap.  XI,  ante). 

2.  Emma  L.,  b.  Aug.  21,  1866;  m.  July  31,  1894,  Louis  H.  Donovan; 
ch.,  (1)  Louis  H.,  b.  Sept.  30,  1895;  (2)  Joseph  S.,  b.  Dec.  11,  1896;  (3) 
Richard  H.,  b.  July  19,  1898. 

3.  Bertha  A.,  b.  Apr.  16,  1869;  m.  Feb.  7,  1893,  William  E.  Paten- 
aude;  res.  Dedham,  Mass.;  no  ch. 

4.  Goldie  E.,  b.  Mar.  9,  1885;  m.  Oct.  17,  1911,  William  W.  Gar- 
lick;  1  ch.,  William  E-,  b.  Jan.  12,  1913. 

SAMUEL  SWETT, 
the  fourth  son  and  ninth 
child  of  Henry  J.  and 
Elizabeth  (Brown) 
Swett,  was  born  in 
Marblehead,  Mass., 
Nov.  22,  1844.  In  1859 
he  came  with  his  father 
from  Marblehead  to 
Brookline;  where  he  at- 
tended its  public  schools. 
A  portion  of  his  early 
manhood  was  passed  in 
Boston,  Mass.  Return- 
ing to  Brookline,  about 
1872,  he  purchased  of 
William  J.  Wright  the 
house  and  store  connect- 
ed with  the  same  located 
at  the  south  end  and  on 
the  east  side  of  the 
village  Main  street;  and,  in  the  latter  building,  commenced  business  as 
a  dealer  in  general  merchandise;  a  business  which  he  conducted  for 
the  thirty  consecutive  years  following  in  a  highly  sucessful  manner. 
He  was  highly  esteemed  by  his  fellow  citizens,  who  honored  him  with 
many  offices  of  public  trust.  He  was  selectman  in  1905,  1906,  1907, 
and  1908,  and  Representative  in  1885  and  1886. 

After  his  death  his  widow  Mrs.  Ellen  Swett,  in  accordance  with  his 
often  expressed  wishes  in  his  lifetime,  presented  the  town  with  the  land 


SAMUEL  SWETT 


638 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 


upon  which  now  stands 
the  Daniels  Academy 
building;  in  which  she 
caused  the  tablet  to  his 
memory  to  be  installed. 
He  was  thrice  married; 
m.  1st,  Sept.  11,  1872, 
Catharine  E.  Ball,  of 
Boston,  Mass;  she  d.;  m. 
2nd,  Oct.  19,  1875,  Lucy 
C.  Pierce  of  Brookline; 
she  d.;  m.  3rd,  June  2, 
1878,  Mrs.  Ellen  Hunter, 
who  survives  him.  Sev- 
eral children  were  born 
of  these  marriages,  all  of 
whom  died  in  infancy. 
He  d.  May  22,  1912;  and 
is  buried  in  the  South 
Cemetery. 


Mrs.  ELLEN  S.  5WETT 


Talbot. 


(V)  EZRA  TALBOT,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in  Brookline, 
came  here  from  Billerica,  Mass.,  in  the  nineties  of  1700.  He  was  a  lineal 
descendant  in  the  fifth  generation  of  Peter  Talbot,  2nd  son  of  the  earl  of 
Shewsbury,  Lancashire,  England;  and  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Fisher) 
Talbot  of  Stoughton,  Mass.;  where  he  was  born.,  Jan  20,  1773.  Nov.  25, 
1798,  he  married  Abigail  Belcher.  His  house  in  Brookline  was  located 
about  one  and  one-half  miles  northwest  of  the  village  on  the  south  side 
of  the  highway  leading  from  the  village  to  the  old  Mathew  Wallace  place. 
He  d.  at  Brookline,  Oct.  14,  1854.    His  wife  d.  June  6,  1833. 

Children.  Born  in  Brookline. 


1.  Ezra,  b.  Oct.  31,  1799;  d.  Mar.  4,  1800. 

2.  Samuel,  b.  May  8,  1801;  d.  May  11,  1801. 

3.  Mary,  b.  Aug.  19,  1802;  d.  July  22,  1837. 

4.  Jane,  b.  Nov.  2,  1804;  d.  Nov.  3,  1804. 

5.  Naby,  b.  Jan.  25,  1807;  d.  Apr.  1,  1807. 

6.  Lucy,  b.  Apr.  5,  1808;  m.  Asa  Maynard,  Louden,  N.  H. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  639 

7.  *Samuel,  b.  Nov.  9,  1810;  m.  Dec.  24,  1835,  Eliza  G.  Hodgeman. 

8.  Abigail,  b.  Feb.  15,  1813;  m.  Joseph  Smith,  Brookline. 

(VI)  SAMUEL  TALBOT,  third  son  and  seventh  child  of  Ezra  and 
Abigail  (Belcher)  Talbot,  was  born  at  Brookline,  Nov.  9,  1810;  he  m. 
Dec.  24,  1835,  Eliza  Gould  Hodgeman,  dau.  of  Joel  Hodgeman  of  Merri- 
mack. 

Children;  Born  at  Brookline. 

1.  (VII)  Sylvanus  Joel,  b.  Feb.  13,  1838;  m.  Mar.  5,  1863,  Abbie, 
dau.  of  Walter  and  Martha  Moulton  Brooks  of  Milford;  ch.,  Edgar  F., 
b.  Oct.  26,  1865;  d.  Dec.  26,  1896. 

2.  John  Wesley,  b.  and  d.  Sept.  11,  1843. 

3.  Ann  E.,  b.  Dec.  22,  1844;  m.  Apr.  19,  1866,  Daniel  W.  Hayden  of 
Hollis;  ch.,  (1)  Willard  Bertell,  b.  Sept.  9,  1871,  d.  Apr.  17,  1887;  (2) 
Bertha  Maude,  b.  Feb.  4,  1879. 

4.  Laroy  Loami,  b.  Dec.  17,  1846;  m.  Aug.  5,  1869,  Eliza  Ann,  dau. 
of  Reed  and  Betsey  (Wheeler)  Dutton  of  Milford;  ch.,  (1)  Bertell  Laroy, 
b.  Apr.  5,  1872,  res.  Peterborough,  physician,  m.  Aug.  27,  1896,  Mary  E., 
dau.  of  Charles  and  Emma  (Putnam)  Otis  of  Hancock;  2  children,  Harold 
Laroy,  b.  Nov.  14,  1897  and  Evelyn  Frances,  b.  Feb.  19,  1900;  (2)  Carl 
Wheeler,  b.  Nov.  6,  1886;  m.  Hazel  Perkins  of  Milford  in  1908;  res.  Mil- 
ford. 

5.  Charles  Dana,  b.  May  11,  1849;  unm. 

JOHN  TARBELL  and  LYDIA. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Sarah  Jane,  b.  Apr.  19,  1823. 

2.  John  E.,  b.  Nov.  18,  1825. 

Tucker. 

(II)  SWALLOW  TUCKER  settled  in  Hollis,  afterwards  Brookline, 
about  1760,  coming  here  from  Groton,  now  Pepperell,  Mass.,  where  he 
was  born  Aug.  26,  1742.  He  was  the  sixth  child  and  only  son  of  Josiah 
and  Abigail  Tucker,  settlers  in  Groton  as  early  as  1730,  and  supposed  to 
have  been  originally  of  Dover,  N.  H.  His  log-cabin  in  Brookline  was  lo- 
cated about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  south  of  the  village  Main  street  on  the 


640  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

east  side  of  the  highway  to  Pepperell,  Mass.,  at  a  point  nearly  opposite  to 
where  the  highway  to  Townsend,  Mass.,  leads  out  of  the  same.  Its  site  at 
the  present  time  is  occupied  by  the  dwelling  house  of  Harry  Marshall. 
Tradition  says  that  at  the  time  of  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Lemuel  Wads- 
worth,  the  town's  first  settled  minister,  in  1791,  the  ordination  dinner 
was  served  in  the  Swallow  Tucker  cabin;  and,  further,  that  among  the 
viands  served  a  rum  pudding  occupied  a  prominent  place,  and  was  the 
cause  of  engaging  the  attendant  clergymen  in  an  argument  which  was 
confined  principally  to  the  discussion  of  the  merits  of  rum  pudding  as  a 
stimulant  to  spirituality. 

He  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  petitions  which,  in  1769,  resulted  in 
the  incorporation  of  Raby,  and,  during  his  entire  life,  one  of  the  town's 
most  influential  citizens.  He  served  as  one  of  its  soldiers  in  the  War  of 
the  Revolution,  was  a  member  of  the  committee  of  saftey,  and  filled  at 
various  times  nearly  all  the  important  civics  office  in  the  gift  of  its  people. 
He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Nov.  27,  1766,  Lucretia,  dau.  of  Edward 
Carter  of  Woburn,  Mass.;  she  d.  Mar.  27,  1744;  m.  2nd,  May  6,  1788, 
Anna  Sanders  of  Brookline.    He  d.  Apr.  29,  1809. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Joseph,  b.  Mar.  19,  1767. 

2.  Mary,  b.  Mar.  5,  1769;  m.  1st,  Mar.  11,  1788,  Eleazer  Austin; 
m.  2nd,  Sept.  7,  1802,  Josiah  Wheeler. 

3.  *Benjamin  S.,  b.  Aug.  15,  1772;  m.  1st,  Nov.  20,  1796,  Elizabeth 
Shannon;  m.  2nd,  Rebecca  Adams. 

4.  Josiah,  b.  July  6,  1779;  m.  Joanna  ; 
ch.,   (1)  Josiah,  b.  Nov.  19,  1805;  (2)  George,  b.  Nov.  3,  1814. 

(Ill)  BENJAMIN  SWALLOW  TUCKER,  third  child  and  second 
son  of  Swallow  and  Lucretia  (Carter)  Tucker,  was  born  in  Raby,  Aug. 
15,  1772.  He  was  a  farmer  residing  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  in  the 
brick  dwelling  house  located  in  South  Brookline  on  the  east  side  of  the 
highway  to  Townsend,  Mass.,  just  south  of  the  bridge  over  the  river, 
which  he  built  in  the  nineties  of  1700.  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Nov. 
20,  1796,  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  Hon.  Richard  and  Elizabeth  (Ruggles) 
Shannon,  formerly  of  Portsmouth,  but,  at  the  date  of  Elizabeth's  marriage 
to  Mr.  Tucker,  residents  in  Raby;  she  d.  Oct.  14,  1833,  and  is  buried  in 
the  South  Cemetery  in  Brookline;  he  m.  2nd,  Rebecca  Adams,  of  Amherst, 
Mass.    She  d.  May  1,  1836;  he  d.  Apr.  4,  1854. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  641 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Benjamin  R.,  b.  Nov.  11,  1797;  d.  in  infancy. 

2.  Benjamin  R.,  b.  Oct.  12,  1799;  d.  in  infancy. 

3.  Eliza  Shannon,  b.  Oct.  3,  1801 ;  m.  May  8,  1821,  Loami  Chamber- 
lain of  Mason. 

4.  *Benjamin  R.,  b.  Aug.  9,  1803;  m.  Pauline  F.  York. 

5.  Lucretia  Carter,  b.  Jan.  27,  1806;  m.  Daniel  Bills  of  Townsend, 
Mass. 

6.  Martha,  b.  Jan.  27,  1806;  m.  Asa  Webber  of  Mason. 

7.  *James  N.,  b.  May  20,  1811;  m.  Dec.  25,  1835,  Rosella  Jewett. 

8.  Mary,  b.  m.  Winslow  Ames. 

9.  *Joseph  C,  b.  Oct.  17,  1818;  m.  Mary  H.  Campbell  of  New 
Ipswich. 

(IV)  BENJAMIN  RUGGLES  TUCKER,  fourth  child  and  third 
son  of  Benjamin  S.  and  Elizabeth  (Shannon)  Tucker,  was  born  in  Brook- 
line,  August  9.  1803.  He  was  a  farmer  and  cooper;  residing  in  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  in  Townsend,  Mass.  He  m.  in  1827,  Pauline  F.  York  of 
Amherst,  Mass.  He  d.  at  Townsend,  Mass.,  Nov.  12,  1882;  she  d.  Feb. 
5,  1851.     Both  are  buried  in  the  South  Cemetery  in  Brookline. 

Children, 

1.  Martha  A.,  b.  at  Brewer,  Me.,  Apr.  26,  1828;  m.  Oct.  8,  1846, 
Henry  Blake  of  Pepperell,  Mass. 

2.  Mariah  L.,  b.  at  Brewer,  Me.,  1829;  d.  Dec.  7,  1846. 

3.  Eliza,  b.  at  Brewer,  Me.,  June  6,  1832;  m.  1st,  Frank  Fiske  of 
Nashua;  m.  2nd,  Eli  B.  Parker  of  Brookline.  E.  B.  Parker  d.  Aug.  1, 
1904;  she  d.  Oct.  5,  1907. 

4.  James  F.,  b.  in  1842;  d.  Oct.  18,  1852. 

(IV)  JAMES  NOBLE  TUCKER,  seventh  child  and  fourth  son 
of  Benjamin  S.  and  Elizabeth  (Shannon)  Tucker,  was  born  in  Brookline, 
May  20,  1811.  He  received  his  education  in  its  public  schools.  In  1830 
he  removed  from  Brookline  to  West  Townsend,  Mass.,  where  he  opened 
a  store  which  he  conducted  unitl  1839.  In  the  latter  year  he  returned  to 
Brookline,  where  he  built  the  store  on  Main  street  now  owned  and  occu- 
pied by  Walter  E-  Corey,  and  commenced  the  coopering  business;  which 
he  carried  on  successfully  for  some  years.     In   1843,  he  removed  from 


642 


HISTORY  OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


Brookline  to  Pepperell,  Mass.,  where  he  was  in  trade  until  about  1845, 
when  he  returned  to  Brookline.  In  1853,  he  removed  from  Brookline  to 
West  Townsend,  Mass.  where,  except  for  a  temporary  residence  in  Boston,  he 
passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  In  Townsend,  he  was  one  of  the  directors 
of  the  Townsend  Bank,  and  one  of  that  town's  selectmen  and  assessors  in 
1864.  He  was  also  a  Notary  Public  and  Justice  of  the  Peace.  In  1864, 
he  went  to  Europe,  touring  England,  Holland,  Germany,  Switzerland  and 
France.  During  his  residence  in  Brookline  he  was  postmaster  for  two 
terms,  and  represented  the  town  in  the  legislatures  of  1851  and  1852.  He 
married,  1st,  Dec.  25,  1835,  Rosella  Jewett;  m.  2nd,  in  Townsend,  June 
24,  1875,  Mrs.  Martha  A.  Coburn.  No  children  by  either  marriage.  He 
d.  in  Townsend;  where  he  is  buried  with  his  two  wives. 


(IV)  JOSEPH 
CUTTS  TUCKER, 
ninth  child  and  fifth  son 
of  Benjamin  S.  and 
Elizabeth  (Shannon) 
Tucker,  was  born  in 
Brookline,  Oct.  17,  1818. 
His  boyhood  and  young 
manhood  was  passed  in 
his  father's  family, 
working  on  the  farm 
summers,  and  attending 
school  winters.  But  a 
farmer's  life  evidently 
was  not  in  accord  with 
his  tastes;  and  in  1846-7, 
in  company  with  Henry 
B.  Stiles,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Tucker  and 
Stiles,  he  opened  a 
grocery  and  West  India 
goods  store  in  the  ell  part  of  the  hotel  on  Main  street.  Soon  after  its 
organization,  the  firm  in  addition  to  its  grocery  business,  commenced  the 
wholesale  manufacture  and  sale  of  lumber  and  barrels.  The  latter  in- 
dustry was  then  in  process  of  transformation.  Barrels  and  casks  manu- 
factured from  machine  made  materials  were  rapidly  taking  the  place  of 
the  old  style  casks  made  from  hand  rifted  hard  wood  timber.    The  public 


JOSEPH  C.  TUCKER 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  643 

demand  for  the  new  style  casks  was  increasing  in  proportion  to  the  in- 
crease in  the  facilities  for  their  manufacture  and  the  corresponding  de- 
crease in  their  cost.  The  new  firm  was  quick  to  take  advantage  of  the 
situation ;  and,  under  the  skilful  management  of  Mr.  Tucker,  it  soon  found 
itself  engaged  in  a  small,  but  rapidly  increasing  business,  which  gave  every 
indication  of  future  success.  These  indications  were  subsequently  real- 
ized. 

The  firm  had  an  existence  of  eighteen  years,  dating  from  its  organiz- 
ation in  1846.  During  this  period  its  business  was  constantly  increasing 
in  volume,  and  its  reputation  as  a  successful  business  firm  steadily  grow- 
ing. In  the  early  part  of  the  fifties  its  business,  in  the  line  of  the  whole- 
sale manufacture  and  sale  of  barrels  and  casks,  exceeded  that  of  any  other 
firm  in  Hillsborough  county.  At  that  time  its  pay-rolls  carried  the  names 
of  more  than  one  hundred  employees,  of  whom  the  majority  were  work- 
ing in  its  own  shops;  and  the  annual  volume  of  its  financial  transactions 
amounted  to  many  thousands  of  dollars.  The  continued  prosperity  of  the 
company  had  a  corresponding  effect  upon  that  of  the  town ;  which  reached 
its  highest  mark  during  the  period  of  the  company's  existence;  which  ter- 
minated in  1864. 

In  1857,  the  company  was  induced  to  invest  a  large  part  of  its  capital 
in  the  stock  of  a  company  organized  for  the  purpose  of  developing  the  coal 
oil  business,  then  in  its  infancy.  The  investment  proved  to  be  a  disastrous 
one.  The  company  in  which  it  was  made  failed;  and  in  its  failure  was  in- 
volved that  of  the  firm  of  Tucker  and  Stiles.  The  firm,  however;  con- 
tinued in  business  until  1864,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  mutual  consent  of 
its  members.  In  1855,  Mr.  Tucker  removed  with  his  family  from  Brook- 
line  to  Boston,  where  he  resided  until  1857,  returning  to  Brookline  in  the 
latter  year.  In  1864,  he  again  removed  with  his  family  to  Boston;  where, 
for  several  years,  he  engaged  in  the  sale  of  West  India  goods  and  groceries 
in  a  store  located  on  Blackstone  street.  About  1869,  induced  thereto  by 
the  fact  that  his  health  was  gradually  failing,  he  sold  out  his  business  in 
Boston,  and  returned  to  Broookline ;  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his 
life. 

Mr.  Tucker  was  one  of  the  most  capable  business  men  this  town  has 
ever  produced.  He  was  an  ardent  lover  of  the  town  and  its  institutions. 
And  as  such  responded  readily  and  willingly  to  all  demands  upon  either 
his  purse  or  his  time  which  had  for  their  object  the  welfare  of  either.  In 
his  political  principles,  during  the  latter  part  of  his  life,  he  was  a  liberal 
Democrat.  During  the  Civil  War  he  was  a  firm  supporter  of  the  govern- 
ment and  its  policies.    As  a  citizen  he  was  public  spirited,  and  was  honored 


644 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 


by  his  fellow  citizens  by  many  positions  of  trust.  He  served  nine  terms  as 
moderator,  two  terms  as  town  clerk,  three  terms  as  selectman,  and  repre- 
sented the  town  in  the  legislatures  of  1857,  1858,  1862  and  1863.  He  was 
postmaster  in  1850.  He  m.  in  1847,  Mary  H.  Campbell  of  New  Ipswich. 
He  d.  May  10,  1876;  she  d.  Oct.  18,  1886. 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 

1.  *Edward  C,  b.  July  1,  1848;  m.  May  10,  1871,  Ella  Wade  of 
Boston,  Mass. 

2.  *James  H.  S.,  b.  May  14,  1851;  m.  Oct.  6,  1884,  Ida  L.  Hodg- 
man  of  Mason. 

3.  Mary  E.,  b.  July  9,  1856;  d.  Sept.  4,  1857. 


(V)  EDWARD 
CAMPBELL  TUCKER, 
first  son  and  first  child 
of  Joseph  C.  and  Mary 
(Campbell)  Tucker,  was 
born  in  Brookline,  July 
1,  1848.  He  was  educat- 
ed in  the  public  schools 
of  the  town  and  in  Law- 
rence Academy,  Groton, 
Mass.  After  leaving  the 
Academy  he  returned  to 
Brookline,  where,  with 
the  exceptions  of  a  few 
years  passed  in  Boston, 
during  which  he  was 
clerking  in  his  father's 
store,  and  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Boston 
Lancers,  he  passed  his 
entire  life.  He  was  a 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  and  a  great  lover  of  books;  to  the  read- 
ing of  which  he  devoted  much  of  his  time.  He  was  sympathetic  in  his 
nature,  a  kind  and  obliging  neighbor,  a  firm  friend,  and  a  great  lover  of 
his  home  and  family.  As  a  citizen  he  was  esteemed  for  his  many  excellent 
qualities  of  mind  and  heart.      He  was  especially  well  informed  in  all 


EDWARD  C.  TUCKER 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  645 

matters  relating  to  the  town  and  its  history,  and  equally  well  posted  in 
matters  appertaining  to  the  town's  official  business;  in  which  he  was  fre- 
quently employed.  He  served  one  term  as  moderator,  thirteen  terms  as 
town  clerk,  four  terms  as  selectman,  and  was  Representative  in  1910  and 
1911.  He  m.  May  10,  1871,  Ella  Wade,  of  Boston,  Mass.  He  d.  July  17, 
1911. 

Child. 

Mabel  Shannon,  b.  Nov.  21,  1871;  m.  Sept.  3,  1895,  George  L.  Badger, 
of  Quincy,  Mass. 

(V)  JAMES  H.  SHANNON  TUCKER,  second  son  and  second 
child  of  Joseph  C.  and  Mary  H.  (Campbell)  Tucker,  was  born  at  Brook- 
line,  May  14,  1851.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Brookline 
and  in  Lawrence  Academy,  Groton,  Mass.  After  leaving  Lawrence 
Academy  he  resided  in  Brookline  until  1870.  In  the  latter  year  he  re- 
moved to  Baltimore,  Md.,  where  for  the  ensuing  ten  years  he  was  engaged 
in  the  hotel  business.  He  returned  to  Brookline  in  the  spring  of  1880. 
In  1882  he  purchased  of  Charles  A.  Hall  the  old  Tucker  and  Stiles  store, 
at  the  west  end  of  the  village  Main  street,  and  having  stocked  it  with 
goods,  began  business  for  himself  as  a  retail  dealer  in  West  India  goods 
and  groceries.  He  remained  in  this  business  until  1893,  when  he  sold  the 
store  and  his  stock  in  trade  to  Everett  E.  Tarbell,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.; 
and  soon  after  went  to  Harriman,  Tenn. ;  where  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
a  lumbering  firm  until  1896.  In  the  latter  year  he  returned  to  Brookline, 
and,  the  same  year  entered  the  employment  of  the  Flagg  Manufacturing 
Company  of  Pepperell,  Mass.  In  1903  he  entered  the  employment  of 
Thomas  Graham  and  Charles  Bell,  proprietors  and  managers,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Graham  and  Bell,  of  the  Tremont  House  in  Nashua,  as  hotel 
Clerk;  a  position  which  he  retained  until  1913.  In  the  latter  year  Dr. 
Bell  sold  his  interest  in  the  hotel  business  to  Abijah  Prescott  of  Nashua. 
The  new  proprietors  at  once  set  about  re-organizing  the  hotel's  affairs 
and  having  admitted  Mr.  Tucker  into  an  interest  in  the  business,  formed  a 
new  partnership  for  carrying  on  the  same,  under  the  firm  name  of  Graham, 
Prescott  and  Tucker.  December  12,  1913,  Mr.  Prescott  died;  and  soon 
after  his  death,  Mr.  Tucker  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Graham  for 
carrying  on  the  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Graham  and  Tucker. 
At  the  present  time,  (1914),  the  latter  firm  is  still  doing  business. 

Mr.  Tucker  has  served  the  town  of  Brookline  one  term  as  moderator, 
one  term  as  selectman,  four  terms  as  treasurer,  and  was  its  Representative 


646  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

in  the  Legislature  of  1887  and  1888.    He  m.  Oct.  16,  1884,  Ida  L.  Hodg- 
man  of  Mason. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Helen  C,  b.  Jan.  31,  1888. 

2.  Dora  S.,  b.  Dec.  12,  1891. 

DANIEL  TYLER  and  MOLLY. 

Children;  Born  at  Raby. 

1.  Deacy,  b.  Feb.  1,  1782. 

2.  Isaac,  b.  Feb.  18,  1784. 

3.  Eunice,  b.  July  30,  1786. 

Wallace. 

MATHEW  WALLACE,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in  this  town, 
was  born  in  Stowe,  Mass.,  Apr.  3,  1721.  He  was  a  son  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth Wallace.  About  1731  his  father  removed  with  his  family  from  Stowe 
to  Townsend,  Mass.;  where  he  was  a  selectman  in  1747,  and  one  of  the 
original  sixteen  members  of  the  Townsend  church;  and  where  he  died, 
May  20,  1763,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  His  wife, 
Elizabeth,  died  in  1765,  aged  72. 

Mathew  Wallace,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  probably  living  in 
Brookline  as  early  as  1755.  Apr.  19,  1763,  John  Wallace,  his  father,  in 
consideration  of  the  sum  of  sixty  pounds,  conveyed  to  him  one  hundred 
and  sixty  acres  of  land  lying  north  of  the  old  north  boundary  line  of  Town- 
send  in  the  south  part  of  the  Mile  Slip,  afterwards  Brookline.  Upon  this 
tract  of  land  thus  conveyed  he  built  his  log-cabin,  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence. The  cabin,  which  was  located  about  two  miles  west  of  the  village 
on  the  east  side  of  the  west  highway  to  Townsend,  disappeared  many 
years  ago,  and  a  framed  dwelling  house  was  erected  upon  its  site  by  Mr. 
Wallace.  This  latter  house  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  nineties.  Its  site 
at  the  present  time  is  occupied  by  a  dwelling  house  erected,  soon  after  the 
destruction  of  the  second  house,  by  Lyman  Canney;  who  is  the  owner  of 
the  old  Mathew  Wallace  farm  at  the  present  time,  (1914). 

Mathew  Wallace  was  one  of  Raby's  leading  citizens,  serving  the  town 
in  many  civic  capacities.     He  was  a  soldier  for  Raby  in  the  War  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  647 

Revolution,  serving  in  a  Massachusetts  regiment.     He  m.  May  6,  1755, 
Jean  Leslie  of  Hollis.     He  d.  in  1778;  she  survived  him  many  years. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  *Mathew,  b.  (no  record);  m.  Jan  15,  1799,  Betsey  Mcintosh. 

2.  Jonas,  b.  (no  record);  m.  ;  d.;  Mar.  7,  1837  buried 
in  South  Cemetery;  had  3  daughters,  (1)  Abigail,  lived  and  died  in  Al- 
stead;  (2)  Betsey,  lived  and  died  in  Pepperell,  Mass.;  (3)  Naomi,  lived 
and  died  in  Taunton,  Mass. 

3.  Jane,  b.  (no  record);  m.  Mar.  7,  1782,  George  Woodward  of 
Raby. 

4.  Sybel,  b.  (no  record). 

5.  John,  b.  (no  record) ;  m.  Nov.  16,  1786,  Sarah  Pett,  and  is  said  to 
have  removed  to  Vermont. 

6.  Betsey,  b.  (no  record);  m.  Nov.  3,  1787,  Joel  Boynton  of  Hopkin- 
ton. 

(Ill)  MATHEW  WALLACE,  Jr.,  a  son  of  Mathew  and  Jean 
(Leslie)  Wallace,  was  born  in  Brookline  about  1778.  He  resided  in  Brook- 
line  all  his  life.  He  was  a  farmer,  holding  offices  of  responsibility  and 
trust,  and  was  a  captain  of  the  local  Militia  company.  He  m.  Jan.  15, 
1799,  Betsey  Mcintosh,  dau.  of  James  Mcintosh  of  Brookline.  He  d. 
Sept.  19,  1843;  she  d.  May  30,  1878. 

Children  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Clorinda,  b.  July  4,  1800;  m.  Alpheus  Shattuck. 

2.  Eliza,  b.  1802;  m.  Aug.  19,  1828,  John  Colburn. 

3.  James,  b.  1804. 

4.  Asher,  b.  1806. 

5.  Jane,  b.  1808;  m.  July  20,  1828,  Asia  Shattuck. 

6.  Grace,  b.  1811;  m.  Feb.  ,  1833,  Benjamin  Jacquith  of 
Barnard,  Vt. 

7.  Waldo,  b.  1812;  m.  Oct.  4,  1834,  Catharine  Hall  of  Brook- 
line. 

8.  David,  b.  1814;  m.  Oct.  ,  1837,  Sarah  A.  Smith. 

9.  *William,  b.  Nov.  11,  1816;  m.  in  1840,  Catharine  McDonald. 
10.      Augusta  C,  b.  Apr.  1,  1820;  m.  Feb.  27,  1853,  Otis  Wright  of 

Brookline. 


648 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


WILLIAM  WALLACE 


ed  at  maturity. 


Children. 


(IV)  WILLIAM 
WALLACE,  ninth  child 
of  Captain  Mathew  and 
Betsey  (Mcintosh) 
Wallace,  was  born  in 
Brookline,  November 
11,  1816.  He  was  a 
Stone-mason  by  trade, 
and  was  also  employed 
in  building  railroads 
under  contract  in  the 
southern  states.  He  m. 
in  1840,  Catharine,  dau. 
of  Eri  and  Fanny 
(Wright)  McDonald  of 
Brookline.  He  d.  Sept. 
25,  1885.  Thirteen 
children,  all  born  in 
Brookline,  were  the  re- 
sults of  their  marriage, 
of  whom  five  only  arriv- 


1.  *Leroy  A.,  b.  Oct.         1841;  m.  Jan.  4,  1871,  Ellen  L.  French. 

2.  *Bryant  W.,  b.  Jan.  7,  1844;  m.  July  8,  1865,  Jane  N.  Pierce. 

3.  Ella,  b.  in  1846 ;  d.  in  young  womanhood. 

4.  Mary  A.,  b.  ;  m.  May  27,  1874,  John  D.  Hobart;  res. 
Maiden,  Mass. 

5.  *Elmer  W.,  b.  Nov.  14,  1853;  m.  Nov.  24,  1878,  Jennie  E.  Rock- 
wood. 


(V)  LEROY  A.  WALLACE,  first  son  of  William  and  Catharine 
(McDonald)  Wallace,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Oct.  ,  1841.  He  grew  to 
manhood  in  Brookline  and  received  his  education  in  its  public  schools.  He 
was  a  railroad  contractor  and  builder.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  re- 
sided in  New  York  city,  where  for  many  years  he  was  employed  in  build- 
ing and  superintending  street  railways,  He  m.  Jan.  4,  1871,  Ellen  L.,  dau. 
of  Philemon  and  Louisa  (Jefts)  French  of  Brookline.  They  had  one  child, 
Bertha  E.,  b.  Oct.  18,  1887;  m.  Mar.  20,  1911,  James  Coots  Terrace  of 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  649 

San  Francisco,  California.    He  died  Nov.  23,  1901,  and  is  buried  in  Brook- 
line. 

(V)  BRYANT  W.  WALLACE,  second  son  of  William  and 
Catharine  (McDonald)  Wallace,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Jan  7,  1843.  He 
is  a  paper-hanger  by  trade.  For  many  years  he  worked  at  his  trade  in 
Boston,  Mass.,  and  also  in  New  York  City.  At  the  present  time  (1914) 
he  has  retired  from  business  and  is  residing  in  Nashua.  He  served  in  the 
Civil  War  for  Brookline  as  a  sailor  in  the  U.  S.  Navy.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic;  was  adjutant  general  of  the 
Department  of  New  Hampshire  in  1903,  and  at  the  present  time  (1914) 
is  holding  for  the  third  time  the  position  of  commander  of  John  G.  Foster 
Post,  No.  7,  of  Nashua.  He  m.  July  8,  1865,  Jane  N.,  dau.  of  James  and 
Lucy  (Wheeler)  Pierce  of  Brookline.    No  children. 

(V)  ELMER  WRIGHT  WALLACE,  third  son  of  William  and 
Catharine  (McDonald)  Wallace,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Nov.  14,  1853. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  mixing  colors  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  several 
years  in  Nashua,  and  in  Lawrence,  Mass.  In  1897,  his  health  failing  him, 
he  gave  up  the  business  and  returned  to  Brookline,  where  he  purchased 
the  old  Samuel  Farley  place  and  settled  down  to  farming;  not,  however, 
for  a  long  time.  For  in  1911  he  disposed  of  his  farm  and  shortly  after 
removed  to  Townsend,  Mass.,  where  he  is  residing  at  the  present  time 
(1914).  He  is  superintendent  of  the  out-of-doors  work  connected  with 
the  coopering  and  lumbering  plant  of  the  Anson  Fessenden  Company  of 
that  place.  He  represented  Brookline  in  the  legislatures  of  1907 — 08.  He 
m.  Nov.  24,  1878,  Jennie  E.,  dau.  of  Levi  and  Cynthia  (Hobart)  Rock- 
wood.    They  had  one  child,  Ellen  A.,  b.  Dec.  11,  1879,  and  d.  in  infancy. 

Warner. 

HORACE  WARNER  came  to  Brookline  about  1823  from  Ack- 
worth;  where  he  was  born  in  1799.  His  family  was  originally  of  Dux- 
bury,  Mass.  He  was  an  architect  and  carpenter.  He  drew  the  plans  for 
and  superintended  the  building  of  the  Congregational  church  in  Brookline 
which  was  completed  in  1839.  In  1856,  he  removed  from  Brookline  to 
Pepperell,  Mass.,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  was  mar- 
ried three  times;  m.  1st,  July  4,  1824,  Abigail  Sawtelle;  she  d. ;  m.  2nd, 
Hall;  she  d.  in  March,  1859;  m.  3rd,  in  1861,  Matilda  Ruison;  she  d. 
Oct.         ,  1864.    He  d.  Dec.  25,  1863;  buried  in  Pepperell. 


650  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE 

Child;  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  Second  Wife. 

Martha  Jane,  b.  May  27,  1835;  m.  Apr.  16,  1862,  Samuel  Lakin  of 
Pepperell,  Mass.;  they  had  one  dau.,  Jennie  E.,  b.  Jan.  2,  1864;  m.  Sept. 
29,  1855,  Albert  L.  Gilbert  of  Pepperell. 

Waugh. 

JAMES  WAUGH  came  to  Brookline  in  1770  from  Townsend,  Mass.; 
where  his  family  were  among  the  early  settlers.  He  settled  in  the  south- 
west part  of  the  town  on  land  which  he  purchased  of  Rebecca  Blanchard, 
widow  of  Joseph  Blanchard.  The  date  of  his  marriage  and  the  name  of 
his  wife  are  unknown.  Brookline's  records  make  no  mention  of  births  or 
deaths  in  his  family.  But  in  the  record  of  marriages  appear  the  follow- 
ing entries:  "Feb.  23,  1817,  Vernal  Barber  of  Sherburne,  Mass.  and  Mary 
Waugh."  "Jan.  10,  1850,  John  Waugh  and  Abigail  Hartwell."  Both 
John  and  Abigail  are  described  in  the  records  as  being  of  this  town;  and  it 
is  certain  that  they  lived  here  for  several  years  after  they  were  married, 
residing  for  at  least  a  part  of  the  time  in  "Paddledock."  They  left  no 
children  of  record.  There  are  no  known  descendants  of  the  Waugh  family 
living  here  today. 

Wetherbee. 

TIMOTHY  WETHERBEE,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in  Raby, 
according  to  the  town  records,  "Came  into  this  town  with  Lydia,  his 
wife,  and  Naomi  and  Timothy  and  Luther,  their  children  to  live  and  re- 
side May  1785,  last  from  Pepperell."  The  family  was  oringially  of  Con- 
cord, Mass.  He  was  a  farmer  and  lived  in  the  west  part  of  the  town.  He 
m.  Lydia  Parker  of  Groton,  Mass. 

Children;  So  Far  as  Known. 

1.  Naomi,  b.  in  Concord,  Mass.,  Sept.  26,  1778;  m.  in  1802,  Moses 
Shattuck. 

2.  Mary,  b.  in  Concord,  Mass.  ;  m.  Sept.  19,  1802,  Thomas 
Lancey. 

3.  Timothy,  b.  in  Concord,  Mass. 

4.  Luther,  b.  in  Concord,  Mass. 

5.  Sewell,  b.  in  Concord,  Mass.  ;  m.  Nov.  28,  1805,  Sarah 
Spalding. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  651 

DANIEL  S.  WETHERBEE  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Mass.,  in 
October,  1814.  He  was  a  son  of  Sewell  and  Sarah  (Spaulding)  Wetherbee. 
He  was  a  farmer;  passing  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Brookline.  He  m. 
in  1835,  Louisa  Jane  Reed,  dau.  of  William  Reed  of  Lowell,  Mass.  He  d. 
in  Brookline,  Aug.  1879;  she  d.  in  June,  1871. 

Children. 

1.  Jane,  b.  Nov.  19,  1836,  Brookline;  m.  July  4,  Gilbert  Colby. 

2.  Charles,  b.  Oct.  1,  1838,  Lowell;  d.  in  the  Civil  War. 

3.  Hannah,  b.  Aug.  27,  1840,  Brookline;  m.  Jan.  5,  1858,  Albert  M. 
French;  res.  Ashby,  Mass. 

4.  Caroline,  b.  July  10,  1843,  Brookline;  m. 
Augustus  Hill,  Mason. 

5.  Daniel,  b.  Sept.  ,  Brookline;  m.  Eva  Balcom;  res. 
Ayer,  Mass. 

Whitcomb. 

JEFFERSON  WHITCOMB  settled  in  Brookline  in  1861,  coming 
here  from  Townsend,  Mass.  He  was  a  son  of  Nathaniel  and  Sultena 
(Lord)  Whitcomb  of  Fitchburg,  Mass.;  where  he  was  born  Feb.  23,  1829. 
He  was  a  farmer.  His  farm  in  Brookline,  which  he  purchased  of  William 
Gilson,  was  located  about  one  mile  north  of  the  village,  on  the  west  side 
of  the  north  highway  to  Milford.  It  was  formerly  known  as  "the  Senter 
place."  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Aug.  22,  1852,  Eliza  Ann,  dau.  of 
William  and  Eliza  Ann  Gilson;  she  d.  m.  2nd,  Dec.  25,  1855, 

Mary  Esther,  dau.  of  Jonathan  and  Rebecca  Warren.     He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.    He  d.  Mar.  16,  1882;  she  d.  Nov.  4,  1890. 

Children;  By  Second  Wife. 

1.  Mary  L.,  b.  in  Townsend,  Apr.  8,  1857;  unm. 

2.  Clara  W.,  b.  in  Townsend,  Apr.  30,  1860;  m.  July  17,  1881,  Walter 
F.  Rockwood  of  Brookline. 

3.  *Eddy  S.,  b.  in  Townsend,  Aug.  20,  1861;  m.  Apr.  2,  1885,  Adella 
E.  Baldwin. 

4.  William  H.  G.,  b.  in  Brookline,  Aug.  12,  1866;  m.  Mar.  20,  1889, 
Annie  Susie  C.  McZoyden. 


652 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 


EDDY  S.  WHITCOMB 


EDDY  SHERMAN 
WHITCOMB,  third 
child  and  first  son  of 
Jefferson  and  Mary 
E.  (Warren)  Whitcomb, 
was  born  in  Townsend, 
Mass.,  August  20,  1861. 
He  came  to  Brookline 
in  1861  with  his  father's 
family.  He  was  a  farmer, 
and  a  member  of  the 
local  Congregational 
church.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  town's  History 
Committee.  About  1904 
he  removed  from  Brook- 
line  to  Freemont,  where 
he  purchased  a  farm 
which  he  operated  until 
his  death.  He  m.  Apr.  2, 
1885,  Adella  E.,  dau.  of 
Luke  and  Hannah 


(Burge )  Baldwin  of  Brookline.     He  d.  at  Freemont,  June  19,  1908. 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 

1.  Grace  A.,  b.  Oct.  30,  1885. 

2.  Hattie  M.,  b.  Jan.  10,  1891;  m.  Nov.  9,  1910,  Henry  M.  Hall. 

3.  Alice  B.,  b.  Jan.  17,  1894. 

4.  Harlan  J.,  b.  Aug.  31,  1897. 

5.  Elizabeth  C,  b.  Mar.  23,  1899. 


Wheeler. 


EBENEZER  WHEELER  settled  in  Brookline  about  1800,  coming 
here  from  Hollis.  He  was  a  son  of  Benjamin  and  Hannah  Wheeler  of  Pep- 
perell,  Mass.,;  where  he  was  born  Mar.  28,  1773.  He  was  a  farmer.  His 
farm  was  located  about  one  mile  north  of  the  village  on  the  east  side  of 
the  highway  to  Mason.  He  m.  June  22,  1800,  Betsey,  dau.  of  Jonas  and 
Elizabeth  (Dow)  Leslie,  of  Hollis.    He  d.  ;  she  d.  Sept.  12, 

1829. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  653 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 

1.  Jonas,  b.  July  30,  1801 ;  m.  Mary  Hall. 

2.  *Benjamin,  b.  Dec.  27,  1803;  m.  Mar.  2,  1828,  Roxana  Woods. 

3.  Lucy,  b.  Mar.  2,  1805;  m.  July  12,  1885,  James  Pierce. 

4.  Joseph,  b.  July  4,  1807;  m.         Sarah  Tarbell. 

5.  James,  b.  June  20,  1809;  d.  Nov.  21,  1809. 

6.  Hannah  W.,  b.  Nov.  11,  1810;  m.  Jan.  6,  1842,  William  Gilson. 

7.  Nancie,  b.  May  4,  1813;  d.  Aug.  23,  1818. 

8.  Mary,  b.  Apr.  17,  1815;  d.  Aug.  11,  1818. 

9.  Amasa,  b.  May  24,  1821;  d.  Mar.  18,  1842;  unm. 

BENJAMIN  WHEELER,  second  child  and  second  son  of  Ebenezer 
and  Betsey  (Leslie)  Wheeler,  was  born  in  Brookline,  Dec.  27,  1803.  He 
was  a  cobbler  by  trade,  living  on  the  east  side  of  the  highway  to  Milford, 
about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  north  of  the  Congregational  church.  He  m. 
Mar.  2,  1828,  Roxana  Woods.    He  d.  ;  she  d.  Apr.  13,  1857. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Augusta  A.,  b.  Feb.  11, 1831 ;  m.  Apr.  29, 1852,  Charles  L.  Willoby. 

2.  Mary  L.,  b.  Oct.  26,  1836;  m.  Benjamin  Shattuck. 

Willoby. 

CHARLES  LEONARD  WILLOBY  settled  in  Brookline  about  1854, 
coming  here  from  Hollis,  where  he  was  born  Dec.  24,  1829.  He  was  a  son 
of  Leonard  and  Mary  (Taylor)  Willoby,  and  a  descendant  in  the  third 
generation  of  Oliver  and  Sarah  (Bailey)  Willoby  of  Westford,  Mass.  He 
was  a  cooper  by  trade,  and  an  esteemed  citizen.  He  m.  Apr.  29,  1852, 
Augusta  B.,  dau.  of  Benjamin  and  Roxana  (Wood)  Wheeler  of  Brook- 
line.    He  d.  Aug.  18,  1910;  she  d.  July  9,  1899. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  George  Henry,  b.  Apr.  11,  1856;  m.  June  13,  1883,  Emily  L 
Gardner  of  Franklin,  Mass.;  no  ch.  He  d.  at  Franklin,  Sept.  22,  1910; 
she  d.  at  Franklin,  Aug.  6,  1913. 

2.  *Frank  Leonard,  b.  Jan.  25,  1859;  m.  Jan.  1,  1882,  Emma  A. 
Daniels. 


654  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

FRANK  LEONARD  WILLOBY,  second  son  and  second  child  of 
Charles  L.  and  Augusta  B.  (Wheeler)  Willoby,  was  born  Jan.  25,  1859,  in 
Brookline;  where  he  has  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  is  a  watch- 
maker by  trade,  and  a  leading  citizen  of  the  town,  in  which  he  has  held 
many  offices  of  trust,  and  was  its  Representative  in  the  legislatures  of 
1899  and  1900.    He  m.  Jan.  1,  1882,  Emma  A.  Daniels  of  Brookline. 

Child;  Born  in  Brookline. 

Clara  Augusta,  b.  Dec.  14,  1882;  m.  Feb.  4,  1905,  Frank  E.  Killduff. 

LUTHER  WILLOBY  and  MARY.  Came  from  Hollis  to  Brook- 
line about  1815. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Emily,  b.  Feb.  17,  1816. 

2.  Latatia,  b.  Dec.  24,  1821. 

Worden. 

FRED  A.  WORDEN  was  born  at  Brookline  July  7,  1857.  He  is  a 
son  of  Solomon  and  Nancy  (Patch)  Worden.  He  settled  here  in  1900, 
coming  here  from  Mason.  He  is  a  farmer.  He  m.  May  21,  1889,  Elisa- 
beth Jeff  res. 

Children. 

1.  Florence  E.,  b.  at  Boston,  Mass.,  Oct.  5,  1886;  m.  Aug.  20,  1908, 
Charles  Koch. 

2.  Lillian  M.,  b.  at  Ashby,  Mass.,  Feb.  3,  1892. 

3.  Blanche  E.,  b.  at  Mason,  Jan.  7,  1893;  m.  July  6,  1912,  James 
Farnsworth  of  Brookline. 

4.  Annie  R.,  b.  at  Townsend,  Mass.,  Mar.  22,  1896. 

Wright. 

(V)  DAVID  WRIGHT,  a  son  of  Samuel  and  Hannah  (Lawrence) 
Wright,  was  born  at  Woburn,  Mass.,  Aug.  19,  1735.  He  was  a  lineal  de- 
scendant in  the  5th  generation  of  John  Wright,  the  immigrant  settler  from 
England;  who,  in  1640,  was  living  at  Charlestown,  Mass.,  but  who  subse- 
quently removed  to  Woburn,  Mass.;  the  line  of  descent  being  as  follows: 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  655 

(I)  John  Wright,  the  immigrant  settler;  (II)  John  Wright,  the  son  of 
John;  m.  Abigail  Warren;  lived  in  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  where  he  was  a 
prominent  citizen;  (III)  Josiah  Wright,  son  of  John,  Jr.;  m.  Rust  Carter, 
dau.  of  John  and  Rust  (Burnham)  Carter  of  Woburn,  Mass.;  he  d.  at 
Woburn,  Jan.  22,  1744;  (IV)  Samuel  Wright,  b.  Woburn,  Feb.  28,  1704; 
m.  Hamiah,  dau.  of  Nathaniel  and  Anna    (  )  Lawrence,  and 

great-grand-daughter  of  John  Lawrence,  the  immigrant;   (V)  David,  son 
of  Samuel  of  Woburn. 

He  married,  Dec.  24,  1761,  Prudence,  dau.  of  Samuel  and  Prudence 
(Lawrence)  Cummings  of  Hollis,  and  settled  in  Pepperell,  Mass.  He  was 
a  farmer  and  an  extensive  dealer  in  real  estate;  owning  at  one  time  over 
2000  acres  of  land  in  the  town  of  Brookline.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  War 
of  the  Revolution,  serving  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Josiah  Sawtelle's  com- 
pany, of  Groton,  Mass.  His  wife,  Prudence,  was  the  leader  of  the  band 
of  women  who  in  1775  captured  the  notorious  Tory,  Leonard  Whiting,  at 
Jewett's  Bridge  in  Pepperell,  Mass.  Several  of  his  children  lived  and  died 
in  Brookline.  He  d.  at  Pepperell,  Mass.,  May  22,  1819;  his  wife  d.  at 
Pepperell,  Dec.  2,  1827.    They  are  both  buried  in  Pepperell. 

Children;  Born  at  Pepperell,  Mass. 

1.  *David,  b.  Mar.  28,  1763;  m.  Sept.  21,  1785,  Polly  Lowell  of 
Raby;  lived  and  died  in  Brookline. 

2.  Prudence,  b.  Aug.  29,  1764;  unm.,  d.  in  Pepperell  about  1850. 

3.  Cummings,  b.  Mar.  17,  1766. 

4.  Mary,  b.  Dec.  27,  1767;  d.  July  1,  1774. 

5.  Wilkes,  b.  Dec.  8,  1769. 

6.  Caroline      )  .  .,___    , 

7.  Matilda      )  S'  g*      '  '      y°u1l8- 

8.  Liberty,  b.  July  19,  1774;  d.  Mar.  11,  1775. 

9.  Deverd,  b.  Feb.  10,  1776;  m.  Nathan  Corey  of  Groton,  Mass.; 
lived  and  died  in  Brookline. 

10.  *Liberty,  b.  May  30,  1778;  m.  Oct.  17,  1802,  Betsey  Blanchard. 

11.  Artemus,  b.  Aug.  4,  1780;  m.  Prudence  Corey  of  Groton. 

12.  Daniel,  b.  Apr.  26,  1783. 

(VI)  DAVID  WRIGHT,  Jr.,  the  first  of  his  family  to  settle  in 
Brookline,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Mar.  28,  1763.  He  was  the  first 
child  and  first  son  of  David  and  Prudence  (Cummings)  Wright.  He  re- 
moved with  his  family  from  Pepperell  to  Brookline  in  the  latter  part  of 


656  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

the  nineties  of  1700.  He  resided  at  "Paddledock,"  now  South  Brookline; 
where  he  was  the  owner  and  operator  of  a  tool  shop  located  on  or  near  the 
site  of  the  old  Jasher  Wyman  sawmill;  at  the  present  time  the  site  of  the 
sawmill  of  Dea.  Perley  A.  Pierce.  He  was  twice  married;  m.  1st,  in  Pep- 
perell,  before  coming  here,  Sept.  21,  1785,  Polly  Lowell  of  Raby  she  d. ; 
m.  2nd,  in  Brookline,  about  1807,  Hepsibah  .  He  d.  July  29, 

1825;  and  is  buried  in  the  South  Cemetery. 

Children. 

The  names  and  records  of  the  births  of  his  children  do  not  appear  in 
the  Brookline  records.  But  his  last  will  and  testament  on  file  in  the  pro- 
bate office  for  Hillsborough  county  gives  their  names,  as  follows:  David, 
William,  Japtha,  Jefferson,  Deverd,  Fannie  and  Mary;  of  whom  Deverd 
was  the  eldest.  Following  is  the  only  data  which  the  compiler  has  been 
able  to  collect  relative  to  his  children. 

1.  Deverd,  b.  in  Pepperell  in  1786;  m.  in  Brookline  Nov.  10,  1816, 
George  Verder. 

2.  Mary,  b.  in  Brookline;  m.  in  Brookline,  Oct.  10,  1810,  John  Orr. 

3.  Fannie,  b.  in  Brookline;  m.  in  Brookline,  Oct.  11,  1812,  Eri 
McDonald. 

4.  David,  b.  in  Brookline;  m.  in  Brookline,  July  6,  1824,  Mary 
Pedrick. 

5.  Jeptha,  b.  in  Brookline;  m.  in  Brookline,  Apr.  22,  1813,  Polly 
Hosley. 

6.  William,  b.  in  Brookline. 

7.  Jefferson,  b.  in  Brookline. 

(VI)  LIBERTY  WRIGHT,  tenth  child  and  fourth  son  of  David 
and  Prudence  (Cummings)  Wright,  was  born  May  30,  1778,  in  Pepperell, 
Mass.;  where  he  passed  his  boyhood  and  early  manhood.  Early  in  1800, 
he  removed  with  his  family  from  Pepperell  to  Brookline ;  where  he  engaged 
in  farming ;  residing  during  the  latter  part  of  his  residence  here  on  the  old 
Burthop  place  on  the  west  side  of  the  east  highway  to  Milford.  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  seventies  he  removed  with  his  wife  from  Brookline  to 
Nashua;  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  life  with  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Artemas  Longely.  He  d.  at  Nashua  in  1877;  his  wife,  Betsey,  d.  at 
Nashua  in  1878 ;  both  are  buried  in  Woodlawn  Cemetery  in  that  city. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  twice  married;  m.  1st,  prior  to  1802,  Hannah 
Cooper,  of  Norwich,  Conn.;  m.  2nd,  at  Pepperell,  Oct.  17,  1820,  Betsey 
Blanchard  of  Pepperell,  Mass. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE  657 

Children;  By  First  Wife. 

Hannah,  b.  Norwich,  Conn.,  Oct.  18,  1798;  m.  Luke  I.  Wright;  she 
d.  in  1886. 

By  Second  Wife. 

1.  Eliza,  b.  June  29,  1803;  d.  Oct.  13,  1825. 

2.  Harriet,  b.  Sept.  9,  1804;  m.  Sept.  30,  1830,  Amos  Ramsdell;  ch.; 
(1)  Harriet  Elizabeth,  b.  Mar.  16,  1837;  (2)  Charles  Henry,  b.  Oct.  12, 
1841;  d.  Apr.  4,  1863. 

3.  Matilda,  b.  July  25,  1806;  m.  Charles  W.  Worcester; 
ch.,  (1)  Harriet  A.,  b.  Sept.  7,  1833,  d.  Sept.  9,  1834;  (2)  Harriet  Matilda, 
b.  Nov.  27,  1835. 

4.  Roxana,  b.  July  1,  1808;  m.  Jan.  17,  1832,  Artemas  Longley;  ch., 
(1)  Elvira  Laurens,  b.  Oct.  14,  1834;  (2)  Francis  Delinda,  b.  May  28, 
1836;  d.  Oct.  12,  1852;  (3)  Edward  Martin,  b.  Dec.  24,  1839;  d.  Nov.  12, 
1842;  (4)  Charles  Augustus,  b.  Feb.  26,  1842;  d.  May  26,  1845;  (5)  Rox- 
ana Wright,  b.  Jan.  24,  1844;  (6)  Maria  Kezar,  b.  Aug.  6,  1846;  (7) 
Otis  Wright,  b.  July  10,  1848;  d.  Nov.  14,  1877. 

5.  Delinda,  b.  Aug.  5,  1810;  m.  1857,  John  Tripp;  no  ch. 

6.  Liberty  M.,  b.  Dec.  13,  1812;  m.  ;  drummer  in  Civil 
War;  ch.,  Delinda,  George,  Betsey,  Emma. 

7.  Daniel,  b.  Jan.  28,  1815;  m.  Lydia  ;  no  ch. 

8.  *Otis,  b.  Feb.  14,  1818;  m.  Feb.  27,  1843,  Augusta  C.  Wallace; 
no  ch. 

9.  Charles,  b.  Feb.  1,  1821;  d.  June  8,  1840. 

(VII)  OTIS  WRIGHT,  a  son  of  Liberty  and  Betsey  (Blanchard) 
Wright,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Feb.  14,  1818.  He  settled  in  Brook- 
line  about  1840.  In  his  young  manhood  he  was  engaged  in  the  business 
of  constructing  railroads;  filling  contracts  in  that  line  of  business  in  the 
southern  and  middle  western  States,  and  making  his  home  in  Brookline. 
About  1860  he  gave  up  the  business  and  removed  to  Nashua;  where  for 
several  years  he  was  landlord  of  the  Tremont  House.  In  the  seventies  he 
was  an  officer  in  the  "Governor's  Horse  Guards;"  a  crack  troop  of  cavalry 
organized  by  the  leading  citizens  of  the  State.  He  m.  Feb.  27,  1843, 
Augusta  C,  dau.  of  Capt.  Mathew  and  Betsey  (Mcintosh)  Wallace;  he 
d.  at  Nashua,  Apr.  21,  1871;  she  d.  at  Nashua,  Jan.  7,  1906;  they  left  no 
children.    Both  are  buried  in  Edge  wood  Cemetery,  Nashua. 


658  HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

(VII)  COL.  ARTEMAS  WRIGHT,  a  lineal  descendant  in  the 
seventh  generation  of  John  Wright,  immigrant  settler  in  1640  in  Woburn, 
Mass.,  was  born  in  Groton,  Mass.,  Jan.  20,  1811.  He  was  a  son  of  Ar- 
temas  and  Prudence  (Corey)  Wright,  and  a  gransdon  of  David  Wright 
and  Prudence  Cummings,  his  wife;  who  was  the  leader  of  the  band  of 
women  who  arrested  the  notorious  tory,  Leonard  Whiting,  at  Jewett's 
Bridge  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  in  1775.  His  grandfather,  David  Wright,  was 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  serving  in  Capt.  Joseph  Sawtelle's  company  of 
Groton.  Mass.  Col.  Wright  settled  in  Brookline  in  the  thirties  of  1800, 
coming  here  from  Groton.  During  his  residence  here  he  was  an  active  and 
influential  citizen,  holding  many  offices  of  trust.  He  was  especially  interest- 
ed in  Military  affairs.  In  1842  he  was  captain  of  the  9th  Company  Fifth 
New  Hampshire  State  Militia;  and  in  1847  colonel  of  the  same  regiment; 
a  position  which  he  held  for  several  successive  years.  He  m.  Dec.  4,  1834, 
Mary  McDonald,  dau.  of  Eri  and  Fannie  (Wright)  McDonald,  of  Brook- 
line.  In  1858  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Ayer,  Mass.;  where  he  d. 
Oct.  7,  1885;  his  wife  d.  in  Ayer  in  1904. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Mary  Frances,  b.  May  10,  1835;  m.  Apr.  13,  1853,  Leander  W. 
Cummings,  of  Townsend,  Mass.  Ch.,  (1)  Fred  Leander,  b.  July  7,  1885; 
d.  May  24,  1903;  (2)  Nellie  Maria,  b.  Sept.  6,  1862. 

2.  John  Artemas,  b.  Jan.  3,  1839;  m.  Sept.  4,  1867,  Elizabeth  S. 
Lawrence;  d.  Mar.  20,  1896;  ch.  (1)  Arthur  Lawrence,  b.  May  22,  1871; 
(2)  Frank  Artemas,  b.  Jan.  12,  1876. 

3.  Harriet  Amelia,  b.  Mar.  2,  1841;  m.  Apr.  28,  1861,  Augustus 
Lovejoy  of  Hollis;  res.  Ayer,  Mass.;  ch.,  Freddie  Augustus,  b.  July  8, 
1874;  d.  Nov.  12,  1874. 

4.  Lucy  Jane,  b.  July  29,  1844;  m.  Apr.  30,  1882,  Charles  H.  Straffin; 
she  d.  Feb.  21,  1900;  no  ch. 

5.  Kate  Elderella,  b.  Apr.  12,  1847;  m.  Jan.  22,  1880,  Elliott  Leroy 
Worrick. 

6.  Emma  Josephine,  b.  Aug.  2,  1850;  m.  Oct.  2,  1895,  Silas  P.  Mor- 
gan. 

(IV)  WILLIAM  WRIGHT  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Mar. 
26,  1825.  He  was  a  son  of  Lucas  I.  and  Hannah  (Wright)  Wright;  and  a 
descendant  in  the  fourth  generation  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  Wright 

of    Hollis;  the  line  of  descent  being  as  follows:     (I)    Benjamin  Wright, 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF   BROOKLINE  659 

who  married  Mary  (surname  unknown).  He  was  a  soldier  for  Hollis  in 
the  War  of  the  Revolution,  serving  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Reuben  Dow's 
company  which  marched  for  Lexington  in  April,  1775;  (II)  Noah  Wright, 
son  of  Benjamin,  b.  in  Hollis,  Dec.  13,  1763;  he  served  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution;  m.  Dec.  12,  1785,  Sally,  dau.  of  John  and  Martha  (Blood) 
Nutting,  of  Pepperell,  Mass.;  (Ill)  Lucas  I.,  son  of  Noah,  b.  in  Pepperell, 
Mass.;  m.  about  1825,  Hannah  Wright;  (IV)  William. 

On  the  maternal  side  of  the  house  he  was  a  lineal  descendant  in  the 
seventh  generation  of  John  Wright,  the  immigrant  settler  in  1640  at 
Charlestown,  Mass.;  (see  David  Wright  genealogy,  ante),  his  mother  be- 
ing a  daughter  of  Liberty  Wright,  a  son  of  David  and  Prudence  (Cum- 
mings)  Wright  of  Pepperell,  Mass.,  by  his  first  wife,  Hannah  Cooper,  of 
Norwich,  Conn. 

In  his  boyhood  his  father  removed  with  his  family  from  Pepperell  to 
Hollis;  where  he  attained  to  manhood.  In  1846  he  removed  from  Hollis 
to  Brookline;  where  he  engaged  in  the  lumbering  and  coopering  business, 
and  also  in  the  sixties,  in  company  with  Sumner  Kendall,  operated  a 
country  store.  He  was  an  active,  energetic  and  influential  citizen.  In  the 
latter  part  of  the  seventies,  he  removed  with  his  family  from  Brookline  to 
Townsend,  Mass.;  where  he  kept  a  store  for  the  sale  of  general  merchan- 
dise until  the  early  part  of  the  nineties,  when  he  removed  to  Seattle, 
Washington.  He  was  thrice  married;  m.  1st,  May  4,  1853,  K.  Jane  Rock- 
wood;  she  d.  Aug.  17,  1856;  m.  2nd,  Mary  Rockwood;  she  d.  ;  m. 
3rd,  Dec.  23,  1863,  Mrs.  Eliza  Annah  (Elliot)  Keys  of  Mason.  He  d.  at 
Seattle  Nov.  26,  1899. 

Children;  Born  in  Brokline. 
By  Third  Wife. 

(V)  1.  *George  Elliot,  b.  in  Brookline,  Jan  .20,  1867;  m.  July  16, 
1895,  Mary  Estelle  Wyckoff,  at  Delhi,  Illinios;  ch.,  b.  at  Seattle,  Wash.; 
(I)  Selah  Elisabeth,  b.  Nov.  16,  1896;   (2)  Annah  Barkley,  b.  Feb.  8, 

1898.  (See  chap.  XI,  ante). 

2.     *William  Hammond,  b.  in  Brookline,  Dec.  2,  1869;    m.  Oct.  11, 

1899,  Frances  Rumsey;  he  d.  at  Seattle,  Wash.,  May  26,  1911;  ch.,  b.  at 
Seattle,  (1)  Hammond  Elliot,  b.  Oct.  27,  1900;  (2)  Margaret  Rumsey, 
b.  June  23,  1902;  (3)  William  Francis,  b.  Feb.  5,  1904.  (See  chap.  XI, 
ante ) . 

(IV)     FREDERICK      FRY      WRIGHT   was   born   in   Pepperell, 
Mass.,  June  4,  1831.     He  was  a  son  of  Lucas  I.  and  Hannah  (Wright) 


660  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

Wright  and  a  lineal  descendant  in  the  fourth  generation  of  Benjamin  and 
Mary  Wright  of  Hollis  (See  genealogy  of  William  Wright,  ante).  On 
his  mother's  side  of  the  house,  he  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  John  Wright 
the  immigrant  settler  in  1640  at  Charlestown,  Mass. 

He  settled  in  Brookline  about  1850,  coming  here  from  Hollis.  He 
was  a  farmer.  In  1889  he  left  Brookline  for  parts  unknown,  and  has 
never  been  heard  from  since.  He  m.  June  4,  1851,  Mary  A.,  dau.  of 
Nathaniel  W.,  and  Asenath  (Melendy)  Colburn  of  Brookline. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1  Mary  L.,  b.  Mar.  14,  1853;  m.  Nov.  4,  1875,  George  H.  Nye. 

2.  Freddy  A.,  b.  July  26,  1854;  d.  in  1859. 

3.  *Willie  H.,  b.  Sept.  26,  1856;  m.  Oct.  22,  1885,  Lizzie  Hicks. 

4.  *Freeman  E.,  b.  Mar.  16,  1859;  m.  Apr.  6,  1880,  Etna  E.  Bald- 
win. 

5.  Abbie  E.,  b.  Jan.  15,  1862;  m.  Dec.  15,  1891,  Fred  Jones. 

6.  Emma  C,  b.  Feb.  23,  1864;  d.  in  1864. 

7.  Lovilla  J.,  b.  Apr.  15,  1867;  m.  Apr.  12,  1888,  Edgar  J.  Smith. 

8.  Hattie  M.,  b.  Mar.  19,  1870;  m.  Dec.  1,  1888,  Frank  Slocumb. 

9.  Aura  I.,  b.  Apr.  27,  1872. 

10.     Bertha  A.,  b.  July  4,  1875;  m.  Aug.  25,  1903,  Fred  Seeley. 

(V)  WILLIAM  H.  WRIGHT,  third  child  and  second  son  of 
Frederick  F.  and  Mary  A.  (Colburn)  Wright,  was  born  in  Brookline, 
Sept.  26,  1856.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town. 
In  his  young  manhood  he  removed  from  Brookline  to  Spokane,  Washing- 
ton ;  where  he  became  a  professional  guide  for  touring  and  hunting  parties ; 
an  occupation  in  which  he  acquired  an  extensive  and  excellent  reputation. 
In  addition  to  his  success  as  a  master  of  woodcraft,  Mr.  Wright  has  also 
acquired  fame  as  an  author  and  writer  of  ability.  In  1910  he  published 
a  book  under  the  title,  "The  Grizzly  Bear,"  in  which  he  describes  in  a 
most  interesting  manner  the  habits,  ways  and  peculiarities  of  that  animal. 
The  book  met  with  an  immediate  success,  and  was  welcomed  by  all  lovers 
of  the  fields  and  forests  as  a  valuable  addition  to  the  knowledge  of  wood- 
craft which  the  public  already  possessed.  Encouraged  by  the  success  of 
his  first  book,  in  the  same  year  Mr.  Wright  published  another  under  the 
title  of  "The  Black  Bear;"  which  met  with  equally  good  success  as  did 
the  first. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  661 

Mr.  Wright  married  at  Spokane,  Oct.  22,  1885,  Elizabeth  Hix.  At 
the  present  time  (1914)  he  is  still  residing  in  Spokane;  eh.,  (1)  Beulah,  b. 
Nov.  26,  1892;  m.  June  18,  1913,  Victor  P.  Campbell;  (2)  Caroline  B., 
b.  Nov.  18,  1896. 

(V)  FREEMAN  E.  WRIGHT,  fourth  child  and  third  son  of 
Frederick  F.,  and  Mary  A.  (Colburn)  Wright,  was  born  in  Brookline, 
Mar.  16,  1859.  He  has  always  resided  here.  He  is  a  farmer,  making  a 
specialty  of  raising  fruits  and  vegetables;  and  in  these  lines  has  acquired 
the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  in  Hillsboro 
County.  During  the  five  years  last  past  he  has  thrice  taken  the  first  prize 
of  the  Hillsborough  County  Horticultural  and  Pomological  Society  for 
his  exhibitions  of  fruits  and  vegetables  at  its  annual  exhibitions.  He  m. 
Apr.  6,  1880,  Etna  E.,  dau.  of  Luke  and  Harriet  (Burge)  Baldwin  of  this 
town. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Mabel  W.,  b.  Oct.  29,  1880;  m.  Jan.  31.  1905,  Ralph  R.  Perkins. 

2.  Richard  F.,  b.  Mar.  5,  1889;  m.  May  4,  1909,  Mrs.  Charlotte  G. 
Frost;  ch.,  (1)  Rodney  B.,  b.  Sept.  14,  1909;  (2)  Robert  E.,  b.  Mar.  17, 
1911;  (3)  Arnold  F.,  b.  Apr.  18,  1913. 

DEA.  TIMOTHY  WRIGHT,  fourth  son  and  sixth  child  of  Uriah 
and  Eunice  (Jewett)  Wright,  was  born  in  Hollis,  Apr.  13,  1791.  About 
1810,  he  removed  from  Hollis  to  Brookline,  where  he  settled  in  the  north 
part  of  the  town.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  a  member  of  and  deacon  in  the 
local  Congregational  church.  He  m.  May  7,  1794,  Lucy,  dau.  of  Richard 
and  Polly  T.  Melendy. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Timothy,  b.  June  20,  1812;  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Rosana  Bad- 
ger; she  d.;  m.  2nd,  May  29,  1869,  Lucinda  Willoby  of  Milford.  Ch.,  (1) 
Sarah,  d.  unm.;  (2)  *Moses  B.,  b.  May  5,  1845;  twice  married;  m.  1st,. 
Mar.  21,  1866,  Saraphina  H.  Gardner;  m.  2nd,  May  27,  1875,  Sophia 
Pierce. 

2.  Lucinda,  b.  ;  m.  Thomas  Williams;  no 
ch. 

3.  Ozias,  b.  Feb.  2,  1820;  m.  May  2,  1843,  Kate  McGilvery;  ch.,  (1) 
Fannie  E.,  b.  Nov.  26,  1844;  m.  Dec.  28,  1865,  W.  A.  Crosby;  she  d.  Mar. 


662  HISTORY  OF  THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE 

31,  1867;  (2)  Lucy  C,  b.  Oct.  29,  1846;  m.  June  1,  1870,  Payson  Burge; 
(3)  Isabella  M.  J.,  b.  Feb.  27,  1849;  m.  June  8,  1890,  J.  D.  Tilton;  he  d. 
m.  2nd,  George  F.  Colburn;  he  d.  Feb.  20,  1909;  she  d.  June  28,  1911;  (4) 
Ada  M.,  b.  Dec.  12,  1851;  d.  in  infancy;  (5)  Mariana  S.,  b.  Aug.  4,  1857; 
d.  Apr.  28,  1859. 

4.  Jane,  b.  ;  m.  Oct.  13,  1840,  Jotham  Grimes;  eh.,  Maria, 
Frank,  Edwin  and  Fred.  Fred  had  his  name  changed  to  Wright;  he  was 
for  several  years  superintendent  of  the  Old  Couples  Home  in  Nashua; 
res.  Nashua. 

5.  Jewett,  b.  ;  d.  young. 

6.  Uriah  Jewett,  b.  in  1830;  m.  in  the  fifties,  Sarah  Smith  of  Nashua; 
1  ch.,  Charles,  at  present  time  an  engineer  on  B.  &  M.  R.  R.;  res.  Win- 
chendon,  Mass. 

MOSES  B.  WRIGHT,  a  son  of  Timothy  Wright,  Jr.,  and  Rosana 
(Badger)  Wright,  was  born  in  Brookline  May  5,  1845.  He  has  passed  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  in  Brookline.  At  the  present  time  (1913)  he  is  liv- 
ing in  Hudson.  He  has  been  twice  married;  m.  1st,  Mar.  21,  1866,  Sara- 
phina  H.  Gardner;  she  d.;  m.  2nd,  May  27,  1875,  Sophia  Pierce,  of  Brook- 
line. 

Children  Born  in  Brookline. 
By  First  Wife. 

1.  Alvin  H.,  b.  Mar.  23,  1867;  m.  in  1890,  Olive  (Bartlett)  Sanborn, 
of  Burlington,  Mass.;  res.  California  (see  sketch  of  his  life  chap.  XI,  ante). 

2.  Jesse,  b.  in  1870;  res.  Worcester,  Mass. 

By  Second  Wife. 

3.  Josephine,  b.  Aug.  30,  1876;  d.  in  infancy. 

4.  Lena  E.,  b.  Mar.  27,  1879;  m.  in  1895,  H.  D.  Phillips,  civil  en- 
gineer; res.  Greenfield,  Mass. 

5.  Clarence  H.,  b.  Oct.  21,  1887;  m.  Oct.  20,  1909,  Avis  C.  Dary; 
P.  O.  clerk,  res.  Nashua. 

WASHINGTON  WRIGHT,  a  son  of  Josiah  and  Dolly  (Shattuck) 
Wright,  was  born  in  Pepperell,  Mass.,  Feb.  15,  1777.  About  the  year 
1805  he  removed  from  Pepperell  to  Brookline;  where  he  settled  in  the 
south  part  of  the  town;  his  house  being  located  about  one  mile  south  of 
the  village  on  the  west  side  of  the  highway  to  Pepperell,  a  few  rods  south 


HISTORY   OF   THE   TOWN   OF  BROOKLINE  663 

of  the  point  at  which  Rocky  Pond  brook  crosses  the  same.  The  house 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1812;  and  at  the  time  of  its  destruction  an  infant 
child  of  Mr.  Wright  perished  in  the  flames.  The  house  was  never  rebuilt. 
During  his  residence  here,  Mr.  Wright  owned  and  operated  a  blacksmith 
shop  and  gristmill  located  on  the  brook  below  the  old  sawmill.  He  m.  in 
Pepperell  before  coming  here,  Eunice  Lawrence.  Ten  children,  all  born 
in  Pepperell,  were  the  results  of  this  marriage.  Their  given  names,  with- 
out reference  to  the  dates  of  their  births,  were  as  follows:  George,  William 
Joseph,  Abijah,  Henry,  John,  infant  d.  in  childhood,  "And,"  Eunice  and 
Pamelia.  (Of  these,  Eunice  married  David  Hobart,  Sr.,  of  Brookline; 
Pamelia  m.  John  Spaulding  of  Townsend,  Mass. )  Abraham  Lawrence,  b. 
at  Brookline,  Nov.  27,  1806. 

PRESCOTT  WRIGHT  settled  in  Brookline  about  1807;  coming 
here  from  Pepperell,  Mass.,  where  he  was  born  Apr.  14,  1786.  He  was 
the  first  child  and  first  son  of  Josiah  and  Betty  (  )  Wright, 

and  a  grandson  of  Josiah  and  Dolly  (Shattuck)  Wright.  His  house  in 
Brookline  was  on  the  west  side  of  the  Milford  highway  about  one  mile 
north  of  the  village.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  m.  Nov.  26,  1807,  Hannah, 
dau.  of  Eleazer  and  Hannah  (Hall)  Gilson,  of  Brookline. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Prescott  P.,  b.  no  record;  m.  about  1840,  Maria 

2.  Hannah,  b.  no  record;  m.  Apr.  4,  1809,  Moses  Bohonon. 

3.  Parmelia,  b.  no  record;  m.  John  Sanders. 

4.  William,  b.  no  record;. 

THOMAS  V.  WRIGHT  settled  in  Brookline  about  1827,  coming 
here  from  Hollis.  He  was  born  in  Salem,  Mass.,  Dec.  15,  1806;  and  was 
a  son  of  Gaius  and  Naomi  (Parker)  Wright,  who  settled  in  Hollis  about 
1818;  coming  there  from  Dracut,  Mass.  He  settled  in  South  Brookline. 
He  was  a  cooper  and  farmer.  He  m.  June  5,  1827,  Mary  Shattuck  of 
Hollis.  He  d.  in  Brookline,  July  27,  1883;  his  wife  d.  in  Brookline,  Mar. 
9,  1884. 

Children;  Born  in  Brookline. 

1.  Ezra  S.,  b.  Dec.  24,  1827;  m.  Nancy  R.  Jewett  of  Amherst;  he  d. 
Jan.  26,  1910;  ch.,  Charles,  Augustus  and  George. 


664  HISTORY  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BROOKLINE 

2.  Charles  P.,  b.  July  30,  1831;  m.  Lucinda  R.  Jewett,  of  Amherst 
he  d.  Apr.  9,  1900;  ch.,  (1)  Charles  H.,  b.  at  Milford,  Aug.  6,  1858;  (2) 
William  E.,  b.  at  Milford,  Aug.  30,  1864. 

3.  Lewis  T.,  b.  July  9,  1838;  m.  May  16,  1859,  .Mrs  Jennie  M. 
Clark  of  Milford;  he  d.  ;  1  ch.,  Nellie  M.,  b.  in  Town- 
send,  Mass.,  Jan.  21,  1861;  m.  Sept.  12,  1885,  Charles  P.  Farley  of  Lon- 
donderry; res.  Nashua. 

4.  William  H.,  b.  Aug.  23,  1841;  d.  Mar.  6,  1867. 

JOHN     WRIGHT  and  Alvira  Robbins,  dau.  of  Jesse  Robbins,  m 
Nov.  1868. 

Children;  Bom  in  Brookline. 

1.  Archie,  b.  Mar.  1,  1873. 

2.  Alvin,  b,  June  17,  1874. 

3.  Stella,  b.  Aug.  8,  1876. 

4.  Rose  B.,  b.  Sept.  25,  1879;  m.  Jan.  2,  1899,  Charles  A.  Robbins. 

5.  Frank,  b.  July  25,  1881 . 

6.  Fannie,  b.  Nov.  22,  1885. 

7.  Ethel,  b.  May  11,  1892.